Tag: Christian Fiction

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.  
 
But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.
 
Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?

My Review

published in 2012

Even though this is a novella, Woodsmall has managed to pack it full of angst, romance and beautiful prose.  She is such a gifted wordsmith! This is a Romeo/Juliet kind of love story with an Amish/Mennonite twist and I absolutely loved it. All the way through I kept fretting over how she could possibly turn this into a happily ever after. And I loved the fascinating details that explain the differences between the Amish and Old Order Mennonite faiths.

A sweet, satisfying read in that breathes the hope of spring into any season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read hardcover copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Scent of Cherry Blossoms , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 14 2024.

The Captain’s Daughter + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

London 1879 – Forced to leave all she loves behind, she seeks a new life in a city bursting with opportunity, but fraught with danger.

When a series of circumstances beyond her control leaves Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater putting on the most popular show in the city. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage. That is, as long as the shadows from her past don’t catch up with her.

After a hand injury forces Nate Moran from his army regiment in India, he returns home to London, a place that holds bitter memories. He agrees to fill in temporarily as a stagehand while his brother recuperation from a broken leg, but Nate is counting down the days until he can rejoin his regiment. His future is decided — until he meets a beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate yearns to leave behind.

My Review:

published in 2017

A spectacular start to a promising new series. I felt that special thrill of discovery a reader gets when she embarks on what she knows is going to be a memorable fictional journey. It was anticipatory delight from the very first page! I mean, what’s not to love — a bit of Dickenish overtones mixed with Gilbert and Sullivan and the London stage! And make sure to check the author’s notes at the back of the book (once you’ve finished reading, of course) to sort out the facts from the fiction. Fascinating historical details are expertly woven throughout Rosalyn and Nate’s love story.

And what a sweet, tender…and reluctant…love story it is. Nate is all stoic military who thinks the only way he can run from his demons is by facing the rigors of army life head on. India is no place to bring a wife even if Rosalyn was so inclined. Which she’s not. She has no intention of leaving her sisters in England behind. And then there’s the lure of the stage and the new life she’s creating for herself in a world she’s never imagined. There’s the kind of dynamics between these two that still makes me slightly giddy. Such a rich, multi-layered romance.

Be prepared for plenty of angst and drama. Laughter too. And a host of intriguing secondary characters — both delightful and sinister — and just plain infuriating. An exciting start to the London Beginnings series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Captain’s Daughter, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 14 2024.

Greetings From Next Door + Giveaway

Christmas is supposed to be about “peace on earth” and “goodwill toward men.”

Glynn Darrow bought that lie for the first three decades of her life, but
whoever said that (it was one of God’s angels, wasn’t it?) clearly hadn’t met Glynn’s new neighbor. He’s stolen all the peace from her life and any goodwill she might have had toward men. 

If only his notes wouldn’t make visions of mistletoe dance in her head.
When Clay Ruskin moved onto Elderberry Close, he didn’t imagine that he’d be “greeted” by a note from his uptight new neighbor… or that she’d drive him to distraction–good and bad. 

She’s determined to do the right thing–always.

He thinks she’s got weird ideas about what the “right thing” even is. 
They do agree on one thing, though. This will be the most memorable Christmas ever. If they survive it.

My Review:

Glynn has a new neighbour…and he’s a grump. Bah Humbug. Mind you, she doesn’t make the best first impression (but then she thinks he made the worst impression first so…) Letters are carried back and forth — sometimes snippy, sometimes sweet, always funny and a…well, we can’t really call it a friendship but something like…is formed.

The book starts in late October and ends on Christmas so there’s lots of time for hearts to thaw and nurture warmer emotions. A sweet novella that explores deeper feelings of love and acceptance with dry wit to smooth out the angst and a healthy dollop of faith to seal the deal.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Greetings From Next Door , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 7 2024.

Fugitive Search + Giveaway

A murderer out for revenge…who is closer than they think.

When the man who killed her father is finally arrested, Catherine Hart thinks it’s safe to come out of hiding…until he escapes and abducts her. But private investigator Garrett Wolfe and his tracking dog rescue her just in time. Now they must work together to escape the criminal on their heels, find Catherine’s kidnapped uncle and stop her sister from walking straight into the fugitive’s path. But when their search yields more questions, can Catherine and Garrett survive the terrifying truth?

My Review:

Whoa! Intense!! Still catching my breath!!!

Dana Mentink is a whiz at creating compelling suspense with sparks of humour. I often end up laugh/gasping at the same time because she’s that good. Impeccable pacing, great blending of romance and suspense…and that all important mood-lightening humour. All wrapped up in the cozy comfort of a meaningful faith thread. Spectacular!

Oh — and she speaks dog…or maybe she has a canine ghost writer? Because Pinky (officially it’s Pinkerton, but he’s more of a love ’em and lick ’em into submission kinda guy so Pinky suits him best!) anyway, Pinky makes me want to own a bloodhound…slobber and all. A warrior’s heart, a hunter’s snout and as stubborn as they come. What’s not to love?

I was thrilled to find this Love Inspired Suspense has an audible edition. It was a happy day when my preorder came through. Abby Craden does an incredible job narrating this story and I’m looking forward to more LIS books being made available in this format in future months. So excited — I have 29 on preorder already. Mind you, that’s going way into 2025, but it looks like there will be at least two a month from now on. Woohoo!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Fugitive Search, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 7 2024.

Before We Were Us + Giveaway

She can’t remember. He can’t forget.

Seven months ago, after graduating with a hospitality degree, city girl Lauren Wentworth travelled to rural New Hampshire to become temporary manager of Pinehaven Lodges, a rustic family-owned resort. What started as just a springboard to her dream job became so much more when she fell in love with the owner’s son Jonah, the Landry family, and her simple but rewarding position at the resort. Now she’s reaching toward a different kind of future than she’d imagined for herself–and happier than she’s ever been. But then she falls from a ladder.

When Lauren wakes up in the hospital, she only recalls her first couple months at the resort. She remembers her adversarial relationship with Jonah and her major crush on small-town doctor, Carson, who also has big-city ambitions–but is, unfortunately, taken. However, according to everyone around her, she’s now madly love with Jonah and has forfeited the dream job awaiting her in Boston. It seems impossible to believe she could’ve made such drastic changes in a matter of months!

Jonah is heartbroken at her memory loss and determined to help Lauren remember the deep feelings they’ve developed for one another. But Lauren isn’t sure she wants to remember falling in love with someone she doesn’t even like or giving up her dream career for a rustic resort in Podunk, New Hampshire.

Especially when Dr. Carson is now available. . .

My Review:

What an interesting approach to a romance! I’ve never read anything like it and, wow, just upped the angst factor so much and had my emotions tied up in knots so that I was completely invested in the outcome. I mean, I knew there had to be a happily ever after, but what was that going to look like?! Rabid reading (well, listening in my case) ensued in order to find out!

So, the very first chapter reads like the happily ever after epilogue of a traditional romance. Jonah and Lauren are crazy in love and soooooo sweet together, I was already swooning. Then…bam! (and I mean that quite literally) Lauren falls from a ladder, conks her head, and loses several months worth of her memories. Like the falling in love with Jonah months!

She wakes up in the hospital thinking it’s April when it’s actually Labor Day weekend. And back in April, Jonah was the enemy. I mean she really didn’t like Jonah and with good reason because he was quite the brooding grump. And, oh my heart hurt, because, of course Jonah is still madly in love with Lauren, only she can’t stand him! So, an enemy-to-more/second chance romance! I think Denise Hunter invented a new trope!

And this is a bit of a dual timeline novel too, because Hunter takes us back to the falling-in-love-the-first-time moments through Jonah’s memories. All, while he is trying to win Lauren’s heart for a second time! Oh. My. Stars! This was soooooo good. Beautifully written, incredibly crafted. And that ending! Unexpected!

Kim Churchill did a fantastic job narrating Lauren and Jonah’s story. She captured their personalities and emotions perfectly. I really enjoyed my listening time and would definitely recommend the audio edition of ‘Before We Were Us.’

P.S. If you are as love triangle phobic as I am, have no fear, that tease in the synopsis really doesn’t have any bite. You can read easy on that angst score…though there are plenty of other tumultuous dilemmas you can stew over.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Before We Were Us, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 7 2024.

Captured in Frame + Giveaway

In an idyllic village nestled in the English countryside, photographer Georgia Brooks is desperate to begin a new chapter in her life. Bramble Cottage was supposed to give her space to heal and hope again after suffering betrayal and rejection by the only man she ever loved. This was Georgia’s chance to rekindle her faith and reconnect with her sisters in a place that held sweet childhood memories—not expose herself to the ugly underbelly of the art world and put her family in danger.

Local pediatric surgeon, Doctor William Hughes, is captivated by the Canadian beauty with a camera over one shoulder and the weight of the world on the other. After suffering his own tragic loss and balancing a demanding career with raising a toddler, he recognizes the heaviness of grief . . . and the burden of guilt.

When Georgia discovers she could be in possession of incriminating evidence to frame a criminal ring, she needs to trust someone. She chooses Will. Postcards, photographs, paintings—something about Bramble Cottage is worth killing for. Can Georgia uncover the truth in time?

My Review:

First off — fantastic cover art! Drew me right in and made me insta buy the book! Well, that and the fact that Laura Thomas is a Canadian author and the back blurb is so enticing!

Atmospheric from the very first chapter. I love the way Thomas draws out the suspense — there’s almost a Gothic feel to it. Georgia, beleaguered by unexplained occurrences at a time in her life when she is most vulnerable. A handsome widowed doctor who proves to be a friend and ally despite his own traumatic past. Seemingly benign messages that only Georgia recognizes as sinister. Doesn’t that sound like a classic Mary Stewart or Phyllis A. Whitney novel?!

And the faith content is exceptional. I could so relate with Georgia’s needing to be in control, wrestling with God for ownership of, well, everything.

“I’m not good with being out of control. I’ll admit, I’m a control freak. Always have been.”

“That’s when God steps in though, isn’t it? When we come to the end of ourselves and remember He’s sovereign…”

Love, love, love that last line. The imagery of God stepping in when we come to the end of ourselves…made such an impact on me. Like a wake up call and I so love when my fiction speaks spiritual truths into my life. I’ve been reading a lot of secular ‘clean’ fiction and Christian Fiction that’s been very light on faith elements lately and I didn’t realize how much I missed these precious inspirational threads. So grateful for authors like Laura Thomas who weave God into their stories.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Captured in Frame, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 31 2024.

An Uncommon Grace + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

A moving and inspirational novel about the power of faith, family and above all, love, as a young Amish man must turn to his Englisch neighbor for help after a devastating tragedy.

Grace Connor, a military nurse formerly stationed in Afghanistan, hopes that moving to a farm in rural Ohio will help her recover from the ravages of war.

Levi Troer finds his pacifist beliefs challenged when he discovers his stepfather has been killed and his mother wounded by an unknown intruder. Levi and Grace are thrown together when she comes to his family’s rescue and saves his mother’s life. A deep attraction develops — even though a relationship between them is strictly forbidden.

Levi belongs to the most conservative and isolated of all Amish sects — the Swartzentruber Amish. Even before meeting Grace, Levi had begun to question some of their teachings. He has considered leaving, but knows he will be banned forever from contact with his younger siblings and widowed mother — who need him to survive. He is torn between his love for Grace and his responsibility to his family.

Grace considered leaving her beloved farm and reenlisting rather than continuing to live near the man she loves but cannot have. Levi must confront the Bank if he pursues Grace. And a murderer must be caught. When lifelong allegiances are tested, can love and justice prevail?

My Review:

published in 2012

Captivating from the very first page, An Uncommon Grace made me think as much as it entertained.

First things first — you have to get past the misleading cover. I’ve never seen such a misrepresentation of a book before! Who is that woman looking off into the distance and why is she on the cover of Grace and Levi’s story? LOL. Grace is obviously not Amish and this book is just as much about Grace and her family as it is about Levi’s and his.  In fact, if you aren’t into Amish fiction, I’d wager that you’d still find this a compelling read on so many levels.

One of the most fascinating part of this book is the glimpse Miller gives us into the strict Swartzentruber Amish order. The story is peppered with so many interesting facts and comparisons with the Old Order Amish that is usually featured in fiction.

The addition of a murder mystery along with the complicated relationship that slowly develops between Levi and Grace makes this  the kind of read you just won’t want to put down. Miller’s characters become living, breathing people with minds and hearts of their own. Grace’s grandmother is an incredible rock for both of them — a genteel lady with a quick sense of humour and deep understanding of the Savior’s love.

As Levi struggles to make sense of the sudden upheaval in his life, Grace finds herself drawn into a chaos of her own. Both ardently support their families, willing to sacrifice anything for those they love. In a perfect world, they would be perfect for each other — but perfection doesn’t come in this life and their journey isn’t an easy one. Miller has spun an emotional tale that I soon won’t forget…and hopefully you won’t either because you’re sure to want to read it now too, right?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Uncommon Grace, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 17 2024.

Critical Alliance + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Mackenzie Hanson’s special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father’s tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he’s trying to relax, he’s drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common–a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

When the situation turns deadly, Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need–before someone silences Mackenzie for good.

My Review:

published in 2022

Whoa! Intense edge-of-your-seat stuff all the way through! Definitely a read in one sitting kind of book. The way Goddard amps up the tension (in both suspense and romance) is masterful. I was hanging on every word right up until the very end.

If I wasn’t angsting over malicious pranks and lethal threats, I was in emotional turmoil over Alex and Mackenzie’s stuttering relationship. This author writes in such a way that I experience all the feelings right along with these characters. And their back stories! Mackenzie’s in particular really resonated with me. And her faith journey is phenomenal.

There was an edgy kind of creep factor to the suspense since it deals with cyber security hacking and made me realize how vulnerable our high tech lives make us. From computerized cars to medical devices and ‘smart’ houses…so many ways our lives can go sideways at the hands of a determined hacker. Made for a riveting read though.

This is the third and final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series but reads well as a standalone. I had read the first two books when they released but this one somehow got left by the wayside for two years! Glad I finally rectified that oversight.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition narrated by Cynthia Farrell.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Critical Alliance, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 31 2024.

When Hope Blossoms + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Amy Knackstedt moves with her children to Weaverly, Kansas, to escape the speculation surrounding her husband’s untimely death. She hopes the new location will provide a fresh start for them all. But her neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have a Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. When the children try to befriend him, he resists. Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn’t want any reminders of his former life. Yet Amy and Tim find their paths colliding far more than either could have foreseen. Will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?

My Review:

published in 2012

Sweet, sweet, SWEET! Brilliantly crafted, Sawyer delivers a story that brings hope from despair — a theme that aptly matches the title. Amazingly tight plotting blends three life experiences into one incredibly moving conclusion. Sawyer is a gifted storyteller.

Told from three POVs — Amy’s, Tim’s and Beckah’s (Amy’s 13-year-old daughter) — their diverse take on life and circumstances propel the story along at the perfect pace. I’m still marveling at how various story strands meshed together, building to one of the best feel-good endings I’ve ever read. Just LOVED this book so much. 

And yes it is a Mennonite story — but it’s so much more as well with themes that will attract and satisfy even non-Amish/non-Mennonite fans. Themes like searching for a fresh start, finding ones faith, staying true to that faith no matter what, coping with grief, and learning to accept help from others in times of need. When Hope Blossoms is a wonderful celebration of the hope Christ can bring into every life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of When Hope Blossoms, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 24 2024.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

Random Retro Read

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder. 

Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. As Heather digs, she finds a mysterious journal that belonged to a woman she never knew and it contains clues that lead to the truth about a mysterious drowning decades ago. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history. 

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways. Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My Review:

published in 2015

I’m feeling a bit pensive and sad after finishing this novel. It’s an amazing story but not everyone gets a happily ever after. Three generations of women in the same family, all repeating the same mistakes and it just hurt to see how easily history can repeat itself.

It starts with Heather in present day and then flashes back in time, first to Maggie and then to Libby. Melanie Dobson is a genius at connecting the separate stories in a dual timeline novel, slowly giving her readers tiny pieces of the puzzle but not nearly enough to prevent a few earth shattering “aha” moments.

So, I was captivated and compelled to non-stop listen to ‘Shadows of Ladenbrooke’ (great narration by Nancy Peterson. Highly recommend the audio book.) Family history and mystery, a second chance romance and the very real, raw, messiness of broken people doing their best. I definitely need to follow this read up with a rom/com to lighten my spirits!