Tag: Christian Fiction

Ranch Under Fire

A witness on the run. A mission to survive.

Fleeing after witnessing a shooting in her office, Bailey Scott must rely on cowboy Jackson Walker for protection when the gunman turns his sights on her. With a drug ring determined to silence her, Jackson promises to protect her at his ranch. But he’s an undercover DEA agent with secrets he can’t reveal. Can he take down the criminals before their pursuers lead them straight into an inescapable trap?

My Review:

High stakes. High octane. High stress. A new edge-of-your-seat LIS author for me to start following. I couldn’t be happier ’cause I always have room on my TBR for stellar authors who write the unputdownable kind of suspense I so love reading. And, phew! This one had me turning pages until the read was over…in one sitting.

Love the way Wheeler set up the opening scene. A normal, if harried, day for our heroine until — wham — it isn’t! And then the tension mounts and the investigation begins. And Jackson being undercover makes things that much more complicated in the romance department. And, while this isn’t labeled as a series, I checked the author’s website and she does have a follow up novel coming out in August. Eeeep! I ams so there for more perilous adventuring with Tina Wheeler.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Ranch Under Fire, 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 easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 25 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Pink Bonnet + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

A desperate mother searches for her child.

Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbour puts little Millie Mae into he clutches of Georgia Tank, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’t Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Mille uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives.

How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child?

My Review:

published in 2019

I was first introduced to Georgia Tann and the Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society scandal through Lisa Wingate’s heart-rending novel, Before We Were Yours. I was fascinated and appalled during that read and experienced similar emotions over The Pink Bonnet.

This isn’t light fiction by any means, though the author does manage to infuse the story with hope. So many angst-riddled emotions stirred up inside of me while I lived every desperate second right alongside Cecile. Tolsma does an amazing job of capturing every dark emotion and the stark desperation of a mother searching for her kidnapped child. Cecile is relentless, her steely resolve propelling her forward in an investigation that becomes more daring and dangerous with every passing day.

And the way the levels of deceit and corruption are slowly uncovered…just chilling! Georgia Tann (an unconscionable monster of the vilest sort) had cooperation on every level of government and social class. The way she disparaged the poor (in the middle of a depression no less!) and saw them as unworthy of raising their own children, kidnapping and selling those children without a thought for the grieving families left behind. Never mind caring about what type of conditions many of the children were sold into. And her ‘work’ went on for 25 years! It just boggles the mind.

And all that ugliness is exposed in these pages. But there are triumphs too. And redemption. Percy’s story was particularly riveting. A legal assistant duped by Georgia Tann, he slowly begins to question her methods and reasoning and struggles with his own past trauma and need to become a successful lawyer…but at what cost?

A haunting page-turner.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a the opportunity to win a copy of The Pink Bonnet, 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. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 25 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Defending Honor + Giveaway

Brains. Beauty. Boldness. The Elite Guardians will keep you safe.

Laila Rabinowitz is all business. Tough and stoic, she was the perfect Massad agent…until a terrible betrayal led to her words nightmare. Being a bodyguard with the Elite Guardians allows her to keep her heart safe — she’ll never let anyone close enough to betray her again. And she’s certainly not going to trust anyone who doesn’t earn it.

Billionaire and former playboy Whittaker walked away from his famous family after a terrible event, but then his father and brother are killed in a suspicious boating accident. Since he’s next in line to helm the family business, now someone wants him dead.

Preston needs 24/7 protection, and the only solution is a fake marriage. In order to keep him safe, Laila will have to convince everyone that she and Preston are in love. She’s used to putting her life on the line for a client. But, what will this case cost her heart?

Book three of the riveting, high-octane world of the Elite Guardians reboot!

My Review:

Phew — this one got my ire up on so many levels! I am totally not into all things rich and famous or reality stars with skewed values and this story is rife with that. Poor Preston! No wonder he fled his noxious family but now he’s back, reluctantly taking charge of the business empire which puts a target on his back. Loved the intrigue, there were just so many truly dreadful characters to line up as suspects. So many shallow, manipulative, conniving…gah! Like I said, ire up the whole read through.

Laila put me in mind of Ziva of NCIS fame. She has the same kind of grit and determination and aloofness that hides so much hurt. And she’s really good with the Ninja moves. And the pretend marriage trope is sooooo much fun! Equal parts toe-curling and anxiety inducing.

And the suspense was really good. Hooray to me for pegging the villain before our intrepid hero and heroine. But that was after discarding so many other possibilities. This one kept me on my toes. And there’s a gripping scene at the end that sent shudders through me. Very creepy.

An exciting addition to the Elite Guardians Collection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Defending Honor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT Yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, please 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 easier to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 25 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Solid as Steele + Giveaway

He lost his memory…

Mackenzie Steele has been instrumental in keeping Steele Guardians afloat, working long hours for months. Nearing burn out, her family encourages her to take a vacation, and she reluctantly agrees. She needs solitude and quiet, and a vacation rental home in the Oregon desert is just the ticket. But she’s no sooner unpacked her bags when a man lands on her doorstep. A man who can’t remember his identity or why he’s there. All they know is that the name Owen seems familiar to him.

But will finding it bring a killer to her doorstep.

Mackenzie shouldn’t trust this man, but something about his earnestness draws her to him and she agrees to help him determine his identity. When her rental home is bombarded with bullets, she knows she’s accepted a task that could turn deadly, and she should walk away. But by this time, her deepening connection with the stranger keeps her firmly rooted at his die, and she can only pray that she won’t regret her potentially life-altering decision.

My Review:

First, who knew that there was a desert in Oregon? Not this Canadian, that’s for sure. So, great setting, including some wilderness adventuring. And we’re also introduced to a band of brothers who run an outdoor wilderness adventure business and I am heartily hoping that their inclusion might be a foreshadowing of a future series! Please, please, please!

But, I digress. Best opening line ever: “The body lying on the front porch wasn’t included in MacKenzie Steele’s vacation home rental.” Bwahahahaha! And we’re off and racing through pages of adventure and danger and toe-curling romance! And didn’t Susan Sleeman go and bewitch me by turning a not-so-favourite trope of mine into something dazzlingly clever?!

I think I might have to stop saying I’m not an amnesia trope fan now. It’s done so well, and with a fresh slant too which makes it all the more interesting. Loved MacKenzie’s reaction to meeting Owen and that she was smart and sensible about it (you have to read the book to find out what I mean.)

And then I was in sheer bibliophile delight all the way to the end as Sleeman delivered her iconic blend of family, faith, humour and suspense. And I loved all the investigative details — along with some exciting cameos from previous series.

I listened to the audible edition of Solid as Steele, narrated by Whitney Dykehouse (who does all of Susan Sleeman’s audio books and I love the giddy ‘home coming’ feeling I get when I start listening to a new book.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Solid as Steele, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave an email in your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. I 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 announce don Saturday February 18 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Secret Society of Salzburg + Giveaway

Based on true event, this is a gripping and heart-wrenching story of two very different women united to bring light to the darkest days of World War II

London, 1933

At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection — and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to reduce as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.

Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, which offers more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favourite opera singer and her secret Jewish ancestry make her both a weapon and a target — until her future, too, hangs int he balance.

From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship — and the courage to save countless lives.

My Review:

I’m emotionally wrung out after this kind of read, but filled with hope too. Because people like Elsa and Hattie actually lived and risked their own lives to stand up against the horrors of Hitler’s regime. I always come away humbled after reading about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the greater good. And, okay, you might not classify a famous opera singer as ‘ordinary’ but Elsa’s immense talent only masks the vulnerability and tender heart of this very real, flawed woman.

I was intrigued to learn that the author’s inspiration for this story comes from real-life sisters, Ida and Louise Cook, British citizens who rescued 29 Jews from the Nazis through out the 1930s. There’s even a book about them which I’ve put on hold from my library. Love, love, love when fiction inspires me to do some research!

Renee Ryan has brought something fresh to the World War II genre. I’m not an opera fan at all(!) but this book almost makes me want to revisit that opinion. Elsa’s life on the stage contrasted with Hattie’s more ordinary existence which created extra depth and breadth to the story. And a lot happens in both women’s lives since this book spans more than a decade!

The story starts in 1943 with an ominous foreshadowing scene, then goes back to the 1930s and progresses chronologically with occasional leaps back to the crucial event in 1943. So, in a way this could be considered a dual timeline story, though both are historical and only years apart. It’s very artfully done and makes for a compelling read.

Rich characterization, heart wrenching stories and even a gentle romance all contribute to make this an incredible unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Secret Society of Salzburg, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave an email in 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 easier to spot your entry. Draw will held and winner announced on Saturday February 18 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Cairo Curse + Giveaway

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

The Cairo Curse is a delightful sequel to The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham.

My Review:

I was so excited about this book that I preordered it on audible and did a frenzied happy dance when it was delivered on release day. Because, really, how could I live without more Fredrick and Grace shenanigans?! It would be a dismal reading future without them in it for sure!

So, this is where I mention that The Cairo Curse is the second Freddie and Grace Mystery and is best read after The Mistletoe Countess. You could, jump in here — the story would make complete sense — but there are a few hints at spoilers from the first book (well, they actually might only be recognized as spoilers if you’ve read MC now that I think of it.) Okay, so I’m not being very clear, am I? But really, if you love toe-curling romance with lots of humour and bookish references and a mystery besides, go ahead and read The Mistletoe Countess first. You definitely won’t be sorry. And you’ll have a better grasp of the back stories of our main characters.

And now Frederick and Grace are on their honeymoon. They had a bit of a rough start to their marriage so they are definitely due for some peace and relaxation. What they get is a stark change of scenery with murder, mystery and stolen antiquities. The tag line for this novel says: “Clue meets Indiana Jones” and I’d tack on “with an Agatha Christie flair.” So much fun! So many interesting characters to peg as suspects! And the allure of foreign soil! So many reasons to recommend this mystery!

And, of course, the dynamics between Frederick and Grace are at the heart of it all. She thinks in fiction. Seriously, there isn’t a situation Grace gets herself into that she can’t draw from literary resources to find a solution. Though, of course, Grace likes to improve upon fiction because, “Fairy tales were all well and good but many of the characters could have done with a bit more sense to keep their troubles at bay.”

Freddie is besotted. I love how he embraces all that Grace is without trying to change her. They make the perfect team — both in romance and mystery solving. And Basham puts this dynamic duo through their paces as she plots and connives with the villain to keep Frederick on guard and Grace in danger. Gasp! Love the plot twists and the depth in the secondary characters (who surprised me over and over again.) Plus, now I’m hoping for some of those characters to have their own stories told so I’m praying that this will be a very long series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Cairo Curse, 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 easier to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 18 2023. Offers open to International Readers.

Rescuing Her Ranch + Giveaway

A fight for her future…might not be the one she things.

Returning home after losing her job, Macey Stone agrees to care for the daughter of old friend Cole Crawford. Then she discovers that Cole’s uncle’s company wants to bulldoze her family’s land. Seeing the devoted dad with his child soon has her falling for the enemy. But can she choose between saving Stone River Ranch…and helping the man who’s stolen her heart?

A Stone River Ranch Novel

My Review:

Phew! This one gave me all the feels. Totally immersed from the very first paragraph. And the way Jordan writes makes everything come alive: these characters, the town and the myriad of emotions that mess with an unsuspecting reader’s equilibrium.

A kind of second chance romance (Macey and Cole were friends in high school…until they weren’t!) I could feel the energy crackling all around them and feel the hurt and regret and I so wanted them to make things right and just when they have a chance…bam…it’s emotional sucker punch time! Oy, my heart feels pummelled. And there’s one nefarious character that had me steaming mad! Luckily Cole’s sweet little daughter soothed my ire some.

This looks to be the first in a new series centered around the Stone clan and the author has done a magnificent job of introducing us to Macey’s siblings as she sets the stage for future books. I’m really exciting about this series. Can’t wait for the next one to release!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like an chance to win a copy of Rescuing Her Ranch, 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 February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Mistaken Twin Target + Giveaway

A case of mistaken identity. A bounty hunter to the rescue.

Taken by men who think she’s her identical twin, Charlotte Halstead finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun. Thanks to bounty hunter Wade Fast Horse, she escapes their clutches, but she’s not safe for long. Her twin sister suddenly goes missing, and someone wants Charlotte dead. Wade is her only hope for survival, but can they find Charlotte’s sister before the killer finds them?

A Range River Bounty Hunters Story

My Review:

Whoa! Unputdownable and then some! I intended to only read the first few chapters and then move on to a ton of other things I have on the go but, instead, I came back with a jolt to my real world a couple of hours later. Just couldn’t put it down. I had to know if Charlotte was going to be okay and what happened to her sister and then I was squealing over cameos from previous books. Had way too much fun to stop reading anywhere but at the last page!

This is the third Ranger River Bounty Hunters novel, but it reads really well as a standalone, so no worries if you’re just starting the series here. I love the bounty hunter angle and the way the author slips in tantalizing tidbits of information about the profession and the way they work alongside other law enforcement officials. As with her other books, there’s just the right mix of action and danger and romance which makes for the perfect escape read.

And I’m super excited because the next book is going to feature Connor and I’m all kinds of intrigued. Plus, who can resist a man who rescues stray animals? I’m on tenterhooks waiting to find out his full story…at last!

GIVEAWAY OPPROTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy of this book.

If you would like win a copy of Mistaken Twin Target, 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 February 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Her Heart’s Desire + Giveaway

What happens when we allow our pasts to define our futures?

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she’s amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber, a handsome and charming carpenter.

Jayson is taken with Mary from the get go, but he’s responsibilities back home in Kentucky — including a girl he’s supposed to marry. And when someone from Mary’s past shows up in Minecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding.

My Review:

I’m bewitched by the Pinecraft setting for starters. Shelley Shepard Gray introduced me to this Amish ‘hot spot’ in a previous series she wrote — Amish Brides of Pinecraft. and I’m thrilled she’s returned for this new series. There’s nothing like sun, sand and romance to warm a northerner on a cold, wintry day!

Told in what I’ve come to think of as ‘Classic Shelley Shepard Gray style’, she delivers a thought-provoking and engaging read. We have multiple points of view, each character struggling with some aspect of their past that has led them to this point and time: the much needed escape a carefree holiday can bring.

Relationships are at the forefront of this story. New friendships, old enemies, budding romances and all the complications that entails. And I love the way the author ties myriad plot threads together by the end. Very excited to continue on with this ‘A Season in Pinecraft’ series. And, woohoo, we won’t have long to wait because the second book, Her Only Wish, releases this coming June!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Her Heart’s Desire, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter via email, please add the book title to the subject line so it’s easier to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Rose and the Thistle

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Blythe quietly awaits the crowning of a new king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with her maid in tow. He has his own problems — a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

In this whirlwind of intrigue, ambitions, and shifting alliances, Blythe yearns for someone she can trust. But the same forces that draw her and Everard together also threaten to tear them apart.

My Review:

I don’t even know where to begin. I’m gobsmacked and addlepated over this braw story — the latest (and very best, I think) Laura Frantz masterpiece.

Stunning details — from the incredible cover art to the rich story within. And let’s stop to admire that cover for a second. What you can’t tell from the photo is that the thistle and the rose emblems are actually embossed gold. And the heroine’s skirt is so lush looking that you just have to touch it and come away surprised when you feel paper instead of cloth. Yes, this is my book nerdiness showing, but sometimes a book is so pretty I just have to gush!

Now onto the story. Which is where the gobsmacking comes in. I’m pretty near speechless over the perfection of it all. Vibrant storytelling merges history and romance in the most spellbinding of ways. Descriptive passages that bring the Scottish countryside to life. Intrinsic historical details that both appall and intrigue!

(A little side note here: I didn’t know much about the politics of this time and I did feel a wee bit overwhelmed at the beginning, but as I got further into the story it all started to make sense. So I’d advise readers like me to just go with the flow instead of trying to figure out who was right and who was wrong and what each side stood for and why….Or maybe I’m the only one who madly googles facts in the middle of a read?!)

Now for the addlepated part. Everard. THUD! Fainting couch essential. Smelling salts necessary. Comfort chocolate optional, though advised (because when would chocolate consuming ever be considered ill-advised?!) And be prepared to be swept off your feet (hence the fainting couch) over and over again by this rather gruff, moody, sometimes churlish hero. He has a servant’s heart though and that shines through over and over again. Especially in the way he cares for his youngest brother. And reluctantly takes on the responsibility of sheltering Lady Blythe in the midst of her storm.

Their romance is delectable. I love the way Frantz takes time to develop it. From enemies, to wary strangers, to cautious friends, to…toe-curls!!!! Nothing ever feels rushed in this story but it never bogs down either. The author has found the perfect balance between delivering enticing details and keeping the plot propelling forward. All while keeping the reader hoping the story never ends!

Gah, this review is getting too long and I haven’t even mentioned the Hume brothers or wonderful mix of secondary characters or the way I feel like I’ve actually lived in Scotland in the 1700s or…so many points to recommend this read! Definitely a top ten contender for 2023.

Oh, and I couldn’t resist listening to the audio book, even though I have a paperback copy. Amy Scanlon’s narration exceeded everything I could hope for in an audible performance. All the accents, unique voices of each character, the sheer enjoyment that came from listening to her read. If you are an audio book lover, this is definitely one to listen to.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like to win a copy of The Rose and the Thistle, 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 via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easier to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.