Tag: Christian Fiction

Dusk’s Darkest Shores + Giveaway

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially since she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England’s Lake District. Even without love, she’s content with her life.

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy Lakes. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to battle an insidious disease. Mary’s caring nature cannot stand by as someone suffered — but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he’s plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?

Adam wants no charity, but if this gentle woman can work hard on his behalf, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem.

Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leaves both Mary and Adam searching the depths of their closed hearts for answers. Is there hope of find any future path with happiness at its end?

My Review:

published in 2021

Why did I wait so long to start this series?! Why oh why oh why? Well I’m here now and have the second book in my TBR stack and once I’ve read that, I’ll be all set for the third Regency Wallflowers book which releases in April. (I say this to console myself over my tardiness.)

Dusk’s Darkest Shores is a sublime read with some unexpected tweaks to the Regency genre. Because this story doesn’t take place in London ballrooms among the ton. Mary is a village doctor’s daughter and Adam is a farmer’s son. Their families are wealthy enough to employ a few servants, but they still work for a living and move in very different circles than the lords and ladies I am used to meeting in a Regency Romance. And I absolutely loved that about this book! A fresh perspective that adds a whole different dimension to the storytelling. And this book is exquisitely written — the kind that makes you want to savour every phrase and bask in the images those words create.

Another difference is the amount of faith infused into every corner of the story. Again, a refreshing take on the Regency era and I loved the spiritual reflections and deliberate seeking out the Lord. Especially when it came to the topic of miracles and healing. As someone who has coped with a chronic condition for years now, it lightens my heart so much to meet characters who wrestle with some of same things I do. Makes me feel seen in some small way, so I’m grateful to the author for including that aspect in the story.

Of course, there are similarities to the classic Regency novel too. Shallow mean-ish misses who brought out the worst in me. Honestly, Mary had such grace and patience. I, on the other hand, was ready to do some hair pulling and arm pinching. And maybe a slap upside the head with my reticule (stuffed with books so as to pack a wallop.) Can’t bring me out in polite society when my dander is up over a beloved character, that’s for sure.

And Adam’s struggles! His soul-searching journey as he tries to find a way back to the life he had before the war. Only that’s impossible. And it’s stoic, determined, caring Mary who shows him that’s okay. I love that she has harboured feelings for him since childhood. Unrequited and she expects nothing less now. Especially since she is firmly established in the village as the doctor’s spinster daughter, dedicated to charitable works and healing rather than hearth and home.

In a way, I want to call this a Grumpy/sunshine romance but it isn’t…quite. Oh, Adam is grumpy enough in the beginning to be a hero of that trope, but Mary can give as good as she gets so she’s not quite all sunshine. She’s too practical and plain-spoken for that. Loved the banter between these two — whether it was serious or in jest, the dialogue zings. Sometimes I laughed, sometimes I winced, but I always hung on every word.

So, I found Dusk’s Distant Shores to be unexpected in many good ways and enchanting throughout. The kind of book you just have to hug and sigh over when you reach that last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Dusk’s Darkest Shores, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you include an email in 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 4 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

All That I Dread + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO READ

After a tragic loss, Jessica Chamberlain changes jobs, moves, and adopts a rowdy German Shepherd. The two begin training with a Virginia search-and-rescue group. The group’s training director, Nathan Tanner, is a former military working dog handler with scars of his own and he quickly picks up on Jess’s ongoing anxiety. After the unexpected discovery of a body in the woods, Jess and her dog and Nate are drawn into the FBI’s search for an abductor targeting women. Tormented by her past and terrified of the future, Jess still forges ahead. Can the secrets of her late father give her the courage she needs to continue?

My Review:

published in 2019

Wow. New-to-me author (an instagram discovery) and I am hooked on her storytelling style! It puts me in mind of Carrie Stuart Parks — has that same depth and grittiness infused with faith. The author digs deep to push past layers of characterization that is raw and real and emotionally sucker punching at times. And she draws out Jessica’s backstory with intriguing hints of foreshadowing. I was on tenterhooks trying to put the puzzle pieces together and once I knew everything….whoa!!!!

The K-9 details are incredibly well done. I knew a bit about Search and Rescue from other suspense novels, but there are so many new elements (at least to me) addressed in this story. Jess’s K-9 is a work-in-progress. Mischievous Luke makes for an endearing four-legged hero — good for laughs, ‘ahhh’ moments and heroic Lassie flare. 🙂

Told from three points of view, the author expertly weaves disparate lives together in a compelling way. Faith might be considered a fourth POV as inspirational subplots interlace throughout. Powerful. Moving. Redemptive. Healing. I was as captivated by Jess’s faith journey as I was the suspense.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of All That I Dread, narrated by Vanessa Daniels. She has the right ‘voice’ for Jessica and the rest of these characters and enhanced my ‘reading’ pleasure.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of All that I Dread, 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 March 4 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

A Steadfast Companion + Giveaway

Offering a helping hand…could give him everything he needs.

Fighting his way back from a troubled past, handyman Angus “Witt” Wittenbauer needs refuge. When do sanctuary owner Maddie McNeill needs someone to fix her kennel’s roof, it seems like the answer to his prayers, especially when he’s reunited with his long lost dog, Ranger. His growing friendship with Maddie hints at the promise of something more, but will Witt ever feel deserving of love again?

K-9 Companions

My Review:

Oh my — gobsmacked over this emotional romance that tugged at my heart and buoyed up my spirits. I got teary-eyed on page 24 and that wasn’t the only time during this read. Witt’s story is so…gah, I can’t say anything without sharing spoilers so all I will say is you’d have to have a heart of stone to not feel a connection with this hero!

And the whole idea of a dog sanctuary, where aging, ailing or ‘unadoptable’ dogs can find a fur-ever home. Well, there goes the waterworks again! But Maddie has been struggling to bounce back from some losses and the sanctuary is perilously low on funds. She needs a miracle and that might just be Witt. You’ll have to read the book to find out.

This Love Inspired features ‘older’ (than the norm, anyway) characters. Witt is fifty-one and Maddie is in her mid forties or so. I was surprised at how much depth that brought to the story because that’s a lot of life lived, mistakes made, struggles to overcome…well, it just made this romance that much richer. And the redemptive faith thread is so beautiful.

Absolutely stunning addition to the multi-authored K-9 Companions series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Steadfast Companion, 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 25, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

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.