Tag: Christian Fiction

Trail of Mountain Secrets + Giveaway

A case of mistaken identity.
A K-9 to the rescue.

Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K-9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human-remains-detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. Soon Violet learns a shocking secret. She has a presumed dead twin sister who may still be alive, and now they’re both in danger. Can Violet and Maverick expose a conspiracy before this Christmas becomes their last?

My Review:

A thrilling game of cat and mouse through the snowy Alberta wilderness is just the kind of adrenaline rush of a read I was looking for as I hunker down for the first winter storm of the season. Talk about atmospheric inside and out!

Turner knows how to plot a tense suspense and this one holds more than a few surprises. I had my suspicions about suspects and accomplices but only one of them came true. Love when a suspense keeps me on my toes all the way through to the end!

I enjoyed the ‘kinda’ second chance romance aspect of Violet and Maverick’s love story. They were friends in college, though both were harbouring secret crushes, but a tragic incident shattered their world before either could make a move. Now, years later, they meet again in a high stakes situation and it’s time to face the past and look toward a future…if they can just evade Violet’s lethal stalker!

As always, the K-9 aspects of the story thrilled me. Wolf is a human-remains detection dog but easily doubles as a fearless protector and comfort cuddler too! Plus he has some nifty tricks he gets to show off during the course of a tense few days which made the take-down scenes all the more exciting!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Trail of Mountain Secrets’ and Lenor A. Woodworth’s engaging narration added an extra dimension to my enjoyment of this riveting romantic suspense.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Trail of Mountain Secrets,  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 November 1 2025

I Heard the Bells + Giveaway

Four authors, four Christmas novellas of peace, joy, love (and red pickup trucks)

A Christmas Wedding to Die For by Darlene L. Turner

’Tis the season for deadly secrets.
Photographer Adelaide Fox thought she had the perfect assignment—capturing the winning shot at a high-profile Yukon wedding. But when the bride vanishes and a guest is found dead, holiday cheer turns to mystery. As a blizzard approaches, Adelaide teams up with the bride’s rugged brother, tracker Declan Stone. With danger closing in, suspicious guests, and threatening messages, Adelaide must unravel the truth—and maybe open her heart—to find peace on earth this Christmas.

Season of Forever by Helena Smrcek

Past meets present. Two hearts, WWII secrets, and a Christmas of second chances.
Past and present entwine in a story of love, loss, and second chances. In the shadows of WWII, a fragile romance is tested by sacrifice and distance. Decades later, in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Faith helps at her grandmother’s sweater shop, while next door Joseph acquires a charred WWII Bible marked with a red ribbon. Despite their rocky first encounter, will Faith and Joseph give their budding relationship a chance—and uncover the hidden story within the Bible’s pages?

Falling for You by Melanie Stevenson

A broken engagement, a broken rib, and a broken heart.
Author Laurel Bennett hadn’t planned to spend Christmas this way. Her escape to Banff was meant to avoid her ex-fiancé’s wedding, not land her in recovery at the Banff Springs Hotel. But when she crosses paths with Dr. Ethan Pine—the charming stranger who saved her on the slopes—everything changes. A whirlwind of magical days sparks undeniable chemistry, and they must decide if love can bridge both the distance and the wounds that threaten to keep them apart.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter by Sara Davison

He thought he knew exactly what he wanted.
Jack Miller is determined to make it big in the Big Apple. So why does he keep getting dragged back to the place—and the woman—he’s trying to leave behind? Playing the lead in his tiny Nova Scotian town’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life gives Jack a glimpse into the life that could have been his. Good thing it’s not the one he wants, since it’s clearly too late for him to get it back.

My Review:

Woohoo! Greatest impulse buy ever. I saw the pretty cover on Instagram and discovered that the collection is written by four Canadian authors with four different Canadian settings! Sold!

The novellas vary greatly, from mystery to dual timeline to rom/com but they all feature a Canadian Christmas and each story cleverly features a red truck and a classic Christmas Carol. Loved spotting those little connections in each novella.

In A Christmas Wedding to Die For by Darlene L. Turner, two cases of unrequited love meet up again in the Yukon wilderness. A Christmas wedding dissolves into mystery and mayhem, though there are plenty of cozy vibes that keep this from being a traditional suspense. Loved the fast pace and the eclectic secondary characters (a few who are truly dreadful!) I love feeling righteously indignant on behalf of a hero and heroine! I got a real sense of a Yukon winter which added an atmospheric element to the story.

Season of Forever by Helena Smreck is set in the scenic town of St. Jacobs Ontario (present day) and in England during World War II, so, yay, dual timeline novella style! I’ll admit to being drawn to the WWII romance (it made me cry) but I enjoyed the contrasts in the contemporary romance as well and the way the timelines fit together by the end wrapped things up nicely.

If you enjoy a good rom/com, Falling for You by Melanie Stevenson is the perfect fit. It’s super cute and playful with great comedic beats. The Banff, Alberta setting is a bonus. The author’s descriptions of the resort and the town made me feel like I was actually there. Romantical and funny with a bit of festive toe-curls thrown in to heat things up!

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is one of my favourite holiday movies and it takes centerstage in Sara Davison’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter. Angst abounds in this second chance romance that features two actors reunited in a small town theatre production of the classic movie. The Nova Scotia backdrop added an extra thrill to my maritime loving heart! And the way the author weaves elements of ‘It’s a Wonderful Live’ into Jack and Kali’s situation is masterfully written. A stunning way to end a stellar holiday collection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the I Heard the Bells, 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 November 15 2025.

Final Approach

The suspect list is growing…
Can this K-9 team unmask a killer?

Investigating a gun smuggling ring leads ATF Special Agent Daniel Slater to a murder victim’s house—and right into a drive-by shooting. With his K-9 partner, Dakota, he helps save crime scene investigator Aurora Martin from flying bullets. But there are no clues as to why Aurora is a target. Suspecting a case of mistaken identity, Daniel insists she will be safe hiding out at his home—until gunmen infiltrate the property. Now, to protect Aurora, Daniel must hunt down their attacker. But can he catch the culprit in time…or will this case be Aurora’s last?

My Review:

Woohoo! Epic takedown and superb ending to the Dakota K-9 multi-authored eight book series! Loved the way everything all comes together in ‘Final Showdown’ – and what an apt title! I’m totally a fan of a Great Dane K-9 officer! Dakota is equal parts committed guardian and fierce protector. And the instant attraction between Daniel and Aurora satisfied my romance loving heart. They are thrown together under extraordinary circumstances and there’s some fun snark (courtesy of Aurora) and banter and a whole lot of intrigue and danger before they can even dream of a happily ever after.

I’ll be honest and say that I do feel this story reads best if you are familiar with a few of the earlier books since it brings almost the whole team together as they finally bring a difficult case to a successful close. You could read it as a standalone but I think you’ll appreciate this ‘grand finale’ so much more if you have been with the team for at least part of the journey.

I really enjoyed listening to the audible edition narrated by Sharon Schnaubelt. She did a great job with all these characters and keeping pace with the exhilarating plot!

The Christmas Cabin

random retro read

When Carla James flies home for the holidays at her family’s cozy Canadian cabin, she has no idea what—or who—awaits. But after five years serving at her beloved Mexican orphanage, it’s time to work through forgiveness, face her fears, and reclaim Christmas. Up-and-coming chef, Rhys Templeton, still regrets leaving a heartbroken Carla in the past and is desperate to confess his truth and make amends. But her own shocking revelation has the potential to either send him spiraling back to his destructive lifestyle or into Carla’s arms.

However, someone else is privy to Carla’s chilling secret and they’re out there watching. Waiting. Wanting. Time is running out like melting snowflakes. And now, if Carla ever wants to see another Christmas, she needs all the grace and grit she can muster to trust the one who deserted her and the One who promised never to leave.

My Review:

published in 2022

Yay! A heroine with glasses! Myopic girlies unite! And my goodness, but Carla is on a journey. She’s hoping to finally come to grips with the past on her Christmas sojourn home – she just doesn’t anticipate things to pick up where she left them five years ago!

An angsty but oh-so-sweet second chance romance mixed with a light stalkerish vibe makes for a compelling read. Not quite a suspense – there’s not enough elements to really make it one – but it has some of that kind of chilling atmosphere. A captivating holiday escape read if you like a wee bit of edge with your romance.

Deadly Harvest

Random Retro Read

All Georgia Rae Winston wants is to fall in love. Life, of course, has other plans.

Georgia’s biggest challenge in the farming town of Wildcat Springs, Indiana, is figuring out how to win Evan Beckworth’s heart. Until the day she discovers the body of a former student in the woods. 

She assumes it was an accident. When she starts to suspect it wasn’t, it stirs memories of her father’s murder nine years earlier. A murder never solved. Georgia refuses to let that happen this time.

Not necessarily the wisest decision. 

As Georgia works with the sheriff’s department’s newest detective, Cal Perkins, she finds her heart slipping into his hands. But her head is pummeled with conflicting evidence and anonymous threats of severe consequences if she digs any deeper. 

In the end, Georgia faces a paralyzing choice. Ignore the dark secrets inside the family and friends who surround her or be willing to risk her own life to uncover the truth.

My Review:

published in 2018

What a delightful find! I don’t know of many cozy mysteries that also fit into the Christian Fiction category and Deadly Harvest is an excellent example of how well that works. I loved it — but do be aware that there is no mistaking the inspirational elements throughout the story. Prayer, scripture, bible study, friends who talk about Jesus and who are striving to follow Him. The characters are realistically flawed so this definitely isn’t a sugary sweet Utopia kind of read. Just be prepared to be uplifted in the midst of all the murder and mayhem! And yes, it actually works, as odd as that seems.

Love that Georgia has an unusual occupation for a heroine. She’s a farmer, spending her days out in the fields and working in the barn and doing all the things you would associate with farm life. She has an interesting backstory mystery which I think will play out more in future stories but in this first book in the series, Georgia stumbles upon a body on her property and the race is on to expose a killer…and new literary amateur sleuth is born!

Georgia’s gutsy and even a bit brazen when it comes to investigating. I enjoyed how up front she is and especially appreciate that she keeps the police in the loop when her snooping produces results. And speaking of the police…there is a new detective in town who just happens to be single. Yes, that’s a cozy mystery cliche and I love it!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya . She did a fantastic job with these characters and delivered a compelling performance.

Happy Sidenote: Deadly Harvest is currently free on Kindle right now.

Waiting for Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

The year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue. 

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.

My Review:

published in 2024

The word that comes to mind when I think about this book is ‘exquisite’. Exquisite storytelling. Exquisite characters. Exquisite Christmas message. And just plain exquisitely emotional. I choked up at one point which was kinda embarrassing since I was listening to the audiobook while grocery shopping. I actually had to blink back tears. It’s hard to compare prices and read labels when your vision is all blurry!

This novella follows ‘All My Secrets’ and it was a delight to get a more in depth glimpse at Addy and Howard’s happily ever after. However, ‘Waiting for Christmas’ could easily be read as a standalone as well. It focuses on the newlywed’s first months of marriage and the adjustments they both learn to make as they create a new life together.

Addy in particular is struggling with feelings of inadequacy as she learns to live well beneath the means she grew up with. What she lacks in experience she more than makes up for with passionate determination. And her servant’s heart opens doors and changes lives in astonishing ways over the Christmas season.

I was charmed and thrilled and emotionally wrung out by the end. A truly heartwarming and uplifting holiday read. (Well, listen in my case. As always, I enjoyed Sarah Zimmerman’s narration.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Waiting for Christmas  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 November 1 2025

Matchmaking the Cowboy + Giveaway

random retro read

What’s a little covert matchmaking between friends?

Lucy Aveline’s ex has a knack for making her feel small and helpless. She’d avoid him entirely, but he still owns a piece of her heart in the form of the pets he purchased for her but kept for himself. She visits Rosie and Jasmine when she can, vows to avoid another controlling boyfriend by staying single, and focuses on her large animal veterinary practice. Or that’s the plan until some longtime family friends attempt to set her up with former rodeo star Hollis Price. Lucy convinces them to drop the plot only when she promises to find Hollis a good match herself.

Hollis is more concerned with surviving his first Christmas after losing his dad than with finding love. Dad’s champion horse is aging, and rumors started by an unhappy client threaten the horse training business Hollis inherited from his father. When the kind and talented Lucy offers friendship, he accepts simply to add cheer to the season.

It’s not long before his interest in Lucy deepens, but so do problems at his ranch. Saving his father’s legacy begins to look as impossible as earning Lucy’s trust. Especially when her ex continues to use her love of animals against her and she won’t stop pushing her single friends at Hollis long enough to notice she’s the one he’s falling for.

Return to Redemption Ridge, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters in this Christian Christmas Romance.

Matchmaking the Cowboy is book 9 in the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series, but each of the books can be read on their own.

My Review:

published in 2024

I do so love a good matchmaking romance and this one fits the bill, especially with the added bonus of a Christmasy setting! Love the unique twist to the matchmaking plot: in order to avoid being aggressively (though lovingly) matched with Colter throughout the holiday season, Lucy agrees to find him a match herself. While that might get the well meaning matchmakers off her back, it also catapults Lucy into Hollis’s orbit so frequently that it’s impossible not to, well, fall in love with the guy. Bwahahaha!

Of course, things don’t go smoothly. There’s plenty of sassy banter and charged attempts to fight the inevitable attraction. Plus there’s Lucy’s horrid ex whose despicable actions made me want to pursewhomp him in the worst way. Thankfully, Hollis has his own measured comeuppance planned which sent me twirling into a jubilant victory dance while whooping my delight at the top of my lungs. My neighbours might still be traumatized, but I found it refreshingly cleansing. And yes, I know that’s not appropriate given it’s the season for good will and peace on earth but, trust me, once you meet the ex, you’ll totally understand!

There’s an array of engaging secondary characters who add depth and humour as well as unsolicited advise. 🙂 Many are heroes and heroines from previous ‘Christmas at Redemption Ridge’ novels, but this one easily reads well as a standalone.

I appreciated the faith elements the author included in Hollis and Lucy’s story. Pertinent and meaningful without coming off as preachy or too forceful. Just the perfect touch to bring hope and healing to this hero and heroine who absolutely deserve their happily ever after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –paperback or ebook, winner’s choice

Canada – paperback or ebook — 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 Matchmaking the Cowboy, 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 November 1 2025.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House + Giveaway

It is 1901 when clockmaker and brilliant tinker Sydney Forrester inherits Blakely House, the eclectic estate of an estranged uncle she’s never met. The well-known but mysterious industrialist has left behind a stunning array of peculiar inventions–and a couple of nephews intent on removing this interloper from the estate. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle’s death, the late master’s nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate’s butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master’s brilliance as well as his property–or someone else will.

My Review:

The first sentence that sparked my curiosity:

“It was a strangely calm morning in March, with no wind off the dales, when the woman I assumed to be my mother slipped into the shop.”

And from there I was hooked. Often confused, but completely absorbed. Even the secrets have secrets! Sometimes it felt like I’d been dropped on my head and I was reading everything upside down! Kafuffled doesn’t begin to describe my bibliophile state…but also intrigued!

Sydney is my kind of heroine – “That was what novels were for – having adventures without any of the discomfort.” She is a clever, quirky young woman who loves her books but likes the security of reading them in comfortable surroundings. And then, suddenly, she’s catapulted into a novel-worthy adventure of her very own…complete with a ‘pirate’ hero. (Her man of mystery inspires untold swoons and toe-curls for both Sydney and me!)

Blakely House and its inhabitants are as surprising and confusing and mysterious as you’d expect to find in this kind of thrilling atmospheric read. Adventure, romance and amazing curiosities abound. Politano is a gifted storyteller with an unsurpassed imagination and she has delivered a stunning inspirational historical romance in ‘The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House.’

“God had a rather unexpected way of saying “yes” to little girl prayers, slipping his answer into the fabric of everyday life.”

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook

Canada – ebook or audible — 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 Curious Inheritance of Blakely House  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 November 1 2025

Toils and Snares + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

A riveting tale of love, betrayal, and long-buried secrets, set in the heart of Alaska.

Daphne’s life takes a sharp turn when she becomes engaged to the love of her life, a beloved pastor in Anchorage. But joy is short-lived as she is thrust into the upscale world of her fiancé’s wealthy and influential family.

As the news of their engagement spreads, peculiar incidents start to unfold, leaving Daphne questioning whether there’s a sinister force at play. Haunted by her own family’s dark past, she begins to suspect that her secrets might be intertwined with those of her fiancé’s family—secrets that could shatter not only her own future but also the lives of everyone she holds dear.

From the bestselling USA Today author Alana Terry comes a gripping tale of danger, romance, and faith, set against the backdrop of the rugged Alaskan countryside.undefined

My Review:

An intriguing read and a little hard to define. Not quite a suspense, but there is a mystery, only it’s the kind that happens to Daphne rather than her trying to solve it. As a reader, I could see the pieces pulling together so there was still a bit of an armchair sleuthing component to the read which kept me turning pages.

Engaging characters with an interesting relationship – Daphne’s backstory is particularly compelling. And that’s about all I can say without posting spoilers due to the writing style and the shorter word count. A great read to go in blind and just let the story unfold.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Toils and Snares, 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 October 25 2025.

Love Finds You in the City at Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Love comes to the big city in two heartwarming stories of Christmas past and present. 

“Red Kettle Christmas” 
It’s 1946, and police officer Mike Wolzak has inherited his family’s home . . . and the custody of his younger sister, who is in trouble with a problem he doesn’t know how to fix. While on patrol during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mike makes the acquaintance of a lovely Salvation Army bell ringer, Karen O’Leary, who is struggling to support herself and her young daughter. As their paths cross during the festive holiday season in Manhattan, Karen teaches the tough World War II veteran how to support and love his family. In the process, he just might gain a new one.

“Manhattan Miracle”
A war-weary soldier who has served three tours in the Middle East, Max Wolzak has come home to New York City to celebrate Christmas with his family in the Manhattan brownstone where he spent much of his childhood. There Max reconnects with Sarah Peterson, his sister’s old schoolmate who now organizes relief missions for the United Nations. Sparks fly as the pair gets reacquainted over various holiday events, but when Max realizes that Sarah will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to make—convince her to stay, wait for her to return, or go with her to the one place to which he never thought he’d return.

My Review:

published in 2013

Be still my heart — I’m sure I heard the Hallelujah Chorus in the background as I finished this book. It is that good. That’s moving and uplifting and down-home Christmasy good.  Both stories start with Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and that sets the mood perfectly. Both stories have adorable little girls who know the true magic of Christmas and how to share it. Another excellent way to set that special mood. But though there are similarities in these two novellas, each author’s distinctive voice creates a unique and heart-warming read.

In Red Kettle Christmas, Herne’s characteristic writing style swept me into the heart of post World War II New York City  from the very first page. I love the way characters come to life at her fingertips. And I love how she portrays life and loss realistically, but always laced with hope. This novella has all the makings of a classic Christmas read.

Fast forward to present day and we get to read about the next generation of Wolzaks in Schmidt’s Manhattan Miracle. Interesting to jump decades and land at the very same place and the very same time. Love that link between the two stories. This is another touching read that gave me goosebumps at the Hollywood worthy finale.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy of this book so – yay – International Giveaway. Available to readers everywhere!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Love Finds You in the City at Christmas,  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 October 25 2025