Tag: Contemporary Romance

My Phony Valentine + Giveaway

random retro read

A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

My Review:

published in 2023

Eeeeppp!!! Stellar meet-cute!!!!!! And it leads to fake dating!!!!!! And then…feelings!!!!!!

“The air between us thickens. Two people who’ve been hurt one too many times finally acknowledging out loud that those hurts affected them.”

Emotional, playful and inspiring – a perfect blend for a rom/com with all the swoons! Who knew I could become so addlepated over a hockey player hero? But Dallas is a man of hidden depths and the way he champions Poppy is swoonalicious! And she becomes the stability he craves.

I’m also enamoured with all the team banter and sister bonding. Walsh knows how to add zest to a story through exceptional secondary characters and I’m hoping a number of them get their own stories too. I need everybody (even the ornery one) to get their very own happily every after!

“A roar of laughter from the guys. They’re so loud, but they’re fun to watch. Like German Shepherd puppies, with their oversized paws, wrestling and knocking everything over.”

This book is the reason why Courtney Walsh is on my read-to-zero list this year!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of My Phony Valentine, 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 21 2026

Falling for the Amish Rival

On the farm, they’re enemies…
On paper, they’re falling in love.

Amanda Stoltzfus would love to get married, but most Amish men aren’t interested in a woman who prefers farmwork to housework. Good thing her secret pen pal L.D. values her for who she is, unlike Amanda’s snarky rival, the irritating new goat farmer, David Troyer. But when Amanda arranges a long-anticipated meeting with her pen pal, she discovers it’s David! Soon they find themselves locked in a battle that will make or break the future of both their farms. Can they set aside their rivalry and look beyond the surface to find their perfect match?

My Review:

What a fun enemies to more romance! And I love the added secret identity trope that surrounds Amanda and David’s first few ‘real-life’ meetings. Such a contrast between their blossoming pen pal relationship and their almost instant dislike at first meet. I really enjoyed watching them sort that out, though there were times Amanda got my dander up. She was sooooo…..gah! But there’s tons of chemistry between these two, including some banter and teasing.

A goat farming heroine is unique and creates some interesting inner conflict for Amanda who never feels she measures up to the community’s norms. She loves working with her goats and she is a savvy businesswoman. Brilliant plot twist that she’s the expert mentoring David. That adds another dimension to their relationship and I so appreciate David for respecting her knowledge and being willing to accept her guidance.

A sweet Amish romance with lighthearted family drama to add extra dimension to the storytelling.

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

Hearts on the Fly + Giveaway

Jabari Hall has spent his entire life chasing victory on ice–but one devastating hit leaves him benched, not just from hockey, but from the future he thought he had. Now, as he struggles with deteriorating eyesight, his well-meaning teammates set him up on a date, hoping it will cheer him up–only the date they choose is none other than Val Elliott, his ex’s sister.

Val never expected to be sitting across from Jabari, especially after the way he broke her sister’s heart. But when Jabari opens up about his diagnosis, Val’s guarded heart softens, and she offers him a listening ear out of compassion. What begins as a simple friendship quickly turns into something more.

As Jabari navigates life off the ice and searches for a new purpose, he’s drawn to Val in ways he didn’t expect. With her loyalty to her family on the line and Jabari searching for faith and a new purpose, can they make it to the goal together, or will their hearts wind up in the penalty box?

Delve into award-winning author Toni Shiloh’s sports romance for fans of Emma St. Clair, Pepper Basham, and Melissa Ferguson.

My Review:

Not many authors can lure me over to the dark side, aka sports romance, but Toni Shiloh is definitely one of them. I was so enamoured with the story, I didn’t even cringe at the hockey descriptions…and, shocker, I actually understood them and could see the game playing out in my mind. So, rest assured, you don’t need to be a hockey buff in order to enjoy contemporary romance.

And oh my, but does this author ever know how to write a swoonworthy romance! Hello, I’m looking at you, Jabari! Thud! Friendly reader alert: have a stockpile of smelling salts and fans next to your fainting couch to ensure maximum reading comfort.

And when I wasn’t swooning (on repeat) over our hero, I was completely immersed in Val’s family drama. One of the most memorable family dinner scenes I’ve ever read made me cringe, fume and burst out laughing in quick succession!

Shiloh has a talent for seamlessly switching from lighthearted moments to heart wrenching ones. So yes, her trademark banter and teasing (Jabari’s guy friend discussions are so much fun!) are on full display but her storytelling also takes on emotional depth with strong inspirational threads that took my breath away!

“God’s got you. I don’t know what your future looks like, but as long as He is in control you be can sure He’s with you in the trial.”

Both Val and Jabari have their own personal demons to conquer and I love the way that played out. They grew together, supported one another and, most importantly, talked things out! I loved every second of their journey!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Hearts on the Fly’ brilliantly narrated by AhDream Smith and Hassiem Muhammad. They brought the right mood to their performances — a lovely mix of lighthearted charm and emotional depth. Highly recommend the audio book to discerning listeners.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – ebook or paperback– winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hearts on the Fly 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 January 31 2026.

Love in the Castle Library + Giveaway

Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I.

Delphine’s split-second decision to hire Jack Worthington, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has long-lasting consequences when he steps in to protect her from an angry colleague determined to ruin her life. The only catch? That protection looks like Jack posing as her beau.

Jack Worthington believes that his instinct to protect Delphine was the right one, but he’s determined to stay focused on his research for Lethersby—and keep his emotional distance after reeling from a broken heart. Yet as the clues to discovering the Lost Queen’s story unravel and the Delphine’s future hangs in the balance, both Jack and Delphine must step out in faith, choosing to trust that what God has ahead for them is worth any risk.

My Review:

Not just a five star read but an all the stars in the sky read! And it’s impossible for me to even begin to express how incredible this book is. Immersive and emotional and so, so, sooooooo very swoonable! Jack! Be. Still. My. Heart. Not to mention the incredible inspirational threads that are seamlessly woven throughout the entire story. It’s all…just…bibliophile perfection.

I was so moved by Delphine’s story. Her struggles were so relatable to me and I ached for her. I’d love to do a deep dive into all the emotional triggers but I don’t want to spoil the reading experience for others. This would make an awesome book club read though, for the numerous talking points ‘Love in the Castle Library’ provides. This is not a simple romance by any means, though it is an epic one (I cried at the end.)

I appreciate the strength of the faith content in this novel. There’s no mistaking this Christian Fiction and I love the way characters support one another in their different stages of understanding. Even the secondary characters — oh my, Jack’s father! What an incredible source of steadfast wisdom! So many wonderful takeaways for readers seeking encouragement and comfort.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Love in the Castle Library’ but there are so many quotable quotes in this book that I’m going to get a print copy as well. Marni Penning did a wonderful job narrating the book and it’s one that I will definitely listen to again, but I need to annotate a paperback too. It’s that good!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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 Love in the Castle Library,  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 January 24 2026.

The First Gift

Random Retro ReRead

Five-year-old Cassie Carruthers fends for herself while her father drinks himself into a stupor. But her isolation has not gone unnoticed as a northern Appalachian works to rescue the neglected little girl. Kerry McHenry, the kindergarten teacher, sees her own tough upbringing in Cassie’s dire situation. As she throws herself into helping Cassie become everything God wants her to be, she finds herself torn between a commitment-phobic doctor and a widowed deputy sheriff still angry with God. As the stakes grow ever higher and the characters’ lives intersect in unexpected ways, each will face a true test of faith – and come face-to-face with indisputable evidence of God’s love.

My Review:

I’ve chosen Ruth Logan Herne as one of the authors I’d like reread from this year so you’ll be seeing some of her Classics (in my opinion) on this blog from time to time. It’s been awhile since I’ve read anything by her and this was the perfect book to remind me of why I love her storytelling so much.

published in 2016

I’m suffering from the woe-is-me-I-read-that-book-way-too-fast-and-now-I’m-going-to-miss-it blues. Sniffle. But that’s the kind of book The First Gift is. You can’t stop yourself from reading at a voracious speed even though you want the story to last forever. Such a reader dilemma! And Ruth Logan Herne does it to me every time because she writes from the heart and I love an emotionally charged novel.

This is complex, true-to-life stuff with all the gnarly bits included. Cassie’s story moved me to tears — of both sorrow and joy. In fact, I’ll just issue a five tissue box alert right here and now. I sobbed at the end – a ragged crying jag because this book messed with so many emotions I just had to get it all out. Very cathartic. It left me with a better understanding of how God really does direct our paths, even at the unlikeliest of times. How His big picture is so much better than my narrow-minded view. The First Gift is worth the read just for Hannah’s sage wisdom and down-to-earth counsel. Not to mention Father Cumming’s no nonsense approach to spirituality. Loved them both to pieces. 

This story reminds me of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” And, you know what? In the process the child raises the adults to a higher level — including the reader.

There’s a lot to celebrate in this novel: racial diversity among the characters, the power of God to change hearts, the encouragement to find hope even during the darkest times. And I haven’t even touched on the romance! Which is just as gnarly and realistic as the rest of the book. My heart raced. My knees buckled. And it hurt, a lot, before it got better ’cause I just wasn’t sure if I trusted Ruthy to make it right the way I wanted it to be right.

What more can I say except if ever a book begged to be turned into a movie script — this one is it!

Not Exactly Mr Darcy + Giveaway

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book.

Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

My Review:

I love finding a good title/cover art tie in to a book and does Miller ever deliver that with her first Silver Teapot Series! I actually got a shivery thrill when I saw that cover scene play out and when I read ‘not exactly Mr Darcy’ right on the page! Eeeeppp!!! Is it weird that I get giddy over little details like that? Probably, but it really does tie all the elements of a story together and I appreciate that level of attention to detail.

And, really, what’s not to love about a contemporary romance with an Austenish flare? Not a retelling, per say, more like Pride and Prejudice adjacent. While visiting her grandmother in England, history loving Liv becomes involved in the restoration of a heritage manor house. The exact house that just happened to be made famous in a P&P dramatization. In the process she clashes with the gruff (squealll…grumpy hero alert!) gardener she has an unfortunate encounter with on the grounds.

And that’s when the fun really begins….lots of drama too! Because, no surprise, Liam and Liv tend to clash…a lot. She’s a force of nature with an unlimited imagination and tons of marketing ideas for the property. Ideas which mean change, and change isn’t something Liam is comfortable with.

This is an almost enemies to more trope with a s-l-o-w build to friendship and a reluctant attraction that neither Liam nor Liv want to act on. So, lots of delicious romantical longing that kept me eagerly turning pages.

Tons of wonderful secondary characters encourage (and discourage) our hero and heroine in different ways, adding lots of depth to the story. Emotions run deep and issues need to be faced and worked through before Liam and Liv have a hope of achieving that storybook happily ever which makes for an exquisite reading experience.

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 Not Exactly Mr Darcy, 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 December 20 2025.

At the Edge of a Dark Forest + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Cole Harrison, a war veteran, wears his disfigurement like a barrier to those who might love him, shielding them from the ugliness inside. He agrees to try and potentially invest in, a prototype prosthetic with the goal of saving a hopeless man’s dreams.

Carly Rose contracts to live with Cole and train him to use his new limbs, only to discover the darkness that wars against the man he could become. 
At the Edge of a Dark Forest is a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Only it is not her love that will make him whole.

My Review:

A unique contemporary reimagining of Beauty and the Beast that’s saturated in emotion and faith.

There are some darker elements to this story which had me a bit wary at first. I was worried that Cole’s issues would be dealt with superficially (this is a novella, after all) and the seriousness of the situation warranted so much more. Almony proved my concerns were baseless though, and after finishing ‘At the Edge of a Dark Forest’, I wasn’t surprised to discover that she has a background in Christian counselling. What a powerful overcoming faith journey!

Loved the way the author wove classic fairy tale elements into this modern day retelling. Sometimes obvious, other times more subtle and genuinely unique to this particular story. This is my first Connie Almony reading experience but I’ll definitely be reading more of her books after finishing this compelling fairy tale retelling.

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 At the Edge of a Dark Forest, 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 December 13 2025.

Hate You, Maybe

When the stakes are win, lose, or fall … and love is not in their lesson plan.

Sayla Kroft has only two goals this year:

Score the big district grant to rebuild her high school’s dilapidated theater.
Avoid Dexter Michaels, the flirty-flirt athletic director who wants those same funds for the gym. Losing to her workplace enemy—again—is not on Sayla’s never-ending to-do list. Neither is being trapped with her maddening coworker at a professional retreat.

Or noticing his relentlessly crooked smile is actually kind of … hot.

But just as she’s beginning to believe Dex might not be the devil himself, the two are forced to switch job titles to prove their collaborative spirit. That’s when Sayla realizes her competition is fiercer than she imagined, which leaves her with an impossible choice:

Fall for Dex and risk losing the grant … or stop at nothing to win, and risk losing everything.

My Review:

A great enemies to more romance that lightens the angst with lots of fun snarky banter. Sayla is so anti-Dex in the beginning that I was worried I wouldn’t be able to relate to her at first, but snippets of her backstory reveal hidden depths and I soon became her enthusiastic cheerleader. Especially once they head out on that professional retreat and our enemies to more trope stretches into close proximity where sparks start sizzling and hearts begin to soften.

Sayla and Dex remind me of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (my first experience with literary romance!) They have that same kind of competitive vibe where Sayla/Anne takes it way more seriously than Dex/Gilbert. Loved finding that personal childhood to adult connection in this story. I was just as emotionally invested in Sayla and Dex’s romance as I was in Anne and Gilbert’s decades ago!

And the way the author draws on the complex stumbling blocks that threaten to keep them apart kept me compulsively reading. Because how could everything get sorted when obviously only one of them can win that coveted grant money?! Love the way hope threads through it all. And this hero and heroine finding the courage to take risks and believe in second chances adds even more emotional depth and balances the brilliant rom/com moments perfectly.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Hate You, Maybe’ and thoroughly enjoyed the dual narration provided by Amanda Friday and Andy Harrington. Their performance helped me connect to the characters even more. Love the energy and comic pacing they brought to the narration, as well as all the emotion they managed to convey with only their voices. Made for an attention-grabbing listening experience.

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

12 Days of Mistletoe Kisses

Random Retro Read

How to end up in Christmas kissing lessons with your downstairs enemy… 

Break apartment rules? Guilty.
Send holiday cards to the downstairs neighbor’s grandma? Done. 
Accidentally become said neighbor’s fake girlfriend for a family Christmas photo? Wait, what?

I, Bonnie Miller, am no troublemaker. I’m just an anxious girl trying to keep my emotional support pup in a no-pets apartment building. But my downstairs neighbor is determined to be my personal Grinch and get us both evicted.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, Elliot Eaton offers me a deal I can’t refuse. Suddenly I’m playing girlfriend and giving mistletoe kisses to my sworn enemy, all to keep my home. 

Who knew that breaking one little rule would lead to a fan-mistletoe-tastic holiday?

12 Days of Mistletoe is a closed door, laugh out loud, warm your wintery heart romcom. If you need a book with all the feels, some mistletoe kisses, and lots of holiday spirit, look no further!

My Review:

published in 2024

A lovely combination of enemies to more morphing into fake dating. Add in a wily granny matchmaker and things really start to get interesting in this light-hearted rom/com with plenty of emotional depth. I particularly appreciate the mental health representation as Bonnie deals with severe anxiety. The author approaches the topic with grace and empathy and, of course, by providing Bonnie with an adorable service dog who changes her life for the better. Only her apartment doesn’t allow pets.

That’s the cue for Mr. Stringent Rule Follower, Elliot, to take action. He has taken over management of the complex for his grandmother and he isn’t about to let anyone take advantage of her. But his intention to evict the erstwhile rule-breaking tenant goes completely awry and he finds himself fake dating her instead!

Chaos ensues amidst a flurry of festive activities that often include Elliot’s highly entertaining family including that matchmaking granny! Oh and mistletoe. Copious amounts of mistletoe. So much fun, but infused with emotional depth as well. A heartwarming rom/com wrapped up in just the right amount of holiday cheer.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition narrated by Stephanie Rose and Andy Harrington. Their dual narration added extra zest to the story and I definitely recommend the audio book to discerning audiobook fans.

Speaking of which:

12 Days of Mistletoe is currently on sale on Chirpbooks for .99! It’s also available on KU.

A Horseman’s Heart + Giveaway

“A book with heart that will steal yours” North Carolina’s a long, long way from Texas, but horse trainer Kip Lorimer needs to get out of town fast, because the woman who long ago destroyed his last remnants of trust has just caught up with him—again.

Special-ed teacher Sheridan Cross has trust issues of her own, so when Kip shows up with a horse to donate to the family’s equine therapy program, she can’t help but be suspicious. A cowboy a thousand miles from home and living out of a horse trailer? What’s wrong with this picture?

When Sheridan’s mother offers Kip a job as barn manager, Sheridan decides she’d better stick close enough to keep an eye on things, never expecting she’ll soon have eyes only for the handsome cowboy. Can they trust their hearts and find true love, or will their troubled pasts come crashing down on their dreams?

My Review:

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book by Myra Johnson so when I discovered this one being released as a brand new audiobook, narrated by the author, I was auto buy all the way! And this story reminded me of exactly why I love Johnson’s storytelling. But now, she’s beguiled me with her narrating skills as well.

What a captivating listening experience, and I don’t mind saying I was a little wary of an author-narrated audio book. I’ve tried a few in the past and found the delivery to be quite monotone and unexciting. Hallelujah, that is not the case with Myra Johnson’s narration! She has a pleasant tone and injects emotion into the characters’ voices which really helped bring the story to life. Loved her pacing and the feeling I got that I was reading with someone who was enjoying the story as much as I was! 🙂

And, oh my, this story!!! Sheridan and Kip get off to a rocky start and I loved the way their relationship slowly developed between the two. They both have issues from the past and are wary for different reasons and it was very much a case of two steps forward, one step back all the way through. Just the right amount of angst, lightened by some humorous moments. Loved the depth in characterization and the way their imperfect faith saw them through. So relatable!

The equine therapy program and the overall ranch setting is so well developed. This city girl could totally visualize everything and my childhood horse fangirling self enjoyed all the equine details.

A deliciously captivating inspirational romance with the kind of heartwarming touches that add extra depth to a reader’s enjoyment.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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 A Horseman’s Heart, 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 29 2025