Tag: Contemporary Romance

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

Like a Christmas Dream + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

“Follow your dreams” is not her family’s motto.

But this Christmas, Sarah’s doing the unthinkable—defying her wealthy parents.

Instead of fulfilling expected holiday obligations, she visits a quaint English village to help her estranged sister open her dream bakery. And yes, Sarah fully expects things to be awkward between them.

What she doesn’t expect?

Michael Hammett.

The charming British photographer challenges her perspective in more ways than one. Maybe, just maybe, she can choose a life outside of her parents’ control.

But when her father threatens the thing Sarah cares about most, will her newfound perspective be enough—or will living life on her own terms always be a distant dream?

You’ll adore this faith-filled romance, because everyone likes a heartwarming tale of sisterhood and love that can be enjoyed all year long.

My Review:

published in 2020

Sniffle. Who knew that spending Christmas in a picture perfect English village would take me on such an emotional journey? Sarah’s position in her family is so precarious and her yearning to be recognized and appreciated is heartbreaking. I kept willing her to…well, I can’t say without posting a spoiler…but I became so invested in her emotional angst! And Harrel knows how to mix edgy with humour and heartwarming so a reader never feels completely overwhelmed.

And, of course, our British hero, Michael adds an interesting twist to the possibility of romance because, hello, there’s an entire ocean between them most of the time! Love his gentle, steadfast spirit, even though my heart ached for him as well.

I appreciate the significant spiritual content woven throughout the story as Sarah struggles to find a place where she can be accepted in all her glorious imperfection. So touching and uplifting!

While part of Lindsay Harrel’s Port Willis world, ‘Like a Christmas Dream’ reads well as a standalone novella, though the author’s fans will recognize some familiar faces within the secondary character line up which adds to the overall appeal that much more.

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  Like a Christmas Dream, 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.

The Christmas Letters + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Can an old letter spark a new flame?

When Tess Ravenel gets herself stuck inside a bathroom stall in one of Charleston’s most historic buildings, she isn’t exactly thinking about her dating life. But then the paramedic who comes to her rescue has a voice that sounds like butter and enough charm to make her forget she’s seconds from having a panic attack.

If only he were interested.

Andrew McKay has a mysterious Christmas pen pal, a woman who replied to a newly found letter he sent to Santa back when he was a kid. After weeks of correspondence, it’s clear she’s funny, smart, interesting…and an awful lot like Tess Ravanel—the woman he’s already blown off twice for good reason.

Tess and Andrew couldn’t be more different, but when their worlds collide, fate (and a little Christmas magic) set them on a crash course for love.

The Christmas Letters is a closed door sweet holiday romance with lots of chemistry but no spice. This book was first published in 2019 but has been heavily revised and updated.

My Review:

published in 2023

Festive, fun and flirty! This was a surprise best read for me this season. I loved the idea of a letter writing romance since I’m a huge fan of epistolary novels and this one is brilliantly crafted. No worries if you’re not a fan of this particular literary form, the story isn’t all letter writing! But those letters play a huge part in bringing the hero and heroine together.

So we have Tess desperately trying to reinvent herself which means standing up to her parents and rebelling against their societal expectations. And Andrew is just a hardworking paramedic trying to get past an unexpected heartbreak. Their meet-cute is adorably awkward but Tess is hopeful that the connection she felt wasn’t one-sided. She isn’t wrong but that doesn’t mean Drew is going to anything about it!

Lots of great comedic pacing in this novella – especially when the Christmas pen pal letters start up. A perfect case of hidden…or would that be mistaken…identity? And then things get even more complicated when Tess and Drew keep meeting up, neither of them realizing they are also writing to each other incognito. A kind of wonderful mash up of ‘Daddy Long Legs’, ‘You’ve Got Mail’ with a bit of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ thrown in…and a whole lot of fun!

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 The Christmas Letters,  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

The Christmas Ring + Giveaway

While searching for her family’s missing Christmas ring, a military widow sparks a friendship with a handsome antiques dealer, who just might have the love and the lost heirloom she’s been longing for.

Vanessa Mayfield’s great-grandfather discovered a beautiful gold and ruby ring buried in the dirt at Normandy on D-Day. It gave him hope when all hope seemed lost and came to be known as The Christmas Ring as it was passed down through the generations of their family.

Years ago, though, Vanessa lost the ring shortly after becoming a military widow herself and has scoured antique stores ever since, hoping someone found it. After dropping her daughter Sadie off for college, the “Christmas in July” sale sign she sees passing through Marietta seems the perfect distraction before returning to her now-empty house. She doesn’t find the ring, but she does find something completely the co-owner of the store, Ben Miller, makes her smile in a way she hasn’t since losing her husband.

Their friendship blossoms throughout the fall, and as Christmas nears, it’s clear that something more is developing. Unbeknownst to either of them, Ben’s father, Howard, has purchased a box of antiques that happens to include Vanessa’s missing heirloom Christmas ring. A ring secretly worth five figures and filled with a lifetime of Vanessa’s memories. Ben’s father has no idea the importance of the heirloom–he just knows it is by far the most valuable piece he will have ever sold–and he’s making plans to sell it so he can finally travel the world. It is his Christmas diamond in the rough.

As Vanessa works to pull off her annual Columbus Cares Christmas Military Dance, she’s eager for Sadie to return home from college. But she hasn’t told Sadie about Ben. Every time she tries, something stops them. But with Ben in town to help with final preparations for the dance, she can no longer put it off.

When Ben learns the truth about his father’s newfound treasure, he fears it will become a wedge that drives them completely apart. Can he convince his father to stop the sale of Vanessa’s precious heirloom? Or this Christmas, will love become the actual diamond in the rough?

My Review:

Traditional holiday fare from a best-selling author. Not only does the plot develop like a movie, it actually is one. So, book, audio book and movie all released at the same time, which means it’s available to everyone no matter their personal storytelling preference.

I chose audio and really enjoyed Paige McKinney’s narration. She brought all the emotion and joy in Kingsbury’s story to vibrant life. Her performance enhanced my ‘reading’ enjoyment and made it hard to put the book down.

A missing family heirloom and a second chance romance are accentuated through rich characterization and a moving inspirational thread. Letting go of the past and finding courage to create a new future is such an important part of Vanessa and Ben’s story and I love the way the author delivered all the complex emotions honestly.

A heartwarming and hopeful holiday read.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – 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 Christmas Ring,  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 22 2025

Rent Yourself an Elf + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

She’s not feeling the holiday spirit. Maybe all she needs is to rent herself an elf.

It’s Christmas, and I should be full of cheer, but I’m having a hard time mustering the holiday spirit. That was always Grams’ role. She loved Christmas so much she talked my parents into naming me Noelle. Yeah, Noelle Furst. Picture the boys in elementary school having a heyday with my name. But I didn’t care. I knew Gram picked it for me, and I wore it proudly.

When Grams passed two years ago, she left me this house. I’m a lot of things, but a handywoman isn’t one of them. And there’s a ton of work to be done.

My big plan? Ignore Christmas this year. In only one month I can move into a new year and put my painful memories back in a box along with all the decorations. But my friends have other ideas.

When I open my front door and look up, there’s a very muscular, very not-an-elf looking man in a Santa hat smiling a stocking-curling smile at me. He’s holding a toolbox.
He says, “Hi, I’m your elf,” and with those four short words, I’m rethinking my whole stance on this holiday.

Rent Yourself an Elf is a closed-door, fake-dating romcom novella. It’s just the quick, sweet read you need during your holidays.

My Review:

published in 2023

Fun and flirty with enough toe-curling kisses to send me into a bibliophile swoon. In Noelle’s words, “Move over, elf on the shelf. The elf on the porch is in town.” (p 16) and really, how could she (we) resist the brawny handyman standing on her doorstep courtesy of her outrageous girlfriends. Of course, they didn’t know that the rent an elf they hired to work on Noelle’s dilapidated house was so….unelflike!

This novella is short and sweet (100 pages) but Scott makes every word count and delivers the kind of holiday escape read that’s guaranteed to keep you grinning (and swooning.) The banter is priceless, the teasing and flirtation so much fun! And the friend group chats, Noelle with her girl posse, and Liam’s brothers and guy friends were just as much fun!

The perfect cozy escape read for a snowy afternoon.

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 Rent Yourself an Elf, 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 22 2025.

A Cross-Country Christmas

Random Retro Read

Lauren Richmond isn’t a fan of Christmas.

Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy—namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom.

But this December, Lauren’s brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will.

Unfortunately for Lauren, she’s been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than ten years.

Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she’s stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois.

She’s circumspect and organized. He’s flirty and spontaneous.

She’s convinced that people don’t change. He’s trying to prove to her (and himself) that he has.

On this cross-country road trip, they’ll both discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself. . . but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.

My Review:

published in 2021

“Because he’s a recipe for disaster. A literal recipe. Two cups of charm, three ounces of inappropriate flirting, and a dash of dimples make for a very, very broken heart.” (p 89)

Ah, Will, you are most definitely book boyfriend material and I am sorry it took Lauren so long to realize that but it sure was fun watching her fight all that charisma!

Love the way their romance develops on one very memorable road trip. An enemies to more trope where both hero and heroine are wrestling with their pasts. Will is trying to see himself as good enough after overcoming his erstwhile youth while, unbeknownst to him, Lauren was a casualty of that past. Two people couldn’t be more opposite and the banterish clashes were so much fun to read! Walsh knows how to write entertaining dialogue!

Their journey is full of interesting detours courtesy of Will’s unexplained whims. We get the sense that there is a method to his madness and his spontaneous side trips are driving Lauren crazy. She’s so rigidly organized — dare I say, uptight – and has a whole Grinchy thing going on. Love the way Will handles her prickliness and his determination to de-Grinch her!

So, lots of memorable rom/com moments but also some surprising emotional ones. In fact, I burst into tears at one point! Sniffle. I love it when a book makes me laugh and cry and then leaves me blissfully bibliophiled forever after.

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 A Cross-Country 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 22 2025