Contemporary Romance – Page 4

Dying to Read + Giveaway

Cate Kinkaid is just dipping her toe into the world of private investigating until one of the many résumés she has floating around lands her a real job. All she has to do is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? When the big and brooding house happens to contain a dead body, this routine PI job turns out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?

Readers will be hooked from the very first chapter of this fast-paced and witty romantic mystery from bestselling and award-winning author Lorena McCourtney.

My Review:

published in 2012

An engaging mystery with no end of false trails and intriguing subplots. I have to admit this armchair sleuth (a graduate of the Nancy Drew/Trixie Belden School of Sleuthing) was hard pressed to solve the murder before heroine Cate Kinkaid.

Fascinating and amusing characters provide lots of scope for mayhem as Cate catapults herself into the thick of things. Loved Cate’s pithy point of view — and the whole story is from her perspective. Snappy dialogue mixed with Cate’s unique insights provide humour in nearly every scene but that doesn’t stop drama from unfolding too. Both professional and personal angst counter Cate’s witty asides and make for a well-rounded and captivating read.

Oh — and watch out for the kitty diva, Octavia. Doesn’t every supersleuth need a little help from a familiar now and again?

And let’s not forget about the dragon-slaying knight in shining armour hero – a cute guy but what an annoying habit! Cate wants to slay her own dragons, thank you very much…in theory anyway. This light romance sealed the deal for me — and I’m hoping Dying to Read is just the beginning of a promising new cozy mystery series.

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 Dying to Read, 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 August 23 2025.

Northargyle Abbie + Giveaway

When Abigail Morgan, a naive pastor’s daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother’s past—an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.

While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother’s mystery—and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago—than she ever imagined.

In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.

My Review:

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and Janelle Leonard did not disappoint! Impressive debut novel!

Love the family history angle that sends Abigail way out of her comfort zone on the hunt for her beloved gran’s secret story. (Hello! Road trip to Australia? Yes, Please!) She’s wildly imaginative and endearingly awkward. Each chapter includes whimsical Abbie musings in classic museum placard style which gives readers a glimpse of her quirky wit.

So, insecure pastor’s daughter finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as Leonard loosely reimagines Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’. But make no mistake, ‘Northargyle Abbie’ is most definitely a unique story all on its own.

This is as much a coming of age story as it is a delightful contemporary romance. But, oh my, when Colter makes his appearance, well, time to clear off you fainting couch. In Abbie’s words, “Ladies and gentlemen, I just experienced a meet-cute worthy of its own chapter.” ( p 70) And the man arrives with a certain air of mystery which was all kinds of fun to sort out.

The romance is swoonaliciously unhurried, there are mysteries to solve and bad ‘uns to thwart, all with an eye on the fairy tale promise of a scrumptious happily ever after. Divine reading that was impossible to put down.

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 Northargyle Abbie, 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 August 16 2025.

The Second Story Bookshop + Giveaway

She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she’s helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Granville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago.

Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn’t skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he’d fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he’s back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend’s will. Facing the town’s animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram’s beyond-the-grave scheme is working–Shelby’s old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces–one that threatens Gram’s beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?

My Review:

A Second Chance Romance set in a bookish backdrop? Yes please! Even though Shelby and Gray’s love story includes a…gasp…dreaded love triangle! I almost gave up before the story really started but it’s Denise Hunter and if I can’t trust her with my fragile LT resistant heart, who can I trust? And truly, as far as love triangles go this one wasn’t as angsty as it could have been. I could explain why but then I’d be sharing spoilers so…guess you’ll have to trust me just the way I had to trust the author.

Poignant and tender and steeped in emotion, this novel brought on all the feels, from fuming to swooning and everything in between. Kept me invested right through to the end. A high school romance gone terribly wrong and Shelby’s been nursing some significant resentment ever since. Meanwhile, Gray has been trapped in his regrets. Their coming together once again results in an explosion of mixed emotions and the opportunity to finally come to terms with the past.

Hunter explores the complex issue of bullying – both then and now – with stomach churning precision. Gah! I felt for Gray and everything he had to endure. I appreciated the snippets of storytelling from their past that set the stage for the present. It explained so much and helped me feel sympathetic to both hero and heroine. And I love the way Gram’s gentle support reaches out to both of them after her death. Such a wonderful legacy of love!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘The Second Story Bookshop’ narrated by Kim Churchill. I felt like she had a good grasp of the characters’ personalities which carried over into her performance, making me appreciate them, and their story, all the more.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOOK DOESN’T RELEASE UNTIL OCTOBER 7 SO THERE WILL BE A BIT OF A WAIT TO CLAIM YOUR WIN!

US – ebook edition

Canada – available 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 Second Story Bookshop, 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 August 9 2025

Like a Winter Snow + Giveaway

Cozy up with this charming and uplifting romance all about unexpected love, true friendship, and family loyalty. Set during a Christmas-time wedding among the falling snow, this sweet story will warm your heart.

Women’s counselor Joy Beckman has always been a friend and helper to all. That’s why she’s given up everything to be with her parents as her mother suffers through Alzheimer’s. Joy may not have a thriving career or a love life at the moment, but she’s doing what she does best—taking care of others. And even though it’s difficult, she knows it’s where she is supposed to be.

But life throws a curveball when she has to leave her parents temporarily to travel to Cornwall, England, for the December wedding of her best friend. While there, Joy helps Sophia tackle her last-minute to-do list, and in the process, finally meets a man who turns her head—and her heart. The only problem? He lives in snowy London, and her life is with her parents back in sunny Florida.

She tries to resist Oliver Lincoln’s charms, but it’s harder than it should be. With her heart torn in two, Joy is forced to choose between a life she knows she’s meant for and the one she didn’t see coming.

Fall in love with this enchanting romance that’s sure to delight fans of Rachel Hauck and Melissa Tagg. Even if you have not read The Secrets of Paper and Ink (where the quaint village of Port Willis was first born), you can fully enjoy this heartwarming holiday novella.

My Review:

published in 2020

A lot of bookish friends have recommended this Port Willis Romance Christmas series and this is the year I am going to catch up with them all. After reading this first book #1, I can totally see what all the buzz is about.

A short, sweet novella length story filled to the brim with inspiration and hope and the spirit of Christmas. Oh, and an impossible romance. Oliver is British, Joy American, and they meet at a mutual friend’s Christmas wedding in Cornwall. Eeeeeppp – perfectly divine setting! Their attraction is real and quickly developing into something much deeper only they are an ocean apart except for Joy’s brief holiday sojourn.

Such a captivating, insightful story that explores the kind of courage it takes to trust God – especially at the most difficult time in our lives. “Yes, but I think sometimes God wants us to be stretched. To choose the thing that’s frightening and unsure. To live boldly. To take a chance on the unknown.” (p 156.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Like a Winter Snow, 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 July 26 2025

A Match Made at Christmas + Giveaway

Hayes McGuire never believed the stories about a famous Nantucket matchmaker until she ropes him into taking over her duties while she’s off the island for Christmas.

So he enlists the help of the one person he can trust with this crazy scheme—his best friend, Prudence. Armed with a series of rules, a book of success stories and the promise of Christmas magic, the pair of old friends sets out to make a Christmas match.

Little do they know that magic doesn’t discriminate, and the pair soon finds their years of friendship deepening into something more. Will Pru and Hayes ignore the electricity in the air between them or will there be more than one match made at Christmas?

A Match Made at Christmas is a stand-alone holiday novella.

My Review:

published in 2020

A seriously brilliant twist on the friends to more trope with so much Christmas pizzazz I can’t even…

“They were like two shattered pieces of glass, and she had to wonder if their pieces would ever fit together.” (p 8)

A blissfully happy marshmallows-melting-in-my-hot-chocolate romantical read that transformed me into giggling goo. 🙂 (And apparently left me a tad addlepated to boot!)

Loved the matchmaking magic that turns out to have quite a kick! And the valiant way Hayes tries to honour his promise to carry out his mission. And, since he’s a romance flunkee, he enlists the aid of his bestest of best friends, Pru. Who is also his secret love, though he refuses to acknowledge that pesky feeling. And Pru, well, she’s all about preserving their friendship at any cost — including not giving in to the romantic notions about Hayes that have plagued her for years.

Thrown together on a holiday quest to bring light and love to an unsuspecting pair, these amateur matchmakers aren’t prepared for the residual fallout that has the potential to make or break their friendship forever.

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 A Match Made 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 July 26 2025.

The Christmas Heirloom + Giveaway

Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

In Kristi Ann Hunter’s “Legacy of Love,” Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman’s grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can’t help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

In Karen Witemeyer’s “Gift of the Heart,” widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas’s “A Shot at Love,” Fleeta Brady’s rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother’s brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

In Becky Wade’s “Because of You,” Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

My Review:

published in 2018

I don’t read a ton of novellas but I’m fond of Christmas collections and these stories do justice to that beautiful cover. I love the heirloom brooch connection to all four stories and the way we get to follow it through the generations.

Loved the opportunity to time travel with four of my favourite authors, savoring spectacular love stories that span centuries. Each one reads like a full length novel with all the complexities of character and plot. Think toe-curls and swoons times four! Leaves a romantical reader kinda breathless! And you can’t beat four happily-ever-after Christmas themed love stories to get you in the holiday spirit! A perfect pre-Christmas gift for any avid reader on your list (including you!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a 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 The Christmas Heirloom, 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 July 26 2025.

The Christmas Gathering

A CHRISTMAS REUNION by Shelley Shepard Gray: Tricia Troyer is thrilled when Brandt Massey, her cousin’s English friend, joins the Troyers’s holiday gathering for the second year in a row. When Brandt asks Tricia to be his girlfriend, they both know she’ll have important choices to make about her future. But the two aren’t as different as some believe-and with open hearts and understanding, their very own Christmas miracle just might be possible . . .

WE GATHER TOGETHER by Lenora Worth: When Lucas Myer meets Kayla Hollinger on the shores of Lake Erie, he’s smitten. The two plan to meet again-but soon enough they discover a problem: their relatives are locked in a longtime feud and forbid them to socialize. Fortunately, Lucas and Kayla are old enough to make their own decisions-and they decide to create a Christmas miracle of forgiveness and love . . .

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES by Rachel J. Good: Years ago, Andrew was banished by his Amish family when he chose a career in music. And now, just before Christmas, he and his band find themselves stranded after their manager absconds with their money. Desperate, Andrew is offered a job teaching piano-but that’s just the first miracle. His work will not only bless others in need, but a longtime fan might just capture his heart-and even lead him home . .

My Review:

Three heartwarming holiday novellas that share one common thread: Christmas family reunions, Amish style.

Shelley Shepard Gray’s classic storytelling creates drama and hope around a forbidden Amish/Englisch romance that seems doomed from the start. That forbidden love theme continues when Lenora Worth’s hero and heroine are thwarted by feuding families. And the love of forbidden music complicates the lives of one Amish couple looking for a Christmas miracle in Rachel J. Good’s novella.

Simple details of Amish holiday traditions bring a gentle festive touch to these stories. A lovely addition to any library’s Christmas collection.

Snowed in at the Castle + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Indie!

A light-hearted holiday romance about an orphaned woman who gets snowed in with a prince for Christmas.

What if you were snowed in far away from home with a prince…

But you thought he was just a normal guy?

A normal guy who spoke beautiful words and snuck you into the ballroom in the middle of the night just so he could hold you close?

Avery Rossi’s had a rough year. She took a dream European vacation to push a restart button on her life, only to end up stranded in the airport. Her tour group is directed to temporary lodging in the castle–every girl’s dream come true. When she meets a royal advisor with brooding eyes and broad shoulders, she’s tempted to tear up her return ticket.

Prince Matteo de Luca must announce his engagement at the Christmas Eve ball. There are several problems.

1. The women his parents want him to marry is a troll.
2. He doesn’t want to get married at all.
3. He’s met an adorable American who makes him believe in things like love at first argument and the joy of Christmas.
4. She doesn’t know he’s a prince.

Pulled apart by centuries of tradition and loyalty to God and king, it’s going to take more than a royal rebellion for these two to be together.

Find out if Christmas truly is a season for miracles in this new holiday romance today!

My Review:

published in 2020

Such a festively fun discovery! McConnell delivers classic Christmas charm with a bit of a fairy tale feel. Loved the castle setting! I mean, if you’re going to be stranded in a snowstorm that’s the place to be! And the author includes some lovely details that made me feel like I was right there with Avery.

She’s been on an emotional journey over the past year, culminating in the first Christmas without her parents. A European tour between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed like the perfect distraction. Meeting a prince in disguise even more so.

Loved the way the hidden identity trope played out! Matteo is swoonworthy hero material. The romance develops quickly but somehow it never felt rushed and I loved the way the author incorporated Christmas traditions into the story. This is very much a holiday read. Heartwarming and hopeful with a dollop of Christmas whimsy to make your season brighter.

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 Snowed in at the Castle, 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 July 19 2025.

The Soldier’s K-9 Companion + Giveaway

The chance to finally heal…with the help of a four-legged friend.

Struggling with PTSD, retired Navy SEAL Luke Adams hopes getting a service dog will help him finally get his life back. Fortunately, his best friend’s sister, Destiny Johnson, runs a K-9 farm where she trains service dogs. When Destiny pairs him up with an Alaskan husky named Java and teaches him how to bond with the sweet pup, he realizes that he and Destiny have more in common than he thought. With their friendship growing into something deeper, can a dedicated K-9 help them both face their trauma…and come out stronger together?

My Review:

An intensely emotional, hope-fuelled story that gave me all the feels. With dogs. Can it get any better than that?

The author tackles some serious subject matter through both Luke’s and Destiny’s backstories, but she does so with grace and compassion. So appreciate this realistic view of life after severe trauma and the ensuing struggles to overcome.

The friends-to-more trope plays out to perfection after a rocky start. Great dynamics between Luke and Destiny but, oy, the complications! I could really relate to the way they both held back even though the reader in me was screaming at them to just open up already! Love getting that emotionally invested in a fictional romance!

Calhoune knows how to bring depth and authenticity to her characters and that includes the secondary ones. So, add in the kind of friends who won’t let you go it alone, along with an epic small town atmosphere and you have the perfect recipe for a romance that triumphs despite impossible odds.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘The Solider’s K-9 Companion’ and thoroughly enjoyed Aure Nash’s narration. Her beautifully modulated voice was a pleasure to listen to and I love the way she breathed life into these characters. A brilliant listening experience.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — 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 Soldier’s K-9 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 July 12 2025

The Double Play + Giveaway

I have no business falling in love with Emmett Foster.

The man is an incredibly wealthy professional baseball player who’s ten years older than me and has a daughter.

But when he hires me to take care of said daughter, I find myself catching feelings for the star pitcher.

He’s gruff, but sweet, and has a big heart that he shows in small pieces. Pieces I’d like to collect and call mine.

Unfortunately, he has no plans on marrying again after his ex-wife cheated on him then abandoned him and June.

So even though I think there’s a hint of chemistry between us, nothing will ever come of it. I’ll be stuck crushing on him in silence until we part ways.

The Double Play is a grumpy/sunshine romcom for fans of sweet sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any of the explicit scenes. Check out the fourth book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.

My Review:

Swoon. Sigh. Swoon…aaannnd repeat until the very last word. This is the kind of grumpy/sunshine romance I am crazy for! Every delicious detail plays out to perfection. It’s funny and emotional and heart-palpitatingly romantical. Emmett and Hazel sizzle every time they are on page together and their inner conflicted musings are the kind that wrap a sensitive reader up in knots.

Love the way the story unfolds as their relationship slowly develops and I so appreciate the way the author avoids using cliche conflict to stymie the romantic progression. Every bump along the road is thoughtfully deliberate and understandable but not impossible to overcome.

And, oh my, but there is something so toe-curling about a grumpy, gruff, bear of a guy who is completely besotted with his pint-size pixie of a daughter. I melted so many times! And when Emmett goes into full protective mode – whether on behalf of his daughter or Hazel – well, hand me a fan and clear off my fainting couch!

Superb secondary characters including an all guy friend group for Emmett add depth and humour and occasional sage advice. This is the fourth book in Conwell’s ‘More Than a Game’ series but reads fine as a standalone. (I’ve only read one of the other books.) They each feature a different sport and the guy friends are all athletes. Oh — and no worries if you’re not a huge sports fan, the technical details are light and easy for a novice to grasp. And Hazel is just as clueless about baseball as I am, so that evened out the playing field (ha, see what I did there?!)

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Tim Paige and Charlotte North. They captured the personalities of Emmett and Hazel and enhanced my ‘reading’ pleasure.

Sheer bibliophile bliss from start to finish!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — 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 Double Play, 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 June 21 2025