Tag: Havig Chautona

A Ransomed Grete + Giveaway

INDIE!

October 1939—What happens when you run from danger… and into a trap?

After the Anschluss, Austria becomes a place its citizens don’t recognize—especially its Jewish citizens. Whispers ripple through Jewish communities—whispers about a chalet where a woman protects Jewish children from discovery. She’ll keep them safe, fed, and far away from Nazis.

Parents are forced to make horrific decisions. Send their children away to safety, possibly never seeing them again, or keep their families together and risk their children’s lives?

Hans Hartmann arrives at the chalet with a chip on his shoulder and a little girl in tow. He found Grete waiting at the train station. Alone. But life at Chalet Versteck feels more ominous than the streets of Vienna. Children sometimes vanish, and before Hans can figure out what’s happening, a high-ranking officer appears—and is killed.

It’s a race to find out who killed the man and get himself (and probably that pesky Grete) out!

A Ransomed Grete is the bridge book between the 1920s and 1940s Ever After Mysteries, combining fairy tales with mysteries.

My Review:

A stunning retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Beautifully written, descriptive to the point of heartbreaking in places. And the way the author incorporates the Holocaust into the tale is both brilliant and chilling. Havig has really captured the desperation of the times, the ignorant prejudices, the varying degrees of compliance in an occupied country…it all just took my breath away.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Christa DelSorbo who did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. Her heartfelt performance kept me entranced all the way through.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

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 A Ransomed Grete, 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 9 2024.

Greetings From Next Door + Giveaway

Christmas is supposed to be about “peace on earth” and “goodwill toward men.”

Glynn Darrow bought that lie for the first three decades of her life, but
whoever said that (it was one of God’s angels, wasn’t it?) clearly hadn’t met Glynn’s new neighbor. He’s stolen all the peace from her life and any goodwill she might have had toward men. 

If only his notes wouldn’t make visions of mistletoe dance in her head.
When Clay Ruskin moved onto Elderberry Close, he didn’t imagine that he’d be “greeted” by a note from his uptight new neighbor… or that she’d drive him to distraction–good and bad. 

She’s determined to do the right thing–always.

He thinks she’s got weird ideas about what the “right thing” even is. 
They do agree on one thing, though. This will be the most memorable Christmas ever. If they survive it.

My Review:

Glynn has a new neighbour…and he’s a grump. Bah Humbug. Mind you, she doesn’t make the best first impression (but then she thinks he made the worst impression first so…) Letters are carried back and forth — sometimes snippy, sometimes sweet, always funny and a…well, we can’t really call it a friendship but something like…is formed.

The book starts in late October and ends on Christmas so there’s lots of time for hearts to thaw and nurture warmer emotions. A sweet novella that explores deeper feelings of love and acceptance with dry wit to smooth out the angst and a healthy dollop of faith to seal the deal.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Greetings From Next Door , 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 September 7 2024.

The Last Gasp + Giveaway

At the pinnacle of his Hollywood career, Garrison Prince’s reign ends tonight.

As plain old Gary Prinz, he can pursue his Bible education, buy a bungalow in Pasadena, acquire a few chickens, and marry the girl of his dreams. He just never imagined trading the silver screen for a pulpit would wreak such havoc.

A cigarillo girl, Lucinda Ashton spends her days with her boyfriend, Gary, and her evenings selling candy and “gaspers” to the Hollywood elite at the Taj Mahal Theater.

However, when gunshots ring out just as intermission begins, Lucinda finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a brouhaha that leaves three dead, and no one has a clue why.

All the police know is that the evidence points to Lucinda as the killer and Gary as the intended target.

Four new friends, one young orphan, and a potluck of clues that don’t seem to fit anywhere leave the police baffled, Lucinda in fear for her freedom, and Gary ready to trade in his acting shoes for gumshoes if it’ll save his “Cinda.”

The first book in the Ever After Mysteries combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries, The Last Gasp. This Cinderella retelling blends a murder with enough crime and story clues to keep you on the edge of your seat.

My Review:

Seriously, how did I not know there was a whole reimagined fairy-tale mystery series roaming around in bibliophile land?! Aptly titled ‘The Ever After Mysteries’ and Chautona Havig’s ‘The Last Gasp’ is the first book and my introduction to the series.

The book cover sets the tone with the campy, atmospheric ‘classic mystery’ influence which the story carries on. This reads very much like a golden age mystery. It’s set in the right era and I love the author’s use of the ‘current’ slang to add authenticity to the time and setting.

I’m not a Hollywood fan in this decade but, ironically, I had a huge fascination for the industry in it’s infancy. Did an extensive high school project on silent movies so this turned into an unexpectedly nostalgic read for me. 🙂

So, we have Hollywood glam vs poor working girl which lends itself beautifully to the Cinderella detailing…only not in a predictable way. I love how the author included all those beloved fairy tale elements in such a topsy turvy manner. They cropped up unexpectedly throughout the story and I got a bookish thrill every single time. Such fun. And so clever!

The mystery was pretty easy to solve (perhaps because of the fairy tale element) but I had a great time watching Gary and Cinda piecing together the clues. And, for an author who claims to not like romance, this one is pretty sighworthy!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition to ‘The Last Gasp’, narrated by Christa DelSorbo.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

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 one of the The Last Gasp, 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 May 25 2024.

Hart of Noel + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Noel, Missouri: where cookies and ornaments collide.

Books and cookies — a match made in heaven?

Not hardly. Josh Hart just wants his fledgling bookstore to have a chance, and with every car in the tiny town of Noel parking in front of his story, you’d think he had a good one.

Again, not hardly.

They’re all taking up his prime parking to get into Honey Pott’s Bakery. Josh is certain if Honey would quit parking her own over-sized SUV right smack-dab in front of his door, maybe people could see the store.

Enter Milton Coleridge and his trusty parrotlet, Atticus (not Finch). He loves the store, but he has news for Josh. Without some major changes, Noel’s first bookstore may be its last.

A Hart of Noel is a Christmas ‘novella’ in the Bookstrings series.

My Review:

published in 2021

A delightful book-centric Christmas novella that can be enjoyed any time of the year!

Gotta love a series about a man (and his parrotlet) who travel around saving independent bookstores. Milton is my hero — and he has a nifty sideline as a matchmaker. Love his quiet ways, earnest observations and the ability he has to see into the heart of a problem and offer solutions.

And Josh has a lot of problems. From a floundering bookstore to a volatile feud with the neighbourhood baker. You’ve heard of the grumpy sunshine trope? Well, this is a grumpy/grumpy trope. Josh and Honey are like oil and water. Always on the defensive when it comes to each other and apt to spew first, think later. Milton has his hands full with these two.

Such a fun little read. Dry humour, valiant efforts to save a bookstore and spark a romance all in the days leading up to Christmas. Along with oodles of sage Milton-isms. What’s not to love?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hart of Noel , 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 3 2024.

Spines & Leaves + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Can his love of books save a store and a budding relationship?

With a month to get from Orange County, California to Delaware for his next corporate challenge, Milton Coleridge decides to spend a week at Joshua Tree National Park. 

He never expected to find a floundering bookstore in need of his particular business skills. Will his methods of saving companies from bankruptcy or takeover work on such a small scale? And can he convince two people to risk their hearts?

Step into the Spines & Leaves, Tamarisk, California’s oldest (and only ever) bookstore. Come in out of the harsh, desert sun and wind and peruse all the store has to offer. It might just be more than you think.

Of note: Spine & Leaves is the introductory novella to the Bookstrings series and is part of the Mosaic Song of Grace Collection.

My Review:

published in 2021

My bibliophile radar went into overdrive when I heard about this series. A man (and his parrotlet, Atticus) on a mission to save a languishing bookstore and, perhaps, ignite a spark in a couple clearly meant for each other but failing miserably at finding their way to romance. So — meet Milton the bookish matchmaker! 🙂

A short novella (112 pages) but immensely satisfying nonetheless. Havig has a beguiling way with words, creating pictures and emotions that bring her story to life. Relatable characters, a bookstore(!) and oodles of encouraging literary quotes kept me ecstatically engaged from start to finish.

And there’s romance. And high drama too. Seriously, this little book packs a powerful dose of story magic that made my heart sing and I’m now eager to dive into the next book ASAP.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world so…yay…another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Spines & Leaves, 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 14, 2023