Tag: Historical Fiction

The Lost Story of Via Belle + Giveaway

Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

My Review:

What a compelling dual timeline novel! And impossible to review because of the intricate details in both timelines and how they slowly weave together. So many ‘aha’ moments as the story progresses. So many twists and turns and the most infuriating character that kept me seething all the way through!

If you are looking for a complex, atmospheric novel with shades of suspense and rich characterization that makes an emotional impact, then ‘The Story of Via Belle’ is definitely the read for you!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –  ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook 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 The Lost Story of Via Belle, 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 1 2026.

Don’t Upstage the Body + Giveaway

Hippolyta Halfpenny and her family of professional mourners have perfected the theatrical art of grief. When the reclusive Lord Basil Monfort engages her family’s services for his own funeral, she vows it will be her last performance as she’s tired of the disguise. Then she discovers the undertaker’s body in the library and finds herself cast as an amateur sleuth in an undercover investigation. 
 
Rain washes away the roads, trapping the funeral party at Lord Monfort’s estate–with an unidentified killer in their midst. Bound by her father’s wishes to maintain their charade, Hippolyta must navigate a web of secrets spanning decades. But sorting truth from deception proves even more difficult when Lord Montfort’s charming yet perceptive heir suspects Hippolyta is not all she appears to be. 
 
Concealing her family’s true identities while unraveling secrets might be the role of Hippolyta’s life, but with a murderer among them, she must unmask the truth before the final curtain falls. 
 
With her Agatha Christie inspired voice, Naomi Stephens pens a 1950s manor house murder mystery where no one is who they seem. 

My Review:

Very much a classic cozy mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie and brilliantly executed. I was enchanted from the very first line, “The first body was exactly where it was supposed to be.” A bit of fine foreshadowing there since the second body was exactly where it wasn’t supposed to be!

The 1950s British setting adds all kinds of ambience to the mystery. As does the notion of a family of professional mourners! And in true Golden Age Mystery fashion a host of intriguing characters are stranded at a mansion…and one of them is a murderer. Bwahahaha!

There’s also some light romance with the most charming witty banter. I mean, really, can you ask anything more of a cozy mystery? Oh, yes, there’s also a cat! 🙂 Loved this to pieces and am hoping that Naomi Stephens has many more mysteries in her future (and ours!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook 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 Don’t Upstage the Body, 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 Wednesday July 18 2026.

Series Spotlight – Homefront Sleuths

What I love about this series:

  • The WWII British Homefront setting
  • Diverse life experience and ages of the sleuths – a retired Scotland Yard detective, his police inspector nephew, village herbalist, young mum trying to make ends meet while her husband’s at war, wounded veteran school master and even an American ex-pat who did a stint working for the French resistance. Gotta love Evie.
  • Excellent characterization and so many gripping back stories!
  • Complex mysteries with clever plotting
  • War issues play a big part in most of the mysteries, including sabotage and spies!
  • Multiple POVs
  • light romance threads
  • Gives a real sense of what life was like for the average citizen during the war

I discovered this series last year – free on Audible Plus for subscribers (Canada) and that’s been the case for all the books so far. I’m amazed at how quickly the books have been released. They are all a decent length and so well written. Iona Campbell is the perfect choice as narrator for the series! Also available on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback as well. While not Christian Fiction, all the books are closed door, no swearing and some of the stories have light faith threads.

The Bookshop of 99 Doors + Giveaway

In 1910, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the onslaught of superstitions that envelope the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the house is haunted by the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain, and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s dark past in an effort to help bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to unravel the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

A shadowy tale of historical hauntings and present-day mysteries masterfully penned by acclaimed thriller author Jaime Jo Wright, who is “in a class by herself” (Library Journal).

My Review:

Jaime Jo Wright has her own brand of eerie and I love it! ‘The Bookshop of 99 Doors’ is a Wright classic. A dual timeline with a Gothic flare that includes inexplicable hauntings and layered mysteries. The artful way the author bridges the two timelines is so clever. There are commonalities with both heroines, some obvious, others much more subtle and the way their stories eventually blend is a striking masterpiece!

I usually find myself drawn to one timeline more than the other in this genre but I found myself equally engaged in both Minnie’s and Triss’ stories so kudos to the author for achieving that kind of balance. Wright has also mastered the art of the cliff hanger scene ending, leaving readers dangling as we jump from one timeline to the next. Absolute page-turning perfection!

A thought provoking redemption arc spans the decades as both heroines face their challenges. Loved the relatable points of view, a poignant reminder that we are all works in progress with God’s grace to see us through.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Bookshop of 99 Doors, 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 April 25 2026

Where We Belong + Giveaway

Four lives from Kansas and New York cross paths in a joyful novel of love, determination, and the unbreakable bonds of family—from the beloved and bestselling author of Hope’s Enduring Echo.

As a widow who never had children of her own, Hester Haak never imagined she’d open her home in Kansas to not just one but three kids from the bustling streets of New York. But when the Children’s Aid Society unexpectedly allows her to take two sisters and a young boy her care, she rises to the challenge. Hester is determined to provide a safe, loving home for these children, even as the shadow of them potentially leaving looms over her.

Callum Holbrook struggled with despair after losing his wife. Grieving and unable to provide for his family, he made the agonizing decision to entrust his daughters to an orphanage, promising it was only temporary. Now, stable with a secure job, he is horrified to learn his daughters have been sent halfway across the country. With newfound determination, Callum sets out on an arduous quest to bring them back home.

Where We Belong is a poignant tale of resilience and redemption. As Hester and Callum navigate their paths, they discover that family and love can be found in the most unexpected places, and that the journey home is paved with hope.

My Review:

The kind of story you settle into with a happy sigh of bookish delight. Sawyer’s storytelling is spellbinding. The way she creates a compelling plot as she merges the lives of very distinctive characters is phenomenal. Each has their own heartbreaking past and emotional baggage but when they come together magic happens….though not always right away!

Attention is in the detail and that’s what this author delivers. So many lush layers to explore and my emotions were all over the place because this story could have gone in so many different directions. My heart ached for both Hester and Callum, not to mention the children and the quandary they are all in. And it never ceases to amaze me how cavalier child welfare services were back then, dropping the children off willy nilly at train depots and letting anyone scoop them up!

An emotionally charged, character-driven story that delivers equal doses of heart and faith and left me immensely satisfied by the end…and a little teary-eyed too.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Where We Belong’. Jennette Selig’s talented narration added to my appreciation of theses characters and their stories. She did a marvellous job capturing their unique qualities, bringing each one to life which, in turn, made the story that much more memorable for me. Highly recommend the audio edition if you are a listening kind of reader.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Where We Belong, 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 April 25 2026

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall + Giveaway

In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle’s and aunt’s murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle’s eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning her uncle’s paranoid motivations. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly–as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek–are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended on the property.
 
In present day Newton Creek, the whispers of a curse still cling to the century-old time capsule of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after the death of her parents, she is intent on solving the century-old mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still form the cornerstone of the manor. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

My Review:

“People are the ones who create the darkness. Traeger Hall is just the place where they lock it up so it can’t get out.”

Jaime Jo Wright delivers another unputdownable read with her unique brand of thrilling dual timeline suspense. So much mystery! The Gothic flare! Plus, the emotional depth and inspirational insights add even more quality to the storytelling.

“She ached to move on. Jennie wanted God to make her messy beautiful. To infuse life with hope and peace.”

I was completely riveted and utterly confused more than once. The way Wright slowly (and I mean s-l-o-w-l-y) reveals the mystery elements leaves a reader with more questions than answers. And if you’re a reader with a runaway imagination like me, you’ll end up concocting umpteen potential scenarios in your head whenever your nose isn’t buried in the book. This story took on a life of it’s own and haunted me until I got to the final wrap up.

A little bit spooky, a whole lot intriguing with characters that grab your attention (and your heart) makes for a sensational read!

And. yes, this is me all caught up with Jaime Jo Wright’s books and eagerly waiting for her spring release.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall, 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 March 14 2026

Last Light Over Galveston + Giveaway

Amid the 1900 Galveston hurricane, one woman’s perseverance is tested in this captivating story from the author whose work has been called “intelligent and arresting” ( Foreword Reviews ) and “historical fiction as it is meant to be told” ( Library Journal ).

“Old Galveston shines in this beautifully written tale of a woman’s quest to both lose herself and find herself.”
Lisa Wingate, #1New York Times bestselling author ofShelterwood

Galveston, Texas. September 1900. Only months ago, Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York’s Hudson Valley with a future of promise and privilege set before her. But one horrific event shattered her picturesque life. Now she has fled as far as the train line and a pocketful of money would take her, finding refuge at the St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island, where she helps the nuns care for their young charges and prays her past will not find her. Despite her tenuous standing at the orphanage—and the grief and betrayal that drove her from home—Kathleen slowly begins to make friends. There is Emily, the novice nun she rooms with; Maggie, the tempestuous young girl who only bonds with Kathleen; and Matthew, a kind, handsome man recently employed by Isaac Cline at Galveston’s office of the US Weather Bureau.

Then in one fateful day, Kathleen’s fragile new life begins to crack as it becomes clear that she can’t run far enough to escape the reach of her former life. Meanwhile, as troubling news about a storm crossing the Gulf from Cuba swirls in the Weather Bureau offices, Matthew holds fast to Cline’s belief that no hurricane can touch Galveston. But as darkness falls on the island, Kathleen must gather her courage and reach for a strength beyond her own if she—and those she loves—are to survive.

A stand-alone historical novel about the 1900 Galveston hurricaneA gripping read inspired by true eventsFeatures themes of resilience, found family, and redemptionIncludes discussion questions perfect for book clubs.

My Review:

I love learning about history through my fiction and this book features two devastating events in American history that I had never even heard of before. Wright’s ability to convey the desperation, terror and sheer will to survive in the midst of uncontrolled chaos was mesmerizing. And inspiring!

We follow Kathleen through two timelines – a kind of ‘before’ and ‘after’ scenario fraught with tragedy. Not really a dual timeline story, more like historical fiction with flashbacks. The author expertly weaves the fractured pieces of Kathleen’s life into a joyous triumph by the end, but what an emotional journey she takes her readers on!

Kathleen doesn’t have to make that journey alone though. A rich cast of secondary characters layer the story with even more tension and emotion. And each one is in Kathleen’s life for a purpose. Wright takes as much care developing their stories as she does Kathleen’s. And that makes for an incredible page-turner of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook 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 Last Light Over Galveston, 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.

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse + Giveaway

In 1874, a battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper named Edgar. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the unforgiving waves of Lake Superior years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, there is more at stake than just reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel’s as well.

In the present day, author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic mining town in Michigan, seeking clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse’s landlord, Shea contends with the vengeful legend of Annabel’s ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the secrets surrounding a decade-old murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel’s lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight of torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love and a vengeance that should have drowned a century before.

An acclaimed “expert in her element” (Booklist), Jaime Jo Wright once again delivers a bone-chilling dual-time suspense novel that will leave readers turning the pages all night long.

My Review:

An emotionally charged story set at a haunted lighthouse with lots of Gothic flare? Written by master storyteller, Jaime Jo Wright? Yes please! And the way the author builds the mystery between timelines with chilling precision adds to the thrilling atmospheric ambience. In fact, she delivers page-turning perfection right from the very start.

The brilliance of Jaime Jo Wright’s talent is in the way she manages to infuse eerie paranormal impossibilities with the reality of faith-filled probabilities. I feel like she surpassed herself in this latest book — astounding!

Vulnerable heroines searching for answers and finding themselves in the process. Heroes in unexpected places. Mysteries and secrets carried over generations. Hope in the midst of despair. ‘Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse’ is haunting and poignant and ultimately the kind of story that leaves you slightly stunned by the end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook 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 Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse, 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 14 2026.

Night Bird Calling

random retro read

From award-winning author Cathy Gohlke, whose novels have been called “haunting” ( Library Journal on Saving Amelie ) and “page-turning” (Francine Rivers on Secrets She Kept ), comes a historical fiction story of courage and transformation set in rural Appalachia on the eve of WWII.

When Lilliana Swope’s beloved mother dies, Lilliana gathers her last ounce of courage and flees her abusive husband for the home of her only living relative in the foothills of No Creek, North Carolina. Though Hyacinth Belvidere hasn’t seen Lilliana since she was five, she offers her cherished great-niece a safe harbor. Their joyful reunion inspires plans to revive Aunt Hyacinth’s estate and open a public library where everyone is welcome, no matter the color of their skin.

Slowly Lilliana finds revival and friendship in No Creek―with precocious eleven-year-old Celia Percy, with kindhearted Reverend Jesse Willard, and with Ruby Lynne Wishon, a young woman whose secrets could destroy both them and the town. When the plans for the library also incite the wrath of the Klan, the dangers of Lilliana’s past and present threaten to topple her before she’s learned to stand.

With war brewing for the nation and for her newfound community, Lilliana must overcome a hard truth voiced by her young friend Wishing comes easy. Change don’t.

My Review:

published in 2021

Books are meant to entertain but some manage to convict as well and ‘Night Bird Calling’ is that kind of novel. Gohlke is a talented wordsmith who captures the essence of character and setting through descriptive writing. That makes for an immersive story that I found so easy to lose myself in. My imagination was engaged from the very first sentence and my heart soon followed…and broke so many times over the course of the read. Not quite sure all the pieces ever got put back together again either.

So, be prepared for an emotional read, even a difficult one as the author tackles some tough subject matter. I cried, I seethed, I clenched my teeth and was consumed with uncharitable thoughts and then I cried some more. Honestly, my whole being ached by the end and I’m still a little shellshocked. But hopeful too because the author doesn’t leave us in despair

Hard-hitting and emotionally draining but hopeful too. It’s a story I had to take my time with, absorbing it in small parcels so I could sit with it for awhile before continuing on. A memorable read, well listen for me. Marguerite Gavin did an amazing job bringing all these characters to life. Her performance heightened the emotional impact for me and I’d definitely recommend the audio edition.

The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum

At the darkly glamorous height of the Roaring 20s, an independent Black intellectual and her bi-racial foster child are immersed in the vibrant world of the Harlem Renaissance – and a shocking murder on Striver’s Row – in this thrilling Jazz Age mystery for reader of Nekesia Afia, Jacqueline Winspear, Avery Cunningham’s The Mayor of Maxwell Street.

1926: Harriet Stone, a liberated, educated Black woman, and Lovey, the orphaned, biracial 12-year-old she is bound to protect, are Harlem-bound, embarking on a new, hopefully less traumatic chapter in their lives. They have been invited to move from Connecticut by Harriet’s cousin, Junetta Plum, who runs a boardinghouse for independent-minded single women.

It’s a bold move, since Harriet has never met Junetta, but the fatalities of the Spanish flu and other tragedies have already forced her and Lovey to face their worst fears. Alone but for each other, they have little left to lose—or so it seems as they arrive at sophisticated Junetta’s impressive brownstone.

Her cousin has a sharp edge, which makes Harriett slightly uncomfortable. Still, after retiring to her room for the night, she finally falls asleep—only to awaken to Junetta arguing with someone downstairs. In the morning, she makes a shocking discovery at the foot of the stairs.

What ensues will lead Harriet to question Junetta’s very identity—and to wonder if she and Lovey are in danger, as well. It will also tie Harriet to five strangers. Among them, Harriet is sure someone knows something. What she doesn’t yet know is that one will play a crucial role in helping her investigate her cousin’s murder . . . that she will be tied to the others in ways she could never imagine . . . and that her life will take off in a startling new direction. . . .

My Review:

What a wonderful introduction to Valerie Wilson Wesley’s storytelling! I was completely captivated by her craftsmanship. Her words not only brought each character to life, but captured the era and setting in a way that allowed me to visualize the entire story – like a movie playing through my mind as I read (or in my case listened.)

So many fascinating details around the Harlem Renaissance. Vibrant art and culture mixed with the bone crushing struggles of oppression and injustice. Harriet arrives with her young charge, Lovey, in the hopes of starting anew at the invitation of an unknown cousin. However, before Harriet can acclimatize to her new surroundings, she’s plunged into mystery and murder and a house full of strangers…one of whom could be a killer.

Rich characterization and a complex plot kept me committed to Harriet’s story and excited over the possibility that this is the first in a new mystery series. At least, I think that’s what that last scene was hinting at!

I enjoyed listening to Diana Blue’s narration of ‘The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum.” I was drawn to her soothing tone and the way she brought distinctive voices to characters of all ages and backgrounds.

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