Tag: Historical Romance

A Most Inconvenient Marriage + Giveaway

random retro reread

A Marriage of Convenience Turns Most Inconvenient in this Historical Charmer 

Having fled a difficult home life, Civil War nurse Abigail Stuart feels like her only friend in the world is sweet but gravely wounded patient Jeremiah Calhoun. Fearing he won’t survive, the Confederate soldier’s last wish is that Abigail look after his sickly sister at home. Marry him, return to his horse farm, and it’ll be hers. 

Left with few choices, Abigail takes him up on his offer and moves to Missouri after his death, but just as the family learns to accept her, the real Jeremiah Calhoun appears–puzzled to find a confounding woman posing as his wife. Jeremiah is determined to have his life back to how it was before the war, but his own wounds limit what he can do on his own. Still not fully convinced Abigail isn’t duping him, he’s left with no choice but to let the woman stay and help–not admitting to himself she may provide the healing his entire family needs.

My Review:

published in 2014

I didn’t know it was possible to swoon while convulsing with laughter until I read A Most Inconvenient Marriage! What an incredible mix of gripping emotion and light-hearted humour. I was in a tizzy of ecstasy the whole read!

Jeremiah is exasperating in his cluelessness when it comes to women and that makes him endearing in an irritating sort of way. LOL And Abigail is pure stubbornness — so determined to do it all alone. What an ill-fated pair, especially when you take into account the unusual circumstances that bring them together. Add in the complications and dangers of the post-civil war South and a host of engaging secondary characters and you get a story as thought-provoking and inspiring as it is entertaining.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Most Inconvenient Marriage, 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 May16 2026

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest + Giveaway

random retro read

A beautiful maiden who poaches to feed the poor.

A handsome forester on a mission to catch her.

Danger and love are about to unite in Thornbeck Forest.

The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around–and Odette Menkels spends her nights poaching his deer to feed the hungry orphans of Thornbeck. By day, Odette is a simple maiden who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.

For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him . . . a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.

When Jorgen and Odette meet at the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.

The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target . . . What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?

My Review:

published in 2016

What a captivating read! Dickerson has a way with words that makes me feel like I’ve careened back in time to a fairy tale land where swoonworthy heroes are no match for their cunning heroines and where good and evil are in a constant battle. I love that she’s started this new fairy tale series for adults! I’ve never grown out of my love for the genre and fairy tale retellings are among my favourite reads.

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest has all the essential ingredients of a beloved classical tale. A hero with an impossible task, a heroine who might just need rescuing (though she’s pretty spunky!), plenty of subterfuge, a nefarious villain and, of course, the ultimate triumph of good over evil. But that doesn`t mean this read is predictable. It`s anything but! In fact, I got to a point where I couldn`t turn the pages fast enough in my desperate bid to find out what happened next. And through it all, the author maintains the cadence of storytelling from days of yore. Simply put: the kind of read that makes your heart happy.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Huntress of Thornbeck 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 May 16 2026

A Deal With a Debutante + Giveaway

She’s running from London’s marriage mart. He’s running out of time to save his estate. Neither planned on falling in love—but their hearts have other plans. 

American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London’s high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named “the debutante of the season” back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she’s been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated—an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune?

My Review:

Funny and touching and oh so swoonable! Chelsea Bobulski is a new-to-me author but I’ll be hunting down every book she’s written now! And I’m so hoping this is the first in a series because Calliope has some delightful friends who need to star in their own stories!

This Edwardian era romance explores that odd American craze of New York Society’s nouveau riche carting their marriageable daughters across the ocean to England in order to make an aristocratic match, all for the want of a title. Their enormous dowries set to lure in cash strapped nobility for a mutually ‘advantageous’ match.

Well, Miss Calliope Hart is having none of it. Her mother (one of the most obnoxious fictional mothers I’ve read!!!) is blatantly pushing her daughter to attend all the Season’s prestigious parties. Calliope’s reluctance is no deterrent to the husband hunting mama who is determined that her daughter will be engaged by the end of the summer.

Calliope and Edward’s unfortunate meet-cute is anything but encouraging. He might have made a bit of a blunder. She might have taken it too personally. Fireworks ensue and Calliope storms off, leaving Edward surprisingly intrigued. And then the fun really begins!

A wonderful mix of humour and tenderness with enough sparks to singe a gentle reader’s fingertips. And once Edward commits to persuing Calliope…well, clear your fainting couch and prepare for a toe-curling frenzy of a read!

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 A Deal With a Debutante, 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 16 2026

The Vigilante’s Bride + Giveaway

random retro reread

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and kidnapping a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expects to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from him, but ends up with a feisty copper-haired orphan thrown over his shoulder who was on her way to marry Sullivan’s bitter enemy.

Emily McCarthy is an orphan out of options. Forced to marry because she was too old for her orphanage, she doesn’t take kindly to her “rescue.” Still she trusts God can turn any situation to good especially when it seems Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Sullivan’s crossed a dangerous man unused to losing and Emily may just be the prize he’s unwilling to sacrifice.

My Review:

published in 2010

‘The Vigilante’s Bride’ has it all – hunky hero, spunky heroine, downright evil villain and a riveting plot.

Loved the dynamics between Luke and Emily. Sparks fly at their very unorthodox meet-cute. This is an enemies to more trope and the author does a great job transforming intense dislike into love. There are some achingly tender scenes, toe-curling ones too with a healthy dose of humour mixed in.

In fact, Harris does a wonderful job of blending drama and comedy while drawing out the suspense. Plus she adds some surprise that I didn’t see coming at all. Impeccable pacing kept me turning pages, eager for more, only to be disappointed when I finally came to the end because it was all over! Love when a story leaves me wanting more! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Vigilante’s Bride, 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 9 2026

No Stone Unturned + Giveaway

She wants to uncover the past. He wishes to build a future. In this Regency romance set in rolling hills of West Sussex, two opposing wills discover their fate may lie in the common ground.

Miss Bridget Littleton’s passion for history and antiquities defies most social conventions, even in her small village nestled in the beautiful English countryside. When a local farmer discovers an elaborate mosaic buried in his field, Bridget dreams of making a name and future for herself by excavating the Roman ruins. Unfortunately, her quest puts her at odds with the ambitious new lord who recently inherited the title and Hawthorn Abbey from his estranged uncle.

Recovering from wounds of both body and spirit, Captain Rafe Hawthorn is intent on restoring his long-neglected ancestral home. His plans to rebuild the abbey’s once thriving orchards require a road that will pass straight through Bridget’s potential trove of artifacts. He will not—cannot—fail again, even if he is moved by Bridget and her passion.

Yet this impasse might not be their greatest obstacle. A natural disaster and a series of suspicious accidents threaten both their plans, along with the livelihood of the nearby villagers dependent on their success. With their dreams in the balance, Bridget and Rafe must work together to fend off an unexpected enemy that may prove more dangerous than either could have imagined.

Sweet Regency romance filled with hope, faith, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamicHistorical fiction that’s perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, or Abigail WilsonIncludes discussion questions for book clubs.

My Review:

Delightfully shivery Gothic vibes with a twist because in ‘No Stone Unturned’ it’s the hero who is returning to his ancestral home which just happens to be an atmospheric abbey steeped in mystery. It has also been sadly neglected and the whole estate is in jeopardy unless he can turn things around quickly.

Rafe is facing an impossible challenge as he adjusts to civilian life as a wounded soldier. He’s both physically and emotionally scarred and loathe to return to place that holds so many painful memories. So, he’s dealing with a lot when he first meets Bridget, digging up ‘his’ field with archeological enthusiasm. She’s under the impression the field belongs to her best friend’s family. Rafe’s steward assures him it is part of his estate. Wills clash when neither is willing to compromise and this enemies to more love story gets off to a volatile start.

I’m not always a fan of this trope, though I hasten to add I loved this one. It can be difficult to keep up the enemy pretence while at the same time making both hero and heroine relatable but Hovde did an amazing job here and that’s because of the richly layered backstories. My emotions couldn’t help but become engaged. Rafe with his traumatic childhood and difficult war years. Bridget upended by the death of her mother and the ensuing domestic upheaval. She’s an educated woman who can’t find a place in a male dominated field. Though there is instant chemistry, it takes them awhile to find some common ground but when they do…blissful happy swooning sigh!

‘No Stone Unturned’ delivers it all – a brooding hero, a feisty heroine, an atmospheric abbey steeped in mystery, villains and treachery and pages full of drama, including integral faith threads, before the triumphant HEA!

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 No Stone Unturned, 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 9 2026

At Love’s Bidding + Giveaway

random retro reread

She sells priceless antiques. He sells livestock by the pound.

Is he really the man to make a bid for her heart?

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she’s accidentally sold a powerful family’s prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the people who could ruin them forever, they track it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house and all its holdings before the painting can move again.

Upon crossing the country, however, Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count—but no mysterious painting—Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

My Review:

published in 2015

Sweet swoony lighthearted bliss. Love all the exacting details in a Jennings novel right down to the clever title tie-ins and this one is brilliant. What starts out as a comedy of errors turns into a intriguing tale of subterfuge. An Ozark Mountain town full of quirky characters provides a lively backdrop to romance and mayhem as Miranda and Wyatt try to navigate their attraction to each other and the mystery dogging their heels. 

And while I’d categorize At Love’s Bidding as a romantic comedy there are still some deep and thought-provoking story threads that make the read all the richer. One of those has to do with Miranda’s grandfather. He is in the early stages of what we now know as Alzheimer’s and watching Miranda struggle to come to grips with the change in her beloved grandpa made my heart ache. Jennings does an incredibly good job of portraying the honest emotions of this kind of family turmoil.

A delightful mix of comedy and drama make for a satisfying reading escape.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of At Love’s Bidding, 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 18 2026

The Manhattan Confessions + Giveaway

Ivy Malone, the New-York Historical Society’s librarian, is dedicated to preserving Manhattan’s rich history, but when society grand dame Adeline King anonymously reveals her shocking life story, Ivy finds herself holding a highly coveted secret. Burdened with the responsibility of keeping Adeline’s identity hidden, Ivy finds the matter increasingly complicated when two men claim ties to the elderly woman–one of them accusing Adeline of involvement in a crime.

Another dilemma brews when Ivy’s cousin, Gina, is detained at Ellis Island for lack of proper documentation. Hoping an immigration service can resolve the misunderstanding, Ivy employs their help but is instead thrust into a dangerous world. With time running out, she must unravel the tangle of secrets that bind Adeline’s past, Gina’s freedom, and her own safety. Who can she trust, and how far is she willing to go to protect those she loves?

From award-winning author Jocelyn Green comes a riveting blend of historical intrigue and the quest for justice against the backdrop of Manhattan’s dark secrets.

My Review:

I chose my next book by reading the first sentence of all the books on my TBR, well maybe not all of them, that would have been equal to reading a novella, but I digress. Anyway, this one from ‘The Manhattan Confessions’ grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go because…secrets!

“Just because Ivy didn’t love keeping secrets didn’t mean she couldn’t do it.”

I was immediately intrigued, imaging all sort of complicated scenarios that could go awry in any number of ways….and I was right!

Of course, having a librarian heroine is a huge boon to any novel as far as I’m concerned. Ivy works at the New York Historical Society Library which is fascinating on its own but a special project she’s involved in, collecting the personal ‘origin’ stories of New Yorkers, is beyond intriguing. Especially as one particular story complicates Ivy’s life in unexpected ways. And, of course, there’s romance, delightfully tender and absolutely swoonworthy.

So many luscious layers in Green’s storytelling, all artfully drawn together to create an emotional story that touched my heart in so many different ways. How she keeps track of all those layers is beyond me! Compelling historical details add an extra edge to the mystery, the danger, the prejudice and desperation facing immigrants who reached Ellis Island with so much hope but found a much harsher reality. “No one tells you when you come here that not all opportunities are golden.”

The kind of immersive read where the characters stick with you long after you’ve closed the book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – 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 Manhattan Confessions, 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 18 2026

Garden of Her Heart + Giveaway

random retro read

Can forbidden love amid the constraints of war?

A sweet World War II romance from USA Today best-selling Author Shanna Hatfield.

The moment the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, life shifted for Miko Nishimura. Desperate to reach the Portland Assembly Center for Japanese Americans, she’s kicked off the bus miles from town. Every tick of the clock pushes her closer to becoming a fugitive in the land of her birth. Exhausted, she stumbles to her grandparents’ abandoned farm only to find a dying soldier sprawled across the step. Unable to leave him, she forsakes all else to keep him alive.

After crashing his plane in the Battle of the Atlantic, the doctors condemn Captain Rock Laroux to die. Determined to meet his maker beneath a blue sky at his family home, he sneaks out of the hospital. Weary and half out of his mind, he makes it as far as a produce stand he remembers from his youth. Rather than surrender to death, Rock fights a battle of the heart as he falls in love with the beautiful Japanese woman who saves his life.

A poignant, sweet romance, Garden of Her Heart proves love can bloom in unlikely places, even under the most challenging circumstances.

My Review:

published in 2016

This tender and poignant love story made for an emotional read. From Miko’s heart wrenching opening scene to Rock’s equally tumultuous introduction, I was engaged and invested and committed to them both.

And, oh my, their journey highlights both the best and the worst humanity has to offer at a time when the whole world was on edge. The historical details of wartime America are enthralling (and infuriating) but the haven Miko and Rock manage to create in the midst of the chaos is utterly captivating.

His brash confidence balances her shy reticence as their two worlds merge into something unique. And forbidden. The gardener in me rejoiced in the familiar rhythm of planting and harvesting and finding hope in God’s bounty. Miko and Rock grow closer as they work together even as the harsh realities of America at war threaten everything they hold dear.

A cast of secondary characters including a devious interloper as well as a rambunctious nine-year-old neighbour add extra zest to this sweet romance. Still grinning over Petey’s colourful turns of phrase and his high energy antics.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Michael Rahhal who did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. A stunning performance for a stunning story!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – 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 Garden of Her 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 April 11 2026

Never Forgotten + Giveaway

random retro read

All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.
 
Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.
 
Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.
 
Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?

My Review:

published in 2024

‘Never Forgotten’ was unexpected in so many ways but absolutely gripping nonetheless. A Gothic Regency with a darker tone and such romantical yearning that my heart ached for Simon and Georgina all the way through.

Desperation and danger dog Simon’s steps as he seeks justice for a horrific crime…or is it revenge? His actions put both his children and Georgina in peril which results in a page-turning frenzy of exquisite torture until everything is righted.

Loved the slow burn romance that blossoms from a decidedly enemies to more start. And there are some delightfully tender scenes featuring Simon and his children that totally melted my heart (Georgina’s too!) But, oh, the plot twists, both with their love story and the mystery! An atmospheric historical romance that rivals any of the classics.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – 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 Never Forgotten, 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 11 2026

Love and Order + Giveaway

Family, Love, and Justice

Separated as children when they were adopted out to different families from an orphan train, the Braddock siblings have each grown up and taken on various jobs within law enforcement and criminal justice.

Pinkertons Callie Wilson and Joe Trenamen come to Cambria Springs to stop a killer. But when evidence points to a ghost from Callie’s childhood, she must choose between two men she loves.

Falsely accused, bounty hunter Rion Braddock vows to prove his innocence. Former flame Maya Fellows and dime novelist Lucinda Peters both offer help, but is either beauty truly on his side?

In her first solo case, attorney Andi McGovern defends Rion, but the infuriating prosecutor, Daniel Littrick, outwits her. Following a hunch could win her case—or leave Andi dead.

Can these couples stop the true culprit and right the greatest injustice of Callie, Andi, and Rion’s lives?

My Review:

What a captivating story! I’ve been ‘off’ Historical Westerns for a while now but ‘Love and Order’ (such a clever title!) has renewed my interest in the genre. Jennifer Uhlarik’s exquisite storytelling brings this time period to life in a fresh way.

Siblings separated on an orphan train reunite fifteen years later only to find themselves in a desperate fight for justice. Their unique professions -a Pinkerton Agent, a bounty hunter and a lawyer – prove extremely useful for the arduous journey ahead.

Loved these characters and their ‘Wild West’ challenges. Feisty heroines, long suffering heroes, a diabolical villain and enough sub-plots to keep me anxiously engaged right to the very end.

The book is divided into three parts with each sibling getting their own story while also playing roles in the over-arching suspense plot. Love the way the author bridged each section together, building tension with each story and culminating in an emotional courtroom scene that kept me on the edge of my seat! I might have shouted ‘I object’ more than once in the midst of all the drama. 🙂

And — eeeepppp — we get three times the romance as Callie, Rion and Andi find love in the midst of action and danger! The perfect literary escape read.

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 Love and Order, 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 4 2026