Tag: McClain Lee Tobin

Holding onto Secrets + Giveaway

Redeeming past mistakes one paw print at a time.

To support his sister and young nephew, handyman Luke Johnson is in desperate need of a new job. His prayers are answered when Angie Anderson hires him to help renovate her property to house and train therapy dogs. Grieving widow Angie hopes to rebuild her life with a new sense of purpose, and establishing a therapy-dog reading program is just the fresh start she needs. Soon, unexpected feelings begin to grow between them, but will the secret Luke’s keeping threaten their chance at a future together?

My Review:

The strength of Lee Tobin McClain’s storytelling comes from the way she shines grace into the broken pieces of our lives. This redemption story is exceptional. Emotional and angst-riddled punctuated by moments of humour to balance everything out.

The therapy dog reading program is fascinating! I’ve been a fan ever since I heard about the concept so it was so much fun to see how it works in ‘real’ life. Okay, yes, I know this is fiction, but it felt true to life so I think it counts as a lived experience now. 🙂

A contemporary romance full of heart and grace and so much hope. A joy to read…well, listen to, courtesy of the talented Tanya Eby’s narration. She’s one of my favourite voice performers and it was so much fun to be welcomed into a new story by a familiar voice.

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

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 Holding Onto Secrets,  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 17 2025

His Christmas Salvation + Giveaway

On the road to recovery…can love lead the way?

With his service dog, Nemo, by his side, woodworker Fisk Wilkins vows to repair his reputation with his hometown—while remaining sober. But he’ll need Lauren Kantz’s financial expertise to make his new business a success. Except the divorced mother and her baby are a painful reminder of the family he lost. After learning of her ex-husband’s drinking, Fisk understands Lauren’s intent to keep her distance. But as the Christmas rush brings them closer together, can Fisk prove to Lauren—and himself—that he’s a changed man?

My Review:

An emotionally riveting Christmas romance. McClain has added complex layers to both Fisk and Lauren’s back stories that are heartbreaking and tough and plain hard to bounce back from. The more I got to know them, the more invested I became in their lives…and hoped for a timeless love story. And did the author ever deliver!

She touches on tough topics with compassion and heart without sugar-coating any of it. Fisk’s struggles in particular touched me because there was just so much stacked against him but he stoically overcame obstacle after obstacle.

While part of Love Inspired’s multi-authored K-9 companion series, it’s clear that the Wilkins family (Fisk has brothers!) have appeared in other books, perhaps a different series by the author? No matter, this one can definitely be read as a standalone but I’d love to read all the brothers’ stories as well.

I was thrilled to find ‘His Christmas Salvation’ featured on audible. And narrated by a favourite voice performer of mine — Tanya Eby. I thoroughly enjoyed every listening minute.

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  His Christmas Salvation, 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 2 2024.

A Friend to Trust + Giveaway

A special K-9. A troubled child. Can their bond heal the past?
Pastor Nate Fisher is confident he can handle a bunch of teenagers and ignore his attraction to camp codirector Hayley Harris for the summer. That is, until he learns a camper with an emotional support dog is the child Hayley placed for adoption thirteen years ago. When a misunderstanding brings Hayley and Nate closer together, keeping the secret becomes impossible. But will the truth reunite a family…or destroy Hayley’s trust forever?

My Review:

This is part (14th) of the hopefully never-ending K-9 Companion series — standalone novels that are connected through the theme of companion /service dogs. But ‘A Friend to Trust’ is also the third book Lee Tobin McClain has set at the Bright Tomorrows Residential Academy — a school for troubled boys. It can easily be read as a standalone, but there are some exciting cameos from earlier books which I found all kinds of fun.

As usual, this author delivers emotional angst mixed with faith and hope in a spellbinding way. Noah (love a single pastor hero!) and Hayley have adapted their idea of future based on circumstances in their past and it’s a struggle to let old demons go in order to trust in God’s forgiveness. It’s especially refreshing to read about a pastor who, though strong in faith, has difficulties in applying the same counsel he gives his parishioners to his own life. He’s also ex-military which carries its own unique challenges.

This is a friends-to-more trope, though Hayley’s prickly reaction to Noah’s camp involvement puts up barriers — she has her reasons, misguided though they may be.

Lots of summer activities and, of course, Samoyed Snowflake steals the show time and time again. (I have a personal Samoyed bff and I can’t wait to tell her all bout this canine heroine. I’m sure she’ll be impressed.)

I absolutely adore this series and the diversity and unique storytelling the authors bring through the various services the dogs provide. Entertaining and informative!

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 A Friend to Trust, 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 15, 2023.

The Beach Reads Bookshop + Giveaway

Running a bookstore on a quaint Chesapeake island is exactly the life Deena Clark would have chosen for herself–but helping billionaire businessman Luis Dominguez figure out fatherhood is part of the package. Can bonding over books and one little girl help them open their hearts to each other?

My Review:

The kind of ‘slice-of-real-life’ mixed with romance that I’ve come to expect from this author. McClain creates enticing settings and intriguing characters and it’s so easy to lose yourself in one of her stories. I’ve really been enjoying the Hometown Brothers series — this is the third book (and the last, I think) but reads well as a standalone. The central theme of the series revolves around foster brothers who find their way back to the Chesapeake island where they bonded together as teens. Edgy back stories and a sense of homecoming feature in each book.

And, egads, this time round it’s also a billionaire romance which is a trope I usually avoid, however, McClain does it justice and for all his misguided ways, Luis was surprisingly relatable. He has a lot of growing to do but then instant fatherhood will do that to a guy. 🙂

Deena has become the guardian of her best friend’s toddler and contacting the wealthy father for child support seems like the best way to provide the special needs resources little Willow is going to need. Trouble is, once Luis discovers he has a daughter, he’s not about to relinquish custody. Deena suddenly finds herself in a whirlwind of activity all instigated by a man who is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it.

And that means a move to Teaberry Island — the best place to raise a child as far as Luis is concerned. Where he’ll have family and friends around for support since his workaholic ways mean he’ll end up being a weekend father. Hence the need to lure Deena to the island as his caregiver.The dangling carrot is her very own bookshop! (Be still my heart, I want a hero who would buy me a bookshop!)

Of course the romance is complicated, and not without angst and there’s a secondary plot involving a woman I really disliked for most of the book. lol Every time we switched to Carol’s POV I had to brace myself. Thankfully she mellowed by the end.

A captivating conclusion to the Hometown Brothers series. I’ll be sad to leave Teaberry Island — it’s definitely a place I’d want to live if it wasn’t fictional!

Of note: This is not a Christian Fiction selection, but it is a clean read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Beach Reads 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 June 3, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Bluebird Bakery + Giveaway

A sweet new beginning on the Chesapeake Bay

Bluebird Bakery owner Taylor Harp loves how small and close-knit Teaberry Island is…except when the only response to her help wanted ad is from someone she hoped to avoid. She and Cody Cunningham shared a long-ago romance until he started dating her prettier younger shared a long-ago romance until he started dating her prettier younger sister. But though the sting of rejection remains, so do the sparks.

After PTSD ended his military career, Cody Cunningham came back to the one place that felt like home. A difficult childhood left him running from commitment, but when he’s suddenly left in charge of his young half siblings, Cody doesn’t hesitate. He’s ready to build a future, and he hopes Taylor will want to have a place in it. Will she keep him around long enough to see that the boy she knew is now a man who’ll love her forever?

My Review:

Oh, wow! Layered with angst and infused with hope. What an emotional roller coaster of a read!

McClain is so mean to her characters…and I love it. 🙂 Lots of gritty topics covered here as Taylor and Cody struggle to get past the traumas of their childhoods. Plus, we get the added bonus of a secondary plot involving Taylor’s sister which is even grittier. The author does a great job of realistically portraying some very real life struggles with grace and compassion. My heart kinda hurts after this read.

Teenage romance gone awry a decade ago, morphs into the hope of second chances…if only these characters have the courage to face their issues and embrace the concept of forgiveness. Richly layered and beautifully written.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy– winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of His Alaskan Redemption, 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 25, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.