Thursday, December 30, 2021

Reader's Choice -- New Year's Reading Goals

GIVEAWAY

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
THIS IS MY LONG SUFFERING
SIMBA. HE'S CROSSED OVER 
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
BUT THIS PHOTO
STILL MAKES ME SMILE!

And now for something new and exciting that might just fill me with a wee bit of dread too 'cause I've never done this type of goal setting before. Mostly I just see book, devour book, look for my next bookish meal. And repeat.  :-)

A few years ago, I started setting yearly # of books-to-be-read goals thanks to prompts by GoodReads but, recently I've gotten into watching a few book tube channels and that has inspired me to dig a little deeper and try to guide the path my reading journey takes me on. 

You'll see that most of my goals are open ended. They are ideas and hopes more than concrete 'X number of books in this category, tick the box and call it done' goals. That's because, while I do follow some planning -- I mean, I diligently recored all the Reader's Choice recommendations in an organized month by month fashion -- I'm also very much a mood reader. I'll get a strong yearning for Regency or Suspense or a specific trope and I just have to go into a deep dive reading binge so I want to leave lots of freedom for me to still be able to do that. 

So, I'm going to share my reading goals in a sec, but first, let me explain how the giveaway portion of this blog is going to work:

Nothing like a tippy-toppy
TBR pile to keep an
Avid Reader in 
Bibliophile Bliss!
 

BEST READS FIRST EVER
NEW YEAR'S READING GOALS
GIVEAWAY!

It's super easy -- you just need to share at least one reading goal you have made for 2022. Can be as simple as the # of books you'd like to read or an author you'd like to try or a genre you want to focus on. Anything goes, they're your goals, after all. Then, in the same comment, list a book that will help you reach your goal. So it looks like this:

"I want to catch up on some suspense series. Night Prey by Susan Sleeman."

You can enter up to three times in three separate comments -- and you can use the same goal or different ones each time.

Books can be published any time up until March 2022. Currently published books will be ordered the first week in January for the winners, otherwise it will be an IOU for a Jan, Feb or Mar 2022 title.

See? Easy Peasy. But if you're still not clear, don't be shy about asking questions.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: TODAY'S GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO EMAIL ENTRIES. JUST TYPE 'READING GOALS' IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND THEN LIST YOUR ENTRY SELECTIONS IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL.*

KAV'S 2022 
READING GOALS

READ MORE INDIE AUTHORS

It used to be that almost all indie books were only available in ebooks so I stopped paying attention to them. These days indie books are often available in paperback and even audible editions so I'm on the hunt!

Authors on my radar: 

Milla Holt 
Valerie Comer
Narelle Atkins
Janet Ferguson
Liwen Ho
Elizabeth Maddrey
Jaycee Weaver 

Do you have any favourite indie authors you think I should try?

CATCH UP ON SERIES I'M BEHIND IN

I'm hyperventilating just thinking about all the unfinished series I could put on this list. Both Susan Sleeman and Christy Barritt could keep me busy playing catch up all year long! Oh, and Sara M. Eden's Lancaster Family series is etched in stone. I've only read the first book and I'm definitely going to read all of them in 2022!

READ MORE DEBUT AUTHORS

This is a tricky one because I think it's hard to source out debut novels. I usually just stumble over them in a random bumbling fashion. But I'd like to be more purposeful and seek out debuts this year. Wish me happy hunting!

READ MORE NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS

I read a lot of new-to-me-authors this year. I get a tad shy of giddy when I discover a new fave...but that discovery also comes with some angst because -- more books to keep up with!!!! Such a divine readerly dilemma!

DIVERSIFY MY READING 

I'd like to approach this three ways: Culture/ethnicity in characters, Culture/ethnicity in authors and diverse settings. While I love all the books I read in the US, I'd also love to armchair travel around the world. Oh -- and characters with disabilities or chronic conditions are rare, but I'm determined to source some out too. Sarah Monzon's Amanda is a fantastic example of how powerful (and fun) as story like that can be!

STAY CURRENT WITH SERIES

Sometimes this is relatively easy to do if a book is published traditionally because there are usually only two or three released in a year BUT when it comes to Indies! Yikes. But I'm going to try.

START NEW-TO-ME SERIES

As I discover new-to-me authors, I find myself scrambling to catch up and then keep up. I aim to follow through with at least some of the new-to-me-series I start in 2022.

PLAY AUTHOR CATCH-UP

There are a few authors I think I'm close to being caught up with and I want to work on their books this coming year (as long as books aren't only in ebook format)

Sarah Monzon
Toni Shiloh
Ruth Logan Herne

READ OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE (OCCASIONALLY!)

This gives me heart palpitations even though I do have a pretty wide reading palette. There are still some genres that I'm not drawn to. Science Fiction (Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig -- I've checked it out from the library twice and didn't read it!) Biblical Fiction, Action Thrillers, anything without a romance in it (snicker!) 

GIVE UNLOVED TROPES A SECOND CHANCE

Sigh. Am I really going to write this down? Yes I am!

Love Triangles (bah, phooey!)
Secret Baby
Billionaires

Tada! That's it (so far!) I'm pretty excited to see what reading goals I accomplish in 2022. I have a fancy dancy notebook to record all my successes in too! So, now it's your turn:

WHAT KIND OF NEW YEARS READING GOALS ARE YOU SETTING? Share below or in an email (remember to include book titles that will help you achieve your goal) and you have a chance to win one of those titles.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON
SUNDAY JANUARY 2 2022

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Reader's Choice -- Last Hurrah for Books Published in 2021

GIVEAWAY


Eeeepppp! The start of a New Year means the beginning of new fictional adventures and that means...

Reader's Choice Giveaway
New Year's Edition

So, here's how this thing works: (and it's a little bit different, so pay attention.) You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION titles released any time during 2021 (up to three suggestions) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: email entries are not eligible this week. :-(

IT'S THE LAST HURRAH FOR 
2021 CHRISTIAN FICTION BOOKS
GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) published in 2021 that you would like to win.

Last Hurrah for 2021 -- a full length story or novella or collection of novellas published any time in 2021. And genre, any time period -- just has to be Christian Fiction.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be
ANYTIME IN 2021
Each day is genre specific so
only submit books from that genre
Christian Fiction books only please!
You can offer up to three suggestions
per genre day
BUT
they need to be made in
three separate comments
(makes it easier to tally)
No email entries this week
(too hard to keep track of 
due to # of responses)
entrants must submit their own selections
(no piggyback on someone else's log in)
Open to International Readers
(I'm all about spreading the good news
about Christian Fiction far and wide)

It's helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it's up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 
Sunday January 2 2022

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Reader's Choice -- General Christian Fiction

GIVEAWAY


Eeeepppp! The start of a New Year means the beginning of new fictional adventures and that means...

Reader's Choice Giveaway
New Year's Edition

So, here's how this thing works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION titles with release dates in January, February or March 2022 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: email entries are not eligible this week. :-(

IT'S GENERAL CHRISTIAN FICTION
GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in any Christian Fiction genre you would like to win.

General Christian Fiction -- a full length story or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre including previous selections you've made on other days and also for specific genres not covered this week such as Women's Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction, etc.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be
JANUARY, FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2022
Each day is genre specific so
only submit books from that genre
Christian Fiction books only please!
You can offer up to three suggestions
per genre day
BUT
they need to be made in
three separate comments
(makes it easier to tally)
No email entries this week
(too hard to keep track of 
due to # of responses)
entrants must submit their own selections
(no piggyback on someone else's log in)
Open to International Readers
(I'm all about spreading the good news
about Christian Fiction far and wide)

It's helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it's up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 
Sunday January 2 2022

Monday, December 27, 2021

Reader's Choice -- Amish Fiction

GIVEAWAY


Eeeepppp! The start of a New Year means the beginning of new fictional adventures and that means...

Reader's Choice Giveaway
New Year's Edition

So, here's how this thing works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION titles with release dates in January, February or March 2022 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: email entries are not eligible this week. :-(

IT'S AMISH FICTION
GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Amish Fiction genre you would like to win.

Amish Fiction -- a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where the hero or heroine (or both) are Amish OR the story has significant Amish involvement through Amish secondary characters and Amish community. Can be historical or contemporary and cross genres such as YA, Suspense, or dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be
JANUARY, FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2022
Each day is genre specific so
only submit books from that genre
Christian Fiction books only please!
You can offer up to three suggestions
per genre day
BUT
they need to be made in
three separate comments
(makes it easier to tally)
No email entries this week
(too hard to keep track of 
due to # of responses)
entrants must submit their own selections
(no piggyback on someone else's log in)
Open to International Readers
(I'm all about spreading the good news
about Christian Fiction far and wide)

It's helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it's up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 
Sunday January 2 2022

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Reader's Choice -- Suspense / Mystery Fiction

GIVEAWAY


Eeeepppp! The start of a New Year means the beginning of new fictional adventures and that means..
.

Reader's Choice Giveaway
New Year's Edition

So, here's how this thing works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION titles with release dates in January, February or March 2022 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: email entries are not eligible this week. :-(

IT'S SUSPENSE /  MYSTERY FICTION
GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Suspense / Mystery Fiction genre you would like to win.

Suspense / Mystery Fiction -- a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (More so in suspense.) Can be set in any time period -- contemporary or historical and may cross genres such as YA Amish or dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be
JANUARY, FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2022
Each day is genre specific so
only submit books from that genre
Christian Fiction books only please!
You can offer up to three suggestions
per genre day
BUT
they need to be made in
three separate comments
(makes it easier to tally)
No email entries this week
(too hard to keep track of 
due to # of responses)
entrants must submit their own selections
(no piggyback on someone else's log in)
Open to International Readers
(I'm all about spreading the good news
about Christian Fiction far and wide)

It's helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it's up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 
Sunday January 2 2022

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Reader's Choice -- Contemporary Romance / Fiction

GIVEAWAY

 


Eeeepppp! The start of a New Year means the beginning of new fictional adventures and that means...

Reader's Choice Giveaway
New Year's Edition

So, here's how this thing works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION titles with release dates in January, February or March 2022 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: email entries are not eligible this week. :-(

IT'S CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE / FICTION
GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Historical Romance / Fiction genre you would like to win.

Contemporary Romance / Fiction -- a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be
JANUARY, FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2022
Each day is genre specific so
only submit books from that genre
Christian Fiction books only please!
You can offer up to three suggestions
per genre day
BUT
they need to be made in
three separate comments
(makes it easier to tally)
No email entries this week
(too hard to keep track of 
due to # of responses)
entrants must submit their own selections
(no piggyback on someone else's log in)
Open to International Readers
(I'm all about spreading the good news
about Christian Fiction far and wide)

It's helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it's up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 
Sunday January 2 2022

Monday, December 20, 2021

Reader's Choice -- Historical Romance / Fiction

GIVEAWAY


Eeeepppp! The start of a New Year means the beginning of new fictional adventures and that means...

Reader's Choice Giveaway
New Year's Edition

So, here's how this thing works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION titles with release dates in January, February or March 2022 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: email entries are not eligible this week. :-(

IT'S HISTORICAL ROMANCE / FICTION
GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Historical Romance / Fiction genre you would like to win.

Historical Romance / Fiction -- a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be
JANUARY, FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2022
Each day is genre specific so
only submit books from that genre
Christian Fiction books only please!
You can offer up to three suggestions
per genre day
BUT
they need to be made in
three separate comments
(makes it easier to tally)
No email entries this week
(too hard to keep track of 
due to # of responses)
entrants must submit their own selections
(no piggyback on someone else's log in)
Open to International Readers
(I'm all about spreading the good news
about Christian Fiction far and wide)

It's helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it's up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 
Sunday January 2 2022

Saturday, December 18, 2021

December Giveaway -- Week Three


WON BY CC

WON BY CARYL KANE

WON BY JASMINE A.

WON BY MARIA DB

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW

WON BY TERRILL

WON BY CINDY

WON BY LIBRARY LADY

WON BY CONNIE LEE

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address in the comments, otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. (Please note it's ca as in Canada not com)

From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven't been able to reach you within 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now so, please, DON'T BE SHY -- CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address (or email address for ebooks) and I'll email you to confirm your book is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring on the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times.

REMINDER: If you've been following my blog through email updates, you need to re-subscribe (blogger stopped it's subscription service so I had to switch to another.) Just fill in your email address in the white box in the upper right hand corner of the blog and click on subscribe. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Eeeepppp -- I'm so excited to be looking ahead to what literary delights are in store for us in 2022 and we're starting things off with our last READER'S CHOICE WEEK OF 2021

Because of the holidays, I'm stretching the week into two weeks (see posting dates below.) You can post entries any time up until the winners are announce on Sunday January 2, 2022.

READER'S CHOICE WEEK 
NEW YEAR'S EDITION

You recommend Christian Fiction titles with release dates in January, February or March 2022 (up to three entries per genre day) and you have a chance at winning one of your suggested titles...or more accurately, a IOU for when the book releases.

But it's a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details listed each day before entering. Each day is genre specific which means you can only suggest historical titles on historical fiction day etc.) Here's the posting schedule:

Monday December 20 -- Historical Fiction -- any full-length novel or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Tuesday December 21 -- Contemporary Fiction -- any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Wednesday December 22 -- Suspense / Mystery Fiction -- any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense.) Can be set in any time period -- contemporary or historical -- and cross genres such as YA, Amish or dual timelines etc.

December 23 - December 26 
-- Christmas Break

Monday December 27 -- Amish Fiction -- any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas where the hero or heroine (or both) are Amish OR the story has significant Amish involvement through Amish secondary characters and Amish community. Can be historical or contemporary and cross genres such as YA, suspense or dual timelines.

Tuesday December 28 -- General Christian Fiction -- Any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre including previous selections you've made on other days and also for specific  genres not covered this week such as Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, etc.

Wednesday December 29 -- Last Hurrah for Books Published in 2021 -- Any Christian Fiction book published in 2021 that you've missed out on so far. And genre, any length, any time period. Just as to be Christian Fiction and published in 2021.

Thursday December 30 -- New Year Reading Goals Wishlist -- This is the first year I'm going to set reading goals other than # of books I want to read and I thought it would be fun to share with each other. I'll share my goals in a post and you can join me or add your own specific goal, including a book title (anything published up to March 2022) and if your name is drawn that's the book you'll win and you'll be one book closer to achieving your 2022 reading goals.

WINNERS FOR BOTH WEEKS 
WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON 
SUNDAY JANUARY 2 2022.

SEASON'S READINGS EVERYONE!

Friday, December 17, 2021

An Amish Flower Farm

GIVEAWAY

STEELE, MINDY
AN AMISH FLOWER FARM

She grows flowers. He raises bees for honey. They help each other out, because that's what neighbour's do...

Belinda Graber loves growing flowers for her family to sell at the Amish market. Selling them in town, though, is out of the question. People would stare at the birthmark on her cheek, and she's dealt with enough teasing in her life.

As a beekeeper, Adam Fisher knows how blessed he is to live next door to the Grabers' fields of flowers. But when his father is injured, Adam has to take a job at the local mill. How ill he manage the honey harvest?

Adam and Belinda make a deal: if she tends his hives, he'll sell her flowers in town. 

Before long, Adam's shy neighbour is charming the bees...or is he the one being charmed? Because his last courtship ended badly, Adam tells himself this arrangement is strictly business, even if Belinda is sweet as honey.

My Review:

This is my first Mindy Steele book but it sure won't be my last. And I'm hoping this is the beginning of a series because I've fallen in love with this community and the Graber family and Belinda does have a pair of siblings that need matching up.  There isn't a series title on the book anywhere, but I'm still going to live in hope.

I love Belinda's shy awkwardness -- she makes introverts look outgoing! Her quiet nature is amplified by her insecurities over a facial birthmark that generated a lot of teasing when she was in school. Now she's a homebody who loves to serve those she loves best and she's content to work in her flower gardens -- away from the gawkers. 

Next door neighbour Adam has always been sweet on Belinda but she runs away like a scared rabbit every time he tries to approach her. Unwilling to make her uncomfortable, he keeps his distance...until an urgent need throws these two together.  A flower farmer and a beekeeper -- what sweet destiny! :-)

Love the way this romance develops. Adam's gentle patience coaxes the real Belinda out of her protective shell at last. He finds her charming and witty and surprisingly easy to talk to and it isn't long before he's smitten. Luckily the feeling is mutual...though that doesn't mean the happily-ever-after comes as easily as all that!

Steele has crafted a gentle, heartwarming romance with a setting I definitely want to return to. Hint: Mica and Tabitha need their own stories. Plus we need an update on Belinda and Adam. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- reader's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Flower Farmleave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 December 18 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck