Carol Award Finalists 2020 -- Debut Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I haven't read any of these debuts yet!

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Debut Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff, Kregel Publications, editors Dori Harrell and Janyre Tromp

A gripping debut thriller pits a man of God against terrorists -- and his own deadly past.

John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.

But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf -- an assasin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to do penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.

Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John's secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow -- even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he's learning to care for be caught in the crossfire? In the end, John's life may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer...

Andrew Huff's thrilling debut is not only a riveting story of suspense, it's also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world.

Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editors Pegg Thomas and Denise Wiemer

After losing the love of her life to a big city journalism job, Elissa Tillman pours herself into the suffragette movement and her secretarial work helping keep her father's Pittsburgh newspaper afloat.

Cole Parker returns to the steel city with the phantom failures of his past nipping his heels. All he asks of the future is a second chance with the woman he once spurned.

The murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to prove to her father and the world that she's a serious journalist. But there's a catch -- she has to compete for the story. Against none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart .

Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens, Shiloh Run Press -- an imprint of Barbor Publishing Inc., editor Annie Tipton

A timeless, beautiful allegory of the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz

The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkable bloody business. At a time when Britain's imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer -- nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband's tragic death.

Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena's heart for his own.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Debut Category novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 12 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalist 2020 -- Young Adult Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I've only read one in this category! I'll include a link to my review in the description.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Yound Adult Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Romanov by Nadine Brandes, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editor Becky Monds

The history books say I died.
They don't know the half of it.

Anastasia "Nastya" Romanov was give a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family's only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them, and he's hunted Romanov before.

Nastya's only chances of saving herself and her family are to either release the spell and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn't act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya has only dabbled in magic, but it doesn't frighten her half as much as her growing attraction to Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her.

That is, until she's on one side of a firing squad...and he's on the other.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/07/romanov.html

Coral by Sara Ella, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Jodi Hughes and Becky Monds

There is more than one way to drown.

Coral has always been different, standing out from her mermaid sisters in a society where blending in is key. Worse yet, she fears she has been afflicted with the dreaded Disease, said to be carried by humans -- emotions. Can she face the darkness long enough to surface in the light?

Above the sea, Brooke has nothing left to give. Depression and anxiety have left her feeling isolated. Forgotten. The only thing she can rely on is the numbness she finds within the cool and comforting ocean waves. If only she weren't stuck at Fathoms -- a new group therapy home that promises a second chance at life. But what's the point of living if her soul is destined to bleed?

Merrick may be San Francisco's golden boy, but he wants nothing more then to escape his controlling father. When his younger sister's suicide attempt sends Merrick to his breaking point, escape becomes the only option. If he can find their mom, everything will be made right again -- right?

When their worlds collide, all three will do whatever it takes to survive and Coral might even catch a prince in the process. But what -- and  who -- must they leave behind for life to finally begin?

Taking a new twist on Hans Christian Andersen's beloved -- yet tragic -- fairy tale, Coral explores mental health from multiple perspectives, questioning what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

Something I Am Not by Cher Gatto, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editors Tessa Emily Hall and Linda Yezak

Winner of the 108 Genesis Award, the 2020 Christian Indie Award for Best YA, and a finalist in the upcoming 2020 Carol Awards for Best YA!

Something I Am Not is a powerful look at the insidious world of human trafficking right in our own backyard, and the redemptive story of a young man's fight to get out.

A father who never loved him. A woman who stole his worth. A brother he couldn't protect. Where does someone run in the face of his deepest shame?

Billy McQueen works hard to keep his life together -- and concealed. At seventeen, he dreams of an escape from the barroom, his father's manipulation, and the advances of his father's girlfriend. However, on his eighteenth birthday, he is introduced to a younger brother he never knew he had. An eight-year-old barely capable of navigating the distorted and corrupt world of his father's boxing club. Bill realizes in order to protect his little brother, he can never leave.

After discovering a battered young woman in the back shed of the club, Billy uncovers the true nature of his father's activities. Before he can share it with the sheriff, Billy is kidnapped by his father and sold to a wealthy old maid who imprisons him on her yacht in the Gulf of Mexico. His death is fabricated and his litte brother used as leverage for his compliance.

In order to secure his freedom, Billy must fight for it. To save his little brother who is next in line for the slave trade...he must die for it.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Young Adult Category novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 5 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalist 2020 - Speculative Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I haven't read any of these ones though I have two of them on hold at my library.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Speculative Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editors Dave Long and Jennifer Veilleux

Book Two of The Ravenwood Saga

Exiled and on the run, Seene Ravenwood is in search of the real reason her family was given the gift of dreamwalking but first she must adapt to her marriage with the man she was originally assigned to kill. With war impending and a dark being after  her gift, she finds herself at a crossroads but time is running out and soon her choice will be made for her.

The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin, Enclave Publishing, editor Steve Laub

Book Two of The Weaver Trilogy

Deceiving an empire in a treacherous game.

Tanwen and the Corsyth weavers race to collect the strangs of an ancient cure that might save Gryfelle. But Tanwen has a secret -- Gryfelle isn't the only one afflicted by the weaver's curse.

As Queen Braith struggles to assert her rule, a new arrival throws her tenuous claim to the Tirian throne into question. Braith's heart is turned upside down, and she's not sure she can trust anyone -- least of all herself.

The puppet master behind Gareth's rise to power has designs on Tanwen and the story weavers and will stop at nothing to reclaim the throne. A plot to incite the angry peasants of Tir takes shape, and those dearest to Tanwen will be caught in the crossfire. As the fight for  Tir consumes the realm, no one can remain innocent.

Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig, Enclave Publishing, editor Reagen Reed

The Droseran Saga #1

There's a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm.

Tertian Space Coalition has blessed every planet in the quadrants with high technology, save one: Drosero. But in spite of their tenuous treaty with the ruling clans, TSC has plans for the backward planet. And they're not alone.

After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she's borne since childhood burns mysterious, but the pain is nothing to when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders.

Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order -- not to join them but to seek a baounty. Gifted -- or cursed -- with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Speculative Category novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 29 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2020 - Short Novel

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I've  read two in this category!.I'll include the links to my reviews in the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Short Novel Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount, Love Inspired (Harlequin), editor Connolly Bottum

Searching for forgiveness...and a future.
Suddenly a husband...and a father? This bachelor is ready to claim his instant family.

After learning his ex-wife isn't so ex after all, rebel turned rancher Dan Whitlock is determined to prove he's a changed man...but Bailey Quinn is just as set on finally ending their marriage. When tragedy makes Dan the guardian of little orphan twins, he and Bailey are drawn back together. But can she forgive the past and open her heart to the family she's always wanted?

My Review:  https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-rancher-to-trust.html

The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn, Love Inspired (Harlequin), editors Shana Asaro and Dina Davis

From bachelor to daddy...overnight! A Colorado Grooms novel.

After his marriage ended, Gage Frasier vowed he'd never remarry or have children -- but now he's guardian of an orphan baby boy. Thankfully, his friend's sweet sister, Emma Wilder, offers to nanny while Gage seeks a more suitable family for the child. But soon Gage finds himself bonding with his new son...and with Emma. Parenthood surprises Gage, but will love sneak up on him too?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-ranchers-unexpected-baby.html

Lioness : Mahlah's Journey by Barbara M. Mitton, HarbourLight Books (Pelican), editor Fay Lamb

Fiction from Numbers 27:1-11 and 36:1-13 "Go forth with God."

While the Israelites struggle to occupy the Promised Land of God. Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother.

Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary -- the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father's land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:


Please note the formats these books are available in:

A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount - paperback OR ebook
The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn -- ebook only
Lioness : Mahlah's Journey - paperback OR ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Short Novel Category novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 22 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Award Finalist 2020 - Romantic Suspense Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I've readl all three books in this category! Yay me!! I'll include links to my reviews in the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Romantic Suspense Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey, Bethany House (Baker Publishing), editor Dave Long

A corpse that only leads to secrets.
An old flame with danger written all over her.
Things are about to get very complicated.

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

The already volatile situation is complicated even further by the arrival of Gabby Rowley -- Finn's boss's sister and an investigative reporter with unrelenting questions about the crime. Now that she's returned, the tug on Finn's heart is strong, but with the risks she's taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can't ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-killing-tide.html

Living Lies by Natalie Walters, Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Amy Ballor and Andrea Doering

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name -- but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to  home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past .

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/09/living-lies.html

Knox by Susan May Warren, SDG Publishing, editor Barbara Curtis

Montana rancher Knox Marshall's danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider's Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and...ordinary. He can't help but wonder if his best years are behind him.

Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be -- vivacious and confident -- burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X's next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves.

Knox and Kelsey's paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey's crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited.

When Kelsey's past threatens Knox's family, he'll have to choose between saving the Marshall legacy or becoming the protector he's always longed to be.

The explosive beginning to the Montana Marshalls series.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/01/knox.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Romantic Suspense Category novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 15 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Romance Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I've read two in this category. I'll include links to my reviews in the description.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Romance Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon, Revell, A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Kristin Kornoelje and Jennifer Leep

After tragedy upends her world, Jeanette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea-room -- until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn't worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.

Yet when both Jeannette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites readers back to the charming seaside town of Hope Harbor, where they are sure to find peace, healing, and a second chance at happiness.

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson, Revell, A Division of Baker Publishing Groupd, editor Vicki Crumpton

Anne Norris moved to Savannah, Georgia for a fresh start. Now her pirate-tour business is flagging, and paying the rent requires more that wishful thinking. When she discovers evidence of a shipwreck off the coast of Tybee Island, she knows it could be just the boon she needs to stay afloat. She takes her findings to local museum director Carter Hale for confirmation, but she runs after a disastrous first meeting.

Carter has been searching for the location of the wreck detailed in the worn pages of an 18th-century diary, the discovery of which could open the door to his dream job at a prestigious museum. But convincing Anne to help him fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is no easy task. And working with Carter means that Anne will have to do the one  thing she swore she'd never do again: trust a man.

Finding a monetary backer and sticking with a search that's turning up nothing will take all their dedication -- and every secret they've tried to hide. If they can find the lost ship, they may discover a treasure worth more than all the pirate gold in the world -- love.

Love You, Truly by Susan L. Tuttle, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editors Jessica Nelson and Linda Yezak

Blake Carlton, the camera-shy son of Hollywood's Darling, dodges the invasiive limelight and scripted relationships that so often accompany fame. But when his mother's popularity declines and she falls into a depression, he offers himself up as the next bachelor on a reality show, hoping to reignite interest in her career while creating a way for them to finally connect.

After her fiance dumps her for her best friend, aspiring photographer Harlow Tucker is done with romance -- until her beloved, disabled sister requests her aid to start a nonprofit. Harlow agrees to do whatever is needed to raise funds, even reluctantly costarring on a dating show with a notorious womanizer who distrusts anyone behind a lens.

As Blake and Harlow navigate the superficiality of a reality show, their preconceived notions of love are challenged. Deciding to trust each other feels like the ultimate risk, but taking that chance could lead to a love truly picture-perfect, worth both of their hearts.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Romance Category, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 8 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Award Finalists 2020 -- Novella Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I've only read one in this category! I'll include a link to my review in the description.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 -- Novella Category novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Always by Jody Hedlund, ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published), editors Leslie Peterson

A fierce elite guard. A loyal lady in waiting. They must work together to save three princesses from certain death.

On the verge of dying after giving birth to twins, the queen of Mercia pleads with Lady Felicia to save her infant daughters. With the castle overrun by King Ethelwulf's invading army, Lady Felicia vows to do whatever she can to take the newborn princesses and their three-year-old sister to safety, even though it means sacrificing everything she holds dear, possibly her own life.

Gravely wounded in battle and knowing all is lost to his enemy, the king of Mercia tasks Lance, one of his fiercest elite guards, to protect his family along with keys to an ancient treasure. As Lance makes plans to sneak the princesses out of the capital city, he doesn't need or want Lady Felicia's help.

With the dark enemy in pursuit, Lance and Felicia must put aside their differences to outrun King Ethelwulf and prevent him from killing the princesses. In a desperate attempt to hide the young girls, Lance and Felicia agree to a marriage of convenience, a decision that will change their lives -- and hearts -- forever.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/11/always.html

The Groom She'd Thought She Left Behind from the Runaway Brides Collection by Darlene Panzera, Barbour Publishing, editors Rebecca Germany and Ellen Tarver

Love is worth risking the unknown.

What is a woman of the 1800s to do when she feels pressured to marry without love in order to protect her family, to gain wealth, to fulfill an obligation, or to bend under and evil plan? Run! Seven women facing the marriage altar make the decision to flee, but who can they trust now?

Includes:
From This Day Forward by Rita Gerlach
Legacy of Love by Terri J. Haynes
The Elusive Heiress by Noelle Marchand
A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Vickie McDonough
The Groom She Thought She'd Left Behind by Darlene Panzera
The Flyaway Bride by Jenness Walker
The Irish Bride by Renee Yancy

Join in the escapades of seven brides who trust in faith alone. Will love find them on the run?

The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Jean Bloom and Becky Monds

When three people take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, their lives change forever.

A hothead businessman coming to the city for a showdown meeting to save his job.
A mother of three hoping to survive the days at her sister's house before her niece's wedding.
And a young artist pursuing his father's dream so he can keep his own alive.

When David, Gillian, and Michael each take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, the airline directs them to retrieve their bags at a mysterious facility in a deserted part of the city. There they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed, and carrying it with them is slowing them down in ways they can't imagine. And they must deal with it before they can leave.

In this modern-day parable about the burdens that weight us down, David Rawlings issues an inspiring invitation to lighten the load.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Novella Category novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalist 2020 - Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. I've only read one in this category! I'll include a link to my review in the description.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal, Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, editor Andrea Doering

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe -- a department only known as "Other." When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she'll be back in DC within a few days. But that's before she knows where the designs are stored -- and who's after them. With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where only criminal minds and unlikely strategies will keep the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault, hovering in the mesophere.

Even Tyler is more than he seems, and Talia begins to wonder: Is he helping her? Or using her access to CIA resources to pull off an epic heist for his own dark purposes?

In this Ocean's Eleven-meets-Mission Impossible thriller, former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot James R. Hannibal offers you a nonstop thrill ride through the most daring heist ever conceived.

Laynie Portland, Retired Spy by Vikki Kestell, ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published), editors Cheryl Adkins and Greg McCann

"Retirement" means something altogether different for a spy. It means someone in authority over you has decided that "coming in from the cold" is out of the question. It means you'd better run.

Laynie Portland has masqueraded as Swedish citizen Linnea Olander for close to two decades, the last seven years as the companion of Vassili Aleksandrovich Petroff, a reputable Russian scientist, former officer of the KGB and, at present,senior technology advisor to the Secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council.

What Petroff doesn't know is that, during her time as his woman, Laynie (Linnea) has ferreted out and fed her handlers a treasure trove of political and technological intel.

However, Petroff is a man with a pathological need to control every aspect of Laynie's life. When Petroff's jealous rages worsen, Laynie had had enough and petitions her agency to pull her out. She is told, however, that she is too well-placed to decommission: she is too valuable an asset where she is - and she fears that someone, someone in her chain of command, would rather risk her death under Petroff''s hand than lose the value and prestige her intel engenders.

She is told, furthermore, that her request to withdraw poses a larger danger -- because the abrupt departure of Linnea Olander would trigger an avalanche of Russian suspicions, and those suspicions would extend to her company, Marstead International, the front for a joint US/NATO covert intelligence gathering venture.

But Laynie is desperate: She knows how close to the edge she stands. She has acted the part of Linnea Olander too long and her ability to maintain the facade she presents to Petroff is fragile at best. A single misstep could blow her cover.

Faced with no viable alternative, Laynie runs.

Petroff views Linnea Olander's disappearance as a personal affront. In his eyes, Linnea's disloyalty is the ultimate act of betrayal, and he swears to find and punish her. Simultaneously, Laynie's Marstead superiors brand her as a rogue agent, a loose cannon who can no longer be trusted -- and the "retirement package" they order for her includes a short walk off the deck of a ferry into the black, icy rollers of the Baltic Sea.

How can Laynie escape both the Russians and her own agency -- the very people she once trusted? Will no one help her? Or will the God in whom her sister Kari trusts extend his protection over her life?

But why would he do that, Laynie asks herself, given the life I have lived?

Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editor Becky Monds

In this Gothic Regency romance Rebecca fears she has developed feelings for the man she swore to see hanged, her brother's murderer.

After her brother's mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning -- known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian.

Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca's restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother's prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path.

Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can't ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she fallen for the man she swore would pay for her brother's death? And , moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/08/midnight-at-river-grey.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of these Carol Award finalists -- Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Category novels , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 25 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Historical Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. As it happens, I've actually read two of these historical novels. I'll include a link to my review in the description.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 Historical novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson, Tyndale House, editors Stephanie Broene and Kathryn Olson

This novel draws from true accounts to shine a light on a period of Holland's darkest history and bravest heroes.

1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese's son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid their resistance work, Josie and Eliese's dangerous secrets could derail their friendship and their entire mission. When the enemy finds these women, only one will escape.

Seventy-five years later, Ava Drake begins to suspect that her great-grandfather William Kingston was not the World War II hero he claimed to be. Her work as director of the prestigious Kingston Family Foundation leads her to Landon West's Ugandan coffee plantation, and Ava and Landon soon discover a connection between their families. As Landon's great-grandmother shares the greatest loss in her own life -- and powerful members of the Kingston family who will do anything to keep the truth buried.

My Review:
https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/10/memories-of-glass.html

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke, Tyndale House, editors Stephanie Broene and Sarah Rische

For fans of bestselling World War II fiction like Sarah's Key and The Nightingale comes an illuminating tale of courage, sacrifice, and survival, about two couples whose lives are ravaged by Hitler's mad war yet eventually redeemed through the fate of one little girl.

Seemingly overnight, the German blitzkrieg of Warsaw in 1939 turns its streets to a war zone and shatters the life of each citizen -- Polish, Jewish, or otherwise. Sophie Kumiega, a British bride working in the city's library, awaits news of her husband, Janek, recently deployed with the Polish Air Force. Though Sophie is determined that she and the baby in her womb will stay safe, the days ahead will draw her into the plight of those around her, compelling her to help, whatever the danger.

Rosa and Itzhak Dunovich never imagined they would welcome their longed-for first child in the Jewish ghetto, or that they would let anything tear their family apart. But as daily atrocities intensify, Rosa soon faces a terrifying reality: to save their daughter's life, she must send her into hiding. Her only hope of finding her after the war -- if any of them survive -- is a medallion she cuts in half and places around her neck.

Inspired by true events of Poland's darkest days and brightest heroes, The Medallion paints a stunning portrait of war and its aftermath, daring us to believe that when all seems lost, God can make a way foward.

My Review:
https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-medallion.html

The Seamstress by Allison Pittman, Tyndale House, editors Jan Stob and Karen Watsonor

A story that breathes life into the cameo character from Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities.

France 1788
It is the best of times...

On a tranquil farm nestled in the French countryside, two orphaned cousins -- Renee and Laurette -- have been raised under the caring guardianship of young Emile Gagnon, the last of a once-prosperous family. No longer starving girls, Laurette and Renee now spend days tending Gagnon's sheep, and nights in their cozy loft, whispering secrets and dreams in this time of waning innocence and peace.

It is the worst of times...

Paris groans with a restlessness that no longer be contained within its city streets. Hunger and hatred fuel her people. Violence seeps into the ornate halls of  Versailles. Even Gagnon's table in the quiet village of Mouton Blanc bears witness to the rumbles of rebellion, where Marcel Moreau embodies its voice and heart.

It is the story that has never been told.

In one night, the best and worst of fate collide. A chance encounter with a fashionable woman will bring Renee's sewing skills to light and secure a place in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. An act of reckless passion will throw Laurette into the arms of the increasingly militant  Marcel. And Gagnon, steadfast in his faith in God and country, can only watch as those he loves march straight into the heart of the revolution.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of these Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Historical Category, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 July11 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Award Finalists 2020 -- Contemporary Category

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian Fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2020 finalists are books published in 2019. You might have read them already. You might not. As it happens, I've actually read two of these contemporary novels. I'll include a link to my review in the description.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the three Carol Award Finalist 2020 Contemporary novels you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email, if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

The Death of Mungo Blackwell by Lauren H. Brandenburg, Lion Fiction (Monarch Publishing), editor Jessica Gladwell

The Blackwells are a family with an extraordinary history and astounding traditions, which include attending their own funerals before they die! Their ways are questionable and their stories about deceased relatives are as bold as their red hair, but it is their eclectic wares that keep tourists coming back to their market in the town of Coraloo.

Charlie Price, whose world has come crumbling down after a lapse in judgement leaves him unemployed, finds himself flung into the chaotic world of the Blackwells when he relocates to Coraloo with his socialite wife, Velveteen, and shy son, Gideon. Here Charlie attempts to make a living as a 'picker', reselling under-priced items he picks up at the market. Some of the Blackwells welcome him with open arms, but others resent pickers and want him thrown out of the market.

Charlie soon finds this new way of life under threat and his quest for simplicity seems to be crumbling. Perhaps it's time for Charlie to have a funeral of his own! This charming story of hope will warm your heart and make your imagination soar.

On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Revell -- a Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Barb Barnes and Andrea Doering.

Sometimes love hurts -- and sometimes it can heal in the most unexpected way.

Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. "Moving on" is Cam's mantra. But there's a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on and one who just keeps on moving.

Cam's full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island -- a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam's surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, and so do the locals. One in particular: Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher, who harbors more than a few surprises.

My Review:
https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/08/on-summer-tide.html

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay, Harper Collins Christmas Publishing, editors Jocelyn Bailey and Jodi Hughes

Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop.

One of Madeline Cullen's happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened Madeline's heart toward her once-treasured aunt -- and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter's two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls.

When Madeline's professional life falls apart, and a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. Has she been too quick to dismiss her aunt's beloved shop? And even if she has, the women's best combined efforts may be too little too late.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship.

My Review:
https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-printed-letter-bookshop.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of these Carol Award Finalists 2020 - Contemporary Category, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 4 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck