Carol Awards -- Debut

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Debut Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editors: Dave Horton and Rochelle Gloege

Headstrong Johanna Berglund, a linguistics student at the University of Minnesota, has very definite plans for her future...plans that do not include returning to her hometown and the secrets and heartaches she left behind there. But the US Army wants her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.

Johanna arrives to find the once-sleepy town exploding with hostility. Most patriotic citizens want nothing to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they're not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend  Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.

As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But advocating for better treatment makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Warner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her home-front battle, the more the lines between compassion and treason become blurred -- and it's no longer clear whom she can trust.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/12/things-we-didnt-say.html

The Edge of Everywhen by A.S. Mackey, B&H Publishing, Editor: Michelle Freeman

A unique middle-grade novel, The Edge of Everywhen tells the story of Piper, a 13 year-old self-proclaimed book nerd whose world has been upended after the death of her mother. She and her autistic little brother (and best friend) Phoenix cling to one another as they are forced to move a thousand miles away from everything familiar and live with their rich, estranged aunt.

Piper reaches to the books on her shelf for comfort, but it is one unique book, Novus Fabula, who offers true guidance as the omniscient narrator in the story.  It watches them arrive at their aunt's home, with tired hearts and stones in their stomachs, and now its whispered voice must point the children to depend upon the sovereignty of God during the most dire times as they await word of their missing father.

"What's that you say? Books cannot speak? On the contrary, dear Reader. Quite the contrary. Books are one of the few things on this earth that truly speak, from the moment the first word is penned until the book's last Reader has drawn their final breath." Novus Fabula

Full of mystery and intrigue, The Edge of Everywhen bridges the chasm between faith-based and fantasty kid-lit genres. It is a book-lover's book, carrying the reader right into the adventure as Piper and Phoenix embark upon a life-changing journey, in search of their father and of a faith to call their own.

Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads, Enclave Publishing, Editors: Steve Laube and Lisa Laube

When world's collide, shadow wrestles light

Seventeen-year-ol Cara Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can't explain. Cera's world turns upside down.

Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she's not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton's poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?

In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protec those she loves?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2021 Carol Award finalists -- Debut Category novels, leave 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 September 11 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards -- Young Adult

 

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Young Adult Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Victoria Grace, the Jerkface by S.E. Clancy, Whitefire Publishing, Editor: Cara Grandle

Ever since Tori Weston and MamaBear were abandoned by her dad, finances have been tighter than a new pair of skinny jeans. As if keeping her grades up for scholarships and working every spare moment weren't enough. Tori gets suckered into visiting a retirement home and paired with ancient resident Marigold Williams. After learning she's the only one to visit Marigold in decades, Tori becomes a regular at Willow Springs. Besides, someone has to help her with her history homework.

Corbin Dallas barges into Tori's life with a prosthetic leg and a dimple, working his way into her hectic schedule. Though she tries to deny it, there's something beyond his Texan drawl that gets Tori hoping she's more than his sidekick. Together, they race to find Marigold's missing family before she fades away. Tori ditches her soul-sucking job, along with her dream of having a paint-peeled clunker to call her own, in order to help her friend one last time.

The Story Hunter by Lindsey A. Franklin, Enclave Publishing, Editors: Steve Laube and Lisa Laube

Book Three in the Weaver Trilogy

Redeeming the past is a fatal quest.

In the wake of a deadly coup, the capital city of Urian has descended into chaos. Heartbreak and bloodshed await Tanwen and her friends as they discover the unlikeliest leader now rules Tir.

If they want to save the realm, Tannie and the Corsyth weavers must rescue Queen Braith and unmask the Master, ending the strife once and for all. But the success of their hunt depends upon an ally no one trusts.

The Master has a new target: fragile, trauma-scarred Digwyn, whose unique weaving ability could turn the tide of any war. When the desire for vengeance proves too powerful for Digwyn to resist, Tanwen must face a terrifying truth: the fate of Sir rests in the hands of a volatile, shattered girl. 

Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads, Enclave Publishing, Editors: Steve Laube and Lisa Laube

Book 1 in The Colliding Line

When worlds collide, shadow wrestles light

Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlow wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can't explain, Cera's world turns upside down.

Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she's not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton's poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?

In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?

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 one of the 2021 Carol Awards finalist -- Young Adult category, leave 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 September 4 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards -- Speculative

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Speculative Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Cry of the Raven (Book 3, The Ravenwood Saga) by Morgan L. Busse, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editors: Dave Long and Jennifer Veilleux

Lady Selene Ravenwood has come into her full power as a dreamwalker just as the war with the Dominia Empire begins. Working with the other Great Houses, Selene and Damien use their gifts to secure the borders and save those devastated by the war. But conflict, betrayal, and hatred begin to spread between the Great Houses, destroying their unity as the empire burns a path across their lands. At the same time, Damien Maris starts to lose his ability to raise the waters, leaving the lands vulnerable to the empire's attacks.

The only one who can unite the houses and restore her husband's power is Selene Ravenwood. But it will require that she open her heart to those who have hurt her and let go of her past, despite the one who hunts her and will do anything to stop her power.

Will Selene survive? Or is she destine to fall like the dreamwalkers before her?

Stealing Embers by Julie Holt, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, Editors: Rebecca Heyman and Janelle Leonard

A realm of monsters. A world of lies. She belongs to both.

My name is Emberly, and everything I've ever been told is a lie.

Monsters don't exist. Wrong.

The nightmarish spectrum world is just my imagination. Wrong.

In a few months, I'll finally be free. Wrong.

It takes being dragged to a secret training academy in the mountains to unravel the truth. My captors -- an elite race of angel-born warriors called Nephilim.

The deadliest of them all is an arrogant shape shifter , Steel. He's gorgeous, lethal, hot-headed...and convinced I'll be the death of them all.

Maybe he's right. As soon as I show up, the monsters that have haunted me my entire life breach the academy walls. My only hope of saving my new friends is learning how to control my powers, but when a stunning betrayal hurts someone I care about, I have an impossible choice.

Stay and fight for a place to belong...or decide once and for all that I'm better off alone.

Enter the spectrum world, a realm in-between worlds where shadow beasts draw blood, reality is a maze of twisted lights and sounds, and life goals are whittled down to just one: survive.

The Vault Between Spaces by Chawna Schroeder, Enclave Publishing, Editors: Steve Laube and Lisa Laube 

Every legend must start somewhere...

No prisoner who enters the gates of HopeWell ever leaves. But from the moment Oriel sets foot inside Anatroshka's most formidable prison camp, she unsettles both commandant and prisoner alike with eyes that see beyond the surface and music that trails her everywhere.

Petite and delicate though she appears, Oriel bows before neither threat nor punishment. Moreover, she makes no attempt to hide her intention: Oriel plans to escape the inescapable HopeWell.

But when facades are stripped away and myth becomes clothed in flesh, what begins as a prison break becomes a mission to stop the invasion of evil itself.

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 one of the 2021 Carol Award finalists -- Speculative category, leave 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 August 28 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards -- 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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Short Novel Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

The Christmas Bargain by Lisa Carter, Love Inspired (Harlequin), Editor: Melissa Endlich

All she needs is a date for the holidays...

She needs a date for a wedding, but a fiance wasn't part of the plan...

Unwilling to attend a wedding alone, artist Lila Penry makes a deal with Sam Gibson -- art lessons for his adorable niece in exchange for being her date. But their Christmas agreement becomes a nightmare when everyone thinks they're engaged. All Lila wants to leave town for her dream job...so what happens when Sam steals his way into her heart?

My Review:  https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-christmas-bargain.html

Killer Insight by Virginia Vaughn, Love Inspired (Harlequin), Editor: Shana Asaro

From profiling a criminals to being hunted by a killer.

Asking FBI agent Lucy Sanderson to profile the Black Roads Killer is the only way Bryce Tippett can prove his brother is innocent -- unless Lucy becomes the next victim. When someone begins stalking her just as she arrives in town, it falls to the single dad to protect her. But as clues lead in unexpected directions, can they uncover the truth...and survive to expose it?

Covert Operatives.

Texas Holiday Hideout by Virginia Vaughn, Love Inspired (Harlequin), Editor: Shana Asaro

When her identity's exposed, hiding on a lawman's family ranch is her last hope.

After her mother is killed, Melissa Morgan's shocked to learn she's spent her life in witness protection. Now it's US marshal Miles Avery's job to keep her and her little boy. And with a mole in his agency, the only way to evade the killer is to hide Melissa on Miles' family ranch...and pretend she's his wife for the holidays.

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 one of the Carol Awards - Short Novel category, leave 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 August 21 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards -- Romantic Suspense

 

    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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Romantic Suspense Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Lost Down Deep by Sara Davison, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, Editor: Inez Jimenez

She is the only one who can tell the police who attacked her in her home. If only she could remember...

Summer Velasquez is on the run from a man she has no recollection of after an attack she can't recall. Every face in the crowd is a potential suspect, so how is Summer supposed to know who is a threat to her and who isn't?

After fleeing her assailant and the parents who lied to her about what happened, she changes her name and seeks refuge in Elora, Ontario. The small town feels familiar, although she has no memory of every having been there.

Even in what should be a safe place, she can't shake the feeling that she is being watched.

When Ryan Taylor strolls into the Taste of Heaven Cafe where she works, Summer is immediately drawn to him. However, he may not be who he says he is either. As her suspicions grow, Summer prepares to run again. But at least one person is determined to stop her. Permanently. And if she can't remember who he is, this time he may succeed.

Point of Danger by Irene Hannon, Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Groups, Editors: Jennifer Leep and Kristin Kornoelije

Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced -- permanently.

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes -- and who is swiftly winning his heart -- may not survive.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/11/point-of-danger.html

Airborne by DiAnn Mills, Tyndale House, Editors: Jan Stob and Julee Schwartzburg

Heather Lawrence's long-awaited vacation to Salzburg wasn't supposed to go like this. Mere hours into the transatlantic flight, the Houston FBI agent is awakened when passengers begin exhibiting horrific symptoms of an unknown infection. As the virus quickly spreads and dozens of passengers fall ill, Heather fears she's witnessing an epidemic similar to ones her estranged husband studies for a living -- but this airborne contagion may have been deliberately released.

While Heather remains quarantined with other survivors, she works with her FBI colleagues to identify the person behind this attack. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field...and Heather's husband. The Lawerences' marriage has been on the rocks since Chad announced his career took precedence over his wife and future family and moved out.

As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time's running out to hunt down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice -- of whichever title chosen

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2021 Carol Award Finalists -- Romantic Suspense novels, leave 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 August 14 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards - Romance

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Romance Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Woohoo!!!! I've read all three books in this category! 

Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editor: Raela Schoenherr

January Sanders grew up believing karma was more reliable than an imaginary higher power, but after suffering the worst heartbreak in 29 years, she's open to just about anything, including taking a temporary position at her aunt's church. Keeping her lack of faith a secret, January is determined to use her photographic memory to help Grace Community's overworked staff, all while scraping herself off rock bottom.

What she doesn't  count on is meeting the church's handsome and charming guitarist, who not only is a strong believer, but has also dedicated his life to Christian music. It's a match set for disaster, and yet January has no ability to stay away, even if it means pretending to have faith in a God she doesn't believe in.

Only this time, keeping secrets isn't as easy as she thought it would be. Especially when she's constantly running into her aunt's landscape architect, who seems to know everything about her past and present sins and makes no apologies about pushing her to deal with feelings she'd rather keep buried.

Torn between two worlds incapable of coexisting, can January find the healing that's eluded her or will her resistance to the truth ruin any chance of happiness?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/10/love-and-little-white-lie.html

Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon, Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, Editors: Jennifer Leep and Kristin Kornoelje

A year ago, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark left the rigors of combat behind to run fishing charters in Hope Harbor, decompress, and talk some sense into his kid brother. Business is good -- but making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected.

First-grade teacher Holly Miller leads a quiet, low-profile existence -- until she's recruited to advocate for a cause that's dear to her heart. When she solicits Steven's assistance, sparks fly -- especially after they find themselves on opposite sides of an issue that disrupts their placid seaside community.

As these two seemingly incompatible souls search for common ground, might they discover a deeper connection -- and find that love can banish darkness and light the way to a future filled with promise?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor -- where hearts heal...and love blooms.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/05/starfish-pier.html

Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter, Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Editors: Kimberly Carlton and I.B. Norton

A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything.

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina -- the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the financial state of the inn -- a secret he's been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don't expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely walked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk -- or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/06/carolina-breeze.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice -- of whichever finalist novel you pick

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2021 Carol Award Romance finalists, leave 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 August 7 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards -- Novella

 

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Novella Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Far as the Curse is Found, from the collection Joy to the World : A Regency Romance Collection by Amanda Barratt, Kregel Publications, Editors: Janyre Tromp and Dori De Vries Harrell

One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

*Please note: since this novella is part of a collection, the book being offered is Joy to the World and includes novellas by Carolyn Miller and Erica Vetsch as well.

Christmas in Galway, in the collection Christmas Lights and Romance by Elizabeth Ludwig, Winged Publications, Editor: Cynthia Hickey

It's been two years since a drunk driving accident claimed the life of Elinor Walsh's fiance. Though she's longed to create a thriving design business for herself, the past still haunts her. Prompted by her friends, she finally capitulates and schedules a flight to Ireland -- a trip that should have been her honeymoon. Armed with just a list her fiance wrote and the keys to a rental car, Elinor heads to Galway, never dreaming that the people she meets there will change her life forever. Confronted with a choice -- her past with an old friend or her future with a new one -- will she finally be able to move beyond her grief? Or will she cut her losses, and her trip short, and miss out on the one thing she never expected?

*Please note: Winner can choose either the single title edition or the multi-authored novella collection edition (authors include Joi Copeland, Judy Goodman Howard, Martha Rogers, J. Carol Nemeth and Diane Yates.)

A New Hope for Christmas by Erin Stevenson, Harbourlight Books, a Divsion of Pelican, Editor: M. Jamie West

This Christmas, two lost and broken families need restoration.

Sam Jarrett was just starting to explore spiritual things when his world was shattered. Now, he's completely turned his back on God. Laura Preston is a devoted believer, leaning heavily on her faith to get her through each tortured day.

Two chance meetings spark a friendship and a glimmer of hope.

Sam battles God's prodding through Laura's gentle, caring spirit. When another tragedy strikes on Christmas Eve, Sam is sure that God has completely deserted him. Laura tries to show Sam that God loves him and has been there all the time, but how can Sam trust when he has no faith?

A New Hope for Christmas is a story of restored faith in a God who never leaves us, even when we can't see or feel Him near.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note the different edition options for this giveaway:

Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt is available in the Joy to the World novella collection -- paperback or ebook edition, winner's choice.

Christmas in Galway by Elizabeth Ludwig is only available in ebook format -- either on it's own or in the Christmas Lights and Romance collection.

A New Hope for Christmas by Erin Stevenson is only available in ebook format.

 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2021 Carol Award Finalists -- Novella Category, leave 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 July 31 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards -- 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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Dead End by Nancy Mehl, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editors: Raela Schoenherr and Jean Bloom

When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before -- Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years...and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn's father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.

Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometwon or set eyes on her father again. She's always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she's hated for yeas.

As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life? 

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks, Harper Collins Publishing, Editors: Amanda Bostic and Erin Healy

A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane bearing down on their private island.

Fifteen years ago Piper Boone's only child died in a boating accident, and Piper's almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home --- a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty.

But Piper's desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a cafe where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper's father and sister.

Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects that they could have imagined: Piper's family.

Unraveling the family's true history will be the key to Piper's survival -- or her certain death.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/10/relative-silence.html

A Baby's Right to Choose by David I. Winters, DAVIWIN Publishing, Editor: Renee Holt 

As bodies pile up in their small Ohio city, the victims have only one thing in common. Each young woman visited the local women's clinic and chose not to have an abortion. An intriguing young couple faces an impossible decision amidst a pandemic of murders. With their future in balance, will they have their baby or decide to end the pregnancy. Conventional wisdom goes out the window when a surprising development casts suspicion on the least likely suspects.

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 one of the 2021 Carol Award Finalists -- Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category, leave 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 July 31 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Award Finalists -- Historical Romance

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Historical Romance Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar, Tyndale House, Editors: Stephanie Broene and Kathy Olson

A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history.

When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God's plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them.

Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they're banished from their home by a capricious emperor, they must join forces with an unusual rabbi named Paul and fight to turn treachery into redemption.

With impeccable research and vivid detail, Daughter of Rome is both an emotive love story and an immersive journey through first-century Rome and Corinth, reminding readers once again why Debbie Macomber has said "no one brings the Bible to life like Tessa Afshar."

Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editors: Raela Schoenherr and Jennifer Veillieux

Strong-willed Tirzah wants to join her people in driving the enemy from the land of Israel and undergoes training for a secret mission inside the stronghold of Shechem. But soon after she has infiltrated the ruthless Aramean commander's kitchen, she makes a reckless decision that puts her and her allies in grave danger.

Fresh off the battlefield, Liyam returns home to discover his beloved daughter is dead. After his vow to hunt down her killer leads to months of fruitless pursuit, his last hope is in a family connection that comes with strings attached -- strings that force him to pose as a mercenary and rescue an infuriating woman who refuses to leave her mission uncompleted.

When an opportunity to pave a path to a Hebrew victory arises, can Tirzah convince Liyam to fight alongside her in the refuge city of her birth? Or will Liyam's thirst for vengeance outweigh his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he's come to love?

The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editor: Dave Long

Haunted by mistakes in her past, will she ever again trust her heart to another?

Wealthy Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship, still bearing the scars of past mistakes. One of the few single women in the boomtown, she immediately attracts suitors, but she is determined not to find herself trapped again by making a poor choice.

Vying for her hand are two very different men. Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy, held in high esteem. Peter Kelly is the town's baker who has worked hard to build a thriving business. He and Drummon not only compete for Arabella's affections, but also clash over their views on how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak.

As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need -- a starving girl left behind by her tribe. Intent on helping the child, Arabella leans Peter's advice and guidance. Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision, or will seeking what's right cost both her and Peter everything?

Link to my Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-runaway-bride.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is a paperback or ebook copy of the title you choose

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2021 Historical Romance Carol Awards finalists, leave 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 July 24 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Carol Awards Finalists -- Historical

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 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2021 -- Historical Category 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) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editors: Dave Horton and Rochelle Gloege

Headstrong Johanna Berglund, a linguistic student at the University of Minnesota, has very definite plans for her future...plans that do not include returning to her hometown and the secrets and heartaches she left behind there. But the US Army wants her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.

Johanna arrives to find the once-sleepy town exploding with hositlity. Most patriotic citizens want nothing to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they're not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.

As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But advocating for better treatment makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Werner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her home-front battle, the more the lines between compassion and treason become blurred -- and it's no longer clear whom she can trust.

Link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/12/things-we-didnt-say.html

In High Cotton by Ane Mulligan, Heritage Beacon/Iron Stream Media, Editor: Denise Weimer

While the rest of the world has been roaring through the 1920s, times are hardscrabble in rural South Georgia. Widow Maggie Parker is barely surviving while raising her young son alone. Then as banks begin to fail, her father-in-law threatens to take her son and sell off her livelihood -- the grocery store her husband left her. Can five Southern women band together, using their wisdom and wiles to stop him and survive the Great Depression?

The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, Editor: David Long

Thirteen-year-old Loyal Raines is supposed to stay close to home on a hot summer day in 1934. When he slips away for a quick swim in the river and finds a dead body, he wishes he'd obeyed his mother. The ripples caused by his discovery will impact the town of Beverly, West Virginia, in ways no one could have imagined.

The first person those ripples disturb is Loyal's absentee father. When Creed Raines realized his infant son was deaf, he headed for the hills, returning only to help meet his family's basic needs. But when Loyal, now a young teen, stumbles upon a murder it's his father he runs to tell -- shaping the words with his hands. As Creed is pulled into the investigation he discovers that what sets his son apart isn't his inability to hear but rather his courage. Longing to reclaim the life he abandoned, Creed will have to do more than help solve a murder if he wants to win his family's heart again.

Link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-right-kind-of-fool.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is a paperback or ebook copy of the title you choose

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2021 Historical Carol Awards finalists, leave 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 July 17 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!