Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- Young Adults and Debut Novel Categories

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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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 2022 -- Young Adult OR 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:

*Another doubled up day. Winners are announced next week! So today's giveaway is your choice of ONE of these six novels. Pay attention to the formats available per title because they vary.

YOUNG ADULT FINALISTS

Traitor by Laurie Lucking

(Tales of the Mystics; 2)

Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes -- if only it didn't require betraying her new fiancé.

Princess Penelope has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperial. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept.

Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger.

Penelope arrives in Delunia determined to avoid bringing further shame upon her family. But her devoted, caring fiancé makes it harder to guard her heart than she anticipated, and rumours of dark magic haunt her with memories she'd rather keep buried far beneath her pristine exterior.

When a poverty-stricken village outside the palace gates looks to her as their hope for a brighter future, Penelope embraces the opportunity to make amends for her transgressions. But in order to help, she must manipulate her new fiancé, putting her reputation on the line once more. And her heart.

Can Penelope rise above the failures of her past, or will she forever be branded a traitor?

Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoades

(The Colliding Line; 2)

From the Ashes, Spring Will Rise

On the run from the brutal Sage and his arm of Legions and Cormorants, seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe knows the only place strong enough to protect her is the Alliance Council Estate.

Cera's introduction to the Estate is far from welcoming. As a Blight, her dueling powers of light and darkness make her a half-breed threat to the Alliance's sacred powers. Cera's ability to decipher hidden messages in classical artwork buys her shelter temporarily, but the clock is ticking as she's faced with a daunting choice that could cost her everything.

Mountain of Flame by Diane E. Samson

(Gems of Fire; 3)

Reeling from Jack becoming king of Oclen, Princess Anna returns home as Sunderland's Defender. Earning her title was a hard-fought honour, but Anna can't escape the guilt of leaving Jack alone in that cursed, starving place.

When Jack comes to Sunderland seeking aid from Anna's father, she must decide whether to return with him and help defeat the curse plaguing the cold northern land. If she remainsSunderland's Defender, she knows her heart would never forgive her for abandoning Jack to rebuild a crushed kingdom.

Can Anna leave what she loves to become queen of a people suspicious of her and the gems? Joining Jack would mean battling an evil greater than anything she's ever faced, for the curse's roots grow deep. But if she doesn't, Oclen will likely fall and Anna will lose Jack forever.

DEBUT FINALISTS

Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Northwest Washington State, 1985

For years, Harris Hayes has taught his daughter, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods. So when her mother's depression worsens, Harris shows the girl how to find and sketch the nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Aggie is in a tree far overhead when her unpredictable mother spots her and forbids her to climb. Angry, the ten-year-old accidentally lights a tragic fire, then flees downriver. She lands her boat near untamed forest, where she hides among the trees and creatures she considers her only friends -- determined to remain undiscovered.

A search party gathers by Aggie's empty boat hours after Celia, fresh off the plane from Houston, arrives at her grandmother's nearby farm. Hurting from her parents' breakup, she also plans to run. But when she joins the hunt for Aggie, she meets two irresistible young men who compel her to stay. One is autistic; the other, dangerous.

Perfect for fans of The Scent Keeper, The Snow Child, and The Great Alone, Sugar Birds immerses readers in a layered, evocative coming-of-age story set in the breathtaking natural world where characters encounter the mending power of forgiveness -- for themselves and for those who failed them.

Solomon's Porch by Janet Morris Grimes

Time.

Solomon is running out of it. 

A broken and forgotten man fighting the demons of dementia, he longs for the past when both he and his beloved military town of Ginger Ridge once thrived.

When his stooped body collides with the hardened realities of the present, Solomon lies in a coma as an unidentifiable victim of a hit-and-run accident in a faraway city.

With nothing to keep him going but flashbacks of relationships from his past, Solomon has no idea what a difference he will make on the future.

Who will come to his rescue, and what secrets will they uncover along the way?

If you're a fan of friendship novels like A Man Called Ove and Tuesdays with Morrie, then you will absolutely love this heartwarming tale of live, love, and loss. Solomon's Porch and its unforgettable characters will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.

Into the Room by Steven Rogers

Ben Cahill's life is an alcohol saturated mess. After an insincere effort in a rehab facility, he is alienated from his family, out of work, and determined to continue his habit. To make matters worse, he finds himself on a tour of Israel along with, as he calls them, a bunch of Holy Rollers.

As the trip progresses, Ben experiences the Holy Land's major historical sites and is exposed to God's word. He interacts with his fellow travellers, gradually learning about their faith and their lives. Along the way, Ben becomes embroiled in a spiritual war, reinforcing his guilt and, in turn, forcing him to recall his past actions and behaviours. He also begins a different journey, one that leads him to redemption and a place in God's family.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Giveaway options vary per title. Please see list below:

YOUNG ADULT FINALISTS:

Traitor by Laurie Lucking -- ebook only

Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoades -- ebook only

Mountain of Flame by Diane E. Samson -- paperback or ebook

DEBUT FINALISTS:

All three books are available in paperback or ebook format -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  these finalists, 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 3 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- Speculative Fiction

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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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 2022 -- 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:

Secrets in the Mist by Morgan L. Busse

(Skyward; 1)

What's lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries...

In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass's only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people's lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father's footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.

The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what's left of humanity into the undead.

Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck

(The Dancing Realms; 3)

The island world of Meriel faces an old adversary and a new danger. Will the reformed Order die before it has a chance to blossom?

Storm clouds loom on the horizon as Carya and Brantley struggle to overcome wounds of the past and build a future together. The fragile new Order is on shaky ground, with too few dancers and sparse resources. Then trouble erupts -- and now an insidious rebellion and a new foe threaten their entire world.

When she uncovers an old enemy behind all the destruction, Carya realizes the past is not done with her. With conflict tearing apart the dancers and villages, dimmers are soon overrun, and Carya must unite her people by leading the battle to protect the very head of her world...or lose it all.

Cast the First Stone by David James Warren

(The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone; 1)

One case haunts him. One chance to fix the past. One mistake could cost him everything.

Ex-Minneapolis Police Detective Rembrandt Stone Walked away from a career he loved -- just the price of being sure he can come home to the wife and daughter he cherishes. But he can't shake the deep regret over a case left behind.

When his mentor, the former Chief of Homicide dies and leaves Rembrandt with a box of cold cases and a mysterious watch, he finds himself thrust into a world he recognizes -- a world from twenty years ago -- the same world he's woken from in a cold sweat a hundred times . But is it a dream, or some kind of twisted reality?

If he solves the case that plagues him, and justice is finally served, will it destroy the life he loves?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Giveaway editions vary -- see below for the options

Secrets in the Mist by Morgan L. Busse -- ebook only

Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck -- ebook only

Cast the First Stone by David James Warren -- paperback or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of these finalists, 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 27 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- 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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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 2022 -- 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:

Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn

Three reasons to ask her to stay...

Will offering a helping hand open the door to forever?

Rescuing a single mom and her triplets during a snowstorm lands rancher Finn Brightwood with temporary tenants in his vacation rental. But because of his past, Finn's reluctant to get too involved in Ivy Darling's chaotic life When he starts falling for the three rambunctious little girls -- and Ivy -- he can't help but wish this family would stick around for good.

(Colorado Grooms; 6)

A Mother's Strength by Allie Pleiter

Will find her son a friend lead to forever love?

Single mom Molly Kane will do anything to help her son overcome his anxieties -- including enlisting former police officer Sawyer Bradshaw to give him golf lessons. Sawyer's a loner, yet he quickly forms a bond with little Zack. And with Molly. But protecting Zack means Molly must keep her heart off-limits from Sawyer, even as her little boy draws them together...

(Wander Canyon; 4)

Texas Baby Coverup by Virginia Vaughn

A mother's secret got her killed.

Now they must protect her baby...

After the shock of finding her best friend murdered, Kellyanne Avery's focused on caring for her friend's sweet baby -- until the killer returns, determined to kidnap the child. Now Kellyanne needs the one man she trusts with her life: her ex-flame, Deputy Sheriff Zeke Tyler. But as they hid on her family's ranch, can Zeke unravel deadly secrets and shield them from harm?

(Cowboy Lawmen; 4)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Not all of these books are still available in paperback format so please note the giveaway options below:

Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn -- ebook only

A Mother's Strength by Allie Pleiter -- paperback or ebook

Texas Baby Cover-up by Virginia Vaughn -- paperback or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Short Novel finalists, 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 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- 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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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 2022 -- 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:

The Amish Quiltmaker's Unexpected Baby by Jennifer Beckstand

In the first in an engaging new series, an Amish quiltmaker moves from Pennsylvania to a new settlement in Colorado, where adventure, challenges, and love are waiting...

Esther Book is starting over after her father's death, piecing together a new life with as much care as she puts into her intricate quilts. When her wayward sister abandons her baby, it throws all those plans for a fresh start asunder. Esther had accepted her status as an old maid -- but a mother? And a single one, at that? Not that she hasn't noticed Levi Kiem, the eligible young man who's making repairs in her house. Yet he surely has no interest in Esther as anything other than a friend...

It's true that Levi has plenty of marriage prospects. His dat has even offered to send him to Ohio to find a wife. Yet the more time he spends with Esther, the more intrigued he becomes. Feisty and independent, he's nothing like the wife he once imagined for himself. Yet just as a quilt is crafted from contrasting cloth, they might find that together, they can create a family to cherish...

All that Really Matters by Nicole Reese

Molly McKenzie's bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her an impressive social media following, as well as a big pay check each month. When her manager-turned-boyfriend says she has an audition to appear as a host on a makeover show that nominates underprivileged youth, her dream of further fame seems to be coming true. There's just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.

When her manager-boyfriend convinces her to partner with a local organization, she begins volunteering with a summer youth program. The program's director, Silas Whittaker, challenges her at every turn, but she swiftly grows more attached to the kids -- and him -- every day.

As Molly experiences an acceptance unlike anything she's known, she wrestles with the lies she's been believing about herself for years. She thought she knew what mattered most in life, but maybe she's had it wrong the whole time, and there's more to being truly seen that what she's built her entire life on.

Provenance by Carla Laureano

Los Angeles interior designer and former foster kid Kendall Green is in high demand, both for her impeccable eye and for her uncanny ability to uncover the provenance of any piece. But for all her success, skyrocketing costs have put her California home and her business in jeopardy. Then an unexpected inheritance provides a timely solution: a grandmother she never knows has left her a group of historic properties in a tiny Colorado town on the edge of ruin.

To young, untried mayor Gabriel Brandt, Jasper Lake is more than another small town -- it's the place that saved his life. Now, seeing the town slowly wither and die, he's desperate to restore it to its former glory. Unfortunately, his vision is at odds with a local developer who wants to see the town razed and rebuilt as a summer resort. He's sure that he can enlist the granddaughter of one of its most prominent former citizens to his cause -- until he meets Kendall and realizes that not only does she know-nothing of her own history, she has no interest in reviving a place that once abandoned her.

In order to save his beloved town, Gabe must first help Kendall unravel the truth of her own provenance -- and Kendall must learn that in order to embrace the future, sometimes you have to start with the past.

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 finalists in the 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 13 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- Mystery/Thriller/Suspense AND Romantic Suspense

GIVEAWAY

Note: because there are a limited number of weeks before the winners are announced in September, I had to double up on one day and thought this combination was the logical choice. So -- you get to choose between one of the Mystery/Thriller/Suspense novels OR one of the Romantic Suspense novels.

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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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/Thriller/Suspense Category OR 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: 

MYSTERY/THRILLER/SUSPENSE CATERGORY

Right Cross by Andrew Huff

(Shepherd Suspense #3)

First he left the CIA. Then he left pastoral ministry. Now John Cross has been imprisoned in one of Great Britain's most infamous prisons. Has he reached the end of his rope? Or is this another move in a dangerous spy game? 

Christine Lewis, United New Network's rising star television anchor, is determined to find out. But in her pursuit of answers, Christine finds herself at the centre of a cyberterrorist plot to alter the balance of power in the world. 

From the English coastline to the Rocky Mountains, John must partner with the CIA and MI6 in a race against the clock to stop the threat of nuclear war and save the lives of everyone he holds dear.

The concluding story in the Shepherd Suspense trilogy is a globe-trotting, action-packed adventure with threads of biblical truths woven in. Fans of high-octane thrillers will be on the edge of their seats with Right Cross.

Manna Reign by Neena Roth

A legendary artifact. A skeptical scientist. Will her Old Testament discovery cure the planet...or destroy it?

Archeologist Nichole "Nikki" Strauss dreams of ending global hunger. Romantically attached to a world-leading geneticist in San Francisco, she shares his excitement for his new GMO superseed that can grow crops resistant to environmental hazards. But when an ex-flame shows up with news of a metal friend's suspicious death, her grief-filled resolve drives her to join forces with him to uncover the reason behind the murder.

Traveling to Europe and learning her dead colleague had recovered the fabled golden manna jar, Nikki finds herself the target of a shadowy ancient sect. And when a fatal flaw in her boyfriend's genetic design makes the Biblical  relic his only desperate solution, she faces a choice between true love, devotion, and the fate of the world.

Dark Intercept by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson

(The Shepherds, #1)

When dark forces rise, are faith and firepower enough?

On the eve of his medical retirement, Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson receives a frantic call from his estranged childhood best friend David Yarnell. David's daughter has been kidnapped off the streets of Nashville in broad daylight. The police have no suspects and no leads. The only clue: the body of a dead priest left behind at the scene. With the clock ticking, David is growing desperate, as is his wife, Rachel...Jed's first love.

Despite his painful history with David and Rachel, Jed agrees to help. But he's spent his career as a door-kicking Navy SEAL, not an investigator. His presence immediately draws unwanted attention, creates friction with the local police, and triggers a mysterious attempt on his life. Just when he thinks things can't get worse, it starts to happen again -- the voices in his head, the nightmares, the visions. Dark memories and strange abilities, things he believed he'd left behind when he fled Nashville for the Navy at eighteen, begin to surface.

Jed realizes that to save the missing girl, he must take a leap of faith and embrace the gifts he's denied for all these years. To foil the dark intercept, he'll need more than just than his years as a SEAL operator, because he has no choice now but to take up arms and join the battle in the unseen spiritual warfare raging all around him. And there is far more at stake than just a missing girl: the world is not the place he thought it was -- and he is not alone.

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE CATEGORY

Driven by  Sara Davison 

(The Night Guardians #3)

Children are't the only ones who disappear...

Driven by ongoing grief and relentless dreams, Holden Kelly is determined to track down the child his brother Gage abducted eight years earlier. The rescue that might have saved Matthew Gibson's life had cost Gage's his. Proving his brother hadn't sacrificed his life for nothing might be the only way Holden can start fully living his again. And it could be the last chance he has to find his way back to the wife he loves but who is also mired in grief and a crisis of faith.

Mikayla Grant has nightmares of her own. A road trip with private Investigator Jax Rodriques -- a man she is strongly drawn to even though his primary goal seems to be to drive her crazy -- can't be the way to heal from a terrible loss. Can it?

As Holden, Mikayla, and Jax follow the missing child's trail from Toronto to Chicago, their mission is not as secret as they thought. Someone knows they are coming and will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding the child Gage rescued.

And to make sure that no one ever hears from the three of them again.  

Danger on the Loch by Paige Edwards

Raised by a cold and distant mother, photographer Paisley Clark has spent her life daydreaming about the father she doesn't remember. Paisley's dream turns to reality when a DNA test brings her in contact with the mysterious man. With her financial situation a disaster and her childhood friend James Presley-Coombes working across the pond in Scotland, Paisley is emboldened to accept her father's invitation to visit him.

She arrives in the Highlands only to discover that she isn't Paisley Clark at all but a titled lady, the daughter of a Scottish duke. Despite the warm welcome and the comfort of James's presence, dangerous undercurrents surround Castle Ranch, her father's estate. Overwhelmed, Paisley takes refuge in her camera and James's steady presence to provide a sense of normalcy in her rags-to-riches transformation. But her once-easy relationship with James is changing, deepening beyond friendship in a surprising twist of events. Before they have time to examine their feelings, Paisley inadvertently captures a shocking image in one of her photographs -- a picture worthy killing for.

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girl's boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.

Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine -- and startling connections emerge among the players -- the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?

Queen of romantic suspense Irene Hannon invites you to scale the heights of human folly and plumb the depths of the human heart in this second gripping book in the Triple Threat series.

Yay, I read this one! Link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2022/07/labyrinth-of-lies.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Edition options vary for some titles -- please check the formats available below:

Right Cross by Andrew Huff -- paperback or ebook

Manna Reign by Neena Roth -- ebook only

Dark Intercept by Andrews & Wilson -- ebook only

Driven by Sara Davison -- paperback or ebook

Danger on the Loch by Paige Edwards -- ebook only

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon -- paperback or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of these finalist titles, 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 Aug 6 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- 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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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 2022 -- 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:

Starlight (Heart of Christmas Anthology) by Sara Davison

*I couldn't find a description of this novella, just a general blurb for the anthology it is in:

"At Christmas we always..." And thus a tradition is born. The rituals stay the same, but if betrayal, illness, unfaithfulness, or tragedy strike, can cherished traditions survive?

When Unexpected twists throw life out of kilter for the people in these stories, will beloved, time-honoured customs lead them back to the heart of Christmas?

Believing the Hero by Tara Grace Ericson

She's been alone for years. Can this secret agent convince her to love again?

Jan Clark lost her firefighter husband ten years ago. She fills her days running Stories and Scones and doting on her first grandchild. Finding someone new feels like betraying the husband she loved for decades, and the thought of tragically losing someone again is terrifying. But Pete O'Rourke is handsome, charming, and makes her feel young again -- and what could be safer than an insurance agent?

Peter moved back to Freedom, Colorado after 25 years as a CIA operative, not that anyone around here thinks he did anything but sit at a desk. Now, He is content with his quiet life as an insurance agent and real estate investor. When he finally convinces the lovely widow, Jan, to give a relationship a shot, everything seems to be falling into place. Until an unexpected visitor from his past arrives in Freedom and threatens to ruin the holiday.

Now Pete is pulled back into the dangerous secrets of his past. He'll do anything to protect his town and the woman he loves, but the high stakes could be too much for their fledgling relationship to handle.

Return to Freedom, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Heroes of Freedom Ridge in this Christian Christmas Romance.

A Texas Christmas Carol (Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer

A town's wealth, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and by the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Giveaway editions vary. See below:

Heart of Christmas Anthology (Sara Davison's Starlight) -- ebook only

Believing the Hero (Tara Grace Ericson) -- paperback or ebook

Under the Mistletoe (Karen Witemeyer's A Texas Christmas Carol) -- paperback or ebook  

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  a 2022 Carol Award Finalist -- Novella 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 30 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- 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 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. 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 2022 -- 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:

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cameron

Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II -- from fashion houses to the city streets -- comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight an evil they couldn't abide.

Paris, 1939. Maison Chanel has closed, thrusting haute couture dressmaker Lila de Laurent out of the world of high fashion as Nazi soldiers invade the streets and the City of Lights slips into darkness. Lila's life is now a series of rations, brutal restrictions, and carefully controlled propaganda while Paris is cut off from the rest of the world. Yet in hidden corners of the city, the faithful pledge to resist. Lila is drawn to La Resistance and is soon using her skills as a dressmaker to infiltrate the Nazi elite. She takes their measurements and designs masterpieces, all while collecting secrets in the glamorous Hotel Ritz -- the heart of the Nazis' Parisian headquarters. But when dashing Rene Touliard suddenly reenters her world, Lila finds her heart tangled between determination to help save his Jewish family and bolstering the fight for liberation.

Paris 1943. Sandrine Paquet's job is to catalog the priceless works of art bound for the Fuhrer's Berlin, masterpieces stolen from prominent Jewish families. But behind closed doors, she secretly forages for information for the underground resistance. Beneath her compliant facade lies a woman bent on uncovering the fate of her missing husband...but at what cost? As Hitler's regime crumbles, Sandrine is drawn in deeper when she uncreates an exquisite blush Chanel gown concealing a cryptic message that may reveal the fate of a dressmaker who vanished from within the fashion elite.

Told across the span of the Nazi occupation, The Paris Dressmaker highlights the brave women who used everything in their power to resist darkness and restore light to the world.

I've read this one! Here's my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-paris-dressmaker.html

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden

Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age  Washington, D.C. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.

But  trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.

Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?

I've read this one too!!! Here's the link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/03/prince-of-spies.html

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep

There's often a fine line between a criminal and a saint.

Consable Jackson Forge intends to make the world safer, or at least the streets of Victorian London. But that's Kit Turner's domain, a swindler who runs a crew that acquires money the old-fashioned way -- conning the rich to give to the poor. When a local cab driver goes missing, Jackson is tasked with finding the man, and the only way to do that is by enlisting Kit's help. If Jackson doesn't find the cabby, he'll be fired. If Kit doesn't help Jackson, he'll arrest her for thievery. Yet neither of them realize those are the least of their problems.

Woohoo -- I've read this as well!!! Here's the link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-thief-of-blackfriars-lane.html

 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 books from the 2022 Carol Award finalists in the Historical 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 July 23  2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards finalists 2022 -- Historical Fiction

  

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:

Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli

Concord, Massachusetts

2001

Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she entered college and begins dating, if feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability...until Victoria's betrayal changes everything. 

1865

While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa's aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House , Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa's words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan's proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband's dark side, and she can't hide the bruises that appear.

2019

After receiving news of Loraine Bennett's cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.

I read this one! Here's the link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-orchard-house.html

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies on her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been past down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron  Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.

But betrayal lurks in England too, and Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget who he is, as well as find a a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.

Read this one too! Here the link to my review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-tapestry-of-light.html

Rain by Dana McNeely

He is destined to be high priest -- but at what cost to those he loves?

In ancient Samaria, Aban anticipates his rites of passage with excitement and dread. He yearns to join the priesthood of Ba'al Melqart, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity's voice. He's been warned the licentious ceremony can take a dangerous turn, but as eldest son of the high priestess, he holds a privileged position. If he can make it through the ceremony, one day he'll rise to high priest. 

On the eve of the rituals, Aban's mother confesses a dark secret about the bloody sacrifice demanded by Meqart. Aban may have escaped the flames, but if he is to save his brother, Aban must take his destined position of power as soon as possible.

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban's world is shaken. The current high priest and the king appear powerless, but even more confusing is the fact that the rain god does nothing.

Against his better judgement, Aban conceals the strange prophet's whereabouts, forfeiting the high priesthood.  Now an enemy of the relentless Queen Jezebel, Aban has little time to question his fading commitment Ba'al Melqart as he and his loved ones flee. But the conflict in Samaria is much larger than just a high priestess and her sons. Soon, Aban will have to choose a side in Yahweh's war against the Ba'als -- and it may cost him his life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: giveaway editions vary per title. See below:

Orchard House -- paperback or ebook

A Tapestry of Light -- paperback or ebook

Rain - ebook only

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the 2022 Carol Award finalists -- Historical Fiction 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 9 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck