Christy Award Finalists -- Historical Romance

  

GIVEAWAY

What are the Christy Awards?

"The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres." (from the Christy Awards website)

These 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already. You might not. I'll include a link to my reviews of the books I've red underneath the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which title from the Historical Romance category you would like to win 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.

Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White (Bethany House, Baker Publishing)

Zivon Marin was one of Russian's top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, who Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed sill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father's connections in propoganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out

After Captain Blackwell invited Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hears. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon's loyalties are called into questions, proving him honest is about more than one couple's future dreams -- it becomes a matter if ending the war.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-portrait-of-loyalty.html

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House, Baker Publishing) 

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 MarianneMagruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecendented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick with 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?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/03/prince-of-spies.html

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin (Revell, Baker Publishing)

Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line . If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country -- or worse. If she does not report truthfully, she'll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home.

Peter Lang is an American graduate student working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party -- to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/02/when-twilight-breaks.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 these Christy Award 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 October 30  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Christy Award Finaltists -- Mystery/Suspense/Thriller and Short Form

 

GIVEAWAY

What are the Christy Awards?

"The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres." (from the Christy Awards website)

These 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already. You might not. I'll include a link to my reviews of the books I've red underneath the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which title from EITHER the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller OR Short Form category you would like to win 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 six finalists. 

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Port of Origin by Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry (Harris-Gentry Suspense)

Agents of Mercy, #2

When virus-infected pirates hijack a humanitarian medical ship, they trigger the threat of a global pandemic.

An African fisherman.

Forgeign exploitation of African's natural resources has destroyed the fishing business of Dabir Omar. Hijacking oil tankers brings cash to his family in their remote village, but it doesn't buy the medical care needed to stop the deadly sickness attacking his people. When Dabbir's son becomes ill, the desperate pirate sets sail for the Liberty, an international humanitarian medical ship ported on the coast.

An American surgeon.

Against his better judgment, Dr. Josiah Allen agrees to work a two-week surgical stint on the Liberty, moored in Douala, Cameroon. Shortly after he arrives with his precocious six-year-old daughter, Josiah is sent ashore to investigate a mysterious illness at the ship's post-op clinic. While he's gone, Ebola-infected pirates hijack the medical ship where Josiah left his daughter.

The woman compelled to save them all.

When pirate negotiations fail, Mackenzie Scott's privately-owned extraction unit comes in for the rescue. But when the medical ship where Mac had taken a wounded comrade is hijacked by pirates, the former military pararescue jumper becomes the pirate's key hostage.

Both fathers go to war to save their children. If Mac can't convince them to work together, the winner of this conflict will be a deadly virus intent on destroying the world.

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks (Thomas Nelson)

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 and 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 rumours 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 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

Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)

Defend and Protect, #1

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/05/unknown-threat.html

Short Form

A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh (Sweethaven Press)

Hayes McGuire Neve believed the stories about a famous Nantucket matchmaker until she ropes him into taking over her duties while she's off the island for Christmas.

So he enlists the help of the one person he can trust with this crazy scheme -- his best friend, Prudence. Armed with a series of rules, a book of success stories and the promise of Christmas magic, the pair of old friends sets out to make a Christmas match.

Little do they know that magic doesn't discriminate, and the pair soon finds their years of friendship deepening into something more. Will Pru and Hayes ignore the electricity in the air between them or will there be more than one match made at Christmas?

Joy to the World : Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt (Kregel Publications)

In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

Far as the Curse is Found -- 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?

Joy to the World : Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch (Kregel Publications)

In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

Wonders of His Love -- A Scots portrait painter finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he'd fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

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 these Christy Award 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 October 30  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Christy Award Finalists -- Historical Fiction and Speculative Fiction

GIVEAWAY

What are the Christy Awards?

"The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres." (from the Christy Awards website)

These 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already. You might not. I'll include a link to my reviews of the books I've red underneath the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which title from EITHER the Historical  OR Speculative  category you would like to win 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 six finalists. 

HISTORICAL FICTION

Like Flames in the Night, Connilyn Cossette, Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group

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 outweighs his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he's come to love?

Under the Tulip Tree, Michelle Shocklee, Tyndale House

Sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland dreams of a rich and fulfilling life as a writer are dashed when the stock market crashes in 1929. Seven years into the Great Depression, Rena's banker father has retreated into the bottle, her sister is married to a lazy charlatan and gambler, and Rena is an unemployed newspaper reporter. Eager for any writing job, Rena accepts a position interviewing former slaves for the Federal Writers' Project. There, she meets Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old woman whose honest yet tragic past captivates Rena.

As Frankie recounts her life as a slave, Rena is horrified to learn of all the older woman has endured -- especially because Rena's ancestors owned slaves. While Frankie's story challenges Rena's preconceptions about slavery, it also connects the two women whose lives are otherwise separated by age, race, and circumstances. But will this bond of respect, admiration, and friendship be broken by a revelation neither woman sees coming?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/10/under-tulip-tree.html

The White Rose Resists: a Novel of the German Students Who Defied Hitler, Amanda Barratt, Kregel Publication

Inspired by the incredible true story of a group of ordinary men and women who dared to stand against evil.

The ideal of a new Germany swept up Sophie School in a maelstrom of patriotic fervour -- that is, until she realized the truth behind Hitler's machinations for the fatherland. Now she and other students in Munich, the cradle of Nazi government, have banded together to form a group to fight for the truth: the White Rose. Risking everything to print and distribute leaflets calling for Germans to rise up against the evil permeating their country, the White Rose treads a knife's edge of discovery by the gestapo.

Annalise Brandt came to the University of Munich to study art, not get involved with conspiracy. The daughter of an SS officer, she's been brought up to believe in the fuser's divinely appointed leadership. But the more she comes to know Sophie and her friends, the more she questions the Nazi propaganda. 

Soon Annalise joins their double life -- students by day, resisters by night. And as the stakes increase, they're all forced to confront the deadly consequences meted out to any who dare to oppose the Reich.

A gripping testament to courage, The White Rose Resists illuminated the sacrifice and conviction of an unlikely group of revolutionaries who refused to remain silent -- no matter the cost.

SPECULATIVE FICTION

Extinction Island, Janice Boekhoff, Lost Canyon Press

Dangerous convicts, deadly dinosaurs. The secret encoded in her DNA lies between them...

Dedicated retile expert Oakley Laveau loves the thrill of wrestling a 'gator. But her dream job at the swamp tour slips away when she's charged with a crime she doesn't remember: her best friend's murder. Sentenced to life on a secluded isle, she'll have to battle violent criminals and genetically modified dinosaurs to uncover the truth.

As soon as she steps on the island, she's swept up by the charming leader of a gang of convicts and his dubious offer of protection. But it's hard to heed his warnings when somewhere in the Dino-infested rainforest hides a witness who knows the shocking facts behind Oakley's amnesia.

Hunted by humans and beasts, can Oakley expose the truth before she meets a bloody end?

Extinction Island is the first book in the suspenseful Jurassic Judgment sci-fi series. If you like fearless heroines, action-packed adventures, and a touch of romance, then you'll love Janice Boekhoff's thrilling novel.

Forsaken Island, Sharon Hinck, Enclave Publishing

(The Dancing Realms; Book 2)

On an uncharted world, happiness is effortless and constant...but can true joy exist without sacrifice?

The people of Meriel have long believed their island world floats alone in the vast ocean universe, so they are astonished when another island drifts into view. With resources becoming scarce, Carya and Brantley quickly volunteer to search the new land for supplies.

After navigating a barrier of menacing trees, the pair encounter a culture of perpetually happy people who readily share their talents and their possessions. But all is not what it seems. At the core of the island is a horror that threatens everyone, including Brantley and Carya.

Freeing the villagers of the bondage they've chosen may cost Carya and Brantley more than they could have imagined. Even if the two succeed, they'll have to find a way to return to Meriel quickly...or be cut off from their home forever.

The Story Hunter, Lindsay A. Franklin, Enclave Publishing

(The Weaver Trilogy; #3)

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 in sight: 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.

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 these Christy Award 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 October 16  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Christy Award Finalists 2021 -- First Novel and Young Adult

GIVEAWAY

What are the Christy Awards?

"The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres." (from the Christy Awards website)

These 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already. You might not. I'll include a link to my reviews of the books I've red underneath the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which title from EITHER the First Novel OR Young Adult category you would like to win 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 seven finalists. 

FIRST NOVEL CATEGORY:

A Noble Calling, Rhona Weaver, Two Oaks Press

A rookie FBI agent battles through adversity and danger to rediscover his true identity in this story of intrigue and suspense.

Special Agent Win Tyler never had the chance to visit Yellowstone as a kid, but he'd always imagined buffalo, wolves and bears. Heavily armed bad guys didn't fit into his expectations. But when Win arrives in the park during a spring snowstorm, danger is already at hand. His expectations of a dead-end duty station couldn't have been more wrong, as he finds himself fighting right-wing extremists, a determined assassin, and an anti-Semitic prophet who's twisted the faith Win holds dear.

A Noble Calling is a heartfelt debut that plunges the reader deep into Win Tyler's world for Yellowstone National Park...and world of wonder and majesty, invaded by forces that would divide and destroy.

The Edge of Belonging, Amanda Cox, Revell / Baker Publishing Group

When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames -- she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.

Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved.

In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth -- both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others -- takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-edge-of-belonging.html

Rain, Dana McNeely, Mountain Brook Ink

He is destined to be a 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 preisthood 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 Melqart. 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 to 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.

Roots of Wood and Stone, Amanda Wen, Kregel Publications

Abandoned at birth, her family roots a mystery, historical museum curator Sloane Kelley has dedicated her life to making sure others know theirs. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesnt' expect much from the common artifact...until she finds real treasure inside: a nineteenth-century diary. Now she's on the hunt to find out more.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/04/roots-of-wood-and-stone.html

YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY:

Dust, Kara Swanson, Enclave Publishing

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

Claire Kenton believes the world is dark too dark for magic to be real -- since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire's desperate search points to London...and a boy who shouldn't exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a less with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire though she knew about Peter Pan -- and herself. 

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/03/dust.html

Mortal Sight, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads, Enclave Publishing

When worlds collide, shadow wrestles light.

Seventeen-year-old Cera 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 an'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 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?

Rebel Daughter, Lori Banov Kauffmann, Delacorte Press

For fans of The Red Tent and The Dovekeepers!

Rebel Daughter transports the reader to one of the most dramatic and momentous events in human history -- the destruction of Jersusalem in the 1st century. This stunning tale of family, love and resilience was inspired by a major archaeological discovery in southern Italy: the 2,000 year-old gravestone Claudia Aster (Esther). The few Latin words chiseled into the ancient stone, proof of an unlikely romance, shocked and intrigued scholars around the world.

Rebel Daughter is Esther's story. An aristocratic young woman, she comes of age during the Jewish revolt against Rome. Ester dreams of so much more than the marriage her parents have arranged to a prosperous silversmith. Yet she is torn between her family duties and her own desires.

Meanwhile, the growing turmoil in Jerusalem threatens to tear apart not only her beloved city, but also her own family. As the alleyways turn into a bloody battleground between rebels and Romans, Esther's journey becomes one of survival. She remains fiercely devoted to her family, and braves famine, siege, and slavery to protect those she loves.

The thrilling and impassioned saga, based on real characters and meticulous research, seamlessly blends the fascinating story of the Jewish people with a timeless protagonist determined to take charge of her own life against all odds.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: giveaway formats vary, see list below

A Noble Calling by Rhona Weaver -- ebook 

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox -- paperback or ebook

Rain by Dana McNeely -- paperback or ebook

Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen -- paperback or ebook

Dust by Kara Swanson -- paperback or ebook

Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads -- ebook

Rebel Daughter by Lori Banov Kauffmann -- paperbakc or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of these Christy Award 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 October 16  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Christy Award Finalists 2021 -- Contemporary

GIVEAWAY

What are the Christy Awards?

"The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres." (from the Christy Awards website)

These 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already. You might not. I'll include a link to my reviews in the descriptions of the books I've read.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which title from EITHER the Contemporary Fiction OR General Fiction category you would like to win if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or and 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 six finalists.

CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Just Like Home, Courtney Walsh, Sweethaven Press

Prima ballerina Charlotte Page has a life any dancer would envy, but the tragic loss of her best friend, Julianna, leaves her wanting more. Or maybe -- less. In an effort to make her life about something other than accolades and applause, Charlotte leaves professional ballet to save Julianna's small-town dance studio. This lands her directly in the path of cranky high school football coach and Julianna's older brother, Cole Turner.

Fresh off a state win and a bitter divorce, the last thing Cole expects is for a prima ballerina to chip away at the wall he's grown comfortable hiding behind.

Will their fledgling relationship be strong enough to weather the storm of old secrets and a haunting past? Or will Charlotte lose the new, simple life she's given up everything to gain?

Some Bright Some Day, Melissa Tagg, Larkspur Press

He's torn between love and honor...

Lucas Danby has always regretted the decisions that cause his dishonorable discharge from the military -- and he's never stopped trying to redeem his honor. He's spent the past decade taking on dangerous short-term missions as an elite private soldier -- the only part of his life that's ever gone right. But the high-risk work never cures his shame. Now he's stuck stateside, mentoring a new recruit. Worse, he's sick of lying to the people he cares about most -- including the woman he's secretly loved for years.

She can't escape her house of memories...

Jenessa Belville should be happy. She's the hometown girl everyone loves, after all. But she's also the last Belville left -- and if she had her way, she'd leave the name and all its painful memories behind. Which is exactly what she hopes to do once she sells Belville Park, the massive estate she inherited from her parents. First, though, she needs to restore the property's once-glorious gardens. But on the same day she puts up the "for sale" sign, she discovers three children hiding in the caretaker's cottage, thrusting her into the unexpected role of temporary guardian.

Fighting for their future means healing from the past...

Struggling to mentor a youn man with cars nearly as piercing as his own, Lucas offers to help Jenessa restore the Belville grounds. Though drawn together by a trio of kids who tug on their hearts and the sparks they can't deny, past secrets and current sorrows threaten to pull them apart. Only the brightest love and hardest sacrifice can turn the house Jenessa never wanted into the home she and Lucas have always longed for.

Stay With Me, Becky Wade, Bethany House

Loving her is a risk he can't afford...and can't resist.

When acclaimed Bible study author Gevevieve Woodward receives and anonymous letter referencing her parents' past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains to chase down her family's secret. However, it's Genevieve's own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of a historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she's worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He's spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet can he bear to turn her away right we she needs him most?

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/07/stay-with-me.html

GENERAL FICTION

Set the Stars Alight, Amanda Dykes, Bethany House

In an aged brick cottage in London, the magic of the past comes alive each night for the family of a humble watchmaker. In her father's fireside stories, Lucy Claremont's fascination with the high seas begins, leading her to devote her life's work to discovering the whereabouts of a legendary lost ship. But when tragedy strikes, it's childhood friend Dashel and his knowledge of the stars that may help her solve the puzzle.

Two hundred years earlier, three young lives are altered forever when a shepherd rescues the privileged son of a powerful admiral. As the children grow, war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, deep love, and a story of betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption that fades into obscurity as centuries pass.

As Lucy and Dash explore mysterious ruins on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers -- and the healing -- they so desperately seek.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/10/set-stars-alight.html

The Water Keeper, Charles Martin, Thomas Nelson

A riveting new story new story of heroisn, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds.

Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds for a church with no parishioners, and he's dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.

When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, Murph's mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.

With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador her plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past -- and the ghosts who tried to bury them.

With Martin's trademark lyricism and poignant prose, The Water Keepr is at once a tender love story, a heartrending search for freedom, and a reminder that the needs of the one outweigh though of the ninety-nine.

The Way It Should Be, Christina Suzann Nelson, Bethany House

After years of estrangement, the lives of Zara mahoney and her twin sister, Eve, are suddenly and completely intertwined again. Eve's troubled lifestyle causes the state to take custody of her two children and contact Zara and her husband, asking them to consider foster care. Newlywed Zara thought she'd finally been given a fresh start and feels wholly unprepared to care for a niece and nephew whose existence she wasn't even aware of.

Meanwhile, Eve may have a real chance to start over this time, with the help of Tiff Bradley, who's dedicated to helping women everyone else has given up on after facing a heartbreaking tragedy in her own family.

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 these Christy 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 October 9 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!