The Heart of a Cowboy

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY

THE HEART OF A COWBOY

When he agreed to guard her, he never bargained on having to guard his heart. 

Brilliant scientist Louisa Newberry is on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the Santa Fe Trail with her grandfather, Dr. Powell, on a botanical expedition to Colorado Territory. She longs to be valued for her contributions and not seen as a helpless liability. But at every calamity she faces, her grandfather threatens to send her home.

After watching his ma suffer and die in childbirth, Flynn McQuaid has sworn off women and marriage forever. Headed west to start a new life, he has his hands full not only taking care of his younger siblings but also delivering cattle to his older brother. He doesn't nee more complications.

When Flynn rescues Linnea from drowning during a river crossing, Dr. Powell promptly hires Flynn -- unbeknownst to Linnea -- to act as her bodyguard for the rest of the trip. As Flynn fights against the many dangers of the trail, he soon finds himself in the greatest danger of all -- falling for a woman he's determined not to love.

My Review:

Reading Heart of a Cowboy gave me Little House on the Prairie vibes only for grown ups. And mashed in with an old-timie Western like Rawhide. :-) And I like how some of the emphasis is on what the women endured making that kind of cross country wilderness trek. Including the limitations placed on them by men who thought they knew better which makes for so many intriguing plot points!

Loved Linnea and her earnest scientific mind that sometimes leaves her in calamitous situations which just begs for a strapping hero rescue a time or two.. :-) In fact, Flynn and Linnea's meet-cute is an extremely memorable one. Sigh, yes, I know I just mentioned the exasperating limitations men put on women in this era but, really, for all Linnea's intelligence and gumption, she still needs rescuing in this unfamiliar territory and Flynn is just the man for the job. Which made me one happy reader.

Tremendous character growth stems from some conflicted back stories. Both Flynn and Linnea harbour secrets and hurts that they aren't comfortable voicing which, naturally, puts a damper on romance...if only they weren't so drawn to one another! Honestly, this story took quite a few unexpected turns that kept me in a cattywampus state right to the very end!

Action, adventure, danger -- everything you'd expect to find in a classic Western romance crafted in Jody Hedlund's uniquely captivating style.

This is the second book in the author's Colorado Cowboys series and, while it can be read as a standalone, the McQuaid family is worth getting to know right from the start so do yourself a favour and hunt down a copy of  A Cowboy for Keeps as well.

Goal Update: Goal #5 Stay current with a series

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 The Heart of a Cowboy, 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 January 8 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Search and Defend

GIVEAWAY

WOODHAVEN, HEATHER

SEARCH AND DEFEND

The search for a ruthless hit man turns into a deadly alpine chase...

Undercover to track the assassin who killed his partner, FBI Special Agent Alex Driscoll accidentally pulls his partner's widow, Violet Sharpe, and her search-and-rescue K-9, Teddy, into the case. Now, with Violet's life on the line, the only way Alex can protect her is to make her -- and her enormous dog -- his new cover. But can they stay alive long enough to bring the hit man to justice?

K-9 Search and Rescue

My Review:

Whoa, may just be the best Love Inspired Suspense book ever! I don't know if that impression comes from Heather Woodhaven's breathtaking storytelling or the way Patrick Zeller narrated Violet and Alex's story -- maybe a combination of both? But the words just flowed, creating images in my head and making me feel every chill and thrill. So elated that we're getting some of Love Inspired line in audio versions now.

So, what I loved: Teddy!!!! A fluffy Newfoundland of superior intelligence, awesome talents (which are put to good use in this novel) and a stalwart heart. He will furever be my champion. Loved the bond he has with his human, Violet and how fiercely she loves the big fluff ball. Great partner dynamics and some interesting insights into the day and the life of a search-and-rescue team. 

The clever suspense plot kept me in rabid-listening-mode. It includes some unique twists and I loved the pacing. Action and danger are well-balanced and there's enough room left over for Alex and Violet's relationship to evolve from wary, grieving once-friends to something deeper and more meaningful.

Plus there's oodles of snow and some wilderness rescues that chilled me to the core. Which makes Search and Defend the perfect January read!

 

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 Search and Defend, 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 January 8 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Hidden in the Stars

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY!

CAROLL, ROBIN

HIDDEN IN THE STARS

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept help from her estranged grandmother. Once an Olympic hopeful, Sophia's future is now uncertain, and her inability to share her eyewitness account frustrates police detectives looking for answers. What were the criminals after? Why did they attack Sophie and her mother?

Detective Julian Frazier is determined to solve the case. Distracted by the pull Sophia has on his heart and his own questions about why God could allow this senseless violence, Julian doesn't realize that an important clue could be right in front of him. As he gets closer to solving the case, Julian wonders if his efforts will be enough to save Sophia. Or will the murderer be back to silence her forever?

My Review:

published in 2014

So, this was a reread for me and whoa -- I'd forgotten just how intense that opening scene was! This time round I listened to the audible edition and Lesa Wilson's narration added to the frenetic pace of this suspenseful page-turner (or rabid listen.)

Things I didn't mention in my original review but struck me as significant this listen through: 1) The wonderful faith message that deals with that all too  common complaint about how God can let bad things happen to good people. Julian's faith has slipped as he wrestles with the complexities of this question and I love the way Caroll surrounds this hero with Christians who are living out their faith despite not having all the answers. 2) I love the way the author has managed to maintain the intensity of the suspense without using multiple attacks and hot pursuits that are so common in romantic suspense novels. (Not that I don't enjoy those kind of reads too!) She's managed to convey the menace lurking 'off page' which actually kind of amps up the nail-biting vibes even more.

---

Original review:

Fast paced action and an intriguing mystery had me riveted from the very first page. I barely had time to catch my breath. And what an innovative way to incorporate a the quilt theme into the story! Not to mention the clever title tie-in! Love that attention to detail. The complex plot is steeped in suspense and romance and kept me on tenterhooks as I tried to stay a step ahead of the brutal killers stalking Sophia. Thrilling to the very last word.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a very gently read paperback copy. (Since I now own the audible edition of this novel, I'm giving away my paperback copy which has been carefully shelved in a glass fronted bookcase for seven years! It actually still has that new book smell! And the edges of the pages haven't yellowed at all. Someday I'll have my whole book collection stored in glass fronted bookcases!)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hidden in the Stars, 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 January 8 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Matchmaker's Rogue

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SCOTT, REGINA

THE MATCHMAKER'S ROGUE

Grace-by-the-Sea : Where romance and adventure come home.

Polished Jesslyn Chance has one of the most enviable positions in the little Regency coastal village of Grace-by-the-Sea. She is the hostess of the spa, arranging introductions and entertainments and playing matchmaker to the ladies and gentlemen who come to take the waters, promenade through the shops, and dance at the assembly. But when a rogue returns from her past, Jess finds herself suddenly at sea.

Always an adventurer, Larkin Denby left Grace-by-the-Sea to right the wrongful death of his father. Now he's back on a mission: to identify the mysterious Lord of the Smugglers who allegedly sails from Grace Cove and takes England's secrets to France. But Grace-by-the-Sea is the perfect little spa town, run by the still oh-so-perfect Jesslyn Chance. When the village's future is threatened, Jess must work with Lark to solve the mystery and protect the town's own. In doing so, the matchmaker of Grace-by-the-Sea may just find that the best match for her is the rogue who stole her heart years ago.

My Review:

published in 2020

Careful as you read this one -- the swoons are catching! So clear off the fainting couch and grab your smelling salts before turning a page, you don't want to be caught unawares in a melted puddle of bliss lest you miss something important. Like an intricate plot point, 'cause there's mystery! And smugglers! And a wild Dorset coast to be conquered! When you're not hobnobbing with the gentry and locals at the spa, that is. 

Loved all the quirky details about the benefits of 'taking the waters' and the day to day workings of this sought after retreat! Admirably managed by Jesslyn Chance, a heroine with intelligence and grit and a knack for genteel matchmaking. Who has a past with an unexpected visitor! That's your cue to swoon because Larkin Denby is....thud! Noble and haunted and dedicated to his country...and falling in love with Jesslyn all over again. Sqqquuueeallll -- reunion romance with a frisson of intrigue!

And, double sqqquuueealll! This is the first book in Scott's Grace-by-the-Sea series and there are definitely some threads left dangling -- not in a frustrating way though. More of an excited-to-keep-reading way. Though, I'll warn you now not to read the synopsis of the other books like I did, 'cause they post a few spoilers about some of the mysteries still left unsolved at the end of this one. :-(

The Matchmaker's Rogue kept my in a twitter-pated state right to the very end! And that's partly due to the excellent narration by Jannie Meisberger. Love that this whole series is on audible!

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 The Matchmaker's Rogue, 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 January 8 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

January Giveaway -- Week One

 You all make anticipating future reads sooooo much fun! Love the bookish camaraderie, the bibliophile swoons of excitement and, especially, the mass of Christian Fiction that has my TBR book full to bursting! Oh...and the serenading...in case you missed it, Diana Flowers has created a Reader's Choice theme song so let's open this new year of reading in style. Sing with me now (to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Dashing through the snow,

In a one horse open sleigh,

To Kav's blog we go, 

Laughing all the way!

Books galore we'll see,

Making spirits bright, 

What fun it is to read about books,

Let's simply stay the night...

Ohh, bestreads blog, bestreads blog,

Bestreads all the way,

Oh what fun it is to visit,

Every single day...

Bestreads blog, bestreads blog,

Bestreads all the way,

Kav's a dear, bringing lots of cheer,

Merry Christmas and a bookish New Year!

My, that puts me in a reading mood and I'm just about to start...wait, mustn't get distracted. Winner announcements first, reading time second. And we'll start it all off with our quarterly nerdy statistics: the most popular picks per genre day:

MOST REQUESTED HISTORICAL FICTION

MOST REQUESTED CONTEMPORARY FICTION

MOST REQUESTED SUSPENSE/MYSTERY FICTION

(a tie)

AND

MOST REQUESTED AMISH FICTION

Now onto the good stuff:

Reader's Choice 

New Year's Edition Winners!

HISTORICAL WINNERS

WON BY CC

WON BY DIANA FLOWERS

CONTEMPORARY WINNERS

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY KAY GARRETT

SUSPENSE/MYSTERY WINNERS

WON BY JACKIE SMITH

WON BY KELLY BLACKWELL

AMISH WINNERS

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY BOOKS ARE A BLESSING

GENERAL CHRISTIAN FICTION WINNERS

WON BY TRACEY HAGWOOD

WON BY SYLVIA

LAST HURRAH FOR 2021 WINNERS

WON LORI SMANSKI

WON BY MELISSA OLDAKER

READING GOALS WINNERS

WON BY MARIAN BAAY

WON BY PERRIANNE

But wait, it's not over yet! This 'Vanity' category has become a blog tradition. It's where I choose my favourite cover in each genre and then draw from the names of the readers who entered them...a kind of draw within a draw. Here are the cover-love winners:

HISTORICAL COVER-LOVE WINNER

(I like the way this cover tells a story --

the heroine looking out towards the hero..

so far away -- is he out of her reach? And

the Downton Abbey flare to the estate behind him)

WON BY DIANE ESTRELLA

CONTEMPORARY COVER-LOVE WINNER

(Stunning!! My favourite cover out

of all the genres this time round. 

Love the hint of exotic locale behind her

and that dress!!! Definitely princess worthy.

Stirs up all my girlhood dreams of

happily ever afters.)

WON BY MELMO

SUSPENSE/MYSTERY COVER-LOVE WINNER

(Love the way the cover captures the heroine's

occupation and the way her profile is

set up in the clouds.)

WON BY ELIZABETH LITTON

AMISH COVER-LOVE WINNER

(There's not a lot of variety in

Amish book covers, is there? Usually

the heroine looking off into the

distance -- sometimes the same figure

super imposed over different

backgrounds for different books! But this

one is a little different, with the addition

of the quilt wrapped around her and the

fall backdrop. It sets a pensive mood

that makes me want to know her story.)

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WAIT! DON'T GO AWAY!!

We're still not through 'cause we have another Reader's Choice tradition of picking a random # of entries per day which becomes the 'just because bonus giveaway.' If I'm not making sense, all you need to know is that it means more book giveaways! Woohoo! This time to the 46th entry of each genre day.

HISTORICAL 46TH

WON BY TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW

CONTEMPORARY 46TH

WON BY WINNIE

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE 46TH

WON BY PAM K.

Phew! That's another RC wrap up. I'll send winners an email stating their book win, publication date and request for mailing address (or email, if ebook is chosen) so that I have everything read for release day. Then I'll email you once again when the book has been ordered.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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

GIVEAWAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

BEST READS FIRST EVER

NEW YEAR'S READING GOALS

GIVEAWAY!

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

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

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

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

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

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

KAV'S 2022 

READING GOALS

READ MORE INDIE AUTHORS

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

Authors on my radar: 

Milla Holt 

Valerie Comer

Narelle Atkins

Janet Ferguson

Liwen Ho

Elizabeth Maddrey

Jaycee Weaver 

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

CATCH UP ON SERIES I'M BEHIND IN

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

READ MORE DEBUT AUTHORS

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

READ MORE NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS

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

DIVERSIFY MY READING 

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

STAY CURRENT WITH SERIES

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

START NEW-TO-ME SERIES

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

PLAY AUTHOR CATCH-UP

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

Sarah Monzon

Toni Shiloh

Ruth Logan Herne

READ OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE (OCCASIONALLY!)

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

GIVE UNLOVED TROPES A SECOND CHANCE

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

Love Triangles (bah, phooey!)

Secret Baby

Billionaires

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

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

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

SUNDAY JANUARY 2 2022

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

GIVEAWAY

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

Reader's Choice Giveaway

New Year's Edition

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

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

IT'S THE LAST HURRAH FOR 

2021 CHRISTIAN FICTION BOOKS

GIVEAWAY DAY!

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

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

How does it work?

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

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication dates must be

ANYTIME IN 2021

Each day is genre specific so

only submit books from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions

per genre day

BUT

they need to be made in

three separate comments

(makes it easier to tally)

No email entries this week

(too hard to keep track of 

due to # of responses)

entrants must submit their own selections

(no piggyback on someone else's log in)

Open to International Readers

(I'm all about spreading the good news

about Christian Fiction far and wide)

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

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Sunday January 2 2022