Month: July 2020

Read and enjoyed July 30, 2020

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A slow, slow day for book suggestions. Not that that’s a bad thing. We did have quite a few new suggestions already this week.

Here are a couple of Read & Enjoyed to talk about, they were better than most for holding my attention this week, my favorite thing.

In Spite of Ourselves: A Murphy Brothers Story (2)  still a bargain at $0.99

In Spite of Ourselves

Jackson Murphy: family prankster, class clown… and now, smack in the middle of a Vegas-sized mess. All he’d wanted was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. After failing that goal, he slipped into a deep, sulking valley, only to emerge from it with a much bigger problem. He’s married. To a complete stranger! Forget making a world-class marathon so that his family will believe that (1) he’s capable of being grown up and serious on occasion and (2) he doesn’t need the ongoing pity about his brother and a certain ex-girlfriend.

Now? Now he has no idea what to do.

Mackenzie Murphy: independent woman and excellent student—but not a med student. Because those pesky MCATs were H-A-R-D. She doesn’t particularly mind that much, seeing as she’s never really wanted to be a doctor, but her mother will be…uh, displeased. Exceptionally. That’s nothing, however, compared to how Mother will respond if she finds out what else happened in Vegas.

Mackenzie wants out. Jackson wants a chance. Neither of them is prepared for what’s coming. Caught in the middle of a disaster that keeps getting bigger, they hardly dare ask: Can God take their monumental mistake and turn it into a beautiful life?

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Hope for Christmas (Hope Ranch Book 1)  also still a bargain at $1.34

Hope for Christmas

Cyan Hewitt drifts onto his estranged grandparents’ New Mexico ranch in time for Thanksgiving… and stays. As a cyber security consultant, he can telecommute, so why not from here, where his restless soul is soothed and his heart is awakened by the attractive ranch housekeeper?
Maria Sanchez works at Rancho de Esperanza to provide a stable life for her son. She’s content—mostly—in her roles as housekeeper, part-time student, and mom, but when her precocious seven-year-old is diagnosed with diabetes, her world shatters. There’s no time for distractions from the long-term visitor who’s stirring a longing in her for more.
Cyan may think her faith and courage are inspiring, but Maria feels vulnerable. Relying on others has only ever resulted in broken dreams. Christmas might be a season of hope, but does she dare risk everything for love?

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One more read. I liked the first two books best but this story was good too.

When the Heart Calls Kristen M Fraser  also still a bargain $0.99

When the Heart Calls

How much can one heart endure?

Claire Sallaway has lived with an unpredictable heart condition for most of her life. With a plan in place to manage her symptoms, she has been able to avoid any major health problems and live a relatively normal life. With work, church and friends, her life is indeed full. Or so she thought. Settled in her job as a forensic scientist, Claire is content with her comfortable suburban life – until the day her heart betrays her and a man with the most intriguing ocean-blue eyes steps in, turning her world upside down.

Aaron Thurnham is the answer to Claire’s prayers. With the handsome, fun and God-fearing man by her side, life is blissfully perfect and full of adventure.

Until it isn’t.

When tragedy strikes and dreams are shattered, Claire clings desperately to the fragmented remains of her life. Heartbroken, and with every good thing stripped away, she is faced with a choice. Will she become paralyzed by fear? Or will she listen to the still small whisper of God and place her heart in His hands?

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Also finished this week was a great book collection. I’ll admit there were two I liked very well, one was mostly good, and the last one was my least favorite. Overall it was a good read though.

The Way to the Heart: The Vintner, The Baker, The Barista, The Chef  still a bargain at $1.34

The Way to the Heart

FROM THE VINEYARDS OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE AUSTRALIAN COFFEE SCENE (A LITTLE IRISH BAKING AND SOME ENGLISH FINE-DINING IN-BETWEEN)

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I’m currently reading this collection. It’s been an on-again-off-again read that’s taking awhile but we’re in the homeward stretch. Nearly finished book four with one more to go after that and I’ll be done.

The Newpointe 911 Collection

The Newpointe 911 collection

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Until tomorrow…

Happy Reading!

Bargain books July 28, 2020

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BookBub has a new bargain suggestion for us.

Deep Focus (The Dumont Chronicles Book 2)   $0.99

Deep Focus

Amazon quote:

A scheming woman.
A man she can’t fathom.
A mystery that endangers her career.
Is this how God answers Lindsey’s prayers?

Lindsey Dumont, photographer, travels to the rugged coast of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula to finish her photo essay on a rare breed of Makah dogs.But disaster looms for her project, and she decides to fight back. Now she must confront the man who deceived her and unravel a threatening mystery.

THE DUMONT CHRONICLES
The Dumont family, French Huguenots, settled in New Jersey during Colonial days. Since then, certain Dumont women have led lives marked by adventure. Although they differed in personality and circumstances, these women held in common the gifts of artistry, courage, and a growing faith in God.

In this book, Lindsey Dumont faces a test of courage far from her home in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, and the Dumont family history, yet undiscovered, awaits her return.

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Browsing turned up a new Christy Barritt book due out soon. Pre-order price is $1.34.

Salt Water Cowboy

Amazon quote:

When a mysterious woman washes up in Cape Corral, a wild horse sanctuary off North Carolina’s coast, law enforcement officer Levi Sutherland is determined to figure out if she’s connected with the crimes recently plaguing the island. The problem is, she can’t remember anything . . .

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Another Pre-order bargain $1.34

Mistletoe and Murder: A Christmas Suspense Collection

Mistletoe and murder

Amazon quote:

Silent Night, Deadly Night. Welcome to a Killer Christmas!

Danger and suspense await you this Christmas season in Mistletoe and Murder: A Christmas Suspense Collection featuring 10 individual tales of suspense from some of today’s most talented Christian Suspense authors.

Come with us on a heart-racing journey through the holidays as USA Today, Christian Booksellers Association, and ECPA Bestselling authors Mary Alford, Adam Blumer, Liz Bradford, Vicki Hinze, Shaen Layle, Loree Lough, Nancy Mehl, Cara Putman, Lynn Shannon, and Virginia Vaughan, weave tales of suspense that will have you flipping pages well into the new year.

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This is the season for new books, another Pre-order. $1.34 I’m looking forward to this one.

Once Upon a Christmas: Inspirational Romance (The Christmas Card Series Book 3) 

Once Upon a Christmas

Amazon quote:

If I only see you once…

When her flight home is canceled a few days before Christmas, Moe Scott spontaneously agrees to spend a few hours sight-seeing with a fellow passenger. At the time, she doesn’t know the moments with James will change her life, nor does she know that before her plane takes off the next morning, she will turn around to find James gone.

With no way to contact him, Moe returns home only to lose everything before the new year dawns. Completely alone, jobless, and faced with the news that she is going blind, Moe remembers her time with James and clings to the idea of embracing the moments of vision she has left.

When opportunities for love and friendship come in the most unexpected places, Moe faces the choice of whether to continue to wait for the man who changed her life.

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and last but not least, one more  Pre-order  bargain $1.34

Certain Threat (Protection Inc. Book 3)

Certain Threat

Amazon quote:

Katrina White’s garage explodes and she fears someone is out to get her.

Not long after Katrina overhears two people talking about robbing the bank where she works, her attached garage explodes. With the help of her neighbor, Frank Davis, she escapes the burning home after a storage shelf falls over, trapping her beneath it.

The co-owner of Protection Inc. has one thing on his mind for the week of Christmas—rest and relaxation, but when his favorite neighbor needs his help he calls in his team. Unable to turn their backs on someone Frank clearly has feelings for the co-owners agree to help out Katrina.

When things escalate, Frank is certain of two things—he cares a lot for Katrina and he can’t let anything happen to her.

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Finished earlier … read & enjoyed.                 about to be read, a new book, a new author

In Spite of OurselvesDevyn's Dilemma

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Happy reading 

Free and bargain books July 27, 2020

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LPC Books has some suggestions for us today. This first one is FREE

Above the Fold

Above the Fold

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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Another one FREE

Lessons in Love (Secrets in Savannah Book 2)

Lessons in Love

Amazon quote:

Can the handsome man who holds the secret to the disappearance of Megan’s boyfriend hope to hold the key to her heart?

Megan Conley can’t believe her eyes. That handsome man who keeps popping up all over town looks a lot like her boyfriend, Michael. But Megan hasn’t seen him since he vanished unexpectedly, leaving her searching for answers. Turns out the stranger is Michael’s cousin, Noah, and he seems to have her best interests at heart. Could Noah help explain Michael’s absence?

Noah can’t deny his attraction to Megan. But he made a promise to his cousin, and he’s a man of his word. He’ll help her move on with her life—but he can go no further. Unless the key he holds to Michael’s disappearance is also the key to Megan’s heart…

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Also FREE

Cassia (Women of the American Revolution Series Book 3)

Cassia

Amazon quote:

Her family’s voyage from South Carolina turns ugly when the ship’s captain maroons Lilyan and her family on an island along North Carolina’s Outer Banks. There, the family is captured by pirates and taken to a secret island hideout where they witness a mock trial and a hanging.

Forced to rebuff the advances of the murderous pirate, Captain Galeo (The Shark), and fearful that her children will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, Lilyan forges an escape plan. Meanwhile, her husband, Nicholas, calls upon his skills as a captain in Brigadier General Francis Marion’s militia to devise a battle plan to save his family.

Will the young couple’s faith be enough to see them through? Or will their declaration to rescue Cassia from the pirates prove too high a price?

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A bargain collection $1.34 while browsing

The Way to the Heart: The Vintner, The Baker, The Barista, The Chef

The Way to the Heart

Amazon quote:

THE VINTNER: THE OTHER YOU

An American photojournalist seeking her identity is sent on assignment to South Africa to discover the inspiration behind the DeBois estate’s flagship wine. Mystery has enshrouded the story of the woman for whom the wine is named.

South African winegrower Armand DeBois’s world is shattered after a car accident leaves him widowed.

When Armand and Taylor meet, the country and winegrower hold a strange attraction for Taylor while Armand struggles with whether he’s falling in love with his past or his future.

THE BAKER: GINGER & BRAD’S HOUSE

While Ginger Murphy completes her music studies, childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Brad O’Sullivan betrays her with the new girl next door. Heartbroken, Ginger escapes as far away as she can go—to Australia—for five long years. During this time, Brad’s shotgun marriage fails. Besides his little boy, Jamie, one other thing in his life has turned out sweet and successful—his pastry business.

When her mother’s diagnosed with heart failure, Ginger has no choice but to return to the green grass of Ireland.

A gingerbread house contest at church to raise funds for the homeless has Ginger competing with Brad. Both are determined to win—Ginger the contest, Brad her heart.

THE BARISTA: MELBOURNE MEMORIES

Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees England. A marked man with nothing left but his guitar and his talent, Justin is desperate to start over yet still live off the grid. Loneliness and the need to feel a connection to the London pastor who’d saved his life draws Justin to Ella’s Barista Art Coffee Shop—the famous and trendy Melbourne establishment belonging to Pastor Jim Anderson’s niece.

Intrigued by the bearded stranger who looks vaguely familiar, Ella Anderson tries to discover his secrets by coaxing him with her elaborate latte art creations. And muffins.

When Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all.

THE CHEF: A COURTSHIP FOR CLOVER

Top London chef Clover Blume has one chance to become better acquainted with Jonathan Spalding away from the mayhem of her busy restaurant where he frequently dines—the groomsman’s supposed to escort her at her sister’s New Year’s Eve wedding. But when business delays him, Clover begins to wonder whether she really wants to waste time with someone who’d rather make money than keep his word.

There’s one thing London Investment Banker Jonathan Spalding’s money hasn’t managed to buy: a woman to love—one worthy of his mother’s approval. But the auburn-haired beauty who was to partner with him at his best friend’s wedding—a wedding he stood to miss thanks to a glitch in a deal worth millions—might be finding a way into his heart.

What will it cost Jonathan to realize it profits him nothing to gain the world, yet lose his soul?

And the girl.

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A Pre-order bargain $0.99 (while browsing)

In Spite of Ourselves: A Murphy Brothers Story (2) (The Potter’s House Books (Two) Book 13)

In Spite of Ourselves

Amazon quote:

Jackson Murphy: family prankster, class clown… and now, smack in the middle of a Vegas-sized mess. All he’d wanted was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. After failing that goal, he slipped into a deep, sulking valley, only to emerge from it with a much bigger problem. He’s married. To a complete stranger! Forget making a world-class marathon so that his family will believe that (1) he’s capable of being grown up and serious on occasion and (2) he doesn’t need the ongoing pity about his brother and a certain ex-girlfriend.

Now? Now he has no idea what to do.

Mackenzie Murphy: independent woman and excellent student—but not a med student. Because those pesky MCATs were H-A-R-D. She doesn’t particularly mind that much, seeing as she’s never really wanted to be a doctor, but her mother will be…uh, displeased. Exceptionally. That’s nothing, however, compared to how Mother will respond if she finds out what else happened in Vegas.

Mackenzie wants out. Jackson wants a chance. Neither of them is prepared for what’s coming. Caught in the middle of a disaster that keeps getting bigger, they hardly dare ask: Can God take their monumental mistake and turn it into a beautiful life?

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It always seems to be feast or famine with good book suggestions. Today looks like an excellent feast day.

Happy Reading!

Charles Martin bargain books July 26, 2020

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It looks like this is Charles Martin night.

I stumbled across a bargain book by one of my favorite authors. Charles Martin is a awesome story teller and in this book he tells his own story. I’ve not read it but wanted to. It’s a bargain today at $1.99

What If It’s True?: A Storyteller’s Journey with Jesus

What if it's True

Amazon quote:

Years ago, Charles Martin cracked open his Bible and began wrestling with a few fundamental questions. He asked, “What if every single word of Scripture is absolutely true and I can trust it? How do I respond? Something in me should change, but what? How?” This book is the result of that exploration. 

In What If It’s True? he brings key moments from the life and ministry of Jesus to life through his descriptive, novelistic words. In addition, Martin shares key moments from his own journey as a disciple—and bondservant—of Christ and a mentor to others. The result is an exploration of truth that helps us not just think differently, but live differently. Today.

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More of Charles Martin at bargain prices $2.99, and $4.99 for a collection. All of these I have read,

Maggie: The Sequel to The Dead Don’t Dance (Awakening)

Maggie

Amazon quote:

“When Maggie opened her eyes that New Year’s Day some seventeen months ago, I felt like I could see again. The fog lifted off my soul, and for the first time since our son had died and she had gone to sleep—some four months, sixteen days, eighteen hours, and nineteen minutes earlier—I took a breath deep enough to fill both my lungs.”

Life began again for Dylan Styles when his beloved wife Maggie awoke from a coma. A coma brought on by the intense two-day labor that resulted in heartbreaking loss. In this poignant love story that is redolent with Southern atmosphere, Dylan and Maggie must come to terms with their past before they can embrace their future.

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The Dead Don’t Dance (Awakening Book 1) 

The Dead Don't Dance

Amazon quote:

A sleepy rural town in South Carolina. The end of summer and a baby about to be born. But in the midst of hope and celebration comes unexpected tragedy, and Dylan Styles must come to terms with how much he’s lost. Will the music of his heart be stilled forever—or will he choose to dance with life once more, in spite of sorrow and heartbreak?

The Dead Don’t Dance is a bittersweet yet triumphant love story—a tale of one man’s journey through the darkness of despair and into the light of hope.

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Or you can get them both in one book for $2.99 (The Dead Don’t Dance and Maggie )

Down Where My Love Lives 

Down Where My Love Lives

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And another collection at a bargain price.

A Charles Martin Collection: When Crickets Cry, Chasing Fireflies, and Wrapped in Rain  $4.99

Charles Martin Collection

Amazon quote:

When Crickets Cry

A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.

It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl’s pretty yellow dress can’t quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.

Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he’s restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.

Before it’s over, they’ll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.

Chasing Fireflies

They have one summer to find what was lost long ago.

“Never settle for less than the truth,” she told him. But when you don’t even know your real name, the truth gets a little complicated. It can nestle so close to home it’s hard to see. It can even flourish inside a lie. And as Chase Walker discovered, learning the truth about who you are can be as elusive—and as magical—as chasing fireflies on a summer night.

A haunting story about fishing, baseball, home cooking, and other matters of life and death.

Wrapped in Rain

An internationally famous photographer, Tucker Mason, has traveled the world, capturing things other people don’t see. But what Tucker himself can’t see is how to let go of the past and forgive his father.

On a sprawling Southern estate, Tucker and his younger brother, Mutt, were raised by their housekeeper, Miss Ella Rain, who loved the motherless boys like her own. Hiring her to take care of Waverly Hall and the boys was the only good thing their father ever did.

When his brother escapes from a mental hospital and an old girlfriend appears with her son and a black eye, Tucker is forced to return home and face the agony of his own tragic past.

Though Miss Ella has been gone for many years, Tuck can still hear her voice—and her prayers. But finding peace and starting anew will take a measure of grace that Tucker scarcely believes in.

, Mutt, were raised by their housekeeper, Miss Ella Rain, who loved the motherless boys like her own. Hiring her to take care of Waverly Hall and the boys was the only good thing their father ever did.

When his brother escapes from a mental hospital and an old girlfriend appears with her son and a black eye, Tucker is forced to return home and face the agony of his own tragic past.

Though Miss Ella has been gone for many years, Tuck can still hear her voice—and her prayers. But finding peace and starting anew will take a measure of grace that Tucker scarcely believes in.

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 This author is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. While many have read his books, many more haven’t and they need to discover this gem.

I hope you will be making the discovery.  His stories touch the heart and reading one of his books is an experience.

Happy Reading

Story Prompt – Fallout

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This is week ten (I think. I missed a few) in the Sunday Scribblings  prompt hosted by Peckapalooza: The Confusing Middle.

I’ve decided to hook these challenges together to make a chapter story. Might as well make something out of it if I can. Besides it helps with inspiration, having a starting place.

The earlier chapters can be found here to bring you up to speed on the whole story.

Carly was in witness protection but her cover was blown and her life threatened.

With her protection team, they were on the run for weeks unsure of the seriousness of the threat, not wanting to take a chance with her life.

Now, Bella (new place new name) is working to settle into a new life.

Here is this week’s installment and challenge.

 

Chapter Eight

Fallout

Bella was frustrated. Two weeks. Two weeks had gone by and she was not one step closer to a cover story she could live with.

The fallout would be catastrophic is she couldn’t get it right. Why was this so hard?

Her house was settled and fully furnished. The office was set up and the appropriate business legalities were all in place. She was stalling. Advertising for clients could happen this minute if she wanted it to. A plausible cover story was the only thing holding her back.

She was experiencing major writer’s block with life threatening implications if she couldn’t figure it out. Maybe that’s why it was such a big issue to begin with. First hand knowledge of what could happen with a slip up was impeding her progress. Not that she had been at fault in her last situation. She hadn’t but she could see how it would take only one innocent comment in the right place to ruin everything.

Truthfully? She was terrified.

How do you live a lie when you never have? This was her biggest fear, as she honestly thought about it, fear that she would forget, tell the truth and her cover would be blown all over again.

This whole thing could have been left in the hands of the authorities hiding her but there was danger of an unidentified leak like last time. No one could live with the possibility of it happening a second time.

Somehow, she had to come up with a story that felt true. True enough that even her new friends would accept it without question. True enough that she wouldn’t stumble in the telling.

Maybe she needed to approach this like a fiction writer creating a story. The emotionally detached perspective may work better for her, it was worth a try. Up to this point nothing else had worked.

Thinking about the many books she’d read it seemed common for parents, young or old, to die in horrific car crashes. Readers readily accepted that scenario. She could handle having her story sounding like that.

Only child seemed to be another common detail. It left the plot with enormous flexibility. Army brat with moves every two years would be useful in solving issues arising out of the “where are you from” question with all it’s pitfalls.

All alone in the world, from no particular place, could serve her well in avoiding dangerous fallout.

Bella could hardly wait for Monday morning to arrive. It was time to launch her new life.

Read and enjoyed, and a bargain, July 25, 2020

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Special interest would be the best way to describe the two latest books read and enjoyed.

I appreciate the sensitive and thoughtful subject treatment in both books. The special interest aspect out weighed the story itself in some places but they were both good reads despite that.

Above All Things

Above all Things

They were on their way to being a real family…until she came into their lives.

Expecting their first baby, Judd and Evette McGlin are thrilled at the prospect of becoming parents. But their marriage faces the ultimate test when Judd learns he already has a child: a six-year-old bi-racial daughter, born amid secrets and lies. Now, Evette must decide if she can accept the child—and forgive Judd. She thought she was open-minded—until hidden prejudices threaten the future of an innocent little girl, Evette’s marriage, and the very notion of the woman she’s believed herself to be. Above all things, this child needs acceptance and love. Needs Evette to discover what being a mother truly means. Needs Judd to face his past. And needs them both to discover what it truly means to be a family.

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Spring Splash

Spring Splash

The heart of a champion may surprise you.

When an injury sidelines college swimmer Anna Callaway, her dreams are crushed. She pours herself into her sports marketing practicum, helping a local special needs organization promote their athletic event. What she doesn’t expect is a swim team ripe for the Special Olympics—and their handsome but stubborn coach.

Craig Holt has dealt with eager and ignorant volunteers before. No matter how determined or persuasive uptight Anna might be about coaching his team to the Special Olympics, he has no intention of allowing her to raise the hopes of his swimmers, his sister, or his guarded heart.

Then Anna herself gets a second chance at becoming a champion. Will she pursue her lifelong goals or make room for a new dream?

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Then there are two box sets to add to the list of recently finished reads.

Grant Us Grace Box Set: Books 1 – 5 (Elizabeth Maddrey Box Sets)

Grant us Grace

WISDOM TO KNOW (Book 1)

COURAGE TO CHANGE (Book 2)

SERENITY TO ACCEPT (Book 3)

JOINT VENTURE (Book 4)

PATHWAY TO PEACE (Book 5)

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The Spark Brothers Romance Collection

The Spark Brothers

A Single Spark (Book One):

A Sudden Spark (Book Two):

The Sweetest Spark (Book Three):

At First Spark (Book Four):

An Extra Spark (Book Five):

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I haven’t gone too far yet in my current read but I’ve always enjoyed Terri Blackstock. I think I’m close to half way in the first book and I expect to finish most of the collection. I say most because it is 1673 pages long.

The Newpointe 911 Collection: Private Justice, Shadow of Doubt, Word of Honor, Trial by Fire, Line of Duty

The Newpointe 911 collection

Private Justice

The firemen of Newpointe, LA, face a personal and terrifying trial: someone is murdering their wives, one by one.

Shadow of Doubt

A poisoned past. A bitter present. Is Celia a murderer … or a victim?

Word of Honor

What will it cost to keep a promise? Jill Clark learns the meaning of covenant when she is taken hostage by a suspect in a deadly bombing . . . but isn’t convinced he’s guilty.

Trial by Fire

A church building burns to the ground, and a young man is found dead of a gunshot wound. The mystery is just being ignited as God uses disaster to bring about his will.

Line of Duty

When a building collapses on several firemen, one is unaccounted for—was he really buried, or did he take the opportunity to flee from the problems in his life?

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I found another bargain collection by a long time favorite author. Five books for $4.99.

The Rock Harbor Mystery Collection: Without a Trace, Beyond a Doubt, Into the Deep, Cry in the Night, and Silent Night (Rock Harbor Series)

Rock Harbor collection

 

Without a Trace

Bree thinks a plane crash took the lives of her husband and young son, but her son Davy survived the accident. Can she find him before it’s too late?

Beyond a Doubt

Evidence of a violent crime in Bree’s basement causes police to re-open a cold case. Can she and her K-9 search dog, Samson, stop the killer before he strikes again?

Into the Deep

When Bree’s dog Samson goes missing, it’s just the beginning of her life turning upside down.

Cry in the Night

Bree and Samson discover a crying infant in the snowy Rock Harbor forest. But where are the baby’s parents? And how did she get there?

Silent Night

As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor.

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Happy Reading y’all

 

It’s not you it’s me. The tale of unfinished books.

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I’m pretty sure it’s me not you (the authors). That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

It’s funny how interest, or lack of it, seems to go in waves. Sadly, the tidal wave of engagement is still out these days. I’m having trouble finding a book with a story that grips me. A highly disappointing state of affairs.

I’m pretty sure, though, the fault lies with me and whatever place I’m at emotionally. At least that’s what I’m guessing. I’m not necessarily finding anything disappointing with the writing style or the story premise.

Bottom line though… my reading list needs to be shorter. Let’s make that happen.

I'll Watch the MoonOnce Beyond a Time

The Birhday PortraitFaith House

The RunawayThe Christmas Bliss collection

The Secret of Pembrook ParkWhen You Come Home

 

Fatal AttractionComing Home

The Queen's DaughtersGrace & Lavender

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There were a few more slated for removal but they seemed to demand another chance. They have been moved to the top of the list again and we’ll see how it goes.

Twelve makes a good difference even though there are many more in the started but not read category.

Refreshing my memory before removal (in case I could be drawn in after all) I noticed a common response on my part to many of the unfinished books.

Triggers.

My childhood was difficult, to put it mildly, Acknowledging there is such a thing as triggers is a recent consideration for me. They explain so much and learning to recognize how specific childhood trauma could be behind the trigger (reaction) has been a freeing experience. I haven’t gotten very far in this learning exercise and it’s still a mystery to me what aspect of these books is causing the shut down reaction.  Maybe some things just hit a little too close to home.

Anyway, it’s nice to know the books deserve to be read.  It is just me.

I’m currently reading… a whole bunch. Hopefully I can settle on at least one of the four at the top!

It could be this one.

Above all Things

Happy Reading …

…on this warmish day. The promised heat has arrived, 31 C  – feels like 43 C (109.4 F) with the humidity.

I’m grateful for air conditioning.

Free and bargain books July 23, 2020

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BookBub has a couple of  interesting suggestions for us today. The first one is a historical novel with a point of view I’ve not seen much of. It’s refreshing to learn something new. A bargain at $0.99

Patrick’s Journey: 18th Century Irish Convict finds life and love (The Rourke Saga Book 1)

Patrick's Journey

Amazon quote:

Dublin Harbour, Ireland, 1793:

When the convict ship Boddington left Ireland’s shores Patrick Rourke felt as though he was sailing away from his soul as well as from his home land.

Not so very long before he had everything to live for – he was young, strong and healthy, had a loving family and had won the affection of his sweetheart Catherine.

Then, a relatively minor confrontation with the occupying British Redcoats escalated beyond all foreseeable consequences. Patrick became a pawn in the political aspirations of the United Irishmen and suffered the wrath of the British dominated Irish penal system.

With everything he held dear seemingly lost, Patrick found himself thrust into an emotional and physical journey that saw him plummet into the depths of rage and despair as he was transported to the penal colony of New South Wales.

Would he ever see his family or his beloved Ireland again ? And Catherine – all his future revolved around Catherine – what could he hope to offer her now ?

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This next BookBub suggestion is FREE. It’s written by an author new to me.

Angels of Humility: A Novel

Angels of Humility

Amazon quote:

Pastor Paul is a young seminary graduate called as interim pastor to a small rural church. He is full of zeal, but mostly for self-promotion. He sincerely loves the Lord but his past emotional wounds leave him vulnerable and in need of attention and affirmation. He constantly frustrates his angel, Saldu, who tries to steer him toward a more humble attitude. 

Sarah Edwards is a new church member, a recent widow who gets saved at age 71. Unknown to her, Sarah has two angels to help disciple her and she is maturing rapidly in the faith. She is confused by her prophetic gifting, which leads her to offend some church members. She also prayer walks in front of Pastor Paul’s house. When his wife sees her pacing back and forth “talking to no one,” Paul quickly writes her off as a “wacko.”

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us.

Hope for Christmas (Hope Ranch Book 1) 

Hope for Christmas

Amazon quote:

An independent single mom who doesn’t believe in love at first sight collides with a man who does.
Cyan Hewitt drifts onto his estranged grandparents’ New Mexico ranch in time for Thanksgiving… and stays. As a cyber security consultant, he can telecommute, so why not from here, where his restless soul is soothed and his heart is awakened by the attractive ranch housekeeper?
Maria Sanchez works at Rancho de Esperanza to provide a stable life for her son. She’s content—mostly—in her roles as housekeeper, part-time student, and mom, but when her precocious seven-year-old is diagnosed with diabetes, her world shatters. There’s no time for distractions from the long-term visitor who’s stirring a longing in her for more.

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Currently I’m reading a book with an unusual twist. I’m not exactly sure where it’s going but that’s not a bad thing. Doling out information a little at a time adds intrigue to the story.

I’ll Watch the Moon

I'll Watch the Moon

Amazon quote:

“Tatlock continues to weave 20th-century history into absorbing, finely crafted literary tales.” – Library Journal
A single mother embittered by an abusive marriage. An adventurous 14-year old son and the 10-year old daughter who adores him. A boarder in the house, a war refugee with a murky past. It’s the summer of 1948, hot, and Polio stalks the children, taking them one by one. When it strikes the son, she wonders if he will be in an iron lung the rest of life? And when redemption comes, it arrives from a most unexpected source.

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Happy Reading …

from a happy camper. That’s me. The prediction for today was HOT and I was scurrying around getting things done before it hit.

It’s a win/win. The tasks are done and the heat hasn’t materialized.

It’s grey and windy and looks like a storm could hit anyway.

I was worried about my newly planted flowering tree. The wind is often wild around here, whipping things around like crazy. The young tree didn’t stand much chance in the last storm and was leaning over before the protective staking could be installed.

I was on a mission this morning, looking for information and a source of supplies to take care of my tree. Information was great but finding the needed stake was a little bit of chaos. It was the blind leading the blind. I don’t think the young guy serving me knew anymore than I did when it came time to find the stake in the back lot of the lumber yard.

I was expecting wood but ended up with metal. It turned out alright. It’s green and fits with the tree just fine. The next challenge was pounding the two of them into the ground. The stake is 6 ft high and I’m not. My neighbor bailed me out and did the honors. Piece of cake for him.

Now I can watch and worry it’s tied too tight.  Maybe it will break off if gale force winds come whipping through.

This is like being a new mom full of insecurities. I worry too much.

I’m going back to my original thought. It’s been a good day. And my tree looks good standing straighter.

Read and enjoyed, mid July Edition

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

There were a lot of box sets downloaded lately and I managed to make my through to the end on one of them. It makes me happy when that happens. It means they were a good read.

There are some singles to mention before we get to the set. This first one was one of my favorites. It is a serious story with a quirky sense of humor and a main character with the habit of standing up for herself where others would tip-toe around the moody man.

Henry by Sydney Paige McCutcheon

Henry

Book Synopsis: Sent to a small town outside Astoria, Oregon, Prue Collins is under the protection of the most unlikely guardian—rude and sarcastic, Ex-Officer Henry Clay wants nothing to do with his new roommate and doesn’t mask any hard feelings, only secrets. His wheelchair gives Prue a glimpse of his tragic past and she can’t fight curiosity as more clues come her way, opening her eyes to the true stranger she’s been sent to live with—and possibly, meant to help save. But the truth is like a loose string on an old shirt—pull at it, and the entire fabric could come undone. Will Prue leave well enough alone, or risk everything, even her own heart, to know the truth?

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Cold Shot (Chesapeake Valor Book #1)

Cold Shot

In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world–and friendships–crumbled.

Now Griffin is a park ranger at Gettysburg, having left life as a SWAT-team sniper when a case went bad. The job is mostly quiet–until the day he captures two relic hunters uncovering skeletal remains near Little Round Top. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott determines that the body is modern–a young social justice lawyer missing since spring–and all evidence points to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Gray takes over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he’ll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he–and those he cares about–are going to escape a downward spiral of murder that crosses continents.

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Dance Over MeSpecial delivery

A January BrideLost Down Deep

Sandover Beach WeekHealing her heart

Hope Rising

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I’m currently reading (just started actually) one of Terri Blackstock’s series from the other day.

The Moonlighters Collection: Truth Stained Lies, Distortion, Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series) 

The Moonlighters collection

Truth Stained Lies

When truth doesn’t make sense, will lies prevail?

Distortion

A husband’s lies can have deadly consequences.

Twisted Innocence

Holly Cramer’s past choices have finally caught up to her, but she never expected them to endanger her baby.

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books July 20, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s been a few days since we’ve downloaded any new books and it’s a nice surprise to see some today. BookBub has a FREE suggestion for us from an author enjoyed by many.

The Demise (A Braxton Mystery Book 1)

The Demise

Amazon quote:

Tiny Braxton, Tennessee, is a quiet, tight-knit community wrapped around an old town square just a stone’s throw from Nashville. But when the town’s most prominent citizen is found dead at the base of its water tower, news of Peter Lanham’s apparent suicide roars through town like a massive tsunami.

Peter, the handsome, beloved CEO of Lanham’s Fine Foods, had taken a small, family-owned grocery store founded in 1927, and grew it into a successful national chain. With most of Braxton’s residents employed by Lanham’s corporate headquarters, word of Peter’s demise left them searching for answers. What could possibly have made him take a swan dive off that tower?

Julie Parker is convinced he didn’t. As receptionist at Lanham’s executive office suite, she’s determined to find out what really happened to her boss. An aspiring actor who also stars as “The Lanham Girl” in the company’s TV commercials, Julie prides herself on her perceptive observations and people-skills. Who better to find out what happened to Peter up on that water tower?

Matt Bryson, on assignment as a rookie Special Agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, isn’t about to let the attractive receptionist intrude on his first case. She may be a hometown insider, but he’s perfectly capable of solving the case without “Miss Marple” screwing up his investigation.

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1531 Entertainment has a FREE suggestion.

Past Forward Volume 1

Past Forward Vol 1

Amazon quote:

Alone without friends or family to comfort her after the death of her mother, Willow Finley’s idyllic life is over—and just beginning.

When Willow Finley awakes on a hot summer morning, she is unprepared for the grief that awaits her. Jerked from a life of isolation with her mother, Willow learns what alone really means when she finds her mother still in her bed, never to awaken again in this life.

From the moment Willow arrives in the police station with her startling announcement, Chad Tesdall fights the friendship he knows he can’t avoid.

This collection of the first five episodes of Past Forward starts with Willow’s life-changing discovery and gently guides the reader through aspects of her life–the past weaving through the present and into the future. Experience her first morning in church, her first movie, and the culture shock of her first trips to the city. A birthday party and a street faire add welcome diversion from butchering, canning, and the beating of area rugs. Disaster strikes. Will she be able to continue her life, or will an offer in the city change it all? Find out in this first volume.

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Browsing; here is a bargain collection by another popular author. $0.99

Alaskan Refuge Christian Suspense Box Set (Books 1-3)

Alaskan Refuge Box set

Amazon quote:

Deep in the heart of Alaska, there’s more to fear than just the cold …

A woman hiding from the fatal mistakes of her past.

A sister rescuing her autistic little brother from the clutches of danger.

A mother confronting the demons in her past to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

 

 

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One more bargain collection. $1.31

Betwixt Two Hearts (Crossroads Collection) 

Betwixt two hearts

Amazon quote:

Betwixt Two Hearts by Amanda Tru
With control of their dating website the prize, Bailey and Camden embark on a matchmaking competition that snags on unexpected results. All is fair in a contest of love. May the best matchmaker win.

The Swedehearts Glory Quilt by Cathe Swanson
Eleanor ran away to find herself. David knew exactly where he wanted to go. Could a matchmaking agency put them on the same map?

Whole Latte Love by Kari Trumbo
Misguided Drew thinks all quiet women hide harmful secrets. While pretty, new best friend Addi’s soft-spoken nature reminds him too much of past hurts to move their relationship forward. Can a matchmaking agency change his heart?

Seoul Refuge by Alana Terry
Caroline is a new believer, excited and passionate about her faith. Calvin is a Boston police detective, an atheist who can hardly believe Christians have brainwashed his wife. Caroline just wants to follow God. Calvin just wants his wife back.

Guardian of Her Heart by Carol Moncado
Signed up for a dating service by friends and brought together by a stowaway cat, Mark and Casey must decide if they want to overcome their apparent incompatibilities or go their separate ways.

Random Acts of Shyness by Chautona Havig
Heath’s sister, Selby, has laid down the law. It’s time to let her take over his love life. After a series of first and only dates, Heath embarks on her new scheme to help him overcome the debilitating nervous habit that has plagued him all his life. However, between dates, each worse than the last, he tries one more time to do things his way… sort of.

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Currently, I’m reading and enjoying book 2 in a box set that is still a bargain at $1.34

The Hope Rising Series Box Set

Hope Rising

River’s Edge
How does a successful businessman end up with nothing but the clothes on his back and all his worldly possessions shoved into a bag? That’s the question Ben Tarbett asks himself time and again. When his world falls apart, Ben finds himself calling the banks of the Brisbane River home – a vastly different view to the one he had when working from a highrise in the heart of the city. Sheltering from the elements, and relying on food handouts, he longs for the day when he can once again have a roof over his head and be the father his daughter needs him to be.

Valley’s Reach
It’s been two years since Brad Rowland witnessed an accident that changed his life forever. Two years of trying to escape the images that constantly haunt his dreams. Two years of finding comfort in the bottom of a bottle and pushing people away. His life is consumed with guilt and angst. No one understands his pain, and it’s better that way.

Receiving Treetops Bed & Breakfast as a gift from her aunt gave Eve McNeal the perfect excuse to escape the hectic pace of city life and the loneliness that has consumed her for so long. Amid the rainforest, she is free to tend to her guests and deal with the guilt of putting her mother with Alzheimer’s in a care facility. By offering hospitality to others, she is free to be herself and ignore the deep hurt she carries from a childhood injury that left her with visible scars.

Ocean’s Drift
Shame and guilt follow Vanessa Silverton everywhere. A preacher’s kid, she rebelled from her parent’s faith years ago and has since lived with the consequences of making one wrong decision after the other. After one fateful night, she severs all contact with her friends and flees to the Sunshine Coast, longing to leave her past far behind. She escapes to a quaint coastal town finding work in a beachside cafe in an attempt to start afresh where no one knows her name or the past that haunts her dreams. But life doesn’t always go to plan, and soon her past catches up with her in a way she never anticipated.

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Happy Reading …

… from a distracted blogger.

I left my computer needing to refresh my memory on the title of my current read.  The intention was to grab my Kindle and return to the blog. I’m not sure how it happened but I noticed a spill on the kitchen floor that I just had to investigate and clean up. My stomach growled and I remembered my plan for a dish of ice-cream. I cannot eat ice-cream without reading, of course. A few chapters later my thoughts turned to the plants in the living room needing water. I’d best do it now before I turn in for the night, not leave it again for another day.

Walking past the computer – Oh no. I was in the middle of a blog post.

I have now refreshed my memory on the current read, finished the blog post (almost) and will water the plants before turning out the lights. Unless I forget and read a few more chapters first. It’s been known to happen.

What was I doing again?