Year: 2021

Free books August 12, 2021

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LPC Books has two FREE suggestions. I’ve read them both and they are worth seeing again.

Desert Willow by Patricia Beal

Amazon quote:

After a failed engagement, Captain Andrew Lee James has focused on building a career in the Army he loves. That commitment includes helping a feisty, out-of-work ballerina whose devotion to her grandmother’s dying wish immediately grabs his heart. She’s the one, but will he be able to win the heart of a woman who has vowed to never be involved with a soldier?

College graduate Clara Malone swore to never love anyone in the military again but when her dying grandmother asks her to deliver a love letter to the general who broke her heart decades ago, she agrees and finds herself escorted by a handsome Army captain whose kindness challenges her beliefs. Surrounded by desert willows that shower her path with pretty pink flowers and sing with the buzzing of hummingbirds, Clara enjoys the wild beauty of El Paso—and her time with Andrew—more than expected.

Can she deliver her grandmother’s last love letter without losing her heart to a man who represents everything she fears?

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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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This was a late arriving suggestion email and morning is still a ways off. We will just go ahead and post.

Besides, I have a busy day tomorrow, this will make sure I don’t miss my posting deadline. Today, the 11th, was day 60 in my posting streak. Can’t mess that up.

Happy Reading

Reading and enjoying August 11, 2021

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The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person finds an excuse. — Author Unknown

This was the opening quote in chapter three of the book I am currently enjoying (I’ll share it in a bit) and it resonates with me. So much so that I need to camp on this thought for a moment and while I’m doing that I need to record some thoughts.

It resonates because I’m wrestling with this very thing. Ideas are causing a ruckus in my head and I’m asking myself if I will step outside my comfort zone and find a way to do them or will I listen to the excuses and walk away. I’ve spent years mulling over these ideas in different forms.

In a way, this quote showing up now is validation for the steps I’m taking.

Chapter three is talking about excuses but the true subject of the book is prayer. The kind of prayer Diane Moody, the author, has in mind is conversation with your best friend.

I’ve been in conversation with my best friend about these wild ideas, and many other things too, and He seems to be encouraging me to get on with it and make it happen.

Why would I do this thing I’m alluding to?

There are two sides to it. One is to help me grow personally, I definitely need it if I want to have useful years. The other is be an encouragement to others. There are enough negative voices in our world, we need more positive ones.

This quote about finding a way is especially relevant for me right now. Mainly because, earlier today I uploaded a picture to my site created yesterday on locals.com. Putting a picture out there for the world to see is a big deal for this camera shy blogger… admitting to being out there is an even bigger deal. Up until now, I have been trying my best to fly under the radar. My Face Book profile picture is a lilac bush and has been for years. Things are slowly changing.

I haven’t posted to the new site yet, I’m still in the initial set up stages. Maybe this could be part of the first post. Maybe. We’ll see.

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As promised, here is the book I am reading. Diane Moody is down to earth, easy to read, and what she has to say is worth hearing.

Confessions of a Prayer Slacker (Second Edition) 

With over 600 “Five Star” reviews.

Let’s face it. Most of us are clueless when it comes to praying. Why is that? And how come we’ve never done anything about it?

In Confessions of a Prayer Slacker, author Diane Moody traces her own personal prayer journey with a touch of humor and a healthy dose of transparency.

‘‘I want my readers to stop the merry-go-round of prayerlessness, quit acting like a bunch of spiritual babies, and get serious about this thing called prayer. Without it, we’ll never experience the warm, one-on-one relationship God desires to have with each one of us.”

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It looks like this post has turned out to be a bit of a teaser since I have neglected to give the name of the new site over on locals.com

That’s OK because I still have some work to do to make sure it performs like it’s supposed to.

There are more things to be said about the subject anyway so another time works well.

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We have no new books today but maybe tomorrow. I did look.

In the meantime,

Happy Reading

I loved it… August 10, 2021

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Unexpectedly, I loved it. Retelling of fairy tales is popular right now. A number of authors have taken a shot at coming up with their own version of a modern tale and I’ve read quite a few of them in the last year or so. There is a certain sameness after awhile, especially when you’ve read so many of them close together.

This version of a modern Prince and Princess tale was really, really, good. There were some universal elements that would never, or at least rarely, change in this type of story. Europe, small kingdom, travel to America to find ….

I think the difference is in the details. A house is just a house until the finishing touches turn it into so much more. This story became so much more with well thought out character development, complex interactions and relationships, and intricate plot twists and turns. There were many didn’t-see-that-coming moments. Often they were magical. There were many players, and situations, so much going on and yet it all worked. Every one of the elements was needed.

When I stop and think about the huge cast of characters, it’s amazing how seamlessly it all came together. That was quite a feat on the part of the author and her supportive team.

I loved this story. It’s a good job it didn’t start at night for me or there would have been no sleeping.

To Save a King (True Blue Royal Book 2)

After growing up in small-town Hearts Bend, Tennessee, Gemma Stone set off to Hollywood to make her mark in the world.

But her ambition turned into a journey of a “thousand” bad decisions and after twelve years of seeking fame and fortune, Gemma returns home with a limp and a dark secret.

Now she runs a rescue ranch and is raising her friends’ orphaned daughter. She’s keenly aware these defenseless ones are also rescuing her. She just wants to stay hidden in the safe world she’s created.

HRH Crown Prince John has learned a royal title cannot shield him from heartbreak. As heir to the revered House of Blue and married to the love of his life, he believed his future reign would strengthen the royal dynasty of Lauchtenland. Then tragedy changed everything. Can anything save him from his grief?

When he travels to Hearts Bend on a mission for his mother, Queen Catherine, he’s drawn into the local life and cajoled into a three-legged race with the beautiful Gemma Stone during the 4th of July festivities.

While the event has a disastrous result, Prince John and Gemma form a quick friendship—one of two wounded souls finding comfort in one other. However, love is absolutely not an option. John desperately wants to hold onto the memories of his wife, and Gemma refuses to trust her heart to any man. Even a prince.

Then Prince John is called home for an emergency. How can he leave the woman who lifted him from his sorrows? But can Gemma join him on a royal stage and risk her secret coming to light?

With a touch of divine help, Prince John and Gemma just might find the kind of love that saves and ultimately write their very own fairy tale.

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I think this one will be my favorite of the month. It will take quite a story to knock it out of first place.

Happy Reading

A bargain August 09, 2021

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Another bargain, belonging to the author I’ve been enjoying the last few days. This one is a new release set for early September.

A Dangerous Scheme (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

Is it possible for love to persist if it was built on a lie?

Mr. Guy Stewart, now an agent of the Crown, has been sent to determine if an illegal labor union has formed in the town of Anmore. It is a simple enough assignment, but nothing seems to go as planned when he arrives, and he quickly learns that one wrong move can lead to his death.

Miss Daphne Locke has just received the most extraordinary news—she has just been named her grandmother’s heir! When her meddlesome cousin shows up unannounced, she must do her best to ignore his constant criticism of her and focus on her new responsibilities.

When the two stranger’s cross paths, neither can deny the instant attraction between them. But Guy is under pressure to complete his assignment and doesn’t have time for pesky feelings, and Daphne is far above his station.

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This next one was read and enjoyed yesterday, it was awesome. I won’t spoil the story by telling you about the main character but if you enjoy a strong female spy most people underestimate you will love this. I hope to get a chance to read the next book in the series.

Saving Shadow: A Regency Spy Romance (The Beckett Files Book 1)

Born with a perfect memory, Lady Elizabeth Beckett has become one of the world’s most notorious spies, despite being the daughter of a duke. She is shielded only by her code name: Shadow.

When young ladies of High Society begin disappearing from London, Eliza has no doubt who is orchestrating these crimes; a heinous man she has been investigating for years. Vowing to save them before they are sold to the highest bidder, she must risk everything to stop him.

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I love it when interesting books show up unexpectedly. Even better when it’s an author on my favorites list.

6 – Book Sampler: A Box Collection of Sweet Romances

Amazon quote:

The Sailor and the Suffragette: Daisy Bennett loved a good cause. Her current? Women’s rights. But when Asa Davenport comes to town, Daisy’s future suffragette plans falter. A new cause has captured her heart. Question is, can she handle it?

Herding Her Heart: Jasmine Hammond wanted more in her life and thought marriage would do the trick. Problem was, there was no one in her home town to marry. So she did what anyone would do, she enlisted the help of a matchmaker. And she wasn’t the only one. Nine other brides from all over the country traveled with her to Bent, Colorado to entrust their marital endeavors to the famous matchmaker, Viola Redburn. Problem was, when they got there, Viola was dead.

Finding Love at Christmas: Wendy Preston had once been the love of his life. He was young and poor. She was young and rich. The gap between their two families was too big for the likes of Wendy’s father, and so, he made sure Wendy disappeared from Jack’s life. Until one day …

Mommy’s Kissing Santa: Billionaire Gordon Holliday has done the impossible. He’s matched each of his sons to a prospective bride and they’ve fallen in love! With a little help …

Overjoyed his plan worked, he’s now noticing the matchmaker! But Gordon has vowed never to marry again. Not after his ex-wife Mara made his life so miserable and makes it her full-time job to continue the effort! But his sons and their fiancés think otherwise and decide to help love along. After all, fair is fair. Since their father saw fit to match them up, then why not do the same with him? Of course, that might prove easier said than done …

Josephine: Josephine Stillwater was normally an upbeat, happy young woman. And why not? She had a wonderful father, a new husband, and things were looking up in the world. Until she lost it all because of a mining accident. Now with a villainous landlord pounding on her door almost daily, she’s losing hope. What else can go wrong? How about a half-dead man on her doorstep?

Claire: Widow Claire Reynolds puts up a feisty front and speaks her mind. But when a stranger comes to town her world is turned upside down. How can he see through her into what lies hidden in her heart? 
Quinn Bates was hired to rid Wildcat Ridge of undesirables. But when the first person on the list is a woman, he has second thoughts. What is it about this spitfire that has his employer so anxious to get rid of her? He’s determined to find out.

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I’d better hurry on out of here before the power goes out. We are on our third major downpour for today, with massive thunder and lightning. The lights are flickering and I can take a hint.

I don’t want to miss out on posting while it is still today.

Happy Reading!!

Free book August 08, 2021

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BookRunes has an interesting FREE suggestion for us today. It is Romance but will not be a light read. It deals with some weighty issues involving more young couples than we would wish. Despite the subject matter I think it will be a well written read.

Within Golden Bands 

Amazon quote:

Newly married Bonny MacDonell finds the transition from American college professor to Scottish sheep farmer’s wife more difficult than she expected. When her miracle pregnancy ends in a devastating miscarriage, she fears her husband’s reaction will hurt more than the loss of their child.

But Kieran never shows up at the hospital. When found, he is beaten and unconscious. The only memory of his attacker is the words, “Get off my land.” Reeling from the threat to her husband and the loss of their child, Bonny struggles to hold her marriage together. When faith in love is not enough, where do you turn?

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One new book was the best I could do. I did try to find more, honest. Some days that’s just how it goes.

Instead, I can tell you about a book finished yesterday. One I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

A Family’s Blessing: A Sweet Small Town Romance (Love in Millars Crossing Book 2)

Sharing with the enemy is almost as bad as falling for them…

Ethan Westerveld wasn’t about to give up half the family farm to a complete stranger no matter how beautiful she was. But the ink was dry, the damage done and nothing could change the fact that Hannah Kristofferson was now fifty percent owner in his family farm.

But only if she stuck around.

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To begin with I thought maybe I had read this book before. There are a number of books out there where two people share an inheritance and the Will declares that to claim it they have to live on the property for a specified period of time.

It didn’t take too long for me to recognize this story was not something I’d already seen. While the plot was similar the author made it uniquely hers and I loved the read.

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I’ll share another book. I’m almost finished and I’m loving this read too. I have another book by this same author and I’m excited to read it next.

A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1) 

An heiress. A spy. And a love worth fighting for.

Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honor her mother’s legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavory parts of London.

Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. As he searches for the enemy, he discovers a meddling heiress that keeps stumbling in at the most inopportune times, making him wonder if she is perhaps the spy he has been sent to find.

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I highly recommend this book and author.

I just noticed something odd thing about the cover. Look at her hands. Strange.

Once you get into the book a little you will know what that is all about. This lady is no shrinking violet.

Well, I spent a little more time looking around the book shelves, just in case there was something more I could stumble across. Sadly this is it. Check out all three of these books if you haven’t already.

Until next time…

Happy Reading.

Free and bargain books August 07, 2021

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Today is a good day!

It has been a bookless week, mostly, and today things have changed. Four new books from three authors I’ve read and enjoyed, what could be better than that?

First up is a modern day handsome prince.

To Save a King (True Blue Royal Book 2) 

Amazon quote:

A modern-day fairy tale of hope and rescue from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck

After growing up in small-town Hearts Bend, Tennessee, Gemma Stone set off to Hollywood to make her mark in the world. But her ambition turned into a journey of a “thousand” bad decisions and after twelve years of seeking fame and fortune, Gemma returns home with a limp and a dark secret.

Now she runs a rescue ranch and is raising her friends’ orphaned daughter. She’s keenly aware these defenseless ones are also rescuing her. She just wants to stay hidden in the safe world she’s created.

HRH Crown Prince John has learned a royal title cannot shield him from heartbreak. As heir to the revered House of Blue and married to the love of his life, he believed his future reign would strengthen the royal dynasty of Lauchtenland. Then tragedy changed everything. Can anything save him from his grief?

When he travels to Hearts Bend on a mission for his mother, Queen Catherine, he’s drawn into the local life and cajoled into a three-legged race with the beautiful Gemma Stone during the 4th of July festivities.

While the event has a disastrous result, Prince John and Gemma form a quick friendship—one of two wounded souls finding comfort in one other. However, love is absolutely not an option. John desperately wants to hold onto the memories of his wife, and Gemma refuses to trust her heart to any man. Even a prince.

Then Prince John is called home for an emergency. How can he leave the woman who lifted him from his sorrows? But can Gemma join him on a royal stage and risk her secret coming to light?

To Save a King is book two in the True Blue Royal series.

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The next two are first books in their series. I’m looking forward to this as I enjoyed two other first books by this author and would love to read more.

A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1)

Amazon quote:

An heiress. A spy. And a love worth fighting for.

Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honor her mother’s legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavory parts of London.

Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. As he searches for the enemy, he discovers a meddling heiress that keeps stumbling in at the most inopportune times, making him wonder if she is perhaps the spy he has been sent to find.

Despite mutual dislike, Baldwin agrees to help Madalene, but only if she stays far away from the investigation. A promise that Madalene has no intention of keeping. Will headstrong Madalene and duty-driven Baldwin be able to work together, especially since so much is at stake?

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Saving Shadow: A Regency Spy Romance (The Beckett Files Book 1)

Amazon quote:

For England’s top spy, love is not an option

Born with a perfect memory, Lady Elizabeth Beckett has become one of the world’s most notorious spies, despite being the daughter of a duke. She is shielded only by her code name: Shadow. When young ladies of High Society begin disappearing from London, Eliza has no doubt who is orchestrating these crimes; a heinous man she has been investigating for years. Vowing to save them before they are sold to the highest bidder, she must risk everything to stop him.

Lord Sinclair was perfectly content being the second son of a marquess, but when his brother is murdered, he is thrust into a position he has not been prepared for and does not desire. As an agent for the Crown, he is expected to retire now that he is the heir, but he’s been granted special permission for one more mission… to obtain justice for his murdered brother.

Used to keeping secrets, Lady Eliza and Lord Sinclair must learn to open up to each other when they are assigned as partners to bring down the same ruthless man and his brutal empire of abduction and slavery. As Eliza’s tainted past becomes too much for her to bear alone, can she learn to trust her new partner with her secrets, her life, and possibly her heart?

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This next one is a complete change of pace. It is historical but it’s also time travel. I’ve read and enjoyed the first three books in this series.

Vestige of Courage: A Christian Time Travel Romance (Vestige in Time Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

She dreams of a future far out of reach. He’s stuck in limbo, looking for answers. Will a trip through time be a dream come true or their worst nightmare?

Finding herself in the future is Beatrice’s wildest dream come true, until it shatters her long-held illusions.

Beatrice Thomas lives a simple life on an isolated mountain homestead in 1879, Colorado, but she longs to experience the world past the rugged peaks and lonely months that her life has become. Unfortunately for her, that requires a miracle.

Chase’s life of adventure in the spotlight has taken an abrupt detour. Now he’s stuck, trapped in the unknown.

Chase Bennett’s life is on hold while he searches for his missing brother. When he stumbles upon a woman who’s looking for answers of her own, she provides a distraction he doesn’t need.

As their friendship grows, Beatrice is bewildered by the fast pace of the modern world. The adventure she longed for may be more than she can handle.

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I’m pretty sure the first three books will jump to the head of the reading queue. I’m looking forward to this.

Contemplating this list reminds me of a discussion earlier in the week about skipping through a book without reading every word. The consensus seemed to be offence at the thought of this practice. Sometimes when a to-be-read pile gets out of hand, like mine has been – forever it seems, there is no other choice.

At a time like this it’s easy to be happy when a book turns out to be less than wonderful. The read can be rushed through, guilt free.

I used to hold the belief that every word had to be read and every book started had to be finished. Somewhere along the line I gave up on that guilt trip. Not every book is worth the time and attention. There is no shame in abandoning a book, or quickly skimming through to see how it ended before tossing it.

I think skimming is better, in a time crunch, than not reading the book at all.

I love it when a book is worth savoring every moment. I take the time and then count my blessings that not all books are created equal. If they were…

I’d have to put a moratorium on looking for free and bargain books.

Happy Reading y’all

Another this and that August 06, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / 5 Comments

I think there is something wrong with me. I don’t feel like reading.

Shocking!

I’ve finished the book I was reading and can’t seem to settle on any of the five or six that are next in line. This rarely happens, I must be sick or something.

Maybe it’s or something. My mind has been pulled in a number of different directions today and right now it’s hard to settle down to a quiet occupation like reading.

One of the things I’ve been dwelling on this evening is the subject of the next couple of chapters read in the book called The Power of Writing It Down. The author makes a case for writing as a way to improve our health. Studies have demonstrated a change in moods by writing 20 minutes a day for two weeks, an effect that lasts for an even longer period of time.

The authors name is Allison Fallon. Allison is a writing coach and she has a large team of people working with her. Her book has come out of her personal and corporate experiences and in my mind that gives her credibility. The kind of writing addressed in this book is called expressive writing. Medical researchers have studied brain activity during writing experiences and they found that different parts of the brain would light up during different types of writing. What Allison calls expressive writing comes from the subconscious part of the brain rather than the conscious part where we live most of the time.

Today’s chapters talked about writing when we don’t feel inspired. We have nothing to say and yet if we sit quietly, meditatively, and we gradually set aside the conscious noise about all the things our mind goes to when we are supposed to be working or listening; something changes. Our mind becomes focused on a single thought and as we start to write, a conversation happens.

At the end, we read over what we’ve written, in amazement. Where did that come from? I wasn’t even thinking about any of that when I sat down and yet here it is.

Allison stresses that writing out of the subconscious helps us discover who we really are, not who we have made ourselves out to be to please others. It can be a little scary, thinking about what might come out of our subconscious. Maybe, hopefully, it will be positive more often than we might think.

I’ve experienced a little of this writing what I didn’t expect phenomenon while working on some of these this and that posts. I think they have turned out to be some of the best ones. Reader response seems to bear that out.

In the end. Writing like this was a very emotional experience and I was left with a pleasant aura that stayed with me for hours. It was very positive and I would love to have it happen many more times. Maybe it will as I practice this type of writing more often.

I know you have questions so I’ll say this…

The pleasant aura was kind of like when you read a extra specially good book or watch a movie that leaves you with an awww kind of feeling. Or when you do something that turns out so much better than expected and you can’t help but keep looking at it, thinking about how much you love it. And, at the same time you are thinking I can’t believe I just did that.

This turned out way different, and so much better than I visualized going in to this post. I was wanting to practice expressive writing tonight but I was worried at the same time. I’m feeling a big sigh of relief at the way this all went.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

I think I can settle down now and read a book for awhile.

Happy writing and happy reading.

Check out Allison’s book, maybe it will inspire you and meet a need, all at the same time.

There was one more exciting thought on my mind tonight but I will save it for another post.

Later.

Free book August 05, 2021

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BookBub has a free suggestion for us. An author I have read once or twice.

Piercehaven: Welcome to the Island (Piercehaven Trilogy Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Should Emily try to fit in—or fight for what’s right?

Emily has finally found her dream job. She’s moving to a remote Maine island to teach high school English. The handsome lobsterman is an unexpected bonus.

But life on the island is very different. The eccentric islanders seem to be hiding something from her, but what is it? And does she even want to know? If she figures out the secret, she might have to do something about it.

Welcome to Piercehaven, an idyllic small town in the middle of the Atlantic, where things aren’t as simple as they seem and everyone is obsessed with basketball. You’ll love this faith-filled story because you’ll feel like you’re right there with Emily, tasting the fresh, salty air. Visit Piercehaven today!

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I’m not seeing anything else enticing at the moment so we will leave it at one.

I’m still reading A Life Renewed and it’s good. I’m not bored or feeling like I need to rush through it. And, it is definitely unpredictable. Very nice.

A Life Renewed: A Christian Mystery Romance (Secrets of the Queens Book 1) 

Everyone in this story has secrets and when they say trust no one, they mean it.

Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree with his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.

Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

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I’ll let you know if I find anything else.

This and that, August 05, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / 3 Comments

I’m cheating, it’s two minutes to midnight. If I dawdle it will soon be August 5th, barely, so I’m not lying. It can still be tomorrow even if I haven’t been to bed yet, right? A sleep shouldn’t be mandatory to make it so.

I decided to go ahead and do a this and that post now as I’m still awake and tomorrow is going to be busy. I’m on a roll, up to 53 days in a row, I don’t want to take a chance on messing that up without a really good reason.

I’m still awake because we have a thunder and lightning storm going on. It was pretty loud there for awhile although it has calmed down a bit at the moment. Things can change in short order though.

Two good things about this storm – First, it cools things off, which is very nice, and the rain helps clear the smoke hanging around from all the forest fires in the area, and second, we need the moisture. It as been so dry this summer.

Tomorrow will be busy because I have some stuff going on and on top of that I have an appointment to get the covid shot. I qualified for it months ago but have been reluctant. For a number of reasons. I’m still somewhat reluctant but reason says I need to go ahead and do this. Who knows what the future holds, I may be thankful I did it.

Sounds like it’s raining out there again but I think it must be my imagination.

Talking about the garden, the bunnies are stunting my plants by eating the young growth off some of them. One of the worst is a bush I planted last year. It’s smaller now than when I planted it, it’s supposed to end up about 3-4 feet high. It’s not going to make it at this rate. I was trying to figure what I could use to protect it and I came up with the bright idea to use small branches from pruning one of the fast growing bushes in the backyard. I formed them into a sort of lattice work fence, close enough together that the bunnies won’t fit through the spaces. So far it seems to be working but I may have created another problem for myself. What if the branch cuttings root themselves where they are stuck into the ground? Hopefully the bush I am protecting will grow fast so I can take down the bunny fence before that happens. I’m not holding out too much hope, though.

I don’t think we have had any strikes tonight quite as strong as the brightest one in this picture but in general this is about what life looks like around here. Flat with lots of light flashing in the clouds.

Photo by Amol Mande on Pexels.com

The last big storm we had back in June, one of the lightening strikes hit a transformer here in town and we were without power for a number of hours. I hear it was quite spectacular.

I’m pretty sure tonight’s storm won’t be like that.

It’s 1 AM, I’d better go have that sleep so I’ll be ready for whatever tomorrow holds. Got to be in good shape for that shot.

Later!

Read and enjoyed August 04, 2021

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Three books, enjoyed equally but they were all different. The only similarity between them, they were all Mysteries.

All of them displayed the characteristics I like best in a good mystery. They kept me guessing, clues were given out subtly, all through the story. The characters were interesting and well developed. The story moved along at a comfortable pace.

The third book was the one with a big difference and it was much appreciated in a last read. After the intensity of stress and intrigue in the first two mysteries it was a nice change of pace to have a bit of fun with a zany character or two. It did start off with the grizzly discovery of a dead body so it wasn’t all fun and games. The introduction of comic relief was a nice change of pace, though, sprinkled liberally through the story like it was.

All three authors are favorites too, guaranteeing these reads would be attractive.

Fatal Strike

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

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The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians Book #1)

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

When investigative reporter–and Finn’s boss’s sister–Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

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Deadman’s Float: A Cozy Culinary Mystery with an Adorable Dog, a Zany Ice Cream Lady, and an Unforgettable Ice Cream Truck (Crime à la Mode Mysteries Book 1)

USA Today bestselling author Christy Barritt takes readers to the mysterious, quirky island of Lantern Beach, North Carolina, in this charming cozy series!

It all started with a runaway dog.

Meet Serena Lavinia: part-time ice cream truck driver, part-time reporter, and full-time woman of mystery. She never expected to find a cute little terrier while on her morning ice cream route on the island of Lantern Beach. 

Nor did she expect the dog to be carrying a bloody shoe.

When a dead body is discovered floating in a nearby pool, Serena becomes fully immersed in her very own who-done-it. But her investigation hits a snag when a new foe arrives in town. Webster Newsome has been appointed the town’s new newspaper editor—a job Serena wanted—and the man is entirely too bossy.
As it becomes clear that Serena’s dog is somehow tied with the crime, Serena knows she must find the killer. She’ll take on whatever persona necessary to ensure answers are found, even if it means becoming Sherlock . . . Sherlock Cones.

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Currently, I’ve just started a speculative historical what if. What if history has it all wrong and she didn’t die after all? Wouldn’t that be a nice turn of events? I’ve barely started this story but the writing is interesting so far and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.

A Life Renewed: A Christian Mystery Romance (Secrets of the Queens Book 1) 

In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason.
But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived?

Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree with his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.

Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

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Happy Reading!