Everything on this list was a winner. Every single one of them kept me reading much longer than intended and planned tasks were sorely neglected and most did not even happen. The positive effect on my emotional state though was more than worth it. My attitude about life at the moment is upbeat and I’m grateful. Inspired even.

My absolute favorite was this first one. The synopsis didn’t do it justice. It wasn’t until I was immersed in the story that I realized what a treasure I’d found.

Living Lies (Harbored Secrets Book #1)

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name–but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.

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The next favorite read was possibly the last book in the author’s latest series, although I’m not clear on that point. There are new books being released every few months it seems. The next book was mentioned at the end of this one and I can hardly wait to see what it will be like.

Deadly Intent (Vanishing Ranch Book 4)

Sarah Chamberlain enjoys a new life far away from her abusive ex-husband, thanks to help from Vanishing Ranch. But when she starts to have unexplained, dangerous episodes and suffer memory lapses, she begins to doubt her reality.

She senses her ex has found her. But she doesn’t know if the problem is real or if her mind is playing tricks on her. She can’t contact the police—they would ask too many questions. So, she turns to the very people she knows can help her.

When former Secret Service agent and Vanishing Ranch operative Ruger Stark is assigned to check in on Sarah, he comes determined to find what exactly has her so spooked. But when he arrives at her lakefront home, he realizes he has much more to handle than a typical protection detail.

Ruger and Sarah must stick together to sort through the lies and uncover the truth. Is Sarah drowning in confusion. Or is someone playing a deadly game?

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This one was a great experience and I’d like to read more from this author. Life for Delilah seems bleak until the unexpected shows up.

Appalachian Serenade (Appalachian Blessings): A Novella 

Delilah Morrissey has always wanted to be a mother, but when she becomes a young widow, that dream now seems farther away than ever. Unable to continue to live alone in Chicago, her only option is to accept her sister’s offer to move in with her family back in West Virginia. Will Delilah have the faith to pursue a new dream–even if it means giving up the old?

In this charming novella, debut novelist Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces readers to Wise, West Virginia–a small town nestled in an Appalachian valley where the everyday miracles of life and faith play out in stories of healing, hope, and love.

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Last but not least, was a tale that still has me smiling. Hector was quite the character and Amanda knew just how to handle him. The deep connection formed between them was an unexpected blessing.

Carry Me Home (New England Inspirations Book 2) 

Unlikely friends…

... can be the hardest to let go.

Amanda became a nurse to save as many lives as possible.
After her mother died while being swindled by a church leader, Amanda swore off religion and turned to medical science to solve all of life’s problems.
But when she loses her home and job, and struggles to make a new life in a new town, Amanda’s feeble beliefs can’t withstand the pressure.

Hector’s work on earth is done.
He spent 92 years living, and now he’s ready to spend eternity with his late wife in heaven.
But when a foolish accident lands him in the hospital, he’s saddled with a home nurse who wants to keep Hector alive as long as possible, much to his dismay.
When Amanda meets Hector, their personalities clash, but as they learn to open their hearts and listen to each other, they grow to realize the value of true friendship.

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It has been a good weekend for reading… and the day is not over.

The next read is still to be determined, and another bargain has been stumbled upon. I will check that out and share it and maybe the new read in the next post

Oops. There is one more excellent read that I forgot about.

A Flicker of Light 

Secrets are like pennies. Everybody’s got one, even the poorest among us.

For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told.

When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she’s pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she’s forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that’s going on.

Mitch Jensen is thrilled to have a full house again, though he’s unimpressed with Bea’s decisions: dropping out of college, marrying so young–and to an idealistic city kid, of all things. Mitch hopes to convince Bea to return to the path he’s always envisioned for her, but she’s changed since her mom died. And he refuses to admit how much he’s changed, too, especially now that he might be losing his mother as well.

Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there’s one she’s never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same.

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Happy Reading y’all