Month: November 2022

Bargain books November 29, 2022

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Short and sweet, this time of day. Besides my time was spent reading the four chapter sample. Now I must read the rest. It’s been seven years since the last read from this author. Too long.

1531 Entertainment brought this suggestion to us.

Desolate Escape: a clean romantic suspense novel (Jeopardized Reunions)

It was just a weekend reunion among old friends. How did it turn so deadly?

Dr. Lacey Elrod is the first-ever medical examiner for her hometown, a place that should be safe from serial killers. But when someone murders one of her high school best friends on the morning of the wedding of two other friends, Lacey must trust U.S. Fish and Wildlife Officer Matthew Flick, the man she left fourteen years ago, to keep her safe and help her find the Dunes Killer before he strikes again. After more murders among their friend group, Lacey and Matt suspect one of their old friends of being the Dunes Killer. But when that friend turns up dead too, they must work together to rid their town of the killer.

Can Matt move past his hurt with Lacey for how she handled their unwanted teenaged pregnancy and how it ruined his plans to go into the ministry? Will Lacey be able to forgive herself? Both struggle with their faith and with each other as they track the Dunes Killer before he succeeds at killing them.

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My current read is definitely enjoyable. The writing is good, the stories well thought out and engaging. Loving it. I’m finishing up book 3, one more book and then I can go back to today’s new book.

Destination Christmas (The Christmas Lights Collection)

Not Another Christmas by Jaycee Weaver

The palm trees and beaches of Florida are far from her chaotic family as Cindy Sinclair can get. Her anticipated promotion is the perfect excuse not to come home for the holidays… until she’s passed over and the job is given to none other than her childhood nemesis.

This far from New Mexico, Nick Hoover never imagined he’d beat Cindy out for a job. Again. He’s messed up her plans since the day they met, but this time, Nick is determined to prove he never wanted to be her enemy. If only she’ll let him.

When their reignited adolescent rivalry gets out of hand, their boss insists they both go home, face the hurts of their pasts, and bury the hatchet once and for all. With help from her meddling family, this could be the Christmas they quit clashing and give love a fighting chance.

The Hearts of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig

The only way not to break her best friend’s heart is to get someone else to steal it.

Jarod doesn’t need a month off and certainly not halfway across the country. His best friend doesn’t agree. She’s been researching places for him to go and has found him a perfect match on a dating website who just happens to live in New Cheltenham. It’s a match made online until she begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake trying to offload him on someone else.

A novella of love and friendship that defies a love triangle to interfere.

Destination Christmas offers a stress-free travel experience without traffic, delayed flights, or forgotten toothpaste. Instead, you’ll enjoy wonderful destinations, delightful new friends, and a heartwarming experience!

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If anything else shows up I’ll be back later.

Happy Reading

Bargain books November 28, 2022

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We have more exciting book suggestions today. Actually, a few were from yesterday but my email is wonky somehow and several did not show up in a timely manner. Better late than never though. Especially since they do have something we want.

BookRunes has the good suggestion for us this time. With an author is new to us. I’m loving her engaging writing style as I read through the sample. The last new author had a story line centered around big gang activity, it sounds like today’s story is in the same vein. Definitely a new twist compared to what we are used to seeing.

Withered Rose

What happens when a Christian woman and a mafia boss fall in love? Their passion breeds chaos.

Rosa and Amory have no business getting involved with one another but they also have no choice. Rosa is Amory’s captive bride, kidnapped and forced to marry him as payment for her brother’s debt. All she wants is to live a life free of crime and violence but now she’s shackled to the most dangerous man in New York City. Only God can help her now.

Meanwhile, Amory is looking forward to having a beautiful young bride. But Amory is a mafia underboss and Rosa is a Christian woman. Her faith is standing right between them, and he hates that. The sting of her refusal to marry him runs deep. But something in Amory feels drawn to Rosa, despite their differences.
Maybe she is the calm to his storm, maybe he is the chaos she secretly craves. Whatever the case, they’re in it together.

*****DISCLAIMER/WARNING*****

Withered Rose is a Christian story. There is no foul language and no graphic scenes of sex, violence, or gore. However, our characters are members of the mafia which may present an environment some readers consider triggering. Topics such as gang violence, abuse, and distribution of illegal substances will be introduced throughout the book.

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Searching for this book there were others by this author. One of them was also a bargain and looked interesting so I think we will go for it too. It is in the same series but set many years later and is a stand alone story. It will be safe to read it without reading the rest of the series first.

Fractured Diamond: A Christian Romantic Suspense Novel (Withered Rose) 

Christian Romantic Suspense
Standalone Novel

After a vicious attack leaves Brianna Gem paranoid, she decides to hire private security. Little does she know, the man she hires is none other than Bobby Ackard, her high school sweetheart.

It’s been six years since Bobby dumped Brianna—now he’ll be following her around everywhere she goes. Protecting her.

Neither Brianna nor Bobby are kids anymore, but Bobby’s still got those piercing blue eyes and that dangerous smile. Absolutely nothing about him has changed but everything is different about Bri—and how could it not be? The last time Brianna saw her ex, they were madly in love. Then she found herself suddenly abandoned and drowning in rumors about her boyfriend. He was at the center of a police investigation before he dumped her and vanished six years ago. Now he’s back, but with his arrival comes a new load of drama and mystery.

Is it possible that Bobby isn’t the man Brianna thought he was? Could he be tied to the dangerous gangs of New York? Did he have something to do with the attack that led to their reunion?

Maybe Bobby’s untimely return is just a chance encounter. It might even be a gift from God so they can finally clear the air. Brianna has been targeted more than once. Her life could very well be in danger and Bobby could be her saving grace. But as Brianna gets to know him again and begins to peel back the layers covering the secret of his disappearance six years ago, she starts to wonder if their connection is a coincidence or a curse.

Fractured Diamond is a standalone novel that takes place ten years after the Withered Rose trilogy. While some characters from its prequel series do make an appearance throughout the novel, the storyline is unrelated and can be enjoyed without reading Withered Rose.

***WARNING***
Due to gang-related activity, this book is recommended for adult readers

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There were other emails with suggestions but nothing showed up that could compare to the books we have already. Mostly same old same old.

I’ve read and enjoyed two books we downloaded the other day, with similar stories, and now I’m looking forward to the two new ones.

I’m also looking forward to book three in the first series to see how it all ends. Book 2 ended with a big cliff hanger.

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One thing that stood out starkly for me in the series was this: things that look exciting and pleasurable have an unexpected dark side.

There was a brothel connected to the gang’s very large drug operation. The women were beautiful. The men were distracted with unquenchable lust. They “loved” the same woman but weren’t necessarily aware of the truth of the situation. The unexpected dark side was jealousy, murder, and betrayal. They thought they had it all but there were no winners in this game.

A vivid portrayal of real life I’m thinking.

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Tough stuff but a good read none the less

Happy Reading y’all

Read and enjoyed, bargains November 27, 2022

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Truly unique. What a treat,

Involved in a gang but living on the right side of the law? This combination makes for a story like I’ve never read before. It was definitely interesting. I’m even going to buy the next two books in the series, it was that good. Besides, I need to know who the rat is and what comes next. This was a good introduction to an author we are seeing for the first time.

The Woof Pack

It’s just a regular evening when Iyana’s neighbors ask her to babysit their dog. Everything seems fine until two masked men enter the apartment without an invitation.
At first, Iyana thinks they’ve come to steal the dog—she’d heard of a string of break-ins in the community by a group called The Woof Pack. But when these thugs overpower her and drag her away, she realizes they’re not pup-loving enthusiasts at all.

A case of mistaken identity gets Iyana taken in by one of the deadliest gangs in New York. Now, she has seen their faces and has learned their names; even though they know they’ve got the wrong girl, they aren’t going to let her go.
Fortunately, Iyana is a smart woman. She strikes a deal with the leader of the gang … they’ll let her live as long as she makes herself useful. But Iyana is just a naive Christian girl babysitting an innocent pup. What can she offer the most dangerous man in the city?

She knows exactly what he wants. She can tell from the way he looks at her, the way his eyes linger when she catches him staring. But she’s not willing to give him that. Anything but that.
The Woof Pack have taken her hostage; they’ve taken her mind, body, and her will. But she won’t let them have her heart.

If only Vito Gerardo were that easy to resist.

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The Beta Rises (The Woof Pack Book 2)

Iyana found a way to survive in the ruthless NYC gang, the Woof Pack. She set aside her grief, her pain, and her fears—but she didn’t realize she’d traded her heart for all this. Vito Gerardo may not be the cruel man she thought he was at first, but she certainly didn’t think he was husband material. So when he drops to one knee, Iyana’s jaw drops with him.
Even though Vito’s changed, he’s still the King of BT. That means marrying him would make Iyana the Queen… While that might be a dream come true for some women, to Iyana, it seems like an unbearable burden.

Does she have what it takes to stand side by side with the Alpha? What will she have to sacrifice to call herself the Beta?
Living with mobsters, fighting a gang war, and desperately resisting the charm of a mafia boss—Iyana finds a way to keep her wits by drawing closer to God. He is her only hope in this dark and twisted world. She misses the days when things were simple; when her only prayer was a chance to escape. Now, there’s a storm swirling around her and if she isn’t careful, she won’t have to pray for an escape. She’ll be praying to survive the night.

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The Bite of the Alpha (The Woof Pack Book 3)

After suffering the betrayal of a loyal friend, Iyana must gather her strength and face the gang war head-on … And she must do it alone.
Vito isn’t ready for the war. The wounds in his heart run deep, leaving him drowning in a pool of grief. This is no longer a matter of winning or losing—or even living or dying. If Iyana doesn’t take a stand, she could lose her husband’s eternal salvation. She’s already sacrificed enough. Her life, her hopes, her dreams. Vito can’t take much more pain—The Woof Pack isn’t worth it. New York City isn’t worth it.
What is it to gain the world but to lose your own soul?
Iyana must face this question and decide what to do. She could let BT fall into chaos, losing everything but her very soul. Or she could fight for the organization Vito swore to protect and lose everything she holds dear.
Iyana is the Alpha now. It’s her turn to rule.

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Book one ended with a cliffhanger, of course I had to have the rest of the series. Good times.

Happy Reading y’all

This and that November 26, 2022

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Photo by Tomas Anunziata on Pexels.com

Do you ever wonder why some people are thinking that the world will soon be over populated and it will be a bad thing.

I think about it often and even more so lately. The other day someone, I think it was Bill Gates but I could be wrong, was talking about the current world population of 80 billion or so and how it’s imperative we get that down below that threshold if we want our world to survive.

I’m perplexed hearing people talk like this.

It doesn’t sound like we live in the same world. (Bill Gates and I)

The only reason I can see for someone thinking that way is if their only experience is big city living. Very big city living. If that’s the case they have a very narrow way of looking at things.

It’s true that cities in Asia and other similar parts of the world are greatly congested. It’s a challenge, driving erratically, bumper to bumper, taking your life in your hands every time you venture out.

Walking is not much better as everyone scurries about, shoulder to shoulder, narrowly missing collisions.

We hear stories of culture shock, experiencing Canada for the first time. Wide open lonely spaces everywhere. They miss the jostling crowds.

Yes, there are moments of great congestion and traffic jams here in our handful of big cities but that’s all they are, moments, not a way of life.

In Canada there are thousands of miles of lonely roads. Small towns (never mind big cities) are few and far between.

This big city (in the US is my guess) is not crazy.

Photo by Nikita Igonkin on Pexels.com

Travelling the lonely miles across Canada, gazing across acres and acres of uninhabited land it is impossible to fathom ever being over populated. With an abundance of flat empty land that could be turned into farm land it’s unfathomable to think there would ever be a day we couldn’t feed ourselves and other parts of the world too.

Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels.com

And Canada is not the only country with vast uninhabited areas. It’s a surprise to note that the USA has vast poorly populated areas too.

When we look closely we find that every single continent is the same. Vast underpopulated areas.

Even with the uninhabitable mountainous areas taken into account, there are still huge areas that could sustain thousand if not millions of new residents.

I think these people with wild ideas need to get out and experience the myriad of wide open spaces across the world and then try to tell us our world is in danger of being overpopulated. Not going to happen anytime soon, if they are honest.

This and that November 25, 2022

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Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

It’s Friday night and all is quiet on the western front, as they used to say. Probably because it is a holiday weekend in the US. There are reruns on the news videos, and not much showing up for books, or even blog posts for that matter.

Canada’s Thanksgiving was earlier in October so this is just a normal week for us.

It has been busy in my work space. There were government red-tape filing deadlines happening this month so the push was on to get it done. My part is finished and now there is just the paperwork cleanup, that will be a chore. It will be wonderful to have it done though.

So, I should have been here typing but I ended up finishing a book. It never fails, what was supposed to be a brief look always turns into so much more. Not that I’m sad about it or anything.

While I enjoyed the time spent reading, in some ways this book was hard to handle, especially in places, I’m never sure why that is exactly. Maybe it’s the voice of the story. Some books do that to me. I have to walk away at times, long enough for the emotions to even out so I can go back to it.

On the plus side though, what I loved most about the book was the construct of the story. I have not read another story that was framed the way this one was. It more than made up for the distressing tense moments.

There were red herrings and the ending was definitely a surprise. But not a shock. Between that and the great characters it was a good read.

I would happily recommend this to mystery lovers anywhere.

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Sarah: Cold Case Murder Mystery Series

Investigating cold case murders comes with a deadly price…

After a life-threatening home invasion, Ava Montgomery refuses to let her fear stop her from investigating cold case murders and she throws herself back into work.

Her next case: the murder of fifteen-year-old, Sarah Lewis.

This time, Ava has a connection to the case, a boy she grew up with: Elite performer and Olympic athlete, Jaxson Wells. Handsome, successful, and currently the lead suspect.

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Book two in this series is next on the list (latest download) but I think for a new read I will start a book that was suggested several days ago and I noticed it came up again today. I think it is still a bargain too if you are interested.

Turbulence (A Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense Novel Book 5)

Facing doubts and terror at forty thousand feet …

Kennedy can’t wait to spend winter break in Alaska. Unfortunately, her vacation might end up cut short before her plane ever lands. As terror unfolds in the air, Kennedy stops worrying about reaching her destination. For now, her biggest challenge is just to stay alive

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I’m ready to flop on the couch and check out this new read. If I can manage to stay awake long enough. Relaxed and warm is a recipe for sleep.

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I stared to say. . .

Have a good weekend.

Then I wanted to say remember even crappy weekends have bright spots in them but I thought I should find a less offensive word to use. I figured I would google the word looking for better sounding synonyms. I had to laugh at what instantly came up.

Crappy Tire. That’s what we loving use referring to Canadian Tire. An everything kind of hardware store that we love to mock. It was a shock to see it at # 1 spot in the search engine. Too funny.

A fun way to end the post. A good laugh.

Happy Reading y’all.

Current read November 24, 2022

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Good evening one and all. This has been a quiet day as far as books go. There were a few suggestions earlier but they were repeats of recent books mentioned on other sites. I read a couple of books while waiting for the sun to move past my work computer this morning. They were written in such a way that it was possible to jump ahead every two or three chapters and still know what was going on. They are the good kind of reads to have every now and then, keep things moving a long.

I started a new book tonight and it doesn’t look like it will be the type to let me get away with that kind of behavior. It’s shaping up to be a good read. It doesn’t have the same old same old vibe going on either. I have to say I’m enjoying that aspect.

Wow, this one didn’t stay at the bargain price for very long. Jump on them quick is my motto. It isn’t too bad a price even at this though, could be much higher.

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Sarah: Cold Case Murder Mystery Series

Investigating cold case murders comes with a deadly price…

After a life-threatening home invasion, Ava Montgomery refuses to let her fear stop her from investigating cold case murders and she throws herself back into work.

Her next case: the murder of fifteen-year-old, Sarah Lewis.

This time, Ava has a connection to the case, a boy she grew up with: Elite performer and Olympic athlete, Jaxson Wells. Handsome, successful, and currently the lead suspect.

But is the man she once attended Bible study with capable of killing? The more time she spends with him, the more her gut tells her he is innocent.

But if Jax didn’t kill Sarah, then who did?

Can Ava and Jax uncover the killer’s identity before she becomes their next victim?

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And now back to the book.

Browsing hasn’t produced anything interesting this time either but tomorrow is another day. Never give up hope.

Happy reading y’all

Firefly Cove – a book review November 23, 2022

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Firefly Cove (Miramar Bay Book 2)  by Davis Bunn

I cried and still want to, although with time the need is finally fading. The book ended. Intensely bitter sweet.

Honestly, the story brought me to tears a number of times, I would dare you to read it and not cry too. It can’t be done. Really.

Davis Bunn understands on a deep level the way we as people behave in complex situations, which I find amazing.

I think it’s amazing because not many authors are able to do and do it so very well. Charles Martin is the other name that springs to mind when I read a book like this. He has the same deep understanding of human nature.

In both cases their characters are believable, the stories are rich, and every word must be read or we will miss important threads in the story.

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This is a story of the unexpected, a story of second chances, a story of mind bending situations.

Anything could be possible, right?

The impossible starts this way . . .

Luke has been attempting suicide, four times. This time it works. A neighbor notices something is not right and intervenes calling for an ambulance, but it’s too late.

Then there is an issue with getting a pick up from the morgue so it’s decided to place him in the basement of the hospital while they are waiting.

Before they leave him Luke moves and wakes up to a cold room with a sheet over his head. It’s a harrowing experience. As could be expected, things don’t go well and he ends up totally restrained in a hospital bed. With burly guards, nurses, a doctor, and his therapists all surrounding him.

It seems he’s lost his memory because he has no idea about this person they think they are talking to.

Here is some back story.

Since the age of seven, Lucius Quarterfield has known he is dying. Doctors told him he had a “bad ticker” and might not live to see his next birthday. But somehow, the frail yet determined boy managed to hang on and surprise everyone. Lucius not only survived to adulthood, he thrived, turning a small car dealership into a successful chain. But now, at twenty-eight, his time is finally running out. So he’s returning to the one place he ever felt happy, near the only woman he ever truly wanted—the California seaside town of Miramar Bay…
 
Jessica was the only daughter of the only dentist in town. She was able to follow in her father’s footsteps, as he desired. But Jessica preferred the simple things in life—a trait that captivated Lucius from the moment he arrived in town. Her quick wit and carefree approach to life were a breath of fresh air to a man who devoted all his time to work. Soon they were falling head over heels—until Lucius pulled away, to spare her the pain of his inevitable fate.

Now, after all this time, he’s going to make each moment count. Because he knows that everything is about to change…he just can’t know exactly how.

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I loved this 5 star book and I highly recommend it if you are a fan of these kinds of stories. The genre is listed as romance but it is so much more than that. Love it.

You won’t know how good it is until you get into it.

Happy Reading.

Bargain books November 22, 2022

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Good morning on this beautiful sunny day. We have a book suggestion, or two, that looks very interesting, it is from 1531 Entertainment. They have the best track record so far for having good suggestions and we appreciate it a great deal.

We’ve seen many books from this author and it’s good to see more. Here is today’s suggestion.

Turbulence (A Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense Novel Book 5)

Facing doubts and terror at forty thousand feet …

Kennedy can’t wait to spend winter break in Alaska. Unfortunately, her vacation might end up cut short before her plane ever lands.

As terror unfolds in the air, Kennedy stops worrying about reaching her destination. For now, her biggest challenge is just to stay alive …

As gripping, thrilling, and unforgettable as always, Turbulence is book 5 in the bestselling Christian suspense series readers can’t put down.

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Another series has a bargain box set available. Books 1 – 3. We had this set two years ago and I’ve read and enjoyed it.

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

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

Real faith meets real suspense in these 3 thrilling novels you can’t put down!

Find out why Christian fiction readers are racing headfirst into the depths of rural Alaska, where unforgettable characters face unimaginable dangers. These believers will risk everything to save the ones they love:

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.

If you like determined characters, faith-based suspense, and heart-stopping action, then you’ll love these riveting novels from bestselling Christian novelist Alana Terry.

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One more bargain appeared as I browsed the suggestion strips. Complete change of subject. A four book box set.

Destination Christmas (The Christmas Lights Collection)

♥ This Christmas, pack your bags for a holiday away from home. ♥

Join the Christmas Lights Collection authors as we travel to Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and New Cheltenham for warm and wonderful stories of love and Christmas cheer.

Kiss Me on Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Single mom Kaitlyn Stafford has never considered Christmas a balancing act, but when her sister calls with the news that she’s getting married in less than two weeks—on Christmas Day—that’s exactly what the holiday looks like becoming. Helping with the out-of-state wedding will be fun. The challenge will be doing so while accommodating her neurodivergent son’s need to keep every single one of their Christmas traditions while they’re away from home. It’ll be tricky, but she can do it.

At least, that’s what she thinks before her son’s favorite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, shows up on the scene, knocking her world off-kilter with his speaking glances and knowing smiles. How on earth is she supposed to pull off her balancing act when her world’s just tilted on its axis?

Christmas Camp by Cathe Swanson

Julia is eager to prove herself in her first job as project manager for the family’s charitable foundation, but she expected it to be something more meaningful than creating a winter wonderland Christmas vacation for snow-deprived southerners. Why is this project so important to her grandmother?

Tom doesn’t understand why anyone would want to renovate his uncle’s broken-down Wisconsin deer camp, either, but if it will save the old man’s home and business, he’ll help the ambitious city girl put together the most cliché-filled Christmas ever.

Not Another Christmas by Jaycee Weaver

The palm trees and beaches of Florida are far from her chaotic family as Cindy Sinclair can get. Her anticipated promotion is the perfect excuse not to come home for the holidays… until she’s passed over and the job is given to none other than her childhood nemesis.

This far from New Mexico, Nick Hoover never imagined he’d beat Cindy out for a job. Again. He’s messed up her plans since the day they met, but this time, Nick is determined to prove he never wanted to be her enemy. If only she’ll let him.

When their reignited adolescent rivalry gets out of hand, their boss insists they both go home, face the hurts of their pasts, and bury the hatchet once and for all. With help from her meddling family, this could be the Christmas they quit clashing and give love a fighting chance.

The Hearts of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig

The only way not to break her best friend’s heart is to get someone else to steal it.

Jarod doesn’t need a month off and certainly not halfway across the country. His best friend doesn’t agree. She’s been researching places for him to go and has found him a perfect match on a dating website who just happens to live in New Cheltenham. It’s a match made online until she begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake trying to offload him on someone else.

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Free and bargain books November 21, 2022

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BookBub has a Free suggestion by an author new to me. Interesting, I’m going for it.

Sarah: Cold Case Murder Mystery Series

Investigating cold case murders comes with a deadly price…

After a life-threatening home invasion, Ava Montgomery refuses to let her fear stop her from investigating cold case murders and she throws herself back into work.

Her next case: the murder of fifteen-year-old, Sarah Lewis.

This time, Ava has a connection to the case, a boy she grew up with: Elite performer and Olympic athlete, Jaxson Wells. Handsome, successful, and currently the lead suspect.

But is the man she once attended Bible study with capable of killing? The more time she spends with him, the more her gut tells her he is innocent.

But if Jax didn’t kill Sarah, then who did?

Can Ava and Jax uncover the killer’s identity before she becomes their next victim?

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While I was looking at Sarah, a new Christy Barritt mystery showed up. So glad I noticed.

High Stakes Deception (Vanishing Ranch Book 6) 

Former Texas Ranger and rodeo champion Ainsley Tatum will do whatever is necessary to figure out the truth surrounding her brother’s death in a terrorist bombing fifteen years ago. When her boss at Vanishing Ranch hands her the opportunity to find answers, Ainsley is all in—except for one caveat.

In order to discover the truth without raising suspicions, Ainsley has to go undercover, pretending to be newly married to the man who once broke her heart.

Carter Winslow knows his father’s fatal car crash was no accident. When he agrees to work with Vanishing Ranch to find answers, he never imagines what’s in store for him. Pretending to be married might not be so bad . . . if his fake bride didn’t despise him.

With thousands of lives potentially on the line, Ainsley and Carter must find a way to get past their differences and pull off the biggest charade of their lives. But when the deception around them deepens, the stakes grow higher and more dangerous than either could have imagined.

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This is a had-to-have, it’s not much of a bargain, which is what I’m usually looking for but it is still better than full price (price is the guideline to keep my buying under control, some people gamble, I buy books, what can I say) (it is possible to find great bargains on awesome books) Anyway I have books 1 – 6 in this series, all except for book two. A few days ago I read and loved book 6 and now I must read book 2, the blurb has me hooked. That and Mr. Bunn has a gift for creating characters that are deeply emotional and real. Enticing enough to keep me reading all night. Not tonight though.

Firefly Cove (Miramar Bay Book 2)

A dying man hopes for a second chance with the woman he loves in this novel for fans of Nicholas Sparks.
 
Since the age of seven, Lucius Quarterfield has known he is dying. Doctors told him he had a “bad ticker” and might not live to see his next birthday. But somehow, the frail yet determined boy managed to hang on and surprise everyone. Lucius not only survived to adulthood, he thrived, turning a small car dealership into a successful chain. But now, at twenty-eight, his time is finally running out. So he’s returning to the one place he ever felt happy, near the only woman he ever truly wanted—the California seaside town of Miramar Bay…
 
Jessica was the only daughter of the only dentist in town. She was able to follow in her father’s footsteps, as he desired. But Jessica preferred the simple things in life—a trait that captivated Lucius from the moment he arrived in town. Her quick wit and carefree approach to life were a breath of fresh air to a man who devoted all his time to work. Soon they were falling head over heels—until Lucius pulled away, to spare her the pain of his inevitable fate. Now, after all this time, he’s going to make each moment count. Because he knows that everything is about to change…he just can’t know exactly how.

“In Bunn’s emotional novel, readers will be…swept away by Lucius’s and Jessica’s love story.”—Publishers Weekly

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It has been an unexpectedly good book day. What a gift.

Happy Reading.

PTSD Conversation. November 21, 2022

/ For the Love of Books / 4 Comments

Our body remembers and keeps track. This is a recently acquired piece of information that explains a whole lot of things for me.

Memory suppression is a coping mechanism our minds will use to help us survive life. That has been the truth of my formative years. I have to be intentional about allowing snippets of information to settle in my mind long enough to consider what they might mean. Doing this has been an enlightening experience and explained may things, but it didn’t start happening until I was willing to allow my mind to dwell on the visiting thoughts.

For many decades I refused to entertain the idea of abuse precisely because I had no concrete memories. I suspected but wouldn’t make an accusation I couldn’t prove. A decade or so ago my brother forced me to admit it was true. He used persuasive force so it was all good. I think he remembers more than he was willing to admit. His assertion came out of nowhere although I think he must have been thinking about it for quite some time. It was like he was on a mission to finally talk about it and now was the time.

So back to the body remembering thought. . . It’s kind of funny when I think about it because I have been on a quest for emotional healing for many decades. That would be proof of the body remembers where my mind doesn’t. Subconsciously I knew I had a deep need for healing in my life and over the years I’ve been driven to pursue it relentlessly. The motivation was I want to be well.

It’s something how books, conversations, lectures, stories, all sorts of things, cross my path just when I need them.

Like I said the body remembers concept showed up in the last year or so and it was so helpful. I had been paying attention before but now I was more intentional. Besides noticing physical responses, fight or flight, I started thinking more deeply about the reasons and implications of those reactions. I’ve known forever than I don’t have normal reactions or even interpretations to words or situations, but I want to.

The latest idea for me to explore builds on the last one. Your body remembers and is convinced that danger still exists and raises the alarm to protect you. That’s why we are triggered by anything remotely resembling past dangerous situations. I have many triggers and have yet to figure out what is behind most of them. There are so many because the worst of the abuse stretched over a decade and on top of that there were multiple people involved as well as multiple types of abuse. Both emotional and physical. Then there is the complication that the emotional abuse continued on much longer than a decade.

The idea today was that, to get past these reactions we have to face our triggers/fears, convince our internal memory that all is well and the danger is past. And mostly it is, that’s true.

For a while I have been thinking about changing thought patterns by laying down new memories over the old. Creating new neural pathways. I’ve been thinking about facing and figuring out what caused the triggers in order to understand the why of the triggers, by knowing what happened to me. Understanding what is behind the triggers helps us chase away the proverbial bogey man hiding under the bed or in the closet.

I can see now that finding a way to convince my body that the danger is past and I’m safe, is badly needed.

Easier said than done. But worth a try.

Today’s moment of revelation came in the form of a podcast. It was a valuable conversation between professionals, a clinical psychologist and a popular guest with several degrees in the mental health field. These two come at the conversation from different perspectives and it has given me food for thought that will be around for some time to come.

One more much needed building block on the journey.

Here is the link. They had so much more to say that is worth hearing.

https://youtu.be/B_373YVlnDA

Among many others they talked about answering the question – What do you want? a serious question that most of us cannot articulate. Possibly because no one has ever asked us that question. At least not in a serious, really wanting to know, kind of way. It’s usually more like – what do You want? That’s the first thought that popped into my head as I wrote the first question. Sad. Probably heard that version a lot as a kid.

I have to say they covered a lot of ground in the hour long podcast.

Anyway, their enlightening conversation was definitely worth the time.

Until next time

Hope this makes sense, didn’t leave enough time for needed rewrites.