Good morning! What are the chances! We have good book suggestions today from two sources and – wouldn’t you know – they are the same. It is usual for them to mention the same book, just not on the same day.
I’ve read the long sample and now I have to read the rest. A nice problem to have in my estimation.
Come Next Winter: An Inspirational Romance (Seasons of Change Book 1)
Can love triumph over tragedy and bring joy amid winter?
When unexpected tragedy hits her family, Carol Mason struggles to forge a new life for herself and her sons. Though Vermont has been their home for twenty years, betrayal and misunderstanding force Carol to leave the mountains she loves and return to her hometown of Apache Pointe, Arizona. There she is welcomed by scorching heat, lizards, scorpions, and (gulp) Aunt Penny. Carol finds a sympathetic friend in her cousin Millie as she does her best to put the pieces of her shattered life back together. But her prayers for guidance and a decent place to live away from Aunt Penny’s disapproving eye go unanswered. Has God turned a deaf ear to her just when she needs Him the most?
The answer might be found in the handsome pastor of her family’s church. Frank is everything she would look for in a spouse. If she were looking. Which she is not. Especially when she discovers that Cousin Millie has set her hopes on becoming the pastor’s next wife. Aunt Penny’s outrageous attempts to ensure that Millie wins Frank’s heart bring Carol’s past crashing into her present, and might destroy any chance she has at a happy future.
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I think the main draw of this book is that it is well written. I could be wrong but I’m thinking that any story could be interesting if it is well written.
Hmmm. This bears thinking about. This is a new thought, one I haven’t considered from all angles. It sounds like it could be true.
You know the old line, he could sell _____ to a ______. Fill in the blanks with your favorite example of impossible sells. He’s basically selling a story, a well told, convincing story. If such a thing is possible then well written should equal awesome no matter what the story line.
This would be an interesting challenge. Take a boring concept and write a story that people want to read. Prove the point if it can be done.
Maybe well written is relative. It is possible there are works that could be considered well written while they are totally boring.
But then boring could also be considered relative. There is no accounting for taste. What is fascinating to one can be deadly boring to another. How often do you want to read a 1000 page tome on the characteristics of some totally obscure microscopic topic? A few of you will say pretty often.
Maybe it’s fair to say that well written can make any subject/idea/story fascinating to someone somewhere.
I’m needing to camp on this thought for a bit.
I’ll be back with more bargains if I see any pop up later.
Well that bargain didn’t last long. It seems we have to hurry if we want the good deals. But enough of that.
There are many things about this book that I loved. There was one thing in particular, though. Read on to see what that was.
Romeo’s Way (Mike Romeo Thrillers Book 2)
Mike Romeo had a difficult life as a kid. Bullied, not fitting in, misunderstood, neglected at home, he had to find ways of coping to survive. He started life as an overweight kid, that was bad enough but attending university as a young teen was no picnic and his out in both cases was books.
A kind soul took pity on him as he grew older and taught him to box. Well enough to hold undefeated titles. As an adult he was a powerhouse with an arsenal of moves that made him a formidable opponent. That coupled with his vast reading and wicked sense of humor, he was amazing.
That’s what I loved most about him, his sense of humor. His opponents were either impressed or confounded with the flow of pithy quotes. Most of the time words did the job leaving no need for physical altercations.
He wasn’t a fun kind of guy though, life had taught him enough hard lessons that he would never be the life of the party. He was more apt to be a runner when things were uncomfortable. The definition for uncomfortable was relative. It didn’t take much for him to decide to move on. He had friends who disagreed and wanted him to stay.
All of the characters had depth but Mike Romeo was by far my favorite, just as the author intended.
I loved the way the story played out and the way it ended.
This was a Five star read, definitely.
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Book description from Amazon…
“I don’t want anybody bleeding to death, okay?” I said. “I think your problem is education. There’s just no discipline anymore. You have to know there are consequences for bad behavior. Without that, society falls apart.” Baton Guy croaked, “I can’t breathe.” “You just can’t go around doing this sort of thing,” I said. “It isn’t right. Now, one of you is bleeding pretty badly and won’t be riding a bike anytime soon. The other one still needs to learn, am I right?” “Don’t kill us,” Knife Guy said.
Mike Romeo, the former cage fighter living low in L.A., doesn’t look for trouble. He doesn’t have to. It comes after him. So when he’s hired by a California senatorial campaign to do undercover work, Romeo doesn’t have any illusions. Especially when his duty takes him to San Francisco.
But as Romeo gets closer to solving the mystery of who is behind the hit job on an honorable man, things heat up in the City by the Bay –– and between Mike and a beautiful political operative. Until a bullet nearly takes him out for good.
Now all bets are off. Because if there’s one thing Romeo wants, it’s justice. And he’s going to get it––his way.
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I guess the synopsis was going for no spoilers and in my mind that’s why it didn’t do this book the justice it deserved. The reading experience was so much better than the book description led me to believe it would be.
This book is definitely on my top five list. Although 5 is too small for the number of books read that should be on my top five list. Maybe I will make it a fat five so more will fit. I’d have to read fewer books for there to be a smaller number of top five books, so we have to be creative.
A new-to-me author is first up today. The usual suggestion emails didn’t hold anything worthwhile (from my point of view) but at least they were a good jumping off place. This new book starts off well and I want to see where it all goes from here.
A Deep Divide (Secrets of the Canyon Book #1)
With her past behind her, she has nothing–and everything–to lose.
After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it. When she discovers her father has offered her up as a bargaining chip to expand his empire, she disappears into the night. Determined to stay hidden, even if it means always looking over her shoulder, she finds herself working as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel.
When Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel on business, he is immediately captivated by the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Though his fame-seeking father aims to lure new investors to the Arizona Territory, Ray dreams of one day taking over the family business and doing good with the profits.
Ray immediately admires Emma Grace, and though an attraction begins to form, she can’t let go of the deep-rooted fear that he’s just like every other wealthy man she’s known. When suspicious activity follows Emma Grace and Ray to the El Tovar, they are pulled into a mystery that stirs up their worst fears. And as shocking revelations come to light, they are left to question all they thought to be true.
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This next one is from a three book series where we downloaded and enjoyed the first books two earlier this year. Happily, all three are at a bargain price today.
Northern Protector (Heroes of the Tundra Book 3)
Constable Ben Koper is still healing from the bear attack that almost killed him. Nine months after it happened, he returns to Churchill, Manitoba, a changed man—scarred more than just physically. PTSD is his new shadow, haunting his every step, and he can’t seem to kick the pain meds he shouldn’t need anymore. He’s determined to prove, to himself and his colleagues, that he’s still up to his job. Failure isn’t an option.
ER nurse Joy Gallagher spent the entire last winter texting with a healing Constable Koper. What started as friendly concern from this single mother has grown into full-fledged romantic feelings, and she’s eager to level up their friendship and introduce him to the idyllic comfort of small-town life. Until a teenager is murdered at a summer party. The crime is strikingly similar to the cold case murder of Joy’s foster sister, stirring old trauma Joy has never fully dealt with.
When another victim is snatched in town, Ben and Joy must confront their own demons, and join forces to track down an elusive killer. The race to rescue the next victim before it’s too late will test Ben and Joy to their limits. Can they survive their encounter with this heinous killer, or will the past destroy them.?
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This looks interesting. It’s another new-to-me author. A short book with an enticing opening chapter. I’m hooked, needing to know some things, although the book description does answer a number of them.
It’s not a stand alone novel so we won’t know the final outcome but at least it will be an introduction to the author, so there is that.
Second Chance Love: A Christian Clean Romance Novel (The Grand Bay Series Book 1)
Second Chance Love is Book 1 where Tracy Moore must endure one of her life’s greatest challenges when participating with her ex-fiancé, Paul, at her sister’s wedding.
Stuck with Paul for several days on a beautiful tropical island, Tracy struggles over old feelings for her ex-fiancé while doubts about her relationship with her current boyfriend Joseph creep to the surface.
But fate puts her present romance to the test when she and Paul are injured in a disastrous car accident, and Paul must abandon Tracy with her critical injuries to find help.
Paul Myers is the best man for his brother Kenneth’s wedding. But when he discovers he must interact with his ex-fiancé on an intimate tropical trip, he’s not sure he can suppress his intense feelings of love for her.
When an unfortunate accident causes them to become stranded on a deserted part of the island, Paul’s love for Tracy is put to the test. Can he find life-saving help for Tracy in time so they can have a second chance at love? Or will Paul fail to find a rescue team and lose the love of his life?
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In the end it has been an interesting book day, punctuated by an interesting YouTube podcast day. It’s so easy to get caught up in spending way too much time to the detriment of other planned activities. Namely focusing on finishing one book and starting another.
Watching YouTube does not, for the most part, contribute to my blog posts.
I’m feeling strongly about an argument happening just now in an interview. I’m dying to say my piece but the comments on that video have been turned off. I can see why, there were probably enough of them to crash the site.
I’m tempted to say my piece here but it is a hot button topic and I don’t want to start something I’m not well prepared for, something that could blow up on us. Maybe tomorrow if I’m still feeling strongly about the topic.
I can see both sides but in my mind each one is viewing the phrase from a different perspective. One is negative and wrong while the other is benevolent and responsible.
At the altar, she is not your’s to become property, a slave to own. She becomes your responsibility to love, cherish, protect, provide. Her father has provided all of that for her (in a perfect world) and, symbolically, he is handing off his responsibility to you, the groom.
That’s the short part of the conversation in my head. There is so much more to be said (that is highly positive.) Maybe it will come together for a future post.
For now. . . ownership and responsibility are two vastly different realities. One is onerous and the other can be heavenly.
Unfortunately some men do consider their bride as property and some don’t but don’t embrace responsibility either. Sadly, taking responsibility in this day and age is not something that comes naturally in many situations. Too bad, because if done for the right reasons it is a tree that will bear much good fruit.
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I feel a little better now but not completely done with the topic.
Back to books anyway. Need to read, that was today’s goal..
The very first book I’m going to download is book 2 in the current series I’m reading. Book 1 was that good. I’m hoping book 2 will deliver just as well, my expectations are high.
The Best-Left Questions: Love Across Londons Book Two
The stakes increase and the intrigue deepens as Charles and Tori journey across Londons.
Finalist in the 2017 Chatelaine International Writing Competition
After returning to London in 2014, Charles Stratford finds himself in need of a job – and answers to questions he’d rather not ask.
Spurred by Tori’s irrepressible spirit, Charles agrees to go in search of another hidden treasure, the Firestorm Amber of Brighton. Guided by clues from his father’s journal, Charles and Victoria are confronted by old foes and new friends when they travel to 1666, the year of the Great Fire of London.
But their most loyal protector may turn out to be the one man Charles cannot forgive.
From present-day London to eighteenth-century Westminster, The Best-Left Questions continues the romantic adventures of Charles Stratford and Victoria Smith. It is the second book in the Love Across Londons series which should be read in order.
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Two things I loved most about book 1 – it was well written, and original. I think well-written says it all.
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1531 Entertainment has several suggestions for us as well. This first one, I’m on his mailing list for aspiring writers. I’m not one of them but I like learning things. I have read one or two of his many successful books, a number of decades ago, so this read will be a good catch-up experience for me.
Dead Sea Conspiracy: A Novel
In this thrilling adventure, archaeologist Nicole Berman is about to discover the key to unifying three major religions—if a dangerous enemy doesn’t stop her first.
ArchaeologistNicole Berman is the first woman to be awarded a permit to lead a dig in Saudi Arabia. Nicole believes what she hopes to discover has the power to to rewrite world history. She assembles a team that will ultimately surprise – and in some cases – betray her.
In a parallel storyline, readers are launched back to ancient Ur where young Abram is sent to learn from his forebears, who tell him firsthand stories of being on the ark during the Great Flood.
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The second suggestion is another novel from one of our regular authors.
How Her Ex Stole Christmas
The countdown to disaster is on, and time is running out . . .
Event planner Kaylee St. James didn’t expect to see her ex-fiancé again after he broke her heart. Especially not now . . . two days before their canceled wedding. But when Ethan Sloan waltzes into her premier Christmas party—uninvited—with danger close on his heels, she realizes there’s much more to Ethan than she ever knew.
Ethan, a CIA operative, must keep dangerous information out of the wrong hands or people will die. He found the perfect hiding place, but he’ll need Kaylee’s help to retrieve the classified intel. Unfortunately, his jilted bride-to-be isn’t in the mood to talk, much less cooperate.
When Kaylee is swept into the middle of the ensuing chaos, she soon learns that danger is closer than she could ever imagine. Will her Christmas be totally ruined—if she even survives? Or is it possible that Ethan might not only save Christmas . . . but also save Kaylee?
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This last one showed up in one of the many suggestion strips. It turns out I have read book 1 in this series, back in 2018. It’s been a while and I can’t say that I remember much about the experience. I’m looking forward to rediscovering this author.
Romeo’s Way (Mike Romeo Thrillers Book 2)
“I don’t want anybody bleeding to death, okay?” I said. “I think your problem is education. There’s just no discipline anymore. You have to know there are consequences for bad behavior. Without that, society falls apart.” Baton Guy croaked, “I can’t breathe.” “You just can’t go around doing this sort of thing,” I said. “It isn’t right. Now, one of you is bleeding pretty badly and won’t be riding a bike anytime soon. The other one still needs to learn, am I right?” “Don’t kill us,” Knife Guy said.
Mike Romeo, the former cage fighter living low in L.A., doesn’t look for trouble. He doesn’t have to. It comes after him. So when he’s hired by a California senatorial campaign to do undercover work, Romeo doesn’t have any illusions. Especially when his duty takes him to San Francisco.
But as Romeo gets closer to solving the mystery of who is behind the hit job on an honorable man, things heat up in the City by the Bay –– and between Mike and a beautiful political operative. Until a bullet nearly takes him out for good.
Now all bets are off. Because if there’s one thing Romeo wants, it’s justice. And he’s going to get it––his way.
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Four new books is a good day. A very good day, I’d say.
I hope you are enjoying this good-for-reading winter season too.
Christmas is a huge family time for us and it was especially nice this year with more of the family than usual able to be together. I know we will remember this special time for many years to come.
I am excited to be stocked up on new jigsaw puzzles and I’m looking forward to a new coffee flavor to enjoy along with them
The most important part of the season for us, though, was remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus, The son of God. For years he has been an important part of our daily lives and we couldn’t handle the ups and downs of life without him. Even more importantly he didn’t come to earth to be there for a few of us, he came to be there for as many as want him to care about them. I’m grateful that he is as close as a whisper and he hears my heart even when I can’t find the words to express it.
After two nights away I need some sleep. An unfamiliar bed doesn’t make for a restful sleep, although a busy mind caused most of the problems, It’s good to be home.
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I think we need a picture to brighten this space up a little so I will share my current read. It is time travel London England 1854 to London 2014, incredibly different times to be living.
He ends up in 2014 unable to comprehend the drastic changes of 160 years. Three days later they both inadvertently end up back in 1854 where cultural norms create havoc for the uninitiated, which describes her perfectly.
There is so much more to be said but I don’t want to give too much away and spoil it for you.
This well written book is a joy to read and I can hardly wait to see how it all turns out. That’s if they survive the evil people following them around. It’s unclear what the intent is but it’s evident that loss of life is part of the plan.
The Never List: Love Across Londons Book One
Victoria Smith’s life seems dreary until someone knocks on a sealed door inside her London bookshop. When Tori discovers it’s not a ghost but a journalist from 1854, she accidentally strands him in 2014. Intrigued by the dapper and crusading Charles Stratford, Tori offers to help him locate a pendant that will reopen the door to his century. Even when their treasure hunt across London turns dangerous, Tori finds herself wishing that Charles could stay. But after losing her family a decade before, can Tori risk loving someone again, especially a man from 1854?
Lured into the future by a mysterious pendant, Charles Stratford must track down its counterpart to unlock the door between Londons. When the winsome Victoria Smith volunteers to join his search, Charles becomes smitten with the intrepid bookseller. He also uncovers an ancient struggle between two underground societies and becomes entangled in their secret intrigues. If Charles fails to return both pendants to 1854, he places his own London at risk. But how can he succeed when it means saying farewell to Victoria in 2014?
From modern-day Soho to 19th-century Mayfair, The Never List takes readers on a whirlwind tour of Londons new and old, as its time-crossed heroes search for a way to love each other within two centuries. It is the first book in the Love Across Londons series which should be read in order.
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This book is still a bargain if it appeals to you.
One book suggestion. Pretty skinny pickings today.
This author is new to me too so at least it will be an adventure. I love an adventure.
The Never List: Love Across Londons Book One
“F. E. takes the reader on a fascinating journey between two Londons with danger or intrigue around every corner.” – Margarite Martin Gray, author of the Revolutionary Faith series
2018 Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
Victoria Smith’s life seems dreary until someone knocks on a sealed door inside her London bookshop. When Tori discovers it’s not a ghost but a journalist from 1854, she accidentally strands him in 2014. Intrigued by the dapper and crusading Charles Stratford, Tori offers to help him locate a pendant that will reopen the door to his century. Even when their treasure hunt across London turns dangerous, Tori finds herself wishing that Charles could stay. But after losing her family a decade before, can Tori risk loving someone again, especially a man from 1854?
Lured into the future by a mysterious pendant, Charles Stratford must track down its counterpart to unlock the door between Londons. When the winsome Victoria Smith volunteers to join his search, Charles becomes smitten with the intrepid bookseller. He also uncovers an ancient struggle between two underground societies and becomes entangled in their secret intrigues. If Charles fails to return both pendants to 1854, he places his own London at risk. But how can he succeed when it means saying farewell to Victoria in 2014?
From modern-day Soho to 19th-century Mayfair, The Never List takes readers on a whirlwind tour of Londons new and old, as its time-crossed heroes search for a way to love each other within two centuries. It is the first book in the Love Across Londons series which should be read in order.
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There is one more, a novella from Christy Barritt. Another book in this series. Wow.
Troubled Tidings: a Christmas novella (Vanishing Ranch Book 8)
A blown tire on a lonely desert road leads to Christmas Eve trouble.
Vanishing Ranch chef Dean Burns just needed to pick up a few things for Christmas dinner. When his tire blows on the way home, he assures coworker Kota Perez that they’ll be back on the road in no time.
Dean soon realizes the flat tire was no accident, and the simple trip transforms into a terrifying fight for survival. Robbers known as the Roadside Bandits have set their sights on the pair, and Dean and Kota have no choice but to leave the truck and run for their lives, striking out on foot into the vast Arizona desert.
Will Christmas tidings turn deadly this year? Or will Dean and Kota manage to pull off the ultimate Christmas takedown?
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It has been a good day. Stolen moments for reading. Christmas gifts finished up. But best of all. . .
The picture for my new drivers licence turned out better than I hoped. At least the quick look I had made me happy. How often does that ever happen hey? A good day indeed.
I’m off to see if I can finish up the current read.
The first one was a new-to-me book from a favorite author. Maybe I’ll find the other books in this series will have a familiar vibe to them but in the meantime this story was fresh and engaging.
Finding the perfect place for a honeymoon, away from any potential danger or mystery, is challenging. But Gabby’s longtime love and newly minted husband, Riley Thomas, has done it. He has found a location with a nonexistent crime rate, a mostly retired population, and plenty of opportunities for relaxation in the warm sun.
Within minutes of the newlyweds’ arrival, a convoy of vehicles descends on a nearby house, and their honeymoon oasis is destroyed like a sandcastle in a storm. Despite Gabby’s and Riley’s determination to keep to themselves, trouble comes knocking at their door—literally—when a neighbor is abducted from the beach directly outside their rental.
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This has also been a week of historical novels with pretty covers.
This next one covered many decades and generations. The author did an excellent job with this method of story telling.
Where the Last Rose Blooms (Heirloom Secrets)
Alice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot with a handsome yet irritating man who comes to her shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap–and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.
In 1861 Charleston, Clara is known to be a rule follower–but the war has changed her. Unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy, she is an abolitionist and is prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause. With assistance from a dashing Union spy, she attempts to help an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying secret information about her father’s associates.
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Three more excellent reads.
Promise Kept (Harland Creek Series Book 1)
Promise Kept (Harland Creek Series Book 1) a well written story.
The Ornament Keeper: A Novella This story had a different spin on it. Interesting and emotional.
****** Three more. *******
All excellent reads
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Today has not been the best day for new book suggestions but that’s OK. I know most of us are good for reading material already on hand.
I’m trying to decide what comes next. Some choices don’t look as exciting as the books read. Kind of like when you eat all the delicious looking food first and the rest is still waiting for you.
Half the time, looking at the cover, I don’t remember anything about the story and the title doesn’t always appeal to me either. That’s a problem. That’s about where I am again tonight. Nothing looks interesting. They might be though, that’s the thing.
It could go either way, really.
Maybe I should listen to a podcast and work on the new jigsaw puzzle for awhile.
We have a bargain book today, suggested by LPC Free Books. Colleen Coble has written an impressive selection of books in the last ten years.
Black Sands (Aloha Reef Series Book 2)
Page-turning romantic suspense set amid the gorgeous beauty of Hawaii and the impending danger of a volcano.
A brainy—and perpetually single—volcanologist, Annie Tagama works alongside her father at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. But despite her pedigree, Annie has lost her passion or volcanology. She’s quietly grieving the mysterious loss of her brother in the Middle East.
When Annie discovers that her brother might still be alive—and in trouble—she shakes off her malaise and joins forces with Mano Oana, the unnervingly handsome family friend she had always blamed for her brother’s death.
As Annie and Mano investigate—and find that they have a lot more in common than tragedy—an evil force gathers strength on the main island. An ancient cult has reemerged—and Annie’s little sister is somehow involved. As the old religion bubbles to the surface like lava, the old practices are not far behind . . . including human sacrifice.
Annie and Mano are desperate to find her brother and save her family from destruction before the ancient evil smothers them all in an earth-shattering eruption.
This full-length romantic suspense can be read as a standalone, but is also part of the Aloha Reef Series.
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That’s it for now, if anything else shows up later I will be back.
I have last minute Christmas shopping to do first. After I finish my coffee. It a new Christmas blend that needs savoring and I’m more than happy to oblige.
The conversation in my head tonight is the aftermath of a telephone call with an old friend this afternoon We have been through deep waters together and now we were updating each other on our current lives.
Both of us lived through relationships with sex addicts. Our main experiences were different. Mine was originally from childhood, her’s all from adulthood. The men were out of control, we had that in common.
I’ve spent the evening attempting to find access to books I’ve found helpful over the years and they seem to have disappeared.
One book was the personal story of someone living with a man addicted to pornography. His addiction was a secret but as it grew larger in his life that all changed. It was helpful to hear her findings about the start, the source, and the pathway to deep destructive patterns in a relationship.
That’s where our conversation was today. How does it start? Why does it start? From sources I’ve found, it can start at a very early age if material is available. The reason it will take hold is to fill an emotional need. Loneliness for one. It acts as a pain reliever and it is highly addictive to the unsuspecting.
One book I found helpful in the beginning of my search for help understanding seems to be out of print and I’m sad. I wanted to send the link for this book to my friend.
I can find a link on Amazon for the paperback which is unavailable and it appears a Kindle edition hasn’t been created.
I have other books that address this addiction too but I wanted this one. Oh well, I’ve started reading it again to refresh my memory maybe I can share useful bites with her.
Laurie Hall’s story reveals pornography’s subversive side and offers comfort, encouragement, insight, and a plan of action to women whose husbands are addicted.
There is so much more to think and say but we’ll leave it there for tonight
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On a different note . . .
There were no good book suggestions today. Maybe tomorrow.
This house makes a lot of startling noises. It’s worse in the winter when it’s well below freezing, like it is today. It’s probably expansion and contraction of the wood frame with the temperature changes but it’s scary sometimes. I want to run outside to see what hit the house or who could be doing who knows what. I don’t because it’s futile. There is never anything to see.
Except for one time, a time when I didn’t look but maybe should have. Although it wouldn’t have helped much. There was a long plastic downspout to keep rain runoff from the roof away from the house. It was 5 or 6 feet long running over to a flower bed. I think the horrendous noise I heard was a large dog chasing a little rabbit. It was quite a while before I noticed he had destroyed the pipe.
I’m assuming it was a he, who else would be chasing a rabbit in a flat out run? Actually I think it would have been one of the neighbor’s dogs that probably got out. I have it on good authority that they are guys.
A few summers ago I met one of them when I was out weeding in the front yard. He was on his own out for a visit, checking out the neighborhood. It wasn’t too long before his owner came looking for him. I have no proof it was that dog on one of his evening adventures but having met him that day it was a pretty good possibility, in my mind anyway.
I like dogs but they can be a handful. I’m more of a cat person, they don’t seem to get into as much trouble as a large energetic dog.
Aside from rabbits, dogs, and squirrels running through the yard, one day we saw deer. I was surprised, or maybe a better word would be shocked. It had never occurred to me that they would be in this area. Now I wonder how many other visits I’ve missed. I would have missed this one too if my kids hadn’t been here and noticed first.
I need to pay more attention to what goes on in my yard. The trouble is I can’t read and look outside at the same time, and reading takes hours of concentration. At least in the winter I have a better idea about what goes on and when. Foot prints tell the story of visits and chases. Some days seem to be busier than others.
The wild animals seem to have a routine about who they visit in the neighborhood and when. I think it depends somewhat on their needs. Shelter, food. The animal residents vary from year to year too. Some years there were a large number of cats. They’d spend more time in the yard, lounging in the flower beds or on the back deck. Maybe there was safety in numbers and they were bolder. Right now there are few, maybe one of two. and they are more cautious, I rarely see them. The rabbit population has been smaller too. I hear the eagles like to hunt rabbits and cats. I’ve never seen them do it but my neighbor has. They swoop down and carry them off.
The only eating I’ve seen in the backyard is done by the crows. They like to eat the eggs out of the robin’s nests. Horrible birds.
I guess they do have their good uses though. One day a small bird flew into one of my windows and was lying dead on my deck. I was going to put the body in the garbage as I did once before for a bigger bird found lying in the garden. This time I decided to leave it there to see if nature would take it’s course. Finally after a few days went by there were crows out there eyeing the bird. They flew off but the next day I noticed the body was gone. That is how it should be. Crows are scavengers, clean up crews keeping the world a healthy place to live. Amazing isn’t it. Except eggs waiting to hatch don’t qualify as needing cleanup.
OK, I’m talked out. We will discuss books another time.
Maybe I will just share the cover of my current read with you, Well, there were two actually.
The first one is suspense and so was the last one finished. Something lighter was needed for a minute which meant the mystery needed to be put on hold. The romance was an excellent change of pace and is almost finished. It was a god decision, my mood is much lighter than it was before.
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Well, that conversation was a fun surprise. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
For the Love of Books 