Ready for a change of pace! A casual browse this morning produced one interesting possibility at a time when nothing else in the pile is appealing to me. This is one of those times when I’m hungry but nothing on the menu looks inviting. How sad is that? I’m not sure if this new read will fill the need. The first few pages say yes but you never know if the rest of the book can deliver. Hopefully it will. This author has never failed me yet, not that I can remember anyway.

Reclaiming Nick (Noble Legacy Book 1)

Nick Noble hadn’t planned on being the prodigal son. But when his father dies and leaves half of Silver Buckle—the Noble family ranch—to Nick’s former best friend, he must return home to face his mistakes, and guarantee that the Silver Buckle stays in the Noble family.

Award-winning journalist Piper Sullivan believes Nick framed her brother for murder, and she’s determined to find justice. But following Nick to the Silver Buckle and posing as a ranch cook proves more challenging than she thinks. So does resisting his charming smile. As Nick seeks to overturn his father’s will—and Piper digs for answers—family secrets surface that send Nick’s life into a tailspin. But there’s someone who’s out to take the Silver Buckle from the Noble family, and he’ll stop at nothing—even murder—to make it happen.

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A tempting collection is calling out to me. Should I or shouldn’t I? That’s the question. So many collections lately. Add them all together and that’s a lot of books needing to be read. Trouble is, the price is right. 0.99 for four books, how can I say no to that? Especially when it’s a special promotion by a favorite author.

Heroes of Purple Heart Ranch: Four Sweet Military Romance Novels

In On His Bended Knee, in order to save his beloved ranch for wounded veterans, Dylan must get married. Maggie needs to find a home for her and her special needs dogs. A marriage of convenience could solve both their problems, but can two wounded souls believe in the power of true love?

In The Rancher takes his Convenient Bride, insta-love alters the plan when an Army Ranger makes a calculated deal to wed a female rancher in a modern day marriage of convenience.

In His Pledge to Honor, a general’s daughter can rehabilitate the most wounded of horses. But when an injured soldier shows up at her ranch as part of her father’s last command, will she follow his lead down a trail of love?

In His Vow to Love, Air Force Pilot Charlie Matthews has flown to the farthest reaches of the world, but he can never seem to reconnect with his first, and only love. Will their latest reunion finally land them on a path to forever?

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I caved and hit the buy button before I could change my mind. It should be a good decision.

I have a confession to make. I’ve been binge reading books trying to survive my off-the-charts stress levels these days. It has been working. The distraction has helped to keep my head in a good place, mostly. The trouble with avoidance is that annoying physical symptoms show up, like a messed up digestive system.

Most of the stress trouble comes as a result of unsavory tasks that must be faced. I’ve managed to strike many of them off the list but there is one left that I will do anything to avoid. Hence, all the time spent reading.

I know, I know. Deal with it and get relief.

Then there is the side effect arising out of binge reading. Normally, when I do a post like this I like to highlight a couple of books that I loved the best. This time, when I look back through the read pile they all blend together and nothing stands out to me.

I can say that this last stretch of reading, in the last week or two, most of them have fallen short of the “love it” goal anyway. It’s funny how that goes. There will be a stretch of awesome books followed by a string of tolerable books. That has been how it is for the latest batch of books. There have even been some I decided were not worth mentioning.

There was one bunch of books that would have been three star, if I was honest, but didn’t get a rating because I recognized my dissatisfaction was the result of personal preference rather than poor writing. I know the stories would have been loved by someone just not me. Nothing wrong with that.

In no particular order, here are some of the books read since the last time I shared, a few weeks ago I think. Thankfully, they meant my sanity is mostly intact.

Wow, I didn’t realize how many unfinished reads there are piling up. A number of them are partially read collections.

I was entertaining the thought of saying “good enough” and calling it quits on some of the 8/10-book collections and designating them as read. Until I checked the first one and got caught up in the story. Maybe I will at least speed read through them all before bailing out.

I’m half way through this collection.

The Complete Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-8

Book 5 – Misty Mornings: What will happen when Leiklyn reunites with her high school friends after eighteen years to renovate the Manor they bought for $1, only to discovers her daughter’s explosive secret? Will Leiklyn’s own dark secret come to light?

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Now, it’s time to get ready for a family birthday party. Three of us celebrate birthdays within a few days of each other. It’s a good job we don’t care about having to share the limelight. It’ll be fun and I’m looking forward to it.