Month: January 2024

Cleaning out the read pile January 13, 2024

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Wow! I don’t even remember reading this many books since the last post like this. I know I hurried through a few of them just so I could move on to something else. There were a few I loved, hopefully they will stand out to me but the chances aren’t great. Too many other distractions this week.

I’m just going to go ahead and show them as a bunch. Probably newest to oldest. I’ve been searching through older ones in the pile looking for interesting reads I may have missed. Things have probably been messed up a little in that whole process.

One thing I know for sure: I remove and don’t mention any books I truly do not like, so we are safe. For sure, I at least liked everything here.

Let’s go.

I know for sure I enjoyed this next three book collection. actually, I think I enjoyed all three of these collections.

Anne Perry has been one of my top favorite authors for a very long time. All three of these books were excellent, actually. And the next three too.

This next bunch are foggy in my memory but they are marked as read. I can tell they are all books that I know I would enjoy.

It appears to be almost a month since the last clearing out, so I guess that explains a whole lot. I can see that most of these authors are repeat guests on my shelves so I can recommend all of them with confidence.

For a current read, there are two I’m trying to decide between. I know I will be reading them both eventually, it’s just a matter of what-do-I-feel-like at this moment. They are both suspense with favorite authors but they each have their own unique flavor and I’m hoping the second one will be more appealing.

I’m kind of disliking the possible bad guy in the first one. Plus the heroine keeps putting herself in danger and it irritates me some days when people insist on doing that. Especially this early in the story. I guess the title should give me a clue to expect bad behavior. Can you tell by the outfit she is not even a detective but an actress in the middle of making a movie. I do like her otherwise though.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Another new book January 10, 2024

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookRunes has a suggestion for us this time. I’ve not read this author before but after checking out the first chapter in her book I’m wanting to read the rest of it. It may even have to be next in line since I haven’t started a new one yet.

To Belong Together: (Rhythms of Redemption Romances Book 2)

Opposites attract, but do an undercover rock star and a female mechanic belong together?

Erin Hirsh’s life would be easier if God hadn’t given her a booming laugh and a love for cars. Though she can hold her own in a shop, only her father truly understood her, and she’s losing him to dementia.

Fame and fortune have complicated love for introvertJohn Kennedy. It’s even come between him and his sister, causing her to push him away just when he could help her most.

Thankfully, the spunky female mechanic who catches his eye has no idea he’s the drummer for the iconic rock band Awestruck. John’s determined to keep it that way as long as possible.

John and Erin’s worsening family situations and shared faith draw them closer, but as their relationship grows, the full truth of their differences emerges to divide them.

******************

It’s another good book day.

Hidden Trial – Shawna Coleing January 10, 2024

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

I loved this book every bit as much as I thought I would. You can tell how much by how little time has passed since download (yesterday.) I wasn’t ready for it to end.

What did I love about it?

I loved the story line. It had the usual undercover operatives but with a new and different spin on pretty much all of the case details. It was a believable story with enough mystery to keep it interesting. It definitely didn’t turn out as expected either, which was highly appreciated.

I loved the cast. Definitely not your everyday run of the mill characters. There were three main characters. A set of identical twins. Both of them strong willed but different in so many ways. One with a huge chip on her shoulder and the other with a much softer view of the world. The third character, having to work with them both all of a sudden, one for the first time, faced a monstrous challenge, dealing with them while trying to keep everyone safe.

Keeping them safe made for some wild and surprising encounters that had me laughing out loud sometimes. Not all of them fell into that category though. There were many live or die moments too.

This story definitely rates as five star in my estimation. I would love to read it again sometime.

Hidden Trial (Hidden Alliance Book 1)

Charlotte, seeking solace in a quiet town after a harrowing overseas trip, discovers that a life of safety no longer satisfies her longing for adventure. So, when her sister, an undercover agent, sustains an injury that halts her operation, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to step into her sister’s role, taking on what appears to be a simple assignment.

Meanwhile, Will has spent years tirelessly searching for a kidnapped friend, desperately clinging to hope despite a trail that has long gone cold. When his undercover partner is injured and she proposes training her twin as a replacement, Will is torn by the ghosts of his past. The idea of involving a civilian weighs heavily on his heart, but the urgency of their mission persuades him to take the risk.

Little do they know that Charlotte’s involvement will lead them down a perilous path when the operation takes an unforeseen turn and they find themselves in a life-and-death struggle they never could have imagined. Now, they must surrender to God’s guiding hand and trust that He can lead them through the darkest of trials. But will it be enough to save them in this lifetime? Or will their enemy be the one to send them into eternity?

*****************

A New Book January 09, 2024

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Another new book, a suggestion from BookBub this time, and I can’t wait to read it.

It’s a little crazy to be doing this after three books yesterday and now one more today. I have so many unread books on my device that a few weeks ago I decided it would be good to stop making new buys for a while in order to catch up on reducing the pile a little. It’s a good job I didn’t make it a New Years resolution. My resolve sure didn’t last very long.

I haven’t been spending as much time reading the way I used to either, which doesn’t help any. I’ve become hooked on content providers I find on You Tube. Many of them have different topics and agendas in mind. Very time consuming, especially when it comes to long form interviews lasting hours.

The awesome thing about long form interviews is the fact that they will hold my attention the way a non-fiction book rarely will. The fact that I can read the speakers body language is a huge help, as is the question asking skill of the interviewer. I’ve learned, been entertained, and challenged, by so many of the videos I’ve seen. I’m hooked and I couldn’t be happier.

So, back to today’s book, the one that I can’t wait to read. This will be the second book I’ve enjoyed from this author.

Hidden Trial (Hidden Alliance Book 1) 

Charlotte, seeking solace in a quiet town after a harrowing overseas trip, discovers that a life of safety no longer satisfies her longing for adventure. So, when her sister, an undercover agent, sustains an injury that halts her operation, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to step into her sister’s role, taking on what appears to be a simple assignment.

Meanwhile, Will has spent years tirelessly searching for a kidnapped friend, desperately clinging to hope despite a trail that has long gone cold. When his undercover partner is injured and she proposes training her twin as a replacement, Will is torn by the ghosts of his past. The idea of involving a civilian weighs heavily on his heart, but the urgency of their mission persuades him to take the risk.

Little do they know that Charlotte’s involvement will lead them down a perilous path when the operation takes an unforeseen turn and they find themselves in a life-and-death struggle they never could have imagined. Now, they must surrender to God’s guiding hand and trust that He can lead them through the darkest of trials. But will it be enough to save them in this lifetime? Or will their enemy be the one to send them into eternity?

******************

I haven’t been posting as much lately either with my focus mostly on videos instead of books. This has been fun today and I’m happy about that. Maybe the inspiration is back At least a little bit. That would be good. Hopefully.

It’s been a while, January 08, 2024

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

We have a new book. It’s with an author we’ve enjoyed in the last couple of years and it is even Free today. A great start to a new year. Book-wise for sure, hopefully other ways too.

Happy New Year y’all. The year 2023 passed by at an alarming rate, hopefully 2024 will slow down for us, just a little.

Today’s book fits perfectly with the books from my last week of reading.

A Legitimate Date: A Friends to Lovers Contemporary sweet Romance (The Billionaires’ Reunion Book 1)

She’s searching everywhere for the perfect date, is it possible he’s been right in front of her all along?

Kindergarten teacher Serafina Bianchi loves her students and wants children of her own, so when her boyfriend dumps her, she dives into the world of online dating. But after a few disastrous encounters, she realizes she needs a dating coach if she plans to land a husband! And who could better train her in what men want in a woman than her lifelong friend, the suave billionaire Logan Stone?

CEO Logan Stone is decisive in the boardroom, but noncommittal in relationships. With his negligent upbringing before his adoption, he’ll never have the perfect marriage his parents have, and the upcoming Stone family reunion he’s planning in their small town constantly reminds him of what he lacks.

When Serafina asks him to coach her to be the perfect date, Logan agrees, but only if she’ll help plan the reunion. Neither expects their fake dates to stir up real feelings. But maybe he’s taught her too well—now that he’s the one falling for her.

She’s seen him dump one too many women, and he’s afraid he can’t be the guy she needs. Can their friendship survive a romance?

*******************

Browsing, another interesting book showed up for an author I’ve been following for some time. It will take us back to reading mystery again though. I think I will add this to my collection too.

One Hit Blunder (The Worst Detective Ever Book 12) 

When the ending of Joey’s upcoming movie leaves her unsettled, she’s determined to rewrite the script.

Actress Joey Darling has a new role. She’s starring as one-hit wonder Emma Jean Gibbons in an upcoming biopic. But the more she learns about the singer, the more Joey suspects Emma Jean’s death wasn’t as accidental as everyone thinks.

Joey sets out to uncover the truth. As the evidence piles up, she’s more convinced than ever that her gut feeling is correct. But the deeper she digs, the more Joey realizes she’s one blunder away from also facing an “accidental” death.

Will Joey manage to rewrite the script? Or will danger derail her movie . . . and her life?

*****************

One more interesting book showed up, in a series I enjoy following.

Seeking Justice: A Romantic Suspense (Finnegan First Responders Book 2) 

Walking the line between danger and love!

Cold case justice!

When Joy Munson confronts Detective Tarin Finnegan about reopening her brother’s case, she doesn’t expect to be shot at by an unknown assailant. And when the gunman strikes three more times in less than twenty-four hours, she and Tarin are forced to accept the truth. Her brother hadn’t committed suicide, he’d been murdered.

Tarin’s promise to keep Joy safe isn’t easy to keep. It seems as if the gunman knows their every move. Unwilling to trust anyone but his family, Tarin and Joy go completely off-grid. Uncovering the truth is just as difficult as ignoring their mutual attraction. Will they find justice for Joy’s brother, and a possible future for themselves, before it’s too late?

****************

It’s been a good day.