Free and bargain books July 12, 2020

It’s been a warm and productive day, working on yard clean up. My neighbor took pity on me last week and spread weed killer on some of my overgrown flower beds. I’ve been trying to go green and deal with weeds by pulling them out by the roots. It was a losing battle, getting worse every time the weeds flowered, which was often. The killer did a great job and I’m loving the look of the big bed I managed to clear out today.

The previous owner was responsible for the beautiful landscaping and they were intolerant of any weed daring to grow in their yard. The first few years there were few weeds for me to deal with, I was reaping the benefit of their zealousness. I was away a number of summer weeks several years ago and that was the downfall. It’s been an uphill battle ever since.

This week has been very productive, if I can manage to fit in another one of two weeks  of the same it could be celebration time. Fingers crossed. If I can get it all clean I’ll share some pictures.

No time has been spent looking for books today, at least not until now.

I see one that’s a possibility. It’s a start anyway. This is another author new to me and I don’t know what to expect but it looks interesting.

When the Heart Calls … a $0.99 bargain

When the Heart Calls

Amazon quote:

Claire Sallaway has lived with an unpredictable heart condition for most of her life. With a plan in place to manage her symptoms, she has been able to avoid any major health problems and live a relatively normal life. With work, church and friends, her life is indeed full. Or so she thought. Settled in her job as a forensic scientist, Claire is content with her comfortable suburban life – until the day her heart betrays her and a man with the most intriguing ocean-blue eyes steps in, turning her world upside down.

Aaron Thurnham is the answer to Claire’s prayers. With the handsome, fun and God-fearing man by her side, life is blissfully perfect and full of adventure.

Until it isn’t.

When tragedy strikes and dreams are shattered, Claire clings desperately to the fragmented remains of her life. Heartbroken, and with every good thing stripped away, she is faced with a choice. Will she become paralyzed by fear? Or will she listen to the still small whisper of God and place her heart in His hands?

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Another bargain with the same author. Three books set in Australia for $1.34

The Hope Rising Series Box Set

Hope Rising

Amazon quote:

River’s Edge
How does a successful businessman end up with nothing but the clothes on his back and all his worldly possessions shoved into a bag? That’s the question Ben Tarbett asks himself time and again. When his world falls apart, Ben finds himself calling the banks of the Brisbane River home – a vastly different view to the one he had when working from a highrise in the heart of the city. Sheltering from the elements, and relying on food handouts, he longs for the day when he can once again have a roof over his head and be the father his daughter needs him to be.

All Natalie Allcroft wants to do is serve Jesus and bring hope to the less-fortunate and downtrodden who wander the streets of the city she now calls home. Volunteering with Hope Street Church, she is inexplicably drawn to the man who visits the breakfast van every morning. There’s something different about him. Something not quite as rugged and worn out as the other itinerants she meets. She’s seen the way he treats others, and is curious about his story.

Natalie’s desire has always been to serve. But when it comes to matters of the heart, there’s a big difference between guarding and giving. There’s a big difference between compassion and attraction.
Is the line worth crossing?

Valley’s Reach
It’s been two years since Brad Rowland witnessed an accident that changed his life forever. Two years of trying to escape the images that constantly haunt his dreams. Two years of finding comfort in the bottom of a bottle and pushing people away. His life is consumed with guilt and angst. No one understands his pain, and it’s better that way.

Receiving Treetops Bed & Breakfast as a gift from her aunt gave Eve McNeal the perfect excuse to escape the hectic pace of city life and the loneliness that has consumed her for so long. Amid the rainforest, she is free to tend to her guests and deal with the guilt of putting her mother with Alzheimer’s in a care facility. By offering hospitality to others, she is free to be herself and ignore the deep hurt she carries from a childhood injury that left her with visible scars.

But life’s not meant to be lived in solitude.
When Brad finds himself on Eve’s doorstep, he is challenged to face up to his past. Eve is curious about the broken man she has taken in, and must face her own struggles if she is to show him the reason for her hope.

When broken souls collide, can wounds be healed and wholeness found?

Ocean’s Drift
Shame and guilt follow Vanessa Silverton everywhere. A preacher’s kid, she rebelled from her parent’s faith years ago and has since lived with the consequences of making one wrong decision after the other. After one fateful night, she severs all contact with her friends and flees to the Sunshine Coast, longing to leave her past far behind. She escapes to a quaint coastal town finding work in a beachside cafe in an attempt to start afresh where no one knows her name or the past that haunts her dreams. But life doesn’t always go to plan, and soon her past catches up with her in a way she never anticipated.

The ocean is where Joel Ruthven finds solace from the grief that weighs heavy on his heart. Wrestling with God over the loss of his wife and daughter, he buries himself in his teaching job at the local high school and running the youth group at Seaside Fellowship. It’s better that way. Keeping busy means he doesn’t have time to entertain the melancholy that threatens to pull him under. He is inexplicably drawn to the new barista who serves up his daily coffee fix, yet is left questioning God about the fairness of life when her secrets come to light.

When a near tragedy brings past and present together, Vanessa and Joel must learn to surrender their fears and doubts to the One who holds them in the palm of His hand.

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I’m currently reading a book I’m having trouble getting in to.  I may have to do some major skimming to see how it all ends. It’s still FREE. Check it out to see if you like it better than I do.

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

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I hope you have had a good weekend too, along with some Happy Reading.

 

 

Story prompt Skin

Disclaimer: Please do not read this post if difficult personal story is not your cup of tea, or if it could trigger or offend you.

This is week six in the Sunday Scribblings  prompt hosted by Peckapalooza: The Confusing Middle.

Normally I hook these challenges together to create an ongoing chapter story. It pleases me to get as much mileage as possible out of my writing attempts. I did have a plan in mind to work this week’s prompt into today’s chapter (6) while advancing my story. At least I did until yesterday’s post with reference to Father’s Day. Plans have changed.

I consider myself thick skinned when it comes to my personal history. Much of the time I can talk about most of it matter-of-factly while minimizing the truth of our abusive family life. No big deal.

Yesterday I made reference to abusive relationships because, just like there are many who find Mother’s Day traumatic, there are many who find Father’s Day a traumatic experience. The reasons are different but still painful.

Now, working my way emotionally through the aftermath of yesterday, I realize trauma related to Father’s day goes deeper than first thought. Generally, the deeper the trauma the less likely we are to speak about it. Many are vocal every year about their negative experiences surrounding Mother’s Day. Today for the first time, I realize we are hearing a complete lack of corresponding comments surrounding Father’s Day. The silence speaks loudly, if we happen to be listening.

Yesterday I wanted to acknowledge mostly-forgotten hurting hearts. To be seen and understood means a lot to those living with unimaginable pain. It felt like the right thing to do, to offer support and encouragement.

It’s no surprise to find, once again, my conscious mind can’t handle the truth of my own life. It has deeply buried the negative and bought into the never-happened, no-big-deal lies. My brothers insist I need to face the uncomfortable truth. I find I don’t want to/can’t remember. Inappropriate (not fitting the situation) triggered responses are the only evidence of truth.

The triggered reaction arising out of yesterday’s sharing was a shock to my system. The emotional upheaval I woke up to this morning was a shock too. As a result this has been a recovery day. As the day wears on I’m starting to feel better.

My skin appears to be thinner than I believe it is.

I’m sharing all this now because I feel compelled. Partly because I know the power of story to comfort and help others. Partly because I know the value of expression to release pent up emotions. I’m trusting that life will be incrementally better after acknowledging another sliver of truth. So far it always has been and I have great expectations for now too.

May life be better for you too, as you acknowledge the truth (as you are able) of your situation.

Next week will be soon enough for anther installment in my continued story about Carly, an exposed woman in Witness Protection.

Hoping this all made sense…

Janette

 

Free books June 20, 2020, and Dads

FREE suggestions for us today.

Princess Paisley (Not-So-Fairy Tales Book 1) 

Princess Paisley

Amazon quote:

Fairy tales aren’t just for children anymore! Welcome to Jackalopany! Meet King Jack and Queen Felicia and their estimable children, Paisley and Jackson. Paisley has reached the year of her majority and is about to endure her “Majority Ball.” She’s unique, prank-loving, and not ready to change her life. She’d rather continue her days herding sheep, playing her harp, and avoiding the responsibilities associated with the Jackalopian throne. The shepherd Henry, Prince Rupert of Froggilandria, Kyle of Kaiandra, Marcus of Wellsbiundia, and the amusing Cletus of Rednecky all battle for the hand (and possibly the rest of) Princess Paisley. Will Darius of Griffinland foil the plans of so many? Will tragedy leave the Jackalopian throne bereft of an heir? And last but not least, will the narrator ever stop yammering about the rigors and rules of the fairytale genre?

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The Mail-Order Bride Carries a Gun (Brides of Sweet Creek Ranch Book 1)

The Mail-order Bride carries a gun

Amazon quote:

The mail-order bride seeks justice. Not a husband…

ELLA HUNTER never thought she’d be a mail-order bride. But when she sees a photo in the Marriage Gazette of the man she believes killed her brother, Ella agrees to marry the Civil War soldier turned cowboy. Prepared to confront a cold-hearted killer then return home, she finds all her expectations dashed when her intended husband appears to be a good man. Ella’s loyalties are torn between honoring the memories of her family and her undeniable attraction to Ty Haven.

TY HAVEN needs a wife. The ranch he runs in the wilds of Wyoming Territory could use a woman’s influence. Frankly, so could he. So when Ella arrives like a gift tied up in a cornflower-blue hair ribbon, more intelligent, practical, and, yes, beautiful, than he could have imagined, he hopes she will give him and the West a chance. Turns out, he doesn’t just need a wife. He needs Ella. But she has a secret, and it might destroy their marriage almost before it’s begun.

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As I write this, it’s Father’s Day tomorrow. Actually, I guess it’s today in many parts of the world. A day to honor our fathers.

My father has been gone for many years. Maybe if he was still alive he would have had time to change his ways and become a good father. We will never know. One thing I am grateful for today; his abusive behavior has not carried on through the generations even though it could have. My grandchildren enjoy loving fathers and I feel blessed.

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Life is not perfect. It never has been and never will be. Life can, and does, go on in spite of it all. If we let it.

I chose, and continue to choose, to forgive and move on. Not an easy thing to do. As I look on my family and the legacy of love, I’m grateful for making this choice, over and over again.

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I can’t help but think about people like me with a past our conscious minds cannot bear to acknowledge. I hear pain, I see pain. All this talk about fathers is dredging it up. I cannot actually see or hear you but I can acknowledge you.  You are not alone. Look around carefully. There are others like you close by. Support one another.

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Some of you will think I am crazy for saying all of this.

Statistics show that one in four women/girls have been abused or will be abused at some point in their life. As I share my story (sparingly) I’m finding this number believable. Feeling alone is a result of conditioning by our abusers. No one will believe you. It’s all your fault. It was an important day in my life when I admitted I was not alone. there were fellow sufferers who knew exactly what I was talking about. I still experience days like that from time to time, it’s always a surprise.

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Father’s day is still a day to celebrate. The good do not need to be brought down because of the bad. I will be the first to stand and give honor to the good dads of the world. We love and appreciate you.

Free and bargain books May 28, 2020

BookBub has a FREE Thriller suggestion for us today.

Ghost Heart: A Medical Thriller (Agents of Mercy Book 1)

Ghost Heart

Amazon quote:

A mother willing to risk everything for her child.
A surgeon desperate to cover his crimes.
Ripped from today’s headlines comes an unforgettable, chilling medical thriller.

A Carol-award winning finalist!

A brutal murder convinces Dr. Mia Kendall there’s more than she imagined to the mysterious spike in heart transplant rejections. Determined to find answers before she loses another patient, Mia gets sucked into a dangerous international medical web. With time running out for her youngest transplant recipient, Mia is forced to partner with a disillusioned ex-military pilot who flies brokered organs across East Africa. But searching for the truth will prove costly, because there are some lines that should never be crossed.

Dear Reader, (from the authors)

In June, 2008 the Dallas Morning News carried a story on the atrocities committed against albinos in Tanzania. The picture of a terrified albino caught our attention. As we read about the horrors these fragile people face, we couldn’t believe that such evil existed in the world. We did a little investigation and discovered that the genocide of albinos was being carried out simply because of the difference in the color of their skin.

The journey of these characters challenged us, comforted us, and pushed us to live life more courageously. But most of all, writing this story opened our hearts to wanting to do our part to create a world that loves no matter what the color of our skin, education, financial status, or nationality. And reminded us that God’s light truly does shine, even in the darkest places.

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A boxed set with the above author (Lisa Harris) is offered at $0.99. A pre-order price with release date set for October 10th. This was first seen in April and it was added to my TBR pile back then. It’s attractive to me because a number of these authors are on my Favorites list.

Dangerous Deceptions: A Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Collection 

Dangerous Deceptions

Amazon quote:

Lethal Outbreak: Lisa Harris & Lynne Gentry

Virus hunter Aiden Ballinger believes the source of the lethal outbreak that decimated a remote Tibetan village came from disturbing the permafrost. Desperate to rebury it before it buries the world, Aiden enlists Rachel Scott, a beautiful epidemiologist. But while Aiden and Rachel pursue the cure—and their feelings for each other—someone is hunting them. Whoever wants them dead will not stop until they are silenced.

Collision Course: Elizabeth Goddard

His cover blown, FBI Special Agent Reg Jacobson finds refuge on the other side of the country, but trouble follows him when he faces off with a woman from his past. Private Investigator Nicole Weatherly, hired to catch a thief, suspects Reg. When the bullets fly, Reg and Nicole must escape secrets from their pasts before their futures collide.

Glimmer in the Darkness: Robin Patchen

When Cassidy learns another child has been kidnapped from her hometown, she’s convinced the man who took the girl she’d been babysitting seven years earlier is behind the recent abductions. She alone holds the key to finding him. Though James blames Cassidy for his sister’s death, he’ll help if there’s a chance to save a child’s life. Can Cassidy and James identify the serial killer in time to rescue his latest victim?

Expired Plot: Lisa Phillips

A man after justice. A local crime boss. The woman caught between. Undercover FBI agent Will Briar is working his way to the top of an illegal operation. But when he discovers the identity of the boss, everything changes. Hollis knows nothing is as it seems. Now she must either save her father and doom herself, or take a chance on the man who could be the answer…to everything.

Ice: Lynnette Bonner

Camryn Hunt witnessed a murder. Now she’s in the protective custody of handsome sheriff Holden Parker. The small-town life might be pleasant if the sheriff wasn’t so demanding. Determined that no harm come to Camryn, Holden secludes her at his fishing cabin. He wishes she wasn’t so intriguing. He must not divide his focus. Especially when a local busybody discovers Camryn!

Never A Traitor: Jan Thompson

The last thing Private Investigator Earl Young expects is to pose as a fake boyfriend to a whistleblower. His driving need to solve problems forces him to work with paranoid Sienna Halstead as she draws him deeper into her corporate world of secrets and subterfuge. The more time they spend together, the more attraction grows. When another whistleblower is murdered, Sienna knows she’s next. How far will Earl go to protect her?

Ben in Love: Luana Ehrlich

Is CIA operative Ben Mitchell really in love with the daughter of a Turkish dissident? Titus Ray, his mentor, isn’t buying it; he thinks Ben needs intel on a Muslim cleric. But when Titus follows Ben to northern Virginia, he discovers Ben’s deception is more dangerous than he thought. With their lives on the line, can Titus convince Ben to abandon his plans before it’s too late?

Liar Like Her: D.L. Wood

When disbarred attorney Quinn Bello discovers a body that inexplicably vanishes, no one in her seaside town believes her—no one, that is, except newcomer Ian Wolfe, who for his own mysterious reasons doesn’t hold Quinn’s past against her. Together they search for the truth, but doubts about Quinn’s sanity and innocence increase as the danger escalates. Will they expose the heart of the deception before Quinn becomes the next victim?

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On a lighter note – a bargain suggestion offered several months ago. $1.39

Honeysuckle Cove: The Collection: Books 1-6

Honey Suckle Cove collection

Amazon quote:

Enjoy the first six books in the Honeysuckle Cove series, all in one collection.

Now is the perfect time to take a mini-vacation to the cozy town of Honeysuckle Cove, where romance two-steps with a hint of mystery…

Sunrise at Honeysuckle Cove ~ Dylan O’ Connor’s handyman skills will be put to the test when it comes to rebuilding the bridge between Maggie’s heart and his, and designing a future…together.

Beyond the Storm ~ Nick Jones is skilled at extinguishing fires, so he doesn’t count on kindling the flames with lifelong friend Ava Kennedy.

Honeysuckle Cove Secrets ~ When the paths of childhood friends Luke and Peyton cross, he must make a choice—bare his heart and face the consequences of a past mistake, or allow the only woman he’s ever loved to slip away.

Showered by Love ~ Rogan Brooks insists he’s not daddy material…until he sees the glow of pregnancy and the promise of a future in Jessica Marlin’s eyes. Can Rogan assure Jessica that his heart is true and he’s committed to being a daddy—complete with a happily ever after—for keeps?

Moonlight Kisses ~ Holt McCaffrey has finally gotten his wish from a long-ago moonlit night when he shared a sweet kiss with Jaylie Caldwell—she has returned home. But will the terms of her homecoming leave any room for forgiveness…or for him?

Sweet Tea and Summer Dreams ~ With the recent adoption of his niece Lanie, everyone in Honeysuckle Cove seems to have forgotten Colton James’s rowdy past—everyone except Vanessa Pearce. But when their paths unexpectedly cross once again, it’s Colton’s opportunity to prove to her that one shattered wish can lead to a beautiful dream come true.

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On the currently reading topic – I’m between books and looking at this one from yesterday as a possibility. It’s still a bargain at $1.39

Expired Refuge (Last Chance County Book 1)

Expired Refuge

Amazon quote:

Mia Tathers is an ATF Special Agent. It’s not like she needs Conroy to protect her. However, when it becomes clear someone is recreating her biggest mistake, Mia has to face her own inability to forgive Conroy for what he took from her. It’s the only way she’ll stay alive.

In this town, Police Lieutenant Conroy Barnes is the one who fixes problems. When a blast from the past shows up, bringing danger with her, he vows to keep her safe. But the clock has expired on her refuge. Death is knocking, and Conroy is determined not to let it in.

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Thriller seems to be the theme today. Not a light topic that’s for sure. I don’t know about you but I’ve read a few romance books in a row recently and a change of pace may be a good thing right about now.

Happy Reading!

….. on this cloudy, hot chocolate kind of day. Hmmm. Now that I mention it, that sounds like a good idea!

Free and bargain books May 15, 2020

It happened again. So I’m wondering. Why do most female lead characters wear scoop neck tops these days?  More importantly – why is it necessary for me to know this?

Maybe it takes awhile for these often-used words to work their way through the system enough to be recognized as tired.

My eyes tend to glaze over when they encounter wardrobe descriptions, Terms like casual, classy, slovenly, paint pictures in my mind. Minute descriptions, not so much. Once in a while there is a reason why we need to know how a character is dressed, but mostly… it matters little to the story.

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A FREE book suggestion.

Two O’clock Slump (The Hartfield Mysteries Book 3)

two o'xlock slump

Amazon quote:

It’s time for Alexa’s bi-annual trip to her hometown. In the wake of her dear friend’s arrest and her recent engagement, the trip should have been a welcome diversion. However, her trips to California’s Mojave Desert only bring pain and reminders of why she moved halfway across the country in the first place.
Any hope for a quiet rest away from the drama of recent months disappears as an alarm clock in the hotel room next to hers awakens her at two o’clock in the morning.
To her astonishment, Alexa finds herself under suspicion for the murder. When the evidence piles up against her, Joe decides it’s time for her to leave. While Alexa stays “off the grid” and out of the hands of her hometown police, Joe works quickly to find who is really responsible.

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BookRunes has a FREE Fiction suggestion for us.

I AM My Beloved Caryl Mcadoo

I am My Beloved

Amazon quote:

The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
How could the wisest man ever to live turn away from following God? The key is in Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs that King Solomon wrote after his return to the Lord. Who was the Shulamite? And why did he call her his sister spouse? Only God knows the answer, but the wisest man who ever lived left clues. You will never forget reading this anointed story and may find yourself setting it down to wipe tears away or simply worship the great I AM.

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I’m currently reading and enjoying Just as I Am and it’s still a bargain at $0.99

Just As I Am: (Unfailing Love Book 1)

 

Just as I Am

 

Quote:

Adeline Rhodes has spent years locked away in a New Orleans apartment controlled by her criminal boyfriend. After a daring escape, she realizes just how far she has grown from the things in which she once believed.

Declan King has lived a life of solitude and duty for the U.S. Army. When the deaths of his grandparents bring him home to his family farm, he is forced into contact with people who know too much about his past to simply leave him alone.

When Adeline’s past catches up to her, the two strangers find themselves thrust into a fake relationship to protect Adeline from her vengeful ex. As their chance meeting begins a journey that heals old wounds, they struggle to stay ahead of the danger and deny their growing attraction to each other.

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This is a holiday long weekend for us and the weather is promising to be nice and warm. I’m excited about attaching the weeds poking through in the flower beds. Of course, I’m looking forward to reading time too!

I hope life is looking a little better for you and your’s, like our’s is here. Restrictions have been relaxed somewhat and we can meet in small groups. Stay safe.

Happy Reading to you too.

Free and bargain books May 12, 2020

BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us on this fine day.

Second Chance Summer: Encore Edition ($1.38)

Second Chance Summer

Amazon quote:

When Rachel Shaw and Jack Fletcher meet on a sunny Georgia barrier island, it seems like the perfect start to a romance.

There’s just one problem—neither is the least bit interested in falling in love. They’re simply looking for peace, and time to work through their losses.

But Rachel’s Aunt Eleanor and Fletch’s Gram have a few surprises in store for these two wound-ed souls—and as they enlist their help restoring a vacation cottage for one of Gram’s charities, might these endearing matchmakers pave the way for Rachel and Fletch to discover the charms of the Golden Isle…and each other?

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It’s a slow day for new Free and bargain suggestions so I’ll share some of my recently read and enjoyed. I’ve just finished this one and it’s still a bargain at $1.31 

Some Enchanted Evening: (Men of KWESTT Book 1)

Some Enchanted Evening

Amazon quote:

Kellan Campbell, principal singer with chart-topping musical group KWESTT, longs for roots and a family to call his own, but he’ll settle for a vacation from the fast-paced, demanding life of touring. Shedding his well-known stage persona to avoid recognition, he heads for a backwoods Missouri campground to rest and recuperate in the great outdoors. But his attempts at avoiding people are stymied by the campground’s energetic, quick-witted manager. He’d be annoyed if he wasn’t starting to look forward to her company and crazy sense of humor.

JoyAnne loves her job as manager of the flourishing family campground. After being tossed upside down and shattered, her life is finally feeling safe, predictable, and secure. And she’s determined to stay right where she’s at, doing what she does best—ensuring guests enjoy their camping experience.

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Next read-and-enjoyed is…

Protected (Jacobs Family Series Book 2) ($1.37) this one is my favorite.

Protected

Amazon quote:

When Erin Jacobs receives a desperate call in the middle of the night, she thinks she is rescuing an animal. But from the beginning, this case is not what she expected.

Erin Jacobs doesn’t hesitate to jump into rescue mode when she receives a desperate call in the middle of the night. As owner of the Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter, it’s her job to rehabilitate and find new homes for animals. But from the moment she answers the phone, she knows that this case is different.

A woman’s frantic plea.
Directions to a deserted hunter’s cabin.
The demand that she come alone.
All culminate into the moment when she is standing on a dilapidated porch in the middle of the woods and looking down into a washtub at an infant child.

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Lastly…. this one is still FREE

Blast from Her Past 

Blast from Her Past

Amazon quote:

After a disastrous failed engagement, Sydney Hampson is leaving her past—and her faith—behind to focus on her career instead. However, following through with her new, albeit misguided, resolution proves easier said than done when former classmate, and reformed bully, Grant Williams signs on with her company, and they must work closely together.

Grant Williams gave up his teenage antics years ago, and now he’s looking forward to a future that includes a strong relationship with God. When he realizes he’ll be working with none other than Sydney Hampson—the girl he had a secret crush on throughout high school—he couldn’t be more thrilled. Until he discovers she’s not the same caring, compassionate woman she used to be.

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I’m currently reading Called to Protect (Blue Justice Book #2) but it has gone back to full price.

Called to Protect

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Hopefully this list helps a little.

Until tomorrow…

Happy Reading!

Free and Bargain books April 12, 2020

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today. This is Jamie Carie’s first novel, there are others, and for me, this is a first time exposure to her work. While searching, it’s a little confusing as this book has two different covers. The free kindle version is with this particular cover. Also, Snow Angel is a very popular book title so be sure to include the authors name to have it show up quickly. I’m going to check this book out.

Snow Angel Kindle Edition by Jamie Carie

Snow Angel

Amazon quote:

When Noah Wesley heard the faint sound outside the door of his remote Alaskan mountain cabin during a violent nighttime blizzard, it was no less than the voice of God that urged him to take a closer look, soon to discover his snow angel.

Unconscious and more than half frozen to death, her name, as Noah would later learn after boldly saving her life, was Elizabeth, a beautiful young woman, fragile yet fierce, and intent on discovering gold like so many others in that region during the late 1800s.

But why Elizabeth was so drawn to the gold, and why she would chase it even through a pounding storm that no man would dare face, was a secret to be shared with no one else, not even at the invitation of Noah’s deep blue trusting eyes.

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I’ve just finished Knox. I would give it four stars, mostly because there were multiple scenes that (in my opinion) could be cut to make the story better. It is still FREE if you would like to give it a try. It was a good read and one that I would happily reread.

Knox

Amazon quote:

His voice threaded through her, as if it might be made of rawhide, designed not to break, to weather time and elements, as sturdy as the land he probably worked. Because yes, he wore cowboy like a second skin, the no-nonsense aura of hard work and get ’er done.

“Do I need to go back there and put some hurt on anyone?”

He wasn’t smiling, and she couldn’t tell if he was serious—maybe. Which sort of unrooted her for a moment. Um…

A woman in danger. A man who can’t help but save her. But, at what cost?

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I’m about to read Justice Mission (True Blue K-9 Unit), it is not a bargain anymore. 

Justice Mission

Amazon quote:

Introducing the True Blue K-9 Unit series

After K-9 unit administrative assistant Sophie Walters spots a suspicious stranger lurking at the K-9 graduation, the man kidnaps her—and she barely escapes. With Sophie’s boss missing and someone determined to silence her, NYPD officer Luke Hathaway vows he and his K-9 partner will guard her. But he must keep an emotional distance to ensure this mission ends in justice…not cold-blooded murder.

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There is a Lyn Cote bargain book though,  Precarious Summer: (Northern Shore Intrigue Book 1) it is still $0.99. This is one I’ve read and enjoyed, a good choice.

Precarious Summer

Amazon quote:

Beautiful shore, dangerous season~
Summer tourists flock to the shore of Lake Superior—beautiful clean blue water, historic lighthouses, and thick pine forest. Audra Blair, a young single mom, is no longer going to work for someone else during the brief summer tourist trade. She has bought an old Victorian near the lakeshore and has opened “Audra’s Place,” a coffee shop-bakery in the mornings. And in the evenings a carry-out pizza shop. Her future and her little girl’s hinges on its success. She is the sole support of her child, not wanting to have contact with the man who abandoned her when she told him she was expecting six years ago.
But someone in town is dangerously unhappy and begins setting booby traps that explode into flame. Targeting people close to Audra and Carter.

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I can’t help but look at (willing something interesting to be there) the Amazon suggestions ribbon while I’m putting this all together – a dangerous thing for me to be doing – looking. Another Eason bargain book showed up, $1.99. This may be one I’ve read as a library lend one year but I can’t be sure so…

Agent Undercover (Rose Mountain Refuge Book 1)

Agent Undercover

Amazon quote:

REVISIT A FAN FAVORITE STORY FROM LYNETTE EASON

The traumatized six-year-old boy hasn’t said one word since the unsolved murder of his single mother. And now, the killer is after the child—and the devoted uncle raising him, Dr. Dylan Seabrook. Working undercover in the boy’s school, DEA agent Paige Ashworth is determined to find the murderer.But she can’t tell Dylan her real identity, what she knows—or just how close to the case she really is. Dylan’s strength and fierce love for his nephew soon have Paige longing to join their family. First,though, they must catch a killer who never wants little Alex to speak again.

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One last one…. back in the K-9 theme. This is a Christy Barritt suspense. $1.99

Trained to Defend (K-9 Mountain Guardians Book 1)

Trained to Defend

Amazon quote:

“Take Buzz and run. Far away.

…and don’t trust the police.”

Framed for her boss’s murder, Sarah Peterson is on the run—with only her boss’s loyal husky, Buzz, for protection. To clear her name and keep her safe, she must rely on her ex-fiancé, former detective Colton Hawk. The police aren’t the only ones searching for Sarah and the brave dog…the real killer is on the hunt, determined to silence them for good.

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This list of books should keep us busy and out of trouble for today… rather unlike the characters in the stories!

Happy Reading,

and a Happy Easter, even if we are self isolating.

It sounds like, from expressions and comments I’m hearing, this current pandemic situation is a season of reflection on what is truly important. I wholeheartedly agree. My thoughts have changed significantly through my time of self-isolation. (years of it, partly by choice and partly not. My friends and relative tease that I’ve been in training for this pandemic. I laugh and agree. Actually it has been better for me than normal with more contact than I’m used to. Texts, emails, phone calls. It will be sad to see things go back to normal)

The good thing, coming out of the hermit life – I’ve landed in a happier place than I have in years. It has been a time of letting go. I’m more inclined to be tolerant and forgiving. It is not an easy life but it does pay big dividends if aloneness can be embraced. The positive changes have been a choice though. It could go either way, positive or negative, depending on our choices. Positive has turned out to be a wise decision for me.

Stay safe and make the most of this down time. Remember. This too shall pass. Good or bad, it always does.

 

 

 

Free and bargain books March 25, 2020

 

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today. It’s an author I’ve not seen previously and I’m thrilled to meet someone new.

Finding Sarah (Echoes of Nutt Hill Book 1)

Finding Sarah

Amazon quote:

Finding Sarah is an emotionally captivating story about a woman whose life has been turned upside down by the infidelity of her husband.
With her house sold from under her, Sarah finds herself moving to a small cottage in the country in order to make ends meet. Fortunately, she soon makes a new friend, Maggie.
Maggie is the matriarch of Nutt Hill, a Texan woman and hopeless romantic, and it is she who takes Sarah under her wing, encouraging her to grow. But one day Sarah meets a new man and her idyllic new life seems set to fracture.
Two very different souls searching for peace. One entire parish watching and in a small country village, nothing stays private for long.

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While browsing, an interesting FREE book showed up in the lineup. It’s been several years since this author has appeared on my radar but there are four of her books in my collection and that bodes well. I’m looking forward to this one.

KNOX: The Montana Marshalls – An Inspirational Romantic Suspense Family Series

Knox

Amazon quote:

Montana rancher Knox Marshall’s danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider’s Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and…ordinary.  But he wants more from life…

Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be – vivacious and confident – burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X’s next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves.

Knox and Kelsey’s paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey’s crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited.

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I’m currently reading Obsessed (Everyday Heroes Book 2) and it’s still a bargain at $0.99. I’m just getting started but it’s holding my attention.

Obsessed

Amazon quote:

When a stalker ruthlessly targets people she loves, a woman flees her old life, creating a new identity as Serena Remington. Her plan to escape the madman and lead him away from family and friends worked for three years. Now he’s back. With nowhere else to run, her only choice is war. Quinn Taylor, her neighbor and a firefighter with expertise in arson, comes to her aid, but will it be in time to save her?

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All in all it’s not a bad day for new books.

There have been quite a few new books lately and some of them have turned out to be excellent reads. Others, not so much. There haven’t been any that were awful. Mostly they were just OK. I can’t really put the time into OK so if I want to know the ending I skip whole chapters and if that’s not enough, I’ll head right to the end. The two most prevalent reasons for disengagement – content that should have been cut and telling rather than showing. It’s not really a matter of personal preference, it’s a matter of what works. I’m a pretty easy sell for a well written book.

I’m a reader not a writer, but I like to learn and grab hold of any opportunities that come my way. This week Jerry Jenkins (check out his website if you are unfamiliar with his name) offered a free webinar giving seven tips on how to publish a book everyone will want to read. It was excellent content and I’m glad I listened in. He is currently inviting new gild members for his masterclass writing courses and mentorship program. If I were a writer I’d sign up. Check it out if you think it could be helpful.

The other person I follow is a blogger on WordPress, Jane Friedman. Her credentials are impressive and she features highly qualified contributors as guest bloggers on her site. I found today’s guest post, March 25, to be worth sharing far and wide. The discussion was Peer Critique vs Professional Editing. Very helpful. As a reader, I like to promote material like this in my quest to see good writers become better writers. Selfish motivation, I know.

So, back to books and reading….

Happy Reading on this fine sunny day.

Free LPC Books March 18, 2020

Seven Free suggestions from LPC Books this morning, they want to make sure we have reading material while we are socially distancing ourselves with covid 19.

Murder in Disguise (A Preston Barclay Mystery Book 3)  We have seen his one before but it’s still nice to see it again.

Murder in Disguise

Fatal Transaction is also a book we’ve seen before, it was a year ago. I didn’t finish reading it. I’ll try again.

Fatal Attraction

Amazon quote:

Sara, an expert computer hacker, knows better than to trust anyone—certainly not the powerful and crooked business mogul for whom she works. But there is no future for the life of a thief. Determined to find a way out, Sara devises a scheme to double-cross her employer and steal millions through one final fatal transaction.

Midnight Is My Time also seen a year ago. I did read this one

Midnight is my time

Amazon quote:

Loner Andy Mayer is on the run from a past he cannot escape and headed into a future he cannot foresee. But along the way he meets Missy, a mysteriously gifted and blind woman, whose senses point him in the right direction. Andy and Missy need to get to Maine but it seems every force in the universe is against them. Navigating a post-apocalyptic landscape, the two fight their way north where they eventually come face to face with an enemy so powerful it will take their collective efforts to defeat it. And only then will they both realize the true purpose of their journey.

Saratoga Letters is new to me. It appears to be a dual historical USA war story.

Saratoga Letters

Amazon quote:

1777: The Battle of Saratoga, a turning point of the Revolutionary War, gives the American Continental Army its first great victory. But there seems little to celebrate for Abigail, a woman forced to tend to a wounded British soldier. While nursing William back to health, Abigail finds herself pursued by others in the enemy camp who have less than gallant intentions toward her. Fearful of who she can trust and who might betray her, she leans on her faith and God’s Providence for survival.

1977: On the anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, thousands arrive from Europe and the United States to celebrate the event. Among the re-enactors are descendants of the original participants from both sides of the battle. One young American, Abby, meets the offspring of a British soldier. But when she finds herself almost assaulted by some men at the event, Abby turns to the only person she knows—her British ally. Can she trust him with her life? Or will he betray her in the same way loyalist spies betrayed her ancestors? Perhaps her answer lies in the letters from her ancestor and namesake, Abigail.

The Queen’s Daughters (Kate Bushnell Series Book 2) also from a year ago (for those of you following me all this time) I didn’t finish reading this one, I will give it another try.

The Queen's Daughters

Amazon quote:

Inspired by a dream, Dr. Kate Bushnell writes to Josephine Butler, famous crusader who frees women from sex slavery in Victorian England. Kate tells Mrs. Butler she is planning to travel to Great Britain. Though she she doesn’t have a cent for the journey from America, miraculously she arrives months later in London.

Once there, Kate and her friend Bess are invited to tea with Mrs. Butler. “When I read of your experiences rescuing girls in the lumber camps in Wisconsin,” Mrs. Butler says, “I thought you might be able to help us in India. We need proof for Parliament that the military entices or buys girls for the brothels on the bases.”

Kate glances at Bess. She sees a streak of fear in her eyes.

Mrs. Butler goes on, “I warn you, you would have to enter as secretly as possible. General Roberts, the commander-in-chief, would make sure you’d never enter another base again.” She pats Kate’s hand as if to soften her words. “I’m afraid this will be one of the hardest assignments you’ve undertaken.

Everlasting Light Andrea Boeshaar   another historical civil war novella

Everlasting Light

Amazon quote:

The American Civil War has ended, but Alaina McKenna still awaits news about her husband, Braeden. Did he die in a Yankee prison? Was he buried in a shallow grave on a Virginia battlefield? Or has he turned his back on the specter of death and loss around him and sought solitude west of the Mississippi River, never to return home, again?

As Christmas nears, Alaina deflects the advances of a suitor in the neighboring county, choosing to cling instead to hope and her belief that Braeden will return.

Our Heart Psalms  a new release to bring us a little comfort in this time of fear and panic.

Our Heart Psalms

Amazon quote:

Want a deeper relationship with God? Wonder how to talk to Him when you’re hurt, confused, angry—or overwhelmed with gratitude? Our heavenly Father wants us to know Him intimately. He wants us so close we can share every detail of life with Him—the agonies and ecstasies.

Our Heart Psalms explores the emotional rollercoaster of Scripture’s psalm writers, then invites you to use their patterns to create your own psalms. This interactive journal encourages you to develop an honest relationship with your Creator—who knows everything about you anyway.

Happy Reading y’all

Read and enjoyed March 4, 2020

Let’s talk about books read, since it’s been a slow day for book suggestions.

The Cowboys is a collection of four books and while not a favorite it was still a good read. It is back to full price again.

Taming the west—one heart at a time.

The Cowboys

Healing Heart

Lonnie Holt’s external scars remind him of his failures, his internal scars torment him. Genny Collins seeks safety at the ranch once owned by Lonnie’s uncle. When Lonnie and his brother arrive, sparks fly and distrust abounds. 

Becoming Brave

When Coy Whittaker stumbles upon a grisly scene littered with bodies, he wants nothing more than to get his boss’s cattle out of Indian Territory.

Trail’s End

Wade Chadwick has no money until his boss’s cattle sell, so he takes a kitchen job at Abby’s Home Cooking. The beautiful and prickly owner adds spice to his workday.

Loving a Harvey Girl

Eva Knowles can’t imagine why the local preacher doesn’t like Harvey Girls—women who work serving tables instead of finding a husband and falling in love.

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Me & Mr Everything was a fun read. Mainly because the title is misleading.

Me and Mr Everything

My brother needed thirty thousand dollars to make an investment that could potentially change everything for him. The problem was, he was still in college and working as a stable hand, so coming up with that kind of money seemed virtually impossible.

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The Way of Grace I’m not sure what was happening with this one, it says read and that confuses me. I forgot it was from back in 2013 which makes sense. The last few chapters don’t really remind me of reading it back then but they do tell me I liked the book. It’s still FREE if you’d like to try it out. It’s a bit of a thriller.

The Way of Grace 201

A justice-seeking small town girl and new attorney dreams of a perfect life. So Gracie is far from happy when her far-from-perfect former boyfriend shows up unannounced. Disillusioned by life as a defense lawyer, she goes to work for the prosecution. But things are not as they appear. Unsure of who to trust, she launches her own covert investigation. Then she falls prey to the schemes of a master manipulator and is unwittingly caught in the cross-fire of a personal vendetta. In a heartbeat, her perfect dreams disintegrate in a heap of ashes.

A free-spirited musician returns to Miller’s Creek to see if the only woman he’s ever loved will want him now that she’s out of law school. But Matt can’t compete with Gracie’s picture-perfect ideal man and decides to hits the road on a concert tour instead.

Can Matt make it back to Miller’s Creek in time to protect Gracie when her pursuit of justice lands her in danger? Will Gracie become the fall girl for those bent on her destruction? And can she bestow sacrificial grace on even her enemies–especially in the face of life-altering tragedy?

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Above the Fold was  a good book but it has gone back to full price.

Above the Fold

After losing the love of her life to a big city journalism job, Elissa Tillman pours herself into the suffragette movement and her secretarial work helping keep her father’s Pittsburgh newspaper afloat.

Cole Parker returns to the steel city with the phantom failures of his past nipping his heels. All he asks of the future is a second chance with the woman he once spurned.

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Love You Truly Actually, this was a book that I enjoyed more than most on this list.

Love You Truly

Blake Carlton, the camera-shy son of Hollywood’s Darling, dodges the invasive limelight and scripted relationships that so often accompany fame. But when his mother’s popularity declines and she falls into a depression, he offers himself up as the next bachelor on a reality show, hoping to reignite interest in her career while creating a way for them to finally connect.

After her fiancé dumps her for her best friend, aspiring photographer Harlow Tucker is done with romance—until her beloved, disabled sister requests her aid to start a nonprofit. Harlow agrees to do whatever is needed to raise funds, even reluctantly costarring on a dating show with a notorious womanizer who distrusts anyone behind a lens.

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Sarah’s Smile I liked this book too, although it was frustrating in places. Character choices and attitudes are the reasons this time. This cover is one of my favorites.

Sarah's Smile

Romance. Heartbreak. Scandal. Secrets. Second Chances.

In 1902, Sarah McCall is waiting to leave for the mission field when the man she once loved steps back into her life. Abandoned as a child by her mother and gambler father, she strives to overcome a tarnished history she didn’t create and a heartbreak she can’t forget.

Peter Caswell returns to his Wisconsin hometown a pastor, dedicated to his four-year-old daughter and new congregation. But no matter how hard he tries to move on with his life, he can’t forgive himself for his wife’s death.

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Sentence of Marriage was not at all what I expected. Titles do that to us sometimes. It’s still FREE if you’d like to see for yourself.

Sentence of Marriage 2012

“I won’t have her forced,” Jack said. “Let her decide for herself.”

Amy knew her father meant it. She could say no if she wanted. But this marriage would make everything all right. They could put all the trouble she had caused behind them. Everyone would be happy again.

Everyone except her.

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Egypt’s Sister This one may have been mentioned in a previous post but it’s still on my device so we’ll do it again. It was a favorite and is still a bargain at $0.99. Great cover.

Egypt's Sister

Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria’s royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what–but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery.

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I see there is quite a list of half read books building up again but we’ll limit ourselves to  read & enjoyed, for now anyway.

Happy Reading.