BookRune

Free and bargain books June 21, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today.

Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #1)

Aiming for Love

Amazon quote:

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David’s father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

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While checking out this free book (above) I found bargain books for most of another series by this same author. A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense. It’s cool to have easy access to this much of a series, although a box set would have been even better. They are all in the $1.40 range.

Loving the Texas Lawman: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense (Garrison’s Law Book 1) 

Loving the Texa Lawman

Amazon quote:

Trudy Jennings is a college professor with a string of bestselling pop psychology books about answering all of life’s troubles with love.
Ben Garrison is her student. He’s a hardened cop who needs this class to get his degree, but he can’t keep a straight face. He tells her she’s right, as long as she lives in her cushioned, safe life. But for him, using her philosophy, he’ll be dead by the weekend.
A stalker is coming after kindhearted Trudy, and Ben is there to protect her. Trudy faces her first true challenge to turning the other cheek. Her stalker keeps coming despite her kindness and she feels like a failure that she can’t help the confused and frightening man.

Loving Her Texas Protector: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense (Garrison’s Law Book 2)

Loving Her Texas Protector

Amazon quote:

Jacie Moreau is a tough-as-nails security specialist who works with the Long Pine Texas police. She takes care of herself and doesn’t ask for help from anyone.

Brett Garrison is an odd-man-out in the Garrison family. He’s a soft-hearted veterinarian from a family of daring Texas lawmen.

Jacie runs afoul of a hired killer and no one is there to step between her and danger but Brett.

Brett’s good-hearted plan to care for the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen draw an assassin’s attention.

Jacie never needs help, but Brett’s kindness when she is so vulnerable sneaks past all the emotional walls she’s built around her heart.

The killer keeps coming and their only hope is to run. And as they run they try and figure out who’s hired a killer, and why, and how to stop him.

Loving the Texas Negotiator: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense (Garrison’s Law Book 3)

Loving the Texas Negotiator

Amazon quote:

Not all the Garrisons are guys.

Beth Garrison is the top hostage negotiator in Rocky Ridge, Texas. She’s called to serve on a task force to investigate a killing that is a copycat of her first bust as a rookie.

Tate McCade has a reputation for steamrolling anyone who gets in his way and he’s had a run-in with Beth and her oversized ego before. He’s got a bruise on his face to prove it.

They have to work together and sparks are flying that aren’t all about the job.

 

Loving the Texas Stranger: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense (Garrison’s Law Book 4) 

Loving the Texas Stranger

Amazon quote:

An assassin takes a shot and hits two people with one bullet.
Natalie Brewster, a deep undercover agent for a group that doesn’t officially exist, saw the gunman aiming. He definitely waited, lined up the shot, and tried to kill both of them. Nat and Case Garrison hit the ground bleeding. They both come up shooting and kill the assassin—but that just makes him mad.
Now Case and Nat, who have never before met, have to figure out what they have in common to make them prey for a killer.
And they have to do it while running for their lives because, despite the two of them being highly skilled at keeping a low profile, the killer keeps finding them. They are running at break-neck speed, hiding with all the skill of long-time undercover agents, and falling in love with a passion that might be part of what brought a killer down on them.

Loving the Mysterious Texan: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense: Garrison’s Law Book 5

Loving the Mysterious Texan

Amazon quote:

Garrison’s Law enters the Gothic Romance Genre.
Amnesia, murder, treasure and ghosts.
A woman wakes up next to a dead man with no idea how she got there, who he is…..who SHE is.
Grey Devereau drags a terrified woman out of his cousin’s bed…his very dead cousin. It looks for all the world like she killed him. But then everyone who knows Victor wants to kill him eventually. Grey included.
Lanny Cole, the young woman hired to research the history of the Devereau family, can’t remember a thing.
Grey steps in with an alibi and Lanny realizes that if Grey is her alibi, then she’s his. She decides to trust him, but then she’s suffered a head injury. So she’s probably making one stupid decision after another.
And then someone else dies. And a hurricane cuts them all off from help. And then someone else dies….
And the rumors of ghosts and treasure can’t be true. Sure Grey saw the ghost, in fact, he’s pretty sure the ghost saved his life as a child. But he was upset at the time and he doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Chills and thrills abound in an old island home built by a loathsome pirate. He’s not a Garrison, but when he gets in trouble, he turns to his old friend Case Garrison for help.
Garrison’s Law just got spooky.

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A change of pace, by the same author. $1.32

Three Christmas Novellas: Longhorn Christmas * The Sweetest Gift * The Christmas Candle 

Three Christmas Novellas

Amazon quote:

Longhorn Christmas
Netty Lewis, a lonely young widow is saved from a raging mama longhorn by a passing cowboy who’s been wandering since the end of the Civil War.
She needs help surviving her rugged life and caring for Jeremiah, her young son. And that means rounding up a nice-sized herd of wild-as-wolves longhorns.
Netty and Roy, along with Jeremiah begin a journey toward Christmas, family, home and love.
And a herd of longhorns are making the way hard.

A sweet re-telling of The Gift of the Magi–with a happy ending
The Sweetest Gift
She longs for music. He needs a valuable horse to improve his herd.
When Christmas comes the gift they truly give is the gift of love.

The Christmas Candle
A lonely widower with a pair of out-of-control sons he never got to know while their mother was alive.
A woman with a love of nature and beauty and scent…and the little boys seem determined to destroy her way of life.
A feisty Ozark mountain granny who doesn’t put up with much nonsense.
The gift of a candle for Christmas and a Christ child who is a perfect match for this scent of heaven.

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I’m currently reading and enjoying a collection from December 2019 that is no longer a bargain.

A Summer Christian Romance Collection: Wildflower B&B

A summer Romance Collection

I see I have read book 1, a few years back, but I’m reading it again as a refresher before moving on to book 2.

Island Refuge

A heartbroken chef and a burned-out doctor seek solace and a new beginning on a tiny Puget Sound island at the Wildflower B & B, and discover the bed and breakfast is a place of healing, adventure, and romance. Book one in the series.

Island Dreams

A land developer with something to prove comes to Wildflower Island to develop her family’s land. She soon finds herself at odds with adjoining property owner. If only she wasn’t attracted to him. Book two in the series.

Island Christmas

A sous Chef returns to Wildflower Island looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son but discovers that life has a lot of bumps in the road even on idyllic Wildflower Island.
A self-proclaimed workaholic comes to Wildflower Island hoping to take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at the Wildflower B&B catches his eye, he is drawn to her. But how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best? And most of all, how can he reconcile her lack of faith in God with his strong religious beliefs. Book three in the series.

Island Hope

A metal sculptor gave up on art when her creativity was zapped by another person’s actions, she takes a job on Wildflower Island. She never imagines that a job at the Wildflower Resort will turn everything in her life upside down.

A lonely widower throws all his energy into raising his teenage daughter, but when he is promoted to manager of the Wildflower Resort, things at home don’t go as smoothly as planned. Worried about his relationship with his daughter, he seeks advice from a feisty-but-sweet newcomer. Will she help smooth his path or will things only get more complicated? Book four in the series.

A Love To Treasure (a new series)

School teacher Nicole Davis is on summer break, but this vacation is unlike any other. Her beloved Grandmother’s final wish has landed Nicole smack in the middle of her favorite destination—Sunriver, Oregon, following Grams’ clues on a mysterious scavenger hunt. Unexpectedly, Nicole finds more than just a fellow sleuth in a handsome police officer, Mark Stone. But Mark must return to his job in Portland at summer’s end, and Nicole must guard her heart. 

Mark is hoping for a quiet summer in Sunriver as he contemplates his future in law enforcement, but a string of burglaries draws him from his self-imposed break from detective work and thrusts him into the middle of the investigation. To complicate matters, Nicole is in jeopardy, and he knows his growing feelings for her could cloud his judgment. Will their differing career goals be the end of their summer romance—or just the beginning of forever after? Book one in the series—book two and three available on Amazon or via Kindle Unlimited today!

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Happy reading …

on this cloudy and coolish day. It’s crazy how we go from Air Conditioning to Furnace in just days. Today is a furnace day for sure. A good day for the comfort of reading.

Free and bargain books June 19, 2020

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BookBub has a clean bargain book suggestion for us.

The Billionaire’s Destined Bride: (The Blushing Bride Series Book 8) ($0.99)

The Billionaire's Destined Bride

Amazon quote:

She needs to save her company. He’s running from a public breakup. To get what they both want, they’ll have to make a deal.

Sophia Hansen’s work is her life, putting her dreams of having a family on the back burner. But when her father declares his plans to step down as CEO of the family company, she must find a way to beat her scheming brother for the top spot, but it’ll come at a cost in the form of an alliance with a charming billionaire.

Cole Bradford is the most eligible billionaire bachelor in the Pacific Northwest. After a public breakup with an A-list actress, he’s tired of hiding from the media. When his business partner, Sophia, expresses her concerns about the future of her company, he comes up with a plan to save both of their jobs… a proposal. 

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us.

Henry

Henry

Amazon quote:

Book Synopsis: Sent to a small town outside Astoria, Oregon, Prue Collins is under the protection of the most unlikely guardian—rude and sarcastic, Ex-Officer Henry Clay wants nothing to do with his new roommate and doesn’t mask any hard feelings, only secrets. His wheelchair gives Prue a glimpse of his tragic past and she can’t fight curiosity as more clues come her way, opening her eyes to the true stranger she’s been sent to live with—and possibly, meant to help save. But the truth is like a loose string on an old shirt—pull at it, and the entire fabric could come undone. Will Prue leave well enough alone, or risk everything, even her own heart, to know the truth?

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Browsing unearthed another bargain ($1.32) with an author unknown to me.

The Billionaire’s Convenient Bride (Billionaire Cowboys Book 3) 

The billionaire's convenient bride

Amazon quote:

Marianne Lawson is a devoted single mom, working her fingers to the bone to support the light of her life, her daughter Zoe. When her own mother falls on hard times due to her savings disappearing in a fraud scandal however, Marianne takes it upon herself to look after her too, but she’s quickly reaching the end of her rope.

Billionaire cowboy Jay Parish was left with big shoes to fill when his industrialist parents passed away. Not only that, but he was also left with a big, fat secret: he isn’t the full-blooded American he thought he was. The billionaire CEO, in charge of carrying out the legacy of his parents’ company, was illegally adopted—from a country he’s barely even heard of!

Needing a quick fix to his citizenship issue, Jay hatches a plan. Marianne soon finds herself in Jay’s office, with the deal of a lifetime before her eyes—be his green card bride, and never have money troubles again—she knows it’s an offer she shouldn’t refuse, but her mother’s hatred of the misunderstood tycoon definitely complicates matters.

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books June 12, 2020

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Where has the time gone. It will be the longest day of the year soon (here in southern Canada) and it feels like the year has just begun. I like long days, I’m not ready to see them getting shorter this quickly. In the meantime…

Bookbub has several bargain suggestions. $0.99 each, a known, and an unknown, author.

Undetected 

Undetected

Amazon quote:

When asked what he does for a living . . .

Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: “I’m in the Navy.” But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.

Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and very smart. She’s a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.

Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn’t see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best–ocean science research. She’s on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop’s perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she’s figured out is only the beginning. If she’s right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter.

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Cotton Tree Ranch: The Complete Trilogy

Cotton Tree Ranch

Amazon quote:

Dalton
Everything in Hazel’s perfect life is going according to plan. Every moment is accounted for. But she’s in for a surprise. When her best friend and roommate takes ill, Jenny begs Hazel to fill in for her on a trip to South Georgia. But life on a horse ranch in her Jimmy Choos isn’t exactly what Hazel had in mind for her summer break.

When Dalton Sullivan takes a spill from a bronc at the last rodeo of the season, his life changes forever. Uncertain about his future, his fortunes take another turn when Grandpa Joe bequeaths him a dilapidated horse ranch in his will. Dalton’s plans to refurbish the place and turn it into a working ranch again are interrupted when a beautiful woman shows up pretending to be someone she’s not.

Eamon
Eamon thinks he has love and life figured out. A successful accountant, full of confidence and charm, he’s got it all, including the beautiful girlfriend and the high flying job. But when his brother inherits a ranch in south Georgia, he leaves everything behind to help him run it.

Emily Zhu is a driven and ambitious surgeon from Boston. Everything in her life is structured and planned, down to the last detail. When she doesn’t get the job she’s been promised and has been working toward, it seems everything could come tumbling down around her. Suddenly the future is clouded with uncertainty.

Parker
When bumbling veterinarian Jennifer Barsby’s friend Hazel falls ill, she doesn’t hesitate to take action. After quitting her job in Atlanta, she packs up her life and moves to the Cotton Tree ranch in South Georgia to take care of her sick former room-mate. But when circumstances change, she wonders what she should do with the rest of her life.

Handsome and brooding cowboy, Parker Williams, is just another pal — at least that’s how Jen sees him. A former Army Ranger, he’s found renewed purpose as part-owner of the ranch. But he’s given up on the idea of ever moving on or finding love. That is until Jen moves in.

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion. It’s not really clear to me what this is but it looks like it could be two books. There are 457 pages. This is a new author to me, not sure what to expect.

The Beginning of Forever: Inspirational Pioneer Frontier Romance Novella (Journey to Hope Book 2)

The Beginning of Forever

Amazon quote.

23-year-old Hope was running away from a future she was born and bred to embrace; yet it was not what she wanted. Upon the death of her father and the insistency of a man she didn’t love to marry him, she decides to travel out west to become a school teacher. She wanted the freedom the west could provide her but little did she know that she would soon be chained to the grey eyed man who was her first welcome to Yellow Creek County.

Jed wasn’t looking for love. All he wanted to do was prove to his father that he could survive and be a man without his protection. To do that, he would have to live the life of a loner for some time. It all changes when he meets the green eyed Angel with wild red hair that invades his dreams every night. Instead of trying to prove himself a man, he finds himself thinking of ways that will lead to forever with this woman.

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I’m currently reading and enjoying …

Poustinia: A Novel (Poustinia Series Book 1) 

Poustinia

Amazon quote:

When Victoria Sullivan finds herself at a crossroad in life, she books a rustic cabin in the woodlands of the Monastery of St. Carmella. While trying to discern her future, she meets other guests who face their own challenges.

The Sisters also have a dilemma, as they anticipate a merger because of their dwindling numbers and an aging congregation. Will they lose their beloved homeland, nestled among the vineyard, forest, and lake?

Poustinia: A Novel is the first book of the Poustinia series. If you enjoy contemporary and inspirational fiction with a touch of romance, you’ll love Kathleen McKee’s heartwarming story of friendship, generosity, and love.

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books June 06, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. This is an author new to me. Awesome.

The One Who Rocked Away: (The Prodigal Ones Book 1)

The One Who Rocked Aawy

Amazon quote:

SERENE
If she loses herself loving him, is it love at all?

Growing up with Nolan, Serene Sinclair stands witness to the rise and fall of his faith. When his talent shoots them both to fame, Serene’s love for him makes her stay. However, as he drifts further from the faith and pulls her along with him, Serene has to ask herself if he is worth losing it all.

NOLAN
He gains it all to lose it all, so he can find his way back to love.

Nolan Stone was born for the stage. Judged and rejected by the church, the only reason he has to keep the faith is Serene. When she abandons him, his faith goes with her. When circumstances intertwine their lives back together, he wrestles with the urge to be someone he’s not just to get her back.

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Browsing has a bargain suggestion. $1.37 This is an author I’ve read and enjoyed.

A Change of Heart: (The Callaghans & McFaddens Book 1) 

A Change of Heart

Amazon quote:

I just want things to stay the same. Bringing new people into our family company will change the dynamic that has worked perfectly fine so far.

When her father announces that he plans to retire from their family company, Makayla McFadden knows that change is coming. While employees have come and gone from C&M Builders, the core of the company has always stayed the same, the main roles all filled by family members. Though she understands the need to hire someone, Makayla is resistant to the idea of having a stranger step into the void created by her father’s retirement.

I’ve looked out for my little sister since she was born, and that’s not going to change even though our dad is moving to another city. I just need to find a job so I can continue to help care for her the way I always have. She’s my world, and I’d do anything for her

Upon learning that his father and step-mother plan to move to a new city with his younger sister, Ethan Collins knows he needs to move there as well. The day he gets a call from his first choice for a job, he figures God has answered his prayers. However, while most of the family is welcoming, Makayla McFadden is reserved, clearly not accepting of his presence there. After they offer him the job on a three-month probationary basis, Ethan knows he not only has to convince them he can do the job, he has to somehow convince Makayla that he’s a good fit for her family’s company.

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Currently reading Book 1 of a 3 book collection and it’s still a bargain at $1.41 

Second Chance at Love

Amazon quote:

Three fun, feel-good, uplifting romances where childhood or teen sweethearts encounter each other and second chances when they least expect it! Be prepared to be swept up by these heartfelt stories into the world where past wounds can heal, humor is abound, and love is found again. This set includes a reunion romance, a single dad and best friends romance (previously published), as well as a never published before fairytale retelling.

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Happy Reading y’all.

Free and bargain books June 05, 2020

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This is a good day for new book suggestions!

BookRunes has a FREE offer for us. Another author new to me.  It’s fun finding new people to enjoy. I’m hoping this will prove to be one more great experience.

The Lost Art of Reverie: (Aveline Book 1)

The Lost Art of Reverie

Amazon quote:

An inheritance. A long-forgotten dream. A new life in a spacious place.

Corporate life has not been treating Katie Grace well. Suffering from extreme anxiety due to a recent incident at work, she learns that she has inherited her late grandmother’s Victorian house in the lake town of Aveline, in the rolling hills of the Los Padres National Forest. Maybe a new start will be exactly what she needs.

Hardware store owner Sam Grant remembers Katie from when they spent summers together, years before. Sam has determined never to get involved in a relationship again, but working on Katie’s house renovations might put that resolve to the test.

In Aveline, Katie allows herself to dream again, finding solace in creating food and a space for her new friends to gather. As members of the town welcome Katie, her heart begins to find safety, but will the events of the past repeat themselves?

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An author appearing here frequently has a book release set for Oct 13th and it’s on pre-order at the bargain price of $1.38.

Marry Me for Real, Cowboy: (Cavanagh Cowboys Romance Book 1)

Marry Me for Real

Amazon quote:

Adam Cavanagh’s rodeo championship tastes like dirt after a competitor’s critical injury, but going home to his family’s Montana ranch isn’t much of an improvement. If not even the coveted trophy earns his stepfather’s respect, what will it take?

Riley Dunning’s quick thinking is all that’s keeping her body, soul, and principles together, but demanding a kiss from a hunky cowboy to deter the weirdo following her might be taking things too far… especially when the cowboy comes up with a risky plan that might offer them both stability. If it doesn’t backfire completely.

Will a fake engagement give Adam and Riley the leg up they each need, or will the cost to their hearts be too high? Because neither believes the other will want to marry them… for real.

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An interesting bargain in the suggestion line-up. I’ve recently downloaded one other book by this author.

The Billionaire’s Commitment: (The Billionaire Club Book 6) $1.39 

The Billionaire's Committment

Amazon quote:

Living in New York was too expensive, so when the medical bills pile up Ensley Morgan lets the dartboard choose where she’s going to live next. When fate chooses Texas she doesn’t look back, until a handsome doctor weasels into her life—and her heart. But falling for her doctor comes with a price she’s not willing to pay.

Peter Bridgeport has dealt with many stubborn patients, but never one so uncompromising as Ensley. Her life hangs on her last treatment option, but she refuses treatment because of the cost. He’s never crossed patient boundaries until the determined redhead came into his life. Now he’s paying for her treatment anonymously and bumping into her out of the clinic.

When he saves her from more than her illness, their chemistry ignites. He realizes it’s time for her to see a new doctor. Only she finds out about his lies and wants nothing to do with him.

Now he needs to convince her to stay before a dart takes her out of his life as quickly as it brought her in it.

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A bargain collection by another author frequently seen here. $1.41

Second Chance at Love: (To Love and to Cherish Book 2)

Second Chance at Love

Amazon quote:

Three fun, feel-good, uplifting romances where childhood or teen sweethearts encounter each other and second chances when they least expect it! Be prepared to be swept up by these heartfelt stories into the world where past wounds can heal, humor is abound, and love is found again. This set includes a reunion romance, a single dad and best friends romance (previously published), as well as a never published before fairytale retelling.

SEASON OF JOY. A successful travel reporter returns home for the holidays, and sparks fly between her and her first crush, now a single father. When his youngest son writes a letter to God asking for a Mom for Christmas, she agrees to help him find the right woman. But can this reunion be a second chance for these best friends?

HOLD ME. Can she win the heart she shattered?
Divorcee Aileen McKenzie only wants to have a fresh start in her hometown with her son and their pets and to see her fledgling pastry store thrive. When she nearly drowns in a flood and her house and store are damaged, her first love-and the man she’d left over two decades ago-Roman Vela comes to the rescue. Old feelings resurface.
Over the next days, Aileen and Roman grow close until she might have to leave town-and Roman-again. Will a once-shy, risk-averse girl choose a safe life with guaranteed income or risk it all for love?

NOT YOUR CINDERELLA TYPE. Run away or claim her prince… what will she choose?
Once heartbroken and abandoned, Allie Reyes watches her former childhood sweetheart and the head of the corporation, Rodrigo Garza, from the shadows of cleaning the offices. Blackmailed to go to a masked ball, she meets him incognito and has the best evening of her life… until she leaves in haste. When she is later accused of a theft she didn’t commit, will she have the courage to stay and claim the love she didn’t hope for?

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I’m still reading Alaskan Refuge Christian Suspense Box Set (Books 1-3) but I’ve moved on to book 2. It appeared in another collection somewhere along the line so I’m skimming through as a refresher before I move on to book 3. It’s still a bargain at $0.99 if you are interested.

Alaskan Refuge Box set

A woman hiding from the fatal mistakes of her past. A sister rescuing her autistic little brother from the clutches of danger. A mother confronting the demons in her past to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

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You can tell spring is here. Hammers pounding, noisy equipment working on something I can’t see, things are happening. A welcome sign after the quiet of covid lock-down.

Happy Reading, on this good day for new book selections.

Free and bargain books May 30, 2020

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BookBub has a $1.42 bargain suggestion for us. I like to vet suggested selections prior to posting them, always hoping to provide good reads. I’m not seeing the normal signposts to tell me good or bad. It’s difficult to know for sure on this one but it looks like it should be a good read. My apologies if I’m wrong.

Lacewood: A haunting love story that sweeps across centuries: Romantic Small Town Southern Fiction

Lacewood

Amazon quote:

MOVING TO A SMALL TOWN is a big change for New York socialite Katie McCain. But when she stumbles across Lacewood, an abandoned 200-year-old mansion in small-town Virginia, she’s enthralled by the enduring beauty of the neglected estate—and captivated by the haunting portrait of a woman in mourning she finds there. Katie buys the house on a whim and throws herself into befriending the colorful characters in the southern town of New Hope.

THE PAST AND PRESENT converge when military veteran and hometown hero Will Durham returns and begins his own healing process by helping restore the memory-filled Lacewood house to its former glory.

As Katie delves deeper into the mystery of the beautiful “widow of Lacewood,” her ownership of the acreage around the estate comes into question. When developers begin work to destroy the beautiful rural landscape, the southern charm of New Hope is threatened…and the townsfolk see her as the cause.

But destiny has bigger plans for Lacewood. To fulfill them, Katie and Will need to piece together the previous owner’s heartrending story, uncover secrets the house has held for centuries, and find the faith to accept their own painful pasts.

Part contemporary romance and part Civil War historical romance, Lacewood: A Novel of Time and Place is an unforgettable book club novel about love and loss, roots and belonging…and spirits of the past that refuse to be quieted.

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. I’ve read one book by this author but cannot remember what it was like. We will try again.

The Missing Bride: Christian Brides Historical Series

The Missing Bride

Amazon quote:

Lily would rather marry a stranger than be forced to marry Edgar Carrington, a cruel ruthless man that fooled everyone but her. She prays God will help her escape and His answer comes in the form of a mail order bride ad. It takes careful planning, but Lily escapes Edgar and travels to Colorado, leaving her life behind – or so she hopes.

Lee Anders is smitten by his new wife. She’s strong yet kindhearted and beautiful. Yet he knows she keeps many secrets. How can they build a life together with so many shadows haunting them from her past? Will his love be enough to keep her in this wild and sometimes uncivilized place, or will she return to the comforts she left behind?

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This has turned out to be a slow day for books, Nothing else new is showing up for us at the moment. We’ll hope tomorrow will be a better day

Currently, I’m starting the last book in a 6 book collection and it’s still a bargain at $1.39. They are short reads as there are only 298 pages in all. Not many pages for six stories. They have turned out to be OK stories. There is a bit of sameness to them all but overall it has been worth the time spent.

Honeysuckle Cove: The Collection: Books 1-6

Honey Suckle Cove collection

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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Next, I’m trying to decide between

The River Beautiful Andrea Carmen (still a bargain)

The River Beautiful

The River Beautiful mingles history and legend in a fast-paced ride through the deceptively peaceful Allegheny Mountains on a quest for answers amid loss, strength in the face of love, a whirlwind of self-discovery, and learning to use faith to illuminate even the darkest places.

and tonight’s first book Lacewood

Lacewood

I’ll let you know tomorrow which one I picked.

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I won’t be reading all night tonight. Not after spending four hours of intense labor in the flower beds today. I’m digging out old bushes with stubborn roots, making way for nice new ones. A make-over. I’m excited.

Tomorrow will be a writing day, to answer the weekly story challenge a fellow blogger has going on. The prompt is … Wrinkle. I have an idea how to use the word, now I just have to build a story around it. Haven’t started yet. I could be in trouble this time.

In the meantime…

Happy Reading!

Hmmmm… On second thought, maybe I’ll try The Missing Bride next. It looks interesting too.

The Missing Bride

 

 

Free and bargain books for May 27, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. Reading the synopsis – I’m not entirely sure what this book is about but it’s free so it’s worth a look.

One Season of Hope: An Inspiring Tale of Triumph and Tragedy (Homecoming Historical Series)

One Season of hope

Amazon quote:

Bestselling author Jim Stovall’s latest offering and first title of his Homecoming Historical Series, One Season of Hope, is a rare combination of tear-jerking emotion, powerful wisdom, and inspiring hope. Written in Stovall’s signature easy and economical style, the story is told through the perspective of Glen Fullerton, “a man for the last forty-two years in the Truman High universe, simply known as Coach.”

Welcome to the Friday night lights of Harry S. Truman High School football stadium. Coach knows the roller-coaster ride of a high school football season better than anyone. But this season is different than any he has experienced in all his years of coaching. It is one of life-changing suspense and gripping lessons in the value of humanity.

Regular, reflective “conversations” with the late President Truman give guidance, mined from the coach’s love and study of history, to help him through the most challenging season of his long and storied career at Truman High—a season that he will forever remember as One Season of Hope.

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A favorite author, Christy Barritt, has a new book coming out and it can be pre-ordered at the bargain price of $1.40

The Exercise of Interfering (The Sidekick’s Survival Guide Book 3)

The Exercise of Interfering

Amazon quote:

When Elliot’s boss signs up the staff at Driscoll and Associates for a lip-sync battle, Elliot wants out. But when a dead body is found before the competition and Elliot’s picture is in his hand, Elliot’s need for answers outweighs the embarrassment of being in the spotlight. Who would have ever thought a little interfering could lead to the fight to stay alive?

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Another enticing bargain shows up for us in Amazon suggestions. $1.39. I’ve read Lisa Phillips and look forward to experiencing this new one.

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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I’m currently reading and enjoying the fourth book in this collection. It’s not often I manage to read every book in a collection before moving on.  I’m not bored yet and it’s still a bargain at $1.39.

Baxter Family Bakery: The Complete Collection (Arcadia Valley Romance)

Baxter Family Bakery

Four siblings work together to start their own locally sourced bakery in idyllic Arcadia Valley and they all find their match along the way.

Book 4

Donuts & Daydreams: Police officer Gloria Sinclair had her life in order until Jonah Baxter moved to Arcadia Valley. Now their friendship has sparked feelings that threaten her tightly-guarded secret. Can Jonah learn to see beyond her devastating revelation, or will they be stuck with a relationship made of donuts and daydreams?

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Happy Reading y’all.

Free and bargain books May 23, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. This is an author new to me. The first chapter is intriguing and I look forward to experiencing the rest of the story.

Never Say Goodbye

Never say goodbye

Amazon quote:

Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. The death of his wife eighteen months ago shook his steady world and changed him in more ways than he can count. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.

Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us. One from my 2015 read-and-enjoyed list. I can still remember this read but after checking out the enticing first bit, I think I need to read it again. $1.38 CDN

His Baby Bond : Sacred Bond Series Book 1

His Baby Bond

Amazon quote:

Poor-but-proud Kendra Forrester doesn’t need an arrogant billionaire to tell her how to raise her sister’s baby. But when handsome Zeke King arrives at her Colorado cabin demanding custody of his brother’s child, strategy dictates that she let him stick around.

Battling mountain snowstorms and the baby’s illness brings these two opposites together, but their own insecurities, their dead siblings’ secrets, and a jealous former boyfriend threaten their tentative bond.

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I’ve just started a good looking book which, unfortunately, has gone back to  regular price. Another Dan Walsh book is still a bargain though. When Night Comes (Jack Turner Suspense Series Book 1)

I’m currently hooked on  If These Walls Could Talk (Joe Boyd Suspense Series Book 1) 

When Night ComesIf these Walls Could Talk

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I see Dan Walsh has a No -Fiction bargain book, one that may offer us encouragement in the difficult days we are facing. I’ve not read it yet, but a little peace would be welcome.

Perfect Peace: in Imperfect Times ($1.39)

Perfect Peace

Amazon quote:

Dan Walsh, bestselling fiction author of novels like The Unfinished Gift and The Reunion, has penned his first non-fiction book. Perfect Peace is a 31-Day Devotional crafted from the pages of Dan’s personal journal, written over the last several years.

Here’s an excerpt from Day 2: “If you’re like me, you’ve known moments of real peace. Moments when you’ve trusted God fully for your life, for everything going on in your life. In those moments, you knew real peace. The problem is, the word ‘moments.’ The moments didn’t last. The promise of Isaiah 26:3 is not to have moments of peace in our lives. The promise is that God would keep us in Perfect Peace.”

In Perfect Peace, Dan shares the Scriptural life-lessons he’s learned during some of the more challenging times in his life, hoping to encourage other Christians wrestling with things like stress, worry or fear.

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We’ll finish off this list with something a little lighter. a bargain ($1.40)

Deadman’s Float (Crime à la Mode Mysteries Book 1)

Dead Man's Float

Amazon quote:

It all started with a runaway dog.

Meet Serena Lavinia: part-time ice cream truck driver, part-time reporter, and full-time woman of mystery. She never expected to find a cute little terrier while on her morning ice cream route on the island of Lantern Beach. 

Nor did she expect the dog to be carrying a bloody shoe.

When a dead body is discovered floating in a nearby pool, Serena becomes fully immersed in her very own who-done-it. But her investigation hits a snag when a new foe arrives in town. Webster Newsome has been appointed the town’s new newspaper editor—a job Serena wanted—and the man is entirely too bossy.

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Happy reading! …

… on this cloudy but warm spring day.

They say we could get rain and possible thunder storms sometime today. We do get awesome thunder storms in this area. If it’s a good one maybe I will share a bit of it with you. Share the fun. It’s not quite hot enough today to produce spectacular but you never know. 🙂

Free and bargain books May 22, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us from one of my favorite authors. We’ve seen this book offered a time or two and we’re happy to see it again.

The Demise (A Braxton Mystery Book 1)

The Demise

Amazon quote:

Tiny Braxton, Tennessee, is a quiet, tight-knit community wrapped around an old town square just a stone’s throw from Nashville. But when the town’s most prominent citizen is found dead at the base of its water tower, news of Peter Lanham’s apparent suicide roars through town like a massive tsunami.

Peter, the handsome, beloved CEO of Lanham’s Fine Foods, had taken a small, family-owned grocery store founded in 1927, and grew it into a successful national chain. With most of Braxton’s residents employed by Lanham’s corporate headquarters, word of Peter’s demise left them searching for answers. What could possibly have made him take a swan dive off that tower?

Julie Parker is convinced he didn’t. As receptionist at Lanham’s executive office suite, she’s determined to find out what really happened to her boss. An aspiring actor who also stars as “The Lanham Girl” in the company’s TV commercials, Julie prides herself on her perceptive observations and people-skills. Who better to find out what happened to Peter up on that water tower?

Matt Bryson, on assignment as a rookie Special Agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, isn’t about to let the attractive receptionist intrude on his first case. She may be a hometown insider, but he’s perfectly capable of solving the case without “Miss Marple” screwing up his investigation.

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion. $0.99. From the Life Begins at Forty series

Cherish Me: (Chapel Cove Romances Book 3)

Cherish Me

Amazon quote:

When her beloved aunt’s sudden illness sends Nai back to Chapel Cove to manage the town’s bookstore, her successful, independent, organized life in Texas seems a million miles away. Between a book-hoarding aunt, a leaky roof, unruly pets, wobbly faith, and flaky bookstore staff, the last thing she wants is to have to rely on local cop Mateo Rodriguez for help. Not when he’s the guy who broke her heart, convincing her to focus on her career, not romance.

Mateo, returned to the Cove to help his aging grandfather, never forgot his first love Nai or the one sweet kiss at sixteen that sent her running. Normally confident and capable, being around each other shoots them both back into their teenage shyness and insecurity.

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A FREE book in the series mentioned above, showing up in Amazon suggestions. Written by another author we see here often.

Love Me: (Chapel Cove Romances Book 2)

Love me

Amazon quote:

Growing up, Kristina Vela never imagined she’d meet her fortieth birthday divorced by her cheating, manipulative husband, without a house, degree, or career. Back in her hometown, Chapel Cove, to start anew, she’s given up on men. Then she meets grieving widower Greg Matthews and his adorable five-year-old daughter.

Former snowboarder Greg Matthews is moving to Chapel Cove so his daughter can be close to her grandparents. After his wife died, his heart closed to romance. As caring and compassionate Kristina helps him repair his house and his life, he might be falling for her. But if she decides to leave, will he survive a second heartbreak?

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I’m currently reading and enjoying …

The Forgiving Hour: A Novel

The Forgiving Hour

Amazon quote:

Twelve years ago, Claire Porter thought her entire life was over when she learned that her husband, Dave, was having an affair with a young college student. Following their divorce, Claire started over, including changing back to her maiden name of Conway.

Claire now feels pretty good about her accomplishments. She has raised a wonderful son, Dakota; enjoys her work; and finally has a new love. When Dakota informs her that he is engaged, she looks forward to meeting his fiancée, even as she wonders if 31-year-old Sara Jennings is too old for her “little” six-foot-plus boy.

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My blogger friend peckapalooza, The Confusing Middle has issued another one word story challenge.

Signal.

It will be a challenge alright. I have a foggy idea but that’s about it so far. At least I haven’t given up quite yet. 🙂

In the meantime…

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books May 15, 2020

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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.