Books

Bargain books May 3, 2020

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We start off today with Historical fiction. I was reading somewhere recently that historical is popular these days. Is that true? I guess it is if what I see in the Amazon suggestion strip is any indication. I am surprised, but at the same time I think it’s awesome. Not because I’m a fan, I just think it gives us a different perspective on our life knowing and appreciating what life was like for our ancestors.

There will be a mix today, both Historical and Contemporary. Authors I’ve read before but can’t necessarily remember if I like them.

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A Question of Faith Lynn Landes ($1.29)

A Question of Faith

Amazon quote:

     Abbilene loses her husband and her dreams in the fire that destroys the flour mill. The town is crying out for answers, and the Mayor promises justice. During the reading of her husband’s will, Abbilene’s faith is tested when she discovers the true depths of his betrayal. She will inherit the mill and the money to rebuild as long as she adopts his son, left in an orphanage in San Francisco. The son no one knew existed. How can she love a child her husband fathered with another woman?

     Tucker Manning, childhood friend and Sheriff, is ordered by the Mayor to uncover the truth of the explosion that took eight lives. He doesn’t believe the rumors around town about Abbilene and Sterling, her husband’s cousin. Could the woman he grew up with have planned and plotted to get rid of her husband and inherit the mill? The past has shown him that some women aren’t to be trusted, but Abbie is different. Isn’t she?

     There are those who do not want the mill rebuilt and seek to stop Abbie at all costs. Even if that means harming a child. With Tucker at her side, they must retrieve the child and return home to finalize his adoption.

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A Taste of Heaven Lynn Landes  ($1.30)

A Taste of Heaven

Amazon quote:

    Evangelena Thornton works hard at her father’s bakery and selling her custom candy. She dreams of opening her own sweet shop and expanding the family business. With new orders, the demand for Thornton Candies is growing.

    Only one thing stands in her way, the banker, William Curry. When Evangelena rejects his romantic advances, he decides to take control of not only her family business but also her future. His advances grow more aggressive, and with every passing day, her dreams seem unattainable

    Wealthy businessman, Harlan Weber returns to Denver to be near his family. Years of traveling have taken its toll and he’s ready to put some roots down. His first thought is to find local businesses to invest in, and after tasting Thornton Candies he sees a golden opportunity. Now Harlan has to convince the beautiful baker to trust him. 

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Her (Not So) Perfect Love Match:   a three book collection ($1.31)

Her (Not) so perfect love match

Amazon quote:

RAPSODIA/RHAPSODY.
When a control-addicted businessman meets a born risk-taker on his flight home, sparks fly. But it’s easier to earn millions than to make her open her heart again after losing her fiancé. What will it take for her to heal enough to trust in God and take the biggest risk of all-to love again?
SEASON OF ROMANCE.
When an affluent businessman becomes a single father to a sick nephew, he needs help from a shy small-town paramedic next door. But the beautiful neighbor harbors a painful secret. Will a season of romance bring them together or pull them apart?
SEASON OF LOVE.
Feuding co-chefs have to put their differences aside before Christmas to give their siblings a great reception. A ruined wedding and failed business are not on the menu. But romance just might be…

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Her Kind-Hearted Billionaire (Billionaires with Heart Book 1)  ($1.31)

Her Kind Hearted billionaire

Amazon quote:

Since inheriting his grandfather’s fortune and mining business with his two siblings, Nicholas Barrington has tried to make his grandfather proud, but he’s tired of his siblings’ selfishness and arrogance. When he stops by his local church on his way home one night, he hears about an organization in Bangkok that intrigues him, and he decides to take a month off work to volunteer.

Three weeks before her wedding, Phoebe Halliday receives the news no one ever wants to hear… her fiancé, Reed Fisher, has been killed in a car accident. Ten months later, she’s still grieving and plagued by memories, so when her best friend suggests she takes time off work to accompany her on a three-month trip to South-East Asia, Phoebe jumps at it.

But the trip Holly has in mind is more than just a holiday. Her passion for helping others takes them to a mission in Bangkok where young girls and boys caught up in sex-trafficking are rescued and rehabilitated.

When Nick and Phoebe meet, she has no idea who Nick is, and she fights her growing affection for him as she feels she’s being disloyal to Reed’s memory.

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books May 01, 2020

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Author Staci Stallings is the featured artist today. You might think of musicians/singers when I say artist. I could be wrong about the rest of you but that’s the first thing to pop in my head …. music. Except today. When I stop to think about it, the term artist fits writers too. They create pictures and music. Their words crafted into a magical story. Sometimes it is light and fanciful, sometimes dark and somber, or most often – somewhere in between. Life is better with music, no matter the form it takes.

Staci has the heart for a song and a picture.

This first one I recall reading six years ago and, as it turns out, I remember reading the rest too.

Deep in the Heart: A Contemporary Christian Romance Novel (FREE)

Deep in the Heart

Amazon quote:

Just out of college and completely alone in the world, Maggie Montgomery has one shot left to save her life from an abyss of poverty and hopelessness. Clinging to the last shred of fuel and hope, she arrives at the mansion of Texas billionaire Conrad Ayer. Although Maggie is clearly not what Mr. Ayer and his wife have in mind for a nanny, they agree to hire her temporarily until they can find someone more appropriate to fill the position. However, Maggie’s whole world is about to be up-ended by two way-over-scheduled children and one incredibly handsome hired hand. As she struggles to fit into a world she was never made to fit in, Maggie wonders if she can ever learn to become a perfect version of herself so she can keep the job, or is she doomed to always be searching for a life she can never quite grasp?

Keith Ayer despises his life. As the son of Texas billionaire Conrad Ayer and the fiance to a Senator from Texas’ daughter, it looks great on the outside, but inside, he is dying. He would vastly prefer to manage and train his father’s racehorses. However, everyone else thinks that is beneath him. He needs to get into industry and build on his father’s success. Suffocating under the constrictions of his life, he meets Maggie who begins to teach him that wealth and power is not everything in this life. But can Keith defy the most powerful men in Texas to follow his heart?

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Coming Undone: Contemporary Christian Romance Fiction (FREE)

Coming Undone

Amazon quote:

Ben Warren has life all figured out. At 35, he’s successful in his work and free as a bird everywhere else. He has no desire to be tied down like some of his friends, and he sees no reason to change that. Then the unthinkable happens and causes him to rethink everything about everything.

Kathryn Walker can’t figure out what she’s doing wrong in the dating department. The rest of her life makes sense. She’s compassionate, strong, honest, hard-working and still alone. She wonders if she is doomed to spend forever single. Little does she know that her life is about to take a major turn. In fact, she doesn’t even see it happening until it has. Can she ever get past the fact that Mr. Right didn’t show up in the way she thought he would?

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More Than This: A Contemporary Christian Romance Novel ($1.31)

More Than This

Amazon quote:

Liz Savoy has no plans to date anyone—least of all the dark handsome mystery man who sometimes inhabits the corner table at the coffee shop where she’s working to get through school. But plans change, sometimes in ways no one expected.

Jake McCoy is the next mega-millionaire author, or at least he would be if he could get the stories in his head down on the ether. With no good place to write, he resorts to dark corners in Wi-Fi hotspots, knowing no one in the world cares about him or his comings and goings one way or the other. However, there is one waitress at The Grind coffee shop with a cute smile and kind eyes who doesn’t seem to think he is as invisible as he likes to think he is. Can reality with her ever hope to match the fantasy world where his imagination has him living?

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To Protect & Serve: (The Courage Series, Book 1)  (FREE)

To Serve and Protect

Amazon quote:

To save others’ lives, they will risk their own…

Houston firefighter, Jeff Taylor is a fireman’s fireman. He’s not afraid of anything, and no situation is too dangerous to keep him on the sideline if lives are at stake.

Lisa Matheson runs a semi-successful ad agency that’s on the brink of falling apart. Her employees are incompetent, and her schedule has become exhausting. When she takes on a client with a brilliant idea for a big conference, she thinks that maybe, finally this is her lucky break. However, the fire station wasn’t what she had in mind for finding conference speakers. When she falls for a handsome but shy firefighter, it’s possible that life might just be going her way for a change. The only problem is she can’t control Jeff and the death wish he seems to have…

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There are even more to be found, if you search for Staci Stallings. In the meantime… we’ll quit here for today.

Happy Reading! 

Read and enjoyed almost May edition

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My favorite book in this batch is Taken by Dee Henderson. It is a brilliant story with well developed, complex, relatable characters. The plot rolls out in well planned bits and the story builds with each addition. It’s unpredictable and impossible to put down. A heart wrenching story told with sensitivity, understanding and tenderness. It will bring you to tears in places without shredding your heart with the terror. Did I mention it’s impossible to put down?

Taken Dee Henderson (still a bargain)

Taken

Amazon quote:

An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand,
and his new client, missing far too long…

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time.

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn’t mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they’ll stop at nothing to silence her.

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My next favorite in this list was Justified Means, another book I could not put down. This is my new favorite out of the many Chautona Havig stories I’ve read. All of the things I had to say about well written characters and unpredictable plot in Taken could be said here too. The lasting impression for me was the smooth ride, carried away with the story.

Justified Means (Book One) (The Agency Files 1) 

Justified Means

Amazon quote:

Whatever it takes: the motto of “The Agency.” It doesn’t exist–not legally speaking. However its effect in the lives of those who benefit from their aid is incalculable. Lives saved, restored, guarded–protected from the side of life most never see. Their clients are usually wealthy, important–desperate. Their other clients–well, they don’t always appreciate the efforts expended on their behalf–not until they aren’t lying on a slab in the morgue.

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Belong with Me: (Chapel Cove Romances Book 7) (still a bargain)

Breach of Trust (Atlanta Justice Book #3) (still a bargain)

Belong with MeBreach of Trust

Not Until This Day: (Hope Springs Book 6) (still a bargain)

The Princess and the P.I. (still a bargain)

Not Until This dayThe Priness and the PI

The Billionaire’s Gift:  (The Billionaire Club Book 5) (still a bargain)

Snow Belle: (Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Book 1) (still a bargain too)

The Billionaires giftSnow Belle

Darkwater Secrets (Darkwater Inn Book 1) 

Snow Angel

Darkwater SecretsSnow Angel

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Happy Reading 

… on this beautiful spring morning filled with the happy sounds of busy nest building birds. They make me smile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free and bargain books April 29, 2020

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It’s another slow day but still, not a total loss. BookRunes has a FREE suggestion that is quite a departure from the selections we normally see. I like departures and the chance to read something out of the norm for me. As always, with an author new to me I can’t guarantee if it will or it won’t meet expectations as a good read. The first page or two suggests it will be good so I’m hoping it will be awesome.

I think one of the reasons I am drawn to this novel is related to my fascination with retreats. Especially monastic retreats with a vow of silence and simplicity, along with the structure of daily rituals. I’m not Catholic although my paternal grandparents, aunts and uncles are. I was raised Protestant with my maternal grandparents but there is still an underlying connection somehow. Between the sight of the monastery 30 miles from where I grew up and the stories of one of my high school Catholic girlfriends, a retreat has always been on my bucket list. I’m sure the picture formed in my teenage head would be quite different from today’s reality. This introvert will probably keep it just as that… a fanciful dream.

In the meantime I plan to enjoy this book.

Poustinia: A Novel (Poustinia Series Book 1) 

Poustinia

Amazon quote:

The nuns need income. The guests need hope. Can Victoria provide a solution?

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?

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I’m currently reading Taken, just started actually. I’m a fan of Dee Henderson and do not expected to be disappointed. This is still a bargain at $0.99, read along with me -especially if you’ve not yet met this author.

Taken, Dee Henderson

Taken

Amazon quote:

An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand,
and his new client, missing far too long…

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time.

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn’t mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they’ll stop at nothing to silence her.

If justice is to be done, and if Shannon’s life is ever to get on track again, Matthew will need to discover exactly what happened to her–even if it means stirring up a hornet’s nest of secrets.

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Good news where I live. They are starting to ease up on Covid-19 restrictions starting next week. Our province has wide open spaces with low population density and our health officials have been proactive in putting protective measures in place. Our affected numbers are low because of all that. Hopefully this easing will happen soon for the rest of the world too.

In the meantime….

Enjoy Reading!

Bargain books April 28, 2020

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us today. $0.99. One read and enjoyed several years ago.

Unbound Hope -Book 2 (Pleasant Hearts & Elliot-Kings) 

Unbound Hope

Amazon quote:

Experienced flight attendant Erica Heart wanted nothing more to do with US Marshal Jim Denison. Her gratitude to him for his key role in rescuing her sister’s fiancé, Michael, stopped at the gate of their final goodbye. But when she urgently required the services of a US Marshal aboard a flight to accompany her team of newly recruited flight attendants, she hesitantly turned to Jim for help. Will her heart heed her plea to not get involved and risk having it broken?

US Marshal Jim Denison knew in his gut that something was wrong when their flight left the tarmac. He yearned for Erica Heart’s support without rattling her, the same woman responsible for his sleepless nights since they parted ways after her sister’s wedding one year ago. Her Christian values, charming attitude, and wit proved he had his work cut out for him–to rein in his wildly hoping heart But when things go wrong after take-off, her faith and calm during a crisis proved vital in defeating a cloaked enemy on the plane.

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BookBub also mentioned another bargain, one that appeared for us a month ago. It is still a bargain at $1.38. I do remember reading this, a very different story.

The Essence of Shade 

the Essense of Shade

Amazon quote:

Shade’s life-altering vow to God leads to mysterious decisions that cause her to forfeit the man she loves.
Shade Doe believes her prayers are answered when she meets an older Christian man who offers her marriage and a name for her newborn child. Despite his overbearing nature, Shade delights in her new role as wife and mother. When her husband suddenly dies years later, she uncovers secrets from his past—secrets so profound they derail the lives of both her and her daughter.
After tragedy strikes, thirty-six-year-old Shade gains custody of her young grandson, Tyler, and moves to a small Michigan beach town where she becomes the owner of a successful bakery and café. Shade meets and falls in love with Tyler’s baseball coach, but their love for one another is doomed. Shade’s internal struggle to honor her vow to God, while denying her own desires, throws her on a path of painful redemption.

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Another repeat bargain from December,  $1.41

Shattered Image (Chain of Lakes Book 1)

Shattered Image

Amazon quote:

Kiera Simmons’ career as a high-profile fashion model ends abruptly when a failed relationship nearly lands her in jail. Now she forges a quiet life helping teens understand their eternal value in a world saturated with the distorted messages of society.

Peter Theisen is on the fast track to everything the celebrity life promises with every step of his meteoric rise in the music world orchestrated by his ambitious manager.

Their sweet, unexpected romance is threatened by her past and his future, a life-changing diagnosis, and financial devastation. As they struggle to find their way back to each other, and to the One who matters most, the allure of wealth and fame may jeopardize everything.

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I’m currently reading and enjoying:

Breach of Trust (Atlanta Justice Book #3) $0.99

Breach of Trust

Amazon quote:

Corporate litigator Mia Shaw suffers the shock of her life when she finds her colleague and friend brutally murdered. Grief-stricken and furious, Mia vows that she will do anything to seek justice and make the killer pay.

The man accused of the murder is a friend of security tech guru Noah Ramirez, but the evidence just doesn’t add up. To save his former ATF partner, Noah needs to convince Mia that the real killer is still on the loose.

Mia soon has more than the criminal prosecution to worry about, however. She is tasked with taking over her friend’s last case and learns he was hiding secrets about his client. She thinks she may have stumbled upon corporate espionage that has turned deadly, but she has no idea of the danger involved. Her only ally is Noah, despite their difference of opinion on the homicide case. Can he win Mia over to his side and protect her from ever-growing threats?

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Happy reading

…..on this overcast but reasonably warm beginning-of-spring day.

Bargain books April 27, 2020

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Fresh inspiration is what I needed in the daily search for good books. Focusing on a single author worked well yesterday and it should be good as a search method today too. After several other tries, Carol Moncado looks promising with an assortment of bargain books. A taste test for some of her other books.

Finding Mr. Write: (CANDID Romance Book 1) $1.24

Finding Mr Write

Amazon quote:

Jeremiah Jacobs moved to the Ozarks for a fresh start. He knows no one and has no plans to get romantically involved with anyone. Ever. He’s already had his heart ripped out once and once is enough. Besides he has contractual obligations that prevent him from talking about work – and what woman would want to be involved with a man who has to keep his job a secret? When he attends his first local writers’ group meeting, he finds the leader so intriguing, his instant attraction to her threatens to complicate his currently uncomplicated life.

Dorrie Miller has never been good enough. Not for her father or any of the guys she’s dated in the past. She’s pushed beyond her father’s disapproval to have a good career while pursuing her dream of becoming a published novelist. The Christian Authors Network – Dedicated to Inspirational Distinction, or CANDID, is hosting their annual conference in Indianapolis and who’s rumored to be in attendance? The super reclusive, super-star author, Mya Elizabeth Linscott.

The hunky new member of her local CANDID group, Jeremiah, wants to carpool to Indy. Dorrie can handle not making a fool of herself for eight hours each way. Right? But she never imagined doing a favor for someone during the conference would leave her accidentally married to the gorgeous guy she barely knows. How will she get out of this mess, married to a near stranger? Does she want to? Will her insecurities and Jeremiah’s secrets tear them apart? Or can she trust that, all along, God’s been helping her with Finding Mr. Write?

Hmm… this sounds interesting.

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This one I’ve seen before and it’s good to see it again.

Good Enough for a Princess: (The Monarchies of Belles Montagnes Book 1)  $1.32

Good enough for a Princess

Amazon quote:

The Monarchies of Belles Montagnes
Book 1: Montevaro

Crown Princess Adeline of Montevaro has her life planned out for her: get her Master’s in international relations, marry nobility, produce an heir, inherit the throne. There’s no room for romance with the single father she meets when their cars collide on an icy winter night. Parliament – and her father – would never approve.

Charlie Brewer grew up without roots. The son of an archaeologist father and anthropologist mother, he either traveled along or lived with his aunt and uncle in the States. He’s determined to give his daughter the stability he never had. He also wants to give her a mom, but the beautiful European he’s falling for refuses to move to Serenity Landing, Missouri permanently.

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There were more bargains but they were novellas, a 100+ pages or so, too many of them to mention at the moment. Check out Carol Moncado on Amazon if you like shorter stories. They did look interesting.

This search wasn’t as fruitful as expected so we will finish with an assortment of authors (including Carol) as a further taste test. A year ago was the first sighting of this collection and I know I’ve mentioned it more than once but it was a very good read.

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Betwixt Two Hearts (Crossroads Collection) $1.31

Betwixt two hearts

Amazon quote:

Betwixt Two Hearts by Amanda Tru
With control of their dating website the prize, Bailey and Camden embark on a matchmaking competition that snags on unexpected results. All is fair in a contest of love. May the best matchmaker win.

The Swedehearts Glory Quilt by Cathe Swanson
Eleanor ran away to find herself. David knew exactly where he wanted to go. Could a matchmaking agency put them on the same map?

Whole Latte Love by Kari Trumbo
Misguided Drew thinks all quiet women hide harmful secrets. While pretty, new best friend Addi’s soft-spoken nature reminds him too much of past hurts to move their relationship forward. Can a matchmaking agency change his heart?

Seoul Refuge by Alana Terry
Caroline is a new believer, excited and passionate about her faith. Calvin is a Boston police detective, an atheist who can hardly believe Christians have brainwashed his wife. Caroline just wants to follow God. Calvin just wants his wife back.

Guardian of Her Heart by Carol Moncado
Signed up for a dating service by friends and brought together by a stowaway cat, Mark and Casey must decide if they want to overcome their apparent incompatibilities or go their separate ways.

Random Acts of Shyness by Chautona Havig
Heath’s sister, Selby, has laid down the law. It’s time to let her take over his love life. After a series of first and only dates, Heath embarks on her new scheme to help him overcome the debilitating nervous habit that has plagued him all his life. However, between dates, each worse than the last, he tries one more time to do things his way… sort of.

Please Note: The Crossroads Collections are sets of stories that are interconnected in some way, but the collections are independent, complete, and can be read in any order.

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Happy Reading!

 

Bargain books April 26, 2020

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An author suggestion by a fellow author Karen Beery (I follow Karen via email) is Angela Ruth Strong. Angela is on my Amazon followed list and we have seen her books on my read and enjoyed list a number of times. I’m checking out her Kindle book list, just now, looking for bargains we could try out. This first one is not a light read but it does have it’s lighter moments and comes highly recommended.  $1.24

Lighten Up (Body and Soul Series Book 1)  

Lighten up

Amazon quote:

Bethany Light is the daughter of a minister who can’t forgive her father for running off with the church secretary. She goes to her own pastor for counsel, never expecting to fall in love with him. To make matters worse, she’s personal training his fiancé in preparation for the big day and somehow ends up in their wedding.
Refusing to make the same mistake her dad made, Bethany tries to focus on fixing her family rather than face her own issues. How could a household that used to have it all together have fallen so far from grace? And how can she keep from following in her father’s footsteps when it feels so right?

“Lighten Up is one of the heaviest Christian novels I’ve ever read. It’s also fun, smart, snappy, real, and convicting. Highly recommended for a reader who’s looking for something different from the norm, with a lot of faith-challenging entertainment.”
Christina Berry
Christy-nominated and Carol-winning author of The Familiar Stranger

“Lighten Up is a powerful work of fiction. Strong’s characters jump off the page and into the hearts of readers. Bethany’s voice rings true with life and emotional traumas many will relate to. This is a book that makes you laugh and makes you think. It moved me. And I hated to see the story end, wondering what would happen to Bethany next.”
Jill Williamson
Author of By Darkness Hid, Replication, and Captives

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This next one looks interesting although it is only a novella, 100 pages, not my favorite length, but short is all we need sometimes. A sweet $1.29. 

False Security

False Security

Amazon quote:

Alex Pierce needs Laney Winters to help him prove neither of them is responsible for the millions of dollars that went missing after Laney arrested him for bank robbery five years ago. Besides Laney not believing he truly repented in prison, there’s the problem of the real thief trying to kill her and the police department treating her like a dirty cop. With the possibility of another crime being pinned on them, Laney finally teams up with Alex to save her life. If only she could trust him with her heart, as well.

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This next one looks cool. It’s a bargain at $1.29 and I’m excited to start reading.

The Princess and the P.I.

The Priness and the PI

Amazon quote:

Raised in the West Indies, Jacqueline James is on the verge of becoming a modern day princess until the prince hires a P.I. to do a background check and discovers her father is a fugitive from the States. Determined not to let her fairy tale fall apart, Jacqueline hires the P.I. to help her prove her father’s innocence.

When former police officer Beau Ryan’s wife’s murderer was acquitted, he left Miami on what would have been their anniversary cruise, planning never to return. It’s his unexpected soft spot for Jacqueline that has him swallowing down the pain to face his past.

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One more bargain popped up while browsing, a different author though. A change of pace. $1.33

The Billionaire’s Gift: A Christian Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Club Book 5)

The Billionaires gift

Amazon quote:

Joshua Banks has never been on a second date in his life. The examples he grew up with cause him to close his heart to anything resembling a relationship. But when his meddling coworker invites a woman from her church to accompany him to a ball, he finds himself wanting more from the forced upon him blind date. All his plans go out the window when she gives him an unexpected kiss. When she tells him her reasons, she leaves more questions than answers.

Kara Bell only agreed to go out with a stranger as one last act of service. She doesn’t expect the undeniable connection they share. Knowing a relationship between them isn’t possible, she does something out of her character in order to prove not all women are the same. She never expected the stolen kiss would give her a hope she thought had died long ago. Now she’s racing the clock to mend his broken spirit, but she’s afraid her attempt to bring him happiness will do the opposite. She must push past her doubt in order to do the impossible.

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Last but not least, still browsing, this one is book 3 in a series where we’ve already read book 4. $1.30

Heart & Soul: A Romance (Tanner Family Book 3)

Heart and Soul

Amazon quote:

I honestly thought I was set for life—at least where love was concerned. I was dating the man of my dreams and assumed we would live happily ever after. But then he left me with a broken heart. I was embarrassed and hurt, and picking up the pieces seemed impossible.

I hadn’t sworn off men completely, but getting into another relationship was something I just didn’t care about. For the time being, I was living for myself and for the weekend, and I thought nothing would change that.

Then I met Caleb, the son of a preacher. He was not what I expected, but everything I needed.

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I’ve started The Billionaire’s Gift, my current read on this beautiful sunny Sunday morning. Perfect timing to be ready to start something new.

One little hint – you will need tissues.

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books April 25, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today, one I can remember reading several years ago.

Sara in Montana (Second Chances Series Book 1) 

Sara in Montana

Amazon quote:

Sara had wished for a husband this Christmas, then married her boss. What seemed at first like a dream come true, soon turned into a nightmare. Now, Sara is running for her life with a warrant out for her arrest, and nothing but a miracle could save her. To top off this week from hell, she finds herself in the middle of a Montana snowstorm and sicker than she’s ever been.

Trent Harding quit the FBI to return home and became a sheriff. As the most eligible bachelor in Castle Peaks, he’s had his share of women chase him, but had always been disinterested. Until now! Trent has a sworn duty to protect the town’s citizens and assist other agencies in doing the same, but when faced with a suspect in a criminal case, will he make the arrest or let his heart lead the way?

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This next one is a bargain at $1.32 and is a short and sweet read.

Belong with Me: (Chapel Cove Romances Book 7)

Belong with Me

Amazon quote:

Translator Cassidy Longfellow’s quiet life is turned upside down when she returns to her hometown to care for her niece. Not only must she deal with a lovestruck teen and a dog but also with a neighbor with nephews and a multitude of pets. After having loved and lost twice, her heart is closed to romance. But can the handsome neighbor warm her heart this cold winter enough for a third chance?
A former executive from Boston, Jonathan Hastings, was betrayed too many times to believe romantic love is possible for him. But he adores his nephews and needs all the help he can get, including from a shy lovely woman next door who draws him in. When his past threatens his future, what will he choose?

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I’ve just started Snow Belle, barely started, not far enough to know if it’s a gem. I’m hopeful. It’s still a bargain  at $1.32

Snow Belle: A Sweet Small-town Romance (Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Book 1)

Snow Belle

Amazon quote:

Haley Madison packed her big dreams and drove to the Arctic. Well, all right, so it’s Madison Creek, Michigan. But for a Texas gal, this frozen land ought to come with a sled and huskies. If it wasn’t for her family’s rundown property, she’d have stayed where the sun shone bright and warm. However, she has grand ideas for her inheritance even if the town has thrown up their objections to her plans.

Ethan Winters hated going home and admitting failure. Sure, he has a special talent with the violin, but he has bigger ambitions than playing at the local bowling alley. And then there was the idea of facing his father. No, he wasn’t ready to go home just yet. He veered off the interstate and drove to a little town named Madison Creek. Maybe his luck would change.

When the southern Snow-Belle literally blows him off the road with her rogue snowblower… more than just his luck will change.

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Happy Saturday Reading!

 

 

 

Free and Bargain books April 24, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Today is a day for Romance.

This first book is a bargain at $1.32 , from an author new to me.

Snow Belle: A Sweet Small-town Romance (Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Book 1)

Snow Belle

Amazon quote:

Haley Madison packed her big dreams and drove to the Arctic. Well, all right, so it’s Madison Creek, Michigan. But for a Texas gal, this frozen land ought to come with a sled and huskies. If it wasn’t for her family’s rundown property, she’d have stayed where the sun shone bright and warm. However, she has grand ideas for her inheritance even if the town has thrown up their objections to her plans.

Ethan Winters hated going home and admitting failure. Sure, he has a special talent with the violin, but he has bigger ambitions than playing at the local bowling alley. And then there was the idea of facing his father. No, he wasn’t ready to go home just yet. He veered off the interstate and drove to a little town named Madison Creek. Maybe his luck would change.

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Another bargain at $1.32. I’ve read books 1 and 3 in this series and now I’m looking forward to this one.

Consider the Thorns (The Trampled Rose Series Book 2)

Consider the thorns

Amazon quote:

Barbara Houlton is a best-selling romance author, known for her achingly sweet love stories. However, her own love-life is nothing to write home about. Raped on the eve of her high-school graduation, she was left pregnant and scarred, both emotionally and physically. She has learned to hide the physical scars, but the emotional scars that taint her soul become harder to hide each day. Sarcasm, avoidance and denial have become weapons to keep her monstrous past at bay. Barbara avoids her home town at all costs. She denies to all those who are concerned for her that there is anything wrong. And those who try to pass her protective boundaries are met with her cutting sarcasm. Her emotional scars make intimacy a frightening thing, and those who try to grasp this beautiful rose are quickly met with her thorns. Instead, she loves through her characters, embracing her romantic dreams with every book she writes, and convinces herself it is enough.

When her father falls ill, she is forced to return home to Hamilton, New Mexico, a small town that comes with big problems, the biggest of which is Steve Meston. Steve has had a crush on Barbara since high school. But he is no longer the awkward, shy boy from her youth. He is now confident, handsome and relentless in his pursuit of her, despite her best efforts to put him off. His patient and steadfast love back her into a corner, and she finds that all her weapons are useless against his sweet love. Now she must stop avoiding and confront her past, or lose the one man who was able to get past her thorns.

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This next one is a bargain at $0.99, with another author new to me. I’m always happy to make the acquaintance of a new author.

Not Until This Day: A Christian Romance (Hope Springs Book 6)

Not Until This day

Amazon quote:

Three kids. Two broken hearts. One chance to become a family.

Isabel has three simple rules: Keep moving. No friends. No men. It’s the only way to keep herself and her daughter safe. But when she arrives in the small town of Hope Springs, she finds that she suddenly wants to break all the rules. Especially when it comes to a certain sweet single dad.

Tyler has one goal: Keep his boys from ever getting hurt again. That’s why he avoids dating, women, or anything having to do with love. So why does the mysterious single mother who works at his family’s orchard have him rethinking everything?

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And a FREE book. It’s never to early to talk about Christmas.

The Matchmakers of Holly Circle 

the Matchmakers of Holly Circle

Amazon quote:

Flirtation can be an art, or so they say. Well, if so, Ruth and Richard are “the old masters” of the flirting game. Despite their strictly platonic relationship, there’s “something there,” as so many of their friends and families say. Neighbors and friends for ten years, neither seems willing to change the course of their relationship.
Three doors down, at the end of the cul-de-sac, Mason Dickenson has watched his favorite neighbors with an interested eye, but he’s finally had it with the dance. So, with a pack of cards and a few tricks up his sleeve, he’s determined to get them out of the “friend rut” and into romance.

Thanks to Mason’s unique matchmaking scheme, Ruth and Richard concoct one of their own—a deeper, stronger, eternal love and relationship that nothing on earth can match.

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This list could have been much longer if all of the books featured in the brochure were at bargain prices. I’m kind of glad they weren’t, actually. I was worried thinking what if . The thought of thirty seven new books in one day was pretty scary. I am excited to have four new books.

I’m currently reading  Justified Means. This is one author I’ve read extensively, enough to be accustomed to her voice and style. You know, like answering the phone and knowing immediately who is calling. (you have no call display, work with me here) This is the second time I’ve been thrown by the tone of one of her books. Which is cool, actually.

The voice reminds me of another favorite author, I get caught up in the story and forget who I’m listening to. The first time it happened it was shocking, mainly because Chautona has a very distinct and recognizable voice and the shock was finding I wasn’t reading who I thought I was. I can’t remember who I thought it was but it wasn’t Ms Havig.  I guess it would be like watching a movie with a favorite British actor showing up in a movie sporting a very good New York accent.

I have to say, she nailed the new voice and I quite enjoyed both stories. And, when I think about it, this new voice works well in the new genre. Fitting in better than the voice we are used to hearing from her.

Justified Means (Book One) (The Agency Files 1) is still a bargain at $0.99

Justified Means

Erika Polowski, in grave danger–danger she has no idea exists–finds herself captive, shackled, bound, gagged. Her captors have the most unbelievable story, yet as the enemy manages, time after time, to get too close, she has to decide who or what to trust. Can she believe the man who daily holds her at gunpoint? Does she trust her gut? She is certain that she knows nothing that could possibly matter to anyone–has done nothing that should put her in danger.

For Keith Auger, it’s just another assignment. Extract the client, protect the client, return the client to her life with minimal interruption. Except that this “client” isn’t so keen on being protected. His usual cheerful demeanor disappeared the night he helped her escape from her home–escape with the aid of duct tape, rope, and the dark of night.

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Happy Reading.

 

 

 

 

Bargain books April 22, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Another midnight browsing session and it looks like it could be good. The first one to catch my eye is a bargain at $0.99, it’s written by a corporate attorney (which, in my mind, gives her some credibility for this genre) and at first glance it does look interesting. It seems I am following the author on Amazon so that must be a good sign.

Breach of Trust (Atlanta Justice Book #3)

Breach of Trust

Amazon quote:

Corporate litigator Mia Shaw suffers the shock of her life when she finds her colleague and friend brutally murdered. Grief-stricken and furious, Mia vows that she will do anything to seek justice and make the killer pay.

The man accused of the murder is a friend of security tech guru Noah Ramirez, but the evidence just doesn’t add up. To save his former ATF partner, Noah needs to convince Mia that the real killer is still on the loose.

Mia soon has more than the criminal prosecution to worry about, however. She is tasked with taking over her friend’s last case and learns he was hiding secrets about his client. She thinks she may have stumbled upon corporate espionage that has turned deadly, but she has no idea of the danger involved. Her only ally is Noah, despite their difference of opinion on the homicide case. Can he win Mia over to his side and protect her from ever-growing threats?

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I see another one from the same author, a legal thriller this time, and it’s a bargain at $1.42 CDN. I’m ready for a chance of pace in reading material and I think these books might do it for me. I am a Dekker and a Peretti fan and this is similar to their writing, according to the endorsement below.

Trial & Tribulations (A Windy Ridge Legal Thriller Book 1)

Trials and Tribulations

Amazon quote:

High-powered attorney Olivia Murray faces the biggest test of her career when she is assigned to represent Astral Tech, a New Age tech company, in a lawsuit filed by its biggest competitor. While Olivia is accustomed to hard fights in the courtroom, she arrives in Windy Ridge and discovers there is much more to this case than the legal claims—forces of darkness are at work.

Windy Ridge quickly turns from quiet Chicago suburb to spiritual battleground, and Olivia must rely on her faith to defend against legal and spiritual attacks. Although they are enemies in the courtroom, Olivia finds a friend and unlikely ally in opposing counsel, Grant Baxter. Once a skeptic about faith, he ultimately comes to her aid when she needs it most.

The battle between evil forces heats up in and out of the courtroom, pushing Olivia to the breaking point. Will she be able to help good triumph over evil, or will the town of Windy Ridge be torn apart?

“This book is sure to appeal to fans of Dekker and Peretti.” —By the Book

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In the meantime, I’ve just started Justified Means. It is still a bargain at $1.39 and you need to hurry if you are interested, it won’t last long. I don’t expect this read will be quite as intense as the first two are bound to be.

Justified Means (Book One) (The Agency Files 1)

Justified Means

The Agency Files:

Whatever it takes: the motto of “The Agency.” It doesn’t exist–not legally speaking. However its effect in the lives of those who benefit from their aid is incalculable. Lives saved, restored, guarded–protected from the side of life most never see. Their clients are usually wealthy, important–desperate. Their other clients–well, they don’t always appreciate the efforts expended on their behalf–not until they aren’t lying on a slab in the morgue.

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I’m off to read a little before lights out. Get a chapter or two in to see if the current book will turn out to be a good choice. If I can keep my eyes open that is, they are a little droopy.

Happy Reading to you too