Free books June 01, 2020

June 1, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a FREE collection suggestion for us. I’ve read the first two of the three books and look forward to reading the third one.

The Texas Women of Spirit Trilogy

Texas Women of Spirit

Amazon quote:

Ride along with three unforgettable women on adventures of faith and courage in the wild lands of 1800’s Texas. History, faith and romance.

Book 1: The River Girl’s Song
Zillia Bright never dreamed she’d be orphaned at sixteen and left to care for her baby brother and Papa’s farm. With only a mule and a hundred year old shotgun , she must fight to protect what’s hers. Countless dangers lurk on the Bastrop, Texas riverside. Zillia must rely on the help of her best friends, Soonie and Wylder, to hold her world together. With Zillia’s struggles come unexpected miracles, and proof that God might just listen to the prayers of a river girl.

Book 2: The Comanche Girl’s Prayer
Nineteen-year-old Soonie Eckhart follows God’s call on her heart, traveling to an illegal Comanche and Kiowa settlement in North Texas to become a teacher for the children in hiding.
Despite her Comanche roots, she finds many in the group, including a volatile young man named Lone Warrior, refuse to accept her.
After a chance encounter in the hills with a band of dangerous men, Soonie must draw on the deepest parts of her faith and courage to survive.

Book 3: The Saloon Girl’s Journey
Weary of the saloon girl life—and tired of being slapped around—Darla North decides to start over and let her new-found faith lead her. A friend sends her to Downs House, a place for ‘unfortunate women.’ Darla is offered a home—if she can behave herself.
Old habits are hard to break, but Darla is desperate to prove to everyone that she’s changed, especially Ethan Downs, the owner’s sensitive and sweet son. But when Darla’s past threatens to catch up with her, she must decide to face the truth . . . or run away again.

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LPC Books has some Free suggestions for us.

Murder in the Family by Ramona Richards is one I well remember reading last year.

Murder in the Family

Amazon quote:

Storm chaser Molly McClelland must return to her small Alabama hometown when she unexpectedly inherits her hoarder aunt’s house . . . and all of its contents. Despite her suspicions that her aunt was murdered, Molly wants nothing more than to sell everything and get back to the life she loves. Especially once her homecoming reignites the decades-old family conflict that drove her away in the first place. But when Molly uncovers caches of cash, journals revealing secrets-and a body-amongst the stockpiles, she finds herself locked in a cat-and-mouse dance with a deadly endgame.

Molly teams with local sheriff, Greg Olson, to find the truth. But will her determination and his skills be enough, or will the killer-or killers-put an end to their efforts once and for all?

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Falling for Chloe D Stearman, this one is new to me.

Falling for Chloe

Amazon quote:

Jake Marley always dreamed of making it big as a singer / songwriter, and when a chance meeting in his hometown ends with an invite to Nashville, he’s sure fame and fortune are just around the corner. After Jake jumps on the fast track to success, his notoriety grows—but so do his addictions.

Jake expected fame to take its toll. He just didn’t realize how much he’d have to give up in the pursuit of stardom. But the hardest thing? Losing Chloe, his small-town girlfriend and the only person who knows the real Jake.

Can Jake and Chloe find their way back to each other? Or will the price of fame remove any chance he has to prove his love for Chloe?

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A Reluctant Melody , I recall reading this one a year ago too.

A Reluctant Melody

Amazon quote:

Kit Barnes’ drinking ruined more lives than his own. Now sober, he wants to make amends by opening a mission for drunkards. The most suitable location belongs to Joanna Cranston Stewart, a love from his sordid past and the one person he hurt the most.

A pariah among her peers, Joanna is all too eager to sell her property and flee the rumors that she sent her late husband to an early grave. But she will let the gossips talk and the walls of her rundown property crumble around her before she’ll allow Kit back into her life.

When a blackmailer threatens to reveal her long-held secret, she must choose between trusting Kit or seeing her best friend trapped in an abusive marriage.

Will Joanna risk another betrayal? Or will she find a way through the pain of the past to love and trust again?

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This is book three but I’ve read book four in this series. Several others by this author as well.

Call of the Mountain (Finding Love in the Blue Ridge Mountains Book 3)

Call of the Mountain

Amazon quote:

When her younger sister offers an ultimatum, Beth’s life spirals into chaos. “Either adopt my baby when it is born, or I’ll get an abortion.” Will the man she is dating accept the responsibility of a son or daughter? How can Beth balance the demands of work and motherhood on her own?

An unplanned visit to the mountains of North Carolina gives Beth an opportunity to clarify her plans. But when the man of her dreams seems to fall for her younger, pregnant, sister, will Beth find the strength to sacrifice her desires so that good can come to those she loves?

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Happy Reading!

Chapter Three Wrinkle

May 31, 2020 / For the Love of Books / 1 Comment

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

I’ve decided to hook these challenges together to make a chapter story. Might as well make something out of it if I can. Besides it helps with inspiration, having a starting place.

Chapter one can be found here and chapter two here. Reading them first will help today’s installment make more sense but isn’t totally necessary.

I’m enjoying this new adventure, writing fiction, it may even prove to be addictive. If it wasn’t for The Confusing Middle and his challenges I may never have made the first attempt. Thanks!

Here is this weeks installment.

Chapter 3 Wrinkle

Carly stood in the doorway of her new room and looked around with a profound sense of relief. She was safe and exhausted. Someone had the foresight to provide the necessities she’d had to leave behind in the mad life saving flight for her life. She was unprepared for the depth of gratitude rising up at the sight of a toothbrush and tooth paste.

They were successful. The promised signal came through and she was able to leave the office as if on an errand. A request for her participation in the company dilemma was never made so it wasn’t as though she was leaving in the middle of a task. It could even be a while before any eyebrows were raised over her absence.

John’s tech support group was awesome. They identified an above ground connection with the next building over. The hallway emptied into a large and crowded food court area where they were able to access an elevator to an underground parking garage. A motorcade of SUVs was waiting for them and after loading, with practiced stealth, they slipped out into traffic.

The SWAT team and local police officers, mobilized as backup, were unable to discover any snipers or other threatening individuals. They had no way to know if the enemy was not yet present or the backup teams were noticed and scared them off.

First things first though. Carly had not eaten since breakfast, many hours ago, and someone had promised food would be arriving shortly. Back in the living room Carly found she was not alone.

Everyone was starved after such a nerve-racking day. Thankfully, John let them eat their fill before announcing debrief.

Carly watched the team interact together. They appeared to be professional and well trained. They seemed to like and respect each other. A cohesive group was a comfort in the face of dangerous situations.

She hasn’t had a chance to get to know anyone but John and even that contact has been slight in recent years. She knew this would change in the days ahead as they took turns protecting her. She was also sure there would be many weeks, maybe even months, before she could be settled into a new secure life. Unless they could figure out who was after her. Sooner rather than later, hopefully.

The first order on John’s debrief agenda was to announce this stay would be short. They would move out first thing in the morning so please be ready.

The touch-downs would be brief in the days ahead. Without the knowledge of who or how, they would need to keep moving to avoid detection. Various modes of transportation would be used and, at times, unconventional places of refuge. Don’t be surprised at anything.

The support team back in the office was working feverishly to figure out who was behind this threat. A separate group was planning an escape route and another was building a new identity.

Once the office involvement was covered everyone wanted to talk about the excitement of the day’s events. Action was not an everyday experience and needed to be relived. A few times. They all added their bit to the conversation.

After a thorough rehashing – they were no further ahead than they were when they started. The day started, and finished, with two pictures and an unsigned threat.

Carly was surprised she slept as well as she did. It was a little rough having to wear the same clothes another day but somehow gratefulness to be alive changed her perspective. Clean could wait awhile.

The team was ready and waiting to move out. It was early, they could travel several hours before stopping for a meal. At least they had hot coffee and doughnuts left from last night to tide them over until then.

They were about to leave when John felt the text notification on his pocket cell phone.

“Hold up a minute guys.”

Well, this adds a new wrinkle to the situation.

John asked for a volunteer. Someone would need to go out and bring back breakfast for the crew. There would be no leaving until they re-evaluated and maybe changed the escape plan.

It was too early to share details of the new information with the team. He needed time first to figure out what it all meant.

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Hope you had fun.

Free and bargain books May 30, 2020

May 30, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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 May 28, 2020

May 28, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a FREE Thriller suggestion for us today.

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

Ghost Heart

Amazon quote:

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

A Carol-award winning finalist!

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

Dear Reader, (from the authors)

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

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

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

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

Dangerous Deceptions: A Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Collection

Dangerous Deceptions

Amazon quote:

Lethal Outbreak: Lisa Harris & Lynne Gentry

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

Collision Course: Elizabeth Goddard

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

Glimmer in the Darkness: Robin Patchen

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

Expired Plot: Lisa Phillips

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

Ice: Lynnette Bonner

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

Never A Traitor: Jan Thompson

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

Ben in Love: Luana Ehrlich

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

Liar Like Her: D.L. Wood

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

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

Honeysuckle Cove: The Collection: Books 1-6

Honey Suckle Cove collection

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expired Refuge (Last Chance County Book 1)

Expired Refuge

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

Happy Reading!

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

Chapter two Signal

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 / For the Love of Books / 4 Comments

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

I figured it would be great if this whole exercise were to serve a dual purpose. With that in mind I turned this second story prompt into Chapter Two, to continue the story from last weeks prompt. Chapter One can be found here

Chapter 2

Signal

This crisis was not on their radar for today. John’s team pays close attention to the usual online chatter. That’s what US Marshalls do. There have been no whispers of threat. Nothing catching their attention in this high-profile case.

The surprise panicked phone call coming in from Carly this morning has John rushing to mobilize his support team. A new safe location is needed, asap. Heavy security measures for the journey will be needed as well. Grabbing his partner, and four others, he leads them to the situation room. They need to devise a foolproof rescue plan to extract her from the downtown office tower.

The complication in this situation is lack of knowledge. Without the who or why, they are going in blind. Judging by the photos received this morning someone is watching the house and the office. Any movement will be noticed. Unless they can come up with a way to sneak her out.

Maybe tech support can find a discrete exit from the building. Easy access to a waiting vehicle is critical. If it is possible for the SUV to enter the building for loading, even better.

Their team is too small to do this alone. The backup of local law enforcement will be necessary to pull this off. It could be a trap. They would be outnumbered and outgunned if they were to rush in unprotected. The SWAT team, if they are available, would be ideal to neutralize possible threats. John’s call to the Police Chief has his office on board. The chief knows the area and thinks his guys can strategically place themselves out of sight, ready to swoop in as needed. SWAT and plainclothes will find ways to blend in too. It will be a comfort knowing they are on the lookout for rooftop snipers.

The next hurdle will be extraction without alerting the whole office. He dreads the way added attention could jeopardize everything.

Carly say’s she will wait safely in her office and slip out to meet them. If they can signal when it’s time.

The wait is necessary. She knows it takes time to arrange for her safety. She’s can’t help but be worried though. What if the reason for her position in this office interferes? The company she’s working for has its own crisis to deal with. What if they figure out a strategy for their problem and have a task for her? Before she can make her escape. This could get messy. Besides that, how will her sudden disappearance be explained. Won’t that raise its own set of alarms?

It’s a good thing she didn’t personalized her office in the months she’s been here. No need for regret over things left behind. Her apartment is a different story. The lease will need termination. They will send a team to collect her things. At least that’s what she imagines will happen.

This morning’s delivery of pictures will need to come along. For possible evidence if nothing else. The sender will have been careful to avoid fingerprints or any other identification markers but the pictures themselves may offer some clues.

The mystery is how did they find her. John and his team were beyond careful in the creation of her new identity. There is no way discovery could have happened by chance. Just the very thought of that brings chills up and down her spine.

There is more than one possible person behind this, that’s the bad news. Each one is as dangerous as the next. If John and his team manage to get her out of here alive, it will surely be a chore to keep her that way.

What makes her significant enough for this to be happening? That’s the question. All morning she’s been wracking her brain looking for answers. They obviously think she is a threat to them somehow. She must know or have seen something. Or they assume she has.

The pictures are tucked safely in her pocket. She’s ready. Now she just needs to pray John gives the signal before her team lead comes in with an office task.

Free and bargain books May 19, 2020

May 19, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Today is a browsing kind of day. Bereft of suggestions. I’m left grieving.

But not for long. Browsing has been a little bit fruitful already. Maybe it will turn into something more than a little.

The Sasha McCandless Series: Volume 1 (Books 1-3) … it’s FREE

The Sasha McCandless Series

Amazon quote:

Irreparable Harm (Book 1)

After eight long years, Sasha McCandless is about to make partner at a prestigious law firm. When a plane operated by her client slams into the side of a mountain, killing everyone aboard, Sasha gears up to defend the inevitable civil lawsuits. She soon realizes the crash was no accident: a developer has created an application that can control a commercial plane’s onboard computer from a smartphone. Sasha joins forces with a federal air marshal, and they race to prevent another airline disaster. But when people close to the matter start turning up dead, Sasha must rely on both her legal skills and her Krav Maga training to stop the madman before he kills her.

Inadvertent Disclosure (Book 2)

Six months after an airplane crash altered the course of Sasha’s professional and personal life, she’s focused on building her solo law practice and tending her budding relationship with federal air marshal Leo Connelly, who helped her stop a madman. When she drives from Pittsburgh to rural Clear Brook County to argue a discovery motion, she finds a town bitterly divided over the issue of hydrofracking the Marcellus Shale. Outsiders from the oil and gas industry and environmental activists threaten to rip apart the community’s fabric. Then the town’s only judge is murdered, and Sasha can’t just walk away. As she works to find the killer, she must race to save the town before it fractures beyond repair.

Irretrievably Broken (Book 3)

The venerable law firm of Prescott & Talbott is reeling from the murder of partner Ellen Mortenson — purportedly at the hands of her estranged husband — when a photograph of the dead woman arrives, her face Xed out and “ONE DOWN” scrawled across the bottom. Within days, a second partner is murdered, her husband also accused. Sasha doesn’t practice criminal defense, so she’s suspicious when her former firm asks her to represent Ellen’s husband. Owing Prescott a favor, she takes the case and soon finds herself representing not one, but both, of the so-called Lady Lawyer Killers. The long hours jeopardize her relationship with Leo Connelly when he needs her most. That’s the least of Sasha’s troubles, though, because what she doesn’t know is that the real killer is waging a vendetta for a past case gone wrong. And there’s one more lawyer on his list.

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Another FREE collection. I don’t recall reading anything by this author. There are only 177 pages total so each story will be short. A quick read.

Mail Order Bride 4 Book Box Set:

Mail Order Bride 4 boook Box Set

Amazon quote:

Critics describe these books as a very sweet invigorating set of books which are heart-warming, full of love, mystery, hope, and the true meaning of friendship.
Includes 4 series starter books (Faith Creek Brides #1, Sun River Brides #1, Silver River Brides #1, Ruby Springs Brides #1)

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A FREE book from last fall. I don’t believe I’ve read this yet.

Convenient Lies

Amazon quote:

She married her enemy…

When investigative journalist Reagan McAdams discovers her new husband is part of an international crime family, she flees Paris with their newborn and returns to her childhood home in New Hampshire to gather enough money to disappear forever. She’ll do whatever it takes to protect her son from his criminal father.

He never quit loving her.

Rae’s first love, Brady Thomas, discovers she’s home and in trouble. She won’t tell him what’s going on, but he’s a detective. He’ll figure it out. He’s going to protect her and her son, whether she wants his help or not.

Her enemy nears.

Rae would love nothing more than to fall into Brady’s arms, to allow him to protect her and her son, but getting involved with him will only put Brady on harm’s way. When Rae’s husband closes in, she has to decide what—and whom—she’ll sacrifice to save her son.

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This next one is also FREE. I’ve read this author before but need a refresher.

Mac: inspirational women’s fiction (Sisters by Design Book 1)

Mac

Amazon quote:

After separating herself from the oppressive cult where she was raised, Mackenzie Soeurs has two dreams: to give her son Riley a better life than she had, and to live in peace, as far from the harsh God of her past as she can get. At least that was the plan until her son got hauled to jail for theft and she lost the mother she never truly understood. In the darkest moments of her life, Mac finds herself surrounded by a group of Christian women she can’t understand and a handsome man, willing to take her son under his wing.

Dane Cooper, Garfield’s former bad boy and groom left at the altar, can’t deny his initial attraction to Mackenzie. Neither can he resist the urge from God to mentor her delinquent son. How can he guard his battered heart and still give Riley the same second chance he was given?

When Jesse, Charley, Randy, and Alex signed up for Mac’s first fitness class, they were looking for someone to whip them into physical shape. What they found was a woman bound by a cruel history, suffering through a tragic present, and in desperate need of a friend…or four.

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Nine books today, if you count each book in the two collections. This should be enough to keep us occupied for a while.

Happy Reading!

Read and enjoyed Mid May Edition

May 17, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s a slow day for interesting book suggestions so we will go straight to read-and-enjoyed.

Usually I start things off with the book I loved most. I can’t really do that this time as I can’t think of one at the moment. This week nothing rose above OK and some didn’t even make it that far. Most of the less than okay stories will show up later on the unfinished list.

Nothing this week was terrible. I do have to acknowledge that. I also have to recognize part of the issue is personal preference. Most of these authors have multiple published books so they do have an appreciative audience out there.

So… The book that stands out most clearly for me at this point in time is not the most favored but the most disappointing.

There are a few reasons why.

I really liked the book, in the beginning, and wanted/expected it to be a favorite read.
But then, momentum fizzled out about half way through and never did recover.
There was a villain, the story needed one. It turned out he was not an integral part of the story but simply a planned element.
And then, content cuts did not go deep enough. Particularly in the last part of the book where I skimmed (touched down briefly here and there) quickly through the last dozen or so chapters.
Finally, the ending was weak and forgettable.

The villain is awkward and unbelievable but the rest of the characters are well developed and relatable. The story idea is good. If the opportunity is ever available, I think this book would definitely be worth a rewrite.

(Remember: I can’t be disappointed if I’m not invested to begin with.)

Just As I Am: (Unfailing Love Book 1)

Just as I Am

Amazon 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.

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Beginning … answering a challenge

May 16, 2020May 17, 2020 / For the Love of Books / 4 Comments

Can I even do this?

A fellow blogger has issued a writing challenge . Check it out maybe you would like to join too. Anyway, he wanted to know who was in with the idea. Several weeks ago I produced my first small attempt at fiction writing (also part of a writing prompt suggestion). It turned out better than I expected and now I’m feeling somewhat encouraged to try again. The problem is, I have no stories rattling around in my head. How do I even come up with an idea never mind a whole story? To answer him, I said I might try.

My hope flew right out the window at the sight of his one word prompt. It seemed pretty impossible and I was ready to take a pass on this one. The thing is … as the days went by I figured I needed to at least put a little effort into it before giving up completely.

After rejecting a few ideas on where to go with a story there was one that seemed feasible. I had the germ of an idea, that’s all, no real details. With only this small bit to go on, I learned something about myself as I worked through this exercise. It’s giving me hope to think, maybe I’m not a lost cause after all.

It turns out I’m a pantser, not a plotter. I fly by the seat of my pants. I started writing with what I did have, and amazingly, I ended up with a little story. Albeit, one without a neat and tidy conclusion. It could be chapter one someday. Probably not, but it could be.

So here is my second small story, this one in answer to Peckapalooza: The Confusing Middle’s challenge. Beginning

Beginning

Carly opened her eyes to sunlight peaking through the slats of the window blinds. A promising start to the day. Nice weather always improves her outlook on life. The thought of a good cup of coffee and a bagel at her favorite breakfast stop doesn’t hurt either.

She couldn’t help but smile as she went about getting ready for the day. This job was working out well, much better than expected. It’s not easy taking on a new career with no prior training or experience. Who knew she could actually do it.

The prospect of a sunny day was disappearing quickly as she stepped off the elevator. Something was up. The tension in the office was palpable and she had no idea why. The first thought to cross her mind was to wonder if it had anything to do with her. She hadn’t been there very long and her entry into the company did not follow the usual advancement track. Some toes were stepped on to make it all possible. There had to be at least one, maybe two, holding a grudge for being passed over by a newbie.

It wasn’t like she had little education or experience. She did in fact hold several degrees and enjoyed success in a field unrelated to this one. It wasn’t the same but it did qualify her, in a backward kind of way, to be successful here. There had been much thought put into this placement and all expectations were that she would excel. If this morning’s stress couldn’t be related to her performance, what else was going on?

As she powered up her computer an email flashed on the screen. Her team was ordered to the board room in ten minutes. They were about to find out what was going on and it couldn’t be anything good. Not with the harsh tone of the summons.

It didn’t lessen the team’s sense of apprehension any to see the large management representation seated at the head of the table. At least her mind was eased on one aspect. This couldn’t be about her.

Opening remarks verified that thought. This was much bigger. Someone’s job could be on the line, maybe even more than one someone. Management was out for blood. The company stands to lose millions unless they can come up with a fast solution for a project that has gone terribly wrong. The client is screaming law suit and they intend to deliver unless this is made right and made-right now.

The meeting was short. It doesn’t take much time to deliver this heavy ultimatum. Finding an acceptable solution will not be accomplished as quickly.

Carly is not part of the lead on this project, so there’s not much she can do until someone gives her instructions. Heading back to the office while the rest brainstorm, her mind is on clearing her desk. She can do her best if she’s ready to run the minute they call.

The sight of newly delivered mail is distracting. There’s an envelope leaning against her keyboard where it can’t be missed. A big padded envelope with no return address. Who would be sending her something like this? Warning bells began sounding in her head. The room started spinning as she glanced at the contents.

Pictures. Pictures of her leaving the house. Pictures of her entering this office building. The nightmare is beginning all over again. How had they found her? With trembling hands she placed a call to her contact in the Marshall’s office, the company dilemma completely forgotten.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it.

Today is a slow day for the usual offerings of Free and Bargain book suggestions. Tomorrow could be better but if it’s not I have a good list of read-and-enjoyed to share with you.

As always,

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books May 12, 2020

May 12, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

Second Chance Summer: Encore Edition ($1.38)

Second Chance Summer

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

Some Enchanted Evening: (Men of KWESTT Book 1)

Some Enchanted Evening

Amazon quote:

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

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

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Next read-and-enjoyed is…

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

Protected

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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Lastly…. this one is still FREE

Blast from Her Past

Blast from Her Past

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

Called to Protect

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Hopefully this list helps a little.

Until tomorrow…

Happy Reading!

Bargain books May 08, 2020

May 8, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

We have a nice crop of bargain books this time. There is one suggestion from Bookbub, several from 1531 Entertainment, the last two just sort of showed up. Bookbub will be first, Lynette Eason is one of my favorites.

Called to Protect (Blue Justice Book #2) ($0.99)

Called to Protect

Amazon quote:

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She’s over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum’s daughter goes missing, he’s ordered to kill the judge he’s protecting and tell no one about his daughter’s disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

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From 1531 Entertaiment

Garden Grown Romance: The Complete Collection (Arcadia Valley Romance) ($0.99)

Garden Grown Romance

Amazon quote:

Sown in Love: A real estate consultant charged with repurposing two abandoned greenhouses bumps heads — and hearts — with a garden center owner. (Formerly known as Sow in Love as part of the Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley multi-author collection, now out of print.)

Sprouts of Love: An overzealous community garden manager delivers more than the food bank manager can handle. Can love sprout amid the tsunami of vegetables?

Rooted in Love: A divorcé with a set of rambunctious twins falls for the boys’ daycare administrator, but does he deserve another chance at love?

Harvest of Love: She runs a bookstore. Reading isn’t really his thing… but will he lose her if he admits the reason why?

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Montana Dawn (McCutcheon Family Series Book 1) ($1.28)

Montana Dawn

Amazon quote:
When Luke McCutcheon finds Faith Brown about to give birth in her rickety wagon, his first instincts are to ride for help. Instead, he stays and delivers a beautiful baby girl. Unable to leave the pretty young widow and her little son and newborn unprotected in the Montana wilderness, he brings them along on his family’s cattle drive, to the absolute delight of the other friendly cowboys.

Luke,third son of Montana’s wealthy McCutcheon family, is different from his brothers. As the offspring of a Cheyenne warrior, he carries a chip on his shoulder for all to see. His flashing eyes and handsome face make Faith feel she’s stepped into some long-ago tale where men cherish their women–and keep them safe. If only she could trust him! Faith is on the run, and although she’s pampered and protected by Luke and his family, she just can’t risk the consequences of sharing the details of her past–one that’s hunting to take her back to the nightmare she’s just escaped. Happy-ever-afters are for fairy-tales,she reminds herself sternly as her heart feels the warm pull of his. Still, she can’t help but dream of a loving family, a home to call her own, a beautiful and bright…Montana Dawn

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Two more found browsing. They look like fun.

The Art of Eavesdropping (The Sidekick’s Survival Guide Book 1) ($1.39)

The Art of Eavesdropping

Amazon quote:

Missionary kid Elliot Ransom is restless after moving from her beloved Amazon home to a wealthy DC suburb. Though Storm River, Virginia, is beautiful, it’s also a playground for haughty politicians and wealthy playboys. She’s never felt so out of place.

Becoming an assistant to a hotshot private investigator changes everything . . .

Expecting to help with filing and background checks, Elliot is shocked when she’s catapulted into the frontlines of a murder investigation instead. While trying to prove their client innocent, she’s forced from the administrative role she usually plays. The change is surprisingly invigorating.

Learning the art of investigating shouldn’t be so dangerous . . . but this case just might be as dicey as the new town Elliot is living in. Could a little harmless eavesdropping lead to a big disaster?

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Book 2 will be out soon and is a bargain on pre-order.

The Perks of Meddling (The Sidekick’s Survival Guide Book 2) ($1.43)

The Perks of Meddling

Amazon quote:

She’s determined to work this case—with or without permission . . .

Investigator-wannabe Elliot Ransom doesn’t have much clout with the PI firm that recently hired her. When she meets a woman whose “riffraff” sister is missing, Elliot can’t resist the undeniable urge to help—despite her boss’s stern warning to stay away.

As Elliot digs deeper, the underbelly of wealthy Storm River bubbles to the surface—along with more dangerous enemies. Following the advice found in her father’s old journal, Elliot tracks the killer—like a jungle cat tracking its prey.

But the more she uncovers, the more of a target she becomes. Could a little harmless meddling lead to such a vast amount of trouble?

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This will be a fun weekend, reading wise, I’m pretty sure.

Happy Reading!

Oh yeah, almost forgot. I’m currently reading …

Broken Butterfly

Broken Butterfly: A Paradise Novel Book 2

Still a bargain $0.99