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New books August 09, 2023

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We have a new suggestion for an author we’ve read and enjoyed once before. This one is historical fiction and the first few pages have me wanting to read more. BookRunes has come through for us today with this idea.

Burgundy Gloves (Mighty One Book 1)

How can a God-fearing man be a Good Samaritan when a confusing young woman is making it impossible?
Levi Graham is a resilient, independent backwoodsman, who stumbles upon the injured young woman. Good Samaritan, he’s finding out the hard way, is not his best strength. In addition to caring for this beautiful, confusing woman, he encounters a robbery, a fire, visits from relatives, and the cabin’s previous owners, all disrupting his former peaceful life of solitude and trapping.
Suspended between two worlds, Allison Kent is helpless to find her way back home without hurting the kind and handsome man who has graciously taken her in.
Clutching her late mother’s Burgundy Gloves, Allison can only hope time will awaken her from this awful nightmare. Strange people, strange ideas and a strange young man looking long and ardent at her. How can she convince him she has nothing to give when she no place to call home? Will she rouse from the dark fog before she’s left to fend for herself?
Will her heart heal before she breaks his to pieces?

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It looks like this is it for today. It’s been fun browsing but one is all that’s showing up for me.

Well, that’s not entirely true. BookBub has a ten book box set suggestion that we’ve seen several times this week. One book is fine at the moment but I’m feeling reluctant to add ten more to my overloaded TBR pile all in one fell swoop.

On the other hand this collection is light-hearted romance. Maybe it would be a welcome change of pace from a long run of intense mystery.

There’s no law that says I have to finish the whole set.

OK, let’s do it.

Sweet Water Ranch Box Set Books 1-10 (Sweet Water Ranch Western Cowboy Romance)

Book 1 – The Cowboy’s Best Friend: He’s a cowboy with a billion dollar problem. His best friend can solve it, but it might break his heart.

Book 2 – The Cowboy’s Secret Baby: Will Ty pick up his cowboy hat and come back home? Can he convince Louise that he’ll stay this time?

Book 3 – The Cowboy’s Beauty: Can he trust her with his face? Because he’s very close to losing his heart.

Book 4 – The Cowboy’s Best Friend’s Sister: Should he follow the plan, or follow his heart?

Book 5 – The Cowboy’s Convenient Marriage: The cowboy’s not afraid of anything…except losing his heart again.

Book 6 – The Cowboy’s Fairy Tale: He’s the billionaire heir of Sweet Water Ranch. His family is throwing a ball and he must choose a wife.

Book 7 – The Cowboy’s Secret Romance: Called The Preacher, Clay Stryker has lived a life as straight as a North Dakota highway. He made a promise to her. And she’s riding west to make sure he keeps it.

Book 8 – The Cowboy’s Bargain Bride: Can love bloom between a woman who was forced to sell herself and the man who bought her to get her ranch?

Book 9 – The Cowboy’s Enemy: Can you love someone and hate them at the same time?

Book 10 – The Cowboy’s Mistletoe Kiss: Mack didn’t trust her, but he needed someone to help him with his nieces. She needed someone to help her put on the best Christmas festival Sweet Water had ever seen. Could they trust each other enough to work together? And what about that mistletoe kiss?

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Two new books July 31, 2023

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Two books popped up today. Both of them with popular authors and one of them is prolific too.

Once Upon Nantucket: Encore Edition (Lighthouse Lane Book 1) 

They’ve loved and lost…
but does a new beginning await on magical Nantucket?

After fifteen years as a Coast Guard search and rescue specialist and a stint at headquarters, Lieutenant Craig Cole hopes to quietly finish out his career in his new assignment as commander of the Coast Guard station on Nantucket. But there’s nothing quiet about his clash with feisty red-haired charter fishing boat captain Katherine MacDonald, who does not appreciate a safety citation from one of the new hotshot commander’s underlings. As she and the commander go head-to-head, sparks fly…in more ways than one. But neither is ready for a heart-to-heart encounter. Yet as they come to know each other on magical Nantucket, might they find the courage to take a chance on love?

Publishers Weekly bestselling author Irene Hannon, described as “a master of character development” by Library Journal, has penned another tale of hope, healing, and love that will lift your heart and bolster your belief in happy endings—no matter the challenges that must be overcome.

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Fraser: A Navy Seal and a female bodyguard hunt for a princess on the run!/A Minnesota Marshalls novel (1) (The Marshall Family Saga Book 9)

Fraser Marshall is pretty sure his career as a Spec Ops fighter is over. Yes, he’s gone into private security, working for Jones, Inc, but his last gig ended with him wounded and taken captive. And those wounds just won’t heal. The last thing he wants to do is stick around his family’s winery pressing grapes. But what choices does he have?

The answer comes via a panicked phone call from his kid brother, Creed.

Help, Fraser. I’m in over my head…

Yeah he is, because he’s run away with a princess, with her bodyguard hot on the trail. And said bodyguard, Pippa Butler is going to hunt them down, no matter the cost.

Even if she has to join forces with a bossy, arrogant former American SEAL. But Pippa has her own set of lethal skills, and if Fraser gets in the way, she’ll leave him on the side of the road. Still, maybe he’s not a terrible side-kick. He is handsome, and he makes her laugh…

No, no, bad Pippa! She has no room for a man—an American—in her life. And Fraser hasn’t ever considered slowing down. Even if Pippa has him wondering if there is a different future ahead.

But there’s more to the story than a Romeo-and-Juliet runaway romance. Princess Imani has seen a murder, and the perpetrator isn’t going to let her get away. Will Fraser and Pippa find the couple first?

And if they do, can they work together to keep them safe?

It’ll be tough if their hearts get in the way…

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I’m excited and looking forward to these two.

New books July 25, 2023

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We start the day out with a couple of authors new to us. The reviews look good and I couldn’t say no even if I wanted to. LPC Free Books gets the credit as the main suggester today.

Still Waters (Low Country Series Book 1)

Welcome to Edisto Beach where the days are slow and the past is never far away…

Recent graduate Cora Anne Halloway has a history degree and a plan—avoid her own past. Then her beloved grandmother requests one last summer at Still Waters, the family cottage on Edisto Beach.

Despite difficult memories lingering among the oak canopies and gentle tides, Edisto tempts her with forgiveness—especially since Nan hires Tennessee Watson to oversee cottage repairs. A local contractor dedicated to the Island’s preservation from development, Tennessee offers Cora Anne friendship and more, if she can move beyond her guilt over his father’s death.

For this young woman on the cusp of a new life, peace with her past means reconciling her family and her Edisto memories. But acceptance of her story may mean loving the man determined to preserve a history she’d rather forget.

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Next in line . . .

Becalmed: A Carolina Coast Novel (Carolina Coast Stories Book 1)

With her days chock full—designing jewelry for the shop she co-owns with her best friend, sailing her sharpie, and hanging out with girlfriends—Tadie Longworth barely notices she’s morphing into the town’s maiden aunt. When Will, a widower with a perky daughter named Jilly, limps into town in a sailboat badly in need of engine repairs, Tadie welcomes the chance to help. Her shop becomes Jilly’s haven while Will hunts boat parts, and Tadie even takes the two of them sailing. It’s the kind of thing she lives for, and it’s a welcome distraction from the fact that her ex-boyfriend Alex, aka The Jerk of Jerks, is back in town. With his northern bride. Oh, and he’s hitting on Tadie, too.

Those entanglements are more than enough, thank you very much, so it’s almost a relief when a hurricane blows into town: at least the weather can match Tadie’s mood. When Will and Jilly take shelter in her home, though, Tadie finds herself battling her attraction to Will. Even worse, the feeling is mutual, tempting them all with what-ifs that petrify Will, who has sworn never to fall in love again. Mired in misunderstanding, he takes advantage of the clear skies and hauls Jilly out of there and back to his broken boat so fast, Tadie’s head spins.

With the man she might have loved gone, and the man she wishes gone showing up on her doorstep, Tadie finds herself like a sailboat with no wind; becalmed, she has to fight her way back against the currents to the shores of the life, and the man, she wants.

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I stumbled over another interesting author we’ve not read before. Happily, this story popped up for me while browsing, keeping us from being done with only two books, which would be disappointing.

Dangerous Obsession (The Security Specialists Book 3)

She has a stalker on her tail—and a devoted security expert at her side: “Will keep readers guessing and turning the pages.” —RT Book Reviews

Security Specialist Wilder Flynn wastes no time putting behavioral expert Cosette LaCroix under his 24/7 protection when her stalker finds her in Atlanta. Ex-Navy SEAL Wilder keeps Cosette close to guard her from the quickly escalating threats and attacks.

But can he accomplish the mission without breaking his strict code against dating employees of his world-renowned company, Covenant Crisis Management? Or putting his heart and life at risk?

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Last but not least, we have a free novella by this new author. We are even experiencing variety in genres with this new suggestion, which is awesome.

Under the Honey Moon: A Honeyhaven Romance (The Honeyhaven Series Book 1)

A honeymoon cottage reunites a pair of childhood friends. Can it offer them a future filled with a happily-ever-after?

When B&B owner Juliet Miller’s childhood crush shows up on her doorstep, she thinks he’s come to honor a pact and pop the question. But he’s already engaged and offers her a bargain she can’t turn down. Bowie Nichols has always seen Juliet as a friend until shifting feelings has him second guessing whether or not he’s marrying the right woman.

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I’m looking forward to this new batch of books while I’m still working my way through the last batch. One of them was irresistible and I couldn’t help but move it to the top of the pile, giving it preferential treatment.

With all the unexpected twists and turns in plot this was definitely worth the read.

False Security

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.

It’s a short read with lots of drama. Check it out.

New book suggestions July 22, 2023

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This is catch-up day. Neglected suggestion emails are back-logged and need attention, especially since the first email I looked at just now had an attractive recommendation. This could turn out to be a good day for books! Let’s hope. This first one is suggested by BookBub and it looks like we’ve read other books in this series so it won’t be entirely new.

The Art of Rivers: A Coastal Hearts

Rivers Sullivan bears both visible and invisible scars—those on her shoulder from a bullet wound and those on her heart from the loss of her fiancé during the same brutal attack. Not even her background as an art therapist can help her regain her faith in humanity. Still, she scrapes together the courage to travel to St. Simons Island to see the beach cottage and art gallery she’s inherited from her fiancé. When she stumbles upon recovering addicts running her gallery, she’s forced to reckon with her own healing.

After the tragic drowning of his cousin, James Cooper Knight spends his days trying to make up for his past mistakes. He not only dedicates his life to addiction counseling, but guilt drives him to the water, searching for others who’ve been caught unaware of the quickly rising tides of St. Simons. When he rescues a peculiar blond woman and her sketch pad from a sandbar, then delivers this same woman to his deceased grandmother’s properties, he knows things are about to get even more complicated.

Tragic circumstances draw Cooper and Rivers closer, but they fight their growing feelings. Though Cooper’s been sober for years, Rivers can’t imagine trusting her heart to someone in recovery, and he knows a relationship with her will only rip his family further apart. Distrust and guilt are only the first roadblocks they must overcome if they take a chance on love.

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BookRunes has a suggestion we’ve not seen and it will be an introduction to another author new to us. The ratings and reviews look good too.

Heiress of Comrie

When Ismay finds herself in Crieff, Scotland, without coins to give the tax man for her small estate, she resorts to stealing a horse and selling it to a cattle drover during the early morning hours of the day. After paying her debt, she wastes no time fleeing to her home and property in the highlands to avoid retribution.

Though hanging on the gallows is no longer a punishment for horse thievery in Scotland, in 1810, Ian MacAllen isn’t about to allow a wee tinker’s daughter to swindle him out of his horse and money without paying him back in full for the amount. He quickly turns his horse in the direction of Comrie to find Ismay and settle the matter between them.

Grizel Hawthorne, a wealthy noblewoman, is furious when she sees, Ismay, a blue-eyed lass with raven-dark hair and rosy cheeks, working to pay off a debt to Ian at his estate. Grizel is determined to find a way to oust the young woman from Ian’s home and out of his life for good.

Ismay holds her father’s necklace in her hand as she eyes the inscription on the back. What was it he’d tried to tell her on his deathbed? Who was the mysterious old woman, Morag Duffy, and what ties did she have to Ismay’s past? How might Ismay rely on her faith in God to find out the truth of the matter?

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Sheep Gate Publishing has a suggestion from an author we’ve read and enjoyed a number of times in 2023.

Over the Horizon: Horizon Series, Book 1

Alone in 1870s Idaho Territory, Paisley Abbott has nowhere to turn. With no other options, she finds herself consenting to an unconventional, but mutually beneficial agreement.

During an unplanned return to his family’s farm, prodigal Tyler Shepherdson inherits three orphans. When Tyler finds a woman hiding in the back of his wagon, an idea begins to form and he makes a rash decision that results in perhaps one of the most spontaneous marriages of convenience ever.

Despite an unorthodox beginning to their marriage, will Paisley and Tyler trust God as they forge ahead to create a home for three children? Will love arise from a desperate situation?

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Then there is a suggestion for a box set from another author we have enjoyed a number of times. It looks like the story of the same couple is spread over all four books. I will have to go back and reread book 1, we read it back in 2019 and a refresher would be in order.

A Time For Everything Series Box Set Books 1-4

Following her husband’s untimely death, Wendy Miller’s life revolves around her adult children, but when she accepts an invitation to her late husband’s grandmother’s birthday party in London, she meets a dashing, silver-haired Texan cowboy in Dublin who captures her heart.

Bruce McCarthy did his best to hold his family and ranch together after his wife died in a car accident ten years before, but following a recent health scare, he decides to live every day as if it were his last and books a flight to Ireland to find his Irish family.

The captivating woman he accidentally spills coffee on one morning stirs something inside him, and Bruce wonders if God might be giving him a second chance at love…

As they meet again in London, Paris and Venice, their friendship grows deeper, but while Bruce is eager to take their friendship further, Wendy is unsure if her adult children will accept a new man in her life, especially when one of them still blames God for allowing her father to die prematurely.

If Wendy can trust God to take care of the details, and Bruce can overcome his fears of his cancer returning, they may just discover that you’re never too old to fall in love…

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Well, I’m finished but not finished. Some of the suggestion strips look like they really need to be explored. Maybe something good will pop up and we will have a follow up post, we may even see each other again before the day is done. I have a good feeling about this.

New books, Romance, July 15, 2023

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It looks like this could be a Romance kind of day. While browsing through the usual suggestion emails a couple of interesting books popped up, with authors new to us. Now, it’s interesting on two levels.

Sorrento Girl (The Historic Hotels Collection)

It’s 1938, and Ann Brooks has big dreams of her new life as a Seattle College coed. She’s left the old-fashioned ways of her small country town behind to pursue higher education and a teaching career.

But not everyone is ready for change.

Society still preaches that a woman’s place is in the home. Some refuse to see Ann as an equal deserving of an education — let alone a career — and Ann’s friends think school is simply a springboard to pursue a marriage of wealth and convenience.

When Ann meets Paul, an aspiring journalist with strong ideas of his own, she learns an unexpected lesson in courage and discovers what it really means to live her dreams.

Will Ann give up everything she thought she wanted for love? Or can she have it all?

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Juliet’s Journey to Love: Women’s Fiction – Inspirational Romance (Great Smoky Mountain Getaways Book 1)

Escape to the Great Smoky Mountains…

Juliet isn’t sure of God’s plan for her life, but the opportunity to serve as the leader of the Freedom and Faith small group, helps her to feel needed, like she belongs. The group plans to hike sections of the Appalachian Trail, using the back to nature approach to grow closer to God. Determined to succeed, Juliet leads two other women on a hike, but when she falls ill and they’re days away from the exit point of their planned journey, her friends must call 911.

When a man shows up looking more like a grizzly bear than a rescuer, she’s forced to accept his help. Loner extraordinaire, Jake wants them gone. Except when Juliet and her friends are ready to leave, it’s Jake who succumbs to the illness, and this time it’s Juliet to the rescue.

In the process, she discovers a man with a heart and a past. Her failure to lead the group prompts her to renew her efforts to be needed, and she’s determined to help Jake get through more than his illness. When she learns of an opening at the medical clinic in Hollow Creek, she applies, knowing it would give her a reason to stick around town and give her time to help Jake get his life back on track.

Her methods aren’t always squeaky clean, but her heart is in the right place. When Jake finds out the truth, the walls come tumbling down. Can the two of them muddle through the past and their own issues to work out their differences?

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The Complete Blueberry Beach Box Set Books 1-8

Escape to Blueberry Beach in this charming collection of sweet, heartwarming romances!

Book 1 – Yesterday’s Treasures: When Lindy leaves her workaholic husband and moves with her teenage daughter to their summer cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan, will she find joy and healing with the help of her new neighbors in the town of Blueberry Beach? And when it comes down to a choice between her bright new future or the value of yesterday’s treasures, does her husband dare to hold out hope that he can win her back?

Book 2 – Tomorrow’s Blessings: Dealing with her husband’s departure, her son’s leukemia diagnosis, and an unexpected pregnancy from a short, sweet summer fling, can Anitra navigate the complexities of her life and find hope with the support of her friends and neighbors in Blueberry Beach?

Book 3 – Beautiful Forevers: Can Gage and Zariah’s relationship, which seems too good to be true, survive the outrageous actions of Zariah’s teenage niece, Macie, who’s caught in a crime spree in Blueberry Beach? And will the small community ever feel safe again?

Book 4 – Precious Memories: Although dealing with a mysterious illness that has depleted her energy and left her listless, can Laura find a future with the mysterious stranger who rents the small apartment above her grandfather’s shop in Blueberry Beach?

Book 5 – Misty Mornings: What will happen when Leiklyn reunites with her high school friends after eighteen years to renovate the Manor they bought for $1, only to discovers her daughter’s explosive secret? Will Leiklyn’s own dark secret come to light?

Book 6 – Sweet Afternoons: Can Willen overcome perfectionism and learn that she’s worthy of love? And how will Drake Jensen, a Hollywood leading man who wants to disappear, choose between Hollywood and the new life that could be his, especially when he falls in love with a woman determined to make him her enemy?

Book 7 – Magical Twilights: Can a broken woman, who has a lot of regrets, sins, and secrets, and a pastor with a secret past of his own, find love and forgiveness in Blueberry Beach despite their troubled histories?

Book 8 – Tender Mercies: Can Bev and Bill, who lost their baby and broke up when they were fifteen, find their soulmates and a family in their fifties, after a long-held secret from the town’s pillar is disclosed and directly affects them, destroying everything they thought they believed?

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Today is a good day for authors we don’t see as often, or ever. The stories look pretty good too.

A change in genre, new books June 26, 2023

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We are checking out a few genres today that we haven’t looked at in a while. The suggestions this morning are leading us in that direction, that’s what started it all. More authors new to us too, so it’s worth a look, I figure. LPC FREE eBooks from Iron Stream Media is promoting the first one and the rest showed up in my usual nosy browsing.

Where Wild Roses Bloom: Heart of A Mountie

When Lenora Perry’s dream of becoming an acclaimed singer dies a painful death, she attempts to escape her mistakes by fleeing north—directly into the path of an all-too-dashing Mountie. Though the man in scarlet appears eager to be rid of her, his home provides security, and his sister offers friendship—two things Lenora is desperate for after discovering her pregnancy. With the past dogging her footsteps and her future uncertain, dare she consider new dreams?

Upholding the law makes up the fabric of Constable Edmond Bryce’s existence. As his five years of service draw to an end, he must decide whether or not to continue in his father’s footsteps—an increasingly difficult decision now that Miss Perry has infiltrated his life. Though she’s the daughter of a parson and a close friend to his sister, Edmond can’t push aside the feeling that Lenora hides more than she tells. But duty calls, leaving little time for matters of the heart.

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Until I Knew Myself (Bentwood Book 1)

RITA and Carol Award-winning author Tammy L. Gray delivers an unforgettable series following five struggling friends in search of the true meaning of family through secrets, betrayal and the unexpected influence of an outsider…

Journey Hawthorne has always been the peace maker within her childhood friend group, willing to do whatever she must to heal hurts and protect those she loves, even if it meant losing herself to do so. She never dreamed a choice made at sixteen could haunt her ten years later, especially when that decision was made to protect the man she’s loved since childhood. But when a phone call exposes her greatest secret, Journey soon learns that not all mistakes can be forgiven.

Tyler Mitchell grew up an orphan, taken in by his best friend’s family when he was only sixteen. Even though ten years have passed, and he’s been given everything he should ever want—a loving home, an adoring girlfriend, a successful career, and lifelong friendships—Tyler has always felt a foreigner in his own life. When the sudden death of his biological grandfather reveals long kept secrets, Tyler’s seemingly perfect life starts to unravel.

Torn between their loyalty for each other and the need to uncover who they were meant to be, Tyler and Journey soon discover the true meaning of love and family goes much deeper than they ever imagined.

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We have read this author before but a different genre, so these are new to us. They look good. The others, read and enjoyed, were Regency.

Checked Impressions (Original Six Hockey Romance series Book 3)

Sparks fly when a hometown hockey hero meets a classy art-loving museum guide hiding a secret…
Jai Mullins is used to being the fastest man on ice. Trouble is, his ability to find a genuine woman is tracking at glacial melt levels. He’s trusting God she’s out there, but he’s wary of getting trapped by a superfan, when all he wants is someone with whom he can be real.
Allie Davis has two great loves: impressionist art and hockey. More specifically, a certain hockey player. But between her shyness and her family, she’s convinced she’ll never meet him, let alone connect with him in a non-embarrassing way.
Until she does. And they connect. And romance sparks.
But she is hiding a big secret, and he’s about to find that first impressions sometimes need a reality check. Will they learn to trust and find a way forward, or will half-truths lead to further hurt on opposite sides of the country and lonely lives?
This Windy City romance has plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy kisses in the third book of the Original Six, a sweet, slightly sporty Christian contemporary romance series.

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Daring Mr Darcy

Elissa Bennet has jumping to conclusions down to a fine art, and her first impression of Liam Darcy leaves her less than impressed. Liam isn’t so easily put off, but is his interest in Elissa real, or a determination to meet his sister’s dare?

Because it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man in charge of a large fortune must be in want of a wife. Or so Liam Darcy’s grandma insists, and his sister, Georgia, agrees. But no sweet grandmotherly ultimatum or sassy sister dare can influence Liam to go so far outside his comfort zone as hunt for a woman to marry.

That is until new-to-town Elissa Bennett makes an appearance. Hey, a dare is a dare, right? But Liam’s attempts to impress end in disaster, and feisty Elissa is not afraid to say so. Liam Darcy is the last person on earth she’d be tempted to date. Until sparks fly…

Carolyn Miller and Meredith Resce have retold Miss Austen’s timeless Pride and Prejudice in a laugh-out-loud contemporary rom-com. Daring Mr Darcy can be read as a standalone novel, and is perfect for lovers of sweet, clean romance.

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Today is a departure from our usual mystery/suspense reads; romance, this time, mostly in a lighter vein. It’s nice to have a good laugh now and again.

Free and bargain books June 25, 2023

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BookBub has a suggestion for us that sounds like it will be fun and interesting. This author is new to us so it will be an adventure to discover her writing style.

The Cake List: – feelgood, faith-filled & fun. (The List Books Book 1)

Do Something Brave. Do Something Selfless. Do Something Kind. Break a Never. Stop an Always. Figure out God.

“Some people write a bucket list, you know… things they want to do and tick off before they die. Honestly? Dying doesn’t seem half as scary as the big-O birthday that’s hunting me down. So I’ve made my own list. Things I want to do and tick off before I eat that birthday cake. So far, it’s not going too well.”

Fresh from a spectacular break-up and faced with a looming big-O birthday, Meg throws her cautious nature aside and signs up for dance classes. Little does she know that Ballroom will stretch more than just her muscles. Between the charming dance instructor and his secrets, her grumpy neighbour and a fish that can’t swim straight, Meg’s list seems doomed from the start.

~*~

Heart-felt and funny, Meg’s list-crossing quest takes her so far out of her comfort zone, she may never find her way back.

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Another author has crossed my path, one I’ve not read or been able to find a helpful bio to learn more. But, the book looks interesting and I want to give it a try.

Targeted Heart: Heart Island Mystery Romance Book 1

For Shannon Kelly, coming home to Heart Island’s Winslow Cove was bittersweet. After the uncle who had raised her suddenly passed, she inherited the cottage of her childhood. It gave her the opportunity to pick up the pieces of her life and start over on familiar ground.

Dr. Kevin Stivers is a life long resident of Heart Island and is currently the only doctor on the island. He is pleasantly surprised to learn the girl he had crushed on during his school years has moved back to the island. The big problem he has to overcome is a bias fueled by a family feud dating back decades. Fortunately, he likes a challenge.

After a break-in at Shannon’s apartment and a succession of questionable events, Shannon and Kevin join forces to determine why she is being targeted.

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And then we have an author that we see and enjoy often. We’ve been following this series and it’s nice to have the chance to read the next next one to be published.

Braving the Valley (Acts of Valor, Book 5): Christian Romantic Suspense 

A Mother’s Unyielding Love, A Navy SEAL’s Desperate Mission…

Grace Griffith won’t leave Venezuela without the boy she’s working to adopt, but with the Venezuelan Army hunting down Americans, she is lucky to escape alive—or so she’s told. Forced to leave four-year-old Miguel behind, Grace is devastated. She vows she will never forgive the Navy SEAL who wrested them apart. That is, until he comes knocking on her door asking for her help.

United by Faith, Driven by Love…

For Senior Chief Amos McLeod, orders are orders, and he did what he was told to do. Yet Amos knows the heartbreak of losing a child. But now, the tables are turned, and it’s Amos who needs rescuing. With her selfless spirit, Grace heals old wounds and makes Amos realize he’ll do anything to reunite her with her adoptive son, even face odds that would make the most fearless man flee in terror.

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It has been a surprise to find books today. The way things were looking I wasn’t expecting much. Surprises are great.

Free and bargain books June 19, 2023

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It’s been awhile since we’ve had any new books and today we have one. How great is that? It’s a dark theme but the beginning looks interesting. I’d like to see how it all goes for the sisters as they uncover secrets.

Fresh Scars: A Tale of the Power of Dark Family Secrets

Time heals all wounds. . . or does it?

Asia Butler and her sister, Ivy Butler Morelli, have not spoken in fifteen years. The two endured brutal emotional abuse from their mother, Veronica, and want only to forget the past . . . and each other.

But the past comes calling when they each receive a letter from Veronica’s attorney promising much needed cash if they will fulfill her dying wish and consent to cleaning out their childhood home. Asia and Ivy reluctantly return to their hometown of Emerson, Florida, only to discover the house is a hoarder’s nightmare filled with strange mementos and clues hinting that they were not the only victims of Veronica’s sadistic nature. Can this new pain be the path to their healing? Will they be able to choose forgiveness over resentment?

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Browsing was a good idea today, another interesting book showed up. We’ve seen this author several times and now I’m looking forward to a third experience.

The Letter from Briarton Park (The Houses of Yorkshire Series Book 1)

In Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman’s fate when it summons her to Briarton Park—an ancient estate that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future.

Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But her world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family’s identity. Stung by betrayal, Cassandra travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.

James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.

The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything—or everyone—is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.

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A Colleen Coble book showed up, one I’ve not seen before. This is a good day! We’ve read and enjoyed book 1 in this series, a few months ago.

Dark of Night (An Annie Pederson Novel Book 2)

The law is about justice—not grace. But perhaps ranger Annie Pederson can find a way to have both.

As if the last few months haven’t been hard enough—complete with threats on her life and the return of her first love, Jon—Annie has to figure out whether or not to believe a woman who claims to be her sister, Sarah, who was abducted twenty-four years ago at age five. Annie’s eight-year-old daughter, Kylie, has plenty of questions about what’s going on in her mother’s life—but there are some stories Annie doesn’t want uncovered.

As Annie grapples with how to heal the gulf between her and her would-be sister and make room in her daughter’s life for Jon, she’s professionally distracted by the case of yet another missing hiker in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A woman named Michelle Fraser has now been abducted, and though the woman’s estranged husband is at the top of their suspect list, Annie and her colleagues will need to dig deeper to determine whether these recent mysteries are truly as unrelated as they seem.

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Another awesome book that I can’t say no to. Lynette Eason is a favorite author we see often. This is book 3 in the series and we’ve read book 1. Book 2 could always show up later, it’s been known to happen.

Critical Threat (Extreme Measures Book #3): (An FBI Suspense Thriller and Action-Filled Crime Fiction)

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn’t mean they’re not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer–in prison but certainly not out of Sam’s life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter’s MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They’ve met before–and though Grace thought they’d made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They’ll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case–especially because it’s about to get personal.

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I think I’d better stop looking.

Free and bargain books June 10, 2023

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It’s been a dry spell but relief is in sight. We have one book and, hopefully, there will be more. So, BookRunes has this first one and it’s FREE.

Season of Hope: (The Seasons Series Book 1)

Memories of his abusive father fuel Tyler Armstrong’s desire to make the world a safer place, so Tyler will do whatever it takes to become a Navy SEAL. Falling in love with his best friend, Amanda Jarvis, though, wasn’t part of his plans. Maybe his failed attempts to confess his love turned out for the best. Even if their shared faith helps them navigate the demands of SEAL life, he fears asking her to live with the uncertainties of his career. Amanda deserves better.

When Amanda’s plans for college fall through and her summer job in New York catapults her into a modeling career, she welcomes the distraction. Not only is she falling for her best friend, Tyler, but his impending deployment is also turning her world upside down. The more she learns of Navy SEALs, the more her dreams of finding out Tyler’s in love with her fade behind the fear that she’s not strong enough to spend her life with him.

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This bargain book looks interesting and it’s also an exposure to an author I read once or twice seven years ago. Experiencing something current from her would be awesome.

Love and a Little White Lie (State of Grace)

There’s a lot of irony in hitting rock bottom

After a heartbreak leaves her reeling, January Sanders is open to anything–including moving into a cabin on her aunt’s wedding-venue property and accepting a temporary position at her aunt’s church despite being a lifelong skeptic of faith. Choosing to keep her doubts to herself, she’s determined to give her all to supporting Grace Community’s overworked staff while helping herself move on.

What she doesn’t count on is meeting the church’s handsome and charming guitarist. It’s a match set for disaster, and yet January has no ability to stay away, even if it means pretending to have faith in a God she doesn’t believe in.

Only this time, keeping her secret isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Especially when she’s constantly running into her aunt’s landscape architect, who seems to know everything about her past-and-present sins and makes no apologies about pushing her to deal with feelings she’d rather keep buried.

Torn between two worlds that can’t coexist, can January find the healing that’s eluded her, or will her resistance to the truth ruin any chance of happiness?

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I was hoping for more but it didn’t work out. Next time.

Free and bargain books May 24, 2023

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I found free and bargain books from an author we see and appreciate often. I’m excited.

Watch Over Me: An international romantic thriller with Hero Protector and a woman on the run (Global Guardians Book 1)

Emotionally wounded hero, a woman with a secret, this forced proximity romance will have you on the edge of your seat.
*Susie writes a delightful story! -NYT bestselling author Dee Henderson.*

Her best friends are murdered and a serial killer is on her tail, and she’s got a secret that could save millions of lives. The last person Gracie Benson is about to trust is a cynical Russian FSB agent.

Pursued by his own demons, Vicktor isn’t going to let the killer escape, not again. But his plans for payback are suddenly threatened when he has to choose between justice or saving the woman he loves.

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The Perfect Match (Deep Haven Book 3)

Ellie Karlson is new to Deep Haven. As the town’s interim fire chief, she is determined to lead the local macho fire crew in spite of their misconceptions about her. But when someone begins setting deadly fires, Ellie faces the biggest challenge of her life. Especially when sparks fly with one of the volunteers on her crew: Pastor Dan Matthews.

As Ellie battles to do her job and win the respect of her crew, she finds that there is one fire she can’t fight—the one Dan has set in her heart.

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In tonight’s travels I stumbled over another one I’m excited about. Different author but someone we’ve enjoyed before. I’m wishing I was between books so I could start in on one of these three.

Sycamore Circle (The Rumors in Ross County Series Book 2)

There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel “Bo” Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off—much to the dismay of practically everyone they know—but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

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It has been a good day!