Free and bargain books July 23, 2020

July 23, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a couple of interesting suggestions for us today. The first one is a historical novel with a point of view I’ve not seen much of. It’s refreshing to learn something new. A bargain at $0.99

Patrick’s Journey: 18th Century Irish Convict finds life and love (The Rourke Saga Book 1)

Patrick's Journey

Amazon quote:

Dublin Harbour, Ireland, 1793:

When the convict ship Boddington left Ireland’s shores Patrick Rourke felt as though he was sailing away from his soul as well as from his home land.

Not so very long before he had everything to live for – he was young, strong and healthy, had a loving family and had won the affection of his sweetheart Catherine.

Then, a relatively minor confrontation with the occupying British Redcoats escalated beyond all foreseeable consequences. Patrick became a pawn in the political aspirations of the United Irishmen and suffered the wrath of the British dominated Irish penal system.

With everything he held dear seemingly lost, Patrick found himself thrust into an emotional and physical journey that saw him plummet into the depths of rage and despair as he was transported to the penal colony of New South Wales.

Would he ever see his family or his beloved Ireland again ? And Catherine – all his future revolved around Catherine – what could he hope to offer her now ?

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This next BookBub suggestion is FREE. It’s written by an author new to me.

Angels of Humility: A Novel

Angels of Humility

Amazon quote:

Pastor Paul is a young seminary graduate called as interim pastor to a small rural church. He is full of zeal, but mostly for self-promotion. He sincerely loves the Lord but his past emotional wounds leave him vulnerable and in need of attention and affirmation. He constantly frustrates his angel, Saldu, who tries to steer him toward a more humble attitude.

Sarah Edwards is a new church member, a recent widow who gets saved at age 71. Unknown to her, Sarah has two angels to help disciple her and she is maturing rapidly in the faith. She is confused by her prophetic gifting, which leads her to offend some church members. She also prayer walks in front of Pastor Paul’s house. When his wife sees her pacing back and forth “talking to no one,” Paul quickly writes her off as a “wacko.”

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us.

Hope for Christmas (Hope Ranch Book 1)

Hope for Christmas

Amazon quote:

An independent single mom who doesn’t believe in love at first sight collides with a man who does.
Cyan Hewitt drifts onto his estranged grandparents’ New Mexico ranch in time for Thanksgiving… and stays. As a cyber security consultant, he can telecommute, so why not from here, where his restless soul is soothed and his heart is awakened by the attractive ranch housekeeper?
Maria Sanchez works at Rancho de Esperanza to provide a stable life for her son. She’s content—mostly—in her roles as housekeeper, part-time student, and mom, but when her precocious seven-year-old is diagnosed with diabetes, her world shatters. There’s no time for distractions from the long-term visitor who’s stirring a longing in her for more.

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Currently I’m reading a book with an unusual twist. I’m not exactly sure where it’s going but that’s not a bad thing. Doling out information a little at a time adds intrigue to the story.

I’ll Watch the Moon

I'll Watch the Moon

Amazon quote:

“Tatlock continues to weave 20th-century history into absorbing, finely crafted literary tales.” – Library Journal
A single mother embittered by an abusive marriage. An adventurous 14-year old son and the 10-year old daughter who adores him. A boarder in the house, a war refugee with a murky past. It’s the summer of 1948, hot, and Polio stalks the children, taking them one by one. When it strikes the son, she wonders if he will be in an iron lung the rest of life? And when redemption comes, it arrives from a most unexpected source.

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Happy Reading …

from a happy camper. That’s me. The prediction for today was HOT and I was scurrying around getting things done before it hit.

It’s a win/win. The tasks are done and the heat hasn’t materialized.

It’s grey and windy and looks like a storm could hit anyway.

I was worried about my newly planted flowering tree. The wind is often wild around here, whipping things around like crazy. The young tree didn’t stand much chance in the last storm and was leaning over before the protective staking could be installed.

I was on a mission this morning, looking for information and a source of supplies to take care of my tree. Information was great but finding the needed stake was a little bit of chaos. It was the blind leading the blind. I don’t think the young guy serving me knew anymore than I did when it came time to find the stake in the back lot of the lumber yard.

I was expecting wood but ended up with metal. It turned out alright. It’s green and fits with the tree just fine. The next challenge was pounding the two of them into the ground. The stake is 6 ft high and I’m not. My neighbor bailed me out and did the honors. Piece of cake for him.

Now I can watch and worry it’s tied too tight. Maybe it will break off if gale force winds come whipping through.

This is like being a new mom full of insecurities. I worry too much.

I’m going back to my original thought. It’s been a good day. And my tree looks good standing straighter.

Free and bargain books July 20, 2020

July 20, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s been a few days since we’ve downloaded any new books and it’s a nice surprise to see some today. BookBub has a FREE suggestion for us from an author enjoyed by many.

The Demise (A Braxton Mystery Book 1)

The Demise

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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1531 Entertainment has a FREE suggestion.

Past Forward Volume 1

Past Forward Vol 1

Amazon quote:

Alone without friends or family to comfort her after the death of her mother, Willow Finley’s idyllic life is over—and just beginning.

When Willow Finley awakes on a hot summer morning, she is unprepared for the grief that awaits her. Jerked from a life of isolation with her mother, Willow learns what alone really means when she finds her mother still in her bed, never to awaken again in this life.

From the moment Willow arrives in the police station with her startling announcement, Chad Tesdall fights the friendship he knows he can’t avoid.

This collection of the first five episodes of Past Forward starts with Willow’s life-changing discovery and gently guides the reader through aspects of her life–the past weaving through the present and into the future. Experience her first morning in church, her first movie, and the culture shock of her first trips to the city. A birthday party and a street faire add welcome diversion from butchering, canning, and the beating of area rugs. Disaster strikes. Will she be able to continue her life, or will an offer in the city change it all? Find out in this first volume.

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Browsing; here is a bargain collection by another popular author. $0.99

Alaskan Refuge Christian Suspense Box Set (Books 1-3)

Alaskan Refuge Box set

Amazon quote:

Deep in the heart of Alaska, there’s more to fear than just the cold …

A woman hiding from the fatal mistakes of her past.

A sister rescuing her autistic little brother from the clutches of danger.

A mother confronting the demons in her past to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

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One more bargain collection. $1.31

Betwixt Two Hearts (Crossroads Collection)

Betwixt two hearts

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Currently, I’m reading and enjoying book 2 in a box set that is still a bargain at $1.34

The Hope Rising Series Box Set

Hope Rising

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

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

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

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

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Happy Reading …

… from a distracted blogger.

I left my computer needing to refresh my memory on the title of my current read. The intention was to grab my Kindle and return to the blog. I’m not sure how it happened but I noticed a spill on the kitchen floor that I just had to investigate and clean up. My stomach growled and I remembered my plan for a dish of ice-cream. I cannot eat ice-cream without reading, of course. A few chapters later my thoughts turned to the plants in the living room needing water. I’d best do it now before I turn in for the night, not leave it again for another day.

Walking past the computer – Oh no. I was in the middle of a blog post.

I have now refreshed my memory on the current read, finished the blog post (almost) and will water the plants before turning out the lights. Unless I forget and read a few more chapters first. It’s been known to happen.

What was I doing again?

Free and bargain books July 16, 2020

July 16, 2020July 17, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a FREE suggestion for us by a popular author.

Above All Things

Above all Things

Amazon quote:

They were on their way to being a real family…until she came into their lives.

Expecting their first baby, Judd and Evette McGlin are thrilled at the prospect of becoming parents. But their marriage faces the ultimate test when Judd learns he already has a child: a six-year-old bi-racial daughter, born amid secrets and lies. Now, Evette must decide if she can accept the child—and forgive Judd. She thought she was open-minded—until hidden prejudices threaten the future of an innocent little girl, Evette’s marriage, and the very notion of the woman she’s believed herself to be. Above all things, this child needs acceptance and love. Needs Evette to discover what being a mother truly means. Needs Judd to face his past. And needs them both to discover what it truly means to be a family.

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Browsing through her other books I came across this interesting looking bargain. $1.24

Special delivery

Amazon quote:

Lily O’Neal’s thriving at-home bakery means working alone in her state-of-the-art kitchen, so how’s she ever supposed to meet the man of her dreams? But when delivery truck driver, Gage Simmons, shows up at her door—crooked grin and all—she can’t help making sure he has a reason to return…even if it means ordering her supplies one at a time.

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One more interesting bargain $0.99 this time.

A January Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella Book 2)

A January Bride

Amazon quote:

What will happen when novelist Madeleine Houser’s “pen pal” friendship with a lonely widower takes an unexpected turn?

Who can work in a house that’s overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny’s friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper—but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner—a man who’s likely many years her senior—and who she’s never even met.

Arthur Tyler is a college professor who lost his young wife to cancer. Together they ran the bed and breakfast where Art lives, but without his wife, the house is missing warmth and cheer. He jumps at the chance to have author Madeleine Houser use the space that was once filled with guests. He, too, begins to enjoy the daily exchanges with Maddie, but a series of misunderstandings lead him to believe she’s far from being a prospective date—even if he were ready to date again, which he’s not.

When Maddie and Art finally meet and discover one another’s identity, sparks fly. Even so, they each have obstacles to overcome in order for this winter romance to blossom.

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I’m currently reading one of the mysteries downloaded the other day. I’m only a few chapters in so it’s a bit early to tell but I’m feeling still intrigued. It’s still a bargain at $1.99

Cold Shot (Chesapeake Valor Book #1)

Cold Shot

Amazon quote:

In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world–and friendships–crumbled.

Now Griffin is a park ranger at Gettysburg, having left life as a SWAT-team sniper when a case went bad. The job is mostly quiet–until the day he captures two relic hunters uncovering skeletal remains near Little Round Top. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott determines that the body is modern–a young social justice lawyer missing since spring–and all evidence points to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Gray takes over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he’ll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he–and those he cares about–are going to escape a downward spiral of murder that crosses continents.

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Well, it was quite a day for my car (I mentioned this morning’s 8 a.m. appointment yesterday) I’m sure all the poking and prodding was a shock to his system. (My car is not delicate and fragile, it’s heavy, strong, and able to take on challenges, I’m sure it’s a he.)

(At least I haven’t named him, yet.)

Not only did he have to live through an oil change and all that entails, there was more, all first time experiences. A transmission service, rear differential service, transfer case service, and a flush of the brake system. Sounds like a shocking experience to me.

I haven’t decided if I should be happy or sad that life has had reason to acquaint me with many of the important moving parts on a car. For today I’ll feel happy. At least I knew what they were talking about when they listed all the things that needed to happen at this mileage.

On the bright side it took 8 years to get to this point. Not too shabby. Best of all though, there shouldn’t be any time spent sitting on the side of the road. Been there done that.

We’ll leave those stories for another day while I bask in today’s happy feelings. Life is good.

Happy Reading y’all.

Free and bargain books July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

How are things at your house? You may not wish to answer but I think it’s nice to know someone asked an honest question. Today it’s an honest question. I’m thinking but can’t imagine your day, never having been to most of your countries. Whatever your day is like I hope there are some bright spots.

My current read is a bright spot in my day. I’m on book 3 in the collection and it’s still a bargain at $0.99. It has been a marathon read ( in my spare time) and I’ve made it this far without feeling bored. A good recommendation I think.

The Spark Brothers: A Christian Contemporary Romance Collection

The Spark Brothers

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today.

Rescuing Riley (Gold Coast Retrievers Book 2)

Resusing Riley

Amazon quote:

Riley Lewis may plan weddings for a living, but it doesn’t mean she believes in love. However, love may be just what she gets when she lays eyes on the disabled veteran running the bed and breakfast that will serve as her home during a much-needed visit with her best friend.

Joshua Bandon wanted one thing when he was discharged from the military—peace and quiet. But when his service dog, Charlie, falls hard for a beautiful woman staying at their inn, he just may end up following suit.

When Riley’s best friend disappears without warning, Josh and Charlie may be the only ones who can help… Especially when Riley goes missing too.

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An interesting bargain. Short-and-sweet but enticing anyway. $1.32

Garnet’s Gift: Christian historical romance (Carrie Town Texas Book 6)

Garnet's gift

Amazon quote:

Twenty-two-year-old Garnet Adams longs to marry and have a houseful of children. Forced to support her widowed mother, she embraces her role as a teacher, although the Carrie Town board of education’s rules for female teachers leave no opportunity for a social life. She contents herself playing the violin at church.

Tall, bearded, and rough around the edges, Deputy Noah Scott would rather hunt than socialize. Garnet thinks he’s a rude, insensitive drifter, and Noah’s sure the last person he’d want to court is a schoolmarm–especially with her unladylike sneeze. As the needs of her students bring them together, opposites seem to attract until a certain Christmas present derails their future.

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The sun is shining at my house and it’s the end of a work day. I will enjoy relaxing while finishing 3 and staring number 4.

Happy Reading!

Tomorrow I have an 8 a.m. appointment, I’m not a morning person. The consolation is, there will be lots of reading time while my car has a check-up. At least it’s not me having the check-up,there is that.

Free LPC books July 13, 2020

July 13, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

LPC Books has some new and interesting FREE suggestions for us. Four of them, clean and written for the General Market. Two of the authors are familiar to me with multiple downloads each, Candee Fick and Ann Tatlock.

Dance Over Me: (The Wardrobe series Book 1)

Dance Over Me

Amazon quote:

Danielle Lefontaine, a fledgling actress, has her sights set on Broadway. But when a jealous cast member threatens to drop the curtain on her dreams, Danielle fears her one brilliant moment in the spotlight is about to become a dim memory. Alex Sheridan is living his dream — playing the trumpet and helping run his family’s dinner theater. When “Dani” dances into his life, Alex is sure he’s found the perfect partner — if only the bright lights of a bigger stage don’t lure her away first.

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Devyn’s Dilemma (Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series Book 2)

Devyn's Dilemma

Amazon quote:

1910, Thousand Islands, New York. Others may consider The Towers castle on Dark Island an enchanting summer retreat, but to Devyn McKenna, it’s a prison. Yet as she works as a maid for Frederick Bourne, former president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, her life blossoms under the kindness of his family and fascinating entrepreneurs such as J.P. Morgan, Thomas Lipton, and Captain Vanderbilt. But more than anything, the growing friendship of Mr. Bourne’s valet, Brice McBride, begins to pry away the painful layers that conceal Devyn’s heart.

Brice is drawn to the mysterious Devyn even though he’s certain she’s hiding a secret, one far more dangerous than the clues they find in The Towers that hint of a treasure on the island. When Devyn is accused of stealing Bourne’s investment in Vanderbilt’s New York City subway expansion, he might not be able to protect her.

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Once Beyond a Time

Once Beyond a Time

Amazon quote:

A troubled family, whose pastor father resigned in disgrace from a church in suburban Philadelphia, moves to an old house in Black Mountain, North Carolina. They soon discover that their new home, nearly hidden from view on the side of a mountain, is no ordinary place. The family can see and speak with people who appear and disappear seemingly at will. Some of the visitors seem to have lived there in the past. More mysteriously, some will live there in the future.

Then, soon after their move into the old house, their eight-year-old son vanishes without a trace! Has he been kidnapped, or has he wandered off into the dark forest? Will the “house beyond time” provide the answers? Or does something more disturbing await this troubled family?

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Angel Beneath My Wheels: Maybe she was his good luck charm … an angel beneath his wheels.

Angel Beneath my Wheels

Amazon quote:

Beneath his playboy façade, NASCAR driver Luke Brandt yearns for family. Rachel Tate, an inventive, purity-ring-wearing mechanical engineer, wants to prove herself in a male dominated industry. When Luke outbids Rachel on the only muscle cars she could use to test her new vapor-fueled engine, she writes him off. But Luke’s gentle ways and country charm may win her over—if his past doesn’t push her away.

As Rachel begins to touch Luke’s heart, he’s haunted by memories of the mother who abandoned him as a boy. With an intense trust that God will lead her steps, Rachel perseveres, and her innocence and grace breach Luke’s defenses. As they join forces to bring her remarkable invention to market, their love and lives are threatened by the iron-tight grip that “Big Oil” holds over the auto industry. Will Rachel hold on to her values? And will Luke realize his final happiness must come through faith in the One who has always loved him … and always will?

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Actually, I’ve read the last one. I thought it sounded familiar when reading the synopsis and it is. It’s from last fall and I remember liking it. I see I’ve read Mathis before too – book one in the Thousand Island series. Small world.

I hope you will enjoy some of these along with me.

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books July 12, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the Heart Calls … a $0.99 bargain

When the Heart Calls

Amazon quote:

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

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

Until it isn’t.

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

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

The Hope Rising Series Box Set

Hope Rising

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

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

Free and bargain books July 11, 2020

July 11, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us this morning. $0.99 This is not an author I’ve read before so don’t know what to expect. I’m an eternal optimist when it comes to books, always hoping for the best.

Sandover Beach Week (Sandover Island Sweet Romance Book 2)

Sandover Beach Week

Amazon quote:

Emily is still reeling from her failed modeling career and her wealthy parents’ disappointment in her life choices. A girls’ trip to the beach seems like the perfect escape to reflect on her past and plan her next steps. But her biggest regret just so happens to live on Sandover Island–Jimmy, an old friend whose heart she broke years before.

What he never knew is that saying goodbye to him shattered her heart as well.

When Jimmy’s fire station gets a call for an emergency rescue, the last person he expects to find in danger is his childhood crush, Emily. Seeing her again forces him to confront old wounds even as fresh new feelings begin to bloom. She destroyed his heart once. Can he possibly trust her with it again?

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us this morning. Another new-to-me author and I have no idea what to expect this time either. I’m hoping it’s good.

The Reckless Doctor’s Bride: Historical Western Mail Order Bride Romance (Montana Westward Brides Book 1)

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

Amazon quote:

She knew the West was wild. But this bride-to-be didn’t expect her fate to include murder…

Irish beauty Lucy Magee fears she’ll never shake her bad luck. As though to prove her right, a trip to Montana to meet a dashing doctor results in the accidental death of her coach driver. But when the mail-order bride finally sets sight on her potential husband’s kind face, she’s sure her fortunes have turned.

Dr. Sam Slater wants to become a good provider. And when his heart races upon meeting Lucy, he knows she’s absolutely the one for him. But their first courting picnic ends in tragedy when they discover his ranch shepherd’s dead body.

When Lucy begins receiving anonymous threats, she’s petrified her persistent misfortune followed her to the rugged country. And despite cooperating with the sheriff, Dr. Sam comes no closer to understanding who is forcing them off the land.

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Nothing else interesting is popping out at me so I’m off to the garden and the pile of work I have plans for accomplishing on this beautiful sunny day.

My current read is dragging. I want to see how it ends but it is a little painful getting there.

Lost Down Deep

I think next I’ll try a book that seems a little weird with my first taste of it. I’ll give it a try and send it packing if it doesn’t work out for me. The collection of books barely started and not pursued is growing and needs weeding out again. I do hope this one turns into a good read though. I’ll let you know what happens.

Henry

Happy Reading on a beautiful Saturday.

Free and bargain books July 09, 2020

July 9, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Browsing. It’s working tonight.

Small Town Billionaire: (Sweet Home Billionaires Book 1) $1.34

Small town billionaire

Amazon quote:

Hudson Jennings wants to get away from the world of business his father is trying to trap him in. He’s seen what it’s done to his family, and to his ailing mother. Why not buy a house in a small town and move far away from it all?

Shannon Kendrick is graduating college after six long years of putting herself through school and working at a country club. She’s ready to start her career and help people that are less fortunate. When she meets a guy who has it all and he’s rude to her, she chalks it up to being a rich, entitled, son of a billionaire.

When Hudson needs to host an event, he is paired with Shannon to make the necessary preparations. She can’t stand the sight of him, but her spunky personality and determination to do the right thing sparks a light in Hudson that he hasn’t known before. He wants to know more about her, but he also wants to protect her from the life he leads.

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A FREE short story

Healing Her Heart: (Crystal Lake Series Book 1)

Healing her heart

Amazon quote:

Dr. Gabe Allen has a rule about dating colleagues but when he meets ER nurse Larissa Brockman he’s tempted to break his vow. Larissa’s faith draws him back to the church he’d left behind, but when their lives are on the line Gabe discovers that Larissa is the one who needs to learn about the true meaning of forgiveness. And only Gabe can help heal her heart.

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FREE

The Loneliest Cottage: A Page-Turning Tale of Mystery, Adventure & Love (Alaskan Hearts Book 1)

The Loneliest Cottage

Amazon quote:

Lauren Dalton’s world shattered the day her father died. It shattered again when she found a box of old keepsakes commemorating a life she’d never even known he lead.

Heartbroken but determined, she accepts a seasonal job in rural Alaska to look after an injured musher’s dogs while searching for the truth about her father’s hidden past. But her cantankerous new boss comes with dangerous secrets of his own.

When a fire ravages part of the property, all will be revealed—and four-thousand miles away from the only home she’s ever known, Lauren will discover just how quickly everything can change.

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My latest read-and-enjoyed is still a bargain at $1.34. I’ve read other books in this series and enjoyed them too.

The Heart of Mercy (Georgia Peaches Book 4)

The Heart of Mercy

Amazon quote:

Mercy Cunningham runs a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Atlanta. Dismissive of her noble work among the destitute, her father continually pesters her to work for his Fortune-500 corporation. A bedraggled stranger visits the soup kitchen and catches Mercy’s attention. Not because of the piercing gaze almost hidden behind his facial hair, but because something seems off about him.

Noah Allen is not the pastor, or even the man, he once was. The single-blow death of his wife and child made sure of that, as did a raging opioid addiction. Blaming himself for their deaths, he wanders the country without a destination and without a desire to find one.

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My current read is intriguing and everyone is suspect.

Lost Down Deep (The Mosaic Collection) (The Rose Tattoo Trilogy Book 1)

Lost Down Deep

Amazon quote:

She is the only one who can tell the police who attacked her in her home.
If only she could remember …
Summer Velasquez is on the run from a man she has no recollection of after an attack she can’t recall.
Every face in the crowd is a potential suspect, so how is Summer supposed to know who is a threat to her and who isn’t?
After fleeing her assailant and the parents who lied to her about what happened, she changes her name and seeks refuge in Elora, Ontario. The small town feels familiar, although she has no memory of ever having been here.
Even in what should be a safe place, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.
When Ryan Taylor strolls into the Taste of Heaven Café where she works, Summer is immediately drawn to him. However, he may not be who he says he is either. As her suspicions grow, Summer prepares to run again.
But at least one person is determined to stop her. Permanently. And if she can’t remember who he is, this time he may succeed.

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Happy Reading

Free and bargain books July 06, 2020

July 6, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

LPC Books has FREE suggestions for us. I have read the first two but not the third.

Kill Order

Kill Order

Amazon quote:

Grammy-winning pianist Landon Jeffers’s brain cancer has given him only a few years to live. But when he sleeps, the forgotten terrors of his past torment him. When he wakes, shameful memories come rushing back. Desperate for answers, Jeffers discovers that a brain implant intended to treat his cancer is really a device to control him, forcing him to commit terrible crimes. Now he’s being manipulated by an evil crime syndicate and a crooked cop.

When he sleeps, the forgotten terrors of the past come alive … and his future is a dead ending.

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With This Peace (Ella Dessa’s Story Book 3)

With This Peace

Amazon quote:

Florida’s alligator-infested swamps and flat landscapes fail to impress Ella Dessa McKnapp. She longs to abandon their journey and return to the beautiful Georgia Mountains, and when her husband’s two younger brothers ride away—heading for a village called Tampa—the fear of a Seminole Indian attack is ever present.

Ella Dessa and her husband must continue the journey alone, not realizing a tragedy will place her and their two children at the mercy of Indians and a runaway slave. Only the shelter of a deserted cabin and the return of her husband’s youngest brother bring the hope of peace. But will the hurricane of 1848 rip away that hope?

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Laurel (Women of the American Revolution Series Book 2)

Laurel

Amazon quote:

In the port of Charleston, South Carolina, post-Revolutionary War passions reach fever pitch. There, Lilyan’s past catches up with her. As a former patriot spy, she is charged with the murder of a British officer. Thrown into the “Exchange Building” and chained alongside prostitutes, thieves, and murderers, she seeks the courage to survive and the faith to believe she will find her missing child, Laurel. Determined to free his wife at any cost, Nicholas finds himself forced back into a life of violence.

Will their love sustain them as they seek word of their missing child? Or is Laurel lost to them forever?

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There is a pre-order bargain book looking interesting. $1.35

The Practice of Prying (The Sidekick’s Survival Guide Mysteries Book 4)

The Practice of Prying

Amazon quote:

Apprentice P.I. Elliot Ransom has almost lost her life, her family is being targeted by bad guys, and her love life is a confusing mess. Can anything else go wrong?

Her newest case has her posing as an assistant coach for a local charity softball game in order to figure out if the previous coach was murdered. The problem is that Elliot, who grew up in the jungle, knows nada about softball.

More than one mystery haunts her, and it’s hard to know which clue leads to potential answers. But one thing she does know: danger is close—too close. Whoever thought a little prying could lead to so much distress?

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A new collection priced to sell. $0.99

Dangerous Deceptions: A Christian 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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One more interesting bargain $1.34

Christmas at the Lake: Two heartwarming sweet and clean Christian small-town romances set in Huckleberry Lake, Idaho (Huckleberry Lake Duets Book 1)

Christmas at the lake

Amazon quote:

Calm & Bright
Will Brad and Maddie let God use a Christmas together for the sake of their son to help them rediscover the love that led to their whirlwind romance, and overcome the issues that caused their divorce? Or will the same issues divide them once again?
Even Maddie’s matchmaking grandmother and their adorable four year old might not be enough to help them get back together!
A sweet and clean faith-based reunion romance.

Midnight Clear
No one guesses teacher Claire’s secret heartbreak. Including town handyman and all-round good guy Ryan, who seems to think she’s “the One”. Only she knows why she’s not the woman for him. Easily fixed, her snark should make him forget her.
Problem is, it seems both God and Ryan have other plans this Christmas!
A sweet and clean faith-based enemies-to-love romance.

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Happy Reading to you.

Free books July 04, 2020

July 4, 2020 / For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

A few FREE books this morning.

At Your Request (Apart From the Crowd): An Apart From the Crowd Novella

At Your Request

Amazon quote:

After her father lost the family’s fortune, Wilhelmina was cast out of the fashionable set and banished to the wallflower section. Taking a position as a social secretary to help support her family, she’s mostly come to terms with her new status. But when her old friend Edgar returns to New York society for the first time since she rejected his marriage proposal, she’s newly ashamed at how far she’s fallen–and how hastily she dismissed him years ago. Her strategy is to avoid a face-to-face encounter at all costs, but he seems to have other plans. Will Edgar take advantage of their now reversed positions and make her regret her refusal, or is there still hope for a friendship between them–or something more?

At Your Request is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Jen Turano’s new Gilded Age historical romance series, Apart From the Crowd! Includes an extended excerpt of the first full-length novel in the series, Behind the Scenes.

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Take a Chance on Me (Misty River Romance)

Take a Chance on Me

Amazon quote:

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he’s set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!

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Winter’s Secret: Clean Wholesome Mystery and Romance (Northern Intrigue Book 1)

Winter's Secret

Amazon quote:

Some secrets chill to the bone….

Smashed heirlooms, ripped upholstery and rifled drawers-who is breaking into homes during a record-breaking snowy winter, vandalizing and stealing.

Whoever it is–is targeting the most vulnerable–the seniors of a small northwoods town. As the new sheriff, Rodd Durand, home again to small town Steadfast, Wisconsin, takes on the Snowmobile Burglar.

In the course of her duties, Wendy Carey, the home health nurse, discovers each new break-in and wants more than anything to stop him. The small town reels as the burglar eludes capture and steps up his crimes. A vindictive woman and a secret baby heighten the suspense. When Wendy and Rodd begin to fall in love, family complicates matters. But the real stumbling block to their love lies within. Can they break through their own insecurities over the past?

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Happy Reading…

… on this warm, cloudy, ready-to-thunder-storm Saturday. I think the covers of books one and three are refreshing on this more-than-warm day.