A book I want to read. August 18, 2024

A BookBub email suggestion caught my eye and I want to check it out. It is a tough subject involving trafficking and I’m hoping it will a rescue story. We are always in need of a hero to come in and save the day. My heart breaks for the victims of these monsters. and I’m hoping rescues can happen in real life. I think they do, just not as often as we would hope.

Every Star in the Sky (two sparrows for a penny book 1)

She is willing to testify against her trafficker.
If she can stay alive that long.

“You’re safe here, Starr.”
How many times has Detective Cole Blacksky said that to her since helping her escape the life she’d been forced into eight years earlier?
Starr desperately wants to believe him, but she knows Brady Erickson, her former captor, too well. Although Cole has promised her protective custody on his family’s remote ranch, no place on earth is safe enough. Brady will stop at nothing to permanently silence her before she ever reaches the witness stand.
And he is powerful enough to do it.
If Starr wants to help the other women, she has no choice but to put herself in God’s hands. And Cole’s. But the longer she and Cole stay hidden, the more her life is at risk.
And her heart
.

TW: human trafficking, some violence, sexual intimacy inferred (clean and closed door)

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I like strong female characters and by my estimation this looks like a good one. One thing about frontier stories – they all had to be strong characters to survive.

A Heart as Untamed as Thunder: A Historical Western Romance Novel (Hearts Across the Frontier) 

Maddie MacDougall has spent all of her childhood among horses and she can’t imagine a life without them. The yearning for adventure she has always harbored in her heart will lead her to a match sent from heaven, Carter, a horse breeder in Wyoming. She will soon be intrigued by his tales of wild mustangs and his chivalrous manners but she will also realize that his obsession with Thunder, the legendary stallion of Croy Canyon, can endanger both the animal and their relationship.

When love fuels the heart though, all obstacles can be overcome…

Carter Stone has led a harsh life among the wild horses, full of challenges and adventures. He has always wished to have someone by his side who shares this passion and when the match with Maddie is arranged, he is overjoyed. What he did not expect was to find himself stricken with her unique beauty or her rare wit, with which she challenges him when she differs from his methods.

Will he be able to tame her wild heart?

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There is another book suggestion in this series too. I’ve experienced one of the authors but not this one. I’m excited to see if the story lives up to the great impression of the first few pages.

A Sheriff for the Gracious Widow: A Historical Western Romance Novel (Hearts Across the Frontier) 

Orphaned at a young age, Emily Carter is left devastated when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. Determined to uncover the truth, she seeks help from the handsome new sheriff, Jacob. But her new ally might be able to give her more than mere answers…

Can Emily overcome her guilt and allow herself to open up to the growing affection she feels for Jacob?

After the tragic death of his older brother, Jacob Turner harbors a deep sense of responsibility toward his small community of Willow Creek. When Emily seeks his help to solve the mystery of her husband’s death, Jacob realizes he’s in trouble. The young widow embodies everything he’s ever wanted, but he knows he can’t have her while she’s still in mourning…

Can Jacob successfully navigate the delicate situation between duty and his personal involvement?

When Emily discovers she’s being followed, Jacob must put his growing feelings aside and work tirelessly to keep her safe from the schemes of a ruthless killer. As dark secrets are revealed, will they find a way to be together or will Emily’s tragic past and Jacob’s sense of duty prevent them from finding happiness?

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Another enticing suggestion. How can I possibly pass that up?

River Falls Books 1-3 Box Set: Three Small Town Christian Romances 

Pieces of Forever: Eight years ago, Ava and Joseph had the perfect future planned—until a terrible accident changed everything. Unwilling to believe they could still have a future, Ava made Joseph promise to leave and live out their dreams without her. Joseph has never broken a promise to Ava. Until now. Because before he made that stupid promise to leave, they’d made each other another promise—one of forever. And he’s determined to return to River Falls and show her that his promise still stands…

Songs of Home: In the wake of a very public breakup, country music star Lydia St. Peter finds herself in need of a place of refuge. She doesn’t know why she thinks she’ll find it with the family she never knew she had in River Falls, Tennessee, but at least the small town will offer her the privacy she so desperately craves. She never expects it to offer more—in the form of her new landlord, Liam, and his troubled teenage daughter. But when Lydia is presented with an opportunity that could rocket her to household-name status, she has to decide whether she’s willing to give up everything she’s gained in River Falls to chase her dreams—or if her heart has finally found its home.

Memories of the Heart: As a Christian counselor, Simeon knows he should be able to help his wife cope with the losses they’ve suffered. And it’s killing him that he can’t. It seems like the more he tries, the harder Abigail pushes him away. He’s determined to save their marriage… but what if it’s already too late? When an accident leaves Abigail with amnesia, stealing her memories of their life together, will it be the end of their marriage? Or is God giving them a second chance to build a love even stronger than they remember?

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This is long and there are more and I can’t resist.

Another post is the only way to go

I’m having so much fun.

New books July 21, 2024

It has been awhile, a long while, since the last post. It’s been awhile since I’ve been looking for books too. Somehow or other I am feeling inspired to look today. It’s the beginning of my search and who knows how it will go, but at least one has caught my interest though so it’s a promising start.

Before I get to sharing my first find, I should share an author I’ve discovered in the last month or so.

His genre is mystery/thriller and I like his style. I love his characters, his plots, and the way the story flows along. I’ve read three in the first few weeks of discovery. They were hard cover books and it was a surprise to find I could still enjoy such a thing since I’m hooked on the beauty of e books.

His name is David Baldacci and he is a prolific author.

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The book I’m adding to my collection today is also from a prolific author. I don’t love him as much as Baldacci but he does show up in my downloads quite regularly and is a worthwhile read. I read book one in this series in 2020 so book two should be a welcome addition.

The Homecoming (A Homefront Novel Book 2)

Sean Collins is barely home from fighting Nazis in Europe when he’s ordered to serve on a USO bond tour with a bunch of Hollywood stars…a reluctant hero. All Sean wants is to stay home with his son and to grieve his wife’s loss in private. When Sean asks Katherine Townsend–-Patrick’s former social worker–-to be his nanny while Sean’s on the road, he has no idea how this decision will impact his life.

Could it be the key to his future happiness and the mending of his heart? Or will the war once again threaten his chances for a new start?

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This next one looks interesting enough for me to give it a chance, I’ve not read this author though so it will be a new experience. The first few paragraphs suggest it could be promising, here’s hoping.

A Bride to Mend His Soul: A Historical Western Romance Book (Love and Valor on the Frontier)

For as long as she can remember, Suzannah Murphy’s family has been moving around the country, never settling down. All that changes when she finds out that her parents plan to make the Reed ranch their permanent home, and promise her hand to the owner’s son. Although Suzannah dreams of starting a family, she won’t abide by an arranged marriage, especially when her betrothed is the most reserved and distant person she has ever met. Yet, as she breaks down the walls surrounding his heart, and his kindness unfolds, she will soon find out the true reason he has been acting so strangely. Utterly unprepared for the challenges that are about to follow, will she manage to stand by his side without risking her own fate?

For almost ten years, Jasper Reed has been blaming himself for the terrible accident that changed his father’s life forever. Immersed in remorse, he devotes himself completely to saving the family ranch from insolvency. When all his efforts fail though, a trust-fund stashed away by a wealthy relative seems to be the only way out. However, there’s a catch… he must get married before his impending twenty-seventh birthday in order to receive the money. Feeling the burden of his duty and needing to act quickly, he is surprised to find himself struck by the unique beauty of the new ranch worker’s daughter. Could she be the answer to his prayers or will life remind him once again that he is cursed to lose everything he cares about?

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Lastly, another author I’ve read once, a few years ago by the looks of it. The first few paragraphs appear promising on this one too so I’m gong to give it a chance to impress me.

The Sparkle in Her Eyes: A Historical Western Romance Book (Love and Valor on the Frontier)

Laura Cabot is facing a dilemma. While trying to decide if she really wants to marry Zachary Bell, she begins to notice disturbing changes that don’t bode well for a future union. As if that wasn’t enough, she ends up entangled in his sudden disappearance… Still, Laura is used to challenges. She quickly begins to help out Detective Blackwell, a fascinating man who impresses her with his determination to solve the case. Until she becomes the main suspect…

Detective Jensen Blackwell finds the little town of Cottage Grove and its residents intriguing, none more so than Laura Cabot. As soon as the captivating journalist offers to assist him, he feels an immediate connection he simply can’t resist. Yet he knows he must focus on solving this troubling case, no matter where it may lead… Caught in a web of scandal and confusion, a familiar face reappears and suddenly everything Jensen thought he knew is thrown into question…

Well, this isn’t a stellar collection of books I don’t think but they should be worth the effort to read them. They could surprise us too, we just never know.

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Oops, I just noticed book 6, next in line in a series I’ve been reading. Can’t remember much about the series but it’s on sale so I can’t pass it up.

All Things Together (Acts of Valor, Book 6): Romantic Suspense

In this last installment of the Acts of Valor Series, Emma Stuart’s world is turned upside down when her three beloved sons are abducted right before her eyes. With the police more focused on framing Emma than on finding her boys, she turns to the one man she’s been trying to resist—her landlord.

Navy SEAL sniper, Ben Harmony considers himself “Mr. Fix-it” for a reason. Loath to let his favorite tenant and single mother suffer any more than she already has, Ben decides they should track down Emma’s boys themselves. While they’re at it, Ben will prove to Emma that her heart is safe with him, despite his reputation as a lady’s man.

In their quest to track down Emma’s ex, the couple encounters a secret society so powerful, not even a Navy SEAL can bring it down. Indeed, it’s the society that seeks to bring Ben down. With Mr. Fix-it possibly dead and her boys still missing, Emma has to wonder: How, exactly, is God working all things together for her good?

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It has been a pleasure to hang out with you and search for new books. Life has finally settled down a bit so maybe I can get back to posting again. A little more often, anyway.

Like me, I hope you are enjoying happy reading too.

Historical Romance, new author, February 23, 2024

Another new-to-me author and she looks good. Historical romance with great twists. Looking forward to discovering whether or not she ends up on my favorites list. I sure hope so.

Christmas on the Range: Four romance novels in one collection

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS
Daisy Richards believes her life over after a terrible wagon accident and now lives as a recluse on her family’s ranch. But it’s just before Christmas when her father hires on a new cowboy, Ricky White, and Daisy finds herself drawn to his steady support. But Ricky carries secrets that could destroy the growing affection between them, and Daisy’s stern father forbids any romance. As they work together, their attraction deepens—but will Ricky’s past destroy any hope of a future together?

HER CONVENIENT COWBOY
With Christmas approaching and her due date only days away, pregnant widow Rose Evans is devastated when a blizzard strands her on the mountain with rugged cowboy Davy White. Though different as night and day, sparks fly between Rose and Davy, even as secrets from their pasts threaten to keep them apart. Davy sees Rose needs a home for her unborn baby, and a convenient marriage seems the only answer. Will their holiday surrounded by Davy’s boisterous family help them overcome past hurts in time for the baby to arrive?

CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING
When U.S. Marshal Walt White interrupts a train robbery by the notorious Seymour gang, he ends up stranded in the wilderness with two others – his headstrong sister Ida and shy nurse Libby. Pursued by the villainous outlaws, Walt is determined to protect the women as they battle the elements. Through harrowing days and nights on the run, Walt grows increasingly drawn to Libby’s quiet courage. As danger continues to close in and Ida’s life is threatened, Walt realizes he will do anything to save them. With Christmas approaching, can Walt outwit the Seymours and deliver Ida and Libby to safety in time for the holiday?

HEART OF GOLD
Traveling nurse Ida White needs a quiet Christmas at home to rest and find her footing again. But her boisterous family is anything but quiet and things only get worse when her U.S. Marshal brother brings home a prisoner for the holiday-the same outlaw that saved her life. Tom Seymour discombobulates Ida. He’s arrogant and unrepentant. But when she’s forced to nurse his injuries, she realizes that his persona is all a facade. The man underneath is wounded and kind and in need of redemption.

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Haven’t looked around for anything more so far today but here is my current, enjoyable read. Another author I didn’t know but am learning to appreciate very much. Ancient style power struggle.

Isle of Shadows (The Seven Wonders Novels Book 1)

What will freedom cost her?

Enslaved in an Ancient World of Money and Power, Tessa Dares to be Free.

Raised as a courtesan to wealthy and powerful men, Tessa of Delos serves at the whim of the corrupt politician, Glaucus, on the opulent isle of Rhodes.


Ten years have passed since she was forsaken by both the gods and her mother. To survive, Tessa abandons any desire for freedom or love, choosing instead to lock her heart away.

But when Glaucus meets a violent death, Tessa grasps at a fragile hope.


Only she knows of his death.


And if she can keep the explosive secret long enough, she can escape.


But time is running out. Another treacherous politician emerges from the shadows, in a bid to seize power over Rhodes.

And this one is claiming Tessa for himself.

What will freedom cost her?

Romance Collections February 15, 2024

This will keep us going for a while, a nice selection of multi book collections.

I’m excited about starting this first one after reading the first few pages.

Rainbow Haven Beach Boxed Set: The Complete Series

Discover the power of second chances in this heartwarming series of love, loss, and a fresh start.

After the death of her husband, Beth Campbell decides it’s time for a fresh start. When she returns to her hometown in Nova Scotia, she discovers a beautiful old abandoned home by the seaside and imagines it as the perfect spot for her to run a bed and breakfast and finally have the chance to write a novel. But when she discovers that the house belongs to Sean Pennington, a man with whom she has a painful history, she begins to doubt her dream.

With the encouragement of her friends and newfound faith, Beth takes a chance on the dilapidated home and hires Sean as a skilled carpenter to help her restore it. As they work together to bring the old house back to life, Beth and Sean’s shared history resurfaces, forcing them to confront unresolved feelings and past mistakes. Will they be able to forgive each other and move on, or will their complicated history keep them apart?

Join Beth on her journey of self-discovery and forgiveness. This inspirational series will touch your heart and remind you that it’s never too late to start again. It is perfect for fans of uplifting women’s fiction and readers who enjoy stories of finding hope and joy in unexpected places.

Included in this set are all the popular titles:

  • Finding Hope
  • Finding Peace
  • Finding Love
  • Finding Home
  • Finding Joy
  • Finding Faith
  • Christmas at Rainbow Haven

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Morris Fenris is a prolific writer. I’ve downloaded quite a few of his books over the last few years.

Healing Her Heart Boxset: Heartwarming Contemporary Christian Romance Book (Boxset Series: Small Town Sweet Romance Collection 4) 

Meet ten amazing couples who find their happily-ever-afters – but not without a few real-life issues along the way.

Missing Home
Past experiences and present dilemmas threaten to keep Edie and Matt apart. Will love—and faith—find a way to conquer all?

Faith Restored
Can a crisis of grief lead to new hope and happiness? Paula is determined to show Jimmy that love can strengthen the weakest hearts, but is it enough to save the day?

Christmas Angel Charity
Is Christmas romance in the air for Maddie and Nick? Or will they let past hurts keep them from finding lasting love?

Forever Cowboy
As Logan and Lindsey work together to help his children adjust to their new lives on the ranch, problems keep arising right and left. Can they work together to resolve these issues and become a forever family?

Desires of the Heart

Will Lynn’s search for the truth bring her closer to Justin or will it kill their chance at love?

Brooke and Peter
Will Brooke and Peter rediscover the power of love before it is too late?

Kaillar
Will Becca learn to forgive herself and find true love with Kaillar?

A New Start
Through experiences of pain, hope, and love, Maggie discovers that sometimes what you want is right in front of you the whole time.

Second Time Around
A touching and tender love story where long forgotten dreams are rekindled. Is it too late to dream again?

The Heart Knows Where It Belongs
Rylor and Melody have each searched for the missing pieces of their hearts. Will they find them in each other or is life destined to keep them apart?

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This next one is a collection with 12 authors, most of them are unknown to me. I love the chance to experience more authors. You just never know when you will run across someone who stands above all the rest in your estimation. It is also a pre-order that will be published in October. I don’t know that I’ve read a collection quite like this one. It will definitely not be boring.

Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection 

Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection
A Limited-Time Collection of 12 books from 12 beloved Christian authors spanning rustic landscapes, elegant ballrooms, rugged cowboys, enigmatic spies, and daring pirates! Delight your romantic heart with Colonial, Regency, Victorian, Western, and Gilded Age Romance and preorder your copy today!

Mail-Order Millie by USA Today Bestselling Author Kit Morgan
Imagine mail-order bride Millie’s surprise when she finds out her so-called husband is really a spy working for the president.

Courting Miss Darling by USA Today Bestselling Author Chautona Havig
Muriel Darling thought her heart rode off with a cowboy, but when his boss writes letters, maybe romance is in Miss Darling’s future after all.

The Privateer’s Prize by Christy Award Finalist Author MaryLu Tyndall
Left at the altar, a woman must rely on the man who broke her heart to deliver a message to change the course of the Revolutionary War.

Grace in the Storm by USA Today Bestselling Author Tricia Goyer
As hurricane winds howl, a feisty pirate and a captivating tavern owner find their destinies changed by the storm’s fury.

Leftover Mail-Order Bride by Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author Regina Scott
When mail-order bride Victoria’s groom left her at the altar, she vows to find love, but meets Jack, seeking help on the ranch, love optional.

Clara’s Compassion by Critically Acclaimed Author Marlene Bierworth
Clara’s compassion for workers on the frontier of the Canadian Rockies proves conflicting for railroad boss, Graham, in matters of the heart.

Miss Spencer Meets Her Match by Multi-Award-winning Author Linore Rose Burkard
Miss Spencer attends a Cinderella Ball unwillingly, not knowing the “prince” is in disguise.

Lissa and the Spy by USA Today Bestselling Author Camille Elliot
Seeking a marriage of convenience, plain Lissa becomes entangled with enigmatic Lord Stoude and a secret mission for the Crown.

Abiding Faith, Freedom’s Call by Multi-Award-Winning Author Louise M. Gouge A pacifist Quaker widow and a prisoner of war officer risk their lives. Will the gap between peace and the American Revolution be a chasm too wide?

Jory’s Story by USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa M. Prysock
When a spy and local adversaries descend, can a governess protect the duke’s children and her heart?

Priscilla’s Promise by Award-Winning Author Teresa Slack
Priscilla Channing wants to honor her father by marrying the man he chose. But he’s not the same man, nor she, the same woman.

The Gilding of Minnie Tucker by Multi-Award-Winning Author Marilyn Turk
A Biltmore maid opens the wrong door and stumbles into a guest whose mutual attraction could be their doom.

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That’s 29 books between three collections. It’s a good job one of the collections will be awhile getting here.

Mostly romance February 14, 2024

It has been awhile since I’ve been excited about a new book. I’m happy to be excited today. We have not one, or two, but a whole bunch of new choices from authors we have loved in the past.

Well, most of them are from the past but this first one is new to me and I’m looking forward to seeing what she is all about. This cover promises intense emotions and I think that’s what grabbed my attention. This will be the only one with a theme like this. The rest will be a mix with romance of some genre or a mystery/thriller with a little romance thrown in. Mystery is my favorite genre it seems.

Let’s get started, this could take a while.

Tomorrow Isn’t Promised

Who would choose to love a girl with no promise of a “happily ever after”?

Nathan isn’t sure choice has anything to do with it. When God calls, you answer. Even when that means taking a risk that might just leave you with a broken heart.

For Cherish, the future doesn’t look so tangible. Misty dreams of deeper fulfillment swirl in her heart—and of course, the longing for someone all her own.

When a shattering diagnosis tears her world apart forever, an equally unexpected love brings questions she never thought she’d face. Is it fair to accept his offer while death looms ahead? Can faith—and love—find meaning in tragedy? And does God really care about the stories that end in ashes?

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I prefer clean stories and this looks like it might deliver.

The Magnolia Island Series Boxset: A Christian Romance Collection

Amidst the tranquil shores of a secluded island, where faith meets mystery, a decade-old disappearance sets the stage for love, redemption, and the unearthing of secrets that will forever change the lives of those who call this island home. Welcome to Magnolia Island, where the past holds the key to the future.

Oceans of Mercy – A friends-to-lovers romance

Knox has been a strong and steady presence in Allie’s life for as long as she can remember, their friendship spanning the test of time and multiple tragedies for them both. Still, as Allie begins to grow as a person and in her faith, she realizes she’s let those around her fight her battles for her for far too long. It’s time for her to step up and stand up for herself, but old habits die hard for Knox who has been her protector since childhood. Just as Allie and Knox navigate the growing pains of their changing friendship and feelings for one another, a routine dive reopens a long closed missing person case that has deeply personal ties to Allie’s family. At the same time, an unexpected career opportunity for Allie thrusts her into the spotlight and stretches their friendship to the point where they must either bend or break.

Flames of Faith – A second-chance romance

Rob and Lexi’s relationship burned with the feelings they had for one another, but their explosive ending aided by the failure to reckon with their own pasts nearly broke them both. Now, Lexi’s back in Magnolia Island for the foreseeable future and comes face to face with a precocious little girl with her daddy’s eyes. She doesn’t know what to think, but their hearts pull them together the same way they did in college. Can time really heal all wounds, or are there some loves you just never get over?Growing Hope – An enemies-to-lovers romance
When Rockford Properties acquires a private nature preserve on Magnolia Island, their plans to build a resort infuriate environmentalist Sage. But, as she and Bryan lock horns in the fight of their lives, they uncover a piece to the Charlie Edwards cold case puzzle that no one expected.

Fighting for Truth – A fake relationship romance
Never in a million years would these two have thought they’d find themselves pretending to be a couple, but diving deep into the Charlie Edwards cold case necessitates it. Not to mention, Gwyn’s got some complications of her own knocking from her past, and Levi just might be the answer she’s been looking for. As the two form an unlikely alliance to solve the case, they find themselves falling for each other in the plot twist neither saw coming. Still, it all may end in tragedy when the truth is worse than either could’ve imagined.


Melody of the Heart – A second-chance romance
When Charlotte (Charlie) Edwards returns to Magnolia Island to help bring Randall Cromwell to justice, she comes face to face with her past in ways she never expected. Aiden isn’t the man she left behind, and his faith lay in broken pieces at their feet. Refusing to run again, her job at the bakery and life on the island keeps Charlie busy until it all comes to a head in one satisfying series finale.

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I’m excited about this one. We’ve read book one in the series so it’s nice to see book two.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House (The Houses of Yorkshire Series Book 2)

A young widow faces an uncertain future . . . until an unexpected encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817—Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family’s station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed never to turn back. Instead, she honored her father’s wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony chose to immerse himself in a life full of meaning—first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead’s watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life’s focus to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

When Charlotte’s husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she’d been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he’d angered on his relentless quest for wealth. To protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish him harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face-to-face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchman to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband’s estate are settled.

Anthony’s presence brings back feelings she never expected to have again, and she struggles to trust his intentions. Are the watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim—or are they looking to make trouble for Roland’s estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right old wrongs and carve out a new future . . . together.

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Change in plans. This has gotten away from me. Look at the length. More added to this will be too much. Part two will be coming out shortly with mysteries.

Cleaning out the read pile January 13, 2024

Wow! I don’t even remember reading this many books since the last post like this. I know I hurried through a few of them just so I could move on to something else. There were a few I loved, hopefully they will stand out to me but the chances aren’t great. Too many other distractions this week.

I’m just going to go ahead and show them as a bunch. Probably newest to oldest. I’ve been searching through older ones in the pile looking for interesting reads I may have missed. Things have probably been messed up a little in that whole process.

One thing I know for sure: I remove and don’t mention any books I truly do not like, so we are safe. For sure, I at least liked everything here.

Let’s go.

I know for sure I enjoyed this next three book collection. actually, I think I enjoyed all three of these collections.

Anne Perry has been one of my top favorite authors for a very long time. All three of these books were excellent, actually. And the next three too.

This next bunch are foggy in my memory but they are marked as read. I can tell they are all books that I know I would enjoy.

It appears to be almost a month since the last clearing out, so I guess that explains a whole lot. I can see that most of these authors are repeat guests on my shelves so I can recommend all of them with confidence.

For a current read, there are two I’m trying to decide between. I know I will be reading them both eventually, it’s just a matter of what-do-I-feel-like at this moment. They are both suspense with favorite authors but they each have their own unique flavor and I’m hoping the second one will be more appealing.

I’m kind of disliking the possible bad guy in the first one. Plus the heroine keeps putting herself in danger and it irritates me some days when people insist on doing that. Especially this early in the story. I guess the title should give me a clue to expect bad behavior. Can you tell by the outfit she is not even a detective but an actress in the middle of making a movie. I do like her otherwise though.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Good choices for new books November 16, 2023

My morning search turned up a new mystery for us. And I was thrilled to find the author appears on my favorites list.

One Wonders: A Silas McKay Suspense (Silas McKay Suspense Series Book 1)

He’s Silas McKay, head of Discreet Corporate Security Services (DCSS) in Dallas, Texas.
She’s Ashley Davenport, the daughter of DCSS’s highest-paying client.


They each have personal issues . . .
Silas is a grieving widower who has difficulty relating to women and wants to be left alone.
Ashley is an independent woman who just got her PI license and wants Silas to mentor her.


They each have family issues . . .
Silas is trying to be both father and mother to his college-age daughter.
Ashley is trying to prove she no longer needs her father.


They each have spiritual issues . . .
Silas is struggling to maintain his faith in God.
Ashley is struggling to believe there is a God.


Now, they’re working together to solve a corporate espionage case . . .
As they investigate whether a research scientist is selling company secrets to an ex-con with a mysterious past, Silas realizes he is as intrigued by Ashley’s vivacious personality as he is by the case itself. Suddenly, when their complicated investigation takes an unexpected turn, his concern for Ashley’s safety threatens to overcome his good judgment.

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This next book has been showing up everywhere for the last week, demanding attention. I guess I had better stop waffling and add it to my library. (side note: Little Women is the famous historical fiction story written by Louisa May Alcott)

Where Grace Appears: Contemporary Inspirational Fiction with a Little Women Twist (The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series Book 1)

Ashamed of being duped by her handsome psychology professor, Josie Martin returns to Maine too proud to admit her foolishness to those closest to her. As the one-year anniversary of her father’s death approaches, she seeks solace in an old friend, Tripp Colton, and a new business venture that will prove to herself and her loved ones that she is still capable of success despite her overwhelming failure.

When Josie announces she will not return to school to finish her graduate degree but wishes to remain in Camden to help her mother achieve a lifelong dream, the entire family gets behind her idea to open and run a bed and breakfast inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. Even Tripp gets excited about restoring Josie’s great-aunt’s Victorian home for the purpose, but when Josie’s unexpected news is revealed, their friendship and the new feelings blooming between them are threatened.

As summer gives way to fall, Josie struggles with decisions regarding her family’s future, dealing with past mistakes she cannot run from, and her feelings for Tripp. When the opportunity for grace comes along, will she take it? Or will she continue to allow her failures to define her worth?

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So, a quick search shows up many choices for Little Women, mentioned above, and I picked one that has the whole series and it is free. It doesn’t look like it has enough pages to cover four books, but maybe.

Little Women: Complete Series 

Louisa May Alcott ended Little Women (1868) with the words “So the curtain falls upon Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Whether it ever rises again, depends upon the reception given the first act of the domestic drama called Little Women.” It was an immediate commercial and critical success, and readers demanded to know more about the characters. Alcott quickly completed a second volume, Good Wives (1869), and later Little Men (1871)and Jo’s Boys (1886). The novels follow the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Beth, Jo and Amy, each with a very different character. It has been argued that within Little Women one finds the first vision of the “All-American girl” and that her multiple aspects are embodied in the differing March sisters. But whatever the reason, generations of readers have loved these novels since they were first published.

A good start to the day … new books

A favorite – read and enjoyed November 12, 2023

This was an author new to me and I was impressed. So much so that I read all three books in record time. I’ll share a few others recently read and enjoyed too but of all of them this collection was my favorite read.

The main character has a reputation (one she is reluctant to claim) as having a special talent for bringing closure to stone cold murder cases. The secret of her success is an insatiable curiosity and well honed people skills. A strong problem solving ability doesn’t hurt either.

Everyone loves her and she has a committed group of friends and family. Many of them are her partners in crime, tagging along with her as she uses unconventional means to gather information.

There was a downside to the stories for me, as I moved from one book to another. It seemed unrealistic for there to be so many murders in such a small town. I thought it seemed contrived and repetitive. Until the end of the third book when it all made perfect sense. I didn’t see that name being the final answer and in the end, the unexpected was the upside to the whole experience.

I would definitely like to read more from this author.

The Georgia Rae Winston Mysteries Books 1-3 (Georgia Rae Winston Mystery Collections Book 1)

Deadly Harvest

All Georgia Rae Winston wants is to fall in love. Life, of course, has other plans.


Georgia’s biggest challenge in the farming town of Wildcat Springs, Indiana, is figuring out how to win Evan Beckworth’s heart. Until the day she discovers the body of a former student in the woods.

She assumes it was an accident. When she starts to suspect it wasn’t, it stirs memories of her father’s murder nine years earlier. A murder never solved. Georgia refuses to let that happen this time.

Not necessarily the wisest decision.

As Georgia works with the sheriff’s department’s newest detective, Cal Perkins, she finds her heart slipping into his hands. But her head is pummeled with conflicting evidence and anonymous threats of severe consequences if she digs any deeper.

In the end, Georgia faces a paralyzing choice. Ignore the dark secrets inside the family and friends who surround her or be willing to risk her own life to uncover the truth.

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These were worth the time too.

A few more read and enjoyed

It’s ironic. A few posts ago I decided it was time for a change of pace and a switch to Romance. It didn’t last long that’s for sure. I did read and enjoyed a couple of stories like that but mystery still won out as favorite in the end.

Although the rest were romantic mystery so maybe it still counts as a change anyway. It worked for me.

A Change of Pace November 10, 2023

A nice change with two new-to-me authors and a detour to the romance side of things after a long stint with mysteries. Both of them, historical fiction set in the American wild west. Add to that a couple of spunky women and it should be a good read times two.

When Love Comes in Disguise: A Historical Western Romance Book

After meeting in an orphanage many years ago, Ellen and Alice promised to stay close and protect each other, no matter what. When Alice attracts the attention of a kind man who wants to marry her, Ellen follows her to Fort Worth without a second thought… not even about where she will stay in this new town. Fearless and determined, she quickly comes up with an outrageous plan; she disguises herself as a man and gets a job at Alice’s husband’s ranch. Yet she never counted on meeting a handsome man there who complicates her thoughts and feelings. Should she risk telling him who she really is? Or should she keep her secret and never even have the chance to be with him?

Ben is happy helping at his best friend’s ranch, learning a lot and guiding the new ranch hands. When his best friend finds a wife from a newspaper ad, Ben thinks he’s quite careless to marry someone he has never met. His thoughts are completely forgotten though the minute he meets a mysterious woman in town and becomes determined to learn more about her. Much to his frustration, she disappears and reappears at the ranch out of nowhere, visiting a friend and always seeming to keep her distance from him. Where did she come from and why doesn’t she allow him to spend more time with her? Can Ben solve this riddle and earn her trust?

Both Ellen and Ben feel a strong pull to each other from the very first moment their eyes meet. Ellen’s heart flutters during their fleeting moments together but sinks as soon as she has to disguise herself again. When everything inevitably comes to light, will it shatter their growing connection forever? Or could their feelings be enough to keep them together?

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The Wagon Master’s Wife (First Families of Sterling Book 1)

A woman set on escaping her circumstances. A man determined to start a new life, and a past that haunts them both.

Amanda Crumb is determined to have a fresh start. After hearing her brother’s plans to offer her as a prize in a high-stakes poker game, she knows she must leave the only home she’s ever known immediately. When she is rejected by the local wagon master to join his traveling party, she takes matters into her own hands. What she didn’t expect was a man with hard rules and a secret that is closer than she could ever imagine.

Charlie Holstead has rules he lives by. No unmarried women on his wagon train. Never get married…again. He is ready to lead his final wagon train and settle down in the town of Sterling, Co. and he doesn’t want any complications. But when he finds a stowaway in one of his wagons, things just became more complicated.

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I’m ready for a change after the intense mysteries I’ve been reading the last while. I do like mysteries though.

To break things up a little I’ve been re-watching my plentiful music video collection while redoing a ten puzzle box of jigsaw puzzles, puzzles I don’t remember doing in the first place. There’s plenty of evidence to convince me I have though. Lots of fun on a snowy Friday.

A little ADHD kicking in here.

A new book August 23, 2023

It’s been a quiet week, all the way around. It’s quiet today too but we do have one book, so far anyway.

It has been a while since we’ve read this author but we have read her before, at least three times.

Bitter Truth: A Green Dory Inn Mystery (Green Dory Inn Mystery Series Book 3)

Attempted murder. A hostile rescuer. And an amateur sleuth’s vow to catch the attacker before he strikes again.

Against all odds, Landon Smith and her ordinary-hero neighbour Bobby Hawke survived a murderous plot six weeks ago. Now, she’s determined to leave solving mysteries to the experts—like handsome local police officer Dylan Tremblay.

But when her friend Ciara is nearly killed in a daring daylight attack, Landon can’t sit this out. Not when she knows the anger of being a victim.

Her faith tells her to leave room for God’s vengeance. Her heart says to retaliate.

The fight to expose Ciara’s enemy will uncover secrets and betrayal that could cost Landon her life.

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Browsing exposed book three in a series we’ve been reading over the last several years. Fortunately, they are stand alone novels and can be read in any order if you are new to the series.

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (Whispers On The Moors Book 3)

Her secret cloaks her in isolation. His secret traps him in a life that is not his own. They will have to learn to trust one another in order to find freedom in this Regency romance.

England, 1819—Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could expose her disgrace. But soon after becoming a lady’s companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she’s desperately hidden for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own—one that has haunted him for years and tied him to his father’s position as steward of Willowgrove Hall. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breathe a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he’ll never be free to find his own way in the world. He’ll never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and fight for a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long kept?

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That’s it for today. There were a few others showing up but they are repeats of past purchases. Two is still nice though.

Currently I’m slowly working my way through several of the collections we’ve downloaded in the last while. I’m alternating between them to keep the interest levels up. The downside to this is losing track of the characters and which series they belong in. They begin to sound pretty similar after awhile. Not the story line so much as similar genre, time frame, and situations. Part of the dilemma is my fault for not putting enough effort into remembering names and faces. In spite of the occasional fogginess I’m having a good time.