historical fiction

Bargain books December 01, 2020

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us.

Triple J Ranch Boxed Set #1: Clean & Wholesome Cowboy Romance

Amazon quote:

Second Chance Ranch

Cowboy Ranch

Runaway Cowgirl Bride

When Elizabeth met her high school sweetheart 10 years later, she had no idea she’d be getting a second chance at love. Not to mention a lesson in faith that only helped her family grow closer.

Luke Manning’s Cowboy Ranch served up plenty of action when he met a kindred spirit in Callie Houston. Then got shot protecting her from cattle rustlers! But will love and Faith in God prevail? And will they get their happy ending?

Matthew Manning had no clue he’d find a bride on the side of a dusty road with no memory of who she is or why she’s in a tattered wedding dress. With a little help from God, and his parents, Matthew and Chloe will discover who she is and what God’s plan for her truly is.

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Love Will Find A Way: A Summerfield Village Sweet Romance

Amazon quote:

Jenna Warren is an Idaho ranch girl who loves her Appaloosa horse, Blue, and the freedom she has to run her life the way she wants to. But she’s aware that she’s never really seen the world, let alone experienced real love.

Daniel Martin is a British schoolteacher, bound by duty to a desperate family situation, and struggling to find his own path as a musician.

When Jenna and Dan meet at a family wedding, they are instantly attracted to each other, but Dan has to leave for Britain the next day. As Jenna follows him to Summerfield, a family conflict ignites, tearing their new love apart.

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I’ve just finished reading & enjoying immensely, another story by Yvonne Lehman one of my favorite authors.

After the Storm (Finding Love in the Low Country Book 1)

Sharon cannot face her future until she has dealt with her past. When an accident takes everyone in her family except Sharon Martin’s grandson, she is forced to face the secrets of her past. For decades she has protected herself and “his family” from the damage this secret could cause. But when Bobby’s well-being depends on her honesty, will she have the courage to speak the truth? When tragedy strikes, can love and honesty save a life?

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Next I think I will try a book that has been on my list for awhile now.

Hidden Secrets: A Green Dory Inn Mystery (Green Dory Inn Mystery Series Book 2) 

The secrets of Captain Hiltz may not have died with him.

When Landon Smith returns to the Green Dory Inn, she finds innkeeper Anna Young still shaken by the recent vandalism and unable to cope when the inn is targeted in an online vendetta. Prickly neighbour Bobby Hawke can help with Anna’s cyber woes, but when the attacks escalate to physical threats, Landon and Bobby must work together to unmask the culprit.

A cryptic message about a tunnel points to the property’s original owner, a notorious Prohibition-era sea captain rumoured to have left hidden wealth. Contraband, treasure, evidence of things better left buried…

How far will Anna’s enemy go to claim the tunnel and its contents? Protecting Anna will require courage and faith as Landon battles the locals’ attitudes and the scars of her past. Even then, she and Bobby are tracing the faintest of clues. With Anna on the brink of emotional collapse—and danger rising like the tide—time is running out.

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Happy Reading ….

on this beautiful sunny December 1st with temps above freezing. How awesome is that, after the chilly weather we have been having lately.

Bargain books November 28, 2020

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This is a one-thing-led-to-another kind of day for finding interesting books. The nice thing about it today, there is a distinct variety to be had. I love it when that happens. Often the days are same-old-same-old. Today is refreshing.

This first bargain caught my eye because of my current read, I have been enjoying one of the authors of this new collection. I’m curious now to read more of Miralee Ferrell.

Overall, I think this will be a lightest read of today’s bunch. Following that we have a Regency Romance and then a Modern Suspense.

A Christmas Romance Collection: Six heart-warming holiday romances

Amazon quote:

Island Christmas by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Sous Chef Rachel Narrelli returns to Wildflower Island looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son. She is grateful when new friend Chris Campbell offers support as she faces her new job and new life. She cares for the Chris, but is she is willing to risk her heart to a man with an uncertain future? A self-proclaimed workaholic, Chris Campbell comes to Wildflower Island hoping to take life at a slower pace. He’s drawn to Rachel, but how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best?

A Christmas Homecoming by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Bailey Calderwood gives all she has to her job as an interior design assistant, but her best isn’t good enough for her demanding, bed-ridden boss. Stephen Belafonte rushes home from France to be with his mother after her stroke, and is surprised by the rift between his mom and her assistant. When his mom demands he fire Bailey, he’s torn between respecting his mother’s wishes and doing what’s best for the business. Can Stephen find a way to heal the rift in his family as well his own heart, or will he be forced to let Bailey go?

A Caffeine Conundrum–Angela Ruth Strong

Sassy city girl Tandy Brandt moves to a small town to start a coffee shop, never imagining she’ll be competing with local beauty queen Marissa Alexander and her dream of running a tea house. Unfortunately, the current store owner dies before selling the location to either of them, and they both become murder suspects. The unlikely pair teams up to find the real killer, and hopefully, with help from Marissa’s ex and a charming lawyer, they’ll be able to keep from going to jail…or worse.

Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana-Angela Ruth Strong

The last thing Paisley wants for Christmas is to spend time with Josh Lake—the guy who broke her heart in high school—but until her bank loan goes through, she has to take all the free help she can get on the ranch she inherited. Unfortunately, Josh seems to want back in her life again, and the town’s quirky coffee shop owners don’t help by hanging mistletoe at every opportunity. Will Paisley succeed in driving him away, or will she find the healing needed to have hope for a future together?

The Fruitcake Scandal by Vickie McDonough

Pastor Clayton Parsons waited a year to bring his fiancée, Karen, to his new church post. They plan a Christmas wedding, but in the meantime Karen helps the church ladies with various projects, including a bake sale. But revealing her fruitcake recipe could spell disaster for her future with Clay.

The Nativity Bride by Miralee Ferrell

Deborah Summers has waited five years for Curt Warren to return home, passing up another marriage proposal by believing in her first love. But when tragedy finally brings him home a rift with his father threatens to drive him away. Can Deborah help him reconcile and possibly save their future.

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A Love Unbroken: A Regency Romance (Landon House Book 3)

Amazon quote:

Lady Selina has always lived in the shadow of her twin sister, Lady Anna. Being rather quiet and shy, she is hopeful of making a quick match to a gentleman of similar character to her own. Quite by chance one night, Selina overhears a terrible plan. Uncertain as to what she should do or say, Lady Selina retreats all the more – until circumstances force her to act.

Having expected to enjoy all that society had to offer, Charles, the Earl of Barrington, is horrified to discover his sister in the most improper circumstance. When the gentleman in question demands funds in order to remain silent about what has occurred, Charles feels as though he has no choice. Refusing to accept that his sister was entirely innocent as she claims, he is astonished when a young lady approaches him to tell him of what she overheard.

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Celebrating Tina: An Inspirational Holiday Romantic Suspense (Stryker Security Force Book 3)

Amazon quote:

Tina never imagined when she took a job as a nanny she’d end up training for search and rescue. Yet, when her boss shows up with a retired military dog and the opportunity to train with him, Tina snatches up the chance to help those who are lost. If she saves enough people, maybe she could find meaning in a life that left her with nothing but a bruised heart and a tarnished picture of family. As holiday festivities loom before her, she wonders if she’ll ever shuck the regrets that haunt her dreams and keep her from connecting with others.

Since his father’s murder, Milo has worked hard to make sure his mom and brother were provided for. He joined the police force straight out of high school, took night classes so he could move up to investigator, and put his life on hold until his brother graduated from college. But when he is rescued on Thanksgiving Day by Tina West, his well-laid plans take a sharp detour.

The other day I found book one in this series at a bargain price. I haven’t read it yet but do plan to read it first. It’s still a bargain although book 2 isn’t or I would read it too, maybe.

My TBR list is getting longer, not shorter, for goodness sakes. Free and bargain are criteria to help keep some sort of rein on my bookshelf.

It’s sort of working. (I’m definitely in denial.)

In case you are interested in book 1

Happy Saturday

and

Happy Reading

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(I need to say no to collections. That would seriously reduce my reading list.)

(Nope, not going to happen.)

(It was not a nice thought. It was a terrible thought.)

(I love my books.)

Bargain books November 27, 2020

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We will start off with my current read and see what else shows up on this slow suggestion day.

This read is one of my favorites. The writing draws the reader into a compelling story. There are six stories in this box set and I’m about finished the third in a row and boredom has yet to set in. This collection is sill a bargain and has more than enough pages to make it attractive to the avid reader. 1,641,… awesome.

Second Chances: Inspirational Box Set 

Amazon qute:

Teresa H. Morgan—No Greater Gift— History professor Grace Ryan returns home expecting to turn her Grandmother’s journals and recollections of WWII into memoirs. Hospitalized, Gramma Annie hints at a decades-old crime, whispers the word treason, then slips away forever. Though God’s voice seems silent, He sends someone to stand in the gap for her.

 Erik Petersson, unjustly accused of infidelity, suffered through an unwanted divorce and the loss of his children’s love. A physicist, he helps Grace dig through her late grandfather’s scientific papers. Erik and Grace are catapulted into a quagmire of truth and lies that could tear her family apart.

Miralee Ferrell—The Other Daughter— The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a little closer. “My mama’s dead. He’s my daddy.” Susanne Carson knows she can trust her husband, David—until she discovers an unkempt young girl on their doorstep, claiming to be David’s daughter. Their marriage isn’t perfect—David’s decision to embrace Christianity strained their relationship. Susanne may not agree with his beliefs, but she trusts him. As David confronts his past, Susanne must face her own moment of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point and the life of one young girl is left in her hands.

Melanie Campbell—One Woman Falling—*Selah Award Finalist*

After an unexpected police visit, Cassie Peterson realizes her daughter’s survival depends on Cassie’s courage to leave her abusive marriage. What she doesn’t plan on is the vengeful custody fight with her husband, Derrick.

While walking through the treacherous world of divorce, Cassie’s new friend, Missy, encourages her to pursue her love of waterfalls. Meanwhile, Brian, an attorney at the firm where Cassie works, provides unexpected legal help.

As Derrick’s threatening behavior escalates, Cassie questions her choices. Can she keep her daughter safe? Who can she trust? Who will be standing with her when everything comes crashing down?

Miralee Ferrell—Outlaw Angel— Angel Ramirez is on the run from an outlaw disguised as a boy—can she learn to live like a lady?

After taking a job on a Wyoming ranch owned by a bachelor and his widowed sister, Angel reveals her true identity and must fight to prove her worth as a ranch hand while discovering her role as woman.

Hiring a woman doesn’t sit well with Travis Morgan, and the dark-haired beauty is causing a ruckus among his cowboys. When Angel decides she’ll never please her boss, an unexpected surprise arrives from across the ocean. Will Angel leave with the person who’s come so far to claim her?

Janalyn Voigt—Cheyenne Sunrise—Bry Brennan, a young Irish widow, travels West to start a new life. She doesn’t want another husband to break her spirit.

Nick Laramie, the wagon train’s half-Cheyenne trail guide, has no intention of dragging a woman into his troubles. 

The perilous journey throws the two together, leaving Bry no choice but to trust Nick with her life. Can she also trust him with her heart?

Patricia Lee—Love Calls Her Home— Lissa Frye returns home from the Navy eager to start over.But the man she loves, Marine Kurt McKintrick is a broken man, grieving the loss of his best friend to an enemy trap in Afghanistan. Fears of another loss,  Kurt distances himself from Lissa.

Eleven-year-old Jayden Clarke’s life is turned upside down when the rancher he trusts and respects is found dead. As outside authorities, Lissa and Kurt find themselves embroiled in the investigation. Can helping a hurting boy draw them back together?

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A Christmas bargain collection

Small-Town Christmas: Sweet, Faith-Filled, Clean Romances

Amazon quote:

Five sweet romances to bring you Small-Town Christmas and warm your heart! For the first time, all romances set in Rios Azules, including a complete series, are published in one large collection.

SEASON OF LOVE. Opposites-attract romance! Feuding co-chefs have to put their differences aside before Christmas to give their siblings a great reception. A ruined wedding and failed business are not on the menu. But romance just might be…
SEASON OF AFFECTION. A woman in jeopardy, bodyguard, and second chance romance! A celebrity in peril and the small-town boy who crushed her heart years ago. Can a Christmas reunion bring them a second chance at love?
SEASON OF MIRACLES. Opposites-attract sports romance! New beginning or new heartbreak? A shy nurse starts over in a small town after breaking up with a demanding celebrity. The last thing she wants is to fall for her patient’s grandson, a pro football player set on reaching sports glory.
SEASON OF JOY. A single dad, second chance romance with a plus-size heroine! A successful travel reporter returns home for the holidays, and sparks fly between her and her first crush, now a single father. When his youngest son writes a letter to God asking for a Mom for Christmas, she agrees to help him find the right woman. But can this reunion be a second chance for these best friends?
SEASON OF HOPE. Redemption romance! A single mother’s quiet life with her little daughter is disrupted when a notorious former football player moves next door. Angry and lost after forced retirement, he surprises himself by getting involved in a small community and falling for his redhead neighbor. Can they help each other heal, or will their hearts be broken again?

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

Amazon quote:

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

Real faith meets real suspense in these 3 thrilling novels you can’t put down!

Find out why Christian fiction readers are racing headfirst into the depths of rural Alaska, where unforgettable characters face unimaginable dangers. These believers will risk everything to save the ones they love:

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.

If you like determined characters, faith-based suspense, and heart-stopping action, then you’ll love these riveting novels from bestselling Christian novelist Alana Terry.

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A dozen books… not a bad day afterall.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our USA friends.

Happy reading!

Free and bargain books November 23, 2020

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LPC Books has a FREE suggestion. I have read this collection, a year ago.

The Cowboys: Uhlarik, Yezak, Hart, Huff

Amazon quote:

Healing Heart

Lonnie Holt’s external scars remind him of his failures, his internal scars torment him. Genny Collins seeks safety at the ranch once owned by Lonnie’s uncle. When Lonnie and his brother arrive, sparks fly and distrust abounds. While Lonnie and Genny fight the love growing between them, his past haunts him, and her past pays them a visit.

Becoming Brave

When Coy Whittaker stumbles upon a grisly scene littered with bodies, he wants nothing more than to get his boss’s cattle out of Indian Territory. But when a bloodstained Aimee Kaplan draws down on him, his plans—and his heart—screech to a halt.

Trail’s End

Wade Chadwick has no money until his boss’s cattle sell, so he takes a kitchen job at Abby’s Home Cooking. The beautiful and prickly owner adds spice to his workday. Abby Cox hires the down-and-out cowboy even though the word cowboy leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Just as she’s ready to trust Wade with her heart, money starts to disappear … and so does her brother.

Loving a Harvey Girl

Eva Knowles can’t imagine why the local preacher doesn’t like Harvey Girls—women who work serving tables instead of finding a husband and falling in love. But if Eva can get the handsome and wayward cowboy Cal Stephens to join her in church, maybe the reverend will accept the girls. Or maybe she’ll forfeit her job for a husband, hearth, and home!

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I found a bargain on book 4 in a series I’ve been enjoying.

Seagrass Secrets (Saltwater Cowboys Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

He’s her best friend. She’s the woman of his dreams.

Firefighter Colby Morris needs answers. After discovering a dead body, he then learns his best friend’s address was in the man’s pocket. He’ll do anything to keep Emmy safe—yet he wants to keep his heart safe also. That’s why he’s never told Emmy he’s in love with her.

Emmy Sutherland is trying to make amends after she hits a man with her truck while driving in a torrential downpour. When the island’s clinic floods, she has no choice but to let the stranger stay at her inn. But recent events on Cape Corral have her feeling apprehensive. 

Events continue to escalate, leaving Colby and Emmy scrambling to find answers. But as more secrets are uncovered, more danger arises. Can Colby and Emmy discover the truth? Or will their feelings get in the way—endangering not only their lives but their lifelong friendship?

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I’m currently reading and enjoying:

Rachel’s Blessing – A Contemporary Christian Romance Novel set in South Africa (Love in South Africa Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

A South African adventure leads to a life-changing love… 

Thirty-one year old Rachel Wright is thrilled to be getting married. Unfortunately, her fiancé does not share her enthusiasm. When he suddenly breaks off their engagement for a life of adventure, British-born Rachel heads to South Africa for an adventure of her own.

Volunteering at a rural orphanage allows Rachel the breathing space she needs to refocus and have time alone with God. This rugged landscape brings fresh perspective and healing. The last thing on Rachel’s mind now, is romance.

And then she meets Eric, a local game ranger and the area’s most eligible bachelor.

Adventurous, intriguing and with a heart for God, Eric embodies the qualities Rachel admires most in a man. Their friendship takes a turn toward love, but too soon, Rachel must return home. Emotions run high at her departure, and Rachel and Eric break a promise they’d each made, leaving them ashamed and broken.

Can God take their shame and weave a tapestry of redemption? And will Eric find a way to allow Rachel back into his heart, despite the secret she kept from him?

Book One in the ‘Love in South Africa’ series, Rachel’s Blessing highlights real-life decisions in love, and God’s never-ending faithfulness towards His people. If you enjoy sweet, clean and wholesome romance with a happily-ever-after ending, an interesting mix of well-rounded characters, set against the backdrop of the breathtaking South African savanna, then Rachel’s Blessing is for you.

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Happy reading…

… on this gorgeous bright and sunny day.

I’m not sure the sunshine is meant to last today but I will love it while it’s here, on this cool crisp day. Minus 11c is not all that bad.

I won’t be going out in it anyway. I need to get busy now that the morning sun is off my work computer.

(OK, honestly, I’d be curled up with a book if it wasn’t work keeping me in! I like watching the crisp weather from inside where it’s warm)

I hope you are enjoying a good day too.

Read and enjoyed mid November 2020 edition

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It’s that time again. After another slow book day it’s time to share some favorite reads. Well, every read actually but we’ll start with favorites. Hope I can remember which ones they were. Time always seems to make the memories hazy despite my good intentions to remember them all.

This first one I do remember and was happy to see it come up because of the way I enjoyed earlier book in this series of series.

They are about three sisters who, for reasons we haven’t yet learned, were raised in remote high and craggy mountains. Their grandparents taught them the lowlands were evil and dangerous and they believed it all, enough to never venture off the mountain. Left on their own they managed life with well honed survival skills, always looking out for each other.

It was shocking when someone from the lowlands suddenly appeared on their mountain.

I enjoyed all of the previously read books in this series but I think this one was my favorite.

A string of unfortunate events leads to an unexpected marriage and an unplanned extended visit to a number of progressively larger cites.

It was fun to view life as we know it through her uninitiated eyes.

Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #2)

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. And it may cost them everything.

Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when he follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten to a black-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood.

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This next one is another favorite. The tale of creating new life out of brokenness and accepting second chances. I’ll let the synopsis speak for the story this time. I did give up five stars to it though, something which happens sparingly at my house.

A Long Way to Run

Sometimes the path to love is a long way to run…

Olympic-caliber running hopeful Riley Dalton lost his left leg from the knee down in the noblest of ways: saving a trapped woman whose car was engulfed by fire. Years removed from that life-changing moment, he returns home to Dunberry, Michigan, searching for the pathway to a new life.

Riley’s high school sweetheart, Jennifer Bailey, understands the process of reinvention. Heartbreak and corporate theft sent her scampering from New York straight back to her small-town roots. In Dunberry, she’s established a clothing boutique that allows creativity to flow while she regroups.

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Here are the covers for the rest. I did enjoy some more than others but they were all well worth the read.

These last two were favorites as well.

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I’m currently reading and loving another excellent Christy Barritt book. It’s still a bargain if you are interested.

Lifeline (The Security Experts)

Only a former navy SEAL can help a woman who is convinced her deceased former fiancé is alive—and out for revenge in this exciting suspense, part of The Security Experts series from USA TODAY bestselling author Christy Barritt.

“I did it for you.” The chilling words in the text message have Julianne Grace fearing for her life. She’s sure that her abusive ex-fiancé has killed two people—and that she’s the next target. But will anyone believe that her presumed dead ex is really alive? The only man who can help Julianne is cool, aloof security specialist Bradley Stone. Not only does she need his protection, but he’s also the link to finding answers about her ex-fiancé’s death. And the closer Bradley and Julianne get to the truth—and to each other, the angrier the madman after Julianne becomes. One wrong move and they could both fall prey to the killer’s deadly scheme.

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Well, it’s Saturday, a good day for house work. I think the floor is dry and I can get back to work.

I’m planning to put up my Christmas tree. Two of my three kids have their family trees up already and I’m feeling inspired. The first time in three years. Something must be working right this year.

Hopefully I can tear myself away from my book long enough to get it done.

I’ll let you know how that goes.

In the meantime, I hope this selection of books is working to inspire you too.

Happy Reading y’all.

Free and bargain books November 18, 2020

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There are a few interesting book suggestions again today.

BookRunes has a FREE selection. I can recall reading this a year ago.

Heart of Gold 

Amazon quote:

After the death of her troubled mother, Sienna Hart returns to her small, coastal hometown of Ruby Bay to help her estranged sisters with the estate. She is hopeful that they can mend their broken relationship, and it’s a chance to get away from her selfish, unreliable ex-boyfriend who is pushing to get back together.

Carter Palamo is a kind, handsome, yet bitter man. Burned by his last girlfriend’s cruel rejection of his proposal, he is hesitant to get involved with another woman. He runs his family’s hardware store in Ruby Bay and helps his grandmother with her Christmas tree farm, but makes no effort to bring his dreams of marriage and children to fruition.

When a new artist does a terrible job of decorating the hardware store’s windows for the holidays, Carter hires Sienna to do the work. Neither is open to love, but their fiery attraction to one another keeps bringing them back together. Yet their defenses are just as strong – both coming from tragic pasts and relationships with partners who refused to commit. Will they be able to take a risk on each other and stop the past from defining their future?

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1531 Entertainment has a bargain Historical Western suggestion. I see there are a number of others available in this series as well.

Willow Falls (Matt Bannister Western Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Welcome to Willow Falls. The town young Matthew Bannister ran away from fifteen years before. Now famed U.S. Deputy Marshal Matt Bannister is coming home to reconcile with his family. He prayed he wouldn’t see his ex-best friend Tom Smith nor the only girl he ever loved, Tom’s wife, Elizabeth. However, old feuds unsettled never die and spark a powder keg of action when the desperate Moskin Gang kidnap Elizabeth and leave a murderous trail behind them. In anguish, Tom, the Willow Falls sheriff, turns to his despised old-friend to help get the woman they both love back alive, if they can.

Sometimes God’s greatest blessing is unanswered prayer.

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This current enjoyable read is definitely my favorite this week. I love the strong willed, determined, main characters. Neither one wants to be taking orders but he has to take the lead or it could mean death. She is totally out of her element but no way will she let that stand in her way.

Into the Darkness (Daring Escapes Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

Adventure. Betrayal. Murder.
Dead? Kate Collier refuses to believe her brother and last remaining family member died in the Brazilian rainforest. Determined to find the missing biochemist, she launches an expedition to find him.

A.C. Slader’s past is as dark and turbulent as the Amazon. Consumed with his own problems, when Kate tries hiring him to find her no-doubt deceased brother, he turns her down cold. The last thing he needs is to fight his way through an impassable jungle for a woman who wouldn’t know a stick from a snake. Only when he narrowly rescues her from an attack before she’s even left the relative safety of the town does he realize that without his help, she’ll get herself killed.

Together, they begin a perilous journey that will test the limits of their faith and each other…

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Maybe if it’s a slow book day tomorrow it will be a good time to clear out my Read & Enjoyed list once again.

In the meantime…

Happy Reading, once again.

Free and bargain books November 16, 2020

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Monday is turning out to be a good day for book suggestions. With such abundance this morning we’ll look at BookBub and 1531 Entertainment today, saving LPC Free Books for tomorrow. They are scheduled to be free until the 20th so we have the time.

BookBubs FREE suggestion

Signs of Life: A Haunting and Spellbinding Contemporary Christian Thriller (Signs of Life Series Book 1)  FREE

Amazon quote:

Rogan Sneed . . . Portland’s Worst Nightmare

High school teacher Tyson Cooper is just dismissing his class when a student flashes his phone. “Another shooting, Mr. C.”

And this one is too close to home. Tyson races to Pioneer Square . . . but he’s too late. The light of his life has been snuffed out–and so has his faith.

Veteran Portland PD Investigator Wayne Deetz, two years shy of retirement, is charged with leading the interrogations. When he meets 19-year-old shooter Rogan Sneed face-to-face, his life is changed eternally.

Will Tyson settle for anything less than the death penalty in the case against Rogan Sneed? He’s bent on justice and will do anything to make Rogan pay for the pain he inflicted on himself and the city of Portland that rainy, haunting May day.

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1531 Entertainment bargain book suggestions: The author of this first one has shown up on my TBR list seven times so far in 2020. This makes eight. I’ve read book #1 in this series. Aiming for Love

Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #2) 

Amazon quote:

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. And it may cost them everything.

Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when he follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten to a black-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood.

Warden is intent on helping his family reclaim their land, but doesn’t realize the risks his past has brought. Dangerous men have tracked him, and rather than risk innocent lives, he’s determined to end the danger. But that means a journey to the city–and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on a venture they’ll never forget.

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The House at the End of the Moor 

Amazon quote:

What Can a London Opera Star and an Escaped Dartmoor Prisoner Have in Common?
 
Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity.

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I’m currently reading & enjoying

Faith in Abertillery: Historical Romance (Women of Courage Book 2) 

South Wales, 1905. Faith only believes in the certainty of pain and suffering. Born with a club foot and harboring a dark secret, the barmaid can’t escape her sinful past. But after the country’s religious revival puts her out of a job, hope sparks when a handsome aristocrat gallantly offers her a second chance.

Lord Geoffrey Driscoll fears his estate will run out of money before he can find a suitable bride. However, the devout nobleman can’t keep his mind off the stunning redhead despite her lowly status. As the attraction between them grows, Lord Driscoll is torn between his need for a wife of means and his heart.

As Faith falls for Lord Driscoll’s kindness, she wishes that she could erase the sinful past that stands in the way of their union…

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This is a paradoxical morning moment. The sun is shining, clouds are gently rolling through, and it’s snowing lightly. Makes life fun.

Currently it’s -10c and it looks like it will be a quiet day weather-wise. Maybe there will be more cheerful sunshine moments yet today. Here’s hoping.

Enjoy the books.

Until tomorrow…

Happy Reading.

Story Prompt – Red

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

Story Prompt is hosted by Confusing Middle’s – Sunday Scribblings

RED

I know this will come as a shock to you but the first place my mind went with this prompt was Books and Movies.

Who could forget The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan Universe Book 1) 

I will admit I haven’t read the book but I am in possession of (and have watched) the movie (I do own movies I haven’t watched, just sayin’.)

Somewhere under the freezing Atlantic, a Soviet sub commander has just made a fateful decision. The Red October is heading west. The Americans want her. The Russians want her back. The chase for the highly advanced nuclear submarine is on—and there’s only one man who can find her…
 
Brilliant CIA analyst Jack Ryan has little interest in fieldwork, but when covert photographs of Red October land on his desk, Ryan soon finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek played by two world powers—a game that could end in all-out war.

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The next movie assaulting my memory is The Scarlet Pimpernel

I will admit, I have not read this book either but I have seen the movie. Or at least one version of it. One of my daughter’s college friends was a lover of the classics and was a collector of the movies. This particular movie has been made and remade, a few times. One detail we all remember with a smile is the favorite exclamation of the foppish main character in one of the versions. Well, SINK me! I’ve no idea where that expression comes from but we thought it was pretty funny.

Amazon quote:

The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title enjoyed a long run in London, having opened in Nottingham in 1903.

The novel is set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The title is the nom de guerre of its hero and protagonist, a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: apparently nothing more than a wealthy fop, but in reality a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking master of disguise and escape artist. The band of gentlemen who assist him are the only ones who know of his secret identity. He is known by his symbol, a simple flower, the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

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The next remembrance is a story by Francine Rivers. I did read this book but several decades ago. It must have made a big impact if it still springs to mind after so many years. Francine Rivers was a huge favorite so it’s not surprising that I still remember.

The Scarlet Thread: A Novel (The Historical Christian Fiction Story of Two Women, Centuries Apart, Joined through a Journal from the Oregon Trail)

Sierra Madrid’s life has just been turned upside down when she discovers the handcrafted quilt and journal of her ancestor Mary Kathryn McMurray, a young woman who was uprooted from her home only to endure harsh conditions on the Oregon Trail.

Though the women are separated by time and circumstance, Sierra discovers that many of the issues they face are remarkably similar . . . and uncovering Mary Kathryn’s story may help her write the next chapter of hers.

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More recently I’ve been reading A Scarlet Cord by Deborah Raney

In the four years since her husband’s death, Melanie LaSalle’s life has been consumed with managing the family design firm and caring for her five-year-old daughter, Jerica. The possibility of a new relationship is the last thing on her mind. But when Melanie meets Joel Ellington, a new staff member at her church, she is instantly attracted to his warm spirit.
As their friendship deepens, however, Melanie is troubled by something she can’t quite understand or explain. Joel past seems to be off-limits, even to Melanie. Because of her growing feelings for him, Melanie pushes her doubts away. But when Joel disappears, along with the contents of a church bank account, she can no longer ignore her suspicions.
Now, torn between her feelings for Joel and the evidence mounting against him, Melanie faces a heart-wrenching decision: to forget the man who gave her reason to love again or to trust Joel enough to give him her heart.

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One thing for sure… it was easy to find many book and movie titles using some version of Red. Maybe next I should look at pink. Pink Panther, for sure

Bargain books November 14, 2020

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Today’s bargain suggestions come from BookBub and 1531 Entertaiment. Three authors new to me. I can’t guarantee a good read with any of them but after checking out the first few pages I’m definitely hopeful.

All the Stars: (Unfailing Love Book 5)

Amazon quote:

Gaining her trust won’t be easy. Earning her love will be nearly impossible.

Leah Manning is working to get back on her feet after her ex-husband disappeared one night, leaving her to raise their infant daughter alone. When a trip to a hardware store has her literally falling into the arms of its handsome owner, his charms are hard to resist. But he’s a stranger, and, to her, that means he can’t be trusted. Can she learn to let her faith be stronger than her fear?

Brian Matthews has never met a stranger. A friend to everyone he meets, he can’t understand why Leah is determined to keep him at a distance. He only wants to help, but she can’t accept that he only has the best intentions. It’s a good thing his love is patient.

Leah isn’t ready to let the love she feels for Brian override years of fear, and he’s tired of spending lonely nights playing songs on his guitar to fill the silence. What will it take to show Leah that Brian is the answer to her prayers?

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Faith in Abertillery: Historical Romance (Women of Courage Book 2)

Amazon quote:

South Wales, 1905. Faith only believes in the certainty of pain and suffering. Born with a club foot and harboring a dark secret, the barmaid can’t escape her sinful past. But after the country’s religious revival puts her out of a job, hope sparks when a handsome aristocrat gallantly offers her a second chance.

Lord Geoffrey Driscoll fears his estate will run out of money before he can find a suitable bride. However, the devout nobleman can’t keep his mind off the stunning redhead despite her lowly status. As the attraction between them grows, Lord Driscoll is torn between his need for a wife of means and his heart.

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Hearts on the Road: Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Amazon quote:

She’s running from the past. He’s aiming for the future. Can they stop moving long enough to find love?

Randi refuses to invite a man into her life. But when a charming minister steps into the cab of her truck, everything changes. How can Randi consider a new relationship when her heart is still crushed from the past?

As a budding preacher, Matthew knows it’s his calling to minister to truckers. But when he’s partnered to join Randi on a long-haul trip he wonders if his desire to be in her life is God’s choice or his? Could God be pulling him off the road and into Randi’s arms?

A shake up at home forces Randi off the highway unexpectedly, putting the brakes on her unsettled feelings for Matthew. Caught between her fears and her heart Randi wonders if it’s safe to keep driving their relationship forward. When life pulls them in opposite directions, can Randi and Matthew find the road to a one-way romance?

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Currently, I’m finishing up a thoroughly enjoyable book. It is still at bargain price too. This author was new to me and it turned out to be a good experience.

Beyond Repair: (Eron Outsiders Book 3) 

Her past is a string of bad choices. Is falling for a wanted ex-gang member one more?


Hiding from her troubled past, Jules Demski sequesters herself in the mountains of Eron, Colorado, the only place she’s ever felt safe. Her solitude is shattered when an injured man staggers into her family’s barn.
Burned once and still in repair, the last thing she needs is another criminal on her hands. If she can only convince her heart of this, she just might be able to resist the interloper’s charm.


Former gangster Lorenzo Macedo has cleaned up his act, but now he’s running for his life. He stumbles upon a barn just as a bullet pierces his body.
Jules appears standoffish and cold, but the tender way she nurses Lorenzo reveals a soft-hearted, passionate woman aching for her own wounds to be healed. No woman has ever set his blood on fire like Jules, but he has nothing to offer her except a life on the run.
Can Jules and Lorenzo find redemption in the small town, or are their lives Beyond Repair?

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I’m looking forward to one of these three new books as my next read. I think it will be difficult deciding which one but maybe I’ll try Hearts on the Road first.

It’s been a good day for new books. I’m hoping you thinks so too.

Happy Reading y’all

Free and bargain books November 04, 2020

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Today is one of those days where I haven’t posted in a while and the well is dry. What to do, what to do.

While I was trying to come up with a little of this and a little of that to talk about I opened Amazon and happened upon a FREE book I’d seen mentioned and then forgotten about a few days ago.

So, I guess we will start with a book. A novel idea hey?

I’ve read other books from this author and this one is not a bad place to start.

Southern Gentleman (Finding Love in the Low Country Book 2)

Amazon quote:

What’s best for the baby? Norah Brown must answer this question when Thornton Winter pushes his way into her life. Baby Camille’s parents, Thornton’s brother and Norah’s sister, were killed in a terrible accident. Now both feel responsible for the baby. But by the time Thornton comes along, Norah has already formed a strong bond with Camille. Will Thornton try to take the baby from her?

To keep her greatest fear from being realized, Norah reluctantly agrees to move with the baby to Thornton’s family home in South Carolina, where she soon finds herself in a battle of wills with his take-charge manner. It certainly doesn’t help that Norah begins to lose her heart to this Southern Gentleman.

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I tripped over another FREE book mentioned and forgotten about recently, in the busyness of life. I’ve read this one in the last year or so.

Her Deadly Inheritance (Jill Shepherd Suspense Book 1)

Amazon quote:

First a runaway. Now running for her life.

Won’t Jill’s family be surprised when she returns home to end their scheme to have her declared legally dead?

Clay Merrick may seem to be nothing more than a handy-man restoring homes, but when the former Special Forces operative tracks a brutal killer to Jill’s home town, he has most of the evidence he needs to bring the killer to justice … until Jill gets in the way. And when Jill exposes the mastermind behind her family’s murderous scheme, she ends any chance she has of remaining alive.

When the assassin moves in for the kill, it’s not just Clay’s mission on the line, but his heart.

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Book three in a series I’ve been reading has shown up as a bargain. I loved book one, didn’t enjoy book two as much but it was still good. Now I think I’d better give book three a try.

Cape Corral Keeper (Saltwater Cowboys Book 3)

Amazon quote:

They agreed to marry. But they never agreed to fall in love.

When Cape Corral Fire Chief Dillon McGrath saves a woman wearing a wedding dress from drowning, he knows he’ll have a great story to tell the guys at the station later. He never expected to get personally involved in the woman’s plight to stay alive.

Gracie Loveland had no choice but to run only moments before saying “I do” to her manipulative fiancé. Staying would have ultimately meant her death at the hands of the cruel man. Desperation, along with a dormant feistiness, surfaces as she fights to survive.

Only one plan might keep Gracie safe and help Dillon preserve the island’s wild horses. The idea seems crazy, but Dillon and Gracie can think of no other options. However, a foe from Gracie’s past is closing in, determined to get what he wants regardless of whose life he destroys in the process.

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Currently I’m reading a WWI historical novel. It’s not really about the war so much as it’s about family left behind to worry and make do as best they can.

Jane: A Fierce Heart (Harvey Girls Book 3)

Jane is determined to make the world a better place even when everything seems so bleak in this clean and wholesome historical western romance story.

Independent, red-haired Jane Harris is twenty years old in 1917 when war breaks out and changes her life. In her hometown of Beaumont, Virginia, she does her best to be a good sister, a good daughter, and to volunteer however she can for the war effort.
But it’s not enough. Her brothers, many of her friends, and the man she loves are gone to France, and Jane needs to do more than knit socks for them. She needs to be busy. She needs to leave home. Luckily, her mother understands, and soon Jane is interviewing to be a Harvey Girl.

The job comes with challenges she has never before experienced. Far away from home, she must stand against her adversaries, and sometimes against her friends. She will have to work hard to achieve things that come easily to those around her, but luckily she will learn that character triumphs over talent, especially when times are hard.

Watching a new world unfold all around her, Jane realizes she is changing too. Will she recognize the difference between childhood devotion and true love? Will she choose the man who can give her the love she deserves? And will he make it home safely?

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Well, this whole exercise has turned out to be much more productive than I ever expected which is awesome.

I’m going to poke my nose in this current book for awhile. The end is in sight and I’m ready to be done and start something new.

It has been a good book and I’ve enjoyed it but the downside is it has more detail than I have patience for. It’s time to move on.

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I have a short attention span when books are calling my name. Almost forgot to finish this off.

Now, I’m outa here!

Happy Reading everyone.