historical fiction

Read and Enjoyed – end of October edition

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It’s time once again for Read & Enjoyed.

This first one was a five star favorite. It is still available at the bargain price too.

Magnolia Storms (Coastal Hearts Book 1) 

Maggie Marovich couldn’t save her father or her home from Hurricane Katrina, but she’s dedicated her life to meteorology so she can warn others when the monster storms approach. Except…she works three hours inland and rarely risks returning to her childhood hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Both her single-parent sister and the ship pilot Maggie once loved refused to leave the Coast, despite Maggie’s requests. Now a hurricane’s headed toward Mississippi, and Maggie’s sister is seriously injured, leaving Maggie little choice but to head south—into the storm.

The water and tides flow through Josh Bergeron’s veins, and he can’t imagine giving up piloting—even for the love of his life, the infuriating Magnolia Marovich. He tried to move on without her, marrying and having a child. But after his wife abandons him and his little boy, his career choice is threatened by the weight of his parental responsibilities. Moving next door to Maggie’s sister and sharing their child care seems like the perfect set-up. Until Maggie blows back into town.

Being forced to lean on Josh for help washes up the wreckage in Maggie’s faith. Where was God during the destruction of Katrina? Why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? Between the hurricane looming in the Gulf and another gale raging in her heart, can Maggie overcome her past and find the trust to truly live?

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Ever Caring (Family Promises Book 1)

He lost his wife.

She gave up her baby.

Can these troubled souls find true love beneath their secrets?

Attorney Tate Truscott is ready for a fresh start with his grief-stricken daughter. After the widower and his eight-year-old move to a new town, he hopes creating a commemorative photo album will help ease the girl’s suffering. But when she makes fast friends with the scrapbook shop owner who is helping her with the album, Tate is stunned to find himself attracted to the kind woman.

Renee Albertson is guilt-ridden over the accident that crippled her mother and forced her to give up her newborn for adoption. Desperate to sell everything to finance her mom’s experimental treatment, Renee’s torn when a handsome dad and his melancholy daughter come to her store for help. And as the grieving pair find their way into her heart, she wonders if she’ll ever have the family of her dreams.

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This was also a favorite. It is called a cozy mystery, and it is, but there is a sober vein running through it adding depth and interest.

The Thing about Mustard Seeds: A Cozy Christian Romance

They watched a man die.

It’s been many years since Gentry and Rosling visited their hometown. It’s been even longer since they spoke to each other. When they were only children, they witnessed a murder. The pain of that day drove a wedge between them and has haunted them ever since.

Now, Gentry is the pastor of the local church—the same church where Rosling has taken over her dying grandmother’s duties. Together again in their small Southern town, the two adults wrestle with their faith. Gentry’s faith is strong, while Rosling struggles to believe at all. As they come face-to-face with the pain of their childhoods, they must learn how to be whole again, even when healing seems impossible.

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More …

A Wish for Christmas (The Happy Holidays Series Book 3)

Seasoned: A Love Story 

Ruby Jane: The Montana Marshalls 

Flight Risk 

Breakwater Protector (Saltwater Cowboys Book 2)

This Quiet Sky 

Melodies of Christmas Love: A Boxed Set Collection

Mistletoe and Murder: A Christmas Suspense Collection

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I’m currently reading and enjoying …

Jane: A Fierce Heart (Harvey Girls Book 3) 

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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Happy Reading!

Story prompt – Company

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Sunday Scribblings initiator of these story prompts is hosted by peckapalooza – the Confusing Middle.

Company

Company led to Military and, in my mind, that thought led to one of my favorite movies.

Cadence

It was a terrible hardship but I had to watch this movie again this morning before I could lay pen to paper, just to be sure I had the story straight in my mind.

I was right, this is still one of my favorites even after all these years.

Filmed in 1990, starring Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, and Laurence Fishburne, the setting is a US Army stockade in W. Germany during the 1960s.

His father’s last ditch effort to help him grow up is the reason Private Bean was in the US Army in the first place.

Now, home on bereavement leave for his father’s death Private Bean is experiencing enough grief filled remorse to do some crazy things. Things like multiple tattoos – on his hands, rip – roaring drunk, starting a major bar fight, punching the arresting MP.

His 90 day sentence lands him in a minimum security stockade living in a tight security barrack.

His bully Sargent placed him with a group of guys he expected Private Bean to hate. The Sargent has an agenda to reform Bean and bring him over to his way of thinking, although it’s unclear exactly what that means.

To tell you what I like about this film I have to take a step back and look at the big picture. The bird’s eye view.

  • Things are not always what they seem.
  • We can survive impossible situations if we find ways to see the good in life.
  • If we let down our walls we can form alliances that will make us stronger.
  • An eclectic group of guys can become a brotherhood.
  • They stood up to the bully and won.
  • Most of all… I liked the song,
  • … and the fact the movie made me, and everyone else, cry.

This trailer sums it all up well, I think

Private Bean was in good company with these guys.

Free & bargain books October 29, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us

Jane: A Fierce Heart (Harvey Girls Book 3) 

Amazon quote:

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.

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I’m currently reading:

Flight Risk

Savannah Daniels has worked hard to build her law practice, to surround herself with good friends, and to be the loyal aunt her troubled niece can always count on. But since her ex-husband’s betrayal, she has trouble trusting anyone.

Jett Glover’s father committed suicide over a false newspaper report that ruined his reputation. Now a fierce champion of truth, Jett is writing the story of his journalism career—an international sex-trafficking exposé that will bring down a celebrity baseball player and the men closest to him, including Savannah’s ex-husband.

When Jett’s story breaks, tragedy ensues. Then a commercial airline crashes, and one of Savannah’s clients is implicated in the crash. Men connected to the scandal, including her ex, begin to die amid mysterious circumstances, and Savannah’s niece becomes an unwitting target.

Against their better instincts, Jett and Savannah join ranks to sort the facts from fiction. But can Savannah trust the reporter who threw her life into chaos? And can Jett face the possibility that he’s made the biggest mistake of his life?

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It’s hard to say where I will go next. I’ve read every enticing thing at the top of my TBR list. Maybe it will be today’s download, unless there is another must-read showing up in the next 24 hours or so.

These days life is busy with other things so at least the pressure is off to find enticing before the current book ends.

It was exciting getting to this one but it is not turning out as well as I’d hoped. There is a lot going on and a dominant story doesn’t seem to be in the mix. This isn’t working out well for me.

Rather than pulling me in it’s leaving me lost and a little adrift. I’m skimming often, still trying to decide if I care to stick around long enough to see how it ends.

Unless something changes, the way it stands at 51% the ending won’t be much of a surprise anyway.

I’m not disliking the story, I’m just disappointed.

*****

To quote a fellow blogger:

So, how was your day?

*****

Happy Reading y’all

Here’s to awesomeness in the next book.

Free books October 27, 2020

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LPC Books has FREE suggestions for us.

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

Amazon quote:

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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Starving Hearts (Triangular Trade Trilogy Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

“The author did a great job, maybe too great a job, describing the slave scenes. Spine tingling and suspenseful. I was biting my nails throughout much of this book.” ~ Amazon review

Plagued by nightmares, Annette yearns to find her anonymous rescuer — the man who saved her life from a near deadly assault. Deep inside she is starving for companionship and a mutually respectful relationship. When Mr. Peter Adsley, an abolitionist pastor dealing with his own emotional baggage, agrees to a clandestine meeting, the event appears providential. But self-doubt, deception, and the schemes of a mutual enemy threaten to keep the pair apart. A phantom adversary will stop at nothing to win Annette’s dowry for himself, even if it means killing Peter.

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Chapel Springs Revival (Chapel Springs Series Book 1)

Amazon quote:

With a friend like Claire, you need a gurney, a mop, and a guardian angel.

Everybody in the small town of Chapel Springs, Georgia, knows best friends Claire Bennett and Patsy Kowalski. It’s impossible not to, what with Claire’s zany antics and Patsy’s self-appointed mission to keep her friend out of trouble. And trouble abounds.

During an early morning discussion at Dees ‘n’ Doughs bakery with their ladies group, all Chapel Springs entrepreneurs, attention is drawn to the slackened tourist trade. With their livelihoods threatened, they join forces to address the town’s revitalization in hopes of drawing back the tourists. No one could have guessed the real issue needing restoration is their marriages.

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My current read is the conclusion to a 5 book family series. Strong characters, every one of them, each one as different as can be.

Ruby Jane: The Montana Marshalls – An Inspirational Romantic Suspense Family Series

Amazon quote:

She loved…and lost.

Ruby Jane never thought she’d meet the man of her dreams while running from the police in Russia. That he’d steal her heart on a train to Siberia. But loving a former CIA officer comes with a price…a life of danger. A life of high stakes.

A life where he simply disappears…

He has no memory of the man he was.

Mack Jones has no memory of his past…just the dark sense that he is hiding. And, he wants to stay that way. Mack likes the life he’s built in a small tourist town, tucked away beyond the mountains, and has no desire to dig around in the gray areas of his memory.

When his place of business catches fire and Mack rescues the owner, he makes the news, which of course alerts the past he’s hoping to outrun.

The only person who can help him is a mysterious woman he doesn’t remember.

But a woman he desperately needs.

The surprising, thrilling conclusion to the Montana Marshalls series.

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Happy Reading …

… on this chilly morning in southern Manitoba. -7C with the possibility of a little snow.

It’s crazy … this weather.

The grass is green and needs another cut but some of it is under snow. The petunias are green and alive but the soil around them is stiff with frost making it hard to clean them up for the winter. The weeds are still growing for heaven sakes, and it’s too cold to go out and get rid of them.

I’m sure you know how sad I’m feeling about all this. Really …. deeply sad.

Where’s my book??

Free and bargain books October 19, 2020

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1531 Entertainment has an interesting offer for us.

I look forward to this is collection every year at this time, it’s becoming a tradition. And it’s always at a bargain price too. The stories are stand alone but connected in small ways. The final book ties them all together.

Five Gold Rings (Crossroads Collection Book 7)

Amazon quote:

Some of today’s best-selling Christian authors weave five completely new, unique, interconnected stories where once jilted lovers find worth more precious than gold.

Christmas Mercy by Jaycee Weaver
As the web of lies that kept Rob away from Vera and their daughter unravels, the months following his return test their capacity for mercy, forgiveness, and a second chance at love.

The Seven Year Glitch by Hallee Bridgeman
Seven years earlier, Timothy left Leanne at the altar stealing years of happiness. Leanne rescues him from a rooftop in a floodplain and it is clear there is much more to the story. Can their love redeem the hurts of the past to rescue their future?

Laughing All the Way by Lesley Ann McDaniel
When Jessica’s friends put her up to “fixing” their commitment phobic co-worker, Conner, she doesn’t take them very seriously. Conner doesn’t know whether to laugh at Jessica or tell her to mind her own business.

Ghosted at the Altar by Chautona Havig
After his fiancée, Brenna, abandons Mitchell on their wedding day, she insists she loves him and still wants to marry him. As truths come to light, her little sister, Lauren, turns sleuth to solve the mystery of why Brenna ghosted Mitchell at the altar.

Five Gold Rings by Amanda Tru
When three relationship-challenged couples wish for Christmas weddings, commitment coach, Oliver, teams up with a wedding planner, TeraLyn, to help make their marriage dreams come true.

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LPC Books has a few FREE and one bargain suggestion for us. I enjoy the first author and I’m looking forward to this. And the others … except for the two I’ve read.

Things We Once Held Dear 

Amazon quote:

New Yorker Neil Sadler returns to his hometown of Mason, Ohio, where the small-town was rocked by the suspicious death of Helen Syfert, the mother of Neil’s friend, Mary.

As the pair reconnects, Neil learns their once-close relationship hasn’t survived the tragedy of Mary’s loss. In time, though, the couple finds that what pushed them apart years ago now seems to be pulling them together. Still, Neil finds himself struggling to recover from a more recent loss, one he keeps tucked in his heart.

While the mystery of Helen’s death remains unsolved, finding closure will require opening old wounds, mending broken relationships, and facing new fears.

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Devil in the Dust 

Amazon quote:

June 1933: — Their small Oklahoma town is dying. Lillian remembers how acres and acres of wheat once waved under jewel-blue skies. Now the dirt stretches across the flat land as far as she can see.

Though Emma’s husband is missing, she keeps house — and keeps her five children fed as best as she can — even as her hopes fade. But when the days stretch to weeks, she considers the possibility that he will never come home. Left with the likelihood of losing their farm, and the ever-present pangs of hunger, she is forced to consider opportunities that, under normal circumstances, no woman should ever have to contemplate.

Jessie, Emma’s oldest daughter, completes her daily chores with tired repetition. Forced to wear her mother’s shoes to avoid the humiliation of bare feet, she watches the dead, dirt road for signs of life.

And then he arrives in his new car and shiny shoes and generous way with gifts and money. Much to the dismay of her mother he catches Jessie’s eye.

Lillian knows he’s too smooth, too willing to help, and much too eager to spend time with a girl less than half his age. But what’s to say he is not the miracle they all prayed for? In times of desperation the wind carries more than one kind of evil.

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The Last Summer

Amazon quote:

For twenty-something Sara Witherspoon and her group of friends, a perfect Southern summer includes lake-house getaways, wedding planning, outdoor concerts, and a dash of romance. But for these seven friends who love each other like family, this year, summer rolls in with changes for everyone.

Sara’s longtime crush, Luke, has been her best friend for as long as she has been a part of the group. When Luke begins seriously dating another of their friends, Sara’s forced to deal with her hurt and jealousy, while outwardly try to support them both.

While Sara comes to terms with her own heart and her friends’ relationships, an unexpected handsome pilot from North Carolina and an old flame are thrown into the mix. Knowing her heart suddenly becomes much more complicated.

But as time unfolds and friendships begin to unravel, Sara and the others are presented with the reality of what a season of change does to old friendships and new love interests.

Does growing older mean growing apart?

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This Quiet Sky

Amazon quote:

There is nothing extraordinary about Tucker O’Shay’s dreams.
Go to college. Become president. Fall in love.
And pretend like he has enough time to get it all done.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Miller doesn’t expect anything out of the ordinary when she begins her first day at the one-room-school house in her new hometown of Rocky Knob. But when she meets seventeen-year-old Tucker O’Shay—the boy with the fatal illness who volunteers to tutor her in algebra—she finds herself swept up in a friendship that changes the way she sees the world and a love that changes her life.

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I know what I’m reading next. This Quiet Sky

That is, if I remember.

I’m currently reading an eight book collection but I’m only on book 2. That’s a lot of water under the bridge before I get to the next book.

Maybe when I finish book 2 I’ll have to take a little detour through the new book before going back to the collection. A little break could be a good thing.

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It’s been another awesome book day. I hope you are feeling as happy as I am over this new selection of good reads.

I haven’t had much reading time today so I’m off to see what’s happening in the world of murder and mayhem.

Happy Reading y’all

Read and enjoyed – middle of October 2020 edition

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It`s time once again to clear out my read & enjoyed folder.

This first one was an excellent read and it is still a bargain, grab it quick before it goes away.

Rescued by the Hero: (Heroes of Freedom Ridge Book 1)

The hardest part about this fake relationship is hiding it from her brother. Especially when it doesn’t feel fake.

Joanna Drake can’t wait to escape to Freedom Ridge for the holidays. She needs to put hundreds of miles between her and her creepy coworker who won’t seem to take no for an answer. When she runs into her brother’s best friend at the ski resort, every relationship gets complicated.

Aiden Clark is shocked to find out that his best friend brought his little sister along on vacation, especially when he finds himself interested in getting to know her. When she asks him to play along as her boyfriend to ward off an unwanted pursuer, he wholeheartedly agrees despite his friend’s warnings to stay away from her.
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Another one thoroughly enjoyed.

Blue Columbine: (Grace Revealed Book 1)

Best friends—maybe more—until addiction shatters everything.
Andrew Harris needs a fresh start. His alleged drinking problem cost him his job, sending him back to his childhood home in Colorado. Discovering his childhood sweetheart is still there—and still the girl he’d adored—Andrew gains new confidence that he’ll overcome the failings that had caused his downfall before.

Jamie Carson values her faith above all else. However, the loss of her mother has opened a nagging loneliness. After reuniting with Andrew—a boy she thought she’d once loved—the ache of solitude subsides, though his rejection of the faith she thought they’d shared is troubling.

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One more favorite. It is still a bargain too.

Behind the Lies (The Northern Lights Book 2)

With nowhere else to go but a house bequeathed to her from an old friend, Olivia Morgan finds herself back in Oak River. The small town holds memories of abuse, neglect, and sorrow, but also stirs up longings she’d thought were long buried.

She thinks she can live in seclusion, but resisting the kindness of an elderly neighbor, her tenacious younger sister, and the magnetic attraction of the most handsome man she’s ever seen, is undoing the best of intentions.

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I have a large handful still needing to be mentioned but for space reasons we need to move right along. I`m really sorry about that. Covers only for these ones.

I really liked the first two, that`s why they are at the top of this section.

(please excuse the apostrophe, it is doing something weird and I do not know how to fix it.)

I enjoyed the rest of them too. Some a little more than others but….

I decided not to mention the few I didn`t like. The rest are all worth mentioning.

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I`m currently reading and enjoying a ten book collection and it is still a bargain. Grab it quick. I think you will like it.

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Happy Reading everyone.

LPC Free books October 12, 2020 – part two

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LPCBooks has a nice selection of FREE books for us.

Fear Is Louder Than Words: Her stalker taught her fear. Her suspicions taught her terror

Amazon quote:

Her stalker taught her fear. Her suspicions taught her terror.

Rochelle Cassidy has the perfect life as a radio talk show host in the Detroit market, but her celebrity status doesn’t stop an angry listener from wanting her … dead. Ed McGrath’s ideal life as a pro-hockey player doesn’t include a damsel in distress until the night he discovers Rochelle being attacked in a deserted parking structure.

Circumstances throw them together in more ways than one when Rochelle’s producer plays matchmaker. A sick boy, a corrupt politician, and questionable medical practices put more than merely Rochelle in danger, and still, her attacker shadows her every step.

Will Ed be able to break through her trust issues in order to protect her, or will she continue to see him as Detroit’s bad boy athlete? Her life and his depend on it.

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When You Come Home 

Amazon quote:

War took Daphne Kelley’s young husband from her, but it couldn’t keep Raymond – and his abiding love – from being with her when she needed him most.

Taking its title from a poem Daphne sent her soldier-husband during World War II, When You Come Home tells of the couple’s young love in the heartland of America on the brink of war, and of the crushing uncertainty and fear they feel as they find themselves a ripped apart. Through pain and worry, the grieving young wife finds that her faith provides hope and healing amidst the uncertainty of war.

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The Yuletide Angel: A mysterious benefactor … a secret guardian … and a love sweeter than grace.

Amazon quote:

It’s the 1890s in Meadowmead and someone is venturing out at night to leave packages at the homes of the needy. Dubbed “The Yuletide Angel,” no one knows the identity of this mysterious benefactor.

No one, except Hugh Barnes, a confirmed bachelor who finds himself drawn to the outwardly shy but inwardly bold Violet Madison, a young woman who risks her safety to help others.

When Violet confesses her fear of eviction from her childhood home, Hugh longs to rescue her. His good intentions are thwarted, however, when Hugh’s estranged brother shows up in town … and in Violet’s company.

But Violet faces an even bigger threat. A phantom figure lurks in the shadows, prepared to clip the wings of her Yuletide Angel.

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Hummingbird  D. Stearman

Amazon quote:

She feels like a misfit. Who is she? Where does she belong? Is she Lexa, Alexandra, or someone else? Forced to commit a crime, she flees south of the Border—and a vindictive bounty hunter follows her. Will she escape? Find redemption? Learn who she really is and where she belongs?

Her answers lie hidden in a tiny seaside village where wandering hummingbirds rest their wings.

“From the moment the story begins, Hummingbird is fast paced. Not once is the reader left behind or snoring with boredom. The author keeps the story moving like a pulse rate. The characters are believable, and the main character is well developed. The reader learns to deeply care about Lexa over the course of the novel. One can tell the author is familiar with his setting, too. I felt like I was there—in Mexico. Over all, a interesting and compelling novel.” ~ Goodreads review.

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A bargain book from the summer is still available and since it’s one of my favorites I think it’s worth mentioning again.

Saltwater Cowboy: An Edge of Your Seat Christian Romantic Suspense Novel with Wild Horses and an Isolated NC Island (Saltwater Cowboys Book 1)

Amazon quote:

He’s trying to forget. She’d give anything to remember.

Officer Levi Sutherland wants to protect the wild horses of Cape Corral and keep the island residents safe. But memories of his deceased wife haunt him at every turn and make him long for a fresh start. When a woman washes ashore with a bullet wound and no memories, Levi knows he can’t leave until he discovers what happened to her.

The woman—whose necklace reads Dani—captures Levi’s attention like no one has in a long time. But which side of the law is she on? Could Dani be mixed up with other mysterious incidents happening on the island?

Together, can the two find answers and create new memories? Or will secrets tear them apart and destroy a future as uncertain as Dani’s past?

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One of these books is new to me. Humingbird. I’m looking forward to checking it out.

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Happy Reading…

…on this Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend.

Unlike the destructive snow storm of a year ago, today we are enjoying blue skies, green lawns, and moderate temperatures.

We are deeply thankful.

Free and bargain books October 12, 2020

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion.

Catching the Cowgirl: Wyoming Legacy (Wind River Hearts Book 12)

Amazon quote:

Breanna White is a cowgirl to the bone. As the youngest adopted sibling—and the only girl—her protective older brothers have always told her that she’ll have to change her ways to attract a man. No thanks.

Adam Cartwright is the wealthy son of a Philadelphia businessman. He’s expected to marry well and run the newspaper his father has spent years building. But Adam doesn’t want a society marriage. He wants Breanna, whose independent spirit captivated him from the first moment they met.

When the city boy comes calling, Breanna falls hard. But there are family secrets in Philadelphia that could change the way that Adam feels about her. A first kiss sends her emotions into a tailspin, so she does what she does best—races away.

Will Adam chase after her and capture the cowgirl’s heart?

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One of my favorite authors has a bargain popping up for us.

Beneath Northern Lights: A Holiday Story (Northern Shore Intrigue Book 4)

Amazon quote:

Two wounded souls, a sweet puppy, Christmas coming and someone who’s out to destroy a man’s dream~

After a life-altering event, Nick Reynolds has one goal, to participate in the Apostle Islands Dog Sled Race with his beloved Alaskan husky, Maddie. But someone is dead-set against Nick achieving this goal. Who and why?
Megan Blair knows she isn’t doing what’s expected of a new college grad. She’s not sending out resumes and looking for her dream job. But this spring, life hit her with a painful setback. And she can’t bring herself to do what her mother and everyone else expects. After spending the summer working at her sister’s coffee shop, she decides to stay in Winfield for the winter. Will she ever feel whole again?

When Megan volunteers at the local vet to foster dogs, she meets Nick. He’s come to give up one of Maddie’s six-month-old puppies. Unexpectedly holding the small, furry Alaskan husky brings Megan an unexpected measure of peace and joy. She begins to consider adoption. How can this man just give this wonderful pup away? And why does he act like such a grump?
She’d like to steer clear of him. But within days it’s clear the man needs help with feeding and caring for his team of huskies. And there’s the fact that she needs a job for the winter. Neither is too happy with the other but necessity brings them together. As they both care for the dogs, a bond begins to form. But Megan is still hurting. And nearly a decade older, Nick thinks she needs time to heal. He doesn’t want to be her rebound relationship.

And almost immediately the nasty pranks begin. Each one aimed at Nick and his dogs. And each one worse than the one before. Who is out to get him, stop him from his dream of conquering the past? And more importantly, rob him of the joy of seeing Maddie do what she was born to do–race? As for Megan, as she peels back the layers of Nick’s complex situation and personality, can she allow herself to love again? And will one prank go too far? With unforeseen consequences?

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My current read is …

Blue Columbine: (Grace Revealed Book 1)

Best friends—maybe more—until addiction shatters everything.


Andrew Harris needs a fresh start. His alleged drinking problem cost him his job, sending him back to his childhood home in Colorado. Discovering his childhood sweetheart is still there—and still the girl he’d adored—Andrew gains new confidence that he’ll overcome the failings that had caused his downfall before.

Jamie Carson values her faith above all else. However, the loss of her mother has opened a nagging loneliness. After reuniting with Andrew—a boy she thought she’d once loved—the ache of solitude subsides, though his rejection of the faith she thought they’d shared is troubling.

With Jamie by his side, Andrew believes he can become a better man. Jamie feels the pull of Andrew’s affection, which is dangerous as she also sees that he is captive to an addiction he chooses not to acknowledge. She is as determined to remain his friend as he is set on in his attempt at self-reformation to win her heart.

As Andrew continues to pursue an intimacy Jamie knows she must guard against, blurring line between loyalty and love, things get complicated—until a devastating blow shatters their relationship.

For Jamie, one thing becomes clear: Andy needs a miracle, and she can’t be it.

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I’m a third of the way through and enjoying this although addiction and a life of struggles makes it a tough read.

Tough is realistic though. Most of us have hard places in our life. We need stories we can identify with and to be reminded there is always hope. Hope that we can survive the hard places.

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On the bright side, I’ve lived through a lot of hard places and survived. I feel grateful and blessed.

And … I feel blessed to find more good reads.

Happy Reading y’all

Books read & enjoyed October 07, 2020

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I have a few books to share but somehow I think they have all been mentioned recently in passing, so pardon me if I’ve said any of this before. Hopefully you don’t remember either if I did.

Sometimes I totally love a bunch of books in a row. (I know you can’t have a bunch in a row because bunches never stand it a row, they are always crowded together in a heap, but hey, that’s what’s in my head and I can’t help but go with it. I know you know what I mean anyway, you’re smart that way)

Then sometimes I read a bunch and only love a few of them. That’s how it was this time.

I also have to say, liking a book is usually very personal. Kind of like favorite colors. Not everyone loves pink.

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This first book was one I skimmed through rather quickly. Not really my cup of tea. But still, not a bad read at all. I gave it three stars.

Will of Steel

When the truth behind her husband’s death comes to light, Jordan will need strength as strong as steel to survive.
Jordan Regent finds herself a widow, running her husband’s steel business. One night while sorting through her husband’s things she discovers a secret that threatens her future. As her life unravels, Jordan must hold on to her faith and fight to survive.
Ryder Foster is a lawyer who offers to help with her husband’s business as well as personal affairs. As they search for the truth behind her husband’s death, their attraction to each other creates complications and the threat to Jordan increases. Will Ryder be able to help her face the threat and will Jordan be able to let go of the past?

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This next one I did enjoy, more than I thought I would. I tried once and abandoned it but my second attempt worked, well. I gave this one four stars.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt–and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?

Observing both brothers as an “invisible” servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?

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I liked this book collection but I know I’ve mentioned it multiple times so I will leave it at that. I gave this one five stars. That alone will tell you tell this was my favorite.

The If I Run Series: If I Run, If I’m Found, If I Live

Casey knows the truth. But it won’t set her free.

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they’ve failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up.

Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?

Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices: the girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

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This next one is still a bargain if you are interested. I liked this book but only gave it three stars and I can’t remember why. I know there was a reason because I don’t give three very often. Four stars is the norm. Probably details and thoughts repeated too many times.

Hopeful Cowboy: A Mulbury Boys Novel (Hope Eternal Ranch Romance Book 1) 

Nathaniel Mulbury is released early from his six-year term in prison to care for his brother’s four-year-old son. Dealing with grief over his brother’s death and continued guilt for his role in the embezzlement scheme that landed him in jail, Nate has one more problem. He’s never been a father and has no idea how to take care of Connor.

Make that two problems: He’s released, but only to the care of Hope Eternal Ranch, a work-parole ranch run by the beautiful and smart Ginger Talbot. He’s never been a cowboy, and he’s got no room in his life for a woman.

Ginger has dealt with plenty of men like Nate, even if the sparks between them don’t just come from his background. She’s not falling for a handsome face and a nice pair of biceps again. After all, most prisoners have plenty of time to work out.

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I’m going to look around a little for bargains, if I find any I’ll put them in a separate post.

Hope to see you soon!

Happy Reading

Free books October 05, 2020

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LPC Books has FREE books for us this afternoon.

The Spindle Chair (The Barn Church Series Book 1)

Amazon quote:

“At once beautiful and haunting … a story you won’t soon forget”. ~ Ann Tatlock, Award-winning author of Once Beyond A Time, a Christy Award winner

Laurie Crane is happily married, yet she aches to have a child. During her husband’s moments of quiet sadness she senses a void she believes only a child can fill. Pierce wants a child, too and has spent years praying alongside his wife. But he has no idea that a “yes” from God will unearth long-buried memories and bring their marriage to the brink of catastrophe. What happens when “happily-ever-after” becomes more than you can bear?

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Among the Poppies 

Amazon quote:

The ideal lady wears lace, speaks quietly, and never—under any circumstances—fixes an automobile. But Gwyn Ruthers has never cared two snaps about being the ideal lady. With the war to end all wars exploding across the English Channel, she leaves behind her restrictive life as a chauffer’s daughter to serve in an all-female ambulance unit in France. She’s not about to let her social status or gender prevent her from serving her country. Not even a handsome captain can distract her from her mission. Most of the time.

Captain William Crawford wouldn’t wish the ravages of war on any man, much less the captivating woman who insists on driving into battle instead of staying safely at home. He can’t deny that the troops need more medical help, but not when it puts innocent women in danger. How can he lead his men against the Jerries while worrying about Gwyn’s safety?

Bound together by circumstances, Gwyn and William can’t stop the love growing between them. Can their relationship survive, or will it become another casualty of war?

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Chasing the Butterfly

Amazon quote:

From a vineyard in the south of France to the sophisticated city of Paris, Ella Moreau searches for the hope and love she lost as a young girl when her mother abandoned the family. Through a series of secret paintings, her art becomes the substitute for lost love—the metaphor of her life. But when her paintings are discovered, the intentions of those she loves are revealed.

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Thankfully, I’ve read & enjoyed all three of these FREE books. My TBR list is already struggling without adding any more. The upside is, I have lots of choices so I’m not complaining too loudly.

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Currently I’m on book two of a three book collection. This is a continued story series, definitely not stand alone, but I’m enjoying it.

The If I Run Series: If I Run, If I’m Found, If I Live 

Book 2

If I’m Found

In this riveting sequel to the USA TODAY bestseller If I Run, evil lurks, drawing Casey out of the shadows . . . but there is light shining in the darkness.

Casey Cox is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn’t commit. Dylan Roberts—her most relentless pursuer—is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist he knows the truth and wants to help her. He’s let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn’t come easily.

As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who’s also been falsely accused. Casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormenters. But doing so is risky and may result in her capture—and if she’s captured, she has no doubt she’ll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail cell.

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Happy Reading…

…from one happy lady. This day warmed up considerably after the cold snap we’ve been having the last while. It was a lovely day to get out and work on yard cleanup before the snow flies.

I haven’t heard any snow predicted yet for this year but we are remembering last year at this time. A gigantic winter storm blew through dumping huge piles of snow, taking out thousands of trees, and causing massive power outages.

The early frost we’ve been having this last week or so seems like a piece of cake compared to the weather we had this time last year.

Not knowing what the weather will do from one year to the next is actually a blessing sometimes.