historical fiction

Free and bargain books July 27, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

LPC Books has some suggestions for us today. This first one is FREE

Above the Fold

Above the Fold

Amazon quote:

After losing the love of her life to a big city journalism job, Elissa Tillman pours herself into the suffragette movement and her secretarial work helping keep her father’s Pittsburgh newspaper afloat.

Cole Parker returns to the steel city with the phantom failures of his past nipping his heels. All he asks of the future is a second chance with the woman he once spurned.

The murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to prove to her father and the world that she’s a serious journalist. But there’s a catch—she has to compete for the story. Against none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart.

*************

Another one FREE

Lessons in Love (Secrets in Savannah Book 2)

Lessons in Love

Amazon quote:

Can the handsome man who holds the secret to the disappearance of Megan’s boyfriend hope to hold the key to her heart?

Megan Conley can’t believe her eyes. That handsome man who keeps popping up all over town looks a lot like her boyfriend, Michael. But Megan hasn’t seen him since he vanished unexpectedly, leaving her searching for answers. Turns out the stranger is Michael’s cousin, Noah, and he seems to have her best interests at heart. Could Noah help explain Michael’s absence?

Noah can’t deny his attraction to Megan. But he made a promise to his cousin, and he’s a man of his word. He’ll help her move on with her life—but he can go no further. Unless the key he holds to Michael’s disappearance is also the key to Megan’s heart…

***************

Also FREE

Cassia (Women of the American Revolution Series Book 3)

Cassia

Amazon quote:

Her family’s voyage from South Carolina turns ugly when the ship’s captain maroons Lilyan and her family on an island along North Carolina’s Outer Banks. There, the family is captured by pirates and taken to a secret island hideout where they witness a mock trial and a hanging.

Forced to rebuff the advances of the murderous pirate, Captain Galeo (The Shark), and fearful that her children will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, Lilyan forges an escape plan. Meanwhile, her husband, Nicholas, calls upon his skills as a captain in Brigadier General Francis Marion’s militia to devise a battle plan to save his family.

Will the young couple’s faith be enough to see them through? Or will their declaration to rescue Cassia from the pirates prove too high a price?

***************

A bargain collection $1.34 while browsing

The Way to the Heart: The Vintner, The Baker, The Barista, The Chef

The Way to the Heart

Amazon quote:

THE VINTNER: THE OTHER YOU

An American photojournalist seeking her identity is sent on assignment to South Africa to discover the inspiration behind the DeBois estate’s flagship wine. Mystery has enshrouded the story of the woman for whom the wine is named.

South African winegrower Armand DeBois’s world is shattered after a car accident leaves him widowed.

When Armand and Taylor meet, the country and winegrower hold a strange attraction for Taylor while Armand struggles with whether he’s falling in love with his past or his future.

THE BAKER: GINGER & BRAD’S HOUSE

While Ginger Murphy completes her music studies, childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Brad O’Sullivan betrays her with the new girl next door. Heartbroken, Ginger escapes as far away as she can go—to Australia—for five long years. During this time, Brad’s shotgun marriage fails. Besides his little boy, Jamie, one other thing in his life has turned out sweet and successful—his pastry business.

When her mother’s diagnosed with heart failure, Ginger has no choice but to return to the green grass of Ireland.

A gingerbread house contest at church to raise funds for the homeless has Ginger competing with Brad. Both are determined to win—Ginger the contest, Brad her heart.

THE BARISTA: MELBOURNE MEMORIES

Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees England. A marked man with nothing left but his guitar and his talent, Justin is desperate to start over yet still live off the grid. Loneliness and the need to feel a connection to the London pastor who’d saved his life draws Justin to Ella’s Barista Art Coffee Shop—the famous and trendy Melbourne establishment belonging to Pastor Jim Anderson’s niece.

Intrigued by the bearded stranger who looks vaguely familiar, Ella Anderson tries to discover his secrets by coaxing him with her elaborate latte art creations. And muffins.

When Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all.

THE CHEF: A COURTSHIP FOR CLOVER

Top London chef Clover Blume has one chance to become better acquainted with Jonathan Spalding away from the mayhem of her busy restaurant where he frequently dines—the groomsman’s supposed to escort her at her sister’s New Year’s Eve wedding. But when business delays him, Clover begins to wonder whether she really wants to waste time with someone who’d rather make money than keep his word.

There’s one thing London Investment Banker Jonathan Spalding’s money hasn’t managed to buy: a woman to love—one worthy of his mother’s approval. But the auburn-haired beauty who was to partner with him at his best friend’s wedding—a wedding he stood to miss thanks to a glitch in a deal worth millions—might be finding a way into his heart.

What will it cost Jonathan to realize it profits him nothing to gain the world, yet lose his soul?

And the girl.

*****************

A Pre-order bargain $0.99 (while browsing)

In Spite of Ourselves: A Murphy Brothers Story (2) (The Potter’s House Books (Two) Book 13)

In Spite of Ourselves

Amazon quote:

Jackson Murphy: family prankster, class clown… and now, smack in the middle of a Vegas-sized mess. All he’d wanted was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. After failing that goal, he slipped into a deep, sulking valley, only to emerge from it with a much bigger problem. He’s married. To a complete stranger! Forget making a world-class marathon so that his family will believe that (1) he’s capable of being grown up and serious on occasion and (2) he doesn’t need the ongoing pity about his brother and a certain ex-girlfriend.

Now? Now he has no idea what to do.

Mackenzie Murphy: independent woman and excellent student—but not a med student. Because those pesky MCATs were H-A-R-D. She doesn’t particularly mind that much, seeing as she’s never really wanted to be a doctor, but her mother will be…uh, displeased. Exceptionally. That’s nothing, however, compared to how Mother will respond if she finds out what else happened in Vegas.

Mackenzie wants out. Jackson wants a chance. Neither of them is prepared for what’s coming. Caught in the middle of a disaster that keeps getting bigger, they hardly dare ask: Can God take their monumental mistake and turn it into a beautiful life?

**************

It always seems to be feast or famine with good book suggestions. Today looks like an excellent feast day.

Happy Reading!

It’s not you it’s me. The tale of unfinished books.

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

I’m pretty sure it’s me not you (the authors). That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

It’s funny how interest, or lack of it, seems to go in waves. Sadly, the tidal wave of engagement is still out these days. I’m having trouble finding a book with a story that grips me. A highly disappointing state of affairs.

I’m pretty sure, though, the fault lies with me and whatever place I’m at emotionally. At least that’s what I’m guessing. I’m not necessarily finding anything disappointing with the writing style or the story premise.

Bottom line though… my reading list needs to be shorter. Let’s make that happen.

I'll Watch the MoonOnce Beyond a Time

The Birhday PortraitFaith House

The RunawayThe Christmas Bliss collection

The Secret of Pembrook ParkWhen You Come Home

 

Fatal AttractionComing Home

The Queen's DaughtersGrace & Lavender

**************

There were a few more slated for removal but they seemed to demand another chance. They have been moved to the top of the list again and we’ll see how it goes.

Twelve makes a good difference even though there are many more in the started but not read category.

Refreshing my memory before removal (in case I could be drawn in after all) I noticed a common response on my part to many of the unfinished books.

Triggers.

My childhood was difficult, to put it mildly, Acknowledging there is such a thing as triggers is a recent consideration for me. They explain so much and learning to recognize how specific childhood trauma could be behind the trigger (reaction) has been a freeing experience. I haven’t gotten very far in this learning exercise and it’s still a mystery to me what aspect of these books is causing the shut down reaction.  Maybe some things just hit a little too close to home.

Anyway, it’s nice to know the books deserve to be read.  It is just me.

I’m currently reading… a whole bunch. Hopefully I can settle on at least one of the four at the top!

It could be this one.

Above all Things

Happy Reading …

…on this warmish day. The promised heat has arrived, 31 C  – feels like 43 C (109.4 F) with the humidity.

I’m grateful for air conditioning.

Free and bargain books July 23, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

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

Patrick's Journey

Amazon quote:

Dublin Harbour, Ireland, 1793:

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

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

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

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

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

****************

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

Angels of Humility: A Novel

Angels of Humility

Amazon quote:

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

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

****************

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us.

Hope for Christmas (Hope Ranch Book 1) 

Hope for Christmas

Amazon quote:

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

*****************

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

I’ll Watch the Moon

I'll Watch the Moon

Amazon quote:

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

***************

Happy Reading …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free and bargain books July 15, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

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

The Spark Brothers: A Christian Contemporary Romance Collection

The Spark Brothers

**************

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today.

Rescuing Riley (Gold Coast Retrievers Book 2) 

Resusing Riley

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

***************

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

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

Garnet's gift

Amazon quote:

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

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

***************

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

Happy  Reading!

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

Free LPC books July 13, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

Dance Over Me: (The Wardrobe series Book 1)

Dance Over Me

Amazon quote:

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

**************

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

Devyn's Dilemma

Amazon quote:

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

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

**************

Once Beyond a Time

Once Beyond a Time

Amazon quote:

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

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

***************

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

Angel Beneath my Wheels

Amazon quote:

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

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

**************

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

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

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books July 12, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

When the Heart Calls … a $0.99 bargain

When the Heart Calls

Amazon quote:

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

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

Until it isn’t.

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

***************

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

The Hope Rising Series Box Set

Hope Rising

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***************

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

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

***********

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

 

 

Free and bargain books July 11, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

Sandover Beach Week (Sandover Island Sweet Romance Book 2)

Sandover Beach Week

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

*************

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

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

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

***************

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

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

Lost Down Deep

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

Henry

Happy Reading on a beautiful Saturday.

Read & Enjoyed, and one bargain. July 10, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

This first one was a quick read. Several hours from beginning to end, which was nice as I was only taking a break from the book I was really reading. This story has depth and was fresh and engaging, my favorite parts. I just noticed (it seems I had forgotten) there were 252 pages. It went by so fast it doesn’t seem possible. It was good anyway.

Small Town Billionaire: (Sweet Home Billionaires Book 1)

Small town billionaire

A billionaire looking for a change and a woman who wants nothing to do with him. Can he convince her that he’s more than money?

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

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

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

**************

This next one was a favorite read too. There was an unusual slant to the story and it was awesome.

Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #1)

Aiming for Love

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David’s father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

****************

I’m currently 2/3 of the way through reading this next book. I took a little break to read the first book (above) but will finish this one for sure. Things are not staying bargains for any great length of time it seems. This is the third one in a row to be back at full price.

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

Lost Down Deep

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

***************

One new book is a bargain at a $1.39. Things change so fast I figured it would be a good plan to snap it up. I’ve read one other book by this author and enjoyed her sense of humor. I look forward to seeing what this one will be like.

Will of Steel

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?

**************

Well, this post turned into something more than expected. I felt like I had nothin’ to start with.

A new book too, how great is that.

Now if I had been ready to hit publish before midnight while it was still the 10th…

Happy Reading!

Read and enjoyed July 07, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

This is a book suggestion from yesterday and I would like to tell you how I felt about it. A review of sorts. It’s still a bargain at $1.34

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

Christmas at the lake

Amazon quote:

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

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

One of my first impressions was that I’d read the sequel to Calm and Bright (the first book.) By the end I was positive I had, I was just not sure where. These books have appeared in other book collections and it will have been in one of those.

Calm and Bright has complex characters with lots going on and an interesting and engaging story line. I enjoyed the read although it did feel like it could have been shorter and still covered everything nicely.

The characters in Midnight Clear appeared a few times briefly in the first book, with no real relationship to each other. There were hints though.

The story treatment in book 2 was a disappointment after seeing how it was handled in book 1.

There needed to be more depth and complexity to the characters, certainly, but more so to the story itself. There was not enough going on. Eventually, I found myself skimming the first few pages of every other chapter and didn’t feel like I’d missed anything of importance.

There needed to be more drama and maybe bigger roles for a few of the supporting characters, that could have helped improve the story.

The ending was abrupt and a big disappointment.

So, I liked book one but wasn’t a fan of book two.

**********

After the book collection I read Hidden. I liked it as well as Calm and Bright… but

Hidden (Jones-Star Series Book 1)

Hidden 2

I did find myself skimming in spots. And while I liked it … I didn’t love it. It was worth the read though. It was a fresh take on relationships, not the tired story lines that are often used, and that was refreshing.

 

He’s a Montana Cowboy and she’s a Boston aristocrat.
Together they are broken ashes and spitfire, discovering common ground in a shared dream. But, even if they can somehow see eye-to-eye and partner-up, their past lives lay in wait, ready to pounce and destroy any chance of a new beginning.

The train arrives at the station on Patrick Jones’ wedding day, but his dreams go up in steam when it fails to bring his childhood sweetheart, Genevieve, west with it. Instead, he finds himself burdened with the responsibility of her adventurous younger sister.

**********

I can’t decide where to go next. I think I’ll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Free and bargain books July 06, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

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

Kill Order

Kill Order

Amazon quote:

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

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

****************

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

With This Peace

Amazon quote:

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

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

***************

Laurel (Women of the American Revolution Series Book 2)

Laurel

Amazon quote:

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

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

***************

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

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

The Practice of Prying

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

****************

A new collection priced to sell. $0.99

Dangerous Deceptions: A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Collection

Dangerous Deceptions

Amazon quote:

Lethal Outbreak: Lisa Harris & Lynne Gentry

Virus hunter Aiden Ballinger believes the source of the lethal outbreak that decimated a remote Tibetan village came from disturbing the permafrost. Desperate to rebury it before it buries the world, Aiden enlists Rachel Scott, a beautiful epidemiologist. But while Aiden and Rachel pursue the cure—and their feelings for each other—someone is hunting them. Whoever wants them dead will not stop until they are silenced.

Collision Course: Elizabeth Goddard

His cover blown, FBI Special Agent Reg Jacobson finds refuge on the other side of the country, but trouble follows him when he faces off with a woman from his past. Private Investigator Nicole Weatherly, hired to catch a thief, suspects Reg. When the bullets fly, Reg and Nicole must escape secrets from their pasts before their futures collide.

Glimmer in the Darkness: Robin Patchen

When Cassidy learns another child has been kidnapped from her hometown, she’s convinced the man who took the girl she’d been babysitting seven years earlier is behind the recent abductions. She alone holds the key to finding him. Though James blames Cassidy for his sister’s death, he’ll help if there’s a chance to save a child’s life. Can Cassidy and James identify the serial killer in time to rescue his latest victim?

Expired Plot: Lisa Phillips

A man after justice. A local crime boss. The woman caught between. Undercover FBI agent Will Briar is working his way to the top of an illegal operation. But when he discovers the identity of the boss, everything changes. Hollis knows nothing is as it seems. Now she must either save her father and doom herself, or take a chance on the man who could be the answer…to everything.

Ice: Lynnette Bonner

Camryn Hunt witnessed a murder. Now she’s in the protective custody of handsome sheriff Holden Parker. The small-town life might be pleasant if the sheriff wasn’t so demanding. Determined that no harm come to Camryn, Holden secludes her at his fishing cabin. He wishes she wasn’t so intriguing. He must not divide his focus. Especially when a local busybody discovers Camryn!

Never A Traitor: Jan Thompson

The last thing Private Investigator Earl Young expects is to pose as a fake boyfriend to a whistleblower. His driving need to solve problems forces him to work with paranoid Sienna Halstead as she draws him deeper into her corporate world of secrets and subterfuge. The more time they spend together, the more attraction grows. When another whistleblower is murdered, Sienna knows she’s next. How far will Earl go to protect her?

Ben in Love: Luana Ehrlich

Is CIA operative Ben Mitchell really in love with the daughter of a Turkish dissident? Titus Ray, his mentor, isn’t buying it; he thinks Ben needs intel on a Muslim cleric. But when Titus follows Ben to northern Virginia, he discovers Ben’s deception is more dangerous than he thought. With their lives on the line, can Titus convince Ben to abandon his plans before it’s too late?

Liar Like Her: D.L. Wood

When disbarred attorney Quinn Bello discovers a body that inexplicably vanishes, no one in her seaside town believes her—no one, that is, except newcomer Ian Wolfe, who for his own mysterious reasons doesn’t hold Quinn’s past against her. Together they search for the truth, but doubts about Quinn’s sanity and innocence increase as the danger escalates. Will they expose the heart of the deception before Quinn becomes the next victim?

****************

One more interesting bargain $1.34

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

Christmas at the lake

Amazon quote:

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

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

***************

Happy Reading to you.