Bargain books November 11, 2022

Exploring. That’s what it took to find treasures today. They are all historical fiction but other than that they are all different and interesting. At least the first few pages have me hooked and I’m expecting good things from there to the end. I’ve read one of these authors, the rest will be a new experience.

First up we have…

Carved in Stone (The Blackstone Legacy Book #1) 

Her gilded world holds a deeply hidden secret. 

After years of tragedy, Gwen Kellerman now lives a quiet life as a botanist at an idyllic New York college. She largely ignores her status as heiress to the infamous Blackstone dynasty and hopes to keep her family’s heartbreak and scandal behind her.

Patrick O’Neill survived a hardscrabble youth to become a lawyer for the downtrodden Irish immigrants in his community. He’s proud of his work, even though he struggles to afford his ramshackle law office. All that changes when he accepts a case that is sure to emphasize the Blackstones’ legacy of greed and corruption by resurrecting a thirty-year-old mystery.

Little does Patrick suspect that the Blackstones will launch their most sympathetic family member to derail him. Gwen is tasked with getting Patrick to drop the case, but the old mystery takes a shocking twist neither of them saw coming. Now, as they navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger, Patrick and Gwen will be forced to decide if the risk to the life they’ve always held dear is worth the reward.

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Next . . .

The Inheritance Tamara Alexander

Determined to tame her fourteen-year-old younger brother’s rebellious streak, twenty-three-year-old McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin’s invitation to move west and start over. McKenna arrives only to find that her cousin and her cousin’s husband have died, leaving their five-year-old daughter an orphan—and that life in Copper Creek, Colorado, is far from what she expected.

McKenna struggles with her sudden new role as the guardian of two children. Shouldering burdens beyond her years, McKenna tries to be the parent Robert needs instead of the older sister he resents. But her “untimely inheritance” challenges her resolve at every turn, while also offering a second chance to restore her sense of trust—and perhaps even her heart.

U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon is dedicated to bringing fugitives to justice, yet years of living on the trail have taken their toll, and he finds himself at a crossroads. He’s brought countless men to justice, but he questions what lasting good he has accomplished. When his path intersects that of young Robert Ashford, Wyatt glimpses himself, years ago, in the boy’s pride and arrogance. He also sees a boy without a firm hand in his life. His well-meant attempt to help Robert brings him face-to-face with the one situation he never wanted to encounter—and the one woman who holds the key to helping him find his future.

As McKenna struggles to let go of her independence and Wyatt considers opening his heart again, they discover an inheritance beyond imagination—but it will come at a price.

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Last but not least . . .

The Headmistress of Rosemere (Whispers On The Moors Book 2)

In Regency England, the same time period as Bridgerton and Poldark, Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father’s boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood—and her heart—in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman.

At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take her away . . . but that man never came. And since her father’s death, keeping the school running and her mother happy has been plenty to keep her occupied.

William Sterling dallied his way into financial trouble and mortal danger. When he is assaulted by his creditors’ henchmen on the road home from a tavern, he guides his horse to the doorstep of his tenant, the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. After being tended to by Patience, the wounded William rides off into the dawn—but makes a point to learn more about the lovely headmistress.

As he spends more time at Rosemere, something delicate begins to develop between William and Patience. But that will not deter William’s creditors. With little money to repay his debts, and less for the upkeep of his estate, it becomes clear that sacrificing Rosemere may be the only way to preserve his legacy. But it may also cost him his happiness.

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We have good reading options for the weekend.

No books day November 09, 2022

There weren’t any in sight to even turn down. Most days we have 3-4 suggestion emails but today there was one. Strange for the middle of the week.

Maybe the book suggestors had a late night last night, listening to the US election results, and couldn’t get motivated today.

Things are bizarre in the US when it comes to election results. In Canada we may have to stay up pretty late but generally we know who won the majority of the races before the night is over. Unless it is tight and needs greater scrutiny to know for sure. It just seems weird that they haven’t figured out a good system for ballot counting by now. It’s not like elections are something new. I’m thinking most of us would be fired from our jobs if we moved that slowly at work. Truly mystifying. Frustrating too. Who has the patience or the interest to pay attention that long? Maybe if we lived there and cared. But maybe not.

All that to say I’ve moved on. Not that anyone cares haha

So I’ve been reading off and on through the day and I can’t say this book has been holding my attention any better than the US election coverage. In the end I skimmed, jumped chapters, and found the end as quickly as possible. It’s a collection and the second book was no better. I’ve moved on. Way too much thinking time.

Here are the books I’ve left behind. Maybe not forever, but for now anyway.

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This is the replacement current read. So far so good. Hopefully it will be good right to the end.

Keatyn’s mother died in a house fire and she blames her dad for not rescuing her. In her mind he let her mother die and she will never forgive him.

Years have gone by, she’s worked hard to climb the corporate ladder and she is good at her job. The trouble is she has become a bitter woman. People who were her friends accuse her of being mean and selfish.

Now her dad is dying and she’s home for the first time since the fire. She would leave before even saying hello but her brother lifted her car keys and she has no way to run, except on foot. It’s not working out all that well for her, Marching away in three inch heels.

I’m assuming there will be eventually be a happy ending to this story but I suspect it may be rather painful getting there.

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Can’t believe how quickly time is rushing by. It will be Christmas in a couple of days. Seriously!

At least the snow has not come to stay yet.

Happy Reading y’all

Bargain books Part Two November 07, 2022

I couldn’t resist. Today’s post was full, it didn’t need anything more and then an irresistible collection showed up. It doesn’t look like most of the historical books we see and that really appeals to me. So here we are.

Romancing the Weavers Book Collection One: A Collection of Sweet Historical Romance

Everyone loves the Weavers!

Enjoy this collection of Weaver stories from Kit Morgan. Lucia, Arturo and Leonardo are Kit’s first contributions to her series Romancing the Weavers. A multi-author series written with Ray Anselmo. In this Book Collection you will find:

Lucia:

Lucia Cucinotta lived a sheltered life compared to most. She came to America from Italy and lived in New York City for a time, but the bulk of her years were spent on the Weaver farm, a full day’s wagon ride from the nearest town. If she was lucky, she got to Nowhere three or four times a year. Imagine her surprise when she visits Clear Creek, Oregon, and discovers there’s more to life than the family farm! A lot more.

Max Cooke fell head over heels with Lucy when he and his family spent one magical Christmas on the Weaver farm. But that was over two and a half years ago, and even though he and Lucy wrote to each other, they weren’t the same people now. It was only logical they’d have to get to know each other again. Problem was, they had only a little over a week to get reacquainted. Worse, Lucy was drawing the eye of every young gentleman in town! Downright disaster was the fact she was looking back! She’d never been around so many gentlemen her age before. What was Max to do?

Arturo:

Rayne O’Sullivan was no stranger to rejection and abandonment. She’d lost her mother during childbirth, her father to sickness when she was young. Then she lost her grandfather. She’d been living with her great uncle ever since, and he couldn’t wait for the day when he could be rid of her. Now here she was, a mail-order bride in a nothing of a town about to be married to a complete stranger. How much more can she endure?

Arturo Cucinotta just wanted someone to love. Yes, he had a big, boistrous family, but he was ready for more. A lot more, and the only way to get it was to find himself a wife. Problem was, there weren’t any eligable young women in the area. That left him with only one choice. A mail-order bride. And though he wouldn’t be the first in the family to get one, he was still nervous. How could he marry a woman he’d never met? Worse, his bride was refusing his kindness more and more. What was he supposed to do about that? Didn’t she want to be married to him?

Leonardo: 

Leonardo Cucinotta has a problem. Two actually. Parthena and Savannah Cooke.
When Colin and Belle Cooke accompany Max (their nephew) and his wife Lucy on a visit to the Weaver Farm, they brought along more than Leo bargained for.
Everyone thought he’d set his cap for Savannah, Max’s sister. What better time to let the two young people spend some time together? But when Parthena sees Leo, the sparks fly and in more ways than one. Will a man break up a life-long friendship between the Savannah and her cousin Parthena? Will Leo have to choose between the two? Will anything ever be the same after this visit? Find out in this installment of Romancing the Weavers! Sweet, clean fun for everyone!

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Wouldn’t you know it, the next in the series just showed up as an irresistible bargain too. It was written by another author. This should prove interesting

Romancing the Weavers: Romans in Love: Box Set – 3 Novels 

In 1870, Antonio Cucinotta left Rome, Italy on the ship Gabriel, with his pregnant wife and seven children. His eighth child was born on the trip across the Atlantic. But in New York, his wife died, he tried to cover his grief with alcohol and gambling, and his oldest daughter Isabella, in a desperate move to save her siblings, went to Washington Territory as a mail-order bride to marry Calvin Weaver. Once she settled in, she brought all her brothers and sisters across the country to join her.

The Cucinotta children prospered in the Far Northwest. They grew strong, learned skills, and once they reached adulthood, they began looking for love. On the Weavers’ isolated farm, thirty miles from the nearest small town, husbands and wives could be hard to find. But the good Lord had a plan for each, and that plan included spouses that were perfect for them.

This box set includes three of their stories, with adventures ranging from the romantic to the ridiculous to the perilous:

  • ALFONSO – Alfonso Cucinotta is sick of life on a farm with more family than he knows what to do with. Philadelphia Howe is headed for California with her baseball-manager father, the only family she has. When the Howes and their driver get lost and stumble on the Weaver farm, it sets the stage for romance, conflict and danger!
  • MELANIA – After six years of correspondence, Melania Cucinotta is crazy about Clinton Cooke. Clinton Cooke, of the Clear Creek, Oregon Cookes, is crazy about Mel. But when Clinton leads a cattle drive to the Weaver farm and they finally get together, can they keep from going crazy?
  • GABRIELLA – Gabby Cucinotta was perfectly happy living on the farm, unmarried and unworried. But fate had other plans for her. And when an unwanted suitor tries to force her hand, fate lands her in jail on a charge of murder!

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I’m gong to quit while I am ahead. No more books today.

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I’m liking the current read. Half way through.

Line by Line (Love along the Wires Book #1)

Alice McNeil resolved at a young age to travel through life unencumbered by love or marriage, free to make her own decisions. A seasoned telegrapher, she’s recently acquired a coveted position at an important trading firm, but when the company’s ambitious junior director returns to London, things begin to change in ways Alice could never have imagined.

For Douglas Shaw, years of hard work and ingenuity enabled him to escape a life of grinding poverty. He’s also determined to marry into high society–a step that will ensure he never returns to the conditions of his past.

He and Alice form a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, but anything deeper is not in their plans. However, when Alice accidentally raises the ire of a jealous and vindictive coworker who’s intent on ruining her life, Alice and Douglas are forced to confront what is truly important in their lives. Will their growing bond give them the courage to risk finding a better way?

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Happy Reading Y’all

Free and bargain books November 07, 2022

Tomorrow is a big day in the US. Election day. Are you all getting out to vote? Awesome.

So, this is a good day, we have a couple of FREE books. BookBub and BookRunes have let us know about them. The first is an author we see regularly, the second is brand new to us.

Last Taste of Freedom (Chevalier Protection Specialists Book 1)

The fight is coming home.

For trophy daughter Nora Gladstone, life isn’t as perfect as it appears. When her only ally is suspiciously killed the truth of her father’s treachery leaks through the cracks of the facade that is her whole world.

Zander O’Connell and his team of former soldiers and spies accept a mission from the director of the Department of Clandestine Services. A quick search of the objective before they destroy it reveals a sinister picture.

Determined to bring her father down, Nora may be the key to the question at the core of Zander’s existence. But when a man thought dead resurfaces, the threat becomes far more dangerous than any of them expected.

Unless they survive, this will be their Last Taste of Freedom.

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Keatyn’s Journey: Seeds of Faith

Journeys of Life
Tragic events caused Keatyn Rae Griffin to leave home and become bitter. Over the years, she’s managed to push everyone but her brother, Alvin, out of her life. Everyone, including God.

A turn of events causes Keatyn to travel home to Pensacola Beach. Home to the place where her life fell apart.

Gareth Davenport left his past behind and now lives a life obedient to God. When he crosses paths with Keatyn, he’s determined to help with her pilgrimage back to God.

Will Keatyn’s journey bring love and forgiveness back to her life? Most importantly, will her journey help her turn back to God?

Or will secrets from the past drive Keatyn further away and cause her to harden her heart forever?

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One more interesting read showed up in my time spent browsing, it’s a bargain collection and I’ve read and enjoyed the first book in the series. Now I’m looking forward to the rest.

A total change of pace, historical fiction, cowboys and prairie brides.

Prairie Brides Box Collection One: Books 1-4

Prairie Brides Box Collection 1 introduces the town of Clear Creek and the Cooke brothers. Three English gents who tame the west with their fists and impeccable manners! Enjoy these sweet, clean and wholesome stories of family, friendships, and love set in the old west! Included in this boxed set are:

His Praire Princess: When Sadie Jones, the daughter of cattle baron Horatio Jones, set out on her own in search of her dying birth mother, she got more than she bargained for. She never dreamed the stage would be robbed and she herself taken along with the rest of the loot! After all, being kidnapped was the last thing on her mind that morning. Unfortunately, it was the foremost thing that afternoon.
Harrison Cooke, raised by his English mother to be the perfect gentleman, simply went to get the mail, not rescue a damsel in distress! But here he was, attempting to rescue the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and of course, not get them both killed in the process.

Her Prairie Knight: Belle Dunnigan hadn’t expected Clear Creek to be so remote. It was a far cry from Boston society and she soon learned how hard life out on the Oregon prairie could be. But it wasn’t prairie life that was hard. It was living with her Aunt Irene! The woman ruled with an iron fist and hated everyone. Especially the Cooke family. And unfortunately for Belle, the only decent men of the marrying kind within a hundred miles, WERE the Cookes! With spinsterhood starring her in the face, what was she to do? Even worse, she was terribly attracted to Colin Cooke, the one man her aunt hated most of all.

HIs Prairie Duchess: Duncan Cooke had a problem. A really BIG problem. As the next Duke of Stantham, he would have power and position, a wealthy estate and the means to take care of his family for years to come. His father and mother could only dream something like this would happen to their eldest son and now their dream was a reality. So what was the problem? He had to get married in the next thirty-eight days or lose it all. Unfortunately, Duncan lived in Clear Creek. A place where there wasn’t a single female around for hundreds of miles.
Except one.

Her Prairie Viking: Andel Berg came to Clear Creek under the guise of becoming the new blacksmith, but little did the townspeople of Clear Creek know that he was so much more! Madeline Van Zuyen came to Clear Creek for a new beginning and the chance to start a new life. Little did she know that SHE was so much more!
Mr. Berg had a duty to perform. Find the Princess Madelaina at any cost, retrieve her, and deliver her to Count Rudge, one of the most despicable men Andel had ever known. Not an appealing task for a Captain of the King’s Guard but unfortunately, Andel had no choice. If he didn’t deliver the princess Count Rudge would kill his father and Andel was prepared to do anything to keep that from happening. But Andel hadn’t counted on falling in love.

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Another interesting Kit Morgan collection showed up and I want it too. I’ll use another post to share it with you.

Soon.

Happy Reading.

Free and bargain books November 05, 2022

We have a new book! I’m so excited about this one. I love the cover, the story hook has my attention and I definitely want this as my next read.

BookBub is behind this suggestion.

Line by Line (Love along the Wires Book #1)

Alice McNeil resolved at a young age to travel through life unencumbered by love or marriage, free to make her own decisions. A seasoned telegrapher, she’s recently acquired a coveted position at an important trading firm, but when the company’s ambitious junior director returns to London, things begin to change in ways Alice could never have imagined.

For Douglas Shaw, years of hard work and ingenuity enabled him to escape a life of grinding poverty. He’s also determined to marry into high society–a step that will ensure he never returns to the conditions of his past.

He and Alice form a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, but anything deeper is not in their plans. However, when Alice accidentally raises the ire of a jealous and vindictive coworker who’s intent on ruining her life, Alice and Douglas are forced to confront what is truly important in their lives. Will their growing bond give them the courage to risk finding a better way?

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Browsing, I came across this FREE book. We read two of her books in 2021 and she is on my good author’s list, which means it will be good, right? The story line seems familiar, maybe it was in a collection somewhere but I’m hoping not, I’m hoping for another new read.

The Bachelor’s Wife: Small Town Bachelors – Book 1 

She was going to lose it all… unless she took his help
A year ago, Rose Sallow became a widow. A few days ago, she found out she no longer owns her business, and it’s being sold. Rose has always been a fighter, but should she let this one go and take a new job that offers her a new way of life
?

On top of it all a man from her past, Grayson Chance has come home. He’ says he’s looking for a fake fiancée. He says he’ll pay her, and she can decide if she wants to fight for her business or not. Rose jumps on the opportunity.

Time has a funny way of making you see the truth, and this fake relationship is feeling very real to Rose. Can she trust another man with her heart?

He was going to have it all taken from him…unless she helped him.
Grayson is home to settle his mom’s affairs. Apparently, his mother wasn’t done settling his. He needs his fiancé to move into the house the only problem is there is no fiancé. He knew Rose Sallow. They are both in a pickle, but this plan will work.


The problem with plans are things no one plans for.

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Well, we only have two but they both look like winners, what could be better than that?

I often check out authors in my downloads on Amazon to see whether, or how often, they’ve been read. Next, if I don’t already know, I check my journal lists to see where an author lands, good or bad, or if they even do. Then I check the file where cover pictures are saved for upload. While I was fixing a title typo before upload I noticed the file size. 300 covers in 2022. That’s a lot of books y’all. And we still have the better part of two months to go. It would be nice if there was a feature allowing me to see the number read in 2022, I would love to have an easy way to know how I’m doing.

Final word…

Current enjoyable read.

Lethal Betrayal (Vanishing Ranch Book 5)

Happy Reading, have a great weekend.

Free books October 27, 2022

BookBub has a FREE suggestion for us

My Father’s House: a novel

Growing up, life is idyllic for Lily Rose Cates due to one constant – her father’s love. But in her sixteenth summer, all that changes without warning. There begins Lily’s struggle to find herself and the life she’s lost. . . .
Marriage promises fulfillment, but her happily-ever-after barely survives the honeymoon. Her husband’s sophisticated façade hides a brooding man with even darker secrets. When all illusions shatter, Lily must make hard choices – abandon her husband or risk losing much more than her marriage. She flees their home in Detroit and sets out on a fearful journey to a house in Georgia that her husband knows nothing about.

This is one woman’s compelling tale of love and survival as she finds her way back home to who she’s meant to be . . . in her father’s house.

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion too.

Jane: A Fierce Heart (Harvey Girls Book 3)

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

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

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

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

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Happy Reading!

Bargain book October 19, 2022

It was looking a little bleak there for a moment but it turned out there was a good suggestion for us after all. It’s another story (we’ve had quite a few lately) revolving around war. WWI this time. The best stories have spies and this book has more than one. 1531 Entertainment is the suggestion provider and Amazon reviews rate this book at 4.5 stars.

Not by Sight

Gripping Sophomore Novel from a Rising Historical Romance Talent

With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country’s cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she’ll set off when she hands a feather to Jack.

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them–or the faith they’ll need to maintain hope.

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There was one other good looking suggestion. Sadly, it doesn’t fit within the fiscal guidelines I’ve set for myself, I think I’m already way over budget for this month. It is mighty tempting though. It could be the intriguing cover that has my attention. I’ll share it anyway, for future reference if nothing else.

The White City (True Colors) 

Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair Step into True Colors — a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

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Well that’s it for today.

Happy Reading to you all.

Free and bargain books October 16, 2022

There are some good looking books available today after all. The first few pages have me hooked. I noticed we had book 1 of Sky King Ranch Series a week ago but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Too many good books to choose from.

Sunburst (Sky King Ranch Book #2) 

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he’ll need Noemi’s help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding–binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she’s discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.

She’ll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

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Rocky Mountain Redemption (Rocky Mountain Revival Book 1) 

A Rocky Mountain logging camp may be just the place to find herself.

To escape the devastation caused by the breaking of her wedding engagement, Isabelle Franklin joins her aunt in the Rocky Mountains to feed a camp of lumberjacks cutting on the slopes of Cougar Ridge. If only she could out run the lingering nightmares.

Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek’s itinerant pastor, develops a reputation to match his new nickname — Preach. However, an inner battle ensues when the details of his rough history threaten to overcome the beliefs of his young faith.

Amid the hazards of camp life, the unlikely friendship growing between the two surprises Isabelle. She’s drawn to Preach’s brute strength and gentle nature as he leads the ragtag crew toiling for Pollitt’s Lumber. But when the ghosts from her past return to haunt her, the choices she will make change the course of her life forever—and that of the man she’s come to love.

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Beach House Promises (Brighton Beach Retreat Series Book 1)

A single mother who has had many life-changing events.
A man who deeply regrets a decision he made eight years ago and wants to make it right.

A string of poor choices and too many life-changing events lead an unsuspecting pair of strangers into each other’s arms, but is it too good to be true, or will love find a way?

Jade Brighton can’t take much more. Her life has already been upended, leaving her and her daughter in desperate need of recovery time. So they pack their bags and head to the family beach house to recharge and recover.

Daniel Barnhill has spent his life lamenting the one who got away. In a desperate attempt to escape his father, Daniel heads for the small town of Blackstone Cove. Not only is he surprised to find her again, but he also can’t believe she has a child.

Can Jade and Daniel rebuild what they once had or has time and life pushed them too far apart?

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I am definitely looking forward to these new books.

My current read is Spies and Sweethearts

She wants to do her part. He’s just trying to stay out of the stockade. Will two agents deep behind enemy lines find capture… or love?

1942. Emily Strealer is tired of being told what she can’t do. Wanting to prove herself to her older sisters and do her part for the war effort, the high school French teacher joins the OSS and trains to become a covert operative. And when she completes her training, she finds herself parachuting into occupied France with her instructor to send radio signals to the Resistance.

Major Gerard Lucas has always been a rogue. Transferring to the so-called “Office of Dirty Tricks” to escape a court-martial, he poses as a husband to one of his trainees on a dangerous secret mission. But when their cover is blown after only three weeks, he has to flee with the young schoolteacher to avoid Nazi arrest.

Running for their lives, Emily clings to her mentor’s military experience during the harrowing three-hundred-mile trek to neutral Switzerland. And while Gerard can’t bear the thought of his partner falling into German hands, their forged papers might not be enough to get them over the border.

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Read and enjoyed October 16, 2022

Everything on this list was a winner. Every single one of them kept me reading much longer than intended and planned tasks were sorely neglected and most did not even happen. The positive effect on my emotional state though was more than worth it. My attitude about life at the moment is upbeat and I’m grateful. Inspired even.

My absolute favorite was this first one. The synopsis didn’t do it justice. It wasn’t until I was immersed in the story that I realized what a treasure I’d found.

Living Lies (Harbored Secrets Book #1)

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name–but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.

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The next favorite read was possibly the last book in the author’s latest series, although I’m not clear on that point. There are new books being released every few months it seems. The next book was mentioned at the end of this one and I can hardly wait to see what it will be like.

Deadly Intent (Vanishing Ranch Book 4)

Sarah Chamberlain enjoys a new life far away from her abusive ex-husband, thanks to help from Vanishing Ranch. But when she starts to have unexplained, dangerous episodes and suffer memory lapses, she begins to doubt her reality.

She senses her ex has found her. But she doesn’t know if the problem is real or if her mind is playing tricks on her. She can’t contact the police—they would ask too many questions. So, she turns to the very people she knows can help her.

When former Secret Service agent and Vanishing Ranch operative Ruger Stark is assigned to check in on Sarah, he comes determined to find what exactly has her so spooked. But when he arrives at her lakefront home, he realizes he has much more to handle than a typical protection detail.

Ruger and Sarah must stick together to sort through the lies and uncover the truth. Is Sarah drowning in confusion. Or is someone playing a deadly game?

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This one was a great experience and I’d like to read more from this author. Life for Delilah seems bleak until the unexpected shows up.

Appalachian Serenade (Appalachian Blessings): A Novella 

Delilah Morrissey has always wanted to be a mother, but when she becomes a young widow, that dream now seems farther away than ever. Unable to continue to live alone in Chicago, her only option is to accept her sister’s offer to move in with her family back in West Virginia. Will Delilah have the faith to pursue a new dream–even if it means giving up the old?

In this charming novella, debut novelist Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces readers to Wise, West Virginia–a small town nestled in an Appalachian valley where the everyday miracles of life and faith play out in stories of healing, hope, and love.

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Last but not least, was a tale that still has me smiling. Hector was quite the character and Amanda knew just how to handle him. The deep connection formed between them was an unexpected blessing.

Carry Me Home (New England Inspirations Book 2) 

Unlikely friends…

... can be the hardest to let go.

Amanda became a nurse to save as many lives as possible.
After her mother died while being swindled by a church leader, Amanda swore off religion and turned to medical science to solve all of life’s problems.
But when she loses her home and job, and struggles to make a new life in a new town, Amanda’s feeble beliefs can’t withstand the pressure.


Hector’s work on earth is done.
He spent 92 years living, and now he’s ready to spend eternity with his late wife in heaven.

But when a foolish accident lands him in the hospital, he’s saddled with a home nurse who wants to keep Hector alive as long as possible, much to his dismay.
When Amanda meets Hector, their personalities clash, but as they learn to open their hearts and listen to each other, they grow to realize the value of true friendship.

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It has been a good weekend for reading… and the day is not over.

The next read is still to be determined, and another bargain has been stumbled upon. I will check that out and share it and maybe the new read in the next post

Oops. There is one more excellent read that I forgot about.

A Flicker of Light 

Secrets are like pennies. Everybody’s got one, even the poorest among us.

For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told.

When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she’s pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she’s forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that’s going on.

Mitch Jensen is thrilled to have a full house again, though he’s unimpressed with Bea’s decisions: dropping out of college, marrying so young–and to an idealistic city kid, of all things. Mitch hopes to convince Bea to return to the path he’s always envisioned for her, but she’s changed since her mom died. And he refuses to admit how much he’s changed, too, especially now that he might be losing his mother as well.

Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there’s one she’s never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same.

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Happy Reading y’all

Bargain books October 12, 2022

It looks like this is the day for another Historical novel, 1531 Entertainment is behind this suggestion.

Great Lakes Light: A Sweet Historical Romance Set on the Great Lakes 

Tossed on the stormy waters of Lake Superior, can three best friends risk everything to bring the safety of a lighthouse?

Guide in the Storm


April is a journalist, working tirelessly the night of November 28, 1905. She captures photographs of ships going down in the gale. A lighthouse could’ve saved them. When she shares her story and a lobbyist comes to team up with her, can the pair work together, or will his connection to the men trying to stop them keep them apart?

Safety on the Rock

Danielle travels to Washington D.C. to watch the lighthouse hearings. Her lifelong friend and confident, Oliver, sits by her side as the legislature determines what is more important, men or money. She takes a risk to keep a representative safe, but can Oliver keep her from the danger of people who’d like the world to forget the stormy waters of Lake Superior?

Light in the Darkness

Candice has watched her friends help the process of bringing a lighthouse to Split Rock, but what can she do? Her father is a ship’s captain and she’s far too close to the problem. He introduces her to Acke, a young captain who is the answer to the problems at the build site. But will he survive the dangerous conditions to bring the needed supplies when fall storms hit the Great Lakes?

Will anyone see a light over Lake Superior from Split Rock? Follow these three friends in their quest to bring a lighthouse to the largest of the Great Lakes.

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Then there is another one of their suggestions that looks like it could be interesting. Checking out my stash on Amazon I see I’ve downloaded and read one from this author before but it’s been seven years, too long to remember much about it. This will be a new introduction.

The View from Coral Cove: A Sweet Contemporary Romance

When a jilted romance novelist escapes to a small beach town, the last thing she expected to find was the start of an even better love story.  In the wake of a broken engagement and the death of her last surviving family member, wholesome romance novelist Maya Reynolds moves to the haven of Coral Cove, North Carolina, to take over her great-aunt’s toy store. 

Some of her grief is immediately eased by the local veterinarian’s daughter, eight-year-old Ashlyn Tanner, who talks her into adopting a kitten.  Ashlyn’s dad, local veterinarian Brody Tanner, is quickly smitten by the newest resident of his hometown. As a single parent, he sacrifices a lot in order to give Ashlyn the world, so a romantic entanglement with Maya is not a distraction he is looking for. 

As the three develop a deepening bond in the seaside town where Maya experienced some of her happiest childhood memories, clouds cast a shadow over Maya’s hope for the future. But together, they just might discover that sometimes happy endings happen outside the pages of Maya’s novels, too. 

“The View from Coral Cove is Amy Clipston at her best—a tender story of hope, healing, and a love that’s meant to be.” —Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of On a Summer Tide  A wholesome stand-alone contemporary romance  More contemporary romance to love by Amy Clipston:?The Heart of Splendid Lake 

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That’s it for now, for new books anyway, but I did just start a new read I’m excited about. The unique beginning has me hooked. It’s still a bargain too which makes it even better.

Living Lies (Harbored Secrets Book #1)

It’s rough to stumble across a dead body while you are running for your life.

Happy Reading y’all