mystery

Free and Bargain books May 27, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

An interesting bargain collection showed while I was browsing and it looks like it will be a good introduction to authors new to me. The publish date is October, it’s a low price with 15 stories, Mystery and Suspense. $0.99 until October 12th. Enticing.

Dangerous Pursuits: 15 Stories From Today’s Most Popular Mystery and Suspense Authors

The chill of fall brings with it a hint of peril in Dangerous Pursuits, a clean and Christian suspense anthology featuring some of today’s most popular female authors.

Start your fall off right with 15 gripping tales of Clean and Christian suspense from today’s most popular ladies of mystery and suspense.

Join Mary Alford, Lisa Harris, Therese Heckenkamp, Cynthia Hickey, Gina Holder, Ronie Kendig, Dana R Lynn, Shirlee McCoy, Dana Mentink, J. Carol Nemeth, Cara Putman, Sharee Stover, Terri Reed, Alana Terry, Lenora Worth on a dangerous journey filled with mystery and suspense that will keep you turning pages until the very. Last. One.

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

I found a previously experienced author with a FREE novella. This doesn’t look much like my previous reads for this author. The way I look at things, that’s always a good thing.

The Warrior’s Seal (The Tox Files): A Tox Files Novella

Amazon quote:

A Special Forces team is thrust into a war with the past to save the president after an artifact unleashes a deadly toxin.

Special Forces operative Cole “Tox” Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue–the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.

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

Currently, I’m reading a four book collection and books 1 and 4 are my favorites.

Once Upon a Summer: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

Here is what it says about my favorites:

A New Beginning — Who is she? Acacia Martin raised by an impostor mom serving a prison sentence for her sins, or Jasmine Callahan abducted at birth from a family she’s yet to meet? Luckily, she has Drake to help her untangle the mess that is her life. Will he ensnare her he art in the process?

Unkissable — Reality diva Charlotte Lavigne’s on-camera meltdown reminds former teen-TV prince Jaime Reyes exactly why he left Hollywood ten years ago. A chance encounter leads to a bargain that transforms them both. When it’s time to face her past, will their rediscovered love be strong enough to build a future together?

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

It has been a beautiful day today. The world looked lovely with rich greens, blue skies and awakening perennials sprouting up everywhere. So pretty.

It makes the thought of yard work seem worthwhile.

Happy Reading!

Checking in

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

Hey everyone,

I’m just checking in. I planned on posting everyday but it’s been sporadic lately. My mind has been focusing on other areas and without good book suggestions I’ve been coming up empty on things to talk about. Today is looking like that kind of day too. I figured a little something, anything, would be a good idea just in case I don’t get back here later.

The usual emails have no suggestions that interest me so that’s a bust. I’m almost finished the read I mentioned last night and haven’t looked to see what’s next. It isn’t a very long book and another hour or so should finish it but no time, I’m headed to work.

I have a big day planned. We will see if it works out. Fingers crossed. Usually when I plan a deep dive that’s the signal for emails to go crazy. Maybe I can fly under the radar for a while. That would be nice.

Tomorrow will be busy too. A painting company is coming to power wash fences, deck, and stucco in preparation for painting once it all dries out. Even if I don’t have to be involved just having them here will be a distraction. It will be great to have everything freshened up. This is the first time I’ve had this work done on this house. It turns out I should have been painting the wood every few years. Oops.

We won’t even talk about the yard. With all the rain and periods of hot weather the plants and weeds have gone crazy. My excuse for not getting out there is all the rain we’ve had. The soil is like clay and sticks to my boots in big clumps, an impossible mess.

The grass has just taken off and it’s fun to watch the birds in the back yard hunting for bugs. It’s like they are walking through shoulder high fields. The little birds are almost lost from sight in it. The guys are coming to mow today. I wonder if the birds will be sad.

If anything interesting shows up I’ll be sure to share it later.

Just to add a little color to the day, here is my current read.

It’s near the end, she’s figured out who killer is and she’s in his clutches. Will the authorities (her friends) find her in time? Of course they will, you don’t kill off the main character. Knowing that, the suspense is still great.

Have a good day, and Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books May 25, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Finally I have a moment, and a few things to share.

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us that is intriguing. I know I use that word a lot but in this case it is probably truer than usual. I’ve only read the first chapter and the synopsis and I want to see where this story is going.

The Morning Light: never passes us

Amazon quote:

Poetic, engaging and original, The Morning Light is a charming story of discovering the ancient and shared voice within each of us.
A violin maker’s story of music, craftsmanship and the seeking of serenity set against homelessness, twists of fate and a never ending desire to reproduce the sweet and soulful sound of a grandfather’s violin, fine-tuned to play with a resonance that connects the heart.

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

BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us. This is book 1 in a series. A year ago we were offered book 4 and I think if I remember right it was a good read.

A Match to Call Ours (Front Porch Promises Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

Brittany Gorman needs a job, but nanny to six-year-old twin girls isn’t exactly what she’s looking for. Their single father, Parker Watson, isn’t sure hiring Brittany is the right move, but he’s desperate for help.

Soon Brittany is charming the twins and their father as well. But Parker still clings to the bitterness of his past, a past that has made him a recluse on his isolated Montana ranch, distanced him from God, and kept him from finding love.

Can Brittany’s prayers and two little matchmakers soften Parker’s heart and help him find love with his perfect Montana match?

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

I’m currently reading a mystery/suspense novel. I’ve only just started and I’m anxious to get back to it.

Wow. Believe it when I say you need to hurry, these great bargains don’t last long. 4 days later and it’s lost the attractive price.

It has started off with a bang and is still a good read though.

Secrets and Suspense: A Clean Romantic Suspense (The Men of Fire Beach Book 4)

There’s trouble brewing in Fire Beach!

Cara Hunter owns the bed and breakfast in town, but before she came to Fire Beach, she was in the military. Strangely, no one seems to know exactly what she did when she was in the military, but when Bubba and Makenna find her unconscious on the floor, her past may finally get revealed.

Cole Davenport is a criminal investigator whose lead suspect is Cara Hunter, but when he meets her, he has a hard time believing she’s a killer. When he gets caught up in Cara’s past, will he be able to help her? Or will he lose his life in the process?

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

Actually I have two books going on right now, I needed a break.

The first book is sci-fi. It is long and has many battles with even more factions. I’m enjoying it and cheering for the good guys but need a cleansing of the palette to continue on.

No wonder it seems so long, I had forgotten it’s over 600 pages. 668 to be precise.

Patriot Star

It doesn’t get much worse than the prospect of a three-way civil war, and in a global superpower grown arrogant and complacent in its prosperity, one influential man leads the peaceful charge against corruption and tyranny, while others plot more radical solutions. Council Minister Merak Dorvallen’s allies are few, and now his youngest son Coren, a Lieutenant in the vaunted Irrianite military, is the target of government assassins. Desperate, Merak reaches out to Ohrim Sunvail, an old friend in exile who harbors potentially helpful secrets. Ohrim’s exceptionally competent and head-strong daughter Mei’ Shera accepts the assignment and thwarts the assassins, setting in accelerated motion events that will shape a drastically different future for Irrianon.

In the midst of the chaos, scientists in Irrianon have secretly cracked the code for interstellar space travel, which will shape a drastically different future for the entire planet of Toryl, especially when they find a sister planet of humans only a few years behind in technology. The winner of the Irrianite civil war will lay a solid first claim on the stars, unlocking a universe of possibilities for both progress and potential disaster.

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

It’s a good time to read right now at my house. The sky is a heavy gray and the wind has been ferocious off and on most of the day and night. The perfect time to curl up with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea.

I’ve had a productive work time over the last few days and the resulting euphoria makes reading time even sweeter.

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

I hope you are enjoying it too.

Happy Reading!

Read and Enjoyed May 21, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

I’ve enjoyed this first one. I wasn’t sure I would at the beginning, somehow it wasn’t easy getting started. It could have been the fault of distraction. My second attempt was much better and it was a great read.

I think my favorite thing about this story was the empowering interaction between the main characters. So much love and wisdom. Lots of tense moments too where community members at large even had her back. They recognized strangers out to get her and they didn’t give an inch, even going so far as to send them on wild goose hunts.

Hummingbird by D Stearman

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.

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

Another one enjoyed. I prefer characters with depth and this story had them in spades. It’s more than a month since I read this and it is still a good memory for me.

One of the attractive things about these two books – the settings. Both of them exotic in their own way. Mexico and Ireland. Who doesn’t want to go to one or both of these places.

This one is still a bargain if you are interested.

Once Upon an Irish Summer (Once Upon a Summer).

You Can’t Embrace Your Future Until You Deal With Your Past…

Fiona Burke has long been obsessed with Ireland’s famed, sixteenth-century pirate queen, Grace O’Malley. Now that she’s on the final stretch of earning her PhD in history, all she needs to do is finish her dissertation—with Grace O’Malley as her subject—then return home to Boston to defend it. Once that’s done she can compete for a highly coveted history professor position.

Fiona arrives in western Ireland aiming to interview the locals and find additional folklore to flesh out her work. But when she encounters Grace’s distant relative—the handsome, commanding Rory O’Malley—she gets seriously distracted. Rory shares her passion for history and Ireland, and cares for his grandfather and great-uncle in a winsome way. Unfortunately he also carries wounds beyond his injured leg…wounds that threaten to dismantle every little bit of a relationship that he and Fiona begin to build.

As a famed TV host becomes intrigued with Fiona—as well as convinced she should do guest appearances on his show—Rory starts to figure out that he might be as interested in his own personal romantic future as he is in Ireland’s epic past. But can he take the steps toward the healing he needs before it’s too late? It all remains to be seen…Once Upon an Irish Summer.

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

This last one was a recent purchase, it’s part of a series I love following. I think, probably because of the writing. In a way the stories have a certain sameness about them and yet I don’t tire of reading them. Well, maybe a little tiring, but not enough to keep me from going back for more.

Beckett: a clean romantic suspense novel (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 3)

My current read Patriot Star is science fiction. It reminds me a little of Star Trek, both the Next Generation and Voyageur I loved those shows. I’m enjoying this book too.

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

Happy Reading

on this dull but dry day (so far.)

Bargain books May 21, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us. A new-to-me author with a good looking story.

Implicating Claudia (Endless Mountain Series Book 2) 

Amazon quote:

Haunted by death. Hunted by a killer.

Finding herself on the wrong end of a murder investigation, Marine reservist, Claudia McIntyre retreats to an isolated farmhouse to escape the unwanted press.

But she’s caught the killer’s attention, and he has unfinished business with her.

Dawson Montgomery’s quiet life gets upended by the turmoil surrounding Claudia. She’s no longer a bratty kid neighbor. She’s a beautiful, stubborn woman who refuses to run from her demons, even when a madman sends her threatening packages.

A budding romance fills Claudia and Dawson with new hope, but the killer’s schemes threaten both their lives and their faith in the Almighty Protector.

*****This book is a romantic suspense/thriller with strong Christian themes.*****

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

An interesting mystery in the suggestion strip, from a favorite author. I’ve read books 1 and 3 in this series.

Secrets and Suspense: A Clean Romantic Suspense (The Men of Fire Beach Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

There’s trouble brewing in Fire Beach!

Cara Hunter owns the bed and breakfast in town, but before she came to Fire Beach, she was in the military. Strangely, no one seems to know exactly what she did when she was in the military, but when Bubba and Makenna find her unconscious on the floor, her past may finally get revealed.

Cole Davenport is a criminal investigator whose lead suspect is Cara Hunter, but when he meets her, he has a hard time believing she’s a killer. When he gets caught up in Cara’s past, will he be able to help her? Or will he lose his life in the process?

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

Currently, I’m reading and enjoying a book that is still a bargain.

Beckett: a clean romantic suspense novel (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 3)

Amazon quote:

When the daughter of a federal judge is abducted, private security firm Blackout must find her.

Psychologist Samantha Reynolds doesn’t know why someone is targeting her. Even after a risky mission to save her, danger still lingers. She’s determined to use her insights into the human mind to help decode the deadly clues being left in the wake of her rescue.

Former Navy SEAL Beckett Jones needs to figure out who’s responsible for the crimes hounding Sami. He’s not sure why he’s so protective of the woman he rescued, but he’ll do anything to keep her safe—even if it means risking his heart.

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

Happy Reading on a rainy Friday!

Free books May 20, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. It turns out I have read this author once but it was six years ago. Too far back to remember clearly. Looking at the blurb, I wasn’t sure how to feel about this one but then there were some interesting reviews and the price was right, so why not.

I’ve read the first chapter or two (I’ve lost track for sure, always a good sign) and I think I’m gonna like this book.

If you are like me and the synopsis doesn’t grab your attention, read the first chapter. You just might like it.

Dupree’s Rebirth (The Adam Dupree Romantic Suspense Quadrilogy Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Sometimes life’s greatest mystery is finding yourself
Adam Dupree is at a literal crossroad of life. Dupree’s life has become a living hell and it’s time to make a change. Turn right and end it. Or, turn left, break free, and see where life takes him.

That one decision sends Dupree on an epic journey of rediscovery as he attempts to understand the mystery inside himself. Moving down a literal and figurative highway, his life attains meaning by defending the weak, protecting the poor and standing up for what is right in an unjust world.

As he re-discovers the thrill of being alive, Dupree becomes a hero, victim, and healer. But above all, he becomes a man with a purpose in life.

From deep Southern California, up the Great Central Valley, through Oregon and into Washington. Along the way, Dupree meets a cross-section of America. Some good, some bad, some givers and some takers.

Part JOHN STEINBECK, part WILLIAM FAULKNER, part MARK TWAIN, but all Micheal Maxwell.

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

This next FREE book was recommended on author Chautona Havig’s Facebook page.

Again, I found myself reading the first few pages to see if it would be boring. I’m going to go for it. This is an author I’ve not read before but the price is right.

Patriot Star

Amazon quote:

It doesn’t get much worse than the prospect of a three-way civil war, and in a global superpower grown arrogant and complacent in its prosperity, one influential man leads the peaceful charge against corruption and tyranny, while others plot more radical solutions. Council Minister Merak Dorvallen’s allies are few, and now his youngest son Coren, a Lieutenant in the vaunted Irrianite military, is the target of government assassins. Desperate, Merak reaches out to Ohrim Sunvail, an old friend in exile who harbors potentially helpful secrets. Ohrim’s exceptionally competent and head-strong daughter Mei’ Shera accepts the assignment and thwarts the assassins, setting in accelerated motion events that will shape a drastically different future for Irrianon.

In the midst of the chaos, scientists in Irrianon have secretly cracked the code for interstellar space travel, which will shape a drastically different future for the entire planet of Toryl, especially when they find a sister planet of humans only a few years behind in technology. The winner of the Irrianite civil war will lay a solid first claim on the stars, unlocking a universe of possibilities for both progress and potential disaster.

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

Two free books is awesome, considering I thought we were done for the day.

I’m going to curl up with a cozy blanket. I’m freezing.

The weather turned cool after the blistering heat of a few days ago and my system is not loving it. The fast change from 30c to 12c is just too much to bear. Besides, it went from dry to humid as well. Thunder and lightening. Rain. The plants are loving it. The gardens are turning green over night. Too bad the weeds are outpacing the good stuff.

That’s a lament for anther day.

Happy Reading!

Bargain books May 19, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

I was looking for slippers and instead, found the third book in a series I’m following. I buy books so that’s what shows up in the suggestion strips when I’m shopping, I couldn’t be happier. Slippers can wait for another day. Besides, it’s getting too warm for them anyway. Books are way more important.

Beckett: a clean romantic suspense novel (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 3)

Amazon quote:

When the daughter of a federal judge is abducted, private security firm Blackout must find her.

Psychologist Samantha Reynolds doesn’t know why someone is targeting her. Even after a risky mission to save her, danger still lingers. She’s determined to use her insights into the human mind to help decode the deadly clues being left in the wake of her rescue.

Former Navy SEAL Beckett Jones needs to figure out who’s responsible for the crimes hounding Sami. He’s not sure why he’s so protective of the woman he rescued, but he’ll do anything to keep her safe—even if it means risking his heart.

As the body count rises, there’s no room for error. Beckett and Sami must both tear down the careful walls they’ve built around themselves in order to survive. If they don’t figure out who’s responsible, the madman will continue his death spree . . . and one of them might be next.

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

That’s it for new books right now. I haven’t been able to see anything else I wanted.

I haven’t settled into another book yet either so don’t have a current enjoyable read to share.

I checked to see how many I’ve started and kicked to the curb, there are ten in a row. Crazy. I want to read this newest book but maybe I’d better zip through those started books and send them on their way. Clear the deck a little.

It’s too close to lights-out to think straight. Tomorrow.

It was hot and muggy this afternoon when I ventured out to take a picture of the first buds on my sapling flowering crab apple. With so many clouds hanging around the lighting wasn’t good and it didn’t turn out. Maybe if it’s sunny tomorrow I can try again. That’s if there are any blossoms left.

They promised thunder and lightening today and it’s finally here. We could use the rain, it’s been so dry, but if it rains hard…

Anyway, tomorrow.

Happy Reading y’all!

Free book May 17, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

LPC Books has a FREE suggestion for us. Intriguing.

Hummingbird

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.

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

Currently I have two books on the go. It happens when I’m having trouble getting into a story. It helps me finish rather than abandon.

I’m only 1/4 way through so it’s too soon to quit.

Waiting for Daybreak (Tomorrow’s Promise Collection)

Paige Woodward is a woman without choices. Her destitute mother’s only hope for a cure isn’t covered by insurance. When a dream opportunity arises at a brand-new pharmacy, Paige is willing to keep quiet about her past to make sure she lands the job.

For Clarissa Richardson, the dream of running her own pharmacy comes to a screeching halt when her grandfather hires a too-perfect new girl who seems to be hiding something. How far will they go to protect their dreams for tomorrow?

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

I’ve just started this book so it’s much too soon to say how it will go.

Return to Me (The Restoration Chronicles Book #1)

After years of watching his children and grandchildren wander from their faith, Iddo’s prayers are answered: King Cyrus is allowing God’s chosen people to return to Jerusalem. Jubilant, he joyfully prepares for their departure, only to learn that his family, grown comfortable in the pagan culture of Babylon, wants to remain.

Zechariah, Iddo’s oldest grandson, feels torn between his grandfather’s ancient beliefs and the comfort and success his father enjoys in Babylon. But he soon begins to hear the voice of God, encouraging him to return to the land given to his forefathers.

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

Happy Reading

Bargain books May 15, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a bargain suggestion today. I have one book from this author in my collection and it’s from 2013. I don’t remember reading it, this will be like a first time introduction.

Waiting for Daybreak (Tomorrow’s Promise Collection)

Amazon quote:

Paige Woodward is a woman without choices. Her destitute mother’s only hope for a cure isn’t covered by insurance. When a dream opportunity arises at a brand-new pharmacy, Paige is willing to keep quiet about her past to make sure she lands the job.

For Clarissa Richardson, the dream of running her own pharmacy comes to a screeching halt when her grandfather hires a too-perfect new girl who seems to be hiding something. How far will they go to protect their dreams for tomorrow?

What will happen when one woman’s last hope means ruining another woman’s greatest dream?

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

Currently I am reading and enjoying a popular author we’ve seen many times.

The Water Keeper (A Murphy Shepherd Novel Book 1) 

A riveting new story of heroism, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds.

Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners, and he’s dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.

When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, Murph’s mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.

With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past—and the ghosts who tried to bury them.

With Charles Martin’s trademark lyricism and poignant prose, The Water Keeper is at once a tender love story and a heartrending search for freedom.

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

Happy Reading!

bargain book May 13, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

One book found today. This author is new to me, although I think she may have been involved in one of many collections we’ve had lately. I’m looking forward to meeting Denise Hunter.

Married ’til Monday (A Chapel Springs Romance Book 4)

Amazon quote:

With a big anniversary party in the works for his ex-wife’s parents, Ryan has just one weekend to play Abby’s husband . . . and win back the woman of his dreams.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive two-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Summer Harbor, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. It’s just a one-week road trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

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

My current read…

Haven of Swans: (previously published as Abomination) (Rock Harbor)

Amazon quote:

A beautiful woman stands by the side of the road, barefoot and bleeding, a child in her arms. Someone just tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t recognize him if she saw his face. She doesn’t even remember her own name.

A suburban cop surveys a kitchen in disarray—a woman and child missing, a chilling note. This crime scene is unlike any he has ever seen.

The man who calls himself Gideon waits and plans. He sees himself as a destroyer of evil, one who rids the world of abominations. He has already killed five. He will kill again.

And somewhere in the wilderness, in a secret geocache near where the wild swans gather, lies the unspeakable clue that links them all together.

Michigan’s rugged and beautiful Upper Peninsula is the setting for this absorbing tale of love and loss, beauty and terror, grievous sins and second chances. A deftly woven thriller from the bestselling author of the Rock Harbor novels.

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

Happy Reading