mystery

A This & That kind of day.

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This is going to be a this-and-that kind of day, mainly because I have nothing in mind I feel compelled to talk about. The usual suggestion sources have failed me, probably because it is Easter weekend. Browsing was not lucrative, either.

I could do a book review but the one just finished left me with no enthusiasm for sharing. It was actually more than one book, it was a collection. I think there twelve books spread over 2100 pages or so.

Some of the stories moved along better than others but overall it was a bit of a drag. There were many sections with action and dialogue that left the reader wondering what was the purpose? Sometimes it was overuse of an action or prop resulting in speed bumps on a road that wasn’t meant to have any. Needless to say the hop-skip-and-jump method was used to finish, just so I could say I did.

One the bright side, good reads are more normal that bad reads. Also I keep track to avoid similar situations in the future.

I could start another book except that it’s time to make the requested broccoli salad so it will be ready for tomorrow’s dinner at my daughters. I’m excited, it has been awhile since our last visit and I’m anxious to see them.

I went shopping on Wednesday for the salad ingredients hoping to find what I needed before it was all gone. They were already out of fresh broccoli. There was a big bag of pre-cut hiding in the back of the salad section, it was not my first choice but I took it anyway just in case it was my last chance. Wouldn’t you know, they did have a new supply of the good stuff today.

Now I have to figure out what to do with the big bag I won’t be using for tomorrow’s salad. It won’t look quite like this but you get the general idea.

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Tomorrow is story prompt day, no promises but we will see.

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Here’s the read I’m checking out as the next book to conquer. I do know I like this author so that is encouraging. A heavy subject might be a little hard to handle today though, but we will see.

Glimmer in the Darkness: Page-turning suspense with a sprinkling of romance (Coventry Saga)

Nothing could get her home…but this.

Cassidy Leblanc worked hard to shake off her tragic childhood. As a foster child with a mother in prison for murder, she was an outcast in her small New Hampshire town until she met James. But she and James’s sister, whom she was babysitting, were kidnapped. She escaped, but Hallie didn’t survive, and everybody assumed Cassidy killed her. Like mother, like daughter, after all. With public opinion and the authorities united against her, young Cassidy fled. Now, a decade later, another little girl has been kidnapped, and Cassidy may be the only person who can find her. 

He doesn’t know who to trust.

James Sullivan never believed that Cassidy killed his sister, no matter what the authorities said. When his best friend’s daughter goes missing a decade after Hallie’s murder, James keeps his opinions on the matter to himself. But when he finds Cassidy sneaking around his property, his thoughts turn dark. If she’s not behind the recent kidnapping, what is she doing back in Coventry? Her answer—that she’s returned to find little Ella, and she needs his help—has him reeling. Can he trust Cassidy, despite what the police tell him? If there’s any chance he can save Ella, he has to try.

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Happy Reading folks

Bargain books April 02, 2021

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One of our regulars – Autumn Macarthur, is coming out with a new book and it’s a bargain on pre-order. May 16th, that’s not too long to wait.

See Me :

A sweet, faith-filled fake engagement story – disabled hero, his assistant, and his matchmaking grandmother! 

Amazon quote:

Fairytale romances can’t happen in real life. Or can they?

It’s love at first sight when reclusive inventor Jesse Buckley meets unemployed music teacher Bronte, moonlighting as a take-out delivery driver. Okay, so splattering guacamole and sour cream over them both wasn’t the best way to impress the woman he hopes to make his wife, but from here on the only way is up, right?

Still, maybe offering her a job as his chauffeur and personal assistant wasn’t one of his best ideas. It means he’ll see her almost every day, sure. It also means, as one of his employees, she’s out-of-bounds. Besides, though he’s had to admit to his failing eyesight, he hasn’t told her yet that one day he’ll become completely blind. And he’s managed to keep the little fact he’s one of the billionaire owners of the business a secret, letting her believe he’s just another staff member.

Desperate to untangle the mess a conman left her life and her finances in, Bronte gratefully said yes to the job Jesse offered her. Spending most of her time with a sweet, kind, handsome guy she could easily fall head-over-heels for wasn’t supposed to be part of the deal. After all, the last man she thought loved her stole everything she had. Her home, her inheritance, her music, her faith, and most of all, her trust in her own judgment. A new love isn’t on her wish list, especially when she can’t shake the feeling Jesse’s hiding something from her.

What neither counted on was Jesse’s ailing grandmother and her determination to see him settled with the right woman. First she beguiles them into a fake engagement neither will admit they want to make real. Then she maneuvers them into accompanying her on a trip to Chapel Cove to visit his former PA, Nai. Could it be, the spring vacation in a small Oregon seaside town will bring love, renewed faith, and God’s sweet healing for them all?

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There is another collection coming out soon (they are popular these days) and it’s also a bargain on pre-order. This one is set for May 25th. The authors are regulars here on our TBR lists. New material is awesome.

Once Upon a Summer: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

Amazon quote:

Embrace the enchantment of summer with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.

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?

Resorting to Love — Running from a forced marriage, Aleia McDermott takes a job working at Totoka Resort and Spa in Fiji. When Activities Director Jake Boring plans three masquerade balls, Aleia only intends to forget her troubles and enjoy the summer. Just because you’re wearing a mask doesn’t mean you can hide…from your father or from love.

An Ever After Summer — The employees of In a Bind are terrified of Jean-Luc Thibodeaux, so Bellamy Larson hops on a plane to France to deal with the beastly client. Yet once she arrives, she’s convinced he merely needs a friend. Then her heart begins to want ever after, not just one summer.

Gwen and the Three Dates — Life isn’t a romantic movie, but Gwen Lochs is determined to find her leading man. When she joins a cheesy dating site, Gwen agrees to just three dates. Can Ben Smith watch his best friend and soulmate find someone else? A romantic comedy about searching for that just-right love.

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?

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Also, there is a bargain Historical collection from a group of unfamiliar authors. A beautiful cover. Without further investigation I think I will try it out. So far it looks good.

The Second Chance Brides Collection: Nine Historical Romances Offer New Hope for Love

Amazon quote:

Meet nine women from history spanning from 1776 to 1944 feel the sting of having lost out on love. Can their hope for experiencing romance again be renewed?

Love in the Crossfire by Lauralee Bliss – Trenton, New Jersey, 1776
Gretchen Hanson watched her beau go off to war and never return. She soon falls for an enemy scout who stumbles upon her farm. If Jake is discovered, it could mean death for them all. Will Gretchen let go of love or stand strong?

Daughter of Orion by Ramona K. Cecil – New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1859
Whaling widow, Matilda Daggett, vows to never again give her heart to a seaman. But when debt drives her to masquerade as a cabin boy on a whaling ship, a young harpooner threatens both her vow and her heart.

The Substitute Husband and the Unexpected Bride by Pamela Griffin – Washington Territory, 1864
Cecily McGiver, a mail-order bride, arrives in the rugged Washington Territory shocked to find herself without a husband—that is until Garrett, a widower, offers to take the position. Can the challenges that face them lead to love?

The Prickly Pear Bride by Pam Hillman – Little Prickly Pear Creek, Montana Territory, 1884
Shepherdess Evelyn Arnold left her intended at the altar so he could marry the woman he really loved. Dubbed Miss Prickly Pear, Evelyn is resigned to a loveless life and the ridicule of her neighbors. When Cole Rawlins sweeps her out of a raging river, she realizes even a prickly pear can find love.

The Widow of St. Charles Avenue by Grace Hitchcock – New Orleans, 1895
Colette Olivier, a young widow who married out of obligation, finds herself at the end of her mourning period and besieged with suitors out for her inheritance. With her pick of any man, she is drawn to an unlikely choice.

Married by Mistake by Laura V. Hilton – Mackinac Island, 1902
When a plan to pose for advertising goes awry, Thomas Hale and Bessie O’Hara find themselves legally married. Now Bessie and Thomas must decide whether to continue the charade or walk away. Either choice could ruin them if the truth gets out. 

Fanned Embers by Angela Breidenbach – Bitterroot Mountains, Montana/Idaho border, 1910
Stranded in the treacherous railroad camp after her husband’s murder, Juliana Hayes has no desire to marry a ruffian like Lukas Filips. Can she release prejudice to love again? Or will they even survive the fiery Pacific Northwest disaster to find out?

From a Distance by Amber Stockton – Breckenridge, Colorado, 1925
Financial Manager Trevor Fox sets out to find a lady to love him and not his money, then meets and falls for an average girl only to discover she’d deceived him to protect her heart after he unknowingly rejects her.

What the Heart Sees by Liz Tolsma – Hartford, Wisconsin, 1944
American Miriam Bradford is shocked to see Paul Albrecht, her summer fling from Germany in 1939, escorted into church as a POW. Can they rekindle their romance amid the overwhelming objections of almost everyone in town–including her father? 

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Well, it has turned out to be a better book day than I expected. There wasn’t much to begin with and looking back I’m glad I was lazy and didn’t hurry with this post. I would have missed these good picks.

I’m still in the book collection as mentioned yesterday. It is still available as a bargain too.

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A cloudy, dreary Good Friday somehow feels appropriate for the beginning of this Easter weekend. The sun is beginning to poke out a little now that the day is nearly over, though.

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Enjoy your books, if you were able to find something you love.

Happy Reading

Bargain books March 27, 2021

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I wasn’t looking for books, honest. I’m actually in the middle of another post, trying to share from my lengthy read and enjoyed collection. The trouble is I just can’t ignore the suggestion strips.

So, I’ve read this author before but it’s been a few years and I can’t remember what I thought about the experience. There is this niggling thought in the back of my mind, though, that says I have read her recently, probably in a collection or two, and it was good.

Anyway, there are two appealing bargain books and I have to go for it. And, I’d better make sure to add her to the good authors list.

Once Upon an Irish Summer (Once Upon a Summer)

Amazon quote:

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.

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The Bridge

Amazon quote:

LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE…After a tragic accident along the Swan River took the life of his mother, young Jared Conway grew up thinking little of the family he lost. As an adult, he remains without an anchor.

With his marriage truly over–despite his attempts at reconciliation with his ex-wife–and his young son far away at boarding school, Jared discovers that his success as a commodities broker has brought him little inner peace.On impulse he suggests to his son that they go to Montana over the boy’s summer break.

Jared’s plan is simple: to spend time with his child and to clean out the cabin he has inherited, in order to make a quick sale in the hot real-estate market.

When he gets to the river in Montana, Jared encounters three things that will change his life forever: the forces that have been driving him toward empty success, love for a spiritually grounded ceramist named Eden Powell, and the bridge that will finally lead him home.

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BookRunes has a suggestion for us. It’s Urban Fantasy and this one is part of a series. I enjoy Fantasy, in a fairly narrow fashion. This one appeals to me so it’s been added to the pile.

Nearly Drowned (Tèarmann Chronicles Book 1): A Christian Urban Fantasy

Amazon quote:

Malissa has never known her true origins, but that’s about to change.

Malissa’s world is flipped upside down when rescuing a man from a pool that should have been empty makes her a target of those who tried to drown him. The closer they get the more she realizes that they might have been after her for foiling their plans, but not anymore. They seem to recognize her but from where?

Adopted as an infant, Malissa was left with no information about her parents or so she thought. After rummaging through some old papers she finds a note from her biological dad. On it, it says that he left her there for her safety. Unfortunately, no clues as to what sort of danger but surely the danger is gone, right?

Tèarmann Chronicles, Nearly Drowned, is the first in a 20+ book series. If you enjoy magical creatures and humans with powers, this series is for you.

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What we have here was not expected, but unexpected is very good.

I’ve managed to post the first installment of Read & Enjoyed, be sure to check it out if you haven’t already.

Happy Reading on a relaxed Saturday.

Read and Enjoyed March 27th

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It’s that time again. Time to clean out the read and enjoyed books. Well at least some of them.

As always, we’ll start with the most enjoyed.

This first one was an author new to me. It thrills me to have a new name to add to the Good Authors list I keep.

The other thing that thrills me about my lists – the good authors list is the longest. Mind you, the less than great authors are divided into multiple categories and if they were added together the comparison picture may look a little different.

To be fair though, it is not always a case of poor writer, often it boils down to personal preference.

I’ve made peace with personal preference. It’s okay to I like what I like. It’s okay for you to like what you like. Once in a while we share a like and that’s awesome.

The Zookeeper’s Daughter

To receive her inheritance Kelli must abide by the conditions of her late mother’s will. She is forced work as a zookeeper for six months with animals that terrify her.

Since she needs to money to help support her aging grandmother, she must figure out a way to balance her career as a tax accountant with this new—thankfully temporary—assignment.

The zoo director is the same handsome man who stole her estranged mother’s affections and might just steal everything else too.

If Kelli fails, Jason Andover inherits everything. How can she possibly get past her animosity when he watches her every move, waiting for her to throw in the towel?

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This next one was a favorite too. Anything I’ve read by this author has been enjoyable.

The other thing I have to say is this; when you see a bargain – grab it quick. Often, they don’t last long and you will miss out on some awesome deals.

Night Fall: (Nighthawk Security Book 1)

She faces dangerous situations all the time…

Olympic downhill skier, Harper Young, knows what it’s like to look danger in the face. After all, she does it every time she races down a ski slope. She’s fine with that danger and even excels under the pressure, winning Olympic gold. And as a governor’s daughter, she’s familiar with receiving threats from the general public. But when a stalker turns his sights on Harper, she possesses zero skills to protect herself.

But she has no idea what lurks in the shadows.

Former Navy SEAL and ATF Agent, Aiden Byrd of Nighthawk Security is well versed in protection skills and knows the dangers she faces. Problem is, there’s an instant attraction between Aiden and Harper, and as Aiden and the Nighthawk team contract to protect her, he has to fight to remain professional. When the stalker grows bolder and tries to end Harper’s life, Aiden’s only hope in keeping her safe is to deny his feelings. Something that borders on impossible.

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This next bunch, I’m going to hurry through. Some were more enjoyable than others but they were all worth the read.

There’s more. Coming soon.

Happy Saturday!

Bargain book March 24, 2021

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us, an author we’ve seen several times lately.

Glimmer in the Darkness: (Coventry Saga) 

Amazon quote:

Nothing could get her home…but this.

Cassidy Leblanc worked hard to shake off her tragic childhood. As a foster child with a mother in prison for murder, she was an outcast in her small New Hampshire town until she met James. But she and James’s sister, whom she was babysitting, were kidnapped. She escaped, but Hallie didn’t survive, and everybody assumed Cassidy killed her. Like mother, like daughter, after all. With public opinion and the authorities united against her, young Cassidy fled. Now, a decade later, another little girl has been kidnapped, and Cassidy may be the only person who can find her. 

He doesn’t know who to trust.

James Sullivan never believed that Cassidy killed his sister, no matter what the authorities said. When his best friend’s daughter goes missing a decade after Hallie’s murder, James keeps his opinions on the matter to himself. But when he finds Cassidy sneaking around his property, his thoughts turn dark. If she’s not behind the recent kidnapping, what is she doing back in Coventry? Her answer—that she’s returned to find little Ella, and she needs his help—has him reeling. Can he trust Cassidy, despite what the police tell him? If there’s any chance he can save Ella, he has to try.

Danger lurks on the mountain.

Together, they search for the elusive cave where Cassidy and Hallie were taken, but somebody will stop at nothing to make sure they don’t find it or, if they do, that they don’t come out alive.

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The suggestions are not coming in fast and furious today, that’s for sure. This is all I’ve got, one book.

Oh well, one new book is still better than none.

So, I’m still on the book I mentioned in the last post, a romance. It’s been a slow reading day once again. On top of that I’m having trouble sticking with this book.

So moving right along, I think my next read will be suspense this time. I’m glad I picked up this next one when I did. The bargain price sure didn’t last very long.

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Night Fall: (Nighthawk Security Book 1)

She faces dangerous situations all the time…

Olympic downhill skier, Harper Young, knows what it’s like to look danger in the face. After all, she does it every time she races down a ski slope. She’s fine with that danger and even excels under the pressure, winning Olympic gold. And as a governor’s daughter, she’s familiar with receiving threats from the general public. But when a stalker turns his sights on Harper, she possesses zero skills to protect herself.

But she has no idea what lurks in the shadows.

Former Navy SEAL and ATF Agent, Aiden Byrd of Nighthawk Security is well versed in protection skills and knows the dangers she faces. Problem is, there’s an instant attraction between Aiden and Harper, and as Aiden and the Nighthawk team contract to protect her, he has to fight to remain professional. When the stalker grows bolder and tries to end Harper’s life, Aiden’s only hope in keeping her safe is to deny his feelings. Something that borders on impossible.

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Happy Reading!

Bargain books March 20, 2021

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BookBub has an interesting suggestion for us, from an author we’ve seen before.

Out of Hiding

Amazon Quote:

After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents as a child, Sadie Lane was placed into Witness Protection. Now as an adult, she has a thriving business as a private investigator, but her biggest case is yet to come.

Sadie’s on the hunt to find the man who killed her parents—a brutal crime boss running a dangerous and corrupt syndicate.

Her quest for justice collides with FBI Special Agent Kip Moore who is targeting the organized crime network.

Sadie can’t trust anyone with her secrets—even Kip, but she must work with him to get the killer who forever changed her life. Sadie must put her faith in Kip even when it seems impossible to trust anyone. The secrets of her past catch up to her when she stares into the eyes of the murderer.

Can she keep her true identity secret long enough to bring the killer to justice?

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Another interesting book from an author we see often.

Night Fall: (Nighthawk Security Book 1)

Amazon quote:

She faces dangerous situations all the time…

Olympic downhill skier, Harper Young, knows what it’s like to look danger in the face. After all, she does it every time she races down a ski slope. She’s fine with that danger and even excels under the pressure, winning Olympic gold. And as a governor’s daughter, she’s familiar with receiving threats from the general public. But when a stalker turns his sights on Harper, she possesses zero skills to protect herself.

But she has no idea what lurks in the shadows.

Former Navy SEAL and ATF Agent, Aiden Byrd of Nighthawk Security is well versed in protection skills and knows the dangers she faces. Problem is, there’s an instant attraction between Aiden and Harper, and as Aiden and the Nighthawk team contract to protect her, he has to fight to remain professional. When the stalker grows bolder and tries to end Harper’s life, Aiden’s only hope in keeping her safe is to deny his feelings. Something that borders on impossible.

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Currently, I’m reading Tides of Duplicity

Tides of Duplicity (Coventry Saga) 

Amazon quote:

A jewelry heist, a kidnapping, and a choice. When Fitz’s sister disappears, he’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love. 

Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They have no good reason to leave the resort and hurry back to the harsh New England winter. They lost their parents, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. Besides, when Fitz meets and spends time with the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard.  

But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels—and he has the video evidence to prove it. As Shelby’s guardian, Fitz has to focus on caring for his sister, whether Tabby is innocent or guilty. He refuses to help the man—until he learns the mobster has abducted his sister.  

The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life. 

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books March 16, 2021

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us, I have read a couple of books from this author but it’s been a half dozen years or more. Glancing at this book, I’m liking what I see so far.

Into the Deep

Amazon quote:

While scuba diving in Mexico, Ben Dearinger finds a flash drive carrying a drug cartel’s deadly secrets. He does the only thing he can think of—he buries it fathoms deep. But the owners of drive want it back. They’ll stop at nothing to retrieve the evidence that could put a halt to their operation and sink the career of a few highly-placed U.S. politicians in the process.

Then the ruthless men sent to recover the drive find the perfect leverage – Ben’s ex-girlfriend. Though it hurts to admit, he has never gotten over Nikki and he’d do just about anything to protect her. But Nikki has secrets of her own, secrets that will put both their lives in jeopardy and send them plunging into the deep.

In Into the Deep Virginia Smith delivers a gripping story full of romance, intrigue, and fast-paced suspense.

Virginia Smith is the bestselling author of almost forty novels and many shorter works. Her passions include riding her motorcycle (a Bonneville T100 named Vicki) and scuba diving in the deep blue waters of the Caribbean. The recipient of numerous awards, Ginny has twice received the prestigious Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

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While checking out this author I noticed another of her books was also free . I’m hooked on this story after reading the first few pages. I meant it to be a glance but it ended up as perusal.

The Zookeeper’s Daughter

Amazon quote:

Attending a stranger’s memorial service wasn’t at the top of Kelli Jackson’s to-do list.

Especially when that stranger was her own mother.

To receive her inheritance Kelli must abide by the conditions of her late mother’s will. She is forced work as a zookeeper for six months with animals that terrify her. Since she needs to money to help support her aging grandmother, she must figure out a way to balance her career as a tax accountant with this new—thankfully temporary—assignment. But the zoo director is the same handsome man who stole her estranged mother’s affections and might just steal everything else too. Because if Kelli fails, Jason Andover inherits everything. How can she possibly get past her animosity when he watches her every move, waiting for her to throw in the towel?

But perhaps there’s another reason Jason focuses such close attention on her. Are the assignments he gives her devised to scare her off, or to help her overcome her fears? Does he really have designs on her mother’s money, or might he have designs on Kelli as well? The only thing she’s sure of is that Jason is hiding a secret past, one that could destroy any chance of a happy future together.

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Currently I’m reading a three book collection that feels like I’ve read it before. Some of the details are unfamiliar though so probably not.

Vacation Sweethearts Books 1-3: Smile for Me, Reach for Me, Wait for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Bundle Collection Book 1)

Book 1: Smile for Me (The Bahamas) – International Biracial Romance

A deadline-driven workaholic assistant school principal who meticulously plans his schedule months in advance meets easygoing art teacher and studio potter with no sense of time, living her life as the seasons come and go. When they cross paths again at the Summer by the Sea Day Camp sponsored by his church in Nassau, Bahamas, how can they get along if they cannot see eye to eye?

Book 2: Reach for Me (Great Smoky Mountains) – International Romance with a Side of Suspense

He leaves his homeland to protect his family.
She flees her hometown to abandon hers. 

At a remote mountaintop retreat, an optimistic triple amputee veteran of the British Special Forces meets a pessimistic American beauty in the valleys of their lives.

Book 3: Wait for Me (Alaska Cruise) – Second Chance Romance with a Side of Suspense

A divorced single dad with full custody of his son made a promise he now has to keep: invite his ex-wife to enjoy their son’s birthday gift: a seven-day cruise in Alaska. Can two people who have given up on each other put aside their emotions to make their five-year-old son happy for a week? What could possibly go wrong in this Christian romance with a sidearm of suspense?

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Have a good day everyone.

Happy Reading

Free and bargain books March 15, 2021

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LPC Books has some FREE suggestions for us. I can tell without looking that both of these authors are new to me.

I peeked in case my memory is a little faulty. For a change I was right. Definitely new to me.

Thicker than Blood by Don Brobst

Amazon quote:

Blood is thicker.
But is blood enough?

The murder of one old friend and the revelation of a secret life by another leads Dr. Bailey Pogue to risk his life by going undercover for the CIA. But when he exposes a plot by an international crime syndicate that threatens to upset the balance of power in the Middle East, the revelation comes at a price: the syndicate has kidnapped his daughter. Now he must stop the trafficking of young girls and rescue his daughter while remaining undercover.

Is saving those you love worth committing treason?

God
Family
Country
Will Pogue’s loyalties prove too high a price to pay?

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This one is YA, and it’s also FREE

One Degree of Freedom by Taryn R. Hutchison

Amazon quote:

Fifteen-year-old Adriana Nicu lives in the sheltered world of Bucharest, Romania, in the year 1987. Under the rule of Communist president Nicolae Ceaușescu, citizens of Bucharest live with the eyes and ears of the government ever present. Adriana’s future, which will involve becoming an engineer, is locked in against her will.

During a visit to her aunt’s apartment, Adriana walks through a wardrobe into a hidden room filled with stacks of forbidden novels. Stories bring light into the darkest of circumstances as her family begins to unravel and her life strangely parallels those of her novels’ heroines. Adriana’s childhood loyalties and her belief that God doesn’t exist are called into question as her circumstances force her to rethink things she once believed were certain.

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This next one I’ve read and it is a FREE suggestion from BookBub

Celebrating Tina: A Sweet Romantic Suspense (Stryker Security Force Book 3)

Amazon quote:

A K-9 handler determined to prove she belongs. A detective with an unwavering plan. Can they overcome their painful pasts and accept the gift of love?

Tina West has spent her life feeling like she stood on the outside, but since taking a job at Stryker Security, life seems to be turning for the better.

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

Milo Bishop’s every move has been to take care of his mom and younger brother.

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

When a series of kidnappings threaten to ruin the holidays, can Tina and Milo put aside their doubts and find the abducted children before it’s too late?

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It looks like the titles in this series I’ve been reading keep changing, which is very confusing.

Anyway, I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books and I’m about to start book three.

Still With You (Baxter Boys Book 3) Sweet Contemporary is the way it comes up in Amazon today but the cover on the left below is what it looked like three weeks ago. Before that it had another name. It looks like each change of title and cover could be an update to fit the times.

I double checked by reading the first page and they are definitely the same book. I’d say check it out to see if I’m not right but the cover I have disappeared and won’t be coming up for you anytime soon. No checking possible but if by some fluke it does appear…

Harris Winsted opened the heavy library door, shifted the massive bulk of papers and books in her arms, …

Amazon quote:

She doesn’t laugh. He can’t be serious. How will they ever work together?

County librarian Harris Winsted can’t believe she lost her leading man. No. What she really can’t believe is that her friends think Harris’s childhood nemesis, Turbo Baxter, might be able to play the part. Even if it is just a small production to raise money for a hospital library, Turbo’s class-clown personality makes him a disastrous choice.

However opening night is three short weeks away. Left with Turbo as her only option, she can only hope he suddenly develops a brain, decorum and a big boil on his handsome face, because when the guy decides to be charming, he is irresistible. But the attraction stops there. She could never be with a man who professes his hatred of libraries and laughs about never reading a book.

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So far, I did enjoy this current series in spite of the confusion. I’m thinking today’s new selections will be intense by comparison but I’m looking forward to them anyway.

Hopefully, you are experiencing some interesting reads well.

Happy Reading anyway, whatever the case.

Read and enjoyed – middle of March

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There is a long list of read-and-enjoyed to get through so we’ll jump right in. The first one is just finished and fresh on my mind. It was first rate and I will be reading more from this author, for sure.

Fire Games: A Clean Romance Suspense and Mystery (The Men of Fire Beach Book 1)

Firefighter Cassidy Marcel thought appearing on a reality dating show would solve her relationship problems, but when she returns home to a stalker, she realizes her troubles are just beginning.

She is used to rescuing people, but who will rescue her?

Detective Jordan Graves is racing to save missing children. He doesn’t have time to search for a stalker. That is until Cassidy’s case collides with his own, but when she goes missing, will he be able to save her before it’s too late?

This one is still a bargain if you are interested.

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Anther favorite and it is sill a bargain too. I really enjoyed this one.

Traces by Denise Weimer

When a failed romance and a $500,000 prize lure Kate Carson into participating in the reality TV show, Traces, the least she expects is to pick her partner.

After all, she’s the PR spokeswoman of the company that derived a thirteen-lens, rotating camera from military use and installed it atop Atlanta’s tallest skyscraper. But she never would have chosen to evade techno hunters for twenty days with “G.I. Joe.”

Stoic, ex-military Alex Mitchell is the sort of man she always vowed to avoid, while the shadows of Alex’s past cause him to spurn emotional involvement.

When Kate’s insider knowledge makes her a target of someone more threatening than game show hunters, Alex offers her only hope to reveal the dark plans of proponents of The Eye.

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Last but not least in the favorites category is book two in a five book series. I’ve downloaded books three, four, and five as well after liking two so much.

Sooner Dead: Oak Valley Secrets 2

Clean suspense with a touch of romance and faith. Book 2 in the series, but it can be read on its own.


Something terrible happened 100 years ago at Stone Mansion, a dilapidated ruin that looks over the small town of Oak Valley, Oklahoma.

Acting police chief Daniel Minco is driven to learn its secret but he is blocked by oil billionaires, militant archeologists, TV evangelists, rogue OSBI agents, a new state highway, and Lianne Ortega, a young, by the rules cop from the big city.

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We will hurry through the next bunch but I did like them all. Granted, some were more engaging than others but they were all worth the read, for sure.

There will have to be a part two to finish this off.

In the meantime…

Happy Reading

Bargain books March 13, 2021

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Yesterday it was free but today it’s not, which is very sad. It was a good book so I’ve decided I needed to download three more in the series while they are still at bargain prices.

There have been no other exciting suggestions today but something could show up as I download these new ones.

Sooner Red: Oak Valley Secrets 3

Amazon quote:

Clean suspense with a touch of romance and faith. Book 3 in the series, but it can be read on its own.
Napa Valley wine consultant Sandy Nelson is on a mission to prove she can take a small vineyard in rural Oklahoma from a family-run business to a profitable branch of Whitworth Brothers, the large company she works for. Perhaps then she can impress Alex Whitworth, her boss – and fiancé.


First, she must overcome her own self-doubt and the opposition of the ranch owner’s stubborn son, Eddie. Not to mention the mysterious catastrophes that plague the operation, which are escalating toward murder.
Along the way, she is helped and hindered by familiar residents of Oak Valley: Reverend Tony and Stephanie Stratton, who face a turning point in their family and career; Daniel Minco and Lianne Ortega, who are learning to work together as police officers while their romance grows; and many others.

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Sooner Led: Oak Valley Secrets 4

Amazon quote:

Clean suspense with a touch of romance and faith. Book 4 in the series, but it can be read on its own.
There is a mysterious stranger in Oak Valley, Oklahoma. He comes from a secret community with powers enhanced by government testing. He is hunted by defense contractors, covert operatives, a TV news station, and Oak Valley police officers Daniel Minco and Lianne Ortega.


He has turned the lives of Tony and Stephanie Stratton upside down as they expect their first child and caused the new minister and doctor in town to collide, discovering their feelings for each other.
He’s 13 years old.
Two communities struggle to protect their ways of life, sweeping all your favorite Oak Valley residents into the struggle.

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Sooner Thread: Oak Valley Secrets 5 

Amazon quote:

Clean suspense with a touch of romance and faith and can be read on its own.


The arrival of Gillian Summer’s Crafting Queen media empire will finally put the small town of Oak Valley, Oklahoma on the map. That’s a good thing, right?


For Stephanie Stratton, it means she has to give up her own dreams to help Gillian, and the town, be successful. But the Crafting Queen has a secret, and it’s getting people killed.


Before it’s over, one resident of Oak Valley will have to find reserves of faith they didn’t know they had, others will try to make their relationships work amidst the upheaval around them, and one will face the ultimate loss.
Mystery, murder, and romance: Oak Valley has it all!

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This one is my read and enjoyed. It was great, difficult to put down.

Sooner Dead: Oak Valley Secrets 2 

Something terrible happened 100 years ago at Stone Mansion, a dilapidated ruin that looks over the small town of Oak Valley, Oklahoma.

Acting police chief Daniel Minco is driven to learn its secret but he is blocked by oil billionaires, militant archeologists, TV evangelists, rogue OSBI agents, a new state highway, and Lianne Ortega, a young, by the rules cop from the big city.

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Nothing else exciting is showing up on the radar so we’ll call it a day.

Happy Reading all