reading

Free book August 08, 2021

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BookRunes has an interesting FREE suggestion for us today. It is Romance but will not be a light read. It deals with some weighty issues involving more young couples than we would wish. Despite the subject matter I think it will be a well written read.

Within Golden Bands 

Amazon quote:

Newly married Bonny MacDonell finds the transition from American college professor to Scottish sheep farmer’s wife more difficult than she expected. When her miracle pregnancy ends in a devastating miscarriage, she fears her husband’s reaction will hurt more than the loss of their child.

But Kieran never shows up at the hospital. When found, he is beaten and unconscious. The only memory of his attacker is the words, “Get off my land.” Reeling from the threat to her husband and the loss of their child, Bonny struggles to hold her marriage together. When faith in love is not enough, where do you turn?

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One new book was the best I could do. I did try to find more, honest. Some days that’s just how it goes.

Instead, I can tell you about a book finished yesterday. One I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

A Family’s Blessing: A Sweet Small Town Romance (Love in Millars Crossing Book 2)

Sharing with the enemy is almost as bad as falling for them…

Ethan Westerveld wasn’t about to give up half the family farm to a complete stranger no matter how beautiful she was. But the ink was dry, the damage done and nothing could change the fact that Hannah Kristofferson was now fifty percent owner in his family farm.

But only if she stuck around.

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To begin with I thought maybe I had read this book before. There are a number of books out there where two people share an inheritance and the Will declares that to claim it they have to live on the property for a specified period of time.

It didn’t take too long for me to recognize this story was not something I’d already seen. While the plot was similar the author made it uniquely hers and I loved the read.

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I’ll share another book. I’m almost finished and I’m loving this read too. I have another book by this same author and I’m excited to read it next.

A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1) 

An heiress. A spy. And a love worth fighting for.

Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honor her mother’s legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavory parts of London.

Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. As he searches for the enemy, he discovers a meddling heiress that keeps stumbling in at the most inopportune times, making him wonder if she is perhaps the spy he has been sent to find.

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I highly recommend this book and author.

I just noticed something odd thing about the cover. Look at her hands. Strange.

Once you get into the book a little you will know what that is all about. This lady is no shrinking violet.

Well, I spent a little more time looking around the book shelves, just in case there was something more I could stumble across. Sadly this is it. Check out all three of these books if you haven’t already.

Until next time…

Happy Reading.

Free and bargain books August 07, 2021

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Today is a good day!

It has been a bookless week, mostly, and today things have changed. Four new books from three authors I’ve read and enjoyed, what could be better than that?

First up is a modern day handsome prince.

To Save a King (True Blue Royal Book 2) 

Amazon quote:

A modern-day fairy tale of hope and rescue from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck

After growing up in small-town Hearts Bend, Tennessee, Gemma Stone set off to Hollywood to make her mark in the world. But her ambition turned into a journey of a “thousand” bad decisions and after twelve years of seeking fame and fortune, Gemma returns home with a limp and a dark secret.

Now she runs a rescue ranch and is raising her friends’ orphaned daughter. She’s keenly aware these defenseless ones are also rescuing her. She just wants to stay hidden in the safe world she’s created.

HRH Crown Prince John has learned a royal title cannot shield him from heartbreak. As heir to the revered House of Blue and married to the love of his life, he believed his future reign would strengthen the royal dynasty of Lauchtenland. Then tragedy changed everything. Can anything save him from his grief?

When he travels to Hearts Bend on a mission for his mother, Queen Catherine, he’s drawn into the local life and cajoled into a three-legged race with the beautiful Gemma Stone during the 4th of July festivities.

While the event has a disastrous result, Prince John and Gemma form a quick friendship—one of two wounded souls finding comfort in one other. However, love is absolutely not an option. John desperately wants to hold onto the memories of his wife, and Gemma refuses to trust her heart to any man. Even a prince.

Then Prince John is called home for an emergency. How can he leave the woman who lifted him from his sorrows? But can Gemma join him on a royal stage and risk her secret coming to light?

To Save a King is book two in the True Blue Royal series.

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The next two are first books in their series. I’m looking forward to this as I enjoyed two other first books by this author and would love to read more.

A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1)

Amazon quote:

An heiress. A spy. And a love worth fighting for.

Miss Madalene Dowding was devastated when her mother died, leaving her all alone. To honor her mother’s legacy, she decides to use part of her fortune to open an orphanage. When a teacher at the orphanage goes missing, Madalene takes it upon herself to start looking for her, even if it means taking her deep into the unsavory parts of London.

Baldwin Radcliff, the Marquess of Hawthorne, is working on his last case as an agent of the Crown since he is about to retire and take up his seat in the House of Lords. He is tasked with finding a French spy that is in league with a growing group of radicals. As he searches for the enemy, he discovers a meddling heiress that keeps stumbling in at the most inopportune times, making him wonder if she is perhaps the spy he has been sent to find.

Despite mutual dislike, Baldwin agrees to help Madalene, but only if she stays far away from the investigation. A promise that Madalene has no intention of keeping. Will headstrong Madalene and duty-driven Baldwin be able to work together, especially since so much is at stake?

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Saving Shadow: A Regency Spy Romance (The Beckett Files Book 1)

Amazon quote:

For England’s top spy, love is not an option

Born with a perfect memory, Lady Elizabeth Beckett has become one of the world’s most notorious spies, despite being the daughter of a duke. She is shielded only by her code name: Shadow. When young ladies of High Society begin disappearing from London, Eliza has no doubt who is orchestrating these crimes; a heinous man she has been investigating for years. Vowing to save them before they are sold to the highest bidder, she must risk everything to stop him.

Lord Sinclair was perfectly content being the second son of a marquess, but when his brother is murdered, he is thrust into a position he has not been prepared for and does not desire. As an agent for the Crown, he is expected to retire now that he is the heir, but he’s been granted special permission for one more mission… to obtain justice for his murdered brother.

Used to keeping secrets, Lady Eliza and Lord Sinclair must learn to open up to each other when they are assigned as partners to bring down the same ruthless man and his brutal empire of abduction and slavery. As Eliza’s tainted past becomes too much for her to bear alone, can she learn to trust her new partner with her secrets, her life, and possibly her heart?

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This next one is a complete change of pace. It is historical but it’s also time travel. I’ve read and enjoyed the first three books in this series.

Vestige of Courage: A Christian Time Travel Romance (Vestige in Time Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

She dreams of a future far out of reach. He’s stuck in limbo, looking for answers. Will a trip through time be a dream come true or their worst nightmare?

Finding herself in the future is Beatrice’s wildest dream come true, until it shatters her long-held illusions.

Beatrice Thomas lives a simple life on an isolated mountain homestead in 1879, Colorado, but she longs to experience the world past the rugged peaks and lonely months that her life has become. Unfortunately for her, that requires a miracle.

Chase’s life of adventure in the spotlight has taken an abrupt detour. Now he’s stuck, trapped in the unknown.

Chase Bennett’s life is on hold while he searches for his missing brother. When he stumbles upon a woman who’s looking for answers of her own, she provides a distraction he doesn’t need.

As their friendship grows, Beatrice is bewildered by the fast pace of the modern world. The adventure she longed for may be more than she can handle.

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I’m pretty sure the first three books will jump to the head of the reading queue. I’m looking forward to this.

Contemplating this list reminds me of a discussion earlier in the week about skipping through a book without reading every word. The consensus seemed to be offence at the thought of this practice. Sometimes when a to-be-read pile gets out of hand, like mine has been – forever it seems, there is no other choice.

At a time like this it’s easy to be happy when a book turns out to be less than wonderful. The read can be rushed through, guilt free.

I used to hold the belief that every word had to be read and every book started had to be finished. Somewhere along the line I gave up on that guilt trip. Not every book is worth the time and attention. There is no shame in abandoning a book, or quickly skimming through to see how it ended before tossing it.

I think skimming is better, in a time crunch, than not reading the book at all.

I love it when a book is worth savoring every moment. I take the time and then count my blessings that not all books are created equal. If they were…

I’d have to put a moratorium on looking for free and bargain books.

Happy Reading y’all

Another this and that August 06, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / 5 Comments

I think there is something wrong with me. I don’t feel like reading.

Shocking!

I’ve finished the book I was reading and can’t seem to settle on any of the five or six that are next in line. This rarely happens, I must be sick or something.

Maybe it’s or something. My mind has been pulled in a number of different directions today and right now it’s hard to settle down to a quiet occupation like reading.

One of the things I’ve been dwelling on this evening is the subject of the next couple of chapters read in the book called The Power of Writing It Down. The author makes a case for writing as a way to improve our health. Studies have demonstrated a change in moods by writing 20 minutes a day for two weeks, an effect that lasts for an even longer period of time.

The authors name is Allison Fallon. Allison is a writing coach and she has a large team of people working with her. Her book has come out of her personal and corporate experiences and in my mind that gives her credibility. The kind of writing addressed in this book is called expressive writing. Medical researchers have studied brain activity during writing experiences and they found that different parts of the brain would light up during different types of writing. What Allison calls expressive writing comes from the subconscious part of the brain rather than the conscious part where we live most of the time.

Today’s chapters talked about writing when we don’t feel inspired. We have nothing to say and yet if we sit quietly, meditatively, and we gradually set aside the conscious noise about all the things our mind goes to when we are supposed to be working or listening; something changes. Our mind becomes focused on a single thought and as we start to write, a conversation happens.

At the end, we read over what we’ve written, in amazement. Where did that come from? I wasn’t even thinking about any of that when I sat down and yet here it is.

Allison stresses that writing out of the subconscious helps us discover who we really are, not who we have made ourselves out to be to please others. It can be a little scary, thinking about what might come out of our subconscious. Maybe, hopefully, it will be positive more often than we might think.

I’ve experienced a little of this writing what I didn’t expect phenomenon while working on some of these this and that posts. I think they have turned out to be some of the best ones. Reader response seems to bear that out.

In the end. Writing like this was a very emotional experience and I was left with a pleasant aura that stayed with me for hours. It was very positive and I would love to have it happen many more times. Maybe it will as I practice this type of writing more often.

I know you have questions so I’ll say this…

The pleasant aura was kind of like when you read a extra specially good book or watch a movie that leaves you with an awww kind of feeling. Or when you do something that turns out so much better than expected and you can’t help but keep looking at it, thinking about how much you love it. And, at the same time you are thinking I can’t believe I just did that.

This turned out way different, and so much better than I visualized going in to this post. I was wanting to practice expressive writing tonight but I was worried at the same time. I’m feeling a big sigh of relief at the way this all went.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

I think I can settle down now and read a book for awhile.

Happy writing and happy reading.

Check out Allison’s book, maybe it will inspire you and meet a need, all at the same time.

There was one more exciting thought on my mind tonight but I will save it for another post.

Later.

Free book August 05, 2021

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BookBub has a free suggestion for us. An author I have read once or twice.

Piercehaven: Welcome to the Island (Piercehaven Trilogy Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Should Emily try to fit in—or fight for what’s right?

Emily has finally found her dream job. She’s moving to a remote Maine island to teach high school English. The handsome lobsterman is an unexpected bonus.

But life on the island is very different. The eccentric islanders seem to be hiding something from her, but what is it? And does she even want to know? If she figures out the secret, she might have to do something about it.

Welcome to Piercehaven, an idyllic small town in the middle of the Atlantic, where things aren’t as simple as they seem and everyone is obsessed with basketball. You’ll love this faith-filled story because you’ll feel like you’re right there with Emily, tasting the fresh, salty air. Visit Piercehaven today!

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I’m not seeing anything else enticing at the moment so we will leave it at one.

I’m still reading A Life Renewed and it’s good. I’m not bored or feeling like I need to rush through it. And, it is definitely unpredictable. Very nice.

A Life Renewed: A Christian Mystery Romance (Secrets of the Queens Book 1) 

Everyone in this story has secrets and when they say trust no one, they mean it.

Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree with his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.

Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

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I’ll let you know if I find anything else.

Read and enjoyed August 04, 2021

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Three books, enjoyed equally but they were all different. The only similarity between them, they were all Mysteries.

All of them displayed the characteristics I like best in a good mystery. They kept me guessing, clues were given out subtly, all through the story. The characters were interesting and well developed. The story moved along at a comfortable pace.

The third book was the one with a big difference and it was much appreciated in a last read. After the intensity of stress and intrigue in the first two mysteries it was a nice change of pace to have a bit of fun with a zany character or two. It did start off with the grizzly discovery of a dead body so it wasn’t all fun and games. The introduction of comic relief was a nice change of pace, though, sprinkled liberally through the story like it was.

All three authors are favorites too, guaranteeing these reads would be attractive.

Fatal Strike

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

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The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians Book #1)

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

When investigative reporter–and Finn’s boss’s sister–Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

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Deadman’s Float: A Cozy Culinary Mystery with an Adorable Dog, a Zany Ice Cream Lady, and an Unforgettable Ice Cream Truck (Crime à la Mode Mysteries Book 1)

USA Today bestselling author Christy Barritt takes readers to the mysterious, quirky island of Lantern Beach, North Carolina, in this charming cozy series!

It all started with a runaway dog.

Meet Serena Lavinia: part-time ice cream truck driver, part-time reporter, and full-time woman of mystery. She never expected to find a cute little terrier while on her morning ice cream route on the island of Lantern Beach. 

Nor did she expect the dog to be carrying a bloody shoe.

When a dead body is discovered floating in a nearby pool, Serena becomes fully immersed in her very own who-done-it. But her investigation hits a snag when a new foe arrives in town. Webster Newsome has been appointed the town’s new newspaper editor—a job Serena wanted—and the man is entirely too bossy.
As it becomes clear that Serena’s dog is somehow tied with the crime, Serena knows she must find the killer. She’ll take on whatever persona necessary to ensure answers are found, even if it means becoming Sherlock . . . Sherlock Cones.

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Currently, I’ve just started a speculative historical what if. What if history has it all wrong and she didn’t die after all? Wouldn’t that be a nice turn of events? I’ve barely started this story but the writing is interesting so far and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.

A Life Renewed: A Christian Mystery Romance (Secrets of the Queens Book 1) 

In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason.
But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived?

Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree with his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.

Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

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Happy Reading!

Bargain books August 03, 2021

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BookBub has another bargain suggestion for us from a favored author. This lady knows how to crank them out.

Mountain Survival (K-9 Search and Rescue Book 3)

Amazon quote:

An injured victim has disappeared…

Can a park ranger and her K-9 find him?

When search-and-rescue park ranger Autumn Mercer and her K-9 partner, Sherlock, meet a stranger in the mountains whose brother is injured, they drop everything to help. But all they find where Derek Peterson last saw his sibling is a trail of blood—and men who want them dead.

With gunmen closing in, can Autumn and Derek survive long enough to save his brother?

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I like having multiple books to share with you but today I’m quitting after a brief and fruitless search for more bargains.

I’m feeling bogged down and overwhelmed by my backlog of unread books, currently sitting at 271. I’ve been trying to rush through to bring the numbers down but I’m not gaining nearly as much ground as I’d hoped. It’s summer, there are other things going on.

It’s quite possible that tomorrow I will have forgotten I’m overwhelmed and there will be multiple books again. You just never know how quickly moods can change. And if there were multiple attractive suggestions, well … no question, there would be more books.

Attractive books are impossible to resist!

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Currently I’m reading a thriller that is not easy to put down.

The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians Book #1)

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

When investigative reporter–and Finn’s boss’s sister–Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

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Happy Reading, y’all

Free and bargain books August 2, 2021

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BookBub has a FREE suggestion for us. This was on my reading list in 2017 and I can still vividly remember this story. If I had time I would read it again. It was unpredictable, that was one of the things I loved the best about this book.

Stealthy Steps (Nanostealth Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

My name is Gemma Keyes. Other than my name, I am utterly forgettable—so those who never paid much attention to me in the first place haven’t exactly noticed that I’ve disappeared. Vanished. Oh, it’s much more complicated than it sounds. I’ve had to learn the hard way: Invisibility comes with its own set of problems.

I should tell you about Dr. Daniel Bickel, world-renowned nanophysicist. We used to work together, but I’ll be candid with you: He’s supposed to be dead. Well, he’s not. (Imagine my surprise.) Instead of the proverbial “six feet under,” he’s subsisting in an abandoned devolution cavern beneath the old Manzano Weapons Storage Facility on Kirtland Air Force Base here in Albuquerque.

“I need to show you what I’m protecting here, Gemma,” he insisted.

I stared into the clear glass case. I could hear . . . humming, clicking, buzzing. A faint haze inside the box shifted. Dissolved. Came back together. Reminded me of how mercury, when released on a plate, will flow and form new shapes. Only this, this thing was “flowing and forming” in midair.

“Do you see them?” Dr. Bickel asked.

“Them?” I was confused. My mouth opened to a stunned “o” as the silver haze resolved into blue letters.

H E L L O

Dr. Bickel hadn’t pressed any buttons. Hadn’t said anything to them. Hadn’t gestured.

He grinned. “Ah. They’ve noticed you. They know they haven’t seen you before.”

“Well, I wish they wouldn’t notice me!” I choked on the words, my eyes fixed on the glass case.

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1531 Entertainment has a bargain suggestion for us, It’s a four book collection, two of them are in my downloads and I’ve read one of them. I do enjoy this author.

The Complete Shepherd’s Heart Series: A Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection Volumes 1-4

Amazon quote:

1. Rocky Mountain Oasis:
Brooke Baker, sold as a mail-order bride, looks to her future with dread but firm resolve. If she survived Uncle Jackson, she can survive anyone.

When Sky Jordan hears that his nefarious cousin has sent for a mail-order bride, he knows he has to prevent the marriage. No woman deserves to be left to that fate. Still, he’s as surprised as anyone to find himself standing next to her before the minister.

Brooke’s new husband turns out to be kinder than any man has ever been. But then the unthinkable happens and she holds the key that might save innocent lives but destroy Sky all in one fell swoop. It’s a choice too unbearable to contemplate…but a choice that must be made.

2. High Desert Haven:
When her husband dies in a mysterious riding accident, Nicki Trent is left with a toddler and a rundown ranch. Determined to bring her ranch back from the brink of death, Nicki hires handsome Jason Jordan to help. But when William, her neighbor, starts pressing for her hand in marriage, the bank calls in a loan she didn’t even know about, bullets start flying, and a burlap dummy with a knife in its chest shows up on her doorstep, Nicki wonders if this ranch is worth all the trouble.

To make matters worse, terrible things keep happening to her neighbors. When her friend’s homestead is burned to the ground and William lays the blame at Jason’s feet, Nicki wonders how well she knows her new hand…and her own heart.

3. Fair Valley Refuge:
Victoria Snyder, adopted when she was only days old, pastes on a smile for her mama’s wedding day, but inside she’s all atremble. Lawman Rocky Jordan is back home. And this time he’s got a bullet hole in his shoulder and enough audacity to come calling. Since tragedy seems to strike those she cares for with uncanny frequency, she wants nothing to do with a man who could be killed in the line of duty like her father.

But when an orphan-train arrives at the Salem depot, Victoria is irresistibly drawn toward the three remaining “unlovable” children…and stunned by a proposal that will change all of their lives forever.

4. Spring Meadow Sanctuary:
Heart pounding in shock, Sharyah Jordan gapes at the outlaw staring down the barrel of his gun at her. Cascade Bennett shattered her dreams only last summer, and now he plans to kidnap her and haul her into the wilderness with a bunch of outlaws…for her own protection? She’d rather be locked in her classroom for a whole week with Brandon McBride and his arsenal of tricks, and that was saying something.

Cade Bennett’s heart nearly drops to his toes when he sees Sharyah standing by the desk. Sharyah Jordan was not supposed to be here. Blast if he didn’t hate complications, and Sharyah with her alluring brown eyes and silky blond hair was a walking, talking personification of complication.

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Browsing a little, I ran across a FREE book by anther favorite author. It’s non fiction, a book on prayer, but it looks like it will be a seriously fun read. Diane Moody has a gift for delivering stories laced with humor. I’m looking forward to this read.

Confessions of a Prayer Slacker (Second Edition) 

Let’s face it. Most of us are clueless when it comes to praying. Why is that? And how come we’ve never done anything about it? In Confessions of a Prayer Slacker, author Diane Moody traces her own personal prayer journey with a touch of humor and a healthy dose of transparency.

‘‘I want my readers to stop the merry-go-round of prayerlessness, quit acting like a bunch of spiritual babies, and get serious about this thing called prayer. Without it, we’ll never experience the warm, one-on-one relationship God desires to have with each one of us.”

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I’m still deciding on a current read but I’m leaning toward another Mystery/Suspense of some sort.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Happy Reading

Free and bargain books July 31, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us today. This is a long book by an author I’ve not read before. The reviews look good though.

Training Lord Somerset (The Heart of Dorset Series: Book 1) A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Novel

Amazon quote:

He will see past her scars; she will look past his fear to the brave soul inside…But are their hearts strong enough to seize their one chance at happiness?

A terrible accident left Lydia Stanley in charge of her younger siblings and a Duchy to boot! Two years later, the scar on her face is the only reminder of the day she lost everything: her parents, her innocence, and all marriage prospects…

As the new Earl of Somerset, Humphrey Berkeley is expected to know everything about running an estate. But his father’s indifference towards his youngest son has left Humphrey not only emotionally traumatized but also untrained in running an estate…

The late Duke of Dorset’s steward-and daughter- seems like the perfect tutor for the young Earl, but their business arrangement never included falling in love…

Will they find it in them to conquer their inner demons and claim their happiness, or will they succumb to fear and live forever in misery…?

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My current read has just been started so it’s a little early to tell but I’ve enjoyed other books by this author so I’m expecting good things. It’s still on offer at a bargain price.

Fatal Strike

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

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

Happy reading …

… on this Saturday with weather that can’t decide what it wants to do or be.

Read and enjoyed July 30, 2021

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This collection was my favorite recent read and there was even a favorite in the midst of these six. Book 5 Sharp as Steele was, without question, my favorite. I managed to finish the whole thing sooner than expected as books 3 and 6 appeared somewhere else along my reading path and I didn’t feel the need to read them more than once.

Tightrope by Mary Alford and more

Amazon quote for book 5:

SHARP AS STEELE
A too handsome for his own good private investigator.
A stalker who claims she is his.
A new job turns deadly.
A final confrontation could end it all.
Can Lana and Lance out run a man filled with an insane desire to claim Lana as his own?

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What’s next? It’s a tough decision.

Maybe I’ll try the Western cowboy style read this time. I’m looking for a single book rather than a collection for a read or two. It should help things move along a little faster, hopefully. I don’t believe I’ve read this author before either. I’ll try and let you know what it as like.

Cassandra and the Cowboy (Texas Treasures Book 1) 

Cassandra Pickett is one prayer away from giving up on God.

The tragic death of her father and the devastating results of the Great Drought of 1886 have centered the family ranch in the crosshairs of the Goose Neck Ridge Bank of Texas. Desperate to save the Triple P, Cassandra sees only one option: marriage to Phillip Brigham, the local cattle baron, who has promised to repay her father’s loan.

Matt Atkins is a man driven by his mission.
When the enigmatic cowboy shows up looking for a job, he convinces Cassandra that he’ll be an asset to the ranch. As they work side by side, Cassandra’s feelings for Matt deepen, and she envisions the possibility of marrying for love, not for necessity. But her dreams are shattered when she discovers that Matt harbors a hidden agenda for the Triple P. Will Cassandra have to turn to Phillip after all, or will God take the shards of her broken dreams and create something beyond what she dared hope for?

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Happy reading y’all.

Free and bargain books July 30, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has several bargain book suggestions for us. I’ve read and enjoyed book 1 in this first series and I’m looking forward to this new one even though it’s book 4. They are stand alone and don’t have to be read in order which is very nice.

The Captain’s Quest (The Leeward Islands Series Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

Innocent mistakes can have dire consequences. 

Pricilla Middleton only attended the Lemoore house party to keep her friend out of trouble. Now, her only chance to keep from becoming a gossip column headline is to sneak aboard her brother’s ship and pretend she’d been visiting him instead of taking part in the debacle. Before she can speak to her brother, the ship sets sail, and the man in charge is not at all who she expects.

Captain Tobias Prescott, son of an infamous war hero, has been assigned on a critical mission to deploy warships in St. Kitts for battle in New Orleans. Unfortunately, his orders require him to assume command of a friend’s ship, and he must weigh anchor the instant the former captain is escorted down the gangplank. When they reach open waters, the last thing he expects is to find a woman hiding in the captain’s cabin, yet his mission is too urgent to return her to England.

The Middleton name has always brought Tobias trouble, and Pricilla is no exception. As the waters clear and the temperature warms, the danger escalates too. Yet Tobias discovers the intuitive and strong woman who struggles to hide her anxiety is nothing like her disloyal brother. He may lose the opportunity to help his country, but perhaps he can still save the woman who’s rescued his heart.

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Second Chance Love (Pinecrest Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Eight years should have been long enough to overcome the hurt and humiliation of being left at the altar, but when Jillian Rodgers walks back into Sam Lawson’s life he has to grapple with those feelings again. Worse yet, he can’t stop thinking about her.

Jillian Rodgers has returned to her hometown to help care for her mother. Facing Sam again is hard, but Jillian wonders if her return could mean a second chance for them.

In a small town their paths often cross, and despite Sam’s vow not to make the same mistake, he finds himself falling for her all over again. But Jillian hasn’t been completely honest about her life. When that comes to light, can he still forgive and forget? Can they have a second chance at love?

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us, from an author I’ve not read before.

Cassandra and the Cowboy (Texas Treasures Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

Cassandra Pickett is one prayer away from giving up on God.

The tragic death of her father and the devastating results of the Great Drought of 1886 have centered the family ranch in the crosshairs of the Goose Neck Ridge Bank of Texas. Desperate to save the Triple P, Cassandra sees only one option: marriage to Phillip Brigham, the local cattle baron, who has promised to repay her father’s loan.

Matt Atkins is a man driven by his mission.
When the enigmatic cowboy shows up looking for a job, he convinces Cassandra that he’ll be an asset to the ranch. As they work side by side, Cassandra’s feelings for Matt deepen, and she envisions the possibility of marrying for love, not for necessity. But her dreams are shattered when she discovers that Matt harbors a hidden agenda for the Triple P. Will Cassandra have to turn to Phillip after all, or will God take the shards of her broken dreams and create something beyond what she dared hope for?

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Happy Reading!