romance

Current read November 16, 2022

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I’ve found the much needed book to brighten my day! (the antidote to my last post)

Davis Bunn is a long time favorite author and this new book is a recent download. It is book 6 in the Miramar Bay series and I’ve read and enjoyed them all.

I have never read a book like this one which is both exciting and refreshing. There have been several in a similar vein over the years but they were by different authors with their own special flair.

I’m loving this read and chapter nine has put in an appearance.

A breathtaking new novel about letting go, taking chances, and embracing the healing power of love—from the international bestselling author of Tranquility Falls.

Just when he thought he’d buried his past and was moving on . . .

Four years after his wife’s death, art history teacher Derek Gaines.has finally made a kind of peace with himself. He tries his best to stave off memories. His days are ones of familiar routine. Guarded against further pain, he keeps relationships at a safe distance. It’s all part of his necessary transition to surviving alone. If anything is truly responsible for Derek making it back from the brink it’s his edifying work as a consultant for auction houses—and indulging a consuming sideline job: tracking stolen art. But Derek’s latest hunt will lead him toward challenges both professional and personal—that he’s not prepared to
face . . .
 
He discovered the art of falling in love again . . .

Joining Derek on his quest is Kelly Reid, the new junior vice president of gallery operations at Christies Los Angeles. She is driven, ambitious, fiercely passionate about her work—and a fellow wounded kindred spirit. Bitterly immune to men’s promises, she’s never letting herself be vulnerable again. Yet even as trust and affection remain frightening territory, a tenuous start to her partnership with Derek slowly builds toward something more. And soon, both will be tested beyond anything they could have imagined–in the deepening mystery of a lost painting, and in matters of the heart, which can be the greatest mystery of all.

With love comes risk in The Emerald Tide, a powerful and emotional novel about daring to take a second chance.

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Happy Reading

Bargain books November 16, 2022

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Distressed. That’s what I’m feeling at the moment. It was unexpected and disappointing. Disappointing because I was hoping for new sites to follow, replacing the old, slowly disappearing sites. What I found this time, and have before too, reading tastes among a number of book bloggers tend to fall on the dark side. I’m guessing you know what I’m talking about. Given that bent, today’s browsing experience was triggering for me.

Often I can handle honesty about the murderous things we do to one another. Maybe it’s point of view that makes the difference. Usually the stories I read are from law enforcement’s side of things. The titles in a reading list this morning were from the perpetrator’s perspective and that’s a whole new ballgame. It felt like pure evil and I couldn’t handle it. I’m guessing triggers from early childhood trauma are behind the issue.

I’m sad. I had high hopes for a new blogger friend or three to follow.

My luck hasn’t been all that great finding new friends, probably because I spend more time looking for books than I do looking for friends. A fatal flaw. Not. I love my books and the few friends I do still have.

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So, back to the book search. . .

1531 Entertainment has a bargain suggestion for us. It’s Book 2 in a series. We read Book 1 a year ago and I see it is still Free.

Dead Broke: A Cozy Mystery

Why would someone kill Nathan King?

The peace of a perfect November afternoon is shattered when Agatha hears the frantic bleating of goats across the river from her B&B. Agatha kayaks over with retired detective Tony and two guests–Bishop Henry and his wife Emma. They find the goats huddled together in a terrified group and Nathan lying face up beneath the Live Oak trees, lifeless eyes staring at the Texas sky.

Then one of Agatha’s guests goes missing. She delves into Joey’s past and learns he was Dead Broke, so what was he doing vacationing at her B&B? And why was he pretending to be Amish when in fact his permanent address was Dallas, Texas? Most importantly, did Joey have anything to do with Nathan’s death? Agatha and Tony are at a dead end before the investigation has properly begun, but this time they receive help from unexpected places.

Bishop Henry has a gift, and he’s no longer afraid to use it, even if doing so may put them all in danger as they work together to catch a killer.

Dead Broke is a story about family secrets, rare gifts, and the joy of unexpected friendships.

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Another bargain book from 1531 Entertainment looks like it could be interesting.

All I Want for Christmas by Rebekah Pace

LOSING EVERYTHING MAY JUST BE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL.

James sells toys. He’s a workaholic and he’s made a very good living, even if his wife and four children don’t appreciate it. Truth is, his marriage is falling apart and he barely recognizes his kids.

So when James’s youngest daughter, 7-year-old Reba, asks God for a Christmas miracle to “fix” her family, something most unexpected happens—unexpected and horrible. The Christmas tree catches fire and the house burns down, taking with it all of their possessions.

One bad thing leads to another as rock bottom gives way to new lows and the family is sent spiraling down a dark and unfamiliar path. Reba wonders if God decided to give her the very opposite of what she prayed for.

Finally, separated and destitute, James and the family are left with absolutely nothing—nothing but a brand-new understanding of what’s actually important in life.

Now James must rekindle his faith, learn what’s truly important to him, and find a way to win his family back. If he can pull it off, there may just be that Christmas miracle waiting for him.


“Likable, charismatic characters…compelling and emotionally impactful…modern-day Job’s tale.” – Screencraft

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I’ve been digging myself into a deep hole just thinking about this post. For sure I won’t be reading the last book on this list.

I’m off to look through my TBR list for something light-hearted and funny.

Happy Reading y’all.

Free and bargain books November 15, 2022

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We have books today. One so far anyway, and it’s free. BookRunes brought this one to our attention. I see we’ve read and enjoyed quite a few books from this author in the last two years.

Sealed with Courage: A Christian K9 Romantic Suspense (Called To Protect Book 1) 

Risking their hearts and their lives while protecting the innocent…

Will they find the kidnapped boy in time?

Sign language teacher Aubrey Clark feels responsible when ten-year-old Lucas goes missing. She’s determined to find her deaf student and knows more than she should from reading the lips of the man involved in the boy’s disappearance. Now she’s in the killer’s crosshairs too. Aubrey has little choice but to accept Navy SEAL Mason Gray’s protection, grateful for his help in searching for Lucas.

Mason’s last op as a Navy SEAL had gone sideways, leaving him deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other. But he’s not going to let his handicap prevent him and his K9 scent tracker, Bravo, from rescuing a deaf child. Mason has never balked at putting his life on the line for his country or to ensure the safety of women and children. But risking his heart? That wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan . . .

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LPC Free Books has a FREE suggestion for us too that looks interesting. I have one book in my collection from this author and now I’m looking forward to reading this one.

After the Rain

Debra Hart is moving on. Maybe. Hopefully. One day.

As a radio show host, Debra spends her mornings as Miss Lonely Heart on air, empathizing with all the broken hearts in the Denver metro area. She spends her evenings watching old musicals and trying not to think about the guy who broke up with her and subsequently fell in love with one of her best friends. Alone in a new city, Debra questions where she belongs and who she is now.

When she stumbles into the indie music scene, Debra meets singer Ben Price. Rock star appeal, with a day job as a worship pastor, Ben is everything Debra wants to avoid. But he’s determined to be her friend, and it so happens she could really use one. Because try as she might, nothing seems to erase the anger and betrayal she feels.

It’s time for a new dream. But how does she start over when the pieces of her broken past remain lodged in her heart?

“Brandy Bruce has weaved together a bittersweet tale that had me laughing and crying within a mere three words. Filled with loss, love, and beautiful life, After the Rain will forever be in my heart, sitting on my shelf of favorites.” ~V. Joy Palmer, Author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations

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1531 Entertainment also has a bargain suggestion for us. One I’m not planning to download but will still recommend, especially if you like classic mystery. I’ve read and enjoyed many Agatha Christie novels through the years and my appetite for her books has been more than satisfied but I can still enthusiastically declare that she is worth reading.

At Bertram’s Hotel: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marple Mysteries Book 10) 

At Bertram’s Hotel the intrepid Miss Marple, on holiday in London, must solve a deadly mystery at the end of a chain of very violent events.

An old-fashioned London hotel is not quite as reputable as it makes out to be.…

When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she’s looking for at Bertram’s Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service, and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly-polished veneer.

Yet, not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric guest makes his way to the airport on the wrong day.…

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Just for kicks, I went back to examine my Amazon book collection (it’s up to 4169 already) and sorted by the oldest to see when I started. (Spring of 2012.)

I was checking out the books from back then and noticed one by Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest. I’m not seeing the same cover, and there are lots of them, but this one sums it up well if I remember rightly.

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy 

This blurb comes with a different cover but it still fits.

The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James’s Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personæ to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play’s major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Some contemporary reviews praised the play’s humour and the culmination of Wilde’s artistic career, while others were cautious about its lack of social messages. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde’s most enduringly popular play.

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I did enjoy the humor in reading this play and I still remember the fun experience.

The title makes me smile and immediately reminds me of another favorite old line. Not sure where it originated from but it’s probably old enough to be public domain.

“You be Frank and I’ll be Ernest”

On that lighthearted note . . .

Happy Reading y’all

Checking in November 14, 2022

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This is a no-book day. Not sure where the normal suggestion emails went to on this Monday.

I needed something to do so I spent some time browsing through Amazon. There were a few that looked interesting, at first anyway, but the interest didn’t last long enough to choose any of them.

On the bright side I did finish both books in the current series we talked about yesterday. I wasn’t sure about the second book but it did turn out well. Now I wish I had Book 3.

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The other day I mentioned an experimental idea I had for maintaining interest in collections. Reading the 4 or 5 books of a collection all in a row can become boring. I was thinking if I read one book out of each (I have 5 on the go currently) and kept doing that until all five were done, maybe the experience would be more positive. So far it seems to be working. Sort of like taking a bit of salad in between bites of steak or potatoes helps keep the flavors from becoming boring.

Here are three I have been working on at the moment. Well the first two I have been, the third has been sadly neglected for months on end and needs to be moved on one way or the other.

I’ve moved up to Book 2 in the Prairie Brides collection and it’s good.

I may even just stay with these three, that may be enough of a change to get it done. Besides, I’m dragging my feet on two of them. I may decide to skip them altogether.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

That’s it for tonight.

Happy Reading.

A bargain book November 12, 2022

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BookBub has a suggestion I would like to explore. I don’t think I have read this author.

Courting Misfortune (The Joplin Chronicles Book #1)

Calista York needs one more successful case as a Pinkerton operative to secure her job. When she’s assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a mob boss, she’s sent to the rowdy mining town of Joplin, Missouri, despite having extended family in the area. Will their meddling expose her mission and keep Lila Seaton from being recovered?

When Matthew Cook decided to be a missionary, he never expected to be sent only a short train ride away. While fighting against corruption of all sorts, Matthew hears of a baby raffle being held to raise funds for a children’s home. He’ll do what he can to stop it, but he also wants to stop the reckless Miss York, whose bad judgment consistently seems to be putting her in harm’s way.

Calista doesn’t need the handsome pastor interfering with her investigation, and she can’t let her disguise slip. Her job and the life of a young lady depend on keeping Matthew in the dark.  

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Nothing else has presented itself today, I did spend time exploring too but it wasn’t helpful.

On another subject, I’ve come up with a possible solution

Recently, we’ve downloaded a number of collections. There is a problem arising out of consumption of that many similar books in a short space of time. Even with different authors there often is a sameness destroying the positive reading experience. I’ve decided to try something new to see if it helps. The new plan involves reading one book from each collection with a stand-alone book in there somewhere, then cycling through the group of collections until they are all complete. Lately I’ve been giving up half way through and I’m hoping this will keep me from doing that.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

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Currently I’m reading a mystery/thriller after one cycle through 4 collections. A welcome change of pace.

One Little Lie (The Pelican Harbor Series Book 1) 

Bodies are showing up everywhere, mostly in strange but telling ways. The killer seems to be handing out retribution. Some of it is meant as distraction.

The killer is dropping hints. He (assuming it’s a he) has plans to keep the authorities insanely busy until the real target is revealed. It’s hard to say at this point what the end game is but it seems to be aimed at the newly appointed chief of police. Maybe.

This story will keep me going for a while, it has the page count of nearly three books in some collections. I’m not complaining. I’m not skipping through any pages either.

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I’m happy reading. I hope you are too.

Bargain books November 11, 2022

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

First up we have…

Carved in Stone (The Blackstone Legacy Book #1) 

Her gilded world holds a deeply hidden secret. 

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

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

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

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Next . . .

The Inheritance Tamara Alexander

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

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

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

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

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Last but not least . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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We have good reading options for the weekend.

No books day November 09, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

At least the snow has not come to stay yet.

Happy Reading y’all

Bargain Book November 08, 2022

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Davis Bunn is a heavy hitter in the favorite author category.

He has a new co-author and book one in a new series coming out today according to this morning’s email. I wanted to see what it was about (the cover and sample) but sadly it is not on Amazon.ca yet. I haven’t checked any other countries, like the USA, to see if it’s is there.

There is a full description in the email but it’s too much to share here. There is an endorsement though that sheds a little light on what the book is about, it’s not very long. Here it is…

Charles Salzberg, well-known writing teacher and award winning crime author, had this to say: “Set in the rarified, dazzling circle of the super-rich, Guptara and Locke’s intricate, fast-paced international thriller consistently delivers the thrills and chills inherent in the high stakes, cut-throat world of high-finance in which murder is simply another business option.”

The name of the book is Fortune’s Favor and I’m looking forward to a glimpse of it. It appears to be taking off in a whole new direction, Mr. Bunn is known for doing that. Check out his book list and you will see for yourself.

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 Searching through his books, just because, I found one I don’t have yet and it is offered at a bargain price (my kind of book.)

The Emerald Tide (Miramar Bay Book 6) 

A breathtaking new novel about letting go, taking chances, and embracing the healing power of love—from the international bestselling author of Tranquility Falls.

Just when he thought he’d buried his past and was moving on . . .

Four years after his wife’s death, art history teacher Derek Gaines.has finally made a kind of peace with himself. He tries his best to stave off memories. His days are ones of familiar routine. Guarded against further pain, he keeps relationships at a safe distance. It’s all part of his necessary transition to surviving alone. If anything is truly responsible for Derek making it back from the brink it’s his edifying work as a consultant for auction houses—and indulging a consuming sideline job: tracking stolen art. But Derek’s latest hunt will lead him toward challenges both professional and personal—that he’s not prepared to
face . . .
 
He discovered the art of falling in love again . . .

Joining Derek on his quest is Kelly Reid, the new junior vice president of gallery operations at Christies Los Angeles. She is driven, ambitious, fiercely passionate about her work—and a fellow wounded kindred spirit. Bitterly immune to men’s promises, she’s never letting herself be vulnerable again. Yet even as trust and affection remain frightening territory, a tenuous start to her partnership with Derek slowly builds toward something more. And soon, both will be tested beyond anything they could have imagined–in the deepening mystery of a lost painting, and in matters of the heart, which can be the greatest mystery of all.
 
With love comes risk in The Emerald Tide, a powerful and emotional novel about daring to take a second chance.

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See what I mean about genres and Davis Bunn? This series is nothing at all like the new one mentioned above.

Here is the link if you are interested in following them.

Davis Bunn & Jyoti Guptara authors@storyworlds.ink

Happy Reading.

Bargain books Part Two November 07, 2022

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

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

Everyone loves the Weavers!

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

Lucia:

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

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

Arturo:

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

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

Leonardo: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Happy Reading Y’all

Free and bargain books November 07, 2022

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

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

Last Taste of Freedom (Chevalier Protection Specialists Book 1)

The fight is coming home.

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

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

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

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

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Keatyn’s Journey: Seeds of Faith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prairie Brides Box Collection One: Books 1-4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soon.

Happy Reading.