Suspense

Free and bargain books November 18, 2022

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It’s Friday again. It’s unbelievable the way the weeks fly by. I’d like to say stop the ship, I want to get off but life would move on for everyone else at breakneck speed and when I look closely at the picture that thought conjures up, me left behind in a fractured world, I think I’d better cancel that request. Hopefully the wish granting genie wasn’t paying attention to the beginning of this discussion.

Books, now there’s a safe topic for us.

BookBub has an interesting suggestion. It goes with a book suggestion we read and enjoyed a year ago.

Christmas at Cranberry Cove (Cranberry Cove Series Book 3) 

Ryder Langston retires from commercial fishing and manages Blake Sloan’s supply stores. When the owner of the inn in Cranberry Cove hires a new executive chef, Ryder is intrigued by the tall woman with ebony hair who hides a dark family secret.

Juliette Duplay must flee from her French roots and her past when a family member turns against her. She’d like to blend into the American culture but can’t escape danger even in the small community of Cranberry Cove.

Can Ryder and Juliette unravel the mystery in time to celebrate Christmas at Cranberry Cove?

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1531 Entertainment has an intense and attractive suggestion for us.

Cruise to Death

When opera singer Riley Williams agrees to sub as a musical-theater performer on a luxury Rhine/Moselle River boat cruise, she gets more than she bargained for. Not only does she have to come up with 250 Broadway songs, she must dance with the male passengers. Dance—the subject she nearly failed in her conservatory courses, and the cause of her recent flop in an opera house. To make matters worse, she overhears two terrorists at a café in Antwerp, Belgium, discussing the transfer of deadly Agent X to the highest bioterrorist bidders.

Interpol Agent Jacob Coulter, an anti-terrorism desk analyst in Brussels, Belgium, insists on serving as an undercover agent after his best friend Noel is murdered by terrorists from the cell he infiltrated in Brussels. Shortly before Noel dies, he manages to tell Jacob snippets of the terrorists’ plans. Plans that seem to involve the same river boat cruise Riley is on. When Interpol learns of Riley’s encounter with terrorists at the café, Jacob’s supervisor insists he work with her to identify the terrorists and retrieve Agent X. But their relationship is fraught with distrust because of Riley’s suspicious past and a romantic attraction neither of them wants.

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This one showed up again this week. Too many good books lately, I’ve not had a chance to read this one yet.

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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Happy Friday y’all

Free and bargain books November 17, 2022

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This looks like fun.

Pistols and Poinsettias: A clean read whodunit filled with mystery, suspense and murder (Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series Book 3) 

Steve isn’t celebrating Christmas…he’s trying to survive it.

Blind PI Steve Smiley loathes Christmas—too many memories. When his partner secures an invitation for them to teach at a mystery writers’ conference in Miami, what promises to be a welcome early December escape turns into a tidal wave of mysteries to solve.

Steve and Heather walk into the midst of a raging civil war between two factions of the writers’ group. When they agree to locate a missing author slated to be the next organization president, they find themselves plunged into the midst of the battle. Before they can solve that mystery, another one lands at their feet, along with a dead body.

With more than a thousand mystery writers watching, Steve’s reputation is on the line. He and Heather make a plan to unravel the mysteries and expose the murderer. But the killer has a plan too. Steve’s no longer worried about enduring another lonely Christmas…this year he just wants to survive it.

If you like your Christmas reads full of mystery and suspense, you’ll love Pistols and Poinsettias!

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Look at that, here is a FREE book related to our newest bargain. How can we pass up free?

Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells: A clean read whodunit detective mystery (Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series Book 2) 

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…Rifle Shells?

Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the man and flee to safety. Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right, shows no emotion over the murder. Her one passionate request: find her birth parents.

Smiley and McBlythe’s search intertwines with the murder investigation of Bella’s adopted father again and again—and uncovers a shocking secret. Like it or not, they must first identify the killer in order to discover the truth about Bella’s adoption.

A host of suspects line up like Santa’s reindeer. Can the determined investigators tie a ribbon on the case? Will Bella have the best Christmas ever—or will death and heartache be the only presents under the tree?

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Yesterday’s wonderful book is finished and I will save talking about it for the weekend when there is more time. It was like savoring every morsel of the best dessert ever. The perfect blend of ingredients.

It reminded me of another reading experience, early on in my Kindle life. I’ll dig out those books to share with you if I can.

That’s it for tonight.

Happy Reading y’all

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.

This and that November 10, 2022

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A major snow storm rolled in this afternoon and we went from zero to lots in short order. It is beautiful enough to keep the blinds open and the porch light on. We have had snow already this season but this right here is the real start of winter.

The window has freckles.

I was watching the snow and reading a good book. A perfect night.

Happy reading on this cold winter night.

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.

Free book November 06, 2022

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Sunday is a slow day for book suggestions but we do have one that could be interesting. The authors are new to me and they are still new to having books published it seems, the selection is still small. One thing they do have in their favorite is their impressive involvement in the publishing industry. Editing is in their resume and I know they will be making sure their books are well taken care of in that department. I wish I could say the same thing about my current read where the editing is hit and miss and leaves much to be desired. At least the story is well thought out.

So back to BookRunes free suggestion. This is a published series with three books and we have the first one.

Picture Imperfect (Roseville Romances Book 1) 

Can a struggling career woman and a procrastinating artist save a beloved nonprofit?Aspiring novelist Caroline Penn expected a promotion, not a picture book assignment. But when her employer, the non-profit Helping Hope, runs into financial trouble, this book might be the solution. With the company struggling to stay afloat, she and the illustrator will need to collaborate on a strict deadline—no problem for a workaholic like Caroline, right?

Andy Jackson, a “starving” artist, pays the bills by taking on graphic design gigs, but his perfectionism gets in the way. If only he could focus on a project for once, perhaps he could achieve his dream to make art for children for a living.

When the two are thrust together to create a book, Caroline can’t seem to write for children, and Andy can’t meet a deadline to save his life. As time ticks down to release day, the two must face their pasts and insecurities. If they can avoid strangling one another for long enough, they may just bring to the table what the other is missing.

If not, the fate of their careers—and a beloved nonprofit—hangs in the balance.

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That’s all there is for now but I will keep my eyes open just in case.

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I have two current reads. . . half way through each of them. I’m enjoying the stories but I’m not sure what happened here.

The problem with the first one is sloppy editing. Much of the book, so far, is well edited, it’s the sections with no discernible editing that are derailing the reader’s connection to the story. Could it be that the polished version was not the one published? Certainly seems possible.

The second story is a good read, as usual for this author, but there are some triggering sections that have me taking a break.

I will finish them both in time, never fear.

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It’s a cloudy day with cool temperatures, a perfect day to curl up with a warm drink. a good book, and a cozy blanket

Happy Reading y’all

Free and bargain books November 05, 2022

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

BookBub is behind this suggestion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The problem with plans are things no one plans for.

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

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

Final word…

Current enjoyable read.

Lethal Betrayal (Vanishing Ranch Book 5)

Happy Reading, have a great weekend.

Emptying the read folder November 02, 2022

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It has been a good week for enjoyable books and it was a delight to spend time with them.

They have accumulated quite nicely. Probably because they weren’t terribly long, which was nice for a change. The count adds up rather quickly and pumps up my sense of accomplishment.

The View from Coral Cove: A Sweet Contemporary Romance 

Not Until You: A Christian Romance (Hope Springs Book 3)

Sunburst (Sky King Ranch Book #2) 

Of Pens and Ploughshares: Hearts Unlocked

SCARS: Contemporary Christian Romantic Suspense (Spiritual Warfare Series, Book 4)

Sealed with a Christmas Promise: A K-9 Romantic Suspense (Called To Protect Book 7)

There are more but I will save the for next time.

I hope you are feeling inspired.

Happy Reading

More from Christy Barritt November 01, 2022

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As promised, we have several more attractive bargains from favorite author Christy Barritt.

Swept Away: A Squeaky Clean Honeymoon Novella (Book 11.5) (Squeaky Clean Mysteries) 

Finding the perfect place for a honeymoon, away from any potential danger or mystery, is challenging. But Gabby’s longtime love and newly minted husband, Riley Thomas, has done it. He has found a location with a nonexistent crime rate, a mostly retired population, and plenty of opportunities for relaxation in the warm sun.

Within minutes of the newlyweds’ arrival, a convoy of vehicles descends on a nearby house, and their honeymoon oasis is destroyed like a sandcastle in a storm. Despite Gabby’s and Riley’s determination to keep to themselves, trouble comes knocking at their door—literally—when a neighbor is abducted from the beach directly outside their rental.

Will Gabby and Riley be swept away with each other during their honeymoon . . . or will a tide of danger and mayhem pull them under?

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The next one looks fun too.

It Came Upon a Midnight Crime: Squeaky Clean Mysteries, Book 2.5 (a Christmas novella)

Someone is intent on destroying the true meaning of Christmas—at least, destroying anything that hints of it.

All around crime-scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire’s hometown, anything pointing to Jesus as the “reason for the season” is being sabotaged. The crimes become more twisted as dismembered body parts are found at the vandalisms. Who would go to such great lengths to dampen the joy and hope of Christ’s birthday?

Someone’s determined to destroy Christmas . . . but Gabby St. Claire is just as determined to find the Grinch and let peace on earth and goodwill to men prevail.

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Checking out some of the ever present suggestion strips, there were books that I wish were at bargain prices. I would love to read them. It’s taking a fair amount of self discipline to keep from giving in.

I have a budget for a reason. To keep me from going overboard, ordering more books than I can possibly read.

It’s a good thing the fiscally responsible side of me balances out the ever present desire for more. It cringes over books bought but not read and fans into flame my guilty conscience for indulging.

Thanks goodness for a hard line price range, I don’t feel guilty very often. I hate the feeling and that is a deterrent right there

It’s funny how easy it is to quickly read the inexpensive books while dragging my feet on the full priced books. Maybe it has to do with expectations. They are much higher as the price goes up. It seems disappointment happens more readily too with unmet, probably unreasonable, expectations.

That’s why I like free books. They make it easy to lower expectations. And, they help soothe what could be a guilty conscience over the many unread books still in my library.

I wouldn’t change a thing. I still love books and always want more.

It’s time for lights out and I wanted to read. I’ll sneak in a chapter or two.

Thanks for working your way through my late night rambling.

Happy reading!