Suspense

Bargain books part two September 01, 2021

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More bargain books

Two Lynette Eason mysteries are enticing me today. Two!

Acceptable Risk (Danger Never Sleeps Book #2)

Amazon quote:

Sarah Denning is a military journalist with the Army in the Middle East when her convoy is attacked and she’s taken hostage. When former Army Ranger Gavin Black is asked by his old unit commander–Sarah’s imposing father–to plan an extremely risky rescue, he reluctantly agrees and successfully executes it.

Back in the US, Sarah is livid when she’s discharged on a false psychiatric evaluation and vows to return to the Army. Until she learns of her brother’s suicide. Unable to believe her brother would do such a thing, she puts her plans on hold and enlists Gavin to help her discover the truth. What they uncover may be the biggest story of Sarah’s career–if she can survive long enough to write it.

Strap in for another breakneck nail-biter from bestselling romantic suspense author Lynette Eason that will have you up turning pages long into the night.

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Active Defense (Danger Never Sleeps Book #3) 

Amazon quote:

As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn’t expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late.

Bestselling and award-winning author Lynette Eason will have you looking over your shoulder as you dive into this fast-paced, suspense-filled story about losing control and finding something even better.

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It has been a good day for books.

Happy Reading!

Bargain book September 01, 2021

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BookBub has a interesting suggestion this time and I’m excited. It starts off with a rather unorthodox opening and I have to know what this guy is up to. His daughters are certainly suspicious.

On a Summer Tide (Three Sisters Island Book #1)

Amazon quote:

Sometimes love hurts–and sometimes it can heal in the most unexpected way.

Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. “Moving on” is Cam’s mantra. But there’s a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on . . . and one who keeps moving.

Cam’s full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island–a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam’s surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, along with the locals–and one in particular. Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher harbors more than a few surprises.

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I would tell you what I am currently reading but I’m still trying to decide if I will finish it. Maybe it’s just me but I’m having trouble getting into the story.

OK. I’ll tell you.

Even at 20% I’m still struggling to figure out what is going on. I won’t give up just yet but…

Did anyone try Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales? What did you think of it?

In the meantime…

I’m thinking over several other interesting finds. Maybe there will be another post yet today. Maybe.

Happy Reading.

Bargain book August 29, 2021

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In the ongoing quest to find and feature books written by men, I have one more author for us to explore.

When I started on this theme yesterday I was thinking my list of male authors read-and-enjoyed was fairly short. Today I’m finding myself constantly thinking oh right, I forgot about him. The list is growing longer by the hour.

I probably have read today’s author somewhere along the way but it hasn’t been in recent memory. I’m looking forward to this experience.

The introduction to today’s book smacks of a more-than-meets-the-eye vibe and I find I want to read more.

The Trial 

Amazon quote:

A lawyer ready to die takes one final case…the trial of his life.

Attorney Kent “Mac” MacClain has nothing left to live for. Nine years after the horrific accident that claimed the life of his wife and two sons, he’s finally given up. His empty house is a mirror for his empty soul, it seems suicide is his only escape. And then the phone rings.

Angela Hightower, the beautiful heiress and daughter of the most powerful man in Dennison Springs, has been found dead at the bottom of a ravine. The accused killer, Peter Thomason, needs a lawyer. But Mac has come up against the Hightowers and their ruthless, high-powered lawyers before — an encounter that left his practice and reputation reeling.

The evidence pointing to Thomason’s guilt seems insurmountable. Is Mac defending an ingenious psychopath, or has Thomason been framed–possibly by a member of the victim’s family? It comes down to one last trial. For Thomason, the opponent is the electric chair. For Mac, it is his own tormented past–a foe that will prove every bit as deadly.

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Have you read this author before? What did you think of him?

Happy Reading

Bargain book August 28, 2021

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Male Authors. The subject of today’s search.

There are male authors showing up on my favorites list but in all honesty the vast majority of books featured on this blog are from women authors. I’ve been wracking my brain for names and can’t come up with more than a couple of handfuls. Most of the writers coming quickly to mind are people I’ve read in the last 10 years and I know there were many others prior to that. I am sure with a little more time many others would come to mind. To feature more of them I need to be intentional in seeking them out.

I decided to focus today’s deep dive on men and I’ve come up with a couple of writers I’ve not seen much of. I’m not going to share more than one at a time though or I may run out of material for future posts. I’m hoping that isn’t the case but you just never know.

Looking at the pricing on their books it seems to be structured differently for some of them. Maybe they don’t come up as bargains often enough for me to have noticed them. With that in mind, I think it would be a good idea to explore the possibility of ebooks through the public library. It would definitely help open up new possibilities. They may even have recommendations for me.

This first one is an author I’ve not read but a quick examination of his book has me wanting to.

Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales 

Amazon quote:

Landon Reed is an ex-quarterback convicted of organizing a points-shaving scheme. During his time in prison, he found forgiveness and faith and earned his law degree. Now he longs for an opportunity to prove his loyalty and worth. “Be careful what you ask for.“

Harry McNaughton is one of the founding partners of McNaughton & Clay—and the only lawyer willing to take a chance employing an ex-con-turned-lawyer. Though Landon initially questions Harry’s ethics and methods, it’s clear the crusty old lawyer has one of the most brilliant legal minds Landon has ever encountered. The two dive into preparing a defense for one of the highest-profile murder trials Virginia Beach has seen in decades when Harry is gunned down in what appears to be a random mugging. Then two more lawyers are killed when the firm’s private jet crashes. Authorities suspect someone has a vendetta against McNaughton & Clay, leaving Landon and the remaining partner as the final targets.

As Landon struggles to keep the firm together, he can’t help but wonder, is the plot related to a shady case from McNaughton & Clay’s past, or to the murder trial he’s neck-deep in now? And will he survive long enough to find out?

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I’m hoping you will check out this author with me. Chime in with your favorite authors too.

Happy Reading.

Remember, I’m looking for clean.

Clean doesn’t mean boring. Not interested in boring.

Another read and enjoyed August 27, 2021

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This was a good story but not a favorite. Not a very good lead-off for something to do with a favorite author.

I’ve read many of her books and have positive thoughts whenever I see her name come up. But the truth is, not every book written is going to be the author’s best one. It wasn’t all bad though, really.

Vanished in the Night (Wrangler’s Corner Book 6) is the book in question.

The Amazon quote is really short so I’ll use it.

After saving Kaylee Martin from abduction and delivering her baby boy on the side of the road, Dr. Joshua Crawford can’t get them out of his mind.

Unfortunately, neither can Kaylee’s violent stalker. He’ll stop at nothing to get to the new mom and her child. Can Joshua keep them safe so they can become the family he’s dreamed about?

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It was a good story, when I stop and reflect honestly. It was well put together and had new and interesting twists and turns. I mean they weren’t entirely new, it was the variations that were new and fresh.

I enjoyed the characters. They were well developed and not always as they seemed. Which was good for the advancement of the story.

So, I enjoyed the read. Mostly. There was one just one frustrating element. I know it happens in real life. We get lost in our heads, fixated on certain aspects that we worry to death. It works in real life but in a book it’s annoying, reading the same pieces of information over and over. It’s OK to reflect real life, but it pays to look at things from a reader’s perspective, to avoid frustrating them.

Overall, I liked the book and Lynette Eason is not in any danger of removal from my favorite authors list.

Now that I’ve said my piece I can figure out what I’d like to read next.

Happy Reading.

Bargain books August 25, 2021

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BookBub has a suggestion for us, a book that’s been in my file since 2013. It says I’ve read it but scanning the first few pages I have to say I’m not remembering. It’s on it’s way to my device for a refresher.

The Forever Stone (The Dumont Chronicles Book 1)

Amazon quote:

The paperweight—a summons to courage . . . A new home, new love, new fears . . . and a mystery. How will she face the challenge? And what does God have in mind? ~ Madeleine, a young widow, is determined to break free from her paralyzing memories and controlling family.

The paperweight, a gift from her father, spurs her to declare independence, and she joins her aunt’s house-restoration project in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Two men enter her life, bringing joy, conflict, and danger. She’ll need courage to fight the treachery she discovers, and faith to step into a new life of promise. Can she do it?

THE DUMONT CHRONICLES

The Dumont family, French Huguenots, settled in New Jersey during Colonial days. Certain Dumont women led adventurous lives, and they held in common the gifts of artistry, courage, and a growing faith in God. Madeleine Dumont Burke is one of them.

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1531 Entertainment has a suggestion from a mystery writer we see often.

Rosemary Cottage (The Hope Beach Series Book 2)

Amy came to Rosemary Cottage to grieve, to heal, maybe even find love. But there’s a deadly undertow of secrets around Hope Island . . .

The charming Rosemary Cottage on the beach offers Amy Lange respite she needs to mourn her brother, Ben. She’s even thinking of moving her midwife practice to the Outer Banks community. It’s always been a refuge for her and her family. She also wants to investigate Ben’s disappearance at sea. Everyone blames a surfing accident, but Amy has reason to wonder.

Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland has lost a sibling too. His sister, Gina, was run down by a boat, leaving him to raise her infant daughter. If anyone knew who little Raine’s father was, Curtis could lose his beloved niece. Yet he can’t help being drawn to Hope Beach’s new midwife, Amy. He even agrees to help her investigate what happened to both Ben and Gina.

Can two grieving people with secrets find healing on beautiful Hope Island? Or will their quest for truth set them at odds with each other…and with those who will go to any length to keep hidden things hidden?

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That’s it. That’s all there is for today.

Tomorrow may be better. In the meantime …

Happy Reading

Bargain books August 23, 2021

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1531 Entertainment has a bargain suggestion from one of my favorite mystery writers. The sequel is also at a bargain price and I can’t help but go for both of them.

Silent Night Standoff: Faith in the Face of Crime (First Responders Book 1)

Amazon quote:

HOSTAGE SITUATION 

When armed robbers strike her bank, hostage negotiator Skyler Brennan’s life is on the line. Rescue comes from the last person she thought she could count on—the ex-boyfriend who chose his job over their relationship.

FBI agent Logan Hunter knows how much is resting on this case. The promotion of his dreams…and the safety of the woman he’s never been able to forget. But when an unexpected twist in the case pulls Logan in two separate directions, he’ll have to make an impossible choice.

Will he manage to have it all by Christmas—a career and love—or will he lose them both? 

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Explosive Alliance: Faith in the Face of Crime (First Responders Book 2)

Amazon quote:

RACE AGAINST TIME 

The last thing Krista Curry expected to find in a soccer stadium was a time bomb. When she alerts explosives expert Cash Dixon, she becomes a local hero. But the attention could expose her real name—and the infamous past she fought to escape.

Cash promises Krista protection from the bomber’s retaliation. Yet she hesitates to trust him as she sees his suspicion about her grow with every question she dodges. She can’t expect Cash to continue to safeguard her unless she tells him the truth.

Now Cash must decide if she’s an innocent woman or guilty accomplice. But the clock is ticking down—and the real bomber is still on the loose…

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This has been a good day for new books.

Currently I’m reading a piece that’s fluffy compared to hostage situations and bomb threats, but hey, fluff is good once in a while, right? It’s not total fluff though. It’s definitely got some angst and misunderstandings going on. They do say that tension makes a good story.

Love at Wild Harbor (Wild Harbor Beach Book 1)

One chocolate shop. Two fixer uppers. Three feisty sisters. One sweet love story to bring it all together.

Lily Woods never expected to start life over again at thirty. But when she opens a chocolate shop and buys a dilapidated beach cottage in Wild Harbor, she’s ready to begin a new chapter, spending her days and nights creating fabulous chocolate treats.

TV star Alex Briggs isn’t about to put his heart on the line. He’s finally landed his dream job as the host of a wildly popular home renovation show. Now he’s returning to Wild Harbor to flip a beach cottage, but he never imagined the project would land him next to the captivating girl who rejected him in high school.

Alex never recovered the piece of his heart he gave to Lily all those years ago. How will he keep his distance now that he can’t escape the girl next door?

Lily’s determined to fix up her beach bungalow on her terms, but Alex isn’t about to let her do it alone. Before Lily can stop him, Alex is on a mission to renovate her home and prove he’s the kind of man she can trust. But secrets from their past threaten to destroy their relationship before it begins.

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Happy Reading!

Bargain books August 22, 2021

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us. I’ve not read this author and haven’t checked out this book beyond a few pages to determine if he can write. It seems he can and from the little I’ve seen so far, I want to read this book.

Dead Man’s Journey (The Unseen Series Book 1)

Amazon quote:

A dangerous invention.
An invisible realm.
One man’s deadly search for answers begins.

When Aaron Fitzpatrick is called away from his army base in northern Australia, he is told that his father’s body has been found, missing one finger and far away from his usual jogging route.

Confused and sceptical, Aaron can’t help but suspect foul play when he learns his dad’s death isn’t the only local oddity. Several of Brisbane’s homeless have seemingly vanished from the earth, only to be returned after a wildly unsettling experience…

As Aaron investigates his father’s death, all signs point to a sinister device that is manipulating the boundaries between the earthly and spiritual realms.

When Aaron’s childhood sweetheart becomes an unwitting victim of the deadly scheme, he has just one chance to save the girl he loves from a madman with unimaginable power.

Could a reverend with the key to resurrection be the saviour of Aaron’s rescue mission? Or is he destined to lose all those he holds dear?

Dead Man’s Journey (The Unseen Series #1) is a thrilling and adventurous piece of Christian speculative fiction that asks the big questions, while delivering a stellar plot and a memorable cast of characters.

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Interesting.

I had been participating in a fellow bloggers weekly story prompt for quite some time but was on an extended break. With no clear plans to rejoin. This week I took the bait and wrote a piece, on Friday. It’s not been posted yet but will be in a few hours. Judging by the opening paragraphs, it seems this book fits with today’s story prompt.

Interesting.

Read and enjoyed – Vestige of Courage & Grave Consequences

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Two books. Enjoyed for the same reason.

Different genres with each covering different time periods. Past and present. There were many similarities with these books but there was one major difference.

There was one shared effect that I found intriguing. There are huge differences in the culture of the times and both authors highlighted the differences in interesting ways. By the end I think we had gained an appreciation for the lives our ancestors had to live.

Most of us cannot imagine living without our modern conveniences. On the other hand, if all you’ve ever known is the old style way of life, a sudden exposure to modern life would be traumatic. I think Vestige of Courage did a very good job of making that point. The time travelling character was about undone with some of her first time experiences with modern technology. It was eye opening to see our electronic life from her perspective.

I’ve often thought about that very thing. My grandmother died in 1976 before electronics started taking off. I’ve often thought about what her reaction would look like if she could suddenly come back now in 2021, with all the advances that have been made. Her mind would be blown. Imagine what it would be like for someone from the 1870s, still dependent on a very primitive way of life. Incomprehensible. It’s kind of cool when I think about it. I think the reader will be left with a new appreciation and a new perspective.

Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed both books.

In this first one a young lady from 1879 is suddenly thrust into the year 2019

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



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 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.

Torn between the past and the promise of a better future, can Beatrice and Chase move forward and grasp the vestige of courage buried deep within?

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This next one is a mystery. A killer needs to be discovered and while everyone in the story is living in the present the clues are all rooted in the past. And, some of those living in the present have found themselves stuck in the past. Too many secrets were tying them there.

Grave Consequences

Sometimes finding the living is more difficult than searching for the dead.

In 1968, twenty-six-year-old Charlotte Graves wrestles with more than just her decision to return to her hometown, Loblolly, Alabama—she is also fleeing a broken heart, colliding headlong into a second one, and about to stumble onto a deadly secret.

Now settled back in Loblolly, Charlotte is hired to oversee the Woodville County Historical Society, a job she was born for. But no sooner has she banged the gavel to bring order to the first meeting than she is accused of being incompetent to lead the group by her old nemesis, Boopsie Sweets. Later that night, she finds herself arrested by her old beau, the current deputy sheriff, Roan Steele, for killing Boopsie.

After being released on bail, Charlotte uses her skills as a genealogist to leap into the investigation. And when Charlotte goes digging up dirt, she unearths a long-kept family secret. Will it lead to Boopsie’s murderer … or to grave consequences for Charlotte and her family?

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I loved the resourceful characters in these books too.

I would definitely read both of them a second time.

Happy Reading

Free and bargain books August 18, 2021

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We have a nice bunch of FREE and bargain suggestions today, most of them authors I’ve not read.

The first one is brought to us from BookBub, a great resource for book suggestions.

When Love Returns (Small Town second chance Christian Romance): A Small Town Romance Novel (Star Lake Book 2)

Amazon quote:

Can a daughter’s love rekindle an old flame?

Presley Hays and Brandon Scott were best friends in High School until Morgan entered their town and stole Brandon’s heart. Devastated, Presley took a scholarship to Le Cordon Bleu, but five years later, she is back in Star Lake after a tough breakup.

Brandon thought he’d never return to Star Lake after Morgan left him and his daughter Joy, but when his father needs help, he returns home and finds more than he bargained for.

Can Presley and Brandon forget past hurts or will their stubborn natures keep them apart forever?

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1531 Entertainment is responsible for the next three suggestions.

Grave Consequences

Amazon quote:

Sometimes finding the living is more difficult than searching for the dead.

In 1968, twenty-six-year-old Charlotte Graves wrestles with more than just her decision to return to her hometown, Loblolly, Alabama—she is also fleeing a broken heart, colliding headlong into a second one, and about to stumble onto a deadly secret.

Now settled back in Loblolly, Charlotte is hired to oversee the Woodville County Historical Society, a job she was born for. But no sooner has she banged the gavel to bring order to the first meeting than she is accused of being incompetent to lead the group by her old nemesis, Boopsie Sweets. Later that night, she finds herself arrested by her old beau, the current deputy sheriff, Roan Steele, for killing Boopsie.

After being released on bail, Charlotte uses her skills as a genealogist to leap into the investigation. And when Charlotte goes digging up dirt, she unearths a long-kept family secret. Will it lead to Boopsie’s murderer … or to grave consequences for Charlotte and her family?

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Deep End of the Lake

Amazon quote:

Who Says Giving Up Dreams Isn’t Success?

Ally Cervantes has all she wants in life—an upcoming wedding, a chance to prove herself with a writing gig, and two great kids. But her life turns for the worse when the unexpected happen and she soon finds herself struggling with a rebellious teen daughter, a shaky job, and a shakier engagement. With her newfound faith acting as a life preserver, Ally discovers if you’re in the deep end of the lake, you’d better learn how to swim.

Although fiction, Deep End of the Lake, is written from the authors’ personal compassion for families who have the privilege and responsibility to care for a child with a disability. Having worked with autistic students, Carol has seen first-hand the stress and demands these parents face and wanted to capture in a story those pressures, all while providing the encouragement that a beautiful hope and faith can bring into the struggles.

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Abigail’s Secret 

Amazon quote:

Newly widowed mother Abby Baker goes home to Hope Harbor to help her ailing mother and restart her life. Weighed down by grief and fear of failure, she wishes she had the strength of her grandmother, who raised a young child alone while taking on the role of lighthouse keeper after her husband drowned. What was the secret of Granny Abigail’s strength?

Carson Stevens is a lighthouse enthusiast who has bought the deteriorating Hope Island lighthouse to restore it and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. When he meets Abby, he wants the attractive granddaughter of the former keepers to be part of the restoration. 

As Abby and Carson work together, they uncover clues to a family secret that threatens to change Abby’s life forever. But someone is trying to sabotage their efforts at restoration.

Renovating the old lighthouse is Abby and Carson’s goal, but as they grow closer, they discover that what they’ve really needed is a renovation of their hearts.

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There seems to be a nice variety in story treatments and I’m looking forward to checking these out.

I’ve also found more interesting bargains but I’ll save them for another post.

Happy Reading!