thriller

Free and bargain books June 10, 2021

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1531 Entertainment had a bargain suggestion for us today from one of our often seen authors.

Tidewater Inn (The Hope Beach Series Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

“Old architecture, a missing woman, a sudden inheritance, and a great mystery with unexpected twists make this a hard-to-put-down book . . .” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author

Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby’s under suspicion for the crime.

Libby’s dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

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A nice surprise, a FREE book showed up for another favorite, often appearing, author. I have the first three books in this series, I think I’d better read them before I read this new one. I have read book one but it’s been awhile and I need a refresher.

Expired Game (Last Chance County Book 5)

Amazon quote:

She won’t stop working to bring down West and save the town.

He’ll never admit he might be the one standing in her way.

Officer Jessica Ridgeman wants to make detective. But her drive to bring down West runs deeper even than that. When the local crime lord fights back in repeated attempts to kill her, she knows she’s onto something.

Ted Cartwright is the PD tech guy. But what Last Chance’s finest don’t know can’t hinder their work to take down West. If he can keep his past a secret, they’ll never have to discover their trust in him is misplaced.

When Ted’s dark past teams up with West, Jess and Ted must reveal their closely held secrets and risk it all to survive. From the wilds of the mountains around town to the deepest part of the lake…the hunt is on.

But who is the prey?

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I’m currently reading & enjoying a book that is still a bargain. I’m not sure what I was expecting from the look of the cover, but it wasn’t to like this book as much as I do. I haven’t read it in one sitting but I sure wanted to.

Cry in the Wilderness (Acts of Valor, Book 3)

-Present Day, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma–

Rachel LeMere is certain she’ll never love again. It’s taken three years to move past the tragic death of her husband and high-school sweetheart, Blake.

Rachel’s adoptive brother, a military lawyer, has managed to gain shared custody of her twelve-year-old son, Liam. Forced to live with her brother and endure his cruelty, Rachel promises her son they will escape to freedom and a new life. If only she can convince Blake’s best friend, Saul, to help them escape.

Legendary Navy SEAL Saul Wade is headed to Oklahoma to reclaim the ranch where he grew up. It’s bad enough Saul has to face his tragic past. Honor also demands he risk his entire career by helping a woman he scarcely knows.

What begins as a debt to a friend sets Saul on a journey of forgiveness, healing, and love. But when evil threatens his and Rachel’s burgeoning relationship, Saul is forced to make a life-changing decision—remain America’s top sniper or allow God’s grace to give him a whole new reason for living.

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It has been a good day for books.

Now, I’m off to finish this current one so I’ll be ready for the next in line.

Happy Reading!

A little of this and that.

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My mind is mush these days, too many distractions going on and it’s hard to think up something good to write. Hopefully, just starting will work for me one more time.

The first thing on my mind is a book I finished earlier today. It was an ok book but I only gave it 3 stars and I think I’m feeling a little guilty about that. It’s true, it was only worth that to me but I feel bad saying it out loud.

I’m pretty sure my assessment fell under the category of personal opinion rather than technical deficiencies.

I’m not a big fan of emotional struggles within the characters, with them spending most of their time on internal dialogue with themselves. Both main characters were caught up in their own issues and between them, all this thinking took up a major chunk of the story.

Did I mention I’m not a big fan of this writing technique? I prefer to see action of some sort moving the story along.

I don’t think there is a fix for the weakness in this case. It would take a rewrite with a different approach and in the end it would be a whole new book.

Like I say, I think my assessment was personal preference. I’m sure many could disagree with me and love the book.

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I’ve spent the weekend diligently reading, trying to catch up a little with the growing backlog of unread books. This means I’m also accumulating a backlog of read books. I think I will add the covers here just to get them gone. Nothing stood out as special these last few days, that’s probably why I could motor through them so quickly.

Although, I did like Double Agent pretty well.

Double Agent: Faith in the Face of Crime (Love Inspired Suspense Book 1) 

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Read and mostly enjoyed.

Well, I wasn’t planning on spending so much time with books on this post but it has been good to clean things up a bit.

And besides, if I’m honest, I’m listening to a live podcast while I’m doing this. Not exactly the best way to come up with an awesome post.

I’ll try a this & that post another day to see if I can’t do a better job of it.

In the meantime,

Happy Reading!

Free and Bargain books May 27, 2021

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An interesting bargain collection showed while I was browsing and it looks like it will be a good introduction to authors new to me. The publish date is October, it’s a low price with 15 stories, Mystery and Suspense. $0.99 until October 12th. Enticing.

Dangerous Pursuits: 15 Stories From Today’s Most Popular Mystery and Suspense Authors

The chill of fall brings with it a hint of peril in Dangerous Pursuits, a clean and Christian suspense anthology featuring some of today’s most popular female authors.

Start your fall off right with 15 gripping tales of Clean and Christian suspense from today’s most popular ladies of mystery and suspense.

Join Mary Alford, Lisa Harris, Therese Heckenkamp, Cynthia Hickey, Gina Holder, Ronie Kendig, Dana R Lynn, Shirlee McCoy, Dana Mentink, J. Carol Nemeth, Cara Putman, Sharee Stover, Terri Reed, Alana Terry, Lenora Worth on a dangerous journey filled with mystery and suspense that will keep you turning pages until the very. Last. One.

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I found a previously experienced author with a FREE novella. This doesn’t look much like my previous reads for this author. The way I look at things, that’s always a good thing.

The Warrior’s Seal (The Tox Files): A Tox Files Novella

Amazon quote:

A Special Forces team is thrust into a war with the past to save the president after an artifact unleashes a deadly toxin.

Special Forces operative Cole “Tox” Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue–the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.

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Currently, I’m reading a four book collection and books 1 and 4 are my favorites.

Once Upon a Summer: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

Here is what it says about my favorites:

A New Beginning — Who is she? Acacia Martin raised by an impostor mom serving a prison sentence for her sins, or Jasmine Callahan abducted at birth from a family she’s yet to meet? Luckily, she has Drake to help her untangle the mess that is her life. Will he ensnare her he art in the process?

Unkissable — Reality diva Charlotte Lavigne’s on-camera meltdown reminds former teen-TV prince Jaime Reyes exactly why he left Hollywood ten years ago. A chance encounter leads to a bargain that transforms them both. When it’s time to face her past, will their rediscovered love be strong enough to build a future together?

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It has been a beautiful day today. The world looked lovely with rich greens, blue skies and awakening perennials sprouting up everywhere. So pretty.

It makes the thought of yard work seem worthwhile.

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books May 25, 2021

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Finally I have a moment, and a few things to share.

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us that is intriguing. I know I use that word a lot but in this case it is probably truer than usual. I’ve only read the first chapter and the synopsis and I want to see where this story is going.

The Morning Light: never passes us

Amazon quote:

Poetic, engaging and original, The Morning Light is a charming story of discovering the ancient and shared voice within each of us.
A violin maker’s story of music, craftsmanship and the seeking of serenity set against homelessness, twists of fate and a never ending desire to reproduce the sweet and soulful sound of a grandfather’s violin, fine-tuned to play with a resonance that connects the heart.

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BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us. This is book 1 in a series. A year ago we were offered book 4 and I think if I remember right it was a good read.

A Match to Call Ours (Front Porch Promises Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

Brittany Gorman needs a job, but nanny to six-year-old twin girls isn’t exactly what she’s looking for. Their single father, Parker Watson, isn’t sure hiring Brittany is the right move, but he’s desperate for help.

Soon Brittany is charming the twins and their father as well. But Parker still clings to the bitterness of his past, a past that has made him a recluse on his isolated Montana ranch, distanced him from God, and kept him from finding love.

Can Brittany’s prayers and two little matchmakers soften Parker’s heart and help him find love with his perfect Montana match?

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I’m currently reading a mystery/suspense novel. I’ve only just started and I’m anxious to get back to it.

Wow. Believe it when I say you need to hurry, these great bargains don’t last long. 4 days later and it’s lost the attractive price.

It has started off with a bang and is still a good read though.

Secrets and Suspense: A Clean Romantic Suspense (The Men of Fire Beach Book 4)

There’s trouble brewing in Fire Beach!

Cara Hunter owns the bed and breakfast in town, but before she came to Fire Beach, she was in the military. Strangely, no one seems to know exactly what she did when she was in the military, but when Bubba and Makenna find her unconscious on the floor, her past may finally get revealed.

Cole Davenport is a criminal investigator whose lead suspect is Cara Hunter, but when he meets her, he has a hard time believing she’s a killer. When he gets caught up in Cara’s past, will he be able to help her? Or will he lose his life in the process?

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Actually I have two books going on right now, I needed a break.

The first book is sci-fi. It is long and has many battles with even more factions. I’m enjoying it and cheering for the good guys but need a cleansing of the palette to continue on.

No wonder it seems so long, I had forgotten it’s over 600 pages. 668 to be precise.

Patriot Star

It doesn’t get much worse than the prospect of a three-way civil war, and in a global superpower grown arrogant and complacent in its prosperity, one influential man leads the peaceful charge against corruption and tyranny, while others plot more radical solutions. Council Minister Merak Dorvallen’s allies are few, and now his youngest son Coren, a Lieutenant in the vaunted Irrianite military, is the target of government assassins. Desperate, Merak reaches out to Ohrim Sunvail, an old friend in exile who harbors potentially helpful secrets. Ohrim’s exceptionally competent and head-strong daughter Mei’ Shera accepts the assignment and thwarts the assassins, setting in accelerated motion events that will shape a drastically different future for Irrianon.

In the midst of the chaos, scientists in Irrianon have secretly cracked the code for interstellar space travel, which will shape a drastically different future for the entire planet of Toryl, especially when they find a sister planet of humans only a few years behind in technology. The winner of the Irrianite civil war will lay a solid first claim on the stars, unlocking a universe of possibilities for both progress and potential disaster.

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It’s a good time to read right now at my house. The sky is a heavy gray and the wind has been ferocious off and on most of the day and night. The perfect time to curl up with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea.

I’ve had a productive work time over the last few days and the resulting euphoria makes reading time even sweeter.

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I hope you are enjoying it too.

Happy Reading!

Free books May 20, 2021

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. It turns out I have read this author once but it was six years ago. Too far back to remember clearly. Looking at the blurb, I wasn’t sure how to feel about this one but then there were some interesting reviews and the price was right, so why not.

I’ve read the first chapter or two (I’ve lost track for sure, always a good sign) and I think I’m gonna like this book.

If you are like me and the synopsis doesn’t grab your attention, read the first chapter. You just might like it.

Dupree’s Rebirth (The Adam Dupree Romantic Suspense Quadrilogy Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Sometimes life’s greatest mystery is finding yourself
Adam Dupree is at a literal crossroad of life. Dupree’s life has become a living hell and it’s time to make a change. Turn right and end it. Or, turn left, break free, and see where life takes him.

That one decision sends Dupree on an epic journey of rediscovery as he attempts to understand the mystery inside himself. Moving down a literal and figurative highway, his life attains meaning by defending the weak, protecting the poor and standing up for what is right in an unjust world.

As he re-discovers the thrill of being alive, Dupree becomes a hero, victim, and healer. But above all, he becomes a man with a purpose in life.

From deep Southern California, up the Great Central Valley, through Oregon and into Washington. Along the way, Dupree meets a cross-section of America. Some good, some bad, some givers and some takers.

Part JOHN STEINBECK, part WILLIAM FAULKNER, part MARK TWAIN, but all Micheal Maxwell.

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This next FREE book was recommended on author Chautona Havig’s Facebook page.

Again, I found myself reading the first few pages to see if it would be boring. I’m going to go for it. This is an author I’ve not read before but the price is right.

Patriot Star

Amazon quote:

It doesn’t get much worse than the prospect of a three-way civil war, and in a global superpower grown arrogant and complacent in its prosperity, one influential man leads the peaceful charge against corruption and tyranny, while others plot more radical solutions. Council Minister Merak Dorvallen’s allies are few, and now his youngest son Coren, a Lieutenant in the vaunted Irrianite military, is the target of government assassins. Desperate, Merak reaches out to Ohrim Sunvail, an old friend in exile who harbors potentially helpful secrets. Ohrim’s exceptionally competent and head-strong daughter Mei’ Shera accepts the assignment and thwarts the assassins, setting in accelerated motion events that will shape a drastically different future for Irrianon.

In the midst of the chaos, scientists in Irrianon have secretly cracked the code for interstellar space travel, which will shape a drastically different future for the entire planet of Toryl, especially when they find a sister planet of humans only a few years behind in technology. The winner of the Irrianite civil war will lay a solid first claim on the stars, unlocking a universe of possibilities for both progress and potential disaster.

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Two free books is awesome, considering I thought we were done for the day.

I’m going to curl up with a cozy blanket. I’m freezing.

The weather turned cool after the blistering heat of a few days ago and my system is not loving it. The fast change from 30c to 12c is just too much to bear. Besides, it went from dry to humid as well. Thunder and lightening. Rain. The plants are loving it. The gardens are turning green over night. Too bad the weeds are outpacing the good stuff.

That’s a lament for anther day.

Happy Reading!

bargain book May 13, 2021

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One book found today. This author is new to me, although I think she may have been involved in one of many collections we’ve had lately. I’m looking forward to meeting Denise Hunter.

Married ’til Monday (A Chapel Springs Romance Book 4)

Amazon quote:

With a big anniversary party in the works for his ex-wife’s parents, Ryan has just one weekend to play Abby’s husband . . . and win back the woman of his dreams.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive two-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Summer Harbor, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. It’s just a one-week road trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

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My current read…

Haven of Swans: (previously published as Abomination) (Rock Harbor)

Amazon quote:

A beautiful woman stands by the side of the road, barefoot and bleeding, a child in her arms. Someone just tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t recognize him if she saw his face. She doesn’t even remember her own name.

A suburban cop surveys a kitchen in disarray—a woman and child missing, a chilling note. This crime scene is unlike any he has ever seen.

The man who calls himself Gideon waits and plans. He sees himself as a destroyer of evil, one who rids the world of abominations. He has already killed five. He will kill again.

And somewhere in the wilderness, in a secret geocache near where the wild swans gather, lies the unspeakable clue that links them all together.

Michigan’s rugged and beautiful Upper Peninsula is the setting for this absorbing tale of love and loss, beauty and terror, grievous sins and second chances. A deftly woven thriller from the bestselling author of the Rock Harbor novels.

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Happy Reading

Bargain books May 6, 2021

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Four new good looking treasures. Awesome.

One, I have already but want to mention it anyway. I’ve not read it yet but it is supposed to be good.

Traces by Denise Weimer

Amazon quote:

Even if she evades The Eye, someone wants her silenced.

When a failed romance and a $500,000 prize lure Kate Carson into participating in the reality TV show, Traces, the least she expects is to pick her partner. After all, she’s the PR spokeswoman of the company that derived a thirteen-lens, rotating camera from military use and installed it atop Atlanta’s tallest skyscraper. But she never would have chosen to evade techno hunters for twenty days with “G.I. Joe.”

Stoic, ex-military Alex Mitchell is the sort of man she always vowed to avoid, while the shadows of Alex’s past cause him to spurn emotional involvement. When Kate’s insider knowledge makes her a target of someone more threatening than game show hunters, Alex offers her only hope to reveal the dark plans of proponents of The Eye.

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Looking through the suggestion strips uncovered three more I’m excited to read.

I see I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books in this next series.

Starstruck in Willow Falls (Willow Falls Series Book 3) 

Amazon quote:

An acting career on the brink of failure. An upstaged debut novel. A wedding turned into a country-fried spectacle. Book three in the award-winning Willow Falls series has it all.

When a film crew and famous movie stars swoop into Willow Falls to film a full-length motion picture, the small town’s new normal as a popular North Georgia tourist destination is thrown into chaos.

Rachel Streetman fears her life-long dream to act is drifting into oblivion and leaving behind bitter regret. Weeks away from marrying Charlie Bricker, their relationship is tested after she auditions for a role opposite a handsome actor notorious for marrying his co-stars.    

Timing couldn’t be worse for Emily Hayes. Her debut novel arrives two days before residents read about the movie-crew invasion in the local paper. The town’s number one gossip accuses Emily of using her editor position to keep the news a secret and give her sister an audition advantage. When Emily and Rachel accept the job as the director’s liaisons, their patience is stretched to the limit by starstruck residents, demanding stage mothers, and wannabe stars.

When Sadie Liles’ budding relationship with Charlie’s father is threatened by an unexpected visitor, the townsfolk rally to stage a protest as American as sweet-potato pie. Will their efforts pay off or drive Brick away forever?

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This next one is a new-to-me author. The first few paragraphs do look interesting.

The Perfect Spy: A Clean Romantic Suspense (An Untapped Source Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

She’s got the best undercover crew. But will a sinister secret undo them?

Kate Ross has lost way too much in the last six months. With her mother’s death from breast cancer, an agent she handled killed on the job, and her career in jeopardy, the beleaguered CIA officer’s faith in God seems like another casualty. So she’s relieved to be offered a shot at redemption by managing an innovative team of “mom spies”… until they saddle her with a more experienced man as a babysitter.

Battling self-doubt and a loss of confidence in her espionage skills, Kate directs a smoothly successful first mission for the unit. But just as she opens up to her kind and encouraging supervisor, she suspects he’s withholding key information when the subject of their next assignment is his ex-wife. And the only solution to her predicament may be prayers she has no expectation will be answered.

Can Kate find the guiding light to solve the case before her personal crisis threatens national security?

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This next one will be a difficult read. It exposes the abusive fraudulent and hopefully, also shows the kindness of real. Reading the first two pages I’m rooting for someone to stand up and say enough. I want to read more.

Love the Lord Your God with all your heart (The Cooper Family Book 1)

Amazon quote:

AJ Carter lives in a recurring nightmare. On the outside, her family are model citizens, outstanding Christians. There is a lot more going on under the surface than anybody, except for her best friend, knows. She has been a Christian all her life. But God… she feels that He’s just not interested in what happens in her life.

Mac Cooper has his own battles to fight. He has learned that he can’t fight them alone, that he needs help from the Lord. When he is given an opportunity to help AJ out, he finds himself very intrigued by her. But will God help him earn her trust? And perhaps her love?

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Last but not least, we have a change of pace with a fifth book. Kind of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast

The Billionaire Recluse: A Beauty and the Beast Romance Retelling (A Billionaire’s Tale Romance Series Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

He sees a beast, but she sees the beauty within.

With severe burn scars to over half his body, billionaire, Sebastian Bryant keeps himself locked away in his home where he lives and works as CEO in the family business. After almost losing his daughter in the same house fire that took his wife, Sebastian has no idea how to care for the child, nor can he seem to keep a nanny on his employment roster for very long before his daughter scares them away.

Isabel Jordan has just broken up with her self-centered boyfriend and moves back home with her eccentric, inventor father who has somehow managed to put the family home in jeopardy. When she sees an online ad for a nanny position, she applies for the position, hoping to help dig her father out of his debt and save the home she grew up in.

Pressured by his mother to hire a suitable nanny, and finding Isabel only a step above the others, Sebastian hires her to care for his daughter. With his brother biting at the bit for the CEO position, Sebastian’s mother warns him that he can be replaced if he can’t manage to keep a nanny on to care for his daughter.

Isabel can hardly stand the self-loathing billionaire, but if she quits, her father will lose his home.

Forced to spend each day together, Isabel finds the beauty hidden beneath his scars and a little girl begging for the affections of her beastly father. If only she could make him see what she sees.

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I’d better quit while I’m ahead. There were three or four more possibles so I added them to my wish list. That will help me find them again. I can revisit them tomorrow and hopefully they will still a bargain.

I’m scared to tally up my book spending for last month, I have a feeling I’ve gone over budget, again. I have a feeling this month may not do so well either, the way things are going.

Oh well. I’m having fun.

I hope you are too.

Happy reading y’all.

Bargain books May 04, 2021

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We have a few more bargains than usual today which is very nice, and they look to be top shelf which makes it even better.

1531 Entertainment has two suggestions. One is a new-to-me author and I’m really looking forward to meeting her. The other suggestion is from a favorite author I’m happy to see again.

The Butterfly and the Violin (A Hidden Masterpiece Novel Book 1)

Amazon quote:

A Mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz–and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.
Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl–a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.
In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover–the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul–who maybe the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting’s subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.

A darling of the Austrian aristocracy of 1942, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.

As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

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Haven of Swans: (previously published as Abomination) (Rock Harbor)

Amazon quote:

A beautiful woman stands by the side of the road, barefoot and bleeding, a child in her arms. Someone just tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t recognize him if she saw his face. She doesn’t even remember her own name.

A suburban cop surveys a kitchen in disarray—a woman and child missing, a chilling note. This crime scene is unlike any he has ever seen.

The man who calls himself Gideon waits and plans. He sees himself as a destroyer of evil, one who rids the world of abominations. He has already killed five. He will kill again.

And somewhere in the wilderness, in a secret geocache near where the wild swans gather, lies the unspeakable clue that links them all together.

Michigan’s rugged and beautiful Upper Peninsula is the setting for this absorbing tale of love and loss, beauty and terror, grievous sins and second chances. A deftly woven thriller from the bestselling author of the Rock Harbor novels.

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BookBub has a suggestion. It’s romance that may turn out to not be a light read. I’ve enjoyed this author before though so I’m looking forward to finding out what this book is all about.

Daisy’s Decision: A Christian Romance (Dixon Brothers Book 4)

Amazon quote:

Ever since the sixth grade, Daisy Ruiz loved Ken Dixon from afar and spent her entire youth pining for him. Ken, the youngest of identical triplet brothers, never even noticed her crush.

Today, Daisy lives her life serving her loved ones and her family’s ministry, Gálatas Seis, where she acts as Executive Director. As the daughter of a youth pastor, she understands the importance of ministry and teaches a women’s Bible study. The sudden discovery that she’s pregnant—and her baby’s lying married father wants nothing more to do with her or the baby—threatens her ministry and her entire reputation.

Solemn, sober, solitary, and silent, Ken grew up in a mission-minded family and consistently seeks ways to serve society in the name of the Savior. He goes to Gálatas Seis with an offer to aid a family in need and recognizes his former youth pastor’s daughter leading the organization. While shocked at the chance meeting, the instant attraction he feels surprises him even more.

When Ken asks her out on a date, Daisy realizes her childhood dreams have literally come true after all this time. Even though she just found out she is pregnant, Daisy tells herself that just one little date won’t hurt anything.

But when they go out again and again, she soon finds herself in a full-blown relationship with hearts on the line. She can’t keep her secret much longer. Does she tell Ken about the baby? Can Ken love her baby, too? Or will he abandon her like the baby’s father did? Daisy has a decision to make.

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I’m excited about this next one, it was in the suggestion strip and looks different from anything we’ve read so far.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society 

Amazon quote:

Five strangers get the chance to rewrite their stories… 

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to reveal their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.  

“This captivating story full of heart, soul, and humor kept me turning pages until midnight to finish it. Rachel weaves the perfect amount of tension and opens possibilities to keep the reader pondering long after the story is over.  I loved it!” —Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author.

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I’m excited about today’s treasures, I hope you are too.

Happy Reading.

My favorite cover is the last one. It must be the window and the books!

Bargain books April 23rd Part 2

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I promised if anything else showed up I’d let you know. Well, it has. Book 1 in this new series by a favorite author was available last week and now book 2 is available this week. They are both at bargain prices… a good deal. I’ve read book 1 and I’m excited to see book 2 already.

Axel: a clean romantic suspense (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 2) 

Amazon quote:

Women are missing. Private security firm Blackout must find them before another victim disappears.

Axel Hendrix likes to live on the edge. That’s why being a Navy SEAL suited him so well. But after his last mission, he cut his losses and joined Blackout instead. His team’s latest case involves an undercover investigation on Lantern Beach.

Olivia Rollins came to the island to escape her problems—and danger. When trouble from her past shows up in town, she impulsively blurts she’s engaged to Axel, the womanizing man she’s seen while waitressing. Now, she may not be the only one in danger. So could Axel.

Axel knows Olivia might be his chance to find answers and that acting like her fiancé is the perfect cover for his latest assignment. But he doesn’t like throwing Olivia into the middle of such a dangerous situation. Nor is he comfortable with the feelings she stirs inside him. 

With Olivia’s life—as well as both their hearts—on the line, Axel must uncover the truth and stop an evil plan before more lives are destroyed.

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Book 1 in this series was my favorite read last week. I couldn’t put it down until the last page was turned. Here is the description as a refresher.

Rocco: a clean romantic suspense novel (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 1)

Former Navy SEAL and new Blackout recruit Rocco Foster is on a simple in and out mission. But the operation turns complicated when an unsuspecting woman wanders into the line of fire.

Peyton Ellison’s life mission is to sprinkle happiness on those around her. When a cupcake delivery turns into a fight for survival, she must trust her rescuer—a handsome stranger—to keep her safe.

Rocco is determined to figure out why someone is targeting Peyton. First, he must keep the intriguing woman safe and earn her trust. But threats continue to pummel them as incriminating evidence emerges and pits them against each other.

With time running out, the two must set aside both their growing attraction and their doubts about each other in order to work together. But the perilous facts they discover leave them wondering what exactly the truth is . . . and if the truth can be trusted.

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My current read is not easy. Lives are messy and people who should be loving are anything but. They are rigid and judgmental. This book is well written in that the story unfolds layer by layer. At 2/3 of the way through I have no solid idea how it might end. I have some guesses but there are too many unpredictable players to say for sure.

illusions (The Apple Hill Series Book 2) 

One reckless night. A lifetime of regret.

Corey Schaffer has spent her entire marriage privately repenting a horrible mistake made the week before her wedding. When her teenaged daughter is in car accident, Corey blames herself and aches to confess all to her husband.

Additionally, their son’s thoughtless rebellion has put her husband Paul’s pastoral position at risk, and he’s finding it hard to forgive. If he can’t forgive Michael how can he forgive her?

It all comes to a head when a disgruntled church member sees an opportunity for revenge.

Corey must dig deep to find the courage to help her family. Even if that means walking away.

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Until tomorrow,

Happy Reading!

Free book April 11, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub has a FREE suggestion for us today. I have a lot of respect for this author. He has a tender heart filled with wisdom and has a gift for sharing encouragement. I don’t know his full story but he must have one the way he can relate to our pain. He has written many books and has a robust online presence. It adds a new dimension to the impact of his message if you can experience the visual version of his wisdom.

Naked and Not Ashamed: It’s Time to Reveal What God Longs to Heal 

Amazon quote:

Secrets to Healing and Wholeness

Can you present your hurts and failures to  God without shame?

In this classic bestseller, Bishop T.D. Jakes brings encouragement that casts out the fear of vulnerability before God. When you can stand before God, unashamed, you can receive the healing He freely offers.

From the pain of a sick body to the sadness of a dying relationship, from the crushing blow of betrayal to the mental torment of reliving past mistakes—God longs to set you free and release cleansing rivers of mercy, forgiveness, and restoration into every hurting part of your life!

Discover how to:

  • Rest in God’s healing power as you honestly give Him your pain, fear, and hurt.
  • Live your life with confidence because you’ve learned how to break the power of guilt and shame.
  • Boldly access the power of Jesus’ blood and apply it to every area of brokenness you are facing. 

When you open your failures and hurts to God, He will open the floodgates of healing over you!

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T.D. Jakes has written many books, most of them non-fiction but there are a few novels mixed in. I’ve never read any of them but one caught my eye as I breezed past.

Cover Girls by T.D. Jakes

Amazon quote:

This compelling novel follows four women as they learn to balance children, estranged husbands, boyfriends, and problems at work through their faith in God.

Michelle, Tonya, Mrs. Judson, and Miz Ida. African-American, white, rich, poor — they seemingly have nothing in common. Yet every day they face the complex realities of twenty-first-century urban life as they try to balance their needs with their belief in God. Through the course of a year, these women must come to terms with the past, discover their true identities, and recognize the unexpected miracles that reveal God’s all-encompassing love.

These four women entertain us and invite us to join in their lives. As they welcome us, they also introduce us to the men in their lives. The men play supporting roles, adding color and zest to the lives of the Cover Girls.

Bishop Jakes knows the struggles real women encounter and the losses that make it difficult to face the future. He brings compassionate insight and deep wisdom to this novel and proves that he is not only a gifted preacher, but a born storyteller.

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Currently, I’m reading an engaging thriller. My favorite of the week from an author I’ve previously enjoyed at least four times. This experience has not disappointed and I am very happy. This book is still FREE so check it out if you enjoy thrillers and clean novels.

Mind Games (Kaely Quinn Profiler Book #1) 

Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.

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This has definitely been a slow week for great book suggestions that fit my free or bargain criteria.

I use this criteria for several reasons and I can’t figure out which one is more important. It’s a tie, I think.

For one thing, I use it as the only unemotional way I can come up with to narrow down the possibilities. I use clean as a filter too but it still leaves far to many choices. To be honest I can’t keep up with all of the downloads as it is. I need a filter with muscle.

I suppose I could resort to not ordering every book I mention but that creates another problem. I want to offer books that I know are worth the read. I can’t do that if I don’t read them or know the authors from previous reads.

The other reason, for the most part, that I stick to free and bargain is budget. It would be really easy for me to go over board on spending without restrictions of some sort.

The other thing I like about free and bargain is that it gives me a chance to liberally experience unknown authors. This privilege has been a blessing in so many ways. My favorite authors list has grown to be unbelievably long.

I’m hoping by focusing on free and bargain suggestions it will give you a chance to read books you might not otherwise too. It is so much fun to discover new loves.

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Happy reading y’all