thriller

Free and bargain books April 01, 2021

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I haven’t been here for a few days, I will have to make it up to you with some extra posts along the way. There has been some stress going on the last few days and when that happens it’s not been easy to feel motivated for writing. Today is better though. I discovered an email in my junk folder from a dear friend I haven’t seen in several decades, if not longer. Catching up with her and focusing on the positive has been a game changer for me today.

Another positive was finding out the frustrating Adobe issues I’ve been having at work lately (in my home office) was the fault of a dying mouse. It seems to be an epidemic. I have a stable full (I have no idea what you call a mouse habitat so we will go with stable) and they have been dropping off like flies, one by one. It’s probably due to them being triplets, all the same age.

I am now the proud owner of three new mice. Someone suggested I could use the unify app with just one mouse. I was seriously considering it until I mentioned I like to have both laptops running on the same table at the same time. If I tried to make that work I might feel like throwing something. It would take an awful lot to get me to that point but I can see a shared mouse just might do it. Actually, computer issues are a hot button issue when it comes to my patience levels. I work hard at keeping the peace. The price of three mice is worth it.

So, books was supposed to be the original topic of discussion before I went off the rails. Fortunately, or maybe not, there isn’t much today but BookRunes has a FREE suggestion by an author I’ve been enjoying lately.

Mind Games (Kaely Quinn Profiler Book #1)

Amazon quote:

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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I am currently reading and enjoying a book collection that is still a bargain price.

A Place to Belong: A Collection of 12 Heartwarming Novels with Animal Sidekicks

Family and friends you can depend on, close-knit communities who embrace you, and the special animal companions that have a knack for changing lives and bringing us purpose…

A PLACE TO BELONG has them all, ready and waiting for you. Immerse yourself in this 12-book collection of stories about women who rose to the challenges life threw their way and emerged stronger because of it.

New York Times bestselling author Melissa Storm joins established and emerging talent in the genre of Women’s Fiction to bring you a heartwarming set of novels to entertain, inspire, and to show you the ones you love amidst its pages.

Because home isn’t a place. It’s the people (and the animal friends) who give life its purpose.

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Happy Reading y’all

Bargain books March 20, 2021

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BookBub has an interesting suggestion for us, from an author we’ve seen before.

Out of Hiding

Amazon Quote:

After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents as a child, Sadie Lane was placed into Witness Protection. Now as an adult, she has a thriving business as a private investigator, but her biggest case is yet to come.

Sadie’s on the hunt to find the man who killed her parents—a brutal crime boss running a dangerous and corrupt syndicate.

Her quest for justice collides with FBI Special Agent Kip Moore who is targeting the organized crime network.

Sadie can’t trust anyone with her secrets—even Kip, but she must work with him to get the killer who forever changed her life. Sadie must put her faith in Kip even when it seems impossible to trust anyone. The secrets of her past catch up to her when she stares into the eyes of the murderer.

Can she keep her true identity secret long enough to bring the killer to justice?

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Another interesting book from an author we see often.

Night Fall: (Nighthawk Security Book 1)

Amazon quote:

She faces dangerous situations all the time…

Olympic downhill skier, Harper Young, knows what it’s like to look danger in the face. After all, she does it every time she races down a ski slope. She’s fine with that danger and even excels under the pressure, winning Olympic gold. And as a governor’s daughter, she’s familiar with receiving threats from the general public. But when a stalker turns his sights on Harper, she possesses zero skills to protect herself.

But she has no idea what lurks in the shadows.

Former Navy SEAL and ATF Agent, Aiden Byrd of Nighthawk Security is well versed in protection skills and knows the dangers she faces. Problem is, there’s an instant attraction between Aiden and Harper, and as Aiden and the Nighthawk team contract to protect her, he has to fight to remain professional. When the stalker grows bolder and tries to end Harper’s life, Aiden’s only hope in keeping her safe is to deny his feelings. Something that borders on impossible.

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Currently, I’m reading Tides of Duplicity

Tides of Duplicity (Coventry Saga) 

Amazon quote:

A jewelry heist, a kidnapping, and a choice. When Fitz’s sister disappears, he’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love. 

Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They have no good reason to leave the resort and hurry back to the harsh New England winter. They lost their parents, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. Besides, when Fitz meets and spends time with the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard.  

But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels—and he has the video evidence to prove it. As Shelby’s guardian, Fitz has to focus on caring for his sister, whether Tabby is innocent or guilty. He refuses to help the man—until he learns the mobster has abducted his sister.  

The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life. 

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books March 16, 2021

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us, I have read a couple of books from this author but it’s been a half dozen years or more. Glancing at this book, I’m liking what I see so far.

Into the Deep

Amazon quote:

While scuba diving in Mexico, Ben Dearinger finds a flash drive carrying a drug cartel’s deadly secrets. He does the only thing he can think of—he buries it fathoms deep. But the owners of drive want it back. They’ll stop at nothing to retrieve the evidence that could put a halt to their operation and sink the career of a few highly-placed U.S. politicians in the process.

Then the ruthless men sent to recover the drive find the perfect leverage – Ben’s ex-girlfriend. Though it hurts to admit, he has never gotten over Nikki and he’d do just about anything to protect her. But Nikki has secrets of her own, secrets that will put both their lives in jeopardy and send them plunging into the deep.

In Into the Deep Virginia Smith delivers a gripping story full of romance, intrigue, and fast-paced suspense.

Virginia Smith is the bestselling author of almost forty novels and many shorter works. Her passions include riding her motorcycle (a Bonneville T100 named Vicki) and scuba diving in the deep blue waters of the Caribbean. The recipient of numerous awards, Ginny has twice received the prestigious Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

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While checking out this author I noticed another of her books was also free . I’m hooked on this story after reading the first few pages. I meant it to be a glance but it ended up as perusal.

The Zookeeper’s Daughter

Amazon quote:

Attending a stranger’s memorial service wasn’t at the top of Kelli Jackson’s to-do list.

Especially when that stranger was her own mother.

To receive her inheritance Kelli must abide by the conditions of her late mother’s will. She is forced work as a zookeeper for six months with animals that terrify her. Since she needs to money to help support her aging grandmother, she must figure out a way to balance her career as a tax accountant with this new—thankfully temporary—assignment. But the zoo director is the same handsome man who stole her estranged mother’s affections and might just steal everything else too. Because if Kelli fails, Jason Andover inherits everything. How can she possibly get past her animosity when he watches her every move, waiting for her to throw in the towel?

But perhaps there’s another reason Jason focuses such close attention on her. Are the assignments he gives her devised to scare her off, or to help her overcome her fears? Does he really have designs on her mother’s money, or might he have designs on Kelli as well? The only thing she’s sure of is that Jason is hiding a secret past, one that could destroy any chance of a happy future together.

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Currently I’m reading a three book collection that feels like I’ve read it before. Some of the details are unfamiliar though so probably not.

Vacation Sweethearts Books 1-3: Smile for Me, Reach for Me, Wait for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Bundle Collection Book 1)

Book 1: Smile for Me (The Bahamas) – International Biracial Romance

A deadline-driven workaholic assistant school principal who meticulously plans his schedule months in advance meets easygoing art teacher and studio potter with no sense of time, living her life as the seasons come and go. When they cross paths again at the Summer by the Sea Day Camp sponsored by his church in Nassau, Bahamas, how can they get along if they cannot see eye to eye?

Book 2: Reach for Me (Great Smoky Mountains) – International Romance with a Side of Suspense

He leaves his homeland to protect his family.
She flees her hometown to abandon hers. 

At a remote mountaintop retreat, an optimistic triple amputee veteran of the British Special Forces meets a pessimistic American beauty in the valleys of their lives.

Book 3: Wait for Me (Alaska Cruise) – Second Chance Romance with a Side of Suspense

A divorced single dad with full custody of his son made a promise he now has to keep: invite his ex-wife to enjoy their son’s birthday gift: a seven-day cruise in Alaska. Can two people who have given up on each other put aside their emotions to make their five-year-old son happy for a week? What could possibly go wrong in this Christian romance with a sidearm of suspense?

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Have a good day everyone.

Happy Reading

Free and bargain books March 15, 2021

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LPC Books has some FREE suggestions for us. I can tell without looking that both of these authors are new to me.

I peeked in case my memory is a little faulty. For a change I was right. Definitely new to me.

Thicker than Blood by Don Brobst

Amazon quote:

Blood is thicker.
But is blood enough?

The murder of one old friend and the revelation of a secret life by another leads Dr. Bailey Pogue to risk his life by going undercover for the CIA. But when he exposes a plot by an international crime syndicate that threatens to upset the balance of power in the Middle East, the revelation comes at a price: the syndicate has kidnapped his daughter. Now he must stop the trafficking of young girls and rescue his daughter while remaining undercover.

Is saving those you love worth committing treason?

God
Family
Country
Will Pogue’s loyalties prove too high a price to pay?

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This one is YA, and it’s also FREE

One Degree of Freedom by Taryn R. Hutchison

Amazon quote:

Fifteen-year-old Adriana Nicu lives in the sheltered world of Bucharest, Romania, in the year 1987. Under the rule of Communist president Nicolae Ceaușescu, citizens of Bucharest live with the eyes and ears of the government ever present. Adriana’s future, which will involve becoming an engineer, is locked in against her will.

During a visit to her aunt’s apartment, Adriana walks through a wardrobe into a hidden room filled with stacks of forbidden novels. Stories bring light into the darkest of circumstances as her family begins to unravel and her life strangely parallels those of her novels’ heroines. Adriana’s childhood loyalties and her belief that God doesn’t exist are called into question as her circumstances force her to rethink things she once believed were certain.

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This next one I’ve read and it is a FREE suggestion from BookBub

Celebrating Tina: A Sweet Romantic Suspense (Stryker Security Force Book 3)

Amazon quote:

A K-9 handler determined to prove she belongs. A detective with an unwavering plan. Can they overcome their painful pasts and accept the gift of love?

Tina West has spent her life feeling like she stood on the outside, but since taking a job at Stryker Security, life seems to be turning for the better.

Tina never imagined when she took a job as a nanny she’d end up training for search and rescue. Yet, when her boss shows up with a retired military dog and the opportunity to train with him, Tina snatches up the chance to help those who are lost. If she saves enough people, maybe she could find meaning in a life that left her with nothing but a bruised heart and a tarnished picture of family. As holiday festivities loom before her, she wonders if she’ll ever shuck the regrets that haunt her dreams and keep her from connecting with others.

Milo Bishop’s every move has been to take care of his mom and younger brother.

Since his father’s murder, Milo has worked hard to make sure his mom and brother were provided for. He joined the police force straight out of high school, took night classes so he could move up to investigator, and put his life on hold until his brother graduated from college. But when he is rescued on Thanksgiving Day by Tina West, his well-laid plans take a sharp detour.

When a series of kidnappings threaten to ruin the holidays, can Tina and Milo put aside their doubts and find the abducted children before it’s too late?

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It looks like the titles in this series I’ve been reading keep changing, which is very confusing.

Anyway, I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books and I’m about to start book three.

Still With You (Baxter Boys Book 3) Sweet Contemporary is the way it comes up in Amazon today but the cover on the left below is what it looked like three weeks ago. Before that it had another name. It looks like each change of title and cover could be an update to fit the times.

I double checked by reading the first page and they are definitely the same book. I’d say check it out to see if I’m not right but the cover I have disappeared and won’t be coming up for you anytime soon. No checking possible but if by some fluke it does appear…

Harris Winsted opened the heavy library door, shifted the massive bulk of papers and books in her arms, …

Amazon quote:

She doesn’t laugh. He can’t be serious. How will they ever work together?

County librarian Harris Winsted can’t believe she lost her leading man. No. What she really can’t believe is that her friends think Harris’s childhood nemesis, Turbo Baxter, might be able to play the part. Even if it is just a small production to raise money for a hospital library, Turbo’s class-clown personality makes him a disastrous choice.

However opening night is three short weeks away. Left with Turbo as her only option, she can only hope he suddenly develops a brain, decorum and a big boil on his handsome face, because when the guy decides to be charming, he is irresistible. But the attraction stops there. She could never be with a man who professes his hatred of libraries and laughs about never reading a book.

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So far, I did enjoy this current series in spite of the confusion. I’m thinking today’s new selections will be intense by comparison but I’m looking forward to them anyway.

Hopefully, you are experiencing some interesting reads well.

Happy Reading anyway, whatever the case.

Read and enjoyed – middle of March

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There is a long list of read-and-enjoyed to get through so we’ll jump right in. The first one is just finished and fresh on my mind. It was first rate and I will be reading more from this author, for sure.

Fire Games: A Clean Romance Suspense and Mystery (The Men of Fire Beach Book 1)

Firefighter Cassidy Marcel thought appearing on a reality dating show would solve her relationship problems, but when she returns home to a stalker, she realizes her troubles are just beginning.

She is used to rescuing people, but who will rescue her?

Detective Jordan Graves is racing to save missing children. He doesn’t have time to search for a stalker. That is until Cassidy’s case collides with his own, but when she goes missing, will he be able to save her before it’s too late?

This one is still a bargain if you are interested.

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Anther favorite and it is sill a bargain too. I really enjoyed this one.

Traces by Denise Weimer

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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Last but not least in the favorites category is book two in a five book series. I’ve downloaded books three, four, and five as well after liking two so much.

Sooner Dead: Oak Valley Secrets 2

Clean suspense with a touch of romance and faith. Book 2 in the series, but it can be read on its own.


Something terrible happened 100 years ago at Stone Mansion, a dilapidated ruin that looks over the small town of Oak Valley, Oklahoma.

Acting police chief Daniel Minco is driven to learn its secret but he is blocked by oil billionaires, militant archeologists, TV evangelists, rogue OSBI agents, a new state highway, and Lianne Ortega, a young, by the rules cop from the big city.

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We will hurry through the next bunch but I did like them all. Granted, some were more engaging than others but they were all worth the read, for sure.

There will have to be a part two to finish this off.

In the meantime…

Happy Reading

Free and bargain books March 12, 2021

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BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us. I have not read this author but I think it will be an adventure. The other four books in this series are at bargain prices, if this book goes down well for me I plan to check out a few more of them.

Sooner Dead: Oak Valley Secrets 2

Amazon quote:

Clean suspense with a touch of romance and faith. Book 2 in the series, but it can be read on its own.


Something terrible happened 100 years ago at Stone Mansion, a dilapidated ruin that looks over the small town of Oak Valley, Oklahoma.

Acting police chief Daniel Minco is driven to learn its secret but he is blocked by oil billionaires, militant archeologists, TV evangelists, rogue OSBI agents, a new state highway, and Lianne Ortega, a young, by the rules cop from the big city.

Mystery, murder, and romance. Oak Valley has it all!

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A bargain from an author I’ve been reading lately.

Fire Games: A Clean, Christian Romance Suspense and Mystery (The Men of Fire Beach Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Where do you turn when you don’t know who to trust…

Firefighter Cassidy Marcel thought appearing on a reality dating show would solve her relationship problems, but when she returns home to a stalker, she realizes her troubles are just beginning. She is used to rescuing people, but who will rescue her?

Detective Jordan Graves is racing to save missing children. He doesn’t have time to search for a stalker. That is until Cassidy’s case collides with his own, but when she goes missing, will he be able to save her before it’s too late?

Fans of Alana Terry, Margaret Daly, and Christy Barritt will love this gripping romantic suspense from USA Today best-selling author Lorana Hoopes. A story guaranteed to keep the pages turning, you won’t want to put it down until you’re finished. Includes book group discussion questions.

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Another author I’ve not read although I did download one of her books in 2020. This current book looks interesting enough that I can’t just leave and pass it up.

Traces 

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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Currently I’m between books. I think the draw of these new books may be strong enough to have some of them solidly at the top of the to-be-read pile. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Unless more books come flying down the pike to derail my plans, tomorrow will be a read-and-enjoyed sharing kind of day. They are piling up again.

Happy Reading, folks

Free and bargain books February 22, 2021

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BookBub has a FREE suggestion. I remember reading and enjoying this one four years ago.

A Sweethaven Summer (The Sweethaven Circle Book 1)

Amazon quote:

A faded scrapbook reveals secrets that reconnect old friends in a place called Sweethaven.

Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother’s history. Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter sent letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne’s three friends — Lila, Jane, and Meghan — haven’t spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne’s letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers.

As the scrapbook reveals secrets from the past, old wounds are mended, lives are changed, and friendships are restored — just as Suzanne intended.

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I came across another book by the same author, it’s a bargain and I haven’t read it yet. Sweet.

Hometown Girl 

Amazon quote:

Beth Whitaker isn’t supposed to be a small-town girl. She’s always dreamed of leaving Willow Grove, Illinois, for the big city, but she feels trapped, struggling to make up for a mistake that’s haunted her for years. Just when Beth is finally ready to break free, her sister impulsively buys a beloved but run-down farm on the outskirts of town, and she begs Beth to help with the restoration. Reluctantly, Beth agrees to help—and puts her own dreams on hold once again.

Drew Barlow hasn’t been back to Fairwind Farm since he was a boy, and he’s spent all these years trying to outrun the pain of a past he thought he buried long ago. When he learns that the owner has passed away, his heart knows it’s finally time to do the right thing. Returning to Willow Grove, Drew revisits the old farm, where he attempts to piece together his memories and the puzzle of the crime he witnessed so long ago.

Both on a journey to find peace, Beth and Drew are surprised when they begin to experience a restoration of their own. But when long-buried secrets break through the soil and the truth unfurls, will it threaten their budding relationship—and the very future of the farm?

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LPC Books has FREE suggestions for us today too. I’m excited.

Well, I was excited but I could only find one of them. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow, there could be a glitch somewhere.

On Deadly Grounds 

Amazon quote:

On the eve of an international G7 Summit, event coordinator Mattie Maguire discovers that the venue, a century-old estate close to Asheville, NC, is more than simply a picturesque setting. It is also the center of political conspiracies involving a ruthless Russian spy ring that will stop at nothing to steal the massive fortune they believe to be hidden there. The search intensifies and a rogue Russian agent attacks Mattie’s grandmother, still living on the estate. She hovers in a coma, barely clinging to life. 

As Mattie struggles to protect her family and ensure a safe event for the most important leaders in the world, her discovery of a fraudulent heir to the estate puts her own life in danger as well. But when her eighty-five-year-old grandfather is kidnapped and held at gunpoint, her path becomes clear. Despite her fear, she must locate the only person who has the information the Russians seek—the estate’s rightful heir, hidden away for decades after the murder of his father. But will the true owner’s return to his childhood home put his life in danger, too.

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Well, three is not bad. It’s always better than none.

So, if you are paying attention and like to know, I finished yesterday’s current read which was Shock and Awe by Christy Barritt and I’ve gone back to finish the abandoned one The Ingenue: Political Spy Thriller by Terry Toler

Part way through the book I discovered Ingenue means an innocent or unsophisticated young woman, a perfectly fitting description for the 13 year old supporting actress in this story.

I took a break initially because I sensed some dark moments coming and needed a breather. It turns out the dark moments are met with some humor and more than a little over the top bravery, on the part of both characters. I’m looking forward to seeing how they get themselves out of this little dilemma.

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Happy Reading, y’all

Free and bargain books February 21, 2021

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Chautona Havig says she has a new book coming out in July and it’s on pre-order for cheap right now.

The Last Gasp (Ever After Mysteries Book 1)

Amazon quote:

At the pinnacle of his Hollywood career, Garrison Prince’s reign ends tonight.

As plain old Gary Prinz, he can pursue his Bible education, buy a bungalow in Pasadena, acquire a few chickens, and marry the girl of his dreams. He just never imagined trading the silver screen for a pulpit would wreak such havoc.

A cigarillo girl, Lucinda Ashton spends her days with her boyfriend, Gary, and her evenings selling candy and “gaspers” to the Hollywood elite at the Taj Mahal Theater.

However, when gunshots ring out just as intermission begins, Lucinda finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a brouhaha that leaves three dead, and no one has a clue why.

All the police know is that the evidence points to Lucinda as the killer and Gary as the intended target.

Four new friends, one young orphan, and a potluck of clues that don’t seem to fit anywhere leave the police baffled, Lucinda in fear for her freedom, and Gary ready to trade in his acting shoes for gumshoes if it’ll save his “Cinda.”

The first book in the Ever After Mysteries combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries, The Last Gasp. This Cinderella retelling blends a murder with enough crime and story clues to keep you on the edge of your seat.

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Chautona also remembered to schedule her Freebie Friday book as FREE. (she often forgets and then has to apologize to everyone) (She probably knows she doesn’t have to but she likes to)

Sweet on You (Meddlin’ Madeline Mysteries Book 1)

Amazon quote:

It is my hypothesis that social conventions are created to test our fortitude.

Rockland circa 1900-
As the mayor’s daughter, Madeline Brown enjoys a rich social life that many might envy. But a sharp mind and a growing talent for observation leaves Madeline torn between avoiding social censure and exploring the world around her.

With an aunt who considers higher education and employment equally unsuitable for the mayor’s daughter, there is little to amuse her save endless committee meetings, evening socials, and her favorite pastime: curling up with an exciting detective novel. The temperance and suffrage movements hold little interest for a young woman who has just endured the rigors of her father’s mayoral campaign.

So when a young man shows interest in her friend, Madeline’s interest piques–until his actions hint that he might not be the upstanding gentleman everyone presumes him to be. Unable to ignore her concerns, Madeline finds herself in the middle of an investigation into his character and discovers a side of Rockland she’s never encountered.

Will her new hobby reduce the tedium of her life, or will her “meddling” create tension for herself and her father? Will she be forced to squelch this budding skill of hers or has Madeline finally found her calling in life.

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That’s all I have for new books for now.

After yesterday’s post I switched gears on my current read. I was reading ….

But I left it for…

I’m half way through Shock and Awe. I’m thinking I need to go back to Ingenue when I’m done and speed read through the tense sections. Terrible things are about to happen, I can just feel it coming.

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Today is Story Prompt Day.

I have a short post again. I hope everyone thinks it’s a funny as I do.

Love, Lies, & Typewriters

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This was a GOOD book. I loved it enough to give it 5 stars.

Love, Lies, & Typewriters: A Christian Historical Western Romance

Amazon quote:

At the height of WWII, New York reporter Bryce Richard is tapped to promote the concocted romance of a wounded veteran and Wyoming cowgirl Lucy Daniels, all in order to sell war bonds. But when Bryce falls in love with Lucy, he must stop her impending fake—but very legal—wedding by devising his own rugged proposal. Can this city slicker cowboy-up to the challenge? 

A heartwarming romance worthy of the Hallmark Channel, Love, Lies, & Typewriters is a funny, inspirational story about real love and real courage at a transformational time in America.

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There were a number of things I loved about this book.

The plot was well thought out, fresh, and believable.

The characters worked well together. There was the right amount of tension between them to keep it interesting. They were true to their identity all the way through. There were hints letting us know who felt what but the ending wasn’t immediately obvious. It was a surprise. Well… it was and it wasn’t, which was very nice. The way it all came together was the biggest surprise.

The realness in the story was rooted in the author’s personal history. I could tell you what it was but it would be called a spoiler. That would be wrong on so many levels. Besides, there was an author’s note telling us we would have to wait until the end to hear that story. I have to say, it was worth waiting for. You’ll have to read the book if you want to know too.

Oh, can’t forget… I also loved the quirkiness in conversations and interactions. It was hilarious at times.

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The tone of a book always influences the mood I’m left with. My mood is happy and upbeat at the moment.

It may or may not last with my current read.

I love quirky, dry humor. So far this new read is delivering on that score and my upbeat mood is still intact. It could be in jeopardy though given the North Korean setting, smack in the middle of dangerous intrigue. I’m sure the protagonist’s resourcefulness will have him surviving by squeaking through the tiniest of cracks.

I won’t tell you abut the other character he will meet soon (at least I think it will be soon) but I can tell you she will be a good match for him in the survival game.

I’m looking forward to this read!

The Ingenue: Political Spy Thriller (THE SPY STORIES Book 2)

Amazon quote:

America’s next endearing hero, CIA operative Alex Halee, goes off mission to infiltrate a cybercrime lab in North Korea run by the notorious Pok.

When he runs into trouble, he gets help from the most unlikely person. Bae Hwa is a thirteen-year-old North Korean girl who likes to steal backpacks. When she unknowingly gets her hands on a satchel full of nuclear codes, her entire family is in danger and she ends up in prison.

Alex is arrested and thrown in the same prison cell as Bae. It’s a race against time as he has to save them both and keep the codes out of the hands of those who want to destroy America . . .

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Must go, I have a book to read.

Happy Reading….

on this significantly warmer, sunny day.

It seems the deep freeze has finally left us and it is a balmy -8c out there right now. After minus 30 – 40c… -8c feels downright warm.

(… it’s because someone could have friends or family living in our part of the world and they wonder what it’s like.) (I could hear you asking why. 🙂 )

Free and bargain books February 20, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Wow, do we have a bunch this time, lots of reading material for the weekend. First up is a BookBub suggested thriller and it sounds pretty intense. We will start out with heavy and quickly slide into lighter. A good way to finish for a change.

SAVING SARA: A JAMIE AUSTEN THRILLER (THE SPY STORIES Book 3)

Amazon quote:

Sara is missing in the Cayman Islands.

No one knows it. Except her abductors, of course.

Beloved CIA heroine, Jamie Austen, is sent to Tampico, Mexico, to rescue four girls, abducted on their senior class trips. 

Are the cases related?

All of Jamie’s skills are tested as she must overcome the powerful drug war lord, El Mata, his ruthless band of heavily armed killers, and a hurricane that’s bearing down on the Caribbean islands. 

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Next up is a BookRunes FREE suggestion. More, intense with suspense.

FIRE: Contemporary Christian Romantic Suspense (Spiritual Warfare Series Book 3)

Amazon quote:

When a violent gang re-organizes, an undercover cop could lose everything…including the woman he loves.

Following a gang war, the undercover cop known as Patriot is forced to flee his hometown and assume a new identity. When the gang re-organizes and threatens a friend, Patriot—now a firefighter—returns to face them.

Chloe Swearingen confines herself to the fast pace of the ER and away from interpersonal relationships—for a reason she keeps to herself. But when she helps save a gangster’s life, she’s thrown into a cauldron of relationships from which she can’t escape.

Then a series of fires target Chloe, her church and her friends, and she and Patriot must risk their lives to bring an end to the forces of darkness arraigned against them.

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A change of pace after intense suspense with the last author, Linda K Rodante. Romance will lighten things up a bit for us.

Second Chance Homecoming: A Sweet Christian Christmas Romance

Amazon quote:

After her divorce and all that led up to it, Sarah Emerson’s life consists of her son, her job, and the secret she carries. Maybe if she’d married the boy who proposed after Homecoming, things would be different now…

Philip Devereaux has had similar curveballs thrown his way, but he’s picked himself up and continued on. Occasionally, he remembers his first crush and the girl that made him laugh.

When a thrill ride at Disney World brings a surprise meeting, they both wonder about that special Homecoming. But with the distance between them and the hurt in both their lives, will a second chance be enough to awaken the dreams they once had? Or will it take the miracle of Christmas?

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This looks good too.

A (kinda) Country Christmas: A Christian Holiday Romance (A Romance(ish) Novella Book 1)

Amazon quote:

Sadie Jenkins lives and breathes Christmas every, single day of the year. Owner of Bethlehem’s Boutique in the tourist mountain town of Gatlinburg, TN, she has no room for the bad boys of her past and devotes her whole life to the struggling boutique and her teenage daughter, Maribelle. She’s perfectly happy with her country-living life until he walks into her store.

Nate Myers travels the globe for his job and has the bank account to prove his success. The former “bad” boy is in town for a short visit with his sister and is determined to not get caught up in all the Christmas hype. But then he falls for the beautiful shopkeeper—quite literally.

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Alaskan Refuge (Sweet Christian Romance Series)

Amazon quote:

Cassandra Stuart’s ministry is photography and she travels the world with journalists. Yet, God has her on a special assignment: find Kurt Halden. The elusive tycoon disappeared shortly after his fiancée died. Cassandra has information about his fiancée that will bring him vindication, and hopefully set him free from the past. When she meets him at his reclusive cabin in Alaska, she expects to encounter an aggressive, arrogant business genius. Instead, she finds a rugged, sincere man that could steal her heart. Somehow, she has to keep her feelings out of it. She’ll do what God sent her to do, then get back to her life. That’s the plan.

Kurt Halden despises reporters for the way they treated him when his fiancée died and he was accused of embezzling two billion dollars. To escape harassment, he moved to a beautiful yet desolate hideaway in Alaska where God has healed his heart and set him free from the corrupt man he’d become. In four years, he encountered only two people until he has to pull Cassandra Stuart from her crashed plane. He doesn’t trust her, yet he’s forced to house her until a rescue plane arrives. He tries to keep his guard up and hold tight to his secrets, but he finds it impossible not to fall in love with his uninvited guest. He knows God isn’t finished with him, and meeting Cassandra is only a diversion. So why is it that when she leaves, she’ll take his heart with her?

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It’s funny how often it feels like I’ve added at least a dozen new downloads by the time I get through adding all of the possibles I have picked out. It’s a shock to realize there are no where near that many. Only five this time.

Mind you, five is still plenty, it’s just that I was excited to have more. My eyes are bigger than my stomach, obviously.

That’s OK, I’m excited about all of them this time and that’s a plus. I’m not sure if I can handle the first two, we’ll see, but the last three will go down well for sure.

I hope you are excited about some of these new picks too.

Happy Weekend Reading!