It’s a collection. Four books in one and I’ve read and enjoyed the first two.

Double Down the complete series 

The first two read and enjoyed:

Book 1 Deadly Exposure

Private security force Double Down are the only ones who can take down the threat. When his sister is kidnapped, Navy SEAL Bradley has to face his feelings for Alexis as they work together to get her back.

Book 2 Deadly Secrets

Double Down operative Mint has to track down and protect Emma. But things aren’t what they seem. Can he keep them both alive long enough to uncover the truth?

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I will admit I’m confused at times, reading this series. There are several other favorite authors with very similar series, Christy Barritt is one, and I have to stop and think Where am I again? It’s like living with identical twins. Who are you again?

The series is pretty similar to others, structurally, but the details are different enough to keep the books fresh. Each story is well written and interesting. I’m may be confused at times on who is talking to me but I’m still enjoying the conversation.

Currently I’m immersed in Book 3 Deadly Agenda

Megan has a dark past. And it’s back to haunt her as she teams up with FBI agent Adrian. Together they take down a rogue FBI agent with a deadly weapon.

This deadly weapon is definitely new. I don’t believe I’ve ever met one like it.

I won’t spoil the fun by describing it to you.

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A new Christy Barritt installment showed up while I was browsing and now I’m excited about book 4 in this series.

Gabe: a clean romantic suspense novel (Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 4)

Amazon quote:

When former Navy SEAL and current Blackout operative Gabe Michaels is almost killed in a hit-and-run, the aftermath completely upends his life. He’s no longer safe—and he’s not the only one.

Dr. Autumn Spenser came to Lantern Beach to start fresh. But while treating Gabe after his accident, she senses there’s more to what happened to him than meets the eye. When she digs deeper into his past, she never expects to be drawn into a deadly dilemma.

Gabe has been infatuated with the pretty doctor since the day they met. Now, can he keep her from harm? Could someone out of his league ever return his feelings or will her past hurts keep them apart?

As danger continues to pummel them, Gabe and Autumn are thrown together in a quest to find answers. More important than their growing attraction, they must stay alive long enough to stop the person desperate to destroy them.

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Browsing through author Autumn MacArthur there was a good looking FREE book I’ve not seen before.

His Father’s Son: A clean Christian reunion romance in a small Oregon town – single mom, reformed bad boy (Sweetapple Falls Book 1)

Amazon quote:

When former bad boy Luke Tanner discovers the son he believed was adopted is fatherless, he’s determined to help — and regain the trust of the only woman he’s ever loved.

For small-town single mom Anna Harrison, his return is twelve years too late. Luke broke her heart when he left. She can’t risk that for their son, disabled by a life-limiting illness. But she can’t deny Josh the father he wants so badly, either.

To become the loving family Luke hope they can be, they’ll both need to forgive secrets from his troubled and painful past. Can they leave old hurts behind to face the future together with God’s help, or will only a crisis heal their stubborn hearts?

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Lots of other interesting books showed up in my search but, unfortunately, I had already bought most of them.

I’m currently reading and enjoying a book that is still a bargain. It is currently my favorite read too.

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

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 also in the middle of another book that is taking a little longer to get through. I’m at the 21% mark. I think it’s taking extra time because it is quite different from any other story I’ve read and it’s a challenge catching on to where it’s going. That’s on me.

The Morning Light: never passes us by

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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That’s it for now.

I hope your weekend has been good to you and you’ve found some good books.

Happy reading!

A story I love, about someone I love.

Enjoy a glimpse into a life so different from my own.

Sadly, no free or bargain suggestions to be had today. A brief browse produced nothing. I did finish an interesting book, though, and it is still a bargain. It’s well written and worth the read.

Not Until Now: A Christian Romance (Hope Springs Book 8)

Amazon quote:

They both know what they want. And it’s not each other . . .

Kayla has worked hard to regain her independence after her spinal cord injury, and she isn’t willing to give up that independence for anyone. Which is why she is willfully single, with no intention of dating, marrying, or starting a family—ever. But when she witnesses an accident in Hope Springs, she finds herself drawn inextricably into the life of the young girl whose mother is now in a coma—and the uncle she has to convince to take care of the girl.

On the verge of the perfect life, Cam doesn’t owe his estranged sister anything. So he doesn’t appreciate the call informing him that he needs to care for the niece he didn’t even know he had. And yet, somehow he can’t say no to the woman on the other end of the phone. He soon finds himself on a plane for Hope Springs. He’ll go there, make alternate arrangements for the girl, and get back to his real, nearly perfect life.

But as Cam gets to know his niece—and Kayla—he starts to question what the perfect life really means. And as Kayla experiences the pull of family, she wonders whether being independent really means closing yourself off to others. Can they both let go of what they thought they wanted and let God give them the love they truly need?

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No matter if I have time or not, I must always have a book in progress. There might be a minute somewhere and it would tragic to have nothing started and ready to go. Currently, I’m reading a collection spanning a number of decades. I’ve only just started so can’t pass judgment yet but It is still a bargain and definitely worth a try.

The Second Chance Brides Collection: Nine Historical Romances Offer New Hope for Love 

Hope for Happy Endings Is Renewed in Nine Historical Romances

Meet nine women from history spanning from 1776 to 1944 feel the sting of having lost out on love. Can their hope for experiencing romance again be renewed?

Love in the Crossfire by Lauralee Bliss – Trenton, New Jersey, 1776 (book 1)
Gretchen Hanson watched her beau go off to war and never return. She soon falls for an enemy scout who stumbles upon her farm.

If Jake is discovered, it could mean death for them all. Will Gretchen let go of love or stand strong?

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Truth be told, I have another book on the go as well.

This one takes meditation and time to digest. No stolen minutes here or there. The original book was published twenty five years ago and I read it in the last decade or so. They recommend we read it again before reading the newer version. I’m thinking on doing that but in the meantime I’ve read the introduction and the first chapter or so. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what he has to say after all this time.

The author has many years experience as a professional, he’s interviewed many abuse survivors, over a long period of time. It was an attempt to understand the dynamics and effects of abuse and now he has a lot to offer us. To be honest, it will not be an easy read but it will be helpful. It will be well worth the tears and the memories.

Healing the Wounded Heart: The Heartache of Sexual Abuse and the Hope of Transformation 

First published in 1989, Dan Allender’s The Wounded Heart has helped hundreds of thousands of people come to terms with sexual abuse in their past. Now, more than twenty-five years later, Allender has written a brand-new book on the subject that takes into account recent discoveries about the lasting physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual ramifications of sexual abuse.

With great compassion Allender offers hope for victims of rape, date rape, incest, molestation, sexting, sexual bullying, unwanted advances, pornography, and more, exposing the raw wounds that are left behind and clearing the path toward wholeness and healing. Never minimizing victims’ pain or offering pat spiritual answers that don’t truly address the problem, he instead calls evil evil and lights the way to renewed joy.

Counselors, pastors, and friends of those who have suffered sexual harm will find in this book the deep spiritual guidance they need to effectively minister to the sexually broken around them. Victims themselves will find here a sympathetic friend to walk alongside them on the road to healing.

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One thing we must always remember, we are not alone. The number of abuse victims is staggering. I’m surprised, but then I’m not, when I meet one more person with a painful story.

I have to say, all the reading I’ve done over the years has been worth it. It made a difference and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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Do like me, have two books on the go, one to be a lighter distraction.

Happy Reading and Growing

Thought provoking. The last point hits close to home. — For the Love of Books

Photo credit: ostensiblyclear on VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-NDToday’s guest post is by writer, coach and editor Lisa Cooper Ellison (@lisaellisonspen). Join us on March 24 for the online class Get Better Critiques Now. When soliciting feedback on their creative work, many writers focus on hiring the best editor or finding a trusted critique partner or group. With…

3 Traps That Subvert Our Ability to Accept Feedback — Jane Friedman

An inspiring read worth sharing — For the Love of Books

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/4x56THRx?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

My path to becoming an author began not in a library or bookstore, but at the Royal Palm movie theater in Atlantic Beach, Florida. I could walk there without crossing any major roads, which is how it became the first “grown up” place I was allowed to go by myself. (1970s parenting at its finest.) […]

A TV Writer Finds His Happy Place by James Ponti — Nerdy Book Club

“It ain’t no bed of roses.” The only thing surprising about my aunt’s statement was that she confided in me. I was only a teen, and she had married my uncle before I was born. “Maybe it is.” Although I had no personal experience of marriage, I knew a bit about roses because my mom […]

It’s a thorny situation… — patgwriter

Montmartre – Paris This caption sets the stage for what is to come: intrigue, suspense, and plots, all shrouded in mystery.I am pleased to announce that the new version of The Prussian Lieutenant is complete and will soon be available on Amazon. This new abridged version has a smoother flow, yet retains all the flavor of the original, speckled […]

The Prussian Lieutenant — Robert Stermscheg Author

I missed one. Another FREE offering from author Chautona Havig. Can you believe I’ve downloaded 53 of her books since September 2012. Her Freebie Friday is solely responsible.

And that number doesn’t even include all the downloaded collections she’s been a part of. Chautona is one busy lady.

Hashtag Rogue (The Agency Files Book 5) 

Amazon quote:

Flynne Dortmann: computer specialist extraordinaire. The right arm of every agent in The Agency. And totally untrained for agent duty.

When no one takes a threat seriously, Flynne does the only thing she can think of.

With money she has no authorization to use, a gun she’s never fired in her hip pocket, and more zip-ties than any agent should be allowed to carry, Flynne takes on protective detail for an unwilling client. #HashtagRogue.

Mark Cho hasn’t had a chance to get used to being Marco Mendina—head of the Eastern US Agency. Not only that, every sign points to someone knowing he isn’t who he appears to be. His agency is in trouble.  His agents may be in danger, and with an office girl gone rogue, deciding what problem to tackle first is a problem in itself.

Not to mention, he misses his office assistant with her emoji-speak, killer tech skills, and sharp instincts.

Hashtag Rogue: Something is terribly wrong in The Agency. Again.

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A Happy Weekend to you!

Photo credit: joshzam on flickr / CC BY-NC-NDToday’s post is by regular contributor Susan DeFreitas (@manzanitafire), an award-winning author, editor, and book coach. She offers a first 50-page review on works in progress for novelists seeking direction on their next step toward publishing.Every year, I return to teach creative writing at a summer program offered by the school for…

Don’t Hold Out for Publishing to Make You Feel Seen. Here’s Another Goal Instead. — Jane Friedman

I’ve shared this post for two reasons:

• I appreciate the encouraging message and want to keep it where I can find it.

• It’s a thought many of us need to hear so why not share.