Free and bargain books July 12, 2020

It’s been a warm and productive day, working on yard clean up. My neighbor took pity on me last week and spread weed killer on some of my overgrown flower beds. I’ve been trying to go green and deal with weeds by pulling them out by the roots. It was a losing battle, getting worse every time the weeds flowered, which was often. The killer did a great job and I’m loving the look of the big bed I managed to clear out today.

The previous owner was responsible for the beautiful landscaping and they were intolerant of any weed daring to grow in their yard. The first few years there were few weeds for me to deal with, I was reaping the benefit of their zealousness. I was away a number of summer weeks several years ago and that was the downfall. It’s been an uphill battle ever since.

This week has been very productive, if I can manage to fit in another one of two weeks  of the same it could be celebration time. Fingers crossed. If I can get it all clean I’ll share some pictures.

No time has been spent looking for books today, at least not until now.

I see one that’s a possibility. It’s a start anyway. This is another author new to me and I don’t know what to expect but it looks interesting.

When the Heart Calls … a $0.99 bargain

When the Heart Calls

Amazon quote:

Claire Sallaway has lived with an unpredictable heart condition for most of her life. With a plan in place to manage her symptoms, she has been able to avoid any major health problems and live a relatively normal life. With work, church and friends, her life is indeed full. Or so she thought. Settled in her job as a forensic scientist, Claire is content with her comfortable suburban life – until the day her heart betrays her and a man with the most intriguing ocean-blue eyes steps in, turning her world upside down.

Aaron Thurnham is the answer to Claire’s prayers. With the handsome, fun and God-fearing man by her side, life is blissfully perfect and full of adventure.

Until it isn’t.

When tragedy strikes and dreams are shattered, Claire clings desperately to the fragmented remains of her life. Heartbroken, and with every good thing stripped away, she is faced with a choice. Will she become paralyzed by fear? Or will she listen to the still small whisper of God and place her heart in His hands?

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Another bargain with the same author. Three books set in Australia for $1.34

The Hope Rising Series Box Set

Hope Rising

Amazon quote:

River’s Edge
How does a successful businessman end up with nothing but the clothes on his back and all his worldly possessions shoved into a bag? That’s the question Ben Tarbett asks himself time and again. When his world falls apart, Ben finds himself calling the banks of the Brisbane River home – a vastly different view to the one he had when working from a highrise in the heart of the city. Sheltering from the elements, and relying on food handouts, he longs for the day when he can once again have a roof over his head and be the father his daughter needs him to be.

All Natalie Allcroft wants to do is serve Jesus and bring hope to the less-fortunate and downtrodden who wander the streets of the city she now calls home. Volunteering with Hope Street Church, she is inexplicably drawn to the man who visits the breakfast van every morning. There’s something different about him. Something not quite as rugged and worn out as the other itinerants she meets. She’s seen the way he treats others, and is curious about his story.

Natalie’s desire has always been to serve. But when it comes to matters of the heart, there’s a big difference between guarding and giving. There’s a big difference between compassion and attraction.
Is the line worth crossing?

Valley’s Reach
It’s been two years since Brad Rowland witnessed an accident that changed his life forever. Two years of trying to escape the images that constantly haunt his dreams. Two years of finding comfort in the bottom of a bottle and pushing people away. His life is consumed with guilt and angst. No one understands his pain, and it’s better that way.

Receiving Treetops Bed & Breakfast as a gift from her aunt gave Eve McNeal the perfect excuse to escape the hectic pace of city life and the loneliness that has consumed her for so long. Amid the rainforest, she is free to tend to her guests and deal with the guilt of putting her mother with Alzheimer’s in a care facility. By offering hospitality to others, she is free to be herself and ignore the deep hurt she carries from a childhood injury that left her with visible scars.

But life’s not meant to be lived in solitude.
When Brad finds himself on Eve’s doorstep, he is challenged to face up to his past. Eve is curious about the broken man she has taken in, and must face her own struggles if she is to show him the reason for her hope.

When broken souls collide, can wounds be healed and wholeness found?

Ocean’s Drift
Shame and guilt follow Vanessa Silverton everywhere. A preacher’s kid, she rebelled from her parent’s faith years ago and has since lived with the consequences of making one wrong decision after the other. After one fateful night, she severs all contact with her friends and flees to the Sunshine Coast, longing to leave her past far behind. She escapes to a quaint coastal town finding work in a beachside cafe in an attempt to start afresh where no one knows her name or the past that haunts her dreams. But life doesn’t always go to plan, and soon her past catches up with her in a way she never anticipated.

The ocean is where Joel Ruthven finds solace from the grief that weighs heavy on his heart. Wrestling with God over the loss of his wife and daughter, he buries himself in his teaching job at the local high school and running the youth group at Seaside Fellowship. It’s better that way. Keeping busy means he doesn’t have time to entertain the melancholy that threatens to pull him under. He is inexplicably drawn to the new barista who serves up his daily coffee fix, yet is left questioning God about the fairness of life when her secrets come to light.

When a near tragedy brings past and present together, Vanessa and Joel must learn to surrender their fears and doubts to the One who holds them in the palm of His hand.

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I’m currently reading a book I’m having trouble getting in to.  I may have to do some major skimming to see how it all ends. It’s still FREE. Check it out to see if you like it better than I do.

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

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I hope you have had a good weekend too, along with some Happy Reading.

 

 

Story Prompt – Number

This is week nine in the Sunday Scribblings  prompt hosted by Peckapalooza: TheConfusing Middle. 

Typically, I use the weekly prompt to write another chapter in the online story I have going. Except for this week. Too many distractions and I’m not ready.

I do have a prompt submission though, having thought about number for a while.

If I had to say the first thing to pop into my head when I heard the word Number it would be I’ve got your number.

Meanings change so fast I wasn’t expecting to find it still means what I think of at the sound of those words. I guess a good definition is worth keeping.

Google says it means –

Search Results

Featured snippet from the web

to understand someone or realize the true purpose of their actions. I’ve got your number – don’t think you can fool me.

******

So hopefully, saying No, I’m not interested in buying the Brooklyn Bridge still means the same thing today too.

I was thinking today’s usage of the phrase would be more like…

“Give me a call sometime”

“Sure, I’ve got your number”

On further thought though, I think both meanings apply today.

“I’ve got your number (1-800-123-4567) and no, I’m not interested in the scam of the week.”

Numbers are a wonderful thing.

Free and bargain books July 11, 2020

BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us this morning. $0.99 This is not an author I’ve read before so don’t know what to expect. I’m an eternal optimist when it comes to books, always hoping for the best.

Sandover Beach Week (Sandover Island Sweet Romance Book 2)

Sandover Beach Week

Amazon quote:

Emily is still reeling from her failed modeling career and her wealthy parents’ disappointment in her life choices. A girls’ trip to the beach seems like the perfect escape to reflect on her past and plan her next steps. But her biggest regret just so happens to live on Sandover Island–Jimmy, an old friend whose heart she broke years before.

What he never knew is that saying goodbye to him shattered her heart as well.

When Jimmy’s fire station gets a call for an emergency rescue, the last person he expects to find in danger is his childhood crush, Emily. Seeing her again forces him to confront old wounds even as fresh new feelings begin to bloom. She destroyed his heart once. Can he possibly trust her with it again?

*************

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us this morning. Another new-to-me author and I have no idea what to expect this time either. I’m hoping it’s good.

The Reckless Doctor’s Bride: Historical Western Mail Order Bride Romance (Montana Westward Brides Book 1)

The Reckless Doctor's Bride

Amazon quote:

She knew the West was wild. But this bride-to-be didn’t expect her fate to include murder…

Irish beauty Lucy Magee fears she’ll never shake her bad luck. As though to prove her right, a trip to Montana to meet a dashing doctor results in the accidental death of her coach driver. But when the mail-order bride finally sets sight on her potential husband’s kind face, she’s sure her fortunes have turned.

Dr. Sam Slater wants to become a good provider. And when his heart races upon meeting Lucy, he knows she’s absolutely the one for him. But their first courting picnic ends in tragedy when they discover his ranch shepherd’s dead body.

When Lucy begins receiving anonymous threats, she’s petrified her persistent misfortune followed her to the rugged country. And despite cooperating with the sheriff, Dr. Sam comes no closer to understanding who is forcing them off the land.

***************

Nothing else interesting is popping out at me so I’m off to the garden and the pile of work I have plans for accomplishing on this beautiful sunny day.

My current read is dragging. I want to see how it ends but it is a little painful getting there.

Lost Down Deep

I think next I’ll try a book that seems a little weird with my first taste of it. I’ll give it a try and send it packing if it doesn’t work out for me. The collection of books barely started and not pursued is growing and needs weeding out again. I do hope this one turns into a good read though. I’ll let you know what happens.

Henry

Happy Reading on a beautiful Saturday.

Read & Enjoyed, and one bargain. July 10, 2020

This first one was a quick read. Several hours from beginning to end, which was nice as I was only taking a break from the book I was really reading. This story has depth and was fresh and engaging, my favorite parts. I just noticed (it seems I had forgotten) there were 252 pages. It went by so fast it doesn’t seem possible. It was good anyway.

Small Town Billionaire: (Sweet Home Billionaires Book 1)

Small town billionaire

A billionaire looking for a change and a woman who wants nothing to do with him. Can he convince her that he’s more than money?

Hudson Jennings wants to get away from the world of business his father is trying to trap him in. He’s seen what it’s done to his family, and to his ailing mother. Why not buy a house in a small town and move far away from it all?

Shannon Kendrick is graduating college after six long years of putting herself through school and working at a country club. She’s ready to start her career and help people that are less fortunate. When she meets a guy who has it all and he’s rude to her, she chalks it up to being a rich, entitled, son of a billionaire.

When Hudson needs to host an event, he is paired with Shannon to make the necessary preparations. She can’t stand the sight of him, but her spunky personality and determination to do the right thing sparks a light in Hudson that he hasn’t known before. He wants to know more about her, but he also wants to protect her from the life he leads.

**************

This next one was a favorite read too. There was an unusual slant to the story and it was awesome.

Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #1)

Aiming for Love

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David’s father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

****************

I’m currently 2/3 of the way through reading this next book. I took a little break to read the first book (above) but will finish this one for sure. Things are not staying bargains for any great length of time it seems. This is the third one in a row to be back at full price.

Lost Down Deep (The Mosaic Collection) (The Rose Tattoo Trilogy Book 1)

Lost Down Deep

She is the only one who can tell the police who attacked her in her home.
If only she could remember …
Summer Velasquez is on the run from a man she has no recollection of after an attack she can’t recall.
Every face in the crowd is a potential suspect, so how is Summer supposed to know who is a threat to her and who isn’t?
After fleeing her assailant and the parents who lied to her about what happened, she changes her name and seeks refuge in Elora, Ontario. The small town feels familiar, although she has no memory of ever having been here.
Even in what should be a safe place, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.
When Ryan Taylor strolls into the Taste of Heaven Café where she works, Summer is immediately drawn to him. However, he may not be who he says he is either. As her suspicions grow, Summer prepares to run again.
But at least one person is determined to stop her. Permanently. And if she can’t remember who he is, this time he may succeed.

***************

One new book is a bargain at a $1.39. Things change so fast I figured it would be a good plan to snap it up. I’ve read one other book by this author and enjoyed her sense of humor. I look forward to seeing what this one will be like.

Will of Steel

Will of Steel

When the truth behind her husband’s death comes to light, Jordan will need strength as strong as steel to survive.
Jordan Regent finds herself a widow, running her husband’s steel business. One night while sorting through her husband’s things she discovers a secret that threatens her future. As her life unravels, Jordan must hold on to her faith and fight to survive.
Ryder Foster is a lawyer who offers to help with her husband’s business as well as personal affairs. As they search for the truth behind her husband’s death, their attraction to each other creates complications and the threat to Jordan increases. Will Ryder be able to help her face the threat and will Jordan be able to let go of the past?

**************

Well, this post turned into something more than expected. I felt like I had nothin’ to start with.

A new book too, how great is that.

Now if I had been ready to hit publish before midnight while it was still the 10th…

Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books July 09, 2020

Browsing. It’s working tonight.

Small Town Billionaire: (Sweet Home Billionaires Book 1) $1.34

Small town billionaire

Amazon quote:

Hudson Jennings wants to get away from the world of business his father is trying to trap him in. He’s seen what it’s done to his family, and to his ailing mother. Why not buy a house in a small town and move far away from it all?

Shannon Kendrick is graduating college after six long years of putting herself through school and working at a country club. She’s ready to start her career and help people that are less fortunate. When she meets a guy who has it all and he’s rude to her, she chalks it up to being a rich, entitled, son of a billionaire.

When Hudson needs to host an event, he is paired with Shannon to make the necessary preparations. She can’t stand the sight of him, but her spunky personality and determination to do the right thing sparks a light in Hudson that he hasn’t known before. He wants to know more about her, but he also wants to protect her from the life he leads.

*************

A FREE short story

Healing Her Heart: (Crystal Lake Series Book 1) 

Healing her heart

Amazon quote:

Dr. Gabe Allen has a rule about dating colleagues but when he meets ER nurse Larissa Brockman he’s tempted to break his vow. Larissa’s faith draws him back to the church he’d left behind, but when their lives are on the line Gabe discovers that Larissa is the one who needs to learn about the true meaning of forgiveness. And only Gabe can help heal her heart.

 

 

 

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FREE

The Loneliest Cottage: A Page-Turning Tale of Mystery, Adventure & Love (Alaskan Hearts Book 1) 

The Loneliest Cottage

Amazon quote:

Lauren Dalton’s world shattered the day her father died. It shattered again when she found a box of old keepsakes commemorating a life she’d never even known he lead.

Heartbroken but determined, she accepts a seasonal job in rural Alaska to look after an injured musher’s dogs while searching for the truth about her father’s hidden past. But her cantankerous new boss comes with dangerous secrets of his own.

When a fire ravages part of the property, all will be revealed—and four-thousand miles away from the only home she’s ever known, Lauren will discover just how quickly everything can change.

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My latest read-and-enjoyed is still a bargain at $1.34. I’ve read other books in this series and enjoyed them too.

The Heart of Mercy (Georgia Peaches Book 4) 

The Heart of Mercy

Amazon quote:

Mercy Cunningham runs a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Atlanta. Dismissive of her noble work among the destitute, her father continually pesters her to work for his Fortune-500 corporation. A bedraggled stranger visits the soup kitchen and catches Mercy’s attention. Not because of the piercing gaze almost hidden behind his facial hair, but because something seems off about him.

Noah Allen is not the pastor, or even the man, he once was. The single-blow death of his wife and child made sure of that, as did a raging opioid addiction. Blaming himself for their deaths, he wanders the country without a destination and without a desire to find one.

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My current read is intriguing and everyone is suspect.

Lost Down Deep (The Mosaic Collection) (The Rose Tattoo Trilogy Book 1)

Lost Down Deep

Amazon quote:

She is the only one who can tell the police who attacked her in her home.
If only she could remember …
Summer Velasquez is on the run from a man she has no recollection of after an attack she can’t recall.
Every face in the crowd is a potential suspect, so how is Summer supposed to know who is a threat to her and who isn’t?
After fleeing her assailant and the parents who lied to her about what happened, she changes her name and seeks refuge in Elora, Ontario. The small town feels familiar, although she has no memory of ever having been here.
Even in what should be a safe place, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.
When Ryan Taylor strolls into the Taste of Heaven Café where she works, Summer is immediately drawn to him. However, he may not be who he says he is either. As her suspicions grow, Summer prepares to run again.
But at least one person is determined to stop her. Permanently. And if she can’t remember who he is, this time he may succeed.

**************

Happy Reading

Random happenings July 8th

It has been quite the day.

I remembered (for a change) to go out and move the watering hoses so the lawn could be mowed. It was a good thing I didn’t wait any longer, the mowing crew showed up earlier than expected. I was hoping they would be later than usual. The weed killer man came to spray the lawn yesterday around lunch time. The lawn crew was here by 9:30 am. It’s a good thing it rained hard in the night (whew), the weed killer was watered in and earlier worked.  The instructions were to wait 24 hours to mow. It’s pretty cool the way things fit together sometimes.

It wasn’t too long after my breakfast was finished that heavy equipment could be heard moving up and down our street. They are replacing the blacktop pavement and they have a big machine to tear up the old.  Of course it takes big long trucks to carry the debris away. When they get to my house I have to drop everything and watch because they move by fairly quickly and I can’t see much past my yard. Too many trees blocking the view.

I wanted to take pictures for my youngest grandson but couldn’t because my phone decided the memory was full and locked me out of picture mode. I couldn’t even delete anything to make room like I normally would. If I stopped to fix it I’d miss the fun.

Naturally, I missed most of it anyway. They took too long getting set up and my inbox was blowing up with emails needing attention. It’s funny how that goes. Everything happens on the same day. Feast or famine.

After lunch it seemed like a good idea to pull some weeds in hopes of waking up with a little exercise. It was a great idea, there was a nice cool breeze on a hot day and it was a comfortable productive time.

The great conditions didn’t last till after supper when I went back out. It was much warmer and the mosquitoes were loving it, and me. I was desperate to get more new shrubs planted so I hurried.

And here we are.

I did spend a little fruitless time today looking for books we might want. I did get some reading time in too. Meal breaks and cool down times. Any little chance works for me.

I wanted to write something earlier but didn’t have a single alternate blog idea. It worked out not too badly after all.

I’ll see if I can rescue a paving picture for you.

How was your day?

20200707_131745

CAT is sitting there thinking about it. Too bad I can’t hold still long enough to take a clear picture!

Read and enjoyed July 07, 2020

This is a book suggestion from yesterday and I would like to tell you how I felt about it. A review of sorts. It’s still a bargain at $1.34

Christmas at the Lake: Two heartwarming sweet and clean Christian small-town romances set in Huckleberry Lake, Idaho (Huckleberry Lake Duets Book 1) 

Christmas at the lake

Amazon quote:

Calm & Bright
Will Brad and Maddie let God use a Christmas together for the sake of their son to help them rediscover the love that led to their whirlwind romance, and overcome the issues that caused their divorce? Or will the same issues divide them once again?
Even Maddie’s matchmaking grandmother and their adorable four year old might not be enough to help them get back together!
A sweet and clean faith-based reunion romance.

Midnight Clear
No one guesses teacher Claire’s secret heartbreak. Including town handyman and all-round good guy Ryan, who seems to think she’s “the One”. Only she knows why she’s not the woman for him. Easily fixed, her snark should make him forget her.
Problem is, it seems both God and Ryan have other plans this Christmas!
A sweet and clean faith-based enemies-to-love romance.

One of my first impressions was that I’d read the sequel to Calm and Bright (the first book.) By the end I was positive I had, I was just not sure where. These books have appeared in other book collections and it will have been in one of those.

Calm and Bright has complex characters with lots going on and an interesting and engaging story line. I enjoyed the read although it did feel like it could have been shorter and still covered everything nicely.

The characters in Midnight Clear appeared a few times briefly in the first book, with no real relationship to each other. There were hints though.

The story treatment in book 2 was a disappointment after seeing how it was handled in book 1.

There needed to be more depth and complexity to the characters, certainly, but more so to the story itself. There was not enough going on. Eventually, I found myself skimming the first few pages of every other chapter and didn’t feel like I’d missed anything of importance.

There needed to be more drama and maybe bigger roles for a few of the supporting characters, that could have helped improve the story.

The ending was abrupt and a big disappointment.

So, I liked book one but wasn’t a fan of book two.

**********

After the book collection I read Hidden. I liked it as well as Calm and Bright… but

Hidden (Jones-Star Series Book 1)

Hidden 2

I did find myself skimming in spots. And while I liked it … I didn’t love it. It was worth the read though. It was a fresh take on relationships, not the tired story lines that are often used, and that was refreshing.

 

He’s a Montana Cowboy and she’s a Boston aristocrat.
Together they are broken ashes and spitfire, discovering common ground in a shared dream. But, even if they can somehow see eye-to-eye and partner-up, their past lives lay in wait, ready to pounce and destroy any chance of a new beginning.

The train arrives at the station on Patrick Jones’ wedding day, but his dreams go up in steam when it fails to bring his childhood sweetheart, Genevieve, west with it. Instead, he finds himself burdened with the responsibility of her adventurous younger sister.

**********

I can’t decide where to go next. I think I’ll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Free and bargain books July 06, 2020

LPC Books has FREE suggestions for us. I have read the first two but not the third.

Kill Order

Kill Order

Amazon quote:

Grammy-winning pianist Landon Jeffers’s brain cancer has given him only a few years to live. But when he sleeps, the forgotten terrors of his past torment him. When he wakes, shameful memories come rushing back. Desperate for answers, Jeffers discovers that a brain implant intended to treat his cancer is really a device to control him, forcing him to commit terrible crimes. Now he’s being manipulated by an evil crime syndicate and a crooked cop.

When he sleeps, the forgotten terrors of the past come alive … and his future is a dead ending.

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With This Peace (Ella Dessa’s Story Book 3)

With This Peace

Amazon quote:

Florida’s alligator-infested swamps and flat landscapes fail to impress Ella Dessa McKnapp. She longs to abandon their journey and return to the beautiful Georgia Mountains, and when her husband’s two younger brothers ride away—heading for a village called Tampa—the fear of a Seminole Indian attack is ever present.

Ella Dessa and her husband must continue the journey alone, not realizing a tragedy will place her and their two children at the mercy of Indians and a runaway slave. Only the shelter of a deserted cabin and the return of her husband’s youngest brother bring the hope of peace. But will the hurricane of 1848 rip away that hope?

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Laurel (Women of the American Revolution Series Book 2)

Laurel

Amazon quote:

In the port of Charleston, South Carolina, post-Revolutionary War passions reach fever pitch. There, Lilyan’s past catches up with her. As a former patriot spy, she is charged with the murder of a British officer. Thrown into the “Exchange Building” and chained alongside prostitutes, thieves, and murderers, she seeks the courage to survive and the faith to believe she will find her missing child, Laurel. Determined to free his wife at any cost, Nicholas finds himself forced back into a life of violence.

Will their love sustain them as they seek word of their missing child? Or is Laurel lost to them forever?

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There is a pre-order bargain book looking interesting. $1.35

The Practice of Prying (The Sidekick’s Survival Guide Mysteries Book 4) 

The Practice of Prying

Amazon quote:

Apprentice P.I. Elliot Ransom has almost lost her life, her family is being targeted by bad guys, and her love life is a confusing mess. Can anything else go wrong?

Her newest case has her posing as an assistant coach for a local charity softball game in order to figure out if the previous coach was murdered. The problem is that Elliot, who grew up in the jungle, knows nada about softball.

More than one mystery haunts her, and it’s hard to know which clue leads to potential answers. But one thing she does know: danger is close—too close. Whoever thought a little prying could lead to so much distress?

****************

A new collection priced to sell. $0.99

Dangerous Deceptions: A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Collection

Dangerous Deceptions

Amazon quote:

Lethal Outbreak: Lisa Harris & Lynne Gentry

Virus hunter Aiden Ballinger believes the source of the lethal outbreak that decimated a remote Tibetan village came from disturbing the permafrost. Desperate to rebury it before it buries the world, Aiden enlists Rachel Scott, a beautiful epidemiologist. But while Aiden and Rachel pursue the cure—and their feelings for each other—someone is hunting them. Whoever wants them dead will not stop until they are silenced.

Collision Course: Elizabeth Goddard

His cover blown, FBI Special Agent Reg Jacobson finds refuge on the other side of the country, but trouble follows him when he faces off with a woman from his past. Private Investigator Nicole Weatherly, hired to catch a thief, suspects Reg. When the bullets fly, Reg and Nicole must escape secrets from their pasts before their futures collide.

Glimmer in the Darkness: Robin Patchen

When Cassidy learns another child has been kidnapped from her hometown, she’s convinced the man who took the girl she’d been babysitting seven years earlier is behind the recent abductions. She alone holds the key to finding him. Though James blames Cassidy for his sister’s death, he’ll help if there’s a chance to save a child’s life. Can Cassidy and James identify the serial killer in time to rescue his latest victim?

Expired Plot: Lisa Phillips

A man after justice. A local crime boss. The woman caught between. Undercover FBI agent Will Briar is working his way to the top of an illegal operation. But when he discovers the identity of the boss, everything changes. Hollis knows nothing is as it seems. Now she must either save her father and doom herself, or take a chance on the man who could be the answer…to everything.

Ice: Lynnette Bonner

Camryn Hunt witnessed a murder. Now she’s in the protective custody of handsome sheriff Holden Parker. The small-town life might be pleasant if the sheriff wasn’t so demanding. Determined that no harm come to Camryn, Holden secludes her at his fishing cabin. He wishes she wasn’t so intriguing. He must not divide his focus. Especially when a local busybody discovers Camryn!

Never A Traitor: Jan Thompson

The last thing Private Investigator Earl Young expects is to pose as a fake boyfriend to a whistleblower. His driving need to solve problems forces him to work with paranoid Sienna Halstead as she draws him deeper into her corporate world of secrets and subterfuge. The more time they spend together, the more attraction grows. When another whistleblower is murdered, Sienna knows she’s next. How far will Earl go to protect her?

Ben in Love: Luana Ehrlich

Is CIA operative Ben Mitchell really in love with the daughter of a Turkish dissident? Titus Ray, his mentor, isn’t buying it; he thinks Ben needs intel on a Muslim cleric. But when Titus follows Ben to northern Virginia, he discovers Ben’s deception is more dangerous than he thought. With their lives on the line, can Titus convince Ben to abandon his plans before it’s too late?

Liar Like Her: D.L. Wood

When disbarred attorney Quinn Bello discovers a body that inexplicably vanishes, no one in her seaside town believes her—no one, that is, except newcomer Ian Wolfe, who for his own mysterious reasons doesn’t hold Quinn’s past against her. Together they search for the truth, but doubts about Quinn’s sanity and innocence increase as the danger escalates. Will they expose the heart of the deception before Quinn becomes the next victim?

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One more interesting bargain $1.34

Christmas at the Lake: Two heartwarming sweet and clean Christian small-town romances set in Huckleberry Lake, Idaho (Huckleberry Lake Duets Book 1) 

Christmas at the lake

Amazon quote:

Calm & Bright
Will Brad and Maddie let God use a Christmas together for the sake of their son to help them rediscover the love that led to their whirlwind romance, and overcome the issues that caused their divorce? Or will the same issues divide them once again?
Even Maddie’s matchmaking grandmother and their adorable four year old might not be enough to help them get back together!
A sweet and clean faith-based reunion romance.

Midnight Clear
No one guesses teacher Claire’s secret heartbreak. Including town handyman and all-round good guy Ryan, who seems to think she’s “the One”. Only she knows why she’s not the woman for him. Easily fixed, her snark should make him forget her.
Problem is, it seems both God and Ryan have other plans this Christmas!
A sweet and clean faith-based enemies-to-love romance.

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Happy Reading to you.

Story prompt – Occupation

This is week eight in the Sunday Scribblings  prompt hosted by Peckapalooza: The Confusing Middle.

I’ve decided to hook these challenges together to make a chapter story. Might as well make something out of it if I can. Besides it helps with inspiration, having a starting place.

The earlier chapters can be found here to bring you up to speed on the whole story.

Carly is in witness protection but her cover has been blown and her life is threatened.

They have been on the run for weeks unsure of the seriousness of the threat, not wanting to take a chance with her life. Things were about to change.

Now, Bella is about to settle into a new life. That’s right. She’s left Carly far behind.

Here is this week’s installment and challenge. I missed a week so it’s only chapter seven.

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Chapter Seven

Occupation

Bella couldn’t help the pleased smile as she let her gaze roam around the new house. John and his team of US Marshalls had done an excellent job orchestrating a smooth transition for her relocation.

They didn’t waste any time, that was for sure. In fact, her head was still spinning at how quickly it had all come together. And who knew they could come up with such a perfect plan. Her new life couldn’t possibly look any better than this.

The house was situated in a nice but ordinary part of town. It wouldn’t have won a Best-In-Town award yet to her it was beautiful and above average. The previous owners had obviously loved the house they built and the choices they made at every turn were what made it special. Their upkeep was also exceptional. Normally new buyers were planning changes the minute they moved in. Bella couldn’t see anything she wanted or needed to change which was a blessing. Upkeep on a house was not a skill placing high on her list of talents.

Another blessing was the lay-out. Clients needing to visit her house was not an ideal situation but it could work out alright as a last resort. There was a comfortable seating area near the front door. It could be used for a meeting and still protect her privacy if she managed it well.

Her meeting with the Chamber of Commerce was beneficial. They offered a wealth of information that would go a long way toward helping her get her new endeavor off the ground. The monthly luncheon for Chamber members would be a good networking opportunity. Hopefully she would find clients in need of her services among the attendees. If not, they had knowledge of the business community and could provide valuable leads on where to look.

Taking another sip of coffee, she realized her cup was empty. She wasn’t exactly sure how that had happened but it meant it was time to get moving. There was still a lot to do if she wanted to get a good start on Monday morning. Her cupboards were bare and her office computer still needed set up.

Saturday mornings on Main Street looked like fun. All of the shops were open and bustling with people determined to get things done. It was really good to see actually. It’s not ideal shopping at the most popular time of day but seeing the healthy indicator about the business community gave her hope for her future.

It looked like the population has doubled in size compared to the rest of the week. Bella wondered what was going on to bring out this many people.

It didn’t take long to figure out. As she continued down the street looking for a parking space, she spied an open-air Farmer’s Market. Wow, it was huge. Bigger than any she had ever seen before. And crowded. If she thought the shops were busy, they had nothing compared to this.

It was three blocks before she could find a parking spot and hurry back. The market looked even better close up. There was everything one could imagine. The usual – garden produce and fresh meat – but it was all the extra things that caught her eye. Homemade everything. The entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well in this town.

Her job security was looking better all the time. Maybe her favored choice of occupation was going to pay off well, above any of her initial expectations.

Now if her personal life could only do as well. All alone in a new town knowing no one was daunting. On the bright side, working with small business would be more personal that corporate business. She may be able to make friends among her clients.

And then there was shopping. Maybe this Farmer’s Market would be the perfect place to meet new people. She might meet a new client and make a new friend.

The hardest part was going to be remembering to introduce herself as Bella rather than Carly, not to mention remembering her new occupation.

She couldn’t keep herself from smiling as she approached the first booth.

Currently reading … July 4th

I’m currently reading a book I’m loving and can’t wait to tell you about it. It’s still a bargain $0.99 and you don’t want to miss out on it. I’m a quarter of the way through and at this rate will be finished tonight, unless I can tear myself away long enough to do something useful. Not looking too promising. The tearing myself away part. I’m giving it 5 ***** already.

The Spice King (Hope and Glory Book #1)

The Spice King

Amazon quote:

Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building his very successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Resolved to salvage his family before it spirals out of control, he returns to his ancestral home to save his brother and sister before it’s too late.

As a junior botanist for the Smithsonian, Annabelle Larkin has been charged with the impossible task of gaining access to the notoriously private Delacroix plant collection. If she fails, she will be out of a job and the family farm in Kansas will go under. She has no idea that in gaining entrance to the Delacroix world, she will unwittingly step into a web of dangerous political intrigue far beyond her experience.

Unable to deny her attraction to the reclusive business tycoon, Annabelle will be forced to choose between her heart and loyalty to her country. Can Gray and Annabelle find a way through the storm of scandal without destroying the family Gray is fighting to save?

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I’m loving the plot and the rich characters. (no pun intended 🙂 ) I hope you will too.

Happy Reading.