Free books June 15, 2020

Happy Monday everyone.

We have a few sources with book suggestions this morning.

1531 Entertainment mentioned a FREE book in their email this morning. I’ve read and enjoyed a number of this man’s books. By the glowing review I’m looking forward  to this one too.

Get Up, Eleanor 

Get up Eleanor

Amazon quote:

Eleanor Petersen’s life shatters when her mother falls on the ice outside her Wisconsin farmhouse. In the process of settling her mother’s estate and sorting loose ends, Eleanor discovers the joy her mother brought to her little town. Despite her spiritual doubts, Eleanor forms an instant bond with a widowed Lutheran pastor. And she uncovers a secret that upends her view of her parents … and of herself.

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

LPC Books has a number of FREE suggestions for us. Most of these I’ve seen before although I don’t think I’ve read them all.

The Caretaker’s Son (Secrets in Savannah Book 1) 

The Caretaker's son 2

Amazon quote:

Symon Sinclair grew up in the caretaker’s cottage. Now a successful writer in New York, he’s returned home to Savannah to thank his mentor, Miss B, for all her support. But it’s her niece Annabelle who greets him at the door. Symon remembers the little rich girl who never gave him a moment’s notice. Now she’s a beauty who has more depth than he’d ever imagined. As they spend time together, Symon begins to question his attitude toward life—and Annabelle.

Former beauty queen Annabelle Yarwood had her life all planned out—until she came face-to-face with the caretaker’s son. Suddenly those plans seem stifling. Just as Annabelle begins letting Symon into her heart, she discovers he’s been keeping a secret about his life in New York. Has their love story ended before it’s even begun?

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

I’ll Watch the Moon 

I'll Watch the Moon

Amazon quote:

A single mother embittered by an abusive marriage. An adventurous 14-year old son and the 10-year old daughter who adores him. A boarder in the house, a war refugee with a murky past. It’s the summer of 1948, hot, and Polio stalks the children, taking them one by one. When it strikes the son, she wonders if he will be in an iron lung the rest of life? And when redemption comes, it arrives from a most unexpected source.

 

 

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

Whatever Is True

Whatever is True

Amazon quote:

Bullfighter and ranch hand Clint Palmer yearns for a family of his own and desires a relationship with barrel racer Lacy Roberts, a fellow ranch employee. But what would she see in a guy who was abandoned by his father and has an alcoholic mother? If he’s ever going to be seen in a different light by Lacy, he needs greater financial security than what a ranch-hand position provides.

Lacy’s parents have scorned her ever since she opted for ranch life rather than pursuing a business career. She’s attracted to Clint, who has shown enough interest in her that she reveals a secret about her past—only to be rejected by him. She’s about to move on when Clint learns a secret related to his own life that changes everything.

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

When You Come

When You Come Home

Amazon quote:

Taking its title from a poem Daphne sent her soldier-husband during World War II, When You Come Home tells of the couple’s young love in the heartland of America on the brink of war, and of the crushing uncertainty and fear they feel as they find themselves a ripped apart. Through pain and worry, the grieving young wife finds that her faith provides hope and healing amidst the uncertainty of war.

 

 

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

Currently, I’ve just started a thriller, on my TBR list since October last year. Haven’t gotten far enough to know if I’ll finish but it does look promising.

Kill Order

Kill Order

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.

 

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

Happy Reading

On this warm and hazy day.

Chapter Five Light

This is week five 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.

Here is this week’s installment and challenge.

Chapter 5

Light

Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel. Carly felt encouraged with that thought. It’d been exhausting. Days and weeks filled with constant travelling to stay ahead of discovery by those threatening to do her harm. John, head of her security team, mentioned a meeting at breakfast this morning. He didn’t give any hints, just that it would happen after supper.

That announcement, all by itself, was enough to make her day of travel feel less like torture. It could be bad news but Carly chose to take the high road and expect good news. Why look for trouble until it stares you in the face, was her motto.

It turned out she was right to expect good. John said they were making progress on neutralizing the threat on her life and it was time to start planning her future in hiding. They had a few weeks yet before settling in could happen but it would take at least that long anyway, to plan and execute a new life for her.

John’s opinion was that she should have input this time. Maybe her cover story would be less contrived and there would be a smaller chance of something going wrong. Part of his reasoning also came with the mystery surrounding her discovery. There was no proof yet but it was still possible the information leak was internal in the US Marshall’s office. The future chance for such a thing needed to be eliminated.

John has connections with outside trusted sources needed to build a fool proof and secure identity. The input he needs from Carly is in regard to her life style choice. He’d had time to think about this during the days and hours on the road and was convinced he’d come up with a good plan.

As he shared what he was thinking, Carly’s mind was off and running. She loved what he was visualizing and could totally see it working. She wouldn’t even have to be that great an actress to sell this story to the locals.

His idea was to set up a small home-based business. One that required low overhead and no employees. A service that would be useful no matter where she lived.

Avoiding the curious questions brought on by daily contact with a boss and co-workers, would be an added benefit to such an arrangement. Her clients would have questions too but with limited interactions they wouldn’t feel like they were part of her life and deserved answers.

Carly didn’t have to think too long. She knew instinctively what to pick. Bookkeeping. Small business owners were known for their expertise at whatever service they were providing. They were also known for a certain lack of skill when it came to the financial side of things. Carly could help with that.

Her excitement was boundless. The boredom of the last few weeks only added to her passion. She figured she could start the minute she had internet access and a laptop. There had to be online courses easily available. She’d do whatever it took to be ready to hit the ground running. Her previous business experience wouldn’t hurt and she was good at public relations. It shouldn’t be too hard to get started.

With this plan there was even opportunity for advancement. If she liked it well enough, she could go for her Chartered Accountant degree. That would improve her ability to attract clients and keep her business afloat.

There would be an added bonus with this plan. A safety shield from discovery. Everyone knows accountants and bookkeepers are boring, working with numbers all day. What exciting secrets could they possibly have in their life?

Her heart was suddenly light for the first time in weeks. Maybe there were better days ahead. She could hardly wait to get started.

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

 

Bargain books June 13, 2020

BookBub has a bargain suggestion for us. $0.99. It seems we did see book 1 (Unknown Enemy) in this series back in November 2019.  I haven’t read it yet and book 2 is a good reminder I need to.

Hidden Secrets: A Green Dory Inn Mystery (Green Dory Inn Mystery Series Book 2)

Hidden Secrets

Amazon quote:

The secrets of Captain Hiltz may not have died with him.

When Landon Smith returns to the Green Dory Inn, she finds innkeeper Anna Young still shaken by the recent vandalism and unable to cope when the inn is targeted in an online vendetta. Prickly neighbour Bobby Hawke can help with Anna’s cyber woes, but when the attacks escalate to physical threats, Landon and Bobby must work together to unmask the culprit.

A cryptic message about a tunnel points to the property’s original owner, a notorious Prohibition-era sea captain rumoured to have left hidden wealth. Contraband, treasure, evidence of things better left buried…

How far will Anna’s enemy go to claim the tunnel and its contents? Protecting Anna will require courage and faith as Landon battles the locals’ attitudes and the scars of her past. Even then, she and Bobby are tracing the faintest of clues. With Anna on the brink of emotional collapse—and danger rising like the tide—time is running out.

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

Awesome, another bargain with an unknown author. $1.32

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.

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

A bargain boxed set with a new to us author, actually there are a number of different authors in this set. $1.41. Recently, there was another box set with the same name. Not the same.

Second Chances: Inspirational Box Set

Second chances inspirational boxed set

Amazon quote:

Miralee Ferrell—The Other Daughter— The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a little closer. “My mama’s dead. He’s my daddy.” Susanne Carson knows she can trust her husband, David—until she discovers an unkempt young girl on their doorstep, claiming to be David’s daughter. Their marriage isn’t perfect—David’s decision to embrace Christianity strained their relationship. Susanne may not agree with his beliefs, but she trusts him. As David confronts his past, Susanne must face her own moment of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point and the life of one young girl is left in her hands.

Melanie Campbell—One Woman Falling—*Selah Award Finalist*

After an unexpected police visit, Cassie Peterson realizes her daughter’s survival depends on Cassie’s courage to leave her abusive marriage. What she doesn’t plan on is the vengeful custody fight with her husband, Derrick.

While walking through the treacherous world of divorce, Cassie’s new friend, Missy, encourages her to pursue her love of waterfalls. Meanwhile, Brian, an attorney at the firm where Cassie works, provides unexpected legal help.

As Derrick’s threatening behavior escalates, Cassie questions her choices. Can she keep her daughter safe? Who can she trust? Who will be standing with her when everything comes crashing down?

Miralee Ferrell—Outlaw Angel— Angel Ramirez is on the run from an outlaw disguised as a boy—can she learn to live like a lady?

After taking a job on a Wyoming ranch owned by a bachelor and his widowed sister, Angel reveals her true identity and must fight to prove her worth as a ranch hand while discovering her role as woman.

Hiring a woman doesn’t sit well with Travis Morgan, and the dark-haired beauty is causing a ruckus among his cowboys. When Angel decides she’ll never please her boss, an unexpected surprise arrives from across the ocean. Will Angel leave with the person who’s come so far to claim her?

Janalyn Voigt—Cheyenne Sunrise—Bry Brennan, a young Irish widow, travels West to start a new life. She doesn’t want another husband to break her spirit.

Nick Laramie, the wagon train’s half-Cheyenne trail guide, has no intention of dragging a woman into his troubles. 

The perilous journey throws the two together, leaving Bry no choice but to trust Nick with her life. Can she also trust him with her heart?

Based on actual historical events, Cheyenne Sunrise explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west.

Patricia Lee—Love Calls Her Home— Lissa Frye returns home from the Navy eager to start over.But the man she loves, Marine Kurt McKintrick is a broken man, grieving the loss of his best friend to an enemy trap in Afghanistan. Fears of another loss,  Kurt distances himself from Lissa.

Eleven-year-old Jayden Clarke’s life is turned upside down when the rancher he trusts and respects is found dead. As outside authorities, Lissa and Kurt find themselves embroiled in the investigation. Can helping a hurting boy draw them back together?

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

I’m currently reading a book I thought I’d read already. Oops.

Sweet on You (A Bradford Sisters Romance Book #3)

Sweet on You

Amazon quote:

Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best of friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long.

Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who’s spent the past 18 months traveling the world. He’s achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him–Britt’s heart.

When Zander’s uncle dies of mysterious causes, he returns to Merryweather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. But while Britt is determined to resist any change in their relationship, Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

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

it’s a lovely day for pulling weeds, sunny and breezy, not too hot – with lots of reading breaks. I’m hoping you are feeling inspired today too.

Happy Reading.

Free and bargain books June 12, 2020

Where has the time gone. It will be the longest day of the year soon (here in southern Canada) and it feels like the year has just begun. I like long days, I’m not ready to see them getting shorter this quickly. In the meantime…

Bookbub has several bargain suggestions. $0.99 each, a known, and an unknown, author.

Undetected 

Undetected

Amazon quote:

When asked what he does for a living . . .

Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: “I’m in the Navy.” But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.

Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and very smart. She’s a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.

Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn’t see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best–ocean science research. She’s on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop’s perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she’s figured out is only the beginning. If she’s right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter.

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

Cotton Tree Ranch: The Complete Trilogy

Cotton Tree Ranch

Amazon quote:

Dalton
Everything in Hazel’s perfect life is going according to plan. Every moment is accounted for. But she’s in for a surprise. When her best friend and roommate takes ill, Jenny begs Hazel to fill in for her on a trip to South Georgia. But life on a horse ranch in her Jimmy Choos isn’t exactly what Hazel had in mind for her summer break.

When Dalton Sullivan takes a spill from a bronc at the last rodeo of the season, his life changes forever. Uncertain about his future, his fortunes take another turn when Grandpa Joe bequeaths him a dilapidated horse ranch in his will. Dalton’s plans to refurbish the place and turn it into a working ranch again are interrupted when a beautiful woman shows up pretending to be someone she’s not.

Eamon
Eamon thinks he has love and life figured out. A successful accountant, full of confidence and charm, he’s got it all, including the beautiful girlfriend and the high flying job. But when his brother inherits a ranch in south Georgia, he leaves everything behind to help him run it.

Emily Zhu is a driven and ambitious surgeon from Boston. Everything in her life is structured and planned, down to the last detail. When she doesn’t get the job she’s been promised and has been working toward, it seems everything could come tumbling down around her. Suddenly the future is clouded with uncertainty.

Parker
When bumbling veterinarian Jennifer Barsby’s friend Hazel falls ill, she doesn’t hesitate to take action. After quitting her job in Atlanta, she packs up her life and moves to the Cotton Tree ranch in South Georgia to take care of her sick former room-mate. But when circumstances change, she wonders what she should do with the rest of her life.

Handsome and brooding cowboy, Parker Williams, is just another pal — at least that’s how Jen sees him. A former Army Ranger, he’s found renewed purpose as part-owner of the ranch. But he’s given up on the idea of ever moving on or finding love. That is until Jen moves in.

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

BookRunes has a FREE suggestion. It’s not really clear to me what this is but it looks like it could be two books. There are 457 pages. This is a new author to me, not sure what to expect.

The Beginning of Forever: Inspirational Pioneer Frontier Romance Novella (Journey to Hope Book 2)

The Beginning of Forever

Amazon quote.

23-year-old Hope was running away from a future she was born and bred to embrace; yet it was not what she wanted. Upon the death of her father and the insistency of a man she didn’t love to marry him, she decides to travel out west to become a school teacher. She wanted the freedom the west could provide her but little did she know that she would soon be chained to the grey eyed man who was her first welcome to Yellow Creek County.

Jed wasn’t looking for love. All he wanted to do was prove to his father that he could survive and be a man without his protection. To do that, he would have to live the life of a loner for some time. It all changes when he meets the green eyed Angel with wild red hair that invades his dreams every night. Instead of trying to prove himself a man, he finds himself thinking of ways that will lead to forever with this woman.

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

I’m currently reading and enjoying …

Poustinia: A Novel (Poustinia Series Book 1) 

Poustinia

Amazon quote:

When Victoria Sullivan finds herself at a crossroad in life, she books a rustic cabin in the woodlands of the Monastery of St. Carmella. While trying to discern her future, she meets other guests who face their own challenges.

The Sisters also have a dilemma, as they anticipate a merger because of their dwindling numbers and an aging congregation. Will they lose their beloved homeland, nestled among the vineyard, forest, and lake?

Poustinia: A Novel is the first book of the Poustinia series. If you enjoy contemporary and inspirational fiction with a touch of romance, you’ll love Kathleen McKee’s heartwarming story of friendship, generosity, and love.

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

Happy Reading!

Read and Enjoyed June 11, 2020

Today has been a slow book suggestion day so I think we will do a little catch up on Read-and-Enjoyed.

This was a favorite read…. one I could hardly put down. 5***** and still a bargain $0.99

The Reclusive Duke 

The Reclusive Duke

Amazon quote:

The Reclusive Duke
When Lydia Sinclair is left to care for the orphaned children of her sister she discovers they are distant relatives of The Duke of Hemingford. With the last few coins she possesses she buys seats on a common stage for all five of them, determined to persuade the duke to assume responsibility for his cousins. The duke has no wish to have these unwanted relatives foisted on him, since his accident he shuns society.
However, Digby, his man of business, has other ideas and installs Lydia and the children in The Dower House.
Will the duke evict them when he discovers this deception or can Lydia get him to change his mind?

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

My next favorite was this one, still a bargain at $0.99

The Wedding Dress Christmas: (Small Town Romance) (The Wedding Collection) 

The Wedding Dress Christmas

Amazon quote:

For JoJo Castle there is no place like home. Her onetime love of adventure ended when her life in the big city came crashing down. Now that she’s home, she never wants to leave again.

Country music sensation Buck Mathews has charmed the world with his smile and his music. However, news of his mother’s illness brought him home to Hearts Bend for the holiday season.

Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. But when her high school crush returns to town, her buried feelings surface.

Busy with his career, Buck hasn’t had time for family and friends, much less love. Seeing JoJo in The Wedding Shop reminds him there are things more important than his career.

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

I liked this one too. Also still a bargain $0.99

The Nobleman’s Governess Bride (The Glass Slipper Chronicles Book 1)

The Nobelman's Governess Bride

Amazon quote:

The Nobleman’s Governess Bride is the first book in The Glass Slipper Chronicles series, about five young women whose devoted friendship sustained them through the hardships of childhood at a harsh charity school. Now employed as governesses, they care for other people’s children, never expecting to know the blessing of loving marriages and families of their own. But when Rebecca, Grace, Hannah, Leah and Evangeline encounter five special gentlemen, these humble governesses may become Cinderella brides!
Book 1 – The Nobleman’s Governess Bride
(includes the novella “The Viscount Meets His Match” and the novel The Baron’s Governess Bride)

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

And a few more to add to the list. Many of them still bargains.

On the LookoutThe Billionaire's CommittmentAlaskan Refuge Box set

Whispers of LoveCall of the MountainLacewood

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

I’m currently reading…

The One Who Rocked Aawy

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

Hopefully you have lots to read without new suggestions. If not though, most of these books are still at bargain prices. A good deal.

Happy Reading!

Bargain books June 10, 2020

BookBub has a bargain suggestion from one of my most favorite authors. I’ve read thirteen Charles Martin books and it’s exciting a new one will be coming out soon. This one today truly is a bargain at $2.99 and is an excellent way to discover Charles if you haven’t already. He writes with depth, understanding and sensitivity. Every word is there for a reason, skimming is impossible if you don’t want to miss anything.

Unwritten: A Novel 

Unwritten

Amazon quote:

A priest changes the lives of an actress running from her past and a man hiding from his future in this heartfelt novel about loss and redemption.
When someone wants to be lost, a home tucked among the Ten Thousand Islands off the Florida coast is a good place to live. Take a couple decent boats and a deep knowledge of fishing, and Sunday can get by without ever having to talk to another soul. It’s a nice enough existence, until the one person who ties Sunday to the world of the living asks him for help.
Father Steady Capri knows quite a bit about helping others. But he is afraid Katie Quinn’s problems may be beyond his abilities. Katie is a world-famous actress with an all too familiar story. Fame seems to have driven her to self-destruct. Steady knows the true cause of her desire to end her life is buried too deeply for him to reach. But there is one person who still may be able to save her from herself: Sunday.
He will show her an alternate escape, a way to write a new life, but Katie still must confront her past before she can find peace. Ultimately, Sunday will need to leave his secluded home and sacrifice the serenity he’s found to help her.

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

Browsing brings us this bargain $0.99. I’ve not read this author before but this looks interesting and worth a try.

The Wedding Dress Christmas: (Small Town Romance) (The Wedding Collection)

The Wedding Dress Christmas

Amazon quote:

December comes to quaint Hearts Bend, Tennessee, with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.

For JoJo Castle there is no place like home. Her onetime love of adventure ended when her life in the big city came crashing down. Now that she’s home, she never wants to leave again.

Country music sensation Buck Mathews has charmed the world with his smile and his music. However, news of his mother’s illness brought him home to Hearts Bend for the holiday season.

Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. But when her high school crush returns to town, her buried feelings surface.

Busy with his career, Buck hasn’t had time for family and friends, much less love. Seeing JoJo in The Wedding Shop reminds him there are things more important than his career.

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

Another bargain. $0.99 that could be interesting

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?

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

I’m undecided about the book I’m currently reading although there is a good chance I will finish it. It is still a bargain at $1.30

The Duke and the Spinster: Clean Regency Romance (The Nettlefold Chronicles Book 1)

The Duke and The Spinster

Amazon quote:

Lady Juliana Willoughby, whose first Season was such a disaster that it was her last, finds herself at a country house party, all for her pretty sister’s benefit. She expects nothing more than to hide away in corners, and avoid socialising, sure that no man would ever want to marry such as her.

Garrett Rutherford, Duke of Kilmerstan, needs to marry, and get an heir. But he has yet to meet a woman he does not flinch from, even though some pursue him relentlessly. Dragged to the house party for his sister’s benefit, he expects nothing but boredom. Then he sees Lady Juliana.

But there are others at the house party who have less than honourable intentions towards both the Duke and Lady Juliana.

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

Happy Reading!

Bargain books June 09, 2020

Following an unlikely trail of crumbs, I happened upon clean Regency novels last night. At bargain prices. With unfamiliar authors. They look interesting and definitely worth a try.

The Nobleman’s Governess Bride (The Glass Slipper Chronicles Book 1) $0.99

The Nobelman's Governess Bride

Amazon quote:

In the novella “The Viscount Meets His Match” Sebastian Viscount Benedict knows from bitter experience that marrying a woman of lower rank and fortune brings nothing but heartache. He is determined to prevent his beloved brother from making the same mistake by wedding the local squire’s daughter. Rebecca Beaton disagrees. She is certain her former pupil, Hermione, truly loves the viscount’s brother and will make him a devoted wife. She tries to persuade formidable Lord Benedict to give the young couple his blessing.

In the novel The Baron’s Governess Bride, Rupert Lord Steadwell is determined to hire the dowdiest, most unmarriageable woman he can find to care for his motherless daughters. The girls were heartbroken when their last governess eloped and Rupert does not want to risk a repetition. In her drab clothes, frumpy cap and spectacles, Grace Ellerby look like the ideal person for the job.

Rupert has no idea that clever, caring Miss Ellerby is a beauty in disguise. Alarmed by unwanted advances from men in her previous positions, Grace is desperate to hide her dangerously attractive appearance and her growing feelings for her new employer. But when Lord Steadwell appears in danger of making a loveless marriage and saddling his daughters with a dreaded stepmother, Grace must risk everything to prevent it. Will a midnight kiss at a masked ball lead to scandal and ruin or might two wary hearts find their happily ever after at last?

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

The Reclusive Duke $0.99

The Reclusive Duke

Amazon quote:

The Reclusive Duke
When Lydia Sinclair is left to care for the orphaned children of her sister she discovers they are distant relatives of The Duke of Hemingford. With the last few coins she possesses she buys seats on a common stage for all five of them, determined to persuade the duke to assume responsibility for his cousins. The duke has no wish to have these unwanted relatives foisted on him, since his accident he shuns society.
However, Digby, his man of business, has other ideas and installs Lydia and the children in The Dower House.
Will the duke evict them when he discovers this deception or can Lydia get him to change his mind?

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

The Duke and the Spinster: Clean Regency Romance (The Nettlefold Chronicles Book 1)  $1.30

The Duke and The Spinster

Amazon quote:

Lady Juliana Willoughby, whose first Season was such a disaster that it was her last, finds herself at a country house party, all for her pretty sister’s benefit. She expects nothing more than to hide away in corners, and avoid socialising, sure that no man would ever want to marry such as her.

Garrett Rutherford, Duke of Kilmerstan, needs to marry, and get an heir. But he has yet to meet a woman he does not flinch from, even though some pursue him relentlessly. Dragged to the house party for his sister’s benefit, he expects nothing but boredom. Then he sees Lady Juliana.

But there are others at the house party who have less than honourable intentions towards both the Duke and Lady Juliana.

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

BookBub has a sensitively written bargain suggestion for us. I’ve not read this author yet but browsing through her Acknowledgement page I’m impressed with her tender heart.

The Birthday Portrait (The Family Portrait) $0.99

The Birhday Portrait

Amazon quote:

When overwhelmed with growing up without Mama, will young Kate survive?

As Kate’s eleventh birthday approaches, she fears no one will remember her tradition of dressing up in her mother’s heirloom wedding gown for her birthday portrait. She grieves that their handprints won’t be on the back of the birthday photograph, and there’ll be no special letter from her mother to go in her Book of My Life this year. Precocious Kate gets a few more life’s-not-always-fair lessons as she struggles and finds the courage to ask the hard questions about life.

A divinely-appointed encounter with the mysterious and elusive Mr. Josh aids in her dilemma but requires of her an innocent faith that will satisfy her deepest questions, will raise a few more, and will change her life forever. Kate’s story is the story of a family—a story blending joy and sorrow, death and new life, the joys and hope that children bring, the wisdom elders offer, the value of family traditions, and the mystery of life that remains unanswered.

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

I’m currently reading and enjoying the first one in this list. There are two stories, a novella and a full length novel. About to move on to the novel.

The Nobelman's Governess Bride

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

Happy Reading

… on this wet and stormy week. A perfect time to read.

I’m sure the sun is shining somewhere today. Maybe it’s at your house. I’m thinking tropical beaches as I’m looking out at our grey skies.

It could be depressing but we need the rain on our parched flower beds and fields of grain. That’s the bright side.

It will be easier to pull weeds when the sun comes out again.  Liking it.

OK enough window gazing. Back to breakfast and my book.

Free and bargain books June 08, 2020

A good book day. Multiple contributors. No browsing needed. Awesome.

BookBub has a FREE YA (13-18)  suggestion for us today.

All the Promises (Deborah Raney) 

All Promises

Amazon quote:

Michelle Penn has dropped out of college to work as a reporter for a tiny weekly newspaper. The boss’s son, Robert Merrick III, is quickly making her forget all about her former sweetheart, Kevin, who has shipped out to Vietnam. Rob loves the newspaper business but feels trapped working for his father. He dreams of having his own newspaper, but now that he’s met Michelle, she is what he wants most of all. Rob is forbidden by office policy to date Michelle, but if he were to quit his job, he’d have nothing to offer her. It seems the thing they most desire–each other–is out of reach. But then, love always makes a way.

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

1531 Entertainment has bargain suggestion for us, This selection has appeared fairly often lately but it doesn’t hurt to present it again. $1.32 CDN. It is a good read.

The Demise (A Braxton Mystery Book 1) 

The Demise

Amazon quote.

Tiny Braxton, Tennessee, is a quiet, tight-knit community wrapped around an old town square just a stone’s throw from Nashville. But when the town’s most prominent citizen is found dead at the base of its water tower, news of Peter Lanham’s apparent suicide roars through town like a massive tsunami.

Peter, the handsome, beloved CEO of Lanham’s Fine Foods, had taken a small, family-owned grocery store founded in 1927, and grew it into a successful national chain. With most of Braxton’s residents employed by Lanham’s corporate headquarters, word of Peter’s demise left them searching for answers. What could possibly have made him take a swan dive off that tower?

Julie Parker is convinced he didn’t. As receptionist at Lanham’s executive office suite, she’s determined to find out what really happened to her boss. An aspiring actor who also stars as “The Lanham Girl” in the company’s TV commercials, Julie prides herself on her perceptive observations and people-skills. Who better to find out what happened to Peter up on that water tower?

Matt Bryson, on assignment as a rookie Special Agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, isn’t about to let the attractive receptionist intrude on his first case. She may be a hometown insider, but he’s perfectly capable of solving the case without “Miss Marple” screwing up his investigation.

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

LPC Books has a FREE suggestion, an author new to me.

Spring Splash 

Spring Splash

Amazon quote:

The heart of a champion may surprise you.

When an injury sidelines college swimmer Anna Callaway, her dreams are crushed. She pours herself into her sports marketing practicum, helping a local special needs organization promote their athletic event. What she doesn’t expect is a swim team ripe for the Special Olympics—and their handsome but stubborn coach.

Craig Holt has dealt with eager and ignorant volunteers before. No matter how determined or persuasive uptight Anna might be about coaching his team to the Special Olympics, he has no intention of allowing her to raise the hopes of his swimmers, his sister, or his guarded heart.

Then Anna herself gets a second chance at becoming a champion. Will she pursue her lifelong goals or make room for a new dream?

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

Another LPC Books FREE suggestion. I don’t recall reading this the first time I downloaded it. I must check it out.

Starving Hearts (Triangular Trade Trilogy Book 1)

Starving Hearts

Amazon Quote:

“Not only is this a delightful regency romance but it is also suspense filled mystery of the very best kind.” ~ Amazon review

“The author did a great job, maybe too great a job, describing the slave scenes. Spine tingling and suspenseful. I was biting my nails throughout much of this book.” ~ Amazon review

Plagued by nightmares, Annette yearns to find her anonymous rescuer — the man who saved her life from a near deadly assault. Deep inside she is starving for companionship and a mutually respectful relationship. When Mr. Peter Adsley, an abolitionist pastor dealing with his own emotional baggage, agrees to a clandestine meeting, the event appears providential. But self-doubt, deception, and the schemes of a mutual enemy threaten to keep the pair apart. A phantom adversary will stop at nothing to win Annette’s dowry for himself, even if it means killing Peter.

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

One more FREE LPC Books suggestion. I’m do recall reading this downloaded book a year ago.

A Perfect Weakness

A Perfect Weakness

Amazon quote:

The Civil War left its mark on Dr. John Turner. He turns his back on medicine and sees his unexpected inheritance in England as an opportunity to start over. But he never imagines how God intends to use his new role as lord of Ashford Hall — or the beautiful woman he finds there — to ease his troubled soul.

A tragic loss led Penelope Howard to bury her heart and dreams in her work for the Hall and the village of Woodley. But the arrival of the new heir stirs not only her discarded longings but her compassion as well. What burden does he carry that he can’t accept that grace covers the darkest of sins?

A deadly epidemic sweeps through Woodley revealing secrets which threaten everything. The doctor faces a choice: leave or dare to believe what the Lord whispers through the woman John has come to love.

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

I’m currently reading a favorite author book that is still a bargain at $0.99

On the Lookout (Lantern Beach P.D. Book 1)

On the Lookout

Amazon quote:

A runaway woman. A dead body. A mysterious compound. 

When Cassidy Chambers accepted the job as police chief on Lantern Beach, she knew the island had its secrets. But a suspicious death with potentially far-reaching implications will test all her skills—and threaten to reveal her true identity. 

Cassidy enlists the help of her husband, former Navy SEAL Ty Chambers. As they dig for answers, both uncover parts of their pasts that are best left buried. Not everything is as it seems, and they must figure out if their John Doe is connected to the secretive group that has moved onto the island.

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

It’s Monday. May this be a good week for you.

I’m looking forward to a productive week.

Happy Reading!

Chapter Four Revolt

This is week four 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.

Here is this weeks installment and challenge.

Chapter 4

Revolt

Carly sighed. Waking up in a different bed every morning had gotten old. Fast.

They’d moved every single day in the last two weeks. Slept in every imaginable accommodation possible. From rustic campsites and cabins to high-end houses and hotels. It seems the US Marshall’s office has a wide network of contacts and options.

As she prepared to meet the day one more time, Carly wondered what surprises were in store for them. She was sure it would be wishful thinking to hope for a final destination.

Her lack of knowledge about progress toward a safe goal should come as no surprise. No one was talking to her… well, except for necessary communication. “What would you like to eat?” “We will be leaving early tomorrow” “Are you OK back there?”

The whole team was hyper vigilant and closed mouthed. If they knew anything they weren’t sharing with her. Which left her wondering… Are they with holding to protect me? Or. Maybe they don’t know anything yet? That was a scary thought.

Not knowing could be good except she had an active imagination. It was possible her imaginings were worse than the truth. At least she trusted her guardians. That’s got to be worth something.

It’s not just information though, they were withholding themselves too. They were polite and considerate but that’s about it. At the beginning of all this Carly expected she would get to know the team protecting her. Not happening. There were three guys and a young woman trading off on guard duty shifts. John seemed to be team lead. Beyond that she barely even knew their names.

A sudden flurry of activity said it’s time to move out. She’d gotten that much figured out at least. They hadn’t had breakfast yet though. That’s new.

As she entered the closed-in garage for loading, there was no surprise in seeing an unfamiliar van. She’d lost track of the number of different vehicles, never mind modes of transportation, used to keep her safe. They were obviously taking this whole threat on her life seriously.

With the high level of danger they seemed to be expecting, the size of their team could be a little scary. Carly would be worried except she knew they had at least one, if not two, other teams travelling with them. They were very good at what they did. She knew they were there but she’d never seen them.  Hopefully the people out to get her were not seeing them either.

Someone had been thinking ahead. Breakfast was waiting for them on the side of the road. They just had to pull over long enough to grab it.  Her empty stomach was grateful.

After a long and exhausting day and Carly’s stomach was starting to rumble with hunger all over again. Hopefully supper would last her a little longer than this mornings take-out had. It was good and all but not a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal. She was dreaming of a nice meat and potatoes dish with a side salad and dessert.

The anticipated knock sounded on the door. The designated food procurer was back with meals for the hungry crowd. Noses began to wrinkle. What was that smell?

One of the guys opened his meal and the smell increased ten-fold. What was he eating? Ewww, it looked like something you’d find on the reality TV show Fear Factor. On second thought, maybe it’s better not to know what it is. Her stomach might revolt at the visual a description would bring.

Supper alone in her room was looking better and better all the time. At least her roast beef smelled yummy.