Read and Enjoyed June 16, 2021

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My favorite read so far this week.

I liked everything about this book. The characters, their personalities and interactions. The freshness of the story line, The way it moved along at a steady pace. Details and secrets doled out in layers.

The other thing I liked about it was the handling of the theme/cause which was part of the story structure.

Sometimes, even often times, a particular cause would hijack the story. The reader would be treated to an ongoing education about the subject of the day, painfully aware of the not-so-hidden agenda and the way it dominated.

In this case some educating was involved but it was a seamless part of the story. Creating not even a ripple in the reading experience.

I gave this one of my rare five-stars.

See Me : A sweet, faith-filled fake engagement romance

Fairytale romances can’t happen in real life. Or can they?

It’s love at first sight when reclusive inventor Jesse Buckley meets unemployed music teacher Bronte, moonlighting as a take-out delivery driver. Okay, so splattering guacamole and sour cream over them both wasn’t the best way to impress the woman he hopes to make his wife, but from here on the only way is up, right? Still, maybe offering her a job as his chauffeur and personal assistant wasn’t one of his best ideas.

It means he’ll see her almost every day, sure. It also means, as one of his employees, she’s out-of-bounds. Besides, though he’s had to admit to his failing eyesight, he hasn’t told her yet that one day he’ll become completely blind. And he’s managed to keep the little fact he’s one of the wealthy owners of the business a secret, letting her believe he’s just another staff member.

Desperate to untangle the mess a con man left her life and her finances in, Bronte gratefully said yes to the job Jesse offered her. Spending most of her time with a sweet, kind, handsome guy she could easily fall head-over-heels for wasn’t supposed to be part of the deal. After all, the last man she thought loved her stole everything she had. Her home, her inheritance, her music, her faith, and most of all, her trust in her own judgment. A new love isn’t on her wish list, especially when she can’t shake the feeling Jesse’s hiding something from her.

What neither counted on was Jesse’s ailing grandmother and her determination to see him settled with the right woman. First she beguiles them into a fake engagement neither will admit they want to make real. Then she maneuvers them into accompanying her on a trip to Chapel Cove to visit his former PA, Nai. Could it be, the spring vacation in a small Oregon seaside town will bring love, renewed faith, and God’s sweet healing for them all?

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This is still a bargain if you are interested.

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The newest addition to the family today. She is so cute both grandma’s are jealous of the new dad. We want one too.

We are not wanting enough to actually do it, but it sure is tempting.

We’ll go over there, love on her and then go on home. Just like grandmas do with the rest of grandkids. 🙂

Apparently training is starting already.

Free and bargain books June 16, 2021

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BookRunes has a good looking FREE suggestion for us. We have not seen this author before and I’m looking forward to meeting her..

Remember Home: A Second Chance Military Romance (Healing Hearts) 

Amazon quote:

Dear John…
For teacher Lily Hogan, those words would come to mean so much. She knew that giving back to the community brought joy into people’s lives. When her fourth-grade class writes letters to the military overseas in Afghanistan, she takes up her own pen and leads her students by example – writing a letter to an unknown soldier.

CPO John Griffin and his K-9 dog, Radar, have been through so much together over the last several years. Sniffing out bombs, searching the hills and mentoring his team, he feels so alone and unsure of his future- until a letter reminds him that there’s more to life in this world he’s protecting. Simple words, a kind gesture and feeling that he isn’t forgotten out there in the desert, compels him to write back. Before long, he finds himself looking forward to the care packages and letters from his pen-pal halfway across the world.

With every letter and every word, they begin to develop a friendship and wonder what the other person is truly like? Major life changes are scary enough as it is – but is it possible to fall in love with someone before you’ve even laid eyes upon them? Can the magic of the season bring the sweetest gift of all?

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I’m currently reading & enjoying a newly released book and it is still a bargain.

See Me : A sweet, faith-filled fake engagement romance 

Amazon quote:

Fairytale romances can’t happen in real life. Or can they?

It’s love at first sight when reclusive inventor Jesse Buckley meets unemployed music teacher Bronte, moonlighting as a take-out delivery driver. Okay, so splattering guacamole and sour cream over them both wasn’t the best way to impress the woman he hopes to make his wife, but from here on the only way is up, right? Still, maybe offering her a job as his chauffeur and personal assistant wasn’t one of his best ideas.

It means he’ll see her almost every day, sure. It also means, as one of his employees, she’s out-of-bounds. Besides, though he’s had to admit to his failing eyesight, he hasn’t told her yet that one day he’ll become completely blind. And he’s managed to keep the little fact he’s one of the wealthy owners of the business a secret, letting her believe he’s just another staff member.

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Autumn MacArthur has a new release coming out in December and it’s offered as a bargain on pre-order.

The Real Thing: A sweet & clean opposites-attract disabled hero romance in Scotland (The Macleans Book 4) 

Amazon quote:

He’s an embittered cynic. She’s a perpetually cheerful Pollyanna. They both need to learn what trusting God really means.


Disabled since birth, bullied as a child, Edinburgh author Brodie Maclean has no faith in God, or in human nature. He learned young that his best weapons are his sharp tongue and his biting honesty, and he doesn’t hesitate to use them.
When he’s forced to employ Flynn Ferguson as his housekeeper, it’s instant dislike. She’s too cheerful, she’s too loud, she’s too everything. Including distracting. How is he supposed to write with her around?

Even always-look-on-the-bright-side Flynn finds it hard to be glad about her grouchy boss, apart from the little fact the generous salary he pays means she won’t be evicted. As soon as she can (“Tomorrow, please Lord?”), she’ll quit.
Neither intends to deceive the other, but only when they meet online, safe behind names that aren’t their names and photos that aren’t their photos, are they able to be their real selves and fall in love. Can they recognize the truth behind their false impressions before it’s too late?

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Happy Reading …

on a cheerful day that started with beautiful blue skies. Sadly, clouds and wind have blown in to put a damper on our happy mood.

It’s a good thing we now have a few new books to put the smile back on our face.

This and that – June 15, 2021

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This will be short but at least it’s something and that’s what I’m aiming for after all.

I’m currently reading and very much enjoying a collection with authors mostly unknown to me.

Adventure Brides

I’ll skip the synopsis this time and just say that adventure has been a good description of the stories so far. I’ve finished the first two and I’m about to start the third. It’s too early to tell but it’s off to a good start.

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Podcasts. It turns out I collect them like I collect books. My subscribed list is longer today than it was yesterday.

Jordan B Peterson. I’ve listened to and enjoyed interviews with him on other podcasts but yesterday, I discovered lovely long interviews on his podcast. Last night I binged. One interview was an hour and a half long, the second was over two hours.

I like him because he is thoughtful and deep. He doesn’t hold a lot of preconceived ideas and he is not looking for confirmation of his point of view. He comes from an academic background and his mind works in a way that mine does not. Still, while I don’t always understand the point he’s making and how he got there, I’m soaking up the experience. His open mind, thoughtful consideration, and courtesy toward ideas he disagrees with is refreshing and it challenges my mind to move beyond it’s current boundaries. There is a much larger world out there to be explored.

The other thing I like about him is his choice of guests. They are also thinkers who can match him in thoughtful dialogue. It’s a discussion not a debate. It’s a sharing of ideas and I love it.

To find him search Jordan B Peterson on YouTube or even do an internet search for his website. He can be found on many platforms.

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I am enjoying this space, reflecting on last night’s experience.

I’ll reserve changing the subject for another post.

Have a great day.

Free book June 14, 2021 Part Two

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A reader/author has an interesting and informative FREE book suggestion for us. It’s the story of her journey with an invisible illness. It will be free for two days, check it out. Especially if you or someone you know is facing a similar situation.

You Don’t Look Sick: My Journey With an Invisible Illness

Amazon quote:

In 2014, Kristen’s world flipped upside down when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while working as a Kindergarten teacher in her mid-twenties.

Through this book, join her as she finds her path to health and journey to living the best life possible! Included with her personal story of how she was finally put on the proper medication are ten words of advice for those living with MS, more details about this autoimmune diseases, and suggestions for what not to say to people with invisible illnesses.

This is a personal and TRUE story told from a girl who survived a tough year of fighting for the right to be treated.

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Thank you for sharing your story Kirsten. I’ve downloaded your book and hope many others will too.

Free and bargain books June 14, 2021

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

LPC Books has a FREE suggestion for us. This is from an author I’ve not read but would like to try.

Three Little Things

Amazon quote:

“A well-drawn cast of supporting characters creates a strong sense of community, and colorful colloquialisms (“whip-thin and homely as a cow pie”) add flavor. Lovers of G-rated historical romance will be charmed by the earnest, emotionally vulnernable connection between these young lovers.” – Publisher’s Weekly

One forbidden love. Two broken hearts. Three little things.

Hattie Waltz should forget the troubled neighbor leaving for boot camp in 1917. He forgot about her ages ago. It had always been the Waltzs verses the Kregers, his family pitted against hers. When she hands him a farewell gift, a chemistry lesson unfolds. The good kind.

Arno Kreger can’t leave Iowa or his old man fast enough. He’s eager to prove his worth on the battlefield and stop blaming himself for his brother’s death. Before entering the train, he bumps into Hattie. He’s loved her forever, always from the sidelines, because nobody crosses Hattie’s pa.

One innocent letter soon morphs into many. Arno and Hattie share three little secrets in each letter and grow closer together. But he’s on his way to a war across the ocean, and she’s still in her father’s house. Their newfound love will need to survive dangers on both fronts.

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There is also a bargain book suggestion.

Coming of Winter (A Jeremy Winter Thriller Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

Catherine Mae Blackston is missing. She is not the first.

While investigating Blackston’s recent activities, FBI Agent Jeremy Winter stumbles upon a string of missing persons within state parks. Unable to convince his boss that Blackston’s disappearance is anything other than a lost hiker, Winter joins forces with a local police officer to continue the search.

As the clues mount, a dark figure from Jeremy’s past emerges with an ultimatum — one that could force him out of the Bureau. Afraid that his girlfriend, fellow agent Maggie Keeley, will be dragged into a high-stakes political game, he delays his decision. But as the tally of missing persons increases, Winter closes in on the unlikeliest of suspects.

The bodies are out there.

He just has to find them before his past catches up with him.

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One more bargain.

A Song for Her Enemies: A Novel 

Amazon quote:

She has the voice of an angel. But the devil is listening. 

After Nazi soldiers close the opera and destroy Tamar Kaplan’s dream of becoming a professional singer, she joins the Dutch Resistance, her fair coloring concealing her Jewish heritage. Tamar partners with Dr. Daniel Feldman, and they risk their lives to help escaping refugees. When they are forced to flee themselves, violinist Neelie Visser takes them into hiding.

Tamar’s love for Daniel flowers in hardship, but she struggles with the paradox that a loving God would allow the atrocities around her. When Tamar resists the advances of a Third Reich officer, he exacts his revenge by betraying the secrets hidden behind the walls of Neelie’s house. From a prison hospital to a Nazi celebration to a concentration camp, will the three of them survive to tell the world the secrets behind barbed wire?  

A Song for Her Enemies is the story of a talented young opera singer and the bittersweet love that grows amid the tyranny and fear of World War II. Set against the backdrop of neighbors willing to risk their lives in the German-occupied, war-torn Netherlands, A Song for Her Enemies is an inspiring and beautiful novel celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the determination of Christians in the face of persecution. It is a novel for everyone seeking to understand the pain of the past and be inspired to embrace hope for the future.

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Get ready for action-packed romance in a collection I’ve not seen before

Adventure Brides

Sanctuary By Mary Alford
On separate quests for resolution, two searchers attempt to unravel the full story of past losses. When Katie Fleming returns home to Sanctuary, Montana, to delve into her mother’s death, a reunion with childhood friend Adam Carter welds his search for his wife’s murderer to hers. Together, their determination to find the underlying truth yields a resolution neither expected—a sanctuary of the heart.

Ocean’s Edge By Cindy M. Amos
Standing in landlocked Colby, Kansas, Wynn Yardley makes a wish to touch the ocean, and foundation director Teague Montgomery feels obligated to make it happen—despite running out of funds at his Dreams Come True event. Traveling to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in his Jeep sets the stage for tender romance between the tide lines once they arrive. Good with plants, Wynn learns to grow roots despite shifting sands and the ever-turning wheels of adventure.

The Long Way Home By June Foster
An Uber ride takes a dark turn for unsuspecting riders Jada Atwood and David Maguire when two thugs abduct the vehicle and send them into a cataclysmic game of survival deep in the Pennsylvania woods. Ex-military and highly skilled, David might be more resourceful than the hijackers bargained for. Jada’s life in Dallas which includes a fiancé fades as she clings to a more imperative reality—escape, and the never-say-die soldier who might be saving more than her life.

Donkey Island Rendezvous By Dana Mentink
On the cusp of a storm, Aubrey Jones arrives at a private island off California’s coast to service the resident donkeys with veterinarian care. After a muddy trek to the owner’s remote mansion, the door is answered by the last person on earth she wants to see—country boy turned NFL star Cooper Rockwell, the man who broke her heart. Aubrey objects to Rocket Rockwell’s presence—until the storm knocks out the electricity and strands them together. It’s going to be a weekend filled with animals, antics, and plenty of adventure!

The Wrong Suitcase By Sherri Stewart
Regina Larson’s trip-of-a-lifetime becomes a race for her life when she grabs the wrong suitcase at the airport in Tel Aviv. Something in that suitcase makes her a target, but for whom? Is it the gravelly-voiced, nameless man who threatens her, or Jacob Ross, the handsome man with the laughing eyes, who seems to know where she is at all times?

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OK, I’m done now.

I’m currently finishing a book that is not a favorite and I’ve not decided what is next. I suspect it will be one of these new ones.

Happy Reading!

Are you sure about that?

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This is a question I ask myself often. Starting as a young adult. I had taken a serious position on something and later discovered I was wrong. I soon discovered I wasn’t a big fan of eating crow.

It’s easy to be swayed by opinions or appearances. The question is: are there any facts to back up these conclusions.

Recently I watched an interesting interview and in the middle of it the guest expressed strong negative opinions about a respected and popular podcaster. In the guest’s opinion the person in question was part of cancel culture.

In a way I can see how he could draw this conclusion but it troubles me deeply because I’m not sure it’s true. I’ve heard strong opinions in the podcasts and I don’t always agree with his way of thinking but nothing so far has proven to me that the podcast host cancels people. The guest’s opinion, though, has raised doubt in my mind and I wish I could know for sure.

The guest has had a troubled life in many ways and his opinion could be colored by personal angst. Offence taken where none was intended. There is that to consider.

Some things we can never be sure about but other times, with a little digging, we can be sure.

Another news item heard on line was reporting the results of a poll. In the political arena the question was do you think this man can do a better job than his opponent? The numbers showed the answer was yes. I admit to being shocked.

Ironically, I had seen a number of interviews with the favored personality and he did not do well at convincing anyone of his ability to handle the position. I wanted to ask the polled respondents are you sure about that? It was obvious they hadn’t done their homework.

Our culture seems to run on opinions and appearances. The thing is, we can look good on the surface but sometimes good ends there.

In the Bible it talks about not judging lest we be judged. The connotation usually is that we should avoid negative judgment. I heard someone talk about this verse not long ago and they pointed out that while we shouldn’t judge people as bad we also should not judge them as good. We can be just as wrong either way. It’s true, when I think about it for very long.

In the last year, for some of us, our world was rocked when terrible allegations were leveled against a popular and beloved public figure. Those closest to him rose fiercely to his defense. The problem with all of this was that the unthinkable allegations were true. There was irrefutable evidence. Those closest to him could have clung to their perceptions and opinions but they didn’t. Instead they mounted an investigation to find the truth and when they found it they owned it.

Opinions and impressions are based in emotion. Emotion, while an essential part of life, can get things so wrong. Provable facts are like bedrock.

These days it seems most of us are happy to accept as fact whatever we are being told. It takes time and energy to answer the question.

Are you sure about that?

Bargain books part two June 11, 2021

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There were indeed, more interesting book suggestions today. This first one suggested by 1531 Entertainment is from an author I’ve enjoyed for many years. On top of that, her subject is dear to my heart. I have a houseful of unfinished craft projects dating back decades. Some from my twenties have survived as mementos, memories of special days gone by.

One such craft was learned from a beloved landlady who loved to share and teach. Another craft was learned as creative way to find a purpose for stacks of computer cards used for billing at the company I worked for. They were punched so the computer could read them. They were long and narrow, I folded them to make a point on one end, glued them in layers of leaves around a cardboard circle. Spray painted them sparkly gold with added decorations in the middle and voila, we had Christmas wreaths.

I went on from there to use yarn, fabric, acrylic paint, embroidery floss, and many more fad-ish things gong around. Many people keep photo albums, I keep unfinished projects along with all of the material and equipment needed to complete them. I think, subconsciously, I have this idea that we don’t have to say goodbye as long as there is still more to be done. I like keeping my friends close for a long time.

I can’t help it, I was born this way! A little crazy.

So, getting back to books…

Half Finished: A Novel

Amazon quote:

In bestselling author Lauraine Snelling’s new novel, a group of women realize that life is full of half-finished relationships and projects. However, they discover that the outcome is not as important as the journey.

Recognizing how common it is for crafters to start many projects and finish few, a group of women join together to form a guild-Unfinished Projects Anonymous-to keep each other on track and accountable. Three of the friends are tasked with the job of home visits for their guild. Laughingly called “the Cartel,” they snoop around craft rooms and knitting baskets to report on progress for the members. They even expand their mission to include checking on half-trained dogs and half-weeded gardens.

As life unexpectedly changes for one of the members, this ensemble of women in bestselling author Lauraine Snelling’s new novel discovers that much of life is half-finished-projects, friendships, the raising of children, even our very relationship with the Lord. And that may be perfectly fine.

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BookBub also had a suggestion. I have several books from this author including book one from this collection. I can’t remember if I’ve read it though.

Murrells Inlet Miracles boxset: Books 1 – 3 

Amazon quote:

Fall in love in Murrells Inlet!

  • Book 1: Sanctuary: Successful Philadelphia attorney Nora Ramsey never even knew there was another life for her before Aunt Edie left her with a ramshackle mansion and once-thriving horse business. Veterinarian Shaw Flynn seems a partner, then a love interest, before she discovers his deepest and darkest secret.
  • Book 2: Restoration: Young, single mom Carly Milner was making it on her own raising her toddler Grace and finishing her education so she could launch her professional career. When the love of her life, Ryan Melrose returns, wanting a place in Grace’s life, can she ever trust him again?
  • Book 3: Crescendo: 2019 Illumination Awards Bronze Medalist! A rags to riches story in the world of country music, with a twist! Black sheep in a wealthy family Haley Witherspoon has finally found the career that brings her passion, and it’s with handsome aspiring country musician, Blake Scott. Can they overcome her family’s disapproval, his internal guilt, and mounting danger from a fan to achieve success?

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I’m currently reading and enjoying the latest book in a series I’ve been closely following.

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

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?

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Happy Reading!

Free and bargain books June 11, 2021

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This will be a featured-author post. 1531 Entertainment had a bargain suggestion for us this morning and in the search for it — three other FREE books showed up for this author. I’ve downloaded these books through the years and have read two of them. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much about them and will need a refresher. This author may need to be added to my favorites list.

First, today’s suggestion.

Standoff (Natchez Trace Park Rangers Book #1)

Amazon quote:

The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It’s the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for park ranger Luke Fereday, lately it’s being used to move drugs. Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers.

John’s daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father’s murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who’s going to keep him safe when he realizes he’s falling–hard–for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley introduces you to a new series set in the sultry South that will have you wiping your brow and looking over your shoulder.

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Now for the three more.

Shadows of the Past (Logan Point Book #1) (Read)

Amazon quote:

While she’s stalking the truth . . . someone is stalking her.

Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve–the disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she works to uncover the truth, someone else will do almost anything to keep her from it.

Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife–a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. Now that his estranged brother is the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.

Join the chase as Taylor and Nick search the murky shadows of the past for the keys to unlocking the present–and moving into a future they never imagined.

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Justice Buried ( Book #2) (Read) (and remembered, now that I think about it)

Amazon quote:

In an effort to get her security consulting business off the ground, Kelsey Allen has been spending a lot of time up in the air, rappelling down buildings and climbing through windows to show business owners their vulnerabilities to thieves.

When she is hired to pose as a conservator at the Pink Palace Museum in order to test their security weaknesses after some artifacts go missing, she’s ecstatic. But when her investigative focus turns from theft to murder, Kelsey knows she’s out of her league–and possibly in the cross hairs. When blast-from-the-past Detective Brad Hollister is called in to investigate, Kelsey may find that he’s the biggest security threat yet . . . to her heart.

Crackling with romantic tension and laced with intrigue, this suspenseful story from award-winning author Patricia Bradley will keep readers guessing–and looking over their shoulders.

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Justice Delayed ( Book #1) (not read)

Amazon quote:

It’s been eighteen years since TV crime reporter Andi Hollister’s sister was murdered. The confessed killer is behind bars, and the execution date is looming. But when a letter surfaces stating that the condemned killer didn’t actually do it, Detective Will Kincaide of the Memphis Cold Case Unit will stop at nothing to help Andi get to the bottom of it. After all, this case is personal: the person who confessed to the crime is Will’s cousin. They have less than a week to find the real killer before the wrong person is executed. But much can be accomplished in that week–including uncovering police corruption, running for your life, and falling in love.

With the perfect mixture of intrigue and nail-biting suspense, award-winning author Patricia Bradley invites her readers to crack the case–if they can–alongside the best Memphis has to offer.

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There are more unexplored suggestions yet this morning. I’ll check them out and if they turn out to be interesting there will be another post.

One of the suggestions is from a longtime favorite author. I’m pretty sure…

There will be another post.

Enjoy!

Free and bargain books June 10, 2021

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

Tidewater Inn (The Hope Beach Series Book 1) 

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expired Game (Last Chance County Book 5)

Amazon quote:

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

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

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

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

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

But who is the prey?

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

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

-Present Day, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma–

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

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

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

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

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It has been a good day for books.

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

Happy Reading!

This and that, second try.

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Last time I tried this it was a bust. My mind was on holiday.

Actually, it wasn’t, not really. My thoughts were focused on a number of things and, for a variety of reasons (none of them bad,) it wasn’t appropriate to talk about any of them. That is still the case but at least now I’ve recognized a solution and can move on to the small talk areas in my life instead.

The weather. It’s been crazy this last week or so. Soaring temperatures, wild thunder and lightening storms. Wind gusts battering the house, trying to blow in the windows. Torrents of rain challenging the gutters to handle it all.

A backyard that, with all the heat and moisture, has gone from zero to overgrown in four weeks. The thistles seem to grow a foot a day, I swear. This year I broke down and bought some serious weed killer to deal with it all. Now if it would only dry up enough to avoid walking in mud to spray it around.

Between extreme heat and heavy rain it has been an exercise in futility for the painting team to meet their projected finish date. The last task is the deck, fingers crossed it will be dry enough to be painted by Saturday. The fence and the house look even better than expected. The young ladies did a great job and they liked my color choices. A win/win situation in my books.

There is talk today about lifting some of the covid restrictions around here, which is good news. The infection rates have been high and our medical staff is feeling burned out. For their sake it will be nice to see an end to this plague. It has been a challenge to convince people to do the right thing and take care. Who knew Manitobans could be such rebels?

I did my part, in my hermitage.

Although I have to admit, lately I have been going out more often than I have in years. At least one trip a week and sometimes even four in a week. Grocery store, multiple drive-thru, even Canadian Tire a time or two. I know, hey. Crazy.

It has been good having people around this week, even if they are not here for social reasons.

Power outages and thunder storms, that’s the other thing messing up my life this week. They don’t work well with computers and internet connections.

I’m still smiling though and I even feel like smiling, nothing fake going on here, so life is good.

We will talk books next time.

Last night I missed the midnight deadline by two minutes. This time I’ll pay more attention. It’ll still be close.

See ya later.