Free and bargain books February 20, 2023

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Good afternoon! At least it is afternoon in my part of the world. Good morning/day/evening/night, to the rest of the world. I can’t seem to help but be aware that life is never in the same time slot for all of us.

Maybe that is a good thing. Noticing there is life outside the confines of my small world.

There are many countries showing up, at one time or another, as viewers of my posts. I enjoy exploring, visiting online maps and pictures, finding information for what to me feels like exotic destinations. It’s amazing how many beautiful places there are in this world of ours.

I’m also aware of the impossibility of ever experiencing all there is to see in real life. One experience drives this fact home for me. In an online search for a small island country in the southern hemisphere I came across a travelogue type video. It was unprofessional, shot by a visiting traveler, which may have added to the feeling of wanting more, so much more.

The area he was visiting was obviously a popular resort area but it was also densely populated with locals. The winding streets were narrow with shoulder to shoulder buildings. The whole island appeared to be inhabited from shore to shore. It was beautiful and interesting. I wanted him to slow down so we could have a better chance to take it all in and at the same time I wanted it to last much longer so we could cover more ground.

I knew for sure in that moment there would be no way in this life time to see everything there is to see in the world. I could also tell that videos are not a bad way to go. It isn’t the same as being there but … more travel miles can be packed into our lifetime if we do it while sitting in front of a screen. No airport waiting rooms, no long road trips, no expensive tickets and hotel rooms.

It will be a while before I forget that video experience.

There is another question coming out of it all, still rattling around in my head. How in the world do they survive on a small relatively flat island, in the middle of the ocean, covered from shore to shore with buildings? What happens when tropical storms arrive? How do they escape destruction? Maybe there is something about the location that deflects the storms? Sheltered in some way by other islands? Maybe they are not in the path of prevailing winds?

I will probably never know the answer but will still wonder.

If I remembered what country it was, I could ask. I think I know but I’m not very sure. I’ve researched too many of them.

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This has turned out to be a rambling post. Must get back to books since we have a few suggestion emails today.

This first one is from BookBub. The first book in this series showed a few months ago and I did read it but don’t remember what I thought about it. She does seem to write on a higher level than some, that is a good recommendation right there.

Unfortunate Homecoming: a clean romantic suspense novel (Jeopardized Reunions) 

Renovating the old family home and living on the quiet Magnolia River in Magnolia Springs, Alabama sounded perfect to Shaun Bartley. But when trespassing treasure hunters threaten not only his life but his ex-wife’s life too, will he fight for what is his or forfeit the fortune in order to save their lives?

After ten years on the Okefenokee Swamp as a fishing guide, Shaun Bartley returns home to conduct tours on the Magnolia River and to renovate his great great-grandfather’s old home. When Deputy Fire Marshal and volunteer fire fighter Sierra Beaumont, Shaun’s ex-wife, warns him about deadly treasure hunters who will kill for a chance to explore his property, he thinks she’s trying to run him out of town. When he discovers she’s pregnant with twins by her recently deceased second husband, Shaun can’t help but want to be there for her. But Sierra’s heart has been broken twice, and she’d rather raise the children alone than be abandoned again.

Shaun must deal with his past and find a way for Sierra to forgive him or risk losing any chance he may have at winning back her heart. Since keeping her safe means keeping her far from his home and the trespassers, yet she is the Fire Marshal assigned to his case, it will take a miracle for them to survive.

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1531 Entertainment has a new Christy Barritt mystery for us.

Not on My Botch (The Worst Detective Ever Book 11)

She never thought she’d have to fight for the leading role in her own life . . .

Actress Joey Darling enjoys playing the part of Detective Raven Remington on her TV show Relentless. But for now, she’s enjoying some downtime with her new husband, Jackson Sullivan.

Joey’s peace is shattered when a woman comes into town, who not only looks and sounds like Joey, but who claims to actually be Joey. The resemblance is uncanny, but Joey has blundered her way through too many real-life episodes to let some impersonator ruin her life. She sets out to unmask this imposter and put an end to the woman’s charade.

But the real-life plot isn’t wrapped up in a nice, tidy bow like on TV. The case of her stolen identity soon turns into a dangerous fight for survival.

Will Joey have the chance to write the script for her own life? Or will her plans be botched one final time?

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One more interesting suggestion showed up in today’s browsing session. An author we see often, including having read the first two books in this series.

Three Missing Days (The Pelican Harbor Series Book 3) 

Police Chief Jane Hardy’s teenage son has been accused of a horrific crime—and three days of Jane’s memories have been stolen from her. In the gripping third installment of the Pelican Harbor series, the truth is finally coming out.

Chief of Police Jane Hardy plunges into the investigation of a house fire that claimed the life of a local woman as well as one of the firefighters. It’s clear the woman was murdered. But why? The unraveling of Jane’s personal life makes answers for the case even more difficult to find.

Then Jane’s fifteen-year-old son is accused of a terrible crime, and she has to decide if she can trust her ex, Reid, to help her prove Will’s innocence—and if she can trust Reid with her heart.

Three days of Jane’s past are missing from her memory, and that’s not all that’s been stolen from her. As she struggles to find the murderer and clear her son’s name, finding out what happened in those three days could change everything.

It all started with one little lie . . . but the truth is finally coming out.

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Still thinking about the questions coming out of the travel video…

Maybe the sight of old well maintained sturdy buildings hugging the shores should be an answer to the question of surviving tropical storms. It doesn’t appear that they have been flattened anytime in recent memory. That right there is a very comforting thought.

Til next time

Happy Reading.

One free book and a bargain February 18, 2023

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It’s a start. One free book. We may even find a few more, if we’re lucky. BookRunes is today’s suggester, our only suggester in fact.

Is suggester even a word? I hope so because I like it. Goggle says it is so we are good.

This author is unknown to us, although I’ve think I’ve seen her name somewhere before. I was sure she was on my download list. Hmmm.

It appears this will be a first time reading one of her books and it’s always a joy to discover someone new to me. It could be another name to be added to my growing list of great authors.

Bloody Point (Tucker and McKenna, FBI Book 1) 

Looking for some peace in her life, FBI Special Agent Cassidy McKenna leaves the Bureau, retreats to a sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay, and struggles with the recent death of her husband and her shaken faith in God. When her former partner, Jake, is assaulted and nearly killed and then her marina is torched, Cass knows she must find out why.

She believes the crimes are connected and unofficially investigates, not knowing that she is both the hunter and the hunted. She must connect the evidence, help Jake deal with his brain injury, and find the perpetrator before she becomes the next victim.

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Browsing, I came across a bargain book. This author I’ve read twice before but haven’t added her to any lists. Maybe I will have formed an opinion and added her to a list this time, hopefully.

Oceans of Mercy: A friends-to-lovers romance (Magnolia Island Book 1)

Marine biologist and aptly nicknamed “Shark Girl,” Allie Jameson has always been the peacemaker of her five siblings, preferring to fly under the radar and only making waves when it comes to her questionable dating choices.

Boat captain and Allie’s long-time best friend Knox Parker is struggling with his feelings for the girl who has been there for him through the good and the hard. He knows he has feelings for her, but can he risk their friendship to tell her?

Knox has been a strong and steady presence in Allie’s life for as long as she can remember, their friendship spanning the test of time and multiple tragedies for them both. Still, as Allie begins to grow as a person and in her faith, she realizes she’s let those around her fight her battles for her for far too long. It’s time for her to step up and stand up for herself, but old habits die hard for Knox who has been her protector since childhood.

Just as Allie and Knox navigate the growing pains of their changing friendship and feelings for one another, a routine dive reopens a long closed missing person case that has deeply personal ties to Allie’s family. At the same time, an unexpected career opportunity for Allie thrusts her into the spotlight and stretches their friendship to the point where they must either bend or break.

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There was something I read in one of my recent books that caught my attention. It was a comment about adding spices to coffee for a better taste experience. It seemed like an interesting idea except they didn’t include amount sizes. I decided to give it a try and guessed at how much cinnamon and chocolate to add.

I’m not entirely sure if it worked. Mainly because I have no idea what it should taste like. How do I know if the result was even close to the target taste. Also, I had to use chocolate chips because I am out of powdered cocoa, which could be a problem.

I didn’t love it but it was a decent cup of coffee. Although my coffee loving sons would probably turn their noses up at it as an experiment gone wrong. Maybe it would be a good idea to do a few searches looking for recipes before I try this again.

I’ve been hiding in books today, trying to bring down my stress levels. Mostly it’s working. The fact it’s the weekend, a long one at that, has helped significantly.

I try my best not to worry over things but even good intentions are not enough sometimes.

One thing for sure, this too shall pass. Everything comes to an end at some point, nothing in life lasts forever. In some cases this is good, in some cases not so good.

Another thing we can be sure of, though, is this; it will never be all one or the other. Bad will come to an end just as often as good. Hopefully even more often than good.

There is one thing I can say about my current situation, it’s not about anticipating bad. It’s more about change. Coming at me from several different directions. Change can be good, and I know that right now the changes coming my way do look to be good. It’s the stress of it. Probably because I don’t see a target date for it all to be accomplished.

On the other hand maybe it’s good I can’t see the end date. Maybe the time frame and the workload to make it happen would add even more stress.

Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

So, my coffee is done. I’m going back to my book to bury my head in the sand for a little while longer.

Hopefully there is Happy Reading to you too.

Free and bargain books February 16, 2023

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We would have had two free books today but one of them was a good example of less-than-good writing. The second paragraph was all it took for me to make the decision.

The equivalent of one bite before pushing the plate away.

This makes me sad. Reading the synopsis, the story could have been a good one. Two things could have been helpful in making it better. One would be editing, or maybe better editing, and most importantly, time spent perfecting her craft.

There are several things that a person could do to accomplish this. One of the very best things an aspiring writer can do to is to read voraciously.. Well written books and nothing less. We will find ourselves reflecting the habits of an accomplished writer, and that is a good thing.

This is a fact of life for all of us, we begin to sound like the people we hang out with whether we want to or not. Just to show how this can work, unintentionally. This month, I’ve been spending endless hours hanging out with a murder trial. Yesterday, on an office email, I found myself saying let me rephrase the question.

This mimicking can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on our choice of companions.

Hopefully I’ll lose the lawyer lingo.

Although, reflecting on the strategizing conversation with my boss yesterday, I was pleased to see the progress I’ve made toward the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely. I attribute this growth to the people I’ve spent time with (mostly in the pages of a book) and to the conscious practicing of my craft (trying to achieve explanations that make sense.)

I could be writing instruction manuals. There’s a thought.

I’m still a work in progress though. It takes me hours to write a lengthy email with detailed instructions.

So, here is our one free book.

From This Day Forward: Encore Edition (Heartland Homecoming Book 1) 

They thought their marriage was over—
but can forgiveness open the door to a new future?

After his surgical career ends in tragedy and his marriage shatters, Dr. Sam Martin leaves Philadel-phia for a new life in Oak Hill, Missouri. But he’s never stopped loving the woman who stole his heart. Determined to win her back, Sam invites Cara to recover at his home after she suffers a trauma of her own.

Desperate to find a way to conquer the panic attacks that are paralyzing her, Cara accepts—though she wants no part of the husband who betrayed her. Deep in America’s heartland she discovers a changed man—but can she and Sam find a way to build a new future from the ashes of their past?

In this HOLT Medallion winner, bestselling author Irene Hannon takes readers on an uplifting journey that illustrates the healing power of love…and hope.

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Another interesting suggestion showed up on this journey, book two in a series we’ve seen before.

Sylvia’s Journey: Betrayals & Beginnings (Seeds of Faith Book 2)

The beach. A kidnapping. An agonizing secret.

Prosecuting Attorney Sylvia Mason has no idea her latest case will have ever-lasting consequences that change her life forever. As a widow, she’s had two years to learn to live with heartache but is unprepared for what’s to come.

Alvin Griffin is a former Navy officer turned part-time preacher. He’s stuck by Sylvia’s side after the death of her husband, even though she pushes him away at every turn.

Will Alvin wait on Sylvia, or has she hurt his already battered heart too many times?

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Well, that’s it for today as far as books go.

I hope it is a good reading day for you too.

Bargain books, and a murder trial, February 15, 2023

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Good morning! We have a book suggestion today. This one is a little different than our usual fare and it looks like it’s worth checking out. “The book that launched bestselling author Robert Whitlow’s career!”

The List Robert Whitlow

“Fans of John Grisham will find much to like here.” —Library Journal review of The Confession

In a world of secrets, where evil has reigned for over a hundred years, the power of an ancient covenant will change the life of one man forever.

As a struggling young attorney fresh out of law school, Renny Jacobson pines for the day he can afford the luxuries of the partners in his Charlotte firm. With news of his father’s death and a secret inheritance, Renny’s life will surely change forever. But the clandestine society that provides the inheritance soon threatens to change him in more ways than one.

Renny’s life, and the life of the woman he loves, depend on supernatural deliverance from the curse of The List.

“My verdict for Robert Whitlow’s Chosen People: compelling, realistic and inspiring. Robert combines the intensity of a legal battle against terrorists with a poignant depiction of Israel, with all of its tensions and grandeur.” —Randy Singer, bestselling author of Rule of Law

“Whitlow’s timely story shines a spotlight on prejudice, race, and the pursuit of justice in a world bent on blind revenge. Fans of Greg Iles’s Natchez Burning will find this just as compelling if not more so.” —Library Journal, starred review of A Time to Stand

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In the course of this first search another interesting book showed up. This time with an author new to us.

Edgewater Road (The Rumors in Ross County Series Book 1)

The first in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray, Edgewater Road invites us into a world of family mysteries, small-town secrets, and perhaps a little romance along the way.

When Jennifer Smiley’s grandmother, Ginny, leaves her an old farmhouse on Edgewater Road in seemingly quiet Ross County, Ohio, Jennifer can’t pass up the opportunity for a new beginning. Almost immediately she meets a group of men who generously help her move in. When she realizes that they work for Lincoln Bennett, her next-door neighbor, she’s intrigued. Lincoln is gorgeous and has dark, lapis-blue eyes she could get lost in … but he doesn’t seem all that friendly. She’s torn between getting to know him and sticking with the solitude she knows so well. Maybe she could let down some of those walls she’s built around her emotions?

Lincoln Bennett likes to keep his head down and get his work done. He’s been to prison and he knows that a lot of folks don’t take kindly to a man with that kind of history. Plus, he’s busy helping other ex-cons get back on their feet. But when he meets Jennifer, he can’t help but feel an instant attraction. Will she be able to look past his unsavory history? Will she be able to accept the men he’s working so hard to help?

While Jennifer gets to know Lincoln and his friends, she also begins to unravel her grandmother’s story, putting together the pieces from scraps of memories and things she finds in her new home. She soon discovers that Ginny Smiley harbored some dark secrets on Edgewater Road—and that those secrets include both Lincoln and her own absent father. Is learning the truth worth the heartache it could bring?

As the weeks pass and she and Lincoln become closer, Jennifer learns there is a lot to uncover in Ross County—wonderful friendships, darling towns … and more than one secret that might be better left buried.

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Three more interesting books from this new author showed up for us. Different genre though. I’m going out on a limb and taking a chance on these three.

Shall We Dance? (The Dance with Me Series Book 1)

At twenty-seven, Shannon Murphy has just discovered that she has two sisters she never knew. Now, through Shannon’s loving persistence, the three of them are moving in together above her dance studio in Bridgeport. Shannon is excited to make a home with her sisters and to grow her budding business. Then she meets her newest client—he has all the right muscles, a perfect smile, and a lot of attitude. Will Shannon be able to keep things professional with this charming stranger?

Take the Lead (The Dance with Me Series Book 2)

Growing up in foster care, Officer Traci Lucky had a rough start to life, but things are looking up now that she’s found a place in Bridgeport with two sisters she never knew she had. One night while on the job Traci finds Gwen, a pregnant teen caught up in a dangerous world of drugs, and takes her straight to the hospital. There Traci encounters the oh-so-charming Dr. Matt Rossi, who surprises Traci with his compassion—and his movie-star good looks.

Save the Last Dance (The Dance with Me Series Book 3)

Kimber Klein has left the modeling world behind. She’s sick of the constant pressure to be perfect and ready to live her life without watching every little thing she eats. She’s also really happy to finally spend some time getting to know herself and the two sisters she never met until recently. Life is good … mostly. Kimber can’t stop worrying about a stalker she’s hoping she left behind in New York City. She doesn’t think he’s found her in Bridgeport, until one day she leaves her volunteer job at the elementary school library to find two of her tires slashed. Has her old life come back to haunt her in Ohio?

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This is a good day for books and the chance to explore new authors.

My current read is turning out better than expected so I will be finishing it before moving on this time. A very nice situation.

While all this is going on I’m listening to a high profile murder trial that has been going on for several weeks. It should be wrapping up in the next week of so. There will be more reading time to be had once the trial is over. Not a bad thing at all.

It is not looking good for the accused. Mainly because he has a verifiable tendency to lie, prolifically. He is such a nice guy that everyone believes him. The murder investigation has been the reason behind the recent exposure and now the prosecution has the verifiable proof. The killing is particularly brutal and the way it plays out it appears a lot of planning has gone into it, and over a long period of time.

Technology it is not a friend of the defendant. GSP locations with movement times recorded on the vehicle and the record of cell phone calls placed, both answered and unanswered, prove the lies. The verifiable records blow gigantic holes in his story.

It looks like he is guilty. It will be interesting to hear how the jury sees it.

The brutality, in my opinion, demonstrates a high level of rage against family members he claims to love and cherish.

Rage only increases along with the collapse of his house of cards. He has been embezzling money from his employer and clients for several decades. This is a recent discovery and now there are 99 charges laid against him. Independent of the murder trial. The case against him, financially, is airtight and once convicted I doubt he will ever see the light of day again. Except in the prison yard.

It is possible that family members adding pressure to his financial difficulties because of things going on in their personal lives, this is what is behind the timing of the rampage.

One more opinion/observation: Watching the high level of civility and pleasant demeanor in the court room and then the large number of expensive expert witnesses over the course of a long trial, leads me to believe both sides know he is guilty and they are just trying to get through it as best they can. The defendant is millions of dollars in debt. He can’t afford this. Not sure who is paying for his defense but it isn’t him.

It also occurs to me that the reason for such meticulous attention to providing proof from every angle is more to convince the public than the jury. This man is from a well liked and popular prominent family. It would be easy for the legal court to be crucified in the court of public opinion, with their possible bias and outrage. It appears every question raised in the trial has been explored and answered soon after being raised.

I think it would be difficult to deny the truth when close attention has been paid to every day of the trial.

Both sets of lawyers, and the judge, have been put in an unenviable position. I applaud them for their efforts, over and above the call of duty, to mount a fair trial.

The lunch break is over. Time to finish watching the video of a riveting pre-trial interview.

Happy reading y’all

Read and enjoyed. February 12, 2023

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Today is my son’s birthday! He is miles and miles away from me but at least we have social media to share birthday greetings. He is also near other parts of the family so it’s still a good day for him.

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Down to business. It’s time to clear out the growing collection of read books once again. It’s not easy to buckle down and get it done because I keep finding myself hooked on true crime videos. Very distracting. I’ve split the screen, maybe that will help keep me working. Maybe, no guarantees.

Most of today’s videos have been about booking drunk and disorderly in jail but this last one is about a cult family in a traffic stop. They are pulling a trailer with a bunch of kids inside. At least it is one huge family (they think) and not a child trafficking situation, (we hope.)

Last week I watched a long interview with a woman (#2 wife) who was excommunicated from the community for a minor made-up infraction but wasn’t allowed to take her five children with her. Her biggest fear was that the group leader would marry off her daughters to older men while still at an early age. Usually age 12 – 16 or so. They gather together a bride group and move them to another place where they are chosen by someone from a group of men. Hopefully that is not what is going on here. I feel bad for the girls and their mothers if it s.

The biggest problem this group will likely have will be created by resisting police officers when asked to exit the vehicle and identify themselves. It looks like they are also breaking multiple traffic laws by having unsecured passengers. The trailer has blankets on the floor, no seats, no windows. Could be a fatal situation if anything ever went wrong with such a flimsy trailer.

It’s over now, at least they stopped sharing the video, not sure how it all ended. I’ll resist looking to see if there is a next installment.

Anyway, on to books.

Not sure which one was my favorite anymore but I will try to figure it out.

This first one (on the left) was one of my favorites, it was a five star read.

Again, the next two (also on the left) were also favorite five star reads. Amazing, because I don’t usually have so many excellent reads this close together. It’s been a good week.

I’ve been more selective lately, maybe that has made a difference too. I’m not settling for some of the less appealing books just to have something to share with you.

I’m liking this new way of doing things much better.

Looking through what’s coming next I see there are still about a dozen partially read books near the top of the list. It would be a good plan to move some of them along a little faster. Probably need to jump to the end and move on.

My current read, on the other hand, will likely turn out to be another five star read as well. I’m having a hard time staying away from it. This was yesterday’s new book and I will soon be done with it. Check it out, it’s a good book.

Cold Dead Night (Brand of Justice Book 1)

Alright, there were no more interruptions and I got it done.

As a treat I think I will make a nice salad and finish reading my book.

Happy reading!

Bargain books February 11, 2023

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We have a new and interesting book today. After reading the first two chapters I’m dying to read the rest of it… Next.

Unless I decide to walk away from my current read. It could happen. This author is one of my favorites so I can’t help but be excited.

Cold Dead Night (Brand of Justice Book 1)

The FBI betrayed her. Now they need her.

Private Investigator Kenna Banbury lost everything two years ago at the hands of a serial killer. From the ashes of that encounter, she’s built a life she believes in, searching for the lost and forgotten all over the western US.

Bringing her own brand of justice.

When a series of murders drags her into an FBI investigation, Kenna finds herself back in the place where it all went wrong. Struggling to make sense of the case, Kenna’s past and present collide in a deadly plot that risks another betrayal and threatens to shatter everything she’s built.

Kenna faces the darkest part of her past in this first book of a brand-new series from Lisa Phillips.

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My current read is by an author who has been around forever, and I’ve never read any of his books. I know he is a good writer, evidenced by the millions of books sold. I also know this fact as a subscriber to his email list.

His current mission in life seems to be helping all of us become better writers ourselves and so the emails with helpful offers show up regularly.

I have taken some of his free courses but haven’t gone beyond that. I love writing (the noun version) and appreciate the time and talent that goes into awesome books. The trouble is I don’t love the idea of writing a book myself (I know you have figured out that’s the verb version.) These days I’m having trouble finding enough material to write a daily blog post never mind enough for a serious project.

Actually, that isn’t entirely true, about the blog post. Ideas and thoughts still cross my mind occasionally but it’s cluttered with too many other things going on in my life and the ideas die before I find a minute to really think about them.

I’m trying not to beat myself up about this too much and hang on to the hope that maybe next year will be a better year for a quiet and thoughtful mind.

The last twelve months have been quite the ride. I can’t say it’s even remotely been a bad year but it has definitely been consuming. Intense even. I’m hoping a move soon, closer to my daughter, will lay to rest some of the anxious what-to-do, what-to-do! thought patterns.

In the middle of all that tumultuous mindset, books help keep me sane. Maybe writing will help again too one day, somewhere far far down the line.

So lets get back on track here.

The current read, was…(I’ve already made the switch and I’m up to chapter six – must be attention deficit disorder I keep forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing here hahaha )

Dead Sea Conspiracy: A Novel

In this thrilling adventure, archaeologist Nicole Berman is about to discover the key to unifying three major religions—if a dangerous enemy doesn’t stop her first.

Archaeologist Nicole Berman is the first woman to be awarded a permit to lead a dig in Saudi Arabia. Nicole believes what she hopes to discover has the power to to rewrite world history. She assembles a team that will ultimately surprise – and in some cases – betray her. 

In a parallel storyline, readers are launched back to ancient Ur where young Abram is sent to learn from his forebears, who tell him firsthand stories of being on the ark during the Great Flood. 

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Nothing against his writing. Subject matter is more likely the draw or lack of draw.

There is no accounting for taste. What can I say?

Hopefully this rambling post makes a little sense.

The next post will probably be books read.

Happy reading!

Bargain book February 06, 2023

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It looks like the no-book dry spell has come to an end, 1531 Entertainment has a suggestion for us. It’s such a good one that I will be abandoning my current read in favor of this one. Book two in this series was in the lineup a month ago so we know by experience that this read will be just as good.

Tough as Steele: (Steele Guardians – Book 1)

Searching for an abducted woman…
Detective Londyn Steele is thrown into the deep end when she’s assigned to find an abducted socialite. Problem is, her family’s company, Steele Guardians, was supposed to protect the family matriarch at her eightieth birthday party when she disappears, and Londyn fears her investigation will expose problems in her family’s company and bring them down. Especially when County Detective Nate Ryder declares jurisdiction over the scene, and Londyn must take a back seat in one of the most important cases she’s ever investigated.

Could put them in a deadly killer’s crosshairs.
Londyn has no choice but to work with Nate and bristles at his interference at first, but soon forms a working truce so they can combine forces to locate this missing woman before it’s too late. As they search for leads, emotions he hasn’t felt since before his service as a Navy SEAL come to the surface. He credits Londyn for unearthing the guy he used to be before his military service, and Londyn can barely fight her attraction for him. But when they fear the socialite was murdered and the killer is still hunting, seeking another prey, their feelings for each other have to be put on hold to stay alive.

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Although now that I read a bit more in my current book I may have to change my mind about ditching it for this new one. And now that I remember the current read is a three book collection maybe a compromise would be in order. Take a break after book one and then come back for the other two. Definitely worth thinking about.

Black Hills Song: A Sweet Historical Romance Set in the Black Hills

After losing their Ma and Pa to a tragic illness, Ezekiel Wagner and his brothers are plagued by a mysterious addendum in their will. A threat against the only family they have left forces them to risk everything to save their aunt’s life before the curtain closes on the construction of her opera house.

Tender Melody

As an orphan, Martha never had a family. When she is falsely accused and loses her position, she’s left penniless and desperate. Desperate enough to consider Ezekiel’s marriage of convenience offer. The business arrangement will benefit them both, but will she end up falling in love with the honorable man who saved her from poverty?

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That’s all I have for today but I could be back soon. My already-read list is getting out of hand again and needs some clearing out.

Until then. . .

Happy reading!

Bargain books and PTSD, January 30, 2023

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We have books. Hopefully more than one. After today’s search.

BookBub has the first good suggestion. We’ve read earlier books in this series so this is a welcome addition to our expanding library.

A Home in Cranberry Cove (Cranberry Cove Series Book 4)

Madison Mitchell will never trust a man again. The love of her life broke her heart and married a French chef. Now she throws herself into her work at The Inn at Cranberry Cove. When she accidentally tangles with the manager of a nearby fishing supply store, she suspects the handsome guy is hiding something.

Micah Collins flees Sacramento seeking solace in the seaside village in Washington state. But he discovers an enemy has followed him to Cranberry Cove. He must endure frightful threats at the same time keeping his previous life secret. When Madison finds herself in danger, Micah blames himself.

Madison and Micah are haunted by someone from Micah’s past, but is the culprit the real enemy or should they look elsewhere? Will they find a future together?

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Next, an interesting book showed up in the suggestion strip. A total change in time period.

A Mosaic of Wings (Dreams of India)

It’s 1885, and all Nora Shipley wants, now that she’s graduating from Cornell University as valedictorian of the entomology program, is to follow in her late father’s footsteps by getting her master’s degree and taking over the scientific journal he started. The only way to uphold her father’s legacy is to win a scholarship, so she joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field.

India isn’t what she expects, though, and neither is the rival classmate who accompanies her, Owen Epps. As her preconceptions of India–and of Owen–fall away, she finds both far more captivating than she expected. Forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies the men of the team find without her, Nora befriends Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to a goddess against her will.

In this spellbinding new land, Nora is soon faced with impossible choices–between saving Sita and saving her career, and between what she’s always thought she wanted and the man she’s come to love.

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1531 Entertainment has a suggestion that I want to be next up on my reading list. I’m hooked from the beginning.

Dangerous Beauty: A Novel 

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She’s not a victim, she’s a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she’s determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can’t stay safely over the border in America–unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

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It has turned out to be a very good book day and I’m one happy book lover, I have to say.

I may even be tempted to speed quickly through the current read to get to this new book just a little sooner.

Temperatures have dropped and the sun is shining brilliantly. It hard not to look up on a day like today. The sunshine provides a good blow to the winter doldrums, cabin fever, and all that.

Have a great reading day. I certainly plan to.

I’m still here, thinking on this last book and why it appeals to me so much.

I’m guessing the short answer could be that a strong, abused and vulnerable woman has been rescued by a resourceful, compassionate, but deeply angry man. Rescued being the operative word.

Probably because of any word that could be applied to my life, rescued is the very first word on the thankful list. To be honest, I haven’t really considered the idea in much depth, until now, thinking about this new book. But it’s true. When ever the subject of my early life comes up, the very first thought always is, where would my brothers and I have been if we were not rescued as pre-teens.

I do think of my life in depth at times, when it seems appropriate. Much healing has come from being willing to face the terror of my past.

The other day I was thinking about how far I’ve come in this journey. I’m not that little girl any more.

And yet the healing is incomplete, the damage runs deep and there is residue that will go with me to the grave.

I’m grateful for the rescue, I’m grateful for the major healing gained over many decades. I still don’t lead the life of a normal woman but close enough.

Besides, what is normal anyway?

Read and enjoyed January 28, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s time again to clean out the accumulation of read and enjoyed books.

All of these books were great.

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This was a pleasant reading experience and I’m looking forward to it happening again.

It seems wrong to share all this without much comment but the truth is my memories are too dim to have much to say.

That’s the trouble with reading so many books on a short timeline. Lots of skimming to keep things moving and then when it’s finished and instantly starting a new book, there is not much chance of good memory retention.

It gets so bad that sometimes when I pick up a story where I’m a few chapters in, I have to stop to ask myself what story is this again? Then there is a long pause while I allow memories to flood back in.

I do like to read slow enough to savor the experience but it isn’t practical most of the time. Unless it’s an especially compelling story then I do slow down for a stroll through the book.

It’s the constant temptation to buy more books that has created this need to hurry.

My newest justification for buying more than I can read is the thought that one day I may not carry on with this blog with bargain books but I will still have a long list of unread books to fall back on.

I don’t think about this reasoning too deeply because if I do it sounds like a frail excuse.

Frail or not that is my excuse and I’m sticking with it.

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My current read, just started.

The detail I’m most impressed with so far?

Three sisters are fleeing from their controlling and abusive step father, with their mother’s blessing. Part of their journey includes a precarious ride down a nine mile wooden flue used to carry logs down the mountain to the river. They are familiar with the water flue and how it works because of time spent with their father who owned and operated the business.

I think it was a pretty gutsy thing for them to do.

Hopefully the rest of their journey will go as well. Probably not though, as tension makes for a good story.

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With their sharp engineering minds, Laura Stiles and her two sisters have been able to deal with their mother’s unfortunate choice in husband until they discovered his plans to marry each of them off to his lecherous friends. Now they must run away–far and fast–to find better matches to legally claim their portion of their father’s lumber dynasty and seize control from their stepfather.

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Now back to the story.

Happy Reading y’all

Free book January 26, 2023

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We are back in business. BookRunes has a FREE suggestion for us, breaking our bookless streak.

We have encountered this author once before.

Letty’s Choice: Courting Chaos – Book 9

Lovely, spirited Letty Boyce, a Philadelphia debutante, has refused her many suitors, believing they only want her wealth. When her father goes bankrupt, he sends her to her Aunt Jenny in Laramie, Wyoming, with the stipulation that she will be courted by three suitors, and if Letty doesn’t choose any of them, she must go to work in her aunt’s dress shop.


Letty is pleased with all three young men Aunt Jenny has chosen to court her. They all seem capable of giving her the love she’s always been looking for, but only one can win her heart and save her from a madman bent on revenge.

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That’s all I have for new suggestions at this time.

My current read is interesting though. It is still a bargain too.

Narrow Escape (Vanishing Ranch Book 9)

As general contractor for Vanishing Ranch’s new lodge, Natalie Whitehurst fights to keep her late husband’s business alive and regain her life after his death. When her remote jobsite is compromised, her survival instincts kick in.

Natalie suspects her mysterious new crewmember, Joshua Madden, is keeping secrets, especially since her troubles started around the time he arrived. But when the sabotage escalates from threatening to deadly, she learns there’s more to Joshua than his résumé shows.

With danger closing in, the two are forced to join forces to uncover the person behind the perilous incidents haunting them. Will Natalie and Joshua find their narrow escape? Or will the fate of the lodge be nailed shut before it has a chance to open its doors?

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Oops. We have more.

There is a sequel to this book, it’s on pre-order.

Desperate Rescue (Vanishing Ranch Book 10)

The exciting conclusion to the Vanishing Ranch series . . . finally, we get to hear Charlie Soldier’s story!

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That’s it this time.

Have a good day everyone.

Happy Reading