Hunter's Rose by Carole Brown

      

Hunter's Rose

Book Two of the Troubles in the West series Carole Brown, author 

Read an excerpt . . . 

She fled, carrying little. Only the few things that were valuable and important to her were in the small crate her spare horse carried. How could she have been so ignorant not to realize who he was, what kind of man he was? Fear like a clinging, blood-sucking leech attached itself to her and wouldn't let go. Nothing was left back there for her anymore. No home, no family, no familiar place, and if she wanted to escape, she had to go now. Love. Her lips curled in disgust and something else. Was it hurt? Anger? She didn't know, but she did know she'd never felt this feeling before. From what she'd thought of as pride for the man she'd fallen for, and love for his looks and manners, her feelings had swirled downward when she'd found out what a traitor, what a dictator, what a villain he was. She didn't want to think about him, but she had to. If he caught her—she shivered and urged her horse onward. Blurb It's the late 1800s, and Hunter Carson has married the woman of his dreams and settled on the land he bought. He's never known God or even much about him. But his tender heart can be touched. His wife—the beautiful and exotic Mexican Rosita DeSantis, is totally in love with him—but something is wrong. Just days after their marriage, why is she crying and touchy? Has she fallen out of love with him already? Or is there something far more serious going on with her? Rosita's past is haunting her emotionally. She adores her new husband, but she'll do anything to keep him from knowing what happened in Mexico before she fled the country. And not because she doesn't trust him, but she's worried for his life. Her loving family in Mexico came to accept God into their lives through the ministry of a missionary. But can she hold onto her beliefs through the trials and tests she'll face when Carlos De Leon insists on forcing her to marry him? After all, the Mexican Lord—Carlos De Leon

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New Releases That Caught My Eye

 A few new authors to me . . . 

Murder Off the Books

 by Tamara Berry 

Author Tess Harrow is looking to get back in the town of Winthrop’s good graces after she uncovered not one, but two long-forgotten murders. With the perfect plan of combining her new book release with her bookstore’s grand opening she’ll have the chance to wine and dine the locals and some big press contacts. 

Available on Amazon 

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Inspection Deception 

by Barbara Emodi 

Summer is building time in Nova Scotia. Inspector Kenny McQuarrie will make sure everything is done by the book. That is until a summertime renovation digs up an old murder, and the victim looks just like him. What regulation covers a situation like this one? Kenny hopes for an insight from the reliable Max, but his bulldog is just as confused as he is. 

Available on Amazon 

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A Dead Herring 

by Helen Golden 

Details are sketchy at this stage, but it is believed businessman Ben Rhodes (38) was found dead in his bathroom at the king’s Scottish home by his twin brother Max, where the pair were guests at a shooting party hosted by Lord Frederick Astley (39), brother of Lady Beatrice (36). The cause of Mr Rhodes’ death is not known, but he started receiving death threats from football fans after his controversial takeover of the club and had recently employed his own personal security. 

Available on Amazon

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Cozy New Releases A Few That Caught My Eye

 

Blueberry Blunder

 by Amanda Flower 

Bailey King, star of TV’s Bailey’s Amish Sweets, is building her dream candy factory in Harvest, Ohio. But no sooner is the frame of the new building up than she finds the dead body of a surly contractor who has a long list of enemies—including people in the Amish community. To add to the drama, Bailey is being filmed by a crew for her upcoming show. 

Available on Amazon

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Spring Break Slaying

 by Jody Holford 

t’s spring break in Rainbow Falls and true crime aficionado Annie Abbott is hoping to cater to the hoards of college kids descending on her coastal town by hosting a Gatsby-themed murder mystery party. She’s hoping her twenties era whodunnit at a local historic mansion will increase tourist revenue and build her business’s brand. 

Available on Amazon

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Poppy Harmon and the Shooting Star 

 by Lee Hollis 

Poppy never planned on speaking to her old acting rival Serena Saunders again, let alone accepting her as a client. But familiar drama barges back into her life when Serena requests an urgent background check on Ned Boyce, her fiancé, before tying the knot. And the flighty film star is behaving out of character by wishing to start over with Poppy—this time as friends .

Audio Available for Preorder

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Pure Read Freebies

 

❤️ This Week's New Releases ❤️

 Climb aboard the Prairie Queen Express once again as you run from a terrible fate with sister Amy. Runaway Bride is a non-stop thrilling historical romance I'm sure you'll love! 

Availabe on Amazon

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Our second blessing this week is a brand new Dolly Price Victorian romance. This heartfelt and emotional tale of Little Daisy will have you crying tears of both sadness and joy as you follow Daisy Stanley from the ravages of poverty as a small girl through to her joyful happy ever after. 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here

Guest Post A Garden Wedding by Angela Ruth Strong

 

Not Your Average Garden Wedding

After we were pronounced husband and wife in an English garden, Jim and I didn’t have the normal ceremony exit. Instead, he pulled out his knee cart that our daughters had decorated with a “Just Married” sign and ribbons. I hopped on the front of it, and the sound system played the rumble of a motorcycle revving its engine as we rolled away. This unusual beginning to our matrimony has been symbolic of our dozen years together.

First of all, the garden was heavenly. It represents what God has prepared for each of us. This particular garden belonged to a wedding house where my mom ran her tea house, and because Mom worked there, we were able to rent the venue for a good price. It was a more than we could have afforded and definitely more than I could have ever planted. It was a gift.

The knee cart represents the way the world knocks us down. Things like a ruptured Achilles can keep us from focusing on the beauty around us, or they can make us appreciate the good times even more. When joy mingles with sorrow, it should draw us closer to God. He never promised life would be trouble free. In fact, He promised us the opposite. And that He’d be there for us through it.

Having our children at the ceremony represents second chances. Our first marriages didn’t last, but our redemption never depended on the other person. And it never depended on us being perfect either. Only on our Savior.

The decorations represent the way God ordains celebration. The Bible tells us “thank offerings prepare the way for the salvation of God.” We can always find something to be thankful for, and we should since “the Joy of the Lord is our strength.”

Hopping onto the front of my husband’s knee cart represents commitment and how the two of us have chosen to do life together. While I didn’t need the device to get around, I wanted to share Jim’s journey. In sickness and in health. I stuck with him through another Achilles surgery and heart surgery, then when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I announced it to him by saying, “You’re the healthy one now.” I rode his knee cart with him, and he shaved his head with me.

As for the motorcycle revving it’s engine? This road can get rough, but we keep going. We’ve since bought an actual Harley and ridden from Glacier National Park to the Grand Canyon. Last year, our bike caught fire in Montana, and we had to rent a U-Haul to haul it home. What could have been considered a ruined vacation turned into a really fun road trip. An adventure.

We don’t live in the Garden of Eden anymore, but I am thankful for my wedding in the English garden. It often reminds me that God didn’t bring Jim and I together for wedded bliss but so we can join Him in blessing each other.

 Vroom....vroom...  

About the author . . . 

. sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed on location in Montana and aired on UPtv in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and blogs regularly for My Book Therapy. 

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The newest release coming soon

Meeting God in the Garden by Author Shaen Mehl

 

Meeting God in the Garden

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,

The crawling locust,

The consuming locust,

And the chewing locust,

My great army which I sent among you.” 

      Joel 2:25 (NKJV)

Two things about me are true.

I have always been a writer, and I have never had a green thumb.

Let’s start with the first one. Since early childhood, I’ve enjoyed living in the world of words. Making up stories and scribbling them down on paper came naturally to me. 

Five years ago, my dream of becoming a published author became reality. In quick succession, I published nine books: seven full-length novels and two novellas. During this time, I also experienced a major health situation out of my control. To combat stress, I began to tiptoe into the world of gardening. To my surprise, I garnered a few tiny successes. My potted herbs and succulents all lived, and somehow, I managed to keep alive a beautiful moth orchid that I bought in the city one rainy weekend. 

Things were trending upward. But the stress had taken a toll. Soon after finishing my ninth book, I experienced extreme burnout and physically couldn’t write anymore. The words were gone. I had no choice but to take a step back from the career that I loved and take time to rest and heal. 

An entire year went by. During this time–a time when it seemed like my dreams were fading–my orchid died. 

I knew it was coming. Orchids don’t flower continuously, and mine had a good run. Four months of glowing, radiant blooms. 

But still, the orchid’s seeming death at the exact same time that my writing career stalled was difficult. It felt symbolic. The flower didn’t bloom the entire year that I took off writing. I nearly forgot that it sat in my windowsill. I kept the curtains closed. 

Then suddenly, this spring, I noticed some burgundy-tipped buds at the end of the stems.

I will bring your dream back to you, for I am the Restorer of lost things. God dropped some words into my spirit. I will restore the years the locusts ate. 

Though it was hard to believe, I had to relax into His promise, as I watched my orchid slowly stumble back into life. 

And then–miraculously–a year to the day that I set down my pen, I began writing again. A new story of hope, redemption, and yes, restoration. A reminder that I will always carry with me when I think about nature brought back to life by the one True Gardner

Shaen is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes inspirational cozy mystery from her home in the Midwest, where she lives with her artist husband, Danny, their two rambunctious but adorable boys, and their shelter pup, Violet. Trained as a literary novelist and with a decade of librarianship under her belt, Shaen loves discussing all things bookish with her readers on her website and on social media.

Website and Social Media Links 

Website: www.shaenlayle.com

Newsletter Signup: www.shaenlayle.com/newsletter

Recent Book Releases 

To Heal a Heart

Evelyn Perry’s morning stroll with her husband takes an unlikely turn when they witness a runaway horse-drawn carriage hit a man riding his bike. She rushes to his aid and sees him off to Mercy Hospital. But soon Evelyn discovers that the carriage driver was operating off-route, and when a witness insists the incident wasn’t an accident, Evelyn begins to wonder if there is more going on beneath the surface. The victim, Paul Simmons, is a likable guy with no enemies. So why would someone try to hurt him? Can Evelyn find out the truth behind the accident before someone else gets hurt?

Buy Link: https://www.shopguideposts.org/to-heal-a-heart-mercy-book-9.html

Pearl of Great Price

Tracy Doyle is amazed by the overwhelming excitement in Canton when she is sent to report on the grand opening of the Museum of Wonders. But the real talk of the event is about a wealthy tech magnate and his unique donation to the museum. From his own private collection, Grover Glenn has given the museum a purple quahog pearl ring. This rare and very expensive treasure is sure to be a hit among museum visitors. But when the cloth on the display case is lifted—the ring is gone! Worse, security footage shows Tracy’s six-year-old niece, Jana, opening the case. Despite the evidence, Tracy knows her sweet niece is innocent, especially when they can’t find the ring in Jana’s possession. So the question remains—who really took the ring?

Meanwhile, rushing to get things done at home, Tracy trips and hurts her ankle. The injury puts a screeching halt to her never-ending to-do list. How is she supposed to solve the mystery of the missing pearl ring from an armchair?

Buy Link: https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-from-grandmas-attic-pear-of-a-great-p

rice.html

Guest Post My Mother in Law's Garden by Heather Day Gilbert

 

My Mother-in-Law's Garden

By Author Heather Day Gilbert

When my oldest was about to turn one and I was pregnant with my second child, we moved to my husband's small hometown in Western New York—just up the road from his parents' family farm. I hadn't been much of a flower gardener before that time, but in New York, I had a yard of my own, so I wanted to fill it with beautiful perennials like the ones my mother-in-law grew in her flowerbeds. 

She was the perfect mentor when it came to my endeavors—both when it came to flowerbeds and to childrearing. She helped me choose bulbs from reliable flower companies, and she delighted as much as I did to see the plants emerging the next spring. We discussed everything from the birds at the feeders to potty training, from schooling choices to making pizza crust (I still use her delicious recipe for that!). She was one of the best listeners I've ever met.

When my children were small, she would often drive the riding lawnmower up the road and mow our sprawling yard for me, so I didn't have to get out and do it. She'd watch my youngest as I homeschooled my older ones.  

She'd make us a hearty meal every Sunday afternoon, so we could get together and our children could play in the same multi-generational home my husband had grown up in.

As Mom got older and her diabetes made things more difficult, her daughter, son, and I would spend time weeding, mulching, and rearranging her flowerbeds. They were true showstoppers, full of all colors of tulips, iris, phlox, and more. Mom would sometimes sit out and talk to us as we worked. It was often difficult work in the bright sun, but it was worth every bit of it to know how much Mom—and anyone driving down the road—would enjoy the finished product. 

Six years later, we moved away, but in each house we lived in afterward, I took my new knowledge of flowerbeds with me, planting tulips, iris, and hostas wherever we went—often transplanting some of Mom's bulbs into my beds. One time, I inadvertently dug up her spiky purple liatris bulbs, only to be shocked when they came up in my flowerbed instead of hers the next year! I apologized profusely, but we had a good laugh over my unintentional theft. The liatris is still happy and healthy in my flowerbed, and it attracts lots of butterflies. 

In 2020, my special mother-in-law surprised us all by slipping home to heaven. She'd had health difficulties for years, but no one is prepared when death comes so suddenly. A pivotal part of my children's upbringing and of my growth as a wife and mother was lost to us—for now. 

I still have so many things I wish I could tell Mom, but I know she's probably surrounded by beautiful flowers in heaven. Every time I watch my flowers emerge in the spring, every time the robins and the hummingbirds return, every time I make a particularly tasty recipe, every time my children do something that would make her proud, I wish I could share it with her. 

Most people joke about their mothers-in-law, but mine was a true friend, someone I loved spending time with. She was my Naomi, and I'm so thankful for every moment she spent listening to me and genuinely encouraging me in some of the busiest days of my life. 

Our mutual love of flowers was only a small facet of our relationship, but watching those perennials come up every year always reminds me of how blessed I was to have her in my life, and I'm so glad I can be sure I'll see her again in heaven someday.

About the author 

Heather Day Gilbert is a 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist who enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. When she's not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.

 You can find her books on 

heatherdaygilbert.com

Guest Post God's Blessing in the Garden by Author Nancy Mehl

 

God’s Blessing in the Garden

I certainly can’t call myself a gardener. Plants and flowers seem to look at me and immediately give up the ghost. I do have some lovely flowers on my deck and in my front garden. They’re the only flowers I can handle. They’re plastic! My plant ineptitude isn’t genetic. My grandmother had a green thumb. She had a special place in her backyard for the most beautiful purple irises. Because of her, they’re my favorite flower. I’ve tried to grow them more than once. Let’s just say that so far, they refuse to have anything to do with me. 

             💐🌿💐🌿💐.  💐🌿💐🌿

We’ve had several moves in the past few years. Around nine years ago we moved from our hometown of Wichita, Kansas, to Festus, Missouri, so we could be near our son, his wife, and our first grandson. After three years (and another grandson), the owner of the house we were renting decided to move his parents in – so we were out. We moved again – a short distance away. Then, three years later, we finally bought our own house. But even though this move would put us closer to where my husband worked, we were now farther away from our son and his family. I worried that we wouldn’t see them as often. Still, we loved the house and were happy to finally have our own place. 

               💐🌿💐🌿💐💐🌿💐🌿💐

The stress and confusion of moving, the pandemic, and getting Covid, along with another situation, put me behind on my writing schedule. The last thing an author wants to do is miss deadlines, but I had no choice. Thankfully, my publisher understood and was willing to work with me. Although I was grateful to be on the other side of a difficult time, I still felt the pressure of what I’d been through.  

One lovely surprise I discovered last spring were the yellow daffodils that sprang up in my front garden and around our mailbox. Whoever lived here before had obviously planted them. They didn’t seem to need any help from me. We were made for each other! The daffodils made me smile. Finally, real flowers I couldn’t kill! But the surprises weren’t over. This spring I was shocked to notice something new in my garden. 

 A beautiful white flower with red markings. It was breathtaking and totally unexpected. A friend told me that it’s a Flame Tulip. It reminded me that God’s blessings can appear suddenly, out of the blue, even when you’re not expecting them. Trusting in Him gives us hope, not matter what is going on around us. In Psalm 31:24 we read: “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

In the fall, I may plant some additional Flame Tulip bulbs – or I may just leave the one I have alone and allow it to spread itself naturally in my garden. If I do, I imagine the entire tulip world will breathe a sigh of relief!

About the author 

Nancy Mehl is the bestselling author of over 50 books. She’s won the Daphne Du Maurier Award, as well as an ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award and a Carol award.   She was also a finalist for the prestigious Christy award. Her short story, Chasing Shadows, was in the USA Today bestselling Summer of Suspense anthology. Learn more about her at www.nancymehl.com and on her blog, the Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com.

The lastest releases . . . 

Night Fall - Night Fall (The Quantico Files Book #1) - Kindle edition by Mehl, Nancy. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Dead Fall - Dead Fall (The Quantico Files Book #2) - Kindle edition by Mehl, Nancy. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Free Fall - Free Fall (The Quantico Files Book #3) - Kindle edition by Mehl, Nancy. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Cold Pursuit - Cold Pursuit (Ryland & St. Clair Book #1) - Kindle edition by Mehl, Nancy. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ 1Amazon.com.

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Poaching Is Puzzling by Daryl Wood Gerber Great Escapes at our Book Spotlight

 May 8 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT 

12th in Series

Setting – California

Beyond the Page Publishing (April 25, 2023)

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960511149

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960511140

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C1HDCTC6

About the book 

In the cutthroat world of crossword solvers, Jenna Hart will have to decipher some puzzling clues to catch a killer . . .

The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants from near and far to Crystal Cove, and Jenna watches in amazement as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there’s bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor who’s acting as master of ceremonies. And when the puzzle guru has his throat slit while he’s out hiking, the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit.

Jenna can’t stand by and watch her aunt take the fall. It’s been clear since the victim arrived that he had contentious relationships with a number of the contestants—even going so far as to steal puzzles from some of them and claim them as his own—and Jenna’s certain one of them is the killer. Trading puzzle solving for crime solving, she sorts through the convoluted clues and cryptic suspects, hoping to nab the guilty party before they decide she’s a problem they’ll solve with another murder . . .

Includes mouthwatering recipes!

#Tag Me for Murder by Sarah E. Burr Great Escapes Book Tour My Review

 May 3 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

About the book

When murder trends too close to home, social media influencer Coco Cline will have to swipe through a sea of trolls to tag a killer.

After cracking her first case, Cordelia “Coco” Cline’s life is finally getting back to normal—or as normal as life can be when you have over three million followers online. With a thriving business, a devoted boyfriend, and her two besties living right up the street, Coco is set to have the most fun summer of her life until Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer move into the condo next door.

Coco and her friends do their best to avoid the confrontational duo, but when a party at a swanky new wine bar brings everyone together, things become less than neighborly faster than a celebrity-themed hashtag goes viral. Larry levels some super shady threats toward Coco and her BFF Jasper, which could have dire consequences for their multimedia empires. Just as Coco begins to wonder if she’ll have to spend the rest of the summer looking over her shoulder, she gets a shocking request from police. As part of her PR gig with the Central Shores PD, they need her to come to the beach and keep the public at bay. A body has washed ashore.

Thinking a poor swimmer drowned just before the Salute to Summer festival kicks off, Coco arrives to find Larry Dunmer, dead with a corkscrew sticking out of his neck. What’s even more unbelievable is that Jasper quickly shoots to the top of Chief McInnis’s suspect list. In full-on panic mode, Coco decides to use her tech-savvy sleuthing skills to clear her best friend’s name before his rep is ruined. She soon discovers that Larry made quite a few enemies during his very short stay in town. But who hated him enough to kill him?

Return to the beaches of Central Shores as Coco Cline and her squad assemble to catch a killer before they get canceled…permanently.

And I thought 

Sometimes covers 'Get Me' and this one sure did. 

I definitely would pick it up off the store shelf.  Then I would read the back.  

And then drop into my cart!

#Tag ...had me turning those pages! 

It is a leisure read and a great beach or vacation read.  Or just a cozy up at home read. 

The characters abit comical at times have become dear friends kind of like they are with each other.  

CoCo is a great character.  And she kinda is living up to her name.  But even though reluctant as she is she manages to find the pieces and fit the puzzle together.  

I enjoyed book 2 in the series and planned to read more. 

I received a complimentary copy. 

My review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads. 

Buy the book  

Available on Amazon

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Visit the tour 

To read more reviews and featured posts click Here