New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for July 26th - August 1st #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


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Come back and check out the new selection every week!

Check out the beginning of this #historicalromance... Secrets of Stonebridge by Anita Stansfield for First Line Fridays @Covenant_Comm #Regency #cleanromance


I'm joining in First Line Fridays today, hosted by Hoarding Books.

Secrets of Stonebridge
By Anita Stansfield
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 195 Pages
July 1, 2021 by Covenant Communications

Summary

Since the untimely death of her young husband, Regina Everleigh has been consumed by her grief. After more than a year spent sequestered in her rooms at Stonebridge Manor, the once lively young woman is encouraged to venture into town—her first small step toward healing. But Regina is shaken out of her stupor when she makes a most unexpected discovery: a foundling baby girl. Regina is instantly enthralled with the infant and determines that she will claim the child as her own—a deception that seems, in the moment, to be harmless. But when her husband’s cousin Radcliffe comes back into her life, Regina quickly becomes entangled in a tenuous charade.

Radcliffe is immediately taken with both the charming baby girl and the woman he believes to be her mother. As Regina and Radcliffe are drawn together, first as friends and then as something much deeper, the future is bright with unspoken promise. But when the truth of the baby’s parentage is revealed, Regina stands to lose all that she has come to cherish.

(Affiliate links included.)

First Line

Somerset, England, 1819

Regina Elliott Everleigh awakened to the annoyingly loud chirping of a great many birds outside her bedroom window, and she has to fight the urge to open the window and start tossing her shoes into the trees to frighten the little nuisances just enough to encourage them to go sing their cheerful songs elsewhere.

What do you think about this first line? Is this book on your list to read or have you already read it?

Read an excerpt from this historical fantasy... Then Came the Thunder by Rachael Huszar (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #ThenCametheThunder #RachaelHuszar #HFVBTBlogTours @hfvbt


Welcome to my tour stop! Read an excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

Then Came the Thunder
(Three Willows #1)
By Rachael Huszar
Adult Historical Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 160 Pages
July 2, 2021

Summary

Jessalyn Joy loves her husband, but she can’t help the feelings that arose when he volunteered for the Union army. When he comes back to her in a box instead of on his feet, those feelings complicate even more.

Jessalyn’s mourning period is cut short when something begins to attack the livestock in their small town, and greater dangers begin to threaten their provincial life. Thrown together with the new reverend, one of her own students, and a strange man somehow related to her husband’s passing, Jessalyn must find a way to stop the evils that threaten her husband’s first and ultimately last home.

Set in the Southwestern home front, Huszar blends a taste of fantasy into a startling down-to-earth world, creating a high stakes adventure for this strong female protagonist and her band of amateur sleuths.

(Affiliate link included.)

Excerpt

As if on cue, two more young girls came tumbling up the path, joining Calvin and Caleb in their race around the tree. Jessalyn turned and saw a tall, thin man closing the gate behind him. She recognized him as Jule, the eldest Templeton son.

“Jule!” Lilah said, waving.

“Nice to see you, Miss Joy,” said Jule. Jessalyn nodded in return. He reached out and vigorously mussed his sister’s hair. “Lilah."

“Cut it out!” Lilah said, batting his hands away.

“You joining us for dinner, Miss Joy?” asked Jule.

“No, I just came by for a quick visit.”

“Well, you know, you’re always welcome. I’m sure this one would be thrilled,” he said, patting Lilah’s head again. “She talks about you and your lessons non-stop. When she isn’t buried in one of your books.”

“I’m the lucky one who gets to teach a student like her,” Jessalyn said.

“Smart as a whip. I’ve known that since you were a baby,” said Jule, beaming down at his sister. “You’re going to blow them out of the water in college.”

Lilah lowered her voice. “If you could help me convince Mama, I’d be mighty grateful.”

Jessalyn glanced at the kitchen window of the Templeton house, behind which Margaret was surely cooking up a frenzy for her family.

“She’ll come ‘round,” Jule said, reaching his arms above his head, stretching out his back. “You don’t mind me adding the girls to your pack, do you? Rose wanted to stop by her folks’ before she came here.”

“No trouble,” said Lilah. They all turned back towards the group of children. The race had given way to another game. Both of Jule’s daughters had their skirts hitched up around their knees and were struggling to find footholds on the trunk of the old tree. Calvin and Caleb cheered them on. Meanwhile, Emmy had rolled off her blanket and was dangling her chubby legs off the edge of the porch.

Jessalyn gulped. In a few years, all five of them would be her students.

“Annabelle! Easter!” Lilah bellowed. “The boys aren’t allowed in that tree and neither are you! You wanna break your neck?” Caught in the act, both girls dropped back to the ground. One of them began theatrically crying. “Don’t you give me those crocodile tears, Annabelle, I taught you how to do that.” The crying ceased. Lilah put her hands on her hips. “Caleb, Calvin, play nice with your cousins. And watch Emmy!”

As the children resumed their play, Lilah turned back to the adults.

Jule’s eyes were wide. “Well, now I know why they always want Grace to babysit instead of you.”

Lilah smacked his arm. “Hush. Did Charlie and Papa come back from the ranch with you?”

Jule’s expression sobered. “Mmhmm. They’re going with Granddad to make a report at Town Hall.”

“Report what?” asked Lilah.

“We lost two more bulls last night.”

Lilah clapped a hand over her mouth.

“That’s terrible,” said Jessalyn. She hadn’t heard any rumors of sickness among the cattle, which sometimes spread in the summer heat. This must have been something else. “Two more? You’ve lost some previously?”

Jule nodded. “Us and most of the other ranches. We used to lose maybe three a year between all of us, which is just natural, but this . . .” he trailed off.

“Was it the same way as before? An attack?”

Jule glanced at Jessalyn. “I’ll spare Miss Joy the details, but yeah. It’s pretty vicious.”

“What could be doing this?” asked Jessalyn.

“Papa thinks it’s some wild animal. Maybe rabies are making it do weird things, like kill, but not eat the meat,” Lilah said. “They just leave it there.”

“We’ve started having night watches around the ranch lands, but so far, no one’s seen anything,” said Jule. “My father figured it was time to make a formal report. If anyone can rally the town together to figure this out, it’s Mayor Carson.”

“Of course,” Jessalyn said. Her mind had already formed the image of a sickly coyote, lolling tongue and glowing eyes, staking out the Three Willows’ cattle in the dead of night. Hopefully the mayor would be able to take care of it quickly, if he was done meddling with Jessalyn’s social life.

The front door of the Templeton house swung open and Margaret strode onto the porch. Her apron was spattered with the colors of cooking, and what looked like a potato peeling clung to her graying blonde hair. She surveyed the scene in front of her house. “Jessalyn,” she said shortly.

“Hello, Margaret,” Jessalyn replied.

And that was the end of the conversation. “Jule,” Margaret said to her son, “stop loafing out here in the yard, come inside. Lilah, round up the kids and start getting them washed. There’s plenty to do before dinner.”

“Yes, Mama,” chorused Jule and Lilah. Lilah gave one final wave to Jessalyn before hurrying off to gather the children. With one more nod to Margaret, Jessalyn turned and headed for the gate.

Despite Jule’s insistence, Jessalyn knew that, no, she was not always welcome at the Templeton house.

About the Author


Rachael Huszar kept her life steeped in stories from a young age, and she began her own journey in story-making when she reached adulthood. In the time since, she has taken up swimming, roller skating, and consuming tabletop RPG streams. She spends the bulk of her time with her dog, Silo, and works full time as a designer in Dallas, Texas.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Then Came the Thunder

What did you think of the excerpt?

Listen to an audio excerpt... He Who Fights with Monsters 2: A LitRPG Adventure by Shirtaloon (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #fantasybooks #audiobooks @jeanbooknerd


Welcome to my tour stop! Listen to an audio excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

He Who Fights with Monsters 2
A LitRPG Adventure
By Shirtaloon
Adult Fantasy, Serials
Audiobook, Paperback & ebook, 564 Pages
May 18, 2021 by Aethon Books

Summary

The path from retail middle management to interdimensional wizard adventurer wasn’t easy, but Jason Asano is settling into his new life.

Now, a contest draws young elites to the city of Greenstone, competing for a grand prize. Jason must gather a band of companions if he is to stand a chance against the best the world has to offer.

While the young adventurers are caught up in competition, the city leaders deal with revelations of betrayal as a vast and terrible enemy is revealed. Although Jason seems uninvolved, he has unknowingly crossed the enemy’s path before. Friends and foes made along the way will lead him to cross it again as inevitable conflict looms.

#186 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#5 in Action & Adventure Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)
#19 in Epic Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)
#20 in Fantasy Action & Adventure

(Affiliate links included.)

Audio Excerpt


About the Author

In the middle of penning a dry academic paper, Shirtaloon had a revelation: he desperately needed to write something very silly. To his surprise and delight, he found a warm and welcoming audience in the world of online serialized fiction. Transitioning his work into actual books, he is continually startled at the appetite for his particular blend of high magic, wild adventure and absurd nonsense. Success has allowed him to fund an excessive board game collection he doesn’t have time to play because he’s always writing. The unplayed games sit on the shelves behind him as he works, silently judging.

Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

- 1 Winner will receive a Copy of Each of the First Book and Swag in the Series
- Giveaway is open to International | Must be 13+ to Enter | Ends August 16, 2021

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What did you think of the excerpt? Is this your kind of book?

I Can't Wait for... Charming Artemis by Sarah M. Eden (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #charmingartemis #histfic #histrom #cleanromance #mustread @Covenant_Comm


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

Tag me on your CWW posts on Twitter (@wishfulendings) and I'll like and retweet!

Sarah M. Eden is one of my favorite authors. I auto-buy and pre-order all of her books. Fans got a taste of the couple who are the focus in this story in a previous book as well as a prequel. I'm so ready for this story!!! It's my pick this week...

Charming Artemis
By Sarah M. Eden
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook
October 4, 2021 by Covenant Communications, Inc.

Summary

Charlie Jonquil is mild-mannered and kind—except when it comes to his one true adversary, Artemis Lancaster. Though Charlie has a brilliant mind for mathematics, Artemis poses a problem he can’t seem to comprehend: how can one be so lovely and so infuriating? A party in London brings him into the company of the maddening young lady, and it is clear that Charlie’s disdain is mutual. But when an unfortunate incident between the pair involving Charlie’s jacket and a glass of raspberry shrub leads to scandal, the sworn enemies are left with only two options: be ruined or be married.

So it is that Artemis finds herself in a most outrageous predicament: she must wed a gentleman she’s hated for years—and she pledges to avoid him at all costs. But it is only when they enter into this mockery of a marriage that Charlie and Artemis learn things are not as simple as they once appeared. As their tentative ceasefire leads to friendship, it seems their marriage born of desperation might lead them to a love that was destined to be.

(Affiliate link included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Read an excerpt and check out a Q&A for Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman with @HarlequinBooks #historicalfiction #wwiifiction #womensfiction #newbook


Welcome! I'm share a brief Q&A and an excerpt for
this new historical release. Check them both out below...

Radar Girls
By Sara Ackerman
Adult Historical Fiction
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 368 Pages
July 27, 2021 by MIRA

Summary

WWII historical fiction inspired by the real women of the Women’s Air Raid Defense, RADAR GIRLS follows one unlikely recruit as she trains and serves in secrecy as a radar plotter on Hawaii. A tale of resilience and sisterhood, it sees the battles of the Pacific through the eyes of these pioneering women, and will appeal to fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff.

An extraordinary story inspired by the real Women’s Air Raid Defense, where an unlikely recruit and her sisters-in-arms forge their place in WWII history.

Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and saltwater to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top-secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time. Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out air strips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.

But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side-by-side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way. With America’s future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she’s falling in love with out on the front lines, she cannot fail. From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she’ll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought—and won—together.

This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.


Interview

Q: What do you think drives authors to continue to find stories to tell set around WWII?

A: Perhaps it’s because there are still so many amazing untold stories out there? There are so many individuals with unique experiences during the war, all over the world, that the books could just keep coming. Also, I know for myself, while I’m researching for a novel, I often stumble upon something that makes me sit up and think, Wow, that would make a great story! And then I file it away for future consideration. This happened while I was researching for The Lieutenant’s Nurse, my second novel, and first heard about the Women’s Air Raid Defense. It’s how Radar Girls was born!

Q: How are you hoping readers will relate to Radar Girls?

A: I hope that readers will see a little bit of Daisy Wilder in themselves. I think it’s human nature to put yourself in the shoes of the characters and wonder about how you would react in a crisis. Would you rise to the occasion?

In Radar Girls, we have one woman trying to make her way in the world. Daisy is special in her own way, but no different than you or I, really. And then in one day, everything changes. Through her lens, we experience what it was like firsthand to live in wartime Hawaii, a very dark and scary time. We go along for the ride as she overcomes obstacles, deeply connects with other WARDS, falls in love, and proves herself as an important member of a critical command center Pearl Harbor. We feel her hopes, dreams and fears. As a reader, when I feel the humanity of a story, it makes me care. And when I care, I want to keep turning the pages. I hope that as readers turn the pages of Radar Girls, they will feel empowered and inspired and proud.

Q: What’s something that you connected with personally as you researched and wrote Radar Girls?

A: When I was reading about the real WARDs, the thing that stood out to me the most was how these women quickly became a sisterhood. And I know that many were still close and kept in touch until their dying days. I have a band of friends who I love like sisters, so this really resonated with me. I greatly admire how the WARDs held each other up and maintained such grace under pressure, as well as a great sense of humor throughout. It was so inspiring to me, and made me want to hug all of my friends.

Excerpt



2

The Bust

Their shack, as Daisy referred to the house, was nestled in a cluster of bent ironwood trees, all by its lonesome. Set back far from the beach to protect it from a direct blast of onshore winds, it still took a constant battering and the salty air and elements had done a fine job reclaiming it. Windowpanes had been blasted opaque, you could see through the back wall, and flowers had taken up residence in the gutters. The siding had gone from forest green to pale green to peeling gray, the roof turned to rust.

When he had first started working up at the ranch, Daisy’s father had somehow persuaded Mr. Montgomery to sell him the small parcel of beachfront property for the price of a bag of sand. Most likely because it was in no-man’s-land between Waialua and the ranch. And because her father had been the best horse trainer in Hawai’i and everyone knew it.

She flung open the front door and ran inside. “Mom?” she called.

All quiet. She tiptoed across the lauhala mat in the living room, avoiding the creaking floorboards. Her mother spent much of her life in one of two states—sleeping or staring out to sea. The bedroom door was cracked and a lump lay under the blankets, pillow over her head. There was no point in trying to wake her, so Daisy ran back outside, hopped on her bike and rode for the stables.

The air was ripe with burnt sugarcane and a scratchy feeling of dread. She bumped along a dirt road as fast as her old bike would carry her. That plume of black smoke above Schofield caused her heart to sink. So many Japanese planes could mean only one thing. An attack or invasion of some kind was happening. But the sky remained empty and she saw no signs of ships on the horizon.

By the time she reached the stables, she had worked out what to tell Mr. Silva—the only person at the ranch who was even close to being a friend—and beg that he help her find Moon. Whether or not he would risk his job was another story. Jobs were not easy to come by, especially on this side of the island. Daisy counted herself lucky to have one. When she rounded the corner by the entrance, she about fell over on her bike. Mr. Silva’s rusted truck was gone and in its place sat Mr. Montgomery’s shiny new Ford, motor running and door open.

As far as old Hal Montgomery was concerned, Daisy was mostly invisible. She had worked for him going on seven years now—since she was sixteen—but she was a girl and girls were fluffy, pretty things who wore fancy dresses and attended parties. Not short-haired, trouser-wearing, outdoorsy misfits. And certainly not horse trainers and skin divers. Nope, those jobs belonged to men. There was also the matter of her father’s death, but she preferred not to think about that.

Should she turn around and hightail it out of there before he caught sight of her? He’d find out eventually, and he would be livid. Daisy pulled her bike behind the toolshed and slipped around the back side of the stables, peering in through a cloudy window. The tension in the air from earlier had dissipated and the horses were all quiet. A tall form stood in front of the old horse—Ka‘ena—she was supposed to ride. It was hard to tell through the foggy pane, but the man looked too tall and too thin to be Hal Montgomery.

Horsefeathers! It was Walker, Montgomery’s son. A line of perspiration formed on the back of her neck and she had the strong urge to flee. Not that Daisy had had much interaction with Walker in recent years. He was aloof and intimidating and the kind of person who made her forget how to speak, but he loved Moon fiercely. Of that she was sure. Just then, he turned and started jogging toward the door. His face was in shadow but it felt like he was looking right at her. She froze. If she ducked away now, he would surely catch the movement. She did it anyway.

She had just made it to her bike when Walker tore out of the tack room with a wild look in his eye. He had a rifle hanging across his chest, and he was carrying two others. He stopped when he saw her. “Hey!” he said.

“Oh, hello, Mr. Montgomery.”

He wore his flight suit, which was only halfway buttoned, like he’d been interrupted either trying to get in it or trying to get out of it. His face was flushed and lined with sweat. “Don’t you know we’ve been attacked? You ought to head for cover, somewhere inland.”

He was visibly shaken.

“I saw the planes. What do you know?” she said.

“Wheeler and Schofield are all shot up, and they did a number on Pearl. Battleships down, bay on fire. God knows how many dead.” His gaze dropped to her body for a moment and she felt her skin burn. There had been no time to change or even think about changing, and she was still in her half-wet swimsuit, hair probably sticking out in eleven directions. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I was worried about the horses,” she said.

“That makes two of us. And ------- Moon is not in his stall. You know anything about that?”

Taking Moon had been about the dumbest thing she could have done. But at the time, it seemed a perfectly sane idea. The kind of thinking that got her into plenty of trouble over the years. Why hadn’t she learned? She looked at the coconut tree just past him as she spoke. “I have no idea. Perhaps Mr. Silva has him?”

“Mr. Silva went to town last night to see his sister,” he said.

She forced herself to look at him, feeling like she had the word guilty inked onto her forehead. “Looks like you have somewhere to be. You go on, I’ll find Moon. I promise.”

Her next order of business would be scouring the coast and finding that horse before Walker returned. There would be no sleeping until Moon was safely back at the stables.

“I sure hope so. That horse is mighty important to me,” he said.

Tell him!

She was about to come clean, when he moved around her, hopped in the car and slammed the door. He leaned out the window and said, “Something tells me you know more than you’re letting on, Wilder.”

With that, he sped off, leaving her standing in a cloud of red dirt and sand.

In the stables, the horses knew the sound of her footsteps, or maybe they smelled the salt on her hair. A concert of nickers and snorts erupted in the stalls. Daisy went to the coatrack first, and slid on an oversize button-up that she kept there for chilly days. It smelled of hay.

“How is everyone?” she said, stopping at each one to rub their necks or kiss their noses. “Quite a morning, hasn’t it been?”

Peanut was pacing with nostrils flared, and she spent a few minutes stroking his long neck before moving on. Horses were her lifeblood. Feeding, grooming, riding, loving. She only wished that Mr. Montgomery would let her train them—officially, that was. Without being asked as a last resort by Mr. Silva when everyone else had tried. Lord knew she was better than the rest of the guys. When she got to Moon’s stall, all the blood rushed from her head. The door had been left open and two Japanese slippers hung from the knob. She had hidden them in the corner under some straw—apparently not well enough.

----.

Just then she heard another car pull up. The ranch truck. A couple of the ranch hands poured out, making a beeline to the stables. Mr. Montgomery followed on their heels with a machete in his hand and a gun on his hip. Daisy felt the skin tighten on the back of her neck. His ever-present limp seemed even more pronounced.

When he saw her, he said, “Where’s Silva?”

No mention that they were under attack.

“In town,” she answered.

“What about Walker?”

“Walker just left in a big hurry,” she answered.

One of the guys had his hunting dog with him. It was a big mutt that enjoyed staring down the horses and making them nervous, as if they needed to be any more nervous right now. Daisy wanted to tell him to get the dog out of there, but knew it would be pointless.

“The hosses in the pasture need to be secured,” Mr. M said.

“Do you need my help?” she offered.

“Nah, you should get out of here. Get home. ----ers blew up all our planes and now paratroopers are coming down in the pineapple fields. Ain’t no place for a woman right now.”

Daisy wanted to stay and help, but also wanted to get the hell away before he noticed that Moon was not here. “Yes, sir.”

He stopped and sized her up for a moment, his thick brows pinched. “You still got that shotgun of your old man’s?”

“I do.”

“Make sure it’s loaded.”

On her way home, Daisy passed through Japanese camp, hoping to get more information from Mr. Sasaki, who always knew the latest happenings. A long row of cottages lined the road, every rock and leaf in its place. The houses were painted barn red with crisp, white trim. On any given Sunday, there would have been gangs of kids roaming the area, but now the place was eerily empty.

“Hello?” she called, letting her bike fall into the naupaka hedge.

When she knocked and no one answered, she started pounding. A curtain pulled aside and a small face peered out at her and waved her away. Mrs. Sasaki. She was torn, but chose to leave them be. With the whispers of paranoia lately, all the local Japanese folks were bound to be nervous. She didn’t blame them.

This time when Daisy ran up to the shack, her mother was sitting on the porch drinking coffee from her chipped mug.

She was still in her nightgown, staring out beyond the ocean. When she was in this state, a person could have walked into their house and made off with all of their belongings and her mother would not even bat an eye.

Daisy sat down next to her. “Mom, the Japanese Army attacked Pearl Harbor and Wheeler and who knows where else.”

Her mother clenched her jaw slightly, took a sip of her coffee, then set it down on the mango stump next to her chair. “They said it would happen,” she said flatly.

“This is serious, mom. People are dead. Civilians, too. I don’t know how many, but the islands are in danger of being invaded and there are Japanese ships and planes all around. They’re telling us to stay inside.”

A look of worry came over her mom’s face. “You should go find a safer place to stay, away from the coast.”

“And leave you here?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

Her mom shrugged.

She knew Louise couldn’t help it, but a tiny part of Daisy was waiting for that day her mother would wake up and be the old Louise Wilder. The mother of red lipstick and coconut macaroons, of beach bonfires and salty hugs. The one who rode bikes with her daughter to school every day, singing with the birds along the way. The highs and lows had been there before, but now there were only lows and deeper lows.

After some time, her mother finally spoke. “Men, they do the dumbest things.”

“That may be true, but we’re at war. Does that mean anything to you?” Daisy said, her voice rising in frustration.

“Course it does, but what can we do?”

She had a point. Aside from hiding in the house or running away, what other options were there? Used to doing things, Daisy was desperate to help, but how? Their home was under attack and she felt as useful as a sack of dirt.

Louise leaned back. On days like these, she retreated so far into herself that she was unreachable. You could tell by looking in her eyes. Blank and bottomless. Mr. Silva always said that you could see the spirit in the eyes. Dull eyes, dull spirit. That Louise looked this way always made Daisy feel deeply alone. The onshore winds kicked up a notch and ruffled the surface of the ocean. She knew she should stay with her mom, but more than anything, she wanted to go in search of the horse. Moon meant more to her than just the job. She loved him something fierce.

Only one thing was clear: their lives would never be the same.

Excerpted from Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman, Copyright © 2021 by Sara Ackerman. Published by MIRA Books.

About the Author


USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman was born and raised in Hawaii. She studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she's not writing or teaching, you'll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals. Find out more about Sara and her books at www.ackermanbooks.com and follow her on Instagram @saraackermanbooks and on FB @ackermanbooks.

Photo Credit: Tracy Wright-Corvo


What did you think of the excerpt or interview? Will you be reading this one?

New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for July 19th - July 25th #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


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Check out an interview with the author... The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore (Interview & #Giveaway) #MirielleWest #AmandaSkenandore #HFVBTBlogTours @ARShenandoah @KensingtonBooks @hfvbt


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out an interview with the author and enter the giveaway below...

The Second Life of Mirielle West
By Amanda Skenandore
Adult Historical Fiction
Paperback & ebook, 304 Pages
July 27, 2021 by Kensington Publishing

Summary

In this thought-provoking and sensitive novel, inspired by the true story of a Louisiana leprosy hospital where patients were forcibly quarantined, acclaimed author Amanda Skenandore tells an extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope–and the last woman who expected to find herself in such a place…

1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West’s days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She’s been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.

The diagnosis–leprosy–is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years. Some are badly afflicted, others relatively unscathed. For all, the disease’s stigma is just as insidious as its physical progress.

At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves?


Interview

What inspired you to write about a woman with leprosy in the 1920s?

As a writer, I’m drawn to stories and voices left out of the traditional narrative of history. In the case of this novel, I came across this tiny book at my local library titled Carville: Remembering Leprosy in America. I was so struck by the heartrending stories it contained. Before that, I knew almost nothing about leprosy (which is now preferentially called Hansen’s Disease) and its history in America. I knew nothing about the laws that condemned those with the disease to lifelong quarantine. I knew nothing about the toll the stigma had on patients’ lives and the lives of their families. Their stories felt like something important to share with readers.

Would you tell us more about the main characters from THE SECOND LIFE OF MIRIELLE WEST?

As the title suggests, the main character is Mirielle West. She’s the wife of a silent film star, living a glamours but sorrow-filled life in 1920s Hollywood. Unexpectedly, she’s diagnosed with leprosy (a disease for which, at the time, there was no cure). She’s ripped apart from her family and sent to live in isolation at the National Leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana, hundreds of miles from her home. There, she meets the other main characters:

Frank, a WWI veteran who has been living with the disease for several years and is committed to bringing a measure of cheer to their bleak lives at the colony. Irene, Mirielle’s spunky housemate, who helps her adapt to life at the colony. And Jean, a nine-year-old girl, whose father left her at the colony when she was six and never looked back. These are not their real names, however. Almost everyone who came to the colony took a new name to spare their family the shame of the disease. They called them their Carville names.

What advice would Mirielle give about navigating her new world at the hospital?

When Mirielle first arrives at the hospital, she’s in complete disbelief and avoids the other residents. But once she comes to accept her situation, the advice she would give those new to the colony would be: have hope.

When researching the book, did you find anything that surprised or inspired you?

I was surprised by how committed many of the residents were to making a community at Carville. They started a newspaper, threw parties at Christmas and Mardi Gras and Fourth of July, raised money to support the troops during WWII, created bands and book clubs and sports teams. All of this with almost no access to the outside world. Of course, there were stories I read about during my research that surprised me by their sorrow and cruelty too. But it was residents’ support of one another and determination to make meaningful lives for themselves that truly inspired me.

What part or aspect of this story do you love the most?

There’s a scene with Mirielle and Frank frog hunting in the swamp that l love. The growth of their friendship is one of my favorite aspects of the story. Mirielle, a big-city socialite, is totally out of place in the swamp, and it’s fun for Frank (and the reader, I hope) to watch her squirm and flounder but ultimately succeed in snatching a bullfrog from the water. I also really enjoyed writing the letters back and forth between Mirielle and her husband, Charlie. There’s so much subtext in what’s said and unsaid between them. And it was a fun, albeit sometimes heartrending, challenge to chart their relationship this way.

What are you hoping readers will feel or get out of this story after they’ve finished it?

I was writing the second draft of the story when the Coronavirus lockdown began. In addition to writing, I also work as an infection prevention nurse and was called to the hospital a lot in those early days of the pandemic. Suddenly I could relate to my characters—their fear and isolation—in a much more visceral way. But I also found great hope and perspective in their story and the real-life stories of the patients at Carville. Despite their circumstances and the stigma surrounding the disease, they found ways to love and laugh and support one another. In THE SECOND LIFE OF MIRIELLE WEST I hope readers will find the same strength and inspiration.

When you’re not reading or writing, what do you enjoy doing?

I love being outside—walking, swimming, hiking. That can be tricky here in Las Vegas when it’s 115 degrees outside in the summer, though. So I try to bring nature indoors too by cultivating and propagating house plants. I’m still a novice, but I’ve managed to keep most of my plant babies alive so far.

What are you working on next?

I just finished the rough draft of my next novel. I still don’t have a title. (I’m terrible at coming up with titles!) It’s set in 1880s New York at America’s first nursing school. The main character is Una, a rough-and-tumble thief who’s wanted for a crime she didn’t commit. To evade the police, she disguises herself as a nurse trainee at Bellevue Hospital. But when a patient on her ward is murdered, she must risk expulsion and arrest to catch the culprit before he kills again.

About the Author


Amanda is the author of Between Earth and Sky, winner of the American Library Association’s 2019 Reading List Award for Best Historical Fiction, and The Undertaker’s Assistant, released from Kensington in July 2019.

She grew up in the mountains of Colorado and sang and danced her way through 68 cities on both sides of the Atlantic with the service organization Up with People before starting college. Her love of historical fiction started early with the stories of Kenneth Thomasma, Mark Twain, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.

When she’s not writing, Amanda works as an infection prevention nurse. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their pet turtle Lenore.

Amanda Skenandore is a historical fiction writer and registered nurse. Between Earth and Sky was her first novel. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Readers can visit her website at www.amandaskenandore.com.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Enter to win a paperback copy of The Second Life of Mirielle West!

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Second Life of Mirielle West

What did you like about the interview? Does this sound like your kind of book?

I Can't Wait for... The Gathering Table by Kathryn Springer (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #womensfiction #christianfiction @LoveInspiredBks


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

Tag me on your CWW posts on Twitter (@wishfulendings) and I'll like and retweet!

I've been a fan of this author since reading The Dandelion Field years ago. I was quite excited to see this pop up when I was browsing NetGalley and I'm hoping I'll love it just as much as her other books. It sounds like a good, cozy read. It's my pick this week...

The Gathering Table
By Kathryn Springer
Christian Women's Fiction
Audiobook & ebook
September 28, 2021 by Love Inspired Trade

Summary

From USA TODAY bestselling author Kathryn Springer comes a tale of starting over when life takes an unexpected turn.

Winsome Lake, Wisconsin, is postcard-pretty, but for chef Jessica Keaton it’s also a last resort. Fired from her dream job, Jess is starting over as a live-in cook and housekeeper. When she arrives, she finds her new employer is in rehab after having a stroke, and Jess expects she’ll be all alone in Elaine Haviland’s quaint house. A chef with no one to cook for.

But instead, she encounters a constant stream of colorful visitors who draw her back into the world. As Jess contends with local teenagers, a group of scrappy women and a charming football coach, Elaine faces some battles of her own that extend past her physical challenges. For both of them, all the ingredients for a fulfilling life are within reach, if they’re willing to take a leap. And maybe Jess will start to see that it’s not just what’s on the table that matters—it’s the people gathered round it.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

A second chance at love... The Cowgirl's Sacrifice by Tina Radcliffe (Review & #Giveaway) #inspirationalromance #cleanromance @prismbooktours

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to my tour stop! Check out my review and enter the giveaway below...

The Cowgirl's Sacrifice
(Hearts of Oklahoma #4)
By Tina Radcliffe
Inspirational Romance
Paperback & ebook, 224 Pages
July 27, 2021 by Love Inspired

Summary

This cowgirl has wandered back home…

Will she choose her past or her future?


Needing time to heal after a rodeo injury, Kate Rainbolt heads to her family ranch to accept the foreman job her brothers offered her months ago. But the position’s already been filled by her ex-boyfriend, Jess McNally, and the only open job reports to him. With Jess as her temporary boss—and turning into something more—might he finally convince Kate to put down roots?

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

THE COWGIRL'S SACRIFICE is about a cowgirl who is at a crossroad in her life and back home to figure things out, and the cowboy she left behind who just might get his second chance at love. It's about family, trust, faith, letting go and romance. An enjoyable read from beginning to end.

There are some stories that you can tell from the beginning that you'll enjoy and this was one of those. I immediately liked the characters and the writing style of the author. I didn't feel like any of the characters fell flat, but were all complex and unique. I loved the way family played a role in this story between Kate and her brothers, and Jess with his mom, sister and niece. You could feel the bonds in these relationships as well as other friendships, and the chemistry between Kate and Jess. I also thought the faith element was woven through well without being too heavy. The ending was especially lovely. It's also not necessary to have read the other books in the series to read and enjoy this one.

My only complaint would be with Kate. I didn't like how she gave Jess a hard time about not trusting her when she kept telling him she was looking at other job options and leaving. It's like she wondered why he would have doubts, doubts that I thought he was justified in having. I think I just wanted her to be a bit more honest and vulnerable instead of putting it on him. 

In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed reading this and now need to read the other books in the series. Definitely recommended to readers who enjoy inspirational romance with great characters, a well-told story, second chances and cowboys and cowgirls.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Prism Book Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author


A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tina Radcliffe is a Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll member, and a four-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Her Harlequin novels have won the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion and appeared on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list. Besides her novel-length fiction, and her independent publishing releases, Tina has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A US Army Veteran, a former registered nurse, and library cataloger, Tina resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance and cozy mysteries. Visit her on the web at https://www.tinaradcliffe.com/


Tour Schedule


Tour-Wide Giveaway


One winner will receive a print copy of The Cowgirl's Sacrifice, a $25 Amazon gift card, Kitchen Aid Aqua Spatula, and Magnolia Table, Volume 2: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering (US and Canada)

Ends July 28, 2021

 
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Have you read any of the other books in this series? Will you be reading this one?

Check out an interview with the author... Untethered by KayLynn Flanders (Interview & #Giveaway) #yalit #yafantasy #yabooks #newbook #untethered #TBRBeyondTours #kaylynnflanders @DelacortePress @TBRBeyondTours


Welcome to my tour stop! I'm thrilled to be sharing an interview with Author
KayLynn Flanders today!! Check that out and enter the tour giveaway below...

Untethered
(Shielded #2)
By KayLynn Flanders
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 464 Pages
July 20, 2021 by Delacorte Press

Summary

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes the thrilling sequel to Shielded about a world in a deadly magical war and the newly crowned king and feisty princess who must defeat the deadliest of foes before there's nothing left to save.

Although King Atháren's sister, Jennesara, saved Hálendi from the Gray Mage, the reprieve came at a steep price--the life of their father. Now Ren rules over a divided kingdom, with some who want him dead, and a Medallion that warns of worse trouble brewing in the south.

As second born, Princess Chiara is the perfect Turian royal--perfectly invisible. She longs to help restore peace on the Plateau, but with no magic and no fighting skills, she doesn't stand a chance against a mage. So when a member of the Turian royal family goes missing and Chiara finds a clue about the rumored resting place of the mages' long-lost artifacts, she decides it's time to be seen.

As Ren's and Chiara's paths cross, they find the depth of the mages' hold on the Plateau is more powerful than anyone suspected, and that they must learn to trust themselves, and each other, before the mages retrieve their artifacts and become too powerful to ever defeat.

(Affiliate links included.)

Interview

I think (and I’m sure you’ll agree) that if readers haven’t read Shielded yet that they should, but for those who are new to the series, what would you like them to know?

I do recommend reading Shielded first, but here are some key points to start off with. There are evil, ancient mages loose on the Plateau, and everything is hanging by a thread. Hálendi suffered a bigger loss than we thought with Leland’s betrayal, and Turia is now unwilling to trust those that they should be able to rely on. The choices made by the main characters will have a widespread, lasting effect on the fate of the Plateau.

Would you tell us more about the main characters from Untethered?

Ren has been working toward becoming king his whole life, yet now that the opportunity is here, it came at a great cost and it’s nothing like he expected. His kingdom is in tatters from the general’s betrayal, and it seems like every choice he makes is the wrong choice.

Chiara longs to be useful, to make a difference, yet she’s always overlooked. She knows she doesn’t have magic or any skill with a sword, but she wants to do something to protect her kingdom and family.

Which character do you most relate to and why?

I put bits of myself into both Ren and Chiara, but I think I relate to Chiara more. I’m quiet like her, and I’ve been learning more and more how powerful kindness can be.

What advice would Chiara and Ren each give about navigating their world?

It depends on if you ask them at the beginning of their journey, or at the end. But Chiara would tell you to give people the benefit of the doubt and ask for help when needed. Ren doesn’t trust as easily, and would tell you to use your wits to get your way on your own.

How was writing this second book different from the first?

With the second book, there were more expectations involved—both my own, and my readers’. I’d never written a book knowing people would read it, and it’s easy for that fact to get into your head and stifle confidence. So I tried to focus on the story, on creating something I loved and was proud of, and though I didn’t have five years to write Untethered, I think it’s an awesome book, and a great companion to Shielded.

What was a book that taught you something, a book that made you cry, a book that made you laugh and a book that made you swoon?

There are more than just these, of course, but here’s what came to mind. Six of Crows taught me the proper use of flashbacks. The book that made me cry most recently was Moment of Truth by Kasie West. I laughed a lot reading the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter, and swooned with Edenbrook by Julianne Donaldson.

What’s something you enjoy doing when you’re not reading or writing?

I love playing volleyball and traveling, even if it’s just a quick road trip!

What are you working on next?

My current work in progress is another YA fantasy with an enemies to lovers romance, about a cursed boy trying to save his sister, and a girl who has to stop him if she wants to save her village.

Other Books in the Series

Shielded
(Shielded #1)
By KayLynn Flanders
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
July 21st 2020 by Delacorte Press

Summary

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.

The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It's losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on the horizon have surfaced. Princess Jennesara knows her skills on the battlefield would make her an asset and wants to help, but her father has other plans.

As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn's--her brother's--magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.

Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong--the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it's too late--for her and for her entire kingdom.

Read my review here.

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


KayLynn Flanders has a degree in English Language and editing, and has been a freelance editor and book designer for over twelve years. Her debut novel, Shielded, was published by Delacorte Press/PRH, with the sequel, Untethered, forthcoming. KayLynn and her family live in Utah between some mountains and a lake, and she is directionally challenged without them. She loves reading, writing, traveling, and volleyball, and thinks there’s nothing better than a spur-of-the-moment road trip.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

One winner will receive a finished copy of Untethered
Ends July 26, 2021

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Did you read Shielded? Will you be reading Untethered? What did you like about the interview?