Book picks similar to
Casting Down Imaginations by Lashanda Michelle


african-american-fiction
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Rosemillion


J. Helen Elza - 2012
    The strangers came first for the timber. Next they came for the coal. Now, they've returned-for Widows Hollow. Pick McKinley is cursed with a fear of strangers. The strangers taunt mountain people and call them Hillbillys. Now, newly orphaned, illiterate, and impoverished, Pick must leave her mountain home and go among the strangers in town to find work if she and her younger siblings are to survive. Maybe it won't be so bad. Her mama had worked among them, cleaning and mending. Pick could not have been more mistaken. Her first encounter with Dr. Stephen Stalworth, Ashford's favorite son and one of its wealthiest, most powerful citizens, almost cost Pick her life and would have but for intervening fate and her rescuer, Jan Vandeventer, the handsome Bluegrass Son of wealthy, world famous horse breeders. Pick is no hillbilly. She's a survivor who has survived against all odds. She must save herself, her siblings, and her community from Stalworth who has vowed to destroy them and she must do it with the only weapons she possesses; faith, and a fairy tale-- called Rosemillion. In her debut novel, J.Helen Elza has crafted a tale of struggle and survival that transcends reading. Rosemillion is a tale to experience and Widows Hollow, despite its poverty, is a place you will want to return to time and again; To fish with the feisty and unapologetic mountain man, Samuel Llewellyn Simpson, "Stump"; "Pay 'em no mind, Miss, they's hollower 'n a cane pole and not nearly so useful." Or to laugh at the fiery- tempered Early Mae, "Mama- John Johnson"; "What is you up to, Old Man? You a'grinnin like a possum in a hen house!" Or to commiserate with Jan who is caught between his world of ivy-league universities and world champion thoroughbreds and her world of illiteracy and poverty; "Jacques, if you want to end our friendship here and now, you call her a hillbilly one more time! I'm sick of it! You and any one of the rest of our so-called peers pick a label, any label, and it's official! Margaret and Victoria call Pick a hillbilly, so she's a hillbilly, right?" Or to grab your hanky and sob or to stand up and shout for sixteen-year old Pick McKinley; "You may call me white trash and hillbilly. You may hate me and my kind, BUT YOU AIN'T GONNA CAUSE THAT LITTLE BABY TO BE A DYIN!" Written as a woman's novel, Rosemillion also appeals to men: "I really did enjoy reading the book and thought Ms. Miller did a wonderful job of placing the reader in the moment. Also, her character development is superb. I've told friends that I never found myself bored reading Rosemillion as I often do when reading other books. Jerry Snow USN Retired Rosemillion will leave you cheering and wanting more. Fortunately, there is more. Rosemillion is book one in J. Helen Elza's Appalachian Trilogy. Look for book two "Return to Widows Hollow," and book three "The Red Amaryllis," coming soon to book stores and kindles near you.

Seven Fingers a' Brazos


Eric H. Heisner - 2018
    When a wagon train of homesteaders is massacred by outlaws, a young male survivor is determined to rescue his stolen siblings. Dragged from his now peaceful existence, former military scout, Holton Lang invests himself in the search for the stolen captives as well as the difficult task of keeping the young man alive. As the search continues across three states, Holton meets old friends and finds new meaning in life as his job of survival embraces a newfound kinship.

Storm Warrior XIV: Ensuring The Future


W.L. Cox - 2015
    But the day before he leaves a ghost from the past appears and challenges Charles’s right to the horse farm, the construction company and Charles’s bank account.After a dramatic shootout in the construction office Charles takes the family to England and leaves Bernard in charge while his accountant Caleb Coffee and his secretary, Sally Peyton recovers from their wounds, both mental and physical.Charles arrives in England and finds his old friend and hired hand William Conroy on his death bed. But after a short time Charles does not believe that the problem is William’s 86 year old heart and decides to take William to the Royal London Hospital for evaluation, and is not sure if William will survive the trip.Charles uncovers a plot where a man is planning to destroy the distillery’s ability to produce wine and scrambles to prevent the man from setting the destructive actions in place.Charles scours England for fruit and fruit trees to keep his dream alive, and makes friends and enemies as he travels.Charles finds his beloved Friesian stallion shot in the head, and his new fiend is murdered and tied to a tree with a sign around his neck framing Charles for the murder.At George’s persistence Charles, Gray Wolf, and Swimming Otter go to King’s College in London to speak to the graduation class, only to end up in a battle with the college’s star wrestling team.Charles has a vision, and informs Gray Wolf and Swimming Otter what the future holds for them.

Witness Protection Collection: Books 1 – 3


H.L. Wegley - 2019
     Book 1 - No Safe Place When Randi, a world-class, middle-distance runner, literally runs into Matt on an Olympic National Park trail, she believes she's found someone who can help heal her heart. But she learns Matt has secrets that threaten both her heart and her life. Matt is a prodigal trying to come home from the far country, but how much is he willing to give to restore his honor? No Safe Place is a clean, action-filled, romantic-suspense story that races from the scenic beaches of the Olympic National Park to the beauty of Lake Chelan in Central Washington State, a story of courage, honor, faith, forgiveness, and love. Book 2 - No True Justice They forced Gemma Saint into witness protection, not to protect her, but to silence her. After testifying in a high-profile case, Gemma, a young intern at an influential media outlet, is forced into WITSEC by corrupt DOJ officials hoping to silence her. When Gemma’s testimony at a retrial threatens their elaborate conspiracy to control the upcoming presidential election. Gemma learns from her WITSEC Inspector her identity was compromised and someone in the DOJ has sent a team to kill her. Gemma seeks help from Lex James, a young investigative journalist and offers him the biggest story of his career. But Lex was recently given custody of his deceased sister’s four-year-old twins, Josh and Caleb. Sparks fly when Lex and Gemma meet, and the boys see their mother in her. But can she endanger this fragile family? Should she run away, sacrificing her life and the course of her beloved country? Lex has difficult choices, too. But the highly gifted boys, Josh and Caleb, have their own opinion about what should happen, and it is not wise to underestimate four-year-old boys with 200 IQs. No True Justice is a clean, high-action, romantic-suspense story set among the breathtaking canyons and rivers around Lake Billy Chinook in Eastern Oregon. Book 3 - No Turning Back When, Drew West, a young man much like her dead father, offers Beth Sanchez protection, will trusting him bring another massacre, one that takes her life too? How can a young cowboy from Central Oregon protect her from the vengeful leader of a Drug Cartel who wants her dead? Drew has reasons for wanting to protect Beth, reasons that run deep, all the way to his heart and even deeper yet, to his soul. No one in his charge will ever be hurt again, no matter the cost. But can he convince Beth of that or will she opt for witness protection? Set near Big Bend National Park and in Central Oregon, near the Deschutes River, No Turning Back is a clean, high-action, romantic-suspense story about love, courage, and the futility of human vengeance.

The Last Man Standing: An Action Packed Western


John Buzzad - 2018
    Now why don’t you let them be, and I’ll buy you a glass of milk.” “You should really mind your own business, mister,” Red hissed. “Now I call that pretty bold talk for a man not carrying a gun.” Tom’s finger tips drummed against the side of his holster. “Who says I ain’t?” Red’s eyes were wide as saucers and his lower jaw jutted out. “What’s your name, friend?” Tom loudly asked the man in the noose. While trying to maintain his balance on tiptoes, Ed answered, “Ed Tew.”

The Weight of Birds


Amanda Lewis - 2020
    

The Chameleon (Clay Brentwood Book 6)


Jared McVay - 2018
    The town hall in Waco, Texas was alive with activity. Nearly every citizen, except for the sheriff, the bartenders and the men who preferred whiskey to politics, turned out to hear Senator Rodney P. Morgan discuss his plans for building a university of higher learning just outside of town. This was a big-ticket item for the people of Waco and they had high hopes for the new school. Good schools were few and far between out here, especially universities. The good ones, like Harvard and a few others, were all back east and very expensive. Henry Lowe, owner and pharmacist of the Corner Drugstore, set up a table near the front of the town hall where he handed out free bottles of his newly invented soda pop. He was still working on a name for it, but claimed it was a real pepper upper. The new drink was a big hit with the women and children, along with a few of the men. Not many, but a few. Most of the men preferred beer or whiskey, or even coffee to this sweet tasting non-alcoholic beverage. Two of the men who tried it said they enjoyed buttermilk over the sweet soda. Undaunted, Henry declared it a big success. Being a widower, Henry was also a big hit with many of the widow ladies in Waco and proclaimed his new soda drink would make him rich and famous. Senator Rodney P. Morgan, a large man in his fifties with a strong jaw, steel blue eyes, and mutton chop whiskers, stood on the stage looking out across the room filled with people. He had no doubt the idea of a university of higher learning would garner him the votes he needed to help get him elected for a second term. Whether he could actually raise the money, or build the school was of no consequence. If he could make them believe this was of a prime interest to him and he was trying to do as he promised, he was guaranteed to win their votes and that was why he was here. That’s what political campaigns were all about, winning votes, not actually getting anything done. If he’d learned anything during his first term, it was to make the voters believe you were looking after them and their interests. And, if he did actually get something passed that was important to them, they would say, “He did exactly what he promised to do and you can’t ask more than that.” BACK COVER The newspapers called him, "The Chameleon," because during each assassination the killer looks incredibly like someone that everyone knows, including the Governor of the state of Texas. When Clay Brentwood gets on his trail, he has to wonder if those around him are what they seem. Even, Clay's boss, Bill McDaniel, head of the Texas Rangers - has been acting strangely and Clay can't be sure he is the same man he has known all these years. For Clay, the problem is obvious - how does he stop a madman with no known identity?

The Ghost of Harry Black


Dave Garty - 2015
    She decides to swap the hectic streets of London for a slower pace of life in the sleepy Kent village of Cloverdale St Mary, but her move to the countryside runs into problems when she finds that her new home is haunted. Meadow Cottage is still home to the man who re-built it from a derelict ruin twenty years before, the ghost of Harry Black. Candice defies his attempts to force her to leave and they agree to share the idyllic village home. The question is can a mortal and a ghost live together?

The Guns of the Broke Knife Mine


Tracy T. Thurman - 2018
    To the daughter he’d left many years before. After crossing the desert, at the Colorado River, he comes across a woman and her young grandson, survivors of a brutal stage robbery. He finds himself in a small mining town in Arizona territory, wearing the badge of a Deputy U.S. Marshal, being the arm of the law in the town, tracking down outlaws and uncovering a sinister plot based on deception and corruption. A plan to rob, kill and terrorize, in the interests of cleaning out the Broke Knife Mine once and for all. Taking the wealth, and leaving nothing but dust and dead men behind. Pete Cooper encounters men who are cold blooded killers. He encounters honest men who work hard for a living. He also encounters a refined woman who, in spite of his rough edges, falls in loves with him. ‘The Guns of the Broke Knife Mine’, is a tale of the west. There’s action, intrigue, adventure, and even a little romance. It’s a tale of good men overcoming evil, and in a few cases, men overcoming the evil that lives within themselves. Does he ever make it back to Kansas to see his daughter? You ask. Well, I reckon you’ll have to read it to find out. Saddle up pard.

Can't Get You Out of My Head


Sue Shepherd - 2018
    But it's time to get on with her life. Could a seductive Italian, a smooth-talking charmer or backpacking around Australia be the answer?Lisa feels she's always lived in her sister's shadow. Maybe now it's her turn for some fun, whatever the consequences. But will her drunken antics land Beth in trouble?And when it comes to the crunch, will one sister have to give up what she wants so the other can have what she needs?Another entertaining page-turner from the No.1 bestselling author of Doesn't Everyone Have a Secret? – where things, and people, are not always as they first appear!

Until I Find You (Billie Carlson #1)


Anna Smith - 2022
    Perfect for fans of Marnie Riches and Martina Cole.WHEN YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING, YOU'LL STOP AT NOTHINGBillie Carlson left the police force under a cloud. Once a promising young officer she now works as a private investigator, rooting out insurance scams and spying on cheating spouses.One morning a distraught young woman comes into her office saying that her baby has been stolen. Her story seems unbelievable, yet something about her makes Billie want to help - Billie knows what it's like to lose someone too.To get to the bottom of the case Billie must rattle some dangerous cages and rely on old police friends for inside help. Soon she discovers a network of crime deeper and far more twisted than she ever could have imagined. But is she in way over her head?

I Like My Women BBW


Cole Hart - 2015
    He was tall and dark, with hazel eyes and a strong tattoo-adorned physique. Raised in the streets of Atlanta, he came with a thug reputation and a fierce attitude. After being in and out of prison, this time he came home with dreams of being the next Floyd Mayweather, ready to go legit with the only legal talent he possessed, boxing. However, King had one problem, and that was his baby’s mama; Harmony. She'd also had dreams for him, and she wanted him to go back to the King he was in the past. She wanted her Trap King so she could be his Trap Queen. King knew Harmony was ratchet and constantly caught up on street gossip and the opinion of others. She had definitely been his number one until the day he met Delishus in a grocery store parking lot before he went to prison. She was thick, had curves for days, and had an even better heart. She was the true definition of a beautiful black woman. He couldn't resist her, and when King went to prison, she stayed down with him the entire time– but so did Harmony. She felt as though she'd had too much invested into him to let any other woman steal her man away from her. Even though King liked his women BBW, his baby mama wasn't giving him up without a fight, even if somebody’s life depended on it.

Macklin


C.M. Curtis - 2016
    The Arizona desert is a vast inferno, infested with murderous bandits from both sides of the border, rustlers, robbers and outlaws of every kind. But when the Apaches escape the reservation and go on a bloody, killing rampage, the army calls on one of their former officers to come back as a scout. They ask Dave Macklin to help them track down the renegades and subdue them. Macklin reluctantly agrees, but he soon finds out it’s a decision he may not live to regret.

COMING HOME TO BYLAND CRESCENT an absolutely heartbreaking and unputdownable historical family saga (The Cowgill Family Saga Book 3)


Bill Kitson - 2022
    

The Amish Baby and the Big Beautiful Woman: Love, Pain, and Sorrow


Sarah Miller - 2016
    The children are mean and no one wants to court her. While all her friends are now married Emma is all alone. One day by the creek a group of boys have reduced her to tears. John Fisher walks into this scene and chases them away. He does not see her weight - he sees a beautiful woman but he has problems of his own. Caring for his sister’s baby is not easy for a single man new to the district. Maybe Emma can help? Emma starts to fall for John but a new problem arises. Does he only see her as a nanny? Can Emma accept this or will she hold out for love? Find out in this sweet, clean, and inspirational Amish romance by bestselling author Sarah Miller.