The weather has turned pretty sharply in Okinawa this May. We had cool, breezy days for the first half of the month, but in the last 2 weeks the summer humidity has returned and we've had some dramatic rainstorms that triggered flood warnings on the Hija River.

Flowers are blooming everywhere. Here are a few I've snapped photos of on my walks. Some are in gardens and others are just growing in the wild.

THE BURIED HOURS is only $1.99 through May 31

Is she following a path of redemption or an enemy’s revenge? A crime reporter’s traumatic past comes back to haunt her in a twisting novel of lies, betrayals, and killer secrets.

Investigative crime journalist Signe Gates’s life became a nightmare the day she was kidnapped and drugged. After forty-eight missing hours, she woke to a blur of unsettling memories and a warning from her unknown abductors: tell anyone what happened and they’ll die. They’ve already proved they will deliver on that threat.

For two years, Signe has been haunted by what she knows she did and terrified of what else could be buried in her memories. Then an informant tells her two men recently found dead in Yosemite are connected to her missing hours, and more answers await her in the park’s backwoods. But she must hurry. Desperate to know who targeted her and why, she has no choice but to embark on the dangerous journey.

With a seasoned hiker acting as her guide, Signe ventures into the wilderness to solve a crime, get justice for the crimes committed against her, and overcome her demons. If only she could trust the man leading her into the backwoods…

Because with each new suspicion, deliverance is starting to look more and more like a trap.

FALSE FLAG releases Oct 2nd in digital, print, and audiobook

An archaeologist risks everything to stop a disinformation podcaster from using his influence to incite violence in the latest thrilling installment in USA Today Bestselling author Rachel Grant’s Evidence: Under Fire series.

Staci Allen has finally landed the job that will help her finish her dissertation, but it comes with a major hitch: her new boss is a famous pseudoarchaeology podcaster, and she intends to use the upcoming Pacific Northwest expedition to debunk his theories and end his grift. But first, she has a pre-wedding celebration to attend, where she crosses paths with Navy SEAL Jake Burns—a huge fan of the podcaster.

Jake might be on her team in the paintball war, but he’s definitely the enemy. She can enjoy his pretty face and even the dangerous attraction he triggers with his cocky attitude, but when the weekend-long party is over, she will step into a world that places them firmly on opposite sides.

The job proves to be more dangerous than Staci prepared for. Surrounded by a hostile expedition team and trapped on a private island with a podcaster who will do anything to convince his followers his fake history is real, she remains determined to see the job through. Still, nothing prepares her for coming face-to-face with the SEAL she’s trying to forget. As the only man who could infiltrate the team, he could be her unasked-for backup. But the question remains, whose side is Jake really on?

Pre-order and get FALSE FLAG at a discount. Price goes up upon release.

In DON'T LOOK BACK, we first meet Jake Burns, the hero of FALSE FLAG and learn a little bit about the heroine, Staci Allen. You don't need to have read DON'T LOOK BACK to enjoy Staci and Jake's story, but if you haven't read it yet, now is the perfect time to travel to Malta for this hot summer read...

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FREE audiobook(s) from Janie Crouch

click on the image to download your free audiobook

CYCLONE & EAGLE: Linear Tactical Duo

TWO FULL BOOKS from the bestselling small town romantic suspense series!

Meet these protective, former-military, band-of-brothers heroes who'll face down any danger for the women they love...

Japanese Children's Day

Japanese Children's Day (a public holiday to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness) on May 5th means hanging carp streamers (Koinobori) across rivers. Here is a video I took of the streamers flying above the Hija River.

Happy reading!