FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[library addict]

Originally Posted by sufue

My sadness is that, so far at least, I'm not seeing the discounted Kobo gift cards at Walmart, as have happened the last couple of years. I keep checking every couple of days, but no luck so far, and it's getting pretty close to Dec 25.

Yeah, I have been checking since black Friday. I purchased them on Dec 6th last year. So I'm thinking it won't be a thing this year. But I will still check until the end of the month.

Kobo is doing a give $60 get $15 on their website. So not quite a good a deal, but I'm going to do that.

~~~

Originally Posted by zelda.owns.link

On my app (Canada) it's showing as being in the 2x cash back at 10%

On the PC I get "The store you’re looking for is no longer available on Rakuten." I even went to my previous shopping trips page and clicked that link, to no avail.

I didn't check the app yesterday, but nothing there either.

I wonder if it is some sort of temporary glitch.

[library addict]

Well, I tried to do the Kobo gift card offer. The link goes to the redeem gift card page. I did a chat to ask if I just needed to buy $60 total (as the max amount in US is $25) and they have escalated the issue.

Kobo gotta Kobo!

[apesmom]

Another freebie from an author I've been tracking

The Unlikeable Demon Hunter (Nava Katz #1) by Deborah Wilde

Spoiler:

The Brotherhood wants her gone. The demons want her dead. Not bad for her first day as a Chosen One.

When Nava Katz half-drunkenly interrupts her twin brother's induction ceremony into a secret supernatural society, she doesn’t expect to accidentally torch his life-long dream and steal his destiny.

Horrified she’s now expected to take his place, Nava is faced with the one thing she swore off forever: a purpose.

The all-male squad isn’t cool with a woman in their ranks and assigns her to Rohan Mitra: former rock god and their most ruthless hunter. He may be the perfect bad boy fling with no strings attached, but what happens when he won’t let her run—not even from herself?

That might prove as dangerous as defeating the vengeful demon out for her brother’s blood.

Odds of her new teammates expecting her to fail? Best not to think about that.

Odds her succeeding out of spite? Dive into this complete series and find out.

[apesmom]

The first prequel to the Valkyrie Bestiary series is free. It pre-dates the MCs of the series but adds depth to some peripheral characters and world history.

The Last Door to Underhill (Valkyrie Bestiary #0.1) by Kim McDougal

Spoiler:

In the last hours of the Flood Wars, a fae princess makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the human world. Leighna, a refugee of the war, returns to Underhill with a true demon on her heels. With only her old arcane arts tutor and a strange dryad as company, she must close every door between Terra and Underhill. But can she find the strength to abandon her homeland and become a permanent exile?

The Last Door to Underhill is a Valkyrie Bestiary tale, set in the chaotic days after the Flood Wars, when magic is the only rule of law. It takes place about fifty years before the events in Dragons Don’t Eat Meat.

[Terisa de morgan]

Thank you, got it.

[apesmom]

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker is Daily Deal at $1.99 today. It can be found at that price on Kobo in countries that accept codes on agency books (Aruba) and "partners" for 40% still works.

Spoiler:

Ready…

Four years ago, Sylvie Fairchild charmed the world as a contestant on the hit baking show, Operation Cake. Her ingenious, creations captivated viewers and intrigued all but one of the judges, Dominic De Vere. When Sylvie's unicorn cake went spectacularly sideways, Dominic was quick to vote her off the show. Since then, Sylvie has used her fame to fulfill her dream of opening a bakery. The toast of Instagram, Sugar Fair has captured the attention of the Operation Cake producers…and a princess.

Set…

Dominic is His Majesty the King’s favorite baker and a veritable British institution. He’s brilliant, talented, hard-working. And an icy, starchy grouch. Learning that Sylvie will be joining him on the Operation Cake judging panel is enough to make the famously dour baker even more grim. Her fantastical baking is only slightly more troublesome than the fact that he can’t stop thinking about her pink-streaked hair and irrepressible dimple.

Match…

When Dominic and Sylvie learn they will be fighting for the once in a lifetime opportunity to bake a cake for the upcoming wedding of Princess Rose, the flour begins to fly as they fight to come out on top.

The bride adores Sylvie’s quirky style. The palace wants Dominic’s classic perfection.

In this royal battle, can there be room for two?

Kindle | Kobo | Google

[apesmom]

Still hanging out exclusively in KU but a couple things outside are starting to call to me.

Old World/Scarlett Bernard by Melissa F. Olson

#0.5/- - Bloodsick - 4
#3/#3 - Hunter's Trail - 4
(Bloodsick novella is free in the Witching Hour anthology)

Old World/Boundary Magic

#4/#1 - Boundary Crossed - 4
#5/#2 - Boundary Lines - 4
#6/#3 - Boudnary Born - 4

Old World/Disrupted Magic

#7/#1 - Midnight Curse - 4

I'm glad I circled back to pick this up again. I've been binging these since they are on the Amazon imprint 47 North and have a listen for free option with KU. This series has the same kind of darker tone as Mercy Thompson. It's an interesting world with inter-species politics driving the plot. There are some developing romantic relationships in each of the sub-series.

Death Before Dragons by Lindsay Buroker

#9 - Secrets of the Sword III - 4
That's the last one. Solid series, it becomes more humorous as the series progresses and Zav softens up. LB mentions that she may continue the series or maybe do some spinoffs. I think I'd prefer the spinoffs with new couples.

Purchased

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• The Boundary Fence (Woodlea #7) by Alissa Callen (B/4 stars)

Lots of rereading this week. I'd hope to finish Chosen for Power, but didn't get much reading time this weekend (it released to Patreon late Friday) so I'm only about halfway through. I am enjoying this series a lot, but the books are long!

Purchased:

[worktolive]

Karen Grey has a fun, nostalgic romance series set in the late 1980's in Boston. As I was in my late 20's at that time, I can tell you that she's hit the mood and cultural references of the dating scene spot on . The first book is currently free and I highly recommend it.

What I'm Looking For by Karen Grey

Spoiler:

A brilliant-at-math-but-challenged-with-people heroine and a stubbornly frugal hero find love in spite of themselves in this vintage romance debut from award-winning author Karen Grey.

Finance hotshot Kate Bishop doesn’t expect the cute bartender to quote Shakespeare to her when she meets her colleagues for happy hour, nor for him to rescue the rest of her workday with a special cocktail.

Will Talbot’s head is turned by the adorably nerdy young woman who doesn’t seem to belong with the rest of the power-suit crowd, but his heart knows that he’s got to keep his eyes on the prize: his career as a professional actor.

Opposites attract in this romantic comedy, so this quirky pair finally gives in to chemistry stronger than a stiff Harvey Wallbanger. But when real life throws them a curve ball, will love win? Or will career?

Don’t miss this smart, feel-good series starter set in the late 1980’s—an era of big hair and bigger egos. Each Boston Classics standalone romantic comedy guarantees an evocative trip back in time and a Happy-Ever-After for the ages

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by worktolive

Karen Grey has a fun, nostalgic romance series set in the late 1980's in Boston. As I was in my late 20's at that time, I can tell you that she's hit the mood and cultural references of the dating scene spot on . The first book is currently free and I highly recommend it.

What I'm Looking For by Karen Grey

Wasn't that book a freebie around the end of Sept. 2021? At least, that's when it was added to my wife's collection.

Edit: Did a search which I should have done first and @worktolive mentioned it on 2021-Sep-30.

[worktolive]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Wasn't that book a freebie around the end of Sept. 2021? At least, that's when it was added to my wife's collection.

Edit: Did a search which I should have done first and @worktolive mentioned it on 2021-Sep-30.

Ha, it may very well have been. I mainly post sales and freebies about books I’ve enjoyed or authors I like, but my present self doesn’t usually remember if my past self has mentioned the book before.

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by worktolive

Ha, it may very well have been. I mainly post sales and freebies about books I’ve enjoyed or authors I like, but my present self doesn’t usually remember if my past self has mentioned the book before.

I'm always amazed when I click o a freebie / discounted book only to find I already purchased it!

[Loosheesh]

I have a question about overlapping Kindle Unlimited subscriptions that someone here may be able to answer, since some of you use KU. I'm hoping the moderators will indulge me and not nix this post (they already moved my OP from the Discussion forum to the Kindle one, where it has, seemingly, gone to die). Anyway, here goes:

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

I bought two Kindles a couple of months ago and they both came with Kindle Unlimited subscriptions. The first subscription (3 months) started on Oct 31, 2021 and ends on Jan 31, 2022, while the second one (4 months) must be redeemed by Dec 31, 2021.

Can I activate the second subscription while the first one is still running? Or should I cancel the first one before activating the second one? Not sure what to do, just that I must do it by Dec 31.

Has anyone had a similar situation?

[library addict]

Debating if I should move my Calibre libraries from my PC (still on Windows 7) to the new laptop (windows 11) and what all that will take.

I mean I know I should do it. It is just everything runs smoothly on the PC even though I am still using Calibre 4.something. Think I will just wait until 2022 to research and do it.

[library addict]

FWIW, Kobo has returned to the Rakuten site.

It is also back to being named 'Rakuten Kobo' rather than 'Walmart eBooks by Rakuten kobo'. Don't know if that means they are "breaking up" or what. But glad to have it back.