Free/Bargain Romances in May 2013

[Blossom]

Free @ Amazon

Indies:

Fatty Patty (A James Bay Novel) by Kathleen Irene Paterka

Blood of the Son by J.L. McCoy
(Book #1 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series)

Sins of the Father by J.L. McCoy
(Book #2 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series)

Twice a Rake by Catherine Gayle
(Lord Rotheby's Influence, Book 1)

A Strange Fire (Florence Vaine) by L.H. Cosway

Tegan's Blood by L.H. Cosway
(The Ultimate Power Series #1)

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I emailed them yesterday about this issue. What I got back is: Not happy as there is no Fry's or Best Buy near me

I was on a mission since I had just redeemed some Hilton points for a $100 Best Buy gift card. I had no plans for this card, just thought I might get a nook HD if they went on sale again. Totally don't need it.

I went to 3 Best Buys in my area with no luck. Best Buy isn't even stocking Kobo stuff. Found them at Fry's and purchased some. Then since there was one more BB by the Fry's I figured I'd take a look. Bingo! Found a few, they looked like lonely left overs next to the empty Kobo display stand. Snagged $100 worth with my BB gift card. So for the moment the lack of eGifting has worked out well for me.

BTW - I will not be reporting this week's purchases on Sunday. Nope. No way.

[auntykatkat]

Originally Posted by apesmom

BTW - I will not be reporting this week's purchases on Sunday. Nope. No way.

I will not either. My b-day is tomorrow and I have a allready got a bluetooth speaker for my nook HD+. If I get any gift cards I will have them all spent on pre orders.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by apesmom

BTW - I will not be reporting this week's purchases on Sunday. Nope. No way.

Sounds like you made out like a bandit on those gift cards!

I actually won a huge coupon from Kobo yesterday. It's kind of a funny story. I decided I was going to do another ARC review. This time a historical. It's after the Civil War romance. Seeing how I want to support non regency so publishers will publish more I thought why not. Well it turns out the books is book two in a series The first book was published by a no name publisher and wanted get this $6 dollars for it. No Way I'd paid that for a new author.

I was about to return the ARC and explain I can't read a series that is out of order but then I remember I hadn't played the trivia game yet for the day so I told myself if I am to do this I need a big coupon so I can get book one and read it first. I clicked on the trivia answer and Boom! 50% off coupon appeared.

I've haven't got anything over 30% in these contests and that's rare. So it has to be a sign right?

Anyway I bought the book read up to 70% last night. It's a time travel romance which I haven't read one in ages. I'm enjoying it so far.

[auntykatkat]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Sounds like you made out like a bandit on those gift cards!

Anyway I bought the book read up to 70% last night. It's a time travel romance which I haven't read one in ages. I'm enjoying it so far.

Can I ask, what the series is and the author's name. I love time-travels.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by auntykatkat

Can I ask, what the series is and the author's name. I love time-travels.

It's a writing team and they aren't mainstream authors not yet anyway. From what I understand the book was originally published by Wild Rose Press and then picked up by eXtasy books. They told them there wasn't enough sex in it so they had to make it more sexy. I wish I could read the original version because I think all the sexy parts takes away from a rather good story. The first book is a Time Travel romance that takes place in Mississippi.

The second book isn't out yet. It will be released Monday by a Mainstream publisher. It's not a paranormal at all. The story is the hero's cousin from the first book. I don't yet know how connected these books are. If they are in a alternative universe or the same as each other. I don't know if anything is changed till I read the second one but I didn't want to take that chance after doing a search and saw that book one's h/h appear in book two alot.

That said. I wouldn't have bought the first book unless it was under $2.99 if I hadn't gotten myself in a predicament like I did. It needs better editing. There are several modern phrases that just keep pulling me out of the story and not by the heroine who is from 2011 either. I expect the second book not to have this problem seeing it's put out by a mainstream publisher. I hope the author did better research. Right now If have to rate the first book it would be at 3 stars. It's an okay read. I like it but it's not something that makes me go WOW you got to read this.

Edit: Finished the book and it looks like the second book was suppose to be the sister's story. It never got written. So now I am don't think the two books are in the same universe. I really want Elizabeth's story though. *pouts* My rating stands at 3 stars. On to read the second book which is the ARC copy.

[koland]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Okay So it's the uploader's fault then. Once they upload it can they still push the updates? Do you know?

They have to upload a new edition and check the correct box.

It's possible that the author is just clueless, but some seem to just be vindictive. A few are misguided in thinking you can just buy it again (which, btw, doesn't work .. sure, you can pay again, after deleting from your library, but you still won't get the new edition).

At least these latter uploaders aren't as bad as the ones that constantly make new editions, so you don't even know you purchased already without searching your libraries.

[koland]

Originally Posted by library addict

I emailed them yesterday about this issue. What I got back is: Not happy as there is no Fry's or Best Buy near me

well, we have one 20+ miles away.

So, to buy a gift card to use online, I have to spend >$5 in fuel (probably more), plus an hour of time, then risk buying a stolen/counterfeit gift card.... no thanks. I never buy a gift card from anyone but the actual store (and recommend that others do the same - these are a big area for fraud and counterfeits in retail stores and you have zero protection against such a purchase).

So, no gift cards for me, from now on at Kobo. Which means fewer purchases, since they are Canadian and always activate a fraud alert when I buy there, which cancels my card if I miss the one call my CC company gives me (and my other cards just refuse to allow out of country sales, half the time). With a gift card, I could contain that annoyance to just the odd occasion.

Perhaps they hope we'll drive to an indie bookstore here in the states? Assuming we can find one whose website wasn't done by some high schooler a friend of a friend knew (and is now out of date, broken, is missing basic info such as, say, the hours of operation and a contact number ... as the only one local here is); preferably one that doesn't require visiting downtown and paying for parking (which knocks out the sole contender, here).

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by koland

well, we have one 20+ miles away.

So, to buy a gift card to use online, I have to spend >$5 in fuel (probably more), plus an hour of time, then risk buying a stolen/counterfeit gift card.... no thanks. I never buy a gift card from anyone but the actual store (and recommend that others do the same - these are a big area for fraud and counterfeits in retail stores and you have zero protection against such a purchase).

So, no gift cards for me, from now on at Kobo. Which means fewer purchases, since they are Canadian and always activate a fraud alert when I buy there, which cancels my card if I miss the one call my CC company gives me (and my other cards just refuse to allow out of country sales, half the time). With a gift card, I could contain that annoyance to just the odd occasion.

Perhaps they hope we'll drive to an indie bookstore here in the states? Assuming we can find one whose website wasn't done by some high schooler a friend of a friend knew (and is now out of date, broken, is missing basic info such as, say, the hours of operation and a contact number ... as the only one local here is); preferably one that doesn't require visiting downtown and paying for parking (which knocks out the sole contender, here).

You should put this on their Facebook page.
I only use Paypal there but it is pain having to log in every purchase. In the past I have bought egift card when I knew I was going to buy several books in a roll.

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Sounds like you made out like a bandit on those gift cards!

I actually won a huge coupon from Kobo yesterday.

I've scored a few nice codes myself the ::ahem:: few times I've played. Hence the mad rush for gift cards before I board my jet and head off to my foreign residence to do some shopping.

I don't think they actually awarded any of the bigger codes for the last 3 games before this one. Maybe they're making up for it this time around.

[library addict]

I've gotten one 30% and a bunch of 10%. I think the highest I got last time was 25%.

I like using gift cards for stores without the cart option (like Kobo). While my bank seems to have stopped charging a fee for each Kobo purchase and flagging the transactions as possible fraud as they did when Kobo first opened, I would much rather buy a gift card and be charged against that. That's what I've been doing at Kobo for a few years now. I have no idea why they have stopped allowing egift cards. I guess I will use Paypal from now on as I just spent the last of my gift card balance.

[koland]

Originally Posted by Blossom

You should put this on their Facebook page.
I only use Paypal there but it is pain having to log in every purchase. In the past I have bought egift card when I knew I was going to buy several books in a roll.

I've started a thread in their forum.

Since paypal hits my same credit card, it has the same drawback as paying direct (but with less work, since I didn't have to go dig out the card to make a purchase). I'll be hoarding my current gift balance, since it doesn't look like I'll be easily able to make any purchases after it's gone.

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I've gotten one 30% and a bunch of 10%. I think the highest I got last time was 25%.

I like using gift cards for stores without the cart option (like Kobo). While my bank seems to have stopped charging a fee for each Kobo purchase and flagging the transactions as possible fraud as they did when Kobo first opened, I would much rather buy a gift card and be charged against that. That's what I've been doing at Kobo for a few years now. I have no idea why they have stopped allowing egift cards. I guess I will use Paypal from now on as I just spent the last of my gift card balance.

A while back my bank put a stop on my card when I first started buying from Kobo. I had to call them to unfreeze the card and haven't had a problem since.

Oddly never questioned a bazillion $0.05 charges coming through during the Harlequin melee.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by koland

I've started a thread in their forum.

Thanks. I commented over there, too.

Originally Posted by apesmom

Oddly never questioned a bazillion $0.05 charges coming through during the Harlequin melee.

I got several calls from my bank that week! When I explained about the sale, the first lady I spoke with took down the code and website address so she could go buy some books when she got off work

[chilady1]

Originally Posted by library addict

Thanks. I commented over there, too.

I got several calls from my bank that week! When I explained about the sale, the first lady I spoke with took down the code and website address so she could go buy some books when she got off work

HILARIOUS!!!!