Free and bargain romances in August 2013

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

You know we're never really caught up, especially not with this thread!

Exactly.

[laurla]

Originally Posted by sqdancer

I finally decided that I needed to get aquainted with epub-split last night. I had split about half-a-dozen boxed sets and was feeling cocky when I pulled up Perfect Ten.

I decided I was too tired and too much of a epub-split rookie to even try to tackle that one. Do you have any tips for when I'm feeling brave?

Keep in mind, I'm no expert, so what I've figured out works for me, may not be the most efficient way

Since there is nothing in the file to signify a break, epub split sees it as all one huge part. If you use tweakbooks to put in page breaks on the chapters (or even just at the start of each new novel - I just now thought of that So, unless you plan to create a TOC for each book, I think a page break at each novel would be smarter). At this point, when I tried to use epub split, it didn't want to work - I don't know if it was me or the file. So I'd give epub split a try here. (you may need to convert epub to epub first)

If that doesn't work, save a copy of your tweaked file somewhere on your pc. Create 10 empty books and enter/upload the metadata for each book of the set. Then, for each of those 'empty' books, do the 'add files to the selected book' option, choosing your tweaked file. Now tweak that book - when it explodes, find the text file, open it for edit (you should have an option to edit in word) and delete the books that don't apply.

Like I said, not very efficient... PM me if you want or need more detailed instructions. Or, I'm sure someone else reading this might have a better option for you...

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by laurla

Whew! I'm exhausted! I just spent the last couple of hours splitting The Perfect Ten anthology... OMG was it tedious. Why WHY would they make 10 books one long-arse word doc with no page or sections breaks???!!??? WHY

Yup, that one was a bear, I must have spent 2 hours on it.
Started by opening in Sigil and inserting page breaks for the 30% or so of the file that didn't break for each chapter and tweaked the style sheet before chopping it up so I only had to do it once.
Then added TOC for the entire file using the Edit ToC option in Calibre, finally split them all up with epub split and then edited the metadata and added covers. Whew!

Guess it comes with being picky about book format.

I've been surprised to find that my enjoyment and ultimate rating of a book goes down if I don't like the format. When I first went digital I honestly thought it wouldn't matter. I really cannot stand a format that uses space between paragraphs instead of text indent to start new paragraphs. Lucky for me I already knew CSS so tweaking the style sheet didn't take much to figure out, now I do it routinely. I also have to have a TOC! I use Mantano and love the way it calculates page count per chapter so I always add a TOC if it's missing. I also want a real break between chapters, not just one continuous file. So this particular file offended every one of my format sensibilities.

[apesmom]

There's a big pile of Kensingtons on sale for $1.99 or less.

Here's the link for Kobo where they are Couponable!!!! I think many have already dropped for Kindle as well.

Notable selections
One Wrong Move - latest from Shannon Mckenna $0.99
The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand in case you missed it as a Daily Deal - $1.99
Left to Die by Lisa Jackson - $0.99

I still have stash of 35% codes if any body wishes to indulge.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by laurla

Keep in mind, I'm no expert, so what I've figured out works for me, may not be the most efficient way

Since there is nothing in the file to signify a break, epub split sees it as all one huge part. If you use tweakbooks to put in page breaks on the chapters (or even just at the start of each new novel - I just now thought of that So, unless you plan to create a TOC for each book, I think a page break at each novel would be smarter). At this point, when I tried to use epub split, it didn't want to work - I don't know if it was me or the file. So I'd give epub split a try here. (you may need to convert epub to epub first)

If that doesn't work, save a copy of your tweaked file somewhere on your pc. Create 10 empty books and enter/upload the metadata for each book of the set. Then, for each of those 'empty' books, do the 'add files to the selected book' option, choosing your tweaked file. Now tweak that book - when it explodes, find the text file, open it for edit (you should have an option to edit in word) and delete the books that don't apply.

Like I said, not very efficient... PM me if you want or need more detailed instructions. Or, I'm sure someone else reading this might have a better option for you...

What I do is use Epub Split to split the book off then reconvert epub to epub in calibre to add the missing breaks. Oh Epub split will auto add a TOC if you set it too. I have not tackled that bundle yet.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by apesmom

There's a big pile of Kensingtons on sale for $1.99 or less.

Here's the link for Kobo where they are Couponable!!!! I think many have already dropped for Kindle as well.

Notable selections
One Wrong Move - latest from Shannon Mckenna $0.99
The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand in case you missed it as a Daily Deal - $1.99
Left to Die by Lisa Jackson - $0.99

I still have stash of 35% codes if any body wishes to indulge.

I love this publisher and always been a fan of Zebra Romances. They are not P.C. like Avon and they have original paranormal romances some of my favorites comes from them. You always find something new with them and they managed to stay away from the Agency Pricing mess.

[apesmom]

On sale for $0.99.

Fool for Love (McCarthys of Gansett Island #2) by Marie Force

Kindle | Kobo (couponable)

I still haven't read book 1 but this series consistently scores 4+ out of thousands of ratings (and I like her Lethal series with Carina)

Joe Cantrell, owner of the Gansett Island Ferry Company, has been in love with Janey McCarthy for as long as he can remember. At the same time, Janey has been dating or engaged to doctor-in-training David Lawrence. When things go horribly wrong between David and Janey, she calls her “fifth brother” Joe, one of the few people in her close circle who lives on the mainland. Janey decides a few days with Joe is just what she needs before she goes home to the island to face her parents and family with the news of her broken engagement. It was bad enough for Joe loving Janey from afar, but having her in his house is pure torture. Will he take advantage of this opportunity to show her what they could have together? And what will Joe’s best friend and Janey’s protective older brother Mac have to say about it?

[laurla]

Originally Posted by Blossom

What I do is use Epub Split to split the book off then reconvert epub to epub in calibre to add the missing breaks. Oh Epub split will auto add a TOC if you set it too. I have not tackled that bundle yet.

Well, yes, i do that too, when epub split isn't going all wonky on me. The first time i tried to split it, epub split read it as one piece... no separate parts. So I did epub to epub...then tried to split again - this time there were parts, but nothing that you could identify as the beginning or ending of a book. Each section was blank - you know how you can hover over a section and get a preview of the first page - well, nothing was showing up in the hovering, there were no headings identified, absolutely no way to know where one book ended and another started. That's when I started over - got rid of my converted file, re-added my original, tweaked it by adding breaks. Then tried to split... got an error with epub split - it probably didn't like something I did when I tweaked it. So I gave up and decided to just do it manually.

Stupid file...

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

Not NA, NO cliffhanger, just finished, give it a solid 4, maybe even 4.5, and the author's going on my watchlist, loved it.
ETA: it's still on for $.99, book 2 in the series comes out Sept 16,

The author is on Smashwords too, for anyone interested who doesn't have a Kindle.

Link to Axel on Smashwords

[mikaelalind]

Originally Posted by apesmom

There's a big pile of Kensingtons on sale for $1.99 or less.

Here's the link for Kobo where they are Couponable!!!! I think many have already dropped for Kindle as well.

Notable selections
One Wrong Move - latest from Shannon Mckenna $0.99
The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand in case you missed it as a Daily Deal - $1.99
Left to Die by Lisa Jackson - $0.99

I still have stash of 35% codes if any body wishes to indulge.

Not discounted for me. But I am crossing my fingers that they will be discounted at Bokon later on.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by laurla

Well, yes, i do that too, when epub split isn't going all wonky on me. The first time i tried to split it, epub split read it as one piece... no separate parts. So I did epub to epub...then tried to split again - this time there were parts, but nothing that you could identify as the beginning or ending of a book. Each section was blank - you know how you can hover over a section and get a preview of the first page - well, nothing was showing up in the hovering, there were no headings identified, absolutely no way to know where one book ended and another started. That's when I started over - got rid of my converted file, re-added my original, tweaked it by adding breaks. Then tried to split... got an error with epub split - it probably didn't like something I did when I tweaked it. So I gave up and decided to just do it manually.

Stupid file...

Okay I will look into it and see if I can't figure out how to do it without long way.

Edit: Woohoo Success! I got it!

Split your books by mousing over and previewing each one in Epub split.



Now in Caibre click the convert button then use this regex in the Chapter Detection box

//h:p[re:test(., "chapter|prologue|epilogue", "i")]

Now go to Tablet of Contents box and click the Force box and in the
Level 1 TOC box put the same regex then hit convert. You will now have chapter breaks and a working TOC.

[shelle]

More Amazon deals:

Envy by Sandra Brown 1.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cd_asin_lnk

What Happens Between Friends 1.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cd_asin_lnk

A Night to Forget by Jessica Wood .99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cd_asin_lnk

Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair FREE
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cd_asin_lnk

The Suitor by Mary Balogue 1.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...cm_cd_asin_lnk

[Blossom]

Just saw this on Facebook:

Okay, here's my surprise for you! I'm part of a Labor Day weekend sale with 13 other #reddoorreads authors. Each book is only 99 cents until Monday! (99 cents at all retailers unless otherwise noted.) You can get one of them or get all of them. Up to you! Please share with your friends!

• Tall, Tatted and Tempting by Tammy Falkner
• Behind the Mask by Linda Winstead Jones
• The Love List by Deb Marlowe
• Lord Rotheby’s Influence – The Series by Catherine Gayle
• My Favorite Major by Ava Stone
• Second Chance by Lori Handeland
• Endgame by Dee Davis
• Lady Revealed by Jane Charles (Amazon and Barnes and Noble Only)
• Kick Start by Caren Crane
• Angel Unborn by Andris Bear
• The Holding by Claudia Dain (Amazon and Barnes and Noble Only)
• Drive Me Crazy by Marquita Valentine
• More Than a Governess by Jerrica Knight-Catania
• Unmasked by Michelle Marcos

[Grace Elliot]

Just found this one on Amazon UK - Swept Away by a Kiss - by Kathryn Ashe - it's her debut novel but has some pretty awesome reviews.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swept-Away-B...away+by+a+kiss
(historical romance)

[Blossom]

I paid full price for it when it came out. $7.99. Love that books are cheaper now.

I just finished a book or what I'm gonna call a half a book. Very short and boom ends not on a cliffhanger but after a big scene. I paid $3 not worth it. So tired of this trend.