Free and bargain romance ebooks + Discussion December 2013

[Carmelreader]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Okay so far we got for 2014 the one romance you want others to read:

• Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie (Blue2u)
• His Wicked Ways by Darcy Burke (KyBunnies)
• A Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (Blossom)
• Knowing the Score by Kat Latham (library addict)
• Silken Threads by Patricia Ryan (ScalyFreak)
• The Double Cross by Carla Kelly (Joykins)
• The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson (pisceschick)
• Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews [Urban Fantasy] (Jane A)
• Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught (Terisa de morgan)
• Warrior's Woman by Johanna Lindsey (mrscoach)
• The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan (booklover6)

I'll have to admit I am a bit surprised so far. I thought people would be reaching into their keeper shelves looking for that one romance that is so worn it's falling apart because they read it so much.

In the worn falling apart category I suggest Venetia by Georgette Heyer or The Grand Sophy by Heyer (sorry I know it is in the Regency era)

[Carmelreader]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

They're not really my favorite My favorite one is Jayne Ann Krentz / Jayne Castle, but she's not an author I would recommend but small dosis (her books are very similar but they're my comfort reading).

Really like her books too.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Carmelreader

Really like her books too.

Me, three.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Me, three.

She has so many pen names.

• Jayne Bentley
• Jayne Castle
• Amanda Glass
• Stephanie James
• Jayne Ann Krentz
• Amanda Quick
• Jayne Taylor

I think she has the most I've seen a author use.

[Atunah]

To come up with just one book is almost impossible for me. Its the same reason I can never take part in polls of best read, or reader polls like AAR. I just can't do it. I just have so many and I don't really re-read much, I just always want the next great story instead. . And although the Angelique series started my love of historical romance, they are not technical romance and they are not available to purchase, unless you have a couple of 100 dollars, so I'll list something else.

And what I am naming is not in any way shape the best or favorite romance I have ever read because well, like I said, I have so many. I don't like ranking them as they invoke different feelings. Pretty much anything I give 5 stars too is my favorite.

I basically just grabbed a couple to narrow it down between
Highland Rebel by Judith James and
Under the same Sky by Genevieve Graham.

So I'll just roll the dice and the pick is......

Highland Rebel by Judith James

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

She has so many pen names.

• Jayne Bentley
• Jayne Castle
• Amanda Glass
• Stephanie James
• Jayne Ann Krentz
• Amanda Quick
• Jayne Taylor

I think she has the most I've seen a author use.

I've not read any of the Bentley titles. I think she only wrote one book as Amanda Glass and one or very few as Jayne Taylor.

She was ahead of the curve as far as writing futuristic/paranormal romance. Which did not sell at the time and no one would publish her under Jayne Castle (her maiden name) or Jayne Ann Krentz (her married name). Hence the Amanda Quick pen name. Nowadays she writes only contemporary under JAK, historical as AQ and futuristic as JC so it makes sense in a way.

I love her early one-word historicals as AQ and her 90s/early 2000 contemporary titles (before she began writing so much paranomal*). I also like most of her old category titles she wrote for Silhouette as Stephanie James, though I haven't yet read them all.

* I do enjoy her Arcane series which is paranormal, I just miss her writing straight contemporary. January's hardcover is a non-paranormal so maybe she's going back to that for a while.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Atunah

So I'll just roll the dice and the pick is......

Highland Rebel by Judith James

She would probably be ecstatic to hear that. I remember earlier this year she posted she was leaving the historical romance genre to write something that sells.

This book is on sale for $1.99 currently! Probably will go off sale tonight though.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I've not read any of the Bentley titles. I think she only wrote one book as Amanda Glass and one or very few as Jayne Taylor.

She was ahead of the curve as far as writing futuristic/paranormal romance. Which did not sell at the time and no one would publish her under Jayne Castle (her maiden name) or Jayne Ann Krentz (her married name). Hence the Amanda Quick pen name. Nowadays she writes only contemporary under JAK, historical as AQ and futuristic as JC so it makes sense in a way.

I love her early one-word historicals as AQ and her 90s/early 2000 contemporary titles (before she began writing so much paranomal*). I also like most of her old category titles she wrote for Silhouette as Stephanie James, though I haven't yet read them all.

* I do enjoy her Arcane series which is paranormal, I just miss her writing straight contemporary. January's hardcover is a non-paranormal so maybe she's going back to that for a while.

I am slowly collecting her non paranormals. Starting with her old stuff. I do have her very first futuristic books but her new stuff I haven't got yet. I figure maybe someday if I like her older stuff.

[Atunah]

Originally Posted by Blossom

She would probably be ecstatic to hear that. I remember earlier this year she posted she was leaving the historical romance genre to write something that sells.

This book is on sale for $1.99 currently! Probably will go off sale tonight though.

What? WTH. No no no no. I also read Broken Wing by her and loved it too. I was going to savor the few other HR by her slowly. I hate to hear this

This always makes me sad. Historical romances are my favorite romances and I am always sad when the writers jump to like contempo or romantic suspense since I always struggle to like many of them. I especially don't have a lot of luck with contempos.
I hate it that historicals aren't as popular anymore and its all CR, PNR and new adult now. And serials. If nobody wants to write well written HR anymore than I'll have to keep reading back lists I guess. It still makes me sad as there are less awards, less polls etc for HR.

I also notice that indy romance authors tend not to write historical romances, its mostly contempo/NA and such and often they are shorter. And shorter of course doesn't do for historicals.

Sometimes I feel so left out in romanclandia when talking about new released stuff. I seem to be going backwards with back list titles. Not sure if I am liking the changes in the genre.

Sigh, sorry, gone off on a rant.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Atunah

What? WTH. No no no no. I also read Broken Wing by her and loved it too. I was going to savor the few other HR by her slowly. I hate to hear this

This always makes me sad. Historical romances are my favorite romances and I am always sad when the writers jump to like contempo or romantic suspense since I always struggle to like many of them. I especially don't have a lot of luck with contempos.
I hate it that historicals aren't as popular anymore and its all CR, PNR and new adult now. And serials. If nobody wants to write well written HR anymore than I'll have to keep reading back lists I guess. It still makes me sad as there are less awards, less polls etc for HR.

I also notice that indy romance authors tend not to write historical romances, its mostly contempo/NA and such and often they are shorter. And shorter of course doesn't do for historicals.

Sometimes I feel so left out in romanclandia when talking about new released stuff. I seem to be going backwards with back list titles. Not sure if I am liking the changes in the genre.

Sigh, sorry, gone off on a rant.

We are in the same boat. I feel the same way you do. I refuse to buy any of the new stuff coming out even by favorite authors. The problem is people are just burned out of Regency and that's all mainstream publisher's will published will a few westerns here and there. I think Harlequin is the only publisher that still does other time periods but they do not sell well.

Judith James says:
May 4, 2013 at 9:03 am

I’ve been writing epic style (as in taking place over a period of years) historically accurate romances for about five years now. The last four have all taken place in the 17th century. They’ve done well critically, but I honestly can’t say they’ve sold well. I was a little dismayed when I was on a panel at the RT convention a couple of years ago. The topic was why do you write in the time period you do? I launched into an explanation of the excitement of the period, the challenges it gave my characters et. Sabrina Jeffries, who was on the same panel said she used to write 17th century historicals but they didn’t sell well enough to make a living at. My own experience has been the same. A tremendous amount of work and research for at best, so-so sales. I have one restoration era story left to publish to finish a story arc that covers most of the period, but I am switching to fantasy and paranormal after that. It seems to be where the sales are and as much as I love non regency fact based historicals, for me at least, they don’t pay the bills.

[auntykatkat]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I'll have to admit I am a bit surprised so far. I thought people would be reaching into their keeper shelves looking for that one romance that is so worn it's falling apart because they read it so much.

Well, You hooked me. I would have to say Ransom or Honour's Splendour by Julie Garwood. I just love these and re-read these all the time.

Auntykatkat

PS I did not reach my goal this year. I reinstate the same goal for next year. Here's to next year being better.

[treadlightly]

Originally Posted by Blossom

This book is on sale for $1.99 currently! Probably will go off sale tonight though.

Thanks!

[NixLapi]

Well I've already added a few new ones to my TBR list! I have a hard time getting into urban fantasy, but when I find one I like I LOVE it! Thanks ladies!

If I had to choose a top favorite from 2013 it would be Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight. A good bit of contemporary fun, and a Scottish musician to boot (not at all 'fanfic' quality) I'll definitely be re-reading this in 2014!

Originally Posted by hannahi

Ripped by Sarah Morgan (only a novella, wish it were longer!)

Yes! I'm loving Sarah Morgan's newest books!

Originally Posted by library addict

I love her early one-word historicals as AQ and her 90s/early 2000 contemporary titles (before she began writing so much paranomal*).

Her AQ books were some of my first romance reads - giant hardcovers from the library. I read WAY too many all together though and can hardly read them anymore - her books really do blend into each other! I enjoy her JAK books too, but haven't read much under her other names....

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by auntykatkat

Auntykatkat

PS I did not reach my goal this year. I reinstate the same goal for next year. Here's to next year being better.

I didn't reach mine either too much real life in the way. I'm going with a more realistic one this year.

I had hope to get more Christmas reads in but after catching the flu I was lucky to finished the three I did read. I really hope the Patricia Potter either gets her rights back to Home For Christmas or Harlequin fixes the book. It's a wonderful Christmas read and the hero may be one of the most selfless heroes I have read about in a romance. I loved it.

[petercreasey]

Before this thread is closed for the month/year end, might it make sense for upcoming months to consider breaking off all the ancillary discussions into a separate thread so that there can be a renewed focus on actual free/bargain books in the free/bargain thread?!?