FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[worktolive]

Here's another fantastic deal, a preorder of a box set for Jackie Lau's Baldwin Village series, three novels and a short novella for $3.99. I've read the novella and the first book and they were great. I'm so happy to get my hands on the last 2 books at a sale price. They are going right to the top of Mt. TBR.

Baldwin Village: The Complete Series by Jackie Lau

Spoiler:

Fall in love in Baldwin Village! This box set contains four romantic comedies with Asian heroes, all set in Toronto. Warning: May also contain lots of food descriptions…

Book 0.5: One Bed for Christmas
Book 1: The Ultimate Pi Day Party
Book 2: Ice Cream Lover
Book 3: Man vs. Durian

[sufue]

I bought it just for the third book, Man vs Durian. Been there and done that with durian (by itself and as ice cream), totally agree with the blurb that it "smells like natural gas and rotten onions with eau de vomit", and can't wait to see how a romance featuring durian is going to work out...

And since the box set is the same price as the one book alone, might as well get the others too...

Originally Posted by worktolive

Here's another fantastic deal, a preorder of a box set for Jackie Lau's Baldwin Village series, three novels and a short novella for $3.99. I've read the novella and the first book and they were great. I'm so happy to get my hands on the last 2 books at a sale price. They are going right to the top of Mt. TBR.

Baldwin Village: The Complete Series by Jackie Lau

Spoiler:

Fall in love in Baldwin Village! This box set contains four romantic comedies with Asian heroes, all set in Toronto. Warning: May also contain lots of food descriptions…

Book 0.5: One Bed for Christmas
Book 1: The Ultimate Pi Day Party
Book 2: Ice Cream Lover
Book 3: Man vs. Durian

[worktolive]

Originally Posted by sufue

I bought it just for the third book, Man vs Durian. Been there and done that with durian (by itself and as ice cream), totally agree with the blurb that it "smells like natural gas and rotten onions with eau de vomit", and can't wait to see how a romance featuring durian is going to work out...

And since the box set is the same price as the one book alone, might as well get the others too...

You won't be disappointed. Jackie's books are great. Hopefully the yummy pie and ice cream descriptions in the first 2 books will balance out the Durian in the third book.

I've smelled Durian but never actually eaten it fresh. I have tried it dried though, and, well let's just say it didn't inspire me to eat more. I know people who swear by it and insist that the taste is nothing like the smell.

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by library addict

Weekly Report:

Read:
I am still rereading Alpha Night as I had very little reading time this week.

Purchased:

How are you guys doing? I haven't posted here in eons but today I felt like posting again in the what I'm reading thread and popped in here to say hi. Hope everyone is doing well

During lockdown I reread the Psy-Changeling series and also got fully caught up (I'd stopped at Heart of Obsidian!) and now I'm on hold for Alpha Night from the library. My sister also convinced me to try the Guild Hunter series, which I enjoyed, and only have the novellas to complete while I wait for the upcoming book later in the year.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

How are you guys doing? I haven't posted here in eons but today I felt like posting again in the what I'm reading thread and popped in here to say hi. Hope everyone is doing well

During lockdown I reread the Psy-Changeling series and also got fully caught up (I'd stopped at Heart of Obsidian!) and now I'm on hold for Alpha Night from the library. My sister also convinced me to try the Guild Hunter series, which I enjoyed, and only have the novellas to complete while I wait for the upcoming book later in the year.

Glad to hear you are caught up and enjoyed both series. I only read the Guild Hunter series for the first time last year, and some of the novellas top my favorites of the series. You can read my overall take on the series here (in this thread). So IMO you still have some great stories to look forward to.

So good to "see" you!

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:
I started quite a few new-to-me books, but DNF'd most. Full disclaimer, this was due to my mood, not the actual books. I'm planning to try them all again at some future point. Since I doubt I'll finish my current read today, no titles to actually report reading wise .

Purchased:
I did buy one digital book though! Plus I used some of my Harlequin reward points to buy Shannon Stacey's July HSE, but don't feel like reading it in print so will also buy the digital version when it releases in July.

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by library addict

Glad to hear you are caught up and enjoyed both series. I only read the Guild Hunter series for the first time last year, and some of the novellas top my favorites of the series. You can read my overall take on the series here (in this thread). So IMO you still have some great stories to look forward to.

So good to "see" you!

Wow, I'm psyched to hear this about the novellas - now I'm extra excited

Your overall take on the series echoes mine in many ways, especially being more captivated with Aodhan than Ilium (though I like my Bluebell a lot), and I have the same reservations about vampires for the same reasons ()

My favorite book would be one of the Raphael/Elena ones (I can't decide which one yet ) but I especially liked Nassir's story because he has this child-like precocious quality to him that I enjoyed. And, of course, Jason's story is great

[sufue]

Me, I don't buy the taste-and-smell-are-different-things concept, either in general or in specific (durian) . Maybe for some folks, but for me they are too closely related to be seperate. I too have some friends who swear by durian, but they tend to say that you have to have grown up with it...

Looking forward to having the pre-order come through though!

Originally Posted by worktolive

You won't be disappointed. Jackie's books are great. Hopefully the yummy pie and ice cream descriptions in the first 2 books will balance out the Durian in the third book.

I've smelled Durian but never actually eaten it fresh. I have tried it dried though, and, well let's just say it didn't inspire me to eat more. I know people who swear by it and insist that the taste is nothing like the smell.

[library addict]

Not sure if this is actually on sale, but assuming so based on the price for the individual books.

Amazon only.

Ruby Lionsdrake Mandrake Company (The Complete Series: Books 1-7): A Science Fiction Romance Bundle 99¢

Spoiler:

If you loved Star Wars and Firefly, but wanted way more romance, this is the series for you.

This massive bundle contains all seven novels in the Mandrake Company series:

Mercenary Instinct
Trial and Temptation
The Assassin’s Salvation
The Ruins of Karzelek
Mercenary Courage
The Pirate Captain’s Daughter
The Tracker’s Dilemma
Bonus Novella: Quashi

Amazon

FWIW, I read The Pirate Captain’s Daughter a few years ago as it was in a box set I bought at All Romance eBooks (remember them ?) back in 2015. Also, the bonus short story was in one of the Pets in Space anthologies. I enjoyed both and have also enjoyed the books I've read that she's written under her real name, Lindsay Buroker. (I have a ton more of her Lindsay Buroker series in my TBR mountain).

The full-length books are usually $3.99 each plus book one and The Pirate Captain's Daughter are $2.99 each, so 99¢ was a good deal and got me to break temporarily suspend my 'I don't buy Amazon-exclusive books' rule. The series used to be wide, and I'd been waiting to see if she will ever put it back into additional stores, but for 99¢ I admit I totally caved

Also, The Pirate's Captain Daughter used to be listed as a novella on her website back when she had one for her penname (so #5.5). But since it's been reclassified as a short novel for the box set I went ahead and changed the number in Calibre to match (so now it is #6.)

[Terisa de morgan]

Thank you! I enjoy her book, so this is a very good deal.

[worktolive]

Free and HIGHLY recommended:

The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

Spoiler:

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else. What now?

She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.

Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league.
Also, he’s taken.

Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the “gimp ghetto” of McHerrin Hall. Over perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands.

They’re just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she’s falling. Hard.

But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won’t, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness — one which does not revolve around

[library addict]

Harlequin is having a big $1.99 sale.

For list of books see here (Harlequin's website).

Price matched at Kobo, so I am assuming at Amazon, etc as well.

A lot of 2020 releases included. There were a few I'd already purchased at full price, thankfully most I'd already read. But I plan to snap up a few more.


And not to say I don't appreciate the sale. Because I love a good book sale. But it can be frustrating when a book you pay full price for goes on sale within six months. Most times I don't mind because if I am buying on release day it is usually a favorite author and I am planning to read the book right away. But publishers are really teaching me not to impulse buy a "might read later" author/book at full price. Nowadays I add to my wishlist in Word and wait to see if it will go on sale before buying, unless I feel the urge to read it right away. I am probably missing out on prospective authors to add to my favorites list, but I've been burned several times in the past few years.

[Hemmi]

Or if it's a book series, they'll often discount book 1 or even offer it free just before book 2 comes out. Frustrating when you paid full price for it.

[zelda.owns.link]

Originally Posted by library addict

I am probably missing out on prospective authors to add to my favorites list, but I've been burned several times in the past few years.

PREACH!!!!

[icedtea]

And for the price of an email address, Mikolos can be had free via bookfunnel.

https://www.facebook.com/rubylionsdr...08543286000960

Originally Posted by library addict

Not sure if this is actually on sale, but assuming so based on the price for the individual books.

Amazon only.

Ruby Lionsdrake Mandrake Company (The Complete Series: Books 1-7): A Science Fiction Romance Bundle 99¢

Spoiler:

If you loved Star Wars and Firefly, but wanted way more romance, this is the series for you.

This massive bundle contains all seven novels in the Mandrake Company series:

Mercenary Instinct
Trial and Temptation
The Assassin’s Salvation
The Ruins of Karzelek
Mercenary Courage
The Pirate Captain’s Daughter
The Tracker’s Dilemma
Bonus Novella: Quashi

Amazon

FWIW, I read The Pirate Captain’s Daughter a few years ago as it was in a box set I bought at All Romance eBooks (remember them ?) back in 2015. Also, the bonus short story was in one of the Pets in Space anthologies. I enjoyed both and have also enjoyed the books I've read that she's written under her real name, Lindsay Buroker. (I have a ton more of her Lindsay Buroker series in my TBR mountain).

The full-length books are usually $3.99 each plus book one and The Pirate Captain's Daughter are $2.99 each, so 99¢ was a good deal and got me to break temporarily suspend my 'I don't buy Amazon-exclusive books' rule. The series used to be wide, and I'd been waiting to see if she will ever put it back into additional stores, but for 99¢ I admit I totally caved

Also, The Pirate's Captain Daughter used to be listed as a novella on her website back when she had one for her penname (so #5.5). But since it's been reclassified as a short novel for the box set I went ahead and changed the number in Calibre to match (so now it is #6.)