FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[worktolive]

Originally Posted by apesmom

From KU this week . . .

• Grimalkins Don't Purr (Valkyrie Beastary #4) by Kim McDougall - 4

That's the last of them for now, there's supposed to be another coming but this one ends with no cliffhangers so it's a good place to pause. Really like this series, I was expecting something more light-hearted, that definately was not the case. Great characters, realistic couple issues and a unique world.

I got a bit side tracked on the TBR mountain but I'm hoping to read this book soon. I love all of the various critters in the series. I just got the author's newsletter and she said that she's having trouble trying to come up with unique critters as the series goes on. I didn't get the sense she was ending it though.

[apesmom]

Has anyone messed around with Kobo Plus yet? They've got a 30 free trial if anyone is interested. It looks to be the same deal as KU without the exclusivity. Of course everything that is in KP is not in KU because of the KU exclusivity but I'm seeing a bunch of stuff in KP that I've been watching for in KU. This could get interesting.


EDIT: So maybe it's only available in Canada? I'm logged into my US account and I'm getting links to the service but it keeps kicking me into its Canadian site.

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by worktolive

I got a bit side tracked on the TBR mountain but I'm hoping to read this book soon. I love all of the various critters in the series. I just got the author's newsletter and she said that she's having trouble trying to come up with unique critters as the series goes on. I didn't get the sense she was ending it though.

Thanks for the original recommendation! I doubt I would have noticed it without your tip. This is my second favorite series so far, after Guild Codex since I started playing in KU.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by apesmom

Has anyone messed around with Kobo Plus yet? They've got a 30 free trial if anyone is interested. It looks to be the same deal as KU without the exclusivity. Of course everything that is in KP is not in KU because of the KU exclusivity but I'm seeing a bunch of stuff in KP that I've been watching for in KU. This could get interesting.


EDIT: So maybe it's only available in Canada? I'm logged into my US account and I'm getting links to the service but it keeps kicking me into its Canadian site.

I've been using Kobo Plus for a while now. While the total number of books doesn't match Kindle Unlimited, for the books that I am interested in such as Open Road Media's SF selection, I get more that my money's worth per month. The other nice item is that I have not run into a limit on the number of Kobo Plus books you can have at one time unlike KU where even the limit change to 20 leaves my wife unhappy at times.

Sadly, Kobo Plus is not available in the USA as yet. Kobo Plus was originally in the Netherlands and currently, Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands are the supported countries.

[apesmom]

Freebie, all 4 previously published by Random House in the 80s

Elizabeth Chater Regency Romance Collection #1

Spoiler:

A SEASON FOR THE HEART (Now available as an audiobook)
Miss Melpomene Rand’s only refuge from a life of monotony and cruelty is the extensive library left to her by her grandfather. The fantastic notions and romantic heroes contained in those books are the only thing that distracts her from the abuse of her adopted family. But then a mysterious stranger, the Earl of Austell, finds they have a mutual malady of boredom, and he endeavors to rescue them both.

THE DUKE'S DILEMMA
After losing their parents in an accident, older sister Leslie Endale, her two younger sisters, and her brother Daryl, the nine-year-old heir to the Endale estate, run away from their wicked cousin, March Wardell, who is trying to do away with the young heir so that he may capture the earldom for himself. Leslie leads the young orphans to the ruined mansion of the Duke of Kenelm, Drogo Trevelyan, who has not entered the much-hated premises since his father died. Drogo discovers the Endale children in his home seeking refuge until they can reach their Great-aunt in London. Much to his chagrin, Drogo becomes entangled with the children's plight and more specifically with one certain Lady Leslie. THE

RANDOM GENTLEMAN
Belinda is arranged to marry the Duke of Romsdale, but rather than acquiesce to tradition, she flees to Devon. She soon discovers that the Duke is in pursuit of her, and, disguised as a gypsy, he's endeavoring to win what he believes is his birthright: her heart.

THE MARRIAGE MART
Athena always has her nose in a book, despite her grandmother's insistence she find herself a husband. Her grandmother has a plan, take her to London, transform her from an ugly duckling into a swan, and marry her off to the first bachelor too dumb to recognize her intelligence. Her plan backfires when Athena meets the Duke and a social blunder turns them into instant enemies. As her grandmother had feared, the Duke is thoroughly threatened by her Bluestocking smarts, and his campaign to slander her in polite society may mean she'll never be married.

[sufue]

Kasey Michaels is offering a free novella prequel in her Redgraves series, The Wedding Party, for free via Bookfunnel. And the first book in the series, What an Earl Wants, is on sale for $0.99/£0.99 in the US/UK as well (and discountable at Kobo).

Michaels indicated in her newsletter that she has recently e-pubbed all of the Redgraves series, which came out as paperbacks from HQN in the early 2010s. I looked, and sure enough, the rest of the series (three more books) are all available, at $4.99/£3.99 each. These are Regency historicals.

Bookfunnel link for The Wedding Party: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/7k2yp1rhgs

What an Earl Wants
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09K1NW55W/
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/what-an-earl-wants-8
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09K1NW55W/

[apesmom]

Freebie from my KU list to try

Touched by Fire (Demons of New Chicago #1) by Kel Carpenter

Spoiler:

For a decade, I’ve hated the supernaturals who owned my world.
I hunted them.
I killed them.

And now, in the most grand twist of fate—I am bonded to one of them.

Oh, the irony.

Being a supernatural bounty hunter isn’t exactly a popular job. But after the magic wars, there aren’t many things a human can do that will put food on the table.

Thankfully anything my right hook can’t handle, my guns can.

Or so I thought.

When a demon summoning runs awry, the being that comes into this world changes everything.

I’m not sure if he’s truly a demon or a god, but one thing I do know is that he’s after me. I’d like to see him try.

I’ve got a promise to fulfill, and I’m not backing down.

The only way out of this is his death or mine, and I’ll do anything to survive.

Even if that means making a deal with the devil.

[sufue]

Hey, I just wanted to say thanks for this and the other freebies. You're adding too many books to my TBR list , but thanks anyway...

Originally Posted by apesmom

Freebie from my KU list to try

Touched by Fire (Demons of New Chicago #1) by Kel Carpenter

Spoiler:

For a decade, I’ve hated the supernaturals who owned my world.
I hunted them.
I killed them.

And now, in the most grand twist of fate—I am bonded to one of them.

Oh, the irony.

Being a supernatural bounty hunter isn’t exactly a popular job. But after the magic wars, there aren’t many things a human can do that will put food on the table.

Thankfully anything my right hook can’t handle, my guns can.

Or so I thought.

When a demon summoning runs awry, the being that comes into this world changes everything.

I’m not sure if he’s truly a demon or a god, but one thing I do know is that he’s after me. I’d like to see him try.

I’ve got a promise to fulfill, and I’m not backing down.

The only way out of this is his death or mine, and I’ll do anything to survive.

Even if that means making a deal with the devil.

[worktolive]

If you like hot Scotsmen, Jolie Vines writes good contemporary romances all set in Scotland. Her books are all in KU so not available on other platforms. The first book in her Wild Mountain Scots series is currently free.

Obsessed by Jolie Vines

Spoiler:

He's the leader of the mountain rescue service. She might just need saving.

Lochie

For too long, I've been alone. Just me and my daughter. Keeping her safe is everything, so taking a job in the remote Scottish Highlands suits us fine.

I shouldn't need anything more.

Yet I'm beyond distracted by a lass.

Smart, beautiful, and living right next door, Cait McRae makes it clear she's not interested. Every sly glance tells another story.

It's all I can do not to throw her over my shoulder and take her home.

Cait might claim she only wants to explore the physical, but I know she's wrong.

She's mine.

If the people pursuing us both don't destroy what we've found.



Cait

I always knew I was different. No one ever caught my eye.

Until a huge, scowling man moves in next door. He's the new head of the mountain rescue service, and a single dad to a sweet little girl.

Turns out, I'm a late bloomer, as all I can think about is Lochie.

But someone else wants me.

A series of strange events point to one conclusion. I have a stalker, and the danger I'm in is only just starting.

--

The Wild Mountain Scots series follows on from the Wild Scots series with more of your favourite McRaes. Meet the brooding, tough, protective men of the mountain rescue and the beautiful women who tame their hearts.

[apesmom]

Another good week in KU . . .

• Only the Lonely (Death Gate Grim Reapers #1) by Amanda M. Lee - 4

So far so good with a more diverse UF world than anticipated, however after reading the first book in this series I discovered that it's a spin off of the Aisling Grimlock series. Since characters from that book feature so prominently in this series I need to go back and read Aisling first, that's 9 books plus various novellas so it will be a while before I continue with DGGR.

• Battle Bond (Death Before Dragons #2) by Lindsay Buroker - 4.5
• Tangled Truths (DBD #3) - 4.5
• Eleven Doom (DBD #4) - 4

I'm still listening to the youtube books but also paging along on KU rentals so the author gets some compensation. The humor in the hot tub scene in Tangled Truths earned the book an extra 0.5 points all on it's own.

• Natural Mage (DDVN #5) by K.F. Breene - 4

Purchases, just one on my wish list

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• The Cursed King (Inferno Rising #4) by Abigail Owen (B+/4 stars)
• Archangel’s Light (Guild Hunter #14) by Nalini Singh (B/4 stars)

Purchased:

[apesmom]

Freebie! Prequel to Valkyrie Beastiary series, I read it recently and gave it a 4.

The Girl who Cried Banshee (Valkyrie Beastiary #0.5) by Kim McDougall

Spoiler:

Kyra Greene is a pest controller, not an exterminator. She has to be clear about that when the pests can be anything from pixies to dragons. But when her fledgling business teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, Kyra takes on a job that blurs those lines.

Now she's deep in the lawless Inbetween, trying to clear a mysterious infestation from a fishing village. But these homesteaders won’t make it easy for her. Superstitious natures are easily provoked. And a banshee living in the hills above the village makes a good scapegoat.

Can Kyra find the source of the infestation before the homesteaders force her to make a life or death decision?

[Loosheesh]

Hey guys, those of you with Kindle Unlimited, can you recommend any gems? I got a 3-month KU subscription with a new Kindle purchase and I wanted to see what I can get out of it. Preferably contemporaries and urban fantasy. And I know this is the Romance thread but if you read any good KU mysteries, feel free to recommend these as well, while you're at it Thanks much!

[apesmom]

Deal, sci fi/romance

Chaos Reigning (Consortium Rebellion #3) by Jessie Mihalik - $1.99

Spoiler:

Interplanetary intrigue and romance combine in this electrifying finale to the Consortium Rebellion series.

As the youngest member of her High House, Catarina von Hasenberg is used to being underestimated, but her youth and flighty, bubbly personality mask a clever mind and stubborn determination. Her enemies, blind to her true strength, do not suspect that Cat is a spy—which makes her the perfect candidate to go undercover at a rival House’s summer retreat to gather intelligence on their recent treachery.

Cat’s overprotective older sister reluctantly agrees, but on one condition: Cat cannot go alone. Alexander Sterling, a quiet, gorgeous bodyguard, will accompany her, posing as her lover. After Cat tries, and fails, to ditch Alex, she grudgingly agrees, confident in her ability to manage him. After all, she’s never found a person she can’t manipulate.

But Alex proves more difficult—and more desirable—than Cat anticipated. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, she and Alex are forced to work together to figure out how deep the treason goes. With rumors of widespread assaults on Serenity raging, communications down, and the rest of her family trapped off-planet, Catarina must persuade Alex to return to Earth to expose the truth and finish this deadly battle once and for all.

But Cat can’t explain why she’s the perfect person to infiltrate hostile territory without revealing secrets she’d rather keep buried. . .

Kindle | Kobo | Google

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Hey guys, those of you with Kindle Unlimited, can you recommend any gems? I got a 3-month KU subscription with a new Kindle purchase and I wanted to see what I can get out of it. Preferably contemporaries and urban fantasy. And I know this is the Romance thread but if you read any good KU mysteries, feel free to recommend these as well, while you're at it Thanks much!

I just dove into KU a few months ago and have been devouring UF/PNR.
Recommendations:

• Guild Codex Universe by Annette Marie - there are currently 4 intertwined sub-series, all have slowly developing romances over their arcs.
• Valkyrie Beastiary series by Kim McDougall - unique world with romance. Tough but empathetic heroine.
• Death Before Dragons by Lindsay Buroker - In the middle of this one right now, love the tough, irreverent heroine and haughty dragon slow burn. Great world.
• Supernatural London by Helen Harper - Yay, a new one is coming out in Dec. Includes 2 intertwined sub-series Firebrand & Wolfbrand.
• Leveling Up by K.F. Breene - Goofy world with romance
• DDVN by K.F. Breene - another strong, irreverent heroine with romance. 3 intertwined sub-series.

I have a huge list I'm still wading through but I enjoyed/enjoying all these series.