FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[sufue]

Ditto...

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Same here on the pricing. I'm a real cheapskate when it comes to ebooks, and none of the books dropped enough in price to persuade me to buy anything. I rarely pay above $2.99 for ebooks (bundles, collections excepted).

[worktolive]

Originally Posted by sufue

On a different subject, since this is "Romance and Discussion", I just finished reading, and quite enjoyed, Rachel Aaron's Heartstrikers series, which takes the premise of "what if there happened to be a NICE dragon", and runs with it in a really fun way.

I read Nice Guys Finish Last quite awhile ago and loved it. Always meant to get back to the series, in fact I think I have at least one of them on the never-ending TBR mountain, but as always with series, I got sidetracked. Really should pick this up again, especially now that I have KU.

[sufue]

I'm impressed . If I like the first book in a series, I have ZERO self-control, and end up binge-reading the rest (unless they are too expensive, and I have to wait for price drops or library holds...) That's why I have to be super careful about when I start a possible new series, especially if I don't want my family to hate me!

Originally Posted by worktolive

I read Nice Guys Finish Last quite awhile ago and loved it. Always meant to get back to the series, in fact I think I have at least one of them on the never-ending TBR mountain, but as always with series, I got sidetracked. Really should pick this up again, especially now that I have KU.

[worktolive]

I almost never binge. I've found that if I do, I start to get irritated by the author's style and don't get as much enjoyment out of the later books. Of course, the problem with that is that I have a lot of half started/finished series that I will probably never get back to.

[apesmom]

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren - $1.99

Spoiler:

Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. After all, her father was never around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before her daughter was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close but working constantly to stay afloat is hard...and lonely.

But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands.

At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98 percent compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly’s founder, Dr. River Peña. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Peña. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get ‘to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess—who is barely making ends meet—is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond” pairing that could launch GeneticAlly’s valuation sky-high, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist—and the science behind a soulmate—than she thought.

Kindle | Kobo | Google

[apesmom]

Freebie! First in the "standalone" series was mentioned here a few days ago.

Playboy Pilot (Standalone series #3) by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Spoiler:

Money or love? Which would you choose?

You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it's an easy decision.

For me, it's not. Did I mention it's a lot of money? A hell of a lot.

I needed to go far away to think it through.

As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation.

Then, he left.

I thought I'd never see him again.

But fate had other plans.

Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight.

The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed.

Carter was dangerous and always on the move.

Even though our connection was magnetic, I knew it was only temporary.

He would give me tickets, and I would follow him around the world to exotic places.

A bevy of flight attendant exes and rumors about Carter's reputation were never far behind.

I didn't know what to believe.

But I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot.

At the very least, he was taking me on a thrilling ride.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

***Please note that the titles in this series do not have to be read in any particular order.***

A Series of Standalone Novels book series:

1. Cocky Bastard
2. Stuck-Up Suit
3. Playboy Pilot
4. Mister Moneybags
5. British Bedmate
6. Park Avenue Player

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Snow Blind (Stormwatch #6) by Cindy Gerard (C+/3 stars)

Purchased:
none

~~~

Hoping to start my annual complete Psy/Changeling series reread tonight. Published order this year, so first up will be Slave to Sensation, still one of my favorites.

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by library addict

Hoping to start my annual complete Psy/Changeling series reread tonight. Published order this year, so first up will be Slave to Sensation, still one of my favorites.

Omigosh, don’t tempt me! I did a reread last year (and one in 2020 also) and I’d need little to no persuasion to do another one this year. I did a partial reread of the Guild Hunter series earlier in the year but I can never get enough of the Psy/Changeling series. Enjoy

[apesmom]

Very slow week . . .

Stariel by A.J. Lancaster

#3 - The Court of Mortals - 4
Wow, this author sure knows how to take her books to a creshendo and then leave us hanging. I have a guess about something that will be revealed in book 4, if true it should be a very interesting twist.

I'm still listening to Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone. 23 hours to go, I probably would have given up on it if I was reading even though I'm very invested in these characters after thousands and thousands of pages and many years. Plot is progressing very very slowly after 50% finished.

Purchased none

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:
I DNF'd a few new-to-me books this week. Finished a few duds I won't list. So nothing new to report.

I did manage to start my annual complete Psy/Changeling series reread. I am up to Mine to Possess (almost finished). Going in published order.


Purchased:
none

[apesmom]

This week . . .

Not in KU:
Sam Quinn by Seana Kelly

#3 - The Wicche Glass Tavern - 4
#3.5 - All I Want for Christmas is a Dragon (short story free from author) - 3.5
Wide open UF world with strong romantic elements. Next book 4-26-22.

Not a much progress on Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone, still 20 hours to go.

Halfway through the last Stariel, it's a long one.

Purchased: none (3 weeks in a row )

[sufue]

Now £2.99 at Kindle UK...
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00486U21Y
Kindle UK/Smile: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00486U21Y

Originally Posted by worktolive

The second book in the Mercy Thompson UF series is on sale for $1.99. This series is fantastic and I highly recommend it.

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Spoiler:

“Kick-ass were-coyote auto mechanic Mercedes Thompson” (Publishers Weekly) has leapt to the forefront of today’s urban fantasy heroes, thanks to bestselling author Patricia Briggs. Now, Mercy finds herself in the middle of a bloodbath—with only one way out...

Mercy has friends in low places—and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind. But this new vampire is hardly ordinary—and neither is the demon inside of him.

When the undead and the werewolves sent to find him don’t return, the local vampire queen turns to Mercy for help. A coyote is no match for a demon, but Mercy is determined to get her friends back—including the two werewolves circling around her heart.

[Little.Egret]

UK Amazon Deal of the Day Nine Georgette Heyers at 99p each

All previously reduced in monthly deals

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/s?rh=n%3A...4725112031_sar

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=s9_...d_i=5400977031

[Little.Egret]

There have been complaints that the plots of Regency novels are not likely.

So

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Kingdom

Sophia Kingdom (15 February 1775 – 5 January 1855), later known as Lady Brunel, was the mother of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Her father was William Kingdom, a contracting agent for the Royal Navy and the army, and her mother was Joan Spry. She was born in Plymouth, England.[1] She was the youngest of sixteen children. When she was eight years old, her father William died (1783).


Sophia Kingdom was sent to France to improve her knowledge of the French language. She became ill on the journey over, and whilst her travelling companions decided to return to England to avoid the escalating unrest in France, she was unable to accompany them and instead remained in France.[2] While working there as a governess she met Marc Isambard Brunel (1769–1849) at Rouen in the early 1790s. In 1793, Marc Brunel had to flee the French Revolution, going to the United States, but Sophia remained in Rouen. During the Reign of Terror, she was arrested as an English spy, and daily expected to be executed. She was only saved by the fall of Robespierre in June 1794. In April 1795, Sophia Kingdom was able to leave France and travel to London.[3]

Marc Brunel remained in the United States for six years, sailing for England in February 1799. He immediately searched for and found Sophia Kingdom in London. They married on 1 November 1799.

They had two daughters, Sophia Macnamara and Emma, followed by a son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, born on 9 April 1806. Isambard was one of the greatest engineers of the 19th century.[4][5]

[sufue]

I made the same point one time, in a different genre, while reading John Julius Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium (which is not all that short at 496 pages). This was at the height of Game of Thrones, and IMO, there wasn't much need for Thrones, when real life was so vivid anyway:

Cutting off your deposed predecessor's nose, so they wouldn't be physically perfect (a requirement to rule at the time) and couldn't depose you back. Until someone (Justinian II) did it anyway, with the help of a gold replica nose. Or blinding your rival, or castrating your rival, or finally just executing your rival. From which it was hard to come back. So...Emperor Maurice, who, after being deposed, was forced to watch his sons executed before he himself was killed. Or having your skull made into a drinking goblet - supposedly Nikephoros I - although I guess at that point you yourself wouldn't care. And on, and on...

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

There have been complaints that the plots of Regency novels are not likely.

So

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Kingdom

Sophia Kingdom (15 February 1775 – 5 January 1855), later known as Lady Brunel, was the mother of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Her father was William Kingdom, a contracting agent for the Royal Navy and the army, and her mother was Joan Spry. She was born in Plymouth, England.[1] She was the youngest of sixteen children. When she was eight years old, her father William died (1783).


Sophia Kingdom was sent to France to improve her knowledge of the French language. She became ill on the journey over, and whilst her travelling companions decided to return to England to avoid the escalating unrest in France, she was unable to accompany them and instead remained in France.[2] While working there as a governess she met Marc Isambard Brunel (1769–1849) at Rouen in the early 1790s. In 1793, Marc Brunel had to flee the French Revolution, going to the United States, but Sophia remained in Rouen. During the Reign of Terror, she was arrested as an English spy, and daily expected to be executed. She was only saved by the fall of Robespierre in June 1794. In April 1795, Sophia Kingdom was able to leave France and travel to London.[3]

Marc Brunel remained in the United States for six years, sailing for England in February 1799. He immediately searched for and found Sophia Kingdom in London. They married on 1 November 1799.

They had two daughters, Sophia Macnamara and Emma, followed by a son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, born on 9 April 1806. Isambard was one of the greatest engineers of the 19th century.[4][5]