FREE/BARGAIN - Romance + Discussion - 2015

[maccharl]

Summer's End: A Novel by Kathleen Gilles Seidel

$0.99

http://www.amazon.com/Summers-End-Ka...283155&s=books

From the Back Cover

To their respective families, Jack Wells and Amy Legend are outsiders.A free-spirited man-of-all-trades, Jack takes life as it comes—not at all like his supremely organized mother, the admiral’s widow, and his methodical lawyer sister. Amy, a professional athlete with exquisite taste and golden beauty, has a glamorous career a world apart from her bookish older siblings and college professor father.

When Jack’s mother marries Amy’s widowed father, they invite all the children to spend the summer at the Legends’ retreat in northern Minnesota. They never imagine just how well Jack and Amy are going to get along—as affection unexpectedly flares into a burning attraction that threatens to damage already fragile familial bonds. Agreeing to deny their desire until the vacation is over—caught between long-simmering conflicts and clashing personalities—Jack and Amy find, nonetheless,that they are falling deeply in love. And passion this strong couldn’t possibly wait until summer’s end . . . no matter what the consequences.

[Amy_k]

Discover a New Love's featured books for February

Earls Just Want to Have Fun by Shana Galen

The First Kiss by Grace Burrowes

Jaguar Pride by Terry Spear

Just in Time for a Highlander by Gwyn Cready

Cowboy Delight by Cheryl Brooks

How to Kiss a Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

[ATDrake]

Speaking of DANL, has anyone read Lillian Marek's Lady Elinor's Wicked Adventures, which was one of their selections last year and still free with credits, and could you please tell me what you thought of it if you did?

I still have 6 left and this is only the 2nd book in over a year which looked even vaguely interesting to me* (the one I used my 7th credit on was set in Denmark and I got it out of sheer morbid curiosity because I have this inordinate fondness for cultures that produce dragon boats) and it would be nice if I could cash in a bit more of my $9.99 membership renewal investment made back before DANL decided that credits were non-expiring.

Mainly, I'd like to know if it has a decent amount of the archaeological exploration promised in the blurb and/or if the writing/storyline is so terribad I shouldn't bother (or alternatively, so Ed Wood-ishly cracktastic I shouldn't miss it).

I'm a no-romo reader regularly, so I kind of really need a "catch" to get interested in trying a genre romance, and major drawn-out relationship drama is also a minus, but I'm willing to put up with stuff if there's good historical backgrounding where the author did their research (which the Amazon reviews do look promising on). (ETA: I also don't like surprise unplanned pregnancies presented as a Good Thing™ which is ultimately desirable to the unmarried historical heroine who is totally financially dependent on the kindness of strangers the relatively-recently-met-and-intimate-relationship-upgraded-with hero, with no resources of her own to fall back upon. I just thought I'd mention this since it very annoyingly showed up in one particular morbid-curiosity-trying Kensington freebie I stopped halfway through and would have been tempted to throw at the wall if it had been a paper book. And it sent another Sourcebooks freebie which I did finish into WTFville around 95% through, when up to then I'd been liking it reasonably well and used a credit on another of the author's books. So I think that would be a deal-killer for anything I paid out actual money for, even in the form of a "free" credit that I'm not otherwise using.)

Something like an Amelia Peabody series lite (minus the "every year, another dead body" or better yet with it, since I prefer strong crossover elements when reading dedicated romances, which just don't do anything for me on their own), would be ideal, although as long as there's some solid sections of poking around in the ruins and maybe a few lecture-y bits, I think I'd be reasonably content.

P.S. For those interested in trying DANL's February selections, a tie-in novella for the Grace Burrowes contemporary and one of her historical novels are still free in multiple stores.

* Okay, it turns out I might have a 3rd candidate, since the Scottish time travel thing with historical re-enactors thing in February's selections is starting to look cracktastic enough to potentially give a try and I have this inordinate fondness for the Society of Creative Anachronism and related groups as well.

[Blue2u]

Book1 of this series was previously free. N/A.
Free- Clutch - Tess Oliver [book 2 of Custom Culture series]

Spoiler:

Clutch is Book 2 in Tess Oliver's Custom Culture Series.

When Taylor Flinn's parents shipped her off to an aunt for her last year of high school, James "Clutch" Mason had convinced himself it was for the best. Taylor, the wild, impulsive and far-too-appealing seventeen-year-old had been driving him nuts. Her school girl crush on him had been the last thing he needed. Now he had time to concentrate on his booming classic car part business, his new found love-- drag racing, and keeping his twenty-year-old brother Barrett out of trouble.

But when Taylor returns from her aunt's more grown up, utterly seductive, and attached to another guy, Clutch realizes that the only thing he ever needed or wanted was Taylor Flinn.

The prequel novella to this series was previously free, this is book 1, rockstar
$.99 A Lush Betrayal - Selena Laurence

Spoiler:

Joss Jamison is the sexy, brooding lead singer of the nation's hottest rock sensation, Lush. He prides himself on his control--of the music, the business, and himself. But, when emotions overtake him and he loses control for one fateful night, he jeopardizes everything he loves.

Mel DiLorenzo has waited her whole life for the chance to prove her talents in photojournalism. When her older sister invites her to document the world tour for Lush, Mel jumps at the chance. But she quickly finds herself in the middle of a band on the edge, and an incredibly hot lead singer on her case.

With sparks flying on tour buses, hotels, and auditoriums, Mel and Joss are about to find out that rock and roll can be a very wild ride.

Book 1 of this series was on sale last week. N/A$.99 To Professor With Love - Linda Kage [book 2 of Forbidden Men]

Spoiler:

Junior in college. Star athlete. Constant attention from the opposite sex.

On this campus, I’m worshiped. While seven hundred miles away, back in my hometown, I’m still trailer park trash, child of the town tramp, and older sibling to three kids who are counting on me to keep my shit together so I can take them away from the same crappy life I grew up in.

These two opposing sides of myself never mix until one person gets a glimpse of the true me. I never expected to connect with anyone like this or want more beyond one night. This may be the real deal.

Problem is Dr. Kavanagh’s my literature professor.

If I start anything with a teacher and we’re caught together, I might as well kiss my entire future goodbye, as well as my family’s and especially Dr. Kavanagh’s. Except sometimes love is worth risking everything. Or at least, it damn well better be, because I can only resist so much.

-Noel Gamble-

I enjoyed all 3 of these authors, but thoroughly recommend Linda Kage.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Speaking of DANL, has anyone read Lillian Marek's Lady Elinor's Wicked Adventures, which was one of their selections last year and still free with credits, and could you please tell me what you thought of it if you did?

I still have 6 left and this is only the 2nd book in over a year which looked even vaguely interesting to me* (the one I used my 7th credit on was set in Denmark and I got it out of sheer morbid curiosity because I have this inordinate fondness for cultures that produce dragon boats) and it would be nice if I could cash in a bit more of my $9.99 membership renewal investment made back before DANL decided that credits were non-expiring.

Mainly, I'd like to know if it has a decent amount of the archaeological exploration promised in the blurb and/or if the writing/storyline is so terribad I shouldn't bother (or alternatively, so Ed Wood-ishly cracktastic I shouldn't miss it).

I'm a no-romo reader regularly, so I kind of really need a "catch" to get interested in trying a genre romance, and major drawn-out relationship drama is also a minus, but I'm willing to put up with stuff if there's good historical backgrounding where the author did their research (which the Amazon reviews do look promising on). (ETA: I also don't like surprise unplanned pregnancies presented as a Good Thing™ which is ultimately desirable to the unmarried historical heroine who is totally financially dependent on the kindness of strangers the relatively-recently-met-and-intimate-relationship-upgraded-with hero, with no resources of her own to fall back upon. I just thought I'd mention this since it very annoyingly showed up in one particular morbid-curiosity-trying Kensington freebie I stopped halfway through and would have been tempted to throw at the wall if it had been a paper book. And it sent another Sourcebooks freebie which I did finish into WTFville around 95% through, when up to then I'd been liking it reasonably well and used a credit on another of the author's books. So I think that would be a deal-killer for anything I paid out actual money for, even in the form of a "free" credit that I'm not otherwise using.)

Something like an Amelia Peabody series lite (minus the "every year, another dead body" or better yet with it, since I prefer strong crossover elements when reading dedicated romances, which just don't do anything for me on their own), would be ideal, although as long as there's some solid sections of poking around in the ruins and maybe a few lecture-y bits, I think I'd be reasonably content.

P.S. For those interested in trying DANL's February selections, a tie-in novella for the Grace Burrowes contemporary and one of her historical novels are still free in multiple stores.

* Okay, it turns out I might have a 3rd candidate, since the Scottish time travel thing with historical re-enactors thing in February's selections is starting to look cracktastic enough to potentially give a try and I have this inordinate fondness for the Society of Creative Anachronism and related groups as well.

You are not going to find anything being published today to be what you are looking for. They are all pretty much no histories and modern dialogue set in time periods with little to no accurate history. So basically it's all about h/h and then how much sex they can have with some plot that couldn't had happen in the time period. I do like Gywn but for her comedic series she started out with but I wouldn't call her writing historical but she is quite entertaining though. Shana Galen is quite the story teller but she is definitely mistorical but I still enjoyed her spy series.

Basically if you are looking for historical fiction outside a couple authors at DANL you are not going to find it.

[ATDrake]

Free from the author via Smashwords and thence price-matched to assorted stores (sorry, no extra linkage today, I've got a bunch of stuff to do and don't feel like checking):

Living Wilde - The Gift and On The Wilde Side & Emily: Sex and Sensibility by Sandra Marton, a set of 2 f/m contemporary romance novellas and 1 f/m contemporary probably-erotic romance. Marton is a current Harlequin author, and I really like how the only information in her Smashwords "About the author" just enthuses "I'm a USA Today Bestselling author!". That's awesome, and ultimately, probably everything you need to know about her anyway.

THE GIFT: Zach Castelianos runs a spy agency. A client needs a bodyguard to deliver his headstrong daughter, Ekaterina, to her bridegroom in Sardovia. Zach asks former Covert Ops Specialist Kazimir Savitch to take the job. Kaz isn’t into that stuff anymore, but he can use a change of pace. Sounds simple—until he meets Ekaterina and discovers that Katie is not an icy aristocrat. She’s a woman desperate for help, and there’s no way Kaz is going to deliver her to her bridegroom, once she’s spent the weekend in his arms.

ON THE WILDE SIDE: General John Hamilton Wilde is everything a good soldier should be. He’s tough, dedicated and brilliant. He’s demanding and commanding, and he knows how to keep his emotions in check. There’s just one problem. The general is also a fraud, a liar…and a bigamist. He’s convinced two women to fall in love with him and marry him, and he’s raised two families, one in Texas, the other in Sicily. The deceit lasts for years, until his children suddenly learn the truth. That’s when their world, and the general’s, blows apart.

Free from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

Angels and Airheads by Anne Brooke, an m/m contemporary romance short with supernatural elements. Brooke is a current Amber Quill Press author who, interestingly enough, writes both biblically-oriented inspirational meditations and torrid gay romance, according to her bio-blurb and title listings.

Ricky has been secretly in love with his best friend Jez forever, but he's never dared confess his feelings because he thinks Jez is too high-class for him. One evening, while sharing a quiet evening with Jez, a mysterious angel, Madred, appears and tries to persuade Ricky to take a chance on love.

Too bad Ricky doesn't believe in angels. Madred is forced to take desperate measures in an attempt to show the reluctant Ricky the truth. When the angel leaves, can Ricky find the courage to declare himself to Jez, and what will happen to their friendship if he does?

Free from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

Dreamland by Faye Adams, an f/m western historical romance set in 1880s Seattle's logging industry. This is newly written as far as I can tell (copyright info in the sample section is all for 2014, with no mention of previous publication), but Adams has been a Pocket-published author some of whose backlist we've previously gotten free.

Emma Denton arrives in 1889 Seattle with a deed in her hand and a dream in her heart. Her unexpected ownership of The Dreamland Lumber Company is a dream-come-true for her. She knows logging. She was raised around her grandfather’s mill. Unfortunately, the crew of Dreamland is ready to walk off. They won’t work for some woman who doesn’t know her place.

Jack Royal was waiting for his brother Evan’s, long overdue, return from purchasing Dreamland when Emma shows up with the deed. He’s certain she and her husband swindled Evan…or worse. When Emma seduces him he thinks he knows to what lengths she’ll go to have her way.

The fiery passion that flares between these two strong-willed people is more than either one of them can deny, and the troubles between them are only exaggerated by their shared desire.

Free again from the author via KDP Select @ Amazon:

The Eleventh Hour Fall by Robert Appleton, 1st in his eponymous f/m sci-fi romance novella trilogy. Appleton is a current Carina Press author.

What if you fell from a great height...toward a ground you couldn't see...and hours later you were still falling?

For survival, for love...on a distant alien planet. With the man of her dreams unconscious in her arms, terrain scout Kate Borrowdale must escape the treacherous peaks of Kratos and traverse a strange, hidden world beneath the clouds.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by Blossom

You are not going to find anything being published today to be what you are looking for. They are all pretty much no histories and modern dialogue set in time periods with little to no accurate history. So basically it's all about h/h and then how much sex they can have with some plot that couldn't had happen in the time period. I do like Gywn but for her comedic series she started out with but I wouldn't call her writing historical but she is quite entertaining though. Shana Galen is quite the story teller but she is definitely mistorical but I still enjoyed her spy series.

Basically if you are looking for historical fiction outside a couple authors at DANL you are not going to find it.

Many thanks for the reply, and the semi-rec for the author of that cracktastic-looking time travel historical re-enactment selection I was also considering, which does look like it could be a definite contender since you think the author writes entertainingly enough.

I've got really low expectations for genre-typical historical-labelled romance to begin with, and DANL in particular*, since they're basically using the club to promote their newer authors without a firm established reputation and their mega-selling fan favourites (which makes perfect sense from a marketing point of view).

So all I'm really hoping for from the Lillian Marek book is a sort of fun romp with some not-too-inaccurate history/science-y bits† in it, or at least significant amounts of entertaining WTF was the author smoking?! And as long as it's reasonably archaeology-including, I'm willing to go along with a certain amount of Quantum Leap-y-ness to the characters and plotlines.

* Why won't they add more Roberta Gellis? I'd pay real money for them too for DRM-free, even if they aren't credit-eligible.

† And not too much in the way of conventional Romancelandia tropes that I personally find annoying.

[briefcandles]

Mills & Boon freebie

Sheikh's Scandal by Lucy Monroe (The Chatsfield series)

When the Sheikh comes to town…

Sheikh Sayed of Zeena Sarha and his harem of beautiful women are staying at the exclusive, opulent Chatsfield Hotel, London, for the last stop on his worldwide tour before his wedding. But when his engagement is unceremoniously broken, Sayed sets his sights on his sexy chambermaid!

Liyah Amari only took the position as chambermaid to find the truth about her birth father. But her search ends in heartache, leaving Liyah vulnerable to this powerful Sheikh's desires. Now their one night of passion could result in a scandalous consequence for the proud Sheikh!

Welcome to The Chatsfield, London!

(Don't worry if you get an error message after completing the checkout - the book will still show up on your bookshelf.)

[Fbone]

Crazy Kisses (Steele Street #4) by Tara Janzen is FREE at Amazon today. A romantic suspense orig pubbed by Dell in 2006.

http://smile.amazon.com/Crazy-Kisses...es+tara+janzen

[booklover6]

Here's a nice surprise

A Thousand Lies by Sharon Sala Free at Amazon

Spoiler:

Evil comes in all shapes and sizes, but seems more deadly when hidden in physical beauty.

Anson Poe hides behind a handsome face as he wreaks havoc upon those around him. Nothing touches his heart but power and greed; not the woman he married, or the four children they share.

Brendan Poe shares his father's stunning looks while trying to live down the shame. He does everything he can to stay out of Anson's world of crime until one hot Louisiana summer when he can no longer look away..

When the women who matter most in Brendan's world become pawns in Anson's need for revenge, he strikes back with a blinding rage, leaving Anson with the options of fight or flight.

Will he run, or will he stay.
Will he live to lie another day?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Here's a nice surprise

A Thousand Lies by Sharon Sala Free at Amazon

It was free last February too so maybe her other ones will go free again. I picked up quite a few then. She can tell a story like no other.

[Blue2u]

In case anybody is interested, Fifty Shades of Grey [book 1] is on sale right now for $2.99. [geo-restricted] IIRC that's the lowest price it's ever been. Just thought I'd mention it.

[apesmom]

A bunch of Simon & Schuster drops to $1.99 (Google hasn't dropped yet)

Contemporary

• Talk of the Town (Glory NC #1) by Karen Hawkins
  Kindle | Kobo
  
• One Way Out (Avalon Investigations #1) by Michele Albert
  Kindle | Kobo

Historical

• The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
  Kindle | Kobo
  
• My Pleasure (Rose Hunters #2) by Connie Brockway
  Kindle | Google
  
• The Game and the Governess (Winner Takes All #1) by Kate Noble
  Kindle | Kobo

Paranormal

• Happy Hour at Casa Dracula (Casa Dracula #1) by Marta Acosta
  Kindle | Kobo
  
• How to Discipline Your Vampire (DommeNation #1) by Mina Vaughn
  Kindle | Kobo
  
• Caged Warrior (Dragon Kings #1) by Lindsey Piper
  Kindle | Kobo

[apesmom]

On sale from Simon Schuster - Kresley Cole contemporary for $2.99

The Professional (Game Maker #1) by Kresley Cole
Kindle | Kobo

Meet the Professional.
Mafiya enforcer Aleksandr "The Siberian" Sevastyan's loyalty to his boss is unwavering, until he meets the boss's long-lost daughter, a curvy, tantalizing redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Aleksandr will do anything to possess her as well--on his own wicked terms.

He makes the rules.
Grad student Natalie Porter has barely recovered from her first encounter with the dark and breathtaking Siberian when he whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. Every day under his protection she falls deeper under his masterful spell.

In the game of obsession, two players are better than one.
Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy's reach, Aleksandr spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-rich in Paris, the two lovers tempt each other's boundaries to discover whether their darkest--and most forbidden--fantasies really can come true....

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It was free last February too so maybe her other ones will go free again. I picked up quite a few then. She can tell a story like no other.

Her book, Whippoorwill, will be free on the 10th. (it's another Rosetta Book and part of their Valentines promos)



The rest of the Rosetta promos are...
8th - Lady Fortescue Steps Out by M.C. Beaton - Free
9th - The Casanova Embrace by Warren Adler - $0.99
10th - Whippoorwill by Sharon Sala - Free
11th - Hold the Dream by Barbara Taylor Bradford - Free
12th - Hot Secret by Sheryl Woods - $0.99
13th - A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford - Free
14th - Hot Property by Sheryl Woods - $0.99