FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[sufue]

Rosalind James' newest book, Kiwi Sin, is up for pre-order, and per her email a couple of days ago, it'll be on sale today and tomorrow (April 1 and 2) for $2.99/£2.99 at Kindle US/UK. The other four books in the series are KU, so probably this one will be too, so you may not need to buy. But if you don't have KU, or just want your own copy, here's your chance!

Just as a note, the other books in the series are normally $5.99, and, with the exception of the first one, I haven't seen any of them go on sale again, after the pre-sale.

I've liked this new-ish "New Zealand Ever After" series of hers, although perhaps a tiny smidge less than her older "Escape to New Zealand" series. But still fun and enjoyable to me.

Kiwi Sin (due out Sept 1, 2022)
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WZDN7P2
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09WZDN7P2
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09WZDN7P2
Kindle UK/Smile: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09WZDN7P2

The description is "still to come"...

[jenieliser]

https://claims.prolificworks.com/gg/...i1x-23yvjJy-W0

"sweet and swoony" freebies on Prolific Works
you have to create an account with prolific works, but its free and easy

[sufue]

Free again, probably in honor of James' newest book, Kiwi Gold, which came out yesterday.

Originally Posted by sufue

Kiwi Rules is the first in a new-ish series, New Zealand Ever After, by Rosalind James. It is free right now at Kindle US and UK, probably in honor of the second title in the series, Stone Cold Kiwi, which has just come out. (And is available via KU, thank heaven...)

I'm not sure if this series is self-pub, but I've liked every Rosalind James book I've read, including this one...

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQB2RV3
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NQB2RV3

[apesmom]

I got a pretty nice haul of PNR/UF freebies this weekend.

A Ferry of Bones & Gold (Soulbound #1) by Hailey Turner
This one was on my KU list

Spoiler:

When the gods come calling, you don’t get to say no.

Patrick Collins is three years into a career as a special agent for the Supernatural Operations Agency when the gods come calling to collect a soul debt he owes them. An immortal has gone missing in New York City and bodies are showing up in the wake of demon-led ritual killings that Patrick recognizes all too easily from his nightmares.

Unable to walk away, Patrick finds himself once again facing off against mercenary magic users belonging to the Dominion Sect. Standing his ground alone has never been a winning option in Patrick’s experience, but it’s been years since he’s had a partner he could trust.

Looking for allies in all the wrong places, Patrick discovers the Dominion Sect’s next target is the same werewolf the Fates themselves have thrown into his path. Patrick has been inexplicably attracted to the man from their first meeting, but desire has no place in war. That doesn’t stop Patrick from wanting what he shouldn’t have. Jonothon de Vere is gorgeous, dangerous, and nothing but trouble—to the case, to the fight against every hell, and ultimately, to Patrick’s heart and soul.

In the end, all debts must be paid, and Patrick can only do what he does best—cheat death.

A Demon Bound (Imp World #1/Imp #1) by Debra Dunbar
Another one on my KU list

Spoiler:

I never wanted to save the world... or these damned werewolves.

Life was pretty sweet until my hellhound bit one of them. Then I accidentally killed him—the werewolf, not my hellhound. Now I need to help the local alpha track down and destroy a rogue angel or I’ll lose everything that's important to me, like my Corvette, and my awesome house with a pool.

I might wind up dead. I might wind up back in Hel. Or I might just pull something impish and manage to wiggle my way out of the whole mess.

WARNING: This series has laugh-out loud antics, an OCD werewolf, and a sexy angel. Get ready to binge read this bestselling antihero urban fantasy series!

Brimstone and Broomsticks (Accidental Witches #1) by Debra Dunbar
Same author as above so why not, it's free.

Spoiler:

A family of witches, a sexy stranger, a missing werewolf, and a whole town of paranormal suspects!

Maintaining the town wards is the only witch-magic Cassandra Perkins performs—well, except for that time she set her ex-boyfriend's pants on fire. But when she gets stuck defending a man who claims to be the son of the devil against assault charges, Cassie finds herself firing up amulets and dusting off her broomstick.

When the werewolf he assaulted turns up missing, the additional charges pile on. Cassie needs to find the missing werewolf, clear her client's name, and get him out of town before she loses her heart.

Who knew a demon could be so hellishly sexy? Or that his arrival could cause so much trouble in a town full of werewolves, trolls, and harpies?

Wicked Wings (Seraphim Academy #1) by Elizabeth Briggs
This author's Zodiac Wolves has been on top of the UF/PNR Amzon lists for months so worth a try.

Spoiler:

They think I’m half angel and half human. They think I have no magic. They think because I grew up in the human world I’m clueless about what to expect at Seraphim Academy.

They’re wrong.

I’m not half human, I’m half demon — and this little succubus has come to play.

My brother vanished from Seraphim Academy without a trace, and I’ll do whatever it takes to find him, including infiltrating the school myself.

Even if it means going up against my brother’s best friends, who know something about his disappearance and aren’t talking. They may be angel royalty, but if they think they can intimidate me into leaving the school, they’re wrong.

There’s also the problem of the delicious professor who knows my secret. He’s hiding something too, and I’m going to find out what it is.

But I’ll have to be careful, because if anyone finds out I’m part demon? I won’t just get kicked out of Seraphim Academy — I’ll be dead.

Witching for Hope (Premonition Pointe #2) by Deanna Chase
Well-rated series, book #1 has been free a couple times in the past.

Spoiler:

Hope Anderson loves her life. She has a great business that’s thriving, the best friends a girl could ever have, and a coven she can count on. Oh, and she’s been single for over fifteen years and likes it that way… until the love of her life, Lucas King, walks back into town and throws everything she thought she knew about herself into chaos.

If that wasn’t enough, now her mother is in town to warn her about a curse that happens to all the Anderson women when they turn forty-six, and she isn’t talking about hot flashes or mood swings. But maybe the curse isn’t so bad, because now there’s someone distributing dangerous drugs in their quaint town and Hope’s going need that curse to bring down the drug dealers and save everything she loves about Premonition Pointe. The question is, will Lucas prove he deserves to be traveling that line with her, or will she walk away the same way she did fifteen years ago?

Tempted by Fire (Dragons of Bloodfire #1) by Erin Kellison

Spoiler:

She holds the key to his vengeance...and his heart.

Dragon shifter Thane Ealdian has waited six hundred years to avenge the loss of his family, and finally a clue has surfaced that implicates an old adversary.

Thane will stop at nothing to get his revenge, but to prevent violence between the clans, the Bloodkin Triad has forced a mediator on him. Some upstart named Emerson Clark.

When Thane discovers that the clever and beautiful Emerson is the key to uncovering the truth, he has no intention of letting her go.

Although she wants to run, she can't turn her back on Thane or her intense feelings for him. His quest pulls at her heart, just as his nearness sparks something dangerous inside her.

With evil in hot pursuit, sooner or later everything will ignite—the mediation, the shifter within her...and their passions.

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Hot Ice by Nora Roberts (B/4 stars)
• An Unexpected Cowboy (Sutton's Place #2) by Shannon Stacey (A/5 stars)
• Partners by Nora Roberts (D-/1 star)
• Sullivan’s Woman by Nora Roberts (D/1 star)
• Savage City (The Bliss Wars #1) by L Penelope (A/5 stars)
• Charmed and Dangerous (A Witch in Wolf Wood #5) by Lindsay Buroker (B+/4 stars)

Also finishing up Texture of Intimacy and hope to start Heart of Obsidian in my complete Psy/Changeling series reread this afternoon. (Plus I think there's a short story in between.)


Purchased:

[apesmom]

This week . . .

Black Hat Bureau by Hailey Edwards

#2 - Black Arts White Craft - 4
Paragraph structure a little less annoying in book #2. Cute, slow burn romance.

Road to Nowhere by Meg Elison

#1 - The Book of the Unnamed Midwife - 4
Very dark dystopian story. No romance here. Listened on KU, narration was OK but journal format makes narration challenging.

Night Huntress Universe/Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost

#11/#7 - Up From the Grave - 4
Listened via Overdrive. Catching up on some older titles from the slopes of Mt. TBR by taking advantage of audio. Didn't care for narration but story was good. I still have a couple titles from the series on TBR pile.

Purchased: none

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Hot Ice by Nora Roberts (B/4 stars)
• An Unexpected Cowboy (Sutton's Place #2) by Shannon Stacey (A/5 stars)
• Partners by Nora Roberts (D-/1 star)
• Sullivan’s Woman by Nora Roberts (D/1 star)
• Savage City (The Bliss Wars #1) by L Penelope (A/5 stars)
• Charmed and Dangerous (A Witch in Wolf Wood #5) by Lindsay Buroker (B+/4 stars)

Looks like Nora Roberts has not been faring well lately.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by apesmom

Looks like Nora Roberts has not been faring well lately.

There's a reason most of these have been stuck in my TBR pile for literal decades.

I just have a few more old single titles, one category and then the Circle trilogy and the trilogy she wrote before her current one that advertised as not romance. Hoping the two trilogies at least will work better for me.

Also to be fair I had started all of the old categories and single titles more than once over the years and then set them aside. So it isn't even a matter of 'I may have enjoyed these books more if I'd read them years ago' as I knew going in I wouldn't care for a few. But the categories are short books, so I have been determined to get the whole pile done. It's my main reading goal for the year.

I have been doing some in audio (the ones my library has), With most of these it isn't the plot that is the major issue, it the characters (usually the hero). But sometimes the plot too.

Just goes to prove that even a long-time autobuy author has books you won't like. On the upside she's written a number of my all-time favorite books and characters. This is just me finally finishing off ALL of her books. And FWIW, none of these have been as bad as Promise Me Tomorrow or Loving Jack which are my personal least favorites of hers.

I just went and looked and of the 202 titles (as NR) I have listed in Calibre (PMT isn't available in digital), Only 32 are a D+ or below. So that's not a bad percentage. Of course, I still have 9 left to read so that number may yet go up And this doesn't include any of the JD Robb books.

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by library addict

There's a reason most of these have been stuck in my TBR pile for literal decades.

I just have a few more old single titles, one category and then the Circle trilogy and the trilogy she wrote before her current one that advertised as not romance. Hoping the two trilogies at least will work better for me.

Also to be fair I had started all of the old categories and single titles more than once over the years and then set them aside. So it isn't even a matter of 'I may have enjoyed these books more if I'd read them years ago' as I knew going in I wouldn't care for a few. But the categories are short books, so I have been determined to get the whole pile done. It's my main reading goal for the year.

I have been doing some in audio (the ones my library has), With most of these it isn't the plot that is the major issue, it the characters (usually the hero). But sometimes the plot too.

That is some very impressive sticking to your goals!!!

I am really loving library/KU audiobooks as a means of chipping away at my TBR pile. They are great for times when reading is not feasible (i.e. driving, multitasking, etc.). Sadly my library doesn't have the greatest selection so I'm going to work my way through what they do have then probably get that Brooklyn library membership sooner than anticipated.

[apesmom]

There's a bunch of Kristen Ashley titles on sale for $1.99 each. They're probably marked down on all platforms. Includes Rock Chick, Magdalene, The 'Burg, Unfinished Heros series and other misc. titles. It's been a while since I've seen many of her titles on sale.

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by library addict

There's a reason most of these have been stuck in my TBR pile for literal decades.

I like her JD Robb books and also liked the Chronicles of the One series. Haven't read any of her others, though. The Dragon Heart Legacy series looks interesting, but never got around to it. My wife used to read all of her stuff religiously as soon as they came out, but she also seems to have cooled off her books like you seem to have. Perhaps she has gotten to the point where she is kind of just "mailing it in".

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by apesmom

That is some very impressive sticking to your goals!!!

I am really loving library/KU audiobooks as a means of chipping away at my TBR pile. They are great for times when reading is not feasible (i.e. driving, multitasking, etc.). Sadly my library doesn't have the greatest selection so I'm going to work my way through what they do have then probably get that Brooklyn library membership sooner than anticipated.

The Brooklyn library membership is well worth it!

[library addict]

Originally Posted by kyrilson

I like her JD Robb books and also liked the Chronicles of the One series. Haven't read any of her others, though. The Dragon Heart Legacy series looks interesting, but never got around to it. My wife used to read all of her stuff religiously as soon as they came out, but she also seems to have cooled off her books like you seem to have. Perhaps she has gotten to the point where she is kind of just "mailing it in".

I think with her latest stuff it is more a case of my tastes have changed. I still read the JD Robb books and her NR titles. And while it has been a few years since one has knocked it out the park for me, there is still that possibility.

These books are mostly her very early ones she wrote for Silhouette and her a few of her early single titles where everything was BIG and OTT like Dynasty or the old Jackie Collins books. She does better when she's writing what she likes than when she was new and trying to write to what was then the market. But you can see glimmers of ideas she would later tailor to her style of writing. So I do not regret reading them.

I think I just hold my favorite authors to a higher standard than I would a new-to-me author, even when it comes to their backlist.

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by apesmom

There's a bunch of Kristen Ashley titles on sale for $1.99 each. They're probably marked down on all platforms. Includes Rock Chick, Magdalene, The 'Burg, Unfinished Heros series and other misc. titles. It's been a while since I've seen many of her titles on sale.

This sale has expanded to include pretty much all her indie titles, it will run through April 9th.

[apesmom]

Freebies!

Mind Over Magic (A Witch in Wolf Wood #1) by Lindsay Buroker

Spoiler:

As a bookish, introverted database programmer, Morgen Keller never thought she was a candidate for a midlife crisis. That was before her husband divorced her, her boss let her go, and her grandmother died. Forty wasn’t supposed to look like this.

When Morgen heads up to the small town of Bellrock, Washington, to settle the estate, she looks forward to taking a peaceful break from life and figuring out what she’s going to do next.

But peace isn’t to be had. The old farmhouse is full of witch paraphernalia, a fearsome werewolf has claimed the property, and contrary to what the family was told, Grandma didn’t die of natural causes.

Embroiled in a mystery, and heir to powers she knew nothing about, Morgen must turn to the only person who might be able to help: the werewolf who threatened to rip her throat out for trespassing.

This isn’t the fresh start on life that Morgen had in mind.

This one did not work for me so I haven't continued the series yet, Library Addict can tell us if it gets better. Grab quick if you want it, I think the free window on this will be closing soon.

The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1) by Craig Schaefer

Spoiler:

Nobody knows the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas like Daniel Faust, a sorcerer for hire and ex-gangster who uses black magic and bullets to solve his clients' problems. When an old man comes seeking vengeance for his murdered granddaughter, what looks like a simple job quickly spirals out of control.

Soon Daniel stands in the crossfire between a murderous porn director; a corrupt cop with a quick trigger finger; and his own former employer, a racket boss who isn't entirely human. Then there's Caitlin: brilliant, beautiful, and the lethal right hand of a demon prince.

A man named Faust should know what happens when you rub shoulders with demons. Still Daniel can't resist being drawn to Caitlin's flame as they race to unlock the secret of the Etruscan Box, a relic that people all over town are dying -- and killing -- to get their hands on. As the bodies drop and the double-crosses pile up, Daniel will need every shred of his wits, courage and sheer ruthlessness just to survive.

Daniel Faust knew he was standing with one foot over the brink of hell. He's about to find out just how far he can fall.

This is probably UF with no romance, however there was some in another series of his that I've started and liked.