FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[worktolive]

Two baseball romances for $0.99 each by Julianna Keyes. I loved both of these romances, the second even more than the first.

Team Player

Spoiler:

Don’t hate the player…

BOTTOM NINE
Gwen Scott wants to love her job with the Charleston Thrashers, the MLB team she’s worshiped since she was a kid, but she can’t. Hateful colleagues and mind-numbing work make her days unbearable—until her head for baseball gets her exclusive access to the Thrashers’ clubhouse and she comes face-to-face with Tyler Ashe, the team’s sexy shortstop and baseball’s most ineligible bachelor.

BASES LOADED
Ty has sworn off relationships in order to focus on his all-star career, but with his best friend gone, his team struggling, and the press blaming him for every loss, the most recognizable man in the majors is in a slump. Until he starts spending his time off the field with a stern blonde who recites baseball stats for kicks and sees through his arrogant façade.

TWO OUT
As the Thrashers’ season gets into full swing and Gwen adjusts to her new job, their fun banter and friendly teasing turns into stolen kisses and countless steamy nights. The team’s strict policy against player-staff relationships throws a curve ball into the mix, but they can’t hide from their feelings any more than the most famous man in baseball can hide from the spotlight…

Bench Player

Spoiler:

ALLISON

As Public Relations Manager for the Charleston Thrashers, I’m responsible for protecting the team’s reputation. But after our right fielder gets sent to prison and we lose the World Series, my own reputation takes a huge hit. There’s only one way I can save my job: by revamping Connor Whitman’s tarnished ex-con image. Keeping my eye on the ball isn’t a problem until I discover what’s underneath his unkempt exterior—a man who’s unexpectedly vulnerable and distractingly sexy. Now, my professionalism is sailing far into foul territory.

CONNOR

I’ve served my time, and now I’m determined to reclaim my spot in the Thrashers’ outfield. Unfortunately, the new General Manager doesn’t want an aging ex-con on the roster, so I have no choice but to go along with Allison’s annoying scheme. Her bossiness drives me crazy—but so do her legs and her hair and her all-too-rare smiles. I can’t afford to fall for anyone when my focus needs to be on baseball, but love is a game I’ve never played before, and for the first time ever, I’m out of my league.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by apesmom

Freebies!

Mind Over Magic (A Witch in Wolf Wood #1) by Lindsay Buroker
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 overall plot in her fantasy and epic fantasy series I have read have been stronger, but I think that's because there are multiple POVs. A Witch in Wolf Wood is all first person POV from the same character. Book 1 didn't work as well for me either, book 4 was iffy too. But I enjoyed the series overall. The main character's sister was my favorite character. It's a small town filled with quirky characters. There are witches and werewolves. Plenty of humor. Low angst.

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by library addict

The overall plot in her fantasy and epic fantasy series I have read have been stronger, but I think that's because there are multiple POVs. A Witch in Wolf Wood is all first person POV from the same character. Book 1 didn't work as well for me either, book 4 was iffy too. But I enjoyed the series overall. The main character's sister was my favorite character. It's a small town filled with quirky characters. There are witches and werewolves. Plenty of humor. Low angst.

Good to know, thanks! I may give it another try down the road because I loved Death Before Dragons so much.

[apesmom]

A couple of new series coming to KU this month from proven authors.

Vista De Lirio Mysteries by Elizabeth Hunter
Book #1 releases on 4-19, Book #2 on 6-21 and #3 on 10-18

A Charade of Magic by Helen Harper
Book #1 - Hummingbird releases 4-29. I'm really looking forward to this one.

[sufue]

Now $1.99 in the US, and discountable at Kobo...

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WWKZJK
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the...ent-marriage-2

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Amazon UK has The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer for £0.99 at the moment:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Convenient-...dp/B003JTHFTS/

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:
Just rereads this week. In addition to Psy/Changeling I decided to reread Rock Hard and the Hard Play series. I am halfway through.

And up to Shield of Winter in my complete Psy/Changeling series reread.


Purchased:
none

[apesmom]

This week . . .


Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones

#3 = Third Grave Dead Ahead - 3.5
Going to drop this series for now. The humor falls flat for me which is super annoying when it trys and trys and trys to be funny.

Black Hat Bureau by Hailey Edwards

#3 - Black Truth, White Lies - 4
#3.5 - Black Soul, White Heart - 3
Caught up for now, #4 is supposed to come out some time soon but no published date yet.

Night Huntress World/Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost

#1.5 - Happily Never After - 3
#3.5 - Devil to Pay - 3
Clearing out a couple of older novellas before I pick up again with the later books.

Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis

#1 - Animal Magnetism - 4
This series has been near the top of my TBR for a long time, happily my library has most of it in audiobooks but I'm having to wait a few weeks to pick up #2. Narration is OK but I had to speed it up slightly otherwise the reading is too slow.

After Sundown by Linda Howard & Linda Jones - 3.5

Romance very slow to start, listened on Overdrive, narration was OK.

Dance Away with Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 4

Narration OK. Typical SEP story but far from her best. Totally expecting a Wren x Eli story down the road.

Purchases: The big KA sale filled in most of gaps in my collection.

[sufue]

Four-plus years later, again £0.99 at Kindle UK. The link is still good.

Originally Posted by maddz

As is The Masqueraders: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Masquerader...eorgette+Heyer

{edited other book}

[apesmom]

Freebie!

I haven't read this author yet but she has consistently good rating on goodreads from a large number of reviews and she's not even in KU.

Beneath this Ink (Beneath #2)

Spoiler:

I’ve always known she was too good for me, but that never stopped me from wanting her.
And then I finally had her for one night.
A night I don’t remember.
I figured I’d blown my shot.
But now she’s walked back into my life, and this time, I have the upper hand. I want my second chance.
Will she be able to see the man beneath this ink?

Kindle | Kobo | Google

Book #1 is a perma-freebie as well as the starters from several of her other series. Grab them here (watch the prices, this should sort from lowest to highest).

[sufue]

The third and fourth books in KF Breene's Warrior Chronicles series are on sale for $0.99 each at Kindle US right now. So if you don't have KU, or just want your own, here you go...

I haven't read any of the books in this series, but have enjoyed a couple of her other series a lot.

Shadow Lands, #3
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XZKE490
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00XZKE490

Invasion, #4
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0161NEC9Y
Kindle US/Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0161NEC9Y

[library addict]

On sale for $1.99 The Widow by Carla Neggers (Boston Police / FBI #1 aka The Ireland series)

Spoiler:

Four days after Abigail Browning’s wedding, her life changed unimaginably: her husband was fatally shot along the rocky Mount Desert Island coast. Was it a random act of violence, or could someone have wanted Christopher dead?

That’s the question that has haunted Abigail, now a homicide detective, for the past seven years. Determined to find her husband’s killer, she returns to the foggy Maine island after receiving an anonymous tip. Is it just another false lead, or can she finally prove that Chris was murdered?

Owen Garrison, the search-and-rescue worker who located Chris too late to save him, still carries guilt from that fateful night. As he helps Abigail unravel the mystery, they learn that the layers of deceit and lies are even thicker than they could have imagined. Now it’s up to Abigail and Owen to keep pushing for the truth—and stop a killer from striking again….

Kobo

Google Play

Apple Books

Amazon


This is a repeat sale (it was also on sale back in 2018).

FWIW the books are only connected by the characters and each book features a different mystery, so this can be read as a stand-alone. (This h/h are also featured in books two and three of this four book series, but not as the main characters).

[apesmom]

Deal. I have not read this series yet but I have read another of the author's and enjoyed it. Very well rated on Goodreads & Amazon.

Midlife Magic Cocktail Club: The Complete Series - $0.99

Spoiler:

Magic Uncorked
The only magic word Libbie Stark seems to know these days is ‘ibuprofen’ thanks to a headache-inducing job, two teenagers, one ex-husband, and a deadbeat boyfriend—until the death of a friend brings unexpected consequences. Libbie and the other members of her weekly cocktail club are shocked to discover that their eccentric friend was far more extraordinary than they realized and that they are the recipients of her magical assets. Libbie would’ve preferred to inherit an island beach house, especially when her life starts to unravel.
With the help of her friends, Libbie strives to understand her gift and dig herself out of the hole she’s created one cocktail at a time. The more her life changes, the more Libbie realizes that maybe the end of midlife as she knows it is exactly what she needs.

Bewitching Bitters
Kate Golden is living the dream—a handsome husband, three wonderful kids, and a career she loves. As a motivational speaker, she devotes her time to helping people achieve their goals, to become the best versions of themselves.
Apparently, the best version of Kate now includes being a witch.
Of course, it would be nice if she could actually do magic instead of being a witch in name only. Her best friend Libbie is mixing magical cocktails like she’s Tom Cruise in that bartender movie. So far, the only residual effect of Kate’s cocktail is a hangover.
So Kate is thrilled when a magical cocktail recipe finally appears in her book—until she drinks it. Suddenly her run of good fortune takes a left turn. With her life spinning out of control, Kate is desperate to regain her tight grip on the wheel—without stopping to question whether she should.
As her perfect veneer continues to crack, Kate is forced to confront a reflection she doesn’t recognize, and she soon discovers that losing her golden touch might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

Vintage Spirits
Julie Duncan never expected to be a fifty-year-old widow living with her domineering mother in the same lakeside house she grew up in. Winters are a gloomy time for Julie. The holidays remind her of her late husband and she isn’t looking forward to yet another season without him.
The new year kicks off a new normal for Julie--one where she can see ghosts--except she has neither the time nor the energy for unwelcome spirits. She already has an unwelcome visitor in the land of the living—her estranged brother who’s arrived in town to take control of the estate. Brad hasn’t been in their lives for years, yet now he expects to displace Julie and sell the family home, knowing perfectly well that Julie is unlikely to put up a fight.
As Julie struggles to cope with these seismic changes, she encounters more spirits and slowly begins to accept her gift.
In learning to use her voice on behalf of the dead, Julie just might learn to use it for herself.

Psychic on the Rocks
Rebecca Angelos prefers the company of animals to people, which is why she spends the majority of her time at her job at the animal shelter. Animals are simple—they appreciate her and don’t see her through the critical lens that she sees herself. Rebecca blames her own inadequacies for her failed relationships and the 46-year-old has no interest in putting herself through the emotional wringer anymore.
When she rescues a dog from a dangerous situation, a magical recipe appears in the empty book left to her by her dearly departed friend, Inga. The cocktail triggers telepathy as well as anxiety—Rebecca’s worst nightmare is hearing what other people really think about her.
The more thoughts Rebecca overhears, the more she realizes that her own mirror is distorted and in desperate need of adjustment. What begins as Rebecca’s greatest fear eventually becomes her saving grace.

[apesmom]

Freebie!

Knight Protector by Lindsey Buroker

Spoiler:

An arranged marriage she can’t escape.
A sexy bodyguard who will protect her at all cost.
A forbidden love she can’t give in to…

As one of the sultan’s fourteen daughters, and a successful businesswoman who puts money in the family’s coffers, Princess Nalini thought she would escape an arranged marriage.

She thought wrong.

Her father insists that an alliance with the savage and ambitious Star Kingdom is the only way to avoid a war at home, and for some reason, Prince Jorg—a man she’s never met—wants to marry her.

As if that weren’t bad enough, her father believes the betrothal may make her a target and is assigning her a bodyguard, the victor of one of his odious gladiator matches. She doesn’t want some brutish stranger intruding on her privacy.

But her new protector—Tristan—is not the brute she expected. He has a quick wit, a sexy smile, and even sexier things under the smile.

Unfortunately, Nalini can't let herself fall in love with Tristan, not when she’s soon to be betrothed to another man. As her father’s daughter, it’s her duty to help her people by cementing this alliance. No matter how much she wishes otherwise...

~

As Tristan grew up on the streets, his father a convict and his mother a drug addict, all he ever wanted was to become one of the Star Kingdom's elite knights, something that very few commoners ever achieve. After Tristan labors for years as a squire, the king is ready to appoint him a knight... if he accomplishes one simple task. He must infiltrate the sultan’s palace, gain the trust of Princess Nalini, and make sure she doesn’t run away from her marriage with Prince Jorg.

There’s just one problem.

Nalini isn’t the spoiled rich brat he expected—she spends her days working as hard as he does—and he soon develops feelings for her. With her betrothal looming, and the career he’s worked his whole life for at stake, Tristan can’t let himself act on those feelings.

But can he stand back while a man who doesn’t deserve her claims her for his wife?

[library addict]

Originally Posted by apesmom

Freebie!

Knight Protector by Lindsey Buroker

Ooh. One I don't have. Thanks!

[worktolive]

Originally Posted by apesmom

A couple of new series coming to KU this month from proven authors.

Vista De Lirio Mysteries by Elizabeth Hunter
Book #1 releases on 4-19, Book #2 on 6-21 and #3 on 10-18

A Charade of Magic by Helen Harper
Book #1 - Hummingbird releases 4-29. I'm really looking forward to this one.

I just finished Double Vision, the first book in the Vista De Lario series, and really enjoyed it (got it through Netgalley). It's similar to her other PWF series, Glimmer Lake and Moonstone Cove, but just enough different that it doesn't feel like a retread. It's set in Palm Springs and I think she really nailed the vibe there (a little bit Hollywood/LA glamour, a little bit boho hippy chic).