Free and bargain romance ebooks + Discussion November 2013

[copyrite]

Am not a NA or YA fan, but saw this on FB and had to chuckle...

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

My favorite thing about NA is the coming of age aspect because this is what I most relate to, and for that Easy is my standard. It could've ended with Jacqueline and Lucas just being friends and I would've loved it the same

For me it read like an after school special so I think I gave it 2 stars. There just wasn't enough emotional depth for me to be crazy about it. It was also pretty predictable.

I did read this right after Beautiful Disaster which was amazing. I <3 Travis! Walking Disaster however just wasn't that great but there is a new novella coming out with the missing wedding and wedding night! I can't wait!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by copyrite

Am not a NA or YA fan, but saw this on FB and had to chuckle...

Need to see this with my B-Day being the 29th I am going to be 36! Worse is hubby is going to be 40 this year which means I am married to an old guy.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Yep I have to! Can't read out of order ever. It's just drive me nuts that something may be reference and I have no clue what or who it is. That happen to be with Sweet Dreams which means I have to reread it someday after I read The Gamble but none of would make sense if I didn't read the Rock Chick series first.

So do you only read their first book when you try a new author?

I know a lot of authors who reference characters from books of their own when the books are not part of series or otherwise connected. Julia Quinn for example, used Lady Whistledown in Mr. Cavendish, I Presume even though the Bridgerton and Two Dukes of Wyndom series are totally unrelated. And she's had other characters from her early books have cameo appearences in her later books. Their like Easter Eggs to long time fans but don't really affect the story. I know there are other historical authors who do this as well.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

So do you only read their first book when you try a new author?

I know a lot of authors who reference characters from books of their own when the books are not part of series or otherwise connected. Julia Quinn for example, used Lady Whistledown in Mr. Cavendish, I Presume even though the Bridgerton and Two Dukes of Wyndom series are totally unrelated. And she's had other characters from her early books have cameo appearences in her later books. Their like Easter Eggs to long time fans but don't really affect the story. I know there are other historical authors who do this as well.

Yep I do if possible otherwise I start at a new series that is just that totally new nothing connected. If a book has a cameo in it I must read the book that person is from first.

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by Blossom

For me it read like an after school special so I think I gave it 2 stars. There just wasn't enough emotional depth for me to be crazy about it. It was also pretty predictable.

I did read this right after Beautiful Disaster which was amazing. I <3 Travis! Walking Disaster however just wasn't that great but there is a new novella coming out with the missing wedding and wedding night! I can't wait!

Our tastes seem to be different for NA. I read enough positive and negative reviews of Beautiful Disaster to know it's a book I wouldn't like at all so I've never gone near it.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Our tastes seem to be different for NA. I read enough positive and negative reviews of Beautiful Disaster to know it's a book I wouldn't like at all so I've never gone near it.

Here's the thing about Travis I think when the author wrote him she didn't directly think about it but it's there. His characteristics are very shifter like. Those who are fans of werewolves or shifter books can appreciate a human character that has the same characteristics. You got Travis who has been abused almost his whole life so he acts like most men who do He's angry and he only knows how to express himself in one way till he meets Abby.

Unlike Real which was OMG over the top crazy I think there too the author thought of the incredible hulk in the back of her mind when she wrote Remy although she refers to him as a lion all the time. So once again an author temps to write a human hero with shifter characteristics.

So we got this new genre of human hero with shifter characteristics. Sometimes it works as in BD and sometimes it's just too over the top like in Real. I still can't believe that people who were against BD due to the Travis angry nature condone Remy in Real. It boggles my mind on this.

I think the standard for me for such a hero will always be Callan from Lora Leigh's Breed series and before that Marvel's own Wolverine. (not the water down jackman version)

[worktolive]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

1. Kinked by Thea Harrison (4.5 stars) - Great addition to the series; enjoyed it a LOT! I first read a library copy and bought my own copy later with the 80% code. Haven't (yet) received the print copy I was supposed to have won on Twitter

4. In the Clear by Tamara Morgan (4 stars) - Lovely novella (rec'd by Laura Florand over at DA, so I had to get it ); I want to read more by the author.

I also won a copy of Kinked but it has not shown up yet. Here's hoping. I'm two or three books behind anyway and like many of us on this thread, CANNOT read out of order, so I wouldn't get to it right away anyway.

Reading In The Clear right now. Fletcher is beyond adorable. Love me some beta heroes! I read The Derby Girl by her recently and would definitely recommend it. Just be warned that the hero is kind of an asshat initially, but he is aware of it and is really trying to change. One reason he falls for the heroine (she plays roller derby, hence the name of the book), is that she calls him on his behavior all the time. Oh I should add that I did read this one out of order because I wasn't aware that it was book 2 in a series. Didn't affect my enjoyment though. Hmm, maybe I shouldn't be quite so rigid on the reading in order rule?

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Need to see this with my B-Day being the 29th I am going to be 36! Worse is hubby is going to be 40 this year which means I am married to an old guy.

Oh Blossom, that is my baby's birthday! She is going to be eight! She is counting down the days, so excited!

[Blue2u]

Originally Posted by copyrite

Am not a NA or YA fan, but saw this on FB and had to chuckle...

The whole YA/NA thing, well, to me it's just part of contemporary romance, which is really where my heart lies and what I love to read. Not comedy, suspense, or family, just romance, young[ish] enough that I don't really want it to be about raising a family. [I'm there myself and living it, I don't want to read about it]. But really, truly, any book that's well written I enjoy, including paranormal [love Anne Rice too] /romance too. Twilight is still one of my favorite series and it's special to me because while I loved the romance in it, I also got to read that along with my daughter who's just 19 now so that was fun having something to relate to with her over the past few years.

But my point is I don't think your age should matter to what you relate to. I'm in my 40's but I still enjoy reading stories about finding yourself, [which is usually considered N/A]. I don't think that's something a person should ever stop doing, growing and learning. But that's just me. Maybe that's why books like Thoughtless resound so much with me, it was such a wonderful experience watching people mature and grow through their romance.

And for the record, the reason I don't like historical romances is because we were poor growing up and as a teenager that's all we seemed to get as 2nd hand books. Those and Harelquins! If I never read another one again in my life I'd be fine with that.

Gah, ETA also no chick-lit for me, life isn't all sunshine and bunnies and I don't want to read books that pretend it is!

[NixLapi]

Originally Posted by Blossom

So we got this new genre of human hero with shifter characteristics. Sometimes it works as in BD and sometimes it's just too over the top like in Real. I still can't believe that people who were against BD due to the Travis angry nature condone Remy in Real. It boggles my mind on this.

Huh, I never thought about it that way before, similarities to shifters... totally makes sense once you think about it!

I'm totally a REAL fangirl though, and did not like Beautiful Disaster at all... not because of the violence of the guys mind you, I just much preferred the writing and erm, other bits of REAL over the college angst of BD. I've discovered I just really don't want to read about college kids - too bad I went on a mini NA buying binge before realising this! lol

[Jane A]

Originally Posted by library addict

I am a big stickler for reading books in order. That said, the Gerard series don’t have to all be read in order to enjoy the books. The books are linked by characters only, NOT plot.

She’s gotten stronger as a writer over the years. There were a number of her Bodyguards books I didn’t like, but I am glad I stuck with her.

Here are my ratings for the various books. As you can see they run the gamut from 1 to 5 stars (Putting in a spoiler as I've listed the couples for each book which I know some people consider that spoilerish):

Spoiler:

Bodyguards
1) To the Edge - Nolan & Jillian (May 2005) <2 stars>
2) To the Limit - Eve & Tyler (Sept 2005) <3 stars>
3) To the Brink – Ethan & Darcy / slightly Dallas & Amy (Jan 2006) <5 Stars>
4) Over the Line – Jason & Janey (June 2006) <1 star>
5) Under the Wire – Manny & Lily (Dec 2006) <3 stars>
6) Into the Dark – Dallas & Amy / Gabe & Jenna (June 2007)* <4 stars>

*Black Ops Inc (series is a spin-off of Bodyguards, many characters introduced in Into the Dark)
1) Show No Mercy – Gabe & Jenna / Nate & Juliana (Oct 2008) <5 stars>
2) Take No Prisoners – Sam & Abbie (Nov 2008) <1 Star>
3) Whisper No Lies – Johnny & Crystal (Jan 2009) <2 stars>
4) Feel the Heat – Raphael & BJ / Joe & Stephanie (Sept 2009) <3 stars>
5) Risk No Secrets – Wyatt & Sophie / Nate & Juliana (May 2010) <3 stars>
6) “Leave No Trace” – David & Carrie (Sept 2010) <3 stars>
7) With No Remorse – Luke & Valentina (July 2011)° <3 stars>
8) “SEALed with a Kiss” - Luke & Valentina (Nov 2011) <2 stars>
9) Last Man Standing – Joe & Stephanie (Feb 2012)° <4 stars>
10) “Dying to Score” – Johnny & Crystal (June 2012) <2 stars>

°One-Eyed Jacks (series is a continuation of Black Ops, Inc, some characters introduced in With No Remorse/Last Man Standing)
1) Killing Time – Mike & Eva (Feb 2013) <4 stars>
2) The Way Home – Tyler & Jess / Jeff & Rabia (Feb 2013) <4 stars>

The only books which need to be read in order are: To the Brink then Into the Dark (as the events in To the Brink are referred to multiple times). I would read both of those before reading Show No Mercy as the main Black Ops Inc crew are introduced in Into the Dark.

The Way Home totally works as a stand-alone novel. Though the h/h meet in Last Man Standing both are minor characters in that book.

Both of the short stories (8 and 10) in the Black Ops Inc series are totally okay to skip. They are short stories, not even novella length.

That said, I understand if you feel the need to read all of the books in order.

Oh thank you! I'll do as you suggest. I have heard Into The Dark is good, so I think I'll pick up To The Brink next and just get started. I like reading in order, but I also hate wasting my time with books that I don't particularly enjoy. So I try to balance the two.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Jane A

Oh thank you! I'll do as you suggest. I have heard Into The Dark is good, so I think I'll pick up To The Brink next and just get started. I like reading in order, but I also hate wasting my time with books that I don't particularly enjoy. So I try to balance the two.

The h/h of To the Brink are my favorite couple in The Bodyguards series (Not really a spoiler, but just in case)

Spoiler:

It's one of my top 2 marriage-in-trouble/reunion books. I love the trope but it can be difficult to convince me why the couple broke up and then get back together and will now truly have a HEA.

And the h/h of Show No Mercy are my favorite Gerard couple.

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by Blossom

For me it read like an after school special so I think I gave it 2 stars. There just wasn't enough emotional depth for me to be crazy about it. It was also pretty predictable.

But I love after school specials. All that drama and angst.

As long as it's not Go Ask Alice, because of the controversies (and because it wasn't that good). It was supposed to be the Real Diary of an actual girl who died from drugs, but years later, it turned out... uhm, not so much.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by NixLapi

Huh, I never thought about it that way before, similarities to shifters... totally makes sense once you think about it!

I'm totally a REAL fangirl though, and did not like Beautiful Disaster at all... not because of the violence of the guys mind you, I just much preferred the writing and erm, other bits of REAL over the college angst of BD. I've discovered I just really don't want to read about college kids - too bad I went on a mini NA buying binge before realising this! lol

Ah yes college kids. I found that fun but I totally understand why you might want not want to read about it.

My problem with Real is the hero is a total psychopath. He should be locked up. Nothing sexy about it. The heroine is just as as crazy and shows it in the story. The author totally portrays biploar disease wrong so I got very offended too. She should have made something up instead she makes bipolar people look crazy when they are not. I have many friends and some relatives who are bipolar. Remy made Christian Grey look good to me!