Free and bargain romance ebooks + Discussion November 2013

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by library addict

I gave up on the series when the author said Stephanie was never going to pick one. I was Team Morelli, but it got to the point I would rather they both dump her and run off together.

I've read (and sometimes re-read) all of them. My sentiments, exactly.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I gave up on the series when the author said Stephanie was never going to pick one. I was Team Morelli, but it got to the point I would rather they both dump her and run off together.

It's like watching your favorite sitcom. There always hints of a love interests but they never get together till like the series end. Remember Gilmore girls. Luke and Lorelei did they ever wind up together? So you have to look at it like that. My opinion is Joe is cheating on her with that mob princess. I don't think there is any love there specially after reading 19. Ranger is sooo over the heels in love with her it's sad. My big question is WHY? Why would someone so amazing fall for someone like Steph. It boggles my mind.

[Blossom]

Free @ Amazon

Love To Love You Baby by Kasey Michaels
(The Brothers Trehan 01)
Zebra 2001

Oh, Baby!

There are probably worse things in life than being single, filthy rich, and retired before your thirtieth birthday, but darned if Jack Trehan can think of any. With his major league career prematurely curtailed, his agent trying to convince him to do voice-overs for Japanese commercials, and nary a stick of furniture in his mansion, Jack figures he's hit rock bottom. Then he finds the wicker basket on his porch--with a real live baby inside...

If Keely McBride had her way, she would be decorating lavish Manhattan penthouses. Instead, the die-hard Mets fan is stuck pinch-hitting at a suburban Pennsylvania interior design firm, with a disgruntled former Yankees pitcher-turned-doorstep-daddy as her first client. In no time, Keely's been swept into a loony household complete with an abandoned infant, a dotty old aunt, and a couple of bumbling would-be mobsters ... not to mention being swept off her feet by charming Jack, who quickly recruits her as a nanny. Somehow, when it comes to the tantalizing Mr. Trehan, Keely just can't say no. But when he pitches her a curveball straight from the heart, it's a whole new ballgame...

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's like watching your favorite sitcom. There always hints of a love interests but they never get together till like the series end. Remember Gilmore girls. Luke and Lorelei did they ever wind up together? So you have to look at it like that. My opinion is Joe is cheating on her with that mob princess. I don't think there is any love there specially after reading 19. Ranger is sooo over the heels in love with her it's sad. My big question is WHY? Why would someone so amazing fall for someone like Steph. It boggles my mind.

But the author makes both Joe and Ranger do stupid things to keep the so-called triangle going. And Stephanie is my major problem the way she never learns or makes progress. I'm at a loss as to why either guy is attracted to her anymore.

There are too many books out there with characters who grow and learn for me to keep rereading the same story with each "new" book, so I'm better off with my fond memories of the first half/third of the series and to stay away from the new books.

As for TV, the will-they/won't-they in perpetuity is one of my biggest pet peeves. No one is allowed to be happily married/commited on TV anymore unless they are clueless sitcom parents. I miss shows like Hart to Hart and McMillan & Wife. At least Wings had a few seasons of Joe & Helen firmly together then married. And I loved the last season of Lois & Clark. So, it does work. /rant

[laurla]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Oh have you read them? Which one is your favorite? Team Ranger or Team Morelli or Team Just pick one!

I used to be all Team Joe because I felt that was where the author was subtly going, but who really knows now, so I'm probably more Team Pick Somebody. Or maybe Joe because I want Ranger for myself

I've read through 16, I think. I say that because these are like cotton candy to me... I blow through the book so fast I barely taste it, much less remember the details (that don't revolve around the hotties), so they've all sort of blurred together in my mind.

And even though the characters don't change, knowing it and accepting it allows me to just enjoy the hilarity that is Steph. I don't expect much so I'm not disappointed, but I am entertained - for a couple hours at least!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by laurla

I used to be all Team Joe because I felt that was where the author was subtly going, but who really knows now, so I'm probably more Team Pick Somebody. Or maybe Joe because I want Ranger for myself

I've read through 16, I think. I say that because these are like cotton candy to me... I blow through the book so fast I barely taste it, much less remember the details (that don't revolve around the hotties), so they've all sort of blurred together in my mind.

And even though the characters don't change, knowing it and accepting it allows me to just enjoy the hilarity that is Steph. I don't expect much so I'm not disappointed, but I am entertained - for a couple hours at least!

Have you read in between novels? They are are just a good and I think JE had alot of fun with them. Ranger is in a couple of them and Plum Spooky is probably a very important Ranger book people miss.

I don't like Joe since book 5 but especially after 19 I wanted to slap him silly. When I was reading Smoking Seventeen the house across the street started smoking!! It was on fire! It scared me to read Explosive Eighteen the next night but all was good. Eighteen turned out to be one of my favorites. Nineteen had it's moments. If she did chose Joe I would be okay with it and they probably deserve each other.

And now to quote my most favorite part from the series:

“He’s sort of a homeless horse,” I said.
“I’m leaving for the airport in two seconds, and I won’t be back for a couple days. You can put the horse in the garage, but I don’t want that horse in my apartment.”
“Who would put a horse in an apartment? That’s dumb.”
“Where’s the horse staying now?”
“My apartment.”
“I can always count on you to brighten my day,” Ranger said. And he disconnected.”
― Janet Evanovich, Plum Lucky

No other series is that crazy!!!!

[Blue2u]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Rock chick
Dream Man
Chaos
Colorado
Burg
Unfinished

Is the order they say however I read by published date One must get to know the Fortnum Gang who make Cameo appearances in all her other books. It's a mess truly. There is no perfect order. Rock Chick 8 starts at the town where Sweet Dreams takes place. Luckily I read Sweet dreams first so I know who these people are. If you can find the published ordered I say read it that way otherwise you may get stuck I hear her published books aren't as good as her indies.

*sighs* So I really need to read all the Rock Chick series first, before Dream Man, and then Chaos. I need more time to read! LOL


BTW, that nice 80Nvbr stopped working for me. But you know I'll keep trying!

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Have you read in between novels? They are are just a good and I think JE had alot of fun with them. Ranger is in a couple of them and Plum Spooky is probably a very important Ranger book people miss.

Thanks for this! I missed all the in between novels, so I just bought Plum Lucky. Exactly what I need right now.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

*sighs* So I really need to read all the Rock Chick series first, before Dream Man, and then Chaos. I need more time to read! LOL


BTW, that nice 80Nvbr stopped working for me. But you know I'll keep trying!

You don't have to but if you are like me and don't like things going over your head then yes but many don't they switch around but I can't do that and it drives me nuts when I accidentally do that. I hate to reread books. It just not me only books I reread are Stephanie Plum books. Anything else just seems to be too much of a chore for me.

[gabby98]

FREE @ Amazon

PERFECT (A Christmas Romance) by Autumn Jordon

Publication Date: November 19, 2013
A heart-warming romantic comedy set in the fictional small town of Black Moose, Vermont where everyone knows your name. And, if they don't, they soon will. Come, meet the town folk of Black Moose, take a ride out to Mini-Moose Point, and feel the love in the air.

Fans' favorite lines:

From Darcy: "No. I'm from the South, remember? We get snow when we've done something to
upset God, which we don't do very often."

Advice to Dylan: "Everyone has time for love, sweetheart. They might not think so, but when love
finds them, everything else becomes secondary.

From the Back Cover

Dylan Kincaid totally screwed up Thanksgiving and now he's faced with Christmas. Thrown into the frightening role of both mother and father while his brother and sister-in-law are off serving their country, all Dylan wants is to make Christmas perfect for his two nieces. But time is running out.

Down on her luck Charleston, S.C. restaurateur, Darcy Witherspoon is licking a wounded ego when she arrives in Black Moose, VT and meets the handsome Maple tree farmer. Wanting a happy holiday herself, she teams up with Dylan to make a perfect Christmas.

Neither is interested in a holiday affair, but the magic of Christmas has something more everlasting in store for the couple. An absolutely perfect love!

[Blue2u]

So, with the holidays fast approaching, and hopefully some [more] good sales/codes on the way, I was thinking it would be nice to see what everyone's favorite books were this past year. [you know, because we all need to add more to our wish/watch lists ] So thought I'd start, tried to keep it to 10 but just couldn't. These were all 5 star for me, which means I'll read them again.

Origin [Book 4 of Lux series] – Jennifer L. Armentrout
True Love Story – Willow Aster
Tangled – Emma Chase
Wallbanger – Alice Clayton
How to Kill a Rockstar – Tiffanie Debartolo
Tall, Tatted & Tempting. Smart, Sexy & Secretive [books 1 & 2 Reed Brothers series – Tammy Falkner
The Opportunist, Dirty Red, Thief [all 3 books of Love Me With Lies series – Tarryn Fisher
Hopeless – Colleen Hoover
Breathe Me In, Light Me Up [books 2.25 & 2.5 of Ross Brothers series] – Cherrie Lynn
Wait For You – J. Lynn
One Week Girlfriend, Second Chance Boyfriend [books 1 & 2 of Drew & Fable series]– Monica Murphy
The Edge of Always [book 2 The Edge of Never series] – J.A. Redmerski
Addicted to You, Ricochet [books 1 &2 of Addicted series] – Krista & Becca Ritchie
Surviving Raine – Shay Savage
Thoughtless, Effortless & Reckless [books 1-3 Thoughtless series] – S.C. Stephens
Tasting Never, Finding Never, Keeping Never, Never Can Tell [Never say Never series] – C.M. Stunich
Wethering the Storm [book 2 The Storm series] – Samantha Towle

[NixLapi]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

*sighs* So I really need to read all the Rock Chick series first, before Dream Man, and then Chaos. I need more time to read! LOL


BTW, that nice 80Nvbr stopped working for me. But you know I'll keep trying!

I feel the same way! I started with the first in the Colorado series and then read on her website that her characters can pop-up anywhere. Gah! I'd already started collecting the Rock Chick series at least... now I just have to work them into the TBR!

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

So, with the holidays fast approaching, and hopefully some [more] good sales/codes on the way, I was thinking it would be nice to see what everyone's favorite books were this past year<snip>

5 star reads:
Miss Independent by Elisa Adams (Storm Family #3)
A Wedding in Apple Grove by CH Admirand (Small Town USA #1)
Something About You by Julie James (FBI/US Attorney #1)
Love Irresistibly by Julie James (FBI/US Attorney #4) *
Dream Eyes by Jayne Ann Krentz (Arcane Society #16/Dark Legacy) *
Knowing the Score by Kat Latham (London Legends #1) *
Declan’s Cross by Carla Neggers (Sharpe & Donovan #3) *
Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #1)
Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #2)
Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #3)
Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #3)
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #1)
“Beat of Temptation” by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #3.5)
Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #8)
“Texture of Intimacy” by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #11.7) *
Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #12) *
All He Ever Dreamed by Shannon Stacey (Kowalski Family #6) *

4 star reads:
Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey *
Her Cinderella Complex by Jenna Bayley-Burke
“New Year’s Kisses” by Rhiann Cahill (Holidays in Sydney #2)
”Valentine’s Dates” by Rhiann Cahill (Holidays in Sydney #3) *
Deception Cove by Jayne Castle (Arcane Society #17/World of Harmony) *
The Striker’s Chance by Rebecca Crowley *
Cavanaugh on Duty by Marie Ferrarella (Cavanaugh Justice #24) *
The London Deception by Addison Fox (House of Steele #2) *
Killing Time by Cindy Gerard (One-Eyed Jacks #1) *
The Way Home by Cindy Gerard (One-Eyed Jacks #2) *
A Lot Like Love by Julie James (FBI/US Attorney #2)
Tactical Advantage by Julie Miller (The Precinct #20) *
Secret Agent Heiress by Julie Miller
The Winning Season by Alison Packard (Maxwell Sisters #2) *
The Mystery Woman by Amanda Quick (Ladies of Lantern Street #2) *
Calculated in Death by JD Robb (In Death #45) *
Thankless in Death by JD Robb (In Death #46) *
“Taken in Death” by JD Robb (In Death #47) *
Dark Witch by Nora Roberts (The Cousins O’Dwyer #1) *
Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis (Pacific Heat #2)
Roughing It with Ryan by Jill Shalvis (South Village Singles #1)
Messing with Mac by Jill Shalvis (South Village Singles #3)
“Stroke of Enticement” by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #5.5)
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #7)
“Whisper of Sin” by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #8.5)
Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #10)
Against the Wall by Rebecca Zanetti (Maverick Montana #1) *
Under the Covers by Rebecca Zanetti (Maverick Montana #2) *
Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti (Sin Brothers #1) *

* indicates 2013 release

~~~

A total of 17 five-star and 29 four-star ratings for me so far this year. Which may seem like a lot, but I’ve read 234 books so far. So that’s just under 20% of the books I’ve read. Which is actually a very good year for likeable books

I fully expect to have more before the end of the year.

[Atunah]

*groans*

These best off 2013 lists are going to implode my tbr lists

[apesmom]

Keep in mind I'm very stingy with any rating over 4.0, here are my highest rated books for 2013

5 stars

• The Last Hour of Gann - R. Lee Smith
• Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen

4.5 stars

• Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changelings 10) - Nalini Singh
• Fair Game (Alpha & Omega 3) - Patricia Briggs
• Lover at Last (BDB 11) - J.R. Ward
• Lucas (Vampires in America 6) - D.B. Reynolds
• The Story Guy - Mary Ann Rivers
• One More Summer - Liz Flaherty

Many scored 4.0 but aren't quite "can't put it down / stays with me" material.