Free and bargain romance ebooks + Discussion December 2013

[Britomart]

Free from Amazon:

Once and Forever US DE by Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Emelle Gamble, Lavinia Kent and Evie Owens. This appears self-published, but I have read very good historical romances by Blayney and Kent.

From five compelling authors, five original novellas which will make you laugh and cry, and believe in a love that once found will last forever. Meet a duke, a psychic, a bodyguard and a professor...and one "guardian fairy" in absorbing stories ranging from regency and contemporary romance to paranormal and women's fiction.



Playing for Keeps by Mary Blayney

Actress Kendall Marshall is determined to get an autograph for her sick sister from famous TV personality Mike O'Hara, the Oprah Winfrey of sports. In the process she meets his brother, security consultant Steve Marshall, lands a job on O'Hara's show and gets in the way of a man set on causing big trouble. As the stalkers attacks escalate, Steve and Kendall are thrown together and find it impossible to ignore the chemistry between them.

The Princess & the Pinot by Elaine Fox

When a beautiful woman shows up at the Vineyard Inn, wine manager Kim is certain she's been sent by fate for the inn's owner, Cooper. Self-effacing to a fault, Kim knows she can't hold a candle to Principessa Bella, who also seems to know even more about wine than Kim herself, but her heart has belonged to Cooper since they shared one kiss as teenagers.

Kim is afraid Prin will sweep just as surely into Cooper's arms if she doesn't do something about it. Can she tell Cooper how she feels without losing even his friendship? Kim is willing to try except for one problem: she's almost certainly losing her mind. Or is that belching, swearing, smoking, farting fairy - who claims to be trying to help her - real?

Duets by Emelle Gamble

Duets offers alternating looks into the lives of two women who would seem to have little or nothing in common.

Screen star Molly Harper is on the verge of marrying a man who has swept her off her feet, though perhaps hasn't swept all her feelings for her first love away. Anne Sullivan, happily married for twenty-five years, is fighting to hold onto the man she loves, and hold off a confrontation that could shatter her family's image of what they are.

Duets confronts a past secret that ties these two women's lives together, just as chance events turn Molly and Anne's worlds upside down.

Never and Forever by Lavinia Kent

Molly, Miss Wilkes, runs an employment agency helping women of quality find positions perfected suited to their characters. Although her father held the title of Earl for just over a week before his death, Molly has never wanted to be a lady. She knows her place in this world - and it is not at the center of society.

The Duke of Radford cannot imagine a world without all the privilege and power that comes from being Radford. Why would he ever have interest in a simple woman who doesn't even understand that she should want to be a duchess?

Can these two overcome the obstacles of their own beliefs and realize that love can make all things possible?

The Psychic Detective by Evie Owens

Psychic Martin Sterling doesn't trust cops--and the feeling is mutual. Detective Erin Healy needs more than a ghost story to save her job and reputation. Her partner is dead, a million dollars in drugs and money is missing, and all the evidence points to her.

Can a sexy psychic and a by the book cop, trapped between the living and the dead, unearth the truth? Or will a cold-blooded killer get away with it all...

[Jane A]

Originally Posted by Blossom

So do you set reading goals for each year? What will be the first book you plan to read in 2014 and why?

I don't set goals, really. I just read what appeals to me. I'd like to stop looking for books to read that aren't from my TBR pile. Sometimes I don't know what I want to read next, so I go shopping instead of looking at what I already own. That is ridiculous, because my TBR is huge. So maybe picking more from that list is a goal of 2014.

Another thing that should be a goal, if I can manage, is to spend less time online searching for books, deals, good reads, etc. And probably less time reading and listening to audiobooks. I have started neglecting some goals and other things that I really want to accomplish. I am not going to make this a resolution, because making them often sets me up for failure, but it is in the back of my mind. Yes, I am a book addict.

[Jane A]

Originally Posted by worktolive

Sounds like you mainly eat somewhat vegetarian, so start sautéing your veges in a couple of Tbsp. of butter to cook them. Then throw in a large handful of your favorite nuts (almonds and pine nuts are particularly good for cooking, especially if you toast them first). Nuts are very healthy, so your Dr. should approve of those.

Nuts also go really well in couscous, rice pilaf, and other starchy foods and will help up the calorie count. Can you eat beans or chick peas/hummus? They are both are starch and a protein, and are higher in calories then other vegetables. You can toss beans (and nuts) on salads along with goat, feta or blue cheese. If you like peanuts, have a peanut butter sandwich, or peanut butter with apples or bananas as one of your snacks. If you don't like peanut butter, you can get almond or cashew butter. It's great on any kind of bread.

Good luck, and definitely give weight lifting a try. You don't have to lift heavy weights to get the benefit and it is no-impact so it should be okay for you. If you have a gym nearby, it's worth it to pay for one or two sessions with a personal trainer just to learn about the equipment, but you can work out pretty effectively at home with ankle weights, and a set of 3, 5, and maybe 8 lb hand weights.

Other great sources of healthy fats are avocados and coconut oil. Coconut oil is wonderful for high heat cooking, it is one of the only oils that is resistant to oxidation with heat. Just FYI

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I guess that would work. I look at romances written in the 90s or late 90s and those written today and it's like words have been simplified compare to the more complex writing of just 10 years ago. It has nothing to do with word count and all to do with writing style. We need a Save The English Language campaign.

I don't think writing necessarily has to be complex in order to be compelling and immersive. It does however need to have a soul, a personality, that special something that makes it come alive and the characters step out form the page and into the reader's imagination.

I love Stephanie Rowe's books, which I now and then see derided as cliched and formulaic, because she has a unique writing style that is instantly recognizable as hers and hers alone. (I also have an embarrassing weakness for alpha hunks, and she writes a lot about them.) Reading what she writes is fun. Not the most complex writing or sophisticated plots or characters by any stretch, but some of the most enjoyable, and to me that's more important.

Far too many books I've read lately, particularly free self-pub ones(hmmmm, can there be a reason no one else wanted to publish them? ) feel like they're lacking in some way. Whether it's professional editing that's needed, demands from someone pushing the author to "Do better than this!", if it's just a lack of talent, or whatever it is, I don't know. But they are dull, and the writing is simplistic and boring, and more often than not, I find myself deleting the book from my Kindle or Calibre library after reading only one or two chapters. Boring me is unforgivable. I would rather read flat out bad writing than boring writing.

Now that I think about it, I think you and I have the exact same complaint, and are in agreement. We just said it differently.

[library addict]

Shannon Stacey's All He Ever Desired is on sale for $1.99 at Amazon

A second shot at first love

After college, Ryan Kowalski decided to leave Whitford, Maine, rather than watch Lauren Carpenter marry another man. Now his siblings need his help to refurbish the family-owned Northern Star Lodge and he's forced to face the past sooner rather than later when he collars a vandal—and learns the boy is Lauren's son…

The last person Lauren needs back in her life is Ryan Kowalski. With a bitter ex-husband and a moody teenage son, she has enough man trouble already. But her son needs to learn a few lessons about right and wrong, even if Lauren has to escort him to Ryan's door every day to work off his crime.

With all this close contact, Ryan and Lauren can't deny the chemistry between them is as powerful as ever. But can a few searing kisses erase their past and pave the way for a second chance at true love?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Now that I think about it, I think you and I have the exact same complaint, and are in agreement. We just said it differently.

I think so too. I also think I am going to become more strict on what I read and not go with current trend. You can no longer trust 5 stars on Goodreads or over 1000 reviews on Amazon to find good quality stories anymore. I think word of mouth is probably the way to go.



Okay everyone as we say goodbye to 2013 and get together books we want to read in 2014. If there was one romance you could tell everyone here to read in 2014 what book would that be? Just one now.

[Blue2u]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I think so too. I also think I am going to become more strict on what I read and not go with current trend. You can no longer trust 5 stars on Goodreads or over 1000 reviews on Amazon to find good quality stories anymore. I think word of mouth is probably the way to go.



Okay everyone as we say goodbye to 2013 and get together books we want to read in 2014. If there was one romance you could tell me I need to read in 2014 what book would that be? Just one now.

Well, since you've already read 'Thoughtless' series by S.C. Stephens , [you recommended it to me!], then I'd say the Addicted series by Krista & Becca Ritchie. It was such an original storyline, I fell in love with the characters, and the writing is mature and heartfelt.

[Blossom]

I think I am going to have to go with A Kiss At Midnight by Lara Adrian. Although I felt the series didn't really kick off till book 4 it's still one of my favorites. The writing is strong, The plot is strong and the world building is awesome from the beginning. I remember reading this and thinking what the world am I getting into as it seem gritty and darker than the other paranormals I read but it's awesome and not really THAT dark.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Okay everyone as we say goodbye to 2013 and get together books we want to read in 2014. If there was one romance you could tell me I need to read in 2014 what book would that be? Just one now.

I'm going to pass on this, since I've gathered from your posts in these Romance threads that you and I have very different tastes in books. I doubt you'd enjoy my suggestion very much.

[Blossom]

Free:

The Bad Luck Wedding Dress by Emily March (Geralyn Dawson)
Historical Romance
Bantam 1996

Last Chance To Run (Slye Temp) by Dianna Love
Romantic Suspense

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

I'm going to pass on this, since I've gathered from your posts in these Romance threads that you and I have very different tastes in books. I doubt you'd enjoy my suggestion very much.

Okay how about this. If you could tell everyone here the one romance they need to read in 2014 what book would that be? I edited my post. I think I worded it wrong I wasn't nearly asking for suggestions I wanted to get a discussion going on that one romance book you tell everyone they must read to give people some suggestions for the new year.

[treadlightly]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Okay how about this. If you could tell everyone here the one romance they need to read in 2014 what book would that be? I edited my post. I think I worded it wrong I wasn't nearly asking for suggestions I wanted to get a discussion going on that one romance book you tell everyone they must read to give people some suggestions for the new year.

I LOVE this idea! I'm just starting to read in this genre and really appreciate the recs. I'd have to say the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but all I've really read so far is Paranormal.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Okay how about this. If you could tell everyone here the one romance they need to read in 2014 what book would that be? I edited my post. I think I worded it wrong I wasn't nearly asking for suggestions I wanted to get a discussion going on that one romance book you tell everyone they must read to give people some suggestions for the new year.

Ah, my mistake.

I'll post my suggestion tonight, when I'm home with all my books and have had a chance to look them over.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

I LOVE this idea! I'm just starting to read in this genre and really appreciate the recs. I'd have to say the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but all I've really read so far is Paranormal.

My two favorite paranormal series is Midnight Breed series and Nightwalker series.

Midnight Breed series is by Lara Adrian. It's similar to the BDB but It's not cheesy and the heroines have a more active role in the series plot.

Nightwalker series is by Jacquelyn Frank and it's just amazing. I read the entire series in one week. Something I seldom do. She's such a talented writer.

[KyBunnies]

One book I enjoyed by a new author is His Wicked Ways by Darcy Burke

She is either self publish or small press. This one is the first in the series but I felt it was different from the current trend in historical romance.

The H/h are bold but I enjoyed it.