Free and bargain romance ebooks + Discussion December 2013

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I have this book! I really like most of her stuff but I have not read this one. I am looking at Stephanie Rowe you mention. She looks like my kind of Paranormal. Which book should I start with?

Kiss at Your Own Risk was the first book by her I ever read, and that's the one that hooked me. I find the entire series hilarious. Fair warning that any dedicated feminist who doesn't have a sense of humor probably won't make it past the first couple of pages.

Right after making that post I started re-reading Darkness Awakened. Its' book one in a series, I have not read the others yet.

No Knight Needed is regular contemporary, no paranormal, but still very enjoyable. I normally despise the teen characters in books, but the ones in this one were all good, and the plot would have been worse without them.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

I thought it was just me, though the term I prefer to use is "more stupid".

Heh.

I like m/m romances--when they are good, they are very, very good and when they are bad they are horrid! And there is too much horrid. Apparently it's gotten so popular the publishers are skimping on editing and quality in the effort to push out...product, I guess. I don't mind sex scenes but I want there to be a good *story* even more!

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Heh.

I like m/m romances--when they are good, they are very, very good and when they are bad they are horrid! And there is too much horrid. Apparently it's gotten so popular the publishers are skimping on editing and quality in the effort to push out...product, I guess. I don't mind sex scenes but I want there to be a good *story* even more!

Just in the event you haven't come across this author yet:

Infected: Prey, by Andrea Speed.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Kiss at Your Own Risk was the first book by her I ever read, and that's the one that hooked me. I find the entire series hilarious. Fair warning that any dedicated feminist who doesn't have a sense of humor probably won't make it past the first couple of pages.

Oh I own Kiss At Your Own Risk! When I looked at the publisher I realize that. I use to buy all their books now I am more picky. Adding it to my TBR!

[Joykins]

sorry double post

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Oh I own Kiss At Your Own Risk! When I looked at the publisher I realize that. I use to buy all their books now I am more picky. Adding it to my TBR!

It's been a freebie at both amazon and ARe a couple of times.

[Joykins]

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 everyone here to read in 2014 what book would that be? Just one now.

It was hard to pick just one, but Carla Kelly's _The Double Cross_ was probably my favorite romance of 2013, so I'll recommend that one.

[Joykins]

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.

I have a feeling I'd like to see yours though.

ETA: I have read another book by Andrea Speed (The Little Death), which was good enough to give Infected: Prey a try even though I'm not altogether crazy about paranormals.

[pisceschick]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I'll have to admit I am a bit surprised so far. I thought people would be reaching into their keeper shelves looking for that one romance that is so worn it's falling apart because they read it so much.

I went through the little notebook that I keep the list of what I read, and was kind of disappointed! I make a notation if I feel particularly connected to the story or characters (a heart for the romance or the characters, a star for the general story).... And I didn't make a single heart or star this year! I made several last year so I guess I was tougher this year. I'll dig out last year's notebook tomorrow.

I'm not much for re-reading, though. I did when I was younger and really connected with a book, but now I prefer to move on to something new.

I also have anxiety disorders, and thinking about someone spending money on something I've recommended and feeling like their funds were wasted gives me anxiety! That's why I rarely, if ever, do it.

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Aha! There is my recommendation for 2014: Medieval romance, inspired by the Hitchcock movie Rear Window.

Silken Threads, by Patricia Ryan.

-----------

Her other medieval romances aren't bad either.

Thank you!! I have a few of her other stories but not this one. Wishlisted it until my next Swagbucks Amazon gift card comes in. I spent my reserve on some sewing things again.

[Joykins]

Ahhh, I think I misunderstood--I thought we had to recommend a book we read recently.

If it's something everyone simply must read... that is Eva Ibbotson's _The Morning Gift_. I think the ending is weak, but the rest of the story...so good.

[pisceschick]

Originally Posted by Joykins

I like m/m romances--when they are good, they are very, very good and when they are bad they are horrid! And there is too much horrid. Apparently it's gotten so popular the publishers are skimping on editing and quality in the effort to push out...product, I guess. I don't mind sex scenes but I want there to be a good *story* even more!

I read "A Private Gentleman" by Heidi Cullinan and "The Gentleman and the Rogue" by Bonnie Dee/Summer Devon, and thought they were very good. Coupons and sales gave them a great price.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by pisceschick

I went through the little notebook that I keep the list of what I read, and was kind of disappointed! I make a notation if I feel particularly connected to the story or characters (a heart for the romance or the characters, a star for the general story).... And I didn't make a single heart or star this year! I made several last year so I guess I was tougher this year. I'll dig out last year's notebook tomorrow.

I'm not much for re-reading, though. I did when I was younger and really connected with a book, but now I prefer to move on to something new.

I also have anxiety disorders, and thinking about someone spending money on something I've recommended and feeling like their funds were wasted gives me anxiety! That's why I rarely, if ever, do it.

It doesn't have to be one your read in 2013 it could be your favorite romance of all time. I wouldn't worry about people wasting money on one of your recommendations. It's a risk we all take when we buy a book.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Joykins

I have a feeling I'd like to see yours though.

That would require me to keep an actual list... which would take time away from reading, which is unacceptable. We are on the same page regarding m/m romances though, I think, so here's a couple of author names from my Samhain bookshelf:

Kaje Harper (you've posted about her though, so you probably have her on your own list already)
A.M. Arthur
Alex Beecroft
Daisy Harris
Josephine Myles
Harper Fox (very similar to Kaje Harper's writing style, but darker and with more "broken" characters)
L.A. Witt

Originally Posted by Joykins

ETA: I have read another book by Andrea Speed (The Little Death), which was good enough to give Infected: Prey a try even though I'm not altogether crazy about paranormals.

It's not a standard paranormal, which was a very pleasant surprise for me.

[Jane A]

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 couldn't even begin to list one book that's my favorite of all time! I started looking at my keeper shelf and I love so many books. One of my top reads of 2013, though, is Ilona Andrews latest Kate Daniels book Magic Rises.

[KyBunnies]

I have 2 copies of Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

I do not like the series. I will be happy to mail these to any who want it. Sadly they are not signed. But they have never been read. I promise the bunnies have not gotten to the cover/spine/pages. They just have dust from sitting on my bookshelf.

I also have an extra copy of A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

Somehow I ended up with 2 of these from RWA. Not signed. I promise the bunnies have not gotten to the cover/spine/pages. Just dust from sitting on my bookshelf.

I will mail to any interested. Prefer to mail within the USA. Sorry shipping is a killer.