Free/Bargain Romances in May 2013

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I can only think of three authors who currently write historical westerns. Lori Austin (Lori Handeland) Jo Goodman and Georgina Gentry, some of her westerns were my very first! I know Jodi thomas still puts one out every now and then. In category romance there is a couple more. Harlequin has never stopped letting westerns be published but they are like one a month. I would love to see the comeback of historical western romance.

Carla Kelly is doing them now. I really liked _Her Hesitant Heart_.

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Oh I love dated romances. I was just telling Linda Howard on Facebook that she shouldn't revised her books. She mentioned a scene were the heroine is searching for a phone to make a call for help. Which today no one does because everyone owns cell phones. I don't get why authors are feeling pressure to add technology to books that were written at a time when there wasn't any. Just put the date at the top of the first chapter so the readers knows that not everyone had a cell phone in the 90s. Another problem was how the heroine would have not known the hero was now famous because of Google. The internet wasn't as popular back then either. This is why I still buy paperbacks, I want the originals.

I prefer to read contemporary romances set in the late 80s through the 90s when technology wasn't so intrusive and it didn't solve everything.

I have her book Midnight Jewels I just noticed. Any more recommendations on her Contemporary titles? I'll add them to my TBR list. I have the lost Colony series first two books.

Oh no, I hope Linda Howard doesn't interfere with her old books; I love them as is. She should concentrate on improving her new books (they ain't all that ) and leave the good stuff alone

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I don't get why authors are feeling pressure to add technology to books that were written at a time when there wasn't any. Just put the date at the top of the first chapter so the readers knows that not everyone had a cell phone in the 90s. Another problem was how the heroine would have not known the hero was now famous because of Google. The internet wasn't as popular back then either. This is why I still buy paperbacks, I want the originals.

Agree 100%. Plus if the characters had access to a cell phone or Google in those days it would change major plot points. I remember being upset that Jennifer Greene "updated/revised" her old Jove Second Chance at Love titles when she published them digitally with Carina. They are all in my TBR pile to be reread (I read them originally in print in the late 80s), but wish they had been left as is.

Harlequin did this for a while when they republished print titles (changing albumn to CD and then to MP3 for example). If you change that one element is has a domino effect IMO.

I want the original book, just in digital.

Originally Posted by Blossom

I have her book Midnight Jewels I just noticed. Any more recommendations on her Contemporary titles? I'll add them to my TBR list. I have the lost Colony series first two books.

My favorites by her are

• Absolutely, Positively (contemporary as JAK)
• Trust Me (contemporary as JAK)
• Wildest Hearts (contemporary as JAK)
• Grand Passion (contemporary as JAK)
• Perfect Partners (contemporary as JAK)
• Family Man (contemporary as JAK)
• Lost & Found (contemporary as JAK)
• Flash (contemporary as JAK)
• Hidden Talents (contemporary as JAK)
• Falling Awake (contemporary paranormal-lite as JAK)
• Fabulous Beast (Silhouette Desire as Stephanie James)
• Cautious Lover (Silhouette Desire as Stephanie James)
• Second Wife (Silhouette Desire as Stephanie James)
• The Devil to Pay (Silhouette Desire as Stephanie James)
• Green Fire (Silhouette Desire as Stephanie James)
• Guinevere Jones mysteries: The Desperate Game/The Chilling Deception/The Sinister Touch/The Fatal Fortune (contemporary as Jayne Castle)
• Deception (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Scandal (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Ravished (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Deception (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Mischief (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Mystique (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Dangerous (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Reckless (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Surrender (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Seduction (historical as Amanda Quick)
• Psynergey trilogy: Amaryllis/Zinnia/Orchid (futuristic as Jayne Castle)

I'll stop now. If you like futuristics you may also like her World of Harmony/Ghost Hunters series which was then brought into the long-running Arcane series.

She has a lot of humor in her books. And though some of her books are technically murder mysteries, they are more Murder, She Wrote/British drawing room detective type stories in that the murders happen off page, no really gory scenes, etc (if that makes any sense). But as I said she's written in a wide variety of subgenres over her long career.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Oh no, I hope Linda Howard doesn't interfere with her old books; I love them as is. She should concentrate on improving her new books (they ain't all that ) and leave the good stuff alone

Sad to say she is revising them.

[TallMomof2]

I'm in for the Grace Burrowes book, she's an autobuy for me. I started the Psy-Changeling series, too. I'm so tired of poorly written and edited books that I'm going back to the major publishers for awhile. I was trying to read the Kandesky Vampire bundle and it's the first DNF I've had in a long time. The first book was meh, unevenly paced and needing a good editor. I started the second book and the lack of continuity from the first made me stop reading. At least Nalini Singh is a good writer and her books are well edited.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Agree 100%. Plus if the characters had access to a cell phone or Google in those days it would change major plot points. I remember being upset that Jennifer Greene "updated/revised" her old Jove Second Chance at Love titles when she published them digitally with Carina. They are all in my TBR pile to be reread (I read them originally in print in the late 80s), but wish they had been left as is.

Harlequin did this for a while when they republished print titles (changing albumn to CD and then to MP3 for example). If you change that one element is has a domino effect IMO.

I want the original book, just in digital.

My favorites by her are

She has a lot of humor in her books. And though some of her books are technically murder mysteries, they are more Murder, She Wrote/British drawing room detective type stories in that the murders happen off page, no really gory scenes, etc (if that makes any sense). But as I said she's written in a wide variety of subgenres over her long career.

I totally agree about the domino effect! Thanks for the list I will go look at the blurbs and see if any look good to me.

Last year I read Nora Robert's first two book set in the Night series and even though it took place in the 80s I still enjoyed all the wacky fashions and no technology. I also love Sandra Brown's old books. I think these authors are trying to appeal to a newer generation and in doing so they could possibly ruin a good book.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Sad to say she is revising them.

Total bummer. I really want the Kell Sabin books she did for Silhouette Intimate Moments, but not if they've been updated.

She used to be an auto-buy author for me but I gave her up after years of subpar books. Still love many of her old-school romances though.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Total bummer. I really want the Kell Sabin books she did for Silhouette Intimate Moments, but not if they've been updated.

She used to be an auto-buy author for me but I gave her up after years of subpar books. Still love many of her old-school romances though.

I have those in paperback. I have not read them but they are my TBR list for this year that is ever rapidly changing.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I have those in paperback. I have not read them but they are my TBR list for this year that is rapidly changing.

I read them when they were originally released. Yes, I am old

Very old-school alpha heroes, but some of my favorites by her.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I read them when they were originally released. Yes, I am old

Very old-school alpha heroes, but some of my favorites by her.

I love old school alphas! They are a different breed from today's version.

[auntykatkat]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I love old school alphas! They are a different breed from today's version.

And don't forget your cowboys as well. All are not quite Alpha's but have that charm and pragmatic attitude. You have been making me try and figure out another author that wrote westerns all day. Jude Deveraux's had some in her Montgomery/Taggert series, Johanna Lindsey, and I want to say the author I can't name was named Gwendlyne something. I am pictureing a cover with a cowboy boot on it. Man, I have to go back under the bed again.

[Ararose]

Originally Posted by auntykatkat

And don't forget your cowboys as well. All are not quite Alpha's but have that charm and pragmatic attitude. You have been making me try and figure out another author that wrote westerns all day. Jude Deveraux's had some in her Montgomery/Taggert series, Johanna Lindsey, and I want to say the author I can't name was named Gwendlyne something. I am pictureing a cover with a cowboy boot on it. Man, I have to go back under the bed again.

Doesn't Elizabeth Lowell have some westerns too?

Ahhh yes, Jude Deveraux! I love some of her older ones.

[Ararose]

Originally Posted by library addict

Total bummer. I really want the Kell Sabin books she did for Silhouette Intimate Moments, but not if they've been updated.

She used to be an auto-buy author for me but I gave her up after years of subpar books. Still love many of her old-school romances though.

*Sigh* I'm so sad that Linda Howard (one of my favorites) is following this "revise for modern times" trend! It's as annoying as the trend to make a graphic novel out of books that some authors seem to be following too.

I have most all of her older books as print books and I keep buying the new ones in hopes that they will be as good as the old ones, but still, why are they doing this?

[Venus]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Carla Kelly is doing them now. I really liked _Her Hesitant Heart_.

I haven't read her recently but I adored her "Marrying the Royal Marine". I was wondering if her new book was worth buying. Thank you for your opinion.

[auntykatkat]

Ok, I have come out from under the bed again, and found some lovely old Zebra westerns by Carol Finch. Then I found some Patricia Potter's , and some old Lorranie Heath's. After seeing the title, I remember fondly of The Scotsman Wore Spurs by Patricia Potter. Also that Carol liked to have a scene where the hero or the heroine was rip roarin' drunk. I will look at the rest of my books tomorrow, since it is dark outside right now. Maybe then I will find that author's name. Or, maybe I am dreamin'. Good Night Ladies, or Good Morning as the case may be.