Various bargains

On 09/01/2012 By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

I have a coupon code from Harlequin that I haven’t posted before, and bunch of e-book deals.

SPEND4E11 to Save $4 on ebooks at Harlequin.com

Valid until 1/31/12
Must spend a minimum of $4 to qualify.

This puts most of their e-books ( with the exception of Luna and Harlequin Teen) at a price range between 0.05-3 dollar. However, you must buy the books one at a time. Otherwise, Harlequin discounts the total price. Which is still a nice discount, but not as good deal as if you buy the books one at a time.

Oh, and this code will be the only main exception to my decision to not buy e-books. I have several authors that I intend to buy.

So, the e-books.
Let’s first start with Katie Macalister’s fun historical romps. Right now, they are available for 0.99 each, which is a bargain.
Amazon BN Smashwords
Noble Intentions:

Quote:

Noble Britton suffered greatly at the hands of his first wife, and he refuses to fall into the same trap again. This time he intends to marry a quiet, biddable woman who will not draw attention to herself or cause scandal. Gillian Leigh’s honest manner and spontaneous laughter attract him immediately. It matters little that she is accident-prone; he can provide the structure necessary to guide her.

But unconventional to the tips of her half-American toes, his new bride turns the tables on him, wreaking havoc on his orderly life. Perpetually one step behind his beguiling spouse, Noble suffers a banged-up head, a black eye, and a broken nose before he realizes Gillian has healed his soul and proven that their union is no heedless tumble, but the swoon of true love.

I loved Noble intentions. It made me giggle. It is a bit over the top, but sometimes you need over the top.

Noble Destiny:

Quote:

A poor widow, Lady Charlotte Collins returns to England eager to take her place in the ton, only to find herself shunned by all. Her one choice is to marry a groom with wealth, a title, and good looks, but Alasdair McGregor cruelly refuses to be the answer to her problems. In fact, she is forced by Dare’s obstinacy to take extreme action: the faulty codpiece that leads to this marriage, the wedding that is literally a circus. But nothing can stand between Charlotte and what she wants most: the love of her husband.

I must admit, that I never finished reading this one. The heroine annoyed me. Maybe it was my mood.

The Trouble with Harry:

1. He is Plum’s new husband. Not normally a problem, but when you consider that Harry advertised for a wife, and Plum was set to marry his secretary, there was cause for a bit of confusion.

2. He has a title. Plum has spent the last twenty years hiding from the ton, and now Harry wants her to shine in society? Horrors!

3. He doesn’t know about her shocking secret. How is she going to explain about the dead husband who isn’t a husband…and who now seems to be alive again?

4. He’s fallen in love with her. And yet, the maddening man refuses to confide in her. For Plum knows the real trouble with Harry is that he’s stolen her heart.

I loved this one. A lot. Like Noble Intentions, it was hilarious.

So for the indie bargains:
Indie phenomen Amanda Hocking offers Hollowland for free at Smashwords and Amazon ( most likely also free at BN). I downloaded this one, primarily since I want to see what all the buzz is about.

Mindy Klasky have re-issued her paranormal romance backlist novel. How to Not Make a Wish is the first book in the Wish series about a genie. It is a funny paranormal romance that is available for 0.99 at Smashwords and Amazon.
She also offers the first book in her Jane Madison series, Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, for 0.99. This is a paranormal chicklit. I have it in paper somewhere, but I haven’t re-read it in years.
Eve Langlais has discounted The Geek Job to 0.99, also at Smashwords. It is 2.99 at Amazon, and Allromance, which makes me suspect the price will go up soon.
Debra Webb have a lot of backlist available for 0.99 at Smashwords.
The one I plan to buy is Obession.

And for the Fantasy fans: A.A. Attanasio’s Arthur Series is free at Kobo. Since the author have signed up for KDP Select, they will be gone very, very soon. So if you want it, pick it up. ( I haven’t read it, but I downloaded it since they sounded good).

The big challenge: Conquering the TBR pile

On 09/01/2012 By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

I am sure you have noticed the reading challenges I am participating in this year. There are a reason for them. I discovered in December that I had a lot unread books in Calibre. We aren’t talking 20, but rather 220. So the big aim this year is to slice it down to 50.
Do I think it is managable? Yes. I do. I read fast. I can easily read one book in a night. Another reason is that a lot of them is shorter than 200 pages. I wont review all of the books, though. I’ll review the novellas but not the short stories. Still, it means a lot of saved money since I am determined to not buy a new e-book until I have read the ones I have already bought.

The Zero Dog War by Keith Melton

On 07/01/201212/07/2014 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Samhain, available as e-book.

The Source: Purchased at Allromance

The Grade: B-

The blurb:

After accidentally blowing up both a client facility and a cushy city contract in the same day, pyromancer and mercenary captain Andrea Walker is scrambling to save her Zero Dogs. A team including (but not limited to) a sexually repressed succubus, a werewolf with a thing for health food, a sarcastic tank driver/aspiring romance novelist, a three-hundred-pound calico cat, and a massive demon who really loves to blow stuff up.
With the bankruptcy vultures circling, Homeland Security throws her a high-paying, short-term contract even the Zero Dogs can’t screw up: destroy a capitalist necromancer bent on dominating the gelatin industry with an all-zombie workforce. The catch? She has to take on Special Forces Captain Jake Sanders, a man who threatens both the existence of the team and Andrea’s deliberate avoidance of romantic entanglements.
As Andrea strains to hold her dysfunctional team together long enough to derail the corporate zombie apocalypse, the prospect of getting her heart run over by a tank tread is the least of her worries. The government never does anything without an ulterior motive. Jake could be the key to success…or just another bad day at the office for the Zeroes.

The review:

I had heard good things about Keith Melton, so when Allromance offered a 50% discount on Samhain books, I bought it. The story starts with a bang, and everything wents down hill from there. The plot twisted and turned. I liked how they only had partial success, never a total victory, when they faced the villain. I enjoyed the misfits of The Zero Dog Mercenaries. From Rafe, the werewolf, to Mai with her undead pets. I enjoyed how the author played with the prejudices, and turned them into something new.

This story has a large dose of humor with the action, and I loved the snark, and the way Andrea couldn’t stop mouthing off with Jake. However, at times it felt like the author focused to much on the humor.

This especially shows when it comes to the villain, which is a heap of clichés. In fact, it felt like the author had piled on every cliché he could think off. So, will I buy another book by Keith Melton? Probably. It was a fun, fast paced read and I enjoyed it.

Book Chick City’s Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge

On 04/01/201212/07/2014 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I decided to sign up to this challenge too:

From the challenge page:

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 – 31 Dec 2012

• There are two levels:

– Read TWENTY FOUR (24) horror & urban fantasy novels in 2012
– Read FORTY EIGHT (48) horror & urban fantasy novels in 2012

• You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join the challenge at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.

• Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.

• No non-fiction – only fiction.

• This challenge can crossover to other challenges.

• You DO NOT have to write reviews of the books you read, but if you decide you would like to then Mr Linky will be available each month so you can link up your reviews.

• You don’t have to have a blog to join in – for those without a blog but who use Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing etc, you can add the URL to where you track your books. If you don’t have a URL at all then choose a name you would like to use and then copy and paste the following link:

http://www.bookchickcity.com/2011/12/sign-up-horror-urban-fantasy-reading.html

Please add your DIRECT URL link, not just your blog link. If you have trouble adding your URL link below, just drop me an email.

My goal is to read 48 novels. It will be mixture of UF and Horror, new books and PD books. And re-reads. :).

Tentiative reading list:

Child of Fire by Harry Connelly ( library book)
Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter ( Unread)
Zero Dog War by Keith Mellon.
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (Unread)
Hot trick by Patricia Rosemoor ( Unread)
Aberswyth Mon Amour by Malcolm Price ( Unread)
Faerie Blood by Angela Korra’ti ( Unread)
Convent of the pure by Sara M Harvey ( Unread)
The Wyvern Mystery by Joseph Sheridan ( PD)
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde ( PD)
Run by Blake Crouch ( Amazon freebie)
The Wedding Gift by Kathleen McKenna( Amazon freebie)
Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff
Shadow City by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Unread)
Fair Game by Patricia Briggs ( TBR list)
Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews ( TBR)
Demon Marked by Meljean Brook ( TBR)
No Dominion by C.E Murphy ( plus assorted novellas)( April 2012)
. Raven Calls by CE Murphy. ( TBR)
Dragon Justice by Laura Anne Gilman ( TBB)
The Negotiator triology by CE Murphy. ( Re-read)
Matchbox Girls by Chrysoula Tzavelas

All these books have one thing in common: They are either among the 200 e-books I have marked as unread in Calibre or on my TBR list. O_o.

Dark Faerie Tales Steampunk reading Challenge 2012

On 04/01/201218/01/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I wanted to join Dark Faerie tales UF challenge last year, but since I discovered it in september I decided to wait. So when I spotted the Steampunk Challenge, I decided to join it. I view it as a good way to get introduced to the genre. The challenge runs from Jan 2012 to Dec 2012. My plan is to post one review each month.

The tentiative reading list is:
1. Bone Shaker by Cherie Priest
2. New Blood by Gail Dayton.
3. Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
4. Tin Swift by Devon Monk
5. Soulless by Gail Carriger
6. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
7. Viridis by Claire Taylor
8. The Grey Friar by Clay and Susan Griffith
9. Clockwork angel by Cassandra Clare
10. Wicked as the come by Delilah Lawson
11. The Iron duke by Meljean Brook
12. The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Review: Delicate Freakn’ Flower by Eve Langlais

On 03/01/2012 By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

The Particulars: Paranormal Romance, indie, available as e-book

The Source: Free read during downloaded during AllRomance 12 days of Christmas

The Grade: B

The Blurb:

Naomi doesn’t want to follow tradition and settle down with a violence-loving, chest thumping shapeshifter. She grew up in a household with five, testosterone laden brothers where none of the dishes ever matched, the ugly-as-sin furniture could withstand any catastrophe, and where crazy glue was bought by the case.

When fate—with a snicker—makes her meet not one, but two mates, Naomi digs her heels in and refuses to do what her wolf—and her body—demands. No way is she voluntarily allowing herself to get hitched to a pair of dumbass—totally hot and muscled—lacrosse players.

Can Ethan, the towering Kodiak bear, and Javier, the sexy, tanned jaguar convince this she-wolf that life with them won’t be all chaos? And can this delicate freakn’ flower unbend her prejudices enough to recognize she needs a pair of men who can handle her thorns—and her passion?

The Review:

I noticed this one when it was released, but I never bought it, so when it was offered as a free read I downloaded it. And I am glad I did. I loved this book in so many ways. It was funny, filled with snark and snappy comebacks. I loved Naomi, Her snarkiness, her determination to keep her independence. She was scarred by the past, and her reasoning made sense. She knew exactly what she wanted- which was to not mate with a shifter. Thank you very much. Ethan and Jared are determined to show her she is wrong. And how they do it. They start a sensual feast. A long courtship, that lasts until they have convinced Nicole that she needs a shifter.

But now for the things I didn’t like. When it comes to the plot, the suspense subplot felt tacked on and unnecessary. I didn’t feel that it added anything to the story. There were a few minor typos, but the thing that annoyed me most was the formatting… I have no idea why, but the spacing was 1,5 lines Why? Since it gives an unprofessional impression.

Will I get more books? Oh definitely. I loved this book, and the major flaw is fixable.

Moira Rogers’s Post-Apocalyptic Trucker vs Outcast Showdown:Team Trucker!

On 02/01/2012 By MikaelaIn Uncategorized27 Comments

Contest is over. Winners will be posted soon.
This post is part of Moira Rogers’s Post-Apocalyptic Trucker vs Outcast Showdown. A comment on this post will enter you to win your choice of a NOOK Simple Touch, or a Kindle Touch or Kobo Touch with special offers. For rules, details on more ways to enter or information on how to pick your own side, visit the contest page at Moira Rogers’s website.

Ah truckers. What’s not to like about them? Demons are interesting I suppose, but I’d never to be able to trust them fully. Truckers, now… There are something with them that appeals to me.
Maybe it is the fact that I admire their independence. Maybe it is the fact that I cannot drive myself, and dreams on climbing up into a vehicle and just driving. Seeing the road stretching out in front of me. Or maybe it is just the fact that I am odd. LOL.

Additional Giveaway, hosted by me:

I am giving away 3 copies of Demon Bait, the prequel novella. Leave a comment, with your e-mail address, also tell me if you want epub or mobi ( kindle). For epub I use Allromance ( so make sure that you have an account), and for mobi I use Amazon.

Review: The Gods of Dream by Daniel Arenson

On 01/01/2012 By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

The Gods of Dream by Daniel Arenson

The Particular: Fantasy, Amazon, available as e-book

The Source: Free read from Amazon ( sometime during 2011)

The Grade: B

The Blurb:

What are dreams? Some think they are figments of our mind. But what if they were wisps of a distant, magical world… a world you could visit?

Twins Cade and Tasha discover Dream, the land dreams come from. It is a realm of misty forests, of verdant mountains, of mysterious gods who send dreams into our sleep. Cade and Tasha seek solace there; they are refugees, scarred and haunted with memories of war. In Dream, they can forget their past, escape the world, and find joy.

Phobetor, the god of Nightmare, was outcast from Dream. Now he seeks to destroy it. He sends his monsters into Dream, and Cade and Tasha find their sanctuary threatened, dying. To save it, the twins must overcome their past, journey into the heart of Nightmare, and face Phobetor himself.

The Review:

The blurb caught my attention, and when the author offered it as a free read on Amazon, I decided to take the chance. I am leery when it comes to indie books, since you never know what you get. I am glad I took the chance.

To me, this book felt like one of the old sagas, set in the unique world of Dream. Dream are filled with gods, speaking animals, and magical beings like the Pegacats. Dream is lush and sunny.

If Dream is sunny, Nightmare is dark and bleak. Nightmare is home to demons, and other monsters.

The contrast is stark, but it felt right. I liked how the bleakness of Nightmare affected Cade and Tasha.

I loved how all the characters, both gods, Elorians, and animals were prepared to fight for Dream. I liked how Moonmist, which was a protected princess, took charge of a large group of soldiers.

The book was good, but after awhile I started to wonder if Cade and Tasha would ever reach their goal. On the other hand, I don’t think the book could have been that much shorter.

Will I buy another book by Daniel Arenson? Yes. The price is decent, I liked it. But, not the coming three months.

So it is 2012

On 01/01/2012 By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

I am not much for to make New Year Resolutions, but this year I have one. I want to keep my e-book purchases to a minimum. The main reason is that I have 200+ unread e-books. It is a mixture of novels, novellas and short stories. There are some months I know I’ll fail. I can say that I’ll fail in January. Why? Maya Banks, Faith Hunter, Moira Rogers and Vivian Arend have releases. I’ll fail in March too, since Patricia Briggs,CE Murphy, Thea Harrison and Vivian Arend have books that are released then.
August too, since both Ilona Andrews and LA Gilman have new novels out.
Oh, yes. Nalini Singh and Meljean Brook have releases during the year. Not sure when, though.
There are probably a lot of books that I am forgetting, but these are the ones that are on my Auto buy list.

Except for them, I plan to keep the credit card OFF. Will I succeed? Well, I’ll try.