Friday Bargains: Mostly books on my wishlist

Like many readers, I have a long, and ever growing wishlist. I am getting better on putting books on my wishlist, instead of buying them directly. This week this pays off. Big time.

I really liked Dance in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne, and I have had her books on my wishlist ever since.  This week, I discovered to my delight that Harlequin have  discounted most of her Cold Creek novels to 1.99.    I promise to not blow my entire budget on them.. On the other hand, they are reward eligible at Allromance.

I have wanted to read Joshilyn Jackson ever since I saw the cover for one of her previous novels at Alison Kent’s novel.  Now Gods in Alabama is only 2.99.  The blurb sound interesting, so.. *click*

I think I mentioned before that Carina Press have discounted a lot titles, but I thought I would highlight some of the titles.

Chance of rain by Amber Lin is a new release that have had good reviews.  At 1.99 it is cheap enough that, I am adding it to my cart.

I have had Debra Kayn’s contemporary romances on my wishlist for years, and her Carina Press titles are only 1.99 now.

An Affair to Dismember by Elise Sax isn’t on my wishlist, but it sounds really good. Plus, it is just 0.99 right now.

 

And some non romance books, since I do read those too.

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb is just 1.99 right now. I have no idea how much longer it lasts, so I wont wait. The rest of the books in the trilogy are 4.99 each.

I have heard really good things about The Darwin Elevator by Jason Hough, and right now it is  just 1.99. ( The other titles in the series is 9.99)

Oh, and Kobo has a 50% off coupon, Novend50, that’s supposedly multiuse. Expires on Monday.

Now, if you excuse me, I am off to Allromance to do some shopping….

ARC Review: I’ll be home for Christmas by Jessica Scott

18141126The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, ForeverYours, available as e-book

The Source: Arc from Netgalley

The blurb:

 

There’s nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . . . and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband’s tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic’s bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

 

 

 

The Review:

I loved Because of you, so when I got the opportunity to read an ARC, I took it.

And I am glad I read it. This was a sweet and heartwarming novella, about Vic’s and Nicole’s struggle to keep their marriage going while Vic was in Iraq.
I really appreciated that Ms Scott didn’t pull any punches. She showed both the dangers in Iraq,and how it affected the troops moral. At the same time, she also show the waiting at home.For a call, for news. She also shows how marriages are impacted if you don’t call home.

This was the perfect novella to whet readers appetite for Laura and Trent’s story that’s coming in Jan 2014. And it is surprisingly stand alone. My biggest complaint is that  I wanted to read about how Carponti and his wife met, not get a glimpse of their life together now. It was well written, and intriguing, but I would have liked it more if it hadn’t felt like like there was an previous story I hadn’t read.

Grade: B-

Friday Bargains: Freebies galore!

Meljean Brooks offer Fire and Frost of free during November at Kobo. More information at her webpage.

Carina Press offers Improper Relations for free this month at their webpage.

Exclusively yours by Shannon Stacey is free at iBooks this month (No link, since I don’t have iTunes.) Samhain offers several short stories as free, some pre-orders, some permanent free reads. ( Link to Amazon, since Samhain only offers the opportunity to wishlist them at their store. Gah.)

Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair is free at the moment. I like Cherise Sinclair’s Erotic Romances, but this book didn’t work for me.

Club Shadowlands is also part of Surrender, a box set featuring several popular  authors. It is also free right now ( I am not getting it, since I have most of the books in my tbr pile.)

No one lives twice by Julie Moffett is free right now at Carina Press webpage.  ( This is another book that didn’t work for me, but I know that it is popular. So I might give it a try again.)

Launch day blitz(+Giveaway) : I’ll be home for Christmas by Jessica Scott

JessicaScottBlitzGraphic

November 5, 2013; Forever Yours/E-Novella; $0.99; 978-1-4555-5424-9

There’s nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . . . and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband’s tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic’s bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

Buy at:

Amazon

B&N

Bookish

Itunes

[hr]

Excerpt:

“You’re not serious.”

Carponti turned around, his shoulders covered in flecks of red hair. “What?”

Nicole grinned as she leaned against the door. “Garrison is going to kill you.”

“Garrison is going to love my new hair cut. It looks just like his.”

Nicole arched one blond eyebrow. “Except for the bright red fuzzy patch in the center of your head.”

Carponti shrugged and rubbed his hands over his freshly shorn scalp. “I can’t wait to see what the sergeant major says.”

“Isn’t he going to be mad?”

Carponti brushed the hair off his neck. “We’re going to war. My hair isn’t on the list of things he’s going to worry about.”

Nicole looked down at the pile of hair on the floor and sighed. “Then why do it?”

Carponti smirked. “Because it’ll get a rise out of him and I live to make his blood pressure go up.”

She laughed. “You need a hobby. Other than blowing things up.”

He sidled across the room and hooked his thumb into the waist of her jeans and tugged her close until their hips met. “I have a hobby. Keeping you well satisfied.”

She sniffed but her lips curled at the edges. “You’re going to be derelict in your duties for a while.”

“But I’ll be home soon enough and then I’ll make up for it.”

“I think I’m going to need a deployment boyfriend.”

He grinned wickedly. “Did you already get one?” He backed her up against the wall, his body hard against hers. God but she loved this man. “Can I see it?”

A slow flush crept over her face and she tried to look away. He threaded his fingers with hers and lifted her arms over her head. Her back arched with the movement.

“Please?” he whispered against her lips. “That would be an awesome memory to take with me downrange. Just think of me, alone in the middle of the desert. One visual of you with your deployment boyfriend and it could make a lonely night go by so much faster.”

Nicole giggled until the laugh overwhelmed her and she was gasping for air. He released her hands and she threaded them around his neck. She buried her face against his throat and laughed.

“There’s something really wrong with you,” she said when she could breathe again. “I’ll send you a video.”

He brightened instantly. “Really?”

“Yes. And dirty letters.”

“Promise?” He nibbled along the edge of her jaw, guiding her slowly backward toward their bed, stacked high with his two duffle bags and all the crap he still hadn’t packed.

But he didn’t care.

“I promise. And you’re going to be late.” Her voice caught in her throat.

“Screw it,” he whispered. “This is the last chance to make love to my beautiful wife before I have to go traipsing across the desert like Lawrence of Arabia.” He nibbled at her earlobe while his hand slipped down her belly to the moist head between her thighs. “Tell you what. You send me a picture of yours and I’ll send you a picture of mine. Maybe I can get him a little horse and saddle and send you a picture. Maybe a Barbie camel. I can put him in a little man dress.”

She laughed and Carponti’s heart swelled in his chest at the sound of it.

“I’m going to hold you to that.” She traced her fingers over his scalp, her body soft and warm against his erection. “I want a picture of him in a man dress in exchange for a video of the deployment boyfriend.”

Her legs bumped into the back of the bed and he followed her down. Tangled between the duffle bags and his uniforms, he made love to her one last time before he got on a plane and headed to war.

[hr]

 

Jessica ScottAuthor Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer; mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs; wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well-adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View: Regarding War Blog, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn and has served as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas.

 

She’s pursuing a PhD in Sociology in her spare time and most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine‘s Americans of the Year for 2012.

Author Social Media links:

 

Blitz wide Giveaway:

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Review: Biting Nixie by Mary Hughes

TheBitingNixie3x4.5_medium Particulars:Paranormal Romance, Samhain Publishing, available as e-book and in print

The Source: Freebie from Samhain

Grade: B

The Blurb: 

Nitro? Meet glycerin…

 Punk musician Nixie Schmeling is a hundred pounds of Attitude who spells authority a-n-c-h-o-r and thinks buying insurance is just one more step toward death. So she really feels played when she’s “volunteered” to run the town’s first annual fundraising festival. Especially when she finds out it’s to pay for a heavy-hitting, suit-wearing lawyer—who’s six-feet-plus of black-haired, blue-eyed sex on a stick.

Attorney Julian Emerson learned centuries ago that the only way to contain his dangerous nature is to stay buttoned up. He’s come from Boston to defend the town from a shady group of suits…and an even shadier gang of vampires. But his biggest problem is Nixie, who shreds his self-control.

Nixie doesn’t get why the faphead shyster doesn’t understand her. Julian wishes Nixie would speak a known language…like Sanskrit. Even if they manage to foil the bloodthirsty gang, what future is there for a tiny punk rocker and a blue-blooded skyscraper?

And that’s before Nixie finds out Julian’s a vampire…

The Review:

I have heard good things about Mary Hughes for a long time, but I never got around to buy this book, so when Samhain offered it for free earlier this year I jumped on it. While this isn’t a perfect book, I am really glad I finally read it.

I really liked the Meyers Corner, the setting of the book, it felt believable.  From the way everyone knew each other, even if they didn’t necessarily *like* each other, to the way their German background remained a part of their daily life.  I also liked that the way they fought for their independence from Chicago.

Even if Meyers Corner is a small town, a lot of things happened. I had a blast following Nixie and Julian as they tried to stop the bad guys.  The story was fast paced, and in between dodging bad guys she kept the festival from going haywire, dealt with her mother’s nagging to get a proper job.   I loved the fact that Nixie was snarky and kickass, but she also had enough common sense to know that she wasn’t invincible.

The supernatural element was gradually introduced, and I liked how the Vampires society was structured. It balanced the vampires need, while allowing them to stay under the radar.

While there was a lot of this I really liked with this book,  I struggled with the romance subplot. It was well written, and I was happy with their HEA, but I missed  following how Julian’s feelings and how he thought about having a human mate.

Haunted on Bourboun Street by Deanna Chase

hauntednewartThe Particulars: Paranormal Romance,  Selfpublished, available as e-book and in print

The Source: Freebie from Smashwords

The Grade: C+

The Blurb:

Jade loves her new apartment ̶ until a ghost joins her in the shower.

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn’t count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and having feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord.

Being an empath has never been easy on Jade’s relationships. It’s no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade, to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it’s up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she’ll need Kane’s help—and he’s betrayed her with a secret of his own—to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?

 

 

The Review:

This is the first Deanna Chase novel that I have read.  I am often a bit wary when it comes to selfpublished books, since they are often hit or miss for me.I was pleantly surprised by this one.

I liked Jade. It was interesting to follow her as she settled into her new apartment on Bourbon Street.  I liked her new neighbors and co-workers, they were an motley crew with secrets, but all of them felt genuine to me.  One thing I liked was how Ms Chase dealt with the prejudices regarding strip clubs.  Just because you work in a strip club, you don’t have to be criminal.

I liked Kane, he was kind, but he also had a strength that it felt like Jade needed, not that she was weak.  Their romance was a slow one, and I liked that both of them struggled with jealousy occassionally. The  search  for a way to exorcise the ghost made their relationship deepen.

But their relationship wasn’t the only thing affected by the ghost. As their search for ways to exorcise the ghost went on, more and more secrets was revealed. And as more secrets was revealed, the dangers increased.  But they stopped the ghost, finally, even if it cost them a lot.

The biggest problem I had with this book was very subjective. I liked it, but it lacked that something that turns a good book into a great book.  But I liked it enough to put the next book on my To Buy list.

 

Anticipated November releases

 

This is a bit late, I know, but I am leaving for World Fantasy Con in Brighton tomorrow so I have been busy packing 🙂

 

18141126

There’s nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . . . and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband’s tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic’s bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

I loved Because of You, unfortunately Until You didn’t work as well for me, but I am looking forward to reading this novella.

 

Two oppokinked-186x300nents must confront the cause of their obsessive fury in the latest Novel of the Elder Races…

As a harpy, Sentinel Aryal is accustomed to dealing with hate, but Sentinel Quentin Caeravorn manages to inspire in her a burning ire unlike anything she’s ever known. Aryal believes the new Sentinel to be a criminal, and vows to take him out as soon as the opportunity arises. But the harpy’s incessant wrath has pushed Quentin to the limit, and forces him to make a deadly vow of his own.

To put an end to the conflict, Dragos, Lord of the Wyr, sends them on a reconnaissance mission to the Elven land of Numenlaur. Forced to work together, Aryal and Quentin’s mutual antagonism escalates. Each fight draws forth more passion—culminating in an explosively sexual confrontation. But when their quest reveals real danger, Aryal and Quentin must resolve their differences in ways beyond the physical, before the entire Wyr is threatened.

Aryal! Do I need to say more? I cannot wait to read Aryal and Quentin’s story. In fact, I won a copy, so I expect it arrives sometime next week ( Or if I am really lucky, it arrives tomorrow, before I leave):)

 

 

 

dragos-takes-a-holiday-200x300

The Bermuda Triangle. Pirates. The Peanut. What could possibly go wrong?

Dragos Cuelebre needs a vacation. So does Pia, his mate. When the First Family of the Wyr head to Bermuda for some much needed R&R, it’s no ordinary undertaking – and no ordinary weekend in the sun. Between hunting for ancient treasure buried beneath the waves and keeping track of their son, Liam—a.k.a. Peanut, whose Wyr abilities are manifesting far ahead of schedule—it’s a miracle that Pia and Dragos can get any time together.

They’re determined to make the most of each moment, no matter who tries to get in their way.

Two Elder Races stories in the same month? Score! Plus I love Pia and Dragos 🙂

 

 

Over the past18151246 year, Travis Coleman lost the two people he allowed closest to his heart. Both gave him ultimatums—then left. Hell if he needs that kind of pain again. Time to move forward without the friends he thought might save him from his dangerous cravings.

When Ashley Sims returns to Rocky Mountain House, her rambling lifestyle isn’t all she’s hoping to change. Travis snagged a piece of her, and while getting tangled in his issues again might be crazy, she hasn’t given up on him.

Nine months ago, Cassidy Jones walked away to stop his best friend from making a huge mistake. Temptation lingers, though, and when Travis shows up on his turf accompanied by a sensually uninhibited woman, the combination tosses fuel on the banked fire.
Passion flares among the three of them, as hot as the summer days. But are they willing to push the limits, and fight for love?

Warning: Dirty fighting, dirty talk, dirtier sex—secrets are coming out. Get ready for ménage a trois and cowboy-on-cowboy action, with ropes and crops and the kind of relentless love strong enough to set a man

I have been waiting for Travis book ever since I read the first Six Pack novel. And now it is here.

 

 

15808695New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks’ enthralling saga continues as two men, and one resilient woman hiding from the past, brace themselves for an emotional storm of unavoidable danger and unmatched desire…

Lauren Wilder fell for the wrong man, trusted the wrong man, and she paid a very dear price for it. Now broken and wounded, she’s retreated to the bosom of the Colter family and the unshakeable love and support they offer. But the man she once loved and trusted is not without his own power, and he’ll use every bit of his money and resources to make sure he gets Lauren back, no matter whom he destroys doing it.

Liam and Noah were hired by Lauren’s brother to watch over her. But with danger looming, they head to the Colorado mountains—where Lauren has found temporary sanctuary. In her wounded eyes, Liam and Noah see the woman she once was—and could be again. They’re determined to show her everything a man can be—someone who will love her, cherish her, satisfy her, and when the time comes, put their very lives on the line for her

The Colters’ Woman was the book that introduced me to Maya Banks, and this is the last book in the series. ( At least for a long time, I think.)

Review: Scribd’s subscription service

I have mixed feelings about Scribd, since an author search on their webpage is as likely to turn up an pirated copy, as it is an legal copy. Because of that, I was torn when they announced at a worldwide subscription service for 8.99 with the first month free, but decided to give them a try.

 

The Content:

I wasn’t sure what I expected when I downloaded the app, but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t do any in depth searches, but they have the big names from Kleypas, Gibson and Heyer within romance, to Gaiman, Hobbs and Kim Harrison within Fantasy. And a lot of other authors that I have been wanting to read. This makes sense, since they signed with Harper Collins, Sourcebooks , Kensington and others, which gives them a big catalogue.

 

The App:

I downloaded the Android app, since I have an Android phone. The app was easy to navigate, and it was easy to find titles to read. Unfortunately, the app made my eyes tired. Fast. In the Kobo app, I can read one book before feeling eyestrain. Maybe I would have had less problem, if there was more settings available.  You could adjust text and background, but you couldn’t adjust the light contrast  within the app.

 

Will I keep the subscription?

Probably not. Maybe I would have, if I had had a tablet to read on,  since I was happy about the content, but the combination of a small smartphone screen, and no ability to adjust the light turned out to be a deal breaker for me.

Who is it for?

Voracious readers that like to read on their phone or tablet, or owns a rootable e-reader ( Nook or Sony PRS T1).

A round up of e-book subscription services

 

 

Oyster and eReatah have recieved a lot of media attention recently, and especially Oyster was called the Netflix for books. But what if you live outside the US? What are the options then? First, this list is very European centered, because I didn’t find much informations about non European services, even if I am sure they exist. ( I know a Chinese company planned a subscription services last year.)

24Symbols is a Spanish start up. In English they have mostly public domain books, but in Spanish they have a rather good sortiment of popular titles. What more, I get the impression that they are working on getting more content. Right now they have around 15 000 e-books

 

Litfy is a Swedish startup, and normally I would be that only offers books in the public domain. I have no idea if they are planning on getting more recent content.

 

Ridr and Mofido is both Danish but they have a different approach. Riidr costs 10 dollar, and is a lot like Kindle Lending Library, in that the customers only can download one e-book or Audiobook per month. Mofido costs a bit more, but allows the reader to reads as many books he/ she wants. I am not sure how many e-books Riidr offers, but Mofido offers around 5 000

 

Skoobe is a German start up, that is owned by Bertelsmann and Holzberger. They costs 10 euro per month, but offers the first month for half the price. They have 25 000 titles right now, and I think they have a rather good sortiment. ( Or at least they should, considering who owns them!). Their webpage hints that they are launching in English soon. I am crossing my fingers that they will not be US or UK only.

 

Scribd also launched an subscription service recently, which works the same way Oyster does. With the exception that their service is worldwide and offers both Android and IOs apps. A longer review is coming.

What about Sweden, where I live,are there any subscription services available?

 

Yes. But they offer a mix of e-books and audio books. E2go offers pollets, 1-4 books for 15-25 dollar. Storytel’s e-book subscription haven’t launched yet, but they offer streamed audiobooks for 30 dollar, and their plan is to offer e-books for an additional 5 dollar. There are also a couple of publishers that offers subscriptions, but there isn’t any kind of all you can read subscriptions. Without the audiobooks, I am not sure that a subscription service would be viable since Sweden have a very good library system. In fact, right now all e-books distributed through Elib is available at libraries. I have a feeling that might change soon, since both Elib and Publit are launching more flexible library systems.

 

That said, if a store, say Bokon, offered subscriptions for English and Swedish e-books, I would leap on it. Even if Bokon are planning on offering some sort of subscriptions ( because there is a tab in my account called Subscriptions), I doubt it will include English e-books since that would be too complicated.