FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Star Cruise: Chef’s Kiss (Sectors #18.7) by Veronica Scott (F/1 star)

Usually I enjoy the Star Cruise entries in the long-running Sectors series but this one was a disappointment to me. Thought about not listing as I did last week for something else, but felt I should in this case since I've listed all her other novellas and books I've read since we started this thread. Sure this was a me issue, but as with all ratings YMMV.

Purchased:
just freebies

[sufue]

Joffe's free book yesterday, still free today, was District Nurse, the first in the Julie Barden romance series by Audrie Manley-Tucker.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ5G3YMN
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJ5G3YMN

Spoiler:

Although she was understandably nervous, Julie Barden was also thrilled to be taking up her first job as district nurse in the small seaside town of Ambersea...

It was not so much the medical side of things as her patients’ personal problems that interested her so deeply – the old woman neglected by her daughter-in-law; a teenager struggling to keep the home going for her young brothers and sisters; an orphan child that nobody wanted: all square pegs that Julie was convinced she could help into square holes.

But her biggest problem was her relationship with the local doctor, David Pembury, who saw her only as an interfering ‘new broom’ sweeping far too clean. Each of them only wanted the best for their patients. Would they be able to agree about how to achieve it?

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• K-9 Defender (Protectors at K-9 Ranch #2) by Julie Miller (B-/3 stars)

Purchased:

[sufue]

Yesterday's Joffe free book, still free today, is The River Girl, which is the second in the Devonshire Sagas series by Tania Crosse.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095X31VZP
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095X31VZP

Spoiler:

Dartmoor, 1858.

Elizabeth Thornton has every reason to want to escape from home — a ramshackle farm in the middle of nowhere on the wilds of Dartmoor. Since her father’s death, she’s been trapped here, in the clutches of her lascivious uncle.

When a position opens up at Rosebank Hall, she jumps at the chance. She will be a domestic drudge at the beck and call of the house’s cantankerous master.

It’s hardly the career of her dreams. Elizabeth wants to be a doctor, but she’ll do anything to be free of her uncle.

Then one night, the master’s wayward son turns up, wounded in a conflict in a foreign country — damaged in every way a person can be.

But as Elizabeth nurses him back to life, the pair grow closer and everything changes.

But Elizabeth’s uncle isn’t ready to relinquish her yet . . .

Will she keep on fighting for her freedom? Even with her dark past nipping at her heels?

[sufue]

I don't do many recommendations for books on this thread, mostly because I don't do a very good job of keeping track of what I read in the way of romances. But, I just finished reading Ann Liang's A Song to Drown Rivers, which is out tomorrow (I had a review copy), and it is one of the best books I've read this year. Not totally sure it's a romance rather than a fantasy, but posting it here because I think of it as a romance. It's a retelling of a Chinese legend, and just has so many emotions all wrapped up in a rollercoaster ride. The romance is very slow-burn and not at all explicit, but still really powerful - powerful enough that I cried my way through the last couple of chapters, although it ends up feeling natural and fitting in the end. (If you want to read my full review, the URL is in my signature, and just pop "Liang" in the search box...)

Anyway, it's really expensive right now, because it's brand new, but if you can grab from your library, and/or I'll post if I see it on sale.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQHLN681
Kobo US: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-song-to-drown-rivers
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1035050390
Kobo UK: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-s...drown-rivers-2

Spoiler:

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.