FREE/BARGAIN — Romance & Discussion

[sufue]

And one more freebie:

Dire Straits, by Helen Harper (whose Slouch Witch series I loved), is the first in Harper's Bo Blackman series. It's free right now, and if you like this one, there is an omnibus of the whole series in KU, if you have that.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMZF9HG
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LMZF9HG

Spoiler:

A half dead daemon. A massacre at my private investigators’ office. Planted evidence that points to me as the main suspect for both crimes.

Yep. All in all, I’m having a very bad week.

I know I’m inexperienced and often naive but I’m going to find out who’s behind these terrible crimes. I’m even prepared to get involved with one of London’s most powerful vampire families and their enigmatic leader if that’s what it takes to get answers.

I might not survive the month. But giving up is not an option.

This is the first thrilling book in the urban fantasy Bo Blackman series. Expect dark, gritty adventure with a sprinkling of romance.

And lots and lots of vampires.

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Star Cruise: Captain’s Prequel (Sectors #18.9) by Veronica Scott (A/5 stars)
• Fangs So Bright and Deadly (Mythwoven #2) by Piper J Drake (D-/1 star)
• A Mythical Case of Arson (Mystical Pet Sitting Mystery #1) by Melissa Erin Jackson (B+/4 stars)

Purchased:

[sufue]

Tildy is the first in the, well, the Tildy Regency romance series by Sara Fraser. It's a Joffe freebie right now.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGVR88K6
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGVR88K6

Spoiler:

The 1820s, England.

From the moment she meets handsome and violent Tom Crawford, Tildy Seymour knows her life will never be the same.

Heavily pregnant, Tildy finds herself with no recourse but to marry the father of her baby — only to find themselves in the same day homeless, jobless, and penniless.

With nothing left to them, the newlyweds must return to Tom’s birthplace of the Sidemoor in the Midlands, a savage and oppressed community of nail-makers.

Surrounded by misery, saddled with a husband she despises, and desperate to build a future more positive than her own for her unborn child, Tildy holds her head high, refusing to be daunted, and faces all that her new life throws at her.

Tildy is the first of an eight book series following the eponymous heroine’s struggles against a harsh world.

Sara Fraser is the pen-name of marine commando and foreign legionnaire Roy Clews. Fraser is the author of The Surgeon’s Apprentice, Til Death Do Us Part and The Healing Nightfall, among many others. Fraser has written a number of mysteries as well as a number of novels influenced by a life of travel and work all over the world.

Interesting author bio. I haven't read any of his mysteries, but when I looked at them on SYKM, they looked kind interesting, so I may give them a try if I see any on sale...

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Star Cruise: Captain’s Story (Sectors #19) by Veronica Scott (B+/4 stars)
• You Can Kill (Laurel Snow #4) by Rebecca Zanetti (B+/4 stars)
• Texas Cowboy Flame (The Stars of Texas #4) by Rebecca Crowley (B-/3 stars)

Purchased:

[sufue]

I've read and enjoyed a few of Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library books, which are hard to characterize. But if I had to pick a genre, I would call them fantasy mysteries or fantasy spy novels. But I haven't read any of her newer Scarlet series, which is, per its blurb, a re-telling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but with the addition of vampires. So I debated whether to post this here, or in sci-fi/fantasy, but opted for here because I consider The Scarlet Pimpernel itself to be a romance.

I loved The Scarlet Pimpernel and its sequels anyway, so not sure they need vampires, but I am willing to give it a chance, especially for free. And sure enough, the first book in the series, titled simply Scarlet, is free right now at Kindle and Kobo UK, but not in the US.

Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B097N3Q2HT
Kobo UK: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/scarlet-47

Spoiler:

Revolution’s a bloodthirsty business . . .

Revolutionary France is no place to be, especially for aristocrat vampires facing the guillotine. But the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are determined to rescue them. And they have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor, a lowly maid from an English estate with a striking resemblance to French royalty.

For Eleanor, the League and their legendary deeds are little more than rumour – until she’s drawn into their most dangerous plot yet. The mission? Travel to France in disguise, impersonate Queen Marie Antoinette and rescue the royal family. If they succeed, it’ll be the heist of the century.

But there’s more to fear than ardent Revolutionaries. For Eleanor stumbles across a centuries-old war between vampires and their fiercest enemy. And they’re out for blood . . .

Sunday Times bestselling Scarlet is the first book in the Scarlet Revolution trilogy, set during the turbulent French Revolution, and featuring all of Genevieve Cogman’s trademark wit and fast-paced plotting. It’s perfect for fans of The Invisible Library series, Kim Newman and Gail Carriger.

[sufue]

Two freebies...

The Dirty Coven, Hannah Hickok Witchy Mystery #1, by Lily Harper Hart, I've read and liked some of her other books.
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PFLK1XR
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PFLK1XR

Three Half Goats Gruff is one of the prequels to Kim McDougall's Valkyrie Bestiary series. It's been free/on sale as part of a couple of different omnibuses, so I would say, "check carefully before you buy", except it's free right now. So if you want your own individual copy, here you go.
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FF5G9QZ
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08FF5G9QZ

[library addict]

Weekly Report:

Read:

• Blue Violet (Svatura #1) by Abigail Owen (B+/4 stars)
• White Hyacinth (Svatura #2) by Abigail Owen (B-/3 stars)
• Crimson Dahlia (Svatura #3) by Abigail Owen (B/4 stars)
• Black Orchid (Svatura #4) by Abigail Owen (B+/4 stars)

Purchased:
(own the older versions of this series from back in the day but the formatting was a mess so bought the new box set)

[sufue]

A Joffe romance freebie...Winter Magic by Jennifer Hyde. Per the blurb, Jennifer Hyde is a pen name for Marjorie Eccles, who is the author of the Inspector Gil Mayo crime series, a few of which I've read and liked.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGFB3SDX
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGFB3SDX

Spoiler:

Samantha is ready for a change.

The magic of the big city and an exciting job in a big store brings her to London.

Finding somewhere to live is not easy, but as soon as she steps over the threshold of the house with the yellow door she feels at home.

Her housemates are an eclectic bunch: Cara is an aspiring actress and mother who is a bit flighty, but with a good heart; Jeremy is an artist; handsome, talented and kind, but not the best cook; and, though the others speak highly of her, the mysterious Nadia is never home.

The only problem is Nick. Sam has no idea what he does all day. At first she thinks he’s quite cold and standoffish, but as she settles into her London life, he shows her a different side.

Though she is confused by his seemingly sudden mood changes, she finds herself falling … falling for a man who is not available.

Samantha plunges into the whirlwind of her new life, determined to discard her old image and find a new one.

But her success turns to dust and ashes when she realises her happiness in the hands of someone who does not return her love.

As Samantha struggles to balance work, life at the house, and now her increasingly complex relationship with Nick, she has to decide what to follow: her heart or her head.

Will everything pull together?

Will she ever be able to figure Nick out?

Or will she once again have to find a new path?

‘Winter Magic’ is a story about love, living, and settling into the journey. This beautifully crafted romantic tale will keep readers coming back for more.

Jennifer Hyde is pseudonym of the crime-writer, Marjorie Eccles. She lives in the Midlands. Under Jennifer Hyde she is also the author of ‘A Handful of Shadows’. Under Marjorie Eccles she is the author of the Inspector Gil Mayo crime series, which includes ‘A Death of Distinction’, ‘More Deaths Than One’, ‘A Species of Revenge’, ‘An Accidental Shroud’ and ‘Killing Me Softly’.

[library addict]

Weekly Report:
Only rereads and freebies this week.

[sufue]

Fairlyden is the first in the Fairlyden series (do authors plan this or does the first book just become a series?) by Gwen Kirkwood. It's free from Joffe books right now.

Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BKS4880
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BKS4880

Spoiler:

It is nineteenth century Scotland and change is on the way.

Sandy Logan is a man of his word and when Mattie Camerson’s father dies, he intends to honour his promise to marry her.

But dark forces are at work and Mattie finds herself betrothed to the son of cruel Jacob Reevil.

Before the marriage can take place, Jacob and his son corner Mattie alone in the shed.

Sandy comes to her rescue, but his actions have terrible consequences and he and Mattie are forced to flee.

They trek for many miles and eventually find refuge at the rundown farm of Fairlyden, nestling in a peaceful valley.

Mattie quickly wins the heart of its owner, Daniel Munro who needs to produce an heir or else Fairlyden will fall into the hands of the unscrupulous Earl of Strathtod.

Mattie and Sandy work hard on the farm to make a living and to restore the fertility of the land but Mattie is still haunted by the Reevils.

To escape her betrothal, Mattie must be wed before the Reevils can find her.

So Daniel comes to Mattie with a proposal: Marry him and escape her fate.

Mattie and Sandy have loved each other since they were children, but Mattie fears he is only marrying her to appease her dead father.

Will Mattie accept Munro’s offer?

Will she choose her childhood sweetheart, Sandy?

Or will the Reevils make the decision for her?

Fairlyden is a charming romance set against the scenic backdrop of Scotland’s wild and rugged landscape.

[sufue]

Although I think of Kasey Michaels primarily as a romance writer, she did write a couple of semi-mystery series - mysteries enough to be listed in SYKM (Stop, You're Killing Me), which itself is a website for all things mystery. But Michaels' Maggie Kelly series, about a romance writer who gets dumped by her publisher and starts writing mysteries, still seems like more of a romance series to me, since her "gorgeous hunk of a fiction hero", Viscount St Just, shows up to help her solve them. so I'm posting here, and cross-posting there.

In any case, the reason I'm posting at all is that Michaels' estate is making the six books in the series free for one week. However, since they've said the deal is for newsletter subscribers only, I'm not comfortable providing the direct links. But here's a link to her author website, which has a subscribe button on it (which also gets you two free books). And once you are subscribed, if you look at one of the newsletter emails, it has a "past issues" button in the upper left, so you should be able to find the "issue" with the info about the free books. Whew! Let me know if it works!

And of course, if you already subscribe to her newsletter, just go take a look in your email - the subject is "6 FREE BOOKS to honor Kasey's birthday".

[DNSB]

I grabbed the books for my wife since she has the paperbacks which are in pretty ratty condition. She's not certain if she likes the last 3 books being renamed but did like the easy alphabetical order now (by last word in the title).

Maggie Needs An Alibi
Maggie By The Book
Maggie Without A Clue
Maggie In Too Deep (formerly High Heels and Homicide)
Maggie On The Edge (formerly High Heels and Holidays)
Maggie Takes A Fall (formerly Bowled Over)

[sufue]

Hah! I hadn't noticed the alphabetical thing. Does make it convenient, but like your wife, sure tired of publishers renaming books.

Originally Posted by DNSB

I grabbed the books for my wife since she has the paperbacks which are in pretty ratty condition. She's not certain if she likes the last 3 books being renamed but did like the easy alphabetical order now (by last word in the title).

Maggie Needs An Alibi
Maggie By The Book
Maggie Without A Clue
Maggie In Too Deep (formerly High Heels and Homicide)
Maggie On The Edge (formerly High Heels and Holidays)
Maggie Takes A Fall (formerly Bowled Over)