Free reads and a couple of bargains

                                        




Don't forget, if you join XOXO After Dark (part of Simon and Schuster), they have free reads every month.  This month it looks like Molly Harper's Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, Karen Hawkins' The Taming of a Scottish Princess, Laura Griffin's Snapped (a yummy romantic suspense!, my review is at this link), Karen Robards' Justice, Jennifer Echols' Levitating Las Vegas

Now, I am preparing this post a few days in advance so it is possible that these titles will change by the time this goes live but still, who can complain when there are new yummy books to read for FREE?  You will have to register on the site but make sure you wander around, there are interesting posts, including one that explains this recently seen category, New Adult Romance (my private definition is that there is a little spice but not the quantity found in erotic romance, a little sex but not overtly carnal).

Also, if you haven't seen it elsewhere...there is a wonderful introduction to the first book in several series for a remarkable price, $0.99  Please click on the cover to access.  (IF you purchase on that visit, I will get credit for the click so thank you!)  No idea how long this will last, so don't procrastinate!  How can you go wrong with books by Shayla Black, Lisa Renee Jones,
and the other set has Marie Harte, Carrie Ann Ryan, Cari Quinn and Jayne Rylon

          

She Does Know Jack by Donna Michaels is free on Amazon right now.





And don't forget the DFRAT (digital first read-a-thon) that is going on...you can start at Tracy's Place but there are other blogs such as Book Binge also participating.

Happy reading!

Pocket After Dark and musings about Amazon

For those of you who are willing to read e-books (sorry, Mary)...and I have been surprised to discover that there are quite a few who prefer this format...I suggest that you join the Pocket After Dark site.  Unfortunately, I tend to keep a lot of titles on my TBR plate so I forget to return to the site as often as I should but there are usually one or two titles that they offer for a limited time to be read in their entirety plus snippets from other books.  Right now they have Karen Robards' Justice and J.F. Lewis' Crossed available for a limited time.  I have a preference for the printed book so e-books tend to go to the end of my queue but this is a great way to get to know new authors.  Fortunately, my local libraries are very good about adding a wide variety of genres to their collections so it is very rare that I lack for new titles to read.

This leads me to the discovery that Patricia Briggs' new title Fair Game got released yesterday and my displeasure with Amazon!  I very rarely buy hardcover books.  It is not cost effective for me and as I said, the local libraries are pretty good about getting new titles in a timely manner and my TBR pile is so enormous that it is pretty hard to keep up with all of the series that I read and keep up with the review books that I peruse.  That being said, Patty Briggs is one of a handful of authors that I purchase in hardback.  Those who have read much of my blog know that I am frugal so it is rare that I buy things without a coupon or other discount but I was fortunate to receive several credits on Amazon and I pre-ordered Fair Game in OCTOBER!!!!  I was a bit annoyed to read someone's post about receiving their Kindle version yesterday and to look at my account and realize that my copy hasn't even shipped yet!  Now, I understand that sometimes copies aren't available but this is on the heels of having to wait to receive my copy of Tamora Pierce's Mastiff about THREE WEEKS after it was released.  Another copy that I had pre-ordered.  I am not pleased.  I realize that I am falling into the whine of those who like instant gratification but I think that given that I have 'gotten in line' months before the release and I know that copies are often released to booksellers early (after all, how could they have them stocked on the shelves on the pertinent days otherwise)...why aren't they shipped so that they arrive on or just after the release date?

What is the point of buying through Amazon?  I can't look at the book and make sure it is pristine (and yes, I am one of those obsessive people who like my bookcovers to be nice and unwrinkled, the corners of the book undamaged, etc.) and now it seems I can't even get the book when it is first released.  I am going to have to ponder and decide whether to trade my allegiance to Barnes and Noble (I was an ardent supporter of Waldenbooks/Borders).  Ok, will climb down off of my soapbox now...but I reserve the right to grumble....