Category Archives: – Book Bargains –

Guest Blogger: Lena Diaz on the eBook Explosion

April 5, 2012

Thanks so much for hosting me on The Romanceaholic today (totally cool blog name by the way!)

I think it was about this time a year ago that I was fortunate enough to sell my first book to Avon Impulse – the digital first imprint of Harper Collins. And just a few days ago my second book was released – SIMON SAYS DIE. What a difference a year makes. And how cool that authors can go from sold to published so quickly – twice – in one year!

Before ebooks came along, that was a very rare, if impossible, scenario. It’s that electronic format that changes everything, allowing books to go from concept to release day so incredibly quickly. And my, oh my, look at the types of books being published these days. Wonderful, amazing stories, genre-blends that bookstores wouldn’t have a clue how to market are selling like crazy on the internet in virtual bookstores. Putting it in real-estate terms, it’s a buyer’s market right now! So much to choose from, and digital makes everything so incredibly affordable.

That is, if you don’t go crazy clicking that ‘buy’ button on your ereader too often and spend too much money! A very real danger.

I finally bit the bullet a few weeks ago and bought my first ereader. Before that, I was stubbornly clinging to my print books and reading ebooks on my laptop. I wasn’t crazy about the digital reading experience to be honest. And then I bought my ereader. WOW! I became a convert overnight. I love it. What I love most are the digital samples – whole chapters available at the click of a button, in seconds, so I can try a new author without making the monetary commitment until I’m sure I like their writing style.

Of course, then I DO make that monetary commitment more often than not. I’ve bought more books on my ereader in the past two weeks than I bought at print bookstores in the past six months.

So, to those who worry that publishing is dying a quick death because of ebooks, I have to say I disagree. Do I love print books? Yes, and I always will. I love the look of them, the feel of them, how pretty they make my bookshelves at home. But ebooks offer an entirely new option. And you have to admit, that cyber-bookshelf on ereaders is pretty darn cool.

To me, ebooks are an incredible opportunity. Authors who struggled to get published in the past are now finding audiences who love their work. Readers who couldn’t find what they wanted now have MILLIONS of choices online. As for the pessimists who complain that ebooks are too cheap? I’d like to echo the words of some famous person (can’t remember who???) who once said something like this: I’d rather sell a thousand books to a thousand people for a dollar each, than sell one book to one person for a thousand dollars.

Readers wants books. Authors want readers. Being published in an ebook line is a reader-author match made in heaven!

If you have an ereader (if not, why not???), and if you love romantic suspense, I hope you’ll give my new release a try – SIMON SAYS DIE.

If you still prefer print books (and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that – I still love them too), you can order SIMON SAYS DIE in print too! Just go to any online book retailer and click that buy button!

I’d love to hear your opinions on this ebook explosion and what it means to you! And I’d love to hear about any new favorite authors you’ve discovered through your ebook purchases!

MSRP $7.99 Avon Paperback | $3.99 Avon eBook


Simon says: I’m watching. Simon says: I’m coming. Simon says: Die.

Madison McKinley knows someone is stalking her. The police tell her she’s imagining things, and they’re too busy trying to find the “Simon Says” killer to investigate. But day by day, hour by hour, Madison’s terror grows stronger, and not even the return of FBI Special Agent Pierce Buchanan into her life can calm her fears. Besides, how can she ask Pierce for his help after the way she ended things between them?

Pierce still wants Madison’s love, and his drive to protect her is more powerful than ever. He believes she’s in danger, even if the cops don’t. Finally, as more people start dying and the evidence mounts, the police turn their attention to Madison—as a suspect. Was Pierce a fool to trust her again, or are they both caught in a complex game that neither will survive?

ADD IT ON GOODREADS

Buy It:

 AMAZON (Kindle) | AMAZON (Paperback) |  BARNES & NOBLE (Nook) | BARNES & NOBLE (Paperback) | iBOOKS | SONY READER | KOBO


About the Author

Lena Diaz grew up a Navy Brat, but while two of her three siblings followed her father’s footsteps and joined the Navy, Lena loosely followed her musically talented mother’s footsteps by choosing a more creative path, writing. Lena has had two novels published so far – HE KILLS ME, HE KILLS ME NOT and SIMON SAYS DIE.

Lena has won the TARA, the Daphne du Maurier, and was a finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® contest. Today Lena can be found in North Florida with her husband of twenty-plus years, and her two children.

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, -- Random Mutterings -- – 7 Comments

The Importance of Kisses: Guest Post & (International) Giveaway – Jessa Slade

March 8, 2012

The Importance of Kisses
by Jessa Slade

All first kisses are important, but as a writer, sometimes I feel that the first kisses in romance novels are more fraught even than real-life first kisses, and that’s saying something. A first kiss is all magic and tension and exploration and panic and fear and desire and sweetness and sass and and and. Yikes! That’s a lot of weight for two pairs of lips to bear.

The only thing more fraught than first kisses? Second kisses.

An accidental first kiss might be excusable. Remember the first kiss from The Lady and the Tramp? Falling into each other’s lips happens sometimes. But by the second kiss, the “oops” factor is harder to justify. In a second kiss, there is an implicit promise of more kisses to follow, and nothing will ever be the same again.

In my latest Marked Souls novel, DARKNESS UNDONE, amnesiac Alyce Carver has been existing like a feral creature in Chicago, knowing she isn’t quite “right,” but unaware she is a talya — a human possessed by a repentant demon, fated to battle against evil for the rest of her immortal life. When she inadvertently saves British demon researcher Sidney Westerbrook from an attack by decidedly NOT repentant demons, she begins to learn about her own destiny…and about the pleasures she has been missing in her solitary wanderings.

Their first kiss was a bit of a cheat since Sid was unconscious for the start of it, due to loss of blood after his first Chicago demon fight. (You can read that kiss in Chapter 1 at http://tinyurl.com/darkness-undone) Lucky for Sid, Alyce is a quick learner despite her years of running wild. While she might not know her own past, she knows what she wants now: him.

So soft—his lips were every bit as soft as she’d remembered from that first fleeting kiss. And wonderfully warm, they curved around hers, like a secret smile she could feel but not see—a smile only for her.

“My Sidney,” she whispered against his mouth. Or she meant to. What came out of her was a moan, even softer than his lips.

She reached up to sink her fingers into his hair. The russet locks were just long enough to tickle the backs of her hands and send delightful shivers through her. Then she remembered the rest of his hair, the light sift of curls on his chest, and tighter lower down, and she wondered where else that might tickle her, so she let her fingers trip over his breastbone and down his belly. Ah, rougher than the silk of his hair, but every bit as pleasing to her touch.

His fingers wrapped around her upper arms. Good, or she might have fallen as her knees weakened. Mouth to mouth, their breath swirled and merged, a close, sultry mingling that promised deeper intimacy if they just—

He pulled away, and their lips parted. “Wait.” He locked his elbows and his grip on her arms kept her from stepping back into his embrace. “Alyce, wait.” His grasp wasn’t really strong enough to stop her—and shook slightly besides—but she waited because he’d asked. “What are we doing?”

“I know the answer to this one,” she said quickly.


Alyce has been hunting demons for literally longer than she can remember. Why one slightly uptight British bookworm thinks he can escape her is anyone’s guess. Of course, whether they can fight through to their happy ending depends less on their bravery against the demons hunting them and more on their courage facing their own feelings.

Your turn! Tell us about your favorite kiss? Was it a movie or book kiss, or one of your own? Was it the first or second, or the one just this morning? And today, there’s an extra prize for the commenter who comes up with the best euphemism for “tongue,” because let me tell ya, there are only so many ways to describe tongue.

* * *

Leave a comment answering Jessa’s question for your chance to win a signed copy of DARKNESS UNDONE, a set of Marked Souls Romance Trading Cards, a music download card with the album containing the Marked Souls theme song, and a pair of earrings inspired by the storyworld.

And everyone who stops by today can download a free copy of her science fiction romance novella, “Enslaved By Starlight,” in the HOTTER ON THE EDGE anthology! Just go to http://tinyurl.com/hotter4free and use coupon code UW37U, or download at Amazon, BN.com and other ebook retailers for 99¢. Thank you for reading!

*Giveaway open Internationally, and will close for entries at 12:01 am EST March 13, 2012. Winner will be notified within 48 hours of the giveaway close. Please be certain to leave a valid email address so that I can get in touch with the winners. Giveaway generously sponsored by Jessa Slade.

* * *

The war between good and evil has raged for millennia,

and as a powerful new enemy ascends,

the Marked Souls are pushed to the ragged edge…


Sidney Westerbrook has always studied darkness and damnation from a sensible distance. Now, to earn his place as a league Bookkeeper, he must discover why Chicago is such a battleground of soul-linked warriors. But the research becomes personal when he finds himself over his head and under attack — and at the mercy of a waif with demon-lit eyes and a deep yearning in her heart.

Alyce Carver has been alone longer than she can remember, battered by the living nightmares that haunt her city. Cornered by yet another gang of demons, she unwittingly joins forces with a handsome scholar who can salvage her past, and she in turn may be the key to his investigations. But she won’t let him go until he shows her everything she’s been missing.

What begins as an experiment in possession becomes a trial by desire so powerful it threatens both their lives, even as it binds their souls.

“Slade’s plot packs plenty of action…in a group of forceful personalities.”
– Publishers Weekly

“[A] fish-out-of-water story that keeps a rapid pace, delivering a strong plot, enjoyable characters and a stunning world.”
–RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

Read Chapter 1 of DARKNESS UNDONE and find links to favorite bookstores at:
http://jessaslade.wordpress.com/excerpts/book-4-of-the-marked-souls/

Read the first chapters of all the Marked Souls novels at http://jessaslade.com

You can find Jessa online at:
http://twitter.com/JessaSlade
http://www.facebook.com/JessaSlade
http://www.goodreads.com/JessaSlade
http://www.pinterest.com/Jessaslade

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, -- Contests --, -- Random Mutterings -- – 42 Comments

Review: Mad About The Duke – Avon – Elizabeth Boyle

January 29, 2012

Expected Release Date: September 28, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Author’s Website: http://www.elizabethboyle.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com (Kindle)
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 7, The Bachelor Chronicles
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

NEVER JUDGE A DUKE BY IT’S COVER … 

Level-headed Lady Elinor Standon will not allow her greedy stepfather to wed her younger sister to the highest bidder! The only way to stop this evil plan is for Elinor to to gain control of her sister’s guardianship, but to do that she needs to get married. Convinced that nothing less than a duke will do, she hires Mr. St. Maur, Esq. to help her land her lofty lord … However her plans go awry as she discovers that beneath her solicitor’s rumpled coat and haughty demeanor is a man all-too-desirable to ignore and she finds herself falling for more than his unconventional legal advice. 

James Tremont, the ninth Duke of Parkerton, is astonished by the freedom and anonymity he’s gained simply by donning his brother’s ill-fitting jacket, especially when an exquisite, peer-hunting beauty mistakes him for a solicitor … Now he finds himself tangled up by more than her legal woes. For until he can undo the straight-laced yet delectable Elinor, his identity must remain a mystery — because by not having revealed it immediately, this dedicated bachelor may have already sabotaged his one chance for the madness of finding his one true love.

Having been sold off into a horribly unhappy marriage already, the now-widowed Lady Elinor Standon absolutely refuses to allow her greedy step-father to do the same to her youngest sister.  Needing  to gain guardianship of her sister, Elinor knows she must marry a man powerful enough to stop her step-father, and for this, only a duke will do.   Hiring a solicitor to investigate her potential bridegrooms — and report back any information that might be useful in snagging a duke — seems to be the most logical course of action.  Unfortunately Elinor discovers that her handsome solicitor is exactly what she’s always wanted in a husband. Too bad a mere mister will never be enough to prevent her step-father from paying off his debts with her sister’s future.

James Tremont, the Duke of Parkerton, is stunned when the impertinent and scandalous widow Standon mistakes him for a solicitor, but circumstances prevent him from correcting her misconception.  Blinded by Elinor’s beauty and spunk, he soon finds himself entangled in her wild plan to wed a duke, and is both offended and intrigued to find that he himself — or, that is, the Duke of Parkerton — is not on her list of potential suitors!   Will Elinor be able to forgive his deception, or will Parkerton have unwittingly sent her straight into the arms of a rival?

What Worked For Me:

  • While I’m not usually a fan of love at first sight, I admit there was a certain charm to Parkerton and Elinor’s instant love. I think the main reason I found it sweet instead of annoying was simply because they both refused to acknowledge it to anyone, despite the fact it was painfully obvious to anyone who was paying even the slightest bit of attention.
  • I loved that this book wasn’t at all heavy on the angst. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of conflict, both with Elinor’s stepfather and with Parkerton’s deception, but it wasn’t the type of conflict that drags the story down, which I appreciated.
  • I loved Parkerton. Stuffy and painfully proper, finding himself playing along in the role of solicitor allowed him quite a bit of freedom that he’d never before really indulged in.
  • I also enjoyed the circumstances that led to Parkerton’s unintentional deception. It was one of those situations that you can absolutely see happening, and also one where you see that there’s truly no “good” time to actually come clean.
  • I quite literally laughed out loud a few times during the back and forth between Elinor and Parkerton as to why his name was not on her list of prospective husbands (during the time where she didn’t realize that the man she was discussing was actually him of course).
  • I also thoroughly enjoyed the villain in the story, as well as Elinor’s astonishing amount of naivete, considering she was, after all, the widow of one of the most scandalous men in England.
  • The servants in Parkerton’s household added quite a few laughs as well, though I admit my reaction in finding out what they’d done would have been quite different than his was.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • This is horribly ageist of me, I know, but it threw me off that Parkerton was in his 40′s.  Perhaps it’s simply because I haven’t read any other books in the series, but to find out he had a wife who’d been deceased over 20 years threw me for a huge loop.   This was a minor point, because hey, 40 is the new 30, right? But it was still disorienting when I hadn’t been expecting it going into the story.

Lighthearted and funny, this book was exactly what I needed to read right now.  A case of mistaken identity, the freedom found in not being yourself, and love at first sight with the most impossible candidate for marriage possible all wound together to create a fun story that left me closing the book with a big smile on my face.

A very delightful 4.5/5 Stars

*At the time of this review, Mad About The Duke is only $1.99 for Kindle! Snag it before the price goes back up!

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Historical – 1 Comment

Review: Magic Gifts – Ilona Andrews

January 11, 2012

Expected Release Date: December 24, 2011
Publisher: Self- Published
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/
My Source for This Book: Ilona Andrews’ Website*
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 5.4, Kate Daniels Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Warm

Official Blurb:

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extereme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.

Read at your own risk.

What Worked For Me:

  • It’s Kate Daniels. Duh.
  • There are Vikings. Well, members of the Norse Heritage Foundation, at least.  Living up to their reputation for drunkenness and violence, the entire exchange between them and Kate & Co. are pretty hysterical, especially when it involves a vampire piloted by Ghastek.
  • Ghastek is absolutely delightful in this story.  His arrogance has always been his weakness, and it comes back to bite him, quite literally, in the teakettle this go round.
  • Håkon was wonderfully creepy, and I loved how Kate and Curran solved the dilemma of finding “sacrifices” to protect her from him.
  • As always, I loved seeing the Beast Lord in all his furry glory.
  • The overall storyline was actually quite intriguing to begin with — a child in danger, having to not only visit a group of Vikings, but dealing with a horrifying draugr on top of everything else.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • The cruel, cruel tease to Andrea’s book, which I already desperately wanted to read before picking up this novella, and am now lamenting loudly the fact that its publication has actually been delayed due to an illness in the authors’ family.  Gah.
  • There are quite a bit of grammatical and typographic mistakes in my copy, though it was made quite clear up front that this version was unedited.

There was so much that I loved about this novella that it would be impossible to list everything without retelling the story. Jim’s clipboards. Curran’s comment about having to get dressed up and meet with the People despite his dislike for them. Kate’s epic “entrance” to the meeting with the Mercenary Guild. The list goes on.

Sure, there were some grammatical and typographical mistakes, but it was clear up front that this was an unedited “bonus” of sorts for fans of the series, and except for one instance where a character’s name was misspelled, I honestly barely noticed.

Overall, I ate it up with a spoon, and was left whimpering for more, just as I have been with everything I’ve read of the series since Book 3.

While this is definitely not something I would recommend for newcomers to the series, I think that old fans will greatly enjoy it, and I for one cannot wait to get Gunmetal Magic, due out in Summer 2012.

A resounding 5/5 Stars.

*This novella was available on Ilona Andrews’ website for a very limited time as a bonus to their readers, but is no longer available through the site.  The latest information I have on future availability is that this novella will likely be printed at the end of the next Kate Daniels book — Gunmetal Magic (Andrea’s Book), as it occurs simultaneously to that story. 

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Short Story Or Novella, Urban Fantasy – 1 Comment

Review: Tracking Shadows – Regan Black

December 10, 2011

Expected Release Date: May 3, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self Published
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.reganblack.com/
My Source for This Book: Won in a contest, picked up from Smashwords.
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 4, Shadows of Justice Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

In 2096, the American government has gone above and beyond to ‘protect its citizens’, even regulating sugar and coffee. Every new legislative measure opens up a black market for an enterprising person willing to seize the opportunity.

In Chicago, Slick Micky is the king of smuggling. Known to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere, he specializes in caffeine and sugar and works in the anonymity of shadows. But recently an old enemy is tired of waiting for Micky’s empire to crumble and has called in the best assassin in the business to take him out.

Trina Durham is an assassin with a sterling reputation, thanks to her unique ability to induce deadly hallucinations. When Slick Micky killed her best friend, she left Chicago – forever. She’s back now, unable to resist the perfect opportunity for vengeance. But no one warned her Slick Micky might as well be a shadow. Or that shedding light on the man and his secrets would put both her heart and reputation at risk.

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved Trina’s ability to bend people’s perceptions by inducing hallucinations.  It’s not a power that I as a reader come across often in paranormal stories, but it’s certainly one of the more interesting abilities out there, and I loved the way Trina used her powers to manipulate both friends and enemies alike.
  • The love scenes were surprisingly hot.  As an Urban Fantasy title, I hadn’t expected such a strong connection between Micky and Trina, so it was a very pleasant surprise.
  • I also really enjoyed the idea of the government banning such substances as caffeine and refined sugar. As a proponent for our own personal rights, it’s easy to see how giving up our smaller rights today could lead to much stricter regulations in the future, and it also added quite a bit of realism to Micky’s enterprise — when most people view the product being moved as harmless, or the ban on the substances as ridiculous, it makes more sense that many officials would look the other way.
  • The Invisi-Suit was a blast as well, and I loved that Micky had been cautioned about becoming addicted to it. I can easily imagine becoming addicted to being able to move about unseen, especially if working in an illegal operation.
  • I couldn’t help but enjoy how Micky kept “ruining” things for Trina. So often it’s a bumbling (but well-intentioned) female who ends up foiling the plans of the intrepid alpha male, and to see the roles reversed definitely made me smile.  Of course, Trina was not completely innocent, because had she simply trusted Micky enough to confide in him, things would’ve progressed much more smoothly, but even so, it was fun to witness.
  • Despite the intricacies of Micky and Trina’s pasts, and the large amount of action in the book, the pacing was perfect — quick but smooth, without leaving the reader exhausted from the action, but also not dragging through the emotional parts.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • There were a few times where I felt rather “out of the loop” for lack of a better term. I didn’t realize going into this story that it was the fourth installment of a previously establish series, and while there was a good amount of world-building, and the characters stood well on their own, I couldn’t help but feel like there was something missing from my reading experience. I can only assume that it’s due to having not read the previous books in the series before having started this one.
  • I also wish that the “addictive” properties of the InvisiSuit and its side effects had played a larger part in the story.

I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised that I’d never heard of this author until I was lucky enough to snag this book in a contest.  With plenty of action, a solid dose of romance, plenty of angst, and a very intriguing future society, this book was truly wonderful.

I didn’t realize going into this story that it was part of a previously established series, and as such there were occasions where I felt as though I’d missed something, but in general I think it stood quite well on its own.

The entire concept of the government controlling such innocuous substances as caffeine and refined sugar was believable to anyone who has their eye on the ever-shrinking personal rights of Americans these days, and just as with the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920′s, it is easy to see that some higher-ups would easily turn a blind eye to illegal activity in smuggling and distributing the very products many of these people consume themselves.

Overall, I loved it.  The angst surrounding Micky’s identity, and Trina’s belief that she wasn’t worthy of him due to all of the blood on her hands was well played, and the romance felt organic without overtaking the plot.  There were just enough fantastical elements to keep the story solidly in the realm of urban fantasy, and the pacing was fast without exhausting the reader.

Highly recommended for fans of slightly futuristic urban fantasy and a welcome reprieve from vampires, werewolves, and magic.  A solid 4/5 Stars

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Romantic Suspense, Sci-Fi and/or Futuristic, Urban Fantasy – 0 Comments

Review: Once Upon A Winter’s Eve – Samhain – Tessa Dare

December 2, 2011

Expected Release Date: November 15, 2011
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://tessadare.com/
My Source for This Book: Won in a Contest
Part of a Series: Yes, “A Spindle Cove Novella”/Spindle Cove 1.5
Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Some wallflowers bloom at night…

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren’t beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet’s feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He’s wet, chilled, bleeding, and
speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he’s not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable… Love.

What Worked For Me:

  • Violet was wonderful. Recovering from what she refers to as “The Disappointment”, she’s slowly finding contentment in Spindle Cove when everything is turned on its ear.  Even so, she manages to keep her cool, and proves both her cunning and loyalty when necessary.
  • The writing itself had a sort of lyrical quality to it, giving just enough background and fleshing out the setting enough that the story flowed in a realistic manner, but without overburdening the story with unnecessary descriptions and details.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Frankly, I didn’t care for the hero.  At all.  I can’t really explain because his true identity is a big secret and so it would be a spoiler, but it’s very hard to like a story when all you really want to do is beat down one of the main characters.
  • In a time when a woman’s reputation is everything, I found it very hard to believe that Violet would’ve been allowed anywhere near the man who’d washed ashore. Granted, I’ve not read the first book in the series, and I do get the distinct impression that things are done “differently” in Spindle Cove, but this struck me as so unusual that it kept me from really getting into the story.

Despite my dislike for the hero (and my firm belief that he needed a good horsewhipping), this was an overall enjoyable read. With three-dimensional characters, plenty of sexual tension, some intrigue, action, and heartache, I do think that even newcomers to the series will find this one well worth the money.

At the time of this review, the novella is only $0.79 at Amazon.com, and the previous book in the series, A Night To Remember, is only $4.99 on Kindle.

Overall, while I personally couldn’t get past my dislike for the hero to rate this one higher, I will admit that I certainly enjoyed the author’s writing style, and will very likely be picking up the first book in the series before all is said and done.

3/5 Stars

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Historical – 1 Comment

Best Seller For A Day: Soul Search – Amber Scott

November 30, 2011

What is Best Seller For A Day? It’s a promotion designed to help authors boost their sales ranking on Amazon, and give new readers some AMAZING deals on ebooks!

This month’s featured title is…

SOUL SEARCH by Amber Scott!
Three years ago, one horrific night changed his life forever.  And now the wolf soul that was invoked to save him is taking over his body, day by day. Can he master his animal instincts in time to discover who is stealing children’s souls before the delicate balance we all depend upon is shattered? Or will he reject the one woman who can help heal his body and his soul?

Sounds awesome, right?  Check out what others had to say about Soul Search:

“I couldn’t put it down. The only thing that got between this book and me was work. I could only read a few pages a night. This is the best book I’ve read this year.” -Jacqueline Ortiz, “@jackiebkworm” Book Reviewer

“The twists and turns in Soul Search had me gasping out loud. Once again, Amber Scott delivers a delicious read.” -Your Need to Read 5/5 Stars, Reviewer

“From the start, Soul Search grips you and won’t let go. Two endangered souls forced to join together in the search for a missing child–a journey filled conflict and complications. Sizzling romance, heart-pounding suspense, and a touch of mystery make for an exciting, riveting read. Amber Scott has me hooked!”
-Ann Charles,  Award-Winning Author of the Deadwood Mystery Series

Bonus Buys:

To celebrate Soul Search’s big day, these authors are dropping the price of their amazing titles to just 99¢!!!! Just head over to their Amazon.com pages and see what all the fuss is about!

 

 

 

I’ve only been lucky enough to read Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann Williams in paperback and loved it, and frankly, I plan on buying every book in this promotion, especially at this price.

Decided which books to snag? Visit the  BESTSELLER FOR A DAY’s WEBSITE for details on how you can get a rebate of your purchase price for the Bonus Buys!

Visit BestSellerForADay.com for more information, and snag your books today before it’s too late!

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, -- Random Mutterings -- – 1 Comment

Help Support Four Debut Authors and You Could Snag Some Great Loot!

November 28, 2011
Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Support Four Debut Authors and You Could Snag Up To $125!

Four books |  Two Days |  Great Prizes

With this contest, hosted by the authors,  there is something for everyone and it’s SO simple to be in on the winning!

On November 28 and/or 29, purchase 1 or all 4 of the debut author’s books listed here. Then forward proof of purchase (the receipt Amazon sends you will do just fine) to : motionsrider@yahoo.ca and get up to 4 entries into a drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card!

It’s that easy, no reviews, no hoops to jump through. Just a great $0.99 book or two. Or three, or four.  And, if the person who wins the $100 Amazon Gift Card has purchased all 4 books, an additional $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to the winner!

On top of that, 2 random commenter’s picked from 2 of our participating blogs (including this one) will receive $5 gift Amazon gift cards!  So, be sure to leave a comment here and let us know what you think of the promo, the books, or the authors.

(Winners will be chosen randomly, one entry per person, per book.)

All winners will be announced on December 7th on WRINGING OUT THE WORDS.

Between by Cyndi Tefft

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water’s life isn’t alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile, and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven’s siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

 

Until Dawn: Last Light by Jennifer Simas

When darkness falls, whose side will you be on?

For the past six years, Zoë has been anything but “normal.” Struggling to accept her immortality and thrown into a war that’s been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years, Zoë must now become who she was meant to be, joining the other Chosen to save what’s left of humanity. When the endless night falls over the Earth, will she be able to save the one man who reminds her of what it is to be human, or will it be too late?

Until Dawn: Last Light is a story of death and despair, love and longing, hope and hopelessness, and the ability to survive and keep going even when it seems impossible – when you want nothing more than to give up.

The Kayson Cycle by Jonathan D. Allen

A stranger enters a dying town and makes a desperate plea…

The Kayson Cycle introduces the Kayson Brothers, a pair of faith healers who once wowed crowds in a traveling show but went their separate ways after a night in which a healing took a dark turn. Jeffrey Kayson disappeared into the wilderness and William Kayson, wracked by guilt, moved to the failing mining town of Calico Hills to build a nice, quiet life – one that has lasted for over ten years.

His quiet, predictable life crumbles when a mysterious stranger walks into his tavern bearing a proposal to find his long-lost brother and do the one thing that William has sworn to never do again – have his brother heal a woman. William soon learns that he can’t escape his family – or his destiny.

Includes an exclusive sample chapter of The Corridors of the Dead. Please note that this is a Kindle Single, and around 6,000 words in length.

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Sundered by Shannon Mayer

A miracle drug, Nevermore, spreads like wildfire throughout the world allowing people to eat what they want, and still lose weight. It is everything the human population has ever dreamed of and Mara is no different. Only a simple twist of fate stops her from taking Nevermore.

As the weeks roll by, it becomes apparent that Nevermore is not the miracle it claimed. A true to life nightmare, the drug steals the very essence that makes up humanity and unleashes a new and deadly species on the world that is bent on filling its belly. Locked down within their small farm home, Mara and her husband Sebastian struggle against increasingly bad odds, fighting off marauders and monsters alike.

But Sebastian carries a dark secret, one that more than threatens to tear them apart, it threatens to destroy them both and the love they have for each other.

Now Mara must make the ultimate choice. Will she live for love, or will she live to survive?

I personally read and enjoyed Sundered, and its sequel, Bound.  YOU CAN READ MY REVIEW OF SUNDERED HERE.

Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card!  Please be sure to leave a valid email address so that we’ll have a way to contact you if you win.  (You do NOT have to be a follower of this blog to win, but as always, it’s greatly appreciated.)

 

 

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, -- Contests -- – 6 Comments

Blog Tour De Troops – Get Your Copy of Scent & Shadow

November 11, 2011

Did you know that over 300 overseas troops have requested books?

And the Indie Book Collective is going to make sure they get them.

This Veteran’s Day weekend, November 11th-14th, any reader can participate in the charity that gives back to the troops!

Over 50 authors will be giving away free eBooks, one for each person who leaves a comment on their blog and one for a soldier or veteran.
The purpose: To give away as many books as possible to the soldiers and veterans who request them.

Just visit the Indie Book Collective blog from November 11th-14th to see each day’s authors and join in on the blog hop. You’re guaranteed to get tons of books and so will our brave men and women who serve our country with honor!

The Romanceaholic is proud to help sponsor this tour, joining with Mercy Loomis.  Check out MY REVIEW,  and then visit MERCY LOOMIS’ BLOG and leave a comment along with your email address, and you’ll not only receive a FREE copy of Scent and Shadow, but a copy will also be given to a soldier or a veteran.

Also posted in -- Book Bargains -- – 0 Comments

Review: God’s Eye – Griffyn Ink – A.J. Scudiere

October 25, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: October 1, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Griffyn Ink
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.ajscudiere.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

A demon . . .

Every soul he claims is another chance to advance.
Until he can walk among us, look like us, make us believe in him. The only thing holding him back is . . . 

An angel. . .

The rules of the realm bind him from fighting on the demon’s terms. But this is his chance to steal something away from the demon, to steal the thing the demon wants most . . .

A woman who must choose . . .

A woman who has been chosen.

Katharine is suddenly a pawn in a game where the rules and the stakes are beyond her comprehension. She must take a side even though she can’t tell angel from demon. 

And in the end, they will all be judged.

Katharine Geryon has it made, or so it seems. As the daughter of the president of the company she works in, most people think that her position in the company is due solely to her relationship with the boss man, and most ignore her long hours at work and her utter dedication to the company.

When suddenly not one but two handsome men enter her life, Katharine is thrown for a loop — after all, most men who want to date her either see her as a meal ticket or a way to rise to the top of their own careers.  So when the handsome Zachary moves in next door and quickly pursues her, and then her attractive new assistant Alistair cashes in on the sparking attraction between them, she’s at a complete loss.

What Katharine doesn’t realize, however, is that she’s been chosen as the personal battlefield between Good and Evil, and that the outcome of more than just her own heart rests on a choice she will have to make…

What Worked For Me:

  • I really enjoyed the entire setup of the story — two creatures fighting over a neutral party, and in the meantime scaring the bejeezus out of her by making her think she was losing her mind. While I think the psychological warfare was a bit unintended by the antagonists, it still added an incredible amount of tension to the story that kept me from putting the book down from start to finish.
  • One thing that I absolutely loved about this story is that no matter what you suspected, you were never quite sure whose side Zachary and Alistair were playing on — only that they were enemies, and that one was “good” and the other was “evil”.
  • Despite the illicit nature of it, or perhaps because of it, the love scenes were H-O-T. There was just something primal about her trysts that made them incredibly urgent and primal, and I for one loved them.
  • The ending was absolutely wonderful. Not only did I not see it coming (which is unusual for me), but it was truly the perfect ending for the story and I adored it.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • One of the reasons I don’t care for love triangles is that it bothers me when a heroine is having sex with more than one person unless it’s a polyamory situation.  I simply don’t care for promiscuity in my heroes or my heroines, and by having Katharine succumb to her attraction to both Zachary and Alistair over the course of the novel, no matter how much either of them was “playing” her, really left a bad taste in my mouth.

One thing that I should be clear about up front is that this is not a traditional “romance”.  While there is a romantic aspect, this is much more strongly about choices, and the battle between good and evil.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of sex and romance, but in the end, that’s not really what this story is about.

I don’t particularly care for infidelity in my romance novels — there’s just nothing sexy in my mind about cheating on someone — but in this particular case I admit that it was a very minor negative point, if for nothing else than the fact that Zachary and Alistair are both unashamedly using Katharine for their own ends.

In the end, however, there were enough hot love scenes, world building, and intriguing plot twists to keep me from being able to put this one down, so despite containing not only a love triangle but also infidelity, it scores a very solid 4/5 Stars.

Halloween Special — Click Here to grab God’s Eye for only $2.99 for the eBook (regular price $7.99) through October 31st!  Grab it now while it’s such a great price!

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Not A Traditional Romance, Paranormal Romance – 1 Comment
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