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Friday Finds! 20 of the Latest Bargain e-Books & Reader Recommendations – December 4th 2015

December 4, 2015 By Maryse 181 Comments

Okay that one there to the left? Pure Abandon by Jeannine Colette has been on my TBR list since it was released, and my own fellow readers here have been LOVING it, so I’m in. I’m 25% in, in fact and have been thoroughly “into it” from the very first page. Yep. YES!! This one is FOR ME!!! 😀 Heartache and angst, here I come!!! 😀

And some of our fellow readers have left their own latest recommendations this week (some of the new releases now that are “tried and true” by our crew) and some oldies but goodies that are still rocking worlds. So take a look. The ones from this list that I’d *almost* squirrel for, if I wasn’t already very much into the one I’m reading now? Alex (eeeeeep!!! A horror story that is calling my name!! Ew. Ummm…. no. I don’t want any creepiness calling my name. That’s a nightmare in itself). LOL! The Golden Compass ’cause one of my new favorite authors went CRAZY for this series, and I know it’s really popular, so I’m intrigued. AND!! Anarchy Found – Alpha Lincoln by JA Huss is the one that is calling me the most!! HOLY MOLY that blurb (I’m thinking he’s not a superhero… he’s the villain) and the reviews are phenomenal!! You’ll see (I posted ’em below).

Oh and… LOL! Funny story.

Maryse: How many times has this happened to you? Tee hee!! I wanted to buy and read this book so bad and it’s on super-sale today, so I one-clicked it… *whoops* I’ve had it since 2012, you say? Maybe I should get on it! 😛 (P.S. it’s Alex by Adam J Nicolai)

JM: Haha! Definitely been there! 😀

Nikki: Waaaayyy too many times!!

Lee: I am laughing SO hard.. Because 1- 5 times, this happens to me.. aaaaaaand 2012?? It’s meant to be Maryse, drop everything and read it 😛 😛

P.S. Let me know if I’m missing any or if you loved any (from this list or elsewhere).

P.P.S. Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! Amazon offers various free Kindle apps and a free Kindle Cloud reader for any and ALL of us to use. You can either use the free Kindle App for your smartphone, tablet, AND your desktop computer (just like you’re using a Kindle, but right through your web browser <— No need to download anything! )

EBOOK BARGAINS & READER RECOMMENDATIONS (NOTE: bargain priced when I added them, but prices can change on Amazon, so make sure to check before you finalize your order).

The Darkest Descension (A Breaking Insanity Novel Book 3) by Courtney Lane <— JUST RELEASED DARK READ ALERT!!! Ela found us this one!! “Maryse, The Darkest Descension (Breaking Insanity #3) by Courtney Lane was also released. The third book to The Sordid Promise, which I absolutely LOVED.” (here is the series reading order)
Forbidden: A Standalone by C.D. Reiss <— JUST RELEASED!!! Marina says: “Somehow I missed that Forbidden by CD Reiss is out and that it is actually a bundle of her Songs of Perdition series. I had read Kick and Use and was DYING for more to the story. Forbidden, contains both Kick and Use AND, AND… the last part of the story called Break. So excited!!!!!! It’s a one-click, drop everything and read CD Reiss immediately day!! Pure Abandon sounds so awesome too!!!! So much to read, too little time…“
Never Over You Series Boxed Set by Ryleigh Andrews <— JUST RELEASED! FAMOUS FOOTBALL STAR & FAMOUS ROCK STAR ALERT! Series bundled and at a super-bargain price! “As Mia struggled with the stress of touring and being apart from Ethan, her defenses weakened, allowing the demons to fight their way to the surface, leaving her in a vulnerable place. A place where bad choices were made. Choices that both of them will regret…”
Game Winner (New York Kings) by Collette West <— JUST RELEASED and it’s another FOOTBALL STAR & POP STAR ALERT!
The Deepest Blue (Roadmap to Your Heart Book 2) by Christina Lee <— JUST RELEASED M/M (GFY) ROMANCE ALERT!! I loved this author’s other NA book, and here is her latest one! “Handsome and conscientious Dean Abbott is a research assistant in his university’s biology lab. When his roommate, Cassie, begs him to be her pretend date in front of her meddling family, he begrudgingly agrees to help. He doesn’t anticipate being enchanted by the countryside, the colorful cast of characters, or her sexy and brooding straight brother…“
Indigo Road by RJ Jones <— M/M ROMANCE BEST FRIENDS ON A ROAD TRIP ALERT! “Josh has always considered himself straight—except for that one time in college—so when he and Alex are living in such close proximity on the road, he’s unsure what these new feelings mean.”
Leap of Faith by Cheyenne Meadows <— WHOA THIS IS DIFFERENT… HE & HIS CHILD ARE THE SLAVES & SHE NOW “OWNS” THEM… “…she sets eyes on a man and child in shackles. His gaze compels her to step up and do something. Before she knows it, she’s the new owner of the slave pair.”
#Holiday: A Hashtag Series Short Story by Cambria Hebert <— JUST RELEASED
Anarchy Found – Alpha Lincoln by JA Huss <— JUST RELEASED AND SO MUCH LOVE FOR IT!!!!! He’s no a super-hero… he’s the villain… and we are in love with him! Allison LOVED it!! “I read Anarchy Found and LOVED IT. Could so see this book being a movie. Ugh, I am so in love with the H – Lincoln. The things he says to Molly. I just die. Definitely recommend it!” and Fabi agrees! “…squeeee I’m on chapter 5 and I am IN LOVE with these characters!” and then… “*whispers* ah…guys? Anarchy Found is SO FREAKIN GOOD!!!”
Tall, Dark and Alpha by Missy Johnson <— JUST RELEASED and it’s over 800 pages!!!! OMG!!! OH!! 4 different steamy novels, and I’ll give you a taste of book #1’s blurb! Here’s a hint. He’s an escort. 😉 “I’m rolling in the dough. Life is perfect, just the way it is. Until I meet her. She changes everything. She makes me want more than I’ve ever wanted for myself and she believes in me. But she also thinks I sell insurance. I can’t stop what I do, but I can’t give her up. Eventually, my two worlds are going to collide and when they do, sh!t will hit the fan.“
DEEP by Jaine Diamond <— SHE JOINS THE MILITARY BUT… “When she reports to Station Six amid wild rumors of erotic hazing rituals and sadomasochistic games, she’s not prepared for any of the rumors to be true—or for her insatiable attraction to Sergeant “Catch” Durant, her tattooed rebel of a trainer…”
Some Sort of Crazy (Natalie and Miles): A Happy Crazy Love Novel by Melanie Harlow <— Allison recommends it!! “Some Sort of Crazy was great! Funny and hot and sweet!”
Letters Written in White by Kathryn Perez <— Milissa loved it!! “Ok ladies letters written in white had me balling like crazy. And it takes a lot to do that.”
Blood Kiss: Black Dagger Legacy by J.R. Ward <— Theresa enjoyed the latest BDB book! “Just finished Blood Kiss. Good spin off. Same world, some with the brothers but a slower, more romance, less intense read. Not the tragic sad ugly cry stories of the brothers. So I recommend you give it a try. The Beast will be an ugly cry!”
Falling From the Sky (Gravity Book 2) by Sarina Bowen <— Jean is TOTALLY into this one! “Falling From the Sky (Gravity #2), By Sarina Bowen… Loving this book and Hank “Hazardous” Lazarus!!!!”
Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark Book 11) by Kresley Cole <— Ela’s in love with a series that I LOVED like crazy back in my paranormal romance days!! “I LOVE IAD AND DECLAN AND REGIN? *SIGH* EVERY PNR FAN HAS TO READ IAD SERIES! I PROMISE YOU WON’T REGRET IT. EACH BOOK IS GREAT, THE CHARACTERS AWESOME, FUNNY, AND GRITTY!!!!!!!!!! WHAT’S NOT ROMANTIC ABOUT A LYKAE BITING HIS CLAWS OFF TO SATISFY HIS WOMAN????? SOOOOOOOOOO ROMANTIC.” And MichelleS agrees! “Ela – oh man! you would have to mention Declan – that was one of THE best of that series. Regin and her Berserker? Oh man! That one is a re-read for me. That, and Bowen and Mariketta, and Lachlan and Emma. The good old days.“
Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark Book 1) by Krseley Cole <— ON SUPER-SALE RIGHT NOW!! Thanks Ela, for finding us this bargain!!! MichelleS says: “Immortals After Dark – best ever for spunky girl meets über alpha. It’s like the amazing race for PNR. Crazy good. I adore Nix (aka Nucking Futs Nix). And werewolves from Scotland? Swoon. Seriously, it’s a must read.”
Alex Adam J Nicolai <— HORROR GHOST STORY ON SUPER-SALE!!!! And I totally one-clicked it and realized… ummm. I already bought it. Back in 2012. LOL!
Wicked Wolf: A Redwood Pack Novella (Redwood Pack Series Book 8) by Carrie Ann Ryan <— ON SUPER-SALE!
The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman <— FANTASY/STEAMPUNK ALERT! Suanne Laqueur (one of my new favorite authors) HIGHLY recommends this series and in fact, since I am head over heels over HER own books, I will absolutely read these! She says: “OMG, The Golden Compass and the rest of His Dark Materials (Subtle Knife, Amber Spyglass) is seriously some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read. I re-read them every year. They’re so beautiful and I really am offended that daemons don’t exist in real life. Seriously, why is this not a thing??”
ROOK and RONIN OMNIBUS EDITION: TRAGIC~MANIC~PANIC – The Complete Trilogy by J.A. HUSS <— OHHHHHH EMMMM GEEEE!!! And at a ROCK BOTTOM price right now. YES PLEASE!!!! 😀 Amy found this deal for us!! Thanks Amy!!! 😀
Torn Series Set (Books: 1 – 10) by Pamela Ann <— 10 BOOKS IN THE SERIES, BUNDLED & BARGAIN PRICED!!! AND AND Amy found us this one! “Pamela Ann’s Torn series is available in a set … through the holiday season, something like 10 books. I haven’t read either of those series (even though they’ve been sitting in my library forever!) but I had to share those deals!”
Unleashed by Shadows (By Moonlight Book 10) by Nancy Gideon <— Theresa recommends this one! “definetely check out Nancy Gideon. Just finished her last book in the moonlight series. Not much chatter but I really like that series and i have read all the big popular ones and this is in the same class for me. Max swooooooon.”
Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen <— Well… now THAT is a crazy “bargain price”. Lower than what we normally consider the lowest bargain price. How’d they come up with that as a sale price? No matter… I’m in! LOL!!

And for AUDIOBOOK LVERS

For those going on a road trip soon, or maybe you’ve got some projects that require both hands this weekend but still allows you to “listen”… check out the free audible trial + 2 free ebooks deal —>
AND! Here’s the fun-tool again! —> Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as AUDIOBOOKS AT A BARGAIN-PRICE!<—Audiobooks for ebook super-sale prices. I’m thrilled with that, and what’s fun is you can flip flop from reading it, to listening to it without losing your spot… This thing is so cool (Amazon calls it “Matchmaker“)! It’s an Amazon feature, that scans your Kindle books and will list all of the ones you have that are also available as an audiobook at a discounted price (not normal audiobook prices). This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL! (This is the “Whispersync” thingie).
The Girl in 6E by A.E. Torre <— Cheryl suggests this audiobook! “The narrator for The Girl In 6e series is excellent and quite honestly reading the book would have dragged somewhat because there really is not any romance and the story is very descriptive about obsessions with killing and different statistics with the world of online sex. It’s definitely a unique story. Reminds me of the SLOW-build relationship between Dex and Perry minus the obsession with killing. “

PRE-ORDERS (a few for next week)!!

The Year of Falling in Love (A Sunnyvale Novel Book 2) by Jessica Sorensen – December 7th 2015
Dirty Billionaire (The Dirty Billionaire Trilogy Book 1) by Meghan March – December 8th 2015
BROKEN PROMISES (Trystan Scott Novel) by H.M. Ward – December 7th 2015
Before (The After Series Book 5) by Anna Todd – December 8th 2015
The Final Move (Hometown Players) by Victoria Denault – December 8th 2015
Capture Me (A Twist Me Trilogy Spin-Off) by Anna Zaires – December 8th 2015
Iniquity (The Premonition Series Book 5) by Amy A. Bartol – December 8th 2015
Midnight Mass (Priest Book 2) by Sierra Simone – December 8th 2015
Crashed Out (Made in Jersey) by Tessa Bailey – December 10th 2015
Capture Me by Anna Zaires – December 10th 2015
Within This Frame by Lindy Zart – December 11th 2015
Addiction (Talisman Book 3) by Sofia Grey – December 11th 2015
Outtakes from the Grave (Night Huntress Book 8) by Jeaniene Frost – December 22nd 2015
Christmas from Hell: A Neighbor From Hell Novel by R.L. Mathewson – December 29th 2015

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Reader Question… Which Kindle should I buy?

December 3, 2015 By Maryse 12 Comments

Here’s one that I took to Facebook, and already have a couple of great answers for Misty, but in case anyone here wants to add to these suggestions, or suggest something else, we are all ears! 😀

Misty needs our help!! Since I mostly read on my iPad I thought my fellow readers (and Kindle users) could weigh in and help suggest one for her. She asks:

“Hi Maryse.

I was wondering if you might be able to recommend a Kindle for me? I want one that I can read in the bright sunlight, and that the matchmaker will play audio books on. … I have become a book junkie after finding your website. I never read anything but People magazine before that. LOL! Thank you!”

Betty: I don’t do audio but the Paperwhite is the bomb. I’ve owned all generations of kindles and Fire and that’s my favorite

Susan: Paperwhite has the capabilities you want. I love mine. Can read outside and in the middle of the night it has a backlight.

Miss Denmark: This is the one I’ve been recommended in my reader groups!! My 2nd gen kindle needs to be upgraded

MichelleMarie: The Paperwhite doesn’t have audio capability so no audio books. Amazon removed audio From the kindles – you would need to get a Kindle Fire or find a used Kindle Touch

Caitlin: I have a paperwhite and love it. I do my audio books on my iPhone using either audible (which will switch back and forth with the kindle version) or my library’s apps.

Rebecca: Misty, load the free Audible app on your phone. You will read your ebook via your kindle of choice, and you can listen to the audio when you’re up and about, via your phone. The ebooks that have wispersync option when buying, will allow your devices to automatically sync each other where you are in your book, whether you read from it or listen to it. ie: if you listen up to chapter 5 while doing housework, your kindle will automatically sync up to chapter 5 on the ebook, for when you want to read it. I have both the kindle app and audible apps loaded both onto my iPad and phone, they both need wifi to enable them to sync from one device to the other, and always keep your place in your book. This would work the same with a kindle, and a phone with kindle & audible apps. I hope I make sense 😀

Anyone else?

Reader Question… Answered! The book where she is blind and her brother’s friend helps her have fun!

December 3, 2015 By Maryse Leave a Comment

Prance needed our book help again, and it looks like it didn’t take long on Facebook for one in our crew to provide the correct title! And since it sounds SO good, I thought I’d immortalize it, here. 😉 You know… in case this one might strike our fancy at any time.

Pranisha needs our book help!! Anyone know this one?

“i read a blurb recently and forgot to add it to my tbr !!!! the heroine is blind and her family treats her as if shes made of glass or something but she wants to LIVE !!! In comes d hero who might or might not be responsible for her blindness and is also a friend of her brother. he helps her to have fun n enjoy being blind or something on the same lines … any idea what this book is ???”

Natasha: Similar to this one: Beautifully Insightful

Maryse: Thank you Natasha!!! 😀

Katherine: Sounds like Chance of A Lifetime (Anderson Brothers) by Marissa Clarke

Pranisha: yay ! Katherine dats the one !!!

Book Review – Give Me Your Answer True by Suanne Laqueur

December 2, 2015 By Maryse 28 Comments

Give Me Your Answer True (The Fish Tales Book 2)
This one was just as fantastic as #1 (just as BIG!!), and having a totally different perspective from book #1 made this story that much fuller. More complete. More real. More tragic. Allowed ALL of us to grow.

Marie:  I *love* watching people’s reactions when they read TMIL the first time. I say “first time” because it’s one of those books you keep going back to for your favorite parts. When you read GMYAT, you almost want to have both books open at the same time… Not that I ever did this. I’m posting for a friend. (cough)

Rosie: Yeah, I have a friend who might have read them side-by-side, too 🙂

Hayling: The second is just as beautiful. In terms of writing, it might actually be better. No sophomore slump, that’s for sure. I thought re-reading the college years from Daisy’s POV was fascinating. Suanne’s really careful to re-tell scenes only if you learn something new from them, or go deeper into a moment. And then in the…um….”Adele years”, it’s a totally different and new book. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!

Maryse: The “Adele” years. YES!!!! PERFECTLY SAID. LOL!!! 😛 I’m so excited. The Adele songs come to life! 😀

Suanne Laqueur, Author: Can I TELL you when Adele released “Hello,” I nearly passed out?!?!?

Maryse:  it’s the PERFECT song. It’s SO BIG, just like the book. LOL!!!

Michelle: The writing is so real. Feel like I’m sitting next to him , experiencing and seeing what he is. The writing reminds me a little of Making Faces. One of my all time favorites.

Maryse: They are saying this one’s even better. I’m gonna love it ’cause I love “being the girl”. LOL! 😀

Sadie: Well I highlighted the first sentence if that gives us any indication

Suanne Laqueur, Author: True story: I wrote the first line last.

Sadie: i love that line. And so many others! “There he was. It was him.” *chills*

Suanne Laqueur, Author: God, I want to be like sitting in your lap while you’re reading. God, that’s wrong. I’ll just sit next to you. I’ll stand behind your chair and lurk over your shoulder, how about that?  (I’m going now)

Maryse: LOL!!! I just SAW these!! You are hilarious. You write heart wrenching, uncomfortable scenes and yet you are SO freaking funny!!!! 😛

Sadie: I lost my freaking mind over this book the other day! maryse I need to tag you in my quote spree

But most of all, HER POV (this one) was SO needed. Gave us so much relief, but not before it gave us the ultimate heartache. I cried.

Daisy swallowed hard. She had never known such weary sadness. A despair that was hollow and decayed like a rotting tree.

The intensity of the emotions in this story? Incredible!!!!

P.S. Here is my review for book #1 (Book Review – The Man I Love by Suanne Laqueur), which was originally supposed to be the only book, but we got lucky!!! 😀 The author expanded their world into the one I HAD to live. By the end of book one, I was desperate to be her. You’ll see why.

If you haven’t read book #1 yet, I recommend you skip… or maybe skim this review lightly. I’m going to short form this as I need to tell you what I experienced, and not so much “what you’ll be reading”. Because what you will be reading, will affect you deeply if you don’t know what you’re getting into. Which is… real life.

Real life and real people (albeit a little “magical” in feel, due to this being a ballet troop, with all that theater beauty dusting the scenes with ballerina fairy dust 😉 ), But this is mostly college life… and then adult life. Real love, real friends, real tragedy, real mistakes, real reactions, real consequences, real drama, real pain, real victory.

Stuff that some right here, if I dropped a few keywords, might shy away from. But don’t. It’s intense. It’s an experience. It’s unforgettable. This is an epic love story. Romance? I dunno… guess it depends on who you ask? Love story for sure!!

HEA? I dunno… well actually I do. 😉 And it is SO worth the journey, no matter the outcome, but OMG the outcome was WOW!!!! Especially in THIS book.

*sigh* 🙂

While both books can absolutely be read as standalones, they also 100% compliment each other, as they are both from two different POVs, from both main characters. Both are equally as good as the other, these stories are best experienced going in blind. Even the blurb of the original book (in my option) gave something away (that YES!!! Was an absolute eye-catcher and would have made me want to read the book BECAUSE I wanted to go through what they went through), but going in blind meant I was sufficiently shocked. I didn’t see it coming and was able to experience this book that much more.

There are a few things that sufficiently shocked me in book #1, so to experience those things again, in book #2 (but from a totally different perspective)… well. Wow. Just… WOW!!! THIS kind of story, with this kind of “living” is what makes books with one event, but two POVs, worth reading.

“All right, honey. Don’t worry. It’s never as bad as you think.”

Ohhhhh yes, it was. 🙁 *sniff sniff*

And lemme tell you, both POVs, while they reflect many of the same events, also have a TON of different “living” in them. Trust me on that.

And even during the “same scenes” the experience and thought process going on with both characters was SO different. Complementing or absolutely opposing but expanding upon, and exactly what you’d expect and want from two books focusing on a time period shared by two people. And not just that… this is one of those that spans years… and in years is growth, failure, love and loss, and still… that connection that ties them both. That ties them all.

So what’s it about?

Well… if you start with this one (and you can), it’s about students in college, in a theater major, with ballerinas (and ballerinos? LOL!! What do we call male ballet dancers, anyway?), that become friends as the sessions progress. Juniors and seniors and some that are up and comers and about to take the ballet world by storm. And some back stage technical “hands” that fall head over heels in love with some of ’em.

“You smell like sugar and you’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in my damn life and I don’t know why it makes me act like such an a**hole.”

Best friends, roommates, newcomers and teachers alike. They become an unstoppable team. Until something stops them ALL.

“…when she glanced up, she saw only a broken little brother. And in spite of her anger, it cracked her heart.

Oh at first the obvious is the only thing we’re thinking about. And even when it looks like all will work out… that which we didn’t even consider becomes from row and center as these “friends” cope as best as they can. Together.

A nervous twist in her stomach. A feeling this was the price she paid for something. But she couldn’t remember what.

And betrayal, absolute incredible heartache and self-loathing destroy them all. Or does it?

“I was bleeding, with scratches all up and down my back and my arms bruised with fingerprints. And my next thought should have been how terrible I looked. That it was horrifying. But no, I thought it made me look…complete. Balanced. I don’t know what I mean.”

“Like your outsides finally matched your insides?”

Daisy closed her mouth up in a hand and nodded through tears.

OMG WOWWWWW!!! That scene… that realization. That personal, agonizing truth.

“I don’t understand. Who has he become?”

A sweet boy with a bitter palate, Daisy thought.

AND THAT, my friends, is the journey. This is no sweet candy “fluff” read, all wrapped up in a bow. No matter how exquisitely written, this gets ugly.

You have to be all right. Don’t scream. The men you love cannot bear it.

If you can’t be it, act it.

Scream inside. Smile outside.

This gets destructive. This gets uncomfortable. And despite it all, this is SO beautiful.

“It matters. Deeply. But you can let your sorrow accompany you on the road of life without letting it be the road itself.”

OMG I almost feel like THAT quote is the key (or at least one of the BIGGEST <— ;)) keys to life, right there. An epiphany. Perfection.

While I think I liked it even better than #1, I did find it to drag a bit in the last third (I can’t say exactly what, due to spoilers of the experience as a whole), but none of that matters in the long run.

Her tentative joy was studded with the sharp edges of broken glass and her dreams began to twinkle with it.

GAH!!! The writing is so beautiful!!! It’s a love story that I won’t soon forget, and #3 will be coming out shortly. Even though neither book ends on a cliffhanger (so you won’t be furious upon finishing) ;), I just love these characters, and I can’t wait for more.

4.5 stars for this one too!

➔➔➔ Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 starreviews. 😀

➔➔➔ Love this trope? Browse more love stories that include infidelity & love triangles features and reviews on my blog.

J.S. Cooper – Swept Away Series Reading Order

December 2, 2015 By Maryse Leave a Comment

PSYCH THRILLER ALERT!! And not just that! The series is now complete AND it’s about two strangers that are kidnapped together and left on a deserted island. OMG that sounds like such a fun, exciting, thrilling, butterfly-inducing read!!! I want it!

About book #1:

The day started like every other day…

Bianca finds herself kidnapped and locked up in a van with a strange man. Ten hours later, they’re dumped on a deserted island. Bianca has no idea what’s going on and her attraction to this stranger is the only thing keeping her fear at bay.

Jakob wants only to figure out why they’ve been left on the island and how they can get off. But as the days go by, he can’t ignore his growing fascination with Bianca.

In order to survive, Bianca and Jakob must figure out how they’re connected, but as they grow closer, secrets are revealed that may destroy everything they thought they knew about each other.