Readers' Favorite

November 2, 2013

Afternoon eBook Deal 11/2

...several twists and turns... ~ Victoria

...clever, witty dialogue... ~ Mel


Nothing Personal

Trauma nurse Kate Manion is viewing her own hospital from the other side. Badly injured in an auto accident, she's laying in her own ICU, strapped down, paralyzed and unconscious. And yet, somehow, she managed to kill her nurse.

The murder was an accident; Kate swears. But the accidental murders keep happening. Has someone taken Kate's "murderous" act as a mandate to kill off anyone making life difficult for the staff?

As corpses pile up, Kate realizes only she can stop the serial killer who is acting out the fantasy of every staff member at St. Simon's Hospital, and who could be one of Kate's closest friends.

With only a burned-out forensic pathologist willing to help, Kate must wade through greed, politics, secrets and suspicion to unearth a murderer she doesn't want to find; before he – or she—strikes too close to home.


99 cents at Amazon and B&N






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November 1, 2013

Afternoon eBook Deal 11/1

...humorous and witty... ~ Nancy Steinle Gummel

...perfect, fast paced, fun, sexy and also swoon worthy... Stephanie Witter


The Wager

Lose a bet, lose your heart...

What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.

If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .


99  cents at Amazon and B&N




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the link above. Prices are subject to change without notice, please verify price before purchasing. Want to have your bargain, discounted, or free ebook featured? Fill out this form.


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Deborah Harkness Announces Release Date

Exciting news came out this week for fans of All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Book 3, The Book of Life, has an official release date for US, UK, and Ireland.


Discovery of WitchesShadow of NightBook of Life

Fans were hopeful for a Christmas release of the final installment; however, in August Harkness indicated that would not be possible. And with her announcement this week, fans will be waiting nine more months for this highly anticipated conclusion. That's right - July 15, 2014 - is the official date for the hardcover, ebook, and audio editions in the US, UK, and Ireland, two years after the release of Shadow of Night (July, 2012).  Release information for other countries is not yet available.

Though no cover reveals have been made, Harkness included the catalog description with her announcement:

After traveling through time in SHADOW OF NIGHT, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchant­ing series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they re­unite with the cast of characters from A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its miss­ing pages takes on even more urgency. In the tril­ogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowl­edge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.
If you haven't yet started this series, there is no better time than this holiday season. I would put this series in my Top 5 Favorite Series. For those of us who grew up with the magic of Harry Potter and was sucked into the frenzy that was Twilight, All Souls Trilogy is a must read. Check out my reviews of A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night.


Pre-order Book of Life at Amazon



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October 31, 2013

Afternoon eBook Deal 10/31

No tricks here today, just a treat for you
Get your scare on tonight with this collection of short stories


A World of Terror

The authors of ASMSG have determined this Halloween to be a great time for Terror. Ghouls, ghosts, vamps, death, and psychos reign in World of Terror. Twenty stories of fright and nightmares await you as you peruse these tales of fear and horror. Enjoy, and don't forget to keep a bed light on just in case.

FREE at Smashwords and B&N




Prices are subject to change without notice, please verify price before purchasing. Want to have your bargain, discounted, or free ebook featured? Fill out this form.


How to Write a Book Review

From time to time my niece and nephew want to help with the reviews on my blog. However, they really didn't know anything about writing reviews. My niece's first attempt was nothing more than a summary and that the book was good. And she really did like it, because she told her librarian at school all about it and wanted to see if the author could come to her school. But when I asked her why she liked it, she didn’t have an answer.

Reviews are important to authors, particularly indie authors. Did you know Amazon provides more exposure to a title once it has 25 reviews?  Yet, many readers do not leave reviews. For my book, Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour, only about 10% of the people who have bought it have written a review.

Think you can't write a review? Think again with these easy steps.

Reviews at retails sites and places like Goodreads don't have to be long. Heck, even a blog review doesn't have to be long. Sometimes "mini-reviews" get more interaction than long, detailed ones. Basicly to write a review, you need to answer three questions:

What did you like about the book?
Was there anything that you didn’t like?
Who would like to read this book?


When recommending the book (question 3), it may be based on genre (it’s similar to another book, TV show, or movie), age, or interest (sports, magic, etc.). I think the recommendation is very important, particularly if it wasn't quite your kind of book.

If you want to write a bit more in your review, I developed an 8 question outline for my niece to help her more fully express her views on a book.

What is the book about?
You don't want to regurgitate the book description and if you are leaving your review at a retail site it is probably not necessary at all to provide a summary, unless you feel the book description doesn't accurately capture what the book is about. If you are writing on a blog and you do not include the book description in your post then it is a good idea to give an overview of what the book is about. I usually try to sum it up in about 3 sentences and not give any spoilers.

What was your favorite part?
It might be a scene or a character, but it might also be the writing style or message the author conveys. Try to convey to the readers why it is your favorite part without giving away the story.

Was there anything you did not like or confused you?
Pointing out any negatives to a book is not a bad thing as long as you stay objective. Sometimes the very things I did not like about a book is exactly what draws a new reader to the book. I usually take issue with sex in a story, but I know a lot of readers want the hot and steamy.

What 3 adjectives best describe the book?
Authors love sound bites and these 3 adjectives can serve as the basis for a great sound bite. And for readers who are skimming through a list of reviews will easily pick up these 3 words.

What do you think about the cover, images inside the book?
Remember this list is for my niece and nephew and for them illustrations can play an important role in their understanding of the story. We all know we aren't suppose to judge a book by its cover, but we do it all the time. How well does the cover convey what the book is about?

Who would like this book?
Again, recommending the book to those who love family sagas or saying it would make a great book to hide under the covers with is extremely important. You could go on and on about what you like or not like about a book, but other readers want to know how well they will connect with the book. Saying "if you like Stephanie Plum, then you will LOVE Maggie Lee" is a powerful statement to a reader deciding to buy the book or not.

On a scale of 1 (I hate it) to 5 (best book EVER), how do you rate it and why?
I don't really like using a rating system, but sites like Amazon require it. Rating systems can be subjective (you can read more of my thoughts on rating systems in this post), so I think it is important to always state why you gave it a certain rating. Due to Amazon algorithms, the 3 star review is often seen as a "bad" or negative review, when in fact it is an average review. It doesn't have to be elaborate but saying I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't steamy enough is better for the reader making a buying decision than just saying you give it 3 stars.

Anything else you want to tell readers about this book?
Reviews can include a lot of different stuff and if there is something you think other readers need to know about the book when deciding to read it or not, then be sure to include it even if it doesn't really fit in with any of the above questions.

When I'm stuck for what to say in a review, I fall back on these questions. If you are struggling with a review or think you can't write a review, I hope you too find these steps helpful for thinking through it.



Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the blogger behind Girl Who Reads and author of the how-to manual Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.



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October 30, 2013

Afternoon eBook Deal 10/30

A good mix of romance, suspense, and puppy love makes the story a great read. ~ Karen

A Must Read!!!! ~ De Ann Townes


Justified

Madison Knight should have ignored the call. Now she is spending Christmas Eve dealing with her least favorite thing…blood and lots of it.

When a female victim is found in her home it has Madison and her partner tapping into the vic’s personal life. With a rash of former business partners and lovers, all of whom wanted her dead, there are not enough hours to question them all.

But trying to find the person who had the most motive isn't all that's on Madison's mind. As she struggles to establish balance in her own life, she knows she has to get her focus back. Justice requires it.

99 cents at Amazon, Smashwords, and B&N




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon and Smashwords advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon or Smashwords through the link above. Summary and cover are from Goodreads.com. Prices are subject to change without notice, please verify price before purchasing. Want to have your bargain, discounted, or free ebook featured? Fill out this form.


Bernard Besson: Exploring Truth in Fiction

What does global warming really mean for geopolitics? Does it promise espionage and intrigue, economic warfare and behind-the-scenes struggles for natural resources? In The Greenland Breach, prizewinning thriller author Bernard Besson, one of France’s top experts in economic intelligence and also former chief of staff of the French FBI, has written a prescient tale that combines climate disaster, freelance spies and Bond-like action. Here he talks to us about why he chose to write a story on a backdrop of climate change.

Climate change is on everyone’s minds these days—what are the causes? What does it mean? My recent novel The Greenland Breach that was just published in English by Le French Book, stemmed from these questions. What are the real reasons? Is mankind triggering the end of the world’s climate as we know it? 

When an author asks questions like this he or she goes to talk to specialists and historians. So I went to the French Academy of Sciences to talk to climatologists, glaciologists, and geologists. I realized that they didn’t all agree. Some said global warming is worsening due to emissions by man and animals, especially cattle. Others said that the planet’s surface has been cooling down and heating up alternately for millions of years. The tilt of the earth, solar activity, the configuration of the planet, volcanic eruptions, magnetism, meteorites, and the oceans all have a major impact on the climate. These events have caused several extinctions.
The Greenland Breach

Buy The Greenland Breach at Amazon

Historians also recount astonishing stories. In the year 987, the Viking Erik the Red left Island to discover a “green land,” which is what he called Greenland. Thousands of Vikings settled on those green pastures before disappearing in the Middle Ages, due to the a sudden cooling. At the same time, another people, the Inuits, resisted the cold. These two peoples had diverging conceptions of what we would today call climate change.

In The Greenland Breach, we discover that civilizations can come to completely opposite conclusions about the same degrees of Celsius or Fahrenheit appearing on the thermometer. Global warming is in our heads as much as it is in the weather. I don’t pretend to know the real reasons behind climate change, as I am not a scientist. I simple know that this phenomenon leads to threats and to opportunities that trigger strategies in both nations and businesses. The battle for the Great North has already begun. 

The most prosperous nations are those that are able to understand and anticipate economic changes and well as natural changes. In The Greenland Breach we have both. It was very tempting to tell a story that recounted this reality. Fiction makes it possible to tell more truth than an academic work filled with numbers and statistics.

One of the heroes in The Greenland Breach is Greenland, a land of legend and mystery, long disputed between Denmark and Norway. This novel can be considered a “cli-fi” novel because from the first to the last page, we see how this island-nation is dying in an unexpected manner.

~About the Author~

Bernard Besson, who was born in Lyon, France, in 1949, is a former top-level chief of staff of the French intelligence services, an eminent specialist in economic intelligence and Honorary General Controller of the French National Police. He was involved in dismantling Soviet spy rings in France and Western Europe when the USSR fell and has real inside knowledge from his work auditing intelligence services and the police. He has also written a number of prize-winning thrillers, his first in 1998, and several works of nonfiction. He currently lives in the fourteenth arrondissement of Paris, right down the street from his heroes.

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate;  a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link. The views, opinions, and beliefs of contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Girl Who Reads. 




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October 29, 2013

Afternoon eBook Deal 10/29

...wonderful and fast paced mystery... ~ Kriss Morton

What a fun, quirky read. ~ Yvonne


Murder at Honeysuckle Hotel

It’s summertime in Honeysuckle, and everyone is lazing in the shade with a tall glass of lemonade. Everyone except Raelynn Pendleton. She’s stuck working at the local store to make the rent while her no-good ex-husband lives it up with a floozy.

When she inherits a Victorian house, Raelynn jumps at the chance to turn her life around. How can she afford the upkeep on such a huge place? Simple. She’ll run it as a hotel. Problem is, she has no experience and the décor dates back to the Dark Ages. She’ll have to use her secret talent for turning junk into treasure or she’ll never snag an overnight guest.

But before the new Honeysuckle Hotel even opens for business, Raelynn discovers the body of a young woman in the garden. As a newcomer in town, Raelynn is blamed for the murder. She’s fired from her job, which could mean she’ll lose the house. The only way to save Honeysuckle Hotel is to find the real killer - with or without the sexy Sheriff Kent Klein.

One way or another, Honeysuckle will be buzzing.

99 cents at Amazon and B&N



Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the link above. Summary and cover are from Goodreads.com. Prices are subject to change without notice, please verify price before purchasing. Want to have your bargain, discounted, or free ebook featured? Fill out this form.


Teaser Tuesday: The South Sea Bubble

I'm excited to celebrate with my friend Alison DeLuca the reveal of the cover of her upcoming release! And there's a little sneak peek, too!


For the last volume of the Crown Phoenix series, Lisa Daly was kind enough to design another cover for me. The book is The South Sea Bubble, and here is the blurb:


An Edwardian hospital hides many secrets:



A mysterious patient lurks in the cellar...

A secret passage leads to danger...

Coded messages reveal new riddles...

Visions of danger haunt the people of Grimstead Manor…



Lizzie and Miriam find horror, adventure, and romance surrounding the strange vessel known as The South Sea Bubble.



“Compulsive reading!”
“Addictive steampunk.”



And here is an excerpt:

“Oh, stop the dramatics,” Simon groaned. “What on earth are you talking about? Of course I’m not leaving until we sort all of this out and you tell me what - is - going - on!” His voice rose in volume on each successive word.

Miriam looked at him. Her eyes were dark and very direct. “No, Simon.” Her lower lip trembled, but she took a deep breath and seemed to recover. “I will not.”

“Oh, is that so?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “And I suppose you think I’m just going to waltz off and forget all about you, Lampala, and last summer.” He raised one finger and stabbed the air in her direction. “I’m not going to, my girl, and don’t you forget it. I will not give up on you, although apparently you have given up on me.”

Finally, here is the lovely cover, courtesy of my friend and constant artist, Lisa:




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate;  a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link. 




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October 28, 2013

Blogger Opp: Keurig Vue 600 Giveaway


 
Organized and Hosted By: Out of the Bags 
 
Prize: 1 Keurig Vue 600 with Vue Pack
 
Event Dates: November 11 to November 30
 
Open to U.S Only 
 
Top Referrer will receive a free Co-Host spot. 
 
 
 
Requirements to participate:
 
Limit 2 blogs per person
 
Link Announcement or pay $5
 
 
 
Promote at least 3x times a week.
 
 
 

Afternoon eBook Deal 10/28

...a delight to read... ~ Donna McBroom-Theriot

...amazingly, sweet, funny, and sexy... ~ Annie


Come a Little Closer


Movie star Smith Sullivan can’t afford any distractions. He’s staking his entire reputation on his new film...but he can’t stop thinking about Valentina Landon and the fire he sees smoldering just beneath the surface of her cool exterior.

Valentina isn’t averse to sensual pleasure, or even to the idea of finding true love, but as a Hollywood business manager she’s watched too many smart women fall for actors...only to be torn apart when the fairytale comes to its inevitable end.

But when intense weeks together on set turn their heated attraction into red-hot flames of passion, Smith knows he has to find a way to convince Valentina to let him get a little bit closer. Close enough to completely steal her heart...the way she’s stolen his from the start.


99 cents at Amazon and B&N





Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the link above. Summary and cover are from Goodreads.com. Prices are subject to change without notice, please verify price before purchasing. Want to have your bargain, discounted, or free ebook featured? Fill out this form.


Meet Kirstin Pulioff



As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

That is a great question! I was one of those kids who changed their minds every year. In 3rd grade I wanted to be the first woman president. In 5th grade I wanted to be a firefighter. In 7th grade it was a farmer, and when I graduated high school I was on the path to be a forest ranger. Now I am happy being a mom, a writer, and a dreamer.


Do you have kids?

I have two kids, a daughter who’s 6, and a son who’s 4. They are my world, and remind me the importance of following my dreams.


When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Or, what first inspired you to write?

I have always been a writer, but didn’t really think of it as a career possibility until recently. It was always simply my creative outlet. A couple of years ago, I began thinking about what I would want to do when my kids were back in school… given the opportunity to do anything, writing was my first and only thought.


Where/When do you best like to write?

Well, with two young kids, most of my writing gets done either before or after bedtime. I am 100% focused mommy during the day and my author cap goes on during those late/early hours.


What do you think makes a good story?

I love the stories that I can lose myself in. I look for a story with believable and relatable characters, with a story that I escape into. I prefer reading fantasy, and forgetting about reality.

Buy The Ivory Tower at Amazon

How does a new story idea come to you? Is it an event that sparks the plot or a character speaking to you?

My stories tend to begin with a glimpse of a scene. Like watching a movie- a scene, dialogue, or a story will unfold in my mind. When these bursts of inspiration hit, I am compelled to write them down.


Do you have a bucket list? What are some of things on it?

Oh yes… my list is full of adventures that I want to share with family and places I want to see. On my list:

1. See the northern lights

2. Go black water rafting with my family in New Zealand

3. Go on a hot air balloon ride

4. Take my children to the small village in northern Greece where my husband’s family is from.


What's the best writing advice you have ever received?

Oh, best writing advice…write, edit, read, repeat. :)

Best advice in general - Never give up on your dreams. You are the only one who can live them.

About the Author

Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart.   Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management.  Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom.  When she’s not writing, she is busy with her kids and church. This is Kirstin’s first venture into YA Dystopian, her other published work includes a middle grade fantasy series.
Twitter  *  Facebook  *  Goodreads


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Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate;  a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the above link. The views, opinions, and beliefs of contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Girl Who Reads. This post is part of a GWR Publicity promotional tour paid for by the author.




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October 27, 2013

Sunday Sale Page 10/27

I added a bunch of new ebooks to my Nook this weekend. Here are a few deals to load up on yourself.


Drowning


99 cents at Amazon and B&N


Scandalous


99 cents at Amazon and B&N


Lowcountry Boil


99 cents at Amazon and B&N


A Death Displaced


FREE at Amazon and B&N


Immortal Prophecy


FREE at Amazon and B&N




Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the link above. Summary and cover are from Goodreads.com. Prices are subject to change without notice, please verify price before purchasing. Want to have your bargain, discounted, or free ebook featured? Fill out this form.



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