Free 60-Day Trial of Kindle Unlimited, and the Books Available

On Facebook, a friend shared a Groupon for a Free 60-Day Kindle Unlimited Membership (US $19.98 Value). I know nothing about Kindle Unlimited. I’m hoping that “borrowing” books through is like the way my libraries work – download books, and they get automatically deleted after a certain number of days, or you return them earlier. I’m hoping it’s not the “read for free” thing that publishers sometimes do on their websites where you can only read web-based – no downloads.

You’ll need an Amazon account, and will need to make sure the settings have your location as the United States. You’ll also need a Groupon account, for which I used my Facebook, and make sure that you’re not signed up to any of their newsletters if you’re treating this Groupon as a one-off deal.

Group will ask you for “payment”, but I clicked the PayPal button, so I wasn’t charged – because the deal is free, after all. There’s also an option for credit card info.

Once you’ve got your Amazon organised, click here and input the code from your email, to activate the deal.

And now comes the part for why you’re here – borrowing books for free. I don’t know if there are expiry dates or what kind of borrowing system it is (see above about publishers vs. libraries). I’m on the wrong machine right now, but tomorrow on my laptop, I plan to investigate the following links. I systematically checked my reading wishlist, and here are the Kindle Unlimited-eligible books I’m interested in. Some are “pre-orders”, so I doubt you’ll be able to borrow them now. Be sure to check that the ones you’re interested in have Kindle Unlimited on the page, just in case I included a non-eligible title or if the authors/publishers decide to take them off the programme.

Vicki Hendricks: Miami Purity
Cyn Balog: Drowned
Chris Beckett: The Peacock Cloak
Jenna Black: Sealed with a Curse
Rachel Caine: Stillhouse Lake (pre-order)
Amy Rose Capetta: Entangled
Naomi Clark: The Ungrateful Dead; Wild; Gone to the Dogs; Ice Ice Baby; Stakeout
Liz Coley: The Captain’s Kid
Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games; Catching Fire; Mockingjay
Megan Crewe: Earth & Sky; A Clouded Sky; A Sky Unbroken
Deborah Halverson: Writing New Adult Fiction
Jen Estes: Fifteen; Sixteen
Christina Farley: Gilded; Silvern; Brazen
Megan Hart: The Resurrected Compendium; Clearwater; The Lies We Tell (pre-order); The Secrets We Keep (pre-order)
Erica Hayes: Hunter’s Heart
Anthology: Tick Tock
Karen Ann Hopkins: Lamb to the Slaughter; Embers; Whispers from the Dead; Rachel’s Deception; Gaia; Secrets from the Grave; Tempest; Hidden in Plain Sight
Lydia Kang: A Beautiful Poison (pre-order)
PD Martin: Coming Home; When Justice Fails; Missing; The Wanderer; Grounded Spirits
Liz Maverick: The Transporter (pre-order)
Seanan McGuire: Indexing; Reflections
Will McIntosh: Futures Near & Far
Tracey O’Hara: Once Upon a Moonlit Night
Jackson Pearce: Turn Here
Cheryl Rainfield: Stained; Parallel Visions
Dia Reeves: Rhymes with Vampire
Leah Rhyne: In the Land of the Blind
Carrie Ryan: A Game of Firsts
Holly Schindler: Fifth Avenue Fidos; Play It Again; Forever Finley
Jeri Smith-Ready: Bridge
Lila Veen: Burning for You
Jessica Verday: Flesh Which Is Not Flesh
M.D. Waters: Gemini’s Edge
Skyler White: Offerings
Susanne Winnacker: Between the Shadow & the Soul

17th March 2015 Releases

Happy Release Day to:

M. J. Rose
The Witch of Painted Sorrows (Daughters of La Lune, Book 1)
Simon & Schuster Atria (US & CA: 17th March 2015)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Sandrine Salome flees New York for her grandmother’s Paris mansion to escape her dangerous husband, but what she finds there is even more menacing. The house, famous for its lavish art collection and elegant salons, is mysteriously closed up. Although her grandmother insists it’s dangerous for Sandrine to visit, she defies her and meets Julien Duplessi, a mesmerizing young architect. Together they explore the hidden night world of Paris, the forbidden occult underground and Sandrine’s deepest desires. Among the bohemians and the demi-monde, Sandrine discovers her erotic nature as a lover and painter. Then darker influences threaten – her cold and cruel husband is tracking her down and something sinister is taking hold, changing Sandrine, altering her. She’s become possessed by La Lune: A witch, a legend, and a sixteenth-century courtesan, who opens up her life to a darkness that may become a gift or a curse. This is Sandrine’s “wild night of the soul,” her odyssey in the magnificent city of Paris, of art, love, and witchery.

Jeri Smith-Ready
This Side of Salvation
Simon & Schuster Pulse (US, UK, & CA: 17th March 2015)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: The closer he gets to Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels. Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties in preparation for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. He likes living in the moment, and isn’t sure about giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey – especially Bailey – in hope of salvation. But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined…

March 2015 Releases

Done with February 2015 Releases? Here are March 2015 Releases. For future releases, check Reading Wishlist. (NOTE: If reading via a feed-reader, the formatting may be wrong. Click the blog post’s title to take you to my WordPress, where it should show up fine.)

Now Available for US Pre Order

DISCLAIMER: Are these titles and release dates not supposed to be made public yet? If you’re the author or publisher, let me know and I’ll remove them. You should also send a takedown notice to Amazon (US, UK, and Canada). (In some cases, you may have to send another takedown notice to the publisher, because the info may also be on their website.) Thanks.

Steve Bein: DISCIPLE OF THE WIND: 7th April 2015: Buy (US)
Ilsa J. Bick: THE DICKENS MIRROR: 10th March 2015: Buy (US)
Rachel Caine: PRINCE OF SHADOWS (paperback): 3rd February 2015: Buy (US)
Lauren DeStefano: PERFECT RUIN (paperback): 10th March 2015: Buy (US)
Lauren DeStefano: BURNING KINGDOMS: 10th March 2015: Buy (US)
Stephanie Diaz: REBELLION: 10th February 2015: Buy (US)
Nancy Holzner: FIRESTORM: 31st March 2015: Buy (US)
Peggy Kern: LITTLE PEACH: 10th March 2015: Buy (US)
Justine Larbalestier: RAZORHURST: 3rd March 2015: Buy (US)
Marissa Meyer: FAIREST: 27th January 2015: Buy (US)
Laura Ruby: BONE GAP: 3rd March 2015: Buy (US)
Jeri Smith-Ready: THIS SIDE OF SALVATION (paperback): 17th March 2015: Buy (US)

May 2014 Releases

Done with April 2014 Releases? Here are May 2014 Releases. For future releases, check Reading Wishlist.

12th April 2014 Releases

Happy Release Day to:

Jeri Smith-Ready
Bring On the Night (WVMP Radio, Book 3)
Simon & Schuster Gallery (US & CA: 12th April 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin seems to finally have it all. A steady job at WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock ‘n’ Roll. A loving relationship with the idiosyncratic but eternally hot DJ Shane McAllister. A vampire dog who never needs shots or a pooper-scooper. And after nine years, it looks as if she might actually finish her bachelor’s degree! But fate has other plans for Ciara. First she must fulfill her Faustian bargain with the Control, the paranormal paramilitary agency that does its best to keep vampires in line. Turns out the Control wants her for something other than her (nonexistent) ability to kick undead ass. Her anti-holy blood, perhaps? Ciara’s suspicions are confirmed when she’s assigned to a special-ops division known as the Immanence Corps, run by the Control’s oldest vampire and filled with humans who claim to have special powers. To a confirmed skeptic like Ciara, it sounds like a freak fest. But when a mysterious fatal virus spreads through Sherwood – and corpses begin to rise from their graves – Ciara will not only get a crash course in zombie-killing, but will be forced to put her faith, and her life itself, in the hands of magic.

1st April 2014 Releases

Happy Release Day to:

Rachel Caine
Daylighters (Morganville Vampires, Book 15)
Penguin NAL Signet (US & CA: 1st April 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
While Morganville, Texas, is often a troubled town, Claire Danvers and her friends are looking forward to coming home. But the Morganville they return to isn’t the one they know; it’s become a different place – a deadly one… Something drastic has happened in Morganville while Claire and her friends were away. The town looks cleaner and happier than they’ve ever seen it before, but when their incoming group is arrested and separated – vampires from humans – they realise that the changes definitely aren’t for the better. It seems that an organisation called the Daylight Foundation has offered the population of Morganville something they’ve never had: hope of a vampire-free future. And while it sounds like salvation – even for the vampires themselves – the truth is far more sinister and deadly. Now, Claire, Shane and Eve need to find a way to break their friends out of Daylighter custody, before the vampires of Morganville meet their untimely end…

Alexandra Duncan
Salvage
HarperCollins Greenwillow (US: 1st April 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Her life is a shadow of a life. Her future is not her own to fashion. Her family is a tangle of secrets. She cannot read. She cannot write. But she is Parastrata Ava, the Captain’s eldest daughter, the so girl of a long-range crewe – her obligations are grave and many. And when she makes a mistake, in a fragrant orchard of lemons, the consequences are deadly. There are some who would say, there but for the Mercies go I. There are some who would say Parastrata Ava is just a silly earthstruck girl who got what was coming to her. But they don’t know the half of it.

Rinda Elliott
Foretold (Sisters of Fate, Book 1)
Harlequin Teen (US: 1st April 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA)
The Lockwood triplets have had the prophecy drummed into their heads since birth. Still, Raven, the eldest of the sisters, can’t believe it’s really happening. She’s the reincarnation of a Norse goddess? One of the sisters is destined to die? When it starts snowing in summer in Florida, the sisters fear the worst has come to pass. Ragnarok, the Norse end of the world, has begun. Raven finds herself the secret protector of Vanir, a boy with two wolves, a knowledge of Norse magic and a sense of destiny he can’t quite explain. He’s intense, sexy and equally determined to save her when it becomes clear someone is endangering them. Raven doesn’t know if getting closer to him will make a difference in the coming battle, but her heart isn’t giving her a choice. Ahead of the sisters is the possibility of death at the hand of a warrior, death by snow, death by water or death by fire. Or even from something else…

Katie McGarry
Red at Night
Harlequin Teen More than Words (US: 1st April 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (CA)
Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She’s the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He’s a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella’s favourite refuge…the local cemetery. Stella knows she should keep her distance – after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah’s friends. Once he’s sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won’t have time for her anymore. Too bad she’s already fallen for him…

Jeri Smith-Ready
This Side of Salvation
Simon & Schuster Pulse (US, UK, & CA: 1st April 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: The closer he gets to Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels. Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties in preparation for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. He likes living in the moment, and isn’t sure about giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey – especially Bailey – in hope of salvation. But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined…

April 2014 Releases

Done with March 2014 Releases? Here are April 2014 Releases. For future releases, check Reading Wishlist.

Notes on Not-Reviewed Books: January 2014

I never read a book twice. It has only one chance. And my brain’s not good at retaining information – even with my favourite books, I struggle to remember the characters’ names.

These are the books I read in January that I didn’t review because I was too hot, or just couldn’t be stuffed. Let’s see if they’re memorable.

BEYOND OUR STARS by Marie Langager: Timeline’s rather jumpy at the start, rather than chronological, so takes a little while to figure out what’s happening. Interesting idea to tell a story from the aliens’ point of view. Hope’s a little too perfect. Kind of wonder if this novel is an allegory about asylum seekers. 3 stars.

CELESTE by V. C. Andrews: Perpetuates the stereotype that spiritualists are bonkers. Are there really ghosts, or shared delusions? Probably the former. Sarah Atwell is hella manipulative. Moral of the story: Parents play favourites, and chances are you’re not it. Still don’t get why Celeste has to assume Noble’s identity – is Sarah that screwed up that she can’t function without a male figure in her household? Is it rape between Elliott and Celeste, or forced seduction? The first time’s rape; not so sure about the other times. Why does Celeste just acquiesce to Sarah? Why doesn’t she tell anyone? 3 stars.

BROKEN FLOWER by V. C. Andrews: Precocious puberty is real, according to Wikipedia. For Jordan, it starts when she’s almost seven. The treatment is extremely vague in the book, though – must be a pill or something. Ian is hella creepy. 3 stars.

CLOUDBURST by V. C. Andrews: Family Storms really didn’t need a sequel, but here it is. Sasha is perfect, but she falls in love with a guy who’s more screwed up than she is. Kiera’s the most screwed up, though – she’s actually rather fascinating, especially near the end, and quite the plot catalyst. 3 stars.

ROXY’S STORY by V. C. Andrews: Good news: Less offensive than the other books in this series. Roxy actually has somewhat of a spunky personality, unlike the doormats who usually narrate VCA books. Anyway, it seems as though being an escort doesn’t mean being a prostitute – not for Roxy, anyway, but she could be a Special Snowflake (VCA heroines usually are). 3 stars.

BLACK CAT by V. C. Andrews: Better than “meh”. Sarah may have found love, but turns out she’s just manipulative. Things get much more interesting when Betsy hits town. Sarah thinks that if promiscuous Betsy becomes pregnant, she’ll stop being promiscuous. Think again! And you’ll never guess what she names her son… Meanwhile, “Baby Celeste” (Celeste’s daughter) is a spoiled Special Snowflake who’s perfect in every way…until she does something so terrible that even Celeste has to admit her daughter is hella creepy. Wonder how many bodies have been buried on their property over the decades… 4 stars.

SUBMIT TO DESIRE by Tiffany Reisz: Tiffany Reisz has an extraordinary talent: I actually like her characters’ love interests. Well, Soren and Kingsley, anyway. Here’s King’s time to shine. 4 stars.

FIGMENT by Jeri Smith-Ready: Charmed me immediately. Fig is so awesome! 4 stars.

THINNER THAN WATER by Saundra Mitchell: Impossible wishes are requested to prevent incest-rape. Only the requests aren’t impossible, because of magic. 3 stars.

SCATTERED LEAVES by V. C. Andrews: Strictness is usually the norm in VCA-world, but this time the seven-year-old has to guardian the elderly, which is an interesting subversion. Did Frances become how she is due to precocious puberty, or something else? Also, teenagers try to get a seven-year-old laid, which is all kinds of wrong. 4 stars.

SELL OUT by Jackson Pearce: Don’t let the title fool you. Interesting set-up, but I don’t understand why Emmett suddenly changed how he felt about Elise. 3 stars.

SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS by V. C. Andrews: Alice has shit taste in men. Her first boyfriend smokes weed whilst driving. Her second boyfriend lies majorly to Alice, and his reason is lame: he thought she wouldn’t like him if she couldn’t relate to him, so he made up stuff. And she forgives him! Totally not cool. 3 stars.

Now Available for US Pre-Order

Ilsa J. Bick: WHITE SPACE: 11th February 2014: Buy (US)
Kira Brady: HEARTS OF CHAOS: 4th March 2014: Buy (US)
Laurie Cinotto: ITTY BITTY KITTY COMMITTEE: 11th March 2014: Buy (US)
Jeaniene Frost: UP FROM THE GRAVE: 28th January 2014: Buy (US)
Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam: ELUSION: 18th March 2014: Buy (US)
Kim Harrison: THE UNDEAD POOL: 25th February 2014: Buy (US)
Jill Hathaway: IMPOSTOR (paperback): 25th February 2014: Buy (US)
Michele Lang: FADE AWAY AND RADIATE: 27th May 2013: Buy (US)
A. D. Robertson: CAPTIVE: 22nd October 2013: Buy (US)
Veronica Rossi: INTO THE STILL BLUE: 28th January 2013: Buy (US)
Megan Shepherd: THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER (paperback): 23rd December 2013: Buy (US)
Megan Shepherd: HER DARK CURIOSITY: 28th January 2014: Buy (US)
Jeri Smith-Ready: THIS SIDE OF SALVATION: 1st April 2014: Buy (US)
Jenny Trout: SUCH SWEET SORROW: 4th February 2014: Buy (US)
Susan Vaught: ASYLUM: 18th February 2014: Buy (US)