Free Paranormal Romance Books on Amazon: Just say no to Costly eBooks (Reading on a Budget)

The cost of e-books has skyrocketed for popular authors.  Two of my favorite paranormal authors Kresley Cole and J.R. Ward, are currently charging $10.00-$12.00 for their recent books.  I love you ladies, but those ebook prices are insane. 

If you are an avid reader like I am, you have discovered reading is a very expensive hobby.  Like any healthy addictions, and trust me reading can be addictive, you have to figure find ways to cut costs.  I recently read a free Paranormal Romance on Amazon that turned out to be a decent .  You know the saying, you get what you pay for.  What if that is not the case for free books on Amazon?  To test my theory, I will be reading 5 Free Amazon eBooks during the month of August. These book may be diamonds in the rough, aiding in the relief of my stained budget :-). 

With that being said, check out Kade’s Dark Embrace by Kym Grosso. It’s a freebie on Amazon, and sets up a really good series. If you would like more information about this book, check out my book review. 

If you are interested in reading any of the books below, or have already read these book, please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  Until then, happy reading my fellow geeks and geekettes!!

1.  Alpha Lust: A Wolf's Embrace by Ashley Spector
2.  Wolf's Haven (Caedmon Wolves) by Ambrielle Kirk
3.  Ethan's Mate (The Vampire Coalition Book 1) by J.S. Scott
4.  MARKED (Eternal Guardians Book 1) by Elizabeth Naughton
5.  Charming The Alpha (Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Liliana Rhodes

Book Review: The Billionaire's Ultimatum: His Absolute Need by Cerys du Lys

Genre: Adult Romance
Publisher: Cerys du Lys ~ Sweet Contemporary New Adult
Publication Date: June 22, 2012
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Star Rating:

 Falling in love wasn't part of Jessika's temporary job description. Nor, initially, was being asked by billionaire CEO Asher Landseer to become an egg donor and surrogate for his infertile wife. All Jessika wants to do is help, but is she setting herself up for heartbreak in the process?

(A Cerys du Lys contemporary BDSM erotic romance novel)

Screwing up on her first day of a one-day job is the last thing Jessika Fevrier wanted to do. Worse yet, she's managed to infuriate Asher Landseer, the young, handsome, reclusive and eccentric billionaire CEO of Landseer Enterprises. His idea of work performance punishment is unorthodox to say the least, but Jessika finds herself intrigued by this singularly unaffected man nonetheless.

She was only supposed to clean Asher's office, but before she leaves for the day he has another job he'd like to offer her. Revealing that his wife is infertile, Asher asks her to consider becoming an egg donor for his family. He's always wanted children of his own, but the fates have plotted against him, it seems.

Asher's marriage is of necessity, rough and possibly loveless, but his desire for children is genuine and real. His absoluteness and certainty in himself and his surroundings, despite everything, captivates her. Jessika finds herself charmed by this dominant, enigmatic man who seems to know everything about business and nothing about love.

Behind the scenes, there's more than the fates plotting against him. Someone has it out for Landseer Enterprises, and they're going to do everything within their power to cause Asher's downfall. Between dealing with Asher's conditions and requirements, the cruel gaze of his spiteful wife, and corporate sabotage, Jessika finds herself lost in a world completely different from the one she's used to.

Can she rediscover herself and come to terms with her impossible feelings for a man she can't have? Or in her attempts to satisfy His Absolute Need will she inadvertently become the catalyst that leads to his (and her) ruin?

Dominant, sexy, and powerful. This tantalizing story of love, lust, intrigue and suspense will bind you, entwine you, and thrill you until the very end.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

I was gifted this book for an honest book review. The Billionaire’s Ultimatum: His Absolute need was written by Cerys du Lys.

Now what can I say about this book. I give this book a three. This book could have easily been a 4 star book if the author would have stuck with a theme.

Overall Impression of the Book
 
The book centers around Asher Landseer a billionaire CEO who has been married to his wife for four years. His wife is infertile and Asher desperately wants a child. Enters Jessika, a Literary Arts College Graduate that cannot keep a job. Asher wants Jessika to become and egg donor for him and his wife. This book made absolutely no sense. The first chapter was the best part of the entire book. I almost feel cheated and wish the author would have scraped the first chapter all together because it did not flow with the rest of the book.

How the hero and heroine met was completely unrealistic, and the fact that he asked the maid to be an egg donor after knowing her for 20min was terrible. The story just did not flow and there was no character development. The highlight of the book were the steamy love scenes and indeed they were HOT HOT HOT!!

Characters

Jessika – I think that I dislike this heroine more than any other heroine I have ever read in my entire life. I know that may seem harsh but it is the truth. She was weak, bipolar, annoying and so desperate. I mean she reeked with desperation. All through the book I kept yelling for her to get a freaking grip. It’s one thing to be a passionate woman, but it is another to continually throw yourself at a married man. And the worst part was she would not leave his house. I mean who meets someone on Monday, go to their house on Tue, and NEVER leave!! It was not cute, endearing, or passionate, it was insanity. And I could not understand how she did not have at least one friend to talk some sense into her. Lastly who falls in love with a married man in 3 days…no one does. She chased and baited that married man but she constantly stated how shy and insecure she was…really. I did not sense that at all.

Asher – Well Chapter 1 Asher was interesting, but the Asher in the rest of the book was just okay. He was a nice guys and I was rooting for him to come out on top with his issues. I did feel bad that he was in a loveless marriage, but he should have been more of a man about the situation. One minute he was dominate and take charge and in the next minute he was sappy and pathetic. He was also very naïve to what was happening around him which was a complete turn off.

Lastly Jeremy – I actually liked this character but he and Jessika became friends way too quickly. He met her once and told her all of Asher’s business. What friend does that? Not cool...

All in all I applaud the author on what she tried to accomplish here. The book was intriguing enough for me to continue to read it but some of the actions in this book was a little cliché for my taste. If you are looking for a book with hot love scenes, a good plot, and less than stellar charters this is for you.

Luca's Magic Embrace (Immortals in New Orleans #2) by Kym Grosso

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing
Publication Date: October 17, 2012
Links: Goodreads  Amazon
Star Rating:

An erotic paranormal romance…

Sexy vampire, Luca Macquarie doesn’t do love; especially not with humans. Yet, ever since he rescued Samantha Irving, he can’t deny the enigmatic attraction he’s developed for the alluring mortal woman. Concerned for her safety, he’s determined to bring Samantha back to her coven. His mission is to go find the novice witch and bring her home, nothing more, nothing less; falling for her is not supposed to be part of the plan.

Samantha doesn’t want to be a witch, yet that’s exactly what she is. After failing to elicit her magic, she escapes to the mountains in an attempt to resume a semblance of her previous human life. When an arsonist torches her cabin, Samantha’s worst fears are realized. Aware that her life is on the line, she reluctantly agrees to return to New Orleans with Luca.

In the Big Easy, Samantha and Luca embark on a spellbinding journey, searching for a mystical amulet that promises to release her obligation from an ancient, lethal vampire who’s been threatening her life. With cryptic clues and clandestine allies, will Luca and Samantha destroy the dangerous amulet before others acquire it, setting forth a chain of catastrophic consequences? And will Luca give into his erotic desire for the witch who magically captures heart?

Sometimes when you find a series you just have to hang in there. I did not give up on this series, and I’m so glad I kept going. Luca Luca Luca…was absolutely delicious in “Luca’s Magic Embrace” the second book in the Immortals of New Orleans Series. This book was simply a pleasure to read. I was unimpressed by "Kade’s Dark Embrace" which was the first book in this series, and if the book had not ended on such an intense cliffhanger, I would have missed the opportunity of reading Luca’s story.
Over Impression of the Book

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Kym Grosso’s writing has improved greatly since her last book, her writing style was completely different this time around. She must have found a better editor. This book had it all, action, romance, and mystery, which seems to be the trend for this series. I loved the storyline that focused greatly on Samantha coming to terms with becoming a witch. That made the story so much fun to read. I also loved the first few chapters that focused on Kade helping Luca heal. It was soooo emotional and I loved it. I felt way more connected with the character this time. What did bothered me was the lack of Kade’s presence in the rest of the book. Luca had some series drama going on that not only affected him and Samantha, but the vampire race as a whole. I would have thought the leader of the vampires would be a lot more involved in getting the issue resolved. Maybe Kade had complete confidence in Luca, but it frustrated me, especially since Luca was so instrumental in helping Kade and Sydney in the last book. 

Characters

Luca - Luca is my new book boyfriend. He changed so much in the course of one book. He loathed humans in Kade’s Dark Embrace. In this book he is so loving, intense, and dominant. I loved the light BDSM scenes with he and Samantha, so freaking HOT. His strength was unparalleled. Everything but the kitchen sink was thrown at this vampire during this book, and he continued to overcome all adversity geared toward him and Samantha. He was a true protector, and I understand why Samantha trusted him so much. He definitely needs to be the leader of his own territory, he is surely capable. I must admit that after I read this book, I said Kade who. I also love the scenes he shared with Tristan. I can’t wait to read about that sexy Alpha wolf.

Samantha - FINALLY!! A heroine I can get behind. I really loved Samantha, and it has been a long time sense I’ve truly loved a heroine. Vulnerable, yet strong, she had to overcome a lot. Unlike Sydney, she was loyal to Luca from day one, and was open to explore her feelings for him. She has a big heart, and the potential to be a very powerful witch. This book was not just about Luca saving her, she also saved him. She was smart, funny, tough, and feminine.
Plot - The overall plot of the book was just okay. The plot in the first book was far better yet, this book surpasses its predecessor, hands down. This book was packed with action and mystery, which is something I expect from a Kym Grosso novel. The story moved along fluidly, with little to no dead spaces, there was a lot of story to tell. The sudden switch in POV is new to me, but was still easy to follow. The writing was so much better in this book, and I look forward to reading about Tristan’s story next. I love the wolves!!

Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals in New Orleans #1) by Kym Grosso

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance Series
Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing
Publication Date: March 5, 2012
Links:  Goodreads   Amazon
Star Rating: 
 

After a series of girls are ritualistically murdered on the cold streets of Philadelphia, seasoned detective, Sydney Willows, is forced to work with sexy, alpha vampire, Kade Issacson. While working the case, Sydney finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kade, fighting the passion she feels towards him.

Kade, determined to solve the case and mete out justice, is captivated by the independent, fiery detective. As he attempts to protect her from a very real murderer, Kade grows concerned that the beautiful, but very human detective, could easily end up dead should she tangle with supernatural forces that are beyond her control.

The investigation leads them into a dark and dangerous world, deep in the heart of New Orleans, where together, they search for the perpetrators of the Voodoo killings. Sydney soon becomes the target of the killer and ends up fighting for her life and love in the Big Easy. Will she eventually give into the intoxicating desire she feels for Kade if she makes it out alive?

Kade's Dark Embrace is the first installment in the Immortals of New Orleans Series.  The book centers on tough as nails Detective Sydney Willows and New Orleans Vampire Leader Kade Issacom.  These two are like oil and vinegar from the very beginning.  I give this book three stars. This book was a pleasant surprise, it showed up in a suggested read email from Amazon.  I can’t pass up a free book about vampires and werewolves…lol.  Although I loved the plot, the writing was horrible and almost ruined the book for me. 

Overall Impression of the Book

This book is True Blood with a sprinkled of Twilight (but way more fierce).  Yes I said True blood because I have not read the Sookie Stackhouse Novels.   Although this book puts me in the mindset of True Blood, it was a unique story.  This was a decent book, and I do not feel like I wasted my Saturday afternoon reading it. I may have felt differently if I paid for this book. I think it was smart of the author to offer this book for free, it was just not good enough to pay for. In this book the Supernatural Beings (Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches) are known to the public, but not treated like second class citizens like they are in True Blood, which is a plus. I like the fact the different supernatural factions are not at war with one another, but are allies. Kade's best friends is a werewolf, how often do you see that!! Not to mention Kade’s BFF Tristen, the Alpha Wolf, is HOT HOT HOT. The story starts with a string of murders happening in Philadelphia. Sydney and Kade must work together to solve the case. Kade is happy to spend more time with the human detective, but Sydney wants to get always from the vampire as soon as she can. There is sexual tension between the two from the very beginning, but it was a nice build up to the action :-). This book was only about 250 pages, but there was a lot of story within those pages.

Characters

Sydney - I liked Sydney but I did not love her. I respected the fact she was not some whinny damsel in distress and she kicked ass and took name. The fact that she made so many mindless mistakes putting herself in harms way numerous times irritated me. 

Kade - Was an okay hero. I didn't like the fact he let Sydney boss him around in the beginning. Not what I expect from a 200yr old vampire. Where the hell his backbone was for first 50% of the book, I could not tell you. He became a little more dominate toward the end of the book, which is how I like my vampires…dominate and in control.

Plot - The plot saved the book, it was interesting and kept my attention. It ended on a cliffhanger and I purchased the next book…yes I spent money this time. I have my fingers crossed that the sequel to this series is worth the $3.99 I paid for it. There a lot going on in the story, the mysterious murders of young girls, an unknown enemy, and a brooding romance. The author did some decent, but not great world building that gave me a good sense of the main and sub-characters. 

Writing - The writing was a hot mess, and nearly ruined the book. It was amateurish, cheesy, and I felt myself cringe on more than one occasion. At times it felt as though I was reading a cheesy drugstore novel, not a kick ass paranormal romance. All in all, this book was not a waste of my time and energy.

This Man (This Man Trilogy #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

 
Genre: Steamy Romance
Publisher:  Forever
Publication Date:  June 18, 2013
Links:  Goodreads  Amazon
Star Rating:  

Young interior designer Ava O’Shea has an appointment for a first consultation at The Manor with the owner, Mr Jesse Ward. She is expecting nothing more than an overweight, cravat wearing, well-to-do countryman, and on arrival, nothing would suggest otherwise. How wrong could she be? This Man is devastatingly handsome, charming and confident. He is also a conceited, hedonistic playboy, who knows no boundaries. Ava desperately does not want to be attracted to him, but she can’t control the overwhelming affect he has on her. Every instinct is telling her to run, so she does, but Jesse Ward is not so willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her. She knows she is heading for heartbreak, but how can she run when he won’t let her?

This book is the first in the “This Man” trilogy centering on Jesse Ward a business and Ava O’Shea a talented interior designer. Ava is hired by Jesse to fix up his hotel, and the chemistry between to two is instantaneous. Ava is very apprehensive of Jesse, and with good reason. Jesse is like an 18 wheeler that plows into her life and runs over any obstacle that stands in his way, including her. I am not a fan of Mr. Jesse Ward.

Overall Impression of the Book

I can't quite put my finger on how I feel about this book. I read this books because of the positive reviews and I’m a sucker for an Alpha male. The reviews put Jesse on par with Christian Grey, and since I am such a Christian Grey fan, I had to read it. Well... Mr. Jesse Ward makes Christian look like a regular everyday guy. I love the chase between the hero and heroine, but Jesse took it to another level. Usually I laugh at reviewers that say the hero went too far, or the heroine was bullied into submission. Well count me among those reviewers because that is exactly what happened in this book. I did not connect with Jesse for most of the book and disliked his character greatly.

He was extremely unreasonable when it came to Ava’s personal life, but kept Ava in the dark about his personal life, which irritated the hell out of me. These characters where a train wreck, I just watched the disaster unfold while shaking my head. I can't say that I loved this book, but I can’t say I hate it either. Maybe it’s both. This book and I have a love/hate relationship. Lastly, this book had way too may sex scenes. I was looking for some character development and real dialogue, but all I got was tons of sex. That created very little depth of the characters. I would have liked less sex and more character development.

Characters

Ava - I'm not impressed with Ava as a heroine, but she was not completely annoying. I actually started to like her more about 75% into the book. I did like how she challenged Jesse at times, but those challenges did not really yield a change in his absurd behavior or information he was keeping from her. So her challenges seemed futile. She couldn’t even get the man to tell her his age, REALLY!! Jesses is not the sharing type and she did not have any control over their situation. I did love her in the last night club scene, now that was funny, and her friendship with Kate is adorable. I appreciate she is desperately trying to hold on the independence while Jesse is trying to forcibly snatch it from her.

Jesse - Is an insecure psychopath, and very unattractive. I did not like his pursuit of Ava in the beginning. It was over the top and demeaning. I am in no way a prude, and I love my Alpha males, but 20 missed phone calls, harassing her at work, stalking her, and making scenes at her house on numerous occasions is not endearing or romantic. I disliked Jesse until about 50% into the book. From 50%-75% of the book I liked Jesse a little more, and then it happened. The real Jesse showed up the last 25% of the book and he was an absolute mess, and I loved him for it. He was out of control and jacked up, but it was a realness in his character that was not present for most of the book. Now that is the Jesses I can get behind.

Needless to say, this train-wreck of a book was intriguing enough for me to read the sequel. I am not sure if I will finish the trilogy, it depends on the sequel and if the author decides to give me more than awesome sex scenes and a psychopathic hero.