Today’s Steals and Deals at AAR…..
It would be great if Lisa Kleypas published a new book! AAR readers love her. In the meantime, however, this 2020 release is on sale! Here’s the blurb:
ONE OF OPRAH MAG’S BEST ROMANCES OF 2020!
Everything has a price . . .
Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.
Everything except her . . .
Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win.
When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride:
Never underestimate a Ravenel.
The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun . . .
It’s on sale for 1.99 here.
This is one of two novel length stories originally published as Remember When. We gave it a rousing A. In our review, we wrote:
Laine Tavish has a successful antiques business called Remember When, and a satisfying life in Angel’s Gap, Maryland. She has a nice home and a great dog named Henry. Even though she is 28 and not seriously dating anyone, she knows the right person will come along. Laine also has a past she is hiding. Her father is Jack O’Hara, a con artist and a thief. Although she loves him dearly, Laine wants no part of her father’s lifestyle and has worked hard to become respectable. Then a man is hit by a car and killed in front of her store. She is startled to discover he is her father’s best friend, known to her as Uncle Willy. Willy died trying to tell Laine something, and she knows he and her father have been up to no good.
Max Gannon is a private investigator hot on Willy’s trail. His employer is desperate to retrieve a multi-million dollar fortune in diamonds that was recently stolen. Max knows that Jack O’Hara, Willy, and another man known as Alex Crew were behind the theft. Jack and Willy are small potatoes compared to Crew. Calling Crew a homicidal sociopath is a compliment.
When Max scopes out Remember When and meets Laine, the sparks fly instantly. He knows who she is, but wants to get a handle on her part in the theft, if she had one. This is a love-at-first-sight story, but unlike most examples of this plot device, it was very believable for me. Max and Laine have an instant attraction to each other, but in the course of their short acquaintance, they talk about why they are perfect for each other. We know why Laine falls in love with Max, as she explains it to him. There is also a wonderful undercurrent of humor between them that left me smiling throughout their story. Laine has a sarcastic bent, and I loved her comments to Max.
Roberts does an incredible job weaving the mystery of the diamonds through Laine and Max’s relationship. Laine is in danger, but she is adept at handling herself, having grown up with a thief and a con man. She is nobody’s fool and I loved that about her character. She thinks on her feet and is a partner to Max, not a burden.
It’s on sale for 2.99 here.
Our reviewer loved this entry in Annika Martin’s popular series. In her DIK review, Dolly wrote:
I love this book. I LOVE this book! One last time for the cheap seats: I LOVE THIS BOOK!! Before Annika Martin’s Billionaires in Manhattan series, I gave the billionaire trend little more than a passing glance. But not now. With Just Not That Into Billionaires, Martin has crafted a charming, fun, sexy story that hits every emotion on the spectrum. It’s like the literary version of Ted Lasso, where you find yourself grinning when you’re done, yet never felt the smile develop on your face.
I attribute that entirely to Martin’s engaging storytelling style. Her playful way with words and fully packed sentences are addictive, and her use of first person from the perspective of both Francine and Benny draws the reader in and grabs them by the throat.
The setup is unanticipated. Ballet dancer Francine has finally reached the pinnacle of her career where she’s a principal dancer embarking on a European tour with her company. But her travel papers can’t be brought into order because she’s married. Unknowingly. And has been for around a decade.
As a young dancer in a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil-style show, Francine worked with Benny, an oddly appealing tech guy who was a total grump and misinterpreted by most of the company because of his perpetual “resting annoyed face.” But not Francine. She was always drawn to Benny, with her sunshiney-ness and optimism that was, unfortunately, wrapped up in her youthful zest for experience. And on one fateful, drunken night, they got hitched.
But although Francine remembered nothing about it, Benny never forgot. In fact, his marriage to Francine was a steady faded heartbeat in his consciousness, honing him into a sharp businessman and tech guru. Until the day he’s expected for some time arrives and Francine asks for a divorce.
It’s on sale for 0.99 here.
I very much enjoyed this collection. The authors are all superb writers and they do a lovely job of both paying homage to Christie and writing their own unique takes. Here’s the blurb:
Jane Marple is an elderly lady from St Mary Mead who possesses an uncanny knack for solving even the most perplexing puzzles. Now, for the first time in 45 years, Agatha Christie’s beloved character returns to the page for a globe-trotting tour of crime and detection.
Join Marple as she travels through her sleepy English village and around the world. In St Mary Mead, a Christmas dinner is interrupted by unexpected guests; the Broadway stage in New York City is set for a dangerous improvisation; bad omens surround an untimely death aboard a cruise ship to Hong Kong; and a bestselling writer on holiday in Italy is caught in a nefarious plot. These and other crimes committed in the name of love, jealousy, blackmail, and revenge are ones that only the indomitable Jane Marple can solve.
Bringing a fresh twist to the hallmarks of a classic Agatha Christie mystery, these twelve esteemed writers have captured the sharp wit, unique voice, and droll ingenuity of the deceptively demure detective. A triumphant celebration of Christie’s legacy and essential reading for crime lovers, Marple is a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains one of the most famous detectives of all time.
It’s on sale for 1.99 here.