The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins is $1.99 right now. This is book 2 in Higgins' Blue Heron series, which takes place at a family-owned vineyard. This story is a contemporary marriage-of-convenience story (for a green card, though they aren't green anymore, I don't think) with many happy Higgins fans reporting that they adored it.
What if the perfect match is a perfect surprise?
Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there… or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn't easier said than done.
Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States—and leave Charlie behind.
In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience—and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiancé, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn't easy.
And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love….
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo
Dare to Love by Carly Phillips is .99c at AMZ and BN. This is the first book in the contemporary self-published series she talked about on the DBSA Podcast a few weeks back. The book has a 4 star average on GR, with some readers praising the complex family relationships and others saying they thought the plot progressed too fast for them.
Since finding out his father had another family on the side, Ian Dare swore to be the upstanding, responsible man his cheating parent had never been. When it comes to his relatives, he gives his all but in relationships he offers the bare minimum. But one glimpse of sensual Riley Taylor arouses his dominant and protective instincts and Ian is entranced. He will do anything to possess her … and does.
But any future with Riley must include him extending an olive branch to the half-brother who is a constant reminder of the pain he’d rather forget.
Independent and always in control, Riley Taylor makes no apologies for choosing men carefully. Relationships have never been a priority and she believes herself hardened to domineering men – until she meets charismatic Ian Dare. He manages to turn a simple kiss into an all out assault on her senses and when he takes control in the bedroom, she’s stunned to discover she likes it.
As their affair heats up, they soon realize they complete each other in ways neither imagined. But Riley’s past is closer than she cares to remember, and her struggles with Ian’s dominance might just cost her everything.
Rodeo Queen by TJ Kline is $1.99. This is a contemporary romance set in the rodeo (obviously) with an ambitious horse trainer heroine. The reviews on GR are mostly positive, especially form readers who loved the inside peek into the competitive rodeo circuit.
Sydney Thomas may be the newest Rodeo Queen on the circuit, but she's more than just a pretty face and fabulous horseback rider. If only her new boss could see it! But the frustrating, bossy, drop-dead gorgeous man seems bent on pushing her away every chance he gets.
Scott Chandler learned at an early age that he needed to “cowboy up” and take care of his family. The one time he let his guard down, his heart got trampled, and he's not about to let that happen again. He knows Sydney's type: rodeo queens who hide their manipulative ways behind good looks, tight jeans, and glittery tiaras.
But just as Scott and Sydney are finally realizing there might be more to their fiery relationship than scorching kisses and passionate nights, secrets from their pasts come back to haunt them. Will the cowboy and the Rodeo Queen ever be able to ride off into the sunset together?
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo
A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane, also known as Gayle Callen, is $1.99. This is a contemporary small town romance (if the town name hadn't tipped you off already). It's on sale for the month of February.
Welcome to Valentine Valley—where broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . . Emily Murphy never thought she’d return to her mom’s rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life.
On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . . Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town—he’s no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she’s only there to sell her family’s old property and move back out.
But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily’s perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine.
As of 10am PST, the Carly Philipps’ book is $3.99 at Barnes & Noble. Hoping they price match soon.
The Carly Phillips book is 3.99 at Amazon too
Immigration paralegal here! The were not green for many many years, but CIS finally gave up and went back. Perhaps they were just as annoyed by “green card” movies and books as I was.
I really likes the 1st book of the Blue Heron series, but hesitate to pull the trigger on this one. I might get the authenticity grumps.
@ Cap—I really enjoyed The Perfect Match, but I am in a different profession and know little about green cards. The interaction between Honor and Tom is really fun.
Of course, I am hesitant to read Rodeo Queen because I used to compete in horse shows and worked in the horse industry with trainers and horse breeders. Still have horses and hate when writers get horse colors wrong or have everyone riding a stallion. 🙂
OOO OOO there’s a sale on Cinder!!!
2.99 FOR KINDLE
Totes bought it.
@LovelloftheWolves – Thanks for the heads up about Cinder!
For the paranormal fans, here’s a big list of Kindle bargains ranging from free to $5 (for the multi-volume box sets):
http://bittenbybooks.com/free-read-friday-giant-list-of-free-books- 2714/
There are quite a few romances interspersed among the straight PNR…
Pretend engagements are one of my least favorite tropes, and I usually avoid them like the plague they are, but The Perfect Match has piqued my curiosity. I think it’s because (for once) it’s the man who needs help. I’m torn; do I get and risk hating it? Do I skip and risk missing something that might change my mind about this trope? Decisions, decisions.
I read both books in the Blue Heron story and I really liked the second book so much more than the first one.
If you want to read a rambling, potentially spoilerish review, I published one on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17738218-the-perfect-match
I would say give it a try, especially if you liked the first book.
I want to read the Blue Heron book but after going through the K1 Visa rigamarole I’m not sure I’d buy into it. Then again, I’m a sucker for marriages of convenience.
Can I just say I like all of these covers? They all have faces. Or horses. Horses are good too.
I liked the Higgans book. I tend to like hers, although when I don’t I really really don’t. She is definitely polarizing. I’d say give it a chance, but I get all my books from the library so there’s no reason not to try. The writing is definitely higher quality.
As far as green card accuracy goes, I’m no expert, but I suspect there are some scenarios of dubious realism. Didn’t bother me, a lot of what happens in any romance novel is unlikely, and I think this one is within standard suspension of disbelief.