What a long strange month it's been. There were romances at .13 and .31, box sets of all sizes, and books that rarely get discounted priced at less than a dollar. Here are this month's most popular deals, all of which are, as of right now, still available!
Bitch in a Bonnet: Reclaiming Jane Austen from the Stiffs, the Snobs, the Simps and the Saps by Robert Rodi is .99c at Amazon and BN right now. This is a blog-to-book collection of essays, and the title caught my attention for obvious reasons. Rodi posits that our current concept of Austen is a watered down pale version of her real self. He uses his interpretation of three of her novels to support his claim that the real Austen was a lot sharper in many ways. This book has a 4+ star average, and there is now a second volume of analysis, Bitch in a Bonnet Volume 2.
Novelist Rodi (Fag Hag, The Sugarman Bootlegs) launches a broadside against the depiction of Jane Austen as a “a woman’s writer…quaint and darling, doe-eyed and demure, parochial if not pastoral, and dizzily, swooningly romantic — the inventor and mother goddess of ‘chick lit.’” Instead he sees her as “a sly subversive, a clear-eyed social Darwinist, and the most unsparing satirist of her century… She takes sharp, swift swipes at the social structure and leaves it, not lethally wounded, but shorn of it prettifying garb, its flabby flesh exposed in all its naked grossness. And then she laughs.”
In this volume, which collects and amplifies two-and-a-half years’ worth of blog entries, he combs through the first three novels in Austen’s canon — Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park — with the aim of charting her growth as both a novelist and a humorist, and of shattering the notion that she’s a romantic of any kind (“Weddings bore her, and the unrelenting vulgarity of our modern wedding industry — which strives to turn each marriage ceremony into the kind of blockbuster apotheosis that makes grand opera look like a campfire sing along — would appall her into derisive laughter”).
RECOMMENDED: A Lot Like Love by Julie James is STILL .99c at Amazon, BN, and Google:Play. If you haven't bought this for yourself or a friend (or for yourself AND a friend) don't miss your chance. If you like funny and smart contemporary romance, this book will make you very happy. It was a DABWAHA nominee and made it to the final four, too.
If you're familiar with James' characters, this is the one with Jordan, the twin sister of the “Twitter Terrorist,” who makes a deal to help the FBI get access to a party in exchange for her brother's early release from prison. This is a wonderful gift to yourself this weekend – I hope you'll grab a copy!
The FBI wants her cooperation…
As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city's top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there's only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother's release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.
Agent McCall just wants her…
As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they're both determined to pull off even if they can't be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick's investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they're a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more.
Goodreads | Amazon | Google:Play | BN
The Dark Hunters – The Collection Thus Far by Sherrilyn Kenyon is $19.99 at Amazon. That's 25 books plus a companion book for $20, which works out to about $1 each.
The price fluctuates on this one, too. It went back up to $140+ but now it's $19.99 again. There are 25 books plus The Dark-Hunter Companion in one digital file – with the warning, “Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download“. YOU DON'T SAY.
The Amazon price appears to be the lowest right now, and at BN it's listed at $147.82 (egads) but if ever there was a time for the price matching fairies to have a showdown – or better yet a dance off! – this would be it. I'm leaving the other retailer link up with fingers crossed in hopes they all discount this one for a time.
Anyone feel like an epic glom for $20?
This collection includes: Fantasy Lover, Night Pleasures, Night Embrace, Seize the Night, Night Play, Kiss of the Night, Sine of the Night, Unleash the Night, One Silent Night, Dance with the Devil, Dark Side of the Moon, The Dream Hunter, Devil May Cry, Upon the Midnight Clear, Dream Chaser, Acheron, Dream Warrior, Bad Moon Rising, No Mercy, Retribution, The Guardian, Time Untime, & The Dark Hunter Companion.
According to GoodReads, that's books 0.5, 1-17, 19, 21-22 and 24.
REMINDER: The Sweet Life is a special edition boxed set for the May 2014 Brenda Novak Diabetes Auction. It's available for $2.99. This boxed set features fourteen contemporary romances from many bestselling authors, including Brenda Novak, Bella Andrew, Barbara Freethy, Susan Mallery, Carly Phillips, Susan Wiggs, and Heather Graham. That this boxes set is a limited-time-only offer, and will be on sale only during the Diabetes Auction.
All the proceeds will go to diabetes research. The boxed set will be $2.99 through the second week of May, then the price will rise to $7.99 – which is not bad for fourteen stories!. Then, after May 2014, this boxed set will be taken down and will not be available again.
Have your cake and eat it too–your purchase of A Sweet Life helps fight against diabetes!
Priced at only 2.99 (regular price 7.99), indulge in this stunning limited edition collection of fourteen contemporary romances by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors…
You can make a difference while you read! All proceeds from the sale of A Sweet Life will be donated to the Diabetes Research Institute via Brenda Novak's Online Auction for Diabetes Research.
Featuring a foreword by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber.
Get your copy today!
1500 pages/ 675 000 words
I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre (The Sullivans)
The only woman wealthy Irish pub owner Jake McCann wants is the one he can't have–Sophie Sullivan, his best friend's off limits sister. But when the beautiful librarian appears on his doorstep as his every fantasy come to life, even though Jake knows loving Sophie isn't the right thing to do…how can he possibly resist?
On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy (Callways #1)
From #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy comes the first book about the Callaways, a big Irish family born to serve and protect, many as San Francisco firefighters.
May Day! By Heather Graham
Members of the Krewe of Hunters team plan a relaxing vacation to jolly old London for the English celebration–they never figured that a May Pole just might be murder.
Shopping for a Billionaire by Julia Kent
When mystery shopper Shannon Jacoby meets billionaire Declan McCormick with her hand down a toilet in the men's room of one of his stores, it's love at first flush.
Built to Last by Susan Mallery
The tale of Aaron Cross, a man who doesn't know he needs saving…until he meets Marissa Spencer, a heroine inspired by the real life founder of the Motheread/ Fatheread Literacy Program.
A Baby of Her Own by Brenda Novak
Delaney is tired of waiting for the right man–all she wants is a baby. After seducing a handsome stranger, she returns to Dundee to find that same man is actually taking up residence on a ranch just outside of town–where he will very likely realize she's expecting.
Dare to Love by Carly Phillips
In relationships, Ian Dare offers the bare minimum–until one glimpse of sensual Riley Taylor changes his perspective. Their affair heats up and love comes into play, but Riley's secret past just might cost them everything.
Executive Seduction by Jennifer Probst
When Chandler Santell turns to Logan Grant, the most ruthless CEO in the finance industry to save her beloved Yoga and Arts Center, she never intended to have seduction as part of the plan…
In Too Deep by RaeAnne Thayne
Though fiercely drawn to the comfort of Andrea McPhee's arms, Will Tanner isn't sure he can find room for a woman like her in a life focused on vengeance–until he discovers she has secrets of her own.
Every Girl Does It by Rachel Van Dyken
Amanda gets a flash from the past when the nerdy kid she rejected in high school suddenly reappears in her life…dead sexy, he's all man and he wants her.
Homecoming Season by Susan Wiggs
Miranda Sweeney and her family find hope and healing while spending an autumn at Willow Lake after Miranda survives breast cancer. Inspired by the founder of Cottage Dreams.
Unspoken by Lauren Hawkeye
Once, Ellie Kendrick was the only thing that Dominic Gabriel wanted. Now she's back and her version of what happened between them so long ago makes him question everything he knows about himself as a man…
Sweet Memories by Steena Holmes
Thinking her marriage is over, Tessa is shocked to fall into the arms of her husband… literally. What's a girl to do when her heart still goes pitter-patter for a man who ran out on her once but comes back determined to take another chance?
Take Me, Cowboy by Jane Porter
Jilted at the altar, Jenny Wright is devastated that bull riding champ Colton Thorpe witnesses her shame, but tough sexy Colton is a man who knows what he wants… and he wants Jenny.
Who the hell ever thought Jane Austen was “quaint and darling, doe-eyed and demure”? Sounds like these people are arguing against something that doesn’t exist.
@ Miranda
Well she was a woman in the 1800’s. She wrote books with a domestic setting in which ladies get married. Therefore she must fit all the stereotypes of “quaint and darling, doe-eyed and demure.”
Of course anyone who reads her books might pick up on some subversive ideas that destroy that image.
@ Miranda
I think the answer is all those people who “think” they know Austen because they’ve seen the movies (i.e. Darcy in a wet shirt) – but have never actually read her!
Love the title of “Bitch in a Bonnet”, would have gotten it for that alone!
Bitch in a Bonnet was a brilliant read. I have never enjoyed Mansfield Park so much as reading his analysis of it. Thank you so much for featuring it!
I haven’t read Bitch in A Bonnet, so I am bit hesitant to comment-but I agree with the other commenters who wonder who we were reclaiming Austen from. Anyone who has read the books knows she is certainly not cozy or “swooningly romantic”! In fact, she is the opposite of that. Bitingly witty, always quick to point out the absurdity of certain societal norms-I feel the author might be railing against a group that doesn’t exist.
My feelings about the movies, if even one person who sees Colin Firth in a wet shirt ends up reading Austen, job well done! However people come to this marvelous author, I am all for it.
I would love to hear what people think of The Austen Project. So far I have read Pride and Prejudice by Joanna Trollope, and Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid. I belong to a Jane Austen book club, and our next meeting is the Trollope novel. I think it will be an interesting discussion!
@Maureen: If you’ll pardon a small correction, the Trollope novel is Sense and Sensibility. Pride and Prejudice will be by Curtis Sittenfeld, and will be out next year, I believe.
@Trai-Thanks for the correction! I must have had Darcy on the brain 🙂