RECOMMENDED: The Mimicking of Known Success by Malka Older is $2.99! We mentioned this on Hide Your Wallet and Carrie reviewed it and gave it a B+:
The writing technique is excellent, the worldbuilding interesting and poetic, the characters enjoyable to spend time with, and there’s tea. It was interesting, entertaining, and enjoyable – two thumbs up.
Sonali Dev is an amazing creator of character and I suspect that this book with be A grade stuff for many readers. I enjoyed the conversations around class, race, and disability (in Emma’s case). However, the book left me stressed out instead of happy
John Eyre by Mimi Matthews is $2.99! This is a retelling of the Bronte classic and has similar elements of a Gothic historical romance. Have you read this one? Carrie read it and gave it a C+ in a Lightning Review.
The Viscount Who Vexed Me by Julia London is $1.99! This historical romance is book three in the Royal Match series. I’m getting a hint of Cyrano de Bergerac from the description.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie is $2.99! know Carrie really loves this book (and the entire series, I believe). It’s also a Hugo Award winner! Readers really loved the scifi world building, though some admitted wanting more action in the first book of the Imperial Radch series.
Twice a Quinceañera by Yamile Saied Méndez is $2.99! This was mentioned on a previous Hide Your Wallet and I remember Sarah being excited for this on in a previous podcast. Did any of you grab this one when it released?
RECOMMENDED: Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope is $3.99! Ellen gave this on a B and mentions trigger warnings to be aware of and that they had higher expectations for the romance.
I found Song of Blood and Stone to be exceptionally skillfully crafted in many ways and I think it deserves huge plaudits for how it uses fantasy to engage with injustice in the modern world.
Playing for Keeps by Jill Shalvis is $1.99! This contemporary romance released earlier this year and is the seventh book in her Heartbreaker Bay series. Readers recommend this one for a low-angst, but still emotionally fluent read. And it has a cute dog. However, others expressed annoyance at the heroine’s continuing self-sabotaging behavior.
The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox is $1.99! Elyse has been a huge fan of Fox’s Gothic fiction and this one was mentioned on a previous Hide Your Wallet. Be warned, though, as Fox’s books can get rather dark. I know the first one had some triggers, so be sure to use the search function for Goodreads reviews to find a list.
Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach is $2.99! Catch this one as part of today’s Kindle Daily Deals. This is a scifi novel with some strong romantic elements and, in the past, I’ve heard it described as Kate Daniels in space. Many people loved this book and its worldbuilding, though there are a few reviewers who said they never connected with any of the characters.