Today’s Steals and Deals at AAR…..

This made Lisa’s Best of 2023 list.

 

Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

 

It’s on sale at Amazon for 1.99 here.


Our reviewer gave high marks to this meet cute contemp.

 

The Neighbor Favor is a meet-cute story that beautifully captures how we often find love in the least expected of places.

It’s one of the hottest days of the year, the subway is crowded, and its many passengers are cranky. Just another summer evening in New York but definitely a difficult one for Lily Greene, who is dehydrated and exhausted from work, a morning and afternoon so busy she had no time to eat, drink, or even fill her water bottle. Then, much to everyone’s annoyance, the train stops. On the edge of fainting, a nasty side effect she has whenever heat, stress, and dehydration combine, Lily decides to distract herself with her phone. One of her main searches on the web is for author N. R. Strickland, the elusive writer of her favorite fantasy novel, who has no social media presence whatsoever. Until now. Suddenly, her persistence pays off and there is a website with an email option. Punchy from exhaustion, Lily deliriously types out a gushy note – but faints halfway through. As she is falling, her thumb slides to that just right spot, and her epistle is sent.

Nick Brown has been on the run from his past for well over a decade. His work as a travel writer has aided him in escaping, allowing him to live in a different city on a frequent basis and develop no ties to the people around him. He doesn’t even commit electronically, keeping a low social media profile. But it seems a mistake from his youth may just yank him into the spotlight. He had penned The Elves of Ceradon under the name N. R. Strickland during a more hopeful period of his life, but whatever dreams he had for the tale were quickly crushed when the small press that published it quickly went under and the volume pretty much faded into obscurity. But now, his oldest and dearest friend has become a lead editor at a big company and decides to bring the book back from the near dead. First step, set up a website, which leads to Nick receiving his first ever piece of fan (e)mail. He is delighted by the cleverness of the missive and surprised that it cuts off midway through a sentence. Intrigued, he quickly responds.

Thus begins a relationship between the shy Lily and the elusive Nick, aka Strick, as he calls himself in their conversations. Everything is going swimmingly and the two form a strong bond until it comes time for them to meet. Their tentative romance is destroyed when Nick ghosts Lily.

 

It’s on sale for 2.99 here.


We gave this one a rave review.

 

I saw Any Rogue Will Do on a “Best of 2020” list and picked it up right away. I’m so glad I did! This début novel by Bethany Bennett has everything regency fans love – wit, drama, loveable characters, steam, and romance all in an entertaining story.

Lady Charlotte Wentworth’s first London Season seven years earlier was a disaster. An unsuccessful suitor called her the “Paper Doll Princess” and the ton embraced the nickname, all but branding it on her forehead. In the years following, she lost her mother and brother and had to take over the running of the family estate when her father was overcome by grief. Now her father has decided it is time for Charlotte (Lottie) to pass the reins of the estate back to his care and marry. He has picked out the perfect spouse, one Mr. Montague, the youngest son of the Earl of Danby. But Lottie would prefer her independence. Her parents’ love match was so intense that it excluded their children from their love, and she’d rather stay single and manage one of her father’s smaller estates. So they make a deal – Lottie has until the House of Lords convenes in a few months to find her own suitable husband. Otherwise, it will be Montague. Lottie plans to use her time in London to find a spouse who will be content for them to live separate lives – she on her estate and him in London financed by her dowry.

Ethan Ridley is the rejected suitor who gave Lottie that cruel nickname. Seven years before, he unexpectedly inherited a viscountcy, and went from living in Scotland as the owner of a successful sheep farm to living in London as Lord Amesbury. The transition was a disaster; the young Ethan filled his time drinking and gambling, and was met with snobbery by the ton. He developed a tendre for Lady Charlotte and decided to offer for her, but her father rudely dismissed him, causing the young Ethan to get drunk and come up with the new moniker for Lady Charlotte. Seven years later, he is still trying to make amends with his friends for his earlier stupidity and callousness and he is trying to save his mismanaged estate.

On her journey to London, Lottie finds herself staying at the same inn as Ethan and his best friend Lord Carlyle. He takes this opportunity to finally apologize to her, and she is somewhat taken aback by his sincerity – she has considered him her enemy for the past seven years and is surprised to find him somewhat likeable (and still so appealing to her). Lottie had hoped seven years was long enough for the “Paper Doll Princess” gossip to be forgotten but it is quickly resurrected when both she and Ethan arrive in London. They decide to dilute the scandal by presenting themselves as good friends. It doesn’t work – especially since Mr. Montague (anxious to get his hands on Lottie and her dowry) decides to fan the flames of that scandal and press his suit with Lottie. When Montague becomes a threat to her, Ethan finds he can finally repay his debt to her by helping her thwart Montague.

 

It’s at Amazon for 1.99 here.


I am thrilled this recent release is on sale.

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

 

It’s at Amazon for 1.99 here.


 

As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn a very small percentage of whatever you buy using our links. And remember, we get a percentage of EVERYTHING in your cart when you’ve begun your shopping with our links. That tiny sliver of money is what enables us to stay on line, so please, visit our links and click through to Amazon. Thanks!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments