Where to Find Books

Hey Everyone!

I just dropped in to do a quick post about books and where to find them.   I know some of you may be wondering after my last post "geezum, how much does she spend on books?".    Well, let me tell you right now, not that much!  I really don't and sometimes that is also why you'll find my reading list a little heavy on the cozy mysteries because I can find those for free most of the time.   I also do the Kindle thing....I know, I know it's not the same as having a book in your hand but 1) I really don't have anywhere to keep all those books 2) eBooks are much cheaper and 3) how else do you think I can read 10 books on vacation??  Honey airline baggage fees would kill me!!

This is not all encompassing but a start:

Amazon:
Hands down where 95% of my books, digital and hardback, are purchased.  I have Amazon Prime and besides all the free shipping it leads to the next source.

Amazon First Reads:
Every month you get to choose a book from 6 Editor picks to be released the next month FO FREE!  Sometimes I have a really hard time choosing just one and occasionally I haven't even selected one.  They are a mix of genre's and it's a good place to read something outside your norm.  This month the categories were: Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery and Literary Fiction.   I had a hard time choosing this month because they had so many of my favorite genre's but I ended up with the Psychological Fiction Selection but almost got the Thriller.   One tip: wait until a little later in the month to make your selection when some reviews have been posted.  Tip #2: always skim over the reviews sometimes publisher descriptions are misleading.

BookBub:
I'll use their description for you:
BookBub is a free service that helps you discover books you'll love through unbeatable deals, handpicked recommendations, and updates from your favorite authors. BookBub doesn't actually sell books. We simply introduce you to books you'll love that are available on retailers like Amazon's Kindle store, Barnes & Noble's Nook store, Apple's iBooks, and others.
You sign up for the email and you tell them what categories of books you are interested in seeing deals on and then every day you get an email with books from the genre's you've selected.  Prices will range from Free to 2.99 as a general rule and they have a different link to click on to take you to each version depending on the reader you are using.

Bookperk:
Pretty much the same as BookBub, you fill out an email request, choose your genre's and then get a daily email.  Oddly enough I rarely see the same books in the two emails and I do get both everyday.  A quick glance is usually all I give either email to see if anything catches my eye.

LoveKissedCozies.com
This is also a daily digest that gets emailed but everything is...you guessed it, Cozy Mysteries.  They have just recently changed their email lists and instead of one I get two, one is strictly free cozy mystery books and the second is bargains.  Bargains are $2.99 or less.   I usually do click over to Amazon to check out longer descriptions and reviews before downloading these.

Second part of the post "How do I find my next book"?
Hey, I get in book ruts just like everyone else but the number one place I figure out what I'm reading next is FRIENDS.   We're social people and we all like to share on FaceBook and fortunately my reading friends do the same.   I also add books to my Wish List in Amazon so when I'm ready for the next book I go to my wish list and pick something. I also have a Want To Read virtual bookcase on GoodReads.  You can tie your Amazon account to your GoodReads account and my yearly reading goals are set on GoodReads as well.  When I see a book that is Free that I might want to read I go ahead and download it so normally I have several books on my Kindle waiting for me then I don't feel bad about deleting it and not finishing it if it's really bad because it cost me nothing.   The next place is Sam's and Costco. I always go through the books because sometimes holding the book and flipping through it will change my mind about reading it.  I probably won't buy it there but instead come home and download it or add it to my reading list.   Here's another hint:  Bestsellers are more expensive when they are first released say 12.99 but often drop to 9.99 after a couple of months.   I also read quite a few blogs about books and new releases to keep me current on what's coming out.  If all else fails, just go to Amazon's Best Sellers list and start scrolling, chances are you'll find something that grabs you!

That's it for today, nothing earth shattering but it's cold and some of my friends are about to see some snow and well, you might as well curl up under a warm blanket and read when that happens!

                                                          
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What's Samma Reading

Hey There & Happy 2018!!

I'm supposed to be cleaning and taking down Christmas decorations but I keep finding way more interesting things to do, like letting you know how the second half of the year went with my reading! Then I managed to catch the crud bug going around, probably from those sickos at Dillards on New Years Day!  At least it wasn't the flu!!!

This is going to be a much briefer version than before because....there's a LOT!!!  See what happens when you are a bad blogger.  oops!  Basically you'll get the category then underneath you'll get the book name with a link to Amazon.  (I'm forced by weird blogger laws-and yes, those do exist- that these are all my Amazon Affiliate links and there's like a million and one shot that I will actually earn some money from these if you choose to purchase.  It does NOT change your purchase price in any way).  You'll also get my rating of the book and that'll probably be it unless I have something specific that I definitely remember from the book.  Remember these go back to like June of 2017 so unless I loved it, it'll be brief.

I'm also going to group this in categories so if there's a genre that doesn't interest you then it'll be easier to breeze just past that section.  I  more than completed my GoodReads goal for 2017 so I did up my game a little for 2018.   If you are on Goodreads then click that link and find me.  I'm Samma Sims and we will be reading buddies.

Hang on and here we go.........

Cozy Mysteries:

1)Haunted Hijinks (An Agnes Barton Paranormal Mystery Book 1)  Rating: 3.5 stars
    First I've read in this series, not sure I'll read more.
2)Key To Savannah (Made In Savannah) (Volume 1)  Rating: 4 stars
    I LOVE this series, it's fun, it's an easy read and it involves the mob in a family friendly way and it
    is set in Savannah.  Also, you do need to read this series in order.
3)Road to Savannah (Made in Savannah) (Volume 2)  Rating: 3.75 stars
    I still love this series, this one just wasn't as good but important to the series.
4)Justice in Savannah (Made in Savannah) (Volume 3) Rating: 4 stars
    Back on track in the series and it's still entertaining me.
5)Swag in Savannah (Made In Savannah) (Volume 4)  Rating: 4 stars
    We're still having fun in Savannah with the Garlucci family. There are 8 books in the series (so far)                          
     and I intend to finish the series.
6)  Hook, Line and Blinker (A Miss Fortune Mystery) (Volume 10) Rating: 4 stars
     This is book 10 in this series and I find them to be hilarious!  I've read them all and can't wait for  
      the next installment.
7) Brew or Die: A Java Jive Mystery  Rating: 3.5 stars
     This is the 4th installment in this series, not my favorite but still good and I didn't realize the 5th
     installment was released in October so I added it to my "to read" list.
8)Dead on the Vine: (Violet Vineyard Murder Mysteries 1 (A Cozy Mystery))  Rating: 4 stars
    Wine, Murder, Napa....what's not to like?
9)A Vintage To Die For: (Violet Vineyard Murder Mysteries 2 (A Cozy Mystery)) Rating: 4 stars
    Another series I'm eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next in the series.
10)Just Around the Bend (Bellingwood) (Volume 18) Rating: 5 stars
     I've read every book in this series which must be read in order and I LOVE it.
11)Boundless Dreams (Bellingwood Book 19) Rating: 5 stars
     Another wonderful time with Polly & friends.
12)Mango Cake and Murder (Mom and Christy's Cozy Mysteries) (Volume 1) Rating: 3.5 stars
      This was a pretty good start to a series, not sure if I'll read more but the mother/daughter
       relationship is pretty funny in this one.
13) High Strung (Glass Bead Mystery Series) (Volume 1)        Rating: 3 stars
      It was ok, not as good as I wanted it to be.  If the volume 2 is free and I have nothing in my
      reading queue I'd probably read.
14) The Trailer Park Princess and the Middle Finger of Fate (Volume 1)  Rating: 1 star
      Nope, I'm done with this series and it's a good thing this was a free book.
15)Cream Puff Murder: A Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mystery (Volume 1) Rating: 3 star
     Not really my thing, won't search out the next one either.
16) Murder, Mayhem and Bliss (Myrtle Grove Garden Club Mystery Book 1)  Rating: 3.5
       I'd probably read another if the free download came along. It wasn't bad but it didn't leave me
       dying to read the next one.
17)The Corpse in the Cabana: A Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery (Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries) (Volume 1)  Rating: 3.75 stars
       Pretty good, I'll probably find the next in the series when I'm low on books in my queue.

Thrillers:

1)Beach Lawyer (Beach Lawyer Series)   Rating: 3.75 stars
    There's a second in the series, I'm not sure I'll read it.  It wasn't bad but it wasn't great.
2)The Bourbon Thief: A southern gothic novel  Rating: 4 stars
    Bourbon, Murder, Kentucky and it's definitely a book after my own heart.  I gave it a 4 on GoodReads but I'm thinking it might be more like a 4.5.
3)Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake Series)  Rating: 4.5 stars
    Loved this book!  The second in this series just came out and I'm dying to get started on it.  Intense      
     and slightly disturbing  make for a win in my serial killer fiction world.
4)Signature Wounds (A Grale Thriller)  Rating: 4 stars
   A good book but one of those that I had to go back and read the description to remember it.  I also
   found out there will be more starring the main character.
5)Game Changer   Rating 4 stars
    Ok, so the whole premise of this book will freak you out a bit and maybe make you a bit paranoid      
     but it was good.  I'd never read anything by this author but I like his style.

Fiction:

1)The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew, Book 1)   Rating: 5 stars
   Seriously, Nancy Drew books are classics for a reason. My goal is to read all of them again
2) Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers (44 Scotland Street Series)  Rating: 4 stars
     This is book 9 in this series and I thoroughly enjoy these books.  I think I have 3 more in the series  
     to read and I will get to them for sure.  This is a sweet series that should definitely be read in order.
3)A Beautiful Poison  Rating: 3.5 stars
   I wanted to love this book, I really did and I keep plowing through the book thinking I would grow
    to love it.  Unfortunately it never happened, it was good and it gets pretty good reviews on
    Amazon so maybe it was just me.
4) The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper  Rating: 4 stars
    This was a sweet and charming book that was totally out of my norm but I loved it.  It made me
     smile and occasionally quirky old Arthur made me tear up.  Who knew a charm bracelet could
     bring so much to your life?
5) Origin: A Novel  Rating: 4 stars
     You guys.....I'm so sad! I've looked forward to this book for so long.  I LOVE Dan Brown, I love       his writing , the plot lines, the history and the Robert Langdon character.  I mean seriously, Angels &Demons is quite possibly one of my top 5 fave books and this, well this was just a big let down.  I worked HARD ya'll to finish this book.  I'm not even kidding, I pre-ordered the hardback version of this book and started it the day it arrived, October 3rd and I did not finish it until just before Thanksgiving when I passed it off to the Abogg.

Well, that's it for the 2017 year.  I didn't read much at all in December, too many Hallmark Christmas movies and such.  I'm currently about half way through Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.  It is definitely outside of my normal reading genre but I am enjoying it and have found it both fascinating and disheartening.   My reading list is growing by leaps and bounds and the next one hopefully won't be so full of cozy mysteries.  Normally those are my in the pool summer reads and winter is where I bear down into the hard stuff.  haha   I do have a couple of cozy mysteries in the queue ready to go as I usually throw one of those in after I finish something a little more hardcore.

What are you guys reading?  Anything good? Send my way because I certainly will be looking for more ideas about May!
                                                              Peace, Love &