Free HARMLESS books

Hey, everyone. Thanks to Kindle and their KDP Select program, I can bring you three more days of A Little Harmless Submission for free! These are the last three days so if you haven't done it yet, make sure you get it now.
Again, for those of you without Kindle devices, I apologize. Barnes and Noble does not allow me to do promos like this, but maybe with a little push from readers, they may start.
Also, now forever, A Little Harmless Surprise and A Little Harmless Gift are free on Amazon. A Little Harmless Surprise is free on B and N now and I am hoping to get Gift there soon.

A LITTLE HARMLESS SUBMISSION

For a tough as nails Dom hunting a sadistic serial killer is nothing compared to losing his heart.

Harmless #6

Rome Carino is hunting a predator. One who likes to hurt submissives, and the most popular BDSM club’s patrons are being targeted. With each fresh kill he gets more brazen. Rome knows he just needs one little break, but before he can make headway, the FBI shows up. Worse, the uptight, buttoned-down Special Agent Maria Callahan suggests a plan that is dangerous, but worth it because it might just catch the killer. If Rome can keep his mind on the case and off the beautiful FBI agent, he'll be just fine.

Maria is still trying to step out of her legendary father's shadow and knows just how to do it. Luring the killer by posing as Rome's new sub seems like a good idea. That is, until undercover becomes real life and she finds herself tangled up with a man who amazes and scares her at the same time. Her growing attraction to the Honolulu Police Detective is a little too much to handle. Even knowing that, she can't help falling in love with the tough Dom and losing herself in the games they play in the bedroom. 

Rome is overwhelmed by his need for Maria. He has never had a sub respond to him the way she does, and no matter what he does, he feels himself slipping off that cliff into love. As their relationship starts to unfold, he realizes that he will do anything to win her heart, to convince her to become his sub for a lifetime. But before he can do anything, the killer turns his attention on Rome and the one thing he holds dear: Maria.

WARNING: The following book contains: A Dom who thinks he can do no wrong, a new sub who is about to teach him he can, palm trees, a trip or two to Rough ‘n Ready, a flirty Aussie Dom with questionable motives, old friends, and a new enemy. Yeah, it might be called Harmless, but you Addicts know it’s anything but. 

Sunday Scribbles: The Benefit of Free Books

I believe in free books. As a promo tool, I have used it almost from the beginning of my career. There were a couple of reasons I did that. One, no one knew who I was. I had to let readers get to know me, and what better way than with one of my books. Two, it was cheaper than other promos, like ads and mailing stuff. I was on a tight budget.

I am always amazed when I hear other authors say they don't like giving away books. Are there some readers who abuse it. Yes. Just like every other free thing there is in the world. But, it also gives you a chance at gaining readers. When Samhain put ALH Sex up for free for the first two weeks of May, the sales of all my other Harmless books went through the roof. Plus, I still sold 9,000 copies of A Little Harmless Sex. I can't tell you how many free books were downloaded because Samhain has never sent those numbers to me. But based on what I know now, it must have been amazing. Either way, the Harmless series sold 18,000 copies that month. One month! So I know the free book works.

This past week I took a gamble. It wasn't easy because I am a Capricorn and we don't like taking them. We don't like to do anything spontaneous unless it is planned in some way. Yes, I know that being spontaneous isn't supposed to be planned. Cappy's just don't like that. So, when my book, Callum, was doing exactly what I expected, I knew I needed to do something. I am very good at knowing what a book will do--at least one of my books. I knew that it would not sell like a Harmless book and it is a new subgenre for me, and NOT erotic. I had a few reservations about putting it out for free. Because I am self-published, I cannot list it for a free promo on Barnes and Noble. While other people do not sell that well there, I do decently. Yes, I could have gotten there free other ways, but that would leave me without earnings off a book I just released. I am just not willing to do that. At the time of writing this blog, Barnes and Noble still has not addressed this issue other than whining that Amazon is trying to corner the market. They are, that is part of business. If you want to compete, pull your head out of your ass and pay attention.
But I digress as usual lol. Okay, so to get it free on a major place, Amazon, I had to accept the terms of KDP SELECT. The book has to be on there exclusively for 90 days. During that time I have FIVE days I can put it up for free. I also have it placed in the borrowing library where my books available to anyone with a prime membership and a kindle device. The reader has the ability to borrow one book a month. Then, based on the borrows and number of books in the programs, I get a % of the fund they set aside. So, it made it into the top 10 of Contemporary Romance for free, top 20 for Free Romance and the top 30 for overall on Amazon's free list. And, the whopping total of downloads is:

16,708

That's right. As of right now, almost 17,000 people in the US downloaded it. The other countries added another 2K on top of that. Now, those are free, and many of the people might never read it, because it is free, and they might hate it. But the proof is in the pudding. I have almost made as many sales the last two days that I did in the whole month it was on sale with Amazon. I have finally cracked the top 2000 in sales rankings.

UPDATE: I have cracked 1000 on the sales ranking and have now sold more than twice as many copies in three days of sales since it went off sale for free, than I did the entire first month of sales. I think that says it was a good idea.

This is not going to last. I know that. But the reviews have been good and most people seemed to be enjoying this. It also gives me the ability to release Angus this summer because I have already gotten people emailing me about that book. 

I have read or listened to people complaining that they put out a self-pub book and OMG it didn't make me a million bucks. First of all, no book is going to make that for you right off the bat. It is time to move back into reality land. Secondly, if you are a published author moving into self-publishing, you have to understand that while you might not have gotten a lot of promotion from your publisher, you did have the value of the name they have built. They get buzz as a publisher overall. Since you are now the publisher, you have to create that yourself. If you don't, they are not going to automatically follow you. It will for some people. Don't take that chance. 

Now, I am back to writing now and will be hanging out in both Alaska and Hawaii over the next couple of weeks. I am going to be doing some different promos with pricing, etc with my releases in late Spring and I will let you know how those go.

Guest Author & Free Book: Nina Pierce

When the Heart Overrides the Head

I’m a romantic at heart. I believe in soul mates and happy-ever-afters; true hearts and forever love. But why wouldn’t I? I grew up in a blessed home, one of five children, surrounded by love. I started dating my best friend’s older brother when I was a freshman in high school and married him eight years later. We’ll be celebrating our 28^th wedding anniversary this fall.

So yeah, I believe in everything romance novels promise the reader.

But how about love at first sight? It seems this is one area even regular readers of romance seem to have a hard time swallowing. I’m not sure why. There have been countless true life stories of couples seeing each other across a crowded room and the “magic” happens and they just know. It’s their family that’s left to play catch-up with the whirlwind romance and an engagement a month later. But forty years later when their children and grandchildren are dancing at their anniversary celebration, no one can argue that sometimes the heart is so much smarter than the head.

In my sexy romantic suspense short novel, Blind Her With Bliss, Julie Tilling’s parents have this kind of true love and she’s not sure there’s a special someone out there for her. But one night with Damon Corey and her heart knows he’s her soul mate. Of course it takes awhile for her logical brain to acknowledge the truth.

So I’m wondering what you think of love at first sight? As a reader is it something you have a hard time with or are you okay with it? Do you know anyone who fell in love when they saw their true love? Because I’m always curious about that sort of thing.

BLURB:

She's trying to find herself. He's attempting to hide. Together they'll discover a truth that threatens them both...

Investigating the death of her best friend, uptight accountant, JULIE TILLING, discovers a world of adult nightclubs and Internet intrigue. When shock jock DAMON COREY rocks her world in a wild night of lust, she wonders if she's found love...or the key to solving a murder. 

EXCERPT:

“You ever ride a motorcycle, Julie?”

She pulled off the helmet and fluffed her hair. The corkscrew curls of copper fit her cute features much better than the black wig that had overpowered them.

“Not one this fast,”

He bit back a smile. “No, I meant any motorcycle.”

“Was it that obvious?” Color rose from her chest and deepened her already flushed cheeks.

“I like to be a woman’s first.” Shit. Even clean shaven and wearing his glasses, Demon’s persona had a bad habit of popping up at inopportune moments.

Julie stopped contemplating her toes and stared straight at him. Emotions moved over her face and clouded her eyes, but he didn’t know her well enough to read between the lines. He’d just met this wonderful woman. He hadn’t intended to scare her off.

“Julie, I—”

“No, Damon. You don’t have to apologize. I get it.”

He hadn’t thought her cheeks could become redder, but he was wrong.

“You have a lot of women available to you,” she said, quietly. “I’m sure they’re much more experienced than me.” She shrugged and fiddled with the strap of the helmet. “I’m sure you realize I don’t usually let go the way I did last night. And I know you weren’t really expecting the person you found at the family homestead?” She emphasized the last two words as if they were obscenities. “The Jewel of last night was more your speed. I get that.”

Oh, hell no. “No, Julie, I—”

Her hand flew up between them. “No, Damon, seriously, you don’t owe me anything. Obviously my father dragged you into an uncomfortable situation. Well, you’ve done your social obligation. I’m home safe and sound. I didn’t mean to disappoint, but I have a hard time living up to everyone’s expectations of who I should be. So, thanks. I get it. Good night.” The helmet landed in his lap.

“No, Julie, really, you don’t understand.” He yelled at her retreating back. “Julie, wait.” Damon attempted to jump from the bike, but the stand wasn’t down, and he had to juggle the extra helmet. “Damn it all to hell. Julie…” He finally managed to extricate himself from the bike and the helmets and caught her just as she pushed open the front door. “Please. I think you’ve misunderstood. Just give me a minute to explain. Then I’ll leave.”

Her arms knotted across her chest for protection. A wounded heart? He’d have to tread carefully. The emerald eyes shimmering in the waning light telegraphed her pain and embarrassment, but her lips were pursed thin with determination. The woman was a walking enigma. Damon suspected she had no idea how damn sexy she looked standing there, inviting him to explain himself—daring him to breach her defenses.

“Look, Julie. I’m not going to lie to you. Demon Jones is very popular with the ladies. Damon Corey…not so much. If you’re looking for the person I was last night, well, you’re in for a big surprise. He’s as fake as Santa Claus.”

The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her full lips. “I still believe in Santa Claus.”

She would. “The Easter bunny, then.”

“But he doesn’t try to pass himself off as anything but the chocolate peddler that he is. I don’t think any hearts have ever been broken by the Easter bunny.”

“Julie…” Damon’s hand found its way to her cheek, his fingers tangling in her hair. She smelled earthy and fresh, and he gulped in great breaths of heaven, not sure he could ever completely fill his lungs. He gauged her reaction as he leaned in, his gaze sweeping her rounded cheeks and pouty mouth. When he brushed his lips against Julie’s satin warmth, her eyes fluttered closed and he nibbled on her full bottom lip. A sweet moan of surrender escaped a moment before she opened for him. Their tongues tasted and explored, and he walked her backward into the living room to shut out any neighbor’s prying eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book is FREE on all venues:

BUY Link for KINDLE Lovers 

BUY Link for NOOK Lovers

Award-winning romance author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them. 

Eventually, reading about alpha males and the journey to find their happy-ever-after endings wasn’t enough. She needed to pen her own stories of fated loves and soul mates. Nina’s discovered the passionate side of romance with her sexy stories. For her, it’s all about the sweet scent of seduction mixed with the heartwarming aroma of romance. 

Nina resides in southern New England with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of twenty-seven years, their three grown children and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”. 

You can keep up with her releases at her website or follow her on Twitter and Facebook 

Callum: FIVE DAY FREE DOWNLOAD

As I said, I wanted to try some different promotional things and for the next five days you can download Callum for free. If you already have it, please let your friends know. The more who download it the better. I would love to move up the lists for free books. Since this is a new genre for me, it might be hard. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your family, just tell anyone!

A Little Harmless Submission for FREE

For today and tomorrow, A Little Harmless Submission is going to be free on Amazon. This is one of the reasons I wanted to try the KDP Select form Kindle. So, if you haven't picked it up, go get it. If you have, let a friend know about it.

AMAZON


For a tough as nails Dom hunting a sadistic serial killer is nothing compared to losing his heart.

Harmless #6

Rome Carino is hunting a predator. One who likes to hurt submissives, and the most popular BDSM club’s patrons are being targeted. With each fresh kill he gets more brazen. Rome knows he just needs one little break, but before he can make headway, the FBI shows up. Worse, the uptight, buttoned-down Special Agent Maria Callahan suggests a plan that is dangerous, but worth it because it might just catch the killer. If Rome can keep his mind on the case and off the beautiful FBI agent, he'll be just fine.

Maria is still trying to step out of her legendary father's shadow and knows just how to do it. Luring the killer by posing as Rome's new sub seems like a good idea. That is, until undercover becomes real life and she finds herself tangled up with a man who amazes and scares her at the same time. Her growing attraction to the Honolulu Police Detective is a little too much to handle. Even knowing that, she can't help falling in love with the tough Dom and losing herself in the games they play in the bedroom. 

Rome is overwhelmed by his need for Maria. He has never had a sub respond to him the way she does, and no matter what he does, he feels himself slipping off that cliff into love. As their relationship starts to unfold, he realizes that he will do anything to win her heart, to convince her to become his sub for a lifetime. But before he can do anything, the killer turns his attention on Rome and the one thing he holds dear: Maria.

WARNING: The following book contains: A Dom who thinks he can do no wrong, a new sub who is about to teach him he can, palm trees, a trip or two to Rough ‘n Ready, a flirty Aussie Dom with questionable motives, old friends, and a new enemy. Yeah, it might be called Harmless, but you Addicts know it’s anything but.