Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion
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2016 Gift Exchange
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Random Chitchat
TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group ..."It's a nice alternative to Amazon or B&N in that the books are usually multi-format (although once you've downloaded, that's the format you get), they have a buy-10-get-1-free program and when they do their rebate sales, although you pay full price for the book, you get ebucks that you can spend at other times which is nice if you find the book you want on sale.
Gifting a book or ebucks is pretty easy.
Plus, we're just a few days away from the 12 Days of Christmas where they post a free book each day. Some m/f, some m/m.
I like them also some authors are only on ARe also
Mod
TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group..."I don't know for the general reader population. But I love ARe because it is very friendly to international customer like (no purchase tax!), it also offers multi-format ebooks, and of course the Buy 10-Get-1-Free-Book program doesn't hurt.
They also have rebate program several times a year, where 50% of what we purchase is being returned as ebucks that we can apply to buy next books.
I have been ARe member since 2010 and it's definitely my go-to retailer to buy romance ebooks
TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group .."I buy at least half of my books there. And when you take a look at my 'purchased but not read' shelf, you will see that I buy a lot of books :)
They also have a Buy-10-Get-1-Free Deal. Meaning, after you bought 10 books you get one book for free. And sometimes they have awesome sales like the 50% Sale on Cyber Monday!
edit: And why the hell didn't I see all the other responses when I wrote mine?? GR is sneaky again :/
Okay, I know this is the 'random chitchat' discussion thread, but I hope that you don't see this as being just TOO random. I need as much advice as possible and you guys are the biggest group of people I know, so I thought I'd ask you rather than aimlessly searching the comparison websites.I am thinking of buying my first smartphone at the sales this Christmas and need some advice on android vs iPhone and which android if I go that way.
I want to keep the sim from my analogue Samsung flip phone that I bought in 2009 so that I don't have to go through the rigmarole of learning a new phone number, so that's a consideration as well.
All comments are welcome. Thank you for any assistance you can give.
Josy wrote: "TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group .."I buy at least half of my books there. And when you take a look at my 'purchased but not read' shelf, you will see th..."
Ami wrote: "TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group..."
I don't know for the general reader population. But I love ARe because it is very friendly to international customer ..."
~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ wrote: "TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group ..."
It's a nice alternative to Amazon or B&N in that the books are usually multi-format (although once you've downloaded..."
Karen wrote: "TL wrote: "Lila wrote: You are not the only one. I still have hope because mine sent me a message using Elfster on Cyber Monday asking if ARe was ok to get the books, but I haven't heard anything e..."
Thanks guys:)
TL wrote: "Josy wrote: "TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group .."I buy at least half of my books there. And when you take a look at my 'purchased but not read' shelf, yo..."
I'm glad everyone told you about their experiences with ARe. I do most of my personal shopping on Amazon, but I use ARe for book gifting & 50% rebate sales. Easiest way to gifted around the world.
~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ wrote: "TL wrote: "Is ARe popular? First time I heard of it was through this group ..."It's a nice alternative to Amazon or B&N in that the books are usually multi-format (although once you've downloaded..."
Lei, you can actually change your download format by putting in a help request I've done it a few times because pdf works for my Kobo and I use to download that format all the time but I discovered that epub is better so I do a support ticket the help desk and they reset the book so that I can download a different format. You have to make the request on an individual book basis but I've never had a problem with them letting me do this. Which is awesome because a couple of times I've actually downloaded mobi by mistake and it's useless with a Kobo e-reader.
Sarah wrote: "Okay, I know this is the 'random chitchat' discussion thread, but I hope that you don't see this as being just TOO random. I need as much advice as possible and you guys are the biggest group of pe..."Hi Sarah, I'm not sure how helpful this will be because me and phones are not good friends. I have an iPhone 5 and I really like it. I only use mine when I have too mostly because my job for nearly 20 years required me to be on the phone constantly and so I got to the point where I absolutely hate phones. But I find the iPhone easy to use and I know both my son and his partner have iPhones and they use theirs for everything talking, texting, e-mails, games, reading books, taking pictures, if it does it they use it for that and my husband also uses an iPhone for both personal and work.
Sarah wrote: "Okay, I know this is the 'random chitchat' discussion thread, but I hope that you don't see this as being just TOO random. I need as much advice as possible and you guys are the biggest group of pe..."I meant to respond earlier but ran out of time. The sim card is basically there for your saved info like contacts, photos & whatnot. Your carrier should be able to transfer your number regardless of which platform your phone is. I recently switched from an android to an iphone & my number transferred with no problem. There are also apps available to transfer the saved contact info which is what I did because I purchased the phones over the the phone not in a store. If you do it in a store, the CSR can transfer the info over for you but sometimes they charge extra for that.
I personally preferred the android (mine was a LG) over the iPhone but we had a BOGO offer & my son wanted another iphone so iphones it was. It really is a matter of personal preference. If you decide to go with an iphone, I'd suggest getting one with a larger memory since you can't use a SD card with them.
I love my iPhone, I find it super easy to use and I do everything on it! But then, my hubby is and has been a Mac programmer for decades so we are an Apple family.
Ok, random chit chat here. I just bought myself what will be a late Christmas present sort of and I'm so excited about this because I've waited for this book
for somewhere around 6+ years and it's finally got a release date. This is the one place where I know I can say that I'm not sure whether I want to laugh or cry that this is finally going to be a thing. I was so skeptical that I even went and checked on the author's site to make sure and yes even he says it's really happening. Ok that's my babble for now. Thanks for listening...eeerrr...reading? Whatever, thanks.
@KarenI totally get you! I still remember waiting for Kings Rising for what seemed like centuries! Very Happy for you :)
Karen wrote: "Ok, random chit chat here. I just bought myself what will be a late Christmas present sort of and I'm so excited about this because I've waited for this book f..."So that's the series you were talking about? I have the first one on my shelf (or maybe it's audible, too many books all over the place) waiting for me to start. So good series?
M'rella wrote: "@KarenI totally get you! I still remember waiting for Kings Rising for what seemed like centuries! Very Happy for you :)"
Right? Four looooong years.
And I am still waiting for Jim Butcher to release the newest Harry Dresden. OH, THE LONG WAIT!! 
See I knew I would be understood here. It's so nice to have a place where you know you're not weird.@ Ami, I'm waiting for Jim Butcher too I love the Dresden Files, but I'm about 3 or 4 books behind so I have something to fill the time with and I can still get a Harry fix if I need it.
@Lisazj1...good does not even begin to explain Greg Iles. He is totally amazeballs fantastic in my world. So I have to ask by book 1 do you mean...
which is book 1 for his Penn Cage series or do you mean
?
M'rella wrote: "@KarenI totally get you! I still remember waiting for Kings Rising for what seemed like centuries! Very Happy for you :)"
You always get me, it's kind of freaky but good.
Hello, I got 15 books on my list. I received 2 and I sent one to a random person in the exchange. I am lurking and reading the threads since this is my first year participating. I also joined an elfster hosted card exchange. I love the idea of exchanges!
If you are in M/M community and have heard/read Eric Arvin's books, please pray for him. He is turning for the worse, not responding to medications, and now doctors are preparing him for his final journeyhttps://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
I'm new to this as well and I received 2 books. One from someone who wasn't my SS and then the other I going to say was my SS. I'm so confused at the moment but I guess I'll soon find out, hahaha. I've been sending my gifts out on different days so it's like having a surprise every so often. :D
M'rella wrote: "@KarenI totally get you! I still remember waiting for Kings Rising for what seemed like centuries! Very Happy for you :)"
For the first six months this year I was behind in my challenge and I didn't want to get farther behind because I have to reread Captive Prince 1/2 before KR and since rereads don't count, I finally reduced the challenge count so I'm going to try and do the reread and KR over the holidays.
I decided to ignore the mixed reviews, because truly, a book is only as good as *you* think it is and you have to make up your own mind.
Karen wrote: "Ok, random chit chat here. I just bought myself what will be a late Christmas present sort of and I'm so excited about this because I've waited for this book
f..."Wow, that seems like a really timely read, Karen.
Ami wrote: "If you are in M/M community and have heard/read Eric Arvin's books, please pray for him. He is turning for the worse, not responding to medications, and now doctors are preparing him for his final ..."And if anyone wants to read his books, he has a bundle coming out from Dreamspinner tomorrow 12/9. It's $9.99 and includes 4 stories.
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...
Ami wrote: "If you are in M/M community and have heard/read Eric Arvin's books, please pray for him. He is turning for the worse, not responding to medications, and now doctors are preparing him for his final ..."Oh, nonononono!!!! :~(
Thank you for the link!
@Lilathank you! for the link.
His Subsurdity books are too funny!
Oh crap, now I am crying :(
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I'm new to this as well and I received 2 books. One from someone who wasn't my SS and then the other I going to say was my SS. I'm so confused at the moment but I guess I'll soon find out, hahaha. ..."Oh i like that idea. Sending the gifts out on different days. I think i would prefer to be surprised like that as well
I sent books from Amazon with different dates, you can select when you they can be sent, but my giftee collected them on the first day. Puzzling....
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "This is an aside, but if any helpful elves want to be a gifter for any person who gets stiffed from their match, message me!"Meeeeee! Love playing Santa! Sent you PM.
Karen wrote: "See I knew I would be understood here. It's so nice to have a place where you know you're not weird.@ Ami, I'm waiting for Jim Butcher too I love the Dresden Files, but I'm about 3 or 4 books beh..."
Karen, it's The Quiet Game that I have, so that's another one I need to move up on my list. I've got Storm Front waiting for me to get to it as well. So many books...
Lisazj1 wrote: "Karen wrote: "See I knew I would be understood here. It's so nice to have a place where you know you're not weird.@ Ami, I'm waiting for Jim Butcher too I love the Dresden Files, but I'm about 3 ..."
Oh I can't wait for you to read
You have to let me know what you think of Penn Cage. He is totally my #1 book boyfriend. I told my hubby years ago that Penn Cage is the only man I would ever leave him for and yes you do need to start reading the Dresden Files just be warned some people weren't really fussy for his first book, I enjoyed it but each book tends to get successively better, it's also really good series. I need to get back to it.
~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ wrote: "M'rella wrote: "@KarenI totally get you! I still remember waiting for Kings Rising for what seemed like centuries! Very Happy for you :)"
For the first six months this year I was..."
It's not being released until March so I still have a bit of a wait but compared to 6 years of who knows 3 or 4 months is nothing.
M'rella wrote: "Yeah, and the there was The King of Forever with a very fitting title :D"I have that one and I actually hope to read it...one day...soonish?
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "This is an aside, but if any helpful elves want to be a gifter for any person who gets stiffed from their match, message me!"I also sent you a pm
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "This is an aside, but if any helpful elves want to be a gifter for any person who gets stiffed from their match, message me!"I'm just seeing this, sending you a PM now :)
Mod
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "This is an aside, but if any helpful elves want to be a gifter for any person who gets stiffed from their match, message me!"Will we get reassigned a new elf via Elfster or will you PM us a new elf?
Mod
Will we get reassigned a ..."
I just PM a person's name to buy something for.
Works for me! Thanks :)
You have us lining up. I'm good with this too.
Mod
Do UK peeps tend to have a problem reading those DDRM file books off ARe?
Thanks for organizing this Heather. I had a great time reading all the threads and expanding my TBR list! Have a Merry Christmas everyone.
Thank you for the invite. I would love to be added to the list again next time.
**revives thread**Anyone got recs for a good M/M group? There's a lot of M/M books I want to read, but I'd like to get some more specific book recs that include the sort of plot devices I'm into at the moment.
Teàrlach wrote: "**revives thread**Anyone got recs for a good M/M group? There's a lot of M/M books I want to read, but I'd like to get some more specific book recs that include the sort of plot devices I'm into ..."
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
With more than 21,200 members the MM Romance Group is the largest group I know of (and the best, lol!)
We have all kind of threads for you when you are looking for a specific book or subgenre and many, many lists for you to browse.
edit: Here are some direct links you can go to once you are a member:
Group bookshelf: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
OFFICIAL M/M Listopia Directory: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Discussion thread 'Looking for a book about': https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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Secret Santa gift exchange!
Books mentioned in this topic
Dark Space (other topics)Outlander (other topics)
Back from the Edge (other topics)
The King of Forever (other topics)
The King of Forever (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Mary Calmes (other topics)Mary Calmes (other topics)
Katie Porter (other topics)
And ..."
Hi TL, I've been shopping on ARe for about 4 years now and they've got a really good selection and the few times I've had a problem they've been really good about responding and fixing things fairly promptly. Also for me because my e-reader isn't a kindle they're actually the store of choice because they have a really varied selection for the most part they offer books is a variety of formats. I definitely think their popularity is growing.