Self Challenge: Taking down the freebie TBR pile

[Josie]

I've only read 3 Samantha Young books so far but is my fave! You probably have that one too since it was free at one point. The covers of her books I think are really cool :)

[Paris]

I really wish the Kindle Fire had the collection feature that other Kindle's have. I might be less overwhelmed by my massive book list.

In other related news, I'm taking part in the Banish Bingo Blues Challenge and last night while looking through the shelf for my next book I realized that I could probably use that challenge to pick what freebies to read. I might have to go quite a few pages in to find a book, but it would probably help me a lot with my sever indecision.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Yeah, I got it for free too. I have a reading challenge that needs the letter Y, maybe I should squeeze one in before the end of the year.
So many beautiful shiny covers!

[~Leslie~]

The comments about the freebies really help! Good to know about the Stephanie Rowe book as I have that one somewhere. And the Samantha Young books look good as well. Slowly but surely will work through the Freebie pile - now if I can only stop adding to it!!

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

You know...for 9 crappy books, there is one gem...nice to have pointers on the ones that are worth your reading time. Thanks everybody...keep those comments coming.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I have 6 freebies written by Samantha Young, but haven't read any. GTK some are good, I'll move them up.

I wish I could organize my freebies on my Kindle app. I noticed you mentioned a collection feature, Paris. I'm guessing that's on the readers only, not the apps for other devices?

[Heather (Heatso)]

I must have missed when Slumber was free (and all her others, I only had Moon Spell), but I have a bad habit of looking at 99 cent books as if they were free haha... maybe I will reward myself with it if I get a few more read. I do plan on reading Warriors of Ankh Omnibus Edition next month, because the 3 book collection is in the kindle prime library.

I'm pretty sure the collections are only on the actual kindles, because I was just looking at my phone the other day wishing I could move over the ones I have on my kindle.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Thanks, Heather. I figured. I keep checking it, hoping some mysterious update has taken place w/out my knowledge and *poof* a way to organize my books will be there. LOL!

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

I so miss the Stanza app which was way better than the Kindle one but Amazon bought it to trash it.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Yeah, I was SO frustrated when I realized Amazon had bought it from Lexcycle. WTH?! They have their Kindle, they need to leave others alone, IMO. Greedy much?

I still use my Stanza app as my main eReader app. Supported or not, it's the best out there, IMO. I have full control over organizing my books and can add to it without using iTunes (which I loooooathe).

I did finally figure out how I can add books to my Kindle app without syncing with i(SuckAss)Tunes, so that's been nice. But, still ... no way to organize on the Kindle app blows.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Steph wrote: "I did finally figure out how I can add books to my Kindle app without syncing with i(SuckAss)Tunes, so that's been nice. But, still ... no way to organize on the Kindle app blows."

Now I feel silly because I am not tech savvy.

I have 3 app on my phone: iBook, Stanza and Kindle app
I do not have any desktop app on my computer for Kindle.
Stanza goes with Calibre, iBook with iTunes.
What are you doing differently with the Kindle app? I only use the Amazon website to buy and download directly to my phone. Is there another way to 'open' Amazon ebooks outside of the kindle app. I find that the app is hard to manage with 1000+ books on it. Finding anything on it is a real pain.

[AH]

I heard that there is a plugin to calibre that lets you batch convert the files but I haven't tried it yet. I gave it to my tech support (hubs) to look at. He's geeky like that.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I didn't realize I could create collections (organize my books) on the Kindle app for Mac. Makes me even more frustrated that the app on my iGadgets doesn't let me do the same. :/

I only use Calibre to convert files, if needed. For instance, if I want to read a .mobi (Kindle) file on my Stanza reader, I have to convert it to an .epub, .lit, or .pdf b/c Stanza doesn't read .mobi files. I don't use Calibre to catalog or store my eBooks. I use BookPedia (a Mac library app) to catalog them and store them all on an external HD (which is backed up regularly).

I never use iBook, so I can't really speak to that one, but I do use Stanza (most often) and use Kindle (occasionally). So, I'll do my best to help, if I can.

I'm creating a new thread, so I don't completely hijack this one. LINK: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

I'm working on it now, so gimme a minute to post the deets.

ETA: Sorry, didn't answer your "what are you doing" question. If I want to read a book that I got from Amazon on a reader other than the Kindle, I grab the .mobi file from the "My Kindle Content" folder, convert it using Calibre to .epub and add it to Stanza. But, you run into DRM issues, but BlueFire Reader reads those files most times.

[Angie]

This is definitely my kind of challenge! My freebie shelf shows 224 books, but I haven't even added all of the ones I've bought! I've read 45 of those, but I'm trying to make an effort to read more of them and feature them on my blog. Perhaps this challenge will help.

Duration: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Goal: 50

01. ★★☆☆☆ New Year's Resolution by Selena Kitt
02. ★★★★☆ A Wet & Wild Night by Nicole MacDonald
03. ★★★★☆ Assassin Study by Maria V. Snyder
04. ★★★★☆ The Pearl Savage by Tamara Rose Blodgett
05. ★★★★☆ Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
06. ★★★★☆ Glitches by Marissa Meyer
07. ★★★☆☆ Giving Chase by Lauren Dane
08. ★★★★☆ That Voodoo You Do by Jodi Redford
09. ★★★★☆ Daddy's Favorites: Darla by Selena Kitt
10. ★★★★☆ Lost Souls by Selena Kitt
11. ★★★☆☆ Sibling Lust: In the Barn by Selena Kitt
12. ★★★☆☆ Sibling Lust: In the Fold by Selena Kitt
13. ★★★☆☆ On the Bus by Selena Kitt
14. ★★★★☆ My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
15. ★★★★☆ Ushers, Inc. by Rusty Fischer
16. ★★★☆☆ Power Study by Maria V. Snyder
17. ★★★★☆ Ice Study by Maria V. Snyder
18. ★★☆☆☆ Exiled by RaShelle Workman
19. ★★★★☆ Death Whispers by Tamara Rose Blodgett
20. ★★☆☆☆ The Mermaid by Leila Bryce Sin
21. ★★★☆☆ Harry Potter: The Prequel by J.K. Rowling
22. ★☆☆☆☆ Sudden Chemistry by Delilah Fawkes
23. ★★☆☆☆ Water by Andrea Dale
24. ★★★☆☆ Awakening by Karice Bolton
25. ★★★★☆ Inked by Everly Drummond
26. ★★★☆☆ Crazy Emma by Brandie Buckwine
27. ★★★★☆ Babysitting the Baumgartners by Selena Kitt
28. ★★★☆☆ Unfinished by Carol Oates
29. ★★★★☆ Wool by Hugh Howey
30. ★★★☆☆ Wool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey
31. ★★★★★ Succubus Blues(audio) by Richelle Mead
32. ★★★★☆ Wool 3: Casting Off by Hugh Howey
33. ★★★★☆ First Night Memories by Jonathan Maberry
34. ★★★☆☆ The Ylem by Tatiana Vila
35. ★★★★☆ Retro Demonology by Jana Oliver
36. ★★★★☆ Lost Scene from Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
37. ★★☆☆☆ Beauty Dominates the Beast by Hannah Hale
38. ★☆☆☆☆ Swingers Squared by Adrianna White
39. ★★★★★ Beauty Touched the Beast by Skye Warren
40. ★★★☆☆ Call of the Selkie by Jennifer Hudock
41. ★★☆☆☆ Sleeping Beauty by Leila Bryce Sin
42. ★★☆☆☆ The Faery Hunt by Alexia Purdy
43. ★★★★★ Daughter of Smoke & Bone(audio) by Laini Taylor
44. ★★★★☆ Surviving Passion by Maia Underwood

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Welcome Angie!

[Angie]

Thanks, Valerie. :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Great list, Angie.

PS: Anyone else notice GR shrunk our ★s? :p

[AH]

How do you make those stars?

[Steph, Serious series addict]

& # 9733; for a filled star
& # 9734; for an empty star
(remove the spaces between & and #)

Or just cut and paste.

I noticed last night that where our stars used to be full-size (same height/width as the letters) they are now tiny. Guess GR is doing some tweaking.

[AH]

Thx!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Welcome :)

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Cleaned away some shorts:


and got to read:
(totally worth it!) and (very well done for shy person like about BDSM)

my list so far...

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Thanks all for reading along with me! I see that Deborah made some headway on her list, so did AH and Heather. Might want to let us know when you update so that we can check out what you have to say about your freebies.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Got read and working on . my list so far...

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ wrote: "Thanks all for reading along with me! I see that Deborah made some headway on her list, so did AH and Heather. Might want to let us know when you update so that we can check out what you have to sa..."

Oops...okay, will let everyone know.

[AH]

Val - I had to chuckle - you're updating this list, then downloading on the other thread. I'm doing the same thing - *hangs head in shame*

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

AH, I see you grabbed some freebies and neglected to share it with us. You are so greedy. I do admit that I highjack the freebie threads a lot too.

[AH]

I grab them and post a review note where it's free and when. I do it because I've often wondered how a book has made it on Mt. TBR + I don't want to buy something that I already own.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Horrible when you get a new book to find out that you already own it....even worst when you already read it and forgot too.

Two more additions, there are precious few reviews on those. They need some more loving and spreading the word.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Edited back on message 32 at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8... for She's Gotta Be Mine definitely chick lit.
,

Crap, got on the kindle for lendme request and what did I do—downloaded more freebies (friends had been busy and lotta the lendme books were the free ones).

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Well, at least you can share.....when will lending be permitted outside of the US?
Anyway, got the Bound series by Cynthia Eden done since half of them where freebie .

I was pleased with my first read from FE Heaton .

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Got a few others out of the way and some shorts my list so far... 13 books and 20 shorts since April. I am not making any dent in the freebie pile but a girl can hope.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Angie, you are doing great...more than halfway done!

[Tracy]

You guys are doing great with this! It looks exactly what I should be doing. Is it to late or could I join for about six months?

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

As Steph would say "these challenges may have a set "duration", but no specific to-from dates."

It's really a place to reflect on the freebies...you can join this challenge if you want to dwindle your pile of books.

[Tracy]

Thanks Valarie! That is exactly what I need to do.

[AH]

I really must update my list. It seems that no matter when I get one out of the way, 5 more pop up.

[Tracy]

AH wrote: "I really must update my list. It seems that no matter when I get one out of the way, 5 more pop up."

That happens to me all the time. Must be something wrong with Goodreads.

[Tracy]

BRINGING DOWN THE TBR FREEBIES

Duration September 1, 2012 to September 1, 2013
Reading Goal - 25 books

1) The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski-3 STARS- I am really done with the werewolf and vampire thing, or I was until I read this one. It was fresh and interesting and I'm very glad I read it.

2) Captive in the Dark by C.J.
Roberts-4 STARS - this is a very emotional read. It's the kind off book that pulls at your insides and makes your heart flutter.

3) Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning-4 STARS- Loved this book. It was an easy, exciting read and you don't even realize you have read it until there are no more pages. Of course, it is one of those series that leaves you in the middle of a major event so you have to start the next one right away.

4) Blood Warrior by H.D. Gordon-3STARS-this has been on my kindle for a while but it was chosen for me in another challenge I was in. There are several grammar errors in it so it broke my concentration at times but the story was hood. I wasn't overly thrilled with it but I don't feel I wasted my time. In the beginning it was really good although it looked like it was going to be a love triangle it turned out to be more.

5) Cupid's Christmas by Bette Lee Crosby-4STARS-this is the most adorable book I have read in a very long time. I loved this book and at times caught myself thinking that is was reality not fiction. If that were the truth I am sure I make Cupid very angry most of the time.

6) Winter's Awakening: The Metahumans Emerge by Karen Luellen-3STARS-Luellen has written an exciting YA novel that is a little different than the norm. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read what happens next.

7) Tribulation by Phillip W. Simpson-3STARS- This is Simpson's second book in the Rapture trilogy. I really like these books in that they are very different from the normal apocalyptic reads. The controversial subject matter is told in a somewhat realistic story.

8) Beautiful Demons by Sarra Cannon-2STARS-I didn't really like this book. I felt the author didn't know what genre she was wanting it to be. Just not a lot of excitement in it for me.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Tracy, when was Darkfever a freebie? I admit to having read the book already but I'm just sad to have missed it. :)

[Tracy]

Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ wrote: "Tracy, when was Darkfever a freebie? I admit to having read the book already but I'm just sad to have missed it. :)"

My library holds this awsome sale twice a year and I got it and several others for about a nickel a piece. They even have some but not a lot of semi newly released books. I have tons I haven't read yet.

[AH]

Darkfever was a freebie on Kobo about 18 months ago, probably around the time they released book 4 or 5. I have a copy.

[Literary Ames]

AH wrote: "Darkfever was a freebie on Kobo about 18 months ago, probably around the time they released book 4 or 5. I have a copy."

On Amazon as well. Free in 2010 when I read it.

[AH]

Ok, then 2 years ago. It was the freebie that started my collection hoard (sp?) of free books.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Oh good, I only have less than a year of hoarding under my belt....seems I'm not as discriminating as you all unfortunatly.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Not much done...this TBR pile is always getting bigger and bigger.

Depends
Darkness Falls by Jessica Sorensen (freebie from Amazon), 13/10/2012 ★★★
Interesting concept with vampires being zombies. My main problem was that there was little description which might tie in with the main character's issues.

Enslaved In Shadows by Tigris Eden (freebie from Amazon), 16/10/2012 ★★
Short. Good ideas with villains and supernatural characters but transitions and descriptions were rushed.

[~Leslie~]

UpdatedPost #4

37 Freebies through October

[Tracy]

Leslie wrote: "UpdatedPost #4

37 Freebies through October"

Wow Leslie, if I could do that mine would be cleared off in no time. I need to have a month where I read nothing but.

[Literary Ames]

Free Neil Gaiman short story read by the man himself, via http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

By downloading this freebie, UK and US people, you are actually giving money to charity, and not just any charities, charities promoting reading! You can log in/sign up to Audible with your Amazon details.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I did, you can too!