The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
This is a collection of freebies I have read which have some sort of home renovation in the plot.
Chirp freebie on November 30, 2023 (currently $7.99 at Chirp and $7.01 at Audible, and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 3.55 with 612 ratings and 79 reviews
Betting on the House by Cassandra Medcalf Narrator: Cassandra Medcalf
Series: Fixer Upper #1
Published by Self-Published on April 28, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Length: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Natalie Roche has made it. She has her life, her independence, and her rock-and-roll dream job: a talent manager in L.A., at the world’s largest music management firm.
But when Natalie’s grandmother dies and leaves her the family house in Appalachian Maryland, she has no choice but to trek her way back east and confront the past she’s worked so hard to escape. But luckily for her, family drama isn’t the only thing she finds in the mountains.
Betting on the House is a lesbian romance with a fix up the house project. Really it is about Natalie and her re-evaluating her life when her grandmother dies and leaves her an option to have her house. She can only take the house if she is going to live there. She can’t rent it or sell it. I found it unrealistic that they wanted her to decide very quickly. But also that she was fixing up a house when she might walk away and get nothing.
So while the premise didn’t exactly work for me, I did like Natalie and her personal growth. She made a friend and started a new relationship. She learned about home projects a bit. Most of all, she learned a lot she didn’t know about her family history and got a fresh start.
Narration:
The narration is by the author which I always kind of enjoy. I was comfortable with her male and female voices. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Kindle freebie on December 27, 2023 (currently $3.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.24 with 258 ratings and 40 reviews
Candy Canes, Corpses and the Gothic Haunt by Rachael Stapleton Series: Haunted House Flippers #2
Published by Self-Published on December 29, 2017
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 311
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
House flippers Jack & Juniper are planning to ring in the New Year slinging tapas, vino and beer in their latest purchase, an old Victorian mansion that they've transformed into Bohemian Lake's first Inn &Taproom, but the mansion's poltergeist is out to dash their merriment with mean-spirited sabotage. Having laid otherworldly rumors to rest before, Juniper is skeptical, but the alarms aren't going off and, besides, who else would want to throw a wrench into the works--Jack's ex-girlfriend, another business owner, or the local historian who's scheduled a town meeting to protest the flippers' plans for the home. When the mischief turns deadly, Juniper calls in a part-time paranormal investigator but the man's discoveries leave her thinking that her problem is more personal than paranormal.
Between the Christmas holidays and training her new staff, Juniper doesn't have time to track down a murderer, but with the "ghost of the manor" constantly coming out of the woodwork, she doesn't have much choice. Opening day is fast approaching and the "woman in white" has led her to yet another stiff in the cellar. Now Junie and her merry band of Bohemians must nail down a murderer--before their Christmas goose is cooked.
Although this was the second book in the Haunted House Flippers series, I didn’t feel too lost. I felt I was missing some character background but I took a quick look at the first book, plus reading this one and don’t feel character development was strong anyway.
The concept is fun and the details are charming and lovely. For me, the characters were cliche or over the top quirky and I didn’t connect well emotionally. Juniper is our main point of view. I liked her mostly, but she didn’t seem very logical or task driven.
I love the home renovation but we didn’t get much in the way of details or tasks there. Problems were bad, especially with a few deaths, but they seemed to find solutions quickly. Juniper caught on to how things were happening in the inn but in a TSTL way, she investigates on her own. I liked how the ghost tried to help her.
Definition of Freebies for the challenge:
- Kindle or other platform freebies where you purchase it for $0
- Freebies through author newsletters that anyone can sign up and get for free
- Giveaways won or gifts received
These do NOT include Audible Plus, Kindle Unlimited, Prime Free Reading, Prime First Reads, or library books.
FYI – My Thrifty Thursday post with my reviews and the linkups and giveaway will normally post on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Sometimes though, due to blog tours, mood reading, and other personal problems, it will be moved around. There WILL be one each month on some Thursday. You can post your reviews any Thursday though on your own site. The linkup will be open until the next month’s post is published. You can easily find all the Thrifty Thursday posts under the Features tab on my top menu.
(Reminder – If I get more than 10 linkups in a month, I will randomly pick one to select a prize from a list I send them which may include gift cards or giveaway books I have. (Open International))
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Giveaway:
The prize will be an $30 Amazon Gift card or $30 gift certificate at of Better World Books or $30 (2 months at Audible). Open International. Runs January 1, 2024 to January 6, 2025.
You can sign up for the 2024 Thrifty Thursday Challenge HERE
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I love the clever topics you think up to group your freebie reading. HGTV is a topic that fits my interests well, too. Glad that was a strong element in both books and you found some moderately good ones.
Thank you! I try so hard to be clever with them. I have a different idea for SoS and TT for 2025, just for the one year which I’m really excited to try. Then I’ll go back to this format.
Home renos is a fun top for freebie Thursday. Sorry to see these didn’t knock your socks off, but at least they were free.
I liked them I just didn’t think they were amazing.
I do love fixer upper shows.
I LOVE them and reading about them is fun too, if they include enough reno details for me!
Betting on the House looks good!
I tend to like the mysteries more or the combo of mystery and romance!