Reading Some Kindle Samplers (Again)

Ok, I did this a few weeks ago and I kinda enjoyed doing it (here is my first attempt at this), and with still a stupid amount of Kindle Samples on my iPhone's Kindle App, I decided I wanted to do it again.

Basically, it's me reading the whole sample or a small section of the sample. Some are entire chapters, others are just a few pages due to the book's length. So was going to read them and go with my gut reactions to them.

So let's get the weird party started!

DOWN BY CONTACT by Santino Hassell
(Goodreads Link)
I read the first book in the series - Illegal Contact - last year via NetGalley and I gobbled this up. It came at the right time for me. It was light, fluffy, but there was an edge to it that I quite liked. So, when I saw this was on Amazon, I downloaded the sampler and read it, thinking it would be the same fun read I wanted. It was following a side character I liked reading in the previous and this promised angst. But... I don't know. I didn't finish reading the first chapter. Maybe it was my mood, but but I didn't click with this in the same way that I did with Illegal Contact. I can't figure out why, but I was reading it going "This isn't working. Why isn't this working for me?". So, as much as I wanted to enjoy and want to read this, am holding fire on this. Maybe skipping this due to what I read.

THE CAT WHO TAILED A THIEF by Lilian Jackson Braun
(Goodreads Link)
Now, I have read a few books in the series in my past. I have, before I started this blog, read The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare and The Cat Who Talked Turkey and I have read (and reviewed) The Cat Who Saw Red. I do have another title in the series that I bought when the series went through a sale - The Cat Who Went Underground. But, the prices of all these ahem gone up to £3 barring this title and it intrigues me. Sadly, I didn't make it through the sampler. Not because it was bad, but because I didn't enjoy it in the way I hoped I would. I feel that the bit I read felt a bit stiff in language. Maybe it's because I want something to grab me by the throat recently (am going through a fantasy slump at time of writing this) and this is more Sunday afternoon cosy crime. It doesn't appeal to my mood now, though I know I will be reading The Cat Who Went Underground by the end of the year...

GROOSHAM GRANGE by Anthony Horowitz
(Goodreads Link)
People at my new job (how long can I call my current job "new"? Six months?) know I have a blog (hence why I have some control over work's social media) and someone said "I read this years ago when I was younger and you might like it". It is Anthony Horowitz and I do enjoy reading the Alex Rider series (I read Never Say Die last year and I am quite excited to see what he does with James Bond in Forever and A Day) so I knew I was going to like it. And I did, as something light and fluffy. It's not exactly for me (maybe if I was younger, I would hoover this up) but this is fun and can read within a day, but might try and return to Alex Rider and maybe try The Power of Five series...

LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE by Claire Kann
(Goodreads Link)
I can't remember how I came across - Twitter, me thinks. But once I heard a few sentence from the blurb, I knew I was sold on this book. An asexual black teen trying to figure out life - sign me up! So, when I saw this on Amazon by fluke (it doesn't have a UK publisher, to my knowledge), I downloaded it and read while feeling super tired. I gobbled this sampler up in one sitting. I couldn't stop and when it ended, I was a little annoyed as I wanted more. I didn't want this to end. I am currently trying to find out who is publishing this in the UK as I WANT THIS BOOK ON MY SHELVES, DAMNIT!

THE GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE by Mackenzi Lee
(GoodReads Link)
This has bee getting a lot of love on the Book Blogosphere since it's release last year and I have been intrigued over this. When I finally read the sampler (this has been sitting on my iPhone Kindle app for quite a while). It didn't grabbed me like I hoped, not compared to Let's Talk About Love. But there is potential here. I can definitely sense this is something I will enjoy reading, but the start is a tad slow. But I think this might be a book I could love once I found my reading groove.

So, out of the five, which are the ones that call to me. Well, definitely Let's Talk About Love and I think, once I have my reading groove, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. But, with so many books on my TBR, not sure when am going to read them... or buy them for that matter.

Reading Some Kindle Samplers

As you guys know, I love downloading eBook samplers onto my iPhone, and I do this for a number of reasons: because I want to see if I'm going to like it, to remind me to buy a book, because it had a pretty cover (yes, I am that vain).

So, one Sunday a week or so ago, after my cat woke me up at 6:15 in the morning (he's started doing this recently and I can't decide if this is a good thing or not), I decided to actually read some of my samplers and see how I felt about them. Some were entire chapters, some were a few pages, but I wanted to see if I liked the story, writing or tone and then decide if I would consider reading them in the future. And because my reading tastes are growing and I want to push myself, the choices of Kindle Samplers I read are here, there and everywhere so let's get started...

Kindle Samplers - New Year Edition

I got a new Kindle for Christmas, so I went through my kindle and did a bit of a cull of eProofs and eBooks I bought. I always went through my Kindle Samples that I downloaded onto my phone and got rid of them all. I wanted to start the new year with a fresh slate and wanting to try new, fun stories!

Not sure if that's a wise thing as I keep looking things up and going "That looks like fun!" and I wanted to show you some titles that I downloaded the samplers for. Not all, but I wanted to show you guys that I am going to try new things this year... So, let's get started!

WISHFUL DRINKING by Carrie Fisher
There's no reason for me wanting to read this. I just really want to read Carrie Fisher - when she was alive, I loved watched her on TV and in interviews. She was just a badass and she was funny. And I keep going "I want to read her. I really want to read her, but the timing never right". It's me - I'm worried that if I read one of her books, I will fall out of love with her. I doubt it, but it's there... But am going to try this...

[EDIT: Since writing this, I actually went out and got it on Kindle so keep eyes peeled for a write-up about this in the future (no idea when as have loads to read but soon! I want to attempt to read this before May! Or the DVD/Blu-Ray release of The Last Judi)]

THE EYE OF THE WORLD by Robert Jordan
I'm in the mood to read fantasy this year. Adult fantasy, to be correct. I feel that this is the right thing for my reading as I want to read fun. And I have the most fun reading fantasy. And I have started wondering if I should read Lord of the Rings. Mostly everyone I have mentioned this to has gone "DON'T DO IT TO YOURSELVES!" and have said "Have you considered Wheel of Time series, starting with The Eye of the World?". I have heard of the series title but I know NOTHING about this series - just that they are LONG! But if I feel brave... I might read this sampler and see if I can sink my teeth into this. If I like, I will try and read this and take it from there...

[Edit: Since writing this, I bought this on my Kindle. I know! But it was a Kindle Daily Sale offer for 99p so I couldn't refuse. Plus, with me wanting to read more widely within adult fantasy, this felt like a good move to make! Not sure when I will read this but once I've figured that out, will let you all know. But it won't be for a while as I want to read Priestess of the White by Trudi Caravan and The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin before I attempt this!]

THE DAUGHTER OF TIME by Josephine Tey
I like crime novels. It's not a genre I am well read in the genre of crime/thriller but when I do sit down and read it, I enjoy myself. I keep hearing this name from one or two authors I like that say Josephine Tey is just as good (if not, better) than Agatha Christie. And this is one of her most interesting mystery stories, following a modern policeman who has injured himself and, out of boredom, decides to investigate the alleged crimes against King Richard III. Crime meets history - this sounds outside of my comfort zone but in a good way...

GOOD OMENS by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman & SOUL MUSIC by Terry Pratchett
Over the Christmas period, I was given Terry Pratchett's Hogfather and I enjoyed myself hugely while reading this. So much so, I bought Witches Aboard and eyeing a few other of Terry Pratchett titles. But with the BBC and Amazon Studios co-producting a Good Omens adaption, I want to see what the fuss about this is about.

As for Soul Music... well, I love Death in Discworld and as this is another story in the Discworld series that has Death as a main character, am going to see if I would enjoy this...

WOMEN AND POWER by Mary Beard
You can blame Sophie of So Many Books, So Little Time & The Copper Boom for putting this on my radar. She instagram the book (along with a few other books) and, after chatting and reading the blurb, I am intrigued over this. I must admit now that I am not a big fan of essays but, like I said, I am intrigued to see if I can sink my teeth into this...

Kindle Sample - What? Again?!

Oh yes! This is back for a fourth visit! I have been downloading a lot of samplers on my Kindle iPhone app recently. This is for a number of reasons: a reminder to buy this in the future, am curious to see, the cover is pretty, there's buzz and I missed it, etc.

So, here's a tiny handful of titles that I have downloaded to read and figure out if I want to buy/borrow for library or to go "Nope!" over!

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness
Truth time: I have audiobooked this years and years ago. I remember liking it, but when I was chatting to some family members of my Other Half's a week or so ago, I realised that I didn't remember a single thing about it. Plus, with it being turned into a TV show on Sky1 and with me trying out reading more "grown up" fantasy, I feel ready to go back into this book and, hopefully, read the rest of the trilogy (I only audiobooked the first then stopped as the second book was a monster of a book! IT WAS HUGE!!!)

THE REDEEMER by Jo Nesbo
While chatting to my Other Half's family, one asked if I had read Jo Nesbo. "I have The Snowman for review" I admitted (which I do. Movie tie-in). He replied "Really? Well, I think you might prefer the book before, The Redeemer. It's quite dark and I think you might like it more." So, I downloaded a sampler, just to keep fresh in my mind. I will only read this once I have read The Snowman and if I enjoyed myself while reading (I do like reading crime books so the signs are positive so we shall see...)

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME by André Aciman
I saw the trailer for the movie and went "Oh!" over it as I don't read a lot of mainstream literature which tackles LGBT relationships and other aspects and went "I need to investigate this book when I have the time". I haven't had the time to investigate but from the little I know, this might be a book I need to investigate...

HARVEST by Tess Gerritsen
I remember watching an episode of Blindspot (I think) where it touched upon the organ harvesting and I instantly went "I read something about this" and went hunting. This was the book and I read it YEARS ago. It's been a very long time since I read Tess Gerritsen and the last time I attempted to read her (Playing With Fire), I just didn't click with it. But I remember devouring this so I want to go back and reread this!

DIGITAL FORTRESS by Dan Brown
As you guys might be aware, I have preordered Dan Brown's upcoming novel, Origin, and I'm not 100% sure why. I was chatting to my other half who has read one or two titles by him, and he said "You should read Digital Fortress. It's a standalone and you won't feel guilty about series binge reading due to THAT TBR" (which I will get under control. Not sure when or how, but I WILL!) so popped this on here. But reading this (and Da Vinci Code [I never read that! DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK!]) will probably depend on my reactions to Origin.

Kindle Samplers - The Third Visit

After the lovely kickstart back with the lovely Lucy and Tom of Freshers book fame, I thought a nice way to get back into the groove of blogging would be another look at the Kindle Samplers I have downloaded on my iPhone. As you guys know, I download a lot of eBook Samplers on the Kindle app on my iPhone. I do it all the time for a number of reasons and I read/delete them off my phone at a fast pace. So, I felt it's time to show some titles to you. Not all, but a few.

ERAGON by Christopher Paolini
Ok, I read this YEARS AND YEARS ago. I read it on the train to one of my first real jobs. And it was a chunky book (for me at the time. Not now, though, I think). Anyway, I randomly thought of it a few weeks ago and went "I wonder if I would like it if I read it now. I mean, I can't remember a thing about it expect for the cover and the fact this book series has dragons on it". So, downloaded sampler and the cover is pretty! So pretty! Not attempted to read the sampler yet - not had time but soon...

MASKERADE and HOGFATHER by Terry Pratchett
Two for the price of one! I always mean to read more Discworld books. I have have read a few (not many), but these are the two I always been going "I really should try and read these". Plus, have you not seen the new cloth-isa bound hardback editions? These look wonderful! And would go so well with my copy of Reaper Man...

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
Do I really need to explain why this is on here, as everyone thinks this book is wonderful are in complete shock that I haven't read it? Do I really have to?

THE THIEF by Ruth Rendell
As someone who enjoys reading crime and thrillers, it comes as a surprise to some people that I haven't read a lot from the big crime authors such as PD James or Agatha Christie. Ruth Rendell is one of those crime authors that I've always been meaning to read, but I'm a little scared off reading her, because she is such a big deal! The Thief seems like a good place to start as it's a novella, part of the Quick Reads range that was published a few years back. The plan is to try this novella out and, if I like her writing, to go towards some of her other writing such as The Water's Lovely, From Doon With Death and the upcoming release of her short stories, A Spot of Folly.

WANT TO PLAY? by P.J. Tracy
This only appeared on my iPhone Kindle app a few weeks ago after a quick chat with Stephen (aka @MyBookishLife). We were chatting about crime/thrillers and he mentioned this title. I went "I think I read that a while ago, but can't remember". So, downloaded it to refresh my memory. I know this is now a big series now (seven or eight books) so intrigued to see if I have read this and if I can remember anything from this story... If not, NEW STORY TO DISCOVER!

THE SEAFARER'S KISS by Julia Ember
And finally, this. I know NOTHING about this book. NOTHING! I know people are excited about this book on Twitter and someone told me that this is a Little Mermaid retelling/reimagining with LGBT themes. HOW I DIDN'T BUY THIS AS SOON AS I WAS TOLD, I HAVE NO IDEA! But I think I totally love this once I find time to read the sampler....

Kindle Samples - Another Sneak Peek

I did this last year (link for that is here!) and I actually liked doing it. It made me actually read the sample I downloaded onto my Kindle iPhone App. So, let me show you some of the samples I downloaded onto my phone and talk to you on why I downloaded and, hopefully, I will read them and, hopefully, buy them or get them out of my library.

So, show and tell time!

WINTER ROSE by Patricia A. McKillip
I discovered this randomly on a podcast I just started listening to called Read This ****ing Book! (Link to the episode in question is here!). I have never heard of this and it sounded up my street. A fairy tale-type story but written in a dream like way. And from what I heard on the podcast, I am going to enjoy the way it messes with fairy-tales.

BAD BOY by Elliot Wake
Randomly discovered this author on Twitter and checked this out. It sounds really intrigued and, at the same time, messed up in a way that I like. A trans vlog star who, at night, is part of a secret social justice vigilante group? SOLD! There's more that makes me intrigued over this book but let me leave you with that titbit...

THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE by Philip Pullman
In one of the Christmas episodes this year, the podcast Adventures with Words did a Xmas special that took place over two episodes (Episode one is here and episode two is here, FYI). On one of the episodes (not sure which one), one of the guest hosts said that he was rereading His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman and wished more people would read his other series, the Sally Lockhart Mysteries. And I haven't read this other series. I know of them but never found time to get round to them. So, downloaded to see if I would like and a reminder to get copy of book once I have finished my His Dark Materials trilogy reread...

GUILTY PLEASURES by Laurell K. Hamilton
Ok, I really dislike the covers for this series. But I keep hearing people on BookTube (aka YouTube) talking about this and am intrigued over it. It's urban fantasy and most people's first book in this genre so am intrigued on why people like this series so much. I sense it's got a Sookie Stackhouse but has a bit more edge vibe to it. But I don't think I would have the patience to read the whole series (it's 25 books so far and, from people's reaction, it should have stopped around the tenth book mark). But am intrigued, but I bet it's very 90s...

BAKED FRESH by Annabeth Albert
A little out of my comfort zone (but I want to be braver on my reading this year) but I randomly requested then read a Christmas novella by the same author (Wrapped Together - review for that is here) and I was curious on what else she wrote. It seems to be gay romance novellas and the world needs a bit of love after the year we've all had. So, curious to see if I click with this (she's written others but this was the story that caught my attention)...

THE FINAL EMPIRE by Brandon Sanderson
Everyone seems to be reading this series. Is it me? Am I the only one not? All the bloggers and vloggers I follow seem to be reading this book or this series and I'm not. Am curious over why everyone is raving about it, but it seems like a long, meaty books and I'm not 100% confident in myself to commit into a series where the small book is over 700 pages-ish long!

A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K. LeGuin
This, in most people's eyes, is fantasy at its best. It has a lot of love and respect round this series and I have always wanted to read this. But the fear that I will be the only one going "This is awful" has always kept me back. But I want to see if I could be wrong and I should try to read at least one story set in this world.

...and finally, because this is becoming a long blogpost...

CRUEL BEAUTY by Rosamund Hodge
I'm sorry, but a twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast? Where the Belle of our story has been raised to not only marry the beast but then to kill him? And with that cover? How could I not download a sampler of this!

And that's all. And am now curious on what samplers you have on your eReaders and what you think I should investigate? Leave a comment or tweet me and let me know!!!

Kindle Samples - A Sneak Peek

When I saw Carly from Writing from the Tub doing "Kindle Sample Reviews" (click here to check it out!), I loved it. I download Kindle Samples on my iPhone (never one my kindle. I like to keep the my eBooks and my sample separate. Plus, I'm more likely to read Kindle Samples in bed as I use my phone as my alarm) and I do this when I am uncertain of a book. Or as a reminder to myself that I want to buy this.

But where this post and Carly's post differs is that Carly reviewed and I won't. Like I said, I download them to remind me to buy the book/ebook or because I am uncertain if I will like it. Usually, once I have read the sampler (or half. Or ever the first few pages), I delete it. I mean, until very recently, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Puley and Hide by Matthew Griffin had been living on there for quite some time, as did The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (all of which, I now own). 

But I love this idea. So, I decided I wanted to show you guys some of the samples I have on my iPhone Kindle App. Not all, but some. Just to show you guys some of my reading taste, me experiencing with books and stories, almost in the same way as I did with my NetGalley Declined Requests posts (click here and here to check them out!). Like I said in my reading taste post a few weeks back (ta-dah!), I wanna read more. 

Ok, time for show and tell. Only going to show you five samples so... 

WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I know this is online and is a video (will put it under this tiny write up) but I saw this a few weeks/months ago and I keep forgetting to buy it. Now, I believe I'm a feminist (I hope I am!), but I say believe as I don't feel I fully understand feminism. I believe in equality, but I personally feel that to get a better understanding of this, I should read stories, essays, see the world around me. I will fight for equality. I try my hardest. But that doesn't mean I should take what I have for granted. I need to check my privilege, keep learning and keep fighting. 

EDIT: Since writing this, I have purchase and read this essay. Review for this will be coming up in November-time. But is good. Highly recommend it. 

PRIESTESS OF THE WHITE by Trudi Canavan
Tiny confession. I audiobooked an abridged version of this trilogy YEARS ago. Can't tell you anything about the series - I have made it a rule now that if I am going to audiobook something, get it unabridged. But even though I can't remember anything about this story as a whole, I remember loving the world that Trudi created. It's a fantasy that tackled issues that I don't see that often int he fantasy books I read: religion, magic, culture, race. I've always said I will return to this series and read them. I sense I will enjoy myself HUGELY when I do...

THE LADYKILLER by Marina Cole
Ok, this is a tiny cheat. This is an audiobook sampler. The first chapter is available to download from Audible.co.uk. Now, the only reason I downloaded this is because I'm thinking of reading Martina's newest novel, Betrayal, when it comes out later this month, and I wanted to see if I could get use to her style. I read her once YEARS ago - The Know, if I remember right - and I found it gripping (and terrifying. There's one moment that involved a kettle full of boiling water which chills my blood everytime I think about it!) and I'm hoping listening to this sampler will get me in the mood for Martina's brutal writing style.
EDIT: I listened to sampler as I wrote this post. Nope. Not going to audiobook this. I am not a fan of the narrator and I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy the subject matter this book is gonna tackle... But at least I tried!

THE BONE GARDEN by Tess Gerritsen
I seem to have a lot of crime samplers on my iPhone, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Tess Gerritsen and Kathy Reichs. These two were my first "adult" crime authors I read. With Tess, I read Body Double and with Kathy, Bones to Ashes. I haven't read so much of either author lately (I have several Kathy Reichs I need to read in my TBR!) but this title seems to catch my eye. A standalone thriller that primarily takes place in the 1830s and, while giving us medical practices and body snatching (which, back then, sounds terrifying compare to modern medicine) but we also have a serial killer on the loose - the West-End Reaper.

I sense I will be getting this before the year is through. Am very tempted to get audiobook...

VALENTINA by S. E. Lynes
I don't know much about this book. No, I don't think I know ANYTHING about this book. I just keep seeing the beautiful cover on Twitter and keep saying to self "I need to investigate this. I have to find out more about this book.". So, when I saw it on Amazon, I downloaded sampler without reading the synopsis. So, I am still very much in the dark over this story, but I sense it will be a story that will keep me on the edge of my seat... Hopefully... Maybe I should do my homework on this book before I go any further...

A STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN by Roshani Chokshi
Another book I keep seeing on Twitter and YouTube, which sounds very up my street. With influences from Hindi mythology and a possible Hades/Persephone retelling, this sounds something I can devour. And plus, that cover looks gorgeous! So gorgeous, I just discover you can download a sampler of the first 5 chapters to wet your appetite... *downloads*

Now, let's have a tak. What samplers are on your Kindle or your Kindle App? Is there any that I have to investigate myself? Leave a comment here on the blog, send me a tweet or leave a comment on the blog's Facebook page. All the links are on the side or you can find all my social media outlets on the "Find Me" button on the top of the blog!