Soooo, Ms. FarFromHome recommended the Calamity Jayne series by Kathleen Bacus as a funny and zany read. I couldn’t resist, of course. I admit though, the first 1/3 of the book it was pretty over the top for me. I set it down a couple of times because Calamity was just a wee bit too annoying. The thing is, there was a plot under there that wanted to get out. And I wanted to find out what happened. The main guy (Ranger Rick. Yes, she really called him that. Along with a bunch of other names) wasn’t all that likeable either. He ran pretty close to condescending and arrogant. BUT. But. I read it anyway, and it did make me laugh. There is little in life more valuable than a good laugh and this book delivered.

The first book, Calamity Jayne just happens to be free too, which makes it a lot easier to try!

Or, for an almost better deal, you can get all SIX books for 9.99 in the Kindle boxed set! So if you know you like zany books like Lisa Lutz, Janet Evanovich, Molly Harper, you might just want to grab the series. I do not know how long these deal prices will last, but the series is worth a look. It’s hard to resist books when they cost less than 2 dollars each. Or maybe I just have a hard time resisting books? That could be…

Stained Glass Monsters by Andrea Host is a fantasy adventure, falling into the epic category. It started off a little slow for me, but that’s because it used two points of view and I was loathe to switch characters. The thing is, both views were interesting so I was convinced that I must continue. Glad I did!!! What a great adventure with some awesome characters. There are two main women in the story; one a peasant who might have the ability to be a mage and the other a powerful mage who is likely to sacrifice her life to keep back another woman who would like to take over the world.

Unlike most stories, Kendall, the peasant, isn’t all that eager to learn magic–not unless it provides a way for her to make a living and keep her independence. Not once did she falter from this view either, which made for a nice twist on the usual: I study, I learn, I triumph. She was more interested in watching people around her to see what it was they wanted from her–and wary of handing it over to the point she’d try to escape first and ask questions later. She well understood manipulation and served as a nice addition to the story.

The main mage, Rennyn, had the completely impossible tasks. I admired the fact that she too stayed very true to her purpose and character. The morals of the story were subtle, clever and worthy. The setting was richly drawn. The magic was well-explained from a general standpoint; three types (symbolic, thought and…I think it was called sigils–patterns, which was to set the spells in diagrams. Don’t quote me on these. I haven’t tried any in my kitchen just yet). My one nitpick? When it came to actually implementing the spells, the execution was often glossed over. This wasn’t too noticeable early on because she used a crystal to focus and spells that were fairly well explained. Since they were used more than once it was easy to get the gist of it. But there were scenes where the events were downright confusing and sometimes glossed over so much, I only understood the outcome…and was pretty sketchy on exactly how we arrived.

The characters were well-drawn for the most part, although I did think Rennyn’s brother could have played a more valuable role. He did help in the end, but I was fairly unclear on exactly what he did because it was one of those scenes where magic happened and while it was explained, the detail was very sparse. I was left a bit wanting. A lot went on in the last couple of scenes and not all of it was clear. I very nearly took off a full star over it, but the overall story was so well done that I’ll give it 4.5 stars. One of the reasons I’m not knocking it a full star is because it’s easily one of the best fantasies I’ve read in a while. I expect it will make my favorites for the year without too much trouble.

And it’s only $3.99 so it makes my highly recommended books under 5 dollars.

This is a list of books that I have read and enjoyed that are at the 99 cent price. Updated: 5/2/12. I’ll periodically repost this as I add new finds. I’ve added a historical novella, a cozy mystery and a romance/mystery. The link is on the left sidebar so any time you’re looking for a good, cheap read, just check the sidebar.

Always double-check the price because prices seem to shift daily. However, with all the books out there, I thought I’d start a list of good reads that are at 99 cents. I plan to also do a list of books that are under 5 dollars. In short, there aren’t very many good ones at 99 cents because once word gets around, the book seems to go to $2.99. So if you see a book for 99 cents and you think you might like it, it probably pays to pick it up. Several of the 99 cent books I enjoyed (not listed here) are no longer 99 cents!

Cozy Mysteries
Take the Monkey’s and Run by Karen Cantwell (cozy mystery, fun, zany beach read) Not currently 99 cents (2.99)

Calamity Jayne – by Kathleen Bacus. This is REALLY zany. Almost too zany. Still, it was free at last check so it’s DEFINITELY worth a look. The rest of the series can be bought as a boxed set SIX books for 9.99 Not quite 99 cents per book, but if you like over-the-top craziness in your mysteries, this series is for you. I read the first and it was fun.

Executive Lunch by Maria Schneider (cozy mystery, humor, first of the series) No longer on sale. The best deal is to buy all three books in the series as a “boxed set.” Amazon and B&N do still currently have Executive Lunch at $1.99–no idea how long that price will last.

The Alto Wore Tweed by Mark Schweizer (cozy mystery, okay, I haven’t read this one, but it comes highly recommended.)

Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky Okay this is not deep literature here and I found it on the light side when it came to plot (whether referring to the romance plot or the mystery plot). Admittedly I like a little more complexity. That said, for 99 cents? Give the sample a look. It’s definitely a cozy and something you might want for a quick read.

Mystery
Tilt a Whirl by Chris Grabenstein is a solid mystery tale–not cozy, not thriller, but somewhere in-between. The characters are wonderfully cozy for the most part; people you can easily like. The two main characters are funny and endearing. The mystery itself starts out looking like a simple murder, but the latter half of the book is darker and definitely not cozy.

Fantasy or Urban Fantasy

ShadowMagic by John Lenahan (Fantasy adventure. This is a steal for 99 cents; for YA and adults. Great read.)

Hollowlands by Amanda Hocking (YA Urban Fantasy) It’s free or 99 cents. Dystopian adventure. Good stuff, if not always accurate in some basic facts (basements in the southwest are not damp.)

Wistril Compleat by Frank Tuttle (Cozy Fantasy. Set of short stories but reads more like a novel. All the same characters/setting. I really enjoyed this.)

Child of Fire by Harry Connelly (UF, little darker than some I read, but a good tale.)

Hal Spacejock by Simon Haynes (Cozy Science Fiction — guy can’t get out of his own way. Funny and zany. Cozy mystery readers should like this one. It was free at last check.)

Milrose and the Den of Professional Thieves by Douglas Anthony Cooper (YA fantasy; this is a decent read for the price, but there were slow spots. I wasn’t totally sold on this, but for 99 cents it’s a decent read.)

Romance/Mystery

A Gift of Ghosts by Sarah Wynde This book changes prices frequently, so double-check! (Not Currently 99 cents). I enjoyed it quite a bit–fun, quick read with enough mystery to keep the whole thing moving along. The romance is mostly a sweet romance, but falls short of being completely young adult appropriate.

Short Stories

Hexes and Tooth Decay by Nancy Fulda (Fantasy, cute fun and could be a good read for kids.)

Dead Men Don’t Cry by Nancy Fulda (science fiction and fantasy; mix of 11 short stories; price changes a lot)

It’s a Dunderbull Wife by Karen Cantwell (A Barbara Marr adventure)

Year of the Mountain Lion by Maria Schneider (Fantasy adventure; American desert historical)
Snitched, Snatched by Maria Schneider (Fantasy adventure, medieval setting)
Black-Tie Bingo Maria Schneider (cozy mystery; deal with the devil short pack)

Lies I Told My Children – Karen McQuestion short essays on motherhood; funny. Nice intro to her style of writing.

The Angel of 1776 by Jeffry Hepple I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but this one drew me in. It’s a novella (which is about my attention span for historical fiction.) It recreates real historical scenes, gives the characters a voice–and in this case, well, it has a touch of “otherly” which made the story for me.

Feel free to list any books you loved that you found for 99 cents or under! I noticed that it’s much more common to see short stories at that price and apparently it’s also more common in fantasy than in mysteries.

I have created a Good Books for 99 cents (and under), but of course, not all good books are only 99 cents. This list is just a start on books that I’ve read and enjoyed that cost under five dollars. This list will be longer, but I haven’t put in all the books that I’ve read yet!

Always verify price after you click; prices sometimes change rapidly. I’ll be adding to the list and reposting as I find new bargains.

Urban Fantasy

Anything by Frank Tuttle
Most of Tuttle’s books are under 5. His entire Markhat series is 5 dollars or under. I loved every one of them. Urban fantasy with a great mystery; the occasional ghost, some spooky plots; great atmosphere…these are must reads. The first three are in one volume in paperback.

They are also sold stand alone as ebooks and are very affordable. Here are the titles:

The Mister Trophy
Dead Man’s Rain
The Cadaver Client

For those first three, the order isn’t terribly important (I read them: Dead Man’s Rain, Cadaver Client and then The Mister Trophy).

For the next ones, you’ll want to read in order as there is a side plot/romance and some further development of Markhat associates that you’ll want to follow:

Hold the Dark (Book 4)
The Banshee’s Walk (Book 5)

The Broken Bell (Book 6)

Unicorn on Speed Dial – Jeanette Cottrell – Oh how I loved this book. It’s fantasy, it’s cozy, it’s a little bit soccer mom. Top read. Runs about $2.99. Not the best cover in the world, but ignore it. This is must-read fun stuff.

Joe Nassise The Heretic This is Urban Fantasy with a military bent; good thriller. I don’t like the new cover; the old one was prettier, but ignore the cover if you’re looking for a very fast-paced harrowing read with a tough hero.

The Man Who Crossed Worlds by Chris Strange – a good rollicking adventure from a New Zealand author. This is a bit of pulp fiction wrapped up in urban fantasy; mystery, corruptions and a touch of noir.

Under Witch Moon and Under Witch Aura from the Moon Shadow series – An urban fantasy series centering around an earth witch. There are shifters, voodoo and a romantic subplot running through the novels.

Fantasy

All the Paths of Shadow by Frank Tuttle – This is a cozy fantasy. There’s a touch of steampunk, a lot of fun and a talking plant as a familiar. Good stuff. When the book came out it was 9.99, but lately it’s been seen at $3.99.

Dragons of Wendal – A fantasy adventure with a side helping of romance. Can Zoe undo her cousin’s dangerous spells and learn enough of her own to graduate mage school?

Pulp Mystery

Fatherly Love by B.A. Wallace This is a modern day “pulp” mystery with an Australia setting. It’s a decent little read for the price.

Paranormal Mystery

Michelle Scott The Lilith Straight books are a bit cozy, a bit chick-lit BUT there is definitely a dark side. If you don’t like noir, skip the first book and go straight to the second, Straight to Heaven. Of course, since book two is already out, book one doesn’t end on quite the cliffhanger since you can find out what happens next!

Paranormal Romance

A Gift of Ghosts by Sarah Wynde I enjoyed it quite a bit–fun, quick read with enough mystery to keep the whole thing moving along. The romance is mostly a sweet romance, but falls short of being completely young adult appropriate. Cozy/chick-lit/romance.

Cozy Mystery

Karen Cantwell I enjoyed all three Barbara Marr books with book one being my favorite. These are cozy/chick-lit books.

No One to Trust by Julie Moffet A totally fun spy/cozy mystery. Loved it!!! This is the second in the series. The first is: No One Lives Twice (I haven’t read it yet, because I accidentally read book 2 before book 1.

Executive Retention and Executive Sick Days from the Sedona O’Hala Series, the second and third books in the series; zany fun capers as Sedona tries to solve mysteries and keep her job. The romance is woven through all three of the books; Executive Lunch is the first and is also 2.99 cents.

Catch an Honest Thief (A Haven Mystery) A quick read that isn’t cozy and isn’t a thriller with a romantic subplot. This is what happens when an amateur sleuth tries to steal the treasure to protect it and the chaos that ensues keeping it safe. Spy caper.

Non-Fiction/Memoirs

I’m kind of ambivalent about memoirs really; they aren’t my favorite genre. But if you’re looking for some inexpensive wanderings through time, these were decent reads; something I pick up and browse through when I’m in the mood for a magazine/quick read.

Kathy Sue Loudermilk – Lewis Gizzard A kind of memoir of a journalist talking about the things he misses from childhood, columns he wrote, bygone days. It’s kind of a nostalgic read with liberal doses of humor. I’m not done with it yet, but enjoying what I’ve read so far.

Learn Me Good by John Pearson This one is quite cute and high in humor. It’s a nice little read for a plane ride when you’re looking for something light and funny. A new teacher learns the ropes! A mix of exaggerated truths.

Recollections by Jim Chambers. A nostalgic walk down memory lane of the 50s.

Cookbooks/Non Fiction

Homemade Pastrami and To-Die-For Corned Beef by David Cowles. I haven’t tried the recipes yet, but really enjoyed finding this little gem and reading the recipes. I hope to try the corned beef one!

Anthologies

Goblin Tales by Jim Hines I can’t promise every story in this antho is good because I read a lot of Hines’ short stories from other venues before they were pulled into an anthology. However I really enjoy his fantasy writing style and his Goblin series was very good. None of his novels are under five dollars, however. Goblin Quest is the first in the series at $7.99. It was a delightful read and good for adults or YA.
Backlash by Nancy Fulda This is a novelette (short novel) but it’s a good sci/fi thriller.
Tracking Magic Five detective stories ranging from zany capers to more serious crimes. All involve Max Killian an urban fantasy detective; humor.
Sage A collection of fantasy novellas; fantasy/mystery/intrigue–plant magic.

The latest Lilith Straight adventure is out! Straight by the Rules is a fun caper, the most fun of the series. (I was a beta reader so I got an early peek!) As I told cozy readers in the past, the first one, Straight to Hell, is not entirely cozy. It’s sort of cozy noir because Lilith learns some tough lessons, ones you don’t normally find in a cozy series. She makes some mistakes out of sheer desperation and it’s liable to break your heart.

In book two, Straight to Heaven, Lilith wises up and hatches a plan to get the best of the devil herself. By book three…the match is a dead heat and Lilith is out to save her soul. She has great plans to take a few extra souls with her…if she can just beat the odds!

I really enjoyed Straight by the Rules. It has a light and zany tone. There’s humor, there’s family and there’s some chaos. All the old characters are back and the best news, they’re taking on more and more important roles.

And the series make the Good Reads Under 5 List!!!

Dead Before Morning by Geraldine Evans
I’d say this was a good old-fashioned British whodunit, but given that it was published in 1995, it was probably a British whodunit in the heyday of such. It’s the first in the Inspector Rafferty/Sergeant Llewellyn series and is everything you’d expect from the genre. It’s not entirely a cozy, but more a general mystery. I do think cozy readers will enjoy it. Rafferty plays a bit of the plodding detective, but he’s determined to find the killer of a young prostitute. Of course there is more than meets the eye and more crimes than just a simple murder. Evans shows many a tawdry side to the characters and there’s a very nice twist in the way the Inspector finally gets the important clue to solving the case. The middle section suffers a bit from re-investigation as the Inspector digs deeper, but the human side to the various characters and some of the very short historical asides keep the story from getting too bogged down. If you want a visit into the British atmosphere this book fits the bill. Nice portrayal of the working (and overworked) man, with enough family nuances to give it that nice touch and the dry humor for which the British are know. This book has been brought back to the light of day for Kindle at under 5 dollars; always nice when a read is affordable.

Saving the Sammi – Frank Tuttle has a new Meralda and Mug story out! It’s a long short story, otherwise known as a novella. WOOOOOOT! I love his stuff. Can’t beat the price either: $1.50.

(If you are not familiar with Meralda and Mug, well. Frank wrote a fabulous cozy fantasy called All the Paths of Shadow. Meralda is the heroine and mug is her familiar. Mug is a PLANT. How cool is that???)

Highly recommended. Of course.

Oh. I suppose I should tell you what the story is about. Alrighty then:

There’s trouble in the skies over Tirlin, and it’s Mage Meralda and her faithful houseplant Mug to the rescue! The private airship Sammi, with four souls aboard, is caught in the grip of a monstrous storm. Can Mage Meralda’s newfangled flying coils ascend to heights even the Air Corps don’t dare, and will her hastily-assembled flying machine hold together long enough to reach the Sammi?

Join Meralda and Mug as they take flight, in this thrilling novella set in the world of the novel All the Paths of Shadow. Saving the Sammi is suitable for all ages. If you have a taste for fantasy with a dash of steampunk and a generous dollop of humor, climb aboard!

Our local fire-breathing dragon (April) has informed me that one of her VERY favorite out-of-print books has appeared for kindle–at $2.99. She swooned and could barely buy it fast enough. This is a fantasy adventure and there is a rumor that it is funny, heart-felt and about love. The entire trilogy is in the one volume for the price of $2.99.

The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox by Barry Hughart

(The out-of-print copies still in existence sell for 85 dollars and up…erk!)

April’s quick review:

I’ve only read the first, Bridge of Birds. I didn’t know there were others. It is basically a set of Chinese styled fables starring Li and Number 10 Ox who sort of wander around China doing good and being wise and funny. Sweet, funny and smart.

I think this book probably qualifies as a cozy fantasy.

Illegal Magic by Arlene Blakely is not a perfect book, but I liked it anyway. It starts out with a bit of drunken revelry which nearly put me off, but then the fun started. Family problems, magical problems, job problems. The cast of characters is what makes this story work and it gives it that endearing edge. It’s zany and fun. I definitely thought the magic could have been more consistent towards the end. There were a couple of convenient magical happenings that stretched the rules/situation. Lani’s friends (supporting characters) often acted more like college students than adults, but they gave the book that quirky fun element. Some of Lani’s motivation for not getting help from higher ups during the main crisis was a bit questionable, but I’m overly picky about plot devices. Lani’s parents were great characters and influenced the story just enough to make me smile.

This is one of those reads where I didn’t think I should like it because it’s a silly read. But I liked it anyway. The story moves fast, the characters are endearing and funny. If you like zany cozy reads, this one is for you. It’s sort of like a modern-day Bewitched, only poor Lani has no magic, so she’s more like Darrin instead of Samantha, floundering along trying to make the best of things in a world where she doesn’t quite fit.

It also makes my recommended books that are under 5 because it only costs $2.99.

Driving Mr. Dead by Molly Harper — This is a paranormal romance, but very light on the paranormal. The fact that Collin is a vampire is really incidental and almost unnecessary to the story. He doesn’t go around doing vampire great feats. He’s just a guy and Miranda has been hired to drive him across the country to his destination. It’s fun, funny and sweet. Some of the side plots could have been more developed, but this is one of those quick reads where the characters own the story and side-plots are there for entertainment, not completeness. I’ve skipped by this book a number of times because it’s billed as a novella, but it’s really a full book at about 200 pages. It took me 2.5 hours to read, so it isn’t that short. I’m a very fast reader. Either way, it’s a bargain at $1.99 and makes my Good Reads Under 5 list. I give it 4 to 5 stars; this would be a cozy romance except there is some cursing and a well-written scene that doesn’t fade to black. If you like Amanda Quick’s zany characters, you’ll probably like this book. I don’t generally like books where the love interest is a vamp (just can’t warm up to the whole dead thing) but this one makes that part incidental enough that I didn’t mind too much. Recommended–it was a very fun read and I laughed in several spots.

(This is not an urban fantasy read, so if you’re looking for mystery and intrigue and multiple plots, save this one for a beach read. Miranda is a very likeable character and stands up for herself, but this is not a book of swords and karate kicks. Well, except for that one scene…)

Miranda Puckett has failed at every job she’s ever had. Her mother just wants her to come home, join the family law firm, and settle down with Jason, the perfect lawyer boyfriend. But when Jason turns out to be a lying cheater, Miranda seizes on a job that gets her out of town: long-distance vampire transportation. Her first assignment is to drive vampire Collin Sutherland from Washington to sleepy Half Moon Hollow without incident—no small feat for a woman whom trouble seems to follow like a faithful hound dog! And she has to do it without letting her passenger—the most persnickety, stuffy, devastatingly handsome vamp she’s ever met—drive her crazy. As she and Collin find disaster on the roads, they also find an undeniable spark between them. Could Miranda have found the perfect job and the perfect guy for her?

Tilt a Whirl by Chris Grabenstein is a solid mystery tale–not cozy, not thriller, but somewhere in-between. The characters are wonderfully cozy for the most part; people you can easily like. The two main characters are funny and endearing. The mystery itself starts out looking like a simple murder, but the latter half of the book is darker and definitely not cozy. The pacing is also in-between. At times it’s racing along in thriller mode, while at others we’re seeing the breakfast side of life. For the most part I’d say cozy readers would enjoy this mystery and so would thriller readers. There’s enough humor that I laughed out loud a couple of times.

My only knock against it is a couple of things that stretched my believability or didn’t quite fit. There were a couple of characters that could have used some fleshing out. They seemed a bit “convenient” in their reactions at times. As for clues, I thought they led to the ending quite well. I wasn’t surprised and the ending fit. The characters are interesting enough to have me check out the next in the series.

And last but not least, this book will make my 99 cent bargain reads because it’s only 99 cents!

Couple of new books to add to my under five recommended reading list. Both of these books were three and a half to four stars–just depends on which chapter…but for the price, they are worth a look!

Buying Time by Kelly Cochran is a decent mystery read. It’s fairly cozy, although it has thriller and standard mystery elements. The plot is pretty loosely woven with some leaping about, but the characters are enjoyable and fun. For $2.99 it’s not a bad way to spend the afternoon. Recommended for cozy mystery readers and regular mystery readers.

Description Aspen Moore has a new life in a new city, complete with a new career. As a personal concierge, she sells her time to those who don’t have enough. One of the perks of her business is focusing on other people’s lives so she doesn’t have to face the demons in her own.

When Aspen’s most loyal customer dies and his suicide looks eerily like murder, she anonymously tips off the police so she won’t expose a secret she desperately needs to keep. But, murder and mayhem are a bothersome duo and she soon finds herself caught in a web of chaos.

Maggie for Hire by Kate Danley is an urban fantasy. This is a good little read–just when you think it’s going to go with an overused trope, it doesn’t. The plot and writing are quite competent. Yes, there are bad puns. Yes, I think the cursing was a misfit. It only sounded natural in one phrase or two–the rest of the time it felt forced as though trying to make the heroine more bad-ass. This book doesn’t go deep in any new directions, but has good characters and makes for a pleasant read. I liked that the gorgeous side-kick guy, while underdeveloped and a tad cardboard, wasn’t a sex object for convenient “time for a sex scene.” Note to authors: I never like it when the woman is merely a sex object, it doesn’t work for me with the guy character either. Danley could definitely have added a few layers to Killian’s role and personality…along with some of the other side characters, come to think of it. Bonus points for the banter between Maggie and Killian; some of it made me smile or laugh. There was an awesome little brownie in this book, but I admit, I am partial to brownies. Who doesn’t want someone to magically clean house and make breakfast???

For $3.99, I’d recommend it for urban fantasy or paranormal mystery readers. This one has more family involvement and they aren’t all bad guys, so that was a nice change of pace.

Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Okay, cozy readers, this one is NOT for you. This is a high action, thriller-paced, battle-filled urban fantasy (of the best kind). If you like Ilona Andrews, you’ll probably like this book. There isn’t a slow page in this novel. It’s violent and even sad in a few places, especially when concentrating on Kit’s background. It’s got some good humor and great characters. I like the world building–witches, shifters, vamps. The romance plays an important and integral part of the book, enough so that this book could also be categorized as paranormal romance. I could have done without the silly nicknames that the main hero used, but nobody’s perfect, right?

What else is there to say? Oh…yeah! It makes my great reads under 5 dollars list. This book will very likely make my top reads of 2012 in the UF category. J.C. Daniels is the pseudonym of writer Shiloh Walker, who writes romantic suspense. I love the cover art on this book. It was done by Angela Waters.

Highly recommended for urban fantasy readers who don’t mind a side helping of romance.