Your love of books does not have to break your budget--even if you love all of the books! Whether you love eBooks, audiobooks, or physical editions, countless websites and apps offer free books, deep discounts, and exclusive deals. In this guide, we’ll explore the best resources for affordable reading — so you can fill your shelves (and your e-reader) without emptying your wallet. 

Why Book Deals Matter

Book spending can really add up--especially if you read several books a month. Between new releases, special editions, and audiobooks, the costs add up fast. The good news? You can still support authors, discover new favorites, and explore every genre imaginable — at a fraction of the price — just by knowing where to look.

Below is my go-to list of trusted sites and services that every reader should bookmark.

1. BookBub: Your Personalized Book Deal Finder

BookBub is one of the most popular and reliable sources for daily book deals. Once you create a free account, you’ll receive customized email updates featuring eBook discounts based on your favorite genres and authors. Many titles are free or under $3.

Why It’s Great:

• Personalized recommendations based on your reading habits.
• Frequent deals from major publishers and top indie authors.
• Seamless links to buy directly from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Apple Books. 

2. Libby & Hoopla: Free Books Courtesy of Your Library

Your local library is one of the best and most underrated tools for frugal readers. Apps like Libby (by OverDrive) and Hoopla let you borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and even graphic novels from the comfort of your phone — completely free.

Why It’s Great:

• 100% free to use with your library card.
• Huge catalog covering bestsellers, classics, and new releases.
• Instant digital checkouts — no late fees!

If you haven’t downloaded Libby yet, it takes less than five minutes to connect with your local library and start reading.

3. ThriftBooks: Affordable Used Books with Rewards

If you prefer the feel (and smell!) of a physical book, ThriftBooks is an excellent site for low-cost used copies. Prices often start under $5, and you can earn points toward free books through their ReadingRewards program.

Why It’s Great:

• Massive inventory of gently-used books, including out-of-print editions.
• Free shipping on orders over $15.
• Rewards points for every purchase.

4. Audible & Libro.fm Free Trials for Audiobook Lovers

If you’re always on the go or love multitasking while “reading,” audiobooks are a game-changer. Both Audible (by Amazon) and Libro.fm offer special trial memberships that include drastically reduced monthly rates during the trial or audiobook credits.

Why It’s Great:

• Get a free audiobook during your trial (that you keep forever).
• Libro.fm supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
• Frequent members-only sales and curated recommendations.

After the trial, you can often switch to their lower-cost plans or take advantage of seasonal sale bundles.

Here is the current Audible Trial plan! 

5. Project Gutenberg & Open Library: Free Classics Forever

Love the classics? Project Gutenberg and Open Library are two of the oldest and most ethical sources for legally free books. These digital libraries feature thousands of public domain titles — from Pride and Prejudice to Dracula.

Why It’s Great:

• Completely free and safe to use.
• Download in multiple formats (ePub, Kindle, plain text).
• Great for students, researchers, and vintage literature fans. 

You can even integrate the catalogs with e-reader apps to access offline.

6. Book Outlet: Deep Discounts on New Books

Book Outlet is a goldmine for bargain hunters who still want new copies. It sells publisher overstock and returns at 50–90% off retail prices, often including recent bestsellers.

Why It’s Great:

• Brand-new books for a fraction of the price.
• Great for bulk buyers and gift shopping.
• Frequent clearance events and seasonal sales.

If you have a book blog, Book Outlet also offers affiliate opportunities to help you earn commissions from shared links.

How Can you Maximize Your Book Savings

• Stack Deals: Combine publisher sales with sitewide discounts or coupon codes.
• Join Loyalty Programs: Places like ThriftBooks and Book Outlet reward repeat customers.
• Set Alerts: Use Google Alerts or BookBub’s wish list to be notified when your favorite titles go on sale. 
• Use Browser Extensions: Tools like Honey or Rakuten can apply coupons or give you cashback for purchasing your books online.    www.rakuten.com/r/MAMASW22?eeid=28187

Final Thoughts

Finding affordable or free books doesn’t mean sacrificing quality — it simply means being a smart reader. With tools like BookBub, ThriftBooks, Libby, and more, your next great read is always within reach.

Whether you’re building a personal library or exploring new genres, these resources make reading more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Remember to share or bookmark this guide — and check back often, as new book deal sites pop up all the time!

Today, we are joining the book sale blitz for mystery thriller Dead Winner!  Check out the book and learn about author Kevin G. Chapman in this book sale blitz spotlight!

Mystery / Thriller / Romance

Date Published: 11-22-2022

Publisher: First Legacy Publishing (Independent)

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  

Be careful what you wish for . . .

Rory McEntyre is a lonely trusts & estates attorney who plays the hero inside video games. Then, his old flame, Monica, walks into his office with a $60 million winning lottery ticket and a world of trouble.

Monica’s husband, Tom, is dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot. A homicide detective considers Monica a suspect, so Rory must be her criminal lawyer. Thugs from Tom’s shady business think Monica has incriminating evidence Tom stole from the company, so Rory must be her protector. Most importantly, Rory must be Monica’s private detective, because the winning lottery ticket is missing. As Monica and Rory search for the ticket, their relationship heats up well beyond attorney and client. Rory has the chance to win the girl of his dreams, but does he have what it takes to be a real hero? And is Monica everything he wants to believe she is? If he’s not careful, Rory could end up like Tom – a Dead Winner.

Dead Winner is ON SALE for $0.99 May 15 to May 19! 

  About the Author

Kevin G. Chapman is an attorney specializing in labor and employment law and an independent author. His Mike Stoneman Thriller series, includes Lethal Voyage, Winner of the Kindle Book Award, and Fatal Infraction, the #1 Police Procedural of the year (Chanticleer Book Review CLUE Award). Kevin’s latest is a stand-alone mystery/suspense/romance called Dead Winner. Kevin has also written a serious political drama, A Legacy of One (2016) and is currently working on two new mystery/thrillers due out in 2022 and 2023. Kevin is a resident of Central New Jersey and is a graduate of Columbia College and Boston University School of Law. Readers can contact Kevin via his website at www.KevinGChapman.com.

Connect with the Author

Website

Facebook

Twitter: @KGChapman

Blog

Goodreads

Buy the Book

$0.99 SALE - May 15 to May 19

Amazon

Today, we are joining the book sale blitz for young adult fantasy novel The Horn's Hoax!  Check out the book, learn about author Hector Cantu Kalifa, read an excerpt and buy a copy of the book during the limited time book sale!

The Forbidden Instrument

MG & YA Fantasy

Published: December 7, 2021

Only $.99 June 9th – 12th!!

It’s hard to tell when someone’s soul changes, especially when dark energy has a price.

An unexpected adventure of two brothers who accidentally travel to another world. Henry and Moris—just a few short months after their father mysteriously goes missing—are playing their favorite make-believe game when suddenly they are transported to a different universe, leaving behind their mother and sister. When each brother is captured by warring wizarding houses, the Veneficums and the Milaculums, they stand the chance of losing each other forever.

The boys have too many unanswered questions, and they don’t know who to trust, but in their attempt to find each other and return home, the brothers discover truths about themselves––and their father––they never could have imagined.

In a strange world where wizards fight each other and are not what they seem, who can the brothers trust? More importantly, will they get home together?

Read an Excerpt

Blue energy sparked through the black circle in the sky as a body fell, smashing the ground with a thud. The portal vanished.

The brother rapidly stood up. “No, no, no, — Why? What the hell have you done?” he howled to himself, searching for the portal. He paced side to side, hands wringing. This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening, he kept thinking. A lump formed in his gut, and his breath quickened. The more he thought about it, the more his heart raced. The tension moved through his chest, up his throat, until he unleashed a scream of fury.

It was partly his fault. He could’ve pulled his brother inside the portal.

He hesitated. To his left, a swirl of dust. To his right, a rolling bush. “Where am I?” he asked out loud. He was standing on a road, alone in a desert, clutching a small, strange animal horn.

“Damn it,” he yowled, staring at the horn. He raised his arm to toss it away; then, a thought struck him. He ground his teeth in frustration because he couldn’t get rid of it—it was the only way to get back to the portal.

He clenched the horn, face reddened in anger, and yelled, “Itenelum, Dantus.” He repeated, “Itenelum, Dantus.”

Nothing. The horn wasn’t activating.

He headed down the road. The radiant sun beat down. He hoped to return to where he had suffered the strangest experience he’d ever had.

In the distance, metal clattered. He raised his burned face, eyes squinting at the smudge on the horizon, and eyed a billboard. The advertisement promised Coffee Cheer, Morning Cheers.

He gasped, widening his eyes. “The sign.”

He hastened to the billboard, looking for the dirt road. He stopped, and his face dropped again. No dirt road, only bushes. He sprinted to the bushes and yanked several from the ground. “Where is the road?”

Could he get back to the cabin? There was no dirt road to lead him.

He walked a few paces away from the bushes, his hands dirty and bleeding. Now he thought of getting home. But had his family survived? He walked toward his house, his weary feet dragging on the ground.

He recalled his experience and sensed ominous times ahead. As if the ones he’d already lived through weren’t enough.

Soon, the hum of a motor approached as an old pickup drove towards him. Finally. Covered in dust, he waved the vehicle down as he tucked the horn in his jacket.

The driver squinted at him, then shrugged and slowed to a halt. He backed up and addressed the brother. The driver was bald, with wrinkles on his forehead and a long white beard.

At the obvious question he wanted to answer, I just waved my hand for no reason. Instead, he said, “Yes, please. I have been walking for hours and have no cell phone.”

“Where’re you headed?”

Anywhere out of here, the brother thought. “Near Austin,” he said with a forced smile.

“Hop in. I’m going that way.”

“Thank you very much, sir.”

The clock on the dashboard flashed a useless twelve o’clock, and the radio was off. The brother hesitated to ask about the date; a scruffy guy on the side of the road asking that sounded normal, right? He remained silent.

The driver held a one-sided conversation that the brother mostly ignored. He stared out the window, his hand on the horn in his pocket and his mind on the experience before the black hole. The driver kept chattering.

When they finally arrived at the outskirts of Austin, he asked the driver to drop him off near his house. He stepped out and, embarrassedly, offered only a thank-you. He had no money.

He hesitated a second in trepidation after the pickup left him, then rushed toward home.

There were no cars in the house.

“Oh, no,” he wailed. He feared death had visited his family.

The brother approached the door and rang the bell. No one answered. He searched for the hidden key below the flowerpot—it was still there—and went inside.

“Mom? Maya? Are you here?”

No one answered. He glanced around and sighed, smiling. He saw a picture of them. They still lived in the house.

He needed to figure out the date. He hurried to a laptop, opened it, and waited for it to boot up.

About the Author

Hector Cantu Kalifa (it's weird talking about myself in the 3rd person) was born in 1986 in Monterrey, Mexico. He lived with his family and...

Ok, I'm done talking in 3rd person.

I try to meditate every day; I also enjoy sports, so I exercise at least four times a week.

 The book The Horn's Hoax: The Forbidden Instrument is my debut novel, and it has a special meaning because the idea came from how I play with my children.

 The writing of this book has been an unexpected pleasure for me, as I would never imagine myself writing a book. It all began in September 2019. It was intended to be a ten-page brief story. But as I wrote, my imagination and my taste for writing kept me working. I realized on a blank page I can create amazing things and let my imagination fly. ​

Words kept coming, and I discovered the hard work of building a story. With the help of many people, I gave my heart to create my first "Art".

Connect with the Author

Website

Twitter

Instagram

BookBuzz

Buy the Book

Amazon

B&N

This morning, I have a sweet romance anthology to share.  Check out Hearts, Homes, and Holidays, learn about the included authors and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this  post.

A Sweet Romance Charity Anthology Filled with Family, Friends & Faith

Sweet Romance

Date Published: October 19, 2021

Family Ever After

Longing hearts, loving homes, and lively holidays combine in this Romantique Treasury. This warm-hearted anthology combines friends, families, and faith as hope blossoms in the lives of orphaned children.

ADOPTED IN ARKANSAS

Socialite Emily Simpson feels out of place. So, when Emily consults her aunt, Lachele suggests she use Matchrimony to find a husband. For farmer Derrick Bobo, he hopes an arranged marriage will give him a better chance of gaining custody of his autistic nephew, Zach. Can Emily adjust to a farm wife’s lifestyle? And more importantly, how will she deal with a boy on the spectrum?

A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Madeline Collier finds solace in charity work and fundraising for a local children’s home. Peter Townsend moves west from Philadelphia to escape his past and begin a new life. When an idea is planted for an orphan’s possible future, Madeline realizes she needs help. Can Maddie persuade Peter to commit to a marriage of convenience and, in so doing, help her give a child a forever home?

A NEW FAMILY

Eliot Graveney fought his entire life to be seen as the equal of those around him, but a flash of fire enters his world in the shape of heiress Marianne Daltrey. And Eliot’s life will never be the same. Can Eliot outsmart a wealthy man to help Marianne get her inheritance? Will he lose his heart in the process?

FOREVER FAMILY

Susan Vuichard is committed to making sure no child is forgotten in the foster system, which means opening her family farm to three sisters that have nowhere else to go. Richard Petra still suffers from a tragic loss, but sparks fly when he finds his high school sweetheart. Can this group somehow become a forever family?

JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING

Anna Beckett has a soulless job at Gallagher Industries. When she becomes a volunteer cuddler, holding the sickest babies in the neonatal unit, Anna begins to realize there’s more to life than work. Thrust into a Santa Claus suit at the children’s hospital, Jack Gallagher is surprised to recognize the accountant from work. Can they overcome their misguided perceptions to form a lasting bond?

KANDIE KISSES

Frazzled by a hectic lifestyle, Rachel Boulton has no choice but to rearrange her priorities when a surprise gift is left for her at work. With the help of her secret crush, Mick Polenz, can Rachel meet the overwhelming needs of this special delivery, or will she lose the greatest joy she’s ever known to the demands of unfulfilled ambitions?

LONG TO BELONG

Mark Diamond has never had a family of his own, but being on the spectrum makes relationships extra complicated - until Katie Reed, owner of the Bountiful Blueberry Coffee Shop, stole his heart faster than an underpriced IPO offering. For Katie, her shy beau has been as yummy as a dandelion-cocoa latte, but can they handle each other’s situation, or will their dreams be thrown out like yesterday’s brew?

MACY’S GIFT

Macy Williams loves her career as a photojournalist, but when her brother and sister-in-law die, Macy is drawn back to her small hometown to handle their estate. Cord Adams is surprised by his deceased friend’s choice of guardian. He only met Macy once, and the meeting was anything but cordial. Can two strong-willed individuals set aside their differences for the good of two young girls?

NOT PART OF OUR EVENING PLANS

As one of the couples who found love at River’s End Ranch, Jace and Dinky Cunningham struggle with the loss of their dreams for a family; but, circumstances can shift in a split second. Dare they hope this change of plans will bring them everything their hearts desire?

Proceeds from this collection of inspiring stories will benefit special-needs adoption grants through Reece’s Rainbow.

Michele Pollock Dalton

Michele Brouder

Nancy Fraser

T.C. Hester

Jean Jacobsen

Caroline Lee

Kirsten Osbourne

Rose Pearson

Christine Sterling

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

iBooks

Enter the Giveaway