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Who's ready for funny story time?

Discussion points
1.    I love Shannon McKenna.
2.    I am cheap.

Please keep these points in mind as you read especially number 2.

Ms. McKenna has a series about the McCloud brothers. I love them. Her heroes always make me giggle because they’re sooo intense. They’re intense about whatever mission they’re on, and they’re about ten times more intense about their love interest.

The last McCloud brother is Kevin. I won’t spoil anything, but I’ve been waiting to read Kevin’s story for five or six years. When I found out his story was coming, the squees could be heard all over Dallas.

And then I found out the book would be published as a hardcover. Slam on the brakes time. Really?

Here’s the thing. Kensington always publishes Ms. McKenna’s books in trade size at a cost of $14. Sigh. Let’s remember our talking points. Because I could never figure out Kensington’s mass market printing schedule (mainly because there never seemed to be any rhyme or reason to it), I’ve always just sucked it up and bought the trade edition because I love Shannon McKenna. Granted, I wait until I have a lovely Borders coupon in hand before doing so, but even with the coupon, I still spend $8-$10 on a book. Which I NEVER do.

I must really love Shannon McKenna.

As you can imagine, I was not a happy camper when I found out about the hardcover plans. When the book came out a few months ago, I went to Borders and stared at it. I think I mentioned that I’ve been waiting for this book for years. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger. I would wait for the trade or mass market edition. Yeah, this scene played itself out several times in the past few months.

Until Monday night.

Recently, I started a new job, which means I don’t have to be quite so tight-fisted with the cash. I also happened to have a 40% off coupon from Borders. I hopped in my car knowing just the book I wanted to buy, but then the little devil (angel?) on my shoulder whispered in my ear, “Why don’t you buy Shannon McKenna’s book instead? You know you want it.”

I thought about it and decided what the heck? I have a little extra cash and a great coupon. Let’s go for it.

Now, usually, when I have a coupon ready to spend on a specific item, I work out in advance how much the item will be before I ever get to the store. However, because this was a spur of the moment decision, I didn’t have time for calculations.

I got to Borders, picked up the book, flipped it over, and glared at the price. $20.95. Yikes. I debated for a second about putting it back, but NO. I wanted this book, and I was gonna have it.

I marched downstairs to the checkout line and hand the cashier my coupon and Borders reward card. She rang up the purchase and said $15.xx. In my mind, I was thinking, “Excuse me?! I don’t think so! That’s not 40% off.” But I didn’t have to say a word because my facial expression did all the talking. Oh, how I wish I’d had a camera to take a picture of my face.  A slightly panicked look flashed across her face before she dropped her head to reread the coupon and stared at the computer screen.

I said, “Is the 40% not good on hardcovers?” Because if it wasn’t, I was going to take it as a sign from the money and book gods that I wasn’t supposed to have this book and put it back.

Luckily, she said no. She’d screwed up typing the code. She called the manager who fixed it. The total was $13.xx. Still bad, but more in line with what I expected.  

So now I have Fade to Midnight. I’ve only read the first few pages, but I’m loving it.

I must love Shannon McKenna.

How do you feel about hardcovers? Will you follow your favorite authors wherever they happen to take you even if it’s to the Land of Expensive?

xoxo,
Jamie 

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