Every once in a while, I get an email from a reader who tells me they love my series but can’t afford to buy all my books. (So far there are 21 books in the Haunting Danielle series, with the 22nd to come out this summer.) As of next week, the first 19 books in the series will be available in audiobook formal.

Compared to other eBooks on the market, the Haunting Danielle books are on the low price end, at $4.50. Yesterday, my mother found an eBook she wanted me to order for her, and I about fainted—it was almost $17! And it only had a 3-star average review! Yikes!

But I understand being on a fixed income, and even $4.50 takes a person off budget. Fortunately, there is a way to safely and legally download FREE eBooks and audiobooks—your local public library!

I have a lot of readers who check out my books from their libraries, some of them downloading eBooks and others audiobooks. Sometimes their libraries already carry my books—other times the readers have to request them. Occasionally, the library will have my paperbacks to check out, but typically it is easier to get ahold of one of my audiobooks or eBooks at the public library. 

It requires an app like Overdrive to facilitate the download. When I did it, I went down to our library, and they assigned me pin number to use in order to access the service. Of course, you also need a library card!

The reason I said the public library is a legal and safe source to download free books is because there are websites out there that offer books for free—pirate sites. Very often the person looking for a deal will later discover they downloaded more than just a stolen eBook—they can get a virus or Trojan. Picking up a book at one of those sites is no different than going to the back alley and picking up stolen merchandise. Yet in this case, instead of risking arrest your computer is often compromised.

However, there are a few legitimate online services out there that will get you a safe free read, like BookBub. The difference, they are offering specials offered by the author. They aren’t a pirate site stocking up stolen eBook files. (Some of the pirate sites don’t even have the eBook files they claim to have, just the virus or Trojan they intend to hand out!)

So if you are looking for a free read, take Ben Franklin’s lead—check out your public library. 

2 comments on “Looking for Free Books?

  1. kitsune0112

    I work at a library but we only have your audio through hoopla. I was not impressed with the audio voice. No one else has your book in print it seems like, anyway to get hoopla to take your book as an e-book or any other suggestions? I also think my patrons would love this series, so I’m also working on my system buying the whole dang series.

    1. Bobbi Holmes Post author

      I know the eBook is available at many libraries through various venues, such as Overdrive and Baker-Taylor. I also know some libraries purchase the paperbacks through Ingram. Personally, I really like the narrator, but I understand that’s a personal thing. Thanks so much for your interest in the series.

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