NEW YORK (October 19, 2009)--Target is entered the fray as it joins a heated price war involving books expected to be top sellers.

The retailer says it will offer some of this season's most anticipated book titles at $8.99, in line with recent moves by Walmart.com and Amazon.com.

Target says the $8.99 price applies to pre-orders on Target.com of such books as "Breathless" by Dean Koontz, "Ford Country" by James Patterson, and "Under the Dome" by Stephen King.

Target's move is expected to heat up the price wars that began Thursday between Walmart.com and Amazon.com.

Both sites lowered online prices on certain forthcoming titles to $9. Walmart.com showed the books priced at $8.99 Monday afternoon.