Free Book (nook) - Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime

Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs ($8.99 Kindle), by Michael P. Spradlin, was a free pre-order in the Kindle store back in August, before disappearing from the store completely, then having it's publication date pushed back several times. It's no longer free at Amazon (but it downloaded to my Kindle at no charge, this morning, as I caught it during the pre-order time period), but it is free from B&N for the nook (at least, for the moment). I just ordered it there as well and confirmed that I wasn't charged on my receipt.

Book Description
Who says zombies don't have feelings? Losing a limb might not hurt them, and they don't seem to mind being shot, but that doesn't mean the undead can't love, right? This collection features more than two dozen classic love songs aimed right at the rotting hearts of zombie romantics everywhere. Perfect for a cozy evening at home with an infected loved one, this book is sure to get the blood pumping and the juices flowing in even the most decayed zombies. With timeless tunes such as "You Blight Up My Life", "I Ate You Babe", and "Can You Feel Your Thumb Tonight", and heart-melting illustrations to go with each song, this is destined to be an apocalyptic classic!

Click HERE for the free download.

Free Book (EPUB) - The 7th Victim

If you missed The 7th Victim ($2.99 Kindle), by Alan Jacobson, when it was free on Kindle and from B&N and Kobo, you have another chance at it, as Borders bookstore now has it free (one of the few freebies I've found there). It isn't Kindle compatible there, but Amazon does have it marked down for Kindle right now (it's above $6 at B&N and over $15 at Kobo).

Book Description
The Dead Eyes Killer lurks in the backyard of the famed FBI Profiling Unit. His brutal murders confound the local task force, despite the gifted profiling skills of Special Agent Karen Vail. But along with Vail's insight and expertise comes considerable personal and professional baggage. On leave pending a review of her assault on her abusive ex-husband, Vail must battle forces determined to bring her down, as she fights to find Dead Eyes before he murders more young women. But the seventh victim is the key to all that stirs this killer...the key that will unlock secrets perhaps too painful for Vail to bear. These are secrets that threaten to destroy her, secrets that will bring down her storied career. For Karen Vail, the truth rests at the heart of a lie. And uncovering it could get her killed... With material meticulously researched during seven years of study with the Bureau's vaunted profiling unit, Alan Jacobson brings refreshing realism and unprecedented accuracy to his pages. The 7th Victim is a page-turner as only Alan Jacobson can write, with a stunning twist of an ending that will satisfy even the most discerning thriller reader.

Click HERE to get the free ebook from Borders.

Super Magazine Sale at Amazon

I've already mentioned that Amazon is running a contest for free Kindles that is tied to magazine subscriptions, but when I clicked over there today, I found that they have sweetened the pot. Not only are a number of $5 and $7 subscriptions back, but they are giving you $10 back in credit (good for any Amazon purchase), if you spend $30 on magazines, thru today, November 30.  I've already seen two that I want, so all I have to do is finish up a bit of my Christmas shopping, early, to have that credit waiting for me next week!

I found more discounted magazines HERE.

Free Book (nook) - Twelve Hidden Days of Christmas

Twelve Hidden Days of Christmas ($11.66 Hardcover; not available on Kindle), illustrated by Macky Pamintuan, is free in the B&N store. This one's for kids and I'd recommend you read it to them on the largest color screen you have. That is, if you can get it to download. It's in my library, but I can't get it to download on my pc (in the B&N reader, Nookstudy or from the library) or phone (although it did tell me it was too large to download via 3G) or my nook. I'm still trying on the iPad, but suspect this one either is completely broken or will require customer service (such as it is) to get straightened out.

Update: Hey, maybe I should read all the notes - this one works ONLY with NOOKcolor, not on any of their apps (which begs the question of why not) and not on the original nook. Unlike Amazon, who makes the basic text and pics available no matter which Kindle you own, when you buy the Audio/Video enhanced editions (and they all work on the Apps, as well), B&N appears to have decided to support enhanced editions ONLY on the (not very well reviewed) NOOKcolor.

Book Description
Kids love searching for Christmas gifts, and they can get a head start on the holiday with this joyful twist on the popular carol. You’ll recognize most of the words from “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” but instead of “my true love” giving the presents, jolly Santa’s leaving them all around the house. Sharp-eyed children can accompany a curious little bear to look for St. Nick’s cheerful handiwork—as well as some festive extras that artist Macky Pamintuan has playfully added to the art, including jingle bells, a candy cane in the toothbrush cup, and bright snowflakes floating over the bathtub. As the items accumulate, the delight heightens, with ten frog lords a-leaping and sliding; nine pretty pink pig ladies dancing a ballet; and cow maids ready to do their milking.

The best is saved for last in a big ending: a huge double gatefold that’s actually four pages long, containing all the items delivered during the twelve days.

Click HERE to get the free download.

Free Book (EPUB/nook) - Holman Christian Standard Bible

Previously free in the Kindle store (but now missing, as Holman changes the ASIN's, once again), The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition, is now free in the B&N store and from Sony.

Book Description
This text edition of the HCSB has been optimized for easy reading on digital devices. Free from the visual clutter of footnotes, cross references, and other links, this edition is fast to navigate and easy to use.

The HCSB was developed by 100 scholars and English stylists from 17 denominations, who prayerfully translated what is one of the most significant Bible translations available today. The HCSB reflects linguistic advances in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and formatting while it retains meaningful theological terms. In the HCSB you'll find God's personal name (Yahweh), the use of "Messiah" in the New Testament, and the use of "slave" in the New Testament, just to name a few examples. Also, you'll notice the contemporary speech patterns in the HCSB mean that words like "behold" and "shall" are not used. Instead, words or phrases that are common today can be found in their place.

The HCSB employs a first-of-its kind translation philosophy known as Optimal Equivalence, which seeks to achieve an optimal balance of literary precision and emotive clarity through a comprehensive analysis of the text at every level. This process assures maximum transfer of both words and thoughts contained in the original.

Click HERE to get the book from B&N.
Click HERE to get the book from Sony.

Cyber Monday EBook Sales

Just as with Black Friday, several of the online bookstores are having sales for Cyber Monday.  First up, Untreed Reads Publishing is repeating their Black Friday sale, plus they've added a special coupon code just for readers of this blog! Here's the letter I received:

Thank you very much for mentioning our Black Friday sale on your blog. I'm a rabid fan of Books On The Knob and have found a lot of great reads thanks to you!

We're actually going to repeat our Black Friday sale for CyberMonday, so it will be:

25% off short stories
30% off novelettes/novellas
40% off full-length works and anthologies

HOWEVER...I'm also going to have a coupon initiated just for your readers! If the folks come to our site, they can enter coupon code FANSOFBOTK at checkout, update their cart and save an additional 10% off their purchase. I can't help it...I love your blog! So, I'm more than happy to do something special for one of my faves.

Thanks Jay, for being a reader and for the coupon!

Fictionwise has a 60% coupon good today, cybermonday2010. The multi-format books are DRM-free and work with all readers, while the DRM'd books are pretty much only nook compatible (ereader format) these days. You have to look to find the deals, but I picked up an Alex Kava bundle, for example, at a good discount (newer titles, such as his Damaged, were more than on Kindle, even with the coupon).

Next, at Kobobooks.com, you can still coupon code Save25Kobo for 25% off any non-Agency book, plus they have added a rewards coupon for purchases made today: Spend $10 to receive a 20% coupon, Spend $25 to receive a 50% coupon and Spend $30 to receive a FREE eBook. One deal book I found: the newly published Autobiography Of Mark Twain: The Complete And Authoritative Edition Volume 1, by Mark Twain; written 100 years ago and held at his request for 100 years before publication, this one is $7.34 with the coupon code. Also, every purchase enters you to win one of the 5 ereader bundles they are giving away.

O'Reilly is having a huge sale: 60% off on all ebooks and videos! Coupon code: DDF2H

There isn't much going on with Sony for the holidays, but I did find this Sony exclusive title for free: Interview with Anne Rice, by Anne Rice. It's short (8 pages, including title), but you can't read it anywhere else..

OmniLit/AllRomance is having a 50% rebate sale: after your purchase, you'll get a credit to your account for 50% of what you've spent (so save a few of the titles from your cart and use the credit to get those or save it for later on).

I'm sure I didn't find them all, but be sure to check out a few of these. It'll keep you occupied while I work on a few more posts for B&N freebies that I found this afternoon.

Today's Two Buck Music

It's the final day of the 5/$1.99 music deals for Black Friday/Cyber Monday at Amazon and it looks like they saved one of the best for last: I Wish You A Merry Christmas, Bing Crosby.

The other four albums in today's Cyber Monday sale:

Band Of Joy, by Robert Plant
Save Me, San Francisco, by Train
This Is Happening, by LCD Soundsystem
The Fame Monster [Explicit], by Lady Gaga

Pre-Order Collection and a TV Christmas Show

The Collected Novels of José Saramago is available as a pre-order on Kindle (with delivery tomorrow). You might not recognize the author's name right away, as this Portuguese author's books have not always been readily available in the US. His The Gospel According to Jesus Christ ($8.69), for example, provoked enough controversy that it was withdrawn from consideration for the 1992 European Literature Prize. But you likely have heard of the movie based on what is considered his masterpiece, the Nobel prize-winning Blindness ($7.65). It, the sequel Seeing ($9.99) and all the others are collected here, at a price well below what you'd pay picking up the titles individually; at $28.80, you are paying under under $2.50 per novel (with the novella thrown in free).

Book Description
This collection, available exclusively in e-book form, brings together the twelve novels (and one novella) of the great Portuguese writer José Saramago, with an introductory essay by Ursula Le Guin. From Saramago's early work, like the enchanting Baltasar & Blimunda and the controversial Gospel According to Jesus Christ, through his masterpiece Blindness and its sequel Seeing, to his later fables of politics, chance, history, and love, like All the Names and Death with Interruptions, this volume showcases the range and depth of Saramago’s career, his inimitable narrative voice, and his vast reserves of invention, humor, and understanding.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle ($7.29), by Debbie Macomber, may not be quite bargain priced, but you can watch the TV adaptation of it tonight, on the Hallmark Channel (8PM EST). If you prefer your entertainment in eInk, just click on the author's name -- there are 9 volumes under $4, several of them with Christmas themes.

Book Description
This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner's son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it…

Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

Today's Two Buck Music and more

Black Friday is over, but Amazon has already started their Cyber Monday deals. Five new $1.99 albums, a few freebies and some bargain albums I've found are all in this post.

First, a few freebies I found today: Best Song Ever by Katie Armiger, Blue Collar King by Family Reunion and Asphalt EP by Matt Thibideau

In Between Dreams, by Jack Johnson, is the $1.99 album that tempts me the most, today. You'll be singing along to cuts such as Banana Pancakes and Good People, after just a few listens.

The other four albums in today's Black Friday Week sale:

Lisbon (Amazon MP3 Exclusive), by The Walkmen
Transference, by Spoon
As I Call You Down, by Fistful Of Mercy
How I Got Over [Explicit] [+Digital Booklet], by The Roots

These are all currently discounted at great prices for some great music:

Blues On The Bayou, by B.B. King ($3.99)
Legend, by Bob Marley ($3.99)
The Very Best Of Booker T. & The MG's, by Booker T & The MG's ($3.99)
Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters, by Ray Charles ($4.99)

Bargain Book Roundup

More agency priced bargains to introduce you to new authors! The links are for the Kindle store; those with other ereaders can do a title search at Kobobooks.com or in the B&N store. B&N also has a Black Friday Sale: 50% off Deluxe Cookbooks (expires 11.29.2010).

Burn Out ($2.99), by Marcia Muller

Book Description
Traumatized by a recent life-or-death investigation, Sharon McCone flees to her ranch in California's high desert country to contemplate her future. Deep depression shadows her days and nights, and a chance encounter with a troubled, highly secretive Native American woman begins to haunt her dreams. Even though she is determined not to investigate anything during her stay--and perhaps not ever again--McCone is drawn into the plight of the young woman and her dysfunctional family. A murder and traces of violence at a deserted resort lead her across the desert and into Nevada, and finally to a remote and isolated ranch, where danger lies closer that she expects and where her future and life itself may hang in the balance.

Sins of the Flesh ($1.99), by Caridad Piñeiro

Book Description
aterina Shaw's days are numbered. Her only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene treatment-a risk she willingly takes. But now Caterina barely recognizes herself. She has new, terrifying powers, an exotic, arresting body-and she's been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run.

Mick Carrera is a mercenary and an expert at capturing elusive, clever prey. Yet the woman he's hunting down is far from the vicious killer he's been told to expect: Caterina is wounded, vulnerable, and a startling mystery of medical science. Even more, she's a beautiful woman whose innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her exactly how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both . . . for a dangerous group is plotting its next move using Caterina as its deadly pawn.

A Morning Like This ($1.99), by Deborah Bedford

Book Description
David and Abby Treasure seem to have everything together: a perfect marriage, a perfect son, and a perfect life. But one simple phone call turns their world upside down. Years ago, David had an affair outside of his marriage, and though he never knew it, the affair produced a daughter. Now his former lover calls with heartbreaking news: his daughter is dying of leukemia. Her only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant-from David or his son.

Can David and Abby set aside their betrayal and anger to save a little girl's life? If they can make it through, they may find that their love for one another and their faith in God can be redeemed . . . and grow stronger than ever before.

Issue Is ($1.99), by Barb Johnson

Book Description
The lives of four unlikely friends intersect on the backstreets of New Orleans. Living amid poverty and violence, these fragile heroes of the American underclass redefine our notions of family, redemption, and love.

David and the Giant ($2.99) is from Christian publisher Zondervan.

Book Description
A giant wants to fight an Israelite soldier. When young and small David offers to fight Goliath, the giant laughs! Can David beat the giant? Find out in this Zonderkidz I Can Read! book for early readers.

The Brooklyn Follies ($2.99), by Paul Auster

Book Description
From the bestselling author of Oracle Night and The Book of Illusions, an exhilarating, whirlwind tale of one man's accidental redemption

Nathan Glass has come to Brooklyn to die. Divorced, estranged from his only daughter, the retired life insurance salesman seeks only solitude and anonymity. Then Nathan finds his long-lost nephew, Tom Wood, working in a local bookstore--a far cry from the brilliant academic career he'd begun when Nathan saw him last. Tom's boss is the charismatic Harry Brightman, whom fate has also brought to the "ancient kingdom of Brooklyn, New York." Through Tom and Harry, Nathan's world gradually broadens to include a new set of acquaintances--not to mention a stray relative or two--and leads him to a reckoning with his past.

Among the many twists in the delicious plot are a scam involving a forgery of the first page of The Scarlet Letter, a disturbing revelation that takes place in a sperm bank, and an impossible, utopian dream of a rural refuge. Meanwhile, the wry and acerbic Nathan has undertaken something he calls The Book of Human Folly, in which he proposes "to set down in the simplest, clearest language possible an account of every blunder, every pratfall, every embarrassment, every idiocy, every foible, and every inane act I had committed during my long and checkered career as a man." But life takes over instead, and Nathan's despair is swept away as he finds himself more and more implicated in the joys and sorrows of others.

The Brooklyn Follies is Paul Auster's warmest, most exuberant novel, a moving and unforgettable hymn to the glories and mysteries of ordinary human life.

Dying for Mercy with Bonus Material ($1.99), by Mary Jane Clark, is a pre-order, but you can get a sample from this higher priced edition, to see if you want to order it (just don't order the wrong edition).

Book Description
For a limited time, discover Mary Jane Clark's New York Times bestselling novel Dying for Mercy, including an exclusive letter from Mary Jane and an early excerpt from her new novel, To Have and to Kill

The recently renovated Pentimento, located in New York's exclusive moneyed enclave of Tuxedo Park, is no ordinary estate. Strange secrets have been ingeniously built into its fountains, frescoes, statues, and architecture—clues to a bizarre mystery that is first brought to light when the owner commits suicide during a lavish gala.

Eliza Blake, co-anchor of the popular morning television show KEY to America, is present when the party is cut short by the host's sudden, macabre death—and she's the first to discover that Pentimento is a giant "puzzle house." But each piece is leading Eliza and her KEY News colleagues—producer Annabelle Murphy, cameraman B. J. D'Elia, and psychiatrist Margo Gonzalez—deeper into darkness, toward a killer who believes that some puzzles must never be solved. And it soon becomes shockingly clear that no amount of wealth or privilege can keep the residents of Tuxedo Park safe . . . and alive.

Kissing Christmas Goodbye ($2.99), by M. C. Beaton

Book Description
Unlike quite a number of people, Agatha had not given up on Christmas. To have the perfect Christmas had been a childhood dream whilst surviving a rough upbringing in a Birmingham slum. Holly berries glistened, snow fell gently outside, and inside, all was Dickensian jollity. And in her dreams, James Lacey kissed her under the mistletoe, and, like a middle-aged sleeping beauty, she would awake to passion once more....

Agatha Raisin is bored. Her detective agency in the Cotswolds is thriving, but she’ll scream if she has to deal with another missing cat or dog. Only two things seem to offer potential excitement: the upcoming Christmas festivities and her ex, James Lacey. This year she is sure that if she invites James to a really splendid, old-fashioned Christmas dinner, their love will rekindle like a warm Yule log.

When a wealthy widow hires Agatha because she’s convinced a member of her family is trying to kill her, Agatha is intrigued---especially when the widow drops dead after high tea at the manor house. Who in this rather sterile house, complete with fake family portraits, could have hated the old lady enough to poison her?

Agatha sets out to find the murderer, all the while managing a pretty, teenage trainee who makes her feel old and planning for a picture-perfect Christmas, with James, all the trimmings, and perhaps even snow.

Gettin' Merry ($2.99), by Beverly Jenkins, Francis Ray, Monica Jackson, and Geri Guillaume

Book Description
Four of today's hottest romance writers invite you to come home for the holidays, where the spicy smells from the kitchen, the warm embrace of family, and the gifts of Kwanzaa are just the beginning of a magical season filled with true love and sensual delights...

Be careful what you wish for. That's the lesson a fine brother with a wounded heart learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love--if he's not too blind to see it--in Francis Ray's The Wish.

Beverly Jenkins spins a soul-touching tale of a soldier reunited with the woman who deserted him as they discover that love isn't just sweeter the second time around, it's downright decadent in Homecoming.

In Monica Jackson's The Way Back Home, a biracial young woman sets out to spend Kwanzaa with the African-American family she never knew and finds and extra gift in the strong, loving professor who wants to teacher her about her heritage...and so much more.

When a mild-mannered high school principal battles small-town prejudice over a Kwanzaa celebration, he fins an unlikely ally in a fiery woman from his past in Geri Guillaume's moving story, The Seventh Principal.

The love of a good man. The hope of a new family. The promise of a fantasy fulfilled. This soulful collection of holiday stories proves there's more than one reason for gettin' merry...and they all lead straight to the heart.

Two new bargains in Lisi Harrison's teen Clique series: Bratfest at Tiffany's and P.S. I Loathe You , both $1.99).

#9
Massie Block: The Briarwood boys have invaded OCD and are taking over everything. Worse, the soccer boys have become so popular that the Pretty Committee's alpha status is in serious jeopardy. So Massie lays out a New Year-New Pretty Committee rule: Anyone caught crushing on a boy will be thrown out of the NPC-forever. But will she be able to follow her own decree when she sees that Derrington has ditched his shorts-obsession in favor of ah-dorable jeans?

Alicia Rivera: Is the opposite of onboard with the boyfast. Her crush, the Ralph Lauren-luh-ving Josh Hotz, is more irresistible than crème brûlée fro-yo. But is he worth losing her spot in the NPC? And taking on the wrath of Massie?

Dylan Marvil: Is so ready for the boyfast. She's straightened her unruly red hair and permanently pressed boys out of her life. If only she could do the same with curly fries and caramel popcorn.

Kristen Gregory: Has traded her sporty-chic Pumas for Billabong board shorts and a shark tooth necklace. She claims she's sworn off boy-crushes, so what's with her Blue Crush makeover?

Claire Lyons: Spent all summer thinking about Cam's one blue eye and one green eye. But now he's moved on to a new girl faster than you can say cuh-yutest couple. At least Claire finally has a secure spot in the NPC-unless jealousy-flirting breaks the boyfast. . . .

#10
Massie Block: When the Pretty Committee deems its boy-fast null and void, boy fever sweeps through BOCD. What better way to backhandspring into new crush Dempsey's heart-and make old crush Derrington jealous-than cheer for him on the soccer field? And just like that, Massie forms BOCD's first-ever cheerleading squad. But will Massie still have something to cheer about when Dempsey starts spending ah lot of time with LBR Layne Abeley? Give me an "E" for Ehmagawd!

Kristen Gregory: With Massie and her SBFF (secret best friend forever) Layne vying for the same boy, Kristen has to make a choice: A) the Pretty Committee, or B) the Witty Committee. And if she doesn't choose fast, she'll end up C) Committeeless.

Dylan Marvil: Is hiding something, and it's not just those peanut butter Luna bars stashed under her mattress. She's got a secret crush on Derrington-and it's no secret that he likes burpilicious redheads. . . .

Alicia Rivera: Prefers pliés to pom-poms, especially when Massie orders her to the bottom of the cheer-pyramid. Can Alicia accept her beta status, or is it time to become alpha of her own squad?

Claire Lyons: Now that she's back with Cam, Claire finally has her love life in order. But her friends are trading crushes like styling tips. Will the Pretty Committee survive the boy-swap intact, or is the Clique about to come apart at the seams?

The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos ($1.99), by Margaret Mascarenhas

Book Description
Irene dos Santos disappeared at age 15. Believed to have drowned while on holiday with her best friend, Lily Martinez, her body was never found. Now, years later, she appears ghostlike in Lily's dreams, prompting a quest for the truth behind her disappearance. Mysteriously, Lily, eight-months pregnant with her first child, slips and falls on the same day that the statue of Maria Lionza, Patron Saint of their Venezuelan town, cracks in two. Confined to her bed, Lily is surrounded by her family and closest friends, who agree that a Novena to Maria Lionza will guide the baby's spirit safely into the world. Together, through their nine nights of prayer, each offers a story to entertain Lily and her baby. What emerges is a vivid picture of Venezuela during a time of revolution and uncertainty-and the unraveling of the mystery behind Irene dos Santos.

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World ($3.99), by Eric Weiner

Book Description
Part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the reader from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a beguiling mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

The World Inside ($1.99), by Lydia Peelle

Book Description
With this first book of fiction, a gifted young writer brings together eight superbly crafted stories that peer deeply into the human heart, exploring lives derailed by the loss of a vital connection to the land and to the natural world of which they are a part.

"Mule Killers" evokes the end of an era and of a grandfather's dreams when he decides to replace animal power on his farm with tractors. Two restless young girls in "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" live out their last summer of innocence, riding ponies recklessly and spying on their boss and the wealthy women who visit him. In "Phantom Pain," the Tennessee woods are a sliver of what they once were, men now hunt with GPS and cell phones, and the rumor of a dangerous panther on the loose stirs up a small town.

An unexpected vision of the beauty and mystery of life redeems the darkest moments in this stellar debut collection, a book that readers will want to read and reread.

The Grandmother's Bible ($3.99), is a well-reviewed compilation volume from Christian publisher Zondervan.

Book Description
For many women, being a grandmother is God's finest gift---they have achieved great depth of experience and breadth of love, and they have grandchildren with whom to share these qualities. The Grandmother's Bible is the first Bible published for this active, engaged, Bible-reading audience. Over 60 well-known Christian women---including Ruth Graham, Elisa Morgan, Elizabeth George, Thelma Wells, Karen Kingsbury, and Carol Cymbala---share their thoughts, stories, and encouragement in this Bible's articles and daily devotionals. With a focus on daily prayer, this uniquely personal Bible offers guidance, inspiration, and practical tools as grandmothers share their love and God's Word with their grandchildren. Features:

• 365 devotions -- readings draw grandmothers closer to their Lord and to their grandchildren
• Grandchild in Focus -- a simple plan to help grandmothers pray regularly for their grandchildren
• Praying the Scriptures for Your Grandchild -- Bible verses in a prayer format
• Stories to Share -- over 150 key Bible stories ideal for sharing specific life lessons
• Talking Points -- a practical guide for using Scripture to discuss over 40 relevant topics, such as salvation, knowing God's will, friendship, etc.
• Perspectives -- original, thought-provoking articles addressing personal aspirations and the joys and challenges of being a grandmother
• Special sleeve to hold grandchild's photo
• Custom presentation pages
• Two-color design in an easy-to-read type
• Book introductions, topical index, and more
• Complete New International Version 

American Detective: An Amos Walker Novel ($2.99), by Loren D. Estleman

Book Description
Hardboiled detective Amos Walker returns for his nineteenth outing in his most challenging case yet. Ex-Detroit Tigers pitcher Darius Fuller wants Walker to break off his daughter's engagement to Hilary Bairn, a man he believes is after her two million dollar trust. Walker goes to Bairn's apartment, only to be ambushed by cops. A murder has taken place, and the victim is Fuller's daughter. Walker and the cops assume that Bairn is the murderer, but Walker has no idea what he is getting into.

Walker is led to a meeting with a casino owner, who tells him Bairn owed money to a loan shark. The loan shark tells Walker that he is not the only one after Bairn. Soon Walker finds himself on the run from crooked cops and vile gangsters. Every time Walker thinks he's solved the case, he finds out he is farther from the truth than when he started. This case will take all of Walker's cunning, and will prove to be his greatest trial ever!

Debatable Space ($2.99), by Philip Palmer

Book Description
Flanagan (who is, for want of a better word, a pirate) has a plan. It seems relatively simple: kidnap Lena, the Cheo's daughter, demand a vast ransom for her safe return, sit back and wait.

Only the Cheo, despotic ruler of the known universe, isn't playing ball. Flanagan and his crew have seen this before, of course, but since they've learned a few tricks from the bad old days and since they know something about Lena that should make the plan foolproof, the Cheo's defiance is a major setback. It is a situation that calls for extreme measures.

Luckily, Flanagan has considerable experience in this area . . .

Desire Untamed ($1.99), by Pamela Palmer

Book Description
They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release . . .

Kara MacAllister's quiet small-town life is transformed forever the night a powerful stranger rips her from her home, claiming she is the chosen one—the key to his survival.

Spiriting her away into the rain-soaked night, Lyon reveals a truth Kara can barely credit. She's immortal, and the only one who can save his race. And deep within her, he arouses a fierce, primal hunger beyond anything she's ever imagined.

But only when their lives are threatened by an ancient evil will Kara and Lyon realize they have found a love they would risk their immortal souls to claim . . . and a powerful desire that could never, ever be tamed.

Going for the Gold: Apolo Anton Ohno ($3.99), by Thomas Lang

Book Description
Man of Speed

Part athlete, part rock star, Apolo Anton Ohno has won fans across the globe with his charisma, his movie-idol looks, and his edge-of-the-seat victories at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Going for the Gold: Apolo Anton Ohno tells the story of this skating hero, start to finish.

Here's what you'll find out about America's newestidol:

• What made Apolo fall in love with speed skating
• Why his troublemaking almost ended his Olympic dreams
• How Apolo turned his career around
• What Apolo has planned for the future

Going for the Gold: Sarah Hughes ($3.99), by R. S. Ashby

Book Description
Ice Princess

Sarah Hughes was born to skate, and she proved to the world with her dramatic gold medal victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics. But the road to Olympic glory was not always easy for this Long Island teen.

Going for the Gold: Sarah Hughes is the amazing true story of a brilliant skater's Olympic quest.

Here's what you'll find out about America's newest sweetheart:

• Sarah's first time on the ice
• How her family's support helped her through difficult times
• How Sarah braved the rocky road to the Olympics
• Sarah's hopes for the future

PS3 Bundle Deals

My PS3 finally insisted that it had to be updated or it would not play a Blu-Ray that I'd rented from Netflix. After setting it up on the wireless network, which it refused to do a couple of years ago, but went on with very little effort, this time (yes, I've used it mainly as a Blu-Ray player and for stand alone games and never needed to be online before), I also set it up to watch Netflix on-demand streaming. I was actually quite surprised at how good the movie looked. Nowhere near HD quality, of course, but not much worse than watching a regular DVD and with very little stuttering in the video (the audio never did mess up). All in all, something of a miracle given our slow internet connection. It took 3 hours to download our rental video from Amazon, in comparison; of course, once I figured out that we had to watch it in Microsoft's Media Center and not using the Amazon software, which was cutting off the lower half of the picture, the quality of it was the same as having rented the physical disc. In any case, I foresee us using the PS3 more and more, as Netflix pushes downloaded rentals instead of physical discs. It is already a pretty good game box and still perhaps the best blu-ray player on the market, but now it has taken the role of a Roku box, as well (although I haven't figured out if I can also use it for Amazon VOD, yet).

For Black Friday, Amazon has put together a couple of good bundles, for those looking to upgrade, add a system to a second room. Priced the same as the controller alone, both bundles also throw in two games. The first is the best of the two bargains and the one that appears as if the price will change the earliest (or just go away forever, once they sell out), throwing in a Blu-Ray movie and a $25 credit to use in the store later on. Both come with a single controller and you can play the games and watch movies using it.

If you want to play any of the multi-player games, you'll want a second DualShock 3 Wireless Controller (which now comes in wide range of colors) and I'd greatly recommend the Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote, which I've had for a couple of years and use every time we watch a movie. I'm now looking at adding a PlayStation 3 Wireless keypad, which I never really needed, but after having to type in login information on netflix, I think some type of keyboard may become a necessity (you can use the controller, but it's a bit slow and tedious and anyone watching can see you hunt out the letters for the password). Any USB or bluetooth keyboard will probably work, but this one would be attached to the controller (and rechargeable), so I wouldn't have to keep track of it or find more space to store it.

PlayStation 3 160 GB Black Friday Bundle w/ Uncharted 2, Pixel Junk Shooter, Karate Kid Blu-Ray, and $25 Video Game Credit ($299.99)

Bundle Description

• DualShock 3 wireless controller with detachable USB charge cable and AC power cord for console and a free PlayStation Network membership
• Slim, light PS3 system with a 160 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products
• A copy of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Game of The Year, with included game of the year extra items
• A PlayStation Network download voucher for a game copy of Pixeljunk Shooter
• A Blu-ray copy of the 2010 version of The Karate Kid staring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith

PlayStation 3 160GB Amazon Family Bundle w/ Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time and SingStar Dance Party Pack ($299.99)

Bundle Description

• A copy of the PlayStation exclusive Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
• Slim, light PS3 system with a 160 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products
• DualShock 3 wireless controller with detachable USB charge cable and AC power cord for console
• Free PlayStation Network membership and access to Netflix with Unlimited membership (sold separately)
• A copy of the PlayStation 3 exclusive SingStar Dance with 2 included wired SingStar microphones

Today's Two Buck Music + One Free Song

Amazon is continuing their Black Friday Week in the MP3 store, with five new $1.99 titles today and a free Christmas song, Dream Child by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Today's list makes it tough to pick a favorite, but I settled on John Mayer's Battle Studies, only because I already have more than one version of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon.

The other four albums in today's Black Friday Week sale:

Dark Side Of The Moon, by Pink Floyd
You Are Not Alone, by Mavis Staples
xx, by The XX
High Violet, by The National