Today's Deals

Additional formats on one free book is now available and three recent freebies are repeating (on Kindle and elsewhere).

• The Pawn (K/N/E)
• Medical Error (K/N/E)
• One Imperfect Christmas (K/N/E)
• A Simple Amish Christmas (K/N/E)

Pictures of You ($0.99), by Caroline Leavitt, is today's Kindle Deal of the Day.

Book Description
Two women running away from their marriages collide on a foggy highway, killing one of them. The survivor, Isabelle, is left to pick up the pieces, not only of her own life, but of the lives of the devastated husband and fragile son that the other woman, April, has left behind. Together, they try to solve the mystery of where April was running to, and why. As these three lives intersect, the book asks, How well do we really know those we love—and how do we forgive the unforgivable?

Drowning Rose ($2.01 / £1.29 UK), by Marika Cobbold, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (no US edition). It's also the third day of the 12 Days of Christmas in the UK, so you might want to check ou the newly added titles (it appears that the previous days' titles stay on sale throughout).

Book Description
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself…

It is winter in London. Eliza Cummings, a ceramics restorer at the V&A Museum, is leaving work when she receives an unexpected phone call. Standing in the haze of the Christmas lights she hears a voice which draws her back twenty-five years - to the night Rose died.

But why does Rose's father want her to visit him? Why now? And why is he killing her with kindness when they both know that he blames her for what happened to his daughter?

Grief and guilt cast terrible shadows, but as this beautifully wrought story unfolds and the scene shifts from London to the fairy tale landscape of the Swedish countryside - and back in time to Eliza's school days - we learn that generosity, humour and friendship can smooth over and restore even the most broken lives, and that some secrets just can't be kept hidden…

Free-Range Knitter ($2.49 Kindle, B&N), by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, is the Nook Daily Find, price matched on Kindle.

Book Description
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again reminds us of the joy we felt upon first encountering her hilarious and poignant collection of essays surrounding her favorite topics: knitting, knitters, and what happens when you get those two things anywhere near ordinary people.

For the 60 million knitters in America, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (a.k.a. the Yarn Harlot) shares stories of knitting horrors and triumphs, knitting successes and defeats, but, mostly, stories about the human condition that ring true for everyone--especially if you happen to have a rather large amount of yarn in your house.

Funny, unique, and gleeful in her obsession, Pearl-McPhee speaks to knitters of all skill levels in this delightful celebration of craft and creativity.

Be sure to get today's free Android App, MONOPOLY, by Electronic Arts Inc. The version currently at Amazon can be played on both your Kindle Fire and on most tablets and smart phones (even your computer, using an Android simulator (see this post on installing one, if you don't yet have an Android device). This is one of the few Electronic Arts games that I hadn't picked up in their 99 cent Android Game sale, which you'll also want to check before it ends. Several of them have "(Kindle Fire Edition)" in their title - these will install only on the Kindle Fire, but it's worth a buck to get a nice version of Scrabble, even if you don't want The Game of Life or Madden NFL 12 or one of the others.

Game Description
Legend has it that the modern version of the MONOPOLY board game was invented during the Depression by an unemployed man named Charles Darrow. Rebuffed by the major game companies of the time, he published it himself--and it went on to become perhaps the world's most popular board game.

Now, in the 21st century, you can play the same classic game of MONOPOLY on your Kindle Fire. And it's a ton of fun.

So, do you like to buy Boardwalk and Park Place and hope to make it big on a few unlucky rolls by your opponent? Or is your strategy to go with the Green, Red, or Yellow properties and slowly bleed your adversaries dry? However you like to play MONOPOLY, you'll love playing the Android version.

One of the great things about playing the digital version of MONOPOLY is that you don't have to track down someone willing to take you on--you can match your business acumen against the computer any time you feel like it. Set the AI opponent at three levels of difficulty, so you'll always get a challenge (or if you prefer, an easy win). Of course, it's much more fun to switch to Pass 'N Play mode, just so you can see your rivals' faces when you crush them.

Free Book/Game - Puzzlebook: 12 Christmas Puzzle Quizzes (K/I)

Puzzlebook: 12 Christmas Puzzle Quizzes, by The Grabarchuk Family, is free in the Kindle store, today only. This book (not active content, it works on any Kindle and can even be used on the apps) is usually 99 cents and, as the title says, contains 12 puzzles for you to work out. The first few are pretty easy, but the difficulty increases as you go thru the book. Each puzzle has a multiple choice list of answers and clicking one will tell you if you are correct or need to go back and try again. I actually received a review copy of the book and my only real complaint is that it seemed a bit short (and has little replay value), but that is readily solved in their other two volumes of 100 and 102 puzzles at $2.99 each. I played thru the volume on the Kindle Fire, where all the puzzles were in full color.

If you have an iThing, be sure to check out their free apps: Sliding Tiles (a small Christmas app), Puzzle Quizzes (over 100 puzzles), iCut and LetsTans 10-in-1 for iPhone and iPad.

Book Description
*** Special Christmas gift to all puzzle lovers - FREE, interactive, and color (offer ends December 26) ***

Here is a special Christmas present for the lovers of the Top Rated "Puzzlebook: Puzzle Quizzes" series. In this new puzzle collection you will find 12 holiday themed, pictorial, hand-crafted puzzle quizzes. Be sure to check "Puzzlebook: 100 Puzzle Quizzes," "Puzzlebook: 101 Puzzle Quizzes," and "Puzzlebook: 102 Puzzle Quizzes" for more!

Novelty
All puzzle quizzes are original creations by the Grabarchuk Family and delivered exclusively for Kindle.

Interactivity
You can interactively answer and check a puzzle quiz by clicking the respective answer button. Only the correct answer leads to the solution page.

Ranking
The collection is specially created for all kinds of solvers - beginners, skillful, and expert alike. The puzzles are arranged so that you start with the easy (*) puzzles and progress to the hard (****) puzzles.

Enjoy It in Color Too!
The book is created in full-color. Enjoy a colorful experience playing it in a Kindle app on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, etc.

Happy Holiday Puzzling!

Bargain Kindle and Android Games

First off, even if you don't have kids, you may want to grab A Charlie Brown Christmas, by Loud Crow Interactive Inc., while it is free today.

Game Description
A Charlie Brown Christmas, the beloved Peanuts classic by Charles M. Schulz, is now available as a spectacular interactive storybook optimized for your Android device. Sit back and enjoy original dialogue, digitally remastered illustrations, animation, music, and narration by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown.
"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!"

Only Charlie Brown can turn the magic of Christmas into a problem. Even though the snowflakes are falling softly, carols are ringing sweetly, and people are gathering merrily, Charlie Brown is feeling down. He just doesn't understand Christmas. Join him, along with Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang as they struggle to find the true meaning of Christmas. It's all accompanied by a charming soundtrack featuring music and sound effects from the original show.
Reading is Wonder-Full

This version of A Charlie Brown Christmas is bursting with fun interactivities that will delight children and adults alike. Go caroling with the Peanuts choir, finger-paint with the gang, and participate in the Spectacular Super-Colossal Neighborhood Christmas Lights and Display Contest to unlock decorations for your very own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. You can even play Schroeder's piano (to the tune of "Linus and Lucy", of course). Note highlighting helps to introduce and improve musical skills.

Little readers will love turning pages with the swipe of a finger. They can also watch text highlighting as they listen to the story narration, hear individual words spoken with a single tap, touch and drag objects to make them spring to life or tilt to watch them slide and move, and much more. With something to discover on every page, this is one interactive Peanuts adventure you won't want to miss this holiday season!

Next, you'll want to check out Gameloft's 99 cent Android Games sale. I see a few games I missed during the 10 cent sales (although I did get at least one of them in the Android Market, I haven't worked out how to transfer them, yet). These generally sell in the $5-$7 range and they've even updated the list with new games that were just released this week. Do be sure to configure your KindleFire to require confirmation on (or block) in-app purchases, though, before downloading any game that allows them (especially if you have kids).

1. Asphalt 6: Adrenaline
2. UNO (Kindle Fire Edition)
3. Shadow Guardian HD
4. Order & Chaos Online (Kindle Fire Edition)
5. Block Breaker 3 Unlimited (Kindle Fire Edition)
6. Let's Golf! 3 ** Now free
7. Green Farm ** Now free
8. Hero of Sparta HD
9. James Cameron's Avatar HD (Kindle Fire Edition)
10. Modern Combat: Sandstorm HD (Kindle Fire Edition)
11. BackStab HD (Kindle Fire Edition)

Over on the nook blog, I saw them boasting about finaly having the Words With Friends app in their store. It's $2.99 there, but free in the Amazon store (and the Android Market), as is the add-on Words Cheat (be forewarned! I downloaded both on my Fire and my phone).

Game Description
Like words? Got friends? Perfect. You're set to play Words With Friends, the addicting word game that allows you challenge friends, family, or strangers and show off your superlative vocabulary and brilliant gaming skills.

Play Words With Friends Free, the world's number-one mobile word game, with both your Android and iPhone/iPad-toting friends. Experience for yourself why millions of players are addicted to the word-building, triple-score-seeking, chat-bubble-sending goodness of Words with Friends. Play Words With Friends Free, the #1 mobile word game, with both your Android and iPhone/iPad-toting friends. Experience for yourself why millions of players are addicted to the word building, triple score seeking, chat bubble sending goodness of Words With Friends.

For those using an eInk Kindle, Electronic Arts Inc is having a sale, with all of their Kindle games at 99 cents.

1. SCRABBLE
2. BATTLESHIP
3. YAHTZEE
4. MONOPOLY
5. TRIVIAL PURSUIT Master Edition
6. EA Sudoku
7. EA Solitaire
8. EA Texas Hold'em
9. POGO Hearts, Spades and More!

Mobigloo's Mahjong Solitaire Holiday Edition is 99 cents (for eInk Kindles), as is Jewels.

Mahjong Solitaire Holiday Edition
It's time to celebrate the Holiday season with this special edition of the popular matching game Mahjong Solitaire on Kindle.

In Mahjong Solitaire, you match pairs of identical tiles in order to remove them from the board. Only free tiles can be matched. Tiles are considered free if they do not have other tiles to either the left or right of them, or on top of them. The objective of the game is to clear all the tiles from the board. The game ends when all tiles have been removed or when there are no more free tiles left to match.

Mahjong Solitaire tracks the number of pairs of free tiles available to be matched for you. In addition, the game allows for unlimited undos, and contains a Hint feature that will give you suggestions for your next move, as well a Shuffle feature that will rearrange the tiles when you get stuck.

The Mahjong Solitaire Holiday Edition gives you 10 different game board layouts to choose from and two special Holiday tile sets.

Jewels
A Best of 2011 Editors' Pick -- Discounted to $0.99 for a limited time (offer ends January 2)

Jewels is a matching game which will put your planning and pattern recognition skills to the test.

The rules of Jewels are simple: you swap adjacent jewels (horizontally or vertically) to create combinations of three or more jewels of the same type. Once matched, the jewels are removed and the remaining jewels above it slide down to take their place. The challenge comes when there are few potential matches to find, and you must pick your next move carefully or risk eliminating remaining matches when the jewels shift down. If that's not challenge enough, then consider playing the timed mode where you race against a relentlessly decreasing timer and each successful match adds just a bit of time back to the clock.

If you cannot find a match, use the Hint feature to show you the next move. The game keeps track of your ten best scores for both Easy and Timed modes, so you can see just how much the pressure of the timer affects your performance!

Electronic Arts Inc. has several of their Android apps on sale as well; although not at the same discount as the Kindle apps, most of these are a dollar less than the usual prices.

1. THE GAME OF LIFE ($2.99)
2. SCRABBLE (Kindle Fire Edition) ($1.99)
3. SimCity Deluxe (Kindle Fire Edition) ($3.99)
4. MADDEN NFL 12 by EA SPORTS ($1.99)
5. Worms ($1.49)
6. Bejeweled 2 ($1.99)
7. TETRIS ($1.99)

Mystery Castle: Winter's Night, by Runestone Games Limited, is currently half-price at 99 cents.

Game Description
Mystery Castle: Winter's Night is the sequel to the top-rated favorite Mystery Castle: Dawn of Illusion.

Monty is back and he's going to save the Holidays! An ice palace has appeared in the middle of the night and Monty the Wizard returns with 32 stages of puzzles and adventure in this new quest to defeat the nasty demon scaring the people and penguins of a small village. Slide across the ice in this winter wonderland, collecting the evil demon's magic crystals.

Find boxes to build bridges across the dark abyss, and clear the path ahead with giant bombs. Teleport to different areas with the magical staircases and reveal secret areas with the 'Eye of Truth'. Be careful you don't fall through the cracked floor!

Mystery Castle: Winter's Night is for people that like brainteasers, puzzles and adventure. Can you solve the mysteries of the castle and save the villagers? Monty is counting on you!

Braintonik Games has a few of their Kindle games marked down to 99 cents.

• Blossom Holiday Edition
• Futoshiki Holiday Edition
• Strimko

Picture Cross Christmas Edition ($0.99), by puzzle.tv

Game Description
Merry Christmas picture puzzlers! 100 all new festive-themed Picture Cross puzzles.

Starting with a grid of empty squares, Picture Cross gives you clues in each column and row with which you must work out whether each square in the grid is black or white. Find all of the black squares to reveal a festive picture. Detailed instructions and helpful tutorial are included, and a hint feature is available if you get stuck. Once finished, you can reset each puzzle so you can replay as many times as you like.

Picture Cross Christmas Edition includes 100 unique hand-made puzzles, each with a seasonal theme. Puzzles come in grids of various sizes, with 20 each of: 8 by 8, which are nice and easy, 10 by 10, 15 by 15, 20 by 20, and 25 by 25 which are very challenging!

The game features fast navigation, check marks and hidden puzzle names.

If you love Christmas and love logic puzzles, you'll love Picture Cross Christmas Edition on Kindle!

Holiday Word Search ($0.99), by Oak Systems Leisure Software

Game Description
Enjoy the classic Word Search game on your Kindle this holiday season.

Holiday Word Search includes 50 13x13 puzzles, each with a different delightful holiday theme. With categories from Songs and Movies to Road Trips, there is sure to be fun for all ages!

Your goal is to locate and mark off words in the grid using the 5 way controller or the touch screen. Each word appears in a straight line, horizontally, vertically or diagonally in the grid - but be careful, sometimes the words are backwards! Play at your own pace or against the clock and see who can get the fastest time for each puzzle. Pause partway through a puzzle and return to where you left it. You can reset each puzzle and try it again as many times as you like. If you get stuck on a more challenging puzzle then you can give up and see the correct solution.??

People who like Word Searches and Holidays will have a great time with this game on Kindle.

Ultimate Christmas Quiz ($0.99), by HandyX

Game Description
Take the Christmas quiz challenge and prove that you really have the festive spirit: Ho, ho, ho!

Test your knowledge of all things festive with this fun interactive quiz experience. Question topics include Christmas movies, stories, carols and popular music, interesting festive facts, food and drink and Xmas traditions from around the world. Featuring 500 questions, this fun and educational quiz will get you in the Christmas mood.

Answer sets of questions in rounds of 10, or in a continuous stream. If you think you know it all then crank up the tension with the question countdown timer for an even greater challenge. In the 'Timer Play' contestants in the hot seat are under increased pressure to correctly answer questions before the time runs out!

Be inspired by fascinating facts from Christmas past and wonderful carols that conjure up happy family days. This quiz is perfect for sharing with friends and family members, and as a fun Christmas party activity!

Christmas Cocoa Stand ($0.99), by Play Gray, might even teach your kids some math (but don't tell them, that).

Game Description
Christmas Cocoa Stand is a game of fun, luck, and skill inspired by classic 'Lemonade Stand'-style strategy and simulation games. Each day, you decide the number of cups to buy, the price, and the taste of your cocoa. You then find out how many people bought your cocoa, and how much money you made. Pay attention to the weather and to your customer feedback so you can make the right decisions. Invest your earnings back into your business by buying extras from the shop, including cocoa flavoring and color posters, that will help you sell even more the next day.

Christmas Cocoa Stand is fun for all ages, and a great game for the holidays. If you make the right decisions, you'll see your stand grow from simple beginnings to selling hundreds of cups to eager customers each day. If you're lucky, Santa may even stop by and give you a tip!

Snakes Christmas ($0.99), by Applications Innovations

Game Description
Snakes Christmas is a Christmas themed game where you control a constantly moving snake to collect Christmas items.

The game has two modes: Unlimited Play and Adventure Play.

Unlimited Play: Collect as many pellets as possible before your snake runs into its tail, a wall, or another stationary object. This becomes increasingly more challenging as your snake grows longer and longer with each item collected. Three difficulty modes (Easy, Medium, Hard) will increase the speed and growth rate of your snake.

Adventure Play: Become a Snake Master by completing all 40 levels, each with a different layout and a specific goal of items to collect.

If you like challenging retro-style video games with a Christmas theme, Snakes Christmas is for you.

Fivestar Holiday Memory Classic ($0.99), by JoyBits

Game Description
Greet the holidays with this special edition of Memory Classic, featuring brand new art and a Pass 'n' Play mode!

Fivestar Holiday Memory Classic is a fun matching and memory game for Kindle.

In Fivestar Holiday Memory Classic, you are challenged to find pairs of illustrations hidden beneath tiles on a game board. The game board starts at 2 tiles x 2 tiles for easy play, and progresses to 5x6 for a really challenging game.

There are three game modes with over 15 difficulty levels each. Take your time in Relaxed Mode, or race against the clock in Classic Mode. In the Arcade Mode you will need to clear the screen while new rows of tiles appear as the time passes. The Pass-n-Play mode designed to hold the tournaments between two real players on the same Kindle device. The leaderboard feature lets you compete against friends and family for the top spots in the Hall of Fame!

Stretch your memory with Memory Classic today.

Free Kindle Game - Puzzazz Holiday Gift

Puzzazz, maker of active content games for the Kindle, has a Holiday Gift for you today - a sampler of the different types of games that they create.

Game Description
The Puzzazz Holiday Gift is a sample collection of all-new, never before published puzzles designed to put you in the holiday spirit. This free sampler contains some of the great hand-crafted puzzles you're used to from Puzzazz.

There's a little bit of everything including Word Search, Sudoku, Wordoku puzzles. There is also a Word Search for kids by Helene Hovanec, and a special Puzzle Mystery by Emily Dietrich. It won't take long for you to immerse yourself in the puzzles.

Whether you're an expert puzzler or looking for an introduction into a variety of great puzzle experiences, the Puzzazz Holiday Gift is our holiday gift to you!

Free Reads and a Free Game (PC)

All Romance has made volumes 4-6 of their "Just One Bite" series available as free downloads today, joining volumes 1-3. Each of these is an anthology, with varying levels of steaminess and content, so be sure to check the synopsis on each if you are particular about which type you read. All are DRM-free and can be downloaded in multiple formats, including Mobi (for Kindle) and EPUB (for the nook).

PopCap Games also has a give-away for today: a free copy of Zuma for either Windows or the Mac (one or the other, in a single order; I suspect you can get both by "buying" one at a time). They sent out a message to all their newsletter subscribers, but the links and coupon codes work whether you are a subscriber or not (you do have to give them your name and email during checkout, so you may start getting the newsletter). In fact, if you go to their home page, you'll see the offer there, too!.

Game Description
Deep in the jungle lie hidden temples bursting with traps and trickery, and it's up to you to uncover their treasures. Fire magical balls from your stone frog idol to make matches of three or more and clear the deadly chain before it reaches the golden skull.

Explore all the temples — if you're good, you’ll rack up huge combos and special bonuses that'll help you on your way. But think fast and aim smart, or you'll be history in this action-packed puzzle challenge!

Free Kindle Game - Jigsaw Words Volume 2

Jigsaw Words Volume 2 is a new, free Kindle game from Amazon Digital Services.

Game Description
Jigsaw Words Volume 2 is a word game that challenges you to combine groups of letters into words that match the clues given.

This update to the popular Jigsaw Words gives you 100 new puzzles and each puzzle has 10 clues to solve. The puzzles are organized into 10 themed categories like A Journey Through the Decades and College 101, and you can use the theme to help you solve the clues.

In each puzzle, you start with a set of 10 clues. You also have a set of randomly arranged puzzle pieces with letters on them. Your goal is to solve the clues in the puzzle by arranging the puzzle pieces so that the letters form the word that matches each clue. Start with the easiest clues first. As you use each puzzle piece, it is removed from play, making it easier to find the more difficult matches. You can also shuffle the grid of puzzle pieces at any time for a different perspective.

If you enjoy working with words and patterns, try Jigsaw Words Volume 2 and test your ability to build words today!

Free Kindle Game - Pixel Perfect Holiday Puzzles

Pixel Perfect Holiday Puzzles is a new, free game for Kindle.

Game Description
Pixel Perfect Holiday Puzzles is a logic puzzle game that challenges you to make a picture from numerical clues.

This sequel to the popular Pixel Perfect Puzzles gives you 50 new holiday and winter themed pictures to reveal. Each clue tells you where to draw a run of consecutive black squares. The clues in a row or column appear in the same order as the runs in the puzzle grid, with at least one empty square between each run. Start with the largest clues first, and then cross out squares that you know should be empty. This will allow you to narrow down the possibilities and logically determine the remaining squares.

The challenges can be tough, but there are 3 hints available on each puzzle to help you out if you get stuck. The game can even find and erase errors at any time. Time, hints used, and errors are tracked for each puzzle. Can you discover every picture?

If you like using logic to solve puzzles, you will love Pixel Perfect Holiday Puzzles!

Free nookColor Game- 180 Ultra

180 Ultra, by Headcase Games, is free for nookColor users, for a limited time.

Book Description
* New in-game Tips & Tricks Guide just added for free! Learn all the secrets and crush your friends' scores!

Easy for anyone to learn in a minute, but deep enough to challenge the most hardcore players. Fans of classic games like Tetris Attack and Bust-a-Move will love the new "shoot and flip" mechanic!

180 is an insane flipping match-3 action puzzler like you've never played before! Launch colorful gems into three-in-a-rows to clear the vertically-descending board. Each gem is 2-sided, flip them 180° at any time with just a tap of your finger. Doing so will enable you to setup incredible combos and be rewarded with HUGE scores - just don't let the gems touch the red line at the bottom, or it's game over!

* Infinitely replayable - You'll never put this game down! * Different game modes, characters, and themes * Multiple gameplay secrets - Can you figure them out? * Colorful HD graphics - Ready for your tablet!

Developed by people who've worked on some of your favorite games (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Might & Magic, Knights of the Old Republic, Guitar Hero)

Free Kindle Game - Grid Detective

Grid Detective is a new, free game from Amazon Digital Services.

Book Description
Do you have what it takes to crack the case? Grid Detective brings classic logic puzzles to your Kindle.

Test your deduction skills as you try to solve 30 puzzles of varying difficulty. Each Grid Detective Case File starts with a brief story that describes your objective. Based on the information in the story and 6 clues, your job is to figure out which of the dozens of possible outcomes is the correct one. Using the process of elimination and deductive reasoning, you'll deduce the correct relationship between items. For example: if A=B and A<>C, then B<>C. If you can find the unique solution that matches the facts, you've solved the mystery!

If you have ever done a puzzle like this on paper, you know how difficult and frustrating it can be to fix mistakes. Grid Detective makes it easy to solve these classic puzzles with features that let you delete mistaken deductions cleanly and quickly, highlight related cells on the grid and auto-populate relevant cells when you make a deduction.

A detailed tutorial and plenty of hints make it possible for everyone to enjoy testing their logical thinking against even the hardest Case File. Crack the case today with Grid Detective!

Free Kindle Game - Pirate Stash

Pirate Stash, by Amazon Digital Svcs., a game for Kindle, is free for a limited time (availability is limited to US residents only). This game is normally $1.99 and I was holding out for a 99 cent sale, so this price is even better than I hoped for.

Game Description
Pirate Stash is a logic puzzle game that challenges you to hide all of your treasure chests on a deserted island.

X marks the spot as you push one or more treasure chests to be buried in designated hiding places. Maneuver your loot through a maze of obstacles, but be careful not to make the wrong move. You can only move one chest at a time and the chests cannot be pulled. When the treasure chests are all in place, you have solved the puzzle.

Your score for a puzzle is the number of times each chest is pushed, with a lower number of pushes being better. Achieve up to three stars on a puzzle. Gain one star for solving the puzzle, two stars for matching par for the puzzle, and three stars for a perfect score. Over 100 puzzles of increasing difficulty allow anyone, from beginners to experts, to challenge their minds. Can you beat them all?

If you like puzzle games, you'll love Pirate Stash!

Free Kindle Game - Jigsaw Words

Jigsaw Words, a new Kindle game from Amazon Digital Services, is free for those in the US (for those outside the US, Kindle games still can't be exported).

Game Description
Jigsaw Words is a word game that challenges you to combine groups of letters into words that match the clues given.

In each Jigsaw Words puzzle, you start with a set of 10 clues. You also have a set of randomly arranged puzzle pieces with letters on them. Your goal is to solve the clues in the puzzle by arranging the puzzle pieces so that the letters form the word that matches each clue. Start with the easiest clues first. As you use each puzzle piece, it is removed from play, making it easier to find the more difficult matches. You can also shuffle the grid of puzzle pieces at any time for a different perspective.

Jigsaw Words has 100 puzzles and each puzzle has 10 clues to solve. The puzzles are organized into 10 themed categories like Holidays and Animals, and you can use the theme to help you solve the clues.

If you enjoy working with words and patterns, try Jigsaw Words and test your ability to build words today!

Free nookColor App - Minesweeper

Here's something I don't find very often: a free game for the nookColor! Minesweeper, by Toy Studio LLC, has been temporarily reduced to free in the nookColor app store. For those with a Kindle, it's version of Minesweeper is still free and there are quite a few versions in the Amazon App Store (for Android).

Game Description
The classic word game of Minesweeper is now available on your NOOK Color™ by Barnes & Noble. With 3 types of difficulty levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced you will have hours and hours of addicting and fun gameplay. You won't want to put it down! Experience for yourself why hundreds of players love this addicting game. Enjoy an AD-FREE game of Minesweeper in the car, at home, or on the go.

Free Kindle Game - Every Word: Crossings

Every Word: Crossings, by Amazon Digital Services, a new game in the Kindle store, is currently available to download for free.

Book Description
Every Word: Crossings is a word game in which you try to unscramble letters to fill in as many words as you can on a crossword style grid.

You are given five to seven scrambled letters with the goal of finding as many words as you can. When you find a word it gets added to the crossword style grid, which gives you clues about the words that intersect with the word you just found. You score points by filling out the words in each empty spot on the crossword grid. When you find a word that uses all available letters, you can move on to the next level, or keep at it until time runs out or until you fill up the board. The more words you make, the higher your score!

Every Word: Crossings has 10 levels of difficulty and as you progress through them the puzzles become more and more complex. Level 1 gives you 5 letters to work with and a relatively small grid with about a dozen words to fill in. Level 10 gives you 7 letters to work with and more than 30 words to find.

There are thousands of unique puzzles to play -- if you like word games, you'll love Every Word: Crossings.

Please note: Every Word: Crossings may contain content inappropriate for children.

Free Kindle Game? Maze-a-thon (of a sorts)

There is a very strange entry in the Kindle store this afternoon. Test release notes (Testing old pipeline with newPubs version set), by Anand Krish, is free in the Kindle store and the cover images is for Maze A Thon, which is currently 99 cents. There is no description and the other images are for a card game, but I downloaded it (hey, it's free!) to see what it is and it appears to be a fully functional copy of Maze A Thon. So, if you don't mind seeing a very odd title for the game, you can pick it up for free.

I have to wonder what's going on at Amazon today, what with the earlier free game now missing entirely from the store and Accuweather was free for a short period (which I missed before it was pulled), now this entry. I hope they eventually figure out a way for us to see all the Kindle games at once, also, as they have now crossed the 100 line with Kindle Apps and Games, so the bestseller list can no longer be used to see which ones are new.

Book Description
Maze A Thon is a collection of different-sized puzzles with the goal of getting a mouse to his cheese.

There are three types of mazes to choose from: Classic, Wrap Around, and Cubetastic. In Classic, you go from point A to point B on one screen in a standard maze. In Wrap Around, use the keyboard to travel from one side of the maze off the screen to the opposite side. In Cubetastic, navigate through a rotating, six-sided maze.

Multiple levels of difficulty make Maze A Thon fun for kids and puzzle experts alike. You can play a quick, easy game, or spend hours finding your way out of intricate puzzles. And, every time you finish a maze, a new one is created from millions of possibilities, so you'll always get something different!

Simple yet addictive. Get ready to be a-mazed.

Free Kindle Game - Flash Cards (for Kids)

Flash Cards: Alphabet, by Digi Ronin Games, is currently free in the Kindle store.

Book Description
Flash Cards: Alphabet and Spelling helps kids learn the alphabet and improve their spelling skills.

There are three study modes: study guide, multiple choice, and type-in-the-answer. Flash Cards: Alphabet and Spelling keeps track of your high scores so you can try to beat your best, or to add some friendly competition among friends, classmates, and family.

With the portable convenience of the Kindle, Flash Cards: Alphabet and Spelling can turn even a long road trip into a fun learning experience for your child!

Free Kindle Game - Hidden Expeditions

Hidden Expedition: Amazon, by Big Fish Games, is a brand new hidden object game for Kindle and is currently free to download. From the pictures on the product page, this is a new level of graphics for a Kindle game and, as you can see from the picture below, you play it with the Kindle on it's side. I don't expect it to be free for long, so if you have a compatible Kindle, grab it now.

Game Description
Hidden Expedition: Amazon is a hidden object game set deep in the jungle.

Featuring a story never before told in the Hidden Expedition franchise, you join the Hidden Expedition Team in search of a professor lost in the Amazon rainforest. You get to explore cities, temples, and ruins while unlocking the secrets of the professor?s groundbreaking research. With a tattered passport as your only clue, embark on an adventure and investigate 19 beautiful levels and 4 brain teasing mini-games.

You can invite up to 3 your friends and family to create their own profiles so they can play without disturbing your own adventure. Take advantage of the dynamic Hint system whenever your search becomes too difficult. Enjoy a scene? Replay any level as many times as you wish with the Chapter Select feature and pursue randomly selected items in that scene.

If you seek adventure, lush landscapes, and a good challenge, journey into the wonderful world of Hidden Expedition: Amazon.

Free Kindle Game - Pixel Perfect Puzzles

Pixel Perfect Puzzles, by Amazon Digital Services, is a new free game for Kindle. Availability is limited to those in the US (due to technology export restrictions, no doubt) and those with a K2, KDX (both fully updated) or K3 device.

Book Description
Pixel Perfect Puzzles is a logic puzzle game that challenges you to make a picture from numerical clues.

Each picture starts out completely blank. Use the number clues in each row and column to discover the hidden image. Each clue tells you where to draw a run of consecutive black squares. The clues in a row or column appear in the same order as the runs in the puzzle grid, with at least one empty square between each run. Start with the largest clues first, and then cross out squares that you know should be empty. This will allow you to narrow down the possibilities and logically determine the remaining squares.

Pixel Perfect Puzzles contains 50 puzzles. The challenges can be tough, but there are 3 hints available on each puzzle to help you out if you get stuck. The game can even find and erase errors at any time. Time, hints used, and errors are tracked for each puzzle. Can you discover every picture?

If you like using logic to solve puzzles, you will love Pixel Perfect Puzzles!

Free Android Game and Three New Kindle Games

Today's free Android app is one that you'll want to grab, if you have any Android device so that you can (I've been told there is an Android emulator for the desktop that will allow you to get these, too, but I haven't tried it). At least one person has it running on his nookcolor (after jailbreaking) and I've just downloaded it to my phone (and played the first three levels). On the Kindle side, three new games, one of which is also a learning tool.

First up, the free game in the Amazon Appstore is the ad-free edition of Random Mahjong Pro (the Random means that game boards are randomly generated, so may not be always technically winnable; 50 preset boards are all winnable games).

Game Description
Just when you thought Mahjong had been covered, along comes a stylish new solitaire Mahjong game ready to take centre stage on the Android platform. Random Mahjong Pro looks incredible on tablets while still managing to stay visually sharp and play great on smartphones.

The game uses a unique, random-board generator. This means that every time you fire up your Android and start a game, a fresh challenge awaits. The levels can be as small as 32 tiles, or as large as 152 tiles. You can play a sequence of expanding boards (with Score, Levels and Lives), or use the random generator to build a custom level to fit your needs.

Tiles Ready!
With Random Mahjong Pro, you have full control over the look and feel of your games, whether you're a mahjong master or a someone that's brand new to the game. Choose to zoom in and scroll as much as you need during play and adjust the size and complexity of the levels. You can also look over the game guides and take a peek at the move hints option to bolster your learning during play.

For beginners there's the small, 32-tile level. For every level, there's a solution walkthrough corresponding with each board. The combination serves as a perfect teaching tool for the game's basic rules and logic, especially to anyone who has not played the solitaire or Shanghai variant of mahjong before.

On the Kindle, Pirate Stash ($1.99) is a new puzzle game from Amazon Digital Services. It's the first non-free game direct from Amazon and appears to be worth the two dollars being charged. there are 100 or so maps, each of which you play thru (but not much replayability). Of course, if you have more than one Kindle reader on your account, each person can download the game at no additional cost.

Game Description
Pirate Stash is a logic puzzle game that challenges you to hide all of your treasure chests on a deserted island.

X marks the spot as you push one or more treasure chests to be buried in designated hiding places. Maneuver your loot through a maze of obstacles, but be careful not to make the wrong move. You can only move one chest at a time and the chests cannot be pulled. When the treasure chests are all in place, you have solved the puzzle.

Your score for a puzzle is the number of times each chest is pushed, with a lower number of pushes being better. Achieve up to three stars on a puzzle. Gain one star for solving the puzzle, two stars for matching par for the puzzle, and three stars for a perfect score. Over 100 puzzles of increasing difficulty allow anyone, from beginners to experts, to challenge their minds. Can you beat them all?

If you like puzzle games, you'll love Pirate Stash!

Peg Solitaire ($0.99) is another puzzle game, this time from Nice Games. If you've ever played this at Cracker Barrel, while waiting in the endless line for a table (or for the food to arrive), then you know how it works. Big plus: you don't have to go to a noisy restaurant to play (or track down one of their boards, if that's where you currently are).

Game Description
Peg Solitaire is a collection of classic peg jumping puzzles.

The object of Peg Solitaire is to jump one peg over another, removing the jumped pegs until only one peg remains on the game board. You can choose from three difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, and Hard. Each difficulty level has nine different puzzles, for a total of 27 different puzzles. Easy puzzles are relatively simple and are a great introduction for new players. Hard puzzles on the other hand, can be very challenging and require some thinking and strategy to finish successfully.

Peg Solitaire also tracks how long it takes to solve each puzzle so you can try to beat your best times.

Spelling Star Spanish Edition ($2.99), by puzzle.tv, is played just like their well rated Spelling Star, just in Spanish, rather than English. I actually see two different markets for each game: first, those who are working on their written language skills for their native language (whether adults or children) and, second, for intermediate learners of a second language. If you are learning English or Spanish and the other is your native tongue, you're the perfect market for this company, as you may need both games.

Game Description
How good is your word knowledge? Find out by taking the Spelling Star Spanish Edition challenge and progress through 100 increasingly difficult levels to find out.

Spelling Star Spanish Edition features ten different game types using Spanish words including straight spelling; anagrams; misspellings; and noun, adjective and verb tests. Instructions can be shown in English or in Spanish to accommodate different fluency levels.

With thousands of words, ranging in difficulty from 'amor' to 'amodorrarse', Spelling Star Spanish Edition is suitable for all ages and abilities and adapts quickly to the proficiency of the user. The level at which you start is initially based on your age, and adjusts up or down according to your performance in the Main Challenge portion of the game.

Improve your Spanish spelling today with this entertaining game. Are you a Spelling Star?

Free Kindle Game - Thread Words

Thread Words, a new game from Amazon Digital Services, is free in the Kindle store.

Game Description
Thread Words is a word search game for Kindle.

Your goal is to find words in a 5 high grid of letters. Find words by selecting one letter from each column. On each level there are ten pairs of shapes. Make words matching each shape on the left with the same shape on the right to unlock the next level. After matching all shapes you can continue to find the rest of the words for a higher score or immediately move on to the next level.

The game progresses through 4 levels of difficulty, with grids that increase from 4 to 7 letters across. Each word you find is worth 20 points per letter, and if you find all of the qualifying words you get an 800 point bonus! Try to beat the clock or take your time in relaxed mode. The game tracks separate high scores for each mode.

If you like word games, you'll love Thread Words!

Free Game Download - Airport Mania

Airport Mania: First Flight is today's free game download (and the last one for this promotion). I've had this game for a couple of years (and actually paid money for it, even if it was just 98 cents!). Lots of fun and cute graphics, I've managed to get quite a few levels in, to the point where there planes are coming at you fast and furious.

Book Description
Pack your bags for a trip through the skies in Airport Mania! Travel through 8 amusing airports while you land a variety of planes, purchase upgrades, and avoid delays. Stay on your toes as some planes carry precious cargo and will need to land in a hurry, while others might need a trip to the repair shop. But, with good planning, you'll make it to the gate on time! With unique challenges, whimsical characters, and fun that will put a smile on your face, Airport Mania is one flight you can't miss!

• Flying Fun For Everyone.
• Enjoy 84 Delightful Levels.
• Travel To 8 Amusing Airports.
• Find The Secret Paper Planes.