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Monday, April 25, 2011

Ten Free Indie Books

If you haven't been participating in the first only Blog Tour de Force, you'll want to head over today and comment on each of the ten author's blogs that are participating. Each relevant comment (some have enough of a requirement that you have to read the post to see if you need more than just your email address left) will earn you a chance to win a Kindle, but also will get you either a smashwords coupon code for the author's book or a copy of the book in your email (mobi or epub, but DRM-free). Today's comments are also counting toward declaring a "winner", but it seems to me that those of us getting free books are the real winners (while the authors probably count themselves as winners, all, in that they are getting new readers).

Click HERE, scroll down to where it says "Did you miss a free Ebook?", then click on each book cover to open that author's blog post, add a comment and wait for the books to roll in. Today's the last day to participate.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

Today's roundup will be free and bargain books with a religious theme, in keeping with the day. A few of these are on Kobo, where coupon code KoboSpring1 will get you $1 off and redtag2 should get you $2 off (both unlimited use for non-Agency titles) and giftread gets you 25% off (single use).

First, a free download: It's a free homeschooling curriculum about Easter, available in PDF form, HERE. It may be aimed at kids, but it is a collection of poetry and stories for the occasion, which can be enjoyed by anyone.

Basics of Inductive Bible Study, by Deborah Taylor-Hough, is available as a free download from Lulu ($5.22 in print, but the PDF is free).

Book Description
Think the Bible's confusing? You don't understand the language? Don't let the Bible intimidate you anymore! Here's a simple, step-by-step guide to studying the Bible for anyone, both newbie and experienced alike. Learn to see for yourself what the Bible is really saying, what it all means, and then discover how to easily and practically apply its teachings to your own life. Topics covered include: Observation, themes, people, context, key words, interpretation, word studies, application, basic study outline, helpful suggestions for Bible study leaders, and several sample lessons from a study on the epistle ("letter") to the first-century church at Philippi (aka "Philippians"). Basics of Inductive Bible Study is based on the teaching outline from the author's class, An Introduction to Bible Study.

His Passion ($2.99) is a devotional from Thomas Nelson. You may want to check the sample, but the description (# pages) and size lead me to believe that it contains the full text from the paperback edition.

Book Description
A beautifully crafted 365-day devotional featuring the most moving words ever written about Jesus' last days on earth.

From the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday to the Last Supper; from the traumatic hours in the Garden of Gethsemane to the trials before Caiaphas, Pilate and King Herod; from the cruel ordeal on the Via Dolorosa to His crucifixion on Golgotha; Jesus' tumultuous last days on earth shook the world. Readers will join Christ on His journey during His last days on earth and ultimately re-examine and grasp the awesome power of His resurrection. This book provides 365 daily readings selected from the most gifted Christian authors of all time-Augustine, John Bunyon, Thomas a Kempis, Andrew Murray, C.S. Lewis, Phillip Yancey, and many others.


101 Things You Should Do Before You Graduate ($1.99), by David Bordon and Tom Winters

Book Description
101 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE YOU GRADUATE encourages students who are getting out of high school or college to do more than just finish up papers and school projects. Part of getting an education is learning to live life to the fullest. Readers will be reminded that life will change dramatically once they're out of school, so the time to pursue adventure is right now. The book is chock-full of fun, practical, and spiritual suggestions to help readers seize the moment every day, including:
- Laugh a lot
- Eat ice cream for breakfast
- Write a mission statement for your life
- Become the answer to someone's prayer
and ninety-seven more! Students can live life richly, experiencing the excitement God has planned for them moment by moment.


The Color of Heaven ($0.99), by Julianne MacLean (published under the pseudonym E.V. Mitchell)

Book Description
Sophie Duncan is a successful columnist whose world falls apart after her daughter’s unexpected illness and her husband’s shocking, adulterous affair. When it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, her car skids off an icy road and plunges into a frozen lake. There, in the cold dark depths of the water, Sophie experiences something profound and extraordinary which unlocks the mysterious secrets of her past and teaches her what it means to truly live.

Sophie is a wonderfully genuine character who pours her whole heart onto the pages of this novel, and shares with us an incredible journey of self-discovery, heartbreak, and redemption. Her story is not to be missed.

THE COLOR OF HEAVEN is a fast paced, emotional read


The Case for Easter: A Journalist Investigates the Evidence for the Resurrection ($1.99) and The Case for the Resurrection ($1.99), by Lee Strobel, are both from Zondervan.

The Case for Easter
Did Jesus of Nazareth really rise from the dead?Of the many world religions, only one claims that its founder returned from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very cornerstone of Christianity. But a dead man coming back to life? In our sophisticated age, when myth has given way to science, who can take such a claim seriously? Some argue that Jesus never died on the cross. Conflicting accounts make the empty tomb seem suspect. And post-crucifixion sightings of Jesus have been explained in psychological terms.How credible is the evidence for---and against---the resurrection? Focusing his award-winning skills as a legal journalist on history's most compelling enigma, Lee Strobel retraces the startling findings that led him from atheism to belief. Drawing on expert testimony first shared in his blockbuster book The Case for Christ, Strobel examines:The Medical Evidence---Was Jesus' death a sham and his resurrection a hoax?The Evidence of the Missing Body---Was Jesus' body really absent from his tomb?The Evidence of Appearances---Was Jesus seen alive after his death on the cross?Written in a hard-hitting journalistic style, The Case for Easter probes the core issues of the resurrection. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead: superstitious myth or life-changing reality? The evidence is in. The verdict is up to you.

The Case for the Resurrection
The Case for the Resurrection, a ninety-six-page booklet from bestselling author Lee Strobel, provides new evidence that shines a fresh light on the Bible's most important story---the resurrection. Whether you're a pastor, layperson, student, parent, or grandparent ... leading up to the Easter holiday season is a time when millions of people are looking for engaging ways to bring the Easter story to life. The Case for the Resurrection is designed to help meet your needs by providing a compact, low-priced booklet with new evidence from Lee Strobel that shines a fresh light on the Bible's most important story---the resurrection. Featuring free NIV sample material from Strobel's new The Case for Christ Study Bible, the Easter story from the book of Luke with all study notes from The Case for Christ Study Bible linking into the story, and the most-read, most-trusted NIV Scripture text ... this small but powerful booklet will become required Easter reading for you year after year.

The Easter Story from the Family Reading Bible ($0.99), by Zondervan Bibles

Book Description
With readings taken directly from Scripture, The Easter Story from The Family Reading Bible provides you with a family-friendly resource that will equip you to lead your children from the scriptural promises of the Old Testament to the fulfillment of the Easter story. This unique seasonal eBook is the perfect tool to help kids of all ages to understand and embrace the story of Christ's death and glorious resurrection. The Easter Story also provides a sample of one of the three reading tracks found in The Family Reading Bible.NIV 2011. The New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible is the world's most popular modern-English Bible---easy to understand, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages.

Prayers for Sale ($2.99), by Sandra Dallas, isn't actually Christian fiction, but is heavily discounted by Macmillan currently and had a title that fit the theme.

Book Description
Hennie Comfort is eighty-six and has lived in the mountains of Middle Swan, Colorado since before it was Colorado. Nit Spindle is just seventeen and newly married. She and her husband have just moved to the high country in search of work. It's 1936 and the depression has ravaged the country and Nit and her husband have suffered greatly. Hennie notices the young woman loitering near the old sign outside of her house that promises "Prayers For Sale". Hennie doesn't sell prayers, never has, but there's something about the young woman that she's drawn to. The harsh conditions of life that each have endured create an instant bond and an unlikely friendship is formed, one in which the deepest of hardships are shared and the darkest of secrets are confessed.

Sandra Dallas has created an unforgettable tale of a friendship between two women, one with surprising twists and turns, and one that is ultimately a revelation of the finest parts of the human spirit.


The Rising Hope ($2.39), by Charles Swindoll

Book Description
In his poignant booklet, The Rising Hope, Dr. Charles Swindoll speaks directly to the hearts of all people who need an everlasting hope. The only hope. Jesus Christ. As a teacher and pastor, he takes them confidently to the eternal spring of hope in the promise of the Gospel with teaching and a message that will change the present and eternity of those who read it.

Walk with Jesus ($1.59), by Charles Swindoll

Book Description
In Walk with Jesus, a forty day Lent devotional, readers go on a compelling journey through the life and ministry of Jesus. This powerful booklet gives insights only a learned teacher could give while engaging the heart and mind only as a pastor can.

How to Hear from God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make Right Decisions ($2.99), by Joyce Meyer

Book Description
In the hustle and bustle of today's busy world, sometimes it's hard enough to hear yourself think, much less take a minute to stop and listen for the voice of God. But learning to recognize God's voice and the many ways in which He speaks is vital for following His plan. In How to Hear from God, Joyce Meyer shows readers that God reaches out to people every day, seeking a partnership with them to offer guidance and love. She reveals the ways in which God delivers His word and the benefits of asking God for the sensitivity to hear His voice. Joyce asks the question, "Are you listening?" and shares how to do just that.

Claire's Not-So-Gothic Romance ($0.99), by Bonnie Blythe

Book Description
Claire Parnell, plain, repressed, and broke, falls desperately in love with Sam Murray, the sought-after new guy in town, and must overcome her scheming mother, a badly decorated red room, the enticements of the flesh (albeit scrawny), and Sam's unsavory past, to claim the same hard-fought happiness as her favorite literary heroine...Jane Eyre.

Sisters of the Quilt: The Complete Trilogy ($9.99), by Cindy Woodsmall, works out to $3.33 per novel.

Book Description
Can Hannah find refuge, redemption, and a fresh beginning after her world is shattered?

When the Heart Cries
Her life among her Amish community brutally interrupted, seventeen-year-old Hannah Lapp faces questions neither family, nor fiancĂ©, nor even faith can easily answer. The first book in the Sisters of the Quilt series, When the Heart Cries will ignite a broader understanding of others’ beliefs and a God-given strength to deal with pain we all experience.

When the Morning Comes
Rejected by those she loves, Hannah Lapp leaves her Amish community and seeks refuge in the world outside, leaving her family and friends to wrestle with the painful truths that emerge in the wake of her disappearance. As she struggles to find her place in the confusing Englischer world, her community deals with the turbulent aftermath of her departure.

When the Soul Mends
Hoping to help her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community she fled in disgrace more than two years earlier. When hidden truths are revealed about her former fiancé, she must choose whether to return to the Plain life or to the Englischer man who adores her in this captivating conclusion to the Sisters of the Quilt series.

This three-in-one collection includes the entirety of the best-selling Sisters of the Quilt trilogy now at a new low price!


The Runaway Pastor's Wife ($2.99), by Diane Moody

Book Description
What could possibly drive a pastor’s wife to run away from home?

After years of frustration from life in a church fishbowl, Annie McGregor walks away from it all and boards a plane for Colorado. She has no way of knowing her college sweetheart is headed to the same cabin in the Rockies, terrified and gravely wounded. Their unexpected reunion couldn’t have come at a worse time. Or could it? Bewildered that God would allow Michael Dean to walk back into her life, Annie pleads with Him to keep her heart true to her husband and her family. God answers her prayer, but in a way she would never expect.

Written by a former pastor’s wife, Annie’s story provides a rare look inside the family life of those in the ministry, particularly the unique pressures on those who marry men of God.

Free Audiobook - Crush It!

Update: If you have problems getting the free audiobook to show up, as I did, try opening the App, clicking on the Menu button, then on the Shop icon that appears. You should then have a place to click that will add the book to your account. Thanks to whoever answers Audible's twitter feed, for this tip; you would think that they could have made this information known on the product page and to their own and Amazon's tech support (Amazon's support just pushes you to Audible; the Audible people were great, they just added the audiobook to my account, but no one thought to put any notice of how to get the free book anywhere in the download, product page or make it available to the support people).

You can get a free audiobook edition of Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion ($9.99 Kindle), by Gary Vaynerchuk, from Audible and Amazon, by installing the Audible for Android app using the Amazon AppStore and ugprading it to the latest version (1.2.2.2). Note that if you already have this app installed, you will probably want to delete it from the device, then install the one from Amazon. I had problems with mine, just trying to use the Amazon version as the updater, in that the book didn't automatically get added to my Audible account, so I had to contact them for help; they promptly added the book, but it did take longer as a result. This offer ends 4/28, so you have a few days to get it installed (just adding it to your account isn't enough) and log in to your account via the app. It's a fairly short book (3:40), but unabridged.

Book Description
Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love. In Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, Crush It! is the ultimate driver's manual for modern business.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Game Deal of the Day - Hide & Secret 3

A game download of Hide & Secret 3: Pharaoh's Quest ($9.99 $1.98), by Anarchy Enterprises, is today's Video Game Deal of the Day. Only on review so far (5-star), but you can play it for 30 minutes on a free trial before paying for it (to make sure it both works with our PC and you like it).

Game Description
Continue your globetrotting adventure around the world to reunite the spirits of an Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh and Queen, separated for over 2000 years. Use your wits to track down and collect their priceless stolen artifacts and place them in the correct locations to appease the Pharaoh. Solve timeless riddles and perplexing puzzles as you journey deep into undiscovered Pyramids and Temples to solve hidden mysteries in a quest to unlock the Secrets of Eternity!
  • Return Stolen Treasures.
  • Solve Challenging And Deadly Puzzles.
  • Reunite Ancient Spirits.
  • Unlock The Secrets Of Eternity.

Free Book (noDRM) - Starfarers

You can get a free download of the first book in Vonda N. McIntyre's The Starfarers Quartet series, Starfarers, over at BookView Cafe and you don't even have to create an account (then again, you don't add it to your own account, if you have one, just get access to the download). I don't see any of the Quartet on Kindle, but they have all four books, as either separate downloads or the entire series ominibus, if you decide to buy them.

Book Description
The starship Starfarer is poised for our first voyage to another star system. The Alien Contact Team — physicist Victoria Fraser MacKenzie, geneticist Stephen Thomas Gregory, geographer Satoshi Lono, and alien contact specialist J.D. Sauvage — and the rest of the faculty and staff prepare for humanity’s most ambitious exploratory expedition.

But the world has changed. A new regime orders the vessel to be abandoned. It will be turned into an instrument of war.

What do the Starfarers do?

They do what any red-blooded Alien Contact Team would do.

They steal the starship.


Click HERE for directions and access to the free book.