Free Book (Kindle) - The Lens & The Looker

The Lens & The Looker, by Lory S. Kaufman, the first in her Verona Trilogy, is free in the Kindle store.

Book Description
It's the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences, (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full-sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiences the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

Like in all groups of youth, there are those who rebel, “hard cases” who just don’t get it. In this first installment of a trilogy, three spoiled teens from the year 2347 are kidnapped back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy. There they are abandoned and left with only two choices: adapt to the harsh medieval ways, or die. Hansum, almost 17, is good looking, athletic and, as his A.I. teacher says, he can charm the fuzz off a peach. Shamira is 15. She has green eyes, auburn hair, and a Caucasian complexion. That's something people don't see that much of in the 24th century. She's sassy, independent and has an artistic genius for drawing. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don't have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

There are two types of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) in the 24th-century. The first are authorized by society and very conservative. Then there are ‘genies’. Made by black-market hackers, or blackers, these rascals are the bi-polar opposite of their unadventurous cousins. A genie’s aim in life is to help rebellious youth make mischief. Pan, is a very mischievous genie. A curious mix of past and future, he’s an eccentric, all-knowing, holographic artificial intelligence in the cartoon shape of the vaunted Greek god. Pan's antics and insights get the kids both into and out of trouble.

Our three teen protagonists meet at a History Camp where everything and everybody must act like it is 14th-century Verona, Italy. Society’s plan is to put trouble-making kids into situations where they are “scared straight”. But Hansum knows better. He’s aware that behind the scenes there are armies of humans and A.I.’s making sure they are safe. Using Pan, the teens devise a plan to drive the History Camp enactors crazy, and they succeed. But what they’re not prepared for is that a History Camp elder from the 31st century, (where time-travel is possible) kidnaps them back to the real medieval Verona. Here they are indentured to an alcoholic lens maker. Now, unquestionably, the dangers are real.

All of this is hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but, for Hansum, that’s exactly what happens. Guilietta is the beautiful daughter of the master the teens are working for. She becomes the star-crossed and time-crossed lover of our story’s Romeo - Hansum. In fact, the novel is peppered with lots of fun allusions to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In an attempt to survive the teenage trio, with Pan’s help, risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

Free Book (Kindle/nook) - Heart of the Witch

Last week's Free Friday book at B&N, Heart of the Witch, by Alicia Dean, is now free on Kindle (and the paperback copy is still $2.43).

Book Description
A beautiful young witch must choose between maintaining the anonymity of her coven and trusting the detective who would bring a heartless serial killer to justice.

Ex-homicide detective Nick Lassiter has seen a lot in his day, but the world-weary PI has never had a case like this. A merciless serial killer is on the loose, but his latest victim narrowly escaped with her life. Lassiter can tell from the start that Ravyn isn’t your typical crime victim—she has a steely resolve that is both frightening and intriguing in equal measure. As the two allies team up to pursue the killer, their relationship goes beyond the professional as the desperate circumstances lead to a very personal bond. And as Lassiter learns more about Ravyn, he begins to suspect that she may not be exactly who she seems.

Click here for the free book from B&N.

Free Book Update (Kindle/EPUB) - Is There More?

Is There More?: Heaven, Hell, and the Eternal Life that Begins Now, by Leslie D. Weatherhead, is now free on Kindle in addition to ChristianBook.

Book Description
Think you know what happens after death? Think again. In this groundbreaking book Leslie Weatherhead rejects proof-texts and conventional wisdom to focus on the big picture of life after death. Is God's love stronger than our sin? How does God respond when people reject God's love in Christ? Is Jesus' atoning death on the cross for everybody, or only for some? How can we truly know what God has in store for us in the life to come? The author of the best-selling Will of God answers these questions and many others in this straightforward, surprising book.

Click HERE to get the free download from ChristianBook.

Free Book (Kindle/EPUB/nook) - Coffee Shop Conversations

Update: 5/26/11 Now free from ChristianBook.

Coffee Shop Conversations: Making the Most of Spiritual Small Talk, by Dale and Jonalyn Fincher, is free once again in the Kindle store and from Barnes and Noble, courtesy of Christian publisher Zondervan.

Book Description
This Coffee Shop Conversations Ebook, by Dale and Jonalyn Fincher, will help you discover the fine art of sharing your faith ... without losing your friends.There are as many different styles of faith these days as there are ways to order your latte. So how do you talk to people about Jesus without offending them? By learning to cultivate respect and love for those who are different. Dale and Jonalyn Fincher will help you:*Gently invite others to share.*Cultivate an attitude of tolerance.*Avoid the buzzwords that will stop a conversation cold.*Talk about Jesus as a unique spiritual leader.*Listen more effectively.*Strengthen your own knowledge of your faith.Make the most of those casual, coffee shop moments. Find common ground as you gently and lovingly invite people to become followers and students of Jesus. It's all here for you in this Ebook---Coffee Shop Conversations: Making the Most of Spiritual Small Talk.

Click HERE to get the free book from B&N.
Click HERE to get the free book from ChristianBook.

Eight Audible Books for $6

Update: Looks like the part of the offer that says it will cancel an existing membership is in conflict with a statement you get when you click the Sign Up button (there, it says you can't be an existing plan member). In order to get my membership offer to be accepted, I had to first cancel my existing membership (which took 5 clicks on four pages, but was essentially painless). I've updated the steps below to take this into account.

This offer is for those with the Kindle Wi-Fi with Special Offers only. View the Special Offers on your Kindle (Menu, Special Offers) and you should see a new promotion (if you don't, turn on your wireless, click Menu, Sync & Check for New Items, then after the sync has completed, go to the Special Offers screen):

$6 for 6 Audible books (normally $68)

Click on offer, then click the link on the offer page and you'll get an email with the promotion link (nearly immediately). Sign-up for this offer expires on May 24, so it's only valid for two days (to click the offer on your Kindle; you have until June 24 to sign up with Audible, according to my email). You can also sign up by going directly to the sign-up page, HERE. Here's what you will get:

Get 6 months of AudibleListener Gold Membership for just $6 and enjoy an Audible book per month.

You'll receive a credit for a free Audible book* every month during your membership as well as 30% off any audiobook purchased without a credit, free daily subscription to The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal and other member-exclusive sales and promotions.

*A very small number of titles require more than one credit.

Limit one discounted membership per customer. Membership does not automatically renew. Offer expires midnight (PDT) June 24, 2011.

But, wait.... don't sign up just yet. First, sign up for Amazon's Two Months Free at Audible trial offer. This puts two credits in your account (I already had an account, but no current membership, so I tested this and it works for both new members and members with no current subscription plan).

Once you have the two credits in your account, you need to use both of them before you sign up for the 6 for $6 deal, otherwise your two promotional credits will expire. So, just browse thru Audible, pick out your two free audiobooks (or a single audiobook that requires two credits: there are a few of those to be found), before June 24.

Then, click the link in the email you receive today to sign up for the 6 for $6 offer, which will put one credit in your account during each of the next six months. This special trial membership will automatically cancel any membership you now have (such as that trial membership from Amazon, above) and it expires without requiring additional payment at the end of the six months (at which point, you could sign up for a membership using some other deal, such as the one above, or keep an unpaid account for future access to your eight free books). With any luck, this six month membership will also overlap one of Audible's super-deal sales, where they have a number of titles available for $5; every one I've seen has been limited to those with a membership, not just an account, so I've never been able to take advantage of them.

Here's the fine print on the deal (*Audible® Promotional Offer Details):

*Get 6 months of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan for just $6. With your membership, you will receive one credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. In almost all cases, one credit equals one audiobook. If you cancel your membership during the 6 months, any unused credits will expire. After the 6 months, your membership will automatically expire, but unused credits will not expire and will remain in your Audible.com account, subject to the terms of the Policy on Audible Content Plans. Limit one discounted membership per Kindle with Special Offers customer. You must have or open an account on Audible.com to participate. If you sign up for this discounted membership and are a current member of one of Audible's AudibleListener membership plans, your current Audible membership plan will terminate as of the date you sign up for the discounted membership. Any unused credits in your Audible account as of the date of termination will remain in your Audible account, subject to the terms of the Policy on Audible Content Plans. All discounted memberships are subject to the terms of the Policy on Audible Content Plans and the other terms on Audible.com.

So, just to recap, here are the steps:

1. Today (or tomorrow, at the latest): Click on the Special Offer on your Kindle and get an email with the Signup link
2. Today: Sign up for the Two Months Free at Audible trial offer.
3. Before June 24: Use up your two credits at Audible by purchasing two audiobooks.
4. Before June 24: After buying your two books, cancel your membership at Audible (click on Change Plan, Cancel Membership at bottom of page, then keep clicking until you get to a confirmation page.
5. Before June 24: After buying your two books, find the email from Amazon that you receive today and click the link to sign up for a 6 month membership at a total cost of $6.