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Friday, March 22, 2013

Bargain Book Roundup

For those who buy EPUB books, there are several good coupon codes over at Kobo right now. Remember that all of their codes are case sensitive, should not include spaces and often are only good one time per customer (although you can generally gift a book to someone else if you don't use the code yourself). Selection also varies by country, so the list I see won't be the same in Europe, Canada or Down Under.
  • Get 90% off selected books with promo code 90bk
  • Get 90% off selected books with promo code 90BK
  • Get 50% off selected books with promo code 50bk
  • Get 50% off selected books with promo code 50BK
  • Get 35% off with promo code Comeback3302_3
  • Get 30% off with promo code Comeback3102_3 (expires March 30)
  • Get 30% off with promo code VoucherCode30
  • Get 25% off with promo code Comeback2503_4 (expires March 25)
  • Get 20% off with promo code save20bday

For those in the UK only, two good deals on epic fantasy today: The Name Of The Wind: The Kingkiller Chonicle: Book 1, by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Blade Itself: The First Law: Book One, by Joe Abercrombie, both marked down to £1.99. The first I've listened to on Audible and it is absolutely fantastic (as is the next in the series). The only bad thing about it? I'm still waiting for the third in the series to be released and will grab it up the instant that it is (take a listen and you'll probably see why). I haven't read the second, but it should be good, if what I have read by Abercrombie is any guide.

The Magicians' Guild ($0.99 Kindle, B&N), the first book in Trudi Canavan's The Black Magician Trilogy [HarperCollins], with the companion audiobook $3.49.
Book Description
"We should expect this young woman to be more powerful than our average novice, possibly even more powerful than the average magician."

This year, like every other, the magicians of Imardin gather to purge the city of undesirables. Cloaked in the protection of their sorcery, they move with no fear of the vagrants and miscreants who despise them and their work—until one enraged girl, barely more than a child, hurls a stone at the hated invaders . . . and effortlessly penetrates their magical shield.

What the Magicians' Guild has long dreaded has finally come to pass. There is someone outside their ranks who possesses a raw power beyond imagining, an untrained mage who must be found and schooled before she destroys herself and her city with a force she cannot yet control.

My mom called this morning, wanting to see if I had a copy of Eric Dinerstein's The Kingdom of Rarities ($3.47 Kindle, B&N), as she had read that he was going to be in town for a talk and book signing this weekend (2 p.m. Sunday at the East Tennessee History Center in downtown Knoxville), as a part of the Discover Life in America conference which is is dedicated to a first-of-its-kind-project to discover every living species in the park. I don't have the paper edition of his book, but I do have a review ebook copy (which, I'll admit, I haven't done more than flip thru), so I may load it onto one of my ebook readers and take it down to be signed (I have quite a few SF author signatures on my Nook Tablet - keeping it after it dies will take a lot less room than the paper books from the authors included). The drawings included are in black & white or grayscale, so should look fine on eInk readers as well as tablets. I don't know if Amazon or B&N decided to discount the ebook edition for this nearly 300 page text, but it's definitely a good deal right now (his Tigerland and Other Unintended Destinations won the American Association for the Advancement of Science's award for science writing, the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books and is nearly $14 at Amazon and $25 from Kobo).

Dr. Dinerstein started his career tracking leopards in Nepal and his publisher, Island Press, also has an interesting looking Kindle Singles length text in their Island Press E-ssentials series that you can pick up inexpensively: Discovering Big Cat Country: On the trail of tigers and snow leopards ($2.99 Kindle, B&N, Kobo)

The Kingdom of Rarities
When you look out your window, why are you so much more likely to see a robin or a sparrow than a Kirtland's warbler or a California condor? Why are some animals naturally rare and others so abundant? The quest to find and study seldom-seen jaguars and flamboyant Andean cocks-of-the-rock is as alluring to naturalists as it is vitally important to science. From the Himalayan slopes of Bhutan to the most isolated mountain ranges of New Guinea, The Kingdom of Rarities takes us to some of the least-traveled places on the planet to catch a glimpse of these unique animals and many others. As he shares stories of these species, Eric Dinerstein gives readers a deep appreciation of their ecological importance and the urgency of protecting all types of life — the uncommon and abundant alike.

An eye-opening tour of the rare and exotic, The Kingdom of Rarities offers us a new understanding of the natural world, one that places rarity at the center of conservation biology. Looking at real-time threats to biodiversity, from climate change to habitat fragmentation, and drawing on his long and distinguished scientific career, Dinerstein offers readers fresh insights into fascinating questions about the science of rarity and unforgettable experiences from the field.
Discovering Big Cat Country: On the trail of tigers and snow leopards
With their elusive and solitary nature, tigers and snow leopards are a challenge for even the most seasoned field biologists to track and study. Yet scientist and conservation leader Eric Dinerstein began his career in the heart of Nepal’s tiger country and the perilous Himalayan slopes of the snow leopard, where he discovered the joys—and frustrations—of studying wildlife in some of the most unpredictable and remote places on Earth. In Discovering Big Cat Country, Dinerstein tells the story of two formative journeys from his early days as a biologist: two and a half years as a young Peace Corps Volunteer in the jungles of Nepal and later, as a newly-minted Ph.D., an arduous trek to search for snow leopards in the Kashmir region of India. In these chapters, excerpted from Tigerland and other Unintended Destinations, Dinerstein paints an evocative picture of the homelands and habits of two fascinating predators, and recalls local partners and fellow conservationists who inspired him with their passion for wild places.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes ($1.99 Kindle, B&N), a young adult novel by Chris Crutcher [HarperCollins]. Besides a glowing review from Publisher's Weekly, this was called "stunning" by School Library Journal and there are even teaching guides available, so that you can use it in a classroom.
Book Description
Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend.

Now Sarah Byrnes -- the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known -- sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both under.

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up

The Bean Trees ($1.99 Kindle, B&N, Kobo), by Barbara Kingsolver [HarperCollins]
Book Description
The Bean Trees is bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver’s first novel, now widely regarded as a modern classic. It is the charming, engrossing tale of rural Kentucky native Taylor Greer, who only wants to get away from her roots and avoid getting pregnant. She succeeds, but inherits a 3-year-old native-American little girl named Turtle along the way, and together, from Oklahoma to Tucson, Arizona, half-Cherokee Taylor and her charge search for a new life in the West.

Written with humor and pathos, this highly praised novel focuses on love and friendship, abandonment and belonging as Taylor, out of money and seemingly out of options, settles in dusty Tucson and begins working at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires while trying to make a life for herself and Turtle.

The author of such bestsellers as The Lacuna, The Poisonwood Bible, and Flight Behavior, Barbara Kingsolver has been hailed for her striking imagery and clear dialogue, and this is the novel that kicked off her remarkable literary career.

This edition includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.

Nearly Free Audiobook - The Da Vinci Code

Another deal as part of the anniversary celebration (and anticipation of the next volume in the series), has the Audible edition of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code available for $0.99. You'll need to have picked up the free Kindle edition first (if you haven't, there are links on the Audible page) to get the price, which also then lets you use WhisperSync between the two editions. For those wanting EPUB, there are more formats free now, all linked in my original post.
Book Description
An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci.

A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe.

An astonishing truth concealed for centuries . . . unveiled at last.

While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

Free App - Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots

Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots, by Halfbrick Studios Pty Ltd, is this week's Free Friday App from Barnes & Noble, price matched at Amazon (but not Google).
App Description
En Garde!

Fruit meets fairytales in Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots.

The suave, fruit-slashing swashbuckler, Puss in Boots, faces a challenge that would make Sensei proud. Prepare for a journey of familiar fruit-slicing action as Puss encounters a wealth of new and exciting challenges in his search for the Magic Beans.
Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots
Get classic fruit-slicing action in Desperado Mode
Puss in Fruits

Slice through a series of increasingly exciting challenges in the all-new Bandito Mode, and become the greatest Fruit Ninja warrior of all time. Each stage thrusts you into never-before-seen fruit frenzy adventure. Face massive fruit from the Giant's castle, precision and timing challenges, and all-out fruit onslaughts with new obstacles. Plus, for the first time ever, throw down against the much-requested tomato!
Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots
Face all-out fruit onslaughts and live to tell the tale

Real Banditos must put their best blade forward, because scoring is based on the number of fruits sliced, ninja reflexes, and slicing efficiency. A true produce warrior can upload their massive high scores to global leaderboards, and rank among the best players online.
If Kitty-Looks Could Kill

Bring your blade to Desperado Mode--an enhanced and re-mastered version of the Classic Fruit Ninja game. But this time, you will face even more fruit, unique waves, and Puss in Boots' elusive Magic Beans from the DreamWorks Animation feature film.

Finally, bask in the fruit-stained glory of Puss in Boots' own exclusive Ninja Stash, featuring a whole range of unique customizable content, including new backgrounds and blades.

Stay juicy, amigos!
Get the free App from Barnes & Noble.

Today's Deals 3/22

Today's Gold Box at Amazon is "House: The Complete Series" for 58% Off.

Amazon's Android Free App of the Day is The Croods Movie Storybook.

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is also movie themed: Admission ($1.99), by Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, Jean Hanff Korelitz [Hachette]. This is also the Nook Daily Find today. Read it before seeing the movie (starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd).
Book Description
"Admissions. Admission. Aren't there two sides to the word? And two opposing sides...It's what we let in, but it's also what we let out."

For years, 38-year-old Portia Nathan has avoided the past, hiding behind her busy (and sometimes punishing) career as a Princeton University admissions officer and her dependable domestic life. Her reluctance to confront the truth is suddenly overwhelmed by the resurfacing of a life-altering decision, and Portia is faced with an extraordinary test. Just as thousands of the nation's brightest students await her decision regarding their academic admission, so too must Portia decide whether to make her own ultimate admission.

Admission is at once a fascinating look at the complex college admissions process and an emotional examination of what happens when the secrets of the past return and shake a woman's life to its core.

Today's Kindle Teen Daily Deal is Haunting Violet ($1.99), by Alyxandra Harvey [Walker Childrens].
Book Description
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Today's Kindle Romance Daily Deal is Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil ($1.99), by Barbara Monajem [Montlake Romance]. You may have it in your library, as it was free a couple of years ago.
Book Description
Dark secrets abound in the town of Bayou Gavotte, Louisiana, from blackmail to fetish clubs to murder, and when blood-and-love starved vampire Ophelia Beliveau calls the police to scare away whoever is desecrating her garden, Detective Gideon O’Toole unearths more than he ever dreamed.

Today's Kindle SciFi/Fantasy Daily Deal is The Scourge ($1.99), by Roberto Calas [47North]; originally released as a Kindle Serial.
Book Description
God has forsaken this land.

A mysterious plague descends upon 14th century England, ravaging the country and trapping the souls of the afflicted in eternal madness. The feudal hierarchy--and even the church itself-- slowly crumbles as the dead rise to feed and the living seek whatever shelter they can. The bishops of England call for calm and obedience, but one man isn’t listening.

Sir Edward of Bodiam has been separated from the woman he loves and nothing on heaven or earth can stop him from seeking her out.

Edward and two of his knights travel through the swiftly changing landscape of England, a countryside now overrun by the minions of hell. The knights encounter madness, violence, and sorrow, but Edward fights his way ever deeper into the thickening darkness of unholy terror.

Roberto Calas brings you along on a dark, historical tale full of love, death, and black humor. Follow Edward as he journeys to save his wife, his kingdom, and his very soul.

The Salt Maiden (£0.99 UK), by Colleen Thompson [Montlake Romance], is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (the US edition is $2.99).
Book Description
Deep beneath the desert lies a woman's body, mummified by salt, abandoned by those who ought to seek her. With her rests a secret that someone will kill to keep buried.

Devil's Claw
It's a barren wasteland, the dead center of nowhere, and the last place Dana Vanover wants to be. But it's also the last known address of her missing sister. Determined to locate Angie, Dana won't be deterred by suspicious rednecks, snakebite, or even the grim prognosis of Sheriff Jay Eversole: no woman could survive more than a week alone in the burning heat of Rimrock County . But the endless sands aren't the only thing hotter than the chili served up in the Broken Spur café. Despite small-town dirty politics, a deadly car chase and a dangerous paternity search, Dana and Jay can't keep their hands off each other. In the least populated area of the country they've managed to find love. Now all they have to do is stay alive long enough to uncover...The Salt Maiden

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Diesel Daily Deal - Redwood Bend (E)

Redwood Bend ($6.99 $3.50 Kindle), a novel by Robyn Carr [Harlequin Mira], is today's Deal of the "Day" at Diesel E-Books, where it's discounted to $1.10. (5 copies left).

For those preferring to stay with Kindle editions, there are currently 9 titles in the Virgin River series that are on sale for under $4 (one under $3) and two more under $5, which are all good discounts from the $7-$8 list price (the last few titles in the series are marked down to $5.99-$6.15).

Book Description
Katie Malone and her twin boys' trip along the beautiful mountain roads to Virgin River is stopped short by a tire as flat as her failed romance. To make matters worse, the rain has set in, the boys are hungry and Katie is having trouble putting on a spare. As she stands at the side of the road pondering her next move, she hears a distinct rumble. The sight of the sexy, leather-clad bikers who pull up beside her puts her imagination into overdrive.

Dylan Childress and his buddies are on the motorcycle trip of a lifetime. But the sight of a woman in distress stops them in their tracks. And while the guys are checking out her car, she and Dylan are checking out one another.

In one brief moment, the world tilts on its axis and any previous plans Katie and Dylan might have had for their futures are left at the side of the road.
Get the book from Diesel; be sure to check the sales price, as the Deal of the Day often sells out.