Bargain Book Roundup, Part I

I'm starting off today's Bargain Roundup with several books by Robyn Carr, whose Sheltering Hearts is still free, starting with Forbidden Falls ($2.84), the eighth in the Virgin River series.

Book Description
Virgin River is abuzz with the news that a stranger bought the town's abandoned church on eBay. The buyer, a young widowed reverend, is a little like the building itself: in need of some loving care.

Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he's going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings an improbable candidate his way.

If you want to start the series at the beginning, be sure to pick up the Virgin River Omnibus ($9.99), which contains the first four books in the series: Virgin River ($5.04), Shelter Mountain ($5.76), Whispering Rock ($5.04) and A Virgin River Christmas ($5.69).

Book Description
The tightly knit community of Virgin River has been a safe haven for more than a few lost souls over the years--and there's always room for more-

A recently widowed nurse thinks she's made a mistake coming to Virgin River--until an abandoned baby and former marine make her feel right at home. A marine who has seen his share of pain helps a woman in need, and discovers emotions he has never allowed himself to feel. A cop longs to settle down with the woman of his dreams--but must free her from a painful past first. And a woman tracks down the soldier who once saved her husband's life-and finds an emotionally wounded man who needs her help to open his heart.

Experience all the emotion, joy and romance as the residents and visitors of the small town of Virgin River find healing and love amongst the rugged beauty of the California mountains.

The rest of the series is just above the $5 bargain price cutoff: Second Chance Pass ($5.76), Temptation Ridge ($5.59), Paradise Valley ($5.04), Angel's Peak ($5.76) and Moonlight Road ($5.76).

The Wedding Party ($4.32) is a stand-alone novel

Book Description
Charlene Dugan started her day as usual--single. Then, all in the space of a few hours:

-- Her daughter announced she doesn't want to "end up like her"

-- Her absentminded mother got lost in a parking lot

-- Her ex-husband accused her of being afraid of commitment

Now her decision to utter those three little words--let's get married--has everyone around her in a tailspin. The maid of honor is in a tempest over a man fifteen years her junior. Her daughter, the official bridesmaid, has decided to reinvent herself. The groom is spending all of his free time with the wedding consultant. And her ex-husband, a man who still drives her crazy, is making some pretty convincing arguments for a second chance.

The wedding party is out of control, they're calling for rain and the bride has cold feet. This isn't exactly what Charlene had in mind.

Blue Skies ($4.68) is the final novel by Robyn Carr in today's list.

Book Description
Nikki Burgess has survived a terrible marriage and an even worse divorce. And she's just about given up hope of ever finding love and happiness. But when her ex-husband suddenly dies, she gets custody of her kids again and a chance to start over and do it right.

Dixie McPherson, on the other hand, has had way too much love. She has eleven tennis bracelets, dozens of trinkets, piles of sexy lingerie and a tarnished reputation when all she ever wanted was true love, a partner and a family.

Carlisle Bartlett is loyal, generous, kindhearted and the funniest guy slinging drinks in the back of an airplane. But he has an ugly little secret. The only kind of love he's used to comes with bruises.

They are three people who could seriously use a break. A fresh start. A shot at success and a chance to shine. Maybe a little romance--the kind that sticks. And some adventure wouldn't hurt. So when they're presented with the challenge of joining a team starting a new airline in Las Vegas, they don't hesitate. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, these three friends are going in search of their own blue skies.

That Holiday Feeling ($3.46) is a collection of short stories/novellas by Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber and Sherryl Woods

Book Description
Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber

In this classic story, Debbie brings those Manning men and Manning sisters home for a mistletoe marriage when a single dad finally says "I do."

The Perfect Holiday by Sherryl Woods

Will bachelor Trace Franklin become a groom-to-be by Christmastime? He sure will...if Savannah Holiday's aunt Mae has anything to do with it.

Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr

When the folks of Virgin River discover a box of adorable puppies under the town's Christmas tree they call on local vet Nathaniel Jensen for help. But it's his budding romance with Annie McCarty that really has tongues and tails wagging!

Next up are several books from Debbie Macomber, starting with several Christmas/Winter themed selections, the first of which is the novella collection Home for the Holidays ($1.24)

Book Description
The Forgetful Bride

Caitlin Marshall's trying to go home to Minnesota, but at the last minute she gives her airline ticket to a stranded soldier. So Cait spends Christmas with Joe Rockwell, who was a childhood friend--and is still a terrible tease, claiming that Cait's his wife. Oh, sure, they were "married" in a pretend ceremony when she was eight, but now Joe wants to make their "marriage" real!

When Christmas Comes

Emily Springer trades her Leavenworth, Washington, home for Charles Brewster's Boston condo. Then Emily's friend Faith comes to visit her in Washington--and instead finds Charles, a complete stranger and a curmudgeon, to boot. His brother, Ray, meanwhile, shows up at Charles's place, only to discover Emily living there. But through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, among the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge....

Where Angels Go ($1.24), is the last in the Angels Everywhere series.

Book Description
Christmas is a time for angels Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back! These three irresistible angels love their assignments on earth. They especially love helping people who send prayer requests to Heaven (even though the Archangel Gabriel, their boss, knows they're going to break his rules)!

This Christmas, Mercy is assigned to bring peace of mind to an elderly man... who discovers an unexpected answer to his prayers.

Goodness is sent to oversee the love life of a young woman afraid to risk commitment for a second time.

And Shirley has the task of granting a little boy's fondest Christmas wish.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy go wherever they're needed. These three charming angels often find themselves in trouble, but somehow things always work out for the best especially at Christmas.

The Perfect Christmas ($2.53), by Debbie Macomber

Book Description
What would make your Christmas perfect? For Cassie Beaumont, it's meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance.

What's left? A professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all and she's finally ready to meet her match. But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!

On A Snowy Night ($3.81), contains two stand-alone novels.

Book Description
THE CHRISTMAS BASKET

More than ten years ago, high-school sweethearts Noelle McDowell and Thomas Sutton planned to elope--but then he jilted her. This Christmas, Noelle is home to celebrate the holidays, and she and Thom discover they are still in love. Now only the decades-old rivalry between their mothers stands in the way of a second chance together.

THE SNOW BRIDE

It-s a month before Christmas and Jenna Campbell is flying to Alaska to marry a man she met on the Internet--until her seatmate takes it upon himself to change her plans. Which is how Jenna ends up stranded in tiny Snowbound, Alaska, alone with Reid Jamison (plus a bunch of eccentric old men and a few grizzly bears). And then there-s a blizzard.... Maybe she-ll be a Christmas bride after all!

Angels at Christmas ($4.29), is an omnibus in the Angels Everywhere series, containing Those Christmas Angels and Where Angels Go.

Book Description
Every Christmas, three lovable angels visit Earth. Once a year, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are allowed to intervene (or, more accurately, interfere!) in human affairs. Despite their frequent misadventures and the chaos they often cause, things always seem to turn out right....

This Christmas, join Those Christmas Angels as they respond to Anne Fletcher's prayer request. She wants her son, Roy, to meet a special woman--and the angels contrive to throw Julie Wilcott in his path (literally!).

Watch as the heaven-sent messengers reunite a divorced couple, bring peace of mind to an elderly man and grant a little boy's fondest wish. Because there's always joy Where Angels Go.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy offer you laughter and Christmas cheer in these two heartwarming stories!

A Gift To Last ($4.58)

Book Description
The best gifts are the ones that don-t come wrapped! Gifts of home, of family and friends, of love...

Can This Be Christmas?

On December 24, a crowded train is taking holiday travelers home for Christmas. But because of a snowstorm, this group of strangers ends up spending Christmas Eve together, stranded in a small New Hampshire station. Despite the cold and discomfort, they create an impromptu celebration that reminds them all what Christmas really means.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy

Greg Bennett hates Christmas. Divorced, virtually friendless and about to lose his business, he has no time for what he considers sentimental nonsense. It takes three wacky angels to show him the truth. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy shall follow him...until he learns what Christmas is all about!

Leaving the holidays behind, there are still plenty of Debbie Macomber titles on the bargain list currently. Starting off the omnibus volumes is the Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series ($15.69), which contains the first six novels of her Cedar Cove series in one collection, for one low price! Bundle includes 16 Lighthouse Road, 204 Rosewood Lane, 311 Pelican Court, 44 Cranberry Point, 50 Harbor Street, and 6 Rainier Drive.

Complete the series by picking up Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series, Volume 2 ($9.99), which contains books 7-10: 74 Seaside Avenue, 8 Sandpiper Way, 92 Pacific Boulevard and 1022 Evergreen Place.

Book Description
Debbie Macomber's bestselling and beloved Cedar Cove series continues with these four novels! Reconnect with your favorite characters and meet some new friends from this tight-knit community where love and friendship are just around the corner....

Wyoming Brides ($2.81), contains both books in the Wyoming series, at less than the price of just The Wyoming Kid ($3.60).

Book Description
Denim and Diamonds
Rancher Chase Brown has always loved Letty Ellison, but nine years ago she left their small Wyoming town, searching for a different kind of life. Now she's come home to Red Springs with her dreams in tatters--and a five-year-old child in tow. She's ready to trade the false glitter of Hollywood for the true happiness of being a rancher's wife. Chase's wife. But is it too late?

The Wyoming Kid
Rancher Lonny Ellison is an ex-rodeo cowboy who's used to the adulation of women. But that's something he doesn't get from Joy Fuller. In fact, they argue constantly. His sister, Letty, says it's because he's interested in Joy...and Lonny figures she's right. Can he convince Joy that marriage to the Wyoming Kid will be as exciting as an eight-second bull ride and as sweet as the cookies she likes to bake?

The Manning Sisters ($4.33) contains both books in the The Manning Sisters series (Cowboy's Lady & Sheriff Takes a Wife).

Book Description
When Taylor Manning accepts a teaching job in Cougar Point, Montana, she discovers that life there is very different from life in Seattle. So are the men! She soon notices a handsome, opinionated, stubborn rancher named Russ Palmer, and he notices her. In fact, they more than notice each other... After only a few months, Taylor's certain of one thing. Despite their conflicting backgrounds, she'd love to be The Cowboy's Lady.

The first day Christy Manning visits her sister, Taylor, she meets Sheriff Cody Franklin. To Christy's shock--and Cody's--they're immediately attracted to each other. Intensely attracted. There's a problem, though. Christy's engaged to someone else, someone back in Seattle. So what's the solution? See what happens when The Sheriff Takes a Wife...

The Manning Brides ($5.47), contains the first two books in the Manning Sisters series (Marriage Of Inconvenience & Stand-In Wife) and should be read before the next series, below.

Book Description
Rich Manning and Jamie Warren have always been friends and nothing but friends. However, that changes when she asks him to father the child she so desperately wants. Rich agrees if she'll marry him. Because he thinks their Marriage of Inconvenience could become a real marriage instead.

Paul Manning, a grieving widower with three small children, turns to Leah Baker for help and comfort. When that comfort begins to grow into something else, Paul discovers that he wants more than a Stand-In Wife.

The Manning Grooms ($4.96), completes the Manning Sisters series, containing Bride on the Loose & Same Time, Next Year.

Book Description
Jason Manning is content with his life as a bachelor, a slob and a sports fan. Then a precocious girl named Carrie Weston decides to play matchmaker, introducing him to her mother, Charlotte. To his relief, Charlotte is as averse to marriage as he is. But Jason's feelings start to change once he gets to know his Bride on the Loose.

James Wilkens was almost a Manning groom--because he almost married one of the Manning sisters. With that broken engagement behind him, he spends New Year's Eve in Las Vegas...where he meets Summer Lawton. She's just suffered a painful betrayal, and James promises her that in a year, she'll be over it. To prove his point, he makes a date to meet her in Vegas Same Time, Next Year. Except it turns out to be more than a date--it's a wedding!

Orchard Valley Grooms ($5.76) contains the first two in the Orchard Valley series, Valerie & Stephanie.

Book Description
Valerie rushes home to Orchard Valley, Oregon, when her father, David, suffers a heart attack. She and her two younger sisters, Stephanie and Norah, are gathering at his side, praying he'll live, fearing he'll die....

At a time like this, falling in love is the last thing on Valerie's mind. And with Dr. Colby Winston, of all people! He's David's heart surgeon, a renowned specialist who enjoys small-town living, while Valerie is a high-powered businesswoman who prefers city life. They're complete opposites in every way. Yet David keeps insisting she and Colby are a perfect couple.

Meanwhile Stephanie has other worries besides her father's health. She'd fled Orchard Valley three years earlier after her humiliating rejection by local journalist Charles Tomaselli. Now she's home, and it's not long before they begin reliving past battles--and renewing old feelings. He was the reason she left. This time, will he give her a reason to stay? David seems to think so....

Summer on Blossom Street ($3.06) is the sixth in the Blossom Street series.

Book Description
They're both about beginnings--and endings. That's why Lydia Goetz, owner of A Good Yarn on Seattle's Blossom Street, offers a class called Knit to Quit. It's for people who want to quit something--or someone!--and start a new phase of their lives.

First to join is Phoebe Rylander, who's trying to get over a man. Alix Turner and her husband want a baby, so she has to quit smoking. And Bryan Hutchinson needs a way to deal with the stress of running his family's business.

Then there's Lydia's friend Anne Marie Roche. She and her adopted daughter, Ellen, have finally settled into a secure and happy routine--when a stranger appears asking questions.

Meanwhile, Lydia and her husband, Brad, have their hands full with the angry, defiant twelve-year-old who unexpectedly becomes their foster child....

But when your life--and your stitches--get snarled, your friends can always help!

Navy Husband is the sixth (and final) volume in the Navy series.

Book Description
I, Shana Berrie, am my sister's official navy "parenting plan." That means I'm in charge of adorable Jazmine until my sis returns. But-surprise!-nine-year-olds have lots of opinions, including ones on my love life (or lack thereof). Now she's trying to set me up with our family friend, Adam Kennedy. Excuse me-Lieutenant Commander Adam Kennedy. So he's great looking and very helpful (if dictatorial), but I am not in the market for a navy husband.

This Matter Of Marriage ($3.60)

Book Description
The alarm on Hallie's biological clock is buzzing. She's hitting the big three-O and there's no prospect of marriage, no man in sight. Hallie, an organized, goal-setting kind of person, gives herself a year to meet Mr. Knight...In Shining Armor. But all her dates are disasters. (There's the cheapskate and the sex fiend and...well, never mind.)

Too bad she can't just fall for her good-looking neighbor Steve Marris--who's definitely not her type. Anyway, Steve's busy trying to win back his ex-wife, Mary Lynn, who's busy getting married--but not to Steve. Life would be so much simpler if he could fall for someone else. Like...Hallie. They're friends, though--and sometimes friends become lovers. Sometimes friends become more.

Between Friends ($3.60)

Book Description
Debbie Macomber tells the story of a remarkable friendship--and tells it in a remarkable way. Between Friends is a story in which every woman will recognize herself...and her best friend.

The friendship between Jillian Lawton and Lesley Adamski begins in the postwar era of the 1950s. As they grow up, their circumstances, their choices--and their mistakes--take them in virtually opposite directions. Lesley gets pregnant and marries young, living a cramped life defined by the demands of small children, not enough money, an unfaithful husband. Jillian lives those years on a college campus shaken by the Vietnam War and then as an idealistic young lawyer in New York City.

Over the years and across the miles, through marriage, children, divorce and widowhood, Jillian and Lesley remain close, sharing every grief and every joy. There are no secrets between friends....

Eleven Free Romances from Mills & Boon

Mills & Book, a UK publisher that has been around for over a hundred years and a part of Harlequin for the last 40 or so. Last year, they celebrated their one-year anniversary of selling e-books by setting up a special web site, Everyone's Reading, and gave away ten books and had a monthly contest to win a Sony Reader. Well, the competition is still going on, but they have swapped out last year's set of books and now have eleven (and soon to be twelve, they've announced) new titles up as free downloads. Most are, of course, romance (but go ahead, click on the Romance link to see what it tells you, but of different genres. One may be unfamiliar to those in the US, Bonkbuster, but I suspect you can guess what that means.

Destitute Yet Defiant by Sarah Morgan ($3.39 Kindle)
Cody by Kimberly Raye ($3.60 Kindle)
Mia's Scandal by Michelle Reid (unavailable)
Their Newborn Gift by Nikki Logan ($3.24 Kindle)
The Millionaire's Ultimate Catch by Michelle Monkou ($3.99 Kindle)
Wedding at King's Convenience by Maureen Child ($2.96 Kindle)
Emergency: Wife Lost and Found by Carol Marinelli ($3.39 Kindle)
Exposed: Misbehaving by Kelly Hunter ($3.39 Kindle)
Wicked Rake, Defiant Mistress by Kelly Hunter by Kelly Hunter (UK Only)
Her Vampire Husband by Michelle Hauf ($5.76 Kindle)

Mystery/Suspense/Thrillers
Colorado Abduction by Cassie Mills ($3.60 Kindle)

Click HERE to get the free downloads. Each one is available in DRM-free Mobi and Epub formats, you should be able to read them on about any of the current ebook platforms. To get the book, click on the title, then choose the format on the popup that appears; after it downloads, you can press the Backspace key to return to the choice page to get the second format, or close the popup and click on another title.

Game of the Day - Soccer Cup Solitaire

I'm always a sucker for a good solitaire game, so I'll be downloading a trial of Soccer Cup Solitaire, which Amazon has marked down to $2.99 for today only. I'll have to tear myself away from Scrabble ($4.99), which we've been playing since I downloaded it yesterday (the only big disadvantage I've found is that in a non-timed game, your "book" is tied up while the other players are working on their moves, if you are the type that reads while you play; luckily, I have the Kindle app on my Samsung Epic 4G Android Phone, which Amazon has even cheaper than I got mine direct from Sprint, along with a Scrabble dictionary and word generator).

Game Description
Pass some time and shoot for the win with Soccer Cup Solitaire! Choose one of over 50 international soccer teams and guide them to victory with fast-paced card-matching action.

Get into the game by chaining together passing combos to increase your score. Every point earned brings you closer to scoring the winning goal! Collect Wild Cards and Bonus Cards, and use them to press your advantage on your quest to find the net. Are you ready to square off against the likes of Brazil, England, Spain and the USA? Each team you defeat is one more step on the road to the Cup! It's the world's favorite sport and the world's favorite pastime, together at last!

• Exciting solitaire action with a soccer theme
• Take control of your choice of teams in an international-style tournament
• Find bonus cards to play fun mini-games
• Build up your excitement - and your score - with passing streaks
• Each tournament is different!

Ten Free Books at Books on Board

Books on Board has ten books that you can add to your library for free, at least one of which is a classic and the others from authors who are new to me. When I checked the formats, none of them appeared to have DRM added, but you may want to get more than one format, just in case. All had ePub as a choice, most had Mobi and a few had PDF and LIT as additional options.

1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Cleats of the Counter Revolution, by Christ Kennedy
3. The Cosmic Cancer by David Louis Sussman
4. A Deadly Deception, by JP Bowie
5. Dormant Enhancement, by Jack Richards
6. The Fourth Finger, by Latifat Balogun
7. Mountain Mystery, Fairfax Miasma, by Robert L Skidmore
8. The Primordial Flame, by Christopher L. Anderson
9. Scaedrein Infiltration, by Puppet
10. Tongue Tied, by Richard Stevenson

Click HERE for the free books.

Play Scrabble on Your Kindle

There is a new entry in the Active Content games category for the Kindle today, SCRABBLE ($4.99) from Electronic Arts Inc.

Game Description
With SCRABBLE for Kindle play the game you know and love - anytime, anywhere.

Simple controls make it easy to play any way you want, whether you're a casual or experienced SCRABBLE player. Pass N' Play with a friend, challenge the Kindle, or play a solo game. If you need help, use the Best Word feature to create the highest scoring word possible. You can even pause the game anytime and pick it up later.

Follow your progress game by game with instant statistics tracking. As your game-play and strategy improves, you'll find more ways to rack up double and triple word scores.

Enjoy the number one name in crossword games, and sharpen your vocabulary in a fun new way.

Free Book (nook) - Enchanting the Lady

Enchanting the Lady ($5.39 Kindle), by Kathryne Kennedy, is free from Barnes & Noble today.

Book Description
In a Victorian London where titles are based on the inheritance of magical powers, a were-lion's obsessive quest for Merlin's relics will threaten his love for a disinherited duchess--as well as their very lives....

In a world where magic ruled everything, Felicity Seymour couldn't perform even the simplest spell. If she didn't pass her testing, she'd lose her duchy--and any hope of marriage. But one man didn't seem to mind her lack of dowry: a darkly delicious baronet who had managed to scare away the rest of London's Society misses.

Sir Terence Blackwell knew the enchanting woman before him wasn't entirely without magic. Not only could she completely disarm him with her gorgeous lavender eyes and frank candor, but his were-lion senses could smell a dark power on her--the same kind of relic-magic that had killed his brother. Was she using it herself, or was it being used against her?

One needed a husband, and the other needed answers. But only together could they find the strongest magic of all: true love.

Click HERE to get the free download.

Bargain Book Roundup

The Dark Streets ($1.43), by John Shannon, is the ninth in the Jack Liffey series.

Book Description
The latest mystery in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles Times best-selling series takes private investigator Jack Liffey to Los Angeles' exotic Koreatown, where a young film student, Soon-Lin Kim, has apparently gone missing. But Jack is not the only one looking for Soon-Lin. Her association with a sinister militant group of radical Asians has also set Homeland Security in her pursuit. Again, bizarre details and compounding mysteries envelop Jack, and ultimately he finds himself under torturously intense interrogation at a secret compound in the desert ... and ill-prepared for a climax as explosive as the violent lightning storm approaching on the horizon.

A Flaw in the Blood ($1.84), by Stephanie Barron, is a stand-alone novel from the author of the Jane Austen series.

Book Description
Windsor Castle, 1861. For the second time in over twenty years, Irish barrister Patrick Fitzgerald has been summoned by the Queen. The first time, he’d been a zealous young legal clerk, investigating what appeared to be a murderous conspiracy against her. Now he is a distinguished gentleman at the top of his profession. And the Queen is a woman in the grip of fear. For on this chilly night, her beloved husband, Prince Albert, lies dying.

With her future clouded by grief, Fitzgerald can’t help but notice the Queen is curiously preoccupied with the past. Yet why, and how he can help, is unclear. His bewilderment deepens when the royal coach is violently overturned, nearly killing him and his brilliant young ward, Dr. Georgiana Armistead, niece of the late Dr. Snow, a famed physician who’d attended none other than Her Majesty.

Fitzgerald is sure of one thing: the Queen’s carriage was not attacked at random—it was a carefully chosen target. But was it because he rode in it? Fitzgerald won’t risk dying in order to find out. He’ll leave London and take Georgiana with him—if they can get out alive. For soon the pair find themselves hunted. Little do they know they each carry within their past hidden clues to a devastating royal secret…one they must untangle if they are to survive.

Touch and Go ($2.07) is a memoir by Studs Terkel.

Book Description
At nearly ninety-five, Studs Terkel has written about everyone's life, it seems, but his own. In Touch and Go, he offers a memoir that---embodying the spirit of the man himself---is youthful, vivacious, and enormous fun.

Hearts of Horses ($2.47), by Molly Gloss

Book Description
In the winter of 1917, nineteen-year-old Martha Lessen saddles her horses and heads for a remote county in eastern Oregon, looking for work “gentling” wild horses. She chances on a rancher, George Bliss, who is willing to hire her on. Many of his regular hands are off fighting the war, and he glimpses, beneath her showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses.

So begins the irresistible tale of a young but determined woman trying to make a go of it in a man’s world. Over the course of several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk witness Martha talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair -- and getting miraculous, almost immediate results. Ultimately, her gifts will earn her a place of respect in the community.With an elegant sweetness like that found in Plainsong, and a winning energy as in Water for Elephants, The Hearts of Horses delivers a heartwarming, greatly satisfying story about the unexpected and profound connections between people and animals.

Rainstone Fall ($1.35), by Peter Helton, is the third in the Chris Honeysett Murder Mystery series; this one is also $1.35 at Barnes & Noble.

Book Description
Chris Honeysett, an artist and private investigator, takes on a surveillance job to pay for repairs to his roof and finds himself faced with abduction, blackmail, and murder.

Peter Helton is an artist and lives in a cottage near Bath, where his mysteries are set. Previous titles in this series include Headcase and Slim Chance.

Andy Rooney: 60 Years of Wisdom and Wit ($1.67), by Andy Rooney

Book Description
Chairs. Neat people. Ugliness. War. Over six decades of intrepid reporting and elegant essays, Andy Rooney has proven a shrewd cultural analyst-unafraid to question the sometimes ridiculous, often surprising facts of our lives. Rooney's great gift is telling it straight, without a hint of sugar coating, but with more than a grain of truth and humor. His take on America? "It's just amazing how long this country has been going to hell without ever having got there." On food? "There's more dependable mediocrity than there used to be."

Ellen Foster ($3.96), by Kaye Gibbons, was the Oprah Book Club® Selection in October 1997.

Book Description
In Ellen Foster, the title character is an 11-year-old orphan who refers to herself as "old Ellen," an appellation that is disturbingly apt. Ellen is an old woman in a child's body; her frail, unhappy mother dies, her abusive father alternately neglects her and makes advances on her, and she is shuttled from one uncaring relative's home to another before she finally takes matters into her own hands and finds herself a place to belong. There is something almost Dickensian about Ellen's tribulations; like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield or a host of other literary child heroes, Ellen is at the mercy of predatory adults, with only her own wit and courage--and the occasional kindness of others--to help her through. That she does, in fact, survive her childhood and even rise above it is the book's bittersweet victory.

Black, Showdown, Heaven's Wager & Kiss ($9.99), by Ted Dekker, is a 4-title bundle that is at Barnes & Noble and not in the Kindle store at all. I already have Black, from the Black/Red/White (The Circle Trilogy 1-3) that was $9.99 at one time, but is now $14.49, but that's still three new to me novels at $3.33 each and four at $2.50 each for those who don't have it yet. You can't get all of these individually from B&N, but from Amazon they would be Black $8.87, Showdown $6.39, Heaven's Wager $9.99 and Kiss $9.99. The first three are series starts, while the last is a stand-alone novel co-authored with Erin Healy.

Black (History Chronicles: Circle #1)
A virulent evil has been unleashed upon the people of the earth, an unstoppable force bent on the destruction of all that is good. Only Thomas Hunter can stop it, and he has been killed. Twice.

Showdown (History Chronicles: Paradise #1)
Welcome to Paradise. Epic battles of good and evil are happening all around us.

Today that battle comes to town with the sound of lone footsteps clacking down the blacktop on a hot, lazy summer afternoon. The black-cloaked man arrives in the sleepy town of Paradise and manages to become the talk of the town within the hour. Bearing the power to grant any unfulfilled dream, he is irresistible.

Seems like bliss . . . but is it? Or is hell about to break loose in Paradise

Heaven's Wager (Martyr's Song #1)
Kent Anthony is a brilliant software engineer who is cashing in on a brilliant career. He's finally living the idyllic life, far from thoughts of theft and murder and other kinds of horrible criminal behavior.

He's left his past far behind . . . or so he thinks.

This story will bring you face to face with a hidden world more real than most people ever realize; a world where the unseen is more powerful than anything seen.

Kiss
Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name. Shauna.

I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend-how could I have forgotten him?-my uncle and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can't be true-can it?

I believe the medicine is doing strange things to my memory. I'm unsure who I can trust and who I should run from. And I'm starting to remember things I've never known. Things not about me. I think I'm going crazy.

And even worse, I think they want to kill me.

But who? And for what? Is dying for the truth really better than living with a lie?

The Circle Series Visual 3 in 1 (Black, White, and Red Graphic Novel) ($9.99), by Ted Dekker, is 416 pages and 39 MB in size, so don't expect it to download in under a minute, especially not on 3G. I tried the single volume White ($1.37) on my Kindle, but it was simply too small for me to read. Perhaps on an iPad or the PC, though, it would work (but the sample is too small to see anything on this one; I haven't looked at the trilogy's sample yet).

Book Description
Three novels. Two worlds. One Story. Now in a stunning, four color visual edition.

Nothing is as it seems when dreams and reality collide.

Black - A virulent evil has been unleashed upon the people of the earth. The only man who can stop it is Thomas Hunter, an unlikely hero whose life is stretched between two worlds.

Red - In one world, Thomas Hunter is a battle-scarred general commanding an army of primitive warriors. In the other, he's racing to outwit sadistic terrorists intent on creating global chaos.

White - Thomas Hunter has only two days to survive two separate realms of danger, deceit, and destruction. The fate of both worlds now rests on his ability to shift realities through his dreams.

Free Book - Clash of the Geeks

Clash of the Geeks, by Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi, et al, is a collection of short stories that is being given away for free, in several DRM-free formats (including Mobi for your Kindle). Rather than payment for the collection, they are asking that you consider making a donation via the website to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America or via Gretchen Schafer's donation page.

Book Description
Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi and Subterranean Press are proud to announce the publication of Clash of the Geeks, a special and fantastical electronic chapbook featuring stories by Wheaton, Scalzi, New York Times bestseller Patrick Rothfuss, Norton Award winner and Hugo Best Novel nominee Catherynne M. Valente, Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Rachel Swirsky and others, for the benefit of the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. The chapbook is free to download, but voluntary payment is strongly encouraged, via Paypal or by tax-deductible donation forms, both linked to later in this entry. All proceeds from this chapbook will go to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. Please enjoy the stories, link your friends to this page — and give!

Download links are located on both the menu to the right and at the bottom of the page.

20 Free Books from Dorchester Publishing

Dorchester Publishing has a late night gift for those who read EPUB format books in the US and Canada: 20 free books in the Kobo store. Genres include romance (contemporary, historical, paranormal, humor) & mystery/suspense/thrillers. Two of these were free earlier this month on Kindle, but the rest are new freebies. I checked a couple and they are generally selling for $4.79 to $5.59 each in the Kindle store. I don't know how long they'll last, so grab them while you can. Don't forget, click on Add to Library under the cover on each book, so you can re-download them later, if you need to.

Hunt At The Well Of Eternity, by Gabriel Hunt

Book Description
A blood-stained Confederate flag and the beautiful woman carrying it put Gabriel Hunt on the trail of a secret hidden deep in the Central American jungle a secret that might just be the legendary Fountain of Youth…

What Burns Within, by Sandra Ruttan

Book Description
One year ago, a brutal case almost destroyed three cops. Since then they've lost touch with one another, avoiding painful memories, content to go their own ways. Now Nolan is after a serial rapist. Hart is working on a string of arsons. And Tain has been assigned a series of child abductions, a case all too similar to that one. But when the body of one of the abduction victims is found at the site of one of the arsons, it starts to look like maybe these cases are connected after all....

The Cellar, by Richard Laymon

Book Description
Visitors flock to see the Beast House with its blood-soaked corridors and creaky doors. Armed with video camcorders, these poor sould enter the forbidden house, never to return. The deeper they go into the house, the darker their nightmares become. Don't even think about going into the cellar.

Seven Brides: Rose, by Leigh Greenwood

Book Description
Hired to keep house for George Randolph and his three unruly brothers at their ramshackle ranch, penniless and friendless Rose Thornton soon finds herself the object of affection for George.

Squeeze Play, by Kate Angell

Book Description
The first in a steamy new series of romances featuring a hunky baseball team and the sirens who challenge the players in the game of love.

Pandora's Box, by Natale Stenzel

Book Description

Hope remains . . .

All Pandemina Dorothy Avery ever wanted was to be beautifully, blessedly normal, with a stable career and a love life leading to a white picket fence and a happily-ever-after. That seems impossible now. Penniless and parted from her unfaithful boyfriend, unfairly shunned by her coworkers, not even Mina's recent inheritance can help -- especially not when it amounts to a ten-pound rock box and guardianship of the horny, devious puca she released from inside. His name's Riordan, and he ain't no Harvey.

What's a puca, you ask? A tricky faery-type, whose magic not only includes shape-shifting into a magnificent black stallion and a snarky mutt, but the ability to manipulate human perceptions. And Riordan is hardly shy of manipulations: Wasn't that why he was imprisoned in the first place? He seems set upon making Mina's life harder than ever, whether it be with Jonathon Teague, the handsome contractor who wants to work on more than her house, or Mina's penitent ex-boyfriend. But as Riordan's very existence proves, things are not always what they seem, and what stepped out of that box might be the key to her dreams.

The Star King, by Susan Grant

Book Description
A beautiful fighter pilot is shot down over Saudi Arabia, and ends up in the arms of the king of a distant galaxy.

Celtic Fire, by Joy Nash

Book Description
When a Roman commander travels through Britannia to investigate a haunting vision, an ambush by hostile Celts leaves him with an unexpected prize--a beautifully enchanting witch.

Savage Autumn, by Constance O'Banyon

Book Description
Joanna escapes the lustful clutches of her lecherous uncle only to be taken captive by a powerful Blackfoot warrior. But Joanna will soon learn that beneath Windhawk's proud exterior beats a heart that belongs only to her.

Noble Intentions, by Katie MacAlister

Book Description
Unconventional to the tips of her half-American toes, Gillian sparks scandal among the townspeople and a burning desire in Noble's heart.

Sweet Release, by Pamela Clare

Book Description
When a woman buys a dying convict to save his life, she little suspects he is truly an English aristocrat who will soon steal her heart.

Immortals: The Calling, by Jennifer Ashley

Book Description
While investigating her sister's murder, Amber Silverthorne accidentally summons an Immortal warrior whose wicked charm and sinful touch could prove just as dangerous as the demon they're chasing.

Divine Fire, by Melanie Jackson

Book Description
When a biographer proves to know more about his life than the now-immortal Lord Byron expects, he draws her into a dangerous game and his passionate arms.

A Taste Of Magic, by Tracy Madison

Book Description
A young, divorced bakery owner discovers she's inherited her gypsy ancestress's fabulous magical powers, but learns that when seeking true love with her hunky new neighbor, a person has to be careful what she cooks up.

Crimson & Steam, by Liz Maverick

Book Description
A new plot is developing in Crimson City one meant to destroy all vampires and werewolves and only it can bring together those ill-fated lovers from different species, Jill and Marius.

Stolen Fury, by Elisabeth Naughton

Book Description
The heroine is an archaeologist looking for three ancient Greek artifacts called the Furies, and the hero is a thief who tried to seduce her to get the Furies for himself.

Trouble In Mudbug, by Jana DeLeon

Book Description
With the wise-cracking ghost of her mother-in-law hounding her, a sexy half-Creole investigator ready to seduce her, and a killer on the loose, Maryse Robicheaux is feeling the heat on the Louisiana bayou.

Spying In High Heels, by Gemma Halliday

Book Description
L.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. And things only get worse when her boyfriend disappears—along with $20 million in embezzled funds—and her every move is suddenly under scrutiny by LAPD's sexiest cop. With the help of her post-menopausal bridezilla of a mother, a 300-pound psychic and one seriously oversexed best friend, Maddie finds herself stepping out of her stilettos and onto the trail of a murderer. But can she catch a killer before the killer catches up to her?

The Accidental Demon Slayer, by Angie Fox; this title has previously been free in the Kindle store.

Book Description
It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl. For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer-and all hell is after her.

Of course, that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work, how dangerous could a little seduction be...?

Divorced, Desperate And Dating, by Christie Craig; this title has previously been free in the Kindle store.

Book Description
A mystery writer is forced to reconsider her policy against dating when she is protected from death threats by the sexiest cop she's ever seen.

Arrrrgh! It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!

In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, all of this posts bargain books will deal with pirates in one way or another. I'm even tossing in a few public domain titles you might want to try -- I wonder how the pirates sound using TTS?

Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC ($4.79), by Henry Cole & June Sobel, looks like a cute title for the youngest pirates in your house. Like most books aimed at the kindergarten crowd, it's only a few dozen pages in length, but is meant to be read over and over again.

Book Description
The captain of this brave and bumbling pirate crew has ordered them to capture the entire alphabet--and they'll walk the plank if they're missing a single letter! Now these swashbuckling mateys are embarking on an alphabet adventure unlike any other, and they won't (ahem, can't) rest until they've found an A, a Z, and everything in between.

June Sobel's hilarious text and Henry Cole's adventurous animal pirates harmonize in an irresistible book for alphabet-learning, pirate-loving kids everywhere.

For the slightly older pirates underfoot, consider Prince of Pirates ($6.39), by Philip Caveney, the second in his Sebastian Darke series. It may be a bit over the usual $5 limit at Amazon, but combined with the twodollar coupon at Kobo, it's only $4.29 today, HERE. If you want to start with the first in the series, Prince Of Fools is $3.49 with that same coupon.

Book Description
Sebastian Darke, his opinionated buffalope, Max, and the fierce fighter Cornelius are heading to the bustling port of Ramalat to embark on a perilous sea journey. They are ready to risk their lives in search of the fabled lost treasure of the pirate King, Captain Callinestra. But first, they must make it through the dark and mysterious forest of Geltane and
survive an encounter with the beautiful and bewitching Leonora, a powerful enchantress with a magical hold over Sebastian’s senses. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, little do they know that, when they finally reach Ramalat, a feisty female sea captain, an infamous young pirate, ravenous sea creatures, and furious sea battles await them.

But there’s no turning back. Will they discover the lost treasure? Will Sebastian live to tell the tale? Will Max ever stop moaning?

No list of pirate books is complete without Treasure Island (free), by Robert Louis Stevenson

Book Description
Masterfully crafted, Treasure Island is a stunning yarn of piracy on the fiery tropic seas -- an unforgettable tale of treachery that embroils a host of legendary swashbucklers, from honest young Jim Hawkins to sinister, two-timing Israel Hands, to evil incarnate, blind Pew. But above all, Treasure Island is a complex study of good and evil, as embodied by that hero-villain, Long John Silver: the merry unscrupulous buccaneer-rogue whose greedy quest for gold cannot help but win the heart of every soul who ever longed for romance, treasure, and adventure. Since its publication in 1883, Treasure Island has provided an enduring literary model for such eminent writers as Anthony Hope, Graham Greene, and Jorge Luis Borges. As David Daiches wrote: "Robert Louis Stevenson transformed the Victorian boys' adventure into a classic of its kind."

I'm really not sure where Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas ($0.99), by Sara Lorimer (Author) & Susan Synarski (Illustrator), fits in age-wise, as one review mentions it being for adults and children, while another objected to the mature concepts and didn't give it to her grandchildren and a third review mentions a movie of the same name, where unbuckling, rather than swashbuckling seems to be the theme. It's also fairly small (85KB and just over a hundred pages, which doesn't seem to leave much space for the illustrations), but then again, it's only a buck. I'd sample first, though, before one-clicking.

Book Description
A treasure trove of high adventure and bad behavior, Booty tells the all-true tales of real women pirates who prowled the seas from the 9th to early-20th centuries in search of easy prey and easy profit.

Raiding ships, boozing, brawling, and looting, they struck terror in the hearts of men from the Mediterranean to the South China Sea to the rivers of New York. Meet Rachel Wall, who traded her devout religious upbringing for “lewd and wicked company”; Cheng I Sao, who led a fleet of 2,000 ships and made her men drink cocktails of wine and gunpowder; Mary Read, who killed one pirate for the love of another; and Sadie the Goat, who headbutted her victims before fleecing them of cash.

Their exploits and those of many more swashbuckling women fill these pages, along with an informative look at the finer points of pirate life (grog, flogging, fashion, and more). Arrrrr.

Moving up to the adults in your ship, there are a number of pirate themed romances out there. This one's cover caught my eye: Pleasuring the Pirate ($4.79), by Emily Bryan.

Book Description
When a notorious pirate comes home to England to claim his inheritance, he finds a courtesan's daughter and a group of orphans have taken over the estate...and soon capture his heart as well.

You might also take a look at these mainstream and indie titles

• My Wicked Pirate ($2.55), by Rona Sharon
• Captain Devlin's Captive ($2.99), by Susanne Saville
• The Pirate And The Puritan ($4.80), by Mary Clayton
• or even this trio of titles about pirate threesomes.

The Ghost Pirates (free), by William Hope Hodgson, fits not only today's theme, but is an early entry for Halloween, just in case you don't finish it quickly.

Book Description
'The Ghost Pirates . . . is a powerful account of a doomed and haunted ship on its last voyage, and of the terrible sea-devils (of quasi-human aspect, and perhaps the spirits of bygone buccaneers) that besiege it and finally drag it down to an unknown fate. With its command of maritime knowledge, and its clever selection of hints and incidents suggestive of latent horrors in nature, this book at times reaches enviable peaks of power.' -- H.P. Lovecraft

Wolves of the Sea (free), by Randall Parrish, is one I bought a while back, on a forum recommendation and it's 5-star reader review. Guess I need to move it to the top of my TBR stack.

Book Description
Full title: Wolves of the Sea Being a Tale of the Colonies From the Manuscript of One Geoffry Carlyle, Seaman, Narrating Certain Strange Adventures Which Befell Him Aboard the Pirate Craft "Namur"

The Frozen Pirate (free), by W. Clark (William Clark) Russell, is another public domain title that has a 5-star reader rating.

Book Description
William Clark Russell was a writer of nautical novels, born in New York. He spent eight years at sea as a sailor, gaining the experience he would use in his fiction. After his years at sea, he turned to journalism, and was on the staff of New York's Daily Chronicle before he took to writing novels.

The Frozen Pirate is the story of Paul Rodney, a sailor who narrowly escapes death by shipwreck and exposure in the Straits of Magellan. Surmounting that peril, he faces another: Embedded in the Antarctic ice is an ancient vessel, filled with what seem to be frozen, contorted corpses. But the ship is a pirate ship, and the corpses aren't dead. When one of them revives, Rodney must fend off (and cooperate with, if he hopes to survive) one of the most bloodthirsty and black-hearted scoundrels ever to sail the seven seas!

There are a number of other good books with a pirate theme, if you are willing to look beyond the $5 bargain limit, as well. I've picked out my book for the day; what about you? Which one are you reading?

$2.00 Coupon Plus Sale Prices at Kobo

It's another $2 off sale at Kobo this weekend, with two coupons, one valid on a single book and pretty much from a single list of titles, while the other is good for any non-Agency book and can be used multiple times. Kobo's books are in EPUB format and generally don't work on the Kindle, but this is a great sale for those who have another ebook reader or use one of the phone, pad or desktop apps.

First, to promote their new Desktop reading app, you can use coupon code kobodesktop to get $2 off any of the titles on the list of 202 books. This one can only be used once, but I'm not sure when it expires. If you don't get to it today, it's worth trying anytime in the next few days.

The second code is twodollars and it can be used on ANY non-agency book; one good place to start searching is the Can't get these in iBooks list. Even better, it can be used multiple times and on books that sell for less than two bucks, you get the book for free. A number of the titles on the Cheap Reads list will qualify, but many of those are Agency publishers. Also, I've found that their indie-writers don't end up on that list at all. I searched for The Invasion, by William Meikle, after reading a recommendation for it one one of the ebook forums I frequent and found it for $1.79 (it's the same on Kindle), which means it was free after the coupon was applied.

If you've never used Kobo, you'll have to set up an account. Once you click on the Buy Now button on any book page, you'll see a confirmation page with your payment info. In the middle of the lower portion of the page, there is a link that reads

Have a promo code?
Click here >

Click, enter the coupon code and then click on Apply >. Check the Total: shown at the right before clicking on $ Buy Now, as what is shown is what you'll be charged. It is possible to get a refund from Kobo, but like most ebookstores, the process isn't as automatic as it is with Amazon. Also, as far as I can tell, you cannot buy a gift card and use it for purchases (although you could get a prepaid visa/master card and use that, I suspect, if it has an address registered). So, if you buy some of the lower priced books, your credit card company may hold the payments until you OK them, as under $1 charges are sometimes flagged for possible fraud. Also, even though the site caters towards those in the US, it is a Canadian registered company. If your credit card bars out of country purchases, you'll have to either try another card or call them and get Kobobooks.com placed on an exemption list (which most card companies can do) to allow the charges to go thru.

Free Book (PDF) - Being Young

Being Young ($9.99 Kindle), by Astrid Young, is a free download from Wowio this month.

Book Description
Neil Young is known as one of rock’s great artists, his influence extending far beyond his own generation. Being Young looks at a lifetime of love, humor, disappointment, and proud moments, picking up where Scott Young’s book Neil and Me left off in 1984. The book is a testament to a Woodstock-generation rocker whose independence and determination have seen him through his life as a prolific musician who is still producing to this day.

Being Young by Neil Young’s sister, Astrid Young, offers a fresh perspective on one of rock’s most recognized cultural icons. Astrid goes deep inside the motivations that shaped their family unit, exploring all the ways it came apart and how, in the end, a tenacious and undeniable kindred spirit was able to pull it back together. The story is in part a celebration of the legacy of a family that many of us grew up feeling we knew and in part the meaningful and intimate reflection of one who experienced it all.

Astrid Young started writing creatively at an early age. A musician by trade, her career has taken her around the world, both on her own and singing backup for her brother Neil Young. Astrid lives in Toronto.

This PDF eBook includes a new chapter from the updated print edition plus a bonus, WOWIO-exclusive video interview with Astrid Young (you’ll need recent versions of Adobe Reader and QuickTime to view the video within the eBook).

Click HERE for the free download. There are about three different places you can click to get the book once there; it'll be a Secured PDF, but loads in Adobe Reader (ADE isn't required).

Game of the Day - Simplz: Zoo

Today's game download pick is Simplz: Zoo, which Amazon has marked down to $2.99 for today only. There are two reviews so far, both of which rave about this match-3 style game, and there is a trial version so you can test it out for half an hour before committing to buy.

Game Description
A new type of simulation game, Simplz: Zoo takes the task of getting resources and turns it into a game inside a game, creating two games in one. In the simulation part, you'll build your zoo. In the puzzle part, you'll match tokens to gather resources such as money and building materials so that you can further expand your zoo. Each exhibit you add to your zoo will also directly impact the puzzle part of the game as every exhibit comes with a power-up or other item that will change the puzzle game play, keeping things continually fresh and fun!

Gameplay

Simplz: Zoo is played in two different game boards. The Zoo gives players an overhead view where they will control every aspect of layout, positioning paths, trees, bushes, flowers, and of course the large animal exhibits, anywhere they choose. The Puzzle game board takes the popular match-3 mechanic to the next level by adding in diagonal swaps, and including more power-ups and power-up types than any other game of its type.

Key Game Features

• A combination of two types of games: Simulation and Puzzle.
• Over 90 different animals to add to the zoo and more than 50 different building types.
• Diagonal movement in the match-3 game opens up the board with play that is easy to pick-up, but provides exciting new possibilities that are difficult to master.
• Hidden secret codes can be used to obtain additional decorations, resources, and amazing animal exhibits such as the Yeti.
• Fun friendly animals full of comical character and whimsical charm.
• Multiple types of match-3 gameplay including resource gathering, tile clearing, object collection, and clearing a path to lead animals home.
• Zoo visitors react to the zoo and will also speak their mind, sharing bits of interesting trivia and zoological facts as they wander the zoo.
• The Puzzle game play is always evolving. Every building you place in the zoo simulation will change some aspect of the puzzle game, making for a fun game that is continually fresh.

Also note that there is an in-game bonus:

Order Simplz: Zoo, and unlock an in-game Yeti. Enter "AMAZON" in the unlock box, when prompted in the game.

Free Book (nook) - Scandal Sheet

Scandal Sheet ($6.99 paperback; the Kindle edition is missing from the store), by Gemma Halliday, is free in the Barnes and Noble store today.

Book Description
Gossip columnist Tina is stopped in her tracks when she learns one of the celebrities she's reported on wants her dead. Teamed with an oversized bodyguard, a bubbly blonde, and an alcoholic obituary writer, Tina sets off to find out which juicy piece of Hollywood gossip is worth killing over.

Click HERE for the free download. B&N has been having problems with this one randomly charging people, but it does appear to be fixed now. In any case, be sure to check your confirmation page for the price. If it isn't $0.00, then call their customer service at 1-800-843-2665 and request "Digital Support."