Free Book (nook) - The Writing Circle

The Writing Circle ($11.99 Kindle), by Corinne Demas, is free from Barnes and Noble. This one may be a glitch (it says it's a review copy), but grab it while it's free (and let Amazon know there is a lower price, of course).

Book Description
They call themselves the Leopardi Circle — six members of a writing group who share much more than their works in progress.

When Nancy, whose most recently published work is a medical newsletter, is asked to join a writing group made up of established writers, she accepts, warily. She’s not at all certain that her novel is good enough for the company she’ll be keeping. Her novel is a subject very close to her heart, and she isn’t sure she wants to share it with others, let alone the world. But Nancy soon finds herself as caught up in the group’s personal lives as she is with their writing. She learns that nothing — love, family, loyalty — is sacred or certain.

In the circle there’s Gillian, a beautiful, scheming, world-famous poet; Bernard, a pompous but lovable biographer; Virginia, a respected historian and the peacemaker of the group, who also happens to be Bernard’s ex-wife; Chris, a divorced father and successful thriller writer; and Adam, the youngest of the group, an aspiring novelist who is infatuated with Gillian. And then there’s Nancy, an unassuming fiction writer embarking on a new chapter in her own life. They meet to read their work aloud and offer feedback. Over the course of a year, marriages are tested, affairs begin, and trust is broken.

Through their complicated relationships, these eccentric characters share their families, their beds, and their histories, and soon find that buried secrets have a way of coming to light. Hearts break and emotions are pushed to the limit in this richly engaging tale of love, betrayal, and literature.

Click HERE for the free download.

Free Book (Sony) - American Quartet

American Quartet ($5.56 Kindle), by Warren Adler, is free in the Sony store (once again; this has been an on and off special price there, but it's never been free in the Kindle store).

Book Description
Never underestimate the power of failure In this first book of the Fiona series, four seemingly unconnected D.C. murders stimulate Fiona FitzGerald's sense of history as she delves into our country's dark past. In her search to solve the crimes, she uncovers the disturbing sexual and homicidal obsessions of a socially prominent but failed Washington politician.

Fiona FitzGerald, daughter of Senator FitzGerald and a Sergeant in the Homicide Division of the Metropolitan Washington Police Department, finds herself confronted with three gruesome slayings. Gradually, she senses a disturbing linkage. Fiona pursues her quarry through the political and diplomatic jungle, then back in time to a trio of presidential murders, convinced that a brilliant – and evil – intelligence is moving to make a trio of murders into a quartet.

Set among the rich and mighty of the nation's capital, American Quartet ingeniously links past and present in a novel of transcendent suspense and authenticity. Critically acclaimed for its inventive and intriguing plot, American Quartet, the first novel of the Fiona series, was selected by the New York Times as one of the ten best crime novels of the year. Five successive Fiona Fitzgerald mysteries have followed: American Sextet, Senator Love, Immaculate Deception, The Witch of Watergate, and The Ties That Bind.

Click HERE for the free download.

Free Book (nook) - Mussolini's Rome

Mussolini's Rome: Rebuilding the Eternal City ($14.97 Kindle), by Borden Painter, is free in the Barnes and Noble store. Be sure to let Amazon know of the lower price (even if non-fiction architectural history isn't your thing, there is sure to be another reader out there who would love this one).

Book Description
An eye-opening look at the architectural mark fascism left on one of the world's most beloved cities R ome was Mussolini's obsession. After coming to power as a result of his famed march on the city in 1922, he promised Italians that his fascist revolution would unite them as never before and make Italy a major power on the world stage. In the next two decades, he set about rebuilding Rome as the foremost site and symbol of the new fascist order. Through an ambitious program of demolition and construction, he sought to make Rome a capital that both embraced modernity while preserving and glorifying the city's ancient past. Building the new Rome put people to work; 'liberated' ancient monuments from cluttered surroundings; cleared slums; produced giant complexes for education, sports, and cinema; produced wide new boulevards and piazzas; and provided the regime with a showcase in which to assert the power and identity of fascism. This intriguing book reveals Mussolini's tremendous and lasting impact on the city to which millions flock each year.

Click HERE to get the free download.

Free Book (nook) - Child of the Northern Spring

Child of the Northern Spring ($9.99 Kindle), by Persia Woolley, is free from Barnes & Noble (so be sure to let Amazon know about the lower price).

Book Description
The story of a queen who deserves to become a legend - a startlingly original tale of Arthur & Guinevere

Often portrayed as spoiled, in Persia Woolley's hands Guinevere comes alive as a high-spirited, passionate woman. When she is chosen by Arthur to be his wife, Guinevere's independence wars with her family loyalty. As the wedding approaches and hints of rebellion abound, she learns that the old gods are in revolt against the new Christian church, and that scattered kingdoms are stirring from their uneasy peace. This is Arthurian epic at its best, filled with romance, adventure, authentic historical detail, and a landscape alive with the mystery of Britain in the Dark Ages.

"This is truly original. As a re-creation of the legend in a version closer to the realities, it's far better than anything else I've read." —Geoffrey Ashe, author of The Discovery of King Arthur

"This richly detailed novel is romantic, its characters are vivdly drawn, and Woolley's clear styles flows as smoothly as her unfolding story." —Morgan Llywelyn, author of Lion of Ireland and The Horse Goddess.

Click HERE to get the free download.

New Kindle Game - Panda Poet

There is a new game out for Kindle, Panda Poet (A Word Game for Kindle) ($2.99), from Spry Fox. Two 5-star reviews already this morning and I've just downloaded it to my Kindle as well. I had to make myself stop playing, so I could finish the post (hey, I got a 7-letter word, already).

Book Description
Do you like word games? And pandas?

With Panda Poet you use the letters on the game board to form words. Words formed from letters in open spaces create pandas. Words formed from letters near pandas make existing pandas grow.

The goal is grow the biggest panda possible. You get the highest scores from either creating the biggest possible panda or from forming the longest possible words.

To add to the challenge, each letter is only available for a fixed number of turns. Each time you enter a word, all the letters on the screen come one step closer to expiring. When a letter expires, it is replaced by a skull, which prevents you from growing your pandas in that direction. This makes playing Panda Poet a delicate balancing act: you must consider where a letter is located on the grid and how soon it will expire, not simply spell the longest word you can.

Try it today and see!

Video Game Gold Box Day

Today appears to be Video Game Gold Box Day, from the deals up already and the descriptions for later today. Retailers have already been competing for your Black Friday holiday spending and the online retailers are no exception. This looks like one of Amazon's early deals days, like they had last year (their deals after Black Friday were often not as good as those leading up to it). If you've been considering some of these games, it's definitely time to grab (or pre-order them). Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit ($49.95 - $59.95) has release date delivery for only 99 cents extra, for non-Prime members, but if you order the XBox or PS3 versions, you'll also get a bonus $20 credit for future video games. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is the main Gold Box deal and is marked down to $25 for XBox or PS3. With some of the other deals, like Sid Meier's Pirates! ($37.99 $25.00), there is a limited quantity and time window and you have to buy them on the Gold Box. This particular one is now half gone and it's less than an hour into it's time slot, but it looks like there will be different deals ever few hours all day.

Christian Fiction and Non-Fiction Under a Buck

Despite the pricing, these are not self-published books, but instead are (with one exception) vastly discounted Kindle editions from WaterBrook Press/Multnomah Books. Themes range from thrillers to vampires to apocalyptic on the fiction side and from politics to Christianity to Islam on the non-fiction side.

The Veritas Conflict ($0.99), by Shaunti Feldhahn

Book Description
Claire Rivers races to the mailbox to receive a letter of acceptance to Harvard University while a heavenly battle rages. In this fast-paced, suspenseful novel, the ageless war for the hearts and minds of students on our college campuses is revealed. Conflict between unseen evil and angelic forces reflects their battle for victorious living amidst confused messages. When Claire and her roommate encounter attacks on their faith, a deeper mystery -- involving Harvard's Christian heritage, the pull of money, and a dark plan for societal corruption -- unfolds around them. Will they succumb to temptation and destruction? What has become of Harvard's founding motto: Veritas, Christo et Ecclesiae -- "Truth for Christ and the Church"? Can Claire -- with other praying students and their parents -- counteract the forces of humanism and relativism ... and what will it cost them to do so?

Deadline ($0.89), by Randy Alcorn. His first novel, it stayed on the bestseller’s list for thirty-six months.

Book Description
Heart-Pounding Murder Mystery
Involved in a tragic accident under suspicious circumstances, award-winning journalist Jake Woods teams with detective Ollie Chandler to uncover the truth. This alluring repackage of the Randy Alcorn bestseller finds Jake drawing upon all his resources in an ever-intensifying, dangerous murder investigation. Unaware of the imminent threat to his own life, Jake struggles for answers to the mystery at hand and is plunged into a deeper search for the meaning of his own existence.

His Body Hung Suspended Between Two Friends--His Soul Between Two Worlds
Doc’s shoulder jammed into Jake as he swerved the Suburban sharply to the right, cut between a telephone pole and a billboard, then careened into a ten-foot high embankment. Sometime between the sound of Doc’s last cry and the sickening crunch of bent metal from the car’s first roll, Jake lost consciousness. The last sensation he felt was that of being crushed between the two men he had known since childhood…

When tragedy strikes those closest to him, award-winning journalist Jake Woods must draw upon all his resources to uncover the truth about their suspicious accident. Soon he finds himself swept up in a murder investigation that is both complex and dangerous. Unaware of the threat to his own life, Jake is drawn in deeper and deeper as he desperately searches for the answers to the immediate mystery at hand and—ultimately—the deeper meaning of his own existence.

Deadline is a dramatic and vivid novel of substance, filled with hope and perspective for every reader who longs to feel purpose in life.

Thirsty ($0.99), by Tracey Bateman

Book Description
There's no place like home, they say.

"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

Broken Angel ($0.89), by Sigmund Brouwer

Book Description
Her birth was shrouded in mystery and tragedy.
Her destiny is beyond comprehension.
Her pursuers long to see her broken.
She fights to soar.

In the rough, shadowy hills of Appalachia, a nation carved from the United States following years of government infighting, Caitlyn and her companions are the prey in a terrifying hunt. They must outwit the relentless bounty hunters, skirt an oppressive, ever-watchful society, and find passage over the walls of Appalachia to reveal the dark secrets behind Caitlyn’s existence–and understand her father’s betrayal.

In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous culture only one or two steps removed from our own.

Upon the Isles of the Sea ($0.99), by Gordon Ryan & Kate Armitage

Book Description
LDS Inspirational Fiction:

When Seth, a young Stripling Warrior comes home from the wars after nearly eight years of fighting, he barely has time to settle in before Helaman, his former commander, now a missionary, comes to the village and calls him on yet another assignment. But Lilliana is determined that Seth will not leave the village again—at least not without her.

Jared, Seth’s best friend and also a former Stripling Warrior, is persuaded by General Moroni to remain in government service to infiltrate the devious “Secret Combinations.” When Seth and Jared meet Hagoth—an “exceedingly curious man,”—in the City of Bountiful, their quest takes on a whole new dimension.

Upon The Isles of The Sea, the first adventure tale from The Nephite Chronicles, is a story of courage, sacrifice, and honor.

The Next World War: What Prophecy Reveals about Extreme Islam and the West ($0.99), by Grant R. Jeffrey

Book Description
The first warning shots of WW III have already been fired

The escalating terrorist attacks in the Middle East and in major cities in the West are not isolated acts of extremism. They are the first warning shots fired in a coming world war.

For decades, prophecy expert Grant R. Jeffrey has been analyzing geopolitical developments through the lenses of history, religion, and prophecy. As current events unfold according to the prophecies of the Bible, Jeffrey says Islamic extremists are preparing to attack Israel and conquer western civilization–destroying our freedom.

Drawing from firsthand interviews, intelligence reports, and ancient prophecy, Jeffrey reveals:

• Saddam Hussein’s role in the 9/11 attack on America
• Where Iraq hid its Weapons of Mass Destruction
• How Russia and extreme Islam will launch World War III
• The Bible’s prophecy of the destruction of extremist Islam
• How Israel will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem

With Grant Jeffrey’s incisive and sometimes surprising analysis, you can understand the hidden agenda and powerful players behind today’s news headlines.

How Would Jesus Vote?: A Christian Perspective on the Issues ($0.99), by Jerry Newcombe & Dr.D. James Kennedy

Book Description
The 2008 election is shaping up to be one of the most important political contests in American history. In fact, Dr. D. James Kennedy believes it will be a watershed moment that could impact our very survival as a nation under God.

Values voters–people whose political views and votes are based on their faith in God–are being targeted as never before. As we move forward in the campaign season, the significant players will debate terrorism, radical Islam, nuclear threats, global warming, social issues, gay marriage, immigration, education, health care, and many other essential issues that can create sharp ideological divisions.

Into this overwhelmingly complex political situation, Dr. Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe bring a clear, compelling, and nonpartisan exploration of what God’s Word has to say on these critical matters. How Would Jesus Vote? isn’t intended to tell you which candidates to support; rather it offers you a Christ-centered understanding of the world to help you draw your own political conclusions.

This election, don’t cast an uninformed vote that fails to reflect your values. Instead, learn how to apply your faith and obedience to God to your ballot. This timely, helpful, and hopeful book will enable you to do just that.

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering ($0.99), by David Gregory

Book Description
You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth

The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.

The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

"You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe." He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."

As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever.

Great Deal on a GPS and Web Browser

It isn't a book reader, but the Garmin nüvi 295W 3.5-Inch Widescreen Wi-Fi Portable GPS Navigator that Amazon has on their Gold Box Deal of the Day looks like a fantastic deal on a unit that is also a web browser when around a wifi hotspot and a 3MP camera and MP3 player. Especially at $84.99 instead of the $279.99 list price shown (the unit has been discounted already, so it's only another $20 from the last price, but this looks like a blow-out attempt to make room for a newer model). I know that the GPS and web browser on my phone are two of the features I use a lot (surprisingly so on the GPS); adding this to a much less expensive phone, though, is probably a smarter option for most people. Since we are now in the extended holiday return period at Amazon (all purchases after Nov 1 can be returned until the end of January, rather than a 30-day return), this one might be perfect as a Christmas gift.

Description
nüvi 295W offers a new take on an old favorite with Wi-Fi® connectivity, a 3 MP camera with auto-focus, dual orientation capability and much more.

Get Connected
Wi-Fi connectivity on the nuvi 295W provides a full desktop web experience with an HTML browser so you can surf the web whenever and wherever you choose. Check your e-mail, including Hotmail, G-mail, AOL mail, POP3 and IMAP, and view email attachments in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF and JPG. You can also search an abundance of customer-rated points of interest (POIs), such as restaurants, hotels and more, using Google™ Local Search.

Get Going
With a single tap on the dual-oriented screen, you can avoid writing down addresses and go straight to your destination. nüvi 295W offers 1-touch navigation from your e-mail, address book (with up to 5,000 contacts) and local search results. Additionally, the unique 3 MP camera geotags pictures so you can create routes to them. You can also send the picture to a friend to route to or upload to the web to auto-locate on a map.

Go Beyond Navigation
nüvi 295W isn't just for navigation. A quick tap provides access to the lengthy feature set, including a calculator, stop watch, calendar, check lists and more. Also included are travel tools such as a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter and current and 5-day weather forecasts. With photo navigation, you can download pictures from Garmin Connect™ Photos and navigate to them. Garmin Locate™ automatically marks your position when you remove nüvi from your car so you'll never forget where you parked again, and nüvi 295W is compatible with the free Garmin Garage where you can download custom voices and vehicles. Enhance your travel experience with optional microSD™ cards.

• Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
• Spoken street names (e.g. "Turn right on Elm street in 500 ft.")
• Dual-orientation automatically switches between portrait and landscape view
• 3 MP camera with auto-focus
• Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity
• MP3 player with 2.5mm headphone jack/audio line-out
• 1-step navigation from contacts, e-mail, and local search results

Free Book (PDF) - Virtual Justice

Virtual Justice ($15.13 Kindle), by Greg Lastowka, is free as a PDF directly from the author.

Book Description
Tens of millions of people today are living part of their life in a virtual world. In places like World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Free Realms, people are making friends, building communities, creating art, and making real money. Business is booming on the virtual frontier, as billions of dollars are paid in exchange for pixels on screens. But sometimes things go wrong. Virtual criminals defraud online communities in pursuit of real-world profits. People feel cheated when their avatars lose virtual property to wrongdoers. Increasingly, they turn to legal systems for solutions. But when your avatar has been robbed, what law is there to assist you?

In Virtual Justice, Greg Lastowka illustrates the real legal dilemmas posed by virtual worlds. Presenting the most recent lawsuits and controversies, he explains how governments are responding to the chaos on the cyberspace frontier. After an engaging overview of the history and business models of today's virtual worlds, he explores how laws of property, jurisdiction, crime, and copyright are being adapted to pave the path of virtual law.

Virtual worlds are becoming more important to society with each passing year. This pioneering study will be an invaluable guide to scholars of online communities for years to come.

Click HERE for the free download.

Bargain Book Roundup - Holiday Reads

Hopefully you were reading this blog earlier last month and grabbed The Bite Before Christmas ($8.79) while it was briefly free for the Kindle. If not (or you've torn thru it, already), be sure to check out these bargain holiday reads before they go back up. Yes, I know it's too early for Christmas, but it's a retail reality and if you wait until the week before, many of these bargains will no doubt be gone (besides, you'll have more to do then and less time to check out the samples). A couple of these are even for other holidays this season (even Halloween), so you won't feel entirely rushed and will be well prepared for even New Year's Eve!

It's a bit past the season for A Catered Halloween ($4.47), by Isis Crawford, the fifth in her Mystery with Recipes series, but if you are reading these in holiday order (rather than publication), you'll need to read it quick before starting on A Catered Christmas ($9.99), which was just published this week, and A Catered Christmas ($5.59).

Book Description
With the promise of a hefty commission and some valuable word-of-mouth for their catering business, A Little Taste of Heaven, sisters Bernadette and Libby Simmons agree to cater the charity haunted house being staged at the old Peabody School. But when wealthy socialite Amethyst Applegate is found dead in the haunted house, Bernie and Libby wonder if a murderer might also be lurking about Peabody's gloomy halls. . .

While almost everyone Amethyst ever met might have a motive for killing her, not everyone had access to the Peabody School. All Bernie and Libby know is if they don't solve this mystery soon, they might become the next stars in a real-life horror flick. . .

Death in a Turkey Town ($3.99) is an indie published title from Melanie Jackson and is the third in her Chloe Boston Mystery series, which is followed by Murder on Parade ($3.99). With these two, you get both of the next holidays covered at a bargain rate.

Book Description
An overturned truck has left wild turkeys running loose in Hope Falls. Chloe Boston, unofficial detective and meter maid, is set the task of rounding them up. While Chloe is hunting turkeys she stumbles on a murder. The chief wants both turkeys and killer rounded up by Thanksgiving. Can Chloe do the seemingly impossible and also be maid of honor at her cousin's wedding when the groom is her main suspect?

The Plum Pudding Murder Bundle with Candy Cane Murder & Sugar Cookie Murder ($9.29), by Joanne Fluke (with novellas by Leslie Meier & Laura Levine) is a three-in-one bundle. even though I already have Candy Cane Murder, I'm considering this one just to get the other two, which are going for $11.98 combined. I do wish it contained Gingerbread Cookie Murder ($9.99), this year's novella anthology, instead, though.

Plum Pudding Murder
The yuletide season in Lake Eden, Minnesota, guarantees a white Christmas, delectable holiday goodies from Hannah Swensen's bakery, The Cookie Jar--and murder. As a shadow hangs over her friends' Christmas wedding, Hannah's determined to cook a killer's goose before anyone else gets burned. . .

The Cookie Jar's busiest time of the year also happens to be the most wonderful time. . .for Christmas cookies, Hannah's own special plum pudding--and romance! She also gets a kick out of "Lunatic Larry Jaeger's Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot," a kitschy carnival taking place smack-dab in the middle of the village green. But then Hannah discovers the man himself dead as a doornail in his own office. . .

Now, with so many suspects to investigate and the twelve days of Christmas ticking away, Hannah's running out of time to nab a murderous Scrooge who doesn't want her to see the New Year. . .

Includes Hannah's favorite Christmas dinner recipes!

Candy Cane Murder
‘Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and curling up by the Yuletide waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of holiday whodunits, murder is also paying a visit…

"Candy Cane Murder" By Joanne Fluke
When a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle…

"The Dangers Of Candy Canes" By Laura Levine
A wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane. Now it's up to Jaine Austen to sift through a long list of scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings to expose a murderer…

"Candy Canes Of Christmas Past" By Leslie Meier
Lucy Stone must learn the mystery of a glass candy cane that was found smashed to bits by a corpse's body to unlock the doors of Christmas past--and find a killer who got away with murder.

Whether a gift for yourself or that special someone on your list, there's no better way to spend the holidays than with these tantalizing mysteries of murder…

Includes over 10 luscious holiday recipes!

Sugar Cookie Murder
The holidays are the icing on the cake for bakery owner Hannah Swensen. Surrounded by her loved ones, she has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas--until murder is added to the mix. . .

When it comes to holidays, Minnesotans rise to the occasion--and the little town of Lake Eden is baking up a storm with Hannah leading the way. The annual Christmas Buffet is the final test of the recipes Hannah has collected for the Lake Eden Holiday Buffet Cookbook.

The recently divorced Martin Dubinski arrives at the buffet with his new Vegas showgirl wife--all wrapped up in glitter and fur. His ex-wife, however, seems as cool as chilled eggnog. And when Hannah's mother's antique Christmas cake knife disappears, its discovery in the décolletage of the new--and now late--Mrs. Dubinski puts the festivities on ice.

With everyone stranded at the community center by a blizzard, Hannah puts her investigative skills to the test, using the ingredients at hand: half the town of Lake Eden--and a killer. Now, as the snowdrifts get higher, it's up to Hannah to dig out all the clues--and make sure that this white Christmas doesn't bring any more deadly tidings…

Includes over fifty original recipes for you to try!

The Naughty List Bundle with The Night Before Christmas & Yule Be Mine ($9.99) includes stories/novellas from Donna Kauffman, Susan Fox, Kylie Adams, Katherine Garbera, Jill Shalvis, Lori Foster (full-length novel), Erin McCarthy, Cynthia Eden and Kathy Love.

The Naughty List -- Deck the halls with white-hot passion!

• Donna Kauffman's Naughty But Nice: Businessman Griffin's never believed in luck…until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there's a catch: There's no way he'll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new "lucky charm" could destroy all his dreams…or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible…
• Cynthia Eden's All I Want for Christmas: Good girl toy inventor Christie takes a walk on the naughty side when she sparks a no-strings fling with Santa--actually, sexy cop Jonas in a Santa suit. She loves her new "bad girl" persona, except as the holidays approach, she starts falling, and hard, for this known' "love 'em and leave 'em" ladies man. . .
• Susan Fox's Tattoos and Mistletoe: Charlie returns to her hometown to fix up her aunt's B&B, but she doesn't count on LJ handling the renovations. Nerdy LJ pined for her in school, but now he's grown into the town's hottest bachelor. Charlie's been burned before and won't let him get close. But LJ's determined to break down her walls and make her dearest Christmas wish come true.

The Night Before Christmas
'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house, things are definitely stirring…because if you're going to wait up for Santa, you might as well have some very sexy company…

• White Knight Christmas by New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster
• Snowed Under By Erin McCarthy
• Ms. Humbug By Jill Shalvis
• I'll Be Home For Christmas By Kathy Love
• Seducing Scrooge By Katherine Garbera
• The Good Girl's Guide To A Very Bad Christmas By Kylie Adams

Yule Be Mine
Sparkling days, crackling fires, long steamy nights…Christmas is all about making memories. In four delicious tales of seduction and romance, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings you all the pleasures of the season--and then some…

Booker Dean knows exactly what he wants for Christmas: his next-door neighbor, Frances Kennedy. And he's got a gift planned for her that involves lots of delicious unwrapping.

Officer Parker Ross hates Christmas, while Lily Donaldson lives for it. But he's willing to be converted, especially when Lily is the one doing the persuading.

Sergeant Osbourne Decker suspects pet psychic Marci Churchill is barking mad, but she's also a knockout. And when she's accused of stealing a donkey from the local nativity scene, he can't stop thinking about frisking her.

Furious at her cheating fiancé, Beth Monroe decides to enjoy a payback tryst with his gorgeous best friend, and finds that revenge is best served hot and sweet…

Kissing Santa Claus ($4.39), by Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & Helenkay Dimon is another novella anthology, which Publisher's Weekly said is "not quite hot enough to melt ice, but it's good, disposable fun."

Book Description
Three hottie humbugs find holiday magic where they least expect it...

Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells
Holly hates the yuletide season more than ever since she inherited her mother’s Christmas novelty shop, but her childhood pal Sean’s determined to warm her up—to Christmas and to him. When they uncover a diary concealing secrets involving both their families, this could be the Christmas that changes their lives forever…

Bah Handsome!
Behind on her bills, B&B owner Hope receives an unlikely guest—stranded solicitor Danny, who’s been threatening to put her out of business. Hope’s staff sees more fire than fight in the sparks that fly as they try and bring Hope and Danny together, but only a Christmas miracle can help these unlikely lovers see the light…

\It’s Hotter at Christmas
Hawaii’s no paradise for Marissa, who, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can’t seem to get away from the sand to enjoy her Christmas East Coast style—with plenty of snow and slush. But tall, dark, and serious police officer Ted’s about to give this bad Santa in heels a Mele Kalikimaka she’ll never forget…

Jingle Hells ($3.99), by Misty Evans, is also indie-published. This one follows Witches Anonymous ($2.80) and appears to be relatively short (97K in size).

Book Description
Word’s gotten around Heaven (and Hell) that Amy tricked the angel Gabriel and helped Adam with his second trial with temptation. Now Samson shows up on her doorstep looking for true love, and Delilah’s not far behind, insisting she wasn’t the one who cut off his hair.

In order to get both of them out of her ice cream shop and back into each others’ arms, Amy must become a relationship expert and a detective while completing Step Two of Witches Anonymous. But will believing in a higher power help Amy in her quest, or make matters worse?

The Treasure of Christmas: A 3-in-1 Collection and The Joy of Christmas: A 3-in-1 Collection ($9.99 each), by Melody Carlson, each collect 3 of her Christmas themed novels into single volume. I checked my library and the only overlap I found was The Christmas Bus ($6.29), which I picked up when it was free last year. Checking the prices of some of the other novels contained, just The Christmas Dog alone is selling for $9.68, three are not available as ebooks (two are also out of print, and the other two are over $6 each. So if this Christian author is one that you read, you should definitely grab these before the prices goes up.

The Christmas Bus
It's only two weeks before Christmas, and Edith Ryan is disappointed to learn that none of her children is coming home for the holidays. She decides to invite strangers to rent rooms usually reserved for family during the week of Christmas. When the guest list shapes up to include a cantankerous old woman and a young couple with a broken-down hippie bus and a baby on the way, Edith wonders if she made the right choice. Will this strange assortment of guests ruin Christmas? Or could she be entertaining angels unaware?

The Gift of Christmas Present
Christine Bradley couldn't have been more surprised when, shortly after her mother's death, her father revealed that Christine had been adopted at birth. As she grapples with the revelation, Christine determines to find what's left of her biological family. As Christmas nears and Christine draws closer to the truth about her heritage, she finds an unexpected gift in the family she never knew she had.

Angels in the Snow
Looking for solace after the deaths of her husband and young son, artist Claire Andrews flees to a cabin in the Cascade Mountains. As Claire walks through the woods each day, she discovers two mysterious sets of footprints in the snow, an adult's and a child's. Is she imagining them? And how is it that the tracks are gently leading her to paint--and to hope--once again?

An Irish Christmas A well-hidden secret has haunted Colleen for twenty years. Her husband made her promise she would never speak of it again, but now he's gone and life seems so out of control. Will her fragile relationship with her adult son Jamie survive the truth she's hidden for so long? Colleen decides it's time for the two of them to take a trip together--to Ireland. This will be a Christmas they will never forget.

All I Have to Give
Anna wants this to be the best Christmas ever, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that. But what happens when everything and everyone around her seems to be falling apart? Fortunately for her, as often happens at this time of year, there are miracles in store. And what she unwraps for Christmas will surprise everyone.

The Christmas Dog
Betty Kowalski just can't seem to find Christmas in her heart this year. Maybe it's because her husband has passed away. Maybe it's because she's missing her children who no longer live nearby. Or maybe it has something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn. But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about.

Jingle Bells, Shotgun Shells: A Christmas Murder Mystery ($2.99), by Annis Ward Jackson, is a short indie-published murder mystery. No reviews yet, but I did see a recommendation from a reader in the Amazon forums.

Book Description
A career Marine MP, seriously injured in a terrorist bombing, decides to try life as a police chief in a small town in eastern North Carolina.

While attempting to familiarize himself with the town's crime history he finds a red envelope containing reports on four murders from four separate years, all committed around Christmas.

Chief Ellis Crawford has only a few days to solve these murders and prevent the next, which he is convinced will be on Christmas Day.

No Christmas reading list is complete without at least one title from Debbie Macomber and this one is no exception. Angels at Christmas ($4.29) is one that wasn't included in my September Bargain Roundup, which included several of her titles (and most of those are still at bargain prices). Christmas Wishes: Christmas Letters\Rainy Day Kisses ($5.76) is a double novel title, both with a Christmas theme.

Angels at Christmas
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!

Christmas Letters
Katherine O'Connor (known as K.O.) adores her five-year-old twin nieces and strongly objects to her sister's plans to dispense with Christmas. Zelda is following the theories of child psychologist Wynn Jeffries, author of The Free Child (and, as it happens, K.O.'s neighbor). K.O. is particularly horrified by his edict to "bury Santa under the sleigh," and she's out to prove that Wynn and his ideas are full of...snow. He's not going to ruin her nieces' Christmas! Too bad the guy's so darned attractive...

Rainy Day Kisses 
Seventeen years ago Susannah Simmons was a career girl who knew nothing about babies. But after babysitting her infant niece, Michelle, Susannah learned that one determined and screaming baby can make the corporate world look like...child's play. Thank goodness for her charming neighbor Nate Townsend. Now he's her charming husband, and Susannah's a mother as well as an aunt. And every Christmas Eve, Michelle tells her cousins how their mom met their dad a story in which she plays a starring role.

Scrooge & Cratchit: A Sequel to 'A Christmas Carol' ($0.99), by Matt McHugh, is a short-story that takes place after several years after that oh-so-famous Christmas tale. So far, it has stellar reviews, but be aware that it's only about a 30 minute read.

Book Description
I first published "Scrooge & Cratchit" in 2002 as a small booklet circulated mostly among friends, with perhaps a few dozen copies sold beyond that. However, after I posted the story on my website, I was gratified to receive, from time to time, messages of interest from far-flung readers who happened to discover it online.

This left me intrigued by the growing reach of electronic books, but mainly impressed by the enduring interest in 'A Christmas Carol', going strong after a century-and-a-half...a work that remains unrivalled on many levels.

Like all great art, 'A Christmas Carol' connects to different generations because it addresses universal human concerns. Why do good men succumb to selfishness and greed? How does one person's life affect others? We all face questions like these, yet few have ever dramatized them with Dickens' grace and clarity.

The original says very little of the story's aftermath. I often wondered how that might play out. How does a reformed man deal with the burden of past guilt? How would those who knew Scrooge before and after his transformation relate to him?

If it seems presumptuous to attempt a follow-up to 'A Christmas Carol', consider the myriad film and stage adaptations, and I hope my story will be seen as part of an ongoing cultural conversation about a classic tale. Whatever merits my story may have, readers can judge for themselves. For my part, the experience of creating it has only deepened my appreciation for the source that inspired it.


Leaving Christmas behind, be sure to check out New Year's Eve Murder ($4.39), by Leslie Meier. I'm hoping that her Wicked Witch Murder ($9.99) goes down in price in time for next year's witching season.

Book Description
After the annual parade of Christmas presents in Tinker's Cove has ended, Lucy Stone and her daughter Elizabeth are ready to ring in the new year in style. Elizabeth has won mother/daughter winter makeovers in Manhattan from Jolie magazine! But the all-expenses-paid trip is bound to have some hidden costs--and one of them is murder. . .

After finally arriving at the offices of Jolie, meeting their fellow makeover candidates, and being treated to a fashion show, Elizabeth is enamored of the extreme outfits and stick-thin models--while Lucy's having some misgivings. The pampering is nice and the glitz and glamour of haute couture is bizarrely fascinating, but bitterness and aggression lurk behind Jolie's hipper-than-thou façade. And things turn downright ugly when self-absorbed fashion editor Nadine Nelson falls mysteriously ill and then dies. . .

Lucy saw first-hand some of the backstabbing going on at Jolie. And the red-hot rumor mill soon reveals that the cliquish connection among the magazine's cabal of high-style executives has stirred up plenty of bad blood over the years. But this Manhattan murder mystery hits too close to home when Elizabeth gets rushed to the hospital with symptoms that are disturbingly similar to Nadine's. Now, it's up to Lucy to dress down a killer before the ball drops in Times Square. . .

The Haircut, a New Year's Tale ($0.99), by Donna Callea, finishes up this book roundup.

Book Description
Two days after Christmas, 1948, in a city that could be New York, a young woman prepares to get a life-altering haircut. She's a princess, a post-war refugee, from an Eastern European principality that no longer exists. And she's being forced by her guardians-- her nefarious aunt and uncle-- to marry an obscenely rich industrialist who's got something of a hair fetish. The man, it seems, is aroused only by her amazingly long, glorious hair. So to save herself, she decides to get it all cut off. But she doesn't count on falling in love with the handsome young barber who refuses, at first, to do her bidding. Nor does the barber count on becoming entranced by the strangest customer he's ever encountered. Even after the severely shorn former princess is beaten beyond recognition for her act of rebellion, the barber, a widower still grieving for his late wife, finds her irresistible. Add to the mix Misha, an angel from the Old Country whose specialty is New Year's Eve. Ultimately, "The Haircut" is a story that weaves whimsy with romance, plus more serious themes, as it underscores the timelessness and hope of the season in which it's set.

Great Deals on Magazines PLUS Win One of 30 Kindles

Just in time for holiday giving, Amazon has dropped the price of many of their print magazine subscriptions, with some as low as $4.95/year. Be sure to click on each category, including More Discounted Magazines, as some of the multi-year deals (such as the 2 year subscription to Organic Gardening at $18.84) are located there. I also found discounts on many magazine product pages that are not highlighted on the deals page, so be sure to check out your favorites; you may not want to subscribe to Dish (a high end food magazine going for $111.58/year), but Cooking Light (one of my favorites) is discounted to $12/year.

Amazon has also added an additional incentive to order early this year, as they are also giving away 30 Kindles this month (one for each day of the week, although each entry period runs for several days). You can enter up to five times a day and each print magazine subscription is a single entry, so space those orders out, if you were going to buy more than one (you can also enter by mail, with no purchase necessary). You can use the Amazon subscriptions to buy for yourself, including extending an existing subscription, or give as a gift to someone else (complete with a gift card to print out to give to the recipient).

Magazines Kindle-A-Day Giveaway

Amazon is giving away 30 Kindles for the month of November, and when you subscribe to a print magazine at Amazon.com, you're automatically entered for a chance to win. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 11/30/10. See official rules.

Eleven Free Short Stories from Rainbow EBooks

This weekend (only), Rainbow EBooks has eleven free gay-themed short-story downloads (actually, ten short stories and one excerpt book) as well as a 20% off sale on Rick Reed's titles (and a contest to win a PDF version of his latest, Tricks ($6.99 Kindle), which is entered by purchasing any of his other titles). These are the free stories (with slightly censored titles and descriptions):

Fell, by J.T. Marie
Two wood nymphs play a deadly game that goes farther than they anticipated. This free story appears in my collection, Bones of the Sea and Other Stories, and is offered here as a sample of my writing. ...

Foreplay, by J.M. Snyder
FOREPLAY is a collection of excerpts from all J.M. Snyder's gay erotic romance currently available in print. This means only those books available for sale in paperback are included, though all titles in FOREPLAY are available as e-books from the author's website.

F*** the Foreplay, by J.M. Snyder
Tory's a freshman in college who can't stand being away from his boyfriend Jon for long. When his roommate decides to head home for the weekend, Tory invites Jon to stay at the dorm. The moment Jon arrives, Tory can't wait to get their romantic get-together underway. This fast-paced, sizzling hot s...

Joy Ride, by J.M. Snyder
Mack puts up with Brad’s flirtatious banter because he doesn’t think there’s anything serious about it. But when Brad goads him into a race, Mack takes the opportunity to find out just how far the younger biker will go when they’re finally alone. NOTE: This story appears in ...
 
Love in the Library, by J.M. Snyder
Johnny's job at the campus library isn't as glamorous as it sounds. In fact, when the wheels of the returns cart get stuck in the gap between the floor and the elevator, he's ready to just quit right there. But a stranger's kindness leads to chance encounter that improves Johnny's whole semester. ...

The Name on My Wrist, by J.M. Snyder
James, middle-aged, is given to one-night flings with younger men in whom he searches for someone he lost long ago. A random comment by his latest catch draws his mind back to the past, to a boy he once loved so fiercely, a boy drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam. A boy lost in the war. A boy Jame...
 
Parking Lot Hero, by J.M. Snyder
It's the weekend of the Super Bowl. Vic is looking forward to a quiet Saturday with his lover, Matt. But when a trio of ruffians terrorize their landlady in the parking lot of the local grocery story, Vic finds the superhero in him called to action. This fast-paced, sizzling hot short story is offe...

Render, by J.M. Snyder
Corey Evans and Ian Coltraine comprise the pop duo 2ICE. Their romance is told in my novella Beautiful Disaster, published by Amber Allure Press. But before they became lovers, they were simply band mates on tour. In Render, an accident onstage leaves Corey hurt and vulnerable. This flash story is ...

A Susan S**** Mystery: Peril Over the Carport, by Michael G. Cornelius
Glamorous British air hostess Shirley Flighty and her crew have moved in to the luxurious apartment over Susan's garage. But then mysterious things begin to happen over the S**** family carport -- including the appearance of a dreadful sky phantom! Can Susan earn her wings by solving this haunting ...

A Susan S**** Mystery: Susan S**** Solves the Mystery, by Michael G. Cornelius
Porkerville is hosting a sleuthing convention, and all the great detectives are there: Fancy Few, the Baccardi Boys, the Boobsey Twins, the Dinah Girls, and many more! But when a real mystery threatens to ruin the convention, can Susan S**** save the day and solve the crisis before any of the other...

The Way to Will, by Drew Hunt
Just before rushing off to catch his plane home after a two-week bus tour of Florida, Will Thompson tells Graham Knight that he loves him. ...

Click HERE for the free downloads. It appears that all of these have multiple formats available, so you should be able to find a version for any reader (or be able to convert via Calibre).

Free Book (nook) - Almost Heaven

Almost Heaven (9.57 Kindle), by Chris Fabry, is free for the nook at Barnes and Noble, courtesy of Christian publisher Tyndale House.

Book Description
Billy Allman is a hillbilly genius. People in Dogwood, West Virginia, say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin but was cut short on social skills. Though he’d gladly give you the shirt off his back, they were right. Billy longs to use his life as an ode to God, a lyrical, beautiful bluegrass song played with a finely tuned heart. So with spare parts from a lifetime of collecting, he builds a radio station in his own home. People in town laugh. But Billy carries a brutal secret that keeps him from significance and purpose. Things always seem to go wrong for him.

However small his life seems, from a different perspective Billy’s song reaches far beyond the hills and hollers he calls home. Malachi is an angel sent to observe Billy. Though it is not his dream assignment, Malachi follows the man and begins to see the bigger picture of how each painful step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful symphony that will forever change the lives of those who hear it.

Click HERE to get the free download from B&N.

Free Audiobook - Don't Waste Your Life

christianaudio, Crossway Books, and Desiring God have partnered together to bring you the audiobook download of Don't Waste Your Life ($7.79 Kindle) by John Piper, narrated by Lloyd James (one of the narrators from last month's free selection), for free during the month of November.

Book Description
John Piper writes, "I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells. . . .' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy.

"God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives."

Most people slip by in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial diversions, living for comfort and pleasure, and perhaps trying to avoid sin. This book will warn you not to get caught up in a life that counts for nothing. It will challenge you to live and die boasting in the cross of Christ and making the glory of God your singular passion. If you believe that to live is Christ and to die is gain, read this book, learn to live for Christ, and don’t waste your life!

On the order page, you'll also find the links to get a free copy of the Don't Waste Your Life PDF study guide, the Don't Waste Your Life MP3 message and a discount on buying the paper copy of the book ($6.50). Lower down on the order page, you'll also find discounted ($4.98) downloads for more from John Piper: The Pleasures of God, Finally Alive, Think, What Jesus Demands from the World, When I Don't Desire God and This Momentary Marriage, with more listed on the author's page.

Get your free audio download HERE. They have updated the checkout process; a coupon code is no longer required. After you finishing your order, you will be asked which format you prefer to download - select MP3 if you want to be able to play the book on your Kindle.

Leather or Hard Case for Kindle 3 under $10, iPad under $7

I just ran across these great deals on a case for the Kindle 3 (most of the deals I've seen have been for the Kindle 2 and those won't fit the K3 properly).

mCover® Black Leather Folio Cover Cover Case ($9.95). What I really like about this case is the pocket on the side and how it appears that the Kindle will be very securely held. Looks like those who have one agree, as it has only 4 and 5 star reviews. There is even a video in one "review" that shows how the Kindle fits into the case. There are more colors shown on the product page than black, but so far, this appears to be the only one available (I'd bet the cream/white one will sell well, once it is available, though).

Description

• Custom designed to fit the latest 3rd generation Kindle (6" Display, WIFI & 3G model) perfectly
• Design to protect ALL corners for Kindle 3 reader
• Built-in inner pocket to hold miscellanous stuff like money or credit cards
• All ports, keys and controls accessible

Clear mCover® Polycarbonate Hard Shell Cover Case ($9.99), includes a built-in stand, for reading hands free or using the Kindle in your Kitchen.

Description

• Made of USA-made high-quality DOW polycarbonate material, which is shatter-proof and will protect your kindle 3 eBook reader all around.
• Custom designed to protect and fit the Kindle 3 perfectly
• Clear hard screen protector included. 30-day no-question-asked
• Full-money-back guarantee 
• The ONLY Kindle 3 hard case with foldable/retractable feet to let the kindle 3 stand on the table so that you can read more comfortably. The foldable feet folds flat at one finger's touch.
• 2-piece(top + bottom) light-weight(only 3 oz or 75 g) shell cases easily snaps on and off.
  

The Green iPearl mCover® High Grade Silicone Skin Cover Case ($4.99) is brand new, it appears (and also comes in purple and orange at the same price).

Description

• Made of high-quality durable, washable, soft silicone material.
• Custom designed to protect and fit the Kindle 3 perfectly
• Use the charger, cable or headset without removing the skin or leather case
• Prevent your Amazon kindle 3 from scratches and accidental drops
• Lightweight to allow you to read comfortably for extended periods of time
  

If you do a search at Amazon for mCover Kindle cases, you'll find a few other styles as well, at various prices, all discounted significantly from list.

If your Kindle reader is really an iPad, you'll definitely want to look at the Leather Carrying Case Cover/Folio With Built-in Stand for Apple iPad ($6.53). This is the case I have on my iPad and I really like it (even though I paid nearly 80 cents more than this sale price!). It snaps close when shut and works well for viewing the iPad horizontally, which works great for movies or using the picture viewer. If I was ordering today, I'd have to also consider their updated design ($14.95), which snaps in the middle, rather than the top, and has larger pockets to carry full size pages and not just business cards and a couple of memory cards.

Description

• 13 setting adjustable stand that holds iPad at an ideal angle for watching videos and slideshows
• Professionally Designed Case Holds Apple iPad Perfectly on all sides. No cheap, unreliable straps.
• Perfect for Carrying to Work or Traveling
• Secure flap to ensure ipad is safe when loaded into the pouch

Game of the Day - Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews: The Fixer Upper ($2.99), a game download for your PC, is Amazon's Video Game Deal of the Day.

Game Description
After her boss in a high-powered Washington public relations firm is caught in a political scandal, fledgling lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left almost broke, unemployed, and homeless. Out of options, she reluctantly accepts her father's offer to help refurbish Birdsong, the old family place he recently inherited in Guthrie, Georgia. All it will take, he tells her, is a little paint and some TLC to turn the fading Victorian mansion into a real-estate cash cow.

But, oh, is Dempsey in for a surprise when she arrives in Guthrie. "Bird Droppings" would more aptly describe the moldering Pepto Bismol–pink dump with duct-taped windows and a driveway full of junk. There's also a murderously grumpy old lady, one of Dempsey's distant relations, who has claimed squatter's rights and isn't moving out. Ever!

Furthermore, everyone in Guthrie seems to know Dempsey's business, from a smooth-talking real-estate agent to a cute lawyer who owns the local newspaper. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the pesky FBI agents who show up on Dempsey's doorstep, hoping to pry information about her ex-boss from her.

All Dempsey can do is roll up her sleeves and get to work. And before long, what started as a job of necessity somehow becomes a labor of love and, ultimately, a journey that takes her to a place she never expected—back home again.

• Based on the New York Times bestseller from Mary Kay Andrews.
• Watch Birdsong transform throughout the game as you work to restore it.
• Help Dempsey restore Birdsong and clear her name!
• Over 30 levels of hidden object gameplay
• Over 15 mini games to help fix up the house.

Free Book - Honour of the Grave

Honour of the Grave, by Robin Laws, the first in his Angelika Fleischer trilogy, is this week's free book from The Black Library. Just as with previous week's selections, this is an out of print paperback that has just been introduced in ebook form (and isn't in the Kindle store). You can, however, read it on your Kindle by downloading the DRM-free Mobi version from the website below (click with your Kindle and it should load automatically).

Book Description
Follow our battlefield looting heroine and her painfully good-hearted deserter sidekick Franziskus as they find themselves entangled in the hunt for a young noble, subject to a pitiless family tradition.

As the Empire's mighty armies clash against the rampaging hordes of evil, they leave in their wake the detritus of war, including the dead and the dying. Resourceful Angelika Fleischer ekes a living by looting the bloody battlefields, searching for the trinkets and gold carried by soldiers of all sides. But an encounter with the mysterious Kopf brothers leaves Angelika desperate to discover the dark truth behind their quest to find their missing brother before the sweeping tide of battle overtakes them all.

Click HERE for the free book; you can choose between the EPUB and MOBI formats and both are DRM-Free! While you are there, be sure to pick up the previous weeks' books, as well, as they are still available.

Free Book (PDF) - Vampire Lover

Vampire Lover ($2.39 Kindle), by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, a paranormal romance novella from Harlequin, is free from Books on Board, in PDF format only. It is DRM-free, however, so you can read it as-is on most readers or email it to your Kindle for conversion.

Book Description
Kelsie Connor is looking for a big headline to jumpstart her career as a journalist--like proving the existence of vampires and werewolves. She's always felt that Others exist, though she's never met one herself. So on the night of the Blood Moon, Kelsie goes looking for a werewolf...but meets a vampire instead. A vampire who makes her blood run hot and makes her feel things she never imagined a body could feel.

Hayden Flann had been secretly watching Kelsie for some time, drawn to her by a powerful bloodlust and equally strong sexual attraction. But Hayden recognizes that he and Kelsie are connected by more than passion. Little does she know that Hayden is not just her lover--he's also her enemy, born to seduce her before he kills her....

Click HERE for the free book. When you click on Buy Now, be careful to then add the "Adobe Digital Editions" version to your cart, as it is the only free format. Then continue thru checkout and download the PDF.

Free Book - The Demon Girl

The Demon Girl, by Penelope Fletcher, is free in the UK store only (it is available to US and UK customers in the US store, but is $0.99 or £1.33, respectively). It's also free on Smashwords, for all countries and in multiple, DRM-free formats.

Book Description
Rae Wilder has problems. Plunged into a world of dark magic, fierce creatures and ritual sacrifice, she is charged with a guarding a magical amulet. Rae finds herself beaten up, repeatedly, and forced to make a choice: to live and die human, or embrace her birth-right and wield magics that could turn her into something wicked, a force of nature nothing can control.

Click HERE to get the book free from Smashwords.

Free Book (nook) - Crush

Crush ($6.39), by Alan Jacobson, is this week's free Friday book at Barnes and Noble. It isn't free at Amazon, but that might change if every reader uses the "tell us about a lower price?" button on the Amazon page. This is the second book in his Karen Vail series/trilogy and I now have the complete series, all as free downloads (although not all from the same bookstore).

Book Description
Fresh off the most challenging case of her career, The 7th Victim heroine and renowned FBI profiler Karen Vail returns in an explosive thriller set against the backdrop of California’s wine country. Hoping to find solace from the demons that haunt her, Vail makes her first trip to the Napa Valley. But shortly after arriving, a victim is found in the deepest reaches of an exclusive wine cave, the work of an extraordinarily unpredictable serial killer. From the outset, Vail is frustrated by her inability to profile the offender—until she realizes why: the Behavioral Analysis Unit has not previously encountered a killer like him. As Vail and the task force work around the clock to identify and locate him, they’re caught in a web knotted with secretive organizations, a decades-long feud between prominent wine families, and widespread corruption that leads Vail to wonder whom, if anyone, she can trust. Meanwhile, as the victim count rises, Vail can't shake the gnawing sense that something isn't right. With the killer’s actions threatening the Napa Valley’s multi-billion dollar industry, the stakes have never been greater, and the race to find the killer never more urgent. And through it all, a surprise lurks…one that Karen Vail never sees coming. Meticulously researched during years of work with the FBI profiling unit and extensive interviews with wine industry professionals, bestselling author Alan Jacobson delivers a high-velocity thriller featuring the kind of edge-of-your-seat ending that inspired Nelson DeMille to call him "a hell of a writer."

Click HERE for the free download. If you haven't used the B&N store since their (generally unliked, from comments on their forums) update, you now use the "Download Now" button to add a free book to your library, rather than a "Buy" button. In addition, they are notorious for glitches in ordering, so always check both the confirmation page and the email you receive, to make sure you are not charged for one of their free books. The worst they've gotten me for was a penny (but over 60 times in a row, when they first opened (which freaked out my credit card company), but last week they were charging numerous people full price on the freebie books.