I've moved!

I've moved!

Thanks for stopping by, but it appears you are using a (very) old address for my blog. I've moved to a Wordpress site and you'll need to update your bookmarks for Books on the Knob

I've moved!

Custom Search

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Free Book (nook) - Founding America

The Barnes & Noble Classics Series edition of Founding America: Documents from the Revolution to the Bill of Rights, by Jack N. Rakove, is free at B&N tonight. Their editions generally sell for $2-$4, but are occasionally offered as free downloads.

Biography
Jack N. Rakove is W. R. Coe Professor of History and American Studies and Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, where he has taught since 1980. He is the author of four books on the American Revolutionary era, including The Beginnings of National Politics: An Interpretive History of the Continental Congress, James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic, and Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution, which received the 1997 Pulitzer Prize in History.

Book Description
Modern American politicians refer to “the founders” so often that they’re in danger of becoming clichĂ©s. But Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abigail and John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, James Madison, James Monroe, and the other authors included in this new collection were a wholly unique.

Free Book (nook) - Bostonians

The Barnes & Noble Classics Series edition of Bostonians, by Henry James and Siri Hustvedt, is free at B&N tonight. Their editions generally sell for $2-$4, but are occasionally offered as free downloads.

Biography
Henry James was a master at tracing the social boundaries of the Gilded Age -- between Old and New World, Europe and America, desire and convention, men and women. He brought an invaluably clear-eyed, and critical, sensibility to America's evolving cultural mores.

Book Description
The Bostonians, by Henry James, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:

  • New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
  • Biographies of the authors
  • Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
  • Footnotes and endnotes
  • Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
  • Comments by other famous authors
  • Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
  • Bibliographies for further reading
  • Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.

Nearly a century before the birth of the contemporary feminist movement, Henry James dealt with its nineteenth-century forerunner in The Bostonians. Mixing acute social observation and psychological analysis with mordant humor, James hangs his story on a unique instance of the traditional romantic triangle. At its apex stands the vibrantly beautiful Verena Tarrant, an intense public speaker who arouses the passions of two very different people. Olive Chancellor, a Boston-bred suffragette, dreams of turning Verena into a fiery campaigner for women’s rights. Basil Ransom, a Mississippi-bred lawyer, dreams of turning her into his wife. As these two struggle for possession of Verena’s soul—and body—their confusions, crises, and conflicts begin almost preternaturally to prefigure today’s sexual politics. In fact, James’s complex portrait of Olive and her ideals, savagely satirical yet sympathetic and so controversial when it first appeared, continues to evoke both anger and admiration. But he treats Verena and Basil with equal complexity, climaxed by the novel’s quietly haunting final sentence.

Siri Hustvedt earned a Ph.D. in English from Columbia University in 1986 and is the author of a book of poetry, Reading to You; three novels: The Blindfold, The Enchantment of Lily Dahl, and What I Loved; and a book of essays, Yonder.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Coniferpalooza Book Giveaway Tonight

I have an exclusive giveaway for my night owl readers tonight.

Dave Conifer has set up 100% discount coupons for his books at Smashwords. There is a limit of 35 copies of each book and the coupons are live until midnight EST, which gives you just under 4 hours to try your luck. Here are the links and codes

If you miss out on the free copies, he has them all marked down to 99 cents at the moment. The genres are these are spread all over, with some geared towards adult readers and others young adult. I suspect nearly everyone could find at least one with a theme they enjoy.

Two Buck Pre-Orders

Two pre-orders at under $2 today and both are re-issues of older books, with added materials (no doubt excerpts from upcoming releases). I'm including links to the older editions of each, so you can take a look at the samples before ordering (make sure you order the $2 edition using the links below and don't accidentally buy via the Kindle at full price).

Destined for an Early Grave with Bonus Material ($1.99; Original edition $6.99), by Jeaniene Frost, is the fourth book in her Night Huntress series. Works out great for me, as I have the first three and ordered this one immediately (don't know why I didn't have book four yet, as it's a great series, IMO). I've attached the correct cover here, as the order page at Amazon incorrectly shows the cover for the upcoming release, This Side of the Grave ($7.99, Feb 22).

Book Description
Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.


Gone Low Price with Bonus Material ($1.99; Original edition $7.99), by Michael Grant, is the first in a SciFi/apocalyptic series for teens/young adults. I haven't read this one, but I'll be trying out a sample. The upcoming release in this series is Plague ($9.99, April 5).

Book Description
In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Free Book - The Spurned Viscountess

Today only, you can download The Spurned Viscountess ($4.61 Kindle), by Shelley Munro, from Carina Press for free, using coupon code SPURNEDFREE. This book was previously published under the title Second Seduction, but has been revised in this edition.

Book Description
Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind's only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn't expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry—not when he's plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.

Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close—and tempted into passionate kisses—Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife...


Click HERE to add the free book to your cart, then enter the coupon code on the Checkout page; double check your total for $0.00 before clicking on Place Your Order. The download is DRM-free, so get the EPUB format for easy conversion via Calibre or the PDF to have Amazon do the conversion. You'll generally get better results from the EPUB, but the PDF should convert OK.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Free Book Update (Kindle/nook) - Bond With Me

Bond With Me, by Anne Marsh, is now also free in the Kindle store, in addition to B&N.

Book Description
As fallen angels, Brends and his brethren can grant humans any fantasy they choose. But in exchange they demand a bond, and only a woman who dares all accepts the invitation, “Bond with me.”

Click HERE for the free download from B&N.

Wii Dance and Rhythm Game Sale


If you combine two different deals at Amazon, Buy One Ubisoft Wii Dance Title, Get a Wii Game 30% Off and Beat the Winter Blues--Warm Up with Hot Deals on Rhythm & Dance Games, you can get a great deal on two titles that will get you (and your kids) moving in front of the tv, rather than just sitting on the couch in front of it. The first sale requires you to buy one of the four following titles, which are currently marked $10 off list price due to the second sale (and there are more than just these four on that sale, as well, at $10 or more off):
Then, you can get 30% off on any of the other titles in the first sale (which has 267 titles included). If you want to take advantage of this sale more than once, be sure to start over with a new order, matching one of the four titles above with one of the titles from the Ubisoft list. Don't use one-click for this one, as you'll want to double check your total on the checkout page, to make sure it has been reduced by 30% of the price of the second title.

Free Book (nook) - The Impaler

The Impaler ($4.69 Kindle), by Gregory Funaro, was a briefly free pre-order on Kindle (a few hours) at the end of last month. Today is the release date and it's free at B&N. I couldn't hazard a guess as to whether it's a mistake there, as well or it might end up free on Kindle (as happened with Darkness Dawns, the other pre-order that was free only a few hours that same day).

Book Description
A Killer Without A Conscience
The crimes are barbaric. The victims are found in desolate rural areas, naked and impaled on long wooden stakes. There are no clues. No DNA evidence. Just a message, etched over and over again on one broken body: "I have returned."

Without Control
FBI Agent Sam Markham's last investigation ended with a serial killer's death and Sam's promotion. But back then, Sam had luck on his side. This time, the murderer's methods are evolving too fast, his bloodlust growing too swiftly. This time, no one is safe.

Without Limits
With each mutilated body, new depths to The Impaler's brutality are revealed. And as the clues finally slip into place, Sam will discover how easy it is to cross the line from hunter--to hunted. . .


Click HERE for the free download from B&N.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Free Music Reminder

Today is Valentine's Day, which is the last day to use the $2 free MP3 credit that Amazon is giving everyone. I first wrote about it here and since then have determined that you can actually add the credit to your account, without sending a gift, then use the credit on any MP3 at Amazon. Which means, you get two songs for free (using the averages 99 cents/song Amazon charges), two bucks off an album such as Frank Sinatra's Songs For Swingin' Lovers! ($3.99) or even a free album if you buy something like Crowd Scene ($1.78) or The Git Go-live At The Village Vanguard ($1.78) by the Mal Waldron Quintet (both are 45-50 minute long jazz albums with two cuts, originally one per side of an LP).

All you have to do is go to the Redemption page, click on the Enter Your Code button, enter the promotion code VDAYMP3S and you'll get $2 to spend on MP3's at Amazon. The only catch? You have to use it today.

Stumped for an album to buy? You might want to pick up something by Jazz pianist George Shearing, who passed away today, at 91. Most of it was recorded long ago (some on 78's), so don't expect the pristine sound of today's studios, but do plan on some excellent piano playing. Or, explore this month's $5 albums from artists such as Norah Jones.

I've also turned up a number of additional free songs and albums for you to download. I've put the heavy metal towards the end (it's not my style) and the more jazz/valentine's day selections towards the top and middle.
Remember, to enjoy these on your Kindle, all you have to do is drag them into the Kindle's \music folder while connected via USB. You can use the Amazon Downloader to open your music folder and just drag over entire directories, since the Kindle doesn't care about folders and ignores them. This makes it easy to copy over a few artists, then remove them and add new ones when you are tired of those.

New Kindle Game - The Warlock of Firetop Mountain

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain ($3.99) is a new game for Kindle from Worldweaver. Based upon the Fighting Fantasy Adventure series of books from the 70's, this is more of a game, with RPG elements, than just a choose-your-own-path book. The book this one is based upon is out of print, but you can still pick up used copies ($0.89+).

Book Description
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain brings the popular game book series Fighting Fantasy by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone to Kindle devices.

Deep in the caverns beneath Firetop Mountain lies an untold wealth of treasure, guarded by a powerful Warlock - or so the rumour goes. Many adventurers have set off in search of the Warlock's hoard. None has ever returned. Do you dare follow them?

Enjoy this heroic solo adventure with classic role-playing and combat features. As you play you choose different paths to explore Firetop Mountain. Each room or cave brings choices, ensuring hours of entertainment as you play or replay the story. A convenient in-game map tracks places you have visited and monsters or items encountered. Intuitive dice-based combat and game mechanics simulate the pen-and-paper experience.

You are the hero! You decide which route to take, which dangers to risk and which creatures to fight. But be warned - it will also be you who has to live or die by the consequences of your actions.

Free and Bargain Book Roundup

Tonight's roundup has some book bundles and some publisher set price discounts, which should be the same at Kobobooks.com or Barnes and Noble, as well as a few that Amazon has temporarily dropped in price (which are the most likely to change at any time) and a couple that are found outside of Amazon. New Kobo coupon codes (non-Agency books) are Feb11us1, Feb11ca1 (both $1 off, up to three books)and thirtyoff (30% one use), while these may also still be valid: 35%offbook (one use), save25kobo (25% off, unlimited), FirstRead and fbreading (35% one use). Fictionwise is having a 55% off sale, using coupon code loveday2011, which means there are some great deals; their multiformat books work with all readers, including Kindles. Their EREADER format works with nook only (not nookcolor), EPUBs with Sony, Kobo or nook and the few Mobi formats still there (very few) are not Kindle compatible).

Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage ($8.12 Kindle), by Kevin Leman, is free once again at B&N.

The only reason I didn't order Dante Valentine: The Complete Series ($14.99), by Lilith Saintcrow, is that I already have each of these as individual ebooks (bought individually, the series would cost $37.95, currently). This is a pre-order, but you can check out a sample from each of the books, starting with Working for the Devil ($7.99).

Book Description
Necromancer. Bounty hunter. Killer.

Dante Valentine has been all three in her life. But in the beginning, she was a Necromancer for hire. And while she was choosy about her jobs, there were just some she couldn't turn down. Like when the Devil showed up at the door and offered her a deal. Her life - in exchange for the capture and elimination of a renegade demon. But how do you kill something that can't die?

Dante Valentine, one of urban fantasy's hottest series, is compiled into one volume for the first time. Included in this omnibus edition are: Working for the Devil, Dead Man Rising, The Devil's Right Hand, Saint City Sinners, and To Hell and Back.


A Bundle of Valentines! ($9.99), by Kate Hoffmann, Tara Taylor Quinn, Vicki Lewis Thompson, and Wendy Rosnau

Book Description
It's the most romantic day of the year...a day symbolized by a heart, and dedicated to the expression of our deepest yearnings and strongest affections. Discover the irresistible power of love on this very special day with 14 captivating stories about the search for love and the fulfillment of romantic hopes and dreams. Bundle includes Her Secret Valentine, Knock Three Times, The Bride's Surprise, Just Say Yes, Once Upon a Mattress, Gabe's Special Delivery, My Man Valentine, Behind Closed Doors, Mom and Mr. Valentine, In Too Deep, To Die For, Dance with the Devil, Blind Date from Hell and Taking Her Time.

Stephanie Laurens Rogue's Reform Bundle ($9.87), by Stephanie Laurens, includes The Reasons for Marriage ($5.04), A Lady of Expectations ($5.04), and An Unwilling Conquest ($5.76).

Book Description
The Reasons for Marriage
The Dashing Duke...
Lenore Lester was perfectly content with her quiet country life, caring for her father, and having no desire for marriage. She took steps to remain inconspicuous and tried her best to show indifference--but to no avail! The irresistible Duke of Eversleigh had found her out and was quite persistent in his affections....

The Shy Miss!
Notoriously charming Jason, Duke of Eversleigh, could easily see behind Miss Lenore's brilliant disguise. Though the awkward lady hid behind glasses and pulled-back hair, she couldn't cover her beauty. And Jason was ever determined to loosen the hold she had on her heart.

A Lady of Expectations
Jack Lester has to find a bride...

But where can he find the perfect woman? She has to be attractive, kind, a good conversationalist...and most important, she has to accept him as he is: devilishly handsome, charming and, as far as anyone knows, poor as a church mouse! If London society discovers his hidden wealth, he'll never find the right wife.

Jack's heart races when he first lays eyes on Sophie Winterton. She is everything he desires--and more--but he is caught in his own trap. Believing that Jack needs to marry into wealth, Sophie rejects all his advances, certain he would never marry a poor girl like her. As they play out a game of cat and mouse, can Jack convince her that she is the woman he wants--and that he is the husband she deserves?

An Unwilling Conquest
A successful horse breeder and self-proclaimed rake, Harry Lester samples women like wines. But after having his heart trampled upon by someone he actually loved, he has no intention of falling for a woman again, let alone be ensnared by the trap of marriage. Now, with a large inheritance to his name, Harry knows that he'd best start running from London's matchmaking mothers and widows.

Harry heads for the racing town of Newmarket, only to encounter Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe, a beautiful, independent widow. And before he knows it, Harry vows to protect Lucinda from the town full of lonely gambling men, despite her refusal to accept his countless offers of help. Lucinda is extraordinary--an intelligent, tender, marriageworthy woman--but will Harry let himself be taken prisoner in this most passionate of traps?


Four in Hand ($3.39), by Stephanie Laurens

Book Description
She was unquestionably a lady. Still, that had never stopped him before. He could see that she was not, he thought, that young. Even better. Another twinge of pain from behind his eyes lent a harshness to his voice. "Who the devil are you?" In no way discomposed, she answered, "My name is Caroline Twinning. And if you really are the Duke of Twyford, then I'm very much afraid I'm your ward...."

Max Rotherbridge couldn't believe it. Along with the dukedom of Twyford, he--London's most notorious rogue--had inherited wardship of four devilishly attractive sisters! Including the irresistible Caroline Twinning. The eldest Twinning was everything he had ever wanted in a woman, but even Max couldn't seduce his own ward...or could he? After all, he did have a substantial reputation to protect. And what better challenge than the one woman capable of stealing his heart?


The Bride & Groom Thank-You Guide: A Thoroughly Modern Manual for Expressing Your Gratitude-Quickly, Painlessly and Personally! ($3.99), by Sharon Naylor

Book Description
A thoroughly modern manual for expressing gratitude-quickly, painlessly, and personally!

How can I ever thank you?
Thank-you notes are essential-but they don't have to be torturous to write and stilting to read. With this concise guide, modern couples can make the task easy while adding essential personal touches to each note they send. Filled with information on everything about writing the perfect thank-you, including:

  • Modern technology like email, DVDs, and videostreaming-to use or not to use?
  • The top 15 thank-you mistakes-and how to avoid them
  • A thank-you thesaurus
  • How to word thank-yous for non-traditional gifts, including charitable donations and honeymoon registries
  • Thanking the bridal party and other special people
  • Creating unique cards with stamp art, photos, and more
  • Thank-you checklists, shopping lists, and a writing timetable

The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Wedding Etiquette ($3.99), by Robyn S. Passante

Book Description
The essential book of I do’s—and I don’ts.

Savvy couples put a wedding etiquette book right next to their wedding planners to be sure they have all their bases covered. This is the ideal reference to choose—succinct, practical, and focused on the complete wedding experience, from invitations to gift registries to the reception.

  • Follows in the successful footsteps of The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Being a Groom, The Pocket Idiot’s Guide® to Being the Father of the Bride, and The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Being the Mother of the Bride
  • Covers traditional weddings, second weddings, cross-cultural weddings, and civil unions
  • Easy-to-use, portable format
  • A great gift book for newlyweds-to-be

Balancing Acts, Slippery Slopes and Off the Trails, by Emily Franklin, comprising her Chalet Girls series, are all marked down to $3.99.

Book Description
Balancing Acts
There's one hot dish that Melissa, the resort's new chef, wants. But getting to this top-ranked skier isn't so simple. Meanwhile, Melissa's own past threatens to throw her life-and her heart-off course.

Known for her fast skiing and lifestyle, small-town Colorado girl Harley has snagged the coveted job of hostess. What she wants is to catch the eye of world-class skier James. Can she get noticed among European A-listers?

Former society girl Lily, a.k.a. Dove, doesn't mind cleaning up after guests, since it's bringing in much-needed bucks. Soon she can buy her own ticket to the island resort where her surfer crush awaits-as long as she can keep her secret. The Chalet Girls are in for one hot winter-as long as they figure out how to squeeze some work into all the fun...

Slippery Slopes
Second in the series about three girls working at Europe's hottest ski resort-from the author of The Principles of Love.

The author of the popular novels starring Love Bukowski introduces a new series starring three new heroines-Melissa, Harley, and Lily-who work together at Les Deux Alpes, attending to the needs of the rich, famous, and sometimes royal clientele...and making the most of their off-hours.

Off the Trails
From the author of the popular series featuring Love Bukowski comes the third installment in a brand new series about three very different girls-Melissa, Harley, and Lily-who become fast friends while working at the Les Trois Alpes resort during their winter break. After a busy holiday season, they've left the icy trails for some hot beaches and sizzling surfer boys. Will they ever want to go back to work?


For Bea ($3.99), by Kristen Von Kreisler

Book Description
A touching and humorous account of the author's fifteen years with her beagle, Bea, a refugee from an animal research laboratory.

Harried by recent upheavals in her life, the last thing Kristin von Kreisler needed was another dog. But when she came upon Bea, a scrawny beagle abandoned by the roadside, she couldn't turn away. Bea became part of her family, and changed it forever.

Disheveled, malnourished, and terrified of human contact, Bea seemed damaged beyond repair. But, gradually, she began to trust von Kreisler. After resisting her touch again and again, the dog one day leaned in and nuzzled her neck. From that moment, Bea began to give love as well as receive it. With the typically unforgettable personality of a beagle, over the next decade and a half she taught von Kreisler the value of living utterly in the present, of meeting each day with a good bark, and of moving forward in life without being dragged down by past grief.

Written with rare eloquence and down-to-earth wit, this memoir of Bea and von Kreisler's fifteen-year love story will charm "beaglers" and touch the heart of anyone who has ever loved a dog.


Legacy ($1.33), by Cayla Kluver, part of the AmazonEncore program, was free for a short time in '09, but is nearly free right now.

Book Description
In an award-winning YA fantasy debut, 16-year-old novelist Cayla Kluver brings a magical touch to an unrelentingly suspenseful coming-of-age tale. Duty-bound to wed her father's choice in successor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into the worst of all possible fates' a marriage to the arrogant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy from enemy Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what's appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. When Narian's shocking past comes to light, Alera finds herself in a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, facing an uncertain future with dwindling options - and must learn to decide between right and wrong all alone. Marked by witty, rapid-fire dialogue and dramatic complexity that belie the writer's age, Legacy brings a fresh, new sensibility to age-old questions of duty and inheritance and to a young's heroine's quest to find her true voice. Legacy was Bronze Medalist in Young Adult Fiction in the 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards; Finalist in Young Adult Fiction in the National Best Books Awards 2008, sponsored by USA Book News.

One Brit, One Bike, One Big Country ($0.99), by John McKay, doesn't appear to include a cover, any images or drawings (so ignore the illustrator credits) and the table of contents that it starts with is very badly formatted (it's a huge font, but skip past it to the actual content without trying to make it smaller). Once past the TOC, though, the font returns to normal and the part of the sample that I did read was promising: his trip to Daytona and search for a bike to ride across the US.

Book Description
This book is about one man’s journey across the USA in 2002. It tells of the wonderful people he met as well as the amazing experiences he had. It describes the incredible warmth of the American people and the generosity they bestowed upon him.

It’s all about bike riding at its best. It’s about feeling the sun, the wind, the rain and the true soul of the country you’re travelling in.

Maybe this book will inspire you to make that trip you've always wanted to do. I sincerely hope it does.


The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel ($1.33), by Maureen Lindley

Book Description
Peking, 1914. When the eight-year-old princess Eastern Jewel is caught spying on her father's liaison with a servant girl, she is banished from the palace, sent to live with a powerful family in Japan. Renamed Yoshiko Kawashima, she quickly falls in love with her adoptive country, where she earns a scandalous reputation, taking fencing lessons, smoking opium, and entertaining numerous lovers. Sent to Mongolia to become an obedient wife, Yoshiko mounts a daring escape and eventually finds her way back to Peking high society?this time with orders from the Japanese secret service.

Based on the true story of a rebellious woman who earned a controversial place in history, The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel is a vibrant reimagining of a thrilling life?a rich historical epic of palace intrigue, sexual manipulation, and international espionage.


Tinsel: A Search for America's Christmas Present ($2.00), by Hank Stuever

Book Description
In Tinsel, Hank Stuever turns his unerring eye for the idiosyncrasies of modern life to Frisco, Texas, a suburb at once all-American and completely itself, to tell the story of the nation's most over-the-top celebration: Christmas.

Stuever starts the narrative as so many start the Christmas season: standing in line with the people waiting to purchase flat-screen TVs on Black Friday. From there he follows three of Frisco's true holiday believers as they navigate through the Nativity and all its attendant crises. Tammie Parnell, an eternally optimistic suburban mom, is the proprietor of "Two Elves with a Twist," a company that decorates other people's big houses for Christmas. Jeff and Bridgette Trykoski own that house every town has: the one with the visible-from-space, most awe-inspiring Christmas lights. And single mother Caroll Cavazos just hopes that the life-affirming moments of Christmas might overcome the struggles of the rest of the year. Stuever's portraits of this happy, megachurchy, shopariffic community are at once humane, heartfelt, revealing--and very funny. Tinsel is a compelling tale of our half-trillion-dollar holiday, measuring what we we've become against the ancient rituals of what we've always been.


Beyond the Colors of Darkness and Other Exotica ($6.99 Kindle), by Brian Stableford, is $0.99 at Fictionwise (with the coupon code and a buywise membership, it is as low as $0.38. This is MultiFormat, so Kindle compatible.

Book Description
Here are eleven stories of science fiction and fantasy by a master writer of the fantastic, including four pieces published for the first time. Contents: “Beyond the Colors of Darkness,” “An Offer of Oblivion,” “Enlightenment,” “The Dragons Yetzirah and Alziluth,” “A Saint’s Progress,” “Mens Sana in Corpore Sano,” “Black Nectar,” “Nephthys,” “Plastic Man,” “Aphrodite and the Ring,” and “Danse Macabre.”

Brian Stableford has written and edited over 100 volumes of science fiction, horror, fantasy, literary criticism, and reference, among others, many of them being published by the Borgo Press Imprint of Wildside Press. He lives and works in Reading, England.


Junk Fiction ($6.99 Kindle), by S.T. Joshi, is $0.99 at Fictionwise (with the coupon code and a buywise membership, it is as low as $0.38. This is MultiFormat, so Kindle compatible.

Book Description
Bestsellers have been with us for more than a century, ever since the first bestseller list appeared in 1895. But they have received surprisingly little attention from critics. What kind of books become bestsellers? Why do people read them? Do they have literary value or are they merely the literary equivalent of crossword puzzles?

S. T. Joshi, a leading critic of horror, fantasy, and mystery fiction, devotes his attention to these and other issues, showing that bestsellers emerged only with the advent of near-universal literacy and the increased leisure time among the masses. Joshi is also aware that most bestsellers fall into the categories of genre fiction: romance (Danielle Steel, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Nora Roberts); mystery (Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwell); suspense (James Patterson, Nelson DeMille); espionage (Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler); horror (Stephen King, Dean Koontz); and so forth.

Joshi provides detailed examinations of books by these authors, as well as of such recent bestsellers as Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, and such bygone titles as Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls, in a wide-ranging discussion of both the virtues and the failings of popular literature. Joshi’s study, written in a witty, accessible style, is must-reading for anyone interested in the literary and cultural phenomenon of the bestseller.


Take Care Of Yourself 8E: The Complete Illustrated Guide To Medical Self-care ($1.46), by James F. Fries and Donald M. Vickery, is the 9th edition of this popular guide.

Book Description
Take Care of Yourself is the world's best-selling health guide, and the only one that has been found to help reduce visits to the doctor and save money. Covering nearly 200 health-care problems and symptoms, it is easy to use, even in a crisis. Readers can locate their symptoms in the easily navigable guide and find a complete explanation of likely causes and possible home remedies. Diagrams show how to recognize problems, and, in many cases, treat them quickly, and the decision charts advise when exactly it's time to see a doctor. This comprehensive guide also covers emergencies, health problem prevention, the 20 things everyone should keep in a home pharmacy, and how to work best with a doctor. Revised and updated, it remains the most comprehensive and dependable self-care guide, and is essential for every home.

Sea of Shadows ($7.99 Kindle), by Jeff Edwards, is free direct from the author, in PDF form.

Book Description
THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE IS TO CHANGE THE RULES.

A minor accident at a German nuclear power plant, a Biological Warfare attack on the British Embassy in Washington, DC, and a secret arms deal combine to drive a trusted NATO Ally into an illegal alliance with a rogue Middle Eastern state. With the world hovering on the brink of war, a handful of U.S. Navy warships must track down and destroy a wolfpack of state-of-the-art submarines.

Their enemy is skilled in deception, and incredibly lethal. Out-gunned, out-maneuvered, and out-thought, the U.S. Navy crews must throw the rulebook out the window, and become every bit as devious and deadly as their enemy. If they fail, the consequences are unthinkable…

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Free Book (EPUB) - Beneath Gray Skies

Beneath Gray Skies ($12.47 paperback), by Hugh Ashton, is free in the Sony store tonight.

Book Description
David Slater, a conscript in the 1920s Army of the Confederacy, faces a dilemma. When he and his regiment were shipped to Germany to help stage a coup there, his Limey fellow-soldier Brian was acting strangely. David now has the choice of reporting his best friend to his commanding officers, or keeping quiet and just doing his job: preparing for the arrival of Bismarck, the giant Zeppelin flying Hitler and his Nazi cohorts to meet their new allies, the Confederates. Beneath Gray Skies follows the adventures of David and those around him in a past that never happened-where the Civil War never took place, and the Confederacy survived as a pariah slave-holding nation into the 20th century. Confederates, Unionists, British and Germans plot and counterplot in a tightly woven tale of espionage, treachery and romance. The cast of Beneath Gray Skies includes rogue British agent "Bloody Brian" Finch-Malloy, hard-drinking Henry Dowling, and Christopher Pole, a slave who escapes from the hell of the Confederacy-living against a backdrop that includes real historical characters. Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering, and Dr. Hugo Eckener, the brilliant anti-Nazi Zeppelin captain, all live again in this "extraordinarily well-written piece of mind candy that becomes more and more difficult to put down" (Christopher Belton). Almost without realizing what has happened, David finds himself part of a conspiracy within the Confederacy that includes "Bloody Brian", which is working to prevent the airship's arrival in Georgia, to seize the mysterious priceless treasure on board the Bismarck, and to halt the spread of slavery to Europe. As David Slater and his President, Jefferson Davis III, confront each other on the doomed dirigible, David must ask himself once again where his loyalty lies: to his country, or to a higher morality. Beneath Gray Skies is the first published novel by Hugh Ashton, a British-born writer and journalist currently living in Kamakura, Japan.

Click HERE for the free download.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Free Book - The Best of Edmond Hamilton

The Best of Edmond Hamilton ($9.99 Kindle, $2.26+ used Hardcover), edited by Leigh Brackett, is free direct from Phoenix Pick this month.

Book Description
Here is a collection of some of the finest short fiction penned by one of “fathers” of modern science fiction.

These stories were selected (and edited) by his wife Leigh Brackett, an author and a screenwriter. Her screen-writing credits include works on such films as The Big Sleep, Rio Bravo, The Long Goodbye and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

This collection spans nearly half a century of Edmond Hamilton's work and was selected from a repository of hundreds of stories that he had written over that period.


Click HERE for the free download. Enter coupon code 9992371, then once past the newsletter subscription page, download the DRM-free format of your choice.

Friday, February 11, 2011

New Kindle Game - Symdoku Unbound #1

Puzzazz has introduced an interesting looking variant of Sudoku, Symdoku Unbound #1 ($2.99), for the Kindle. Rather than numbers or letters (Wordoku Unbound #1 has you use letters from a word in each square). I found Wordoku more difficult in some ways, as it seems to force a different part of your brain to solve the puzzle, so I suspect this one will be more challenging as well. From the pictures, it looks like you use the letters at the left side of the Kindle keyboard to enter the symbols (or the 5-way controller), so you don't have to fight with the SYM key or the number keys.

Book Description
Enjoy the challenge of Sudoku? Then this uniquely designed puzzle book is just for you. Symdoku takes the original Sudoku to a whole new level using shapes, instead of numbers.

Fortunately, you don't have to draw the symbols, just match them up with the corresponding keys, and you're on your way. This unbound puzzle collection gives you a great solving experience right on the page. Of course, you can use in-cell notes as you solve, just like you do on paper. If you're stuck, move on to a different puzzle -- you can always turn back to that page later. Or, get a hint and keep going.

You'll be both challenged and delighted with this book of 100 puzzles that fit your personal skill level, because you can change from easy to medium to hard or back at any time. Whatever your skill and solving style, you'll appreciate that each puzzle can be played at three levels of difficulty.

Free Book (nook) - Bond With Me

Bond With Me ($5.59 Kindle), by Anne Marsh

Book Description
As fallen angels, Brends and his brethren can grant humans any fantasy they choose. But in exchange they demand a bond, and only a woman who dares all accepts the invitation, “Bond with me.”

Click HERE for the free download from B&N.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

New Kindle Game - Chess

Oak Systems Leisure Software, publishers of Word Search ($0.99), have released a new Kindle game tonight, Chess ($2.99).

Book Description
The classic game of Chess is now available on your Kindle.

In Chess you go head-to-head in a bid to capture your opponent's King. Play against Kindle or challenge a friend with Pass 'N Play mode. Choose between 10 levels of difficulty and choose whether you want to play with an optional time limit to increase the challenge. You can also take back a move if you have made a mistake, as well as save your game at any time.

Free Books from Ellora's Cave

In addition to Second Sight Dating ($0.99 US), by Marianne Stephens, which is now free for US Kindlers, in addition to those in the UK, a number of other novellas and short stories have shown up free in the Kindle store this morning, with even more of them available direct from the publisher (where they are DRM-free). I've marked the ones that are from their Blush imprint (no explicit scenes); the rest run the gamut of the erotica scale.

Emerald Green, by Desiree Holt

Book Description
Meredith discovered her fiancé in bed with two of her bridesmaids. Then she meets a handsome stranger who buys her an emerald pendant and offers to share his fudge with her. Before she can blink she is naked on a private, secluded beach and the mouth-watering stranger is coaxing her into sexual situations that both startle her and bring her more fulfillment than she's ever had. The afternoon is an initiation into the pleasures of the flesh, but sadly all good things must come to an end. Life is about to hand Meredith another surprise which will open yet more doors to her own sexuality.

Most Unpopular Workday of the Year, by Ashlyn Chase

Book Description
Andy is the new nurse and has to work on Christmas Day. She’s part of a skeleton crew taking care of one little boy with end-stage Muscular Dystrophy. As she reads to him, Jeff, a young intern, visits. Through their love of this little boy, Andy and Jeff discover a deep connection and love for each other.

The rest of those available on Kindle are in the Naughty Nooners series:

City of Sin, by Rena Marks
Kelly Morgan takes her best friend Vince on a vacation to the City of Sin to recover from the breakup of his marriage. But sin, lust and alcohol don’t mix, especially when you’re sharing a room with a sexy, hard-muscled bodybuilder. One who dances part-time and has moves Kelly can only wonder about. One who shows a vast amount of tanned, smooth skin as he wanders around the motel room in briefs…and nothing else.

Discovering Sofia, by Mel Teshco
Sofia has struggled with insecurities since her ex-husband’s infidelity—until she meets a hitchhiker. A muscular, sexy younger man with a beautiful ass. Impulsively, she pulls her car to the side of the road and gives the scrumptious hunk a ride.Jake’s an adventurous charmer who lets Sofia know exactly how desirable she is—proving it with his skillful hands before she even stops the car. Sofia realizes she might have found a solution to her battered self-esteem, if she has the nerve to take what Jake’s offering—a ride of the more carnal variety.

Remembered Love, by Diana Hunter
Val knows all her husband’s moves—and that’s their problem. After five years of marriage they’ve fallen into a rut. Sex with Gary has become…mundane. She still loves him and knows he loves her, but are they still in love?Gary also knows they need a change. Maybe add a little kink to their sex life? Maybe Valerie tied to the bed—his to play with and command? Valerie discovers a whole new side of her husband as they peel away the “ordinary” and realize just how hot their love still is.

Saying Yes, by Barbara Elsborg
Zadie’s negative attitude leads to the loss of her boyfriend, job and flat. Now she’s determined to be a yes girl. Yes, she’d love to flat sit while the owner is away, but one look at the mess and she wishes she’d said no. No is the last thing Tristan expects to hear when he proposes in front of his girlfriend’s family. Humiliated, he hides out in his brother’s empty flat without asking because he really doesn’t want to hear another no. What he needs is a woman who’ll say yes…yes…yes… Could that be Zadie?

Sporting Wood, by Cindy Spencer Pape
Part of the Immortal Cravings series.What happens when a werewolf and a dryad meet in the forest at night? For Cooper and Kyla, the result is smoldering-hot passion beyond anything they’ve ever known.Even though there’s no real future for a botany professor and a nymph who lives in a tree, Coop keeps returning, night after night, for the steamiest sex of his life. When their fiery passion turns to love, it seems hopeless, unless a determined Kyla can find a way to keep her man.

Stockholm Seduction, by Lily Harlem
I was having a fabulous extended gap year in Oz. Sun, sea, sand and seriously hot surfers rolling in on every wave. Mmm, what could possibly be better?But then I was taken…taken against my will. Stolen like a prized object. I was tied up, held for ransom. I didn’t know if I would survive, if I would walk away alive. And then, to top it all off, I was tortured in the sweetest, most delicious, most sensual way imaginable.That was when I realized my fun down under had only just begun.

Here are the links direct to the publisher, including those not available on Kindle:
Short novel/novella:

Short-story: