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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Free and Bargain Book Update (EPUB/nook)

The Sourcebooks 99 Cent Book Sale at Amazon for books from publisher Sourcebooks, has spread to both B&N and Kobo. The books are $0.99 at B&N and $0.89 at Kobo, but there you can use coupon code mar22ww1 ($1 off, unlimited use, expires March 24, 2011) and get them for free (two are not available at Kobo or are full price). I expect this sale to evaporate soon, so grab the free ones while you can (and decide quickly on the others). I already had a few of these and picked up a couple this time at Amazon; after I added the rest of the free ones from Kobo, that left only one that I'm going to pass on (even if it is only 99 cents).

Newly added at B&N and Kobo:
  1. Dating Mr. December, by Phillipa Ashley ($0.99 Kindle, B&N)
  2. Beautiful People, by Wendy Holden ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
  3. Miranda's Big Mistake, by Jill Mansell ($0.99 Kindle, B&N)
  4. Amelia O'Donohue Is So Not a Virgin, by Helen FitzGerald ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
  5. Lady of Hay, by Barbara Erskine ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
  6. Greatest Knight, by Elizabeth Chadwick ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
  7. Kingmaking, by Helen Hollick ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
  8. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, by Amanda Grange ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
  9. Willoughby's Return, by Jane Odiwe ($0.99 Kindle, B&N)
  10. Other Mr. Darcy, by Monica Fairview ($0.99 Kindle, B&N; $0.89 free Kobo)
These by Jane Austen are still only available from Amazon or B&N:
  1. Emma: The Illustrated Edition ($0.99, B&N)
  2. Mansfield Park: The Illustrated Edition ($0.99, B&N)
  3. Northanger Abbey: The Illustrated Edition ($0.99, B&N)
  4. Persuasion: The Illustrated Edition ($0.89 Kindle; $0.99 B&N)
  5. Pride and Prejudice: The Illustrated Edition ($0.89 Kindle; $0.99 B&N)
  6. Sense and Sensibility: The Illustrated Edition ($0.89 Kindle; $0.99 B&N
Indie books that are repeat freebies in the Kindle store:
  1. Get Some, by Daniel Birch 
  2. Whirl of the Wheel, by Catherine Condie 

    Amazon Opens AppStore with free Angry Birds Rio

    As has been rumored for some time, this first day of Spring is the day chosen to launch the Amazon Appstore for Android. You are going to want to bookmark the Appstore for Android Deals page, because they are promising to give us one free app every day! If you have a browser that lets you designate multiple tabs for your Home page, be sure to add it (and hey, you could add Books on the Knob, too!); if not, then set a bookmark that you'll remember to open each day (I have an entire group that I open daily, called (of course) "Daily Pages"; with Firefox, I can open the entire group each day, which I do while waiting for the coffee to get ready). Another one to bookmark is the Free Apps for Android page, where there are currently 1,439 free Apps. One great feature (ok, two) is that you can manage your apps and devices, just like you do with the Kindle (and you can re-download any app that you have deleted on your device) and, since it's Amazon, you don't have to worry about processing the payment (they'll even come off your gift card balance, just like Kindle books, if you want to avoid having lots of tiny charges on your credit card to reconcile or if your bank is one of those that tends to mark such activity as fraudulent and freezes your card). once you've made an app purchase in the Amazon Appstore, you can run it on any of your Android devices (without having to repurchase). They are also going to let you testdrive apps on your desktop, before you purchase, but that feature seems to be turned off for the moment (I've seen a few press stories about how it works, but the TestDrive button isn't showing up for me, in FireFox or IE).

    Today's free app is Angry Birds Rio ($0.99 FREE!), by Rovio Mobile

    Book Description
    Just when you thought they couldn't get any angrier, the Angry Birds flock gains new cause for vengeance. Swept away by smugglers to Rio di Janeiro, their captors soon find out that these caged birds don't sing. It's time to bring back their unique brand of weaponry--the finger-powered slingshot--and launch the newest adventure in the world's most popular physics-based casual game.

    In the original Angry Birds, this peace-loving flock was hoodwinked by greedy green pigs with a hunger for poached eggs. After the pigs stole their precious eggs, this flock was friendly no more: unleashing an arsenal of angry bird artillery, the avian army smashed through the green pigs and their hideouts. The world pulled the trigger with glee as these ornery birds made bacon out of swine.

    Free Book (noDRM) - Rampant

    Rampant ($9.99 Kindle), by Saskia Walker, is free from Mills & Boon on their Everyone's Reading page. This, at last, is the mystery book that has been "coming soon" on that page for months and you heard it here first (because I wrote them and asked if it would ever be making an appearance). It's available in DRM-free EPUB and Mobi (although I couldn't get this format to download, so I'll just toss the EPUB into Calibre and email it to my Kindle from there).

    Book Description
    The moment she arrives at her rented vacation cottage in Scotland, Zoe Daniels feels it--an arousal so powerful she's compelled to surrender to the unusually forceful carnal desires...with nearly anyone who crosses her path. Crawford Logan, the boat builder with the wayward grin. The devilish restaurateur Cain Davot, who seems to know more about Zoe than he lets on. Even her sexy neighbor Grayson Murdoch, whose eyes delve into her soul as he explores every inch of her body.

    Yet there's something unsettling about the way the locals watch her, something eerie about these overwhelming encounters. Zoe knows she's not quite in control and wonders if there's any truth to the legend of Annabel McGraw, a powerful, promiscuous eighteenth-century witch who once owned the cottage, and whose spirit is rumored to affect anyone who stays there. Zoe doesn't believe in anything occult, but now strange visions are turning frightening...and only one man's touch can bring her back to earth.


    Click HERE to get the free book (and the other eleven on the page, if you haven't been there before).

    Support Japanese Disaster Relief at O'Reilly

    If you buy technical books or videos (computer programming, business, using Microsoft/Apple products, etc), you may want to check out O'Reilly's Deal of the Day. Today only, you can use coupon code DDJPN during checkout to get 50% off ebooks and videos and all revenues after author royalties will go to the Japanese Red Cross Society. So far, they have raised $40,000 and hope to reach $200,000.

    If you just want to donate to disaster relief, you can do so on the Amazon website and the entire amount will go to the American Red Cross (donations over $250 will get receipts for tax purposes). But, if you need a few technical books, today's deal at O'Reilly lets you get them at half price and a portion will go directly to Japan (the American Red Cross fund is for future disasters, with the amount they direct to Japan coming out of past contributions).

    Game Day at Amazon Gold Box Deals

    The title says it all! It looks like today is Video Game Day on the Gold Box Deals page. Not only is the main Gold Box deal a video game, it looks like the lightning deals will all be games as well, starting with De Blob 2 for the Wii, PS3, XBox and DS (remember, with Lightning Deals, you have to buy from the Gold Box Deals page, the price is only good for a limited number of the item and you have a limited time to complete your purchase after placing it in your cart).

    Monday, March 21, 2011

    Free Book (EPUB/nook) - Miss Match

    Update: Rather than come down in price to match the free price seen elsewhere, this one went back up to full price in the Kindle store, while dropping to free at Sony.

    Miss Match ($2.78 $7.99 Kindle), by Erynn Mangum, is free from B&N and Christianbook, courtesy of Christian publisher NavPress.

    Book Description
    Lauren Holbrook has found her life's calling: matchmaking for the romantically challenged. And with the eclectic cast of characters in her world, there's tons of potential to play "connect the friends." Inspired by the recent success of matching her sister and new husband, Lauren sets out to introduce Nick, her carefree singles' pastor, to Ruby, her neurotic coworker who plans every second of every day. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything. When Lauren's foolproof plan begins to unravel, she learns that a simple introduction between friends can bring about complicated results. And as she reconsiders her new role as Cupid (as well as her vow to stay single forever), will Lauren finally decide that God's plan is always good enough?

    Click HERE for the free download at B&N.
    Click HERE for the free download at Christianbook.
    Click HERE for the free download at Sony.

    Sunday, March 20, 2011

    99 Cent Sourcebooks Sale

    Publisher Sourcebooks is having a sale and has sixteen titles marked down to 99 cents for the Kindle. Several are also on sale at B&N and there is no sign of the sale prices at Kobo or Sony, so far. Most appear to be variations on Pride and Prejudice (several of them illustrated editions), but there are a few original looking titles mixed in. In general, the discount prices from Sourcebooks have only lasted a few days, so if you are sampling first, be sure to read the sample in the next day or two.

    Dating Mr. December ($0.99 Kindle), by Phillipa Ashley

    Book Description
    When a nice girl asks twelve men to get naked, it’s sure to cause a scandal…

    Emma Tremayne leaves her high-powered PR job and moves to the Lake District looking for peace, quiet—and celibacy. So perhaps it’s not the best idea when, in the spirit of “community-mindedness,” she agrees to help the local mountain rescue team fund raise by putting together a “tasteful” nude calendar. Especially since quite a lot of the community seems to mind what she’s up to—including the tall, dark and handsome Mr. December, Will Tennant, who appears to have gotten the wrong impression about Emma’s intentions. So how does she convince him that he’s more than just the flavor of the month?


    Beautiful People ($0.99 Kindle), by Wendy Holden

    Book Description
    A witty, utterly addictive novel from bestselling author Wendy Holden, Beautiful People is a tale wicked in its observations yet buoyant at its heart: an irresistible confection you’ll want to devour immediately.

    Darcy—a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn’t she want to go?

    Belle—a size-zero film star but she’s in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth’s core a year ago, she’s now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?

    Emma—a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London’s cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life?

    Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kindhearted paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best—a smash international hit.
    About the Author


    Miranda's Big Mistake ($0.99 Kindle), by Jill Mansell, was on sale for $2.99 last December, so this is a very good price for those who didn't buy it then (and would make three by the same author, if you snagged both of the freebies this past week).

    Book Description
    Miranda's track record with men is horrible.

    Her most recent catastrophe is Greg. He seems perfect—gorgeous, witty, exciting. And he and Miranda are in love… until Miranda discovers he left his wife when he found out she was pregnant.

    With the help of her friends, Miranda plans the sweetest and most public revenge a heartbroken girl can get. But will Miranda learn from her mistake, or move on to the next "perfect" man and ignore the love of her life waiting in the wings…

    Even the worst mistake of your life can lead to true love in the end…


    Amelia O'Donohue Is So Not a Virgin ($0.99 Kindle), by Helen FitzGerald, is a young adult title.

    Book Description
    I Never Tell Other People's Secrets…

    Amelia O’Donohue was stunning. We all knew we were in the presence of tremendous beauty, humbled by her eyes and by her expensive designer clothes. We all deferred to her, waiting for her to initiate conversation, and hanging on every word she said.

    So when Amelia asked for my help, What was I to do? Did I have a choice? It’s not like I could tell everyone that she sneaks off in the middle of the night in her pink silk nightie to sleep with her boyfriend. Right?

    But this one favor leads to a secret so big it just might change everything—for Amelia and for me…


    Lady of Hay ($0.99 Kindle), by Barbara Erskine

    Book Description
    An iconic, groundbreaking novel about the power of destiny with more than 3 million copies sold

    With a mesmerizing, wrenching story set both in the present day and the 12th century, Lady of Hay explores how Joanna, a journalist investigating hypnotic regression, plunges into the life of Matilda, Lady of Hay—who lived 800 years earlier. As she learns of Matilda’s unhappy marriage, her love for Richard de Clare, and the brutal treatment she receives from King John, it seems that Jo’s past and present are hopelessly entwined and that, centuries later, a story of secret passion and unspeakable treachery is about to begin again—and she has no choice but to brave both lives if she wants to shake the iron grip of history.


    Greatest Knight ($0.99 Kindle), by Elizabeth Chadwick, was free this past February in the Kindle store.

    Book Description
    Royal protector. Loyal servant. Forgotten hero.

    A penniless young knight with few prospects, William Marshal is plucked from obscurity when he saves the life of Henry II's formidable queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In gratitude, she appoints him tutor to the heir to the throne, the volatile and fickle Prince Henry. But being a royal favorite brings its share of danger and jealousy as well as fame and reward.

    A writer of uncommon historical integrity and accuracy, Elizabeth Chadwick resurrects the true story of one of England's greatest forgotten heroes in a captivating blend of fact and fiction. The Greatest Knight restores William Marshal to his rightful place at the pinnacle of the Middle Ages, reflecting through him the triumphs, scandals, and power struggles that haven't changed in eight hundred years.

    WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ELIZABETH CHADWICK AND THE GREATEST KNIGHT:

    The Greatness of William Marshal: The descendants of the Greatest Knight himself include George Washington and Winston Churchill, as well as the Stuart kings of England and Scotland. He was partly responsible for the Magna Carta. He vowed his body to the Templars and is buried in Temple Church in London.

    The Appeal of the Time Period: There are very few novels about Marshal, and no one has covered him as in depth as Elizabeth Chadwick has. In addition, unlike the Tudor era, there are not extensive amounts of historical fiction set in the 13th century.

    The Integrity of the Research: Elizabeth Chadwick's research is impeccable. She not only visited many locations, but she re-enacted with a living history society where a quarter of the membership are either historians or archaeologists, and she collected and used replica artifacts from the period and engaged in experimental archaeology. She has taken courses in various medieval studies to facilitate her knowledge.

    The Breadth of the Audience: Readers who are fans of Sharon Kay Penman, Anya Seton,Diana Gabaldon, Phillipa Gregory, and Jean Plaidy will like Elizabeth Chadwick. She appeals to readers who are looking for historical accuracy and strong, believable characters, readers who want to feel that they are being immersed in the period with well-rounded characters.


    Kingmaking ($0.99 Kindle), by Helen Hollick, is the first in her Pendragon's Banner Trilogy. The following two volumes have two editions each, with the ones from CallioCrest having better prices: Pendragon's Banner ($5.00 Kindle) and Shadow of the King ($3.00 Kindle)

    Book Description
    Who was THE MAN
    Who became THE LEGEND
    We know as KING ARTHUR?

    "You are the Pendragon, rightful Lord of Dumnonia and the Summer Land; Lord of less Britain. By all that is right, you ought be seated where Vortigern sits…You ought to be King."

    Here lies the truth of the Lord of the Summer Land.

    This is the tale of Arthur flesh and bone. Of the shaping of the man, both courageous and flawed, into the celebrated ruler who inspired armies, who captured Gwenhyfar's heart, and who emerged as the hero of the Dark Ages and the most enduring hero of all time.

    This is the unexpected story of the making of a king — the legend who united all of Britain.


    Mr. Darcy, Vampyre ($0.99 Kindle), by Amanda Grange

    Book Description
    Amanda Grange, bestselling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary, gives us something completely new—a delightfully thrilling, paranormal Pride and Prejudice sequel, full of danger, darkness and deep romantic love…

    Amanda Grange's style and wit bring readers back to Jane Austen's timeless storytelling, but always from a very unique and unusual perspective, and now Grange is back with an exciting and completely new take on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

    Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.


    Willoughby's Return ($0.99 Kindle), by Jane Odiwe

    Book Description
    A lost love returns, rekindling forgotten passions…

    In Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, when Marianne Dashwood marries Colonel Brandon, she puts her heartbreak over dashing scoundrel John Willoughby in the past.

    Three years later, Willoughby's return throws Marianne into a tizzy of painful memories and exquisite feelings of uncertainty. Willoughby is as charming, as roguish, and as much in love with her as ever. And the timing couldn't be worse—with Colonel Brandon away and Willoughby determined to win her back, will Marianne find the strength to save her marriage, or will the temptation of a previous love be too powerful to resist?


    Other Mr. Darcy ($0.99 Kindle), by Monica Fairview

    Book Description
    Did you know that Mr. Darcy had an American cousin?!In this highly original Pride and Prejudice sequel by British author Monica Fairview, Caroline Bingley is our heroine. Caroline is sincerely broken-hearted when Mr. Darcy marries Lizzy Bennet— that is, until she meets his charming and sympathetic American cousin...Mr. Robert Darcy is as charming as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is proud, and he is stunned to find the beautiful Caroline weeping at his cousin's wedding. Such depth of love, he thinks, is rare and precious. For him, it's nearly love at first sight. But these British can be so haughty and off-putting. How can he let the young lady, who was understandably mortified to be discovered in such a vulnerable moment, know how much he feels for and sympathizes with her?

    Emma: The Illustrated Edition ($0.99, B&N), by Jane Austen

    Book Description
    This special edition of Emma includes the famous illustrations by Charles Edmond Brock, created in 1898. Brock and his brothers were all successful illustrators of the day and often posed for each other using costumes, props and furniture in their Cambridge studio. Brock’s younger brother, Henry, also illustrated Austen’s books and joined him in illustrating other Austen releases for this set of 1898 editions.

    In conceiving Emma Woodhouse, Jane Austen set out to create a heroine “whom no-one but myself will much like.” A naive and spoiled young lady, she is at the pinnacle of local society and lives with her doddering father. Her neighbor Mr. Knightley is the hero of the tale. Ten years her senior, he sees Emma’s faults, and delights in pointing them out to her.

    Emma, as an heiress, has no need to marry, but she feels strongly that her less fortunate friends must certainly do so, and she is tireless in promoting the best interests of those she holds dear. Her first project is her new friend Harriet Smith, a young lady of unknown parentage, but sweet disposition. After thoroughly disrupting a match between Harriet and a handsome young local farmer, Emma pushes Harriet to aim for the vicar, who himself has his eye on Emma. By the time that misunderstanding is untangled, Emma has Mr. Knightley thoroughly disapproving of her. Against the backdrop of Highbury society, Emma is a charming tale of a young woman coming of age, learning to mind her own business, and discovering her own heart resides with the strong, steadfast gentleman next door.


    Mansfield Park: The Illustrated Edition ($0.99, B&N), by Jane Austen

    Book Description
    This special edition of Mansfield Park includes the famous illustrations by Henry Matthew Brock, originally created in 1898. Brock and his brothers were all successful illustrators of the day and often posed for each other using costumes, props and furniture in their Cambridge studio. Brock’s older brother Charles joined him in illustrating other Jane Austen releases for this set of 1898 editions.

    Mansfield Park is Jane Austen's version of a Cinderella story. Fanny Price is a poor relation living with her rich uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, and their children. Edmund, the second son, is the only one who treats her with kindness and they develop a strong bond, until the dashing Henry Crawford and his lovely sister Mary come to visit. The Crawfords are outwardly charming, but their indifferent upbringing leaves them unable to distinguish right from wrong, and Fanny must watch her beloved Edmund almost fall into Mary’s trap.

    Fanny Price is meek and mild, and unfailingly good. When the Crawfords introduce risky activities into her social set, she tries to prevent disaster, but the production of a play leads all the members of the family astray and Edmund almost falls irretrievably in love with the beautiful Mary. Fanny watches with trepidation and much pain, until Edmund’s own high sense of morality brings him to the right conclusions about which is the better woman, on the inside.


    Northanger Abbey: The Illustrated Edition ($0.99, B&N), by Jane Austen

    Book Description
    This special edition of Northanger Abbey includes the famous illustrations by Henry Matthew Brock, originally created in 1898. Brock and his brothers were all successful illustrators of the day and often posed for each other using costumes, props and furniture in their Cambridge studio. Brock’s older brother Charles joined him in illustrating other Jane Austen releases for this set of 1898 editions.

    Northanger Abbey was Austen's first completed novel but was published posthumously in 1817. Austen sold the novel to a bookseller in 1803 - for £10 - who decided not to publish it. Her brother bought it back for the same amount after her death.

    Catherine Morland is the daughter of a country clergyman, one of ten children. She devours Gothic novels and has an active imagination. After a lively season in Bath, she is invited to Northanger Abbey, where she finds the house is not the dark, moody Gothic mansion of her imaginings.

    Catherine’s exciting season in Bath leads her to become acquainted with the dashing John Thorpe, who encourages her flights of fancy and attempts to divert her from his rival Henry Tilney. But Henry extends an invitation she can’t resist and she finds herself visiting Northanger Abbey. There, as a “heroine in training,” she is determined to bring one of her favorite Gothic novels to life, but the charming and very down to earth Mr. Tilney eventually brings her to see that real life can be even more interesting than the most spine-chilling Gothic fantasy.


    Persuasion: The Illustrated Edition ($0.89 Kindle; $0.99 B&N), by Jane Austen

    Book Description
    This special edition of Persuasion includes the famous illustrations by Charles Edmond Brock, created in 1898. Brock and his brothers were all successful illustrators of the day and often posed for each other using costumes, props and furniture in their Cambridge studio. Brock’s younger brother, Henry, also illustrated Austen’s books and joined him in illustrating other Austen releases for this set of 1898 editions.

    Persuasion was Austen’s last completed novel, published in 1816 and featuring a heroine who has rejected her true love when her family and friends discourage the match. When he reappears eight years later, having made his fortune, Anne Elliott must now decide whether she is strong-willed enough to decide for herself where her own best interests lie.

    Eight years after rejected suitor Frederick Wentworth goes off to sea, Sir Elliott’s extravagance has forced his family into reduced circumstances. His daughter, twenty-seven year old Anne, no longer expects to marry, and has fond memories and somewhat stinging regrets about her decision to turn Frederick down at the urging of her family, who wanted her to aim higher. When Wentworth returns, having made his fortune, Anne is given a second chance at love, but she must be strong enough to think and decide for herself, then find a way to win him back.


    Pride and Prejudice: The Illustrated Edition ($0.89 Kindle; $0.99 B&N), by Jane Austen

    Book Description
    This special edition of Pride and Prejudice includes the famous illustrations by Henry Matthew Brock, originally created in 1898. Brock and his brothers were all successful illustrators of the day and often posed for each other using costumes, props and furniture in their Cambridge studio. Brock’s older brother Charles also illustrated other editions of Pride and Prejudice, and joined him in illustrating other Austen releases for this set of 1898 editions.

    Pride and Prejudice was published anonymously in 1813. It was Jane Austen’s second novel and became her most popular. Considered by many to be the very first romance novel, the book features Elizabeth, an independent-minded heroine, and Darcy, a dark, brooding, rich, handsome hero. Jane Austen’s wit and insight into human nature are legendary and make Pride and Prejudice a book to be savored over and over again.

    Pride and Prejudice is the deceptively simple story of Elizabeth Bennet, second eldest of five unmarried daughters of an affable country gentleman and a very silly lady whose mission in life is to marry them off. When a wealthy young man moves into the neighborhood, he brings with him his friend Mr. Darcy, who falls in love with Elizabeth - much to his own chagrin - after insulting her and earning the derision of the entire neighborhood. The necessity for both of them to overcome their pride and see each other for the people they really are is the backbone of an enduring comedy of manners and love story.


    Sense and Sensibility: The Illustrated Edition ($0.89 Kindle; $0.99 B&N), by Jane Austen

    Book Description
    This special edition of Sense and Sensibility includes the famous illustrations by Charles Edmond Brock, created in 1898. Brock and his brothers were all successful illustrators of the day and often posed for each other using costumes, props and furniture in their Cambridge studio. Brock’s younger brother, Henry, also illustrated Austen’s books and joined him in illustrating other Austen releases for this set of 1898 editions.

    Sense and Sensibility, first published in 1811, was Austen’s first published novel. The story revolves around the Misses Dashwood, Elinor and Marianne, left in reduced circumstances after their father’s death. Their new home is a cottage on a distant relative’s property, where they experience both romance and heartbreak.

    Marianne meets the dashing John Willoughby who courts her with poetry and flowers. Meanwhile, staid, sober neighbor Colonel Brandon also falls in love with Marianne, but she makes her preference for his rival clear. Elinor is in love with the diffident Edward Ferrars, a young man of good breeding and high moral standing. Their sentiments are quite compatible but his ambitious sister Fanny has other plans for him and works to separate these kindred souls.

    As true love finds its way to persevering over all obstacles, the impetuous sister gains maturity and balance and the cautious sister has her emotional awakening.

    Saturday, March 19, 2011

    Bargain Book Roundup

    For those who buy EPUB's at Kobo, don't forget to play their Spin and Win game daily - you could win a coupon worth up to 50% off (unlimited use), a Kobo ereader or a gift certificate at Kobo. If you win a smaller coupon code, ditch it and use mar18us30 or mar18ww30 for 30% off thru March 20. Their coupons won't work on Agency titles, but they do work on any book already discounted, including the very first one below.

    If you shop at Fictionwise, they have a 50% off coupon code this weekend, 031811 (and their codes often work a day or two after the official expiration date).

    Betrayal On Orbis 2 ($6.39 Kindle), by PJ Haarsma, is the next book in The Softwire series, after Virus on Orbis 1 (free). It's not marked down at Amazon or B&N, but you can get this for 99 cents at Kobo AND you can use a coupon code to reduce what you pay even further.

    Book Description
    On Orbis 2, Johnny Turnbull has a new home and a new job, one that pushes his softwire abilities to painful limits. JT is the only one who can communicate with the Samirans, large aquatic aliens who have cooled the crystals on Orbis for nearly two thousand rotations. But as the Samirans' work rule ostensibly comes to a close, they have grown dangerously agitated, and JT must find out why. What he learns is that the prosperity of Orbis is built on a brutal system of enforced labor --- and that everyone seems to have something to hide. Can JT appease the Samirans before their threat is realized? And if he doesn't, will his friends survive? In this second episode of THE SOFTWIRE, PJ Haarsma takes readers on another lightning-paced, cyber-fueled ride through the amazing universe he introduced in THE SOFTWIRE: VIRUS ON ORBIS 1.

    Sci-fi fans will tear through this new adventure as Johnny Turnbull --- first human softwire --- finds more danger and intrigue on the next ring of Orbis.


    A Cold Day for Murder ($0.99 Kindle, B&N), by Dana Stabenow, is the very first book in her Kate Shugak series and earned her an Edgar Award. The only way to make this great price better is for it to be free ... and it is if you download it from The Official Iditarod site, in DRM-free Mobi and EPUB (and there's a link for iBooks, if you access the site on your iPad).

    Book Description
    Somewhere in the hinterlands of Alaska, among the millions of sprawling acres that comprise “The Park,” a young National Park Ranger has gone missing. When the detective sent after him also vanishes, the Anchorage DA’s department must turn to their reluctant former investigator, Kate Shugak. Shugak knows The Park because she’s of The Park, an Aleut who left her home village of Niniltna to pursue education, a career, and the righting of wrongs. Kate’s search for the missing men will take her from self-imposed exile back to a life she’d left behind, and face-to-face with people and problems she'd hoped never to confront again.

    Hater ($2.99 Kindle, Kobo), by David Moody, was originally self-published, but is now in print with Thomas Dunne and the movie rights have been sold (and it's apparently being filmed soon), while the sequel, Dog Blood, was picked up by Macmillan.

    Book Description
    REMAIN CALM
    DO NOT PANIC
    TAKE SHELTER
    WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
    THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL


    Society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. Christened 'Haters' by the media, the attackers strike without warning, killing all who cross their path. The assaults are brutal, remorseless and extreme: within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious killers. There are no apparent links as a hundred random attacks become a thousand, then hundreds of thousands. Everyone, irrespective of gender, age, race or any other difference, has the potential to become a victim - or a Hater. People are afraid to go to work, afraid to leave their homes and, increasingly, afraid that at any moment their friends, even their closest family, could turn on them with ultra violent intent. Waking up each morning, no matter how well defended, everyone must now consider the fact that by the end of the day, they might be dead. Or perhaps worse, become a killer themselves. As the status quo shifts, ATTACK FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER becomes the order of the day... only, the answers might be much different than what you expect....

    In the tradition of H. G. Wells and Richard Matheson, Hater is one man’s story of his place in a world gone mad— a world infected with fear, violence, and HATE.


    Party Animal ($2.99 Kindle), by Marian Keyes, Maeve Binchy, Cathy Kelly and Marisa Mackle

    Book Description
    A wonderful collection of short stories about well-loved pets from Ireland's top female writers including Marian Keyes, Cathy Kelly, Marisa Mackle, Patricia Scanlan, Melissa Hill, Amanda Brunker, Maeve Binchy and many more. All royalties from the sale of this work will go to Irish animal rescue centres, making life better for our four-legged friends.

    The German Woman ($2.46 Kindle), by Paul Griner, is $10 in most other stores.

    Book Description
    This riveting war story introduces us to the beautiful Kate Zweig, the English widow of a German surgeon, and Claus Murphy, an exiled American with German roots—two lovers with complicated loyalties.

    In 1918, Kate and her husband, Horst, are taken for spies by Russian soldiers and forced to flee their field hospital on the eastern front, barely escaping with their lives. Years later, in London during the Nazis’ V-1 reign of terror, Claus spends his days making propaganda films and his nights as a British spy, worn down by the war and his own many secrets. When Claus meets the intriguing Kate, he finds himself powerfully drawn to her, even after evidence surfaces that she might not be exactly who she seems. As the war hurtles to a violent end, Claus must decide where his own loyalties lie, whether he can make a difference in the war—and what might be gained by taking a leap of faith with Kate.


    Random Violence ($0.99 Kindle, B&N), by Jassy Mackenzie, the first in the Jade de Jong series set in South Africa, is one of two editions in the Kindle store, with the second (which appears to be topaz) over $13.

    Book Description
    In Johannesburg prosperous whites live in gated communities; when they exit their cars to open the gates, car-jackings are common. But seldom is the victim killed, much less shot twice, like Annette Botha. Piet Botha, the husband of the wealthy woman, is the primary suspect in his wife's murder.

    P.I. Jade de Jong fled South Africa ten years ago after her father was killed. Now back in town, she offers to help her father's former assistant, Superintendent David Patel, with his investigation of this case. Under apartheid, Patel, of Indian descent, could never have attained his present position. But he is feeling pressure from his "old line" boss with respect to this investigation and fears lingering prejudice is at work.

    As Jade probes into this and other recent car-jacking cases, a pattern begins to emerge, a pattern that goes back to her father's murder and that involves a vast and intricate series of crimes for profit.


    A Grave in Gaza ($2.07 Kindle), by Matt Beynon Rees, is also one of two editions (the other is topaz, at 5 cents less); this is is also $10 in other stores.

    Book Description
    In A Grave in Gaza, Omar Yussef and his boss,Magnus Wallender, travel to the Gaza Strip for a routine inspection of the UN schools in the Gaza refugee camps.Upon their arrival they meet James Cree, the UN security officer for Gaza, who informs them that a teacher at one of their schools has been accused of spying and imprisoned. As they try to free the teacher and keep a lid on an explosive political situation, they are pulled into a confrontation with Gaza’s warring government factions and the criminal gangs with which they are connected.Omar Yussef confronts the dark elements of Gaza—dirty politics, bribery, assassination, and kidnapping—in his struggle to free the innocent and honor the dead.

    Elysium Burning ($0.99), by DDD Bryenton, is the first in his Alter Inferno Complex series that continues with The Chains of Tartarus and Soulcrusher ($0.99 each); you can pick up the entire apocalyptic, cyberpunk trilogy for less than the cost of a large mocha.

    Book Description
    The human race tore itself apart during the Age of Judgment... that's what we call the Trillion Dollar War now, in our ignorance. We unleashed enough firepower to vaporize whole nations, poisoning the Earth and grinding civilization down to the politics of muscle and steel. Dark days came. War-dog days, like some ethanol-fueled b-movie.
    Then came word of the Last City. A new Elysium welded together from the carcass of our old technology. A place ruled by a god-machine named Kronos, Guardian Engine of Humanity.

    Too bad that it's gone insane. Even worse that its two-thousand-year-long master program has actually come to fruition, offering a chance to remake the Earth as a paradise. What? that doesn't sound so bad?
    Well, one species' paradise is another one's hell. And the experiments of Kronos have garnered a little unwanted attention, from the all-devouring metal metavirus known as the Unity. Their alien enemies are here to help us... but it's the kind of help that often ends with an autopsy.

    Kaito Kayzi would be worried if he knew all this. But when your best friend is busy pharming adrenochrome from the living brains of junkies, and your next employers look like being a quasi-religious death cult, little things like the end of the world fade behind the static of the Big Weird. The sad fact is, with a new virus turning humans and machines alike into unmentionable sludge, he's the best hope we've got...


    A Lady's Wish ($1.99 Kindle, Kobo), by Katharine Ashe, is an Agency title, so should be the same price everywhere.

    Book Description
    An exclusive "Rogues of the Sea" Series novella including an excerpt from the new novel, Captured by a Rogue Lord, available March 29th.

    To the world, Lady Patricia Morgan is a proper lady. But in secret, she yearns for scorching romance with a certain breathtaking gentleman she has never forgotten. They spent one perfect day together, but he disappeared before she could learn his name.

    Eight years ago, Captain Nikolas Acton ran off to join the navy so he could forget the mysterious young lady who, after promising him her heart, simply vanished. Now, he has returned to England as a war hero, and is staggered to come face to face with the woman who still possesses his heart . . .


    Royal Weddings: An Original Anthology ($1.99), by Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase, has been reduced from $2.99.

    Book Description
    You are cordially invited
    To help celebrate the Royal Wedding of
    Prince William to Catherine Middleton
    As we present a 77 page original anthology
    Written by three utterly wonderful authors!

    Stephanie Laurens' The Wedding Planner: Lady Margaret is proud plan the ton's most important nuptuals—including that of a prince. But it's Lady Margaret who falls in love . . . with dashing Gaston Devilliers!

    Gaelen Foley's Ever After: How scandalous! Eleanor Monford, Countess of Archer, is in love with her own husband. And as Princess Charlotte of England weds Prince Leopold, Eleanor's "secret" is about to come out.

    Loretta Chase's The Jilting of Lord Rothwick: On the eve of Queen Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert, the Marquess of Rothwick learns his fiancÉe, Barbara Findley, has broken their engagement! So he desperately rides out of London to seek her out . . . and to win her back.


    Girl Parts ($9.99 Kindle), a young adult title by John M. Cusick, is $1.99 at Kobo.

    Book Description
    Hello David. My name is Rose. Its a pleasure to meet you. We are now entering minute two of our friendship. According to my Intimacy Clock a handshake is now appropriate…"David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When Davids parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder" he cant get enough of luscious red-headed Rose and he cant get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols and whenever he tries anything David gets an electric shock. Severed from the boy she was built to love Rose turns to Charlie who finds he can open up knowing Rose isnt real. With Charlies help the ideal "companion" is about to become her own best friend. In a stunning and hilarious debut John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uber-connected world.

    Midlife Irish: Discovering My Family and Myself ($1.99 Kindle, Kobo), by Frank Gannon

    Book Description
    If Bill Bryson set off for Ireland to discover his roots, then you'd have MIDLIFE IRISH--an illuminating, entertaining, and heartwarming look at one man's search for where--and who--he came from.

    Irish-American. What does this vague term really mean? Millions of people describe themselves as Irish-American, but beyond celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a drunken zeal, how many of them know really anything about their cultural ancestry? It is this curiosity that got the better of Frank Gannon-the son of a couple of straight-off-the-boat Irish immigrants. His mother and father, who never spoke about life on the Emerald Isle, raised him in New Jersey, thousands of miles from Ireland. But after both his parents passed away, he realized he knew nothing about whom they really were and where they came from-and in effect, where he came from. Now at the half-way point in his life, Gannon decided to fill in the blanks. He embarked on a journey to Planet Green and slowly pieced together the lives of his parents. Before long, he discovered much about his mother and father, and just as much about himself. At times funny, poignant, and heartbreaking, MIDLIFE IRISH draws on the universal themes of love, loss, and laughter that have kept the Irish both miserable and happy-often at the same time-throughout the years. This story of one man's search for his cultural identity will have phones ringing off the hook at the Irish Board of Tourism, as readers will want to take off on a similar journey of their own.


    A Song for Mary: An Irish-American Memory ($2.99 Kindle, Kobo), by Dennis Smith, is another Irish themed Agency title marked down for St. Pat's.

    Book Description
    A moving memoir of growing up Irish Catholic & poor in New York City. Told in the first person, this lyrical remembrance is a powerful odyssey of one young man coming of age in a confusing & sometimes hostile world.

    Empire of Lies ($1.76 Kindle, B&N), by Andrew Klavan

    Book Description
    Sustained by a deep religious faith, Jason Harrow has built a stable family and become a pillar of principle and patriotism in the Midwest. Then the phone rings, and his past is on the other end of the line. A woman with whom he once shared a life of violence and desire claims her daughter is missing—and Jason is the one man who can find her.

    Returning to New York City, Jason finds himself entangled in a murderous conspiracy only he can see and only he can stop—a plot that bizarrely links his private passions to the turmoil of a world at war. Hunted by terrorists and by the police, Jason has only hours to unravel an ex-lover's lies and face the unbearable truth: In order to prevent a savage attack on his country, he's going to have to risk his decency, his sanity, and his life.

    About the Author
    ANDREW KLAVAN is the author of the best-selling novels True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Don't Say a Word, a film starring Michael Douglas. His work has been nominated for the Edgar Award five times and has won twice. He is a contributing editor at City Journal and his articles have appeared, among other places, in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times.

    Friday, March 18, 2011

    New Kindle App - Word Search Volume 2

    Word Search Volume 2 ($0.99), by Oak Systems Leisure Software

    Book Description
    Enjoy even more Word Search puzzles on your Kindle.

    Locate and mark off words in the grid using the 5-way controller. Each word appears in a straight line, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in the grid - but be careful, sometimes the words are backwards! Play at your own pace or against the clock and see who can get the fastest time for each puzzle. You can pause partway through a puzzle and return to where you left it, as well as reset each puzzle and try it again as many times as you like. If you get stuck on a more challenging puzzle you can give up and see the correct solution.

    Fun for all ages, with categories from Fruits to World War II Battles, there are 50 new themed 13x13 puzzles included in Volume 2 covering a wide variety of subjects. (Purchase of Word Search Volume 1 is not required to enjoy Word Search Volume 2.)

    People who like puzzles and word games will enjoy playing this fun game on Kindle.

    Free Book - God's War

    Update: This one is now free from Kobo (DRM'd EPUB).
    Update 4/1/11: All previous outlets are now charging full price, but you can get this free at B&N today (and most likely only for today or the weekend, before it goes back to full price).

    Nightshade Books is sponsoring the I09 BookClub this month, where they will be discussing God's War ($7.99 Kindle), by Kameron Hurley. You can get a free copy via email, until March 29, 2011, using the directions below.

    Book Description
    Nyx had already been to hell. One prayer more or less wouldn't make any difference... On a ravaged, contaminated world, a centuries-old holy war rages, fought by a bloody mix of mercenaries, magicians, and conscripted soldiers. Though the origins of the war are shady and complex, there's one thing everybody agrees on-- There's not a chance in hell of ending it. Nyx is a former government assassin who makes a living cutting off heads for cash. But when a dubious deal between her government and an alien gene pirate goes bad, Nyx's ugly past makes her the top pick for a covert recovery. The head they want her to bring home could end the war--but at what price? The world is about to find out.

    To get the free book, send an email to io9GodsWarGiveAway@nightshadebooks.com. You will get a DRM-free EPUB back in your email (usually in one or two days; they are processing requests manually). Save it, add it to Calibre and you can then convert it for Kindle and transfer it from there. Feel free to ask questions here, if you can't get Calibre to work (or over on the KindleKorner yahoo group, where I'm a moderator and there are a lot of people who like to talk about the Kindle and who use Calibre). Nightshade is being generous in giving this book away, but they don't have the resources to troubleshoot everyone out there that has problems converting for their individual ereaders.

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

    Thursday, March 17, 2011

    Free Book - Of Blood and Honey

    Update: I emailed Nightshade and they are sending these out by hand. Last time I checked, they hoped to get all of today's out before end of business, but I suspect they had more requests than they anticipated. Give them another day or so (this offer will stay open until March 29) before you resend if you haven't received it.

    Nightshade Books is celebrating St. Patrick's Day by giving everyone a free copy of Of Blood and Honey ($7.99 Kindle), by Stina Leicht (they couldn't figure out how to send us all a pint via email).

    Book Description
    Fallen angels and the fey clash against the backdrop of Irish/English conflicts of the 1970s in this stunning debut novel by Stina Leicht.

    Liam never knew who his father was. The town of Derry had always assumed that he was the bastard of a protestant--His mother never spoke of him, and Liam assumed he was dead. But when the war between the fallen, and the fey began to heat up, Liam and his family are pulled into a conflict that they didn't know existed. A centuries old conflict between supernatural forces seems to mirror the political divisions in 1970s era Ireland, and Liam is thrown headlong into both conflicts. Only the direct intervention of Liam's real father, and a secret catholic order dedicated to fighting "The Fallen" can save Liam... from the mundane and supernatural forces around him, and from the darkness that lurks within him.


    To get the free book, send an email to BloodAndHoneyGiveAway@nightshadebooks.com. You will get a DRM-free EPUB back in your email. Save it, add it to Calibre and you can then convert it for Kindle and transfer it from there. Feel free to ask questions here, if you can't get Calibre to work (or over on the KindleKorner yahoo group, where I'm a moderator and there are a lot of people who like to talk about the Kindle and who use Calibre). Nightshade is being generous in giving this book away, but they don't have the resources to troubleshoot everyone out there that has problems converting for their individual ereaders.

    New Kindle App - Notepad

    Ever since the original Kindle came out, I've seen people asking for a way to take notes on their Kindle. It looks like the app we've been waiting for has arrived with Notepad (A Note Taking Tool for Kindle) ($0.99), by 7 Dragons. This should prove to be a much better solution that creating a blank document, sending it to your Kindle and then editing the note (usually one per page in the document) you created on it (especially since you had to create as many pages as you thought you might need ahead of time).

    Book Description
    Notepad is a simple tool that lets you write and edit text notes on Kindle.

    Write notes about any subject you wish, from meeting notes to grocery reminders. Jot down quick ideas, phone numbers and addresses, or remember that perfect gift for a special someone.

    With Notepad, you can create or view a note with one of two different fonts, and in any of six different font sizes. Your notes can be sorted by date or alphabetically by title. Notepad also allows you to search for text in real-time within the body and title of your notes. Simply start typing in the word you are looking for, and Notepad instantly displays the notes that contain that word. This allows you to find anything you may have previously written, without having to browse through notes individually.

    Use Notepad to take notes on Kindle today!


    I also found some more info on this one direct from the company that brought it out:

    Main features -
    1. It uses text format so you can move your notes to PC/MAC easily and move text files to Kindle.
    2. Fast typing.
    3. 6 font sizes and 2 font options (serif, sans serif).
    4. Search and Sorting by date/time or alphabetically.
    5. Backup and Restore in-app. Also you can copy notes to your PC for safekeeping.
    There are lots of shortcuts to make things simple. We have progress bars so you can tell where you are in your list of notes and in a note itself.

    Videos - Kindle Notepad Videos
    Help - Kindle Notepad Help

    Btw, Help page includes downloadable documents in PDF and Word format in case you'd like to carry something with you on your Kindle on how to use the App. App also has Help section in the app.