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, September 6, 2012

New Kindles can now be Pre-ordered

Amazon has finally unlocked the ordering system and you can now pre-order any of the new Kindles and reserve your place in line. I've updated the links in my original post and am including a quicklist both in this post and on the main blog page, at the top-right corner of the page.

I've already placed my orders and noticed that a mystery $30 credit had appeared in my account - it came off of the Kindle Paperwhite that I ordered, but don't ask me where the credit came from (I still have a mystery $200 credit, too, but don't know what I have to order to get it to be used).

New Kindle Family

New Kindle Fire HD Commercial

New Kindle Paperwhite Commercial

Kindle Paperwhite $119 and Kindle Fire HD $199

It's official, the new name is the Kindle Paperwhite (the link is showing the Kindle store right now, but the name is live and should go to the new Kindle once it is accessible on the website) and the price will be $119 for the WiFi only edition and $179 for the Kindle Paperwhite 3G! As expected, it's a side-light, higher resolution eInk touch screen. With the wireless turned off, you still get 8 weeks of battery life, with the light ON! You'll be able to read outside, since it is still eInk and not backlit (the side light bounces off a special layer and down onto the eInk, evenly across the screen). At least one view of your library shows cover images (I hope this works for those of us with very large archives). It will be very thin and only weights 7.5 oz.

You can order today (at least, according to Bezos - so far, the links are not live at Amazon; I'll update the post when they are) and it will ship October 1. The ad-supported non-Touch Kindle will be dropping in price to $69 - that price is now live and the no-ads Kindle has dropped to $89 (out of stock until Sept 8).

There are already Accessories and Warranties available and a helpful reader has pointed out what looks like a pricing error on the new CaseCrown Kindle Paperwhite Flip Covers, as they are currently only $3.23 on pre-order! I've ordered a couple (but these dropped to "shipping soon" almost immediately, even with a Sept 30 ship date, so don't expect to be able to cancel the order).

The new, faster Kindle Fire will be lower in price, as well: $159 and both a 7" Kindle Fire HD and 8.9" Kindle Fire HD, with 1920 x 1200 display — 254 ppi and only 20 oz in weight. The 7" model will have double the memory of the original Fire and a faster processor. They've also added a polarizing filter layer on both models, so that there should be less glare on the screen. On the larger, HD Fire, you'll get dual, stereo speakers and Dolby Digital Plus. The WiFi has been upgraded to 5GHZ and there are two antennas, which should improve WiFi connectivity if you are farther from the hotspot. As for storage, the HD will start with a 16GB version and will have BlueTooth support and HDMI out! Pricing for the Fire HD: 7", 16 GB $199 / 32GB $249, 8.9" 16GB $299; shipping Nov 20th on the larger tablet and Sept 14 for the lower priced model. That's only a $40 difference vs. the non-HD Fire, so I'm going to recommend that you only consider the HD edition.

For those who want 4G coverage, there is a $499 Kindle Fire HD with 4G LTE wireless, that has an Amazon designed modem, 32GB storage and the 8.9" screen (and a second model with 64GB for $599). It looks like it will connect with AT&T. The data plan is $49.99 per year, with 250MB a month, 200GB of cloud storage and a $10 Amazon credit. That's not much bandwidth, but is enough to play in the Kindle store and check your email regularly, when you don't have WiFi access. There are probably upgraded options on plans, for those willing to pay for it, but nothing announced at the conference.

They've also added Whispersync for Voice, so you can sync your Audible listening to reading the ebook on another device. So, listen in your car, then sync at home and read the ebook later. They also have added Immersion Reading that lets you read the book at the same time you listen to the audiobook.

Also, WhisperSync for Game (ooh!), X-Ray for Movies, new Email support (including Exchange support for business users), a custom Facebook App, Skype (so, yes a camera and microphone are now included), Time Limits for Kids (I've been seeing people ask for this lately, in the Kindle forums), multiple profiles (yay!) for family members (or letting someone look at your tablet) and a different color on the background (light blue) so you can tell if your kids are using their FreeTime profile. For reading, X-Ray for books will show you both Wiki entries and YouTube videos. There should be some new magazines offerings, also.

I am seeing a few Kindle Fire HD covers, also, although only for the 7" model, so far (they are also discounted as pre-orders, for those that want to get a jump on things).

If you put in an order now, you'll be in line for delivery - I expect there to be a backlog before Christmas and there may or may not be enough that those who opt for SuperSaver shipping will get theirs in the first batch. In the past, Amazon has bumped all the people who pay for overnight shipping (usually a $3.99 charge for Prime members) to the front of the list, followed by those who order with 2nd day shipping and those with SuperSave shipping end up nearer the end of the pack. Also, if past years are any indication, these are going to be some of the hottest gifts under the tree at Christmas (especially by parents who are tired of trying to get their kids to quit using the iPads for hours each day).

OK, doesn't look like Amazon is going to get the pre-order links up early, so I'm posting this now. I'll come back and fix the links for the exact models, once ordering is allowed. Update: Links are now live.

Kobo Announces Three New Readers

The Amazon announcement is still an hour off, so I've been surfing the web, looking for leaks (such as the new Kindle commercial). I found rumors that Barnes & Noble will be bringing out a new tablet this fall, although it may just join their current offerings, rather than replacing the original Color and current Tablet, both of which are still available, and across the big news from Kobo. They scooped Amazon by announcing three new reader devices, two of which are eInk based: Kobo Glo ($129.99), a side-lit 6" eInk reader similar to the nook Glow, and Kobo Mini ($79.99), a 5" touchscreen reader for those who want the most portability - just don't try to walk around with it in your pocket as shown on their web page or you'll probably break the screen. The Kobo Arc ($199.99), looks a lot more like a nook Tablet than the old Kobo Vox, which I thought was a very disappointing tablet; the specs on this new tablet look like they may have a winner, this time. One great feature of the Kobo Arc will be full access to the Google Play store, which B&N and Amazon both lock you out of.

There are also some accessories announced, but nothing can be pre-ordered yet; after my very bad experience pre-ordering a Vox (because they are in Canada, many US credit card companies can stop transactions; despite many confirmations from Kobo, my Vox never shipped and I had to get someone in the company to assist personally to get one here), I'll hold off ordering one until they are actually shipping. I know I used to be able to buy Kobo's readers at Books-A-Million, locally, but they seem to have discontinued them and have adopted B&N's nook as their ereader of choices (which seems to be a very bad business choice, since that would then give you much faster access to B&N's ebookstore and not BAM's), so mail-order will probably be the best way to get a reader in the US. Kobo is starting to partner with independent bookstores, but I don't know if any local stores will be signed up. Those of you in Canada and Japan will probably be able to find the devices in local retail stores.

Back to those Amazon rumors: some people think they saw an iPad size Kindle tablet in the commercial that was leaked, but it really looks more like an ultraBook (there are shots with a keyboard and a mouse). Others are talking about an Amazon phone, which would probably be a great mid-range Android based phone, that (like the Kindle Fire), doesn't try to scoop up the high end/business market, but will be an irresistible choice for those who have a lot of content in the Amazon Cloud.

Free Audiobook - The Mountain [UK]

The audiobook edition of The Mountain, a short story by J. J. Bell, narrated by Cathy Dobson, is free in the UK Audible store.
Book Description
'The Mountain' is a humorous story in the vein of Compton McKenzie's Whisky Galore. When a tourist visits a remote Highland Glen and lets it be known that he has left a full bottle of the region's finest whisky on top of the nearest mountain, the crofters need all their collective cunning to devise a plan to retrieve it. The story takes an unexpected twist at the end.

J.J.Bell (1871-1934) was a journalist and author who lived and worked in Glasgow. He was probably best known as the creator of the humorous "Wee McGreegor" stories for the Glasgow Evening Times, which were so popular they were turned into a series of books and later a film. Many of Bell's tales were written in the vernacular, which is partly what made them so popular.
Get the free audiobook from Audible UK (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The Link [UK]

The audiobook edition of The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor (Kindle Main/UK), by Colin Tudge, narrated by Robert Petkoff, is free in the UK Audible store.
Book Description
For more than a century, scientists have raced to unravel the human family tree and have grappled with its complications. Now, with an astonishing new discovery, everything we thought we knew about primate origins could change.

Lying inside a high-security vault, deep within the heart of one of the world's leading natural history museums, is the scientific find of a lifetime - a perfectly fossilized early primate, older than the previously most famous primate fossil, Lucy, by 44 million years. A secret until now, the fossil - "Ida" to the researchers who have painstakingly verified her provenance - is the most complete primate fossil ever found.

Forty-seven million years old, Ida rewrites what we've assumed about the earliest primate origins. Her completeness is unparalleled - so much of what we understand about evolution comes from partial fossils and even single bones, but Ida's fossilization offers much more than that, from a haunting "skin shadow" to her stomach contents. And, remarkably, knowledge of her discovery and existence almost never saw the light of day.

With exclusive access to the first scientists to study her, the award-winning science writer Colin Tudge tells the history of Ida and her place in the world. A magnificent, cutting-edge scientific detective story followed her discovery, and The Link offers a wide-ranging investigation into Ida and our earliest origins. At the same time, it opens a stunningly evocative window into our past and changes what we know about primate evolution and, ultimately, our own
Get the free audiobook from Audible UK (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Lonesome Dove [UK]

The audiobook edition of Lonesome Dove (Kindle Main/UK), by Larry McMurty, narrated by Lee Horsley, is free in the UK Audible store.
Book Description
Lonesome Dove is a dusty little Texas town where heroes and outlaws, whores and ladies, Indians and settlers embody the spirit and defiance of the last wilderness. Larry McMurtry's American epic, set in the late 19th century, tells the story of a cattle drive from Texas to Montana, a drive that represents not only a daring foolhardy adventure, but a part of the American Dream for everyone involved. Lee Horsley, one of TV's most popular leading men and star of the Old West series Paradise, narrates this compelling saga.
Get the free audiobook from Audible UK (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Headhunters [UK]

The audiobook edition of Headhunters (Kindle Main/UK), by Jo Nesbo, narrated by Sean Barrett, is free in the UK Audible store.
Book Description
With Headhunters, Jo Nesbø has crafted a funny, dark, and twisted caper story worthy of Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers. FIRST TIME PUBLISHED IN THE U.S. NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM MAGNOLIA PICTURES.

Roger Brown is a corporate headhunter, and he’s a master of his profession. But one career simply can’t support his luxurious lifestyle and his wife’s fledgling art gallery. At an art opening one night he meets Clas Greve, who is not only the perfect candidate for a major CEO job, but also, perhaps, the answer to his financial woes: Greve just so happens to mention that he owns a priceless Peter Paul Rubens painting that’s been lost since World War II—and Roger Brown just so happens to dabble in art theft. But when he breaks into Greve’s apartment, he finds more than just the painting. And Clas Greve may turn out to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to Roger Brown.
Get the free audiobook from Audible UK (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The Dip

The audiobook edition of The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) ($10.99 Kindle), by Seth Godin, narrated by Seth Godin, is free from Audible.
Book Description
The old saying is wrong—winners do quit, and quitters do win.

Every new project (or job, or hobby, or company) starts out exciting and fun. Then it gets harder and less fun, until it hits a low point—really hard, and not much fun at all.

And then you find yourself asking if the goal is even worth the hassle. Maybe you’re in a Dip—a temporary setback that will get better if you keep pushing. But maybe it’s really a Cul-de-Sac, which will never get better, no matter how hard you try.

According to bestselling author Seth Godin, what really sets superstars apart from everyone else is the ability to escape dead ends quickly, while staying focused and motivated when it really counts.

Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt—until they commit to beating the right Dip for the right reasons. In fact, winners seek out the Dip. They realize that the bigger the barrier, the bigger the reward for getting past it. If you can become number one in your niche, you’ll get more than your fair share of profits, glory, and long-term security.

Losers, on the other hand, fall into two basic traps. Either they fail to stick out the Dip—they get to the moment of truth and then give up—or they never even find the right Dip to conquer.

Whether you’re a graphic designer, a sales rep, an athlete, or an aspiring CEO, this fun little book will help you figure out if you’re in a Dip that’s worthy of your time, effort, and talents. If you are, The Dip will inspire you to hang tough. If not, it will help you find the courage to quit—so you can be number one at something else.

Seth Godin doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But he will teach you how to ask the right questions.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

New Kindles Sneak Peak

Amazon's big announcement is scheduled for later today, but you can get an early glimpse at what appeats to be both the new eInk Kindle (with front/edge lighting) and the new tablet taking the place of the Kindle Fire (it's much thinner) on this Kindle commercial, which has been posted into the private area of YouTube:

Today's Deals

With all the free Audible books overnight, I've added a new category to the "Free Kindle Books" tab (menu above). I've also split out the Young Adult/Children's books and the Contemporary Fiction/Miscellaneous genre from the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller list. There were a number of free Audible books that either were already in my library or I had posted in the blog - those I just placed onto the list, rather than end up with two dozen posts tonight.

Additional formats on free books:

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is Flowertown ($1.99), by S.G. Redling, which I bought back in July (at more than double this price).
Book Description
ublication Date: June 19, 2012
When Feno Chemical spilled an experimental pesticide in rural Iowa, scores of people died. Those who survived contamination were herded into a US Army medically maintained quarantine and cut off from the world. Dosed with powerful drugs to combat the poison, their bodies give off a sickly sweet smell and the containment zone becomes known simply as Flowertown.

Seven years later, the infrastructure is crumbling, supplies are dwindling, and nobody is getting clean. Ellie Cauley doesn’t care anymore. Despite her paranoid best friend's insistence that conspiracies abound, she focuses on three things: staying high, hooking up with the Army sergeant she's not supposed to be fraternizing with and, most importantly, trying to ignore her ever-simmering rage. But when a series of deadly events rocks the compound, Ellie suspects her friend is right—something dangerous is going down in Flowertown and all signs point to a twisted plan of greed and abuse. She and the other residents of Flowertown have been betrayed by someone with a deadly agenda and their plan is just getting started. Time is running out. With nobody to trust and nowhere to go, Ellie decides to fight with the last weapon she has—her rage.

Flowertown is a high-intensity conspiracy thriller that brings the worst-case scenario vividly to life and will keep readers riveted until the final haunting page.

Little Book of London ($1.57 / £0.99 UK), by David Long , is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (the US edition is $13.99).
Book Description
The Little Book of London is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. London's looniest laws, its most eccentric inhabitants, and the realities of being royal and literally hundreds of wacky facts about the world's greatest city.

I'm Not Her (Kindle, $7.69 $1.99 B&N), by Janet Gurtler, is the Nook Daily Find, price matched on Kindle.
Book Description
"For the first time in my life, I didn't feel envy..."

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that's okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. But, the smiles of her picture perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn't hold it together, who will?

Janet Gurtler tests the bonds of sisterhood in this moving debut that readers of Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen will savor.

Grade Level: 7 and up

The Book of a Thousand Days ($0.99 Kindle, Kobo), by Shannon Hale, author of Princess Academy, which was a daily deal very recently. I found this on Kobo and it's now been price matched at Amazon.
Book Description
Based on a classic Grimm's fairy tale, this is the story told by Dashti, a maid from the steppes of a medieval land, who sacrifices her freedom to accompany her mistress into exile. Imprisoned in a remote tower after Lady Saren refuses to marry the man her father has chosen, the maid and the lady have almost nothing in common. But the loyalty that grows between the two, the man they love in different ways for different reasons, and the lies they tell because of and in spite of each other, combine to evoke the deepest bonds, transcend the loneliest landscapes, and erupt in a conclusion so romantic, so clever, and so right that no reader will be left dry-eyed.

Grade Level: 7 and up

Today's Kindle Kids Daily Deal is The Tail of Emily Windsnap ($1.99), by Liz Kessler and Sarah Gibb.
Book Description
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery - about her own identity, the mysterious father she's never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water's surface. With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident - an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love.

Grade Level: 3 and up

Free Audiobook - Killing Floor

The audiobook edition of Killing Floor ($9.99 Kindle), by Lee Child, narrated by Dick Hill, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
All is not well in Margrave, Georgia.

The sleepy, forgotten town hasn't seen a crime in decades, but within the span of three days it witnesses events that leave everyone stunned. An unidentified man is found beaten and shot to death on a lonely country road. The police chief and his wife are butchered on a quiet Sunday morning. Then a bank executive disappears from his home, leaving his keys on the table and his wife frozen with fear.

The easiest suspect is Jack Reacher - an outsider, a man just passing through. But Reacher is not just any drifter. He is a tough ex-military policeman, trained to think fast and act faster. He has lived with and hunted the worst: the hard men of the American military gone bad.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The Time Traveler's Wife

The audiobook edition of The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger, narrated by William Hope and Laurel Lefkow, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Clare and Henry have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was 36. They were married when Clare was 23 and Henry was 31. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

Clare and Henry's story unfolds from both points of view, depicting the effects of time travel on their marriage and their passionate love for each other. They attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals: steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Swordspoint

The audiobook edition of Swordspoint ($7.99 Kindle), by Ellen Kushner, narrated by Ellen Kushner, Dion Graham, Katherine Kellgren, Robert Fass, Nick Sullivan and Simon Jones, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Award-winning author, narrator, and screenwriter Neil Gaiman personally selected this book, and, using the tools of the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), cast the narrator and produced this work for his audiobook label, Neil Gaiman Presents.

A few words from Neil on Swordspoint: "It's as if Jane Austen wrote fantasy... an imaginary world where the characters are real people: a Vanity Fair of aristocrats, rogues, orphans, and heroes; a book where the best swordsman in the land can make far more money dueling at private parties than he can as a knight-errant. Ellen Kushner casts her sharp eye over them all, but with great affection and lavish detail.... couldn't think of a better performer for Swordspoint than Ellen, and her reading is polished, intimate, and – since Riverside is of her creation – wholly authentic.

"What really makes this production of Swordspoint unique, though, is the supporting cast in this special "illuminated production". Several key scenes are fully dramatized, and throughout the entire book's soundscapes you will hear the cadences of the marketplace, the music of the drawing rooms, and of course the ring of steel drawn from the scabbard. Ellen actually wrote new dialogue for the crowd scenes, so the actors aren't just mumbling "rhubarb rhubarb" to simulate speech.... You'll be able to hear performances from acclaimed and award-winning actors, including Dion Graham, Katherine Kellgren, Robert Fass, Nick Sullivan, and the remarkable Simon Jones."

In this exciting new "illuminated production", the author herself reads her own work, supported by a full cast. Author Ellen Kushner is also a popular performer and National Public Radio host (Sound & Spirit). For years, fans have been asking her to record her own audiobook of Swordspoint. To mark the 25th anniversary of the book's publication, Ellen teamed up with Sue Zizza of SueMedia Productions, known for her signature touches of soundscapes and sound effects, multi-voiced dramatizations, and all the techniques of "illuminated production". Together they have made Swordspoint a brand-new audio experience, in which the full supporting cast dramatizes and illuminates key scenes from Ellen's compelling narration.

On the streets of Riverside, a man lives and dies by the sword. Even the nobles on the Hill turn to duels to settle their disputes. And in this city, the swordsman Richard St. Vier is the undisputed master, as skilled as he is ruthless – until a death by the sword is met with outrage instead of awe, and the city discovers that the line between hero and villain can be altered in the blink of an eye. Because every man lives at sword's point, if you can only find his weakness. And even the greatest swordsman in Riverside has one thing he cares for deeply.

Hailed by critics as "a bravura performance, a delight from start to finish" (Locus), "intelligent, humorous and dramatic" (Publishers Weekly) and "witty, beguiling and ingenious" (Interzone) , Kushner's "Melodrama of Manners" has become a classic, a favorite not only of Neil Gaiman but a host of distinguished colleagues, including George R. R. Martin ("unforgettable!"), Orson Scott Card ("powerful") and Gene Wolfe ("as if Noel Coward had written a vehicle for Errol Flynn!").

The artwork used for the audiobook edition of Swordspoint is based on the artwork and design by Thomas Canty for the original first US edition of the book.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Irresistible Forces

The audiobook edition of Irresistible Forces ($0.00 Kindle), by Brenda Jackson, narrated by Montana Chase, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
One week of mind-blowing sex on a beautiful Caribbean island. Of all the business proposals financial tycoon Dominic Saxon has heard, Taylor Steele's is definitely the most tempting. All Taylor wants in return is for Dominic to father her baby. No strings, no commitments...just a mutually satisfying arrangement. Make that very satisfying. For a man with no intention of marrying again, it sounds ideal.

Taylor wants a baby, not a relationship. And sexy, intelligent Dominic seems like a man with perfect genes. Turns out, Dominic has perfect everything. Their "procreation vacation" is a whirlwind of sensual ecstasy. But when it's over, will either of them be able to say goodbye?

Brenda Jackson is a USA Today and New York Times best-selling author.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The audiobook edition of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change ($8.06 Kindle), by Stephen R. Covey, narrated by Stephen R. Covey, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has been a top seller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology for proven principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. Celebrating its 15th year of helping people solve personal and professional problems, this special anniversary edition includes a new forward and afterword written by Covey that explore whether the 7 Habits are still relevant and answer some of the most common questions he has received over the past 15 years.

This audio edition is the first ever unabridged recording of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply). It looks like the Enhanced format isn't available for this edition, so you can't send it to your Kindle wirelessly. Instead, download the 4 format using the Audible manager and transfer to your Kindle via USB.

Free Audiobook - Bound to Rise

The audiobook edition of Bound to Rise (Or, Up the Ladder), by Horatio Alger, narrated by Macleod Andrews, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
An inspirational story about how individual traits and efforts help one to rise and progress. It is the story that eloquently compares and contrasts between two characters, their attitudes, efforts and consequently their success and failure. The book remains an inspiration for those who are ready to put in efforts and move ahead in life.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The Story of Classical Music

The audiobook edition of The Story of Classical Music, by Darren Henley, narrated by Marin Alsop, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
The lives and music of the great composers of classical music unfold in this entertaining account, introduced by the conductor and musical personality Marin Alsop. In 1200 years, classical music grew from the chanting of medieval monks through the symphonies of Beethoven and the grand operas of Wagner to the huge orchestral sound-world of the 21st century, with its electronics and its film music. In her easy-going style, Marin Alsop paints vivid portraits of over 90 composers, each one illustrated with some of his, or her, most famous music.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Black River

The audiobook edition of Black River, by Dean Koontz, narrated by Scott Brick, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Master of suspense Dean Koontz creates an undercurrent of terror in this story set deep in the dark and troubled town of Black River.

Burned-out Hollywood screenwriter Bo Aikens is fed up with life in Los Angeles. He heads out of the hustle and bustle of the big city and arrives in picturesque Black River in Northern California, seeking relaxation and artistic inspiration. In small, idyllic Black River, nearly everyone is happy, contented, and welcoming of strangers. But despite the beautiful setting, Bo begins to feel unsettled after several disturbing incidents. He discovers that all of his money has been transferred to a bank account in Black River, and a house has been purchased for him by someone on "his" instructions.

Troubled by various, peculiar twists of fate, Bo decides to leave Black River. As he becomes entangled in a nightmarish plot, preventing his return home, it suddenly seems clear to Bo that his perfect little hideaway captures more than just the imagination of its visitors.

"Black River" appeared in print in Mystery Scene Magazine #63 in 2000.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Vintage Death

The audiobook edition of Vintage Death a short story by Lisa Jackson from the anthology Thriller 2, narrated by Tanya Eby Sirois, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Lisa Jackson's "Vintage Death" tells of a dysfunctional family in the California wine country. Enjoy the complete story now, free, and then listen to the rest of the Thriller 2 collection.

About Thriller 2:
When some of the top thriller writers in the world came together in Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night, they became a part of one of the most successful short-story anthologies ever published. The highly anticipated Thriller 2: Stories You Just can't Put Down, will be even bigger. From Jeffery Deaver's tale of international terrorism to Lisa Jackson's dysfunctional family in the California wine country to Ridley Pearson's horrifying serial killer, this collection has something for everyone. Twenty-three best-selling and hot new authors in the genre have submitted original stories to make up this unforgettable blockbuster.

Turn off your phone....

Shut down your computer....

Say goodbye to your friends and family....

Be prepared to listen for days!
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The Cosmic Computer

The audiobook edition of The Cosmic Computer ($0.00 Kindle), by H. Beam Piper, narrated by Jeffrey Kafer, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Conn Maxwell returns from Terra to his poverty-stricken home planet of Poictesme, “The Junkyard Planet”, with news of the possible location of Merlin, a military super-computer rumored to have been abandoned there after the last war. The inhabitants hope to find Merlin, which they think will be their ticket to wealth and prosperity. But is Merlin real or just an old rumor? And if they find it, will it save them - or tear them apart?
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Four-Day Planet

The audiobook edition of Four-Day Planet (various Kindle editions), by H. Beam Piper, narrated by Eric Stuart, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
Fenris isn't a hell planet, but it's nobody's bargain. With 2,000-hour days and an 8,000-hour year, it alternates blazing heat with killing cold. A planet like that tends to breed a special kind of person: tough enough to stay alive and smart enough to make the best of it. And when that kind of person discovers he's being cheated out of wealth he's risked his life for, that kind of planet is ripe for revolution.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - The Lair of the White Worm

The audiobook edition of The Lair of the White Worm (various Kindle editions), by Bram Stoker, narrated by Oliver Wyman, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
In a tale of ancient evil, Bram Stoker creates a world of lurking horrors and bizarre denizens: a demented mesmerist, hellbent on mentally crushing the girl he loves; a gigantic kite raised to rid the land of an unnatural infestation of birds, and which receives strange commands along its string; and all the while, the great white worm slithers below, seeking its next victim....

Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula, is one of the most enduring and masterful influences on the literature of terror.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply)

Free Audiobook - Ivanhoe

The audiobook edition of Ivanhoe (various Kindle editions), by Sir Walter Scott, narrated by Michael Page, is free in the Audible store.
Book Description
A century has passed since the Norman Conquest, and England is still a colony of foreign warlords. Prince John is plotting to seize the throne from his brother, Richard the Lion-Hearted, and Robin Hood and his merry band are making fools out of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Wilfred, knight of Ivanhoe, the son of Cedric the Saxon, is in love with his father's ward, Rowena. Cedric, however, wishes her to marry Athelstane, a descendant of the royal Saxon line, whom Cedric hopes will restore the Saxon succession.

With a colorful cast of chivalric knights and fair ladies, this action-filled novel comes complete with feats of derring-do, the pageantry of a tournament, and a great flame-engulfed castle - all of which makes it the most enthralling of Scott's creations.
Get the free audiobook from Audible (some geographic restrictions may apply; for those in the UK, try this link instead)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Today's Deals

Yesterday's Nook Daily Find, The Grifters, by Jim Thompson, is now $1.99 on Kindle; the price drop may not last all day, so you might want to grab it early, especially if you were a fan of the Scorsese movie.

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is All God's Creatures ($1.99), by Carolyn McSparren (BelleBooks). Since I loved reading James Herriot when I was young (and have replaced all his books more than once over the years, including now as ebooks), and this takes place in TN, it was a must buy for me this past Spring. If you missed it then, grab it now.
Book Description
Often compared to the novels of James Herriot, ALL GOD'S CREATURES follows the life of a woman veterinarian in modern Tennessee. From an unlikely start as a white-glove debutante in the 1960's to a sexism-defying launch in vet school to the adventures, sorrows, joys and oddities of a long veterinary practice, our heroine spins tales of the animals and people who share her life.

By veteran author and dedicated horsewoman Carolyn McSparren, who also writes the Merry Abbot Carriage Driving Mysteries-- THE CART BEFORE THE CORPSE and ONE HOOF IN THE GRAVE.

Einstein's Dreams ($1.57 / £0.99 UK), by Alan Lightman, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (the US edition is $9.99).
Book Description
A modern classic, Einstein's Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, when he worked in a patent office in Switzerland.

As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over.

In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar.

Now translated into thirty languages, Einstein's Dreams has inspired playwrights, dancers, musicians, and painters all over the world. In poetic vignettes, it explores the connections between science and art, the process of creativity, and ultimately the fragility of human existence.

The Bride Stripped Bare ($9.99 $1.99 Kindle, B&N), by Nikki Gemmell, is the Nook Daily Find. This looks to be yet another book in the Fifty Shades genre that is currently popular; not yet price matched on Kindle, despite being an Agency publisher title. Update: Now priced matched on Kindle.
Book Description
A woman disappears, leaving behind an incendiary diary chronicling a journey of sexual awakening. To all who knew her, she was the good wife: happy, devoted, content. But the diary reveals a secret self, one who's discovered that her new marriage contains mysteries of its own. She has discovered a forgotten Elizabethan manuscript that dares to speak of what women truly desire, and inspired by its revelations, she tastes for the first time the intoxicating power of knowing what she wants and how to get it. The question is: How long can she sustain a perilous double life?

Today's Kindle Kids Daily Deal is Zoe Sophia's Scrapbook: An Adventure in Venice ($1.99), by Elisa Smalley and Claudia Mauner.
Book Description
Zoe Sophia is a girl who likes adventure and finds it during an exciting and event-packed vacation to Venice to visit her great aunt Dorothy Pomander. Zoe Sophia, along with her dog, Mickey, sees the sights, explores the city, and is involved in a suspense-filled search for her lost pet. Watercolor illustrations capture the essence of these two peas-in-a-pod, their enjoyable relationship, and the beautiful landscape of Venice, Italy.

Grade Level: P and up

Starbucks $10 for $5 Deal

Over at LivingSocial, you can buy a $10 Starbucks gift card for $5. Once paid for, you can go into "My Vouchers" and simply print off the gift "card". If you already have a Starbucks account, you can then register the card to your account, so that purchases on it will count towards your free drink rewards or transfer the funds from it onto your main gift card. The latter is what I did, which saved even having to print out the physical paper and keep track of it.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Today's Deals

Diane Duane has a post-Labor Day sale on the complete 9-book set of the Young Wizards novels at 50% off, for those that haven't bought this bundle in the past. That should work out to about $20 for the set, using coupon code MORNINGAFTER (once again, you enter the code AFTER you've signed in to PayPal or entered your credit card info). Like all the books in her store, you get a DRM-free download, with both MOBI and EPUB, so you can use it on the reader of your choice.

For my Australian readers that might be looking to pick up a Kindle Keyboard, check your local Woolworths - apparently some of them (at least Milleara S/C in Victoria) have them out on sale for $69 (less than half the regular price).

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is Two Mitch Albom Books for $1.99 apiece.

Have a Little Faith: A True Story
What if our beliefs were not what divided us, but what pulled us together

In Have a Little Faith, Mitch Albom offers a beautifully written story of a remarkable eight-year journey between two worlds--two men, two faiths, two communities--that will inspire readers everywhere.

Albom's first nonfiction book since Tuesdays with Morrie, Have a Little Faith begins with an unusual request: an eighty-two-year-old rabbi from Albom's old hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy.

Feeling unworthy, Albom insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he'd left years ago. Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Albom becomes involved with a Detroit pastor--a reformed drug dealer and convict--who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.

Moving between their worlds, Christian and Jewish, African-American and white, impoverished and well-to-do, Albom observes how these very different men employ faith similarly in fighting for survival: the older, suburban rabbi embracing it as death approaches; the younger, inner-city pastor relying on it to keep himself and his church afloat.

As America struggles with hard times and people turn more to their beliefs, Albom and the two men of God explore issues that perplex modern man: how to endure when difficult things happen; what heaven is; intermarriage; forgiveness; doubting God; and the importance of faith in trying times. Although the texts, prayers, and histories are different, Albom begins to recognize a striking unity between the two worlds--and indeed, between beliefs everywhere.

In the end, as the rabbi nears death and a harsh winter threatens the pastor's wobbly church, Albom sadly fulfills the rabbi's last request and writes the eulogy. And he finally understands what both men had been teaching all along: the profound comfort of believing in something bigger than yourself.

Have a Little Faith is a book about a life's purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all. It is one man's journey, but it is everyone's story.

Ten percent of the profits from this book will go to charity, including The Hole In The Roof Foundation, which helps refurbish places of worship that aid the homeless.
For One More Day
"Every family is a ghost story . . ."

Mitch Albom mesmerized readers around the world with his number one New York Times bestsellers, The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie. Now he returns with a beautiful, haunting novel about the family we love and the chances we miss.

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one

As a child, Charley "Chick" Benetto was told by his father, "You can be a mama's boy or a daddy's boy, but you can't be both." So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence.

Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life.

He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother--who died eight years earlier–-is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened.

What follows is the one "ordinary" day so many of us yearn for, a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets, and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next, Charley learns the astonishing things he never knew about his mother and her sacrifices. And he tries, with her tender guidance, to put the crumbled pieces of his life back together.

Through Albom's inspiring characters and masterful storytelling, readers will newly appreciate those whom they love--and may have thought they'd lost--in their own lives. For One More Day is a book for anyone in a family, and will be cherished by Albom's millions of fans worldwide.

A Kind of Loving ($1.57 / £0.99 UK), by Stan Barstow, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (no US Kindle edition, but on Audible it's $11.95).
Book Description
Stan Barstow's landmark 'Brit-Lit' novel of the sixties immortalized Vic Brown, the amiable working class lad from the North and led the way for author's like Nick Hornby writing similar slice-of-life drama. Still as fresh and alive today, it spawned two sequels: The Watchers on the Shore (1966) and The Right True End (1976). First published in 1960, it has long been used as a set text in British schools. It has also been translated at various times into a film starring Alan Bates (1962) of the same name, a television series (1973) starring Clive Wood, a radio play and a stage play. A Kind of Loving was the first of a trilogy, published over the course of sixteen years, that followed hero Vic Brown through marriage, divorce and a move from the mining town of Cressley to London.

The Grifters ($9.99 Kindle, $1.99 B&N), by Jim Thompson, is the Nook Daily Find; despite being an Agency publisher, this ones isn't price matched yet on Kindle.
Book Description
To his friends, to his coworkers, and even to his mistress Moira, Roy Dillon is an honest hardworking salesman. He lives in a cheap hotel just within his pay bracket. He goes to work every day. He has hundreds of friends and associates who could attest to his good character.

Yet, hidden behind three gaudy clown paintings in Roy's pallid hotel room, sits fifty-two thousand dollars--the money Roy makes from his short cons, his "grifting." For years, Roy has effortlessly maintained control over his house-of-cards life--until the simplest con goes wrong, and he finds himself critically injured and at the mercy of the most dangerous woman he ever met: his own mother.

THE GRIFTERS, one of the best novels ever written about the art of the con, is an ingeniously crafted story of deception and betrayal that was the basis for Stephen Frears' and Martin Scorsese's critically-acclaimed film of the same name.

The 39 Clues: The Cahill Files #3: The Redcoat Chase ($3.03 Kindle, $3.35 B&N), by Clifford Riley, is the Nook Daily Find for Families; once again, it doesn't appear to have dropped in price at all at B&N and is lower on Kindle. If it keeps this up, I'll be dropping this item from the Daily Deals posts.
Book Description
A brand new adventure from the world of The 39 Clues!

After 500 years, the Cahill family's most dangerous secrets are about to be revealed. Read at your own risk . . .

With the British marching on Washington under the command of a Vesper General, it's up to a young Madrigal in 1812 to save a treasure hidden in the White House. However, the enemy will stop at nothing to seize the artifact, even if it means burning the city to the ground.

Today's Kindle Kids Daily Deal is Princess Academy ($1.99), by Shannon Hale; this was supposed to be the Nook Family Find yesterday, but the price never dropped.
Book Description
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. Sent to an academy to learn how to become a princess, Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and even bandits intent on kidnapping the future princess.

Grade Level: 5 and up

Monday, September 3, 2012

Today's Deals

The Fictionwise Coupon for the weekend is good for 30% off: 090112

Today's Free Android App, Dungeon Scroll, combines a typical dungeon trawl with a Scrabble type word game.

Warren Adler is repeating his Mourning Glory giveaway.

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is The Sleeping Night ($1.99), by Barbara Samuel (Bell Bridge Books).
Book Description
A triumphant tale of forbidden love that will delight Barbara Samuel’s many romance fans while tackling the serious issue of racism in our not-so-distant past.

An unforgettable romance in an unforgiving time.

They’ll need love and courage to see the dawn.

He's a hometown native, returning from the war, determined to change the world he'd fought to protect. She's the girl who's been his secret friend since childhood, now a beautiful woman.

Her war-time letters kept him alive. But he's black, and she's white.In 1946 in Gideon, Texas, their undeniable love might get them both killed.

The First Time: True Tales of Virginity Lost and Found ($1.57 / £0.99 UK), by Kate Monro, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (no US edition).
Book Description
A groundbreaking and very personal insight into modern sexuality. Losing our virginity … it happens to all of us. How did it happen for you? What do other people think and feel about it? In February 2007, Kate Monro went on a mission to find out. She decided to ask as many people as possible - how did you lose your virginity? Men and women, old and young, gay, straight, Christian and Muslim; the stories range from the funny and the sad to the happy and occasionally, the unbelievable. Thus was born her much reviewed blog, The Virginity Project, and now this book. How do we define the loss of our virginity? What, if any, impact does the first time have on the rest of our lives? And in some cases how do we know for sure when that moment has occurred? After all sorts of conversations with all sorts of people, Kate will reveal the truth about other people’s most intimate sexual stories. She also discovers that the answers are not always as straightforward as you might think.

The Ice Master: The Doomed 1913 Voyage of the Karluk ($11.96 paperback, $3.99 B&N, $3.49 Kobo - coupon eligible), by Jennifer Niven, is the Nook Daily Find, better than price matched at Kobo. There is no Kindle edition for this title, but a second biography of hers that Hyperion has marked down in is available in both stores: Ada BlackJack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic ($3.03 Kindle, $3.43 B&N)
The Ice Master
The Karluk set out in 1913 in search of an undiscovered continent, with the largest scientific staff ever sent into the Arctic. Soon after, winter had begun, they were blown off course by polar storms, the ship became imprisoned in ice, and the expedition was abandoned by its leader. Hundreds of miles from civilization, the castaways had no choice but to find solid ground as they struggled against starvation, snow blindness, disease, exposureand each other. After almost twelve months battling the elements, twelve survivors were rescued, thanks to the heroic efforts of their captain, Bartlett, the Ice Master, who traveled by foot across the ice and through Siberia to find help. Drawing on the diaries of those who were rescued and those who perished, Jennifer Niven re-creates with astonishing accuracy the ill-fated journey and the crews desperate attempts to find a way home.

Ada BlackJack
The gripping and inspiring tale of a woman's survival alone in the Arctic.

In 1921, four men and one woman ventured deep into the Arctic. Two years later, only one returned.

When 23-year-old Inuit Ada Blackjack signed on as a seamstress for a top-secret Arctic expedition, her goal was simple: earn money and find a husband. But her terrifying experiences -- both in the wild and back in civilization -- comprise one of the most amazing untold adventures of the 20th century. Based on a wealth of unpublished materials, including Ada's never-before-seen diaries, bestselling author Jennifer Niven narrates this true story of an unheralded woman who became an unlikely hero.

Princess Academy ($4.87 Kindle, $5.45 B&N), by Shannon Hale, is the Nook Daily Find for Families; there doesn't seem to be any price drop at B&N, though, and it's better than price matched on Kindle.
Book Description
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. Sent to an academy to learn how to become a princess, Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and even bandits intent on kidnapping the future princess.

Grade Level: 5 and up

Today's Kindle Kids Daily Deal is Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? ($1.99), by Bill Martin Jr., Michael Samplson and Laura J. Bryant (Illustrator). Requires Kindle Fire, Kindle Cloud Reader, Kindle for iPad or Kindle for Android.
Book Description
Kitty Cat should be getting ready for school, but instead, she's practicing her purr, looking for her socks, chasing a little mouse, and more. Will Kitty Cat make it out of the house in time for school? Adorable pastel illustrations rendered in watercolor paints and colored pencil bring Kitty Cat so close you'll want to reach out and touch her!

Grade Level: Pre K and up

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Today's Deals

Amazon has a new Coinstar bonus going on: Pour $20 for any Amazon.com Gift Card at Coinstar, get $5 in MP3s. I may try to get down to our Coinstar this afternoon and give it a try (most of the ones that create gift cards accept bills); the only limit I see is "per transaction", so I will even try to add two to my account to see if that works. It does say you can't combine it with any other offers, so you can't use it with the $3 Off MP3 AmazonLocal voucher, which has to be used today, btw. This new offer expires September 23, 2012 and you must use the credit by October 31, 2012.

I checked with Kobo on the Romance50 (50% off Romance Bestsellers; exp Sep 9) discount code - you can buy as many of the qualifying books as you want and use the code on each one.

Today's Kindle Daily Deal is Shelter ($2.99), a young adult novel by internationally bestselling author Harlan Coben. This is the first novel in his new Mickey Bolitar series, with the next, Seconds Away, due out in September.
Book Description
Mickey Bolitar's year can't get much worse. After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving - until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben's latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author.

Nobody Loves a Ginger Baby ($1.57 / £0.99 UK), by Laura Marney , is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (no US edition).
Book Description
Everybody’s on anti-depressants. They’re all suffering from Post Romantic Stress Disorder. Not being happy all the time makes them unhappy and stressed. Nowadays, not being happy is deeply unfashionable and therefore quite intolerable, and so everybody’s (secretly) on the happy pills.

Bertha chucks Donnie who goes out with Daphne and begs her not to chuck him but then he chucks her and returns to Bertha who inevitably chucks him again. Carol has uninhibited sex which ends with her panty liner stuck to the bottom of someone’s shoe. Donnie, after a mystery bite in a Third World country, thinks he’s incubating a nest of spiders up his bum. Daphne gets fat. She makes soup all the time and wonders if Woolworths sell a hosepipe to fit a Vauxhall Vectra. Pierce is a fat balding womaniser whose only steady relationship is with a cup at the sperm bank. He’s the only one not on anti-depressants, and he’s the hero.

But it’s not all sniffles and tears. After a few undignified deaths and some life-affirming events it all ends cheerily enough with Pierce saving the day and everybody taking a metaphorical shake to themselves.

Crossroads Cafe ($1.99 Kindle, B&N), by Deborah Smith, is the Nook Daily Find, price matched on Kindle (and with a different cover than shown at B&N). If you've been following this blog for a while, you may find this one in your library (it was free Christmas Eve, 2009).
Book Description
A beautiful woman, scarred for life. A tortured man, seeking redemption. Brought together by fate in a small town high in the majestic Appalachian mountains. Live. Love. Believe. "Beauty is in the lie of the beholder." Heartbroken and cynical, famed actress Cathyrn Deen hides from the world after a horrific accident scars her for life. Secluded in her grandmother's North Carolina mountain home, Cathyrn at first resists the friendship of the local community and the famous biscuits served up by her loyal cousin, Delta, at The Crossroads Cafe, until a neighbor, former New York architect Thomas Mitternich, reaches out to her. Thomas lost his wife and son in the World Trade Center. In the years since he's struggled with alcohol and despair. He thinks nothing and no one can make his life worth living again. Until he meets Cathyrn.

Fablehaven ($6.39 Kindle, $6.71 B&N), by Brandon Mull, is supposed to be the Nook Daily Find for Families, but it seems to be full price (and the description is in Spanish). The only real bargain I see for the series is that you can get Fablehaven: The Complete Series for $21.81, which works out to just over $4/volume.
Book Description
For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite. . .

Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

Today's Kindle Teen Daily Deal is Flowers for Algernon ($2.99), by Daniel Keyes. This ones get a "definitely recommended" - I replaced my paperback copy during the Award-Winning Books for $1 KSO offer in January.
Book Description
With more than five million copies sold, Flowers for Algernon is the beloved, classic story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In poignant diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?

An American classic that inspired the award-winning movie Charly.

Free Audiobook - The Brotherhood

Christianaudio's free audiobook this month is The Brotherhood ($10.19 Kindle; $14.95 Audible), by Jerry B. Jenkins, narrated by Johnny Heller. For those that like to read along, also check your Kindle library, as this was free last October.
Book Description
Boone Drake has it made. He’s a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. He has a beautiful wife and a young son, a nice starter house, a great partner, and a career plan that should land him in the Organized Crime Division within five years. Everything is going right. Until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong. His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control. But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart . . . and forgive the worst of crimes.

A thought-provoking police thriller from New York Times best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins.
Get the free audio download from Christianaudio and scroll down the page for two more in the series that are discounted to $4.98 for the month, along with Left Behind and a selection from Bill Myers.

The checkout process is very streamlined (a coupon code is no longer required), as is the download process (no longer do you have to download each part of the book separately). You can also send a gift download of the free audiobook to someone else!

After finishing your order, download a zip file with the entire audiobook: select MP3 if you want to be able to play the book on your Kindle (M4B for the iOS, iTunes or QuickTime). Unzip the contents to the \audiobooks directory on your Kindle (not \music) in order to have audiobook controls and see it on your Kindle home page.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Free Audiobook - Eat That Frog!

The unabridged audiobook performance of Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time ($8.22 Kindle), by Brian Tracy (and narrated by Brian Tracy), is free on Audible. This has been a Kindle Deal of the Day and a Nook Daily Find choice this year, so you may already have the ebook in your library.

After weeks of nothing interesting on my Kindle with Special Offers, this one popped up on it today, but anyone (at least, in the US; other areas may be locked out) can grab this freebie from Audible.
Book Description
There's an old saying: if you eat a live frog first thing each morning, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it's probably the worst thing you'll do all day. Using "eat that frog" as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on, but also the one that might have the greatest positive impact on your life, Eat That Frog! shows you how to zero in on these critical tasks and organize your day. You'll not only get more done faster, but get the right things done.

In his trademark high-energy style, acclaimed speaker and best-selling author Brian Tracy cuts to the core of what is vital to effective personal time management: decision, discipline, and determination. He reminds us: "The purpose of time-management skills, of eating that frog, and getting more done in less time, is to enable you to spend more 'face time' with the people you care about, doing the things that give you the greatest amount of joy in life."
Get the free audiobook from Audible. Update: No Longer Available