For the
Kobo
prices listed below, remember that you can take $1.00 off the listed prices, using coupon code
KoboSpring1 (unlimited use, expires 4/30). Those of you in the UK may want to take glance at
Mills and Boon: to celebrate the Royal Wedding, they have everything online at 20% off with coupon code
ROYAL (expires midnight, 4/29).
The following are now free in the US Kindle store:
This one is now free in EPUB format:
You can get the regular edition of Eoin Colfer's
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox or the
Kindle Edition with Audio/Video for
$3.89.
Book Description
When Artemis Fowl’s mother contracts a life-threatening illness, his world is turned upside down. The only hope for a cure lies in the brain fluid of the silky sifaka lemur. Unfortunately, the animal is extinct due to a heartless bargain Artemis himself made as a younger boy. Though the odds are stacked against him, Artemis is not willing to give up. With the help of his fairy friends, the young genius travels back in time to save the lemur and bring it back to the present. But to do so, Artemis will have to defeat a maniacal poacher, who has set his sights on new prey: Holly Short. The rules of time travel are far from simple, but to save his mother, Artemis will have to break them all…and outsmart his most cunning adversary yet: Artemis Fowl, age ten.
Kindle Edition with Audio/Video
Includes video footage from Eoin Colfer's one man stage show, Fairies, Fiends, & Flatulence. See different selections from the show in every Artemis Fowl eBooks 1-7.
Guardian of Lies with Bonus Material, by Steve Martini, is currently a $1.99 pre-order. The cover says this is a "Free Edition", so I suspect the price will go down before it is delivered. If you are going to get this one from B&N or Kobobooks, though, I'd suggest waiting until the May 10 release date, as they are not nearly as easy to get a refund from, if the price drops a day or two later (and sometimes they charge you when you order, not on delivery). If you aren't sure you want this one, get a sample from the
full price edition. I'm going to pre-order it now, though, as many of these special editions disappear shortly after they are released, which is what happened with the free edition of
Shadow of Power from this same author, last year (which this book follows in the
Paul Madriani series).
Book Description
For a limited time, meet bestselling author Steve Martini's hero Paul Madriani in this special, discounted digital edition of Guardian of Lies, including excerpts from The Rule of Nine and Martini's forthcoming Madriani thriller, Trader of Secrets (available May 31).
In Guardian of Lies, fate has bound attorney Paul Madriani to a young Costa Rican woman accused of a horrific crime, ensnaring them both in a frightening conspiracy that ranges beyond U.S. borders. A Cold War nightmare is being reshaped for a new century—a threat too terrible to imagine yet too real to be ignored—leading Madriani, his partner Harry Hinds, and the fugitive Katia directly into the path of an unstoppable, very angry assassin. From the halls of American justice to the jungles of South America and a dark secret buried since the days of Castro's ascendance, the race is on to prevent the unthinkable—by unveiling the hidden truth protected by the "Guardian of Lies."
Vlad: The Last Confession (
$2.39 pre-order), by Chris (C.C.) Humphreys, is one you might want to grab
from Kobo
, if you can read DRM'd EPUB's (it's $1.39 with coupon code
KoboSpring1).
Book Description
Dracula. A name of horror, depravity and the darkest sensuality. Yet the real Dracula was just as alluring, just as terrifying, his tale not one of a monster but of a man... and a contradiction.
His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved...and whom he had to sacrifice. His closest comrade...and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.
Promise Not to Tell (
$1.99 Kindle,
Kobo
), by Jennifer Mcmahon
Book Description
Forty-one-year-old school nurse Kate Cypher has returned home to rural Vermont to care for her mother who's afflicted with Alzheimer's. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered—a horrific crime that eerily mirrors another from Kate's childhood. Three decades earlier, her dirt-poor friend Del—shunned and derided by classmates as "Potato Girl"—was brutally slain. Del's killer was never found, while the victim has since achieved immortality in local legends and ghost stories. Now, as this new murder investigation draws Kate irresistibly in, her past and present collide in terrifying, unexpected ways. Because nothing is quite what it seems . . . and the grim specters of her youth are far from forgotten.
More than just a murder mystery, Jennifer McMahon's extraordinary debut novel, Promise Not to Tell, is a story of friendship and family, devotion and betrayal—tautly written, deeply insightful, beautifully evocative, and utterly unforgettable.
Annie, Get Your Guy & Messing Around with Max (
$3.82 Kindle; $3.89
Kobo
), by Lori Foster, is a double feature from Harlequin.
Book Description
Annie, Get Your Guy
What was a woman supposed to do?
Guy Donovan had always treated Annie Sawyers like a little sister. But Annie already had a brother—what she wanted was a husband. Guy, to be precise! So when he announced his plans to get engaged—to the wrong woman!—Annie set out to seduce him. Which would have been a lot easier if Guy wasn't playing hard to get...
Messing Around With Max
His love life was going to the dogs!
Max Sawyers would do anything for his mangy, bad-tempered mutt, Cleo—he'd even give up his footloose lifestyle and take a wife. The trouble was, the only woman Cleo had ever taken a liking to was Maddie Montgomery. And Maddie was also the only woman on the planet who didn't want to snag Max permanently!
Never a Bride (
$2.39 Kindle;
Kobo
), by Amelia Grey
Book Description
Her name is on everyone's lips...
When he left for America six years ago, the handsome Viscount Stonehurst never suspected that he would return home to England to find his lovely fiancée embroiled in the scandal of the decade. The woman he planned on making his wife has been kissing every man in London...except him!
But scandal doesn't matter in search of the truth...
Engaged and then abandoned, Mirabella Wittingham is determined to find the man who drove her cousin to suicide, even if it means ruining her reputation and disgracing herself in the process...When her plans go awry, Mirabella has no choice but to turn to her long-lost fiancé for help. But can she trust the man who deserted her so many years ago, or is he destined to fail her yet again?
Race to Splendor (
$3.89 Kindle;
Kobo
), by Ciji Ware
Book Description
Inspired by female architect Julia Morgan, this is the riveting tale of a race against time to rebuild two luxury hotels after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed 400 city blocks and left 250,000 homeless.
Morgan’s fictional protegee Amelia Bradshaw and client J.D. Thayer will sacrifice anything to see the city they love rise from the ashes; in the process, they can’t help but lose their hearts.
Frommer's Royal Wedding: How to See the Sights on the Big Day and Happily Ever Afterwards (
$1.99 Kindle), by Frommer's.
Book Description
Frommer’s The Royal Wedding is your expert guide to seeing the best of the momentous and historic events taking place in London on April 29th, the day of the Royal marriage, joining Prince William and Kate Middleton. And then how to enjoy the big city after they have tied the knot, and Happily Ever Afterwards! Get the inside track on where to go, when to go, how to get about and how best to enjoy the pomp, history and fairytale-like proceedings as we give you a unique insight into the future King of England’s ceremony and celebrations. We’ll help you join the party, find a seat and take the opportunity of a lifetime to see the Royal couple wind their way around the most significant sites of London: St. James’s Park, Clarence House, Horse Guard’s Parade, Whitehall, Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Westminster Abbey. Find out where to eat, shop, stay and have fun like a Royal, plus all you need to know about the Royal Family and the festivities to create an inspired trip, full of choices for the Big Day and beyond. Includes 20 full-color photos and a route of the wedding procession.
In celebration of the Royal Wedding,
Codename: Dancer (
$2.99), by Amanda Brice, is free for all my readers, direct from the author. To get the book,
email the author on Friday, April 29 (only), and let her know what format you prefer.
Book Description
Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak is thrilled when hit TV show Teen Celebrity Dance Off comes to the campus of her performing arts boarding school. She trades the barre for the ballroom and gets set to cha-cha-cha to stardom with Hollywood wonderboy Nick Galliano.
At first their partnership is awkward, because Dani is in awe of her longtime teen idol crush. But soon their chemistry is heating up the dance floor and the attraction moves into real life.
Her excitement is short-lived, because someone wants her off the show. Bombs, poisoning, arson… Will Dani’s 15 minutes of fame be over before she reaches age 15? Dani and her friends are suddenly at the center of some serious sabotage. And if she doesn’t find out who is behind it, her next pirouette could be her last.
It’s like Nancy Drew in toe shoes in this light-hearted tween mystery, a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Young Adult Romance.
Wildest Heart (
$2.39 Kindle;
Kobo
), by Rosemary Rogers
Book Description
Passionate, headstrong Lady Rowena Dangerfield and dark, dangerous outlaw Lucas Cord... two destinies intertwined under the blazing New Mexico sun...
Lady Rowena Dangerfield travels from the exotic palaces of India to the splendor of the Royal Court of London to the savage New Mexico frontier to lay claim
to her inheritance and live freely as only she would dare. In the violent, untamed American Southwest, she finally meets a man as strong as she is: Lucas Cord, a dark, dangerously handsome, half-Apache outlaw.
Fighting scandal, treachery, and murder, Luke is determined to have Rowena for his own, and as their all-consuming passion mounts, no one is going to stop him...
Peach Cobbler Murder (
$4.30 Kindle; $4.39
Kobo
), by Joanne Fluke, is just one of
this series that is under $5 on Kindle (or at
Kobo
), for those that can't take advantage of the
Apple Turnover Murder Bundle (4 books for $9.99). Pick these up to start the series and grab
Devil's Food Cake Murder for $9.99 w/ the $10 credit (for those with the
Kindle Wi-Fi with Special Offers).
Book Description
With The Cookie Jar, Hannah Swensen has a mouthwatering monopoly on the bakery business of Lake Eden, Minnesota. But when a rival store opens, tensions begin to bubble...
As she sits in her nearly empty store on Groundhog Day, Hannah can only hope that spring is just around the corner--and that the popularity of the new Magnolia Blossom Bakery is just a passing fad. The southern hospitality of Lake Eden's two Georgia transplants, Shawna Lee and Vanessa Quinn, is grating on Hannah's nerves--and cutting into her profits.
At least Hannah has her business partner Lisa's wedding to look forward to. Unfortunately, Shawna Lee has finagled an invitation to the reception--and is bringing her Southern Peach Cobbler for the dessert table. Things go from bad to worse when Shawna Lee and Hannah's sometime-boyfriend, Detective Mike Kingston, are no-shows to the wedding. When Hannah sees lights on at the Magnolia Blossom Bakery after the reception, she investigates--and finds Shawna Lee shot to death.
Everyone in town knew the Cookie Jar's business was suffering--a fact that puts Hannah at the top of the initial list of suspects. But with a little help from her friends, Hannah's determined to track down whoever had the right ingredients to whip up a murder. . .
Includes 10 Original Dessert Recipes For You To Try!
If you, like me, grew up with Saturday Night Live (you can stop reading now, Mom!), staying up past your curfew to watch those early year episodes, then you'll definitely want to grab
Live From New York: An Uncensored History Of Saturday Night Live (as told by it's Stars, Writers and Guests), by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller, while it is marked down to $2.99.
Book Description
WHEN A YOUNG WRITER named Lorne Michaels talked NBC executives into taking a chance on a new weekend late-night comedy series, nobody really knew what to expect-not even Michaels. But Saturday Night Live, launched in 1975 and still thriving today, would change the face of television. It introduced brash new stars with names like Belushi, Radner, Chase, and Murray; trashed taboos that had inhibited TV for decades; and had such an impact on American life, laughter, and politics that even presidents of the United States had to take notice. Now, Pulitzer Prize-winner Tom Shales and bestselling author James Andrew Miller bring together stars, writers, guest hosts, contributors, and craftsmen for the first-ever oral history of Saturday Night Live, from 1974, when it was just an idea, through 2002, when it has long since become an institution. In their own words, dozens of personalities recall the backstage stories, behind-the-scenes gossip, feuds, foibles, drugs, sex, struggles, and calamities, including personal details never before revealed. Shales and Miller have interviewed a galaxy of stars, including Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Jon Lovitz, Jane Curtin, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Dana Carvey, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Garrett Morris, Molly Shannon, Damon Wayans, Chris Elliott, Julia Sweeney, Norm Macdonald, and Paul Simon-plus writers like Al Franken, Conan O'Brien, Larry David, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Robert Smigel, Don Novello, and others who got their big breaks as part of the SNL team. The Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, Buck-wheat, Wayne and Garth, Hans and Franz, the Cheerleaders, Todd DiLaMuca and Lisa Loopner, "Cheeseburger cheeseburger," Mango, the Church Lady, Ed Grimley-they're all here. And for every fabulous character on-screen there was an outrageous maverick, misfit, or rebel behind the scenes. Live from New York does what no other book about the show has ever done: It lets the people who were there tell the story in their own words, blunt and loving and uncensored.
Soft Apocalypse ($7.99 Kindle), by Will McIntosh, is this week's Free Friday book at Barnes and Noble. I only expect this one to be free a few days (Monday, at the latest), so grab it quick.
My 
The first thing you notice, even before opening the box, is that the box itself tells you this is the Kindle with Special Offers (no doubt to make it easier for those in the warehouse). Other than that, there is no indication inside the box or on the Kindle that it is any different from a regular Kindle WiFi. In fact, until you turn WiFi on for the first time and get it registered (mine was automatic, as soon as the Wifi was on), you don't even get any ads; they have to download via WiFi. Once you do, though, you get a screensaver such as the one above, with a matching ad at the bottom of the home page (left) 
after you use the slide to turn the Kindle on (the matching ad on the home page matches the screensaver that was previously seen). If you want to take advantage of an offer, you use the 5-way to move down to the ad and click on it (just like you use it to open a book). When you do, you get a new ad page (right) 
, which has a clickable link to get the offer sent to your email (the main email on the Amazon account -- which could get a bit irksome, if you have more than one of these Kindles on a shared account, as that one email address will get all the offer links). Clicking on the link resulted in an email, just as promised, which in turn had the link to