Free Book (Sony/nook) - The Christmas Lamp

The Christmas Lamp ($9.99 Kindle), a novella by Lori Copeland, free in the Kindle store last year, is now free on Sony courtesy of Christian publisher Zondervan.

Book Description
Nativity, Missouri, is in trouble. When the small town is bypassed by the newly constructed highway, it loses its much-needed holiday traffic---threatening not only the town's financial survival, but its very heart and soul.Outside consultant Jake Brisco threatens everything the community loves about Christmas with his budget-slashing solutions. Nothing is sacred---not even the traditional town Christmas tree. Long-time resident Roni Elliot knows some sacrifices have to be made, but can't let go of the customs and traditions that have marked her holidays since childhood. The decorations and customary activities have always generated vitality and joy throughout the whole season in Nativity. Though their priorities and methods clash, Roni and Jake want the same thing---prosperity for the town. As the two get to know each other and become close, each begins to gain a new perspective on what the real wealth of Nativity---and the season---might be. The Christmas Lamp takes an honest look into the issues and concerns we all face and sheds light on the real origins of Christmas spirit.

Click HERE for the free download from B&N.
Click HERE for the free download from Sony.

Free iBook in Canada, iTunes Freebies in UK

Both of these are deals for non-US customers only, from Apple (who apparently thinks we don't need any freebies and won't let us in on their 12 Days of Christmas app).

Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes, released as Someone Knows My Name ($8.52 Kindle) here in the states, is free for Canadian iBooks customers today, as a part of a 12 Days of Christmas giveaway there. Those in the US can find it in iBooks, under the latter name (and for $10.17).

Book Description
Abducted as an 11-year-old child from her village in West Africa and forced to walk for months to the sea in a coffle— a string of slaves— AminataDiallo is sent to live as a slave in South Carolina. But years later, she forges her way to freedom, serving the British in the Revolutionary War and registering her name in the historic “ Book of Negroes.” This book, an actual document, provides a short but immensely revealing record of freed Loyalist slaves who requested permission to leave the US for resettlement in Nova Scotia, only to find that the haven they sought was steeped in an oppression all of its own.
Aminata’ s eventual return to Sierra Leone— passing ships carrying thousands of slaves bound for America— is an engrossing account of an obscure but important chapter in history that saw 1,200 former slaves embark on a harrowing back-to-Africa odyssey. Lawrence Hill is a master at transforming the neglected corners of history into brilliant imaginings, as engaging and revealing as only the best historical fiction can be. A sweeping story that transports the reader from a tribal African village to a plantation in the southern United States, from the teeming Halifax docks to the manor houses of London, The Book of Negroes introduces one of the strongest female characters in recent Canadian fiction, one who cuts a swath through a world hostile to her colour and her sex.

12 Days. 12 Free Downloads. 26 Dec. – 6 Jan. But, only if you are in Europe or the UK!

Apple will give away free apps, songs, books, movies and episodes of TV shows, one per day, via the app and the website. The app can be configured to send a push notification when each giveaway is ready, for those who just can't wait.

Free Dr. Who Story, Kobo Reader Deal, Book Discounts

If you are looking for a second ereader device that will get you access to free books you find in EPUB format or your local library's ebooks, you might want to investigate the Wi-Fi Kobo Reader at Borders, currently on sale for $119.99, today and tomorrow, in black or white (lavender is not on sale, but is available) and with double borders bucks for Rewards members. This is an updated version of the Kobo reader that I have, which is a basic, but sturdy reading device. It isn't the fastest and since mine had transfer books via USB cable, not always the most convenient, but it served it's purpose, which was to let me open EPUB books I found outside the Kindle store and to read the occasional library book I managed to find (truthfully, most books I want to read aren't available in the library I joined and my local area still is just promising to add library books, so there aren't that many that I read this way).

One thing to note on the Borders Kobo reader is that it will generally sync with the Borders desktop app, but not the Kobo desktop app. I'll assume the wireless sync is the same, so if you primarily shop at Kobo instead, you might prefer their Kobo reader instead ($139 and up, various starter book bundles available). Regardless of which you get, you can load EPUB formatted books from Kobo, Borders, Sony and most other stores using Adobe Digital Editions (the exception is that B&N's nookbooks won't work on any other reader than their own, due to a proprietary DRM scheme).

Definitely, though, head over and enter the "Scratch 'n Win" Contest at Kobo. You can enter daily thru December 31 and will at least get a coupon code (for anywhere from 10% to 50% off one book), but could win a $25 gift card or a new Kobo Wireless Reader (and a grand prize of a Reader and a $500 gift card).

Hopefully you managed to catch the Dr. Who Christmas show last night (if not, hunt for the next showing, before it's gone). You can get a bonus Dr. Who Christmas book, Snowfall, in PDF form, on the BBC site. Some of the other content there, including watching past episodes in iplayer, are restricted to those in the UK. Those of you that are, no doubt know that you can play games, such as Dr. Who: The Adventure Games, and download content related to the shows (I found character masks, wallpaper, Christmas cards and posters that could all be accessed from outside the UK). Those past episodes are blocked for those of us in the states, but it looks like Amazon is having a sale: $9.99 per season on Video on Demand ($12.68 for Season 5 in HD).

Book Description
From a family visit to a spooky theatre that goes terribly wrong to the Doctor battling an army of Vampire Warriors high over London, Snowfall is a saga stretching across the centuries and the universe. When two men meet in a mysterious, abandoned railway station, it soon becomes clear they hold a grudge against each other. But they have something else in common - they have both met the Doctor. As they swap stories about their adventures with the Time Lord they're watched by a girl with red hair and her friend... But where is the Doctor and what danger is he facing?

Doctor Who: Snowfall continues our tradition of festive short stories featuring the Doctor at Christmas. But this time the tales are linked and build to an unexpected Christmas conclusion!

As for discount codes, today is the last day for Fictionwise's 60% off sale using coupon code merryxmas2010. If you are new to the site, the "multi-format" books are DRM-free and can be used or converted for any reader, while the EReader books are DRM'd and work only in their app, the B&N apps and the nook (but not the NOOKcolor).

Kobo still has these promotion codes: firstbook (35%) and iOS4 (30%), each good for one non-Agency title.

Rainbow eBooks is running a 30% off sale, thru Jan 2, on every single ebook on the site. They offer LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) books only, all DRM free.

Bargain Book Roundup - XMAS gifting, Part II

This is a continuation of my XMAS Gifting bargain roundup. The links are to the Kindle editions (where the best reviews are always posted), but you should be able to find them easily in Kobobooks.com or Barnes and Noble, when searching by title or author name. Current Kobo promotion codes: firstbook (35%) and iOS4 (30%), each good for one non-Agency title.

Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter ($2.99), by Blaize Clement , the first in the Dixie Hemingway Mystery series, is one that I had in paperback a few years ago and misplaced. I looked for it in used bookstores, but never found it again, so you might have guessed that I grabbed this one the instant I saw the price change. We'll see if it is as funny as I remember, but I suspect I'll be buying the rest of the series on Kindle, as well.

Book Description
Until three years ago, Dixie Hemingway was a deputy with the Sarasota County Sherriff's Department in southwest Florida. Then came a tragic accident. Now Dixie's a pet-sitter on Siesta Key, a lush, exotic barrier island where the people tend to be rich, suntanned, and tolerant of one another's quirks.

As Dixie tried to get her life back in order, pet-sitting is the perfect job. She goes into people's homes while they're gone and takes care of their pets; she likes the animals, they like her, and she doesn't have to deal with people very much. She especially does not have to be afraid that she'll run into a situation that will cause her to lose her hard-won composure.

But when Dixie finds a man bizarrely drowned in a cat's water bowl, she is drawn into a tangled web of danger and secrets. Unbeknownst to Lieutenant Guidry, the homicide detective handling the murder, Dixie begins her own investigation into the whereabouts of the cat's owner, who has now vanished. Fans of The Cat Who... book series by Lilian Jackson Braun will adore this riveting new pet-oriented sleuth and will eagerly await Dixie's next case: Will duplicity dog the dachshund?

Christmas at Harrington's ($2.99), by Melody Carlson, may be a one-day price drop from Christian publisher Revell.

Book Description
Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret? This tender story about fresh starts will charm readers as all of Melody Carlson's Christmas offerings do. Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington's will be readers' newest Christmas tradition.

Maximum Ride Boxed Set ($12.99), by James Patterson, works out to just over $4 per book (each goes for $7.99 individually).

Book Description
Be there from the beginning of Max's story.... Gift set includes:

The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1)
School's Out--Forever (Maximum Ride #2)
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride #3)

Gift set also includes a bonus teaser with an exclusive excerpt from Angel (Maximum Ride #7) and a Witch & Wizard teaser!

Hollywood Station ($2.99), by Joseph Wambaugh

Book Description
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Joseph Wambaugh invented the modern police procedural thriller. Now in his long-awaited return to the LAPD, he deploys his bone-deep understanding of cops' lives--and a lethal sense of humor--in a stunning new novel.

For a cop, a night on the job means killing time and trying not to get killed. If you're in Hollywood Division, it also means dealing with some of the most desperate criminals anywhere. Now the violent robbery of a Hollywood jewelry store quickly connects to a Russian nightclub and an undercover operation gone wrong, and the sergeant they call the Oracle and his squad of quirky cops have to make sense of it all. From an officer who dreams of stardom, to a single mother packing a breast pump, to partners who'd rather be surfing, they'll take you on a raucous ride through a gritty city where no one is safe. Especially not the cops.

Child 44 ($2.99), by Tom Rob Smith

Book Description
"There is no crime."

Stalin's Soviet Union strives to be a paradise for its workers, providing for all of their needs. One of its fundamental pillars is that its citizens live free from the fear of ordinary crime and criminals.

But in this society, millions do live in fear . . . of the State. Death is a whisper away. The mere suspicion of ideological disloyalty-owning a book from the decadent West, the wrong word at the wrong time-sends millions of innocents into the Gulags or to their executions. Defending the system from its citizens is the MGB, the State Security Force. And no MGB officer is more courageous, conscientious, or idealistic than Leo Demidov.

A war hero with a beautiful wife, Leo lives in relative luxury in Moscow, even providing a decent apartment for his parents. His only ambition has been to serve his country. For this greater good, he has arrested and interrogated.

Then the impossible happens. A different kind of criminal-a murderer-is on the loose, killing at will. At the same time, Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies, his world turned upside down, and every belief he's ever held shattered. The only way to save his life and the lives of his family is to uncover this criminal. But in a society that is officially paradise, it's a crime against the State to suggest that a murderer-much less a serial killer-is in their midst. Exiled from his home, with only his wife, Raisa, remaining at his side, Leo must confront the vast resources and reach of the MBG to find and stop a criminal that the State won't admit even exists.

Bulls Island with Bonus Material ($1.99), by Dorothea Benton Frank

Book Description
For a limited time, discover Dorothea Benton Frank's Bulls Island for a special price, including an exclusive excerpt from her new novel, Folly Beach, available this summer.

Elizabeth "Betts" McGee loved those lazy afternoons on pristine Bulls Island in the Carolina Lowcountry. But everything came crashing down when tragic fate—coupled with nasty rumor and innuendo—ended her engagement to Charleston golden boy J.D. Langley of the fabulously wealthy (and fabulously snooty) Langley clan. Betts left soon after, and she hasn't been back in nearly twenty years.

Successfully reinventing herself in New York City, Betts is now a top banking executive and heading up the most important project of her career, but it'll transform the untouched island she loved in her youth into something unrecognizable. And it's forcing her to return to the bosom of her estranged family, where she may not be welcomed with open arms. Worse still, it's uniting her with ex-flame J.D., who's changed . . . but perhaps not enough.

And then there's that crazy alligator . . .

Warlord with a Letter from Ted Bell ($4.99), by Ted Bell

Book Description
For a limited time, download Warlord and receive a special note from New York Times bestselling author Ted Bell.

Counterspy Alexander Hawke races to stop a madman hell-bent on murdering the British royal family in this latest spellbinding action thriller in Ted Bell's New York Times bestselling series.

Alex Hawke has all but given up on life. The British-American MI6 counterterrorism operative lost the woman he loved almost a year ago and has sought refuge at the bottom of a rum bottle ever since. But late one night at his home on Bermuda, he receives a wake-up call . . . literally.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles, an old friend, desperately needs his help. The prince has discovered a not-so-subtle threat directed toward the British royal family. What's more, the evidence reveals an ominous connection to Charles's god-father, Lord Mountbatten—the beloved family patriarch assassinated by an ingeniously designed bomb thirty years before. A shadowy figure from the past has the British crown in his sights, and has proven once before that his warnings are not to be taken lightly. Several clues point to IRA involvement, but the authorities have little to go on and answers are scarce. This is just the call to duty Hawke needs to get back into action—if the madman doesn't strike first.

Alex Hawke, one of the most dashing and compelling action heroes in all of thriller fiction, faces his most formidable challenge yet in Warlord, a gripping, white-knuckled adventure told with verve and swashbuckling panache by a master of the art.

The Secret Garden ($1.99), by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is an illustrated edition of the classic (illustrations by Tasha Tudor)

Book Description
When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all--a secret garden, walled and locked, which has been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the graden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?

The Letter of the Law ($2.99), by Tim Green

Book Description
When a 22-year-old law student is found brutally murdered, her father comes undone-and rightfully so. In a fit of rage, Donald Sales accuses Eric Lipton, his daughter's arrogant and brilliant professor, of killing her. Then, after an article of the victim's blood-soaked clothing is found in Professor Lipton's possession, he hires attorney Casey Jordan to represent him. To Jordan, Sales' violent history makes him a more logical suspect, and the skillfull attorney discredits him on the witness stand. As the jury finds Lipton not guilty, Casey is stunned when the professor whispers to Jordan that he did it. Weeks later, as more bodies turn up, Jordan must decide whether to uphold her legal oath to protect her client...or join forces with an unlikely ally in bringing a demented killer to justice.

Snow in August ($3.99), by Pete Hamill

Book Description
It was an unusual friendship: 11-year-old Michael Devlin, an Irish Catholic from Brooklyn, and Judah Hirsch, a rabbi and refugee from Prague, meet during a swirling blizzard on the Saturday morning. For Michael, Hirsch is an extraordinary window to ancient times and foreign lands; for the Rabbi, Michael is an encyclopedia of cultural knowledge of his new land. In baseball, the two find a common love, but when some anti-Semitic hoodlums threaten them with violence, the two must look for a miracle in a most unlikely place.

Orange Crush ($4.99), by Tim Dorsey

Book Description
The Republicans' "golden boy" -- and a loyal, unquestioning tool of the powerful special interests -- handsome, unthreatening, Florida governor-by-default Marlon Conrad seems a virtual shoo-in for re-election. That is, until he undergoes a radical personality shift during a bloody military action in the Balkans. Now it's just three weeks before the election and Marlon is suddenly talking about "issues" and "reform" as he crosses the length and breadth of his home state with an amnesiac speechwriter and a chief of staff who turns catatonic in the presence of minorities. The governor's new-found conscience might well cost him the election, though. And it appears that pretty much everybody from Tallahassee to Miami Beach is trying to kill him...

Deep Black ($2.99), by Stephen Coonts & Jim DeFelice

Book Description
A spy plane gathering data on a new Russian weapon is blown out of the sky by a mysterious MiG. Is it an accident or the start of the next world war? One U.S. agency has what it takes to find out-the National Security Agency and its covert operations team: DEEP BLACK.

Working for the NSA, ex-Marine sniper Charlie Dean is dispatched to Russia, hooking up with former Delta Force trooper Lia DeFrancesca to find out what happened to the plane. The Deep Black team stumbles across an even more alarming secret-a plot to assassinate the Russian president and overthrow the democratic government by force. The coup could have dire consequences for Russia and the world. With no clearance from the government it's called on to protect, the National Security Agency goes to war. But before Lia and Dean can unravel the conspiracy, they learn that one of the spy plane's passengers-an NSA techie-survived the crash. Critical information could fall into enemy hands. And that enemy is playing to the death.

Catcher, Caught ($3.99), by Sarah Collins Honenberger

Book Description
After an earth-shattering diagnosis of leukemia, 15-year-old Daniel Landon sees a reflection of himself in the words of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Inspired by Holden Caulfield, Daniel begins to question the intentions and authority of those around him in his own search for identity as he faces death. Tired of his cramped surroundings and hippie parents’ alternative approaches to his treatment, he follows the footsteps of Caulfield to New York City in search of the same eternal truths, only to discover the importance of home when death looms. A coming of age story, a love story, and a new classic, Catcher, Caught will engage the imagination of more than one generation, searching for lasting values.

Elizabeth Street ($3.99), by Laurie Fabiano

Book Description
Based on true events, ELIZABETH STREET is a multigenerational saga that opens in an Italian village in the 1900's, and crosses the ocean to New York's Lower East Side. At the heart of the novel is Giovanna, whose family is targeted by the notorious Black Hand -the precursor to the Mafia. Elizabeth Street brings to light a period in history when Italian immigrant neighborhoods lived in fear of Black Hand extortion and violence-a reality that defies the romanticized depiction of the Mafia. Here, the author reveals the merciless terror of the Black Hand-and the impact their crimes had on her family. Giovanna is based on Fabiano's great-grandmother, and the book's heroes and villains - such as Lieutenant Petrosino, the crusading cop and "Lupo the Wolf," a cold-blooded criminal - are drawn from real life in this thrilling tale. While set in a dynamic historical context, Elizabeth Street is, above all, the dramatic story of the heroine, Giovanna, and how she triumphed over tragedy.

Tooth and Claw ($2.99), by Jo Walton; you can pick up a free copy of her earlier book, The Prize in the Game, as well.

Book Description
A tale of contention over love and money—among dragons

Jo Walton burst onto the fantasy scene with The King’s Peace, acclaimed by writers as diverse as Poul Anderson, Robin Hobb, and Ken MacLeod. In 2002, she was voted the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

Now Walton returns with a very different kind of fantasy story: the tale of a family dealing with the death of their father, of a son who goes to law for his inheritance, a son who agonizes over his father's deathbed confession, a daughter who falls in love, a daughter who becomes involved in the abolition movement, and a daughter sacrificing herself for her husband.

Except that everyone in the story is a dragon, red in tooth and claw.

Here is a world of politics and train stations, of churchmen and family retainers, of courtship and country houses...in which, on the death of an elder, family members gather to eat the body of the deceased. In which society’s high-and-mighty members avail themselves of the privilege of killing and eating the weaker children, which they do with ceremony and relish, growing stronger thereby.

No Place to Die ($5.59), by James L. Thane, is $2.39 at Kobobooks.

Book Description
Beverly has been kidnapped by a deranged killer, but she refuses to be a passive victim. With homicide detectives frantically searching for leads, and the clock ticking down, Beverly will fight against dwindling odds to stay alive and see her kidnapper brought to justice.

That Devil's No Friend of Mine ($2.99), by J. D. Mason

Book Description
When Bishop Fontaine passed away he left behind more than a list of good deeds. He was known as a caring friend and doting father. . .but he was also manipulative and controlling, especially to those he loved. His death begins to unravel deep secrets and shocking desires among the people he cared about the most. . .

His daughter, Kristine, feels that with her father’s death she is finally free. His best friend and business partner, Lamar, feels that now can finally have what he has longed for all these years: Kristine. His protégé, Cole, the boxing champion and rising star, married a woman Bishop never approved of and may have been right about. Rayne, the blues singer and ex-junkie relied on Bishop to keep her clean and is now slipping down a dark path without him. And Rhonda, Lamar’s wife, is determined to ignore what has been unfolding in front of her if it means that her predictable life will go unchanged. And then a newcomer steps onto the scene and threatens to turn everything upside down.

Five very different people whose lives are only connected by Bishop suddenly find themselves up close and personal as desires, dreams and passions collide.

All Night with a Rogue ($2.99), by Alexandra Hawkins

Book Description
Notorious, handsome, and decadent, the Lords of Vice prowl the glittering ballrooms of Regency London— breaking rules and hearts with equal aplomb. But even the wildest rogue must eventually meet his match…

Seduce Lady Juliana Ivers and then cast her aside: Those are his sister’s instructions. Alexius Braverton, Marquess of Sinclair—known as Sin to the ton—is happy enough to oblige, especially when he catches a glimpse of his target. Juliana is completely unlike the empty-headed chits who barely hold his attention for a week. A true gentleman would leave her to find a worthy suitor. But then, a Lord of Vice would never claim to be a gentleman.

Juliana is expected to marry well to improve her family’s finances, even if she secretly longs to make a living through her musical compositions. A dalliance can only complicate matters, though not even practical Juliana can help succumbing to the aptly named Sin. But one unforgettable night will draw her into a scandalous affair—and a seduction begun as sport will soon become deliciously, dangerously real…

The Accidental Vampire Plus Vampires are Forever and Bonus Material ($9.99), by Lynsay Sands ($5/novel)

Book Description
For a limited time, experience the first two novels in Lynsay Sands' Argeneau vampire series, The Accidental Vampire and Vampires Are Forever. Plus, take a sneak peek into her latest in the series, Hungry For You.

The Untamed Bride Plus Two Full Novels and Bonus Material ($14.99), by Stephanie Laurens ($5/novel)

Book Description
For a limited time, discover Stephanie Laurens’ bestselling Black Cobra Quartet for a special price. Read the first three full novels, The Untamed Bride, The Elusive Bride, and The Brazen Bride, and then preview the fourth book in the series, The Reckless Bride.

$5 Mystery/Thriller Sale (EPUB/Kindle)

Borders is starting to fight back on the eBook front and this morning has a $5 eBook sale going on. In addition to the Mystery and Thriller titles on that link, there are $5 book in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Kids & Young Adult, Romance and Science Fiction & Fantasy. The pages says this is a limited time sale, but no end date is specified.

Not to be outdone, Amazon is putting many of the same titles on sale. I've created a list, HERE, that should show most of them, including these:

• World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
• The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson
• Ford County: Stories, by John Grisham
• Heat Wave, by Richard Castle
• My Life in France, by Julia Child & Alex Prud'Homme

Free Books for the iPad

I'm still working on Part II of the XMAS Gifting post, as I ended up staying up late last night to help Mom get her iPad synced up and working on her network. First, it would not sync, then after upgrading to iOS4, iTunes claimed it could not recognize it and forced a restore back to factory defaults. The second time around (restore, resync, reupgrade, etc) finally worked, then I had to set it up for access on her home WiFi, then install and configure both the Kindle app and iBooks. I noticed that iBooks can seize up fairly regularly, which I had noticed on mine, but she has 1.2, while I've been using the older version; once I upgraded, I am seeing the same issue, so it's software and not hardware, it appears. The cure: click on Home to exit the app, double click Home to get the task bar, then press the iBooks icon until the "-" appears and then kill it.

While poking around on the iPad, though, I came across a few deals that I don't see for those in the Kindle store, but which, hopefully, a few of you will be able to take advantage of. These should also be available to those using most iPhones and the iPod Touch.

Painless ($6.99 Kindle US), by Derek Ciccone, is still free for UK Kindle readers and is now also free on iBooks. I'd never heard of the author before, but I've seen some good comments about it in forum threads.

Book Description
A fast-paced thriller mixed with a heartwarming story of redemption. A series of ominous incidents make Billy Harper realize there is something very different about Carolyn Whitcomb. But when a rogue organization called Operation Anesthesia learns of Carolyn’s “gifts,” Billy must risk everything to save the life of the little girl who taught him to live again.

Choice of the Dragon and Choice of Broadsides (both $4.99 Kindle) are two text adventure games from Choice of Games. Both are Active Content, so no internet connection required, but seem a bit overpriced for the lengths of the adventures, according to the reviews. Fear not, you can get these both free (at least, you can right now) as apps in the iTunes store. It also looks like you can play both of those and some others online on their website. Some are fan/user written, so don't have great reviews in the iTunes store, but the two main titles seem to be ok (and hey, they're free!).

Choice of the Dragon
Dominate the local kingdom, loot and pillage, and inspire terror in the hearts of your enemies! Please note: Choice of the Dragon contains content that may be inappropriate for children.

Choice of Broadsides
The sails have been hoisted and the guns run out as the enemy ship approaches. Your country is counting on you!

Little Miss Mary and The Big Monster Makeover, by G.G. Toropov, is a short (32 pg) children's book that is free in the iBooks store. Looks like it's out of print (except from the author's website (in the UK), but you can download the PDF or an MP3 reading for free (or read it on their webpage).

Book Description
Little Miss Mary receives an unwelcome visitor in the
grotesque shape of a huge, hairy Monster, but instead of being petrified by the apparition she decides to help the hideous beast by giving him a makeover. However, it is Mary herself who undergoes the biggest transformation in the process!

Blue Bear, Red Square: Gulper's Lake, by Chad Creighton, is another short children's book that is free in the iBooks store. You can easily find it (and a number of others), by opening up the Top Charts in iBooks, then click on Categories and choose Children's. Unlike many of the other categories, that are stuff with public domain titles, the Children's section seems to have quite a few fairly recently written books for free (on the right side of the page), some self-published and some not.

Book Description
From the Blue Bear, Red Square series of kids books comes another curious and fun-filled adventure. Blue Bear and Red Square go to the lake for a fun day in the sun. But this lake is not what it seems. This is Gulper's Lake and he doesn't appreciate being awakened from his mid-day nap. Join our friends as they discover the legend of Gulper and must work together to plan a creative escape in this easy-to-read, rhyming story that will have the kids and adults returning to these amazing color illustrations and wonderfully imaginative story time and time again.

Guy Kawasaki is giving away a PDF copy of Take Control of iPad Basics ($10.00 ebook), by Tonya Engst, if you LIKE his Facebook page, thru the end of the week (so, today and tomorrow, I believe). You can also get a 50% discount on other Take Control titles, thru the end of the year (all are non-DRM PDF formats).

Book Description
Learn key iPad concepts and skills with this friendly how-to guide!

Whether you've already used an iPad or you're starting from a blank slate, Take Control editor-in-chief Tonya Engst helps you fill in the blank spots in your basic iPad know-how. For those of you who haven't yet made the leap, she gives a practical guide for deciding which iPad and accessories to buy, after which she helps you understand the iPad's buttons and ports, learn multi-touch gestures, download apps, sync data and media, find and back up your stuff, and avoid newbie mistakes. The ebook concludes by showing you how to impress your friends with a great iPad demo (you know they want it!).

12 Days of Kindle in the UK

For customers in England, Amazon is having a special 12 Days of Kindle sale, starting today and ending January 6, 2011. A large number of books have been marked down to £1.00 during this time and I checked a few of them in the US store - if your address is in the UK, then those same books are $1.54 (all other regions pay full price, whatever that might be, which varies by book). So, those who haven't moved their Kindle account to Amazon.Co.UK don't have to do so to take advantage of this sale. You will, though, have to go to the UK sale page to find the deals, then switch back to Amazon.com and search for the book (by ASIN is fastest, but by author name or title works just as well.

Here's a sampling of the books on sale, just for those of you in the UK:

• Pandora's Star (Commonwealth Saga), by Peter F Hamilton (US)
• The Fahrenheit Twins, by Michel Faber (US)
• Storm Glass, by Maria V. Snyde (US)
• No Angel: My Undercover Journey to the Heart of the Hells Angels, by Jay Dobyns (US)
• Blood Wedding, by P J Brooke (US)
• End Game, by Matthew Glass (US)
• Splinter, by Sebastian Fitzek (US)
• Hollywood Hills, by Joseph Wambaugh (US)
• The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, edited by Trisha Telep (US)
• Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze?: And 114 Other Questions, edited by Mick O'Hare (US)
• Dr Dale's Zombie Dictionary: The A-Z Guide to Staying Alive, by Dr Dale Seslick (US) Full money back guarantee offered should you die in a zombie apocalypse within 30 days of purchase

Merry Christmas! and a Kindle Poem

Merry Christmas to all my readers. A Kindle poem today, for all of you who have a new Kindle waiting under the tree, and I'll check later to see if I can find us any free books as additional gifts for the day.

A Kindle Poem

- Kay Carbe

I take my Kindle everywhere
Everywhere I go
It’s so thin and sleek looking
No-one would ever know
That little thing that looks so good
My library on-the-go
In it’s bright red cover
My Kindle is on show!

300 books and counting
More free books by the day
I love, I love my Kindle
That’s all that I can say
Forget the books I bought last year
They’re getting in the way
Who cares for paper anymore?
Not me anyway!

I cannot tell you what it’s like
Until you get your own
The Kindle’s very practical
(A fact already known)
It’s really worth its weight in gold
My reading skills have grown
I carry it, I care for it
My love for it I’ve shown

Waiting time is no big deal
I really just don’t care
Just sit me down and leave me be
Don’t look at me or stare
Ok I’ll talk and tell you folks
Kindle talk I’ll share
I love, I love my Kindle
Where ever, I’m prepared

Just give me, give me, give me, more
E books every day!
I won’t spend on paper books,
Convenience all the way
Fiction, bio’s, thrillers all
Books for little pay
Kindle rocks, Kindle’s cool!
That’s all I have to say!

Bargain Book Roundup - Just in Time for XMAS gifting

The one drawback of Amazon's ebook gifting is that there is no way to set up a time-delay on delivery. So, if you are like me, you've waited until now to even consider gifting a Kindle book for Christmas (especially if someone has an unexpected Kindle hiding under the tree). The only other way I've thought of to delay delivery would be to send the gift to yourself, then hold onto the gift email and then forward it to the person on the day of the occasion. Amazon doesn't care which email account the gift it sent to; it only matters what account the person is logged into on the website, when they finally click to accept the gift. This way, the email comes from the giver, which can be preferable when sending a gift to someone you know, and you can take advantage of a discounted (but not free) price you find, while at the same time holding on to the gift until the birthday, anniversary or other occasion arrives.

Even if you aren't buying as gifts, though, you'll want to read thru this list of Kindle book bargains I've turned up. Most are Agency priced books, so will be the same price at other stores, such as Kobobooks.com or Barnes and Noble, for those of you with other ebook readers. As I usually do, the links are to the Kindle editions (where the best reviews are always posted), but you should be able to find them easily in the other stores when searching by title or author name.

There are also a few sales/promos going on:

• Fictionwise has a 60% off coupon, merryxmas2010, valid thru December 26, good for multi-format, non-DRM books, as well as EReader DRM'd books, unlimited use.
• Kobo has two coupon codes valid today: Holiday50 for 50% off one non-Agency book and iOS4, for 30% off one non-Agency book. Also, check your email today, as they should have mailed out their Christmas bonus coupons, to those who made purchases over the past 12 days (although I don't see mine, yet).

The Zero Game ($1.99), by Brad Meltzer

Book Description
The New York Times bestselling author of The Millionaires and The First Counsel returns to Wash-ington, D.C., with the story of an insider's game that turns deadly. Matthew Mercer and Harris Sandler are best friends who have plum jobs as senior staffers to well-respected congressmen. But after a decade in Washington, idealism has faded to disillusionment, and they're bored. Then one of them finds out about the clandestine Zero Game. It starts out as good fun-a simple wager between friends. But when someone close to them ends up dead, Harris and Matthew realize the game is far more sinister than they ever imagined-and that they're about to be the game's next victims. On the run, they turn to the only person they can trust: a 16-year-old Senate page who can move around the Capitol undetected. As a ruthless killer creeps closer, this idealistic page not only holds the key to saving their lives, but is also determined to redeem them in the process. Come play The Zero Game-you can bet your life on it.

The President's Assassin ($2.99), by Brian Haig

Book Description
With just three days to prevent the assassination of the President, Army lawyer Sean Drummond races the clock in the high-stakes countdown of his career.

Army lawyer Sean Drummond's new posting is to the Office of Special Projects, a CIA cell that handles the most dangerous threats. When the White House Chief of Staff is found brutally murdered, there's a note beside him promising more victims--including the President. Sean leaps into action, teaming up with a beautiful colleague to try to stop the assassin. As the killer stalks the campaign trail, apparently driven by a $500 million bounty on the President's head, all arrows point to a member of the White House security detail who's gone missing. Only after a dramatic hostage rescue that culminates in an intense shootout does Sean realize law enforcement's horrible miscalculation--and what must be done to set things right.

Shadowland ($3.99), by Meg Cabot, the first in her The Mediator series.

Book Description
Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.

A Perfect Darkness ($1.99), by Jaime Rush

Book Description
They live ordinary lives, but they are extraordinary. They are the Offspring, children of a mysterious experiment gone awry—and they are in terrible danger.

A sexy stranger awakens Amy Shane in the dead of night. Lucas Vanderwyck barely has time to whisper a few words before three men burst into her bedroom and drag him away. But what Lucas reveals shatters Amy's safe little world forever.

Lucas and Amy share a psychic gift—a gift that could put them in mortal danger. And as they share night after night of savage passion, as a shadowy government conspiracy tracks their every move, they will fight to save each other. But only with their powers of second sight can they escape the terror of a perfect darkness.

The Unwanted: A Memoir of Childhood ($2.99), by Kien Nguyen

Book Description
Saigon fell to the Viet Cong on April 30, 1975. Kien Nguyen watched the last U.S. Army helicopter leave without him, without his brother, without his mother, without his grandparents. Left to a nightmarish existence in a violated & decimated country, Kien was more at risk than most because of his odd blond hair & his light eyes - because he was Amerasian. He was the most unwanted. Told with stark & poetic brilliance, this is a story of survival & hope, a moving & personal record of a tumultuous & important piece of history.

Abraham's Children: Race, Identity, and the DNA of the Chosen People ($1.99), by Jon Entine

Book Description
Could our sense of who we are really turn on a sliver of DNA? In our multiethnic world, questions of individual identity are becoming increasingly unclear. Now in ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN bestselling author Jon Entine vividly brings to life the profound human implications of the Age of Genetics while illuminating one of today's most controversial topics: the connection between genetics and who we are, and specifically the question "Who is a Jew?"

Entine weaves a fascinating narrative, using breakthroughs in genetic genealogy to reconstruct the Jewish biblical tradition of the chosen people and the hereditary Israelite priestly caste of Cohanim. Synagogues in the mountains of India and China and Catholic churches with a Jewish identity in New Mexico and Colorado provide different patterns of connection within the tangled history of the Jewish diaspora. Legendary accounts of the Hebrew lineage of Ethiopian tribesmen, the building of Africa's Great Zimbabwe fortress, and even the so-called Lost Tribes are reexamined in light of advanced DNA technology. Entine also reveals the shared ancestry of Israelites and Christians.

As people from across the world discover their Israelite roots, their riveting stories unveil exciting new approaches to defining one's identity. Not least, Entine addresses possible connections between DNA and Jewish intelligence and the controversial notion that Jews are a "race apart." ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN is a compelling reinterpretation of biblical history and a challenging and exciting illustration of the promise and power of genetic research.

In Search of Adam ($1.01), by Caroline Smailes

Book Description
Motherless, rootless and unprotected, Jude Williams' childhood is fractured by the horror and experience of sexual abuse, forcing her to exist somewhere and nowhere in-between childhood and adulthood. Caught within the limitations of her own language and trapped within a family secret, Jude becomes the consequence of her mother's tragedy. As she moves through the 1980s, Jude's life is buffeted by choice and destiny and she collects experiences that layer her personal tragedy and plunge her into the darkest of worlds.

A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight ($2.99), by Robert J. Mrazek

Book Description
One of the great untold stories of World War II finally comes to light in this thrilling account of Torpedo Squadron Eight and their heroic efforts in helping an outmatched U.S. fleet win critical victories at Midway and Guadalcanal. These 35 American men--many flying outmoded aircraft--changed the course of history, going on to become the war's most decorated naval air squadron, while suffering the heaviest losses in U.S. naval aviation history.

Mrazek paints moving portraits of the men in the squadron, and exposes a shocking cover-up that cost many lives. Filled with thrilling scenes of battle, betrayal, and sacrifice, A DAWN LIKE THUNDER is destined to become a classic in the literature of World War II.

The Silver Pigs: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery ($2.99), by Lindsey Davis

Book Description
When Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman "informer" who has a nose for trouble that's sharper than most, encounters Sosia Camillina in the Forum, he senses immediately all is not right with the pretty girl. She confesses to him that she is fleeing for her life, and Falco makes the rash decision to rescue her--a decision he will come to regret. For Sosia bears a heavy burden: as heavy as a pile of stolen Imperial ingots, in fact. Matters just get more complicated when Falco meets Helena Justina, a Senator's daughter who is connected to the very same traitors he has sworn to expose. Soon Falco finds himself swept from the perilous back alleys of Ancient Rome to the silver mines of distant Britain--and up against a cabal of traitors with blood on their hands and no compunction whatsoever to do away with a snooping plebe like Falco….

Boys R Us and These Boots Are Made for Stalking, by Lisi Harrison, the eleventh and twelfth in her The Clique series, are both $1.99.

Book Description
Massie Block: After disbanding the Pretty Committee, Massie takes charge like Visa, forming OCD's hawtest clique yet: Massie And Crew. Even though money can't buy love, it can buy new friends . . . or at least model-actresses who will act like your besties until you get real ones. Lights, camera, MACtion!

Alicia Rivera: Hearts her new role as alpha of the Soul-M8s, BOCD's first ever boy-girl clique. But when the boys head back to the newly renovated Briarwood Academy, will the remaining Soul-M8s become 4Squares?

Dylan Marvil: Is happy times ten to finally have a crush who's crushing back, especially since they luh-v all the same things: marshmallows, lip-kissing, and chugging Red Bull. Buuuuuuuuurrrrrrrp!

Kristen Gregory: Scored three goals on the soccer field last week-and Massie's crush . . . which earned her an ejection from her ex-BFF's heart. Can Massie forgive and forget, or is Kristen out of the game forever?

Claire Lyons: Has declared herself neutral in the battle of the cliques. But dividing her time among Massie, the Soul-M8s, and Cam has left her stretched thinner than extra-small Spanx. Can she get her friends to reunite, or will she be forced to pick a side once and for all?

The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

A Total Waste of Makeup ($2.99), by Kim Gruenenfelder

Book Description
Charlize "Charlie" Edwards certainly knows, in theory, what it takes to lead a successful and happy life. She owns a nice house in Silverlake, LA's trendiest neighborhood. She has glamorous and loyal friends who accompany her to the hottest clubs in town. And she works as the personal assistant to Drew Stanton, Hollywood's sexiest movie star. But she's also turning 30, chronically single, and faced with serving as maid of honor at her younger sister's wedding. Charlie finds herself struggling to juggle the chaos of wedding planning (while wondering if she'll ever wear the white dress herself), her all-consuming job for lunatic boss Stanton, and a serious crush on Jordan, a photographer on the set of Drew's latest feature--a man who might actually return her feelings. A page-turner from start to finish, A Total Waste of Makeup puts a fresh face on women's fiction.

Chosen by Desire ($1.99), by Kate Perry

Book Description
Carrie Woods just can't resist temptation. To solve an ancient mystery, she "borrows" a precious, legend-cursed scroll from a Chinese monastery. But with the scroll comes danger: bizarre powers, life-threatening accidents, and, most frightening of all, one sexy Guardian's icy-hot gaze.

Maximillian Prescott is all too happy to strip this innocent-eyed thief of her secrets and the scroll, yet he's determined to fight the undeniable attraction pulling them together. But Max isn't Carrie's only pursuer, and there's just one way to keep the scroll safe. This adventurous blonde and brooding Guardian must dare to join forces and bare their souls to each other . . . before their enemies take not only the scroll but Carrie's life.

A Gentle Giving ($2.99), by Dorothy Garlock

Book Description
Willa Hammer has nothing left after narrowly escaping the lynch mob that unjustly hanged her foster father except her dog, her faith, and the protection of a secretive family. She joins their wagon train heading West, never realizing she is traveling to the wilds of Bighorn Mountain, where a rundown ranch and the arms of an untamed, hardened cowboy await her.

Cause of Death ($3.99), by Patricia Cornwell, the seventh in her Kay Scarpetta series.

Book Description
This New Year's Eve marks the end of a life-and the beginning of a nightmare for Kay Scarpetta. The mysterious death of diver Ted Eddings, an investigative reporter, and the murder of a morgue assistant driving her car lead medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, her niece, and police captain Pete Marino on the trail of a deadly supremacist group.

From the New York Times bestselling author of From Potter's Field and The Body Farm comes a mesmerizing new thriller that takes Dr. Kay Scarpetta into the very vortex of evil--far beyond anything she has heretofore encountered as Chief Medical Examiner. Together with her niece Lucy and police captain Pete Marino, Scarpetta follows the scents of death and violence to the heart of sinister deakness.

Seventh Son ($2.99), by Orson Scott Card, the first in his (young adult) The Tales of Alvin Maker series. I'm already about a third of the way thru this one.

Book Description
From the author of Ender’s Game, an unforgettable story about young Alvin Maker: the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with the power. He must learn to use his gift wisely. But dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.

Includes an excerpt of Orson Scott Card's new novel, THE LOST GATE!

Thanks for the Memories, with Bonus Material ($1.99), by Cecelia Ahern, is a pre-order.  You can get a sample from the previous edition ($9.99), just be sure not to purchase the wrong one when you are done reading it.

Book Description
... this charming novel ... explores what happens when "what if" becomes a reality for two strangers whose lives are at a crossroads. This special e-book edition also includes an excerpt of Cecelia's latest novel, The Book of Tomorrow.

How can you know someone you've never met? That's the question haunting Joyce Conway these days. Recovering from a terrible accident and with her marriage in pieces, Joyce is suddenly plagued by an overwhelming sense of dÉjÀ vu that makes her feel as if the life she's living is not her own. During the day she has vivid memories of things she's never seen—such as cobblestoned Parisian streets she's never visited—and at night she dreams of a little girl she's sure she's never met. Joyce is convinced she's lost her mind . . . until a series of coincidences leads her on a journey to meet the one person who may hold the answer she needs.

Someone's life could be depending on you right now . . . . That's the pitch that finally persuades Justin Hitchcock to donate blood—the first thing to come straight from his heart in a long time.

Restless and lonely, Justin chased his ex-wife and daughter from Chicago to London, and now he's in Dublin, guest-lecturing to bored college students. When he receives a basket of muffins with a thank-you note attached, he's sure someone's playing a joke on him, but then the presents keep coming. Intrigued, Justin is determined to solve the mystery—a quest that will change his life forever.

Thanks for the Memories is a heartwarming story of hope, love, and second chances. If you love this, don't miss The Book of Tomorrow, available in bookstores and in e-book format on January 25, 2011.

The First Patient ($2.99), by Michael Palmer, is another one I've started on.

Book Description
From the blockbuster, New York Times bestselling author comes a high-concept, high-octane thriller at the crossroads of presidential politics and cutting-edge medicine. . . .

Gabe Singleton and Andrew Stoddard were roommates at the Naval Academy in Annapolis years ago. Today, Gabe is a country doctor and his friend Andrew has gone from war hero to governor to President of the United States. One day, while the United States is embroiled in a bitter presidential election campaign, Marine One lands on Gabe’s Wyoming ranch, and President Stoddard delivers a disturbing revelation and a startling request. His personal physician has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, and he desperately needs Gabe to take the man’s place. Despite serious misgivings, Gabe agrees to come to Washington. It is not until he is ensconced in the White House medical office that Gabe realizes there is strong evidence that the President is going insane. Facing a crisis of conscience—as President Stoddard’s physician, he has the power to invoke the Twenty-fifth Amendment to transfer presidential power to the Vice President—Gabe uncovers increasing evidence that his friend’s condition may not be due to natural causes.

Who? Why? And how? The President’s life is at stake. A small-town doctor suddenly finds himself in the most powerful position on earth, and the safety of the world is in jeopardy. Gabe Singleton must find the answers, and the clock is ticking....

With Michael Palmer’s trademark medical details, and steeped in meticulous political insider knowledge, The First Patient is an unforgettable story of suspense.

The Bridge ($2.99), by John Skipp & Craig Spector

Book Description
When the great storm comes, the good life ends. And hell on Earth begins. For 100 years we’ve been tossing our toxic waste over our shoulders. No more. This morning, while we slept, something woke up. It’s virulent. Malign. Intelligent. Ambitious. It’s in our food, our water, our air. It’s inside our bodies themselves. And it’s not leaving. We are.

Stay tuned, I'm working on Part II and hope to get it finished sometime today (or maybe in the wee hours of tomorrow).