Content FREE (and bargain) books for the Kindle - August 2011

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Free from indies:

A Summit of Tumultuous Winds (Ink Darkly the Painted Seasons) by Winnie Khaw

Product Description
Set in a fantasy China, ASoTW is an epic fable following the lives of tragic heroes and their struggle to find meaning in life through romance and adventure. ASoTW is written in dialogue-only format (meant to be read, not performed) and features elaborate, stylized language.

Includes sections of other stories set in a quasi-historical fantastical East Asia (particularly a country inspired by ancient Korea) To the Birds Allotted the Sky and a tentatively titled To Grasp the Moon's Reflection.

In TtBAtS a lonely and alienated half-human, half-fox not-prince tries to maneuver safely through the political dangers encircling him in a world wracked with conflict while trying to discover who he is and where he belongs.

TGtMR is the overarching title for a three-part story detailing the lives of a spoiled prince, his noble banished brother, the bodyguard who protects him, and his son, and ends with the final takeover war of "Japan" (inspired by the Imjin Wars) with a forbidding suggestion of an inquisitive and hungry power coming from the West.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to the actual countries which have inspired this story, and have only used their names in order to give readers as well as myself some background to go by.

A Lust for Lead: A Supernatural Fantasy (The Legend of the Devil's Guns) by Robert Davis

Product Description
The American West, 1887. Six years ago, the legendary gunfighter Shane Ennis laid down his guns and swore never to shoot again. Now the Fastest Guns want him back and they won’t take no for an answer.

In the accursed town of Covenant, far out in the wasteland, a tournament is being held. Sixteen of the best of a new generation of gunfighters have gathered to fight to the death for the Fastest Guns’ approval.

But the tournament is not all that it seems. Dark forces are plotting behind the scenes and an evil power lies in wait, patiently biding its time until the clock strikes the Gunfighter’s Hour.

In A Lust for Lead, supernatural-fantasy meets the Old West in an action-packed tale of one man’s fight to save himself from damnation.

Resurrection of Liberty by Michael Wentz

Product Description
In 'Resurrection of Liberty' Daniel Foster discovers a family secret that is so shocking, it will affect the future of the entire galaxy. While on an innocent road trip with his two best friends, his grandfather’s old car, almost having a mind of its own, whisks the trio out of the confines of their home planet to a cloaked starship that has remained hidden behind the moon for over fifty years. In trying to return home the three friends plunge deeper into space ultimately meeting the race that had sent his grandfather to Earth on a critical mission a generation before. Yet, to their dismay, they learn that by awakening the old ship they have hastened the peril of their own home. Now, far away from his family, Daniel must accept his destiny and dig deep inside himself to muster the confidence needed to rally his new alien friends to help save Earth—and ultimately the galaxy.

From the Publisher
- Perfect for all those who love action and adventure
- Great for Young Adults

An epic science fiction adventure for the 21st century 'Resurrection of Liberty' is written in the best tradition of the classics while still being fun, friendly, and accessible to those new to genre. Young adult friendly and packed with enough action and adventure to spare 'Resurrection of Liberty' is a remarkably entertaining read for anyone who enjoys high drama, sympathetic characters, and a look into a world where courage is the key to survival and the future is just around the corner

7 Ancient Keys to Happiness - A 90 Day, Lesson-a-Day Guide to Achieving Inner-Bliss by S. Mills

Product Description
Inside the heart of every person is a desire to reach that ultimate state of inner-happiness.

In a quest to achieve the euphoric state of happiness, the 7 Ancient Keys to Happiness have been uncovered.

These ancient keys have been used for thousands of years by all different people around the world. For the first time, '7 Ancient Keys to Happiness' has collated all 7 of these keys into one succinct, practical, do-it-yourself guide to happiness.

Ancient wisdom tells of a story about an old man on an ark with lots of animals, who was saved from a big flood. - even societies that were not influenced by Judaic-Christian-Muslim beliefs have archaic versions of this tale as a part of their folklore. However, did you know that according to ancient tradition, after the flood Noah was given 7 Commandments? (No, NOT the 10 Commandments - that happened much later!) These commandments were given for the benefit of mankind to help establish a new world order of contentment and bliss and they became the world-wide recipe and the basis for the 7 Ancient Keys to Happiness. In every single culture, continent and society, some of these keys are found in one form or another, which is proof of their timeless wisdom.

Using these 7 Ancient Keys to Happiness we are going to be guided
through an exciting, pre-tested and successful path to bliss. So get ready to open your mind to a different and ancient reality and join us on this mystical path to the City of Happiness.

It's time to LIVE A LIFE YOU LOVE & LOVE THE LIFE YOU LIVE.

Naughty Little Schnitzel by PJ Jones

Product Description
Ted Ledbetter has dreamed of becoming a porn star, just like his late father, Thunderhead Ted. Unfortunately, Ted’s got one small problem preventing him from making it in this cut-throat industry. With the help of his beautiful, yet frightening assistant, Ted’s determined to produce his own adult film and prove to the world that he’s man enough to be a Naughty Little Schnitzel.

Also included is a sample chapter from the sparkly parody, The Vampire Handbook.

Blackbird Fly by Lise McClendon

Product Description
A house in France connects three women together -- the woman who owns the house, the woman who lives in the house, and the woman who died in the house sixty years before. Who are they? Merle Bennett inherits the house of her late husband, in a small village in the Dordogne. But when she arrives a deranged squatter won't let her inside. Who is the woman? What is her connection to Merle's husband? Secrets from the post-war period, when southwest France was crushed and left to wither by Nazi occupation, and secrets of a newer kind, occupy what should be a fine French summer for Merle. With her teenage son in tow, a sexy roofer in her kitchen, and a nasty discovery in the pissoir, there is plenty to keep her mind off her endless to-do list. A story of murder, self-discovery, and family, deep in the heart of France.

"A heartbreakingly beautiful story of love, loss, sisterhood, and the ties that bind us together," says novelist Jenny Siler.
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The sudden death of her husband turns Merle Bennett's life upside down. Her work for poor legal clients isn't going to pay the bills and her son is kicked out of school. The blows just keep on coming. Merle finds herself doing what she least expected, decamping to France for the summer to fix up her late husband's ancestral home. The village in southwest France should be idyllic: warm sunshine, vineyards, and walls of golden stone. Merle gets an off-the-books job as a tour guide at a local winery and evicts a squatter. But the townspeople are more than merely unfriendly. As the past unravels, colliding with modern tensions and the filthy trials of renovation, the summer takes on a dark cast, full of secrets best left buried. In her first stand-alone suspense novel, Lise McClendon reaches deep into the past to find a France untouched by the outside world of tourism and fashion. Writing in a "lyrical, often humorous style," she brings both the pain and rewards of rebirth and the rich French countryside to life.

Novellas/Short stories:

Dangerous Rainbows by James Ashman

UnWrapped by Danielle Gavan

Fresh Blood by Jennifer Colgan

I Was A Brooding Teenage Vampire by Ronnell D. Porter

First Impressions (Grace deHaviland) by David DeLee

Crazy Emma by Brandie Buckwine

Whatever I Please Short Adult Romance by CJ Hawk

Addison Crouse, MBA : Flash Fiction Office Erotica by Joe Brewster

The Good Neighbor: Short Sweet Erotica Story / Flash Fiction Sex by Joe brewster

She: A Flash Fiction BDSM Tribute by Joe Brewster

Feed Me Your Children by German Alcala

The Easy Path by Steve Gerber

The Tokolosh by Lynette Ferreira

Footprints in Time: A Walk in Sacajawea's Moccasins by Bonnie Turner

Whispers in the Shadows by Alan James Keogh

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Haunting the Night by Mara Purnhagen

Product Description
Charlotte Silver has been through hell.
Her mom’ s in a coma. She may have caused the death of a young man. And now her friend Avery wants her to tackle going to Prom? Not going to happen, even if she is dying to spend some alone time with her boyfriend, Noah. Instead, Charlotte needs to find some answers to a few nagging questions—why was her family attacked? Will her mother survive? And is there a creature from the Other Side coming for her? Soon enough, Charlotte's search for the truth becomes a race against time. But she may just find the sign she's been looking for all along....

An ebook exclusive Past Midnight series novella.

[koland]

You can pre-order 4 short stories out of the collection Orientation: And Other Stories, by Daniel Orozco, free on Kindle (the shorts, not the collection, which was one of Amazon Best Books of the Month, May 2011).

Orientation
Officers Weep
Temporary Stories
The Bridge

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The Last Drop by L. Sprague de Camp and L. Ron Hubbard is free again at the US Kindle store.

Product Description
A humorous tale about a New York bartender who receives mysteriously special potions from Borneo which can make people grow or shrink depending on which one they drink. When our hero uses the potion to deal with some unfriendly mobsters, the results are comic and riotously unpredictable—including an unexpected run-in with a dogfish.

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Prayers for Today Sampler: A Yearlong Journey of Contemplative Prayer by Kurt Bjorklund

Product Description
A 30-day sample collection of classic and contemporary prayers, some derived from Scripture and others from the writings of Christian leaders throughout the centuries, invites readers into a daily experience of closer intimacy with God. Each day's entry focuses on one of ten traditional types of prayer:

* Prayers of Thanksgiving
* Prayers of Confession
* Prayers of Affirmation
* Prayers of Petition
* Prayers of Renewal
* Prayers of Praise and Adoration
* Prayers to Have Christ-like Character
* Prayers for Wisdom and Guidance
* Prayers of Intercession
* Prayers of Surrender

Prayers for Today guides readers through a unique kind of spiritual pilgrimage, a pilgrimage toward the very throne room of God. For any reader who's ever wanted more out of prayer or who's ever hungered for a greater sense of God's presence, Prayers for Today promises deepened communion with the One who treasures the words and longings of His people.

Get the complete edition with 260 entries-- enough for every weekday of an entire year-- of Prayers for Today in print and eBook version today!

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Free indies:

All Things Austria by Andre Kasberger

Product Description
Come along with me on a journey of discovery of Austria, the land of my birth. You’ll get a glimpse of Austria's glorious history and meet some of its famous people, modern day as well as historic figures such as Mozart and Haydn. I’ll introduce you to Austria’s heritage and culture; take you on a tour of the Austrian Alps, historic Vienna, old Salzburg and the picturesque and very inviting Salzkammergut region.

We’ll even discover a place where storks roost every spring, be introduced to Austria’s unique wine heritage, and of course we’ll briefly visit the places and settings for many of Austria’s world renowned summer music fests.

As you read through the book you may even hear “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music”, be drawn into a Danube river trip, prompted to have a cup of the famous Vienna coffee along with a slice of Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel. We’ll also take a seat and relax at a local Heurigen, where the owners serve their own wine and food. And of course, as we tour Vienna, we’ll discover some of the architecture that inspired the greats of music and art of old and continues today.

Come and join me in this exciting and brief journey through Austria.

A Talent for Fire by Michael Angel

Product Description
Wilderland firefighter Clark Donnelly must rely upon his supernatural ability to 'listen' to the voice of forest fires to keep his team of sawyers and swampers alive amidst a raging inferno.

The story 'A Talent for Fire' includes preview chapters of Michael Angel's urban fantasy novel, The Detective & The Unicorn.

Tugger's Down by Tommie Lyn

Product Description
An evil entity summoned through a Ouija board killed Tucker's mother. Now it wants him.

Lacy and Porter were two college students who each thought their future was all mapped out. Until they met each other.

These three lives are about to collide. And what happens when they meet will change them forever.

People Of The Tiger - USA Kindle Edition (The Rational Future Series) by Wayne Edward Clarke

Product Description
Book One of The Rational Future series. When we've solved the great problems of humanity, how will we integrate those who are prone to violence? What if the system is then disrupted by the introduction of a genetically engineered human? Join us for action and adventure as these questions are answered in this sci-fi blockbuster! Tika has been altered in many ways, most of which are not immediately apparent, and she doesn't know how or why. It's not always easy being a very gifted and unusual child. With the help of her friends and family, she struggles to deal with the unknown, to find the truth, and to learn her destiny. Contains some of the best hand-to-hand combat and hunting scenes in print! This is the USA Kindle Edition. Measurements are given in American Imperial units.

Shalilayo (Mirrors of the World) by Justin Lee Mitchell and Marlaine Mitchell

Product Description
Our world is on the brink of destruction—from ourselves. Between corporate and government greed, peak oil, global warming and countless other inevitable disasters, we don’t stand a chance. Enter a band of aliens, ready to teach us a better way, by force if necessary. And it is necessary: our destructive ways will not only obliterate us, but all of the other worlds on the various dimensions occupying the same space as us as well, of which these aliens are a part. But they aren’t alone. With the help of Terrance, who tried a similar tactic two thousand years ago, and a couple of well-meaning, like-minded Earth humans, they may be able to bring the Earth to heel through awareness, healing and love (preferably) or a swift butt-kicking if not. The shadow government controlling Earth has no intention of releasing their strangle hold on humanity though. Alien visitors would ruin all of their careful manipulations of the science and education fields where the public is duped into believing false information on almost every aspect of how their universe operates. As the first few humans begin interacting with the aliens, it becomes obvious that the public world's last true scientific break-through was discovering the earth was round.

While many species wish to exterminate the human threat, the Zerans discovered that the humans had been tampered with by another race during their evolution, resulting in their inability to use their sixth sense to feel the world around them. In the Zeran's opinion, the humans are not completely responsible for their destructive actions and should be given help to fix their world and repair their minds.

For those who refuse to live in peace, the Zerans prepared several other dimensions where they would be relocated to. These new dimensions lacked the dense elements necessary to create nuclear technology, which is the most threatening problem since the radiation caused by nuclear devices bleeds through to other dimensions.

A Dirty Business (A Kevin Bailey Novel) by Joe Humphrey

Product Description
WHEN KEVIN BAILEY, a black, jobless twenty-something returns to New York City from a recent hermitage in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, he finds himself both broke and homeless. Armed with a degree in criminal justice, he immediately leans on an associate and former employer for a needed job referral. This leads to a position with the Frank Givens detective agency in Midtown. Bailey is hired for various reasons, three of which are the fact that he comes cheap, he's green enough to be taught, and his boss is swamped with cases. Frank Givens tosses Bailey a case that should have been fairly routine: a New York City socialite requires dirt on her son's fiancée based on her suspicions of gold digging.

After the client, Selena Eldritch, supplies Bailey with a photo of her son Edward Eldritch and his blonde fiancée, Donna Greenwood, the investigation is underway, and Bailey eventually tails Edward Eldritch to a quaint historical village hours outside of Manhattan. There, Edward meets with a brunette, and Bailey soon follows the pair into a local tavern where he then discovers that the brunette's name is in fact Donna Greenwood. Who, then, is the blonde in the photo? And why does Selena Eldritch believe her to be Donna Greenwood? Bailey sets out to uncover the truth behind this mystery, but as he begins to dig deeper, he soon learns a few intriguing facts. The blonde in the photo, Norma Vidon, has actually been missing for quite some time, and the police have even given up their investigation into her disappearance.

Baily continues to dig even further, uncovering weird obsessions, betrayals, and not a little deceit and, of course, dead bodies begin turning up. What started out as an average, relatively simple assignment soon develops into a complex case full of pretzel twists; one difficult enough for Kevin Baily to truly prove himself. But he is up to the task.

My First Date with Jolene, and Her Cousin, Billy-Bob by J.D. Cutler and Michael Angel

Product Description
My name is Simon Nance. Originally from Surfside, California, new freshman at Alamo College. I'm still searching for a major that'll let me catch some rays at the beach. I figure, maybe marine bio or something.

Setting: a ranch near some podunk town east of the Pecos, west of Houston, and way, way, way south of civilization.

Problem: My 'date' has a chaperone. A six-foot four dude with a shotgun the size of a small cannon, who's looking for an excuse to shoot me in the postremo.

Welcome to my world.

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'My First Date' includes preview chapters of the urban fantasy novel by Michael Angel, Centaur of the Crime.

Novellas/ short stories:

One Final Night by Wendy L. Young

Emma's Chance (2000 words ~ A short story prequel to Second Chances) (Chances Are) by Tess St. John

Dog Gone Dog by Michele Scott

Deliver Us From Evil by Dan Dillard

Would you remember ME by Lynette Ferreira

The Natural: An Office FemDom Short Sex Story by Joe Brewster

Pleasure With Purpose by Lisa Renee Jones

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Bargain from Macmillian:

More discounted:

Winter and Night by S. J. Rozan ($2.99)

Product Description
From the critically acclaimed, award-winning S. J. Rozan comes her finest novel to date - an explosive novel about the corrosive power of secrets and corruption in a small town.

In the middle of the night, private investigator Bill Smith is awakened by a call from the NYPD. They're holding a 15-year-old kid named Gary -- a kid Bill knows. But before Bill can find out what is going on, Gary escapes Bill's custody into the dark night and unfamiliar streets. Bill, with the help of his partner Lydia Chin, tries to find the missing teen and uncover what it is that led him so far from home. Tracking Gary's family to a small town in New Jersey, Bill finds himself in a town where nothing matters but high school football, where the secrets of the past - both the town's and Bill's own - threaten to destroy the present. And if Bill is to have any chance of saving Gary and preventing a tragedy, he has to both unravel a long buried crime and confront the darkness of his own past.

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The Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch by Bill Pronzini (Author), Nick Sullivan (Narrator) is free at Amazon as an Audible audio edition.

Description:

Ravaged by time and abandoned by the people who once flocked there in search of golden nuggets, Ragged-Ass Gulch is a ghost town. What's left is a small, proud, and close pack of people who aren't looking for change. But change seems to be afoot as several mysterious fires plague the town. That's where the Nameless Detective comes in....

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FYI, currently just free for those in Europe

The Witch of Agnesi (Bonnie Pinkwater series) by Robert Spiller (Medallion Press) (Amazon Main, Amazon DE)

Product Description
Bonnie Pinkwater is a teacher, a good one. She cares about her students. So when Peyton Newlin, a thirteen-year-old math genius, disappears, Bonnie starts nosing around.One by one, students who were competing with the young genius start turning up dead and Bonnie suspects Peyton may be narrowing the field. Then Peyton himself turns up murdered. Bonnie's investigation ratchets up.What she discovers is a coven of witches, a teenage comic book magnate, a skinhead Neanderthal with violent propensities, an abusive father, an amorous science teacher, and a mistranslated medieval mathematics manuscript. Somehow, all the pieces have intersected at the tragically brief life of her math protégé.As the body count mounts, Bonnie realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew. Because whoever is eliminating her beloved students, has now decided East Plains, Colorado would be better off without one aging math teacher.

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FYI, currently just free for those in Europe

The Invitation: A Simple Guide to the Bible by Eugene H. Peterson (NavPress) (Amazon Main, Amazon DE)

Product Description
The Invitation features Eugene's thoughtful introductions from The Message. Each passage offers fresh insights that provide a new perspective on timeless truths, while key Scriptures complement each section--all of which is wrapped in Eugene's warm, personable style that encourages and inspires. Readers will encounter a profound overview of the Bible that invites them to delve deeper into God's Word.

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FYI, currently just free for those in Europe

Chosen by Paula Bradley (The Fiction Studio) (Amazon Main, Amazon DE)

Product Description
Shy and introverted Mariah Carpenter has concealed a hidden talent from childhood that, according to her mother, would brand her a freak. Now a fateful encounter has caused her secret skill—an extraordinary psychic ability—to become greatly enhanced. Suddenly, she has a purpose for her gift, as her vision gives her the ability to find kidnapped children telepathically. But is this a blessing or a curse? When Mariah’s fourth finding is filmed by the FBI and the recording is stolen and sold to a broadcast journalist, Mariah’s worst nightmare becomes a reality. She is acclaimed worldwide as a saint and messenger from God—and vilified as the Antichrist whose powers must be quelled. Meanwhile, another government agency has its own covert agenda for Mariah…. In the midst of all of this, Mariah has a series of horrifying nightmares, culminating in the discovery of an ingenious serial killer, one who somehow prevents Mariah from finding out who and where he is. Locating this murderer before he kills again becomes Mariah’s obsession, one that threatens to consume her––and could even destroy her. Chosen introduces readers to a remarkably complex, achingly human, and absolutely unforgettable heroine. Bursting with tension, danger, and the thrill of the unexplained, Chosen is a singular reading experience.

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Now free for those in the UK:

The Witch of Agnesi (Bonnie Pinkwater series) by Robert Spiller (Medallion Press) (Amazon Main, Amazon UK)


The Invitation: A Simple Guide to the Bible by Eugene H. Peterson (NavPress) (Amazon Main, Amazon UK)

Chosen by Paula Bradley (The Fiction Studio) (Amazon Main, Amazon UK)

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Now free for those in the US:

The Witch of Agnesi (Bonnie Pinkwater series) by Robert Spiller (Medallion Press)

The Invitation: A Simple Guide to the Bible by Eugene H. Peterson (NavPress)

Chosen by Paula Bradley (The Fiction Studio)

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American Quest by Sienna Skyy

Product Description
American Quest is a rousing contemporary fantasy filled with great characters, passionate relationships, and epic drama. It tells the story of two lovers, Bruce and Gloria, whose intense passions for life and for each other has made them unwitting pawns in a cosmic battle between forces for good and evil. Gloria is captured by Enervata, a demonic spirit with the darkest intentions. To save her, Bruce must embark on a quest across America, armed with only the scantest of clues, to collect the Four Pillars of Humanity before he can battle Enervata. Several people join him on his quest, including his best friend, a rocker, a stand-up comedienne, a little old Italian lady, an old-beyond-her-years child, and a strangely visionary fortuneteller. The questers face challenges from Enervata's minions at every turn and struggle mightily to uncover the Pillars...all the while unsure of Gloria's fate.

American Quest is at once an imagination-stirring fantasy, a moving love story, and an endearing tale of friendship and sacrifice.

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Steppin' into the Good Life by Tia McCollors

Product Description
Shelia Rushmore thought she'd be the last woman standing when it was time to fight for her man. Instead Ace, her boyfriend of two years, chose to reunite with his ex-wife, leaving Shelia emotionally devastated. It's a year later when Sheila is convinced that sneaking into their wedding ceremony will put closure on the gaping hole in her heart. But it's on the back pew of the church where a new relationship begins for Shelia. She can't explain the touch she received from God on that day, but she's determined to be a better woman-a woman of faith. Since high school, Shelia has been chasing her definition of the good life - it's left her with no home, no man, and no money. But now that's she's living life for God, things should get better, right? Shelia learns that living a faith-filled life isn't always easy.

With faith, tough love, and some tough decisions, Shelia realizes that the life she'd been praying for she could have for herself is actually attainable. Being wrapped in God's arms, she decided, was by far the safest place she'd ever been.