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

[koland]

Free in the US:

The Velocity Manifesto: Harnessing Technology, Vision, and Culture to Future-Proof your Organization, by Scott Klososky
Elisha's Bones, by Don Hoesel, is free courtesy of Christian publisher Bethany House.
The Homecoming, by Dan Walsh, is free courtesy of Christian publisher Revell.
The Pursuit of Pleasure, by Elizabeth Essex
Immortal , by V.K. Forrest
The Edge of Light (At Home in Beldon Grove, Book 1) , by Ann Shorey
Truth and Consequences: Hearts of the South, Book 1, by Linda Winfree
Paper Roses (Texas Dreams Trilogy #1) , by Amanda Cabot

Free in the UK:
Spying in High Heels ($0.99 US), by Gemma Halliday
The Maverick Experiment ($7.79 US), by Drew Berquist
Complete Without Kids: An Insider's Guide to Childfree Living by Choice or by Chance ($7.79 US), by Ellen L. Walker

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

this is a surprisingly good book with a different slant to the whole Arthurian deal. I know this is not the place for reviews...

Different strokes for different folks. I was not impressed with it. None of the characters struck me as developing their own voice. I finished it but it was a struggle. The concept was really good and it could have been very interesting, I just found the characters to be pretty stilted and boring.

[koland]

Now free in the US:
Complete Without Kids: An Insider's Guide to Childfree Living by Choice or by Chance, by Ellen L. Walker
The Maverick Experiment, by Drew Berquist

[koland]

Ghostly Awakening, by Lacey Savage, free on Kindle courtesy of Ellora's Cave.

Book Description
Eighteen years of solitude have annihilated Sebastian Bradley's social skills. Not that he needs them. He's resigned himself to a life of complete seclusion until trouble decides to pitch a tent on his lawn and entice him with wide, curious blue eyes.

Now there are people under Sebastian's roof, invading his privacy, using his home as a locale for a fancy society Halloween bash. One woman's to blame. A woman who in one short week has managed to turn Sebastian's entire world on its axis and awaken hungry, desperate desires that even a ghost can't ignore.

[koland]

Masks , by Evangeline Anderson, free on Kindle courtesy of Ellora's Cave.

Book Description
Chloe's identical twin sister Zoe wants a favor. She needs Chloe to dress up in her work clothes and meet an important client, pretending to be her. There's just one problem. Zoe isn't an investment banker as she's led everyone to believe—she's a dominatrix and her work clothes include a leather bustier, thigh-high boots and a feathered mask. There are three rules, according to Zoe—don't lose control of the situation, don't have sex with the client, and never take off the mask.Shy, retiring Chloe has no idea how to go about dominating anyone. But that won't be a problem for long because the "client", Mark Jacobs, is a hot alpha male in a black leather mask of his own who prefers to take the lead when it comes to sex.Soon Chloe is breaking all the rules for one night of forbidden passion but when she decides to take off her mask and asks Mark to do the same, she has no idea that the black leather he wears conceals a dark secret that may change her life forever.

[koland]

Stolen Hearts , by Karen Erickson, free on Kindle courtesy of Ellora's Cave.

Book Description
Stolen Hearts is a stand-alone sequel to Virgin Jewels.Celeste Anderson doesn't believe in love at first sight. She intends to marry someone with the same interests and financial aspirations and have a neat, orderly life. But there's something to be said for the thrill of the unknown — and when Alex enters her family jewelry store, her body decides it's more than ready for a few thrills.Desperate for his father's approval, ex-jewel thief Alex Moretti reluctantly agrees to steal an antique diamond bracelet from a tiny, ill-secured shop. No problem for a pro like Alex — until he meets Celeste. Now the only thing he's interested in stealing is her heart.

[koland]

Destiny by Design , by Wylie Kinson, free on Kindle courtesy of Ellora's Cave.

Book Description
Interior designer Ellis Strathmore has been chosen to compete in the Oak Ridges Development Competition, along with a handful of other designers — including her former boss and nemesis, Cynthia Travers. With the deadline just weeks away, the design teams are under intense pressure to finish. A relative novice known for her unusual approach to decorating, Ellis is determined to prove her talent, artistry and professionalism when creating the perfect home office.One week into the Oak Ridges Competition and Simon Callon would happily trade Callon & Son Construction for a string of donut shops. Tools and supplies keep mysteriously disappearing and two of the designers are making his life miserable. He'd worked with Cynthia Travers before and knew how to handle her demands, but quirky Ellis Strathmore, with her uncanny ability to both annoy and arouse him, has Simon questioning his normally solid judgment.Ellis and Simon clash over paint colors, work schedules and cabinets, but they can't deny the sexual chemistry that's building between them. The perfect palette for passion comes together with a brush of danger, tones of teasing banter and a touch of naked painting in Destiny by Design.

[koland]

Three New Kindle Games: All are Active Content Games; no web connection needed, but restricted to the US.

Spelling Star $2.99

Book Description
How good is your word knowledge? Find out by taking the Spelling Star challenge and progress through 100 increasingly difficult levels to see how good you really are.

Spelling Star offers more than just spelling exercises -- featuring ten different game types including straight spelling, anagrams, misspellings, as well as noun, adjective, and verb tests. With thousands of words ranging in difficulty from 'able' to 'zygodactylism', Spelling Star is suitable for all ages and abilities. Four user profiles let you save your progress and compare high scores with friends and family who may also wish to play.

Spelling Star adapts quickly to the proficiency of the user. The level at which you start is initially based on your age, and adjusts up or down according to your performance in the Main Challenge portion of the game. In addition to the Main Challenge, you can practice at your current level by selecting one of the Quick Games. As you progress through levels, you will unlock new Quick Games to play.


Diamond Crosswords - 50 Easy Puzzles $0.99

Book Description
Diamond Crosswords, 50 Easy Puzzles, is a unique twist on the classic crossword puzzle.

Diamond Crosswords combines the fun of classic crossword puzzles with a unique, diamond-shape design. Each puzzle is smaller than a traditional crossword and features everyday vocabulary words. You can navigate clues and change the solving direction - Across or Down - using quick keyboard shortcuts, and an indicator will always show you which clue you're working on and in what direction. You can also zoom in or out to increase or decrease the puzzle grid size to fit your preference, as well as check for errors, reveal a letter, or get a puzzle completely solved if you're stuck. Designed by professional puzzle writers and developers Myles Mellor, Bob Williams, and David L. Hoyt, Diamond Crosswords is sure to be enjoyed by crossword lovers.


Peg Solitaire (A Classic Solitaire Game for Kindle) $0.99

Book Description
Jump pegs and clear the board in the classic game of Peg Solitaire.

The objective of the game is to fully clear the board by jumping pegs over each other, removing "jumped" pegs, until only one peg is left. To complete a perfect board you must land the last peg in a specific highlighted square. On most boards only horizontal and vertical moves are allowed; however, on triangular boards pegs may jump horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

Peg Solitaire comes with 40 different boards. The difficulty level ranges from Easy to Expert, with more difficult boards being larger and filled with more pegs. The title also tracks how well you've done with each board, allowing you to return to those you haven't cleared perfectly.

[koland]

Two New Kindle Games: Both are Active Content Games; no web connection needed, but restricted to the US.

Rockin Reversi ($1.99), by Blue Fang Games, is the second Reversi game for Kindle (Reversi Deluxe is $1.99).

Book Description
Rockin Reversi, the popular strategy game, is now available on Kindle.

The objective of this board game is to fill an 8x8 grid with stones of your color by outwitting your opponent and flipping his stones to your color. To flip the stones to your color, trap one or more of your opponent's pieces between two of yours. Keep an eye out for the best move available, in any direction - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. But be careful, as the situation can flip back on you at any time!

Rockin Reversi features a Pass 'n' Play mode where you can play with a friend, or you can also play against Kindle with an Easy, Medium, or Hard mode. You can also pause playing at any time and come back later, continuing right where you left off.


The Citadel of Chaos ($3.99), by Worldweaver, continues the game/story line from The Warlock of Firetop Mountain

Book Description
The Citadel of Chaos brings the next installment of the popular game book series Fighting Fantasy by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone to Kindle.

A game book is an interactive story. As you read you will make decisions as to which way to go, what to say to other characters, and what to do with items you might find. As a result of your choices you may cleverly solve problems, or even be drawn into battle. Battles are fought by rolling dice and comparing your skill results with those of your foe.

Inside the Citadel of Chaos the dread sorcerer, Balthus Dire, plots the downfall of the good folk of the Vale of Willow. His battle plans are laid, his army equipped, and attack is imminent. As an aspiring wizard, you undertake a mission to strike at the heart of Balthus.

Winning your battles may grant you valuable prizes to help on your quest, but failure... well, the skeletons on the floor have to come from somewhere! A convenient in-game map tracks places you have visited, items, or monsters encountered.

You are the hero! You decide which route to take, which dangers to risk, and which creatures to fight. But be warned - it will also be you who has to live or die by the consequences of your actions.

[arcadata]

Bargain book at the US Kindle store (SciFi):

Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks is $0.99 (from $9.99)

Product Description:

"Dazzlingly original." -- Daily Mail
"Gripping, touching and funny." -- TLS

The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.

Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction.

[koland]

Rampant ($9.99 US Customers), by Saskia Walker, is free for Kindle customers in the UK in both the US and UK stores, but with a different ASIN than is used for non-UK customers. UK link

But, everyone else can get a DRM-free verion from Mills & Boon on their Everyone's Reading page. This, at last, is the mystery book that has been "coming soon" on that page for months. It's available in EPUB (it used to claim you could get it in Mobi, but I couldn't get the Mobi format to download, so I converted the EPUB edition; now the only option is EPUB).

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

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

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

[arcadata]

Bargain book (Christian Fiction):

The 1st four books from Mark Schweizer's Liturgical Mysteries are currently discounted to $0.99 at the US Kindle Store. This is a mystery series with "Hayden Konig, a part-time choir director at the Episcopal church St. Barnabus, and full time police detective in a small North Carolina mountain town." The books are Christian mystery fiction with a heavy dose of comedy (including church song parodies).

About the series:
Why do people keep dying in the little town of St. Germaine, North Carolina?
It's hard to say. Maybe there's something in the water.
Whatever the reason, it certainly has nothing to do with St. Barnabas Episcopal Church!

The Alto Wore Tweed (The Liturgical Mysteries #1) by Mark Schweizer

Product Description
Hayden Konig is the police chief in the small Appalachian town of St. Germaine, North Carolina. His part-time job, however, is serving as the choir director and organist at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, but he’s also determined to write the next great hard-boiled mystery novel a la Raymond Chandler — a liturgical mystery novel with no real plot, but enough bad prose to make the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest look like the Oxford University Press spring catalog.

Chief Konig is also lucky enough to be independently wealthy, which is why he decides that his lack of talent in the writing department can easily be remedied, or at least greatly enhanced, by the purchase of Raymond Chandler’s 1939 Underwood typewriter. He is sadly mistaken, but the results are uproarious!

Even as Hayden works on his opus, he must deal with other, more pressing, problems — a new priest at St. Barnabas, a Christmas feud between the Rotarians and the Kiwanians and, more importantly, a dead body in the choir loft. It’s a good thing that Hayden keeps a loaded Glock under the organ bench!

As Christmas approaches, the tension (and hilarity) rises to a fever pitch. St. Barnabas is introduced to “The Penguin of Bethlehem” and the town’s Nativity feud turns ugly when the Kiwanian’s bagpiper spooks the Rotarian’s camel. A 12 year old wine snob, hedgehogs, Benny (the world-champion thurifer), church antics, and an episode that is just too good to give away, fill out this mystery that will leave you laughing all the way.

The Baritone Wore Chiffon (The Liturgical Mysteries #2) by Mark Schweizer

Product Description
St. Germaine’s police chief, Hayden Konig, returns in this hilarious sequel to "THE ALTO WORE TWEED." He’s beginning to write his second Chandler-style who-dun-it (an effort that is not going as well as he might wish), when he’s called to England to help solve a murder at Yorkminster. As the season of Lent begins, there’s an interim priest at St. Barnabas – a priest with a wife, and she has an agenda. If the "Edible Last Supper" (featuring the Mary Magdalene Coffee Bar), wasn’t enough, Hayden also has to deal with a Clown Eucharist, snakes loose in the church, the Fung Shui Altar Guild, and a dwarf verger named Wenceslas. As Easter approaches, it becomes clear that the murder in York has repercussions far exceeding the borders of England. Two dead bodies and counting. Now Hayden has some real problems.

Hayden Konig’s 2nd mystery —The Baritone Wore Chiffon. It’s not what you expect...it’s even funnier!

The Tenor Wore Tapshoes (The Liturgical Mysteries #3) by Mark Schweizer

Product Description
Hayden Konig leads a charmed life. He’s rich, he loves his full-time job as Police Chief in the little mountain town of St. Germaine, NC, as well as his part-time employment as the organist and choirmaster at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. He’s also working on his third detective story and is convinced that purchasing Raymond Chandler’s typewriter and using it to compose his opus will impart some magic to his demented prose. He couldn’t be more mistaken.

Until a body is found inside the altar of St. Barnabas, the biggest crime that Hayden has had to deal with is the theft of “The Immaculate Confection”, a cinnamon bun that looks like the Virgin Mary. The body, however, turns out to be one of the “incorruptibles,” and has been in the altar for over sixty years.

Added to this, a tent evangelist has come to town — Brother Hogmany MacTavish — and he’s having revivals every night featuring Binny Hen the Scripture Chicken, a chicken that chooses the scriptures for Brother Hog’s sermons.

As All Saints Day approaches, Hayden and his friend Pete are coerced into attending the “Iron Mike Men’s Retreat," but when another murder takes place in St. Germaine, it’s time to get serious. Could the bounty hunter called in to find the “Immaculate Confection” have something to do with it?

The Soprano Wore Falsettos (The Liturgical Mysteries #4) by Mark Schweizer

Product Description
Detective Hayden Konig is a success in anyone’s book. He has a job that he loves as Chief of Police in the small Appalachian town of St. Germaine, North Carolina. He’s employed as the part-time organist and choir master at St. Barnabas Church. He’s just proposed to his sweetheart, Meg Farthing, and, to top it all off, he’s as rich as a televangelist with his own 900 number.

In spite of all his apparent success, Hayden Konig’s life-long dream is yet to be realized. He longs to write the next great hard-boiled mystery. Though his past attempts have been less than impressive, Hayden is convinced that using Raymond Chandler’s actual typewriter (purchased at an auction) is just the impetus his writing needs to push his detective story over the top. Unfortunately, he’s dead wrong.

St. Barnabas, meanwhile, has come into a great deal of money. Sixteen million dollars, to be exact, and the members of the congregation all have ideas on how to spend it.

Suddenly, a shot rang out! A woman screamed, and Detective Konig has another dead body in the choir loft. It’s business as usual in St. Germaine. With Easter right around the corner and suspects galore, Hayden must find the murderer. Can things get any worse?

The next three books in the series are also discounted to $2.99 if you're interested:

• The Bass Wore Scales (The Liturgical Mysteries #5)

• The Mezzo Wore Mink (The Liturgical Mysteries#6)

• The Diva Wore Diamonds (The Liturgical Mysteries #7)

[detayls]

Originally Posted by arcadata

Bargain book at the US Kindle store (SciFi):

Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks is $0.99 (from $9.99)

This entire series is gold. Highly recommended!

When looking for his other books be aware that he publishes under both Iain M. Banks and Iain Banks.

Iain M. Banks for Science Fiction and Iain Banks for regular fiction.

[koland]

These three from Christian publisher Tyndale House are free in the UK (and two are free at B&N), but not yet free in the US Kindle store (but, should be soon).

Thicker than Blood ($8.79 US), by C.J. Darlington (UK link)

Book Description
Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged younger sister, May, whom she abandoned after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon, Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could May’s Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven she’s searching for? Will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late? A stunning debut from the latest Christian Writers Guild winner.

Paid in Blood ($9.59 US), by Mel Odom (UK link)

Book Description
The death of a fellow NCIS agent in North Carolina leads Will Coburn and his special team of naval crime-scene investigators to discover a drug-and-arms smuggling ring. The investigation leads them to a U.S. military base in South Korea. When a body is stolen from a crime scene, the team discovers that their suspect is not who he seems. Nuclear weapons have gone missing, and it's a race against time as the NCIS team uncovers the true face of evil.


The Secret Holocaust Diaries ($9.68 US), by Nonna Bannister(UK link)

Book Description
Nonna Bannister carried a secret almost to her Tennessee grave: the diaries she kept as a young girl experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust while learning compassion and love for her fellow human beings. Nonna's writings tell the remarkable tale of how a Russian girl, born into a family that had known wealth and privileges, was exposed to the concentration camps and learned the value of human life and the importance of forgiveness.

[Zarich]

Can someone start an April discussion.