Free (Amazon) Assorted Titles May 26th listed separately

[Fbone]

It looks like ATDrake covered today's offerings. I'll list some that may interest the brave or explorer types.

#1 rated. Author marketed her titles well. She's given many copies away for review blogs and general free-giveaways. It spiraled from there. Not my interest so didn't sample.
Opal Fire (A Reluctant Witch Mystery: Stacy Justice Book One) by Barbra Annino.
http://www.amazon.com/Opal-Reluctant...8049366&sr=1-1

This is book one of the Stacy Justice mystery series--laugh out loud crime fiction with a paranormal twist.

Stacy Justice did not expect to be set on fire that night, but being raised by witches prepares one for life's little surprises. When her cousin is accused of arson, Stacy is determined to clear her family name--until something cryptic is discovered in the rubble that changes everything. Now, someone wants her dead and she finds herself dodging angry motorists, exploding chickens and a very creepy man lurking in the shadows. As she begins to dig up the past, Stacy learns that even those closest to her have something to hide--and she's about to discover a destiny she never imagined. Suddenly, she finds herself running from a killer that will stop at nothing to keep a secret.

[Fbone]

Here are two short stories (parts 1 and 2 out of 6-series) from a student and aspiring author. The description looks interesting and the short sample seems competent. Sci-fi for YA? Here is his author's page to grab both.
http://www.amazon.com/William-Dye/e/...r_dp_pel_pop_1

Walt and Saul Higgins are orphans; everything from the way they dress to the food that they eat is controlled by their ship leaders. Walt watches as his mentally slow brother gets made fun of by a school teacher. He clenches his fists at the injustice of it all. He remembers holding his mother's hand while she was dying. He looked into the eyes that were so pretty before the disease. The whites had turned yellow and they looked swollen with bags of purple surrounding them. "Promise me that you'll take care of Saul. I won't be able to anymore." She asked. It was her dying wish. "I promise." Now, a government sanction is threatening that promise. Walt and Saul Higgins are being forced to leave their home and travel down to a wild planet where hungry carnivors stalk the jungles. Natives with sharp teeth are on the lookout for two little boys. Despite his age, Walt must pick up his chin and lead his brother through dangerous terrain of the planet Mungus. He recites the promise made to his mother at night and prays that he doesn't let her down NOTICE: This is the first part of a serial novel.

[Fbone]

A Night of Horrors: A Historical Thriller about the 24 Hours of Lincoln's Assassination by John C. Berry. Published last year by Telemachus Press which is a vanity publisher I believe. Reviews generally positive.
http://www.amazon.com/Night-Horrors-...8052661&sr=1-1

A thriller about the 24 hours leading up to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. This tightly plotted novel captures the single day when John Booth and his conspirators plot to kill President, VP, and Secretary of State; the Cabinet plans a post-war US; and the Lincolns dream about their future. It builds to the simultaneous and brutal attacks that left lives shattered and a nation paralyzed.

[Fbone]

Sacrifice by Alexandrea Weis. Third in the series. Were the other two offered free before? Romantic suspense. Evidently she's won writing awards. Published by small press.
http://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Alex...8052973&sr=1-1

Nicci Beauvoir fell in love with the artist, David Alexander, in To My Senses, and then uncovered his killer in Recovery. Nicci is back to finally confront David’s dark past in Sacrifice.
Stunned after seeing a man she believes to be her beloved David Alexander in a crowd outside of the St. Louis Cathedral, Nicci goes on a desperate hunt for the truth about David’s demise. But to get the information she desires, Nicci must team up with David’s former boss, the ruthless Simon La Roy. Nicci decides not to tell her fiancé, Dallas August, about her involvement with Simon. As Nicci becomes hopelessly entangled in Simon’s sinister plans, Dallas discovers her secret, and tries to protect her. But one night on a deserted French Quarter street, Nicci unexpectedly learns what really happened to David Alexander. Now she must engage in a deadly game of intrigue to keep what she has unearthed from Simon La Roy. In a final confrontation, a revengeful Simon forces Nicci to choose between her life and revealing all that she has discovered. But what mystery is Nicci protecting and is it worth her future happiness? For Nicci there can be no happy ending unless she keeps what she knows about David Alexander hidden from the world. It’s a decision that will cost her everything. Is Nicci willing to pay the price? In the end, there can never be a happily ever after without a little…sacrifice.

[Fbone]

Another freebie from World Castle Publishing. Reviews good but didn't sample.
The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown. Historical romance.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Companion-...8053928&sr=1-1

A baby girl was found in a basket on Squire Carrington's doorstep. She was raised and sent to work as a servant girl for The Countess of Holmeshire. The widowed and unconventional Countess chose Miss Emma Carrington as a companion and sent her off for finishing with the goal of dragging her along into genteel Victorian society. What sort of reception would she have at tea and dinners? The young Earl of Holmeshire was engaged by arrangement to a lovely London lady, but their relationship was difficult. Could they work it out? Even the tribulations and banned romances of the servants downstairs play into the story as we follow Emma from a stone fortress to a Victorian village and then into fabulous London mansions. Great surprises unfold at a Midsummer Night's Dream Ball which help to solve mysteries that have gradually developed. You are invited to predict the great revelation of the last few pages!

[Fbone]

It appears World Castle Publishing is offering 10 free ebooks today. Here is the publisher list. Make sure they are still free before 1-clicking.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ing&sort=price

[Fbone]

I'll end today's list with this.

Alt Hist Issue 4: The Magazine of Historical Fiction and Alternate History edited by Mark Lord.
http://www.amazon.com/Alt-Hist-Issue...8058172&sr=1-7

Alt Hist Issue 4: The Magazine of Historical Fiction and Alternate History contains six top-quality stories from a variety of genres: horror, alternate history and fantasy, as well as straight historical fiction, including three stories set during World War II. If you’re looking for something other than World War II then we also have two stories from the Nineteenth Century and one from the Middle Ages.

The six stories featured in Alt Hist Issue 4 are:

‘Restless’ by Dylan Fox set in the 1860s onboard a fleet of British ironclad warships steaming towards China.

‘Kleine Menschen’ by Eric Jackson is a historical fantasy story set in World War II Germany.

‘Feast of Faith’ by Shane Rhinewald explores the struggles of common soldiers during the First Crusade who don’t have enough to eat.

‘Three Months of Summer’ by Svetlana Kortchik is a love story that happens during the German occupation of Ukraine in 1942.

‘The Stork’ by George Piper is a backwoods horror that will scare and surprise you.

‘Battalion 202: A Blinded Falcon’ and ‘Battalion 202: Into the Darkness’ by Jonathan Doering are two alternate history stories about the resistance to a German invasion of Britain.

[Wald07]

Good Advice!

[Fbone]

I either missed this one or it appeared later today. Be careful. There are two Kindle versions available but only one is free.

FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy - September 2010 edited by Scott Roche.
http://www.amazon.com/FlagShip-Scien...8063645&sr=1-2

FlagShip is an online-only SF/Fantasy short story magazine inviting you to launch into imagination. There are seven stories in this issue, including -
Too Damn Cold, by James Hartley - when a planet almost too hot to handle goes through a cold snap, what are the colonists to do?
Bringers of the Dead, by Doug Souza - the AI in his head drove him to kill, and together they were good at it. It was only a matter of time until they drew attention...
Face in the Abyss, by Charles Kyffhausen - Morgan LeFey's armies were so close - so very close to finally taking over the world. All she has to do is convince the champion of her enemies to change sides. What could possibly go wrong?
House of Shells, by Megan Arkenburg - She was the Royal Witchfinder, bound by oath to root out rogue wizards and bonewitches. But when she catches one bonewitch too man, her past may suddenly catch up with her.
The Paired Curse, by Billy Wong - Bors was... bored. The frontier fort was a fine place to train his troops, but too peaceful. The appearance of a noblewoman asking for training didn't seem like the kind of change he'd been looking for...
Mr. Silky Strikes Back by Alice Kemp - Her uncle was a smuggler of exotic pets. But when he started running a scam with a teleporting pet, he'd bitten off more than he could chew...
A Cowboy from King Arthur's Court - by Dave Cushing - the lone farmer welcomed the stranger in, but he had no idea how close to home the stranger's tales would come...

[Fbone]

Vallar by Cindy Borgne. Sci-fi. Self pubbed with a fair number of good reviews. The sample looked ok although nothing special.
http://www.amazon.com/Vallar-ebook/d...8064355&sr=1-1

At sixteen, Ian Connors has only one real friend and no hope for the future. He also happens to be the secret weapon of a powerful military faction bent on conquering all humans who have colonized Mars. His job is to use his psychic ability to uncover secrets or hidden bases of other factions. Ian not only uncovers a valuable hidden mine through his visions, but also Kayla, a woman he sees himself with in the future. The only problem is she's on the enemy side.

Ian heads out into a battle to save Kayla. Instead, he discovers the death and destruction his visions can bring when in the wrong hands. Ian vows to never let anyone use him again. His goal is to escape and live in peace, but his superiors monitor him closely and defectors are known to mysteriously disappear. Deep down, he longs to be with Kayla. Despite his age, inexperience and few allies, he refuses to give up. He must outwit a cunning admiral and save Kayla from his own people or he will remain a pawn and forever separated from those he loves.

[nookkatz]

I've read Opal Fire and the second book in the Stacy Justice series, Bloodstone, and they are both great reads. You won't go wrong picking up Opal Fire while it's free!