Free eBooks: 12/31/2011

In the first half of December, I picked up 43 free e-books from Amazon.com (for Kindle) and from Barnes & Noble (for Nook). Surprisingly, the second half of this month has been even more fruitful, making this the most successful month of freebies since I started this blog, and possibly the most successful month since I bought my nook a year ago. Read on to see the 64 freebies I've snagged since December 15, with book descriptions from the sites and links to purchase them.

Please Note: While all of these books were free at the time of my purchase, that does not guarantee that they are still free or that they will remain free. Make sure you check the price listed before purchasing any books.

Barnes & Noble / Amazon.com (nook & Kindle)

Napoleon's Pyramids
by William Dietrich
BN.com | Amazon.com

The world changes for Ethan Gage — one-time assistant to the renowned Ben Franklin — on a night in post-revolutionary Paris, when he wins a mysterious medallion in a card game. Framed soon after for the murder of a prostitute and facing the grim prospect of either prison or death, the young expatriate American barely escapes France with his life — choosing instead to accompany the new emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, on his glorious mission to conquer Egypt. With Lord Nelson's fleet following close behind, Gage sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. And in a land of ancient wonder and mystery, with the help of a beautiful Macedonian slave, he will come to realize that the unusual prize he won at the gaming table may be the key to solving one of history's greatest and most perilous riddles: who built the Great Pyramids... and why?

Transfer of Power
(#1 in the Mitch Rapp series)
by Vince Flynn
BN.com | Amazon.com

On a busy Washington morning, the stately calm of the White House is shattered in a deadly terrorist attack on the executive mansion. The president is evacuated to an underground bunker, but not before nearly one hundred hostages are taken. Mitch Rapp, the CIA's top counterterrorism operative, determines that the president is not as safe as Washington's power elite had thought. Indeed, Rapp has made a chilling discovery that could rock Washington to its core: someone within his own government wants his rescue attempt to fail.


The Next Ex
(#2 in the Madeline Carter mystery series)
by Linda L. Richards
BN.com | Amazon.com

Former stockbroker-turned-daytrader Madeline Carter agrees to teach the indulged wife of an A-list movie producer about the stock market. When said wife turns up dead, Madeline finds herself in the middle of a series of murders while inadvertently opening up a 40-year-old cold case.


Dead Angler
(#1 in the Loon Lake Fishing mystery series)
by Victoria Houston
BN.com | Amazon.com

Retired dentist Paul Osborne hasn’t fly fished since his wife died. He hasn’t had a woman tell him what to do since then either. But in the company of Lewellyn Ferris, he’s relearning both. And when he and his lady instructor find a well-dressed body floating in the moonlight, Paul adds deputy to his list of experiences... Whether the death is accidental — or accidentally on purpose — Lewellyn is determined to rell in the truth. She enlists Paul and his walleye-expert buddy, Ray, to help her get to the bottom of the murky mystery. Whoever thought small-town retirement could be this dangerous?

Princess Callie and the Totally Amazing Talking Tiara
by Daisy Piper
BN.com | Amazon.com

Despite her highly abnormal name, Calandria Arabella Philomena Louisa Anastasia Richards tries very hard to fly under the radar. So she knows her life has gone crazy when she gets a message in her Alpha Bits that says she's a princess and has to help a place called Albion in their fight against an evil queen. On her quest to stop a bloodthirsty queen, Callie will have to steer a near-sighted dragon, decipher an ancient riddle, and learn to command a tiara that talks back! And to save this magical world she only just discovered, Callie must risk more than she ever thought possible...

The Guild of the Cowry Catchers: Embers
(#1 in the Guild of the Cowry Catchers series)
by Abigail Hilton
BN.com | Amazon.com

Gerard, a young prince who was exiled from his small island kingdom for marrying the court minstrel, is chosen by the High Priestess as the new Captain of Police. Gerard is smart, honorable, and a little naïve. To break the pirate ring, he must cooperate with a wily, amoral admiral — who has already tried to kill him twice. As Gerard struggles to protect his talented wife, obey his seductive employer, and forge a complicated friendship with his dangerous coworker, he becomes increasingly aware that the pirates have a legitimate quarrel with the wyverns. Dark secrets lurk in the Temple dungeons, and solving them will cost Gerard far more than his honor.

Florida Heatwave
by Michael Lister
BN.com | Amazon.com

From the pine-tree lined rural highways of North Florida through the tourist traps of Central Florida to the tropical, international environs of SOBE, come stories of sun-faded noir, orange pulp served up freshly squeezed by the Sunshine State’s very best.


Clockwork Fagin
(a free preview of the Steampunk! anthology)
by Cory Doctorow
BN.com | Amazon.com

In Steampunk!, fourteen masters of speculative fiction, including two graphic storytellers, embrace the genre's established themes and refashion them in surprising ways and settings as diverse as Appalachia, Ancient Rome, future Australia, and alternate California. Get a preview of the anthology by sampling one of these inventive tales for free — Cory Doctorow's "Clockwork Fagin," in which orphans use the puppet of a dead man to take control of their lives.

11:15: The Making of a Halfling
(a prequel to the Halflings young adult trilogy)
by Heather Burch
BN.com | Amazon.com

In this illustrated prequel to the Halflings trilogy, written by Heather Burch, Mace and Raven are given a mission to stop a catastrophic event. With his halfling abilities still untapped, Vine is allowed to join the mission, but only as a spectator. The clock is ticking and the tragedy is proving difficult to stop. Will Vine be able to sit back and watch, or will the power of heaven unleash just in time?


Story Crush Teen Sampler
from HarperCollins Publishers
BN.com | Amazon.com

Do you love a good story? Crush on strong characters? Are you completely OVER werewolves and vampires? Then you’ll fall in love with these six samples of timeless teen stories, including Pretty Little Liars: Ruthless by Sara Shepard, The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith, The Secret Sisterhood Of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten, and Slide by Jill Hathaway.


PitchDark: Dark Days of Winter Teen Sampler
from HarperCollins Publishers
BN.com | Amazon.com

Do you crave dark worlds of paranormal romance, supernatural thrillers, and otherworldly adventures? Read through the night this winter with six sneak peeks of the hottest paranormal and dystopian tales, including Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Bewitching by Alex Flinn, Balthazar by Claudia Gray, Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton, Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, and Slide by Jill Hathaway.


PitchDark: Even Darker Days of Winter Teen Sampler
from HarperCollins Publishers
BN.com | Amazon.com

Do you crave dark worlds of paranormal romance, supernatural thrillers, and otherworldly adventures? Read through the night this winter with six sneak peeks of the hottest paranormal and dystopian tales, including Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, Magic of the Moonlight by Ellen Schreiber, The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, and Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.


Hunger for Dystopian Teen Sampler
from HarperCollins Publishers
BN.com | Amazon.com

Tales of dangerous worlds set in futures both unrecognizable and startlingly familiar. Read sneak peeks of the hottest dystopian books around, including Divergent by Veronica Roth, Gone by Michael Grant, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Variant by Robison Wells, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, Eve by Anna Carey, and Partials by Dan Wells.


Awesome Adventures for Kids Sampler
from HarperCollins
BN.com | Amazon.com

Embark on a totally awesome adventure with excerpts from six extraordinary stories in one comprehensive ebook sampler! Experience magic and mix-ups with Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver; enter the enchanting wilderness of Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis; meet an unlikely hero in The Otherworld Chronicles: The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton; learn recipes with a twist in Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood; prepare to save the world with Cold Cereal by Adam Rex; and go on a wild family road trip with The Genius Files #2: Never Say Genius by Dan Gutman.

Coolest Chapter Books for Kids Sampler
from HarperCollins Publishers
BN.com | Amazon.com

Get a sneak peek inside four of the coolest chapter book series around in this special ebook sampler! Meet the zany characters of My Weird School #1: Miss Daisy Is Crazy by Dan Gutman; travel the world with Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #1: The Mount Rushmore Calamity by Jeff Brown; laugh out loud with Roscoe Riley Rules #1: Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs by Katherine Applegate; and discover the magic with Fairy Blossoms #1: Daisy and the Magic Lesson by Suzanne Williams.

The Dog Next Door
by Callie Smith Grant
BN.com | Amazon.com

Dogs are truly one of God's finest creatures, a marvelous gift for us humans. They love us despite our faults and remind us to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. They give us their all in return for food, play, and a scratch behind the ears.

The Dog Next Door is a delightful collection of true stories that celebrate the dogs in our lives. Inside you'll meet a timid standard poodle who conquers his fears to bring joy to others, a brigade of protective German shepherds, a friendly dog who pulls a young man back from the darkness of mental illness, a scruffy mutt who finds her calling, and many more. These warm stories will touch your heart and renew your spirit.

The Red Suit Diaries
by Ed Butchart
BN.com | Amazon.com

With a flowing beard of white, rosy cheeks, jolly laugh, and generous spirit, Ed Butchart is Santa-even without the red suit. This professional Santa has won hearts across the country, partly because of his day job. When not listening to children whisper secrets and wishes into his ear, Santa fixes and provides medical equipment for disabled people in need around the world. It all started more than 20 years ago when he changed the light bulb of a friend with cerebral palsy. Humbled by the huge difference a small act of goodness can cause, Butchart has since helped more than 50,000 disabled people and touched the lives of more than 500,000 adults and children who have placed their Christmas requests with him. Woven throughout The Red Suit Diaries is a faith and a love of giving that energizes Butchart's mission to spread joy to children of all ages in the name of Christ. No wonder even the most skeptical say, "I believe."

Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half
by Rick Johnson
BN.com | Amazon.com

It's no secret that men and women are different. And it's no secret that they don't always get along because of these differences, even when they love each other. But having a successful marriage is not about finding the perfect person to marry. It's about loving someone in an unselfish, Christlike manner. Whatever we want out of marriage--unconditional love, forgiveness, passion--that is what we have to give to our spouse. Rick Johnson shows couples how to go beyond merely tolerating each other's differences to using those God-given differences to add spice and passion to their relationship.

The Whole Bible Story
by Dr. William H. Marty
BN.com | Amazon.com

Sometimes readers just want to know what happens next. Dr. William Marty presents the entire narrative of the Bible in chronological order from creation to the New Testament Church. The action moves smoothly from story to story without slowing down for law, poetry, prophecy, or instruction. The Whole Bible Story is perfect for new Christians looking to understand the overall flow of the Bible or seasoned believers wanting a refresher course. It can be read straight through or used as a reference tool for better understanding of specific biblical events.

The Everything Family Christmas Book
by Yvonne Jeffrey
BN.com | Amazon.com

This holiday collection is a treasury of Christmas traditions, stories, songs, and recipes that promises to bring readers young and old together to celebrate the spirit of the season. Everyone will enjoy this delightful guide to all things Christmas, featuring: the perennial classic Christmas stories, poems, and carols; recipes for family gatherings, parties, and holiday gifts from the kitchen; ideas for thoughtful and creative handmade gifts; decorating ideas for any room; and holiday customs and traditions from around the world.

Chili Cookbook
(Gooseberry Patch cookbooklet #18)
by Gooseberry Patch
BN.com | Amazon.com

Get a taste of Gooseberry Patch in this collection of over 20 favorite chili recipes! Grab a spoon and dig in! Warm, hearty and oh-so-delicious, we've included plenty of recipes for your one-pot family favorite in our Chili cookbook. Try southwestern chili casserole, Grandpa's favorite chili and oh-so-cheesy chili dip.


Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories Sampler Edition
by Karen C. Talcott & Susan M. Heim
BN.com | Amazon.com

This free sampler of devotional stories will help start off anyone's new year with hope and inspiration with its three specially selected stories from each of Chicken Soup for the Soul's devotional books.

Amazon.com: Kindle

Desperate Housedogs
(#1 in the Pampered Pets mystery series)
by Sparkle Abbey

When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist, makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors. What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone. (Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors, Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter.)

Bookmarked to Die
(#9 in the Miss Zukas mystery series)
by Jo Dereske

Librarian extraordinaire Miss Helma Zukas wakes up on the morning of her forty-second birthday in the throes of more than one midlife crisis. Her championing a collection of local authors' works ignites a firestorm of jealousy and anger in Bellehaven. She's blackmailed by her conniving boss, library director May Apple Moon, into attending group counseling sessions - and two of the participants turn up dead. An obnoxiously bubbly new librarian is turning the head of Helma's longtime admirer, Police Chief Wayne Gallant. And worst of all, her uncuddly feline companion, Boy Cat Zukas, disappears.

Shot of Tequila
(a Lt. Jack Daniels thriller)
by J.A. Konrath

A GUTSY ROBBERY: Several million bucks, stolen from the mob...

A PERFECT FRAME: All caught on video, with no chance of redemption...

A RED HOT RECIPE FOR RAMPAGING REVENGE: Now one man must face the entire Chicago Outfit, a group of hardened Mafia enforcers, a psychotic bookie, the most dangerous hitman on earth, and Detective Jacqueline Daniels... His name is Tequila. And he likes those odds.

Shaken
(#7 in the Lt. Jack Daniels thriller series)
by J.A. Konrath

When Chicago cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels wakes up in a storage locker, bound and gagged, she knows with chilling certainty who her abductor is. He's called "Mr. K." More than two hundred homicides have been attributed to him. His victims have died in the most horrible ways imaginable. He's the essence of evil. Some think he's just an urban legend. But he's real. Jack has tangled with him twice in the past, and both times he managed to slip away. Now Jack will finally have a chance to confront the maniac she's been hunting for over twenty-five years. Unfortunately, it won't be on her terms.

Stirred
(#8 in the Lt. Jack Daniels thriller series)
by J.A. Konrath & Blake Crouch

Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels has seen humanity at its most depraved and terrifying. She's lost loved ones. Come close to death countless times. But she always manages to triumph over evil. Luther Kite is humanity at its most depraved and terrifying. He's committed unthinkable acts. Taken human life for the sheer pleasure of it. He is a monster among monsters, and no one has ever caught him. Each is the best at what they do. Peerless. Unmatched. Until now...

It's J.A. Konrath's greatest heroine versus Blake Crouch's greatest villain in Stirred, the stunning conclusion to both Konrath's Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thriller series and Crouch's Andrew Z. Thomas series.

Jack Daniels Stories
(an anthology of Lt. Jack Daniels thriller stories)
by J.A. Konrath

J.A. Konrath, known for the Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thrillers set in Chicago, offers this collection of short stories and novellas from the Jack Daniels universe.

Join Jack Daniels, her partner Herb Benedict, private eye Harry McGlade, and part-time criminal Phineas Troutt in this omnibus of 15 stories, which were previously published in magazines and anthologies, many long out of print. Also included in this collection are excerpts from some of Jack's other adventures

With a Twist
(a Lt. Jack Daniels thriller short story)
by J.A. Konrath

This award-winning short story, originally published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, features Konrath's stalwart Homicide cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels in a puzzler of a mystery: A body is found in a man's living room, the doors all locked from the inside. The victim had apparently been dropped from a great height. How did he die? Who killed him?

Daniels and her partner, Herb Benedict, follow a trail of ingenious clues to solve this classic whodunnit.

Street Music
(a Phineas Troutt thriller short story)
by J.A. Konrath

This short story is thriller author J.A. Konrath's favorite out of the more than one hundred he's written. Gritty, hardboiled, but with real heart, it follows the adventures of problem-solver Phineas Troutt (Whiskey Sour, Shaken) as he's hired to perform an assassination.

But does Phin have a secret agenda? And where does his old pal Jack Daniels fit into the mystery?

Banana Hammock
(a Harry McGlade "Write Your Own Dawn Story" adventure)
by J.A. Konrath

Private Detective Harry McGlade is hired by an Amish woman who suspects her husband is cheating on her. Going undercover into their community, Harry must untangle a web of lies and deception to find the truth. This will be his biggest challenge yet. Because Harry McGlade is an idiot.

Lead Harry through a series of comic misadventures and bad puns as he traverses the J.A. Konrath universe, popping into many familiar books and stories. Prepare to be shocked and amazed by scenes that are just plain wrong.

Planter's Punch
(a Lt. Jack Daniels / Duffy Dombrowski thriller)
by J.A. Konrath & Tom Schreck

J.A. Konrath is the author of the Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels mysteries. Daniels is a Chicago homicide cop with a wicked sense of humor, and the novels fluctuate between funny business and serious suspense. Tom Schreck is the author of the Duffy Dombrowski mysteries. Duffy is a social worker by day and a semi-pro boxer by night, and he's as quick with a left hook as he is with his wit.

Planter's Punch is a 7500-word novella that features both Jack Daniels and Duffy Dombrowski. It also includes a bonus interview with the authors.

Dead Space
(a Charlie Willis mystery)
by Lee Goldberg

When a Hollywood studio, as part of its ambition to launch a new TV network, decides to remake a science-fiction series that became a cult hit after cancellation 25 years ago, all hell breaks loose. Ex-cop Charlie Willis has what could prove a mission impossible: as security head at Pinnacle Pictures, he's responsible for protecting a considerable corporate investment in the revival of Beyond the Beyond. But, unfortunately, the actors and production talent associated with the futuristic fantasy's renaissance soon find themselves under intense, often deadly, pressures. As the death toll mounts, an increasingly desperate Charlie makes himself a target by purporting to replace a slain teen idol in the role of Captain Pierce. In costume (if not character), the down-to-earth house dick tempts a host of hostile fates to save the studio's prize property.

Introducing the Richest Family in America
by David Drum

High in the hills above fashionable Montecito, California, slipping in and out of their mansions on Swizzle Stick Road, a ridiculously wealthy family is under siege. A crooked lawyer, a beautiful Chinese pro golfer, and a celebrity-mad plastic surgeon are conspiring to convince a wealthy family's clueless old patriarch to move his factories from Cleveland to China. What follows is a brutally funny comedy of grandiose intentions, half-baked revenge, heroic upper crust foolishness, and disjointedly passionate cross-cultural romance. Introducing the Richest Family in America runs a hilarious gauntlet of greed, betrayal and desire as America's richest family teeters precariously on the edge of dissolution and struggles to right itself again.

Artistic License
by Julie Hyzy

Two months ago Annie Callaghan thought she'd planned for every contingency. After five years in a bad marriage she filed for divorce, began to pursue her dreams of being a full-time artist, and quit her job to work for herself. Now, well on her way to a brand-new start with her mural painting business and her handsome new client, life finally holds promise again. But, as she finds out, things are not always what they seem. An unexpected pregnancy and the intrusion of her loser, soon-to-be-ex-husband back into her world send things into a tailspin. Determined to get back on track and get her life together by using a little artistic license, Annie inadvertently puts events in motion that sweep her into a maelstrom of intrigue involving a stolen masterpiece, a powerful lawyer with questionable connections, and a murder for which she's the prime suspect.

Sloane Hall
by Libby Sternberg

In 1920s Hollywood, young John Doyle learns the craft of cinematography when a stupid mistake costs him his job. On a tip, he heads to Sloane Hall, the estate of a famous silent screen actress, Pauline Sloane, where he lands a position as chauffeur. Sloane Hall first offers him peace as he enjoys the bounty of the luxurious home, then unrest as its beautiful namesake returns and starts preparing for her first talking picture. Despite his best efforts to resist, John falls hopelessly in love with his employer. His future brightens, however, when she appears to return his affection, leading to plans for a secret wedding—until other awful secrets intrude, leading to heartbreak and separation. A story of obsession and forgiveness, Libby Sternberg’s Sloane Hall was inspired by Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.

The Sister Mafia
by Jeff Hagkull

Patty, Mildred, Barb, and Margaret live in Turtle, Minnesota, where women of a certain age believe that grandchildren are as much a right as high school hockey and a good pair of scissors. Patty’s sisters are grandmothers fifty-one times over, but her own sons have disappointed. Jonathan, six barren years of marriage behind him, clearly has the “privates problems,” while Christopher is shackled to a baby-hating girlfriend. Is it any wonder Patty indulges in the occasional gin and tonic?

So when the sisters discover that Christopher and the baby-hater have split, they decide it’s high time to unleash “Operation Ironing”--a plan designed to find him a proper (and fertile) wife. Their ensuing adventures are part comedy of errors, part generation gap, and constantly fun.

Fool Me Twice
(a Jake Lassiter thriller)
by Paul Levine

A witness is dead and linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter is the prime suspect. If he doesn't find the killer, he'll face a murder charge. A bloody trail of evidence leads to an abandoned silver mine under the Colorado ski slopes and an explosive finale.


Dushau
(#1 in the Dushau trilogy)
by Jacqueline Lichtenberg

Readying her Galactic Exploration department for a routine debriefing of a Dushau planetary scouting team led by Prince Jindigar, the newly dubbed "Lady" Zavaronne finds that the new Emperor has jailed some of her Dushau as scapegoats for his political failures. Assuming its all a mistake, Zavaronne befriends the team's Artificial Intelligence, Arlai, and breaks the team survivors out of jail. But when the Emperor embargoes the Dushau homeworld, she must decide which side she's on before the Emperor destroys the whole galactic civilization.

The Story Tellers Anthology
from Fantasy Island Book Publishing

All proceeds of this work for both the publisher and authors go to charity Water to the World!

A collection of tales from the writers at Fantasy Island Book Publishing from not only the four corners of the United States, but from around the world -- the United Kingdom, Wales, South Africa, and Australia -- with stories for all types of readers: adults, young adults, and children.

Sweet Tea & Jesus Shoes
from BelleBooks

Six award-winning authors have created a poignant, humorous collection of nostalgic tales. Here life's
lessons are handed down--liberally sprinkled with hilarity--from eccentric relatives, outrageous pets, and unrepentant neighbors, and served up with a generous dollop of that most valued of all Southern commodities: good old fashioned storytelling. From Mississippi to Georgia, from Florida to Tennessee, these daughters of the South will take you on a lush tour of the times and the places they know best, each voice as refreshing and inviting as a glass of cold sweet tea on a hot afternoon.

Psion Beta
(#1 in the Psion young adult series)
by Jacob Gowans

Sammy, a 14-year-old fugitive, accidentally discovers he has the powers of a Psion.

Plucked off the streets, he is thrust into the rigorously-disciplined environment of Psion Beta headquarters. As a new Beta, Sammy must hone his newfound abilities using holographic fighting simulations, stealth training missions, and complex war games. His fellow trainees are other kids competing to prove their worth so they can graduate and contribute to the war effort. But the stifling competition at headquarters isolates Sammy from his peers. Learning to use his incredible powers is difficult enough, but when things go horribly wrong on a routine training mission, he must rely on the other Betas to stay alive.

Goy Crazy
by Melissa Schorr

Rachel Lowenstein can't help it. She's got a massive crush on a goy: Luke Christensen, the gorgeous star of the basketball team at St. Joseph's prep. But, as the name implies, he's not exactly in Rachel's tribe. Rachel just knows her parents would never approve. Then Rachel's Jewish grandmother issues a stern edict--"Don't go with the goyim!"--sealing Rachel's fate and presenting her with a serious dilemma. Everyone's got an opinion--from her annoying neighbor Howard to her newly social-climbing best friend. Should Rachel follow her heart and turn herback on her faith? Or should she heed her family's advice and try to find a nice Jewish boy?

City of the Falling Sky
(#1 in the Seckry Sequence young adult series)
by Joseph Evans

When Seckry Sevenstars is forced out of his village by the greedy Endrin Corporation and relocated to the daunting metropolis of Skyfall City, he harbours resentment for the company and vows to get them back one day for taking away his home, his school, and his friends.

Fortunately, the marvels of the city do a good job in distracting Seckry from his anger and homesickness, but when a mysterious email asks Seckry to break into the headquarters of the Endrin Corporation and steal a container full of worms for a hefty sum of money, his anger resurfaces, and he can't resist the revenge he promised himself.

But the worms aren’t the only thing that he finds. Staring at him through the darkness, with wide, innocent eyes, is something that makes Seckry’s heart almost stop. A girl. Suddenly the question of what Endrin was doing with a few worms becomes the last thing on Seckry’s mind. What was Endrin doing with a human?

Book Surfers: Treasure Island
(#1 in the Book Surfers children's series)
by David Gatward

Jake, Becca, Ryan, and Harriet are kidnapped by Dr. Crookshanks and his accomplice, Professor Kaufman. Against their will, the gang have to jump into the world’s best known adventure stories to steal important artifacts, using an incredible invention called the Nautilus. If they don't get what Crookshanks wants, what will he do to their parents?

Crookshanks explains that in order to keep their families safe, the children must bring him back the actual treasure map from Treasure Island. Their parents’ lives are in the hands of a complete madman! The Booksurfers have little time to argue. Before they know it, they are thrown into Treasure Island -- they’re talking to Jim Hawkins, running away from pirates, and risking their lives to get their hands on that map!

The Case of the Mystery Mark
(a Nicki Holland mystery)
by Angela Hunt

Strange things are happening at Pine Grove Middle School. Ever since the new girl came to Pine Grove Middle School, Nicki Holland and her friends have witnessed vandalism, dog-napping, stolen papers, and threatening notes. Is there a connection? Nicki and her friends want to find out before something terrible happens to one of them!


Hollowland
(#1 in the Hollows young adult series)
by Amanda Hocking

Nineteen-year-old Remy King is on a mission to get across the wasteland left of America, and nothing will stand in her way - not violent marauders, a spoiled rock star, or an army of flesh-eating zombies.

This is a young adult title with some language, violence, and mild sexual situations recommended for ages sixteen and up.


I'll Follow the Moon
by Stephanie Lisa Tara

On a quiet moonlit beach, a baby green sea turtle stirs from a dream of home. Slowly, slowly with a tap, click, crack, the baby turtle embarks upon a mysterious nighttime journey.

Author Stephanie Lisa Tara and illustrator Lee Edward Födi have teamed up to create a lyrical rendition of a green sea turtle's first glimpse of life. Hatched on a moon-washed beach, the baby turtle finds its way by instinct across the expanse of sand to the sea and a rendezvous with its mother.

Gwynne: Fair and Shining
by Stephanie Lisa Tara

Poor little Gwynne is the maid of a grumpy old knight who stomps about the castle terrifying her. Then, one night, she hears enchanting music and the voice of her long-lost grandmother calling to her to believe in herself once more. Gathering her courage, Gwynne flees the castle and enlists the aid of her animal friends in the nearby woods. With them beside her, Gwynne returns to the castle, faces down the awful knight, and -- with the aid of her fairy godmother and a magic flute -- finds the confidence to become who she always was deep down inside: a fair and shining princess!

Snowy White World to Save
by Stephanie Lisa Tara

It's a headline we have all seen: Global warming is melting the Arctic. Once the Arctic sea ice has vanished, the majestic polar bear, a magnificent creature who needs the sea ice to survive will vanish, too. The ice is home to the bears, as well as to their primary food source, the ringed seal. Polar bears feed, mate, travel, den, and give birth on the ice. Some scientists say polar bears will be extinct within fifty years if something isn t done, and soon.

Little Library Mouse
by Stephanie Lisa Tara

At the local library when the lights go dark, a little mouse slides out of his hole. He launches his evening adventures as soon as the key turns in the lock. Library mouse steps into the pages of the books and turns into the heroes and heroines in these delightful stories. He pretends to be royalty, a clown, a chef, a detective and more. No longer a tiny rodent, library mouse imagines himself as a ladybug on a leaf, a snowflake on the wind, even winter itself.
Little library mouse takes young readers along on his quest to become new characters and visit new places. Children will enjoy the escapades told with rhythm and rhyme. Each stanza's antic includes an aspect of the world of books, introducing young readers to terms like sentence, glossy, page, and paragraph. Each vibrant, colorful full-page illustration depicts a book and mice involved in that story's delights.

Eliza's Forever Trees
by Stephanie Lisa Tara

Where has mother gone? Mothers don’t leave. Mothers stay, forever. Mothers are like redwood trees, those special forever trees that grow hundreds of feet high and live for thousands of years.

Maybe the monarch butterfly was right? Perhaps they should make the journey. The one that was too long, and too far, for a girl with a wrong-beating heart. Yet there was someone in the redwood forest that Eliza just knew could help.

Christmas O'Clock: An Anthology
from Fantasy Island Book Publishing

Christmas O’Clock is a collection of two holiday books and two holiday stories for families, just in time for Christmas. There are naughty children, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas trees, elves, and, of course, Santa Claus himself.

Proceeds go to Oxfam, to help children and families in an international effort.


Curious Folks Ask
by Sherry Seethaler

Curious Folks Ask brings together 162 of Sherry Seethaler's best answers to common questions. Seethaler, a top science writer and San Diego Union-Tribune columnist, is one of this generation’s best science explainers, and it shows: Every answer is accurate, fun to read, and distilled to a single page or less! Want to know how canned air works... or nuclear bombs? What causes goose bumps, earwax, dandruff, headaches? Whether it’s healthy to crack your knuckles, drink decaf, eat chocolate? What it costs to run all those LED lights around your house? It’s all here--and a whole lot more!


Organize for a Fresh Start
by Susan Fay West

Major life transitions often leave people with homes, belongings and schedules that no longer work for their lifestyles. Organize for a Fresh Start will teach readers step-by-step how to reorganize so they can hold on to what they need, let go of what they don’t, and welcome new things that will help them in the next chapters of their lives. Readers will learn how to reevaluate the function of each room in their homes and reorganize their houses for their current life circumstances. Through tips, checklists, questions and exercises, readers work through the process of managing the new activities and systems in their lives in order to more easily settle into a "new normal."

Helpful Herbs for Health and Beauty
(part of the 52 Brilliant Ideas non-fiction series)
by Barbara Griggs

Herbs have a myriad of uses, and not just for cooking. Herbs are also incredibly useful for healing the minor medical miseries of life (and some of the major ones too) and in many cases, they are more effective than the pharmaceutical alternative. Nothing zaps a sore throat faster than Propolis, sorts out a painful gum infection more efficiently than a shot of Marigold, or takes the sting out of sunburn better than Aloe Vera. For as long as people have been able to pick berries and forage for food, herbs have been used for medicinal purposes. And you don't need to be a trained herbalist to be able to use them. It's simple. All that is needed is information, inspiration, and a little savvy, and that's where Helpful Herbs for Health and Beauty comes in! Discover the many medical uses of nature's bounty, and also find out the canny natural beauty tricks that really work. Simply brilliant!

Networking
(part of the 52 Brilliant Ideas non-fiction series)
by Nicholas King

The Old Boy Network, real or imagined, is a powerful thing. Wouldn't it be great if you had access to all the right people and knew the rights things to do and say to turn casual acquaintances into useful contacts? Imagine if you could use the names stored in your Filofax to help you achieve your goal. With the help of the expert ideas and advice in Networking, readers will discover how they can get more out of their contacts, both personal and professional. Learn how to cultivate existing contacts, turn new friends into assets, and ensure your address book is worth its weight in gold. No more sitting back waiting for things to happen on their own ­– with the help of Networking you'll be able to harness your contacts to help turn your plans into reality and find effective solutions to practically any problem - the sky really is the limit! Simply brilliant.

Current Events: The Arab Spring
from Charles River Editors

Current Events: The Arab Spring can’t provide the answers to all of the burning questions, but in a region whose politics and demonstrations have been turbulent and rapid, this quick primer will bring readers up to date on all of the events taking place in countries affected by the Arab Spring. With chapters on each nation in turmoil, this easy to read guide provides answers to some questions while also posing questions currently without answers.


The Queen's Christmas Speeches (1952-2010)
by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Transcripts of The Queen's Christmas Speeches (1952 - 2010).


The Queen's Christmas Speech 2011
by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Transcript of The Queen’s Christmas Speech 2011.

Barnes & Noble: nook

Blame It On the Mistletoe
(#4 in the Bright's Pond series)
by Joyce Magnin

Is There Really a Fountain of Youth in Paradise?

Welcome back to Bright's Pond, where strange happenings are afoot at the Greenbrier Nursing Home. The folks have suddenly grown younger, happier, and even a bit friskier thanks to Leon Fontaine, the newest Paradise Trailer Park resident. But Mildred Blessing is suspicious and sets out to investigate while the wedding to end all weddings is being planned. Only, in Bright's Pond, nothing ever really goes as planned...

The Rock Star's Daughter
(a Treadwell Academy novel)
by Caitlyn Duffy

At the age of 15, Taylor Beauforte has only met her father, the lead singer of a world-famous rock band, twice in person. He pays for Taylor to attend the Treadwell Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Massachusetts, and provides her mother with monthly checks to cover her basic needs, but has never made much of an effort to play an active part in Taylor’s life. When Taylor's mom unexpectedly dies the summer before Taylor starts her junior year, though, she receives a crash course in fame. She has no choice but to join her father and his new family on their summer concert tour before she has even had a chance to mourn the loss of her mother. Over the course of the summer with the band, Taylor learns the depths of her own strength, the difficulty of overcoming loss, and that the definition of family means much more than shared bloodlines.

Meet Me in Montmartre
(a short story from Lovers in Paris)
by Andy Conway

English girl Sandy travels to Paris on New Year’s Eve for a blind date with her French pen friend, but ends up being entertained by elderly barman Claude when her date doesn’t show up.

Meet Me in Montmartre is a delightfully romantic short story from the forthcoming collection, Lovers in Paris.


Your Dream Wedding on a Budget
by Mindy Weiss & Lisbeth Levine

No one knows weddings like Mindy Weiss, the “mega-star wedding planner” (People magazine). In THE WEDDING BOOK: THE BIG BOOK FOR YOUR BIG DAY, she created the ultimate all-in-one guide; from that, she’s culled an invaluable mini-book on how to plan your very best wedding possible while adhering to a budget. This Workman Short includes a general wedding budget overview, guidelines to figure out who’s paying for what, the 10 best ways to cut costs, and dozens of tips that show how to save money on every aspect of your wedding.