Free eBooks: 10/31/2011

In the first half of October, I picked up 31 free e-books from Amazon.com (for Kindle) and from Barnes & Noble (for Nook). The early part of each month is definitely the better time to get free books; the selection has tapered off since the 15^th and I've only gotten 12 more freebies since then. Read on to see the 12 freebies I've snagged since October 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)

The Lord is My Shepherd
(#1 in the Psalm 23 mystery series)
by Debbie Viguie
BN.com | Amazon.com

Cindy's church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah's Temple is preparing for Passover, when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die.

Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.

A Wee Christmas Homicide
(#3 in the Liss MacCrimmon mystery series)
by Kaitlyn Dunnett
BN.com | Amazon.com

'Tis the season to be jolly, but in Moosetookalook, Maine, Christmas cheer is in short supply due to a snowless winter that's keeping skiers and shoppers at a distance. Fortunately, Liss MacCrimmon of the Scottish Emporium has a plan...
Liss's brainstorm focuses on Tiny Teddies, the new "hot" toy of the season. Every store across the country is out of stock—except a few wee establishments in good ol' Moosetookalook.

The first sign of something amiss occurs when the last Tiny Teddy is summarily executed: shot through the heart in the display window of greedy toy store owner Gavin Thorne. But the Teddy's demise is just a precursor to the eerily similar murder of Gavin himself...

Now, with the Twelve (or, in Scots terms, the Daft) Days of Christmas rapidly approaching, Liss has a plate full of things worse than haggis to contend with, starting with a stockroom packed with poultry (don't ask), and ending with a killer who'd like to see Liss's goose well and fully cooked...

Cookie Swap Cookbook
(a Gooseberry Patch cookbook)
by Gooseberry Patch
BN.com | Amazon.com

Everything you need to know to host a cookie exchange! You'll find easy-to-follow how-to's with a handy checklist to make swapping a cinch, clever invitations and a recipe card to copy and color, tried & true recipes plus nifty ideas for packaging and presenting cookies. Try nutty butterscotch squares, chocolate-vanilla swirl cookies, magical creme wafers, chocolate peanut butter secrets and more, including recipes for fudge, caramels and hard tack candy too!

A Spellman Sampler
(sampler of the Spellman mystery series)
by Lisa Lutz
BN.com | Amazon.com

This sampler of Lisa Lutz's Spellman mystery series includes excerpts from the first 5 books in the series, reading group guides for the first 5 books in the series, dossiers, and a list of ex-boyfriends.

Amazon.com (Kindle)

Kisses for Lula
(#1 in the Lula young adult series)
by Samantha Mackintosh

Lula Bird is gorgeous, funny and dreading her birthday because you can't turn 16 if you've never been kissed... so why does every boy in Hambledon run a mile the second she bats her eyelids? The fact is, they fear for their lives. Rumour has it Lula's been jinxed! And it's not as if that's her only problem: Lula thinks she has a stalker, her dad keeps sneaking out at night with a lady's handbag, and a mysterious theft is threatening to bring the town to its knees... With only 5 days to go till her birthday, can Lula get the guy, solve the crime and jilt the jinx for good?

Sweet Baklava
by Debby Mayne

After years of looking for a place to belong, Paula Andrews finally finds her niche in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Her soap and candle shop flourishes, and her friendship with the Papadopoulos family gives her the love and support she never got from her own family. The only thing missing is a romance—or in the grand hopes of the Papadopoulos family, a proper marriage. Preferably with Nick, their favorite son, currently serving in the Air Force. Paula, however, has doubts. After all, he’s been gone a long time and loves flying. Their lives have grown apart. Would he still feel anything for her?

When Nick comes home on leave, sparks fly, and not just with Paula. Nick's father wants him home, helping with the family sponge-diving business. His mother wants him back in the family, back in church. Nick just wants Paula... and the Air Force. So who’s going to give in first? And what will it mean for their love and future?


25 Savory Pie Recipes
(a Gooseberry Patch Circle of Friends cookbook)
by Gooseberry Patch

From Flaky Chicken Pot Pie and Spaghetti Pie to Upside-Down Mexican Pot Pie and Slow-Cooker Sausage Pie, this new collection features 25 savory pies that are sure to get mouths watering and tastebuds tingling!


The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written by Beatrix Potter that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and returns home to his mother who puts him to bed after dosing him with camomile tea.

The tale was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, son of Potter's former governess Annie Carter Moore, in 1893. It was revised and privately printed by Potter in 1901 after several publishers' rejections but was printed in a trade edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902. The book was a success, and multiple reprints were issued in the years immediately following its debut. It has been translated into 36 languages and with 45 million copies sold it is one of the best-selling books of all time.

This Vook version is enhanced with the illustrations by Virginia Albert which was originally published in 1916.

Gluten-Free, Hassle Free
by Marlisa Brown

A gluten-free diet isn’t just for people with food allergies; it’s a new way of eating that can benefit everyone. Download “Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free” now and discover tasty, easy-to-make, and entirely gluten-free recipes for your busy life. This complete digital guide will focus on memorable meal ideas that you can do quickly and without much practice. You’ll also get gluten-free cooking tips that will come in handy, whether you’re transitioning to gluten-free for health, weight loss, or allergies.

This Vook helps you prepare a gluten-free kitchen and terrific recipes from stuffed Arepas to Blackened Mahi Mahi. Tips and nutritional facts throughout support each meal idea.


Stay Organized and Get Things Done
(part of The Sock Puppet School of Business series)
by Vook

Organization = productivity = success and confidence. Introducing “Stay Organized and Get Things Done: The Sock Puppet School of Business” – the Vook that explains step-by-step how to get and stay organized once and for all. This is not your typical stuffy business guide; prepare to laugh and learn. Download it now!

With this Vook, you’ll learn proven strategies for establishing and maintaining organization in your life, from determining your current level of organization to managing your belongings and accounts. First you’ll learn how to conquer your greatest adversaries: clutter and procrastination. Then you’ll learn how to formulate a plan to implement your organizational techniques, how to re-wire your thought patterns to approach situations more efficiently, and how to establish a list of tasks. Finally, you’ll explore ways to manage task follow through, use technology in order to increase organization, and discover solutions for managing all of your office’s paper. Tips, case studies and lighthearted video demonstrations featuring sock puppets provide humor and added dimension to this one-of-a-kind guide.

Barnes & Noble (nook)

Tor/Forge Author Voices, Vol. 3
(#3 Tor/Forge sampler)
edited by Stacy Hague-Hill

For over three decades Tor and Forge have been proud to publish some of the most beloved and respected works of genre fiction.

With this sampler, we are pleased to present a one-of-a-kind collection of articles written by our authors, along with excerpts of their books. We’re highlighting a cross-section of our exciting new and popular titles in science fiction and fantasy, steampunk, middle-grade fiction, and urban fantasy.

Also included in this collection are articles and essays on the craft of writing and reflections on the many worlds of genre fiction.


The Librarian: Little Boy Lost
(#1 in The Librarian series)
by Eric Hobb

Wesley Bates thinks his life pretty much sucks. He's landed at the bottom of his school's popularity ladder, and bully Randy Stanford seems to be waiting around every corner.

The troubled teen thinks he's found a way to escape his real-world problems when he stumbles upon strange doorways in Astoria's local library that seem to lead into the extraordinary worlds from all his favorite books. Oz, Neverland, Wonderland -- they're all a reality with Wesley's new discovery. Wesley teams with best friend Taylor Williams to embark on a great adventure, both ready to leave the drama of middle school behind.

But the two kids quickly find themselves embroiled in a centuries-old battle for the library and the magic hiding within. Now, fighting alongside the eccentric old man who's vowed to protect the building's power, the pair must help ward off an attack by a shadowy group with a strange tie to Wesley's nemesis, forcing Wesley to face the fears he's been dodging... and one of the most terrifying bullies of all time!