Wednesday 30 April 2014

The Digital Reader

The Digital Reader


The Morning Coffee – 1 May 2014

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:30 PM PDT

Hot stories this morning include a compendium of Facebook’s announcements at F8 on Wednesday, how to judge whether you should take a story seriously (link), 13 essential truths of writing (link), a proposal to ban a Dr Seuss book (link), and more.

  • Everything Facebook Announced at F8 (TNW)
  • Flipkart eBooks refreshes their Windows Phone app to compete with Amazon Kindle in India (WPC)
  • The Pocket Guide to Bullshit Prevention (The Last Word On Nothing)
  • So You Want To Make A Living Writing? 13 Harsh Truths. (Write on the River)
  • States Accuse Apple of Stonewalling E-Book Case (PW)
  • "Violent" Dr. Seuss book should be banned from library, patron says (Toronto Star)
  • Why ComiXology ditched Apple’s in-app purchase system (Macworld)

 

The post The Morning Coffee – 1 May 2014 appeared first on The Digital Reader.

Author Solutions Class Action Lawsuit: Update #2

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 03:02 PM PDT

It’s been logo_authorsolutions[1]nearly a year since a group of authors filed a class-action lawsuit against Author Solutions (ASI) and its parent company, Penguin (now Random Penguin Solutions). In the past 11 months the case has been neither settled nor thrown out, but the gears of justice have been turning, albeit slowly.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in May 2013, includes allegations of unjust enrichment, breach of contract, and violation of state statutes in California and New York. According to lawyers for the 3 authors who filed the suit, ASI had:

  • failed to pay royalties
  • failed to send authors accurate sales statements
  • introduced numerous and egregious errors into the books produced by ASI
  • sold useless and ineffective marketing and promotional services

Penguin and ASI filed a motion to dismiss in June, and in July the plaintiff’s attorneys filed an Amended Complaint (PDF) which raised new allegations. Legal wrangling over the Amended complaint, as well as the second amended complaint, proceeded over the following months while discovery continued.

Earlier this month Judge Denise Cote issued a ruling that’s good news for Penguin, but mostly a defeat for Author Solutions. (Writers beware posted the full ruling here).

All claims against Penguin were dismissed.

Penguin is dismissed as a defendant in this action. The activities at issue here were undertaken by Author Solutions, a subsidiary of Penguin. Plaintiffs concede that they are not attempting to pierce the corporate veil in order to hold Penguin liable for Author Solutions' actions. Accordingly, under basic corporate law principles, Penguin cannot be held liable for the alleged misconduct of Author Solutions.

ASI’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ unjust enrichment claims is granted in part and denied in part:

Plaintiffs allege two distinct forms of unjust enrichment by defendants. First, defendants unjustly profited by failing to pay royalties at the rate set forth in the contractual arrangement. Second, in failing to provide services that members of the class purchased without entering into a contract, defendants were unjustly enriched in the amount of the revenue received for those services.

Plaintiffs' unjust enrichment claim as to unpaid royalties is dismissed. The royalty rate is governed by written contracts, which plaintiffs seek to enforce in their breach-of-contract claim. Accordingly, these royalties cannot be recovered under an unjust enrichment theory.

Plaintiffs' unjust enrichment claim as to the non-contractual publishing services, however, is adequately pled. Unlike the claim regarding unpaid royalties, plaintiffs allege that there was no written contract setting forth the nature of the services for which they are seeking damages in their unjust enrichment claim.

Author Solution’s motions to dismiss the claims of various state statutes were denied. The lawsuit is going to proceed to discovery, and the parties have been ordered to submit a proposed pre-trial schedule.

Author Solutions has a bad reputation that goes back for years, so this lawsuit was well-nigh inevitable. In fact, the only surprise is that the lawsuit wasn’t filed almost as soon as the Penguin-ASI deal was finalized.

Penguin bought Author Solutions in July 2012 for $116 million, in spite of ASI's infamous reputation. ASI has been operating  under a variety of logos, including AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Palibrio, Trafford, and Xlibri. ASI is also providing similar sketchy services under contract to a number of otherwise respectable companies, including Simon & Schuster (Archway), Lulu, Penguin India (Partridge), F+W Media (Writers Digest), and Harlequin (DellArte Press).

Writers Beware

 

The post Author Solutions Class Action Lawsuit: Update #2 appeared first on The Digital Reader.

Publishers are Signing up with eBook Subscription Services in Droves

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 12:05 PM PDT

Hot 9689712379_cb6599218a_b[1]on the heels of news that Oyster had signed a trio of publishers comes new reports that their competition is doing the same.

Earlier this week the kid-focused service Epic announced a deal with Capstone Young Readers to add 500 titles to Epic’s current catalog. The new additions include licensed titles from DC Entertainment, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Tony Hawk and Warner Brothers. Epic offers Netflix-style subscription access to nearly 4,000 ebooks for kinds aged 7 to 12 for $9.99 a month, and currently offers an iPad app.

And today the globally-focused Scribd unveiled a deal with Wiley to add 1,000 titles, including For Dummies titles to Scribd’s catalog. The new additions include many of Wiley’s cheaper titles, but not their more expensive books, which can cost $100 or more. Scribd charges $9 a month for access to a catalog of over 300,000 titles which can be read on iPad, Android, iPhone, and in your web browser.

Last but not least Scholastic has surprised no one with their plans to go it alone. This academic and children’s publisher doesn’t get mentioned much in the ebook news much, but in terms of revenue it is actually a larger publisher that a couple of the so called Big 5.

Today they are launching Storia School Edition, a new ebook subscription option for schools. This new service offers 2,000 fiction, nonfiction, and classic titles which are age-appropriate for kids 12 and under. In addition to a balanced library of fiction and nonfiction title, Storia School Edition also includes grade-appropriate dictionaries, comprehension quizzes, pronunciation tools, and highlighting and note-taking tools to help students focus their ideas.

With multiple competitors launching or building up a service, 2014 is promising to be the year of the ebook subscription.

image by melenita2012

 

The post Publishers are Signing up with eBook Subscription Services in Droves appeared first on The Digital Reader.

McDonalds Launches Free eBook Promotion in Partnership with Kobo

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:42 AM PDT

McDonaldsthe-secret-seven[1] started a new marketing effort in the UK on Wednesday.

The fast food retailer will be bundling ebook vouchers into Happy Meals sold in the UK. The vouchers are being provided by Kobo, and will allow children to download an age-appropriate ebook.

The marketing campaign will be running for 5 weeks, and it will feature Enid Blyton's Secret Seven,  a series of books published by Hodder Children's Books. Kids will be able to download one of 6 short stories from the series, and two additional titles will also be available to parents and children through a £1 book voucher redeemable at Kobo, Eason, or WHSmith. None of the 6 titles have been available separately before, but they have been previously published as a collection.

McDonalds has bundled books into their kid’s meals for several decades now, and they have also been running similar ebook bundling efforts for a couple years now. This is at least the 4th such marketing campaign that I have heard of; similar programs have been run in the US, Germany, and Portugal. There was also at least one earlier campaign in the UK as well.

The post McDonalds Launches Free eBook Promotion in Partnership with Kobo appeared first on The Digital Reader.

B&N Launches Windows-Only Promotions in the Microsoft Nook Store in Europe

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:37 AM PDT

Barnes & microsoft nookNoble is launching a new promotion today in the Nook Store on behalf of Microsoft.

Readers in Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and the Netherlands can now get up to 5 free ebooks and free magazine issues when they download and install the Nook app for Windows 8.1. The free titles vary by country and are available in at least one local language, and they include at least a few bestselling titles for each country.

This is the third round of promotion since the Nook Store went international in Canada, Australia, and 29 European countries in November 2013, and like those earlier promotions this offer is only available for the Windows 8 app. Barnes & Noble has yet to launch their hardware in any of those countries, and in the past 5 months they have also neglected to launch their Android iOS apps in those markets.

Barnes & Noble is continuing to show every sign of handing over their international expansion to Microsoft. I was the first to point this out in early December 2013, and with today’s promotion my opinion remains the same. This conclusion is only reinforced by the joint announcement last month that the Nook Windows 8 app would eventually be retired in favor of a Microsoft branded reading app.

Banres & Noble’s own ebook efforts are now focused on Yuzu, the digital textbook platform which they plan to officially launch this summer. Yuzu was quietly launched earlier this month, and is still a work in progress.

The post B&N Launches Windows-Only Promotions in the Microsoft Nook Store in Europe appeared first on The Digital Reader.

Chicago Tribune Newspaper Launches eBookstore

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:55 AM PDT

The Chicago Tribunetribbooks_logo[1] has long been republishing news articles as ebooks, and earlier this month they expanded their ebook efforts with the launch of TribBooks, a new ebookstore powered by Inktera and Page Foundry.

While it might sound strange for a newspaper to get into selling ebooks, this isn’t the Trib’s first such effort. They have been selling their own ebooks (and giving them away to digitalPlus subscribers) for a while now, so this latest move comes as only a small surprise.

The bigger surprise today is how the Trib managed to keep it so quiet; it’s been operational for at least a month but I only learned of it when they announced it to their digitalPlus subscribers last night (thanks, Matt!).

But what’s more important than the surprise is the disappointment. This ebookstore stocks over a million titles which can be read by the integrated Android and iOS apps, but the ebooks unfortunately cannot be transferred to ebook readers (or so says the FAQ). That is a startling difference from the other two ebook sites operated in The Chicago Tribune‘s name; one site did not use DRM, while the other used Adobe DE DRM and enabled users to transfer their ebook purchases to their ereaders.

Like any ebookstore TribBooks offers sales and special deals, but it also has deals that are exclusively available to The Chicago Tribune digitalPlus and Printers Row Journal subscribers. These subscribers can log in to TribBooks with their existing subscriber account and take advantage.

By offering special deals to Trib subscribers, the newspaper both adds value to the newspaper subscriptions (which is still one the newspaper’s main sources of revenue) and encourages those subscribers to come back and buy more ebooks later. This is a classic loss leader strategy adapted to serving two goals instead of just the one.

On a related note, this is the second time I have reported on a newspaper launching an ebookstore. In December 2013 Bild.de launched an ebookstore on the Tolino platform. I can’t tell you how much work they are putting into cross-promotion but it would be smart for them to do so.

TribBooks

 

 

 

The post Chicago Tribune Newspaper Launches eBookstore appeared first on The Digital Reader.

Today's Kindle Books

Today's Kindle Books


More Bargain and Free Books for 4-30-14

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:32 AM PDT

Unwind with your Kindle and download this assortment of 3 bargain books and 2 free books. Please "LIKE" and share with all of the book lovers you know.

Book Of The Day: Honorable Intentions by Susette Williams has a 4.8 star rating and is on sale for only 99 cents – save $2!

BARGAIN BOOKS



Cyber Dawn
by M.L. Adams
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“What a great book…..crisp and vivid writing, perfectly paced, great plot, and interesting characters.” -Tim C.

Ben survived cancer. That was the easy part. After losing his leg to cancer and spending six years as a prototype in a top-secret cybernetic research program, seventeen-year-old Ben Raine is ready for a normal life. Now a junior in high school, it seems as though normal is just what he’s going to get. He’s met new friends, made the varsity football team, and even scored a date with the school’s head cheerleader.

But just as life is starting to look up, Ben hears four words that will change everything — You never had cancer. Determined to find out why, Ben hires Sarah — a classmate who moonlights as a hacker — to help him hunt down the truth. But when they get too close, they soon find themselves on the run from the police, the FBI, and a team of ruthless assassins. Caught in the middle of a murderous conspiracy, Ben and Sarah tap into the one thing that may save them — Ben’s cybernetic brain. But will it give them the advantage they need? Or cost them both their lives?

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Moments of Reckoning
by Savannah Stewart
Rating: 4.6 Stars
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Price: $0.99
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Moments of Reckoning – Nook

“Emotional, dramatic, and one hell of a ride. Hold onto your seats. You won’t be disappointed. Loved it!” -Regina Bartley, Author of The Graysen Pack Series

Hannah Davis has been secretly in love with her best friend, Jason Malone for years now. Afraid of rejection and ruining their friendship, she settled for just that—friendship. Until one tragic night out, turns her world upside down. Will she survive? Jason Malone has been in love with Hannah Davis since the day they met years ago. But one tragic night out, could cause him to lose the chance at love that he has desperately been waiting for. Will he be able to save her?

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Drawing Breath
by Laurie Boris
Rating: 4.7 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“…well-drawn, dimensional characters. This empathetic novel covers local turf from the Poughkeepsie station to Albany Med, and deserves a far wider audience.” -Chronogram Magazine

Art teacher Daniel Benedetto has cystic fibrosis. At thirty-four, he’s already outlived his doctor’s “expiration date,” but that doesn’t stop him from giving all he can to his students and his work. When he takes on Caitlin, his landlady’s daughter, as a private student, the budding teen painter watches in torment as other people, especially women, treat Daniel like a freak because of his condition. To Caitlin, Daniel is not a disease, not someone to pity or take care of but someone to care for, a friend, and her first real crush. Convinced one of those women is about to hurt him, Caitlin makes one very bad decision.

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FREE BOOKS

Please make sure the price says "Kindle Price $0.00″ before clicking “Buy”. If it says "Prime Members $0.00″ “read for free”, it is NO LONGER FREE. All books are free at the time they are posted but are subject to change back to full price at any time. If you are outside of the United States, these books may not be free.



The Legend of the Bloodstone
by E.B. Brown
Rating: 4.4 Stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Price: $0.00 Save $15.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

In 2012, a woman cuts her hand and picks up a strange colored stone – Suddenly she is staring into the eyes of an angry Powhatan warrior. And the only town nearby is Jamestown, circa 1622. Maggie McMillan wakes up one day as a college student, yet ends the day in 1622.

Captured by Winn, a warrior who is torn between his duty to kill her and his desire to keep her, she is thrust into a life she had only read about in history books. Hunted and feared by both the Powhatan and the English, she struggles to find a way home while Winn plots to keep her there.

Maggie fights to survive as she finds herself entangled in the Massacre of 1622, and Winn sees everything he ever believed in shattered by the knowledge she holds. As they battle against each other and the message she brings from the future, she must decide whether to return to her own time, or to make a life in the past with the man who holds her heart captive.

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Mark of the Mage
by R.K. Ryals
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Price: $0.00 Save $12.50
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Books never die, but they can be forbidden. Medeisia is a country in turmoil ruled by a blood thirsty king who has outlawed the use of magic and anything pertaining to knowledge. Magery and scribery are forbidden. All who practice are marked with a tattoo branded onto their wrists, their futures precarious.

Sixteen year-old Drastona Consta-Mayria lives secluded, spending her spare time in the Archives of her father’s manor surrounded by scribes. She wants nothing more than to become one of them, but when the scribes are royally disbanded, she is thrust into a harsh world where the marked must survive or die.

 

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More ENT Deals for 4-30-14

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:22 AM PDT

Enjoy more reading with these 4 bargain books and 2 free books. Remember to "LIKE" and share ENT with friends and family.

Book Of The Day: Honorable Intentions by Susette Williams has a 4.8 star rating and is on sale for only 99 cents – save $2!

BARGAIN BOOKS



Pirate Hunter’s Mistress
by Lynette Vinet
Rating: 4.3 Stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Pirate Hunter’s Mistress – Nook

“Couldn’t put the book down until I completed the reading.” -Joy G.

Marlee Stafford was no fool. She knew the handsome, arrogant Richard Arden had married her for her money, just as she’d wedded him for his aristocratic name. But Marlee wasn’t about to give up all control to the too-confident baron. She would not sign over her inheritance until she’d enticed her handsome, broad-shouldered husband into desiring only her.

But when his hungry kisses began to ignite her most intimate desires, Marlee knew she’d made a weighty error, for this mysterious man harbored a dark secret — and now he was holding her helpless under HIS spell! Lark Arden’s passions ran deep. Before meeting Marlee, his one desire was to gain the money for a new ship.

But when Lark took on the masquerade of his recently deceased cousin Richard, he never expected his blue-eyed proxy bride to tempt him beyond sanity. Lark had planned only to “borrow” the money from Marlee, then flee. He never planned on stealing her virtue, but how could he resist tasting her sweet lips and sampling this dark beauty’s fiery passions? And how could he live with desiring the very woman he’d soon betray?

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Betrayal
by Tim Tigner
Rating: 4.7 Stars
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Price: $0.99 Save $5.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

"Well-paced action, appealing characters and snappy writing." -Kirkus Review

Presumed dead after an attack blamed on Al-Qaeda, FBI agent Odysseus Carr is running for his life with the missionary doctor who rescued him in Iran. As Odi unravels a devious plot of profound political manipulation and global consequence, the hunted becomes the hunter, and then the real terror begins….

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Giants
by Vaughn Heppner
Rating: 4.1 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Price: $0.99
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Giants – Nook

“I love Mr. Heppners writing….he has an amazing ability to keep me on my toes through the entire book.” -Airickuh

The Nephilim had a plan. They would storm Eden, defeat the guardian Cherub with his flaming sword and eat from the Tree of Life. Then they would rule the Earth as immortal gods. First, they needed armor to resist the flaming sword. Second, they needed a weapon to kill an angel. And third, they had to forge a champion capable of this feat.

Their quest could unleash terrible forces upon the Elder Earth, but they were the sons of fallen angels and they would trample anyone who dared to stand in their way. GIANTS is the start of Lost Civilizations. It tells of the war between Nephilim and men in the days before the oceans overran the Pre-Cataclysmic World.

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Divine Intervention
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Rating: 4.2 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“An exciting book from start to finish. The futuristic elements are believable…plenty of surprising twists and turns.” -Writer’s Digest

Top 100 Amazon Bestseller

CFBI agent Jasmine McLellan leads a psychically gifted team in the hunt for a serial arsonist―a murderer who has already taken the lives of three people. Jasi and her team members―Psychometric Empath and profiler Ben Roberts and Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko―are joined by Brandon Walsh, the handsome but skeptical Chief of Arson Investigations.

In a manhunt that takes them from Vancouver to Kelowna, Penticton and Victoria, they are led down a twisting path of sinister secrets. Sifting through ashes and clues, Jasi realizes that there is more to the third victim than meets the eye. Perhaps not all of the victims were that innocent. The hunt intensifies when she learns that someone they know is next on the arsonist’s list.

Unleashing her gift as a Pyro-Psychic, Jasi is compelled toward smoldering ashes and enters the killer’s mind―a mind bent on destruction and revenge. And in the heat of early summer, Jasi discovers that a murderer lies in wait…much closer than she ever imagined.

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FREE BOOKS

Please make sure the price says "Kindle Price $0.00″ before clicking “Buy”. If it says "Prime Members $0.00″ “read for free”, it is NO LONGER FREE. All books are free at the time they are posted but are subject to change back to full price at any time. If you are outside of the United States, these books may not be free.



Delly’s Last Night
by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Price: $0.00 Save $2.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

A decade-old conspiracy is about to unravel….This will be Delly’s last night as a one of the world’s best professional thieves. She’s retiring after cracking one last safe. The safe belongs to an old enemy, Neal Cadogan, who catches her red-handed and ties her up while he decides what to do with her.

Neal and Delly were once lovers but the rift that separates them is filled with bitterness. Now with Delly at his mercy, Neal takes his revenge, which reverts to a night of heated sexual need seasoned by years of lies. It is a sensual power-play with each determined to outsmart the other. But their warped passion is the key that unlocks the door on a decade-old conspiracy that will utterly change their lives.

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Terry Treetop and the Lost Egg
by Tali Carmi
Rating: 4.4 Stars
Genre: Children and Middle Grade
Price: $0.00 Save $10.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

This fun children’s picture book is about a boy with red hair and freckles named Terry, yet everybody calls him Terry Treetop because he loves climbing trees. Terry finds a small egg, and his quest is to bring it back home to its mom. But where is the egg’s home? Does the egg belong to a turtle on the sand or a crocodile’s spring water? Did it come from a frog in a pond or a chicken in the wild?

 

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Check out the lineup of Kindles here!

More Kindle Deals for 4-30-14

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:11 AM PDT

Here's a set of 4 bargain books and 2 free books for you to download and enjoy. Make sure to "LIKE" and let fellow book lovers in on your one stop site for Kindle books.

Book Of The Day: Honorable Intentions by Susette Williams has a 4.8 star rating and is on sale for only 99 cents – save $2!

BARGAIN BOOKS



Lies of the Dead
by Shauna Bickley
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Lies of the Dead – Nook
Lies of the Dead – Apple iBooks
Lies of the Dead – Kobo

“….a light but gripping read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.” -Tui A.

How well do we know those closest to us? When Liam kills himself, his older brother Tom needs to know why suicide was the only solution. Tom and his sister Andi search for answers, but don’t know who they can believe. Are Liam’s friends and associates the people they claim to be?

Tom and Andi are propelled into a world where their ideas of right and wrong don’t exist, and where people demand what neither of them possesses. Liam's legacy of deceit is dangerous, and when Andi and her twin daughters are threatened, Tom realizes the truth may have too high a price. What would you risk to find the truth?

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Rhythm of My Heart
by Kemberlee Shortland
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $4.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“The author’s voice is so authentic….Great characters, wonderful story.” -petticoat grandma

Artist Representative, Eilis Kennedy, gave up a singing career so that other women could have a fair chance at having their music heard. Having suffered rejection from callous men in the industry, she thought she would get away from 'casting couch' mentality. But when she finds herself in the office of Fergus Manley, all bets are off.

Disgusted by his continual come-ons and lewd invitations, Eilis is looking for 'the one' who will take her career to the next level, getting out from under Fergus's controlling thumb. Aspiring blues guitarist, Kieran Vaughan, is looking for his big break. But after suffering near bankruptcy at the hands of an unscrupulous business partner, Kieran is left picking up the pieces.

He's unsure if the debts will ever be paid or if he'll ever have a chance to do something with his music. At his whit's end, he's about ready to throw in the towel and find a full-time job with real hours. When Eilis discovers Kieran playing in a seedy pub in Dublin's Northside, she knows he's the one rare talent she's been searching for.

With her know-how and his talent, Eilis will finally get everything she's been waiting for. Neither of them count on the powerful attraction from first meeting. Eilis is so rocked by Keiran's forthright words that it sends her running. Kieran risks being arrested as he chases Eilis across Ireland.

Seeing what's happening between Eilis and Kieran, anger wells inside Fergus and he steps up his pursuit of Eilis. Refusing to let Kieran get in his way, Fergus vows to add Eilis's notch to his bedpost, whatever it takes. Will Kieran be able to protect her?

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Cedar Woman
by Debra Shiveley Welch
Rating: 4.6 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“Cedar Woman is a well-written piercing piece of work that moved me deeply.” -Brenda

Travel with her to Columbus, Ohio as she rebuilds her life, and the lives of her family. Join her in the sweat lodge as she follows Zitka Mine to the fifth step of the edge of the world to find her father’s soul. Join her at powwow where she meets her half side. Consultant Julie Spotted Eagle Horse, descendant of Chief Spotted Eagle and Crazy Horse.

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The Thirteenth Step: Zombie Recovery
by Michele W. Miller
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Horror
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“A well-written, thoughtful treatment not just of a popular literary trope but of a nagging social issue.” -KIRKUS REVIEWS

Eight people escape decimated New York. They have only one thing in common: the alcoholic gene. The same genetic quirk that makes alcoholics and addicts susceptible to booze and drugs gives them a mysterious ability to evade detection by the undead. But one gene in common isn't enough to unite them.

They're a motley crew: A Botoxed Upper Eastsider; a drug dealer rescued from lockup; a resentful daughter of addicts; an insecure AA guy; a Japanese ex-dope fiend; an addicted Ivy Leaguer; and a Mexican immigrant. Dodging natural and unnatural disasters, drugged lunatics, and the living dead, they struggle to face their personal demons, accept one another, and find a new life.

They think they've reached the end of their journey when they encounter a settlement that takes A.A. to fundamentalist extremes. But they have to make a choice…one they may not survive.

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FREE BOOKS

Please make sure the price says "Kindle Price $0.00″ before clicking “Buy”. If it says "Prime Members $0.00″ “read for free”, it is NO LONGER FREE. All books are free at the time they are posted but are subject to change back to full price at any time. If you are outside of the United States, these books may not be free.



Tea Cups & Tiger Claws
by Timothy Patrick
Rating: 4.3 Stars
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Price: $0.00 Save $15.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

First comes the miracle and then comes the madness. The miracle is the birth of identical triplets, and the madness is all about money, of course. The year is 1916 and the rare occurrence of identical triplets turns the newborn baby girls into pint-size celebrities.

Unfortunately, this small portion of fame soon leads to a much larger portion of greed, and the triplets are split up—parceled out to the highest bidders. Two of the girls go to live in a hilltop mansion. The third girl isn’t so lucky. She ends up with a shady family that lives in an abandoned work camp. That's how their lives begin: two on top, one on the bottom, and all three in the same small town.

Identical in appearance and with the same blood in their veins, the sisters should have also shared united destinies. Instead, those destinies are thrown to the wind, and the consequences will be extreme.

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Blood Bites: Three Vampire Tales
by Various Authors
Rating: 4.3 Stars
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.00 Save $0.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

~Wicked~ When eighteen-year-old Emily wakes up to find herself being held captive in a barn with four other women and tries to escape, she finds herself being hunted by a dark presence through the deep woods of Montana.

~Violent~ College sophomore Evan Grant doesn't realize what he's getting into when he asks the beautiful redhead, Karina Walsh out on a simple date. The date ends well but the night does not. A frightening encounter with an otherworldly creature leaves him nowhere to go but to Karina and her family for help. But will they help him… or destroy him for knowing too much of a world he never should have seen?

~The Blood Pool~ When vicious killings of humans begin to show up in a small town, Alec Kilton – Chief Enforcer of the Nave, the ruling authority of vampires, is sent to investigate it and stop it. During the course of his investigation, he comes across a deadly game enacted by four young – and untrained – vampires. They call their game, the Blood Pool.

In this game, they select a female human's name from a hat, and then each of the four have an opportunity to woo her. Whoever wins, gets to enjoy her before the other three come and destroy her. While out on his mission, Alec meets a stunning redhead, Molly O'Connell, who he finds irresistible on so many levels.

During the course of their game, Molly's name is deposited into the hat and selected to become their next target in the Blood Pool. Will Alec be able to understand their game in time to save his lovely redhead? Or will those who invented the game destroy her first?

 

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Book Of The Day – Honorable Intentions

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 05:46 AM PDT

Today's Book of the Day is a Christian Fiction/Romance novel by Susette Williams and it's 67% off for a limited time. Honorable Intentions has a 4.8 star rating and is on sale for only 99 cents – save $2!

“This book is a wonderful illustration of how God can still heal broken hearts and bring something good out of even the worst mistakes.” Amanda – Amazon Reviewer



Honorable Intentions
by Susette Williams
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Genre: Christian Fiction
Price: $0.99 save $2

 

Brand Stanford married Monica because she claimed to be carrying his child. Their marriage was one of convenience—for her. When they had finally become a happy family, Monica was killed in a skiing accident. Now, Brand is faced with having to raise their three-year-old daughter on his own.

Tessa Duggan's family had been lifelong friends with the Stanfords; and even remained in contact with them after moving out of state. Tessa kept secrets to herself for nearly ten years. She'd loved Brand for as long as she could remember.

Having raised a son on her own, Tessa knows what it's like to be a single parent. When Brand's wife dies in a skiing accident, Tessa agrees to help Brand's mother take care of his three-year-old daughter during the summer.

Is it a chance for them to start over again? Or will Brand break her heart the second time around?

Here’s what the reviewers have to say:

This was a wonderful story of love and second chance, forgiveness and God’s grace and mercy! This is a great book a must read! Even if you are not a Christian I think you can like the romance in this story!

*******

A good clean book. Enjoyed the writing style of the author. Liked the characters and they were believable. Would like to read more from this author.

*******

I really enjoyed getting to know Tessa and Brand, as well as both of the children. They all came alive for me. I read the book straight through after buying it, and I recommend it for any reader.

*******

This is the first book I have read by this author and I thought it was fantastic. Being a Christian romance, it was nice not having graphic sex scenes, lots of them. The Book Description is good so I won’t add more to spoil it. I loved Brand and Tessa’s story. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I highly recommend it.

*******

Loved it!!! Suzette has done it again!!! Keep using your God given talent! Love your books!! God Bless you Suzette!!!

Get Honorable Intentions here: Honorable Intentions

About The Author

Susette Williams loves writing various genres; anything from romance, mystery, and suspense to name a few. She usually can’t resist the urge to let her ornery sense of humor shine through in one of her characters and has always believed that laughter helps you deal with the obstacles life puts in your way.

Please take the time to leave a review after you have read one of her books–it is much appreciated!

Seasons of the Heart novella series:

Falling in Love – available
Winter Chill – available
Spring Break
Heated Summer

Typecast Christmas novella series:

Scrooge Falls in Love – Susette Williams
Act of Love – Kimberly Rae Jordan
Curtain Calls and Christmas Wishes – Cynthia Hickey
The Romance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – Amanda Tru

NEW RELEASES:

Something About Sam
Honorable Intentions

Thank you for considering today’s Book Of The Day – Susette Williams and ENT appreciate it.

 

Bargain and Free Books for 4-30-14

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 05:33 AM PDT

Here are 3 bargain books and 2 free books to get your day started. Please "LIKE" this and share with a friend or two.

Book Of The Day: Honorable Intentions by Susette Williams has a 4.8 star rating and is on sale for only 99 cents – save $2!

BARGAIN BOOKS



Have Gown, Will Wed
by Killian McRae
Rating: 4.3 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Have Gown, Will Wed – Nook
Have Gown, Will Wed – Apple iBooks

“….the author has done a brilliant job creating a story that captures the imagination.” -Mandy

Back in college, the bras-before-bros sisterhood decided to live for achievement in the boardroom, not the bedroom. Rosalind Betters embraced that philosophy, pursuing her career and little else.

But when her last single friend, Kamakshi, announces her engagement in of all things, an arranged marriage, Rosalind reevaluates the merits of matrimony.

In her typical gung ho fashion, she names a date, books a venue, and picks out a dress, all before finding a groom.

Taking a lesson from Kamakshi and too busy to do otherwise, Rosalind hires San Francisco’s best headhunter, Xavier Hommes, to find her better half for her.

At first, Xavier thinks Rosalind is one of those eccentric personalities for which the city is famous. As he comes to know her, however, Xavier finds himself hating his task for reasons he never would have suspected.

If Rosalind really wants a man who will make her happy, she need look no further.

As W-Day approaches and Rosalind starts falling for someone Xavier himself headhunted, he walks the line between professionalism and passion, trying to decide if competing to become Mr. Betters is worth the risk to his commission, his reputation, and Rosalind’s happiness.

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The Hunted One
by Meg Collett
Rating: 4.6 Stars
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

The Hunted One – Nook
The Hunted One – Kobo

“This book was amazing…..This really is a must read.” -Crystal W.

The fallen have trespassed into Heaven for the first time in eternity. Prepared for battle, Michaela and her Archangels open Heaven's gates to confront the fallen.

Only, Michaela's Archangels—her brothers and sisters in Heaven—betray her. And when the fallen attack the sanctuary in the skies through the gates Michaela inadvertently left open, the holy angels accuse Michaela of planning the invasion.

One simple mistake with a thousand consequences.

Dragged to Earth by an Archangel turned fallen, Michaela will do anything to return to Heaven and save it. In her fervor, she kills the Archangel—something no angel has ever done before.

Wingless, without any hope, Michaela welcomes death when an unlikely human ally, Clark, finds her.

With the help of Clark and Gabriel, an innocent Archangel whose friendship deepens into something far more torrid and unexpected on Earth, Michaela must prove the holy angels have their own plan for Heaven, and it is one that may prove to be the End of the Days.

It may be too late to save herself, but Michaela is the only one who knows the truth about the holy angels. If she fails, she may never be able to return to Heaven. But even that may be a hopeless dream.

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Another Broken Wizard
by Colin Dodds
Rating: 4.0 Stars
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

"Masterfully written with all the grit and grisly humor of returning to one's dingy blue collar hometown….." -Boston Literary Magazine

Jim Monaghan didn't want to go back to Worcester. But unemployment and his father's surgery forced his hand. Tending to his father and embarking on an ICU romance in the day, Jim seeks out his childhood best friend, Joe Rousseau.

But Joe has problems with a local gang, and his plan to resolve the matter only makes things worse. Jim follows his friend into Worcester nights defined by drugs, guns and fistfights.

And as the danger escalates, he makes a painful choice to try to save Joe. And then he has to live with the consequences.

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FREE BOOKS

Please make sure the price says "Kindle Price $0.00″ before clicking “Buy”. If it says "Prime Members $0.00″ “read for free”, it is NO LONGER FREE. All books are free at the time they are posted but are subject to change back to full price at any time. If you are outside of the United States, these books may not be free.



Inescapable
by Nancy Mehl
Rating: 4.6 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Price: $0.00 Save $14.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Lizzie Engel is used to running away. At eighteen, she left her Mennonite hometown, her family, and her faith with plans never to return.

Five years later, Lizzie finds she’ll have to run again. False accusations at her job, a stalker, and a string of anonymous threatening letters have left her with no other options. This time, however, her escape is back to Kingdom, her hometown.

As Lizzie becomes reacquainted with Kingdom, she realizes she may not have left her Mennonite roots and her faith as firmly in the past as she thought. She draws on the support of Noah Housler, an old friend, as she hides out and attempts to plan her next steps.

When it becomes painfully clear that the danger has followed Lizzie to Kingdom, suspicions and tensions run high, and she no longer knows who to trust.

With her life and the lives of those she loves at risk, Lizzie will have to run one last time–to a Father whose love is inescapable.

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The Dragon Tree
by A.C. Kavich
Rating: 4.2 Stars
Genre: Young Adult
Price: $0.00 Save $2.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

In a secluded town in the Pacific Northwest, three very different teens – Billy, Eva and Hiroki – discover a mysterious tree growing upside-down on an oceanfront cliff.

Black and gnarled, the tree grew from the bones of a dragon that died on the spot centuries earlier.

One by one, they give into their curiosity and eat the forbidden fruit from the tree. The power from the juice courses through their veins and transforms them into dragons when the sun goes down.

At first the change is terrifying, but the teens soon learn how to use their new bodies and take flight under cover of night. Soaring over ocean waves and rolling forests is so exhilarating they forget the danger of being discovered.

Will the gift of the dragon tree turn out to be a curse?

 

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