Tuesday 30 September 2014

The Digital Reader

The Digital Reader


The Morning Coffee – 1 October 2014

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 08:23 PM PDT

The reading list is slightly longer today, and includes a paean against publishing a first novel, responses to Mike Shatzkin’s latest missive, and more.

  • Bookstores, publishers sue to stop law against "revenge porn" (Ars Technica)
  • Four Methods For Choosing What To Read Next (BOOK RIOT)
  • The Hidden Costs of E-books at University Libraries (Times of San Diego)
  • How NOT To Publish Your First Novel (IAIN RYAN)
  • The motivation of the publisher-bashing commentariat is what I cannot figure out (The Passive Voice)
  • Pearson’s REVEL aims to replace the traditional textbook [Educause 2014] (Education Dive)
  • Why Rumors Outrace the Truth Online ()

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Findaway World Gets a Half Million Dollar Contract to Sell Secure, Pre-Loaded eBook Readers to the USAF

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 04:33 PM PDT

NeRD Device and CaseHere’s a bit of news we all could have seen coming.

Last Thursday US Air Force awarded a contract to Ohio-based Findaway World, makers of the Playaway music player and the Lock secure ereader, to provide $499,000 in equipment and services in support of a locked down ereader similar to the NeRD device which Findaway launched earlier this year.

I can’t find any specifics on the contract, so i don’t know how many units are involved, but we do know that the similarly equipped NeRD cost $3,000 each. This suggests that the USAF bought somewhere under 200 units.

If you’re wondering why they cost so much, the answer is simple: government contracts. Edit: And as one reader points out, we don’t know how much the pre-loaded content costs. Thanks, Gbm!

Or if you are looking for a slightly less snarky explanation, the NeRD, Lock, and the still as yet unnamed Air Force model, aren’t your typical ebook reader.

In designing the Lock, Findaway World took a basic ebook reader with a 6″ E-ink screen and customized it to make it more secure. The Lock purposefully lacks the microSD card slot and microSD port found on most mobile devices, and it also lacks Wifi and a touchscreen. As a result of the modifications, all the content has to be pre-loaded by Findaway World before each unit ships.

The Lock was locked down for obvious reasons: security (or in the case of the civilian model, control). Institutions and the military lock down their computer systems for much the same reason: to prevent hacking (or as I like to put it: stopping industrious personnel from pulling either a Scotty or a Romanov).

So far as I know, Findaway World is the only company that makes a restricted access ebook reader. This company also makes the Playaway, a music player designed to contain a single audiobook.

InfoDocket

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Google Drive for Education Offers Unlimited Storage for Schools, Students

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 12:27 PM PDT

google_education[1]Google’s well-known for the personal and work services they provide and now they’re getting serious about education sphere. Earlier today Google launched Drive for Education, expanding the Apps for Education program with unlimited cloud storage – and best of all, it’s free. 

Billed as the “free bookbag for the 21st century, Drive for Education enables the 30 million plus students to save all of their content and school work online, with no concern for access or space limitations, including the class work from Classroom.

In addition to the free storage, Google is also promising to also add Google Apps Vault, their email backup solution, by the end of the year. Other future improvements include reporting and auditing tools which will help users track where a file has been and how it has been accessed. Those features are coming in the future, but for now users will have to content themselves with the ability to upload individual files up to 5TB in size.

Launched not quite 7 years ago, Google Apps for Education has slowly grown to be a serious contender in the edtech market, boosting Chromebook sales past those of the iPad.

Google

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The NYTimes Uses a Flawed Premise to Argue Against Owning a Paper Book Entitles One to a Digital Copy

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 09:48 AM PDT

QuestionMarkEver since book scanning became practical (and long before it got cheap) there’s been an ongoing debate over whether possession of a paper copy of a book entitled the owner to also have a digital copy. (As we all recall, this was even the focal point of several major lawsuits against Google over the past decade.)

This debate will probably be settled right around the time that direct brain downloads first hit the market, but that hasn’t stopped everyone, including yours truly, from weighing in.

The NYTimes ethicist column jumped in on Friday with an argument that is sadly flawed:

Reading a physical book is a different experience from reading that same book on an electronic device, just as seeing a movie in a theater is different from watching that same film at home. If you bought a ticket for the theatrical release of a film and asked if it was now ethical to rip it off a site like Megaupload for home use, I would say no. Your situation with the book is different, but only slightly.

The problem with his argument is that his analogy isn’t just flawed; it’s invalid. A movie ticket can’t be used as a metaphor for a book; one admits you to a performance of a work, while the other is a copy of the work itself. The two are in no way equivalent.

A better analogy would be to compare a book to a DVD, but that would present a serious problem for the ethicist. It is widely accepted that you can rip your CD and DVD collection and carry around a digital copy, and that has led many to argue that one should have the same right to carry around a digital version of the paper books one owns.

Admittedly, book scanning is still tedious enough that few want to do it, but is that any reason that one should not be allowed to download a copy of   a paper book one owns?

Just to be clear, I am not presenting an argument either way; I merely wish to point out that I think the NYTimes should have addressed this issue head on. Instead they sidestepped it with a bad analogy, which is unfortunate because I would like to see this question answered.

What do you think?

The post The NYTimes Uses a Flawed Premise to Argue Against Owning a Paper Book Entitles One to a Digital Copy appeared first on The Digital Reader.

HP Cracks the $99 Windows Tablet Barrier with the Stream 7

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 08:50 AM PDT

stream7_galleryZoom_img2 HP has just announced a pair of Windows 8 tablets which will cost $99 and up.

Launching  just in time to edge out the Toshiba Encore mini as the first of the $99 Windows tablets in the US market, the HP Stream 7 will feature an Intel Atom Z3735G CPU, and it will be matched by the $149 Stream 8.

Both tablets will run Windows 8.1 on an Intel chip with with 1GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. They will reportedly have the same screen resolution (1280 x 800), which is great for the 7″ screen but not so much for the 8″ screen.

Both tablets are expected to ship in November.

hp-stream-8_06

A hands on report tells us that the Stream 7 and Stream 8 also have stereo speakers, Wifi, and microUSB ports, but they don’t have card slots or HDMI ports. That’s a rather unusual checklist for the budget tablet market, where you would expect the card slot but not the stereo speakers.

HP is also going to offer a 4G model of the Stream 8 which will com bundled with a 200MB monthly mobile data plan from T-Mobile.

All in all these are intriguing machines, but given the limited RAM and limited storage I would not consider one for my main work computer. That’s just not enough RAM for real work, and 16GB (or rather whatever is left after Windows 8) is simply not enough to fit my media library.

On a related note, there’s no sign that either tablet has BT, and that means no keyboard. That alone could kill my interest as a work machine, but then again at $99 I would be looking for a tablet to complement my main equipment, not replace it.

Liliputing

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Tolino to Launch WaterProof Vision eBook Reader at Frankfurt Book Fair

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT

RTEmagicC_tolino_vision_06_Kopie.jpg[1]Move over Aura H2O, there’s a new waterproof ereader about to hit the market. Unconfirmed reports are coming out of Germany today that Tolino will be launching a new waterproof Vision ebook reader at the Frankfurt Book Fair next week.

Few details are known about the new Vision, but lesen.net is reporting that it will cost the same as the existing model and derive its waterproof ability from a nano-coating technology, rather than waterproof shell like you can find on the Aura H2O. I can also confirm that the new Vision will have both the frontlight and touchscreen found on the current model.

The current Vision sports a 6″ Carta E-ink display, costs 129 euros, and was launched in April. It’s not clear what will happen to the existing model, and while there’s a chance that it could be discounted or discontinued I don’t plan to jump to any conclusions.

I’m taking this report with a grain of salt. While I wouldn’t be surprised if Tolino did release a waterproof ereader, I have trouble believing that the price will be so low. That nano-coating tech is not cheap, so I really don’t think the new model will cost 129 euros.

Remember, Waterfi offers an aftermarket Kindle which has been waterproofed using a related technology. Waterfi tacks on a $99 premium for the modifications, and that makes it hard to believe that Tolino could add the feature without raising prices at least 20 euros.

But in spite of my questions, I do think that at least part of the report is true. According to the latest estimates from GfK, the German ebook reader market is still growing. What’s more, Tolino (a consortium of German and Dutch media retailers and booksellers, and Deutsche Telekom) has a share of the German ebook market that rivals Amazon’s, which again justifies the launch of a new model.

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Simon & Schuster Signs Deal With Mofibo, But Not Kindle Unlimited

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT

mofibo[1]Simon & Schuster may have just given us a clue about their interests in the subscription ebook market, and just who they want to work with.

The Bookseller is reporting that S&S has cut a deal with the small Scandinavian ebook subscription service Mofibo. The full terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it will reportedly boost Mofibo’s catalog to over 20,000 titles in English, Danish, and other languages. (According to one source, Mofibo offered 14,000 titles at the end of August.)

Mofibo charges 99 kroner a month, and according to the press release they represent 60% of the Danish book market.  The deal with S&S will cover titles published in the US, UK, Australia, and India, including works from Dan Brown, Stephen King, James Lee Burke, and Stephen King.

mofibo_case-slide-01[1]

Launched last summer, Mofibo is one of two ebook subscription services in Denmark, but it’s not staying there. This company is planning to expand internationally, and their service is scheduled to be available in Sweden by the end of the year.

And now Mofibo, a company which will generate a relatively small revenue stream compared to Kindle Unlimited, has a contract with Simon & Schuster. While the deal isn’t a huge surprise, I am surprised that a tiny Danish service scored a deal which Amazon has yet to secure for Kindle Unlimited.

Does this mean S&S won’t sign a deal for KU, can’t come to terms, or is still negotiating?

I don’t know, but if S&S signs more deals with small fry while avoiding KU then Amazon is going to be put at an increasing disadvantage in this market. While KU may boast a large catalog, most of the titles are indie and not big names like Stephen King.

And yes, I am expecting to read that S&S has signed with more ebook subscription services, but I wouldn’t hazard a guess whether KU will be one of them.

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JukePop Launches KickStarter Campaign to Bring Serial eBooks to Libraries

Posted: 29 Sep 2014 10:51 PM PDT

jukepop_logo[1]A two-year-old ebook platform stepped into the limelight last week when it launched a Kickstarter campaign, with the goal of funding its expansion into the crowded library ebook market.

Launched in 2012, JukePop Serials is a crowd sourced discovery platform with a staff of three and an unusual focus. This service finds compelling stories by good writers and serves the best ones up for users to read and rate. Users can browse the stories chapter by chapter in JukePop’s apps for Android (Google Play), iPad/iPhone (iTunes), or on the JukePop website. The stories are free to read, and registered members can vote and comment on the stories.

If that description reminds you of Wattpad, you’re not alone. JukePop shares many of the characteristics of its larger and better known competitor, but it also adds an element of curation which Wattpad has made strictly optional.

I can’t see how many readers have joined but JukePop does boast that they have over 1,000 contributing authors and a reader  base in the tens of thousands.  That’s a relatively small number compared to Wattpad or even Red Room, the author site which Wattpad acquired this summer. This could explain the shift to focus on a new market; JukePop is going to focus on a market which Wattpad isn’t directly addressing.

In fact, they’ve already shifted their focus. JukePop has been running a pilot with the Santa Clara County Public Library since April 2014, developing its platform so it would better serve libraries.

And now JukePop has launched a KickStarter campaign so they can expand their efforts. JukePop is trying to raise $15,000, and they plan to spend $10,000 to streamline their  software, with the remaining $5,000 used to launch the service to libraries.

They’ve raised about $4,500 so far, and I bet that they will be able to raise the rest. Crowd sourced ebooks are a hot topic right now, what with Amazon planning to launch their own platform, so this past week was exactly the right time to launch a campaign.

But will JukePop have any success on the market? I don’t know, but if they stick around for long this is going to be an interesting time in the library ebook market.

In addition to the big boys that “sell” ebooks (OverDrive, 3M Cloud Library, and Ingram MyiLibrary) and the publishers who rent their content on an annual license, there are also several alternative service providers. Freading and Hoopla, for example, offer pay per use models, while Biblioboard is a nonprofit that offers a number of services, including a discovery service for self-published authors.

And into that maelstrom goes JukePop. Will it be successful?

It has no appeal to me as a reader, but I can see some of the reasons why it might appeal to institutions like libraries (or schools, for that matter). As noted in one of my source articles, the DRM used by existing library ebook providers gets in the way of users. JukePop says that their ebooks will be DRM-free, and that will make them much easier to load on to ereaders and other mobile devices.

The Digital Shift, Publishers Weekly, FastCo

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The Morning Coffee – 30 September 2014

Posted: 29 Sep 2014 08:46 PM PDT

The reading list is short this Tuesday morning.

The post The Morning Coffee – 30 September 2014 appeared first on The Digital Reader.

Today's Kindle Books

Today's Kindle Books


More Bargain and Free Books for 9-30-14

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 06:38 AM PDT

Download another set of 4 bargain books and 2 free books for your Tuesday evening reading enjoyment.

You can read Kindle books wherever you are and on any device with the Free Kindle App – you don’t even have to own a Kindle to use the app!

BARGAIN BOOKS



Perdido River Bastard
by D.B. Patterson
Rating: 4.7 Stars
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Perdido River Bastard – Nook
Perdido River Bastard – Apple iBooks
Perdido River Bastard – Kobo

“…thouroughly enjoyed the roller coaster of emotions I experienced in this captivating tale.” -Amy T.

Prodigal son Duddy Doogan has a promise to keep. He is going home, to a place where his eccentric storytelling kin await his first visit since his father went missing.

Home to where a powerful river carves an age-old border between Florida and Alabama. Home to a family tree of hidden secrets, lies, memory, and skin colors—but there is nothing black and white about the mysteries buried in its roots.

Haunted by the trauma of a terrifying childhood accident and the love of too many Southern women, Duddy must excavate the bones of his family history to put his own broken life back together.

When tragedy suddenly strikes, a promise to return home becomes a dangerous quest to reclaim his father’s remains from a long-lost psychotic uncle living deep in the Alabama swampland.

For Duddy Doogan, a journey into the heart of darkness will lead him to a shattering revelation about his own past, a secret truth hiding in plain sight powerful enough to alter the course of Perdido River history for generations to come.

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Finally You
by Various Authors
Rating: 5.0 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Finally You – Nook
Finally You – Apple iBooks
Finally You – Kobo

“The characters were all so well developed and unique.” -TXReader

USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Authors

WORKING IT OUT by USA Today bestselling author Rachael Anderson

Grace Warren’s life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes.

She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

But when Seth limps into Grace’s rehab clinic post surgery, there’s something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries.

Maybe he's exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she’s willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

A PERFECT FIT by Amazon bestselling author Heather Tullis

Cami DiCarlo doesn't agree with her father that her life has been stuck in a rut, so she is not happy when he forces her hand into heading up guest services at his newest five-star hotel.

The fact that he unveils the existence of four half-sisters at the same time, and insists that they live together while they launch the new resort, only makes things worse.

When she meets Vince Talmadge, the sweet, sexy landscaper her father would never have approved of, Cami can't say no.

If only she could be sure she is on the right track—and that they will be able to stop the person who is trying to destroy everything she and her sisters are working to build.

LOVED LIKE THAT by Amazon bestselling author Julie Wright

Does meeting someone when they're a soul make you soul mates? After being set up on one of the worst blind dates ever, James Hartman decides dating is hopeless and he should just stick to doing what he knows best—being a bachelor cop.

That decision lasts all of ten minutes as he comes across the scene of a car accident and finally meets the girl of his dreams. Granted, she's dead when he meets her, and she doesn't remember him at all once he resuscitates her.

Does he try to help her remember that out of body experience or does he walk away from his one chance to be loved like that?

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Brightleaf
by Raleigh Rand
Rating: 4.7 Stars
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“I absolutely LOVED this book!! Great story with a lot of humor that made me laugh out loud more than once. I highly recommend it – GREAT read!!!” -Kathy L.

Meet the characters…Mary Beth Green, a semi-neurotic sexually-repressed do-gooder who owns a boarding house and operates an amateur group therapy. Doyle Stubb, a grocery-reading fortuneteller, a slimy hypnotist who calls himself Lonnie Jr. The Healer, the mysterious Jersey Guy, Mavis, the cook, an uneducated yet wise mountain woman, a breakdancing computer dude…who carry on as usual until one of them suspiciously dies. The Rapturous Rest boarding house becomes the scene for figuring out whodunit…and then some.

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Dream Warriors
by D. Robert Pease
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Young Adult
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Dream Warriors – Nook

"A thrilling story of adventure and intrigue with more than its fair share of twists and turns. Joey Cola is a new breed of hero." -Susanne P.

Award-Winning Author

Joseph Colafranceschi is a fifteen-year-old, self-described geek, living in the Bronx.

The second youngest of twelve sons of the former U.S. ambassador to Italy, Joey discovers that a small Egyptian statuette, given to him by his father, endows him with power to control his dreams.

After his brothers throw him down a manhole, Joey is drawn into a hidden society of warriors who have been battling a reincarnated Egyptian Pharaoh for over 3,000 years.

In the dream world, everyone is not what they appear to be, and it's impossible to tell who to trust.

As Joey slips deeper into a world of gladiator battles and clandestine missions within other people's dreams, he catches the eye of a beautiful Egyptian princess.

The only thing that keeps him grounded in reality is his best friend Alex, but even she may not be who he thought she was.

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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.



Through the Mill- A Time for Snow
by J.W. Scott
Rating: 4.0 Stars
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Price: $0.00 Save $17.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Throughout history authors have warned that Collectivism, if taken to its ultimate conclusion would be the end of the United States, and of personal freedom.

What if their warnings were actually prophetic? What if government policies such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and Common Core create such class warfare when fully implemented that the house of cards topples over?

In a not so distant future- the NSA and Homeland Security have merged into the Specialized Homeland and Overseas Protectorate, an entity known as, The Shop.

The government of the United States has been removed in its place; a benevolent dictator has been seated as the head of The Shop, for life.

From the continued restructuring of health care, and the creation of a Certified Press, to the ban, on nicotine-producing products, on non-prescription drugs, and on the consumption of meat products, to the support, of THC producing products, and of the freedom to choose sterility with an abortion.

Are the progressive controls over individual lives, exerted via an authoritarian government, an effort to save us from ourselves?

When a Pre-college student hears his professor reading from a dissertation on, generational conflict, he is motivated to write a paper that speaks his mind. That would be fine, if he didn't live under the watchful eye of The Shop.

Pursued by the men in the dark glasses, and an artificial-intelligence-based entity, Ronald Snow and his girlfriend Jealousy Kincade are forced to speak out against The Shop, by a dissident faction.

Can these young lovers inspire a nation to throw off its shackles? What happens when a modern day Romeo and Juliet find themselves in the center of a potential coup?

Follow the efforts of Snow and Jealousy, as they attempt to reinstate the freedoms of a once-great nation. Will they help give us back our lost freedoms? Can they find a way to be happy in a future they helped craft? Or will they simply be run Through the Mill?

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Blur
by Kristen Middleton
Rating: 4.0 Stars
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.00 Save $8.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Blur – Nook
Blur – Apple iBooks
Blur – Kobo

Amazon Bestselling Author

Danger lurks in the dead of night…

Seventeen year old Nikki and her twin brother, Nathan, move to the small town of Shore Lake to start over after their mother is brutally attacked.

When a missing teenager washes up on shore during their first night at the cabin and there are whispers of vampires in Shore Lake, Nikki begins to realize that there are things roaming in the darkness that are far more sinister than what they left behind in the city.

 

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Check out the lineup of Kindles here!

More ENT Deals for 9-30-14

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 06:23 AM PDT

These 4 bargain books and 2 free books would make a great addition to your e-reader library.

You can read Kindle books wherever you are and on any device with the Free Kindle App – you don’t even have to own a Kindle to use the app!

BARGAIN BOOKS



The Last Thing You See
by Emma South
Rating: 4.7 Stars
Genre: Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“Beautifully written with some nail-biting suspense, some interfering family drama and a whole lot of self-discovery amidst true love! I highly recommend this book from a MUST-READ Author!” -K. Baudoin

USA Today Bestselling Author

Hollywood's new favorite starlet is already feeling overwhelmed by the insecurity of her past, a family that controls her every move, and the stresses that come with her job when a brutal attack from a madman takes that stress to a whole new level.

But what neither Harper nor her attacker saw coming was the 6'4", heavily muscled ex-Marine, Nick Martell, throwing himself in harm's way to save her.

After she visits him in the hospital to offer her thanks, she can't help but be intrigued by the man she finds beneath the bad boy exterior.

Plagued by guilt over his failure to protect the one person that mattered the most, all Nick wants is to find some peace.

The tattooed former Marine is scarred, inside and out, but saving Harper Bayliss might be his first step toward redemption. What's more, her answer to his heartfelt question is about to send them both down a path of scorching passion…and maybe even love.

With the pressures of Harper's fame and Nick's guilt working against them, will their feelings be enough to overcome all the obstacles, including the stalker that's still out there?

If he gets his way he'll show them that, even if they choose each other, you seldom get to choose the last thing you see.

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Wedding Wipeout
by Jacob M. Appel
Rating: 4.1 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Price: $0.99 Save $13.96
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“….the writing, plot, characterization and dialogue are commendable and provide enjoyable reading.” -Dedicated Mystery Reader

Award-Winning Author

Sisters Florence and Lorraine Eisenstein, heirs to an egg-cream fortune, have been bound for years by a peculiar will that automatically disinherits them if they marry, and they have remained spinsters into old age.

Then, without explanation, Florence suddenly decides to marry—and dies shortly after the wedding of an asthma attack. Or that, at least, is the story agreed upon by the family and the authorities. Rabbi Kappelmacher harbors his doubts….

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Element Wielder
by Cesar Gonzalez
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“Fun, Imaginative fantasy adventure!” -Steven V.

Falcon Hyatt has a problem. For reasons unknown to him he can wield all the elements, not only basics like fire and water, but also those more advanced, like space and poison.

And now the chaos element, the same one his parents' killer Shal-Volcseck wields, has awakened within him, with catastrophic results.

To complicate matters, the Suteckh Empire has declared war on the capital cities of Va'siel.

Now he must venture out into the world with his friends Lao, Faith, and Aya on a mission to stop the Suteckh from taking over Va'siel, and find his parents killer, as all the while he struggles to suppress his newfound abilities.

In his quest Falcon is forced to question what he's really fighting for, where his loyalties lie, and his own character. Is he truly a good person, or an even more dangerous menace than the dreaded Shal-Volcseck?

Element Wielder is the story of faith, love, and a young man's struggle to continue on his quest, when surrendering to his emotions and giving up is so much easier.

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Superfood Smoothies For Life and Better Health
by Sally Thomas
Rating: 5.0 Stars
Genre: Cooking
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“The book has vast variety of mouth-watering smoothies which are not only delicious but good for health as well…Fantastic!” -Saurabh J.

Smoothies are a great way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. These smoothies are ideal for those who are lactose intolerant or simply choose to avoid dairy. They are all gluten free and dairy free. All but one containing eggs are vegan.

Dairy free, gluten free, predominantly vegan, and fully paleo.

Included-
High-Protein Smoothies
Detox Smoothies
Alkalyzing Smoothies
Refreshing Smoothies
Afternoon Pick-Me-Up Smoothies
Kid-Friendly Smoothies

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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.



Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid
by Maureen Driscoll
Rating: 4.3 Stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Price: $0.00 Save $0.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Caught behind enemy lines at the Battle of Waterloo, nurse Jane Wetherby is forced to seek shelter with British operative Lord Edward Kellington.

After a night of passion, the two are separated. With nothing but the alias Jane used to protect her family, Lord Edward is unable to find the woman he can't forget.

Seven years later, Jane courts scandal by serving as the unofficial surgeon in the village of Marston Vale.

When Edward arrives to formalize his betrothal to a viscount's daughter in accordance with his late father's wishes, Jane has no choice but to watch the match proceed.

When a threat from the past emerges, Jane must join forces with Edward to safeguard her loved ones. But at what risk to her heart…

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Christ and Him Crucified
by Jon J. Cardwell
Rating: 4.8 Stars
Genre: Religious
Price: $0.00 Save $9.95
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED- Expounded Herein by Its Preeminence, Proposition, Power, Purpose, Provision, and Privilege, With an Exhortation in Its Priority

The book, CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED, answers some essential questions, such as-

Who is Jesus of Nazareth?
Is Jesus God?
What is the gospel according to the Bible?
Why did Jesus have to die?
What should we think of Jesus today?
Did Jesus suffer the wrath of God upon the cross?
What does it mean to be a born again Christian?
What are the Christian essentials?

THE TRUTH OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST is a supremely important and essential truth because it is a heavenly truth condescending unto fallen man from the throne of God.

Not only is the truth of Christ crucified a supremely important and essential truth because of its heavenly revelation, but is also preeminent because of its divine work of redemption.

THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST should never be divorced from the work of Jesus Christ. What He has done flows from who He is; and who Christ is necessitates what He does.

Jesus is not merely the Christ, but He is the Christ who was crucified. Sadly, too many churches, too many preachers of the gospel, and too many professing Christians are losing this central and essential truth.

American churches are standing for something other than, or something more (?!) than Christ, and Him crucified. My friends, this ought not so to be.

 

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More Kindle Deals for 9-30-14

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 06:12 AM PDT

Take a break from your busy day and download this set of 4 bargain books and 2 free books.

You can read Kindle books wherever you are and on any device with the Free Kindle App – you don’t even have to own a Kindle to use the app!

BARGAIN BOOKS



The Losing Role
by Steve Anderson
Rating: 4.2 Stars
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Price: $1.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $1.99 before clicking "Buy".

The Losing Role – Nook
The Losing Role – Apple iBooks
The Losing Role – Kobo

“Excellent dialogue, well-crafted characters, and enough dramatic tension to saw a Panzer in half.” — Independent Novel Award, Best of 2010 (The New Podler Review of Books)

In the last winter of WWII a failed German actor, Max Kaspar, is forced to join an absurdly desperate secret mission in which he must impersonate an enemy American officer.

So Max cooks up his own fanatical plan — he’ll use his false identity to escape tyranny and war and flee to the America he’d once abandoned.

The Losing Role is based on an actual false flag operation during 1944’s Battle of the Bulge that’s been made infamous in legend but in reality was a doomed farce.

In all the tragic details and with some dark humor, this is the story of an aspiring talent who got in over his head and tried to break free.

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The Perimeter
by Shalini Boland
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
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The Perimeter – Nook
The Perimeter – Apple iBooks
The Perimeter – Kobo

“This was a great book full of edge of your seat action and romance.” -faith

In this fractured world, a sinister force is coming for Riley, and the only things keeping her safe are a perimeter fence and the people she loves.

As her life is threatened, she must make impossible choices. But help comes from the most unlikely of places, and all Riley needs to know is: who can she really trust?

Meanwhile, a repentant killer searches for peace and salvation, but what he gets is the exact opposite. Now he'll have to make the hardest decision of his life.

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Paranormally Yours- A Boxed Set
by Various Authors
Rating: 5.0 Stars
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.99 Save $5.00
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Paranormally Yours- A Boxed Set – Nook
Paranormally Yours- A Boxed Set – Apple iBooks
Paranormally Yours- A Boxed Set – Kobo

“….a wonderful selection of all types of paranormal romance books…..you will not be disappointed!!! 5 Stars!” -Lynda F.

USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Authors

This BloodAlisha Basso, Amazon bestselling author

Grace finds herself the keeper of tremendous power and now the underworld is out to get her. Seth is a monster on the hunt and his prey has never been more seductive. While Grace's powers will ensure his leadership in the underworld, her beauty will make her captivity a pleasure.

The Starbuck Chronicles – AfterLifeZoe Dawson, bestselling author of Going to the Dogs

In this world gone mad……Lily's biggest challenge is to survive. A grumpy werewolf client is the least of witch caterer Lily Starbuck's worries when her partner is murdered. To make matters worse, the Fairy Dust Administration dust hounds are hot on her partner's trail, sniffing around for illegal dust.

RaverCandace Carrabus, Amazon bestselling author

Forced through a portal, Lauren wants to find Cirq's horses and return home before dinner. Instead, she's fighting giant venomous birds, a hostile queen, and her own heart. She discovers unimagined adventure and romance but must learn to believe in the unbelievable—herself—before the horses heed her call.

Soul of a VampireLauralynn Elliott

Nikolas longs for his soul as the darkness in him tries to take over. Tessa searches for a way to help Nikolas before it's too late.

Together they fight physical and emotional battles in their quest for the one thing that could allow them to be together. Will they make it before time runs out?

In Cassie's CornerDale Mayer, USA Today bestselling author

Faith and loyalty are tested as a young woman learns what it is to believe – in herself, in her friends, and in life after death.

Dragon Mama BluesEdie Ramer, USA Today bestselling author

Jin Long is in love and pregnant…and a dragon turned into a woman. But someone knows what she is and wants her for himself. She steals away to her dragon son in Nashville. Her lover follows her…and so does trouble.

Black Diamond JinnMary Hughes

The Y12 doom is real. Government witch Amaia Jones has the spreadsheet to prove it. Amaia turns to Rafe, a stunning jinni, for help. He proposes Venus magic, the very thing that killed her parents’ love. But the world is ending, tonight, unless she takes drastic action.

The MatingNicky Charles, Smashwords and B and N bestselling author

Elise had no idea when she came home that day that she’d end up mated to a complete stranger. A new Alpha and the need for an alliance between packs have made her a pawn.

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Sand Dollar- A Story of Undying Love
by Sebastian Cole
Rating: 4.3 Stars
Genre: Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $4.00
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Sand Dollar- A Story of Undying Love – Nook
Sand Dollar- A Story of Undying Love – Apple iBooks
Sand Dollar- A Story of Undying Love – Google Play
Sand Dollar- A Story of Undying Love – Kobo

“….a strong pick for general fiction and romance collections, highly recommended.” -Midwest Book Review

Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning Author

Noah Hartman has it all, or so it seems. Groomed since childhood to inherit his family’s fortune and business empire, the effect of living the life set down for him by controlling parents has left Noah out of touch with his inner self.

Enter Robin, who — in direct contrast to Noah — is a vivacious, free spirit with no material possessions to speak of. Robin’s love saves Noah by inspiring him to stand up to his parents and reclaim his true identity at all costs.

But Robin harbors a secret that could devastate their lives forever. Is it enough for two soul mates to find each other, or are the forces that would tear them apart too great to overcome?

Many years later, Noah lies in a hospital bed recounting his life of love and loss, only to discover a far greater truth about the past, present, and future. And the one certainty that remains unchanged in Noah’s heart — true love never dies.

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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.



Coulson’s Wife
by Anna J. McIntyre
Rating: 4.0 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $0.00 Save $10.50
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Coulson’s Wife – Nook
Coulson’s Wife – Apple iBooks
Coulson’s Wife – Kobo

The beginning of the Coulson Empire, 1918-

Mary Ellen’s father didn’t trade her for a house-exactly. Marrying the wealthy and handsome Randall Coulson is not something Mary Ellen wants to do, but being the obedient daughter she agrees to the marriage.

Randall Coulson wants Mary Ellen for one reason-to give him sons. He has no desire to form a bond of love or friendship with his young bride. His own heart is already taken.

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Maps for Kindle Fire Free
by Digital Media Revolutions
Rating: 4.0 Stars
Genre: Apps
Price: $0.00
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Need help getting to where you need to go? Let Maps for Kindle Fire show you the way!

Specially designed for the Fire, this app brings you quick access to road and satellite maps from around the world. Not going to be near WiFi when you’re out traveling the world?

No problem! Tap the Save button on the top right to save maps so that you can access them when you’re offline. More features abound. Easily zoom in and out, get turn by turn directions, and never end up lost again!

Maps for Kindle Fire is the most advanced map solution you’re going to find. Try it now!

 

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Book Of The Day – Fire Hawk’s Bride

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 05:32 AM PDT

Today's Book of the Day is a Romance novel by Award-Winning author Judith E. French and it's 80% off for a limited time. Fire Hawk’s Bride has a 4.6 star rating and is on sale for only 99 cents – save $4!

“Ms. French paints a picture on every page.” Janet – Amazon Reviewer



Fire Hawk’s Bride
by Judith E. French
Rating: 4.6 Stars
Genre: Romance
Price: $0.99 save $4

 

Fire Hawk’s Bride – Nook
Fire Hawk’s Bride – Apple iBooks
Fire Hawk’s Bride – Kobo

Award-Winning Author

In 17th century England, divided by race and station, theirs was a forbidden passion.

He was a magnificent Cherokee prince—held captive in an alien land—the chosen one destined to save his people from the white invasion. She was a gently-reared squire’s daughter, promised in marriage to a man she could never respect.

But from the moment Fire Hawk and Kate’s gazes locked and soul called to soul, the two were bound, caught up in a torrent of danger that swept them from the castled halls of Kent, across the Atlantic, to the wild splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains.

There in the savage wilderness the star-crossed lovers must risk everything in a single cast in the game of destiny.

Here’s what the reviewers have to say:

There was so much to this story! Love, heartache, jealousy, culture differences, hate, fear, did I forget more love? This definitely was a good one!

*******

This book showcases a great love story that is true to the time period. You will fall in love as Kate and Fire Hawk do.

*******

I enjoyed this immensely. I’m a fan of Judith French’s and she doesn’t disappoint with this book. Great hero for a bold, gutsy heroine. Keep up the good work, Ms. French!

*******

Judith is an awesome writer. I get absolutely lost in her books and can’t put them down. Firehawk’s Bride was no exception.

*******

I found the book to be sensual and memorable. The hero and heroine were outstanding. Loved the ending. This was my first Judith French read, but it won’t be my last. Great story that will stay with me.

Get Fire Hawk’s Bride here: Fire Hawk’s Bride

About The Author

Judith E. French has been writing professionally since she was 15. She has published over 60 novels in a career spanning nearly five decades and has over 2 million books in print. Her works have been translated into French, Spanish, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Bulgarian and Mandarin.

She is the author of mysteries, contemporary romances, suspense novels, and paranormal thrillers. She is best known for her American historical romances, which frequently take place during the Colonial period in the Virginia-Maryland-Delaware Tidewater region.

She is the recipient of Romantic Times’ Career Achievement in American Historical Romance award, the PEARL award for Best Anthology, and the Delaware Diamond Award for Literary Excellence.

Judith and her husband live with their two (very spoiled!) dogs in a restored 18th-century farmhouse on the Delaware-Maryland border. Her home has been in her family since a land grant was awarded to a female ancestor by William Penn. She is a descendant of Scottish, English and Welsh settlers and the local Lenni Lenape Native Americans.

She is the mother of best-selling novelist Colleen Faulkner, aka V.K. Forrest, Sarah Gray, and Hunter Morgan. Two of her grandchildren are at work on their first novels.

You can reach Judith through Facebook and at judithefrenchnovels@gmail.com.

Thank you for considering today’s Book Of The Day – Judith E. French and ENT appreciate it.

 

Bargain and Free Books for 9-30-14

Posted: 30 Sep 2014 05:28 AM PDT

Enjoy your coffee with your e-reader and download this selection of 5 bargain books and 2 free books.

You can read Kindle books wherever you are and on any device with the Free Kindle App – you don’t even have to own a Kindle to use the app!

BARGAIN BOOKS



Romancing the Heart – 8 True Loves To Sigh For
by Various Authors
Rating: 4.0 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $9.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Romancing the Heart – 8 True Loves To Sigh For – Nook
Romancing the Heart – 8 True Loves To Sigh For – Apple iBooks
Romancing the Heart – 8 True Loves To Sigh For – Google Play
Romancing the Heart – 8 True Loves To Sigh For – Kobo

“….you are in for some wonderful stories. So grab a glass of wine, snuggle into that comfy chair, and enjoy.” -?wazithinkin

NY Times, USA Today Bestselling and Award-Winning Authors

Share the joy of 8 happy-ever-afters with some of the best-known names in romance today. Each book in this limited-edition collection is a complete story – no cliffhangers!

Grab your favorite drink, find a comfy spot and read your way to paradise, replete with sweet and hunky heroes, near and distant lands, and love just the way it should be.

Passion and joy await…

The ROMANCING THE HEART BUNDLE includes:

Christina SkyeMARRIED BEFORE MIDNIGHT (The Brides Club Series- Book 1)
Mimi StrongCOMPLICATED GIRL (Baker Street Romance- Book 2)
Roxanne St. ClaireSECRETS ON THE SAND (The Billionaires of Barefoot Bay- Book 1)
Patricia McLinnPRELUDE TO A WEDDING (The Wedding Series- Book 1)
Jennifer BlakeTHE VENETIAN’S DARING SEDUCTION (The Italian Billionaires Collection- Book 2)
Donna FasanoTAKE ME, I’M YOURS
Tamelia TumlinCATERING TO THE ITALIAN PLAYBOY
Lindy CorbinNIKO’S STOLEN BRIDE

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Castle of Secrets
by Amanda Grange
Rating: 4.2 Stars
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“A thoroughly enjoyable page turner.” -Historical Novel Society

Helena Carlisle takes up a position as the housekeeper at Stormcrow Castle in an effort to find her missing aunt.

But she finds herself irresistibly drawn to the castle's enigmatic owner, who is guarding a secret. As she is drawn deeper into the world of the castle, she must fight for love—and survival.

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Krokodil
by Dustin Stevens
Rating: 4.4 Stars
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Price: $0.99
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“This book is fast paced and a page turner that I truly enjoyed.” -Dave U.

Five years ago, an unspeakable tragedy brought an early retirement to Jeremiah "Hawk" Tate's career as a DEA agent.

Without looking back he retreated from the desert sands of the southwest to the rugged wilderness of Montana, intent to live far from any connection to his previous life.

His solitude is shattered when a client shows up at the door of his Yellowstone guide service asking him to help her track down her brother, lost somewhere in the Park.

Against his better judgment Hawk accepts the job and is shocked to find the man they were seeking wasn't her brother, but someone linked to a life he thought he had left behind long ago.

Narrowly escaping with his life, Hawk is forced back into a world he hasn't been a part of in five years.

Calling on allies both old and new, he plunges forward on a case that will take him from California to Baja to Russia…and ultimately home again.

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Stronger
by Sarah Greyson
Rating: 4.4 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

“…never a dull or boring moment in the book. Do yourself a favor and get this book now!” -Christy L.

Haunted by the loss of his beloved fiancée a year and a half ago at the hands of a terrorist cell, ex-Green Beret Rob Fabik doesn’t know how to let go.

The sounds and sights of her death replay in his mind, and he tortures himself with the guilt he feels over not being able to save her life, distracting himself with alcohol and women.

Attending Harvard University, Lola Sardeson is a down-to-earth, rich girl who is tired of living under her father's thumb.

One night out with friends quickly turns into a nightmare as she is kidnapped from a busy Boston nightclub. Her nightmare intensifies as she learns that the Ortiz Cartel sells young, innocent girls into the sex-slave trade.

The Unit's mission is to rescue Lola from the nefarious clutches of the Ortiz Cartel. From the instant Rob sees Lola, she touches something deep inside him, drawing out his protective nature.

These feelings only serve to intensify the guilt he feels over losing his dead fiancée.

Forced by circumstance under the same roof, Lola inspires Rob to grow stronger. Can he suppress his feelings for Lola, or will guilt consume him alive? Can he forgive himself for not saving his fiancée?

Can Rob save Lola and protect her from the greedy hands of the Ortiz Cartel?

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Sundance, Butch and Me
by Judy Alter
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $3.00
Make sure price is still $0.99 before clicking "Buy".

Sundance, Butch and Me – Nook
Sundance, Butch and Me – Apple iBooks
Sundance, Butch and Me – Kobo

“…a realistic portrayal of historic events that touches the imagination and stirs the spirit.” -The Literary Times

Award-Winning Author

Her name is Martha Baird. Most know her as Etta Place, the fearless woman who rides with notorious outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Told in Etta’s voice, “Sundance, Butch and Me” is history transformed.

From daring train robberies and hair-raising escapes from the law, to her attraction to Sundance and love for Butch, experience the drama, passion, and adventure of the American West's most legendary woman.

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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.



One Day The Invitations Will Stop Arriving
by Marlayna Glynn Brown
Rating: 4.1 Stars
Genre: Memoirs and Biographies
Price: $0.00 Save $13.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning Author

Marlayna had been a single parent for fifteen years when she felt she had nothing left of herself to give. Drained and empty, she writes, “I’d reached a point in my life where something had to give, and it could no longer be me.”

Selling all she owned, Glynn Brown embarked on a journey to save herself.

Deeply personal, at times painful yet quirky, One Day The Invitations Will Stop Arriving: A Travel Memoir recounts her journey through fourteen countries and their people.

Glynn Brown takes readers from Texas to Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Montenegro, Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Belgium and finally The Netherlands.

In this honest memoir, Marlayna shares vignettes from the first six months of her journey, learning age really is just a number.

Readers will enjoy the not-always-easy journey, finding hope in this true story that teaches the wisdom of creating and receiving miracles when you start accepting invitations.

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Whill of Agora- Book 1
by Michael Ploof
Rating: 4.2 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Price: $0.00 Save $14.99
Subject to change back to full price at any time.

It is the year 5170 in the land Agora, where humans, dwarves, and elves have existed in peace for centuries. Now, however, the human King Addakon has invaded and waged war on neighboring Isladon.

The once peaceful Kingdoms of Agora are on the brink of continental war. The Dark Elf Eadon, and his army of Dragon-Elf crossbreeds, the Draggard, threaten to conquer all kingdoms.

Enter young Whill, a nineteen-year-old ranger with battle savvy and untapped abilities. Having spent years roaming Agora and training with his mentor Abram, Whill has become a bright intellectual and a master of combat.

What he seeks most, however, is the identity of his birth parents. Instead, he finds a tumultuous terrain and a prophecy placing him in the center of the struggle.

Along the way, Whill encounters an equally inspired group of companions that are matched in skill and mission. These include Rhunis the Dragon Slayer, the young Tarren, the fearless Dwarf Roakore, the beguiling warrior Elf Avriel, and the powerful Zerafin.

As Whill joins forces, he forges bonds far mightier than their escalating travails.

With high adventure and fierce friendship, Whill of Agora will capture your imagination and grip your heart during every super-charged escapade that Agora's bold and grinning brotherhood embraces.

 

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