P.D. Workman's Blog, page 102

Excerpt from The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag

Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5 is being launched this Friday! You can preorder it now. Learn about Ruby’s last sister and how she fared!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

I have been reading a couple more of the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley. Right now, I am reading The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. Since I’ve ended up reading the few that I have in reverse chronological order, it’s been very interesting to see how much some of the characters have changed since the beginning! Flavia’s family and the villagers have really softened in the later books.

I find it sometimes a curse and sometimes a blessing that I have inherited Harriet’s acute sense of hearing, since I am able, as I am fond of telling Feely, to hear things that would make your hair stand on end.

The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag, by Alan Bradley

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Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce didn’t intend to investigate another murder — but then, Rupert Porson didn’t intend to die. When the master puppeteer’s van breaks down in the village of Bishop’s Lacey, Flavia is front and centre to help Rupert and his charming assistant, Nialla, put together a performance in the local church to help pay the repair bill. But even as the newcomers set up camp and set the stage for Jack and the Beanstalk, there are signs that something just isn’t right: Nialla’s strange bruises and solitary cries in the churchyard, Rupert’s unexplained disappearances and a violent argument with his BBC producer, the disturbing atmosphere at Culverhouse Farm, and the peculiar goings-on in nearby Gibbet Wood — where young Robin Ingleby was found hanging just five years before.

It’s enough to set Flavia’s detective instincts tingling and her chemistry lab humming. What are Rupert and Nialla trying to hide? Why are Grace and Gordon Ingleby, Robin’s still-grieving parents, acting so strangely? And what does Mad Meg mean when she says the Devil has come back to Gibbet Wood? Then it’s showtime for Porson’s Puppets at St. Tancred’s — but as Nialla plays Mother Goose, Rupert’s goose gets cooked as the victim of an electrocution that is too perfectly planned to be an accident. Someone had set the stage for murder.

Putting down her sister-punishing experiments and picking up her trusty bicycle, Gladys, Flavia uncovers long-buried secrets of Bishop’s Lacey, the seemingly idyllic village that is nevertheless home to a madwoman living in its woods, a prisoner-of-war with a soft spot for the English countryside, and two childless parents with a devastating secret. While the local police do their best to keep up with Flavia in solving Rupert’s murder, his killer may pull Flavia in way over her head, to a startling discovery that reveals the chemical composition of vengeance.

Plans for 2018

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Wondering what’s in store for 2018? Here is a quickie outline of some of my releases for this year:

[image error]This year, I am adding on to several series, beginning with next week, when I will be releasing book #5 of the Between the Cracks series. Ronnie is available for preorder now, and there is a Goodreads Giveaway running for a free paperback copy.

Ronnie is a sequel to Ruby, Between the Cracks, winner of the Top Ten Books for Teens In the Margins literary award 2015.

You’ve been asking (well, begging,) so here it is: Tattooed Teardrops is getting a new cover… and sequels!

Tattooed Teardrops won the Top Fiction Award for the In the Margins literary award 2016, and this year is expanding to a four-book series!

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I am working on some additional books for the Auntie Clem’s Bakery cozy mystery series. Only one cover to show off right now, but there will be more.

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Also expect at least two sequels to She Wore Mourning in the Zachary Goldman Mysteries series

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Goodreads Giveaway for Ronnie

I currently have a Goodreads Giveaway running for Ronnie, book #5 in the Between the Cracks series. (Ronnie is currently available for preorder on Kindle, and will be released soon) Ronnie is a sequel to Ruby, Between the Cracks which won the In the Margin Top Ten Books for Teens award.

The Between the Cracks books have been absolutely AMAZING…

Ronnie was the one child in the Simpson family to escape from the abuse and grow up in a normal home without being bounced from place to place or ending up on the street.

That was what the others all thought.

That was what Ronnie told herself.

When Ronnie could remember.

Click to enter the Goodreads Giveaway now!

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Excerpt from Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman

Christmas is done and we are into the new year. Have a look at my New Year’s post for some inspiration on planning to make 2018 great!

Later this week, I plan to blog about what books I am expecting to publish this year. And I have a Goodreads giveaway for you to enter… so stay tuned…

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

I am reading Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman. I think this is my second Kellerman book, and I am enjoying the twists and turns as they close in on the killer and figure out what really happened.

Resting in the new too clippings was something wrapped in fuzzy cloth—a satin-edged blanket, once blue, now faded mostly to tan and pale green. Purplish splotches on the satin borders.

Something worth wrapping. Burying. Excited, Holly lifted the blanket out of the box.

Jonathan Kellerman, Guilt

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In an upscale L.A. neighborhood, a backyard renovation unearths an infant’s body, buried sixty years ago. Soon thereafter, in a nearby park, another disturbingly bizarre discovery is made not far from the body of a young woman shot in the head. Helping LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis to link these eerie incidents is brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. But even the good doctor’s vast experience with matters both clinical and criminal might not be enough to cut down to the bone of this chilling case. Backtracking six decades into the past stirs up tales of a beautiful nurse with a mystery lover, a handsome, wealthy doctor who seems too good to be true, and a hospital with a notorious reputation—all of them long gone, along with any records of a newborn, and destined for anonymity. But the specter of fame rears its head when the case unexpectedly twists in the direction of the highest echelons of celebrity privilege. Entering this sheltered world, Alex little imagines the macabre layer just below the surface—a decadent quagmire of unholy rituals and grisly sacrifice.

Make 2018 Great!

What are you doing to make 2018 great for you?

Do you have a special project planned for the new year? A goal you are working toward? Maybe you want to learn a new skill, develop a healthy habit, reconnect with friends or family, or check something off of your bucket list.

I have my 2018 projects planned out and will be working on them throughout the year. As well as my professional goals, I will also be reaching a personal milestone — my 25th wedding anniversary is in a week!

Some of my favourite goal-setting and productivity tools:

Your Best Year Yet! by Jinny S. Ditzler

Feel you’re not getting anywhere?

Putting off what matters most because you’re too busy?

Know you have talent and intelligence you’re not using?

Just imagine:

• Having more money

• Feeling and looking better

• Enjoying fulfilling relationships

• Doing more of what matters to you

• Having meaning in your life

• Finding spiritual inspiration

You already have what it takes to achieve the results you’ve always wanted. Here’s the missing piece that helps you put that talent to work in way that’s simple, fun, and practical. Life goes too quickly to waste – start today to make the next 12 months Your Best Year Yet!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

When it was first published in 1989, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was an almost instant bestseller–and quickly became a permanent part of the cultural lexicon. With over 25 million copies sold worldwide in over 40 languages since its first publication, this book continues to help millions of readers become more effective in both their personal and professional lives.

This is one of the rare books that has influenced presidents, CEOs, educators, and individuals all over the world not only to improve their businesses and careers but to live with integrity, service, dignity, and success in all areas of life. It has had an undeniable impact for the past 25 years–and will no doubt continue to be influential for many more.

Getting Things Done, by David Allen

Since it was first published almost fifteen years ago, David Allen’s Getting Things Done has become one of the most influential business books of its era, and the ultimate book on personal organization. “GTD” is now shorthand for an entire way of approaching professional and personal tasks, and has spawned an entire culture of websites, organizational tools, seminars, and offshoots.

 

Allen has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking his classic text with important perspectives on the new workplace, and adding material that will make the book fresh and relevant for years to come. This new edition of Getting Things Done will be welcomed not only by its hundreds of thousands of existing fans but also by a whole new generation eager to adopt its proven principles.

Planners and diaries:

I use planners and diaries of my own design, but here are some that have inspired me lately. I regularly browse through planner pages to tweak the design of my forms. Kind of like reading cookbooks!

[image error]Bullet Journal

Bullet Journal® (or BuJo® for short) was created by Ryder Carroll, a digital product designer living in Brooklyn, NY. Through many years of trial and error, the system has evolved into the ideas presented here. He sees this as an evolving, adaptable practice meant to be self curated as you determine what works best for you. This website, in addition to serving as a thank you to our generous community, is a space where inspiration, organization, and general musings on mindfulness can live and grow with the support of our talented Bullet Journalists.

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Tired of trying to fit the square peg that is your life into the round hole that is most conventional planners and organizers? Trust me: it’s not you, it’s them.

As a creative change-maker working on multiple projects with different deadlines – and a whole cast of collaborators, clients, and others experiencing your work – you need more than a conventional planner can offer. You need clarity on your objectives at any given time.

Our planners are designed to create that clarity for you. They’ve been downloaded over 1 million times by people like you who want to work smarter, not harder.

Happy Planner

Filled with creative and inspirational artwork to help make YOU a happy planner!

The Happy Planner® is an expandable, disc-bound planner system that combines your love for creativity with your need for organization.  Plan a happy life.

Each 18 month planner features:

Sturdy, laminated covers
Laminated tabs
Some dividers treated with FOIL
2017-18 year-at-a-glance calendar pages
Unique monthly and weekly layouts

Life Planner

The one and only LifePlanner is the ultimate tool in stylish organization for your busy life! Set your goals for the year, make note of monthly events and organize your weekly schedule just how you want! Customize and personalize your LifePlanner for a truly unique planner that’s as unique as you!

And for the Writers:

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Make 2018 the year you get your publishing business organized!

After searching for a solution for my own business and coming up empty, I decided to create one for myself.

Then my author friends wanted one…

Introducing the 2018 Publishing Planner

And more:

And here are some more books of wisdom and self-improvement you may be interested in:

Seven Degrees of Wisdom, by Joss Burnel and others

If you’ve ever wished you could sit down with a mother or grandmother – yours or someone else’s – and get their advice or input, here’s your chance to do that.

We are seven women – mothers and/or grandmothers – ranging in age from early 20s to early 80s. Between us we have pretty much done and seen it all, burning some bits and gathering pearls along the way. Aging, Having a Voice, Wisdom, Courage, Love, Loss and Risk are the topics you will find within the pages of this book. From poetry to short story and prose, we share our experiences of some of the profound moments of life. Grab a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or mug of coffee. Get comfortable. You just may find the advice you’ve been seeking and even some you didn’t know you needed.

And the sequel: Seven Degrees of Wisdom: Digging Deeper

Self Help Stories, by J. MacGregor

Allegories, parables, metaphors, anecdotes and fables — the way we learn best is to find the nuggets of wisdom, truth and inspiration tucked inside an unforgettable story. The powerful therapeutic tales in this collection will guide, heal, and motivate your journey to self-improvement and personal growth.

Baboons, pumpkins, red kettles, elephants, dandelions, scorpions, sinking ships, rebel planets, and toddlers at the wheel — these fun fables and fascinating tales contain profound lessons to help you lead a healthier, happier and more meaningful life.

More than just a collection of inspirational anecdotes, each short chapter comes with:

• Questions to challenge and stimulate your thinking about the topic;

• A short story with a clear message;

• A simple analysis so that you can understand the relevance for your life;

• A set of practical action steps and tips which you can follow to make constructive changes in the way you think, feel, behave and relate to others;

• A short and sharp takeaway to help you remember the lesson.

The Self-Improvement Journey, by Ryan Dieudonne

If you want to improve your life, improve yourself.

Self improvement expert Ryan dieudonne asserts, “Most people don’t realize that successful and unsuccessful people do not differ substantially in their abilities. They vary in their desire to reach their potential. The way they reach that potential is through commitment to personal growth.”

The Self-Improvement journey provides the essentials leaders need to keep striving for excellence no matter where they are or what they are doing. Some lessons you will learn from Ryan’s years of experience:

• Secret of becoming a lifelong learner

• Where to focus your time for maximum growth

• What sacrifices are worth making to keep getting better

• How to overcome obstacles to self-improvement

Self-Love Experiment, by Shannon Kaiser

Too many people seem to believe that they are not allowed to put themselves first or go after their own dreams out of fear of being selfish or sacrificing others’ needs. The Self-Love Experiment rectifies this problem. Whether you want to achieve weight loss, land your dream job, find your soul mate, or get out of debt, it all comes back to self-love and accepting yourself first. Shannon Kaiser learned the secrets to loving herself, finding purpose, and living a passion-filled life after recovering from eating disorders, drug addictions, corporate burnout, and depression.

Shannon walks you through her own personal experiment, a simple plan that compassionately guides you through the process of removing fear-based thoughts, so you can fall in love with life. If you want to change your outcome in life, you have to change your daily habits and perspective. Shannon takes you on this great journey into self-love and true self-acceptance.

Happiness in This Life, by Pope Francis

For Pope Francis, the appreciation of our everyday lives is a spiritual undertaking. Joy is a divine attribute, and creating joy around us an essential part of faith. Every homily and speech in this book delivers, in warm, engaging language accessible to believers and nonbelievers alike, a key lesson, instructing readers on finding love and happiness in a chaotic world.

Along the way, Pope Francis discusses the sanctity of women’s rights, talks about how the love of sports can bring out our best qualities, and explains why fighting discrimination is the essence of loving thy neighbor. He shares personal stories and anecdotes from his life, provides comforting messages of hope, and discusses the ways flawed families can make you a better person. The core ideas of Francis’s papacy—mercy, support for marginalized people, and diplomacy—shine through.

The Renewal, by Sallyann Gray

The Renewal discusses the restless feelings many adults face today. After acquiring many material possessions, landing a dream job, marrying and having kids, there is an outward appearance of success but little inner fulfillment.

It highlights the steps one can take to renew their mind which will lead to a more fulfilled and purposeful life. It guides and discusses the spiritual principles that will enable you to renew your mind, renew your heart, renew your spirit and RENEW your LIFE.

And for daily inspiration:

Daily Peace 

Insightful, timeless, and elegantly designed, Daily Peace provides a focus on finding inner peace. Each page is an invitation to pause, reflect, and recharge, complemented with inspiring quotations and exquisite National Geographic images. Whether readers are dealing with loss, facing a transition, or searching for day-by-day motivation, Daily Peace is a go-to guide that provides meaning and perspective. Monthly themes—from resilience and healing to hope and comfort to forgiveness and generosity—will inspire you every day of the year.

The One Year Bible

The One Year Bible makes reading through the Bible achievable with daily 15-minute readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. This edition uses the popular New International Version text.

The Book of Mormon 365-Day Reader

This ebook has been split into 365 readings and all that is left for you is to open the book and get started!

Read the Book of Mormon by yourself, with your family, or a study group. Enrich your life with daily reading.

This Workman Family Classic edition contains:

• Background/Introduction

• Reading schedules

• Family reading strategies

• Extension activities

Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul, by Melody Beattie

Journey to the Heart by New York Times bestselling author of Codependent No More, Beyond Codependency, and Lessons of Love, contains 365 insightful daily meditations that inspire readers to unlock their personal creativity and discover their divine purposes in life.

365 Prescriptions for the Soul, by Dr. Bernie s. Siegel

Dr. Bernie Siegel writes with humorous, down-to-earth wisdom that has improved the lives of countless readers. In 365 Prescriptions for the Soul, he treats us to his most user-friendly work of all: daily doses of inspiration and humor that gently and joyfully help us live more peaceful, loving, and fulfilling lives.

Believing in Myself, by Earnie Larsen & Carol Hegarty

This enlightening book from a pioneer in the field of recovery presents a daily meditation for every day of the year, complete with an inspirational quote and a thought-for-the-day.

Believing in Myself is a must read for anyone struggling with self-esteem issues. A solid sense of self-worth is the single most important factor in determining our happiness in life and our success in work and relationships. With it, virtually all things are possible; without it, even victories can feel like defeats. Raising low self-esteem is an essential part of the healing process for those who are recovering from addictions and dependencies—and for anyone who still feels the pain of childhood traumas or other emotional wounds.

Excerpt from A Prison Diary

I hope you had a good Christmas! If you got a new Kindle or ereader, make sure you take a look through my stocking stuffer and advent calendar posts for some great deals.

On to my teaser. Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

I don’t read a lot of memoirs, but this is one that caught my eye. Jeffrey Archer is a bestselling fiction author, but he has also published nonfiction accounts of the time he spent in prison for a perjury conviction. Interesting reading if you want to hear some of the details of life behind bars. I just recently started the first book, A Prison Diary, yesterday.

I think about the verdict, and the fact that it never crossed my mind even for a moment that the jury could find Francis innocent and me guilty of the same charge. How could we have conspired if one of us didn’t realize a conspiracy was taking place?

A Prison Diary, by Jeffrey Archer

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On July 19, 2001, following a conviction for perjury, international bestselling author Jeffrey Archer was sentenced to four years in prison. Prisoner FF8282, as Archer is now known, spent the first three weeks in the notorious HMP Belmarsh, a high-security prison in South London, home to murderers, terrorists and some of Britain’s most violent criminals.

On the last day of the trial, his mother dies, and the world’s press accompany him to the funeral. On returning to prison, he’s placed on the lifer’s wing, where a cellmate sells his story to the tabloids. Prisoners and guards routinely line up outside his cell to ask for his autograph, to write letters, and to seek advice on their appeals.

For twenty-two days, Archer was locked in a cell with a murderer and a drug baron. He decided to use that time to write an hour-by-hour diary, detailing the worst three weeks of his life.

When A Prison Diary was published in England, it was condemned by the prison authorities, and praised by the critics.

Books in your Stocking – A Christmas Eve Book Flood

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I love the Icelandic tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve and spending the night reading, a practice known as Jolabokaflod, or the “Christmas Book Flood.” What a great idea! Just to make sure that you have something to read for Christmas Eve, I have pulled together a collection of free, $0.99, deeply discounted, or Christmas-themed books for your Christmas Eve or holiday season reading!

Whether you read them on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, I hope you’ll pick up a few of these books and have a wonderful time.

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Free!

You can pick up series one books Ruby, Mito, or Deviation for free on my website:

Ruby, Between the Cracks

Winner of Top Ten Books for Teens award by In the Margins Committee, 2015.

If you asked Ruby, she’d tell you she’s happy with her life.  She’s tough and independent and doesn’t depend on anyone else. The road that has led her here has not been easy, and she’s blocked a lot of it from her memory.

But things aren’t as rosy as she would have everyone believe, and the road ahead of her is filled not only with gangs, drugs, and depression, but other challenges that Ruby hasn’t even imagined.

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Mito, Medical Kidnap Files #1

Gabriel has dealt with mysterious medical issues his whole life. Just when he finally thought that they had all of the answers and he was on the road to good health, he is apprehended by DFS on the grounds of medical neglect.

At first, he thought that he would be back home in a few days, once the misunderstanding was cleared up. But when Renata tells Gabriel her crazy conspiracy theories, Gabriel feels the first pangs of doubt. Is there really a conspiracy? Will he ever be able to get well and go back to his mother, or is he doomed to be another guinea pig for Doctor De Klerk?

Deviation, Breaking the Pattern #1

“You’re a good kid, Henry.”

Everyone knew that he was a good guy; geeky, responsible, hard-working.  Henry has had a lot to deal with in the past.  Now, as he should be focusing on his schooling and preparing himself for the future, he is hindered by abuse, the challenge of raising his baby brother while dealing with his mother’s deep depressions, and the return of a ghost from the past Henry has tried his best to forget.

But it seems that Henry can’t avoid the nastiness of life.  As hard as he tries, it’s one more disaster after another as his life spirals out of control.

Can Henry escape the darkness, or is he doomed to be consumed by it?

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And more!

[image error] Mismatch, by Tracie Delaney

New Release!

When playboy Rupe Fox-Whittingham wakes up in bed next to a dead woman, he’s charged with murder. His best friend, ex-tennis ace Cash Gallagher, arranges for frosty but brilliant lawyer, Jayne Seymour, to represent him.

Jayne swore off men after her husband’s terrible betrayal. She’s far too bright to make the same mistake twice.

Rupe wants her—and he always gets what he wants. Winning her heart won’t be easy. Still, he thrives on challenge.

[image error] The Witch Who Saved Christmas, by Katie Penryn

Mpenzi Munro and her shapeshifting bodyguard Felix are once again called upon in the fight of good against evil. This time it is Christmas Eve. A vile and evil monster is trying to sabotage Santa’s delivery of Christmas presents to the children of the world.

Penzi wants to stay home and have a family dinner, but Felix reminds her that a witch has to do what a witch has to do. Of course, Penzi does what she has to do with the help of the High Council of the Guild of White Witches.

This story is not a who-dunnit like the other stories in the series, but is rather a tale of how-to-do-it to a nasty monster. It is a stand-alone novella and is a story suitable for reading to or with children. However, the vocabulary is set at an adult level so children may need some simplification, which in itself leads to interaction between parent and child at Christmastime.

[image error] A Very Carrie Christmas, by J.J. Green

Something strange is happening in Lapland. The Northern Lights haven’t shown up for months, which means tourist numbers are down and the livelihoods of the local Sami people are under threat.

Only aliens can be responsible, and as a Transgalactic Intercultural Community Crisis Liaison Officer, it’s up to Carrie Hatchett to find out who they are.

But as Carrie and her bestie Dave try to sort fact from fiction in the frozen Arctic wastes, they uncover more questions than answers.

What mysterious creatures are roaming the countryside at night, reaching up to the stars?

Is the reindeer pee story really only something the Sami like to tell tourists?

How much longer can Dave take it before Carrie’s messy habits make his head explode?

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Dreaming of Dillon, by J.L. Heritage

Sophie loves her job as Assistant PA to Marcus Dillon, even though he’s been starring in her dreams for the past few months.

It’s the end of the year… Christmas always fills Sophie with dread. Calamity ensues when she has to run festive errands for her boss, and plan a Christmas party she’s forgotten she’s in charge of!

Marcus is a successful and wealthy entrepreneur. After being viscously betrayed, he’s been single for so long that he doubts he’ll ever find someone who wants a real relationship, rather than just the accolade of having him on her arm.

The more he gets to know Sophie, the more he realises just how real and endearing she is. It’s coming up to Christmas, his favourite time of year, and he’s planning on making his move.

[image error] Angel in the Whirlwind, by Melinda R. Cordell

$0.99

Angel in the Whirlwind is a short story collection about loneliness and change, and the angel in the middle of it all, waiting to guide you to a better life.

 

 

[image error] The Impossible Quest of Hailing a Taxi in Christmas Eve, by George Saoulidis

$0.99

In this modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Scrooge is looking for a taxi to get home on Christmas Eve. But he will get the ride of his life, as he is walked through his past, his present and his future to end up a changed man.

Set in modern day Athens, this science-fiction version of the classic ghost story is guaranteed to bring shivers down your spine and a smile to your face.

[image error] The Reluctant Detective, by Tom Fowler

Free to KU Subscribers

Three weeks in a brutal prison—that was hacker C.T. Ferguson’s punishment for helping Americans and dissidents evade the Chinese government. Deported home, C.T. uses his digital skills as a private investigator.

Suspecting her husband is cheating on her, Alice hires C.T. to investigate. He soon learns that Alice has her own problems, namely a ruthless adversary squeezing her for money. Even the suspicious death of her husband can’t buy Alice a break.

[image error] Enchantment, by Tanya Dawson

$0.99

One girl. Two bloodlines. One pledge to be made.

When Olivia Whitby’s mother vanishes, a cryptic letter left at her door leads her to a family she never knew – a family of Fae.

But the secrets run even deeper and Olivia soon finds herself trapped amongst the power struggle between the Fae and the Sabean Vampires, whom she is thoroughly warned to stay away from. However, the possibility of finding out the truth about herself is too captivating, as is Henry, an enigmatic Sabean vampire. To make matters worse, she is also falling for her Fae guardian, Will.

[image error] Christmas Kisses, by Mlissa Snark and others

Free (Adult)

A shifter’s mate is in the stars… but sometimes that rugged alpha hero or sassy heroine is waiting under the mistletoe for his or her one true love.

Christmas Kisses is a boxed set of ALL NEW short stories set in Zodiac Shifters, a collection of books with an astrological spin on love. From Aries to Virgo… discover all-new tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Our world features New York Times, USA Today, and other bestselling authors.

[image error] Craving Love & Death, by Haven Cage

$0.99 (Adult)

She may play the role of a quiet, docile nightclub singer and waitress for her friends and family, but, behind closed doors, Vivienne gives into an insatiable lust and hunger no man can escape.

She just wants to ignore her disturbing temptations. However, when Vivie’s best friend convinces her to join an impromptu double-date with two handsome sailors, her plan gets blown to bits.

[image error] The Genesis of Evangeline, by Rachel Jones

$0.99

Evie Callahan is positive there’s something strange going on in Seaton Falls, her new home. The locals are bigger, stronger, and faster than most. That includes Nick, the boy next door who’s become her silver lining in this godforsaken town.

She wants to trust her instincts–about Nick, about what she suspects in Seaton Falls–but rumors of wolves and dragon shifters makes it hard to tell what’s real. With a history of odd dreams and the nagging sense that she’s never belonged, Evie fears she’s losing touch with reality. Her concern only grows when someone who’s haunted these dreams is suddenly tangible… and claims to hold the key to unlocking her true identity.

[image error] Pirate Princess, by Catherine Banks

$0.99

As the daughter of the Pirate King, Tilia Swanson has an unusual upbringing learning skills that aren’t often available for women. As the heir apparent for the Kingdom of Crilan, her skills set her apart as she is trained by the best in the land and taught to harness her magic. However, piracy is in her blood, and draws danger to her in the way that treasure draws pirates. Some treasures are more valuable than others. Will this lesson be learned in time or will the betrayal of those around her be her undoing?

[image error] The Ash Park Series, by Meghan O’Flynn

Three books, one low price!

From book 1:

Ash Park, a run-down suburb of Detroit, might not be the most idyllic place to live, but for Hannah Montgomery, it’s safe. At least, it feels that way until a serial killer starts dicing up women from the shelter where she volunteers.

Despite the ever-present tingling at the nape of her neck, Hannah manages to convince herself that the killings have nothing to do with her brutal past–until her boyfriend is murdered in the same ruthless manner as the others. It doesn’t help that the police think she might have done it.

But the cops are right about one thing: Hannah is responsible. Because she knows who the killer is. Now she must face the fact that she brought a monster with her to Ash Park–and his appetite for blood is insatiable.

[image error] Enlightened, by Samantha Britt

$0.99

Darcie Abernathy leads an unusual life. At seventeen, she spent the past two years living abroad while her father studied ancient cultures throughout the Mediterranean. Monotonous days filled with dusty libraries made her count the days until she returned to Maine.

Finally back at her childhood home, Darcie is eager to reconnect with friends and prepare for her future. Normalcy ends the moment she runs in to them… The Immortals.

Mistaken as the soulmate of an immortal, Darcie is taken from her home and thrown into a world of intrigue and rebellion. Forced to remain under the protection of her abductors or risk being killed by their enemies, Darcie learns of mythical beings and centuries old conflicts while the rest of the mortal world is left in the dark.

[image error] 12 Days of Christmas, by Craig Anderson and Others

$0.99; profit goes to charity

From fairy tales to superheroes, and reverse harem to sci-fi thriller, there’s something for everyone.

The stories in this collection are based off prompts from the 12 Days of Christmas song and don’t necessarily have an overtly Christmas theme.

Partridge in the P.E.A.R by Skye MacKinnon & Arizona Tape (Sci-fi Reverse Harem)
Friday, the 13th Day of December (A Satirical Modern Fairy Tale)
Three French Hens by Troy McLaughlan (Science Fiction Thriller)
Four Calling Byrds by Joynell Schultz (Fantasy/Superhero Fiction)
Five Gold Rings: A Sisters of Hex Prequel by Bea Paige (Paranormal Fantasy)
Six Geese A-Laying: A Murder Most Fowl by Holly Geely (Cozy Mystery Fairy Tale)
Clipped by Laura Greenwood (Paranormal Fantasy Fairy Tale)
The Quest by Paula Harmon (Victorian Paranormal)
When Stars Align by Gina Wynn (Light Sci-Fi)
10 Lords a Leeping: Framed by Jenny O’Brien (Paranormal Romance)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Liz Hedgecock (Cozy Mystery)
12 Reasons by Craig Anderson

All Profits from 12 Days of Christmas will be donated to Bookbus.

[image error] Tears of Glass, by David Lake

Free on Kindle Unlimited

A failed quarterback, failed husband and failed human being, finds redemption through the music of a failed songwriter.

This darkly humorous thriller is based on real events, including the ‘ Accidental ‘ deaths of twenty two UK scientists all working on US missile systems.

Morgan, a drinking, smoking, womaniser, is drawn to the iconic music of the seventies – Dylan, Carole King, Neil Young, Led Zep – but when he acquires a rejected demo tape by a bluesy pianist, his friends start to meet with bizarre, ‘ Accidental ‘ deaths. It eventually dawns that HE is the target . Running to the Californian desert, picking up the inevitable girl en-route, he has no idea that he has stumbled. literally, upon the biggest conspiracy the Intelligence Services have tried to hide since The Wall came down.

[image error] Alexander Memoirs, by May Freighter and others

$0.99

Alexander lives his life for two reasons: to protect his mother and keep his one-sided love for Katharine hidden. He is a servant, incapable of reaching the top of the social ladder without help. Chances like that come at a cost, and he is more than willing to pay for it.

All does not go according to plan. The woman he loves marries another, the man who tried to kill him becomes his rival, and the fate of his mother changes for the worst. Alexander knows one thing for certain. He cannot turn the time back, just as he cannot become human again.

[image error] The Hundred Year Wait, by Amelia Price

Free in US and UK

It’s been one-hundred years since Watson died and Mycroft still doesn’t understand what Sherlock saw in having such a companion, but after so long alone and somehow still as young, he is starting to wonder what it might be like to have a disciple of his own.

Life for Amelia Jones is dull, she’s spent all her years writing about the adventures other people have, and then she meets the Holmes brothers. Can she persuade the most intelligent person in the world to trust her? And if she does, can she survive the danger that surrounds them?

[image error] Hat Check, by David Berens

$0.99

Troy Clint Bodean had everything he needed for some peace and quiet: a good fishing pole, a pickup truck, and a beach house on a small island in South Carolina.

All was right with the world… until he found the hat… a straw cowboy hat with a peacock feather stuck in the band and it looked good on him, really good – like, Matthew

McConaughey with a beard good, so he kept it. But that’s when everyone started trying to kill him… redneck strippers, not-so-professional hit men, and a shady corporate boss and he had no idea why.

[image error] Girl Fights Back, by Jacques Antoine

Free!

A military-genetics experiment gone missing captures the attention of every intelligence agency in the world, and they will stop at nothing to find it. Meet quiet, unassuming Emily Kane. Her only passion is the martial arts, and her only friends are the boys from the dojo.

Not until a trained assassin attacks her on a college visit, does she realize the danger her family secrets pose to everyone she cares about. Now, using the skills she learned from her father, she takes the fight to her enemies, and discovers an alarming talent for mayhem. The only thing more terrifying than the men hunting her is what she may discover about herself.

[image error] What Four, by Margaret Lashley

All Val wants is a quiet holiday away from her oddball family. But that just ain’t gonna happen.

After a close brush with a crazy cousin in St. Pete, Val and her boyfriend Tom arrive at her mom’s house in Hicksville to find the annual Family Fruitcake Frenzy competition is already well underway. And there’s more than a few fruits and nuts in the running….

But the biggest contest is between Val and her mom.

As their battle of wills heats up, unexpected ingredients get thrown into both women’s batter. It may be time to call in a game warden….

[image error] Rising Storm, by Kyla Stone

$0.99

Eighteen-year-old Amelia appears to have it all. In a devastated world, she’s a privileged heiress aboard the lavish Grand Voyager–a luxury liner reserved for the powerful, corrupt elites.

 

But beneath her flawless façade, she’s haunted by secrets. Controlled by her ambitious father, she lives in fear–until she finds herself drawn to Gabriel, a dangerously charming ship’s officer hiding secrets of his own.

 

When rebels hijack the ship, the passengers are plunged into a deadly nightmare. Trapped and hunted by enemies, enigmatic Gabriel is Amelia’s only chance for survival. But who is he really? And can she trust him?  

[image error] The Christmas Switch, by Laura L. Walker

$0.99

For schoolmarm Rachel Ambry, Christmas Eve means getting through the special program she and her pupils have put together for the townsfolk in Langdon. And even though she has vowed to not set eyes on handsome Calvin Hunsaker, it becomes inevitable when his incorrigible son needs her help. Calvin is the only person who seems to see past her ugly birthmark, yet Rachel senses that he also sees her as the spineless, helpless socialite she used to be.

Calvin Hunsaker is determined to ignore the feeling of attraction stirring inside him for the beautiful schoolmarm, even though he isn’t doing a very good job. He isn’t ready for another wife, especially one who is ill-suited for the harshness of prairie life. And besides, Rachel is trying to pick up the pieces after her brother and sister-in-law’s untimely deaths and raise their three youngsters, not bedazzle him with the same frivolous charms his first wife possessed. Better to bundle up and head out of the one-room schoolhouse the second the Christmas program ends.

[image error] Other, by Karen Kincy

Free

Shapeshifting can be a beautiful and deadly secret. Gwen craves the forbidden rush of leaping from her bedroom window and transforming into an owl, but she could lose it all if anyone caught her. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others. In the small town of Klikamuks, Washington, coming out as a person with paranormal abilities means staring down the barrel of a shotgun. Gwen hasn’t even told the truth to her boyfriend, Zack.

When a pack of werewolves claims the national forest behind Gwen’s house as their territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate–into murder. Prejudice slows the police investigation. It doesn’t take Gwen long to realize a serial killer is targeting Others. On the hunt for clues, she meets Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her shapeshifting. Can she find the killer before he finds her, or will her secrets be the death of her?

[image error] Stone and String, by Stephanie Flint

$0.99

In the world of “The Wishing Blade,” everyone is born with two strings of magic. One strand is life, and the other is death. Very few can manipulate them.

Among the Cantingen Islanders, children are tested for this ability during their first rites of magic, a ceremony which determines what magic they have and their future as a mage. But when Edyli’s little sister, Akymi, dies in an accident before those rites can occur, Edyli does the unthinkable. She uses magic to return Akymi to the living. As a result, she finds herself in a land of weblike strings… the afterlife.

Edyli refuses to give up seeing her sister’s first rites. With the help of a mysterious immortal and sheer determination, she has every intention of seeing her sister once more, even if it means incurring the wrath of Madia, the goddess of the dead.

[image error] Angel Charmed, by Raquel Lyon

$0.99

Between one of her students pushing her buttons and the prospect of facing Christmas alone, Beth is having a tough week.

Her troubles increase when she attempts to discover the reason behind an empty seat in her classroom and bumps into a familiar face. Detective Sam Williams is everything she should want in a man, and there’s something about his dark, brooding nature that has her contemplating him filling the void in her life, until she remembers he’s human. Exposing her magic outside the supernatural community would invoke the kind of trouble you don’t recover from.

But avoiding Sam seems impossible. He’s everywhere she turns, and a casual comment raises suspicion that he may be keeping a secret of his own. So, when his investigation takes a deadly turn, Beth fears she may have no option but to reveal herself to save him.

[image error] Snow King, by Kate Grove

After losing a battle to his nemesis, demigod Edur was cursed to a century-long sleep in a small town located in North Wales. When he is awakened from his slumber by a beautiful woman, he wakes with a cold desire for vengeance. But time has left him behind, and he has a great deal to learn about the modern world, leaving him a ta disadvantage against his foe.

Struggling artist Gwen Morgan didn’t expect to stumble upon an ancient being sleeping in a cave on her daily walk. After accidentally waking Edur, she reluctantly takes on the responsibility of teaching him about the modern world. Though he is arrogant and frighteningly powerful, she soon learns there is a softer side beneath his icy surface.

[image error] Valandra, by Tristan Vick

$0.99

The wraith knight Ashram and his army of the dead march on the holy city of Sabolin. Queen Sabine to leads a massive army to engage the black knight in battle. But when Sabine’s best warrior, Arianna, is whisked away by the toilsome mage Zarine in the middle of the fight, it’s up to Sabine to confront the Wraith Knight herself. However, without her best warrior, will she prevail? Or will he? The fate of Valandra hangs in the balance as Queen Sabine faces off with a seemingly unstoppable force of evil.

[image error] Out of Time, by Warren Court

$0.99

Armour Black is a broken man. Reeling from the death of his wife, Armour seeks refuge in the past and chooses to live “out of time”. His fantasy world of Model T’s, snappy cocktails and the jazz age is shattered when a skull is discovered on a construction site. A clue which raises questions about an infamous murder case from the roaring twenties, one for which Armour believes an innocent man was executed.

1924, Hamilton Ontario. Richard Krantz; solicitor, veteran of the Great War, caught in a love triangle with his wife and “one of her fellas”, winds up dead, His mutilated corpse, minus the arms, legs and head is found on the Hamilton escarpment. His wife Evelyn, the underage seductress, quickly turns on her lover and blames the whole thing on him. He swings for it. Case closed.

80 years later the discovery of what Armour believes is Krantz’s skull on a farm outside of Hamilton throws the whole confession by Evelyn out the window.

[image error] Final Enemy, by Dan Petrosini

$0.99

Like all reporters, Jack longs for a breaking story but is stuck writing obituaries for a small-town rag. As his frustration mounts, it hits him that no one has died in over three days. Jack’s odd observation becomes something far stranger when he connects a meteorite to the bizarre phenomenon.

Seizing the opportunity, Jack breaks the story and after a struggle to control the meteorite’s power is resolved, a swelling population begins to create havoc. With the survival of the human race hanging in the balance, politicians enact increasingly horrific measures and desperate citizens take matters into their own hands.

Jack’s in a position to not just report the news, but change it, and his decisions and observations creates an epic thriller that pits the potential of human immortality against a force designed to change – or obliterate – humanity itself.

Only one man might stand in its way … the man buried in the obits department.

[image error] Dashing, by Sandy Rideout

Dorset Hills is known for two things: its passion for dogs, and its passion for Christmas. So when Mim Gardiner’s beloved pooch, George, goes missing on December 20th, it’s a major event. That a dog could be stolen and held for ransom in “Dog Town” is an insult to everything that makes this community special. As a workaholic nurse and single mom to a sullen teenage son, Mim seems an unlikely target for crime.

But there’s a side to her sweet George she didn’t know, and at least one neighbor who isn’t sorry to see him gone. Gorgeous and abrasive Carver Black makes no bones about his distaste for George. The more she digs, the longer the list of suspects grows. Can she solve this mystery in time to bring George home for Christmas? DASHING is a novella of approximately 100 pages 32,000 words.

Protected: Coming Soon: Books in your Stocking – A Christmas Eve Book Flood

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Excerpt from Blue Labyrinth

Can you believe it is less than a week until Christmas? Just a few more days left on the Advent Calendar of Books, so hop over to grab yourself a quick treat!

I’ve just finished the first draft of the next book in the Auntie Clem’s Bakery series, and I’m getting Ronnie, the fifth book in the Between the Cracks series ready for release.

On to my teaser. Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

My new book today is Blue Labyrinth, a Pendergast mystery by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I haven’t read any other books in this series, but it has some great, eclectic characters and I have been enjoying it. If you like Sherlock Holmes and Ellery Queen, I think you’ll like this one.

Pendergast shrugged free and exited into the sweeping rain, more glass falling away as he did so. He stared ahead at the impenetrable tangle of cars, the sea of flashing lights, listening to the shouts of paramedics and police and the thud of the useless, circling chopper.

The Town Car was long gone.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Blue Labyrinth

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A long-buried family secret has come back to haunt Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast.

It begins with murder. One of Pendergast’s most implacable, most feared enemies is found on his doorstep, dead. Pendergast has no idea who is responsible for the killing, or why the body was brought to his home. The mystery has all the hallmarks of the perfect crime, save for an enigmatic clue: a piece of turquoise lodged in the stomach of the deceased.

The gem leads Pendergast to an abandoned mine on the shore of California’s Salton Sea, which in turn propels him on a journey of discovery deep into his own family’s sinister past. But Pendergast learns there is more at work than a ghastly episode of family history: he is being stalked by a subtle killer bent on vengeance over an ancient transgression. And he soon becomes caught in a wickedly clever plot, which leaves him stricken in mind and body, and propels him toward a reckoning beyond anything he could ever have imagined….

Instafreebie – The Kids are All Right

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Here is an Instafreebie giveaway for MG and YA lit, including Questing for a Dream. It is on for a limited time only!