P.D. Workman's Blog, page 90

Excerpt from If I Stay

[image error]If you missed my Christmas books post last week, be sure to have a look and share your most favourite Christmas stories with me.

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

I haven’t posted about a young adult book lately, so I am pleased to bring you an excerpt from Gayle Forman’s If I Stay. I hadn’t read the blurb before starting this book, I just knew it was Gayle Forman and a popular book and movie. It’s definitely a little more interesting if you pick it up without knowing the premise, so decide whether you want to know or not before reading the blurb at the bottom! Gayle Forman is such a great writer of impactful YA.

I concentrate on the notes, imagining myself playing, feeling grateful for this chance to practice, happy to be in a warm car with my sonata and my family. I close my eyes.

Gayle Forman, If I Stay

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In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces—to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family. 

What is your favourite Christmas book?

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I was trying to decide what to write about in my blog today, and I thought, what better subject than Christmas books? Your favourite Christmas book can set the tone for the season, and it seems like there are endless movie adaptations of some of the classics.

Before kicking off, I have annotated a couple of Dickens Christmas books. Both of these titles have been split into 24 readings for advent reading. Of course, if you are beginning them now, you’ll be just a few days behind, so you might want to double up for the first few days.

(Covers and titles are clickable.)

A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

This edition of A Christmas Carol is perfect for families to read together, and has been specially formatted into 24 readings suitable for reading during December.

experience one of the greatest Christmas stories of all time all over again!

This Workman Family Classic edition contains:

• Background/Introduction

• Biography

• Footnotes

• a scriptural passage and discussion question after each day’s reading

• Extension activities

Share the Dickens Christmas Classic with your Family

The Life of Our Lord
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The Life of Our Lord, by Charles Dickens

Written by Charles Dickens for his Children This story of the life of Christ is perfect for families to read together, and has been specially formatted into 24 short readings suitable for reading during December.

Sit back and listen to the master storyteller Charles Dickens share the life of our Lord with his children.

Contains the same special features as A Christmas Carol, above.

Dickens Advent Reader
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Dickens Advent Reader, by Charles Dickens

Get both A Christmas Carol and The Life of Our Lord in one volume. All of the special features of both books for one low price.

Here are some of my other favourites

Please feel free to share your favourites in the comments area below. (If you are reading this article on the front page of my site, you will not see the comment area. Click to jump to the article page, where you can comment.)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr. Seuss

Who doesn’t love to read about the anti-Santa?

“Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot… but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!” Not since “’Twas the night before Christmas” has the beginning of a Christmas tale been so instantly recognizable. This heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit will grow even the coldest and smallest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays, and his story is the perfect gift for young and old. 

The Night Before Christmas
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The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Moore

Free ebook

I remember reading this one almost every Christmas when I was a little girl.

First published anonymously in 1823—and later attributed to Clemente C. Moore—The Night Before Christmas is arguably one of the most famous and cherished Christmas poems of all time. Moore’s depiction of St. Nicholas played a significant role in our modern conception of Santa Claus. It is, and always has been, the quintessential holiday tale.

The Christmas Story
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The Christmas Story, King James Version

Speaking of our annual Christmas reading, this is the one we read every Christmas night. We read directly from the Bible, but this looks like a beautiful edition to share with your family.

And she brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

When all the world is to be taxed, a carpenter named Joseph takes his pregnant wife, Mary, to a place called Bethlehem to deliver a miracle to the world. This is the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, taken directly from the Gospel according to St. Luke in the King James Bible.

These simple yet profound words tell a powerful story of life, love, and hope, while James Bernardin’s stunning paintings masterfully transport us to this magical time and place. The Christmas Story is the perfect way to share one of the most famous stories of all time with your family.

The Shepherd
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The Shepherd, by Frederick Forsyth

This is another favorite Christmas Eve reading for my family. We love the reading by Fireside Al.

It is Christmas Eve, 1957. Flying home, on leave from Germany, he is alone in the cockpit of the Vampire. Sixty-six minutes of flying time, with the descent and landing – destination Lakenheath. No problem, all routine procedures.

Then, out over the North sea, the fog begins to close in. Radio contact ceases and the compass goes haywire. Suddenly, out of the mist appears a World War II bomber. It is flying just below the Vampire, as of trying to make contact…

This collection also brings together several other compulsive tales from the international master of intrigue.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

I remember the year this book came out. It was the best Christmas story I had ever heard. So much more interesting than the perfectly-behaved children in most Christmas stories! It cut through the traditions and fripperies of Christmas to get down to its real spirit and meaning.

Laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.

Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start! When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way.

This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.

The Christmas Box
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The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans

“Whatever the reason, I find that with each passing Christmas the story of The Christmas Box is told less and needed more. So I record it now for all future generations to accept or dismiss as seems them good. As for me, I believe. And it is, after all, my story.”

So begins The Christmas Box, the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, are hired as caretakers and are welcomed into the Victorian home of Mary Parkins, an elderly widow, just before the holiday season. As the relationship between Mary and the family develops we learn that Mary’s past sorrows are compelling her to share an important message with Richard. But will he understand her message in time? A heartwarming story of parental love, healing, and Christmas.

Polar Express
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The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg

I actually haven’t read this, one, but I love the movie!

A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole…

Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.

For millions of readers worldwide, this mysterious journey to the North Pole has become a beloved classic. In this 30th anniversary edition, the inimitable artistry of Chris Van Allsburg is revealed in a never-before-seen fashion, with a new jacket design and expanded interior layout. Includes author’s note, downloadable audio read by Liam Neeson, and golden “All Aboard” ornament. 

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Excerpt from Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

December is upon us, and with it the Christmas Season!

[image error]Additionally, today is also International Day of Persons with Disabilities. A good day to mark with my upcoming release of Toxo. As you know if you’ve read the rest of the Medical Kidnap Files, the protagonists of the series all have disabilities and are involved in the rescue of other teens with disabilities.

Caleb, an autistic teen is mistakenly arrested.

Bad turns to worse when he is then apprehended from his family by DFS.

His mother could never have predicted the chain of events in a million years.

In trying to protect him, DFS has actually put Caleb in harm’s way.

Once again, Gabriel and Renata have teamed up to right injustice and to get Caleb to safety. But Andrew Searle is on the case, and it’s his job to see that they don’t succeed and that Caleb remains in foster care.

You can read a sample of Toxo or preorder it now.

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

I’ve read a number of Alex Cross books before, and was a little disappointed with Merry Christmas, Alex Cross. Rather than a cohesive plot, it was as if three or four different stories had been stitched together, none of them with anything to do with the others. It is still a thrilling read, just not to James Patterson’s usual standards.

“I’m saying it’s a pitiful state of the world when a man can’t be with his family on Christmas Eve. Even a high-and-mighty homicide detective such as yourself needs to be home with his loved ones the night before Jesus’s birthday.”

James Patterson, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

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It’s Christmas Eve and Detective Alex Cross has been called out to catch someone who’s robbing his church’s poor box. That mission behind him, Alex returns home to celebrate with Bree, Nana, and his children. The tree decorating is barely underway before his phone rings again: a horrific hostage situation is quickly spiraling out of control.

Away from his own family on the most precious of days, Alex calls upon every ounce of his training, creativity, and daring to save another family. Alex risks everything-and he may not make it back alive on this most sacred of family days. Alex Cross is a hero for our time, and never more so than in this story of family, action, and the deepest moral choices. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is a holiday classic for thriller fans everywhere.

 

Review of Stirring Up Murder

My sweetie Randy has put up a review of Stirring Up Murder on his blog, 

[image error]Erin has always felt something was missing when it comes to her family. Now, out of the blue, she has found out she has a half-sister. Does Erin dare look for her? Or does she decide that she is happy and her life is complete? Her life is progressing, her business is growing, and she has a wonderful man in her life in Terry Piper. Why should she make an effort to look for this half-sister?

But Erin has always wanted a family to call her own. Call it whatever you want, but Terry calls it crazy. Much to Terry’s disapproval, Erin goes ahead with a search of her half-sister.

Meet Charley, soon to become the bane of Erin’s life. Charley is involved with the wrong crowd and begins to bring Erin down with her. Charley finds herself on the wrong side of the law and in trouble with the one family you don’t want to be on the wrong side of. The Dyson family owns the town and controls everything. No one else seems to care whether Charley is guilty or not. Anyone who wrongs the Dysons ends up with a lot of enemies.

Enter Erin, Charley’s good luck charm, or maybe we should say sucker. Erin has every reason to walk away and I can’t think of any reason not to. When this stranger half-sister asks, Erin jumps in with both feet. But Erin’s urge to be accepted might be her downfall. As the police gather more and more evidence, Erin digs a bigger and bigger hole for herself. Vic, Terry, and Willy try to dig Erin out of the mess, but she’s in pretty deep.

[image error]This entertaining mystery has more turns than you can keep up with. Who can Erin trust? Even her friends think she has joined the wrong team. Has Erin’s desire to be loved and accepted gone too far?

A terrific whodunnit that will keep you on your toes trying to figure out the guilty party. This book will draw you in with the mystery and keep you with its intrigue.

Randy

 

Excerpt from Betrayed

[image error]November has been quite the month for me. It has been very busy, with a lot of personal ups and downs. I am almost finished this year’s Nanowriomo novel, which has turned out to be considerably longer than the 125,000 words that I had planned. Hopefully I can get it finished by the thirtieth!

If you haven’t yet picked up my latest release, He was Walking Alone, have a look at it now!

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

I am currently reading a Lisa Scottoline novel, Betrayed. It is part of the Rosato & DiNunzio series. I’m a sucker for murder mysteries and legal thrillers, and Lisa Scottoline almost always hits it out of the park for me. Betrayed does not disappoint. Scottoline’s characters are well-developed and I am eager to find out what sort of scheme it was that the victim was involved in. Hopefully, Judy Carrier will find out that her Aunt Barb’s trust was not misplaced.

Judy’s mouth went dry. Something was up. “Sure, okay, but why? What’s the matter?”

“We’ll talk about it when you come, sweetie.”

“Tell me.” Judy swallowed hard. “Please.”

Aunt Barb hesitated. “Are you sitting down?”

Lisa Scottoline, Betrayed

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Judy has always championed the underdog, so when Iris, the housekeeper and best friend of Judy’s beloved Aunt Barb, is found dead of an apparent heart attack, Judy begins to suspect foul play. The circumstances of the death leave Judy with more questions than answers, and never before has murder struck so close to home.

In the meantime, Judy’s own life roils with emotional and professional upheaval. She doesn’t play well with her boss, Bennie Rosato, which jeopardizes her making partner at the firm. Not only that, her best friend Mary DiNunzio is planning a wedding, leaving Judy feeling left behind, as well as newly unhappy in her relationship with her live-in boyfriend Frank.

Judy sets her own drama aside and begins an investigation of Iris’s murder, then discovers a shocking truth that confounds her expectations and leads her in a completely different direction. She finds herself plunged into a shadowy world of people who are so desperate that they cannot go to the police, and where others are so ruthless that they prey on vulnerability. Judy finds strength within herself to try to get justice for Iris and her aunt — but it comes at a terrible price.

A cornucopia of books

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US Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday—a great time of year to buy new books! I have gathered together a stack of free and $0.99 books (and book bundles for $2.99 or less.)

He was Walking Alone

[image error]Featured, of course, is He was Walking Alone, book #4 in the Zachary Goldman Mysteries.

He met with tragedy

Richard Harding was walking alone when he was struck by a vehicle and died.

A tragic accident that was no one’s fault.

But if that was so, then why was his girlfriend so sure that it was intentional homicide?

Zachary Goldman is on the case. With Christmas approaching, he is as determined to distract himself from his own troubles as he is to ferret out the truth of Harding’s death.

The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place and Zachary finds that there are more parallels between Harding’s life and his own than he would have guessed.

If he doesn’t identify the sinister force behind Harding’s death in time, he could suffer the same fate.

Read sample

Buy now

Free Nov 22 – 26

And more great deals

The Last Rainmaker
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Rainmaker, by Scott Blade

Free

A deadly range. The world record for the longest range sniper kill shot. Ever. No contest. No question. What happens when a new sniper comes alone and takes out the world’s top shooter from further away? Terror.

Jack Widow is unlucky enough to end up in the hospital after an accidental train crash. Wrong place. Wrong time. But his luck goes from bad to worse when CIA Agent Benico Teller, forgotten, walks out of Widow’s past and into his hospital room with classified intel that Widow must hear and an offer that he can’t refuse.

Turns out that the US government needs Widow’s help. He’s the only man alive ever to survive an encounter with their only suspect: a whisper, a phantom, a ghost sniper, known as Rainmaker.

The Confectioner’s Guild
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Confectioners Guild, by Claire Luana

$0.99

A magic cupcake. A culinary killer. The perfect recipe for murder.

Wren knew her sweet treats could work wonders, but she never knew they could work magic. She barely has time to wrap her head around the stunning revelation when the head of the prestigious Confectioner’s Guild falls down dead before her. Poisoned by her cupcake.

Now facing murder charges in a magical world she doesn’t understand, Wren must discover who framed her or face the headsman’s axe. With the help of a handsome inspector and several new friends, Wren just might manage to learn the ropes, master her new powers, and find out who framed her. But when their search for clues leads to a deep-rooted conspiracy that goes all the way to the top, she realizes that the guild master isn’t the only one at risk of death by chocolate.

If Wren can’t bring the powerful culprit to justice, she and her friends will meet a bittersweet end.

Unfortunate Souls
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Unfortunate Souls, by Jade M. Phillips

Free

Seventeen is too young to die.

I should know…

My name is Ruby Carter and I see things other people don’t. Shadows that do not exist. Eyes lurking in the darkness.

But I’ve never felt more alone than the night before my eighteenth birthday when I learned a secret that would change my life forever…

Retribution
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Retribution, by C.M. Sutter

Free

The violent drug-related murders of two prominent attorneys have the homicide division of the Chicago Police Department scrambling for answers, but without clues, a motive, or a suspect, not even the FBI can track down the killer.

With the media demanding an arrest and at their wits’ end, the Chicago Police Department makes an urgent call to the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office in hopes of bringing in Kate Pierce, a psychic detective, on the case. A reluctant Kate agrees only when word comes that Jesse McCord, a new friend and top-notch Chicago homicide detective, has gone missing.

Partnered with Detective Henry Johnson of Chicago’s homicide division, Kate goes on the hunt for the killer, armed with clues from her revealing dreams—and her dogged determination. As they inch closer to locating Jesse and learning the identity of the suspect, they realize the killer may be much closer than they think.

The Guardian Series
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The Guardian Series, by G.K. DeRosa

$0.99

Two mysterious, gorgeous brothers. One typical high school girl. A key that unlocks a family secret…

All that Celeste Wilder ever wanted was to find someone who would sweep her off her feet like she had seen in countless romantic movies. When she meets the gorgeous and mysterious Constantin brothers her senior year of high school, she gets much more than what she had bargained for. As they introduce her to an exciting supernatural world that she never imagined existed, she makes a startling discovery about her own family legacy and is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.

She Wore Mourning
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She Wore Mourning, by P.D. Workman

$0.99

A dead child.

A mother deep in mourning.

Private Investigator Zachary Goldman’s life isn’t all roses, but he tries to put his own shattered life behind him to investigate the death of five-year-old Declan Bond.

Declan’s death has been ruled an accident, but his grandmother thinks there is more to it. She fears Declan’s mother will not be able to find peace until Zachary can give them an answer once and for all.

But as Zachary digs into the circumstances surrounding Declan’s death, he finds that all is not as it seems… and somebody doesn’t want him to find the truth.

Cork Town
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Corktown, by Ty Hutchinson

Free

They locked him up seven years ago. He’s still killing.

In the quiet Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, a mutilated body has the residents nervous and for good reason. Detroit Metro Police recognize the handiwork of the serial killer known as the Doctor. But there’s a problem with that. They locked him up seven years ago.

Because of her expertise with serial killers, FBI Agent, Abby Kane, is tasked with figuring out how this madman is able to kill again. When she visits the Doctor behind bars, he swears he’s innocent and not the psychopath everyone thinks he is. Oddly enough, Abby believes him.

Fae Princess
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Fae Princess

New release, $0.99

A war fueled by hatred. A girl pushed in the middle.

Humans and Fae are at war—a war Brinna Rogers wants nothing to do with. She is content living with her parents, going to school, and pretending the streets aren’t filled with fighting. Until she has no choice but to face it.

On her way home one damp night, danger strikes, thrusting Brinna down a rabbit hole of change. A binding spell snaps, and she finds out she has been lied to her whole life. She isn’t a human like she thought. Instead, she is Fae, and not just any. Her name is Brinna Blackshadow and she is a Fae Princess.

Within moments, she is shoved over the edge of reality, plummeting straight down until she crashes head first into the war. In order to break free, she must strike a deal with the leader of the human army—one that makes guilt rise to the forefront.

Because when you strike a deal with the devil, you might pay with more than your soul.

Mito
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Mito, by P.D. Workman

$0.99

In a tale ripped from the headlines, award-winning author P.D. Workman brings you Gabriel Tate’s discovery of the dark and light sides of human nature in 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?

Coconuts and Crooks
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Coconuts and Crooks, by Christy Murphy

Free

Mom and Christy head to the Philippines to solve a mystery over a decade old—the death of Mom’s sister, Lalaine.

Mom vows to find out what happened, and Christy promises her new beau she won’t be away for long. But when Mom’s prime suspect Judge Hernandez winds up dead, the entire island thinks Mom killed him. Justice moves slow on a small island and Christy’s new relationship and Mom’s freedom hang in the balance.

With the help of old and new friends, Mom and Christy must battle bumbling bureaucrats, crashing coconuts, and a cadre of crooks to find the truth.

The Connelly Boys
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The Connelly Boys, by Lily Velez

$0.99

When 17-year-old Scarlet Monroe arrives to the sleepy seaport town of Rosalyn Bay, Ireland, the last thing she expects is to get tangled up in the dark and mysterious world of The Connelly Boys.

Popular, wealthy, and devastatingly beautiful, the four brothers have effortlessly cast a spell on just about everyone. Especially eldest brother Jack, the most breathtaking of the boys and the one to whom Scarlet feels inexplicably drawn.

There’s just one problem: Jack is cursed. At least that’s what the local superstitions and folklore say.

But when demons start hunting her down, Scarlet quickly realizes Jack Connelly, cursed or not, may be the only one who can help her.

Lucky Man
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Lucky Man, by Tony Dunbar

Free

So what if Judge Hughes shared a few special moments with Sultana Patel—why is this a matter of public interest? “The stench from that courthouse fills the city,” roars D.A. Marcus Dementhe. “Those hypocritical men and women who wear the robes are filthy with deception.” And Dementhe has a zany plan to snare them.

Hughes, happily, has had the good sense to hire epicurean lawyer Tubby Dubonnet, whose laconic air is belied by his zeal to protect his clients. And what a web they’re ensnared in! But no matter how dire things get, Dunbar never loses his sense of humor:

Cozy Winter Reads
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Cozy Winter Reads

$2.99

A bundle of six cozy mystery books to read by the fire while the storm rages outside! The perfect way to spend cold winter nights.

1. “Gluten-Free Murder” by P.D. Workman

2. “Mystery at the Fair” by Connie Cockrell

3. “Horticultural Homicide” by Linda Jordan

4. “The Passed Prop” by Anne Hagan

5. “Death by Polka” by Robert Jeschonek

6. “Killer Vacation” by R.F. Kacy

A Bond of Venom and Magic
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A Bond of Venom and Magic, by Karen Tomlinson

Free

Magic awakens. Darkness stirs. The Wraith Lord hunts.

The war raging in the South seems a remote danger for seventeen-year-old Diamond Gillon until her home is brutally attacked.

Catapulted into a terrifying new existence where legendary beasts arise, magic is condemned, and half-blood fae like her have no rights, Diamond is inexplicably drawn to Commander Hugo Casimir. But he is a ruthless elite guard owned by a cruel, immortal fae queen who murders her own people for magic.

A prisoner in Hugo’s world, Diamond’s circumstances become ever more perilous; for the Queen covets more than just magic. Diamond must escape—before her fate, and that of The Eight Kingdoms, is sealed in shadow and chaos.

The Dragon Orb
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The Dragon Orb, by Mike Shelton

Free

A magical barrier.

Civil war.

Power-hungry Wizards.

The fate of a kingdom rests on the shoulders of three young wizards who couldn’t be more different.

As the magical barrier protecting the kingdom of Alaris from dangerous outsiders begins to fail, and a fomenting rebellion threatens to divide the country in a civil war, the three wizards are thrust into the middle of a power struggle.

When the barrier comes down, the truth comes out.

The Forgotten Painting
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The Forgotten Painting, by Gabriel Farago

Free

When celebrated author Jack Rogan stumbles upon a hidden diary, he can’t resist investigating. Honouring the last wish of a dying friend, he is irresistibly drawn into a web of intriguing clues, hinting at a long forgotten treasure.

Joining forces with Cecilia Crawford, a glamorous New York journalist, and Tristan, a remarkable boy with psychic powers, Jack soon finds himself on a precarious journey of discovery, exposing dark secrets from a distant, violent time, when life was cheap and cruelty ruled without mercy.

The Last Deception
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Last Deception, by D.V. Berkom

Free

Espionage. Deception. A nation on the brink of war…

Just when former assassin Leine Basso thinks she’s free from the business of death, a desperate call from a friend drags her back into the dark world of espionage, where she discovers a cagey adversary committed to destroying the United States. Will she stop him before the last deception?

The Kimberley Secret
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The Kimberley Secret, by Gabriel Farago

Free

When celebrated war correspondent Jack Rogan receives a phone call during a bloody battle in Afghanistan, he knows something is wrong; his father is dying. With his last breath, Rogan’s father makes a disturbing revelation that rocks his son to the core and leaves him pondering who he really is, and where he came from. 

With his world turned upside down, Rogan soon finds himself irresistibly drawn into a desperate search to find his true identity, and turns to an old friend for help. On a dangerous journey of discovery that takes him around the globe and the remote wilderness of outback Australia, Rogan follows clues hidden in unexpected places to uncover the truth. 

The Thought Cathedral
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The Thought Cathedral, by Nathan Williams

Free

Lyn Lee is working as a technician for Brooklyn Capital Management, an obscure and unusual venture capital firm located away from the Wall Street establishment in Brooklyn, New York, when she is recruited by Charlie Monroe, the company’s eccentric founder and CEO, and the FBI to help identify a mole they believe is passing classified information to the Chinese government. Security clearance in hand, Lee is scanned into the company’s ultra-advanced virtual reality portal and encouraged by the FBI to initiate a relationship with one of the FBI’s lead suspects. Meanwhile, Lee is unaware that the tension has been ratcheted sky high due to the abduction and murder of some of Brooklyn Capital’s finest on U.S. soil and the attempted extortion of game-changing cloaking technology developed by the firm.

Lee finds herself caught in an unprecedented game of cat and mouse between the United States and China as she must rely on her wits and resourcefulness developed from her experiences as the daughter of Chinese immigrants in gang-ridden 80’s New York City and an unusual cast of characters to find the culprits before the politics boil over into the streets of New York City, Beijing, and Shanghai.

The Marked Series
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The Marked, by T.L. McDonald

Each book on sale for $0.99

‘There’s something terribly wrong with his eyes. My mind struggles to rationalize what I’m seeing and I tell myself that it’s just a trick of the light, or that maybe I’m hallucinating due to the crushing amount of fear I’m feeling, because when I look at them, all I see is darkness. Deep dark voids that threaten to swallow me whole.’

When 17 year old Hanna Harper agrees to see a local band at The Iron Knife Club with her two best friends, she has no idea her life is about to change forever and that everything she thought was impossible…isn’t.

Marked with a mystical symbol by a dying boy, she’s thrust into a world she never imagined existed where her eyes are opened to the reality that fallen angels are very real, and very dangerous. And with just one look from their soulless black eyes, they can take everything from you.

And now, because of the symbol and the secret it contains, a secret she must protect at all costs, those black eyes have set their sights on her.

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Excerpt from Orbs

[image error]In case you didn’t see it, I released the fourth book in the Zachary Goldman Mysteries series on Friday. Take a look at He was Walking Alone!

I almost forgot to include an update on Nanowrimo. I am currently 105,000 words into June, Into the Light and thinking this one may end up being a little longer than expected…

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

I recently read Orbs, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith, the first book in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi series. There was lots of tension and action for the thriller lover, but if you are someone who expects the science and logic to be sound, you might want to give this one a pass. There are some major failings in both. If you can overlook that and enjoy the action, have at it!

“You were the one who said we’re risking our necks for the human race, Emanuel,” Sophie said, shooting a stern glance in his direction.

“That was to keep you from getting us fired before the mission even started!”

Nicholas Sansbury Smith, Orbs

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The year is 2061, and the planet is dying. Cataclysmic solar storms have forced leaders from around the world to finally put aside their differences and agree on one thing—to jump ship. The human race is headed to Mars.

Dr. Sophie Winston is hired by New Tech Corporation to test a biosphere deep within the heart of Cheyenne Mountain; a mission she believes will help prepare the company for the three-year flight to the red planet. But, just days into the assignment, things start to go wrong. When the blast doors hiss open, Winston’s team finds a changed world outside. Humans are gone, vanished without a trace, and they aren’t the only thing missing. The planet’s water is gone, too.

As the team explores their surroundings, they find thousands of luminous blue orbs lining the streets. It isn’t until they uncover what’s inside that they realize the nightmare that lies ahead. And what it means for our most important resource…

Launch of He was Walking Alone and other new releases

He was Walking Alone

[image error]He was Walking Alone, #4 in the Zachary Goldman Mysteries is now available!

If you’ve been following the series, you know that Zachary Goldman is a private investigator with a difference. While the series is reminiscent of the old TV detective series, Zachary is a man tortured by his own demons, who is deeply empathetic toward his clients and the victims of the crimes he investigates. Each book can be read as a stand alone mystery.

He met with tragedy

Richard Harding was walking alone when he was struck by a vehicle and died. A tragic accident that was no one’s fault. But if that was so, then why was his girlfriend so sure that it was intentional homicide? Zachary Goldman is on the case. With Christmas approaching, he is as determined to distract himself from his own troubles as he is to ferret out the truth of Harding’s death. 

The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place and Zachary finds that there are more parallels between Harding’s life and his own than he would have guessed. If he doesn’t identify the sinister force behind Harding’s death in time, he could suffer the same fate. 

Read sample

Now live!

$4.99

Other new releases

‘Tis the season for new book releases! Fill your shelves (or ebooks reader) with some of these offerings!

Rapid Falls
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Rapid Falls, by Amber Cowie

It’s been twenty years since Cara’s boyfriend died in a horrible accident and her sister, Anna, went to prison. The tragedy has become a local legend, but Cara has moved past her grief to have a successful career and a happy family. Pity about Anna. Recently released from incarceration, she’s struggling with addiction, guilt, and shame—a shattered life. Cara’s forgiveness seems to be the only thing that helps her pick up the pieces.

But as Anna pulls herself together, her memories of that night on the bridge start to come into focus. And few of them match her sister’s.

As past secrets unfold and nothing is what it seems anymore, Anna desperately searches for the truth.

The Perfect Family
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The Perfect Family, by Shalini Boland

‘Mummy, she’s gone…’

Gemma Ballantine is getting ready for work one morning when her eldest child comes running down the stairs, saying the words every mother dreads.

The front door is open. And her six-year-old daughter has disappeared. Frantic with fear, Gemma starts a nail-biting search for her little girl.

After what feels like forever, her mother-in-law Diane finds Katie wandering lost a few streets away. Relieved to have her youngest child back in her arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, Gemma thinks the nightmare is over.

But then her perfect family starts to fall apart.

And she realises it’s only just beginning…

The Search for the Fountain of Youth
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The Search for the Fountain of Youth, by Caleb Wygal

Lucas Caine is struggling to get his deep-sea salvage operation off the ground. But when he makes a discovery off the coast of Nags Head, he finds himself in the middle of a 200-year-old secret government operation. It’s mission: to find the Fountain of Youth. Caught between a shadow agency and another mysterious group sworn to protect the Fountain at all costs, Lucas doesn’t know who–if anyone–to trust.

With his best friend Darwin by his side, the team must trace a cryptic path originating from the ocean’s depths on a high-octane search for the greatest treasure of them all. But one-by-one the team disappears.

Past Tense
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Past Tense, by Lee Child

Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

The Reckoning
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The Reckoning, by John Grisham

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi’s favorite son—a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, and committed a shocking crime.  Pete’s only statement about it—to the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his family—was: “I have nothing to say.” He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.

In a major novel unlike anything he has written before, John Grisham takes us on an incredible journey, from the Jim Crow South to the jungles of the Philippines during World War II; from an insane asylum filled with secrets to the Clanton courtroom where Pete’s defense attorney tries desperately to save him.

Marked
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Marked, by Bridget E. Baker

All Ruby Behl wants for her seventeenth birthday is a good career path match, and to kiss her best friend and long time crush, Wesley Fairchild. Unfortunately, the simplicity of teenage wishes evaporated a decade ago when the Tercera virus nearly wiped out the human race. Transmitted through touch, the slightest contact is prohibited in the safe haven community of Port Gibson.

An innocent game of Spin the Bottle, a rite of passage for Port Gibson’s teens, provides the opportunity Ruby’s been waiting for, but when Wesley winds up Marked, Ruby realizes her first kiss may also be her last. Ruby races the viral clock to uncover long buried secrets about her dead parents, and her once cloudy future becomes clear. She’s the key to finding the cure, but is she willing to pay the price?

Dark Sacred Night
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Dark Sacred Night, by Michael Connelly

Detective Renée Ballard is working the night beat–known in LAPD slang as “the late show”–and returns to Hollywood Station in the early hours to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The intruder is retired detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin.

Ballard can’t let him go through department records, but when he leaves, she looks into the case herself and feels a deep tug of empathy and anger. She has never been the kind of cop who leaves the job behind at the end of her shift–and she wants in.

The murder, unsolved, was of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood who was brutally killed, her body left in a dumpster like so much trash. Now Ballard joins forces with Bosch to find out what happened to Daisy, and to finally bring her killer to justice. Along the way, the two detectives forge a fragile trust, but this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn.

Look Alive Twenty-Five
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Look Alive Twenty-Five, by Janet Evanovich

There’s nothing like a good deli, and the Red River Deli in Trenton is one of the best. World-famous for its pastrami, cole slaw, and for its disappearing managers. Over the last month, three have vanished from the face of the earth, and the only clue in each case is one shoe that’s been left behind. The police are baffled. Lula is convinced that it’s a case of alien abduction. Whatever it is, they’d better figure out what’s going on before they lose their new manager, Ms. Stephanie Plum.

Close to the Bone
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Close to the Bone, by Kendra Elliot

FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde is back home on a remote Pacific Northwest island when she gets the call: a teenager’s skeletal remains have been found on a nearby island.

Together with Tessa Black, a childhood friend turned local deputy, Cate confronts dreary weather and bleak leads to make sense of the death. The complications pile up as Cate is distracted by the coroner on the case—and by nagging memories that draw her twenty years into the past. The remains suggest eerie similarities between this victim, and Cate and Tessa’s friend Samantha, who disappeared when she was fourteen.

Cate finds herself up against closemouthed locals, buried town secrets, and even her own heart. As the case unravels, will she be able to cut through the fog and find justice for the missing and the dead?

Soul Syndicate
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Soul Syndicate, by Lily Luchesi

A soul is a heavy burden to bear.

There’s a gala celebrating the city and many notable celebrities are attending, including a rock star, a socialite, a baseball player, and an entertainment reporter. Each of them is notable in their own right, and each one holding a secret.

When they all get stuck in an elevator together after the gala is over, they think that that is the worst thing that could happen to them…until the doors finally open.

The world as they knew it has gone, now they have poppies attached to their chests and are facing down soulless friends, family, and strangers, including a crotchety old woman and a former drag queen.

Bleak Harbor
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Bleak Harbor, Bryan Gruley

Summertime in Bleak Harbor means tourists, overpriced restaurants, and the Dragonfly Festival. One day before the much-awaited and equally chaotic celebration, Danny Peters, the youngest member of the family that founded the town five generations ago, disappears.

When Danny’s mother, Carey, and stepfather, Pete, receive a photo of their brilliant, autistic, and socially withdrawn son tied to a chair, they fear the worst. But there’s also more to the story. Someone is sending them ominous texts and emails filled with information no one else should have. Could the secrets they’ve kept hidden—even from one another—have led to Danny’s abduction?

As pressure from the kidnapper mounts, Carey and Pete must face their own ugly mistakes to find their son before he’s taken from them forever.

To be Honest
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To be Honest, by S.M. James

Angus Reid is pretty sure he’s being catfished.

After spending the last half of junior year talking online to the guy of his dreams, Angus wants to meet. In person. So when Scotty brushes it off with excuses of not being ready, red flags go up.

Determined to either catch Scotty out, or take a shot at real love, Angus embarks on a summer road trip with his adorkable roommate, Tyler. But as summer stretches on, and mixed messages fly between them, Angus finds his heart torn.

His potential catfisher?

Or his straight best friend?

And while their road trip takes them across the country, Angus is headed for one destination.

Either a happily ever after … or a broken heart.

Long Road to Mercy
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Long Road to Mercy, by David Baldacci

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a tiger by its toe.

It’s seared into Atlee Pine’s memory: the kidnapper’s chilling rhyme as he chose between six-year-old Atlee and her twin sister, Mercy. Mercy was taken. Atlee was spared.

She never saw Mercy again.

Three decades after that terrifying night, Atlee Pine works for the FBI. She’s the lone agent assigned to the Shattered Rock, Arizona resident agency, which is responsible for protecting the Grand Canyon.

So when one of the Grand Canyon’s mules is found stabbed to death at the bottom of the canyon-and its rider missing-Pine is called in to investigate. It soon seems clear the lost tourist had something more clandestine than sightseeing in mind. But just as Pine begins to put together clues pointing to a terrifying plot, she’s abruptly called off the case.

An Agent for Love
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An Agent for Love, by Amy Proebstel

Where did he come from? Who else knows?

The truth may be more than Liz can handle.

Her life was a wreck. The most terrifying experience she could imagine has turned everything upside down. Now, each day she writes, hoping to get back to normal. But still the memories haunt her. How can she move on?

Scott has a past he’d rather forget. Maybe getting away from his home town will be the answer. As a literary agent, he’s always looking for talent, but will this journey be any different from the rest?

Life works in mysterious ways, but it isn’t always good. Their first meeting is a disaster. Is the universe trying to keep them apart?

Everything is about to change.

Daughters of the Lake
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Daughters of the Lake, by Wendy Webb

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows. Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother. No one can identify the woman. Except for Kate. She’s seen her before. In her dreams…

One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved. It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations. Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.

As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back. They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

Excerpt from Alter Ego

[image error]As those of you who read my newsletter know, last week I was in Las Vegas at a writer’s conference. It was a very busy trip and I learned a lot that I hope to implement over the next few months. I (hopefully) met some new readers at the multi-author signing event and hope to attend again next year.

I have a new release coming this weekend, so come back Friday to grab He was Walking Alone, the next Zachary Goldman Mystery, or click through to preorder it now! Hopefully you saw my Odd Socks post and know that this is Anti-Bullying week. There were lots of good books on the subject in that post.

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

I am currently reading Alter Ego (#9 Jonathan Stride Series) by Brian Freeman. I’m not sure how many other Jonathan Stride books I have read, at least one other. It is a good police procedural that readers of Lee Child or James Patterson will enjoy. Good, well-rounded characters carry through the series and make for an enjoyable read.

The man in the Australian oilskin coat and black cowboy hat didn’t realize it yet, but fate had already dealt him the thirteenth tarot card.

Brian Freeman, Alter Ego

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When a freak auto accident kills a driver carrying false identification on the remote roads outside Duluth, Jonathan Stride is disturbed to find a gun in the trunk–and the gun has recently been fired.

The next day, a Duluth college student has also vanished, and Stride worries they’re connected–but what would have put an ordinary young woman in the crosshairs of a man who has all the hallmarks of an assassin for hire?

Stride’s investigation leads him to a film crew in Duluth, where a movie is being made based on a case in Stride’s own past. The actor playing Stride is Hollywood royalty, an award-winning icon who has charmed his way to the top of the box office. But Stride soon hears whispers that his cinematic alter ego has a dark side…

Why wear odd socks?

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This week is Anti-Bullying Week, and today is Odd Socks Day.

Odd Socks

What is the relationship between Odd Socks Day and Anti-Bullying Week? What does this fashion statement have to do with bullying?

We wear odd socks today to express the idea that everyone is different, everyone feels like they are not part of the crowd for some reason, and we all deserve love and respect.

Anti-bullying

While anti-bullying seems to be getting plenty of attention in schools, and hopefully our children and youth are getting the message that bullying is not acceptable, I have been increasingly alarmed at the amount of bullying that goes on among grown-ups in the cyberworld. For some reason, adults do not seem to have learned what it is we are teaching our children. Someone makes a mistake that is publicly outed, and people think it is okay to to dogpile on them, sending them tweets and private messages that they are worthless, unloveable, and should go kill themselves. It is really shocking!

Someone doing something you don’t like is not an excuse to bully them, threaten them or their family, or to push them into committing suicide. We all make mistakes, whether they get publicized to Facebook and Twitter or not, and we should be adult enough to recognize that and to make sure that our words in response do not injure others.

There is a certain meanness that runs through social media. Memes that make fun of certain groups, practices, or celebrities. Even people I know in real life and would never expect to hear a bad word from think it is okay to make fun of peoples’ appearance when pictures are posted to the internet or when it becomes popular to poke fun at the fashion, hairstyle, or skin colour of world leaders and celebrities.

It’s not okay.

Saying nasty things about all men because of the #metoo movement is not okay. Vigilante sniping at peers and competitors is not okay. Telling anyone to harm themselves is unacceptable.

Books

Okay, so, books! This is primarily a book blog, so while I address social issues here, I prefer to explore them through my books. I think you learn a lot more by immersing yourself in a book for a few hours than by arguing or preaching.

He was Walking Alone

[image error]Many of you have been enjoying the Zachary Goldman Mysteries! You know by now that Zachary Goldman is the underdog fighting for justice in cases that have involved mental illness, autism, domestic abuse, and other issues. He was Walking Alone debuts this weekend, and as you might have guessed, touches on the issue of bullying.

He met with tragedy

Richard Harding was walking alone when he was struck by a vehicle and died. A tragic accident that was no one’s fault. But if that was so, then why was his girlfriend so sure that it was intentional homicide? Zachary Goldman is on the case. With Christmas approaching, he is as determined to distract himself from his own troubles as he is to ferret out the truth of Harding’s death. 

The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place and Zachary finds that there are more parallels between Harding’s life and his own than he would have guessed. If he doesn’t identify the sinister force behind Harding’s death in time, he could suffer the same fate. 

Preorder Kindle

$4.99

More books addressing bullying

The Trespassers Club
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The Trespassers Club, by Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Trespassers Club was just supposed to be a game, but sometimes going places you shouldn’t has consequences …

Laura has always spent her free time playing Trespassers Club with her sister, Katy. But Katy just turned thirteen and isn’t interested in playing games anymore.

When their family moves suburbs, Laura discovers an old abandoned house on her street. It seems like the perfect hideout, but something – or rather someone – is already hiding inside.

Laura meets Jacob, a runaway teen in a lot of trouble. Who is Jacob and what is he hiding from … Will Laura get herself into trouble if she gets involved?

A Monster Calls
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A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

The monster in Conor’s backyard is not the one he’s been expecting — the one from the nightmare he’s had every night since his mother started her treatments.

This monster is ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor.

Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd — whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself — Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

The Survival Guide to Bullying
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The Survival Guide to Bullying, by Aija Mayrock

The Survival Guide to Bullying covers everything from cyber bullying to how to deal with fear and how to create the life you dream of having.

From inspiring “roems” (rap poems), survival tips, personal stories, and quick quizzes, this book will light the way to a brighter future.

This updated edition also features new, never-before-seen content including a chapter about how to talk to parents, an epilogue, and an exclusive Q&A with the author.

Underwater
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Underwater, by Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Bailey has a lot of secrets, and a lot of scars, both of which she’d like to keep hidden. Unfortunately, Pine Hills Resort isn’t the kind of place where anyone can keep anything hidden for long.

When Bailey arrives, she just wants to get through summer quietly, spending as much time in the water as she can.

Then she meets Adam.

Bailey’s not looking to make friends, but Adam isn’t easy to ignore. Neither is his ex-girlfriend, Clare.

Adult Bullying
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Adult Bullying, by Peter Randall

The frequency and severity of personal harrassment is a problem that is only just beginning to be uncovered. In Adult Bullying, psychologist Peter Randall uses the voices of both bullies and victims to reveal the misery that many adults endure.

He describes the processes that turn child bullies into adult bullies, often aware of their behaviour but unable to stop it. The workplace and the neighbourhood replace the playground, but the tactics and patterns of reward remain the same.

The adult victim has little or no more power than the child counterpart, often changing jobs to escape the attentions of the bully. Similarly, managers like teachers, often fail to tackle the complaints of the victim with the seriousness the problem deserves, preferring to believe that the fuss is unwarranted.

Nobody!
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Nobody! by Erin Frankel

Thomas feels like no matter what he does, he can’t escape Kyle’s persistent bullying. At school, at soccer—nowhere feels safe!

“Mom said Kyle would grow over the summer and stop picking on me, but he didn’t grow up, he just grew.”

With support from friends, classmates, and adults, Thomas starts to feel more confident in himself and his hobbies, while Kyle learns the importance of kindness to others. 

Joshua’s Island
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Joshua’s Island, by Patrick Hodges

Joshua is small for his age. Bullied relentlessly for years, all his friends have drifted away from him. Eve is a pretty girl who has just entered the popular clique. The two could not be more different.

As they begin their final year of middle school, the unlikely pair find themselves partners in Science class. At first reluctant to work with him, Eve soon discovers hidden truths about not only Joshua but their school, and her world turns upside-down.

The two form a relationship that will teach them both the true meaning of friendship, loyalty, and love… a relationship that will end up changing not only their lives, but the complexion of their entire school.

Out of my Mind
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Out of my Mind, by Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people.

She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write.

All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced.

She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise.

But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

To Be Honest
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To Be Honest, by S.M. James

Angus Reid is pretty sure he’s being catfished.

After spending the last half of junior year talking online to the guy of his dreams, Angus wants to meet. In person. So when Scotty brushes it off with excuses of not being ready, red flags go up.

Determined to either catch Scotty out, or take a shot at real love, Angus embarks on a summer road trip with his adorkable roommate, Tyler. But as summer stretches on, and mixed messages fly between them, Angus finds his heart torn.

His potential catfisher?

Or his straight best friend?

And while their road trip takes them across the country, Angus is headed for one destination.

Either a happily ever after … or a broken heart.

White Knights
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White Knights, by Julie Moffett

My name is Angel Sinclair. I’m the youngest senior at Excalibur Academy for the Technologically Gifted and Talented in Washington, DC. I was pushed ahead a year because of my high IQ and considerable prowess behind the keyboard, making me an outcast even among my own peers.

I’ve been looking for my dad all my life. A brilliant mathematician and cryptographer, he disappeared under mysterious circumstances when I was eighteen months old. Although my mom tells me I must put him in my past, it only makes me more determined to find out what happened to him. When weird accidents start happening at my school and the vice principal is involved in a deadly incident, I don’t see it as a coincidence.

After launching my own investigation, with the aid of an unexpected set of allies calling themselves the White Knights, I discover a threat far greater than I ever could have imagined. I could take my discoveries to the authorities, but my own investigative methods would be at risk.

Can anyone say hacking? No, it’s up to me to set things right. My goals are straightforward: clear the name of the vice principal, learn the truth about my father, and stay alive. In other words, save the day and don’t look too much like a dork while doing it.

Freak the Mighty
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Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick

It has been over twenty years — and more than two million copies, eight foreign editions, and a popular Miramax feature film — since the world was introduced to this powerful story of a unique friendship between a troubled, oversized boy and the tiny, physically challenged genius who proves that courage comes in all sizes.

This simple yet timeless story explores many themes, including bullying — an important topic in today’s schools. Freak the Mighty is sure to remain fresh, dramatic, and memorable for the next twenty years and beyond!

Adult Bullies
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Adult Bullies, by Alex Gadd

Bullying is a major problem which affects just about all schools across the country, right?

Unfortunately not for just as there are playground bullies, there are also adult bullies, who now occupy the workplace, social hangouts, family events; just about any place where adults come together. And like their childhood counterparts, these bullies tend to have various targets which they perceive to be weaker, a threat, etc and as such, take their issues out on them. Though it is true that most adult bullies don’t try and steal your lunch money off you, they can be just as conniving, verbally (and sometimes physically) aggressive as they were when they were children.

So if you are an adult and being bullied by a co-worker, family member, boss, etc, than take comfort that you are not the only adult who is experiencing this.

Unfortunately most adults still get bullied from time to time, though due to the lack of research on bullying amongst adults, (most of the research it is aimed at children) you may not even be aware that you are bullied.

Blubber
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Blubber, by Judy Blume

“Blubber is a good name for her,” the note from Caroline said about Linda. Jill crumpled it up and left it on the corner of her school desk. She didn’t want to think about Linda or her dumb report on whales just then. Jill wanted to think about Halloween.

But Robby grabbed the note and before Linda stopped talking it had gone halfway around the room. There was something about Linda that made a lot of kids in her fifth-grade class want to see how far they could go…but nobody, Jill least of all, expected the fun to end where it did.