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Hannah’s Dream by Lenore Butler Amazon Kindle US Genre – Historical Romance Rating – PG 5 (6 reviews) Free until 30 December 2013 A sweet historical set in 1895
Hannah Dawes is an enchanting strawberry blond who is betrothed to the boy next door. When his father sends him a hundred miles away to become a doctor, Hannah vows to wait for him. When he marries another, she's hurt, but she's not down for long. Hannah has a dream, and the gumption to see it through. Drawn to the colors in the church's stained glass windows, she abandons the sandcastle sculptures she shared with her former beau and embraces painting with color. She draws inspiration from the wild Atlantic ocean and when the family fortune is lost and she is forced to move to Colorado, Hannah is heartbroken - until she sees the Rocky Mountains and a cowboy named Adam.
Adam is a shy man who loves horses and thinks he'll spend his life on the range. But when he
sets eyes on the saucy, red-haired Hannah, he's smitten. He hasn't known many women, and that Hannah is a strange one. At first, he retreats when she gets riled up, which seems to be all the time, and she doesn't think he likes her, and when he tries to talk to her, his lack of sophistication frustrates her. But there is something about the sweet cowboy that stays with her, and even when she meets a handsome and rich doctor, she can't get Adam out of her mind.
While they try to find common ground, Hannah and Adam grow to love one another, but someone from Hannah's past has come to Colorado to steal her away and won't let anyone stand in his way. Will he keep Hannah and Adam apart?
Settle into an sweet, old-fashioned romance and get lost in Hannah's Dream.
A spellbinding campus. A new family of friends. A semester of death.
High school senior Cody's prayers are answered when he's recruited on scholarship to the college of his dreams: a stunning and prestigious school tucked high in the Tennessee hills.
But the dream turns living nightmare when his classmates start to die off mysteriously. Is it Cody's imagination, or are his friends' tragic deaths a sinister legacy handed down through the generations? And is he next on the roll call?
A coming-of-age, paranoid thriller in the vein of Ira Levin, "S'wanee" weaves psychological suspense with dark humor in its brutal descent to a shocking climax.
Genre - Suspense Thriller
Rating – PG13
Free until 12 December 2013
Connect with Don Winston on Twitter
The Alpha Choice by M.D. Hall Amazon Kindle US Genre – Science Fiction Rating – PG13 5 (5 reviews) Free until 4 December 2013 Three thousand years ago, the Vespoid Khitine are about to learn they must live with the disappointment of trade negotiations collapsing - or at least most of them will have to live with it - Chindara has other things to occupy her mind.
Their erstwhile partners to be, the Te, have their own plans. This is merely one more conquest, hardly different to scores that have gone before, Well, that isn't quite right; it's the first time they have had their actions halted by the appearance of a tiny electric blue light, a Custodian. Never have they watched, helplessly, as two of their battle cruisers blinked out of existence, before receiving a polite, but firm warning: attempts to circumvent the, hitherto unheard of, Accords will result in their complete destruction.
Twenty-one years ago, in the Gallsor system, the warning all but forgotten, Commander Jaron makes a choice that will have unimaginable consequences, the least of which follows his return to Te'ath, when the Supreme Council are prompted - on the urging of the most dangerous of the three heads of the covert Agency, Garnoth - to sanction a plan circumventing the Accords. The target? Telluria (Earth).
Garnoth's most able protégé, Tala, is tasked with leading the expedition, the success of which is dependent upon the Tellurian, Hugo Black (a Boston corporate attorney) heading up a multinational corporation, TeCorp.
Only two people can disrupt Garnoth's plan: Gorn, a twenty-one year old Te'an prodigy, whose brilliance is matched by his self-doubt and social ineptitude. He is recruited, when particularly vulnerable, to the cause of the Te'an rebellion by the single minded Narol. Gorn will betray his best, his only friend and, if he succeeds in his 'mission,' condemn his people to almost certain destruction. While taxing his mind over the choices to be made, he is completely unaware he has been marked for assassination.
The second potential fly in the Te'an ointment is history lecturer, Jonathon (Jon) Tyler and his recently acquired, rebellious young companion, Emily. Spirited from his bed, in the dead of night, he meets the physical embodiment of the electric blue light; a woman, whose beauty reminds him of a classical statue, an impression heightened by a cold and humourless aspect enhanced, in turn, by her inhuman electric blue eyes, completely electric blue eyes. Jon is told that an Artefact exists - a sentient, artificial life form, which may, or may not choose to help - and his job is to bring it to the attention of those who speak for Earth. How difficult could that be?
He is allowed to glimpse the consequences of converging forces, far beyond the danger posed by the Te'an threat, and guesses this to be the real reason for Custodian interest in his planet. For now, he has no choice but to act as a Custodian pawn in an opening gambit, on a board only just beginning to take shape, and where all the pieces have yet to arrive.
Heart of a Hero by Billi Tiner Amazon Kindle US Genre – Children’s Fiction Rating – G 4.7 (43 reviews) Free until 7 November 2013 Lady, an Irish Setter puppy, is leading a simple life on a farm in Ohio during the 1940’s. Lady’s biggest desire is to become an expert hunting dog like her mother. She has no idea that her life is going to take her down a path where she will find herself in the middle of incredibly dangerous situations, including a world war. On several occasions, Lady will have to find the courage to risk her life in order to save someone she loves. The loyalty and bravery that Lady shows throughout her lifetime illustrate what it truly means to have the heart of a hero.
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Helga: Out of Hedgelands by Rick Johnson Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age. Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life, and rescue friends and family, from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms. Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride. Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently. Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told. Buy Now @ Amazon Genre – Fantasy / Middle Grade Rating – PG More details about the author Free until 6 November 2013 Connect with Rick Johnson on Facebook & Twitter Website http://www.woodcowbooks.com/
The Mummifier’s Daughter by Nathaniel Burns
Genre – Historical Fiction
Rating - G
3.6 (63 reviews)
Free until 5th November 2013
Ancient Egypt, 1233 BC
This is Young Neti-Kerty‘s dream: To follow in her father’s footsteps and become the first femalemummifier in Thebes.
Shabaka, the secretive Prefect, the Pharaoh’s special envoy charged with
combating crime in the capital of the Pharaoh’s empire, also often makes use of Neti Kerty’s special talents. With her powers of
deduction and knowledge of the dead, she has already helped solve many crimes.
But then the unimaginable happens. Her parents are cruelly murdered, and Neti-Kerty’s small, idyllic world shatters. Together
with Shabaka the Prefect, she embarks on the search for her parents‘ murderer. Surviving
many shared adventures, they stumble upon a monstrous conspiracy...
The Mummifier's Daughter carries us back to a land steeped in gods, god-kings, ritual and magic. It paints for the reader a
detailed picture of Pharaonic Egypt in all its shadowed glory. Faithfully recreating one of
the most remarkable eras in Egypt’s history, bestselling author Nathaniel Burns weaves a shudderingly ominous tale of ancient
Egypt’s mysteries with a cast of characters the modern reader will recognize even
though millenia have passed.
So light up the incense, sit close to the light and draw back the curtains on the shadowed past with this
gripping tale of
love and intrigue among the living and the dead in one of history’s most intriguing civilizations.
Penalty Clause by Lori Ryan Amazon Kindle US Genre – Romantic Suspense Rating – R 4.5 (42 reviews) Free until 24 October 2013 To keep her, he'll have to gamble it all!
Andrew Weston and Jill Walsh had to be the two most unlikely people to fall in love. When Jill's first husband's love for her simply fizzled and died, Jill knew she'd never trust that love could last again. After Andrew's first love betrayed him in the most brutal way possible, he knew he might fall in love again someday, but there was no way he'd ever make himself vulnerable again by confessing those feelings if he did.
Fate had a different ending in mind for these two, though, and when Andrew discovers his love for Jill, he knows the only way to get her to stay with him forever is to offer her an iron clad penalty clause in a prenuptial agreement. He stays with her forever or he loses everything he owns. The millions he's worked for, his property, his cars, everything. Now he just needs to hope that's enough to hold onto Jill forever.
Abby, 13, is looking forward to watching the moon turn purple, unaware that deadly bacteria from a passing comet will soon kill off older teens and adults. She must help her brother and baby sister survive in this new world, but all the while she has a ticking time bomb inside of her--adolescence. "Cramer creates a picture of our world that's both frightening and inspiring in this heartfelt story that both young adults and adults can enjoy.A heartwarming but not overly sentimental story of survival." KIRKUS REVIEWS
"Outrageous and completely 'out of the box'." MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME review blog
"Three words: Gripping. Palpable. Well-developed." WORD SPELUNKING review blog Buy Now @ Amazon & B&N & iBooks & Kobo Genre - Science fiction Rating – PG-13 More details about the author Connect with Scott Cramer on Facebook & Twitter
Allingham by John Horst Amazon Kindle There will be a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. ~ Louis L'Amour
The place was a giant cesspool turned whirlpool that pulled all the badness of the land into it, until the vortex contained the giant soup of decadence and evil, contained the worst of human kind.
But Hell Street has a new enforcer, a lawman who has honed his skill in Hell’s Kitchen, the meanest of the Five Points district of Manhattan. Will it be enough?
Allingham is the story of one man’s struggle to face down his demons along with the meanest and most degenerate of human kind in the worst town in the last frontier of the West, Canyon Diablo, Arizona Territory.
Relative Malice by Marla Madison Amazon Kindle US Genre – Suspense Rating – PG13 4.4 (60 reviews) Free until 15 October 2013 When four family members are found dead after a home invasion, Detective Kendall Halsrud takes charge of the case. In the murder house, she discovers an empty crib with blood drops next to it on the wood floor. The family: a father, mother, teenage daughter, and young son have been fatally shot . . . but where is baby Philly?
The desperate search to find the child derails when a man is arrested for murdering the family and claims to have killed the baby. Suspecting he had an accomplice, Kendall isn’t convinced. Refusing to give up on finding the child, Kendall persists in unearthing the family’s secrets. With the help of a hacker turned spurious fortune-teller and a former cop hired by the missing baby’s uncle, she discovers a furtive pedophile ring is planning on buying and sharing a baby. Can she stop them while there's time to save Philly?
HeartsBlood by Carolyn McCray Amazon A woman of science.
A man of magic.
Hunted for their HeartsBlood.
HeartsBlood... a love taken to its dangerous conclusion.
Who’s Your Father? by Robert Bernecker Amazon Kindle US Genre – Christian Rating – G 5 (13 reviews) Free until 12 October 2013 Kirkus adds that Bernecker's points are "well-researched and well-articulated," giving the reader "a thought-provoking look at the modern definition of God." Amazon reviewer carpenterdaughter writes, "Bernecker faces some tough questions and doesn't attempt to defend God. He declares and reveals God. He points readers to the truth, and he uses God's own word to do it."
This eye-opening new book challenges readers to reevaluate their perceptions of God, and it thoughtfully exposes many misconceptions that are commonly found in the church of our day. Readers are led into a deeper understanding of the real God of the Bible and shown the path to a new and immensely satisfying relationship with their loving Father.
This compelling work is a thought-provoking and inspirational examination of how today's church views God. As the church struggles to truly experience the unchanging love of our heavenly Father and to rest confidently in God's perfect purpose for each of our lives, the cause of this crucial deficiency is usually overlooked. Who's Your Father? explains how our concept of God has grown increasingly flawed, and it reveals how we have been taught to view our sovereign Father as a benevolent gentleman who won't interfere with human free will. By fostering this view, we've unknowingly created a weak, unreliable, and frustrated God who we falsely believe will only occasionally choose to use his divine power to actively work in our lives in a powerful and effective manner.
Writing from the down to earth perspective of a well-versed layperson, Bernecker skillfully shows how we rob ourselves of incredible blessings when we miss the vital connection between the unlimited sovereignty and the unbounded love of the true God of the Bible.
An illuminating look at the true nature of God and his dealings with mankind, this extraordinarily insightful book will change readers' lives across the globe.
The Class Key by John J. Daly Jr. Amazon Kindle US Genre – Non Fiction Rating – G 5 (15 reviews) Free until 8 October 2013 Obtaining the key to success in any area of life... ...depends on social ETIQUETTE skills. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, or where you want to go, if you don’t have the proper social etiquette the doors to success will not easily open for you. Our society is based on social interactions, from obtaining our first job to landing large promotions, starting our own business, traveling in foreign countries, enrolling in universities, or speaking about causes and experiences closest to us. Social etiquette is at the heart of success. Social etiquette is a universal language that knows no boundaries. ˃˃˃ Those who master social etiquette feel comfortable, confident, and able to communicate effectively in any social situation. THE KEY CLASS is your go-to-guide for mastering social and business etiquette. Taught by world-renowned special event producer John Daly, The Key Class presents a rare and unique program custom tailored to fit the needs of any organization, school, corporation, or individual. Although the keys to social and business etiquette are universal, there is no one-size-fits-all route to achieving personal success. The Key Class works with you to meet your own individual goals. ˃˃˃ Through Partners in Education, The Key Class is currently being taught in the majority of high schools in the Santa Barbara, California School System. Whether you are an educator seeking a valuable social skills resource for your students, a professional student needing that extra edge in job searching, a foreigner who needs to know American etiquette, a returning veteran, or a director of a non-profit or corporation looking for ways to increase employee value within your organization, The Key Class has the unique trajectory to help you reach those goals. ˃˃˃ WHAT DO I GET FROM THE KEY CLASS? The purpose of The Key Class is to teach the tools of successful social and business skills for anyone, especially youth, who wants to succeed in life. In both personal and professional situations, every society has traditions in place that determine the way people are judged by the people they meet. Understanding these guidelines in society can make or break a person in social and business circles. The Key Class teaches students how to get along with others, behave properly and treat others respectfully in the workplace or in social situations. Along with being informative, The Key Class is user-friendly and fun! The use of high-energy interactive teaching methods increases student participation and enhances the learning environment. A series of four classes provides lecture, interactivity and role-playing to give students the knowledge to enter worlds that might not otherwise be achievable without it. The course covers a variety of techniques, including: -
communications technology modifications, involving cell phones, email and social media -
handling applications; -
research; -
securing appointments; -
phone etiquette; -
proper introductions; -
positive body language; -
conversing; -
following up after an interview; -
creating an effective resume; -
what to wear and what etiquette to use for interviews that take place over a meal; -
financial literacy. Participants will leave with a complete understanding of the necessary skills to succeed in both their work and life environments and the tools for a successful job search and/or college entrance. Take a class from the Key Class and get job winning interview skills now!
Twined by A.L. Collins Amazon Kindle US Genre – YA Rating – PG13 4.5 (6 reviews) Free until 11 October 2013 Avalin Marsh is used to disappointment. When her mother murdered a woman in the kitchen of her home on her eleventh birthday, Avalin decided that the people in your life were only there to let you down. She built up walls over the years making a mental fortress impervious to disappointment, heartache and sadness. However it also isolated her from others, making her bitter... and lonely.
When her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the murder, Avalin began to see and experience things that she couldn't explain. She thought she could handle these episodes by pushing them back into her mind. Until the day she sees one of her classmates morph into a monster right in front of her eyes. Pushed to the brink of paranoia, Avalin truly believes she's insane. Then a mysterious man named Albert comes into her life. She's wary of his motives yet for some reason finds herself drawn to him even though they've never met. What's even more inexplicable is that Albert knows who Avalin is. She's the daughter of the famous Abigail Marsh. Her mother.
Now the two of them will need to put their differences aside and trust one another. If Avalin can't let her guard down long enough to let Albert in, then there might be dire and far reaching consequences in store for them.
It turns out Avalin Marsh isn't as crazy as she thought.
Clean Eating: The Benefits of an Eat Clean Diet by Dottie Copps Amazon Kindle US Genre – Non Fiction Rating – G 4.9 (17 reviews) Free until 3 October 2013 Do you know what clean eating means? Are you aware of all of its benefits? Maybe you wonder just what someone eats when they are on a clean eating diet. If you have wondered what the benefits of this diet are and how you can benefit from them, read “Clean Eating – The Benefits of an Eat Clean Diet.” You will learn how to begin a clean eating diet, how to stay on the diet without having cravings and how to incorporate plenty of different types of food to avoid getting bored with the same meals over and over again.
Whether you simply want to know more about clean eating for beginners or you are ready to dive in head first on this new healthy lifestyle, you will love what you can gain from this book:
• Learn what makes up clean foods and how they qualify
• Learn the effects of excessive sugar and sodium in your body
• Learn how you can lose weight by following the clean eating guidelines
• Understand how to achieve overall wellness
• Learn how to read labels
Are You Still Living In Hope That Your Employees Will Follow Through On Expectations? Ask anyone in charge of managing people to define their number one leadership challenge, and they’re likely to tell you that it’s achieving accountability for performance. CEOs, top executive teams, managers, and line supervisors all struggle to get the right things done, the right way, by the right staff, at the right time. When goals are met or exceeded, everyone’s a hero. But even the very best organisations face unforeseen challenges and sometimes fail to meet their goals. At such times the organisation must quickly be put on the right track, and this cannot be done without a strong culture of accountability. Many organisations continue to implement traditional systems of accountability in an attempt to drive high performance in the workplace - only to see those efforts fail. The problem is, in many organisations accountability is viewed as something negative that happens to you when things go wrong. This kind of accountability never works over the long term. Real accountability is achieved through a step-by-step process that makes things go right. Business leaders who employ the new principles of leadership accountability stand to multiply their chances of success and market leadership, reporting high performing characteristics such as: · Cross-functional teams are the norm and are aligned, flexible, and adaptive to change. · Delivering on or beyond expectations is the norm rather than the exception. · Individuals and teams have a sense of ownership, and are focused, disciplined and collaborative, while holding each other accountable for outcomes. · The din of organisational silence is replaced with communications which are engaging, high trust, and free flowing. · Instead of entitlement, fear, blame and change resistance - organisational policies are driven by accountability, trust, and continuous improvement. · Striving for excellence in customer service is embedded as a core business value. · Company-wide culture embraces learning. It’s fun, friendly, and meaningful, and delivers great results. The case for improved accountability in leadership has become critical for any leader with pragmatic desires for better business success. In the #1 Amazon best seller, Accountability Leadership, you will find how great leaders are discovering a previously untapped goldmine of opportunity for personal, team and business transformation using the new science of accountability to build a high performance culture of accountability and responsibility. Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Business, Leadership, Workplace Behaviour, Human Resources, Executive Coaching Rating – PG More details about the author
Connect with Di Worrall on Facebook & Twitter Website http://www.diworrall.com.au/
~
The remainder of the morning, with
constant and at times agonizing restraint, had so far passed without any
bloodshed. Every moment around humans, I felt on the precipice of crumbling.
Always, the sinister plotting of how to take one of them down without repercussion
played at my thoughts. Reprieve seemed unattainable, until my first double art
class before lunch.
The art center was a separate and
small building. It was located down a quiet path shrouded by a thicket of
sassafras trees, and isolated from the main building. Its seclusion and smaller
class headcount disturbed me. There’d be fewer witnesses if I lost it, less
mess to clean up. It would take more control than I thought I could muster, to
keep my mind from planning someone’s bloody demise.
Preparing for a doubled forty-five
minute game of ‘ignore and don’t kill’, I walked stiffly through the open door
into class. A girl with pixie-like features and sleek fiery-red hair bopped in
front of me. My mouth clamped shut, holding my breath.
The girl’s face beamed as she swayed
on her much-too-high-for-school stiletto heels. “Hi, you must be Amelia. I’m
Vanessa.”
Her bubbly personality floored me.
So far she was the only person—apart from the mysterious and tempting Ty—to
introduce herself to me. The memory of him tugged at me from within, our entire
interaction imprinted on my mind. I could remember every detail of his
appearance and the few words he’d said to me. Still, I was no closer to placing
him.
Now this girl was watching me,
waiting on a reply while I stood reminiscing. “Uh, hi,” I said with caution.
Vanessa motioned to the back of the
classroom, where two vacant easels waited. They were the only two left
available. “Come on, I saved you a seat.”
With a smile, she turned and led the
way past the other students already seated. A broad beam of warm sunlight
streamed through the wall, made entirely of glass panels. The light encompassed
the two vacant easels and a single paint rack positioned between them. Not
nearly a good enough barrier to separate her from me.
The sun’s rays cast a distinct line
across the polished cement floor. I paused at its edge, staring blankly past
Vanessa and into the lush fernery beyond the glass. Sunlight was supposed to
burn vampires. Well, all turned vampires, from what I had been told.
Yesterday I even witnessed it. I had
been in the front passenger seat of Mom’s Mercedes SUV, bewildered by the huge
mansion before us. The day was overcast, wind-blown clouds sheltering what
should have been a pastel-blue sky. Mom slid from the car while Dorian and I
stared. Was this monstrous structure really our new home?
Then the clouds shifted. A sizzling
and gag-worthy stink of burning flesh reached us. Mom swore—something she
rarely did—and dove into the back seat, tugging the door shut behind her. The
UV resistant tint provided refuge from the sun’s escaping rays.
“Mom!” I cried, twisting in my seat.
“Are you okay?”
Dorian’s arm shot out, collecting
her hand and pulling it forward. “Shit!”
A bubbling welt of scorched flesh
covered her forearm. “Language, Dorian,” Mom chastised. “And I’ll be fine.” She
pulled her hand from Dorian’s. Instantly the redness began to soothe, the
bubbled skin smoothing until her arm was totally unblemished.
I turned back to the dashboard,
dropping my head into my hands. “Tell me again,” I said, hating the quake of my
voice. “Tell me how you’re affected by the sun, when we’re not?”
Mom had gone over this subject many
times at the cabin, but I was still unsettled by her explanation. The story
just didn’t add up.
Mom flattened her blouse and sighed.
“I was turned as an adult. However, it seems the circumstances in which you
were both infected has provided immunity.” She edged forward, her posture
straight as she rested a firm hand on each of our shoulders. “Now, this is
the last time I will repeat myself.”
Back in the classroom, Vanessa had
taken her spot and was waiting, watching me with a mixture of what looked like
impatience and anticipation.
Shaking the memory from my mind, I
stepped into the light. The curve in Vanessa’s smile twitched, her piercing
blue eyes blinking.
“Welcome, Amelia.” The sudden voice
caused Vanessa to jump, knocking her knee against the paint rack. A thin woman
in paint-spattered overalls and a paintbrush holding her hair back in a bun,
stood at the front of the classroom. “I’m Mrs. Ruby.” She looked to Vanessa.
“Vanessa, would you please explain the project options to Amelia?”
Vanessa nodded, shifting her eyes
back to me. Her face was painted with a perfect and what I thought was a faked
smile. There goes my paranoia, again.
“So, we have two options,” she said.
“Create a portrait of what we see ourselves becoming in ten years, or reveal
our hidden selves. The side we keep secret from the world.”
The image of me devouring a
blood-baggie that morning, with greedy drops of crimson escaping the corner of
my mouth, intruded on my thoughts. Not pretty. Bile threatened to rise up at
the back of my throat. I swallowed in an attempt to push it back down. Then I
grasped a tube of paint from the rack to mask my discomfort. “Sounds
interesting…”
Vanessa leaned closer, eyes
sparkling. “So, what do you see yourself becoming in ten years?”
I clung tighter to the paint tube.
The lid popped and a squirt of green shot at the ground. A murderer, I thought.
Though I doubted ten years would pass before I did finally lose control. “Um…”
Needing to evade her watching eyes, I snatched paper towel from the rack to
clean up the mess. I searched my mind for a normal response, before hesitating
and coming up blank. “I really don’t know.”
Vanessa crossed her arms over her
chest. “Well, what about the second option? Got any deep dark secrets I should
know about?”
Yes. I’m a vampire and drink blood, I thought, but had the better sense to respond with.
“Nope… What about you?”
I attempted to keep my voice level,
even though I was lying through my teeth. Teeth? I did a double take, running
my tongue over my teeth. They were completely level and human. My fangs
aren’t extended? And that’s when it hit me, or should I say, didn’t hit me. I
couldn’t scent her blood.
My eyes shot up to Vanessa, who
shrugged. “Well, I am kinda a fashion Nazi, which sucks for me. Unlike almost
every kid at this school, I’m on a scholarship. Even with a part-time job I’m
reduced to shopping online.”
“Where do you work?” I looked her
over while sniffing the air. Diamanté-studded stretch jeans and a fitted,
red-leather jacket. No scent.
“Nowhere, really. It’s more of an
errand-based gig.” As I kept staring, a frown pinched Vanessa’s brow. “What?” A
look of horror transformed her expression. “Oh my God, don’t tell me I have
body odor!”
Wiping the primal look from my face,
I shook my head. “No. Sorry.” I held up my hand that still clung to the paper
towel smeared with green paint. “It’s the paints,” I said, drilling my brain
for a normal excuse. “They, uh…smell the same as the ones from our old school.
Kind of like toe-jams and toothpaste.”
“Oh, good,” she said, voice
hesitant, “as long as you can’t smell me.”
Forcing a smile, I began squeezing
different paints onto a pallet. I should have been figuring out what I planned
on painting. I should have been doing anything and everything to appear normal.
But my mind was elsewhere. Yes, I felt relieved to have met someone I didn’t
want to drain, to drink from until they were lifeless in my arms. Still I
couldn’t get my head around her lack of scent. Who was this girl?
“Hey,” Vanessa said, breaking my
train of thought. “What’s your mobile number?” When I frowned, wondering why on
earth she’d want my number, she said, “You do have one, don’t you? I mean next
to lip gloss, it’s the one accessory a girl can’t live without.”
Puzzled, and trying not to stare at
her heavily-glossed lips, I pulled my iPhone from my jeans and handed it over.
It was personalized with a Three Days Grace case.
Vanessa snatched the phone and
dialed from it. Then she pulled her own mobile, sporting a cover speckled with
diamantes, from her jacket pocket. It chimed and her fingers glided over the
glass screen. “All done,” she said handing mine back. “I texted you my number
too.”
“Oh, thanks.” The phone chimed and I
stuffed it back into my pocket. The interaction left me feeling even more
confused. She’s just being friendly, I tried to convince myself. But my
suspicion didn’t agree.
After that I stared at my blank
canvas for what felt like forever. I was trying to force myself to think about
the project, but my mind kept wondering about the unusual girl sitting beside
me. When the bell rang, I realized my efforts had been useless. I had spent the
entire class staring at my canvas and tapping a dry paintbrush against my
thigh.
Vanessa rose to her feet and looked
down at me. “Got any plans for lunch?”
“Uh, no,” I replied. Where she was
going with this?
“Great! You can sit with us.”
Eat in a cafeteria full of humans?
Yeah, that’ll end well. “I can’t,” I said quickly, thinking up a lie. “Math
quiz tomorrow. I need to study.”
“Study can wait.” Vanessa strung her
arm through mine and yanked me forward. “Besides, I’m not taking no for an
answer. Oh and don’t worry, my friends don’t bite,” she said flashing me a
wicked grin, “unless provoked.”
Free until 30 September 2013
Genre – YA Paranormal Romance
Rating – PG-13+
Some things are better left alone…
After Ethan Hodges discovers an undersea cemetery just off the beach of Pelican Bay, South Carolina, he seeks answers from a grandfatherly fisherman named Captain Shelby. The captain wants the past to remain buried, and he warns Ethan to stay away. But Ethan doesn't listen.
Ethan's best friend and secret love interest, Morgan Olinsworth, joins in the investigation, unearthing intriguing secrets about the mysterious fisherman. When Captain Shelby is suspected of murder and disappears, a manhunt ensues, revealing a truth that unnerves everyone in Pelican Bay. Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christinsen Genre – Mystery, Suspense Rating – PG13 4.2 (29 reviews) Free until 29 September 2013
Sometimes that’s the way the Thin Mints crumble... When Lisa Taylor and her family move from San Francisco to the suburban paradise of Los Corderos, they know their family won’t fit in perfectly. They’re the only interracial family in the neighborhood. Lisa is a snarky sculptor. And 13-year-old Logan is gay. After Logan is repeatedly bullied at school, he finds his niche in an unusual place – his twin sister’s Girl Scout troop. When he tries to join, the organization refuses, so the boy sues for gender discrimination and sets off a firestorm of national media coverage. This only makes matters worse between the Logan and his father, a macho firefighter who is already struggling with his son’s sexual orientation. Adding to the strife is Lisa’s increasing distaste for Junta Moms who wish each other “Namaste” while rigging school elections and stealing each other’s husbands. Join the Taylors on their hilarious journey as they face the fight of their lives and,in the process, discover what it means to be a family. Praise for Jennifer Coburn’s Books "Jennifer Coburn’s Tales From the Crib is a deliciously fun, laugh-out-loud read about one woman’s journey toward motherhood. You won’t be able to put this book down until you arrive at the final, satisfying page.” - Emily Giffin, author of Where We Belong “The Queen Gene is entertaining…fresh, fast, and unpredictable…I didn’t want it to end!” - Jennifer Lancaster, author of Jeneration X “I absolutely loved The Wife of Reilly. It’s so funny and snappy, it was a total delight…a riot from start to finish, but an intelligent, thoughtful one that says a lot about the nature of love and relationships.” - Marian Keyes, author of This Charming Man Brownie Points by Jennifer Coburn Amazon Kindle US Genre – Women's Fiction Rating – PG13 4.1 (81 reviews) Free until 20 September 2013
Helga Out of Hedgelands – Rick Johnson Amazon Kindle US Amazon Kindle UK Genre – Fantasy Rating – PG 4.4 (16 reviews) Free until 10 September 2013 Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms.
Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations.
As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride.
Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently.
Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.
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