Free This Weekend: Girl of My Dreams by Morgan Mandel

Follow the madcap adventures of a straitlaced assistant who sneaks onto the set of a reality show to win a billionaire.

When the producer discovers her ruse, he’s beside himself with rage. He’d thought better of her, but it looks like she’s only a gold digger.

What’s worse, she’s advancing in the rounds. She may even win the billionaire, but is he the guy she really wants?

File Size: 856 KB
Print Length: 156 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Choice One Publishing Co.; 2014 Updated Edition, First Published in 2008 edition (November 10, 2011)
Publication Date: November 10, 2011
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0065R11QO


Purchase here!

Kindle Bargain: If Wishes Were Husbands by Lucy Shea

Inventing the perfect husband goes hilariously wrong for Rachel in this funny, light-hearted novel with a twist of fantasy and a smidgen of romance.
When the single life gets her down, Rachel invents a story about Darren, the perfect husband she keeps hidden away at home. He cooks! He cleans! He’s great in bed! But her fanciful stories take on a life of their own when Darren appears on her sofa.

Suddenly living with a man she only dreamed about, Rachel faces a dilemma: should she leave him or should she love him?

Lucy Shea’s humorous style takes a funny and thought-provoking journey into an unexpected relationship, reflecting every woman’s search for the right man.

Previously published under the author names, Jane Killick and Elizabeth Kyne.

File Size: 580 KB
Print Length: 292 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Elly Books (September 15, 2015)
Publication Date: September 15, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B01491ZAGY


Purchase here for only 99 cents!

Bargain E-Book: ARNCO by Ben Muse

Jake Brigham, a wildly successful first time author is drowning in the undertow of his newfound success. After years of "winning," he realizes he has only lost--a beloved mother, a marriage, even his ability to create. Eventually, he leaves the demands of New York and returns to a place once close to his heart: Arnco, a dying Georgia mill village. He rebuilds his life, and his passion returns, for words, and for a childhood friend.

Allie Tanner, a widowed, single mother, has been fighting demons since the day she was born. Her entire life has been a struggle-- with an alcoholic father, her own health problems, the death of her husband, and the constant worry that she may never be able to protect the one thing that means the most: her daughter Grace.

Jake ignites the spark of hope within her, and she within him. And each for very different reasons. When circumstances from their past collide with their present, will their hopes survive? Will tragedy cause a horrific breakdown or an inspirational destiny?

File Size: 1845 KB
Print Length: 362 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: 4EyesBooks; First edition (March 22, 2014)
Publication Date: March 22, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00J772MUI


Purchase here!

First Chapter Review: When You Can't Find God by Linda Evans Shepherd

I'm running massively late today. My schedule is so tight I don't think I can jam a needle into it. I figured I would switch gears and talk about a nonfiction title this time. I actually read nonfiction almost exclusively for many years. It wasn't until I decided to embark upon my writing career that I began reading fiction again.

TITLE: When You Can't Find God: How to Ignite the Power of His Presence

AUTHOR: Linda Evans Shepherd

BLURB: The storms of life visit us all, and at times we find ourselves ill-prepared to weather them. Where is God when everything comes crashing down? Where is he when a job is lost? When a child goes astray? When the diagnosis is cancer? Does he even care?

In When You Can't Find God, Linda Evans Shepherd shows readers how to see God in any circumstance, even when it's hard. Compassionate and practical, Shepherd offers strategies for surviving difficult times, giving your troubles to God, praying through the pain, and finding peace, hope, and joy once more. She also shows readers how to use their sorrows as a tool to draw nearer to God.

No one is exempt from pain and trials. But for those in the midst of them, there is hope.



COVER: Beautiful! The calming colors and the bold text are indicative of a faith based title. The clouds remind the reader of heaven and her Creator, and the footprints on the beach remind her of the famous Mary Stevenson "Footprints in the Sand" poem where Jesus tells the person He carried him/her during the most difficult times of his/her life.

FIRST CHAPTER: The chapter opens with a quote from Billy Graham. It quickly moves to the story of Tracy, who is driving the author to the airport. She is desperate to know if she will carry emotional pain all her life. A victim of horrible crimes and suffering from depression, Tracy wants to know she won't always hurt. After Tracy's story, the author discusses if pain and trouble are Biblical and shares another story. The chapter winds down with a "Trip to the Oasis," a psalm for the reader to use as a prayer, and then a "Prayer Experience."

My Kindle Fire version has a link to the author's website where you can click to view Chapter Videos that correspond to my reading.

KEEP READING: Definitely. This book was a recommendation by a client and friend. I was attracted to the cover, and thought I would read the opening to see if I would hold onto it.

I like Shepherd's compassionate style and how she weaves personal stories into the information she wants to relay. I almost felt like she was sitting right beside me. The psalms are favorites of mine, so I enjoy getting the chance to read them in each chapter. The "Prayer Experience" at the end gives me time to pause and reflect.

Trials and tribulations come to all of us. Despite my faith, I can't say I am always the best at coping with them. I'm glad I have Shepherd's book on hand when I need it.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 370 KB
Publisher: Revell (May 1, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B004TS1MD8
SRP:  Originally $12.99, currently $3.59

I downloaded a free Kindle version of this book. I received no monetary compensation for my review.

First Chapter Review: 30 Pieces of Silver by Carolyn McCray

I picked up a Kindle copy of this book for two reasons: it was free and its subtitle is, "An Extremely Controversial Historical Thriller." Who doesn't enjoy a bit of controversy? Historicals and thrillers are two of my favorites, so picking up a book that combines them seems the right thing for me. In addition, the Amazon description says you shouldn't read the book if you're disturbed by The DaVinci Code or The Passion of Christ's revelations. I remember the broowaha that surrounded the former, so I had to take a peek into McCray's book.

TITLE:  30 Pieces of Silver

AUTHOR:  Carolyn McCray

BLURB:  Frustratingly enough, I couldn't find an official blurb for this book, even at the author's website. Pretty much, it looks like review blurbs are what is being used to compel readers to buy the book. I did, however, find this overview on Amazon -

A Christian suicide bomber.

John the Baptist's bones inscribed in ancient Greek.

A dark secret carried from the foot of the crucifixion.

Can science solve the world's greatest mystery?

COVER:  Love it. The deep red cover with a slice through it that reveals coins definitely makes one think thriller and maybe some sort of mystery. The font used definitely gives the inkling that this is an historical novel. I don't believe this is the original cover, though. The one at the right is posted at Goodreads and also used in blog interviews, so I'm thinking the cover was redesigned at some point. Good thing. This other cover never would have attracted my attention, and for the most part, when I am scanning for free e-Books, I go by the cover and then read the blurb if the cover caught my eye.

FIRST CHAPTER:  I can't reveal too much about this opening chapter because it would ruin some of what transpires. What I can say is the reader meets Dr. Rebecca Monroe, who has been captured by maniacal warriors in Ecuador. She is currently staked to a pole, bleeding, and eagerly awaiting her end.

KEEP READING: I really don't know, but I'm leaning toward no. Writers are told that readers don't bother with prologues. I've always read them, but when they are overdone, I get irritated. This one spans a few pages. In order to fully grasp some of what this book is about, however, you need to read this prologue. And before you read the prologue, you have to read the short piece that precedes it, where the reader meets Judas Iscariot, who is considering the role he played in the arrest and Crucifixion of Jesus. So, before you even get to the first chapter, you have a bunch of reading to do, and what happens in the two parts that precede the first chapter have different characters and situations than it does.

Any author worth her salt will connect these pieces. Toward the end of the first chapter we see it already happening, but having so many characters tossed at you quickly and not immediately connected, leaves the reader with a disjointed feeling. In addition, the reader is told that Dr. Monroe's vision is blurry from a blow to the head, yet, the reader gets detailed descriptions of everything and everyone around her. It seems as if this is being told from her point of view, so either she can clearly see what's happening or she can't. A tiny nitpick, but it aggravated me as I read the descriptions. That said, McCray definitely knows how to paint a picture for the reader. You feel like you're right there.

After reading the three sections, I am intrigued by where this is going; how the dots are going to be connected; and what controversy might lie ahead, but I don't know that I am intrigued enough if the story is going to remain disjointed. I might be willing to give the next chapter a read before fully deciding to continue or not.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 940 KB
Publisher: Off Our Meds Multimedia (December 22, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B004HB1W82
SRP:  $3.99

I downloaded a free copy of this book to my Kindle. I received no monetary compensation for my review.

Short Story Review: Evergreen A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor

An elderly man remembers the year his dying grandfather told his family the story of the first Evergreen tree.

In this touching tale of the season, readers are treated to a short story of a family coping with issues whose lives are transformed by a loving grandfather's telling of a story about the first Evergreen tree.

I wish the narrative had been a bit more polished and engaging, but overall this is a sweet story that will have you holding your loved ones a little closer this season.

Title:  Evergreen A Christmas Tale
Author: Richard Taylor
Publisher: Ransom Greene Press
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B004EHZSES
Current price: FREE for Kindle

I downloaded a free copy of this book from Amazon. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.

Guest Blogger: Joel Andre, Author of A Death at the North Pole

Joining us today is Joel Andre, author of A Death at the North Pole.

Detective Lauren Bruni has dealt with death for her entire life. She has watched it ruin lives, and brought people closer together. Her job taught her to separate fact from fiction.


But on a cold December day, all Lauren had believed in would be shattered and tossed aside. Thrust in a world unlike any she has seen before, she investigates a prominent figure’s grisly murder, and searches for answers along a strange new set of people.

All while a killer watchers her every movement from the background. He waits in the shadows, waiting to strike at her when the time is right.

What is the secret of the death at the North Pole, and what is the larger horror at hand? Life lessons are learned and a realization that sometimes the most real things in this world are the ones we believe in the least.

The Art Of Writing Suspense by Joel Andre

Writing suspense can certainly be tricky for some people. In most cases, the writer struggles and a scene that should be suspenseful will often come off as cliché, or just forced. While I am in no way an expert on the topic of writing suspense, I will be more than happy to give some tips that I think will help the avid writer expand on their content.

One of the most important things the individual writing suspense can do is to take the time to get the tension into their story. This tension should offer some emotional weight for the reader and this tension should have the reader fearful for the characters involved. Usually, if I place a character in danger, there is a very good change they are going to die and my readers get that. Getting a reader emotionally connected to even minor characters is essential to help build the suspense in the tale you are telling. If you have disposable characters that are thinly written, your readers won’t react when you kill them off.

Sometimes, time can be another way you can help to add some suspense to your story. When there is a ticking clock that your hero is up against, this gives a sense of urgency and each page they turn can keep that urgency alive until time runs out. While doing this, just make sure that you have a crisis that is set to happen at a moment’s notice. By keeping the stakes high in your book, your reader is going to get more from the overall experience.

While going through the story, add complications as often as possible. No one wants to read a simple story where a problem is discovered and solved. Make the characters work for the ending. This doesn’t mean making things so complex that they can’t make ground. You just want something that will keep the reader invested and add depth to the story you are writing.

Along with that, never become predictable. Instead of writing how you think the reader wants a story to go, add some twists. In life, nothing goes from point A to point B smoothly and you will want to be sure that you take that the story you are writing reflects these real life scenarios.

Above all, make sure your villain and hero are people that can be related to. The best villains come across as the other characters in the books and they will often shock the reader when they are revealed. In turn, the hero of the story should complement this character as well. If you invest a lot of depth into the villain and flesh them out better than your hero, you will find that your story doesn’t hold up as well.

Keep in mind that these are just some of the ways you can build a suspense tale. Use these ideas to help flesh out your story and have a blast writing a story that keeps your adrenaline pumping.

Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry.


Between the years of 1999 and 2007 Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection,Pray the Rain Never Ends.


Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark tongue in cheek, A Death at the North Pole, created a dark world among the death of Kris Kringle. Ultimately providing a tale of redemption.


October of 2008 saw Joel release his second book, Kill 4 Me. A tale in which a woman is haunted by a vengeful spirit through text messages and instant messaging.


Taking some time off and doing a lot of soul searching, Joel took things in a new direction and dabbled in the Fantasy Genre with, The Pentacle of Light. The tale dealing with five major races battling for control of Earth, and the acceptance of their God.


Finally, after missing his detective Lauren Bruni, he released the book The Return in October 2009, this time moving the action from the North Pole and placing it in the small Arizona community he was raised in.


Andre’s latest book is The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen about a dead man who seeks revenge on the woman that tormented him in peaceful Northern Arizona.

Currently, he resides in Chandler, AZ.


You can visit his website at www.joelmandre.info.

Next stop: December 13-Excerpt@ Chris Redding, Author

The Fairy Tale Bride (Once Upon a Wedding) by Kelly McClymer

Miranda Fenster was known as the Fairy Tale Miss during the one disastrous London season that convinced her she would never have a happily-ever-after. But when her brother's love match is thwarted by the impossibly proper Duke of Kerstone, Miranda sets off to convince the duke to champion her brother's cause for love. Unfortunately, he is too proper to consider love a suitable reason for marriage, and too proper not to marry Miranda when they find themselves compromised. Now, Miranda has a second chance for happily-ever-after, if she can uncover her new husband's darkest secret. Originally published by Kensington Zebra Ballad, October 2000.


PURCHASE FOR AMAZON KINDLE FOR ONLY 99 CENTS!

"One of the most thrilling romances I have read recently, The Fairy Tale Bride will keep you turning the pages in eager anticipation."

--B.S. Andrews, Amazon Reviewer

"Ms. McClymer offers us a wonderfully original tale laced with wonderful, deeply drawn characters and a romance that makes you hold your breathe. Her writing puts me in mind of Amanda Quick and Lynn Kurland. I think that I have found a new favorite author."

--Teagan Oliver

Also by Kelly McClymer:

The Unintended Bride

The Infamous Bride

The Next Best Bride

Kelly McClymer started out writing plays for her sister to perform for their parents. She branched out to writing for her high school newspaper, and then began a futile attempt to write science fiction. At last, with her historical romance novels, she achieved the goal of published author. And then, in a leap of faith, she left romance for the Young Adult world of fantasy and witchcraft. She may be secretly working her way back to science fiction, but mum’s the word on that one.



Visit Kelly online at http://www.kellymcclymer.com/!