#Free for your #Kindle, 10/22/2015

The author of each of these books has indicated their intent to schedule these books for a free day for the Kindle versions today on Amazon. Sometimes plans change or mistakes happen, so be sure to verify the price before hitting that "buy me" button.

Meet the Beast by Claire Grimes

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Author's interested in having their free book featured either here on a Thursday or a sister site on a Monday, visit this page for details.

Awakening / Laura Greenwood

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: New Adult/Romance/Fairy Tale/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: NO

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Laura Greenwood, “I'm in my early twenties and live in the UK, I loved English Lit from a young age and have always been a reader!

I work in food basically! As a catering supervisor and as a bar maid/waitress. I just got a BSc in International Business and French and I'm a Brownie Guide Leader. I also write web copy for my family's business.”

Ms. Greenwood also reviews books on her website and posts to Facebook. Be sure to check her out. Awakening (The Alventia Series Book 1) is her debut novella.

Description:

“In an effort to have a child, the Queen makes a deal with the Dark King, but she soon discovers that the deal has dire consequences for her beloved Sleeping Beauty. In an effort to help, the Queen’s mother alters the curse so that Keira will sleep for 100 years, but there is a catch; if Keira awakens before then she may still be doomed.

After sleeping for over 90 years, Keira is awoken by Philip, the son of the Dark King and the one she was intended for. Despite sharing his father's bloodline, Philip refuses to be like his father and won't make Keira do anything that she isn't ready for.

Supported by a powerful witch and her brother, Hansel and Gretel, Philip and Keira have to make a choice, one that will define Keira's destiny. Changing their lives forever.”

Appraisal:

I found this novella an enjoyable read. Keira is your typical princess in the beginning of the story. She has heard the prophecy her entire life but doesn’t believe in fairy tales. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday where Keira was announced and crowned heir to the throne of Alventia to the entire kingdom. As the ball commenced she danced her way into adulthood hoping to find her prince. At the end of the evening on her way to her bed chamber a light from a small room attracted her attention. Hoping to find attendants in a compromising position she peeked into the room. Finding a spinning wheel instead she sat down to spin. We all know she pricked her finger and fell into a deep sleep.

This is where the story differs and the author takes us on a unique journey where Keira’s sleep isn’t as deep as we supposed. Keira is able to hear everything going on around her occasionally dreaming dark dreams. As time passes and her parents pass away she mourns their loss. Eventually she is left alone with few visitors or caretakers and starts to feel a change taking place within herself. We see her dreams, know her desires, as we watch this transformation occur, although we don’t know why because we don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle yet.

When Prince Phillip arrives, he knows what she needs and desires. Phillip, despite being raised by the Dark King, is patient, kind, has a good heart. He knows Keira is meant for him alone but wants her to love him for the man he is. Not because some prophecy or the Dark King deems it so. He feels an overwhelming desire to prove himself to Keira because of who his father is.

Including the adult Hansel and Gretel in this tale was absolute genius. They play an important role and bring part of the story to light. It is through Gretel that we get the full prophecy. Ms. Greenwood was able to modify them just enough to make them fit perfectly in her story. It’s going to be interesting as we learn more about Keira’s heritage. We were told early on her grandmother had enough power to alter the curse placed by the Dark King. Not to mention other factors that may come into play as certain aspects of the prophecy still hang in the balance. I look forward to more from Ms. Greenwood, I think she is an author to watch.

FYI:

This is Book one of The Alventia Series. The author uses British spellings. There is some sexual content however, it is mostly implied and not overly descriptive.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing errors.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reprise Review: The Little Universe / Jason Matthews

Reviewed by: Michael Thal

Genre: Science Fiction/Spirituality

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Novelist, blogger, and writing coach, Jason Matthews is the founder of a Facebook group of over 2000 writers. Other books besides The Little Universe include Jim’s Life, How to Make, Market, and Sell EBooks All for Free, and Get on Google Front Page. Jason lives with his family in Prismo Beach, California. Drop by and perhaps you can entice him to a game of chess or scrabble.

Description:

Rose Adams had a dream—to reproduce The Big Bang in miniature—to simulate a tiny universe. Killed in a car accident, her inventor husband, Webster Adams, sees his wife’s dream to fruition. However, Adams realizes he’ll need help and seeks out the assistance of Jon Gruber, a local handyman, to assist him during the experiment.

Appraisal:

In a writing style integrating science fiction with spirituality, author Jason Matthew’s novel, The Little Universe, is written in the first person point of view of Jon Gruber. Jon is a local handyman for hire. Once he begins work for the inventor, Gruber’s eyes are opened to the wonders of the universe—literally.

As Adams’ universe evolves, his AI computer, Jim, seeks out sentient life orbiting the tiny universe’s stars. Through Jim’s cameras, Jon and the team of scientists that join Adams encounter worlds with mystery and scientific advancement.

Webster Adam’s daughter, Whitney, is drawn into one world whose mysterious dwellers may hold the key to everyone’s questions.

The Little Universe will keep readers riveted, especially if they are interested in the meaning of life and beyond.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Irregular Fairy Tales - A Book for Grown-Ups / Scott Teel

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Humor/Satire/Fairy Tale

Approximate word count: 25-30,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

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Author:

“Scott Teel has worked as a library page, a cigarette cashier, a school landscaper, a paint store gopher, a dishroom employee, an election supervisor, a videographer, and a copywriter and proofreader. He lives in Ithaca, NY.”

Description:

“What makes a fairy tale Irregular? Hansel & Gretel’s parents refusing to allow the kids to be adopted by fairies because they disapprove of the fairy lifestyle. Rumplestiltskin teaching a young woman to keep her promises. A prince for Rapunzel who never mastered rope climbing in gym class. Tom Thumb’s mother refusing to allow him to date the one girl his size because she’s Protestant.

Not fairy tales for children - although frequently childish - Irregular Fairy Tales are much more fun than a trip to the ball, and less expensive too, when you consider how much interest Fairy Godmothers are charging these days.”

Appraisal:

The stories in Irregular Fairy Tales are loosely based on the fairy tales you're familiar with from childhood. However, they've been updated and twisted into something entirely different. The changes vary. Some are modernized. Some have endings polar opposites of the original. All have a humorous and irreverent attitude to them that adults, especially if you like satire, will find amusing.

Unlike the fairy tales of your youth, the message or “moral” of the story is unclear (I'd say didn't exist in many cases) even though one is explicitly given at the end. Some of those morals were enough to get a final chuckle. For example:

“Don’t hate entire groups of people for no good reason when there are so many good reasons to hate people individually.”

Or this one:

“Just because his name is Charming doesn’t mean that he actually is.”

There were times when the additions and twists seemed to be taking the story down a particular road, trying to make a political statement, but if that was the goal, what that statement was remained unclear to me. So, unlike those fairy tales of yore, these aren't likely to teach you anything (you're an adult who has learned the simple lessons anyway, right?) but they should be good for more than a few laughs.

FYI:

Some adult language and themes.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Refracted / Nicole Storey

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/YA

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

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Author:

From Nicole Storey’s website: “I’ve always loved to read, and spent many of my childhood days in the tall branches of an apple tree in our backyard. I pored over books by C.S. Lewis and authors of fantasy and paranormal, fought evil witches, traveled to distant lands, and saved the day…

I live in Georgia. I am married, have two prodigious children, and a plethora of pets. I love to read and review books, cook, garden, and I plan for Halloween all year long. I’m a huge fan of the television show, Supernatural.

In my spare time, I slay demons, conspire with angels, and keep humanity safe from Evil. I think my life turned out okay.”

Ms. Storey’s, Celadon Circle Book One: Blind Sight was the winner in Big Al’s Books and Pals Readers’ Choice Awards for 2014 in the Fantasy category!

To learn more please visit Ms. Storey's website or follow her onfacebook.

Description:

“High in the Huron Mountains … Jordan is forced to live with her demon father, Aamon, or risk capture by the angels. Miserable, homesick, with emerging powers she can’t begin to comprehend, Jordan doesn’t think her luck can get much worse.

And then Aamon announces she must meet with his nefarious boss.

In Heaven … Michael has a secret, one that will cost him his position as an archangel if discovered. Jordan’s newfound status could expose everything he’s tried so hard to keep hidden.

She must be silenced.

In Dixon’s Bluff, Wyoming … Uncle Casen and the twins are desperate to find Jordan and bring her home. With no help from their Guardian or the Celadon Circle, Casen makes a decision that unravels what’s left of their family. Outraged, Quinn sets out alone. With help from a holy relic and a long lost friend, he learns of a chilling prophecy – one that not even the angels and demons can survive.

And it begins and ends with Jordan.”

Appraisal:

This story just became absolutely amazing. Tangled webs are woven in heaven and on earth. This book shifts points-of-view and each chapter ends with you sitting on the edge of your seat where it takes you on to the next nail-biting situation. It never lets up.

Jordon’s powers are growing and at war inside her heart and mind. She is pushed to test some of them out early in the book and managed to not lose control. She has no idea how strong she really is. She also makes a new friend, Xander, whom she feels drawn to but doesn’t know why. The big boss sends Jordon on a mission, she gets to choose team members and if she completes her mission successfully she will be allowed to go back home to her brothers and Uncle Casen… or so he says.

In heaven Michael is making power plays and Gabriel seeks help from the Virtues. Where Gabriel learns about the prophecy and is told there are certain stands he needs to take, despite Michael.

Quinn discovers a powerful relic on the bookshelf Uncle Casen says he’s never seen before. An old acquaintance shows up with a plan to find Jordon. Outraged when Uncle Casen and Nathan agree to give the plan a shot, Quinn takes off on his own with the relic. As he suspected, things go to hell back at the house. I can’t say much more than the pace was fast, furious and emotional. Surprising twists in each storyline kept the suspense high. It was hard to put the book down and I found myself reading until my eyes wouldn’t focus any longer. The climax… holy crap!

Refracted is an outstanding addition to this series with unique, intelligent story-lines that were easy to read without having to go back and re-read book one. Well done, Ms. Storey. I hope we won’t have to wait too long for book three.

FYI:

Refracted is book 2 in The Celadon Circle, I would recommend reading book 1 Blind Sight first. There are several F-bombs, the story honestly needed them.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

BloodMarked / Lu J Whitley

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: New Adult/Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

From Lu J. Whitley’s Amazon page: “Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a girl was born who was just a little strange around the edges. One thing led to another, and now you're reading her stories.

Lu is a full-time writer and self-professed oddball who lives a quiet life in the mid-Midwest with her geeky, roboticist husband and four-legged children.” BloodMarked looks to be her debut novel.

Follow Lu J Whitley on Facebook or check out her Blog.

Description:

“Her nightmares are real, and they're out for blood. Greta Brandt's life is run of the mill, except for the nightmares - violent dreams of creatures that wear the skin of the people around her... and him, the man with the golden hair and incandescent red eyes.

After 800 cursed years, Jaromir Ragnarsson has finally found the violet-eyed woman with the star-shaped birthmark of the BloodMarked: Greta Brandt. But he's not the only one who's been searching for her.

When terror strikes close to home, Greta must finally accept her role in a world she thought only existed in her fevered dreams, putting her wavering trust in the one man who knows the full truth about her fate.”

Appraisal:

What a thrill-ride, Greta Brandt is a twenty-three year old college student living at home with her German immigrant mother. Her father died eighteen years ago when she was only five years old. She suffers nightmares about that night repeatedly. Now, the Takers (Bortbytingen) have found her again and they won’t stop until they have her.

Jaromir Ragnarsson has been assigned by The Fraktioneers (a highly secret organization) to protect her at all costs. When Jaromir is trying to tell Greta how to pronounce his name, since it was such a mouthful (insert sexual innuendo here) he told her she could call him Jami for short. (He pronounced it with a Norwegian accent.) Greta chuckled and said “your mom called you yummy?” “Jami,” he repeated. “Yaa-Mee. Not yummy.” So in my head and Greta’s, Jaromir, our giant Norwegian savoir is Yummy all the way through the story. How could he not be? Tall, long blond hair ice-blue eyes, muscular… Yeah, he was yummy.

The action is a fast paced, rollercoaster ride with twists and turns that are completely unexpected. The storyline is unique and original. Ms. Whitley redefines vampires, trolls and skin-walkers to some degree. However, her urban fantasy world is much like our own, which lends to ease of believability. I can highly recommend this urban fantasy, which ends in a tense and precarious situation. I look forward to the sequel.

FYI:

This is Book 1 of The Fraktioneers Series.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no significant editing errors.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Dollar Down / Sam Waite

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Suspense/Mystery

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: NO

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

A former Marine, editor in chief of a daily newspaper in Texas, and later spending twenty-five years in Japan where he worked at McKinsey & Company and as the stocks editor at Bloomberg, Sam Waite had a long career as a journalist. In retirement, he's become a novelist and also our newest “pal,” recently joining Books and Pals as a reviewer.

I thought this story from the about the author section of this book, Sam's first novel, was interesting because it was the inspiration for this book.

Sam arrived in Tokyo on his way home [from Taiwan]. It was the day Nixon announced the U.S. would no longer guarantee the sale of gold at thirty-five dollars an ounce. Banks shut down currency trading, because no one knew what a dollar was worth vis a vis gold. No bank would exchange his dollars for yen. He had a plane ticket to the U.S., but needed yen to buy a monorail ticket to the airport. With only minutes to spare to get the last run that would let him catch his plane, a train station employee gave him from his own pocket enough yen coins to buy a ticket. Thus began the end of the Bretton Woods accord that had fixed currency exchange rates since 1945 and the start of his fascination with the global foreign exchange market.

Description:

“What began as a simple missing persons case turns into something that could bring down a nation.

Mick Sanchez arrives in Paris to find his client, a global management consultant, has gone missing. A director in the firm hires Sanchez to find the missing client. To his surprise, the director, a beautiful woman, takes more than a professional interest in him. When both she and his client are murdered, he becomes determined to discover why. His investigation leads him to discover a complex conspiracy to destabilize the world’s oil market, undermine the dollar and ultimately alter the balance of power among nations. Before long Sanchez finds himself the target of people he had trusted, in a gambit of seduction and betrayal.”

Appraisal:

This is a well written, intense story. If you're a fan of suspense or thriller novels with international intrigue, especially the political or financial thriller sub-genres, Dollar Down should be a great fit. Mick Sanchez is a protagonist who you really want to succeed, even more so when you realize the stakes of him not getting to the bottom of the mystery at the heart of this story and the conspiracy he uncovers in the process.

If your knowledge of the currency markets is limited to what mine was (my Canadian trips are cheaper or more expensive, depending on exchange rate) the critical concepts are doled out as needed in a way that doesn't bog down the story. You might find yourself learning something new without even trying or realizing you're doing so.

FYI:

A few very mild adult situations.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of typos or other errors. These are primarily using the word lead instead of led in multiple places and occasionally missing a small word ('a', 'too', etc) or words out of sequence in a sentence.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Snowball: Chronicles of a Wererabbit / M. Y. Zeman

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Middle Grade/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Coming of Age

Approximate word count: 60-65,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: YES Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

“M. Y. Zeman has a Master's Degree from Stonybrook University and a BA in Mathematics. She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher of computers and math… A lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy… She currently lives in New York with her dog and three dwarf bunnies and is working on the second book, Snow Bunny.”

You can follow her on Facebook.

Description:

“Snow Everly was born a rabbit and believes that her destiny was to die in a cold laboratory. Then one winter night, a vampire named John breaks in searching for his missing research. When the lab goes up in flames he goes back and rescues her. He names her Snowball and has no idea that she is no ordinary rabbit. John's partner, Edgar, tells him that he is now a father but it takes time for John to realize how right he is. When Snow turns three years old, Snow gains the ability to shift into a girl… Follow Snow on her journey as she makes friends with werewolves, a telepathic mouse and searches for answers. Her dream is to one day become a hero and above all else - she wants to be accepted for who she is - a wererabbit.”

Appraisal:

Snow Everly feels most comfortable in her bunny form, so when Snow turns six John, John’s partner, Edwin, decide it is time for Snow to start school. It doesn’t go as well as planned. Well over the first half of this story is devoted to character development of this urban fantasy world, John, and Edwin. Ms. Zeman's vampires are unique as are the family dynamics in this tale. John is a First Blood, meaning he is Vampire royalty. HHe suffers from hearing loss from a birth defect. He also is very forgetful, but has a brilliant mind and devotes himself to science. Edwin, has a happy-go-lucky personality. He comes and goes as his adventurous soul pleases. They are both very devoted to Snow.

The plot took way too long to get going in this story. I almost set it aside a few times. It was also hard for me to become involved with the characters. John was aloof, Edwin a bit too happy, and Snow was just an adorable bunny. I had to remind myself this was a children’s story. Most of the evil doings are from humans, which shouldn’t be too surprising. However towards the end a nefarious plot arises and some evil vampires are involved as well as humans. Here the story takes off in a whirlwind as Snow tries to save a young captured werewolf. This is a creative and adventurous story that should captivate any middle-grade student who enjoys fantasy.

FYI:

The family dynamics of having two dads is subtle and handled well.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found a small number of proofing errors.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Ooga Booga / Gerry Walker

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Science Fiction/Suspense/Post-Apocalyptic

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

A Harlem based writer, Gary Walker has one other book, Pretty People are Highly Flammable.

For more, visit Walker's website.

Description:

“It has been a few years since the deaths of Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tanisha Anderson, Freddie Gray and Sandra Bland.

A mysterious condition invades the U.S., erasing the Black individual’s ability to speak any known languages. A bizarre new dialect has surfaced instead. Unable to comprehend their surroundings, they take to the streets and do what they can to survive. This sparks nationwide panic, triggering a government mandate to capture Black people and transport them to isolation camps.

Marketing executive Vanessa Landing risks everything to fight for their freedom, not realizing the web of deception awaiting her, nor the liberating love that will transform her from an insecure corporate pawn into the fierce warrior she was meant to be.”

Appraisal:

As part of the book description the author or publisher describe Ooga Booga as “one of the first fictional renderings of the #BlackLivesMatter movement told via a speculative, futuristic lens.” It may be nitpicking, but I'm not sure I agree with that. While undeniably speculative and futuristic, Ooga Booga has nothing to do with the movement and making that connection feels more like a marketing ploy than anything else. However, it could be viewed as a way to show why that movement is needed. The addition of the speculative elements might make the subject more palatable for those who would be uncomfortable were it to hew too close to contemporary truths.

Regardless of the applicability or lack thereof to current events, I found myself making those comparisons. While part of my brain rebelled against accepting the isolation camps, the comparisons to the Japanese internment camps of World War II were too obvious to not accept the possibility. I found Ooga Booga to be an interesting thought experiment, playing a game of “what if,” which seems to me what speculative fiction of this kind is all about.

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Wrong Crowd / Richard Godwin

Reviewed by: Keith Nixon

Genre: Psychological thriller

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Richard Godwin is a widely published author, with a focus on horror and crime, poet and playwright. He holds a BA and MA in English and American English. He splits his time between the UK and US.

You can learn more about the author at his website.

Description:

A sultry novel in which an art thief finds himself out of his depth in a criminal maelstrom when he meets a beautiful woman with no past.

When Claude meets Maxine in the Caribbean he falls for her. He does not expect he will start an affair with her back in London, then again he does not expect to have to call on the help of his old mate Spike, nor that they will become embroiled with Russian gangsters Vladimir and Grigory.

But then Claude will do anything to hold onto Maxine. Peopled with thieves, hustlers, gangsters, gun runners and pimps, Wrong Crowd is a slick and action-packed ride into London’s low-life.

Appraisal:

This is a languid tale of deception, jealousy and murder. The novel opens with Claude, not the best looking guy in the world, falling for Maxine, who’s a beauty. He doesn’t understand why, perhaps it’s because Claude appears to be a wealthy man. After a brief, powerful holiday affair the pair returns to London. Pretty quickly we realise Claude is not what he seems. However, neither is Maxine.

When the pair return to London they carry on their affair, but first Claude must bolster the outward pretense of wealth. Claude was in the Caribbean spending some ill-gotten gains, the trouble is the cash is running out quickly.

One of the elements Godwin achieves very well with all of his work is the steady ratcheting up of tension. An earlier piece of work, One Lost Summer, is a particularly strong example. In Wrong Crowd the author achieves a similar effect, pulling back the cloth to reveal the frailties of his main characters. The criminal element, school friend Spike and Russian Grigory, also cast a long shadow over the tale, revealing more of Maxine’s intentions. The losers in Wrong Crowd are many and dealt with in brutal fashion, where one person will do anything they have to in order to have what they most desire.

FYI:

Plenty of swearing and violence.

Format/Typo Issues:

Nothing of note.

Rating: ***** Five Stars