Tips for Finding Reasonably Priced and Free E-Books

Scenario: You have recently acquired an Amazon Kindle (congratulations!) and you want to buy your first e-book, but you launch Amazon.com and see that the book you want is $14.99. The Kindle version is more expensive than the paperback!

Today I'd like to share some tips on navigating the e-book purchasing terrain. There are a number of ways to locate reasonably priced and even free e-books. You just have to know where to look!

First, with respect to the opening scenario, lets look at how to get you that best seller you want without paying the best seller price. One method is to watch the price at ereaderiq.com until it drops. Here you can enter your email address and the book information (you'll find the ASIN under Product Details at Amazon.com) and set a notification threshold. When the book price drops by at least this amount, you'll receive a notice via email. Return to this page at any time to view your list of watched books and their current prices. Just enter your email address and click the "View Items You Are Currently Watching" button. Also, be sure to sign up for ereaderiq's free book email alert (big red button, top right corner).

For more expensive books that you might not be inclined to buy for yourself, consider adding them to your wish list on Amazon.com - while you're at it add an Amazon.com gift card too - and send family and friends a link to your wish list. Christmas is just around the corner!

Every day, Amazon.com lists one book at a significantly reduced price here: Amazon Kindle Daily Deal

For free public domain books, check out Gutenberg and Free Kindle E-books.

Other sources of free books are Bean and the Kindle Freebies search page.

If you're looking for cheap or free books by independent authors, you can often find them at Smashwords before they are offered on Amazon.com. 

Visit these other sites for links to book bargains and free books:
Pixel of Ink
Daily Cheap Reads
Books on The Knob
obooko
AddAll Ebooks
Fictionwise
Many of these sites allow you to sign up for newsletters so that you can receive notices of deals and free books in your inbox.

InkMesh is a great tool for locating specific books or books within a price range.

As an aside, FictFact is a great site for tracking a fiction series.  Can't remember which book is next in a series? Enter the series name or the name of a book in the series at FictFact and you'll find your answer.

If you like science fiction, sign up for the Phoenix Pick monthly newsletter. Just email coupon@arcmanor.com with the subject Please send me the monthly free ebook code. Each month they offer one title for free. Often these are award nominated or award winning books. If there are sequels to the book, they are often offered at a significant discount. You'll also be entered in their monthly contest. August's prize was a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate. September's prize is your choice of any seven ebooks they publish.

If you like romance novels, visit Carina Press for deals and to sign up for their newsletter.

This next resource is the one place for free books that I use that does not offer Kindle versions. These books can only be read via the Adobe Digital Editions software (I read them on my laptop, iPhone or iPad). Visit the University of Chicago Press Books online at http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/freeEbook.html to download their free book of the month. You will be automatically added to their email list to receive notices of future free e-books. When you receive an email notice about the free book of the month, visit the site (often I have to view the email online in order for the Free E-Book link to work), scroll down to where it tells you to enter your email address and click Get E-Book. You'll be sent an email with instructions on how to download the free book.

I think I'll stop there. This is not an exhaustive list. I'm sure I'm forgetting some! There are many other sites that list cheap or free e-books, but these that I have listed are some of the more popular ones.

Know of another great site for locating e-books at good prices? Share it here!

I selected this post to be featured on Book Blogs. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

IDITAROD: a novel of The Greatest Race on EarthBook Review and Interview with André Jute

I recently read IDITAROD a novel of The Greatest Race on Earth, a thoroughly gripping story. When I picked up this book I expected to learn something about the Iditarod, the Alaskan terrain and it's people. I was not disappointed there. What I was surprised to find inside was a beautiful tale of the natural human instinct to prevail and a budding love story to boot.

“Marchez! -- A race for survival

“When Rhodes Delaney challenged James Alderston Whitbury III to a grudge match she chose the most grueling of all tests — the Iditarod: a lethal dogsled race across the perilous wastelands of barren Alaska.

Book Reviews by YOU:The Story of America’s Birthdayby Patricia A. Pingry

Today, I bring you a review by Abby of Mommy Moments with Abby. She runs a day home in addition to caring for her own two children. She always has great ideas for activities to do with kids, and today she is visiting Cookie's Book Club to share a children's book recommendation.

The Story of America's Birthday, written by Patricia A. Pingry and illustrated by Stacy Venturi-Pickett, offers "a simple introduction to the American Revolution, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, and the significance of the Fourth of July." ~ Google Books

Abby's Review:

This 24 page board book is great for all ages.  The content explains to young children America’s quest for freedom and the Revolutionary War.  The illustrations have clean lines and are well done with actions in the pictures complimenting the pages content.  I enjoyed that there are enough bright colors to draw in younger kids and enough written details of the events for the older kids to follow. 

The story itself is a simplistic outline of the events of the American Revolution.  It is a great book for younger kids or a great starter book for the older kids experiencing interest in America’s History.  The words used are basic so all ages can understand the storyline.   I enjoyed that there aren’t too many words per page so I can get 1½ year olds to stay focused, while allowing the older 3 and 4 year olds to be excited over the events taking place in the story.  Don’t discredit the books ability to teach about the Revolution because the words per page are digestible even to little ones. 

It offers an outline with the key words highlighted in red, blue, or green.  The addition of some words in colors opens them up for questioning as the older kids notice the colored words.  I enjoy this because they are new words or topics such as “tax” or “colonies” that may not have been seen before by the child.  They can be explored further by becoming flash card words or just plan vocabulary words for kids 4 and above.

The illustrations depictions of the events were good representations of what was being described.  The people were dressed in period clothing with soft coloring which fit well with a story that is outlining a historical event.  The detail of the illustrations wasn’t overly complex and resultantly, did not take away from the content.  That said, kids are kids and they enjoy some bright coloring and flash.  Some additional flare could have been added to the book with glitter on the fireworks or scratch and sniff added to the page talking about tea.  Maybe, some glittering on the flag on the last page could have ended it with a little more bang. 

While, I may have added some scratch and sniff or glitter, I enjoy this book and the kids enjoy it too!  I’m hoping that I can keep this book in good shape to save for my kids, but may need to get a back up to save for them.  I light up 4 ½ birthday candles out of 5 on this American Birthday cake, losing half a flame for one or two pages which could have been combined and maybe more historical content added. 

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The Story of America's Birthday, by Patricia A. Pingry, illustrated by Stacy Venturi-Pickett is available from Amazon.com and other booksellers.

The Wicked Day (The Tormay Trilogy) is now available!

ANNOUNCEMENT 

Just had to let Christopher Bunn's fans know that The Wicked Day, the third and final installment in The Tormay Trilogy, is now available! - $2.99 at Amazon.com

Book two in the series, The Shadow at the Gate is also just $2.99 at Amazon.com. The first book in the series, The Hawk And His Boy, is just $0.99!

Check out my reviews of the first two books in the trilogy and interviews with the author, Christopher Bunn: 

The Hawk and His Boy
The Shadow at the Gate (guest post for Kindle Obsessed)

Click here to view a recent Off 68 article on Christopher Bunn and The Tormay Trilogy.

Once Upon A Time Read-a-Thon Day 3

Today is day three - the final day - of the Once Upon a Read-a-Thon reading challenge. It's definitely been a challenge as these were some busy days for me, but I did manage to read a few books.

My Reading List

Here is what I was hoping to read:

SHAKEN: Stories for Japan - various authors
Perfect Health - Deepak Choprah
The Scrubs - Simon Janus
The Zoo - David Monroe
The Sevenfold Spell - Tia Nevitt

And here is what I have read so far:

SHAKEN: Stories for Japan - various authors
Perfect Health - Deepak Choprah
The Sevenfold Spell - Tia Nevitt

There's still time - I might knock one more of these books off the list before the day is done. It was fun to have a goal and fun to participate in a reading challenge.

Happy Reading!

Once Upon A Time Read-a-Thon Day 2

It's day two of the three day Once Upon a Read-a-Thon reading challenge!

Today, I'm participating in a read-a-thon challenge hosted by The Bookish Type. The challenge is to write a synopsis for one of my read-a-thon books based solely on the cover. I chose the cover of The Sevenfold Spell, because... well, just look at it! It's a great cover.

Tired of never being noticed and longing to be loved, Maddy took a very big chance. The wizard has promised beauty and admiration would be hers. All she had to do was help him to hold time still, just for a moment, but what happened in that moment was something she would give anything to undo. Her beauty was hypnotic – the people were hers to command - but she was tortured by the evil she witnessed that night and felt more lonely than ever. Her world was filled with tragedy, and her mind was turning to dark thoughts. The world was collapsing around her. What had she done?

Hmm... I think I'll stick to book reviews! I'm not sure writing synopses is my thing. It was pretty fun though. Thanks for the challenge, Casey!

My Reading List

Here is what I am hoping to read in the next three two days. Wish me luck!

SHAKEN: Stories for Japan - various authors - DONE - I read many, but not all, of these stories - there are some very good ones - I'll share my favourites in a future post. Perfect Health - Deepak Choprah - still working on this one! The Scrubs - Simon Janus The Zoo - David Monroe The Sevenfold Spell - Tia Nevitt

By the way, I am still reading:

this book about about Ayurvedic Medicine. It's so fascinating. I should have known better than to pick a non-fiction book for this challenge, but it was just its time. I am spending more time highlighting sections of the book on my Kindle than actually reading. I may set it aside just for a little bit. The other books are calling to me.....

 

Happy Reading!

Once Upon A Time Read-a-Thon Day 1

Today is day one of the three day Once Upon a Read-a-Thon reading challenge. It's definitely going to be a challenge as I've got both of my 'boys' (BIG and small) home with me today and tomorrow. However, I have been granted two hours to go to the library for some shhh time, and then there's always some time to read before bed. Let's see how I do!

My Reading List

Here is what I am hoping to read in the next three days. Wish me luck!

SHAKEN: Stories for Japan - various authors
Perfect Health - Deepak Choprah
The Scrubs - Simon Janus
The Zoo - David Monroe
The Sevenfold Spell - Tia Nevitt

Of course, I may not probably won’t get through all of these, and I reserve the right to change my mind if I start reading one of them and do not enjoy it!

I am currently reading:

I'm starting off with a book of short stories and a book about about Ayurvedic Medicine.

You can read my previous post about SHAKEN here. The proceeds from this book go to support victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

HAPPY READING!

Children's Author Spotlight: Raffi

Pre-kids I used to cringe at the thought of listening to Raffi. But then... it happened. A Raffi song made my son smile and I became and instant fan.

You probably know Raffi as a songwriter and performer. Raffi has written some fun versions of popular kids songs and in 1987 began releasing his Songs to Read series of books.

We sing a lot around here, so many of our books are really songs to read (see my previous spotlight on Sandra Boynton as an example).

Here are three of our favourite Raffi Songs to Read books:

Wheels on the Bus

This song has been a popular choice of parents and teachers for decades and for very good reason. It's a happy rhyming song about the adventures of the people who ride the bus. The illustrations by Sylvie Kantorovitz Wickstrom are equally jovial and bring the song to life.

Down by the Bay

"Down by the Bay is one of the best-selling Raffi Songs to Read. Irresistible art by Nadine Bernard Westcott depicts wonderfully amusing creatures such as a bear combing his hair, a goose kissing a moose, and a whale with a polka-dot tail." Source: http://www.raffinews.com/raffi/renaissance

If You're Happy and You Know It

"Children everywhere love to sing and clap along with this classic song... brought to life by Cyd Moore’s energetic artwork. The song becomes a delightful story about a surprise party where all the animals work together to do something nice for someone else." Source: http://www.raffinews.com/raffi/renaissance

At the back of these books, you can usually find the music for accompanying on an instrument, along with all of the verses.

"With two honorary degrees, the Order of Canada, and the UN’s Earth Achievement award, Raffi is a respected international figure, a global troubadour." Source: http://www.raffinews.com/raffi/renaissance

Plus, he makes kids smile, and that makes me smile!

What Keeps You Reading? Crazy for Books Blog Hop

I submitted a question to Crazy for Books, and it was selected for this weekend's blog hop.

"What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?"

For me, the writing needs to be really good right from the start. I can judge this in a page or less. Next, I'm looking at the storyline itself and the pacing of the story. Is the author efficient in his or her writing from the start or does it seem that the story is dragging? I stop reading a book if the writing is not up to my own personal standards, but assuming that it's written well enough I'll continue to read so long as the story is interesting and coherent, the characters are believable and relatable, and the topic is of at least some interest to me.

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What do you think? What makes you pick up a book and keep reading? What makes you put the book back down? Share your answer here or link up!

WWW Wednesdays (June 29)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Comment below or link up:

I am currently reading IDITAROD a novel of The Greatest Race on Earth by Andre Jute. I'm having a hard time putting it down. Stay tuned for my review of this book and interview with the author.



I just finished reading The Shadow at the Gate (The Tormay Trilogy), book two in the series, by Christopher Bunn. Click here to go to my review of The Shadow at the Gate and interview with the author. This is a beautiful story that I gave a 5/5 stars on Amazon.com.

Next up is SHAKEN: Stories for Japan. Click here for more details on this collection of short stories to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this book go to Japan relief.

The Shadow at the Gate: Book Review and Interview with the Author Guest Blogging at Kindle Obsessed

Today, I'm guest blogging at Kindle Obsessed. Pop on over to view my review of The Shadow at the Gate and interview with the author Christopher Bunn (click here for the review and interview).

The Shadow at the Gate is available at Amazon.com for $2.99. The first book in the series, The Hawk And His Boy, is just $0.99!

Thanks to Misty at Kindle Obsessed for hosting me today. Her reviews are poignant and honest. She also regularly shares her finds on free and reasonably priced e-books. If you love books as much as I do, you'll want to check out her blog!

Christopher has been featured on Cookie's Book Club before.
--> Click here to view my review of The Hawk and His Boy and interview with Christopher Bunn
--> Click here to view Christopher's Guest Post, "Moral Compass and Character"

Repetition is Good for Kids: Books for Babies and Toddlers

Kids love repetition, and it's good for them. As parents, reading the same story over and over again might get to be a little boring, but we do our kids a disservice if we force them to read something different thinking it will expand their minds (and keep our own from turning to mush).

According to the February 2011 Frontiers in Psychology article, "Get the story straight: contextual repetition promotes word learning from storybooks", children who read the same stories repeatedly are more likely to increase their vocabulary as a result. In the study, 3-year-olds were either read the same story three times or were read three different stories. Each story contained the same novel (made up) words. Children who heard the same story over and over learned the novel words and retained the words over the long term, thus increasing their vocabulary, whereas the kids who were read the three different stories did not.

In addition to allowing your kids to choose the same book night after night and reading it to him two or three or four times in a row some days, you can choose books that are written to emphasize repetition.

Children naturally love books and songs that use repetition. Some great books for babies and young children are the Child's Play Classic Books with Holes series of books (available at Amazon.com). Many of these books illustrate popular 'building' stories - stories that start with a concept and add on to it creating lots of repetition and lots of fun!





I bought a book for Jack before he was born and read it to him each night. It was still one of his favourite bedtime books for at least a couple of years after he was born. That book was The Napping House.

The Napping House employs the same cumulative rhyming technique found in the above Classic Books With Holes books.

There is a house,
a napping house,
where everyone is sleeping.

A similar story that my son liked, but that I think might be enjoyed more by little girls, is Emily's House.

Emily lived in a little brick house
With a creaky old door and a little brown mouse.

These are just a few of the options when it comes to books that incorporate repetition. Remember, as much as it numbs our own old and tired brains at times to read the same thing over and over again, it's just what our children need. Plus it makes the little gaffers happy!