Happy New Year from Pick of the Literate

THE LIE AND THE LADY by Kate Noble

 “With her usual witty writing and exquisite flair for characterization, Noble offers readers the second, splendid book in her Winner Takes All series. The effortless manner in which she wrote The Lie and the Lady as a separate love story while at the same time gracefully connecting it to The Game and the Governess (2014) and cleverly hinting at what is to come in the series is nothing less than brilliant.”

—Booklist Starred Review

John Turner thought only of winning a bet when he swapped identities with his friend the Earl of Ashby. He didn’t wager on winning the fiery Countess of Churzy’s heart with his lies, or on falling for her in return. Publicly humiliated when she learned of the betrayal, the impoverished countess fled, and John thought Leticia was lost to him forever…until fate brings her practically to his doorstep. Can he regain her trust—and her heart—this time as himself?

Determined to make a new life for herself, Letty knows she must avoid Turner—and his maddening kisses—in order to survive. But some things are too intoxicating to be denied. If she turns her back on her dashing rogue—again—will she lose her chance at love forever?

The Game and the Governess was dubbed a “winning novel, complete with rich characters and a multi-dimensional plotline” by Publishers Weekly (starred review), a “delicious treat” by Bookpage, “Immensely entertaining and eminently satisfying” by Booklist (starred review), and RT Reviews (four star HOT) promised “charming characters will sweep readers away into the story”.  Second in the captivating Winner Takes All series, THE LIE AND THE LADY is “nothing less than brilliant” (Booklist starred review) and will reward readers as the perfect literary escape.

Kate Noble is the national bestselling author of The Game and the Governess and the critically acclaimed, RITA Award-nominated Blue Raven series. Under the name Kate Rorick, she writes for television, as well as novels based on the Emmy Award-winning web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, for which she is also a writer and producer. She lives in Los Angeles. Visit katenoble.com, @NobleRorick, facebook.com/katenoblewriter.

To Buy THE LIE AND THE LADY

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Merry Christmas from Pick of the Literate

Thank you for reading and best wishes for a wonderful holiday!

FREE eBooks from Author William G. Bentrim

Merry Christmas!

Free eBooks!

19 of my eBooks will be listed as FREE on Amazon December 22-December 24, 2015 as my gift to my friends and readers. (Often the same people.)  All of my eBooks would have been free but apparently Amazon has some limit as to how many I can give away over the same time period.  Please share with anyone,  any or all of your friends!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Link to my author page and the books:

A Holiday Gift from Author Ethan Jones

ARCTIC WARGAME, the first book in the Justin Hall spy series, is FREE on all major book retailers. Most of you have already read and reviewed this novel. If you haven't, now is your perfect chance. Enjoy a copy from any of these links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jumjLu

iTunes: http://apple.co/1lig6nG

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1PzDw2Q

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1GUI2YL

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1Y1GFeS

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1wX4QOe

TRIPOLI'S TARGET, the second book in the Justin Hall series, is on sale for 99 cents. I'm running this promotion in hopes of making it to the Top 10 ranking on Amazon and other book retailers.  I need your crucial help in reaching this goal. Please take a moment today to buy a copy of TRIPOLI'S TARGET for yourself, a relative or a friend. This thriller is an excellent gift for the adventure lover in your circle.

You can buy a copy of  TRIPOLI'S TARGET from these links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/Z0xfHs 

iTunes: http://apple.co/1Tfh53i 

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1PPeChx

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1OgYd44

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1Pa7Hzg 

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1NPxffg

Hollow Gods by Kelly Jameson

This story is probably characterized as a young adult book but in spite of my being far, far far away from being a young adult, I enjoyed it.  Paul Ringo Smith discovers life as he knows it has been a very big lie.  Genetic engineering has run amuck under the direction of a demented scientist by the name of Hart and he certainly doesn't have one.

This is the first book in a series.   It has plenty of action and very interesting characters.  It takes the angst suffered by teens and combines it with powers genetically engineered from past giants.   The result is kids unprepared to deal with the skill sets that they have received. 

Unintended consequences of overly successful experimentation provides some obstacles for the nefarious Mr. Hart.  The compassion shown by characters in spite of the orchestrated conflict shows Ms. Jameson has a good grasp of the often misunderstood teen mind.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next in the series.

BTW great cover!

Web site: keljameson.com

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Dead in Damascus by Stephen Templin

This is a short story set with the characters from Templin's Special Operations Group series.   Chris Paladin, the Seal is back along with Hannah Andrade the CIA operative.

This time they are retrieving a USB drive with an asset that details information on Professor Mordet, a recurring villain.

Heavy on action and light on plot but that is often the characteristic of a short story.  The fact that I have read the Special Operation Group books meant that the story line was, perhaps clearer, than it would be for someone just reading the short story.   With that said, for fans of the series, the short story will be a treat.

Web Site: http://www.stephentemplin.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Welcome to the Symphony by Carolyn Sloan

Who knew you could introduce children to orchestral music through a book?  The sound reproduction on this book is just short of amazing.  I'm sure you  have all heard the musical greeting cards but this is at least a step or few above them in sound quality.   This is a book that a parent is going to want to read with their child.  It is an interactive experience which will please both parent and child.  


I recommend it. 

From the vendor:WELCOME TO THE SYMPHONY includes a sound panel with 19 buttons that allow young readers to explore the intricate differences and relationships among the instruments. Through the narration of three mice, readers are taught the basics: What is a symphony? What is a conductor? Who was Beethoven? They learn elements of music: melody, harmony, and tempo. And they are introduced to the families of instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

Author Carolyn Sloan

But the best part is that every critical idea is illustrated in gorgeous sound. The sound panel allows readers to hear the different parts of the symphony and voices of the music -- the famous beginning of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, what a clarinet sounds like, the difference between a violin and a viola, what a musical conversation is. Kids will want to match their voices to the A note that tunes the orchestra, dance to the rhythmic passages—and, of course, sing along to da-da-da-daah! 

The book is written by Carolyn Sloan, a music educator at the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, songwriter and musician. Ms. Sloan has been writing music for theater, television, and children for the past 20 years. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Damnificados by JJ Amaworo Wilson

This story is loosely based on a true story that took place in the Tower of David – a half-built skyscraper in downtown Caracas, Venezuela.  The tower was depicted in the TV series Homeland as a haven for criminals.  Here is depicted more as a sanctuary for the disenfranchised.  

The characters are colorful to the extreme in this tale, each with their own sad story.  The Chinaman is an enormous enforcer type while the cerebral Nacho was saved from death by an informal step-father.  The story is full of squalid scenes and helplessly hopeless people. 

I suspect the disjointed feel of the story was to illustrate the disjointed aspects of the real story.

Web site: https://jjawilson.wordpress.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.