Then her quirky relatives arrive from Texas and things go south in a hurry: Dewey Treat drops dead, his tearful widow claims he was murdered, clobbers Sherriff Caleb Stone with his own gun, and makes a run for it. Lalla, convinced the widow is innocent, sets out to prove it—against the express wishes of fiancé Caleb Stone.

Feds, local law, suspicious ag-pilots, nutso relatives, and her daddy’s new sidekick, Bruce the goat, make life a living hell for Lalla. Will her nosey nature solve the crime and save the day? Or put them all in mortal danger?

Targeted Age Group: 18+
Genre: Mystery, women sleuth, humor

The Book Excerpt:

Prologue:

The world is flat. I know it is, because for the last five hours the view has been exactly the same. Only the sun has done any traveling, working its long shadows through straight lines of harvested cotton. A few crows shop the furrowed rows for worms, weevils and grasshoppers. One hops over to inspect the truck I’m lying under, cocks a beady black eye, probably attracted to the shiny metal police-issued handcuffs, my hand in one of the cuffs, dangling from wrist to arm, and finally down to me, Lalla Bains, aero-ag pilot, sometime busybody, meddling where I shouldn’t—again. I’m dirt smeared and sweaty, thinking if I get out of this alive, if the killer doesn’t return to finish me off, I’ll foreswear all future sleuthing. My dad, Caleb my fiancé, my best friend Roxanne, and half of Stanislaus County will be pleased to bear witness to that promise.

I will, this time. Really, I will.

I waggle my grubby, unpainted and unadorned fingers at the crow. Too bad I didn’t have on my engagement ring, maybe I could get him to peck at the lock mechanism and open it. Yeah, right, and while I’m hallucinating, maybe get him to bring me a nice cold Pepsi.

I never wear the ring when I’m working, and I’d worked today, starting at three a.m. as I usually do during the long hot season of flying cropdusters. I spread chemicals over cotton fields like this one to keep the aforementioned weevils from devouring the plants. Today was my last flight, and probably my last job as an aero-ag pilot, since my dad’s business will soon be absorbed by another, larger outfit in Merced.

The crow is unimpressed with my status—after all I’m the one recumbent under a truck, unable to move. His sharp black eyes take in the cuff and then my hopeful face. Any interest he may have had at my predicament is answered with a fluff of wings, and I swear—a wink. Then he flaps up on to the hood, and his sharp claws rat-tat-tat across the top of the cab. He lands in the empty bed of the truck and a quick, sharp, whistle says he’s found that wadded up McDonald’s bag from yesterday. Yesterday, when I still had a life that didn’t include murderous suspects. He fusses at the paper bag for a few more minutes until it’s agreed there’s nothing left but a greasy wrapper. I hear his wings flap again, and wheels up he flies off to the freedom I can only dream about.

I roll onto a shoulder so I can look out from under the truck. North. The truck is facing North where I’ve been hooked up and alone for most of the day, without water, a cell, or hope.

I follow the tracks as they rolled over the berm, cutting twin ruts in the banked up earth, the crazy, jigsaw pattern of my reckless descent. Tops of trucks whiz past. Trucks and cars with drivers intent on dinner, home, family—me too.

Someone could notice. I think. There are those lines leading down through the harvested cotton and finally to me under the truck. That is, if the driver in one of those big semis took his eyes off the road, and turned his head for a quick glance at the flattened, dry and totally unappealing two-hundred acres. I’m sure he would see the truck down here where it wasn’t supposed to be. I sure wouldn’t give it a second glance.

A car slows and rolls to a stop. A door slams. My heart quickens and in the heat of late summer a feathery light shiver of fear runs across my skin. I lie waiting. I hear dirt clods tumble as footsteps make their way through the ruined plants, a curse as one sticks to his pant leg. A pair of brogues—black, with enough shine on them to reflect part of a tan pant leg with a navy blue stripe. His knees pop as he squats down to follow the cuffed wrist to the bumper, and finally down to me, snuggled in between the row of cotton under my dad’s old farm truck. He removes the California Highway Patrol cap, and I notice stripes on his sleeve—a sergeant, maybe someone bright enough to figure out I’m not a criminal.

My blonde hair, which usually counts for a few points with most men, is presently adorned with cotton stems and fluffy balls. The rest of me, is streaked with dirt. Not my best look.

We stare at each other for a minute. I’m parched. My lips are cracked, and my tongue is dry, and it sticks to the roof of my mouth. I need that Pepsi, maybe a rum and Coke, before I can possibly say a word. I swallow, thinking nothing will come out.

But then he does the one thing guaranteed to fix my pipes.

“So,” he drawls, “What’s your story, little lady?”

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IN THE THIEVES’ MARKET is V.S. Cawthon’s debut cerebral indie novel. His writing style is like a candy store for the well read intellectual, with dozens of literary references marking the way as two brothers help each other through a rough patch in hopes of cobbling together a rewarding stretch in what remains of their thus far less than fulfilling lives.

Cawthon’s introspective novel focuses on the psychological and physical struggles for survival faced by two brothers, both Boomers nearing the end of middle age. The younger brother has been diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma, his alcoholic older sibling is struggling to survive financially while trying to maintain a near-bankrupt flea market silver business.

Over the course of one north Florida summer the brothers confront old demons and fresh challenges in approaching the next, and last phase of their lives together. The culmination of the summer’s struggles, while bittersweet, lead to a greater understanding between the two formerly close siblings, and emphasize again the need, never ‘to go gently into that good night.’

Targeted Age Group:
21 – 79

V.S. Cawthon is a business owner, jeweler, and author. In The Thieves’ Market is his debut novel. He currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida.

Is Book Free or Discounted?
Free

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Patrick is down on his luck and penniless when he comes across an ancient thatched cottage in the deep countryside of County Kerry. There he meets an old woman who invites him to join her for lunch, and he gradually becomes enchanted by the spirits of previous inhabitants.

His luck changes from the first day he sets foot in the flower-filled gardens of the cottage, and although he doesn’t realise it, his life will never be the same again. On each visit, he finds himself transported back to another time, where he seems to lose control over his mind and body to another person from the past – the iconic Michael Collins.

He becomes friendly with the landlord of the pub where he has taken a room, and with his magical change of luck, the customers all flock around him like bees settling on honey-dew. Even the landlord’s wife and daughter are enamoured with him! His business luck changes and all seems wonderful for him, but the magic at the cottage keeps drawing him back.

The day comes, when he has an opportunity to find true happiness with the girl of his dreams.

Brian Hunt is a writer of bestselling fiction and business manuals for Kindle.

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Originally posted 2012-09-07 08:32:04.

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They are not a pair that should ever work, but undeniable attraction and devastating tragedies bring them together in the city by the bay where he fights to keep their relationship nothing more than an enjoyable way to meet his needs, and she battles to not lose herself in him. Spending time with Ari starts cracking the hard shell that Rafe has built around his heart, but he denies the affect she has on him until it’s too late to stop the inevitable conclusion that their relationship is headed for.

Rafe once believed in happily ever after, coming from a large Italian family. He’s got the Midas touch, since every endeavor he tries turns to gold. That all ends when his wife walks out the door and leaves him blindsided. His devastation quickly turns to steel when he decides no woman will fool him again. From that point on he treats relationships as nothing more than business transactions where both party’s come out mutually benefited.

Just when Ari has sunk to the lowest she’s ever been she finds an ad in the paper announcing a job that’s too good to be true. It turns out she’s right. She makes it through the intense rounds of interviews only to find out the job is for a mistress to the powerful Rafe Palazzo, owner of Palazzo Enterprises. Rafe gives her a day to think about whether she wants the position or not, and she’s sent on her way, only to find out her mother’s near-terminal position has taken a turn for the worse. Her mom’s only in the hospital because Ari messed up, and her mother’s the one who paid the price. Is Rafe her savior, or will he take her with him straight to the depths of hell?

Targeted Age Group: Adult only

Book Price: .99 – 5/15/13 to 5/30/13

Author Bio:
Melody Anne is the author of the popular series, Billionaire Bachelors, and Baby for the Billionaire. She also has a Young Adult Series out; Midnight Fire and Midnight Moon – Rise of the Dark Angel. She’s been writing for years and published in 2011. She hold a bachelors degree in business, so she loves to write about strong, powerful, businessmen.

When Melody isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and pets. She lives in a small town that she loves, and is involved in many community projects.

See Melody’s Website at: www.melodyanne.com. She makes it a point to respond to all her fans. You can also join her on facebook at: www.facebook.com/authormelodyanne, or at twitter: @authmelodyanne.

She looks forward to hearing from you and hopes you enjoy her stories.

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When you think of the end of the world, events like global warming, a nuclear war, a huge comet or the end of a calendar created long ago may be the first causes that come to mind.
No one could have imagined that a plasma cloud stretching from the deepest portions of space would be the culprit, but that’s what has happened to Earth and its neighbors.
Sadly, Earth’s destruction by this silent but deadly cloud was only just the beginning as four of the planet’s remaining survivors soon find out. It’s a race against time as the four try to prevent a universal curse from making humanity a thing of the past.

Targeted Age Group:
Young Adult

S.D. Rasheed is an aspiring new author from her home state of Alabama. Fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and action adventure are her favorite genres to read and write. When she’s not creating a new world of fantasy, she’s usually enjoying the company of family,friends and her cat, Snowball.

Is Book Free or Discounted?
Free

Coupon Code (if required):
KB84D

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“A moving, dynamic debut.”–Kirkus Reviews

Choking on a Camel is the story of Alex Ferguson’s battle with her religion. Alex has a saint’s heart and a skeptic’s brain. She strives to nail down the truth, but it’s like trying to nail down the wind. She’s told to believe by faith, but her mind rebels against accepting anything by faith.

When her atheist brother is killed in an accident, she’s slammed by the horror of what her religion actually teaches: God ordained the accident and sent her beloved brother to hell. She’s overwhelmed by questions. What kind of God would do this? Is He in control of everything that happens, even evil and war and accidents? How can she know the truth?

Determined to find answers, she returns for her senior year at a Christian fundamentalist university, under such intense pressure she can barely breathe. Underneath her cloak of sweet conformity rages grief, anger, and doubt. She’s wrestling with the God she wants to love but maybe hates and definitely doesn’t understand.

As she fights for understanding, temptation strikes where she’s most needy and vulnerable.

“An intriguing, multifaceted portrayal of Alex’s spiritual journey.” –Kirkus Reviews

Michal Ann McArthur’s father was an English professor and poet who exposed her at an early age to the love of language and great literature.

Before she could write her name, she was dictating stories to her mother, who patiently typed them. Although none went on to be best-sellers, her stuffed elephant seemed to appreciate them.

She fell in love with literary fiction at age fourteen when she devoured The Grapes of Wrath. From that point on, she dreamed of creating literature with that kind of raw beauty and power.

Besides literary fiction, her other passion in life has been theology and philosophy, particularly epistemology and the question of the existence of God. After graduating from college with a BA in English, she went on to seminary to earn her MDiv. She taught in churches for years before deciding to devote herself full time to writing.

She has published more than 50 stories and articles. In 2012, she won both a gold and silver prize for her creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in such publications as the Oregon Report, the Goldman Review, and various Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

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Mild mannered, UC Santa Cruz professor, John Stanic wakes up early one morning and walks out into the pre-dawn mist for an invigorating jog. But instead, he finds an FBI agent in a trunk, Mafiosos with guns, and two severed fingers. Now Stanic isn’t running for his health… he’s running for his life. Thrown together with the FBI’s Tommy Valan, Stanic is suddenly thrust into a seedy underworld he never could have imagined existed. An ancient text leads to the truth about the Santa Cruz mafia, and the blood thirsty creatures who have been attacking young women on the sleepy city’s coastline. The supernatural collides with the gritty world of organized crime, and now it’s up to Stanic’s academic knowledge of satanic ritual and the occult to save himself… and those he cares about the most.

Jackson Stein grew up and presently lives in the San Francisco bay area. Before becoming a writer he has worked as an animator, commercial director, bartender and real estate agent.

Jackson’s current project, DRACULA BEGINS, is due out in July. I’m very excited about the release and think you are going to love it! Also, VAMPIRE MAFIA: SAN DIEGO is set for release in fall 2013. Check them out and enjoy!

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A near death experience transports Jamie Burroughs into The Maze, a realm built by angels and demons and filled with traps and riddles for those haunted by their mistakes.

For Jamie, The Maze becomes a terrifying journey through a world of darkness where his soul and the lives of those he loves hangs in the balance. With his family in danger and his soul in peril, Jamie is forced to reevaluate the kind of man he truly is as he struggles to escape The Maze before it’s too late.

Jason Brannon is the author of The Maze, The Cage, The Misunderstood and Other Misfit Horrors, and the Crypto-Squad series. His work has been translated into German, nominated for a few awards, and even won a few. He maintains a website at www.jasonbrannon.us

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Join Sam as she embarks on her first big adventure in this middle-grade mystery full of fun, suspense…and just the right amount of spying! Sam is a middle school girl living a normal life-except when she is occasionally bullied for the differences kids perceive in her. Sam has Down syndrome. See how she and her brother John work together to find some stolen money, help a new friend and escape real danger in this exciting adventure!

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Your body needs foods for important nutrients as well as energy. However, many foods are superior to others. Some foods are not particularly healthy, and consuming them can increase your risk of certain diseases. In comparison, some foods are good for you because they give you the energy you need and many nutrients. At the top of the list are superfoods, that are full of nutrients and all-natural substances which have been proven by research studies to improve your health and reduce your risk for disease.

Superfoods are whole-foods. Whole-foods are foods which are unprocessed or are only minimally processed in a manner that none or very little of the nutrition has been altered or destroyed. Superfoods are not always exotic fruits and vegetables. Apples have been shown to be powerful weapons against cancers cardiovascular disease, asthma, and type 2 diabetes but other fruits and veggies and have some amazing health benefits as well. Or strawberries and raspberries for instance; they contain a compound called ellagic acid, one of the best cancer fighters nature ever created. When you are eating these fresh fruits the ellagic acid enters the bloodstream and will help to destroy cancer cells on contact.

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