How to Open Locks with Improvised Tools by Hans Conkel is our free kindle book of the day.  Before I get into the review, let me start with a confession.  I did not expect this book to actually be about lock picking.  I thought it was one of those kind of cheeky titles.  You know the kind, like that Fiona Apple album "When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right," but it really is about picking locks.


If you've ever wondered about picking locks or wanted to be more secure then this is the book for you.  The author does a great job explaining the basics such as the various types of locks, their applications and merits of each before getting into the specifics of how to bypass them.  I found the discussion of what to do prior to picking a lock to be of particular value.


Using this book to break the law is naughty so don't do it.


If you're looking for something a bit easier to digest than an entire book, check out this series of articles at itstactical.com.  Brian and the crew do a great job with everything they post.

The Way They Were by Mary Campisi is our free Kindle book of the day.  It's a romance story that is all about getting that second chance in life and in love.  A twist of fate brings a long separated couple together again after more than a decade of romanticizing and silently pining for one another's touch.  This is without a 


From the book description:

He hasn't spoken her name in fourteen years. She keeps a journal hidden in the back of her closet and permits herself to write about him once a year--on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love. They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together.

At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they'd spend the rest of their lives together--until a family tragedy tore them apart. Fourteen years have passed and they've both carved out separate lives hundreds of miles apart--hers as a wife and mother, his as a successful, driven businessman. But once a year, on the anniversary of her daughter's birth, Kate pulls out a red velvet journal and writes a letter, which she'll never send, to the man who still owns her heart. Once a year, on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love, Rourke permits himself to read the annual investigative report detailing an ordinary day in Kate's life.

When a subcontractor at one of Rourke's holding companies is killed, Rourke decides to pay the widow a visit and offer condolences, never dreaming the widow will be Kate. As they embark on a cautious journey of rediscovery, one far greater than they could have imagined, secrets and lies threaten to destroy their newfound closeness--forever.

Locked Within by Paul Anthony Shortt is our free kindle pick of the day.  This full length novel depicts a world of fantastical magic replete with vampires, necromancers and witches set in a vividly described Manhattan.  All of the characters are believable and the word flow of the page sending the reader ever deeper into the story.

As a reader, you'll develop compassion for the main character Nathan.  Will he be able to save the city?  And keep the girl?  And his sanity too?  There's no way to be certain until the end but Nathan grows stronger and more capable throughout the story.  It's a great read that is worth your time.  Considering the fantasy aspects of this book, Absinthe is our pick as a pairing.

From the book description:

The supernatural realm and the mundane world have existed side by side since the dawn of time. Predators walk the streets, hidden by our own ignorance. Once, the city of New York was protected, but that was another age.

Now a creature emerges from the city's past to kill again, with no one to hear the screams of its victims. The lost and the weak, crushed under the heels of New York's supernatural masters, have given up hope.

But one man finds himself drawn to these deaths. Plagued by dreams of past lives, his obsession may cost him friends, loved ones, even his life. To stop this monster, he must unlock the strength he once had. He must remember the warrior he was, to become the hero he was born to be.

His name is Nathan Shepherd, and he remembers.

Simple Pleasures by Annette Evans is our free Kindle book for Monday.  Really this is a novella length preview for Simple Pleasures but the story drew me in enough that I couldn't resist listing a title from someone on the Eastern Shore.  Roots tend to run pretty deep I guess.  

In this preview we meet three generations of female family members, Gwen, Vicky and Jenna, who are must must overcome the burdens of their past and the previous generation in order to find their own path and forge meaningful, lasting relationships.  I don't have a better way to describe this touching story other than to suggest that you think Fried Green Tomatoes. After reading this delicious sample, I'm definitely looking forward to the release of the full novel.

We are back from our holiday break and recommend From Manhattan with Love and Revenge by Christopher Smith as our free Kindle book of the day.  This is actually a pair of thrillers, From Manhattan with Love & From Manhattan with Revenge, that dovetail together beautifully.  Mr. Smith is an author on the rise that can count none other than Stephen King as a fan.  Stephen went so far as to say, "Put me down as an enthusiastic Christopher Smith fan.  Smith is a cultural genius."  Strong praise indeed.

From the book description(s):

Description for "From Manhattan with Love":

An outcast billionaire's daughter is caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.

An international assassin questions her sanity when she falls in love with the very assassin she's charged to assassinate.

What happens when each collide? Chaos. Murder. Love. Revenge.

And redemption.

In this taut, thrilling novella, which is part of the best-selling "Fifth Avenue" series, both women come together for the first time in an explosive story that threatens each of their lives, particularly when one woman breaks her own rules and dares to fall in love.

In "From Manhattan with Love," she soon learns what she always feared. When it comes to real danger, there's nothing more dangerous than love itself.


Description for "From Manhattan with Revenge": 

Carmen Gragera is a gifted international assassin.

Now, through unusual means, she seeks her revenge against a powerful syndicate for the death of someone she loved dearly.

Assisting her is an eccentric, Park Avenue-based seasonings heiress and a 103-year-old former psychiatrist whose contacts run deep. Also joining her is fellow assassin Vincent Spocatti, with whom Carmen has worked before, and for whom she has the utmost respect.

But is the respect mutual?

In "From Manhattan with Revenge," where there are so many twists, they eventually form a noose that whip around Carmen's neck, revenge comes at a cost higher than she ever anticipated.

Caged Confederates- Capturing the Heart of the Confederacy by TJ Myers is our free Kindle book of the day.  Col. Myers makes the war between the states come alive in this book as he retells the stories of soldiers experiences that have been handed down through the generations.  This book makes burdens like the union blockage and internment camps come alive in a way that you can truly empathize with what people were going through.

If you're a history buff or into non-fiction this is a must get.  The print version of it sells for $24.99 to give you an idea of its value.  At 407 pages, its a monster but one that you'll definitely fini

From the book description:

Surrender didn't just bring dishonor, it brought death.

A story of passion, intrigue and the fight to defend the land they love. This historical novel depicts the hard fought battles for control of the crucial waterways of the Tennessee River Valley and the South's Heartland. Flush with its first major victories, the Union Army would find itself woefully unprepared to care for the thousands of prisoners captured on the field of battle. 

The Confederate prisoners of war faced an enemy just as deadly as rifles and artillery. They faced the brutal hell of Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, where over 6,000 would meet their end in the harshest conditions devised by their fellow Americans. The two-fold tragedy is first, that it happened and second, so few of us even know it occurred.

Dare to Believe by Dana Marie Bell is our free kindle book of the day.  This is a great story about a woman who has lost faith in her looks and love in general.  It all starts to shift though as the relationship with her boss, Leo, develops into something new entirely.  This is the opening book of a series 

From the book description:

He’ll fulfill her wildest fantasies… but only if she believes.

The Gray Court, Book 1

Leo Dunne has been searching his entire life for the one person born just for him. He finds her working in his own company, but the shy little Ruby Halloway constantly hides from him. He hatches a devilish plot with her best friend to bring her out of her shell, and the result proves her desire is more than a match for his own.

Ruby has had the hots for her boss for some time now, but she knows business and pleasure shouldn’t mix. While that can’t stop a girl from dreaming, she sticks by her guns and does her best never to be alone with the handsome CEO. Until the company masquerade party, where she discovers a passion with him that leaves a mark on her soul.

A family emergency calls Leo away, and rather than spend one night out of Ruby’s arms, he convinces her to go with him. With his brother’s life on the line, it’s vital she learn how to deal with who, and what, her new lover really is…before it’s too late.

The Shoulders of Giants by Jim Cliff is our free kindle book pick today.  This is an outstanding thriller that is representative of the new generation of authors and how they are bringing a fresh voice and perspective to the genre.  The quality of it was good enough that I was surprised to discover that Mr. Cliff is a 1st time novelist.

The story revolves a new PI named Jake Abraham who has gotten his first client and finds himself in the midst of a murder investigation.  The character development is superb and the story line is far from stuffy or procedural.  Well done.

From the book description:

Jake Abraham is a child of the 80s, brought up by Jim Rockford, Thomas Magnum and three beautiful girls who worked for a man named Charlie. He's loving his new job as a Private Investigator and already has his first client - a disgraced former police captain whose daughter has disappeared.

When the girl shows up dead, Jake is drawn into a dangerous world of organised crime, police corruption, infidelity and serial murder.

With a terrified city in the grip of a killer who's always one step ahead of the police, how can a raw young P.I. hope to make a difference?

The Shoulders of Giants is a fun, fast paced thriller in the mold of Raymond Chandler and Robert B. Parker.

Daughters of Persephone- Book Two- Return by J.R. Barrett is our free kindle book of the day.  This title is a mix of fantasy and romance with a dollop of adventure thrown in for good measure.  Ms. Barrett does a fantastic job of melding the two genres together which makes for a page turner.  The only downside is that a librarian would have very difficult time deciding where to put Return should it  ever be distributed in print.  I found the strength of the female characters to be particularly delightful since all too often princess is a euphemism for weakling or softie.  If the author ever considered dabbling in the young adult genre, she'd certainly have a hit on her hands 

From the book description:

The Lady Ennat, has been sent by her mother to Resistance Commander, Karna Aram for protection. She is a Blood decoy. Her role is to protect her sister Aja, the Thousand Year Empress. She must draw the bulk of the Coalition forces away from the Resistance fighters. From the beginning she’s known she may not live to see tomorrow, yet despite her misgivings she finds herself drawn to Commander Aram. 

Karna Aram wanted the woman from the moment she set foot on his supply depot, but nobody touches a Princess of the Blood. He resists his bone deep desire until Ennat challenges him to pick up a sword and spar with her. All bets are off. Karna has a different kind of sword play in mind.  When the Ennat and her sister, Aja, are reunited, they know the Coalition is coming after them. They must risk all to save their devoted fighters and the men they love.

Free for a limited time. Price may change. Always check current price before downloading.

5:00 Breakout by Kate Hanley is our free kindle selection for Cyber Monday.  The turkey has been eaten, the games watched and you've quite literally shopped until you dropped.  Now its time to return to the office and get back to work.  Ick.  With that in mind, 5:00 Breakout seemed like the perfect pick for a Monday.  This short story is in the same vein as the movie Office Space, covering the inanity of cubicle life between the various meetings about meetings, random layoffs and suffering bosses who are the epitome of the Peter principle.  Now go grab a cup of coffee while its still free and squander some work time with this comedic story.

From the Book Description:

A short story about escaping work. 

Susan and Todd have worked at the same job for years, surviving layoffs, mergers, and terrible bosses. But sometimes the last 15 minutes of the day are 15 minutes too many...  sometimes you just have to break out.

Free for a limited time. Price may change. Always check current price before downloading.