1. For the Mystery and Thriller Lover – BLOOD ORCHIDS by Toby Neal
Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water—but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there’s a dark side to paradise.
Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop in the sleepy Big Island town of Hilo. On a routine patrol she finds two murdered teenagers—one of whom she’d recently busted. With its echoes of her own past, the murdered girl’s harsh life and tragic death affect Lei deeply. She becomes obsessed—even as the killer is drawn to Lei’s intensity, feeding off her vulnerabilities and toying with her sanity.
Despite her obsession with the case and fear that she’s being stalked, Lei finds herself falling in love for the first time. Steaming volcanoes, black sand beaches and shrouded fern forests are the backdrop to Lei’s quest for answers—and the stalker is closer than she can imagine, as threads of the past tangle in her future. Lei is determined to find the killer—but he knows where to find her first.
Available in E-Book format for download for $2.99 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Available in print on December 6th
2. For the Historical Fiction and Drama lover – THE FAMILY AFFAIR by Leon H. Gildin
How can a woman’s struggle to reconcile her guilt of survival both unite and divide her family for years to come? It is some two years since Anna Adler returned from a reunion of the survivors who were “guests” of the Hotel Polski after the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto. At the reunion, she was applauded for her courage in testifying against the Commandant of the Polski at his War Crimes Trial. Despite the accolades, Anna’s obsession with what took place at the hotel during her period of imprisonment continues to haunt her.
The Family Affair, a sequel to The Polski Affair, tells of the fortuitous discovery of new members of Anna’s family, bringing her both joy and torment. For Anna, the ties that bind run deeper than she cares to remember … or admit. This results in explosive revelations and a family forever changed, proving that some things are better left unsaid.
Available in paperback for $11.35 on Barnes and Noble
Available in paperback for $16.95 and in Kindle edition $3.99 on Amazon
3. For the Travel Lover – BONJOUR 40 by Karen A. Chase
If Karen A. Chase absolutely had to turn 40, she decided she could do it gracefully in Paris… for nearly 40 days. What began as a blog to communicate with friends and family, became a travel journal filled with over a months’ worth of daily humorous, insightful, and detailed glimpses into her Paris adventures, each of which could be read in about 40 seconds.Peppered with Chase’s own delightful photographs, she also weaves in longer stories that reflect upon her experiences with the French, food, travel,photography, writing and love in the City of Lights. A companion to the e-book,her Bonjour40 blog still contains images and some notes for readers who crave more from her Paris adventure.
Available in E-Book format for a special holiday price of $1.99 on Amazon and iTunes! Download now and include Paris in your holidays!
3. For the Fashionista and Chick-Lit lover – J’ADORE NEW YORK by Isabelle LaFleche
When Catherine Lambert, an effortlessly chic Parisian lawyer, receives an offer to transfer to the New York office of her prestigious firm, she unhesitatingly accepts. A dedicated follower of fashion and everything stylish, she is determined to conquer the high-flying world of Manhattan law-and love. Catherine’s daydreams of glamour quickly fizzle, however, when she is faced with her new job’s hard realities. Between the pressure of billable hours, the demands of Catherine’s impossible bosses, the conspiracies of two malicious secretaries and the advances of a lecherous client, New York is more of a nightmare than a dream. Then she meets Jeffrey Richardson, a powerful and handsome client, and her life takes on the romance she’d hoped it would. Candlelit dinners and trips to the Hamptons make even the most outrageous assignments bearable-until an unexpected request brings her new world crashing down around her.
With its insider’s perspective on the dirty deals and intrigue that have darkened Wall Street’s reputation, J’adore New York is a bright and funny take on the lives and laws of Manhattan’s most powerful players.
Available in paperback for $9.92 on Amazon –
Psst, Stay tuned for a super fun and fashionable holiday contest you won’t want to miss!
4. For the Foodie – THE MAN WHO COULDN’T EAT by Jon Reiner
Imagine not being able to eat or drink a single thing. No lobster roll on the beach in Maine; no hot dog at the ballpark; no cool drink on a hot summer day; no birthday cake; nothing. In The Man Who Couldn’t Eat (S&S/Gallery Books: September 6, 2011), Jon Reiner – a James Beard Foundation Award-winning writer –chronicles his three-month struggle to live without food. Based on Reiner’s acclaimed 2009 Esquire magazine article by the same name, the book reinvents the foodoir, telling what happens when a man obsessed with food is denied the taste of it. A beautifully written chronicle of one man’s journey from plenty to deprivation and back again,The Man Who Couldn’t Eat will change the way you think about more than just your next meal.
5. For the Business and the Arts Etsy Lover – SMART BUSINESS by Laura TreveySmART Business was inspired by Trevey’s belief that we can all profit from our passion. The guide is not the generic or traditional “how to succeed in business” book, but gives a unique and artistic angle that every aspiring or established artist can appreciate. Instead of the traditional book overflowing with reference materials, smART Business sheds light on the choices Trevey herself made as an artist and explains how those choices propelled her toward her success, and how the knowledge of these choices can be applied to any artist’s art or craft business.
6. For the teen or tween – POPULAZZI by Elise Allen Cara Leonard always wished she could be one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and never at a loss for the perfect thing to say. One of the Populazzi.
It always seemed impossible… but now could be her chance.
When Cara moves to a new school just before junior year, her best friend urges her to seize the opportunity and change her life… with the help of The Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms herself into the perfect girlfriend for guys higher and higher on the Popularity Tower, she can reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi, the most popular girl in school.
The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment — a straight climb up — but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.
7. For the Techies – NOMAD BRUSHES – PLAYNot Your Parents’ Stylus
The Nomad Play™ is handcrafted from maple, with a soft, rubber ferrule that won’t scratch the screen, and a contoured grip for little hands for easy art creation. It comes in four unique designs and colors engraved with playful graphics inspired by — and for — kids ages 3 to 8 who love to create: Astro (blue), Serengeti (yellow), Fireball (red), and Ivy (green). The Nomad Play™ is available today for $18 at www.nomadbrush.com.
“Our family loves art and creating art together,” said Don Lee, founder and CEO of Nomad Brush. “When I received a first generation iPad for Father’s Day, I found it to be a great digital sketchbook, and the idea for Nomad Brush was born. We were amazed to discover how quickly our two young sons connected to the experience of digital art creation; since then, we’ve witnessed kids from across the country embrace their parents’ Nomad Brushes.
8. For Parents with and iPad or iPhone – AURYN’S award-winning storybook apps, including VAN GOGH AND THE SUNFLOWERS
Auryn is a premiere digital publisher focused on creating award-winning interactive children’s stories for the iPad and other tablet devices. They collaborate with authors, illustrators and publishers to turn their stories into educational, engaging and entertaining experiences. Auyrn’s patented technology (Aurynization) brings any illustration style to life through animation and interactivity. Kirkus Reviews, Fast Company, NPR, PadGadget and Animation Magazine all herald Auryn as a leader in creating sophisticated and immersive “app” experiences.
Here is a Kirkus review of VAN GOGH AND THE SUNFLOWERS which received 5 stars!
When van Gogh moved to Arles, France, in 1888, a postman and his family befriended the Dutch painter. This book is about what may have happened during van Gogh’s time in Arles, as seen from the perspective of the young boy in the Roulin family, Camille. Anholt’s magnificent illustrations quite literally spring to life, as 3-D figures and characters “pop out” and move, then collapse back into the two-dimensional background when the page is turned. Each page displays a cog in the upper left-hand corner that, when touched, produces an x-ray image of the armature that animates the moving parts. Touch a character, and a window pops up with two options. The first, most appropriately, is a painter’s palette that affords readers several tools with which to paint the characters. The second is a set of cogs that summons the x-ray armature again, but when tapped the mechanism collapses and readers race the clock to reassemble it. There’s a museum feature embedded in the story whereby readers can view and learn about many of the famous paintings van Gogh painted while living in Arles. Narration is easily switched off or on, and though navigation isn’t exceptionally speedy, it’s appropriately timed and precise.
“An exceptionally bright and beautiful masterpiece.”
VAN GOGH AND THE SUNFLOWERS and many other award-winning Auryn apps are available on iTunes – starting at $0.99
9. “For the Woman Who Knows” – MARCO POLO DESIGNS
Since 1994, Marco Polo Designs has been producing spectacular high-fashion fine art glass jewelry, for your every need and desire. They delight in bringing you all the colors of the rainbow, captured in luminous jewelry designs that showcase their Marco Polo-designed exclusive handmade lampwork jewelry beads. Their jewelry collections span the range from playful and eclectic pieces for everyday wear, through subtle and sophisticated pieces that are fit to grace your every special occasion.
Currently 15% off of all jewelry purchases through midnight December 14th! Coupon Code: GiveJoy
Go here to enhance your wardrobe this Christmas
10. For the new parents – RAISING A SUCCESSFUL CHILD (THE MANUAL) by Mark McKee
What’s the secret behind raising children to become successful, self-sufficient, and well-adjusted adults? As a parent, you must be prepared to spend time, energy, and love in building a healthy relationship with your offspring, says Dr. Mark McKee, in order to provide the support, encouragement, and direction they need during each phase of their mental, social, and emotional development. Raising a Successful Child (The Manual) was created to address the forward-looking and productive aspects of childrearing, and rather than detailing what a parent should avoid, this concise, constructive, and inspirational guide will show you how to:
• Build a positive relationship with your infant or toddler
• Establish a playful relationship
• Develop better parenting behaviors
• Maintain a positive, mutually satisfying relationship
• Use discipline to help your child develop self-discipline
Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
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