Lots of Free eBooks during July

FREE EBOOKS (starting July 1st)

The month of July is pretty much the best month of 2015 to find Free eBooks for Young Adults (and any other eBooks, including books under the Coming of Age genre). That's because Smashwords is holding their annual Summer / Winter sale (the winter part is for those 'down under').  

Many authors have joined this sale, so there is a great selection and it's a great opportunity to fill up your reading device.  Smashwords' eBooks are available in all formats, for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Android app for Tab or smartphone; and thousands of books are on sale at Smashwords.  But, this is a limited time offer, and it ends on July 31st, (starts at 00:01 PDT (07:00 GMT)  on July 1st) so don't delay.

INTERNATIONAL - NO WORRIES ABOUT REGIONS

And one more thing... on Smashwords, there's no worry about region, or country, or location when you get these books for free.  Unlike Amazon, or Apple, or most of the others, you 'purchase' these free Smashwords books anywhere. 

On this site, regular weekly listings of free eBooks for Young Adults will resume in August, after this sale.  For now, enjoy your summer (or winter), and happy reading!

Me, Johnny, and The Babe

Me, Johnny, and The Babe, By Mark Wirtshafter, Free 

This is the story of two 12-year-old boys who were best friends growing up on the mean streets of the Kensington section of Philadelphia. It chronicles their friendship and the conflicts that they faced. It also tells the remarkable, untold true story of how Babe Ruth came to their local parish to play in one incredible baseball game. On a September day in 1923, Babe Ruth was whisked away from the Yankees game to play charity baseball to raise money to pay off the debt for their field. That day would forever change the lives of these two friends.

Coming of age in the era of prohibition two young boys find themselves facing the many challenges and dangers of the inner-city. Their love of baseball is their guiding light and source of hope. The improbable events that unfolded during Babe Ruth’s appearance at Boger Field have been lost in baseball history. From the moment Babe put on the Ascension of Our Lord Parish uniform and took the field against the Lit Brother’s team baseball folklore was made.

Ruin's Wasteful Entrance Series: Marius Besshaven, Book 1

Ruin's Wasteful Entrance

• Series: Marius Besshaven, Book 1

By Ray Stickle, free

House of Atreus, meet the House of Frost. The rambling estate in the wooded hills of southern Ohio hides secrets. Murder begetting murder. Wickedness leading to more wickedness. It’s a story as old as time itself.

Cast into this world after the death of his parents, young Marius Besshaven seeks the truth about his mother’s past, about his own identity. Cryptic messages in unlikely places, the fractured memories of unreliable survivors, the haunting voices of ghosts--from these elements Marius will have to piece together his family’s history. And what will become of him? Will he find ruin, like so many who came before him? Will he find resolution? Or will the curse continue?

From loudspeaker-muted atrocities on the killing fields of Nazi-occupied Poland to lavender-scented murder in the estate’s hidden garden, the tragedies of the past touch the lives of the present and no one will ever be the same.

Ted Saves the World Series: Ted Saves the World - book 1

Ted Saves the World, by  Bryan Cohen, free

• 
  

  

    Ted Finley was your typical, wise-cracking teenager…
•        …until an otherworldly force gave him abilities beyond his wildest dreams.
  After an unintended public display of his powers, Ted has become an instant celebrity and the target of a gang of undead thugs.
  
  
  Sixteen-year-old Erica LaPlante was six-feet-under when a blast of blue light brought her body back to life. Armed with the consciousness of a fierce warrior, Erica must keep her teenage urges at bay to protect the newfound hero.
  
  
  When sparks fly between Ted and Erica, Erica wants nothing more than to hide who she really is and the dangerous mission they must face. But when their school comes under attack, Ted and Erica must use everything at their disposal to save their friends, the town and... well, the world.
  
  
  Ted Saves the World is a YA sci-fi/fantasy novel that features fast-paced action, terrifying horror, side-splitting comedy and a touch of romance. Mind Over Easy and Portal Combat, books 2 and 3 of the Ted Saves the World series are now available.

Running Wide Open, book 1 of the Full Throttle series

Running Wide Open, book 1 of the Full Throttle series, by Lisa Nowak, free

Cody Everett has a temper as hot as the inside of a combustion chamber, and it's landed him at his uncle's trailer, a last-chance home before military school. But how can he take the guy seriously when he calls himself Race, eats Twinkies for breakfast, and pals around with rednecks who drive in circles every Saturday night?

What Cody doesn’t expect is for the arrangement to work. Or for Race to become the friend and mentor he’s been looking for all his life. But just as Cody begins to settle in and get a handle on his supercharged temper, a crisis sends his life spinning out of control. Everything he’s come to care about is threatened, and he has to choose between falling back on his old, familiar anger or stepping up to prove his loyalty to the only person he’s ever dared to trust.

This is book 1 in the Full Throttle series; Books 2, 3 and 4 are now available.

Ripple

Ripple, by E.L. Farris, free

The Young Adult version of the Amazon #1 Bestseller in Family Life Fiction
A Lyrical Book of Healing

When high-powered attorney Helen Thompson discovers that her fifteen-year old daughter has been sexually assaulted, she takes drastic measures.

Finding herself in trouble, Helen must relinquish control and put her faith in a process she knows to be flawed. As a team of lawyers, therapists and women from a safe house help Helen and Phoebe find hope and healing, a sociopath lurks, waiting for his moment to strike.

A lyrical, dark fairytale that will resonate with fans of women's literature and psychological thrillers, RIPPLE delves into the nature of evil, without seeking to provide final answers to the issue of what makes a human commit evil acts. And while the author takes readers to scary places, she ultimately shines a light on the human condition and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit in the face of great tribulation.


˃˃˃ Are you a mental health provider, or a therapist, social worker, or counselor?

"RIPPLE belongs in each practitioner's library and is a must-read for all sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors."

"Farris has given a young woman, a child, a mother, the lost, and yes even me--A VOICE. Farris writes of the horrors Phoebe faces. She writes about an epidemic without pulling any punches."

"This story is for survivors; however, it should absolutely be read by everyone."

"In each instance where I was affected or triggered, IMMEDIATELY following, in the next sentence or paragraph, were the perfect words or scene to bring everything I was feeling to a safe place."


˃˃˃ Are you looking for a book that will help you or someone you love heal from sexual abuse?

"RIPPLE is the perfect companion to The Courage to Heal."

"I've tried to read other books with the molestation story line, but ended up giving up on them because they didn't support the characters or show what molestation truly feels like, or they didn't resolve the crime or help those who were suffering."

"RIPPLE is different. This dark thriller made me feel supported, in part because the characters received the help they needed. This book validated ME and I hope all women who have been brushed off or not believed will read this book. If you know that woman, or girl, Give Her This Book!"

"I took a gamble on RIPPLE. It did hit close to home, but it's MY home now and I choose who comes to visit. I'm so glad it was E.L. Farris. I feel like I won that gamble!"


˃˃˃ Do you enjoy a well-written, page-turner?

"E.L. Farris' writing is like a vortex, quickly pulling you into the story and sucking you into an emotional whirlpool of betrayal, pain, loss, and finally, recovery and healing."

"Rarely do I come across a writer who tells a story so compelling that I read an entire book in one setting. Farris is a master story teller and I look forward to seeing more works by this talented author."

"Farris' lyrical writing style lends itself beautifully for a story that's built on suspense, danger and mystery. E.L. Farris has fast become one of my favorite authors. I look forward to reading more from her."

"From the opening chapter, I was hooked on this story that isn't full of victims--it's full of survivors, heroes and humans. It's a great read."

"I started this casually on Friday night and finished it this morning. I forced myself to put it down last night so that I could get some sleep. It's been a long time since a book has captured me like that."

"Intense and riveting."

From The Wreckage

From The Wreckage, by Michele G. Miller, free

“In a matter of minutes on a Friday night, I lost my school, my identity, the security of my first love, the personality of my sweet fearless brother, my best friend, my town, everything as I knew it. Everything changed.” 

"Minutes - that’s all it takes to change your entire life. How do you deal with that?” 

For high school senior Jules Blacklin surviving the storm is only the beginning. Faced with the new reality of her life, she must find a way to rise From The Wreckage and answer the question - how do you get back to normal, when everything that was normal is gone?

This is Book 1 of From The Wreckage series. Book 2, Out of Ruins, is now available.

Out of Order

Out of Order, by Jonathan Jackson, free

Charlotte is brilliant for her teenage years but her intellect doesn't serve her well. She's too smart for her own good and strikes out to live alone in a large metropolitan area. Success is fleeting and life isn't what she anticipates when she ends up homeless and living in the streets. Winter is coming and she struggles with forming trustworthy relationships. She does her best to do more than just survive, although her pride prevents her from doing little else.

July sale of Free eBooks at Smashwords

FREE EBOOKS

The month of July is pretty much the best month of 2014 to find Free eBooks for Young Adults (and any other eBooks, including books under the Coming of Age genre). That's because Smashwords is holding their annual Summer / Winter sale (the winter part is for those 'down under').  

Many authors have joined this sale, so there is a great selection and it's a great opportunity to fill up your reading device.  Smashwords' eBooks are available in all formats, for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Android app for Tab or smartphone; and thousands of books are on sale at Smashwords.  But, this is a limited time offer, and it ends on July 31st, (starts at 00:01 PDT (07:00 GMT)  on July 1st) so don't delay.

INTERNATIONAL - NO WORRIES ABOUT REGIONS

And one more thing... on Smashwords, there's no worry about region, or country, or location when you get these books for free.  Unlike Amazon, or Apple, or most of the others, you 'purchase' these free Smashwords books anywhere. 

On this site, regular weekly listings of free eBooks for Young Adults will resume in August, after this sale.  For now, enjoy your summer (or winter), and happy reading!

Final Education - A Novel of Empires Both Vapid and Grand

Final Education - A Novel of Empires Both Vapid and Grand, by Dean Marden, free

CHOSEN to partake in a government initiative known only as 'the Program', Cawdor High's graduating students are quick to find their old rivalries and alliances playing out on a scale grander than any one of them could have ever imagined. Given control of fourteen ancient civilisations within an immense virtual world, the hundred teenagers must engage their foes, protect their allies, and safeguard their own interests leveraging all the powers of human history.

In high school, Lex Ryerson had never been outgoing, outspoken or even remotely popular, but as a member of the fledgling Blue faction, he finds himself emerging as a powerful player in a world forged by the capricious nature of the teenage psyche. The Blues rise to early prominence as they and their neighbouring nations find themselves embroiled in political intrigue and worldwide conflict that could spell doom at any moment for one or all.

Spears and swords make way for cannons and guns, with warships and nuclear power thrusting the Program down an increasingly hazy path of warfare and politics. In a world birthed by the collective consciousness of a hundred teenaged minds, how many will be able to tread its narrow paths between sweeping glory and utter decimation?

For its enablers, the answer will be their final education.

Falling, Book 1 of Bits and Pieces

Falling, Book 1 of Bits and Pieces, by Shirley Miranda, free

How would the course of your life change if someone new sat next to you?

Meet Liz. She’s sixteen, the daughter of immigrant parents, doesn’t fit in at home and hides in plain sight in school. She’s an outsider until she’s rescued by an unlikely friendship that changes her life.

FALLING (first in the Bits and Pieces Series) is a coming of age friendship story about Liz that chronicles parts of her life during the fall of her junior year. She’s had a rough year and managed to get through it without anyone’s support, including her parents’. Her life changes when her physics teacher assigns new seats in class and Patrick, her new lab partner, befriends her. Unlike her past partners, Patrick challenges her to see the true meaning of teamwork and friendship. With him as her new best friend, she learns what friendship is really about and starts to find herself in the process.

Sugar Town

Sugar Town, by Robert Nicholls, free

Sugar Town is a place that conceals a shameful deed. More than a decade ago, a series of terrible crimes was committed against a single family and, through resolute inaction, all were left unresolved. Among the very few people in town who know nothing of the crimes are, ironically, the victims. The story's thirteen year old narrator, Ruth, knows only that, once upon a time, her grandmother suffered a violent and fatal attack in her home, her mother suicided and her father, a minister, abandoned his Australian home and family to start a mission in New Guinea.

What remains of her family is herself, her piously intense 24 year old sister who suffers from repressed memory syndrome and her eleven year old brother who, with recently diagnosed late-onset occipital epilepsy, has become prone to periodic hallucinations. 

When Ruth discovers letters that hint at a community-wide deception, she begins to ask questions, in the process drawing strange allies to her. One is an old man who, though a peripheral witness to the original crimes, now sees the world through an alcoholic fug. Another is an eccentric young woman, an 'outsider', whose presence in the rural town is in itself a mystery. 

As their questions begin to bite, new crimes are committed, apparently in defence of past decisions; but consciences are prodded as well, and the townsfolk begin a painful process of self-disclosure. Only then is it found that some truths really are too painful or too extraordinary to be spoken.

Playing the Son Card

Playing the Son Card, by Wilson James, free

At age 9, Troy Evanson lost his father in an accident. Ever since then, he’s been steadily losing confidence in himself and his ability to make his way in the world. 

It certainly doesn’t help that his mother has had her own difficulties coping with his father’s death, and Troy has been on his own a lot. He’s stopped doing all the extra things he did with his Dad and he’s just barely hanging on. He had been a good swimmer and was becoming a talented diver, but he just hasn’t been able to convince himself to go near the pool since his father died. 

The kids at his school have really started to pick on him, and Troy has become the victim of bullies. It was just verbal bullying at first, but now in middle school it’s starting to get physical. He is bright and likes learning, but he hates the daily nightmare that school has become. Any kind of socializing has become torture, and he basically just hates being around people.

Now, at age 12, he has a one-time chance to change his life and start new. Will he meet the challenge, or will remain the victim he has become? Will he be able to pull himself together and become the man that his Dad was trying to help him be, or will be forever be the lost little boy whose life ended when his father died? 

Find out if this is the uplifting story we all hope for. Find out what choices Troy makes in Playing the 'Son' Card. 

Kool Brother Rat

Kool Brother Rat, by Jon Sindell, free

In this fast, funny tale, a thirteen–year–old boy in the Wonder Years era searches for cool. Can he live up to his big brother's rep? Tastes a little like Stand By Me, A Christmas Story, and The Wonder Years. Previously published in The Write Side Up. 

Baby Grand: The Beginning

Baby Grand: The Beginning, by Bill Ellingsen, free

In this first novel of the series, teenage hero Kevin Johnson is dumped off in a remote region of southern Wisconsin with grandparents he barely knows. But they are fantastic, and the family racing legacy troubling his father captivates him. Their busywork project is restoring an antique race car like the one Kevin's look-alike great-grandfather drove in the 1927 Indianapolis 500 for Al Capone: the car that landed him in prison over a fiasco at the Illinois State Fair. As it turns out, redeeming the old racer is the key to mending their broken family. Shrewdness on Kevin's part is needed to pull-off the tryst with his girlfriend. Everything is on track until he is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time with an exotic pianist named Desiree Chantelle. 

Other books in the series: Baby Grand II: The Conspiracy, Baby Grand III: The Big Time.

Zac and the Reluctant Prince, Book 1 of the Prince David series

Zac and the Reluctant Price, Book 1 of the Prince David series, by Wilson James, free with coupon (new coupon update 11/11/12....  YW33G valid until 1/1/13).

David has unexpectedly become the royal heir. David has also become an orphan. Those two overwhelming problems confront teenager Zach and his family, who simply want to protect David and help the younger boy deal with his destiny.

For Zach, Janice, Austin and David, life before the tragedy was about growing up and doing all the normal things kids do. They didn’t let an increasing awareness that David was a royal prince get in the way of their growing friendship. 

Before long, though, harsh realities start to shake their lives. First, there was a personal disaster and heartbreak for Zach, who came to realize that his role as big brother to Austin was now more important than ever, and that also meant being there for Austin’s best friend, David.

Then, a national tragedy thrusts David into the public spotlight, far too soon. The entire nation watches and comments on how he responds to the burdens that are put on his young shoulders. It is the love and support from his three friends that gets David through this first ordeal, and helps him start to accept who he must now become. 

Ultimately, Zach truly wants to protect David and give him as ‘normal’ a life as possible, but nothing in Zach’s life could possibly have prepared him for this new role. A treacherous uncle, disloyal cousins, and officious bureaucrats; Zach must best them all.

Zac and the Reluctant Prince, Book 1 of the Prince David Series, introduces David and the Bolithos, an unlikely but effective combination of young men and women who desire to do right, but who also want to be normal teenagers. Is that even remotely possible? Will they find the courage to succeed in spite of being nervous and scared of what lies ahead?

Zachary’s assistance and support to David could be a footnote in history, if that, or together they might somehow manage to shape the way people feel about David and about the monarchy in general. That might well change history.

The first of a planned series, but a complete novel standing on its own, this is a book providing inspiration for building lasting friendships, caring about family, seeking adventure, and overcoming the challenges we all face in life. This is a book for any young person or adult who has ever wondered where they fit into this world or how they could make an impact.

The Wrong Side of the Tracks, Book 1, by Mike Wells, free

14 year old Stephen moves into a bad neighborhood and soon finds himself in love with Kristine, one of the prettiest girls in his class. Kristine appears to like him, too, but Stephen learns she “belongs” to a big, mean football player who’s three years older. Despite warnings from his best friend, Stephen moves ahead anyway. All hell breaks loose. Will Stephen allow himself to be shoved into the background, or will he win the girl he truly loves? 

The Roman and the Runaway

The Roman and the Runaway, by A.J. Braithwaite, free

In with the wrong crowd at school, Luke Brownlow is falling behind in his work. His parents take drastic action: banning him from seeing his friends and sending him to a new school. Luke falls out with his family completely and escapes from them by forming a friendship with their neighbour, Ned Kelly.

Luke's plans to get expelled from his new school have to be reassessed when he discovers that his new headmaster is the neighbour he has been getting to know over the summer. The actions of an antagonistic fellow student and the arrival of a runaway teenage girl make it harder to avoid confrontations with Ned than Luke had hoped. By the end of the school year he is in imminent danger of expulsion and is sure that he has lost the respect of the man he most admires.  A sequel, The Viking and the Vendetta, has just been published. 

King Jimmy

King Jimmy, by Sue Verrochi, free


Boys and girls begin a dangerous game in a school yard one cold winter's day. (Short fiction) 

Raisinheart

Raisinheart, by Tom Lichtenberg, free


Three stories of a lonely youth. Jimmy Kruzel's bad luck is that his worst enemies are always his best friends, or is it the other way around, and that sometimes his darkest hours seem to come right after the dawn. In tales more bitter than sweet, Jimmy finds that you can attract more flies with honey than you can with vinegar, but really, who wants to attract flies anyway?