Detroit native Denise Nicholas is a rarity, a multi-talented entertainer who transitioned from acting to best-selling novelist with amazing grace. The former star of “In the Heat of the Night” and “Room 222” (she played Liz McIntyre, the high school guidance counselor) produced a stunning fiction debut in Freshwater Road, a civil-rights-era coming-of-age story published in 2005.

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Not too many first-time authors hit a home run, especially at 61 years of age, but she had been writing privately since her early 20s in the 1960s South. The journals she kept during the Freedom Summer, 1964, were her inspiration for Freshwater Road. Denise had been a pre-law major at the University of Michigan, but dropped out of college to join the Free Southern Theater during the Civil Rights Movement.

Her first TV gig was in a 1968 episode of “It Takes a Thief.” After Room 222 (1969–1974), she emerged as Harriet DeLong in the cast of “In the Heat of the Night” (1989–1995). She wrote six scripts for that series, which launched her writing career. Later she enrolled in the Professional Writing Program at USC and joined the Journeymen’s Writing Workshop led by author Janet Fitch.

An enduring book, Freshwater Road was recently reprinted by Pocket Books as a mass-market paperback, and for some reason, the Kindle edition is priced at $23.95, more than three times the cost of the paperback. No worries today, though, it’s free and at the top of the Buffet.

As usual, each book listed here has gone FREE within the past 24 hours (except for the “Kindle Daily Deals” on page 3). Warning: Kindle book promotions can end without notice, so before downloading click the link “See Kindle price at Amazon” to verify that the book is still free. (Prices and availability may differ outside USA.)

Freshwater Road

Historical Fiction

Author: Denise Nicholas

Freshwater Road

Nineteen-year-old Celeste Tyree leaves Ann Arbor to go to Pineyville, Mississippi, in the summer of 1964 to help found a voter registration project as part of Freedom Summer. As the summer unfolds, she confronts not only the political realities of race and poverty in this tiny town, but also deep truths about her family and herself. Drawing on Nicholas’ own involvement in the movement, Freshwater Road was hailed by Newsday as “Perhaps the best work of fiction ever done about the civil rights movement.”

Capture

Mystery & Thrillers

Author: Roger Smith

Capture

As four-year-old Sunny Exley drowns in the icy waters off a luxury beach house, her father, Nick, smokes weed on the shore and her mother, Caroline, is lost in the arms of a lover. Hidden on nearby boulders, rent-a-cop Vernon Saul watches the child die and chooses to act only when it is too late.

In the days following Sunny’s death, gutted by grief and guilt, Nick falls under the spell of Vernon who presents himself as a friend in time of need. When the sinister Vernon’s true motives are revealed, Nick is drawn into a spiral of manipulation and murder that leaves him fighting for his sanity and his life.

Wearing the Spider (A Suspense Novel) (Legal Thriller) (Thriller)

Mystery & Thrillers

Author: Susan Schaab

Wearing the Spider (A Suspense Novel) (Legal Thriller) (Thriller)

A female lawyer’s identity is hijacked and misused by a ruthless partner of her Manhattan law firm who engages in email impersonation, political gamesmanship and electronic forgery to set her up in a scheme that ultimately leads to murder. She embarks on a clandestine investigation while dodging the FBI, risking her life as well as her career.

It starts with a simple unwanted kiss…and evolves into a labyrinthine trail of forgery and illusion…a hijacked identity, a corruption scandal involving a U.S. Senator accused of channeling illegal benefits to a shady South American firm…even kidnapping and murder.

Baking Basics and Beyond: Learn These Simple Techniques and Bake Like a Pro

Cooking, Food & Wine

Author: Pat Sinclair

Baking Basics and Beyond: Learn These Simple Techniques and Bake Like a Pro

With the demise of home economics in the school system, many adults have no baking experience at all, relying on dreary store-bought baked goods and artificial mixes to satisfy their cravings. Baking Basics and Beyond allows even absolute novices to prepare a wide array of delicious, healthy breads, cakes, cookies, pies, and more. In a warm, reassuring manner, Pat Sinclair leads beginning bakers step-by-step through each recipe, thoroughly explaining each technique and direction.

Includes old favorites like icebox cookies, cornbread, and brownies to updated classics, including Butterscotch Cashew Blondies, Chai Latte Custards, and Savory Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding. Throughout, explanations and precise tips, based on Sinclair’s years of baking experience, make readers feel as though there is a friendly teacher in the kitchen, peering over their shoulders, and guiding them toward perfect results, every time.

Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian trail

Sports

Author: Bill Walker, Jerry Gramckow, Audra George

Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian trail

Why would a middle-aged businessman who had never even spent the night outdoors, attempt to hike the entire Appalachian Trail? Bill Walker, a former commodities trader in Chicago and London, and an avid walker, had developed a virtual obsession to hike this historic 2,175 mile footpath in one hiking season. Immediately, he realized he had plunged into a whole new world. For starters, the Appalachian Trail has some ferociously difficult terrain, winding through dramatically diverse geography and covering the East’s highest peaks.

Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail

Sports

Author: Bill Walker

Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail

Take an adventure on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, stretching from Mexico to Canada. It’s the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose.

The Sourdough Wars (Rebecca Schwartz Mystery #2) (The Rebecca Schwartz Series)

Mystery & Thrillers

Author: Julie Smith

The Sourdough Wars (Rebecca Schwartz Mystery #2) (The Rebecca Schwartz Series)

Peter Martinelli wants to auction off the fabled sourdough starter from his family’s famous bakery. But who’d buy a frozen hunk of flour and water? Only, it turns out, every bakery in San Francisco, a national food conglomerate, and an upstart ringer with a mysterious backer.

Someone would even kill for it. And does.

Enter lawyer sleuth Rebecca Schwartz, whose client is her own partner, glamorous Chris Nicholson, Martinelli’s main squeeze before the ill-starred auction.

Rebecca noshes her way through the case in hilariously unorthodox style, tasting some great bread along the way, but also uncovering so many ancient jealousies, long-simmering feuds, and seething resentments that she barely escapes death by doughball.

Enjoy a tasty treat of San Francisco mystery in this second installment in Edgar-winning author Julie Smith’s Rebecca Schwartz series.

Elly In Bloom

Contemporary Fiction

Author: Colleen Oakes

Elly In Bloom

Surrounded by lush flowers and neurotic brides, chubby 32-year old Elly Jordan has carved out a sweet little life for herself as the owner of Posies, a boutique wedding florist in St. Louis. It’s not bad for a woman who drove away from her entire life just two years ago when she found her husband entwined with a red-headed artist.

Her new next door neighbor just happens to be an unnervingly handsome musician who has an eye for curvy Elly. Just when she feels that she is finally moving on from her past, she discovers that an extravagant wedding contract, one that could change her financial future, is more than she bargained for.


100 Easy Recipes In Jars

Cooking, Food & Wine

Author: Bonnie Scott

100 Easy Recipes In Jars

Here’s the most innovative way to give gifts from your kitchen. 100 Easy Recipes In Jars is a collection of easy to make, delicious jar recipes that will make a big dent in your holiday gift giving list.

100 Easy Recipes In Jars includes recipes for cookies, beverages, bars and snacks. There is also a tasty assortment of muffins, breads and hearty soups that everyone will enjoy. The recipes use simple ingredients to create a homemade meal or snack that’s as easy to use as a store-bought mix. You do the hard part, while the recipient sits back and enjoys.

Children’s Book: Stinky Dinky (Happy Children’s Books Collection)

Children’s eBooks

Author: Shmulik Froimovich, SugarSnail

Children's Book: Stinky Dinky (Happy Children's Books Collection)

Danny is a sweet boy, but nobody calls him Danny. They all call him Stinky Dinky…

This pre bath-time children’s story revolves the tale of Danny and his 2 unexpected visitors Mic and Mac…

All Over You (Devoured)

Romance

Author: Emily Snow

All Over You (Devoured)

Lucas Wolfe is used to getting what he wants—from everyone but one person, that is—so when he meets the wardrobe assistant hired to work his band’s newest video, he’s got to have her. From the moment Sienna first obediently whispers “Yes, Mr. Wolfe”, he knows she’s perfect for him.

Three days. And he’ll have her stripped down and bound to his bed.

Midnight Man (Midnight)

Mystery & Thrillers

Author: Lisa Marie Rice

Midnight Man (Midnight)

Interior decorator Suzanne Barron’s new tenant is the most dangerously sexy man she’s ever met. Navy Commander John Huntington, a former SEAL (aka ‘Midnight Man’) works best under cover of darkness. Within hours of meeting him, Suzanne has wild, no-holds barred sex with John, then panics at the depth of her passionate response to such a powerful and dangerous warrior. Suzanne doesn’t do sex like that. John is definitely someone she needs to avoid for her own peace of mind. But when killers come for her, Suzanne knows she can turn to only one man.

Ferris’ Bluff

Fiction

Author: Fred Limberg

Ferris' Bluff

Ace is on the run from everyone, it seems. He’s running from a busted Witness Protection Program assignment, an international collection of gangsters and arms merchants he pissed off working undercover, and worst of all—from his own scarred self-image and the nightmares that haunt him.

After two lonely years on the road he risks a short visit with his old friend, Granville Tubbs, who lives in the sleepy small town of Ferris’ Bluff, Arkansas. He hasn’t even had a tingle that anyone has been on his trail for almost a year. What could go wrong in a few days?

Talisman Of El

Thrillers

Author: Alecia Stone, Jason Russell

Talisman Of El

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He’s afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him … because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago – the day before his dad died.

Char­lie doesn’t know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn’t belong in the world he knows as home. He belongs with the others.

Cat or Dog for President

Children’s eBooks

Author: Julia Dweck, Bill Bruning

Cat or Dog for President

The narrator asks the intriguing question all Americans want answered: Who would win if a cat and dog ran for President of the United States? Cat and dog lovers will both agree that this is a fun rhyming tale with a political heart. Both sides of the campaign are humorously depicted in a clever way that young readers will relate to and understand.

Time Masters Book One; The Call (An Urban Fantasy, Time Travel Romance)

Romance

Author: Geralyn Beauchamp

Time Masters Book One; The Call (An Urban Fantasy, Time Travel Romance)

In the year 3698, a terrible civil war is on the brink of erupting. To prevent unthinkable ruin, Dallan MacDonald must inherit the responsibility of being a Time Master – yet to earn the title he must earn the love of the nigh-otherworldly Muiraran Maiden. Stolen away as an infant and hidden in another time, she rejects the truth of her nature, and earning her love will be no small task! A race against time to prevent the destruction of civilization ensues, in this dramatic and absorbing saga of heroes, villains, love, and hatred.

Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success

Business & Investing

Author: Ken Blanchard, Colleen Barrett

Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success

Once, there was a remarkable person who led with love. Her company succeeded where its competitors struggled. Its customers were loyal, its employees loved to work there, and it was profitable year after year, for decades. This loving leader began her career as an executive secretary, yet the company’s founder chose her to succeed him as president. When asked why, he said, “Because she knows how to love people to success.” She is Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines. Lead with LUV is an extraordinary, wide-ranging conversation between Barrett and the legendary Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager.

Miracles Are for Real: What Happens When Heaven Touches Earth

Religion & Spirituality

Author: James L. Garlow, Keith Wall

Miracles Are for Real: What Happens When Heaven Touches Earth

Trusted pastor Jim Garlow and writer Keith Wall tap into that fascination with biblical insights on miracles and accounts of God’s work throughout history. The book clearly separates truth from fiction, fortifying readers’ faith in God’s power in their lives. The encouraging and inspiring stories make this a book a treasure.

Accidental Meeting

 

Religious Fiction

Author: Susette Williams

Accidental Meeting

Abbey Martin isn’t willing to be the kind of ‘player’ her boss wants her to be. When he threatens to not promote her because she refuses to get in ‘compromising’ positions, she quits.

If a day can go from bad to worse, it does for Abbey. She runs into Bruce Harrington on her way home—literally.

An American Holocaust: The Story of Lataine’s Ring

History

Author: Kerry Barger

An American Holocaust: The Story of Lataine's Ring

Seventy-five years ago, on March 18, 1937 around 3:17 pm, one of the most modern public school buildings in America exploded in a rural Texas community, decimating the student population and destroying innocent lives. Considered the worst public school disaster in American history, controversial theories surrounding this tragedy are still debated to this day. It is a personal account of unprepared loss and shattered dreams, followed by unfathomable grief. It describes the feelings of those who died in their innocence and of those who witnessed horror and lived through the aftermath.

Sam: A Novel Of Suspense

Horror

Author: Iain Rob Wright

Sam: A Novel Of Suspense

When washed-up priest, Angela Murs, and skittish ghost hunter, Tim Golding, are summoned to a vast country manor to help a sick little boy, they have no idea what to expect. It’s clear that young Sammie is a very disturbed child, but there’s surely no way he could have been behind the recent spate of accidents, or the death of his father. The child is dirty, malnourished, and perhaps the victim of a negligent mother, but as Angela and Tim’s investigations take them deeper into the mystery, they realise that there is much more going on than they ever could have expected.

Dance With A Gunfighter

Westerns

Author: Joanne Pence

Dance With A Gunfighter

Gabriella Devere wants vengeance. She grows up quickly when she witnesses the murder of her family by a gang of outlaws, and vows to make them pay for their crime. When the law won’t help her, she takes matters into her own hands. Jess McLowry left his war-torn Southern home to head West, where he hired out his gun. When he learns what happened to Gabriella’s family, and what she plans, he knows a young woman like her will have no chance against the outlaws, and vows to save her the way he couldn’t save his own family.

Slow Cooker 101: Master the Slow Cooker with 101 Great Recipes

Cooking, Food & Wine

Author: Perrin Davis, Perrin Davis

Slow Cooker 101: Master the Slow Cooker with 101 Great Recipes

An everything-you-need-to-know guide to using the slow cooker, featuring 101 delicious, diverse, and recipes, all of which have been thoroughly kitchen-tested to ensure you have success every time you make one.

Perfect both for beginners and more experienced cooks looking to broaden their kitchen horizons, Slow Cooker 101’s breadth of recipes are drawn from a wide range of culinary traditions. Among the delicious recipes include here: Beef Stroganoff, Lamb Biryani, Paella, Winter Vegetable Risotto, Corn Pudding, Chicken Mole.

… See the rest of today’s Editor’s Picks and the Kindle Daily Deal here on page 2