Few of us have the time and other resources to skip out on vacation whenever we need a break (I wish!), but a great book can provide a much-needed break from the daily grind, any time!

Lani Diane Rich is know for her light-hearted mystery/romance offerings, and the fact that you can grab her novel The Comeback Kiss for your Kindle for free right now is pretty much the definition of a great deal.

What’s better than free? I guess if it came with a box of calorie-free chocolates that would be even better, but within the confines of reality, this is about as good as it gets.

This post should probably be tagged “Big Kid Stuff,” because if you have a grown-up super hero fan in the family, he or she will want this, too. In honor of their 75th anniversary, DC Comics have put together a deluxe fandex with facts and history about their heroes (Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aqua Man, and others) and the bad guys (Lex Luthor, catwoman, The Joker, Poison Ivy, and more). Each full-color card is illustrated with art taken from the pages of the original comics, making it a gorgeous gift for collectors of any age.

$12.95 at Amazon.

Many women are blindsided by the realities of stepmotherhood, and resentment and frustration over blended family issues and responsibilities can have an adverse effect on one’s marriage and one’s health (according to US Census data, between 60 and 70 percent of second marriages end in divorce). In her new book, The Happy Stepmother, Dr. Rachelle Katz addresses the common causes, complaints, and concerns voiced by many stepmothers on her website, Steps For Step Mothers, and offers up 10 steps that women can take to stay sane, find support, and thrive in their blended families. A psychotherapist, Katz shares parts of her own stepmothering story in the book. Here’s one poignant lesson: “I had to accept the possibility that, despite all my best efforts, my stepdaughter might grow to dislike me because of what her mother said about me, rather than loving me as a thoughtful and generous stepmother,” she confesses. “I was sad that I had so little control over a relationship that mattered so much to me, but I understand that not having control was also a fact in many other aspects of life.” Her solution? “I made a conscious choice to focus on what I could control and to live in the present, rather than worrying about what might, or might not, occur in the future.” Sage advice.

$15.95 at Amazon.

My latest go-to birthday presents for kids’ parties are books, and this one — 10 Little Kittens by Marian Harris and Jim Harris — is a popular favorite. What makes this book stand out isn’t the cute rhymes, the naughty kittens jumping on the bed, the interesting illustrations, or the detailed information about several breeds of cats (though those things are great, too). No, it’s the fact that the cat has enormous googly eyes the size of golf balls, and cut-outs on every page that let the eyes appear on different cats as you read the book. Kids just can’t put it down — at least, mine can’t, and that means it’s a sure bet that their friends won’t want to give it up either.

$15.99 at Amazon.com.

This is the book I wish I had when my first baby was born. “How to Have Your Second Child First: 100 Things That Are Good to Know… the First Time Around,” by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen, is packed with nuggets of real-world wisdom and quotes, as well as helpful “Second-Timer Tips” from parents who have been there, done that, and worn the spit-up covered T-shirt to work by accident. Even though I had three stepkids by the time my first baby came along and wasn’t a totally new parent, much of what’s in the book would have been really helpful to know. Like tip number 11 (”Don’t fear the nighttime noises. New babies are the noisiest sleepers you can imagine.”), number 24 (”Put ‘Me Time’ into maternity leave”), and number 61 (”It’s okay for you and your baby to ‘do nothing’ all day”). Though the information is written in light-hearted, accessible language and presented in an easy-to-browse bullet-point format, it touches on some heavier stuff (how new fathers can bond, for example, and guilt about leaving your baby with a sitter) and offers suggestions on how to cope. New parents may not feel comfortable putting all of the advice into practice, but “How to Have Your Second Child First” has plenty of ideas that are worth considering.

$18.95 at Amazon.

This Tiffany-blue pocket-size gem of a book is packed with practical pointers (like how to change a tire, how to ask for a raise, and self-defense techniques) as well as some great guidance (like 10 stylish pieces every woman should own, how to give and receive a compliment, and how to give a passionate, mind-blowing, knock-his-socks-off kiss). As the title says, it really is Stuff Every Woman Should Know.

$9.95 at Amazon.com.

Searching for the perfect gift for Father’s Day? How about a subscription to National Geographic for just $10?

Amazon is offering discounts and then an additional $5 off on tons of popular magazines, so if National Geographic doesn’t do it for you, maybe something else will.

But this pretty much has it all: It’s cheap, it’s educational, it makes a great gift, and it’s recyclable. If that’s not the perfect gift, I’m not sure what is.

Most travel guides are geared for grown-ups, but the ABC series was written with kids in mind. The books are colorful, short, and sweet, with photos of must-see locations arranged in alphabetical order. There are 12 different guides to choose from, and they’re packed with facts presented in a kid-friendly format.

$7.95 each at Amazon.

Looking for something for the kid who already has everything? National Geographic’s magazines for children, aptly named “Kids” and “Little Kids,” are colorful, fun, and informative, packed with interesting trivia (Did you know that humans can make 10,000 different facial expressions? Or that bees can be green, blue, or red in addition to yellow?) and, of course, plenty of the stunning photos that made National Geographic famous. “Kids” is geared toward 6- to 14-year-olds and each edition comes with a pull-out poster; the “Little Kids” version, for 3- to 6-year-olds, has tear-out animal cards for little ones to carry around.

$15 for 10 issues of “Kids” or six issues of “Little Kids” at NationalGeographic.com.

Now through Valentine’s Day, surf on over to the Scholastic Store Online and you can save big; coupon code AFFVDAY will give you an additional 20% off and free shipping on your $25+ order.

Scholastic is best known for books, of course, but they also have educational kits, toys, DVDs, and more. And if you check out the Sale section there’s plenty of cheap ways to fill up your gift closet so you’ll never have to do a frantic shopping the night before a birthday party again.

And I don’t know about you, but I don’t need too much encouragement to buy books for my kids. Savings like this are just a little added bonus.