Reading BVC ebooks

“I have a Kindle or a Nook ebook reader! Or an iPad, or Android tablet! Don’t I have to buy my ebooks from their stores?”

Not at all! You can read BVC eBooks on just about any dedicated ebook reader, smart phone, computer, or general purpose tablet. Once you’ve downloaded a BVC ebook to your computer, you can copy it to your device or into an app by any of several different methods. In some cases (see iPads), you can download directly to your device. Choose the method you find most convenient.

All BVC books are DRM-free and can be loaded onto most devices. You can even convert them from one format to another, if you like.

NOTE: If you are reading on a tablet, smartphone, or other nondedicated ebook device, you must first install a book-reading app from the app store (such as iTunes or Google Play) appropriate to your device.

When you buy your book…

Step One: Choose the Format to Download

That’s easy:

For Amazon Kindle, or Kindle apps on other devices, including iPad, purchase the .mobi (Kindle) format.
For pretty much anything else (Nook or Nook apps, iBooks, Sony, Kobo, etc.), purchase the .epub format.

Step Two: Download the book to your computer

After you pay, you are taken a page containing Download link(s). Click the link to download your book. You will also receive an email receipt with the same link. (If you don’t find the email in your inbox, check your junk folder.) Save the book file to a location on your computer that you can easily find. Keep your receipt in case you need to re-download your book in the future.

Step Three: Copy the File onto Your Reading Device

Find your device in the list below and follow the instructions.

Amazon Kindle or Kindle app (.mobi version)

To read on a Kindle, no software installation is required on the device. To read a Kindle-format book on another device, such as a tablet or smartphone, you must first download and install the Kindle app from the appropriate store (iTunes, Google Play, etc.) There are several ways to transfer a Kindle book:

• “SEND TO KINDLE”

Most Kindles and some Kindle apps (for iOS/iPad and Android) support a simple method called Send to Kindle. You must have a Kindle account with Amazon to use this method.

Download and install a small program on your computer called Send to Kindle for PC or Send to Kindle for Mac. Once you have installed this program, you can use it to send a variety of books and documents to your Kindle or Kindle app.
When the program prompts you, log in to your Kindle account.
In Windows/File Explorer or the Mac Finder, locate the ebook file you want to send, right-click it (or control-click on a Mac), and select Send to Kindle.
A dialog box will appear. Edit the title and author fields as needed.
You will see a list of your devices and apps that support the function. Select the reader(s) you want, and wait a short time for the book to appear on the device. It will be listed with your personal docs.

You can send to multiple devices at once. You can also check a box to archive the book in your Kindle library (recommended), which will make it readily available in case you get a new device or need to copy it to an app again for any reason. This service is free from Amazon if you use Wi-Fi to connect to your Kindle or app. If you use Whispersync (cellphone service), a small fee may be applied to your Kindle account.

Note: The “Send to Kindle” service is not supported by the Kindle reading apps for PC or Mac, or the Windows Phone reading app. If you plan to read your book in the “Kindle for PC” or “Kindle for Mac” reading software, you must use a different method to sideload the book.

WARNING: The Kindle app for Windows 8 Phone does not support sideloading in any form, and your choices are to use a different format and reading app, or buy the book directly from the Kindle store.

• USE YOUR BVC STORE RECEIPT FOR DIRECT DOWNLOAD ONTO YOUR DEVICE

With this method, you can bypass the use of a computer. It’s tricky, though, because every device seems to work a little differently. This can work for both iOS devices and Android devices.

View your email receipt in a mail app* on your device, or use your browser to view the BVC store receipt page that appears after you purchase your book.
*This technique does not currently work with the Gmail app.
Find and tap the download link for your book. A dialog will appear, asking what app you would like to open the book in, or asking what folder you would like to save the book to.
- If asked to choose an app, select Kindle to download the book into the Kindle app’s library.
- If asked to select a download location, browse your device for the Kindle folder. Save the book there. When you open the Kindle app on some devices, you will see the book immediately. On other devices you may have to hunt a little. Try looking in personal documents.

• DRAG AND DROP ONTO A KINDLE, or another device with the Kindle app

(Note: iPads and other iOS devices do not support drag and drop. See iPad, iPhone, or other iDevice for other options.)

Connect the device to your computer using its USB cable.
In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it from BVC.)
Browse to your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
- On many Kindle models, you should browse on the device for a folder called Documents or My Documents.
- On a Kindle Fire tablet, look for Internal Storage and then Books.
- For a Kindle app on another kind of device, such as an Android tablet, the folder may be named Kindle or Kindle Contents. Hint: If you already have books in your Kindle app, look for other ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc). If you find .epub files instead, keep looking for a folder with Kindle-format books.
Drag the book file from your computer and drop it into that folder. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
Sometimes the book will appear at once in the Kindle or app library list. If it does not, you may need to sort differently or look in a different category in the library, such as On Device or Documents or Docs.

• USE CALIBRE BOOK MANAGER

Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.

Add the book to your Calibre library.
Connect your reading device to your computer with a USB cable and wait for Calibre to detect the device.
Select the book in the library listing and click Send to Device on the top menu bar.
See Calibre’s help files for further information.

iPad, iPhone, or other iDevice

You must first install a reading app from the iTunes app store. There are many free choices, including the iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and Kobo apps. Whatever your choice, make sure you keep it updated to the latest version for best results.

For other options regarding the Kindle app, see the Kindle section of these instructions.

• COPY FROM YOUR COMPUTER USING ITUNES (.epub version only)

Import the book into your iTunes library, from wherever you saved it on your computer.
Connect your iDevice to your computer using its USB cable.
Use the iTunes sync function to copy the book to your iDevice.
Read the book in iBooks on the iDevice.

• USE YOUR BVC STORE RECEIPT FOR DIRECT DOWNLOAD ONTO YOUR DEVICE (.epub or .mobi versions)

With this method, you can use any of several reading apps, including iBooks, Nook, Kindle, Overdrive, and others.

View your BVC store email receipt in the Mail app* on your iDevice, or in another email viewer in the Safari browser on your iDevice.
*This technique does not currently work with the Gmail app.
Tap the download link in the mail message. A page opens in Safari, asking if you would like to open the book in iBooks (for .epub books) or another reader, if you have other apps installed (including the Kindle app for .mobi books).
Tap the reader of your choice to download the book into the selected app’s library.

• USE CLOUD STORAGE AND AN INTERNET CONNECTION (.epub or .mobi versions)

Save your downloaded ebook to a cloud server such as Dropbox or OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive), or the Calibre content server*.
*See Calibre’s help files for detailed information on using the content server.
Use Safari to navigate to your book’s folder in the cloud, or in the Calibre library.
Tap the download link in the cloud storage folder. A page opens in Safari, asking if you would like to open the book in iBooks (for .epub books) or another reader, if you have other apps installed (including the Kindle app for .mobi books).
Tap the reader of your choice to download the book into the selected app’s library.

Nook, Kobo, or Sony device

No software installation is required on the device.

• DRAG AND DROP ONTO YOUR DEVICE

Connect the device to your computer using its USB cable.
In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it from BVC.)
Browse to your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
Browse on the device for a folder containing other .epub files. (Folder names may vary.)
Drag the book file from your computer and drop into the folder on your device. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
On some devices the book will appear at once in the book library. If it does not, you may need to select a command to Open a book file and browse for the book. On a Nook, for example, you may find sideloaded books under My Stuff or My Documents.

• USE CALIBRE BOOK MANAGER

Add the book to your Calibre library.
Connect your reading device to your computer with a USB cable and wait for Calibre to detect the device.
Select the book in the library listing and click Send to Device on the top menu bar.
See Calibre’s help files for further information.

Android tablet or phone

You must first install a reading app from Google Play or another app store. There are many free choices, including Nook, Kobo, and third-party apps such as Aldiko and FB Reader (.epub versions), and the Kindle app (.mobi versions).

For other options regarding the Kindle app, see the Kindle section of these instructions.

• DRAG AND DROP ONTO YOUR DEVICE

Connect the device to your computer, using its USB cable or your Wi-Fi network.
In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it from BVC.)
Locate your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
Browse on the device for a folder containing ebook files of the same format as the one you downloaded.
- For .epub apps, it may be called “Ebooks” or “My Documents” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your reading app, look for ebook files in .epub format.
- For the Kindle app, it may be called “Kindle” or “Kindle Content” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your Kindle app, look for ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc).
Drag the book file from your computer and drop into the folder on your device. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
In some apps the book will appear at once in the book library. If it does not, you may need to select a command to Open a book file and browse for the book.

• USE CALIBRE BOOK MANAGER

Add the book to your Calibre library.
Connect your reading device to your computer with a USB cable and wait for Calibre to detect the device.
Select the book in the library listing and click Send to Device on the top menu bar.
See Calibre’s help files for further information.

• IMPORT FROM CLOUD / CALIBRE SERVER (.epub versions)

Some apps, such as Aldiko and FB Reader, offer the ability to connect to folders you’ve previously set up in cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive (formerly Skydrive), and Calibre’s content server.

Refer to your app’s instructions for information on importing from such sources.
See Calibre’s help files for further details on using the Calibre content server.

• USE YOUR BVC STORE RECEIPT FOR DIRECT DOWNLOAD ONTO YOUR DEVICE

With this method, you can use any of several reading apps, including Aldiko, Nook, Kindle, Overdrive, and others. However, its manner of execution seems to vary considerably from one device to another. We offer general guidelines; the exact procedure may be different on your device.

View your email receipt in a mail app* on your device, or use your browser to view the BVC store receipt page that appears after you purchase your book.
*This technique does not currently work with the Gmail app.
Find and tap the download link for your book. A dialog will appear, asking what app you would like to open the book in, or asking what folder you would like to save the book to.
- If asked to choose an app, select your preferred reading app to download the book into that app’s library.
- If offered a chance to select a folder to save your book in, browse on the device for a folder containing ebook files of the same format as the one you downloaded.
  - For .epub apps, it may be called “Ebooks” or “My Documents” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your reading app, look for ebook files in .epub format.
  - For the Kindle app, it may be called “Kindle” or “Kindle Content” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your Kindle app, look for ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc).
Open your reading app. In many cases, your book will be right there, waiting for you! If you don’t see it, you might have to browse for it from within the app itself. Try looking under Documents, or My Files. Look for a command to Add, Open, or Import the new book.

Windows phone

Windows Phone presents special challenges because of the way files are handled, and because fewer reading apps are currently available. Drag and drop is not supported, nor is Send to Kindle. WARNING: At present, if you want to read an ebook in the Kindle app on a Windows phone, you must buy the book in the Amazon Kindle store.

To read an .epub book—download a book-reading app such as Freda or Fiction Book Reader from the Windows Phone store. Both support download from the cloud or the Calibre server. (Neither gives a perfect rendering of ebook formatting, but they may be acceptable for reading straight text such as a novel or short story.)
To read a .mobi book from our store on a Windows phone—the best course is probably to use Calibre to convert the book file to .epub format. (Or ask Customer Service to provide you with an .epub copy.)

Windows computer

You must first install a reading program, such as Kindle for PC, Nook Reader, Adobe Digital Editions, or Calibre.

Kindle for PC (for .mobi versions)
- Locate the book file on your computer and double-click the file. The book should open in Kindle for PC. You may be prompted to choose a program to open the book in; if so, choose Kindle or Kindle for PC.
Nook Reader (for .epub books)
- In the Windows 8 Nook Reader, right-click anywhere in the app and select Open File at the bottom of the screen.
- In earlier versions of Windows, look in My Library and click on My Stuff. Click the Add New Item button and browse for the book file.
Adobe Digital Editions (for .epub books)
- If ADE is your default reader, you can double-click the .epub book file and the book will open.
- If ADE is not your default reader, open ADE first, and then drag and drop the book file onto the open screen.
Calibre reader (for any format of ebook)
Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library, and then double-click the title in the library window. If more than one format is present, Calibre opens the .epub file by default.
- You can also right-click the title to choose View, and then View Specific Format.

Mac computer

You must first install a reading program, such as Kindle for Mac, Nook Reader, Adobe Digital Editions, or Calibre.

Kindle for Mac (for .mobi versions)
- Locate the book file on your computer and double-click the file. The book should open in Kindle for Mac. You may be prompted to choose a program to open the book in; if so, choose Kindle or Kindle for Mac.
Nook Reader (for .epub versions)
- Click the Add File icon at the top of the Nook screen (it looks like a page with a dog-eared corner). Then browse for the book file you downloaded.
Adobe Digital Editions (for .epub books)
- Switch to Library view and select “Add Item to Library” from the Library drop-down menu in the upper left (or press Command-O). Then browse for the book file you downloaded.
Calibre reader (for any format of ebook)Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library, and then double-click the title in the library window. If more than one format is present, Calibre opens the .epub file by default.
- You can also right-click the title to choose View, and then View Specific Format.

If you encounter difficulties loading a BVC book onto your device, or making it work in an app, please contact our customer support for assistance.