Today's Featured Books

The LitNuts Spring 2025 Giveaway is here! But first...congratulations to Betsy K. of Raleigh, North Carolina. Betsy was the winner of the Little People, Big Dreams Giveaway that ended April 30. Thank you to all who entered. 

In the new Spring 2025 Giveaway, the prize options are a Jane Austen Box Set of six novels, a Charles Dickens Box Set of five novels, or a $75 Amazon.com gift card, winner's choice! Earn entry points by visiting the LitNuts.com website, following LitNuts on social media, sharing info about the giveaway, and more.

"There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time." ~Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Ready for a riot? Strap in for a fast, sharp, funny, savory romp from one of America’s underground scribes. With more than 80 original works, this collection offers a bouillabaisse of unconventional stories, poems, lyrics, and ideas. From sad sack vandals, broken down hoods, and an assassin fighting tooth decay to deep sea ventures, breezy lullabies, and enchanting dreamscapes, this captivating and surprising collection will have you bursting with laughter one minute, haunted moments later. From $2.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Danny Coogan, a freshly minted Montana Fish and Game Officer, and recent Afghanistan veteran, hopes to bury his demons in a simple life in the wilderness around the small town of Darwin. But his life becomes a nightmare when he is shot and left injured and alone in the freezing countryside to struggle for survival. His assailant? A local he had considered a friend. Book1 of the Frontier Series. Perfect for fans of Craig Johnson and CJ Box. 4.4 stars, 1950+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Books 1-9 of The Stratton Family mystery/romance series. The story about Simon Fountaine’s magical cowboy ranch had been told in their family for more years than she cared to count. Now, Elizabeth Fountaine wondered if there might be a bit of truth to the whimsical fairytale…if it was more than just an elaborate bedtime story to tell children. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Kelsey is embarking on her new career as a detective in her father's agency in San Francisco. Her first case involves finding a family friend who went missing, and Kelsey quickly finds herself in the middle of a case filled with romance, danger, and corruption. Is she really cut out for this? This case will not only test Kelsey's resolve but her dad's as well. Book 1 of The Titoo Family Mystery Series. 4.3 stars, 146 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

After looking for five years for his missing girlfriend, Rafael found out that she volunteered to preserve her body at Everlasting Cryonics' low temperature cryogenic storage facility at Ljubljana, Slovenia. Estella will be reawakened in the future when they have already developed a nanotechnology treatment that will cure her rare infection. Determined to see the love of his life again, Rafael also goes into cryogenic storage, only to wake up fifty years later to find that Estella was "revived" five years earlier and has disappeared again. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Tixie Chronicles series from author Jack Borden. This four-book Children/YA Fantasy coming-of-age adventure series features heart-stopping sword fighting action scenes, memorable characters with complex relationships, heroic bravery, and vivid world-building. Learn how the world as we know it was shaped by the tiniest of creatures in a tale that will appeal to readers of all ages.

"A powerful educational tool, this rich work is filled with stunning illustrations and fitting dialogue that enhance the reading experience. Jam packed with action and suspense." ~Feathered Quill Review

The Vultures of Doom

Book 1 of The Tixie Chronicles
Genre: Fantasy Action & Adventure, Children's Folk Tales & Myths
From: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

A great darkness is coming to the forest. Avelyn and Killian Lorcan are tixies, a race of tiny beings that live simply in a massive, beautiful forest. But unbeknownst to the tixies, an ancient evil has found them at last.

Separated from their parents, Avelyn and Killian travel across the forest alone, encountering friends and enemies along the way. But when Avelyn recovers an ancient sword of great power, their destinies are forever changed.

★★★★★ "Action-packed book great for the whole family." ~Amazon Review

The Keeper of Knowledge

Book 2 of The Tixie Chronicles
Genre: Fantasy Action & Adventure, Children's Folk Tales & Myths
From: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

Killian Lorcan doesn’t want to read old scrolls. As a tixie boy of eight summers, all he wants to do is explore the forest floor around his house, fight imaginary monsters, and scare off the occasional spider.

But when Mac, the local Keeper of Knowledge, invites Killian to see his house and read some old scrolls, Killian himself gets caught up in a story of betrayal, violence, and a civilization on the verge of collapse. More importantly, he finds out how his ancient ancestors came to live in the wilds of the forest he calls home.

The Ants of Fire

Book 3 of The Tixie Chronicles
Genre: Fantasy Action & Adventure, Children's Folk Tales & Myths
From: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

A couple of days after the defeat of the Vultures of Doom, the peace of the forest is again shattered when an old enemy returns. This time, he attacks the forest with an army of fire-breathing ants that bring chaos and death. The ants scorch everything in their path, leading to a final brutal confrontation with the Woodland Tixies.

"A compelling tale that will shape the landscape of children's literature, thanks to its astute storytelling and graceful prose." ~Feathered Quill

The Lost City

Book 4 of The Tixie Chronicles
4.38 stars, 586 ratings on Goodreads
Genre: Fantasy Action & Adventure, Children's Folk Tales & Myths
From: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

Four summers have flown by since Avelyn and her family won the vicious battle against the Ants of Fire. Now, a mysterious aging sickness is shortening the lives of the tixies.

When shy but determined 16-year-old Avelyn's beloved mother suddenly ages 100 summers before her eyes, Avelyn is paralyzed with sadness. But Killian, her more outgoing little brother, discovers a way to save their mother and the other tixies, leading Avelyn and Killian to make an epic journey across dark and dangerous lands in search of a sacred Magic Dust that is rumored to give creatures long life.

★★★★★ "A well-written thrilling YA fantasy adventure filled with danger, magic, and mystery." ~Goodreads Review

About the Author
Jack Borden lives and writes in the forests of Texas, where he lives with his wife, a few children, two somewhat useful dogs, and a garden that always needs tending. He enjoys long walks in the woods, hanging out with his family, and traveling with his family. He's particularly fond of far West Texas and the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at Jack-Borden.com, and be sure to follow him online:
 

      

Free online: Writers LIVE! Presented by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, join for a reading and conversation with poets Jalen Eutsey and Dora Malech. Saturday, May 3, 3:00 - 4:30 PM EDT. 

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”  ~A.A. Milne

Two siblings torn apart by an empire’s cruelty. Ragnar becomes a pawn in deadly politics while Maja sparks rebellion with a fierce magic. As war rages, their choices will define freedom—or seal their doom. Epic fantasy where destiny and defiance collide. Book 1 of the Ravenglass Legends series. 4.6 stars, 142 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Don’t just read about adventure—experience it. Dive into this fast-paced, unique rafting expedition through Africa's largest uninhabited game reserve. Brenda and her fellow river guides raft 170 miles on pristine wilderness rivers teeming with thousands of hippos and crocodiles, courageously encountering wild lions and elephants. Let Brenda’s journey inspire you to chase your own wild dreams. 4.7 stars, 174 ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

A suspicious death. A dark web of deceit. Will she risk her life for the truth? The sudden death of her refugee friend upends Shelley’s quiet life forever. Her search for the truth leads her into a web of conspiracy, danger, and corruption that reaches all the way to the top. Shelley will have to break rules and risk everything to uncover the truth. Can ordinary people really make a difference in a world where powerful forces hold all the cards? 4.0 stars, 36 ratings on Goodreads. From $4.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Wesley Frank Willingham was kidnapped as a baby and beaten as a child. Preacher Willingham is the inspirational story of how God transformed Wesley into a man who cared for others, leading many people to find their faith. A #1 New Release in Family & Inspirational Spirituality on Amazon.com. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on award-winning children's books from Fathom Publishing Company:

• Growing Up in Alaska
• Adaa’s Story
• Luna's Star

Bonus: Visit the Fathom Publishing website to learn more about each of these books, the subject matter, and the authors. You can also download and printout FREE activity booklets for family and kids!

Growing Up in Alaska: A Baby Arctic Tern

A baby Arctic Tern hatches in Alaska. He has much to learn: how to eat, how to swim, how to bathe. But his greatest wish...is to FLY!

This is the story of an Alaskan Arctic Tern as he grows up in Alaska's Potter Marsh near Anchorage. You follow him as he learns to eat, swim, and care for his feathers. After many days of practice, trial and failure, he gains the joy of flying with his parents.

The text, photographs, and illustrations explain his experiences. Children see how he keeps on trying when practicing new skills. Perfect for reading to younger children and for older children to read to themselves.

A photographic story of learning, growing, and spreading your wings.

Awards/Recognition for Growing Up in Alaska

• Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List
• Eric Hoffer Award: Children's Honorable Mention
• Mom's Choice Awards: Gold Award Distinction
• eLit Book Awards: Gold Award: Children's Books (7 and under)
• Purple Dragonfly Book Award: Best Photography 2nd Place
• Nautilus Book Awards: Silver Award: Children's Picture Books/NonFiction
• Independent Publisher Book Awards: Silver Award: Best Children's Illustrated E-Book
• Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards: Children’s Picture Books 2nd Place
• Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards: Animals/Pets/Nature 3rd Place
• Feathered Quill Book Awards: Bronze/3rd Place
• Reader Views: Honorable Mention Early Reader-Ages 6-8

Aada's Story: The remarkable life of a rescued sea otter

An orphaned baby sea otter is rescued and grows to be the oldest male sea otter on record.

A baby sea otter named Adaa is found orphaned on a bush pilot's runway in remote Port Heiden, Alaska. Adaa's chances of survival are low, but through a chain of kindness and a remarkable rescue, he will live to be the oldest male sea otter on record.

Travel with Adaa through this beautifully illustrated true story of wildlife rescue. Readers will learn about the complex work that goes into rescuing and caring for sea otters at the Alaska SeaLife Center, and what happens when sea otters are no longer able to return to the wild.

Awards/Recognition for Aada's Story

• Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Finalist
• "The writing and illustrations are superb... This children's title is a hands-down winner. RECOMMENDED." ~The U.S. Review of Books

Luna's Star: an owlet flies to the stars

The story of a special owlet who reached for the stars.

A little owlet named Luna lived in a deep dark forest. One night, Luna’s Momma and Papa told her, “Little Bird, you can be anything you want to be. Only the sky is the limit. So dream big.”

The sky is the limit, Luna thought as she fell asleep under her mother’s wing. Follow Luna as she launches herself into the sky and learns that if you reach out, there is no limit on what you can achieve!

Awards/Recognition for Luna's Star

• Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Best Books in Children's Interest
• Purple Dragonfly Book Award, Honorable Mention, Best Illustrations
• NYC Big Book Award, Distinguished Favorites
• ★★★★★ "A well-written story for all ages." ~Amazon Review

          

Free online: Bellevue Literary Review Spring Reading. Join to celebrate the publication of BLR's latest issue and meet the winners of the 2025 BLR Literary Prizes. Pia Jee-Hae Baur, Fiona Ennis, and Sandra Dolores Gómez Amador will read from their winning work and be interviewed by BLR editors. Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 - 8:00 PM EDT. 

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working.” ~Henri Matisse

A classic fairy tale...for adults. This is a tale of true love and swashbuckling adventure, rum-soaked buccaneers, stolen Spanish treasure, a pregnant Virgin Queen, a female Caribbean pirate crew, a Royal kidnapping, an evil mage, a 5174-year-old gatekeeper, and a Spanish Armada. A tempestuous tale of friendship, loyalty, courage, betrayal, a golden age of discovery, where love has a greater mass than hate, and only Hope can win the day. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions people have left behind. Now she’s starting a new job at a quirky private museum in smalltown New Mexico. When she picks up a rock in her new office, she feels flashes of rage, fear, and death. Everyone says her predecessor died in a car crash, but what if he was murdered? If he died because of the job, Petra could be next. “A good old-fashioned murder mystery with a twist.” ~BookBub Review. 4.6 stars, 46 ratings on Goodreads. From $4.99 - SHOP NOW / 

In this work of humorous historical fiction, the Pharaoh's cat, now a New Yorker, travels back in time to free Egypt’s legendary Queen Nefertiti from a horrific curse, discovering firsthand why her mummy has never been found and her famous bust is missing one eye. Added to all this is an ingenious use of the Tarot and Italian opera, making for a fabulous story that will transport readers to different locations in the past and present. "Well-written historical fiction." ~Wendy Scott, Multi-Award Winning Author. 4.3 stars, 149 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW /

Harlan Stone is at the top of his game—an unflinching federal agent who reports solely to the President. But why is this highly specialized operative grilling a backwater doctor about a sterile bull? Within a month, the global beef market collapses, and unexplained environmental disasters and panic strike worldwide. The Earth is spiraling toward catastrophic ruin. It’s a race against time, and Harlan is the one person capable of preserving humanity. “Spellbinding.” ~Armin Shimerman, star of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. From $5.99 - SHOP NOW / 

November 2, 1483: As he awaits execution for treason, Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, reflects on a life driven by ambition and betrayal. Raised at court and forced into a bitter marriage, Harry allies with Richard of Gloucester to seize power after Edward IV’s death. But when Richard becomes king, Harry’s hunger for the crown turns deadly. This gripping novel charts his fall from kingmaker to traitor in the I Richard Plantagenet series. 4.2 stars, 1100+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Blair Huxley is a painter living in a near-future world where cell phones have been replaced with AI-powered contact lenses called "Blinks." The daughter of dissidents, Blair lives a principled life, disconnected from the system, but this decision leaves her struggling to find an avenue for artistic expression—until she meets Jax, the owner of an upscale St. Louis art gallery. Together, the two struggle to find an avenue for love and free expression. From $5.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Travel Your World: A Casual Guide to Thailand, Costa Rica, Portugal, and Spain is your passport to adventure—with a twist. This isn’t your typical dry travel guide. It’s packed with helpful tips, must-see sights, and cultural insights, all wrapped in hilarious personal anecdotes that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re dreaming of ziplining in Costa Rica, island-hopping in Thailand, sipping wine in Portugal, or exploring Spain’s rich history, this book delivers practical advice with a playful voice. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

A deadly secret buried in the jungle. A race against time across continents. A reporter with everything to lose. Investigative journalist Emerson Moore was headed for sun-soaked relaxation on a diving trip to Madagascar. But when he gets sucked into a shady rescue mission with his old friend “Mad Dog” Adams, Moore soon finds himself on a journey far more dangerous than he ever imagined. 4.7 stars, 28 ratings. From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of C.G. Harris, author of young adult and humorous science fiction that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages:

• Out of Darkness: The Rax Book 1
• Quest for the Cove: The Rax Book 2 ← New Release, April 29, 2025!
• Hometown Space Pirate: Viraquin Voyage Book 1

★★★★★ "Fun sci-fi adventure." ~Goodreads Review

Out of Darkness

A Blind Hero. A Ruthless Alien Empire. A Rebellion on the Brink of Collapse.

Fifteen-year-old Tael is not your average slave. The Raxions may have stolen his sight and forced him into the mines, but he is more than just another cog in their war machine. He has an ability that makes him valuable—one the Raxions exploit. But he also possesses something far more dangerous, something that makes him their greatest threat.

When a daring escape throws Tael into the heart of the resistance, he faces an impossible choice: keep running and stay in the shadows or stand and fight. Betrayed by those he should trust and thrust into a war he never asked for, Tael must decide—will he embrace the power he never wanted and fight for freedom, or let the rebellion fall?

Fans of Red Rising, The Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game will love this high-stakes sci-fi adventure packed with rebellion, resilience, and the strength found in the darkest of places.

Quest for the Cove

A Rising Hope. A Brutal Wasteland. And Tael is Running out of Time.

The camp is gone. And the Raxions will stop at nothing to crush what’s left of the resistance before it rises again.

On the run and out of options, Tael leads the last of the resistance across the wasteland in search of a myth: Spirit Cove, a hidden sanctuary where they can vanish, recover, and regroup...and where Tael can begin to understand the mysterious artifact embedded in his arm.

In the vast brutal desert, hunger, heat, and hopelessness sets in. Fear takes root, tensions flare, loyalties crack, and the weight of every decision threatens to tear the rebellion apart. With danger closing in and hope fading fast, Tael is forced to step into a role he never wanted: leader of a rebellion he doesn’t believe can win.

An unforgettable YA sci-fi novel about courage, sacrifice, and the will to rise when all seems lost—perfect for fans of Skyward, Red Rising, and Scythe.

Hometown Space Pirate

Ben Roberts hears voices…alien voices.

When word of his abilities spreads through the galactic grapevine, Ben ranks number one on an A.I.’s most wanted list to become their cybernated slave. A bleak prospect, but what if they offered him everything he ever dreamed of in exchange?

A headstrong spaceship, with an intelligence of its own, shows up to help Ben, but he doesn’t know if it can be trusted. When he discovers a powerful alien has taken refuge on Earth, Ben makes it his mission to rescue it from the race of A.I. beings.

If he can’t find a way to survive, the balance of power throughout the universe could be altered forever.

Aliens, robots, and spaceships all rolled up into one hilarious, page-turning story.

        

Free online: Writers' Room of Boston - Readings from the Room. Join us for an evening of readings and discussion, hosted by Spencer Storey Johnson and featuring the work of Anu Kandikuppa and Jake Hargrove. Tuesday, April 29, 7 PM EDT. 

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

A light-hearted romance and a coming-of-age story about a young woman's struggles with life, love, and everything in between. Miss Penelope Pym offers a deeply personal view of her youth and adds just the right touch of humor along the way. Weeks before her wedding to life-long friend, Evan, she decided to create a unique and very personal wedding gift for her fiancé. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW /