Today's Featured Books— Spotlight

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on books of the Nite Fire Series from C.L. Schneider, an immersive mash-up of urban fantasy and murder mystery with shapeshifters, dragons, and parallel worlds.

"Prepare to be sucked in by this gritty, dark, urban fantasy. One helluva ride!" ~Readers' Favorite

Nite Fire: Flash Point

A single act of compassion turned her from assassin to fugitive in the blink of a dragon’s eye.

For nearly a century, Dahlia Nite has protected humanity with her shapeshifting abilities. She hunts what lurks in the dark, concealing the existence of monsters, burying the secrets that threaten to destroy everything.

But when a supernatural serial killer sheds light on what should remain in the shadows, Dahlia's limits are tested. Ancient conspiracies are in danger of being exposed, awakening humans to a reality steeped in myth and legend—one more terrifying than they could ever imagine.

As the mystery deepens, Dahlia partners with the local police. She straddles the line between solving the crimes and hiding their shocking circumstances. But each new murder only lifts the veil higher. Each new clue leads her to the one place she thought to never go again: home.

Praise for Nite Fire: Flash Point
"Intense action, engaging characters, and slow, nuanced, nicely-layered worldbuilding." ~Fantasy Faction

"One of the unbelievably fantastic urban fantasies we've had the pleasure to read in a very long time." ~Chick Lit Cafe

"A wildly enjoyable gripping novel that will keep you hooked until the last page." ~Redheaded Book Lover Reviews

"A well-written, original urban fantasy that is a welcome addition to the genre. Bad-ass action scenes, great dialogue and terrific character and worldbuilding." ~Uncaged Reviews

Winner of multiple awards, including Book of the Year from the Independent Author Network, a Silver Medal in Urban Fantasy from the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, and recognition from New Apple EBook Awards, Top Shelf Book Awards, Book Excellence Award, and others.

Nite Fire: Chain Reaction

Murder, mystery, mayhem, dragons—and mutants!

If anyone can tell the difference between monsters and humans, it's Dahlia Nite. For nearly a century, she's hunted one to protect the other; safeguarding humanity from the creatures that slip through the torn veil between the worlds—creatures like her. But the lines are blurring. As people begin mutating and combusting on the streets, Dahlia realizes a strange affliction has descended upon Sentinel City. The mysterious ailment strikes all walks of life, from the posh, high-end nightclub district to the homeless community. 

Assigned to the case, Dahlia and her human partner, Detective Alex Creed, investigate the deaths. But all they have are questions and bodies, and a public on the verge of panic. Working behind the scenes with her self-appointed sidekick, Casey Evans, Dahlia struggles to discover what, or who, is behind the alarming transformations. 

Praise for Nite Fire: Chain Reaction
"Mixes detective thriller with a buddy cop movie and gives it all a paranormal punch. I am loving this series." ~K.S. Marsden, author of the Northern Witch Series

"An urban fantasy series with a strong female lead." ~Behind the Pages

"If you like dragons, paranormal creatures with lots of action on almost every page then you are going to love Chain Reaction." ~Nancy Allen, The Avid Reader

Nite Fire: Smoke & Mirrors

She knows monsters are real because she is one. But how long can she hide the truth?

Secrets are a dragon's best friend. Deception is a close second. Both provide a sturdy armor, allowing half-dragon shapeshifter Dahlia Nite to live undetected among the humans. Walking in two worlds, belonging in neither, she wraps herself in a shroud of lies to hide in plain sight. But nothing stays hidden forever.

When dismembered bodies of multiple species are dumped on the riverbank, the case falls to Dahlia and Detective Alex Creed. Backed by Sentinel City's new task force, the pair find themselves urged along by clues that seem too good to be true. Bouncing from one crime scene to the next, they hunt for a clear motive in a murky sea of conflicting evidence. 

As the dots connect and worlds collide, Dahlia struggles to shield her friends from the truth. But secrets can be deadly. And Dahlia is not the only one who keeps them.

Praise for Nite Fire: Smoke & Mirrors
"I am absolutely in love with this series. The characters come alive, and the story has twists and turns that keep you fascinated." ~Naomi Valkyrie, author of the Life is Hell Series

"Full of action from shapeshifters to creatures that lay hidden in the night, this story will keep you turning pages." ~Goodreads Review

The Nite Fire Series

           

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Be Your Own Rock from Sagar Constantin, a book that promises to help your strengthen your mind and build the power to overcome anything.

★★★★★ “A thought-provoking and fascinating guide on navigating life's inevitable disruptions." ~Goodreads Review

Be Your Own Rock

The proven way to strengthen your mind and build the power to overcome anything

In a world that’s constantly evolving, the one certainty is change. Yet, navigating life’s transitions can often feel overwhelming, leaving us uncertain and apprehensive about the future.

Be Your Own Rock is more than just a book; it’s a journey of transformation, a guiding light for people who seek to find strength in difficult times, challenges, and change rather than fear it.

Crafted with profound insights and real-life stories, this book delves deep into the heart of change and transitions. It’s not just about coping; it’s about thriving. It’s about understanding the intricate dance of emotions, fears, and aspirations that accompany every transition in life. Whether it’s a career shift, a personal transformation, or an unexpected twist in your life story, Be Your Own Rock offers you the tools, wisdom, and courage to navigate your path with confidence and grace.

Reclaim your narrative, harness your inner resilience, and turn the page to a new chapter where you can stand firm as a rock and welcome the opportunity for growth, learning, and self-discovery.

Praise for Be Your Own Rock

★★★★★ "Invaluable guidance on navigating changes in your life." ~Henriette Bohnstedt, UK

★★★★★ "A must-read for anyone striving to become more confident and self-assured in their daily lives." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Of huge value for anyone seeking to master personal and professional upheavals." ~Goodreads Review

     

Congratulations to Alice McVeigh on the release of Pride and Perjury: Twelve Pride-and-Prejudice-Inspired Short Stories, the newest addition to the author's award-winning Warleigh Hall Press Jane Austen Series. 

“McVeigh's prose and plotting are pitch-perfect...echoes the master herself." ~Publishers Weekly

Pride and Perjury: Twelve Pride-and-Prejudice-Inspired Short Stories

Discover the untold stories behind Jane Austen’s beloved characters in this captivating new release, the fourth book in what Publishers Weekly described as “McVeigh's celebrated Austenesque series.”

What really happened when Wickham eloped with Lydia? What did the Longbourn servants secretly think of the Bennet sisters? ("I have very little hope," said Mr. Bennet, "of disposing of even one of my daughters much before luncheon." ~from McVeigh's Pride and Perjury.) Take a deep dive into Caroline Bingley's schemes, Lady Catherine's de Bourgh's diary—and Mr Knightley’s heart.

Praise for Pride and Perjury

"A wonderful collection." ~Goodreads Review

"Beautifully conceived, beautifully imagined, beautifully written." ~Amazon Review

"Though there have certainly been other attempts to imitate Austen's narrative and storytelling, none have been so masterfully executed as McVeigh's." ~IndieReader

Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel

Susan is a Jane Austen Prequel, brilliantly capturing Austen's own Lady Susan as a young girl.

Sixteen-year-old Susan Smithson—pretty but poor, clever but capricious—has just been expelled from a school for young ladies in London. At the mansion of the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Susan attracts a raffish young nobleman. But, at the first hint of scandal, her guardian dispatches Susan to her uncle Collins' rectory in Kent, where her sensible cousin Alicia lives and "where nothing ever happens." Here Susan mischievously inspires the local squire to put on a play, with consequences no one could possibly have foreseen. 

Familiar characters abound—Frank Churchill, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy himself. But Susan—mischievous and manipulative—is the star. This is Austen that even Austen might have loved, with a touch of Georgette Heyer in the romantic sections. Fans of Bridgerton will also relish this classic regency romance, the first in a six-book series.

Praise for Susan

"Emma mingles with Pride and Prejudice in a delightful confrontation between the two books' worlds." ~Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize quarter-finalist review

"Think Emma or Pride and Prejudice, but with the added sense of humor, mischief, and determination that elevates Susan." ~Midwest Book Review

In addition to being a BookLife Quarterfinalist, Susan also received Gold/First Place awards from PenCraft, Global, eLit, Historical Fiction Company Book Awards, and other competitions.

Harriet: A Jane Austen Variation

Harriet is an intriguing and original take on Jane Austen's immortal Emma.

Emma, a privileged young heiress, decides to mentor Harriet Smith, a pretty boarding-school pupil, and to matchmake her as eligibly as she can… But how is she to guess that Harriet has a secret? Meanwhile, the brilliant, penniless Jane Fairfax consents to a clandestine engagement with Frank Churchill—though not daring to confess, even to him, that she is being relentlessly pursued by her best friend’s husband. Harriet sidelines Emma herself in favour of the ingenious Harriet and the fascinating Jane Fairfax. It is Emma—but an Emma with a surprisingly believable twist in its tail.

Recognition for Harriet

• Gold medal, Historical Fiction Company's Book Awards
• Bronze medal, IPPY Awards
• Starred Editor's Pick on Publishers Weekly
• Finalist for Foreword Indies Book of he Year
• Finalist for Chanticleer's CIBA Chatelaine Award
• Gold Medal, Global Book Awards
• Selected as one of "100 notable indies of 2022" by Shelf Unbound magazine
• Finalist in the International and American Fiction Awards

Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The third in McVeigh's prize-winning series of standalone Jane Austen variations.

“Should she reject me again, I shall have to wed—as I swore I never would—for dynasty alone. I can only ever love Elizabeth Bennet.”

Love is put to the test in this fresh spin on Jane Austen’s starriest novel, entwining original and classic characters in a tale of passion and self-discovery. Alice McVeigh puts the spotlight on Darcy in this witty and imaginative re-telling of Austen’s classic tale. In a timeless story of love amid the clash of social classes, Darcy is faced with a terrible choice: to stay in London to force Wickham’s hand—or to go to Rome, to salvage his family’s reputation.

With a new Darcyesque slant, omitted scenes from the original, and an extra helping of humour—as well as excerpts from The Wisdom and Wit of Miss Mary Bennet—this is a fresh new Pride and Prejudice with (wedding) bells on!

Praise for Darcy

"The narrative is infused with a dry twenty-first-century sensibility that respects Austen while also peeking into her characters’ true thoughts... An often delightful deep dive into what the characters of Pride and Prejudice were thinking but not saying." ~Foreword/Clarion Reviews 

"Catnip for Austen fans... A joy to read!" ~Readerss Favorite

"Sparkling, witty, and delectable" ~Publishers Weekly

Finalist, UK Selfies Book Awards 2024

         

Congratulations to Rachel Stolzman Gullo and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Confuse the Wind, a novel in which a skyscraper engineer's worldview shifts as his son's illness reveals unexpected connections and discoveries.

★★★★★ “A deeply humane story that lingers long after the last page is turned.” ~Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay

Confuse the Wind

As a skyscraper engineer, Jonathan Brooks has always believed that a skyscraper is either made correctly or incorrectly, and all problems have solutions. He has yet to learn that people are made differently.

When his son, Theo, fell ill with encephalitis at fourteen months old, Jonathan and his wife, Carly, were devastated to learn that Theo’s setbacks would be long-lasting, possibly permanent. Theo is now seven years old and not yet walking or fully verbal, and Jonathan and Carly are living apart.

The broken family’s world is upturned by the arrival of Aimee, a complicated young Irish woman who begins working as Theo's nanny in ways Jonathan does not trust. But as Aimee brings about new advancements for Theo, their bond grows, until Aimee’s own personal crisis rocks the family and shows them all a new way forward.

Confuse the Wind is a book about our human interdependence and how we desperately need one another to survive and hopefully thrive. If you enjoyed A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Bee Season by Myla Goldberg, or Commonwealth by Anne Patchett, you will love Confuse the Wind.

Praise for Confuse the Wind
★★★★★ “A wonderful, strange, and astounding masterpiece.” ~Amanda Boyden, author of I Got the Dog

★★★★★ “A love song to love itself, as sturdy and astounding a thing, it turns out, as a well-designed skyscraper, built to confuse the wind.” ~Amy Hassinger, After the Dam

★★★★★ “A heart-wrenching, deftly told story that reminds us that sometimes you have to break a thing before you fully understand how it works.” ~Colin Broderick, Church End

★★★★★ “A beautifully written novel about one family traversing that divide and learning to love one another, not as they might be but as they are.” ~Gayle Forman, If I Stay

A must-read for booklovers who enjoy a complex, emotive narrative with a strong, passionate protagonist.

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Love Lost Adventure: The Lie by Roseann Gargiulo, a thrilling blend of romance and suspense, transporting readers across time from the Civil War era to the 1990s. 
 

Recipient of five 5-star reviews from Readers' Favorite.

Love Lost Adventure: The Lie

Surrounded by the whiteness of the blizzard’s snow, Theodora Hayes was determined to rekindle a flame she had walked away from many years ago. But can one ever truly go back? "Teddy" didn’t give it a second thought. Passion drove her need. Cole was the love of her life, and nothing was going to keep her from finding him…except maybe danger, murder, and yes, love—and its wicked dark past.

Love Lost Adventure: The Lie written is a story of many plots, all threaded together in a mixture of romance, history, murder, mystery, and adventure, with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. Set in the 1990s and the Civil War era, the story jumps effortlessly between dual timelines, but in a way that you always know where you are and what era the story is in. It's packed with twists and turns and plenty of suspense. It is both heart-stopping and heartwarming, with an eclectic mix of characters that you will adore.

Five-Star Reviews from Readers' Favorite
★★★★★ “People will do crazy things for love and there is no better example of this than Love Lost Adventure: The Lie. The characters were all quirky and unique and added something to the plot. This is a wonderfully written book. Anyone who loves a romance that isn’t just a romance would appreciate this work.” ~Miche Arendse, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★  “Gargiulo’s characters are richly developed, and their deep connections evoke a range of emotions, taking readers from laughter to tears at the turn of a page.” ~K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★ “The alternating perspectives from several characters provided transitions that built suspense. The sudden twists in the plot made it unpredictable, and I was on edge as I read each page.” ~Stephanie Chapman, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★ “An awesome story told by a master storyteller.” ~Anne-Marie Reynolds, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★ “It’s all fun and games until somebody ends up in an incinerator!” ~Jamie Michele, Readers' Favorite

About the Author

Roseann Gargiulo is a multimedia artist, musician, and visual storyteller. She studied Motion Picture and Theatre Arts at the University of Miami and then received her Master’s in Information Technology at Florida State University.

Gargiulo’s writing style is not that of the typical romance writer. Instead, her multi-plot storylines are usually seen from a camera’s lens. Love Lost Adventure: The Lie is the first novel in the series, and she is currently working on the second. 

Learn more at LoveLostAdventure.com, sign up for the Love Lost Adventure free monthly newsletter, and be sure to follow Roseann online: 

          

The course of true love never did run smooth.

New release! Get Midsummer: A Contemporary Enemies-to-Lovers Adaptation from Jena Doyle, a book that involves politics, fairies, and intrigue in this dark enemies-to-lovers adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

"I've read and seen many variations of the play and this is one of my fave takes on it." ~Amazon Review

Midsummer: A Contemporary Enemies-to-Lovers Adaptation

When a Midsummer party turns into a nightmare, we learn there are consequences to making a vow in a magical place. And the fairies never play fair.

"The sexual encounters in this story were off the charts hot - smoking hot." ~Goodreads Review

"An intense, incredibly beautiful retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream." ~Amazon Review

"It’s a hot book that’s for sure. This has fairies, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and orgies in the woods." ~Goodreads Review

"Smutty, intertwined storyline. The story is told from dual POV and each of them have a very different feel." ~Amazon Review

Ivy: As the daughter of the president, I've had my life planned out for me: college, law school, politics. I should have guessed that my mother would plan my marriage, too. She needs a political success, which means I have to wed my enemy for publicity. I hate Lex Fairfax so much, it burns. I don't know how I'll spend three weeks at a remote castle in Ireland with him, his girlfriend, and my boyfriend without our secrets tearing us apart. When a mysterious stranger overhears my drama, she takes pity on me...in her own way.

Lex: I hate Ivy Washington. She's annoying and frustrating, and she gets under my skin like no one else. Marrying her would be a special kind of hell. I just need to get through this without my past coming back to haunt me. Everyone keeps secrets for their own reasons, but mine will destroy all four of us. 

About the Author

Jena Doyle writes smut for smut’s sake. No apologies. No shame. And definitely no judgment. When she’s not dreaming up dirty words for wild hearts, she enjoys traveling, binge watching trash TV, and dabbling in tarot or astrology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English / Creative Writing and has been known to ramble at great length about Shakespeare’s gay agenda. She lives in Western Maryland with her partner and furbaby. Learn more at JenaDoyle.com, get a free sexy motorcycle club story when you sign up for Jena's newsletter, and be sure to follow her online: 

              

Congratulations to Frances Park and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Blue Rice, a literary masterpiece in which an elderly Korean woman recalls the Korean War, love amid rubble, and acclimation to 1960 America.

★★★★★ “An American adventure filled with humor, history, heartache, and self-discovery.” ~Scott Saalman, author of Vietnam War Love Story

Blue Rice

By candlelight, an elderly Korean woman relives her years upended by the Korean War, finding love in the rubble, and her acclimation to 1960s America.

Recently widowed Honey, née Hanhee, is preparing to move out of her Arlington home when the Virginia earthquake of 2011 hits. Subtly, something in her cracks. Four days later, Hurricane Irene strikes, evoking monsoon-swept streets of yore.

With the power out, Honey’s life of a half-century ago cinematically comes to light: Her months as an unlikely prostitute at Madam Cho’s; her secret revolt against her dead parents whose love was in question; a mysterious monk’s prediction; her great, sassy Korean friend Kissuni Kim who dreamed of nothing more than ‘love-mak-ing’; her kindly American neighbor Emma Church who would guide her to independence; and, above all, her lingering love for her first husband Joe Lipton, a journalist who brought Honey to America, only to desert her.

Author Frances Park states that writing Blue Rice was like living a dream from scenes her late mother shared with her, as well as her watercolor-like remembrances of growing up in white America as a small child of war-torn Korean parents. 

If you enjoyed Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, or A Gesture Life by Chang Rae Lee, you will love Blue Rice.

Praise for Blue Rice
★★★★★ “A rare, sumptuous novel whose heroine will break your heart.” ~R.A. Cramblitt, author of Probably Lives in Tahiti

★★★★★ “Frances Park belongs among the best writers in America today.” ~Wayne Coster Cooper, WritersInTheSpirit

★★★★★ “A sublimely detailed tale of resilience and chosen family.” ~Megan Wessell, book blogger, A Bookish Affair

★★★★★ “A masterpiece.” ~Scott Saalman, author of Vietnam War Love Story

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Jason Stocks, a poet whose work mirrors the hard-knock life he's accustomed to, broaching topics like domestic violence, poverty, demasculinization, and more. 

"Stocks's writing has a powerful immediacy, and his poems are packed with both profanity and pop-culture references." ~Kirkus Reviews

Laughing is Forever

"Jogging from detritus-ridden, Bukowski-inspired free verses to Lowell-style observations of the inner life, this hardtack collection of poetry runs the gamut. A rugged, sinuous voice drives the free verse narratives contained in Laughing is Forever. These mercurial poems surprise, thrill, and move in equal measure. They’re dying to be read." ~Independent Book Review

"This collection is brave, unflinching and hits you like a punch in the jaw. It is at times brutal and vicious but also tender and intelligent. I was reminded of early Eminem in the poignant anger of some of the poems." ~Sam Szanto, author of If No One Speaks

"These are the kind of tattered, beautiful poems I often search for and rarely find—the ones that explain, 'Just be happy with a beer after work. You know, quit all the complaining. It won't change a single thing. It just prolongs the suffering.'" ~Sean Thomas Dougherty, author of Death Prefers the Minor Keys

Blameforest

Finalist in the 2024 American Legacy Book Awards

"Provocative, explicit poetry written with muscular swagger." ~Kirkus Reviews

"Fierce, bold, and self aware, Stocks's debut poetry collection is steeped in the Gothic hauntings of Deep South life." ~Jenifer DeBellis, author of Blood Sisters and editor of Pink Panther Magazine

"In Blameforest, Jason Stocks captures the rhythms of a vibrant vernacular that is original and authentic. He builds a distinctive world that often turns violent and lovelorn, his rendering clear-eyed and voiced like a blade—and does so while displaying the expansive range of a skilled craftsman. Far more than a sequence of individual poems, Blameforest is a layered and nuanced work of innovative literature to be read in one sitting, and then over and over again." ~Jacob M. Appel, author of The Cynic in Extremis

About the Author

  

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Chad Miller, author of dark/gothic historical mysteries. Imagine a cross between Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker. If that sounds intriguing, read on to learn more!

★★★★★ "Unique, imaginative, and shocking." ~WaywardReader.com on the writing of Chad Miller

Prisoner of Despair: A Dark Historical Mystery

The year is 1889 and a private investigator John Doyle spends his nights in terror. He is tormented by a desperate fear: his mortality. In the mysterious streets of Philadelphia, Doyle is on a quest not only for answers but for his very soul. Along with his partner, Thomas Braham, Doyle investigates unsolved cases, sightings, and obscurities that fall through the cracks from the local authorities.

When an esteemed colleague suddenly vanishes, Doyle and Braham embark on the case of their lifetime. With a shroud of horror looming over him, John is forced to confront his moral compass as he descends down dark pathways and opens ominous doors. Will he find refuge in his search for answers, or will he be a prisoner of his own despair? Find out in this thrilling supernatural adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you enjoyed the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes or the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, you'll love this spine-tingling mystery.

★★★★★ "Brutal, well-written and twisty." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "An awesome page-turner." ~Amazon Australia Review

The Confession

The year is 1887 and in the quaint Pennsylvania town of Temple, Isabella Strohmeyer stumbles upon a gruesome scene: her father and stepmother brutally hacked to death. As the police investigation unfolds, gossip and rumors swirl through the tight-knit community. The Strohmeyer household, always steeped in simmering tension, harbors secrets that echo within its halls.

As an arrest is made, the town becomes embroiled in the trial of the century. Grisly truths emerge and no one is prepared for the shocking conclusion of this dark tale.

This harrowing story, loosely inspired by the Lizzie Borden murders, will send chills up your spine.

★★★★★ "A vivid reimagining of the Lizzie Borden murder trial." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Dark and intriguing." ~Amazon Review

About the Author

    

Congratulations to Liz Alterman and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Sad Sacked, a memoir that uses humor and heart to delve into the pressure on women to hide struggles. 

★★★★★ ““A funny memoir about things that are not super funny.” ~Zibby Owens, author of Bookends: A Memoir Of Love, Loss, And Literature

Sad Sacked: A Memoir

The last person Liz Alterman expects to hear from during her Thanksgiving prep is her husband, Rich. He never calls from his job at a busy Manhattan newsroom. And he will never call from the newsroom again because he's just been laid off. Two months later, Liz is downsized, too.

At first, Rich is enchanted with his new leisurely lifestyle. But when he's still unemployed six months later, his euphoric mood devolves into depression and despair. It falls to Liz to figure out how to support their family of five and keep up appearances in their well-to-do suburb, where even nannies drive the latest model Lexus.

Sad Sacked blends the wit of Nora Ephron’s Heartburn with the madcap hilarity of Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette to expose the pressure on women to put on a happy face even as their world falls apart. In Liz Alterman’s gifted hands, we laugh until we cry about what happens when the bottom drops out.

Praise for Sad Sacked
★★★★★ “Liz has turned personal layoff lemons into a delicious lemon souffle!” ~Susan RoAne, author of the classic How To Work a Room and The Secrets of Savvy Networking

★★★★★ “Will have you laughing and crying... you need this book.” ~Annabelle Gurwitch, New York Times bestselling author of You're Leaving When?

★★★★★ “A sweaty, funny examination into suburban marriage, motherhood, social status and all the other reasons I left New Jersey.” ~Joel Stein, columnist for Entertainment Weekly and the Los Angeles Times

Introduction to Investing: A Complete Guide to Starting Your Wealth-Building Journey

Have you always wanted to learn about the stock market but didn’t know where to start? This comprehensive beginner's guide covers everything you need to know to begin your journey to financial independence. Discover the history of money, the basics of the stock market, the bond market, and various investment strategies, all presented in an easy-to-understand format.

Dive into essential topics such as personal finance for beginners, investment strategies, and financial literacy. Learn how to set up a brokerage account, manage your money, and make informed investment decisions. Whether you're new to investing or looking to refine your skills, this book is your roadmap to success in finance.

Key Features:

• Understand the fundamentals of money and investing
• Promising investment opportunities for the next decade
• Step-by-step guide to starting investing
• Insights into stock market and bond market basics
• Practical investment strategies for beginners
• Tips on personal finance management and financial literacy
• Strategies on how to combat money printing and inflation
• Investing in precious metals, real estate, land, and commodities
• Useful resources to continue your financial education
• Start building your wealth today and take the first step towards financial independence!

Praise for Introduction to Investing
"This is the perfect beginner's guide." ~Online Book Club

"I wish I had had this book fifty years ago when I was a young man." ~Philip Van Heusen, Readers' Favorite

"Straight-forward, honest, and educational, Introduction to Investing is a must-read... The wealth of knowledge and personal experience the author brings to the table and the personable writing style will help readers gain a firmer understanding of the stock market and money." ~Author Anthony Avina

The Writer and the Librarian

Three things I was sure of:
First, I was not a Hero.
Second, magic still existed.
And third, I was willing to walk through the Gates of Hell for my friends.

For years, Chloe has hidden from the shadows of her past. All that changes when she discovers a note taped to her front door inviting her to join The Raven Society.

Thousands of years ago, the Raven Society was created to protect, maintain, and preserve history deemed too dangerous for society. Their priceless secret? The Book of the Veiled. Its discovery could open Pandora's box of consequences, for whoever holds it can rewrite history and change the course of the future.

And it has been stolen.

The Raven Society's search for the book must survive the Gates of the Otherworld, betrayals, deception, and deadly motivations. But, in the end, they will realize that myths and fables aren't just bedtime stories but stories of forgotten lives that have been driven into the shadows.

How far into the darkness would you be willing to travel to discover the truth?

Praise for The Writer and the Librarian
"A superb foray into the fantasy world...solid plotting, likable characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense." ~K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

"To delve into the mind of the author R. L. Geer-Robbins is to immerse yourself in a bookish dream...a fantastical world of make-believe, sprinkled with a slight seasoning of historical references." ~D.K. Marley, CEO of The Historical Fiction Company

More from The Raven Society Series

  

About the Author

        

• Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned (Book 1 of the Reed Lavender Series)
• City of Masks (Book 1 of The Bone Mask Cycle)
• Never (Prequel to the Book of Never Series)

Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned: An Urban Fantasy

At least when you’re Death’s nephew the bad guys literally have nowhere to hide, right?

Meet Reed Lavender, a mostly-human detective with the uncanny ability to hear the final words of the dead. But on this case he’ll need more than his usual tricks to solve the murder of a teen runaway – he’ll need something that just might be more trouble than it’s worth – the help of his ragtag Reaper-cousins.

But the deeper Reed digs the more he realizes there’s something far bigger and darker beneath his city, something vast, something that is ripening to rot...

Praise for Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned
★★★★★ "An interesting use of mythology in a modern urban setting. Finally something new from the old. Thank you for a new universe to play in." ~Goodreads Review

★★★★★ "Great world building." ~Amazon Review

City of Masks: An Epic Fantasy Adventure

Their struggle threatens to tear the city – and the kingdom - into shreds.

When a royal conspiracy topples the noble House Falco, Sofia must take up the burden of her father's mantle and assume guardianship of his Greatmask. Yet the sentient bone mask, powerful enough to compel those around her, will not speak, and Sofia, the first female Protector in a hundred years, is left defenseless.

Hunted by the King, she is driven from the palace and must fight for survival, alone in the cold streets of Anaskar. There, she crosses paths with Notch, a bitter mercenary with problems of his own. Accused of murder, Notch is trying to clear his name while hunted by the city's robed assassins, the very people who are now searching for Sofia.

To take back their city and cast down the tyrant on the throne, Sofia and Notch must face the blades of Anaskar's assassins, the rage of a mighty sea beast, and the mysterious Lupo, a man with a Greatmask of his own, who has masterminded vicious terrorist attacks on the city that spurned him.

Praise for City of Masks
"Every now and then a writer comes along who will make you sit up and take notice. Ashley Capes delivers his stunning epic fantasy novel with a bang." ~Jennifer Fallon, international best selling fantasy author

"A gripping narrative in an uncertain world of magic, injustice, and unsettling class division." ~Aurealis, Australia's Premiere Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine

"An absorbing and fast-paced adventure down twisty streets and across hot desert sands." ~Fantasy Literature, F&SF Book and Audiobook Reviews

Never: Prequel to The Amber Isle

Adventure? Check. Magic? Check. Sarcasm? You bet.

Roguish Never is sure he has hunted down every relic and every clue possible on his quest to finally lift the curse on his blood and hopefully learn his true name. However, convincing the wealthy Lord Firmita to part with a map to the sunken city proves to be far more dangerous than he first imagined.

In this prequel story to The Amber Isle, learn how Never meets his enemy, Harstas. 

Praise for Never
★★★★★ "A great introduction to an interesting fantasy landscape and fascinating character." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Fast-paced and a pure fantasy delight." ~Goodreads Review

About the Author

    

 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the Howard County Mysteries series from Dale E. Lehman, award-winning author of mysteries, science fiction, and humor:

• Book 1: The Fibonacci Murders
• Book 2: True Death
• Book 3: Ice on the Bay
• Book 4: A Day for Bones 

The Fibonacci Murders by Dale E. Lehman

“I start with zero. Nobody dies today.”

The strange note delivered to Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller of Howard County, Maryland, proves to be a warning shot. Soon Peller and his protégés, Detective Sergeants Corina Montufar and Eric Dumas, are pursuing a cunning killer basing murders on the Fibonacci series, a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the preceding two. And the only thing Peller knows for sure is that the series never ends.

As the murderer switches up methods, locations, and even the meanings of the numbers, questions multiply. Are the murders random, or do they have a purpose? Why is the Pentagon eager to keep a lid on the investigation? Does the killer know Peller? Can the detectives stop him before he commits his final, terrible crime? 

Praise for The Fibonacci Murders
"Total mastery of the storytelling arts... A genuine 'page turner' from beginning to end." ~The Midwest Book Review

"A mind-blowing contemporary murder mystery." ~Julia Wilson, Christian Bookaholic

True Death by Dale E. Lehman

Accident? Or Murder?

Four years ago, Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller’s wife Sandra died on a country road. The driver who rammed her car vanished without a trace, leaving police stunned and baffled. But it wasn’t murder. It was a freak accident, and the statute of limitations has run out. Now a bungled robbery raises new questions. As Detective Sergeants Corina Montufar and Eric Dumas investigate, Peller’s memories awaken, triggering a series of insights that shine new light on Sandra’s death.

The trail leads police to a meddlesome writer, a hot-blooded enforcer, and a cold-hearted criminal mastermind. Yet mysteries remain. Who could possibly have wanted Sandra dead? Was she targeted for murder, or did she just get in the way? And what became of the detective who originally investigated the accident?

Praise for True Death
"A well-constructed, multi-threaded plot, interesting, rounded characters, and a good sense of settings – some of the best American police procedural work I’ve read." ~Amazon UK Review 

"A marvellous contemporary murder thriller." ~Goodreads Review

Ice on the Bay by Dale E. Lehman with Kathleen Lehman

The forecast: Record cold. The crimes: Colder still.

Case #1: Hardworking veterinary technician Jayvon Fletcher was honest, friendly, and without an enemy in the world. But he vanished two Christmas Eves ago, leaving behind only a broken window and smears of blood. Now Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller is asked to take another look at the cold case, although he doubts he can shed light on the young man’s fate.

Case #2: Detective Sergeant Corina Montufar puzzles over a fire in an exclusive area. The details are familiar: two other houses burned the previous year in exactly the same way. But the arsonist is in prison now. Is this a copycat crime, or is the real culprit still at large?

Case #3: It’s only mid-January, and already Detective Sergeant Eric Dumas is staring at Howard County’s first murder victim of the year. Michio Tamai kept an address book overflowing with criminal cohorts. But even his friends were his victims. Not one of them is sorry he’s dead. Any might be his murderer.

While temperatures plummet, cold cases collide with new crimes, and somewhere a killer with blood as icy as the waters of the bay watches and waits.

Praise for Ice on the Bay
"Plenty of nail-biting moments to ratchet up the suspense." ~Laurie Jenkins, Amazon Vine Reviewer

"A cracking crime suspense novel with enough twists and turns to make a belly dancer faint." ~Diane James, BookGobbler

A Day for Bones by Dale E. Lehman

Bones litter the street…

A catastrophic flood in Ellicott City leaves more than damaged buildings in its wake: a human skeleton now lies scattered along Main Street. Did a colonial settler wash out of his grave? Or is it murder? As Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller and his team investigate, the descendants of James Ferring, a local business icon from a bygone era, become the focus, and Peller is sure they’re hiding something.

There are clues aplenty. The gun shop owned by Chuck Ferring is a magnet for vandals and thieves. Art Ferring’s horse was gunned down by an unknown assailant. And the Colonial Bakery, the jewel in the Ferring crown, is the only possible source of the bones. The family has explanations for everything, until a double murder threatens to unravel their secrets. And now, someone lurking in the shadows will stop at nothing to prevent Peller from uncovering the truth.

Praise for A Day for Bones
"A  wholly original and very enjoyable read." ~The BookLife Prize

Recommended Read 2024: Author Shout Reader Ready Award

About the Author

          

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Maggie Smith, author of "compelling and savvy" page-turners that feature ordinary women facing extraordinary challenges. 

"Impressively original, inherently engaging, fully entertaining, and truly memorable." ~Midwest Book Review on Truth and Other Lies

Blindspot

An ambitious district attorney. An enemy she can’t see. A daughter at risk.

Rachel Matthews is used to stress—from the cutthroat world of the district attorney’s office to her escalating clashes with her teenage daughter. So when a stranger sends a lavish bouquet with a macabre message and leaves a disturbing video on her doorstep, she’s quick to act. Teaming up with an old classmate turned private investigator, Rachel wades through old case files, searching for someone harboring a grudge against her.

But before she has time to pinpoint a suspect, her stalker issues a demand—he wants money, lots of it, or he’ll hurt her daughter. In a dangerous gamble, Rachel agrees to meet her stalker on an isolated beach, only to find herself fleeing from a shocking crime scene. Can she solve the puzzle of who wants to destroy her before she loses her family, her career, and her freedom?

Fans of Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent will enjoy this taut tale of an ambitious prosecutor trying to save herself and her family from the revenge of a sadistic stalker, right up to novel's surprising climax. 

Praise for Blindspot
"A smart, twisty cat-and-mouse revenge tale." ~Robert Dugoni, author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series

"A clever, authentic crime novel." ~Libby Fischer Hellmann, author of The Ellie Foreman Mystery Series

"An often-crafty whodunit laced with traditional elements of mystery and suspense." ~Kirkus Reviews

Truth and Other Lies

Three women. Two secrets. One lie.

Megan Barnes' life is in free fall. After losing her boyfriend and her job as a reporter in the same day, she retreats to Chicago and moves in with Helen, her over-protective mother. Before long, the two are clashing over everything from pro-choice to #MeToo, not to mention Helen's run for U.S. Congress, which puts Megan's career on hold until after the election.

Desperate to reboot her life, Megan gets her chance when an altercation at a campus rally brings her face-to-face with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jocelyn Jones, who offers her a job on her PR team where Megan is pulled into the heady world of fame and glamour her charismatic new mentor represents.

Then an anonymous tweet brings it all crashing down. To salvage Jocelyn's reputation, Megan must locate the online troll and expose the lies. But when the trail leads to blackmail and circles back to her own mother, Megan realizes if she pulls any harder on this thread, what should have been the scoop of her career could unravel into a tabloid nightmare.

Readers who love Jodi Picoult's topical plot twists and Liane Moriarty's character-driven novels will devour this fast-paced tale of three women whose lives converge as one fights a devastating accusation, another campaigns for a contested seat in Congress, and a young reporter with ties to both navigates the tricky line between secrets and lies.

Praise for Truth and Other Lies
Winner, 2022 National Indie Excellence Juror's Grand Prize

Winner, 2022 American Writing Awards Best Debut Fiction

1st Place, 2022 Pencraft Awards for Literary Excellence

"Twisty, timely, and rivetingly thought-provoking." ~Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of Her Perfect Life

"A sharp exploration of the complex relationships between women...mothers and daughters, mentors and protégés, best friends and frenemies." ~Karen Karbo, author of In Praise of Difficult Women

"An engaging and topical tale of politics and journalistic ethics with a feminist slant." ~Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

          

Congratulations to Alan Humm and Vine Leaves Press on the release of The Sparkler, a work of historical fiction in which Charles Dickens becomes immersed in an affair so all-consuming that his life begins to fall apart. 

★★★★★ “A dark hymn to pre-Victorian London in all its grotty glory.” ~Nick Perry, author of The Loop

The Sparkler

Charles Dickens is a newly famous author and a man who has only just married. He thinks that he is about to become a father.

Why, then, does he go wandering London after dark and why, under the influence of a famous clown, does he begin an affair with Sarah, a barmaid who works in a North London pub?

While his own descriptions of sex barely exist, he becomes immersed in an affair so all-consuming that his life begins to fall apart. He takes to drink, he develops a liking for rough company, he even steals a necklace. Where will it end?

During a Christmas entertainment held in his own house, Dickens, Sarah, and his wife edge towards a confrontation that has the potential to ruin him for ever.

If you enjoyed Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow, Jack Maggs by Peter Carey, Underworld by Don DeLillo, or Sway by Zachary Lazar, you will love The Sparkler.

Praise for The Sparkler
★★★★★ “This is absolutely terrific—thoroughly steeped in Dickens’s own idioms and ideas while also taking a step back and coolly assessing them from a distance. It’s...reminiscent (in a good way) of the rich period atmospheres generated by those two neo-Victorian Peters, Ackroyd and Carey.” ~Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, author of Becoming Dickens

★★★★★ “A remarkable Dickens-fi debut.” ~Philip Hoare, author of Albert and the Whale

★★★★★ “A work of sublime psychogeography.” ~Nick Perry, author of November Dead List and The Loop

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Murder Under Redwood Moon, a cozy paranormal murder mystery from author Sherri L. Dodd and a fun read for mystery junkies as well as for fans of modern fantasy fiction and witchcraft. Read on to learn more. 

★★★★★ "An engaging and atmospheric novel that skillfully blends elements of realistic mystery with the supernatural." ~K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

Murder Under Redwood Moon

At the age of eight, Arista Kelly was whisked off to an isolated town in the California Redwoods. Two days later, her parents were gone. Now at the age of twenty-three, Arista has settled into an eclectic lifestyle, much like her Great Aunt Bethie, who has been Arista's guardian since childhood.

But Arista's tranquil life in the Santa Cruz Mountains takes a dark turn when her recurring visions and a ghostly presence disrupt her peaceful existence. With a penchant for herbs and crystals and a connection to nature, Arista's unique lifestyle intertwines with the mysterious events unfolding around her. The discovery of a classmate's body and the looming threat of a serial killer force Arista to confront the encroaching darkness in her once-idyllic mountain sanctuary.

Praise for Murder Under Redwood Moon
Literary Titan Gold Award Winner

"Dodd’s skillful fusion of nature reverence, supernatural themes, and suspenseful plot twists results in a narrative brimming with intrigue and a touch of witchy allure." ~Literary Titan

"An energetic and suspenseful witchcraft-filled murder mystery." ~Chelsey Tucker, Independent Book Review

★★★★★ "A compelling blend of the mystical and the macabre." ~K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

★★★★★ "A thrilling supernatural mystery." ~Amy's Bookshelf Reviews

About the Author

  

Massimo Fantini is an Italian author and free thinker focused on exploring the human condition. Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on his Human Condition Trilogy: 

• Concerning Decay of The Human Race
• Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race
• Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race

Read on to learn more about Fantini's contributions to the debate on the human condition.

"A piercing critique of contemporary existence, challenging conventional notions of fulfillment and purpose." ~BookBelow
 

Concerning Decay of The Human Race

A small village of the Island of the Iguanas experiences the succession of different communities – sometimes forced to live together, sometimes taking over from a former generation. 

Over the years, the community consolidates and grows, together with their prejudices, social injustices, and religious superstitions. The structural transformations of the village have repercussions on the ecosystem of the island which – starting as a protected nature reserve – becomes a hunting place, a tourist destination, and a favorable terrain for smugglers to exploit.

Thus, faced with the opportunity to adopt a new lifestyle – concerning principles of equality, safeguarding personal freedoms, and restoring the ancient harmony between man and nature – there are those who choose to follow the tested path of the government of man over man, which makes discrimination its founding principle, and those who choose to defy it. Social contrasts – delineated by origin, by social background, by acquired privileges – begin to arise within these communities.

Given the possibility to make a clean sweep of the past and rebuild the social fabric from scratch, will those who position themselves as leaders avoid the mistakes made by their predecessors, or will they end up mechanically following the same steps laid out by human history?

Praise for Concerning the Decay of The Human Race
"A compelling and thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human nature and society." ~Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

"Fantini's allegorical depiction of the small village on the Island of the Iguanas serves as a microcosm of human society's perpetual struggle with change and progress." ~BookBelow

"This bold philosophical work offers a raw, incisive critique of modern society's relentless pursuit of shallow gratification and an avoidance of deeper existential issues." ~Rashmi A, Reviewer

Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race

Intellectual suicide corresponds to the more or less conscious decision to switch off the brain and renounce rational thought in favor of attitudes dictated by superstitions, by established habits, by prejudices, by common places. The effects of irrational choices – made with the brain switched off – can be devastating for oneself and for the others. 

Tommaso, the protagonist of this debate, is the victim of his parents’ intellectual suicide, perpetrated through procreation. Procreation – the unilateral act by which a couple throws innocent individuals into the stillicidium of life, without weighing the consequences that the hell of existence will have on them – is the most heinous form of intellectual suicide in the human race, not least because of the scale of its consequences.

The author’s intention is to shine the spotlight on the one reality that unites us all: the human condition.

Praise for Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race
"A great read for those looking to push the boundaries of their beliefs and perspectives." ~Independent Book Review

"Fantini invites readers to confront the existential questions that accompany life from birth to death, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience." ~BookBelow

Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race

Elijah is a promising young lawyer, in love with his work and confident in the potential of the human race.

His law firm’s senior partner gives him his first important assignment. Elijah will have to follow the case of Leonard, an elderly engineer who lives in Montepastore, a small village in the Bolognese Apennines of Italy.

Leonard's question concerns the supplementary contribution that engineers enrolled in the professional register are required to pay to the Engineers’ Pension Fund. At first, the case seems simple. It was the subject of a previous ruling by the Court of Cassation. But Leonard is not satisfied with an institutional response. He wants to know why. He wants to know what hides behind the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Leonard's demands grow until the subject of the dispute widens to include ethical, religious, and historical concerns.

As in the previous manuscripts, questions about the human condition are at the center of this philosophical debate. In the absence of answers, what is the point of writing about anything else?

Praise for Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race
"Explores the complex web of human nature, weaving together legal intricacies with profound philosophical questions." ~Abigail L, Librarian

"A wild ride through the maze of human complexity!" ~Sue E, Reviewer

About the Author

Congratulations to Nicole Zelniker and Vine Leaves Press on the release of From Where We Are, a novel that follows Gabi Keefer as she flees Holocaust-era Germany with nothing but her husband, her nephew, and the clothes on her back. But that isn't the whole story....

★★★★★ “A multi-generational punch-to-the-heart reminder that there is no such thing as a singular Jewish experience.” ~Jeffrey Dale Lofton, award-winning author of Red Clay Suzie

From Where We Are

Follow Gabi Keefer's Jewish lineage through trials of addiction, grief, and activism, in a novel that addresses questions of survival, family, and identity.

Gabi Keefer flees Holocaust-era Germany with nothing but her husband, her nephew, and the clothes on her back. But that isn't the whole story.

Over generations, her granddaughter, Lena, struggles with drug addiction and an unplanned pregnancy; her sort-of nephew, Zane, grieves for his wife three years after her death in an antisemetic mass shooting; and her great-niece, Miranda, advocates for Palestinian liberation against her family’s wishes.

Each character's tale begs the questions: What does it mean to be part of a family, what does it mean to survive, and is that enough?

If you enjoyed Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo; The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak; or A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, you will love From Where We Are.

Trigger warning: Content in this book includes depictions or mentions of ableism, anti-semitism, characters struggling with mental health, death and grief, drug abuse, domestic violence, gun violence, homophobia, misogyny, racism, statutory rape, suicide, xenophobia, and Zionism.

Praise for From Where We Are
★★★★★ "A kaleidoscopic gem." ~David Jackson Ambrose, author of Unlawful Disorder

★★★★★ "A layered excavation of intergenerational trauma and a perceptive probe into how resilience can overcome it." ~Ann S. Epstein, author of The Sister Knot

★★★★★ "A sensitive exploration of contemporary Jewish history." ~Rabbi Andrue Kahn, editor of Sacred Earth: Jewish Perspectives on our Planet

Ed Benjamin is author of fiction and nonfiction intended to help readers see "the light beyond the horizon." Today, LitNuts is pleased to shine a spotlight on three of Ed's works:

• Redemption
• Melanie: A Tale of Wonder
• This is Alaska

Read on to learn more about each of these entertaining and inspiring reads.

Bonus: Sign up to receive Ed's Musings, thoughts, essays, and stories, including universal thoughts from Stoic philosophy, stories from the Tao, and Flash Fiction.

Redemption

Amidst the thunderous roars of jet engines, Harry's journey from an Air Force legend to a lone detective embodies the undying spirit of a hero.

An orphaned teenager, Harry enters the United States Air Force and quickly rises to become a top fighter pilot. Flying became his life—and he was good at it. When his wingman is shot down in an aerial battle, Harry uses his skills to shoot down three enemy jet fighters in combat.

But when the Air Force grounds Harry for medical reasons, his life is turned upside down. He battles loneliness and alcohol while trying to eke out a living as a private detective. Things change when he takes on a missing persons case that involves a Caribbean cruise and a computer geek named Katie. 

Praise for Redemption
"An inspiring and turbulent emotional journey." ~International Review of Books

"This book has it all: super-authentic flying segments, a story of someone dealing with great loss, and an engaging detective story." ~Amazon Review

"Best Military Action-Packed Tale of Aviation/People! Regardless of my former USAF time and current FAA aviation credentials, I would have voted this one of the best action-packed, people sensitive novels ever written!" ~Amazon Review

Melanie: A Tale of Wonder

"A delightful and heartwarming piece of flash fiction." ~Amazon Review

Meet Aaron Jones, an elderly gentleman obviously down on his luck and badly in need of a shower. But after surviving a car accident, something miraculous happens: his singing voice is clear for the first time in years. Regaining his voice prompts him to enter a talent contest in the hope of winning prize money to help Melanie, a ten-year-old girl whose father is dying.

During the talent show, the audience begins to realize the real identity of Aaron. Cries of “It’s him. It’s really him!” begin to ring out in the audience. Afterwards, the mysterious singer leaves town with the media buzzing.

If you like alternative historical fiction, you will enjoy this heartwarming journey filled with hope, inspiration, and the power of music.

This is Alaska

A rare sports adventure to treasure and read over and over.

This short but powerful essay is a true story of a middle-aged man discovering Wild Alaska while on a whitewater rapids trip. Frustrated and tired, he undergoes a transformation as he experiences the full force of nature. 

About the Author

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on a trio of provocative books on political and economic issues from Cambridge-educated UK investment manager David Kauders: 

• Reinventing Democracy
• The Financial System Limit
• The Greatest Crash

"Radical thinkers might have a point." ~Financial Times

Reinventing Democracy

"Holds lessons for any nation grappling with democratic challenges." ~The London Economic

The UK economy has deteriorated and contributed to an overall British decline. The British system of political governance is a major cause.

To improve the outlook, Britain should adopt a federal structure with a written constitution and changes in how its citizens are represented. Reinventing Democracy provides a path forward, including a draft constitution.

Praise for Reinventing Democracy
“A powerful, persuasive, and timely wake-up call for transforming the UK into a federal state. A must-read.” ~Richard Moriarty,  The Sun

“A compelling and clear pathway out of Britain’s failing political morass towards a brighter, truly democratic future.” ~The European

“An important catalyst for discussion and a rallying cry for a more accountable and responsive political system.” ~The London Economic

The Financial System Limit

Can the world really continue to stimulate its way out of every downturn? What happens to debt as central banks and governments buy prosperity?

In The Financial System Limit, the author puts forward three radical theories which show that Keynesian economics can no longer benefit society. He explains why debt cannot expand to infinity; then how debt interest is a cost to us all. The global economic cycle is now determined by central bank policies.

Read The Financial System Limit to understand why banks keep failing and to learn why financial and economic policies have to change. You will discover why debt reduction programs do not work and what will follow the recent inflation.

The Greatest Crash: Avoiding the Financial System Limit

The Greatest Crash argues that the financial system which evolved from the early Italian bankers has now reached a roadblock. The weight of debt already created prevents further economic expansion, while paying down the fact that debt shrinks economies. To escape this trap, evolution is needed. But bureaucratic design, delegated government, and group think, all combine to prevent evolution.

Congratulations to Annalisa Crawford and Vine Leaves Press on the release of One Tuesday, Early, a work of speculative fiction that has been described as "both familiar and nightmarish." 

"An intriguing and haunting story about a woman, a man, and a decades-old mystery." ~Alison Moore, author of The Retreat

One Tuesday Early

You’re on your own and you shouldn’t be. Your partner is missing. The streets are empty. Even the birds have disappeared. What do you do?

It’s 6:05am one Tuesday morning, and Lexi Peters is alone. Her partner, her friends, her neighbours have all vanished without a trace. The entire town is deserted. Gathering every ounce of courage, she sets out to explore the streets, seeking any sign of life. Her only companions are a coy black cat and a lurking fog that seems to follow her every step.

On the same morning, her partner Finn awakens to an empty house. Recalling the blazing argument they had the night before, he assumes Lexi has snuck off somewhere to cool down. But she doesn’t return.

Time passes. Or not. Lexi is stranded on that Tuesday morning, while Finn hurtles through the years at increasing speed.

Can Lexi and Finn be reunited, or is it already too late?

Praise for One Tuesday, Early
"A spooky and impossible situation that steals up on you until you’re questioning your own life choices." ~Roz Morris, author of Ever Rest

"From its beguiling opening to its heart-stopping conclusion, One Tuesday, Early gently leads us into a world both familiar and nightmarish. Eerie, atmospheric and immediately gripping, there's as much delight to be found in what's held back as there is in what's revealed." ~Charlie Carroll, author of The Lip

Author K.T. Raine is known for writing "sweet and clean romance with a dollop of suspense." Today, LitNuts is pleased to feature the first three books of the Huckleberry Ridge Romance Series: 

• A Country Kind of Love
• Big Love in a Small Town
• Better Late than Never

Read on to learn more about each of these fun reads and the author.

Bonus: Visit K.T. Raine's website to read a free excerpt of Tell Me Another Lie, Book 4 in the Huckleberry Ridge Romance Series!

A Country Kind of Love

After single mom and reporter CeCe Bixby has her name leaked in connection with a dangerously controversial story, she and her young son flee 400 miles from Boise to small town Huckleberry Ridge, Idaho, for a fresh start. 

But life’s never simple, and CeCe is dismayed to find her troubles have followed her. Help may come in the form of her handsome, state-trooper landlord Shane Wickham and his surprisingly supportive family. But does she dare share the truth with him? 

Praise for A Country Kind of Love
"I LOVED this book! It’s like wearing your favorite pajamas and a cup of hot chocolate." ~Ann M Diener, BookSirens

"Such a sweet romance with realistic characters." ~Amazon Review

Big Love in a Small Town

Sweet and gregarious Penny Barron was just sure handsome Gus Amherst was finally “the one.” But once his protective streak evolves to controlling and then abusive, she decides enough is enough.

When her childhood friend, CeCe, gets in an accident and needs some temporary care, Penny figures this is her chance. She leaves Gus a goodbye note and flees Boise for small town Huckleberry Ridge, Idaho, to be near CeCe and make a fresh start.

When Gus decides he’s not ready to let Penny go and shows up in Huckleberry Ridge unannounced, CeCe’s neighbor, police officer and confirmed bachelor Josh Wickham, comes to her rescue. Both are surprised by the spark of attraction that steadily grows between them. But Penny is carrying a secret guaranteed to wreck any new relationship…which is exactly what happens when she finally reveals it to Josh.

Is there still a shot for love to bloom? Or has Penny’s deception ruined her second chance forever?

Better Late than Never

Kara Grissom has spent twenty years in hiding. Ever since suffering a severe facial burn the night after her college graduation, her only refuge has been the childhood home she shares with her mother. She’s long since given up on any possibility of finding love, so when a handsome stranger suddenly invades her safe place, she’s stunned by the sudden awakening of desires she thought had died long ago. 

Dawson Wickham loves life as a bachelor. He has everything he needs with his own home, a great family, and the perfect job. But he also loves mysteries, so when he stumbles across the reclusive Kara and she flees from him, her bizarre reaction is a puzzle he just has to solve. 

Kara knows that no man who sees her face could ever love her, so she does her best to rebuff Dawson’s interest. But he’s not the type to give up easily, especially once he begins to fall for her charm, wit, and intelligence. But will his love be enough to break through Kara’s phobia of rejection and convince her to trust him? Or is she destined to live out her days alone? 

About the Author

      

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Shimmering Circus from author Annie Dewell, a series that throws readers into a macabre world of secrets and magic, set against the evocative backdrop of a Gilded Age circus.

If you've ever wondered what it was really like to travel with carnies or fall in love under a big top, then the Shimmering Circus series is for you. Perfect for fans of Caraval, Miss Peregrine, and The Night Circus.

"A glistening, deliciously dark page-turner." ~Laura J., Bookstagrammer

Avery's Ghost

The circus keeps its secrets.

When seventeen-year-old Evelyn is accidentally poisoned, her only hope for an antidote is to sign the curious contract of Hart's Circus—the same place her brother vanished.

As she investigates her new canvas home, she’s consumed by questions no carnie will answer: why do the performers lie about their uncanny performances? What caused the “hideous” scars of Essence, the sideshow freak who draws portraits so vivid they nearly leap from the page?

Terrified into attempted escape by the tempestuous Manager Hart, Evelyn is stopped by paralyzing pain. Undeterred, she’ll cajole and blackmail her way to the truth behind the circus mysteries and her brother's disappearance—truths that will uncover long buried secrets and catapult her into the crossfire of a plot with explosive consequences.

Praise for Avery's Ghost
"A literary-fiction style of puzzle box." ~Goodreads Review

"Vivid characters, an evocative setting, and a twisting narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat." ~laura.j_official, Bookstagrammer

"If you love melting pots of genres, you will surely enjoy it. Avery's Ghost is at the same time a history novel, a fantasy novel and a mystery novel." ~@ablueboxfullofbooks, Bookstagrammer

Avery's Rings

A new season, a new mission...

It is 1913, and Evelyn has spent the winter testing the boundaries of her newly complicated relationship with her mother—while trying to pry from her the secret to reaching her homeland. Determined to break the binding on the circus and free her fellow travelers, she finds an unexpected ally in enigmatic mentor Eptzeig Whitley, who informs Evelyn that she’s been offered a job as secretary to the mysterious circus manager.

But like everything at the circus, the perilous and painful crossing is not as simple as it seems; the portal lies between two continents in her mother's world, and the circus manager is presenting his own set of challenges. As she embarks on a tour across the Midwest, Evelyn must prepare both her body and mind for a long-distance swim, all while testing the boundaries of her new magical abilities, making new allies, and navigating some very confusing feelings for a fellow performer.

Avery's Trinket

A world to discover… an impossible heist…

Evelyn has reached Kasiit, and now faces her most daunting challenge yet: a formal dinner with the family of her beau.

But she and her friends are soon forced to flee this relative safety for the capital of Birandii, where they’re embroiled in a scheme involving rival newspaper moguls, bitter ex-spouses, and the theft of one of the most valuable necklaces of the new world—an artifact with unique magical properties which just may be the key to their safe return home.

Third in the Shimmering Circus series, Avery’s Trinket plunges readers into an awe-inspiring but treacherous new world, illustrated in the style of turn-of-the-century Yellow Journalism comics.

Avery's World

The samarinh has begun...

Evelyn kicks off the religious festival with a brand-new face, fresh identity, and singular mission: to coerce the elected monarch into releasing the circus binding.

Thrust into a world of lavish dinner parties, masquerade balls, and dangerous duplicity, she navigates the complex social code of upper crust society while struggling with recent trauma and crippling social anxiety—and sharing a titillating bed with her fiancé for their political "Tour of Beds."

But someone is poisoning politicians, and colored rain falls in random spurts—bizarre occurrences that may herald the Apocalypse. As their task grows nearer, Evelyn begins to wonder whether she is saving the circus…or dooming the world.

The Shimmering Circus Series

About the Author

    

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Jason B. Baker, a history-buff-turned-author who has been praised for his Western-style historical adventure novels. Read on to learn more! 

Special Offer: The e-book edition of The Ace's Bounty is free through May 10 and the newly released The War Remains is only 99 cents. Get both of these Civil War era Western-style adventures for less than $1!

The Ace's Bounty: The Barber Brothers' First Adventure

In the aftermath of the Civil War, brothers Elijah and Moses Barber return home, haunted by shadows of the past.

Once fierce cavalrymen, their transition to civilian life is marred by poverty, loss, and a hostile reception from a town that remembers their wartime deeds with mixed emotions. With their farm failing and prospects dwindling, the Barbers possess little more than a set of lethal skills—horseback riding, sharpshooting, and tracking the lawless.

Their fate takes a twist when an enigmatic, one-armed U.S. Marshal offers them a perilous opportunity. For Moses, it's a chance to harness their deadly talents and secure a livelihood; for Elijah, it's a desperate attempt to leave their past behind. But when they discover their target is a criminal from their own haunted history, the mission becomes a dark journey fueled by justice and an unquenchable thirst for revenge.

Now, as the brothers grapple with their complicated relationship, reconcile with a childhood mentor, and question the true identity of the mysterious U.S. Marshal, they must traverse treacherous terrain, both external and within, to find the peace and prosperity that has eluded them since the war's end.

Praise for The Ace's Bounty
"This novel captures the reader from the first paragraph. Traditional Western readers should love this novel with its good pacing, plenty of action, and a hint of romance." ~Ron Schwab, bestselling author of Old Dogs and The Accidental Sheriff

"Pure historical adventure...between two brothers set in the Civil War time period. The historical realism truly brings this story to life." ~Amazon Review

The War Remains: The Barber Brothers' Next Adventure

In the shadow of a nation's rebirth, two brothers ride against the echoes of war.

In this sprawling Western saga of renewal, justice, and revenge, readers can gallop back into the gritty world of the Barber Brothers. In the raw aftermath of the Civil War, America labors to mend its divided heart, but in Omaha, the peace Elijah and Moses Barber worked so hard to achieve is razed by a vengeful blaze.

As the transcontinental railroad pioneers a new frontier, echoes of war give rise to a brutal gang hell-bent on keeping the past's violent embers alight. The brothers, alongside an eclectic posse—including a formidable woman claiming her legacy, a hardened Confederate sniper, and a resolute Black Union veteran—must carve their own justice in the untamed wilderness of Nebraska.

Faced with lawlessness that no badge can tame, the Barber Brothers must forge their own path to justice. Together, they embark on a harrowing journey through the untamed West, confronting the ghosts of their pasts. As they traverse this rugged landscape, they are tested to their limits, their bonds of loyalty and survival put to the ultimate test.

The War Remains is a tale of grit, brotherhood, and the quest for justice that fans of Ron Schwab, CJ Petit, and Robert Vaughan will love. Ride once more with the Barber Brothers as they confront the unforgiving wilderness of the American West and the turbulent tides of history that refuse to be tamed.

About the Author