Today's Featured Books

The Devil You Know by Kay Freeman

Romance

River Rogers endures the abuse of her cruel husband until she steals her children away, returning to the only man who’s treated her as someone special and barging into the playboy mobster’s mansion, ready to offer anything he desires. Cruz MacKenzie revels in dark urges, but when the desperate survivor who broke his heart returns, he’s torn between his urge to protect her and the desire to claim her innocence. Determined never to lose her again, the high-powered Chicago criminal and brothel owner offers her a deal. 3.9 stars, 24 ratings. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


FREE - Ruthless Reign by Aleatha Romig

Romance

In this world, where gowns, castles, and crowns make for the perfect reflections, life isn’t always as it appears. Love is elusive, illusions distort visions, shadows lurk in the sunshine, and monsters tread behind smiles and chivalrous facades. I, Roman Archibald Godfrey, swore an oath to Molave. To the king. And above all, to Princess Lucille. The princess isn't mine to take, but you know what they say about forbidden fruit. Book 1 in Royal Reflections, a new series from New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig. 4.5 stars, 400+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


Playing With Her by Tory Baker

Romance

One month after leaving, my only thoughts were of the woman I left to protect. Thoughts of her consumed me night and day, pushing me to work harder and faster in order to have her back in my arms. The need to protect her from my own blood, a father who would ruin me and anyone that means anything to me in order to further his political career. Now I’m back, ready to lock down the woman I love, and it seems we both have news to share with one another, hers more important than mine. Book 3 in the Billionaire Playboys series. 4.6 stars, 140+ ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Free & discounted books + last call for April LitNuts Deals Giveaway!

Events

The April LitNuts Deals Giveaway ends this Friday. Enter now for your chance to win a new Kindle Paperwhite or a $125 Amazon.com gift card. 

Also, be sure to check out today's free and discounted Featured Books. And don't miss this free online event tonight: Leading in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, presented by The Austin Forum on Technology & Society and moderated by SXSW Co-President Hugh Forrest. Wednesday, April 26, 7:15 PM CDT.

"We are the human-machine in civilisation. It [AI] is really part of who we are.”
~Ray Kurzweil


Hole in My Heart by Lorraine Dusky

Book of the Day

A memoir about love and loss in the fault lines of adoption. "This book will change the way people think about adoption." -Florence Fisher, Founder of ALMA. It is 1965, pre Roe v. Wade. Lorraine Dusky has worked her way through college and landed her dream job on the city desk of a major newspaper. Then an unplanned pregnancy changes the direction of her life. "No woman should be forced, through shame or circumstance, to relinquish her child because of social pressures." -Pamela M. Salela, Prof., Univ. of Illinois. "A tour de force full of insight and inspiration." -Richard Uhrlaub, Pres., ASRC. From $6.99 SHOP NOW


FREE - Where Fools Dare to Tread by David William Pearce

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

"A tangled but engrossing mystery populated by dynamic characters." -Kirkus Reviews. A band of fools and a nobody named Monk Buttman unwittingly find themselves caught in a web of murder and revenge. Stuck between powerful forces he can neither control nor understand, Monk must survive both the fools and those pulling the strings while also dealing with the affections of two very different women. A Monk Buttman Mystery, Book 1 in the series.  4.3 stars, 180+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


FREE - The Reluctant Coroner by Paul Austin Ardoin

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

Blood is thicker than oil—until murder is involved. Fenway Stevenson doesn't want to return to the coastal town where her estranged father is practically king. But the death of her mother draws her back home, and the murder of the county coroner draws her into a deepening conspiracy. As the body count rises and all signs seem to point toward her father's oil company, will Fenway uncover the truth before family bonds become deadly? Book 1 in the series. 4.4 stars, 6800 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 


The Secret Life of Charlotte Dodd by Holly Kerr

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

Charlotte Dodd is a spy. Was a spy. Because wiping your memories means forgetting all your fierce Buffy moves, how to be sneaky and stealthy, and all the times you saved the world. It also means forgetting the man you love. But Charlotte’s humdrum life is flipped upside down when she’s pulled back into her action-packed secret agent life and given a second chance at love with sexy billionaire, head of NIIA, Hamilton Short. If she can remember him. Book 1 in the action-packed rom-com Charlotte Dodd series. 4.2 stars, 170+ ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW / 


FREE - Henry Halifax and the Tutori's Cloak by Atlas Swift

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

A ripping good yarn for middle-grade and young adult readers, packed with mystery, suspense, and laughs. The legend of the Tutori was something Henry Halifax had never imagined to be real...guardians from an ancient organization tasked with watching over the animal kingdom from the shadows. After a chance encounter with the elusive Tutori, Henry and his loyal dachshund become entangled in a global pursuit that will test Henry's courage and wits at every turn. If you love fun adventure stories with refreshingly original plot twists and you’re against dentists hunting lions for sport, this is the book you’ve been waiting for! 4.1 stars, 15 ratings. FREE on 4/26. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Hitman's Honey by Kay Freeman

Romance

She never thought she'd die like this in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Rylee Reed was just another woman of a "certain age" going through a difficult divorce when she set eyes on the suave, Irish gentleman in the atrium of the upscale hotel in DC where she was attending a writers' conference. Within twenty-four hours, she was on a plane trying to escape hired assassins while fighting her attraction to a man she barely knew. Read a book awarded a Mid-Atlantic Writers Association Romance award in 2022. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


That's How the Cookie Crumbles by Miranda Rose Barker

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

A Little-Pinch-of-Murder Cozy Mystery, indulge your senses with Miranda Rose Barker's newest release. Lydia's day of testing a new recipe takes a dark turn when she finds her elderly friend, Penelope, dead. Lydia and her trusty canine companion, Pyrus, launch an investigation to uncover the truth. With twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end, this cozy mystery is sure to satisfy your craving for a captivating read. Join Lydia in her quest for justice and find out if she can solve the mystery. From $5.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 


Power Play by Amelia Wilde

Romance

Playboy Gabriel Hill seeks revenge for the murder of his parents. When he meets Elise Bettencourt, she's his key to the truth. As they entangle in seduction, Gabriel risks his heart and his life. Secrets, desire, and danger collide in this sizzling romance. Book 1 in the Power Series. 4.5 stars, 488 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW / 


FREE - Net Worth by Amelia Wilde

Romance

Charlotte Van Kempt will do anything to keep her family afloat—and that’s exactly what the dangerous-looking billionaire in front of her is asking. One contract, unlimited access to her body. And he’s about to play dirty. Book 1 in the Wealth Series. 4.3 stars, 1400+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


Fireflies by Shea Hulse

Romance

A Celtic Romance Series (Book 1). When two complete opposites find themselves in a magical world neither knew existed, sparks fly! Fireflies tells the story of a beautiful loner and a handsome recluse who discover that they have more in common than they thought. As they navigate a dangerous new world with unexpected allies, will their newfound connection bring them closer together or tear them apart? "Fiery romance and unstoppable action...a romance that settles into magical realism." -Readers' Favorite. 4.6 stars, 29 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


A Shadow Melody by Brian Kaufman

Science Fiction and Fantasy

"Successfully melds historical fiction and horror...a moody pastoral tale with a creepy paranormal conclusion." -IndieReader. Edison, Tesla, and Browning sought to create a device to contact the dead. Edison recorded voices, Tesla tried wireless communication, and Browning's approach succeeded. They shared a goal of exploring the afterlife and communicating with the deceased. Their efforts had mixed results but remain intriguing in the history of science. "A fascinating blend of historical fiction and speculative fiction...one of the most original novels I have read in years." -Kenneth W. Harmon, author of In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow. 4.3 stars, 46 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Grave Peril by Emily Jane Trent

Romance

Lela Cabelo discovers evidence about a Texas senator that could get her killed. But before she is safe in witness protection, disaster strikes. Alone and on the run, she is forced to trust the Navy SEAL she is falling in love with. Part of the Stealth Security series. 4.5 stars, 447 ratings. From $0.99 SHOP NOW


FREE - The RoadMap Lab by Meaghan Timko

General Nonfiction

The RoadMap Lab: A Strategic Approach to Planning a Future of Dignity, Purpose, Opportunity, and Independence for Neurodiverse Teens and Young Adults helps individuals and their collaborative teams build more strategic, more sustainable, human-centered transition plans. While anyone can use The RoadMap Lab™, it was intentionally designed to support neurodiverse teens and young adults as they transition from secondary schooling to post-secondary schooling, the community, and/or the world of work. FREE - SHOP NOW


New Release: Heart and Salt by Elaina Battista-Parsons

Spotlight

Congratulations to Elaina Battista-Parsons and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Heart and Salt, a collection of stories for those "wishing to reflect while also being transported."


Heart and Salt by Elaina Battista-Parsons

NEW RELEASE: April 25, 2023
From $4.99  

Camus once stated that fiction is a lie through which we tell the truth. The main characters in Heart and Salt all have truths, lies, and in-betweens, similar to every human being you’ve ever met. We all carry scraps of our past in our hearts, the hope of the present in our palms, and the leftovers in our souls.

Heart and Salt unwraps what is boxed tightly until it can’t be contained any longer—Charli tests her seemingly strong marriage, Genevieve investigates a crumbly old beach shack after decades of storms, February navigates a new friendship, and Feather can’t find her way out of the self-imposed “middle.” Every piece’s setting inhales and exhales as strongly as the people living within its walls, from backyards to kitchens, and from small towns to cities.

Dive deep into their heart, their salt, and their truths.
 
Praise for Heart and Salt
Heart and Salt is an honest account of girlhood growing into womanhood, the femininity of each reaching out its hand for the other as if to say, We will get through this together.” ~Chimen Kouri, author of Peach Milk

“With its glimpses into the lives of a divorcee, grieving daughter, a teen wrought with angst and more, there are few feminine feelings left unmined.” ~Suzanne Crain Miller, author of Queen and Temperatures

About the Author
If you see a woman in Doc Martens drooling over a 1964 Chevy Impala like it’s candy, it’s probably Elaina. Her first two books are Italian Bones in the Snow and Black Licorice. Elaina’s poems and prose have been published in many lit mags and journals. She’s the editor of 50 Give or Take with Vine Leaves Press and lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband and daughters. Her essay “I Said it Out Loud” was a 2021 finalist in the Anne Dillard Creative Nonfiction contest. Elaina is also an acquisitions reader for Pearson Education. Learn more at ElainaWrites.com.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent.​ Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at vineleavespress.com


There's More to the Story: Celebrate National Library Week!

Events

This week is National Library Week in the United States. Libraries lend books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats, but (as this year's theme states), "There's more to the story!" Libraries also bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, classes, lectures, and more. Visit the American Library Association website to learn more about National Library Week and for suggestions on how to make the most of your library. 

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." ~Albert Einstein


Ellie's Redemption by Molly Jebber

Book of the Day

In this historical Amish romance, a local bakery offers tempting aromas—and second chances for those who seek a life of faith and lasting love. Ellie returns to her Amish life seeking forgiveness from her Amish friends and family. Not everyone is welcoming, especially when someone from her past visits. Amish men shy away, until Caleb. Will he listen to the naysayers, or give her a chance? Book 2 in The Amish Charm Bakery series. 4.6 stars, 250+ ratings. From $5.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Lady Reaper by Toni Cabell

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Mara’s magic has stopped working! With chasms opening in Bellaryss and rumors of chaos, should Mara seek help from the king of the elves? After rescuing thirty people, including Arnesto, from the dark fays, Mara’s physical injuries are healed—but her magic has never recovered—and her ensorcelled sword no longer responds to her touch. Even worse, Mara’s heart is bruised by Arnesto’s long absences and rambling explanations. Arnesto has problems of his own. His brother’s spirit can’t cross over to the far shore and Arnesto blames himself. Mara must find a way to work with Arnesto despite their differences. Can she gain admittance to the elven king, find a cure for her magic, and save both worlds—the living and the dead—before time runs out? From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


The Prison by Joe Edd Morris

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

Shell Ferguson visits his incarcerated grandson, Cal, with tragic news: his daughter, wife, and grandmother have perished in a fire. Cal must rely on his grandfather to uncover the suspicious circumstances of the blaze, as clues unfold to establish his innocence. Compelling revelations link the fire and Cal’s innocence with domestic terrorism. From plots to blow up Mississippi River bridges to threats on their lives, grandfather and grandson take a series of risks, including Cal’s daring prison escape, in an attempt to save the remnants of their family and southern community so disturbingly infiltrated. 4.4 stars, 590+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Four Days Famous by Luana Ehrlich

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

A Mylas Grey Mystery. From a USA Today bestselling author: When a famous doctor asks Mylas to investigate his father’s murder, Mylas suddenly finds himself on the national news, unable to make a move without being chased by a reporter. Can he use his notoriety to find the killer or will his plan backfire and make him a target? “Love the fast-paced action of the book. Story really grabs your attention and you can’t put it down.” –James Nichols, Vine Voice. 4.7 stars, 370+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 


The Darkest Gift by Len Handeland

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

A dynamic, enthralling tale of love, jealousy, revenge, and vampirism. When Jack, who struggles with his own sexual identity, meets the elegant yet incredibly mysterious Laurent Richelieu, he thinks his stroke of bad luck with men and women has come to an end. Or is it the beginning of a nightmare? As the two begin their courtship, Jack encounters horrifying experiences involving paranormal experiences, vampirism, and possible reincarnation, making him question his sanity. 4.5 stars, 43 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Baby for My Brother's Best Friend by Josie Hart

Romance

"Charming, funny, spicy and very enjoyable!" -Amazon review. If “sexy” had a mascot, my brother’s best friend would be it. But he’s off limits and my brother would literally end him. We’re sharing one hotel room in paradise, and waking up tangled together has me questioning everything. Because…I'm pregnant. "Josie Hart has quickly become a favorite author of mine and Baby for my Brother's Best Friend is a perfect example of her talented storytelling... definitely recommend!" -Amazon review. 4.6 stars, 120+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW