Today's Featured Books

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on She Steals My Breath, Book 1 of The Medicine Man historical romance series from author Karen Kay. 

She Steals My Breath (The Medicine Man Book 1)

Her Beauty Takes His Breath Away. Only She Can Restore It

Eagle Heart of the Blackfoot Nation has not come to the for Union trading post to trade, but to find his missing brother. The medicine man has never seen a white woman, but, when Laylah McIntosh walks into the room, her beauty steals his breath.

Laylah has assets besides beauty that make her valuable to her father, the fort's trader: her skill with numbers, her photographic memory, and her knowledge of the sign language used by all the tribes. But, when she’s injured and caught in a fierce blizzard, it is Eagle Heart who rescues her.

Forced into each other's company, their attraction deepens. But a union between them is forbidden in both their worlds. Can their love find a way to survive? Or will their differences separate them forever?

Warning: Sensuous historical romance with a strong paranormal element could cause a gal to go West in search of love and adventure.

Praise for She Steals My Breath
★★★★★ "A blend of historical romance and today's headlines." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "A beautifully told American Indian love story." ~Goodreads Review

★★★★★ "A culture-busting romance." ~Amazon Review

The Medicine Man Series

• She Steals My Breath (Book 1):
  4.2 stars, 396 ratings
• She Captures My Heart (Book 2):
  4.3 stars, 257 ratings
• She Paints My Soul (Book 3):
  4.5 stars, 299 ratings
• She Brings Beauty To Me (Book 4):
  4.3 stars, 210 ratings

    

Free online: Speculative Sundays, a poetry reading to celebrate Speculative Poetry Month. Speculative poetry is humanity’s primordial literature. Nearly everyone knows some speculative poetry—from nursery rhymes, to Edgar Allen Poe, to Puff the Magic Dragon, it’s been here all along. Join for a reading featuring poets Mary Soon Lee, Brandon O’Brien, and Vivian Faith Prescott. November 10, 7 to 8 pm ET.

"Mainstream poetry deals with the rendering and exploration of the here and now, reality as we know it, internal and external. Speculative poetry has more to do with imagination, the world of dreams, and the world as it could be." ~Bruce Boston, speculative poet

My head is in the clouds and my heart is spinning out of control. Thrown off course by terrifying turbulence, a gorgeous, sexy older mountain man pilot finds ways to take my mind off the stress and takes care of everything on our sudden detour. Be careful when flying over the mountains; you might meet the love of your life. Haley Travis books are always no-cheating, with steamy and sweet happily-ever-afters. 4.5 stars, 141 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the Love Birds Series from author Katie Eagan Schenck. Follow the McAllister family through love, loss, and second chances:

• Book 1: When Cardinals Appear
• Book 2: When Swans Dance
• Book 3: When Doves Lament

When Cardinals Appear

She has a promise to keep. But when her plans are thrown into a tailspin, will a persistent red bird show her how to let her dreams take flight?

Lanie McAllister is ready to move on. Wrestling with her mom’s death, the young woman just wants to settle the estate and soar off for good to her boyfriend in California—far away from painful memories. But she suspects the lucky cardinal she keeps seeing is trying to send a message when a flat tire puts her back in the path of the man who broke her heart.

With fate constantly throwing the man her mother always hated in her way, Lanie can’t seem to shake the wounds of the past. And when her current love makes a serious misstep and she discovers her ex harbors a secret, she starts to rethink what will make her truly happy.

Questioning her vow to her mother to never look back, is the cardinal a clue Lanie’s true happiness is hiding in plain sight?

When Cardinals Appear is the emotional first book in The Love Birds women’s romantic fiction series. If you like heroines who grow, overcoming loss, and second chances, then you’ll adore Katie Eagan Schenck’s bittersweet tale.

Praise for When Cardinals Appear
"An uplifting romance about mending bruised relationships and holding onto hope." ~Kirkus Reviews

"A captivating, absorbing, and addictive novel that explores some weighty issues through a heartwarming and sweetly satisfying story." ~The Book Review Directory

"A good, old-fashioned love story that will tug at readers' heartstrings." ~Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

"Readers will fall in love with these well-drawn characters, the charming small-town setting, and just the right amount of sparks flying." ~Angela M., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

When Swans Dance

A new business. The wedding of the year. But when a health scare jeopardizes their plans, can Steven and Rose learn to dance or will this be their swan song?

Fresh off the closing of his late mother's estate, Steven is ready to start the next chapter of his life—marrying Rose. Though he struggles to find that ever elusive work/life balance, he's optimistic about the future of his new law practice.

One double shift too many makes Rose an unhappy nurse, but all that overtime will not only help fund her upcoming nuptials, it might earn her the coveted head nurse position as well.

But when Steven suffers a health emergency, suddenly all of their plans—and finances—are thrown into a tailspin. Postponing the wedding makes the most sense, but Steven won't hear of it. Rose fears if he doesn't slow down, he'll make her a widow before she ever becomes a wife. As questions arise over whether they'll ever take that walk down the aisle, can a pair of swans help them find their way back to each other?

When Swans Dance continues the emotional saga of The Love Birds women’s romantic fiction series. If you like spunky heroines, tenacious heroes, and stories of rekindled love then you’ll adore When Swans Dance.

Praise for When Swans Dance
"This romance explores the true meaning of love and commitment in a way that is heartwarming, thought-provoking, and unforgettable." ~Irene S., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

"An emotional women’s romantic fiction read." ~Amazon Review

When Doves Lament

Neither expected to fall in love again. But together they might just discover that the love of their lives came later.

Max McAllister swore off love before the ink was even dry on his divorce papers. Between his attempts to salvage the strained relationship with his daughter and rekindling his passion for woodworking, he doesn’t have time for the drama that romance brings.

Carissa Owens has finally found her footing again after losing her husband five years ago. Her wedding business is thriving and she has her sights set on expanding to corporate events—if she can secure a meeting with a lucrative new client.

But when Max’s daughter hires Carissa to plan her wedding, Max insists on being involved in every aspect of the process, ruffling Carissa’s feathers. As they spend more time together, an unexpected attraction sprouts wings. That is, until Max reveals a surprise for his daughter that puts Carissa’s professional reputation at risk. Can they find a way to dovetail their plans or will their budding romance have a crash landing?

When Doves Lament is the emotional finale of The Love Birds women’s romantic fiction series. If you like grumpy heroes, business-savvy heroines, and later-in-life characters, then you’ll adore this heartwarming tale.

When Doves Lament can be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed with the rest of the series.

Praise for When Doves Lament
"Poignant, thoughtful story brimming with hope and second chances." ~Angela M., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

"A poignant look at life after the death of one’s mate." ~Goodreads Review

        

Free online: Poetry Lit!, a monthly online reading series for poets from all over the world. Explore the world of poetry from the comfort of your favorite chair via a reading series that features international poets and their passionate fans. Friday, November 8, 1:00 PM CST.

"Perseverance is the act of continuing to move forward, even when you want to give up." ~Rachel Scott, journalist

Congratulations to Ariel Peckel and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Bertram’s Emporium of Things People Say, a place where satire meets the macabre, humorously dissecting modern culture wars.

★★★★★ “Zany and off-the-wall imaginative." ~Ian M. Rogers, author of MFA Thesis Novel

Bertram’s Emporium of Things People Say

Step into the twisted corridors of Bertram’s Emporium, where the mundane meets the macabre in a carnival of unrestrained wit and biting satire.

In the madness of contemporary culture wars, the Emporium serves no ideology. It serves up iconoclasm. From hillbilly erotic philosophy to a cancel rag that declares the Sun triggering, from The Pronoun Simulator to The Abortion Avatar, from neocon unicorn princess to Antifa blackshirt, no extreme of the ideological spectrum is too self-absurd to spare. On one end, the far-right’s demands for freedom from sweeping government powers evaporate the moment their own sacred cows of religious education and fetuses are at stake. On the other, militant gender identity ideology undermines the rights of the very people it patronizingly claims to protect, with dangerous implications for women, trans people, and detransitioners. On the whole, the absurdity of those ideologies is on plain display to those residing between the extremes who long for a more reasoned approach. Bertram’s Emporium delivers one in the guise of humorist social commentary vignettes. It also delivers purely comedic pieces at a time when everybody can use a laugh.

Welcome to the Emporium. 

Praise for Bertram's Emporium
★★★★★ “Brilliant!” ~Alycia Vreeland, author of Baby Darlin'

★★★★★ “We all need to see ourselves in the mirror, so we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Get up-to-speed with this comment on our times—and for a good laugh.” ~Rusty Allen, author of Ella's War

★★★★★ “A wild philosophical ride that is as funny as it is timely and as mind expanding as it is mind bending.” ~Daria Sommers, award-winning director, writer and producer

★★★★★ “Fast-paced jabs at the excesses of 21st century cancel culture, militant ideology, and alternative facts, with plenty of plain ol’ fun thrown in for good measure.” ~Ian M. Rogers, author of MFA Thesis Novel

Free online: Perspectives is the Metropolitan Museum of Art online home for deep dives on art, interviews, personal essays, scientific discoveries, and more. Can't make it to NYC today? Visit the Perspectives website for interviews with Korean artist Lee Bul and writer Amor Towles. You can access these video and audio interviews any time, on demand! 

"Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places." ~Amor Towles

The nightmares are getting worse for crime writer Jack Rainne. He can’t shake the childhood memory of a haunting carousel ride in a desolate Missouri cornfield. The psych ward docs convinced him long ago the frightening images were all in his head. Twenty-five years later, he spots the carousel and its grizzled operator a thousand miles away from the Missouri cornfield, captured in a photo taken the night a young family vanishes from a local carnival. The problem? Jack is in the photo too! 4.9 stars, 19 ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

My ex's emerald eyes pierce my soul, but there's no recognition in them. I'm Chandler Bishop, a man who has everything—except the one thing money can't buy. After years of searching, I've found Tanya—my lost love—living a simple life in a small town. But she remembers nothing of our lavish lifestyle...or of me. My world tilts on its axis. The love of my life doesn't remember me or the fact that I'm her baby’s daddy. The spark between us is undeniable, fueling my resolve to win back what I've lost. 4.4 stars, 300+ ratings. From $3.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on One Year, One Night, a recently released work of historical fiction for young adults from S.L. Roman and Red Chair Press.

"A heart-wrenching and beautiful story that inspires curiosity and empathy." ~Kirkus Reviews

BONUS: Check out the history behind the story and the video trailer for the book.

One Year, One Night

It's never easy to go back, especially when the memories you've been running from suddenly resurface.

When Annie returns to her home village after a long absence, she rediscovers the diary she kept the year she turned 16, the year that changed her life. We follow Annie as she navigates a blossoming love story with a handsome soldier and her growing affection for an evacuee child. With tender and amusing moments, this story—set in a small English village during World War II—explores love, resilience, and loss with a fresh new voice.

Praise for One Year, One Night
2024 Literary Titan GOLD Book Award Winner

2024 International Book Awards: Finalist for Best in Children's Fiction

"A smartly plotted middle grade novel set during WWII with a strong, likeable protagonist." ~The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

"An authentic portrayal of juvenile sentiments." ~Tripti Kandari for Feathered Quill Reviewer's Choice award

"A powerful meditation on the ever-changing nature of human relationships over time." ~Jason Street for Reedsy

"A touching story set in a rural village during the beginning of WWII. It is laced with humor and includes many heart-warming scenes. Highly recommended." ~Edith Wairimu for Reader's Favorite

"The story centralizes a female perspective on war, focused on what girls and women had to do to survive during such times, making it accessible and relatable to a young female readership. A vivid chronicle of the lives of girls and women during World War II." ~Kirkus Reviews

"Despite the book's discussion of serious themes, it is an easy and entertaining read with a subtle touch of humor. The characterization is top-notch, and the storyline is amazing, straight to the point, and kept me engaged throughout without being overwhelming. I highly recommend One Year, One Night to young adults looking for a short and interesting fictional story." ~Thomas Anderson, for Literary Titan

    

We have a new giveaway to announce, but first...

Congratulations to Amber K. of Bay City, Michigan, on winning the LitNuts Fall Giveaway! The prize was s Stained Glass Book Table Lamp or a $75 Amazon.com Gift Card, and Amber chose the lamp. Congratulations to Amber, and a big "thank you" to all who entered. 

Also, the LitNuts Holiday Giveaway is now live! The prize is a Beginner Biography Set for young readers or a $75 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Enter now through December 15 for a chance to win.

"One of the greatest gifts adults can give—to their offspring and to their society—is to read to children.” ~Carl Sagan