Today's Featured Books

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on contemporary women's fiction/romance from M. Jacqueline Murray—specifically, on the first two books of the Maddie & Nate Series:

• Out of Time: 4.6 stars, 35 ratings on Goodreads
• Next Time: 5.0 stars, 8 ratings on Amazon

Maddie & Nate is a dual point-of-view series that follows two soulmates through three variations of their lives, each time with a different meeting point: late in life (Out of Time), mid-life (Next Time), and early (Our Time). Their story explores the complexities of romance and intimacy at every stage. 

★★★★★ "A wonderful love story...magical and endearing." ~Goodreads Review of Out of Time

Out of Time

Life has a time limit. Love doesn’t.

For most of her 78 years, Maddie Cole has done things the "wrong" way. But throwing out the societal rule book meant sacrificing romantic success for career highs—a move she’s never regretted...much. Now retired, she relishes the freedom to travel with her daughter, Anne. Their latest trip is a long weekend in picturesque Bar Harbor in Maine. 

Octogenarian Nate Jacobs has always taken pride in doing things the "right" way. He built a successful legal career, and now retired and widowed, he runs a tight ship at the Hope Point Lighthouse B&B. Perhaps that’s why Maddie, with her disregard for convention, catches his eye.

When Anne is unexpectedly called away on business, Maddie finds herself compelled to stay on at Hope Point, alone. Over breakfast conversations and long walks, Nate and Maddie’s friendship deepens, even as old memories return to haunt them. Except this time, the past starts to clear a path for the future...

★★★★★ "A beautiful story of two people who crossed paths over a lifetime and finally connected when it was right." ~Goodreads Review

Next Time

Two strangers. One bar. Bad timing?

The night Maddie Cole and Nate Jacobs find themselves in the same place, at the same moment, with an hour to kill...a spark ignites. Engineer Maddie’s determination to conquer a male-dominated industry captivates Nate’s imagination, even as his steadfast loyalty starts a glow in Maddie’s heart.

But with marriages and children in tow, anything more than friendship would mean social and emotional carnage.

As Maddie and Nate’s paths continue to cross professionally, their affections blossom into a force that can’t be ignored. And one night, when nature conspires to force them together, their resolve unravels completely. Will imploding their personal lives end in heartache, or a soulmate?

This is the second iteration of Maddie and Nate’s love story, set in the 1970s where the constraints of the era and their responsibilities change this love’s trajectory forever.

★★★★★ "A romance that appeals to both sexes and accurately depicts love and the complexities it brings." ~Amazon Review

        

Free online: Get the Word Out Poetry Reading. Hosted by Poets & Writers, this is a celebratory reading by the current poetry cohort of Get the Word Out, a publicity incubator for early-career authors. Thursday, June 26, 7 PM CDT.

"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears." ~Rumi

New release in Teen/YA Horror. What happens when an infamous painter dies, leaving behind his ancient, unearthly muse to lurk in his house? The new family moving in is about to find out. From $6.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Matilda Koontz treasures her life as a wife and mother on a Missouri farm, but her husband dreams of free land in the Pacific Northwest. When he proposes selling their farm to trek two thousand miles along the Oregon Trail, Matilda hesitates but agrees. In the spring of 1847, the family begins their grueling journey west, facing disease, accidents, starvation, and countless dangers. When tragedy strikes, Matilda must summon the strength to protect her family and survive in this journey inspired by a true story. 4.8 stars, 92 ratings. From $9.99 - SHOP NOW / 

In a run-down neighborhood in an unnamed city, people live and die in “the Obscure.” As shabby as the Obscure is, as long as its walls keep out the wind and the rain, it remains a shelter, a hideaway, and a home for many bewildered souls. The Obscure is life. It is death. In the blink of an eye, it may appear supernatural. This collection of seventeen short stories all take place in or around the “the Obscure,” a place we all visit metaphorically or physically, at least once in our time on Earth. 4.5 stars, 50+ ratings on Goodreads. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Love a good travel tale? Cruise from San Francisco through the world's most famous canal in the comfort of your reading chair. Top Amazon reviewer, William Curnutt, says the book "is inviting, funny, contagious, and just a flat out joy to read." 4.0 stars, 300+ ratings. From $3.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Pain isn't a problem to numb. It's a message to decode. In this new groundbreaking book, international trauma expert and bestselling author Dr. Evette Rose guides you through the emotional, neurological, and nutritional roots of pain. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience, somatic psychology, and more than 16 years of global casework, she reveals how unresolved emotions, trauma, and stress patterns show up as discomfort, chronic illness, and persistent pain in this practical guide to transformation. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of author Heather Reyburn, including the newly released Letters in Blue, book one of the new Outback Skye Series. 

Heather grew up on her family's New Zealand sheep and cattle farm, and rural life provides the inspiration for her novels...stories filled with drama, mystery, and love from picturesque settings in New Zealand and Australia. 

Bonus: Get a free e-book edition of Grace, a prequel to Heather Reyburn's Tullagulla Series of rural/small town fiction. 

Letters in Blue

From the sunburnt plains of Outback Australia to the misty shores of the Isle of Skye, the fates of two women are intertwined by heartbreak, mystery, and the relentless pull of destiny.

2024: Ingrid Sloane is burnt-out. When the opportunity for a break from her nursing career in Australia finally arrives, she is drawn to visit the Isle of Skye, her grandmother’s birthplace. But a chance meeting with Fergus, a local Scot, and his nephew, Callum, leads to an unexpected discovery—a bundle of pale blue aerogrammes (letters sent via airmail). The suggestion of a long-lost love touches Ingrid, and with Callum’s help, she embarks on a quest to reunite the authors of the intriguing letters.

1990: Lucy Pellegreen found the perfect life on the Isle of Skye—a man she adored and a future brimming with possibilities. But when a family emergency sends her home to the Australian Outback, the precious letters from Scotland become the only reminder of the love waiting there. Before she can return, one tragic twist changes everything, leaving her lost to the past in more ways than one.

Will Ingrid’s search for answers lead to her own happiness? Or is history doomed to repeat itself?

      

Today's Featured Books focus on six indie titles, including one new release and three freebies (see all of today's Featured Books at LitNuts.com), PLUS a free online event...

Free Online Literary Event: Feminist Book Club. Hosted by the Napa Bookmine bookshop of Napa, California, the club meets monthly to discuss literature, memoir, graphic novels, essay collections, and works of nonfiction that explore feminist issues. This month: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo. Wednesday, June 25, 6:30 - 7:30 PDT. 

“The world is built on who carries what and for who.” ~Nghi Vo, Into the Riverlands

Immerse yourself in a most enticing mix of teeth-clenching action, tear-jerking tender moments, and well-placed comedic relief in a sword and sorcery tale for the ages. Natalia and Athgar have magical gifts—and equally powerful enemies. As they embark on a voyage to unearth a dark conspiracy, adventure and danger await. Start this action-packed eight-book Sword & Sorcery series today! 4.4 stars, 450+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Historical Fiction. When former Navy Seabee Colleen Holmes inherits an old house in Centralia, Washington, she sees it as a chance to escape her own ghosts and start anew. But when she discovers a faded diary and a bundle of love letters, she unveils the tragic choices that shattered lives and fractured a town, and learns that the wounds of yesterday still shape today. Inspired by true events. "Forges new paths toward peace and understanding." ~Midwest Book Review. 4.7 stars, 16 ratings. From $2.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Robert Johnston, a New York lawyer at the OSS, and Sarah Leach, a Royal Navy lieutenant with MI6 (code name “Delilah”) meet at an intelligence briefing. Afterwards, they quickly fall in love—and into danger as they track a German double agent, monitoring RAF Bomber Command missions, and rendezvousing with French Resistance fighters. 4.1 stars, 45 ratings on Goodreads. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

New Release: A poetic journal through survival, burnout, rage, and reclamation. This book isn’t self-help—it’s soul excavation. Each chapter blends raw truth, poetic defiance, and haunting questions. For anyone quietly unraveling, it offers no fixes—just fierce honesty, soft rebellion, and the reminder: flickers are still light. From $6.80 - SHOP NOW / 

Eli Asher needs a job. A good job with benefits so he can take care of his family. He thinks he has one but loses it to a member of a secret society that he wants no part of. Until he has no choice but to take a leap of faith that takes him away from his family and on a cross -country adventure doing simple jobs for some incredible people. Along the way, he learns what really matters, adding depth and breadth to his understanding of himself and the world. 4.1 stars, 45 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

500+ Anki Notes with Grammar, Vocabulary, Common Phrases, and Audio Pronunciation. Transform your Arabic skills with this handbook and 500+ easy-to-use flashcards. Drawing on the benefits of the spaced repetition learning system, you’ll find an intuitive path to effortlessly improving your Arabic comprehension and grammar skills. 5.0 stars, 10 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Madison Love, an award-winning, Amazon best-selling, clean, and contemporary romance writer who loves to intertwine humor and suspense while adding a dash of sweetness. Featured today are three box sets:

• Smoochin' The Best Friend Box Set
• Just4You Matchmaker Series
• The Shining Knight Protectors Box Set

"Love has been blessed with an extraordinary gift for weaving compelling narratives that resonate with her audience." ~Louise Jane, CEO, The Christlit Book Awards

Smoochin' The Best Friend Box Set: Four Christian Small Town Romances

Genres: Women's Christian Fiction
Price: $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

Four heartfelt romance novels filled with faith, family, friendship, and just the right amount of humor.

Welcome to Baggersville, Texas—a town where community matters, cornhole is taken seriously, and love sometimes shows up when you least expect it. Included in this box set: 

• Smoochin’ the Wrong Twin (4.7 stars, 151 ratings): Pop star Joelle Summers comes home to lay low. But her plans to fake-date her childhood crush gets complicated when spending time with his twin brother brings back more than memories. 
• Smoochin’ the Surly CEO (4.8 stars, 134 ratings): Beloved art teacher Gabby has kept friends at a distance to protect her secret. Surly CEO Tim failed once when he pursued her, but he’s determined to get it right the second time.
• Smoochin’ the Right Twin (4.8 stars, 100 ratings): Influencer Merdy returns to Baggersville for a reset in her career. But Hunter, her longtime friend, has been waiting for a chance at romance. 
• Smoochin’ the Reticent Ranger (4.8 stars, 134 ratings): Wounded warrior Ace returns to piece together his life. Elise, a warrior in her own right, decides their happily-ever-after is worth fighting for.

★★★★★ "A sweet, swoon-worthy, clean romance with a lovely life lesson woven throughout." ~Goodreads Review of Smoochin' the Wrong Twin

Just4You Matchmaker Series: Sweet and Clean Romantic Suspense

Genres: Clean & Wholesome Romance
Price: $4.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

Three fun, light-hearted, swoon-worthy romantic suspense stories that have a touch of sweetness and a dash of humor.

• Matchmaking The Undercover Agent (4.8 stars, 97 ratings): Amelia is a matchmaker who’s never been matched. Ethan is a famous rockstar and her brother’s best friend. He’s sexy. He’s sweet. And he’s completely off-limits.
• Matchmaking The Grumpy Doctor (4.6 stars, 114 ratings): A nurse should never fall in love with a patient, but no one said anything about their grumpy, silver fox, single dad.
• Matchmaking The Firefighter (4.6 stars, 109 ratings): What happens when the matchmaker pairs an arson investigator with a sexy firefighter who has a hero complex? You get a case of mistaken identity, a fake fiancé, and a world of trouble.

★★★★★ "Great series! All 5-star books!" ~Amazon Review

The Shining Knight Protectors Box Set: Six Sweet, Christian Romantic Suspense Stories

Genres: Women's Christian Fiction
Price: $9.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)

Six intertwined Christian romantic suspense stories that are action-packed and filled with love, humor, and intrigue.

• Valiant (4.7 stars, 159 ratings): My job is to save lives, but when I start fearing for my own, my family hires a protection specialist who happens to be my secret crush. 
• Honor Bound (4.8 stars, 112 ratings): When I left the love of my life under the cover of darkness, I never imagined I'd return the same way.
• Worthy (4.7 stars, 133 ratings): Undercover as a nanny, I protect a billionaire hockey player and his spirited daughter while hiding my true identity.
• Resolute (4.7 stars, 120 ratings): As a foster mom to six rambunctious kids, my peaceful life turns chaotic when a new arrival—a drug lord's son—draws danger. 
• Daring (4.8 stars, 128 ratings): Discovering I have a brother is one thing; protecting his best friend, Detective Elijah Kincaid, is another.
• Fearless (4.8 stars, 120 ratings): When my parents vanish during a couples' retreat, I’ll do anything to find them—even marrying my father’s best friend.

Winner: 2025 Christlit Book Award

About the Author

Madison Love has spent most of her life traveling abroad, discovering new places, and meeting wonderful people. It only took twenty years in the military before settling in a rural town outside of Buffalo, New York, where she now lives on a forty-acre farm with her husband, son, and two dogs. Having been afforded the time and opportunity to bring her ideas and stories to life, she seeks to give her readers the "happy-ever-after" they seek, but with a dash of intrigue. Learn more at MadisonLoveRomance.com where you can also sign up for her ARC Team and her e-mail list—scroll to the bottom of any page to sign up! Be sure to also follow Madison online:
 

      

Free online: "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg. Join staff of the New York Public Library on the third Saturday of each month for an online-only discussion of a wide range of poetry from classics to contemporary. This month: "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg. Saturday, June 21, 10 AM EDT. 

"In my dreams you walk dripping from a sea-journey on the highway across America." ~Allen Ginsberg, "Howl"

The flock of swearing crows is normal. The earthquakes and murder spree are not. To graduate, will she have to fend off a devilish destiny? St. Lucifer’s School for Girls is a humorous horror story. If you like dark themes, clever twists, and gruesome laughter, then you’ll love A.M. Caplan’s gory imaginings. 4.1 stars, 172 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

A collection of six interwoven pieces that tell the life of Maggie. From her Depression-era youth, to the glamorous 1940s of Hollywood and coastal California, to her return to the rural Midwest. Bittersweet and poignant, celebratory and inspiring. 4.3 stars, 48 ratings on Goodreads. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Liliann has loved First Rider since he saved her father's life. But he married his childhood sweetheart, and Lilann faded into the background. When First Rider's wife is kidnapped and dies, First Rider is grief-stricken until he is called upon to heal Liliann. Could this be their second chance at love? But then a whisper arises: his first wife might still be alive. Join First Rider and Liliann as they journey into the Rocky Mountains to discover a truth that might bring joy or destroy them both. 4.3 stars, 25 ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

After a crushing breakup and a string of unfulfilling bookstore retail jobs, Veronica relocates to a small town on the Oregon coast. Through a series of prophetic dreams, she uncovers her Beloved. And he’s a literal rock star. But he’s facing his own struggles while trying to pursue his soul desire of healing others with his music. A psychic romance that can also serve as a guidebook for anyone seeking their Beloved or Soulmate. "A refreshingly magical romance." ~Amazon Review. 4.9 stars, 30 ratings. From $9.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Cassey Blake knew she had to leave home after high school graduation. She couldn't spend another night in the same house with her abusive stepfather. With no money, Cassey learns that life on the streets is hard for a teenage girl. Long-haul trucker Jason McBride offers her hope, but homelessness has taught Cassey to trust no one. "A moving story about love." ~Amazon review. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Pioneers crossing the Oregon Trail...American Legionnaires returning from the Great War...pilots soaring across skies while dodging anti-aircraft flak...Rosie the Riveters sacrificing life as homemakers and mothers to weld ships and pound rivets into aircraft wings...these are the stories author Julie McDonald Zander loves to share. Read on to learn more about her critically acclaimed historical fiction and biographies.

Bonus: Sign up for Julie's newsletter and get a FREE copy of Retracing the Oregon Trail in Pictures, a color pictorial of the route traveled by thousands of early pioneers in the 19th century.

Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence

A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunted by its past.

When former Navy Seabee Colleen Holmes inherits an old house in Centralia, Washington, she sees it as a chance to escape her own ghosts and start anew. But when she discovers a faded diary and a bundle of love letters, she unveils the tragic choices that shattered lives and fractured a town, and learns that the wounds of yesterday still shape today.

Inspired by true events, Shattered Peace is a gripping time-slip novel of love, loss, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network and The Girl You Left Behind, this haunting tale of resilience, redemption, and the pursuit of truth will linger long after the final page.

Praise for Shattered Peace
"A heartbreaking story of families torn apart." ~Melanie Dobson, author of Catching the Wind

"Forges new paths toward peace and understanding in ways readers won’t see coming." ~Midwest Book Review

"An incredible dual-time story." ~Leslie Gould, A Brighter Dawn

The Reluctant Pioneer

A pioneer woman’s journey, inspired by a true story.

Matilda Koontz cherishes her life as a wife and mother on a Missouri farm. But her hardworking husband wants to claim free farmland in the Pacific Northwest, so in the spring of 1847, Matilda and Nicholas Koontz and their sons embark on a grueling journey westward on the Oregon Trail.

Disease, accidents, starvation, and a multitude of hazards threaten Matilda's family on their journey, causing her to wonder if they will reach the trail’s end and if the babe growing inside her will survive. But when tragedy strikes, the question changes: How can she possibly continue?

Praise for The Reluctant Pioneer
"A heart-rending, beautiful tale inspiring us to relate to the courage, heartbreak, and joys of an amazing woman.” ~Barbara Tifft Blakey, Bertie’s War

"Captures the unwavering hope of one woman who began the walk to Oregon Territory in 1847." ~Melanie Dobson, Where the Trail Ends

"A must-read for fans of historical fiction and of strong women.” ~Dawn Shipman, author of the Lost Stones of Argonia Series

Winning a War

Stories of those who served, suffered, and sacrificed during WWII.

Ten Southwest Washington residents describe their participation in the fight to protect our freedoms...

A Dutch woman recalls her brothers' activities in the Dutch resistance, the Jews who took refuge on their family farm, and the price paid by her family when the Nazis arrived... Three survivors of the attack at Pearl Harbor share their views of the battle from the USS California, the USS Nevada, and Ford Island... After the Japanese torpedoe the USS Selfridge, a sailor salvages materials to build an ice cream maker and boost the crew's morale... A Northwest native in the Sixth Army Rangers raises the flag on Dingagat Island in the Philippines, heralding General Douglas MacArthur's return... and more.

Praise for Winning a War
★★★★★ "An amazing account of veterans and heroes who fought to keep us free during World War II.” ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Amazing true stories of World War II." ~Goodreads Review

About the Author

          

Free online: The Writers' Room After Hours. Join The Writer's Room of Boston for an interview with Mable Chan, journalist, writer, producer, and founder of One in a Billion Productions, a film-focused multi-media nonprofit. Her current writing projects include a memoir and a TV pilot. Wednesday, June 18, 7:30 - 8:30 EDT.

"Productivity is a trap. There will always be too much to do." ~Mable Chan

Award-winning fiction that pushes boundaries. Winner of The BookFest Psychological Thriller Award and PenCraft Intrigue Award. A gripping, dark southern saga. In a 90s-era Kentucky fueled by sex, drugs, and violence, the Cunninghams will stop at nothing to find The Temple, a place of unimaginable wealth and glory. 5.0 stars, 37 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW /