Today's Featured Books

Warriors of the Continuum Part One. "If well-written, character-led, fantasy adventure is your thing, this novel is for you." ~WishingShelf. Unfolding between the present day and an age 13,000 years ago, this tale follows Beth, Jessica, and a young explorer, Lanky, as they are thrust into the harsh land of the Iyes tribe and their enemy, the Ka. Told that they are warriors and saviors of the land, the unprepared protagonists struggle to understand the scale of the challenge fate has set before them. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Thrust into the heart of an intergalactic war, Jackson Mason leads his troops through harrowing battles and impossible odds. From the savage skirmishes on distant planets to the decisive confrontations of the New Terran War of Independence, Mason’s story is one of resilience, brotherhood, and relentless pursuit of justice. Book 1 of The Life and Times of Gunnery Sergeant Jackson Mason. 4.6 stars, 33 ratings. From $2.99 - SHOP NOW / 

When a routine delivery turns deadly, Kash and Calynn find themselves caught in a web of sabotage, corporate betrayal, and interstellar warfare. With a volatile energy source at risk and innocent lives on the line, they must outwit their enemies before the system erupts in chaos. Fast-paced, sharp-witted, and explosive, this novel delivers high-stakes action and heart-pounding suspense in a galaxy where loyalty is rare and survival is never guaranteed. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

How does a silent mermaid win a war of song? How does she break the siren song of the one holding her beloved captive? Find out in this clean fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid—a tale of unrequited love, magical mysteries, and thrilling pirate battles—set against the backdrop of an immersive adventure across both land and sea. 4.6 stars, 300+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

After surviving an emotionally abusive marriage, Bella rediscovers her voice, her body—and the one man who always waited. A slow-burn, sensual second-chance romance. Free for a limited time. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Free online: Smithsonian Folklife Festival, July 2-7. This free festival takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., July 2-7. If you happen to be in the area, you can attend in person. If you are not in the area, you can catch some fun events online via YouTube: Prom in the Park, Saturday, July 5, 2025, 5:30 – 8 PM EDT, and Next-Gen Music Ensembles, Sunday, July 6, 2025, 5:30 – 7:30 PM EDT. 

"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better." ~Albert Camus

Alone on a two-thousand-hectare sheep and cattle property in Queensland, Ginny Shepherd questions her husband’s sudden death, convinced it was no accident. It seems someone else wants the property and will stop at nothing to get it. A stranger arrives, sparking a smoldering attraction between him and Ginny. But is the stranger who he says he is? Or could it be that someone has a grudge to settle? Book 1 in the series. 4.4 stars, 500+ ratings. From $5.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Kat Beckman is a survivor. A harrowing IED attack in Afghanistan left her with debilitating PTSD, but it’s not something she talks about. Then one day, a mysterious man offers Kat a cure for the cancer that is killing Kat's mother-in-law, leading Kat down a path of blackmail, murder, and treason as she chooses between her love for her family and her loyalty to her country. 4.3 stars, 1100+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

An award-winning memoir (London Book Festival, New England Book Festival) of perseverance, faith, and the profound power of the human will. At eighteen, he received a devastating diagnosis: cancer. Eight years later, after defying the odds of his own cancer, his four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Follow this journey of extraordinary resilience as he returns to the very hospital that once held his fate, this time as one of the UK's longest cancer survivors and as a senior cancer nurse specialist, dedicating his life to those walking the same path. From $14.95 - SHOP NOW / 

Free online: Larksong First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Cliff Taylor, author of The Shining Hands of My Ponca Ancestors. Friday, July 4, 12 pm CDT. 

“It does not require many words to speak the truth.” ~Chief Joseph

Ever wish you could ask a neuroscientist anything? Award-winning neuroscientist Mike Tranter answers your burning questions, combining humor, fascinating brain dissections, mini-games, and QR-linked videos to make neuroscience relatable and unforgettable. Explore your brain like never before! Recognized in the National Indie Excellence Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards, and Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

"A sweet, sincere read perfect for fans of emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of romance and nostalgia." ~Amazon Review. It's five days to Sara Harmon's dream wedding for her son and his bride at their Cape Cod B&B Blue Hydrangeas! But a demanding guest, mishaps, and the persnickety garden club ladies threaten to derail her perfectly executed plans. Can Sara overcome these obstacles to pull off the perfect wedding? From $1.49 - SHOP NOW / 

Emma Finch is on a well-deserved vacation with her boyfriend, Harry. Everything is smooth sailing until Emma and Harry board a tender to the picturesque island of Lapis Rock. While waiting to arrive in paradise, one of the seven passengers on the boat is murdered, and the captain is forced to stop at an abandoned island. Stuck until help can arrive, Emma must figure out what happened to the unfortunate passenger, but nothing seems to be going right. At every turn, secrets are revealed, and no one can be trusted. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

New release. 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: When Ingrid Sloane takes a break from her career in Australia to visit her grandmother's birthplace in the Isle of Skye, she discovers a bundle of pale blue aerogrammes, and embarks on a quest to reunite the authors of the letters. 1990: Lucy Pellegreen found a man she adored on the Isle of Skye, but when a family emergency calls her back to the Australian Outback, the precious letters from Scotland become the only reminder of the love waiting there. From $5.99 - SHOP NOW / 

This amusing, thoughtful, and moving work of historical fiction offers a compelling account of the life of a woman who truly lived all for love. In this opening volume to the series, we are introduced to Jane at seventeen. Spoiled and charming, she seems destined for the privileged life of a well-bred Englishwoman. Her early marriage to Lord Ellenborough begins as a love match until one of the greatest scandals of the Regency era destroys her future, or so it would seem. Discover a life well-lived. 4.3 stars, 70 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

When a friend’s sentimental locket vanishes, advice columnist Olivia Penn offers to help track it down. What begins as a simple favor quickly turns into a twisty investigation involving quirky neighbors, puzzling clues, and a pint-sized Yorkie who just might hold the key to the case. This charming, cozy mystery short-story prequel to The Olivia Penn Mystery Series is filled with heart, humor, and a clever amateur sleuth you’ll love to root for. “A mighty enjoyable cozy mystery, a perfect way to spend an afternoon reading.” ~Amazon Review. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

New release: The hours following high school graduation represent the final dusk before dawn when adolescence officially ends, and adulthood begins. You are cordially invited to spend the next twelve hours with the class of 1980, for a wild, magical and wholly unchecked night of thrills, spills and pathos, the equal of which they will never again experience. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

A Model for Inspiring Leadership. Sitting at the intersection of inspiration and common sense, this book reveals how a simple human gesture of connection became the cornerstone to a powerful new vision of leadership. With case studies and illuminating stories, this engaging read is a call-to-action to think about leadership in bigger and more globally impactful ways. A #1 new release in Organizational Learning. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

New Release: Crashing my ex’s wedding was for closure. Until his plastic bride called me fat in front of everyone. That's when the Mafia king put her in her place. Dante Bellacino. My ex’s father. "Apologize," he growls to her. Then he turns to me like I’m the last sin he’ll ever commit. "You’re staying." I should run, but when fate traps us in an elevator, I get my first taste of sweet submission. Now I’m working for him. Trapped in his world. His rules. My ruin. An Age Gap, Mafia Romance. 4.5 stars, 200+ ratings. $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the high-quality historical novels published by History Through Fiction—and on the HTF community of readers, writers, and history lovers. Read on to learn more!

A Community of Historical Fiction Lovers

• Readers can learn about recent releases like the three titles featured below (including two free e-books!), join the Historical Readers Club, follow the HTF blog (including a post today about forthcoming releases), subscribe to the HTF Podcast, read short stories and novel excerpts, and more.
• Writers will find a short story contest, advertising opportunities, workshops (including a free Write. Revise. Repeat. session on July 3), and learn about the 2026 Historical Fiction Conference for writers and history enthusiasts.

South of Sepharad by Eric Z. Weintraub

Fleeing death by the Spanish Inquisition, a Jewish doctor makes an impossible choice between home and faith, then struggles to lead his family on a journey for a new life.  

GRANADA, SPAIN, 1492. Vidal ha-Rofeh is a Jewish physician devoted to his faith, his family, and his patients. When Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand order all Jews to convert to Catholicism or depart Spain, Vidal and his family leave their their oldest daughter with her Catholic husband and join a caravan of 200 Jews to start their lives anew across the sea in Fez.

On the caravan, Vidal struggles to balance his physician duties and strained family relationships. At the same time, his daughter finds herself exposed to the Spanish Inquisition. Presenting readers with a painful but important part of Jewish history, South of Sepharad is a heroic, heart-breaking story of a father who holds tightly to his faith, his family, and his integrity.

Praise for South of Sepharad
"An epic, historical novel." ~John W. Jarrett, author of The Dark Prairie

"Insightful, compelling, and poignant." ~Teofilo F. Ruiz, author of Spain's Centuries of Crisis: 1300 - 1474

An End of Troubles: An Anthology

Discover stories where diverse characters confront pivotal historical moments, challenging their resilience and sparking transformation.

Step into a world where history and fiction intertwine in a collection that features ten stories that showcase the power of storytelling to illuminate the past. Each story was a winner in the History Through Fiction short story contest, including the story of a young wife who finds her artistic voice during the Great Depression via a union's musical; a former British soldier who seeks redemption by returning a cursed diamond to India; a soldier in Thebes who must choose between avenging his father and preserving his home as Spartans march to reclaim the city; a servant woman at a Scottish castle who reflects on her encounter with Mary Queen of Scots; and more 

Praise for An End of Troubles
★★★★★ "A great collection of short stories about various historical events." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Well-written and evocative of their respective periods." ~Goodreads Review

The Porcelain Menagerie by Jillian Forsberg

In a world where ambition is as fragile as porcelain, two lives are shaped by a king's dangerous obsessions.

In 18th-century Dresden, the dangerous whims of King Augustus the Strong shape the court and the lives of those held captive, both people and animals.

Johann Kändler, a talented young artist, is drawn into the world of King Augustus, whose relentless desire for a lifelike porcelain menagerie could make or break Johann's future. As Johann works to meet the king's impossible demands, he finds unexpected allies in former royal mistress Maria and her daughter Katharina. 

Decades earlier, another story unfolds. Fatima, a Turkish handmaiden, is chosen to replace Augustus's discarded mistress. As she tries to create a menagerie of exotic animals and navigate the intrigues of an unpredictable court, Fatima must learn to survive in a world that values beauty and power above all. 

Two timelines, bound by a king's obsessions...art and survival intertwine in a world where ambition can be as fragile as porcelain.

Praise for The Porcelain Menagerie
"Plumbs the depths of possession, resistance and survival." ~Jess Armstrong, author of The Curse of Penryth Hall

"Historical fiction at its most evocative." ~Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Blue

About the Publisher

          

Free online: Speaking Crow. Brought to you by the Winnipeg (Canada) Public Library and Plume Winnipeg (formerly known as the Winnipeg International Writers Festival), Speaking Crow is Winnipeg's longest-running poetry open mic. Each poet will have 3 minutes to share new poetry. Tuesday, July 1, 7-8 PM CDT. 

“Poetry is like a bird, it ignores all frontiers.” ~Yevgeny Yevtushenko

They came from another galaxy. Their mission? To kill us all. Marco's mission? To stop them. A Prayer for Earthrise box set: Three free science fiction novels. From the USA Today bestselling author of Starship Freedom. When aliens invade, veteran Marco Emery must don the uniform again. He's fought wars before. But nothing like this. He must stop the aliens. Or Earth will fall. 4.5 stars, 111 Ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

When a woman disappears while jogging in a small Midwest town, her husband becomes the primary suspect. As the story gains nationwide media attention, investigative reporters, true crime podcasters, and even a psychic detective flock to the small community. Will a small-town detective be able to crack the case while the entire world watches? 4.8 stars, 31 ratings. From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

The dream of meeting an alien intelligence has finally come true. But the dream darkens when the Leyra'an prove to be like us to a degree that can’t be explained by chance alone. The search for an answer to this mystery will reveal unexpected dangers, exposing both species to the threat of extinction. For better or worse, the search has begun, and an age of peaceful exploration has ended. 4.3 stars, 366 ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

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 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... After the Japanese torpedo his ship, a sailor salvages materials to build an ice cream maker and boost the crew's morale... and more. From $3.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW /