Today's Featured Books

Free online: Hill Writers Reading Series

Events

Free online: Hill Writers Reading Series. Join for a cozy evening of storytelling and poetry with authors Willie Edward Taylor Carver and Amy Le Ann Richardson. Presented by Hill Writers: A Southern Writers' Collective. Saturday, March 1, 6-8 PM EST.

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” ~William Wordsworth


First Magyc by Nicole DragonBeck

Book of the Day

A girl drawn to a song, a Guardian seeking redemption, and a world on the brink of collapse. When Ria follows an eerie melody through a mysterious door, she steps into a strange new world and a destiny she never expected. Cedar Jal, a Guardian who escaped imprisonment using forbidden magyc, must protect their land from demons while grappling with a prophecy that names Ria as the key to everything. As the world teeters between salvation and destruction, their choices will determine whether they are its saviors or mere pawns in a greater game. 4.5 stars, 48 ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW


FREE - Lady Apprentice by Toni Cabell

Science Fiction and Fantasy

2021 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree! A scrap of prophecy, an old sword, and a girl who can’t do anything right... Linden is the worst mage apprentice in her school—maybe in the whole country. Yet all the prophecies predict she’s the girl with the answers. But if Linden can’t master a basic shape-shifting spell without starting a fire, how can she take on the darkest sorcerer in generations? 4.3 stars, 497 reviews. FREE - SHOP NOW


Lady Nightmare by Rachel M. Yoldi

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Keres longs for a normal life, but the dark magic in her veins makes that impossible. Living under the protection of her best friend, Hez, and his witch coven, Keres pretends to be one of them though she knows her power is something far more dangerous. When she's arrested for forged citizenship papers, the High Priestess offers her a deal: retrieve a list of ancient artifacts or lose the fragile life she's built. As she hunts for the artifacts, she uncovers a shocking revelation: someone else possesses magic just like hers. From $4.99 - SHOP NOW


Becoming a Freak Athlete by Michael and Kelsey Sylvara

General Nonfiction

Unleash your full potential with this powerful guide to breaking limits and achieving peak performance. Written by Michael and Kelsey Sylvara, experts on physical and mental conditioning, this book blends personal stories and elite athlete insights to help you build unmatched strength and agility. Complete with jump programs and workouts, it’s your ultimate playbook for transforming both body and mind. From $9.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


FREE - What Good Luck Bad Luck by Alex Horner

Children and Young Adult

"Am I good enough?" ask the three-leaf clovers of themselves. Go on this journey and find the answer to this question. A thoughtful book presented in a fun way to explore the meaningful concept of loving others and accepting them. "A great book for teaching young children about self esteem." ~Amazon Review. 4.2 stars, 84 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


Crime Dates by S.M. Wendel

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

Journalist Cleo Krol relocates to Washington, D.C. and is drawn into a real-life mystery when her friend and neighbor, Rae, suffers a psychotic break and takes her own life. Cleo's search for the truth leads her into the tangled web of Rae’s love life and a covert Chinese spy program. With Detective Scott Fisher as an unexpected ally, Cleo follows the trail of secrets, hoping to solve the mystery of Rae’s death while also revising her own career. Fans of slow-burn mysteries will be hooked on this gripping investigation. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Free online: An Evening of Poetry from the HVWC

Events

Free online: An Evening of Poetry from the Hudson Valley Writers Center, featuring new poetry from Tiana Clark, Shanta Lee, Ruben Quesada, Ruth Ellen Kocher, and Matthew Johnson. Wednesday, February 26, 7 PM ET. 

"Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history." ~Plato


Bound: A Collection by N.C. Thompson

Book of the Day

A powerful collection of interconnected stories exploring generational trauma, resilience, and the quiet strength that carries families forward. From famine-ravaged villages to modern struggles with identity, these poignant tales follow characters like Erin, battling self-doubt; Nora, an expectant mother clinging to hope; and Maria, fighting for her family’s survival against impossible odds. With lyrical prose and raw honesty, Bound reveals how trauma lingers across generations and how love and resilience endure. From $4.99 - SHOP NOW


Saratoga Roan by Bree M. Lewandowski

Romance

Wild hearts can't be tamed. She was the one to break his heart and five years later, she realizes he's still the only one. But is five years enough to forgive someone? Just because she wants him back doesn't mean he wants the woman who broke him like a wild stallion. 4.1 stars, 18 ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW


We Play Games by Sarah Dalton

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

When the rules turn deadly, winning is everything. Effie and Ben May have everything. Success. Beauty. Glamour. But beneath the charming smiles and expensive clothes, a twisted game is in progress. While they scheme and manipulate those around them, they fail to notice their carefully cultivated façade crumbling away. The perfect couple soon turn the game on each other, breaking all the rules. But when the stakes are life and death, losing isn’t an option. 4.3 stars, 190 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera

Memoir and Creative Nonfiction

"Raw and funny." ~Joel Stein, Time Magazine. Dina's grandparents were alcoholics, her father was an alcoholic, she is an alcoholic and pill addict, and all three of her daughters struggle with alcohol and drug addiction. Meanwhile, Dina is trying to make it as a stand-up comic so she can quit her job as a grocery store clerk. Through it all, she does her best to hold her family together and maintain her sense of humor. "Like a maelstrom." ~Foreword Reviews. 4.4 stars, 600+ ratings. From $2.99 SHOP NOW


New Releases from Vine Leaves Press: February 2025

Spotlight

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on three new releases from Vine Leaves Press, an indie press that publishes books that push boundaries, celebrate individuality, and amplify unique voices. February new releases include Literary, Sci-Fi, and Thriller titles:

Read on to learn more!


Woman in the Abbey

NEW RELEASE: February 4, 2025
Genre: Suspense
Paperback: $14.99
Ebook: $5.99



In a world where darkness reigns and escape is only an illusion, a young woman flees an abusive father and stumbles upon an abandoned abbey on the edge of a haunted forest. But what she finds there is far worse than anything she left behind. In this gothic tale of love, betrayal, and unholy retribution, nothing is what it seems.

Praise for Woman in the Abbey
★★★★★ "Packed with horror, romance, and beautifully overwrought emotion." ~Norah Vawter, author and editor

★★★★★ "A chilling, frenetic gothic ride from beginning to end." ~Steve Zettler, Two for the Money

"A magnificent blending of horror, fantasy, romance and suspense." ~Midwest Book Review


Bell Tower

NEW RELEASE: February 18, 2025
Genre: Technothriller, Science Fiction
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: $5.99  



The battle for the mind has begun—and the line between healing and manipulation is dangerously thin. In a Glow Dome-driven world, Sasha Sumzer’s Solosis meditation unlocks healing through soul connections. As followers uncover its secrets, they face a dangerous battle against tech giant Axiom, blurring the line between healing and control in a fight for liberation.

Praise for Bell Tower
★★★★★ "A rollicking sci-fi adventure with memorable characters...takes the timely theme of device addiction to its logical conclusion." ~Andrew Verlaine, author of Stigmaplay

"A smartly plotted thriller set within a well-imagined dystopian future. Highly recommended!" ~The Wishing Shelf

"Masterfully explores themes of technology’s grip on creativity, the power of empathy, and the search for purpose in a fractured world." ~Kathryn Dare, Portland Book Review


Stigmaplay

NEW RELEASE: February 25, 2025
Genre: Thriller
Paperback: $14.99
Ebook: From $5.99



In a future that's closer than we might like to think, a groundbreaking virtual reality promises to redefine our understanding of mental health—but at what cost? June is tasked with testing the new VR, but as lines between reality and simulation blur, dark secrets emerge, revealing empathy's dangerous cost.

Praise for Stigmaplay
★★★★★ "A wild, satirical and confrontational ride, where trauma and tech form a new and foreboding machine." ~Carson Winter, author of The Psychographist

★★★★★ "An immersive and ambitious piece of experimental fiction. Shocking and compelling in equal measure." ~Annalisa Crawford, author of One Tuesday, Early

★★★★★ "American Psycho crossed with the latter half of A Clockwork Orange, but pitched into the 21st Century." ~David Butler, author of Fugitive


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.


Free online: Writers' Room of Boston

Events

Free online: Writers' Room of Boston, Readings From the Room. Join for an evening hosted by Spencer Storey Johnson and featuring the work of Gisela Heffes and Eliza Macdonald. Tuesday, February 25, 7:00 PM EST.

"Pens and books are the weapons that defeat terrorism." ~Malala Yousafzai


Choices by Edward Hochsmann

Book of the Day

Young Boatswain's Mate Third Class Shelley Lee has always dreamed of leading a search and rescue mission, and when the call finally comes, she's prepared. But nothing could prepare her for the moment she must make an impossible choice: who lives and who dies. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 


FREE - The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Princess Lilla, a rebel-in-disguise, is fighting for the refugees' freedom. But the arrival of the mysterious and ruggedly handsome Callum brings news of a bigger battle—the Era War—that threatens all in the Seven Galaxies. Lilla must learn to control her magic and defeat the dark god before He finds her—the last Lumenian. Does this princess-turned-rebel have what it takes? jBook 1 in the series. 4.2 stars, 4300+ ratings. on Goodreads. FREE - SHOP NOW


FREE - Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon

Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

Miss Congeniality meets The Golden Girls in this hilarious mystery set in southern Louisiana. Assassin Fortune Redding, with a price on her head and a CIA leak, takes on her toughest mission yet in Sinful, LA. Equipped with her skills and two feisty ladies known as The Geritol Mafia, Fortune sets out to solve a murder. Book 1 of the Miss Fortune Mysteries. 4.5 stars, 41K+ ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW


The Art Of Going Green by JJ Millen

General Nonfiction

We’re taking more from the Earth than we’re giving back, and the effects are undeniable. Climate change feels overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean there’s no use in trying. The Art of Going Green cuts through the noise with easy, budget-friendly tips for everyday life—green cleaning, minimalist wardrobes, eco travel, and more. Save money, reduce stress, and embrace a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. Small steps make a big difference. Your planet, your future. 4.3 stars, 10 ratings. From $3.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


A Cup of Zen by Matheus C Felix

General Nonfiction

Wish your mind could finally be still? A Cup of Zen offers 21 short, soothing stories to help quiet overthinking, ease stress, and bring you back to the present moment. With gentle wisdom and practical reflections, this book is perfect for anyone seeking peace—no Zen experience required. Breathe, relax, and start your journey today. A #1 new release in Zen Spirituality. 4.9 stars, 19 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW


The Evolver by Jessica Grace Vargas

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Kennedy Neff is determined to find the father she's never met, armed only with the memory of a strange tattoo and her inherited otherworldly powers. Her quest leads her to an elite institute on a distant paradise planet, where she unravels secrets about her father and finds a deepening connection with an intriguing upperclassman. As an intergalactic war looms, Kennedy's search for the truth reveals a family secret that could change the fate of the universe. 4.7 stars, 28 ratings. From $0.99. SHOP NOW


Poor Matthew & Other Writings by Pablo Garcia-Matthews

Literary Fiction and Poetry

This volume is an anthology of older and foreign-language works translated for the first time into modern English, to be enjoyed by scholastic and enthusiasts alike. Filled with romance, battle, betrayal, and wry observation, these six translated texts encompass the historical, the mythic, and the polemic, and collectively capture the ambiance and thinking of earlier centuries. That, or they are the outright (and unlikely) inventions of the author. From $9.99 - SHOP NOW


The Last Horizon by Pieter Hendrik

Literary Fiction and Poetry

A story of love and justice set against the backdrop of South Africa’s untouched bushveld, this novel shows readers the multi-stranded lives of people affected by imperialism. Ultimately, the story hangs on the balance of conservation and human rights, and a thoughtful meditation of a decision made and its consequence. $3.99 - SHOP NOW


Transform your life: Books from Michael & Kelsey Sylvara

Spotlight

Today, LitNuts is shining a light on the works of Michael and Kelsey Sylvara. Known for their pioneering contributions to holistic athletic training, the Sylvaras have authored four books aimed at improving lives:

  • How to Be Healthy in a Toxic World
  • The Power of Alchemy: Turning Thoughts into Gold
  • Becoming a Freak Athlete
  • We Need More Leaders

Read on to learn more!


How to Be Healthy in a Toxic World

New Release: January 28, 2025
Genre: Alternative Medicine
From $3.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)



Discover the Secrets to Thriving in a Modern World Full of Hidden Toxins

For thousands of years, our ancestors safeguarded their health with natural remedies, harnessing the power of raw foods, detox practices, and timeless wisdom. But in today’s fast-paced, industrialized world, these ancient methods have been overlooked—replaced by fleeting fixes and symptom-driven solutions. How to Be Healthy in a Toxic World reclaims these forgotten practices, offering a practical guide to help you protect and revitalize your body from the inside out with proven methods and techniques.


The Power of Alchemy

Genre: Self-Help
From $2.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)



Turning Thoughts Into Gold

Discover how to transform your life with this groundbreaking guide to self-mastery and personal growth. Drawing inspiration from the enduring wisdom of great thinkers, the authors reveal how your thoughts shape your reality and empower you to turn aspirations into tangible achievements. Whether it’s turning challenges into opportunities or unlocking hidden potential, each lesson equips you with the tools to harness the power of your mind for success.


Becoming a Freak Athlete

Genre: Self-Help
4.8 stars, 6 ratings on Amazon
From $9.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)



Elite Training to Become a "Freak Athlete"

Unlock your potential with this empowering guide to pushing beyond perceived limits and achieving unparalleled performance. Through personal narratives and stories of star athletes, this book delivers a transformative journey. Dive into actionable insights and expert advice designed to help you become the best version of yourself. Whether you're an aspiring athlete, a seasoned competitor, or someone looking to elevate their fitness game, this book promises to redefine your limits and unleash your true potential. 

JUMP PROGRAMS AND WORKOUTS INCLUDED!


We Need More Leaders

Genre: Business Leadership, Personal Transformation, Leadership & Motivation
4.2 stars, 6 ratings on Amazon
From $3.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)



Unlock Your Leadership Potential

This comprehensive and insightful guide distills decades of leadership knowledge into one streamlined resource. Steeped in practical advice and strategies, this book is a unique asset for aspiring and established leaders alike. Starting with the essence of leadership, learn to either become a leader or live to follow, harness the power of a Positive Mental Attitude, learn the art of saying "No" so you can focus on what truly matters, master the skill of building impactful relationships, and much more. 

Whether you're a manager seeking to improve your leadership skills, an entrepreneur looking to inspire your team, or an individual embarking on a personal development journey, The Art of Leadership equips you with actionable insights and evidence-based strategies to help you excel.


About the Authors
Michael and Kelsey Sylvara are renowned for their pioneering contributions to holistic athletic training, merging physical prowess with psychological and spiritual growth. With a rich background in coaching multiple sports, including basketball, football, and strength and conditioning, Michael Sylvara has dedicated his career to nurturing athletes beyond their physical capabilities. Kelsey Sylvara, an expert in education and curriculum development, complements Michael’s coaching with a strong focus on mental training. Their combined expertise is evident in their unique approach, which integrates mental conditioning, nutrition, and wellness. Follow them online to learn more: 
 

      


Free online: 41st Annual Black Book Fair

Events

Free online: 41st Annual Black Book Fair. Presented by the Brooklyn Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, this year's theme is "Our Story, Our Bridge, Our Legacy." Saturday, February 22, 12:00 - 5:00 PM EST. 

“Stretch your mind and fly.” ~Whitney M. Young, Jr.


Backyard Politics by Dr. Craig Wiener

Book of the Day

A must-read analysis of today's political landscape. Utilizing an innovative way to conceptualize the two main viewpoints driving American politics, Dr. Craig Wiener, a clinical psychologist for more than forty years, discusses how people holding opposing perspectives may view, respond to, and interact with contentious political issues like poverty, racism, the patriarchy, and family life. He also proposes solutions to create space for multiple points of view and to manage the interpersonal conflicts that occur within our tense political atmosphere. From $7.99 - SHOP NOW