Today's Featured Books

In this romantic fantasy, the girls in Mama Si’s Paradise live like royalty. Real-life princesses. "Dolls" she calls them. She promises them freedom, power, and magic—all lies in an effort to find a bride for one of the five Evernight brothers who rule the Seven Isles, which is all that is left of the world of magic on Earth. They’re powerful vampires, hungry for new blood, desperate for an heir, each more breathtakingly beautiful than the last—and all of them trying to make Mama Si's "doll" theirs. 4.6 stars, 20 ratings on Goodreads. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Bourbon Books, a fun romantic comedy series from author Allison Martine. To make the series even more appealing, you can purchase each title in e-book format for only 99 cents (free via Kindle Unlimited)! Read on to learn more about the series and the author.

★★★★★ "Realistic romance with sexy moments and delicious humor." ~Amazon Review of dibs, Book 1 of The Bourbon Books

dibs

Not tonight, Olivia.

Olivia’s ex-husband shut her down so many times before the cheating bastard left her that Olivia lost count. She didn’t realize she’d also lost the ability to banter, interpret body language, or accept that a man could find her desirable. None of that should matter when she leaves for a two-week training for her new job with the Ranchers, an outdoorsy nonprofit, but when her co-worker adds ‘halter top’ and ‘bikini’ to the official pack list, she has no idea what to expect on this trip.

It certainly wasn’t a perky blonde roommate who thinks their training is like spring break, but with a paycheck. It wasn’t the after-hours hot tub. It absolutely wasn’t the man with a rumble for a laugh who shows up on her flight and introduces himself as the colleague she didn’t know would be her companion for the next two weeks.

When blondie calls dibs on that same colleague, Olivia just wants to stay out of her way, but her colleague has ideas of his own. Ideas which involve Olivia, the hot tub, and shared sips of bourbon.

Praise for dibs

• Best RomCom, N.N. Light Book Award
• Finalist - Romance, Kindle Book Awards
• "A romance novel that will make you smile and swoon." ~Reedsy.
• ★★★★★ "Cute contemporary romance!" ~Goodreads Review
• ★★★★★ "A Hint of spice, a dollop of barbeque sauce, and a glass of good bourbon." ~Amazon Review

Since September

Most brides dream of planning every last detail of their wedding. Not Olivia Markham. She’d been down the aisle once already and regretted that decision, along with every other judgment call connected with her unfaithful ex. But she also never planned on falling for Adam Burkhardt, who proposed sooner than anyone could have guessed.

When Adam suggests letting their mothers suss out the particulars for their big day, Olivia agrees, hoping it will assuage their mothers’ trepidation towards their upcoming union. She even relents to having a bachelorette weekend, for the sake of her friends. Olivia shall endure more nuptial nonsense and play bride once again.

They should have eloped.

Praise for Since September

• ★★★★★ "A fun-filled, delightful, and swoon-worthy sequel!" ~Amazon Review
• ★★★★★ "An amusing and easy read romance tale." ~Bedside Book Review

Move On, Melinda

There are worse things than being a bridesmaid at your best friend’s wedding. Hitting on the groom? Ancient history. Hitting on the best man? Regrettable but forgettable. Getting pawned off on some random guy who came as his mom’s date? Could be worse. But more happened the night of the Burkhardt wedding than Melinda is ready to admit.

Now, Melinda is determined to move forward and leave all that behind. She just has to survive the Ranchers’ All Staff Retreat, carpooling with her meddling boss, the fresh-from-their honeymoon newlyweds, and a certain unexpected passenger she’d hoped to avoid for the weekend—and the memories he stirs up.

Praise for Move On, Melinda

• ★★★★★ "A charming, well-written modern romance." ~Goodreads Review
• ★★★★★ "The Bourbon Books keep getting better and better...and sexier and sexier!" ~Amazon Review

Climb the Salmon Ladder

Jamie Wallace was settled, not settling. Good job, great friends, and a glass of wine was all she needed for her little slice of heaven. Sure, everyone around her was pairing off like they’d just announced it was time to board Noah’s Ark, but Jamie never minded a little rain. But when a curveball out of left field blindsides her, knocking her long game out the window, she’ll have to scramble—and pack her bags.

Bolstered by unlikely allies, she’s got to prove herself, and keep her eye on the prize. That same eye needs to stop wandering to check out the competition. She’s come to fight for the life she’s earned, not share after-hours Malbec in her hotel room.

She’ll summon everything she has—from her no-nonsense attitude to her years of true leadership—to manifest her destiny. No matter what. Even if she’s no longer sure what that destiny should be.

Praise for Climb the Salmon Ladder

• ★★★★★ "The best installment in this romance series yet." ~Amazon Review
• ★★★★★ "Heart, humor, and just enough heat to make us impatiently wonder when the next book will drop." ~Goodreads Review

The Bourbon Books
Get the entire series of four books for Kindle for $3.96!

        

The Georgia Davis PI Boxed Set

Get the first four Georgia Davis Crime Thrillers together in this FREE boxed set! 

PI Georgia Davis burst on the scene in Easy Innocence, the first novel in the series. Easy Innocence was followed by Doubleback, a cross-country thriller that reunited Georgia with Chicago documentary producer and amateur sleuth Ellie Foreman. ToxiCity, the prequel to the thriller series written when Georgia was still a cop followed. And Nobody's Child, in which Georgia discovers a half-sister in big trouble, completes the set. 

Here's a rundown of each novel in the boxed set:

Easy Innocence: Winner, Best PI Novel, Readers Choice Award. Freshly-minted private investigator Georgia Davis investigates the murder of a high school girl and finds out how far teen girls will go for approval from their peers.

Doubleback: Selected as a "Great Lakes Great Read" by the Great Lakes Bookseller Association. PI Georgia Davis and Ellie Foreman team up after the kidnapping of a young girl triggers a series of more deadly events.

ToxiCity: Ten years before Easy Innocence, three bodies turn up in quick succession—all of them dumped in waste disposal dumpsters or landfills. Officer Georgia Davis, her boyfriend detective, and his partner team up and find much more than they bargained for.

Nobody's Child: Georgia discovers a half-sister who's in big trouble. But rescuing the girl will bring Georgia back to confront an old enemy. Nominated for five awards.

About Libby Fischer Hellmann

Libby Fischer Hellmann is a critically acclaimed crime writer loved by readers the world over for her compulsively readable thrillers and strong female characters. Her fast-paced crime fiction spans 17 novels and 25 short stories. She also writes historical fiction standalones and edited the evergreen crime fiction anthology Chicago Blues. Doubleblind, her newest PI Georgia Davis thriller, #6 in the series, was released in March 2022.

Libby's richly varied novels have won numerous awards, and Libby has also served as the National President (2005-2006) of Sisters in Crime, a 4,000+ member organization dedicated to strengthening the voice of female mystery writers.

Libby started out in broadcast news, beginning her career as an assistant film editor for NBC News in New York before moving to DC to work with Robin MacNeil and Jim Lehrer at N-PACT, the public affairs production arm of PBS. Retrained as an assistant director when Watergate broke, Libby helped produce PBS's night-time broadcast of the hearings. She moved to Chicago to work for public relations firm Burson-Marsteller in Chicago, and then later created Fischer Hellmann Communications.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Libby earned a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania, and then a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University. She's lived in Chicago more than forty years now, has two kids and a cat.

Keep up with Libby and her writing by signing up for her newsletter—which comes with seven free short stories! 

Free online tonight: Friends & Fiction. Join the hosts of this popular web show as they interview bestselling authors. Tonight's guest: Janet Skeslien Charles, a New York Times and international bestselling author whose work has been translated into 37 languages. Wednesday, May 1, 7 PM EST.

"Books and ideas are like blood; they need to circulate, and they keep us alive." ~Janet Skeslien Charles, The Paris Library

Bath 1815: All John Derringer wants is to disappear into his research. But after his brother's death, he must take on the family estate and care for his orphaned nephew. When Evelina Shaw hears of Mr. Derringer’s need for a governess, she seizes the opportunity to escape from her sister’s matchmaking. But as her life becomes entwined with the Derringer family, neither she nor John can predict the consequences. "A fabulous storyline with twists, transformations, and tender romance." ~Amazon Review. 4.5 stars, 67 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

What is it really like to be in the military? In this autobiography, Boyd London, tells how he found happiness through his experience in the military in the heat of Saudi Arabia, in the harsh cold of Alaska, after a devastating car accident, and no matter what he faced. From $7 SHOP NOW / 

Congratulations to Ann S. Epstein and Vine Leaves Press on the release of The Sister Knot, a poignant exploration of friendship, resilience, and the enduring strength of the ties that bind.

★★★★★ "A moving, thorough, and entrancing novel about how two orphaned young Berlin women become each other’s family during and after the Holocaust." ~Simone Yehuda, contributing author of The Ones Who Remember: Second-Generation Voices of the Holocaust

The Sister Knot

In the heart-wrenching tapestry of The Sister Knot, an enthralling tale unfolds, weaving the resilient bond of a female friendship against the backdrop of history. Set amidst the shadows of World War II, Liane and Frima, survivors of Holocaust trauma, find solace and strength in each other. Through cunning, theft, and prostitution, they navigate the unforgiving streets of Berlin and post-war existence.

Brought to the United States by a Jewish refugee agency, their destinies diverge, yet the unbreakable thread of their connection persists. Frima, the adopted sister, seemingly lives the American dream—excelling in academics, a prestigious college, a successful husband, intelligent children, and a fulfilling teaching career. On the other side of fate, Liane, thrust into a group home, rejects the conventional path, embracing a life of dead-end jobs, relinquishing a daughter for adoption, and finding solace in her art even amidst the struggles that lead her to prison.

Through six decades marked by drifting apart and fierce reunions, their trajectories reverse, challenging preconceived notions about destiny.

The Sister Knot beckons with its poignant exploration of friendship, resilience, and the enduring strength of the ties that bind. Join Liane and Frima on their journey through the tapestry of time, where the echoes of the past resonate in the unspoken language of sisterhood.

Praise for The Sister Knot
★★★★★ "A rich exploration of how individuals can emerge from challenging beginnings, finding strength and comfort in each other, despite the different paths their lives take... beautifully written and emotionally charged." ~Deepak Singh, author of Yaad Mohalla

★★★★★ "Liane follows a difficult path that includes an out-of-wedlock child and jail. Her close friend, Frima, is adopted into a loving family looking for a traditional daughter to bring them joy and grandchildren... The arc of their story will remain with readers long after the last page." ~Beth Kirschner, author of Copper Divide

★★★★★ "A painting of the intense, complex, difficult and joyful rhythms and layers of women’s relationships to one another." ~Rusty Allen, author of Ella’s War

New Giveaway: Win $100 in Books. Enter the LitNuts Spring Giveaway for a chance to win $100 in books. Earn entry points by signing up for the newsletter (yes, you can earn points by signing up even if you're already signed up!), visiting LitNuts.com, following us on social media, retweeting, and more. Deadline for entry is May 31. Winner will be announced June 1.

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." ~Richard Steele

“A rollicking romp deep inside the life of an aging Rock Star dinosaur. You'll laugh out loud.” ~Amazon review. Slide into the sleazy side of Show Biz with legendary Rock Star Marc Charles as he uncovers a sneaky mafia-like scam to con him. Marc stakes everything to outwit the crooked "pay-to-play" scammers. As the suspense builds, he must use all his cunning to beat them. But can he? It's a wild ride with a cheeky plot twist. 4.1 stars, 42 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW /