Today's Featured Books

An award-winning author delivers “a stunning debut….that’s cinematic and wildly compelling.” -IndieReader (5 stars). In 1987 Chicago, two police detectives racing to stop a drug war are caught in the crossfire between a drug lord and a man seeking vengeance against him. “A sharply defined, engrossing cast elevates this crime caper.” -Kirkus Reviews. 4.6 stars, 250+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

She yields to no one. He’s ride-or-die for his brothers. When murder draws them together, will red-hot desire seal their bond? When Dr. Tally Chambers is kidnapped by a motorcycle gang, she is surprised by her instant attraction to the domineering club president. Book 1 of the Demon Dawgs Motorcycle Club - San Diego romantic suspense series. If you like iron-handed heroes, sassy leading ladies, and steamy action, then you’ll love this seductive ride. Note: Contains mature themes and possible triggers. 4.5 stars, 880 ratings. From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on an exceptional deal from UK indie press Sparkling Books: Get the e-book omnibus edition of Three British Mystery Novels FREE, now through December 7.

The omnibus edition includes three novels in one e-book:

• A Taste for Blood by David Stuart Davies
• Lynnwood by Thomas Brown
• Ellipsis by Nikki Dudley

Three British Mystery Novels 

Three authors, three great mysteries:

• A Taste for Blood by David Stuart Davies: Two laser-sharp detectives, two thought-provoking cases, and two plots running parallel...you won’t see what’s coming! Featuring private investigator Johnny (One Eye) Hawke and his one-time colleague in the police force Detective David Llewellyn. Hawke is on the case of a mysterious suicide. Llewellyn is investigating the chilling crimes of a top psychiatrist and his scheming patient. 
• Lynnwood by Thomas Brown:  Finalist for the People’s Book Prize. Who wouldn’t want to live in an idyllic village in the English countryside like Lynnwood? With its charming pub, old dairy, friendly vicar, gurgling brooks, and old paths with memories of simpler times. But the unthinkable is happening in Lynnwood ‒ a village with centuries of guilt on its conscience.
• Ellipsis by Nikki Dudley: ”Right on time,” Daniel Mansen mouths to Alice as she pushes him to his death. Haunted by these words, Alice becomes obsessed with discovering how a man she didn’t know could predict her actions. Ellipsis is a thriller stemming from what is left unsaid, what bounces around in the mind, and what evaporates when trying to remember. Can there be a conclusion when no one seems to know the truth?

A Taste for Blood by David Stuart Davies 

Detective mystery set in London

Featuring private investigator Johnny (One Eye) Hawke and his one-time colleague in the police force Detective David Llewellyn. Llewellyn is investigating the chilling crimes of a top psychiatrist and his scheming patient who the doctor believes has knuckled under his authority. In the meantime, Hawke is on the case of a mysterious suicide in Edgware Road...soon discovered as not your average suicide. The guts and insight of the two investigators bring both cases to a head, though you won't even begin to see how until you have turned the last pages. Book 6 in the Detective Johnny (One Eye) Hawke series (can be read as a standalone novel).

Praise for A Taste for Blood
"A delightful read." ~J. Robert Ewbank, author

"Interesting mystery that takes place in the 1930s in England...a good story with an unpredictable ending." ~Donna Miller, Librarian, USA

"An intriguing double set of mysteries...a nerve-wracking conclusion that will have you on edge until it’s resolved." ~Rebecca Chandler, Reviewer, UK

Lynnwood by Thomas Brown 

Mysterious crime set in an English forest village

The unthinkable is happening in Lynnwood – a village with centuries of guilt on its conscience. On the surface, Lynnwood appears to be an idyllic village in the English countryside. But behind the conventional appearance of Lynnwood’s villagers, only two sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork: those who hunt and those who are prey. Visitors are watched by an entity between the trees where the Dark Ages have endured to the twenty-first century. Families who have lived behind stone walls and twitching curtains know that the gusts of wind blowing through the nearby alluring Forest bring with them a stench of delightful hunger only Lynnwood can appease.

Praise for Lynnwood
Finalist in the People’s Book Prize

"A dark horror story set in a picturesque village. I would recommend this to fans of classic English horror as well as fans of Stephen King." ~Lucy O'Connor, Waterstones

"An exciting, on the edge of your seat gothic that will have readers begging for more." ~Rosemary Smith, Cayocosta Book Reviews

Ellipsis by Nikki Dudley 

Psychological crime suspense/noir thriller set in London

"Right on time," Daniel Mansen mouths to Alice as she pushes him to his death. Haunted by these words, Alice becomes obsessed with discovering how a man she didn’t know could predict her actions. 

On the day of Daniels' funeral, Daniel's cousin, Thom, finds a piece of paper in Daniel's room detailing the exact time and place of his death. As Thom and Alice both search for answers, they become knotted together in a story of obsession, hidden truths, and the gaps in everyday life that can destroy or save a person.

Praise for Ellipsis
"It’s a tale that will keep them wondering, gasping, thinking, smiling, grimacing, rereading." ~Spinetingler Magazine

"A very stylish, compelling read." ~Kevin Mahoney, Authortrek.com

"Exciting, psychologically complex, and disconcerting, it is a powerful tale of two misfits trying to uncover long hidden secrets about themselves and their pasts." ~Sam Ruddock, Writers’ Centre, Norwich

Sparkling Books is an independent press based in the United Kingdom that publishes crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, romance, women's fiction, children's, young adult/middle grade, and drama. Sparkling Books is a member of Independent Publishers Guild.

Sign up for news from Sparkling Books or follow Sparkling Books on Twitter to get information about new releases and other news. 

Free online: Writers' Room of Boston. Join for Readings from the Room, hosted this month by Spencer Johnson and featuring the work of Meghan Miraglia and Jennifer Martelli. Tuesday, November 19, 7:00 PM ET. 

"A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on, you are enriched threefold." ~Henry Miller

New release: One innocent small-town baker on the edge of losing it all. Three rugged, silver-fox daddies with a protective streak. Who says Christmas magic isn’t real? This is a sexy, stand-alone holiday, nanny, ex-military single dads contemporary reverse harem romance filled with humor, danger, and generous amounts of love. Happily-ever-after guaranteed. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

 

Soft Case

When the most famous man in New York City dies suspiciously, homicide detective John Keegan must follow a trail of corruption that may just lead to the top of city government...and the end of his career.

Ronald Mullins had it all...money, power, and a happy family. Suicide seemed an unlikely end for him. Partnered with Rick Calhill, a rising star in the NYPD, Keegan discovers that Mullins had prepared for a Senate run. The happy family myth later crumbles. Relations between Mullins and his business partner appear frayed. Calhill dives in while Keegan stays on the sidelines, wary of the political implications of the case. Keegan's instincts prove correct as he ends up in handcuffs, accused of taking a bribe he never received. 

Suspended, threatened, and betrayed, Keegan must solve the case to save his career. He learns hard truths about the people he respected most. In the end, he risks his job and his life to solve the biggest case the city has seen in decades.

All in a Row

In the second book in the John Keegan Mystery series, Keegan is thrust into a series of what appear to be copycat murders, and Keegan gets pressure from all sides to solve the case. 

One of the victims is the granddaughter of a powerful Senator who follows Keegan's work throughout the case. The mayor fears the murders will affect his successful anti-crime initiative in a re-election year. Keegan's boss, passed over for a promotion, is eager to put this case to rest and secure a position higher up in the department.

Keegan's partner disengages himself from the investigation, forcing Keegan to make rash decisions about the case and his partner. When the killer strikes close, new suspects arise and a cop will end up in handcuffs. The killer not only knows how to elude capture, they know the police and their moves. They also play the game of blackmail perfectly.

Before he solves the case, Keegan will be forced to analyze everything about his life and the people he loves.

The First Cut

The First Cut is an exciting trip back to the 20th Century and perfect for fans of procedural mysteries. 

It's 1999. Young NYPD homicide detective John Keegan gets his first solo case when Cassandra Lavelle, an aspiring artist, is found brutally murdered in her apartment. Keegan whispers a promise of justice to the deceased Cassandra, but keeping that promise proves challenging. A cookie-cutter case that points to Cassandra's boyfriend gets more complicated when details of a secret relationship with another man emerge. At the same time, Keegan must manage his developing relationship with investigative reporter Elena Moreno.

In the end, Keegan will realize his life and career depend on how he manages his mistakes more than his successes. The partial justice he delivers to Cassandra and her family and the remnants of his relationship will forever guide his life and help shape him into the man he becomes.

        

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Land of Marqueria young adult fantasy series from author Shana Ren:

• Through the Tree (The Land of Marqueria Book 1)
• Comes the Darkness (The Land of Marqueria Book 2)

★★★★★ "Enchanting and magical." ~Goodreads Review

Bonus: Get signed paperback copies of each book direct from the author for only $5.50 per copy:

• Through the Tree
• Comes the Darkness

Through the Tree

YA Fantasy set in Montana and the magical Land of Marqueria

Two intelligent and feisty teen girls living in the mountains of Montana discover their mom is a powerful, magical princess, but they must help her remember who she is before it is too late.

Living in the Mountains of Montana, miles from the nearest small town, the family of four has always lived a quiet life. Kenna was raised in the foster care system and aged out at 18. She had lived a violent childhood before entering the system, so her peaceful home and family are everything to her. While kind and giving, the two daughters are intelligent, fearless, outspoken, and incredibly courageous, always ready for a new adventure or to fight for those in need.

Join the adventures with the two daughters, who, when they were toddlers, discovered a doorway through an ancient tree, which led them to the Land of Marqueria, where magic is real and unicorns exist. Now, as teenagers, they must lead their mother through the Tree so she can become who she was born to be. From Montana to Marqueria, the family is tested by danger and adversity, but determined to protect all they hold dear from the encroaching Darkness, they fight on.
 

Praise for Through the Tree
★★★★★ "Truly creative and magical." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Let your imagination take flight as you’re introduced to elves, wolves and bear shifters, dragons, unicorns and enchanted trees." ~Goodreads Review

Comes the Darkness

Return to the Land of Marqueria and join the family on another adventure through this magical land.

Jamie and Kenna are missing after they set out on a journey to find their Dragons. Their daughters, Noelle and Ember, head out on a rescue mission and discover that the Darkness is hunting for the sisters.

Their journey will take them through the enchanted lands of Marqueria and back to Montana, where they will meet old friends and new enemies. Will Noelle and Ember be reunited with their parents? Will the Darkness find them?
 

Praise for Through the Tree
★★★★★ "The BEST found family that I have ever read!!" ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "There is so much love, magic, and family, and it truly makes my heart happy." ~Goodreads Review

About the Author

        

Free online: Keeping It Short, a special edition of The Back Room reading series focused on short stories. Join for a discussion with authors Michael Bracken, Kristopher Zgorski & Dru Ann Love, Wendy Walker, and Stacy Woodson. Sunday, November 17, 7 PM ET. 

“A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick–a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.” ~Neil Gaiman

When investigations turn deadly and dark secrets conceal powerful enemies, trust is their only weapon. Meet Daniels and Remalla, two detectives who’ve got each other’s backs in the face of danger, psychopaths, and the unexplained. In this omnibus edition, they’ll face killers with unique abilities, battle terrifying evil, and risk their safety and sanity for the ones they love. And when survival is on the line, their only hope is to rely on each other. $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Sleeping with Ghosts: Poems & Musings by Jennifer A. Payne, an intimate exploration of memory and meaning. 

"Beautifully crafted and luminous, these poems take the reader on an intimate and unforgettable journey of love found and lost, the joys of creativity, and the power of memory." ~Judith Liebmann, Ph.D., author of Ekphrasis, Poet Laureate of Branford, Connecticut

Sleeping with Ghosts: Poems & Musings

AN INTIMATE EXPLORATION OF MEMORY AND MEANING

Known for her meditations and musings about our outside world, Connecticut writer Jen Payne takes readers inside this time…into the heart and mind of a poet, where memories wander, hearts break, and ghosts appear in dreams. Those ghosts—her lovers, soulmates, and muses—reveal themselves slowly, one at a time, in this wistfully reflective, time-traveling memoir.
 

Praise for Sleeping with Ghosts
"A poignant meditation on a life of love confronted." ~Mary O'Connor, author of Say Yes! to Your Creative Self

"Catalogues the ghosts of relationships...with hard-earned honesty bereft of self-pity, wonderful imagery and, somehow, a lightness of touch...through good times and hard with a poet's kind of vision and language and a perspective equal parts wise and whimsical." ~Nancy Fitz-Hugh Meneely, author of Letter from Italy, 1944

"These poems...remind us to revisit our own past, to honor our own scars, and maybe to find a bit of poetry there, too. Whether you’re someone who loves looking back with nostalgia or you’re more of a 'move forward' type, there’s something here that speaks to the heart." ~Kaecey McCormick, 2023 Connecticut Poetry Award Winner

About the Author

          

About the Publisher

Free online tonight: What's New in Historical Fiction, a panel series featuring historical novelists with new and upcoming titles. Moderated by Colin Mustful, founder of History Through Fiction, tonight's panel includes: Adriana Allegri, author of The Sunflower House; Monica Chenault-Kilgore, author of The Jewel of the Blues; Susan J. Morris, author of Strange Beasts; and A.D. Rhine (Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson), authors of Daughters of Bronze. Wednesday, November 13, 7-8 PM CT.

"In history lies all the secrets of statecraft." ~Confucius