Today's Featured Books

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Bench by Francesca Flood, Ed.D., a collection of interconnected stories that invite introspection and reflection on life's biggest questions.

★★★★★ "A warm healing soup for ALL souls!" ~Goodreads Review

Hope Verdad Presents The Bench: A Parable About Life, Death, and Beyond

Five strangers' lives become intertwined by fate, trauma, and a mysterious bench that holds the key to their darkest moments. In this riveting book, the author explores the depths of human experience, the thin line between life and the afterlife, and the eternal search for understanding humankind's true meaning.

Set in a timeless and familiar place, the bench becomes a crossroads between worlds, a beacon of hope and transformation for those burdened by personal crises. As each protagonist takes their turn on the bench, they encounter a stranger who offers solace in the form of lost loved ones, sparking revelations and insights into the mysteries of life and death.

The Bench is more than just a story; it's an immersive experience—a meditation on love, grief, and our quest for meaning. Drawing inspiration from the emotional complexity of The Shack and the philosophical depth of The Alchemist, Dr. Flood weaves a narrative that resonates with readers on a profound level.

Perfect for those who crave stories of spiritual discovery and emotional depth, The Bench invites readers to reflect on life's biggest questions and discover the resilience of the human spirit.

Praise for The Bench
"Each of these chapters tells a story of a spiritual crisis and revelation. Well-written and absorbing. Highly recommended." ~Dr. Judith K. Gwathmey, Professor of Medicine and Physiology, Boston University of Medicine

Francesca Flood, a native of Brooklyn, New York, has carved her path in the world of writing through a crucible of life experiences. Her award-winning work focuses on evocative speculative fiction that pushes the boundaries of imagination and explores spiritual realms. Her narratives, a tapestry of the mystical and the mundane, invite readers to delve into profound questions about life, choices, and reality. Crafting intricate plots and profound philosophical insights, Francesca’s work has garnered a diverse and dedicated following.

Francesca holds a Master’s in Pastoral Theology and a Doctor of Education. She has published in multiple peer-reviewed journals, has served as editor/author in a compendium on entrepreneurship with Springer-Meteor, and has been editor/author for the American Bar Association’s book on suicide.

Learn more at HopeVerdad.com, sign up for Francesca's newsletter (scroll to bottom of her website for the sign-up form), and be sure to follow her online: 

Free online: Black Mountain Institute presents author Mia Alvar. Join via Zoom for a reading and discussion with Mia Alvar, author of In the Country, a short-story collection that won the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award and the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize from the University of Rochester. Tuesday, October 29, 2 PM CDT.

"She holds a grudge against the world for defaulting on its promises to beautiful women. It didn’t occur to me that I’d been counting on similar promises, made to smart girls who studied hard." ~Mia Alvar

Do you love candy? I’m a kid, of course I do! Was your candy bag only half full on Halloween last year? How did you know that? In this book, you’ll discover 49 excuses for bagging more candy on Halloween that are so spooky and funny that your neighbours won’t be able to resist. Each hilarious excuse comes with a cartoon illustration that will make you giggle even more. 4.6 stars, 178 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Many people struggle with anxiety and doubt, feeling like they’ve lost control. But by embracing the principles of Stoicism, you can gain mental clarity and resilience. This guide shows you how to turn pain into growth and frustration into focus, empowering you to stay calm and in control, even in the face of adversity. "A clear and practical guide to applying Stoic principles." ~Amazon Review. 4.8 stars, 25 ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW /

As a single mom to a child prodigy, I’ve spent my life chasing dreams for her, putting love on the back burner. This Christmas, all she wants is something I can't give her—a real home, one filled with love and laughter. Then fate hands me an unexpected gift: my grandmother’s grand estate. There’s just one catch: I have to be married by Christmas or lose it all. Enter three devastatingly handsome triplets. And they all want me. How can I possibly choose just one? From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Wisdom Keeper, a spiritual memoir with a healing purpose from author Chloe Kemp.

Wisdom Keeper has received widespread praise and numerous awards, including a Gold Medal for a Memoir by a Female from the Living Now Book Awards.

Wisdom Keeper: My Extraordinary Journey to Unlock the Sacred Within

Psychic dreams and visions, remembering past lives, and becoming an intuitive shamanic healer—this is the story of an ordinary woman's extraordinary spiritual journey. With raw honesty, Chloe shares her story of awakening to her Divine purpose, healing herself, and her journey to heal others. Wisdom Keeper reveals the Divine pathway to a more peaceful, happy, fulfilled, and healthy life.

Chloe's extraordinary journey is filled with miracles, visions, lucid and prophetic dreams, parallel universes, and knowledge of past lives. She healed herself from deeply embedded trauma, an incurable illness, and serious medical conditions. Chloe shares significant mystical experiences she had in Ecuador, Europe, Mexico, and Asheville, N.C., including an invitation to become a Spiritual Grandmother. She has performed intuitive shamanic energy healings and mediumship sessions in Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States.

Recognition & Praise for Wisdom Keeper

• Gold Medal: Memoir by Female, Living Now Book Awards
• Finalist: Nonfiction—Inspirational, Readers' Favorite International Book Awards
• Finalist: New Age: Non-Fiction & Spirituality: Inspirational, Best Book Awards
• Finalist: New Age—Nonfiction, American Book Fest International Book Awards
• Amazon Best Seller: Health & Spirituality, Inspirational Personal Testimonies, Multiple Sclerosis, Spiritual Growth, & Spiritual Healing
• “Chloe navigates us through her astonishing journey, which is a testament to her unrelenting commitment to exploring new regions of consciousness and to her exceptional capacity for receiving direction from Spirit Guides.”—Alex Ndirangu, Reader’s Favorite Book Reviewer
• "This book has both memoir elements and self-help content, and the balance between them, the organization, held my interest completely." ~Writer’s Digest Book Awards Judge
• "A journey of darkness to light, struggle to freedom, and fear to love. A must-read for all who want true transformation." ~Dr. Shannon South, Award-Winning Therapist, Best-Selling Author
• "Chloe reminds us we are essential in the Universe; when we heal, our loved ones, people around us, and the Earth also heal. This book is truly for everyone." ~Eduardo Morales, Shamanic Curandero, Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico

                

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on Teeth of the Dragon, the latest espionage thriller from former special agent and Amazon best-selling author Andrew Ceroni. 

"Ceroni is a master at crafting action scenes in all their violent glory. Fans of fast-moving spy thrillers with sumptuously choreographed violence will not pause until the last page." ~Publishers Weekly / BookLife

Teeth of the Dragon

CIA Agent Dave McClure is about to face the biggest and most deadly challenges of his career. First, in Jerusalem and then in Japan...
 
In this nail-biting thriller, the CIA are struck by several threats at once. First, several abduction attempts are made on U.S. Embassy employees in Jerusalem. CIA Agent Dave McClure is sent to speak with the station chief at the embassy, but he soon finds himself up against a cell of Hezbollah terrorists. Back in the States, after leaving his kendo club one night, Dave is kidnapped and brought to a cabin in the West Virginia mountains, where Hezbollah agents intend to torture and then kill him. Dave must find a way to escape or breathe his last. And then there's a situation in Tokyo, where embassy employees are being threatened, bullied, and beaten by Yakuza members. Dave is sent to assist, leading to yet another life-or-death challenge for the beleaguered agent. And it will take all the courage and cunning McClure possesses to make it out alive.

Praise for Teeth of the Dragon
★★★★★ "Dave McClure is a daring, bold, intuitive, risk-taking, calculating, and savvy agent you will enjoy." ~Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

★★★★★ "The CIA we deserve and the agent we wish we had more of." ~Amazon Review

More From Andrew Ceroni...

First Bullet

A white-knuckle thriller with three intriguing story lines. 

Facing the grave dangers of a triple-threat, the CIA is on its heels. CIA Agent Dave McClure and his Special Operations teams face the grave dangers of a triple threat...from a Chinese base hidden in the mist-covered Blue Mountains of Jamaica, to a German terrorist team attack on a strategic missile base in Wyoming, and finally to Berlin, Garmisch, and the German Alps where intelligence sources warn the CIA of a plot to overthrow the German government. The CIA must act fast and forcibly to avoid the outbreak of World War III.

Praise for First Bullet and Andrew Ceroni
★★★★★ "Step aside Jack Ryan...there’s a new action hero in town!" ~Jill Rey, Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer

★★★★★ "Authentic and intriguing...a riveting work full of action." ~Readers' Favorite

  

  

        

Free online: Poetry Reading hosted by Hudson Valley Writers Center. Join the editors of Slapering Hol Press as they welcome four poets who have just published full-length collections: Sara Daniele Rivera, winner of the 2023 Academy of American Poets First Book Prize; Cindy Juyoung Ok, winner of the 2023 Yale Younger Poets Prize; Katie Berta, winner of the Hollis Summers Poetry Prize; and Christian J. Collier, author of Greater Ghost. Sunday, October 27, 4:00 - 5:30 PM EDT.

"The poet is the priest of the invisible." ~Wallace Stevens

Navigating the Dementia Journey. In the United States, more than 5.8 million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. Each of these individuals has a story. Each has caregivers with stories of their own. And everyone involved has questions. This book provides answers, as well as strategies for your future. Stories from the lives of others let us know that our experiences are not unique. 4.7 stars, 29 ratings. From $4.99 - SHOP NOW /