Today's Featured Books

Congratulations to Charlie and Cheryl Young and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Houdini's Last Handcuffs, a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and fantasy set in 1950s Manhattan.
 
★★★★★ "The great Houdini book the world has been waiting for. A perfect escape." ~John Kelly, Detroit Free Press

Houdini's Last Handcuffs

A riveting journey into a world where magic meets science, tantalizing readers with every twist and turn.

On the 30th anniversary of Houdini's death, three young friends who were gifted a mystical Ouija Board by the enigmatic writer Walter Gibson, find themselves thrust into a world of wonder.

While adults attempt to reach Houdini in a séance at his former residence, the children unknowingly call upon the great magician, not through the Ouija board or séance but via an enigmatic pair of handcuffs from their father's magic collection.

Houdini, in dire need of their aid, reveals a hidden notebook filled with scientific formulas coveted by both benevolent and malevolent secret circles. This notebook is a puzzle, locked behind Houdini's cryptic code.

The unexpected unfolds, setting off a thrilling chase, where the pursuit of Houdini's notebook holds the key to secrets, mystique, and adventure.

Praise for Houdini’s Last Handcuffs
★★★★★ “A lovingly crafted mix of fact and fantasy featuring famous faces from the 1958 New York magic scene, including Houdini himself! Part reminiscence and part high adventure, this is a tale that will make you believe.” ~John Cox, author of the "Wild About Harry" blog

★★★★★ “A compelling historical novel with a strong cast of characters. Highly recommended!” ~The Wishing Shelf

★★★★★ “A rewarding work of fervid and fertile imagination” ~Joseph Caldwell, author of In the Shadow of the Bridge

★★★★★ “There are few authors more qualified to craft a story about Houdini than the Youngs, who quite literally grew up amidst the lore and legends surrounding the world's most famous magician.” ~Gabe Fajuri, Founder of Potter and Potter Auctions, author of Mysterio's Encyclopedia of Magic and Conjuring

Houdini’s Last Handcuffs

Last call! Be part of a unique publishing project by participating in The Chimera Snare: Fragments Kickstarter campaign. The Chimera Snare is a new dark fantasy series, and readers who participate in the Kickstarter campaign can choose from a variety of rewards, including specially curated goods from a selection of independent artisans. Backers will also be acknowledged in the book's credits.

"What you pour out into the world is poured right back into you." ~Matshona Dhliwayo

Did you know that 6.7 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's? Most of us need help, and this book has a lot to offer. Readers call it an excellent, practical resource for those of us who are caring for a loved one. Reviewers say the book is "a must for someone caring for an elder," "a page-turner," and "a compelling story that touched me deeply." They also said the book was "something I could not put down." It's a book that at its core "speaks of hope. Add this to your toolkit! 4.6 stars, 43 ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

New release! Congratulations to authors Thaddeus Yeiser and Conrad Bair and to Ink Smith Publishing on the release of Age of Rust: Retribution. 

It has been 700 years since the end of the Golden Age of Man. Now a medieval war ravages the land once known as America. The story began with Age of Rust and continues with Age of Rust: Retribution. 

★★★★★ "A gripping tale set in a post-apocalyptic world where a medieval war rages." ~Goodreads Review

Age of Rust: Retribution

Having survived a battle with the Western warlord Kayzitt, Seneca and Tavin lead the survivors South out of the thawing northern wilds. They must seek out the Chancellor of the East, who has been directing their campaigns from a distance, and determine the future direction of the war and thus, their lives.

Meanwhile, Kayzitt and Oil’ib play cat-and-mouse in the desolate wilds, their survival unbeknownst to their friends. Oil’ib longs for revenge at any cost, but Kayzitt will not allow himself to be beaten so easily.

Chiara tries to maintain the hospital that Seneca was forced to leave for the service—all while patients pile in and physicians continue to be drafted away. When the situation reaches a harrowing breaking point, she will put her life on the line to save her home.

When the Agents of the Chancellor finally meet their leader, they learn that there may be a way out of the war: a long lost tool or the Golden Age of man, which may give them the advantage needed to dispel the invaders from their land. But the mission will require a high-risk journey to the New England territories, where the influence of the Eastern Republic is weak and their enemies closer than they could have dreamed.

Age of Rust

No records show how it happened, though everyone has their beliefs as to why the golden age of man fell seven hundred years ago. Since, humanity has managed to rebuild a modest civilization from the ruins. Now a medieval war begins to ravage the land once known as America.

The lives of six young men become ensnared in the violence as they serve the Eastern army. Chief among them are Tavin, the son of a respected general, and Seneca, a physician drafted away from his studies. Loved ones left at home are threatened when Kayzitt, the zealot Western officer, leads his marauders behind enemy lines. His cruel methods devastate every community he encounters, and the East seems doomed to fall under its own weight as he makes a name for himself in the legends of the militaristic West.

But the six heroes notice that something has changed inside themselves. Their minds are subtly connected in a way that cannot be explained but lends them increased prowess on the battlefield. Inevitably, their skills place them on a collision course with Kayzitt that will shape the future of the nation.

Age of Rust is a tale of displaced youth, the struggle for life, and the peril of love in war-time. It is an ode to masculine vainglory and the valor in conflict as it bridges with the feminine witness of human corruption and loss of innocence.

★★★★★ "A thought-provoking take of wartime woes." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "Beautifully explores themes of displacement, the struggle for survival, and the complexities of love in times of war." ~Goodreads Review 

    

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Michael Cardwell, author of the “Frontier” books, a best-selling series following Game Warden Danny Coogan in Montana, and The Rough Stuff, a powerful collection of short stories. Read on to learn more!

Frontier Justice: A Coogan Mystery

Danny Coogan, a freshly minted Montana Fish and Game Officer and recent Afghanistan veteran, hopes to bury his demons in a simple life in the wilderness around the small town of Darwin. But his life becomes a nightmare when he is shot and left injured and alone in the freezing countryside to struggle for survival. His assailant? Edmund Goodrunner, a local Native American Danny had considered a friend.

Thus begins a brutal battle of lies, deception, and revenge with drug runners, weapons dealers, kidnappers, and killers. Danny finds himself thrust into an FBI investigation and forced to juggle the threats of a dangerous domestic terrorist group that threatens every aspect of the community he loves and has vowed to protect.

Danny, along with his surrogate father, Senior Game Warden Ben Whitetail, and the local Tribal Police Chief, instill the rich flavor of rural America through poignancy and down-home humor as they struggle, each in their own way, to bring peace back to their snowy town.

Fans of Craig Johnson and CJ Box will love this outstanding first novel as the author draws on his military experience and deep love of rural America to produce this action/adventure. If you like mysteries and crime stories with resilient heroes, slam-bang conflict, and nail-biting suspense seasoned with a splash of wilderness humor, then you’ll love Frontier Justice.

★★★★★ "Great start to a new series." ~Goodreads Review

★★★★★ "Modern Western with action and heart." ~Amazon Review

Frontier Outlaws: A Coogan Mystery

Eight months after the showdown with the domestic terrorist group that nearly cost him his life, Danny Coogan, a Montana Fish and Game Officer, faces a new threat to his community—and his career. It starts with a dead steer. Which happens to be near the body of a dead rancher. Both of which are on the Dead Horse Indian Reservation.

Soon, Danny, the Tribal Police, the local Sheriff’s Department, and a U.S. Marshal are pressed into action. Danny’s connections to the Rez draw him into the murder case and plant him firmly in the crosshairs of the killers. Another victim is discovered, tortured, and murdered—but why? What secret painted a target on these locals?

Along with fellow Afghanistan veteran Matt Bringloe from the Tribal Police, Danny is determined to uncover the truth. Then, a connection is made to a decades-old cold case, revealing hidden motives and secret agendas. Now, Danny must pull together the clues before someone else dies.

Cattle rustling, a magic mushroom drug operation, and unsolved murders result in a shoot-out at a remote ranch, a race against time to a ghost town, and a final stand in the most unlikely location.

With the flavor of a down-home yarn and the intensity of a high adventure, Frontier Outlaws offers Craig Johnson and CJ Box fans a thrilling ride that delivers a bronco-busting punch.

★★★★★ "The humor and realistic action make for a rip-roaring story." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "An excellent sequel to Frontier Justice." ~Goodreads Review

The Rough Stuff: Stories of Men in Hard Circumstance

The Rough Stuff is a powerful collection of short stories. Filled with unforgettable characters, it is a mix of action-filled fiction and reflective morality tales about the truisms of life, its spectacle, its inherent dangers, and its frustrating uncertainty. Whether in the mountains of Afghanistan, on a farm in Indiana, or in a lake cabin in Idaho, Cardwell tells brutally honest stories about the lives of decent, hard men in America.

★★★★★ "Short stories about struggles in life that our true heroes face every day." ~Amazon Review

      

Free online: B&N conversation with Rebecca Serle, author of Expiration Dates, a gripping and emotional novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Sunday, March 24 at 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT / 5 PM MT / 4 PM PT. 

"Worrying is wishing for what you don’t want." ~Rebecca Serle

Fifteen-year-old Marieke disguises herself as a boy at the elite, all-male archery guild where her father was once a star archer. Soon she's vowing to help the most charming young Journeyman archer in the place beat out his brutal arch-rival in the guild trials, without ever letting him discover her secrets. Escape into romance in this sweet and hilarious coming-of-age adventure, full of almost-kisses, angst, longing, action, and a guild full of handsome archers in medieval Belgium. Book 1 of The Archers of Saint Sebastian series. 4.7 stars, 360 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

On sale! Literary Titan Gold Award Book. Get spiritual recharging during these challenging times. Called "captivating" and "a profound journey," this book shares insights about spiritual experiences that offer guidance. One reader shared that "this book comes alive...giving me greater understanding, helping me on my difficult journey." For comfort, peace, hope, try it. 4.8 stars, 15 ratings. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on a free novella from author Logan D. Irons:

Bridge of Kings, an Oaths of Blood Saga novella

The Oaths of Blood Saga is a dark historical fantasy series. Book 1 is coming in May with more books in the series to follow. Get started on this new series with the free Bridge of Kings novella! 

Bridge of Kings

Two Kings. Two Warriors. A single crown.

Some men hold secrets that are far darker than war. An old oath obligates Ulf Bodvarsson to join King Harald Hardrada’s army of Norsemen, seeking to assert his claim to the English crown. Yet near Stamford Bridge, enemies await, seeking to fulfill their own oaths of blood. The struggle that awaits them all will decide who rules the isles and who dies.

The Oaths of Blood Saga promises to be perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin, Bernard Cornwell, Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne, and Mark Lawrence. The free Bridge of Kings novella will whet their palette for the release of Oaths of Blood, Book 1 of The Oaths of Blood Saga, coming in May 2024.

“Akin to acclaimed grimdark author Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes, Irons' Bridge of Kings covers an entire skirmish between two forces, presenting a grim and bloody view of war through the perspective of an anti-hero berserker hell-bent on destroying anything and everything he comes across.” ~Readers’ Favorite 5-star review

"Thoroughly imaginative and visceral. Five stars." ~Eric Schumacher, author of God’s Hammer