Today's Featured Books
Spotlight on Baking Baklava and Cooking Greek from Chef Pemi Kanavos and Worldwide Greeks

★★★★★ "Great Greek Cookbook!" ~Amazon Vine Voice Review
Baking Baklava: Classic and Inspired Recipes from Around the World
Genre: Pastry Baking; Cooking Encyclopedias; Cooking, Food & Wine Reference
New Release: November 2023
Paperback: $19.99


The Baking Baklava cookbook pays tribute to baklava, a renowned delicacy treasured in many countries around the world, with simple and easy-to-follow baklava recipes for all skill levels. Also included are more than a dozen delicious dessert recipes inspired by the flavors and textures of baklava, making this the perfect cookbook for dessert lovers and a great gift for any occasion.
People are often intimidated by baking, particularly with a delicate dessert like baklava. But when presented by Chef Pemi, baking baklava is anxiety free! Explore baklava recipes from various countries, including Greek Baklava, Persian Baghlava, Turkish Soguk or Cold Baklava, Albanian Bakllave, Syrian Pistachio Lady’s Bracelet Baklava, Azeri Pakhlava, Lebanese Baklava, Armenian Chor Paxlava, and Jordanian Warbat Baklava.
Chef Pemi has also created delicious Baklava-inspired recipes paying homage to a classic with modern twists, such as Baklava Cheesecake, Chocolate Hazelnut Baklava, Caramel Apple Baklava Rolls, Caramel Chocolate Peanut Crinkle Baklava, Bacon-Pecan-Cognac Baklava, Baklava Ice Cream Tarts, Chocolate Peanut Butter Baklava, and more. For those with dietary restrictions, Chef Pemi has adapted classic Baklava recipes to include Gluten-Free Baklava, Nut-Free Baklava, and Vegan Baklava variations.
Cooking Greek: A Classic Greek Cookbook for the At-Home Chef
Genre: Greek Cooking; Cooking Encyclopedias; Cooking, Food & Wine Reference
4.7 stars, 100 ratings on Amazon
Paperback: $23.39
Ebook: $9.99


Discover how to cook some of the most popular, authentic Greek recipes including tiropita (cheese pie), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), pastitsio (macaroni pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka (eggplant and ground beef pie), Greek meatballs, loukoumades (Greek donuts), tzatziki (cucumber yogurt dip), souvlaki (meat skewers), galaktoboureko (milk pie), Greek style octopus, baklava, and many more mouth-watering Greek recipes.
Greek cuisine can seem intimidating, but chef Pemi makes it easy! With a culinary arts degree, experience teaching Greek cooking classes, and thousands of hours in her yiayia’s (grandmother’s) kitchen, chef Pemi brings a unique perspective with her flavor profile, instructions, and beautiful full-page photos of each dish.
As an added bonus, the food forum on Worldwide Greeks provides an additional resource for recipe clarification, variation ideas, and the opportunity to ask chef Pemi and other food experts your recipe-related questions.
About the Authors
Pemi Kanavos is a classically-trained pastry chef with a culinary arts degree who loves to feed people and share her Greek culture and cuisine. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved with her family to Athens, Greece, when she was 10. Pam returned to Boston for college, earning a degree in Graphic Design. Pam’s love of cooking ran so deep that she decided to go back to school where she earned a second degree in Culinary Arts. She has worked at various food establishments around Boston, wrote a column on a Greek cooking blog, and taught Greek cooking classes for several years. Having moved back and forth between Boston and Athens, Pemi has now settled in Athens Greece, with her husband and son.
Worldwide Greeks was established in 2005 as an online forum website written in English about Greek food, Greek travel, and Greek culture. More than 490,000 people have visited the very popular Greek food forum on the Worldwide Greeks website, where people can share Greek recipes and ask questions about Greek food. Additionally, Worldwide Greeks has more than 250,000 loyal social media followers who lover Greek food, Greek travel, and Greek culture. Visit WorldwideGreeks.com, where you can join the community (it's free!). Be sure to also follow Worldwide Greeks on social media:
Free online: Love in Winter Wonderland from the NYPL
Free online: Love in Winter Wonderland, a discussion with prize-winning children/YA author Abiola Bello about the YA Christmas romance Love In Winter Wonderland. Hosted online by the Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Branch of the New York Public Library. Tuesday, December 5, 3:30 - 4:30 PM EST.
"Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul." ~Library at Thebes, inscription over the door
The Site by Carlos Valrand

The Alaska Job by Vince Milam
Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

The Cure by K.J. Kalis
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FREE - Lady Mage by Toni Cabell

Where's Chuckawalla Bill's Cabin? by Kevin Heaton
Memoir and Creative Nonfiction

The Angelic Realm by Dennis Macy

Discovering The Spiritual World and It's Healing Powers. “If you’re looking for direction, inspiration, or even comfort; read this book!” -Amazon review. Are you fascinated with the spiritual world? Experience the awe and wonder of heaven and become inspired by the true stories and revelations that are revealed to me to deliver to others. Engulf yourself into a peaceful, uplifting, and mystifying read. 4.5 stars, 184 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW /
FREE - The Billionaire's Wife by Stacy-Deanne and Venus Ray

Stories that uplift & inspire the soul from Kelly Thacker
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Kelly Thacker, an author who delights in letting "characters take on a life of their own," which she says gives her no choice but "to keep your fingers on the keyboard, hang on, and watch what happens." Her ultimate goal: Stories that uplift and inspire the soul.
Read on to learn about I'll Tell You What I Think, the amusing biography of a self-important cat, and Numberless Dreams, a tale of romantic suspense.
I'll Tell You What I Think
Genre: HumorRecent release: September 2023
Paperback: $11.99
Ebook: $4.99
The amusing autobiography of a self-important cat, written from his sophisticated and cynical point of view.
Thor is not your average cat. Suave, cool, man-about-town, he shares his observations of the people and pets in his household. Left on the doorstep as a newborn, his first order of business is establishing himself as the alpha male of the household. This is no problem with Maggie, the insecure family dog, but trying to convince the master of the family, the ultra-alpha male, proves to be more of a challenge.
Although Thor loathes dogs, his impatience with Maggie's insecurities compels him to teach her how to abandon her doubts and embrace life. And with the successful completion of the Maggie project, he plans on spending the rest of his life in total self-absorption. But when the mistress of the house loses a loved one, Thor feels a cracking of his heart, resulting in a closer look at his own selfishness.
I'll Tell You What I Think is an irreverent, humorous, and poignant story for animal lovers. Beyond eliciting laughter at Thor's ridiculous antics and unique voice, the book will tug at your heartstrings as it moves toward a surprising and tender ending.
"This book is absolutely hysterical, from the very first sentence down to the last. I quickly devoured it in a day, and my kids are currently fighting over who gets it next after they read the opening chapter to their friends and they all howled with laughter. This really is a book for all ages, but don’t be fooled—it is sharp and intelligently written." ~Lindsay Maxfield, author of Messages From the Stars
Numberless Dreams
Genre: Romantic Suspense4.3 stars, 9 ratings on Amazon
Paperback: $14.99
Ebook: From $2.99
A broken marriage, a second chance, a charge of attempted murder.
If you had one chance to convince your ex-husband you were not the distant and insecure woman who walked away five years ago, what would you say?
Autumn took a chance breaking into Jonathan's house. How could she make him understand she had been pretending to fall out of love with him to save his life?
She had mistakenly thought she could keep her past safely hidden during their whirlwind courtship and marriage, but it had only resurfaced as she relived the pain of her childhood at the hands of an abusive mother. Now, after spending the last five years exorcising her demons, she is ready to fight for a second chance.
Despite Jonathan’s best efforts to resist, he finds himself falling back in love with the raw vulnerability of this new Autumn. Holding nothing back, she shares the real truth behind her balancing act during the crumbling marriage she had desperately tried to keep together. After many cathartic talks examining their marriage and what went wrong, he is ready to trust her once again.
But when Jonathan is mysteriously poisoned and nearly dies, Autumn becomes the prime suspect. Fighting once again to save her marriage and her life, she takes a gamble on her chance for acquittal, knowing she might lose everything in the process.
"Kelly Thacker’s characters are deliciously flawed and compelling. She unfolds a story both sweet and tragic with such grace that I found myself completely, emotionally engaged. Initially a romance, it evolves through a personal journey of self-discovery, until finally it climaxes as a courtroom drama, with a breathless ending. Incredible!" ~Tres Hatch, internationally acclaimed speaker and author
About the Author

Merry Giveaway: Enter for a chance to win a $150 gift card!
New giveaway: Enter the Merry Giveaway (hosted by Reader Central) for a chance to win a $150 Amazon.com gift card. Deadline: December 31, 2023.
"Remember that the most important thing is to try and love other people as much as they love you." ~David Sedaris, Holidays on Ice
A Shot at Justice by Karla M. Jay

FREE - Three Little Pigs and The Good Wolf by Avery Smart

Concealed by the Tide by Zara West
Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

FREE - Short Italian Stories for Beginners by Lingo Melo

'Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman

Told in a dual timeline and inspired by the Taylor Swift song of the same title, ‘Tis the Damn Season is a charming new contemporary romance destined to break your heart and put it right back together. "A delightful romp through our favorite holiday tropes." -Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love. From $1.99 SHOP NOW /
At Her Pleasure by Joey W. Hill

Spotlight on The Fourteenth of September by Rita Dragonette
Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Fourteenth of September by Rita Dragonette, an enthralling historical novel set during the peak of the Vietnam War and told through the rare perspective of a young woman who traces her path to self-discovery and a “Coming of Conscience.”
"A moving tribute to lives altered by chance." ~Foreword Clarion Reviews
The Fourteenth of September: A Novel
Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction4.2 stars, 316 ratings on Goodreads
4.3 stars, 212 ratings on Amazon
4.7 stars, 21 ratings on BookBub
Paperback: From $11.79
Ebook: $4.99
"A strong-hearted and authentic novel about a naive young girl and her struggle to reconcile the dissonance between the world she sees and the world she was raised to believe in." ~Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
On September 14, 1969, Private First Class Judy Talton celebrates her nineteenth birthday by secretly joining the campus anti-Vietnam War movement. In doing so, she jeopardizes both the army scholarship that will secure her future and her relationship with her military family. But Judy’s doubts have escalated with the travesties of the war. Who is she if she stays in the army? What is she if she leaves?
When the first date pulled in the Draft Lottery turns up as her birthday, she realizes that if she were a man, she’d have been Number One―off to Vietnam with an under-fire life expectancy of six seconds. The stakes become clear, propelling her toward a life-altering choice as fateful as that of any draftee.
Judy’s story speaks to the poignant clash of young adulthood, early feminism, and war, offering an ageless inquiry into the domestic politics of protest when the world stops making sense.
Praise for The Fourteenth of September
"The ebb and flow between a nineteen-year-old’s mistakes, vulnerability, and surprising moments of insight ring achingly true." ~Foreword Clarion Reviews
"An often fresh take on the collegiate anti-war movement in small-town America." ~Kirkus Reviews
"Beautifully written with compassionate and thoughtful narrative and engaging characters who play out all the angst of the era set on a Midwestern college campus when America was at its most vulnerable. Dragonette show us what we can be, both in our best and our worst." ~Windy City Reviews
"A new and unique perspective of the politically divisive Vietnam War." ~Midwest Book Review
"A moving book on this time in history from a rarely heard point of view." ~Historical Novel Society
"A writer of great talent and integrity who infuses this debut work with an energy and vision that lifts it far beyond the ordinary coming-of-age story. This is an important book, not to be missed." ~Gary D. Wilson, author of Getting Right and Sing, Ronnie Blue
"A terrific book for anyone who enjoys American history, women’s lit...or simply a great story." ~Josh Lohrius, author of The Breaking of Goody Boothe
"A novel for those of us who look back and marvel at the profound decisions we were called upon to make when we were so young, [and] for a whole new generation facing the crucial questions of a turbulent, changing world that will define them." ~Barbara Shoup, author of Looking for Jack Kerouac and An American Tune

About the Author

Free online: First Friday Book Talk & Reading
Free online: First Friday Book Talk & Reading. Presented by Larksong Writers Space: Join freelance journalist Carson Vaughan for a discussion of his first book, Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream, and his upcoming book, a travelogue through the Nebraska Sandhills. Friday, December 1, 12 PM CST.
"Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers." ~Kahlil Gibran
Hear, O Earth! by Daniel Arenson

God's Eyes by Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan

Think Like Da Vinci by Wisdom University

FREE - First Cut by J. T. Bishop
Mystery Thriller Crime and Horror

The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise

“An intriguing and entertaining story that’s sci-fi and fantasy with a sliver of romance." -Manhattan Book Review. Nineteen-year-old princess Lilla is a rebel-in-disguise, fighting for the freedom of refugees. But there is a bigger war on the horizon. Lilla must learn to control her magic and defeat the dark god before He finds her. "A terrifically entertaining, complex, and original fantasy." -Kirkus Reviews. Book 1 in the series. 4.1 stars, 440+ ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW /
New Release: The 50-Word Stories of 2023
New release: Get your copy of The 50-Word Stories of 2023: Microfiction for Lovers of Quick Reads from Vine Leaves Press!
Micro fiction has been broadly defined as stories of 300 words or less. There's also flash fiction (aka, fast fiction, sudden fiction, postcard fiction, a micro-story, a nanotale, a short short, etc.). Whatever you call it, these are meant to be quick reads.
Today's featured book is a collection of stories that come in at the extremely compact length of 50 words, "give or take." If you're a fan of Baudelaire's prose-poetry, Robert Walser's writing, Hemingway's super-short stories ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn."), Yasunari Kawabata's "palm-of-hand" stories, the writing of Donald Barthelme or Lydia Davis, or any other quick reads, you'll enjoy this collection.
Bonus: Subscribe to 50 Give or Take from Vine Leaves Press to get daily stories of fifty words or less, straight into your inbox, free!
The 50-Word Stories of 2023: Microfiction for Lovers of Quick Reads (50 Give or Take)
NEW RELEASE: November 28, 2023Genre: Short Story Anthologies
Paperback: $17.99
Read a story between sips of coffee, while running errands, or on your commute home. Vine Leaves Press 50-word stories are a welcome break from a busy day. The 50 Give or Take newsletter series delivers a bite-sized piece of literature straight into your inbox. This anthology contains VLP's third year's worth of stories.
Praise for 50 Give or Take
"50 ways to get to the heart of the matter." ~Joanne Nelson
"50 Give or Take is the itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini of writing." ~Teri M Brown
"Thought-provoking petite prose." ~Theresa Milstein
"Tiny windows that sometimes are also tiny mirrors." ~Tim Canny
"Sometimes what you leave out tells more of the story than your words can." ~Peter Snell
Also Available
Get previous 50-word anthologies from Vine Leaves Press:

About the Publisher
