Today's Featured Books

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

    

     

Free online: Uffizi Gallery Virtual Tour – The Unmissable Masterpieces Discover one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world: the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. A professional guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Museum and its priceless masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, and many others. Thursday, March 21, 2 - 3 PM CDT.

"Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation...even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind." ~Leonardo da Vinci

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan, author of books that can help enrich your personal, family, community, and spiritual lives. 

"Hope is real. In these times, we can and we must find ways to fuel our belief in one another and make positive change together."
~Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan

• Moving Mama is about how she and her family cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s. It took a village.
• Building Communities of Hope is full of stories about how people can and do make positive change.
• God’s Eyes is about a series of visions and God’s loving gift of pathways for all of us. "No matter where we live or our religious or spiritual practice, God has a path home for each of us," says Anne.  

Moving Mama: Taking Care of Mother During Her Final Years with Alzheimer's

Did you know 6.7 million people in the United States 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! 

★★★★★ "A compassionate guide through Alzheimer's." ~Amazon Vine Voice Review 

★★★★★ "Valuable advice and strategies for navigating the complexities of elder care." ~Amazon Review

Building Communities of Hope: How People are Making Positive Change

Hope? You gotta be kidding me! Are you tired of all the bad news, violence, and stress? There are positive alternatives—practical ways people bring more hope to energize themselves and others. Each of us, deep down, has the spirit and fire within to live in joy. This book is filled with real-life stories about people who are doing just that—living large and making a huge difference. Rave reviews from more than 70 readers and editorial reviewers. Given a Gold Award from Literary Titan, and called one of the 20 Best Community Building Books of All Time by Book Authority. 

★★★★★ "A great book that guides readers toward building a strong community through good deeds. It is also a much-needed resource for self-healing from life’s challenges and advocating compassion, kindness, and love to support one another." ~Literary Titan, Gold Award

God's Eyes - A Vision for Us: Presence, Promise, and Power

Considered a transformative guide, God’s Eyes shares the author’s experience of a powerful vision in which she saw the world and its promise through God’s perspective. Great for seekers, those on a spiritual path, out-of-the-box thinkers, and all who want greater focus and purpose in their lives. This award-winning new release already has rave reader and editorial reviews. It is called a “great work,” “much needed in our world,” and “inspirational and enjoyable!"  

★★★★★ "A thought-provoking book that invites us to embrace the mystery of divine encounters, live in the slipstream of divine guidance, and contribute to a more compassionate world through small acts of kindness." ~Goodreads Review

★★★★★ "Tremendous help on my journey." ~Amazon Review

Congratulations to Effy Redman and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Saving Face, a memoir that pays tribute to anybody who has ever felt like an outsider
 
★★★★★ “When you own this book, you acquire the miracle that is both the human who embodies it and her art.” ~Catherine Filloux, award-winning playwright

Saving Face

What's in a smile? Or the absent smile? Saving Face is Effy Redman's thought-provoking answer.

Born with a rare condition of facial paralysis called Moebius Syndrome, Redman's grit and eye for beauty help her survive childhood bullying and adolescent doldrums. Her physical transformation at age thirteen via plastic surgery eviscerates her concept of image, just in time for her and her family to immigrate from hardscrabble Manchester, England to America's disorientingly scenic upstate New York. Not until diagnosis in young adulthood with bipolar disorder does Redman come out of the closet as a lesbian, finally claiming her most inherent identity.

Saving Face is a searing personal tribute to anybody who has ever felt like an outsider. This memoir honors the grace of a face that stands out in a crowd, defying societal beauty norms. Disability meets transcendence, suffering becomes hope, and the individual expands into community. The inability to smile, in Redman’s book, lights a window onto the human capacity for redemption.

Praise for Saving Face
★★★★★ "The unfurling of a highly entertaining and shocking memoir in which we are asked to face what happens when we are deprived of what we take most for granted." ~Catherine Filloux, award-winning playwright

★★★★★ "A profoundly beautiful, enthralling, and emotionally stirring tale." ~Goodreads Review

Free online: Blaney Lecture. Join the American Academy of Poets for the 2024 Blaney Lecture: "Making the Invisible Visible: Poetry, Science, Perception-Increase, and Change" delivered by Jane Hirshfield, Chancellor Emerita of the Academy of American Poets. Tuesday, March 19, at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET.

“Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness.” ~Alice Walker

War rages among the stars. Can Jon Taylor survive? The complete Soldiers of Earthrise series in one box set! Six entire novels. 2,000+ pages of heart-pounding science fiction from a USA Today bestselling author! Jon Taylor is an Earthling. He doesn't care much about space. At least until his brother dies on Bahay, a war-torn planet many light-years away. Can Jon avenge his brother? 4.3 stars, 182 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the work of author Susan Grant, whose focus on "writing for the soul" has led to books that inspire and motivate readers of all ages. Read on to learn more!

Sweet Dreams, Boone

Boone is a sad and lonely little dog. He doesn’t like to be left alone when Mom goes to work.

To help him feel better, Mom buys him a special basket for his bed. When he sleeps, he dreams of a long-ago time and meets a man who is sad and lonely too, until he meets Jesus.

Perfect for young readers age 5 - 8. 

Praise for Sweet Dreams, Boone
★★★★★ "Children will be immediately drawn to the pet theme and beautiful illustrations." ~Amazon Review

★★★★★ "An adorable picture book with a beautiful message." ~Goodreads Review

The Bottle House

Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering? Is it possible to surrender to God's will during times of despair?

At Bethany R&L Behavioral Healthcare Center, Stacy Meadows, Stefan Krause, and Debbie Young are deeply wounded people struggling to find emotional healing. When they encounter Chaplain Joseph Miller's mysterious bottles labeled for each of them, they are curious: How will a collection of bottles help with their healing—especially when they are feeling angry with God? It is only when these three individuals discover the real purpose behind these mysterious bottles that they discover a deep spiritual reawakening.

Praise for The Bottle House
"A spiritual revelation of how past regrets affect our mental health and cause individuals to lose faith. The Bottle House teaches us that no matter how low we feel, Jesus can forgive us, restore us, and comfort us in every situation we go through." ~LuGina Dumas, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

"The Bottle House offers an ongoing vision of hope and comfort when we are tempted to retreat into despair and loneliness." ~Ann W. Roach, Psychologist

100 Minutes with God

1-Minute Daily Devotions of Timeless Inspirations

God longs to spend time with you, even for a minute. Why don’t you join Him today? 100 Minutes with God is written for those who struggle with finding time to spend with Him. These individual minutes make it possible to connect with our Creator and provide you with material you can contemplate throughout your day. The Scriptures listed on each page allow you to further reflect and meditate on God’s word.

Praise for 100 Minutes with God
★★★★★ "Perfect devotions for busy families, youth groups, working moms and so much more!" ~Goodreads Review

★★★★★ "A great book of daily devotions." ~Amazon Review

      

We all love books, right? And what goes well with books? Coffee? Definitely. And wine? You bet!

With that thought in mind, we're recommending something fun for this weekend: A virtual tour of Greve, an enchanting Italian village known as the Pearl of Chianti. Whether you're a wine enthusiast, a lover of Italian culture, or simply in search of a unique virtual adventure, this immersive experience will transport you to the picturesque streets and rolling hills of Greve in Tuscany, known as the gateway to the Chianti wine region. Sunday, March 17: 5 PM in Rome, 4 PM in London, 12 PM in NYC, 9 AM in LA. 

“Language is wine upon the lips.” ~Virginia Woolf