⏰ Author: H.G. Wells
🆓 FREE
Classic Literary Fiction
He built a machine to travel through time — and discovered the end of mankind.
In The Time Machine, H.G. Wells introduces readers to one of the most enduring inventions in science fiction: the time machine itself. This revolutionary story blends thrilling adventure, scientific imagination, and profound social insight into a masterpiece that forever changed the genre.
When the brilliant but eccentric Time Traveller journeys hundreds of thousands of years into the future, he finds a world divided between two strange races — the gentle Eloi, who live in innocence and sunlight, and the terrifying Morlocks, who lurk in the darkness below. As he uncovers the truth behind their existence, he confronts the fate of humanity — and the destiny that progress may bring.
Visionary, haunting, and deeply philosophical, The Time Machine is not only a tale of exploration but a timeless warning about the fragility of civilization and the relentless march of time.
H.G. Wells essentially invented science fiction as we know it, publishing The Time Machine in 1895 and establishing tropes that still dominate the genre over a century later. Wells wasn’t just interested in gadgets and adventure—he used speculative fiction to explore social class, evolution, and whether human progress is real or illusory. The Time Machine launched his career as one of the most influential writers in literature, someone whose ideas shaped how we think about the future and humanity’s place in it.
Why I’m including this: If you haven’t read The Time Machine, or only encountered it in high school when you were too young to appreciate it, getting it free is an opportunity to experience the book that invented time travel as a narrative device. Wells’s vision of the far future—humanity evolved into two species, the childlike Eloi living in pastoral innocence on the surface while the monstrous Morlocks toil underground—is both science fiction adventure and biting social commentary about Victorian class divisions. The Eloi represent the idle rich, evolved into helpless beauty with no purpose, while the Morlocks are the working class, transformed into predators who literally consume the descendants of those they once served. It’s a horror story disguised as science fiction, asking whether progress inevitably leads to decay, whether civilization is sustainable, and what happens when evolution continues for hundreds of thousands of years. The Time Traveller’s journey gets progressively darker as he travels further into the future, eventually witnessing the heat death of Earth itself—Wells wasn’t interested in optimistic futures. This slim novel (barely over 100 pages) packs more ideas than most modern science fiction trilogies, and its influence is incalculable. Every time travel story written since owes Wells a debt. If you’ve loved modern science fiction and want to understand its roots, or if you’re interested in Victorian social commentary wrapped in speculative fiction, this is essential reading. Getting it free means there’s no barrier to experiencing the book that essentially created a genre.
🐱 Author: Courtney McFarlin
🆓 FREE
Cozy Animal Mystery
She’s found an unlikely consultant to help solve the crime. But this speaking pet might just prove purr-fect…
Hannah Murphy yearns for a real news story. But after a strange migraine results in an unexpected ability to talk to her cat, she must keep the kitty-communication skills a secret if she wants to advance from fluff pieces to covering felonies. And when she literally trips over a slain body, she’s shocked her feline companion is the best partner to crack the case.
Convinced she’s finally got her big break, Hannah quickly runs afoul of a handsome detective and his poor opinion of interfering reporters. And when she discovers the victim’s penchant for embezzlement and fraud, she may need more than a furry friend and a cantankerous cop to avoid ending up in the obits.
Can Hannah catch a killer before her career and her life are dead and buried?
The Body in the Park is the delightful first book in the Razzy Cat cozy mystery series. If you like clever sleuths, light banter, and talking animals, then you’ll love Courtney McFarlin’s hilarious whodunit.
Courtney McFarlin writes cozy mysteries that embrace the talking animal trope with enthusiasm, creating protagonists who gain supernatural abilities to communicate with their pets and use those skills to solve crimes. Her Razzy Cat series has attracted readers who want their cozies firmly in the “I know this is absurd and I’m here for it” category—talking cats, amateur sleuths who interfere with police investigations, and the kind of light mystery where murder is terrible but also an opportunity for character growth and romance.
Here’s what you’re getting: Hannah gaining the ability to talk to her cat after “a strange migraine” is delightfully hand-wavy world-building—McFarlin isn’t interested in scientific explanations, just getting to the fun part where protagonist and cat solve crimes together. Hannah being a reporter desperate for real news gives her legitimate reason to insert herself into murder investigations (unlike many cozy protagonists whose involvement strains credibility). The “handsome detective and his poor opinion of interfering reporters” sets up antagonistic romantic tension—he thinks she’s a nuisance, she thinks he’s obstinate, they’ll definitely fall in love by book three. “Literally trips over a slain body” is cozy mystery tradition, establishing Hannah’s talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. The victim having “a penchant for embezzlement and fraud” means plenty of suspects with motive, while the threat that Hannah might “end up in the obits” adds stakes beyond just getting the story. McFarlin’s promise of “clever sleuths, light banter, and talking animals” tells you exactly what tone to expect—this is comfort-read territory, murder as puzzle rather than trauma. If you’ve loved Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy mysteries (cat solves crimes), Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats mysteries (librarian with cats who have powers), or any cozy where the pet is more than just cute set dressing, McFarlin delivers similar appeal. And it’s free, making it risk-free to discover whether Razzy the talking cat becomes your next cozy mystery companion.
🥪 Author: Kate Moseman
🆓 FREE
Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Beneath the soul of a chef, lies the heart of a witch.
Zelda Hawkins came to Manhattan to make sandwiches, not spells—but when a mysterious vampire offers free rent on her family’s old restaurant in exchange for repairing a magical mirror, Zelda’s plans are flipped like a hot grilled cheese.
With the help of a ridiculous rescue poodle, a mind-reading fire witch, a smoldering ex-boyfriend, and a hot Brooklyn hipster helping with the renovation, Zelda must use the magic she inherited from her grandmother to enter a world of witches, vampires, and fae, where masks and mirrors are only the beginning… and the stakes are higher than New York prices.
Kate Moseman writes paranormal women’s fiction that centers on older heroines (thirties and forties) navigating life transitions while discovering or rediscovering magical abilities. Her West Side Witches series has attracted readers who want urban fantasy with the emotional depth and relationship complexity of women’s fiction, featuring protagonists who are established in careers, dealing with real-world problems, and approaching magic as adults rather than wide-eyed teenagers.
What makes this special: “Beneath the soul of a chef, lies the heart of a witch” is a mission statement—Zelda’s culinary passion and her magical heritage are equally important to her identity. She came to Manhattan with a clear plan (make sandwiches, run a restaurant) that gets derailed by supernatural obligations, which is more relatable than protagonists who’ve been waiting their whole lives for magical adventure. The “mysterious vampire offers free rent” setup is classic fairy tale bargain territory—nothing is ever truly free, especially from vampires. Repairing a “magical mirror” suggests portal fantasy or scrying elements, promising the supernatural extends beyond simple spellcasting. The supporting cast sounds chaotic in the best way: “ridiculous rescue poodle” (animal sidekick with personality), “mind-reading fire witch” (powerful ally with invasive abilities), “smoldering ex-boyfriend” (unresolved romantic history), and “hot Brooklyn hipster” (new love interest possibility). Moseman sets this in Manhattan’s restaurant world, giving the story both New York atmosphere and the high-pressure culinary industry as backdrop. The “stakes are higher than New York prices” is perfect tone-setting—this is urban fantasy that embraces the city’s humor and reality rather than making Manhattan just a generic urban backdrop. If you’ve loved Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches (academic discovering magic as adult), Heather Blake’s Magic Potion mysteries (magical food-related business), or Sarah Addison Allen’s magical realism with Southern flavor transported to New York, Moseman offers similar mature approach to magic. And it’s free, making it perfect for testing whether the West Side Witches become your next paranormal fiction obsession.
NEW RELEASES
The King’s Ransom (The Recovery Agent Series)
🔍 Author: Janet Evanovich
✨ NEW RELEASE
Women Sleuths
“Thriller master” (Mystery and Suspense Magazine) Janet Evanovich takes you on a global hunt to track down missing masterpieces in this action-packed and steamy sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Recovery Agent.
Gabriela Rose, recovery agent extraordinaire, can find just about anything. Too bad she can’t seem to lose her gorgeous-but-infuriating ex-husband Rafer Jones. And now he needs her help. His cousin, Harley, is in trouble…big trouble.
As the president of a too-big-to-fail bank, he invested an astronomical amount of money in insuring some of the world’s most priceless artifacts at the urging of his board. It seemed like a low-risk, high-reward business move, so he jumped in with both feet. But recently, these insured pieces started going missing and worse, there’s no paper trail of Harley being directed to make these risky investments. Unless the artwork can be recovered soon, it looks like Harley is going to be heading to jail as the fall guy for an ingenious crime.
Gabriela knows what she must do: travel around the world with Rafer to find the missing works of art, keep Harley out of jail, and save both his skin and his bank. Along the way, she’ll encounter corruption, threats, murder, mysterious dark forces behind a global conspiracy to destroy the world’s wealth, and a nefarious villain who will stop at nothing to bring the world to the brink of ruin.
Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author whose Stephanie Plum series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and essentially defined modern comedic mystery. With The Recovery Agent series, Evanovich applies her signature blend of humor, sexual tension, and high-stakes adventure to a globe-trotting premise that lets her heroine hunt everything from lost treasures to stolen masterpieces. Evanovich’s genius lies in creating heroines who are competent enough to handle dangerous situations but relatable enough to feel like your funniest, most adventurous friend.
Why I’m including this: Evanovich understands that forced proximity with your infuriating ex-husband while chasing international art thieves is premium entertainment. Gabriela and Rafer have all the chemistry that made readers fall in love with Stephanie Plum and her two competing love interests, but with the added appeal of exotic locations and the art world’s high-stakes glamour. The premise hits the sweet spot between Ocean’s Eleven heist vibes and romantic comedy—they’re racing around the world to recover priceless artifacts before Rafer’s cousin goes to prison, all while navigating the unresolved tension between two people who couldn’t make their marriage work but can’t seem to stay away from each other. The global conspiracy angle raises the stakes beyond a simple art recovery mission, promising the kind of escalating danger and last-minute saves that make Evanovich’s books so addictive. If you’ve been reading Stephanie Plum for years and want something fresh from Evanovich, or if you’ve loved romantic adventure novels like Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners but want more action and international intrigue, Gabriela Rose delivers that same irresistible combination of will-they-won’t-they romance and genuine danger. This is beach-read escapism at its finest—funny, sexy, fast-paced, and featuring a heroine who can track down stolen Rembrandts while trading barbs with the one man who still makes her heart race.
African American Women’s Urban Fiction
NEW RELEASE
Jahquel J.
Zoya:
Ever saw a dead body?
I’ll ask again.
Ever saw a dead body walking among us?
I’ve been dead on the inside since my parents were taken away from me, and I was forced to move out the only home I knew.
Never truly ever knowing love or what it felt like. Always witnessing everyone else have what you wished your heart could do.
Love.
That word love could walk up on me, snatch me up, and I wouldn’t have ever known. Me and that word didn’t exist, and I had come to terms with that when I watched them fighting to save my boyfriend’s life, after my brother nearly took it from him.
Again, love was never meant for me… Zoya Caselli.
Even the big dawg eventually got tired too…
Goon:
There was always love around.
My mother was a single mother to two boys, but there was always enough love to go around. Never being able to leave the house without giving her a kiss on the cheek or saying I love you. Even now, if I hadn’t spoke to her in a few days, she would call to remind me that she loved me.
Physical touch was my love language.
I needed it.
Had to have that shit.
I was Ms. Lawyer’s opposite in every way.
Jahquel J. writes urban fiction that centers Black love stories against the backdrop of street life, creating romance that acknowledges the violence and trauma of that world while insisting that tenderness and devotion can survive even in the hardest circumstances. Her novels have attracted readers who want their urban fiction to dig deeper than surface-level street drama, exploring how people raised in chaos learn to trust, love, and build futures when everything they’ve known has taught them that vulnerability is dangerous.
What makes this special: The dual perspective structure gives us two people approaching love from opposite directions—Zoya, who’s convinced she’s incapable of it, walking around emotionally dead after losing her parents and nearly losing her boyfriend when her brother attacked him; and Goon, who grew up surrounded by his mother’s love and needs physical affection like he needs air. The “Ms. Lawyer” reference suggests Zoya has built a professional life that doesn’t match her street origins, while Goon remains connected to that world. The fact that Zoya’s brother nearly killed her boyfriend creates instant family conflict—how do you love someone when your blood tried to take theirs? The “even the big dawg eventually got tired too” line promises that Goon, despite his tough exterior and street credibility, is exhausted by the life and ready for something real. This is the kind of urban romance that doesn’t shy away from the trauma that shapes its characters—Zoya’s emotional numbness, the violence that nearly took her boyfriend, the family betrayals that leave scars—while building toward healing through connection. If you’ve loved Ashley Antoinette’s emotional depth, Treasure Hernandez’s street authenticity, or Mz. Lady P.’s complex family dynamics, Jahquel J. delivers similar raw honesty about love trying to survive in environments designed to kill it.
The Space He Left (Willowbrook Book 1)
💔 Author: Ivy Myst
Women’s Fiction
Harper Henderson has everything she’s ever wanted—a loving husband, a thriving design business, and a baby on the way. But when Jack’s ex-girlfriend Madison returns to their small town dying of cancer, Harper’s perfect world begins to crumble. What starts as Jack helping an old friend quickly spirals into something darker. Missed appointments. Broken promises. A husband who’s slowly disappearing from their life together.
Note: there is a happy ending for cancer….in more ways than one.
[Since I don’t have information about the author, I cannot write the author credential paragraph that typically follows. However, here’s the closing paragraph:]
What makes this special: This isn’t a story where the conflict is simple betrayal—it’s something far more complicated and morally ambiguous. How do you tell your pregnant self that you resent a dying woman? How do you compete for your husband’s attention when the competition is someone fighting for their life? Harper finds herself in an impossible position: Jack is being noble, compassionate, caring for an old friend in her darkest hour. But nobility doesn’t keep Harper company at dinner. Compassion doesn’t show up for her ultrasound appointments. And caring for Madison means Jack is slowly disappearing from the life he’s supposed to be building with Harper and their unborn child. The “happy ending for cancer….in more ways than one” suggests revelations and resolutions that will reframe everything, making this a story about whether a marriage can survive when the past refuses to stay buried and whether the space someone leaves can ever truly be filled again. If you’ve loved Jodi Picoult’s morally complex family dramas, Liane Moriarty’s exploration of secrets that fracture relationships, or Jojo Moyes’s emotionally wrenching women’s fiction, this promises the same kind of impossible choices and hard-won resolutions that make you question what you would do in the same situation.