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Author: Joseph Flynn
Genre: Mystery Thriller / Police Procedural
Ron Ketchum left the darkness of L.A. behind. But evil found him anyway. 🌲🔍
Ron Ketchum saw more than his share of the dark side during twenty years as an LAPD cop. Burned out and looking for peace, he became chief of police in Goldstrike—a wealthy, picturesque Sierra Nevada resort town where celebrities rub elbows with locals and the biggest problems are usually speeding tickets and noise complaints.
Then one sunny morning, everything changes. Ron stumbles upon a crime unlike anything he’s ever witnessed: the body of an African American man nailed to a tree in a sick parody of crucifixion. The victim is a highly respected minister, and his father is Jimmy Thunder, a nationally known televangelist. The media descends on Goldstrike like locusts. The victim’s grandmother arrives and publicly declares that God will curse the town until the killer is caught. 😱
Here’s the problem: Ron has described himself in court as a “recovering bigot.” Goldstrike’s mayor for life—movie icon Clay Steadman—wants the case solved fast, before the town’s reputation is destroyed. As Ron investigates, he discovers that beneath Goldstrike’s serene, accepting facade lurk plenty of closet racists with secrets to hide. And just when things couldn’t get more complicated, a rogue mountain lion starts attacking people. 🦁
Two parallel hunts—one for a human killer, one for a deadly predator—race toward a gripping conclusion with surprise endings on both counts. In a town where everyone knows everyone, who can Ron trust? And can he catch a murderer before more blood is shed? 💀
What caught my attention: Joseph Flynn is an accomplished thriller writer with multiple acclaimed series, including the bestselling Jim McGill political thriller series (15+ books) and the John Tall Wolf series. With Nailed, Flynn launched the Ron Ketchum Mystery series and proved his versatility beyond Washington politics. This is police procedural done right—complex characters, social commentary that doesn’t preach, tight plotting with genuine surprises, and a protagonist whose personal demons make him more human, not less capable. Readers consistently praise this as “one of the best free Kindle books” they’ve discovered, with many saying they lost sleep to finish it. Flynn tackles uncomfortable subjects—racism, prejudice, redemption—with nuance and respect, creating a story that’s both a page-turner and genuinely thought-provoking. Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, C.J. Box, and Nevada Barr who appreciate mountain settings, flawed but honorable cops, and mysteries that don’t insult your intelligence. The series continues with Defiled and Impaled—and if you enjoy this, Flynn’s other series feature crossover characters that enrich the entire fictional universe he’s created! 🎯
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Author: Kristy T Dixon
Genre: Cozy Mystery
A vacation gone wrong. A mysterious message. A murder hidden for ten years. 📚☕
Ivy Clark has her hands full. The diner is expanding, plans for a much-needed vacation are finally coming together, and life in her small town seems to be settling into a comfortable rhythm. But when Ivy stumbles upon a cryptic message scribbled in the back of a library book, everything changes. The note hints at a murder—but is it real, or just someone’s idea of a sick prank? 🔍
Tabitha Coat’s death was ruled an accidental drowning ten years ago. Case closed. Everyone moved on. But what if they were wrong? What if Tabitha didn’t drown accidentally? Ivy can’t let it go. She can’t rest until she uncovers the truth, even if it means combing through every single book in the town library searching for more clues.
As Ivy digs deeper, enlisting help from her quirky crew at the diner, the mystery becomes more dangerous. Someone doesn’t want the past uncovered. The closer she gets to the truth, the more perilous her search becomes. Will Ivy solve a decade-old murder, or will she share Tabitha’s fate? 😱
And through it all, there’s still the small matter of running a diner, managing the expansion, navigating her slow-burn romance with Jett, and dealing with her adorable (if slightly annoying) cat, Creepers. Just another week in Ivy Clark’s life! 🍰
Why you’ll love this: Kristy T Dixon started writing stories at age seven and never stopped! With a degree in English from the University of Utah, she’s the mother of nine children (and six chickens) who writes cozy mysteries and fantasy when she’s not playing board games or eating cookies. The Ivy Clark Mysteries series is rapidly growing, with ten books planned and readers devouring each installment. What makes this series special? Fun, bantering characters that feel like real people you’d want as friends. Mysteries that keep you guessing without being overly dark. A romance that doesn’t overpower the mystery—it enhances it. And bonus recipes at the end of each book! Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, Diane Mott Davidson, and anyone who loves small-town settings, amateur sleuths, and cozies that are genuinely fun to read. These are quick, clean reads (usually finished in a day) that leave you smiling and immediately reaching for the next book. Plus, each mystery stands alone, so you can jump in anywhere—though reading in order lets you watch the relationships develop! 🎯
Author: Thibaut Meurisse
Genre: Self-Help / Personal Development
Stop making excuses. Start making progress. 💪✨
Why do some people achieve extraordinary success while others struggle despite working just as hard? The difference isn’t talent, luck, or circumstances—it’s the principles they follow. This concise, no-nonsense guide cuts through the fluff of traditional self-help to deliver five life-changing tips that successful people know and use every single day.
Thibaut Meurisse doesn’t waste your time with motivational platitudes. Instead, he provides actionable strategies you can implement immediately to transform your mindset, overcome self-sabotage, and finally break through the barriers holding you back. Whether you’re struggling to achieve your goals, feeling stuck in a rut, or wondering why success seems to come easily to others, this book reveals the hidden patterns that separate winners from everyone else.
Short, practical, and powerful—this is personal development for people who are tired of reading and ready to start doing. 🎯
Why this matters: Thibaut Meurisse is a prolific personal development author who focuses on practical, results-oriented advice rather than empty motivation. His Success Principles series is designed for readers who want real change, not just feel-good messages. Perfect for fans of James Clear’s Atomic Habits, Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*, and anyone who’s tired of self-help books that don’t actually help. At FREE, this is your chance to discover principles that could genuinely change your trajectory—if you’re willing to do the work! 🚀
Author: David A. Wells
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy / Epic Fantasy
Seventy-five years ago, the dragons fell from the sky. We thought they were meteorites. We were wrong. 🐉💥
Six terrifying explosions rang the world like a bell, but we shrugged it off and went on with our lives. More than a decade later, five of the eggs hatched. The dragons that emerged were small, weak, working in the shadows—manipulating people, offering magic as payment. Years passed, and we never noticed the evil growing in our midst.
Then the war began. Nine billion people killed in an afternoon. Survivors called it the apocalypse. The dragons revealed themselves, burning vast swaths of what remained, taunting and murdering anyone still alive. Four leaders arose to fight back: The Wizard, the Dragon Rider, the Monk, and the Dragon Slayer. Allied with a rebel dragon, they waged war for years until they too were defeated, scattered, or killed.
When the war ended, only one dragon remained. But that single dragon was enough to plunge the world into tyranny.
Now it’s Earth, 2178—seventy-five years after Dragonfall. The world has changed beyond recognition. Magic exists. Technology has regressed. And the last dragon rules with absolute power. But there are those who remember freedom, who refuse to give up hope. The resistance begins here. 🔥
What makes this special: David A. Wells is the bestselling author of the beloved Sovereign of the Seven Isles series (7 books). With The Dragonfall Trilogy, he brings his masterful world-building and character development to a post-apocalyptic Earth where dragons and magic have replaced modern civilization. This is epic fantasy with a fresh twist—imagine combining Game of Thrones with The Road, adding dragons that are genuinely terrifying, and setting it in our own world’s future. Readers praise the fast-paced plot, complex characters, and the unique blend of sci-fi technology with old-school fantasy. Perfect for fans of Michael Sullivan, Brandon Sanderson, and anyone who loves stories about rebellion, survival, and heroes rising against impossible odds. The complete trilogy is available, so no waiting for the next book! 🌟
Author: Adrienne Bell
Genre: Romantic Suspense / Contemporary Romance
He’s a former Marine with a dark past. She’s running from danger. Together, they’re explosive. 🔥💣
Carter works for Macmillan Security Agency, where former military operatives use their deadly skills to protect those who need it most. He’s seen combat, made hard choices, and carries scars—both visible and hidden. He’s one of the Sinner Saints: men who’ve done things they’re not proud of but are fighting for redemption.
When a woman in desperate need of protection crosses his path, Carter’s professional detachment shatters. She’s everything he shouldn’t want, and protecting her becomes personal in ways that could get them both killed. Between explosive chemistry and actual explosions, Carter must decide: follow the rules, or break every one of them to keep her safe? 💪❤️
Here’s why this matters: Adrienne Bell delivers alpha heroes with heart, heroines who aren’t damsels in distress, and romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Sinner Saints series features interconnected standalones, so you can jump in anywhere but will want to read them all. Perfect for fans of Julie Ann Walker, Susan Stoker, and anyone who loves protective heroes, sizzling chemistry, and suspense that doesn’t quit. These are military romance readers’ comfort reads—action, steam, and happily ever afters guaranteed! 🎯
Author: Katie Mettner
Genre: Holiday Romance / Romantic Comedy
Nothing says Christmas like meatloaf, mayhem, and mistletoe! 🎄😂
Welcome to Bells Pass, a small town where everyone knows your business, Christmas is serious business, and nothing ever goes according to plan. When these two collide during the holiday season, sparks fly—along with meatloaf, apparently.
This is holiday romance with humor, heart, and hijinks. Expect small-town charm, laugh-out-loud moments, a romance that will warm your heart faster than hot cocoa, and enough Christmas spirit to make even the Grinch smile. Because sometimes the best gifts are the ones you never saw coming. 🎁❤️
Why you’ll love this: Katie Mettner writes feel-good romance with humor and heat, specializing in small-town settings where community matters and love always wins. The Bells Pass series is perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, and anyone who believes Christmas is the most romantic time of year. These are quick, cozy reads that deliver all the festive feels without the angst—just pure holiday happiness! Perfect for curling up with a blanket, some cookies, and a smile! ✨
Heavy: An American Memoir
Genre: Memoir / African American Studies
A searing, unforgettable memoir about weight, memory, survival, and love. 💔📖
Kiese Laymon’s Heavy is one of the most acclaimed memoirs of the 21st century—a raw, honest exploration of growing up Black in Mississippi, the weight we carry (literally and figuratively), and the complicated love between a mother and son. Written as a letter to his mother, Laymon examines how his body became a battleground—shaped by racism, violence, family secrets, and eating disorders.
This is memoir writing at its finest: unflinching, lyrical, and deeply human. Laymon doesn’t flinch from difficult truths about his own behavior, his mother’s expectations, or the systemic forces that shaped them both. A National Book Award Finalist and winner of multiple prizes, Heavy has been called essential reading for understanding contemporary America.
What makes this special: Kiese Laymon is a powerhouse writer—professor, cultural critic, and author who brings extraordinary intelligence and vulnerability to every page. Heavy received universal critical acclaim and became an instant classic. This isn’t just a memoir about weight or race or family—it’s about all the weights we carry and what it costs us to survive. Perfect for fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, and anyone ready for a memoir that will challenge, move, and stay with you long after the final page. At $1.99, this is essential reading made accessible. 🎯
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy
Fifteen books. One epic supernatural love triangle. Pure paranormal romance bliss. 🧙♀️🧛♂️❤️
H.P. Mallory’s beloved series in one massive collection! Follow a powerful witch caught between two impossibly attractive supernatural beings—a charismatic warlock and a dangerously seductive vampire. Who will she choose? (Spoiler: you’ll agonize over the decision right along with her!)
This box set includes FIFTEEN FULL-LENGTH NOVELS packed with magic, romance, humor, and enough supernatural steam to fog up your Kindle. Mallory’s signature style—witty banter, swoon-worthy love interests, and paranormal action—has earned her a devoted fanbase. 🔥
Bottom line: H.P. Mallory is a New York Times bestselling author known for addictive paranormal romance series. At 15 books for under $5, this is an insane value—perfect for binge-reading! Fans of Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, and anyone obsessed with love triangles involving supernatural beings will devour this series. Warning: highly binge-able! Stock up on snacks and clear your schedule! ✨
Genre: Techno-Thriller / Adventure
The largest meteorite ever discovered. An impossible mission. Something that should have stayed buried. 💎🚢
On a desolate island off the southern coast of Chile, an incredible discovery is made: a massive meteorite, the largest ever found, entombed in the earth for millions of years. New York billionaire Palmer Lloyd will pay any price—in dollars and lives—to have it as the centerpiece of his new museum. The problem? At four thousand tons, it’s the heaviest object ever moved by humankind.
Enter Eli Glinn, a mysterious mastermind who specializes in impossible engineering feats. Assembling a team of the world’s finest scientists and engineers aboard a disguised ship, the expedition secretly heads south with a plan to steal the meteorite and transport it back to New York.
But from the first approach to the meteorite, people begin to die. Strange phenomena occur. Something isn’t right about this rock. As a Chilean destroyer pursues them and a catastrophic storm brews, a terrifying question emerges: Are they taking the meteorite somewhere… or is it taking them? 😱
Why I’m including this: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are the #1 New York Times bestselling authors of the Agent Pendergast series (Relic, Cabinet of Curiosities) and masters of intelligent thrillers. The Ice Limit introduces Eli Glinn, who becomes a key character in multiple series. This is techno-thriller at its finest—expertly researched, genuinely suspenseful, with Preston and Child’s trademark mix of science, adventure, and page-turning action. Think Michael Crichton meets The Perfect Storm. Perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, James Rollins, and anyone who loves thrillers that feel plausible until they become terrifying. Bonus: The sequel, Beyond the Ice Limit, reveals what happened to that meteorite! 🌊
Genre: Fantasy Romance
She swore an oath. Breaking it could save her people—or destroy them all. ⚔️👑
In a world where halflings are hunted and magic is forbidden, she made a vow that bound her fate to the crown. But when the king’s true intentions are revealed, honor becomes a cage and her vow becomes a weapon used against everything she holds dear.
Torn between duty and justice, between the oath she swore and the people she loves, she must decide: keep her vow and watch her people suffer, or break it and risk everything. But in a world built on broken promises, can anyone truly be trusted? 💔
What caught my attention: Melissa Blair writes emotionally complex fantasy with morally gray characters, political intrigue, and romance that doesn’t overshadow the plot. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and readers who love fantasy that tackles difficult questions about loyalty, justice, and the true meaning of honor. This is epic fantasy with bite! 🌟
Genre: Historical Fiction
Two wars. Two women. One legacy written in champagne and courage. 🍾💌
Spanning from World War I to World War II, The Champagne Letters tells the intertwined stories of two extraordinary women connected by the champagne houses of France and secrets that echo across generations. As war threatens to destroy everything they’ve built, these women must use every ounce of courage and cunning to protect their families, their businesses, and their very survival.
Through letters, legacy, and the enduring spirit of the champagne region, this is a story of resilience, female strength, and the unbreakable bonds between women across time. 💪
Here’s why this matters: Kate MacIntosh delivers richly researched historical fiction set against the fascinating backdrop of French champagne production during wartime. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and anyone who loves dual-timeline narratives featuring strong women who refuse to give up. Historical fiction with sparkle! ✨
… See the rest of today ‘s Book Picks here on page 2Page 2