Spotlight: The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom by Dr. Paris Woods

What if you could graduate from high school or college without crushing debt, start building wealth right away, and set yourself up to retire decades early—if you choose? 

From bestselling author and nationally recognized financial educator Dr. Paris Woods, The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom is adapted from her acclaimed money guide that has helped over 100,000 readers take control of their finances and build wealth. 

This student edition gives you the exact roadmap to avoid the money mistakes most adults make, earn more than you thought possible, and invest early so your future self has options most people only dream about. 

Inside, you’ll learn how to: 

Graduate debt-free while still earning a degree from the school of your dreams 

Earn more money now through smart job choices, side hustles, and personal branding 

Build your first investment portfolio—even if you don’t have much money to start 

Create a “Freedom Fund” so you can travel, switch jobs, or start a business without fear 

Retire in your 30s or 40s (or just have the choice) using the secrets of the FIRE movement 

Design a life you actually want to live—and know exactly how to afford it 

Whether you dream of traveling the world, launching your own business, or simply living without money stress, this book will give you the tools, confidence, and game plan to make it happen. 

Start now. Build freedom into your future. Live life on your terms.

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About the Author

Dr. Paris Woods is a bestselling author, financial educator, and social impact leader focused on helping individuals build clarity, confidence, and long-term financial freedom. She is the author of The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom and The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom, and the founder of Freedom Unlimited LLC. Her work bridges personal finance, education, and equity, with a focus on practical tools that help people make smarter money decisions earlier in life.

Spotlight: It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely

He ghosted me once, now he’s supposed to protect me?

I don’t need a bodyguard—I run a small-town lavender farm, for bee’s sake. But when my identical twin sister lands the movie role of a lifetime that’s being shot in my hometown I get one anyway.

And guess which broody, tattooed protector the studio sends to keep the paparazzi off my porch?

Last month’s almost one-night stand.

The guy with the wicked mouth and heated eyes who slipped out before the fun even started. But turns out the sexy jerk is excellent at rescuing me from sneaky photographers at the market. Then the coffee shop. I’m trying hard to stay mad after the third time my new bodyguard saves me.

To top it all off, he’s staying in the cottage at my farm. With me. And there’s only one bed.

Maybe if we finally give in and finish what we started, it’ll relieve the tension? But one night quickly turns into another. Then into late-night secrets and soft confessions we shouldn’t say out loud. Especially since he’s leaving and I’m staying, and there’s no way we can be more than a summer romance that ends far too soon.

Escape into a spicy and hilarious forbidden small town rom com from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely!

Excerpt

Ripley

He’s touching me in some kind of slo-mo seduction. His fingers move to my jawline, the pads grazing along my face, then coming to a stop at my chin where he holds me. Roams his thumb right under my lower lip. Breathes out hard, full of wanting.

I am done.

“Just kiss me,” I whisper, already begging.

His lips curve up in the pleased grin of a man who holds the cards. “Patience,” he says, voice deep and in charge.

“I’m not feeling very patient,” I murmur.

“Good,” he says, a lion toying with his prey.

Pounce on me.

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About the Author

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

Spotlight: The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble

1915: Manhattan’s Book Row, an eclectic jumble of forty bookshops along Fourth Avenue, is the mecca for rare book buyers from around the world, and the haunt of locals looking for a bargain. It is also the target of the most vicious censor in American history—Anthony Comstock.

And home to three sisters who vow to stop him.

For the three Applebaum sisters, the narrow, four-storied Arcadia Rare Bookshop is the only home they’ve ever known. Olivia, the oldest, is an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. Daphne, the outgoing middle sister, oversees the retail shop and is a favorite with their customers. Celia, the youngest, is left to dust and catalogue, but often sneaks out to do heaven knows what. Little do her sisters know, Celia has joined a group of young people who secretly print and distribute articles on women’s health by hiding them within the pages of ordinary cookbooks, household hints, and sewing patterns, despite the personal risk.

Meanwhile, the Comstock Laws threaten anybody who owns or circulates “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” publications. Even classic literature or fine art could send a person to jail. In the face of such oppression, Celia and the booksellers of Book Row band together. But secrets and a mysterious stranger mean the fate of the famed Book Row is anything but secure.

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About the Author

Shelley Noble is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Whisper Beach, Beach Colors, and The Tiffany Girls, the story of the largely unknown women artists responsible for much of Tiffany’s legendary glasswork, as well as several historical mysteries. A former professor, professional dancer and choreographer, she now lives in New Jersey halfway between the shore, where she loves visiting lighthouses and vintage carousels, and New York City, where she delights in the architecture, the theatre, and ferreting out the old stories behind the new. Shelley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Historical Novel Society.

Spotlight: Ava by Victoria Dillon

What if the only way to reclaim reproductive freedom was to rewrite the very nature of birth itself? 

22-year-old biologist Larkin finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Trapped by strict abortion laws, she is forced to carry her baby to term, only to endure the heartbreak of losing her child hours after birth. She joins a radical scientific movement that aims to replace gestation with incubation, allowing women true control over their reproduction by egg laying.

When she uses it to bring her second daughter, Ava, into the world, she believes she has finally reclaimed her autonomy.

But as Ava grows and begins to question the very choice that created her, Larkin is challenged in ways she never imagined.

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About the Author

Victoria Dillon is a former research scientist, current pediatrician and writer with a passion for exploring the intersections of politics and science. She has a unique ability to blend speculative fiction with thought-provoking social commentary, creating prose that speaks both to the heart and the mind. She has lived in the South throughout her childhood and career and loves naps with her cat, Americana music, and hunting for her next read at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN. She currently resides in Middle Tennessee. Learn more about her writing at: https://victoriadillonauthor.com/

Spotlight: Red Queen, Yellow King by Jack Finn

The Book of Alice #1

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Alice in Wonderland Retelling 

This is book #1 of The Book of Alice duology.

Wonderland has fallen. And something older than kings has taken its place.

Alice returns to consciousness in a ruined palace, her body broken, her mind fractured, her sister enslaved by a queen who wears a crown of thorns and a smile of knives. The Looking Glass is shattered. The Hatter has turned. The White Queen is dead.

But beyond the bloody thrones and broken teacups lies something even stranger—an echo of a play that should never be performed, whispered by a masked god in yellow.

To save what little remains, Alice must navigate a sea of madness, hunt down a missing monarch, and confront the truth behind her own unraveling story.

Some fairy tales end in fire. Others in silence.

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About the Author 

Jack Finn is a horror author and active Horror Writers Association member living in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two fiendishly clever dogs. He is a lifelong believer that the Tooth Fairy proves you can trade body parts for cold, hard cash.

His books by the include, The Wolves of Kalinin werewolf duology: Prey Upon the Lambs (Anuci Press 2025) and The Desolation of Hunters (Anuci Press 2025); the horror collection They Come When You Sleep (Velox Books 2025), a re-envisioning of the Dracula mythos in the standalone novel The Seven Deaths of Prince Vlad (Anuci Press 2024), and the folk horror collection, Legend of the Deer Woman (Crow Street Press, 2023).

Website * Facebook * Facebook * X * X * Instagram * Instagram * Bluesky * Amazon 

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Spotlight: Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes by Tim Hunniecutt

Two different stages of growing up frame Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes by Tim Hunniecutt. One centers on a teenage girl encountering first love; the other follows a young man trying to make sense of his evolving understanding of intimacy.

Some Love Lasts
Set during a summer on the Florida coast, fourteen-year-old Madi anticipates calm days with her grandparents. Instead, she becomes captivated by Matthew, the older boy next door whose swimmer’s build and steady courage make him both admired and quietly intriguing. He is accustomed to being watched, yet when he looks at Madi, something shifts.

Their connection grows as the season unfolds, deepening from curiosity into an intense emotional bond. When a hurricane barrels toward shore, Matthew steps into danger during a rescue that forever shapes Madi’s sense of what love means. The memory of that moment stays with her long after they part. Years later, when they meet again in college, the past resurfaces, raising questions about whether their story ever truly ended.

Excerpt

From Chapter One: The First Save

Though it was still early morning, warm humidity saturated the air. Billowing white clouds with dark spots drifted across the sky. The foaming waves gently crashed on the sand. Tiny sandpipers darted in and out. Seagulls squawked while circling. 

Her eight-year-old sister edged into the water until it covered her feet. “It’s really warm.”

Madi joined her, and Roe grasped her hand firmly as they ventured farther until it reached their chests. Madi crouched and helped her sister float. “Yeah, it’s so warm, like being in a bathtub.” 

She allowed her sister to do what she wanted as they were the only ones on the beach. Grandpa sat on one of the chairs, watching them from the shore. Her sister practiced swimming while Madi held her hat. 

Roe tried to ride the waves as they broke, but they barely rippled, and she moved little if at all. She stood upright. “I’m bored.” 

Madi put her hat on. “What do you want to do?” 

“I’m going to hunt for seashells.” Roe scooted around in ankle-deep water, digging her toes into the sand to locate them. 

Grandpa shouted, “I’ll be back to fetch you girls for lunch.” Madi waved goodbye, but Roe ignored him and continued to hunt for shells. 

Madi suggested, “Let’s go read some.” 

Roe pouted. “I don’t want to read yet. Can I keep looking for shells?”

“Sure, but stay on the beach. Don’t go into the water.” 

“Okay.” 

Madi sat and opened her book, dutifully checking on Roe before becoming absorbed in the story. The book she read enthralled her, and she failed to check on her sister until she finished the chapter. 

When she did, however, she did not see Roe. 

Alarmed, she stood. 

No sign of her on the beach. 

She looked at the Gulf and was shocked to find Roe hanging onto a man swimming toward the shore. Madi dashed forward, still wearing her hat and sunglasses, but she tripped and her hands smacked hard into the sand. Jumping up, she scrambled to the water as he carried Roe through the mild waves. It was the same guy she had seen swimming next door. 

The tall young man put Roe down and smiled. “She got in too deep, and the tide began pulling her out. She isn’t a good enough swimmer to handle the deeper water. She’s okay. She’s a good floater and held on tight while I brought her back.” 

Madi reached Roe and gripped her in a hug. She choked out her words. “What were you thinking? I told you to stay near the edge!” 

Her sister hugged her back and began crying. “I’m sorry! I wanted to practice floating. I didn’t know the water would pull me. I’m okay. Matthew saved me.” 

Madi still wore her hat and sunglasses, but her tears cascaded down her face. 

Madi, the reliable. 

Madi, the dependable. 

Madi, the responsible one, had been reckless with her sister! 

The bitterness and shame of this thought filled her tears. The fact that the guy she noticed in the morning had saved her made it worse. She did not want him to see her face, so she left the now fogged sunglasses and hat on, dropped her head, and mumbled, “Thank you so much.”  

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Getting to Yes
In 1978 Florida, nineteen-year-old Chris searches for authenticity in romance. A hopeful observer of his own emotions, he reflects on the women he dates and the lessons each relationship leaves behind. Through lively and revealing episodes, he attempts to understand both himself and the expectations placed upon him.

Some encounters are playful, others complicated, but all contribute to his evolving view of intimacy. As he grows more self-aware, he begins to recognize what he truly wants. Then he meets Chloe, and the connection feels different from the rest. The story explores innocence, longing, and the complicated path toward commitment as Chris learns what it means to move from attraction to something enduring.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Dazzled by Chloe 

On a hot and humid afternoon in mid-June 1978 in Brandon, Florida, I approached JB’s pizza restaurant where I had worked the previous summer. I had just returned home from my first year at Florida State University. Nineteen years old, I stood a thin six feet. Skinny described me accurately. I had been a distance runner on the cross country and track team in high school and continued to run enough to keep myself thin. I had light hazel eyes and light brown hair, which I had cut in a short, feathered-back style popular in the age of disco. 

Alas, I did not possess flawless skin. I had been plagued by freckles when I was young, and that had been replaced by bad acne in my teens. Most of it had retreated, but it had left some small permanent scars on my face, and my oily skin still contained a few pimples. I would call my looks neutral, neither ugly nor handsome. In my defense, some girls I dated in high school had described me as cute, so I accepted that I could be attractive. 

Sonia, my shift supervisor, had encouraged me to come in this afternoon to find out my work schedule for next week and to meet some pretty, college-aged girls they had recently hired. An immigrant in her late thirties from Brazil, Sonia treated me like her own kid and always wanted to set me up.

I admit to wanting to meet new girls and would take any opportunity to seek the pleasure and intimacy they could bring. I could talk to them and was always dating someone new. 

I hesitated, looked across the parking lot toward the door, and wondered about the girls working inside. Sonia thought one especially would interest me. She called her sweet. 

The clouds in the sky had begun to build into the usual afternoon thunderstorms, and a distant rumble of thunder warned that they would be here soon. The damp heat already soaked me with sweat. I set off over the asphalt to the door. 

I entered a new world by walking through that glass door and meeting her. She stood behind the counter where they made the pizzas in the center of three girls dressed in red aprons and bandanas. On her left stood Sarah, who had started last summer. I did not know the other girl on her right with black hair and a thin face. It didn’t matter; I ignored the others and only looked at her. 

The red bandana framed her round face, and I focused on it. She had shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes—“Cow brown,” she would describe them to me later. She had high, plump cheeks like a child that, combined with her radiant, flawless skin, gave her a look of innocence. She looked fifteen, not nineteen or twenty. I recognized a barely perceptible warm haze coming from her dewy skin, like a warm glow off the fluorescent lights on the room’s ceiling. How could such a thing even be possible? I wanted to doubt what my eyes detected. 

Astonished by what I saw, I could not tear my gaze away. She looked up at me, and it provoked my only possible response: I started smiling, and I could not stop. I stood transfixed with only my smile speaking. It announced that she had dazzled me. She smiled in return and seemed to share the same inability to stop. We stood silently, smiling at each other. Our attraction became so evident that all the other girls and customers noticed, and the smiles spread.

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About the Author

Tim Hunniecutt has loved words since childhood, writing poems and stories for family and friends from an early age. Lifeguards have played a meaningful role in his life, from the rescue of his younger brother to several of his own children who later worked as lifeguards. He studied psychology and English at Florida State University, where the emotional spark for this story began after he fell in love during his first summer home from school. He now lives in Lithia, Florida, with that same girl, now his wife, and enjoys traveling, escape games, ballroom dancing with her, and time with his grandchildren.

Visit Tim at his website and on Facebook.