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July 2, 2010

Bookreporter.com Newsletter July 2, 2010
 
Have a Firecracker Fourth!
The last few nights have been gorgeous, and they sure beat the absolutely wicked heat and humidity that I experienced in Washington, DC last weekend. With the long days that come at the end of June and beginning of July, I have been enjoying sitting outside once I get home from work. We have an outdoor music system, and I love plunking myself in a chair watching the light reflect on the pool; it’s very civilized and downright zen after the craziness of the rest of my days.

When we left off last week, I was on my way to dinner with Amy Gwiazdowski, one of our reviewers. We enjoyed a pizza dinner at her fave spot, Pizzeria Paradiso, and then we walked to a place that opened in her 'hood recently to get gelato and sorbet. We then did what bookish folks do and stopped into Kramer’s (you can see a photo of the two of us above that was taken outside the store). We walked up and down the aisles comparing favorites, with each of us doing book talks about books we loved. For all our conversation all evening, I felt that we really got to know each other as readers as we trolled the aisles. We ran into Charlene Rue from Brooklyn Public Library along with some other librarian friends, which confirmed that bookish folks do travel in packs and migrate to look at books.

This was the last quiet moment in what became a non-stop weekend. Way too much happened for a full report, but here are some highlights. Friday night the folks at National Geographic screened the first episode of their new series, "Great Migrations" (no, not about readers migrating to bookstores, though that would be a good future topic to explore) that will air this fall. Beautifully shot, it breathtakingly traces the migrations of various animals across the globe. I loved it and cannot wait to see the rest of the series. One caution is that this is not a show for really young children. Take this scene as a symbol of my warning: the young wildebeests who do not heed their moms to stay close by as they cross the river are consumed my alligators (or crocodiles…something with LARGE jaws). Unless you want to show kids that they should stay close when in the mall, it will be too much for them! That said, I look forward to watching the rest of this series, and you will want to note it.

Saturday kicked off with Mary McDonagh Murphy being interviewed by legendary librarian/author Nancy Pearl. Mary showed clips from the documentary that she made about TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, which you can view here. It’s brilliantly done with footage from the movie that was made based on the book interspersed with authors talking about what the book meant to them. It has inspired me to want to re-read the book and re-watch the movie.

After a really fun lunch where children’s author Cornelia Funke (pronounced Funka) introduced her new series with the first title RECKLESS (you can see a video where she answers questions from our Kidsreads.com readers here), I taxied to Georgetown for an afternoon tea on Saturday honoring Katherine Paterson, who has been awarded the distinction of being the second National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. We had a lovely time chatting inside, out of the heat and sipping cucumber water (so civilized) and talking about the crisis in libraries today. You can see a photo of the two of us below. By the way, the library advocacy piece that I wrote that was picked up by the Huffington Post has received close to 200 comments and more than 1,000 tweets. And a LOT of mail that I still need to respond to. Wow! Saturday night was a party at the Newseum to kick off the new Dr. Seuss television show that will start airing this September. Now THIS show is perfect for pre-schoolers, with Martin Short as the voice of the cat and science as the theme.

Sunday morning there were a number of YA and middle school author events and then a dash back to the convention center to catch Adriana Trigiani’s stand-up comedy act, I mean, her presentation. With a laugh a minute she shared news about her November release, where she shares the wisdom of her grandmothers in DON'T SING AT THE TABLE: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers. She did her usual lovefest with her readers. Half an hour later I was back in the same chair watching a reading by Heidi W. Durrow, the author of THE GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY. I usually do not love author readings, but she was terrific! She not only read well, but also gave some excellent background on the book.

Sunday evening I went to a dinner where Laura Lippman and Dennis Lehane were the guests of honor. Laura’s stand-alone title, I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE, will be in stores on August 17th; you can see a video that sets it up nicely here. We talked food, besides books, as we dined as Laura and myself and the other folks at the table were foodies, though they made me feel like I am missing something not watching "Top Chef"! Laura has spent a lot of time in New Orleans with her husband David Simon as HBO's "Treme" was being shot, and I know I will be turning to her for restaurant ideas when ALA is in New Orleans next summer (where the food will be as hot as the weather). We were discussing the pricing of eBooks at one point, and Laura said whenever people talk about the price of books, she, a librarian’s daughter, remembers the place where books are free --- the local library!

Dennis switched places with Laura at dessert. Earlier in the day I had heard that his upcoming book, MOONLIGHT MILE, which will be in stores in November, is a follow-up to GONE, BABY, GONE, which means that Patrick and Angie are back, and longtime Lehane fans know how much we have missed those two. I asked him, "Why now?" He said the characters need to talk to him for them to be written, and one day he was driving and realized he heard Patrick’s voice and was ready to write the story. At least he thought he was ready. As he shared in a talk the next morning, he wrote the worst first draft of his life with MOONLIGHT MILE, and it was a few rewrites before he nailed what the book needed to be. At dinner we also talked movies as I am crazy about all three films that were made from his books --- and he loves them, too. Many authors are disappointed in the film adaptations of their work. He credits this success to the fact that he researches who he wants to share his material with trying to find a good match. I started MOONLIGHT MILE as soon as I got back to my hotel, and I am looking forward to floating and reading this weekend.

Monday I enjoyed a series of graphic novel programs and then caught Junot Diaz’s talk. Afterwards I was comparing notes with another attendee who had seen him before, and we both agreed this was his best speech. Got a photo snapped as he signed a book for me and one for Greg, which you can see below. Tuesday morning I attended the rally at the Capitol to drum up library support from Congress. Captured a photo there of my friends Ina Stern and Michael Rockliff from Algonquin/Workman who were headed to meet with their representatives. By the way, I did wear a red library shirt, but tossed an aqua shawl over the top. Red is soooo not my color!

This week we have reviews of the latest titles from a few popular authors ---- Janet Evanovich and Tess Gerritsen, as well as Andrew Britton, who we have been featuring, and Barry Eisler. SIZZLING SIXTEEN is Janet’s latest featuring her popular Stephanie Plum character. You can read our review here. Tess’s ICE COLD is the latest Rizzoli & Isles novel, and just the start of a big summer for that duo. "Rizzoli & Isles" will be the latest crime drama on TNT, premiering July 12th. You can check out the show’s official site here, which also features a great interview with Tess about her beloved characters, how she developed them and their dynamic, and what it will be like to see them on the screen. When I saw her in New York last month, she was beaming while talking about this series. Those of us who remember "Cagney & Lacey" will have some comparisons for this latest female duo. Remember when crime dramas were not all fraught with male/female sexual tension?

I wondered how Joe Hartlaub would feel about Barry Eisler's new book, INSIDE OUT, which has strong political overtones, and thus this line at the start of the review made me smile: "It may come as no surprise to you that Barry Eisler and I are pretty much on opposite ends of the political spectrum. I point this out only because I hope you will believe me when I tell you that his latest offering should be on your immediate must-read list." You can read the review here. As for Andrew Britton's THE EXILE, Joe says, "Britton’s ever-increasing legion of fans will be well-served by this latest installment in the Kealey canon. The world is a complicated and treacherous place, and Britton, like few others, captures it perfectly for the printed page." You can read the review here.

Our third Beach Bag of Books contest is running now; you have just one week left to enter to win a copy each of THE BREAKING OF EGGS by Jim Powell, LIGHT BOXES by Shane Jones, SIMA’S UNDERGARMENTS FOR WOMEN by Ilana Stanger-Ross and THE SLAP by Christos Tsiolkas. I had read SIMA’S UNDERGARMENTS FOR WOMEN last year and loved it. I started THE SLAP before I hopped on the plane to DC last week. Here’s the cover line for the latter: “At a suburban barbeque a man slaps a child who is not his own.” Think about what happens next! Perfect reading this weekend. Our five grand prize winners will receive a copy of each title and a beach bag stocked with beachy items. Five runners-up will win copies of the books. Click here to enter.

We’re also excited to share some fabulous reader feedback for Charles Martin’s THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US, a book I loved and a lot of you did, too. This was one of our recent One to Watch author spotlights. There are some really thoughtful reactions and comments about the book, and as someone who’s been reading Charles since his first manuscript, I’m proud to see that his fanbase keeps expanding. You can see our advance reader comments here. Also, be sure to check in with us on Facebook, and if you're not a member you can still read our posts here.

One more book to note. Paul Levine is known for his Jake Lassiter series, and a new Jake book will be out in 2011. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the hardcover publication of his first Jake Lassiter book, TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD, Paul is making the courtroom thriller available as an eBook for $2.99. And he’s donating all proceeds of the book to a cause that’s very special to him: the Four Diamonds Fund, which supports cancer treatment for kids at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. He reminds readers that even if you don’t own an eReader, you can download the book to your laptop or desktop. Read more about this here.

Well, instead of heeding my ESP and organizing my bookshelves at the house the way I noted last week, Cory has been burning MP3s from our old vinyl albums, another task around here that I really wanted to see done. Considering that the vinyl collection rivals the book collection, this should be a very busy summer for him. Wiley in our office took pity on my not being able to find my copy of GIRLS LIKE US last week and handed me a copy from our shelf. My reading this weekend includes that, the Lehane, a few more treasures I picked up at ALA, and a book I am just nuts about that is mentioned in the Wall Street Journal today, THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, which is not out until next February but is quite wonderful. Yes, I am ready for a weekend of reading ---- and relaxing, floating and swimming. Here’s wishing you all a Firecracker Fourth of July!

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

 
Now in Stores: SIZZLING SIXTEEN by Janet Evanovich

SIZZLING SIXTEEN: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich (Mystery)
Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read an excerpt from SIZZLING SIXTEEN.
 

Click here to read a review of SIZZLING SIXTEEN.

 

Now in Stores: ICE COLD by Tess Gerritsen

ICE COLD: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen (Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen’s relentless, inventive novels take readers on pulse-racing thrill rides that are as satisfying as they are heart-stopping. Now, in this edge-of-your-seat suspense novel, a mysteriously isolated town stands abandoned as a silent watcher waits. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from ICE COLD.

Click here to read a review of ICE COLD.

 

Now in Stores: THE EXILE by Andrew Britton

THE EXILE by Andrew Britton (Thriller)
For the President of the United States, the horror of life in West Darfur just hit too close to home. His niece Lily, a nurse caring for Sudanese refugees, has been murdered by a corps of fearsome government-backed militia. Any response will destabilize the region and threaten the security of the world. America is out of options. Except one: Ryan Kealey. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE EXILE.
-Click here to read Andrew Britton's bio.
-Click here to see Andrew Britton's backlist.
-Visit Andrew Britton's official website, www.AndrewBrittonBooks.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.

 

Click here to read a review of THE EXILE.

 
Bookreporter.com Talks to Carla Neggers, Author of THE WHISPER

Carla Neggers is the bestselling author of over 50 books, including THE RAPIDS, DARK SKY, ABANDON, and the newly released THE WHISPER. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Amie Taylor, Neggers talks about what first inspired her to write this follow-up to her previous works THE WIDOW, THE ANGEL and THE MIST, and explains how she first became interested in Celtic history, which figures greatly in the novel. She also gives insight into how she plots her narratives, shares a useful writing tip from writer Gary Provost, and hints at what readers can expect from her next book, which releases in November.

THE WHISPER by Carla Neggers (Romantic Suspense)
When archaeologist Sophie Malone meets Detective Scoop Wisdom in Ireland, the attraction is instantaneous. But there is no time to explore it as they each race to get to the bottom of a mystery that could literally mean life and death to themselves and those they love. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

-Click here to read a review of THE WHISPER.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE WHISPER.
-Click here to read Carla Neggers's bio.
-Click here to see Carla Neggers's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE WHISPER.
-Visit Carla Neggers's official website, www.CarlaNeggers.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

 

Click here to read our interview with Carla Neggers.

 

Bookreporter.com Talks to Nancy Bush, Author of BLIND SPOT

Bookreporter.com’s Stephen Hubbard recently spoke to Nancy Bush, author of numerous mysteries and romantic suspense thrillers, including the newly released BLIND SPOT. In this interview, Bush talks about the real-life crimes that inspired the book’s premise and gives readers insight into how she plots her novels. She also discusses her fascination with cults, contrasts her “wimpy” personality with that of her heroic protagonist, and shares details about her next co-writing project with her sister, Lisa Jackson.

BLIND SPOT by Nancy Bush (Romantic Suspense)
Psychologist Claire Norris is assigned to treat an unidentified woman, the survivor of a horrendous assault, at a private mental hospital. Also involved in investigating the murder of the girl's boyfriend is Detective Langdon Stone, who holds a grudge against Claire from a previous, very personal case. Can the two put aside their animosities and capture a brutal killer before he strikes again? Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

-Click here to read a review of BLIND SPOT.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from BLIND SPOT.
-Click here to read Nancy Bush’s bio.
-Click here to see Nancy Bush’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for BLIND SPOT.
-Visit Nancy Bush’s official website, www.NancyBush.net.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

 

Click here to read our interview with Nancy Bush.

 

Bookreporter.com Talks to Mary Jo Putney, Author of NEVER LESS THAN A LADY

NEVER LESS THAN A LADY is Mary Jo Putney’s latest historical romance and the second installment in her Lost Lords series, which centers on a group of troublesome childhood friends in Regency England and the women who capture their hearts. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Jennifer McCord, Putney describes the various elements she combined to create her perfect romantic hero, and discusses the research she performed on the time period and culture. She also explains her interest in the assortment of relationships outside of the romantic variety, reveals why she chooses to address important social issues in her work, and shares details about several upcoming projects currently in the works.

NEVER LESS THAN A LADY by Mary Jo Putney (Historical Romance)
As the sole remaining heir to the Earl of Daventry, Alexander Randall knows his duty: find a wife and sire a son of his own. The perfect bride for a man in his position would be a biddable young girl of good breeding. But the woman who haunts his imagination is Julia Bancroft --- a village midwife with a dark secret that thrusts her into Randall's protection. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.

-Click here to read a review of NEVER LESS THAN A LADY.
-Click here to read an excerpt from NEVER LESS THAN A LADY.
-Click here to read Mary Jo Putney's bio.
-Click here to see Mary Jo Putney's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for NEVER LESS THAN A LADY.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.

 

Click here to read our interview with Mary Jo Putney.

 
Bookreporter.com's Sixth Annual Summer Beach Bag Contest: Currently Featuring THE BREAKING OF EGGS, LIGHT BOXES, SIMA'S UNDERGARMENTS FOR WOMEN and THE SLAP

Whether your "beach" is on sand, your backyard deck, or a grassy meadow in the country, the summer months mean it's time for "beach reading." Bookreporter.com is celebrating the lazy days of summer reading with our Sixth Annual Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books feature and contests.

During select weeks from May 28th through September 3rd, we will highlight a different book or collection of books from these featured titles with a contest prize --- a beach bag stocked with the featured book(s) and summertime essentials. Five FABULOUS beach bags will be given away each week, as well as five copies of the featured book(s) to additional winners.

Our current featured Beach Bag titles are:

-THE BREAKING OF EGGS by Jim Powell

-LIGHT BOXES by Shane Jones
-SIMA'S UNDERGARMENTS FOR WOMEN by Ilana Stanger-Ross
-THE SLAP by Christos Tsiolkas
 

Click here to read all the contest details.

 

Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Chevy Stevens, Author of STILL MISSING

Chevy Stevens's debut novel, STILL MISSING, is one of the summer's most anticipated titles, garnering critical acclaim from several bestselling suspense/thriller authors. Stevens masterfully tells the story of a kidnapped woman, her escape, and the struggle to restart her life. STILL MISSING releases on July 6th.

-Click here to read a third excerpt from STILL MISSING.
-Click here to read Chevy Stevens’s bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for STILL MISSING.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about STILL MISSING:
On the day she was abducted, Annie O’Sullivan, a 32-year-old realtor, had three goals --- sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all. Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent as the captive of a psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape
.
 
Click here to read more about Chevy Stevens and STILL MISSING.

 
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Gregg Hurwitz, Author of THEY'RE WATCHING
A mysterious DVD triggers a string of bizarre occurrences in the lives of a Hollywood couple in Gregg Hurwitz's latest thriller, THEY'RE WATCHING. Seeking answers and help, the couple unknowingly accepts both from someone who may in fact be the culprit. THEY'RE WATCHING releases on July 6th.

-Click here to read a third excerpt from THEY'RE WATCHING.
-Click here to read Gregg Hurwitz’s bio.
-Click here to see Gregg Hurwitz’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THEY'RE WATCHING.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.


More about THEY'RE WATCHING:
Patrick Davis is a man with troubles. First his Hollywood dreams crumble and then his storybook marriage hits a snag. Now, DVDs start being delivered to his house --- DVDs that show someone is watching him and his wife, that the two of them are being stalked and recorded by cameras hidden in their house. Then the e-mails start, and someone offers to fix everything, to take the mess his life has become and make it all right. Patrick figures it’s the offer of a lifetime, but he couldn't be more wrong.
 
Click here to read more about Gregg Hurwitz and THEY'RE WATCHING.

 
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: John Gilstrap, Author of HOSTAGE ZERO
Hostage negotiator Jonathan Grave returns in John Gilstrap's latest political thriller, HOSTAGE ZERO. When a hostage situation takes a fatal turn, Grave finds himself entangled in the web of a global conspiracy that stretches from a remote corner of the world to the political elite. HOSTAGE ZERO releases on July 6th.

-Click here to read a third excerpt from HOSTAGE ZERO.
-Click here to read John Gilstrap’s bio.
-Click here to see John Gilstrap’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for HOSTAGE ZERO.
-Visit John Gilstrap’s official website, www.JohnGilstrap.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.


More about HOSTAGE ZERO:
Hostage rescue expert Jonathan Grave is used to working alone, and this time he’ll have to go where even the government won’t. An innocent man has been shot and two young people are missing. But tracking them down is just the beginning. To keep them and his covert team alive, Jonathan must plunge into the heart of an ugly secret whose insidious path reaches from one of the world’s most remote places into the highest corridors of power --- and he must defeat enemies who are willing to kill again and again to keep the truth from being revealed.
 
Click here to read more about John Gilstrap and HOSTAGE ZERO.

 
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Kevin O'Brien, Author of VICIOUS
Kevin O'Brien is back with VICIOUS, his latest thriller starring the "Mama's Boy" killer. The Seattle-area serial killer who held the city in his grip and eluded police at every turn has not been heard from in years --- until he makes his unexpected, chilling return.

-Click here to read a review of VICIOUS.
-Click here to read an excerpt from VICIOUS.
-Click here to read our interview with Kevin O'Brien.
-Click
here to read Kevin O'Brien's bio.
-Click here to see Kevin O'Brien's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for VICIOUS.
-Visit Kevin O'Brien's official website, www.KevinOBrienBooks.com.
-Click here to read Kevin O'Brien's Bookreporter.com blog post about his mother, Adele.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.


More about VICIOUS:
For more than two years, he held Seattle in a terror grip. A cold-blooded killer who abducted young mothers right in front of their sons and murdered them execution style. Then, as suddenly as the killings began, they seemed to stop. Susan Blanchette is looking forward to a relaxing weekend getaway with her fiancé, Allen, and young son Matthew. But something about the remote lake house doesn’t feel right. A woman vanished from the area a year ago, and now Susan thinks she’s spotted someone lurking around the property. And when Allen disappears, her fear grows…

 
Click here to read more about Kevin O'Brien and VICIOUS.

 
Featured Women's Fiction Author: JoAnn Ross, Author of THE HOMECOMING

Hailed as a war hero upon his return from Afghanistan, Sax Douchett feels just the opposite in JoAnn Ross's tender new novel, THE HOMECOMING. Conflicted about his role in the war and returning to the woman he's secretly loved for years, Douchett faces serous decisions about his past, present and future. THE HOMECOMING releases on July 6th.

-Click here to read a third excerpt from THE HOMECOMING.
-Click here to read JoAnn Ross’s bio.
-Click here to see JoAnn Ross’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE HOMECOMING.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.


More about THE HOMECOMING:
Former Navy SEAL Sax Douchett has returned home to the small coastal town of Shelter Bay, Oregon, determined to put war behind him and get on with his life --- which is easier said than done when everyone is hailing the former bad boy as a local hero. Adjusting to a new beginning becomes even more difficult when he unearths a long-buried secret that reunites him with a cherished part of his past that he’s never forgotten.
 

Click here to read more about JoAnn Ross and THE HOMECOMING.

 
This Week's Reviews
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FOREIGN INFLUENCE by Brad Thor (Political Thriller)
Navy SEAL turned covert operative Scot Harvath has just returned from his first assignment abroad when a bombing in Rome kills a group of American college students. The evidence points to a dangerous colleague from Harvath’s past and a plan for further attacks on an unimaginable scale. Harvath is tasked with leveraging his relationship to lure the man out of hiding and kill him on the spot. But what if it’s the wrong man? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

INSIDE OUT by Barry Eisler (Thriller)
Marooned in a Manila jail after a bar fight fatality, black ops soldier Ben Treven gets a visit from his former commander, Colonel Scott Horton, who explains the price of Ben’s release: Find and eliminate Daniel Larison, a rogue operator from Ben’s unit who has stolen 92 torture tapes from the CIA and is using them to blackmail the U.S. government. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from INSIDE OUT.

PROMISES TO KEEP by Jane Green (Fiction)
The lives of three colorful characters intersect when they each receive a shocking note that summons them together for one extraordinary summer in Maine and changes their lives forever. Jane Green’s latest novel is about the hard choices we have to face, about having to be your parents' child long after you've grown up, and about the enduring nature of love. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE by Aimee Bender (Fiction)
In Aimee Bender’s second novel, a young girl discovers a strange power that helps her cope with the secrets of her troubled family. THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE is an affecting story of the ties that bind us and the stresses that drive us apart. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

HOW DID YOU GET THIS NUMBER: Essays by Sloane Crosley (Nonfiction/Essays)
In I WAS TOLD THERE’D BE CAKE, readers were introduced to the foibles of Sloane Crosley's life in New York City --- always teetering between the glamour of Manhattan parties, the indignity of entry-level work, and the special joy of suburban nostalgia. Crosley still lives and works in the Big Apple, but she's no longer the newcomer for whom a trip beyond the Upper West Side is a big adventure. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

THE LOST SUMMER OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT by Kelly O'Connor McNees (Fiction)
Millions of readers have fallen in love with LITTLE WOMEN. But how could Louisa May Alcott --- who never had a romance --- write so convincingly of love and heartbreak without experiencing it herself? In her debut novel, Kelly O'Connor McNees imagines a love affair that would threaten Louisa's writing career --- and inspire the story of Jo and Laurie in LITTLE WOMEN. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
 

Click here to read this week's reviews.

 
Poll, Question and Word of Mouth
Poll:

Do you read more paperback books than hardcovers during the summer?


Yes
No, but this is a good idea
No, I still read more hardcovers
Sometimes
I read more paperbacks no matter what time of year it is.
I’m not sure what I do.

-Click here to answer our poll.


Question:

What is the last paperback you read? Was it trade or mass market? (A trade paperback is a large-sized paperback book, while a mass market paperback is smaller-sized and less expensive.)


-Click here to answer our question.


Word of Mouth:

Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.

This week we have three great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of FAITHFUL PLACE by Tana French, LIVE TO TELL: A Detective D.D. Warren Novel by Lisa Gardner and RULES OF BETRAYAL by Christopher Reich. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon ET on Friday, July 16th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.

-Click here for more details about Word of Mouth.

 

As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online or change your preferences below.

Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page. If you would like to reach me, please write [email protected]. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.

Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by July 31, 2010 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: CORDUROY MANSIONS by Alexander McCall Smith, LIVE TO TELL: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel by Lisa Gardner, THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR by Daniel Silva, RULES OF BETRAYAL by Christopher Reich, and STAR ISLAND by Carl Hiaasen. Debbie from Del City, OK was last month's winner. She won BROKEN by Karin Slaughter, ICE COLD: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen, THE LION by Nelson DeMille, ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE OBJECTIVE by Eric Van Lustbader, and SIZZLING SIXTEEN: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich.

Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, GraphicNovelReporter.com, FaithfulReader.com, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com and AuthorYellowPages.com.

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