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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
April 6, 2012 |
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Happy Easter and Happy Passover --- Celebrate with a Book! |
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Greetings from the Outer Banks where we are vacationing this week. We have a lot going on at the office, so this trip had me working a lot more than I typically do when we are here. Luckily there is a great work space that I have taken over. The weather has been mercurial with a mix of temperatures in the 80s and the 50s. I managed to have to work most of the nice days, which of course was maddening, but I toted four cookbooks with me, and I have had a great time cooking dinners --- including Dr. Pepper Ribs --- and baking cakes. And we are here until Monday, so there is still some time to escape and just have some fun.
Last night we ducked out to see The Hunger Games. I see why it’s been breaking box office records; it is so so well done. We actually were sold out of two showings --- the first time I have experienced that at a movie theater in a while. On Monday night, I enjoyed two documentaries about authors on PBS. The first was an American Masters piece about Margaret Mitchell, "Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel," which had me reminiscing about our visit to the Margaret Mitchell house a few years ago. And then I watched “Harper Lee: Hey, Boo,” the brilliant documentary about the power of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD for a second time.
Speaking of movies, we heard last week that 1492 Films, which most recently produced the Oscar-nominated The Help, has acquired rights to Kristin Hannah’s #1 New York Times bestseller HOME FRONT with director Chris Columbus attached to direct. As Columbus noted in Deadline.com, “I was blown away by this book, I simply could not put it down. It told the story about the cost of war from a completely unique perspective: what happens when a wife and mother is called into action and how her family adjusts to life without her…and to a changed life upon her return. HOME FRONT not only portrays the great sacrifices our military makes for us, but depicts so powerfully the hidden sacrifices their families make as well.” Very exciting. You can read more about this and Kristin’s other movie news here.
Life was not all work and movies this week. There also was some great reading. You can see the covers of the books I read at the top of this newsletter…and you can click here to read my comments about them on the Bookreporter.com Blog.
This week I shared a nice note from Kelley from Houston with the staff where she said, “Thank you for your newsletter. I've been reading it for some time now and my only regret is that there is not enough time in each day to inhale the books you speak of.” Kelley, and the rest of our readers --- we have quite a lineup this week, so you may want to figure out how to inhale.
This week, we are excited to share Sandra Dallas and her latest book, TRUE SISTERS, which will be on sale April 24th, as a Historical Fiction Author Spotlight. TRUE SISTERS tells the story of four women, brought together on the harrowing journey of the Martin Handcart Company from Iowa to Salt Lake City as part of the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church). Through the ties of female friendships and the strength born from suffering, each one tests the boundaries of her faith and learns the real meaning of survival along the way. I read this book a few months ago and appreciated not only Sandra’s writing, but also the historic details as she is a brilliant researcher. Such a treat! We are giving away 35 copies of this book, so be sure to enter the contest by Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.
We are also thrilled literally to be featuring Lisa Jackson, an author that Bookreporter.com readers love, and her book, DEVIOUS (now available in paperback), in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. After the body of novice nun Camille Renard is found in a faded yellow bridal gown at St. Marguerite’s cathedral, New Orleans detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya are called to investigate. This brutal strangulation is especially upsetting to Montoya, who dated Camille in high school. Our reviewer, Donna Volkenannt, says, "Jackson measures out the right dose of mystery, suspense and romance to create a captivating story of jealousy, lust, murder, redemption and revenge." We are also having a contest for this book, so enter by Thursday, April 19th at noon ET to become one of 25 lucky winners!
This week’s Paperback Spotlight feature is SAY HER NAME by Francisco Goldman. A celebrated novelist, Goldman was barely two years into his marriage to the beautiful young writer Aura Estrada when, on their belated honeymoon, Aura broke her neck while bodysurfing. To help overcome his all-consuming grief, he wrote SAY HER NAME. Goldman brings his love back to life in this tribute to Aura --- who she was and who she would have been. Our reviewer, Harvey Freedenberg, says, "In whatever fashion one chooses to read it, SAY HER NAME is distinctive for the unrelenting candor of its journey through the twinned emotions of love and grief." The raw emotion in this book gave me pause.
If it’s April, it’s time for a new book from Mary Higgins Clark. In THE LOST YEARS, Biblical scholar Jonathan Lyons believes he has a letter that may have been written by Jesus Christ. Stolen from the Vatican library in the 15th century, it was assumed to be lost forever. But on the eve before his own murder, he confides to Father Aiden O’Brien, a family friend, that one of those whom he trusted most is determined to keep it from being returned to the Vatican. Our reviewer, Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum, says, "The cast of characters in THE LOST YEARS is large, and each member is distinctly drawn in the way only Mary Higgins Clark can create 'real' people on the page...." Both Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, were interviewed on "The Today Show," which you can see here.
THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani is her “biggest” novel to date, both in the scope of the storyline and the book’s page count. My mom, who, like me, is an ardent fan of Adriana’s, wrote me a fabulous email after she finished reading it and gave it a total rave. Adriana uses the novel format to tell the love story between her grandparents. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future. Our reviewer, Donna Volkenannt, says, "From the exquisite cover through the book’s almost 500 pages, Trigiani captures the essence of the turn-of-the-20th century immigrant experience with beauty, compassion and grace. THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE is an evocative tale of adversity, determination, family, faith and fate with the right touches of romance and wonder." Adriana was also interviewed on "The Today Show," which you can see here.
PARIS IN LOVE is bestselling author Eloisa James’s memoir of the year she spent abroad in France. In 2009, Eloisa took a leap that many people dream about: she sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor at Fordham University, and moved her family to Paris. PARIS IN LOVE chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Our reviewer, Norah Piehl, says, "PARIS IN LOVE reads like a series of postcards from a delightfully witty friend, dispatches from a place where we, too, would love to while away a year." I also interviewed Eloisa about the book, which you can read here. As I enjoyed the book enormously, these questions were a real delight, as were her replies. As I often mention my husband and sons in this newsletter, I was interested to hear how her husband and children felt about their starring roles in her work. Loved her reply. I will have more on why I selected this as a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection next week. It’s also a great book group read --- see the delightful discussion guide complete with treats to serve here.
Three weeks ago, we shared a touching book trailer for a memoir called BLOOM: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected by Kelle Hampton. When Kelle learned she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband were ecstatic. But when her new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew instantly that something was wrong. She was certain that Nella had Down syndrome --- a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Our reviewer, Sarah Rachel Egelman, says, "BLOOM is beautifully written, and Hampton’s photographs add a visual energy and intimacy to the book.... a thoughtful examination of motherhood and facing unexpected difficulties."
Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr.’s THE WOMAN WHO WASN’T THERE is the story of Tania Head, whose astonishing account of her experience on September 11, 2001 transformed her into one of the great victims and heroes of that tragic day. But there was something very wrong with Tania’s story --- a terrible secret that would break the hearts and challenge the faith of all those she claimed to champion. Our reviewer, Amie Taylor, says, "THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE is the fascinating tale of an individual with a sick need to be part of something she never even experienced." Robin and Angelo were interviewed on "The Today Show" yesterday morning, which you can see here. By the way, Robin wrote AFTER THE FIRE: A True Story of Friendship and Survival, which is a book that I still think about. She has a marvelous way of handling nonfiction.
Also out this week is Deborah Copaken Kogan’s THE RED BOOK, the story of Clover, Addison, Mia and Jane, who were roommates at Harvard until their graduation in 1989. Twenty years later, they’ve kept abreast of one another via the Red Book, which contains brief autobiographical essays by fellow alumni. But there’s the story we tell the world, and then there’s the real story, as these former classmates will learn during their 20th reunion weekend. We will have our review next week, but Deborah also was interviewed on "The Today Show" (busy week there this week), which you can see here.
With a new month comes a fresh New in Paperback roundup! This month’s paperbacks include THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø, CALEB’S CROSSING by Geraldine Brooks, ESCAPE by Barbara Delinsky, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh and MURDER ONE by Robert Dugoni, among others.
We also have the latest Books on Screen for April. Among other movies, The Lucky One, based on Nicholas Sparks’s novel of the same name, hits theaters on the 20th. It follows a U.S. Marine Sergeant as he goes in search of a girl he doesn’t know, whose photograph he found during his tour of duty in Iraq. On the small screen, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” has returned for its second season, and PBS, in addition to "Hey, Boo," is airing several movie events, including an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations and another of Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong. For the complete list of movies, TV shows and newly released DVDs, click here.
Meanwhile, our poll continues for another week, so be sure to let us know in what genre the last book you read was, and what genres, if any, you would like to see more of on Bookreporter.com.
We are starting a new Word of Mouth contest this week. Let us know what you’re reading for a chance to win COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline, DROP DEAD HEALTHY: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A. J. Jacobs, and THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci.
Season four of "Nurse Jackie" starts this Sunday, making the Sunday night “What to DVR/What to Watch” conversation all the more interesting. "Mad Men" definitely picked up last week, "The Killing" got off to a good start, and "Game of Thrones" needs to wait til we get home as the rental house does not have HBO. (By the way, I am ready to write a kitchen and entertainment list for rental owners!) Tonight we are headed out to the grand opening of the Duck’s Cottage Downtown bookstore in Manteo. I cannot wait to see what Jamie and Paige have done with the store. We will have more about this for you next week.
Happy Easter and Happy Passover. For humor, the grocery store here has pre-dyed hard-boiled eggs. A way to skip dyeing the rental house!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Now in Stores: THE LOST YEARS by Mary Higgins Clark |
THE LOST YEARS by Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery/Thriller)
Biblical scholar Jonathan Lyons believes he has a letter that may have been written by Jesus Christ. Stolen from the Vatican library in the 15th century, it was assumed to be lost forever. But on the eve before his own murder, he confides to Father Aiden O’Brien, a family friend, that one of those whom he trusted most is determined to keep it from being returned to the Vatican. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
-Click here to watch an interview with Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark on "The Today Show."
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Click here to read a review.
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Now in Stores: THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani |
THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani (Historical Fiction)
Divine Providence intervenes in the lives of Ciro Lazzari and Enza Ravanelli. The two Italian peasants meet under sad circumstances in their native land. Years later, their paths cross again after Ciro becomes a shoemaker in New York City’s Little Italy, while Enza finds work as a seamstress in New Jersey. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.
-Click here to watch an interview with Adriana Trigiani on "The Today Show." |
Click here to read a review.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Eloisa James, Author of PARIS IN LOVE |
PARIS IN LOVE is Eloisa James’s memoir of going on a year-long sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor and moving with her family to Paris. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com co-founder Carol Fitzgerald, James talks about what went into the huge decision to pack up her loved ones and head overseas. She offers advice to those who are seeking similar adventures, shares some of her favorite things about the City of Light, and gives a glimpse into her next book.
PARIS IN LOVE: A Memoir by Eloisa James (Memoir)
In 2009, New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James took a leap that many people dream about: she sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor, and moved her family to Paris. PARIS IN LOVE chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see the reading group guide.
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Click here to read our interview.
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New Featured Historical Fiction Author: Sandra Dallas, Author of TRUE SISTERS |
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We have 35 copies of TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas, which will be in stores April 24th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.
More about TRUE SISTERS:
In order to encourage Mormon converts to emigrate to the promised land (Salt Lake City), a plan was implemented by Brigham Young himself: emigrants were outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts. The settlers were then expected to walk, pushing the handcarts, for the 1,300-mile journey from Iowa City. Several “companies,” as they were called, completed this perilous trek and successfully reached Salt Lake City. But for the Martin Company, one of the very last groups to leave from Iowa City that year, the trip proved disastrous.
TRUE SISTERS tells the story of four women, brought together on the harrowing journey of the Martin Handcart Company, and united by the promises of prosperity and salvation in a new land. Through the ties of female friendships and the strength born from suffering, each one tests the boundaries of her faith and learns the real meaning of survival along the way.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sandra Dallas's bio.
-Visit SandraDallas.com.
-Click here to connect with Sandra Dallas on Facebook.
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Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
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New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Lisa Jackson, Author of DEVIOUS |
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We have 25 copies of DEVIOUS: A Rick Bentz/Reuben Montoya Novel by Lisa Jackson, which is now available in paperback, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.
More about DEVIOUS:
When New Orleans detective Reuben Montoya is called to investigate a murder with his partner Rick Bentz, he’s shocked to recognize the victim. Camille Renard, an old high-school friend, was found on the altar of St. Marguerite’s cathedral, dressed in a yellowed bridal gown and viciously garroted…
Valerie Houston’s younger sister, Camille, had a knack for making bad choices. She left Texas after falling for Val’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Slade. But as Val digs deeper into Camille’s death, she realizes how little she really knows about her sister and their shared past.
Soon more bodies are found brutally slaughtered. No one is beyond suspicion. No one is safe --- least of all Valerie, whose connection to a twisted case is closer, and more dangerous, than she ever could have imagined. For this killer knows all, forgives nothing, and will not rest until Valerie becomes the next to pay for her sins…
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to see the book trailer.
-Click here to read Lisa Jackson's bio.
-Connect with Lisa Jackson on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here for your chance to meet Lisa Jackson and win some fabulous prizes, including a signed copy of her forthcoming book, YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
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New Paperback Spotlight: SAY HER NAME by Francisco Goldman |
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SAY HER NAME by Francisco Goldman (Fiction)
Celebrated novelist Francisco Goldman was barely two years into his marriage to the beautiful young writer Aura Estrada when, on their belated honeymoon, Aura broke her neck while bodysurfing. Francisco was blamed for Aura’s death by her family and, overcome with guilt, he wanted to die too. Instead, he wrote his Prix Femina–winning novel, SAY HER NAME, “a work of raw grief refined into lyrical elegance” (Sunday Telegraph) that has captured the hearts of readers and reviewers across the globe. Without pathos, Goldman brings his love back to life. SAY HER NAME is a love story, a bold inquiry into destiny and accountability, and a tribute to Aura --- who she was and who she would have been.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Francisco Goldman's bio.
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Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
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Now in Stores: MORE THAN YOU KNOW by Penny Vincenzi |
MORE THAN YOU KNOW by Penny Vincenzi (Historical Fiction)
Eliza has a dazzling career in the magazine world of the 1960s. But then she falls deeply in love with Matt, an edgy working-class boy, and gives up her ritzy, fast-paced lifestyle to get married. By the end of the decade, their marriage has suffered a harrowing breakdown, culminating in divorce and a dramatic courtroom custody battle over their little girl. Reviewed by Norah Piehl. |
Click here to read a review.
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Now in Stores: BLOOM by Kelle Hampton |
BLOOM: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected: A Memoir by Kelle Hampton (Memoir)
When Kelle Hampton learned she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband were ecstatic. But the moment her new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew that something was wrong. She was certain that Nella had Down syndrome --- a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
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Click here to read a review.
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April’s New in Paperback Roundups |
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April’s New in Paperback roundups include the following highlights:
CALEB'S CROSSING by Geraldine Brooks (Historical Fiction)
Bethia Mayfield lives among pioneers and Puritans of the 17th century. She yearns for an education, but her gender forbids it. At 12 she encounters Caleb, the Native American son of a chieftain, and the two forge a secret friendship. When Caleb goes to Cambridge to study Latin and Greek, Bethia finds herself there too --- but she is indentured as a housekeeper.
ESCAPE by Barbara Delinsky (Romance)
Lawyer Emily Aulenbach is overwhelmed by her frantic life in Manhattan. She finds herself working for a company she doesn't believe in; her marriage is suffering a major disconnection; and her entire existence is tied to her technological gadgets. Finally she can't take it anymore and runs away. Is there any hope of getting her previous life back on track? Or must she abandon the whole thing?
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Fiction)
A mesmerizing, moving and elegantly written debut novel, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.
MURDER ONE by Robert Dugoni (Legal Thriller)
After the devastating murder of his wife, attorney David Sloane has returned to Seattle. He reconnects with Barclay Reid, opposing counsel in his most prominent case. Barclay is struggling to cope with the death of her teenage daughter from a drug overdose. When she’s accused of murdering a drug trafficker she blamed for the overdose, Sloane is not only her potential romantic interest, but her chosen defender, in his first criminal case.
THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø (Mystery)
It is Oslo in November, and the first snow of the season has fallen. A boy named Jonas wakes in the night to find his mother gone. Antihero police investigator Harry Hole suspects a link between a menacing letter and the disappearance of Jonas’s mother --- and of perhaps a dozen other women, all of whom went missing on the day of a first snowfall. As Hole’s investigation deepens, something else emerges: he is becoming a pawn in a terrifying game devised by the killer.
-Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of April 2nd, April 9th, April 16th and April 23rd.
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Books on Screen for April |
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With the arrival of spring, you may be tempted to spend all your time enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. But when April showers hit, have no fear --- plenty of great movies are releasing this month that will provide you endless indoor entertainment!
The Lucky One, based on Nicholas Sparks’s novel of the same name, hits theaters on the 20th. It follows a U.S. Marine Sergeant as he goes in search of a girl he doesn’t know, whose photograph he found during his tour of duty in Iraq. But when he finally finds Beth, he can't bring himself to reveal his secret.
Jo Nesbø’s work comes to life on the big screen for the first time with the April 27th release of Headhunters. Here we are introduced to Roger Brown, an accomplished headhunter who risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary.
On the small screen this month, a special documentary called "Harper Lee: Hey, Boo" premieres on PBS. If you loved TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD like millions of others, be sure to check it out. Based on interviews and never-before-seen photos and letters, the documentary sheds light on Harper Lee's life, provides a history of the Deep South at the time MOCKINGBIRD was published, and examines the book's ongoing legacy and its impact on influential leaders and public figures from the 1950s through today.
Meanwhile, PBS is also airing several movie events based on classic books, including Great Expectations, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Birdsong.
“Game of Thrones” has begun its second season, in which the struggle for the Iron Throne resumes. “Castle,” "The Firm" and "GCB" continue their respective seasons, and War Horse and We Bought a Zoo are both new on DVD.
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Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs featured in April's Books on Screen.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Kevin O’Brien, Author of TERRIFIED |
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TERRIFIED by Kevin O'Brien (Thriller)
Megan Keeler died years ago --- or so everyone believes. In fact, she disappeared to escape from her sadistic husband, Glenn. When dismembered body parts were found near their home, Glenn was convicted of his wife’s murder. And Megan, terrified for her unborn child’s safety, never came forward with the truth.
Since then, Megan has built a new life in Seattle for herself and her son, Josh. She’s never forgotten that she’s a fugitive, and Josh knows nothing about her past…but someone does. First, there are anonymous emails and threats, just as she learns that Glenn has been released from prison. Then the unthinkable happens: a masked man breaks into their home and abducts Josh.
To save her son, Megan must put herself at the mercy of a maniac. Is Glenn a cold-blooded killer determined to destroy her world piece by piece, or is the truth even more twisted? Megan thought she knew fear, but her nightmare is only beginning…
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read our interview.
-Click here to read Kevin O’Brien’s bio.
-Click here to follow Kevin O’Brien on Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
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Paperback Spotlight: TURN OF MIND by Alice LaPlante |
TURN OF MIND by Alice LaPlante (Literary Thriller)
When Dr. Jennifer White’s best friend, Amanda, is found dead with four of her fingers surgically removed, Dr. White is the prime suspect. But she herself doesn’t know whether she did it. Told in White’s own voice, fractured and eloquent, a picture emerges of the surprisingly intimate, complex alliance between these life-long friends --- two proud, forceful women who were at times each other’s most formidable adversary. As the investigation into the murder deepens and White’s relationships with her live-in caretaker and two grown children intensify, a chilling question lingers: is White’s shattered memory preventing her from revealing the truth or helping her to hide it?
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read our interview.
-Click here to read Alice LaPlante’s bio.
-Visit AliceLaPlante.com.
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Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
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This Week’s Reviews |
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THE WOMAN WHO WASN’T THERE: The True Story of an Incredible Deception by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. (True Crime)
Tania Head’s astonishing account of her experience on September 11, 2001 transformed her into one of the great victims and heroes of that tragic day. But there was something very wrong with Tania’s story --- a terrible secret that would break the hearts and challenge the faith of all those she claimed to champion. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
-Click here to watch an interview with Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. on "The Today Show."
THUNDER AND RAIN by Charles Martin (Fiction)
Texas Ranger Tyler Steele is the kind of hero everybody loves, a chivalrous cowboy who never backs down and knows what the world needs him to be. This lawman’s life changes when he rescues a young woman and her child from an abusive ex-boyfriend. In the process of saving lives, he falls in love and is forced to choose between two amazing women. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
PHANTOM: An Alex Hawke Novel by Ted Bell (Thriller/Adventure)
Counterspy Alex Hawke must catch a villainous megalomaniac, a man obsessed with horrifying experiments in cyberwarfare, in this mesmerizing new installment of Ted Bell's espionage thriller series. Hawke ultimately goes nose-to-nose with an enemy unlike any he's fought before --- and may never again. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE GODS OF GOTHAM by Lyndsay Faye (Historical Thriller)
In 1845, three events converge at a pivotal time for New York City. A deadly fire destroys much of downtown; thousands of Irish Catholics arrive in New York to escape the potato famine; and after years of resistance, a New York City Police Department is formed, creating an army of copper stars. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.
GRACE by T. Greenwood (Fiction)
Thirteen-year-old Trevor Kennedy has endured bullying at school for as long as he can remember. But where Trevor once silently tolerated the jabs and name-calling, now anger surges through him in ways he's powerless to control. Only Crystal, a store clerk dealing with her own loss, sees the deep fissures in the Kennedy family --- in the haunting photographs Trevor brings to be developed. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
A SURREY STATE OF AFFAIRS by Ceri Radford (Fiction)
Constance Harding, a 53-year-old housewife in Surrey, England, springs into the Internet age with a resounding presence by creating a blog that takes us through a calendar year during which she takes off her rose-colored glasses, looks clearly at the people she thought she knew best, and suddenly questions the confining rules by which she has always lived her life. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
HOUSE OF THE HUNTED by Mark Mills (Historical Thriller)
Set in the dark days just prior to the onset of World War II, Mark Mills --- whose previous novels include AMAGANSETT, THE SAVAGE GARDEN and THE INFORMATION OFFICER --- deftly unfolds an electrifying story of betrayal, love, and the inescapable pull of the past, as an ex-spy finds himself drawn back into his treacherous former life. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
AVAILABLE DARK by Elizabeth Hand (Thriller)
Photographer Cass Neary is sent to Helsinki, where an iconic fashion photographer shows her gorgeous photos of ritual killings. After escaping death, Cass flees to Iceland, where she finds a former lover and a legendary, exiled musician. Soon, unsolved murders are rapidly multiplying. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
THE THIEF by Fuminori Nakamura (Thriller)
He has no family, no friends, no connections. But he does have a past, which finally catches up with him when Ishikawa, his first partner, reappears in his life, and offers him a job. Only the day after the job does he learn that the old man he tied up was a prominent politician, and that he was brutally killed after the robbery. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
BLOOD ON THE MINK by Robert Silverberg (Hard-boiled Mystery)
A government agent from the Treasury Department is sent undercover in Philadelphia to infiltrate and break up a brilliant counterfeiting ring. He is soon involved in double- and triple-crosses as his cover is compromised and he crosses paths with a deadly femme fatale. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.
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This Week's Poll and New Word of Mouth Contest |
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Poll:
In what genre was the last book you read?
General Fiction
Literary Fiction
Historical Fiction
Suspense/Thriller
Mystery
Horror
Women’s Fiction
Romance
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Short Stories
Graphic Novel/Manga
Autobiography/Memoir
Biography
History
Current Events
Sports
Other (Please specify)
I'm not sure.
Which of the following genres that we generally do not cover would you like to see on Bookreporter.com? Please check as many as apply.
Self-Help
Diet/Health
Cookbooks
Crafts & Hobbies
Business & Finance
Science & Technology
Travel
Arts & Entertainment
Other (Please specify)
I am happy with the genres that are covered.
I’m not sure.
-Click here to answer our poll.
Word of Mouth:
Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from April 6th to April 20th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline, DROP DEAD HEALTHY: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A. J. Jacobs, and THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the book, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
-Click here to enter the contest.
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