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April 27, 2012

Bookreporter.com Newsletter April 27, 2012
Our Readers Weigh In

Just when you think summer has arrived, in comes more cool weather. This week, I went from flip flops to sandals to shoes to cowboy boots with such rapid speed that I was judging the weather by looking at my feet. The fact that I put away the down comforter HAS to be the reason we needed heat this week instead of air conditioning. Welcome to spring in the New York metro area. I think the flowers are twisting on their stems trying to figure out what is going on.

I confess that I am happy about the change in temperature as I made a really fun tweed jacket, and when the temperatures were climbing into the 80s and 90s, I thought I would not be able to wear it until the fall. I’m already on Day 5 of wearing it, so okay, maybe you can blame me for the heat going back on! It IS really nice that it's back to being bright in the morning and into the evening. I think I need to move hemispheres as the seasons change; it would help my mood enormously.

This morning, there was a lot of excitement around the city as the space shuttle Enterprise did a flyby atop a customized jumbo jet. Pretty amazing experience to see. My son Greg was at Liberty State Park in New Jersey and shot the photo you see above. I saw it above as I was driving, and the staff saw it from the windows of the office. Pretty special moment that will make for a nice memory.

This week, we have some very interesting reader-generated features to share with you, which I am loving. First up, I was unable to be in L.A. last weekend for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, but Kathy Jund, one of our Southern California readers, was there, and I interviewed her earlier this week about the Festival. This year, she brought even more friends with her, who you can see pictured on the blog, which made the weekend even more special. Take a look at what she had to say about hearing and meeting Anne Rice --- as well as dozens of other authors --- here on the Bookreporter.com Blog. Her report made me really sorry I was not able to head west last weekend. Next year! We also have a link to the winners of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes here.

World Book Night was a huge success! Our readers from across the country shared their experiences throughout the week on our Facebook page and in emails to me. We share comments from 17 of them, along with photos from some of them, here on the Bookreporter.com Blog. Reading these stories made me realize how many in this country are without a book to read. For a look at just how farflung the book givers were, see this map: http://www.facebook.com/worldbooknightusa

As I was in the city for the event instead of home where I wanted to give out the books, I did something out of the norm with my copies of A RELIABLE WIFE. I live in a neighborhood where I do not know most of my neighbors, though we have lived here for more than 22 years. There are many reasons for this --- we all are at different stages of our lives, my schedule does not have me with a lot of spare time for “hanging out,” and the houses here are just spread out enough that there is a sense of wide boundaries. While there are some families we spend time with, there are many folks I do not know. So I wrote a letter about why I enjoyed this book and explaining World Book Night. I then made labels for envelopes, slipped the books and letters inside, and dropped them in mailboxes on the block. I told folks that once they read it, if they wanted to talk about it, I would organize an afternoon or evening on my patio to do just that. Sooo I used World Book Night as a way to try to build some community. We will see what happens with this!

Funny follow-up on this. Last weekend, there were some missionaries going door to door. One of my neighbors saw the package in her mailbox and thought it was material from them! Many readers said that they were mistaken for religious organizations. Very amusing. By the way, you can never assume people read. We are constantly surprised by how many of our friends are not readers.

Last night, the Edgar Awards were announced at the annual dinner put on by Mystery Writers of America. You can see the list of winners here. In the spirit of Edgars Week and all things mystery, we asked 20 mystery authors over the age of 30 to contribute to a new feature “20 Over 30” on 20SomethingReads.com where they selected books that they would recommend to twentysomethings. Among the 20 contributors are Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, who are related, and John Lutz and Lisa Lutz, who are not related. Check out their recommendations here.

Here’s what’s new this week:

Our Mother’s Day Blog feature, “Celebrating Authors and their Mothers” has gotten off to a GREAT start this week with Daisy Goodwin, Jeanne Ray, Eloisa James, Darcy Deane, Amanda Hodgkinson, Caroline Leavitt and Jane Myers Perrine. Today we are featuring Donia Bijan, who reflects on a part of her childhood when her mother had a full-time job, but still took the time to write her long, detailed letters each morning. This weekend, you can look forward to an interview with Lisa Brackmann’s mother (Lisa’s new book, GETAWAY, releases on May 1st), and a piece by T. Greenwood, author of the recently released GRACE, which is also a Mother’s Day Contest prize book. We have plenty of wonderful authors still to come until May 18th, so keep checking back for new posts every day!

And…about our Mother’s Day contest. From now through Tuesday, May 8th at noon ET, readers will have the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Mother's Day gift baskets. Each basket is filled with a selection of eight varied and wonderful books, including ARE YOU MY MOTHER? by Alison Bechdel, the aforementioned GRACE by T. Greenwood, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, LOST AND FOUND by Geneen Roth, A NATURAL WOMAN by Carole King, NEXT TO LOVE by Ellen Feldman, THINK by Lisa Bloom, and THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown. Also included are a variety of gifts to treat mom, including Godiva truffles, a bath sponge shaped like a flower, an eye masque that can either be chilled or heated, and Tazo Cucumber White Tea that sounds lovely and has a hint of lime. Be sure to enter for a chance to win! You can share it with your mom if you are not a mom.

This week, we have reviews and interviews for some fantastic new books.

TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas, our current Historical Fiction Author Spotlight title, 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. Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon says, “This talented storyteller presents a riveting tale of hardship and faith as she braids together the lives of these female pioneers. Complete with unexpected plot twists, TRUE SISTERS is an irresistible page-turner. (Just wait until you read the very last sentence of the book --- it is perfect.)” Click here to read our interview with Sandra.

DEVIOUS by Lisa Jackson, our current Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title, is about the case that unfolds after the body of novice nun Camille Renard is found in a faded yellow bridal gown at St. Marguerite’s cathedral in New Orleans. Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya are called to investigate, but the case is more complex than they think. And the brutal strangulation is especially upsetting to Montoya, Camille’s old high school boyfriend. 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.Click here to read our interview with Lisa.

In MIDNIGHT IN PEKING, our first-ever True Crime Spotlight, historian and China expert Paul French at last uncovers the truth behind the notorious murder of a young Englishwoman in 1937, and offers a rare glimpse of the last days of colonial Peking. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, "[T]he success of the book is due to French’s remarkable ability to spark the reader’s interest in events of long ago and far away, and, ultimately, to care about the victim. The book’s last paragraphs are particularly chilling, a dark ending point for a fascinating journey that moves quickly and memorably.” Click here to read our interview with Paul.

We have some other great reviews for you as well.

For all you Stephen King fans out there, the latest installment of his Dark Tower series, THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE, is now in stores. Roland Deschain and his ka-tet --- Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler --- encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two...and, in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past.

For the first time, we are reviewing both the print AND audiobook versions of the novel! King read the novel himself for the audiobook, which inspired us to look into other authors who have done the same for their own audiobooks. We’re currently in the planning stages of a special June Audiobooks Month blog --- keep your eye out for more announcements about this coming soon!

Our prose reviewer, Joe Hartlaub, says, "THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE is a welcome addition to [King's] bookcase of volumes in general and the Dark Tower series in particular. In the twilight of a brilliant and perhaps unequalled career, King is in terrific form." Our audiobook reviewer, Roz Shea, says, “Some stories are meant to be heard. Imagine yourself huddled with your closest friends around a roaring fire as a murderous storm rages outside, mesmerized by a master storyteller spinning tales of long, long ago. That is how Stephen King, master of suspense, breathes life into his characters from the Dark Tower series in the audio version of THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE.

AFTERWARDS is Rosamund Lupton’s newest novel since her bestseller, SISTER, came out last year. In the aftermath of the devastating fire that tears her family apart, Grace embarks on a mission to find the person responsible and protect her children from further harm. This fire was not an accident, and her daughter Jenny may still be in grave danger. Grace is the only one who can discover the culprit, and she will do whatever it takes to save her family. Terry Miller Shannon says, “It is difficult to decide what to praise most highly in AFTERWARDS. Should it be the people who live and breathe on these pages? The perfect pacing of the plot? The intriguing who-done-it puzzle? The ticking-clock urgency of Grace's quest to help her children?

A DEEPER DARKNESS by J.T. Ellison follows medical examiner Samantha Owens, who was introduced to readers in the Taylor Jackson series. The day the Tennessee floods took her husband and children, the light vanished from Samantha’s life. She has been pulled into a suffocating grief no amount of workaholic ardor can penetrate --- until she receives a peculiar call from Washington, D.C. Joe Hartlaub says, “Ellison once again demonstrates a wide range of expert knowledge of forensics and, in this case, insider knowledge of the governmental environs of Washington, D.C.” In addition to the review, we’re giving 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. Click here for all the details.

We have a new poll question this week. We’d like to know which of the books we’ve listed are ones you’ve already read or are planning on reading. And tell us what you’re reading in our Word of Mouth feature to be one of five lucky winners of BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel, HOME by Toni Morrison, and the aforementioned THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE.

Meanwhile, there is a very special opportunity for the kids and teens in your life to vote for their favorite books, authors and illustrators of 2011. The Children’s Book Council has announced the finalists for the fifth annual Children's Choice Book Awards. Thousands of children and teens are able to cast their votes for their favorite books, authors and illustrators at bookstores, schools, libraries and at BookWeekOnline.com from now until May 3rd. The winners will be announced live at the annual Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala on May 7th in New York City as part of Children’s Book Week (May 7-13), the oldest national literacy event in the United States.

I typically work at home on Fridays, but was lured into the city today for lunch with Derf Backderf, the author of a very interesting graphic novel called MY FRIEND DAHMER. Derf grew up with Jeffrey Dahmer and went to high school with him. I read an advance copy of this book last November, and while we all know that serial killers lived their lives among their communities, it’s quite wild to think that the boy in your class went on to this macabre notoriety. As I read it, I found myself thinking about Ann Rule’s THE STRANGER BESIDE ME where she talked about the time she spent seated next to Ted Bundy working on a suicide hotline. It was nice to meet him in person (see the photo above), and while the entire book is wonderful, we all were talking about the one-two punch that he gives readers in the final epilogue. So well done.

One of our readers, Barb, chided me in email for asking her to pick just one format for what she was currently reading in last week’s poll, saying that she was “reading a hardcover print book, an e-book on my Nook, and have an audiobook for when I'm out and driving around, and I know many other readers who do the same thing.” Forgive us for not recognizing our readers for being the multi-tasker readers that they are. I also loved Barb’s signature line where she has what she is reading: Currently reading: CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins (print); THE ADMIRAL’S MARK by Steve Berry (Nook) and listening to KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child; Recently finished: VANISHED; MISS JULIA SPEAKS HER MIND; THE READING PROMISE; THE CHARLEMAGNE PURSUIT (audio). Nice signature line. Consider adding something like that to your own!

I was known for the cupcakes I made when the kids were in school, but the book-themed ones in the photo above cannot be beat. Various friends have been sharing these on Facebook, so I hope I am not breaking some copyright featuring them. Not sure of the photo’s origin!

Cory is headed to Washington, DC this weekend with members of his Engineering, Research and Design class to showcase the projects that they have made in class at the USA National Science and Engineering Expo being sponsored by Lockheed Martin. Nice, eh? We did nothing like that when I was in school. Greg is working on a 30-page story for his genre fiction class, which I am looking forward to reading. THAT is the kind of thing I did do when I was in school!

I am hoping for a quiet weekend as I have a towering stack of books calling my name. On that stack is MY CROSS TO BEAR by Gregg Allman, his highly anticipated autobiography, which will be in stores on Tuesday. Note that there also is an enhanced digital version with audio and photos, as well as original interviews shot with Greg in his home in Savannah and in Macon at The Big House that is supposed to be pretty spectacular. I confess that I already read the pages where he talks about “Queen of Hearts,” my all-time favorite song of his. It ends up that this is one of Gregg’s favorite songs as well, and it took him a year and a half to finish it. And we grumble when authors take a year to write a book! I can see myself playing my favorite Gregg Allman album, Laid Back, as I read!

Here’s to a great week of reading…read on…

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

Now in Stores: THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE by Stephen King

THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King (Fantasy/Thriller)
Roland Deschain and his ka-tet --- Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler --- encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two...and, in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past.


-Click here to read Joe Hartlaub’s review of the hardcover edition.
-Click here to read Roz Shea’s review of the audiobook.

Bookreporter.com Talks to Sandra Dallas, Author of TRUE SISTERS

In Sandra Dallas’ new novel, TRUE SISTERS, four women are brought together on a harrowing journey of Mormon settlers from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the Promised Land, in 1856. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Terry Miller Shannon, Dallas talks about her extensive research process and shares some historical quirks that she had to learn from experts. She also reveals the most emotional aspects of writing the novel and previews her forthcoming release, THE QUILT WALK, her first children’s book.

TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas (Historical Fiction)
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. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Sandra Dallas' bio.
-Visit SandraDallas.com.
-Click here to connect with Sandra Dallas on Facebook.

Click here to read our interview.
 
Bookreporter.com Talks to Lisa Jackson, Author of DEVIOUS

Lisa Jackson’s DEVIOUS, which is now available in paperback, centers on the brutal case of a novice nun who is found murdered outside a New Orleans cathedral. Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya are investigating --- but the crime is much more complex than they first thought. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Donna Volkenannt, Jackson shares how she gets into the minds of serial killers. She also talks about her love of New Orleans, discusses her charity work, and gives a glimpse into several of her upcoming books.

DEVIOUS: A Rick Bentz/Reuben Montoya Novel by Lisa Jackson (Thriller)
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. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

-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.
-Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.

Click here to read our interview.
 
Bookreporter.com Talks to Paul French, Author of MIDNIGHT IN PEKING

In MIDNIGHT IN PEKING, historian and China expert Paul French recounts the true story of a long-forgotten murder case in colonial Peking. When the city was on the verge of Japanese attack in 1937, a young woman was brutally murdered --- but the case went unsolved for years. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub, French discusses his in-depth research into Chinese history, in addition to the history of the case. He also talks about how the book has been received in China, shares his opinions on the Chinese government today as it compares to colonial government in Peking, and reveals one of his greatest influences.

MIDNIGHT IN PEKING: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French (True Crime)
Peking in 1937 is a heady mix of privilege and scandal, opulence and opium dens, rumors and superstition. The Japanese are encircling the city, and the discovery of Pamela Werner's body sends a shiver through already nervous Peking. Is it the work of a madman? One of the ruthless Japanese soldiers now surrounding the city? Or perhaps the dreaded fox spirits? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Paul French’s bio.
-Click here to read more in our True Crime Author Spotlight.

Click here to read our interview.
 
Now in Stores: AFTERWARDS by Rosamund Lupton
AFTERWARDS by Rosamund Lupton (Psychological Suspense)
In the aftermath of the devastating fire that tears her family apart, Grace embarks on a mission to find the person responsible and protect her children from further harm. This fire was not an accident, and her daughter Jenny may still be in grave danger. Grace is the only one who can discover the culprit, and she will do whatever it takes to save her family. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
Click here to read a review.
 
Special Contest: Win a Copy of A DEEPER DARKNESS by J.T. Ellison
We are celebrating the release of A DEEPER DARKNESS --- the first book in a series featuring medical examiner Samantha Owens --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of J.T. Ellison's latest thriller. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 23rd at 11:59PM ET.

More about A DEEPER DARKNESS:
As a medical examiner, Samantha Owens knows her job is to make a certain sense of death with crisp methodology and precision instruments. But the day the Tennessee floods took her husband and children, the light vanished from Sam’s life. She has been pulled into a suffocating grief no amount of workaholic ardor can penetrate --- until she receives a peculiar call from Washington, D.C. On the other end of the line is an old boyfriend’s mother, asking Sam to do a second autopsy on her son. Eddie Donovan is officially the victim of a vicious carjacking, but under Sam’s sharp eye the forensics tell a darker story. The ex-Ranger was murdered, though not for his car.

Forced to confront the burning memories and feelings about yet another loved one killed brutally, Sam loses herself in the mystery contained within Donovan’s old notes. It leads her to the untouchable Xander, a soldier off-grid since his return from Afghanistan, and then to a series of brutal crimes stretching from that harsh mountainous war zone to this nation’s capital. The tale told between the lines makes it clear that nobody’s hands are clean, and that making sense of murder sometimes means putting yourself in the crosshairs of death.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read J.T. Ellison’s bio.
-Visit JTEllison.com.
 
Click here to enter the contest.
 
Bookreporter.com's Seventh Annual Mother's Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love

Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. Why not brighten her special day with some great books? From April 20th through May 8th, readers will have the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Mother’s Day gift baskets. Each basket is filled with a selection of eight varied and wonderful books, along with a variety of gifts to treat Mom: Godiva truffles, a bath sponge shaped like a flower, an eye masque that can either be chilled or heated, and Tazo Cucumber White Tea with a hint of lime.

Our featured Mother’s Day titles are:

Click here to read all the contest details.
 
Mother's Day Author Blogs: Celebrating Authors and Their Mothers

At Bookreporter.com, Mother’s Day once again will be a month-long celebration with the help of some of our author friends and their mothers.

We're off to a great start on the Mother's Day Author Blog, as we've already received posts from Daisy Goodwin, Jeanne Ray, Eloisa James, Darcy Deane, Amanda Hodgkinson, Caroline Leavitt, Jane Myers Perrine and Donia Bijan. Future contributors to the blog include Melanie Gideon, C. W. Gortner, Tayari Jones, T. Greenwood, and more!


Reading these pieces will give you a new understanding and insight into the role Mom played as authors got their start or followed into the literary world.

Click here to read our Mother's Day Author Blogs.
 
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Marc Cameron, Author of ACT OF TERROR
ACT OF TERROR by Marc Cameron (Thriller)
From coast to coast, our nation is witnessing a new wave of terror. Suicide bombers incite blind panic and paralyzing fear. A flight attendant tries to crash an airliner. A police officer opens fire on fans in a stadium. And at CIA headquarters, a Deputy Director goes on a murderous rampage. The perpetrators appear to be American --- but they are covert agents in a vast network of terror, selected and trained for one purpose only: the complete annihilation of America.

Special Agent Jericho Quinn has seen the warning signs. As a classified “instrument” of the CIA reporting directly to the President, Quinn knows that these random acts of violence pose a clear and present danger. But Quinn may not be able to stop it. The search for terrorists has escalated into an all-out witch hunt. And somehow, Quinn’s name is on the list…

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Marc Cameron’s bio.
-Visit MarcCameronBooks.com.
-Click here to connect with Marc Cameron on Facebook.

Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
 
Paperback Spotlight: SAY HER NAME by Francisco Goldman
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.

 
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
 
Contests Running on Other Sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com

We have a number of contests currently running on our other sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com. Please take a look at them below, and enter for your chance to win some fabulous books!

20SomethingReads.com

GETTING NAKED: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully Clothed & Totally Sober) by Harlan Cohen
In GETTING NAKED, the follow-up to Harlan Cohen's bestseller THE NAKED ROOMMATE, Cohen shares his simple five-step approach to finding the love of your life. 20SomethingReads.com has 100 copies of the book to give away, and the deadline for entries is Thursday, May 24th at noon ET.


Teenreads.com

Short Story Writing Contest
Inspired by ANOTHER JEKYLL, ANOTHER HYDE by Daniel and Dina Nayeri, Teenreads.com is inviting readers (and aspiring writers!) to write a story in which you reinvent a classic story or character, making it modern and, most importantly, your own! Write your story in no more than 1,200 words. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, May 15th at noon ET.


ReadingGroupGuides.com

TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas
ReadingGroupGuides.com is celebrating the release of TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas --- the story of four women, seeking the promise of salvation and prosperity in a new land, who come together on a harrowing journey --- with a special contest. 75 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book for their group. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 4th at noon ET.

A BITTER VEIL by Libby Fischer Hellmann
Libby Fischer Hellmann’s A BITTER VEIL is a gripping literary thriller set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution. ReadingGroupGuides.com is giving 20 readers the opportunity to each win a copy of the book for their group. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 4th at noon ET.

THE AMERICAN HEIRESS by Daisy Goodwin
To be a group to win 20 free copies of the paperback edition of THE AMERICAN HEIRESS by Daisy Goodwin, all you have to do is sign up for the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter by May 1st.


GraphicNovelReporter.com

ARE YOU MY MOTHER?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel
In her highly anticipated follow-up to FUN HOME, bestselling author Alison Bechdel searches for the meaning of motherhood in her own life, not only from her actual mother but also from therapists, lovers, writers, and more. To celebrate its May 1st release, GraphicNovelReporter.com is awarding a copy of the book to 50 readers. The deadline for entries is Monday, May 14th at 11:59PM ET.


FaithfulReader.com

ECHOES OF TITANIC by Mindy Starns Clark and John Campbell Clark
In ECHOES OF TITANIC, the great-granddaughter of a Titanic survivor must race the clock to protect her family legacy, her livelihood and her future. 75 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of Mindy Starns Clark's latest novel (which she co-authored with her husband, John Campbell Clark, a lifelong Titanic buff). The deadline for entries is Friday, May 18th at noon ET.

THE FIDDLER: Home to Hickory Hollow, Book 1 by Beverly Lewis
FaithfulReader.com is celebrating the release of THE FIDDLER --- which takes readers to the beloved fictional Amish town of Hickory Hollow, where restless hearts find peace and Old World charm soothes the soul --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the first book in Beverly Lewis' Home to Hickory Hollow series. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 18th at noon ET.

AN UNCOMMON GRACE by Serena B. Miller
50 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of Serena B. Miller's latest novel, AN UNCOMMON GRACE, which centers on the forbidden love between an Amishman and his "Englisch" neighbor. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 18th at noon ET.

MISSING: The Secrets of Crittenden Country, Book One by Shelley Shepard Gray
In FaithfulReader.com's latest monthly contest, one reader will receive a copy of MISSING, the first installment in Shelley Shepard Gray's The Secrets of Crittenden County trilogy. Can two young people survive the suspicions of their friends and neighbors when tragedy strikes a close-knit Amish community? The deadline for entries is Friday, May 18th at noon ET.

This Week’s Reviews

CHASING MIDNIGHT by Randy Wayne White (Thriller)
At a reception hosted by a notorious Russian black marketeer, Doc Ford is able to get an underwater look at the billionaire's yacht. By the time Ford surfaces, everything has changed. Environmental extremists have herded everyone together and threatened to kill one hostage every hour until midnight unless their demands are met. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

UNHOLY NIGHT by Seth Grahame-Smith (Fantasy/Horror)
They’re an iconic part of history’s most celebrated birth. But what do we really know about the Three Kings of the Nativity, besides the fact that they followed a star to Bethlehem bearing strange gifts? Leave it to Seth Grahame-Smith to take a little mystery, bend a little history, and weave an epic tale. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

NOCTURNAL by Scott Sigler (Horror)
Homicide detective Bryan Clauser keeps having dreams that mirror, with impossible accuracy, the gruesome serial murders taking place all over San Francisco. As he and his longtime partner, Lawrence “Pookie” Chang, investigate the murders, they learn that the victims are all enemies of a seemingly ordinary young boy --- a boy who is gripped by the same dreams that haunt Bryan. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

NINETY DAYS: A Memoir of Recovery by Bill Clegg (Memoir)
The goal is 90. Just 90 clean and sober days to loosen the hold of the addiction that caused Bill Clegg to lose everything. With 73 days in rehab behind him, he returns to New York and attends two or three meetings each day. It is in these refuges that he befriends essential allies. But at first, the support is not enough: Clegg relapses for the first time with only three days left. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

FIFTEEN DIGITS by Nick Santora (Thriller)
Every day, five men come together at their white shoe law firm. They're "Printers": blue-collar guys consigned to the dark basement of the firm charged with copying, collating and delivering the mountains of paperwork that document millions of dollars of sensitive legal secrets. Until the five are approached by an ambitious young attorney who teaches them what they have: insider information. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE GREAT NORTHERN EXPRESS: A Writer's Journey Home by Howard Frank Mosher (Memoir)
Faced with a diagnosis of prostate cancer at age 64, novelist Howard Frank Mosher embarked on a 20,000 mile book promotion tour that took him to some 150 independent bookstores. In this memoir he recounts that journey, as well as one back to the roots of his writing career. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

Young Adult Books You Want to Read

As you may or may not know, our company, The Book Report Network, has a number of websites about books and authors in addition to Bookreporter.com. Throughout the year, Bookreporter.com features adult books on Teenreads.com, our site for young adult readers, that we think will have definite appeal to a teen audience. In the spirit of sharing, we are now spotlighting a selection of titles each month from Teenreads.com that we believe are great reads that you might enjoy.

Here are our latest featured titles:

DARK EDEN: EVE OF DESTRUCTION by Patrick Carman (Fantasy/Horror)
Ensnared in a dangerous, ever-deepening mystery, Will Besting must lead his friends through a perilous underground trap masterminded by two devious souls at war with each other. It's a game of cat and mouse, and not everyone will be alive when it's over. Can Will outwit both Rainsford and Goring, ending their reign of fear forever? Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

I HUNT KILLERS by Barry Lyga (Mystery)
For Jazz, the son of the world’s most infamous serial killer, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Now, in an effort to clear his name, he joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz may be more like his father than anyone first thought. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

RIPPER by Stefan Petrucha (Historical Mystery)
Carver Young has always had big dreams of being a detective. Despite his humble upbringing in an orphanage, he gets his chance when he is adopted by Detective Hawking. But when he is thrown into the case of a vicious serial killer who has terrorized New York City, things quickly get real, and soon Carver finds his newfound stability thrown into disarray once again. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

Click here to see all the young adult books we recommend you read.
 
This Week's Poll and Word of Mouth Contest

Poll:

Which of the following books have you read or are you looking forward to reading? Please check as many as apply.

11th HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
THE BEGINNER'S GOODBYE by Anne Tyler
BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel
CALICO JOE by John Grisham
THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR by Steve Berry
COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline
HOME by Toni Morrison
IN ONE PERSON by John Irving
THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci
THE LIMPOPO ACADEMY OF PRIVATE DETECTION: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (13) by Alexander McCall Smith
THE LOST YEARS by Mary Higgins Clark
ROBERT B. PARKER'S LULLABY: A Spenser Novel by Ace Atkins
THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani
THE SINS OF THE FATHER by Jeffrey Archer
STOLEN PREY by John Sandford
TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas
THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King
THE WITNESS by Nora Roberts
I haven’t read any of these books, and I’m not planning to do so.

-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 20th to May 4th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel, HOME by Toni Morrison, and THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, 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.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.


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