Skip to main content

June 21, 2013

Bookreporter.com Newsletter June 21, 2013
Ah Summer, So Glad to See You…and a Milestone

I'm looking forward to today for a few reasons. I LOVE the first day of summer and that it brings the day of the year with the most daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. This time of year, I am energized by the bright light that surrounds me, and this week we have had a few days of spectacular weather.

More importantly, around our house today, we celebrate a milestone as my younger son, Cory, graduates from high school. Wow, that was a FAST four years. He’s headed to the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the fall, where he received a really nice merit scholarship to study mechanical engineering; he inherited his dad’s engineering brain. This whole week, I have been ticking off a whole lot of lasts, and I confess that I am pretty emotional about them. This is the end of a really big chapter for us, and when I focus on it, a big lump forms in my throat. I do know that lots of good things are ahead, and I look forward to watching Cory as he makes his mark in the world. By the way, when he was in middle school, he read a book a day. This is his first summer without required summer reading, and I think THIS is among what is making him really happy as he graduates.

We were heartbroken --- and stunned --- to hear of the passing this week of bestselling author Vince Flynn, who had been battling prostate cancer for three years. Our reviewer Joe Hartlaub, who has read and reviewed many of the books in his popular Mitch Rapp series of thrillers, has written a lovely tribute to Vince, which you can read here. Joe met Vince at ThrillerFest several years ago, and was struck by how gracious he was as he signed multiple books for Joe’s son, a huge fan of Vince’s work. I also met Vince at that event and loved hearing him tell stories as he was interviewed; he was a genuinely nice person with a good sense of humor. His life was way, way too short, he will be sorely missed, and our hearts go out to his family, including his wife and three children. And we also have in our thoughts all of those at Atria, his publisher, as we know how much their publishing relationship with Vince was one that was mutually valued.


Barbara Delinsky
is one of two new authors to be featured in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight. Her new novel, SWEET SALT AIR, is now in stores.
Here, readers meet Charlotte and Nicole, who were once the best of friends but have since grown apart. They eventually reunite, but what they don't know is that they are each holding a secret that may change their relationship forever. In her review, Alexis Burling calls the book "a delightfully indulgent and satisfying read." We also have an interview with Barbara, which you can read here. And I will have my "Bets On" commentary about this book in the weeks to come; it easily made my list as it’s my favorite of her books in years!


Our second new Women’s Fiction Spotlight author is Jessica Brockmole, whose debut novel LETTERS FROM SKYE I savored and also will be a Bets On. The book spans two continents and takes place over the course of two world wars, capturing the way that love builds and the way words can make a heart beat faster. I enjoy sagas, and the way this one plays out in the characters’ own words makes it so charming! We have 25 copies to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which releases on July 9th, and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, July 8th at noon ET.

We have more giveaways to tell you about. Dianne Dixon’s second novel, THE BOOK OF SOMEDAY, doesn’t release until September 3rd, but we’re giving you the chance to win an advance copy NOW. Ever since she was a little girl in California, Livvi Gray has been tormented by a nightmare of an eerily beautiful stranger in a shimmering silver dress. Shortly before Livvi's 30th birthday, she will come face to face with this stranger, an encounter that will not only alter her future, but also change much of what she thinks she knows about the past. I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and as I mentioned, I did not guess the ending. It has some real buzz building for it. We have 100 copies of the book to give away; to enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 11th at noon ET.

Chris Bohjalian
’s new historical novel, THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS, is releasing on July 9th. To celebrate, we’re giving 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy. All you have to do is fill out this form by this Tuesday, June 25th at noon ET. Here’s a preview of the book:
It's 1943 and the Rosatis, an Italian family of noble lineage, believe that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from the war raging across Europe. But when two soldiers arrive at the villa, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquility is shattered. Twelve years later, Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, is assigned to a gruesome new case --- a serial killer targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood. She finds herself digging into a past that involves both the victims and her own tragic history.


Chris has curated a bookshelf for us that was inspired by both THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS and his daughter’s recent appearance in a production of West Side Story. We’ll be sharing it with you very soon, so please be on the lookout for it!

Linda Castillo
’s latest book, HER LAST BREATH, which we’ve been featuring in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight, is now in stores. When evidence emerges that a supposed car accident that killed an Amish deacon and two of his children was no accident, Kate Burkholder begins to suspect that she is on the trail of a cold-blooded killer. This is a search that will make her question everything she has ever believed about the Amish culture into which she was born. I was riveted to the parts about the Amish culture as I read this book; the details are so well done. Joe Hartlaub has our review and proclaims, “HER LAST BREATH rocks. Burkholder’s first-person, present-tense narrative causes the pages to simply fly by, which is a good thing, given that you will want to read the entire book in one sitting.” Joe interviewed Linda, and you can read the Q&A here.


Also out this week (and another Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title) is CRIME OF PRIVILEGE by Walter Walker. A rape and a murder, separated by years and miles. What’s the common denominator? An influential Cape Cod family. And now the district attorney, a witness to the rape back when he was a party hound, is looking into the murder, a case gone cold due to lack of interest. Or maybe it was due to pressure from certain people of privilege. Reviewer Kaye Ayers says, “Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow especially will love this engrossing story of murder involving high society. The author's wit, dry and cutting, is razor-sharp and somewhat reminiscent of Nelson DeMille’s John Corey.” How power is used --- and abused --- is a theme here. Click here to read an interview that Kate conducted with Walter.

Among our reviews this week is THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE, Neil Gaiman’s first adult novel in eight years. In a rural English town, an 11-year-old girl shows a little boy the most marvelous, dangerous and outrageous things beyond his darkest imagination. But an ancient power has been disturbed, and now invasive creatures from beyond the known world are set loose. There is primal horror here, and menace unleashed --- within the boy's family and from the forces that have gathered to consume it. Reviewer Stephen Hubbard offers heaps of praise for the book: "What Gaiman excels at, and where THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE truly succeeds, is in its honest examination of youth, and the very real scariness of being such a tiny soul in a world so vast that you cannot comprehend it."


We also have a review of ALWAYS WATCHING by Chevy Stevens, an author we’ve been watching since her impressive 2010 debut, STILL MISSING. When a distraught woman is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Dr. Nadine Lavoie gently coaxes her story out of her --- and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. According to Joe Hartlaub, “While Stevens’s first two novels presented a protagonist-in-peril situation fairly early on in the proceedings, ALWAYS WATCHING is a bit more nuanced, wherein the events of the past slowly but inexorably intrude into the present with unexpected and dangerous results.” Chevy is one of those authors who I like to read in daylight, or with the lights full on bright; as this story unfolded, I want them to get brighter and brighter.

Last week, we reviewed Sally Koslow’s latest novel, THE WIDOW WALTZ. On a very rainy Tuesday night this week, I attended her event at a bookstore uptown where a large crowd was gathered. As Sally read to introduce us to her characters, I was reminded of why I loved this book: it has great dialogue, inner monologue and pacing. This week, I’m happy to share that THE WIDOW WALTZ is my latest Bets On selection. Click here for my thoughts.

Speaking of author events, this Wednesday night I headed to southern New Jersey to catch Mary Kay Andrews’s event where she shared LADIES’ NIGHT with readers. I loved the way this event was orchestrated in a restaurant, giving Mary Kay a chance to greet and chat with readers casually before and after she gave her formal presentation. Cocktails, goody bags and a raffle to benefit “Restore the Shore” rounded out the night. You can see a photo of me with MKA, as we call her, above.


We continue our Author Spotlight contests that launched last week. We have 50 copies of EYE FOR AN EYE, the fourth book in Ben Coes’s Dewey Andreas series, to give away to readers who would like to read the book (which releases on July 9th) and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET. Last night, a friend was asking for a new writer to explore. He shared who he had read and loved, and I immediately told him to read Ben’s work.

Elizabeth Adler
’s latest novel is PLEASE DON’T TELL, a gripping thriller about a mysterious stranger who shows up on the doorstep of Fen Dexter one night, covered in blood, and his possible connections with a rampant serial killer. Chillingly good. We have 25 copies of the book, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.

Cooking expert Sandra Lee, who I’m sure is familiar to many fans of Food Network, has written
THE RECIPE BOX, a debut novel that releases on July 2nd. Sandra employs her own recipes in this book, which tells the story of a distraught mother who returns to her hometown and finds solace in cooking. (I am loving the accompanying recipes!) We have 25 copies to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.

Our
Summer Reading Feature rolls on. We have contests running on select days through July 31st where we’re giving away books that we think will be great summer reads. This week, we posted giveaways for IS THIS TOMORROW by Caroline Leavitt and SEA CHANGE by S. M. Wheeler. Next week, we’ll be giving away SISTERLAND by Curtis Sittenfeld and GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn. Are you signed up for our Summer Reading newsletter so you get word as soon as our contests go live? If not, click here to get signed up!


June is Audiobook Month, and to celebrate, we’ve been featuring a month-long blog series with pieces from authors who are avid fans of audiobooks. We wrap up the series next week when we hear from five narrators: Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren, Johnny Heller, Robert Fass and Tavia Gilbert. Many thanks to Meg at Tandem Literary for curating these wonderful essays to help us celebrate Audiobook Month!

Our poll has returned! We know many of you have missed being able to weigh in on our poll questions, so we’re very happy to be bringing back this feature. We’d love to get an update about your social media activities. Are you on Facebook? Twitter? Pinterest? Please let us know by answering our questions here. This poll will be up for the next three weeks until Friday, July 12th to give you lots of time to weigh in.


We also have a new Word of Mouth contest for you. Let us know what you’ve read by Friday, July 12th at noon ET, and you’ll have the opportunity to win a copy of the aforementioned SISTERLAND by Curtis Sittenfeld, along with BEAUTIFUL DAY by Elin Hilderbrand and UNSEEN by Karin Slaughter.

Once the graduation is over, we have a quiet weekend on tap. The pool is open and was well worth the wait as it looks spectacular --- and the water is 86 degrees thanks to the heater. I need to get out my floating chair so I can read in style.

Have a great week....read on....


Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

Now in Stores: THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman (Fantasy)
Once upon a time in a rural English town, an 11-year-old girl named Lettie Hempstock shows a little boy the most marvelous, dangerous and outrageous things beyond his darkest imagination. But an ancient power has been disturbed, and now invasive creatures from beyond the known world are set loose. There is primal horror here, and menace unleashed --- within the boy's family and from the forces that have gathered to consume it. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

Click here to read a review.
Bookreporter.com Talks to Barbara Delinsky, Author of SWEET SALT AIR

Bestselling author Barbara Delinsky returns with a new novel just in time for the summer. SWEET SALT AIR is the story of best friends Nicole and Charlotte, who have grown distant over the years as each clings desperately to her own secrets. When they reunite one summer to work together on a cookbook, they find that sharing their hidden histories might test the limits of their friendship --- and ultimately set them free. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Alexis Burling, Delinsky talks about the themes that drive the story forward: friendship, loss, and the inspiration to grow despite past pain. She also opens up about how her own experiences color her worldview, and explains why it’s important to embrace life’s imperfections.

SWEET SALT AIR by Barbara Delinsky (Fiction)
Charlotte and Nicole were once the best of friends, spending summers together in Nicole's family's island house, but they have since grown apart. When Nicole returns to the island house, she invites her old friend Charlotte for both sentimental and practical reasons. But what both women don't know is that they are each holding a secret that may change their relationship forever. Are the bonds of friendship strong enough to weather past indiscretions and betrayals? Can love survive an honest mistake? Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-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 Barbara Delinsky's bio.
-
Click here to visit Barbara Delinsky's official website.
-
Click here to connect with Barbara Delinsky on Facebook.
-
Click here to download Barbara Delinsky's FREE e-short story, "The Right Wrong Number."
-Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.

Click here to read our interview.
New Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight and Contest: LETTERS FROM SKYE by Jessica Brockmole

We have 25 copies of LETTERS FROM SKYE by Jessica Brockmole, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, July 8th at noon ET.

LETTERS FROM SKYE by Jessica Brockmole (Historical Fiction)
March 1912: Twenty-four-year-old Elspeth Dunn, a published poet, has never seen the world beyond her home on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. So she is astonished when her first fan letter arrives, from a college student, David Graham, in far-away America. As the two strike up a correspondence --- sharing their favorite books, wildest hopes and deepest secrets --- their exchanges blossom into friendship, and eventually into love. But as World War I engulfs Europe and David volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait for him on Skye, hoping he’ll survive.

June 1940: At the start of World War II, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has fallen for a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Her mother warns her against seeking love in wartime, an admonition Margaret doesn’t understand. Then, after a bomb rocks Elspeth’s house, and letters that were hidden in a wall come raining down, Elspeth disappears. Only a single letter remains as a clue to Elspeth’s whereabouts. As Margaret sets out to discover where her mother has gone, she must also face the truth of what happened to her family long ago.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read Jessica Brockmole’s bio.
-Click here to visit Jessica Brockmole’s official website.
-Connect with Jessica Brockmole on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
New Special Contest: Win an Advance Copy of THE BOOK OF SOMEDAY by Dianne Dixon
We are celebrating the September 3rd release of THE BOOK OF SOMEDAY by Dianne Dixon with a special contest that will give 100 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 11th at noon ET.

THE BOOK OF SOMEDAY by Dianne Dixon (Fiction)
California girl Livvi Gray has always been haunted by a terrifying nightmare of an eerily beautiful stranger in a shimmering silver dress. Shortly before Livvi’s 30th birthday, she will come face to face with the stranger from her dream, an encounter that will not only alter Livvi’s future, but change much of what she thinks she knows about the past.

THE BOOK OF SOMEDAY tells Livvi’s story in parallel with that of a brilliant Boston photographer named Micah and a young Long Island wife and mother named AnnaLee. Like Livvi, these two women are swiftly moving toward events that will prove to be the ultimate turning points in their lives, the places where devastating secrets will be exposed --- secrets about the unexpected ways in which we choose to protect, and betray, the people we love.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Dianne Dixon's bio.
-Click here to visit Dianne Dixon's official website.

Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Talks to Linda Castillo, Author of HER LAST BREATH

What if a tragic but routine car accident is really a case of premeditated murder? That's the question Linda Castillo asks in HER LAST BREATH, the latest installment in her Kate Burkholder series. In this interview, Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub asks a few questions of his own, including how much of the events in the book are based on real incidents and what kind of skeletons are still lurking in Kate Burkholder's closet. Castillo also discusses the fascinating and thinly veiled tension between the Amish and the "English," how daydreaming during a citizen's police academy workshop led to a key plot point, and the thrill of challenging her characters by putting them in worst-case scenarios.

HER LAST BREATH by Linda Castillo (Thriller/Mystery)
Evidence emerges that there was nothing accidental about a supposed car accident that killed an Amish deacon and two of his children. Kate Burkholder begins to suspect that she is on the trail of a cold-blooded killer. It is a search that takes her on a chilling journey into the darkest reaches of the human heart and makes her question everything she has ever believed about the Amish culture into which she was born. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-
Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here to read Linda Castillo's bio.
-Click here to visit Linda Castillo's website.
-Click here to connect with Linda Castillo on Facebook.
-Click here to see the 25 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.

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

Click here to read our interview.
Bookreporter.com Talks to Walter Walker, Author of CRIME OF PRIVILEGE

In addition to writing legal thrillers, Walter Walker is a San Francisco trial attorney, so he knows a thing or two about how the system works. His latest novel, CRIME OF PRIVILEGE, is told from the perspective of George Becket, a young lawyer who has always lived at the edge of power. Now, an investigation brings him deep inside the world of the truly wealthy --- and shows him what a perilous place it is. Bookreporter.com’s Kate Ayers interviews Walker about the fine, crooked line between power and politics, what makes George such a compelling and entertaining narrator, and honing his own powers of observation in the courtroom --- and in life. He also discusses the parallel maturation of his legal and writing ambitions and why it seems that so many lawyers are interested in becoming authors, too.

CRIME OF PRIVILEGE by Walter Walker (Thriller/Mystery)
Years have passed since a young woman was found brutally slain at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club, and no one has ever been charged. Cornered by her father, lawyer George Becket can’t explain why certain leads were never explored --- leads that point in the direction of a single family --- and he agrees to look into it. Despite threats at every turn, George is driven to reconstruct the victim’s last hours while searching not only for a killer but for his own redemption. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Walter Walker's bio.
-Click here to see the 25 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.

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

Click here to read our interview.
Remembering Vince Flynn (1966-2013)
We at Bookreporter.com mourn the loss of Vince Flynn, who passed away on June 19th at the age of 47 after a three-year battle with prostate cancer.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of political thrillers published a total of 14 books. His popular Mitch Rapp series began in 2000 with TRANSFER OF POWER, and was followed by THE THIRD OPTION, SEPARATION OF POWER, EXECUTIVE POWER, MEMORIAL DAY, CONSENT TO KILL, ACT OF TREASON, PROTECT AND DEFEND, EXTREME MEASURES, PURSUIT OF HONOR, AMERICAN ASSASSIN, KILL SHOT and THE LAST MAN. According to his publisher, Atria, it's not yet known what or how much was completed on his 15th novel, THE SURVIVOR, originally due out in October.

Flynn's debut novel, TERM LIMITS, released in 1997 and was his only stand-alone title. He also served as a story consultant for the fifth season of “24.”

Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub reflects on Flynn’s work and legacy in this special tribute.

 
Click here to read Joe Hartlaub's tribute to Vince Flynn.
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and Contest: EYE FOR AN EYE by Ben Coes
We have 50 copies of EYE FOR AN EYE: A Dewey Andreas Novel by Ben Coes, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.

EYE FOR AN EYE: A Dewey Andreas Novel by Ben Coes (Thriller)
When Dewey Andreas uncovers the identity of a mole embedded at a high level in Israel’s Mossad, it triggers a larger, more dangerous plot. The mole was the most important asset of Chinese Intelligence, and Fao Bhang, head of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), responds to the discovery and brutal elimination of the mole, by immediately placing a kill order on the man responsible --- Dewey Andreas.

Dewey is tracked to Argentina, where he is on vacation with his fiancée, Jessica Tanzer, a U.S. National Security Advisor. A top-level kill team is sent in quickly and quietly, but their attack fails to take out Dewey. The collateral damage, however, is both horrifying and deeply personal. With nothing left to lose, Andreas is determined to have his revenge.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Ben Coes’s bio.
-Connect with Ben Coes on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and Contest: PLEASE DON’T TELL by Elizabeth Adler
We have 25 copies of PLEASE DON'T TELL by Elizabeth Adler, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.

PLEASE DON’T TELL by Elizabeth Adler (Thriller)
Fen Dexter’s quiet life on the idyllic California coast is interrupted one stormy night when a blood-covered man shows up on her doorstep, claiming to have had a car accident. He tells her that he is on his way to San Francisco to help the police solve the murder of his fiancé. Unable to make it to the hospital because of the storm, he stays the night at Fen’s, and the attraction between them is obvious.

The next morning he heads to the hospital where Fen’s niece, Vivi, is an ER doctor. Vivi is treating the most recent target of a serial killer whose signature move is to leave a note saying “Please Don’t Tell” taped across his victims’ mouths. When Fen’s mysterious stranger comes to Vivi to have his wounds stitched, she agrees to set him up to talk with the police about his fiancé. Who is this man, really? What does he want with Fen and her family? And will they live long enough to uncover the truth?

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elizabeth Adler’s bio.
-Click here to connect with Elizabeth Adler on Facebook.
 
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Women's Fiction Author Spotlight and Contest: THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee
We have 25 copies of THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee, which releases on July 2nd, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.

THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee (Fiction)
THE RECIPE BOX is the story of Grace D’Angelo, a woman at her wit’s end trying to create a life from broken pieces. She’s just divorced her high school sweetheart, Brian, and is trying to make a new life for herself as a single working mom in LA. Her 14-year old daughter, Emma, is resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and reeling from the divorce. She’s skipping school, hanging with the wrong crowd, and all in all giving Grace a very hard time. On top of all that, Grace’s best friend Leeza is at the heartbreaking end stages of breast cancer back in their hometown of New London, Wisconsin.

Grace is barely holding it together, but when Leeza dies, it is a bittersweet wake-up call that you don’t get a second chance at life. Grace is determined to get her life back on track and help Emma do so as well.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sandra Lee’s bio.
 
Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Now Available in eBook: THE STRANGER by Camilla Lackberg

THE STRANGER by Camilla Lackberg (Mystery)
THE STRANGER takes readers to Fjällbacka, Sweden, where a reality television show has just shattered the silence of the remote fishing village. First, a local woman is killed in an apparent drunk driving accident --- except for the fact that she rarely drank a drop. Then, a drunken cast party ends with a contestant's death. Is there a murderer among them? As Detective Patrik Hedstrom begins to investigate, he finds surprising evidence that may link these suspicious deaths to two children who vanished from Fjällbacka's dark forests decades earlier.

It’s a breathtaking new mystery from Swedish crime fiction sensation Camilla Läckberg.

-Click here to read a review.

Click here to read more about the book.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be spotlighting a different title on select days from now through July 31st, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

This year's featured titles include:


Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, June 25th at noon ET.

Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles.
This Week’s Reviews

THE LONG WAR by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter (Fantasy/Science Fiction)
A generation after the events of THE LONG EARTH, humankind has spread across the new worlds opened up by “stepping.” A new “America” --- Valhalla --- is emerging more than a million steps from Datum, our Earth. Valhalla is growing restless under the controlling long arm of the Datum government. Soon Joshua Valiente is summoned by Lobsang to deal with a building crisis that threatens to plunge the Long Earth into a war unlike any humankind has waged before. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

ALWAYS WATCHING by Chevy Stevens (Psychological Thriller)
When a distraught woman is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Dr. Nadine Lavoie gently coaxes her story out of her --- and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE YONAHLOSSEE RIDING CAMP FOR GIRLS by Anton DiSclafani (Historical Fiction)
It is 1930 in the midst of the Great Depression. After her mysterious role in a family tragedy, Thea Atwell has been cast out of her Florida home, exiled to an equestrienne boarding school for Southern debutantes. As Thea grapples with her responsibility for the events of the past year that led her to the Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, she finds herself enmeshed in a new order --- one that will change her sense of what is possible for herself, her family and her country. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE BOYS IN THE BOAT: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown (Sports History)
THE BOYS IN THE BOAT tells the story of the University of Washington’s 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal. The emotional heart of the story lies with one rower, a teenager who rows not for glory, but to regain his shattered self-regard and to find a place he can call home. The crew is assembled by an enigmatic coach and mentored by an eccentric boat builder, but it’s their trust in each other that makes them a victorious team. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

RUN, BROTHER, RUN: A Memoir of a Murder in My Family by David Berg (Memoir)
In 1968, David Berg’s brother, Alan, was murdered by Charles Harrelson, a notorious hit man and father of actor Woody Harrelson. Alan was only 31 when he disappeared; six months later, his remains were found in a ditch in Texas. RUN, BROTHER, RUN is Berg’s story of the murder. But it is also his account of the psychic destruction of the Berg family by the author’s father, who allowed a grievous blunder at the age of 23 to define his life. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE by Maggie O'Farrell (Fiction)
Gretta Riordan awakes one morning to find that her husband of 40 years has vanished, cleaning out his bank account along the way. Her three grown children converge on their parents’ home for the first time in years: Michael Francis, whose marriage is failing; Monica, with two stepdaughters who despise her; and Aoife, who has arranged her entire life to conceal a devastating secret. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

STOKER’S MANUSCRIPT by Royce Prouty (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
When rare-manuscript expert Joseph Barkeley is hired to authenticate and purchase the original draft and notes for Bram Stoker's Dracula, little does he know that the reclusive buyer is a member of the oldest family in Transylvania. After delivering the manuscript to the legendary Bran Castle, Barkeley realizes that he has become a prisoner to the son of Vlad Dracul. To earn his freedom, Barkeley must decipher cryptic messages hidden in the text of the original Dracula that reveal the burial sites of certain Dracul family members. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

IN THE HOUSE UPON THE DIRT BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE WOODS by Matt Bell (Fiction)
A newly-wed couple escapes the busy confusion of their homeland for a distant and almost-uninhabited lakeshore. They plan to live there simply, but as their every pregnancy fails, the husband begins to rage at this new world: the song-spun objects somehow created by his wife's beautiful singing voice, the giant and sentient bear that rules the beasts of the woods, the second moon weighing down the fabric of their starless sky, and the labyrinth of memory dug into the earth beneath their house. Reviewed by Josh Mallory.

ASTONISHED: A Story of Evil, Blessings, Grace, and Solace by Beverly Donofrio (Memoir)
Beverly Donofrio had already lived two lives --- first as a scrappy young mother on the streets of the East Village and later as a bestselling author. Even though she was living in a vibrant, picturesque Mexican town, where she practiced yoga, drank margaritas in her backyard, and took salsa lessons, she felt lost and was searching for monasteries to visit. Then one night, she woke to find a rapist holding a knife to her throat. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

THE ABBEY: An Ash Rashid Novel by Chris Culver (Mystery)
Ash Rashid is a former homicide detective who can't stand the thought of handling another death investigation. That changes when his niece's body is found in the guest home of one of his city's most wealthy citizens. The coroner calls it an overdose, but the case doesn't add up. Against orders, Ash launches an investigation to find his niece's murderer, but the longer he searches, the more entangled he becomes in a case that hits increasingly close to home. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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!

ReadingGroupGuides.com

THE CURIOSITY by Stephen P. Kiernan
Enter for a chance to win a very special experience for your book club --- a guest appearance by debut novelist Stephen P. Kiernan to discuss his book, THE CURIOSITY. Also included in the grand prize will be a copy of THE CURIOSITY for the members of your book club, as well as a Cabot Cheddar Cheese Gift Basket full of goodies to sample as you talk with Stephen. There are also prizes for the runners-up!

PASTORS' WIVES by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
We are celebrating the release of PASTORS’ WIVES --- Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel that follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch--- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.

THE MOURNING HOURS by Paula Treick DeBoard
We are celebrating the upcoming release of THE MOURNING HOURS by debut author Paula Treick DeBoard --- a gripping novel of betrayal and forgiveness as a family is forced to confront the devastating event that changed the trajectory of their lives --- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which will be in stores on June 25th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.

THE ALMOND TREE by Michelle Cohen Corasanti
We are celebrating the release of THE ALMOND TREE --- Michelle Cohen Corasanti’s debut novel that delivers an inspirational story of unfathomable pain and an incredible perseverance --- with a special contest. 100 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.

"What Are You Reading?" Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in June, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is SWEET SALT AIR by Barbara Delinsky, the story of a woman who has a secret that may save the life of her best friend's husband --- or destroy him. We have 12 copies of the book, which will be in stores on June 18th, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.

20SomethingReads.com

Summer Beach Bag of Books 2013
It's time to think about Summer Reading --- and we're not talking about the books on those Required Summer Reading lists you might have become accustomed to in high school. What we're talking about are the kinds of books that you're glad you now have time to kick back with and enjoy. The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Second Annual 20SomethingReads.com Beach Bag of Books Contest. The deadline for entries is Thursday, July 18th at noon ET.

Teenreads.com

Summer Beach Bag of Books 2013
It's time to think about Summer Reading --- and we're not talking about the list of books you'll be receiving for Required Summer Reading from school. What we're talking about are the kinds of books that you're glad you now have time to kick back with and enjoy. The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf, and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Seventh Annual Teenreads.com Beach Bag of Books Contest. The deadline for entries is Thursday, July 18th at noon ET.

The Grisha Trilogy
In anticipation of the June 4th release of SIEGE AND STORM --- the second installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy, which follows Alina back into the country she abandoned to fight the forces against Ravka --- we have a special contest that will give five readers the opportunity to win a copy of both SIEGE AND STORM and the first book in the series, SHADOW AND BONE. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 8th at noon ET.

Kidsreads.com

THE 39 CLUES: THE CAHILL VAULT, Book Two: SPYMASTERS by Clifford Riley
To celebrate the release of Clifford Riley's SPYMASTERS, the second volume in The 39 Clues: The Cahill Files series --- which features three stories previously published exclusively as eBook shorts --- we're running a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of these adventures through time. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 1st at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

THE QUARRYMAN’S BRIDE: Land of Shining Water, Book 2 by Tracie Peterson
We are celebrating the release of THE QUARRYMAN'S BRIDE with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this second installment in Tracie Peterson's Land of Shining Water historical romance series. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.

STEALING THE PREACHER by Karen Witemeyer
We are celebrating the release of STEALING THE PREACHER with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of Karen Witemeyer's latest historical romance, in which a preacher is forced off a train and delivered to a “retired” outlaw’s daughter for her birthday. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.

DEAD LAWYERS TELL NO TALES by Randy Singer
We are celebrating the release of DEAD LAWYERS TELL NO TALES with a special contest that will give readers the opportunity to win a copy of Randy Singer's latest legal thriller, in which an ex-con-turned-lawyer becomes the target of a killer who has a vendetta against the law firm he has recently joined. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 25 readers will receive a copy of UNDENIABLY YOURS by Becky Wade. When Meg Cole’s father dies unexpectedly, she’s forced to return home to Texas to take up the reins of an empire she has never wanted. Can the handsome manager of her father’s Thoroughbred farm help Meg face her fears and embrace new hopes for the future? The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.

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.

Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: www.20SomethingReads.com, www.Teenreads.com, www.Kidsreads.com, www.ReadingGroupGuides.com, www.GraphicNovelReporter.com, www.FaithfulReader.com and www.AuthorsOnTheWeb.com.

The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107
connect with us twitterfacebook