July 19, 2013

Ever ponder how much time we spend talking about the weather? If we were reading instead of doing that, there would be a lot of pages turned. Thus I am not going to comment about the heat and humidity in New York this week, except to share this little factoid. For the last two years, I was in San Diego this same week for San Diego Comic-Con. Each time, the weather in New York was just as sultry as it is now. I remember calling home to tell my husband that I was chilly and putting on a sweater when he was sharing that it was 107 degrees in New York; he was nice enough to keep talking to me. So you may want to make a note of this on your calendars for next year!

I am watching Comic-Con coverage on Facebook and through various other news feeds. I also furiously am texting our GraphicNovelReporter.com Editorial Director, who is sending me photos and updates. It’s interesting; in every picture, people are smiling and happy, except the ones where people are wearing costumes that are supposed to be grim. What I love about this show is the creativity that it brings out in people. It’s a real celebration of the world of pop culture that books are a part of.

When we left off last week, I was at ThrillerFest, the annual conference for thriller readers. One of the highlights for me was an interview with Anne Rice that was conducted by her son, Christopher Rice, who, as you may know, is also an author. Their conversation was filled with warm anecdotes and great stories; Christopher had a very funny commentary about aliens. One day, Anne noted that she was thinking about aliens as characters in her books. He was quick to caution her that she has a lock on vampires and werewolves; he gets to keep the aliens. I also learned that Anne is a HUGE contributor on Facebook. She calls her readers “People of the Page” and comments frequently throughout each day. Nice to see how accessible she is to her readers.

There were some terrific panels where authors bantered and both informed and entertained. On Saturday evening, I attended The International Thriller Writers Awards. Award winners included SPILLED BLOOD by Brian Freeman (Hardcover Novel) and THE 500 by Matthew Quirk (First Novel). Plus, Anne Rice received the Thrillermaster Award, and Steve Berry was the recipient of the Silver Bullet Award. Click here for all the winners and nominees.

This past week, I finished reading Joyce Maynard’s new novel, AFTER HER, which is loosely inspired by the Trailside Killer case that terrorized the people of Marin County, California, in the late 1970s. I am a real fan of Maynard’s writing, and I can’t say enough good things about the ending, which is NOT what I pictured happening. It most certainly will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection when it releases on August 20th. I also was excited to learn that Maynard’s LABOR DAY is being made into a movie that will come out in January 2014.

Now I am reading THE RETURNED by debut author Jason Mott, who I had the pleasure of meeting at BookExpo America (BEA) in June. The plot of the book, which will be in stores on August 27th, goes like this. One day, at the home of an older couple, Harold and Lucille Hargrave, a young boy rings the doorbell. Who’s there but their son. Sounds like not a big deal --- until we learn that the son passed away in the summer of 1966 during his 8th birthday party. And he is not the only loved one returning. It’s happening all over the world. I still don’t know what it means that these people are returning, but I am imagining what the implications are, and I do know it’s a great read.

Everyone seems to be talking about THE CUCKOO’S CALLING, the novel we all thought was written by Robert Galbraith, who “spent several years with the Royal Military Police,” according to his bio. At the time of the book’s release in April, we were told the name was a pseudonym, but what we didn’t know was that the author behind the pen name was none other than J. K. Rowling. All was revealed last week, and not surprisingly, the book shot up to #1 on Amazon shortly after the news broke. According to Rowling, "I hoped to keep this secret a little longer because being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience. It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback from publishers and readers under a different name." This is Rowling’s second novel for adults; her first, THE CASUAL VACANCY, releases in paperback this Tuesday, July 23rd. We will have our review of THE CUCKOO’S CALLING in the days to come.

I was emailing with an author friend yesterday, and she noted that it is so difficult to gain traction in the book world these days. Here we have Rowling on the scene posing in a role as a debut author, and her work does not get major sales until she is “outed.” And how she was outed by the best friend of one of her lawyer's wives was crazy. I guess no bonus for him and she is off their party list. "Why are you no longer friends?" "Well, I tweeted J. K. Rowling's identity as Robert Galbraith." Pretty big faux pas. Shows the power of social media!

In stores this week is THE ENGLISH GIRL, the latest installment in Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series. When a beautiful young British woman vanishes on the island of Corsica, a prime minister's career is threatened with destruction. Gabriel Allon, art restorer and master spy, is thrust into a game of shadows where nothing is what it seems...and where the only thing more dangerous than his enemies might be the truth. Roz Shea has our review and says, “Someone once said that their favorite books are ones that entertain and inform at the same time. THE ENGLISH GIRL is one of those novels.”

Brad Thor’s latest thriller, HIDDEN ORDER, is a continuation of his series starring covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath. America’s most secretive organization operates without any accountability to the American people, and its power is without measure. The future is thrust into peril when control of the organization is lost. Harvath comes to Washington to embark on a dangerous chase when five candidates being considered to head this mysterious industry go missing. According to reviewer Joe Hartlaub, “If HIDDEN ORDER does not keep you up at night, worrying about and hopefully planning for the future, then you’re not paying attention.”

We also have a review of THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P., Adelle Waldman’s much-talked-about debut novel. Nate Piven, a rising star in Brooklyn’s literary scene, has his pick of both magazine assignments and women. In this 21st-century literary world, wit and conversation are not at all dead. Is romance? Nate thinks of himself as beyond superficial judgment, yet constantly struggles with his own status anxiety --- he is drawn to women, yet has a habit of letting them down. Staffers Nicole Sherman and Emily Hoenig loved the book so much that they decided to team up and write a review together. Here’s a preview of what they had to say: "Waldman's debut offers a fresh perspective on the contemporary dilemma of finding, receiving and securing love in an ever more overwhelming world." They also interviewed Adelle, and you can read that revealing Q&A here.

Over on 20SomethingReads.com, we’re running a special contest that will give 15 readers the opportunity to win a copy of THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. Our Grand Prize, which will be awarded to ONE winner, includes a copy of the book, along with a 20SomethingReads.com "Breakup Package.” To enter to win the Grand Prize, readers share their own best/worst/funniest breakup story. The Grand Prize winner's breakup story will be featured in our NATHANIEL P. dating blog series, along with 5-10 of the juiciest/most intriguing stories at the conclusion of the contest. Click here for all the details; the deadline for entries will be Wednesday, August 14th at noon ET. And be sure to share this with all the twentysomethings who you know! We want to hear LOTS of stories, because everyone has one!

Another of our staffers, Josh Mallory, wrote a review of LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE, CHERISH, PERISH, the first and only novel by David Rakoff, who passed away shortly after finishing the book. In his review, Josh says, “This bold novel is the rare work that shoots for the stars and reaches them. David Rakoff's writing has always been full of wit, observation and humor. Here, he generously bestows all those qualities on fictional characters for the first time.” On Wednesday night, authors such as Augusten Burroughs, Sarah Vowell and Charles Bock gathered at a Barnes & Noble here in New York City for a marathon reading of the book. Over 60 readers, comprised of David’s family and friends, performed his novel in verse --- a touching and fitting tribute to a man who left us far too early. In a surprise to the audience that night, David’s voice was heard reading a passage. What a moment for fans that night. I saw a video of this, and there was a complete hush over that crowd, though many people were following the reading along in their books.

As promised, we are pleased to share with you an interview that reviewer Bronwyn Miller conducted with Sandra Lee, the award-winning Food Network personality whose debut novel, THE RECIPE BOX, released earlier this month. Sandra talks about her transition from cookbooks to novels, opens up about the transformative power of first love, why she believes that the metaphor of the "recipe box" is central to every woman's life, and much more.

THE SILENT WIFE, A. S. A. Harrison’s debut psychological thriller, is my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Harrison passed away in April, and it’s such a shame she isn’t here to enjoy the book’s success. I’ve been told that early reviews were shared with her, and she knew the book was being well-received. It’s being talked about in the same breath as GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn, and Joe Hartlaub says that it’s “so well-paced and reads so quickly that it’s easy to glide over important points that come back to explode behind you when you’ve all but forgotten about them." Click here to read my Bets On commentary.

Our contest is still running for Elaine Hussey’s THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH, the latest title in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight. Betty Jewel Hughes is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for her daughter, Billie, when she's gone. With no one she can count on, she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter. We have 35 copies of the book, which releases on July 30th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 25th at noon ET.

In this week’s Summer Reading feature, we gave away BIG GIRL PANTIES by Stephanie Evanovich and THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan. Next week (our next-to-last week for these contests), our prize books will be THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN MIAMI by Stefan Kanfer and THE WIDOW WALTZ by Sally Koslow, which I recently picked as a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. If you’d like to be alerted as soon as our contests go live, then be sure to click here and sign up for our Summer Reading newsletter.

What books have you read that you would like to share with us? Let us know by submitting your comments to our Word of Mouth feature, and you could be one of five lucky readers to win the aforementioned THE ENGLISH GIRL by Daniel Silva, along with HUNTING EVE: An Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen and LIGHT OF THE WORLD: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke. All you have to do is fill out the form on this page by Friday, July 26th at noon ET for your chance to win these books.

Fans of Debbie Macomber and her Cedar Cove series will want to tune in Saturday night, July 20th at 8pm ET for “Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove,” the Hallmark Channel’s first-ever original primetime series. It stars Andie MacDowell as Judge Olivia Lockhart and Dylan Neal plays Jack Griffith, the editor of the Cedar Cove Chronicle, who is a new friend and potential love interest for Judge Lockhart.

And in more Debbie Macomber news, a few weeks ago, we ran a contest for readers to attend the Debbie Macomber Fan Retreat on the weekend of August 9-11 in Nashville. I am happy to share that Pat from Brazil, IN won the two tickets to attend! While our contest is over, we have a special offer for any of you who would like to attend. Visit www.MacomberRetreat.Eventbrite.com and enter the promotional code NASHVILLE to get an exclusive 20% discount. Your girlfriends also can book tickets with this same discount code, so you can make it a fun weekend for them as well! Please note that this discount only applies to events themselves, not hotel and travel. If you live locally, it's a nice deal!

It was announced on Tuesday that the givers of World Book Night 2013, along with the independent booksellers and librarians who also participated, can start nominating books for next year’s events via an email survey they received. A panel made up of booksellers and librarians will then vote on the final selections. Book choices for next year’s World Book Night will be announced on October 23rd, the same day that people who wish to be givers can begin applying. Click here to learn much more about World Book Night, which takes place each year on April 23rd.

I am headed to float in the pool with a book. My plan for the weekend is to expend as little energy as possible! Floating and turning pages sounds about right. Oh, before I go, thanks to all of you who shared your ideas on nurturing and growing moonflowers. New question: the flowers only seem to last one night. Are others seeing that? It’s making them more magical and wonderful around here as I get a call from the yard that another has popped out!

Have a wonderful week…and read on….

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

THE ENGLISH GIRL by Daniel Silva (Thriller)
When a beautiful young British woman vanishes on the island of Corsica, a prime minister's career is threatened with destruction. Gabriel Allon, the wayward son of Israeli intelligence, is thrust into a game of shadows where nothing is what it seems...and where the only thing more dangerous than his enemies might be the truth. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

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

HIDDEN ORDER by Brad Thor (Thriller)
America’s most secretive organization operates without any accountability to the American people, and its power is without measure. The future is thrust into peril when control of the organization is lost. Scot Harvath, a covert counterterrorism operative, comes to Washington to embark on a dangerous chase when five candidates being considered to head this mysterious industry go missing. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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

WITCH WRAITH: The Dark Legacy of Shannara by Terry Brooks (Fantasy)
For centuries, the Four Lands enjoyed freedom from its demon-haunted past, protected by magic-enhanced borders from the dark dimension known as the Forbidding and the profound evil imprisoned there. But now the unthinkable is happening: The ancient wards securing the barrier between order and mayhem have begun to erode --- and generations of bloodthirsty, monstrous creatures, fueled by a rage thousands of years in the making, are poised to spill forth, seeking revenge for what was done to them. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

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

Sandra Lee is an award-winning expert in all things kitchen and home, and the Editor-in-Chief of the new magazine Sandra Lee. In her first work of fiction, THE RECIPE BOX, we are introduced to Grace D'Angelo, who realizes she must take immediate steps to repair her life and her most precious relationships following the death of her best friend. Lee talks to Bookreporter.com's Bronwyn Miller about her transition from cookbooks to novels, and how she learned to believe in her story and not use recipes as a crutch in the process. Rest assured, it wouldn't be a Sandra Lee book without mouth-watering recipes, and plenty made the cut! Sandra also opens up about the transformative power of first love, the importance of seizing the day, and why she believes the metaphor of the "recipe box" is central to every woman's life.

THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee (Fiction)
Grace D’Angelo is a woman at her wits' end, barely managing her job, her rebellious teenager, and the horrifying fact that her lifelong best friend, Leeza, is dying of cancer. When Leeza succumbs to her illness, Grace realizes she must take drastic action to get her life back on track and repair her most precious relationships. She and her daughter move back to their hometown, where she comes to terms with the past, rediscovers the healing power of cooking, and connects with friends old and new. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
 

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sandra Lee’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 Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.

Adelle Waldman’s debut novel, THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P., chronicles the affairs of the titular hero (who is also sort of an anti-hero) as he makes his way through life and love in the Brooklyn literary scene. Nate is neither romanticized nor vilified as he goes from one relationship to the next, and Waldman deftly keeps him grounded in details that are almost painfully relatable. Naturally, The Book Report Network’s Nicole Sherman and Emily Hoenig jumped at the opportunity to interview the author about getting into a thirtysomething guy’s head. Here, Waldman discusses how she was able to so expertly channel the male psyche, how she feels about inevitable comparisons to HBO’s “Girls” --- the current reigning champ of Brooklyn coming-of-age --- and which of the NATHANIEL P. characters she identifies with the most. And, of course, she has lots of insightful things to say about navigating relationships, both romantic and platonic.

THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman (Fiction)
Nate Piven, a rising star in Brooklyn’s literary scene, has his pick of both magazine assignments and women. In this 21st-century literary world, wit and conversation are not at all dead. Is romance? Nate thinks of himself as beyond superficial judgment, yet constantly struggles with his own status anxiety --- he is drawn to women, yet has a habit of letting them down. Reviewed by Nicole Sherman and Emily Hoenig.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for your chance to win a copy of the book and a 20SomethingReads.com "Breakup Package.”

LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE, CHERISH, PERISH by David Rakoff (Fiction)
LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE, CHERISH, PERISH leaps cities and decades as the late David Rakoff sings the song of an America whose freedoms can be intoxicating, or brutal. The characters' lives are linked to each other by acts of generosity or cruelty. Rakoff's insistence on beauty and the necessity of kindness in a selfish world raises this novel far above mere satire. Reviewed by Josh Mallory.

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

We have 35 copies of THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey, which releases on July 30th, 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, July 25th at noon ET.

THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey (Historical Fiction)
Betty Jewel Hughes was once the hottest black jazz singer in Memphis. But when she finds herself pregnant and alone, she gives up her dream of being a star to raise her beautiful daughter, Billie, in Shakerag, Mississippi. Now, 10 years later, in 1955, Betty Jewel is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for Billie when she's gone. With no one she can count on, Betty Jewel does the unthinkable: she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, recently widowed Cassie Malone is an outspoken housewife insulated by her wealth and privileged white society. Working part-time at a newspaper, she is drawn to Betty Jewel through her mysterious ad. With racial tension in the South brewing, the women forge a bond as deep as it is forbidden. But neither woman could have imagined the gifts they would find in each other, and in the sweet young girl they both love with all their hearts.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elaine Hussey’s bio.
-Click here to visit Elaine Hussey’s official website.
-Connect with Elaine Hussey on Facebook and Twitter.

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 are:

• APPROACHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT by Victoria Lustbader
• BIG GIRL PANTIES by Stephanie Evanovich
• THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN MIAMI by Stefan Kanfer
• THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone
• GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
• THE INNOCENTS by Francesca Segal
• IS THIS TOMORROW by Caroline Leavitt
• LADIES' NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews
• MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND by Matthew Dicks
• THE PANTHER by Nelson DeMille
• PASTORS' WIVES by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
• READY TO DIE: A Selena Alvarez/Regan Pescoli Novel by Lisa Jackson
• THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan
• SEA CHANGE by S.M. Wheeler
• SISTERLAND by Curtis Sittenfeld
• SOMETHING WICKED by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush
• SUTTON by J.R. Moehringer
• TELL ME by Lisa Jackson
• THOSE WE LOVE MOST by Lee Woodruff
• WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD by Susan Crandall
• WISP OF A THING by Alex Bledsoe

Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, July 23rd at noon ET. Our featured titles will be THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN MIAMI by Stefan Kanfer and THE WIDOW WALTZ by Sally Koslow.

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 a review.
-Click here to see why we’re betting you’ll love this book.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.

The following guides are now available on ReadingGroupGuides.com:

THE AGE OF DESIRE by Jennie Fields
BIRTHING GOD: Women's Experiences of the Divine by Lana Dalberg
CHRISTIAN NATION by Frederic C. Rich
THE CURIOSITY by Stephen P. Kiernan
FIN & LADY by Cathleen Schine
THE FIRE WITNESS by Lars Kepler
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
LADIES' NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews
THE LEMON ORCHARD by Luanne Rice
THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS by Chris Bohjalian
NOAH'S RAINY DAY by Sandra Brannan
PERFORMANCE ANOMALIES by Victor Robert Lee
SECRET STORMS: A Mother and Daughter, Lost then Found by Julie Mannix von Zerneck and Kathy Hatfield
THE SILENT WIFE by A. S. A. Harrison
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LUCK AND TRUST by Emilie Richards

Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:

LAURA LAMONT'S LIFE IN PICTURES by Emma Straub
SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer
SWEET TOOTH by Ian McEwan

FIRST SIGHT by Danielle Steel (Romance)
When two very different worlds and strong-willed people collide, everything changes in an instant, as they confront the age-old question of whether to lay oneself bare and risk intimacy --- or not. Are they brave enough to face what comes next? And will they do it together or apart? FIRST SIGHT is a tale of daring to take risks, and losing control just enough to have a life, when the opportunity presents itself. Reviewed by Hillary Wagy.

A TREACHEROUS PARADISE by Henning Mankell (Historical Fiction)
Cold and poverty define Hanna Renström’s childhood in northern Sweden, and in 1904 she boards a ship for Australia. But none of her hopes --- or fears --- prepares her for the life she will lead. As Hanna’s story unfurls over the next several years in this “treacherous paradise,” she wrestles with a devastating loneliness and with the racism she is meant to unthinkingly adopt. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

DOC: A Memoir by Dwight Gooden and Ellis Henican (Memoir)
With fresh and sober eyes, legendary pitcher Dwight Gooden shares the most intimate moments of his successes and failures, from endless self-destructive drug binges to three World Series rings. He also offers a unique perspective on Yankees owner and stalwart supporter George Steinbrenner and some of the greatest baseball players of all time. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

THE WEDNESDAY DAUGHTERS by Meg Waite Clayton (Fiction)
Hope Tantry arrives at the small cottage where her mother, Ally, spent the last years of her life. Ally had used the cottage as a writer’s retreat while she worked on her unpublished biography of Beatrix Potter, yet Hope knows little about her mother’s time there. Traveling with Hope are friends Anna Page and Julie, who are grappling with issues of a different era. They’ve come to help Hope sort through her mother’s personal effects, yet what they find is a tangled family history. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

DOWNFALL by Jeff Abbott (Thriller)
The simplest beginnings can unravel a life. For Sam Capra, it is the moment a beautiful young woman walks into his San Francisco bar. An ex-CIA agent, his only desire now is to build a quiet, peaceful home for himself and his infant son. But Diana Keene is no ordinary customer. She's pursued by two gunmen, and when she finds Sam, she whispers an urgent, desperate plea: "Help me." And without any warning, Sam is thrust into a fight for his life. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

RETURN TO OAKPINE by Ron Carlson (Fiction)
In the small town of Oakpine, Wyoming, four men try to make peace with who they are in the world. In high school, they were in a band, and readers learn what has become of these friends and the different directions of their lives. Now that they are reunited, getting the band back together might be the most important thing they can do. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

THE NEVER LIST by Koethi Zan (Psychological Thriller)
Best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the “Never List”: a list of actions to be avoided, for safety’s sake, at all costs. But against their best instincts, they accept a cab ride one night and suffer the consequences --- for the next three years, they are held captive with two other girls in a dungeon-like cellar. Ten years later, when her abductor is up for parole, Sarah goes on a cross-country chase and begins unraveling a mystery more horrifying than even she could have imagined. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

ROSE KENNEDY: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch by Barbara A. Perry (Biography)
Rose Kennedy was the daughter of a state senator and the mayor of Boston, wife of an ambassador, and mother of nine children, including one U.S. president and two U.S. senators. She led a life of wealth, celebrity, privilege and power, yet suffered great personal tragedy. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at one of America's most influential mothers of the 20th century. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

THE RESURRECTIONIST by Matthew Guinn (Fiction)
Dr. Jacob Thacker is on probation for Xanax abuse. His interim career --- working public relations for the dean at South Carolina Medical College --- takes an unnerving detour into the past when the bones of African American slaves are unearthed on campus. Out of the college’s dark past, these bones threaten to rise and condemn the present. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

SUMMER DEATH by Mons Kallentoft (Thriller/Mystery)
A teenage girl is found naked and bleeding in a city park, without any recollection of what has happened to her. Another grisly discovery is made on a lakeside beach, and the whole town is on edge. A serial killer walks among them, and while families withdraw to protect their young, Detective Malin Fors must uncover the secrets behind these crimes, potentially putting herself and her own family at risk in the process. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE REST OF US by Jessica Lott (Fiction)
As a college student, Terry fell madly and destructively in love with Rhinehart, her famous poetry professor, tumbling into a relationship from which she never fully recovered. Fifteen years later, after stumbling upon Rhinehart’s obituary online, Terry finds herself taking stock of the ways her life has not lived up to her youthful expectations and grows distraught at the thought that she’ll never see him again. But a shocking encounter will turn Terry’s life completely upside down. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE CHILD THIEF by Dan Smith (Historical Thriller)
Luka is a war veteran who, along with his sons, sets out to find a missing girl who happens to be his daughter’s best friend. Soon they realize that the man they are tracking is no ordinary criminal, but a skillful hunter with the child as the bait in his twisted game. It will take all of Luka’s strength to battle the harshest of conditions, and all of his wit to stay a step ahead of Soviet authorities. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

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

"What Are You Reading?" Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in July, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is LADIES’ NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews, in which heartache, humor and a little bit of mystery come together in a story about life’s unpredictable twists and turns. We have 12 copies of the book, which is now in stores, to give away to three groups. In addition, each group will be awarded a Ladies’ Night Event Kit, which is chock full of goodies to create the perfect “girls' night in.” The deadline for entries is Monday, August 5th at noon ET.

20SomethingReads.com

THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman

We are celebrating the release of THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman with a special contest that will give 15 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. Our Grand Prize, which will be awarded to ONE winner, includes a copy of the book along with a 20SomethingReads.com "Breakup Package.” To enter to win the Grand Prize, share your best/worst funniest breakup story. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 14th at noon ET.
 

Kidsreads.com

HOME SWEET HORROR: Scary Tales, Book One by James Preller
To celebrate the release of HOME SWEET HORROR, we have a special contest that will give five readers the opportunity to win a copy of this first book in James Preller’s Scary Tales series. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 12th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

CHIVALRY: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World by Zach Hunter
We are celebrating the release of CHIVALRY by Zach Hunter with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book, which challenges young men and women to develop their own personal code that will prepare them to defend others and live with civility and integrity. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 15th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com’s Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, five readers will receive a copy of SMALL TOWN GIRL by Ann H. Gabhart. How long can two people stand on the brink of love without plunging in headfirst? Find out in this follow-up to ANGEL SISTER, which marks the return of Kate Merritt, this time all grown up. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 15th at noon ET.