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Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign
to Expand The Book Report Network
Thank you to those of you who already have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. So far we have raised over $17,700, which is more than one-third of our goal! But we do have further to go, and with your help, we know we can get there. In addition to the online donations --- and checks sent to our office --- that we have received to date, we are loving the comments that have been shared with donations about how you enjoy this newsletter and Bookreporter.com. Here are a few of them:
Mary Lou: "I have followed Carol and the newsletter since its inception in 1996. I love her creativity, I love books, I love TBR!"
Jean: "I enjoy reading Bookreporter each week and have gotten many titles for my TBR list. I also enjoy the personal stories you tell and enjoyed meeting Carol and Greg in person at an author function."
Virginia: "The Book Report Network is Family. Thank you for nurturing and growing our reader family."
If you have not donated yet, may we ask that you consider it? Any level of donation that you would be comfortable with is sincerely appreciated; truly anything that you can donate can help get us to our goal! Sharing this campaign with others is another way that you can help; GoFundMe makes that easy to do. You can read more about our plans and donate here. If you would rather donate via check, our address is:
The Book Report, Inc.
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Thank you again for your consideration and your donation.
P.S. Thank you to those of you who have snail mailed checks to the office. Your contributions are much appreciated! I will snail mail thank-you notes when I am back in the office the week of the 28th. I have terrible handwriting, thus they will be typed so you are able to read them!
Carol is currently reading FINDING DOROTHY by Elizabeth Letts (on sale February 12th),
and this weekend will start ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (on sale June 4th).
Carol is hoping that her amaryllis will not bloom until after she gets back
from Winter Institute on Friday the 25th.
If We Could Just Predict the Weather,
How Much Time Could We Save?
I was supposed to head out to Albuquerque on Sunday, but a “possible fast-moving storm in the New York metropolitan area” has me accelerating my travel plans to leave tomorrow for the American Booksellers Winter Institute Conference. While the events do not kick off until Tuesday night, I have learned over the years that I want to get in as early as possible when traveling, to eliminate the chance that I may not get there at all. So on Wednesday, I was talking to the airline to change my flight, and I was lining up a new hotel plan. As soon as I land on Saturday, my friend Wendy Sheanin and I are heading to Santa Fe for a couple of days.
There is a lot to poke around and see there, so I am grateful for the extra day there. But seriously, if we could just predict the weather weeks in advance, it would have made this week a lot less hectic. I did not need 24 less hours of prep! Yesterday morning, I was doing some speed-reading of some of the authors who I know I will see there.
I have a passion for the American Southwest, and our home is filled with many pieces from there. I love the palette of the light and land in that part of the country. Tom and the boys are joking that they are wondering what I am going to buy there. I have vowed that it would have to be something very special. One place I definitely want to visit is the Coyote Café as I have been cooking from their cookbook for years. Also, somewhere in the part of the kitchen that houses rarely used appliances like the waffle iron (and the Belgian waffle iron), we have a tortilla press. So I am sure I will be looking at masa harina for making tortillas.
Now, I work in New York and am betting I could find masa harina somewhere in the city, but wouldn’t it be more special to get it directly from New Mexico? And red pepper jelly. I can see my suitcase now on the flight home with books and “mementos.” I am so glad I can bring on two bags. One will travel out empty. Like I said, this is going to be an adventure! Thanks to our readers who gave me suggestions of what to do; I have them all noted.
I love this conference as it gives me a chance to talk to bookstore owners, who are small business owners, much like me. We have many of the same challenges, as well as our passion for books! And this conference will have hundreds of authors there. I am still going over my notes of who I don’t want to miss meeting. Many of the books that will be presented are being anticipated as big books for spring/summer. I will be taking lots of notes. I am looking forward to sharing with you next week who I meet and what I see.
I already have my plane reading picked out; it’s ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane, which will be on sale June 4th. I am about 50 pages in and already am loving it. It’s set in a Long Island town where New York City policemen, who are not close friends, live next door to each other. One’s wife is dealing with some serious issues, which will have an impact on both families --- including Peter, the son of one family, and Kate, the daughter of the other, who fall for one another. It is so well done, and I look forward to meeting Mary in Albuquerque.
Last weekend, I picked up FINDING DOROTHY by Elizabeth Letts, which is out on February 12th. It’s the story of Maud Gage Baum, the widow of L. Frank Baum, who wrote THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ. She has made her way onto the MGM set of the film, anxious to be sure that her husband’s work will be respected. She listens to Judy Garland sing "Over the Rainbow" and hears something in her voice that makes her want to protect young Judy. I am about 50 pages in, and I feel the words on the page soaring the same way that Garland’s voice does with the song.
In THE FIRST CONSPIRACY, bestselling author Brad Meltzer teams up with documentary television producer Josh Mensch to unravel the shocking true story behind a remarkable and previously untold piece of American history. In 1776, an elite group of soldiers were handpicked to serve as George Washington’s bodyguards. Washington trusted them, but little did he know that some of them were part of a treasonous plan. In the months leading up to the Revolutionary War, these soldiers --- in conjunction with the Governor of New York, William Tryon, and Mayor David Mathews --- launched a deadly plot against the most important member of the military: George Washington himself.
According to our reviewer, Lorraine W. Shanley, “The authors are meticulous in their descriptions of every twist and turn of the story --- they credit historian Barnet Schecter for the prodigious research exhibited here --- even as they take care to keep up the dramatic pace.” She goes on to say that Meltzer and Mensch achieved their goal of making “this fast-paced, nonfiction thriller relentlessly absorbing. This is no small feat, given a subject that many would consider best left high on a library shelf.” Brad’s events have been standing-room only as he tours around the country!
Karen Thompson Walker follows up her New York Times bestselling debut, THE AGE OF MIRACLES, with her second novel, THE DREAMERS, which has proven to be quite a page-turner. In it, students are passing out on a college campus and not waking up. It isn’t long before panic takes hold of the college and spreads to their isolated town. Those affected by the illness are displaying unusual levels of brain activity, higher than has ever been recorded before. They are dreaming heightened dreams --- but of what?
Our own Rebecca Munro has our review and says, "THE DREAMERS is as inventive as it is unsettling, and as intelligent as it is horrifying. Walker balances the real with the fantastic impressively well --- we never do learn the cause of the sickness, leaving the imagination wide open for terrifying possibilities." This is one compelling read that is so quickly paced.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include INHERITANCE, Dani Shapiro’s memoir about the staggering family secret uncovered by a genealogy test --- that her father was not her biological father; YOU KNOW YOU WANT THIS, Kristen Roupenian's highly anticipated debut collection that includes “Cat Person,” her short story that went viral after being published in The New Yorker in December 2017; and NO SUNSCREEN FOR THE DEAD, yet another zany installment in Tim Dorsey’s series starring the Sunshine State’s most lovable psychopath, Serge A. Storms, and his sidekick, Coleman.
My latest Bookreporter.com Bets On titles are AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict, both of which we reviewed last week. Click on the titles to see why I’m betting you’ll love these books.
The audio version of AN ANONYMOUS GIRL (read by Barrie Kreinik and Julia Whelan) is one of the prizes in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest; the other is Alex Michaelides' THE SILENT PATIENT (read by Jack Hawkins and Louise Brealey). Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll have a chance to win both these audio titles. Please do so by Friday, February 1st at noon ET.
Our fifth annual Winter Reading contests kicked off this week. Our first three prizes were LAST WOMAN STANDING by Amy Gentry, THE MILK LADY OF BANGALORE: An Unexpected Adventure by Shoba Narayan, and NOT THAT I COULD TELL by Jessica Strawser. Next week’s prizes will be MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land, which we plan to review next week and will be a Bets On pick; THE RED ADDRESS BOOK by Sofia Lundberg, which we review this week; and THE WARTIME SISTERS by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Don’t miss our first contest of the week on Tuesday, January 22nd at noon ET.
There’s plenty of time to enter our 14th annual Valentine’s Day contest, where five readers will win seven love-themed books --- including EVERY BREATH by Nicholas Sparks and I OWE YOU ONE by Sophie Kinsella --- along with some delectable chocolates. For your chance to win all these goodies, all you have to do is fill out this form by Monday, February 11th at noon ET.
Don’t miss our giveaway for Christy Award winner Jaime Jo Wright’s latest novel, THE CURSE OF MISTY WAYFAIR. As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined? We’re giving 15 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, January 29th at noon ET.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, February 1st at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win two major thrillers, both of which release on January 29th: JUDGMENT by Joseph Finder and OUT OF THE DARK: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (I am LOVING this fourth installment of Gregg’s Evan Smoak series). We’ll feature our reviews of both in the February 1st newsletter.
For our latest poll, we’ve listed a number of titles releasing this month and we’re asking you to select which ones (if any) you’re planning to read. Click here to cast your votes.
Our previous poll asked about your reading goals for 2019. 24% of you are planning to read more than 100(!) print books or e-books this year, while 22% would like to read between 51 and 75, and 24% plan to listen to 1-10 audiobooks. Click here for all the results.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Teresa, one of our End-of-the-Year contest winners, wrote, "Thank you for the books I won in the End-of-the-Year contest! I had no inkling I'd won, and it was a much appreciated surprise! To say I was thrilled would not be an exaggeration. My monthly book budget is quite small, and so I signed up for Kindle Unlimited in September, but these books aren't on Kindle Unlimited, so I'd otherwise have to wait six years to read them.
"Again, thank you so much...I'm tickled pink! The only one I hadn't read about was THE MARS ROOM; ALL of the others were on my Wish List with Goodreads. I feel so fortunate, Carol, and will stay in touch! What a great way to start my reading challenge (I've already read and reviewed seven books, but these will look good on my reading resume, lol). This former English teacher needs to read more bestsellers and quit gravitating to so many thrillers. Thanks again, I'm so grateful.”
Linda wrote, “I'm laughing because I've had a couple of friends say that they were with Marie Kondo until she started talking about books. In particular, they cited Ron Charles' piece in today's Washington Post titled "Keep your tidy, spark-joy hands off my book piles, Marie Kondo".
Nancy had this to say about THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM: “Wow, wow, wow is all I can say. I couldn’t put it down. Read it in two days. Have read all of the author’s previous works...this is excellent. A must-read for every WOMAN, and very pertinent to what we are presently going through. Any woman can be anybody if we all continue to fight tooth and nail to be heard. Curious to see how you review it next week!” See my aforementioned Bets On commentary here.
Tucson Festival of Books Lineup is Announced: You can see all the panels here, including the three that I will be moderating.
Academy Award Nominations: They are being announced on Tuesday morning. One year when I was at Mademoiselle magazine, Tom and I were in LA the morning they were announced. There was a real buzz in the hotel’s dining room that was fun to see firsthand.
Train Scarf Sold at Auction: Remember the scarf that was made by that woman in Germany that I told you about last week? Where she knit two rows a day reflecting how delayed the train was? It sold at auction for €7,550 ($8,660) on eBay on Monday. “The proceeds will go to the charity Bahnhofsmission, which assists people in need at railway stations across Germany.”
Cory’s birthday is Wednesday, and I am sad that I will not be home for it. I think I have missed his last four birthdays with this conference timing. He’s turning 24, though for the past few weeks, I had in my head that he was turning 25! I literally figured this out yesterday. We are celebrating tonight with the traditional chocolate marble cake (which thankfully they can now finish while I am away), and his girlfriend Sam will plan something for Wednesday night. All good! Bring on the homemade antipasto and pizza.
I am looking at the amaryllis that are growing in the kitchen (see above) and trying to will them not to pop until I get back. This is like trying to get the peonies not to bloom when I am at Book Expo. Seasonal flowers and book conventions seem to be an issue for me; at least the winter flowers last!
I am off to pack. We are moments away from my thinking, If I had a skirt in that color, it would be really terrific. And I will look at my yarn stash and for an insane few moments will actually think, I could get that done in time. As I have said before, I can get dressed EVERY day, but tell me I have to pack and you would think I was being asked to climb Everest.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE FIRST CONSPIRACY
by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
THE FIRST CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch (History)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
In 1776, an elite group of soldiers were handpicked to serve as George Washington’s bodyguards. Washington trusted them. But unbeknownst to him, some of them were part of a treasonous plan. In the months leading up to the Revolutionary War, these traitorous soldiers, along with the Governor of New York, William Tryon, and Mayor David Mathews, launched a deadly plot against the most important member of the military: George Washington himself. This is the story of the secret plot and how it was revealed. It is a story of leaders, liars, counterfeiters and jailhouse confessors. It also shows just how hard the battle was for Washington and how close America was to losing the Revolutionary War. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: INHERITANCE by Dani Shapiro
INHERITANCE: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Dani Shapiro
In the spring of 2016, through a genealogy website to which she had whimsically submitted her DNA for analysis, Dani Shapiro received the stunning news that her father was not her biological father. INHERITANCE is a book about secrets --- secrets within families, kept out of shame or self-protectiveness; secrets we keep from one another in the name of love. It is the story of a woman's urgent quest to unlock the story of her own identity, a story that has been scrupulously hidden from her for more than 50 years. It is a book about the extraordinary moment we live in --- a moment in which science and technology have outpaced not only medical ethics but also the capacities of the human heart to contend with the consequences of what we discover. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE DREAMERS
by Karen Thompson Walker
THE DREAMERS by Karen Thompson Walker (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
One night in an isolated college town, a first-year student stumbles into her dorm room, falls asleep --- and doesn’t wake up. Her roommate, Mei, cannot rouse her. Neither can the paramedics, nor the perplexed doctors at the hospital. When a second girl falls asleep, and then a third, Mei finds herself thrust together with an eccentric classmate as panic takes hold of the college and spreads to the town. A young couple tries to protect their newborn baby as the once-quiet streets descend into chaos. Two sisters turn to each other for comfort as their survivalist father prepares for disaster. Those affected by the illness are displaying unusual levels of brain activity, higher than has ever been recorded before. They are dreaming heightened dreams --- but of what? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual
Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books
and Sweet Treats for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving readers the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day prize packages, which includes one copy of each of our featured titles and some delicious chocolates. Be sure to enter between now and Monday, February 11th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- shortly after the contest ends.
This year's featured Valentine’s Day titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's Fifth Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading Contests and Feature have returned for a fifth year! On select days between now and Friday, February 15th at noon ET, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter (or a book publishing in the spring that we would like to get on your radar now) and giving five lucky readers a chance to win it. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, January 22nd at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: AN ANONYMOUS GIRL
by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (Psychological Thriller)
I always approach an author’s --- in this case authors’ --- second book with some trepidation. THE WIFE BETWEEN US by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen was a huge success, thus setting a high bar. I liked AN ANONYMOUS GIRL even more! I had no idea where the story was headed at the beginning, but I was completely pulled in. And whoosh, from there it was page-turning. I was not sure who to believe as the story twisted round and round.
Jessica Farris is a makeup artist who travels around the city doing makeup in women’s homes, working for a service called Beauty Buzz. She’s scraping by, barely. Her mom and dad live in Pennsylvania with her sister, who has cognitive difficulties due to an accident that Jess holds guilt about. Thus, when she is at a client’s job and hears about the opportunity to make some extra money answering a survey, anonymously, she is all in.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict (Historical Fiction)
Marie Benedict’s THE OTHER EINSTEIN and CARNEGIE’S MAID were both Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. Marie’s passion for looking at the lives of forgotten women and writing about them has led her to the subjects that she explores in her work. Thus, I was very interested to see who Marie would focus on next. I never would have guessed Hedy Lamarr. I knew Hedy as the stunning screen actress who was known for her looks. I never knew that she was the person who held the first patent for Wi-Fi. So when you use your cell phone and text, you are embracing technology that Hedy was behind, as well as when you plug in your Bluetooth connection.
Hedy was born and raised in Austria, where her acting skills led her to the theater. There, a suitor, Friedrich “Fritz” Mandl, courted her, wooing her with fine meals, jewelry and attention. He delivered to her a world that was fashionable and, during a time when Hitler was marching around Europe, safe. Hedy was Jewish, and she needed protection as the drums of war drew closer. Fritz was a wealthy businessman whose trade was in munitions. She would sit and listen to him conducting business, noting how the shipments of arms were being trafficked. Although many thought she was just another pretty face, she was actually making a mental note of what was going on --- and recognizing that Hitler was going to overtake Austria, as he had done with Germany.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
New Special Contest: Enter to Win a Copy of
THE CURSE OF MISTY WAYFAIR by Jaime Jo Wright
and Share Your Comments on It
In Christy Award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright's latest novel, two women seek their mothers in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, a century apart. In 1908, Thea’s search leads her to an insane asylum with dark secrets. In modern-day Wisconsin, Heidi Lane answers the call of a mother battling dementia. Both confront the legendary curse of Misty Wayfair --- and are entangled in a web of danger that entwines them across time.
We have 15 copies of THE CURSE OF MISTY WAYFAIR to give away to readers who would like to read the book and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, January 29th at noon ET.
THE CURSE OF MISTY WAYFAIR by Jaime Jo Wright (Mystery/Thriller)
Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to turn-of-the-century Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. When the clues she finds lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a postmortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.
A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother --- who is battling dementia --- compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman haunting the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns --- and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.
As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, they must overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined.
Click here to enter the contest.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have three contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Win 12 Copies of MAID for Your Group and the Opportunity to Chat with Author Stephanie Land
We are celebrating the January 22nd release of MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive with a special contest that will give five groups the chance to win 12 copies of Stephanie Land's eye-opening memoir, plus the opportunity to chat with the author. Ten additional readers will be awarded a copy of the book, which exposes the reality of pursuing the American dream from below the poverty line. Enter here by Wednesday, February 6th at noon ET.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?": Win 12 Copies of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Our current prize book is THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian, which is now available in paperback. In this spellbinding psychological thriller, a flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man --- and no idea what happened. Enter here by Wednesday, February 6th at noon ET.
Share Your Favorite Books of 2018 --- and Enter to Win SIX Great 2019 Book Group Titles
By sharing your favorite book that you read with your group in 2018 and your favorite book that you read outside your group, you will be eligible to win six titles releasing this year that are perfect for book group discussions: THE AGE OF LIGHT by Whitney Scharer, THE GIRLS AT 17 SWANN STREET by Yara Zgheib, THE HUNTRESS by Kate Quinn, THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See, LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly, and THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict. Enter here by Thursday, January 31st at noon ET. We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you in the early February edition of the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter.
Here are our latest featured guides:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
LIAR LIAR by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Federay Holmes
Detective Harriet Blue is a very good cop…gone very bad. In the space of a week, she has committed theft and fraud, resisted arrest, assaulted a police officer, and is considered a dangerous fugitive from the law. It's all because of one man, Regan Banks. He viciously killed the only person in the world who matters to Harriet --- and he plans to kill her next. As she recklessly speeds toward the dark side --- and finally crosses it --- Harriet won't stop until Regan pays for the many lives he has taken. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
YOU KNOW YOU WANT THIS: "Cat Person" and Other Stories by Kristen Roupenian (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Aubrey Plaza, Jayme Mattler, Molly Pope, Will Damron, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Emily Tremaine, Finn Wittrock, Amy Ryan, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Corey Brill, Jacques Roy and Kristen Roupenian
Kristen Roupenian's highly anticipated debut short story collection explores the ways in which women are horrifying as much as it captures the horrors that are done to them. Among its pages are a couple who becomes obsessed with their friend hearing them have sex, then seeing them have sex…until they can’t have sex without him; a 10-year-old whose birthday party takes a sinister turn when she wishes for “something mean”; a woman who finds a book of spells half hidden at the library and summons her heart’s desire --- a nameless, naked man; and a self-proclaimed “biter” who dreams of sneaking up behind and sinking her teeth into a green-eyed, long-haired, pink-cheeked coworker. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
NO SUNSCREEN FOR THE DEAD by Tim Dorsey (Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Oliver Wyman
Serge and Coleman are back on the road, ready to hit the next stop on their list of obscure and wacky points of interest in the Sunshine State. This time, Serge’s interest is drawn to one of the largest retirement villages in the world --- also known as the site of an infamous sex scandal between a retiree and her younger beau that rocked the community. What starts out as an innocent quest to observe elders in their natural habitats, sample the local cuisine, and scope out a condo to live out the rest of their golden years, soon becomes a Robin Hood-like crusade to recover the funds of swindled residents. But as the residents rally for Serge to seek justice on their behalves, two detectives are hot on the heels of Serge and Coleman’s murderous trail. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE RED ADDRESS BOOK by Sofia Lundberg (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Xe Sands
Meet Doris, a 96-year-old woman living alone in her Stockholm apartment. She has few visitors, but her weekly Skype calls with Jenny --- her American grandniece, and her only relative --- give her great joy. When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colorful past, can she help Jenny unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doris’ life? Reviewed by Carole Turner.
THE WINTER OF THE WITCH by Katherine Arden (Historical Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen Gati
Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers --- and for someone to blame. Vasilisa Petrovna finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, the winter-king Morozko and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
NO EXIT by Taylor Adams (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Naughton
On her way to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets caught in a fierce blizzard in the mountains of Colorado. With the roads impassable, she’s forced to wait out the storm at a remote highway rest stop. Inside are some vending machines, a coffee maker and four complete strangers. Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate. Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her? There is no cell phone reception, no telephone and no way out. One of her fellow travelers is a kidnapper. But which one? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: One Fat Man's Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America by Tommy Tomlinson (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Tommy Tomlinson
When he was almost 50 years old, Tommy Tomlinson weighed 460 pounds, at risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Raised in a family that loved food, he had been aware of the problem for years, seeing doctors and trying diets from the time he was a preteen. But nothing worked, and every time he tried to make a change, it didn’t go the way he planned --- in fact, he wasn’t sure that he really wanted to change. He was only one of millions of Americans struggling with weight, body image and a relationship with food that puts them at major risk. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM is Tomlinson’s chronicle of meeting those people, taking the first steps towards health, and trying to understand how, as a nation, we got to this point. Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderović.
THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY: A Clandestine Operations Novel by W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV (Historical Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
A month ago, special agent James Cronley Jr. managed to capture two notorious Nazi war criminals, but not without leaving some dead bodies and outraged Austrian police in his wake. However, somebody --- Odessa, the NKGB, the Hungarian Secret Police? --- has broken the criminals out of jail, and he must track them down again. There's more to it than that, though. Evidence has surfaced that in the war's last gasps, Heinrich Himmler had stashed away a fortune to build a secret religion, dedicated both to Himmler and to creating the Fourth Reich. That money is still out there in the hands of Odessa, and that infamous organization seems to have acquired a surprising --- and troubling --- ally. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
HARK by Sam Lipsyte (Fiction/Satire)
Audiobook available, read by Sam Lipsyte
In an America convulsed by political upheaval, cultural discord, environmental collapse and spiritual confusion, many folks are searching for peace, salvation and --- perhaps most immediately --- just a little damn focus. Enter Hark Morner, an unwitting guru whose technique of “Mental Archery” --- a combination of mindfulness, mythology, fake history, yoga and, well, archery --- is set to captivate the masses and raise him to near-messiah status. It’s a role he never asked for, and one he is woefully underprepared to take on. But his inner circle of modern pilgrims have other plans, as do some suddenly powerful fringe players. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THE ACCIDENTAL FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN by Jonas Jonasson (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Peter Kenny
It all begins with a hot air balloon trip and three bottles of champagne. Allan Karlsson and Julius are ready for some spectacular views, but they’re not expecting to land in the sea and be rescued by a North Korean ship, and they never could have imagined that the captain of the ship would be harboring a suitcase full of contraband uranium, on a nuclear weapons mission for Kim Jong-un. Yikes! Soon Allan and Julius are at the center of a complex diplomatic crisis involving world figures from the Swedish foreign minister to Angela Merkel and President Trump. Needless to say, things are about to get very, very complicated. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE LIAR’S ROOM by Simon Lelic (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Laura Aikman and Nancy Carroll
Susanna Fenton has a secret. Fourteen years ago she left her identity behind, reinventing herself as a therapist and starting a new life. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe. But when a young man, Adam Geraghty, walks into her office, claiming he needs Susanna's help but asking unsettling questions, she begins to fear that her secret has been discovered. Who is Adam, really? What does he intend to do to Susanna? And what has he done to her daughter? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on January 22nd
Below are some notable titles releasing on January 22nd that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of January 21st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
CAMELOT'S END: Kennedy vs. Carter and the Fight that Broke the Democratic Party by Jon Ward (Politics)
From a strange, dark chapter in American political history comes the captivating story of Ted Kennedy's 1980 campaign for president against the incumbent Jimmy Carter, told in full for the first time.
CRUCIBLE by James Rollins (Thriller/Adventure)
In the race to save one of their own, Sigma Force must wrestle with the deepest spiritual mysteries of mankind in this mind-expanding adventure from James Rollins, told with his trademark blend of cutting-edge science, historical mystery and pulse-pounding action.
FREEDOM ROAD by William Lashner (Thriller)
Oliver Cross is fresh out of jail. When he finds out that his granddaughter has vanished, Oliver jumps parole. With a sketchy teen and an abandoned dog, he hits the blacktop to find her. On the road and on the run from a vengeful Russian drug dealer, Oliver finds himself on a trip across America and into his own past.
THE GOLDEN TRESSES OF THE DEAD: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Historical Mystery)
An expert in the chemical nature of poisons, Flavia de Luce has solved many mysteries, sharpening her considerable detection skills to the point where she had little choice but to turn professional. Little does she know that her first case will be extremely close to home, beginning with an unwelcome discovery in her sister Ophelia's wedding cake: a human finger.
MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land (Memoir)
In her “vivid and engaging” (Roxane Gay) memoir, former domestic worker Stephanie Land gives voice to the working poor and exposes the reality of pursuing the American dream from below the poverty line.
THE RULE OF LAW: A Dismas Hardy Novel by John Lescroart (Legal Thriller)
Attorney Dismas Hardy is called to defend the least likely suspect of his career: his longtime, trusted assistant who is suddenly being charged as an accessory to murder.
THE SUSPECT by Fiona Barton (Psychological Thriller)
When two 18-year-old girls go missing in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft and frantic with worry. What were the girls up to before they disappeared?
THE WARTIME SISTERS by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Historical Fiction)
Two estranged sisters, raised in Brooklyn and each burdened with her own shocking secret, are reunited at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII. Resentment festers between the two, and secrets are shattered when a mysterious figure from the past reemerges in their lives.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: January Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following books releasing in January are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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THE ACCIDENTAL FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN by Jonas Jonasson
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AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
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CRUCIBLE by James Rollins
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THE FIRST CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
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FREEDOM ROAD by William Lashner
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INHERITANCE: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love, by Dani Shapiro
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JUDGMENT by Joseph Finder
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LIAR LIAR by James Patterson and Candice Fox
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THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS by Pam Jenoff
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MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, by Stephanie Land
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THE NEW IBERIA BLUES: A Dave Robicheaux Novel, by James Lee Burke
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NO SUNSCREEN FOR THE DEAD by Tim Dorsey
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THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict
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OUT OF THE DARK: An Orphan X Novel, by Gregg Hurwitz
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THE RULE OF LAW: A Dismas Hardy Novel, by John Lescroart
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THE SUSPECT by Fiona Barton
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YOU KNOW YOU WANT THIS: "Cat Person" and Other Stories, by Kristen Roupenian
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 1st at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from January 18th to February 1st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of JUDGMENT by Joseph Finder and OUT OF THE DARK: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz.
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 rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from January 2nd to February 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, read by Barrie Kreinik and Julia Whelan, and Alex Michaelides' THE SILENT PATIENT, read by Jack Hawkins and Louise Brealey.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, 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.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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