Skip to main content

April 27, 2007

Bookreporter.com Newsletter

April 27, 2007

This Week on Bookreporter.com

Miami to New York to LA and Back

Bookreporter.com Talks to Wendy Corsi Staub, Author of DON'T SCREAM

Bookreporter.com Talks to Paula Wall, Author of THE WILDE WOMEN

Bookreporter.com Talks to Cathy Lamb, Author of JULIA'S CHOCOLATES

New Featured One to Watch Author: Khaled Hosseini, Author of A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win our Mother's Day Hatbox of Books and More!!!

Win an Advance Reading Copy of FALLING OUT OF FASHION by Karen Yampolsky

Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Barry Eisler, Author of REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN

Now in Stores: BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET by Debbie Macomber

Now in Stores: A LITTLE BIT MARRIED by Debra Borden

Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Heather Terrell, Author of THE CHRYSALIS

Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Todd Buchholz, Author of THE CASTRO GENE

Featured One to Watch Author: Monica Pradhan, Author of THE HINDI-BINDI CLUB

Featured Historical Fiction Author: Conn Iggulden, Author of GENGHIS

This Week's Reviews and Features

Quick Links to Features On The Book Report Network
 
Bookreporter.com
Past Reviews
Can't See the Graphics? Read This Newsletter Online
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Promotion
Debut Suspense/Thriller One to Watch Promotion
Mystery Mayhem Promotion

Historical Fiction Promotion

One to Watch Promotion
Books Into Movies
Bestseller Lists
Coming Soon
New in Paperback
ReadingGroupGuides.com

Miami to New York to LA and Back

I could not have scripted a better week for a booklover! In the past 8 days I have clocked a couple of thousand frequent flyer miles crossing the country in a couple of directions and banked an amazing number of "talking to/listening to author" hours, which have been a real pleasure.
 
When we last left off I was in Miami for Sleuthfest, the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America's annual conference. What's fun about these conference events is seeing old friends and meeting new ones. To illustrate this, I spent time with William Lashner. His new Victor Carl adventure, A KILLER'S KISS, will be in stores in September, and I had the pleasure of reading an early copy on the flight home from Miami. I love Lashner's voice when he writes. He's also lots of fun to hang out and talk books and movies with.
 

I met an author who I did not know, Jonathan Santlofer, whose latest thriller, ANATOMY OF FEAR, is getting lots of attention. Jonathan, who is an artist as well as an author, has a forensic artist as his main character in this book. He illustrated the book as well, giving it a very different and exciting look and feel. I spent the flight to LA this morning on the all-too-crowded plane escaping with this one. He's definitely someone to watch. I also had fun sitting poolside for a bit in Miami reading Kate White's new one, LETHALLY BLOND, which will be in stores on May 23rd. It's a quintessential beach read. I kept looking up from my beach chair to see if Kate was poolside watching me read. More on Sleuthfest next week.

While in Miami I left the conference for a bit and went down to Coral Gables to the Books & Books store, which was having a Book Club Mixer. There were more than 200 readers who were in book clubs, or looking to join a book club, gathered to chat about their favorite books and authors. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable store staffers from all of Books & Books locations were on hand to share their personal recommendations, which I will include in the next ReadingGroupGuides.com update. I had a chance to speak to the assembled group and share information about RGG, which was a real pleasure. This store is one of my favorites, and if you find yourself in South Florida it surely is worth a visit, or two.

This week is Edgars Week in New York, with a stellar lineup of events hosted by the Mystery Writers of America. Yesterday I spent the day at their annual Edgars Symposium where panelists included Nelson DeMille, Sandra Brown, Harlan Coben, Janet Evanovich, Joseph Finder, Barry Eisler and Lee Child. The day's true highlight was the interview with Stephen King, who was in town to be honored with the MWA Grandmaster Award. Charles Ardai, the founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, which publishes a line of pulp-style paperback crime novels, was the interviewer, and he did a great job of guiding the conversation so we all felt like we were in King's living room and not in a conference hall. The week culminated with last night's black tie Edgars Award events where Alex Berenson won the Best Novel award for THE FAITHFUL SPY, which was one of my favorite books of last year. Naomi Hirahara won the Best Paperback Original award for SNAKESKIN SHAMISEN, which was one of our One to Watch titles last year. The highlight of the evening for me was my chat with Stephen King about how I think of him and his book, THE STAND, whenever I drive through the Lincoln Tunnel. He told me he wanted to walk through the tunnel at some point and it was not allowed. Fun chatter. More on the Edgars events next week, as well.

 
I am writing now from Los Angeles, where I have flown for the LA Festival of Books. I am looking forward to this event, which, as always, has a stellar lineup. Anyone in the South California area is in for a real treat. More on all of these events when I have a moment next week to stop and write!
 
This week's Bookreporter.com lineup has us sharing the work of an author who you all know as "the author of THE KITE RUNNER," Khaled Hosseini. His upcoming book, which will be in stores on May 22nd, is A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS. I am thrilled to be sharing his work with you as our latest One to Watch author. I read this book a few months ago and just loved it. There's deep emotion, a well-written story and another insider look at Afghanistan, this time through the eyes of two beautifully crafted female characters. People are saying it's even better than THE KITE RUNNER and I agree on this, which is quite an achievement. We have 10 advance copies to give away to readers who want to enter. Send your name and mailing address to [email protected] by Friday, May 4th to enter.
 
Our Poll asks how many books you read this month and our Question asks what book you most are looking forward to reading. Our Word of Mouth selections are BODY SURFING by Anita Shreve, UP IN HONEY'S ROOM by Elmore Leonard and SOUL PATCH by Reed Farrel Coleman. Let us know what you are reading here to enter. And our monthly New in Paperback feature is ready for you to make your shopping lists here. And you have til next Friday to enter our Mother's Day Contest. Click here to enter!
 
We also have our latest Books Into Movies column, written by Jen Krieger. This brings me to some news that has me sad in this otherwise fabulously bookish week, as Jen will be leaving The Book Report Network today. I am going to miss her energy and her enthusiasm. She joined us the week before she graduated from NYU and since then has contributed on so many levels to making this website hum. She frequently would send me emails or show up in my office with "an idea" that she then ran with. Also, she has done a great job of keeping up with me and trying to make my days easier, which, trust me, is no small feat. Please join me in wishing her all good things in the next chapter of her life. Next week, more on our new staffer who joins us Tuesday.
 
I have been able to knit most of a tank top and a skirt while listening to panels these past 8 days, which has been nice. But I am looking forward to getting back to "normal" next week. Sitting and watching my younger son's baseball games, yapping it up with my older son about colleges and swinging in the hammock while reading will be a tame pleasure after all this travel. I love to be on the run, but I also like to stop. Have a great week...I hope you find something here to read that you love.

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

List of titles reviewed and featured on April 27th.

List of titles reviewed and featured on April 20th.

 
Click here to enter our Word of Mouth Contest.
 

Bookreporter.com Talks to Wendy Corsi Staub, Author of DON'T SCREAM

Wendy Corsi Staub realized at the age of eight that she wanted to be an author and has since published over 60 books. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub, Staub recounts the event that inspired the plot of her latest novel, DON'T SCREAM, and describes her rigorous work schedule and ethic that allow her to divide her time equally between her career and family. She also names some of the authors who have influenced her work, compares and contrasts writing series and stand-alone novels, and shares what she has in store for the next year.

DON'T SCREAM by Wendy Corsi Staub (Romantic Suspense)
In a remote, heavily wooded area near the Berkshires of Massachusetts, Rachel Lorant died on her birthday. That night, her four sorority sisters made a solemn, trembling pledge. They would never reveal what happened in those woods --- ever. But now, 10 years later, their terrible secret is coming back to haunt them. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-For more, visit Wendy Corsi Staub's website, www.WendyCorsiStaub.com.

Click here to read our interview with Wendy Corsi Staub and a review of DON'T SCREAM.


 

Bookreporter.com Talks to Paula Wall, Author of THE WILDE WOMEN

Paula Wall is the author of MY LOVE IS FREE...BUT THE REST OF ME DON'T COME CHEAP and IF I WERE A MAN, I'D MARRY ME --- two collections of her "Off the Wall" syndicated columns --- as well as the novels THE ROCK ORCHARD and the newly released THE WILDE WOMEN. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Lourdes Orive, Wall explains how her awkward childhood laid the groundwork for a book about a family of mischievous and irresistible women, and describes the most difficult part of creating those characters. She also discusses how both her southern roots and her upbringing in Alaska flavor her writing, touches on the deceptive simplicity of southern fiction and shares details about the possibility of adapting her debut novel for the big screen.

THE WILDE WOMEN by Paula Wall (Romance)
Paula Wall, the national bestselling author of THE ROCK ORCHARD, returns with another witty, wise and romantic tale of two sisters with a talent for seduction and the unfortunate habit of falling for the wrong man every time. Reviewed by Lourdes Orive.

Click here to read our interview with Paula Wall and a review of THE WILDE WOMEN.


 

Bookreporter.com Talks to Cathy Lamb, Author of JULIA'S CHOCOLATES

JULIA'S CHOCOLATES by Cathy Lamb is a poignant and funny tale about a woman who leaves her abusive fiancé at the altar and starts anew with the help of an eccentric group of friends and family --- and some indulgent desserts. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Alexis Burling, Lamb shares her thoughts on some of the weighty issues addressed in the book, such as domestic violence and abusive relationships, and lets women know how they can avoid some of the same pitfalls her characters experience. She also describes how she defied the advice of other authors to write this debut novel, defends her belief in happy endings and reveals some of the quirky details of her next project.

JULIA'S CHOCOLATES by Cathy Lamb (Fiction)
Frisky romance readers, pull up a chair (or lie down on a therapist's couch) and prepare for a bumpy (and often in-your-face) ride. Debut novelist Cathy Lamb's JULIA'S CHOCOLATES is quite a tour through the hearts and minds of abused women turned righteous dames. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

Click here to read our interview with Cathy Lamb and a review of JULIA'S CHOCOLATES.


 

New Featured One to Watch Author: Khaled Hosseini, Author of A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

We are beyond thrilled to be featuring Khaled Hosseini, author of the runaway bestseller THE KITE RUNNER, as our newest One to Watch author. Hosseini's newest is A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS --- coming out May 22nd --- and is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship and an indestructible love.

We have 10 advance reading copies of A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. Interested? Send your name and mailing address to [email protected] by Friday, May 4th.

More about A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS:
Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made THE KITE RUNNER a beloved classic, A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS is at once an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.

Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them --- in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul --- they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival. 

Click here to read more about Khaled Hosseini and A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS


 

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win our Mother's Day Hatbox of Books and More!!!

From April 20th through May 4th, readers will have the chance to win one of five Mother’s Day Hatboxes filled with goodies Mom will just love, as well as one copy of ALL FIVE of our featured books --- JULIA’S CHOCOLATES by Cathy Lamb, MARS NEEDS MOMS! by Berkeley Breathed, SWIMMING LESSONS and TURTLE SUMMER by Mary Alice Monroe and VIRGIN RIVER by Robyn Carr --- in our Mother's Day Contest.

The hatboxes have a beautiful lavender and blue spring floral pattern and are stocked with charming and indulgent items for Mom. Along with copies of these five "mom-perfect" titles, Mom will be thrilled to find a lavender-scented candle from Illuminations, Country Linen Fragrance Potpourri, a Pink "Shower Flower” from Crabtree & Evelyn, indulgent soft Hydrating Therapy Socks, Shasta Daisy Seeds to plant, and a Pink Pocket Magnifier w/LED from Great Point Light (which is perfect for moms who may find the type a bit teensy when the light is dim). Winners can opt to keep the basket themselves or give it to a special mom they know.

Click here to see all the details of our Mother's Day Hatbox contest.


 
Win an Advance Reading Copy of FALLING OUT OF FASHION by Karen Yampolsky

To celebrate the release of FALLING OUT OF FASHION by Karen Yampolsky, which hit stores on April 24th, Bookreporter.com has teamed up with Kensington Publishing to offer 20 readers the chance to win an advance copy of the book.

To enter, simply send your name and mailing address to [email protected] by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, May 22nd. Please note that P.O. Boxes will not be accepted.

More about FALLING OUT OF FASHION:
In the bestselling tradition of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, Karen Yampolsky’s hilarious and disarmingly candid debut goes deep inside the glossy, glamorous, and completely ruthless world of magazine publishing, where bitchiness and betrayal are always in vogue, and this month’s hotshots are just one dud issue away from a pink slip and a one-line career obit on Page Six…

-Click here to read all the contest details.

Click here to read more about FALLING OUT OF FASHION.


 

Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Barry Eisler, Author of REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN

We are thrilled to be shining our Suspense/Thriller spotlight on Barry Eisler, whose latest addition to his popular John Rain series, REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN, hits stores May 22nd.

-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
-Click here to read Fast Facts about Barry Eisler.
-Click here to see Barry Eisler's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN.

More about REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN:
If you had to kill three people to save your best friend's life, would you do it?

When John Rain decides to get out of the business, his hand is forced by rogue CIA operative Jim Hilger. Hilger kidnaps Dox, Rain's trusted partner and closest friend, and offers Rain a choice: carry out a final assignment, or bear the responsibility for Dox's murder.

For a professional like John Rain, the choice ought to be easy: Do the job --- a series of three hits --- then walk away. But how does Rain know Jim Hilger won't kill Dox anyway, once the assignment is complete? How does he know that each of the hits isn't simultaneously a setup for Rain himself? And what will he do when he finds out that among the targets of this lethal game of extortion is someone else Rain cares about deeply?

Click here to read more about Barry Eisler and REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN.
 

Now in Stores: BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET by Debbie Macomber

BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET by Debbie Macomber

Wherever you are, Debbie Macomber takes you home.
 

BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET is the heartwarming new novel from New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber that readers who loved A GOOD YARN and THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET have been waiting for. A page-turner about friendship, love and the secrets in a woman's heart. Also available, the much-anticipated paperback release of SUSANNAH'S GARDEN.

Bring Debbie home today!


Read more about Debbie Macomber and BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET at www.DebbieMacomber.com

Click here to read more about BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET.


 

Now in Stores: A LITTLE BIT MARRIED by Debra Borden

A LITTLE BIT MARRIED by Debra Borden
Even before college, Bitsy Lerner had her whole life figured out: marry, have kids, move to the suburbs, and spend heavenly days packing lunches and driving carpools.

At age 43, things have gone exactly as planned. With a solid marriage, two great kids, and a darling house, so what if her husband is vague about his business dealings. Or her overbearing mother-in-law finds novel ways to torture her. And her parents radiate constant disapproval. And her friends are shallow. And her daughter’s clothes never cover her navel. And her son spends all his time playing sports. She’s living the charmed life she always wanted. Right?

Come along for the hilarious and poignant ride as Bitsy gets help from the unlikeliest of sources and discovers that all the little “bits” of herself might actually be stronger than she, or anyone, knew.

-Click here to see our Reading Group Guide for A LITTLE BIT MARRIED.

Click here to read more about A LITTLE BIT MARRIED.


 

Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Heather Terrell, Author of THE CHRYSALIS

We are thrilled to bring you our newest Debut Suspense/Thriller author --- Heather Terrell, whose provocative historical page-turner THE CHRYSALIS hits stores May 15th.

-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE CHRYSALIS

More about THE CHRYSALIS:
Haarlem, Holland, seventeenth-century: The city’s chief magistrate commissions a family portrait from Dutch master painter Johannes Miereveld. But when the artist sees the magistrate’s daughter, Amalia, an illicit love affair begins. Miereveld creates a captivating masterpiece, THE CHRYSALIS --- a stunning portrait of the Virgin Mary, full of Catholic symbols, that outrages his Protestant patron and signals the death of his career.

Spanning centuries and continents, THE CHRYSALIS is a brilliant, intelligent, fast-paced thriller that melds art and history into a provocative work of fiction. From the underground Catholicism in seventeenth-century Holland to the unspeakable crimes of the Nazis and the repercussions that reverberate to this day throughout the art world, Heather Terrell has created a fascinating story that will entrance readers to the very last page.

Click here to read more about Heather Terrell and THE CHRYSALIS.
 

Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Todd Buchholz, Author of THE CASTRO GENE

Our second featured Debut Suspense/Thriller author is Todd Buchholz, whose book THE CASTRO GENE is an intricately plotted knockout that hits stores May 15th. 

-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE CASTRO GENE.

More about THE CASTRO GENE:
After killing a man in the ring, Luke Braden quits boxing. While toiling as a security guard and yearning to reinvent himself, Luke is swept up into the high-flying domain of Paul Tremont. Tremont, the hottest hedge fund hand around, has a penchant for the dramatic and a disquieting need to control. Being Tremont’s protégé has its perks –-- Luke trades in his ratty basement apartment for a penthouse view, his gym clothes for designer suits. But there are strings attached, and Tremont is pulling those strings.

Why does Tremont need a washed-up boxer? The answer lies not in what Luke is, but who he is. Luke Braden is the only man who can execute Tremont’s diabolical scheme. 

Click here to read more about Todd Buchholz and THE CASTRO GENE.


 

Featured One to Watch Author: Monica Pradhan, Author of THE HINDI-BINDI CLUB

One of our featured One to Watch authors is the exceptionally talented Monica Pradhan. Her debut title is THE HINDI-BINDI CLUB --- an elegant tapestry of East and West, peppered with food and ceremony, wisdom and sensuality --- which hits stores on May 1st.

-Click here to read a new excerpt from THE HINDI-BINDI CLUB.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE HINDI-BINDI CLUB:
For decades they have remained close, sharing treasured recipes, honored customs, and the challenges of women shaped by ancient ways yet living modern lives. They are the Hindi-Bindi Club, a nickname given by their American daughters to the mothers who left India to start anew --- daughters now grown and facing struggles of their own.

Click here to read more about Monica Pradhan and THE HINDI-BINDI CLUB.


 

Featured Historical Fiction Author: Conn Iggulden, Author of GENGHIS

We are thrilled to spotlight Conn Iggulden as our newest featured Historical Fiction author. The acclaimed author of the Emperor novels, Iggulden is a master of the historical fiction genre. In his latest work, GENGHIS: Birth of an Empire, which hits stores on May 1st, he tackles the fascinating persona and compelling legacy of Genghis Khan.

-Click here to read a new excerpt from GENGHIS.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
-Click here to read fast facts about Conn Iggulden.
-Click here to see Conn Iggulden's bio.
-Click here to visit Conn Iggulden's website, ConnIggulden.com.

More about GENGHIS:
He was born Temujin, the son of a khan, raised in a clan of hunters migrating across the rugged steppe. Temujin’s young life was shaped by a series of brutal acts: the betrayal of his father by a neighboring tribe and the abandonment of his entire family cruelly left to die on the harsh plain. But Temujin endured—and from that moment on, he was driven by a singular fury: to survive in the face of death, to kill before being killed, and to conquer enemies who could come without warning from beyond the horizon.

Through a series of courageous raids against the Tartars, Temujin’s legend grew. And so did the challenges he faced --- from the machinations of a Chinese ambassador to the brutal abduction of his young wife, Borte. Blessed with ferocious courage, it was the young warrior’s ability to learn, to imagine, and to judge the hearts of others that propelled him to greater and greater power. Until Temujin was chasing a vision: to unite many tribes into one, to make the earth tremble under the hoofbeats of a thousand warhorses, to subject unknown nations and even empires to his will.

Click here to read more about Conn Iggulden and GENGHIS.
 

This Week's Reviews and Features

SIMPLE GENIUS by David Baldacci (Thriller)
Some of the country’s most brilliant minds are working on a project that may change life as we now know it, while just across the river, sinister plans are in progress. When one of the scientists ends up dead, the investigation unearths a disturbing CIA plot. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read an excerpt from SIMPLE GENIUS.

THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss (Fantasy)
In a dark and dreary time, an old hero (or is he a villain?) is found out, hiding away as a mere tavern owner. As he chronicles his past for a biographer, his amazing story opens up and lures readers into an unforgettable novel with depth and soul. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE NAME OF THE WIND.
-For more, visit Patrick Rothfuss's website, www.PatrickRothfuss.com.

BURNING BRIGHT by Tracy Chevalier (Historical Fiction)
Tracy Chevalier brought to life the 17th century of the Netherlands in GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING. Now, in BURNING BRIGHT, Chevalier moves to late 18th-century England where she captures ordinary people at the threshold of the radical social, moral and political changes that will reshape the world. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read an excerpt from BURNING BRIGHT.

SOUL PATCH: A Moe Prager Mystery by Reed Farrel Coleman (Mystery)
The apparent suicide of an old friend and NYPD Chief of Detectives forces Moe Prager back onto the decaying Coney Island streets he patrolled when he was in uniform. But now, beneath the boardwalk and behind the rusted and crumbling rides of the midway, he finds a trail of death, betrayal and corruption reaching back to 1972. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

WHAT'S SO FUNNY?: A Dortmunder Novel by Donald E. Westlake (Mystery)
Burglar John Dortmunder returns in this 13th installment of the comic caper series created by Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Donald E. Westlake. This time, Dortmunder must figure out how to steal a priceless gold chess set from the basement vault of a New York City bank. And as with any Dortmunder scheme, things are bound to go wrong. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.

THE MINISTRY OF SPECIAL CASES by Nathan Englander (Fiction)
In this long-awaited debut novel, Nathan Englander paints a riveting portrait of an ordinary family devastated by the disappearance of their only child following a political coup. Their dogged and harrowing struggle to secure his return makes for compelling drama, and the questions of religious and cultural identity the story engages enrich it with moral depth and consequence. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

BODY OF LIES by David Ignatius (Thriller)
Roger Ferris is one of the CIA's soldiers in the war on terrorism. He has come out of Iraq with a shattered leg and an intense mission: to penetrate the network of a master terrorist known only as "Suleiman." Ferris's plan for getting inside Suleiman's tent is to prepare a body of lies --- literally. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

ZIG ZAG by Jose Carlos Somoza (Thriller)
A physics experiment gone awry has frightening repercussions that extend far beyond the reaches of the laboratory walls, placing readers on a scientific thrill ride that offers theories to some of the larger questions of both the universe and human nature. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

SET SAIL FOR MURDER: A Henrie O Mystery by Carolyn Hart (Mystery)
When an old flame contacts renowned journalist and crime-solver Henrie O. to help figure out who's trying to kill his wife, she feels duty-bound to come to his aid. It doesn't hurt that an all-expenses-paid Baltic cruise is part of the deal. Will Henrie O. come out of this adventure with her heart, her reputation and her life intact? Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

FOUR QUEENS: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe, by Nancy Goldstone (History)
Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia and Beatrice --- daughters of Count Raymond Berenger V of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy --- married young and married well. Nancy Goldstone gives life and voices to these four sisters who helped shape Europe during the 13th century. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

Click here to read our reviews and features.
 

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.

Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by April 30, 2007 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month one winner will be selected to win the following five books: BODY SURFING by Anita Shreve, THE GOOD HUSBAND OF ZEBRA DRIVE by Alexander McCall Smith, I HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE by Mary Higgins Clark, LACED: A Regan Reilly Mystery by Carol Higgins Clark, and THE WOODS by Harlan Coben. Last month's newsletter winner was Nancy from Portsmouth, RI who won DADDY'S GIRL by Lisa Scottoline, DRY ICE by Stephen White, OBSESSION: An Alex Delaware Novel, by Jonathan Kellerman, QUEEN OF BROKEN HEARTS by Cassandra King and WHAT THE DEAD KNOW by Laura Lippman.


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

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