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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
June 14, 2013 |
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Reading Through the Noise of Nature
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Rain and cicadas were the backdrop of this week. We are experiencing both in earnest. For those who do not know about the cicadas, here’s a quick study from The Washington Post from May 29th: “The ground temperature officially reached 64 degrees last week and Brood II of the 17-year periodical cicadas have emerged in large pockets from Virginia to New York. The cicadas will have four-to-six weeks to mate and lay eggs before they die. For the next several weeks, their mating calls will be quite loud. In July, however, it gets quite bleak for the bugs. They all die.” Well, right now there is a whole lot of mating going on in our neighborhood. On Sunday morning, I found my husband on the patio reading with noise-cancelling headphones on to drown out the drone of the sounds of nature. We joke that sex literally is in the air all around us! And while we have had a lot of rain, it has not drowned out these little buggers.
On Monday night, I dashed between the raindrops as I was invited by Charlie Kochman from Abrams Books to the Society of Illustrators for the private opening of Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work, an extraordinary exhibit of more than 200 never-before-seen Sendak originals curated by rare-book dealers Justin G. Schiller and Dennis M. V. David. This exhibit will be on display in the Society’s main gallery June 11th - August 17th. Monday would have been Sendak’s 85th birthday, and Google celebrated it with an animated doodle. The exhibit features works in progress to give viewers a chance to see the often subtle changes that were made to Sendak’s drawings to give them the depth we all love and includes pieces not included in WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, as well Bell Atlantic commercials, which used his work. Fans of Sendak will enjoy MAURICE SENDAK: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work, written by aforementioned exhibit curators Justin G. Schiller and Dennis M. V. David, with 12 essays on Sendak as well as the art. At this exhibit, I also had a lovely chat about knitting with Charlie’s wife, Rachel, who spent nine months knitting her gown when they were married in 2009, which was STUNNING!
People often remark that Facebook is a waste of time. I don’t see it that way, most likely because most of the people who I have “friended” are business colleagues and those in the media, and what is culled for me on my News Feed are stories of things I want to know about. I often hear about books that I otherwise may have missed and the stories behind them. One came to me that way this week --- TELL MY SONS: A Father’s Last Letters by Lt. Col. Mark M. Weber. Jeff Kleinman, the author’s literary agent, posted that the book had hit the New York Times list at #21. Mark, a career soldier who served with honor, was headed to a high-profile position in the Afghan region in 2010 when a test showed he had Stage IV cancer and was going to be fighting a very different battle. He was 38 at the time. He decided to write letters to his sons about the things he wanted them to know.
Intrigued, I reached out to his publisher for a copy, and this slim volume has packed quite a punch as I am reading it. A lot is poured onto each page, and at one point as I was reading, I saw I was only on page 19, but felt I already “knew” Mark. I am all about living every day and making it matter. In Jeff’s post, he also shared a link to Mark’s Caring Bridge page, which I visited to read more about the author. I learned the news this week that his illness had taken a turn to palliative care. Sadly, Mark passed away yesterday never knowing that his book hit “THE list” that so many covet. From what I have read thus far, I think that Mark would have been more interested in the fact that it made a reader’s list and inspired them to live their lives more fully, which is why I am sharing it with you today. Mark was an avid gardener who, for as long as he could, was out moving flowers and had a special affection for the friends who had helped with his “spring cleanup” around the house so he could enjoy the planting he loved most. There is an analogy here to the ideas he plants in this book, which l will read a chapter or two at a time. He’s inspiring, and I look forward to turning to it on days when I yearn for his kind of perspective as we all have challenges and need time to put them into perspective. It can be applied to any challenge we meet in life. Read a chapter here and see why I feel this way.
We’re launching FOUR new spotlight features this week. First up is EYE FOR AN EYE, one of two new Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight titles. The fourth book in Ben Coes’s series finds Dewey Andreas facing deadly consequences after discovering the identity of a Chinese Intelligence spy. When China’s Ministry of State Security murders his fiancée, he stops at nothing to get revenge. I had not read any books by Ben before reading an early manuscript of this one. He crafts a story with a lot of punch and spares no words, which keeps the action moving. We have 50 copies of the book, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
Our second Suspense/Thriller title is Elizabeth Adler’s latest novel, PLEASE DON’T TELL, a gripping thriller about a mysterious stranger who shows up on the doorstep of Fen Dexter one night, covered in blood, and his possible connections with a rampant serial killer. I still can recall those opening chapters that were chilling and kept me wanting to read more. We have 25 copies of the book, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
The newest addition to our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight is Food Network personality Sandra Lee, whose first novel, THE RECIPE BOX, releases on July 2nd. Sandra employs her own recipes in her debut, which tells the story of a distraught mother who returns to her hometown and finds solace in cooking. The recipes have me making a shopping list; I’m currently on the prowl for blood red oranges for the Blood Orange Sheet Cake. I can see the family wondering WHERE my recipe ideas are coming from this week. We have 25 copies to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
THE BOOK OF MADNESS AND CURES is the latest title to be featured in our Paperback Spotlight. Regina O'Melveny’s debut novel takes readers through 16th-century Europe as a young female doctor investigates her father’s mysterious disappearance. The book, which released in hardcover last year, will be available in paperback on June 18th. To me, paperbacks give us the chance to pick up books we did not get to explore their first time round!
If you’re a Debbie Macomber fan and looking for a fun summer getaway, have we got an exciting offer for you. Win a trip to Debbie Macomber’s Fan Retreat for you and a friend! It will take place at the Opryland Resort from August 9-11; this is the perfect way to experience all the tastes, sounds and Southern charms of Nashville while also enjoying the company of other fans of Debbie’s --- and spending time with this beloved author. Read on for more about this weekend later in this newsletter, or just click here for more and to enter for your chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to attend this three-day celebration, which includes entry to all the events. (The prize does not include travel or accommodations.) But even if you can’t make it to Nashville, you can still return to the beloved town of Cedar Cove with Debbie’s new Rose Harbor series. Start your journey with THE INN AT ROSE HARBOR, which was published last summer in hardcover and will be out in paperback on July 30th, and don’t miss ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM, out on August 13th!
Two weeks ago, we featured FLAT WATER TUESDAY, a debut novel by Ron Irwin, in our New Release Spotlight. This week, I’m happy to announce that it’s my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Michael Magras has our review and calls the book “an entertaining and well-written tale of past-their-prime teachers living vicariously through their students, and of privileged young men and women struggling to live up to their parents’ expectations” and “a worthy addition to the prep-school genre.” Click here for my thoughts about the book. As I said in a previous newsletter, if you enjoyed Amber Dermont’s THE STARBOARD SEA, you’ll want to add this one to your reading pile.
We have MANY new reviews for you this week --- 19 to be exact! Among them are Dorothea Benton Frank’s latest novel set in the South Carolina Lowcountry, THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE. Leslie Anne Greene Carter is tired of being the good wife to a husband who doesn’t want her around, so she decides to take a trip home to Charleston in order to rediscover herself and show her husband what he’s missing. Reviewer Amie Taylor says, “Almost any woman, particularly those who have spent their lives as housewives tending to their husband and raising the children, can find snippets to identify with here.”
In THE ENGAGEMENTS, J. Courtney Sullivan follows the story of four unique relationships while tracing the history of diamonds in America and what they have come to symbolize. Bronwyn Miller has our review and says, “Sullivan is a keen observer of people and how they morph over time, either being softened by the years or made more brittle by strife, as deftly demonstrated in her earlier novels, COMMENCEMENT and MAINE. What could prove daunting for most writers --- covering a multitude of characters over such a broad scope in time --- she tackles effortlessly, and fully realized people and situations emerge.” The diamond cartels and the various trade laws that are ascribed to them are explored throughout the book, making this what I call “educated fiction.”
Sally Koslow, whose previous books we’ve featured on the site, is back with her fourth novel, THE WIDOW WALTZ, which I talked about two weeks ago. This time, she explores what it takes for one woman to rebuild her seemingly perfect life after her husband dies and leaves her with nothing. Reviewer Melanie Smith calls the book “an inspirational piece about rising up to meet challenges, valuing family, and finding independence, inner strength and new perspectives.”
Also out this week is THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB by Lily Koppel, in which readers get to meet the wives of the men who walked on the moon. Here is the story of how these women came together and became friends through unique circumstances. Carole Turner has our review and says, “Although the wives were --- and still are --- less well known, their stories are told quite frankly. They deserve a lot of respect and credit for the way they conducted themselves in the public eye during a very difficult, challenging and exciting time in their lives.” When I was little, I thought about the kids who saw their dads propelled into space. Now I think about how the wives must have knotted up inside hearing, “We have liftoff.” I look forward to reading this one.
Next up is THE CARETAKER, a debut thriller from A. X. Ahmad that delves into the shadowy world of politics as the caretaker of a senator’s house on Martha’s Vineyard is forcibly involved in mysterious and dangerous events surrounding his employer. Reviewer Roz Shea has this to say: “This debut novel, the first in a trilogy, promises a new, exotic hero for intrigue-loving readers. It also offers a rare look at the deep philosophy of the Sikh religion, something new in American literature… A. X. Ahmad, himself an immigrant with well-honed writing skills, has created a three-dimensional character facing the challenges of assimilation into a different society.” I read this and have been dwelling a lot about resorts in the offseason when they take on a very different view.
And available on your eReader is the eBook Original THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN MIAMI, the sequel to Stefan Kanfer’s THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK. Jordan Gulok, an Inuit and a former Navy SEAL, is back. This time, though, he’s on vacation in Florida when he encounters a suspicious paramilitary group with a disturbing plan. Readers raved about the first book, and I do agree with them! Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, “You should be reading this series. Gulok is one of the more interesting fictional characters I have encountered recently, and his employment situation is an intriguing one.”
Have you finished your Father’s Day shopping yet? Suggestions abound among the nine books in our Father’s Day feature that we think are terrific gift-giving suggestions. And a big round of applause to the five winners of our contest, who each received all of these featured titles. Need more recommendations? Then we suggest you take a look at reviewer Stuart Shiffman’s Summer Golf Books feature and Navy SEAL Rorke Denver’s roundup of five great military reads.
While our Father’s Day contest has ended, our Summer Reading Feature is just getting started! We have contests running on select days through July 31st where we’re giving away books that we think will be great summer reads. This week, we posted giveaways for THE INNOCENTS by Francesca Segal and WISP OF A THING by Alex Bledsoe. Next week, we’ll be giving away IS THIS TOMORROW by Caroline Leavitt and SEA CHANGE by S. M. Wheeler. Are you signed up for our Summer Reading newsletter so you get word as soon as our contests go live? If not, click here to get signed up!
Our celebration of “June is Audiobook Month” continues with our month-long blog series featuring pieces from authors who are avid fans of audiobooks. This week, we heard from Aaron Hartzler, Mary Roach, Rainbow Rowell, Joseph Finder and Karin Slaughter. Next week, we look forward to pieces from Joanna Hershon, Lynda Hudson, David Niall Wilson, Pamela Clare and Caragh O'Brien.
I got sad news this week that Martha Ann Henry, who had been one of our original hosts known as BookpgMada in Bookaccino (our chat room when this site was on AOL), passed away from nonsmoker’s lung cancer. The original chat team still keeps in touch, and a few of them had planned to see her in August. I had the pleasure of meeting Martha Ann in Chicago and St. Louis, where the hosts met in the early years; she had a wonderful sense of humor. I have read some lovely tributes to her this week, and it makes me really happy to think how the days of that chat room brought together a group of people around the country to talk about books…and then move on to talking about real life.
I am a relentless multi-tasker, thus I usually do not just watch television, but rather run it in the background while I am answering email or knitting. Often I will get more involved in my email than the show, so I am really glad for the rewind feature on the DVR. The other night, I watched the finale of “Nurse Jackie,” which was well done. After the credits, the producers came on and talked about the story arc and its pivotal twist, which of course I had missed. I hit rewind and caught up and saw it was really well done. My distraction was that two pages of a book had been stuck together and I had seen my own ending.
The pool is now filled with water and the filters will be running shortly. Now if we can get some warm weather sans rain, it would be really lovely.
I will be enjoying Father’s Day with my dad this weekend, as well as feting my husband, whose ideas of a great celebration is hanging on the couch watching the U.S. Open where they whisper a lot. I will cook a nice dinner while the whispering is going on. If the Open runs into a playoff, dinner will be served in front of the television silently as I try to remember the difference between a birdie and a bogie. Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there; may you find your own special way to celebrate!
Read on….
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Now in Stores: BAD MONKEY by Carl Hiaasen
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BAD MONKEY by Carl Hiaasen (Thriller/Humor)
Andrew Yancy has a human arm in his freezer. There’s a logical explanation for that, but not for how and why it parted from its owner. Yancy thinks the boating-accident/shark-luncheon explanation is full of holes, and if he can prove murder, the sheriff might rescue him from his grisly Health Inspector gig. But first, he must negotiate an obstacle course of wildly unpredictable events with a crew of even more wildly unpredictable characters. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE KING’S DECEPTION by Steve Berry
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THE KING’S DECEPTION by Steve Berry (Thriller/Adventure)
Cotton Malone and his 15-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he has stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown --- an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here to read a review. |
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New Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and Contest: EYE FOR AN EYE by Ben Coes
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We have 50 copies of EYE FOR AN EYE: A Dewey Andreas Novel by Ben Coes, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
EYE FOR AN EYE: A Dewey Andreas Novel by Ben Coes (Thriller)
When Dewey Andreas uncovers the identity of a mole embedded at a high level in Israel’s Mossad, it triggers a larger, more dangerous plot. The mole was the most important asset of Chinese Intelligence, and Fao Bhang, head of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), responds to the discovery and brutal elimination of the mole, by immediately placing a kill order on the man responsible --- Dewey Andreas.
Dewey is tracked to Argentina, where he is on vacation with his fiancée, Jessica Tanzer, a U.S. National Security Advisor. A top-level kill team is sent in quickly and quietly, but their attack fails to take out Dewey. The collateral damage, however, is both horrifying and deeply personal. With nothing left to lose, Andreas is determined to have his revenge.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Ben Coes’s bio.
-Connect with Ben Coes on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter to win a copy. |
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New Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and Contest: PLEASE DON’T TELL by Elizabeth Adler
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We have 25 copies of PLEASE DON'T TELL by Elizabeth Adler, which releases on July 9th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
PLEASE DON’T TELL by Elizabeth Adler (Thriller)
Fen Dexter’s quiet life on the idyllic California coast is interrupted one stormy night when a blood-covered man shows up on her doorstep, claiming to have had a car accident. He tells her that he is on his way to San Francisco to help the police solve the murder of his fiancé. Unable to make it to the hospital because of the storm, he stays the night at Fen’s, and the attraction between them is obvious.
The next morning he heads to the hospital where Fen’s niece, Vivi, is an ER doctor. Vivi is treating the most recent target of a serial killer whose signature move is to leave a note saying “Please Don’t Tell” taped across his victims’ mouths. When Fen’s mysterious stranger comes to Vivi to have his wounds stitched, she agrees to set him up to talk with the police about his fiancé. Who is this man, really? What does he want with Fen and her family? And will they live long enough to uncover the truth?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elizabeth Adler’s bio.
-Click here to connect with Elizabeth Adler on Facebook.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter to win a copy. |
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New Women's Fiction Author Spotlight and Contest: THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee
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We have 25 copies of THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee, which releases on July 2nd, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee (Fiction)
THE RECIPE BOX is the story of Grace D’Angelo, a woman at her wit’s end trying to create a life from broken pieces. She’s just divorced her high school sweetheart, Brian, and is trying to make a new life for herself as a single working mom in LA. Her 14-year old daughter, Emma, is resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and reeling from the divorce. She’s skipping school, hanging with the wrong crowd, and all in all giving Grace a very hard time. On top of all that, Grace’s best friend Leeza is at the heartbreaking end stages of breast cancer back in their hometown of New London, Wisconsin.
Grace is barely holding it together, but when Leeza dies, it is a bittersweet wake-up call that you don’t get a second chance at life. Grace is determined to get her life back on track and help Emma do so as well.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sandra Lee’s bio.
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Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest. |
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Enter to Win Two Tickets to Debbie Macomber’s Fan Retreat in Nashville
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Debbie Macomber, one of America’s favorite authors, is hosting a Fan Retreat at the famed Opryland Resort in Nashville from August 9-11. And we’re offering one lucky reader a pair of tickets to the festivities!
If you are looking for an easy summer getaway, then grab your girlfriends and head to Nashville for this special weekend with fellow book lovers in one of the south’s most vibrant cities. Experience the tastes, sounds, and Southern charms of Nashville, plus three days of “Debbie-themed” events that you can read more about here.
Your Fan Retreat ticket covers an all-inclusive weekend of entertainment: listen to a country music band under the Tennessee stars; hop on a bus tour of Nashville's landmarks and celebrity homes; dance the night away with friends at the Sock Hop Dinner; and spend time with Debbie.
Fan Retreat guests will enjoy Opryland Resort's many amenities --- luxurious guest rooms, acres of beautiful indoor gardens, cascading waterfalls, three pools to lounge by --- all at an exclusive discount, making this the perfect weekend escape.
Exclusive Fan Retreat Perks include tons of swag: early access to Debbie Macomber's new novel, ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM; and special giveaways from event partners including FitBit, Celestial Seasonings, and local favorite GooGoo Clusters, plus a Debbie Macomber tote bag to help bring everything home!
Not able to attend? Then keep in mind that the first title in Debbie’s new Rose Harbor Series, THE INN AT ROSE HARBOR, comes out in paperback on July 30th (it’s now in hardcover) and ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM will be released on August 13th!
Please note: This prize does not include airfare or accommodations, but it does cover the Fan Retreat package. If you sign up to attend the Fan Retreat and win our contest, you will be credited for the cost of your Fan Retreat tickets.
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Enter here to win a pair of tickets to Debbie Macomber’s Fan Retreat. |
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New Paperback Spotlight: THE BOOK OF MADNESS AND CURES by Regina O'Melveny
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THE BOOK OF MADNESS AND CURES by Regina O’Melveny (Historical Mystery)
Gabriella Mondini is a rarity in 16th-century Venice: a woman who practices medicine. Her father, a renowned physician, has provided her entrée to this all-male profession, and inspired in her a shared mission to understand the secrets of the human body.
Then her father disappears and Gabriella faces a crisis: she is no longer permitted to treat her patients, women who need her desperately, without her father's patronage. She sets out across Europe to find where --- and why --- he has gone.
THE BOOK OF MADNESS AND CURES, which was published in hardcover last year, will be available in paperback on June 18th.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to visit the book’s official Facebook page.
-Click here to read Regina O’Melveny’s bio.
-Click here to visit Regina O’Melveny’s official website.
-Click here to see Regina O’Melveny talk about the book.
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Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight. |
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Now in Stores: THE WIDOW WALTZ by Sally Koslow
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THE WIDOW WALTZ by Sally Koslow (Fiction)
Ben Silver had it all --- a successful law practice, a New York apartment overlooking Central Park, a beach house, fine art, club memberships. Yet when a massive coronary fells him while training for the New York City Marathon, it’s revealed that his life was a lie. He’s left his wife, Georgia Waltz, and their two daughters almost penniless. Georgia must now rally to support her family while mourning a husband whose private enigmas keep surfacing. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to visit Sally Koslow’s official website.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
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Summer is just around the corner! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be spotlighting a different title on select days from now through July 31st, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
This year's featured titles include:
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, June 18th at noon ET.
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Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles. |
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: HER LAST BREATH by Linda Castillo
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HER LAST BREATH by Linda Castillo (Thriller/Mystery)
What at first seems like a tragic, but routine car accident suddenly takes on a more sinister cast as evidence emerges that nothing about the crash is accidental. But who would want to kill an Amish deacon and two of his children? He leaves behind a grieving widow and a young boy who clings to life in the intensive care wing of a hospital, unable to communicate. He may be the only one who knows what happened that night.
Desperate to find out who killed her best friend’s husband and why, Kate begins to suspect she is not looking for a reckless drunk, but instead is on the trail of a cold blooded killer in amid the residents of Painter’s Mill. It is a search that takes her on a chilling journey into the darkest reaches of the human heart and makes her question everything she has ever believed about the Amish culture into which she was born.
HER LAST BREATH releases on June 18th.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Linda Castillo's bio.
-Click here to visit Linda Castillo's website.
-Click here to connect with Linda Castillo on Facebook.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. |
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: CRIME OF PRIVILEGE by Walter Walker
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CRIME OF PRIVILEGE by Walter Walker (Thriller/Mystery)
A murder on Cape Cod. A rape in Palm Beach. All they have in common is the presence of one of America’s most beloved and influential families. But nobody is asking questions. Not the police. Not the prosecutors. And certainly not George Becket, a young lawyer toiling away in the basement of the Cape & Islands district attorney’s office. George has always lived at the edge of power. He wasn’t born to privilege, but he understands how it works and has benefitted from it in ways he doesn’t like to admit. Now, an investigation brings him deep inside the world of the truly wealthy --- and shows him what a perilous place it is.
Years have passed since a young woman was found brutally slain at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club, and no one has ever been charged. Cornered by the victim’s father, George can’t explain why certain leads were never explored --- leads that point in the direction of a single family --- and he agrees to look into it.
CRIME OF PRIVILEGE releases on June 18th.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Walter Walker's bio.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. |
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This Week’s Reviews
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THE SILVER STAR by Jeannette Walls (Fiction)
“Bean” Holladay and her sister, Liz, are left to fend for themselves when their mother, Charlotte, takes off to find herself. The girls decide to take the bus to Virginia, where their Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying mansion that has been in Charlotte’s family for generations. When school starts in the fall, it’s Bean who easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz who becomes increasingly withdrawn. And then something happens to Liz. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Unable to endure another moment with her insensitive husband and infuriating adult children, Atlanta wife Leslie Carter heads to the Carolina Lowcountry to reassess her life and ends up reconnecting with her first love, a man who awakens a realization in her that life is too short to settle for anything less than the best. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
THE ENGAGEMENTS by J. Courtney Sullivan (Fiction)
As the lives and marriages of four couples unfold in surprising ways, we meet Frances Gerety, a young advertising copywriter in 1947. Frances is working on the De Beers campaign and needs a signature line, so, one night before bed, she scribbles a phrase on a scrap of paper: “A Diamond Is Forever.” And that line changes everything. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB by Lily Koppel (Social History)
The American astronauts have been the subject of many books and movies. For their dedication and bravery, they earned a well-deserved place in American history. As the men blasted off into space, left back on terra firma were the wives who kept the homes running and the children cared for. This is a fly-on-the wall look at the lives of those astronaut wives, who became celebrities because of their spouses. Reviewed by Carole Turner.
THE LAST SUMMER OF THE CAMPERDOWNS by Elizabeth Kelly (Historical Fiction)
It’s 1972, and Riddle James Camperdown’s father is running for office from the family compound in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Between Camp’s desire to toughen her up and his wife Greer’s demand for glamour, Riddle has her hands full juggling her eccentric parents. When she accidentally witnesses a crime close to home, her confusion and fear keep her silent. As the summer unfolds, the consequences of her silence multiply. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
YOU ARE ONE OF THEM by Elliott Holt (Fiction)
YOU ARE ONE OF THEM is a taut, moving debut about the ways in which we define ourselves against others and the secrets we keep from those who are closest to us. In her insightful forensic of a mourned friendship, Elliott Holt illuminates the long-lasting sting of abandonment and the measures we take to bring back those we have lost. Reviewed by Jennifer Romanello.
THE WHY OF THINGS by Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop (Fiction)
Since the tragic loss of her 17-year-old daughter less than a year ago, Joan Jacobs has been working hard to keep her tight-knit family from coming apart. But she and her husband, Anders, are unable to snap back from their isolation into the familiarity and warmth they so desperately need. So they flee to their summer home in search of peace and renewal, but moments after they arrive, the family is confronted with an eerily similar tragedy. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
FLAT WATER TUESDAY by Ron Irwin (Fiction)
At age 19, Rob Carrey, the son of a cabinetmaker, spent his senior year at Connecticut’s prestigious Fenton boarding school to help the rowing team known as the God Four break its losing streak in the annual Tuesday race against rival Warwick. Fifteen years later, Rob is a documentary filmmaker for National Geographic. When he receives an unexpected letter from a troubled Fenton classmate, Rob is forced to revisit memories he had hoped to forget. Reviewed by Michael Magras.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see why we’re betting you’ll love this book.
SHADOW PEOPLE by James Swain (Supernatural Thriller)
Magician Peter Warlock is a psychic who peers into the future. During a séance, he is confronted by a group of evil spirits called shadow people, beings who have the power to kidnap a person’s soul. The shadow people are connected to a serial killer who Peter must find in real time before he claims his next victim. To save many lives, Peter may have to tap into a legacy that he has always dreaded…and a power that may consume him. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
THE CARETAKER by A .X. Ahmad (Thriller)
Ranjit Singh, a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape a shameful past, is now a caretaker on the exclusive resort island of Martha’s Vineyard, looking after the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. One harsh winter, he secretly moves his family into the house of one of his clients, an African-American Senator. But when mysterious men break into the house, Ranjit is forced to enter the Senator’s shadowy world, where his only ally is the Senator’s beautiful wife, who has secrets of her own. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
RED MOON by Benjamin Percy (Thriller/Horror)
When government agents kick down Claire Forrester's front door and murder her parents, Claire realizes just how different she is. Patrick Gamble was nothing special until the day he got on a plane and hours later stepped off it, the only passenger left alive. Chase Williams has sworn to protect the people of the United States from the menace in their midst, but he is becoming the very thing he has promised to destroy. The night of the red moon is coming, when an unrecognizable world will emerge...and the battle for humanity will begin. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
CIRCLE OF SHADOWS: A Westerman/Crowther Mystery by Imogen Robertson (Historical Mystery)
A woman is found dead, and an incoherent man covered in blood is found next to her body. She is a beloved lady of the German court, and he is a well-known Englishman with connections. Those connections happen to involve being the brother-in-law of Harriet Westerman, a woman who isn’t scared off easily and is always ready to investigate a murder, especially if it involves a member of her family. With her friend Gabriel Crowther’s help, a new investigation begins. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
UNTIL SHE COMES HOME by Lori Roy (Historical Mystery/Suspense)
In 1958 Detroit, Grace eagerly awaits her first born, while best friend Julia prepares to welcome twin nieces. However, life erupts when childlike Elizabeth disappears while in the care of Grace and Julia. All the ladies fear that the recent murder of a black woman at the factory where their husbands work may warn of what has become of Elizabeth, and they worry what is yet to become of Julia --- the last to see Elizabeth alive. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
DEADLY HARVEST: A Detective Kubu Mystery by Michael Stanley (Mystery)
When young girls start to go missing, Samantha Khama, a new detective on the Botswana police force, suspects that muti, a traditional African medicine, is the reason. She and Detective David “Kubu” Bengu race to stop a serial killer, all as the father of one of the victims threatens to take matters into his own hands. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN MIAMI by Stefan Kanfer (Thriller)
Jordan Gulok is off for a little R&R in Miami, but he must maintain his skills. He frequents a firing range where he stumbles upon a paramilitary group called the 417s. Is an anti-gun US Congressman somehow entangled in a plot to raid several military arms storage depots? The 417s are poised to visit a fresh hell on the Caribbean if Jordan, his lovely ally and her edgy colleagues can't stop them. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
FATHER KNOWS DEATH: A Stay at Home Dad Mystery by Jeffrey Allen (Mystery)
Stay-at-home dad Deuce Winters finds a body among the frozen burgers and bratwurst at the Rose Petal fair’s concession stand. And it seems the defrosting deceased was last seen arguing passionately with one of the fair’s board members. But there may be more --- a lot more --- to the mystery, and tracking down the dangerous truth may be too much for even the most determined dad! Reviewed by Amy Alessio.
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Contests Running on Other Sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com
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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
PASTORS' WIVES by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
We are celebrating the release of PASTORS’ WIVES --- Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel that follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch--- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.
THE MOURNING HOURS by Paula Treick DeBoard
We are celebrating the upcoming release of THE MOURNING HOURS by debut author Paula Treick DeBoard --- a gripping novel of betrayal and forgiveness as a family is forced to confront the devastating event that changed the trajectory of their lives --- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which will be in stores on June 25th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.
THE ALMOND TREE by Michelle Cohen Corasanti
We are celebrating the release of THE ALMOND TREE --- Michelle Cohen Corasanti’s debut novel that delivers an inspirational story of unfathomable pain and an incredible perseverance --- with a special contest. 100 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.
"What Are You Reading?" Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in June, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is SWEET SALT AIR by Barbara Delinsky, the story of a woman who has a secret that may save the life of her best friend's husband --- or destroy him. We have 12 copies of the book, which will be in stores on June 18th, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 9th at noon ET.
20SomethingReads.com
Summer Beach Bag of Books 2013
It's time to think about Summer Reading --- and we're not talking about the books on those Required Summer Reading lists you might have become accustomed to in high school. What we're talking about are the kinds of books that you're glad you now have time to kick back with and enjoy. The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Second Annual 20SomethingReads.com Beach Bag of Books Contest. The deadline for entries is Thursday, July 18th at noon ET.
Teenreads.com
Summer Beach Bag of Books 2013
It's time to think about Summer Reading --- and we're not talking about the list of books you'll be receiving for Required Summer Reading from school. What we're talking about are the kinds of books that you're glad you now have time to kick back with and enjoy. The way we see it, it wouldn't be summer without sun, surf, and great reading. You supply the beach chair, and we'll provide the fantastic fiction in our Seventh Annual Teenreads.com Beach Bag of Books Contest. The deadline for entries is Thursday, July 18th at noon ET.
The Grisha Trilogy
In anticipation of the June 4th release of SIEGE AND STORM --- the second installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy, which follows Alina back into the country she abandoned to fight the forces against Ravka --- we have a special contest that will give five readers the opportunity to win a copy of both SIEGE AND STORM and the first book in the series, SHADOW AND BONE. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 8th at noon ET.
Kidsreads.com
THE 39 CLUES: THE CAHILL VAULT, Book Two: SPYMASTERS by Clifford Riley
To celebrate the release of Clifford Riley's SPYMASTERS, the second volume in The 39 Clues: The Cahill Files series --- which features three stories previously published exclusively as eBook shorts --- we're running a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of these adventures through time. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 1st at noon ET.
FaithfulReader.com
THE QUARRYMAN’S BRIDE: Land of Shining Water, Book 2 by Tracie Peterson
We are celebrating the release of THE QUARRYMAN'S BRIDE with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this second installment in Tracie Peterson's Land of Shining Water historical romance series. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.
STEALING THE PREACHER by Karen Witemeyer
We are celebrating the release of STEALING THE PREACHER with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of Karen Witemeyer's latest historical romance, in which a preacher is forced off a train and delivered to a “retired” outlaw’s daughter for her birthday. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.
DEAD LAWYERS TELL NO TALES by Randy Singer
We are celebrating the release of DEAD LAWYERS TELL NO TALES with a special contest that will give readers the opportunity to win a copy of Randy Singer's latest legal thriller, in which an ex-con-turned-lawyer becomes the target of a killer who has a vendetta against the law firm he has recently joined. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET.
FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 25 readers will receive a copy of UNDENIABLY YOURS by Becky Wade. When Meg Cole’s father dies unexpectedly, she’s forced to return home to Texas to take up the reins of an empire she has never wanted. Can the handsome manager of her father’s Thoroughbred farm help Meg face her fears and embrace new hopes for the future? The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET. |
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Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Could Win THREE Books!
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Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from June 7th to June 21st, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE KING’S DECEPTION by Steve Berry, THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman, and THE WIDOW WALTZ by Sally Koslow.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
Please note: You must enter your full address, using correct capitalization and filling in all fields if you would like to be eligible to win a prize.
One more important note: We realize that many times, your opinion of a book will change as you get further along into the story. Thus, to ensure that your comments and ratings accurately reflect your entire reading experience, we ask that you finish reading the book before you submit your comments about it.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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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.
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