Skip to main content

January 27, 2006

Bookreporter.com Newsletter

January 27, 2006

This Week on Bookreporter.com

Never Lie....

Our Newest Suspense/Thriller Author: Stephen White, Author of KILL ME

Our Newest Featured One to Watch Author: Allegra Goodman, Author of INTUITION

Valentine's Day Contest: Books to Fall in Love With --- Enter to Win a Romantic Basket for Yourself or Your Valentine

Suspense/Thriller Feature --- Spotlight on Steve Berry, Author of THE TEMPLAR LEGACY

One to Watch Feature --- Spotlight on Keri Arthur, Author of FULL MOON RISING

Get a FREE COPY of the Critically Acclaimed Thriller MOST WANTED by Michele Martinez!

Tune In --- The Water Is Wide Airs on CBS This Weekend

And The Winners Are......

What's New on FaithfulReader.com

This Week's Reviews and Features

Bookreporter.com Blog

Poll: Finding Books
Question of the Week: Recommended Reading
Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- TWO Prizes!
Quick Links to Features On The Book Report Network
 
Bookreporter.com
Past Reviews
Can't See the Graphics? Read This Newsletter Online
Past question of the Week: What book did you buy in spite of reviews that were less than stellar?
 
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Promotion
Debut Suspense/Thriller One to Watch Promotion
Mystery Mayhem Promotion

Fantasy Author Spotlight Promotion

One to Watch Promotion
Chick Lit Promotion

Never Lie....

After watching the Oprah/James Frey show yesterday I will share the same thought that I told the staff the morning this happened. Never lie. It's not worth it. Besides the fact that it's not right, you WILL get caught. The world today is too small with the Internet, cable news and every other method of communicating. Lie and way too much is on the line because there is someone somewhere who will figure it out. I do think the real sad thing is that writing needs to be "over the top" to be heard among the clutter. A simple story of recovery from addiction would never have gotten this much attention.
 
I spent part of this week in Nashville at the Christian Booksellers Association Conference. As I walked through the Nashville Airport on Tuesday I saw a terrific collection of prints from Hatch Show Prints, which is based in Nashville. They have created entertainment and show posters since 1879. I completely had forgotten that they created the logo for our parent company, The Book Report. More about that as we do our 10 Year Anniversary celebrations in the months to come. To take a look at their work, click on the book that talks about their work --- HATCH SHOW PRINT: The History of a Great American Poster Shop.
 
Our latest Suspense/Thriller author being spotlighted is Stephen White, whose new book KILL ME will be in stores on March 2nd. I love this book. The plot and pacing is tight. The story will make you think. It's stayed with me since I read it last April in manuscript form. White has done something special with this book and taken crime fiction in a whole new direction with it. Curious and wanting to be one of our 20 advance readers? Then send a note to SuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, February 10th with your name and your mailing address.
 
Our latest One to Watch author is Allegra Goodman. Many of you know her previous work -- THE FAMILY MARKOWITZ and KAATERSKILL FALLS. Here we are sharing INTUITION, which will be in stores on February 28th. In an age where so much is on the line with critical medical research and funding, Goodman tackles a topic that will capture readers' attention in her unforgettable way. I have this one on my reading pile for the weekend and just from the description below I am looking forward to it. Want to be one of our 20 advance readers? Then send a note to OneToWatch@bookreporter.com by Friday, February 10th.
 
Reviews this week include DEATH DANCE by Linda Fairstein. I heard Linda talk about how she conducts her research and the thoroughness and detail is such a big part of why DEATH DANCE is so terrific. You will feel yourself inside the theatres in the city as you turn the pages!
 
Michele Martinez, an author we introduced you to last year, has a very special offer for readers --- a chance to receive a FREE copy of her first book, MOST WANTED. See details below. Don't forget her second book, THE FINISHING SCHOOL, is in stores now!
 
This week we share advance reader comments about Raymond Khoury's debut, THE LAST TEMPLAR. See what our readers have to say! And be sure to check back next week as we have more good news to share about this book.
 
My older son's birthday is tomorrow thus drawing birthday madness week to a close. One more chocolate marble cake with chocolate frosting. And on my reading list this week --- INTUITION and then MAGIC HOUR by Kristin Hannah, which comes out February 28th.

 

 

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

List of titles reviewed and featured on January 27th.

List of titles reviewed and featured on January 20th.

 

Click here to read more about HATCH SHOW PRINT.


 

Our Newest Suspense/Thriller Author: Stephen White, Author of KILL ME

Our newest featured Suspense/Thriller author, Stephen White, hardly needs any introduction. The author of such works as MISSING PERSONS, BLINDED, THE BEST REVENGE, and many more has been delighting readers with his twisting, tangled plots and shocking twists. KILL ME, which hits shelves March 2nd, is both intelligent and gripping, firmly solidifying White's place as one of the most talented suspense/thriller writers out there.

We have 20 advance copies of KILL ME to share with readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. Interested? Then send your name and mailing address to SuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, February 10th.

-Click here to read Critical Praise for KILL ME.

More about KILL ME:

We've all been there. A loved one or a dear friend becomes desperately ill or is tragically injured. Someone-maybe even you-says, "If that ever happens to me, I wish someone would just . . . kill me."

What if you could choose when to die? But once you decide, you can't change your mind. Ever. No matter what.

KILL ME brings Alan Gregory face-to-face with the most challenging case of his career. As always, White's characters are indelible and the dialogue is dead-on, but KILL ME is fresh and thought provoking in a way that's so uncommon in crime fiction. KILL ME delivers on all the promise of White's earlier work and then raises the bar in an unforgettably inventive tale of life and death.

Click here to read more about Stephen White and KILL ME.
 

Our Newest Featured One to Watch Author: Allegra Goodman, Author of INTUITION

Allegra Goodman, our newest featured One to Watch author, has already generated a devoted following among readers who love her wry wit and astute observations of the nuances of family life. Her previous novel THE FAMILY MARKOWITZ was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and KAATERSKILL FALLS was a National Book Award finalist. Now, with INTUITION, she turns her penetrating gaze on the lies and intrigue that threaten to shake the placid surface of a small academic community. Surprising and gripping, INTUITION will satisfy old Goodman fans and garner her new ones as well.

We have 20 advance copies of INTUITION to share with readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. Interested? Then send your name and mailing address to OneToWatch@bookreporter.com by Friday, February 10th.

More about INTUITION:

Sandy Glass, a charismatic publicity-seeking oncologist, and Marion Mendelssohn, a pure, exacting scientist, are co-directors of a lab at the Philpott Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts dedicated to cancer research and desperately in need of a grant. Both mentors and supervisors of their young postdoctoral protégés, Glass and Mendelssohn demand dedication and obedience in a competitive environment where funding is scarce and results elusive. So when the experiments of Cliff Bannaker, a young postdoc in a rut, begin to work, the entire lab becomes giddy with newfound expectations. But Cliff's rigorous colleague-and girlfriend-Robin Decker suspects the unthinkable: that his findings are fraudulent. As Robin makes her private doubts public and Cliff maintains his innocence, a life-changing controversy engulfs the lab and everyone in it.

With extraordinary insight, Allegra Goodman brilliantly explores the intricate mixture of workplace intrigue, scientific ardor, and the moral consequences of a rush to judgment.

Click here to read more about Allegra Goodman and INTUITION.


 

Valentine's Day Contest: Books to Fall in Love With --- Enter to Win a Romantic Basket for Yourself or Your Valentine

Valentine's Day is all about love, sex and intimacy --- and our Valentine's Day Basket is filled with books about just that.

How about the love poems of Pablo Neruda? Sexy tips from relationship expert Tracey Cox? Three wry and witty Valentine's Day murder-mysteries? A book to "share" the inner you? --- and another to fill out with your lover to get to know each other better? Yes, these are books to fall in love with.

From January 20th through February 5th, readers will have the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day baskets. They are filled with one copy of each of our featured books --- ALL ABOUT ME and ALL ABOUT US by Philipp Keel, THE HOT SEX HANDBOOK by Tracey Cox, TWENTY POEMS OF LOVE AND A SONG OF DESPAIR by Pablo Neruda and VALENTINE'S DAY IS KILLING ME by MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile and Susanna Carr. Also included: some irresistible Valentine's Day goodies --- a red heart-shaped candle from Illuminations; pink, white and red roses that are mineral bath salts; a heart-decorated picture frame; Lucky Lovers Message Dice; a red comfy pillow; and Godiva heart-shaped candies in a heart-shaped box.

What makes this contest even more romantic? You can have your basket shipped either to yourself or to your valentine! If you want to fete your valentine, send us the name and address of the person you want it sent to along with your entry. Also tell us what you would want the gift card to say. Either way, we'll notify you if you win.

Click here to read all the details about our Valentine's Day Basket Contest.


 

Suspense/Thriller Feature --- Spotlight on Steve Berry, Author of THE TEMPLAR LEGACY

One of our featured Suspense/Thriller authors is Steve Berry, who has already made a name for himself with such page-turners as THE THIRD SECRET, THE ROMANOV PROPHECY and THE AMBER ROOM. His newest work, THE TEMPLAR LEGACY, comes out February 21st, and is sure to satisfy old fans and lure new readers with it's DA VINCI CODE-esque mix of modern day thrills and ancient religious mysteries.

-Click here to read the list of our advanced copy winners.
-Click
here to read Fast Facts about Steve Berry.

More about THE TEMPLAR LEGACY:
The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes...until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was --- and its true nature could change the modern world.

Click here to read more about Steve Berry and THE TEMPLAR LEGACY.


 

One to Watch Feature --- Spotlight on Keri Arthur, Author of FULL MOON RISING

Keri Arthur is one of our featured One to Watch authors, and her supernatural novel FULL MOON RISING hits shelves on January 31st. Deliciously sexy and mysterious, with a touch of humor, FULL MOON RISING is a sinfully delicious little bonbon of thrills, chills and romance.

-Click here to see our list of advance copy winners.
-Click here to read an excerpt from FULL MOON RISING.

More about FULL MOON RISING:
In this exciting debut, author Keri Arthur explodes onto the supernatural scene with a sexy, sensuous tale of intrigue and suspense set in a world where legends walk and the shady paths of the underworld are far more sinister than anyone envisioned.

A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne's Directorate of Other Races, an organization created to police the supernatural races-and protect humans from their depredations. While Rhoan is an exalted guardian, a.k.a. assassin, Riley is merely an office worker --- until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The timing couldn't be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to the moon heat, the weeklong period before the full moon, when her need to mate becomes all-consuming.

She must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior --- by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind --- and just how much it needs her.

Click here to read more about Keri Arthur and FULL MOON RISING.
 

Get a FREE COPY of the Critically Acclaimed Thriller MOST WANTED by Michele Martinez!

It's been named one of the top fiction debuts of 2005, one of the top 20 mysteries of 2005, and one of the top mystery debuts of 2005, and now MOST WANTED can be yours --- free!  Michele will send a free copy of MOST WANTED to the first 200 readers of Bookreporter.com who write to her. She'll even pay the postage! Just go to the "Contact Michele" page on Michele's website by clicking here and send her a message saying "I read Bookreporter.com and I want MOST WANTED!" 

Don't forget to include your name and mailing address.  That's all there is to it. And while you're there, explore the rest of Michele's exciting website and learn more about MOST WANTED and the next book in the Melanie Vargas series of thrillers, THE FINISHING SCHOOL, on sale now!

Offer limited to one book per household, U.S. and Canada only.

Click here to learn more about Michele and her books.
 

Tune In --- The Water Is Wide Airs on CBS This Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

In January the best movie theater is your very own living room, as this month we are featuring a special film version of THE WATER IS WIDE by Pat Conroy. Alfre Woodard stars in this Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, which premieres Sunday, January 29th on CBS at 9:00 PM ET/PT.

To celebrate the movie's airing, Bantam Dell has re-issued a mass market edition of this critically acclaimed, deeply compassionate true story of one teacher's faith in his student and himself. Pick up a copy and tune in.

-Click here for all the details of the film adaptation of THE WATER IS WIDE.

Click here to read our Books into Movies feature.


 

And The Winners Are......

The American Library Association (otherwise known as the ALA) has announced its 2006 awards, honoring the best books published in 2005. And we've got them all for both kids and teens!

For Kids
- The John Newbery Medal
- The Randolph Caldecott Medal
- The Coretta Scott King Award
The Schneider Family Book Award
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Beginning Reader Award

For Teens:

- The Alex Awards
The Michael L. Printz Award
- The Robert F. Sibert Book Award
- The Coretta Scott King Award
- The Margaret A. Edwards Award
- The Schneider Family Book Award

Click here to read about all the winners.


 

What's New on FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com, The Book Report Network's website for Christian readers, has been updated this month. Our features include an interview with Neta Jackson. Also, we have added 17 new reviews in three different categories: Fiction, Christian Living, and Marriage & Family Life.

Click here to visit FaithfulReader.com


 

This Week's Reviews and Features

DEATH DANCE by Linda Fairstein (Thriller)
Reviewed by Roz Shea
New York Times bestselling author Linda Fairstein takes readers behind the scenes of New York City's theater world as Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper --- with the help of longtime friends Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace --- investigates the disappearance of a world-famous dancer who suddenly vanished backstage at Lincoln Center's Metropolitan Opera House during a performance.

-Click here to read an excerpt from DEATH DANCE.

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by Judith McNaught (Romantic Suspense)
Reviewed by Hillary Wagy
The men in Judith McNaught's novels are a perfect "10." Lethally attractive Mitchell Wyatt in EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE is no exception. Is it any wonder that Kate Donovan throws caution to the balmy breezes of the Caribbean island of Anguilla and takes her best friend's advice to have a "fling" before her boyfriend joins her?

-Click here to read an excerpt from EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE.

MEMORY IN DEATH by Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Lieutenant Eve Dallas's past suddenly comes back to haunt her when Trudy Lombard, her former foster mother, shows up in her office. After threatening to blackmail Eve and her husband Roarke with revelations about events that supposedly took place during Eve's childhood, Trudy is found brutally murdered --- and Eve does not lack for plausible suspects.

SLIPPING INTO DARKNESS by Peter Blauner (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
It has been two decades since Detective Francis X. Loughlin solved his first big case, the brutal murder of a female doctor. The young man convicted of the killing, Julian Vega, is now back on the streets. Not long after his release a similar murder occurs, and Julian is at the top of Loughlin's suspect list --- but the DNA evidence points in an impossible direction.

SIZE 12 IS NOT FAT: A Heather Wells Mystery by Meg Cabot (Mystery)
Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
In book one of Meg Cabot's Heather Wells mystery series, Heather is irritated by the general assumption that size 12 is chunky (when it's the average size of American women) and by being recognized as a previous pop teen idol. But when Heather stumbles across a murder, she puts these trivial irks behind her to focus on sleuthing, in her own endearing and humorous fashion.

THE HUNT CLUB by John Lescroart (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
A federal judge and his mistress are found murdered, and homicide detective Devin Juhle learns that the judge had his fair share of enemies. Meanwhile, private investigator Wyatt Hunt, Juhle's best friend, becomes involved with a beautiful yet mysterious attorney. When she abruptly disappears, Juhle discovers a possible connection between her and the deceased judge.

TERROR TOWN by Stuart M. Kaminsky (Mystery)
Reviewed by Tom Callahan
In Stuart Kaminsky's ninth novel featuring Chicago police detective Abe Lieberman and longtime partner Bill Hanrahan, these moral men face a world of random violence and madness as they encounter three very different situations involving murder, brutality, and other disturbing acts.

LEONARDO'S SWANS by Karen Essex (Historical Fiction)
Reviewed by Colleen Quinn
In Renaissance Italy, Isabella and Beatrice d'Este, daughters of the Duke of Ferrara, compete against each other for husbands, status, power, and above all, to have their portraits done by Italy's greatest painter --- Leonardo da Vinci.

CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, 2002 by Ronald K. Fried (Fiction)
Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth
Joseph Steiner loses his job just before he and his wife fly to Paris. Even with war coming, their vacation is pleasant. But there are undercurrents in Ronald K. Fried's deceptively straightforward novel that every middle-aged reader will recognize.

SHE GOT UP OFF THE COUCH: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland Indiana by Haven Kimmel (Memoir)
Reviewed by Carole Turner
In this sequel to A GIRL NAMED ZIPPY, Haven Kimmel continues the saga of her family, who resided in the very small town of Mooreland, Indiana. Ever since ZIPPY was released, fans have been wanting to know if Kimmel's mother ever got up off the couch. Indeed she did.

Click here to read our reviews and features.
 

Bookreporter.com Blog


January 11th Entry:
My Week in January With James Frey

January 6th Entry:
Reading Outside the Comfort Zone

Note: You can read past blogs here as well.
 
Sign up here to get notified each time this blog is updated.
 
Click here to read the Bookreporter.com blog.
 
Read a list of upcoming books here. Browse our author bibliographies by clicking here. Sign up for Author Newsletters here.
Poll: Finding Books
Where did you find out about the book you currently are reading?

Read a review on Bookreporter.com
Read a review someplace else online
Read a review someplace offline
A friend or family member
A local bookseller
A librarian
Television
Radio
Advertisement
None of the above
I cannot remember where I heard about it.
 
Answer the Poll here.

 
Question of the Week: Recommended Reading

What book are you recommending most these days?

Please note: Our question of the week will update on February 3rd.

Answer the Question of the Week here.


 
Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- TWO Prizes!

Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.

This week we have two great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of CELL by Stephen King and GONE by Lisa Gardner.

Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on February 3rd. 
 

Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.

 

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 (see the link on the upper right) 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 Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.

Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by January 31, 2006 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month one winner will be selected to win the following five books: CELL by Stephen King, DEATH DANCE by Linda Fairstein, GENTLEMEN AND PLAYERS by Joanne Harris, GOT THE LOOK by James Grippando and IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW by Cecelia Ahearn. Last month's winner was Sandi from Guilford, CT, who won THE CONSTANT PRINCESS by Philippa Gregory, NAIL BITER: A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery by Sarah Graves, THE NEW WOMAN: A Staggerford Novel by Jon Hassler, OH WHAT A SLAUGHTER by Larry McMurtry and TURNING ANGEL by Greg Iles.

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