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January 18, 2013

Bookreporter.com Newsletter January 18, 2013
Loving a Long Weekend…
Last Saturday, Tom and I went to see Zero Dark Thirty at a matinee before the marathon of football games started. The theater was really cold, which we attributed to it being the first show of the day, but it never warmed up. I had my knitting needles clicking away, so I was keeping up my body heat that way and Tom never took off his jacket, but by the time we left the theater, we were both still cold. We stopped to tell the manager on the way out, and he asked why we had not said something sooner. Tom said there was no way he was leaving that movie for a second. He is rarely that passionate about movies…usually that role belongs to me. All I can say is the nearly three-hour film never slowed for a second. And I never looked at my watch once. Yes, I liked it.

This weekend, I want to see Argo and Silver Linings Playbook. I am very glad the former was re-released. This is one of the few times of the year that I do head to the theater, and I always enjoy it. With the flu germs everywhere, I am trying to select showings at times when there will be fewer crowds. There is a theater by us that starts showings at 9AM. THAT may be the germ-free ticket this weekend.

I got a very, very excited note from Lynn, who won all of my Bets On selections in our Year-End Contest. She was thrilled to learn that she was THE winner after reading the newsletter last week. The box with all 28 Bets On titles for 2012 arrived Wednesday, and she is planning to kick off her reading marathon with LOVE ANTHONY by Lisa Genova. My rule is that she does not have to love all the books we shared in this prize; they were MY favorites, and I do not impose my taste on others. I do hope I hear feedback from her along the way.

The image in the middle at the top of this newsletter was sent to me by Sean Doorly, who was our first producer at Bookreporter.com. Sean is now living in Los Angeles working for Warner Brothers, but we still get together whenever we can. He wrote a few weeks ago and sent this design from 1999 that he found in his own files of an early view of the site. We have come a long way from 28.8 baud modems and designs that needed to be Spartan since there was no bandwidth for art.

Last weekend was not just about movies and football. I also plunged into reading PALISADES PARK by Alan Brennert, which is releasing in April. Palisades Park brought up memories from my childhood, and as I read, I keep hearing this theme song in my head, which dates me but is a very humorous memory.
Now I am not sure if I ever went to the Park, though I seem to remember doing so. I will have to ask my mom, who I know is reading this, if she can recall this. You will be hearing much more about this book in the weeks ahead. Right now I am caught up in Eddie and Adele Stopka’s story, as they started out working the Park running concessions. Amusement parks in the ’60s were very different from the extravaganzas we know now like Disney, and PALISADES PARK captures the energy of these very different times. I really look forward to reading more.

The biggest news in the world of publishing this week was the announcement of Dan Brown’s new novel, INFERNO, which will release on May 14th. This is the fourth book in the bestselling thriller series featuring Harvard symbology professor Robert Langdon, following the international blockbusters THE DA VINCI CODE, ANGELS & DEMONS and THE LOST SYMBOL. Here’s the tantalizing description that the publisher has provided: In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces…Dante’s INFERNO. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust…before the world is irrevocably altered.

To make the news even more exciting, the book’s title was revealed by readers themselves who posted items on their Facebook and Twitter pages, which then linked to a mosaic that eventually uncovered the book’s title. You can view the mosaic on Dan Brown’s official site or on his Facebook page. And yes, Bookreporter.com was part of the mosaic!


Also this week, the finalists for the Edgar Awards and the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Awards were announced. Among the Edgar nominees are GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn, LIVE BY NIGHT by Dennis Lehane, and MIDNIGHT IN PEKING: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French. Check out the full list here. NBCC finalists include NW by Zadie Smith, THE ORPHAN MASTER'S SON by Adam Johnson, and HOUSE OF STONE: A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East by Anthony Shadid. Click here for the complete list.

We continue our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of Melanie Benjamin with our interview and a review of her latest novel, THE AVIATOR’S WIFE, which takes readers through the complicated marriage of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Reviewer Bronwyn Miller says, “As she did in her two previous novels, ALICE I HAVE BEEN and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB, Melanie Benjamin shows us the indispensable woman behind the legendary man. Through the prism of the Lindberghs’ often blustery marriage, a portrait emerges of a truly extraordinary woman --- one who soared to great heights and descended into unimaginable depths, emerging stronger for the journey.” In our interview conducted by Bronwyn, Melanie discusses the insights she gained about the Lindberghs, the most challenging part of writing the novel, and how THE AVIATOR’S WIFE differs from her earlier books.

I’m also happy to announce that THE AVIATOR’S WIFE is my very first Bookreporter.com Bets On title of 2013. Read here why this book captivated me!

THE AVIATOR’S WIFE is currently sharing
our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight with THE AMBASSADOR’S DAUGHTER by Pam Jenoff, which I finished this week. Set after World War I, it’s a look at the world during the talks that followed the war when Woodrow Wilson was shaping how Europe would be redrawn. Already there were small hints of what will erupt in World War II. I truly enjoyed the book for its look at this moment in history as well as the role of women during those times. We have 25 copies of the book to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 24th at noon ET.

This week, we have our review of Stefan Kanfer’s THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK, which is our latest Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title. Joe Hartlaub says, “THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK utilizes a fascinating but often overlooked and very deadly problem --- counterfeit prescription drugs --- and combines that plot point with an intriguing character in the form of Gulok, who might be a bit of a fish out of water but who is anything but an innocent abroad.” For the moment, the start of this series is only available as an eBook, though a special set of print galleys has been made to introduce this opening title. If you’d like to win one of these advance reading copies and comment on the book, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 24th at noon ET. And if you have an eReader, you can buy it now. We are all very excited about this writer’s work --- and love the opportunity to introduce you to him. Our interview with Stefan will be coming soon.

We enter week two of our brand-new Enduring Bestseller Spotlight, which we kick off with Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novels, THE KITE RUNNER and A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS --- and TWO opportunities to win books. First, if you’ve read one or both of these books, we’d love for you to share your thoughts about them, which we will then post on the site. Please email your comments to info@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Thoughts on Khaled Hosseini’s Books” and include your first name, city and state with your replies. Those who do so by April 11th will be entered to win one of 25 copies of Hosseini’s highly anticipated forthcoming novel, AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED, which releases on May 21st. However, if you have not read one or both of these books and would like to, you’re in luck! All you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, February 7th at noon ET, and you’ll be entered to win one of 25 copies of THE KITE RUNNER and/or A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS and give us your feedback on these titles. We are enjoying reading your comments and will be sharing them on the site shortly.

The latest title in our Paperback Spotlight is HOME FRONT by Kristin Hannah, which released in paperback last week. From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all. But after 12 years together, the couple has lost their way. Then the Iraq war starts, and an unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart. Be sure to take a look at our review, an excerpt, and the reading group guide. For book groups, there is a great deal to talk about here.

Back in September, I told you that I was reading THE ONE I LEFT BEHIND in anticipation of having lunch with its author, Jennifer McMahon, at Bouchercon. We now have our review from Amy Gwiazdowski, who says, “With most thrillers, I love the crazy ride, and you do get that here, but there’s the psychological element that McMahon does so well. It’s the cruel way she plays around with the characters, letting you see every picked scab and dirty secret long held onto in the dark.” I so concur. This book delivers one wicked little head game!

We wanted to let you know about a book that we’re currently featuring on Teenreads.com that we think you’ll enjoy. Prolific author Jacquelyn Mitchard, perhaps best known as the author of THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, returns to the YA market with her latest book for teens, WHAT WE SAW AT NIGHT, the first in a series of thrillers. Allie Kim suffers from a fatal allergy to sunlight that confines her and her two best friends, Rob and Juliet, to the night. When Juliet takes up Parkour --- the stunt-sport of scaling and leaping off tall buildings --- Allie and Rob have no choice but to join her. On a random summer night, the trio catches a glimpse of what appears to be murder. Allie investigates, and the truth comes at an unthinkable price. Click here to read our review. By the way, we share a special place in our hearts for Jackie as she was one of our early interviews on Bookreporter.com.

We’re curious to know which books releasing in January and February you’re planning to read. Click here to answer our new poll.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest this week. Let us know what you’re reading by Friday, February 1st at noon ET for your chance to win PRIVATE BERLIN by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan (Mark is one of my favorite writers), PROOF OF GUILT: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd, and SHADOWKILLER by Wendy Corsi Staub.

We’d like to remind you again about World Book Night U.S., a celebration of books and reading held on April 23rd. On this night, 25,000 volunteers across America will be giving away 20 paperback books each from a select list within their communities to those who don’t regularly read. You can see the complete list of this year’s titles here.

If you’re interested in becoming a World Book Night U.S. book giver, all you have to do is fill out the online application. Click here for all the details. You will be asked what your first, second and third book choices are, why you wish to share these books, and where you will go to personally hand out the books. The deadline for all applications has been extended to Friday, January 25th, so the time to sign up is NOW.

Our Spring Preview Contests will be kicking off on February 19th. To get into the action and have a chance to get the daily reports on the featured title of the day, click here to sign up for the Spring Preview Contest newsletter. It’s a great way to get a jump on the books we KNOW people will be talking about.

I am headed to Vogue Knitting LIVE! this evening with a shopping list of yarns all written up. This is to try to curb impulse purchases. I also will be delivering the hat that you see above to the folks at String, a fabulous shop in New York that will be exhibiting at the show. They pulled together a terrific benefit project for Superstorm Sandy victims last fall. A yarn company volunteered to donate yarn, the shop created a pattern, and they invited their customers to make a donation to receive the yarn/pattern and knit up the hats. They then were returned to the store to be given out as part of the relief effort. I loved this idea! I "bought" one kit for myself and one for my mom and my mother-in-law for Christmas. It was such a nice way to celebrate the holiday --- by giving others the chance to give, as well as for me to make a fun project.

While we all relish the idea of a long weekend this weekend, please keep in mind why many of us are off on Monday --- to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pause to think about what that has meant for our country. Watching movies like Lincoln --- and reflecting on King’s work --- there is a lot to celebrate. And for those who are also drawn to historical moments, the Inauguration celebration also takes place on Monday, while a private swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for the traditional January 20th.

Here’s to great reading, no matter what else you are doing this week! Read on to see our very full lineup this week.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

PS. When you use the following links to purchase books, you also support Bookreporter.com as we have affiliate arrangements with each of them. Please consider this when shopping for books online!


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Bookreporter.com Talks to Melanie Benjamin, Author of THE AVIATOR’S WIFE --- Bookreporter.com's First "Bets On" Selection of 2013
In her latest novel, Melanie Benjamin shines an intimate light on one of the most celebrated and fascinating marriages of the 20th century: that of Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow. THE AVIATOR’S WIFE is brilliantly told, full of adventure, love, sorrow and redemption. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Bronwyn Miller, Melanie talks about the neglected women of history, the artistic battle between truth and fiction, and the difficult task of searching out the secret heart of Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

THE AVIATOR'S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin (Historical Fiction)
When you think of Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne, what comes to mind first? I would bet it’s the kidnapping of their son. Next question: What else do you know about them as a couple? I would have been stumped. If asked what I knew about Lindbergh, I would talk about his historic flight. From there, I did not know his story. Thus reading THE AVIATOR’S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin was both an exploration and a treat.

This is a look at the woman behind the man, the story behind the marriage, and the dark and secretive sides of Lindbergh --- and how they affected Anne. I found it to be fascinating reading, and like all good historical fiction, it prompted me to want to read more about the Lindberghs, thus I have a reading list compiled. I have so many more questions I want to explore about them.

-Click here to read more of Carol’s thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Melanie Benjamin’s bio.
-Click here to visit Melanie Benjamin’s official website.
-Connect with Melanie Benjamin on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.

 
Click here to read our interview.
Now in Stores: THE FIFTH ASSASSIN by Brad Meltzer
THE FIFTH ASSASSIN by Brad Meltzer (Thriller)
There have been more than two-dozen assassination attempts on US Presidents, but only four have been successful...for now. Beecher White discovers a killer in Washington, D.C. who is meticulously recreating the crimes of these four men. During his investigation, he learns that over the course of 100 years, all four assassins were secretly working together. And Beecher is about to come face-to-face with the fifth one. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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

 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN'S GRAVE by Ian Rankin
STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN'S GRAVE by Ian Rankin (Mystery)
For the last decade, Nina Hazlitt has been ready to hear the worst about her daughter's disappearance. But the police investigation grounded to a halt long ago, and Nina's pleas to the cold case department have led her nowhere. Until she meets the newest member of the team: former Detective John Rebus. When two more women go missing from the same road where Sally Hazlitt was last seen, Rebus senses a connection. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

-Click here to read more about the book.

 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: COVER OF SNOW by Jenny Milchman
COVER OF SNOW by Jenny Milchman (Psychological Suspense)
Nora Hamilton’s life is forever changed when her rock-solid policeman husband commits suicide. But the pieces don't add up. Relying on the methodical nature that serves her so well as a restorer of old homes, Nora struggles to understand what happened to her husband --- even as her insular, frigid mountain town is determined to keep its deadly secrets buried. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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

 
Click here to read a review.
Featured Women's Fiction Author: Pam Jenoff, Author of THE AMBASSADOR'S DAUGHTER
We have 25 copies of THE AMBASSADOR'S DAUGHTER by Pam Jenoff, which will be in stores January 29th, 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, January 24th at noon ET.

THE AMBASSADOR'S DAUGHTER by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
The world's leaders have gathered to rebuild from the ashes of the Great War. But for one woman, the City of Light harbors dark secrets and dangerous liaisons, for which many could pay dearly.

Brought to the peace conference by her father, a German diplomat, Margot Rosenthal initially resents being trapped in the congested French capital, where she is still looked upon as the enemy. But as she contemplates returning to Berlin and a life with Stefan, the wounded fiancé she hardly knows anymore, she decides that being in Paris is not so bad after all.

Bored and torn between duty and the desire to be free, Margot strikes up unlikely alliances: with Krysia, an accomplished musician with radical acquaintances and a secret to protect; and with Georg, the handsome, damaged naval officer who gives Margot a job --- and also a reason to question everything she thought she knew about where her true loyalties should lie.

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

 
Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Stefan Kanfer, Author of THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK

THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK is the first book in Stefan Kanfer’s series starring Jordan Gulok, an Inuit (aka an Eskimo) and a former Navy SEAL who tracks down criminals for the US government. For the moment, this start of the series is only available as an eBook, though a special set of print galleys has been made to introduce this opening title. If you’d like to win one of these advance reading copies (we have 50 to give away) and comment on it, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 24th at noon ET. And if you have an eReader, you can buy it now.

THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK by Stefan Kanfer (Thriller)
Jordan Gulok is an Inuit, an Eskimo in common parlance, and a former Navy SEAL. In his freelance capacity he can do things --- like tracking and on occasion killing malefactors --- that are beyond the authority of the uniformed services. Jordan has an expense account and liberty to travel throughout the U.S. In turn, the U.S. government has plausible deniability should he ever get caught stretching or violating the law. In THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN NEW YORK, Jordan’s assignment involves stopping a lethal international group who’s manufacturing illegal and sometimes toxic pharmaceuticals and selling them to victims in Africa, Asia, Europe and America.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here to read critical praise.

-Click here to read Stefan Kanfer’s bio.

-Click here to visit Stefan Kanfer’s official website.

-Connect with Stefan Kanfer on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Introducing Bookreporter.com’s Enduring Bestseller Spotlight: Our First Featured Titles: THE KITE RUNNER and A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini
Here at Bookreporter.com, we spend a lot of time hunting for the latest gems in the world of publishing --- new releases that the industry is buzzing about. But sometimes we stop to reflect on books from years past that have affected us deeply, books that moved us and made us laugh or struck other emotional chords. In short, books that have stuck with us and that we still cherish. Our Enduring Bestseller Spotlight gives us a chance to go back and revisit some of those titles.

Our debut titles for this exciting new feature are THE KITE RUNNER and A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini --- and with it comes two opportunities to win books.

First, if you’ve read one or both of these books, we’d love for you to share your thoughts about them, which we will then post on the site. Please email your comments to info@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Thoughts on Khaled Hosseini’s Books” and include your first name, city and state with your replies. Those who do so by April 11th will be entered to win one of 25 copies of Hosseini’s highly anticipated forthcoming novel, AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED, which releases on May 21st.

However, if you have not read one or both of these books and would like to, you’re in luck! All you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, February 7th at noon ET, and you will be entered to win one of 25 copies of THE KITE RUNNER and/or A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS and give us your feedback on these titles.

Two contests to celebrate two very beloved books!

THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini (Fiction)
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, THE KITE RUNNER is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons --- their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini (Fiction)
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 30 years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.


Click here to read more in our Enduring Bestseller Spotlight and enter the contest.
Paperback Spotlight: HOME FRONT by Kristin Hannah
HOME FRONT by Kristin Hannah (Fiction)
Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life --- children, careers, bills, chores --- even as their 12-year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own --- for everything that matters to his family.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read Kristin Hannah’s bio.
-Visit Kristin Hannah’s official website and blog.
-Click here to connect with Kristin Hannah on Facebook.

 
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Celebrate World Book Night on April 23rd --- Apply to Be a "Book Giver" by January 25th!
World Book Night U.S. is a celebration of books and reading held on April 23rd. On this night, 25,000 volunteers across America will be giving away 20 paperback books each from a select list within their communities to those who don’t regularly read. Last year, World Book Night was celebrated in the U.S., the UK, Ireland and Germany, and saw over 80,000 people gift more than 2.5 million books. You can see the complete list of this year’s titles, which were selected by a committee, here. They include books from authors like Margaret Atwood, Ray Bradbury, John Green, John Grisham, Hillary Jordan, Lisa Scottoline, David Sedaris, and many more.

If you’re interested in becoming a World Book Night U.S. book giver, all you have to do is fill out the online application. Click here for all the details. You will be asked what your first, second and third book choices are, why you wish to share these books, and where you will go to personally hand out the books. The deadline for all applications has been extended to Friday, January 25th.

Click here to read more about World Book Night and to sign up to be a "book giver."
What's New on ReadingGroupGuides.com
The following guides are now available on ReadingGroupGuides.com:

THE FEVER TREE by Jennifer McVeigh: THE FEVER TREE is a compelling portrait of colonial South Africa, its raw beauty and deprivation alive in equal measure.
LOVE IS A CANOE by Ben Schrank: LOVE IS A CANOE explores the fragile nature of love and marriage through the eyes of an aging author whose 1971 book on relationships made him a beloved guru to thousands of readers.
MISTRESS OF MY FATE: Book One of the Confessions of Henrietta Lightfoot by Hallie Rubenhold: MISTRESS OF MY FATE is the first book in a trilogy about Henrietta Lightfoot, a young woman who was abandoned as a baby and raised alongside her cousins, noble children of a lord and lady.

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

HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL by Robert Goolrick: The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller A RELIABLE WIFE returns with a new novel about the dark side of passion set in mid-century America in a small Virginia town.
HOME by Toni Morrison: Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison extends her profound take on our history with this 20th-century tale of redemption: a taut and tortured story about one man’s desperate search for himself in a world disfigured by war.
HOME FRONT by Kristin Hannah: From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all. But after 12 years together, the couple has lost their way. Then the Iraq war starts, and an unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart.

The following new guides are now available for Christian book groups:

CHOICES OF THE HEART: The Midwives, Book 3
by Laurie Alice Eakes: A young midwife in the Virginia mountains is pursued by two unlikely suitors and caught between feuding families until she discovers that her past is the key to unlock hearts.
THE DILEMMA OF CHARLOTTE FARROW: Avenue of Dreams, Book 2 by Olivia Newport: During the exciting days of the 1893 Chicago Exposition, a young woman’s social position forces her to make difficult choices.
VANISHED: A Private Justice Novel by Irene Hannon: A tenacious reporter. A skeptical PI. And a secret that will shatter lives.
WAITING FOR SPRING: Westward Winds, Book 2 by Amanda Cabot: A new identity may protect her family --- but can it protect her heart?

ReadingGroupGuides.com’s Best Guides of 2012

Here are our annual lists of our 25 New Favorite, 15 Ongoing Favorite and 25 Enduring Favorite book titles for book club discussions in 2012, gathered by the editors of ReadingGroupGuides.com. See if your group agrees with any of our choices, and perhaps consider recommending some of these titles for future book club discussions.

 
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
This Week’s Reviews
THE THIRD BULLET: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel by Stephen Hunter (Thriller/Adventure)
Why did the third bullet aimed at John F. Kennedy explode? Bob Lee Swagger knows. Fifty years after the shots that brought America to its knees, the tough-as-nails sniper turns his forensic skills toward the most baffling rifle crime of all time. With the help of a new clue, Swagger follows a tantalizing path through old records, intelligence archives, and buildings back to the sniper’s nest. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

WATCHING THE DARK: An Inspector Banks Novel by Peter Robinson (Mystery)
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks and his colleague DI Annie Cabbot become entangled in a complex case involving corruption, a dead cop, and a missing girl that leads them across the Channel and down a dark trail to find the truth. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

BLOOD MONEY by James Grippando (Legal Thriller)
When a jury finds Sydney Bennett not guilty of killing her two-year-old daughter, the public is shocked. A mob gathers outside of the jail on the night of Sydney's release, and an innocent young woman resembling Sydney ends up in a coma. The victim's parents ask defense attorney Jack Swyteck for help because they are sure the attack was not an accident. In searching for the truth, Jack makes a frightening discovery. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND: A Piper Donovan Mystery by Mary Jane Clark (Mystery)
Struggling actress and wedding-cake decorator Piper Donovan is spending the dead of winter in warm and sunny Sarasota, Florida, for her beloved cousin's wedding. But a cloud seems to be hovering over the whole affair. A bridesmaid mysteriously disappears, a neighbor's car is run off the road, and a body is found on the beach where the wedding will take place. With the nuptials threatened, it falls on Piper to unmask the killer. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

THE ONE I LEFT BEHIND by Jennifer McMahon (Psychological Suspense)
A serial killer called Neptune begins kidnapping women during the summer of 1985. He leaves their severed hands on the police department steps and displays their bodies around town. Just when 13-year-old Reggie needs her mother, Vera, the most, Vera’s hand is found, yet there’s no body. Twenty-five years later, Reggie learns that her mother has been found alive. She must confront the ghosts of her past and find Neptune before he kills again. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

THE HISTORY OF US by Leah Stewart (Fiction)
Eloise Hempel’s life is turned upside down when she must raise her sister's three children after her sister's untimely death. Nearly two decades after returning to Cincinnati and moving back into her mother's house, she is ready to resume her own life. However, when her mother creates a competition for which of the now-grown kids gets the house, their makeshift family starts to fall apart. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

SUMMERSET ABBEY by T. J. Brown (Historical Romance)
Rowena and Victoria, daughters to the second son of the Earl of Summerset, have always treated their governess’s daughter, Prudence, like a sister. But when their father dies and they move in with their uncle’s family in a much more traditional household, Prudence is relegated to the maids’ quarters, much to the girls’ shock and dismay. The ever-present specter of class expectations makes it difficult for Prudence to maintain a foot in both worlds. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

MY BOOKSTORE: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop edited by Ronald Rice (Essays)
In MY BOOKSTORE, 81 authors write about the pleasure, guidance and support that their favorite bookstores and booksellers have given them over the years. It's a joyful, industry-wide celebration of our bricks-and-mortar stores and a clarion call to readers everywhere at a time when the value and importance of these stores should be shouted from the rooftops. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

THE NEIGHBORS by Ania Ahlborn (Psychological Suspense)
Andrew Morrison sacrificed everything to look after his alcoholic mother. But now he’s determined to get out and live his life. That means trading the home he grew up in for a rented room in the house of an old childhood friend --- both of which are in sorry shape. The better acquainted he gets with his new neighbors --- especially the sweet and sexy Harlow Ward --- the more he suspects unspeakable darkness beyond the white picket fence. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
Contests Running on Other Sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com
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

THE FEVER TREE by Jennifer McVeigh
We are celebrating the forthcoming release of THE FEVER TREE by Jennifer McVeigh --- a compelling portrait of colonial South Africa and a love story about how fear can blind us to the truth --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win an advance copy of the book, which will be in stores on April 4th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, February 4th at noon ET.

“What Are You Reading?” Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in January, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is THE LIFEBOAT by Charlotte Rogan, a page-turning novel of hard choices and survival, narrated by a woman as unforgettable and complex as the events she describes. We have 12 copies of the book, which is now available in paperback, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Monday, February 4th at noon ET.


Teenreads.com


Word of Mouth
Send us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. This contest period, one teen reader will be randomly chosen to win a copy of JANIE FACE TO FACE by Caroline B. Cooney and VICTORIA REBELS by Carolyn Meyer. The deadline for entries is Thursday, January 31st at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com’s Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 10 readers will receive a copy of BEYOND ORDINARY: When a Good Marriage Just Isn't Good Enough, in which Justin and Trisha Davis reveal how they turned their ordinary marriage into a truly extraordinary one. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, February 12th at noon ET.
This Week's Poll: Books You're Anticipating
Which of the following books releasing in January and February are you planning to read? Please check as many as apply.

1356 by Bernard Cornwell
ALEX CROSS, RUN by James Patterson
THE AVIATOR’S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin
THE BLOOD GOSPEL: The Order of the Sanguines Series, by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell
THE BUGHOUSE AFFAIR: A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery, by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini
CALCULATED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
CHANEL BONFIRE: A Memoir, by Wendy Lawless
COLLATERAL DAMAGE: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
THE FIFTH ASSASSIN by Brad Meltzer
THE GOOD DAUGHTER by Jane Porter
GUILT: An Alex Delaware Novel, by Jonathan Kellerman
HIT ME by Lawrence Block
KINSEY AND ME: Stories, by Sue Grafton
THE LAST RUNAWAY by Tracy Chevalier
A MEMORY OF LIGHT: Book Fourteen, The Final Volume of The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
MRS. LINCOLN’S DRESSMAKER by Jennifer Chiaverini
PRIVATE BERLIN by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
PROOF OF GUILT: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery, by Charles Todd
ROBERT B. PARKER'S IRONHORSE by Robert Knott
SEE NOW THEN by Jamaica Kincaid
SHADOWKILLER by Wendy Corsi Staub
STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN’S GRAVE by Ian Rankin
THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult
SUSPECT by Robert Crais
TOUCH & GO by Lisa Gardner
A WEEK IN WINTER by Maeve Binchy
None of the above
 
Click here to answer the poll.
Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Could Win THREE Books!
Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from January 18th to February 1st, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of PRIVATE BERLIN by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan, PROOF OF GUILT: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd, and SHADOWKILLER by Wendy Corsi Staub.

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.

-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
 
Click here to enter the contest.

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Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: www.20SomethingReads.com, www.Teenreads.com, www.Kidsreads.com, www.ReadingGroupGuides.com, www.GraphicNovelReporter.com, www.FaithfulReader.com and www.AuthorsOnTheWeb.com.

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