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July 26, 2013

Bookreporter.com Newsletter July 26, 2013
When a Woman Loves a Book, There’s Not Much Time for Anything Else!

If you told me last week that I would be looking for a sweater Wednesday night and Thursday morning, I never would have believed it. But alas, temps plunged into the 60s Wednesday night, which is a drop of something like 40 degrees since last week. I confess I was relishing having the pool temperature around 88! This is a lot nicer for outdoor reading time in the evenings, though. Last week, there were points where it was too hot to think!

During these last weeks, I have become a compulsive weeder and dead-header of plants. I guess this is what happens when I am traveling less and actually have time to spend in the garden. Tom is much better at watering, and he was traveling this week, thus I am trying to remember if/when it rained.

Here are a couple of non-book things to have on your radar. I have been enjoying HBO’s documentary series this summer. Their pieces debut on Monday nights, though I usually catch up on them during the week. I read more fiction than nonfiction, mostly due to time constraints, so I appreciate these in-depth stories. I just got a note from HBO with the fall lineup, which I saved to explore over the weekend. I have been splitting up watching some of them because they are longer than an hour. A nice way to savor them!

On the Thursday night of ThrillerFest, Linwood Barclay was raving about “Ray Donovan” on Showtime so much that I watched the first episode before heading into ThrillerFest on Saturday. In the first 5-8 minutes, the show is set up really tightly. I was hooked. I think that this television writing has upped the ante on what thriller readers are looking for in books. When we are surrounded by tight writing and fast visuals on television, there is a ramped-up adrenalin high that needs to be fed. To me, thriller authors have to up their game to compete for what I call “entertainment time.” I constantly am talking (okay, ranting) about books as being part of pop culture. To me, there is a lot competing for people’s time. Watching a compelling drama means an hour less of reading since we still have not come up with a way to have more than 24 hours in a day.

I would love to hear from you on this. What are you watching? Does watching TV or cable programming keep you from reading? Are you becoming more demanding about the quality of the books you read? Please email me and let me know your thoughts!

Now on to books and nothing but books!

For the second year, our ReadingGroupGuides.com site is partnering with the Hachette Book Group to host “Hachette Reading Group Day” in New York. This year’s festivities will take place on Saturday, September 7th from 10:00-3:30 at Lighthouse International. Hear from Hachette's celebrated list of authors --- including Elin Hilderbrand, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Kathleen Kent and George Pelecanos (to name just a few) --- mingle with fellow Tri-State reading groups, enjoy good food, and, of course, take home books and advance reading copies! Reserve soon so you don't miss out on this terrific event. Last year’s Reading Group Day was a smashing success; attendees LOVED the opportunity to hear from and mingle with authors. The two friends who attended with me still are raving about the event. Each ticket is $50, and this includes lunch and a gift bag. Click here to book your ticket --- and be sure to share this with other reader friends, especially those in book groups!

Once again, we’re giving you an opportunity to jump in early and preview a book that hasn’t been released yet --- and comment on it. LEAVING HAVEN by Kathleen McCleary is the latest title we’re spotlighting in our Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book feature. Georgia longs for a baby, but she's had miscarriage after miscarriage since her daughter was born more than a decade ago. Through a miraculous egg donation, Georgia is thrilled to find herself pregnant --- until she makes a startling discovery that changes her mind about how much she really wants the baby. Meanwhile, Georgia’s best friend, Alice, has a happy teenage daughter, a faithful husband, and a perfectly organized life. But her world spins off its axis when she falls for a man who is everything she knows she doesn’t want.

I heard about this book when it was “booktalked” at the American Library Association Convention in June, and I immediately thought that this would be a book our readers would want a Sneak Peek at.

It doesn’t release until October 1st, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to preview the book and share their comments on it by September 16th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 8th at noon ET. For our Sneak Peek program, your commitment to participate is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read LEAVING HAVEN and give us your feedback before our September 16th deadline. We take these project deadlines seriously. If not, don’t worry…we will have more opportunities like this in the future.

James Lee Burke is back with a new installment in his popular Dave Robicheaux series. Just as we did last year with CREOLE BELLE, we have TWO reviews for you. Joe Hartlaub reviews the hardcover edition of LIGHT OF THE WORLD, while Roz Shea takes a listen to the audiobook. In this latest adventure, Robicheaux and his longtime friend and partner, Clete Purcel, are vacationing in Montana when a series of suspicious events leads them to believe that their lives --- and the lives of their families --- are in danger.

Joe has this to say in his review: “What is arguably most noteworthy about this one is that it’s Burke’s ultimate examination of the theme of good versus evil, with his deepest exploration of both states. While it is easily and perhaps simplistically classified as a ‘thriller’ or ‘mystery’ novel, moving it out of genre fiction and into the classification of ‘literature’ still doesn’t quite do the book justice; it’s something beyond that, an experience that is by turns beautiful and frightening.”


Meanwhile, Roz gives us her thoughts on the audiobook: "When James Lee Burke and Will Patton team up to breathe fire into the words of Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcel, the listener is in for a spine-tingling ride that will have you hunting for a comfortable chair in a secluded corner so you can plug in your ear buds and shut out the rest of the world."

By the way, one of our readers, C.J., has this to say about Burke: “I think he is the greatest living fiction writer.” I wonder how many of you agree!

We also have a review of Philippa Gregory’s latest historical novel, THE WHITE PRINCESS, the fourth installment in her Cousins’ War series. Henry Tudor must marry the princess of the enemy house, Elizabeth of York, to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades. But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III --- and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. When a young man who would be king invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother. Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski says, “It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Philippa Gregory book, and THE WHITE PRINCESS has made me want to pull up a few from her backlist. If you’re a fan of her Cousins’ War series, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. Drama starts on page one and doesn’t stop until the last page.”

Our Summer Reading contests are coming to an end on July 31st, so be on the lookout next week for our final two giveaways: APPROACHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT by Victoria Lustbader (I wrote about this a few weeks ago and it will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection when it releases on August 13th) and THE PANTHER by Nelson DeMille (his #1 bestseller, which is out in paperback on August 6th and to me is his best book in years). Click here to see all our featured titles and which books we’re currently giving away. If you’d like to sign up for our Summer Reading newsletter to catch the last two contests (you get word as soon as these contests go live), click here now to get signed up!

If you’ve been enjoying our Summer Reading feature, you’re going to LOVE what we’ve cooked up for this year’s Fall Preview contests. Sign up for the Bookreporter.com Fall Preview newsletter
here now! We have a lot planned for fall!

Also, if you have not signed up for our “On Sale This Week” newsletter, we encourage you to do that. It comes out every Tuesday and features hardcover and paperback books on sale both that week and the following. It’s a great way to note what you want to read!

We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, which spotlights books from our Teenreads.com site that we also recommend to our adult readers. This month’s picks are IF I EVER GET OUT OF HERE by Eric Gansworth, CONTAMINATED by Em Garner and IMPERFECT SPIRAL by Debbie Levy.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest this week. Let us know what books you’ve read and your comments about them by Friday, August 9th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win these three books: DEATH ANGEL by Linda Fairstein, THE DYING HOURS: A Tom Thorne Novel by Mark Billingham, and A TAP ON THE WINDOW by Linwood Barclay.

Earlier this year, we awarded copies of Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler and FAMILY PICTURES by Jane Green to our readers and gave them the opportunity to comment on the books. We're pleased to share their feedback of Z here and FAMILY PICTURES here. Thanks to all who submitted comments!

I heard about a really fun book promotion this week. Kevin O’Brien, the author of UNSPEAKABLE, was on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island Ferry on Thursday telling some "Ferry Tales" in a program presented by Kitsap Regional Libraries. He gave away free books to some lucky passengers. What a great way to discover a new author, or meet up with one you really like.

In more moonflower news, Jane, one of our readers, wrote, “Because of your interest in moonflowers, I thought you might like this old book, THE MOONFLOWER VINE by Jetta Carleton. I enjoyed it very much.” And I actually have that on a shelf upstairs...must find it. And Betty from Paramus, NJ, shared this in answer to my questions asking if all moonflowers bloom for just one night: “The fact that moonflowers live for only one night is part of their special beauty. From dusk until dawn (or sometimes a bit later), they bloom in all their glory with their unforgettable sweet fragrance. Then they curl up and die. Children are fascinated by these night flowers. They are a reminder to all of us that sometimes things of beauty cannot last forever.” Very interesting.

My sister’s family is in town from Atlanta, and thus we will be spending time together at my parents’ beach house at some point this weekend. It gets harder and harder to get everyone in one place as the kids get older. Greg has plans for the weekend, so we will be minus one. Also, it’s finally hitting me that Cory and his friends will start to head off to college in a few weeks. I am dreading flipping the calendar to August for just that reason! I am going to miss the endless parade of him and Son 2A and Son 2B around the house, though this summer I have had a lot of practice as the three of them seem to be on an accelerated pace of moving from one house to the next. At least between the three houses, we know where they are, at least for a few more weeks!

I am reading a FABULOUS manuscript that I only put down to write this newsletter. It’s one of those books where the plot, pitch, voice and characters are all working together in harmony. I will have more on this soon…and hoping to share it with you for a Sneak Peek as well. I am jamming on fall reading right now. I am going to say again: This has been a GREAT year for reading…to me, one of the best. I hope you find a book here that transports you to another place as well.

Read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Now in Stores: LIGHT OF THE WORLD by James Lee Burke

LIGHT OF THE WORLD: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke (Thriller)
Louisiana Sherriff’s Detective Dave Robicheaux and his longtime friend and partner, Clete Purcel, are vacationing in Montana when a series of suspicious events leads them to believe that their lives --- and the lives of their families --- are in danger. Robicheaux's daughter, Alafair, thinks she sees a familiar face following her around town. But how could convicted sadist and serial killer Asa Surette be loose on the streets of Montana? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub and Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read Joe Hartlaub’s review of the print edition.

-Click here to read Roz Shea’s review of the audiobook.

Now in Stores: THE WHITE PRINCESS by Philippa Gregory

THE WHITE PRINCESS by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
Henry Tudor may now wear the English crown, but he hasn’t won the hearts of the people he rules. When he marries the beloved York princess, Elizabeth, he hopes it will help bring an end to the fighting and mistrust of the masses. Unfortunately, rumors of a York prince, alive and in hiding, with a good claim to Henry’s hard-won throne, plague him. There’s very little happiness to be had for Henry and his reluctant queen, Elizabeth. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

Click here to read a review.
Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book --- Our Latest Featured Title: LEAVING HAVEN by Kathleen McCleary
At Bookreporter.com, we have the opportunity to read many great books well in advance of their release dates. With our Sneak Peek Feature and Contest, we offer our readers the chance to preview select early picks --- and share feedback on them. We know that readers champion books that they love, and we want you to be part of the excitement of upcoming releases as early as possible.

Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights LEAVING HAVEN by Kathleen McCleary, a provocative and touching novel that explores the intricacies of love, friendship and parenthood. We have 25 advance copies to give away to readers who would like to preview the book, which releases on October 1st, and share their comments about it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 8th at noon ET.

We really want to hear what you have to say about LEAVING HAVEN, so if you will have time to read it and answer some questions by Monday, September 16th, please enter this contest. If not, we will have more opportunities like this in the future.

LEAVING HAVEN by Kathleen McCleary (Fiction)
Georgia longs for a baby, but she's had miscarriage after miscarriage since her daughter was born more than a decade ago. Through a miraculous egg donation, Georgia is thrilled to find herself pregnant --- until she makes a startling discovery that changes her mind about how much she really wants the baby.

Georgia’s best friend, Alice, has a happy teenage daughter, a faithful husband, and a perfectly organized life. But her world spins off its axis when she falls for a man who is everything she knows she doesn’t want.

LEAVING HAVEN is a provocative and touching novel that will appeal to readers of contemporary fiction and fans of Jodi Picoult, Luanne Rice and Kristin Hannah.

-Click here to read Kathleen McCleary's bio.
-Connect with Kathleen McCleary on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to read more in our Sneak Peek Feature and enter the contest.
Now in Stores: & SONS by David Gilbert

& SONS by David Gilbert (Fiction)
The funeral of Charles Henry Topping would have been a minor affair but for the presence of one particular mourner: author A. N. Dyer, whose novel Ampersand stands as a classic of American teenage angst. But as Andrew Newbold Dyer delivers the eulogy for his oldest friend, he suffers a breakdown over the life he’s led and the people he’s hurt and the novel that will endure as his legacy. He must gather his three sons for the first time in many years --- before it’s too late. Reviewed by Shelby Wardlaw.

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

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: HUNTING EVE by Iris Johansen

HUNTING EVE: An Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
The stakes are raised even higher in book two of Iris Johansen’s new Eve Duncan trilogy as Eve battles the man who is holding her prisoner. Secrets about why Eve has been targeted come into the light, bringing her even closer to danger. With its cliffhanger ending, HUNTING EVE sets up perfectly for the finale, SILENCING EVE. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: BRILLIANCE by Marcus Sakey

BRILLIANCE by Marcus Sakey (Science Fiction/Thriller)
In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking. They’re called “brilliants,” and Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in --- and betray his own kind. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature

Summer is here! 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 are:

Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, July 30th at noon ET. Our final two featured titles will be APPROACHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT by Victoria Lustbader and THE PANTHER by Nelson DeMille.
 
Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles.
Join Hachette Book Group on Saturday, September 7th for “Hachette Reading Group Day” in New York!
For the second year, ReadingGroupGuides.com is partnering with the Hachette Book Group to host “Hachette Reading Group Day” in New York. This year’s festivities will take place on Saturday, September 7th from 10:00-3:30 at Lighthouse International. Hear from Hachette's celebrated list of authors --- including Elin Hilderbrand, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Kathleen Kent and George Pelecanos (to name just a few) --- mingle with fellow Tri-State reading groups, enjoy good food, and, of course, take home books and advance reading copies! Reserve soon so you don't miss out on this terrific event.
 
Click here to book your ticket --- and be sure to share this with other reader friends, especially those in book groups!
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s Fall Preview: Hot Book Group Titles for Fall/Winter 2013

Curious about what fall/winter 2013 books are perfect for book group discussions? Click here to find suggestions from more than 20 publishers as presented at BookExpo America (BEA), the industry’s leading trade show. See what will be of interest to your group! To give you an easy way to mark what you want to suggest at your future meetings, we also are providing a spreadsheet with all the featured titles here.

In addition, we have videos from some of the publishers who presented, which you can see here. Please share this link with your fellow book group members. Whether we were lucky enough to have you share this event with us in New York, or if you are viewing from afar, hearing these publishing folks present in their own words is something you will enjoy.

Click here to see ReadingGroupGuides.com’s Fall Preview feature.
Women's Fiction Author Spotlight: THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey

THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey (Historical Fiction)
Betty Jewel Hughes was once the hottest black jazz singer in Memphis. But when she finds herself pregnant and alone, she gives up her dream of being a star to raise her beautiful daughter, Billie, in Shakerag, Mississippi. Now, 10 years later, in 1955, Betty Jewel is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for Billie when she's gone. With no one she can count on, Betty Jewel does the unthinkable: she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, recently widowed Cassie Malone is an outspoken housewife insulated by her wealth and privileged white society. Working part-time at a newspaper, she is drawn to Betty Jewel through her mysterious ad. With racial tension in the South brewing, the women forge a bond as deep as it is forbidden. But neither woman could have imagined the gifts they would find in each other, and in the sweet young girl they both love with all their hearts.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elaine Hussey’s bio.
-Click here to visit Elaine Hussey’s official website.

-Connect with Elaine Hussey on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 35 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.

Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.
More Reviews This Week

FREUD’S MISTRESS by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman (Historical Fiction)
Minna Bernays, an overeducated lady’s companion with a sharp, wry wit, turns to her sister Martha, a mother struggling with six children and an absent, disinterested husband named Sigmund Freud. While Martha and the scientific community are shocked and repulsed by Freud's "pornographic" work, Minna is fascinated. She and Freud embark on what is at first simply an intellectual courtship, but hides something deeper beneath the surface, a desire that Minna cannot escape. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

SOVEREIGN: The Books of Mortals, Book 3 by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Thriller/Fantasy)
Nine years after Rom Sebastian was thrust into the most unlikely of circumstances as hero and bearer of an unimaginable secret, the alliance of his followers is in disarray. An epic battle with The Order has left them scattered and deeply divided both in strategy and resolve in their struggle to become truly alive and free. Only 36 truly alive followers remain loyal to Rom. This meager band must fight for survival as The Order is focused on their total annihilation. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

THE HUMANS by Matt Haig (Fiction/Humor)
An extraterrestrial visitor arrives on Earth and does not have positive first impressions of the human species. The visitor, who takes the form of Cambridge University’s prominent mathematician Andrew Martin, is eager to complete his task and return home to his own utopian planet. While initially disgusted by the human way of life, he starts to realize that there may be more to this weird species. As he forges bonds with Martin’s family, he sees hope in human imperfection and begins to question his mission. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

NEMESIS: A Nameless Detective Novel by Bill Pronzini (Mystery)
Jake Runyon agrees to investigate Verity Daniel’s claim that he is receiving threatening demands for money from a mysterious caller. Verity is nowhere near the helpless victim she pretends to be, and a series of surprise revelations culminates in Runyon being falsely accused of a crime that never happened. With the help of partner Tamara Corbin, Nameless works to clear both Runyon’s and the agency’s good names --- but not until he overcomes a deadly threat to his own safety. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.

THE FAME THIEF: A Junior Bender Mystery by Timothy Hallinan (Mystery)
Few people can say no to 93-year-old Irwin Dressler, Hollywood’s scariest mob boss-turned-movie king. Dressler wants LA burglar Junior Bender to solve a “crime” committed over 60 years ago, when his friend Dolores La Marr’s career was destroyed over some controversial photos of her at a Las Vegas party. What Junior finds as he starts digging is that some vendettas never die --- they only get more dangerous. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

LIE STILL by Julia Heaberlin (Psychological Suspense)
When Emily and her husband move to the wealthy enclave of Clairmont, Texas, she hopes she can finally escape --- and outrun the stalker who has taunted her for years. But as she is drawn into a nest of secretive Texas women --- and into the company of their queen, Caroline Warwick --- Emily finds that acceptance is a very dangerous game. It isn’t long before Caroline mysteriously disappears and Emily is facing a rash of anonymous threats. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

KISS ME FIRST by Lottie Moggach (Psychological Suspense)
When Leila discovers the website Red Pill, she feels she has finally found people who understand her. Thus she is thrilled when Adrian, the website's founder, asks to meet her, flattered when he invites her to be part of "Project Tess." As they email, chat and Skype, Leila becomes enveloped in the world of Tess, learning every single thing she can about this other woman --- because soon, Leila will have to become her. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE HOMECOMING by Carsten Stroud (Supernatural Thriller/Mystery)
When two plane crashes set off a spellbinding chain reaction of murder, inadvertent kidnapping, corporate corruption, and financial double-dealing, it’s not enough that Niceville detective Nick Kavanaugh (ex–Special Forces) has to investigate. He and his wife, family lawyer Kate, have also just taken in brutally orphaned Rainey Teague. Something bothers Nick about Rainey --- and it isn’t just that the woman in charge of attendance at Rainey’s prep school has disappeared. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

FOREVER, INTERRUPTED by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
Elsie Porter is an average twentysomething who heads to pick up a pizza for one on New Year's Day. She isn't expecting to see anyone, much less charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they've eloped. Only days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed. At the hospital, Elsie faces Susan, the mother-in-law who doesn't even know she exists. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE HANGING by Lotte Hammer and Soren Hammer (Mystery/Thriller)
One morning before school, two children find the naked bodies of five men hanging from the gym ceiling. The case leads Detective Konrad Simonsen and his murder squad to the school janitor, who may know more about the killings than he is telling. Soon, Simonsen realizes that each of the five murdered men had a dark and terrible secret in common. And when Simonsen’s own daughter is targeted, he must race to find the culprit before his whole world is destroyed. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

SHORECLIFF by Ursula DeYoung (Historical Fiction)
Spending the summer of 1928 in a big house on the Maine coast with his 10 older cousins and a gaggle of aunts and uncles seems like a dream come true to lonely 13-year-old Richard. But as he wanders through the bustling house, Richard witnesses scenes and conversations not meant for him and watches as the family he adores disintegrates into a tangle of lust, jealousy and betrayal. He soon finds himself drawn into the confusion and forced to cover for his relatives' romantic intrigues. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

Young Adult Books You Want to Read

Our company, The Book Report Network, has a number of websites about books and authors in addition to Bookreporter.com. Throughout the year, Bookreporter.com features adult books on Teenreads.com, our site for young adult readers, that we think will have definite appeal to a teen audience. In the spirit of sharing, we are now spotlighting a selection of titles each month from Teenreads.com that we believe are great reads that you might enjoy.

Here are our latest featured titles:

IF I EVER GET OUT OF HERE by Eric Gansworth (Historical Fiction)
Lewis "Shoe" Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games, the snow blowing through his roof. What he's not used to is white people being nice to him --- people like George Haddonfield, whose family recently moved to town with the Air Force. As the boys connect through their mutual passion for music, especially the Beatles, Lewis has to lie more and more to hide the reality of his family's poverty from George.

CONTAMINATED by Em Garner (Dystopian Thriller)
After the Contamination --- an epidemic caused by the super-trendy diet drink SlimPro that turned ordinary citizens into shambling creatures unable to control their violent impulses --- the government rounded up the "Connies" to protect the remaining population.
But now, two years later, the government has started sending the rehabilitated back home, complete with shock collars that will either stop the Connies from committing violent acts or kill them before they do any further harm.

IMPERFECT SPIRAL by Debbie Levy (Fiction)
Danielle Snyder's summer job as a babysitter takes a tragic turn when Humphrey, the five-year-old boy she's watching, runs in front of oncoming traffic to chase down his football. Wanting only to mourn Humphrey, the sweet kid with whom she had a surprisingly strong friendship, Danielle tries to avoid the world around her. It's time for Danielle to face reality, but when the truth brings so much pain, can she find a way to do right by Humphrey's memory and forgive herself for his death?

Click here to see all the young adult books we recommend you read.
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

"What Are You Reading?" Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in July, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is LADIES’ NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews, in which heartache, humor and a little bit of mystery come together in a story about life’s unpredictable twists and turns. We have 12 copies of the book, which is now in stores, to give away to three groups. In addition, each group will be awarded a Ladies’ Night Event Kit, which is chock full of goodies to create the perfect “girls' night in.” The deadline for entries is Monday, August 5th at noon ET.

20SomethingReads.com

THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman

We are celebrating the release of THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman with a special contest that will give 15 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. Our Grand Prize, which will be awarded to ONE winner, includes a copy of the book along with a 20SomethingReads.com "Breakup Package.” To enter to win the Grand Prize, share your best/worst funniest breakup story. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 14th at noon ET.


Kidsreads.com

HOME SWEET HORROR: Scary Tales, Book One by James Preller
To celebrate the release of HOME SWEET HORROR, we have a special contest that will give five readers the opportunity to win a copy of this first book in James Preller’s Scary Tales series. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 12th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com


CHIVALRY: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World by Zach Hunter
We are celebrating the release of CHIVALRY by Zach Hunter with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book, which challenges young men and women to develop their own personal code that will prepare them to defend others and live with civility and integrity. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 15th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com’s Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, five readers will receive a copy of SMALL TOWN GIRL by Ann H. Gabhart. How long can two people stand on the brink of love without plunging in headfirst? Find out in this follow-up to ANGEL SISTER, which marks the return of Kate Merritt, this time all grown up. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 15th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You've Read --- and You Can 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 July 26th to August 9th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DEATH ANGEL by Linda Fairstein, THE DYING HOURS: A Tom Thorne Novel by Mark Billingham, and A TAP ON THE WINDOW by Linwood Barclay.

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.

 
Click here to enter the contest.

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