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March 28, 2014

Bookreporter.com Newsletter March 28, 2014
 
Please note: Due to some technical issues on the website, we were unable to complete our weekly update on the site to send this newsletter on Friday as originally scheduled. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience!
My Pet Peeve: Skipping Spoiler Alerts
I am a big fan of "The Good Wife," which airs on CBS on Sunday nights. For weeks leading up to last Sunday, they had been touting that “big news” was airing on Sunday night. Since I knew basketball was wreaking the usual sports havoc (it’s always something...football, basketball or golf) with the CBS Sunday night lineup, I logged onto the show’s Facebook page to see what time the show was airing that night and found it was 9:41. At the same time, I spied a post from a viewer in the Atlantic time zone (no delays there) who revealed the big surprise, which was annoying. I watched the show differently as I knew what was going to happen. I saw how the writing was driving the setup. I was sorry not to have the surprise, but it was interesting to see how the scripting and plotting was done. And looking at it that way, the storyline had even more meaning. As soon as the show aired, a major entertainment trade newsletter sent background on the story behind this latest show arc. While I had no issue with their sharing this, I was disappointed that the URL for the piece bore the reveal details.

Then Monday morning, the producers of the show posted their comments about the show on their Facebook page, and this made me shake my head. With our DVR/On Demand world, it seemed rather presumptuous that this announcement did not contain a spoiler alert. So what does this have to do with books? In this era on commenting everywhere, spoiler alerts are important. Know that we spend a lot of time trying to keep reveals out of our reviews, and ask you to be sure to keep them off Word of Mouth comments and to even note them when you send us comments about the contest books that you have read. We appreciate this!

Here are words I am surprised that I am writing. After years of resisting them, I am enjoying audiobooks. I know, I know, many of you told me to give them a try and I did not listen, but once I finished listening to the audio of SHOTGUN LOVESONGS, which was wonderful, I was looking for something else to listen to. (By the way, one of readers, Bobbie, wrote during the week to tell me that she enjoyed listening to SHOTGUN LOVESONGS on her drive home from the Outer Banks last week. Loved hearing that!) I rifled through the shelves in the office and found Jane Green’s TEMPTING FATE, which is “read by the author.” Jane is British, and her marvelous accent is lending a lovely touch to the story. I also have found that I am less concerned about traffic when I can get absorbed in a book. To date, I have not spent time in the garage waiting to finish a segment, but I see those days as oh so possible!

So what’s TEMPTING FATE, which is Jane’s 15th novel just in stores this week, about? Gabby and Elliott have been happily married for 18 years. But all that changes the night a handsome younger man shows interest in her. Matt makes Gabby feel sparkling and alive, which she hasn't felt in years. What begins as a long-distance­­­­­­­­­ friendship soon develops into an emotional affair as Gabby discovers that her limits and boundaries are not where she expects them to be. Norah Piehl has our review and says, ­­­­­­­­­­­"Green...clearly understands the pressures and perils of middle age in suburbia (or anywhere, really).... [Her] overall themes of self-respect, acceptance and forgiveness shine through..." You can read an extended excerpt here.

Also in stores this week is BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES, the latest installment in Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street series. Wedding bells are ringing in the tight-knit community that gathers around the store “A Good Yarn” in Seattle. Knitters come to buy yarn and patterns, but somehow they leave richer in friendship and love. As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead. Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon raves, “Debbie Macomber amply delivers her signature engrossing relationship tales, wrapping her readers in warmth as fuzzy and soft as a hand-knitted creation from everyone's favorite yarn shop. She layers these love stories, making them emotionally rewarding.”

Knitting as a theme in any book works for me. I want to create a bookshelf for Bookreporter.com featuring books with knitting themes. Suggestions are welcome; drop me a note with the book you recommend and why. I would love to crowd source this shelf!

EMPRESS OF THE NIGHT by Eva Stachniak is the latest book in our New Release Spotlight. As Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great was a woman who exuded power. In November of 1796, after suffering a debilitating and ultimately devastating stoke, she mentally relives her most treasured memories before death claims her. Here, we are introduced once more to the woman who not only ruled but transformed Russia. Amy Gwiazdowski has our review and calls the book “an intimate, up-close look at the imagined life of Catherine the Great. It is, quite simply, wonderful.” Stachniak’s previous novel, THE WINTER PALACE (which we featured when it originally released in 2012), told the story of Catherine the Great’s improbable rise to power through the eyes of a servant. We’re already looking forward to the third book in this planned trilogy!

Our new Paperback Spotlight title is CLARA by Kurt Palka, which is now in stores. Clara Herzog is a privileged, intelligent and thoughtful young woman whose world is changed forever when 1930s Vienna is swept up by the dark prelude of the Second World War. The cavalry officer she married is soon called away to the thick of the conflict, and it falls to Clara to stay at home to provide and protect. Through the war, its aftermath, and into the present, Clara must make choices and take risks that are as heroic and life-altering as any that men make in battle. Click here for more info on the book.

The London Book Fair will take place from April 8-10, and this year, the focus will be on Korea. This reflects the country’s status as one of the top 10 publishing markets in the world and its expanding reputation within the international literary community. Many of Korea’s most prominent and exciting writers will be in attendance this year, including Hwang Sok-yong (THE GUEST), Yi Mun-yol (OUR TWISTED HERO), Kyung-sook Shin (PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOTHER) and Sun-mi Hwang (THE HEN WHO DREAMED SHE COULD FLY, which was one of my Bookreporter.com Bets On selections in 2013).

In anticipation of the Fair, we’re pleased to share our latest bookshelf, featuring books written by Korean authors, American authors who have written about Korea, and other Korean-themed titles. Many thanks to Barbara J Zitwer, a literary agent in New York City who has spent the last years immersed in the Korean market, for assembling this bookshelf for us, which gives our readers insight into this community of writers. Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, and I had a fabulous meeting with Barbara back in late January as we talked about this bookshelf, and her enthusiasm for this market was contagious. When we can have a colleague like this sharing her expertise with us and our readers, it’s really exciting. I am looking forward to reading DEAR LEADER: Poet, Spy, Escapee -- A Look Inside North Korea by Jang Jin-sung, which will be in stores on May 13th.

As promised, this week I’m happy to share with you my Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary for Jean Hanff Korelitz’s new novel, YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, which I’ve been raving about endlessly since I read an advance copy of it last fall. Click here for my thoughts, and feel free to email me with your own comments on the book if you’ve read it. By the way, I just saw that it will be on the New York Times bestseller list that will be printed in the paper on April 6th; it's only online now.


We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, reviews we’ve posted recently on our Teenreads.com site that we think you’ll enjoy. This month’s selections are FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott, THE CELLAR by Natasha Preston and YEAR OF MISTAKEN DISCOVERIES by Eileen Cook. I saw an interesting piece on "NBC Nightly News" last Friday night where they talked about the Divergent series and YA’s growing readership. According to a Nielsen Books and Consumer Study, 55% of YA readers are over the age of 18 and 28% are between the ages of 30 and 44. So if you are over 18 and still reading YA, you clearly are not alone.

As March Madness heats up around the country, with the “Sweet Sixteen” and “Elite Eight” weekend upon us, we turn to our poll question, where we’re asking which (if any) of the 16 thriller authors we’ve listed you would pick to “win the bracket” in a competition for favorite author. Click here to cast your vote. We’ll announce the winner next Friday, April 4th, just days before the Tournament officially ends with the championship game on the 7th. We have been watching a lot of basketball in our house; last weekend’s games had lots of excitement and cliffhangers. Here’s to this weekend being more of the same.

We’re continuing our current Word of Mouth contest for one more week. Let us know by Friday, April 4th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win the aforementioned BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES by Debbie Macomber and TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green, along with I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN by Mary Higgins Clark (which we’ll be reviewing next week).

As promised, we have a report from Wendy Webb, author of THE VANISHING, who attended the Virginia Festival of the Book, a book festival that took place last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. Here, Wendy talks about the events she attended, her experience as a panelist on the panel called “Futuristic? Paranormal? Creepy?” and her thoughts on the festival as a whole. Many thanks to Wendy for all her insights! If any of you attended the festival and would like to answer some questions about it that will be posted on the site, please let me know!

Tickets are on sale now for "Open House at Random House," taking place on Friday, May 2nd in New York City. Here, you'll have the opportunity to meet a number of authors, explore Random House's New York headquarters, and connect with other book lovers. Join Jenny McCarthy, Gary Shteyngart, Ruth Reichl, Chris Pavone, Maggie Shipstead and many more for lunch and snacks, and delicious cocktails. As if that's not enough, all guests will receive a limited edition Random House Open House tote bag filled with great swag and some of this summer's blockbuster reads. I am so looking forward to attending this event with Nicole Sherman from our staff and a few of my friends. We know some of our readers have gone in the past, and we would love to see you back there...along with any first-timers, of course! Click here for all the details and to purchase tickets.

For those of you curious as to what book groups will be reading this fall, we’d like to tell you about a special event taking place at BookExpo America in New York City that you may want to consider attending. On Friday, May 30th, from 2:00pm to 3:50pm, representatives from more than a dozen publishers will gather at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center to share selections and book group news from their publishing houses in a speed-dating format designed to give book group leaders, booksellers, librarians and bloggers an inside look at what book groups will be tempted by for fall and winter. Galley giveaways and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be part of this event. Advance signup is required, and seating will be assigned. Fill out this form to sign up. Please note: You must be registered to attend BookExpo America in order to attend this session. If you are not, click here to register.

As you are our best ambassadors, I wanted to remind you all about our new “Share Bar,” which appears on the lefthand side of every page on the site. This allows you to easily share our reviews and features with friends, family and fellow readers. For those of you on Goodreads, the icon to share books there will appear on any page where a book appears, though you will not see this on the homepage. So share, share away. We love you for bringing new readers to the site. This newsletter now goes out to 24,750 people, having grown by 250 in the last few weeks. May we also ask that you forward it to a friend? It’s very easy to do via the link found on the top right of this newsletter if you are reading it from email received in your mailbox. With your help, we know our audience can grow even bigger, so thank you in advance for passing us along! One more note on this. For Facebook, we are working on managing the art associated with each feature/article/interview, etc. It needs a bunch of tech tweaks since what happens changes with each content type, but know that we are on this!

My husband, Tom, and I are celebrating two anniversaries this weekend --- we met in Crested Butte, Colorado, 32 years ago Sunday, and 29 years ago on the same date, we were married and headed back to the Butte the following morning. This year we have no travel plans, but have been trying to come up with a fun way to celebrate. Neither of us likes making plans in advance, and thus we did not even make dinner reservations. We laughed last night when we called three of our favorite restaurants and all were booked for Saturday evening. This is so typical, but somehow we are always surprised that there is not a table for two waiting for us at the desired time of 7pm on Saturday nights when we want to dine out! Who are all these people who know what they want to do in advance? If nothing works out, we will bring out the cookbooks and create a fabulous dinner instead.

On Monday night, we are headed to a tribute to The Music of Paul Simon where 20 artists will perform 20 Paul Simon classics to benefit youth-centered music education programs in New York City. They have some insanely priced tickets, but we were lucky enough to get some of the lower-priced ones. I am looking forward to seeing how some of my favorite music is reinterpreted.

Greg has his first curling lesson this weekend; as I have said, I find this as interesting as golf! Rain on tap for the weekend, and that means lots of reading/knitting time. The skirt I am knitting is progressing nicely. I am matching the front and the back with some really obsessive precision, but I like the way it is turning out. One more note: Last weekend, Tom and I visited with Sean Doorly, who was The Book Report Network’s FIRST employee back in 1996. Sean and his wife, Denise, were in town from LA with their six-month old daughter, Katarina. I loved meeting this future reader, and Sean and I had a lot of fun reminiscing about the early days.

Here’s to a great week ahead…read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Now in Stores: BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES by Debbie Macomber
BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES: A Blossom Street Novel by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Fans of the Blossom Street series, prepare to rejoice! Within Seattle shop A Good Yarn's community, several knitters endeavor to overcome love snafus. Meanwhile, a mysterious do-gooder is planting "Knit Me" baskets of knitting projects around the city. Whoever it is brings publicity and increased business to Lydia's yarn shop. Who could it be? Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to visit Debbie Macomber's official website.

 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green
TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green (Fiction)
Gabby and Elliott have been happily married for 18 years. She could never imagine how good it would feel to have a handsome younger man show interest in her --- until the night it happens. Matt makes Gabby feel sparkling and fascinating, alive --- something she hasn't felt in years. What begins as a long-distance friendship soon develops into an emotional affair as Gabby discovers that her limits and boundaries are not where she expects them to be. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an extended excerpt.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: WORDS OF RADIANCE by Brandon Sanderson
WORDS OF RADIANCE: Book Two of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy/Adventure)
Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive sequence began in 2010 with the New York Times bestseller THE WAY OF KINGS. Now, the eagerly anticipated WORDS OF RADIANCE continues the epic story and answers many of your questions. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read a review.
New Release Spotlight: EMPRESS OF THE NIGHT by Eva Stachniak
EMPRESS OF THE NIGHT: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak (Historical Fiction)
A critically acclaimed historical drama and instant #1 international bestseller, THE WINTER PALACE brilliantly reimagined the rise of Catherine the Great through the watchful eyes of her clever servant Varvara. Now, in Eva Stachniak’s enthralling new novel, Catherine takes center stage as she relives her astonishing ascension to the throne, her rule over an empire, and the sacrifices that made her the most feared and commanding woman of her time.


As the book opens, the charismatic monarch is in her final hours. From the fevered depths of her mind, Catherine recalls the fateful trajectory of her turbulent life: her precarious apprenticeship as Russia’s Grand Duchess, the usurpers who seek to deprive her of a crown, the friends who beg more of her than she was willing to give, and her struggle to know whom to trust and whom to deceive to ensure her survival.

“We quarrel about power, not about love,” Catherine would write to the great love of her life, Grigory Potemkin, but her days were balanced on the razor’s edge of choosing her head over her heart. Power, she learns, is about resolve, strategy and direction; love must sometimes be secondary as she marshals all her strengths to steer her volatile country into a new century and beyond --- to grow the Romanov empire, to amass a vast fortune, and to control a scheming court in order to become one of history’s greatest rulers.

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

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Eva Stachniak's bio.
-Click here to visit Eva Stachniak's official website.
-Connect with Eva Stachniak on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Paperback Spotlight: CLARA by Kurt Palka
CLARA by Kurt Palka (Historical Mystery)
Clara Herzog is a privileged, intelligent and thoughtful young woman whose world is changed forever when 1930s Vienna is swept up by the dark prelude of the Second World War. The cavalry officer she married in spite of her family's objections is soon called away to the thick of the conflict, and it falls to Clara, as to so many mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts through the centuries, to stay at home to provide and protect.

Through the war, its aftermath, and into the present, Clara must make choices and take risks that are as heroic and life-altering as any that men make in battle. She is an unforgettable character, and this is an unforgettable novel about family bonds and women's deep friendships, about courage and the love that can endure even in unimaginable times.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read discussion questions for the book.
-Click here to read Kurt Palka's bio.
 
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com’s Latest Bookshelf: Riding the New Wave of K-Lit: Korean Books are Hot Around the World!
When we think of Korea, many of us think about Psy doing his Gangnam Style dance or the lunatic leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il. Neither represents what South Korea is about. Korean literature helps us understand and learn about Korea, and today it is regarded as the most exciting new literary discovery since Stieg Larsson made Swedish books popular with THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Many great Korean writers are being translated into English and published now, so we can finally read them. We are inviting you for the first time to discover the wonder and brilliance of K-Lit before many of these great books are celebrated, awarded and highlighted during one of the most important book fairs in the world: the 2014 London Book Fair, which takes place from April 8-10.

Barbara J Zitwer, a literary agent in New York City who has spent the last years immersed in the Korean market, has assembled a bookshelf featuring the most exciting and famous Korean authors for you to discover, as well as suggestions for nonfiction books and titles by others about Korea. There is a wide variety to choose from: literary fiction, thrillers, commercial women's fiction, cookbooks, memoirs, history, humor, and classic fables for children of all ages.

 
Click here to see our Korean-themed bookshelf.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Jean Hanff Korelitz
YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Literary Mystery)
It’s often said that the clues as to whether a relationship will work or not are known in the early days. The quirky “oh-so-charming” trait in a future mate that is endearing at the start of a relationship may harbor clues of something that will be annoying or devastating later. How many times do we say, “Did she/he not see it?”

In YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Jean Hanff Korelitz, Grace Reinhart Sachs is a therapist who feels she knows all about relationships and why they fail, and has written a book of her own: You Should Have Known: Why Women Fail to Hear What the Men in Their Lives Are Telling Them. Just as she is prepping for a round of pre-release media for the book, she learns that her own marriage is not what it seems. What then is Grace to do? This is the Grace who has grown up in New York and is still living in the apartment that her parents once owned and whose son attends the same tony private school that she once did. As the title of Janet Maslin’s New York Times review of YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN says so well, “Above It All Until Her World Turns Upside Down.”

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read our interview with Jean Hanff Korelitz.

 
Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight: THE IDEA OF HIM by Holly Peterson
THE IDEA OF HIM by Holly Peterson (Fiction)
Allie Crawford has the life she always dreamed of --- she's number two at a high-profile P.R. firm; she has two kids she adores; and her husband is a blend of handsome and heroic. Wade is everything she thought a man was supposed to be --- he's running a successful newsmagazine and, best of all, he provides the stable yet exciting New York City life Allie believes she needs in order to feel secure and happy.

But when Allie finds Wade locked in their laundry room with a stunning blonde in snakeskin sandals, a scandal ensues that flips her life on its head. And when the woman wants to befriend Allie, an old flame calls, and a new guy gets a little too close for comfort, she starts to think her marriage is more of a facade than something real. Maybe she's fallen in love not with Wade, but with the idea of him.

THE IDEA OF HIM releases on April 1st.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read Holly Peterson's bio.
-Connect with Holly Peterson on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 100 winners selected to read and comment on the book.

 
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
Attend a Special Speed-Dating Session for Booksellers, Librarians, Bloggers and Book Group Leaders at BookExpo America on Friday, May 30th
On Friday, May 30th, from 2:00pm to 3:50pm, representatives from more than a dozen publishers attending BookExpo America will gather at the Jacob K. Javits Center to share selections and book group news from their publishing houses in a speed-dating format designed to give book group leaders, booksellers, librarians and bloggers an inside look at what book groups will be tempted by for fall and winter. Galley giveaways and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be part of this event. Advance signup is required by Thursday, May 22nd at noon ET, and seating will be assigned. Fill out this form to sign up.

Please note: You must be registered to attend BookExpo America in order to attend this session. If you are not, click here to register.
 
Click here to sign up for the event.
More Reviews This Week
NYPD RED 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp (Thriller)
A woman of vast wealth and even greater connections is the fourth in a string of shocking murders that have hit New York City. As the public pressure mounts, and political and personal secrets of the highest order hang in the balance, Detective Zach Jordan and his partner, Kylie MacDonald, must find out what's really behind the murderer's rampage. But Kylie has been acting strange recently --- and Zach knows whatever she's hiding could threaten the biggest case of their careers. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

RAISING STEAM: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett (Fantasy)
Steam is rising over Discworld, driven by Mister Simnel. He has produced a great clanging monster of a machine that harnesses the power of all of the elements, and it’s soon drawing astonished crowds. To the consternation of Ankh-Morpork’s formidable Patrician, Lord Vetinari, no one is in charge of this new invention. Who better to rectify this than the man he has already appointed master of the Post Office, the Mint and the Royal Bank: Moist von Lipwig. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

DEATH ON BLACKHEATH: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
The local police have found evidence of what appears to be an ugly crime at the home of Dudley Kynaston, an important member of the Ministry of Defense. Thomas Pitt and the Special Branch are called in to investigate. But the case takes a deadlier turn when the mutilated corpse of a young woman is found near the Kynaston home a few weeks later, and Pitt begins to realize that Kynaston himself is not entirely what he seems. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION: An Inspector Banks Novel by Peter Robinson (Mystery/Thriller)
The body of a disgraced college lecturer is found on an abandoned railway line. In the four years since his dismissal for sexual misconduct, he'd been living like a hermit. So where did he get the 5,000 pounds found in his pocket? Leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks begins to suspect that the victim's past may be connected to his death. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE BLAZING WORLD by Siri Hustvedt (Fiction)
After years of watching her work ignored or dismissed by critics, artist Harriet Burden conducts an experiment she calls Maskings: she presents her own art behind three male masks, concealing her female identity. When Burden finally steps forward triumphantly to reveal herself as the artist behind the exhibitions, there are critics who doubt her. The public scandal turns on the final exhibition, initially shown as the work of acclaimed artist Rune, who denies Burden’s role in its creation. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

WITHOUT WARNING by David Rosenfelt (Thriller)
Years ago, Katie Sanford’s husband was convicted of the murder of Jenny Robbins but then died in prison. The tragedy is brought up again in the wake of a hurricane that has just wreaked havoc on their quiet Maine town. Since its founding, Wilton has had a quaint tradition of creating a time capsule every 50 years, and the storm unearthed the most recent capsule. Someone predicted Jenny’s death, as well as 11 other tragedies, which are still occurring even long after the death of Katie’s husband. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

SLEEP DONATION: A Novella by Karen Russell (Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Already heaped with accolades, Karen Russell is a gifted writer who likely will get plenty more for her eerie fantasy about a sleeplessness epidemic. The dystopian riffs are sharp and imaginative, but what sets the novella apart are its poignant intimations of moral doubt and personal loss: more Hamlet than Hunger Games. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.

SOUS CHEF: 24 Hours on the Line by Michael Gibney (Memoir)
Chef Michael Gibney uses 24 hours to animate the intricate camaraderie and culinary choreography in an upscale New York restaurant kitchen. In SOUS CHEF, readers will find all the details, in rapid-fire succession, of what it takes to deliver an exceptional plate of food --- the journey to excellence by way of exhaustion. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

MISTER OWITA'S GUIDE TO GARDENING: How I Learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart by Carol Wall (Memoir)
One day, Carol Wall, a white woman living in a lily-white neighborhood in Middle America, notices a dark-skinned African man tending her neighbor’s yard. Before long, Giles Owita is transforming not only Carol’s yard, but her life. Though they are seemingly quite different, a caring bond grows between them. But they both hold long-buried secrets that, when revealed, will cement their friendship forever. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

VISIBLE CITY by Tova Mirvis (Fiction)
Nina is a harried young mother who spends her evenings spying on the older couple across the street, drawn to their quiet contentment. One night, through that same window, she spies a young couple in the throes of passion. In the coming weeks, Nina encounters the older couple, their daughter and her fiancé, and many others on the streets of her Upper West Side neighborhood, eroding the safe distance of her secret vigils. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

THE SCARLET SISTERS: Sex, Suffrage, and Scandal in the Gilded Age by Myra MacPherson (Biography)
Victoria Woodhull and Tennie Clafli were two sisters whose radical views on sex, love, politics and business threatened the white male power structure of the 19th century and shocked the world. Here, award-winning author Myra MacPherson deconstructs and lays bare the manners and mores of Victorian America, remarkably illuminating the struggle for equality that women are still fighting today. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

YOU’RE NOT SAFE by Mary Burton (Romantic Suspense)
One devastating moment changed Greer Templeton's life and ended two others. Now, with a body found on her property and Texas Ranger Tec Bragg on her doorstep, Greer's nightmare has returned. She hoped the past was behind her, but an obsessed killer has never forgotten the bond that unites them. One by one, he will track down his victims, finish what was started --- and make Greer's dying wish come true. Reviewed by Melody Dean Dimick.

THE SETUP MAN by T. T. Monday (Mystery/Thriller)
Johnny Adcock is an aging Major League pitcher with the perfect retirement plan --- he moonlights as a private investigator. On the team bus after a game, teammate Frankie Herrera confides in Adcock that he has a “problem with his wife.” What sounds like the standard story of a pro athlete’s marriage gone sour quickly turns into the most dangerous case of Adcock’s second career when Frankie is killed in a car accident, leaving far too many questions unanswered. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
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 spotlight 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:

FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott (Thriller/Adventure)
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and she's helpless to change anything. Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

THE CELLAR by Natasha Preston (Suspense)
For months Summer is trapped in a cellar with the man who took her --- and three other girls: Rose, Poppy and Violet. His perfect, pure flowers. His family. But flowers can't survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out...

YEAR OF MISTAKEN DISCOVERIES by Eileen Cook (Fiction)
Childhood friends Avery and Nora have walked different paths in high school. They never interact...until Nora tells Avery that she thought she found her birth mom --- but it turned out to be a cruel lie. When Avery learns that Nora overdosed, Avery decides to honor her friend by searching for her own birth mother. But what she’s really seeking might go far deeper than just genetics.

 
Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read.
Our Latest Poll: March Madness --- Bookreporter Style!
It’s March Madness time. Which of the following 16 thriller authors would you pick to “win the bracket” in a competition for favorite author?

David Baldacci
Sandra Brown
Lee Child
Mary Higgins Clark
Harlan Coben
Michael Connelly
Patricia Cornwell
Nelson DeMille
Lisa Gardner
Tess Gerritsen
John Grisham
Stephen King
James Patterson
Kathy Reichs
J.D. Robb
Lisa Scottoline
None of the above
 
Click here to answer the poll.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- 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 March 21st to April 4th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES: A Blossom Street Novel by Debbie Macomber, I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN by Mary Higgins Clark, and TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green.

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 this prize.

Also, 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.

One important technical note: If you're using an iPad or another iOS device to access the Word of Mouth page and you would like to enter the contest, you must wait for the page to fully load before you can rate your book. Only then will the stars be clickable.

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

Win 10 Advance Copies of THE FORTUNE HUNTER by Daisy Goodwin for Your Group
We're giving 250 groups the opportunity to win up to 10 advance copies of Daisy Goodwin's THE FORTUNE HUNTER --- a lush, irresistible story of the public lives and private longings of grand historical figures --- with a plan that they will discuss the book in May, June or July and share feedback with us, as well as on social media. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 7th at noon ET.

Win 12 Copies of THE HAREM MIDWIFE by Roberta Rich for Your Group
We're giving three groups the opportunity to win 12 copies of THE HAREM MIDWIFE, the opulent, riveting and suspenseful continuation of Roberta Rich's thrilling debut THE MIDWIFE OF VENICE set in Medieval Constantinople. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 7th at noon ET.

Win a Copy of ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger
We're giving 200 readers the opportunity to win a copy of ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger, a powerful novel from the author of the Cork O’Connor mysteries about a boy who must leave his childhood behind and confront the dark nature of the adult world. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 7th at noon ET.

Win a Copy of THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED by Jonas Jonasson
We're giving 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED by Jonas Jonasson, the international bestseller about a reluctant centenarian much like Forrest Gump (if Gump were an explosives expert with a fondness for vodka) who decides it's not too late to start over. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 7th at noon ET.

Win 12 Copies of THREE SOULS by Janie Chang for Your Group
We're giving three groups the opportunity to win 12 copies of Janie Chang's debut novel, THREE SOULS, a captivating tale, set in 1935 China, about the ghost of a woman who learns she must make amends for her earthly mistakes in order to gain entry to the afterlife. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 7th at noon ET.

Win 12 Copies of EVENING STARS by Susan Mallery for Your Group
We're giving three groups the opportunity to win 12 copies of EVENING STARS: A Blackberry Island Novel, the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams, by New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, April 1st at noon ET.

What's Your Book Group Reading This Month? Contest
March's prize book is THE INNOCENTS by Francesca Segal, a triumphant and beautifully executed recasting of Edith Wharton’s THE AGE OF INNOCENCE. We have 12 copies of the paperback edition to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 7th at noon ET.


Teenreads.com

Spring Fling Giveaway 2014
Spring is finally here, and with it comes warmer weather, blooming flowers...and the chance to win some great new YA books! Enter our Spring Fling contest between now and Thursday, May 1st at noon ET, and you'll be in the running to win a number of fabulous books, all in a signature Teenreads.com tote bag.

Win a Copy of HEARTBEAT by Elizabeth Scott
In honor of Elizabeth Scott's 12th book, HEARTBEAT, we're giving 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this moving novel that deals with love and loss, and asks the question: Is there life after death? The deadline for entries is Monday, March 31st at noon ET.



FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, five readers will win a copy of Meg Moseley's new novel, A STILLNESS OF CHIMES, which poses this question: What if the echoes of past heartaches uncovered an unknown sacrifice that changes everything? The deadline for entries is Monday, April 21st at noon ET.

As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online or change your preferences below.

Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.

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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