Skip to main content

April 4, 2014

Bookreporter.com Newsletter April 4, 2014
Ready for Outdoor Reading; May the Weather Cooperate!

Last weekend, we gave up on an anniversary dinner out as once again there was not a restaurant waiting for our call with less than 48 hours notice (imagine that!); instead, we paged through cookbooks to create a fabulous menu. When we were shopping for groceries, I saw the cake mix pictured on the right and could not resist buying it. This will be fun to make. I anticipate a chocolate frosting and when you cut into it, you see the turquoise. I can picture people smiling as they eat it. Adreana, who was once our son’s nanny, said that then I will be turquoise from the inside out, like a Smurf. And yes, my KitchenAid mixer is turquoise, too! I know, it’s amusing.

I spent the week absorbed in reading --- and I do mean absorbed. While I read a lot, a book like THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL by Nadia Hashimi, which will be in stores on May 6th, is one that will stay with me and also made me feel grateful for where I live. It opens in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2007 where Rahima lives with her mother, sisters and opium-addicted father. The only way that she can leave the house is by adopting the bacha posh custom of dressing like a boy, which she can do until she matures. In this way, she attends school and moves freely around their village. But at some point, she must become a girl again, and at that point is married off with her two sisters to give the family some much-needed money, as well as a pipeline to opium for her father. What happens to Rahima is not new to her family. A century before, her great-aunt Shekiba, who was orphaned, also adopted a disguise as a man to survive. Their stories are intertwined, and it makes for a very compelling read. I read long into the night to finish it on Tuesday.

If you are thinking about THE KITE RUNNER and Khaled Hosseini’s other brilliant books as you read this commentary, you are not wrong. This book is just as engaging. It will be a "Bookreporter.com Bets On" selection…and I look forward to hearing what you say about it as we share it with you in the weeks and months to come!

I continued listening to Jane Green’s TEMPTING FATE on audio, and I also had a print copy of the book. Thus, in the car I listened and at home I read. I really enjoyed the dual experience, which I wrapped up this morning as Jane read the Acknowledgements. Next up will be KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline in anticipation of it releasing next week.

Now I am immersed in 'TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY by Lauren Francis-Sharma (April 22nd) with THE BEES by Laline Paull (May 6th) lined up behind it, as well as finishing Anthony Doerr’s ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE (May 6th), which was named the #1 Indie Next Pick for May. More on those next week. 2014 is shaping up to be a fabulous year for books.

I'm delighted to share that Emily Hoenig, our new Associate Features Editor, has pulled together a Reading Roundup that I have wanted to do for a while now --- a page where we note the Indie Next and LibraryReads titles for the month, as well as Pennie’s Pick from Costco and the Target Book Club title of the month. We will add other lists and nuggets of info that we think you would like to explore as we discover them. This feature will be updated each month as information for it becomes available, usually the first week of the month.

Speaking of Indie Next Picks, readers of this newsletter may recall how “wild wild wild” I was about Gabrielle Zevin’s new novel, THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, both as a reader and as a book enthusiast when I read an advance copy. It is the #1 Indie Next Pick for April, and I am happy to say that the book is now in stores for all to pick up and read! This brilliantly fun novel has as its protagonist a cantankerous but charming indie bookseller named A.J. On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage that serves as the store and A.J.’s home is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A.J. is about to discover just what that truly means when a mysterious package appears at his bookstore; this unexpected arrival gives him the opportunity to begin his life anew.

Norah Piehl has our review and says, "Zevin's touching portrait of a family --- and a community --- brought together around a bookstore makes this the perfect novel to read and savor, and give to all the book lovers in your life." Also, we are pleased to share this interview with Gabrielle that originated on Bookselling This Week, a dedicated section of BookWeb.org, the American Booksellers Association’s website, where she talks about her inspiration for the novel and why she decided to set the story in a bookstore. I am making THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY my next Bets On selection; you can read my comments about it next week, along with those of some of our readers who won an advance copy of the book last month.

Francine Rivers is the latest author in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight. Her highly anticipated new novel, BRIDGE TO HAVEN, is a tale of temptation, grace and unconditional love. To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what’s expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at an awful price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. BRIDGE TO HAVEN doesn’t release until April 22nd, but we have 25 copies to give away to those who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 17th at noon ET. With Francine’s signature writing style, you’ll find yourself caught up in the magic and the deceit of Hollywood along with her characters.

In other contest news, we’re giving 25 readers the opportunity to win Lauren Willig’s upcoming novel, THAT SUMMER, and share their comments about it before its June 3rd release. From modern-day England to the early days of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, THAT SUMMER takes readers on a journey through a mysterious old house, a hidden love affair, and one woman’s search for the truth about her past --- and herself. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, April 15th at noon ET. I am halfway through this one and am enjoying it, just as I did with Lauren’s THE ASHFORD AFFAIR, which I picked as a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

Our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of Holly Peterson (whose debut novel, THE MANNY, was a bestseller) wraps up this week with our review of her new book, THE IDEA OF HIM, and our interview. According to reviewer Bronwyn Miller, “Holly Peterson…once again demonstrates her considerable skill in writing about relationships without being predictable or cloying. What may seem like your typical ‘chick-lit’ fare at first glance quickly shows itself to be anything but. Peterson’s astute novel shines a light on the nature of interactions in our complicated modern age, and how easy it is to be won over by who a person is ‘on paper’ instead of who they are in actuality.” Bronwyn also had the pleasure of interviewing Holly, and you can read their conversation here. If you would like to watch an interview with Holly, you can see her on "Good Morning America" here. I enjoyed Holly’s brisk easy writing style, and THE IDEA OF HIM reminds me that dreams of who we want people to be may not outlive reality.

The newest featured title in our Paperback Spotlight is THE EXECUTION OF NOA P. SINGLETON. Elizabeth L. Silver’s debut novel introduces readers to Noa P. Singleton, who was found guilty of first-degree murder 10 years ago. Now, just six months away from her execution date, Noa is visited by Marlene Dixon, an attorney who is also the heartbroken mother of the woman Noa was imprisoned for killing. She tells Noa that she has had a change of heart and will do everything in her power to convince the governor to commute the sentence to life in prison --- if Noa will finally reveal what led her to commit her crime. Click here to read more about the book, which is now available in paperback. I read it in hardcover last year and thought it was brilliantly done; I have had such interesting conversations about it with those who had read or were reading it.

THE EXECUTION OF NOA P. SINGLETON is among the books we’re featuring in our New in Paperback roundups for April. Others include the much-anticipated release of GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn (a constant presence on bestseller lists since its hardcover release two years ago), LADIES’ NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews, THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS by Chris Bohjalian, AFTER HER by Joyce Maynard, and BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS by Katherine Boo. Click here for our complete monthly list.

Mary Higgins Clark, the “Queen of Suspense,” is back with a new thriller, I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN. Laurie Moran is the producer of a true crime television show that will launch with the unsolved murder of Betsy Powell, a socialite who was found suffocated in her bed after a gala celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three friends. The case is reopened with the cooperation of the surviving guests that night, but when the estranged friends begin filming, it becomes clear each is hiding secrets. Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum has our review and says, “The suspense [Clark] manages to generate will keep readers up all night. Her writing style is always approachable, her characters are finely limned, and her plots are believable. I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN is a shining example of all these strengths.”

Another star of the mystery/suspense genre, Nevada Barr, returns with the latest installment in her Anna Pigeon series, DESTROYER ANGEL. Here, we find the National Park Ranger setting off on a canoe trip with her friends and their daughters. On their second night out, Anna goes off on her own for a solo evening float on the Fox River. When she comes back, she finds that four thugs have taken her companions captive. With limited resources and no access to the outside world, Anna has only two days to rescue them before her friends are either killed or flown out of the country. Reviewer L. Dean Murphy raves, “I can assign only five stars, though DESTROYER ANGEL deserves many galaxies in Barr’s universe. It likely will be my number one pick for 2014, the perfect gift to give to someone for whom you truly care.”

We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. April’s theatrical releases include Captain America: The Winter Soldier (now in theaters) and The Railway Man starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman (in theaters next Friday the 11th). I’m sure fans need no reminder, but we would be remiss if we did not mention that the fourth season of “Game of Thrones” begins this Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO. Over on AMC at the same time is the series premiere of “Turn,” based on Alexander Rose’s book, WASHINGTON’S SPIES, which tells the untold story of America’s first spy ring. And this month’s DVD releases are Labor Day, Philomena and The Invisible Woman.

Some people often say they “love the smell of a printed book,” which serves as the inspiration for our new poll question: Do you like the smell of a printed book? Or do you not even notice it? Click here and let us know! Confession here: I never smell books and have no idea what people mean when they say this (usually swooning), so there is no “correct” answer.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest for the next two weeks. Let us know what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll have the opportunity to win FOUR upcoming titles (our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, and I just could not edit this down to three; we liked them all): ASTONISH ME by Maggie Shipstead, THE COLD SONG by Linn Ullmann, FAMILY LIFE by Akhil Sharma, and the aforementioned KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline. All you have to do is fill out the form on this page by Friday, April 18th at noon ET.

I found this terrific video of Nickolas Butler, the author of SHOTGUN LOVESONGS, on the New York Times website, which was shot in Wisconsin. Place is a character in SHOTGUN LOVESONGS, and here you can see why it resonates with Nick.

Last night, we watched The Lady in Number 6, which was the winner of the 2014 Oscar for Best Short Documentary. I had noted on my calendar that it was available via streaming video this week. Here's what the story is about: “As the world’s oldest pianist and holocaust survivor, 109-year-old Alice Herz-Sommer shares her views on how to live a long and happy life. She discusses music, laughter and how to remain optimistic come what may.”I found this quote from her as one worth pondering: “When you are relaxed, your body is always relaxed. When you are pessimistic, your body behaves in an unnatural way. It is up to us whether we look at the good or the bad. When you are nice to others, they are nice to you. When you give, you receive.” I highly recommend it. By the way, Alice passed away at 110 just a week or so before the Oscars.

Speaking of older folks, many of you who are Lisa Scottoline fans know how close she is to her mother, Mary. Lisa posted this on Facebook this week: “Unfortunately, I have very sad news to report. Mother Mary's health has taken a turn for the worse and she is in hospice care at my house. She's resting comfortably with Brother Frank, Daughter Francesca, our friend Laura, and other family around her. She sends her love to everyone.” All of us at Bookreporter.com know how Mother Mary is a huge fan of Lisa’s besides being her mom. With Lisa’s KEEP QUIET releasing on Tuesday, I am sure Mother Mary is very ticked about her ticker choosing this week to get off its rhythm. Lisa posted today that Mother Mary has insisted she hit the road to promote KEEP QUIET, and Lisa knows better than to cross her mom. We are keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers.

This weekend, we will be watching round one of the Final Four! And I think there FINALLY may be some outdoor reading on tap for Saturday and Sunday as the temperatures zip up to the 60s. I am swooning about the number 60! Ahhhh I have been looking forward to this! Greg is off to his second curling class; last week, this sport proved to be a lot more difficult than he thought it would be. I guess I do not need to plan for his being on the team for the Olympics in 2018!

Have a great week, and read on…..

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

An Interview with Gabrielle Zevin, Author of THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY
Gabrielle Zevin is the author of award-winning books for young adults, including MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC and ELSEWHERE. Her latest novel for adults, THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, is about a bookseller and collector who, after a series of tragic and disappointing events, is slowly but surely isolating himself from all the people around him. But when a mysterious package appears at his bookstore, it gives A.J. the opportunity to make his life over and the ability to see everything anew.

In this interview that originated from Bookselling This Week (a dedicated section of BookWeb.org, the American Booksellers Association’s website), Zevin talks about how this book was inspired by the “trauma of getting published at 27,” and how the publishing world is different in real life than it appears in the movies (hint: There’s a way larger cast of supporting characters). She also discusses why bookstores are so beloved, why she chose to feature short stories in her novel, how risky it was to write a book about the book community --- and how lucky she feels to have its support.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin (Fiction)
A.J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died; his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history; and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island. Then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore --- an unexpected arrival that gives A.J. the opportunity to make his life over and the ability to see everything anew. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
 
Click here to read the interview.
New Women's Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest: BRIDGE TO HAVEN by Francine Rivers
We have 25 copies of BRIDGE TO HAVEN by Francine Rivers, which releases on April 22nd, 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, April 17th at noon ET.

BRIDGE TO HAVEN by Francine Rivers (Historical Fiction)
To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody.

To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Zeke and his son, Joshua --- Abra’s closest friend --- watch her grow into an exotic beauty. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking bad boy who proclaims his love and lures her to Tinseltown. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what’s expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at an awful price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. Now, all she wants is a way back home.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read Francine Rivers's bio.
-Click here to visit Francine Rivers's official website.
-Click here to connect with Francine Rivers on Facebook.
 
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
New Special Contest: Win a Copy of THAT SUMMER by Lauren Willig and Share Your Comments On It
We are celebrating the June 3rd release of THAT SUMMER by Lauren Willig with a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book and submit their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, April 15th at noon ET.

THAT SUMMER by Lauren Willig (Fiction)
2009: When Julia Conley hears that she has inherited a house outside London from an unknown great-aunt, she assumes it’s a joke. She hasn't been back to England since the car crash that killed her mother when she was six, an event she remembers only in her nightmares. But when she arrives at Herne Hill to sort through the house --- with the help of her cousin Natasha and sexy antiques dealer Nicholas --- bits of memory start coming back. And then she discovers a pre-Raphaelite painting, hidden behind the false back of an old wardrobe, and a window onto the house's shrouded history begins to open...

1849: Imogen Grantham has spent nearly a decade trapped in a loveless marriage to a much older man, Arthur. The one bright spot in her life is her step-daughter, Evie, a high-spirited 16-year-old who is the closest thing to a child Imogen hopes to have. But everything changes when three young painters come to see Arthur's collection of medieval artifacts, including Gavin Thorne, a quiet man with the unsettling ability to read Imogen better than anyone ever has. When Arthur hires Gavin to paint her portrait, none of them can guess what the hands of fate have set in motion.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here to read Lauren Willig's bio.
-Click here to visit Lauren Willig's official website.
-Click here to connect with Lauren Willig on Facebook.

 
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Talks to Holly Peterson, Author of THE IDEA OF HIM
Holly Peterson is a former journalist and the bestselling author of THE MANNY. Her writing has been published in the New York Times, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and numerous other publications. Her latest novel, THE IDEA OF HIM, brings readers back into the world of the Manhattan elite. This time, it’s about Allie Crawford, who is forced to face the reality of her “perfect” marriage when she finds her husband cheating on her. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Bronwyn Miller, Peterson talks about why women sometimes fall in love with “the idea of” men, why it’s important not to marry someone for his or her résumé, and why leaving a relationship can be easier than staying in one. She also discusses her own writing habits, and how Allie is a complicated character whose messy life any woman can relate to --- regardless of her social status.

THE IDEA OF HIM by Holly Peterson (Fiction)
Allie Crawford has the life she always dreamed of. But when she finds her husband locked in their laundry room with a stunning blonde, 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. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

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

 
Click here to read our interview.
Paperback Spotlight: THE EXECUTION OF NOA P. SINGLETON by Elizabeth L. Silver
THE EXECUTION OF NOA P. SINGLETON by Elizabeth L. Silver (Psychological Suspense)
Noa P. Singleton never spoke a word in her own defense throughout a brief trial that ended with a jury finding her guilty of first-degree murder. Ten years later, having accepted her fate, she sits on death row in a maximum-security penitentiary, just six months away from her execution date.

Meanwhile, Marlene Dixon is a high-powered Philadelphia attorney who is also the mother of the woman Noa was imprisoned for killing. She claims to have changed her mind about the death penalty and will do everything in her considerable power to convince the governor to commute Noa's sentence to life in prison, in return for the one thing Noa can trade: her story.

Marlene desperately wants to understand the events that led to her daughter’s death --- events that only Noa knows of and has never shared. Inextricably linked by murder but with very different goals, Noa and Marlene wrestle with the sentences life itself can impose while they confront the best and worst of what makes us human.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elizabeth L. Silver's bio.
-Click here to visit Elizabeth L. Silver's official website.

-Connect with Elizabeth L. Silver on Facebook and Twitter.

 
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Now in Stores: I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN by Mary Higgins Clark
I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN by Mary Higgins Clark (Thriller)
Producer Laurie Moran’s true crime television show will launch with the unsolved murder of Betsy Powell. Betsy, a socialite, was found suffocated in her bed after a gala celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three friends. Reopening the case with the cooperation of the surviving guests that night, Laurie is sure to have a hit on her hands. But when the estranged friends begin filming, it becomes clear each is hiding secrets. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: DESTROYER ANGEL by Nevada Barr
DESTROYER ANGEL: An Anna Pigeon Novel by Nevada Barr (Thriller)
Anna Pigeon, a ranger for the U.S. Park Services, sets off on an autumn canoe trip with her friends and their daughters. On their second night out, Anna goes off on her own for a solo evening float on the Fox River. When she comes back, she finds that four thugs have taken her companions captive. With limited resources and no access to the outside world, Anna has only two days to rescue them before her friends are either killed or flown out of the country. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA PRESENTS ICE COLD edited by Jeffery Deaver and Raymond Benson
MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA PRESENTS ICE COLD: Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War edited by Jeffery Deaver and Raymond Benson (Thriller/Short Stories)
The Cold War --- a terrifying time when nuclear war between the world's two superpowers was an ever-present threat, an all-too-real possibility that could be set off at the touch of a button --- provides a chilling backdrop to this collection of all-new short stories from today's most celebrated mystery writers. Bestselling authors Jeffery Deaver and Raymond Benson have joined forces to bring us 20 tales of paranoia, espionage and psychological drama. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read a review.
April’s New in Paperback Roundups

April's roundups of New in Paperback titles include GONE GIRL, Gillian Flynn's bestselling thriller about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong; STARTING NOW, which marks Debbie Macomber’s return to Seattle’s beloved Blossom Street in a heartfelt tale of friendship, renewal, and discovering what’s truly important in life; LADIES' NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews, a story about life’s unpredictable twists and turns; Chris Bohjalian's THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS, a spellbinding novel of love, despair and revenge set in war-ravaged Tuscany; THE IMPOSSIBLE LIVES OF GRETA WELLS by Andrew Sean Greer, the romantic story of a woman who finds herself transported to the “other lives” she might have lived; and BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS, the National Book Award winner from Katherine Boo, who tells the dramatic story of families striving toward a better life in Annawadi, a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport.

-Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of March 31st, April 7th, April 14th, April 21st and April 28th.

Bookreporter.com's Books on Screen Feature for April
April is known to be a quiet month for movies; we’re post-awards, and studios are saving their big blockbusters for the summer. But silent can also be deadly --- specifically in the form of Scarlett Johansson, who plays a literal man-eater in Jonathan Glazer’s unsettling Under the Skin. Based on the book of the same name, it’s about an alien who assumes human form to pick up men and take them back to her lair in order to seduce and kill them. If you love ScarJo but disturbing arthouse/sci-fi hybrids aren’t your thing, you can catch her as the Black Widow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the follow-up to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

However, the major news this month is the season four premiere of “Game of Thrones.” Fans of the scheming inhabitants of Westeros need something to tide them over while George R. R. Martin is busy writing THE WINDS OF WINTER (book six in A Song of Ice and Fire), and HBO is ready to deliver. Post-Red Wedding, the show left fans in a state of emotional turmoil. Although we can hardly expect wrongs to be righted and happily ever afters all around, we can look forward to revenge plots, unruly dragons and unlikely alliances.

 
Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs featured in April's Books on Screen.
More Reviews This Week
BY ITS COVER: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon (Mystery)
One afternoon, Commissario Guido Brunetti gets a frantic call from the director of a prestigious Venetian library. Someone has stolen pages out of several rare books. After a round of questioning, the case seems clear: the culprit must be the man who requested the volumes, an American professor from a Kansas university. The only problem --- the man fled the library earlier that day, and after checking his credentials, the American professor doesn’t exist. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

AND THE DARK SACRED NIGHT by Julia Glass (Fiction)
Kit Noonan has never known the identity of his father --- a mystery that his wife insists he must solve to move forward with his life. Out of desperation, Kit goes to the mountain retreat of his mother’s former husband, Jasper, a take-no-prisoners outdoorsman. There, in the midst of a fierce blizzard, Kit and Jasper confront memories of the bittersweet decade when their families were joined. Reluctantly breaking a long-ago promise, Jasper connects Kit with Lucinda and Zeke Burns, who know the answer he’s looking for. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

THE COLD NOWHERE: A Jonathan Stride Novel by Brian Freeman (Psychological Thriller)
Duluth PD Lieutenant Jonathan Stride discovers a young woman, Cat Mateo, hiding in his bedroom. Cat is the daughter of a woman he tried and failed to protect from a violent husband years ago. When Cat asks Stride for protection from a mysterious person she claims is trying to kill her, Stride is driven by guilt and duty to help her. But should he be afraid for --- or of --- this damaged girl? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE HOTEL ON PLACE VENDOME: Life, Death, and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris by Tilar J. Mazzeo (History)
When France fell to the Germans in June 1940, the legendary Hôtel Ritz on the Place Vendôme --- an icon of Paris frequented by film stars and celebrity writers, American heiresses and risqué flappers, playboys and princes --- was the only luxury hotel of its kind allowed in the occupied city by order of Adolf Hitler. Tilar J. Mazzeo traces the history of this cultural landmark from its opening in Fin-de-Siècle Paris. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

KILL FEE by Owen Laukkanen (Thriller)
State investigator Kirk Stevens and his occasional colleague, FBI special agent Carla Windermere, witness the assassination of one of the state’s wealthiest men. The events of that day will lead Stevens and Windermere across the country, down countless blind alleys, and finally to a very flourishing 21st-century enterprise: a high-tech murder-for-hire social media website. But just who has the dead-eyed shooter targeted next…and who’s choosing his victims? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

CATHEDRAL OF THE WILD: An African Journey Home by Boyd Varty (Memoir)
Boyd Varty grew up on Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. But it wasn’t just a sanctuary for animals; it was also a place for ravaged land to flourish again and for the human spirit to be restored. When Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of imprisonment, he came to the reserve to recover. CATHEDRAL OF THE WILD is Varty’s memoir of his life in this exquisite and vast refuge. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

AMERICAN SAINT: The Life of Elizabeth Seton by Joan Barthel (Biography)
In this riveting biography of Elizabeth Seton, critically acclaimed and bestselling author Joan Barthel tells the mesmerizing story of a woman whose life featured wealth and poverty, passion and sorrow, love and loss. Elizabeth resisted male clerical control of her religious order, as nuns are doing today, and the publication of her story could not be more timely. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

THE HUMOR CODE: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny by Peter McGraw and Joel Warner (Humor/Social Sciences)
Dr. Peter McGraw, founder of the Humor Research Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, teamed up with journalist Joel Warner on a far-reaching search for the secret behind humor. Their journey spanned the globe, from New York to Japan, from Palestine to the Amazon. Meanwhile, the duo conducted their own humor experiments along the way --- to wince-worthy, hilarious and illuminating results. Reviewed by Robert Doyle.

THE OTHER HALF by Sarah Rayner (Fiction)
Chloe is a magazine editor in London who is embarking on an exciting romance with James, her handsome publisher. Maggie is a freelance magazine writer living in a quaint English village…and she is James's wife. Chloe and Maggie's perspectives on this complicated romantic triangle are told in alternating chapters as the affair progresses. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

EYES CLOSED TIGHT by Peter Leonard (Thriller)
O'Clair is a former Detroit homicide investigator who now owns a motel in Pompano Beach, Florida in his retirement. One morning, he discovers a lovely young woman dead on a lounge chair. When a second girl is murdered, O'Clair knows someone is trying to send him a message. So he returns to Detroit Police Homicide to review the murder file and try to figure out what he might have missed. And when his young girlfriend, Virginia, is kidnapped by the killer, the stakes grow exponentially higher. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Our Latest Poll: The Smell of a Printed Book?
Do you like the smell of a printed book? People often say that they “love the smell of a printed book.” This is lost on some of us. So we had to ask.

Yes, I like the smell of a printed book.
I have noted this, but it does not matter to me.
I never have smelled a book.
I never have even thought about this!
 
Click here to answer the poll.

 
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win FOUR Books!
Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from April 4th to April 18th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ASTONISH ME by Maggie Shipstead, THE COLD SONG by Linn Ullmann, FAMILY LIFE by Akhil Sharma, and KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline.

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.

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.



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.

The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107
connect with us twitterfacebook