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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
August 6, 2004 |
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Delayed With a Book and a New Summer Contest.... |
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Typically when a flight gets delayed I go crazy. Last week I flew back from Dallas via Chicago and got caught in a thunderstorm delay leaving Midway that slowed everything down. (Of course, I knew in advance that the flight I was booked on was only on time 30% of the time, which was just oh so cheery news.) Thanks to Nelson DeMille, instead of tapping my toe, I turned pages. I had an advanced reader copy of his new one, NIGHT FALL. It has a great plot, killer pacing and a return of John Corey who readers will remember from PLUM ISLAND and THE GOLD COAST. The story opens on July 17, 1996, the night Flight 800 went down and explores some theories of what caused this crash. Mark your calendars now: NIGHT FALL hits stores on November 16th. Hope you find a good book to escape with the next time you get delayed.
This weekend we are headed to the Greenbrier in West Virginia for a family reunion to celebrate my parents' 50th Anniversary. Looking forward to the 7-hour car ride to read away from all distractions. The secret to reading --- even in the dark --- when I travel is the Light Wedge reading light. My boys each have one as well. Love it since it focuses the light right on the page so I am able to read even in the front seat passenger seat. Every other light casts light away from the page as well and is a distraction.
Okay...tell me your favorite vacation reading story in 100 words or less. Send a note to Contests@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 27th. Three readers will win paperback-sized Light Wedges with leather cases. After all, real readers need to read, even in the dark.
This week we introduce our latest Debut Suspense/Thriller Author, Raelynn Hillhouse, author of RIFT ZONE. In the past few months buzz about Hillhouse has been building. She was featured as part of a Wall Street Journal piece about women who are writing thrillers, which is quite an achievement for a debut author. She clearly writes from experience --- the book revolves around a young woman who is a smuggler between East and West Berlin. As Hillhouse smuggled for years, the story is as strong on authenticity as it is on plot and writing. As a part of this feature we have some video clips of her talking about her work, which we think you will enjoy. RIFT ZONE hits stores on August 31st. We are looking for 10 advance readers to read her book and share comments about it. Interested? Send a note to DebutSuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 13th with your name and mailing address if you are interested.
Cannot believe it's August already. Have a nice week...and hope you find a good book to read.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) |
For more about the Light Wedge reading light, click here.
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HISSY FIT by Mary Kay Andrews |
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We are just wild about Mary Kay Andrews' new one HISSY FIT, which is due in stores on August 17th. Here's the scoop on it:
The night before her wedding, in the middle of an oh-so-smart rehearsal dinner, interior decorator Keeley Murdock chances upon her fiancé and her maid of honor "doing the deed." Keeley pitches the hissy fit of the century, storms out and earns herself instant notoriety in her tiny hometown of Madison, GA.
HISSY FIT brims with descriptions of antiques and designer goods that are so lush they could be called decorator porn. Many of the scrumptious descriptions of stylish household goods and historic furniture are based on Mary Kay Andrews' research and expertise as an antiques "picker." Mary Kay's buying trips to flea markets and furniture marts all over the South inspired her descriptions of the beautiful mahogany dining tables, crystal wall sconces, and the Empire daybeds that Keeley swoons over in HISSY FIT.
Ultimately, Keeley finds that true love can come even to those who throw humdinger hissy fits. HISSY FIT is a delicious social satire that will be sure to satisfy fans of fine fiction.
Read an excerpt at her website MaryKayAndrews.com and sign up to receive her newsletter. All those who sign up for her newsletter by September 30th will be eligible to win one of 5 signed copies of HISSY FIT. |
Click here to visit Mary Kay Andrews' website.
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Our New Suspense/Thriller Author: Steve Berry, Author of THE ROMANOV PROPHECY |
Steve Berry, who wrote THE AMBER ROOM, which was one of my favorite books of 2003 is back with THE ROMANOV PROPHECY.
New This Week:
-Read an excerpt from THE ROMANOV PROPHECY
-See our advance winners
Previous Weeks:
-Read Steve Berry Fast Facts
Here's more about the book:
THE ROMANOV PROPHECY by Steve Berry
Following the collapse of Communism and a series of weak governments, the Russian people have decided to re-instate the monarchy with a distant relative of Nicholas II, and it is Miles Lord's job to perform background checks on the Tsarist candidates. But after he is nearly killed by a gunman, Miles flees from his assassins and stumbles upon the mysterious writings of Rasputin. They reveal a cryptic message, implying that someone may have survived the bloody Romanov massacre, the effects of which could be life-altering for the future Tsar and mother Russia. |
Read more about our Suspense/Thriller feature here.
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Register Your Book Club |
Do you belong to a book club? If you do, Register Your Group with ReadingGroupGuides.com. More than 675 groups have registered in the past two months!
Registered groups will be eligible for special author chats, book giveaways and other promotional offers from publishers and authors.
Share this opportunity with friends who you know are in groups. |
Register your book club here.
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Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Introducing Raelynn Hillhouse, Author of RIFT ZONE; plus David Wolstencroft, Author of GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS |
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Our newest Debut Suspense/Thriller author is Raelynn Hillhouse, author of RIFT ZONE, which hits stores August 31st. Enter to win one of 10 advanced copies by sending an email to DebutSuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 13th with your name and mailing address.
Here's more about the book:
Faith Whitney is an expert smuggler living in 1989 Germany, though her activities have not gone unnoticed. The East German Stasi have recruited her to deliver a package to Moscow, a package that must be delivered within forty-eight hours...or Faith will be eliminated. Her payment: the long-desired location of her missing father.
Our July Debut Suspense/Thriller author was David Wolstencroft, author of GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS. What happens when two intelligence agents are assigned to kill --- each other. What commences is a globe-trotting story where the protagonists join wits.
New This Week:
-Read an excerpt from GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
Here's more about the book:
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS by David Wolstencroft
Two friends in the spy business are directed to assassinate each other during their last mission in the Agency. Realizing that some orders aren't meant to be followed, the two traverse Europe and America to find out why their bosses want them dead --- and in the process unearth a web of secrets that could destroy the Agency itself. |
Read more about the Debut Suspense Thriller feature here.
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Library Journal's Most Borrowed Books List |
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Beginning this month Bookreporter.com will be posting Library Journal's Most Borrowed Books list. Click on the link below to see the titles included on the list --- we're sure you'll be adding books to your own personal reading list. |
Click here to read Library Journal's Most Borrowed Books list.
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This Week's Book Reviews and Features |
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VISIONS IN DEATH by J.D. Robb (Mystery)
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns with a vengeance when young women start showing up dead in parks at night. The killer possesses almost superhuman strength and a dangerous distaste for women in authority.
DAY OF THE DEAD by J. A. Jance (Suspense)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Ex-sheriff Brandon Walker has joined the ranks of The Last Chance, an exclusive nationwide fraternity of former cops and forensic experts who look into unsolved murders that have baffled local law enforcement agencies. Walker's current assignment is to track down the individuals behind the brutal killing of a local Papago girl --- a case that has gone unsolved for more than thirty years.
LUCIFER'S SHADOW by David Hewson (Suspense)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Daniel Forster has come to Venice for a summer job cataloguing a private collector's library. But when Daniel's employer sends him to buy a stolen violin from a petty thief, Daniel is suddenly drawn into a police investigation --- and a tempest swirling around a beautiful woman, a mysterious palazzo, and a lost musical masterpiece dating back centuries.
DRIVE ME CRAZY by Eric Jerome Dickey (Fiction)
Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
In Eric Jerome Dickey's tenth novel, an ex-con becomes involved in a dangerous deal with a lover who asks him to murder her husband for her. Fast-paced, raunchy and full of humor, this is one book you won't be able to put down.
WITHIN ARM'S REACH by Ann Napolitano (Fiction)
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
United only by their shared heritage, the Irish-American McLaughlin factory shares family dreams and family secrets, skillfully told from many points of view, in Ann Napolitano's rich first novel.
AFTER THE RAIN by Chuck Logan (Thriller)
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
A covert group of the U.S. military discovers a horrifying terrorist plan aimed at massive destruction in the middle of our country --- but they have little time and few resources to stop them. |
Read the reviews and features here.
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Poll: Which of the following books have you read or are you looking forward to reading? |
Which of the following books have you read or are you looking forward to reading?
BLACKBIRD HOUSE by Alice Hoffman
THE BOURNE LEGACY by Eric Van Lustbader
DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM by David Sedaris
GARDEN OF BEASTS by Jeffery Deaver
HISSY FIT by Mary Kay Andrews
LITTLE SCARLET by Walter Mosley
MY LIFE by Bill Clinton
THE QUEEN OF THE BIG TIME by Adriana Trigiani
R IS FOR RICOCHET by Sue Grafton
THE ROMANOV PROPHECY by Steve Berry
THE RULE OF FOUR by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
SAM'S LETTERS TO JENNIFER by James Patterson
SHADOW DIVERS by Robert Kurson
SKINNY DIP by Carl Hiaasen
None of the above |
Answer the Poll here.
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Question of the Week: Book That Kept You Up All Night |
What do you think will be remembered as the book of summer for 2004?
Our next question update will be on August 27th. |
Answer the Question of the Week.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- TWO Prizes! |
Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have some great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of HISSY FIT by Mary Kay Andrews and SHADOW DIVERS by Robert Kurson. Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on August 27th. |
Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.
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As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online (see the link on the upper right) or change your preferences below.
Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page. We were forced to move to this format after we were inundated with SPAM at the other address. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.
Quick observation --- we have noticed that many of you have been changing your Internet providers in the past month. If you do, please be sure to "take us along" by signing up for the newsletter in your new name!
Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, FaithfulReader.com, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.
--- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107 |
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