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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
September 7, 2007
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This Week on Bookreporter.com |
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Kicking the Sand From Between My Toes
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Bookreporter.com Talks to M.J. Rose, Author of THE REINCARNATIONIST
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Gail Tsukiyama, Author of THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Mark Gimenez, Author of THE ABDUCTION
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Chelsea Cain, Author of HEARTSICK
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Sarah Addison Allen, Author of GARDEN SPELLS
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Robert Goddard, Author of NEVER GO BACK
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New Featured One to Watch Author: Joshua Henkin, Author of MATRIMONY
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New Featured One to Watch Author: Shobhan Bantwal, Author of THE DOWRY BRIDE
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Featured One to Watch Author: Markus Zusak, Author of THE BOOK THIEF
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Featured One to Watch Author: David Gibbins, Author of CRUSADER GOLD
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: John Hart, Author of DOWN RIVER
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Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Emily Benedek, Author of RED SEA
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Request a Free Copy of the "At Home with Lorna Landvik" DVD for Your Reading Group
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This Week's Reviews and Features
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Kicking the Sand From Between My Toes
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I got back from the Outer Banks late Wednesday night, just 12 hours before my older son was to start his last year of high school. Yes, we pushed the envelope and extended beach time as long as we could here since next summer he is off to college, and thus the last weeks of August will most likely entail moving him into a dorm instead of relaxing on the beach. Yesterday I took the last “first day of school” photo of him next to the lamppost where we have marked this occasion over the years. Then he jumped into his car and took off for school since for seniors the bus is very passé. I stood there remembering taking him to pre-school buckled into a car seat in the back of the car, which seems like yesterday. I confess to succumbing to a puddle of emotion as he drove away. A number of my friends have children starting college this year, and I am living their experiences vicariously. I am not sure if firsts or lasts are harder.
My younger son started 7th grade, and he leaves in the morning about 45 minutes after my older son. We were moseying around the kitchen pulling together lunch and looking for the lunchbox that got stored in the closet sometime in June when we realized the bus was in front of the house. He raced up the driveway with me following him picking up the scattered pages of his schedule that he dropped along the way. So much for the “first day” photo op there! He has the same bus driver as last year, and the driver clearly saw this was a more frantic sendoff than I planned. He looked at me and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of him,” and bam, the tears I had been really great at holding back all morning just came streaming down my face.
I read a lot during my vacation. For more on that and the follow-up to the turquoise suitcase story, click here to read my Blog.
Back at the office, things continued to hum and thus we have a huge update for you this week. There are SIX interviews with authors this week --- including M.J. Rose, Gail Tsukiyama, Mark Gimenez, Chelsea Cain, Sarah Addison Allen and Robert Goddard --- as well as an Author Talk with Ann Packer whose book SONGS WITHOUT WORDS I really enjoyed. Her last book, THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN’S PIER, was one of my favorites, and I feel this one is even better. Each of these interviews will give you an enriched perspective on these authors and their work, which is all great reading.
We are launching two new One to Watch author features. The first is Joshua Henkin, whose book MATRIMONY will be in stores on October 2nd. Here, Henkin presents a beautiful portrait of what it means to love in youth and in middle age. I read this book a few months ago and can see why there is much enthusiasm about it buzzing around. Want to enter to be one of 10 advance readers? Then fill out this form by Friday, September 14th. Our second One to Watch author is Shobhan Bantwal, whose book THE DOWRY BRIDE is now in stores. Forced to flee from her home after overhearing a plot for her murder, Megha must seek refuge with a stranger. Going against her traditional upbringing, she and the stranger become involved in greed, vengeance and forbidden passion. Want to enter to be one of 20 advance readers? Then fill out this form by Friday, September 14th.
We also have advance reader comments about THE SANCTUARY by Raymond Khoury and THE REINCARNATIONIST by M.J. Rose. I am thrilled to share that THE SANCTUARY hits the New York Times list at number 5, while Joseph Finder’s POWER PLAY comes in at 7. It was nice to see that advance news come in when I was in North Carolina. In our reviews section we have a review of William Lashner’s A KILLER'S KISS. I read this last spring and loved the way Lashner crafted this story and developed his characters. You'll want to read Joe Hartlaub's review of this one. Often our review list gets me hankering to read a book, and Sarah Rachel Egelman's review of CONFESSIONS OF A PREP SCHOOL MOMMY HANDLER by Wade Rouse, the author of AMERICA'S BOY, did just that.
Our poll asks about airport bookstores and whether you browse or buy while you are waiting to fly. With the number of delays this summer, there was lots of time for airport shopping! Our Word of Mouth titles are THE BONE GARDEN by Tess Gerritsen, CONFESSIONS OF A PREP SCHOOL MOMMY HANDLER by Wade Rouse and YOU'VE BEEN WARNED by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on September 21st to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.
Because of our hurried return from vacation, I can see myself spending the weekend unpacking. I usually have everything in its place within an hour of being home, so it’s tugging at me when I see the open suitcases around my room. I hurriedly got the boys unpacked since I knew their suitcases would sit for days if I was not on this. I still am trying to figure out how my son’s golf putter ended up on my home office floor.
Here’s to a great week of reading, and to all our Jewish readers, a very Happy New Year.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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Click here to read Carol's latest blog entry.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to M.J. Rose, Author of THE REINCARNATIONIST
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M.J. Rose is the international bestselling author of nine novels, including LIP SERVICE and three titles in the Butterfield Institute series: THE HALO EFFECT, THE DELILAH COMPLEX and THE VENUS FIX. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub, Rose describes the personal experiences that prompted her to write her newest book, THE REINCARNATIONIST, and explains her inspiration behind some of the fictional elements present in the novel. She also discusses the idea of reincarnation and its effect on both the individual and on traditional organized religion, shares her thoughts on the difficulties most authors --- and readers --- face as a result of marketing, and reveals how audiobooks have helped her rediscover her love for reading.
THE REINCARNATIONIST by M.J. Rose (Thriller)
M.J. Rose's latest novel is a spellbinding, psychologically riveting epic thriller of secrets, history and murder that will challenge the way we think about who we are and who we were. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of THE REINCARNATIONIST.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE REINCARNATIONIST.
-Visit M.J. Rose's official website, www.MJRose.com.
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Click here to read our interview with M.J. Rose.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Gail Tsukiyama, Author of THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS
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Gail Tsukiyama is the award-winning and bestselling author of WOMEN OF THE SILK, THE SAMURAI'S GARDEN, THE LANGUAGE OF THREADS, DREAMING WATER and the newly-released THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Alexis Burling, Tsukiyama delves into the relationships and the developments of her main characters, and explains how her curiosity to explore her Japanese heritage prompted her to write this book. She also describes how she was able to blend historical fact with the emotional plot, addresses the parallels between the post-World War II mindset and today's political climate, and shares what she hopes her readers will take away from this novel.
THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS by Gail Tsukiyama (Fiction)
Gail Tsukiyama’s latest novel is a gorgeously rendered work, steeped in politics and ancient Japanese tradition. Spanning three decades during World War II and beyond, this engrossing tale captures the lives of two ripped-apart Tokyo families as they struggle to make ends meet after losing nearly everything during the war. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.
-Click here to read a review of THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from THE STREET OF A THOUSAND BLOSSOMS.
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Click here to read our interview with Gail Tsukiyama.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Mark Gimenez, Author of THE ABDUCTION
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Lawyer-turned-writer Mark Gimenez is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel THE COLOR OF LAW, as well as the newly-released THE ABDUCTION. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub, Gimenez discusses what prompted this shift in careers and describes the inspiration behind some of the characters in his latest book. He also credits Harper Lee, Larry McMurtry and Elmore Leonard as the biggest influences on his work, shares his thoughts on why many attorneys try their hands at writing fiction and reveals his plans for future sequels to both of his already-published books.
THE ABDUCTION by Mark Gimenez (Thriller)
Mark Gimenez, who wrote the bestselling THE COLOR OF LAW, returns with THE ABDUCTION, an explosive thriller that revolves around the kidnapping of a young girl and the reunion of an estranged father and son who race against time to try to rescue her. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of THE ABDUCTION.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE ABDUCTION.
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Click here to read our interview with Mark Gimenez.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Chelsea Cain, Author of HEARTSICK
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Chelsea Cain's HEARTSICK is quite a departure from her previously published books --- such as the humorous Nancy Drew satire CONFESSIONS OF A TEEN SLEUTH --- and her weekly newspaper columns. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub, Cain discusses what may have prompted this shift of genres and reflects on how fans of her work will respond to this change. She also sheds light on the complex relationship between her two main characters, describes which authors have impacted her writing and shares plans on future projects.
HEARTSICK by Chelsea Cain (Thriller)
Portland detective Archie Sheridan is finding it difficult to stay away from the beautiful serial killer who tortured him for 10 days before turning herself in. When another killer begins snatching teenage girls off the streets of Portland, Archie has to pull himself together enough to lead the new task force investigating the murders. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of HEARTSICK.
-Click here to read an excerpt from HEARTSICK.
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Click here to read our interview with Chelsea Cain.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Sarah Addison Allen, Author of GARDEN SPELLS
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Sarah Addison Allen recently published her debut work of fiction, GARDEN SPELLS --- a fantastical novel about two rather peculiar sisters and their extraordinary, at times prophetic, garden. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Kate Ayers, Allen categorizes her book as "Southern-fried magical realism" and describes which of her characters' special gifts she would like to possess. She also discusses how her father's writing career has influenced her own, shares a favorite "go-to" recipe for when she has company and reveals details about her upcoming novel, THE SUGAR QUEEN.
GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen (Fiction)
In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree and the extraordinary people who tend it. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
-Click here to read a review of GARDEN SPELLS.
-Click here to read an excerpt from GARDEN SPELLS.
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Click here to read our interview with Sarah Addison Allen.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Robert Goddard, Author of NEVER GO BACK
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Robert Goddard's NEVER GO BACK is the third book in his mystery series featuring unlikely hero Harry Barnett. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Roz Shea, Goddard discusses the Victorian influence in his writing, the effect of unexpected success on his career and the possibility of future installments in this series.
NEVER GO BACK by Robert Goddard (Mystery)
In this spellbinding new mystery by Robert Goddard --- the master of “the clever twist” --- a group of ex-RAF comrades journey to a Scottish castle for a reunion. But by the time they reach their destination, two of them are dead. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
-Click here to read a review of NEVER GO BACK.
-Click here to read an excerpt from NEVER GO BACK.
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Click here to read our interview with Robert Goddard.
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New Featured One to Watch Author: Joshua Henkin, Author of MATRIMONY
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One of our newest featured One to Watch authors is Joshua Henkin, whose second novel, MATRIMONY (following SWIMMING ACROSS THE HUDSON), releases on October 2nd. Here, Henkin presents a beautifully detailed portrait of what it means to share a life with someone --- to do so when you're young, and to try again, afresh, on the brink of middle age.
We have 10 copies of MATRIMONY to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, September 14th.
-Click here to read Joshua Henkin’s bio.
-Click here to see Joshua Henkin's backlist.
-Visit the author’s website, www.JoshuaHenkin.com.
More about MATRIMONY:
From the moment he was born, Julian Wainwright has lived a life of Waspy privilege. The son of a Yale-educated investment banker, he grew up in a huge apartment on Sutton Place, high above the East River, and attended a tony Manhattan private school. Yet, more than anything, he wants to get out --- out from under his parents’ influence, off to Graymont College, in western Massachusetts, where he hopes to become a writer.
When he arrives, in the fall of 1986, Julian meets Carter Heinz, a scholarship student from California with whom he develops a strong but ambivalent friendship. Carter’s mother, desperate to save money for his college education, used to buy him reversible clothing, figuring she was getting two items for the price of one. Now, spending time with Julian, Carter seethes with resentment. He swears he will grow up to be wealthy --- wealthier, even, than Julian himself.
Then, one day, flipping through the college facebook, Julian and Carter see a photo of Mia Mendelsohn. Mia from Montreal, they call her. Beautiful, Jewish, the daughter of a physics professor at McGill, Mia is --- Julian and Carter agree --- dreamy, urbane, stylish, refined.
But Julian gets to Mia first, meeting her by chance in the college laundry room. Soon they begin a love affair that --- spurred on by family tragedy --- will carry them to graduation and beyond, taking them through several college towns, over the next ten years. Then Carter reappears, working for an Internet company in California, and he throws everyone’s life into turmoil: Julian’s, Mia’s, his own.
Starting at the height of the Reagan era and ending in the new millennium, MATRIMONY is about love and friendship, about money and ambition, desire and tensions of faith. It asks what happens to a marriage when it is confronted by betrayal and the specter of mortality. What happens when people marry younger than they’d expected? Can love endure the passing of time?
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Click here to read more about Joshua Henkin and MATRIMONY.
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New Featured One to Watch Author: Shobhan Bantwal, Author of THE DOWRY BRIDE
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Our second newest featured One to Watch author is Shobhan Bantwal, whose debut novel, THE DOWRY BRIDE, is now available in stores. In this moving work, Bantwal introduces Megha, a woman forced to flee her home after overhearing a plot for her murder --- by her own husband and mother-in-law! With nowhere to go, Megha seeks refuge with Kiran. The relationship that develops will challenge her views on love and tradition.
We have 20 copies of THE DOWRY BRIDE to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, September 14th.
-Click here to read Shobhan Bantwal’s bio.
-Visit the author’s website, www.ShobhanBantwal.com.
More about THE DOWRY BRIDE:
One sultry night, a young bride overhears an extraordinary conversation. The voices speak of a plot to murder a wife who has failed to produce a child and whose family has failed to produce the promised dowry.
Megha is sick with horror when she realizes she is the intended victim. Her husband --- the very man who tied the sacred necklace of marriage around her neck --- and his mother are plotting to kill her! In the moment of panic, she runs for her life. Frantically racing through Palgaum’s deserted streets, her way lit only by the lights strung up for the Diwali festival, her single goal is to escape death by fire. But fleeing from her would-be killers seems impossible --- unless she can find someone to help her.
To approach her best friend would bring scandal to an innocent woman's doorstep, and turning to her own strict, conservative family is out of the question. Instead, with nothing but the sari she wears and a memory of kindness, Megha finds her way to Kiran, the one man who has shown her friendship and respect. Hiding her in his apartment, Kiran becomes her protector. But the forbidden attraction that grows between them can only bring more danger.
Caught between tradition and the truths buried in her heart, a dowry bride will discover the real cost of the only things worth having in life.
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Click here to read more about Shobhan Bantwal and THE DOWRY BRIDE.
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Featured One to Watch Author: Markus Zusak, Author of THE BOOK THIEF
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Our third featured One to Watch author is Markus Zusak, whose New York Times bestseller THE BOOK THIEF will be available in paperback on September 11th. This unforgettable story, set during World War II in Germany, is about a girl who steals to survive and discovers the power of books with the help of her accordion-playing foster father.
-Click here to read a second excerpt from THE BOOK THIEF.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for THE BOOK THIEF.
-Click here to read fast facts about Markus Zusak.
-Click here to read Markus Zusak's bio.
-Click here to see Markus Zusak's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE BOOK THIEF.
-Visit the author's official website, www.MarkusZusak.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about THE BOOK THIEF:
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery....
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist --- books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
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Click here to read more about Markus Zusak and THE BOOK THIEF.
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Featured One to Watch Author: David Gibbins, Author of CRUSADER GOLD
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Our fourth featured One to Watch author is David Gibbins, whose second novel, CRUSADER GOLD, is a sequel to ATLANTIS. In his latest book, which releases on September 25th, Gibbins reintroduces readers to marine archaeologist Jack Howard and tells the intriguing story of a discovery that could change the world forever.
-Click here to read an excerpt from CRUSADER GOLD.
-Click here to read David Gibbins's bio.
-Click here to see David Gibbins's backlist.
-Visit the author’s website, www.DavidGibbins.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about CRUSADER GOLD:
From the fall of the Roman Empire to the last days of Nazi power, marine archaeologist Jack Howard and his team of adventurers are hot on the trail of history’s most elusive and desired treasure: the lost golden menorah of Jerusalem. And what they discover could change the world forever…
Deep beneath the windswept waters near Istanbul, Jack and his crack team of experts have uncovered a surprising clue to the location of the fabled treasure plundered during the Crusades. Meanwhile, in a dusty cathedral library, someone unearths a long-forgotten medieval map. Together the two discoveries will solve an ancient mystery --- and spark a race to stop a present-day conspiracy of staggering proportions.
From diving into the core of an arctic iceberg to the last stand of a Viking warship to an extraordinary revelation deep in the jungles of Central America, Jack is headed straight into a globe-spanning clash of civilizations, into an astounding underground labyrinth steeped in blood and horrors --- and to a confrontation with a killer on a shattering crusade of his own.
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Click here to read more about David Gibbins and CRUSADER GOLD.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: John Hart, Author of DOWN RIVER
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John Hart's first novel, THE KING OF LIES, was a bestseller when it was released in 2006. His second work of fiction is DOWN RIVER, and it tells the haunting story of Adam Chase as he returns to the hometown he was exiled from to reclaim his life. The book will be available on October 2nd and promises to be a worth follow-up to his debut.
-Click here to read fast facts about John Hart.
-Click here to read John Hart’s bio.
-Click here to see John Hart's backlist.
-Visit the author’s website, www.JohnHartFiction.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about DOWN RIVER:
Adam Chase has a violent streak, and not without reason. As a boy growing up in Rowan County, North Carolina, he saw things that no child should see, suffered wounds that cut to the core and scarred thin. The trauma left him passionate and misunderstood --- a fighter. After being narrowly acquitted of a murder charge, Adam is hounded out of the only home he’s ever known, exiled for a sin he did not commit. For five long years he disappears, fades into the faceless gray of New York City. Now he’s back and nobody knows why, not his family or the cops, not the enemies he left behind.
But Adam has his reasons.
Within hours of his return, he is beaten and accosted, confronted by his family and the women he still holds dear. No one knows what to make of Adam’s return, but when bodies start turning up, the small town rises against him and Adam again finds himself embroiled in the fight of his life, not just to prove his own innocence, but to reclaim the only life he’s ever wanted.
Bestselling author John Hart holds nothing back as he strips his characters bare. Secrets explode, emotions tear, and more than one person crosses the brink into deadly behavior as he examines the lengths to which people will go for money, family, and revenge.
A powerful, heart-pounding thriller, DOWN RIVER will haunt your thoughts long after the last page is turned.
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Click here to read more about John Hart and DOWN RIVER.
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Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Emily Benedek, Author of RED SEA
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Our featured Debut Suspense/Thriller author is Emily Benedek, whose first novel, RED SEA, releases on September 18th. Its main character, Julian Granot, is based on a real-life elite commando leader and counter-terror expert with whom Benedek came into contact as a journalist reporting on counterterrorism for Newsweek.
-Click here to read a second excerpt from RED SEA.
-Click here to read Emily Benedek's bio.
-Visit the author's official website, www.EmilyBenedek.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about RED SEA:
After four commercial airliners are blown out of the sky in international airspace, retired Israeli Special Forces commander Julian Granot is called in to investigate. With the help of an intrepid American journalist, Marie Peterssen, and Morgan Ensley, a maverick FBI agent, Granot makes the horrifying discovery that the crashes were meant to conceal a more diabolical attack. Through an investigation that leads from Jordan to Iraq, through London and Cyprus to New York, Granot and his unorthodox team uncover plans for a scenario that has frightened American security experts for years: a nuclear bomb slipped onto a container and rigged to explode in a major US seaport. Meanwhile, Marie discovers a startling personal connection to the Islamist terrorist behind the plot, a secret that jeopardizes her life and the entire mission.
Based on a real-life elite commando leader and counter-terror expert, Julian Granot is a mysterious, ruthless, but ultimately human and sympathetic spymaster extraordinaire. Marie is a fully-drawn female hero who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty --- or fall in love.
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Click here to read more about Emily Benedek and RED SEA.
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Request a Free Copy of the "At Home with Lorna Landvik" DVD for Your Reading Group
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Even after a great discussion, we know that the best books leave your book club hungering for more. We are happy to introduce "At Home with Lorna Landvik," a new DVD featuring the author of THE VIEW FROM MOUNT JOY.
-Click here to read a review of THE VIEW FROM MOUNT JOY.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE VIEW FROM MOUNT JOY.
-Click here to see the discussion guide for THE VIEW FROM MOUNT JOY.
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Click here to request your free copy of the "At Home with Lorna Landvik" DVD.
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This Week's Reviews and Features
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A KILLER'S KISS by William Lashner (Thriller)
There's nothing easier than falling in love with an old girlfriend. That's what Philly lawyer Victor Carl finds out when he hooks up again with a femme fatale who’s trouble with a capital T. Her husband has been murdered, she is incriminated and there are big bucks at stake. Naturally, Victor is on the case. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read an excerpt from A KILLER'S KISS.
-Visit William Lashner's website, www.WilliamLashner.com.
SONGS WITHOUT WORDS by Ann Packer (Fiction)
Ann Packer follows up her much-admired debut novel, THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER, with a densely woven, emotionally absorbing tale of thwarted friendship, family crisis and mothers --- the good, the smug and the self-destructive. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.
-Click here to read an excerpt from SONGS WITHOUT WORDS.
-Click here to read an interview with Ann Packer.
CONFESSIONS OF A PREP SCHOOL MOMMY HANDLER: A Memoir by Wade Rouse (Memoir)
In his second memoir (following AMERICA'S BOY), Wade Rouse shares his time as a "mommy handler" at an elite prep school. The result is a touching, sometimes sad but also funny glimpse into the world of the wealthy by a down-to-earth narrator in way over his head. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
-Click here to read an excerpt from CONFESSIONS OF A PREP SCHOOL MOMMY HANDLER.
-Visit Wade Rouse's website, www.WadeRouse.com.
GETTING RID OF MATTHEW by Jane Fallon (Fiction)
Karma can be a harsh taskmaster, as Helen discovers when her married boyfriend leaves his wife to come live with her. Who wants him? Not Helen, who must --- somehow! --- divert him back to his wife. What follows is a thoroughly enjoyable read about consequences, lies, love, friendship, secrets and trust. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
THE ELVES OF CINTRA: The Genesis of Shannara, Book 2 by Terry Brooks (Fantasy)
In the second installment of Terry Brooks’s trilogy that blends his bestselling Shannara and Word & Void series, the world as we know it continues to fall away, overrun by once-men and demons. In the meantime, Hawk must come to accept his power and his destiny, and lead his family of Ghosts to safety. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
THE CLEFT by Doris Lessing (Fiction)
In this fascinating and beguiling novel, Doris Lessing confronts the themes that inspired much of her early writing: how men and women manage to live side by side in the world and how the troublesome particulars of gender affect every aspect of our existence. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
A PECULIAR GRACE by Jeffrey Lent (Fiction)
This elegantly written story is about the power of love, art and second chances. Through his vivid descriptions, keen insight and finely drawn characters, Jeffrey Lent deftly captures the uninhibited time of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll of the early ’70s and contemporary life of damaged survivors living on the edge of society in rural New England. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.
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Read this week's reviews and features 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 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.
Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by September 30, 2007 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month one winner will be selected to win the following five books: THE BONE GARDEN by Tess Gerritsen, THE CHOICE by Nicholas Sparks, PLAYING FOR PIZZA by John Grisham, RUN by Ann Patchett and YOU'VE BEEN WARNED by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. Jean from Overland Park, KS was last month's newsletter winner. She won BEYOND REACH by Karin Slaughter, BONES TO ASHES by Kathy Reichs, THE CAREFUL USE OF COMPLIMENTS: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith, PLAY DIRTY by Sandra Brown and SPOOK COUNTRY by William Gibson.
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.
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