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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
February 22, 2008
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"I will not be caught without a book again."
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Well, I got a lot of mail last week from people who were chastising me about not having a book for the car when I was stuck in traffic. I realize now that just as we have backup LightWedges in the car to ensure that passengers can read in the dark, I need to stash books into the map pockets to ensure there are backup books available. My new slogan: "I will not be caught without a book again." As I say this I point my finger like those old Smokey Bear (Internet Trivia of the Day: Note why he's not Smokey the Bear here.) ads where he talks about how YOU can prevent forest fires.
The good news: We now can walk in the attic at our house. There is a path. We managed to fill a dumpster with discarded memorabilia. I have decided this is much nicer than saying "junk we ridiculously collected through the years." There still are piles of boxes to go through, but it's all organized. During this adventure, I also spotted some boxes that were moved into the house 18 years ago that have never been opened. I cannot wait to see the "treasures" packed away in those! I now am going through boxes and boxes of children's picture books, trying to decide which need to stay in the family and which can get passed on to other children. So many of them are giving me pause as I pick them up and remember reading them to the boys.
I confess that I am wickedly sentimental. My amazing friend Cathy volunteered to help with this project last weekend, and I could not have gotten through it without her. She saw a task where I saw memories. The parts that are done are finished because she said "shelve this" and "toss this." She calls daily to see how many boxes I have been through. I lie each day when I respond.
Tuesday night we are going to see Eric Clapton. I blogged about how I am prepping to see the show by reading! Hey, some people would be listening to the CDs; I am reading a book.
This week we started a new blog feature on ReadingGroupGuides.com, our website for book clubs. While we update ReadingGroupGuides.com monthly there always is news, interesting tidbits and ramblings that I want to share with our readers throughout the month. I also recognized that, over the last eight years since we launched this website, we have come to know a very interesting group of readers, authors, book club facilitators, librarians, booksellers and publishing contacts who have shared their own ideas for what make a reading group something that gives people both joy and satisfaction. These people will be sharing their ideas on this blog so it will not have one singular voice. Check it out and then plan to visit again or set up an RSS feed so you can get this blog delivered to you.
We are featuring two interviews this week. In our first, Will Lavender speaks with Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub about the inspiration behind his debut psychological thriller, OBEDIENCE. I am loving this book, and Joe's review tells you why you'll want it on your radar. We also have an interview with Jim Wallis, author of THE GREAT AWAKENING. SOUVENIR, by debut novelist Therese Fowler, was very well received by our advance readers. You can read their comments here.
One of my favorite authors --- Mary Kay Andrews --- has a new book, DEEP DISH, in stores on Tuesday. As always I love her wit, and there are many chuckles in this book. Wondering about the inspiration for it? Listen to what Mary Kay has to say about this here.
I am back to "reading ahead," so I wanted to get two upcoming titles on your radar. The first is THE ART OF KEEPING SECRETS by Patti Callahan Henry, which will be in stores on June 3rd. It's terrific women's fiction that again drives home my thought that this is a very strong year for this genre. Here's the plot opener: Annabelle Murphy's husband died in a plane crash two years ago, but the wreckage was never found. Now it has been, and when her husband's body is discovered she learns he was not alone. There was a woman with him. Who is that woman? And why was she there? It's Patti's best book to date.
The second is RULES OF DECEPTION by Christopher Reich, which will be out in July. Every time I put this book down I am annoyed that I am being interrupted. A world-class mountaineer and surgeon, Jonathan Ransom is climbing in the Alps with his wife when a storm comes in and his wife is killed when she falls into a crevasse. Twenty-four hours later Ransom gets an envelope with two baggage claim tickets. And from there he wonders who his wife really was --- and now he's on the run as an assassin tries to track him down.
We had a snow day here, which always is fun since it sets up a vacation kinda atmosphere, though I do still loathe those 5:30AM calls to cancel school. I think I should get to select the time for this --- like a hotel wakeup call. I am planning/hoping for/dreaming of a quiet weekend so I can read and, of course, continue to unpack boxes! I am leaving Thursday for Sleuthfest in Florida, a mystery writer's conference. And yes, I will confess that part of the appeal of this conference is its location in late February/early March! Seeing the sun every day gets lots of points this time of year. Have a great week! Happy reading to all.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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Click here to read Carol's most recent blog entry.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Will Lavender, Author of OBEDIENCE
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In Will Lavender's debut novel, OBEDIENCE, lines between fiction and reality, and ethics and logic, are crossed when a college professor assigns his students to solve a hypothetical crime that eerily parallels some of their lives. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub, Lavender explains how his experiences in the classroom inspired the plot of this psychological thriller and describes how his writing, in part, was influenced by Paul Auster's CITY OF GLASS. He also shares what he hopes to contribute to the thriller genre and offers words of advice for aspiring authors.
OBEDIENCE by Will Lavender (Psychological Thriller)
When the students in Winchester University’s Logic and Reasoning 204 arrive for their first day of class, they are greeted not with a syllabus or texts, but with a startling assignment from Professor Williams: Find a hypothetical missing girl named Polly. If after being given a series of clues and details the class has not found her before the end of the term in six weeks, she will be murdered. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of OBEDIENCE.
-Click here to read an excerpt from OBEDIENCE.
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Click here to read our interview with Will Lavender.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Jim Wallis, Author of THE GREAT AWAKENING
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If religion and politics are the two topics you’re supposed to avoid talking about in polite company, then Jim Wallis is in big trouble. His book, GOD’S POLITICS, articulated the concern that many evangelicals felt about their faith being co-opted by the Religious Right. And now, as the 2008 presidential race heats up, Wallis is back with THE GREAT AWAKENING, a powerful work that challenges people of faith to speak out on issues of social justice, get involved and effect change. In this interview, Bookreporter.com’s Cindy Crosby talks with Wallis about what has changed in the political landscape since he wrote GOD’S POLITICS, why he believes America should not be “a Christian nation,” the toughest issue for people of faith to embrace and how coaching his son’s Little League baseball team offers a few insights about life.
THE GREAT AWAKENING: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-Religious Right America by Jim Wallis (Religion)
In the dramatic lead-up to the 2008 presidential election, author Jim Wallis believes that Americans are poised on the edge of a spiritual revival --- what he calls “The Great Awakening” --- that could bring about justice in critical areas such as poverty, the environment and the affirmation of the dignity and sacredness of life. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.
-Click here to read a review of THE GREAT AWAKENING.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE GREAT AWAKENING.
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Click here to read our interview with Jim Wallis.
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Now in Stores: STRANGERS IN DEATH by Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb
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STRANGERS IN DEATH by Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb (Thriller)
Technology may be different in 2060 New York, yet the city is still a place of many cultures and great divides. But as ever, some murders receive more attention than others. In STRANGERS IN DEATH, a body is found in what looks like kinky sex gone wrong. Is that really what happened? If not, why such elaborate window dressing? Lieutenant Eve Dallas has her hands full with this suspect. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
-Click here to read an excerpt from STRANGERS IN DEATH.
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Click here to read a review of STRANGERS IN DEATH.
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Featured Romantic Suspense Author: Lisa Jackson, Author of LOST SOULS
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Lisa Jackson, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 75 novels --- including ABSOLUTE FEAR and SHIVER --- delivers another harrowing thriller. In LOST SOULS, which hits stores on March 25th, a young woman’s determined hunt for a serial killer draws her into a twisted psychopath’s terrifying web.
We have 20 copies of LOST SOULS 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, February 29th.
-Click here to read Lisa Jackson’s bio.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.LisaJackson.com.
More about LOST SOULS:
Kristi Bentz wants to write true crime. All she needs is that one case that will take her to the top. She finds it when she enrolls at All Saints College after learning that three troubled girls have disappeared in one term. When the bodies are found, all blood drained from their bodies, rumors abound that vampires are on the loose. Are they? Or is there a new serial killer in New Orleans --- one more cunning than any that Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya have gone up against before?
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Click here to read more about Lisa Jackson and LOST SOULS.
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Featured Romantic Suspense Author: Joan Johnston, Author of A STRANGER'S GAME
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From New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston comes a new Bitter Creek novel. A STRANGER’S GAME, which hits stores on March 11th, features all of the passion and intrigue in Texas high society mixed with an explosive, spine-tingling tale of murder, wrongful imprisonment and a woman who counts no cost too high to see a killer brought to justice.
-Click here to read an excerpt from A STRANGER'S GAME.
-Click here to read fast facts about Joan Johnston.
-Click here to read Joan Johnston’s bio.
-Click here to see Joan Johnston's backlist.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.JoanJohnston.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.
More about A STRANGER’S GAME:
With just five days until the president arrives in Austin, Texas, the last thing the FBI needs is a serial killer on the loose, much less a terrorist suspect who will stop at nothing to clear her name. It’s a strange game alright, but why does Agent Grayhawk suspect he’s missing some of the pieces? |
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Click here to read more about Joan Johnston and A STRANGER'S GAME.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Stephen White, Author of DEAD TIME |
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Stephen White is a clinical psychologist and the New York Times bestselling author of the Alan Gregory novels, which include DRY ICE and KILL ME. In his new thriller DEAD TIME, available in stores on March 4th, Colorado psychologist Alan Gregory is pulled into a mystery that reaches back years to a camping trip at the Grand Canyon where a young woman mysteriously vanished.
-Click here to read fast facts about Stephen White.
-Click here to read Stephen White’s bio.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.AuthorStephenWhite.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about DEAD TIME:
After the shocking developments in DRY ICE, Colorado psychologist Alan Gregory is struggling to deal with his newly adopted son and repair his shaky, though generally improving, marriage. But then Alan’s ex-wife, Meredith, reappears, seeking help she feels only he can give. Suddenly Alan is pulled into a mystery that reaches back years to a camping trip at the Grand Canyon involving Meredith’s fiance and five friends whose lives were changed forever when a young woman mysteriously vanished from the Canyon floor.
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Click here to read more about Stephen White and DEAD TIME.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Michele Martinez, Author of NOTORIOUS
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The bestselling author of MOST WANTED, THE FINISHING SCHOOL and COVER-UP, Michele Martinez is an expert at weaving chilling tales of murder, corruption and scandal. In NOTORIOUS, which hits stores on February 26th, Martinez delivers another riveting tale as Assistant U.S. District Attorney Melanie Vargas finds herself involved in a very deadly case.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from NOTORIOUS.
-Click here to read fast facts about Michele Martinez.
-Click here to read Michele Martinez's bio.
-Visit the author's official website, www.MicheleMartinez.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about NOTORIOUS:
About to take a controversial rap star to trial for a past crime, Melanie Vargas receives an important piece of information from a friend of hers --- the rapper's lawyer. When he is killed moments later, Melanie becomes determined to find the culprit. But the more she digs, the more she finds troubling about her friend.
As the sole witness to the murder, Melanie is in danger of losing her own life. As the case proceeds, it isn't long before she realizes that she can't trust anybody --- not even those closest to her.
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Click here to read more about Michele Martinez and NOTORIOUS.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Andrew Britton, Author of THE INVISIBLE
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Andrew Britton captivated readers and critics alike with his electrifying thrillers THE AMERICAN and THE ASSASSIN. In THE INVISIBLE, the third installment in the Ryan Kealey series, he delivers a supercharged international adventure that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The book will be available in stores on February 26th.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from THE INVISIBLE.
-Click here to read fast facts about Andrew Britton.
-Click here to read Andrew Britton’s bio.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.AndrewBrittonBooks.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about THE INVISIBLE:
For more than a decade, Ryan Kealey has been a key player in the war on terror. First, as a captain in the U.S. Army’s third Special Forces Group, then as a contract operative with the CIA. His actions have saved thousands of lives, including that of the U.S. President. Now once again, Kealey receives the call of duty --- only this time, the odds for success are slim to none. And he will have to risk everything, including the woman he loves, to save the life of one person.
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Click here to read more about Andrew Britton and THE INVISIBLE.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Lawrence Goldstone, Author of THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION
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In THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION, which is now available in stores, Lawrence Goldstone weaves a mesmerizing forensic thriller that thrusts the reader into the operating rooms, drawing rooms and back alleys of 1889 Philadelphia, as a young doctor grapples with the principles of scientific process to track a daring killer.
-Click here to read a review of THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION.
-Click here to read an interview with Lawrence Goldstone.
-Click here to read fast facts about Lawrence Goldstone.
-Click here to read Lawrence Goldstone's bio.
-Click here/A> to see Lawrence Goldstone's backlist.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION:
In the morgue of a Philadelphia hospital, a group of physicians open a coffin and uncover the corpse of a beautiful young woman. What they see takes their breath away. Within days, one of them strongly suspects that he knows the woman's identity...and the horrifying events that led to her death. But in this richly atmospheric novel --- an ingenious blend of history, suspense and early forensic science --- the most compelling chapter is yet to come, as young Ephraim Carroll is plunged into a maze of murder, secrets and unimaginable crimes.
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Click here to read more about Lawrence Goldstone and THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION.
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Now Available in Paperback: PEONY IN LOVE by Lisa See
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PEONY IN LOVE by Lisa See (Fiction)
Lisa See brings to life another time and place --- where three generations of women become enmeshed in a dramatic story, uncover past secrets and tragedies, and learn that love can transcend death. PEONY IN LOVE will make readers ache in heart and mind for young Peony and all the women of the world who want to be heard.
“A complex period tapestry inscribed with the age-old tragedy of love and death.”
--- New York Times Book Review |
Click here to read more about PEONY IN LOVE.
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Now in Stores: THE NEXT LEVEL by David Gregory |
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New from the bestselling author of DINNER WITH A PERFECT STRANGER!
A corporate parable for how to discover your ultimate purpose in life and find true fulfillment, THE NEXT LEVEL will inspire and challenge you to embark on a passionate pursuit of your true reason for being and help you answer life’s most important questions: What is my ultimate purpose and how do I achieve it?
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Click here to read more about THE NEXT LEVEL.
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This Week's Reviews
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SWORD SONG: The Battle for London by Bernard Cornwell (Historical Fiction)
The year is 885, and England is at peace, divided between the Danish kingdom to the north and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord --- warrior by instinct, Viking by nature --- has finally settled down. But then trouble stirs: a dead man has risen, and new Vikings have arrived to occupy the decayed Roman city of London. Their dream is to conquer Wessex, and to do it they need Uhtred's help. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
-Click here to read an excerpt from SWORD SONG.
HIS ILLEGAL SELF by Peter Carey (Fiction)
Two-time Booker Prize-winning novelist Peter Carey offers up yet another example of his mastery in this affecting story set in the 1970s of a young boy spirited away on a physical journey to find anti-war activist parents that turns into a journey of self-discovery. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
IN DEFENSE OF FOOD: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan (Health)
Humans used to know how to eat well, Michael Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists and journalists. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
CHARLATAN: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, The Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock (History)
In 1917, after years of selling worthless patent remedies throughout the Southeast, John R. Brinkley --- America’s most brazen young con man --- arrived in the tiny town of Milford, Kansas. He set up a medical practice and introduced an outlandish surgical method using goat glands to restore the fading virility of local farmers. His notoriety captured the attention of the great quackbuster Morris Fishbein, who vowed to put the country’s “most daring and dangerous” charlatan out of business. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THREE SHIRT DEAL: A Shane Scully Novel by Stephen J. Cannell (Thriller)
When LAPD homicide detective Shane Scully is pulled into a case involving a possible miscarriage of justice, he finds himself in a sea of controversy, danger and personal anguish. As he disregards orders to stop his investigation and struggles to save his marriage, powerful forces target him and attempt to end not only his career but also his life. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Fiction)
A reimagining of the world-famous Indian epic, the Mahabharat, THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS takes readers back to a time that is half history, half myth and wholly magical. Narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the legendary Pandavas brothers in the Mahabharat, the novel gives us a new interpretation of this ancient tale. Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton.
THE LODGER SHAKESPEARE: His Life on Silver Street by Charles Nicholl (Biography)
For hundreds of years, scholars and critics have pondered the influences that provided William Shakespeare with the materials for the plays that bear his name. While we know much about his work, we know little about the person whose words and plays are read by so many around the world. In THE LODGER SHAKESPEARE, Charles Nicholl provides readers with a detailed glimpse into a brief moment in the life of a man considered by many to be the greatest playwright ever. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
WHAT NEVER HAPPENS by Anne Holt (Mystery)
All over Oslo, celebrities are turning up dead in the most macabre of situations. It's clear that the killer seeks some sort of retribution, but for what? Adam Stubo and Johanna Vik are reluctantly drawn into the investigation. As Stubo leads the inquiry, Vik is haunted by a pattern she discovers from a time long ago when she was in the FBI --- a time she has tried to forget. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
HOW THE SOUTH COULD HAVE WON THE CIVIL WAR: The Fatal Errors That Led to Confederate Defeat by Bevin Alexander (History)
Could the South have won the Civil War? To many, the very question seems absurd. After all, the Confederacy had only a third of the population and one-eleventh of the industry of the North. But acclaimed military historian Bevin Alexander maintains that the South most definitely could have won the war. He documents exactly how a Confederate victory could have come about --- and how close it came to happening. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
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Read this week's reviews here.
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Poll and Question of the Week: Reading Speed and Books You Can't Get Enough Of
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Poll:
Do you consider yourself to be a fast reader?
Yes
No
Not sure
-Click here to answer our poll.
Question:
Name up to three books that you just could not put down.
-Click here to answer our question of the week.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- THREE Prizes
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Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have THREE great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of DEEP DISH by Mary Kay Andrews, REMEMBER ME? by Sophie Kinsella and STRANGERS IN DEATH by Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on February 29th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.
Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on February 29th. |
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 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 February 29, 2008 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month one winner will be selected to win the following five books: DEEP DISH by Mary Kay Andrews, FIREFLY LANE by Kristin Hannah, LADY KILLER by Lisa Scottoline, REMEMBER ME? by Sophie Kinsella and STRANGERS IN DEATH by Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb. Lisa from Garrison, NY was last month's newsletter winner. She won THE APPEAL by John Grisham, DUMA KEY by Stephen King, PLUM LUCKY by Janet Evanovich, THE SECRET BETWEEN US by Barbara Delinsky and THE WINTER ROSE by Jennifer Donnelly.
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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