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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
August 20, 2010 |
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Fired-Up Reading |
While I was in San Diego a few weeks ago, two patios got built at the house. I love construction projects, but have been told that I should be thrilled that I missed this one since the yard was covered in dust from cutting the stones the entire time. All the shrubs and plants needed to be hosed down once things were done. I have always wanted a firepit on the patio, and thus my first weekend home was all about finding the perfect one. I did, it was delivered, Cory assembled it, and last Friday night, the first night that temperatures dropped below 70, we inaugurated it. Each time I sat down, the wind changed direction and blew the smoke towards me. This reminded me once again why I am glad I was not born during pioneer days. I was doubly reminded the following morning when my clothes smelled like I had been camping.
But I digress…the fire was wonderful. My plan is to sit outside and read by the fire on a cool fall evening. I am already plotting to bring my LightWedge book light outside and make this a perfect evening. While the setting for my reading was not as choreographed last weekend as the weather turned cloudy and rainy, I continued “reading ahead” inside. Two folks had handed me an advance reading copy of THE PARIS WIFE by Paula McLain, which will be published February 22, 2011. It’s the story of Ernest Hemingway’s marriage to Hadley Richardson --- and it’s just brilliant. I kept underlining phrases, folding down pages, and by the time I was finished I was searching my shelves for the Hemingway books written during this period, as well as the Hemingway genealogy tree. Asked for a like comparison, I would say that for those who loved Nancy Horan’s LOVING FRANK, you want this one on your radar.
I also devoured NIGHT ROAD by Kristin Hannah, another book that will not be in stores for a while, in this case, March 29, 2011. Kristin has been a favorite author of mine for years; she delves right into subjects that matter to women in a way that sparks discussion --- and thought. In NIGHT ROAD, Jude is the ultimate mom, one who lives for her kids and strives to be perfect. One night, her perfect life is shattered. From there she has to deal not only with loss, but also with finding her way to forgiveness. It’s emotionally gripping and powerful.
Before you wag fingers at me about sharing information about yet another book you cannot read now, I am happy to share that NIGHT ROAD is our latest Sneak Peek: An Early Look Inside a Book title, and 100 readers will have the chance to preview it with a specially formatted early reader edition. Interested? Then click here to read more about NIGHT ROAD and answer a couple of questions to be entered to win. Please only enter if you will be able to read the book by late September or early October, and can answer some follow-up questions by October 12th. We would love to have comments and feedback from all 100 winners. As we will not be publishing the week before Labor Day, you have three weeks to enter this drawing, which will close on Friday, September 10th at noon ET.
And that’s just the beginning of our book giveaway news this week. Francine Rivers returns to our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight with HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM, the sequel to her New York Times bestseller HER MOTHER’S HOPE. Some of you may remember, or may even won a copy of, HER MOTHER’S HOPE back in the spring. We’re now pleased to bring you this much-anticipated sequel. In HER MOTHER’S HOPE, Francine told the story of Marta, a Swiss immigrant who begins forging a new life for herself and her family in North America as World War I approaches. HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM picks up with the story of Carolyn, Marta’s granddaughter, who flees a tense household and navigates her youth through the Cold War, college and the counterculture scene of San Francisco.
This sweeping historical family saga truly is special, and loosely based on Francine’s own heritage. I flew through HER MOTHER’S HOPE and loved seeing it solidly hit the New York Times bestseller list in March. When advance reading copies of HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM arrived at the publishers’ offices, people were clamoring for them. I was lucky enough to get, one and the second part of this story is just as brilliantly rich, with strong characters and narrative and dead-on historical details. HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM hits stores September 14th, but we have 20 copies to give away to readers who would like to comment on it. Enter here by Friday, August 27th at noon ET. Also, you can visit Francine’s website here to see if she’ll be doing any events in your area upon the book’s release.
Our second feature this week is our One to Watch Author Spotlight for A SECRET KEPT by Tatiana de Rosnay. Tatiana has emerged as one of the most critically and commercially successful novelists in Europe, and SARAH’S KEY, her major U.S. debut, was a huge hit. SARAH’S KEY became a popular book club selection and remains one of the most requested guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
A SECRET KEPT is one of the most anticipated titles of the late summer/early fall, and again features the tension-filled family mystery and plot devices that fueled SARAH’S KEY. A brother and sister return to their childhood vacation home to celebrate a 40th birthday when a car crash begins triggering strange memories and even stranger occurrences. A SECRET KEPT will be in stores on September 14th, but we have 20 copies to give away to readers who would like to comment on it. Enter here by Friday, August 27th. Also, be sure to register your reading group on ReadingGroupGuides.com to receive information on how your group can win a special author chat with Tatiana. More details to come on ReadingGroupGuides.com in September!
While on ReadingGroupGuides.com, be sure to enter our 10th Anniversary Contest for your chance to win one of our 50 $200 gift cards. Just share your group’s favorite, or your own personal favorite, discussion books, and you’ll be automatically entered into our random drawing. The contest ends August 31st, so time is ticking! We’ll compile the list shortly after the deadline and present the definitive Top 10 Discussion Books list, as chosen by our readers. Click here for more information or here to go directly to the entry page.
The third title we’re featuring this week falls into our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight with Michael Walsh’s EARLY WARNINGA>. We featured Michael’s HOSTILE INTENT last summer, which introduced readers to a shadowy National Security Agency operative codenamed Devlin. In EARLY WARNING, Devlin is the nation’s lone hope when cyber-terrorists team up with a rogue insurgent group, threatening America’s national security and total anarchy. Click here to watch an intense trailer for EARLY WARNING, and then you can enter to win one of our 20 copies here by Friday, August 27th at noon ET. The book is in stores now.
Speaking of codenames, we actually have our own codename project happening here at Bookreporter.com. We’re considering launching a website catering to readers between the ages of 17 and 30 years old. We think this is an underserved readership online, and we’re gathering a lot of information in hopes of developing a great site for this market. We’ve oh so secretively named this project CO-20, and we invite you to pass this survey along to readers you know who fall in that age range as we want their feedback as we consider this idea. Of course, if YOU are 17-30, we want to hear from you too. Many of these readers are what I call “The Harry Potter Generation,” as they were the “right age” to eagerly embrace these books as they were published. I want to create a spot for them online where they can continue to build on their love of reading with titles culled specifically to appeal to them. Participants will be entered to win one of the $25 gift cards we’re giving away. Click here for the CO-20 survey.
Our final Beach Bag of Books contest opens today, and we’re wrapping up our summer celebration by featuring five titles: CHEF by Jaspreet Singh, THE FAMILY MAN by Elinor Lipman, THE GO-BETWEEN: A Novel of the Kennedy Years by Frederick Turner, THE LIES WE TOLD by Diane Chamberlain and OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY WORLD by Dori Ostermiller. Five grand prize winners will receive copies of each book and a beach bag stocked with a striped towel, Crystal Light lemonade, Banana Boat sunblock, festive pinwheel napkins, a sports bottle with neoprene sleeve, a polka-dot pillowcase, a striped roll-up beach mat that can double as a picnic blanket, and multicolored picnic plates. Five runners-up will receive copies of the books. Enter here by Tuesday, September 7th at noon ET. You can see if you were one of our grand prize or runner-up winners for our recent “crime” beach bag here.
Crime titles headline our reviews this week, as we have reviews of THE LAST LIE by Stephen White, which Joe Hartlaub says is “...a novel that is one of the smartest and deepest I have read this year.” We also have an interview with Stephen that you can read here. I have this one on my stack to take to the beach and am kicking myself that I did not get to it sooner as I like to read Stephen’s books in advance of publication. I just did not pluck it from the shelf in the office early enough!
Martin Cruz Smith’s latest Arkady Renko novel, THREE STATIONS, is now in stores. A longtime fan favorite, Smith keeps adding to his legacy according to our reviewer Barbara Bamberger Scott, who says “Smith is above all a teller of tales, and THREE STATIONS will satisfy not only those who love the mystery genre but anyone who admires the fine craft of writing.”
Also, Laura Lippman returns with I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE, a stand-alone novel from her popular Tess Monaghan series, another book I have been saving for vacation. Eliza Benedict has a quiet, ordinary life with her husband and children, but that world is shattered when she receives a note from Walter Bowman, the man who kidnapped her when she was 15 that says, “There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere.” She knows he killed at least one other victim and always has wondered why she was allowed to live. Our reviewer Sarah Rachel Egelman says I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE “is a piercing, frightening, absorbing and well-paced read from one of the most intense literary crime writers around.”
Lastly, but certainly not least, you’ll see our regular Young Adult Books You Won’t Want to Miss feature below, where we spotlight titles you might find in the Young Adult section of your local bookstore. However, these titles are worthy of attention from readers regardless of age. There have been pieces in the em>New York Times and L.A. Times about the trend of adults reading YA. I am happy to note that we started this feature before either of those features ran.
Last weekend, my friend Rachel and I went to see Eat Pray Love, which we both enjoyed. I came home craving spaghetti with grated parmesan and arugula salad with fresh figs. Rachel and I decided we would not have embraced meditation, and neither of us ever would have sported an “I am silent” button, but the rest of the adventure seemed pretty grand. I also saw Inception and heartily recommend it.
Looking forward to the weekend….we are leaving for the beach next Friday, thus this weekend I will start the packing that matters most by selecting the books I am going to bring with me. I try to read at least 50 pages of each “contender” as I try to hone my stash down to something reasonable. What’s reasonable? A book a day, plus two, just in case you get stuck! Have a great week….here’s to reading something you love!
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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Author Talk: Stephen White, Author of THE LAST LIE |
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Psychologist turned author Stephen White brings the protagonist of his bestselling Alan Gregory series back to center stage in his latest novel, THE LAST LIE, which finds his main character probing into the assault of a woman under his own roof. In this interview, White discusses some of the recent media events that inspired the plot of the book, and explains why he chose to risk altering the relationship between his main characters in such a long-running series. He also describes how he recharges his creative batteries, and reflects on what may be in store for Alan and company in future installments.
THE LAST LIE by Stephen White (Thriller)
Clinical psychologist Alan Gregory’s new neighbors host a housewarming party that ends in quiet disaster. Alan’s wife Lauren, a deputy district attorney, and detective Sam Purdy are both privy to facts they can't share with Alan, but Alan soon discovers that he has a most unusual perspective into what truly happened after the housewarming. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of THE LAST LIE.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE LAST LIE.
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Click here to read an interview with Stephen White.
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Bookreporter.com's Sneak Peek Feature: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book --- Our Latest Featured Title: NIGHT ROAD by Kristin Hannah
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At Bookreporter.com, we have the opportunity to read many great books well in advance of their release dates. Now, with our Sneak Peek Feature/Contest, we are offering our readers the chance to preview select early picks --- and share feedback on them. We know that readers champion books that they love, and we want you to be part of the excitement of upcoming releases as early as possible.
Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights NIGHT ROAD by Kristin Hannah, a novel that raises profound questions about motherhood, loss, identity and forgiveness, which releases in March 2011. We have 100 specially formatted early reader editions to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and share their comments about it. We really want to hear what you have to say about NIGHT ROAD, so if you will have time to read and comment on the book by Tuesday, October 12th, please enter this contest. If not, we plan to have more opportunities like this in the future.
More about NIGHT ROAD:
Jude Farraday is a happily married, stay-at-home mom who puts everyone’s needs above her own. Her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill enters their lives, no one is more supportive than Jude. A former foster child with a dark past, Lexi quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. But senior year of high school brings unexpected dangers, and one night Jude’s worst fears are confirmed: there is an accident. In an instant, her idyllic life is shattered and her close-knit community is torn apart. People --- and Jude --- demand justice, and when the finger of blame is pointed, it lands solely on 18-year-old Lexi Baill.
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Click here to read all the details of our Sneak Peek Feature/Contest.
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Bookreporter.com's Latest Summer Beach Bag Contest: CHEF, THE FAMILY MAN, THE GO-BETWEEN, THE LIES WE TOLD and OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY WORLD
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Whether your "beach" is on sand, your backyard deck, or a grassy meadow in the country, the summer months mean it's time for "beach reading." Bookreporter.com is celebrating the lazy days of summer reading with our Sixth Annual Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books feature and contests.
During select weeks from May 28th through September 7th, we will highlight a different book or collection of books from these featured titles with a contest prize --- a beach bag stocked with the featured book(s) and summertime essentials. Five FABULOUS beach bags will be given away each week, as well as five copies of the featured book(s) to additional winners.
We are currently spotlighting five works of literary fiction:
CHEF by Jaspreet Singh (Fiction)
Mesmeric, mournful and intensely lyrical, CHEF is a brave and compassionate debut about hope, love and memory set against the devastatingly beautiful, war-scarred backdrop of occupied Kashmir.
THE FAMILY MAN by Elinor Lipman (Fiction)
In this warm-hearted comedy, Henry Archer reunites with Thalia, the stepdaughter he adopted and then lost 25 years before during his divorce. Henry is delighted to assist his newfound, highly cherished daughter as she negotiates love interests --- both genuine and false, complete with tabloid appearances and paparazzi.
THE GO-BETWEEN: A Novel of the Kennedy Years by Frederick Turner (Fiction)
One day, a faded newspaperman finds the scoop of a lifetime in a Chicago basement: diaries belonging to the infamous Judith Campbell Exner. As our Narrator pieces the notebooks into a coherent story, he finds mob connections, rigged primaries, assassination plots and trysts.
THE LIES WE TOLD by Diane Chamberlain (Fiction)
When they were teenagers, Rebecca and Maya’s parents were murdered. That incident --- and the lies each of them told about what happened --- will always haunt them. Now, while working as part of a medical aide team after a hurricane destroys part of Wilmington, North Carolina, Maya is in a helicopter crash. Rebecca and Maya’s husband, Adam, believe she is dead, but Maya is actually trapped in an area with a few people who, for some reason, seem intent on keeping her there.
OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY WORLD by Dori Ostermiller (Fiction)
OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY WORLD reveals what lies beneath the surface of infidelity. But at its heart, it is the story of the powerful, sometimes disturbing bond between mothers and daughters, and the shimmering line between self-revelation and self-destruction.
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Click here to read all the contest details.
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New Featured Historical Fiction Author: Francine Rivers, Author of HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM |
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Francine Rivers returns with HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM, the much-anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestselling novel HER MOTHER'S HOPE. With HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM, Rivers tells the story of Carolyn, the granddaughter of HER MOTHER'S HOPE's Marta, as she navigates a turbulent youth in this sweeping epic of mothers and daughters.
HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM is releasing on September 14th, but we have 20 copies 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, August 27th at noon ET.
-Click here to read Francine Rivers's bio.
-Click here to see Francine Rivers’s backlist.
-Visit Francine Rivers’s official website, www.FrancineRivers.com.
More about HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM:
Growing up isn’t easy for little Carolyn Arundel. With her mother, Hildemara, quarantined to her room with tuberculosis, Carolyn forms a special bond with her oma, Marta, who moves in to care for the household. But as tensions between Hildie and Marta escalate, Carolyn believes she is to blame. When Hildie returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn and her brother grow up as latchkey kids in a world gripped by the fear of the Cold War. College offers Carolyn the chance to find herself, but a family tragedy shatters her newfound independence. Rather than return home, she cuts all ties and disappears into the heady counterculture of San Francisco. When she reemerges two years later, more lost than ever, she reluctantly turns to her family to help rebuild a life for her and her own daughter, May Flower Dawn.
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Click here to read more about Francine Rivers and HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM.
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New Featured One to Watch Author: Tatiana de Rosnay, Author of A SECRET KEPT
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Tatiana de Rosnay follows her acclaimed bestseller SARAH’S KEY with the tension-filled A SECRET KEPT. A brother and sister return to their childhood vacation home to celebrate a birthday until a car crash triggers a series of strange events and memories.
A SECRET KEPT is releasing on September 14th, but we have 20 copies 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, August 27th at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from A SECRET KEPT.
-Click here to read Tatiana de Rosnay’s bio.
-Click here to see Tatiana de Rosnay’s backlist.
More about A SECRET KEPT:
This stunning new novel from Tatiana de Rosnay, author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller SARAH’S KEY, plumbs the depths of complex family relationships and the power of a past secret to change everything in the present. It all began with a simple seaside vacation, a brother and sister recapturing their childhood. Antoine Rey thought he had the perfect surprise for his sister Mélanie’s birthday: a weekend by the sea at Noirmoutier Island, where the pair spent many happy childhood summers playing on the beach. But on the drive home to Paris, Mélanie finally summons the courage to reveal a dark secret to Antoine, her emotions overcome her and she loses control of the car.
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Click here to read more about Tatiana de Rosnay and A SECRET KEPT.
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New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Michael Walsh, Author of EARLY WARNING
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Michael Walsh introduced the special National Security Agency operative known only as Devlin in last year's HOSTILE INTENT. EARLY WARNING marks the return of Devlin, who is racing the clock to stop a group of cyber-terrorists and militant insurgents from plunging America into anarchy.
We have 20 copies of EARLY WARNING to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, August 27th at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from EARLY WARNING.
-Click here to read Michael Walsh’s bio.
-Click here to see Michael Walsh’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for EARLY WARNING.
-Click hereA> to watch a trailer for EARLY WARNING.
More about EARLY WARNING:
"All Enemies Foreign And Domestic" is the National Security Agency's motto. The NSA's most lethal weapon is back. Codenamed Devlin, he operates in the darkest recesses of the US government. When international cyber-terrorists allow a deadly and cunning band of radical insurgents to breach the highest levels of national security, Devlin must take down an enemy bent on destroying America --- an enemy more violent and ruthless than the world has ever known.
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Click here to read more about Michael Walsh and EARLY WARNING.
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Now in Stores: THREE STATIONS by Martin Cruz Smith |
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THREE STATIONS: An Arkady Renko Novel by Martin Cruz Smith (Mystery)
In THREE STATIONS, investigator Arkady Renko’s skills are put to their most severe test. Though he has been technically suspended from the prosecutor’s office for once again turning up unpleasant truths, he strives to solve a last case: the death of an elegant young woman whose body is found in a construction trailer on the perimeter of Moscow’s main rail hub. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
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Click here to read a review of THREE STATIONS.
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Now in Stores: I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman |
I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman (Mystery)
In 1973, a bank robber and his accomplice held four people hostage in Stockholm, Sweden, and the bizarre incident inspired Nils Bejerot, a psychiatrist and criminologist, to coin the term “Stockholm syndrome” to describe the phenomena of captives beginning to have positive and even caring feelings toward their captors. In her latest novel, Laura Lippman at once explores Stockholm syndrome and turns it on its head. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
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Click here to read a review of I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE.
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Now in Stores: LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT by Lauren Weisberger |
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LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT by Lauren Weisberger (Fiction)
Lauren Weisberger’s debut novel, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, exposed the catwalks of the fashion industry. She then took us behind the velvet ropes in EVERYONE WORTH KNOWING and indulged us in CHASING HARRY WINSTON. LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT is Weisberger’s most romantic endeavor. Global stardom is no longer a fantasy for aspiring songwriter Julian Alter and his wife, Brooke. Chateau Marmont is synonymous with fame, and Julian and Brooke are on their way. Reviewed by Hillary Wagy.
-Click here to read an excerpt from LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT.
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Click here to read a review of LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT.
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ReadingGroupGuides.com's 10th Anniversary Contest --- $10,000 in Prizes! Contest Ends August 31st! |
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ReadingGroupGuides.com is celebrating its 10th anniversary!
We appreciate all of you who have been loyal readers and contributors to the site. One of the best parts about watching ReadingGroupGuides.com flourish over the last decade has been the opportunity to be a part of book clubs in far-flung places. Imagine if we could celebrate with all of you in person --- what an event that would be! Since that’s not possible, we’ve come up with a way to celebrate with you: a special contest with $10,000 in prizes.
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Click here to read all the contest details.
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This Week's Reviews |
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THE POSTCARD KILLERS by James Patterson and Liza Marklund (Thriller)
NYPD detective Jacob Kanon's daughter and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, young couples in various cities have been found dead. Little connects the murders, other than a postcard to the local newspaper that precedes each new victim. Now Kanon teams up with a Swedish reporter who has just received a postcard in Stockholm --- and they think they know where the next victims will be. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE POSTCARD KILLERS.
THE VIGILANTES: A Badge of Honor Novel by W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV (Thriller)
There's a sudden spike in murders in Philadelphia, but no one seems to mind much because the victims all appear to be lowlifes. The more Homicide Sergeant Matthew Payne investigates, however, the more he gets a bad feeling --- one that only gets worse when vigilante groups spring up claiming credit for some of the hits, even though Payne knows it can't be true. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
COMPOSED: A Memoir by Rosanne Cash (Memoir)
Singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash is a Grammy Award winner and the daughter of Johnny Cash. She is also a mother, sister, wife, friend, businesswoman and stepdaughter --- not to mention the fact that she is quite a fine author. In this beautifully written memoir, Cash shares her creative and personal journey with humor and insight. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
TEMPTED BY TROUBLE by Eric Jerome Dickey (Fiction)
Dmytryk Knight was once a respectable man --- college educated, happily married, with a stable job at a car factory in Detroit. But when a crippling recession annihilates the auto industry, he and his wife Cora are suddenly without jobs. Spurred on by Cora, Dmytryk finds an alternate way of making a living: robbing banks. Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton.
HAILEY’S WAR by Jodi Compton (Thriller)
Hailey Cain has a history of testing the limits of her fate, but she also has secrets --- the biggest of which led her to leave West Point just two months short of graduation. As a favor for an old friend from her former life in Los Angeles, Hailey agrees to escort a young Mexican woman across the border to a remote mountain town in Sierra Madre. But what happens there will alter Hailey's life irrevocably. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
DOG BLOOD by David Moody (Thriller)
The Earth has been torn into two parts by an irreversible division. Whether due to nature, or the unknown depths of the mind itself, everyone is now either Human or Hater. Victim or killer. Amidst this indiscriminate carnage, Danny McCoyne is on a mission to find his daughter Ellis, convinced that her shared Hater condition means her allegiance is to people like him. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
BLIND MAN’S ALLEY by Justin Peacock (Legal Thriller)
Justin Peacock’s follow-up to his Edgar Award-nominated debut novel, A CURE FOR NIGHT, is a taut, topical and socially alert thriller set in the cutthroat world of New York City real estate. BLIND MAN’S ALLEY is a suspenseful and kaleidoscopic journey through a world where the only rule is self-preservation. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
BEAUTIFUL MALICE by Rebecca James (Psychological Suspense)
BEAUTIFUL MALICE, Australian novelist Rebecca James's first book to be published in the United States, is as much about grief and recovery as it is about murder, revenge and, yes, malice. It unfolds a haunting story in which people, motives and circumstances are never what they seem. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
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Click here to read this week's reviews.
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Young Adult Books You Won’t Want to Miss |
As you may or may not know, our company, The Book Report Network, has a number of websites about books and authors in addition to Bookreporter.com. Throughout the year, Bookreporter.com features adult books on Teenreads.com, our site for young adult readers, that we think will have definite appeal to a teen audience. In the spirit of sharing, we are now spotlighting a selection of titles each month from Teenreads.com that we believe are great reads that you might enjoy.
Here are our latest featured titles:
DANIEL X: DEMONS AND DRUIDS by James Patterson and Adam Sadler (Science Fiction)
Daniel X's hunt to eliminate each and every intergalactic criminal on Earth is always relentless, but this time, it's getting personal. Number Three on the List of Alien Outlaws takes the form of raging, soul-possessing fire. And fire transports Daniel back to the most traumatic event of his life --- the death of his parents.
THE THIN EXECUTIONER by Darren Shan (Fantasy/Horror)
In this daring adventure inspired by a well-known classic, a scrawny young man seeks to become the high executioner of his people --- an esteemed title achieved through trial in battle. Jebel Rum's best hope for winning is in gaining invincibility, and herein lies his story of a year-long quest to the mountain of Tubaygat, where he searches for the herculean gifts bestowed on those willing to sacrifice a slave's life --- in Jebel's case, a friend.
GLIMPSE by Carol Lynch Williams (Fiction)
Twelve-year-old Hope's life is turned upside down when her older sister, Lizzie, becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself. Throughout the course of this lyrical and heartbreaking narrative, readers and Hope discover that the mother is prostituting Lizzie, and it’s up to Hope to bring the truth to light to save her sister.
THE FOOL’S GIRL by Celia Rees (Historical Fiction)
Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission. Her journey has been long and her adventures many, but it is not until she meets the playwright William Shakespeare that she gets to tell the entire story from beginning to end.
FAT VAMPIRE: A Never Coming of Age Story by Adam Rex (Fiction)
Doug Lee is not your typical vampire. He is short, overweight, and feeds on the blood of cows. It doesn’t help that he can’t score with any high school girl, especially the new exchange student, or that the host of “Vampire Hunters” is desperate to hunt him down to improve ratings.
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Click here to see all the young adult books you won't want to miss.
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Poll and Question of the Week: Books into Movies |
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Poll:
Do you typically like to read the book before you see the movie on which it is based, or vice versa?
I like reading the book before seeing the movie.
I like seeing the movie before reading the book.
I don’t have a preference.
I’m not sure.
Does having a film adaptation give you more incentive to read the book on which it is based?
Yes
No
I'm not sure.
-Click here to answer our poll.
Question:
What was your favorite movie that was based on a book, and what was your biggest disappointment?
-Click here to answer our question.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books! |
Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
br /> This week we have three great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman, THE LAST LIE by Stephen White and SPIDER BONES by Kathy Reichs. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon ET on Friday, August 27th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.
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Click here for more details about Word of Mouth.
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Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by August 31, 2010 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: BURN: An Anna Pigeon Novel by Nevada Barr, I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman, THE RED QUEEN by Philippa Gregory, SPIDER BONES by Kathy Reichs and THREE STATIONS by Martin Cruz Smith. Nikki from Bridgeville, PA was last month's winner. She won CORDUROY MANSIONS by Alexander McCall Smith, LIVE TO TELL: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel by Lisa Gardner, THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR by Daniel Silva, RULES OF BETRAYAL by Christopher Reich, and STAR ISLAND by Carl Hiaasen.
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