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April 13, 2012

Bookreporter.com Newsletter April 13, 2012
Get Lucky on Friday the 13th….We Have Book Ideas for You!

When we left off last week, I was on the Outer Banks headed to the opening of Duck’s Cottage Downtown in Manteo, which is located where the Manteo Booksellers used to be. Jamie Layton, one of the co-owners, is known to many of you for contributing Bookreporter.com reviews and interviews through the years. Jamie --- who has been one of the managers of the original Duck’s Cottage, which is still going strong in Duck --- first got the idea to open this new store in early October and called to chat with me about her plans for it.

I stopped by to see the empty space on New Year’s Eve, and thus it was really exciting to be at the ribbon cutting and see the store opened and busy on Friday night. You can see a photo of me with Jamie, Allen Lehew (owner of Duck’s Cottage in Duck) and her business partner, Paige Griffin. I bought four books while we were there to be sure to keep my sons Greg and Cory and son 2A, Josh, reading.

My personal vacation reading continued with the books shown above --- HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL by Robert Goolrick (on sale June 12th), TO THE LAST BREATH: A Memoir of Going to Extremes by Francis Slakey (this will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick when it releases on May 8th), WILD: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed and CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter (July 3rd). You can see what I had to say about them in my Vacation Blog: Part Two here. In between rounds of golf, my husband read --- and enjoyed --- THE ART OF FIELDING and THE STARBOARD SEA. Next up for him is IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner (July 31st).

I got back to New York just in time to get to meet Vaddey at a fabulous pre-publication lunch that was thrown in her honor by her editor and publisher. As you may recall, I was so impressed by this debut novel about a young girl who is torn from her home and the life she and her family know --- and sent to the “killing fields” during the brutal Khmer Rouge uprising. Vaddey was just a delight, and we had the opportunity to talk about her research for the book, which included a trip back to Cambodia. And as the newsletter where I talked about my early read of her work had been shared with her, she also was very excited to talk to me about Greg’s enjoyment of it as well as mine. More on this book in the months to come.

As always, in addition to sharing a look at what’s ahead, we also are sharing books that already are in stores.

We are happy to be featuring Marc Cameron, author of ACT OF TERROR, which will be on sale May 1st as the latest author in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight this week. The U.S. is witnessing a new wave of mass terror that’s rapidly spreading across the country. Special Agent Jericho Quinn has seen the warning signs. As a classified "instrument" of the CIA reporting directly to the President, Quinn knows that these random acts of violence pose a clear and present danger. The search for terrorists has escalated into an all-out witch hunt. And somehow, Quinn's name is on the list. We hope you will get your name on our list of possible winners of one of 25 copies of ACT OF TERROR. Enter by signing up here by Thursday, April 26th at noon ET.

Speaking of contests, we have two more going on right now that you have less than a week to enter (the contests end on Thursday, April 19th at noon ET) --- our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight for TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas (enter here to win) and our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight for DEVIOUS by Lisa Jackson (enter here to win). And read more about both of these books later in this newsletter.

This week, we’re commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster with our first-ever Bookreporter.com bookshelf --- a feature that we developed on our newest site, 20SomethingReads.com. This bookshelf features 20 recently released books about the tragedy, including UNSINKABLE: The Full Story of the RMS Titanic by Daniel Allen Butler, THE DRESSMAKER by Kate Alcott, SHADOW OF THE TITANIC by Andrew Wilson, and 17 more. Check it out, and let us know what you think of the new Bookshelf feature!

Four years ago, we celebrated Greg’s high school graduation with a cruise on the QE2, and on the 96th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy, we sailed right over the site and held a memorial service complete with tossing a wreath overboard. It’s one of those memories that still gives me goosebumps as I still recall looking out over the starboard side of the ship and not seeing anything for miles. The wind was whipping around, and I could picture the utter isolation of being in a lifeboat on the water.

And as always, we have reviews…..


As I wrote on my vacation reading blog last week, I enjoyed John Grisham’s CALICO JOE. Set in the summer of 1973, Joe Castle quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever.

We have TWO reviews for this book. Ron Kaplan, our resident baseball fan, says, “What gives the novel a leg-up is the attention to detail in (re)creating the game some 40 years ago... The author has certainly done his homework, seamlessly incorporating real events and players such as Willie Mays...Tom Seaver, Rick Monday, and Don Kessinger, a real friend of Grisham.” And Stuart Shiffman, who has read all of Grisham’s legal thrillers, has this to say: “CALICO JOE is more than a baseball story. Grisham often turns to family, using redemption and reconciliation as a theme of his writing, whether on death row or, as in this book, on the baseball diamond.”

In COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline, Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, “COME HOME...neatly brings together classic elements of mystery in a contemporary setting while addressing the social issues inherent in what are delicately referred to as blended families.... This is a book that you will read as quickly as you can and share with friends, who will want to pass it on as well.”

Meanwhile, DROP DEAD HEALTHY: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection is the product of “experiential journalist” A.J. Jacobs’ latest experiment: he spent two full years on a quest to become the healthiest man alive. From veganism to “Strollercize” classes to bouldering with cavemen, he took on every health and diet regimen under the sun. The story of his transformation is not only extremely entertaining, but it just may be the healthiest book ever written. Ron Kaplan calls it “a smart and funny book.... Jacobs is curious, thoughtful and respectful of other ideas, no matter how nuts they may be.” I asked A.J. in email if he had found typing to be a sport. He assured me, “There is indeed a chapter on the importance of finger fitness. So fear not!”


As we shared last week, THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan is about Clover, Addison, Mia and Jane, who were roommates at Harvard until their graduation in 1989. Twenty years later, their lives are in freefall. Like all Harvard grads, they’ve kept abreast of one another via the red book, which contains brief autobiographical essays by fellow alumni. But there’s the story we tell the world, and then there’s the real story, as these former classmates will learn during their 20th reunion weekend. I have a theory that women get more honest as the years go on. In our 20s and 30s, we extol the perfect moments of our lives, whereas by the time we hit 40, I think we are all a bit more comfortable noting that things are not so perfect. And this book looks beyond that veneer!

Reviewer Kathy Weissman says, “In a reunion novel, the closer the reader is to the generation under the microscope, the more important it is to get the details right. Kogan does. She has a great eye and ear, nailing the ironic cadences, earnest preoccupations and buzzwords of the fortysomethings who people her book.” We also have an interview with Deborah, which you can see here.

Next up is HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER. In this companion to HEROES FOR MY SON, Brad Meltzer brings together the stories of 55 remarkable individuals, from intellectual explorers such as Marie Curie, Sally Ride and Jane Goodall to cultural champions like Billie Jean King; from implacable public figures such as Rosa Parks and Winston Churchill to artistic icons like Leonardo da Vinci and Stevie Wonder; and beyond. Joe Hartlaub says, “Perhaps the book’s greatest strength is that, title notwithstanding, you could easily give it to your sons as well. There is much to learn, digest and remember here.... HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER and its companion volume are keepers to be read again and again to successive generations.” Click here to read an interview with Brad about the book.

We also have a review of Libby Fischer Hellmann's new novel, A BITTER VEIL. I had the pleasure of meeting Libby last September in St. Louis where we talked about the book. I happily read an early manuscript and was impressed with both the well-told story as well as a chance to learn more about the Middle East through the lens of a novel. Anna and Nouri, both studying in Chicago, fall in love despite their very different backgrounds. Anna, who has never been close to her parents, is more than happy to return with Nouri to his native Iran, to be embraced by his wealthy family. Beginning their married life together in 1978, their world is abruptly turned upside down by the overthrow of the Shah, and the rise of the Islamic Republic. What follows is a harrowing story of what happens to Anna as she finds herself alone in a city filled with hate and accusing eyes.

Reviewer Amy Alessio says, "Readers will be drawn in through the well-researched inside look at Iran in the late 1970s and gain perspective on what the people in that time and place endured. A BITTER VEIL is so thought-provoking that it especially would be a great title for book clubs to discuss." We agree with Amy, which is why we're running a contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com where 20 readers will have the opportunity to win a copy of the book for their group. Click here for all the details. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 4th at noon ET.


Last week we shared, Eloisa JamesPARIS IN LOVE with you, along with an interview. I noted that I am picking this as my latest Bets On selection. You can read about why I selected this lovely literary escape here. Bring on the baguettes, the cheese and some rich dark chocolate!

Our poll this week asks, “What is the format of the book you are reading right now?” Weigh in here. By the way, in our poll last week, where we asked what genres people would like to see more of on Bookreporter.com, a number of you noted Christian books. I wanted to be sure you are aware of our website, FaithfulReader.com, which we update monthly with Christian content.

Many thanks to our reader, Betsy, who schooled me last week that it’s Dr Pepper with no period. Ah, the things I learn from our readers.

This Wednesday night I am scheduled to pick up my Book Givers’ box for World Book Night at the Clinton Book Shop in Clinton. I’m very excited that I’m giving away A RELIABLE WIFE by the aforementioned Robert Goolrick. Next week, I will explain why I am really excited about sharing this title --- there’s a real Bookreporter.com tie-in to it, besides the fact that it was one of my Bets On selections. If any of you are going to be Book Givers, be sure to let me know what you have been selected to give away and where you will be giving your books out.

For those of you who lead --- or facilitate --- book groups, I want to be sure that BookExpo America, the big book trade show, which will be held in New York from June 5th-7th, is on your agenda. Book Club Leaders/Facilitators (You must lead an official book group of at least 10 members and meet at least 10 times a year at a minimum.) are eligible to attend this industry-only event. You can see details on how to register here. Of special note to book groups, I will be moderating an event the morning of Wednesday, June 6th beginning at 9AM, which will give a look at the upcoming fall/winter books. We are still working out details for this program, which we are expanding from the format we have been using the last two years. More on this to come, but note you must be registered to attend the show in order to attend this session.

On the weekend agenda --- gorgeous weather, which may call for planting pansies. Cory is taking the ACT test tomorrow, and Greg is banging out some papers for school, including the start of a 40-page murder mystery novel that he has been having fun plotting. We were discussing it last night --- and I think we honed in on the perfect murder setup. Tom’s birthday is Monday, and his plans for celebrating include…you guessed it….golf and car racing! For me, more reading and a visit to the yarn store to “discuss” the neckline of a sweater that I made. WHY do I see ripping out in my future?

Happy Reading!!!

Carol Fitzgerald (
Carol@bookreporter.com)

Now in Stores: CALICO JOE by John Grisham
CALICO JOE by John Grisham (Fiction)
In the summer of 1973, Joe Castle quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan and Stuart Shiffman.
Click here to read TWO reviews.
 
Now in Stores: COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline
COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline (Mystery/Thriller)
Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read a review.
 
Now in Stores: DROP DEAD HEALTHY by A.J. Jacobs
DROP DEAD HEALTHY: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A.J. Jacobs (Memoir)
Hospitalized with a freak case of tropical pneumonia and ashamed of a middle-aged body best described as “a python that swallowed a goat,” A.J. Jacobs felt compelled to change his ways and get healthy. And he didn’t want only to lose weight, or finish a triathlon, or lower his cholesterol. His ambitions were far greater: maximal health from head to toe. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

-Visit www.AJJacobs.com.

 
Click here to read a review.
 
An Interview with Brad Meltzer, Author of HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER
Brad Meltzer takes a break from his legal thrillers to write HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER. This follow-up to HEROES FOR MY SON is a compilation of 55 inspiring role models for his daughter --- from his mother to Ben Franklin to The Three Stooges. In this interview, Meltzer talks about how he chose the different heroes in the book. He also shares the reaction to both Heroes volumes from readers, the process of finding and including rare photographs of the heroes, and the hopes he has for his children.

HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER by Brad Meltzer (Parenting/Inspiration)
In this companion to HEROES FOR MY SON, Brad Meltzer brings together the stories of 55 remarkable individuals, from intellectual explorers such as Marie Curie, Sally Ride and Jane Goodall to cultural champions like Billie Jean King; from implacable public figures such as Rosa Parks and Winston Churchill to artistic icons like Leonardo da Vinci and Stevie Wonder; and beyond. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read a review.

 
Click here to read the interview.
 
An Interview with Deborah Copaken Kogan, Author of THE RED BOOK
In Deborah Copaken Kogan’s new novel, THE RED BOOK, four best friends who graduated Harvard together meet again at their 20th reunion. They’ve followed each other’s lives through the university’s red book, an annual alumni publication, but the truth about each of them will come out during the course of the weekend, and they will reconnect in ways they never expected. In this interview, Kogan shares the unique evolution of her idea to write the book. She also talks about the inspiration she drew from her personal life, and discusses her passions for photography and screenwriting.

THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan (Fiction)
The Big Chill meets The Group, says the jacket blurb on this smart new addition to the college-reunion genre --- and it’s not far wrong. Focusing on the 20-years-after re-meet of four women who graduated from Harvard in 1989, THE RED BOOK is a sardonic, diverting love letter to author Deborah Copaken Kogan’s generation. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.

 
Click here to read the interview.
 
New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Marc Cameron, Author of ACT OF TERROR
We have 25 copies of ACT OF TERROR by Marc Cameron, which will be in stores May 1st, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 26th at noon ET.

More about ACT OF TERROR:
From coast to coast, our nation is witnessing a new wave of terror. Suicide bombers incite blind panic and paralyzing fear. A flight attendant tries to crash an airliner. A police officer opens fire on fans in a stadium. And at CIA headquarters, a Deputy Director goes on a murderous rampage. The perpetrators appear to be American --- but they are covert agents in a vast network of terror, selected and trained for one purpose only: the complete annihilation of America.

Special Agent Jericho Quinn has seen the warning signs. As a classified “instrument” of the CIA reporting directly to the President, Quinn knows that these random acts of violence pose a clear and present danger. But Quinn may not be able to stop it. The search for terrorists has escalated into an all-out witch hunt. And somehow, Quinn’s name is on the list…

-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Marc Cameron’s bio.
-Visit www.MarcCameronBooks.com.
-Click here to connect with Marc Cameron on Facebook.

 
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
 
Remembering the Titanic

The RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank into the ocean on April 15, 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. The ship was designed to be the most revered in comfort and luxury, complete with a gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants, and magnificent cabins. She was the largest ship of her time and was deemed “unsinkable” by newspapers around the world. Because of a lack of lifeboats (many of which were launched only partly filled), a total of 1,514 people out of the 2,224 on board died.

In honor of the Titanic's 100th anniversary, we present to you a collection of 20 recently released books about the disaster. These fiction and nonfiction titles, many of which are also appropriate for younger audiences, reveal new and interesting facts about that tragic day, and feature a number of first-hand accounts, bringing back much of the heartbreak and shock that resulted from this catastrophe. As the editors of LIFE Magazine & Books said, “One hundred years later, we are all paying attention again. But then: We have never not paid attention.”

Click here to see our bookshelf commemorating the Titanic.
 
Featured Historical Fiction Author: Sandra Dallas, Author of TRUE SISTERS
We have 35 copies of TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas, which will be in stores April 24th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.

More about TRUE SISTERS:
In order to encourage Mormon converts to emigrate to the promised land (Salt Lake City), a plan was implemented by Brigham Young himself: emigrants were outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts. The settlers were then expected to walk, pushing the handcarts, for the 1,300-mile journey from Iowa City. Several “companies,” as they were called, completed this perilous trek and successfully reached Salt Lake City. But for the Martin Company, one of the very last groups to leave from Iowa City that year, the trip proved disastrous.

TRUE SISTERS tells the story of four women, brought together on the harrowing journey of the Martin Handcart Company, and united by the promises of prosperity and salvation in a new land. Through the ties of female friendships and the strength born from suffering, each one tests the boundaries of her faith and learns the real meaning of survival along the way.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sandra Dallas's bio.
-Visit SandraDallas.com.
-Click here to connect with Sandra Dallas on Facebook.
 
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
 
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Lisa Jackson, Author of DEVIOUS
We have 25 copies of DEVIOUS: A Rick Bentz/Reuben Montoya Novel by Lisa Jackson, which is now available in paperback, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.

More about DEVIOUS:
When New Orleans detective Reuben Montoya is called to investigate a murder with his partner Rick Bentz, he’s shocked to recognize the victim. Camille Renard, an old high-school friend, was found on the altar of St. Marguerite’s cathedral, dressed in a yellowed bridal gown and viciously garroted…

Valerie Houston’s younger sister, Camille, had a knack for making bad choices. She left Texas after falling for Val’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Slade. But as Val digs deeper into Camille’s death, she realizes how little she really knows about her sister and their shared past.

Soon more bodies are found brutally slaughtered. No one is beyond suspicion. No one is safe --- least of all Valerie, whose connection to a twisted case is closer, and more dangerous, than she ever could have imagined. For this killer knows all, forgives nothing, and will not rest until Valerie becomes the next to pay for her sins…

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to see the book trailer.
-Click here to read Lisa Jackson's bio.
-Connect with Lisa Jackson on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here for your chance to meet Lisa Jackson and win some fabulous prizes, including a signed copy of her forthcoming book, YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

 
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
 
Paperback Spotlight: SAY HER NAME by Francisco Goldman
SAY HER NAME by Francisco Goldman (Fiction)
Celebrated novelist Francisco Goldman was barely two years into his marriage to the beautiful young writer Aura Estrada when, on their belated honeymoon, Aura broke her neck while bodysurfing. Francisco was blamed for Aura’s death by her family and, overcome with guilt, he wanted to die too. Instead, he wrote his Prix Femina–winning novel, SAY HER NAME, “a work of raw grief refined into lyrical elegance” (Sunday Telegraph) that has captured the hearts of readers and reviewers across the globe. Without pathos, Goldman brings his love back to life. SAY HER NAME is a love story, a bold inquiry into destiny and accountability, and a tribute to Aura --- who she was and who she would have been.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Francisco Goldman's bio.

 
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
 
Paperback Spotlight: TURN OF MIND by Alice LaPlante
TURN OF MIND by Alice LaPlante (Literary Thriller)
When Dr. Jennifer White’s best friend, Amanda, is found dead with four of her fingers surgically removed, Dr. White is the prime suspect. But she herself doesn’t know whether she did it. Told in White’s own voice, fractured and eloquent, a picture emerges of the surprisingly intimate, complex alliance between these life-long friends --- two proud, forceful women who were at times each other’s most formidable adversary. As the investigation into the murder deepens and White’s relationships with her live-in caretaker and two grown children intensify, a chilling question lingers: is White’s shattered memory preventing her from revealing the truth or helping her to hide it?

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read our interview.
-Click here to read Alice LaPlante’s bio.
-Visit AliceLaPlante.com.

 
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
 
Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Kevin O’Brien, Author of TERRIFIED
TERRIFIED by Kevin O'Brien (Thriller)
Megan Keeler died years ago --- or so everyone believes. In fact, she disappeared to escape from her sadistic husband, Glenn. When dismembered body parts were found near their home, Glenn was convicted of his wife’s murder. And Megan, terrified for her unborn child’s safety, never came forward with the truth.

Since then, Megan has built a new life in Seattle for herself and her son, Josh. She’s never forgotten that she’s a fugitive, and Josh knows nothing about her past…but someone does. First, there are anonymous emails and threats, just as she learns that Glenn has been released from prison. Then the unthinkable happens: a masked man breaks into their home and abducts Josh.

To save her son, Megan must put herself at the mercy of a maniac. Is Glenn a cold-blooded killer determined to destroy her world piece by piece, or is the truth even more twisted? Megan thought she knew fear, but her nightmare is only beginning…

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read our interview.
-Click here to read Kevin O’Brien’s bio.
-Click here to follow Kevin O’Brien on Twitter.

 
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
 
This Week’s Reviews
THE LIMPOPO ACADEMY OF PRIVATE DETECTION: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
Precious Ramotswe is haunted by a repeated dream: a vision of a tall, strange man who waits for her beneath an acacia tree. But she’s far too busy to worry about it. Mma Potokwane has been dismissed from her post as matron at the orphan farm. Can the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency help restore the beloved matron to her rightful position? Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

DORCHESTER TERRACE: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel by Anne Perry (Mystery)
The 27th novel starring the husband and wife team of Charlotte and Thomas Pitt features their elevation into a world of wealth and power that they are not used to. Their new-found success and change of social status comes along with a price and a moral dilemma that will push them to the brink and threaten their future. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

TRUTH LIKE THE SUN by Jim Lynch (Fiction)
In 1962, Roger Morgan, the (fictional) organizer of the Seattle World’s Fair, turns the event into an international success and becomes a powerful behind-the-scenes force in state politics. But when Morgan runs for mayor in 2001, Helen Gulanos, an aggressive young reporter new to the city, uncovers information that suggests Morgan may not be the great and honorable man of local legend. Reviewed by Michael Magras.

THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS by Katherine Howe (Historical Mystery)
Sibyl Allston is a woman looking for answers completely unaware that her method could possibly be her, and her family’s, downfall. With a mother and sister dead and brother on a path of self-destruction, Sibyl looks to the past and the future for comfort but finds it doesn’t exist in either place. Set in Boston’s Back Bay in 1915, THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS traps the reader in a family story full of sadness, guilt, and redemption. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

A TEENY BIT OF TROUBLE by Michael Lee West (Mystery)
In this follow-up to GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN, Charleston pastry chef Teeny Templeton witnesses a murder and discovers that her lawyer-boyfriend, Coop O’Malley, has been keeping secrets: the victim’s 10-year-old daughter may be his child. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

-Visit www.MichaelLeeWest.com.

MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA PRESENTS VENGEANCE edited by Lee Child (Mystery Anthology)
When a different kind of justice is needed --- swift, effective and personal --- a new type of avenger must take action. VENGEANCE features new stories by bestselling crime writers including Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane and Karin Slaughter, as well as some of today's brightest rising talents. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE SUGAR FROSTED NUTSACK by Mark Leyner (Fiction)
High above the bustling streets of Dubai, in the world's tallest and most luxurious skyscraper, reside the gods and goddesses of the modern world, who have wreaked mischief and havoc on mankind. Ike Karton, an unemployed butcher from New Jersey, is their current obsession. Reviewed by Shelby Wardlaw.

A BITTER VEIL by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Literary Thriller)
Anna and Nouri, both studying in Chicago, fall in love despite their very different backgrounds. Anna, who has never been close to her parents, is more than happy to return with Nouri to his native Iran, to be embraced by his wealthy family. Beginning their married life together in 1978, their world is abruptly turned upside down by the overthrow of the Shah, and the rise of the Islamic Republic. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

-Click here for the reading group guide.

VIRAL by James Lilliefors (Thriller)
In remote pockets of the Third World, a deadly virus is quietly sweeping through impoverished farming villages and shanty towns. Meanwhile, in Washington, a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box may be the key to stopping the crisis --- if, that is, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor, can decipher the puzzle before time runs out. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

BLOOD IN THE WATER: A Gregor Demarkian Novel by Jane Haddam (Mystery)
When a body is found floating in the pool of exclusive Waldorf Pines and a charred corpse is found in the pool house, the police bring in Gregor Demarkian to unravel the mystery. They thought they had it all wrapped up, but results from a DNA test put their theory in doubt. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

 
This Week's Poll and Word of Mouth Contest

Poll:

What is the format of the book you are reading right now?

Hardcover
Trade paperback
Mass market paperback
eBook
Audiobook
I'm not reading any books right now.

-Click here to answer our poll.


Word of Mouth:

Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from April 6th to April 20th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline, DROP DEAD HEALTHY: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A.J. Jacobs, and THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the book, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.

-Click here to enter the contest.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.


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