May 4, 2012

Yesterday, Greg went to his last college class; one exam and some papers, and it’s “no more pencils, no more books.” Well, schoolbooks that is. I was thinking, wow, that was a FAST four years! Then I did some math and some comparisons about his school life and my work life since September 2008. While he took something like 32 classes and read probably something like 70 books for school, I have written approximately 184 (scary to think about that) Bookreporter.com newsletters (and that does not count newsletters for the other six sites that I read or edit) and have read probably 600 books. Ahhhh the reading and writing that's still to come…for pure pleasure. How nice is THAT to look forward to?

By the way, if you are the parent of a college student emerging from the school year’s worth of papers, lectures and classes --- and they are looking for some pleasure reading --- be sure to send them over to 20SomethingReads.com. No grades, no deadlines, just a lot of great reading! Our newest feature there is a bookshelf of YA Books to Explore that was curated by Sara Ingle, a student from Fordham University. She clearly had time for some pleasure reading while in school and presents a genre that is hot hot hot!

Of course, completely sentimental memories crash in around a milestone like this, as well as calculated ones like what I outlined above. For some reason, I keep thinking back to Greg’s first day of nursery school, which somehow is crystal clear. I took the day off from work, and Tom came home just before lunchtime to take him to his afternoon session. I was bracing myself for the big goodbye, which never happened. I went to say goodbye and something motherly meaningful, but before I could, he was gone…off to play without a look back at mom.

We went to lunch, and I was bemoaning that he had just walked off. My husband said all the right things, like “He feels secure” and “He is happy,” which, for the husbands who read this newsletter, ARE the right words. I was harboring thoughts that maybe he did not need me, which, in the days, weeks, months and years ahead, I learned not to be true. Later that week, I learned that there was one mother whose son was filled with such deep-seated separation anxiety that she could not leave the bench outside the classroom and the little boy wore a stuffed snake around his neck every day. By the way, years later, I ran into that mother; we had a good chuckle out of those days, and she assured me that somewhere along the way the snake did disappear. Everything is a phase…a moment…and a way to get to the next one.

Many evenings, I decompress on the couch answering email, and since everyone else is often asleep, I watch “House Hunters” and “House Hunters International.” It’s just like "Law and Order" and other shows that are predictable, mindless entertainment. I'm always amazed at the prices of real estate outside the NY metro area. Over months of watching, I have picked up what every house MUST have. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, dual sinks in the master....oh, and hardwood floors. It's like the pod people are house hunting. And have you ever noticed the dialogue? You can tell it’s scripted, because every five shows the same phrases get tossed around. We had dinner at my mother-in-law’s house the other night, and we had great fun talking about these shows as soon as she asked our opinion about what to get for a new shower door. Very amusing.

By the way, the season finale of "The Good Wife" was an example of some great writing ratcheting up the tension. "Mad Men," on the other hand, has had some good moments this season, but it’s not what people are yapping about around the water cooler. Interesting how things can go cold like that. I love to look at why --- what happened to make that happen?

I look at this programming for an interesting reason. It’s what people do when they are not reading. I constantly am looking at parallels to what is working for people in books --- and reading --- beyond the very obvious book/movie tie-ins. And what happens when an author’s work goes cold as well. I still love those moments when I read a book and think, that really was so very, very well done.

And with that in mind, let’s explore some books for you to read this week….

ROBERT B. PARKER’S LULLABY by Ace Atkins introduces readers to a savvy 14-year-old named Mattie Sullivan. When Mattie asks Spenser to look into her mother's death, he's not completely convinced by her claim that the original investigation was botched. But her need for closure and her determination to make things right hit Spenser where he lives: they're the very characteristics he abides by. This is the first Spenser book Atkins has written, having taken over the series from the late Robert B. Parker. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, "Right off the bat, I will pay Ace Atkins my greatest possible compliment regarding LULLABY: I forgot that I was reading an Ace Atkins novel. Fans of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser mysteries have been holding their collective breath since the announcement that Atkins would continue the iconic series following Parker’s sudden passing. His first chronicle of Spenser is everything that readers could reasonably want and expect."

In LOTS OF CANDLES, PLENTY OF CAKE, author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize Anna Quindlen writes about looking back and ahead --- and celebrating it all --- as she considers marriage, girlfriends, our mothers, faith, loss, all the stuff in our closets, and more. Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon says, "Each delightful, wise and witty essay can stand alone, and gives the reader much to ponder... LOTS OF CANDLES, PLENTY OF CAKE is an empowering, uplifting read for women at any stage of their life's journey, but those nearing or past middle age will especially embrace it."

In THE BEGINNER’S GOODBYE, Anne Tyler explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances --- in their house, on the roadway, in the market. Reviewer Carole Turner says, "Anne Tyler wraps up this unique story in a way that will please readers.... Fans of Tyler’s work will find THE BEGINNER’S GOODBYE to be a slight departure from her previous offerings, but a pleasant addition to her long list of popular novels." We have a reading group guide for this title that you will want to explore if you are in a book group.

We also have a review and interview for Marc Cameron’s ACT OF TERROR, our featured Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title. From coast to coast, our nation is witnessing a new wave of terror. 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. The search for terrorists has escalated into an all-out witch hunt. And somehow, CIA Special Agent Jericho Quinn’s name is on the list. Joe Hartlaub says, "ACT OF TERROR is one of those books that should come with a warning on the cover: 'Fasten seatbelt and secure objects around you before opening and reading.' It needs this message because the story starts out fast and accelerates right to the end." By the way, early reader feedback on this from our prize winners has been great, though people say it’s so realistic it’s chilling.

I have picked another Bets On title for this week --- Brandon W. Jones’ ALL WOMAN AND SPRINGTIME. The book opens in North Korea, where Gyong-ho (Gi) is working at a sewing machine in a cold factory. In her view are photos of The Great Leader, Kim Il-Sung, and his son, Dear Leader Kim Jong-il. These two men, whom she has not met, dominate her life as all actions during the day for her and her fellow citizens are done to please them. From the start, Jones sets up the confinement of this world where each day is measured in tiny bits and bites of success, and there is a constant foreshadowing that danger is everywhere and the world is not safe. But when Gi escapes with a friend, she finds another world just as confining and a lot more dangerous. What takes her to a better place is her brilliant mind. Reviewer Melanie Smith says, "ALL WOMAN AND SPRINGTIME is a serious, well-written, starkly affecting novel that is thoughtful on many levels --- human, philosophical and political.... This is a worthy read for anyone who enjoys a gritty, intense, meaningful story, particularly those who loved MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA."

This week, we also have a review of Alison Bechdel’s ARE YOU MY MOTHER? In this graphic memoir, Bechdel tells the story of her complex relationship with her mother, who always longed to be an artist but struggled creatively and personally throughout her life. GraphicNovelReporter.com's Editorial Director John Hogan has a terrific interview with Bechdel, whose previous work was FUN HOME, which was Time magazine’s #1 Book of the Year a few years ago. John has this to say about the book: "As always, Bechdel’s work is solidly textured and deeply meaningful. It fits fine with a top-level, quick reading, but its truest rewards come from lingering on its pages and seeing the deeply rooted connections she’s making." Interested in reading this book, perhaps as a first foray into reading a graphic novel? Then click here to enter a contest where you could win one of 50 copies that we're giving away.

With a new month comes an update to our New in Paperback feature. This month’s titles include SUMMER RENTAL by Mary Kay Andrews, THE ART OF FIELDING by Chad Harbach, COMING UP FOR AIR by Patti Callahan Henry and IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson, among many others.

And of course, May also brings a new Books on Screen. The Avengers and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel both come to theaters this month, among others, and there are plenty of TV shows and DVD releases to look forward to as well. Be sure to take a look at the feature here.

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is in full swing, and in case you need a break from staring at the screen (or watching from the stands, if you’re lucky!), we have a new baseball roundup, compiled by our baseball books guru, Ron Kaplan. The list includes five books to fill in those inevitable rain delays and interminable pitching changes. By the way, our house is a Yankees house, where I pay a lot less attention than everyone else. I am still teased for liking the games when Andy Pettitte used to pitch as I liked his eyes. Never utter a comment like that in a roomful of avid fans. Though they tell me he is coming up from the minors, so I may be watching with more interest!

Our Mother’s Day Blog feature, “Celebrating Authors and their Mothers,” has been fantastic! One piece is better than the next. This week, we had posts from Donia Bijan, Lisa Brackmann and her mother, T. Greenwood, Leslie Maitland, Melanie Gideon, Wendy Sherman, Kris D’Agostino, C.W. Gortner and Claire Cook. This weekend, we will be featuring Sandra Dallas (Saturday) and Ceri Radford (Sunday), and still to come are Adriana Trigiani, Claire Bidwell Smith, Mark Sullivan, and more!

The clock is ticking to enter our Mother’s Day contest, which closes on Tuesday, May 8th at noon ET. Readers have the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Mother's Day gift baskets. Each basket is filled with a selection of eight varied and wonderful books, including ARE YOU MY MOTHER? by Alison Bechdel, GRACE by T. Greenwood, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, LOST AND FOUND by Geneen Roth, A NATURAL WOMAN by Carole King, NEXT TO LOVE by Ellen Feldman, THINK by Lisa Bloom, and THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown. Also included are a variety of gifts to treat mom, including Godiva truffles, a bath sponge shaped like a flower, an eye masque that can either be chilled or heated, and Tazo Cucumber White Tea that sounds lovely and has a hint of lime. Be sure to enter for a chance to win! You can share it with your mom if you are not a mom.

Last week’s poll continues, so be sure to weigh in on which upcoming books you’re most looking forward to reading. I have been checking in periodically during the week to see what you are sharing. Lots of fun to do that.

And a new Word of Mouth begins this week. Let us know what you’re reading for a chance to win 11th HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR by Steve Berry, and TO THE LAST BREATH: A Memoir of Going to Extremes by Francis Slakey.

E.L. James, the author of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, FIFTY SHADES DARKER and FIFTY SHADES FREED, has been touring the country with record crowds in attendance. A friend of mine wrote the other day and asked if I had read the books yet; I have read a few chapters of the first one, but of course I am well aware of all the buzz over this trilogy. She told me she had been hearing from friends that the books were “life-changing,” which begs me to ask. Have you read the books? Seen E.L. James? Thoughts and feedback are welcome. Shoot me a note at Carol@bookreporter.com with the subject line SHADES OF GREY. Would love to hear from you about this!

My mom's birthday is tomorrow; as she reads this newsletter, I am not allowed to disclose her age. There will be dinner, presents and cake on what we call “the really really day.” Probably in that order too. This weekend, I also am picking new pool tiles. For the past few years, the tiles on our 40-year-old pool have been tumbling off the walls, thus it’s time to get a whole new look going on here. You can guess what color most of the tiles are….yep, subtly different shades of aquamarine. Okay, darker versions of turquoise. I also need to pick coping, and I need to figure out where that word comes from since it makes zip sense to me. One of the coping samples is GRANITE. Oh dear, will THIS be the next "House Hunters" trend?

It’s been a really busy week, so I have not had much time for reading, which is not fun! I am looking forward to some downtime this weekend for reading, perhaps swinging in the hammock. Yes, hammock time is here again.

Here’s to a great week of reading for all of you…read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

In the midst of reading Alison Bechdel’s newest memoir, ARE YOU MY MOTHER?, an amazing thing happens: You begin to realize how truly universal this story is, regardless of the type of relationship you have with your own mother.

Bechdel won an Eisner Award for FUN HOME, her memoir regarding her father’s closeted homosexuality and suicide, and the personal aftermath she faced from both. In her latest, she tries to unlock the secrets of her relationship with her mother by delving into why her mother stopped hugging her at a very young age, how her mother encouraged and discouraged the work Bechdel does, and how all of it impacted her relationships with friends, lovers and therapists throughout her life.

The story is further examined through the lens of the writings of psychologist Donald Winnicott, who becomes a sort of father figure and reassuring presence to Bechdel. The need for parental approval and closeness fuels much of Bechdel’s work. In this interview, conducted by GraphicNovelReporter.com’s Editorial Director John Hogan, see what Bechdel has to say about writing the book, reliving the deeply personal stories, and finding out not only who her mother was but also who she herself is.

ARE YOU MY MOTHER?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel (Graphic Memoir)
In her highly anticipated follow-up to FUN HOME, bestselling author Alison Bechdel searches for the meaning of motherhood in her own life, not only from her actual mother but also from therapists, lovers, writers, and more. ARE YOU MY MOTHER? is a poignant, compelling and utterly fascinating journey from one of the most profound graphic creators of our era.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to look inside the book.
-Click here to enter for your chance to win a copy of the book.

LOTS OF CANDLES, PLENTY OF CAKE: A Memoir by Anna Quindlen (Memoir)
In this wise and wonderful collection of essays, bestselling author Anna Quindlen muses on female aging, using her own experiences to express the many challenges and pleasures to be found past the middle of life. The result: comforting, empowering and uplifting reading seemingly relayed by a very close friend who also happens to be a born storyteller. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

In Marc Cameron’s new thriller, ACT OF TERROR, Special Agent Jericho Quinn returns to investigate a rash of mass violence sweeping across the United States. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub, Cameron shares the various things he has in common with Quinn, including a love of motorcycles, a background in martial arts, and a knowledge of advanced weaponry. He also talks about how he became an author after over 20 years in law enforcement and recommends some of his favorite books and writers.

ACT OF TERROR by Marc Cameron (Thriller)
From coast to coast, our nation is witnessing a new wave of terror. 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. The search for terrorists has escalated into an all-out witch hunt. And somehow, CIA Special Agent Jericho Quinn’s name is on the list… Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Marc Cameron’s bio.
-Visit MarcCameronBooks.com.
-Click here to connect with Marc Cameron on Facebook.
-Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.

May's New in Paperback roundups include the following highlights:

THE ART OF FIELDING by Chad Harbach (Fiction)
At Westish College, a small school on the shore of Lake Michigan, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for big league stardom. But when a routine throw goes disastrously off course, the fates of five people are upended.

COMING UP FOR AIR by Patti Callahan Henry (Fiction)
After the sudden loss of her formidable mother, Lillian, Ellie discovers the late woman’s diary, which opens up a whole side to her mother she never knew. She decides to return to the summer house in coastal Alabama where Lillian spent the summer of 1961, in the hopes of learning more about her mother and, perhaps, find some closure for herself.

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson (History)
In 1933, William Dodd, the new American ambassador, arrives in Berlin, just as Hitler has been appointed chancellor. Dodd and his family watch as Germany falls under Hitler’s spell and the country is transformed. Why did the U.S. dismiss its ambassador’s warnings? Erik Larson takes a cold, hard look at this deplorable period in history.

SILENT MERCY by Linda Fairstein (Legal Thriller)
In the middle of the night, Prosecutor Alexandra Cooper is called to a church in Harlem. A woman’s decapitated body has been left burning on the steps. Three days later, a second is found in Little Italy. As Alex mines Manhattan’s houses of worship in search of a connection, she uncovers a terrible truth that puts her in the path of danger.

SUMMER RENTAL by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Ellis, Julia and Dorie, who have been best friends since grade school, now find themselves in their mid-30s and at the crossroads of life and love. A month renting an old beach house in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what each of them needs. But will this month in a summer rental steer them on the path to happiness and forgiveness?

-Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of April 30th, May 7th, May 14th, May 21st and May 28th.

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is in full swing, and in case you need a break from staring at the screen (or watching from the stands, if you’re lucky!), we have a new baseball roundup for you, compiled by our baseball books guru, Ron Kaplan. Memoirs seem to be the genre of choice this year for the Yankees and Mets, both for players and writers, and Ron takes a look at five of these recently released titles.
 

Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. Why not brighten her special day with some great books? From April 20th through May 8th, readers will have the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Mother’s Day gift baskets. Each basket is filled with a selection of eight varied and wonderful books, along with a variety of gifts to treat Mom: Godiva truffles, a bath sponge shaped like a flower, an eye masque that can either be chilled or heated, and Tazo Cucumber White Tea with a hint of lime.

Our featured Mother’s Day titles are:

• Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel
• Grace by T. Greenwood
• The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
• Lost and Found: One Woman's Story of Losing Her Money and Finding Her Life by Geneen Roth
• A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King
• Next To Love by Ellen Feldman
• Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World by Lisa Bloom
• The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

MIDNIGHT IN PEKING: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French (True Crime)
Peking in 1937 is a heady mix of privilege and scandal, opulence and opium dens, rumors and superstition. The Japanese are encircling the city, and the discovery of Pamela Werner's body sends a shiver through already nervous Peking. Is it the work of a madman? One of the ruthless Japanese soldiers now surrounding the city? Or perhaps the dreaded fox spirits? With the suspect list growing and clues sparse, two detectives --- one British and one Chinese --- race against the clock to solve the crime before the Japanese invade and Peking as they know it is gone forever. Can they find the killer in time, before the Japanese invade?

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read our interview.
-Click here to read Paul French’s bio.

We have a number of contests currently running on our other sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com. Please take a look at them below, and enter for your chance to win some fabulous books!

20SomethingReads.com

GETTING NAKED: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully Clothed & Totally Sober) by Harlan Cohen
In GETTING NAKED, the follow-up to Harlan Cohen's bestseller THE NAKED ROOMMATE, Cohen shares his simple five-step approach to finding the love of your life. 20SomethingReads.com has 100 copies of the book to give away, and the deadline for entries is Thursday, May 24th at noon ET.

Teenreads.com

Short Story Writing Contest
Inspired by ANOTHER JEKYLL, ANOTHER HYDE by Daniel and Dina Nayeri, Teenreads.com is inviting readers (and aspiring writers!) to write a story in which you reinvent a classic story or character, making it modern and, most importantly, your own! Write your story in no more than 1,200 words. The deadline for entries is Friday, June 15th at noon ET.

Grab Bag of Books
In Teenreads.com's Grab Bag of Books contest, five readers will be awarded a Teenreads.com signature tote bag and the following seven books: BREAKING BEAUTIFUL, THE BUTTERFLY CLUES, CRAZY DANGEROUS, THE LAST ECHO: A Body Finder Novel, the movie tie-in edition of THE LUCKY ONE, PURITY and UNRAVELING. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 23rd at noon ET.

GraphicNovelReporter.com

ARE YOU MY MOTHER?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel
In her highly anticipated follow-up to FUN HOME, bestselling author Alison Bechdel searches for the meaning of motherhood in her own life, not only from her actual mother but also from therapists, lovers, writers, and more. To celebrate its May 1st release, GraphicNovelReporter.com is awarding a copy of the book to 50 readers. The deadline for entries is Monday, May 14th at 11:59PM ET.

FaithfulReader.com

ECHOES OF TITANIC by Mindy Starns Clark and John Campbell Clark
In ECHOES OF TITANIC, the great-granddaughter of a Titanic survivor must race the clock to protect her family legacy, her livelihood and her future. 75 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of Mindy Starns Clark's latest novel (which she co-authored with her husband, John Campbell Clark, a lifelong Titanic buff). The deadline for entries is Friday, May 18th at noon ET.

THE FIDDLER: Home to Hickory Hollow, Book 1 by Beverly Lewis
FaithfulReader.com is celebrating the release of THE FIDDLER --- which takes readers to the beloved fictional Amish town of Hickory Hollow, where restless hearts find peace and Old World charm soothes the soul --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the first book in Beverly Lewis' Home to Hickory Hollow series. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 18th at noon ET.

THE BEGINNER’S GOODBYE by Anne Tyler (Fiction)
Anne Tyler's latest novel deals with the uninspiring marriage of Aaron and Dorothy, and the freakish accident that causes Dorothy's death. Aaron is grief-stricken and seems unable to recover from his loss. Then his late wife begins appearing by his side without explanation. In THE BEGINNER’S GOODBYE, Tyler examines their marriage as Aaron struggles with what might have been as well as what actually was. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

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

THE NEWLYWEDS by Nell Freudenberger (Fiction)
Amina leaves Bangladesh for Rochester, New York, and for George Stillman, the husband who met and wooed her online. For Amina, the decision echoes the arranged marriages of her home country, while George finds Amina “straightforward” and likes that she “doesn’t play games.” Yet each is hiding something from the other. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

FARTHER AWAY: Essays by Jonathan Franzen (Essays)
Anyone familiar with the dustup surrounding Oprah Winfrey’s selection and rejection of Jonathan Franzen's novel, THE CORRECTIONS, in 2001 will recognize the prickliness of its author in this impressively diverse collection of essays and journalism, written mainly in the first decade of the 21st century. In this generous selection of 22 pieces, there's something to inform or agitate just about everyone. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

LETTER FROM A STRANGER by Barbara Taylor Bradford (Romance)
Justine Nolan is a documentary film maker who lost her beloved grandmother a decade ago --- the person who was the only source of love and comfort in her life. But when Justine inadvertently opens a letter addressed to her mother, she discovers that not only is her grandmother alive, but that her mother has deliberately estranged the family from her for all these years. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

DEAD LEVEL: A Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery by Sarah Graves (Mystery)
While Jake Tiptree and her best friend, Ellie, build a deck for a remote vacation cottage, danger stalks them in the form of a desperate escaped convict bent on revenge. Meanwhile, a ghostly apparition appears to several characters, adding an unusual dimension to yet another stellar installment in this excellent series. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

WISH YOU WERE HERE by Graham Swift (Fiction)
At the beginning of Graham Swift’s new novel, Jack Luxton, the owner of vacation caravans on the Isle of Wight, is sitting on his bed, a shotgun by his side, waiting for his wife to come home. The next 300 pages explain how foot-in-mouth disease, the Iraq war and painful family memories have brought him to the brink of self-destruction. Reviewed by Michael Magras.

LAST WILL by Liza Marklund (Mystery)
For the first time in her career, investigative reporter Annika Bengtzon is covering the glamorous Nobel Prize Dinner, traditionally held in Stockholm’s City Hall. But when gunshots suddenly break out, Annika gets caught in the middle of an intricate drama with links to international terrorism, global pharmaceutical corporations, and Alfred Nobel himself. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

KINGS OF MIDNIGHT by Wallace Stroby (Thriller)
Crissa Stone is a career criminal who has pulled a number of impressive heists by knowing how to keep her mouth shut and her temper in check. Still, as good as she is, she wants to get out of the life. All she needs is one last big score, enough to bribe her lover’s way out on parole, set up a safe and stable new life, and get her daughter back. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE BEST BAD DREAM by Robert Ward (Thriller)
FBI agents Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo are looking forward to a two-week vacation, when Jack’s on-again-off-again girlfriend calls to tell him her sister has been kidnapped. Soon Jack is up to his neck with bikers, Mexican gangs, and a giant pet wild Razorback hog named Ole Big, who may offer a major clue to finding the missing girl. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

Poll:

Which of the following books have you read or are you looking forward to reading? Please check as many as apply.

11th HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
THE BEGINNER'S GOODBYE by Anne Tyler
BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel
CALICO JOE by John Grisham
THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR by Steve Berry
COME HOME by Lisa Scottoline
HOME by Toni Morrison
IN ONE PERSON by John Irving
THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci
THE LIMPOPO ACADEMY OF PRIVATE DETECTION: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (13) by Alexander McCall Smith
THE LOST YEARS by Mary Higgins Clark
ROBERT B. PARKER'S LULLABY: A Spenser Novel by Ace Atkins
THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani
THE SINS OF THE FATHER by Jeffrey Archer
STOLEN PREY by John Sandford
TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas
THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King
THE WITNESS by Nora Roberts
I haven’t read any of these books, and I’m not planning to do so.

-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 May 4th to May 18th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of 11th HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR by Steve Berry and TO THE LAST BREATH: A Memoir of Going to Extremes by Francis Slakey.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, 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.