July 13, 2012

Around the back of our house, I have created this colorful tranquil oasis with flowers --- both perennial beds and containers of annuals. An eight-foot fence surrounds the property to keep deer out, but a few weeks ago we were invaded…by Japanese beetles. We had not had them in many summers, so I thought that they were gone…but no. At one point, I looked on one rose leaf and saw six of them hovering there eating away. I started squishing them and leaving the bodies behind, thinking new invaders would see their future fates. I shook the bushes and they flew away…and then flew back. I went online and read about a product called Milky Spore, which goes into the soil to stop their future production. I headed to the store, and got that and two bottles of sprays. Tom and the boys watched as I went on the attack. It was like an attack scene in a thriller novel. I was out there spritzing away. It seems to have worked for the moment, but then again, I heard the bugs go dormant in July, so maybe THAT is what happened. But I like to think my methods worked.

It’s been beastly hot all over the country this summer, and I have been doing a lot of reading while tucked under an umbrella or floating in the pool. I have this really cool float that I sit in that allows me to all but racewalk around the pool while still reading and not get my book wet. Last Sunday, I grabbed my float and an advance reading copy of a Young Adult novel around 4:30 and started floating and “walking.” I was so engrossed in the book that I barely realized that I was moving around and working out. At one point, I looked up and realized it was 7:00, and I had been in the water motoring around that entire time. Very amusing. Monday morning I was not sore, but also felt a lot better than if I had been sitting in a lounge chair all day. Oh, the book is THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH by Anna Jarzab, which will be out in October. Clearly my enjoyment of it is underscored by how I was so absorbed in it that I did not realize I was in the water that long!

As I write this note, I am in San Diego at Comic-Con, which is billed as “Celebrating the Popular Arts.” While ardent comics enthusiasts really are up in arms about the way this conference has expanded to include prose books, movies and cable shows, I love the opportunity to attend some “books into movies” panels, and also get to hear some of the sci-fi and fantasy authors who typically do not get on my radar.

Yesterday morning, at a panel where authors were talking about their books being adapted to screen, I heard this nugget about the difference between what works on the big screen and what works as a television series --- it’s all about characters. You continue to build the characters that you have on a television show. If you just have a story to tell, that is a book or a movie. The example given was THE DA VINCI CODE. That was a movie; it was not a series for television. Now think about “The Firm” failing as a television show while it was a great book and movie, and it makes sense. Most television, and here I include cable programming, revolves around interest in the characters for a prolonged period, whether it’s comedy or drama. Think about that the next time you think a book would make a great movie.

While here, I learned that 20th Century Fox has acquired the rights to turn this summer’s most talked about bestseller, GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn, into a movie. Reese Witherspoon is set to produce this thriller, and Flynn herself will be writing the screenplay. Flynn has two other books in movie production right now. The article went on to point out that studios are looking AT bestsellers geared towards women for movie material. Given the number of superhero movies and “guy programming” on the show floor here, this is really interesting.

Yesterday I attended a panel where the subject was Ray Bradbury. By the time I left, I felt like I had attended a wonderful memorial service for him with brilliant eulogies from the panelists. To do this justice, I will write a special blog piece next week.

In a total fan girl moment, I got to spend some time with George R. R. Martin last night at a party. I had heard him speak at the librarian convention last month where he spoke about growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey. I worked for five summers for The Jersey Journal, a newspaper in Jersey City that covered Bayonne as well. He told me that he wanted to write for The Bayonne Times before they were sold to the Journal. What’s interesting is that my dad, who worked at the Journal, was present when the deal was signed to sell the Bayonne paper. If all these years later you would tell me that THAT was something I would be talking about with Martin, I never would have believed it! Small world moment with a writer who I admire. I am glad we had this common ground to talk about since I am not sure how we could have bantered about Winterfell. His genius I stand in awe of.

By the way, the fans here come in all shapes and sizes. I love the little Voltron reader whose photo I snapped that you can see at the top of this newsletter.

Huge lineup of events here in San Diego the next three days here, while Greg is back in New York covering ThrillerFest. Here’s a quick note from him on that: “I spent the past few days at ThrillerFest and the event that precedes it, CraftFest, both of which are great events every year. While my mom is loving Comic-Con, I’m in my element here! Some great moments so far have been seeing Lee Child interviewed by Kathleen Antrim, about his books and the upcoming Jack Reacher movie. For all those who have been concerned about Tom Cruise’s height impacting his portrayal of Reacher, Lee noted that there is a lack of 6’5”, 250-pound actors in Hollywood! I also had a great time meeting Ann Rule, the winner of this year’s True Thriller Award, who has had some fascinating stories about the cases she has researched and written about the past 30 years. I immediately picked up a copy of THE STRANGER BESIDE ME, which I’d never read, and it’s been great discovering this classic. More next week in the newsletter and a blog about the rest of the conference.”

Celebrating ThrillerFest --- and all things thriller --- we asked 20 thriller authors over the age of 30 to weigh in with their selections for twentysomethings for our 20SomethingReads.com site. Participants include Linwood Barclay, Steve Berry, Sandra Brown, Wendy Corsi Staub, Robert Dugoni, Linda Fairstein, Tess Gerritsen, Raymond Khoury, Eric Van Lustbader, Karin Slaughter, and many more. As I think twentysomething is a state of mind and only own up to being 27, I think that many of you also will enjoy seeing their choices.

There are authors who bridge genres in many ways. Gregg Hurwitz is here at Comic-Con, while he might also be in New York for ThrillerFest. I am planning to catch up with him today at the DC booth where he will be signing as he took over writing Batman: The Dark Knight in June. He is also currently writing Penguin: Pain and Prejudice, a five-issue mini-series that explores the dark and peculiar past of one of Batman’s most iconic rogues. And I am reading his upcoming thriller, THE SURVIVOR, which will be out on August 21st. AND he’s working on a show for TNT based on his Tim Rackley series. I am not sure WHAT we are going to talk about first; talk about a busy guy!

We have reviews of some highly anticipated books for you this week, beginning with SHADOW OF NIGHT by Deborah Harkness, which is a sequel to her thrilling debut, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. Here we find Diana and her companion, Matthew, in Elizabethan London. Diana must find a witch to mentor her, while Matthew deals with his past. Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski says, “The middle book in a trilogy can sometimes feel like a placeholder, and while Diana and Matthew’s questions aren’t answered, their lives do move on, and I liked seeing their relationship change.... I’m now sitting and hoping that Deborah Harkness writes faster because I am anxious to know what happens to Diana and Matthew.” We also have a Q&A with the author, which you can read here.

In NIGHT WATCH, a new Alexandra Cooper novel from the aforementioned Linda Fairstein, the Manhattan prosecutor arrives in France to visit her restaurateur boyfriend, when she finds herself entangled in the murder of a woman. The only evidence found on the body is a matchbox from Alex’s boyfriend’s restaurant. Is her boyfriend really somehow involved in this crime, and what is Alex going to do about it? According to reviewer Roz Shea, “[T]he reader is treated not only to a behind-the-scenes tour of some of America’s finest haute cuisine restaurants, but also to the fascinating lore dating back to the Prohibition Era of the elaborate means used to keep the liquor flowing from their camouflaged cellars.... [W]e turn the pages from the first paragraph to the last as Fairstein works her magic.”

We are offering a Sneak Peek of Priscille Sibley’s THE PROMISE OF STARDUST, a love story about a family torn apart by a medical crisis and the ethical dilemma of keeping a pregnant woman with no chance of recovery on life support for months in an attempt to give her unborn baby a chance. I read it a couple of weeks ago, and as soon as I closed it, I found myself wanting to talk about it with other readers. I loved the way it was crafted, and as the story unfolded, the issues became more and more complicated. While you may have one opinion at the beginning, the more you read the more it may change. I cannot wait to hear what you think. The book doesn’t release until February 2013, but we have 50 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 THE PROMISE OF STARDUST, so if you will have time to read it and answer some questions by Tuesday, September 4th, please enter this contest by Thursday, July 26th at noon ET.

This week’s Paperback Spotlight is THE UNDERWATER WINDOW by Dan Stephenson, which is a perfect tie-in to the upcoming Olympic Games. It’s a coming-of-age story about two swimmers who are nemeses during the heat of competition, but friends away from the water. Archie Hayes is the best swimmer in the world and has Olympic medals, fame, money and women. Doyle Wilson, who has reached the end of his career with dreams unfulfilled, has a final chance in the 400 freestyle, in which Archie owns the world record. Doyle, a team player who is shy and very grounded, gets tapped for a role beyond being a competitor.

The author is an accomplished swimmer who recently competed in both Rome and Omaha on a Masters level -- and won gold medals. He not only understands swimming, he also understands the camaraderie and teamwork that goes into the sport. But it’s more than a book about swimming --- though the thoughtful pieces that open each chapter are the best descriptions of the sport that I have read. Pick it up now and get reading before the Olympics. When Phelps and Lochte get onto the blocks, you will understand a lot more about what people are seeing in the underwater window that shows the action kick by kick and stroke by stroke.

We have a Q&A with Dan that you can read here. There is also a wonderful video where he talks about the book and his own swimming career. Click here to watch it.

Speaking of the Olympics, the Washington Post had an article that I thought was particularly interesting since I’m an avid knitter. Apparently, the Olympic Committee (USOC) sent a letter to a group of knitters who had come up with an event that would have them starting projects when the Opening Ceremony of the Games happened and finishing their projects with the Closing Ceremony. The event was called Ravelympics, but the USOC says that this name disrespects the nature of the Olympic Games. It’s a really interesting article about the knitting community fighting back and is pertinent not only to knitters, but to anyone who enjoys a good underdog fighting big corporation story. Read here to see who won.

Joe Hartlaub interviews John Lutz about his new thriller, PULSE, where he discusses his inspiration for the story’s murderer and why imaginary serial killers are more interesting than the real ones. In the book, the killer's depravity is insatiable. Homicide detective turned P.I. Frank Quinn has seen this M.O. before. A demented ritual, it's the work of Daniel Danielle --- a notorious serial killer who blurs the line between male and female, human and monster. Danielle disappeared 10 years ago. Is a copycat repeating the crimes? Or has Danielle made a deadly return? Either way, this time the killing won't stop. In his review, Joe says, “PULSE is violent and chilling, with graphic (though not gratuitous) descriptions of horrific and particularly imaginative killings.... it is ultimately the murders that drive PULSE and motivate readers to keep reading, stopping only to make sure that the doors are locked and the windows are secure.”

Don’t forget that you still have a chance to win a book in the Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight for Emily Giffin and her latest, WHERE WE BELONG. A woman’s seemingly perfect life changes drastically when an 18-year-old girl with a key to her past shows up at her door. We’re raving about the book here at the office --- and are happy to share our contest that offers 25 readers the opportunity to win an advance copy and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 19th at noon ET. Click here for all the details.

As the summer rolls on, so do our Summer Reading contests! Next week’s prize books are THE BOOK OF SUMMERS by Emylia Hall, THE CAT’S TABLE by Michael Ondaatje and SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer. Also, you can see a list of all the winners to date here.

Though we all love summer, we’re already looking ahead to fall with Bookreporter.com’s Fall Preview Feature and Contests. Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books! The titles that come out in fall often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. On select days in August, we will spotlight a different title and offer a daily contest to win five copies of the book. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce each day's title. You can sign up here to receive the daily newsletter.

We’ve already had a huge number of responses to our poll question this week, where we ask which of the following 21 July/August books you want to read. One book is in the lead, and others are tracking pretty closely, so vote to see if your top choice is the same one everybody else is picking.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest this week. Be sure to let us know what you’re reading for a chance to win THE FALLEN ANGEL by Daniel Silva, ODD APOCALYPSE: An Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz and SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer. The deadline for entries is Friday, July 27th at noon ET.

I am giving a huge shout out to the folks at The U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. This is my fifth year of attending this convention, and I always stay at this hotel. Their attention to detail is phenomenal. Since I travel so much --- and usually have a ton to do when I get to a place --- I truly appreciate it when things at a hotel roll on well. Demi, their guest services manager, is amazing. There is a corner room I love, as there is light on both sides, and I do not even need to ask for it. Knowing a place makes it so much easier on a business trip and much more productive. It’s also a beautiful historic property where the first Comic-Con was held in 1970. See the coaster above that commemorates that occasion.

Okay…off again to get caught up in the craziness of this show. More to come…and do some reading for me this weekend!

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Deborah Harkness, author of the All Souls trilogy phenomenon, continues her supernatural series with SHADOW OF NIGHT, which picks up where the first novel, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, left off. Diana and Matthew resume their search for the enchanted Ashmole 782 manuscript in Elizabethan England amidst a world of spies, deception and new perils. In this interview, Harkness expresses her surprise at the popularity of the series, talks about the traveling she did to gain insights into the settings she uses, and reveals her own discovery of a lost text while completing her dissertation.

SHADOW OF NIGHT by Deborah Harkness (Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)
This sequel to A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES plunges Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

NIGHT WATCH by Linda Fairstein (Thriller)
Alexandra Cooper arrives in France to visit her boyfriend and famed restaurateur, Luc Rouget. But she quickly finds herself entangled in the murder of a young woman with only one piece of evidence: a matchbox from Luc’s restaurant. Alex is pulled back to New York for a high-profile case, but finds that the two cases may be connected as another of Luc’s matchboxes appears on the scene. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Historical Fiction)
It’s Christmas of 1957 in Barcelona, and Daniel Sempere and his wife, Bea, are celebrating their new beautiful son, Julian, and the engagement of close friend Fermín Romero de Torres. But a mysterious stranger threatens all of it when he visits the Sempere bookshop and tries to expose a terrible secret that has been buried in the city’s past. His appearance plunges Fermín and Daniel into an adventure that takes them back to the 1940s and the early days of Franco’s dictatorship. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE NEXT BEST THING by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
Ruth Saunders headed west with her 70-year-old grandma in tow, hoping to be hired as a television writer. Four years later, she finally hits the jackpot when the sitcom she wrote, “The Next Best Thing,” gets the green light. But her dreams are threatened by demanding actors, number-crunching executives, a crush on her boss, and her grandmother’s impending nuptials. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights THE PROMISE OF STARDUST by Priscille Sibley, a debut novel about a family torn apart by a medical crisis and the ethical dilemma of keeping a pregnant woman with no chance of recovery on life support for months in an attempt to give her unborn baby a chance. We have 50 specially formatted early reader editions to give away to readers who would like to preview the book, which releases in February 2013, and share their comments about it.

We really want to hear what you have to say about THE PROMISE OF STARDUST, so if you will have time to read it and answer some questions by Tuesday, September 4th, please enter this contest. If not, we plan to have more opportunities like this in the future. The deadline for entries is Thursday, July 26th at noon ET.

THE PROMISE OF STARDUST by Priscille Sibley (Fiction)
Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, 17 when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and 33 when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything --- except the baby they’ve always wanted.

When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing --- a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support.

But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle’s pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt’s mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court --- armed with Elle’s living will.

Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family...and one single life.

-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Priscille Sibley’s bio.
-Click here to visit Priscille Sibley’s official website.
-Connect with Priscille Sibley on Facebook and Twitter.

THE UNDERWATER WINDOW by Dan Stephenson(Fiction)
Archie Hayes is the best swimmer in the world. Talent and luck have brought him Olympic medals, fame, money and women. Doyle Wilson has reached the end of his career with dreams unfulfilled, but he has a final chance in the 400 freestyle, in which Archie owns the world record. Doyle bets that hard work will enable him to beat Archie just once. He burns all his bridges to focus on his lone goal.

But Doyle can’t be single-minded. Archie is not just his nemesis --- they’re best friends. Danger lurks around every corner for Archie, a celebrity athlete with a reckless streak. On a training trip to Hawaii, when Archie is mauled by a wave while bodysurfing, Doyle sees his duty --- a purpose in life that transcends self-interest and even friendship. Archie’s incomparable talent must be preserved and nurtured, and only Doyle can do it. Though Archie’s demise would liquidate the main obstacle in Doyle’s path to greatness, Doyle rescues him. Repeatedly.

Doyle’s odyssey to the Olympics teaches him about true friendship and love, the meaning of sacrifice and overcoming obstacles.

-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read an interview with Dan Stephenson.
-Click here to watch an interview with Dan Stephenson.
-Click here to read Dan Stephenson’s bio.

PULSE, the newest installment in John Lutz's Frank Quinn series, follows the former NYPD homicide detective as he tries to track down an infamous serial killer (or perhaps a copycat killer) whose signature depravity begins to reappear all over New York City after 10 years of inactivity. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com's Joe Hartlaub, Lutz discusses his inspiration for the murderer, why imaginary serial killers are more interesting than the real ones, and whether or not some serial killers are beyond the reach of the justice system.

PULSE: A Frank Quinn Novel by John Lutz (Mystery/Thriller)
What the killer does to his victims is unthinkable. Homicide detective turned P.I. Frank Quinn has seen this M.O. before. It's the work of Daniel Danielle, a notorious serial killer who blurs the line between male and female, human and monster. Danielle disappeared 10 years ago. Is a copycat repeating the crimes? Or has Danielle made a deadly return? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read John Lutz’s bio.
-Click here to visit John Lutz’s official website.
-Connect with John Lutz on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.

We have 25 copies of WHERE WE BELONG by Emily Giffin, which will be in stores July 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, July 19th at noon ET.

WHERE WE BELONG by Emily Giffin (Fiction)
Marian Caldwell is a 36-year-old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door...only to find Kirby Rose, an 18-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world --- and her very identity --- will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Emily Giffin’s bio.
-Click here to visit Emily Giffin’s official website.

THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Fiction)
When Elizabeth Endicott arrives in Syria, she has a diploma from Mount Holyoke College, a crash course in nursing, and only the most basic grasp of the Armenian language. The First World War is spreading across Europe, and she has volunteered on behalf of the Boston-based Friends of Armenia to deliver food and medical aid to refugees of the Armenian genocide. There, Elizabeth becomes friendly with Armen, a young Armenian engineer who has already lost his wife and infant daughter. When Armen leaves Aleppo to join the British Army in Egypt, he begins to write Elizabeth letters, and comes to realize that he has fallen in love with the wealthy, young American woman who is so different from the wife he lost.

Flash forward to the present, where we meet Laura Petrosian, a novelist living in suburban New York. Although her grandparents’ ornate Pelham home was affectionately nicknamed the “Ottoman Annex,” Laura has never really given her Armenian heritage much thought. But when an old friend calls, claiming to have seen a newspaper photo of Laura’s grandmother promoting an exhibit at a Boston museum, Laura embarks on a journey back through her family’s history that reveals love, loss --- and a wrenching secret that has been buried for generations.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Click here to read Chris Bohjalian’s bio.
-Click here to visit Chris Bohjalian’s official website.

Summer is officially here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contest and Feature. We are spotlighting a different title on select days through July 31st, so you have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter. We also are sending a special daily newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, July 16th at noon ET. Our featured titles will be THE BOOK OF SUMMERS by Emylia Hall, THE CAT’S TABLE by Michael Ondaatje and SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer.

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!

ReadingGroupGuides.com

LAURA LAMONT’S LIFE IN PICTURES by Emma Straub
We are celebrating the forthcoming release of LAURA LAMONT’S LIFE IN PICTURES by Emma Straub --- the enchanting story of a midwestern girl who escapes a family tragedy and is remade as a movie star during Hollywood’s golden age --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win an advance copy of the book, which will be in stores on September 4th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 6th at noon ET.

TIGER HILLS by Sarita Mandanna
We are celebrating the forthcoming paperback release of TIGER HILLS by Sarita Mandanna --- an emotional saga about a young woman forced to make difficult choices following a gut-wrenching tragedy that change the course of her life forever --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win an advance copy of the paperback edition, which will be in stores on August 28th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 6th at noon ET.

THE HOMECOMING OF SAMUEL LAKE by Jenny Wingfield
We are celebrating the paperback release of THE HOMECOMING OF SAMUEL LAKE by Jenny Wingfield --- an unforgettable story about love and sacrifice, our responsibility to one another, and the profound meaning of family --- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now available in paperback, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 6th at noon ET.

RETURN TO WILLOW LAKE by Susan Wiggs
We are celebrating the forthcoming release of RETURN TO WILLOW LAKE by Susan Wiggs --- in which one woman will rediscover her family and her dreams, and find a surprising new love, in the idyllic town of Avalon --- with a special contest. 10 readers will have the opportunity to each win 10 copies of the book, which will be in stores on August 28th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 6th at noon ET.

Registered Book Club Contests
For July, we have two very special opportunities for Registered Book Groups. Our featured titles this month are THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS by Chris Bohjalian and MY AMERICAN UNHAPPINESS by Dean Bakopoulos. Groups that have registered with us by Tuesday, July 17th will have the chance to win author chats and/or free books. If your group is not registered, click here to register.

Newsletter Contest
Win copies of SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer for your group! To be a group to win 20 copies of this book, all you have to do is sign up for the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter by August 1st. If you receive the newsletter in your mailbox, you already are signed up!

20SomethingReads.com

Beach Bag of Books
In our First Annual Beach Bag of Books contest, five readers each will receive a beach bag filled with some of this summer's hottest reads: GHOST CROWN: The Tracks, Book Two by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel, RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles, SPRING FEVER by Mary Kay Andrews, TO BE SUNG UNDERWATER by Tom McNeal, and WHERE WE BELONG by Emily Giffin. Along with the books, winners will find their striped beach bag stocked with a polka-dot beach towel, Coppertone Sport Sunblock, and a plastic sports bottle to keep your drink cool. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 30th at noon ET.

Teenreads.com

Beach Bag of Books
In our Sixth Annual Beach Bag of Books contest, five readers each will receive a beach bag filled with some of this summer’s hottest reads: THE FEAR by Charlie Higson, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER… by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas, THE SLEEPWALKERS by J. Gabriel Gates, TAKEN BY STORM: A Raised by Wolves Novel by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and WHERE WE BELONG by Emily Giffin. Along with the books, winners will find their striped beach bag stocked with a polka-dot beach towel, Coppertone Sport Sunblock, and a metallic sports bottle to keep your drink cool. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 16th at noon ET.

Fierce Reads
To celebrate the release of four books that are being featured in Macmillan's Fierce Reads campaign, we're giving five readers the opportunity to win them all! Enter by Tuesday, August 7th at noon ET for your chance to be awarded MONUMENT 14 by Emmy Laybourne, OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks, SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo, and STRUCK by Jennifer Bosworth.

SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEAUTY and SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STYLE
We are celebrating the July 10th release of SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEAUTY: The Best Hair, Skin, Nails & Makeup Ideas for You, a girl's handbook to celebrating her natural beauty, with a special contest. 15 readers will have the opportunity to win a copy of the book, along with SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STYLE: How to Find Your Perfect Look. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 24th at noon ET.

Kidsreads.com

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL...FOREVER! by R. L. Stine
Artie Howard has the worst first day of school in the history of first days of school. When it’s all over, he’s relieved knowing it can never happen again. Or can it? Artie relives the first day of school over and over, and there’s nothing he can do to stop it! To celebrate the paperback release of IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL...FOREVER! by R. L. Stine, Kidsreads.com is giving 10 readers the chance to win a copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 24th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 25 readers will be awarded a copy of all three books in Linda Windsor’s historical fiction series, The Brides of Alba: HEALER, THIEF and REBEL. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 17th at noon ET.

I, MICHAEL BENNETT by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (Thriller)
A South American crime lord has brought New York the worst lawlessness and violence the city has ever seen, with police being shot on the street and judges murdered in the courtroom. Detective Michael Bennett takes his 10 kids and their nanny upstate to try and avoid the chaos, but it just follows them, endangering his entire family. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

THE GOOD DREAM by Donna VanLiere (Fiction)
Ever since Ivorie Walker’s parents passed away, she has hidden her loneliness behind a fierce independence and good humor. When a feral, dirty-faced boy steals from her vegetable garden, Ivorie steps out of her comfort zone to uncover answers about him and unleashes a firestorm in the town --- a place where secrets stay secret. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

A CONSPIRACY OF FRIENDS: A Corduroy Mansions Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Fiction)
It's back to Corduroy Mansions in London's hip Pimlico neighborhood for the third installment in Alexander McCall Smith's latest series. The residents of Corduroy Mansions are all struggling with their nearest and dearest. It seems as though the universe itself is conspiring against them. Everyone must fix their relationships with one another before Corduroy Mansions as we know it crumbles for good. Reviewed by Marge Fletcher.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

LAST CHANCE LASSITER by Paul Levine (Thriller)
An eBook Original
Jake Lassiter, the linebacker-turned-lawyer, faces overwhelming odds. He represents Cadillac Johnson, an aging rhythm and blues musician who claims his greatest song was stolen by a top-of-the-charts hip-hop artist. Only a few years out of law school, Lassiter is already developing his iconoclastic rules. "I will live by no code but my own." This time, that code could leave him disbarred or bankrupt...or worse. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to visit Paul Levine’s official website.

15 SECONDS by Andrew Gross (Thriller)
Henry Steadman didn't know what was about to hit him when he pulled up to a red light. A successful Florida plastic surgeon, he is in town to deliver a keynote address at a conference when suddenly his life becomes an unrelenting chase to stay alive. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

DEATH COMES SILENTLY: A Death on Demand Mystery by Carolyn Hart (Mystery)
Annie Darling enlists the help of her husband, Max, to piece together a puzzle involving an overturned kayak, a stolen motorboat, a troubled love affair, and a reckless teenager. And she must tread carefully in her investigation, because a killer is on the loose, and that killer works well in the foggy days of winter. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

THE LAST REFUGE: A Dewey Andreas Novel by Ben Coes (Thriller/Adventure)
Dewey Andreas, a former Army Ranger and Delta, owes his life to Kohl Meir and his team of Israeli commandos. So when a nuclear device with the words “Goodbye Tel Aviv” is spotted in the possession of Iran, Dewey must face off against an opponent with equal cunning, skill and determination. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE 500 by Matthew Quirk (Thriller)
Mike Ford landed a job fresh out of Harvard Law at the Davies Group, Washington's most powerful consulting firm. Now, one year later, he's staring down the barrel of a gun, pursued by two of the world's most dangerous men. To get out, he'll have to do all the things he thought he'd never do again: lie, cheat, steal --- and this time, maybe even kill. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE SOLDIER’S WIFE by Joanna Trollope (Fiction)
War is hell, but for a soldier and his family, homecoming can also be bloody awful. Joanna Trollope, known for her intimate and nuanced domestic dramas, goes behind the crisp uniforms and stiff upper lips in this heartfelt tale of an army major returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.

THIS BRIGHT RIVER by Patrick Somerville (Fiction)
Displaying both psychological acuity and skill in crafting an energetic plot, in his second novel, Patrick Somerville has created an absorbing portrait of two young characters struggling to shed their demons that morphs into an intense psychological thriller. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

Poll:

Which of the following books releasing in July and August are you most looking forward to reading? Please check as many as apply.

AND WHEN SHE WAS GOOD by Laura Lippman
BONES ARE FOREVER by Kathy Reichs
BROKEN HARBOR by Tana French
THE FALLEN ANGEL by Daniel Silva
CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter
GOLD by Chris Cleave
THE GOOD DREAM by Donna VanLiere
A HUNDRED FLOWERS by Gail Tsukiyama
I, MICHAEL BENNETT by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
THE INN AT ROSE HARBOR by Debbie Macomber
KILL YOU TWICE by Chelsea Cain
THE KINGMAKER'S DAUGHTER by Philippa Gregory
THE NEXT BEST THING by Jennifer Weiner
NIGHT WATCH by Linda Fairstein
ODD APOCALYPSE: An Odd Thomas Novel, by Dean Koontz
THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS by Chris Bohjalian
SHADOW OF NIGHT by Deborah Harkness
SNEAKY PIE FOR PRESIDENT by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
TRICKSTER'S POINT by William Kent Krueger
WHERE WE BELONG by Emily Giffin
None of the above

-Click here to answer the 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 July 13th to July 27th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE FALLEN ANGEL by Daniel Silva, ODD APOCALYPSE: An Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz and SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer.

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.