August 10, 2012

Big week in our house as my younger son got his first car. He wanted a used BMW and has been looking for the “perfect car” since he got his license in January. There was a budget cap from mom and dad on this and a ton of other things to consider, thus the long search. Last weekend, he was on the trail of a car that had potential but sounded too cheap ($1,850) to be good, even if it needed “some work.” This was confirmed by the guru at the shop that my husband has used for years, but while they were there, he happened to have a car on the lot that did make the cut --- a 2000 model with the manual transmission that Cory wanted, and thus now he is the proud owner of his first car.

Years ago, I learned how to drive a manual shift, but I never mastered it. I recall hopping --- literally --- through the center of Aspen on a ski trip, appropriately in a Volkswagen Rabbit. It was not pretty. And somehow, whenever I think of shifting, I think of the streets of San Francisco instead of the highways of New Jersey. Any time I even am on a steep hill here, I panic at the thought of driving a standard. Thus Cory’s least concern needs to be mom borrowing his car! Last night, we all piled in like we were in some cartoon or silly sitcom show, and my husband drove us around the neighborhood. Cory is headed to a friend’s house today, which is five minutes away. He has budgeted about 20 minutes to get there as he is still mastering the clutch. Good times.

Big week in publishing as well, which is making this a BIG week for Bookreporter.com! I am not sure what the reasoning was for MANY publishers to select August 7th as a publication date for books. In the past weeks, it feels like every time I discussed an upcoming publication date with our Editorial Director, he said, “August 7th.” Thus we are bringing you a HUGE lineup this week with a wide range of titles for you to consider. I have been multi-book reading many of these titles this week to get my own personal opinions on them before I peruse what our reviewers are saying. Since the Olympics coverage ends around midnight, this has made for a lot of late evenings this week, but also a lot of wonderful reading.

There’s one book I want to single out from our stellar lineup this week. I rarely say this, but this time I cannot help it. I think the debut novel IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner is the BEST book that I have read all year. We have been spotlighting it in our One to Watch feature for the last few weeks, so you know all the superlatives on why I loved it. Our reviewer, Alexis Burling, calls the book “a masterpiece of a novel that’s filled with so much raw power and beauty, it’s a miracle such a story that surely must’ve been difficult to write could find its way out at all…. It’s a resounding testament to what happens when hope and ideals are laid to waste in favor of might, invincibility and greed.”

By the way, I could tell that Alexis loved this book as much as me when I read the interview questions that she submitted. (I always review these before they go to the authors.) She clearly felt a very special connection with Vaddey’s work, which you can see for yourself in our interview here. As previously mentioned, this is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, and you can see my comments as to why it is here.

CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham is also a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection this week; I flew though this book and really enjoyed it. The setting is Berlin during World War II when the city was virtually a city of women, as the men were off fighting. You can read why I selected it here. Reviewer Sarah Rachel Egelman has this to say about it: “CITY OF WOMEN is a lovely book despite its dark and unsettling subject matter.... Gillham’s novel is haunting and brutal, confident and engaging. He captures quite well the spirit of Berlin during the last period of the war as German anxiety increases, and the food and fuel supplies run out. It is both a worthwhile literary exploration of morality and an entertaining story.”

This week, when we sent our Bookreporter.com “On Sale This Week” newsletter, we included links to my Bets On comments. We also, for the first time, included details of a special deal. As you may recall, THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE by Courtney Miller Santo was one of our Bookreporter.com Sneak Peek selections earlier this year. The publisher is offering a Special Low-Price eBook Release, where the eBook edition of THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE will be available from all eBook retailers for just $4.99 until August 21st when the hardcover releases, at which point the price will go up to the standard $12.99 eBook price. Definitely worth exploring!

We also announced a special rebate for Lisa Jackson’s YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW. Purchase a hardcover copy of the book from August 7th through September 6th and qualify to receive a $5.00 rebate. Click here for all the details. Our reviewer, Amie Taylor, has this to say about Lisa’s latest book: “YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW is an artfully written story of suspense that reminds me of the best-of-the-best of gothic novels during their heyday. That being said, Lisa Jackson brings a twist of modernity to the story, making it a novel that combines the best of the old and the new into a story that any reader will want to savor as long as possible to keep it from ending.”

Please note that whenever we have special news like this, we will be including it in the “On Sale This Week” newsletter. If you are not signed up for this newsletter already, you can do so here.

Before we get into more of this week’s reviews, I wanted to get two new Author Spotlights on your radar. The first is a Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight for William Kent Krueger, whose upcoming book TRICKSTER’S POINT, which will be on sale August 21st, will be the 12th in his Cork O’Connor series. In TRICKSTER’S POINT, Cork finds himself sitting in the shadow of a towering monolith known as Trickster’s Point, deep in the Minnesota wilderness. With him is Jubal Little, who is favored to become the first Native American elected governor of Minnesota, and who is slowly dying with an arrow through his heart. Although the men have been bowhunting, this is no hunting accident. The arrow turns out to be one of Cork’s, and he becomes the primary suspect in the murder. We have 25 copies of the book to give away to readers who enter here by Thursday, August 23rd at noon ET.

A few weeks ago, you heard me raving about Linwood Barclay’s TRUST YOUR EYES, which will be in stores on September 4th. I have been a huge fan of Linwood’s for years, but the depth of his talent is shown in a whole new way in this book. It’s fabulous! There were so many aha moments, twists, turns and surprises that even a quarter of the way through I was thinking this is sooooo cleverly done. I am very happy to share that Linwood is our latest Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight author. In TRUST YOUR EYES, map-obsessed schizophrenic Thomas Kilbride is so affected that he rarely leaves the self-imposed bastion of his bedroom. However, while using a virtual map program, he witnesses the murder of a woman behind a window in New York, endangering himself and his brother Ray, who is his caretaker. We have 25 copies of the book to give away to readers who enter here by Thursday, August 23rd at noon ET.

Speaking of contests, our Fall Preview Contests continue on Monday, August 13th with MY BRILLIANT FRIEND by Elena Ferrante, PANORAMA CITY by Antoine Wilson and REARVIEW MIRROR by Alana Stewart as the featured titles.

Now back to reviews. I told you last week how much I enjoyed KILL YOU TWICE by Chelsea Cain. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub has this to say about it: “Cain refuses to engage in cookie-cutter plotting, instead utilizing a fascinating group of primary and secondary characters to keep things moving…. While KILL YOU TWICE is constructed upon a puzzling mystery, it is the characters and dialogue that make the book hum, thrum and shine.” Remember a few weeks ago I referenced the difference between what makes a great movie and what makes a great series for television or cable, and it came down to characters. Characters drive a TV series, thus I would definitely want to see Cain’s work on the small screen (okay, many of us have large small screens now).

In 2005, I was wild for a book called ME & EMMA by Elizabeth Flock. If I had been picking Bets On when it came out, it surely would have been a selection. Flash forward to this year, and Elizabeth has a follow-up with WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER. I started this during the week in one of my post-Olympic readathons; I am loving that I am picking up with the characters and storyline that I so enjoyed seven years ago! Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon says, “[WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER is] a storytelling triumph about the meaning of family --- ultimately a wondrously uplifting tale of hope and redemption starring a main character who is quite simply unforgettable.”"Unforgettable" is a perfect word to use here!

I am halfway through Charles Cumming's A FOREIGN COUNTRY. I was wild about THE TRINITY SIX when it came out in 2011 and had a chance to meet Charles when he was in the States on tour. In fact, we had a very funny experience as I changed my flight to meet him the night before a conference, only to learn that he too was headed to the conference as a substitute for an author who was not available! My flight was horrifically delayed; his got in on time. When we caught up the following day after his talk, we had a great laugh about my being his “U.S. groupie.” Joe Hartlaub reviews A FOREIGN COUNTRY this week and has this to say about it: “A FOREIGN COUNTRY is one of those very rare books that from its first page demonstrates that it is something out of the ordinary, one of those tales that the reader hopes will never end…. Cumming deftly navigates his readers through a complex yet thoroughly comprehensible plot, dropping this hint and that fact throughout the narrative while simultaneously informing and keeping them guessing.”

Again tripping down memory lane, I read THE RULE OF FOUR by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason back in 2004 and loved it. Now Dustin is back with 12.21, a new thriller about disease researchers Stanton and Chel, who must join forces before time runs out and the Mayan prophecy is fulfilled. Stanton is faced with a patient who experiences symptoms that both confound and frighten him, while Chel receives a black market package that proves to be a fascinating artifact from the Mayans. It’s next up on my pile and is one of the books I wish I had gotten to sooner. I got to meet Dustin at the American Library Convention, and he was a really terrific speaker with a wonderful sense of humor --- and no doomsday prophecies.

Again turning to Joe for a review, he has this to say about it: "With 12.21, Dustin Thomason...has put a bit of an ingenious twist upon the entire controversy. The conclusion will leave you thinking and perhaps worrying just a bit.... Whether you are buying into the Mayan calendar doomsday scenario wholeheartedly or not, 12.21 is worth considering."

Also at ALA, I had a chance to hear Gail Tsukiyama talk about her latest work, A HUNDRED FLOWERS, which takes place right after Chairman Mao declares a new openness in society in 1957: “Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.” Many intellectuals fear it is only a trick, and Kai Ying’s husband, Sheng, a teacher, has promised not to jeopardize their safety or that of their young son, Tao. But one July morning, just before his sixth birthday, Tao watches helplessly as Sheng is dragged away for writing a letter criticizing the Communist Party and sent to a labor camp for “reeducation.” Alexis Burling has this to say about the book: “A HUNDRED FLOWERS finds author Gail Tsukiyama doing what she does best --- exploring the ebbs and flows of familial relationships in times of great and often political upheaval. Set in the summer of 1958 --- barely a year after Chairman Mao’s now famous declaration: ‘Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend’ --- this quiet novel scratches the surface of what commoners all across the country endured during the regime’s ruthless crackdown on free thinking of any kind that continues to this day.”

Many of you remember John Boyne as the author of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS. I am happy to share that we have a review of his new book, THE ABSOLUTIST, this week about which our reviewer, Melanie Smith, says, “This is great modern literature with fantastic artistic appeal and superb writing, a story of duty, honor, love, high passion and integrity…. Anyone with an interest in great fiction, riveting war stories, historical fiction or modern literature will love THE ABSOLUTIST --- one of my absolute favorite books of the year.” Note to self: Find in the pile in my office and read!

And in THE LAST VICTIM, Karen Robards is back with her latest romantic suspense title. When two vacationing families are brutally slain, FBI agents Ryan Sinclair and Buzz Crane discern that it could be the work of the notorious Boardwalk Killer. They turn to one of the country's preeminent experts on serial killers, Dr. Charlotte Stone, who was the only survivor of his last killing spree 15 years ago. When another family is murdered and a third girl is abducted, she knows she must do everything possible to stop the crazed madman who has long haunted her nightmares. Reviewer Ray Palen says the book “entertains and surprises throughout and effectively provides a different take on the over-saturated serial killer genre.” I failed to meet Karen at the Romance Writers of America Convention, something I still am kicking myself about.

In our poll, we ask what is the most you would typically spend on a hardcover book by a favorite author of yours, and we pose the same question about eBooks. We are asking about your FAVORITE author. We’re curious as to what you spend --- and say --- so please weigh in to be counted. And this week, we’re offering these books as prizes in our Word of Mouth contest: ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO by Jonathan Tropper, THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE by Courtney Miller Santo, and THE SURVIVOR by Gregg Hurwitz.

I would be remiss if I did not share that Julia Child is celebrating her 100th birthday this week. Just out this week is DEARIE: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz. I must see if we can find something by Julia to cook this weekend. A few Christmases ago, my husband made her Boeuf Bourguignon, and his antics in the kitchen affecting her accent were so amusing that I think there is a video of it somewhere on YouTube.

Looking ahead to next week, we will have our review of LINE OF FIRE by Stephen White, which is the first of a two-book wrap-up to his Alan Gregory series. Last September, Stephen shared his thoughts on why he is wrapping up the series like this, which you can read here. While I am always sad to see a series end, I applaud how he is handling this for his readers.

Quiet weekend here….my suitcase finally IS unpacked, but I still am wading through paperwork and emails after my travels. Reading and floating in the pool will break up trying to get that done. Also, we are primed to watch the Olympic closing ceremonies. May they be as spectacular as the opening. And may I finally start getting to evening reading before midnight!

Have a great week of reading…lots and lots to explore…so read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

The atrocities committed in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime will go down in history as some of the vilest abuses of human rights. Emerging from the stranglehold placed by Pol Pot is author Vaddey Ratner, whose debut novel, IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN, is poised to take the literary scene by storm.

In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com's Alexis Burling, Ratner discusses her own experiences in Cambodia and her escape to the United States, why she decided to write a work of fiction instead of a memoir, and the significant role of fables and myths in Cambodian society.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner (Historical Fiction)
For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins the night her father comes home bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. Over the next four years, as she endures the deaths of family members, starvation, and brutal forced labor, Raami clings to the remaining vestige of childhood --- the mythical legends and poems her father told her. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

-Click here to read more about the book.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here to read Vaddey Ratner’s bio.

-Click here to visit Vaddey Ratner’s official website.

-Click here to read a Q&A with Vaddey Ratner.

We have 25 copies of TRICKSTER'S POINT by William Kent Krueger, which will be in stores August 21st, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 23rd at noon ET.

TRICKSTER'S POINT by William Kent Krueger (Mystery)
The next novel in William Kent Krueger’s New York Times bestselling series finds Cork O’Connor sitting in the shadow of a towering monolith known as Trickster’s Point, deep in the Minnesota wilderness. With him is Jubal Little, who is favored to become the first Native American elected governor of Minnesota, and who is slowly dying with an arrow through his heart. Although the men have been bowhunting, a long-standing tradition among these two friends, this is no hunting accident. The arrow turns out to be one of Cork’s, and he becomes the primary suspect in the murder.

-Click here to read more about the book.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here to read William Kent Krueger’s bio.

We have 25 copies of TRUST YOUR EYES by Linwood Barclay, which will be in stores September 4th, to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 23rd at noon ET.

TRUST YOUR EYES by Linwood Barclay (Thriller)
Thomas Kilbride is a map-obsessed schizophrenic so affected that he rarely leaves the self-imposed bastion of his bedroom. But with a computer program called Whirl360.com, he travels the world while never so much as stepping out the door. He pores over and memorizes the streets of the world. He examines every address, as well as the people who are frozen in time on his computer screen.

Then he sees something that anyone else might have stumbled upon --- but has not --- in a street view of downtown New York City: an image in a window. An image that looks like a woman being murdered.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Click here to read Linwood Barclay’s bio.
-Connect with Linwood Barclay on Facebook and Twitter.

YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW by Lisa Jackson (Romantic Suspense)
Two years ago, Ava's two-year-old son Noah went missing, and his body has never been found. Ava has spent most of the past two years in and out of Seattle mental institutions, shattered by grief and unable to recall the details of Noah's disappearance. Now she's back at the family estate she once intended to restore to its former grandeur. But she can't shake the feeling that her family and her psychologist know more than they're saying. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see our special feature, "Spend Your Summer with Lisa Jackson."

THE LAST VICTIM by Karen Robards (Paranormal Romantic Thriller)
When two vacationing families are brutally slain, FBI agents Ryan Sinclair and Buzz Crane discern that it could be the work of the notorious Boardwalk Killer. They turn to one of the country's preeminent experts on serial killers, Dr. Charlotte Stone, who was the only survivor of his last killing spree 15 years ago. When another family is murdered and a third girl is abducted, she knows she must do everything possible to stop the crazed madman who has long haunted her nightmares. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to visit Karen Robards’ website.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner (Historical Fiction)
Two copies of IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner arrived in the office a few months ago. My son, Greg, grabbed one and read 100 pages on his train ride home and emailed me from the train to say, “This is an incredible book.” By the next day, he had finished it and was hounding me to read it so we could talk about it. When I got a few pages in, I saw why and knew that the voice of seven-year-old Raami was not going to be one I forget anytime soon.

-Click here to read more of Carol’s thoughts about the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read our interview with Vaddey Ratner.


CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham (Historical Fiction)
CITY OF WOMEN, a debut novel from David R. Gillham, is set in Berlin during World War II at a time when the city has become a city of women as the men are off fighting on various fronts. Picturing wartime Berlin, we typically think of the Nazis with swastikas and artillery moving through the streets, or the faces of Jewish families being ushered from their homes. But what of those left behind? Who were they, and what were their stories?

-Click here to read more of Carol’s thoughts about the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see the reading group guide.

KILL YOU TWICE: An Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell Novel by Chelsea Cain (Psychological Thriller)
Portland detective Archie Sheridan gets a message from serial killer Gretchen Lowell, who claims to have inside knowledge about the grisly murder of a man who was found gagged, skinned, and hanging by his wrists from a tree. Archie agrees to visit Gretchen because he can’t risk losing his only lead in the case. But the ties between Archie and Gretchen have always been stronger, deeper and more complex than he’s willing to admit. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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

A FOREIGN COUNTRY by Charles Cumming (Thriller)
On the vacation of a lifetime in Egypt, an elderly French couple are brutally murdered. Days later, a meticulously-planned kidnapping takes place on the streets of Paris. Amelia Levene, the first female Chief of MI6, has disappeared without a trace, six weeks before she is due to take over as the most influential spy in Europe. Desperate not only to find her, but to keep her disappearance a secret, Britain’s top intelligence agents turn to one of their own: disgraced MI6 officer Thomas Kell. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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

12.21 by Dustin Thomason (Thriller)
For decades, December 21, 2012, has been a touchstone for doomsayers worldwide. It is the date, they claim, when the ancient Maya calendar predicts the world will end. In Los Angeles, all is calm two weeks before. By the end of the day, Dr. Gabriel Stanton, the foremost expert on some of the rarest infections in the world, is grappling with a patient whose every symptom confounds and terrifies him. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

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

DON'T SAY A WORD by Beverly Barton (Romantic Suspense)
One by one, they will die. He has waited patiently, planning their final moments. Their tortured screams, their pleas for mercy --- all will be in vain...

Homicide detective Julia Cass has witnessed plenty of crime scenes. But the murder of a Chattanooga judge is shocking in its brutality. Teamed with FBI agent Will Brannock, Julia delves into an investigation that soon unearths more bodies --- all mutilated in the same way, all left with a gruesome souvenir of a killer’s ruthless rage…

The only way to stop the slaughter is to predict the next victim. But when you’re dealing with vengeance at its most ruthless, one wrong move can make you a target…and the next word you utter could be your last…

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Beverly Barton’s bio.

Fall is almost upon us, which 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. Here are some publisher picks that we know people will be talking about. On select days we will spotlight a different title and offer a contest to win one of five copies of the book. You will need to check the site each day to see the featured book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce each day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, August 13th at noon ET. Our featured titles will be MY BRILLIANT FRIEND by Elena Ferrante, PANORAMA CITY by Antoine Wilson, and REARVIEW MIRROR: A Memoir by Alana Stewart.

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

“What Are You Reading?” Monthly Contest Feature
We’re thrilled to announce our NEW “What Are You Reading?” Monthly Contest Feature. To enter, all you have to do is let us know what your group is reading THIS MONTH (August), and you’ll be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! We’re kicking off this brand-new feature with ONE MOUNTAIN AWAY, Emilie Richards’ novel about a tough, do-anything-to-succeed real-estate developer who, after facing her own mortality one terrifying day, realizes that her ambition has almost destroyed her chance at happiness. We have 12 copies of the book, which is now in stores, to give away to five groups. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, September 4th at noon ET.

THE PIGEON PIE MYSTERY by Julia Stuart
We are celebrating the release of THE PIGEON PIE MYSTERY by Julia Stuart --- a clever murder mystery set in Victorian England --- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, September 4th at noon ET.

GOODBYE FOR NOW by Laurie Frankel
We are celebrating the release of GOODBYE FOR NOW by Laurie Frankel --- an entertaining and warmhearted novel that explores the nature of love, loss and life (both real and computer-simulated) --- with a special contest. Five readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, September 4th at noon ET.

ReadingGroupGuides.com Newsletter Contest
Win copies of CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham 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 September 1st.

Registered Book Group Contest
For August, we have a very special opportunity for Registered Book Groups. Three groups will be able to chat with Neil Abramson and receive 12 copies of his book, UNSAID, which is now available in paperback. Groups that have registered with us by Wednesday, August 15th will have the chance to win. If your group is not registered, click here to register.

Teenreads.com

BEFORE YOU GO by James Preller
We are celebrating the release of BEFORE YOU GO --- the story of a teen boy whose life keeps spinning out of control --- with a special contest. Five readers will have the opportunity to win a copy of James Preller's first young adult novel. The deadline for entries is Friday, August 17th at noon ET.

Grab Bag of Books
Winners of our latest Grab Bag of Books contest will each receive a copy of 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER by Jessica Brody, DRAIN YOU by M. Beth Bloom, THE FORSAKEN by Lisa M. Stasse, A LONG WAY FROM YOU by Gwendolyn Heasley, and SO CLOSE TO YOU by Rachel Carter. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 15th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

THE AMISH BRIDE: The Women of Lancaster County, Book 3 by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould
We are celebrating the August 1st release of THE AMISH BRIDE with a special contest that will give 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this third installment in Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould’s Women of Lancaster County series. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 13th at noon ET.

LIVING IN HARMONY: The New Beginnings Series, Book 1 by Mary Ellis
We are celebrating the August 1st release of LIVING IN HARMONY with a special contest that will give 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this opening installment in Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 13th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com’s Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 10 readers each will be awarded a copy of ABDUCTED, the second installment of Janice Cantore's Pacific Coast Justice Series, and BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN: A Gilded Legacy Novel by Maureen Lang. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 13th at noon ET.

A HUNDRED FLOWERS by Gail Tsukiyama (Historical Fiction)
At the beginning of the Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1957, Kai Ying struggles to hold her family together after her husband is sent to a labor camp as punishment for writing a letter criticizing the Communist Party. When her young son breaks his leg, she must come to terms with the shattering reminder of her husband's absence. Meanwhile, other members of the household must face their own guilty secrets and strive to find peace in a world where the old sense of order is failing. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER by Elizabeth Flock (Fiction)
In this follow-up to ME & EMMA, nine-year-old Carrie Parker and her mother have fled their small North Carolina town for a fresh start, when they meet another mother-daughter pair, Honor and Cricket, with a troubled past of their own. Carrie and Cricket become fast friends, especially when they discover a surprising secret that could change both of their lives forever. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

THE ABSOLUTIST by John Boyne (Historical Fiction)
Tristan Sadler is delivering a package of letters to the sister of Will Bancroft, the man he fought alongside during the Great War. As Tristan recounts the horrific details of what to him became a senseless war, he also speaks of his friendship with Will. The intensity of their bond brought Tristan happiness and self-discovery, as well as confusion and unbearable pain. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

THE PROPHET by Michael Koryta (Thriller)
Adam and Kent Austin are brothers who haven't spoken since the brutal abduction and murder of their sister. But now, another girl has been found murdered, and details emerge that connect Adam and Kent to the crime. The two must bury their grief and unite to stop a killer before history repeats itself. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

KINGDOM OF STRANGERS by Zoë Ferraris (Psychological Suspense/Mystery)
A secret grave is unearthed in the desert revealing the bodies of 19 women and the shocking truth that a serial killer has been operating undetected in Jeddah for more than a decade. But lead inspector Ibrahim Zahrani is more concerned about the disappearance of his mistress. Katya, one of the few women in the police department, is drawn into both investigations and must be increasingly careful to hide a secret of her own. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE CRIME OF JULIAN WELLS by Thomas H. Cook (Thriller)
The death of famed true-crime writer Julian Wells is clearly a suicide. But why would Wells have taken his own life? And was this his only crime? These are the questions that first intrigue and then obsess Philip Anders, Wells' best friend. Anders' increasingly passionate and dangerous quest for answers becomes a journey into a haunted life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

BLIND GODDESS: A Hanne Wilhelmsen Novel by Anne Holt (Mystery)
A dead drug dealer is discovered on the outskirts of the Norwegian capital of Oslo. Within days, Hansa Larsen, a lawyer of the shadiest kind, is found shot to death, and police officers Håkon Sand and Hanne Wilhelmsen establish a link between the two crimes and uncover a massive network of corruption leading to the highest levels of government. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED by Christopher Brookmyre (Thriller)
Small-time heroin dealer Jai McDiarmid turns up dead, and because he had countless enemies, Detective Superintendent Catherine McLeod doesn't know where to start investigating. Out-of-work actress Jasmine Sharp is doing her best to be a private investigator, but her mentor has disappeared and it looks like his disappearance could be connected to Jai's death. Now, Catherine and Jasmine must team up to solve the mystery. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

Poll:

What is the most you would spend on a current release of a hardcover book by a favorite author of yours?

What is the most you would spend on a current release of an eBook by a favorite author of yours?

-Click here to answer the poll.