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June 13, 2014

Bookreporter.com Newsletter June 13, 2014
Reading Through a Rainy Week

Last night, my mom joined me at Mary Kay Andrews’s event for SAVE THE DATE at the Jersey Shore. This is the fifth year that MKA has done this event, which always boasts an enthusiastic crowd. The price of a ticket gets you a copy of the book and a great swag bag, plus nibbles and treats. MKA does an informal talk and then spends lots of time with readers and signs books. Also, there always are great raffle prizes. The bookseller is River Run Books located in Fair Haven.

I loved the opportunity to introduce my mom to MKA…and enjoy this evening (Dad poked in for a moment to say hi as well, joking that he was the fox in the henhouse!). For humor, the night before, I shot Mom an email to ask her to wear purple or lavender so we could coordinate in color with the jacket of SAVE THE DATE. Mom wrote to say she could find nothing in these colors in her closet. But my niece is storing some of her clothes there before she moves to New York in a few weeks. My mom found a purple shirt among her belongings and donned it. I LOVE this --- my mom in her granddaughter’s top; I love it and her! You can see a photo above of MKA, Mom and me, along with Meghan Walker, who is MKA’s Marketing Guru. (That’s a lot of Ms in one sentence!)

I have been planting flowers the past few weekends. I have no self-control when I am at a nursery. Bookstores and yarn shops all hold too many temptations for me. Soooo I shopped and I planted. As we were watering flowers, I counted how many containers I planted. 50! All sizes. And there are three trellises where I am growing morning glories, nasturtiums and other “vine-y” flowers. I know, out of control, but it really looks amazing. And it rained all week, thus I need some sun this weekend so things will burst into color! For a book tie-in to this madness, don’t the old branches on the hydrangea bushes above that still need trimming look like the back of the throne on "Games of Thrones"? Or am I losing my mind? Maybe don’t answer that.

When the boys were little, we read them A LOT of Spot books. At the time, I failed to note who Spot’s creator was, but this week I learned it was Eric Hill, who passed away at the age of 86. I had no idea that these books were not published until 1980; I thought they had been around longer. What a collection of storytelling he leaves behind! When he first wrote these books, the idea of the flaps to find Spot that he used was fairly revolutionary. You can read more about this here.

Last week, I failed to share the sad news that Susan Spencer-Wendel passed away from complications from ALS at age 47 three years after she was diagnosed. She penned the inspirational memoir UNTIL I SAY GOOD-BYE, which I selected as a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read it to understand how to embrace joy, even when facing formidable odds. I think of this book so often!

New books this week include….

Diana Gabaldon is back with the continuation of her wildly imaginative Outlander saga, WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD. The eighth novel in the series finds the Fraser family in complete disarray: Jamie Fraser has returned from his watery grave to learn that his wife, Claire, has married his best friend, his illegitimate son has discovered his true parentage, and his beloved nephew wants to marry a Quaker. While Jamie’s wife and sister try to pick up the pieces, the Frasers take strength from the knowledge that their daughter, Brianna, is safe in 20th-century Scotland --- but that may not be the case. Amy Gwiazdowski, a huge fan of the series, has this to say in her review: "I’ve invested time...and tears in the pages of this series, and I’m happy to report that Diana Gabaldon's latest evokes many of the same feelings." By the way, Gabaldon was feted at a fan fest in Seattle last weekend that had sold out in minutes!

Also in stores this week is ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE ASCENDANCY by Eric Van Lustbader. Whether you’ve been reading the Bourne series for years or are only familiar with Jason Bourne through the films, you’ll want to pick this one up. In this latest installment, Bourne has been hired to impersonate a high-level government minister at a political summit meeting in Qatar, shielding the minister from any assassination attempts. But when armed gunmen storm the room, killing everyone but Bourne, it becomes clear that their target isn't the minister Bourne impersonates...but Bourne himself. Ray Palen has our review and says, “What Lustbader does best is to step into the shoes and skin of Jason Bourne, breathing life into a character who readers of espionage thrillers cannot get enough of. THE BOURNE ASCENDANCY will not disappoint.”

Just in time for summer, get ready to visit the magical South Carolina Lowcountry in THE HURRICANE SISTERS. Though the Lowcountry has already endured its share of war and bloodshed, Dorothea Benton Frank’s new novel tells the struggles of three generations of women buried in secrets, now forced to face the truth about themselves. Reviewer Amie Taylor calls it a “moving yet humorous novel about life's trials and tribulations, and the way the path to true love never runs smoothly, whether it involves romance or family relationships.” Love the umbrellas on that cover!

For a dose of romance, Elin Hilderbrand’s THE MATCHMAKER is also now available. Green-eyed Clendenin Hughes is the boy who took Dabney Kimball Beech’s heart with him long ago when he left Nantucket to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist. Now, 27 years later, Dabney is a successful matchmaker, married to a celebrated economist and meddling in her daughter’s engagement. But Clen is back on Nantucket, and Dabney has never felt so confused or so alive. However, when tragedy threatens her own second chance, Dabney must face the choices she's made and share painful secrets with her family. According to reviewer Bronwyn Miller, “Like a good summer barbeque, there’s something for everyone…. [I]t’s Dabney’s storyline that most engages the reader, as we follow her through the twists and turns of her life.”

In a real twist of fate, I learned yesterday that, like her character in THE MATCHMAKER, Elin has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is having a double mastectomy today. She appeared on "CBS This Morning" to talk about this and wrote about it on Huffington Post. All of us --- and I am sure all of you --- wish her good reports and quick healing. I had the pleasure of meeting Elin last year and loved her spunk and upbeat attitude. Just what she needs now!

Susan Wiggs, whose upcoming novel THE BEEKEEPER’S BALL is the second story in her Bella Vista Chronicles, is the newest featured author in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight. Isabel Johansen, a celebrated chef who grew up in the sleepy Sonoma town of Archangel, is now transforming her childhood home into a destination cooking school. Bella Vista's rambling mission-style hacienda, with its working apple orchards, bountiful gardens and beehives, is the idyllic venue for Isabel's project…and the perfect place for her to forget the past. But her carefully ordered plans begin to go awry when swaggering, war-torn journalist Cormac O'Neill arrives to dig up old history. We have 35 copies of THE BEEKEEPER’S BALL to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which releases on June 24th, and share their comments about it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 26th at noon ET. In a book group? Then click on over to ReadingGroupGuides.com, where we're hosting a contest in which book groups can win copies of THE BEEKEEPER’S BALL along with book-themed items for your group to enjoy.

Our One to Watch Author Spotlight for Rosie Thomas and her upcoming novel, THE ILLUSIONISTS, continues. Through her work as an artist’s model, Eliza meets the Devil, a born showman whose dream is to run his own theater company. Devil’s righthand man is Carlo Bonomi, an ill-tempered dwarf with an enormous talent for all things magic and illusion. And then there is Jasper Button, the enigmatic, unlikely final member of this fascinating cast of characters. Thrown together by a twist of fate, their lives are inextricably linked. As Eliza gets sucked into their seductive and dangerous world, she risks not only her heart, but also her life, which is soon thrown into peril. We have 100 copies of THE ILLUSIONISTS to give away to readers who would like read the book, which releases on June 26th, and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 19th at noon ET.

Father’s Day is this weekend, but if you haven’t finished your shopping yet, there’s still time to check out our 18 featured books that are sure to show the special guys in your life just how much you appreciate them. Continuing the celebration, let’s give a big round of applause to the 10 winners of our contest, who each received nine of the titles in this year’s feature, along with a "Best. Dad. Ever." T-shirt, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and some dark chocolate with toffee. If you need more recommendations, we suggest you take a look at reviewer Stuart Shiffman’s annual Golf Books feature. Whether your dad appreciates the history of the sport or is looking to improve his swing, there’s something here for every golf fan.

And speaking of Father’s Day, don’t forget to read our Father’s Day blog series, where we’re posting pieces from authors who share memories of their fathers reading to them or their own experiences reading to their children. We’ve already heard from Lorenzo Carceterra, author of the upcoming THE WOLF, which we will be featuring in a few weeks, and Heather Gudenkauf, author of LITTLE MERCIES, which we have been sharing with you…and will have more about in the weeks to come. Be on the lookout this weekend for Lawrence Goldstone’s essay; his most recent book is BIRDMEN: The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Battle to Control the Skies. I love these pieces; each is so very special and will warm your heart.

We’re continuing our Summer Reading Contests, where we’re giving away a different book on select days throughout the summer. In our third series of contests this week, we gave away GUESTS ON EARTH by Lee Smith, MY ACCIDENTAL JIHAD by Krista Bremer, THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY by Adriana Trigiani, and WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES by Karen Joy Fowler. Next week’s prizes will be FLYING SHOES by Lisa Howorth, THE GLASS KITCHEN by Linda Francis Lee, THAT NIGHT by Chevy Stevens, and THE THIRD SON by Julie Wu. Click here to see all of our featured titles.

Are you signed up for our Summer Reading newsletter so you get word as soon as these contests go live? If not, click here to get signed up! Please note: If you signed up for the Summer Reading newsletter in the previous years we’ve done these contests, you don’t need to do so again…you already are signed up!

By the way, if you have a twentysomething in your life, let them know we have a 20SomethingReads.com Beach Bag Contest running there. We also are looking for contributors to 20SomethingReads.com. Know a college student home for the summer, or a twentysomething who loves books? Then have them shoot a note to Nicole Sherman at Nicole@bookreporter.com and Emily Hoenig at Emily@bookreporter.com with a few writing samples. Reviewers will get free books --- and hey, it’s something for their resume!

Have a teen in the house? Then encourage them to enter the Teenreads.com Summer Beach Bag Contest!

Our History Books roundup has been updated for June. Among this month’s featured titles are THE EXPLORERS: A Story of Fearless Outcasts, Blundering Geniuses, and Impossible Success, by Martin Dugard; JET SET: The People, the Planes, the Glamour, and the Romance in Aviation's Glory Years, by William Stadiem; THE ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War, by A.J. Baime; and WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED: Francis Scott Key, A Life, by Marc Leepson.

In honor of National Audiobook Month, we would love to know if you listen to audiobooks. You can take our poll by clicking here. As I said in last week’s newsletter, we’re strongly considering increasing our audiobook coverage on the site. I welcome your suggestions on how we should tackle this! This week, I finished listening to the aforementioned LITTLE MERCIES, which made me want to check out LITTLE LIES, Heather Gudenkauf’s eBook prequel, as I loved her Ellen character.

I also dipped into SUMMER HOUSE WITH SWIMMING POOL by Herman Koch (it’s dark and edgy with narration by Peter Berkrot, who all but spits out some of the terse prose) and NANTUCKET SISTERS by Nancy Thayer, which is narrated by Kate Rudd. While I am new to audiobooks, I figured out that Rudd also was one of the narrators of LITTLE MERCIES. I spent six hours in my car on Thursday, three of them stuck in traffic moving slowly to get to the Lincoln Tunnel after an accident on the George Washington Bridge snarled the day (I could have flown to Florida faster), and having audiobooks along allowed me to keep working! I am having fun exploring this new format and loving your feedback on audio thus far, but would love to hear more from you, like who some of your favorite narrators are!

Let us know by Friday, June 20th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll have the opportunity to win these three novels in our Word of Mouth contest: the aforementioned ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE ASCENDANCY by Eric Van Lustbader, along with TERMINAL CITY by Linda Fairstein and THAT NIGHT by Chevy Stevens, both of which we’ll be reviewing next week.

Cory is getting a haircut today; those who saw the photo of him in the newsletter last week know what a momentous occasion this is!

Our weekend will be all about dad things. I'm headed to the Jersey Shore tomorrow to celebrate the holiday with my dad (and to avoid the Sunday night traffic), and Sunday we will celebrate here at the house so Tom can watch the U.S. Open and whispered commentary. I do not understand why the TV commentators need to whisper. It makes golf seem like church! Saturday IS Worldwide Knit in Public Day; those with needles partake and present thyselves.

I have a current addiction to pistachio almond ice cream. If you can find this where you live, I highly recommend it, but only if you can handle addiction! I am trying to limit myself to three tablespoons a day. Some days that works.

Read on and have a great week…in spite of Mercury being retrograde until July 1st, today being Friday the 13th AND a full moon, which is like a trifecta. By the way, in your trivia fact of the day, the full moon in June has three names: the "Strawberry" name comes from the fact that June is strawberry season; "Honey" moon, as it is a big month for weddings and in parts of the country has fog this time of year, which can filter out some of the light, casting a honey color over it; and “Rose” is because this is when roses generally bloom. This year, the full moon in June also can be called "rare" as the last time it happened on Friday the 13th was in 1919...and it will not happen again until 2049.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads among our readers!

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Now in Stores: WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD by Diana Gabaldon
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD by Diana Gabaldon (Historical Fiction)
The eighth installment in the Outlander series starts with a lot of confusion. With Jamie Fraser presumed dead, his wife Claire married his friend, Lord John Grey, for protection. When Jamie returns, with his supposedly dead sister, Claire’s life takes another mind-bending turn. With the Revolutionary War looming in the background, Jamie and Claire, with family in tow, make for home on Fraser’s Ridge, with a few diversions into love and war along the way. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE ASCENDANCY by Eric Van Lustbader

ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE ASCENDANCY by Eric Van Lustbader (Thriller/Adventure)
Jason Bourne has been hired to impersonate a high-level government minister at a political summit meeting in Qatar, shielding the minister from any assassination attempts. Suddenly, armed gunmen storm the room, killing everyone but Bourne. Their target, however, is Bourne himself. Kidnapped and transported to an underground bunker, Bourne must make a monstrous choice: save fellow captive (and close friend) Soraya and her daughter, or save the President. Reviewed by Ray Palen.


-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: THE SMOKE AT DAWN by Jeff Shaara

THE SMOKE AT DAWN: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Shaara (Historical Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author Jeff Shaara returns to the Civil War terrain he knows so well, with the latest novel in his series that started with A BLAZE OF GLORY and A CHAIN OF THUNDER. In THE SMOKE AT DAWN, the last great push of the Army of the Cumberland sets the stage for a decisive confrontation at Chattanooga that could determine the outcome of the war. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

-Click here to read more about the book.

 

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: THE HURRICANE SISTERS by Dorothea Benton Frank

THE HURRICANE SISTERS by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Dorothea Benton Frank once again takes us deep into the heart of her magical South Carolina Lowcountry. There we meet three generations of women buried in secrets. The determined matriarch, Maisie Pringle, will have the final word on everything, especially when she's dead wrong. Her daughter, Liz, has an emotionally demanding career that will eventually open all their eyes to a terrible truth. And Liz's daughter, Ashley, has dreamy ambitions of her unlikely future that keeps them all at odds. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

-Click here to read more about the book.

 

Click here to read a review.
New Women's Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest: THE BEEKEEPER'S BALL by Susan Wiggs

We have 35 copies of THE BEEKEEPER’S BALL by Susan Wiggs to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which releases on June 24th, and share their comments about it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 26th at noon ET.

THE BEEKEEPER’S BALL by Susan Wiggs (Fiction)
Isabel Johansen, a celebrated chef who grew up in the sleepy Sonoma town of Archangel, is transforming her childhood home into a destination cooking school --- a unique place for other dreamers to come and learn the culinary arts. Bella Vista's rambling mission-style hacienda, with its working apple orchards, bountiful gardens and beehives, is the idyllic venue for Isabel's project…and the perfect place for her to forget the past.

But Isabel's carefully ordered plans begin to go awry when swaggering, war-torn journalist Cormac O'Neill arrives to dig up old history. He's always been better at exposing the lives of others than showing his own closely guarded heart, but the pleasures of small-town life and the searing sensuality of Isabel's kitchen coax him into revealing a few truths of his own.

The dreamy sweetness of summer is the perfect time of year for a grand family wedding and the enchanting Beekeeper's Ball, bringing emotions to a head in a story where the past and present collide to create an unexpected new future.

-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 Susan Wiggs’s bio.
-Click here to visit Susan Wiggs’s official website.
-Connect with Susan Wiggs on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
One to Watch Author Spotlight & Contest: THE ILLUSIONISTS by Rosie Thomas
We have 100 copies of THE ILLUSIONISTS by Rosie Thomas to give away to readers who would like to preview the book, which releases on June 26th, and share their comments about it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 19th at noon ET.

THE ILLUSIONISTS by Rosie Thomas (Historical Fiction)
Over the course of a brilliant career, bestselling novelist Rosie Thomas has earned an untold number of awards and the devotion of millions of loyal readers. Her new novel, THE ILLUSIONISTS, set in London in 1870, is a thrilling step forward --- a captivating tale of passion and intrigue in the theater world.

At the start of THE ILLUSIONISTS, we meet Eliza, a young, beautiful woman of limited means. Through her work as an artist’s model, she meets the magnetic and irascible Devil --- a born showman whose dream is to run his own theater company. Devil’s righthand man is Carlo Bonomi, an ill-tempered dwarf with an enormous talent for all things magic and illusion. And then there is Jasper Button, the enigmatic, unlikely final member of this fascinating cast of characters. Thrown together by a twist of fate, their lives are inextricably linked. As Eliza gets sucked into their seductive and dangerous world, she risks not only her heart, but also her life, which is soon thrown into peril.

-Click here to read Rosie Thomas's bio.
-Click here to visit Rosie Thomas's official website.
-Click here to connect with Rosie Thomas on Facebook.
 
Click here to read more in our One to Watch Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature

Summer is just around the corner! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be hosting a number of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days throughout the summer, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, June 16th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles include:

 

Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com's Father's Day Feature and Author Blogs
Father's Day Feature: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? We have 18 titles that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year.

This year's featured Father's Day titles are:

Congratulations to the 10 winners of our Ninth Annual Father’s Day Contest! Each winner will receive a prize package that includes nine of the titles in this year’s feature, along with a "Best. Dad. Ever." T-shirt, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and some dark chocolate with toffee.


Father's Day Author Blogs: Celebrating Authors and Their Fathers
Once again, we’re celebrating Father’s Day with authors who have agreed to share with us memories of their fathers reading to them or their own experiences reading to their children. We’ve already heard from Lorenzo Carceterra, author of THE WOLF (releasing July 29th), and Heather Gudenkauf, whose upcoming novel, LITTLE MERCIES, is publishing on June 24th. Please be on the lookout this weekend for a piece from Lawrence Goldstone, whose latest book is BIRDMEN: The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Battle to Control the Skies.

-Click here to read our Father's Day Author Blogs.

Summer Golf Reading for 2014
Stuart Shiffman's annual Summer Golf Essay first appeared on Bookreporter.com during a time when the world golf industry was experiencing great success. However, these days, things are not so magnificent for the golfing world. Several years ago, as the economy faltered, many golf communities could no longer sell golf homes or club memberships, and unused residential lots dot many courses in Florida and Arizona. Perhaps most importantly, Tiger Woods has become an aging golfer with both personal and physical issues that presently find him off the PGA Tour. Golf is searching for the next Tiger, and while there are several candidates, no one has secured the nomination.

Despite such difficulties, golf remains a popular subject for the book industry. From March through June, many interesting golf books are published, falling into two main categories: golf history and improving your game. This spring has seen a number of titles that offer wonderful reading for those golfers with the inclination to learn more about the game they play and enjoy --- and Stuart is pleased to share six of these books with you.

 
Click here to read Stuart Shiffman’s roundup of summer golf titles.
Bookreporter.com's History Books Roundup for June
June’s roundup of History titles includes THE EXPLORERS, Martin Dugard's riveting account of one of history’s greatest adventures --- the Burton and Speke expedition of 1856 --- and a study of the seven character traits all great explorers share; A. J. Baime's THE ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY, a dramatic, intimate narrative of how Ford Motor Company went from making automobiles to producing the airplanes that would mean the difference between winning and losing World War II; JET SET by Vanity Fair contributor William Stadiem, the first-ever book about the glamorous decade when Americans took to the skies in massive numbers as never before, with the rich and famous elbowing their way to the front of the line; and WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED by Marc Leepson, the first full-length biography of Francis Scott Key in more than 75 years, which is being published to coincide with the 200th anniversary of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
 
Click here to see our History Books roundup for June.
Women's Fiction Author Spotlight: THAT SUMMER by Lauren Willig
THAT SUMMER by Lauren Willig (Fiction)
2009: When Julia Conley hears that she has inherited a house outside London from an unknown great-aunt, she assumes it’s a joke. She hasn't been back to England since the car crash that killed her mother when she was six, an event she remembers only in her nightmares. But when she arrives at Herne Hill to sort through the house --- with the help of her cousin Natasha and sexy antiques dealer Nicholas --- bits of memory start coming back. And then she discovers a pre-Raphaelite painting, hidden behind the false back of an old wardrobe, and a window onto the house's shrouded history begins to open...

1849: Imogen Grantham has spent nearly a decade trapped in a loveless marriage to a much older man, Arthur. The one bright spot in her life is her step-daughter, Evie, a high-spirited 16-year-old who is the closest thing to a child Imogen hopes to have. But everything changes when three young painters come to see Arthur's collection of medieval artifacts, including Gavin Thorne, a quiet man with the unsettling ability to read Imogen better than anyone ever has. When Arthur hires Gavin to paint her portrait, none of them can guess what the hands of fate have set in motion.

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read our interview with Lauren Willig.
-Click here to read Lauren Willig's bio.
-Click here to visit Lauren Willig's official website.
-Click here to connect with Lauren Willig on Facebook.
 
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
More Reviews This Week
THE MATCHMAKER by Elin Hilderbrand (Romance)
Clendenin Hughes is the boy who took Dabney Kimball Beech’s heart with him long ago when he left Nantucket to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist. Now, after spending 27 years on the other side of the world, Clen is back on the island, and Dabney has never felt so confused or so alive. But when tragedy threatens her own second chance, Dabney must face the choices she's made and share painful secrets with her family. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN HERE WITHOUT YOU by Courtney Maum (Fiction)
Artist Richard Haddon is in despair. He's supposedly "successful" in that his art is selling, but he despises the work he’s doing. Even worse, his mistress has dumped him, and his once-wonderful marriage has turned frosty and impersonal. Just when you might think his life cannot get any worse, it does, making his road to redemption rough indeed --- as well as a terrific read. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

FOURTH OF JULY CREEK by Smith Henderson (Fiction)
After trying to help Benjamin Pearl, an undernourished, nearly feral 11-year-old boy living in the Montana wilderness, social worker Pete Snow comes face to face with the boy's profoundly disturbed father, Jeremiah. But as Pete's own family spins out of control, Pearl's activities spark the full-blown interest of the FBI, putting Pete at the center of a massive manhunt from which no one will emerge unscathed. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE FARM by Tom Rob Smith (Thriller)
Daniel believed that his parents were enjoying a peaceful retirement on a remote farm in Sweden. But with a single phone call, everything changes. Caught between his parents, and unsure of who to believe or trust, Daniel becomes his mother's unwilling judge and jury as she tells him an urgent tale of secrets, of lies, of a crime and a conspiracy that implicates his own father. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD by Michael Koryta (Thriller)
When 14-year-old Jace Wilson witnesses a brutal murder, he is plunged into a new life, issued a false identity and hidden in a wilderness skills program for troubled teens. The plan is to get Jace off the grid while police find the two killers. The result is the start of a nightmare. The killers, known as the Blackwell Brothers, are slaughtering anyone who gets in their way in a methodical quest to reach him. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

ALL DAY AND A NIGHT by Alafair Burke (Mystery/Thriller)
Psychotherapist Helen Brunswick is murdered in her Park Slope office. Her injuries are eerily similar to the signature used 20 years earlier by Anthony Amaro, a serial killer serving a life sentence for his crimes. Now, Amaro is asking to be released from prison, arguing that he was wrongly convicted, and that the true killer is still on the loose. NYPD detectives Ellie Hatcher and JJ Rogan are tapped as the “fresh look” team to reassess the original investigation that led to Amaro’s conviction. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

TED WILLIAMS, MY FATHER: A Memoir by Claudia Williams (Sports/Memoir)
Claudia Williams, the last surviving child of Ted Williams, recounts her time with one of baseball's brightest stars, offering a rare glimpse inside the Hall of Famer's life after he hung up his spikes. With a fresh insight, she presents an unexpected portrait of Ted Williams as more than the greatest hitter to ever live, but also as a flawed man with a kind heart. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

THE POSSIBILITIES by Kaui Hart Hemmings (Fiction)
Sarah St. John is still reeling from the death of her 22-year-old son, Cully, in an avalanche. Though she is surrounded by family and friends who try to distract her from her grief, she cannot help but feel alone. Barely ready to deal with the fact that she will never see her son again, Sarah is surprised when a strange girl arrives on her doorstep bearing a secret from Cully that could change all of their lives forever. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

TAKE THIS MAN: A Memoir by Brando Skyhorse (Memoir)
When he was three years old, Brando Kelly Ulloa was abandoned by his Mexican father. His mother, Maria, dreaming of a more exciting life, saw no reason for her son to live his life as a Mexican just because he started out as one. The life of “Brando Skyhorse,” the American Indian son of an incarcerated political activist, was about to begin. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE: Stories by David Guterson (Fiction/Short Stories)
Ranging from youth to old age, the voices that inhabit PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE offer tender, unexpected and always tightly focused accounts of our quest to understand each other, individually, and as part of a political and historical moment. These stories are shot through with tragedy, poignant reflections upon cultural and personal circumstances, and paradigmatic questions about our sense of reality and belonging. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.

EMPIRE GIRLS by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan (Historical Fiction)
After the unexpected death of their father, Ivy and Rose Adams are left to reconcile the estate, when they make a shocking discovery: not only has their father left them in financial ruin, but he has also bequeathed their beloved family house to a brother they never knew existed. With only a photograph to guide the way, Ivy and Rose embark to New York City, determined to find this mysterious man and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

TWO SOLDIERS by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström (Thriller)
Two 19-year-old boys have spent their young lives establishing a ruthless criminal enterprise, the Råby Warriors. With the recruitment of children as foot soldiers, the Warriors are now poised to become the most powerful syndicate in their Stockholm suburb. After Leon and Gabriel execute a maximum-security prison break, José Pereira, who now heads the Organized Crime and Gang Section in Råby, is joined in his investigation by Chief Superintendent Ewert Grens. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

MARGARITA WEDNESDAYS: Making a New Life by the Mexican Sea by Deborah Rodriguez (Memoir)
After she is forced to flee Afghanistan in 2007, Deborah Rodriguez moves to a seaside town in Mexico. Despite having no plan, no friends and no Spanish, a determined Rodriguez soon finds herself swept up in a world where the music never stops and a new life can begin. Her adventures and misadventures among the expats and locals help lead the way to new love, new family, and a new sense of herself. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

THE SHADOW YEAR by Hannah Richell (Fiction)
Still grieving the death of her prematurely delivered infant, Lila finds a welcome distraction in renovating a country house she's recently inherited. She finds herself drawn into the story of a group of idealistic university grads from 30 years before, who'd thrown off the shackles of bourgeois city life. When the fate of the group is left eerily unclear, Lila turns her attention to untangling a web of secrets to uncover the shocking truth of what happened that fateful year. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
Our Latest Poll: June is Audiobook Month!
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I listen to digital downloads.
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Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from June 6th to June 20th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE ASCENDANCY by Eric Van Lustbader, TERMINAL CITY by Linda Fairstein and THAT NIGHT by Chevy Stevens.

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.

Please note: You must enter your full address, using correct capitalization and filling in all fields if you would like to be eligible to win this prize.

Also, we realize that many times, your opinion of a book will change as you get further along into the story. Thus, to ensure that your comments and ratings accurately reflect your entire reading experience, we ask that you finish reading the book before you submit your comments about it.

One important technical note: If you're using an iPad or another iOS device to access the Word of Mouth page and you would like to enter the contest, you must wait for the page to fully load before you can rate your book. Only then will the stars be clickable.

-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.

 
Click here to enter the contest.

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