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Thank you to those of you who have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. So far, with online and snail mail donations, we have raised $33,695 of our $50,000 goal. In addition to these contributions, we are loving your comments about how you enjoy Bookreporter.com. Here is a message we received recently:
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We changed things up a bit for our latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview.
Instead of interviewing an author, Carol chatted with Suzanne Skyvara and Danny Feekes
from Goodreads. They talk about a number of books that have just come out,
or will be out soon, along with titles that are trending with Goodreads members.
Click on the image above for the video and here for the podcast.
On Friday, May 29th, we hosted our 9th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders — the first time it was done virtually.
More than 80 books that would make great book group selections were presented by 25 publishers.
Click on the image above to watch a video of the presentation.
If you would like to know more about these books, here is a link to the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as a spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title.
In Carol's garden are two flowers that she is enjoying:
the passion flower (left) and the streptocarpus ladyslippers (right)
One of the joys of this time of year is the garden. It’s early days, and everything is at peak. The weeds have not taken over, the colors are still vibrant, and the leaves are still green. It’s not too hot, and it’s not too cool. It’s the time you want to bottle up and remember vividly. Above are two flowers that I love: the passion flower is new to the container garden this year, while the streptocarpus ladyslippers are something that we have planted for the last three years. This year, I may try to bring the latter indoors for winter.
It's been a very busy week. I did my first virtual Summer Reading event with the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library on Wednesday night. I missed seeing people’s reactions to the books that I presented, but I appreciated the opportunity to kick off their program. This coming week, I have a virtual program with Rockville Centre Library, and there are more in the weeks to come.
With this in mind, I would love for you to answer our latest poll question: “As so many author and book events are taking place online these days, we’re curious to know: Do you attend virtual author, library, bookstore, book festival and/or publisher-sponsored events?” For our previous poll, we wanted to know the genres that best describe the book that you most recently read or listened to. Here are your top five genres: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller (47%), Historical Fiction (36%), Fiction (33%), Women’s Fiction (12%), and Autobiography/Memoir (10%). Click here for all the results.
In our latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview, we changed things up a bit. Instead of interviewing an author, I was joined by two Goodreads staffers: Suzanne Skyvara, their Vice President of Marketing & Editorial, and Danny Feekes, their Managing Editor. As one of the most useful resources for book lovers, which many of our readers use, Goodreads has a big hand in sharing great and exciting new reads. We talked about a whole host of incredible books that have just come out, or will be out soon, ranging from thrillers to literary fiction to memoirs and more. As they made recommendations for great reading, Suzanne and Danny also discussed some books that are trending with Goodreads members that may be flying under the radar, as well as more well-known titles. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
And I am so happy to share this next piece of news with you. On Friday, May 29th, we hosted our 9th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. It is the first time that we have done this program virtually; typically it is a live event at BookExpo. Twenty-five publishers presented more than 80 books that they think will be of interest to book groups. You can watch these presentations here. And if you would like to know more about the books, here is a link to the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title.
A few weeks ago, I figured out how to watch YouTube videos on our smart television instead of on a laptop or mobile device. I share this now as I think it would be fun to watch this video presentation on a big screen. It is worth doing some exploring on your own television to see if you can do this.
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in Lucy Foley’s latest novel, THE GUEST LIST, which Reese Witherspoon selected as one of her two book club picks for this month and next month (the other is I'M STILL HERE: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown). Bronwyn Miller has our review and calls it “a gripping page-turner perfect for a sunny beach day or a lazy, rainy afternoon. Its propulsive pace keeps the story moving forward as fast as you can turn the pages, with the motley crew of characters narrating the action. THE GUEST LIST is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, and even the queen of the whodunit herself, Agatha Christie. You’ll be glad you didn’t make it onto this Guest List!"
A BURNING is this month’s "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick. In Megha Majumdar’s first novel, three individuals seek to rise --- to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies --- and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India. According to our reviewer Maya Gittelman, the book “sears with an expert, unapologetic hand. [Majumdar] writes with a command of each of her three POV characters, the detailed landscape of her world, and the brutal, inevitable conclusion. A BURNING is unflinching, even when exploring its bloodiest, most vicious realities.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include DANCE AWAY WITH ME, Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ first novel in four years, in which a midwife and young widow takes off for Runaway Mountain, a small town high in the Tennessee mountains, where she hopes to outrun her heartbreak and find the solace she needs to heal; NIGHT. SLEEP. DEATH. THE STARS. by Joyce Carol Oates, which revolves around the death of a powerful parent, and the startling and unexpected ways that his adult children react --- although the most surprising reaction of all comes from his grieving widow; THE SUMMER HOUSE, James Patterson and Brendan DuBois’ thriller about a homicide investigation that shakes a small-town sheriff to her core; and THE SECOND HOME by debut author Christina Clancy, a novel about second homes, second families and second chances.
This week, we are spotlighting the newly released AT LOVE'S COMMAND, which kicks off Karen Witemeyer's Hanger's Horsemen historical romance series. Ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries who defend the innocent, but when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they seek out help from Dr. Josephine Burkett. When Josephine's brother is abducted and she is caught in the crossfire, Matthew may have to sacrifice everything --- even his team --- to save her. Click here to read more about the book.
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away THE BEAUTY OF BROKEN THINGS by Victoria Connelly (which we also review this week), and two books that are now available in paperback: THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (a Bets On pick) and FINDING MRS. FORD by Deborah Goodrich Royce. Next week’s prize will be TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by Meg Mitchell Moore (an upcoming Bets On selection; I am excited to interview Meg next week), and the contest for that will begin on Tuesday, June 16th at noon ET.
If you didn’t win a copy of THIS TENDER LAND in our Summer Reading contest, you’ll have another opportunity in our Father’s Day contest. Five readers will be awarded this novel, along with five other wonderful titles: FACTFULNESS: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World --- and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling with Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Rönnlund, HOLLYWOOD PARK: A Memoir by Mikel Jollett, THE LAST TRIAL by Scott Turow, THE LINCOLN CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President --- and Why It Failed by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, and THE NEW ONE: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad by Mike Birbiglia with poems by J. Hope Stein. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. By submitting your comments about the books you’ve read, you’ll have a chance to win 28 SUMMERS by Elin Hilderbrand and THE PERSUASION by Iris Johansen, both of which we’re planning to review next week. Be sure to enter by Friday, June 26th at noon ET.
There is still plenty of time to enter this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Let us know by Wednesday, July 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win the audio versions of Megan Miranda's THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS, read by Rebekkah Ross, and Beatriz Williams' HER LAST FLIGHT, read by Cassandra Campbell. We’ll be featuring reviews of the print editions of both later this month. I had the pleasure of chatting with Megan yesterday for an upcoming “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, and I look forward to sharing that with you in two weeks.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Maureen wrote, “Carol, I am sorry you had COVID-19, but very happy to hear you are recovered. I love Bookreporter and look forward to your videos and newsletter. I have gotten so many recommendations from you. Thank you! Stay well!”
Mary Lou wrote, “I just this minute finished listening to your FABULOUS podcast with Suzanne Skyvara and Danny Feekes. It was so very interesting. I now have more books on my TBR list, plus I am motivated to check Goodreads out.”
"The Woods" on Netflix: This latest series based on a book by Harlan Coben is online now!
"Perry Mason" on HBO: Here’s the official trailer for "Perry Mason," which is based on the characters in Erle Stanley Gardner’s novels. It premieres on June 21st.
"Oprah's Book Club" on Apple TV+: In the latest "Oprah's Book Club" special, Oprah sat down with Robert Kolker, author of HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD (a Bets On pick), and four of the siblings featured in the book: Lindsay, Richard, Margaret and Mark Galvin.
Kolker said this on Thursday: "Being a part of @oprahsbookclub has been an overwhelming honor, but the most rewarding part has been reading the readers’ reactions to HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD each week. Today on Instagram, the club has its final discussion, and tomorrow Apple TV+ starts streaming Oprah’s TV special about the book, featuring interviews with several of the Galvins themselves."
"Book TV" on C-SPAN2: On Saturday at 1pm ET will be BookExpo's Adult Book and Author Dinner, featuring Zerlna Maxwell, Rebecca Roanhorse, Joy Harjo and Carmen Maria Machado. And at 2:15pm ET, Ibram X. Kendi, author of HOW TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST, weighs in on racial equity in America before, during and after COVID-19.
"Billions" on Showtime: The mid-season finale is on Sunday night; this is the last episode that was filmed before the pandemic hit.
A fun weekend is ahead. Our friend, Cathy, is throwing a socially-distanced birthday party for our friend, Ingrid. It looks like the weather is going to be great. We made lots of progress on filling the dumpster last weekend, and the pool is open, though it is still a bit cold for my taste. I am reading the aforementioned THE SECOND HOME, and I have prep to do for two author interviews next week. I made a new garden area last week for zinnias (not at the end of the driveway since we realized that four-foot zinnias there would not look great), and I have another in mind as well. And I am sure that some weeds will be looking my way. All is good.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley
The Latest Reese Witherspoon x
Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick
THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Jot Davies, Chloe Massey, Olivia Dowd, Aoife McMahon, Sarah Ovens and Rich Keeble
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But as the champagne is popped and the festivities get underway, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And, perhaps more importantly, why? Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is the latest Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick (along with I'M STILL HERE: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown)
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: A BURNING by Megha Majumdar
June's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club Pick
A BURNING by Megha Majumdar (Literary Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Vikas Adam, Priya Ayyar, Deepti Gupta, Soneela Nankani, Neil Shah and Ulka Mohanty
Jivan is a Muslim girl from the slums, determined to move up in life, who is accused of executing a terrorist attack on a train because of a careless comment on Facebook. PT Sir is an opportunistic gym teacher who hitches his aspirations to a right-wing political party, and finds that his own ascent becomes linked to Jivan's fall. Lovely --- an irresistible outcast whose exuberant voice and dreams of glory fill the novel with warmth, hope and humor --- has the alibi that can set Jivan free, but it will cost her everything she holds dear. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see why the book is June's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DANCE AWAY WITH ME
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
DANCE AWAY WITH ME by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Nicole Poole
When life throws her one setback too many, midwife and young widow Tess Hartsong takes off for Runaway Mountain. In this small town high in the Tennessee mountains, surrounded by nature, she hopes to outrun her heartbreak and find the solace she needs to heal. But instead of peace and quiet, she encounters an enigmatic artist with a craving for solitude, a fairy-tale sprite with too many secrets, a helpless infant, a passel of curious teens, and a town suspicious of outsiders, especially one as headstrong as Tess. Just as headstrong is Ian North, a difficult, gifted man with a tortured soul --- a man who makes Tess question everything. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: NIGHT. SLEEP. DEATH. THE STARS.
by Joyce Carol Oates
NIGHT. SLEEP. DEATH. THE STARS. by Joyce Carol Oates (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cheryl Smith
NIGHT. SLEEP. DEATH. THE STARS. is a gripping examination of contemporary America through the prism of a family tragedy. When a powerful parent dies, each of his adult children reacts in startling and unexpected ways, and his grieving widow in the most surprising way of all. Stark and penetrating, Joyce Carol Oates’ latest novel is a vivid exploration of race, psychological trauma, class warfare, grief and eventual healing, as well as an intimate family novel in the tradition of the author’s bestselling WE WERE THE MULVANEYS. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Now Available: AT LOVE'S COMMAND
by Karen Witemeyer
AT LOVE'S COMMAND: Hanger's Horsemen, Book 1 by Karen Witemeyer (Historical Romance)
Ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries who defend the innocent, but when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they seek out help from Dr. Josephine Burkett. When Josephine's brother is abducted and she is caught in the crossfire, Matthew may have to sacrifice everything --- even his team --- to save her.
Click here to read more about the book.
Bookreporter.com's 15th Annual
Father's Day Contest: 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? In our 15th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our six featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! 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 are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through the end of August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are 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 Tuesday, June 16th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight:
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of 10, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he's not above using his staff to track Claire's every move, making sure she's living up to his impossible standards. But what he doesn't know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish.
A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets --- Claire taking Eva's flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. Cut off, out of options, with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity and, along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Julie Clark's bio.
- Click here to visit Julie Clark's website.
- Connect with Julie Clark on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
THE LAST FLIGHT will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary shortly after the book's June 23rd release.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
We changed things up a bit for our latest interview:
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Suzanne Skyvara, the Vice President of Marketing & Editorial at Goodreads, and Danny Feekes, their Managing Editor Video | Podcast
Other interviews include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Julie Clark (THE LAST FLIGHT)
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Megan Miranda (THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS)
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Meg Mitchell Moore (TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE)
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Stephanie Scott (WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
THE SUMMER HOUSE by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ari Fliakos
Once a luxurious southern getaway on a rustic lake, then reduced to a dilapidated crash pad, the Summer House is now the grisly scene of a nighttime mass murder. Eyewitnesses point to four Army Rangers --- known as the Night Ninjas --- recently returned from Afghanistan. To ensure that justice is done, the Army sends Major Jeremiah Cook, a veteran and former NYPD cop, to investigate. As Cook and his squad struggle to uncover the truth behind the condemning evidence, the pieces just won't fit --- and forces are rallying to make certain that damning secrets die alongside the victims in the murder house. With his own people in the crosshairs, Cook takes a desperate gamble to find answers --- even if it means returning to a hell of his own worst nightmares. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE SECOND HOME by Christina Clancy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Tavia Gilbert
After a disastrous summer spent at her family summer home on Cape Cod, 17-year-old Ann Gordon was left with a secret that changed her life forever, and created a rift between her sister, Poppy, and their adopted brother, Michael. Now, 15 years later, her parents have died, leaving Ann and Poppy to decide the fate of the Wellfleet home that's been in the Gordon family for generations. For Ann, the once-beloved house is tainted with bad memories. Poppy loves the old saltbox, but after years spent chasing waves around the world, she isn't sure she knows how to stay in one place. Just when the sisters decide to sell, Michael re-enters their lives with a legitimate claim to the house. But more than that, he wants to set the record straight about that long-ago summer. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid by Willie Mays and John Shea (Sports/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Larry Herron and Julian McWilliams
Widely regarded as the greatest all-around player in baseball history because of his unparalleled hitting, defense and baserunning, the beloved Willie Mays offers people of all ages his lifetime of experience meeting challenges with positivity, integrity and triumph in 24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid. Presented in 24 chapters to correspond with his universally recognized uniform number, Willie’s memoir provides more than the story of his role in America’s pastime. This is the story of a man who values family and community, engages in charitable causes, especially involving children, and follows a philosophy that encourages hope, hard work and the fulfillment of dreams. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
PIZZA GIRL by Jean Kyoung Frazier (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jeena Yi
Eighteen years old, pregnant and working as a pizza delivery girl in suburban Los Angeles, our charmingly dysfunctional heroine is deeply lost and in complete denial about it all. She's grieving the death of her father (with whom she has more in common than she'd like to admit), avoiding her supportive mom and loving boyfriend, and flagrantly ignoring her future. Her world is further upended when she becomes obsessed with Jenny, a stay-at-home mother new to the neighborhood, who comes to depend on weekly deliveries of pickled-covered pizzas for her son's happiness. As one woman looks toward motherhood and the other toward middle age, the relationship between the two begins to blur in strange, complicated and ultimately heartbreaking ways. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
ALL MY MOTHER'S LOVERS by Ilana Masad (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Lowman
Intimacy has always eluded 27-year-old Maggie Krause --- until, that is, Lucia came into her life. But when Maggie’s mom, Iris, dies in a car crash, Maggie returns home only to discover a withdrawn dad, an angry brother, and five sealed envelopes, each addressed to a mysterious man she’s never heard of. In an effort to run from her own grief and discover the truth about Iris --- who made no secret of her discomfort with her daughter's sexuality --- Maggie embarks on a road trip, determined to hand-deliver the letters and find out what these men meant to her mother. Maggie quickly discovers Iris’ second, hidden life, which shatters everything she thought she knew about her parents’ perfect relationship. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE BEAUTY OF BROKEN THINGS by Victoria Connelly (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jan Cramer
After the tragic loss of his wife, Helen, Luke Hansard is desperate to keep her memory alive. In an effort to stay close to her, he reaches out to an online friend Helen often mentioned: a reclusive photographer with a curious interest in beautiful but broken objects. But first he must find her --- and she doesn’t want to be found. Orla Kendrick lives alone in the ruins of a remote Suffolk castle, hiding from the haunting past that has left her physically and emotionally scarred. When Luke tracks Orla down, he is determined to help her in the way Helen wanted to: by encouraging her out of her isolation and back into the world. But Orla has never seen her refuge as a prison, and when painful secrets and dangerous threats begin to resurface, Luke’s good deed is turned on its head. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
PARAKEET by Marie-Helene Bertino (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Dawe
The week of her wedding, The Bride is visited by a bird she recognizes as her dead grandmother because of the cornflower blue line beneath her eyes, her dubious expression, and the way she asks: What is the Internet? Her grandmother is a parakeet. She says not to get married. She says: Go and find your brother. In the days that follow, The Bride's march to the altar becomes a wild and increasingly fragmented, unstable journey that bends toward the surreal and forces her to confront matters long buried. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
OF MICE AND MINESTRONE: Hap and Leonard – The Early Years by Joe R. Lansdale (Thriller/Short Stories)
Hap Collins looks like a good ol’ boy. But even in his misspent youth, his best pal is Leonard Pine, who is black, gay and the ultimate outsider. Inseparable friends, Hap and Leonard climb into the boxing ring, visit their families, get in bar fights and just go fishing --- all the while confronting racists, righting wrongs and eating a whole lot of delicious food. In OF MICE AND MINESTRONE, Joe R. Lansdale --- along with his daughter Kasey Lansdale’s down-home recipes and New York Times bestselling crime author Kathleen Kent’s introduction --- has cooked up a new passel of tales for you about the unlikeliest duo East Texas has to offer, created by his own self. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
A DANGEROUS LANGUAGE: A Rowland Sinclair Mystery by Sulari Gentill (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Rupert Degas
When Rowland Sinclair offers to fly internationally renowned Czech novelist and peace advocate Egon Kisch to Melbourne to kick off a speaking tour, he has no clue that the government has charged the Attorney General with preventing Kisch from stepping foot on Australian soil. Then Jim Kelly, a known Communist, is ruthlessly murdered on the Parliament House steps. It is soon evident that an extreme fascist group is also intent on keeping Kisch's words from ever reaching their countrymen's ears. Rowland, meanwhile, reconnects with his first love, who has returned after years abroad and seeks him out. When the two are photographed in flagrante delicto by reporters, Rowland fears he has ruined her reputation, and proposes marriage --- despite the fact that his heart belongs to someone else. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
THE BLUES DON’T CARE by Paul D. Marks (Historical Mystery)
Bobby Saxon lives in a world that isn't quite ready for him. He's the only white musician in an otherwise all-black swing band at the famous Club Alabam in Los Angeles during World War II --- and that isn't the only unique thing about him. And if that isn't enough to deal with, in order to get a permanent gig with the band, Bobby must first solve a murder that one of the band members is falsely accused of in that racially prejudiced society. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 16th
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 16th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of June 15th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
28 SUMMERS by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
Based on the classic film Same Time Next Year, 28 SUMMERS explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love.
DEVOLUTION: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
The #1 bestselling author of WORLD WAR Z returns with a horror tale that blurs the lines between human and beast, and asks, What are we capable of when we’re cut off from society?
DON'T TURN AROUND by Jessica Barry (Thriller)
This riveting follow-up to Jessica Barry’s debut FREEFALL is a controversial, of-the-moment thriller about two women fighting for their right to live.
LOCKDOWN: Stories of Crime, Terror, and Hope During a Pandemic edited by Nick Kolakowski and Steve Weddle (Thriller/Short Stories)
Nineteen of today’s finest suspense, horror and crime writers explore how humanity reacts to the ultimate pandemic. From New York City to the Mexican border, from the Deep South to the misty shores of Seattle, their characters are fighting for survival against incredible odds.
THE NEW ONE: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad written by Mike Birbiglia, with poems by J. Hope Stein (Memoir/Humor)
With laugh-out-loud funny parenting observations, the New York Times bestselling author and award-winning comedian delivers a book that is perfect for anyone who has ever raised a child, been a child, or refuses to stop acting like one.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by Meg Mitchell Moore (Fiction)
From the author of THE ISLANDERS comes a warm, witty and suspenseful novel filled with small-town secrets, summer romance, big-time lies and spiked seltzer, in the vein of Liane Moriarty.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Attending Online Author and Book Events
As so many author and book events are taking place online these days, we’re curious to know: Do you attend virtual author, library, bookstore, book festival and/or publisher-sponsored events? Please check all that apply.
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Yes, I am attending virtual author events.
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Yes, I am attending virtual library events.
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Yes, I am attending virtual bookstore events.
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Yes, I am attending virtual book festival events.
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Yes, I am attending virtual publisher-sponsored events.
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No, I am not attending any of these.
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No, but I would be interested in attending these.
Through what platforms do you attend these events? Please check all that apply.
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Crowdcast
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Facebook Live
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Instagram Live
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YouTube Live
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Zoom
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I am not sure how to watch.
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I do not attend these events.
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Other (Please specify)
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 26th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from June 12th to June 26th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of 28 SUMMERS by Elin Hilderbrand and THE PERSUASION by Iris Johansen.
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 rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from June 1st to July 1st at noon ET, one lucky reader will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Megan Miranda's THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS, read by Rebekkah Ross, and Beatriz Williams' HER LAST FLIGHT, read by Cassandra Campbell.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, 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.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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