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Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign
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.
You can read about our plans and donate here. If you would prefer donating via check, please send to:
The Book Report, Inc.
16 Mt. Bethel Road, Suite 365
Warren, NJ 07059
Thank you again for your consideration and your donation.
We mourn the loss of internationally bestselling author Carlos Ruiz Zafón,
who passed away today at the age of 55 from colon cancer.
His debut novel, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, became an international literary phenomenon.
Click on his photo above to read a wonderful tribute in The Guardian about his life and career.
Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Meg Mitchell Moore,
whose new novel, TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE, will be a Bets On pick.
Click on the image above for the video and here for the podcast.
One of the locations in TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE is The Cottage Creamery
in Newbury, Massachusetts, which, as you can see above, is a real place.
Last weekend, Carol read and enjoyed THE SECOND HOME by Christina Clancy. It will be a
Bets On selection. She is now reading THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley, which is this month's
Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick, and is hoping to finish it this weekend.
Pictured on the left are some beautiful petunias near Carol's pool,
and, as you can see on the right, her lilies are just coming in.
Carol made chilled cucumber soup from the cookbook, ONE SPICE, TWO SPICE.
She strongly recommends it, though the recipe is not available online.
Happy Father's Day, and Enjoy the Summer Solstice!
Quick Technical Note: We need to move the servers where Bookreporter.com is hosted sometime before July 1st. As with all things tech, we are not 100% certain of the timing of this. Right now we are looking at some time after noon on Thursday, June 25th. There is a chance that next Friday’s update will be delayed. We will keep you posted!
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Tomorrow, June 20th, is the first day of summer. It is one of my favorite days of the year as I love the extra hours of daylight. I was outside deadheading flowers until 9:00 last night; it was nice to get that done in the evening.
We know that many of you normally would be making vacation plans now, or looking forward to spending countless hours at the beach or other vacation locations, soaking up the sun (with a good book in hand, naturally). Of course, so many of these getaways have been put on hold due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t visit amazing destinations this summer. Our newly created “Virtual Vacation Reads” feature gives you the opportunity to virtually travel with our list of books set in idyllic vacation locales, like Cape Cod, Nantucket, Montauk, Charleston, Pasadena, and so many others. All the titles here are hardcovers and paperbacks that have been published this year, or will be releasing in the weeks to come. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit and do some shopping as well!
I have wanted to do a feature like this for years, so I am THRILLED to finally be sharing this with you now, especially during these stressful and uncertain times. Many thanks to our intern, Perri Smith, for her help in pulling this feature together, and my son Greg for the fabulous job he did on the artwork. I wanted the look of a vintage postcard, and he nailed it!
One of the many books that we included in “Virtual Vacation Reads” is TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE, which is now in stores and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. I had the pleasure of chatting with the author, Meg Mitchell Moore, this week for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. Her previous book, THE ISLANDERS, also was a Bets On selection. This latest novel is set in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where Meg lives, and we talked about how she brings this town to life in her fiction using the businesses and beaches there. The story is told from four points of view, one of which is the Mom Squad, a group of mothers who have bonded with each other through their daughters. We discussed the story structure and character development, as well as the changes that social media has made in young people's lives and the ways in which parents must adapt. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Rebecca Munro has our review and calls the book "[a] pitch-perfect summer read with all the beauty of a Massachusetts beach, the crispness of a glass of Zinfandel, and the heart of a writer who 'gets it'" and "a delightful trek into the lives of Power Moms and their squads, with plenty of bended truths for thrills." Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. Oh, and as the locations in the book are real, I wanted to share the photo of The Cottage Creamery that Meg sent me. You can see it above.
We gave away TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE in this week’s Summer Reading contest. Next week’s prizes will be ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (a Bets On pick that is now in paperback), THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (our current Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title and an upcoming Bets On selection), and THE SWAP by Robyn Harding. The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, June 22nd at noon ET. Yesterday, I had a wonderful conversation with Julie Clark about THE LAST FLIGHT and will share that interview with you next week, along with our review.
Last Chance to Enter! Monday at noon ET is also the deadline for our Father’s Day contest, where five of you will win six fabulous books for you or your dad: 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 (a Bets On pick), 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, THE NEW ONE: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad by Mike Birbiglia with poems by J. Hope Stein (which we review this week), and THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (another Bets On title). To enter, please fill out this form by our Monday deadline.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include 28 SUMMERS, Elin Hilderbrand’s latest novel (also a "Virtual Vacation Read”), which 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 Bigfoot story from Max Brooks that is part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction; THE PERSUASION by Iris Johansen, which finds Eve Duncan's daughter, Jane MacGuire, teaming up with longtime love interest Seth Caleb when she becomes a killer's target; and TO WAKE THE GIANT, a Pearl Harbor novel and the first installment in Jeff Shaara’s new series set in World War II’s Pacific theater.
28 SUMMERS and THE PERSUASION are the prize books in our current Word of Mouth contest. Let us know what books you’ve read by Thursday, July 2nd at noon ET (yes, we’ve extended this deadline), and you’ll be in the running to win both these novels.
In this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, we’re giving away 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. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to for your chance to win both these audio titles. Please do so by Wednesday, July 1st at noon ET.
As so many author events are happening online these days, we now are devoting an entire section in the newsletter each week to a number of upcoming ones that you may want to have on your radar. Scroll further down the newsletter to take a look at them. We also are including links so you can read more about these virtual get-togethers and register to attend them. Our poll continues to ask if you’ve been attending these kinds of events. Click here to weigh in; we are so curious to know where you stand on this timely subject!
It was announced this week that DEACON KING KONG by James McBride, which we reviewed earlier this year, is Oprah’s latest book club pick. "In a moment when our country roils with righteous anger and grief," Oprah says, "DEACON KING KONG reminds us that when we come together as a community in compassion and empathy, our love triumphs." Click here to watch a video of Oprah talking about this new selection. Her interview with McBride will air later this summer on Apple TV+.
Last Friday night, I watched Oprah discussing HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker on her Apple TV+ series. It was a brilliant segment that featured four members of the Galvin family, as well as Kolker himself. It was so well done and informative. I have been hearing from friends who are reading the book, and they all have mentioned how much they are enjoying it. A few also watched Oprah’s event and felt it really added to the experience. I highly recommend it!
As we were doing the site update today, we learned the sad news that Carlos Ruiz Zafón, the Spanish author of internationally bestselling novels, including THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, has died at the age of 55 from colon cancer. This is a huge loss for the reading, writing and bookselling community. Read more about his life and remarkable career in this tribute from The Guardian.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Lynn, who is in three book groups, wrote, “Thank you very much for the book MY DARK VANESSA by Kate Elizabeth Russell. It was a nice surprise waiting for me when I opened my garage door. I will send a review after I read it. The contest is fun, and I enjoy all of your emails.”
Connie wrote, “Thank you so much for the gift of THE GREAT ALONE. I appreciate Bookreporter beyond words. What a lovely surprise to open my email from you.
Each week I look forward to the contests and emails.”
Donna wrote, ”Thank you for the two books that I won from the Word of Mouth contest, BIG SUMMER and HELLO, SUMMER. I appreciate your willingness to send physical copies of the books since I donate them to the local library after I read them. With the looming budget cuts, any donations to the library are welcomed and needed. Thanks again for the generous gifts. I look forward to the newsletter each week.”
"Sweet Magnolias" on Netflix: I enjoyed the first season. Yes, it has a soap opera feel, but it was fun watching. It is based on the novels by Sherryl Woods. The ending is a real cliffhanger. And okay, I will be honest...Justin Bruening, who stars as a baseball coach, is very easy on the eyes. Just saying.
"Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On" on Netflix: I enjoyed this documentary looking at his life/amazing career, though two things made me crazy: 1) He was way too emotional as he was narrating the program, and 2) It’s been well-documented that his Central Park concert could not have had 1,000,000 people. I have looked at this article more than once, and it really does make sense. But then again, there was a lot of hyperbole about crowds in Central Park for years!
"I Know This Much Is True" on HBO: I did not watch the entire series. It was a tad dark for me, but I caught the ending, and what I saw there was very well done.
“Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am” on PBS: The "American Masters" series about this legendary author will air on Tuesday, June 23rd at 8pm ET. It is directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. I am looking forward to this one.
While so much is going on, I still am carving out time to read. Last weekend, I enjoyed THE SECOND HOME by Christina Clancy, which is set on Cape Cod and will be a Bets On selection. I have just started THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley (a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick) and look forward to spending more time reading it this weekend.
Both of those titles were part of the Wednesday night event where I kicked off Summer Reading for the Rockville Centre Public Library. Next Wednesday, I am doing a virtual event for the Fairfield Public Library in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Next Thursday night, the 25th, I am going to be a guest on Wade Rouse's "Happy Hour/Live & Loose" on Facebook Live on the Viola Shipman Facebook page at 6:30pm ET.
My parents are coming over to celebrate Father's Day on Sunday with a socially distanced visit. We all are looking forward to seeing them. The garden is looking great with the cool days, though we can use the rain that is forecast for tomorrow. The flowers above are some spectacular petunias, and the lilies are just coming in. I think the pool water is still "wetsuit cool" (I know, I really loathe cold water), but I know where the wetsuit is and am not afraid to wiggle into it. It requires a lot of jumping, which is additional exercise.
I made chilled cucumber soup from the ONE SPICE, TWO SPICE cookbook. I highly recommend it, though the recipe is not available online.
To the dads out there celebrating, Happy Father's Day. To those missing their dad, especially for the first time, my thoughts are with you.
Relish the daylight on Saturday. 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!
Bookreporter.com’s Virtual Vacation Reads:
Books Set in Getaway Locations
Do the current stay-at-home measures have you craving a summer getaway? Bookreporter has a way for you to virtually travel with our list of books set in vacation locales. Escape to idyllic spots like Cape Cod, Nantucket, Montauk, Charleston and Pasadena --- along with many others --- with our "Virtual Vacation Reads" feature. Pick your book(s) to embark on the summer vacation you've been dreaming of. You’ll only have to figure out how to send postcards!
Please note: For your convenience, we have organized these books both by location and alphabetically by title. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit as well! May we suggest that you buy these books from them?
Click here to see our "Virtual Vacation Reads" feature.
Featured Review: 28 SUMMERS by Elin Hilderbrand
28 SUMMERS by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Erin Bennett
When Mallory Blessing's son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he's not sure what to expect. But he certainly does not expect Jake McCloud to answer. It's the late spring of 2020, and Jake's wife, Ursula DeGournsey, is the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election. There must be a mistake, Link thinks. How do Mallory and Jake know each other? Flash back to the sweet summer of 1993: Mallory has just inherited a beachfront cottage on Nantucket from her aunt, and she agrees to host her brother's bachelor party. Cooper's friend from college, Jake McCloud, attends, and Jake and Mallory form a bond that will persevere --- until Mallory learns she's dying. Reviewed by Hillary Wagy.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DEVOLUTION by Max Brooks
DEVOLUTION: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Judy Greer, Nathan Fillion, Kimberly Guerrero, Jeff Daniels, Mira Furlan, Kate Mulgrew, Steven Weber, Terry Gross, Kai Ryssdal and Max Brooks
Offering a glorious back-to-nature experience with all the comforts of high-speed internet, solar smart houses, and the assurance of being mere hours from Seattle by highway, Greenloop was indeed a paradise --- until Mount Rainier erupted, leaving its residents truly cut off from the world, and utterly unprepared for the consequences. With no weapons and their food supplies dwindling, Greenloop’s residents slowly realized that they were in a fight for survival. And as the ash swirled and finally settled, they found themselves facing a specter none of them could have predicted --- or even thought possible. Max Brooks brings to light the journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town’s bloody wreckage, faithfully reproducing her words alongside his own investigations into the massacre that followed and the legendary beasts behind it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE PERSUASION by Iris Johansen
THE PERSUASION by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan and ex-Navy Seal Joe Quinn are about to give Seth Caleb their trust for the most important duty of his life: keeping their daughter, Jane, safe at any cost. Her talent as an artist has caught the attention of a brilliant psychopath with a violent past. Seth, Jane's strongest ally and fiercest protector, is determined to keep her out of danger, but that becomes nearly impossible when Jane is forced to take matters into her own hands and confronts the madman who wants her for himself…and wants Seth Caleb dead. As Jane and Seth chase down their bloodthirsty adversary, they finally commit to a life together. As the two come face to face with danger, one thing is made clear: it will take both of them working together to confront and defeat this evil. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by Meg Mitchell Moore
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by Meg Mitchell Moore (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Courtney Patterson
Truth: Sherri Griffin and her daughter, Katie, have recently moved to the idyllic beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Rebecca Coleman, former leader of the Newburyport Mom Squad, has made a surprising effort to include these newcomers in typically closed-group activities. Rebecca’s teenage daughter, Alexa, has even been spotted babysitting Katie. Truth: Alexa has time on her hands because of a recent falling-out with her longtime best friends for reasons no one knows --- but everyone suspects have to do with Alexa’s highly popular and increasingly successful YouTube channel. Lie: Rebecca Coleman doesn’t have a new man in her life. Alexa is not seeing anyone new herself and is planning on shutting down her YouTube channel in advance of attending college in the fall. Sherri Griffin’s real name is Sherri Griffin, and a bad divorce is all she’s running from. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Meg Mitchell Moore.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Last Chance to Enter!
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 Monday, June 22nd 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 see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
THE LAST FLIGHT releases on June 23rd. Don't miss our review of the book and our interview with the author in next week's newsletter,
and Carol's Bets On commentary in the July 2nd newsletter.
Upcoming Virtual Author Events
As so many author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.
Saturday, June 20th: Newburyport Literary Festival
Here are some author panels that you may want to attend:
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10am ET: Changing Tides: Sarah Blake (THE GUEST BOOK), Brooke Lea Foster (SUMMER DARLINGS), Susie Orman Schnall (WE CAME HERE TO SHINE)
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11:15am ET: Summer Lovin': Aimee Agresti (THE SUMMER SET), Emily Henry (BEACH READ), Priscilla Oliveras (ISLAND AFFAIR), Nancy Thayer (GIRLS OF SUMMER)
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12:30pm ET: First Mates: The Crew We Choose: Jamie Brenner (SUMMER LONGING), Jane Green (THE FRIENDS WE KEEP), Kerry Kletter (EAST COAST GIRLS), Meg Mitchell Moore (TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE)
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2pm ET: Beach Read Bingo Party!: Nicola Harrison (MONTAUK), Sarah McCoy (MARILLA OF GREEN GABLES), Renée Rosen (PARK AVENUE SUMMER), Katherine St. John (THE LION'S DEN), Karen White (DREAMS OF FALLING)
Tuesday, June 23rd at 7pm ET: Main Street Books – Virtual Book Party: Megan Miranda will be in conversation with Adah Fitzgerald from Main Street Books about the release of her new psychological thriller, THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS.
Tuesday, June 23rd at 7pm ET: Wilton Library Virtual Event: Wendy Walker, author of THE NIGHT BEFORE, will be moderating a discussion with Liv Constantine (the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine) about their latest psychological thriller, THE WIFE STALKER.
Wednesday, June 24th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Every Wednesday, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe talk books and writing on their "Friends and Fiction" Facebook group page. This week will be a special "Ask Us Anything" edition of the program.
Thursday, June 25th at 7pm ET: Midtown Scholar Books Virtual Event: Join Megan Miranda, author of THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS, who will be in conversation with Wendy Walker, author of THE NIGHT BEFORE.
Thursday, June 25th at 7pm ET: The NWS Virtual Author Series: William Kent Krueger will be talking about his latest bestseller, THIS TENDER LAND. Those who register can ask questions ahead of time or during the event to help shape the conversation.
"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.)
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed 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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Stephanie Scott (WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
THE NEW ONE: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad written by Mike Birbiglia, with poems by J. Hope Stein (Memoir/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Mike Birbiglia and J. Hope Stein
In 2016, comedian Mike Birbiglia and poet Jennifer Hope Stein took their 14-month-old daughter, Oona, to the Nantucket Film Festival. When the festival director picked them up at the airport, she asked Mike if he would perform at the storytelling night. She said, "The theme of the stories is jealousy." Jen quipped, "You're jealous of Oona. You should talk about that." And so Mike began sharing some of his darkest and funniest thoughts about the decision to have a child. Over the next couple of years, these stories evolved into a Broadway show, and the more Mike performed it, the more he heard how it resonated --- not just with parents but also with people who resist all kinds of change. So he pored over his journals, dug deeper and created this book. Reviewed by Alison Lee.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
TO WAKE THE GIANT: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Jeff Shaara (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Bramhall
In 1941, the Japanese have waged an aggressive campaign against China, and they now begin to expand their ambitions to other parts of Asia. Their enemies know that Japan’s ultimate goal is total conquest over the region, especially when the Japanese align themselves with Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy, who wage their own war of conquest across Europe. Meanwhile, the British stand nearly alone against Hitler, and there is pressure in Washington to transfer America’s powerful fleet of warships from Hawaii to the Atlantic to join the fight against German U-boats that are devastating shipping. But despite deep concerns about weakening the Pacific fleet, no one believes that the main base at Pearl Harbor is under any real threat. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
ROBERT B. PARKER'S GRUDGE MATCH: A Sunny Randall Novel by Mike Lupica (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Burton
When PI Sunny Randall's long-time gangster associate Tony Marcus comes to her for help, Sunny is surprised. After all, she double-crossed him on a recent deal, and their relationship is on shakier ground than ever. Tony's trusted girlfriend and business partner has vanished, appearing to have left in a hurry, and he has no idea why. He just wants to talk to her, but first he needs Sunny to track her down. But when a witness is murdered hours after speaking to Sunny, it's clear there's more at stake than just Tony's love life. Someone --- maybe even Tony himself --- doesn't want this woman on the loose...and will go to any lengths to make sure she stays silent. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
CULT OF GLORY: The Bold and Brutal History of the Texas Rangers by Doug J. Swanson (History)
Audiobook available, read by Kaleo Griffith
The Texas Rangers came to life in 1823, when Texas was still part of Mexico. Nearly 200 years later, the Rangers are still going --- one of the most famous of all law enforcement agencies. In CULT OF GLORY, Doug J. Swanson has written a sweeping account of the Rangers that chronicles their epic, daring escapades while showing how the white and propertied power structures of Texas used them as enforcers, protectors and officially sanctioned killers. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
I WAS TOLD IT WOULD GET EASIER by Abbi Waxman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Flanagan and Bailey Carr
Jessica and Emily Burnstein have very different ideas of how their college tour should go. For Emily, it's a preview of freedom, exploring the possibility of her new and more exciting future. Maybe the other kids on the tour will like her more than the ones at school. For Jessica, it's a chance to bond with the daughter she seems to have lost. She isn't even sure if Emily likes her anymore. To be honest, Jessica isn't sure she likes herself. Together with a dozen strangers --- and two familiar enemies --- Jessica and Emily travel the East Coast, meeting up with family and old friends along the way. Surprises and secrets threaten their relationship and, in the end, change it forever. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
CLEAN HANDS by Patrick Hoffman (Thriller)
Elizabeth Carlyle’s prestigious New York law firm is working on the most high-stakes case in company history, defending a prominent bank. When Elizabeth gets the news that one of her junior associates has lost his phone --- and the secret documents that were on it --- she desperately needs help. Enter ex-CIA officer Valencia Walker, a high-priced fixer who gets called in when governments, corporations and plutocrats need their problems solved discretely. But things get complicated when the missing phone is retrieved: somebody has already copied the documents, and now they’re blackmailing the firm. The situation gets murkier still when stories about the documents start appearing in the press and a tragic suicide seems staged, hinting that darker forces may be churning below the surface. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE LIGHTNESS by Emily Temple (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
One year ago, the person Olivia adores most in the world, her father, left home for a meditation retreat in the mountains and never returned. Yearning to make sense of his shocking departure and to escape her overbearing mother, Olivia runs away from home and retraces his path to a place known as the Levitation Center. Once there, she enrolls in their summer program for troubled teens and finds herself drawn into the company of a close-knit trio of girls who are determined to finally achieve enlightenment --- and learn to levitate, to defy the weight of their bodies, to experience ultimate lightness. But it becomes increasingly clear that this is an advanced and perilous practice, and there’s a chance not all of them will survive. Reviewed by Bianca Ambrosio.
DON'T TURN AROUND by Jessica Barry (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Zimmerman
Cait Monaghan and Rebecca McRae are on a desolate road that slices through the New Mexican desert. They've never met before tonight. Both have secrets to protect. Both of their lives are in danger. When a truck pulls up fast behind them, they assume it's punk teenagers or run-of-the-mill road rage, but it soon becomes clear that whoever is driving the truck is hunting them for sport --- and they are out to draw blood. As the miles unspool and the dangers mount, the pasts they've worked so hard to keep buried have come back to haunt them. Someone wants one of them dead. But which one? And given the lives the two women have been leading, that someone could be almost anyone. If Cait and Rebecca are going to survive, they'll have to learn to trust one another --- and themselves. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE TASTE OF SUGAR by Marisel Vera (Historical Fiction)
It is 1898, and groups of starving Puerto Ricans, los hambrientos, roam the parched countryside and dusty towns begging for food. Under the yoke of Spanish oppression, the Caribbean island is forced to prepare to wage war with the United States. Up in the mountainous coffee region of Utuado, Vicente Vega and Valentina Sanchez labor to keep their small farm from the creditors. When the Spanish-American War and the great San Ciriaco Hurricane of 1899 bring devastating upheaval, the young couple is lured, along with thousands of other puertorriquenos, to the sugar plantations of Hawaii --- another US territory --- where they are confronted by the hollowness of America’s promises of prosperity. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
ALL OF US by A. F. Carter (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Amy McFadden
ALL OF US is a riveting thriller with six compelling protagonists --- who all share one body. Though legally she is Carolyn Grand, in practice she is Martha, a homemaker who cooks and cleans for her “family”; Victoria, a put-together people person; Serena, a free spirit; Kirk, a heterosexual man; Eleni, a promiscuous risk-taker; and Tina, a manifestation of what is left of Carolyn after years of childhood sexual abuse. As they jockey for control of their body, all the personalities also work together to avoid being committed to a psychiatric facility. However, Carolyn’s tenuous normal is shattered when Hank Grand, the man who abused her and leased her out to pedophiles, is released from prison. And when Hank is killed in a seedy hotel room, Carolyn is immediately a prime suspect. But are any of her personalities capable of murder? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
RENEWAL: Your Unexpected Role in Saving the Planet by Sandeep Nath (Self-Help/Personal Growth)
Is the human race conclusively set for self-annihilation? As futurists prophesize, are we only decades away from extinguishing the planet? Or are we capable of changing this trajectory because of what YOU start today? Renewal is about how each one of us can: Renew ourselves at a body-mind-spirit level. Renew our society and our environment. Renew the systems we operate with. Written to serve as a practical guide for everyone's day-to-day “karma,” RENEWAL is strung together by the charismatic Guru Pranachandra, whose discourse drives home the vital message: that the world is a mere 30 habits away from Renewal. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on June 23rd
Below are some notable titles releasing on June 23rd 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 22nd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
DEATH IN HER HANDS by Ottessa Moshfegh (Metaphysical Thriller)
From one of our most ceaselessly provocative literary talents comes a novel of haunting metaphysical suspense about an elderly widow whose life is upturned when she finds an ominous note on a walk in the woods.
THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST HOUSE GUEST --- a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick --- comes a riveting new novel of psychological suspense about a young woman plagued by night terrors after a childhood trauma who wakes one evening to find a corpse at her feet.
THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark (Psychological Thriller)
For fans of Lisa Jewell and Liv Constantine, THE LAST FLIGHT is the story of two women --- both alone, both scared --- and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives.
LOVE by Roddy Doyle (Fiction)
Two old friends reconnect in Dublin for a dramatic, revealing evening of drinking and storytelling in this winning new novel from the author of the Booker Prize-winning PADDY CLARKE HA HA HA.
THE SWAP by Robyn Harding (Psychological Thriller)
Robyn Harding brings her acclaimed storytelling --- lauded as “fast-paced, thrilling, gut-wrenching” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the New York Times bestselling author of DAISY JONES & THE SIX --- to this dark and suspenseful thriller for fans of Megan Miranda and Lisa Jewell.
WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS by Stephanie Scott (Fiction)
A gripping debut set in modern-day Tokyo and inspired by a true crime, for readers of EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU and THE PERFECT NANNY, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS charts a young woman's search for the truth about her mother's life --- and her murder.
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 Thursday, July 2nd 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 July 2nd 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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