February 12, 2021
 February 12, 2021Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com Reviews | Features | Bookreporter.com Bets On | Upcoming Bets On  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 $39,228 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: Mamie: "What Bookreporter does for the book world in terms of bringing books and authors to readers and book influencers is invaluable." You can read about our plans and donate here. If you would prefer donating via check, please send to: Thank you again for your consideration and your donation.  Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Janet Skeslien Charles, whose new novel,  On Wednesday, we held our latest “Bookaccino Live” event. Carol presented 22 books  On Wednesday, March 10th at 2pm ET, we will host our next "Bookaccino Live" event. A Long Weekend of Reading I have been standing up to work a lot more this week thanks to my standing desk. I really love the way I am not trapped sitting all day long. I keep making new tweaks to my desk and office setup to get it the way I want it. Next up will be hiding the endless number of cords surrounding my work space. What sparked joy for me this week? A 4-port USB hub with power switches and a multi-plug wall charger. I know, I am amused very easily. There are a lot of tech gizmos around here that I never had thought of before, but I am loving them. I have had a fun couple of weeks following Kristin Hannah on her book tour for her latest novel, THE FOUR WINDS, which is a "Read with Jenna" pick for this month, a LibraryReads Top Pick and an Indie Next pick --- and it will be a #1 New York Times bestseller. She’s been interviewed by a number of bestselling authors, including Jess Walter, Harlan Coben, Jodi Picoult, William Kent Krueger, Sarah Bird and Elin Hilderbrand. Each interview has been different and has offered varying perspectives, depending upon the interviewer. I am looking forward to interviewing her next weekend for the Morristown Festival of Books (more on that in a moment). For this week, we are sharing my Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary about THE FOUR WINDS. And to hear what Kristin has to say about the book, watch the video on this page. During the week, I caught up with the first season of “Firefly Lane” on Netflix, which is based on Kristin’s 2008 novel of the same name. It stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as inseparable BFFs who support each other through good times and bad. It is Netflix’s number one show in the US and Canada, and viewers already are looking forward to a potential second season; there is a lot more material in the book that could be covered. I watched all 10 episodes over the course of a few days and enjoyed it. The timeframes of the storytelling vary; it’s not linear. For some that may be hard to follow, but I think a straight story may have felt more plodding. Viewers are used to rethinks on a show; it does not need to be the same as the book, and I like that. Sort of like me reinterpreting a recipe or a knitting pattern. I will be interviewing Kristin for the Morristown Festival of Books @Home live virtual author event series on Saturday, February 20th at 2pm ET. Click here to purchase your tickets. Then at 3:30pm ET, I will be talking to Nadia Owusu about her debut memoir, AFTERSHOCKS; I have seen her speak before and am looking forward to this! You can find ticket information here. The program also will feature David Michaelis, the author of ELEANOR, being interviewed by Bill Goldstein, who reviews books and interviews authors for NBC’s “Weekend Today in New York," and was the founding editor of the New York Times books website. Click here to register. And V.E. Schwab, the author of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE, will be interviewed by Dhonielle Clayton, the New York Times bestselling author of The Belles series and the co-author of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, which is now a Netflix original series. Sign up by clicking here. On Wednesday afternoon, we hosted our latest “Bookaccino Live” event. I presented 22 titles releasing between February 9th and March 2nd, along with six from April, that I wanted to get on your radar. Click here to watch the presentation on our YouTube channel and here to see a list of the featured titles. Our next event will take place on Wednesday, March 10th at 2pm ET. Join me as I talk about a number of books releasing from March 9th to April 6th, plus a few from May, that I think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. And do keep in mind: Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win prizes. Just two hours after we wrapped up “Bookaccino Live,” I had the pleasure of chatting with Jane Harper for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. We reviewed her latest novel, THE SURVIVORS, last week, and I am happy to say that it will be a Bets On selection. Just minutes after our conversation, I learned the exciting news that the book debuted at #2 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction bestseller list (right behind THE FOUR WINDS). We will post my interview with Jane next week, followed by my Bets On commentary in two weeks. This week’s “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Janet Skeslien Charles, whose latest novel, THE PARIS LIBRARY, is a #1 Indie Next pick for February and an upcoming Bets On title. While working as the programs manager at the American Library in Paris, Janet learned all about the history of the library, which celebrated its centennial last year. Included in its storied history are the heroic librarians who stood up to the Nazis during World War II and smuggled books to those the Nazis deemed undesirable. In THE PARIS LIBRARY, this fascinating story is told in separate points of view over two time periods: one in 1939 Paris and the other in 1983 Montana. In the interview, Janet talked about the themes she explored here, including the relevance of the decades-long gap in the story. She also explained how her life in both Montana and Paris influenced the novel and offered some interesting tidbits about how she chose to conduct her research in order to keep it both true to real-life events and engaging as a story. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. We have our review of THE PARIS LIBRARY this week from Jana Siciliano, who says, "While books about World War II are a dime a dozen, THE PARIS LIBRARY is unique as we see the past and the present come together because of the war. It explores emotional realities through a love of the written word, through the deeply human need for books and stories.... Thank you, Janet Skeslien Charles, for your beautifully crafted novel that reminds us that decades of hardship can be overcome with love and compassion." Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in the February 26th newsletter. THE PARIS LIBRARY is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is SEND FOR ME by Lauren Fox, which is the second “Read with Jenna” pick for this month. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these novels. Be sure to enter by Friday, February 19th at noon ET. This week, we are kicking off a special contest for THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE by debut novelist Kelly Mustian. Told in shifting perspectives, the book --- which the publisher describes as “THIS TENDER LAND meets WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING” --- centers on two young girls, Ada and Matilda, in 1920s Mississippi amidst the lawlessness of Prohibition, Southern race relations of the time, and in a society where young women, especially those of meager resources, live at the mercy of the men around them. THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE doesn’t release until April 6th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to those who would like to read the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 25th at noon ET. Our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight of Sharon Virts’ debut novel, MASQUE OF HONOR, wraps up this week with our review. In this coming-of-age tale set in early 19th-century America, two sons of the Virginia aristocracy risk it all to defend their dreams and determine their own destinies. According to our reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski, “While MASQUE OF HONOR is very much centered on Jack and Armistead’s feud, the love story that weaves through the novel is what truly makes it wonderful. The courtship of Jack and Lucinda is quite sweet, giving them both a chance to find themselves in the love that they have for each other without getting lost in it or letting it become all-consuming, even when it threatens to be.” She goes on to say, “Before this book came my way, I will admit to experiencing a slight reading slump. I think I was simply waiting for the right book, one that captured my imagination, with characters who frustrated and amused me, while simultaneously making me want to spend all my time with them. I found that in MASQUE OF HONOR.” If you missed last week’s “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Sharon, we are featuring it again this week. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book in the February 26th newsletter. We gave away MASQUE OF HONOR in a Winter Reading contest this week, along with BLINK OF AN EYE by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen, THE GIRL FROM THE CHANNEL ISLANDS by Jenny Lecoat, and THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON by Susan Mallery. Our final Winter Reading contest of the year will go live on Tuesday, February 16th at noon ET; the prize book will be DARK HORSES by Susan Mihalic. In FAITHLESS IN DEATH, J. D. Robb’s new Eve Dallas police thriller, what looks like a lover’s quarrel turned fatal has larger --- and more terrifying --- motives behind it. Our reviewer Jennifer McCord has this to say about the 52nd In Death entry: “The suspenseful plot is a provocative look at the manipulation plied at the hands of a charismatic and influential leader. But once again, good will triumph and justice will reign, because Eve Dallas is on the job.” Many of you know Edgar Award winner Alex Berenson for his 12 thrillers featuring CIA agent John Wells. Now he has written his first stand-alone work, THE POWER COUPLE, and it will be a Bets On pick. The book is both a fast-paced, globe-trotting espionage novel full of surprising twists and a nuanced look at modern marriage. Joe Hartlaub has our review and says, “Berenson combines elements of mystery, espionage and, yes, the domestic thriller subgenre to present an extremely interesting and intriguing tale that keeps readers guessing about its outcome right up until the last page.” I will share my Bets On commentary and my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Alex in the February 26th newsletter. Other books we’re reviewing this week include SERPENTINE, a new psychological thriller from Jonathan Kellerman, which finds psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis searching for answers to a brutal, decades-old crime; WE RUN THE TIDES, award-winning author Vendela Vida’s story of female friendship, betrayal and a mysterious disappearance set in the changing landscape of San Francisco; THE PRINCESS SPY, Larry Loftis’ account of the hidden history of an ordinary American girl who became one of the OSS’s most daring spies in World War II before marrying into European nobility; and THIS CLOSE TO OKAY by Leesa Cross-Smith, a Winter Reading prize book that revolves around a life-changing weekend shared between two strangers. Congratulations to the five winners of this year’s Valentine’s Day contest! Each will receive all seven of our love-themed prize books: MEET ME IN BOMBAY by Jenny Ashcroft, the aforementioned THE POWER COUPLE by Alex Berenson, THE RETURN by Nicholas Sparks, SHIPPED by Angie Hockman, THE SOULMATE EQUATION by Christina Lauren, TOKYO EVER AFTER by Emiko Jean, and WHEN HARRY MET MINNIE: A True Story of Love and Friendship by Martha Teichner. Those who entered had the option of responding to the question “Who is your all-time literary crush?” You can see your top 10 “Literary Loves and Lusts” here. I am going to be mailing these prizes by Tuesday. Our poll continues to ask which of 25 books releasing this month you are looking forward to reading. Click here to let us know. News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: Monica wrote, “I was so excited to receive three Bets On books in the mail and even more excited that I had not read any of the books I received. I had read several of last year’s Bets On books and loved each of the books I had previously read. I’m about halfway through THE OTHER MRS. and am enjoying it immensely. What a great way to start off 2021! Thanks so much!” Joanne wrote: “A huge thanks for informing us of all of the book/author-related virtual events now available for us to participate in (and providing links). We never would be able to get all this information together, and it certainly is an unexpected pleasure from the pandemic that authors and book lovers are turning to virtual events. I have enjoyed each and every event I have participated in. My spouse has learned not to disturb me in my reading cave when the door is closed. Thanks again for all your work in gathering and giving us this information.” Tiger: Part Two on HBO: This portion was less about golf, and more about Tiger's libido and injuries, though not quite in that order. But once again, we do see his prowess as an athlete on the golf course, distractions aside. "Yellowstone" on Peacock: I am late to the party here, but I now am watching season two after racing through season one. And shockingly, my husband, who loathes series television, is watching with me. I now want a ranch, and that house...but more than that, I want a helicopter so I can say things like, "Take the chopper, a car will take too long!" And the real estate dude developer, who talks about "people working from anywhere," should only know a pandemic is coming and how right that bet is. Oh, and rerouting a river...what will Costner, I mean Dutton, think of next? If you like "Succession," you will like this. Common elements: crazy family dynamics, mucho money and choppers. It’s on Peacock, where we bought the $4.99 version; for $9.99 we could have no commercials. Every time a commercial runs, one of us says, “For just $5, we could have missed this." I want to see how long it takes us to upgrade. Right now we are doing the math each time on how much time we would save without commercials. Very amusing chatter. Penguin Bloom on Netflix: I happened on this and am glad I did. It’s based on a true story. A woman who was a big wave surfer, Sam Bloom, is injured in a freak accident while on vacation with her family in Thailand. She is feeling very lost as she is not the mother and wife she once was. An injured magpie finds his way into their home, and he is nurtured back to health by Sam and the family; through this, she finds more reason to live and adapt to her new life. Stay until the end for real-life photos of Sam and her family. Radium Girls on Netflix: For those who did not read the book, it’s worth watching. Nothing new or enlightening is shared, and I think it could have been done better. I cannot put my finger on it, but I feel it could have been told better. Our friends Cathy, Stacy and Bob are coming for dinner tonight, and homemade pizza and antipasto is on the menu! Ursula Husted, an author friend (she wrote a beautiful graphic novel called A CAT STORY), gave me this really fun idea for a winter outdoor decorating activity. You put a little food coloring into balloons, fill them with water, and sit them outside until frozen solid...or in a freezer for folks not blessed with deep winter temperatures. Peel off the balloon and stick them together with cold water outside. I am going to find balloons and try that this weekend. Tom Donadio, our fearless Editorial Director, has a birthday on Saturday. If you would like to send him birthday wishes, drop him a line at Tom@bookreporter.com. We wish we could be celebrating with him! It's not the same without pizza and Entenmann's cake with him! I have to make our annual heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s Day. It’s just Tom and me here, but some traditions must stay alive. I have a HUGE pile of reading to get through, and maybe, just maybe, this will be the weekend that I get to sit in front of a fire and do just that. Every weekend something has seemed to curtail this ardent plan. I am going to persevere! Yes, the attics and the basement still need to be organized, but hey, it’s a long weekend! Read on, and have a great week. Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)    Featured Review:  THE PARIS LIBRARY by Janet Skeslien Charles (Historical Fiction) Click here to read our review. THE PARIS LIBRARY will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.  New Special Contest:  Set in 1920s Mississippi, THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE weaves a beautiful and harrowing story of two teenage girls cast in an unlikely partnership through murder. We have 25 advance copies of Kelly Mustian's debut novel to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on April 6th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 25th at noon ET. THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE by Kelly Mustian (Historical Fiction) Matilda, daughter of a sharecropper, is from the other side of the Trace. Doing what she can to protect her family from the whims and demands of some particularly callous locals is an ongoing struggle. She forms a plan to go north, to pack up the secrets she's holding about her life in the South and hang them on the line for all to see in Ohio. As the two girls are drawn deeper into a dangerous world of bootleggers and moral corruption, they must come to terms with the complexities of their tenuous bond and a hidden past that links them in ways that could cost them their lives. - Click here to read an excerpt. Click here to enter the contest.  Bookreporter.com Bets On:  THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction) California has been called the promised land, but when they arrive there, new challenges await --- and they are daunting. Elsa is a brilliant character, like Isabelle in THE NIGHTINGALE. She musters courage from deep inside her, and readers will find themselves captivated by the depths of her human spirit. You will not forget her. - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.  Historical Fiction Author Spotlight:  MASQUE OF HONOR: A Historical Novel of the American South by Sharon Virts (Historical Fiction) Click here to read our review. MASQUE OF HONOR will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Featured Review: FAITHLESS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb  FAITHLESS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: THE POWER COUPLE by Alex Berenson An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title  THE POWER COUPLE by Alex Berenson (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. THE POWER COUPLE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Featured Review: SERPENTINE by Jonathan Kellerman  SERPENTINE: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Bookreporter.com's Seventh Annual  At Bookreporter.com, we are kicking off 2021 with our seventh annual Winter Reading Contests and Feature. On select days in January and February, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here. Our final prize book will be announced on Tuesday, February 16th at noon ET. This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details    From left to right: Walter Mosley, Mark Greaney, Nancy Johnson Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events As so many book and 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. Tuesdays at 7:30pm ET: "Talking ETERNAL with Lisa Scottoline": Join Lisa Scottoline every Tuesday night at 7:30pm ET on Facebook as she premieres a new episode from her video series, "Behind the Book: Talking ETERNAL," which reveals behind-the-scenes looks at the inspirations of her upcoming historical fiction book, ETERNAL, releasing on March 23rd. And stay tuned because immediately following each video premiere, Lisa hosts a Facebook Live to talk about the video. Saturday, February 13th at 5pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore Virtual Event: Sarah Pearse will talk about her debut novel, THE SANATORIUM, with New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz. Monday, February 15th at 8pm ET: BookPeople Virtual Event: Ethan Hawke will be joining BookPeople live on Zoom to discuss A BRIGHT RAY OF DARKNESS, his first novel in nearly 20 years, with National Book Award winner James McBride. Monday, February 15th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore Virtual Event: Mark Greaney will discuss his 20th book (and the 10th volume in the Gray Man series), RELENTLESS. Expect some very special guests! Tuesday, February 16th at 1pm ET: Lemuria Books Virtual Event: Kristin Hannah and Paula McLain will discuss Kristin's new book, THE FOUR WINDS. Tuesday, February 16th at 6pm ET: Northshire Bookstore Virtual Event: Join Northshire Bookstore for the launch of the "riveting," "innovative," "striking debut" ALL GIRLS by Emily Layden in a wide-ranging literary conversation with Ellie Eaton, author of THE DIVINES. Tuesday, February 16th at 7pm ET: Reads & Company Virtual Event: Reads & Company is thrilled to welcome Nancy Johnson for a virtual in-conversation event. THE KINDEST LIE is one of the buzziest books of 2021 and is sure to be one of the biggest debuts of the year. Wednesday, February 17th at 7pm ET: "Beyond the Book Jacket": Cuyahoga County Library presents a virtual installment of its "Beyond the Book Jacket" series featuring a special conversation with three of your favorite authors: Christina McDonald (DO NO HARM), Wendy Walker (DON'T LOOK FOR ME) and J.T. Ellison (HER DARK LIES). Wednesday, February 17th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Susan Meissner (THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS) and Greer Macallister (THE ARCTIC FURY). Thursday, February 18th at 7pm ET: Warwick's Virtual Event: Join a virtual book club event with author Margarita Montimore for the paperback release of OONA OUT OF ORDER. Tune in to hear a discussion with fellow Macmillan author Natalie Jenner and participate in the live Q&A. Thursday, February 18th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book Virtual Event: Walter Mosley will be in conversation with mystery fiction reviewer Oline H. Cogdill about BLOOD GROVE, his 15th Easy Rawlins mystery.   "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:
Click here for a complete list of our    More Reviews This WeekWE RUN THE TIDES by Vendela Vida (Fiction) THE PRINCESS SPY: The True Story of World War II Spy Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones by Larry Loftis (Biography) THE BURNING GIRLS by C. J. Tudor (Psychological Thriller/Mystery) THIS CLOSE TO OKAY by Leesa Cross-Smith (Fiction) LADIES OF THE HOUSE: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility by Lauren Edmondson (Fiction) ZORRIE by Laird Hunt (Fiction) THE LOVE PROOF by Madeleine Henry (Romance) SHIVER by Allie Reynolds (Psychological Thriller/Mystery) POSSESSION by Katie Lowe (Psychological Thriller) IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon edited by Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger (Mystery/Short Stories) INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BLUEGRASS: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy edited by Fred Bartenstein and Curtis W. Ellison (Music/History)   
Next Week's Notables:
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