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So far, we have survived Friday the 13th, but alas there are a few hours to go as I write this. Here comes another holiday weekend, and I confess that the pace around here is so brisk that we really could use a holiday weekend every month. The fact that the next one is not until Memorial Day is tough. We need the time to catch our breath as we have lots going on, some of which you are seeing now and some that is to come!
On Wednesday night, I headed over to Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ for a terrific, fully packed event for Sadeqa Johnson, whose latest book, KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN, came out on Tuesday. Wow, this was one enthusiastic crowd who was anxious to hear about the book and to celebrate Sadeqa. She had lived in New Jersey for a while, and the hometown crowd was happy to welcome her back. Also, a woman in the audience knew one of the children who had come to the States as a “brown baby” (more on that later in this newsletter).
While I knew only one person in the audience, there was a huge camaraderie vibe in the room. Lots of people were chatting about which of Sadeqa's books they had read, and there was rampant enthusiasm for reading more --- even backlist titles that some had missed. I love evenings like this!
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Wendy Walker. Her new thriller, BLADE, is an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is set in the world of competitive figure skating. The novel, which draws from Wendy's personal experience as a competitive figure skater (she trained in Colorado from ages 13 to 16), features alternating timelines that follow attorney Ana Robbins, who returns to her former skating facility to defend a young skater accused of murder.
Wendy talks about the book’s themes of isolation, the pressure on young athletes, and the psychological impact of competitive sports. The dual-timeline structure allows readers to see connections between past and present events. And with the Winter Olympics airing, she touches on the importance of nailing the triple axel.
Wendy has expanded her career to include producing audio originals. She shares how creating audio content differs from writing novels, including being able to rewrite lines during recording sessions, and various writing techniques, such as minimizing dialogue tags.
Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. I will share my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Also, here is a terrific piece written by Wendy that ran in People magazine. I had meant to share this with you last week! And if you are following Wendy on social media, she has been wonderful at breaking down what is happening in the Olympic skating competitions.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday afternoon. We had many new readers in our audience; in fact, more than 700 signed up to attend, which was wonderful. We love that new people are discovering us.
I talked about 34 books releasing between February 10th and March 3rd, along with 10 from the first half of April and three notable February 3rd titles, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Tom and I stayed online after we stopped filming to talk to the audience and answer questions. We love this opportunity to hear what readers have to say and what they are looking for. I look forward to reading the chat from the event to see how many states were represented. That is always one of the most interesting things for us; we love that we truly reach across the country with our readership.
We will be hosting next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event on Wednesday, March 11th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing between March 10th and March 31st, as well as some titles from the second half of April, plus May, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
Dave Robicheaux investigates the death of an unidentified woman in THE HADACOL BOOGIE. Here, James Lee Burke’s iconic detective is pulled into a vortex of corruption and violence in the Louisiana bayou.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “The story reads like one set in a fantasy land, not just because it takes place at the turn of the 20th century but because the violent, stark landscape of the Louisiana bayou is an area unlike any other on earth…. THE HADACOL BOOGIE is another example of Louisiana noir told by an author who is firmly ensconced in the language of this land.”
The aforementioned Sadeqa Johnson, who many of you know as the author of YELLOW WIFE and THE HOUSE OF EVE, is back with her latest historical triumph, KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN. In this upcoming Bets On selection, one American woman’s vision in post-WWII Germany will tie together three people in an unexpected way.
Pamela Kramer raves about the book in her review: “I'm a huge fan of Sadeqa Johnson, and KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN is as emotionally riveting and filled with fascinating --- and often horrifying --- historical details as her earlier novel, YELLOW WIFE…. The concepts, the issues that the characters must face, and the resolution of the story are all beautifully conceived and executed. I cried several times because of Johnson's moving narrative and emotional finale…. The characters and situations in KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN will stay with me for quite a while.”
We plan to feature my interview with Sadeqa in next week’s newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in two weeks. Also, I tracked down the film that inspired Sadeqa to write this book.
Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a 30-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US, Allegra Goodman’s new book, is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters.
According to Sarah Rachel Egelman in her review, the book is “realistic in its assertion that sibling relationships can be very challenging. But it is not really dark or dire; this is a family of strength, resilience, creativity and, most of all, love. The novel is thoughtful and relatable, character-driven, and full of intimate moments and keen observations. It is a lovely, sometimes funny and always honest look at how we create family and how family creates us.”
I am reading the book, and yes, it is so very relatable...the things that bring people together and then drive them apart!
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN and THIS IS NOT ABOUT US are our current Word of Mouth prizes. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, February 20th at noon ET.
In ANTIHERO, Gregg Hurwitz’s latest Orphan X thriller, Evan Smoak embarks on his most complex mission yet --- taking him from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest. He must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice with a measure of mercy.
Ray Palen has this to say in his review: “ANTIHERO is a wild ride to the dark side of human nature with a lone avenger who long ago gave up his soul and now only knows how to live by his own moral code. Hurwitz has infused Evan Smoak with complexity that most readers still will not be able to grasp and must simply bear witness to his solitary mission that gets increasingly bleaker with each new installment of the series.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On selection is MY HUSBAND’S WIFE by Alice Feeney, which we reviewed last month. Click here to see why I’m betting you’ll love this book just as much as Ray Palen and I did.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Jeff Hobbs
Out in paperback this week is SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America by Jeff Hobbs, a Bets On pick that follows a single mother of six in Los Angeles who is courageously struggling to keep her family together and her children in school amid the devastating housing crisis.
I talked to Jeff about the book last March after its hardcover release. If you missed the discussion or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here. I am such a big fan of Jeff’s work. I need to check in and see what he is writing now!
Winter Reading Contest Update
This week’s Winter Reading contest prize was THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi. We wrap up these contests next week by giving away BEST BOY by Deborah Goodrich Royce, a taut psychological thriller releasing on February 25th that explores identity, memory and the dangerous power of forgetting. The contest will be up on Tuesday, February 18th at noon ET.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 35 fiction titles releasing this month you are looking forward to reading. Click here to let us know by Friday, February 20th at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Melanie wrote, “WOW! Thank you so much for the recording of the interview with Allen Levi. I loved it. You are amazing! Really. Looking forward to more content from you and your team.”
Sue wrote, “Thank you so much for sending me THIS IS NOT ABOUT US as a 'Bookaccino Live' prize. It has been on my 'must read' list ever since you presented it on 'Bookaccino Live.' I am so in love with these events. I have even skipped a meeting or two to view the afternoon presentation. I appreciate all the work you do to help us.”
Helen wrote, “Thank you so much for your newsletter. I am really looking forward to listening to these talks. I live in South Africa, so they are always in the early hours of the morning, but I will listen to these talks. Your choice of books looks really interesting. Many thanks.”
Nancy wrote, “Your session yesterday was great. My TBR shelf is filling up again. Thanks for all the good work you put into all your sessions. I look forward to my Saturday newsletter with my tea. I finished Belle Burden's STRANGERS last week, which was excellent. Also, Allen Levi's THEO OF GOLDEN was heartwarming, and his interview was excellent. Both books were hard to put down. With all the snow, reading and needlepoint were all I could do. I started Allegra Goodman’s THIS IS NOT ABOUT US late last night. It seems like a fun read. Keep up the great work.”
Mattel announced that it “will publish the first American Girl novel for adults timed to the brand’s 40th anniversary year. SAMANTHA: THE NEXT CHAPTER, featuring American Girl historical character Samantha Parkington as an adult, written by New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, will be released by American Girl Publishing, in the U.S. and Canada on October 13, 2026.” I love news like this!
The Librarians: Last September, Tom, Francesca and I had the opportunity to screen this documentary about book policing and bans. I am happy to share that it is now available for you to view as well.
Tom Donadio, our brilliant Editorial Director, is celebrating his birthday today! I cannot believe that we have him crashing on a big update deadline on his special day. In his typically optimistic fashion, he noted that next year his birthday will be on the Saturday of a long weekend. I love people who see life like this. His email address is Tom@bookreporter.com if you would like to drop him a birthday note!
Here I am gearing up for a long weekend of reading and kicking it back a notch. There is plenty of wood for fires, and logging a nice mix of couch and health club time sounds perfect.
And yes, I will be making my usual heart-shaped cake with whipped cream frosting and tons of raspberries. A tasteful valentine. Pun intended! Wishing you all love wherever you may find it --- perhaps in the pages of a book!
Read on, and have a great week!
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review:
THE HADACOL BOOGIE by James Lee Burke
THE HADACOL BOOGIE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Patton
When a cloaked, disfigured man leaves a dead woman in a garbage bag on Dave Robicheaux’s property, he knows his world and family are about to change. With Valerie Benoit, a detective new to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department who is grappling with sexist and racist harassment from their colleagues, and the volatile but fiercely loyal Clete Purcel, Dave embarks on an investigation that brings him into the most dangerous moments of his career and threatens the lives of Valerie and his daughter, Alafair. He encounters a local handyman who leaves cryptic notes and warns of the ghosts who roam the shores of the bayou and is targeted by a vicious New Orleans button man and gangsters from the north. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Ariel Blake, Karen Chilton and Adam Lazarre-White
Ethel Gathers, the proud wife of an American Officer, is living in Occupied Germany in the 1950s. After discovering a local orphanage filled with the abandoned mixed-race children of German women and Black American GIs, Ethel feels compelled to help find these children homes. Philadelphia-born Ozzie Phillips volunteers for the recently desegregated army in 1948. While serving in Manheim, Germany, he meets a local woman, Jelka, and the two embark on a relationship that will impact their lives forever. In 1965 Maryland, Sophia Clark is given an opportunity to attend a prestigious all-white boarding school and escape her heartless parents. While at the school, she discovers a secret that upends her world and sends her on a quest to unravel her own identity. KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN explores how one woman’s vision will change the course of countless lives. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Sadeqa Johnson in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the February 27th newsletter.
Featured Review: THIS IS NOT ABOUT US
by Allegra Goodman
THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kimberly Farr
When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives --- divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals --- their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ANTIHERO by Gregg Hurwitz
ANTIHERO: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn. When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world, has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to help him. While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his help --- and sets out finding the young men responsible. But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methods --- no vengeance and, in particular, no killing. Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
MY HUSBAND’S WIFE by Alice Feeney
MY HUSBAND'S WIFE by Alice Feeney (Psychological Thriller)
Alice Feeney is one of those authors who is known to spin me around. There are few times that I guess where she is headed. With MY HUSBAND’S WIFE, she had me questioning everything, starting with the title. I, like many others, think that this is her most brilliant book yet.
We begin with Eden Fox, who arrives at her home, Spyglass, to learn that her key will not open the door. Properly annoyed, she knocks loudly. Another woman answers, and she is clear that she is Eden Fox and the other woman must be mad. This claim is confirmed by her husband, Harrison, who says that he has no idea who this person is.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Featured Review:
COLD ZERO by Brad Thor, with Ward Larsen
COLD ZERO by Brad Thor, with Ward Larsen (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Armand Schultz
Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777 --- the most advanced jetliner ever built --- disappears without a trace over the North Pole. Crippled by sabotage, it crash-lands on the ice, stranding the surviving passengers in a wasteland of frigid cold and chaos. The real storm, however, is still coming. Hidden inside the wreckage is the prototype for a revolutionary piece of technology that could upend the balance of world power. Now Washington, Moscow and Beijing are racing to be the first on scene to retrieve it --- at any cost. Trapped in the middle of the world’s most dangerous flashpoint are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot turned first officer Brett Sharpe. Hunted by enemy forces, they must spirit both the device and its creator across the ice to safety --- before rival superpowers turn the Arctic into a war zone. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE EXES by Leodora Darlington
February’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
THE EXES by Leodora Darlington (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Amaka Okafor, Avita Jay, Sebastian Humphreys and Yasmin Mwanza
Natalie has only ever wanted to find “the one.” The perfect man, the happy family she never had. But each time she thinks she is finally getting somewhere, she’s bitterly disappointed. Another red line through a list of exes. And that was before the night of the Big Fallout that left her even more alone. Then along comes James, and Natalie thinks her luck has finally turned. Maybe he’s the one for her. Maybe he’s the one she’s been waiting for all along. Maybe he won’t wind up dead. But the harder Natalie tries to be a “normal” wife, the more world-upending truths are brought to her door, leaving her unsure of who she really is, and much less what she’ll do --- leaving her to question if there is a monster within her or if there is a villain toying with her from the outside. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's “Good Morning America” Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda
WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by January LaVoy, Hillary Huber, Tara Sands and Patricia Santomasso
The sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu --- Roxy, Amelia, Jamie, Beth and Sunny --- have been summoned to Roxy's luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth's daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break 25 years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies --- because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it's not so easy to bury the past. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading contests have returned for an 11th year! On select days through mid- 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 contest will be up on Tuesday, February 17th at noon ET. The prize book will be BEST BOY by Deborah Goodrich Royce, a gripping psychological thriller that teeters on the knife-edge of memory and identity when the arrival of a shocking letter threatens the carefully constructed life of a woman desperate to outrun her past.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
THE LAST KINGS OF HOLLYWOOD: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg ― and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema by Paul Fischer (Performing Arts/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett
In the summer of 1967, as the old Hollywood studio system was dying, an intense, uncompromising young film school graduate named George Lucas walked onto the Warner Bros. backlot for his first day working as an assistant to another up-and-coming, largely unknown filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola. At the exact same time, across town on the Universal Studios lot, a film-obsessed 20-year-old, Steven Spielberg, longed to break free from his apprenticeship for the struggling studio and become a film director in his own right. Within a year, the three men would become friends. THE LAST KINGS OF HOLLYWOOD tells the thrilling, dramatic inside story of how the three filmmakers rivalled and supported each other, fell out and reconciled, and struggled to reinvent popular American cinema. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
LOST LAMBS by Madeline Cash (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Christine Lakin
The Flynn family is coming undone. Catherine and Bud's open marriage has reached its breaking point as their daughters spiral in their own chaotic orbits: Abigail, the eldest, is dating a man in his 20s nicknamed War Crime Wes; Louise, the middle child, maintains a secret correspondence with an online terrorist; the brilliant youngest, Harper, is being sent to wilderness reform camp due to her insistence that someone --- or something --- is monitoring the town’s citizens. Casting a shadow across their lives, and their small coastal town, is Paul Alabaster, a billionaire shipping magnate. Rumors of corruption circulate, but no one dares to dig too deep. No one except Harper, whose obsession with a mysterious shipping container sends the family hurtling into a criminal conspiracy --- one that may just bring them closer together. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
A KILLING IN CANNABIS: A True Story of Love, Murder, and California Weed by Scott Eden (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Garrett Brown
Santa Cruz is one of the country’s surf meccas and a favored getaway of the Silicon Valley elite. For decades, marijuana has been cultivated, consumed and trafficked in these mountains. And it’s where Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tushar Atre was found brutally murdered. Atre was the leader among a clutch of tech execs and venture capitalists with a voracious appetite for risk, work and money. When he met Rachael Lynch, a maverick cannabis grower and mover of product, he had a vision of how their lives could come together in business and in love. Atre sought to disrupt the newly legal cannabis trade by funding a start-up with black-market capital. This illegal pursuit would entangle him with an array of colorful and dangerous characters, many of whom had compelling reason to want him dead. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
ERADICATION: A Fable by Jonathan Miles (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Tom Alexander
Reeling from tragedy, a former jazz musician turned schoolteacher named Adi answers a job listing advertising a chance to save the world. The assignment: to spend five weeks alone on the tiny, isolated Pacific Island of Santa Flora righting an ecological balance that has gone severely out of whack, with the aim of preserving countless bird and plant species from certain extinction. What follows, however, is anything but balanced. The threats to the once-Edenic island, Adi soon learns, aren’t exactly what his employers said they were --- and, complicating things further, he discovers he’s not alone on the island. Fearful for his own life, and for the fate of the island's, Adi spends his sun-drenched days rooting out the true threat to Santa Flora, and, by extension, to the world it occupies --- and the desperate steps he must take to eradicate it. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
WARNING SIGNS by Tracy Sierra (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch
Twelve-year-old Zach is cautiously optimistic. His father Bram, whose business is in dire need of cash, has put together a father-son backcountry ski weekend to wine and dine his biggest investors. Schooled in outdoor survival by his mother, Zach is eager to prove himself to the hypercritical Bram. Maybe if Zach shows how useful he is, he can earn his father’s love. But Zach knows to be on high alert around Bram, and he sees the way the group ignores the increasingly threatening conditions. For the first time in his beloved mountains, he is faced with the unknown, convinced that something watches their cabin from the treeline. Something that leaves behind strange tracks and picks its prey clean. As the adults recklessly test the limits of the outdoors, Zach worries he might be in even more danger than he realized. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE FOURTH PRINCESS: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai by Janie Chang
(Gothic/Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Katharine Chin, Saskia Maarleveld and Caroline Hewitt
Shanghai, 1911. Lisan Liu is elated when she is hired as secretary to wealthy American Caroline Stanton, the new mistress of Lennox Manor on the outskirts of Shanghai’s International Settlement. However, the Manor has a dark past due to a previous owner’s suicide, and soon Lisan’s childhood nightmares resurface with more intensity. Adding to her unease is the young gardener, Yao, who both entices and disturbs her. Newly married Caroline looks forward to life in China with her husband, Thomas. But an unwelcome guest, Andrew Grey, attends her party and claims to know secrets she can’t afford to have exposed. As Caroline struggles with Grey’s extortion and Thomas’ mysterious illness, Lisan’s future is upended when she learns the truth about her past, and why her identity has been hidden all these years. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
NINE GOBLINS: A Tale of Low Fantasy and High Mischief by T. Kingfisher
(Fantasy/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Johns
No one knows exactly how the Goblin War began, but folks will tell you that goblins are stinking, slinking, filthy, sheep-stealing, henhouse-raiding, obnoxious, rude and violent. Goblins would actually agree with all of this, and they might throw in “cowardly” and “lazy” for good measure. But goblins don't go around killing people for fun, no matter what the propaganda posters say. And when a confrontation with an evil wizard lands a troop of nine goblins deep behind enemy lines, goblin sergeant Nessilka must figure out how to keep her hapless band together and get them home in one piece. Unfortunately, between them and safety lies a forest full of elves, trolls, monsters, and that most terrifying of creatures: a human being. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
SO, I MET THIS GUY by Alexandra Potter (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Shelley Conn
Maggie thinks she’s finally found the love of her life. Theo is charming, passionate and crazy about her. So when Theo mysteriously disappears, Maggie certainly doesn’t expect that he’s gone for good --- let alone stolen her life savings, heart and self-esteem. Now she’s living in a caravan in a muddy field in the middle of nowhere, left to pick up the pieces. When junior reporter Flick catches wind of the story, she decides that exposing the romance fraudster may be just the career break she needs. The pair embark on the road trip of their lives, where unexpected twists, hidden secrets and hard truths are revealed. And, as an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, they realize it’s not just about finding the guy, it’s about finding themselves. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
DANDELION IS DEAD: A Novel About Life by Rosie Storey (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Laurence Dobiesz and Olivia Dowd
When Poppy discovers unanswered messages from a charming stranger in her late sister's dating app, she makes an impulsive choice: She'll meet him, just once, on what would have been Dandelion's 40th birthday. Jake is ready to find something real --- and not least because his ex-wife's twentysomething boyfriend has moved into their old family home. When he meets the intriguing woman who calls herself Dandelion, their connection is undeniable, and he can think of little else. As their relationship deepens, Poppy finds herself trapped in a double life she never meant to create. Every moment with Jake feels genuine, electric and totally right --- despite the fact they're tangled in deceit. As the lines between grief and love blur, Poppy faces a choice: keep her sister's memory alive through her lies, or risk everything for a chance at her own happiness. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 17th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 17th 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 February 16th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
AMERICAN STRUGGLE: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: An Anthology by Jon Meacham (History)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE SOUL OF AMERICA unites centuries of essential American voices to understand our national debates and divisions from 1619 to the present, with his signature commentary on the consequential speeches, letters and essays that led us to this moment.
THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn (Fiction/Magical Realism)
From New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn comes a gorgeously written fantastical adventure that poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives and new futures.
THE DEVIL'S BIBLE: A Cotton Malone Novel by Steve Berry (Thriller)
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, a tale of mystery and intrigue stretching back over four centuries.
FIRST SIGN OF DANGER: A Haven's Rock Novel by Kelley Armstrong (Mystery)
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong continues the atmospheric Haven's Rock series as Casey Duncan investigates a threat to their off-the-grid Yukon town.
THE HARD LINE: A Gray Man Novel by Mark Greaney (Thriller)
The Gray Man, the world’s deadliest assassin and apex predator, discovers he’s really the prey in the most shocking entry of Mark Greaney's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
LAWS OF LOVE AND LOGIC by Debra Curtis (Fiction)
A woman finds herself torn between her first love and her devoted husband in this extraordinary debut novel that asks the question: Can one heart hold two great loves?
LEAVING HOME: A Memoir in Full Colour by Mark Haddon (Memoir)
LEAVING HOME is an unflinching, brilliantly written, darkly funny, lavishly illustrated memoir by the acclaimed author of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME --- a ringing testament about how one artist sees the world, and how his experiences have shaped his vision.
ON MORRISON by Namwali Serpell (Literary Criticism)
At once accessible and uncompromisingly rigorous, ON MORRISON is a primer not only on how to read one of the most significant American authors of all time but also on how to read great works of literature in general.
PLAYMAKERS: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America by Michael Kimmel (Social History)
PLAYMAKERS is the untold story of the first-generation Jewish American toymakers who literally manufactured “the century of the child.”
SO OLD, SO YOUNG by Grant Ginder (Fiction/Humor)
From Grant Ginder, the bestselling author of THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING, comes a generation-defining novel that is part love story, part tragic comedy. Five parties over the course of 20 years bring six college friends together, exploring the ways we run from and cling to our friends in love, life and death.
WHEN I KILL YOU by B. A. Paris (Domestic Thriller)
Nell Masters is certain that someone is following her. Has the stalker become the stalked? The multimillion-copy and New York Times bestselling author B. A. Paris returns with a triumphant, unsettling new suspense novel.
WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW by Terah Shelton Harris (Fiction)
From acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris comes a poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Lisa Unger, Steve Berry, Caitlin Rother
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, February 17th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Steve Berry will talk to special guest host James Rollins about his latest Cotton Malone adventure, THE DEVIL'S BIBLE, a tale of mystery and intrigue stretching back over four centuries.
Tuesday, February 17th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Lisa Unger about her upcoming book, SERVED HIM RIGHT, a gripping thriller in which a woman’s brunch with friends quickly turns dark.
Thursday, February 19th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Jennifer K. Breedlove will talk about MURDER WILL OUT, her awarding-winning debut novel that brings coastal Maine to life in a lighter, modern gothic mystery that's as atmospheric as it is heartwarming.
Thursday, February 19th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Caitlin Rother will talk about her latest novel, HOOKED, a suspenseful thriller in which a journalist and a cop fight a sexual attraction as they join forces to expose a layered scheme of dark and dangerous secrets.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. 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 recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Sadeqa Johnson (KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: February Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in February have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ANTIHERO: An Orphan X Novel, by Gregg Hurwitz
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THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn
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BEST BOY by Deborah Goodrich Royce
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A BETTER LIFE by Lionel Shriver
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BLADE by Wendy Walker
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BRAWLER: Stories, by Lauren Groff
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COLD ZERO by Brad Thor, with Ward Larsen
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CROSS AND SAMPSON: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller, by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
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THE CROSSROADS: A Joe Pickett Novel, by C. J. Box
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CROWN CITY: A Japantown Mystery, by Naomi Hirahara
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THE DEVIL'S BIBLE: A Cotton Malone Novel, by Steve Berry
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DOUBLE TROUBLE by Joyce Carol Oates, writing as Rosamond Smith
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THE EXES by Leodora Darlington
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FAMILY DRAMA by Rebecca Fallon
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GOOD PEOPLE by Patmeena Sabit
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THE HADACOL BOOGIE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel, by James Lee Burke
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IMPOSTOR: An Alexander Gregory Thriller, by LJ Ross
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IN HER DEFENSE by Philippa Malicka
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IT'S NOT HER by Mary Kubica
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JIGSAW: An Alex Delaware Novel, by Jonathan Kellerman
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KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson
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KIN by Tayari Jones
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MORE THAN ENOUGH by Anna Quindlen
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ONE & ONLY by Maurene Goo
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S BIG SHOT: A Jesse Stone Novel, by Christopher Farnsworth
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SO OLD, SO YOUNG by Grant Ginder
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STOLEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
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A STUDY IN SECRETS: A Redacted Man Mystery, by Jeffrey Siger
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THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman
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TRUST NO ONE by James Rollins
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WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda
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WHEN I KILL YOU by B. A. Paris
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WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW by Terah Shelton Harris
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WOLF HOUR written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson
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WORLD'S EDGE: A Mosaic Novel, by James Sallis
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 20th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from February 6th to February 20th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson and THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman.
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.
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