Editorial Content for The Far Empty
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
It might be my imagination, but it seems that 2016 is full to the brim with books from debut authors whose talents have manifested themselves as fully formed, like a literary Athena. Let’s add J. Todd Scott to that list. His debut novel, THE FAR EMPTY, is dark and violent, as fine a piece of border noir as you might ever hope to read, but it is also a study of emotions, sacrifice, heroism and an almost-but-not quite redemption. It’s a tale that you will stay up all night to read and finish, only to find that you can’t shake it loose from your head. Read More
Teaser
Seventeen-year-old Caleb Ross is adrift in the wake of the sudden disappearance of his mother more than a year ago, and is struggling to find his way out of the small Texas border town of Murfee. Chris Cherry is a newly minted sheriff’s deputy, a high school football hero who has reluctantly returned to his hometown. When skeletal remains are discovered in the surrounding badlands, the two are inexorably drawn together as their efforts to uncover Murfee’s darkest secrets lead them to the same terrifying suspect: Caleb’s father and Chris’ boss, the charismatic and feared Sheriff Standford “Judge” Ross.
Promo
Seventeen-year-old Caleb Ross is adrift in the wake of the sudden disappearance of his mother more than a year ago, and is struggling to find his way out of the small Texas border town of Murfee. Chris Cherry is a newly minted sheriff’s deputy, a high school football hero who has reluctantly returned to his hometown. When skeletal remains are discovered in the surrounding badlands, the two are inexorably drawn together as their efforts to uncover Murfee’s darkest secrets lead them to the same terrifying suspect: Caleb’s father and Chris’ boss, the charismatic and feared Sheriff Standford “Judge” Ross.
About the Book
In this gritty crime debut set in the stark Texas borderlands, an unearthed skeleton will throw a small town into violent turmoil.
Seventeen-year-old Caleb Ross is adrift in the wake of the sudden disappearance of his mother more than a year ago, and is struggling to find his way out of the small Texas border town of Murfee. Chris Cherry is a newly minted sheriff’s deputy, a high school football hero who has reluctantly returned to his hometown. When skeletal remains are discovered in the surrounding badlands, the two are inexorably drawn together as their efforts to uncover Murfee’s darkest secrets lead them to the same terrifying suspect: Caleb’s father and Chris’ boss, the charismatic and feared Sheriff Standford “Judge” Ross.
Dark, elegiac and violent, THE FAR EMPTY is a modern Western, a story of loss and escape set along the sharp edge of the Texas border. Told by a longtime federal agent who knows the region, it’s a debut novel you won’t soon forget.
Audiobook available, read by T. Ryder Smith
Editorial Content for Die of Shame
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
DIE OF SHAME is a bit of a different book for Mark Billingham. It is not entirely divorced from his popular Inspector Tom Thorne series, so that those familiar with that universe will enjoy seeing a recognizable character or two bounce in and out of the story. But it is one of his rare stand-alone efforts, and one in which he tinkers a bit with the classical narrative of the novel while presenting his readers with a work that is nearly impossible to put down. Read More
Teaser
Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. But when one of the group is murdered, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else in that circle is responsible. The investigation is hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these individuals and their therapist together, which makes things difficult for Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner. What could be shameful enough to cost someone their life? And how do you find the truth when secrets, lies and denial are second nature to all of your suspects?
Promo
Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. But when one of the group is murdered, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else in that circle is responsible. The investigation is hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these individuals and their therapist together, which makes things difficult for Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner. What could be shameful enough to cost someone their life? And how do you find the truth when secrets, lies and denial are second nature to all of your suspects?
About the Book
From a master of the genre, DIE OF SHAME is a chilling story of addiction, subterfuge and murder.
Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. A respected doctor, a well-heeled housewife, a young male prostitute... they could not be more different. All they have in common is a history of addiction. But when one of the group is murdered, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else in that circle is responsible. The investigation is hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these individuals and their therapist together, which makes things difficult for Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner, a woman who can appreciate the desire to keep personal matters private. If she is to find the killer, she will need to use less obvious means. The question is: What could be shameful enough to cost someone their life? And how do you find the truth when secrets, lies, and denial are second nature to all of your suspects?
Editorial Content for First Dads: Parenting and Politics from George Washington to Barack Obama
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
“A key reason why George Washington was unanimously elected as our first president was because he had not fathered any children of his own.” This distinction would prevent him from establishing a monarchy to pass the reins of power to an heir. Of the 43 presidents including Washington, only five have not produced progeny. Award-winning journalist Joshua Kendall examines how these men have handled a job that has arguably the greatest responsibility of any in the world, while developing and sustaining a role as parent. Read More
Teaser
Every president has had some experience as a parent. Of the 43 men who have served in the nation's highest office, 38 have fathered biological children and the other five adopted children. Each president's parenting style reveals much about his beliefs as well as his psychological make-up. In FIRST DADS, which is based on research in archives around the country, Joshua Kendall shows presidential character in action. Readers will learn which type of parent might be best suited to leading the American people and how the fathering experiences of our presidents have forever changed the course of American history.
Promo
Every president has had some experience as a parent. Of the 43 men who have served in the nation's highest office, 38 have fathered biological children and the other five adopted children. Each president's parenting style reveals much about his beliefs as well as his psychological make-up. In FIRST DADS, which is based on research in archives around the country, Joshua Kendall shows presidential character in action. Readers will learn which type of parent might be best suited to leading the American people and how the fathering experiences of our presidents have forever changed the course of American history.
About the Book
Every president has had some experience as a parent. Of the 43 men who have served in the nation's highest office, 38 have fathered biological children and the other five adopted children. Each president's parenting style reveals much about his beliefs as well as his psychological make-up. James Garfield enjoyed jumping on the bed with his kids. FDR's children, on the other hand, had to make appointments to talk to him. In a lively narrative, based on research in archives around the country, Kendall shows presidential character in action. Readers will learn which type of parent might be best suited to leading the American people and, finally, how the fathering experiences of our presidents have forever changed the course of American history.
Editorial Content for 18 Holes with Bing
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
The way that Bing Crosby chose to bond with his son, Nathaniel, was on the golf course. Not surprisingly, the boy enjoyed the attention and took to the links as enthusiastically as his famous father. In this gentle paean to Bing, Nathaniel, with sportswriter John Strege, recalls growing up with a dad who, as The Times of London once stated, was a singer more listened to than “any mortal in human history” --- but who was just about as happy playing a round of golf. Read More
Teaser
Former professional golfer Nathaniel Crosby introduces us to the Bing Crosby he and his family knew --- not the beloved singer who played golf, but a golfer who sang to pay his country club dues. Nathaniel shares exclusive stories about this American icon golfing, working and playing with some of the most famous people in history. At the book’s heart is an intimate account of a father and a son --- how a mutual love of golf formed an exceptional emotional bond.
Promo
Former professional golfer Nathaniel Crosby introduces us to the Bing Crosby he and his family knew --- not the beloved singer who played golf, but a golfer who sang to pay his country club dues. Nathaniel shares exclusive stories about this American icon golfing, working and playing with some of the most famous people in history. At the book’s heart is an intimate account of a father and a son --- how a mutual love of golf formed an exceptional emotional bond.
About the Book
In this love letter to his father, former professional golfer Nathaniel Crosby shares memories of Bing Crosby on the golf course, and the lessons he taught him about the game and about life. With a Foreword by Jack Nicklaus.
“Bing Crosby was a great ambassador for our game, as well as a great man,” hails longtime friend and golf partner, Jack Nicklaus. The beloved singer and star was also an extraordinary teacher who instilled an abiding passion and mastery of the game in his youngest son, Nathaniel. Winning the US Amateur at 19, Nathaniel went on to compete in high-level professional tournaments for his entire life.
In 18 HOLES WITH BING, Nathaniel introduces us to the Bing Crosby he and his family knew --- not the beloved singer who played golf, but a golfer who sang to pay his country club dues. Nathaniel shares exclusive stories about this American icon golfing, working and playing with some of the most famous people in history --- royalty, titans of industry, stars of stage and screen and champions of the green, including Bob Hope, Dwight Eisenhower, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Louis Armstrong. At the book’s heart is an intimate account of a father and a son --- how a mutual love of golf formed an exceptional emotional bond.
Full of anecdotes, vignettes and recollections of Bing’s time on the course, the tournaments he created and later sponsored, and the constant encouragement he showed his son, 18 HOLES WITH BING honors this celebrated golfer, entertainer and father, and illuminates his life as never before.
Editorial Content for Monsters: A Love Story
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
On the surface of things, the premise of Liz Kay’s debut novel, MONSTERS: A Love Story, is pretty preposterous. Recently widowed poet Stacey Lane finds her life turned on its head when her book is optioned for film by the famous actor and producer Tommy DeMarco. Soon Stacey, who has been living in Omaha, just trying to get herself and her two young sons through each day since the death of her husband, instead finds herself jetting off to remote islands and Hollywood mansions for meetings with writers, directors and Hollywood superstars. Read More
Teaser
When Stacey Lane writes a feminist take on FRANKENSTEIN, she never imagines it will catch the eye of unbelievably sexy Hollywood star Tommy DeMarco. Tommy’s passion for her book --- and for her --- threatens to turn her life upside down, or maybe right-side up. From their first poolside meeting the two are set on a collision course as they go about making the book into a movie, making each other crazy and making love, if only in secret.
Promo
When Stacey Lane writes a feminist take on FRANKENSTEIN, she never imagines it will catch the eye of unbelievably sexy Hollywood star Tommy DeMarco. Tommy’s passion for her book --- and for her --- threatens to turn her life upside down, or maybe right-side up. From their first poolside meeting the two are set on a collision course as they go about making the book into a movie, making each other crazy and making love, if only in secret.
About the Book
A hilarious debut novel about a perfectly imperfect love story.
Even the smartest people can be stupid at love.
When Stacey Lane writes a feminist take on FRANKENSTEIN, she never imagines it will catch the eye of unbelievably sexy Hollywood star Tommy DeMarco. Tommy’s passion for her book --- and for her, a recently widowed poet, mom and certified mess --- threatens to turn her life upside down, or maybe right-side up. From their first poolside meeting the two are set on a collision course as they go about making the book into a movie, making each other crazy and making love, if only in secret.
Fueled by desire, love, grief, expertly poured cocktails and crackling dialogue, MONSTERS: A Love Story is a witty portrait of a relationship gone off the rails and two people who are made for each other --- even if they’re not so sure they see it that way.
Audiobook available, read by Allyson Ryan
Editorial Content for Hot Little Hands: Fiction
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Claire, living far from her native London and studying film in San Francisco, is trying but not quite succeeding in growing up. When she finds herself pregnant with her ex-boyfriend, Luke, the reality of adulthood is suddenly becoming unavoidable. Her choice to terminate the pregnancy is swiftly dealt with, and she doesn’t miss a beat in her hipster life. Read More
Teaser
Over the course of nine loosely connected stories, HOT LITTLE HANDS introduces us to young women, at once clever and naïve, who struggle to navigate the chronic uncertainty and very real dangers that come with being impatient for the future and reluctant to leave childhood behind. Abigail Ulman’s voice feels of the moment --- sharp and powerful --- as she deftly explores ageless themes of sex and maturity among girls who are both confident and frighteningly exposed.
Promo
Over the course of nine loosely connected stories, HOT LITTLE HANDS introduces us to young women, at once clever and naïve, who struggle to navigate the chronic uncertainty and very real dangers that come with being impatient for the future and reluctant to leave childhood behind. Abigail Ulman’s voice feels of the moment --- sharp and powerful --- as she deftly explores ageless themes of sex and maturity among girls who are both confident and frighteningly exposed.
About the Book
For fans of HBO’s "Girls," Abigail Ulman’s heartbreakingly tender and often darkly funny fiction is a fresh take on the experiences of contemporary young women.
Claire is magnetic. On the cusp of adulthood and letting go of her adolescence one miserable responsibility at a time, she’s moved from London to San Francisco to work toward her PhD and minor in cheap whiskey, pour-over coffee, and guys who can’t be bothered to shower. When she finds out she’s pregnant by a heartsick ex-boyfriend, the solution seems clear, if only to her.
Kira is a talented 13-year-old Russian gymnast who leaves her traditional family to travel to America.
Elise and Jenni, two Australian high school students, seek asylum from the hooking up and heavy drinking they’ve been doing for years by reenrolling in their childhood sleepaway camp.
Over the course of nine loosely connected stories, HOT LITTLE HANDS introduces us to young women, at once clever and naïve, who struggle to navigate the chronic uncertainty and very real dangers that come with being impatient for the future and reluctant to leave childhood behind.
Abigail Ulman’s voice feels of the moment --- sharp and powerful --- as she deftly explores ageless themes of sex and maturity among girls who are both confident and frighteningly exposed.
Audiobook available, read by Gemma Whelan
Daniel Gilbert
The secret of happiness is variety, but the secret of variety, like the secret of all spices, is knowing when to use it.
Attribution
Editorial Content for What Happens Now
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
From standardized tests to summer planning, I haven't exactly had time for reading over the past couple of months. So when WHAT HAPPENS NOW by Jennifer Castle showed up in my mailbox last week, I couldn't wait to finally start reading something again.
To say I was not disappointed is an understatement. You know those books that keep you up through the night and into the early hours of the morning? The ones that fill your head with an entire universe of plot, setting and characters? This was one of those books. Read More
Teaser
Ari Logan is battling to win her war against depression and the dark night she hurt herself on purpose. It's not easy: her best friend is drifting away, her mom's emotionally checked out, and she spends her days playing caregiver to her handful of a half-sister, Danielle. At first, Ari quietly longs for Camden from afar, seeing in him everything she wants to be. When the two discover a true connection the following summer, Ari lets herself fall not just for the quirky and self-assured Camden but also his friends, tumbling into their world of independence, adventure and shared sci-fi fandom.
Promo
About the Book
When you go on vacation, which of the following do you do? Please check as many as apply.
June 9, 2016, 650 voters



