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ReadingGroupGuides.com Newsletter |
April 2014 |
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The Joy of Reading Outdoors is Back!
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On Sunday, thoughts of the brutal winter ebbed away a bit as I sat on the patio reading outside for the first time since the fall. At one point, I was warm --- imagine that --- and I kicked off my shoes and shucked my light fleece jacket. I had forgotten about the true joy of reading outside in sunlight. It was a bit of a tease as yesterday and today started out cloudy and gray again, but, ah, I felt like I had a spa day and unwound and enjoyed the moment.
I checked in with my mom about what her book group is reading this month; they had an excellent discussion of MY BELOVED WORLD by Sonia Sotomayor. Also, I mentioned in the Bookreporter.com newsletter on Friday that I had watched the Oscar-winning short documentary winner The Lady in Apartment 6 on Netflix. Mom told me that her book group had read A CENTURY OF WISDOM, the book about the amazing Alice Herz-Sommer, who was the subject of the book. She noted that it was a very good read with lots of positive thinking, so for those of you who watch the short and want to read more, note this.
As you may recall, Emily Hoenig is now working with me on ReadingGroupGuides.com, which is allowing us to create a lot more original content on the site. We’re happy to share our interview with Valerie Giambona from the “Red Pages Book Club” of Secaucus, NJ. Last October, we gave 150 groups the opportunity to win a copy of THE PRESERVATIONIST by Justin Kramon, as well as the chance to have him join them at their meetings. Justin visited the “Red Pages Book Club” on February 26th, and the members were so pleased with the event that founder Valerie immediately wrote to volunteer to share their experience with ReadingGroupGuides.com readers. Here, Valerie talks about Justin, THE PRESERVATIONIST, and why having an author visit is “the icing on the cake.” We also have a photo of the group! If you have a story about your book group that you would like to share with us, please drop Emily a note at [email protected].
Next month, we look forward to interviewing Raeann and other members of the "Spine Breakers" book club in Portland, Oregon. They were the winners of the contest that we recently held to have dinner with Robyn Carr to discuss her book, FOUR FRIENDS. "Spine Breakers" consists of 10 members who have been meeting for 19 years. They all received copies of the book and are reading to prep for their dinner discussion. We're looking forward to hearing what they have to say in late April.
Emily also is working on keeping you up to date with what is happening on the site via Facebook and Twitter. There we share news that we find throughout the month as well as regular alerts when we add content or when a contest deadline is approaching. One easy click and you’ll be in the loop for this information. We post news of sweepstakes and contests, even those outside of what we are offering, especially when they have interesting prizes. Now on to our update.
The first of our many exciting contests this month is THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs. When Tess Delaney’s estranged, ailing grandfather leaves a 100-acre apple orchard in a magical Sonoma town to her and a half-sister she’s never heard of, her carefully ordered world is overturned. But in this new setting, with new company, Tess learns the simple pleasures of food, family and life. We’re giving 20 readers the chance to win a copy. All you have to do is enter here by Monday, May 5th at noon ET. Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Next up, we have THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank. It’s about Atlanta wife Leslie Carter, who --- unable to endure another moment with her insensitive husband and infuriating adult children--- heads to the Carolina Lowcountry to reassess her life. There, she ends up reconnecting with her first love, a man who awakens in her a realization that life is too short to settle for anything less than the best. It’s an irresistible story told with Dorothea's signature charm (BTW, those who know her call her "Dottie"). I loved how Leslie throws up her hands as the men in the couples she has known “forever” are getting married a second time to much younger women to whom she cannot relate; she sees this as a personal affront. These chapters had me laughing out loud as she describes evenings out with them and how she feels next to them. We’re giving away 10 copies to 10 lucky groups. Enter here by Monday, May 5th at noon ET for your chance to win. Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Our next contest giveaway is ARCADIA by Lauren Groff, bestselling author of THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON. ARCADIA takes place in the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, where a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land, founding what would become a commune centered on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House. The story follows this romantic, rollicking and tragic utopian dream, and the lives of those who inhabit it. We’re giving 20 readers the chance to win a copy of this ambitious, critically acclaimed novel. Enter here by Monday, May 5th at noon ET for your chance to win. Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
In our fourth special contest this month, we’re giving away 10 copies of SAFE KEEPING by Barbara Taylor Sissel, critically acclaimed author of EVIDENCE OF LIFE. In this chilling and emotionally charged mystery, a mother must confront the unfathomable when her son is accused of murder. But what she discovers while his life hangs in the balance will prove far more shocking than her darkest fears. Enter here by Monday, May 5th at noon ET to be a lucky winner.
We’re featuring Beth Hoffman’s LOOKING FOR ME in April’s “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” Contest. From the bestselling author of SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT comes the story of expert antique restorer Teddi Overman, who has been haunted by uncertainty since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance years ago. But when signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi journeys back home to Kentucky, to come to terms with her shattered family --- and decide what to let go of and what to keep. To celebrate its paperback release this month, we’re giving three groups the opportunity to win 12 copies. Enter here by Monday, May 5th at noon ET for your chance to win. And please remember that in order to be eligible to win, you need to tell us the book that your group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
Just so you know! Thanks to your participation last month, we learned that the three most popular books among book groups in April were ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline, THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin. Keep posting so we see what else is trending on our site!
This month, we have four featured guides to share with you. The first is the crowd-pleaser MRS. POE by Lynn Cullen. Set in New York City in 1845, it’s the story of aspiring poet Frances Osgood, whose life becomes complicated when she meets her literary hero, Edgar Allan Poe. What follows is a flirtation, then a seduction, then an illicit affair. But when Poe’s frail wife insists on befriending Frances as well, the relationship becomes as dark and twisted as one of Poe’s tales. Click here for the guide, here for the Bookreporter.com review and here for a Q&A with the author. I somehow missed reading this when it was out in paperback, but it’s on my nightstand pile NOW. I love titles about “the women behind the men.”
The second is LOVE ANTHONY by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova. It’s a heartfelt story about motherhood, autism and love, which offers us two unforgettable women on the verge of change and the irrepressible young boy whose unique wisdom helps them both find the courage to move on. Click here for the guide, here for our Bookreporter.com review, and here to see why I selected this as my THIRD Lisa Genova book to be selected as a Bookreporter.com Bets On title. By the way, April is Autism Awareness Month, and LOVE ANTHONY will give you some terrific insight into the world of those with autism.
Our third featured guide is FAR GONE by award-winning author Laura Griffin. When police detective Andrea Finch gets an urgent call from her younger brother, her search for answers takes her to a dusty Texas border town where danger lurks in plain sight. FBI agent Jon North is working undercover in west Texas investigating an unsolved murder that may be linked to a broader plot. But when the evidence points to Andrea’s brother, Jon finds that persuading the stubborn cop to help will be harder than cracking his toughest case. Click here for the guide and here for a Q&A with the author.
Our last featured guide this month is THE QUAKER CAFÉ, Brenda Bevan Remmes’s sweet, smart and extremely enjoyable debut. When Liz Hoole, a free-spirited liberal from the Midwest, marries into a conservative Quaker family in a small rural town in North Carolina, she knew it would be a delicate task to negotiate the raising of her four boys in compliance with Quaker values. To further complicate matters, when the politically powerful father of her best friend dies, Liz stumbles upon secrets from the past that threaten to unravel the delicate fabric of racial harmony in an easily divided town. As I was reading this, I thought about Jan Karon’s Mitford series that takes place in a small town; though I cannot picture living in a place where everyone knows everyone else, I love reading about towns like this and the people who live there. Go figure! Click here for the guide.
We also are bringing you titles that readers have rated as being "good book group selections" in our “Rate Books for Book Groups” feature. This gives you more to browse as you look for ideas for your book group discussions. You can see them here. These don’t necessarily need to be books that you have read with your book clubs --- they can simply be titles that you think would be great for discussion! Consider this another section of the site for you to get suggestions. And it’s easy to participate: All you need to do is rate the books you’ve read --- whether personally or with your book group --- so readers will know whether or not they would be good selections for book groups. All entries will be posted shortly after the May 5th deadline.
There’s still plenty of time to register for our special speed-dating event, which will take place at BookExpo America in New York City on Friday, May 30th. Representatives from a dozen publishers will gather at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center to share selections and book group news from their publishing houses in a speed-dating format designed to give book group leaders, booksellers, librarians and bloggers an inside look at what book groups will be tempted by for fall and winter. Galley giveaways and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be part of this event. Advance signup is required and seating will be assigned. Fill out this form to sign up. Please note: You must be registered to attend BookExpo America in order to attend this session. If you are not, click here to register.
We have loved reading the results of our March poll so much that we're extending it through April. Approximately what percentage of your book group members reads the books you discuss on an eReader? Click here to let us know by Tuesday, May 6th at noon ET.
Tickets are on sale now for "Open House at Random House," taking place on Friday, May 2nd in New York City. Here, you'll have the opportunity to meet a number of authors, explore Random House's New York headquarters, and connect with other book lovers. Join Jenny McCarthy, Gary Shteyngart, Ruth Reichl, Chris Pavone, Maggie Shipstead and many more for lunch and snacks, and delicious cocktails. As if that's not enough, all guests will receive a limited edition Random House Open House tote bag filled with great swag and some of this summer's blockbuster reads. I am so looking forward to attending this event with Nicole Sherman from our staff and a few of my friends. We know some of our readers have gone in the past, and we would love to see you back there...along with any first-timers, of course! Click here for all the details and to purchase tickets.
And for our readers who like to explore books in translation (for personal and group reading), we wanted to let you know that the London Book Fair, taking place from April 8-10, is spotlighting Korea as a global market. This reflects the country’s status as one of the top 10 publishing markets in the world and its expanding reputation within the international literary community. Many of Korea’s most prominent and exciting writers will be in attendance this year, including Hwang Sok-yong (THE GUEST), Yi Mun-yol (OUR TWISTED HERO), Kyung-sook Shin (PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOTHER) and Sun-mi Hwang (THE HEN WHO DREAMED SHE COULD FLY, which was one of my Bookreporter.com Bets On selections in 2013).
In anticipation of the Fair, we’re pleased to share our latest bookshelf on Bookreporter.com, featuring books written by Korean authors, American authors who have written about Korea, and other Korean-themed titles. Many thanks to Barbara J Zitwer, a literary agent in New York City who has spent the last years immersed in the Korean market, for assembling this bookshelf for us, which gives our readers insight into this community of writers. Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, and I had a fabulous meeting with Barbara back in late January as we talked about this bookshelf, and her enthusiasm for this market was contagious. When we can have a colleague like this sharing her expertise with us and our readers, it’s really exciting. I am looking forward to reading DEAR LEADER: Poet, Spy, Escapee -- A Look Inside North Korea by Jang Jin-sung, which will be in stores on May 13th.
And a reminder that at the beginning of each month, we compile a list of the Most Requested Guides in the categories of New Favorites, Ongoing Favorites and Enduring Favorites, along with an overall list of Top 50 Requests. Here is the list from February, and here is the most recent list from March. Check back in early May for April’s list!
We wanted to alert you to our new “Share Bar,” which appears on the lefthand side of every page on the site. This allows you to easily share guides and features with your book group members, friends, family and fellow readers. For those of you on Goodreads, the icon to share books there will appear on any page where a book appears, though you will not see this on the homepage. So share, share away. You are our best ambassadors for bringing new readers to the site. With your help, we know our audience can grow even bigger, so thank you in advance for passing us along! One more note on this. For Facebook, we are working on managing the art associated with each feature/article/interview, etc. It needs a bunch of tech tweaks since what happens changes with that!
Whew…lots for you to share with your book group. May we suggest you forward this email to those in your book group who do not already receive it? You can do that by hitting the Forward link on the upper right.
Here’s to a fabulous April. Happy Passover and Happy Easter!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Special Contest: Win a Copy of THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs
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We're giving 20 readers the opportunity to win a copy of Susan Wiggs's THE APPLE ORCHARD, a story of sisters, friendship, and the invisible bonds of history that are woven like a spell around us. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, May 5th at noon ET.
THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs (Fiction)
Tess Delaney makes a living returning stolen treasures to their rightful owners. She loves illuminating history, filling the spaces in people’s hearts with stories of their family legacies. When her estranged, ailing grandfather leaves a 100-acre apple orchard in a magical Sonoma town to her and a half-sister she’s never heard of, her carefully ordered world is overturned. But against the rich landscape of Bella Vista, Tess begins to discover a world filled with the simple pleasures of food and family, of the warm earth beneath her bare feet. A world where family comes first and the roots of history run deep.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
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Click here to enter the contest.
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Special Contest: Win 10 Copies of THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank for Your Group
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We're giving 10 groups the opportunity to win 10 copies of THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank, the poignant tale of one audacious woman’s quest to find the love she deserves. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, May 5th at noon ET.
THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Leslie Anne Greene Carter is The Last Original Wife among her husband Wesley’s wildly successful Atlanta social set. If losing the social life and close friends she adored wasn’t painful enough, a series of setbacks shake Les’s world and push her to the edge. She’s had enough of playing the good wife to a husband who thinks he’s doing her a favor by keeping her around. She’s not going to waste another minute on people she doesn’t care to know. Now, she’s going to take some time for herself --- in the familiar comforts and stunning beauty of Charleston, her beloved hometown. In her brother’s stately historic home, she’s going to reclaim the carefree girl who spent lazy summers sharing steamy kisses with her first love on Sullivans Island.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
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Click here to enter the contest.
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Special Contest: Win a Copy of ARCADIA by Lauren Groff
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We're giving 20 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the New York Times bestseller ARCADIA by Lauren Groff, a novel of ideals, idylls and the impact when utopia clashes with free will. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, May 5th at noon ET.
ARCADIA by Lauren Groff (Fiction)
In the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land, founding what would become a commune centered on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House. ARCADIA follows this romantic, rollicking and tragic utopian dream.
Arcadia’s inhabitants include Handy, the charismatic leader; Astrid, a midwife; Abe, a master carpenter; Hannah, a baker and historian; and Abe and Hannah’s only child, Bit.
While Arcadia rises and falls, Bit, too, ages and changes. If he remains in love with the peaceful agrarian life in Arcadia and deeply attached to its residents, how can he become his own man? How will he make his way through life and the world outside of Arcadia where he must eventually live?
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com..
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Click here to enter the contest.
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Special Contest: Win a Copy of SAFE KEEPING by Barbara Taylor Sissel
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We're giving 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of Barbara Taylor Sissel's SAFE KEEPING, an emotionally charged mystery about a mother who must confront the unfathomable when her son is accused of murder. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, May 5th at noon ET.
SAFE KEEPING by Barbara Taylor Sissel (Psychological Thriller)
Emily Lebay had always thought of her family as ordinary. But when a woman’s body turns up in the dense woods near their home, and Emily’s grown son, Tucker, is accused of murder, Emily is forced to confront the unfathomable, and everything she believed about her life is called into question.
This isn’t the first time Tucker has been targeted by the police; a year ago he was a person of interest when another woman was found dead in the same stretch of woods. Still, neither Emily nor her daughter, Lissa, can reconcile their Tucker with these brutal crimes. So they set out to learn the truth about him, once and for all. And while his life hangs in the balance, what they discover proves far more shocking than their darkest fears…
-Click here for the reading group guide.
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Click here to enter the contest.
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What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?: Win 12 Copies of LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman for Your Group
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Let us know what your group is reading in April, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman, which blends the author's signature keen emotional insight and Southern sensibility in a richly drawn story that will delight fans old and new. We have 12 copies of the book, which will be available in paperback on April 29th, to give away to three groups. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Monday, May 5th at noon ET.
LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman (Fiction)
Teddi Overman has learned to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. But nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she has felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky. It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family, but first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Just so you know! Thanks to your participation last month, we learned that the three most popular books among book groups in April were ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline, THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin. Keep posting so we see what else is trending on our site!
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Click here to enter the contest.
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Featured Guide: MRS. POE by Lynn Cullen --- Now Available in Paperback
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MRS. POE by Lynn Cullen (Historical Fiction)
1845: New York City is a sprawling warren of gaslit streets and crowded avenues, bustling with new immigrants and old money, optimism and opportunity, poverty and crime. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is all the rage --- the success of which a struggling poet like Frances Osgood can only dream. As a mother trying to support two young children after her husband’s cruel betrayal, Frances jumps at the chance to meet the illustrious Mr. Poe at a small literary gathering, if only to help her fledgling career. What follows is a flirtation, then a seduction, then an illicit affair…and with each clandestine encounter, Frances finds herself falling slowly and inexorably under the spell of her mysterious, complicated lover.
-Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
-Click here to read an interview with Lynn Cullen.
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Click here for the featured guide.
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Featured Guide: LOVE ANTHONY by Lisa Genova
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LOVE ANTHONY by Lisa Genova (Fiction)
Olivia is a young mother coping with the loss of her young autistic son. She comes to Nantucket Island to separate herself from the life she led as wife and mother, and to start fresh, even as she tries to make sense of her tragedy --- mainly, why was Anthony born autistic, only to live such a short life?
Beth, a stay-at-home mother of three, is struggling with a separation after discovering her husband's long-term infidelity. To bring order to her tumultuous feelings, she rekindles a passion for writing, determined to find her own voice again. But curiously as she does so, Beth also find herself channeling the voice of an unknown autistic boy, exuberant in his perceptions of the world around him --- a voice she can share with Olivia (is it Anthony?) --- that brings comfort and meaning to her.
-Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
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Click here for the featured guide.
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Featured Guide: FAR GONE by Laura Griffin
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FAR GONE by Laura Griffin (Thriller)
Police detective Andrea Finch is a rising star in her department until a split-second decision derails her career. Disgraced and disillusioned, she’s on leave from her job when she gets an urgent call from her younger brother. She’d prefer to ignore his latest plea for cash, but this time instinct tells her something is very wrong. Andrea’s search for answers takes her to a dusty Texas border town where danger lurks in plain sight and nothing is quite what it seems.
FBI agent Jon North is working undercover in west Texas investigating an unsolved murder that may be linked to a broader plot. But when the evidence points to Andrea’s brother, Jon finds that persuading the stubborn cop to help will be harder than cracking his toughest case.
-Click here to read an interview with Laura Griffin.
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Click here for the featured guide.
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Featured Guide: THE QUAKER CAFE by Brenda Bevan Remmes
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THE QUAKER CAFE by Brenda Bevan Remmes (Fiction)
When Liz Hoole, a free-spirited liberal from the Midwest, marries into a conservative Quaker family in a small rural town in North Carolina, she knew it would be a delicate task to negotiate the raising of her four boys in compliance with Quaker values…but as much as she tries, she always seems to fall short of expectations.
When Judge Corbett Kendall, the politically powerful father of her best friend, dies, Liz stumbles upon secrets from the past that threaten to unravel the delicate fabric of racial harmony in an easily divided town. Whether examining the history of Cottonwoods Plantation in town or eavesdropping on the latest gossip at the local Quaker Café, she finds herself burdened with the truth of an injustice that she cannot reveal, even to her own husband.
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Click here for the featured guide.
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Monthly Feature: Rate Books for Book Groups
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Rate the books you have read to let us know if you think they would be good selections for book groups. You can add books that you have read personally or with your book group. Share the title and the author, and please pay attention to proper spelling. Capitalize words as appropriate! All submissions will be reviewed before they are posted on May 5th, thus your post will not appear immediately.
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Click here to rate books for book groups.
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Attend a Special Speed-Dating Session for Booksellers, Librarians, Bloggers and Book Group Leaders at BookExpo America on Friday, May 30th
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On Friday, May 30th, from 2:00pm to 3:50pm, representatives from more than a dozen publishers attending BookExpo America will gather at the Jacob K. Javits Center to share selections and book group news from their publishing houses in a speed-dating format designed to give book group leaders, booksellers, librarians and bloggers an inside look at what book groups will be tempted by for fall and winter. Galley giveaways and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be part of this event. Advance signup is required by Thursday, May 22nd at noon ET, and seating will be assigned. Fill out this form to sign up.
Please note: You must be registered to attend BookExpo America in order to attend this session. If you are not, click here to register.
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Click here to sign up for the event.
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Recent "Bookreporter.com Bets On" Selections
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YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Literary Mystery)
Grace Reinhart Sachs is a therapist who feels she knows all about relationships and why they fail, and has written a book of her own: You Should Have Known: Why Women Fail to Hear What the Men in Their Lives Are Telling Them. Just as she is prepping for a round of pre-release media for the book, she learns that her own marriage is not what it seems. What then is Grace to do?
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler (Fiction)
Last March, while sitting in a condo in Crested Butte, a small town in Colorado that I love, I finished reading a manuscript of Nickolas Butler’s fabulous debut novel, SHOTGUN LOVESONGS. The setting was fitting as the book is set in Little Wing, a fictitious tiny town near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a place with a lot of heart that will touch your soul and a cast of well-drawn, memorable characters. So memorable that you will want to find Little Wing to see what they are up to while at the same time thinking about your own version of Little Wing, the place where you feel at home.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see advance readers' comments on the book.
GEMINI by Carol Cassella (Mystery)
Like her earlier books, OXYGEN and HEALER, Carol Cassella, who is a practicing physician (an anesthesiologist), takes on a complex medical issue in GEMINI, weaving a strong story from it. A woman is found critically injured and unconscious on the side of a road and arrives at a hospital as a Jane Doe. There, ICU doctor Charlotte Reese is charged with her care. As she unravels this case, her longtime boyfriend Eric, a science journalist and author, becomes involved in Jane Doe's plight. At the same time, their relationship is tested in ways that they never could have imagined.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an interview with Carol Cassella.
A CIRCLE OF WIVES by Alice LaPlante (Psychological Thriller)
A few years ago, I read TURN OF MIND by Alice LaPlante and was crazy about it; I have told many people the plot of that book, which inspired them to read it. I hope I can do the same with A CIRCLE OF WIVES, her new one, which is just as strong.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
UNTIL I SAY GOOD-BYE: My Year of Living with Joy by Susan Spencer-Wendel with Bret Witter (Memoir)
Just about a year ago, I read UNTIL I SAY GOODBYE by Susan Spencer-Wendel (with Bret Witter) right before it was published in hardcover. I was so very, very moved by this story. I had read some of her Palm Beach Post columns where she had been documenting her journey with ALS, which is a truly hideous disease with no cure. From the start, she knows her fate. She also is a journalist and a very take-charge person. So instead of crying “woe is me,” she has gone on to live life joyfully, all the while the disease is zapping her muscle control. She has traveled with family and friends, planned memories for her children, and focused on doing rather than weeping.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
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New Guides Now Available
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The following guides are now available on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs (Fiction)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs brings readers into the lush abundance of Sonoma County, in a story of sisters, friendship, and the invisible bonds of history that are woven like a spell around us.
ARCADIA by Lauren Groff (Fiction)
From the remarkable author of THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON comes a new novel of ideals, idylls and the impact when utopia clashes with free will.
BRIDGE TO HAVEN by Francine Rivers (Historical Fiction)
In this riveting and highly anticipated tale of temptation, grace and unconditional love, New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers delivers big-canvas storytelling at its very best.
-Click here to enter Bookreporter.com's Women's Fiction Author Spotlight contest for a chance to win a copy of BRIDGE TO HAVEN and comment on it.
DRIVING LESSONS by Zoe Fishman (Fiction)
From the author of BALANCING ACTS and SAVING RUTH comes the funny, heartwarming and utterly relatable story of three women, each facing her own transitional moment, and all grappling with the idea of motherhood…
FAR GONE by Laura Griffin (Romantic Suspense)
To save her only brother, Andrea Finch must face down a criminal mastermind, the FBI and her own demons in this thrilling novel from the author of the bestselling Tracers series.
FOR SUCH A TIME by Kate Breslin (Historical Romance)
In 1944, blond-haired and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin will do all she can to save her people --- even if she cannot save herself.
THE IDEA OF HIM by Holly Peterson (Fiction)
Captivating and seductive, told in the whip-smart voice of a woman who is working hard to keep her parenting and career on track, THE IDEA OF HIM is a novel of conspiracy, intrigue and intense passion --- and discovering your greatest strength through your deepest fears.
-Click here to see Bookreporter.com's Women's Fiction Author Spotlight of THE IDEA OF HIM.
THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Experience the sultry Southern atmosphere of Atlanta and the magic of the Carolina Lowcountry in this funny and poignant tale of one audacious woman’s quest to find the love she deserves, from New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank.
LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman (Fiction)
LOOKING FOR ME is a signature blend of keen emotional insight and Southern sensibility in a richly drawn story that will delight fans old and new.
LOVE ANTHONY by Lisa Genova (Fiction)
From award-winning New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova comes a heartfelt novel in the vein of Jodi Picoult, about an accidental friendship that helps a grieving mother understand the thoughts of her autistic son.
MRS. POE by Lynn Cullen (Historical Fiction)
The compelling national bestseller in the tradition of THE PARIS WIFE, MRS. POE is about a woman who becomes entangled in an affair with Edgar Allan Poe, played out against the atmospheric backdrop of 1840s New York City.
OFF COURSE by Michelle Huneven (Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of BLAME comes a daring novel of romantic crossroads --- and the high price of impossible love.
THE PELICAN BRIDE: Gulf Coast Chronicles, Book 1 by Beth White (Historical Romance)
A feisty young Frenchwoman gets more than she bargained for when she flees to the New World as a mail-order bride.
THE QUAKER CAFE by Brenda Bevan Remmes (Fiction)
THE QUAKER CAFE is a debut novel brimming with Southern heart about a small town where, regardless of what happens behind closed doors, the neighbors awake each morning and meet at the Quaker Café.
RUN, DON'T WALK: The Curious and Chaotic Life of a Physical Therapist Inside Walter Reed Army Medical Center by Adele Levine (Memoir)
“M*A*S*H” meets “Scrubs” in this funny and heartfelt memoir about a physical therapist working inside Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
SAFE KEEPING by Barbara Taylor Sissel (Psychological Thriller)
In this chilling and emotionally charged mystery from highly acclaimed author Barbara Taylor Sissel, a mother must confront the unfathomable when her son is accused of murder, and while his life hangs in the balance, what she discovers will prove far more shocking than her darkest fears.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
FLY AWAY by Kristin Hannah (Fiction)
FLY AWAY is the story of three women who have lost their way and need each other --- plus a miracle --- to transform their lives. An emotionally complex, heart-wrenching novel about love, motherhood, loss and new beginnings, this long-awaited follow-up to FIREFLY LANE reminds us that where there is life, there is hope, and where there is love, there is forgiveness.
THE ROAD FROM GAP CREEK by Robert Morgan (Fiction)
One of America’s most acclaimed writers returns to the land on which he has staked his literary claim to paint the indelible portrait of a family in a time of unprecedented change.
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