Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 3

The last couple of posts have been great news for readers of thrillers and suspense.  But what if you're looking for some titles worthy of adding to your beach bag or your vacation reading and you're not a thriller fan?  Never fear!  There are plenty of lower-key beach reads that will entertain your brain while you enjoy the warmer weather this summer.  Here are some, from family sagas to chick lit, that might be just what you're looking for.

Ladies’ Night, by Mary Kay Andrews.  Nothing in Grace's life prepared her for being locked out of her home, her checking account and her business after catching her husband cheating on her.  Okay, so she also drove his sports car into the swimming pool, but is that any reason for court-mandated "divorce recovery" group therapy?  It's being billed as poignant and funny with a bit of a mystery.  Andrews is one of the founding mothers of chick-lit, so I would say it should be a sure thing.

Island Girls, by Nancy Thayer.  Three sisters (who shared a father, but different mothers) all convene in their late-father's Nantucket home for a summer together, a condition of his will if they want to inherit said house.  With a history of jealousy and resentment among them, their relationship is understandably sour.  Until, that is, they need to lean on each other to get through relationship woes and sordid pasts rearing their ugly heads.  A classic light beach read.

Beautiful Day, by Erin Hilderbrand.  Nantucket seems to be a running theme this year.  Two families arrive on Nantucket to celebrate the nuptials of a young couple, the details dictated by a plan left by the bride's late mother.  While the couple themselves are happy, their families are much less so.  Family drama and scandal abound leading up to the big day.  This sounds like quintessential Hilderbrand, who does this brand of beach read with flair.

The Last Original Wife, by Dorothea Benton Frank.  As the last original wife among her husband's wildly successful Atlanta social set, Les is fed up.  His cronies have all traded in their first wives for younger models, and she is tired of losing friends and sick of her husband treating it as a favor to keep her around.  Unable to stand it another minute, Les lights out for her hometown of Charleston, intent on cultivating the life of her dreams.

Sweet Salt Air, by Barbara Delinsky.  Two old friends, separated for years by professional and personal choices as well as geography, get together one summer like they used to, on an island off the coast of Maine.  It is a project that bring them together, a professional collaboration that makes the most of Nicole's culinary passion and Charlotte's travel-writer chops.  But it may be the secrets they've been keeping that destroy their friendship for good.  Reviews have been good so far, my guess is it should be a great addition to your pool-side reading.

Light reads not your thing either?  I've got you covered--I'll be back next week with both the substantial novels and the comedy gold slated for June releases.  In the meantime, happy reading!

Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 2

If you thought the first part of the June thrillers list was exciting, you haven't seen anything yet.  Really, sit down.  You are not prepared.

Are you sitting?  Okay, here we go.

Eye of God, by James Rollins

The Shadow Tracer, by Meg Gardiner

Killer Ambition, by Marcia Clark

Tell Me, by Lisa Jackson

Always Watching, by Chevy Stevens

The Kill Room, by Jeffery Deaver

Very exciting things here!  For one, I am delighted to see Chevy Stevens back with her third novel (after 2011's Never Knowing).  Few authors manage the twists and turns of gripping plotlines like Stevens, and I am extremely excited to read Always Watching. 

Also on my radar is the new Meg Gardiner stand-alone novel, The Shadow Tracer, which follows skip tracer Sarah Keller in her battle to going from tracer to untraceable after an accident reveals her darkest secret--that she is not the biological mother of her five-year-old daughter Zoe.  Lots of hype on this one--if you don't read her already, this is one to start with.

And finally, Jeffery Deaver has brought back one of my favorite thriller duos (last seen in 2010's Burning Wire), Lincoln Rhyme and partner Amelia Sachs as they track a sniper who hit his target from over a mile away, and the heat is turned up when a knife-wielding assassin begins to systematically destroy all evidence...including witnesses. 

So tell me, what strikes your fancy for some summer chills?

Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 1

I think I may call 2013 the summer of the thriller, because by my count, fully half of the "big name" releases slated for this summer are suspense/thriller titles.  Here are a few to get you started.

The 9^th Girl, by Tami Hoag

Second Honeymoon, by James Patterson & Howard Roughan

Choke Point, by Ridley Pearson

The King’s Deception, by Steve Berry

Her Last Breath, by Linda Castillo

I don't know about you, but I hardly know where to start.  Tami Hoag is a given, of course--she has a keen gift for detail and this latest, about a transient serial killer they're calling Doc Holiday, looks like it should be creepy as all get out.  Can't wait.  Also, if you're looking for a fresh voice in the genre, I highly recommend Linda Castillo. Murder in Ohio Amish country?  Castillo makes it work like a pro.  If you're new to the series, be sure to start at the beginning, with Sworn to Silence. 

I'll be back next week with more thrillers to look forward to.  Happy Reading in the meantime!

What I was reading: April 2013

Pardon me while I play catch-up here, after last week, which was the week that never stopped!  There have been so many amazing books coming out lately, I've been in a bit of a reading frenzy.  We should all have such problems, right?  So let me fill you in on some of the great titles I've been reading.

The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout.  This was one that I was extremely excited about, and Strout (who won the Pulitzer Prize for Olive Kitteridge), as always, did not disappoint in the slightest.   Brothers Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their small Maine hometown as soon as they could.  Both bound and separated by the freak accident that killed their father when they were small, their relationship as adults is difficult at best.  Jim, now a sleek corporate lawyer, is critical and chronically frustrated with his younger, big-hearted brother.  Bob, a Legal Aid attorney, idolizes his older brother and takes the constant criticism in stride.  But when a family crisis draws them back to their hometown, long-held secrets begin to surface that will change their relationship, and their lives, forever.  Powerful, poignant, and beautifully written--this would be an amazing choice if you're looking for a title to discuss for your book club, too.  Strout does it again.  320 pages

Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson.  You already know how much I loved this--I couldn't keep it to myself!    529 pages

Widow's Tears, by Susan Wittig Albert.  I don't normally read many mystery series, but this was one I got hooked on years ago.  This latest installment of the China Bayles series was slow to pick up momentum, but once it got underway it was compulsively readable and quite a bit different from most of the rest of the series.  China's loyal sidekick, Ruby, gets a call from an old childhood friend, who has a real estate problem of the supernatural sort, and is convinced Ruby is the only one who can help.  Ruby's not quite so sure, but can't say no to one of her oldest friends.  Hurricanes, history, and hauntings are not Albert's normal fare, but she does an admirable job.  If you're looking to start the series, it's best to begin with the first title, Thyme of Death.  292 pages

Rage Against the Dying, by Becky Masterman.  Seriously one of the best thrillers I've read in years.  A fresh new voice to the genre, and one I can't wait to read more from.  You can read my review here.  PS--the audio version is pretty epic, too.  320 pages

The Accursed, by Joyce Carol Oates.  I'll admit that I found this a little challenging to get into.  I haven't read much of Oates' work, and her style is a little quirky.  I'm glad I forged ahead, though, as this was really spectacular.  In early 20th century Princeton, a curse descends, only affecting the wealthiest families and causing, among other things, the disappearance of a young bride.  When her brother sets out to find her, he encounters some of the towns most formidable figures, including Grover Cleveland and Upton Sinclair.  This is an especial must for history buffs.  669 pages

Undone, by Karin Slaughter.  We all have lists of authors or titles we've been meaning to read.  Karin Slaughter had been on my list for much too long, so when I saw some titles available on Overdrive, I downloaded it to my Kindle.  Now I'm partly sad that I waited so long, and mostly overjoyed that now I have a new-to-me author to read through, because it was phenomenal!  When a tortured young woman enters the trauma center of an Atlanta hospital, Dr. Sara Linton is thrust into a desperate police investigation with Special Agent Will Trent and his partner, Faith Mitchell. Though guarding their own wounds and their own secrets, Sara, Will, and Faith find that they are all that stand between a madman and his next victim.  Slaughter has a real gift for adding detail and nuance to her characters, making them fallible, real, and extremely relatable--highly recommended.  436 pages

The Good House, by Ann Leary.  Hildy Good, descendent of a Salem witch, may or may not be an alcoholic.  Her daughters certainly seemed sure she was, and so she went and did her 28 days to get them off her back.  Now she spends her days as sober realtor in her sleepy hometown on Boston's North Shore and her long evenings drinking alone, lest anyone find out she's drinking.  Lonely, she finds a friend in new neighbor Rebecca McAllister, who's also feeling a little lonely and out of her element.  They share gossip, and wine, and secrets, but Rebecca isn't welcomed by all of the community, and finds herself the target of gossip, and worse.  Hildy starts out trying to protect her new friend, but ultimately finds herself scrambling to cover her own ass.  The Good House is outrageous, funny, and hugely entertaining, and Leary proves that famous husband, Denis Leary, isn't the only witty one in the family.  304 pages

The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  This is a re-read for my May book club.  You can read my original review here. 322 pages


April totals:
8 titles
3,192 pages

Year-to-date totals:
27/75 titles =  36%
10,088/35,000 pages = 29%

Still in need of a few more longer novels, but I'm in good shape to reach my reading goals by the end of the year.  Anyone else have a reading challenge?  I'd love to hear about it!

Three on Thursday: Book News

Do you remember last year, when the jurors actually declined to name a Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction?  That did not happen in 2013!  A winner was announced last week, and the award goes to?  Adam Johnson's extraordinary novel set in North Korea, The Orphan Master's Son.  You can read my review here.  Need more incentive to see what the fuss is about?  Check out The Morning News 2013 Tournament of Books.

There are a lot of great books for kids that aren't necessarily kids's books.  Does that make sense?  This list may help to clarify: 28 books every geek should read to their kid before age 10.  I don't think it's necessary that you identify as a geek to appreciate it, but I think it's a great list to inspire parents to share a love of reading with their kids.

Banned books week isn't until September, but I always find it fascinating to see what titles are the most frequently challenged each year.  Here is 2012's list.  Be a rebel--read them anyway.

Can't Keep It to Myself: Life After Life

Every once in awhile, I read a book that I find is so unique, when people ask what it's like, I honestly have a really hard time answering them.  The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger was like that for me.  So was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by Davide Wroblewski.  (As an aside, I thought both of these titles were absolutely phenomenal in their own rights, so if you haven't read them, I highly recommend them.)  So when I say that Kate Atkinson's Life After Life is like the two aforementioned titles, it's not because it shares plot or format or style.  It's because it is also unlike anything else I've ever read before.  I love novels that are full of surprises, and Atkinson absolutely kept them coming.

Ursula Todd is born on a snowy night to an English banker and his wife in 1910, and dies before she can draw her first breath.  She is born again and begins to wail.  Her life, and her deaths (of which there are more than a few), make her the odd one out in her family, although none of them can say quite what makes her different.  Suffering from deja vu, which is understandable, Ursula lives, and dies, through the WWI as a child and as WWII approaches, it appears that Ursula may be the only one who can save the world.  And if she can, does that also mean she will? 

Absolutely one of the most intriguing, thought provoking novels I've read in quite some time.

Reading Ahead: May 2013, part 4

Here we are with the final wrap-up, and a bit of sad news for some.  What do I mean, well, let's look at the list and then discuss, shall we?

Dead Ever After, by Charlaine Harris

Echoes of My Soul, by Robert K. Tanenbaum

Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland, by Ace Atkins

The Apple Orchard, by Susan Wiggs

Followers of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels and fans of HBO's True Blood alike are in mourning the end of Sookie's adventures, as Dead Ever After is the thirteenth and final Sookie Stackhouse novel.  True Blood will continue on, as it only loosely followed the plot of the novels after the first season.  But for now, at least, Sookie is going the way of Harry Potter and other beloved characters, and fading from the spotlight.  However, fans, take heart!  There's no telling what other kinds of mischief Charlaine Harris might be getting up to in the future, so keep an eye out!