Meg's Picks: May 2015, part 1

I have to confess: sometimes it's really difficult for me to wait so long to share what I'm looking forward to reading. In many cases, I'm ordering new fiction six months in advance. Which means I'm already ordering holiday books, folks. I know. And I'm sorry.

However, what this also means is that by the time the books are finally about to be published, I've got all my ducks in a row, ready to share with you! Ready?

I Take You, by Eliza Kennedy. Kennedy's debut is being heralded as one of the funniest, most clever debut novels since Bridget Jones's Diary, and those are some significant stilettos to fill. I'm going to tell you right now: this will be one of the must-have beach-reads this summer. Lily Wilder has everything. A New York lawyer and bride-to-be, she has a family full of charismatic and loving women, and a total catch of a fiancé. Also? She has no business getting married. Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and completely incapable of being faithful to just one man.  As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.

Early Warning, by Jane Smiley. For readers who want something engrossing and entertaining, but more family saga than all-out-drama, Smiley's new novel (continuing the story begun in 2014's very popular Some Luck) may be just what you're looking for. Early Warning opens in 1953 with the Langdon family at a crossroads. Their stalwart patriarch, Walter, who with his wife, Rosanna, sustained their farm for three decades, has suddenly died, leaving their five children, now adults, looking to the future. Only one will remain in Iowa to work the land, while the others scatter to Washington, D.C., California, and everywhere in between. As the country moves out of post–World War II optimism through the darker landscape of the Cold War and the social and sexual revolutions of the 1960s and ’70s, and then into the unprecedented wealth—for some—of the early 1980s, the Langdon children each follow a different path in a rapidly changing world. If you're adrift in between installments of Jeffrey Archer's family saga The Clifton Chronicles, consider these to help you through.

The Ice Twins, by S.K. Tremayne. Early reviews for this have mentioned both Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train) for comparisons, so that should give you some idea about both the plot and the anticipated popularity. A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcroft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives. But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity--that she, in fact, is Lydia--their world comes crashing down once again. As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, they are forced to confront what really happened on that fateful day.

Disclaimer, by Renee Knight. A psychological thriller, already an international bestseller, finally comes to the States. Finding a mysterious novel at her bedside plunges documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft into a living nightmare. Though ostensibly fiction, The Perfect Stranger recreates in vivid, unmistakable detail the terrible day she became hostage to a dark secret, a secret that only one other person knew—and that person is dead. Now that the past is catching up with her, Catherine’s world is falling apart. Her only hope is to confront what really happened on that awful day . . . even if the shocking truth might destroy her. Thriller readers have a lot to look forward to this summer!

Reading Ahead: May 2015, part 4

Beach reads are usually defined as any book (usually fiction) which is engaging and a quick enough read that you can finish most of it before your sunscreen wears off. Beach reading isn't necessarily literature, but it will entertain. With the days getting longer and the temperatures warming up, I don't think it's too soon to start planning my list of beach reads, and the publishers definitely feel the same way! Here are a few on the lighter, fluffier side to consider for your beach reading pleasure this summer.

Double Down, by Fern Michaels. Three connected novellas, The Men of the Sisterhood, are now in print together for the first time, prominently featuring the male characters from Michaels's bestselling Sisterhood series. After years of standing by their women, the Sisterhood’s significant others have also become loyal friends. And now Jack Emery, Nikki’s husband, has enlisted Ted, Joe, Jay, Bert, Dennis, and Abner to form a top-secret organization known as BOLO Consultants. Jack has two missions in mind. The first: offering some behind-the-scenes help to Nikki’s law firm as they take on the all-powerful Andover Pharmaceuticals. Andover’s anti-leukemia drug causes terrible side effects in young patients, but a class-action suit seems doomed to fail. BOLO Consultants have a prescription to cure that. Meanwhile, Virginia’s lieutenant governor has a sideline as a slum landlord, and his impoverished tenants are suffering. But when the Sisterhood and their allies decide to get involved, no one is beyond the reach of true justice… Each novella can easily be finished in an afternoon--perfect beach reading.

Beach Town, by Mary Kay Andrews. Greer Hennessy is a struggling movie location scout. Her last location shoot ended in disaster when a film crew destroyed property on an avocado grove. And Greer ended up with the blame. Now Greer has been given one more chance--a shot at finding the perfect undiscovered beach town for a big budget movie. She zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town. There's one motel, a marina, a long stretch of pristine beach and an old fishing pier with a community casino--which will be perfect for the film's climax--when the bad guys blow it up in an all-out assault on the townspeople. The only thing standing in her way is the town's environmentally-conscious mayor. What could possibly go wrong? Andrews is known for witty dialogue and charming characters, making this a great choice for easy reading this summer.

The Guest Cottage, by Nancy Thayer. Best-laid plans run awry when sensible single-mom Sophie and grieving widower Trevor realize they’ve mistakenly rented the same Nantucket beach house. Still, determined to make this a summer their kids will always remember, the two agree to share the house. But as the summer unfolds and the families grow close, Sophie and Trevor must ask themselves if the guest cottage is all they want to share. Nothing like a heart-warming romance, and Thayer is known for them.

I'm back next week with some special picks for May fiction titles. Happy reading!

Can't Keep It To Myself: Aquarium, by David Vann

I realize it's been awhile since I've posted about a book that I want to share with everyone I know, but this one? I honestly can't stop thinking about it, nearly a week after finishing it.

The novel in question, of course, is David Vann's latest, Aquarium. In it, twelve-year-old Caitlin lives in subsidized housing in Seattle with her mother, who works as a docker at the local container port. Each day after school, Caitlin goes to the aquarium while she's waiting for her mother to come and pick her up, spending hours in the dim rooms watching the fish swim by in light of their tanks. When she befriends an old man who is also a regular aquarium visitor, Caitlin also uncovers a long-buried family secret which transforms her once-blissful relationship with her mother into an ordeal of nightmarish proportions. Ultimately, it is a beautifully written novel of family, of the power of love and forgiveness, of redemption, and of the heartache people cause one another. I found it absolutely enthralling and I could not put it down. A word of caution: this is not a novel for the faint of heart. However, I found it to be absolutely worth the emotional journey.

Reading Ahead: May 2015, part 3

Need a break from thrillers and suspense novels? How about a cozy mystery? Or a romance novel? Whatever your genre of choice, I promise that we can help you out. Here are a few titles to look forward to next month!

The Body in the Birches, by Katherine Hall Page. Page returns with a new Faith Fairchild mystery (twenty-third in this long-running series, a favorite among fans). The Fourth of July is one of the hottest on record and even the breeze off Penobscot Bay can’t seem to cool things down for Faith Fairchild and the rest of the folks on Sanpere Island. But the fireworks are just beginning. After the celebrations are over, Faith discovers a body in the woods near The Birches, an early twentieth-century “cottage.” It's up to caterer (and amateur sleuth) Faith to uncover the killer before he strikes again, and possibly too close to home. New to the series? Start at the beginning with book one, The Body in the Belfry.

Ming Tea Murder, by Laura Childs. Sixteenth in Childs's much beloved Tea Shop Mysteries series, Ming Tea Murder begins as a black tie event to celebrate the reconstruction of an antique Chinese teahouse suddenly spirals into murder. Who is this killer with a taste for blood and impeccable taste in Chinese art? Can Theodosia find him before she becomes a target, too?

Texas Tough, by Janet Dailey. He's the quiet horse whisperer whose touch still haunts her dreams—and is everything wealthy Lauren Prescott is not. She can think of a million reasons why she should never ever fall into Sky Fletcher's sure embrace again. Until she clashes head-on with the dangerous complications of her privileged life and needs his protection. She's the heiress Sky can't get out of his heart, no matter how much he tries. And being the secret third Tyler son doesn't change a thing. All he wants from his two brothers is help uncovering a dangerous conspiracy threatening his land, their ranch, and the spirited beauty he never should have touched.

The Marriage Season, by Linda Lael Miller. Third in the Brides of Bliss County series (following The Marriage Pact and The Marriage Charm), The Marriage Season rejoins best friends Hadleigh, Melody and Bex after the three of them entered into a marriage pact, and two of them have found (and married) the men of their hearts. But Bex doesn't think she'll be as fortunate as the others. Her own first love died years ago in a faraway war, and Bex has lost hope for a happy marriage of her own. She concentrates on her business, a successful chain of fitness clubs, instead. Then, when single father Tate Calder comes to Mustang Creek with his two sons in tow, who befriend Bex's eight-year-old nephew, she and the handsome, aloof newcomer are constantly thrown together. But is the marriage season over? Or can a man with doubts about love be the right husband for a woman who wants it all?

Reading Ahead: May 2015, part 2

More suspense and thriller novels? But of course!

Solitude Creek, by Jeffery Deaver. Deaver's latest rejoins California Bureau of Investigations agent and body-language expert Kathryn Dance (last seen in 2012's XO) as she investigates a tragedy at a small concert venue--false cries of "fire" caused the crowd to panic and stampede, and a number of people were trampled and killed in the crisis. Dance finds that not only was the panic created intentionally, but the perpetrator is a man obsessed with turning people's own fears and greed into weapons, has more attacks planned. She and her team must race against the clock to find where he will strike next before more innocents die.

The Forgotten Room, by Lincoln Child. Last seen in 2012's The Third Gate, charismatic and quirky Professor Jeremy Logan is an "enigmalogist"--an investigator who specializes in analyzing phenomena that have no obvious explanation. In this newest novel Logan finds himself on the storied coastline of Newport, Rhode Island, where he has been retained by Lux, one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in America. Just days earlier, a series of frightening events took place in the sprawling seaside mansion that houses the organization. One of its most distinguished doctors began acting erratically—violently attacking an assistant in the mansion's opulent library and, moments later, killing himself in a truly shocking fashion. Terrified by the incident and the bizarre evidence left behind, the group hires Logan to investigate—discreetly—what drove this erudite man to madness.

The Fall, by John Lescroart. Fan favorite protagonist Dismas Hardy (last seen in 2014's The Keeper) appears here with his daughter Rebecca, now grown up and an associate in Hardy's law firm. Late one night, a teenage African American foster child named Tanya Morgan plummets to her death from the overpass above San Francisco’s Stockton tunnel. But did she fall…or was she pushed? Rushing to produce a convictable suspect in the glare of the media spotlight, homicide inspectors focus their attention on a naïve young man named Greg Treadway. Greg is a middle school teacher and he volunteers as a Special Advocate for foster children. At first, the only thing connecting him to Tanya’s death is the fact that they shared a meal earlier that night. But soon enough, elements of that story seem to fall apart…and Hardy’s daughter, Rebecca, finds herself drawn into the young man’s defense.

14th Deadly Sin, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. For a change, things seem to be going well for all the members of the Women's Murder Club as they gather to celebrate San Francisco Medical Examiner Claire Washburn's birthday. But the party is cut short when Lindsay is called to a gruesome crime scene, where a woman has been murdered in broad daylight. As Lindsay investigates, shocking video footage of another crime surfaces. A video so horrific that it shakes the city to its core. Their faces obscured by masks, the cold blooded criminals on the tape could be anyone-and now all of Lindsay's co-workers are suspects. This series is a particular favorite among Patterson fans. New to the series? Start with 1st To Die.

Reading Ahead: May 2015, part 1

Beach reading season is upon us! (I may be pushing that just slightly, but after this winter, can you blame me?) Publishers are starting to push lots of their big-name authors in preparation for your summer vacation, so get your reading-lists ready. Here are some suspense and thriller novels to get you started.

Piranha, by Clive Cussler & Boyd Morrison. Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon are back in this new entry in the Oregon Files (last seen in 2013's Mirage). During a covert operation, Cabrillo and the crew meticulously fake the sinking of the Oregon—but when an unknown adversary tracks them down despite their planning and attempts to assassinate them, Cabrillo and his team struggle to fight back against an enemy who seems to be able to anticipate their every move.

Radiant Angel, by Nelson Demille. Originally titled A Quiet End (which you'll see in the catalog until we've updated it at release), finds John Corey working in NYC with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group following the events which unfolded in 2012's The Panther. His new assignment, surveilling Russian diplomats working at the U.N. Mission, is thought to be "a quiet end", but Corey doesn't mind. That is, until he realizes that the Cold War appears to be on once more.

Robert B. Parker’s Kickback, by Ace Atkins. What started out as a joke landed seventeen-year-old Dillon Yates in a lockdown juvenile facility in Boston Harbor. When he set up a prank Twitter account for his vice principal, he never dreamed he could be brought up on criminal charges, but that’s exactly what happened. This is Blackburn, Massachusetts, where zero tolerance for minors is a way of life. Leading the movement is tough-as-nails Judge Joe Scali, who gives speeches about getting tough on today’s wild youth. But Dillon’s mother, who knows other Blackburn kids who are doing hard time for minor infractions, isn’t buying Scali’s line. She hires Spenser to find the truth behind the draconian sentencing.

The Enemy Inside, by Steve Martini. One of the most successful lawyers in the country, Olinda Serna is a master at managing money as well as her influential clients. After years of fierce combat in the political trenches, Serna knows all the dirty secrets, where the bodies are buried, and how deeply they are stacked. Alex Ives, a friend of Paul Madriani’s daughter, is accused of vehicular manslaughter in Serna’s death. Ives claims he had only one drink on the night of the accident, yet he can’t remember anything between the time he left for a party and the moment he woke up in a hospital the next morning. He’s still dazed and a little bruised, but also obviously very afraid. After all, a woman is dead, and he’s sure he didn’t kill her. To save Ives, Madriani must uncover everything he can about Serna and her clients, a search that will lead him into a vortex of corruption, and at its center, a devious killer poised to strike again.

Trauma, by Michael Palmer & Daniel Palmer. When two surgeries go awry, neurosurgical resident Dr. Carrie Bryant quits her residency and moves home, where her younger brother Adam, a combat vet suffering from PTSD, also lives. When Carrie learns about an experimental program at the VA Medical Center exploring the use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) that could forever cure the emotional and memory trauma of PTSD, it seems like a way back into medicine. Carrie is apprehensive, but a chance meeting with David Hoffman, a reporter for the Lowell Observer writing a story on PTSD, helps her overcome any hesitation.
Her first surgery appears to be a success until her patient mysteriously vanishes. When a second patient also goes missing, Carrie (with David's help) must untangle a web of murder and corruption.