October 2015

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Our October Book Club Video is Here!

 

Hear ye, hear ye!  Our October book club video is here!  Even though Halloween is just around the corner, there's nothing scary here, just juicy reads for all to enjoy!

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton: Set in 17th century Amsterdam—against the backdrop of the Calvinist Church’s oppressive grip, the gossip of the Guilds, and the overblown trading of the Dutch East India Company —this is a masterful, mystery-laden debut in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.

The Art of Crash Landing by Melissa DeCarlo: a poignant, darkly funny debut novel about a young woman who travels—penniless, pregnant, and homeless—to her deceased mother’s small southern hometown, and becomes embroiled in a local mystery: what forced her mother to flee that town thirty-five years previously?

We already know you librarians love these two books: both were LibraryReads picks when they first came out.  Now you can help us share our collective love for these titles with all your book club friends.

-Amanda

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Unforgettable Reads – The Silent Boy

EDIT: Thank you for your interest.  This giveaway is now closed.9780008131357
Say nothing. Not a word to anyone. Whatever you see. Whatever you heard. Do you understand? Say nothing. Ever.

So begins the aptly named historical thriller THE SILENT BOY by multi-award-winning author Andrew Taylor.

One of the best writers of commercial historical fiction working today, Taylor, the author of such blockbusters as THE AMERICAN BOY and THE SCENT OF DEATH delivers another powerful, brilliant page-turner — this one set in Paris during the French Revolution.

Terror reigns as the city writhes in the grip of revolution. The streets run with blood as thousands lose their heads to the guillotine. Edward Savill, working in London as agent for a wealthy American, receives word that his estranged wife Augusta has been killed in France. She leaves behind ten-year-old Charles, who is brought to England to Charnwood Court, a house in the country leased by a group of émigré refugees.

Savill is sent to retrieve the boy, though it proves easier to reach Charnwood than to leave. And only when Savill arrives there does he discover that Charles is mute. The boy has witnessed horrors beyond his years, but what terrible secret haunts him so deeply that he is unable to utter a word?

THE SILENT BOY was published first in the UK to critical acclaim:

“Taylor has not only succeeded in constructing a labyrinthine plot that is gripping to the last page, but he also created an entirely believable child, traumatized but resolute, whose plight is the fuel for true suspense” —Guardian

Now Harper 360 is proud to announce the US publication which has already received glowing praise including this starred review from Booklist: “This compares well to the suspense and sheer adventure of Robert McCammon’s Matthew Corbett mysteries and even Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped.”

If you’d like to dive into the world of Andrew Taylor, send us an email and we’ll send you a copy of this unforgettable read.

—Virginia

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Weekend Reads – The Everything Box by Richard Kadrey

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An admitted sci-fi/fantasy nut, I often harp on the importance of world-building. Richard Kadrey, author of the bestselling Sandman Slim series and the upcoming The Everything Box, doesn’t just build worlds, he inhabits them. 

Watch Kadrey’s nighttime tour of the LA locales featured in his books.  This guy is all in and genre fans are better off because of it.  The Everything Box trades some of the pulpy noir of the Sandman Slim series for fast-paced, whimsical fantasy while still maintaining his signature blend of irreverent humor, page-turning action, and an interminable sense that SOMETHING is writhing, squirming, or lurking around every corner.

The story centers on Coop, a wise-cracking, unassailable purloiner of magical objects, as he takes a job acquiring a long-lost doomsday device…and another job to undo the mess from THAT job.  Added involvement from a wide-range of bumbling occultists, shadow agents, ghosts, ghoulies, and other oddities ensures things definitely do not go according to plan.  Fast-paced, hilarious, and exceedingly clever, this is another home-run for Kadrey.

As Halloween looms, Richard Kadrey serves up a perfect treat (mixed with some equally-pleasant tricks) for fans of his Sandman Slim series as well as work by Christopher Moore and Matt Ruff.  The Everything Box goes on sale 4/19/2016. For more information on Richard and his work, visit his website at www.RichardKadrey.com.

-Chris

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A Mitch Albom Giveaway!

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed.

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You know Mitch Albom from his multiple bestselling novels, including Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and The First Phone Call From Heaven.  But you haven't yet experienced his new novel, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto.  This is the epic story of Frankie Presto—the greatest guitar player who ever lived—and the six lives he changed with his six magical blue strings.

And you're in luck, because we're giving away galleys!  Click here to enter for a chance to win, but don't wait!  We have a limited supply, so make sure you sign up soon to receive this heartrending and inventive ode to music and love.

-Amanda

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Happy Book Birthday, ALL THE STARS IN THE HEAVENS!

9780062319197Happy book birthday, All the Stars in the Heavens!  This is the biggest and boldest novel yet from Adriana Trigiani, the bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife.  In this new novel, Adriana takes us back to the Golden Age of Hollywood to tell the imagined story of Loretta Young and Clark Gable.  Publishers Weekly says, "Eminently readable and richly imagined, Trigiani’s latest will thrill her fans and surely collect new ones," and Library Journal called it "A tinsel-trimmed treat for movie buffs and Trigiani fans alike.”

She was on the Today Show yesterday to celebrate the publication of All the Stars in the Heavens and to talk about her movie Big Stone Gap, in theaters now.  You can watch the clip here.

All the Stars in the Heavens is on sale today, so don't wait to experience this spellbinding tale rooted in a true story and filled with Adriana's signature elements: family ties, artistry, romance, and adventure.

-Amanda

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Greg Iles and Laura Lippman Win Big at Bouchercon

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Bouchercon, the world's largest mystery convention organized completely by fans of the genre, took place this past weekend in Raleigh, NC.  And guess what?  Both Greg Iles's Natchez Burning and Laura Lippman's After I'm Gone came home with top honors. No big mystery there!

Natchez Burning, a thrilling small town story of a son, his father, and a series of horrible crimes tearing apart their community, won The Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year. Praise for the book includes:

“It is rare when a book as impactful and daring as Natchez Burning appears . . . Its intriguing plot demands to be read from beginning to end . . . It is compelling reading that awes [and] entertains at the same time.” —Huffington Post

After I'm Gone, a detective mystery following the case of a man, his disappearance, and the lives of those he left behind, won The Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Year. Critics have been equally thrilled:

"She's one of the best novelists around, period."—Washington Post

Congratulations to both Greg and Laura for this well-deserved recognition.  If you love mysteries and thrillers, be sure to crack one or both of these titles for an experience you won't soon forget.

-The LLF Team

 

 

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Giveaway: Celebrating the Library-Lovin’ Karin Slaughter

EDIT: Thank you for your interest.  This giveaway is now closed.

Karin Slaughter is one of our favorites here on the LLF team (see her heartfelt and hilarious message to librarians here.) Her latest release, Pretty Girls, is her best yet (in our humble opinion!) It's a twisted, psychological thriller with an ending you won't see coming!  Not convinced?  Check out some of this praise:

“Slaughter’s eye for detail and truth is unmatched. . . . I’d follow her anywhere.” — Gillian Flynn

“A stunning family tragedy and a hold-your-breath pedal-to-the-metal thriller magically blended by Karin Slaughter’s trademark passion, intensity, and humanity. Certain to be a book of the year.” — Lee Child

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In celebration of this release, we are giving away galleys to the first 20 people to email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com.  Be sure to mention the giveaway and provide your mailing address. 

Ms. Slaughter might send chills down your spine but missing out on a free book?  Now that would be truly disturbing. So don't delay! And be sure to check out this great interview and review of Pretty Girls featured on ShelfAwareness.com.  For more info on Karin, visit her website at KarinSlaughter.com.

-The LLF Team

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A Stellar Upcoming Release: PT 109

We've mentioned the excellent book blog – Harper/Bookselling – before.  Run by our friend and HarperCollins sales rep, Kate McCune, the blog is chock-full of wonderful insights and reviews for booksellers, book readers, and everyone in between.  

She just posted a fantastic video for the upcoming title PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy by William Doyle.

  

The book goes on sale tomorrow, October 6th, so be sure to check it out here! And don't forget to subscribe to Kate's blog for other great reading suggestions.

-Chris

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Galley Giveaway: Elizabeth Tallent is back!

EDIT: Thank you for your interest.  This giveaway is now closed.

Big news, everyone! We are offering a giveaway of galleys of Mendocino Fire, the new short story collection from Elizabeth Tallent.  

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This long-awaited return by a rare literary talent offers a diverse, deeply-felt collection of stories with observations on love, marriage, aging, and the myriad foibles that make us human.  Here are just a few of the glowing reviews this book has garnered:

“In her fourth collection, Tallent explores the spaces between people through 10 expertly crafted stories…Tallent’s collection offers a smart, thought-provoking study of desire and disappointment.” —Publishers Weekly

“Elizabeth Tallent is, and always has been, a vivid, meticulous, and astutely inviting writer. These new stories vitally tell us how things are for us, in the most acute and memorable ways. Her ear is perfect; her gaze searing and unmistakable.” —Richard Ford

So don’t delay! The first twenty people to email us at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com mentioning the giveaway will receive a galley.  Be sure to provide your mailing address. For more information on Elizabeth and her work, please visit www.elizabethtallent.com.  Good luck and good reading!

-Chris

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The Decent Proposal by Kemper Donovan

9780062391629_4fd18We at LLF are really excited about The Decent Proposal by Kemper Donovan, a debut novel set in Los Angeles that follows two characters approached by a mysterious benefactor with a "decent proposal" that will change their lives forever.

Richard is handsome and charming, but struggling in his career as a movie producer.  Elizabeth is a cool and collected lawyer who logs more hours than she should and doesn't have many friends.  They're each offered half a million dollars by a mysterious benefactor if they can stand to spend two hours together every week—just talking required, nothing scandalous—for an entire calendar year.

And what follows is a love story, but also so much more than that.  There's a whole cast of characters outside the main two that add a real depth of emotion to the story, exploring the love between friends and family and all the complications that can ensue.  It's funny and sweet, but still deep and moving, perfect for both fans of quirky romantic comedies like I Love You Beth Cooper and romantic literary novels like The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  You can get started reading now by downloading the egalley here.

-Amanda

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