7/30/19 Book Releases

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena (Pamela Dorman Books, $27; ISBN 978-0-525-55765-4). 150,000 copies.

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson (William Morrow, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-285531-2). 125,000 copies.

Smokescreen by Iris Johansen (Grand Central Publishing, $28; ISBN 978-1-5387-1308-2). 100,000 copies.

Too Close by Natalie Daniels (Harper Paperbacks, $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-291748-5). 100,000 copies.

The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis (Dutton, $27; ISBN 978-1-5247-4458-8). 75,000 copies.

Fire and Fortitude: The US Army in the Pacific War, 1941–1943 by John C. McManus (Dutton Caliber, $34; ISBN 978-0-451-47504-6). 75,000 copies.

Home for Erring and Outcast Girls by Julie Kibler (Crown, $27; ISBN 978-0-451-49933-2). 60,000 copies.

Kawaii Sweet World Cookbook by Rachel Fong, Creator of the Popular YouTube Show (Clarkson Potter, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-525-57542-9). 50,000 copies.

Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark by Cecelia Watson (Ecco, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-285305-9). 50,000 copies.

How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway (Graydon House Books, $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5258-3425-7). 50,000 copies.

The Vexations by Caitlin Horrocks (Little, Brown, $27; ISBN 978-0-316-31691-0). 50,000 copies.

Game of Snipers by Stephen Hunter (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $27; ISBN 978-0-399-57457-3).

The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $26; ISBN 978-0-525-53924-7).

The Russian by Ben Coes (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-14079-1).

I Give Up: The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life by Laura Story with Leigh McLeroy (W Publishing, $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-7852-2629-1).

(Release dates are per Publisher’s Weekly and may be subject to change.)

“The Turn of the Key” by Ruth Ware

Blurb:

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

My Thoughts:

Hang on to your sanity people, this one will definitely make you question what is real, what is ruse, and what is the truth. Rowan, I found to be likeable but a little rough around the edges. Her childhood had been rough and she seemed to be having a little trouble gaining traction in her adult life. She sees the opportunity at Heatherbrae House as a chance to put the past behind her and start a new life. But her new life quickly takes some very dramatic turns and will leave her questioning her own sanity. This is the best psychological thriller I have read in a long time. The twists are sometimes subtle and sometimes dramatic but always leave you guessing. The characters are great, with even the baby having a distinct personality. Alone in this isolated house with three young children it doesn’t seem possible that the things that happen are really happening. This house if full of mysteries and secrets and the author teases them out in a delicious way. However, nothing will prepare you for the ending when the final truths are revealed. You really must read this book.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

Happy Reading!

Find it on Amazon!

“What Regency Women Did For Us” by Rachel Knowles

Blurb:

In the nineteenth century, women faced challenges and constraints that many of us would find shocking by today’s standards. What Regency Women Did for Us tells the inspirational stories of twelve women who overcame entrenched institutional obstacles to achieve trailblazing success—women such as the German astronomer Caroline Herschel, who discovered a comet that bears her name; the French artist Marie Tussaud whose wax sculptures made her world famous; the great author Jane Austen whose novels continue to delight generations of readers. These women were pioneers, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, authors, scientists, and actresses—women who made an impact on their world and ours.

Popular history blogger Rachel Knowles tells how each of these women challenged the limitations of their time and left an enduring legacy for future generations to follow. Two hundred years later, their stories remain powerful inspirations for us all.

My Thoughts:

I just loving learning about “Unsung” heroes, even better when they are women. The biographies in this book were very informative and seemed to be thoroughly researched. I also enjoyed the author’s writing style which is not textbookey but very approachable. The stories in this book served to remind me again that the struggle of women for independence and recognition did not start in the 20th century but much longer before that. I think it’s important that we don’t let these early trailblazers drift away in the dust of history. Women’s history lovers in particular should really enjoy this one.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

Happy Reading!

7/23/2019 Book Releases

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman (William Morrow, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-239001-1). 125,000 copies.

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (William Morrow Paperback, $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-288536-4). 100,000 copies.

Helpline by Katherine Collette (Atria Books, $26; ISBN 978-1-982111-33-5). 75,000 copies.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal (Pamela Dorman Books, $26; ISBN 978-0-399-56305-8). 75,000 copies.

Beijing Payback: A Novel by Daniel Nieh (Ecco, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-288664-4). 75,000 copies.

Becoming Superman by Michal Straczysnki (Harper Voyager, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-06-285784-2). 75,000 copies.

Trust First: A True Story of Transformation in Atlanta’s Toughest Zip Code by Bruce Deel with Sara Grace (Optimism Press, $26; ISBN 978-0-525-53817-2). 75,000 copies.

The Game of Desire by Shannon Boodram (Dey Street Books, $22.99; ISBN 978-0-06-295254-7). 60,000 copies.

Aftermath: Seven Secrets of Wealth Preservation in the Coming Chaos by James Rickards (Portfolio, $29; ISBN 978-0-7352-1695-2). 60,000 copies.

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly (Dutton, $26; ISBN 978-1-5247-4470-0). 50,000 copies.

Gravity Is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty (Harper, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-288373-5). 50,000 copies.

You’ve Been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman (Henry Holt & Co., $28; ISBN 978-1-250-30185-7). 50,000 copies.

Star Wars Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn (Del Rey, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-984820-98-3).

The Nocturnal Brain by Guy Leschziner (St. Martin’s Press, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20270-3).

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20253-6).

Warrior’s Creed by Roger Sparks with Don Rearden (St. Martin’s Press, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-15152-0).

July 16th Book Releases

The New Girl: A Novel (Gabriel Allon) by Daniel Silva (Harper, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-06-283483-6). 500,000 copies. Updated with title.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday, $24.95; ISBN 978-0-385-53707-0). 350,000 copies.

The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and Carey Pietsch; illustrated by Carey Pietsch, (First Second, $26.99; ISBN 978-1-250-22928-1; $19.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-15371-5). 300,000 copies; 50,000 paper copies.

Four Friends by William D Cohan (Flatiron Books, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-07052-4). 150,000 copies.

Talking to Robots: Tales from Our Robot-Human Features by David Ewing Duncan (Dutton, $29; ISBN 978-1-5247-4359-8). 50,000 copies.

Prison Letters by Nelson Mandela, edited by Sahm Venter, (Liveright, $23.95 paper; ISBN 978-1-63149-596-0). 50,000 copies.

The Second Worst Restaurant in France: A Paul Stuart Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Pantheon, $25.95; ISBN 978-1-5247-4829-6). 50,000 copies.

Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman (Ballantine, $27; ISBN 978-1-984817-21-1).

Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber (Ballantine, $27; ISBN 978-0-399-18133-7).

Red Metal by Mark Greaney and Lt. Col. Hunter Ripley Rawlings IV (Berkley, $27; ISBN 978-0-451-49041-4).

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory (Berkley, $15 paper; ISBN 978-1-984802-19-4).

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-13309-0).

Shamed by Linda Castillo (Minotaur Books, $26.99; ISBN 978-1-250-14286-3).

Raised in Captivity: Fictional Nonfiction by Chuck Klosterman (Penguin Press, $26; ISBN 97-80-7352-1792-8).

After the End by Clare Mackintosh (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $26; ISBN 978-0-451-49056-8).

The Redemption of Time: A Three-Body Problem Novel by Baoshu, translated by Ken Liu, (Tor, $26.99; ISBN 978-1-250-30602-9).

July 15th Book Releases

Bad Gateway by Simon Hanselmann (Fantagraphics Books, $29.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-207-6).

Brain Bats of Venus: The Life and Comics of Basil Wolverton, Volume 2 (1942–1952) by Greg Sadowski (Fantagraphics Books, $44.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-214-4).

Maria M. by Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books, $29.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-016-4).

Tonta by Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-205-2).

Vivisectionary by Kate Lacour (Fantagraphics Books, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-212-0)

“Home for Erring and Outcast Girls” by Julie Kibler

Blurb:

In turn-of-the-20th century Texas, the Berachah Home for the Redemption and Protection of Erring Girls is an unprecedented beacon of hope for young women consigned to the dangerous poverty of the streets by birth, circumstance, or personal tragedy. Built in 1903 on the dusty outskirts of Arlington, a remote dot between Dallas and Fort Worth’s red-light districts, the progressive home bucks public opinion by offering faith, training, and rehabilitation to prostitutes, addicts, unwed mothers, and “ruined” girls without forcibly separating mothers from children. When Lizzie Bates and Mattie McBride meet there—one sick and abused, but desperately clinging to her young daughter, the other jilted by the beau who fathered her ailing son—they form a friendship that will see them through unbearable loss, heartbreak, difficult choices, and ultimately, diverging paths.

A century later, Cate Sutton, a reclusive university librarian, uncovers the hidden histories of the two troubled women as she stumbles upon the cemetery on the home’s former grounds and begins to comb through its archives in her library. Pulled by an indescribable connection, what Cate discovers about their stories leads her to confront her own heartbreaking past, and to reclaim the life she thought she’d let go forever. With great pathos and powerful emotional resonance, Home for Erring and Outcast Girls explores the dark roads that lead us to ruin, and the paths we take to return to ourselves.

My Thoughts:

This is a very moving story and beautifully written. The narrative moves back and forth between Cate in the present, and Lizzie and Mattie in the early 1900’s. Mattie and Lizzie immediately appealed to me as characters. As the story opens, both are in desperate situations with no resources to draw on. Cate took me a little more time to warm up to because she has closed herself off from people so completely. In the end, I think I enjoyed her part of the story the most because of the depth of the transformation her research leads her to. Having lived a stone’s throw from Arlington, TX, where the Berachah home was located, I was very drawn to the historical aspect of the story. In the historical records there is mention of a Lizzie and a Mattie and the author has incorporated what is actually known about their lives into the this fictional account. I loved everything about this book, the setting, the characters, the historical setting and recommend it to anybody who wants a good story.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

7/9/2019 New Releases

All links take you to the book’s Amazon page.

For the Good of the Game by Bud Selig (William Morrow, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-06-290595-6). 150,000 copies.

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams (William Morrow, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-283475-1). 150,000 copies.

The Chain by Adrian KcKinty (Mulholland Books, $28; ISBN 978-0-316-53126-9). 150,000 copies.

Beneath the Tamarind Tree by Isha Sesay (Dey Street Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-268667-1). 100,000 copies.

The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess (Henry Holt & Co., $27; ISBN 978-1-250-22547-4). 100,000 copies.

The Bastard Brigade: The True Story of the Renegade Scientists and Spies Who Sabotaged the Nazi Atomic Bomb by Sam Kean (Little, Brown, $30; ISBN 978-0-316-38168-0). 75,000 copies.

Bad Axe County by John Galligan (Atria Books, $26; ISBN 978-1-982110-70-3). 60,000 copies. See my review here.

George Marshall: Defender of the Republic by David L. Roll (Dutton Caliber, $34; ISBN 978-1-101-99097-1). 60,000 copies.

How to Make a Plant Love You: Cultivating Your Personal Green Space by Summer Rayne Oaks (Optimism Press, $25; ISBN 978-0-525-54028-1). 60,000 copies.

Breathe In, Cash Out by Madeleine Henry (Atria Books, $26; ISBN 978-1-982114-53-4). 50,000 copies.

Death and Other Happy Endings by Melanie Cantor (Pamela Dorman Books, $26; ISBN 978-0-525-56211-5). 50,000 copies.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (Forever, $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5387-1560-4). 50,000 copies.

The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin (Grand Central Publishing, $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5387-1571-0). 50,000 copies.

Archaeology from Space by Sarah Parcak (Henry Holt & Co., $28; ISBN 978-1-250-19828-0). 50,000 copies.

The Method to the Madness by Allen Salkin and Aaron Short (All Points Books, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20280-2).

The Rumor by Lesley Kara (Ballantine, $23 paper; ISBN 978-1-984819-34-5).

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman (Berkley, $16 paper; ISBN 978-0-451-49187-9).

Salvation Day by Kali Wallace (Berkley, $26; ISBN 978-1-984803-69-6).

Dark Age by Pierce Brown (Del Rey, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-425-28594-7).

The Sum of All Shadows by Eric Van Lustbader (Forge, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-7653-8863-6).

The Shameless by Ace Atkins (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $27; ISBN 978-0-525-53946-9).

Supper Club by Lara Williams (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $26; ISBN 978-0-525-53958-2).

Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem by Daniel R. Day (Random House, $28; ISBN 978-0-525-51051-2).

Bethlehem by Karen Kelly (St. Martin’s Press, $26.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20149-2).

Ten Years a Nomad by Matthew Kepnes (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-19051-2).

Under Currents by Nora Roberts (St. Martin’s Press, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20709-8). One-day laydown.

No More Holding Back: Emboldening Women to Move Past Barriers, See Their Worth, and Serve God Everywhere by Kat Armstrong (W Publishing, $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-7852-2346-7).

Nothing Comes Easy: Family, Faith, Then Football by Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin with Mark Schlabach (W Publishing, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-7852-3081-6).

The Seven Longest Yards: Our Love Story of Pushing the Limits While Leaning on Each Other by Chris and Emily Norton (Zondervan Books, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-310-35692-9).

Round-Up 7/7/2019

It is now summer in North Dakota. We’ve had a couple days of temperatures in the 90’s and quite a bit of rain over the last week of so. I have been doing some reading recently so let’s see if I’ve made any progress since my last Round-Up.

TBR – When we last checked I was at 197. Today I’m at 196. I added a couple of audiobooks to the list and finished 3 books.

Goodreads Challenge – I am currently 1 book ahead of schedule on this down from 3 books ahead last time we checked.

NetGalley Score – Still at 86%.

Craig Johnson Challenge – So, I’ve decided that the Walt Longmire series will be my next challenge. I listened to the first book about a year ago and I’m just feeling like I need to spend some time in Wyoming. Plus George Guidall, one of my favorite narrators, is the voice for these books.

Coming Up – I’ve got 2 reviews hopefully going up this week. I am currently reading “The Turn of the Key“, the latest book from Ruth Ware releasing on 8/6/19. My current audiobook is “Truth and Lies” by Caroline Mitchell. That’s it for now. I hope you all are having a great summer and reading some great books.

Happy Reading!

“Liar in the Library” by Simon Brett

Blurb:

Fethering has everything a sleepy coastal town should: snug English pubs, cosy cottages, a little local library – and the occasional murder . . .

Bestselling author Burton St Clair, complete with soaring ego and wandering hands, has come to town to give a talk. But after his corpse is found slumped in his car, he won’t be leaving. Jude is the prime suspect; she was, after all, the last person to see Burton St Clair alive. If she is to prove her innocence, she will have to dust off her detective skills and recruit her prim and proper neighbour (and partner-in-sleuthing) Carole to find the real culprit.

My Thoughts:

This is book 18 in the Fethering series but the first one from this author that I have read. I have listened to some of Simon Brett’s BBC radio productions in the past and enjoyed them so I thought I would give one of his books a try. I found this book to be a fun, cozy mystery. The characters are all very unique but some of them took me a little time to warm up to. I even liked the villain, but only until he was exposed for his crimes at the very end. Mr. Brett’s vivid characterizations is what I had enjoyed the most in the radio programs and the characters here are equally vivid. Jude and Carole rule the show of course, but they are so different. I was surprised by the number of avenues of investigation these two explored. Fethering turns out to be a quite charming village but it is not immune to the challenges of our times like drug addiction and a reduction in library funding. This was a fun little mystery and I was not disappointed.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website