|
|
|
||
|
||||
 
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
|
|
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the women who raised and nurtured us. Why not brighten their special day with a great book? From April 17th through May 1st, readers had the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Mother’s Day gift baskets filled with goodies Mom will just love, as well as one copy of ALL 13 of our featured books. With titles that are moving, uplifting, humorous and informative, look no further than here for the perfect gift for Mom.
Click here to see our winners. |
 THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE
About the BookA very different kind of fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale. What if you were to meet the number-one person on your laminated list --- you know, that list you joke about with your significant other about which five celebrities you’d be allowed to run off with if ever given the chance. And of course since it’ll never happen it doesn’t matter… Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity hearththrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened, though nothing has happened…it isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. Her children roll their eyes. Her neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it? A magical story that explores what could happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything… About the Author
Shannon Hale is the author of AUSTENLAND, RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE (a graphic novel), and five young adult novels, including the Newbery Honor–winning, New York Times bestselling PRINCESS ACADEMY. She is at work on a sixth young adult novel and her second graphic novel, CALAMITY JACK. She lives with her husband and two children in Salt Lake City. |
 BAD MOTHER: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace
About the BookIn the tradition of recent hits like THE BITCH IN THE HOUSE and PERFECT MADNESS comes a hilarious and controversial book that every woman will have an opinion about, written by America’s most outrageous writer. In our mothers’ day there were good mothers, neglectful mothers, and occasionally great mothers. Today we have only Bad Mothers. If you work, you’re neglectful; if you stay home, you’re smothering. If you discipline, you’re buying them a spot on the shrink’s couch; if you let them run wild, they will be into drugs by seventh grade. If you buy organic, you’re spending their college fund; if you don’t, you’re risking all sorts of allergies and illnesses. Is it any wonder so many women refer to themselves at one time or another as “a bad mother”? Ayelet Waldman says it’s time for women to get over it and get on with it, in a book that is sure to spark the same level of controversy as her now legendary “Modern Love” piece, in which she confessed to loving her husband more than her children. About the Author
Ayelet Waldman is the author of DAUGHTER’S KEEPERS and of the Mommy-Track mystery series. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Believer, Child Magazine, and other publications, and she has a regular column on Salon.com. She and her husband, the novelist Michael Chabon, live in Berkeley, California with their four children. Learn more and follow Ayelet’s blog at: ayeletwaldman.com Friend Ayelet on Facebook here. Follow Ayelet on Twitter: Ayeletw |
 THE DIARY
About the BookWhen the two grown daughters of Elizabeth Marshall discover an old diary of their mother’s in her attic, it comes as a shock to learn that the true love of Elizabeth’s life was not their father. But is all as it seems? That’s the mystery the two daughters must unravel as they stay up late reading the words penned by Elizabeth so long ago. Their mother can’t give them answers: After a massive stroke, she lies mute and near death in a nursing home. Only the pages of her diary can provide clues to what really happened. Did Elizabeth marry their father, Bob, out of a sense of obligation rather than love? What happened to the mysterious “A.J.” who ignited Elizabeth’s passions as a young woman? The answer just might surprise you --- and have you asking, “How well do I really know my parents?” About the AuthorEileen Goudge is the New York Times bestselling author whose novels include DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, WOMAN IN RED, ONE LAST DANCE, GARDEN OF LIES and THORNS OF TRUTH. There are more than five million copies of her books in print worldwide. She lives with her husband, entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon, in New York City. |
 THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN
About the BookFrom the bestselling author of THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON, an unforgettable new novel that transports the reader from the back alleys of pre-World War I London to the shores of colonial Australia, and back to the windswept coast of Cornwall, England, past and present. A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book --- a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. As an adult, Nell sets out on a journey to England to try to trace her story, to find her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell's death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. On the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, Cassandra discovers the forgotten garden of the book's title and is able to unlock the secrets of the beautiful book of fairy tales. About the Author
Kate Morton, a native Australian, holds degrees in dramatic art and English literature. She lives with her family in Brisbane, Australia. Visit her website at www.katemorton.com. |
 FLOWERS ON MAIN: A Chesapeake Shores Novel
About the BookWhen her last two plays are dismal failures and her relationship with her temperamental mentor falls apart, writer Bree O’Brien abandons Chicago and the regional theater where she hoped to make a name for herself to return home. Opening Flowers on Main promises to bring her a new challenge and a new kind of fulfillment. But not all is peaceful and serene in Chesapeake Shores with her estranged mother on the scene and her ex-lover on the warpath. Jake Collins has plenty of reasons to want Bree out of his life, but none of those are a match for the one reason he wants her to stay: he's still in love with her. Jake might be able to get past that old hurt if he knew Bree was home to stay, but is she? The only way to know for sure is to take a dangerous leap of faith. About the Author
With her roots firmly planted in the South, Sherryl Woods has written many of her more than 100 books in that distinctive setting, whether her home state of Virginia, her adopted state, Florida, or her much-adored South Carolina. She's also especially partial to small towns wherever they may be. A member of Novelists Inc., Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America, Sherryl divides her time between her childhood summer home overlooking the Potomac River in Colonial Beach, Virginia, and her oceanfront home with its lighthouse view, in Key Biscayne, Florida. "Wherever I am, if there's no water in sight, I get a little antsy," she says. Sherryl also loves hearing from readers. You can join her at her blog, www.justbetweenfriendsblog.com, visit her Web site at www.sherrylwoods.com or contact her directly at Sherryl703@gmail.com. |
 THE GIRLS FROM AMES: A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship
About the BookA moving tribute to female friendships, with the inspiring true story of eleven girls and the ten women they became. As children, they formed a special bond, growing up in Ames, Iowa. As young women, they moved to eight different states, yet managed to maintain an extraordinary friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, a child’s illness, and the mysterious death of the eleventh member of their group. Capturing their remarkable story, THE GIRLS FROM AMES is a testament to the enduring, deep bonds of women as they experience life’s challenges, and the power of friendship to overcome even the most daunting odds. Share your own stories of lifelong friendships at www.girlsfromames.com Click here to share this book with your girlfriends. It's a great way to reconnect with old friends and discuss with new friends! About the Author
Jeffrey Zaslow is a Wall Street Journal columnist and coauthor, with Randy Pausch, of THE LAST LECTURE, the #1 New York Times bestseller now translated into 41 languages. Zaslow attended Dr. Pausch’s famous lecture and wrote the story that sparked worldwide interest in it. THE GIRLS FROM AMES also grew out of one of his columns. Zaslow lives in suburban Detroit with his wife and three daughters. |
 HEART AND SOUL
About the BookWith the insight, humor, and compassion we have come to expect from her, Maeve Binchy tells a story of family, friends, patients, and staff who are part of a heart clinic in a community caught between the old and the new Ireland. Dr. Clara Casey has been offered the thankless job of establishing the underfunded clinic and agrees to take it on for a year. She has plenty on her plate already --- two difficult adult daughters and the unwanted attentions of her ex-husband --- but she assembles a wonderfully diverse staff devoted to helping their demanding, often difficult patients. Before long the clinic is established as an essential part of the community, and Clara must decide whether or not to leave a place where lives are saved, courage is rewarded, and humor and optimism triumph over greed and self-pity. HEART AND SOUL is Maeve Binchy at her storytelling best. About the Author
Maeve Binchy is the author of numerous bestselling books, including her most recent novel, WHITETHORN WOOD, in addition to NIGHT OF RAIN AND STARS, QUENTINS, SCARLET FEATHER, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS and TARA ROAD, which was an Oprah's Book Club selection. She has written for Gourmet; O, The Oprah Magazine, Modern Maturity and Good Housekeeping, among other publications. She and her husband, Gordon Snell, live in Dalkey, Ireland, and London. |
 PRAYERS FOR SALE
About the BookHennie Comfort is eighty-six and has lived in the mountains of Middle Swan, Colorado since before it was Colorado. Nit Spindle is just seventeen and newly married. She and her husband have just moved to the high country in search of work. It's 1936 and the depression has ravaged the country and Nit and her husband have suffered greatly. Hennie notices the young woman loitering near the old sign outside of her house that promises "Prayers For Sale". Hennie doesn't sell prayers, never has, but there's something about the young woman that she's drawn to. The harsh conditions of life that each have endured create an instant bond and an unlikely friendship is formed, one in which the deepest of hardships are shared and the darkest of secrets are confessed. Sandra Dallas has created an unforgettable tale of a friendship between two women, one with surprising twists and turns, and one that is ultimately a revelation of the finest parts of the human spirit. About the Author
Sandra Dallas is the author of seven novels, including TALLGRASS and NEW MERCIES. She is a former Denver bureau chief for Business Week magazine and lives in Denver, Colorado. Visit Sandra online at the publisher's website and Sandra’s website at www.sandradallas.com. |
 STERN MEN
About the BookThe “wonderful first novel about life, love, and lobster fishing” (USA Today) from the #1 bestselling writer In 2000, Elizabeth Gilbert’s STERN MEN debuted to phenomenal critical attention. Now, Penguin is publishing a new edition of Gilbert’s wise and charming novel for the millions of readers who devoured EAT, PRAY, LOVE and remain hungry for more. Off the coast of Maine, Ruth Thomas is born into a feud fought for generations by two groups of local lobstermen over fishing rights for the waters that lie between their respective islands. At eighteen, she has returned from boarding school --- smart as a whip, feisty, and irredeemably unromantic --- determined to throw over her education and join the “stern men” working the lobster boats. Gilbert utterly captures the American spirit through an unforgettable heroine who is destined for greatness --- and love --- despite herself. About the Author
Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of a short story collection, PILGRIMS --- a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award, and winner of the 1999 John C. Zacharis First Book Award from Ploughshares --- and a novel, STERN MEN. A Pushcart Prize winner and National Magazine Award-nominated journalist, she works as writer-at-large for GQ. Her journalism has been published in Harper's Bazaar, Spin and The New York Times Magazine, and her stories have appeared in Esquire, Story and the Paris Review. |
 SUMMER ON BLOSSOM STREET
About the BookKnitting and life. They’re both about beginnings --- and endings. That’s why it makes sense for Lydia Goetz, owner of A Good Yarn on Seattle’s Blossom Street, to offer a class called Knit to Quit. It’s for people who want to quit something --- or someone! --- and start a new phase of their lives. But soon it’s discovered that life can be as complicated as a knitting pattern. Just ask Anne Marie Roche. She and her adopted daughter, Ellen, finally have the happiness they wished for. And then a stranger comes to her bookstore asking questions. Or ask Lydia herself. Not only is she coping with her increasingly frail mother, but she and Brad have unexpectedly become foster parents to an angry, defiant twelve-year-old. But as Lydia already knows, when life gets difficult and your stitches are snarled, your friends can always help! About the Author
Debbie Macomber, author of the number one New York Times bestsellers 8 SANDPIPER WAY and 74 SEASIDE AVENUE, as well as TWENTY WISHES, A CEDAR COVER CHRISTMAS, BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET and A GOOD YARN, has become a leading voice in women’s fiction worldwide. Her work has appeared on every major bestseller list, including those of the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly. She is a multiple award winner, and won the 2005 Quill Award for Best Romance. There are more than 100 million copies of her books in print. For more information on Debbie and her books, visit her Web site: www.DebbieMacomber.com. |
 TEA TIME FOR THE TRADITIONALLY BUILT: The New No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel
About the BookThe latest installment in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series finds Precious Ramotswe in need of her own formidable detection talents: saving not only an old friend and a couple’s new engagement --- but even the local football team! Fortunately, we know there are few problems that can’t be fixed when the irrepressible Precious Ramotswe puts her mind to them. “A wonderful, hilarious, totally addictive series [with the] character and the wit worthy of Jane Austen.” About the Author
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. Visit his website at www.alexandermccallsmith.com. |
 TIME IS A RIVER
About the BookRecovering from breast cancer and reeling from her husband’s infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home for the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, and takes refuge in a neglected cabin recently inherited by her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson. The cabin once belonged to Belle’s grandmother --- the legendary fly fisher and journalist of the 1920s, Kate Watkins, whose life fell into ruins after she was accused of murdering her lover, a scandal that plagued Belle’s family for generations. But Mia is compelled to find out more about Kate… especially when she discovers Kate’s journal. The inspiring words of the remarkable woman echo across the years. Mia has been finding new strength and profound challenges in fly-fishing, and Kate’s wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. As she separates the truth from the lies behind Kate’s fall from grace, Mia feels a strange kinship with Kate, who suffered fears, betrayal, and heart-wrenching loss --- yet found strength, compassion, and, ultimately, forgiveness. A story timeless in its appeal emerges, with a power that brings a transforming healing for Mia, for Kate’s descendants, and for all those in Mia’s new community. About the Author
Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including SWEETGRASS, SKYWARD, THE BEACH HOUSE, THE FOUR SEASONS and THE BOOK CLUB. She is an active conservationist and lives in the low-country of South Carolina. |
 VALERIA'S LAST STAND
About the BookA comic romp celebrating late-flowering love in a Hungarian village that will appeal to readers of THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIERTY and A SHORT HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRAINIAN. Valeria is a whale in a puddle. She harrumphs her daily way through her backwater Hungarian village, finding equal fault with the new, the old, the foreign, and the familiar. Her decades of universal contempt have turned her into a touchstone of her little community --- whatever she scorns the least must be the best, after all. But, on a day like any other, her spinster’s heart is struck by an unlikely arrow: the village potter, long known and little noticed, captures her fancy, and Valeria finds herself suddenly cast in a role she never expected to play. This one deviation from character, this one loose thread, is all it takes for the delicately woven fabric of village life to unravel. And, for the first time in a long time, Valeria couldn’t care less. With humor and sensitivity, author Marc Fitten delivers an unexpected and entirely inspiring first novel that will leave you begging for more. About the Author
Marc Fitten was born in Brooklyn in 1974 to Panamanian parents. He spent much of the 1990s living and traveling in Europe, based in Hungary. He’s been published in Prairie Schooner, the Louisville Review and the Hogtown Creek Review, and has published a napkin online at Esquire. Marc is a Ph.D. student at Georgia State University and received the Paul Bowles Fellowship for Fiction. He is currently the editor of the Chattahoochee Review. |
|
© Copyright 2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved. « Back to the Top » |
