I enjoyed reading through this week's reviews. As I read many books far in advance of publication, I enjoy reading what our reviewers have to say about the books that I already have fallen in love with. Reading Kate Ayers's glowing review of Eli Gottlieb's NOW YOU SEE HIM, I remembered floating in the pool on the Outer Banks this summer reading an advance copy of this book. When I closed it, all I wanted to do was talk about it, but there was no one else around who had read it. Reading Kate's interview with Gottlieb filled in some of the questions that I had, so I felt like my experience with this book has been enhanced. We also learned last week that NOW YOU SEE HIM will be made into a movie; it has all the makings of a terrific one.

Speaking of movies, the film adaptation of BEAUFORT by Ron Leshem, which we are featuring as a One to Watch title, is an Academy Award nominee in the Foreign Language Film category. Nice news to see. I added it to my Netflix queue, though there is no confirmed release date for the DVD. I do love that feature on Netflix since I never seem to get to the theater as often as I would like, and I never remember what I wanted to see.

Kelly Corrigan's THE MIDDLE PLACE is a special book, the kind I press into people's hands and say, just read this. In her review, Barbara Bamberger Scott describes the middle place as "that space between being a competent parent and still having parents of one's own to please and impress." Kelly writes a wonderful story of her love of her family, especially her dad, who is a real hero to her. If you would like to see Kelly talking about this book, I suggest watching this video of her from her Today Show appearance last week.
 
Last year I read SILENT IN THE GRAVE, a debut novel by Deanna Raybourn, and as soon as I finished it I was ready for the next book. Thus, when SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY hit my desk, I immediately starting reading it, ready to pick up Lady Grey's story. Another winner. Our reviewer, Judy Gigstad, logs her review of SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY this week, and she's now a fan of Raybourn's as well.
 
I still get ideas of what to read from our newsletter. Sue Miller's THE SENATOR'S WIFE is on my "to be read" stack, and I want to move it to the top after reading Terry Miller Shannon's review and the Q&A we posted this week. In a book club? If so, we have a guide for this one on ReadingGroupGuides.com that you may want to check out.
 
Our newest spotlighted author is Will Lavender, whose debut novel, OBEDIENCE, is a psychological thriller about a group of students who must solve a puzzle in order to save the life of a hypothetical girl --- or even their own. I started this one and pictured myself back at school getting this assignment. Hmmm... college was never this interesting when I was there. Must be all those television thriller, forensic and crime show influences! We have 10 copies of OBEDIENCE to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, February 1st.
 
Reminder that we still have opportunities for readers to win copies of Michele Martinez's NOTORIOUS and Andrew Britton's THE INVISIBLE. You may enter the drawing for an advance reading copy of NOTORIOUS by filling out this form and THE INVISIBLE by filling out this form.

I always enjoy shopping for the items we include in our gift baskets, and the Valentine's Day baskets that we are bringing you this weekend were particularly fun to pull together since all I did was think pink, red and sweet for a couple of days. The treats include Godiva chocolates, some really fabulous heart-shaped marshmallows from Williams-Sonoma, a rose-scented candle from Illuminations, some luxurious bath products from H2O+ and SEVEN books that are themed around love, falling in love and romance. Read on for details on how to enter our Third Annual Valentine's Day Contest.

This week we have two great prizes in our Word of Mouth contest: FIVE readers each will win a copy of THE APPEAL, the long-awaited new legal thriller by John Grisham due out on the 29th, and DUMA KEY by Stephen King, which just hit stores this week. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on February 1st to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.

Our poll this week continues with the theme of reading in the new year. We are asking how many books you are expecting to read in the coming year, while our question asks what new and established authors you are most looking forward to reading. You may respond to our poll by clicking here and answer our question by clicking here.

Around our house there is one birthday celebration down for my younger son, who was all smiles turning 13. I now am gearing up for the older one's fete on Monday. As I see it, one chocolate marble cake down; one more to go. I still have hopes that my older son will go for a cheesecake after reading the newsletter last week. Tune in next week to see if this dream came true.

Cold here. It's going to be a good weekend to hang close to the house with a fire in the fireplace and a good book. Turning pages IS exercise, isn't it? Especially if one reads fast! Have a great week.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Kate Ayers, Eli Gottlieb --- author of the critically acclaimed THE BOY WHO WENT AWAY --- describes how gaps in his own reading list prompted him to write his second novel, NOW YOU SEE HIM, and explains how his early work as a poet helped him to shape his characters. He also shares insight on his writing process, discusses its cathartic nature and names some of the writers who have inspired him over the years.

NOW YOU SEE HIM by Eli Gottlieb (Fiction)
An apparent murder-suicide leads a small town to instant fame and a reexamination of its citizens, particularly those closest to the killer. The killer’s best friend tries to make sense of the life thrown away as well as his own life, and uncovers some ugly truths in the process. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read a review of NOW YOU SEE HIM.
-Click here to read an excerpt from NOW YOU SEE HIM.

In THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION, which hits stores on January 29th, Lawrence Goldstone weaves a mesmerizing forensic thriller that thrusts the reader into the operating rooms, drawing rooms and back alleys of 1889 Philadelphia, as a young doctor grapples with the principles of scientific process to track a daring killer.

-Click here to read fast facts for Lawrence Goldstone.
-Click here to read Lawrence Goldstone's bio.
-Click here to see Lawrence Goldstone's backlist.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION:
In the morgue of a Philadelphia hospital, a group of physicians open a coffin and uncover the corpse of a beautiful young woman. What they see takes their breath away. Within days, one of them strongly suspects that he knows the woman's identity...and the horrifying events that led to her death. But in this richly atmospheric novel --- an ingenious blend of history, suspense and early forensic science --- the most compelling chapter is yet to come, as young Ephraim Carroll is plunged into a maze of murder, secrets and unimaginable crimes.

In LITERACY AND LONGING IN L.A., authors Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack captivated readers with a brilliantly imagined first novel. In their new book, A VERSION OF THE TRUTH (which is now available in stores), Kaufman and Mack introduce a character you’ll never forget: Cassie Shaw, an irrepressible young woman who reinvents herself in a funny, wise and utterly original story about friendship, love, wildlife and other forces of nature.

-Click here to read a third excerpt from A VERSION OF THE TRUTH.
-Click here to read Jennifer Kaufman's bio.
-Click here to read Karen Mack's bio.
-Visit the book's official website, www.AVersionOfTheTruth.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about A VERSION OF THE TRUTH:
In the wilds of Topanga Canyon, Cassie Shaw has always felt right at home in the midst of nature, but everywhere else, life seems to be a little harder. At the age of 30, newly single and without a college degree, Cassie is in serious need of a paycheck. So in a desperate move, she lies on her resume when applying for an office job at an elite university. When she finds herself employed by two eccentric professors, Cassie begins to reinvent herself --- and soon encounters some very unexpected consequences.

New York Times bestselling author Beverly Barton has written over 50 contemporary romance novels. Her new thriller, THE MURDER GAME, will be available in stores on February 5th. In this terrifying follow-up to THE DYING GAME, private investigator Griffin Powell and FBI agent Nicole Baxter team up again to stop a serial killer playing a very dangerous game.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from THE MURDER GAME.
-Click here to read fast facts about Beverly Barton.
-Click here to read Beverly Barton’s bio.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.BeverlyBarton.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE MURDER GAME:
The game is simple. He is the Hunter. They are the Prey. He gives them a chance to escape. To run. To hide. To outsmart him. But eventually, he catches them. And that’s when the game gets really terrifying...

Private investigator Griffin Powell and FBI agent Nicole Baxter know a lot about serial killers --- they took one down together. But this new killer is as sadistic as they’ve ever seen. He likes his little games, and he especially likes forcing Nic and Griff to play along.