Friday, February 22, 2013

The Aviator's Wife: A Novel by Melanie Benjamin




“We know Charles Lindbergh as the hero who was the first to fly solo across the Atlantic, and his wife, Anne, as a poet and writer. In The Aviator’s Wife, Benjamin offers a vivid portrait of the private side of the man and his family. The story is told from Anne’s point of view and portrays a life where the family’s every move is monitored by the press and fed to the public. From Anne’s growing self-confidence as Charles’ co-pilot in exploration to the tragic kidnapping of their firstborn son to Lindbergh’s extra-marital affairs, we share the joys and sadness of the aviator’s wife in this poignant novel.”
Reviewer:  Vicki Erwin, Main Street Books, St. Charles, MO
from February 2013 Indie Next List, American Booksellers Association, indiebound.org

Friday, February 15, 2013

Schroder: A Novel by Amity Gaige



“This deeply layered novel about an embattled father reclaiming his only joy drew me in with the intense beauty of its language and the doomed journey of its unreliable narrator. In Erik Schroder, Gaige gives us a character who should repel but whom I loved for his humanity and the way he expressed his love for his daughter and she, her love for him. Schroder takes the reader into the arrested heart of a foreigner whose need to appear American is ultimately his undoing. That we care about him is a testament to Gaige’s skill and compassion.”

Reviewer: Vicki DeArmon, Copperfield’s Books, Sebastopol CA
from February 2013 Indie Next List, American Booksellers Association, indiebound.org

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ghostman: A Novel by Roger Hobbs


“Jack, both brilliant and cunning, has made it to the top of the gangster ranks. Extremely wealthy, equipped with the most modern technological tools and constantly changing addresses and even his physical appearance, Jack is like a living ghost. Only a happy few know how to contact him. An old partner in crime to whom he is indebted calls on Jack to clean up the mess from a seemingly well-organized heist gone bad. Not trusting his former partner, hunted by an extremely dangerous mobster, and chased by the FBI, Jack needs all of his tricks to keep his ghost-like existence intact. Smart and captivating from beginning to end, a stellar debut!”

Reviewer —Jean-Paul Adriaansen, Water Street Books, Exeter, NH
from February 2013 Indie Next List, American Booksellers Association, indiebound.org.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Dinner: A Novel by Herman Kock








“In this brilliant novel, two brothers and their wives meet for dinner in an upscale restaurant. Structured around the courses of the meal and narrated by Paul, what starts out in the first section — Aperitif — as a hilarious riff on the pretentious meal that he is reluctantly sharing with his brother, Serge, takes on an increasingly ominous tone as the reason for the meeting gradually unfolds. Psychologically taut and beautifully constructed, this tale hooks the reader from the first page to the hair-raising conclusion. A literary page-turner that explores the lengths to which families will go to protect their own.”

Reviewer: Sheila Daley, Barrett Bookstore, Darien, CT
from February 2013 Indie Next List American Booksellers Association. indiebound.org.

Monday, February 11, 2013

The House Girl: a Novel by Tara Conklin



"Lina, a young, ambitious New York attorney in 2004, never knew her mother.  Josephine, a young house slave in 1852, never knew her child.  More than a century apart, their lives connect in unexpected ways.  Corporate law offices, art museums, antebellum homes, and the Underground Railroad provide the setting for a story filled with secrets, betrayals, and love.  Does the "House Girl" title apply to both women?  The paths of those strong women will have the reader marveling at the layers Conklin has created to tell their intertwined stories."

Reviewer: Beverly Bauer, Redbery Books, Cable WI
from February 2013 Indie Next List, American Booksellers Association, IndieBound.org

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig




Fans of Willig's books in the Pink Carnation series should enjoy this one even though it is set in the 20th century.

The story goes back and forth between modern New York City lawyer Clemmie and her grandmother (England - Kenya_New York) as Clemmie discovers secrets about her family.

Reviewer: Betsy Griffies

Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart





I have always enjoyed books about the Charleston area, especially the islands, yearning perhaps for that perfect beach vacation or summer home.  Hart evokes an idyllic life style where fresh fish, shrimp, and crabs are there for the taking.

The story revolved around a New York City artist/professor who returns to Charleston and Edisto Island to handle a family crisis.  In doing so, she has to postpone a Fulbright opportunity in Budapest, engagement and wedding, and plans to apply for department dean.

Reviewer: Betsy Griffies