Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Books of 2013

Have you read the best books of 2013?  Not sure! The results of Goodreads Best Books of 2013 (Goodreads Choice Awards) are finally in and there are quite a few enthralling reads (both winners and nominated titles) on it.

Each year Goodreads members vote for the titles they feel are the "Best Reads of the Year" for various genres. With so many books released each year, how are the titles selected? Titles are selected based on a variety of data such as titles added to Goodreads, reviewed by readers, and star ratings by the editors of Goodreads, and readers are encouraged to nominate titles too.

Did your favorite reads of the year make the list? A few of mine sure did. The great thing about Goodreads and their Best Books list is you can easily find out about books you might have missed otherwise. I know my to-read list grows each time I visit the site. I bet yours does too!

If you would like to see the complete nominations list click on the genres in the list below.

The winners for 2013 are as follows: 

1. Fiction -- And the Mountains Echoes by Khaled Hosseini
2. Mystery and Thriller -- Inferno by Dan Brown
3. Historical Fiction -- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
4. Fantasy -- The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
5. Science Fiction -- MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood
6. Romance -- Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
7. Paranormal Fantasy -- Cold Days by Jim Butcher
8. Horror -- Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
9. Memoir and Autobiography -- I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
10. History and Biography -- Jim Henson the Biography by Brian Jay Jones
11. Nonfiction -- The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin
12. Food and Cookbooks -- Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist by Tim Federle
13. Humor -- Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
14. Graphic Novels and Comics -- Beautiful Creatures: the Manga by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
15. Poetry -- The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien
16. Young Adult Fiction -- Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
17. Young Adult Fantasy -- Allegiant by Veronica Roth
18. Middle Grade and Children's -- The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
19. Picture Books -- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

 To see the results of previous years (bottom right of page) visit Goodreads here.

New York Times Best Sellerlist (12/22/13)

Note: Titles highlighted in BLUE are currently available for checkout. Titles highlighted in RED have been ordered and will be available for checkout soon.


Fiction


1 COMMAND AUTHORITY by Tom Clancy
2 SYCAMORE ROW by John Grisham
3 THE GODS OF GUILT by Michael Connelly
4 DOCTOR SLEEP by Stephen King
5 CROSS MY HEART by James Patterson
6 THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN by Mitch Albom
7 THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt
8 TAKEDOWN TWENTY by Janet Evanovich
9 KING AND MAXWELL by David Baldacci
10 INFERNO by Dan Brown
11 S. by Doug Dorst
12 THE LONGEST RIDE by Nicholas Sparks
13 THE VALLEY OF AMAZEMENT by Amy Tan
14 DUST by Patricia Cornwell
15 AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khaled Hosseini

New Additions in Large Print Fiction

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy Book #1

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a trilogy about the land we’re drawn to, the family we learn to cherish, and the people we long to love…

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.

Ireland.

County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.

When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

For more information on Nora Roberts and her latest works visit her website.

The Taking by Dean Koontz 

In one of the most dazzling books of his celebrated career, Dean Koontz delivers a masterwork of page-turning suspense that surpasses even his own inimitable reputation as a chronicler of our worst fears—and best dreams. In The Taking he tells the story of a community cut off from a world under siege, and the terrifying battle for survival waged by a young couple and their neighbors as familiar streets become fog-shrouded death traps. Gripping, heartbreaking, and triumphant in the face of mankind’s darkest hour, here is a small-town slice-of-doomsday thriller that strikes to the core of each of us to ask: What would you do in the midst of The Taking.

On the morning that will mark the end of the world they have known, Molly and Niel Sloan awaken to the drumbeat of rain on their roof. It has haunted their sleep, invaded their dreams, and now they rise to find a luminous silvery downpour drenching their small California mountain town. A strange scent hangs faintly in the air, and the young couple cannot shake the sense of something wrong.

As hours pass and the rain continues to fall, Molly and Niel listen to disturbing news of extreme weather phenomena across the globe. Before evening, their little town loses television and radio reception. Then telephone and the Internet are gone. With the ceaseless rain now comes an obscuring fog that transforms the once-friendly village into a ghostly labyrinth. By nightfall the Sloans have gathered with some of their neighbors to deal with community damage...but also because they feel the need to band together against some unknown threat, some enemy they cannot identify or even imagine.

In the night, strange noises arise, and at a distance, in the rain and the mist, mysterious lights are seen drifting among the trees. The rain diminishes with the dawn, but a moody gray-purple twilight prevails. Soon Molly, Niel, and their small band of friends will be forced to draw on reserves of strength, courage, and humanity they never knew they had. For within the misty gloom they will encounter something that reveals in a terrifying instant what is happening to their world—something that is hunting them with ruthless efficiency. Epic in scope, searingly intimate and immediate in perspective, The Taking is an adventure story like no other, a relentless roller-coaster read that brings apocalypse to Main Street and showcases the talents of one of our most original and mesmerizing novelists at the pinnacle of his powers. 

For more information on Dean Koontz and him latest works visit him website.

Intriguing New Titles in Paperback Today

A Custom-Fit Crime by Melissa Bourbon
Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series # 4

After a year of hard work in her Texas hometown, Harlow Jane Cassidy’s dreams are finally within reach—if she can just get it all done in time…

Harlow’s designs will be featured in a big magazine spread, but she only has a few days to finalize her collection. Plus she’s busy helping to plan her mother’s upcoming wedding, playing host to her old friend Orphie, and avoiding a competitive Dallas designer set on stealing Harlow’s ideas. Harlow’s making it all work—until someone breaks into Buttons & Bows and the rival designer is found dead.

But when a near miss makes it clear that Orphie could be the next victim, Harlow will have to untangle the threads of evidence if she wants to save her friend, her mother’s wedding, and her business from becoming fashion road kill…

Melissa writes under pseudonyms Misa Ramirez and Melissa Bourbon Ramirez.

For more information on Melissa Bourbon and her latest works visit her website. 
 

Deep Sky by Patrick Lee
Travis Chase Series Book # 3

The anomaly called the Breach is the governments most carefully guarded secret.

But there is another secret even less known . . . and far more terrifying.

As the U.S. President addresses the nation from
the Oval Office, a missile screams toward the White House. In a lightning flash, the Chief Executive is dead, his mansion in ruins, and two cryptic words are the only clue to the assassins

Now Travis Chase of the covert agency Tangentis calling the total destructive might of a shadow government down upon them. For Travis Chase has a dark destiny he cannot be allowed to fulfill


For more information on Patrick Lee and his latest works visit his website.

Big Sky River by Linda Lael Miller
Parable, Montana Series Book # 3

Sheriff Boone Taylor has his job, friends, a run-down but decent ranch, two faithful dogs and a good horse. He doesn't want romance-the widowed Montanan has loved and lost enough for a lifetime. But when a city woman buys the spread next door, Boone's peace and quiet are in serious jeopardy. 

With a marriage and a career painfully behind her, Tara Kendall is determined to start over in Parable. Reinventing herself and living a girlhood dream is worth the hard work. Sure, she might need help from her handsome, wary neighbor. But life along Big Sky River is full of surprises...like falling for a cowboy-lawman who just might start to believe in second chances.

For more information on Linda Lael Miller and her latest works visit her website.

Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller
Parable, Montana Series Book # 4

With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences! 

Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?

For more information on Linda Lael Miller and her latest works visit her website.

One Season of Sunshine by Julia London
Cedar Springs Series Book # 2

Should some questions be left unanswered?

Adopted as an infant, Jane Aaron longs to know the identity of her birth mother and why she gave her up. Her only clue is the name of the small Texas town where she was born, so she's come to Cedar Springs for answers. 

Handsome ad executive Asher Price lost his wife, the beautiful, mysterious Susanna, in a terrible car crash eighteen months ago. When he hires Jane as the nanny for his two children, sparks fly. Jane finds herself falling in love with both Asher and his children, but begins to suspect that Susanna was not the perfect mother and wife the family portrays her to have been. 

As Jane gets closer and closer to finding out the truth about both her own and Susanna's past, devastating secrets begin to emerge that may be more than anyone can bear. Will the truth bring Jane and Asher closer together or tear them apart forever?

For more information on Julia London and her latest works visit her website.

Double-Booked for Death by Ali Brandon
Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series Book # 1

As the new owner of Pettistone's Fine Books, Darla Pettistone is determined to prove herself a worthy successor to her late great-aunt Dee...and equally determined to outwit Hamlet, the smarter-than-thou cat she inherited along with the shop. Darla's first store event is a real coup: the hottest bestselling author of the moment is holding a signing there. 

But when the author meets an untimely end during the event, it's ruled an accident-until Hamlet digs up a clue that seems to indicate otherwise...

For more information on Ali Brandon and her latest works visit her website.

Meg: Hell's Aquarium by Steve Alten

Steve Alten's epic fish story continues in Hell's Aquarium, fourth of the MEG novels. The Tanaka Institute's captive Megalodon, Angel, has birthed a litter of pups. Two—Mary Kate and Ashley—are destined for a home in a massive new attraction being built in Dubai, but only if Jonas' son David agrees to serve as their trainer. 

And why wouldn't he? For the brash young 20 year-old, it's an opportunity to strike out on his own and prove himself, applying the knowledge he's gained working alongside his father. Once in Dubai, however, the job proves very different from what was described back home, and here…there be dragons. The next generation of Taylor to take up the mantle of deep-ocean submersible pilot may be coming into its own much sooner than expected!

For more information on Steve Alten and his latest works visit his website.

Breaking Point by Dana Haynes

Three NTSB experts - people brought in to help investigate whenever a plane goes down - find themselves victims and witnesses rather than investigators when the plane they are on crashes.

En route to a conference, three NTSB experts -- known to insiders as "Crashers" -- Tommy Tomzak, a pathologist from Texas; Kiki Duvall, a sound engineer and former naval officer; and Isaiah Grey, investigator and former FBI agent – are aboard a twin turbo prop plane when, just outside of Helena, Montana, the plane crashes into a thickly forested moutainside.  But the crash isn’t an accident - it was brought down on purpose - and the "Crashers" weren't the target. The plane was brought down by mercenaries, led by an enigmatic, shadowy self-described patriot known only as Calendar, using weapons technology banned by international treaty.  The targets - three men who planned to blow the whistle on the weapons technology and the power brokers behind its development.

In a twisty, compelling thriller that goes from the streets of Spain, to the mountains of the western United States, to the heart of  the dark, hidden corridors of power where there are dangerous secrets that few suspect and fewer know, the “Crashers” are literally dropped in the middle of a case that neither starts, nor ends, with a plane crash with some of their own on-board.  A new team of Crashers fights time, as a fire rages ever closer to the wreckage, conflicting and confusing evidence, and unpredictable outside forces trying to prevent them from uncovering the truth. With alllies - unseen and even unknown - working behind the scenes to help them, the team is trapped in the midst of a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse with the deadliest of consquences, a game that not all of them will survive...

For more information on Dana Haynes or his latest works visit this website.

Home for the Summer by Mariah Stewart
Chesapeake Diaries Series Book # 5

New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart presents a captivating contemporary romance novel in the tradition of Robyn Carr, Susan Mallery, and Barbara Freethy.
Some of Lucy Sinclair’s best days were those spent growing up in small town St. Dennis—working at the family inn and enjoying summers filled with swimming, sailing, tennis, and the company of Clay Madison, her best friend. But Lucy’s darkest day, the one that shattered her innocence with violence and fear, also happened in St. Dennis. And the town she once loved became the place she gladly left behind—along with the terrible secret she’s kept for twenty years.
 
While Lucy headed off for college and a career, Clay remained—more than satisfied with the life St. Dennis had to offer. But now, even after inheriting his family’s thriving farm and starting up an organic brewery, he can’t help feeling that something’s missing. And when Lucy comes back to town to plan a celebrity wedding at the Sinclair family inn, she and Clay reconnect, and find themselves reevaluating their long-sleeping friendship that could blossom into something deeper. Like a bookend to those distant childhood days, this summer will be Lucy’s chance to finally confront her hidden pain, make peace with the past, and plan her own whole new future.

For more information on Mariah Stewart and her latest works visit her website.

The Sacred Vault by Andy McDermott
Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase Series Book # 6

Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase are back in another epic contemporary adventure thriller. As the story opens Michelangelo's David is stolen from its plinth in Florence, Italy, in the latest of a series of audacious raids of the world's greatest treasures. 

When another treasure, the Talonor Codex - an account of the travels of a great Atlantean explorer, which suggests a link between the ancient Hindu civilisation of India and the Atlanteans - is stolen from an exhibition in San Francisco, Nina and Eddie join the adventure. They must now race across the world from India to Nicaragua, the Himalayas to Greenland, to find the vault of Shiva before the man who has stolen the Codex. 

For the Codex says that inside the vault lies the Shiva Purana, the written words and chronicles of Shiva, the ancient Hindu god of destruction and transformation. A treasure that is beyond the world's wildest imaginings, but which may also be the catalyst for its annihilation.

For more information on Andy McDermott and his latest works visit his website.

The Mask of Troy by David Gibbons
Jack Howard Series Book # 5

Here is the most explosive adventure yet from the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Atlantis" and "The Lost Tomb"--a whiplash-inducing novel that sends marine archaeologist Jack Howard and his team on a treasure hunt . . . and a race against time to stop a terrifying threat. 

Greece, 1876. Renowned archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann unearths the tomb of legendary King Agamemnon and makes a mind-blowing discovery. Determined to keep it secret until the time is right, he dies before it can be revealed to the world. 

Germany, 1945. The liberation of a concentration camp reveals clues to the lost antiquities stolen by the Nazis. But the operation is covered up after a horrific secret surfaces. 

Northern Aegean, present day. Jack Howard, head of the International Maritime University, and his team discover the wreckage of the legendary Greek fleet from the Trojan War, sending shockwaves around the world. But the biggest surprise is yet to come, for Jack is on the trail not only of Agamemnon, but of Schliemann's true discovery--and a mystery so explosive that it leads to the kidnapping of Jack's daughter and a confrontation with a new and evil foe.

For more information on David Gibbons and his latest works visit his website.

Home Free by Fern Michaels
Sisterhood Series Book # 20

United by a desire to overcome their personal misfortunes, seven very different women formed an indelible bond and vowed to right wrongs wherever they found them. They've succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. 

After years known as the Vigilantes, Myra, Annie, Kathryn, Alexis, Yoko, Nikki, and Isabelle are enjoying their hard-won freedom and the chance at a normal life. As it turns out, once you?re a part of the Sisterhood, normal is a relative term. President Martine Connor, their long-time ally, has announced the formation of a top-secret organization. Officially, the CIC won't exist. 

Unofficially, they'll report directly to the president and tackle the jobs no one else can handle. For the Sisterhood, it's the end of an era--and the beginning of a whole new adventure? 

For more information on Fern Michaels and her latest works visit her website.

Southern Comfort by Fern Michaels

Atlanta homicide detective Patrick 'Tick' Kelly turned his back on the world the day his wife and children were murdered. Abandoning his city and his career, he holed up in a beach house on Mango Key, Florida, and drowned his grief in Jack Daniels. 

Now sober and a bestselling author, Tick would gladly stay a recluse forever if his brother Pete didn't keep trying to drag him back to the land of the living. After years of sacrificing her personal life in favour of her DEA job, special agent Kate Rush resigned and moved back to her native Miami. But the unofficial assignment that has just come her way is too intriguing to pass up. She and a fellow ex-agent are relocated to Mango Key to keep an eye on an imposing, mysterious fortress believed to be at the centre of a human trafficking ring. 

At first, the Kelly brothers are suspected of involvement, but Kate is sure Tick poses no danger - except for the slow-burning gaze that makes her breath catch and her heart race. Tick finds himself fascinated by Kate's investigation - and by her inviting mix of courage and kindness. Teaming up, they uncover a web of betrayal, blackmail, and ruthless greed. And as danger mounts, Tick realizes how far he'll go to protect the rare and surprising gift that's come his way: a second chance at a happy ending.

For more information on Fern Michaels and her latest works visit her website.

Gotcha! by Fern Michaels

Sometimes, justice is a long time coming. 

That's the case with Julie Wyatt, whose story strikes close to home for the original founder of the Sisterhood, Myra Rutledge, and her best friend - and fellow Sister - Annie. 

Julie is convinced her greedy daughter-in-law Darlene had something to do with the mysterious circumstances surrounding her son Larry's death.

For more information on Fern Michaels and her latest works visit her website.
 

Exciting New Additions to the Children's Department

Flashy Fantastic Rain Forest Frogs by Dorothy Patent

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, reproduction, and habitat of frogs that live in the rain forest.
Beautiful artwork and illustrations.
 

Happy Feet Two: Adventure to Adelie Land by Sophia Kelly

Erik doesn't have the happy feet of his father Mumble. In fact, he can hardly dance at all and he's beginning to feel like an outsider in his own home. So Erik and his friends embark on an adventure - to Adelie Land! 

There, the little penguins are awestruck by the bustling community and the flying Adelie Sven. Has Erik left Emperor Land for good? 

Find out in this easy-to-read book!  
 

No One Can Play by Mercer Mayer

What can Little Critter find to do when his friends are all busy and can not play with him? No One Can Play is an original Little Critter First Reader for children ages 3 to 6. 

This charming leveled reader features:

Repetition of familiar words and sound patterns for ease of readability 
Colorful illustrations for visual cues 
Skill-based activities and a vocabulary list at the end of the book to help reinforce reading comprehension and fluency. 

Dad's Big Idea by Jill Goldowsky

A boy and his friends like to make noise when they get together, but when his father is worried they will wake the baby, he helps them build a tree house to play in.
 

Splat the Cat and the Duck with No Quack by Rob Scotton

Clickity clack, clickity clack . . . Splat's bicycle bumps and jumps over the bumpy track on his way to school, until . . . crack! 

Splat takes a tumble off of his bike and finds himself nose to beak with a duck. A crash of this caliber should certainly merit some alarm from this duck, but Splat hears no sound. A duck with no quack? Splat thinks that his teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple, will know what to do, so Splat packs the duck in his backpack along with his school supplies and heads off to Cat School.

Join Splat in this hilarious story that is sure to quack up beginning readers.
 

Dragon Egg by Mallory Loehr

A BIG EGG TOTTERS, tips, and falls out of its nest. It rolls down a hill, past a castle, and through a town. Along the way, curious people and animals gather to watch. When the egg finally cracks open, they get a surprise. Inside is a baby dragon!
 

Uh-Oh! by R. Hooke

Based on an episode of the popular new TV show on Cartoon Network, Harry has accidentally broken Mom's favorite teacup. The dinosaurs suggest taking it to Dino World to fix, but once there, things go from bad to worse. 

Soon pieces of the cup are stuck to everything, and the new creation doesn't look quite like a teacup. Can Harry and the gang get the teacup mended and back on the shelf before mom gets home?
 

When I Am Big by Mary Packard

Fisher-Price, a leader in early childhood development and education, has teamed up with Reader's Digest to create a premier beginning-to-read series.

A young boy dreams about all the things he’ll do when he’s bigger—from running in races to riding a big bike. But until then, his big brother Mike can help him out! Told in verse, this story is great to help siblings appreciate each other.
 

Hey, Pancakes! by Tamson Weston

There's no better way to start any day than by whipping up a batch of everyone's favorite breakfast treat. Three kids and their helpful dog have taken over the kitchen for some early morning pancake fun. Just a few flips, splatters, and oozing toppings later, the children dig into the yummiest stack of flapjacks ever.
 
Talented newcomer Tamson Weston and award-winning illustrator Stephen Gammell have teamed up to create a mouthwatering and fun book that's sure to send all kids--and their parents--straight to the kitchen for a heaping stack of their own!

Features a tasty recipe for "Grandma's Pancakes."
 

Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson

Never ride your elephant to school. And if you need to be convinced, boy, do you need to read this book! It's not that the elephant is such a troublesome or unruly one, it's just that his natural exuberance combined with his rather distinctive size pose some very particular problems. 

Imagine an elephant sitting in a school desk, climbing rope in gym class, or playing tether ball at recess and you'll see what we mean!
 

Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes

Chester and Wilson had their own way of doing things, and they did everything together. When they cut their sandwiches, it was always diagonally. When they rode their bikes, they always used hand signals. If Chester was hungry, Wilson was too. 

They were two of a kind, and that's the way it was - until indomitable Lilly, who had her own way of doing things, moved into the neighborhood.
 

Welcome to the Green House by Jane Yolen 

Welcome to the green house where, day and night, the melodic prattle of exotic animals fills the air. 

The rich hues and tones described in the text explode in each illustration, and with every turn of the page, readers can feel the heat and vibrancy of this tropical paradise.

Looking for Something Good to Read? New Titles for Teens and Tweens

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus Series Book # 1

Jason has a problem. 
He doesn't remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper. His best friend is a kid named Leo, and they're all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for "bad kids", as Leo puts it. What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. 
Her father, a famous actor, has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he's in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn't recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on? 

Leo has a way with tools. 
His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What's troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper's gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus Series Book # 2

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. 
When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth 

Hazel is supposed to be dead. 
When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams. 

Frank is a klutz.
 His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart. 

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Fading Echoes by Erin Hunter
Warriors: Omen of the Star Series Book # 2

After the sharp-eyed Jay and the roaring Lion, peace will come on Dove's gentle wing.

Three ThunderClan cats, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw, are prophesied to hold the power of the stars in their paws. Now they must work together to unravel the meaning behind the ancient words of the prophecy.

As Jayfeather tackles his new responsibilities as the Clan's sole medicine cat and Lionblaze trains his apprentice in the ways of the warrior cats, Dovepaw hones her own unique ability and tries to use it for the good of ThunderClan. But the dark shadows that have preyed on the Clan for many moons still lurk just beyond the forest. Soon a mysterious visitor will walk in one cat's dreams, whispering promises of greatness, with results that will change the future of ThunderClan in ways that no cat could have foreseen.

Night Whispers by Erin Hunter
Warriors: Omen of the Stars Book # 3

After the sharp-eyed Jay and the roaring Lion, peace will come on Dove's gentle wing.

The deadly battle between ThunderClan and ShadowClan is over, but the aftermath still echoes around all four Clans. As Dovepaw grapples with the knowledge that there are realms--and cats--her senses cannot reach, Jayfeather and Lionblaze are determined to figure out how StarClan could have allowed this fight to happen. Jayfeather soon finds the answer in the darkest of places, and he and Lionblaze prepare to do whatever they can to staunch the flow of evil into ThunderClan.

The ties that bind the Clans are slowly breaking in the face of the greatest threat that the warriors--and the warrior code--have ever known. As leaf-bare closes its grip upon the territories, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw realize just how close the battle is, and how far they are from being able to succeed. 

And before the prey can run again, one more cat will be lost to the fight.

What's New on Fiction This Week

An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus 
Great Exhibition Series Book # 2

Set during the Industrial Revolution and the Great Exhibition of 1851, An Honest Heart is a “sitting-room romance” with the feel of a Regency-era novel but the fashions and technological advances of the mid-Victorian age.

Featuring dual romance stories, the main plot involves seamstress Caddy Bainbridge and the choice she must make between two men: one from the aristocracy, the other from the working class. Award-nominated author Kaye Dacus pinpoints the theme of honesty—both men in this love triangle have deep secrets to hide, and Caddy’s choice will be based on which of them can be honest with her.

Courtship . . . cunning . . . candor. Who possesses an honest heart?

For more information on Kaye Dacus and her latest works visit her website.  

Storm Front by John Sandford

The thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times' bestselling series.

In Israel, a man clutching a backpack searches desperately for a boat. In Minnesota, Virgil Flowers gets a message from Lucas Davenport: You’re about to get a visitor. It’s an Israeli cop, and she’s tailing a man who’s smuggled out an extraordinary relic—an inscribed stone revealing startling details about the man known as King Solomon.

Wait a minute, laughs Virgil. Is this one of those Da Vinci Code deals? The secret scroll, the blockbuster revelation, the teams of murderous bad guys? Should I be boning up on my Bible verses?

He looks at the cop. She’s not laughing. As it turns out, there are very bad men chasing the relic, and they don’t care who’s in the way or what they have to do to get it. Maybe Virgil should start praying. 

For more information on John Sandford and his latest works visit his website.  

The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition Book #1 by R.A. Salvatore

Celebrate Twenty Years of Drizzt!

Drizzt Do'Urden made his first mistake the moment he was born: he was a boy. In the rigid matriarchy of the dark elf city of Menzoberranzan, that makes his life forfeit. But when his own mother tries but fails to kill him, Drizzt's path is set. He must find a way to escape the treacherous Underdark, even if that means setting out alone into the no less dangerous World Above.

Contains the novels Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn.

For more information on R.A. Salvatore and his latest works visit his website.  

The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition Book #2 by R.A. Salvatore

An outstanding value for Drizzt fans everywhere!

A demonic artifact, hurled by an angel through the spaces between planes of existence to keep it out of the hands of a demon prince, has found its way to Faerûn. There it corrupts a young wizard, turning him into a power-mad invader. Only a small band of heroes, including the exiled dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden can stand in his way—and stir up a long list of enemies in the process.

The Legend of Drizzt® Collector’s Edition, Book II collects the fourth, fifth, and sixth novels in this best-selling series: The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, and The Halfling’s Gem in a trade paperback edition that is a great value for anyone who’s ready to continue the experience the Legend of Drizzt. 

For more information on R.A. Salvatore and his latest works visit his website.  

The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition Book #3 by R.A. Salvatore

The new Legacy of the Drow...

This trade paperback omnibus collects the complete texts of The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, and Passage to Dawn—New York Times best sellers all—in a great value package. The Legend of Drizzt® Collector’s Editions are perfect for both longtime fans and collectors, and readers new to the action and adventure of The Legend of Drizzt. 

For more information on R.A. Salvatore and his latest works visit his website.

Waterfront Weddings by Annalisa Daughety and Cara Putnam

Rocky pasts make for difficult love in two contemporary romances.

Stranded at a swanky Charleston resort hotel, can a wedding planner survive a hurricane when her estranged husband appears on the scene? 

Will an attorney’s Mackinac Island homecoming leave her in hot water as island gossip swirls and an old love comes far too close?

For more information on Annalisa Daughety or Cara Putnam and their latest works click on their names to visit their websites.
 

Deadline by Fern Michaels

No sooner have Toots Loudenberry and her three best friends--Sophie, Ida, and Mavis--returned from Sacramento, where Sophie provided some much-needed psychic advice to the First Lady of California, when another situation demands their attention. . .

Laura Leigh, a Hollywood starlet whose main talent seems to be landing in trouble, is missing. Toots' daughter, Abby, has both a personal and professional stake in the story. Not only is she editor-in-chief at gossip magazine The Informer, but entertainment attorney Chris Clay, Abby's would-be beau, was the last person seen with Laura. And now he's missing, too.

With the help of friends in high--and low--places, the Godmothers will navigate Hollywood's glittering inner circles and seedy underbelly to discover the truth. Along the way, they'll uncover unexpected secrets that not even one of Sophie's séances could have predicted.

For more information on Fern Michaels and her latest works visit her website.
 

Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

Early summer brings plenty of work for baker Hannah Swensen, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for her charity event...For eleven-hundred cookies! 

And Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. But she places her faith in Lisa and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show. The only snag is the show's host, college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her sister, Michelle, each had unfortunate romances with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. 

But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage - dead, with a turnover in his hand. Now Hannah must find a killer who's flakier than puff pastry - and far more dangerous.
 
For more information on Joanne Fluke and her latest works visit her website.
 

Gypped by Carol Higgins Clark

When Regan Reilly returned to the West Coast, where she began her career as a PI, she never imagined that her unsuccessful appearance on a game show seven years earlier would throw her trip totally off course!

REGAN REILLY is in Los Angeles with her husband, Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad. After Jack finishes his meetings with the LAPD, the couple may head north to the wine country, or may head south to Baja. Their only plan is to see which way the wind blows.

The first day back, Regan goes shopping at an upscale new mall in West Hollywood. To her surprise, she runs into Zelda, a woman she'd become friendly with seven years before at a television studio in Burbank, when they were waiting to appear on the game show Puzzling Words. They haven't seen each other since.

Zelda and Regan didn't win much money, but Zelda made up for it! A year ago an elderly neighbor she barely knew left Zelda eight million dollars. She has been enjoying her newfound wealth but is aware of the need to give back. At a recent fundraiser, she bid on a week's stay in an old Hollywood Hills estate and was the lucky winner. She's currently in residence there and invites Regan to a party at the mansion.

While Jack attends a business dinner, Regan goes to Zelda's by herself, unaware that she is being followed. Regan is more than surprised at the run-down condition of the house and grounds. People should be paid to stay here, she thinks. Zelda introduces Regan to a colorful cast of characters, including her old neighbors, friends from her yoga class, a filmmaker, Zelda's financial adviser, her bookkeeper, and her personal assistant. It's all good fun. As the guests are leaving, Zelda asks Regan to stay for a cup of tea. They've barely sat down to chat when Zelda falls ill. A worried Regan doesn't want to leave Zelda alone and decides to spend the night at the isolated, aging estate. It's not long before Zelda asks Regan to investigate people in her life, starting with her father's new wife, Bobby Jo. The couple said  "I do" in the back of a cab at a drive-through chapel in Las Vegas after only three months of togetherness.

Has Zelda's windfall put her in danger? Regan is determined to find out, not knowing that she's a target herself!
 
For more information on Carol Higgins Clark and her latest works visit her website.
 

Cat Telling Tales by Shirley Rousseau Murphy   

Even the bright seaside village of Molena Point has been hit hard by the economic downturn, bringing a rash of foreclosures in which many residents are abandoning their family pets. While feline P. I. Joe Grey's human friends join together to care for the starving cats, a fire leaves a twelve-year-old boy homeless. The body of his alcoholic guardian is discovered in the smoldering ruins, causing Joe to wonder if escape was really impossible for the elderly woman or if something more sinisteroccurred.

Meanwhile, Debbie Kraft descends uninvited on the Damens' home with her two children, claiming that her ex-husband has left her with no money and nowhere else to go. But when Joe learns that the victim of the fire was Debbie's estranged mother and that Debbie is not broke at all but carrying plenty of cash, his fur is on end with suspicion.

As Debbie's abandoned tomcat follows her all the way down the coast from Oregon with his own clues to add to the mix, Joe learns that Debbie's Realtor ex-husband may be involved in a number of intricate real estate scams. Furthermore, his sales partner may be missing, and while Joe and his pals prowl through the dead woman's house, they discover that her reclusive neighbor has disappeared as well.

But it's not until Debbie's tomcat arrives that Joe and his feline detective pals find the biggest clue of all: a grave that the cops have missed. And as the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, tortoiseshell Kit sees her own dreams coming true in the handsome new cat with whom she might share her life's adventures.
 
For more information on Shirley Rousseau Murphy and her latest works visit her website.