I couldn’t go and in case you missed it too, here are some of the panel discussions including the fabulous Margaret Atwood, “proud to be a geek” Mayim Bialik, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Krysten Ritter, and lots more. Enjoy!
Full panel videos from BookCon!
June 14, 2017
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Author Spotlight, Ramblings | 
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THEFT BY FINDING by David Sedaris
June 13, 2017
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Diaries (1977-2002)
A few years ago, David Sedaris was the closing speaker at the Public Library Association Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was lucky enough to attend, and got to briefly meet one of my favorite authors. But even better than just shaking his hand was listening to him speak. He is one of a very few authors that when they go on book tour, you have to purchase tickets to see him and let me tell you, totally worth it!
He read a bit from his book that was out then, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, which I had read and enjoyed. He spoke for a bit but then the rest of his talk, at least what I recall, was him reading from his diaries. He had a few thousand librarians laughing so hard they were crying, and I was one of them.
So when I heard this book was coming out, I was overjoyed. And this is only part 1.
Sedaris is a prodigious journaler. He has been keeping journals for most of his life and when I say keeping them, I mean not just writing but storing them so he has plenty to draw from. In fact, maybe too many. He has over 150 diaries, filled on both sides of the page with his tiny writing. He had to go through all of them to hone it down to these books. And, I’m sorry to say, some things get lost along the way.
If you’re a long time fan you won’t miss the stuff that’s missing because you’ve probably heard it before. If you are new to Sedaris, you may want to start elsewhere. Holidays on Ice is a particular favorite of mine (especially with the Santa cover if you can find it.) I especially love his audio books and if you can afford it, get the The Ultimate David Sedaris Box Set. Many an airline ride has pleasantly passed quickly listening to him read his own work.
Sedaris is an observer of life. He spent his early adulthood wandering the country, working odd jobs and dining at an IHOP nightly. He meets a lot of quirky people along the way and it is these observations, usually completely on the mark, that are the hallmark of his humor. Pay close attention or the punchlines will go rushing past you – I had to stop several times and reread a line or two. Push on through early adulthood to read about his first stint on NPR talking about being a Macy’s elf at Christmas (which is replayed annually) some jokes, recipes, and lots more. A sure bet for fans.
6/17 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™
THEFT BY FINDING by David Sedaris. Little, Brown and Company (May 30, 2017). ISBN 978-0316154727. 528p.
Kindle
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RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Part 3
June 12, 2017This is really interesting, especially for aspiring romance writers!
Spotlight on Berkley Publishing Panel | RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Join members of Berkley Publishing’s editorial and publicity teams to learn the secret sauce of Berkley’s romance program. Berkley publishes many bestselling print authors as well as bestselling e-book authors under its InterMix imprint. Learn what individual editors are interested in acquiring and how the company promotes its print and digital titles.
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COME SUNDOWN by Nora Roberts
June 11, 2017
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I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who was who in this book about four generations of women living and working together on a ranch/resort in Montana. I finally got it but not until most of the way through the book but that’s on me. And really, it wasn’t all that important in the scheme of things.
Bodine runs the resort side of the family business and she’s really good at it. As a child she had a crush on her older brother’s best friend, Cal, but he left to do horse work in Hollywood before she grew up. Now he’s back and the chemistry between them is definitely there. He’s been hired on the ranch side of the business but when some employees retire, she hires him for the resort and things start heating up.
The day after Bodine’s mother got married, her sister Alice ran away from home. She never came back and Bodine and her brother never knew her. The story moves back and forth occasionally between Alice’s life and the rest of the family and the difference is stark, to say the least.
Bodine and Cal are out riding one morning when they find a woman’s body on the side of the road. It is one of the resort’s bartenders and she’s been murdered. Then a short time later another body turns up, and the small town sheriff has his hands full with the murders as well as his deputy who has some bad blood with Cal from when they were kids.
You can see the ending coming from a mile away and frankly, I wasn’t even looking so that was a bit of a disappointment. I’ve only read one other Nora Roberts book (I know, I know, she’s written well over 150 books!) and I loved that one (The Obsession) but this was one was just okay.
6/17 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™
COME SUNDOWN by Nora Roberts. St. Martin’s Press (May 30, 2017). ISBN 978-1250123077. 480p.
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RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Part 2
June 10, 2017Heroines: You Can Have It All Panel | RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Join best-selling authors who are known for crafting multidimensional, beloved heroines as they discuss how they create readers’ favorite book girlfriends. Featuring HelenKay Dimon, Alisha Rai, and Sonali Dev.
Balancing Romance and Suspense Panel | RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Bestselling authors discuss their forays into Romantic Suspense and the unique qualities that make this genre so popular. Featuring Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn), Shayla Black, and Lexi Blake.
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THE SUNSHINE SISTERS by Jane Green
June 9, 2017
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I always look forward to the new Jane Green book and she never disappoints. The Sunshine Sisters is a terrific read and the first beach read I’ve really enjoyed this year.
Ronni Sunshine is a movie actress of some renowned. As she gives birth to each of her three daughters, her life changes just a little bit. Luckily, her husband is happy to step up and be the parent while Ronni focuses on herself and her career. She is no one’s idea of a good mother and her kids all eventually figure that out.
The girls aren’t especially close as children and they drift further and further apart. Nell, the oldest, gets pregnant in college, drops out and the father takes off, leaving her to raise her son alone. She moves only 20 miles away to a farm, where she finds her happiness.
Meredith, the middle child, moves a bit further away – to England, where her grandparents are. She is convinced that she is fat and unloveable after a lifetime of her mother telling her so. She is engaged to a good looking but dreadful man, and her family can’t stand him.
The youngest, Lizzy, is a celebrity chef and the most like her mother, selfish and narcissistic. Her husband gave up his job to take care of their son and Lizzy repays his kindness by having an affair with her business partner.
Ronni demands all three children come home and when they do, they see that she looks awful. She tells them she is dying, wants to kill herself, and wants them all to bear witness. Needless to say, no matter how they feel about each other and their mother, none of them are on board with that idea. The week before the big event is supposed to happen brings the sisters together in a way they have never been before.
This is a compelling read with terrific characters. It was a one night read for me, so now I’m sorry, once again, that I have to wait a year for another Jane Green book. Take it to the beach and have fun.
6/17 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™
THE SUNSHINE SISTERS by Jane Green. Berkley (June 6, 2017). ISBN 978-0399583315. 384p.
Kindle
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RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Part 1
June 8, 2017If I couldn’t be there, (and I couldn’t,) this is the next best thing!
Seven Steps to Sensual Tension Panel | RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Authors Christi Barth and Laura Kaye discuss building the simmering attraction that keeps the readers furiously flipping the page. They look at not only creating moments, but stretching them, teasing both the characters and readers.
Romantic Suspense: Compelling Stories Panel | RT Booklovers Convention 2017 – Join some of the biggest names in Romantic Suspense for a lively panel on one of the hottest genres in publishing right now. Featuring Laura Kaye, Rebecca Zanetti, Julie Ann Walker, Karen Rose, Liliana Hart, and Eileen Dreyer.
More to follow so check back soon!
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THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND by Julia Quinn
June 7, 2017
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A Bridgertons Prequel: Rokesbys, Book 2
Cecelia Harcourt is in trouble. Her brother is in the army, fighting in the colonies when she gets a letter informing her that he has been injured and is in the hospital. Her father has just died, her mother died many years earlier, and a loathesome cousin has come sniffing around, trying to talk her into marrying him. He suspects he may inherit if her brother is dead, but Cecelia wants no part of him. She could go live with an aunt, but that doesn’t appeal either.
Instead, she gathers up the strength and the courage to sail to the colonies, try and find her brother and nurse him back to health. But when she finally arrives, no one seems to know where her brother is, he is presumed missing. But she does find her brother’s best friend, Captain Edward Rokesby. He is lying in a makeshift hospital and has been unconscious for a week after receiving a terrible head wound.
The doctor in charge won’t let her help Edward until she blurts out that she is his wife, and that changes everything. She is permitted to sit by his side and nurse him back and a few days later, he regains consciousness – along with amnesia. He has no memory of the previous few months.
Oh what a plot we weave when first we practice to deceive – and while deception seems to be at the heart of a lot of romance novels, Quinn’s expertise and experience really show here. The story is believable and compelling, and I finished it in one very late night. Another excellent read from a Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame author.
6/17 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™
THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND by Julia Quinn. Avon (May 30, 2017). ISBN: 978-0062388179. 384p.
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ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman
June 6, 2017
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Quirky, heartwarming books seem to be more abundant than ever and I couldn’t be happier. I generally will read anything that the Pamela Dorman imprint puts out. She finds a lot of these quirky books and is responsible for some bestselling authors you may have heard of, like Luanne Rice and Jojo Moyes, and one of my favorite books, Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal.
Eleanor Oliphant lives alone. She has some personality quirks, to say the least, and speaks to her mother on the phone every Wednesday night. It is never a pleasant conversation. She works in an office and has no friends or social life. My first assumption was that she was somewhere on the autism spectrum – but you know what they say happens when one assumes.
One day Raymond, the new IT guy, stops by her desk and is friendly. She doesn’t know quite what to make of him but agrees to have lunch with him, even though it disrupts her routine. They go outside and see an old man fall down. Raymond rushes to help but he is passed out, so they call for help and ride with him to the hospital.
That tenous connection is enough for Raymond and Eleanor to become friends, a new experience for Eleanor. Raymond is the perfect friend for Eleanor, easy going and undemanding. Eventually as they get to know each other, we get to know them too, especially Eleanor, and realize that she has had a horrendous life. It slowly unfurls as we get drawn deeper into her world, until the whole truth comes out. Raymond is there for her throughout and we can’t help but root for him to win the girl, damaged though she may be.
A lovely, funny novel that is truly unique and memorable. Don’t miss it.
6/17 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™
ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman. Pamela Dorman Books (May 9, 2017). ISBN 978-0735220683. 336p.
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Jeffrey Tambor: Landing my role on Arrested Development
June 3, 2017Jeffrey Tambor discusses how he landed the role of George Bluth, Sr. on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, and what he remembers from the show.
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