Hello
Fall has officially begun and publishers are pulling out all the stops to compete for coveted spots on the bestseller and best of year lists in the run up to the holiday season. Literally thousands of books were published this week, from which we have culled 34 just published books that we think are worthy of your note. Among these are five that our members have read for First Impressions and given the thumbs up to: Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart, The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell, Karolina's Twins by Ronald H. Balson, Ashes of Fiery Weather by Kathleen Donohoe and Underground Airlines by Ben Winters. We also have two vibrant Book Club discussions on the go for Circling The Sun by Paula McLain and Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta. I encourage you to explore both these excellent book club choices and, if you have read one or both, please do join us to discuss if you wish. Lastly, we round things off with the opportunity to win copies of Ron Rash's just published The Risen, and try your hand at our latest Wordplay. Thanks for reading! Your Editor, Davina
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 1. The BookBrowse Book Club
Circling the Sun: A Novel by Paula McLain
Published May 2016, 384 pages
The extraordinary adventures of a woman before her time, the exhilaration of freedom and its cost, and the tenacity of the human spirit.
Paula McLain, author of the phenomenal bestseller The Paris Wife, returns with her keenly anticipated new novel, transporting readers to colonial Kenya in the 1920s. Circling the Sun brings to life a fearless and captivating woman--Beryl Markham, a record-setting aviator caught up in a passionate love triangle with safari hunter Denys Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen, author of the classic memoir Out of Africa.
More about this book | Join the discussion |
 2. The BookBrowse Book Club
 Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
Published Sep 2016, 336 pages
Inspired by Nigeria's folktales and its war, Under the Udala Trees is a deeply searching, powerful debut about the dangers of living and loving openly.
Ijeoma comes of age as her nation does; born before independence, she is eleven when civil war breaks out in the young republic of Nigeria. Sent away to safety, she meets another displaced child and they, star-crossed, fall in love. They are from different ethnic communities. They are also both girls. When their love is discovered, Ijeoma learns that she will have to hide this part of herself. But there is a cost to living inside a lie.
More about this book | Join the discussion
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 3. First Impressions: Members Recommend Each month we give away books to U.S. resident members to read and review (or discuss). Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every three months. Here are their opinions on five recent releases.  Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: Sep 2016
Historical Fiction, 320 pages
Number of reader reviews: 23
Readers' consensus: 4.2/5.0
Members Say
"Ms Stewart weaves together a very interesting story based on historical events. In the continuation of Constance's story her character continues to develop, as well as those of the others. I find the author's notes especially interesting as she writes about some of the actual events that took place in the story. Great read!" - Mary B. (St Paul, MN)
"This mystery earns your attention with its pleasing manners, fun and amusing plots. But some dark currents underlie its froth. If you identify with Eve Rossi and V.I. Warshawsky, Phryne Fisher and Maisie Dobbs, you'll find a kindred but unique spirit in Constance Kopp." - Mariana W. (Bolton Landing, NY)
"I sure hope that Amy Stewart is busy writing more Constance Kopp adventures. What a fun, interesting book that is a fantastic follow-up to Girl Waits With Gun. The characters are all so interesting and fleshed-out." - Nikki M. (Fort Wayne, IN)
"Filled with action and adventure, this book is perfect for someone who loves crime novels." - Maggie P. (Mount Airy, MD)
More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
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4. First Impressions: Members Recommend
 The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Publication Date: Sep 2016
Novel, 304 pages
Number of reader reviews: 21
Readers' consensus: 3.8/5.0
Members Say "I was pulled into the story within the first five pages. The characters feel real and you can just imagine a magical place called Nowhere. Loved the story and the characters especially Catch. This could make a fun book club read with some really great paths for book clubs to venture and discuss." - Yvonne K. (Magnolia, TX) "This book was a lot of fun, but it will also teach a lesson or two to readers who are paying attention. I would love to live in a small town like Nowhere, especially if I had friends/neighbors like Catch, Ashe and the rest." - Barb W. (Mechanicsburg, PA) "I loved this book! A little magic, a great friendship and romance that will keep you reading until late in the night. Rachel Monroe moves to a small town named Nowhere, and finds more excitement than she even knew she was looking for. This would be a great read for women of all ages, I found it to be delightful!" - Debb R. (Grand Island, NE) More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie |
5. First Impressions: Members Recommend
 Karolina's Twins by Ronald H. Balson Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: Sep 2016
Historical Fiction, 320 pages
Number of reader reviews: 29
Readers' consensus: 4.4/5.0
Members Say "I knew I'd love this book from the very first page. Ronald Balson has written a compulsively readable book that will grip you and not let go until you've finished the last page. Even after that, the compelling story will stay with you. I wanted to jump into the pages and help Lena find the twins. Wonderful book!" - Carol R. (Foster City, CA) "Wow! A well-written book that was hard to put down. Although this is another book about the Holocaust, it was also a book about determination and finding love and joy amidst the horrors of the war. It is definitely a book I will consider for my senior book club. Love this book!" - Tillie "I know this is a novel, but it seemed SO REAL to me, and I shed many tears. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Catherine and her husband, Liam. They were perfect in their roles." - Diane D. (Blairstown, NJ) "I cannot recommend this book highly enough and as with Once We Were Brothers, a must read. It is a true picture of a time and history we must not forget." - Susan
More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie |
6. First Impressions: Members Recommend
 Ashes of Fiery Weather by Kathleen Donohoe Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: Aug 2016
Historical Fiction, 416 pages
Number of reader reviews: 17
Readers' consensus: 3.5/5.0
Members Say " Ashes of Fiery Weather captures the rich history of the lives of six Irish-American women - the wives, widows, daughters, nieces and cousins of Brooklyn, New York, firefighters at Glory Devlins station. When the firefighters rush to a fire, the women and children stand at their front windows with prayers and hope that all will come back. It is the stories of their lives over the generations, their relationships, their feelings and reactions to the lives of their love-ones lost to the events in New York. I enjoyed reading about these heroic, strong women who stand steadfast as their loved-ones risk their lives daily." - Marion C. (Litchfield, NH) "I liked this book. I liked the way the author tied in some history of firefighting in the Irish American community with present day real-world events (9/11). I liked the way she went into depth on the impact of the culture of fire fighting on several members of one family." - Jodi G. (Plymouth, MN) "The determination and strength of the women who raised their families after the loss of their firefighter husbands was amazing. I liked the closeness of the neighborhoods and how they took care of each other. I hope the author does a sequel to carry the story on." - Judith J. (Minoa, NY) "A compelling story, beautifully told!" - Kenan R. (Liberty, MO)
More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie |
7. First Impressions: Members Recommend  Underground Airlines by Ben Winters
Publisher: Mulholland
Publication Date: Jul 2016
Thriller, 336 pages
Number of reader reviews: 14
Readers' consensus: 4.6/5.0
Members Say "What if the abolition movement had failed? What if slavery was alive and well in the United States today? That's the brilliant premise the author uses to plot a really suspenseful thriller about a federal agent who is assigned to re-capture escaped slaves. Had this book not been a perfectly crafted thriller, it probably would've turned out to be a disappointing morality tale about the state of Racism in America. But Ben Winters really nails the suspense and I was transformed by how real this novel feels. This is the stunning narrative about a black man who must face his own fears to save us from a brutality we all know still exists. Brilliant and worth sharing with my students." - Stephen H. (Palo Alto, CA) "Aside from being one of the best suspense novels I have read, I came away with a new perspective on race from a black point of view." - Sherrie R. (Fort Worth, TX) "I found Underground Airlines to be absolutely fascinating. Usually I'm not much for alternate reality scenarios, but this one grabbed me from page one and didn't let go. Well done!" - Beth T. (Savannah, GA) "As I was reading this book, I was at first thinking 'there is no way this could actually happen in the 21st century'. But as I continued to read, I realized how many parallels there were to things that actually are happening, and I changed my mind. I highly recommend it." - Susan S. (Lafayette, CA) More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie |
 8. Published This Week
Interested to know what notable books published this week?
Click on any of the book jacket images to view info about the book on BookBrowse.
More Coming Soon
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 9. Wordplay
Solve our fiendish Wordplay puzzle, and be entered to win the book of your choice!
This week's Wordplay Solve this clue: "M Loves C" Enter now The answer to last Week's Wordplay: Manners M (T) M
"Manners make the man / Manners maketh man"
Today this expression broadly means that your mannerisms and characteristics make you who you are, that is to say people are judged by their manners and conduct. But in its earliest use, as manners maketh man, it likely had a broader meaning--that manners make us human - that politeness and etiquette are what prevent us from falling into savagery ... continued
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 10. Win This Book
 The Risen by Ron Rash
Published Sep 2016
272 pages
Enter the Giveaway
From the Jacket
When a shocking reminder of the past unexpectedly surfaces, Eugene is plunged back into that fateful summer, and the girl he cannot forget. The deeper he delves into his memories, the closer he comes to finding the truth. But can Eugene's recollections be trusted? And will the truth set him free and offer salvation ... or destroy his damaged life and everyone he loves?
Reviews
"Beyond the propulsion of Rash's thrilling whodunit plot is his characteristically excellent prose." - Publishers Weekly
"Rash pulls the reader in with an element of suspense injected into his astute exploration of the clash of cultures, past and present." - Booklist
5 people will each win a hardcover copy of The Risen.
This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only, unless you are a BookBrowse member, in which case you are eligible to win wherever you live.
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