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May 2013 Movers & Shakers

Here are the noteworthy titles that have been racing up our most popular charts this month.

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want to read

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want to read

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Goodreads voice | Popular this month

Giveaways

Michal's Window
by Rachelle Ayala (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Mar 29, 2013

In ancient Israel, where women are property, Princess Michal loves her father's worst enemy, the future King David. She sacrifices everything to save…more

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Giveaway dates: May 05 - May 30, 2013

2 copies available, 328 people requesting

Countries available: US

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Top Reviews This Week

Allison's review of Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, #13) by Charlaine Harris

"I think the most interesting thing that will come of this series might be a new word. A word readers will forever use to describe a series, that while compelling and wonderful at it's inception, faltered under the weight of an irrational author. You...more I think the most interesting thing that will come of this series might be a new word. A word readers will forever use to describe a series, that while compelling and wonderful at it's inception, faltered under the weight of an irrational author. You can say: The author Harrised the series. (Or, "the book was Harrised," would be acceptable too...)

It is with great sadness I have to report, history did prove the predictor of fate, and the three preceding books delineated into the final wet slap on the pavement. Another of Harris' literary turds was birthed. But TS Eliot was not right, the Sookie Stackhouse Universe did not end with a whimper: It was an apathetic shrug.

There are spoilers ahead, many, many, spoilers.

I know there are forensic psychologists, and forensic accountants, and forensic anthropologists, and -- well -- it goes on and on. Are there forensic editors? Or would it be a forensic novelist? Maybe we need just a plain 'ol detective? Because I don't know how you go from writing a great paranormal romance, beloved by millions, to this piece of crap novel. There has to be some covert, publishing house, HBO royalties, Amazon agreement, kind of reason, to make any logical sense of this book...

I just can't understand why she ended it the way she did! This is Pulp Fiction. Not Marquez. Not Franzen. Hell, it's not even George R R Martin. Am I crazy? There is a social contract between the readers/buyers of romance novels and the novelists who write them. It's this: the girl ends up with the guy about whom and for which legions of fans have been pining. It's the reason we pick up romance novels in the first place. We want to read about a coupling so intense, it speaks to a deep place inside of us, an atavistic need to be consumed by lust, passion and love. That is the social contract. ....So why at the end of this pulp romance series did I feel like I was reading The White Hotel? It. Was. Awkward. (...and creepy. Just to warn you, there is a sex scene. It's bad. Like - we should report it to the school's psychologist - bad...)

I mean, I see how Ms. Harris painted herself into a corner with Sookie and Eric, but that's the beauty of fiction, especially pulp fiction -- you can paint yourself right out. There's no shame in it, because -- we already know it's crap fiction. But it's fun crap fiction, so it's okay, there's no judgement... HERE WATCH ME DO IT!

"Oh hey Sookie, It's me, Niall, I'm back. I heard that you used that magic fairy thing I gave you in a selfless act. So guess what? Here's another. Because you're so cute. And blonde. Now you can wish that all vampires revert back to their human state." (Which, by the way, would have been the kindest thing for which any person could have wished.) "Oh really, great grand daddy, thanks, now Eric's not shooting blanks and we can make many, many babies together. And we can watch a bunch of thousand year old people try to revert back into their humanity. Which would have been way more interesting than reading about me and Sam going FUCKING LINE DANCING!"

As for a review: here goes. It's another bad story. Very thin plot with so many holes. There is a whole villain in this novel that goes totally unrevealed. Literally Harris forgets about him (remember the devil - that wasn't Claude, right?). Um... there are a lot of casseroles - again. Poor fashion choices. A lot of Goodbyes, I guess, Harris is using this book to say a final goodbye to all of these characters. So for that reason there are a lot of scenes that do nothing to advance the thread of a story. There is some other stuff, but...it...was...too boring to remember.

If you want my advice on whether or not to read it, I say do. I mean if you read the first 12, you should finish what you started and finish the series. A least you can accomplish something that the author couldn't....but borrow the book.

(less)"
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Lauren Willig

Her Favorite Historical Romances: Pert heroines and adorable rakes indulge in naughty liaisons in these recs from the author of the new saga The Ashford Affair.

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