Sophie Littlefield's Dystopian Series has a Rebirth!

Harlequin Luna released the second book in Sophie Littlefield's dystopian series today. According to Red Hot Books, Rebirth is "Absolutely mesmerizing...hauntingly beautiful...even more powerful than its predecessor."

Cass Dollar beat terrible odds to get her missing daughter back—she and Ruthie will be happy. Yet with the first winter, Cass is reminded that happiness is fleeting in Aftertime. Ruthie retreats into silence. Flesh-eating Beaters still dominate the landscape. And Smoke, Cass's lover and strength, departs on a quest for vengeance, one that may end him even if he returns.

The survivalist community leader, Dor, implores Cass to help him recover his own lost daughter, taken by the totalitarian Rebuilders. And soon Cass finds herself thrust into the dark heart of an organization promising humanity's rebirth—at all costs. 

If you haven't had a chance to check out the Sophie's novella, Survivors, that takes place between Aftertime and Rebirth, you can read about it and download it here for free.

For more information about Sophie Littlefield, her dystopian series or any of her other books, check out her website.

Can you solve the Dominance puzzle?

Alex Shipley is a professor at Harvard; she made her name as a member of Richard Aldiss's night class, taught from his prison cell. Alex exposed the truth of notoriously reclusive author Paul Fallows's identity, and in the process uncovered information that acquitted Aldiss of the heinous double murder for which he was convicted. But when a fellow night class alum is murdered—the body chopped up with an axe and surrounded by Fallows novels—can she use what she knows of Fallows and the Procedure to stop a killer before each of her former classmates is picked off, one by one?

Will Lavender is back with his "puzzle-within-a-thriller" style that first earned him a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list. Dominance, his second novel, is hailed as "Twisty and turny, with all kinds of side roads" by Kirkus. And Publishers Weekly finds it to have "Full-bodied characters, an effective Gothic atmosphere, and a deliciously creepy, unpredictable finale."

If you love a good psychological thriller, you aren't going to want to miss Will Lavender's Dominance. Check out his website for more information.

Today you can unlock The Vault!

Boyd Morrison's The Vault is available today from Touchstone. His newest thriller involves an ancient puzzle, a ruthless mastermind and the curse of a legendary treasure.

Tyler Locke's routine commute on a Washington State ferry is interrupted by a chilling anonymous call claiming that his father has been kidnapped and that a truck bomb is set to detonate on board in twenty minutes. When Tyler reaches the bomb on the boat's car deck, he's stunned to find classical languages expert Stacy Benedict waiting for him. She's received the same threat and her sister has also been taken. In order to disarm the bomb, they must work together to solve an engineering puzzle—a puzzle written in ancient Greek. Preventing the explosion is only the first step. They soon learn the entire setup is a test created by a ruthless criminal who forces them to go on a seemingly impossible mission: uncover the legendary lost riches of King Midas.

In its starred review, Publishers Weekly said The Vault is "[An] electrifying blend of history, myth, and science." And bestselling author Steve Berry said The Vault is "another smart, sassy tale fraught with action." Sounds like the perfect book to pick up for your beach bag. There's still plenty of sunny, summer weather left to enjoy The Vault.

Learn more about Boyd and his novels or listen to an audiobook excerpt of The Vault at his website.

Lisa Desrochers' demons have been released!

Original Sin, Lisa Desrochers' second book in her Young Adult Frannie Cavanaugh/Luc Cain series, is available today from Tor Teen.

In Original Sin Luc and Frannie discover you can't desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly they find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc's allies. 

Paul Goat Allen of Barnes & Noble called Personal Demons, the first book in the series, "Twilight with a soul." Now's your chance to see just why. Check out Original Sin. You can find more information about the books and Lisa at her website.

Unlock The Secrets of James Barney's The Genesis Key

Today James Barney makes his fiction debut with HarperCollins' release of The Genesis Key in mass market paperback. In the book Steve Barry calls "remarkable and unconventional,"

Dr. Kathleen Sainsbury stands on the brink of a miraculous breakthrough: the discovery of a gene that could extend human life by hundreds of years. But at the moment of her greatest triumph, a mysterious phone call reveals a hidden truth that draws chaos and violence into her world . . . and threatens to irreversibly alter the destiny of human kind.

John Hart says James Barney is "a welcome player in a crowded field." I'll personally second that sentiment since I'm engrossed in The Genesis Key right now. It's captivating and intriguing, going well beyond just entertaining. You can check out more about James Barney and The Genesis Key at his website.

The Genesis Key is a perfect book to pick up for your summer beach bag. Be sure to grab your copy today!

Katherine Easer Makes Her Debut!

Congratulations to xuni author, Katherine Easer, whose debut young adult novel Vicious Little Darlings is released today from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.

Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls college. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting—and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong?

Find out more about Katherine and Vicious Little Darlings at Katherine's website. Then help us celebrate the start of a long and prosperous writing career.

Irene Kelly Book #10 Hits Stores Today!

There is great cause for celebration! It's the first day of summer and Jan Burke returns with her newest Irene Kelly novel.

Disturbance finds Irene facing an old enemy: serial killer Nick Parrish, who is connected to the outside world through an online group of misguided fans that calls itself The Moths.

Irene has other upheaval to contend with. The newspaper where she has worked most of her adult life is shutting down. Being a reporter has been more than a job—it has been a bone-deep part of her identity.

She's tough and resilient, but this is a blow that leaves more than a bruise. Can she reinvent herself, or even find the will to do so?

Nick Parrish may not give her time to answer that question. He's back. And he's not alone.

Be sure to check out the book Booklist is calling "Tautly written and suspenseful." Available today in hardcover from Simon and Schuster.

You can learn about Jan Burke, Disturbance and more at Jan's website.

Good Day for a New Bad Day

Happy release day to Sophie Littlefield! Today, A Bad Day for Scandal, the third in her award-winning Stella Hardesty series, comes out from St. Martin's Minotaur.

When big-city businesswoman Priss Porter returns to town with a body in her trunk, she expects Stella to dispose of it for her. She's even got a snapshot of Stella doing what she does best—curing woman-beaters by the use of force—in case Stella needs convincing. But Stella refuses to cooperate, only to hear later that Priss has gone missing. Stella is implicated when Sheriff "Goat" Jones discovers a scarf she left behind.

Since I've found the previous two Stella novels to be must reads, A Bad Day for Scandal is most definitely on my list. You can find more information and an excerpt at Sophie's website. Then take Kirkus' advice:

"Fans of quirky mysteries need to grab a Littlefield pronto."

Unearthing Secrets in THE REVENANT

Knopf debuts Sonia Gensler's THE REVENANT today. In 1896 Willemina Hammond is seventeen and eager to leave her family's farm in Tennessee, so she fakes her identity and heads off to teach at the Cherokee Female Seminary where she finds refined young ladies, prejudice and ghosts. Her grand scheme to escape the farm may turn out to be her death warrant.

Booklist calls THE REVENANT "A compelling ghost and love story... The uncommon setting and time period add to the appeal."

To learn more about the real Cherokee Female Seminary, Sonia Gensler and THE REVENANT, check out Sonia's website

Crush Control out today!

Congratulations to Jennifer Jabaley whose young adult fantasy novel, Crush Control, releases today in mass market paperback from Penguin Group.

Seventeen-year-old Willow is using hypnosis to get what she wants, but you don't have to resort to such measures. Simply pick up a copy from your favorite bookseller and enjoy!

You can learn more about Jennifer and her novels at her website.

The Secret of the White Rose Unveiled Today

THE SECRET OF THE WHITE ROSE, Stefanie Pintoff's third book in her Edgar® Award-winning Simon Ziele/Alistair Sinclair historical mystery series releases today from St. Martin's Minotaur.

In this go around, Ziele and Sinclair try to stop a witch hunt that is ignited by the murder of a judge.

THE SECRET OF THE WHITE ROSE has earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. And Marilyn Stasio from the New York Times says,

"Pintoff delivers a rousing and admirably fair account of the anarchist movement that was unnerving the city at this time."

This is a must-read series and I'm anxious to pick up my copy. Learn more about Stefanie's great series at her website and check out THE SECRET OF THE WHITE ROSE today!

Pittsburgh Noir out Today!

Kathleen George contributes to and edits an impressive line-up of Pittsburgh natives, including Stewart O'Nan, Hilary Masters, Reginald McKnight, K.C. Constantine, Lila Shaara, Nancy Martin, Kathleen George, and many others, in PITTSBURGH NOIR, a short story collection that pays homage to the various neighborhoods that make up the city of "black and gold."

Published by Akashic Books, PITTSBURGH NOIR is available today in paperback. Check out Kathleen's website for more information.

Adam Mitzner makes his debut!

Adam Mitzner's debut legal thriller, A Conflict of Interest, debuts today from Gallery.

Alex Miller is asked to represent a family friend in a high-profile brokerage scam. As Alex digs to find the truth, he discovers more than he was prepared for.

Bestselling author Perri O'Shaughnessy says A Conflict of Interest is

"A heady combination of Patricia Highsmith and Scott Turow, here's psychological and legal suspense at its finest. Adam Mitzner's masterful plotting begins on tiptoe and morphs into a sweaty gallop, with ambiguity of character that shakes your best guesses, and twists that punch you in the gut. This novel packs it. A terrific read!"

With a starred review from Publishers Weekly and a spot on the Indie Next List Great Reads, this is a crime novel I know I'm excited to pick up. You can check out Adam's website for an excerpt and more information.

Dr. Andrea Bonior's debut book, The Friendship Fix, is out today -- and I can't wait to read it! Not that I need, you know, any help in that arena. I have awesome friends! :)

Here's a bit about the book:
The Friendship Fix is the first book to delve into aspects of friendship such as how your personality shapes what friends you fall for, how social networking has revolutionized friendship, how friendship affects your health, and how to avoid common pitfalls and complications.

Kirkus says:
"A clinical psychologist cleanly dissects friendships in a surprisingly entertaining manner. In her debut, Bonior (Psychology/Georgetown Univ.) dispenses smart advice, flush with wit and sarcasm, aimed at women grappling with their relationships ...taken from clinical to fabulous."

Besides all that, Andrea is just a wonderful woman!

Check it out!
maddee

Marcia Clark's Making Her Fiction Debut!

Marcia Clark first grabbed headlines as the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial. Now she's grabbing headlines as a thriller writer. She combines her sharp wit with her first-hand knowledge of the L.A. legal system to create Guilt by Association, a debut novel which has garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Kirkus Reviews!

James Ellroy declares:

"You must read this book: it is wildly and complexly plotted, ebulliently witty and filled with riotous humor; it details the inner workings of the L.A. legal system with unprecedented accuracy and verve—and to top it off, it is a damn, damn, good thriller."

This is the first publication for Mulholland Books, which is off to an auspicious start.  Check out Marcia's website for more fun information and pick up the book today!

Adam Bryant's The Corner Office

You may already know xuni.com author Adam Bryant as the Pulitzer Prize-winning deputy national editor of The New York Times. If you read the Sunday Business section of the Times, you may also be familiar with his column "The Corner Office." Times Books has now released his book, The Corner Office, which is a result of his analysis of more than 70 of the interviews with CEOs and other leaders used to create those columns.

The result is a book that Distinguished Professor of Business at the University of Southern California, Warren Bennis, calls

"The first and perhaps only book I would recommend to any aspiring or sitting leader for its wise and practical distillation of lessons for exemplary leadership. It is the best, most reliable GPS/road map, currently available, for successful leadership."

You never know when you may be called on to lead others. Knowing how the best in the business do it successfully can benefit us all. Check out Adam Bryant's website and grab your copy of The Corner Office today!