Books of the Week: February 18th

Thanks for checking out Books of the Week! There are nine of us and we can't keep up with the many review requests we receive, even though we'd love to read everything sent our way. Therefore, we have decided to give some books their time in the spotlight and introduce you to them through this new blog feature. We will be featuring two books a week. We hope you will take the time to check these books out. (Click the titles to find them on Amazon.) If you read them and want to write a guest blogger review for us, please e-mail us and we'll be glad to work with you!

Authors: Please see our current review policy for more information about the Books of the Week feature. We now have a Book Shelf page, and it will eventually be replacing Books of the Week.
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First Sight
By Laura Donohue

Maddy Smith writes for a trendy website in Washington DC, has two fabulous best friends, and her own apartment. When her handsome new colleague Travis Emerson moves to town, Maddy soon finds herself wishing for something more. After a misunderstanding between them occurs, not only is her hope for a relationship ruined, but their friendship is in jeopardy as well.

Is any chance that Maddy had with Travis over? Or could he possibly be what she’s been looking for all along?

First Sight is $2.99 for Kindle.

Laura Donohue can be found on Facebook .

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Peaches for Father Francis
By Joanna Harris

Upon returning with her daughters Anouk and Rosette, Vianne discovers that everything and nothing has changed in the small village. Her adversary, Father Francis Reynaud, still feels persecuted and misunderstood—only this time he needs Vianne’s help. Her one-time best friend, Josephine, still has an ambiguous relationship with Vianne’s lover Roux, and, unbeknownst to Vianne, has an eight-year-old son born just days after Rosette. And Lansquenet itself has changed with the arrival of a large number of Moroccans. The cultural mix is welcomed by some and resented by others.

Ultimately, Vianne is left to unravel the mystery of newcomer Inés Bencharki, who is part of the new Muslim community and is stirring up things. Inés insists on dressing in the traditional full black veil, under which “she seems as impervious to hostility as she is to gossip, scandal or offers of friendship.” Tensions between these two communities reach a fever pitch and it’s up to Vianne to rescue Father Francis and to discover what’s really going on in Lansquenet before it’s too late.

Laslocky also includes suggested sound tracks for every broken-hearted stage, from the“Watching-It-All-Fall-Apart” mix to “It’s-Over-But-I-Still-Think-About-You”songs. Whether read in sections as a break-up slowly elapses or as a way to forget about your dateless Valentine’s Day, The Little Book of Heartbreak is the perfect salve for wounded hearts.

Joanne Harris can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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A Deal with a Stranger
By Martina Munzittu

Clara is happy with her life in Sardinia. She has a wonderful family, great friends, and most of all, Paolo, the boyfriend she adores. Summer is approaching, with its bright promises, and she knows that Paolo will propose soon. However, things turn out differently: Paolo leaves Clara, when she least expects it. Her whole world crumbles and from that point onwards, things start to take an unusual turn. Clara is approached by Lucilla, a mysterious girl who offers to help. She can win Paolo back for her, but in return, Clara has to fulfil a bizarre request. Nothing makes sense to Clara from then onwards, but she’s prepared to fight to get Paolo back. But everything comes at a price. How can Clara keep her double life hidden from family and friends? Who is, in reality, Lucilla? Can Clara really trust her? Will the reward justify all the struggles along the way?

A Deal with a Stranger is $2.99 for Kindle.

Martina Munzittu can be found on Facebook and Twitter.