From celebrity memoirs to presidential pasts, this week's new non fiction books are rich with anecdotes, fables, and facts. Be sure to add them to the top of your new books to read list.
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New York Times best selling authors Brandon Sanderson and George R.R. Martin have new releases out today! It may not be the new Song of Ic and Fire book, but it's better than nothing. Any new releases by these author legends are sure to be among the best new fantasy books 2015.
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A new book by Rainbow Rowell is out today! Both Rainbow's Carry On and fellow best selling author Patrick Ness' The Rest of us Just Live Here, are good books for young adults and adult alike!
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With a spin of a globe, Lana and Kitty escape their lives in England and journey to the Philippines. There they discover The Blue – a beautiful yacht manned by a group of wanderers. When they’re invited to join the crew they slip into an idyllic routine of sailing and snorkelling around the isolated islands of the Philippines, embracing a way of life that makes it easy to forget the secrets they left behind.
But the tide turns when death creeps quietly on deck. A dangerous swell of mistrust and lies threatens to bring the crew’s adventures to an end – but some won’t let paradise go . . . whatever the price.
You're hosting a dinner party and can invite anyone- alive or dead, fictional or real. Who's coming to dinner?
Tim Winton – he’s an author, surfer and environmentalist, and he’s one of my all-time favourite writers.
Stephen Fry – for his quick wit and intelligent humour.
Reese Witherspoon – I’d love to hear about her experience of shooting the film WILD.
Prince Harry – it’d be nice to add a dash of royalty to the occasion!
Jamie Oliver – sorry, Jamie, but you’re on cooking duty!
Which book from your childhood or teenage years has stuck with you? Why was it so impactful?
Forever by Judy Blume. Those kissing scenes as a teenager . . . wow!
BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?
To not need sleep. Think of all the incredible things you could do with those extra 8-hours a day!
What's on your writing desk? (We hear that your writing desk is sometimes a beach hut. We're jealous.)
Yes, I work in a beach hut on the south coast of England. The wooden hut is just twenty paces from the shore, which makes it my favourite place to write. My writing desk is always clear – all I have on it is a worn and tired Mulberry journal and a pencil. I always write my first draft of a new novel by hand.
What's rocking your world this month?
Green & Blacks organic butterscotch chocolate.
Which books are currently on your nightstand?
I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins, and THE LEMON GROVE by Helen Walsh.
Do you have a favorite quote or scene from THE BLUE?
“Somehow she knew these golden moments couldn’t stretch out endlessly. She yearned to press ‘pause’, to freeze this exact moment in her life and hold onto it tightly.”
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Step outside of your comfort zone – it’s where all the fun stuff happens.
What's on your bookshelves?
My book shelf actually spills over onto three different bookcases in our house, but the one I've photographed is the bookcase next to my desk. The top shelf is a display of different editions of my books; the second shelf is crammed with my favourite books; and the third shelf is full of journals, travel guides and maps.
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Our obsession with Stephen King books has been well documented. Stephen King books are terrifying, spine tingling, bone chilling works of awesome that we just can't stop reading. If you, like us, have read the vast majority of Stephen King's books, fear not. We put together a book list of new book releases to read if you're a fan of Stephen King books, and, because we can't stop with just one, we have another one here.
Detours
Various
Release Date: December 31, 2015
Why fans of Stephen King books will like it: it's a collection of stories and essays by your favorite authors (including Stephen King).
Saint Odd
Dean Koontz
Release Date: January 13, 2015
Why fans of Stephen King books will like it: this supernatural suspense is the final book in bestselling author Dean Koontz's unpredictable Odd Thomas series.
Abandon
Blake Crouch
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Why fans of Stephen King books will like it: Blake Crouch, author of the bestselling Wayward Pines series, is back with another creepy thriller that will dazzle Stephen King fans.
The Scarlet Gospels
Clive Barker
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Why fans of Stephen King books will like it: Stephen King himself endorses it, saying Clive Barker "makes the rest of us look like we've been asleep for the past ten years."
The Haunting of Gillespie House
Darcy Coates
Release Date: August 15, 2015
Why fans of Stephen King books will like it: Darcy Coates' most recent release is bone-chilling horror at its finest, featuring a haunted house.
The Preacher
Scott Nicholson
Release Date: July 11, 2015
Why fans of Stephen King books will like it: Scott Nicholson desivers terror in the same way that Stephen King books do - and it's wonderful.
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"Thrills" can mean multiple things when describing a romantic suspense novel, which is perhaps why they're so great. Romantic suspense books take the beautifully heartwarming parts of a great contemporary romance novel and combine them with the action-packed suspense of a thriller novel. The end result is something engaging and incredibly popular: a novel that is equal parts mystery and love story.
If you're a fan of romantic suspense books, you're in luck. Several of the best romantic suspense authors released new titles in the past few months, which means your list of books to read just got a little happier.
Beautiful Storm
Barbara Freethy
Release Date: October 1, 2015
Why read it: bestselling author Barbara Freethy brings her contemporary romance clout to this new suspenseful trilogy about a photographer who stumbles upon a missing persons case. Mystery and a brooding hero - what more could you ask for?
Perfect Touch
Elizabeth Lowell
Release Date: July 28, 2015
Why read it: Perfect Touch features a gorgeous scene on a ranch in the Grand Tetons - the perfect place to fall in love. Except for the double murder that just happened nearby.
Time for Hope
Anna Jacobs
Release Date: February 1, 2015
Why read it: imagine throwing out your cheating husband, only to discover his entaglement with organized crime in Europe - that is now putting your own life in danger. Luckily, Gabrielle has the help of an attractive PI.
The Silenced
Heather Graham
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Why read it: a fast-paced political thriller set in DC meets a beautiful romance in Heather Graham's new book. This is more psychological thriller than contemporary romance - so prepare to be on the edge of your seat (while swooning over Matt ang Meg's love story).
All the Beautiful Brides
Rita Herron
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Why read it: Cal Coulter, FBI special agent is investigating a murder in small-town Graveyard Falls - a murder that looks eerily similar to one that put a man in jail thirty years ago. Cal must protect Mona Monroe, the woman he's always loved, as she's pegged as the next target.
The Harbor
Carla Neggers
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Why read it: Carla Neggers is known for her skilled writing, which shines in this new release set in small-town Goose Harbor, Maine. Zoe West returns home to the small town only to meet special agent JB McGrath, who is looking for a killer who McGrath believes is hiding out in Goose Harbor.
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Beautiful Storm is the first book in my Lightning Strikes Trilogy. Lightning plays a significant role in each novel that features, love, romance, mystery and suspense. There's an over-arching mystery that plays out over the three books as well. In Beautiful Storm, Alicia Monroe is a news photographer by day and a storm chaser by night. She is obsessed with photographing lightning storms. In one of those storms, she captures a couple caught in a flash of lightning. They're fighting. The woman is screaming. When Alicia gets to the scene, she doesn't find a body, but she does find a military tag from a woman who has been missing for two months. That starts her adventure into Miami's Cuban-American community and takes her into arms of a sexy, moody stranger, who is also the prime suspect in the woman's disappearance.
Who are your literary heroes? Why do they inspire you?
I've been a voracious reader since I was a child, so my literary heroes have changes many times over the years. Currently, some of my favorite writers include Nora Roberts, Karen Robards, Carla Neggars, Dean Koontz and Kay Hooper. I love a good storyteller and all of these authors consistently deliver a great story.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
The best advice for me as a writer: Write the next book! The best advice for me in life: Stay in the moment as long as possible.
Who is your favorite fictional couple from literature?
Probably Scarlet and Rhett from Gone With The Wind as a classic couple.
Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?
A young adult fantasy novel called The Awakening by Anne Zoelle. Very cool story of magic and fantasy.
Say you're hosting a dinner party and can invite anyone in the world, alive or dead, fictional or real. Who's coming to dinner?
I'd have to invite some of the best writers of all time. I think Mark Twain, Stephen King and Nora Roberts would head my list. Fictional couples would have to include my Callaway family couples because I've spent the past three years creating their world, and I think we'd have a great time if they all came to life!
Where is your happy place? Why does it bring you joy?
I love the beach. There's something about the water, the constant push and pull of the tide, the endless horizon that always inspires me. It makes the world feel much bigger to me and takes me away from my personal problems.
What's your favorite quote from Beautiful Storm?
He stared into her bright, sparkling eyes and felt an incredible pull. This woman was turning his life upside down, taking him out of the darkness and moving him toward a very hopeful light. His nerves were on fire. His pulse was pounding. And he wasn't thinking about the notes anymore, but about the woman standing in front of him, the woman with the heart of a lion and the mouth of a goddess.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today.
Barbara Freethy is the author of the new book Beautiful Storm.
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The Martian Movie comes out TODAY! If you haven't built up enough excitement for it, just watch The Martian trailer. The Martian was a great book for a number of reasons: the allure of astronauts, the dangerous situations, the struggle of man against overwhelming odds, Mark Watney's unbreakable humor, the NASA team doing their darndest, and maybe even a glimpse of the future.
Unfortunately for us, this isn't a book that's likely to have a sequel. What are some books to read after The Martian? We've compiled a book list based on the criteria above.
Note: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.
The Right Stuff- Thomas Wolfe: NASA is incredibly prepared and advanced in The Martian, but they didn't begin that way. This highly acclaimed non-fiction account allows a unique insight into the lives of aviations most brilliant, reckless, and brave pilots set to a task very different from the flights before. Sitting on a stack of explosives and getting rocketed into the atmosphere? It takes a lot to do that, and this is the story of the people who had, well, the right stuff.
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage- Alfred Lansing: Survival. Humans have been surviving for a couple thousand years. Some have been better at it than others. Mark Watney was faced with an incredibly unique experience. Many explorers had similar situations. One of them was Polar Explorer Ernest Shackleton, a man who set a large number of records exploring the South Pole. This story recounts his attempted expedition to cross Antarctica overland, and the struggle to survive after their ship was first ice packed, then crushed. It may not take place in space, but there are still places on Earth nearly as inhospitable as Mars. Get ready to hold your breath for a few pages.
Into the Wild- Jon Krakauer: Mark Watney didn't choose to live off the land, but he wouldn't have survived without his agricultural ingenuity. With no surface life, foraging was out of the question. Into the Wild is nearly the exact opposite: a young man escapes society to live off the land. But the goals of the protagonists are one in the same, and their ingenuity is similar, even if the outcome is much different. The story of Christopher McCandless received a lot of attention when it was adapted to film in 2007, so if you've only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and check the book out.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams: Part of The Martian's enjoyment value comes from its main character, and Mark Watney is quite the character. From the boasts of his Martian feats to his hatred of disco, Andy Weir made a convincing character that could laugh in the worst of times. Space isn't generally a place for humor, but the author made room for it on the desert planet. If you appreciated the laughs and you're looking for books to read like The Martian, the answer is 42--I mean, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. A completely ridiculous romp across space, time, and restaurants, you won't regret this read. Just remember to bring your towel.
Marketing the Moon: The Selling of the Apollo Lunar Program- David Meerman Scott and Richard Jurek: The NASA depicted in The Martian has trouble with funding even through its the process of launching missions to Mars. An overwhelming show of international public support helps them overcome financial difficulties to rescue Astronaut Mark Watney. The history of America's support for space missions had its peak during the Apollo missions. This book reccounts how NASA effectively sold the government, the media, and the public on the Lunar Missions.
Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier- Neil De Grasse Tyson: Mark Watney was able to do some incredible things to survive on a lethal planet. For a long time he made an inhospitable host planet into a habitable home. It wasn't easy, but with a lot of knowledge and skill, he lived. With the recent discovery of water on Mars, a colonization effort doesn't seem like such a distant possibility. Neil De Grasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and cosmologists, wrote this book about the sad state of America's current Space Agency. It might not be adventure packed or harrowing, but it offers the view of an incredible future.
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The best part about a paranormal romance series? The fun doesn't stop at the end of a book. There are plenty more vampires and warewolves and witches and faeries in the next installment. We're excited about the love stories in these paranormal romance novels. We scoured the web to find the best new books in the best paranormal romance series - all new in 2015. Check out our book list below!
If you're looking for even more new books, check out our post on books to read by authors like Gena Showalter, Anne Rice, Christine Feehan, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Nora Roberts!
The Dark Ones
Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: October 1, 2015
What you'll find in this paranormal romance series: vampires, werewolves, immortals, great story line.
Dead Ice
Laurell K. Hamilton
Release Date: June 9, 2015
What you'll find in this paranormal romance series: vampire hunters, zombies, souls in danger.
Dragonbane
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: August 4, 2015
What you'll find in this paranormal romance series: demons, devils, dragons, werewolves... anything you can imagine!
Dark Ghost
Christine Feehan
Release Date: September 1, 2015
What you'll find in this paranormal romance series: vampires, vampire hunters, lifemates, sexy scenes.
Sweet Ruin
Kresley Cole
Release Date: December 1, 2015
What you'll find in this paranormal romance series: foundlings, vampires, valkyries, steamy romance.
The Shadows
JR Ward
Release Date: March 31, 2015
What you'll find in this paranormal romance series: urban fantasy, destiny, brooding brothers.
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We got the chance to chat with Kristan Higgins about her new book IF YOU ONLY KNEW. Read our interview below, and enter to win a copy of the new Kristan Higgings book here!
This is the story of two sisters, both at a crossroads. Jenny is a wedding dress designer trying to get over her rather perfect ex-husband. She’s in love with love, a true believer, and she can’t quite figure out what went wrong. Her penchant to fall in love hard and fast isn’t helping her; she’s a little fixated on her downstairs neighbor, Leo, who tells her flat-out he’s not for her. Jenny’s older sister, Rachel, seems to have the secret to a happy life nailed; Rach is a stay-at-home mom to triplet daughters and absolutely loves her life…until she finds out her husband is sexting with a coworker.
IWho are your literary heroes? Why do they inspire you?
Like every other human, I love Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (haven’t read Go Set a Watchman, and I probably won’t because…well, I like Atticus perfect). Atticus unfailingly does what’s right, even at the cost of his own friendships and place in the community. His loneliness hits me right in the heart, and yet he’s never ruled by it. I also love Scarlett O’Hara because, despite (and because of) her flaws, she’s always able to do what no one else can. Her courage never fails her. Sure, she’s emotionally stunted, but she gets the job done, even when the job is impossible.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Don’t use your teeth as tools. Oh, did you mean writing advice? Or moral advice? Writing advice would be from Cindy Gerard: Keep your head down and do your thing. In other words, don’t be influenced too much by the sound and fury around you. Listen to your own heart and mind instead. And moral advice…well, moral example would be more accurate. My grandfather was a brilliant, thoughtful, quiet man. In all my life, I never heard him say something unkind about another person.
Who is your favorite fictional couple from literature?
Oh, that’s a tough one! I have so many…today, I’ll go with Emma and Mr. Knightly from Jane Austen’s Emma. They know each other so well, they’re friends, and when Emma is unkind, Mr. Knightly calls her on it, and boy, she feels it! (Also, I have a crush on Jeremy Northam, who played him in the movie, so that doesn’t hurt.)
Say you're hosting a dinner party and can invite anyone in the world, alive or dead, fictional or real. Who's coming to dinner?
Abraham Lincoln, Tina Fey, Bridget Jones, Teddy Roosevelt, Mindy Kaling, David Sedaris and my husband, because he would be so mad if I had all these great people over and he didn’t get to come.
What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?
My family. Sorry to be so predictable, but it’s true! My kids are everything to me, and my husband is my absolute best friend in the world.
What's your favorite quote from IF YOU ONLY KNEW?
“You okay, Charlie Sheen?” It’s when the hero meets the heroine when she’s having a rather bad day.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
I never really thought of it until this question…we don’t have family crest or anything other than “Eat dessert.” But in thinking about it, I’d say this: Hope for the best. Work hard. Smile. Life is pretty great if you can do those things.
Kristan Higgins is the author of the new book If You Only Knew.
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