Stella Bain, Anita Shreve's 17th novel, is set before and during World War I and focuses on the eponymous protagonist's amnesiac confusion and her struggle to reclaim a life forsaken in a quest for justice.

We meet "Stella" in a field hospital on the French coast in March 1916, suffering from shrapnel wounds and memory loss. Recovering from her injuries, she adopts her name with no memory of who she really is or why she has volunteered as a nurse's aide with the Royal Army medical team. She has an American accent and no understanding of France or England. Well enough to travel, she decides London might offer clues. Arriving ill and aimless, she's rescued by a kind-hearted doctor and his wife.

Stella's fortunes turn as Dr. Bridge helps her search for her past. Her determination is rewarded when an American sees her and calls her Etna Bliss--at that moment, her memory is restored. But a bigger battle looms. She recalls what drove her to leave New Hampshire and abandon her life as a mother and wife of an abusive, power-seeking academic to volunteer at the front.

Stella/Etna is a talented, independent woman ahead of her time, and Shreve maintains the tension as Etna wages a legal battle, establishes her career and regains a family. Stella Bain spares no details in its homage to women who had to fight for justice--it's a well-crafted and engrossing story from one of the country's most established novelists. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller, Book Passage, San Francisco

Many contemporary novelists have tried to continue the story of Pride & Prejudice, but none have quite reached the heights of the original. Joanna Trollope takes a different approach, reinterpreting Sense & Sensibility in much the same way as Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet. In appealing to modern audiences while keeping true to the spirit of Jane Austen, she largely succeeds.

Trollope's sense has the appearance of the logical and industrious, while sensibility becomes artsy, liberal-minded passion. The settings of Norland and Barton remain largely the same, but the Dashwood sisters are now smart, 21st-century versions of their Austenian counterparts, well-versed in the intricacies of social media. Less so the men: while the jovially magnanimous Sir John Middleton and the self-serving John Dashwood are exact replicas of their characters, Trollope has reduced Willoughby to a cold-hearted, two-timing Casanova and promoted veteran Bill Brandon to a love-struck do-gooder with a heart of gold, absent his darker mood swings. Edward Ferrars, whom Hugh Grant played with such bumbling aplomb in the movie, appears even more incompetent in matchmaking in Trollope's reimagining, while brother Robert receives a stereotypically gay makeover as a flamboyant interior designer.

Diehard Janeites will likely find travesty in Trollope's faithful rendition of Austen's cleverly constructed storyline; the prose is not as crisp and Trollope relies more on interior soliloquies to communicate class divides. Yet Trollope works just enough magic into her modernization to recommend readers back to Austen's masterpiece. --Nancy Powell, freelance writer and technical consultant

The politics and economics of alternative energy are filtered through one family's story in Lamar Herrin's Fractures. In a small town above the Marcellus Shale, retired architect Frank Joyner may be the last holdout against the oil-and-gas companies looking to set up derricks and release the natural gas contained in the shale's deep underground pockets. The potential environmental impact of hydrofracking and the disruptiveness of drilling operations haven't deterred many of Frank's neighbors from leasing their land to a developer, and his public statements of ambivalence haven't endeared him to some of them.

Although the decision to lease the Joyners' hundred acres to a gas company ultimately rests with Frank, members of his family are on both sides; whatever choice he makes is likely to alienate someone. The Joyners have some experience with that, however, which becomes apparent as Herrin explores their complicated relationships. There's obviously love between them, but the hurts and hostilities simmering underneath become clear as the novel moves toward its stunning, tragic climax.

As the perspective shifts among several characters, including Frank, his children, Jen and Mickey, and gas-company landman Kenny Brewster, each develops complexity and are fully realized. Herrin draws an obvious metaphor between family dynamics and fracking, but it's effective--and rendered with such empathy and emotional honesty that readers may be reluctant to choose sides. --Florinda Pendley Vasquez, blogger at The 3 R's Blog: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness

Tatiana is the seventh installment in Martin Cruz Smith's popular Arkady Renko mystery series, which began in 1981 with Gorky Park. As with many of its predecessors, the novel draws from contemporary headlines; this time, Cruz takes inspiration from the 2006 assassination of Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya.

Tatiana opens in Kaliningrad, an isolated seaport town on the Baltic Sea. Joseph, a translator, is riding his bicycle when he's approached by a butcher's van. As he's seized, his notebook--the pages of which look "as if someone had poured out the contents of a typographer's box and tossed in gnostic symbols"--is tossed away.

In Moscow, the news is that Tatiana Petrovna, a fearless journalist and supporter of lost causes, has committed suicide. Renko visits her apartment, talks to a few people and becomes convinced she was murdered. He wants to examine her body, but it has disappeared. A Russian mob boss, Grisha Grigorenko, was killed just before Tatiana's death. Could the two deaths and Joseph's kidnapping be connected? Renko thinks Joseph's notebook has some answers and he enlists the help of his former ward, Zhenya, a chess master, to decode it.

Smith writes with the assured confidence of a master storyteller working with material he knows well as he draws us deeply into modern Russia's corrupt and dissolute world. --Tom Lavoie, former publisher

Apocalypse is at hand, and it's up to Roen Tan and his alien companion Tao to save the day. When The Lives of Tao, Wesley Chu's comedic, action-packed debut, ended, Roen had saved and married Jill, the woman of his dreams. But as the sequel opens, Roen and Jill are separated, yet still engaged in the battle to save humanity from the alien Genjix--Roen as a renegade, Jill as a political operative in Washington, D.C.

In The Deaths of Tao, two alien factions are battling for the fate of humankind. The Prophus--the faction to which Tao belongs and which is served by Roen and Jill--aim to propel humanity's technological progress to a level at which it becomes possible to return the aliens to their home planet, from which they have been exiled. Until now, the opposing Genjix have sought to promote progress, too, but they believe warfare facilitates innovation--thus, their goal has been to incite global conflict. Now, however, the Genjix no longer want to return to their planet--they've discovered that global warming would make Earth hospitable to their kind.

Roen's desperate mission sends him to Taiwan, where myriad battles ensue as Prophus armies clash with those of the Genjix. Aided by her own alien companion, Baji, Jill strives to stop the Genjix through political channels. In the foreground of these conflicts is the bittersweet tangle of their relationship.

The Deaths of Tao preserves the caustic banter and suspenseful battle scenes that made its predecessor enjoyable, and leaves the door open for another sequel. --Ilana Teitelbaum, book reviewer at the Huffington Post

A recap of the frenetic weeks between his selection as the inaugural poet for Barack Obama's second presidential term and his reading at the ceremony as well as an elaboration of how his life is reflected in the poem he read there, For All of Us, One Today is an uplifting reminder of the best of the U.S.

Blanco was the youngest of all the inaugural poets, as well as the first Latino, the first immigrant and the first openly gay poet invited to address the nation at the ceremony. As he thought about what he wanted his poem to say, Blanco asked himself: "What do I love about America?" Composing the three poems the inaugural committee required, he thought about the courage of his parents, coming from Cuba to the U.S. in 1968, the acceptance and sense of community he and his husband, Mark, felt when they moved to Maine and the place of poetry in the national consciousness.

Besides Blanco's thoughts as he wove such lofty themes into his poems (which are presented in both English and Spanish), he shares light, personal anecdotes such as how his husband built an outdoor podium so that, with a snowman audience, Blanco could practice speaking in the January cold of Washington, D.C. Culminating in details of the inauguration ceremony and the public acclaim that followed, Blanco's memoir is an inspiring celebration of the United States. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller, Book Passage, San Francisco

For decades, most companies have marketed while thinking only of the "right hook"--the knockout blow that will hit potential customers directly and, ideally, encourage them to buy a product or service.

In Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, however, social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk maintains that the knockout strategy isn't suited to sparring in a social media world. While customers were at one time content to accept the "right hooks" of billboards, commercials and print ads, social media has given them an unprecedented power they have seized with zeal.

Customers, Vaynerchuk notes, no longer want to listen to the message; now, they want to interact with it and spar with the messengers. The result is a world in which a series of "jabs" by marketers to draw in customers before landing the "right hook" of the sale is key. Social media channels are the way to deliver--if companies know how to handle them.

In a book that combines the best of previous books like Crush It! and The Thank You Economy, Vaynerchuk clarifies that in a social media-driven world, context matters. Communication in marketing, while vital, must also be adapted to the specific social media platforms and mobile devices on which it will be consumed. With a wealth of easily applied tips and clear examples, Vaynerchuk explains how to make the most of marketing on social media in an ever noisier world. --Dani Alexis Ryskamp, blogger at The Book Cricket

Charles Eisenstein's The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible presents a brave and challenging new paradigm for living that combines a rarified spiritual vision with a pragmatic eye and scientific outlook.

Eisenstein confronts many of the prevailing myths and attitudes about life at the beginning of the 21st century, mainly focusing on the mess we've made of the environment. He calls our old methods of coping with issues a model of "separation" and says it will lead only to increased societal breakdown and personal angst. In their place, he offers "interbeing"--a world view he feels is a more accurate reflection of our own true nature.

Eisenstein's radical theory, supported by modern physics and classical Buddhist and Vedic cosmology, is that we are all at our core connected; our smallest gestures, daily activities and even our attitudes have great consequences. Eisenstein skillfully highlights the burn-out our best and brightest problem-solvers suffer when they are drawn into the maw of social engagement, and observes how contemporary snark and cool indifference limits spiritual growth and inhibits the potential for change.

The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible is an uplifting vision of one possible future for mankind, if we can just slow down long enough to see the connections and embrace them. --Donald Powell, freelance writer

Graphic designer, blogger and knitter Emma Robertson loves mood boards, bright colors, vintage fashion photos and bold knitted accessories. These elements come together in her first book, Knitting by Design, which includes 15 projects ranging from chunky color-block mittens to a slinky dip-dyed ombré tank top.

Robertson's playful esthetic and her love of color shine through in these pages, which feature design sketches and fabric swatches galore. Each pattern includes not only the basic instructions for knitting and finishing, but also "design inspiration" pages where Robertson shares her creative process through project notes and bulletin boards. Even more informative are the "trial & error" notes for each project, where the designer shows that her initial ideas go through many stages before reaching their final form. Budding designers and DIYers will especially appreciate these behind-the-scenes peeks.

While each project is explained fully, the book is intended to inspire knitters to improvise or even create their own accessories from scratch. Robertson offers plenty of helpful (albeit basic) tips on materials, techniques and craft terminology. With a breezy, accessible writing style and dozens of bright, whimsical photos, Knitting by Design infuses a traditional craft with a vivid palette of colors and a hefty dose of easygoing can-do spirit. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything, A Walk in the Woods) is back with a quirky history of 1920s America sure to please loyal readers and new fans alike.

One Summer: America, 1927 is the story of a pivotal year in American history. In the span of a few short months, Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic, The Jazz Singer changed the movie industry, Babe Ruth hit an astonishing 60 home runs and "the crime of the century" (the murder of a man by his wife and her corset salesman lover) riveted the nation.

Bryson skillfully weaves together all of those stories, supplementing them with fascinating information on race relations, the presidency, Prohibition, business, Al Capone's domination of Chicago and the seeds for a stock market crash most people didn't see coming. These diverse subjects blend together to create a gripping composite history.

Bryson reads the audiobook of One Summer, and his rather unusual accent--he grew up in Iowa and lives in England--provides an interesting contrast to the more polished voices of professional narrators. His narration is clear, wryly delivering each line to perfection. The oft-changing topics make the 17 hours fly by, keeping the listener engaged all the way. Fans of Bryson's other books--or anyone who enjoys American history, baseball or aviation--will find One Summer fascinating. --Jessica Howard, blogger at Quirky Bookworm

James L. Swanson, best known for Chasing Lincoln's Killer (a YA adaptation of his acclaimed Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer), transforms a clear, unbiased account of historical fact into a thrilling, emotional experience in his latest book (an adult version, End of Days, is just out) for young readers.

Part One begins with John F. Kennedy's childhood and continues through his years in office, highlighting such important events as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Space Race. The major portion of the book is "Part Two: The Assassination." Swanson alternates between the events of Lee Harvey Oswald's life and of the Kennedys, beginning on the day the Kennedys left the White House for Dallas, Tex. The day of the assassination itself is described minute by minute. The suspense becomes nearly unbearable, even for readers who already know what happens. Swanson doesn't shy away from the more gruesome and bloody moments, nor does he avoid describing the painful days after the president's death.

The author's sympathy for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's experience is heart-rending. Swanson makes it clear that he believes the official version of events, and confronts the conspiracy theories head-on. What makes this book special is the plethora of black & white photographs. The perfect photograph always appears just when the reader is ready for it. The excellent back matter includes source notes and an extensive bibliography broken down by subject area and introduced by a further reading section that points out the most important sources. --Angela Carstensen, school librarian and blogger

Thirteen animals race for 12 places in the Zodiac. The story may be familiar, but Gabrielle Wang's (The Garden of Empress Cassia) poetic retelling and Sally Rippin's (Mannie and the Long Brave Day) dramatic illustrations in Chinese ink and linocut make this a standout.

After the Jade Emperor's announces the "mighty race," the animals line up at the river's edge. "The waters slapped and swirled. The mountains trembled. The Jade Emperor's gong rang out." Rippin, using a limited palette of golds, grays and greens, introduces the first of the animals in a thick black outlined frame: orange-flecked and golden "Courageous Tiger," airborne, dives over green curling currents, while gray "Peaceful Rabbit" clings to a log. The Chinese character for each animal appears with the image and a line of text (and again as each crosses the finish line). Ox gets a double-page illustration in which the river seems to run off the pages, carrying on its back "Charming Rat" and "Friendly Cat" (described as "very good friends"), along with all three of their Chinese characters. Dog and Pig make their ways solo, while Lucky Rooster, Clever Monkey and Gentle Goat band together to ride a raft to the finish line. Powerful Dragon, like Ox, commands a double-page spread, parting clouds with its green serpentine tail.

A couple animals betray their companions in order to secure a place in the Zodiac (Rat and Cat are no longer friends). This enticing picture book closes with the years of the 12 animals and the characteristics associated with each. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness