Thursday, June 07, 2012

ARRANGED by Catherine McKenzie

Congrats to equinn726! You have won Arranged! 
Please email me your full name and mailing address! stephanieelliot@gmail.com




Arranged and Catherine McKenzie are like VIP here on Booking with Manic. I think I’ve had the pleasure of sharing this book three times now with you guys – how lucky are you? I absolutely love, love, love Catherine McKenzie and her books, and now they are being published in America and I’m so happy for her! I recently gave away SPIN (which is optioned for the big screen!), and now it’s time to share Arranged, and later this summer, I’ll be bringing her third book, FORGOTTEN to you all!

Here is what Arranged is about, and this is my personal Amazon review:

Anne Blythe has just broken up with another one of her boyfriends and finds a business card in the street promoting what she thinks is a dating company called, ironically, Blythe & Company. Because of the similarity of the company’s name and her last name, she keeps the card and eventually calls this ‘dating’ company only to discover they really arrange marriages. Tired of picking the wrong men, and after deep contemplation, she agrees to be matched for marriage. Soon, Anne is on her way to Mexico to meet, Jack, the man who’s the perfect match for her, sight unseen.

Based solely on personality scores and psychology testing, Anne and Jack meet, and what unfolds from here will have you turning pages so quickly you’ll want to get to the end, yet you’ll also want to prolong your reading enjoyment. Jack and Anne’s relationship from their very first meeting is so real, so sparked with tenderness and that first sexual tension that you’ll have a difficult time putting ARRANGED down.

McKenzie writes fluid dialogue and beautiful descriptions; you’ll wonder if there’s really a Blythe & Company in existence already, and if there’s not, why isn’t there? What a concept! And Jack and Anne’s relationship – it’s one of those kinds that you’ll be rooting for them, crying for them, turning the pages in anxious waiting wondering with oh-my-gosh moments, what could happen next!

To win a copy of Arranged, tell me have you ever been set up on a date –ever in your entire life? I was once when I was in the eighth grade – my friend had a boyfriend and she was going to the movies with him and he was going to bring a friend and wanted me to come with. She said I knew the guy. Turns out I did and turns out I was SCARED to death the whole time! The movie was The Toy with Richard Pryor and it was the most horrible night of my life! Hahahah!

***More interesting stuff I included in here just to make things fun - you should read this info...***
 
This book is part of the June Promo - enter every day in June for a chance at the grand prize giveaway at the end of the month - a pile of awesome books! - the more times you enter, the more chances you have at winning!

As with all of the books I post on Booking with MaNiC, thanks to the authors and publicists for providing me with the books. Giveaways open to US/Canada residents only. To enter, leave an identifying unique user name or ID (NO anonymous will be accepted – leave an email address if you don’t know how to post to an account!

Winners will be chosen at random by random.org, within THREE DAYS from the date the book is posted on the blog, and one entry ALLOWED per book please. If you scroll through previous posts and if there is NOT a highlighted note at the top, then feel free to enter to win that book too! If there is a highlighted announcement at the top of a post, then that book is closed to comments and a winner has already been chosen. For comments, questions, suggestions, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. Thanks for your participation! Good luck!

90 comments:

Kristin from Louisville said...

I have never been set up on an official date, but always had those hints to drop by so that I could meet someone. Little more casual and no pressure.

Mary Jo Burke said...

My horror date was with my sister's best friend's husband's former co-worker. We were both unemployed at the time. Nuf said.

jdstec said...

Once in high school. We ended up being great friends.

Ready To Be A Momma said...

I don't think I've ever been set up on a date, ever. I've had a sad, lame life!
qweska8402

Crystal said...

I've never been set up for a date. I mean technically my mom NEVER gave me permission to date. So I guess I'm still supposed to be a single lady right now. :|

crystal717

absolutahnie said...

many times and thankfully none of them worked out! if they had i wouldn't be with erik now...

Carly said...

I've never been set up before. I met guys as a result of hanging out with friends of friends but nothing was arranged.

Carly H

Bev V said...

I've never been set up on a date, but I did set up my girlfriend with one of my good friends. They eventually got married, and will celebrate 28 or 29 years this fall.

Bev V. (shaggy552@gmail.com)

CAnative said...

No I have never been set up on a date.

Nicole

Carol5814 said...

Never been set up on a date but still remember a couple of crazy bad dates that I brought on myself!

ncsuloges said...

My current boyfriend (of 2.5 yrs) and I were set up on a blind date. It's working out great! He was the pewee football coach for two kids I babysat for and their mom set us up. :)

Kelleyc said...

Not really "set up" but back in college my friend thought that I would look good with this one guy. So we ended up getting together for a little bit, but the poor guy ... He was so gorgeous but oh so dumb!!! Lol. There was no way that was gonna' last!!

Juliet Farmer said...

thankfully, no!

Krystal said...

My cousin tried setting me up with one of his friends once. We went dancing, but the guy didn't dance. It didn't go well! It turns out that it worked in my favor though. The guy didn't amount to much and I ended up marrying a different friend of the same cousin!
kndyer

Anonymous said...

I got fixed up on a blind date in 1997. We have now been married almost 12 years.

-Donna W.

Bridget said...

Not really a date, but a group of us were at a junior high dance and I was kind of paired up with one guy.

iambtinrb

Jessica said...

No, I don't think I've ever been set up on a date. I'm pretty boring.

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Melissa said...

Nope, never. Mel Rem

Melissa said...

I've never really been set up...I started dating my husband at 19!

-tmd636

Sherry said...

No never been set up

Emma S. said...

I was set up my junior year in high school by a friend and her boyfriend. We went out to eat at Applebee's and to see "Old School". It was the first and last time I've been set up.

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

I have never been set up. That I know of.

Lizett34 said...

Nope, I have never been set up. I have yet to determine if that is a good or a bad thing.

lizett34@yahoo.com

Ally said...

I was set up and it did not go well.

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

I got set up in college once and it was awful, but then other times it was fine!

your invisible pixie said...

I haven't actually ever been set up on a date, although my grandmother gave my phone number to her friend's grandson and told me to ask me out!

Margie said...

I was set up a couple of times right after college. Nothing ever came of it, which is good!
Margie T

Jeffie T said...

A couple of times and none of them have worked out.

Kimmi said...

Twice - both times, by my mother. I had no chemistry with the first one, but 18 yrs later, I'm still with the 2nd one (which shows ya that mother knows best half the time).

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I have never been set up before.


brn2shop9 at gmail dot com

Tami said...

Never have.

lucy872 said...

I actually was set up with a friend of my sister's brother. I needed a date for a school dance and he was free. At first I thought it was awesome becuase he was older then me and was very cute, but I was so nervous the whole time, that the date was not that good! Oh well!

Denise said...

My only set up experience is very similar to yours. Mine was in high school, 11th grade I think, and my two best friends took me to the movies, and when we got there they said "oh by the way - Todd is comming too!" It was a total surprise, and I was miserable (not because Todd wasn't a very nice guy, but talk about an ambush)

-Denise F.

robynn78/robin.krzyzak@yahoo.com said...

Yep my best friends boyfriend, now husbands brother when I was 16.. She wanted me to have fun.. hardly fun when they were making out non stop and I had nothing in common with the brother.. haha!

Anne said...

I haven't ever been set up, and now I'm married so I don't see it happening anytime soon :)

Anne Sedore

Kim W. said...

I have already read this book but just wanted to comment to say how AWESOME it is!!

Lindsay said...

Nope! Thank goodness!

Katie said...

My husband and I were kind of set-up. My friend and I were out at a bar and wanted a ride home (we had walked and it started raining) so I told her to call a single guy friend so that I could meet someone--in comes my husband. And from there Adam and I were inseperable! :)

Anonymous said...

My one blind date turned out to be my husband, who we ended up divorcing, but 21 years later we're still together and soul mates forever!

Books & Reviews said...

I went on a blind date ONCE, while in college. My ex co-worker set me up with one of her friends. We were mismatched in every single way (or so, I thought). I, knew there was no way I'd go on a second date with him. He called me for months afterward trying to set on up...finally I quite answering the phone. A bit mean of me but .....oh well, shortly after I met my husband. :)

Bridget O'Neill said...

My best friend actually set me up with a friend of his-who is now my husband! My best friend ended up as our best man, since he was the one who introduced us! (That was the only time I was set up on a date-it worked out pretty well!) :)

Betsy said...

Another great cover! No, to the setup.

Joelle said...

I have never been set up on a date. I think it could be fun though.

- jobella

Jen said...

I've been set up on a date twice and they were both miserable experiences! Not anything I'm looking to repeat any time soon!

-Jen
jenknee1976@hotmail.com

TaraUB said...

I was going to say no, but now that I think about it, I think I was once. Ended up going on two dates. It was not destiny.

betsy_blixt said...

I never have. I keep telling my friends to set me up though cause I want to meet someone. But I would rather be set up in a crowd rather then meet one on one.

Mom'sLove said...

I was set up on a date with a guy, who was the cheapest person I ever met. went to Sizzler when they had that all you can eat shrimp, remember those? Well, he order ONE for us to share... Didn't go out with him again...
Amanda at
Byacourt at gmail dot come

Karen said...

Was set up...kinda sorta...with my husband. We've been together 29 years and married for 27 in July. Sometimes...you just know. :) ktmixon315

EBrowning said...

I was set up once. It was with my best guy friend's cousin and it was awful! We had nothing in common and the guy kept telling me all night how nervous he was. Then my friend had the nerve to ditch me with this guy while he took his girlfriend home. During this time my date took the opportunity to draw me a diagram of how I could conquer Super Mario Brothers and even went into a long explanation about it. Even though I was only 17 it was the worst, longest, night of my life. I have refused to be set up ever since because I'm still traumatized!

ludy2288 said...

The most awkward date in my life happened because of friends who were trying to set us up. Totally did not work and went terribly.

Anonymous said...

No set ups for me. I'm very grateful for that and for meeting my husband at a young age. -Lauren Royall

TinaB said...

I've never been set up on a date....thank goodness!
Brannanflooring@aol.com

buttah said...

I've never really been setup on a date, but Hubs and I were introduced through his best friend and mine who were dating at the time. They didn't last, but we are still together almost 16 years later!

Marla W. said...

Never been set up on a date - I'm sure there were times when someone tried, but that was not my thing. I'm not the type to step into something without some foreknowledge :o) (yeah, I'm a chicken...HA)!

Anonymous said...

I was set up on a date once. The guy I was set up with just happened to be my second cousin. You can imagine the laugh we got out of this and we have never let our friends forget this either! jennyb75

faithspage said...

Yes, and I got drunk as a skunk and he called for a second date. I was too embarrassed to got out with him again.

Kristi said...

I had a friend make me go out on a date with her exboyfriends brother because she liked his friend.

It ended up a 8 year relationship and I got a wonderful daughter out of it.

slm8803 said...

Never been set up...I think I would be too chicken to go.

daisy d said...

Never, would never do it.

kayo said...

I've never been set up on a date.I met my husband of 28 yrs in 6th grade though!

Alice said...

I can't believe it, but never in all my years was I set up.

BrendaL71 said...

I can laugh about it now. My senior prom date became very sick and couldn't go with me, he was just a friend. My girlfriend said she would set me up with one of her friends and we had a decent time til then end of the night. I really liked him. Found out about a few weeks later that he was 4 years my junior. That did not go well.

Mumma23qts said...

I don't think so. That'd be way too long ago to remember!

Amy said...

Yes. In High School there was a girl two yrs ahead of me that looked very much like me. Her boyfriends best friend was coming to visit from the West Coast and he thought she was cute, so they set us up. Good Lord, he was gorgeous! However, he lived in Washington State and I in Florida, so......

Luvschocolate said...

Nope, never have

Melissa said...

I've been set up a bunch of times. The last time was because a guy I barely knew at all found out that I liked to bowl and gave my info to the man I've been in love with for over 10 years and married to for 8 of those. :)

Melissa A from CLC

Carie Casey said...

I was in high school and my mom set me up. I should have known it was going to be bad when he showed up in loafers and no socks.

Carie

Lindsay Elizabeth said...

yes! I was told to tag along with another friend and her boyfriend for dinner... we ended up dating for a few months but it didn't last.

Emily said...

I don't think I've ever been set up on a date, but I just recently started doing online dating, which feels almost like someone else is doing the arranging.


Emily116

keltban said...

I have been set up a few times. Once a friend tried to set me up with a friend of her husbands'. Needless to say he just got a divorce and wasn't ready to start a new relationship.

Another time my sister's friend wanted to set me with a friend of her's. There was no "spark" so it didn't turn into anything.

Lilian said...

I don't think I've been set up before...

lilianxchengATgmail.com

equinn726 said...

I was set up on a blind date back 2003 and he is now my husband!

DaphneSFL said...

Once. The son of a friend of my mom. He picked me up 2 hours late, and ordered a glass of merlot "with ice." that was the end of him.

Erin G said...

Never been set up!

Christina said...

We weren't really set up on a date but my fiance and I were introduced at a wedding by a mutual friend who thought we would be perfect together. She drug me over to him and told me he would be my dance partner for the night. It was really awkward at the time but obviously worked out!

ChristinaL

Kristen said...

Was set up by my cousin, and it did not end well. She hasn't tried again. :)

Kristen27

Anonymous said...

My best friend talked me into going on a blind double date with a friend of her then boyfriend (now hubby). The guy and I couldn't have had less in common. The night was pretty awkward for all involved.

Colbey J

Sslinsky said...

I've never been set up on a date, not have I really dated. I've been with my husband sine graduation day from high-school in 1997.

Sarah

Terri said...

I was set up with a friend of a friend for prom. Not a bad situation, we dated for a while.

Terri M.

Buffy Dee said...

once... and ONLY once! I must have repressed it becaue I had typed in no... and as I was typing in my name I REMEMBERED BAH!! It was terrible!! The guy was talking about his weight the whole time... and how he weighs himself religiously... and he drank a WINE COOLER really?? I sat there thinking if I wanted to be the man in a relationship I'd be gay! :-/

accidentalgypsy said...

Once. In high school. It wasn't pretty. I don't think we had a single thing in common...he didn't even go to my school! I'm not sure what my friend was thinking. :)

shellybelly43066 said...

never set up, is that weird?

Anonymous said...

I have been set up by my mother - worse date ever - that will never happen again (sorry mom)

RebeccaE

Tiffany Drew said...

Please don't count me in for this book since I already have it, but count this as my entry for the whole shibbang :)

I have never been set up on a date that I can remember. I'm sure back in my teens I played wing man to my friends, but I honestly can't remember.

Leah B said...

I have not been setup on a date, however one of my friends would always try and set me up ... until the guy would confess that he really liked her!

Read Baby Read said...

I've been set up on a blind date, and when I peeked through the peep hole, I didn't want to answer it! Very sad.

susieqlaw said...

Yes.
Susieqlaw

A.C. said...

Nope, I've never been set up in my life. I was only single for about 5 or 6 months total from age 15 until now.

Kristin said...

I have never been set up. And I'm so grateful for that!

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Thanks for entering to win this book! Comments are now closed! No more entries will be taken to qualify for this book, but please check back for the next book being featured!