HEART LIKE MINE by Amy Hatvany (and previous winners announced too!)

Congrats to NOVA aka Sparkle - you have won HEART LIKE MINE! Email stephanieelliot(at)gmail.com with your full name and address to receive your book!


At the end of this post, previous winners are announced,

please see if you've won a book!!

Heart Like Mine

Amy Hatvany

As with all of Amy Hatvany's books, I have fallen in love with her characters. I started Heart Like Mine and found myself sneaking moments to read it. We got to hear Grace's story - the woman who was newly engaged to a man with two children who had no desire for children of her own. She was fine with the every other weekend parenting gig.

Then we hear Ava's side. She's the 13-year-old who's pretty lukewarm to Grace, but she only has to deal with her twice a month so she does her best to manage the arrangement - it's not that hard. At first. 

The most surprising and exciting part of the book that I was not expecting was we also got flashbacks of the ex-wife, Kelli's story. (When I discovered that we were let in on Kelli's life, it was like a bonus for me! Like the reader was being let in on a really cool secret -- definitely the icing on the cake for me with this book!) Kelli is Ava's mom, and it's not a spoiler to let you know she dies early in the book, which means Grace is thrown into a parenting role to Ava and her young brother Max - a role she had no desire to be in.

Here's the back-of-the-book blurb:

 

Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be? 

At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again. But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover that there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew. 

Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli’s troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant, hopeful portrait of womanhood, love, and the challenges and joys of family life.

Amy's books are the type where when you get to the end of a chapter, you can't stop reading. It's that simple. The chapters were simply titled by the character's name. So I'd read a "GRACE" chapter, and think, "OK, I have got to get to bed." Then the next chapter would be an "AVA" chapter, and I'd think, "NOOOO! I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT AVA'S THINKING NOW!" … and on and on it went… it's a vicious delicious cycle, these Amy Hatvany books - they suck you in, and you're turning pages to find out who's doing what, who's thinking what, and what is going to happen next. 

Her characters are absolutely, positively normal, real people. Doing real things, and facing real challenges and Amy writes with such heart and writes such realistic themes, you might as well be in the room with Grace while she's handling a situation - whether she's trying to break up a squabble between Ava and Max or whether she and Ava are attempting to bake a cake!

In Heart Like Mine, Grace's fiancé Victor is a restaurant owner. This one is really simple: If you'd like to win a copy of Heart Like Mine, tell me your favorite restaurant! 

Did YOU win a BOOK???? CHECK HERE!!!!
(please email me at stephanieelliot(at)gmail.com and send your full name & address so I can send out your book!):

Market Street 
Erin G. 
(YOU won TWO BOOKS see below - how LUCKY IS THAT?!?!?!)

The Sunshine When She's Gone (two winners)  
SLM8803
Erin G.

A Whole New You 
EKB


Covet 

FAITH'S PAGE 

And yes, as usual, I have to include this, so please read:
If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!


 

MARKET STREET by Anita Hughes

WINNER: ERIN G!

Market Street
Anita Hughes

I'm really excited to share this next book with you all by Anita Hughes, whose first book was Monarch Beach. Her second book, Market Street comes out NEXT WEEK and it was simply what I like to call Literal Eye Candy, in the sense that as I was reading it, I could envision so many delights -- Anita writes about food and fashion in a way that makes you want to spend a day in San Francisco, precisely in her author-created department store Fenton's. Here is the back of the book blurb on Market Street:

Cassie Blake seems to lead a charmed life as the heiress to Fenton's, San Francisco's most exclusive department store. But when she discovers her husband, Aidan, a handsome UC Berkeley professor, has had an affair with a student, she flees to the comfort of her best friend Alexis's Presidio Heights mansion, where she wonders if she should give their marriage one more chance.

Whether or not she can forgive Aidan is not the only choice Cassie has to make. Cassie's mother is eager to have her oversee the opening of Fenton's new Food Emporium, which Fenton’s hopes will become San Francisco's hottest gourmet shopping destination. Cassie’s true passion has always been food, not fashion, and Cassie suspects her mother might be trying to lure her into the Fenton's fold by entrusting her with such an exciting opportunity. And then there is James, the architect designing the Emporium, who is quietly falling in love with her…

I had the chance to ask Anita a few questions about Market Street and these are the things I wanted to know after reading it!

First thing, I LOVED the book! I originally picked it up and had time to read through the first chapter to get a feel for the book since I have so many I need to read... but all of a sudden, I was captured and I whizzed through it! It's gorgeous! What an awesome book!

Me: Fenton's is an Anita Hughes originated department store, right? Did you base it on memories from a department store you visited as a child, or one that you love as an adult? How did you 'create' Fenton's?

Anita: Fenton's is a blend of some of my favorite stores. Growing up in Australia, (SHE WAS BORN IN AUSTRALIA YOU GUYS!!!) there was a store called David Jones that was very high end. It was only in the city center and we lived in the Eastern Suburbs, so going to the store was a treat and something I always looked forward to. San Francisco has a unique and beloved department store called GUMP'S, on Maiden Lane next to Union Square. It primarily has home furnishings and flatware (it is the place to go if you are getting engaged!) but it is a gorgeous store and quintessential San Francisco. And I absolutely adore Neiman Marcus - as you climb the floors the clothes get more glamorous, I could ride the escalators all day!

Me: There was a character I wasn't too keen on and when I got closer to the end of the book, I literally shouted out, "OH MY GOD!" (I can share that page number with readers, but I won't! However I did tweet my shock!). When you write a 'bad' character, do you know ALL the bad things that character is going to do, or do some of the things she/he does shock even you as you're writing?

Anita: I never know exactly what my characters are going to do, they develop as I write, but I think I know the scene you mean. I did see it coming, and enjoyed the build up!

Me: You show equal love in this book for food and fashion -- which do you love more and why? 

Anita: That's a tough question because they are both important to me. I love clothes. I love gorgeous fabrics and bright colors and beautiful styles. I think surrounding ourselves with beauty (when we can) makes us happier. And I love wonderful foods - I'm a big believer in always having something to look forward to and anticipating a delicious meal makes my day a little brighter!

Me: Can you tell me what your next book is about?

Anita: It is called Lake Como and it is set in San Francisco and Lake Como. It is about a young San Francisco interior designer who finds her fiance and her boss in a compromising position and decides to put some distance between them and spend the summer with her half-sister in her villa on Lake Como. There she discovers secrets about herself and her family that make her question who she is and her future.

Lake Como will be released on August 13, 2013. I really enjoyed writing it, I can't wait to see what you think!

Me: I can't wait for Lake Como either and I just realized your main character has my LAST NAME!?!? Coincidence? Hmmmm… Hahahah!

Thanks to Anita for taking the time to answer my questions, and here's a question for you if you would like to enter to win Market Street! If YOU could open ANY kind of shop of your own, what kind of 'emporium' would you want to open - what would you want to sell at your store?

I would probably want to open a kitschy little store that sold stationery, unique books and chocolates and also had a little section where women could sit and chat. But not a coffee shop -- maybe a spot where the women could go and then write letters to their friends --you know, write out the cute cards they just bought from my store!

You can still enter to win: 
The Sunshine When She's Gone

Winners have been announced for the following:
Check to see if you've won!!! Click below and find out if you've won the previous books:
A Whole New You by Brett Blumenthal


The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins

Covet by Tracey Graves Garvis  

If you've never been here, you gotta read the fine print:
If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

The Sunshine When She's Gone by Thea Goodman

 WINNERS: ERIN G. and SLM8803

The Sunshine When She's Gone

By Thea Goodman

Enter to win one of

TWO COPIES of this novel

by debut author Thea Goodman!

This is NOT a book specifically for moms, but I’m just going to start out with this hypothetical question: “If you’re a mom, and more precisely, a new mom, what would you do with a whole weekend to yourself without your baby?"

Well, in The Sunshine When She's Gone, new dad John decides to help his wife out by taking their baby away for the weekend. THE WHOLE WEEKEND. Without letting his wife know that is his plan, which really wasn't his intentional plan in the first place actually. Would you freak? Jump for joy? Sleep all weekend? Party the day away?

Here’s the blurb:

 

A fresh, funny, and wisely observed debut novel about marriage—about the love, longing and ambivalence exposed when a husband takes the baby on a highly unusual outing

When Veronica Reed wakes up one frigid January morning, two things are “off”—first of all, she has had a good night’s sleep, which hasn’t happened in months, and second, both her husband and her baby are gone. Grateful for the much-needed rest, Veronica doesn’t, at first, seriously question her husband’s trip out to breakfast with baby Clara. Little does she know, her spouse has fled lower Manhattan, with Clara, for some R & R in the Caribbean. 

Told through alternating points of view, The Sunshine When She's Gone explores the life-changing impact of parenthood on a couple as individuals and as partners. Thea Goodman brings us into intimacies made tense by sleep-deprivation and to losses and gains made more real by acknowledging them. Here is the story of a couple pushed to the edge and a desperate father’s attempt give them both space to breathe. 

Want to know how the weekend ends up?

We're giving away TWO copies

of this hardback cover book!

Leave a comment about what you would do if you had a six-month-old and the father of your child swooped in and took the baby away without you knowing for the whole weekend and then lies to you about his whereabouts... could you just hang out all weekend and be yourself again? I personally do not think I could relax, but I think that Veronica was able to do some very interesting things in her time away from Clara and John. And you'll see what kind of parent John turns out to be as well! 

You will find this book very entertaining! 

Don't forget to go back and enter to win the other books I have on the blog that I haven't chosen winners for yet. They are here, simply click on the book titles and you'll be taken to that post where you can enter to win those books as well!

A Whole New You by Brett Blumenthal


The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins

Covet by Tracey Graves Garvis  

The fine print you should probably read if you want to enter this giveaway if you've never played the Booking with Manic game before! : 

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

A WHOLE NEW YOU by Brett Blumenthal

Congrats to EKB!

You have won a copy of A Whole New You!

Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address so I can send you a copy of this book!   

A Whole New You:  

Six Steps to Ignite Change for Your Best Life

By Brett Blumenthal

So I fear that I might have been holding off on sharing this book with you because there may be some changes in my life that I've been hesitant to make. Everyone can make a change for the better right? And with A Whole NewYou: Six Steps to Ignite Change for Your Best Life by Brett Blumenthal, you can make a change in some part of your life simply.

Easily. 

“Whether you want to reinvent your career, your physique and health, your love life, or your emotional happiness, following the path outlined will enable you to make real change, real transformation, real reinvention.” ~ Brett Blumenthal

The book is divided into three parts, and Part One is preparation where you’ll look at your personal reinvention, hear what the experts have to say and learn how to use the book.

Part Two helps you to identify your needs, discover yourself, design your vision and create your plan. You’ll also figure out ways to make your plan happen and also learn how to monitor the progress of your journey to the New YOU!

Part Three of the book is all about journaling your experience with worksheets where you can write about your weaknesses, fears, passions, accomplishments, upbringing, motivators, values. There are so many inspirational and thought-provoking items to help you along your journey in Part Three of this book, it will really open up your eyes to help you discover the new you!

So, do you think you need a change? Do you WANT THIS BOOK? What do you want to change in your life? Leave a comment here about what you envision for the new you and I’ll enter you to win a copy of A WHOLE NEW YOU!

FYI, Brett is also the author of 52 Small Changes to a Happier Healthier You which I think ANYONE can handle!! So check out that book too!

Come back tomorrow for a chance to win The Sunshine When She's Gone by Thea Goodman... 

I have so many books to share with you I will probably be trying to post at least two a week from here on out!!  

DiD YoU EnTeR ThE LaSt TwO GiVeAwAyS??

If you haven't entered to win the other books I have recently posted, please click on the book titles below and enter to win them NOW! (If you'd like to receive email notifications when there is a new post up on the blog, you can enter your email address above at the top left, underneath The Cell Phone Lot book cover.)

I'll choose winners over the weekend:

The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins

Covet by Tracey Graves Garvis  

The fine print you should probably read if you want to enter this giveaway if you've never played the Booking with Manic game before! : 

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

COVET Cover REVEAL by Tracey Garvis Graves

Congrats to FAITH'S PAGE!  
You have won the pre-ordered copy of COVET!! Please email me your full name and mailing address (stephanieelliot@gmail.com) so I can order you your copy of COVET! Congrats!

Seriously.

SERIOUSLY!?!?!?

Need I say more?

If you're a fan of Tracey Garvis Graves do you not LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cover of her next book? 

OH.
MY.
GOSH!

S T U N N I N G ! ! ! ! 

And can you even IMAGINE what story the inside 85,000 words holds?? 

Here's the synopsis:

What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else?

Chris and Claire Canton’s marriage is on life support. Downsized during the recession and out of work for a year, Chris copes by retreating to a dark place where no one can reach him, not even Claire. When he’s offered a position that will keep him away from home four nights a week, he dismisses Claire’s concern that time apart could be the one thing their fragile union can’t weather. Their suburban life may look idyllic on the outside, but Claire has never felt so disconnected from Chris, or so lonely.

Local police officer Daniel Rush used to have it all, but now he goes home to an empty house every night. He pulls Claire over during a routine traffic stop, and they run into each other again at the 4th of July parade. When Claire is hired to do some graphic design work for the police department, her friendship with Daniel grows, and soon they’re spending hours together.

Claire loves the way Daniel makes her feel, and the way his face lights up when she walks into the room. Daniel knows that Claire’s marital status means their relationship will never be anything other than platonic. But it doesn’t take long before Claire and Daniel are in way over their heads, and skating close to the line that Claire has sworn she’ll never cross.

Here's COVET on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13481759-covet

You'll also be able to read the first three chapters very soon, and yes, here comes another OH.MY.GOSH... because OF COURSE, THEY ARE THAT AMAZING!

I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO READ THE WHOLE THING! And I know YOU can't either, but we're going to have to. Here's what I'm going to do for YOU though. Even though I'll be featuring COVET again in September with a full-on review and feature, I'm going to buy one of you a pre-order copy on amazon right now -- this means of course, you won't GET your book until it comes out in September, but I'll order it for you and it'll come to your house hot off the press when it's published. Because I love YOU! And I also love Tracey Garvis Graves and her novels! And I thought this would be a fun thing to add to the cover reveal! 

So, tell me very uniquely and creatively... and who knows, maybe I'll pick the best one, maybe I'll let random.org choose, or maybe, MAYBE, I'll just ask Tracey to choose a winner for me ; ) ...

WHAT DO YOU COVET???? Leave your answer in the comment section and one winner will be chosen to win a pre-ordered copy of COVET!  

Right now, I am coveting Tracey's book!  

P.S.... Don't forget to enter to win The Crooked Branch, by clicking here!

P.S.S. ... if you're new here, thank you so much for coming by and please continue to do so! I give away every book I feature and we have lots of wonderful authors and books to share! Thanks!

The fine print you should probably read if you want to enter this giveaway if you've never played the Booking with Manic game before! : 

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

THE CROOKED BRANCH by Jeanine Cummins

I have to tell you, the answers to this question was one of the most interesting ones I've ever gotten! You all have some VERY COOL stories about ancestors! I loved reading each and every one of them! However, random.org chose  

Carly H as the winner for The Crooked Branch!  

Carly, please email me  (stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com) your full name/address so I can get your book to you! And thanks everyone for participating. I have just as much fun reading these as I do blogging about books!

 

The Crooked Branch 

By Jeanine Cummins

The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins came out this week and while I just got a copy of it yesterday, I was anxious to share it with you all right away. One of the reasons I wanted to share it with you is because I read Jeanine’s memoir, A Rip In Heaven a long time ago, and it was one that I have remembered for many, many years. It is a true-crime story and not only was it a fascinating story, I remembered Jeanine’s writing to be compelling and she drew me in with her words. I can only imagine how her fiction will be!

And turns out, I’m already thrilled with The Crooked Branch because I’ve snuck in two chapters. This story is about a woman who seems to have it all, until she has a difficult first birth. Then, she seems to lose a little bit of herself -- and her mind -- in the process of motherhood. She finds the diary of her great-grandmother and discovers that mental illness may just run in the family. She also uncovers a family murder within the pages of the diary, so there’s a lot of drama and high tension that I’m looking forward to in The Crooked Branch.

Here's a snippet (don't you love that word?) from the back of the book:

After the birth of her daughter Emma, the usually resilient Majella finds herself feeling isolated and exhausted. Then, at her childhood home in Queens, Majella discovers the diary of her maternal ancestor Ginny—and is shocked to read a story of murder in her family history.

With the famine upon her, Ginny Doyle fled from Ireland to America, but not all of her family made it. What happened during those harrowing years, and why does Ginny call herself a killer? Is Majella genetically fated to be a bad mother, despite the fierce tenderness she feels for her baby? Determined to uncover the truth of her heritage and her own identity, Majella sets out to explore Ginny’s past—and discovers surprising truths about her family and ultimately, herself.

So, it turns out that this appears to be a "read-one-story-get-one-free" where you will dive into Majella's story and Ginny's story, both equally exciting and tension-filled!

If you’d like to enter to win a copy of The Crooked Branch, leave a comment here telling us something interesting about an ancestor of yours. Something interesting about my mother’s ancestors – they used to make moonshine! Hahah! That is the truth too!

Also, check out Jeanine's A Rip In Heaven if you are interested in memoir and true-crime stories -- I'm telling you, this is a book that I wasn't able to put down -- it was a shocking book that had me on the edge of my seat and I'm expecting great things from The Crooked Branch as well!

The fine print you should probably read if you want to enter this giveaway if you've never played the Booking with Manic game before! : 

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!