THE FIRST HUSBAND by Laura Dave

Congratulations to JEN R. who has NO TATTOOS but might consider a shooting star on the top of her foot has won the copy of THE FIRST HUSBAND! Please email me your full name and address so you can receive your book!

Laura Dave’s third book hit the shelves last week and it’s one of my favorite books, because Laura’s one of my favorite authors, and she can’t write ‘em fast enough. Laura was so generous in answering a few questions about The First Husband, and she’s even offered to give away ANOTHER copy here on MaNiC MoMMy (she gave away TWO sets of ALL her books in March – did you MISS THAT?). Seriously, she is that great!

Laura’s the type of author who makes you fall in love with all of her characters. They’re so real and likeable, even the ones you’re not quite sure you’re supposed to like. Here’s my conversation with her about The First Husband. Check it out and then leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a copy! Thanks Laura! You ROCK!

MaNiC: Tell me about Roman Holiday - is it really a favorite movie of yours? Has bad stuff happened to you when you watch it? I’ve never seen it? Should I? Of course, I’ve never seen It’s a Wonderful Life or Gone with the Wind either! (I know, isn’t that like a cardinal sin!)

Laura: It is a cardinal sin! Mostly because you are missing out on serious enjoyment. Roman Holiday is a great movie—starring Audrey Hepburn (at her loveable best) as a trapped Princess eager to experience the real world. And, even though Audrey plays royalty, her desire to live life on her terms is highly relatable. And don’t even get me started on Gregory Peck. Wow.

As for my real-life bad luck movie? That would be All The Presidents Men. I love that movie—and my experience with it bringing me bad luck (and no longer watching it due to a misplaced superstition! Don’t judge me!) was what inspired my giving Annie a bad luck movie. Because—like Annie—as much as I love the movie, I will run out of the room if ever it comes on.

MM: Why did you feel the need to include the part in the book about the meeting of Caleb and Annie in the bar? And their attraction? I thought that was interesting but wasn’t sure what it was all about? Was that to trick the reader to think that maybe Annie would forget about both Griffin and Nick?

Laura: For me, the Caleb moment spoke to Annie’s ultimate psychological battle. Because of Annie’s past (her less-than-dependable mom/her nomadic childhood), she struggles to be present—both for herself, and the people who love her—and has organized her life so she can always escape in the name of something better being out there. There is always something exhilarating waiting for her just around the corner—in a new country, in a new part of the world. And Caleb represents the latest possibility.

She has a choice when they meet: she can choose something new and shiny all over again. Or she can choose someone (I won’t say whether I speak of Griffin or Nick, for those who haven’t read yet) who just may be everything.

MM: What I LOVED about The First Husband (among other things of course) is that I truly, TRULY didn’t know until the very end who she would end up with, and I do feel the reader is very conflicted as to who she would be with. Although I knew who I wanted to be with from the get-go!

Laura: Thank you! I’m so pleased to hear that. Early readers keep telling me that they really didn’t know what Annie was going to do, which makes me so happy to hear. I wanted her to have two viable choices. Griffin and Nick represent two sides of what Annie hopes for. But ultimately she has to choose—which side to be true to in herself. (As a side-note, I was happy with the choice she made too.)

MM: Why did you choose an anchor tattoo for Gia and Griffin? If Griffin and Annie were to get matching tattoos, what do you think they would get, and where? Also, do you think Annie is the type of person who would request that Griffin get his anchor tattoo removed?

Laura: That is a great question. It was actually a hand tattoo in the first draft (a tattoo of the hand of hamsa!), but that never felt precisely right to me. So much of Griffin’s life is anchored—anchored to his hometown, anchored to his family, anchored to his passion for his work—that I felt like an anchor was a tattoo choice he’d make.

Plus, Griffin’s ex-girlfriend Gia is both literally and metaphorically Griffin’s anchor. So much so that she almost sinks Griffin and Annie.

Even considering that, Annie wouldn’t ever ask Griffin to have his tattoo removed. It is an important piece of who he is.

But I think if Annie was going to brave it and get a tattoo with Griffin, she would suggest the opposite of an anchor for them. What’s the opposite? Maybe she’d pick a kite or a plane. Something that represents being set free.

MM: Did Jesse remind you of Uncle Jesse from Full House? ; )

Laura: That is hilarious! No, but how cute was John Stamos in his wedding episode? I know too much of that episode by heart to not be a little ashamed of it.

MM: Do you think Gia may ever show up in another book, or are these characters done in your mind? Or how about Nick? They’re all happily ever after?

Laura: I usually leave my characters in the world they’ve inhabited, but I have gotten such a phenomenal response to Annie’s best friend, Jordan, that I think she has the best shot of having her own story told. I try to never say never. So, yes, Jordan and her stepdaughter Sasha may very well appear in another book one of these days.

MM: Does your fiancé have any of the qualities that either Nick or Griffin possess? I know you live in LA, and also that your fiancé is in the TV industry. Nick is in movies and lives in LA … any connection between the two?

Laura: My fiancé, Josh, would definitely say there is. He thinks he’s Nick and Griffin and every other character, including Annie! I’m just kidding (mostly).

But I do recognize there are some outward similarities between Nick and Josh: Josh is a screenwriter (he’s written for a bunch of TV shows including The West Wing and, currently, Fringe, which has totally turned me into a Sci-Fi geek, I’m proud to say). So he certainly has a work life that mirrors Nick’s. But, in reality, he has more in common with Griffin. He has Griffin’s sweetness. And he’s a great cook.

MM: What town did you design Williamsburg (see, I can’t even remember what town it is either, just like the characters in the book!) from? Would you ever survive in a town like that? And would you go there for your husband?

Laura: I lived in western Massachusetts for a year in my early twenties and I loved the idea of setting a novel there: in a place that on the surface is cold and difficult (I mean very cold!), but despite its challenges, it is stunningly special at its core.

As the writing progressed, I took needed narrative liberties, but I loosely designed Williamsburg on the real town of Williamsburg, which was about twenty minutes from where I lived. My future sister-in-law is a professor now at Mt. Holyoake, which gives me a great reason to go back to western Massachusetts and visit. I still have such a fondness for it, and like to imagine Annie living her life there.

MM: Thanks so much Laura! And for you guys out there who would like a chance to win The First Husband, since Laura’s character Griffin has a tattoo, let me ask you this – Do you have a tattoo, and if so, what kind? If you DON’T have a tattoo, what kind would you get/what would it say/what symbol would it be, and where would you get it?

GO!

IF YOU WERE HERE by Jen Lancaster - a Haiku CONTEST!

IF YOU WERE HERE by Jen Lancaster

So sorry that Blogger was sucking and down for like four days so here's the post for today ...

And instead of a Five Dollar Fun Fact Friday for you today (not to worry, I’ve got a good one for you next week!), I decided to do something different for you!

Since so many of you found me through the fabulous Jen Lancaster, I wanted to do something a little special for you guys. Many of you know she’s on tour this month for her new NOVEL, If You Were Here, which is OFFICIALLY A New York Times BESTSELLER! YAY JEN! … and she’s coming to Phoenix on Tuesday. More YAYAYAYAY!

Because NO ONE comes to the desert, which I don’t know why, possibly cuz we’re on the EDGE of the FREAKIN’ earth, and it’s a freakin’ OVEN here four months out of the year, it’s really quite beautiful otherwise...

But anyway, I will get to see Jen on Tuesday, and she has PROMISED me she will personally sign a book for one of you. (Oh yes she did – go read it on Twitter.) She’s no longer mad at me for when I did this to her at her MY FAIR LAZY SIGNING, even though if you can tell, she thought I was a total Asshat and was feeling quite stabby toward me after this episode! Hahah

View Video HERE

Anyway, I don’t know if I will get her to write anything more than Dear _____ Congrats, Love Jen, but I thought to make this fun, I want you to write a haiku and I’ll pick the BEST one and THAT ONE will be the one to win.

Or maybe I’ll pick the best five and let JEN pick the one that makes her laugh most. Or maybe I’ll have Jen’s BFFs choose the winner if they have time (because I’m friends with them on FB too). I’ll figure something out, but I thought this would be TOTALLY fun, right?

You all know how a haiku goes?

APPARENTLY, I FORGOT HOW A HAIKU GOES!


IT'S FIVE SYLLABLES,
SEVEN SYLLABLES,
FIVE SYLLABLES...

I have just made some of my old English and Creative Writing teachers very upset with me ...

SOOOOOO, thank you to JENN3128 for pointing out my GLARING faux pas on this one. I am really ashamed! For those of you who already entered, I'll keep yours the way you wrote them, and for anyone new, whichever way you feel most comfortable creating your haiku, go ahead and do it the way you want. (Make them clever though!)
So, this haiku works if you say “inspire” really fast and don’t say it like it’s three syllables, right?

Now, to enter to win a signed copy of Jen’s IF YOU WERE HERE, make up your own haiku for Jen to sign in your book (maybe, if the line's not too long!) PS, you can’t include “Jenny Lancaster” in YOUR haiku cuz I used that already! Sorry!

Include YOUR NAME as you would like her to WRITE IT IN YOUR BOOK if you win. If you don’t include YOUR NAME how you want Jen to sign your book if she were to sign it EXACTLY, then you can’t be entered, no matter how funny or creative your haiku is. And who knows, if I’m feeling really generous, maybe I’ll choose two of you! You’ve got to enter by Tuesday sometime because I’ll be seeing Jen on Tuesday evening! HURRY!

SERIOUS JEN LANCASTER FANS ONLY PLEASE! (So of course, that means ALL OF YOU!)

Because you guys have certainly been awesome for coming back here to read my blog all the time!

Check out the amazing and hilarious book trailer for IF YOU WERE HERE HERE! If you ever loved ANY movie by John Hughes, you will laugh your head off!

PeaCe uP!

MaNiC Style!

Seven syllables
Five syllables
Seven syllables

So, here’s my example:

Your words inspire every day

Jenny Lancaster

Oh Funny Chicago Girl

THE BABY PLANNER by Josie Brown

Winner Announced!

Congratulations to Karen ktmixon315

You have won a copy of The Baby Planner!

Please email me your full name and address and I'll get a copy sent to you!

It's book giveaway time again, but, some blog-house cleaning stuff too!

First of all, I hope all of you moms out there had a nice mother’s day and hope all you daughters out there spent some time with your moms.

*The winners of The Last Letter and Here, Hope, Home have been announced on those posts, so please check over there to see if you have won!

*Last week’s Five Dollar Friday Fun Fact was a joke – you guys guessed it WAAAAY to easily. I promise this week’s is gonna be a toughie so make sure to check back for it!

*I caught TWO showings of Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed this weekend and it was fabulous! If you are a fan of Emily Giffin or awesome movies or BOTH, you MUST go see this amazing movie! It’s a great flick and with some fabulous acting, great music, a wonderful story – you’ll love it! It sets things up perfectly for the sequel too, Something Blue, which everyone is rooting for to be made! STAY through the credits, there is a sneak peek!

And guess what? I do have another book to give away, so, here it is, coming your way, and believe me, I wish they had Baby Planners when I was pregnant three times in four years!

The Baby Planner by Josie Brown

The Nanny Diaries meets The Wedding Planner in this smart, dishy novel from the author of Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives—featuring a woman who runs San Francisco’s premier baby planning company and the mommies-to-be who seek out her services.
Katie Johnson may make her living consulting with new moms on the latest greatest baby gadgets no parent should be without, or which mommy meet-ups are the most socially desirable, or whether melon truly is the new black, but the success of her marriage to her husband, Alex, depends on controlling her own urges toward motherhood.

He's adamant that they stay childless. Sure, Katie understands that he's upset over the fact that his out-of-town ex-wife rarely lets him see their ten-year-old son, Peter. But living vicariously through her anxious clients and her twin sisters' precocious children only makes Katie resent his stance more deeply.

While helping a new client—Seth Harris, a high tech entrepreneur who must raise Sadie, his newborn daughter, as a single parent after the tragic death of his wife in childbirth—maneuver the bittersweet journey from mourning husband and reticent father to loving dad, Katie’s own ideals about love, marriage, and motherhood are put to the test as she learns ones very important lesson about family: How we nurture is the true nature of love.
To enter to win a copy of The Baby Planner: tell me something you either like or cannot stand about babies. Actually, I like the idea of something you CANNOT stand about babies better. That sounds more fun!

What I can’t stand about babies is when a mom is holding one and the baby is crying and CLEARLY it needs to eat or needs its pacifier and the mom is DOING NOTHING to calm the baby down and I know FOR SURE that if I held that baby, I could TOTALLY get it to stop crying, because I HAVE THE BABY TOUCH, but if I’m in like Target or something, I can’t exactly say to the woman, “Here, give me your baby, I will shut that little darling up.” But believe me, I have wanted to. And I mean this in the nicest way possible, like I would love that child and make it feel peaceful in a matter of seconds when its own mother is just shopping around NOT EVEN PAYING attention to her poor little WAILING CRYING BABY!

OK, your turn!

Thank you to Gallery Books for this promotion. U.S. and Canadian residents only please.

THE LAST LETTER by Kathleen Shoop

Congratulations to:

JMitch!

You have won a copy of The Last Letter!
Please email me your full name and mailing address and we'll get you a copy! Congrats!

Yep, you've got it right, another book for you my friends! But first, check back on Fly Away Home and Here, Hope, Home to see if you've won those books! And then, check out ...

Book: The Last Letter

Author: Kathleen ShoopIt’s time to give away another book so how about if we give away one that’s really close to my heart. This one is of the historical fiction genre, which I don’t usually gravitate toward, but I had the immense pleasure of copy-editing it for Kathleen Shoop, the author! I loved collaborating with Kathleen on this book AND discovering that I really do enjoy this genre!

I fell in love with Kathleen’s characters from the get-go! If any of you ever watched and loved Little House on the Prairie, you’ll totally relate to The Last Letter. Reading this book is like going back to your younger years when you would sit in front of the TV glued to Michael Landon, Laura, and crew and wait week after week to see what would happen, although The Last Letter offers so much more than what went on in that little log cabin of the Ingalls and the surrounding prairie land.

The Last Letter is like Little House on the Prairie on steroids in the best possible way! You’ve got infidelity, passion, friendship, love, drug abuse, natural disasters, all in a land of destitute and uncertainty. Page after page, The Last Letter offers heart-racing scenarios in a land of drama and turmoil. And in the center of it all is a strong-willed woman trying to do the best to hold her family together.

The Last Letter was inspired from real love letters written by the author’s great, great grandmother to her husband, Frank. Interestingly, the author chose to keep the main character’s names the same, along with some of the characteristics of her relatives.

Here’s the book blurb:
Katherine wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t found the letter… Katherine Arthur's dying mother arrives on her doorstep, forcing her to relive a past she wanted to forget. When Katherine was young, the Arthur family had been affluent city dwellers until shame sent them running for the prairie, into the unknown. Taking her family, including young Katherine, to live off the land was the last thing Jeanie Arthur had wanted, but she would do her best to make a go of it. For Jeanie's husband Frank it had been a world of opportunity. Dreaming, lazy Frank. But, it was a society of uncertainty—a domain of natural disasters, temptation, hatred, even death. Ten-year-old Katherine had loved her mother fiercely, put her trust in her completely, but when there was no other choice, and Jeanie resorted to extreme measures on the prairie to save her family, she tore Katherine’s world apart. Now, seventeen years later, Katherine has found the truth--she has discovered the last letter. After years of anger, can Katherine find it in her heart to understand why her mother made the decisions that changed them all? Can she forgive and finally begin to heal before it’s too late? The Last Letter is the novel for every daughter who thinks she knows her mother's story.

And I always like to give you all an EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK.

Since the book we’re giving away is called The Last Letter, tell me if you keep old letters? I have all my old letters from my old boyfriends (all three of them!). In fact, while cleaning out my office the other day, I found some from a guy I am now Facebook friends with who I met in Daytona Beach when I was 12! I Facebooked him to tell him I found them and he told me that HE still has the letters I wrote him! They are dated 1982, and I’m sure we corresponded all the way through the time until I met my husband! I was a letter writer!

What about you? To enter to win this book, tell me if you keep letters? (leave an identifying name or email so I can contact you if you win!)

And isn’t it so sad that the art of letter writing no longer exists?

Thanks to BooksparksPR for offering The Last Letter as a giveaway!

HERE, HOME, HOPE by Kaira Rouda

Winner: Kirsten of Notes from a Human Napkin!
Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with you full name and address to receive your book! Thanks everyone for entering! A new book coming tomorrow!

Another Book for You!

Book: Here, Home, Hope

Author: Kaira Rouda

Have I got a treat for you all! Here, Home, Hope comes out May 1, and it’s going to be big! I’ve got a feeling Kaira Rouda is going to have fans right alongside those who love Sarah Pekkanen. Here, Home, Hope is a heartfelt story that all women can relate to, no matter what age you are, or what stage in life you’re facing! This is going to be a great summer-time read for all!

The Blurb:

Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her ordinary middle-American existence and her neighbors’ seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding but exhausting. Meanwhile, Kelly’s own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan.

From page one, Kelly’s witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan—she places Post-it notes all over her house and car—will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career.

I LOVE sharing the first chapter of books with you and Here, Home, Hope's first chapter will pull you in immediately! I had to laugh out loud because I was in this same position, quite literally as I was just fitted for a mouth guard!

To win Here, Home, Hope tell me this:

If you could reinvent yourself today, what would you be doing with your life right now?I think you all know, I would have my novels published by now!

Thanks to BookSparksPR for offering up this copy today!

Winner will be announced at the top of this post whenever I'm ready to choose a winner; also if you have not entered to win Fly Away Home, you still may do so by clicking on that link! Another book giveaway may show up for tomorrow too! I'm feeling generous!

PeaCe uP! : )

FLY AWAY HOME by Jennifer Weiner

Winner: KRYSTAL DYER!

Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com to receive your copy of Fly Away Home! To those of you who didn't win, I will have an additional copy to give away during Five Dollar Fun Fact Friday this week! : )

Well, well, well what do we have here? A Book Giveaway!

Many of you know by now that my first author crush was on Jennifer Weiner when she wrote Good in Bed ten years ago. She’s a very important reason why I love books so much. Not only did I fall in chick-lit-love with GIB, she also inspired me to start my blog as hers was the very first blog I ever read, and I began MaNiC MoMMy (originally called Manic Mom's Mental Myriads) back in 2004. It was also because of Jennifer Weiner that I was inspired to write my first novel, 40 Weeks (RIP).

And because of Jennifer Weiner and a book signing I attended, I met my BBFF Swishy, who UNFORTUNATELY (ahem!), no longer blogs, but if she did, you would find her here, and love her as much as I do! I can’t believe Swishy hasn’t blogged in almost a year, she had so much wonderful stuff to say. And she still does!

Today, courtesy of Jennifer Weiner, I am giving away a copy of FLY AWAY HOME! And later this week, I might give away ANOTHER COPY! (teaser!)

FLY AWAY HOME is being described as “hilarious, heartbreaking, and insightful” and features a sister duo (I love Weiner’s books with sister combos!) and a politician’s wife. The three women take refuge at the family beach house after Dad’s extramarital affair makes headlines.

I loved all three of the women characters -- each are written so uniquely as only Jennifer Weiner can write them. Fly Away Home boasts strong women, with quirky personalities, and was one of my favorite Weiner books. Read the First Chapter Here.

Win a copy right now – tell me about a quirky/embarrassing personality trait you have that you would rather keep to yourself but you know it will make us all laugh!

To find out if Jennifer Weiner is going to be touring near you, go to jenniferweiner.com/events.

Jen’s next book, Then Came You will be on shelves July 12th! More info here when it’s available! I can't wait for this one!

To find out if you've won, come back here and check at the top of this post where I'll have a name (hopefully it'll be YOUR NAME!) listed at the top! GOOD LUCK, and another book may be popping up for you to win TOMORROW!? Who knows?!?

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

**Please read my comment in the comment section where I try to explain how EVERYONE who commented every day was entered to win, not just previous winners! Thanks!

Happy Birthday to ME! Let's give away some books to celebrate!

Thank you all so very much for participating in the MaNiC MoMMy March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Many thanks to the fabulous authors who contributed their books as well:

Catherine McKenzie * Jenny Nelson * Lissa Rankin * Jess Riley * Michele Scott * Kim Wright * Julie Buxbaum * Jenny Gardiner * Eileen Cook * Trish Ryan * Shawn Klomparens * Shana Mahaffey * Alisa Bowman * Kristina Riggles * Susan Pohlman * Dawn Meehan * Emily Giffin * Maureen Lipinski * Laura Kasischke * Michelle Toth * Annette Fix * Allison Winn Scotch * Juliette Fay * Sarah Pekkanen * Jen Lancaster * Stacy Morrison * Rainbow Rowell * Laura Dave * Laura Munson * Stacey Ballis * Matt Logelin * Bethenny Frankel * Allison Pearson * Julie Metz

And now, here are the two winners who will take home a boatload of awesome books!



Congrats girls! Please drop me an email and we'll figure out just how you two will split the books. You can start by emailing me your list of top ten and we'll go from there!

Thank you all for taking the time to come by, and please continue to do so, even though I know you have a lot of reading to do now! And hopefully some day I'll have a book of my own for you to read too - I'm planning on sending the one I'm working on to my agent next month!

Okay, and PS, what the heck was I doing at the end of that video when I said, "Peace out" ... I just sound lame! And I was THISCLOSE to redoing the WHOLE video over! UGH!

SPIN & ARRANGED by Catherine McKenzie

Winner Announced:

Kassie H!

Congrats - you have won Spin and Arranged! Please email me your full name and address at stephanieelliot@gmail.com and I'll get you your copies of these two great books! Coming up later this week -- the GRAND PRIZE DRAWING, my BIRTHDAY, and my 1,000 post on MaNiC MoMMy! WOW!

Is this de ja vu???

Still a chance to win the very two books offered in March!

Hey everyone! So I really, really wanted to get all of the winners picked tonight but it takes about a half hour to do one winner and I didn't have the time to do them all, but if you check out Laura Dave's post and Laura Munson's post, those winners have been announced.

Also, there are a few of you who have not let me know your addresses, so please let me know who you are so I can get your books to you! Still waiting on the winner of Jen Lancaster's book!

Today, since no one claimed our very first books by Catherine McKenzie, I'm going to offer them up again. SPIN and ARRANGED are two awesome books. You can go back and read the review, but come back HERE to comment. EVEN IF YOU COMMENTED PREVIOUSLY, come HERE to comment in order to qualify for these books. The previous post will not count as your entry. You will need to comment on THIS POST if you want to win these books now. Sorry you have to do it again, but this is the easiest way for me to track the entries, and also it will give anyone new a chance to win these fabulous books.

And for this entry, let's do something completely random, tell me something that either looks good or smells good, but tastes completely disgusting. Or vice versa -- something that tastes awesome, but looks horrible. I have no idea where I come up with this stuff, and this has nothing at all to do with the books. I just wanna know your thoughts!

Happy Friday, and we'll get through announcing these last few books and then to the big prize in the next week or so!

Thanks for your patience, and thanks to everyone who went over to check out Real Moms Guide--that was way cool of you!

GOOD MORNING!

I seriously don't know what I'm gonna do if I don't say hi to you all each morning now!

Hi! Good morning! No book today... : (

Here's where we're at. Yesterday I had a migraine, and I think I'm blaming it on the fact that the day before, I took myself out on a date, and only had a frap and a salted caramel all day to eat. You can read about it over at my other blog. Oh yeah, did I ever tell you I blog daily somewhere else? Hahah. In my spare time. Anyway, I'm at SheKnows.com Real Moms Guide every single day. Twice on Mondays. I would LOVE it (and YOU, even MORE) if you could sneak over there sometimes and leave a little comment love. More important, my editors would love it cuz then they'd see people reading it.

So, back to the migraine. It prevented me from MOVING all day yesterday. In bed the whole day. I'm sure it was the combo caffeine (I before E except after C doesn't quite work with the word caffeine now does it?) and chocolate, the long walk, and then funky weather here in Scottsdale today (it actually RAINED ... for like 3-1/2 minutes, but with thunder AND lightning!).

I did have random.org choose three more book winners so go check out Falling Apart in One Piece, Stay and Attachments to see if you're the lucky winners. I will pick the rest of the winners this week, and then I do believe you have all decided to have TWO WINNERS for the books. I wish I could offer two full sets, but I don't have that to offer.

All of the authors have been soooo generous already with giving their books away, and so many of them offered more than just one book in the first place, so we'll just take what we can get! When we have two winners picked via Random.org, I will work with those two winners - maybe either by having them submit a list of their top 10 books to see if any of them are similiar, or let the first winner pick 5, then the second pick five, etc.

The way the drawing will go is as follows: Each day, I have taken all the comments and listed your names into an excel document. So I have 35 columns of names (one column per book). I will choose through random.org one name from each column, so if your name is in each column every day, your name could be chosen every single day. More than likely, I will share those 35 names with you all on the blog.

Does all this sound clear to you because I'm trying to understand it in my head! : )

Either way, I will be doing the grand prize drawing via a youtube video.

Some winners have not contacted me about their books, so please go back and check to see if your name is listed on the following:

Dawn Meehan: You'll Lose The Baby Weight
Michelle Toth: Annie Begins
Allison Winn Scotch: The One That I Want

No one has come forward for the very first books, Catherine McKenzie's Spin and Arranged, and that was so long ago, so I will probably do a post on Thursday offering it up again. Also, if I don't hear from the winners of the other three books by the end of this week, I will be making a decision on these as well, but for sure Spin and Arranged will be available again Thursday, and they are FABULOUS books. Check out what they are about HERE, but DO NOT COMMENT AGAIN. You'll have another chance tomorrow!

Okay, so that should catch you up to date on some things. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and I have truly, truly LOVED learning about all of you and as I go through all your comments, there are weird things that go through my head that I want to ask ALL of you, seriously! I should just do a blog post where I ask YOU all a bunch of questions, like how you come up with your names on here, why you chose some of your crushes, what you mean when you say some of the things you say. I have enjoyed this waaay more than you can even imagine and I wish I could give every single one of you guys books!

PeaCe uP!

xoxoxo MaNiC MoMMy

Oh, and PS... I have more in store for you all! Since I dumped BlogHer, I can do other stuff on my blog I couldn't before so I might be able to do more fun giveaways, but I'm not gonna pimp it out to a bunch of advertisers or anything crazy. I would most likely wanna know what you guys would want to come here for. I also think I will be able to do a mini-April book giveaway, with about 5-7 books. It's not 40, but it's something!

Back to bye-bye! Over and out! xoxo

PERFECTION by Julie Metz

Winner Announced!

Congratulations to:

BUTTAH!

And check this out! Buttah won previously in the contest, so it just goes to show you how random this really is! It didn't matter when you posted or how often you posted or what you said or how you said it. And this just means that each one of you has just as much of a chance at winning the grand prize which is coming up very soon! And there will be TWO of you to win the books! Congrats Buttah! I still have your address so I'll just send the info to the author for you!

Book: Perfection, A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal

Author: Julie Metz

Website: http://www.perfectionbook.com/index.html

Julie Metz had her Oprah moment, but she probably didn’t expect it would come about the way it unfolded.

Married and living the seemingly happy life, with an adorable six-year-old daughter in the suburbs, Julie’s life changed forever when her husband unexpectedly collapsed and died in their kitchen.

You’d think that’d be the worst the world would give you, right? Not for Julie. Months later, she discovered a betrayal that would have her question her whole marriage. Her husband had been leading a separate life and had been, in fact, having affairs with not one, but multiple women (at least five), and one of them being a very close friend of Julie’s.

Perfection is the story of how Julie overcomes the betrayal and rebuilds her life and identity after becoming a widow and finding out her husband had been an adulterer. It’s a moving memoir and Julie is a testament to all women who face any kind of adversity in their lives!

Read an excerpt here.

And here’s a wonderful video of Julie describing some moments in her life and also some FAQs you might be wondering about regarding her experience.

If you’d like to try your shot at winning Perfection (the very last book of this month-long promotion!) please leave a comment here on what YOU think is absolutely PERFECT! Can’t wait to read your answers!

Thanks for a great month, and come back tomorrow for details on how we’ll proceed to the grand prize drawing, and YES, I do have to still draw names for books from Friday, March 25 on, so if you didn't enter to win those, there's STILL TIME! Get on over to those posts and leave your comments!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Perfection! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!

I THINK I LOVE YOU by Allison Pearson

Winner Announced:

Congratulations!

Donna W

... who happens to have a crush on Jeff Probst from Survivor (and no, you're not the only one - one or two other ladies mentioned him!). But the ones who cracked me up the most were from the one girl who would crawl through crushed glass for George Clooney, and another girl who crushes on Conan -- REALLY? hahaah! Loved everyone's answers for this one!
Donna, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address so I can send you your book! Congrats again!

Book: I Think I Love You

Author: Allison Pearson

Show me a girl out there who never had a crush on a musician when she were younger and I’ll show you a big fat liar!

Did I get your attention?

Whether you had a thing for Kurt Cobain, INXS’s Michael Hutchence (why am I picking dead guys?), Justin Timberlake, Simon Lebon, Billy Idol, George Michael, Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or Donny Osmond, I bet there’s a musician that brings back childhood memories of you screaming in your bedroom while listening to either your:

A) Eight-track
B) Record album
C) Cassette tape on your boom box or in your Sony Yellow Walkman
D) CD
E) MP3 Player
F) iTunes on your laptop

(if you’re young enough to answer E) or F), tell your mom to enter this contest, not you, and go immediately to Wikipedia to find out who THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY and DAVID CASSIDY are. Also, look up Danny Bonaduce, while you’re there. And yes, one Spring Break, my college roommates and I harassed Danny on the beach, but that was WAAAAY before youtube or digital cameras so we have no proof, just the story.)

There was a time when you probably sat on your canopied pink and white bed tearing out pages from your Teen Beat magazine (back to Wiki if you don’t know what Teen Beat is) while listening to your music, and pasting the 8 x 11 posters all over your bedroom while your parental units yelled at you not to get Scotch tape marks all over the walls.

If any of this rings true in your life, you’re going to LOOOOVE today’s book, I THINK I LOVE YOU, by best-selling author, Allison Pearson.

It follows the story of two 13-year-old girls, Petra and Sharon, who are madly obsessed with David Cassidy - singer, teen heartthrob, and star of The Partridge Family. The girls enter a contest with plans to win and meet their crush in person.

Years later, nearing 40, Petra, now with her own teenage daughter, discovers a letter in her mother’s closet – a letter that awarded she and Sharon the winners of that contest long ago.

And guess what? They are not going to let that prize get away, not even 25 years later!

This is a terrific book for anyone who’s ever had a celeb crush, or a best gal-pal you’ve dreamt with about your future. I THINK I LOVE YOU covers all the topics to make a fabulous book – friendship, love, celebrity, that glimmer of youth we all wish we still had. You won’t want to miss out on it!

Here’s an adorable video showcasing Allison Pearson and the editors sharing who their teen crushes were.

To win I THINK I LOVE YOU, leave a comment here on your CURRENT celebrity crush! I’m telling you a few of mine I wouldn’t kick outta bed:

Vince Vaughn, Josh Duhamel, Dane Cook, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, and okay … Zac Efron! (I know, I know! But he's sooo cute in all the High School Musical movies!)

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win I THINK I LOVE YOU! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!

A PLACE OF YES by Bethenny Frankel

Winner Announced!
Congratulations to:

Dawn from CA!

You have won A Place of Yes!

Please email me your full name and address and I'll get your book to you! Congrats! And I think I can write a whole post on all of the comments here on these responses to the question on what is an easy change to make us all happy. I know after I wrote this, I went and walked two days in a row (whoopy!) and I felt sooo much better about myself. There are so many easy fixes in our lives, and what is stopping us!? I'd love to have a discussion on here about why we always put ourselves last!

Book: A Place of Yes 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life

Author: Bethenny Frankel

Website: http://www.bethenny.com/


I have only watched a handful of the Real Housewives shows and don’t know much about Bethenny Frankel, but I know many of you are going to love this book! Especially if you want to know the rules for getting everything you want out of life.

Here’s a video of Bethenny on Good Morning America

And here are Bethenny’s Top Rules:

Break the Chain
Find Your Truth
Act on It
Everything’s Your Business
All Roads Lead to Rome
Go for Yours
Separate from the Pack
Own It
Come Together
Celebrate

Bethenny has certainly come to A Place of Yes and owns her own happiness! To qualify for this book, leave a comment on what you’re not currently doing in your life that you know is an easy change that would make you happier? I’m giving you TWO things for me: I need to go back to yoga, and finish writing my novel! Your turn please! : )

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win A Place of Yes! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!

A TEENY BREAK

Hey Everyone! I still have three more books to offer up in the March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway that will take us into next week but I really need a weekend off so I'm not posting on Saturday and Sunday.

Come back on Monday and I'll have a few more books for you ... including one for those Real Housewives fans and another for you Partridge Family David Cassidy lovers!

And I will also be picking the last winners for the previous books featured. I'm really sorry I've been slow on that--we've had company and it's been a busy week. And for those of you who weren't sure where the winners are being announced -- they are listed on TOP of the blog posts -- so go back to the posts and you'll see the names there. The last week or so of books have not been announced so if there is NOT a name posted, that means you can still enter to win that book.

The big drawing will take place in a week or so, and every single one of you who has entered will be entered THAT many times to win! What I will do is draw one name from each day's book and then from those 31 day's names, I will then choose one (or two -- yet to be decided how many grand prize winners to choose) -- maybe comment here and that will help me decide --

Would you all like two winners and have two of you to split all the books -- it will be around 40 books to win -- should we have TWO WINNERS TO WIN ALL THE BOOKS?

Comment here: TWO WINNERS or ONE WINNER and I'll base my decision on how many comment!

Thanks!

TWO KISSES FOR MADDY by Matt Logelin

Winner Announced!

Congratulations to:

Michelle Mierczewski

You have won Two Kisses for Maddy!

Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com - send me your full name (well, I guess we got that already huh!? LOL!) and your address and I'll get your book to you! Congrats!

Book: Two Kisses for Maddy

Author: Matt Logelin

Website: http://www.blogger.com/www.mattlogelin.com

This one is a heartbreaker but it’s also a story of inspiration and survival. A book I purposely left for close to the end. One that I want to start reading but that I need to find the quiet time in my schedule to be able to sit down and just really be ready to read.

I’m not sure how many of you know the story of Matt Logelin or follow his blog, but it’s an intense story of how he experienced life and death of the two most important women in his world in a matter of hours. I have goosebumps just writing these words. His blog and his life and how he’s getting through it is an amazing story and if you don’t win this book, you’ve got to read it. This man, oh my gosh, is seriously a pillar of strength, and in his humbleness, he would probably just say to anyone, “I was just doing what I had to do.”

You can watch this video, but, warning, it will probably make you cry. It’s beautiful, and like it says about the book below, it’s “heartwarming and heartbreaking” both at the same time.

Here’s what his book, which is not published until April 14 (but I do have Advanced Reader Copies here), “Two Kisses for Maddy” is about:

Matt and Liz Logelin were high school sweethearts. The pair settled together in Los Angeles and they had it all: the perfect marriage, a beautiful new home, and a baby girl on the way. But just twenty-seven hours after they welcomed Madeline into the world, Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and instantly died, without ever holding the daughter whose arrival she had so eagerly awaited.

Faced with devastating grief and the responsibilities of a new and single father, Matt coped by returning to the small blog he had created to keep friends and family updated on Liz's pregnancy, which today has become a place for him to share with over a million curious readers the day to day of two lives bound by loss and love. But there is more to his story than just raising a daughter alone: Matt Logelin is an extraordinary human being. Having been sustained through tragedy by the kindness and generosity of strangers, he is now dedicated to helping others in difficult situations by reaching out and inspiring those facing loss or adversity.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking story punctuated by beautifully recollected-- and often humorous-- memories and anecdotes, Two Kisses for Maddy unquestionably has something to offer any reader who has experienced grief, and has sought the courage to live again.

To be entered to win Two Kisses for Maddy, just tell me something nice you plan to do today! Our friends are in town still and Mr. MaNiC is taking the day off and we’re all going to go somewhere fun! Not sure where we’ll end up, but being together is good enough for me! Happy Friday everyone!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Two Kisses for Maddy! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT by Stacey Ballis

Winner Announced!
Congrats to:

Siobhan!

You have won Good Enough To Eat!
Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address and I'll get your book to you. Thanks everyone for sharing your favorite part of yourself with me. I can tell you are all beautiful people! This was such a fun post for me to do and for me to imagine what you guys might look like! Think positive about all of your good traits! : )

First of all, THIS IS NOT THE END! I have FOUR more books to offer you guys after today's book, and then we have some housekeeping stuff to figure out! So, don't think this is the last book! It's NOT! YAY!!!

Book: Good Enough To Eat

Author: Stacey Ballis

Website: http://www.staceyballis.com/index.php

I read Stacey’s first book, Inappropriate Men, way back when and probably contacted her online to tell her how much I loved it. Then, when her next book came out, Sleeping Over, she invited me to her book launch party. My first ever book launch party! She was so nice and kind to me, and I was smitten! (What a fun word!) Of course, I’ve been a fan ever since. She’s talented in many ways – with writing and in cooking, and she’s been on the Rachel Ray Show and on CBS countless times.

In the book we’re offering today, Stacey Ballis incorporates her talents in writing and cooking to bring you Good Enough to Eat.

As I’ve not had a chance to read it yet, here’s the review from Booklist:

Melanie Hoffman and her husband Andrew have been happily married for almost 10 years but when Melanie slims down to a trim size 6 after once tipping the scale at 290 pounds, her hubby leaves her for another chubby lady. Now divorced, the 39 year-old finds solace in her successful Chicago restaurant serving healthy gourmet fare. She has a small support group there consisting of her energetic, gay sous chef, Kai, a ballsy part-time cook, Delia, and her new roomie, a 24-year-old whimsical vagabond named Nadia. As Melanie slowly sweeps up the crumbs of fallen love, she finds Nathan and the handsome documentary filmmaker helps her overcome her body image issues. Ballis's (The Spinster Sisters) use of the enjoyment of cooking and eating as a continuous theme with featured recipes in the back is a nice addition, but the heart of her book lies within the jagged mind of Melanie and her daily struggle that most women, fat or thin, endure. Women will savor the brutal honesty of how Melanie sees her body, her battles with food, her failed marriage, and her fear of new love.

If you love to cook and to eat, (and who doesn’t LOVE to eat?!) you’ll especially love Good Enough to Eat because there are a ton of pages of recipes you’ll want to try out at the end of the book!

Since part of this book is about Melanie’s body image issues, I want you to tell me the physical part of you that YOU LOVE BEST. For me, I really like my long legs the best! Your turn!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Good Enough To Eat! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!

THIS IS NOT THE STORY YOU THINK IT IS by Laura Munson

Winner Announced:

Congrats to Carie Casey!

Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address and I'll get your book to you! And this was one of my most favorite comments from all of you! I loved your memoir titles! I have NO idea what I would call my memoir! You all have such clever ones! Thanks for sharing them with me! Loved them!

Book: This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness

Author: Laura Munson

Website: lauramunsonauthor.com

Winner Announced Above

Today’s book is an incredibly special one, and so is the author. I had the awesome pleasure of meeting her a while back when she was in town to promote her New York Times bestseller, This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness

Laura Munson first became famous for her emotionally-charged essay, Those Aren’t Fighting Words, Dear, which was published in The New York Times Modern Love section. The New York Times site crashed because of the overload of comments the essay brought in. You have to click over and read this essay after you’re done commenting here. It’s … I don’t even have the words to tell you how much of an impact it will have on you. It’s THAT powerful.

The essay is about Laura’s husband’s confusion in their marriage at that time and his desire to get out of it. When he told Laura he didn’t love her anymore, her reaction was, “I don’t buy it.”

What powerful words, and what strength Laura Munson had. She writes in her essay that some people might think she was a pushover or that she was weak. I say that she is one of the strongest women I know. To have that kind of power to withstand those words. To stand there in the face of an impending crisis, to look her husband in the eye and tell him that she wasn’t buying it, that she would give him “responsible distance” to figure out whatever was happening in his life, that is a brave woman. To her credit, Laura wasn’t going to give him years to make his mind up – she did put a time limit on how long she would put up with his behavior.

Laura was strong enough to know that what was going on in their marriage was not a “we” thing, but rather a “him” thing, and she was powerful enough to know that she wasn’t being rejected. It wasn’t because of anything she had done.

So she took her knowledge of what she learned and how she faced the crisis, and how she didn’t let it turn her life completely upside-down or ruin her family, and she wrote a book about it.

May we all be this strong when faced with any hardship that may come our way, whether it be in our marriages, with our children, our family, our jobs, our discontent with our personal self-satisfaction, our emotional desire to be something other than what we are. This Is Not The Story You Think It Is. This is a book for all women, and even all men. It’s for all people dealing with a personal crisis. It’s empowering, it’s powerful. It’s a self-strengthening book that everyone can take something away from.

Laura’s book may very well offer you the power you might need in the moment you may least expect it. Her words will strengthen your mind, your heart, and your soul.

So I do say this to you now, this book is NOT about a divorce – Laura and her husband did not divorce, they got THROUGH their crisis. This book is a book to help you through whatever it is that you’re going through in life right now, or maybe what you may be faced with down the road. It may not be the story you think it is, but it’s absolutely, positively one that you’ll want to read.

I love learning about each and every one of you, and I wish there were books for all of you to win! How about this for a question for this comment entry: tell me what the title of your memoir would be.

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Laura Munson's book! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!

LONDON, DIVORCE, HUSBAND by Laura Dave

Winner Announced!

Christina L...

who said dessert and wine was sexy is getting ALL THREE of Laura Dave's books and The First Husband isn't even OUT YET! Congratulations! And I loved EVERYONE's answers, and a ton of you said chocolate-covered strawberries were sexy! Guess what I made over spring break? Yup! Chocolate covered strawberries! Hardly sexy though cuz a bunch of kids ate them - actually, they ate the chocolate around the strawberries and left the soggy fruit. Stupid kids! Christina, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address so you can receive all three of your books! But not to worry everyone, these three books are included in the grand prize giveaway coming up soon!

Books:
London is the Best City in America
The Divorce Party
The First Husband


Author: Laura Dave

Website: http://www.lauradave.com/page.php?category=05

Winner Announced Here

It’s a THREESOME!

Laura Dave is one of my absolute favorite authors and to think I almost missed out on her. Seriously. I almost didn’t read her first book because of the title, London is the Best City in America. I mean, it didn’t make sense to me. And truthfully, I was at some reading stage in my life where I thought it was a book about London and I didn’t really feel like reading a book about London.

Oh, silly silly me.

Thank GOD for my bestest bestest friend Swishy for telling me I HAD TO READ IT. Because I did and OH MY GOSH! Awesomeness. Laura Dave’s writing is AMAZING. You fall in love with her writing style and then also with her characters. And yes, I mean absolute love, with her male characters immediately, and she kind of makes you fall in love with a couple of them at one time so you don’t know who to love more, which makes reading the books all that more exciting. Like, hmmm, should she be with him, or that other hottie? And it just makes for fascinating books!

And yes, I said BOOKS because Laura is so generous and kind she is giving away ALL THREE of her books, and here’s the other thing, her third is NOT EVEN OUT YET!

Is this not the best ever!?

So, Laura’s first book is London is the Best City in America which I read a long time ago, but still, to this day, consider it a fave of mine!

Her second is The Divorce Party, in which I think about every single time I encounter red velvet cake, whether it be cake, cupcakes, frosting, ice cream, frozen yogurt (there is such a thing!), anything with that flavor, I think, “Laura Dave, The Divorce Party, Awesome book!”, and most of the time, I will then FB her and say, “I had red velvet cake this weekend and thought of you and The Divorce Party.” I wonder if she gets sick of hearing that from people or if I’m the only psycho who does that? Now you definitely HAVE to read the book to know where I’m coming from.

Her third book is The First Husband, and is the most recent one I read, and I LOVE IT! The food that comes to mind from that book is eggs and lobster, which I would probably never eat together, but Laura makes it sound divine in the book. Sooo good, and so sexy! But let me say, maybe I’m hungry right now? Since The First Husband is the newest, NOT EVEN OUT UNTIL MAY book, let me give you my review:

Laura Dave has done it again with her third novel, The First Husband. Readers will fall in love with travel writer, Annie Adams, who is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend Nick of five years and now doesn’t quite know where to call home.

Her rebound guy quickly becomes the real deal, and Annie’s First Husband. Griffin is caring, selfless, compassionate, and only wants practically everything good for Annie. She follows him to rural Massachusetts to open his restaurant where she is thrown into a world she is completely unfamiliar with. Griffin’s brother Jesse, his ex-girlfriend Gia, and his overbearing mother all play intricate parts in making Annie wonder if her very real love for Griffin is enough to make her marriage work.

When Nick comes back into Annie’s life, realizing he has always loved Annie, and a new job offer surfaces, she’s even more confused. How can Annie figure out where home is for her, and what will she do to find the comfort she so desperately needs?

Laura’s writing is so genuine and rich; her characters are real and sweet. The men – I’ve always loved the men in her stories! And what I love about The First Husband is that I found myself wondering all through the book, “Who is Annie going to end up with?” And I think whoever she chose, I would have been happy with her decision, because first and foremost, I knew that whatever Annie was going to do, she was going to take care of her own happiness before choosing to be with the absolute perfect man for her.

With all this food talk, tell me a food that you think is sexy and I'll enter you in the book giveaway? I dig crab legs and warm butter! YUM! Ooh, and put me on a beach while eating them. Even better! With a bottle of chardonnay ….


*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Laura's books! I’ll draw the winner in a couple of days and I will post the winner’s name at the TOP of this post, in the highlighted area.


Come back and read about each book every day in March. Choose the books you'd like to win. Enter for any or ALL the books. Each entry will count as an entry toward the grand prize of winning ALL 31+ books at the end of the month. You can win the book of the day and still qualify to win ALL the books at the end of the month!


PLEASE be specific with your name in the comment section, and IF YOUR NAME is listed as the winner, you must email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com in order to claim your prize. Email me with your full name and address so I can have your book(s) sent to you.


Thanks, and GOOD LUCK! And come back tomorrow to see what book I’ll be giving away then too!


It’s MaNiC MoMMy’s March Madness Book-A-Day Giveaway! Read ALL the Rules and Details Here!


Sorry, only U.S. and Canadian residents only!