June Blast-O-Books!

Update! We've added MORE books ALREADY!!!

I'M DOING IT AGAIN!

June Blast-O-Books!

OK, I didn’t think I’d be doing this again so soon after the March Madness Book A Day Giveaway, but what better way to kick off summer than with a bunch of fun book reviews, features and giveaways, right?

RIGHT!

So, here’s what we’re going to do for the first part of June: Let’s start giving away some books next week, shall we? Every day until the book offers stop coming through, I’ll give away a book to a lucky reader. And same as last time, if you enter every day, I’ll put your name in to win a grand prize at the end, which will be a batch of books. This time the grand prize will be a random batch of books – some will be a selection of those that I’m giving away in June, and some will be some random extra books I have here. Plus I may toss in a Target gift card or a Starbucks card, and some other fun stuff; we’ll just have to see what I’m in the mood for giving away.

One thing that many of you were confused about last time was that some of you thought that you were not all included as many times as you entered daily. You were. If you leave a comment on EVERY post every time I offer you a book, your name will be entered in the final grand prize drawing THAT many times, whether you win a book or not. Guaranteed. So rest assured that even if you don’t win any of the books for the next 15 book giveaways (or however many I give away), your name will go into the ‘hat’ that many times to be eligible to win the grand prize.

This promo is called the June Blast-O-Books, and for now I’ve got these books committed, and there are possibly more to come, so stay tuned, and we’ll kick this bad boy off on Monday June 6th! However, unlike in March, I will be taking the weekends off! Some of the books being offered this time around will be e-books!

Got Milf? The Mordern Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous, Looking Great, and Rocking a Minivan by Sarah Maizes

Parents Behaving Badly by Scott Gummer

Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany

Where’s My Wand? by Eric Poole

Skinny by Diana Spechler

Priceless by Nicole Richie (yep, THAT Nicole Richie)

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

The D Word by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

A Pug’s Tale by Allison Pace

The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice

Momfriends by Ariella Papa

The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly

Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go: Nearly 200 Ways to Enjoy Chicagoland With Tweens And Tweens by Melisa Wells

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch

Here are some of the rules we played by from last time:
Sorry, but if you live outside of the U.S. or Canada, we can’t deliver books to you. You’re the lucky one who gets to live somewhere exotic, so that’s the one downfall you’ve got to suffer by not being able to win here.

Enter only once per book, but remember, if you don’t win that day, you will still be entered to win whatever the ‘grand’ prize I choose to make grand at the end of this June Blast-O-Books!

Use a unique identifying name when leaving your comment (JEN is NOT UNIQUE, but JEN36 IS UNIQUE – get it?), and preferably please try to leave a way for me to contact you if you can. Usually I will announce the book winner 3-5 days after I post the book review at the TOP of the post, so it’s important to COME BACK to the post to see if you have won.

You must contact me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com to claim your book. For the most part, I won’t come looking for you to give you your prize.

I use random.org to choose the winners.

Any questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section!

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! : )

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS I LOVE BOOKS

Yesterday, I took Ajers to the chiropractor for the first time. He had a basketball injury. I was talking to the receptionist and she mentioned that her son was the doctor, and she and her husband had moved to AZ to be with him, so of course we started talking about how we ended up here, and how long she's been married, how long I've been married, practically our whole life stories, because that's what I do when I go out and start talking to people I meet - I like to learn about them. Her children are here -- her son is 28 (the chiropractor), her daughter is around 26 or so, and they are all from NY. She and her husband just celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary and decided to move here in October, so actually I have lived here longer than she has.

She moved here to be with her kids and semi-retire and help her son in his office and get away from the cold of NY and enjoy her life.

So I asked her how she is enjoying it.

"I love it here," she said.

"And what about your husband?" I asked.

"He went back to New York after a month. He hated it here. He likes hunting and fishing and being near the ocean. He didn't like it here at all."

My mind clicked. And immediately knew that she needed to have Laura Munson's This Is Not The Story You Think It Is. I just felt it in my gut that she was going through that sort of crisis. I didn't know this woman at all. But the look on her face, and what she had just told me in the few minutes that we talked, I could sense it. I had an extra copy at home, and my house is literally, five houses away from the doctor's office. I said to her, "I have a book you need to read, and I'm going to go home and get it for you. I'll be right back."

So I went home, got the book, and brought it to her. I don't know really anything of her personal story, except that she seemed like she might have been lost, and how could you not be? To spend 32 years with someone, and expect to spend the rest of your life enjoying each other, to make a move to be with your children. I feel for her. I wanted to help her in some way, and I really felt that Laura's words will give her some peace. So that's why I brought her the book.

That's why I love words and books so much. That's just one of the reasons that I wanted to share all these books with you all this past month, and that's why I will continue to bring books and stories and authors to you guys. I hope you'll still read. Thanks!

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!

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!

ATTACHMENTS by Rainbow Rowell

Winner Announced!
DaphneSFL!
Congratulations, and Daphne, you better love this book because I DID!! Soooo much! Please email me your full name and address and we'll get your book out to you. I LOOOOOVE this book and Rainbow is a kick-butt author! I'm so happy to have found her! And now you get to have her book too! My email is stephanieelliot@gmail.com! 



Today's Book: Attachments

by Rainbow Rowell!

Please note, yesterday's book got posted late so please make sure to enter to win Stay by Allie Larkin as well too! Also, I promise to pick winners for the previous books Monday or Tuesday--we have company and were at the Grand Canyon!

Book: Attachments

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Website: http://www.rainbowrowell.com/

I absolutely positively LOVE this book. Attachments is NOT even out yet. It comes out on my birthday, April 14! You know who else loves it? Jodi Piccoult loves it. She wrote a blurb about it. So did Haven Kimmel and Claire Cook. So you KNOW it’s going to be a SMASH HIT novel!

I want to write the best review here for you to fall in love with this book as much as I did but I am afraid I won’t do it justice. The story is set in 1999 when email is just coming onto the scene. Two of the main characters, Beth and Jennifer, both who work at a newspaper, correspond with one another through email. The guy whose job it is to monitor email at the company, Lincoln, falls in love with Beth through her emails, never having seen her because he works nights.

The book’s main character is Lincoln, and it is told from his perspective, and he is sweet and darling and you’ll fall in love with him too and you’ll root for him through the whole way as he has to face many obstacles. He really doesn’t like his job as an email monitor (guilt factor), he lives with his mom although he’s in his late 20s and needs to find a place of his own, and he’s in love with Beth, who currently is in a relationship (with a very hot band member, btw, making for some interesting turmoil!).

Jennifer, in the story, has her own troubles, trying to decide if she wants to get pregnant or not, and then dealing with some drama in her own life as well. The ‘dialogue’ between Beth and Jennifer is told throughout the story in only emails, which adds to the coolness of the book. It’s truly an amazing read, and definitely one for those of you who love John Hughes movies, the MTV era, and growing up when the internet phase was just starting out. It’s also a great read for anyone who has ever had a secret crush but didn’t know how to ‘fess up and went around feeling lost and forlorn over the fact that you’d wonder if he’d ever notice you. Really though, Attachments is a wonderful love story that you’ll read and shut, and then want to open up to the beginning and start right over again.

And of course, Rainbow (yes, her real and really cool name!) had me at page two with the mention of ZIMA, which happened to be my favorite malt beverage choice in the late ‘90s!

To win Attachments, tell me about an interesting email correspondence, or if you've ever gotten in trouble for writing an email. If you don’t have one, that’s OK!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Attachments! 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!

STAY by Allie Larkin

Winner Announced:

Meredith aka Mommy Mer

(which always makes me think of a mermaid, I don't know why!?)

Congrats! You have won STAY! Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address to receive your book! And it was so much fun hearing about all of your pets and their names! I loved it! Thanks for sharing everyone!

Book: Stay

Author: Allie Larkin

Website: www.allielarkinwrites.com/

Winner Announced Here

Alright all you dog lovers out there, and I know there’s plenty of you, here’s one you’ve been waiting for. Allie Larkin’s novel, Stay, is the perfect read for pet fans and book lovers alike. People magazine called it a “feel good debut!” Grab your four-legged friend and curl up with this one, it’s a winner!

Savannah “Van” Leone has loved Peter since the day they met. The problem is, Peter has loved Van’s best friend, Janie, since the moment they met. And now they’re walking down the aisle, with Van standing nearby in a Halloween orange bridesmaid dress, her smile as hollow as a jack-o-lantern. After the wedding, Van drowns her sorrows in Kool Aid-vodka cocktails and reruns of Rin-Tin-Tin, and does what any woman in her situation would do: She buys a German Shepherd over the internet.

The pocket-sized puppy Van is expecting turns out to be a clumsy, hundred-pound beast that only responds to Slovakian. Van is at the end of her rope—until she realizes that this quirky giant may be the only living being who will always be loyal to her, no matter what. And thus begins a friendship that will alter Van’s life in ways she never imagined.

Joe leads Van to Dr. Alex Brandt, a rugged vet with floppy blond hair and winning smile. But just as things are starting to heat up, the newlyweds return from their honeymoon, forcing Van to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to have everything she ever wanted. Warm and witty, poignant and funny, Stay marks the arrival of an irresistible new voice.

Read chapter One of Stay.

Check out the BOOK TRAILER HERE!

Allie lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, Jeremy, their two German Shepherds, Argo and Stella, and a three-legged cat. She is the cofounder of thegreenists.com, a site dedicated to helping readers take simple steps toward going green. Allie's essay about Stella will be in Wade Rouse's dog anthology, I'M NOT THE BIGGEST BITCH IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, due out September 6. (You can bet I'll be sharing a copy or two on MaNiC!)

To win Stay, tell me your current pet or pet’s names or a previous pet’s name. We grew up with Bullet the German shepherd, Gypsy the calico cat, Blackberry (the cat who ran away but reappeared miraculously two different Christmas days at our back stoop but ran away again), Brandy the cocker spaniel, another Bullet, some gerbils and hamsters. Then as a married adult we had some cats before children: Puck, who sadly died, then Buko, and Cyclops, who, believe it was a black one-eyed precious female kitty we adored. Now, your turn!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Stay! 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!

FALLING APART IN ONE PIECE by Stacy Morrison

Winner Announced:

Jen, who was one of the last ones to post, is the winner of Falling Apart in One Piece.

Jen said she needed "Book, prayers, sleep and hope." Jen, I'm giving you (along with the help and generosity of Stacy Morrison!) the book, and also sending prayers, and thoughts for sleep and hope! I want to thank everyone very much for your kindness especially about how we handled the giveaway for this book. (And all who commented are entered on this day so not to worry!) It's a fabulous book and I do hope you'll all take the time to read it because Stacy taught me more than I could have ever imagined about the human spirit through her story. Jen, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. Send me your full name and address and we'll get the book out to you.

Book: Falling Apart in One Piece

Author: Stacy Morrison

Website: http://www.fallingapartinonepiece.com/

Winner Announced Here

I can’t even begin to tell you how much Stacy’s book impacted me. Even now, long after I’ve read it, I think of it so often. Hers is a book that will stay with you for a long time. Her spirit and ability to see the good in all is truly amazing. I will tell you it begins as a story of divorce but it’s so not the main focus. Anyone can read it, so don’t let the fact that it’s based on her divorce stop you from checking it out. You will close this book and sit there and think. It’s that kind of book.

Stacy is as generous and kind off the book page too. The former editor-in-chief of Redbook, she has reached out to her readers on Facebook and the internet, and she also now has a website that helps women going through what she has been through at http://www.fallingapartinonepiece.com/.

Through her site, she wants to create a safe, compassionate, and hopefully occasionally funny environment, to help people find their inner reslience. Check out her BLOG here. Falling Apart was also just named one of the top six books on Divorce on Huffington Post, so if you are going through this struggle, it is definitely a book that will bring healing to you during this time in your life. If you've been through divorce, it is also a must read.

Here’s what I wrote about Falling Apart in One Piece after I read it.

Even if you are in a happy marriage, this is a must read for all women. Stacy Morrison tells the story of her personal journey through her unexpected divorce; how one day her husband of 10 years walks in and decides for the both of them that it's over. He decides he's done with the house, the marriage, and their baby. Stacy is left to pick up the pieces and figure it all out on her own, and she does this with a kind of grace I don't know many women would have. I certainly wouldn't. She has a sense of calm in her writing and never places blame on her ex, which again, I don't know if I could be that kind of woman.

Through her ordeal, a broken home (literally and figuratively), floods, fire, tears and self-doubt obstruct Stacy from finding peace; and she is also in charge of doing most of the difficult and thankless parenting duties on her own. Stacy manages to keep it together, and she and her ex maintain a beautiful parenting relationship for the good of their son. She learns more about herself, and in the end, prevails, making Falling Apart in One Piece a beautiful love story to whom it matters most, her son, Zack.

IMPORTANT!
I've thought about this particular book and realize that while it's a beautiful book and I want to share it with everybody, some of you may need to read Stacy's words more than others. It can be a life-changing book for some of you. So here's what I would like to do:

If you are in a happy stable relationship and think someone else might better benefit from winning Falling Apart in One Piece, you can write PASS in your comment and I'll still enter your name today for the final drawing at the end of the month.

If you are struggling in your marriage or have divorced and feel you need Stacy's words now more than ever, simply write NEED, and you'll be entered to win the book today.

Either way, all of you who comment will be entered for the grand prize of all the books at the end of the month. Thank you for understanding! And if you'd like to add more in the comment, feel free to share something GOOD that has recently happened to you. For me, this Book-A-Day Giveaway has been amazing. I love reading about each and every one of you and discovering something new about you guys! It's becoming a fun little community and I really don't want it to end!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Falling Apart in One Piece! 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!

IF YOU WERE HERE + WINNER'S CHOICE! by Jen Lancaster

Winner Announced!
Liz!

This is so there is no confusion of who the winner is because I just so happen to have her profile picture! Congrats Liz! Please email me your full name, mailing address and your other book of choice by Jen Lancaster and I'll get you your ADVANCED READERS COPY of IF YOU WERE HERE and the other book as soon as I can!

Book: If You Were Here

Author: Jen Lancaster

Website: http://www.jennsylvania.com/

Winner Announced Here

This is one I know many of you have been waiting for, me included! Jen Lancaster’s debut FICTION! I know because of the generosity of Jen, many of you are here today. I owe her a lot because of the success of this giveaway so if you happen to pop on over here Jen, thank you, thank you, thank you! Maybe if I keep typing Jen Lancaster, Jen Lancaster, Jen Lancaster, her google alerts will explode and she’ll stop on over and comment, what do you say guys, how about if I make all of you just comment JEN LANCASTER for this one! Hahah. That’ll be good!

Anyway, the book today is IF YOU WERE HERE, by none other than … say it with me, JEN LANCASTER, memoirist-now-fiction writer, and I know you’re all dying to read it. It’s not even due out until MAY, and I’ve got a hot little copy RIGHT HERE that I promise to mail out early. One thing is, I do not know if this one will be in the grand prize lineup (sidenote, some others may also not be, but that’s a post for another day, along with another question – there are so many books—should we have two grand prize winners?)

Back to today’s book! Along with winning IF YOU WERE HERE, I’m also going to throw in another Jen Lancaster book because we all love her so much, and I think I’ll make it Winner’s Choice! So, whoever wins can tell me which other Jen book you’d like and I’ll send that one to you too.

Cool huh?

Do you want to know what IF YOU WERE HERE is about? Okay then, here goes:

Told in the uproariously entertaining voice readers have come to expect from Jen Lancaster, If You Were Here follows Amish-zombie-teen-romance author Mia and her husband Mac (and their pets) through the alternately frustrating, exciting, terrifying-but always funny-process of buying and renovating their first home in the Chicago suburbs that John Hughes's movies made famous. Along their harrowing renovation journey, Mia and Mac get caught up in various wars with the homeowners' association, meet some less-than-friendly neighbors, and are joined by a hilarious cast of supporting characters, including a celebutard ex- landlady. As they struggle to adapt to their new surroundings- with Mac taking on the renovations himself- Mia and Mac will discover if their marriage is strong enough to survive months of DIY renovations.

I love the fact that from page 4, Mia uses Jen’s trademark footnotes in her storytelling too! A classic!

You’ll love this book you guys!

And if you haven’t already checked out some of my archives with Jen, here’s a bunch – you’ll have to scroll through, but some of it’s pretty entertaining, like a video where I annoy her during her Pretty in Plaid book tour.

So to win, I’m making this so easy, comment, “JEN LANCASTER … (FILL IN THE BLANK).”

Miss ya Jen! So glad you're coming to Scottsdale / Phoenix!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win IF YOU WERE HERE! 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!

SHELTER ME & DEEP DOWN TRUE by Juliette Fay

Winner Announced!
Congratulations to:

StephRochelle!

You have won both of Juliette Fay's books! Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address so I can get your books to you! Thanks for entering every single day. It has paid off! And don't worry everyone -- there's still a chance to win the BIG PRIZE!

Books: Shelter Me and Deep Down True

Author: Juliette Fay

Website: juliettefay.com

We’ve got a Double-Whammy for you today, and these are two amazing books that you’re all going to LOVE! Juliette Fay is a terrific author who writes from the heart in a style that has you at the very first word. You’ll adore her!

Shelter Me, Juliette Fay’s debut novel, touches upon a very delicate subject matter. The book opens four months after Janie LaMarche loses her husband and she’s still in the grieving process, trying to make sense of her new life as a widowed mother of two very young children.

I love Fay’s characters, from the teeniest Baby Carly (who delights and keeps things in perspective), to meddling Aunt Jude, and each and every one brilliantly serves his or her purpose in the book. I fell instantly in love with Janie’s 4-year-old son Dylan, and cried for him as he waded through his own feelings of grief trying to understand his father was no longer with him.

Shelter Me is a beautiful family love story with little stories entwined, and as I read, I found that many times I couldn’t even begin to guess what would happen next. As Janie slowly pulls through her grief with the help of a very unlikely cast – a contractor hired by her dead husband to build her a porch, a priest who seems more manly than priestly, a baker cousin, an outlandish neighbor – we see that it takes all types to create a tapestry of love, and this book is truly that – a beautifully woven novel that will have you angry, sad, excited and hopeful for Janie, the true hero of this book.

Here’s the back-of-the-book blurb:

Four months after her husband's death, Janie LaMarche remains undone by grief and anger. Her mourning is disrupted, however, by the unexpected arrival of a builder with a contract to add a porch onto her house. Stunned, Janie realizes the porch was meant to be a surprise from her husband—now his last gift to her.

As she reluctantly allows construction to begin, Janie clings to the familiar outposts of her sorrow—mothering her two small children with fierce protectiveness, avoiding friends and family, and stewing in a rage she can't release. Yet Janie's self-imposed isolation is breached by a cast of unlikely interventionists: her chattering, ipecac-toting aunt; her bossy, over-manicured neighbor; her muffin-bearing cousin; and even Tug, the contractor with a private grief all his own.

As the porch takes shape, Janie discovers that the unknowable terrain of the future is best navigated with the help of others—even those we least expect to call on, much less learn to love.
Read Shelter Me Chapter One HERE

Juliette’s second novel, which I haven’t gotten to yet, but am dying to find the time, is called Deep Down True. Read the FIRST CHAPTER HERE and you will be hooked. Trust Me!

Dana Stellgarten is the protagonist of Deep Down True. She’s newly divorced, running low on funds, and has her hands full as her happy-go-lucky son suddenly develops anger management problems, and her daughter struggles to keep her head above the shark-infested waters of middle school. Things seem to be looking up as Dana finds work, begins dating and is befriended by the popular mother of her daughter’s new BFF. But she soon learns that the tension between being true to herself and being liked doesn’t end in middle school.

So, let’s see, since her newest is called Deep Down True, tell me something you know is TRUE!
And good luck to you all!


*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Juliette Fay'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!

THE RAISING by Laura Kasischke

Winner Announced!

OK, I have to admit, you guys had some scary stuff you shared with me! And some freaky weird stuff happen to you too! Thanks for telling me those stories, and sorry if it brought up some memories you might not have wanted to remember. Anyway, good old Random.org chose one of you and it happened to be one that did really kinda freak me out. It is...

Buttah!

Check out her story in the comments -- definitely a paranormal one!

Thanks to you all, and there are still more books coming, along with some two-fors and a three-some heading your way!

The Book: The Raising

Author: Laura Kasischke

Winner Will Be Announced Above

Today’s book is not like any that I’ve featured here yet. The Raising, by Laura Kasischke, which is brand new this month (and unfortunately, this means I haven’t had a chance to read it yet!), will have you on the edge of your seat. Noted as “part Stephen King, Part Donna Tartt, and wholly unforgettable” it is a gripping psychological thriller.

Review From Booklist:

Set in and around the campus of a fictional midwestern university, Kasischke’s eighth novel centers on a tragic car accident that has taken the life of beautiful, straight-A student Nicole. A year later, her sorority sisters are still up in arms and lay the blame for Nicole’s death on her boyfriend, Craig, who, they claim, is an irresponsible rich kid. But Craig’s roommate, Philip, who grew up with Nicole, has begun to think that she is not really dead and approaches his sociology professor, who is teaching a class on death, for help. Meanwhile, a witness to the accident has given up trying to straighten out the many erroneous newspaper accounts stating that Nicole was found covered in blood, for the girl she saw was not bleeding and not dead. Kasischke excels at depicting the psychology of the young and the traumatized even as she delivers a scathing indictment of the siege mentality of college administrators. In this literary page-turner, reminiscent of Donna Tartt’s Secret History (1992), the talented author inlays her academic novel with a touch of the supernatural and a deep sense of foreboding.

From everything I’ve read online this book is a crazy thriller and I’m almost scared to start reading it. But I’m dying to because it sounds so mysterious, and I want to know what really happens to Nicole. Is she alive? Is she dead? Does she just not want to go to Chemistry class? Was she being hazed so badly at her sorority, this was the only way she could think to get out of it alive … hahah, am I hilarious or what? If you want to find out, leave a comment here. Tell me something scary that happened to YOU in college or high school!

*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win The Raising! 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!

EMILY GIFFIN PRIZE PACKAGE!

Winner Announced!

Congrats to:

A.C. Morris

You've been coming here every single day in March so far and it's paid off! You're getting all five of Emily's books and I'm going to send you some cashola to see Something Borrowed when it comes out on May 6, along with some of your favorite movie candy! So congrats to you (Man, I wanted THIS ONE! Hahah!) so, send me your full name along with your mailing address so you can get your prize! And don't worry everyone, there are still SO MANY more FABULOUS authors to come! There are ELEVEN days in March left PLUS, I've got some EXTRA authors who wanted to be a part of this, so we're heading into April for this one!

Emily had me at hello. She just did. I love her more than anything. Since I lived in her hometown, I had the pleasure of meeting her a bunch of times. She sent me her very own ARC of Baby Proof just because I was nervy enough to ask, I've been out to dinner with her, she taught me how to smile properly (touch the back of your teeth or the roof of your mouth with your tongue as the camera clicks), and she let me cut in line in front of everyone the day before I had to move from Chicago to Scottsdale! I truly consider her a friend. I hope she says the same of me.

I think she treats everyone she meets the same. She's kind and gracious and such a talented author, but you all already know that. And when I asked her if she'd like to participate in the Book-A-Day Giveaway, she said I could offer anything I wanted. So, I figured you guys would want it all, right? So, that's what you're getting. ALL OF EMILY's BOOKS.

PART ONE:

To win Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With and Heart of the Matter, all you have to do is leave a comment here on something pertaining to why you love Emily Giffin, because I've already told you why I love her. Or why you love her books. Or why you would LOVE to READ her books.

So that's PART ONE.

PART TWO:
Part Two is a little bit more intense, and you don't have to play along if you don't wanna win part two. Up to you.

Emily's first book, SOMETHING BORROWED is coming out on the BIG SCREEN (May 6th!), starring Kate Hudson, John Krasinski, Ginnifer Goodwin and Colin Egglesfield.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT!



I wanted to kick in a little something more so here's the second part of this giveaway:

--Go over to Emily's site and sign up for her e-newsletter here. You'll get a sneak peek at her amazing upcoming book WHERE WE BELONG if you sign up, and it's AWESOME! I'm already in love with her hottie guy character, Peter. And you'll also get exciting movie news in the e-newsletter too.

--At Emily's website, you'll find the answers to these two questions that I would like you to answer. I'm going to 'moderate' these questions in the comments section so no one can see the answers right away, but I'll make them all live after the qualification time is over, which you will have until Friday, March 18, 5:00 p.m., to answer.

1. What is the title of the young adult book Emily wrote before she wrote Something Borrowed that was never published?

2. In one of Emily's books, there is a main character with the same initials as Emily. What is that character's name. And what is that book? P.S. Emily didn't even know this until I told her!

If you answer these two questions correctly and within the timeframe, you will also be entered to win two movie tickets to SOMETHING BORROWED and I'll also send you your choice of candy for the movies if you're brave enough to sneak it in!

So, let's all get your Emily Thinking Caps on! Get on over to her site and sign up for her e-newsletter here and then find those EASY-PEASY answers and drop me a comment! Let me know why you wanna win ALL FIVE of Emily's fantastic books!

Thanks for taking the time to read this post! I know it was a long one! And good luck to each and every one of you!

Love ya Emily, and if you don't get your arse out to Scottsdale for your next book tour, we are THAH-ROOOO! xo

(If that wasn't enough for ya, you can scroll at your leisure through all of this to read my previous posts about my antics with eg!)

PeaCe uP!

NOTE: Comment moderation is on, not to worry, your comments will be posted and accepted after the deadline time but do check back to confirm you are listed for the book drawing over the weekend!

ANOTHER NOTE: OK, SCREW IT! I'm too lazy to monitor comments and you all clearly know the answers anyway, and if you don't you can are lucking out now. Put the answers in the comment section along with why you love EG and you'll be entered for the movie prize package as well. eg would want it this way. BUT, go sign up for her e-newsletter too! xoxo


*****
Please leave a comment, and all those who do will qualify to win Emily'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!