Giveaway - Ike and Kay - James MacManus

Calling all historical fictions fans - I've got a fantastic giveaway for you! James MacManus's new book, Ike and Kay, releases today and I have three copies to giveaway!

From Overlook Press:

"The sweeping love story at the heart of the Second World War, vividly reimagining General Eisenhower and Kate Summersby’s infamous, star-crossed affair.

In his latest historical novel Ike and Kay, acclaimed author James MacManus brings to life an unbelievably true and controversial romance and the poignant characters and personalities that shaped the course of world history.

In 1942, Kay Summersby’s life is changed forever when she is conscripted to drive General Eisenhower on his fact-finding visit to wartime London. Despite Eisenhower’s marriage to Mamie, the pair takes an immediate liking to each other and he buys Kay a rare wartime luxury: a box of chocolates.

So begins a tumultuous relationship that, against all military regulation, sees Kay traveling with Eisenhower on missions to far-flung places before the final assault on Nazi Germany. The general does dangerously little to conceal his affair with the woman widely known as “Ike’s shadow,” and in letters Mamie bemoans his new obsession with “Ireland.” That does not stop him from using his influence to grant Kay citizenship and rank in the US army, drawing her closer still when he returns to America. When officials discover Eisenhower’s plans to divorce from his wife they threaten the fragile but passionate affair, and Kay is forced to take desperate measures to hold onto the man she loves . . .

Based on the scandalous true story of General Eisenhower’s secret World War II love affair, Ike and Kay is a compelling story of love, duty, sacrifice, and heartbreak, set against the backdrop of the most tumultuous period of the twentieth century." Read an excerpt of Ike and Kay.

"James MacManus is the managing director of The Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of six novels, including the historical novels Black Venus, Sleep in Peace Tonight, and Midnight in Berlin." You can connect with James MacManus on his website, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.

If Ike and Kay sounds like a book you'd like to read, enter to win one of three advance review copies I have to giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada only, no PO boxes please. Ends June 11/18.

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Giveaway - Sun at Midnight - Rosie Thomas

Sun at Midnight by Rosie Thomas is being released on July 25 - and I have four copies to giveaway to four lucky readers!

What's it about? From the publisher, Overlook Press:

"Alice, who as a scientist relies on method, precision, and tangible proof, is forced to critically evaluate her own life for the first time when her relationship with her artist boyfriend collapses spectacularly. Heartbroken, childless, and tied down by her work, it is time to break away. Accepting an invitation to join an expedition to the southernmost point of the earth, Antarctica, Alice ventures beyond all that she’s known.

Upon arrival, she meets James Rooker, a man who, like her, has nowhere further to run in Antarctica's beautiful but unforgiving environment. Living on a tiny research base with only a small group of people, the isolation wipes out everyone's past, but there is a jolt of recognition between Alice and Rooker that cannot be denied. Geographically and emotionally on the brink of sublime, new terrain, Alice discovers something that will change her life forever . . . if she survives. "

"Thomas brings the Antarctic to life in this novel, in which one woman’s exploration of the snow-covered landscape is as much a scientific expedition as it is a time of self-discovery . . . Illuminating yet quietly revealing, Thomas’s latest is elevated by its unique setting and its strong characterization.” —Publishers Weekly"

"Rosie Thomas is the author of numerous critically acclaimed, bestselling novels, and has twice won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. Born in a small village in northern Wales, Thomas discovered a love of traveling and mountaineering when her children were grown. In the years since, she has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, and trekked in the footsteps of Shackleton on South Georgia Island." You can connect with Rosie Thomas on her website and like her on Facebook.

And if Sun at Midnight sounds like a book you'd like to read, enter to win a copy using the Rafflcopter form below. Open to US only, ends July 17th.

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Giveaway - Final Demand - Deborah Moggach

I'm sure you know Deborah Moggach's name. She's the author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and many other books. Well, the North American release of her novel Final Demand is June 6/17. And.....I have five copies to giveaway to five lucky readers!!

What's it about? From the publisher, Overlook Press:

"The beautiful, bright, and ambitious Natalie should be doing something with her life. But instead, she’s stuck in a dead-end job and instead of improving her place in the world by her own efforts, takes advantage of the honesty of those around her, ultimately leaving them damaged and broken. Of course she denies responsibility, even when confronted with undeniable evidence that she is involved. So, when she sees a chance to change her life, she doesn’t hesitate to take it, even if it’s at the expense of someone else. After all, it’s only a minor crime. Nobody’s going to get hurt.

But Natalie’s actions actually do have unforeseen and tragic consequences, and the ultimate question is will she be capable to meet the final demand to own up to what she has done? Emotionally taut and beautifully written, Final Demand is a cautionary tale about the battle between greed and love, and our own frailty in the face of temptation."

photo credit: Urszula Soltys

"Final Demand is receiving praise as a "chilling, impeccably plotted novel" (Cosmopolitan), that goes "inside the mind of a pretty, freckled villain..." (Kirkus Reviews)."

"Deborah Moggach is the author of many successful novels, including Heartbreak Hotel and In The Dark, both published by Overlook. Her novel Tulip Fever has been adapted for film and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was made into popular movies starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith."

If Final Demand sounds like a book you'd like to read, enter to one of five copies being offered using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to continental US only, no PO boxes please. Ends May 23/17.

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Giveaway - Iris and Ruby - Rosie Thomas

I've got a wonderful giveaway for you today - three copies of Rosie Thomas's award winning novel, Iris and Ruby!

From the publisher, Overlook Press:

"Fragility and forgetfulness have made 82-year-old Iris vulnerable; she lives in the care of her manservant, Mamdooh. Stiflingly quiet and claustrophobic, Iris's Cairo house is suddenly disturbed by the unexpected arrival of her troubled and willful granddaughter, Ruby, who, laboring under a strained relationship with her family, has run away from England to seek solace with the grandmother she hasn't seen for many years. Grasping for the family connection she lacks, Ruby feels consoled by the bond she forms with Iris.

Ruby begins documenting Iris's deteriorating memories, especially the story of the mysterious Captain Xan Molyneux, who Iris lost to the ravages of World War II. With their judgment colored by the lens of memory, Iris and Ruby's journey into the glittering Cairo of the past lures the women into dire circumstances in the present-day Egyptian desert. A story of finding, and losing, and finding oneself again, Iris and Ruby portrays three generations of women who must learn how to handle the complicated relationships that have the power to either strengthen or destroy them.

Rosie Thomas, an inveterate world-traveler and explorer, has created a characteristically atmospheric novel, rich and alive with authentic descriptions of the vast and changing city. Iris and Ruby is a gripping tale that explores how women in the same family grapple with love and acceptance." Read an excerpt of Iris and Ruby.

"Rosie Thomas is the author of numerous critically acclaimed, bestselling novels. She has won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award twice, for her novels Iris and Ruby and Sunrise. Born in a small village in northern Wales, Thomas discovered a love of traveling and mountaineering when her children were grown. In the years since, she has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, trekked in the footsteps of Shackleton on South Georgia Island, and spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica. To research The Kashmir Shawl, she traveled to Ladakh and Kashmir." You can connect with Rosie on Facebook.

And if you'd like to read Iris and Ruby, I have three copies to giveaway, courtesy of Overlook Press. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only, no PO boxes please. Ends March 26/16.

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Giveaway - A Perfect Heritage - Penny Vincenzi

Looking for another juicy beach read before summer says goodbye? Then, I've got the perfect giveaway for you today!

A Perfect Heritage is Penny Vincenzi's latest release. What's it about? From the publisher, Overlook Press:

"The House of Farrell is a prolific skincare company and home of The Cream, an iconic face product that has seen women flocking to its flagship London store since 1953. At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch that has been their trademark for generations. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the company’s figurehead, while Florence Hamilton plies their cosmetics with the utmost care and discretion. She is sales advisor—and holder of secrets—extraordinaire.

But of course the world of cosmetics is changing and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands. With no idea how to right the ship, Athina hires Bianca Bailey, a formidable businesswoman, mother of three, and someone who always gets her way. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell but it is the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder." Read an excerpt of A Perfect Heritage.

"Penny Vincenzi is one of the UK’s best-loved and most popular authors. Since her first novel, Old Sins, was published in 1989, she has written fifteen bestselling novels, including The Decision and the number one bestsellers The Best of Times and An Absolute Scandal. She joined the Mirror and later became a journalist, writing for The Times, the Daily Mail and Cosmopolitan amongst many others, before turning to fiction. Several years later, over seven million copies of Penny’s books have been sold worldwide and she is universally held to be the ‘doyenne of the modern blockbuster’ (Glamour). Penny Vincenzi has four daughters, and divides her time between London and Gower, South Wales." You can connect with Penny on Twitter.

And if you'd like to add A Perfect Heritage to your library, I have one copy to giveaway. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only, no PO boxes please. Ends Sept 5/15.

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Heartbreak Hotel - Deborah Moggach - Review AND Giveaway

Deborah Moggach...didn't she write The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? Yes, she did indeed - I loved that book - and the movie!

Moggach's new release, Heartbreak Hotel is just as heartwarming!

Retired actor Russell 'Buffy' Buffery has lived a rich full life, but now he finds himself somewhat lonely living in London. He doesn't know his neighbours, its noisy and crowded and his children (and there are many from assorted wives and liaisons!) are busy with their own lives. When an old flame leaves him her bed and breakfast in rural Wales, he decides to move in and run the place himself.

"...a new career beckoned. Luxuriantly bearded, his cheeks ruddy with claret, Buffy could take centre stage again, welcoming guests into his charming B and B in the picturesque town of Knockton, wherever that was. Log fires, bonhomie, brass beds made for lusty couplings - adulterers welcome! His Full English Breakfast, all organic of course, would become legendary. Perhaps he could even raise his own pigs."

Uh huh. The B and B isn't quite what he pictured - it needs a little work and the whole running of a B and B might be a bit more work than Buffy had thought.....

I loved this character. He's a rascal, but a lovable one. He's got the gift of gab and folks naturally gravitate towards him, spilling their thoughts over a glass of something. Moggach introduces a number of other characters, all unhappy with their relationships - or lack thereof. And Buffy has a revelation - he could run Courses for Divorces! All the skills that newly singles might need - car maintenance, gardening and more. Brilliant! The place will be booked solid! (You can take some of these courses on Deborah's website)

Moggach fills her novel and the B and B will a wonderfully quirky cast of characters and situations. Through the ruminations and lives of  Buffy and company, Moggach dissects, explores and celebrates love - of all kinds and of all ages. There are many supporting players, but it was Buffy I enjoyed the most.

Me? I'd love to have a little cottage in Knockton and stroll down the pub for a natter. Heartbreak Hotel was a humourous, touching, fun to read novel sure to appeal to those who loved 'Marigold'. Read an excerpt of Heartbreak Hotel.

I mentioned I love the movie of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - and have just discovered The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has just been released. I would love to see Heartbreak Hotel made into a movie as well. I can totally picture Timothy Spall as Buffy.

So, if Heartbreak Hotel sounds like a book you'd like to read.....I have copy to giveaway courtesy of Overlook Press. Open to US, no PO boxes please. Ends April 4/15. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!

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