Winning Wednesday--Bookish Giveaways!!

Happy Wednesday my bookish friends.  I have a ton of great giveaways for you this week. I hope you'll come back and tell me if you win.   Click on enter on each giveaway to go to the giveaway.  You can click on most book covers to learn more about the books in the giveaway.  GOOD LUCK!!

Enter for your chance to win the MAP OF THE HEART BOOK CLUB SWEEPSTAKES!  One lucky book club will win 10 copies of the trade paperback of Map of the Heart and lavender palet cookies! The honorable host will win lavender soap from Bastide and an Advance Reader's Edition of The Oysterville Sewing Circle!   Brought to you by Harper Collins.   Open to US Residents Only--Ends March 4th

Enter for your chance to win an Advanced Reader's Copy of Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly.  Your next favorite suspense thriller!!  Brought to you by Macmillan/Minotaur Books.   Open to Residents of the US & Canada(except Quebec) -- Ends February 28th

Enter for your chance to win an early copy of Dave Eggers The Parade.  Brought to you by LitHub.  You can win one of 15 copies.   Open to US Residents only--Ends March 3rd

Enter for your chance to win a $100 Amazon Giftcard.  Brought to you by Romance Books to Read.  Open to all--Ends March 11th

Enter for your chance to win a signed copy of Beyond Risk.  Connie Mann's latest release which is Book 1 in the Florida Wildlife Warrior Series. Brought to you by Connie Mann. Open to US Residents only--Ends February 28th

Enter for your chance to win 12 copies of Every Note Played by Lisa Genova for your bookclub.  Brought to you by Simon & Schuster.  Open to US Residents only--Ends Februrary 28th

Enter for you chance to win the four books above in the Penguin Randomhouse Fall in Love February Sweepstakes.  Open to US Residents only -- Ends February 28th

Enter for your chance to win the books above in the Thrilling Paperbacks Giveway.  Brought to you by Berkley.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends February 28th.

 

Enter for your chance to win the three books above in the Read Your Heart on Your Sleeve Sweepstakes.   Brought to you by Penguin Randomhouse.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends February 28th.

Enter for your chance to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card.  Brought to you by OTOH Books.  Open Internationally, except the following countries:  Taiwan, South Korea, Portugal, Italy, Austria, China, Russia, Hong Kong, Greece, France, Japan, Spain, and Czech Republic -- Ends April 5th

**What 'Cha Readin' is not responsible for any of these giveaways.  Please see official rules in each contest for more information.**

  

Audiobook Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: 2012

A Man Called Ove and a review by What 'Cha Readin'

Ove is a cranky old man who has recently lost his wife. He would like nothing more than to join her in the afterlife. He has made all of the arrangements, paid all of the bills, now he just has to find the best way to off himself. But when the neighbors seem to take a new interest in Ove, his plans keep getting thwarted. Will he be able to go through with his plans or will the neighbors have other plans?

I listened to this book and at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But slowly Ove started to grow on me. He's the kind of guy who you know is stuck in his ways and there is nothing that you can say or do that will change that. But eventually you see a change, not one that is at first noticeable, but a slight softening.

Even though Ove is ready to leave this world, his neighbors, have a different idea. It starts with Parvana and her family. When they move into the neighborhood, they need help backing their trailer up on the street in order to move in. Then Parvana needs a ride to the hospital when her husband, Patrick has fallen off a ladder. Then another resident has to go to the hospital, then another neighbor needs help with their radiator and so on and so on. My favorite part of the book is toward the end **SPOILER ALERT** when Ove himself ends up going to the hospital and when Parvana goes to see him, the doctor tells her that one of Ove's problems is that his heart is too big. That makes Parvana bust out laughing.

At the end of this book, I cried like a baby and I highly recommend this book.

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To find out more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman

Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: February 2019


Daphne has just inherited her mother's yearbook from the class of 1968 at Pickering High School in New Hampshire. That year her mother was not only the English teacher, but also the yearbook advisor. Mrs. Maritch has gone to every reunion and each year she has added notations to the yearbook to all of the students. Daphne has no need or room for the yearbook in her small New York City apartment, so she puts it in the recycling. A neighbor who is also a budding documentarian finds the yearbook, and is determined to make a movie with her findings. When Daphne finds out a dark secret at the 50th reunion they attend, she will stop at nothing to make sure the yearbook is not made public. With family secrets around each corner, Daphne will try her best to keep her mother's legacy in tact and her father's heart from being broken.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I remember the thrill of getting my yearbook from middle school all through high school and having all of my friends sign it. I don't think that I ever had or even wanted any of my teachers to sign it though. And I've been to one or two of my reunions and I surely didn't go back and makes notes on what everyone is up to now.

This was a quirky story that had quite a few different elements in it. A little bit of romance, some mystery, and an annoying neighbor. Daphne is newly divorced and trying to find her way in New York City. Her apartment is small and there isn't any room for much more than her. She is going to school to be a chocolatier, but that's not really working out. She tries going back to teaching at Montessori school which she did before she was married. But with the contents of the yearbook and rumors about her mother maybe reaching the public Daphne's plate seems to be overflowing. Can she keep her mom's legacy alive and keep herself from going crazy at the same time?

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To order a copy of this book for yourself or a friend, click the book cover below:

Review: Believe Me by J.P. Delaney

Believe Me by J.P. Delaney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: July 2018

Claire Wright is an actress from the UK. She has a student visa to do acting school in the United States, but she isn't able to work. She is able to find odd jobs that help her to stay alive. One of her jobs is trying to catch cheating husbands in the act. When one husband, Patrick, doesn't take the bait, Claire has to explain this to his wife. Later, the wife ends up dead and the police suspect Claire, but she didn't do it. Then they team her up with the husband to find the real killer. But are the police after Claire or Patrick? Who is telling the truth and who is using their acting skills to the best of their ability?

Thank you to NetGalley & Ballantine Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book kept me on my toes the entire time. I didn't know what was going to happen next. I'm not a person who understands the visa process in the US. So knowing the difference between a student visa and a work visa, I have no idea. I don't know how I would have survived if I was not able to work while I was in school. So I can understand Claire trying to find work where she can in order to survive.

Being a professional cheater catcher is not something I would ever do, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get by. But when one husband doesn't take the bait that Claire throws at him, first she is shocked and then she is happy for the wife. But the wife is not happy and seems scared. She has good reason because she winds up dead. Claire is determined to clear her name as the person who didn't kill her. She agrees to work with the police to find the real killer. But are the police in her corner or working with the husband who they also think may have killed the wife?

You never know who to trust in this book. Who killed the wife and why? Is the husband innocent? Is Claire? What about the police, can they be trusted?

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Review: Fade Away by Harlan Coben

Fade Away (Myron Bolitar #3) by Harlan Coben
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: 1996

Myron Bolitar has a meeting with the President of the Dragons. What he isn't expecting, is to be offered a position on the team. He won't get much playing time, but the underlying issue is that they need him to find another player, Greg Downing. Myron and Greg have known each other for many years, Myron even dated Greg's wife way back when. But Greg is known to disappear, so why is everyone so intent on having Myron locate him now? The reason is one you won't believe.

I have grown to love the characters in the Myron Bolitar series. The adventures they find themselves in are really not something you would expect from a sports agent and a rich guy.

When Greg Downing goes missing at first it's no big deal since this is something he does frequently. But the Dragons are about to go to the playoffs and Greg would never disappear at a time like this. Myron and Win go and take a look at Greg's place, but what they find is very unusual. When the place go back to investigate, the evidence is no longer there. What was Greg involved in? Who knows where Greg is? Why did Greg pick this time to disappear?

Finding out who is behind Greg's disappearance can end up a life or death situation for Myron. Will he find Greg and will he continue with his position on the Dragons?

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Review: Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison

Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: July 24, 2018

Three years ago Willa lost her husband Ben. Since his death, she hasn't been able to return to their beach house in Ocean City, MD. The main reason is because that was where he died. But now, something needs to be done with the house and Willa thinks the best thing to do is sell it. But being at the house has been quite interesting for Willa. She keeps seeing her husband Ben, and then she hears him loud and clear as if he is still there with her. Is she going crazy or is he really there? As she goes about fixing up the house with her best friend and her son, she sees Ben less and less, but her grief seems to be subsiding.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What drew me to this book initially was the fact that it was based in Maryland. I have lived my whole life here and I love reading books where I can picture myself in the setting. And when it's places your familiar with, it makes it a lot easier to imagine.

I don't know what I would do if I lost my husband unexpectedly. I'm sure the grief would tear me up inside for a very long time. We are a family that enjoys the beach, so I could really connect with this book. We don't have a beach house, but every year we make it a point to get to the beach for a least a week. If my husband were to die at the beach, I'm sure that it would be more difficult to go.

Willa doesn't want to go to the beach house, but she knows something has to be done. The memories of her husband, Ben are too great for her to keep the house, so selling it seems like the best option. Being back in the beach house is bringing up so many memories and making Willa reflect on the past three years and how she has just been going through the motions of life and not really participating in it. Not spending time with her son, Jamie or her best friend Kristin. Having them helping her get the house ready to sell reminds her of all the summers they spent together.

How can Willa sell the house if Ben is still there? If she continues to spend her summers there will she continue to see him? He doesn't know how his appearances work, so how will they know. But Willa knows this summer will change her life in more ways than one.

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January Readin' Round Up

January was an awesome reading month for me.  I'm not sure if the cold weather had me in and reading more, but I was able to finish 12 books this month.  Three books on audio, a book that has already hit the Best Seller's list, I started two new series, one non-fiction and one YA.  This is the most books I've read in one month in a very long time.  Four of them were less than 100 pages so that helped me to get through more titles.   So far 2019 is shaping up to be a really good reading year.  I hope the rest of my year, is just as great as this first month. 

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

When Jessica Farris decides to sneak her way into a psychological study, she thinks the extra money will be good to help out her family and her own struggling finances. Dr. Shields seems like a caring doctor who while going through the study seems to be helping Jess with her own issues. But she's in for more than she bargained for. When the Q&A portion of the study is over, Dr. Shields sends Jess on different tasks throughout the city some of which turn out to be dangerous. Will she be able to get herself out of this situation before it takes a turn she can't undo?

You've Been Warned by James Patterson & Howard Roughan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
AUDIO

Kristin Burns is a nanny in NYC.  She loves the kids she takes care of and she is also having an affair with their father.  When she starts to have dreams which seem so realistic, her world will be turned upside down.  She sees things that are happening before they have happened and she sees things that are not there.  Trying to separate her dreams from reality, Kristin has to try to save herself and the people she loves before it is too late.

Secrets of the A-List (Episodes 1-4 of 12) by Joss Wood, Clare Connelly, Donna Hill & Reese Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Marshall family have it all, and they have worked hard to get it as well. When the patriarch of the family, Harrison is in a life threatening car accident, the family has to rally together. When someone calling themselves ,'The Fixer' enters the picture, letting them know they will be running all of the Marshall family businesses, it sets the whole family on edge. The Marshall Family includes: Mariella, the matriarch; Luc, the oldest child; Rafe, the middle child; and Elana, the youngest and the only girl. Also there is Gabe, who is Mariella's nephew, but have lived with the Marshall's most of his life. Will the family be able to come together to keep the family businesses alive, or will they succumb to 'The Fixer' whomever he or she may be.



Kissing Princeton Charming by Frankie Love & C.M. Seabrook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Charlie Hayes, just wants to make it through her senior year at Princeton without any issues. When her on-campus job calls for her to waitress at an event on campus, her whole life will change. There she meets Spencer Beckett, not that she doesn't know who he is, everyone on campus knows who he is. He's Princeton Charming. The man every girl drools over. There is no way a guy like him, would be interested in a girl like her. But when he does show interest, her whole world will be turned upside down. Will these two be able to make a relationship work? With Spencer's high class friends coming at her from all angles, and her own friends warning her to stay away from the infamous playboy, how will Charlie handle herself with all that is going on in her world.


The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me by Olivia Hinebaugh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Lacey Burke is a senior in high school. She plays the viola and is in a band with her best friends Theo and Evita. When her high school takes an abstinence approach to sex education, it's too much for her to handle. She feels her classmates should be educated about options they have when it comes to their sexual health. But Lacey is a virgin and even though she has never had sex herself, her mother has always been open with her about sex. Lacey soon becomes the resident expert on the subject at her high school, but not everyone is so happy about that.

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
AUDIO

Dr. Brittney Cooper embraces her feminism along with being a black female in America.  She takes us through her childhood, through current times with becoming the woman she is.  She was raised by a single mother and was one of the only if not the only black girl in her advanced classes in school.  She attended Howard where she got more in touch with her feminism.  I could related to Dr. Cooper a lot in this book.  It was a great read that I would recommend to everyone.


Dating Princeton Charming by Frankie Love & C.M. Seabrook
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Dating Princeton Charming continues with the story of Charlie and Spencer. It is now Christmas break and Charlie has gone home to be with her family. Her mom isn't doing too well and even though she has lost her job, she knows she is where she needs to be. When Spencer shows up at her door, she is not only shocked, but also very excited to see him. Things are great with the just the two of them together, but will they be able to maintain this happiness once they are back on campus?


Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Liza and Molly have been friends forever. As they've grown older, they've grown farther apart. So this video chat between them is long overdue. Molly gets up to check on her kids during their conversation and Liza sees an intruder. When Molly vaguely responds to Liza's texts and phone calls, she becomes very worried about Molly and along with her male best friend, Max, she drives all night from Chicago to Cincinnati to check on Molly. But Molly is still acting like nothing has happened and shuts the door in Liza's face. When Liza returns home, her whole world is turned upside down, so she decides to move back home. With issues with her brother and this thing going on with Molly, she's not sure where she is going to stay or what she is going to do with her life.


Fade Away (Myron Bolitar #3) by Harlan Coben
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
AUDIO

Myron Bolitar has a meeting with the President of the Dragons. What he isn't expecting, is to be offered a position on the team. He won't get much playing time, but the underlying issue is that they need him to find another player, Greg Downing. Myron and Greg have known each other for many years, Myron even dated Greg's wife way back when. But Greg is known to disappear, so why is everyone so intent on having Myron locate him now? The reason is one you won't believe.


So here is what I read in January.  You can order any of the books above my clicking on the book covers and read a full review by clicking on the titles(except the audio books).  What books did you read in January?

I hope February has as many good books as January did.  Here are a few books I'm looking forward to reading in February:

The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib
Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
The Moroccan Girl by Charles Cumming
Escaping Wall Street by Brittan Nicholson
Losing Princeton Charming by Frankie Love & C.M. Seabrook
The Mastermind by Evan Ratliff