The Sunday Salon... The Blogoversary Wrap-up, Books with Buzz and National Women's History Month

Winter comes visiting...

It's been a wintery week here in Connecticut. Above is a photo of a visitor to my yard the other morning. It was so beautiful outside, but I am so tired of snow! It does give me an excuse to stay inside and read... (I can always make an excuse for reading- no snow necessary!)

The Blogoversary Celebration has been so much fun! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and sent their Congrats! And thank you for everyone joining in on the celebrations by entering the great giveaways and following Chick with Books! There have been almost 350 entries in all the giveaways! There's still time to enter the BIG ROMANCE Giveaway, The Power of Half memoir giveaway, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, Alice I Have Been giveaway, The Kindle Book Gift Certificate giveaway, and the BIG Historical Fiction giveaway!

I've been reading a great book this week, thanks to the author Bernice L. McFadden who sent it to me. It's called Sugar, and it is filled with wonderful characters and an amazing story. Bernice had read on Chick with Books that I enjoyed The Help by Kathryn Stockett and thought that I would enjoy her book too. The timeframe of Sugar is the same as The Help- when segregation is at its height, but where most of the action takes place in the homes where the domestics worked in The Help, the story of Sugar takes place in the black community. The story starts with a horrendous murder of a young black girl whose murder makes profound changes in the young girls mother, Pearl. 15 years later Pearl is still grieving for her daughter when a young prostitute, Sugar, moves next door to Pearl. Their unlikely friendship changes them both. I loved this book! Rich characters and great storytelling! Read my review in early March. (*and there's going to be a special giveaway thanks to Bernice!) *P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

This week was also a week for some interesting new books... Here are a couple of the Books with Buzz this week...

The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee... From Publishers Weekly, It's a harrowing tale: bleak, haunting, often heartbreaking. The Surrendered bursts with drama and human anguish as it documents the ravages and indelible effects of war. June Han is a starving 11-year-old refugee fleeing military combat during the Korean War when she is separated from her seven-year-old twin siblings. Eventually brought to an orphanage near Seoul by American soldier Hector Brennan, who is still reeling from his father's death, June slowly recovers from her nightmarish experiences thanks to the loving attention of Sylvie Tanner, the wife of the orphanage's minister. But Sylvie is irretrievably scarred as well, having witnessed her parents' murder by Japanese soldiers in 1934 Manchuria. These traumas reverberate throughout the characters' lives, determining the destructive relationship that arises between June, Hector and Sylvie as the plot rushes forward and back in time, encompassing graphic scenes of suffering, carnage and emotional wreckage. Powerful, deeply felt, compulsively readable and imbued with moral gravity, the novel does not peter out into easy redemption. This book has gotten a lot of amazing praise! Penguin Group has a wonderful interview with Chang-rae on their website along with a readers guide. The Surrendered will be released March 9th. I look forward to reading it!*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz... What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still becoming accustomed to her wings -- wings as beautiful as those of a luna moth -- is about to find out. Wh

at she discovers is that the world is very big and very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. This book is charming. Written for young readers age 7 - 11, this will also capture your heart. The front cover is beautiful, with the book title in a silver foil. Inside their are beautiful illustrations by Angela Barrett. Oh, and the author Laura Amy Schlitz is a Newberry Medal Winner! I have this on my nightstand, so look for a full review soon...

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez... Wench eloquently plunges into a dark period of American history, chronicling the lives of four slave women—Lizzie, Reenie, Sweet and Mawu—who are their masters' mistresses. The women meet when their owners vacation at the same summer resort in Ohio. There, they see free blacks for the first time and hear rumors of abolition, sparking their own desires to be free. A story that raises provocative questions of power and freedom, love and dependence. This book is based on an actual resort! And it's gotten wonderful reviews. I love historical fiction and thanks to Danielle of Harper Collins, I just received this in the mail! It was released in early January. Look for my review later in the month... *P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

And speaking of month... March is National Women's History Month! This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the celebration, which started as a week celebration in 1980, until 1987 when the United States Congress declared March National Women's History Month! This years theme is Writing Women Back into History. You can find out more at the National Women's History Project website.

I hope you've found something to peek your reading interests here! What have YOU been reading?! Share your reading picks here! Happy Reading... Suzanne

Let's Celebrate Historical Fiction... and wrap up the One Year Blogoversary Celebration with the final Giveaway BUNDLE!

Let's Celebrate Historical Fiction!...

with the final Blogoversary Giveaway!

And the Lucky Winner is... Diane! Congrats! Thank you to EVERYONE who joined in on the fun by entering, blogging and tweeting!

I love historical fiction! The blending of fact and fiction in the hands of a talented writer can transport us to a time and place we may be familiar with on the surface, but the added story makes it all come alive. It's been a wonderful week of celebrations, and I'm ending the festivities with a fantastic Historical Fiction Bundle giveaway sponsored by G.P. Putnam's Sons! G.P. Putnam's Sons is a division of Penguin Group USA & is the industry's #1 New York Times bestselling hardcover imprint, a position it has held for more than two decades! The above photograph from Lydia's desk at Putnam shows the wonderful treat in store for one lucky winner! The bundle includes one ARC (advanced readers copy) of The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen, one ARC of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees, and one finished hard cover copy of The Postmistress by Sarah Blake! Before we get to how to enter, let's read a little about the books in the giveaway...

The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen... A lush and compelling tale of royal intrigue and artistic longing, set in the sixteenth–century Spanish court. The Creation of Eve is based on the true but little-known story of Sofonisba Anguissola, the first renowned female portraitist of the Renaissance. After a scandal in Michelangelo’s workshop, Sofonisba flees Italy and joins the Spanish court of King Felipe II to be a lady-in-waiting to his young bride. Sofonisba befriends the queen, only to become embroiled in a love triangle involving the queen, the king, and the king’s illegitimate half brother, Don Juan. The Creation of Eve combines art, romance, and history from the golden age in Spain in a story that asks the question: Can you ever truly know another person’s heart? You can read the first chapter at Lynn Cullen's website! Plus you can find a readers guide and other interesting links there.

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees... In her debut novel Kelly O’Connor McNees deftly mixes fact and fiction as she imagines a summer lost to history, carefully purged from Louisa’s letters and journals, a summer that would change the course of Louisa’s writing career—and inspire the story of love and heartbreak between Jo and Teddy “Laurie” Laurence, Jo’s devoted neighbor and kindred spirit. You can read more about the book and author at Kelly O'Connor McNees website!

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake... What would happen if a postmistress chose not to deliver the mail? It is 1940. While the war is raging in Europe, President Roosevelt promises he won't send American boys over to fight. Iris James is the postmistress of Franklin, Massachusetts a small town at the end of Cape Cod. She firmly believes her job is to deliver and keep people's secrets, to pass along the news of love and sorrow that letters carry. Faithfully she stamps and sends the letters between people such as the newlyweds Emma and Will Fitch, who has gone to London to help out during the Blitz. But one day she slips a letter into her pocket, and leaves it there. You can read more about the book and the first chapter at Sarah Blake's website!

One lucky will win these this great bundle of historical fiction books! Thanks Lydia of G.P.Putnam Sons for joining in on the festivities! So, Here's How to Enter...

*First, You MUST be a Follower to enter this particular giveaway! Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! Just let me know you became a new follower! And everyone who was following Chick with Books prior to today, will get an extra entry!

*Leave me a comment with your email address.

*Blog or Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a link to get another entry!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on March 5th. I will randomly pick the winner the next day and email them! (please check your emails!) Good Luck!

Love Your Kindle? How about a $15 Kindle Gift Certificate Giveaway?

The Kindle 2 Made a Splash this year at Chick with Books!

Love my Kindle, How about You?!

How about a $15 Kindle Gift Certificate to Celebrate my Blogoversary!?

And the Winner is... Alyce! Congrats!! Thank you to EVERYone who joined the fun, tweeted and blogged about the giveaway!

Early last May, I posted a question... "Is Bigger Better?" referring to the Kindle DX. I had recently bought a Kindle 2 and a discussion followed about things to love about the Kindle and why we'd buy one. I have definitely fallen for my Kindle! Even though I still like the feel of the pages between my fingers, my Kindle has a special place in my heart. I love being able to slip my Kindle in my purse or tote and take a whole bunch of books, newspapers & PDF's along with me in such a nice little package... This year I added links to the Kindle version of all the books I reviewed and recommended, we talked about Kindle book bargains, a Kindle friendly book rest, how the Kindle had some competition with The Nook, and Amazon announces Kindle for PC. This year I "met" (virtually that is) Len Edgerly the host of the friday night podcast The Kindle Chronicles & he interviewed me about my affair with the Kindle and if it conflicted with my love for the printed page! That interview was episode 52 of the Kindle Chronicles and you can follow the link to listen to us chat. It was so much fun! This year also was the year Chick with Books became available ON the Kindle! You can actually subscribe to Chick with Books thru Amazon and get all the posts updated & delivered automatically on your Kindle! So to celebrate my blogoversary AND my Kindle readers, I'm giving away a $15 Kindle Gift Certificate! Choose a Kindle Book on me! Here's how to enter...

To Enter this giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the right! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This Giveaway is open to US residents only (due to Amazon.com legal stuff). This giveaway will end March 4th, 2010 11:59 EST! I will randomly pick the winner and email them! Good luck!

Tumble Down the Rabbit Hole and Win a copy of Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin! It's a Blogoversary Celebration!

Tumble Down the Rabbit Hole and...

Win a copy of Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin!

It's a Blogoversary Celebration Giveaway!

And the Winner is... Rebecca! Congrats! And Thank you to EVERYone who joined in on the fun by entering, tweeting and blogging about the giveaway!

At the end of January, I participated in Melanie Benjamin's Virtual Book Tour for her soon to be released book Alice I Have Been! If you love historical fiction you should READ THIS BOOK! This book was wonderful! The writing and the story! Here's what I wrote about it...

I never really thought about the real Alice. Aren't most characters in a story inspired by someone or something? But when I heard all the buzz about Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin, I became fascinated. It seems that the author of Alice in Wonderland, Charles Dodgeson (who wrote under the pen name of Lewis Carroll) met young Alice Liddell and her rather large family while photographing the cathedral at Oxford... Alice Liddell's father was appointed to the deanery at Christ Church, Oxford... Alice was 5 years old at the time... And Dodgeson's fascination with the young girls , Alice & her two sisters, began... And Melanie Benjamin does a wonderful job blending history with fact. She captures the precociousness of the real Alice, and the Alice we all know from Alice in Wonderland.

The story is told through the eyes of Alice. We meet her family, including the sisters she was most close with, Lorina & Edith, her governess, the servants, Charles Dodgeson, and even Royalty. The story goes beyond Alice and the man who wrote the story that would keep her a child forever... Melanie shows us how sisters can love and hate each other. There is jealousy, deceptions and an underlying uncomfortableness in the fascination that Charles Dodgeson has with Alice. There is love, first kisses and consequences. Melanie's writing is compelling in the voice of Alice and I found myself not being able to put the book down. The story also does a perfect job of showcasing the restrictions on young women during the victorian age. How each and every action and the way a young lady dressed all played a part of a "proper" upbringing and how rumors and speculation can ruin a reputation, whether or not the rumors were founded. I don't want to give too much away here, but I felt so much empathy for Alice as her life seemed to fall apart! You'll know what I mean when you READ THIS BOOK! You can read my Full Review for Alice I Have Been by following the link to the Jan. 28th post! Would you like to win a copy of your very own!? There has been so much great buzz about this book, don't miss out!

Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours and Random House join in on the fun by sponsoring a giveaway for a copy of Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin! Pump Up Your Book Promotions is a full service public relations agency specializing in online book promotions! Thanks Cheryl & Pump Up Your Book Promotions for joining in on the festivities! Here's how you can enter...

*For One Entry, leave me a comment with your email address!

*For One more entry, Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to U.S. & Canadian residents only.(No PO boxes). The book will be shipped to the winner directly from the publishers. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on March 3rd, 2010. I will randomly pick the winner the next day and email them! Good Luck!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much Gives us a Reason to Celebrate! It's Another Blogoversary Giveaway!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much Gives us a Reason to Celebrate!

It's Another Blogoversary Giveaway!

And the Winner is... Nunah! Congrats! Thank you to EVERYONE who joined in on the fun!

Rob of Books are Like Candy Corn, who just missed the deadline for entering the giveaway, found a great bargain for this book for everyone who didn't win the giveaway! Paperback Swap , which is a book swap site, is now selling new overstocked books and had The Man Who Loved Books Too Much for $6.49! Thanks Rob for letting us all know! You can follow the links above right to the site!

Back in September Lydia of Riverhead Books sent me a "book lovers" book in the mail called The Man Who Loved Books Too Much:The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett. Allison is a great writer and the story of John Gilkey, a man who stole books for the pure love of the books, was so interesting! We had a lot of fun on the blog too, commenting on what books we would "steal" if we were a book thief! Here's what I wrote about the book...

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett is an adventure for all of us who love books! For those of us who love not just what's inside them, but the heft of them in our hands, the sensation of the texture of the pages as we turn them, the beauty of the book itself...

This story takes us into the lives of John Gilkey, an obsessed & bold book thief, Ken Sanders the man who made it his mission to catch Gilkey, and the journalist and author, Allison Hoover Bartlett, who explores the world of rare & beautiful books with the people who sell & collect them, including Sanders AND Gilkey.

In the opening of the book, a 400 yr. old book called a Kreuterbuch sits on Allison Hoover Bartlett's desk. I love old books, and just the way Allison described the Kreuterbuch in the prologue, "the pages, when turned, make a muffled crack... a dry woody smell..." I knew this would be a different kind of 'book thief' story. A book written by a person who truly appreciates & enjoys books - and not just for what's inside!

You can read the Full Review at the Sept. 9th post! And you can read the full list of books we'd steal at the Sept. 18th post! Some of those included:

* A Soldier of The Great War by Mark Helprin

* A First Edition of Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

* A First Edition of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Jane was a popular girl, mentioned a few times!)

* A Handwritten draft by Jane Austen

* A First Edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

* a first edition of Paradise Lost by John Milton

Riverhead Books joins the Celebration by sponsoring a giveaway for a copy of The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett! Riverhead Books has been dedicated to publishing extraordinary ground-breaking, unique fiction & non-fiction writers. Thanks Lydia and Riverhead Books for joining in on the festivities! If you love books, and you haven't read this book, YOU SHOULD! And here's your opportunity to win a copy! Here's how to enter...

*For One Entry, leave me a comment with your email address!

*For One more entry, Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

*For a Bonus entry, tell me what book you would steal if you were a thief! (we all love books, so don't be shy!)

This giveaway is open to U.S. & Canadian residents only.(No PO boxes). The book will be shipped to the winner directly from the publishers. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on March 2nd, 2010. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! Good Luck!

Memoir Monday... The Power of Half by Kevin Salwen and Hannah Salwen AND a Blogoversary Giveaway!

What Happens When a Teenager Notices Something isn't quite right in the world...

And the Winner is... rubynreba! Congrats! And Thank you to EVERYONE who joined in on the fun! And Thanks for all the Blogging and Tweeting!

The Power of Half by Kevin Salwen and Hannah Salwen... It all started when 14-year old Hannah Salwen, idealistic but troubled by a growing sense of injustice in the world, had a eureka moment when a homeless man in her neighborhood was juxtaposed against a glistening Mercedes coupe. "You know, Dad,” she said, pointing, “If that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal.” This glaring disparity led the Salwen family of four, caught up like so many other Americans in this age of consumption and waste, to follow Hannah's urge to do something, to finally just do something. And so they embarked on an incredible journey together from which there would be no turning back. They decided to sell their Atlanta mansion, downsize to a house half its size, and give half of their profits to a worthy charity. At first it was an outlandish scheme. “What, are you crazy? No way!" Then it was a challenge. “We are TOTALLY doing this.” Each week they met over dinner to discuss their plan. It would transport them across the globe and well out of their comfort zone. Along the way they would inspire so many others wrestling with the same questions: Do I give enough? How much is enough? How can I make an impact in the world? In the end the Salwens' journey would bring them closer as a family, as they discovered, together, that half could be so much more. Warm, funny, deeply moving and wholly uplifting, THE POWER OF HALF is the story of how one family slammed the door on the status quo and threw away the key.

This book has gotten a lot of buzz since it's release a little over a week ago! In essence, the Salwen family shows us that we don't have to sell our home to make a difference, "half" can be measured by whatever you can afford to do to help. Read about how this family was inspired and what they did to make a difference. Look for my complete review a little later... For now, FSB Associates joins in on the One Year Blogoversary Celebration by sponsoring a giveaway for The Power of Half by Kevin Salwen and Hannah Salwen! FSB Associates is an Internet marketing firm specializing in creating online awareness for books and authors. From the company's inception in 1995, FSB Associates has been a trendsetter in developing integrated online marketing campaigns for authors and publishers alike. Thanks Caitlin of FSB Associates for joining in on the festivities! Here's How to Enter...

*For One Entry, leave me a comment with your email address!

*For One more entry, Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to U.S. & Canada residents only.(No PO boxes). The book will be shipped to the winner directly from the publishers. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on March 1st, 2010. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! Good Luck!

The Sunday Salon... The Blogoversary Celebration continues with a BIG ROMANCE GIVEAWAY!

And the Romance Bundle Giveaway Winner is...

throuthehaze

Congrats on winning a fabulous bundle of books! And THANK YOU to EVERYONE who joined in on the fun by Following, Tweeting & Blogging about the Giveaway!

It has been some week here on the east coast with amazing amounts of snow and ice at the beginning of the week and by yesterday the temperatures were back up in the 40's. There's more snow to come and hopefully spring will be right around the corner from there! So what do you do when you're snowbound?! Curling up with a good book sounds good doesn't it?! How about some sizzling romances?!

The Blogoversary Celebration continues! I want to thank everyone who has stopped by here and sent along their congratulations for my first blogging year! It really means so much to read everyone's good wishes! I hope you are all enjoying the giveaways! Don't be shy - Enter them ALL!! There will be a giveaway-a-day until Thursday!

The Celebration continues today with a BIG Romance Giveaway! Something to warm you up during these cold winter days! Pocket Books and Simon & Schuster joins in on the celebration by sponsoring an amazing BUNDLE of romance paperbacks! We're talking about a bundle of FIVE romances by some of today's hottest romance writers! And one lucky person is going to win them all! This is a special giveaway for Chick with Books Follower's! Before we get to how to enter, let's read a little about the books in the giveaway...

Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux... Jocelyn Minton is a woman torn between two worlds. Her mother grew up attending private schools and afternoon teas, but she married the local handyman. After her mother died when Joce was only five years old, her father remarried into his own class, and Joce became an outsider -- until she met Edilean Harcourt. Although she was sixty years Joce's senior, Miss Edi was a kindred soul who understood her like no one else ever had.

When Miss Edi passes away, she leaves Joce all her worldly possessions, including an eighteenth-century house and a letter with clues to a mystery that began in 1941. In the letter, Miss Edi also mentions that she has found the perfect man for Joce -- a handsome young lawyer. Joce is shocked to learn that the mystery, the house, and the future love of her life are all in Edilean, a small town in Virginia that Miss Edi never told her about. You can read more about Jude Deveraux and Lavender Morning at Simon & Schuster. You can also listen to an excerpt from the audiobook there!

A Highlander's Destiny by Melissa Mayhue... When the worlds of Mortal and Fae collide, the magic of true love is put to the test.

JESSE CORYELL is a man adrift in life, searching for his destiny. He doesn't trust women; too many have chased him for his money and power. He's tried to lose himself in his work, taking on the worst mankind has to offer, but as a Guardian and Fae descendent, what he really needs is to find his true love. When he sets out to help a mysterious woman find her sister, what he gets is much more than he bargained for, battling an undeniable attraction to his sexy new client while fighting to save her life and rescue her sister. Learn more about Melissa Mayhue and A Highlander's Destiny at Melissa Mayhue's website! You can also read an excerpt of A Highlander's Destiny there!

The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries... The oldest of the scandalous Sharpes—five hell-raising siblings tainted still by the gossip surrounding the “accidental” deaths of their parents two decades ago-—Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, like his brothers and sisters, has lived life on his own terms. In his case, as an unrepentant rakehell. Or so life had played out until Grandmother Hetty got a bee in her bonnet. Now the five Sharpe siblings face a daunting ultimatum: Marry by year’s end—or kiss their inheritance good-bye.

Oliver vows to fulfill the bargain in true Sharpe style—by bringing home a fake fiancé from a brothel! But his scheme backfires when he foils a robbery and rescues an American beauty instead. Maria Butterfield came to London to find her missing fiancé, but her prior engagement won’t stop Oliver from getting what he wants: Maria in his bed. His rebellious charade may just call Hetty’s bluff, but not before it become all too real—stirring up a love that tempts him to be a hellion no more. Learn more about Sabrina Jeffries and The Truth About Lord Stoneville at Sabrina Jeffries website. You can read an excerpt there too!

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough... Everyone knows the story of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. But what about their sister Mary? At the conclusion of Jane Austen's classic novel, Mary, bookish, awkward, and by all accounts, unmarriageable, is sentenced to a dull, provincial existence in the backwaters of Britain. Now, master storyteller Colleen McCullough rescues Mary from her dreary fate with The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet, a page-turning sequel set twenty years after Austen's novel closes. The story begins as the neglected Bennet sister is released from the stultifying duty of caring for her insufferable mother. Though many would call a woman of Mary's age a spinster, she has blossomed into a beauty to rival that of her famed sisters. Her violet eyes and perfect figure bewitch the eligible men in the neighborhood, but though her family urges her to marry, romance and frippery hold no attraction. Instead, she is determined to set off on an adventure of her own. Fired with zeal by the newspaper letters of the mysterious Argus, she resolves to publish a book about the plight of England's poor. Plunging from one predicament into another, Mary finds herself stumbling closer to long-buried secrets, unanticipated dangers, and unlooked-for romance. Read more about The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet at Simon & Schuster. And while you're there you can browse through the book too!

Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran... Silver-tongued Viscount Sanburne is London's favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself, as she always has done. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous. But Sanburne's golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath...and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger lies within -- in the shadowy, secret motives of his heart. You can learn more about Meredith Duran AND read an excerpt of Bound by Your Touch at Meredith Duran's website!

One lucky person will win one paperback copy of each of the above romances! A Big Thank You to Sarah of Pocket Books and Simon & Schuster for joining in on the festivities! So, here's how to enter...

*First, You MUST be a Follower to enter this particular giveaway! Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! Just let me know you became a new follower! And everyone who was following Chick with Books prior to today, will get an extra entry!

*Leave me a comment with your email address.

*Blog or Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a link to get another entry!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on Feb. 28th. I will randomly pick the winner the next day and email them! (please check your emails!) Good Luck! And have fun!!

Next sunday, the Sunday Salon will be back with Books with Buzz...

A Story of Love, Loss, Sacrifice & Obsession... AND another Great Giveaway for Chick with Books Blogoversary Celebration Day 3!

A Story of Love, Loss, Sacrifice and Obsession...

AND another great Giveaway for Chick with Books Blogoversary Celebration...

And the winner is... Helen of California! Congrats to Helen! And Thank you to EVERYONE who Entered, Tweeted and Blogged about the Giveaway!

Last summer there was a lot of buzz about a new author by the name of Emily St. John Mandel. Her debut novel was called Last Night in Montreal. I was in for a big treat because Caitlin of Unbridled Books sent a copy my way to read! The characters were so rich, and I was immediately drawn into the story. It was hypnotizing... It was like a jigsaw puzzle of people and places... and it was wonderful! Here's what I wrote about Last Night in Montreal when I reviewed it last July...

In the opening line of the book we read “ No one stays forever” and with this we begin unraveling the mystery behind Lilia... We first meet Lilia casually walking out the door of her apartment going for the paper never to return. She leaves behind Eli, who starts to notice the time and wonders where she is... then desperately realizes that she’s gone... her only mark on the apartment they share, a polaroid photograph of her when she was twelve, neatly removed from above the headboard.... From here we are thrown into Lilia’s life before Eli, as she was growing

up, constantly on the move with her father, changing names & identities, moving from state to state on an adventure of a lifetime, starting with a early morning ‘abduction’ in a snowy driveway, from a home she had known for 7 years into the arms of a recognizable stranger, bandages on her arms...

In a refreshing style, Emily St. John Mandel moves from present to past (and back again) from chapter to chapter with incredible continuity. Writing the story moving back and forth in time kept my attention. And made it so interesting! How parts of stories lead into other stories was amazing sometimes. The bits of information that were dropped like crumbs thru the story made me keep turning those pages to learn more. There are really 3 stories here, the story of young Lilia’s abduction and wanderings, the story of the detective who sacrifices his life looking for her, and the story of how everything in the past connects to the present day and how it all comes together in the end. The story rushes forward until the present and the past collide in Montreal....

With rich characters that are so human, so believable, so sad, I was drawn into their story. Their histories well developed. The writing done well. A story of love, loss, sacrifice and obsession. The story is moving. I recommend you pick it up and read it! You will enjoy it! (You can read the complete review to learn more about the book)

Unbridled Books joins the celebration by sponsoring a great giveaway for a copy of Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel for a U.S. reader of Chick with Books! Unbridled Books is dedicated to publishing high-quality works that are moving, beautiful, and surprising. Their name, Unbridled Books, was chosen to represent a publishing venture that is both energetic and independent. Thanks Caitlin and Unbridled Books for joining in on the festivities! Here's how to enter...

*For One Entry, leave me a comment with your email address!

*For One more entry, Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.(No PO boxes). The book will be shipped to the winner directly from the publishers. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on Feb.27th, 2010. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! Good Luck!

*P.S. Emily St. John Mandel's next novel is coming out this summer! More about that soon...