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The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman - Giveaway

Jun 182012
 

One of the books I’m most excited about this summer, The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman is on sale tomorrow. Here’s the description, from the publisher:

It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond.

Suspects abound, including the governor’s wealthy nephew, a green-eyed aristocrat with decadent tastes; an Algonquin trapper who may be possessed by a demon that turns people into cannibals; and the colony’s own corrupt and conflicted orphanmaster. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, however, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony.

Jean Zimmerman brings New Amsterdam and its surrounding wilderness alive for modern-day readers with exacting period detail. Lively, fast paced, and full of colorful characters, The Orphanmaster is a dramatic page-turner that will appeal to fans of Hilary Mantel and Geraldine Brooks.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to read this yet, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t. Zimmerman’s publisher, Viking Books, is offering one copy to a Devourer of Books reader with a US mailing address. Simply fill out the form below by 11:59pm Central on Sunday, June 24th and you’ll be entered to win.

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The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier - Giveaway

Jun 042012
 

As you can see from today’s review, I really, really enjoyed Nichole Bernier’s debut novel, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.

unfinishedwork picture

Bernier’s publisher, Crown Books, is offering a hardcover copy of the book to one lucky Devourer of Books reader with a US mailing address. Simply fill out the form below by 11:59 pm Central on Sunday, June 10th and you will be entered to win.

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Double Time by Jane Roper - Giveaway

May 072012
 

As you will see if you read my review, I absolutely loved Jane Roper’s memoir of having twin daughters, Double Time.  Perhaps the best thing about Double Time is that, although it is specifically about parenting twins, it is something that all parents are likely to be able to relate to.

If you would like to check out a copy of Double Time yourself, I am able to give away copies to two readers of Devourer of Books anywhere in the world. To enter, fill out the form below by 11:59 pm on Sunday, May 13th.

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The First Husband by Laura Dave - Giveaway

Apr 262012
 

Last year I reviewed and really enjoyed Laura Dave’s latest book, The First Husband, which was recently released in paperback.

You may want to check out the funny video that Laura Dave made with fellow author Jonathan Tropper:

To celebrate the recent paperback release, Viking Books is offering copies to three Devourer of Books readers with mailing addresses in the US. To enter, fill out the form below by 11:59 PM Central on Tuesday, May 1st.

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The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh - Giveaway

Apr 252012
 

Last fall I listened to the audiobook of Vanessa Diffenbaum’s The Language of Flowers. I loved it so much (the narrator, yes, but especially Diffenbaum’s story) that it actually ended up being one of the picks on my 2011 ‘Best Books’ list. The Language of Flowers would make a wonderful book for a book club, and now it meets the most important criteria for so many book clubs: it is in paperback.

To celebrate the recent paperback release, Ballantine is offering one copy to a Devourer of Books reader with a mailing address in the US or Canada. To enter, fill out the form below by 11:59 PM Central on Tuesday, May 1st.

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The Book of Jonas - Giveaway

Mar 302012
 

Today I’m reviewing the audio edition of The Book of Jonas by Stephen Dau, but I also have two copies of the print edition to give away to lucky winners.

This contest is open to readers with US mailing addresses. Please enter by 11:59 pm Central on Thursday, April 5th, 2012.

This giveaway sponsored by the publisher

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The Discovery of Jeanne Baret by Glynis Ridley - Giveaway

Dec 072011
 

Yesterday a book was released that I’m really, really excited about. I’ll be reading it over the next few months, but I wanted to go ahead and offer a giveaway for you Right. Now. Here’s the description from the publisher:

The year was 1765. Eminent botanist Philibert Commerson had just been appointed to a grand new expedition: the first French circumnavigation of the world. As the ships’ official naturalist, Commerson would seek out resources—medicines, spices, timber, food—that could give the French an edge in the ever-accelerating race for empire.

Jeanne Baret, Commerson’s young mistress and collaborator, was desperate not to be left behind. She disguised herself as a teenage boy and signed on as his assistant. The journey made the twenty-six-year-old, known to her shipmates as “Jean” rather than “Jeanne,” the first woman to ever sail around the globe. Yet so little is known about this extraordinary woman, whose accomplishments were considered to be subversive, even impossible for someone of her sex and class.

When the ships made landfall and the secret lovers disembarked to explore, Baret carried heavy wooden field presses and bulky optical instruments over beaches and hills, impressing observers on the ships’ decks with her obvious strength and stamina. Less obvious were the strips of linen wound tight around her upper body and the months she had spent perfecting her masculine disguise in the streets and marketplaces of Paris.

Expedition commander Louis-Antoine de Bougainville recorded in his journal that curious Tahitian natives exposed Baret as a woman, eighteen months into the voyage. But the true story, it turns out, is more complicated.

I have two copies available for readers with US and Canadian mailing addresses. To enter, please fill out the form below by 11:59pm Central on Wednesday, December 14th.

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The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England - Giveaway

Nov 282011
 

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself back in 14th century England? How would you know what to eat? What to wear? How not to end up in the stockades?

Well, if you had read Ian Mortimer’s The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England, you might just manage to survive the middle ages.

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England is divided into eleven sections:

  • The Landscape
  • The People
  • The Medieval Character
  • Basic Essentials
  • What to Wear
  • Traveling
  • Where to Stay
  • What to Eat and Drink
  • Health and Hygiene
  • The Law
  • What to Do

I read The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England back when it was out in hardcover and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now that it is out in paperback, the nice people at Simon & Schuster have been kind enough to give me TWO copies to give away. I’ll be mailing them out myself, so although one will be US-only, the other copy I will open up internationally. To enter, fill out the Google form below by noon Eastern (US) on Wednesday, December 7th.

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It’s Hard Not to Hate You by Valerie Frankel - Giveaway

Sep 122011
 

itshardnottohateyou pictureAbout It’s Hard Not to Hate You

“The hate in you has got to come out.” After being advised to reduce stress by her doctor, humorist Valerie Frankel realized the biggest source of pressure in her life was maintaining an unflappable easing-going persona. After years of glossing over the negative, Frankel goes on a mission of emotional honesty, vowing to let herself feel and express all the toxic emotions she’d long suppressed or denied: jealousy, rage, greed, envy, impatience, regret. Frankel reveals her personal History of Hate, from mean girls in junior high, selfish boyfriends in her twenties and old professional rivals. Hate stomps through her current life, too, with snobby neighbors, rude cell phone talkers, scary doctors and helicopter moms. Regarding her husband, she asks, “How Do I Hate You? Let Me Count the Ways.” (FYI: There are three.) By the end of her authentic emotional experience, Frankel concludes that toxic emotions are actually good for you. The positive thinkers, aka, The Secret crowd, have it backwards. Trying to ward off negativity was what’d been causing Frankel’s career stagnation, as well as her health and personal problems. With the guidance of celebrity friends like Joan Rivers and psychic Mary T. Browne, Frankel now uses anger, jealousy and impatience as tools to be a better, balanced and deeper person. It’s Hard Not to Hate You sends the message that there are no wrong emotions, only wrong ways of dealing with them.

If you get your hands on It’s Hard Not to Hate You, be sure to check out the hilarious (subversive) Reading Group Guide.

I have one copy of It’s Hard Not to Hate You to give away. To win, fill out the form below by 11:59 pm on Friday, September 16, 2011. The publisher will be sending out the prize, so you MUST have a US or Canadian mailing address to win.

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