Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A special Downton-themed giveaway for US readers

I'm running a special giveaway for blog readers.  Up for grabs is a brand new hardcover of Judith Lennox's latest novel One Last Dance (Headline, 2014), open to those in the US.  Please fill out the form below for a chance to win.

This is an unusual circumstance because I haven't read the novel myself (yet), but it's described as "for fans of Downton Abbey and My Last Duchess."  It tells the story of Esme Reddaway, whose life spans most of the 20th century, as she tries to uncover secrets dating from the WWI years.  The plot deals with sibling rivalry, revenge, a failed love affair, and a neglected English house called Rosindell.  Some of you may recognize the cover, too.  More on Goodreads here.

Obviously, this is all very trendy, but Judith Lennox has been writing this type of multi-generational English saga for decades, long before the Crawleys were even a whisper of an idea.

Here's the story:  I've been reading and enjoying her novels for a long time, so when I learned she had a new one out, I pounced right on Amazon and ordered a copy from a UK bookseller.  Three weeks and $18 or so later, a brand spanking new trade paperback arrived in the mail. 

Then, two days after that, I was out in Columbus, Ohio, for the semiannual meeting of the Great Lakes Historical Novel Society chapter and stopped by a Half Price Books store.  And, wouldn't you know it, sitting in the clearance section was a spotless hardcover copy of the same book, priced at $2.  It appears to be unread.  What were the chances?  Anyway, this is the copy I'm giving away.  I bought it because it was a rare find in these parts, and because I knew one of you would be able to give it a good home.

Since it's not available for sale in the US and it's a large and heavy book (and with apologies to everyone else), I'm limiting this giveaway to readers in the United States. One entry per person, please.  The deadline will be Friday, May 9th.  Good luck!

~

5/10/14:  This giveaway is over. Congratulations to Lauralee of History from a Woman's Perspective. Thanks for your interest!

11 comments:

  1. I've always loved these stories of English country houses and, of course, I was thrilled when Downton Abbey became a thing. Great giveaway--thanks!

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    1. This one's been out since January but I only discovered it last month, thanks to Amazon's recommendations for similar reads - and since it's from a favorite author, I had to grab it immediately. Good luck! :)

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  2. Thank you so much for the opportunity! Looks fabulous.

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    1. It does - I'm looking forward to sinking into it this summer!

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  3. Shared this on Twitter!

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  4. Thanks for offering this giveaway! I cannot tell you how many times I've ordered a hard to find book or a book that was only published in England and then come across it at my local library book sale or used bookstore. I may have to start offering some giveaways of my own....

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    1. That happens to me all the time. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it in a local store. I also have a bad habit of buying books from the UK and then seeing them find a US publisher a month or two later. I'm not all that patient when it comes to books I want!

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  5. Anonymous1:13 PM

    I just ordered one of her books - THE HEART OF THE NIGHT - about pre-WWII Europe (of course . . .)

    Sarah OL

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    1. Oooo, that's one I haven't read yet (though I have a copy). My favorites are Some Old Lover's Ghost and The Winter House. Written On Glass was also very good.

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  6. This looks great! I'd heard of Judith Lennox somewhere, but this book was news to me. I know a lot of people who would like this!

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