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Book Review: The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden & Giveaway (3 copies-US only)

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I loved The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden! Not only did this book appeal to me because of all the references to books and the love of books but because each and every character worked their way right into my heart and stayed there. Even now that I’m finished the book I’m still thinking of the characters and wishing I was still a part of their lives within the pages of this book. The Book Lover not only takes us into the world of books, authors, and publishers but also into the very hearts and souls of people who live, love, and breathe books.

Lucy, thirty-nine years old and a writer, has been sending her novel out to publishers for ages hoping that one will take her on. She really believes in her novel and the few people that have read it have loved it. However after more rejections than she cares to count Lucy is really getting down over it all. This novel has been the one thing that has brought her out of a dark place and she knows it’s good – why can’t the publishers see that and take a chance on her? Well she’s not going to wait it out anymore so she takes matters into her own hands and self-publishes her novel. At first she’s not completely honest about it because people think that if you can’t get a publishing house to represent you then your novel can’t possibly be good but soon enough she knows she can’t hide the fact that she published it on her own. She sends out some copies to some smaller bookstores and hopes for the best. Lucky for her the best happens and Ruth, a bookseller in New York, asks her if she’d like to do a signing at her store The Book Lover. Of course Lucy answers with a resounding yes! When Lucy is hit with a major betrayal by her husband the trip to Ruth’s can’t come at a better time. What she doesn’t realize at the time is that her life is going to change in more ways than one. Is success on the horizon? Is love still out there for her? Can her dreams still come true?

Ruth at sixty-five years old has been running her book store The Book Lover for almost thirty years and she knows how lucky she is to be doing what she loves everyday. Yet the bookstore hasn’t been doing well financially. People are going to the bigger stores and more and more are buying ebooks and online. What ever happened to the love of holding a real book in your hands – Ruth just doesn’t get it. What she does get though is that Lucy’s book is fantastic and she’s anxious to help her get the word out on it. Their first meeting doesn’t go quite as planned but the two women quickly bond and become friends. Ruth has been through her own hardships in life and instead of letting love into her life she has focused all that energy on books. However she has met a man who she not only finds attractive but he shares her love of books as well. There is only one problem and it’s a big one – she’s pretty sure her family will never approve of him. Does she go with her heart and bring him into her life or lose out on the love she feels may be there?

There is so much more to this story but I don’t want to say more for fear of giving away the whole story and this novel is so worth reading that I’d rather you read it on your own. I will say though that I loved Lucy and Ruth. They were both such real women. Their lives weren’t perfect and neither were they. Lucy was the type of person who didn’t see what was going on around her or her marriage and she tended to put herself before anything else even though she didn’t do it consciously, she still did it. Ruth was a control freak. She felt the need to have her hand in everything and her biggest lesson was learning to let others help her. These women though were the type of characters who worm their way into your heart. I truly cared about them and wanted to see them happy. What I really loved as well was Ruth, being in her middle sixties, still being a vibrant and lively woman who had a second chance at life and love and was willing to put it all out there.

The Book Lover is about books of course but so much more as well. It’s about life, love, and second chances! It comes highly recommended by yours truly!

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US only)

I’m really excited to share 3 copies of The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden with my readers today.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winners on Saturday, June 2/12.  Good luck everyone!

Source:  Review copy provided by Kelley and Hall.  No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Comments

  1. I worked in a bookstore once and loved it. I’m sure this book will take me right back there. My son gave me an Amazon gift card for Mother’s Day; time to head there, now! Thanks for this great review!

  8. Sounds great. Books, book stores, book lovers – what more could one want. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Google follower

  10. This sounds like it could be a true story with the state of publishing and self published books being what it is today! I think it sounds excellent, Dar, and like something I would love to read. Very nice review today. Now I am invested and have to know how the story turns out! Please do enter me in your giveaway!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  11. Great review–you made me want to read this book!
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    -follower by email, GFC, and Facebook

  13. gosh, this sounds right up my ally! Thank-you for the giveaway! I’m gonna add this to my wishlist!

    Laura Kay
    anovelreview(@)yahoo(.)com

  16. I had the opportunity to meet MaryAnn a few years ago and I loved her. Would be so excited to win her latest book!

    Thanks!

    Already a follower!

  17. I’ve never heard of this author but I’d love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    I’m a follower.

  28. Sounds like a great summer read. Count me in!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  31. Sounds really good! Thank you for another awesome giveaway. I follow via GFC and email. Also tweeted.
    wendynjason04 at gmail dot com

  33. I think the subject matter here would hit right home with many of your blog followers including myself. It’s the kind of thing we tend to take personally, don’t you think? Please enter my name to to win this book.

  37. I just found your site. How wonderful; I love to read!!! I am a new follower and thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of the book!!

  38. I AM SO EXCITED to read The Book Lover! After reading your review, I realize this one is right up my alley. Thank you for hosting the giveaway. I follow you via GFC (Beth DiIorio) and email (beth.diiorio@yahoo.com)

  42. Sounds like me! I dated my now husband in high school, and we went our separate ways for 10-years. By chance we got back together and married 20 years ago.
    GFC follower – (lvsgund)

  44. I would love to win/read this book. It sounds terrific.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  48. I absolutely love to read. I seem to read more in the summer since I tend to knit more in the winter then I do in the summer. This books seems to be a great summer read. Thank you for sharing this opportunity for a chance to win a copy.

  49. Put me down for all 3! I found your blog through Maryann McFadden’s facebook page. I can’t wait to read this one, especially after your review! Thank you.

    Amber

  52. Wow I would love a free book…and today is my Birthday…wow
    lt would be a great gift.

  54. This was a wonderful review…and right on! I’d love to win this book for a friend of mine. It would make a wonderful gift, and I’m not about to give up mine!

    I have posted the link on Facebook & Twitter and have signed up for your blog.

  55. Control freaks are always interesting people for some reason. I would like to read The Book Lover.

    teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I follow your blog already. I read your blog in my Google reader.

    I tweeted about the giveaway at Twitter. My twitter name is Topazshell.

  56. This was a wonderful review. I love Maryann’s books. I would love to win a copy of this book.

  57. I have read her previous book and liked it. Would love to have this one. Thanks for the offer.

  62. Sounds like a wonderful read. Follow you on GFC and tweeted about the giveaway

  66. I’ve heard great things about this book, I would love to win and read it! Thanks!

  69. Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book looks great and I would love to win it!

  81. Books, one of my weaknesses! I am so looking forward to reading this. A funny story on how much I love books, my husband and I moved out of the country for what we thought would be forever but ended up only being 6 months. Not knowing the outcome, I shipped over 1/2 a container of books! I am so glad I have a husband who understands me and my need for books 🙂

    • Robyn, I LOVE your story! I’m afraid mine wouldn’t be that understanding, but I certainly understand; I’d want to do the same thing. ;o)