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.
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!
This sounds good, and hadn’t realized Maryann had a new book out. I’d love a chance to win.
I tweeted it.
I have not read this author. Book sounds like a good read.
Am a gfc follower and email as well.
This sounds like a good read.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I follow via gfc – mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/mamabunny13/status/204907507351683072
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Sounds great. Books, book stores, book lovers – what more could one want. Thanks for the giveaway.
Google follower
Always love books that reference books! I am also a follower…
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
Great review–you made me want to read this book!
Thanks for the giveaway.
-follower by email, GFC, and Facebook
Sounds like a great read..I too am a book lover and can identify!
Deniseincoralsprings@gmail.com
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
I am already a GFC follower, but now I’m also a network follower!
thanks for the giveaway, I love books about books! I have been following you for a while through Google Reader, and I just retweeted and fabooked your post: https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/204973268145422337
Emma @ Words And Peace
ehc16e at yahoo dot com
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!
I’ve never heard of this author but I’d love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’m a follower.
Wow, sounds like a captivating book. Thanks for the giveaway and as usual, I’ll pop it in my sidebar list.
Sounds like a perfect book for a book lover! 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I am a follower by email.
I added a link to my giveaway page. Here’s the link:
http://anovelreview.blogspot.com/p/giveaways_09.html
Great review, love the passion – this sounds fabulous!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/TheReadingCove/status/204985601764769792
And we already follow the blog!
Wonderful review – made it a must read!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Email subscriber, FB and Networked blogs.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Wonderful review and book. Thanks for this chance. I am an e-mail subscriber.
Perfect read for summer. I’m an email follower.
summergal05(at)gmail(dot)com
I am captivated with this book. Many thanks. I subscribe via e-mail.
Sounds like a great summer read. Count me in!
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
I follow your blog via GFC as Patricia N
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/205010659128258562
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
Sounds really good! Thank you for another awesome giveaway. I follow via GFC and email. Also tweeted.
wendynjason04 at gmail dot com
Hi
I tweeted this blog post: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/205023674305224704
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.
I also follow this blog by email: carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
Second chances and books sound good 😀
books sounds great blog follower lomazowr@gmail.com,will tweet at rhonda reads;
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!!
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)
I would love to enter, and I follow your blog!
~ Janine
***********
http://mylostghost.blogspot.com/
I haven’t read this author, but who doesn’t like books about books! Thanks for the giveaway.
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net
I also follow in GFC and Google Reader.
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net
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)
I can absolutely understand how you fell in love with this book! Sounds like a winner to me!
I would love to win/read this book. It sounds terrific.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am a GFC follower
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Sounds like a realistic story. I’m quite intrigued.
Well this book sounds very interesting!
Please enter me!
I am a follower
I posted it on my sidebar
forevereading at gmail dot com
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.
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
I would love to win a copy of The Book Lover. Maryann McFadden is a wonderful author!
– Great review, Dar.I really want to read this (win this!).
– I follow via google reader and networkedblogs (bookfanmb)
– I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/bookfanmb/status/204909918053081089
Wow I would love a free book…and today is my Birthday…wow
lt would be a great gift.
What’s not to love – a book about books! Thanks for another great giveaway. I am a GFC and email follower.
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.
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.
This was a wonderful review. I love Maryann’s books. I would love to win a copy of this book.
I have read her previous book and liked it. Would love to have this one. Thanks for the offer.
Nice review. Sounds like an interesting book.
I follow the blog.
I’ve gotta read this book now! Thanks for the giveaway.
I am a follower.
Just the title makes me want to read this one!
Sounds like a wonderful read. Follow you on GFC and tweeted about the giveaway
thank you for the giveaway. Gale
pgan427@yahoo.com
GFC Gale Nelson
email subscriber pgan427@yahoo.com
This books sounds really good. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I’ve heard great things about this book, I would love to win and read it! Thanks!
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/AnneOfPurple/status/206795006684565505
What a wonderful story for us crazy book people, writers and readers alike. I think that this sounds like a wonderful book and I can’t wait to get started on it. Thanks for the chance to read it for free, that’s so very kind of you. I’m a follower and I tweeted.;-)
https://twitter.com/Dyniy/status/207344961807585280
Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book looks great and I would love to win it!
I follow by e-mail!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/SuzReads/status/207970634024763392
I always wanted to work in a bookstore!
pjames330 at aol dot com
subscriber
pjames330 at aol dot com
https://twitter.com/pj436/status/208600563372400640
pjames330 at aol dot com
Sounds like a great book!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
GFC Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#1
GFC Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#2
I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis
https://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/208743496067203073
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#1
I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis
https://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/208743496067203073
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#2
I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis
https://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/208743496067203073
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#3
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)