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“Combining the edginess of modern life with the touching theme of losing someone who has become just like family, [this book] confirms Giordano as a writer who understands contemporary science and the complexities of human relationships.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) 

“Beautifully crafted…its themes are universal and it will appeal to anyone who treasures the gifts of others.” —Library Journal (starred review)

Paolo Giordano’s prizewinning debut novel, The Solitude of Prime Numbers, which has been translated into more than 40 languages since its release in 2008, catapulted him into the literary spotlight. In his new novel LIKE FAMILY (Pamela Dorman Books; On-sale: December 1st; $22.00; 9780525428763)—a nuanced portrait of marriage, adulthood, and the meaning of family—Giordano once again returns to the intimate domestic setting that first made him an international sensation. A writer exquisitely attuned to compassion, isolation, and the sometimes overlooked yet startlingly powerful details of our daily lives, here he chronicles the tribulations of a married couple whose lives are indelibly changed by their housekeeper and nanny, Mrs. A.

Nora and her husband, the story’s unnamed narrator, solicit Mrs. A., a middle-aged widow, to help out with Nora’s difficult pregnancy. Mrs. A soon becomes a confidant and her exacting yet reassuring presence is swiftly and deeply felt by the entire family, including their young son, Emanuele. For Nora and her husband, Mrs. A.’s influence allows them to negotiate the complexities of married life. She becomes, as the narrator suggests, the sole “witness” to their love, someone who validates their relationship. And for Emanuele, Mrs. A. is the shield protecting him from his parents’ high expectations and disappointments. But when Mrs. A. is diagnosed with metastasizing cancer, the delicate fabric of the young family comes swiftly undone.

Elegiac, heartrending, and deeply personal, LIKE FAMILY asks a profoundly simple question: What does it mean to love someone? Giordano confronts this perhaps unanswerable question with the kind of tenderness that a husband reserves for a wife, or a parent for a child. And through his wholly realized characters—a widowed nanny, an introverted scientist, an outgoing designer—he proves that love has many forms and gives meaning to any existence, no matter how ordinary. Short yet powerfully affecting, and arguably Giordano’s most accomplished work, LIKE FAMILY will strike resounding chords with  readers of Colm Tóibín, Andrew Sean Greer, and Akhil Sharma.

AUTHOR BIO:

Paolo Giordano is the author of the critically acclaimed The Human Body and the international bestseller The Solitude of Prime Numbers, which has been translated into more than 40 languages. He has a PhD in particle physics and is now a full-time writer. He lives in Italy. LIKE FAMILY is his third novel.

To win LIKE FAMILY by Paolo Giordano, please send an email to contest@gmail.com with “LIKE FAMILY” as the subject. You must include your U.S. street address in your email.

All entries must be received by Dec. 21, 2015. One (1) name will be drawn from all qualified entries and notified via email. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age in the United States only. Your prize will be sent by Penguin Random House.

One entry per email address. Subscribers to the monthly newsletter earn an extra entry into every contest. Follow this blog to earn another entry into every contest. Winners may win only one time per year (365 days) for contests with prizes of more than one book. Your email address will not be shared or sold to anyone.

LIKE FAMILY by Paolo Giordano. Pamela Dorman Books (December 1, 2015). 978-0525428763. 160p. $16.00

“[Meister] does a lovely job of imagining the voice of Dorothy Parker with equal parts wit, heartbreak, and practicality.” —Booklist
 
“A quicky, charming read that will delight Parker fans and stoke the curiosity of those unfamiliar with her great wit.”—Library Journal
 
“A wacky tale with hilarious cameo appearances…liberally sprinkled with Parker’s signature acerbic humor, wisecracks, and put-downs.”—Publishers Weekly

In a prequel to her appearance in Ellen Meister’s “delicious”* Farewell, Dorothy Parker, the acid-tongued writer haunts the halls of the Algonquin Hotel with her piercing wit and unexpectedly tender wisdom.

Death cannot quell the feisty spirit of Dorothy Parker.

For more than forty years, Mrs. Parker has been spurning the white light and wandering the famous halls of the Algonquin, drink in hand, searching for someone—anyone—who will keep her company on this side of eternity.

She may have found the perfect candidate in Ted Shriver, a brilliant literary voice of the 1970s, silenced early in a promising career by a devastating plagiarism scandal. He is now a recluse hiding away in the old hotel, waiting to die.

But when a young, ambitious TV producer enters the hotel in search of Shriver, she and Dorothy Parker begin to discover a host of secrets surrounding the life of the famous man—and why he seems as anxious to enter the beyond as Mrs. Parker is to avoid it.

To win DOROTHY PARKER DRANK HERE by Ellen Meister, please send an email to contest@gmail.com with “DOROTHY PARKER” as the subject. You must include your U.S. street address in your email.

All entries must be received by Dec. 15, 2015. One (1) name will be drawn from all qualified entries and notified via email. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age in the United States only. Your prize will be sent by Penguin Random House.

One entry per email address. Subscribers to the monthly newsletter earn an extra entry into every contest. Follow this blog to earn another entry into every contest. Winners may win only one time per year (365 days) for contests with prizes of more than one book. Your email address will not be shared or sold to anyone.

DOROTHY PARKER DRANK HERE by Ellen Meister. Berkley (December 1, 2015) 978-0425278093. 384p. $16.00

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Can you believe 2015 is coming to an end? I’m not sure how this snuck up on me but here we are with the last International Thriller Writers contest for the year. But no worries, January will bring even more! Best of luck, and don’t forget to check back…you never know when new titles will be added. To enter, go to the Win Books page.

TRICKY TWENTY-TWO by Janet Evanovich
A Stephanie Plum Novel
This 22nd entry into the Stephanie Plum series brings back all the beloved characters, from Joe and Ranger to Grandma Mazur. GQ says, “Among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction.”

THE GIRL WITH THE DEEP BLUE EYES by Lawrence Block
In the depths of her blue eyes, he glimpsed… murder. “MWA Grand Master Block adds a generous dollop of eroticism to this ingeniously plotted study in criminality and corruption. Noir fans will be pleased that the book contains not a single likable character.”  Publishers Weekly

GUILTY AS CINNAMON by Leslie Budewitz   
Murder heats up Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the next Spice Shop mystery from the national bestselling author of Assault and Pepper.

BACKSTABBLING IN BEAUJOLAIS by Jean-Pierre Alaux, Noël Balen, Anne Trager
Winemaker Detective Series
Do you know a better combo than French wine and a mystery? Perfect for a cozy end of the year. “Summer in French wine country with murder on the list… a classic vintage.” Fresh Fiction

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author! Books with multiple authors will be signed by at least one of the authors.

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books  page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

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November, a time of gratitude. And I am most grateful for the International Thriller Writers and all the authors who donate signed books for these contests each month. Best of luck, and don’t forget to check back…you never know when new titles will be added. To enter, go to the Win Books page.

NO GOOD DEED by Allison Brennan
Lucy Kinkaid Novels
Lucy Kincaid understands the dangers of corruption. As an FBI agent, she has witnessed some very bad deeds committed by seemingly good people. That’s why she’s glad to see corrupt DEA Agent Nicole Rollins behind bars for murder, conspiracy, and gunrunning. But when Rollins makes a daring escape-jeopardizing a busload of children and killing five officers-Lucy becomes the key to the biggest manhunt in Texas history…and the target of a brilliant killer.

SPYFALL by John Hegenberger
In September 1959, someone is out for revenge against a young L.A. PI who has to travel outside the country and his own comfort zone to discover the secret life of Ian Fleming and stop a nuclear threat to Europe that remained classified until 2012. If you like adventure Private Eye fiction, then you will love – Stan Wade, L.A.P.I. 1959.

SHIVAREE by J.D. Horn
After completing the  three-part ‘Witching Savannah’ series, Horn is back with a Southern Gothic twisty tale that will make you leave the lights on!

THE LOST CODEX by Alan Jacobson   
OPSIG Team Black
Set in DC, New York, Paris, England, and Israel, The Lost Codex has been hailed by Douglas Preston as “a masterwork of international suspense” and “an outstanding novel.”

THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA BLANC by Jennifer Kincheloe
This latest historical mystery is set in 1907 Los Angeles. Mischievous socialite Anna Blanc must choose—either hunt a villain and risk losing her father, fiancé, and wealth, or abandon her dream and leave the killer on the loose.

THE WICCAN WITCH OF THE MIDWEST by Scott A. Lerner
Samuel Roberts Thriller (Book 4)
Samuel Roberts, a lawyer in Champaign, Illinois, falls suspiciously hard for Bridget Gillis, a beautiful fortune teller who also happens to be a witch and a member of a coven, which begs the question: is Bridget a good witch or a bad witch?

THE ORACLE by D.J. Niko
Sarah Weston Chronicles #3
Sarah and Daniel race against time and their own personal demons to uncover clues left behind by the ancients. Their mission: to find the original navel stone marked with a lost Pythagorean formula detailing the natural events that led to the collapse of the Minoan Empire.

HIDDEN  by Karen E. Olson
First in a new mystery series
This tense and twisting novel of identity and suspense marks an intriguing new departure for cozy mystery writer Karen E. Olson.

A QUESTION OF INHERITANCE by Elizabeth Edmondson
A Very English Mystery
Hugo Hawksworth is on the tail of rogue Cold War agents at a top-secret government facility, while back home at Selchester Castle they’re awaiting the arrival of the new Earl—an American, the long-lost son of the murdered Lord Selchester. What’s the link between Hugo’s investigations and the suspicious goings-on in the town and at the Castle? And will he and his allies get to the heart of the mystery before the murderer gets to them?

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author!

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books  page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

New York– Otto Penzler, President and Publisher of MysteriousPress.com, has announced a contest for the Mysterious Press Award, which will be given for the best e-book original mystery novel. The winning entry will receive a prize of $25,000 and guaranteed world-wide publication. The winner will be announced at the 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair.

“Digitally published books have become a major element of the publishing landscape over the past few years,” said Penzler. “Our goal is to acknowledge the outstanding work being produced in this format and reward it appropriately. We expect to have some truly wonderful manuscripts submitted for this substantial prize.”

Among those sponsoring the contest will be MysteriousPress.com partners who distribute and market its books: Open Road, in North America and numerous countries around the world; Head of Zeus in the British Commonwealth; Hayakawa Publishing (Japan, Singapore, and South Korea), Bonnier (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland); Dutch Media Books (Holland and Belgium), and Bastei Lubbe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Greece, and selected Eastern European countries). MysteriousPress.com e-books are distributed in China by Trajectory.

Submissions will be accepted from January 1 through April 30, 2016. Entries must be in English and submitted both electronically (to contest@mysteriouspress.com) and in printed format (to The Mysterious Press, 58 Warren Street, New York, N.Y. 10007). Limit of one book per author. Initial readings of manuscripts will be handled by editors and associates of MysteriousPress.com. The top three entries will then be circulated to its world-wide partners for a final decision.

The contest is open to established authors as well as first-time novelists. Submissions of complete, full-length novels will be accepted only from accredited literary agents and must never have been published previously in any format. All categories will be considered: Traditional detective stories, hard-boiled, noir, police procedural, suspense, crime, historical, humor—any book in which a crime, or the threat of a crime, is central to the theme or the plot. Horror, supernatural, fantasy, and science fiction works are not eligible. The winner will be chosen based on a variety of criteria, including originality and literary quality. Manuscripts will not be critiqued and will not be returned. Employees of Grove/Atlantic, the Mysterious Bookshop, and MysteriousPress.com and its partners are not eligible. See Official Rules for entry requirements and complete details at our website, www.mysteriouspress.com. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

The $25,000 prize will be an advance against future royalties. MysteriousPress.com will publish it as an e-book original with print-on-demand copies also available. World-wide partners will have all rights (excluding dramatic rights) to publish in all formats.

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Happy October! I’m giving away some great books this month, all autographed by the authors. Best of luck, and don’t forget to check back…you never know when new titles will be added.

THE END GAME by Catherine Coulter & J.T. Ellison
A Brit in the FBI (Book 3)
Another late addition to this month’s bookshelf! From #1 New York Times–bestselling author Catherine Coulter, the explosive new addition to the remarkable thriller series featuring Nicholas Drummond and Mike Caine. Publisher’s Weekly gave it a starred review, saying, “Intense, captivating…Nicholas and Mike work in perfect sync, never missing a beat…Their relationship leaves much room for developments in future installments of this excellent suspense series.”

STRONG LIGHT OF DAY by Jon Land
A Caitlin Strong Novel
This late addition to this month’s bookshelf is another fabulous entry in the Caitlin Strong series. I love this kick ass Texas Ranger and I am not alone – Huffington Post calls it “A truly excellent series.” And the Los Angeles Review of Books says, “Land is one of the best all-out action writers in the business and his amalgam of modern day thriller and western is flat out terrific. Caitlin Strong is the best female protagonist out there.” I agree!

THE SURVIVOR by Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills
A Mitch Rapp Novel
A blistering novel that picks up where The Last Man left off, The Survivor is a no-holds-barred race to save America…and Mitch Rapp’s finest battle.

FRONT RUNNER: A Dick Francis Novel by Felix Francis
Jefferson Hinkley is back in the newest Dick Francis thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author of Damage. “Francis once again proves himself worthy of wearing his father’s colors.  This latest effort has an absolutely propulsive plot that will remind Dick Francis fans of his classic nail-biters . . . This one’s a stunner.”—Booklist (starred review)

CUT AND COVER by Kevin Hurley
With exemplary skills in hand-to-hand combat and small arms weaponry, John Rexford completes a string of successful kills, eliminating terrorists and their money supply in the New York Metropolitan area. “A resounding character study just as much as it is an action novel, and both are equally triumphant.” —Kirkus Reviews

DIE AGAIN TOMORROW by Kira Peikoff
“Die Again Tomorrow held me captive me from the opening chapter—in which a murdered woman is subjected to a secret medical procedure that brings her back to life. From there the story takes off like a rocket, full of surprises, fascinating science, and vivid characters. If you enjoy the medical thrillers of Crichton and Cook, this book is for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Douglas Preston

CHARLOTTE’S STORY by Laura Benedict
A Bliss House Novel
Step back into Bliss House, the yellow-brick Virginia mansion with a disreputable, dangerous past, that even the sheen of 1950’s domesticity cannot hide…

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author!

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books  page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

Lots of great books to win this month including NY Times bestsellers, favorite series & a debut! Plus all these books are signed by the authors…best of luck!

THE SOLOMON CURSE by Clive Cussler & Russell Blake
The outstanding new Sam and Remi Fargo Adventure from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. “Cussler and Blake have given us another riveting thriller. Sam and Remi are fearless, honest, curious, and resourceful in all situations. Fasten your seat belt for this wonderful read!” — Library Journal

MAKE ME by Lee Child
Stephen King calls Jack Reacher “the coolest continuing series character”—and now he’s back in this masterly new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child.

THE SCAM by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. This series is one of my newer favorites!

PRETTY GIRLS by Karin Slaughter
A standalone thriller from one of my favorite writers! Lee Child says it’s “stunning… certain to be a book of the year.” Kathy Reichs calls it “extraordinary… a major achievement.” Jeffery Deaver says that “fiction doesn’t get any better than this.” Gillian Flynn says of Karin Slaughter: “I’d follow her anywhere.” See for yourself what these #1 New York Times-bestselling authors are talking about!

Robert B. Parker’s THE DEVIL WINS by Reed Farrel Coleman
A Nor’easter blows into Paradise and churns up the past—in the stunning new addition to Robert B. Parker’s New York Times–bestselling series featuring Police Chief Jesse Stone.

THE SEARCHER by Simon Toyne
The author of the acclaimed Sanctus trilogy conjures an eerie epic of good and evil, retribution and redemption—the first novel in the mesmerizing Solomon Creed series in which a man with no memory of his past must save a lost soul in a small Arizona town.

HOSTAGE TAKER by Stefanie Pintoff
From Edgar Award winner Stefanie Pintoff comes the start of an electrifying new thriller series featuring Eve Rossi, head of a secret division of the FBI—one made up of ex-convicts with extraordinary talents, oversized egos, and contempt for the rules. Perfect for readers of Iris Johansen and Catherine Coulter.

PATRIOT by Ted Bell
Intelligence officer Alex Hawke takes on power-hungry Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wielding a terrifying new weapon, in the latest adrenaline-fueled thriller in Ted Bell’s New York Times bestselling series.

PERIL BY PONYTAIL by Nancy J. Cohen
The latest entry in the terrific Bad Hair Day Mysteries! Marla and Dalton’s honeymoon at an Arizona dude ranch veers from dangerous to downright deadly faster than a horse headed to the corral. “Cozy fans will have fun.”—Publishers Weekly

HER FINAL BREATH by Robert Dugoni
Ryder Creed and his K9 search-and-rescue dogs return in the second installment of an exciting new series, teaming up once more with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell in their riskiest case yet. Publishers Weekly says, “Exciting . . . . [an] intense thriller, which builds to an explosive conclusion.”

THE GATES OF EVANGELINE by Hester Young
From a unique new talent comes a fast-paced debut, introducing a heroine whose dark visions bring to light secrets that will heal or destroy those around her . . .”[H]aunting, heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful…Young handles the spectral elements with restraint as her tremendously sympathetic heroine seeks to build a new life after death.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

DANCE OF THE BONES by J.A. Jance
J. P. Beaumont and Brandon Walker, two of New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance’s most acclaimed series characters, join forces for the first time in one of the most suspenseful works of her career. “Jance satisfies fans of both series with an energetic plot resplendent with believable twists, leaving readers eager for Beaumont and Walker’s next outing.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author!

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books  page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

No summer doldrums here…just an awesome collection of signed thrillers!

THE DEVIL’S BRIDGE by Linda Fairstein
In her seventeenth Alexandra Cooper thriller, New York Times bestselling author Linda Fairstein takes readers where they have never been before: Inside the mind of NYPD Detective Mike Chapman. Nelson DeMille says Fairstein is “one of the best crime fiction writers in America today.”

IRON WOLF by Dale Brown
New York Times bestselling author Dale Brown goes beyond the headlines in this high-tech, high-tension military thriller in which a resurgent Russia inflames sectarian unrest and violence in Ukraine and Poland, setting off a stealth robotic war and escalating an international crisis. Kirkus Review says, “The action’s relentless. … High-tension, all-out action-adventure. … Brown out-Clancys Tom.”

CENTER OF GRAVITY by Laura McNeill
Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things—and people—are not always what they seem. Booklist says, “Readers will find this tale of domestic suspense deeply compelling as a once-happy family unit disintegrates and a woman summons her heretofore hidden strength. Told from multiple perspectives, McNeill’s gripping tale explores family, trust, and how lives are rebuilt.”

CRACKS IN THE COBBLESTONE by Susan E. Sagarra
St. Louis-based author Susan E. Sagarra has penned her first mystery novel in which two women take a crack at adulthood in vastly different worlds. Sagarra has earned numerous journalism awards, including first place in the National Federation of Press Women-Missouri Chapter annual contest.

THE ULTIMATE THREAT by James Osborne
Mark is in the way of ISIS’s plans – and they want him removed. Can Mark stave of ‘The Ultimate Threat’ in his mission to save not only his family but the freedom of America as well? Osborne is a novelist and the author of more than 100 short stories. His award-winning stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, both in print and online.

BELIEVE NO ONE by A.D. Garrett
The race is on to catch a serial killer and save a nine-year-old boy in this gripping sequel to A. D. Garrett’s highly praised forensic thriller, Everyone Lies In a starred review, Publishers Weekly says, “Fine attention to forensics and investigative techniques distinguishes this stellar thriller.”

SILENT CREED by Alex Kava
Ryder Creed and his K9 search-and-rescue dogs return in the second installment of an exciting new series, teaming up once more with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell in their riskiest case yet. Publishers Weekly says, “Exciting . . . . [an] intense thriller, which builds to an explosive conclusion.”

THE ETERNAL WORLD by Christopher Farnsworth
If you could live forever, what would you die for? Kirkus Reviewsays, “A fantastical witch’s brew of Spanish conquistadors, biotechnology, and hubris . . . with cinematic pacing and colorful action scenes, Farnsworth blends a unique premise into fun summer reading . . . entertainingly explores the border where science fantasy meets reality.”

BLACK-EYED SUSANS by Julia Heaberlin
Shocking, intense, and utterly original, Black-Eyed Susans is a dazzling psychological thriller, seamlessly weaving past and present in a searing tale of a young woman whose harrowing memories remain in a field of flowers—as a killer makes a chilling return to his garden, sure to appeal to fans of Laura Lippman and Gillian Flynn. Publishers Weekly says, “Gripping . . . The suspense builds as Tessie uncovers devastating secrets from the past en route to the shocking ending.”

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author!

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books  page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

Just wanted to add congratulations and thanks to the

November winner for sending in this picture!

I’m really excited to offer this terrific book plus some goodies!

MOVIE STAR BY LIZZIE PEPPER is the book to bring to the beach this summer and has already been causing quite a splash. People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, Vogue.com, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan have all already selected it as one of the best books of the summer.

Included in the giveaway is a copy of the book, a pair of branded sunglasses with a Lizzie Pepper hangtag, and popcorn all packaged in a gold envelope!

This is a fun prize and I have one of these to offer. Read on for all the details on how to enter.

About the book:

Click to purchase

The “It” book you absolutely must pack in your beach bag—an addictively juicy novel of celebrity love gone wrong

Chosen by USA Today, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue.com as a Great Summer Read

“Liftin, who’s cowritten memoirs with celebs including Tori Spelling, presents her first novel as a tell-all by a star she calls Lizzie Pepper. Married young to an actor involved in a cultlike religion, Lizzie ends up leaving him and…Sound like someone we know? Liftin’s not saying, but her book is dishy fun.”
—People Magazine

“A hilarious, tabloid-trashing gotcha novel.”
—Vanity Fair

“A juicy work of shocking betrayal.”
—Us Weekly

“I’ve had a million meetings in my acting career, and I had no idea that this would be the one that would change my life forever. I walked into the room, and there was Rob . . . in the flesh.”

Actress Lizzie Pepper was America’s Girl Next Door and her marriage to Hollywood mega-star Rob Mars was tabloid gold—a whirlwind romance and an elaborate celebrity-studded wedding landed them on the cover of every celebrity weekly. But fame, beauty, and wealth weren’t enough to keep their marriage together. Hollywood’s “It” couple are over—and now Lizzie is going to tell her side of the story.

Celebrity ghostwriter Hilary Liftin chronicles the tabloids’ favorite marriage as Lizzie Pepper realizes that, when the curtain falls, her romance isn’t what she and everyone else thought. From her lonely holidays in sumptuous villas to her husband’s deep commitment to a disconcertingly repressive mind-body group, Lizzie reveals a side of fame that her fans never get to see. Full of twists and turns, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper is a breathless journey to the heights of Hollywood power and royalty and a life in the spotlight that is nearly impossible to escape.

About the author:

Hilary Liftin is a ghostwriter/collaborator specializing in celebrity memoir. Since 2006 she has worked on fifteen books, ten of which hit the New York Times bestseller list. sTORI Telling by Tori Spelling was a #1 New York Times nonfiction bestseller, stayed on the list for 19 weeks, and won the 2009 Bravo A-List Award for Best Celebrity Autobiography. Miles to Go by Miley Cyrus was a #1 New York Times children’s bestseller. Other bestselling titles include High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips and It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh.

Hilary has also written three books under her own name. The first, Dear Exile, is letters that she exchanged with her co-author, Kate Montgomery, when Kate was in the Peace Corps in Kenya and Hilary was in New York. It was published by Vintage in 1999 and is still in print. Candy and Me: A Love Story is Hilary’s memoir told through different kinds of candy.

Hilary Liftin grew up in Washington, DC. She is a graduate of Yale University, where she was the editor of the Yale Literary Magazine. Before becoming a full-time writer in 2006, Hilary worked in the publishing industry for ten years, holding positions in editorial, marketing, and business development at Houghton Mifflin, Barnes & Noble.com, and the ebook division of Time Warner Books (now Hachette). She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.

To win this fabulous MOVIE STAR book & gifts, please send an email to contest@gmail.com with “MOVIE STAR” as the subject.

You must include your U.S. street address in your email.

All entries must be received by Aug. 1, 2015. One (1) name will be drawn from all qualified entries and notified via email. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age in the United States only. Your prize will be sent by the publicist.

One entry per email address. Subscribers to the monthly newsletter earn an extra entry into every contest. Follow this blog to earn another entry into every contest. Winners may win only one time per year (365 days) for contests with prizes of more than one book. Your email address will not be shared or sold to anyone.

7/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch