Friday, June 27, 2014

What's in the mail...plus a giveaway

Melissa A:

Landline by Rainbow Rowell from St. Martin's Press

A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon from Berkley (Penguin)

When the Cypress Whispers by Yvette Manessis Corporon from HarperCollins



Tracey:

Jennifer, Gwyneth, and Me by Rachel Bertsche from Random House

Jami:

The Witch of Belladonna Bay by Suzanne Palmieri from BookSparks PR

Kathryn:

What a Girl Wants by Lindsey Kelk from HarperCollins UK (e-book; Becky got this too)

Tangled Lives by Hilary Boyd from Rock Star PR & Literary Consulting

Walking on Marshmallows by/from Janey Edkins




What could be in YOUR mail:


When the Cypress Whispers by Yvette Manessis Corporon

HarperCollins has THREE copies for some lucky US readers!

The daughter of Greek immigrants, Daphne aspires to the American Dream, yet feels as if she's been sleepwalking through life. Caught between her family's old-world traditions and the demands of a modern career, she cannot seem to find her place.

Only her beloved grandmother on Erikousa, a magical island off the coast of Greece, knows her heart. Daphne's fondest memories are of times spent in the kitchen with Yia-yia, cooking and learning about the ancient myths. It was the thought of Yia-yia that consoled Daphne in the wake of her husband's unexpected death.

After years of struggling to raise her child and pay the bills, Daphne now has a successful restaurant, a growing reputation as a chef, and a wealthy fiance-everything she's ever wanted. But across the ocean, Yia-yia can see through the storybook perfection of Daphne's new life- and now she is calling her back to Erikousa. She has secrets about the past to share with her granddaughter- stories from the war, of loyalty and bravery in the face of death. She also has one last lesson to teach her: that security is not love, and that her life can be filled with meaning again.
(Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

How to win:
Please tell us your favorite memory of your grandmother OR your favorite Greek food.

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted (and we do not count Google + as contact information).

US only. Giveaway ends July 2nd at midnight EST.

42 comments:

Robin Driscoll said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother is her baking and cooking. When I think of her I picture her pulling something out of the oven.

Jennifer O'Regan said...

So happy to have forged this connection! Many blessings and good wishes to Yvette and CLC!

XOXO,
Jenny O'Regan
Confessions of a Bookaholic

Melanie Backus said...

My grandmother was wonderful. I loved seeing her in her kitchen busily preparing delicious dishes.

mauback55 at gmail dot com

pascale said...

my favorite memory of my grandmother was her morning routine:
she would get up late, drink coffee, move to the bathroom for her morning "toilette"... I would watch her the entire time. Then onto the kitchen to prepare our afternoon lunch.

Best part- this was every summer of my childhood in the south of france.

Donna C said...

My nana was such a proper lady, I learned lots of manners from her. I always giggled when she would call the sofa a davenport :)

Dcimo2@aol.com

susieqlaw said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother is when she took my brother and me to get strawberries. The best part was the ride in the car along the country road.

sendsusanmail at gmail dot com

Bridget T. said...

Baklava.

Janine said...

I am dying to read this book. I don't have a lot of memories of my grandmother because my family moved when I was pretty young. But the best memories I have involved food. They were spending time with her in the huge gardens picking strawberries and selling them from a road side stand during the summers. I think I ate more then I put in my basket and remember eating them as we sold them. I remember sitting under the apple trees to stay cool or cleaning green beans in the big kitchen. When ever I smell a potato, I think of the times I used to help her get them from the root cellar and ready for dinner.

kinini01@hotmail.com

Bonnie K. said...

My favorite Greek dish is the Moussaka. Oh so good.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

MAS Bookworm said...

I had lot of great memories with my grandmother, I can't just choose one. But, it meant so much each time she flew in for special events in my life.

Masbookworm@aol.com

The Reading Frenzy said...

OOh great premise. My Grandmother always had a hug and an open door for me. She lived up the street from us growing up and when I had a tiff w/my sibs or parents she was always there for me.

jpetroroy said...

I love baklava

Alison said...

My favorite memory of my Oma was being at the family cabin in upstate New York and going up the road to pick wild blackberries, then coming back to the house and baking a tart with them. Oh, and watching her make the most amazing apple strudel ever.

winemama said...

Favorite greek food- gyros!

Angel Wells said...

My favorite memory is coming home from kindergarten and she would always have my favorite snack for me...apples with peanut butter.
kawells1997@yahoo.com

Kimberly V said...

I love gyros!

k3kdpv@gmail.com

holdenj said...

Oh, tea parties and picnics. She was a pro! Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Anita Yancey said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother is how much she loved flowers. She had flowers growing inside and out. I use to visit her almost every day, and take her some cut flowers. She would always say they were the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen, even if they were just wild flowers. She was a very special lady. Thanks for having the giveaway.

ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

Connie said...

My grandmother was great. She lived across the street from us. When she could get around, she would be there for me when I had one of my frequent ear aches. My Mom was a widow and was at work. My grandmother would heat sweet oil in a spoon and put it in my ear and then give me half an aspirin. After a nap, I always felt so much better. I thought she was a miracle worker. When her rheumatoid arthritis left her in bed, I would sit and read my first grade books to her. She patiently listened to me and helped me with the words. As I got older, we would giggle over silly jokes and she would always say, "don't tell Poppy" (my grandfather). She always got me to pluck her "chin whiskers" and I emptied her bedpan without blinking an eye. Years later, my sons loved to visit with her and called her "Meemo-piece-of-candy" because she always had candied orange slices that they loved. My grandmother was so very special to me and I loved her dearly. May her sweet soul rest in peace.

Jencey Gortney said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother is the way she liked to celebrate Christmas. She always had a big meal and lots of presents under the tree.

Linda Kish said...

My paternal grandmother died in 1955 at 50 years of age during surgery for a brain tumor. She used to make me clothes and doll clothes. My maternal grandmother died in 1974 at the age of 92. She didn't really know anyone the last 15 years or so of her life.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

jennifer.essad said...

My paternal grandmother would let us kids come for a visit along w/our cousins. She taught me to knit even though I'm a lefty and she was a right handed. I love that with each stitch I make I can remember those summers w/her and how close we became.

Kayla G said...

My grandmother is like my second mom, especially coming from a single mother household. She was there at all my dance recitals, my volleyball matches, and taking me shopping for new school clothes and supplies. My best memories were over the summer when we got to work in the garden and do yard work together then come inside and make delicious food from our 'harvest.' We have had so much fun together and everyone knows that when we are together, trouble isn't too far behind. (I also blame her for my need to shop and to buy things for everyone lol)

Kaylagothier@yahoo.com

belinda said...

Back in the 1950s, my grandparents were both ministers. She was a person very much in favor of temperance, that is, against all alcoholic beverages of any kind. They lived in the house where all their children were born. It was a huge house, full of all kinds of corners and closets to explore. On one visit, I was in their bedroom, probably where Mom had put me to nap on the bed. When I woke, I looked at all the things on Grandmother's dressing table: comb, brush, hand mirror and a huge round fruit cake tin full of loose buttons. As I continued my exploring, I found a cedar chest. I opened it. Among the crocheted doilies, embroidered tea towels and ancient baby clothes was a pint of burbourn with about an inch of liquor remaining. I took it out and walked to the kitchen where Mom and Grandmother were visiting.
I said, "Grandma, what's this?"
She said, "Where'd you get that?" It was not a pleasant voice.
I told her, "In the cedar chest."
She took it, poured it out and I never found out what it was or whose it was until I became an adult. It was my Grandfather's bottle.
I have the cedar chest.

bamerman93@gmail.com

Mary Jo Burke said...

Taking me to the beach

Charlotte said...

Her homemade peach ice cream and fried corn.
CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net

Laura Bryant said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother has to be when we would go on car drives and I always fought my 3 siblings for the seat right next to my grandma. I always would wrap my arm around her arm and lean on her shoulder and it was always the safest most comforting place. I miss her.

Anonymous said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother was her long talks at the kitchen table.
melinda.garza15@yahoo.com

bn100 said...

like baklava

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

My favorite memory of my sweet grandmother was playing games for hours and hours with her as a kid. She loved games and was so patient with us. I miss her dearly.

Suzanne said...

My grandmother lived about a block from my high school. I used to walk over there for lunch and just spend time with her. I wish I could have had more times, and more time with her. Still to this day the most honest, and loving woman I have met.

Britney Adams said...

I remember wonderful times spent at my grandmother's house when I was a little girl. I looked forward to each and every visit! I am so blessed to still have both of my maternal grandparents and love that they are able to enjoy my three children!

texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

Mary Mac said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother was her letting sneaking chocolate out of the pantry. I was around five years old and still have chocolate everyday.

cyn209 said...

one of my favorite memory of my Grandmother (paternal) was when my Dad & I visited her at the nursing home......
I was about 30 years old.....
Grandma saw me & started to talk to me like I was a pre-teen, telling me that I am built to be tall.......needless to say, I'm barely 5 feet tall......
to this day (Grandma has passed since), I truly believe that I will be very tall, cuz that's what Grandma said & she would never lie to me!!!!

thank you for the giveaway!!

cyn209 at juno dot com

rubynreba said...

My Grandma didn't have a lot of money but my memories of her are so much more special than material things. She always had time for me, played games with me, and listened whenever I talked. I loved her so much!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Juliana said...

I remember going out fishing with my grandmother. We'd go out to point Reyes at a minus tide. We'd jump over tide pools to go clear out there. I caught a Perch -she took it from me and put it in a tide pool-it had babies!

Picassocat2@gmail.com

Nova said...

My favorite memories of my Granny was her making us big meals from scratch with no recipes & everything was in some kind of serving bowl/platter. She always wore a different apron every day, and she had a wonderful laugh.

AiringMyLaundry said...

I NEED that Landline book!

It's on my ever growing list.

Anyway, a memory with my grandma is going to get McDonalds for breakfast. I love the hot cakes.

Rhonda G said...

rhondajgothier@yahoo.com

It always amazed me how much food my grandma Dorothy could make on Sunday when we all came for a visit in the afternoon. Usually around 20 or more. My family has about 100 immediate family now including 4th generations. She woul have been 101 now. Miss her every day!

Margie said...

I like Greek salad with feta cheese.
Thanks for the giveaway.

Unknown said...

My favorite memory of my grandmother was when I was younger. If I was too sick to go to school I would stay with her and she would put in the movie "The Princess Bride." We would watch it while I laid on the couch snug in a blanket. I have the DVD on my shelf today and every time I watch it I think of those days. You can reach me on twitter at @sweetangeleyz

Melissa said...

Thanks for participating and sharing your grandmother memories (and Greek food preferences). My maternal grandma passed away 10 years ago on Independence Day, so it warms my heart to read all these memories and think of my own too!

Thanks to HarperCollins for sharing the books with our winners.

Random.org chose THREE winners from all entries with contact info (one entry per person).

Congrats to:
Bonnie K.
Cyn209
Linda Kish