Saturday, February 14, 2009

Valentine's Giveaway: The Italian Lover

Summary: Margot Harrington's memoir about her discovery in Florence of a priceless masterwork of Renaissance erotica--and the misguided love affair it inspired--is now, 25 years later, being made into a movie. Margot, with the help of her lover, Woody, writes a script that she thinks will validate her life. Of course their script is not used, but never mind--happy endings are the best endings for movies, as Margot eventually comes to see. At the former convent in Florence where "The Sixteen Pleasures"--now called "The Italian Lover,"--is being filmed, Margot enters into a drama she never imagined, where her ideas of home, love, art, and aging collide with the imperatives of commerce and the unknowability of other cultures and other people. -- Back Bay Books

I want to celebrate Valentine's Day with all of you; and I can't think of a better way than having a giveaway of a book with "lover" in the title -- an Italian lover at that. I am so excited that I have five copies of THE ITALIAN LOVER by Robert Hellenga to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA! All you have to do for an entry is leave a comment. If you'd like additional comments, you can blog about this post with a link back here and/or you can also twitter about this contest with a link. The contest is open until Friday, March 6th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will announce the winners the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck to all of you!

I just received my copy so I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, but I think it looks terrific. I can't wait to read it. This isn't a promise, but I am going to try to read it and post my review before the contest ends. Good luck to me!
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54 comments:

  1. AndiFebruary 14, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    Perfect book for today. I blogged about the giveaway - http://www.andilit.com/?p=379 - and I'll tweet about it in a sec. Thanks. Hope you enjoy the book.

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  2. BridgetFebruary 14, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    Great idea for today! I've posted this on Win A Book.

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  3. LindaFebruary 14, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    A great Valentine possibility. Hope I win.

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  4. Simply StacieFebruary 14, 2009 at 12:07 PM

    Please count me in :)

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  5. AmyFebruary 14, 2009 at 1:26 PM

    Please enter me Julie! I'd love to win this one. :)

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  6. MelanieFebruary 14, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    Looks like a great book for Valentines Day. Can't wait for your review.

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2009 at 5:10 PM

    Hey! Enter me please. Thanks!
    tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

    I'm also blogging about this contest at:
    http://olympianlady.livejournal.com/1977.html and will include a link.

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  8. bison61February 14, 2009 at 7:30 PM

    Happy Valentine's Day-thanks for the giveaway

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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  9. KarlieFebruary 14, 2009 at 7:49 PM

    Great title! Please enter me.

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  10. travelerFebruary 14, 2009 at 9:29 PM

    Thanks for featuring this wonderful novel. It looks so intriguing. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. KristenFebruary 15, 2009 at 1:15 AM

    Doesn't this look yummy?!

    whitreidsmama at yahoo.com

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  12. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Oh - I want to kiss those lips. Sounds like a good book, too. Thanks for the great review.

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  13. MaMaFebruary 15, 2009 at 3:31 PM

    Sounds like a fantastic read...please count me in.
    Lisa

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  14. avisannschildFebruary 16, 2009 at 1:33 AM

    Please count me in too!

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  15. WandaFebruary 16, 2009 at 8:59 AM

    Very cute....lover! haha.
    I would love to read it too.
    Just because...you know....:)

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  16. JaymeFebruary 16, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    looks like a good one!

    tweet tweet!

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  17. anneFebruary 16, 2009 at 2:21 PM

    I am intrigued with this book. Thanks for this lovely chance.

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  18. SerenaFebruary 16, 2009 at 5:41 PM

    This looks like a great book, hopefully you enjoy it once you receive it.

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  19. MarieFebruary 17, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    I have been wanting to read this one, thanks for the chance!

    vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

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  20. AmandaFebruary 17, 2009 at 12:58 PM

    Thanks for the chance to win this. I've been wanting to read it.

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  21. PaulaFebruary 17, 2009 at 5:58 PM

    What a nose shot! Would love to read this sometime. Thanks for having the giveaway!

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  22. MarinaFebruary 17, 2009 at 7:01 PM

    Would love to read this! Please count me in the drawing - thanks!

    sounders68 [at] gmail.com

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  23. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2009 at 1:03 AM

    With a name like The Italian Lover, how can you go wrong!

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  24. MarieeFebruary 18, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    I would love to read The Italian Lover. Please sign me up!

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  25. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2009 at 10:05 PM

    Love the cover and title. Please enter me.

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  26. ossmcalcFebruary 19, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    Just what I need. Please count me in for this giveaway.

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  27. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2009 at 6:53 PM

    Thanks for a chance for me to discover a new author. Healthy Happy 2009!

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  28. BingoFebruary 22, 2009 at 5:45 PM

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  29. StyleVampFebruary 23, 2009 at 9:54 AM

    Please enter me for this fab. prize

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  30. CricketFebruary 24, 2009 at 12:34 AM

    I would love an entry into this wonderful giveaway! Thank you!

    How do you follow your blog? I really like it. :)

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  31. OlgaFebruary 25, 2009 at 1:20 PM

    Ooh this looks lovely! I'm definitely in. :) piratecakes@gmail.com

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  32. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2009 at 2:13 PM

    Sounds like a great book thanks for the giveaway.

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  33. anneFebruary 25, 2009 at 5:56 PM

    Thanks for featuring this great book. It would be wonderful to read.
    elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  34. JulieFebruary 26, 2009 at 10:57 AM

    Please sign me up. This looks very interesting!

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  35. RicaFebruary 26, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    I'd love to be entered in the contest!

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  36. UnknownFebruary 27, 2009 at 9:33 AM

    Hi Julie

    Wow, another giveaway, and such a great book.

    Enter me and I'll post on my blog as well.

    Dottie

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  37. Sage RavenwoodFebruary 27, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    I've heard so many great reviews about this book. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!Indigo

    ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

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  38. annieFebruary 28, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    As a big fan of Robert Hellenga I am looking forward to reading another of his books. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  39. RueMarch 2, 2009 at 9:23 AM

    Looks like a great book.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    ruthann (dot) francis (at) gmail (dot) com

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  40. MelissaMarch 2, 2009 at 2:02 PM

    This looks like a good one. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  41. techyoneMarch 2, 2009 at 3:16 PM

    This sounds like a great book. Thank you.

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  42. WendiMarch 2, 2009 at 7:39 PM

    Julie - Please include me in your giveaway - I'm dying (well, not literally!) to read this one! It sounds great, and I'll bet my book club would love to read it too.

    :) Wendi
    wbarker at hotmail.com

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  43. WendiMarch 2, 2009 at 7:40 PM

    I added a link to your giveaway in the giveaway sidebar at Wendi's Book Corner: http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com

    :) Wendi

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  44. annies homeMarch 3, 2009 at 10:44 AM

    have a daughter who loves to read love stories
    shopannies@yahoo.com

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  45. annies homeMarch 3, 2009 at 10:45 AM

    twittered
    http://twitter.com/shopannies/status/1274174924

    shopannies@Yahoo.com

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  46. BJMarch 3, 2009 at 7:16 PM

    I'm planning a trip to Italy and I love to read books with the same locale as the place I'm visiting.

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  47. JaynaMarch 4, 2009 at 2:35 AM

    What an interesting plot! I can see all kinds of ways this could go... and I'd love to win a copy and find out!

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  48. Michelle KuoMarch 4, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    I'd love to enter! I've only heard good things about this book.

    I blogged about it here:
    http://flyingsolooooo.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-giveaway-links-for-march.html

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  49. AnonymousMarch 4, 2009 at 6:28 PM

    please enter me in this one! thanks!

    k_sunshine1977@yahoo.com

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  50. Jenny GirlMarch 4, 2009 at 8:50 PM

    Must read this book! Please enter me.
    Jennygirl73ATgmailDOT com

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  51. AnonymousMarch 4, 2009 at 9:03 PM

    Oh THANK YOU for making this available for a contest! I am so excited to read this!
    Good Luck to all!
    Cassandra

    colec[at]students[dot]sou[dot]edu

    I also posted this at shelfari!

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  52. AnnaMarch 5, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    Sounds like a good one. I'd love to be entered! I added your giveaway to my sidebar.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric
    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

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  53. Sandee61March 5, 2009 at 1:22 PM

    Please enter me in your giveaway...I so want to read this book! I enjoyed the review very much. Thank you!

    Sandy

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  54. CherylS22March 5, 2009 at 4:08 PM

    I'd love to read this book - please count me in!

    Thanks,
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

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