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Giveaway - The Italian Lover by Robert Hellenga...

February 9, 2009
*** THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED ***

C'mon & enter - I have 5 copies of The Italian Lover (paperback), courtesy of Hachette Book Group, to give away.

An exhilarating novel of romance, art, and food in Florence, featuring the beloved Margot Harrington, who graced Robert Hellenga's The Sixteen Pleasures. 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.


Giveaway details:
This giveaway will run till 11:59pm on February 24th, and is open to US & Canada residents only. Sorry, no P.O. Boxes - HBG rules.

To enter, just leave a comment and tell me whether you think Valentine's Day is a special day, or just another Hallmark holiday, like the Mr. says... =) THIS STEP MUST BE DONE FOR YOUR ENTRY TO COUNT! Please don't do this multiple times - you'll be disqualified. Also, make sure your entry has an email address somewhere so that I can contact you if you're a winner.

Follow my blog for an additional entry. Existing followers count, too. Comment & let me know. Blog about this giveaway for two more entries. Comment with the link to your actual post.

And don't forget to come back & find out if you've won. Winners will have 5 days to get me their mailing info, after which I'll draw a replacement. Good luck!!

Good luck, everyone!

link love: Check out West of Mars - Win a Book for more Italian Lover giveaways!

41 comments:

Unknown said...

I wish I could say that Valentine's day is a special day but i think I'm a little jaded as far as relationships go so right now it's just another Hallmark feast for me. How sad :-). Maybe next year it's be different.
(BTW, you've been tagged, I hope you'll have fun).

Anonymous said...

I've entered this lots of places, so I'll either win lots of times or not at all. Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Whoops, I forgot the tell you that I think Valentine's Day is special. We spend the whole day together doing something fun.

~Rebecca Anne~ said...

First off....Italian Lover. Thats a juicy enough title to spring forth many thoughts of potential Valentine fun.......

However, since I'm lacking an Italian Lover, I will just say, I enjoy Valentines Day's despite all the marketing and such. I look at it as one more day to jazz up love and make a person think of something special beyond normal special to make it a great day.

Unknown said...

Valentine's Day has pretty much turned into the Hallmark holiday for the hubby and I. Now the kids have the fun exchanging cards at school. However, this year the hubby is coming home from a business trip on V-day, so we'll see!

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I already follow your blog : )

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I would love to win this book. I do enjoy Valentine's Day. I have been married for 22 years now, and my husband often surprises me with little things. But having one day just to celebrate our love I think is special.
joannelong74@gmail.com

drey said...

lilly ~ Awww... ((hugs))

bermudaonion ~ you're in. =)

~Rebecca Anne~ lol! You're a romantic, aren't you? & there's no Italian lover, here, either...

Janel ~ the little man LOVES giving and getting those cards at school!

Jo-Jo ~ 22 years! I'm just coming up on 10... Wow.

Anonymous said...

I think Valentine's Day serves as a reminder to our subconscious mind...to ask ourselves if we have enough love in our lives - both giving and receiving.

Each individual puts their own spin on the meaning of Valentine's Day based on the happiness, hope, fear and / or love we have in our life.

capri383@gmail.com

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

I think Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday. Women (please don't shoot me for generalizing) expect cards, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, dinner out, etc.

I think when gifts are expected on a certain day, it becomes more of a consumer event then a true holiday where you celebrate the essence of the day, like with Valentine's Day, calling your family and telling them you love them, giving out lots of hugs and kisses, etc. would be celebrating love, whereas getting/buying gifts is materialistic.

Sorry if I've offended anyone, but I tend to have 'insert-foot-in-mouth' disease.

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

I am an existing follower :)

mto2golsen at gmail dot com

Bridget said...

I've posted this on Win A Book.

Amanda said...

Great giveaway! I think that Valentine's Day has the ability to become a Hallmark holiday if you don't put much thought into the day. I do like that it's a special day set aside to appreciate your loved one. It doesn't have to be cards, flowers, or chocolates...but maybe a nice home cooked dinner and a back rub. :)

Gwendolyn B. said...

I think it's become too commercial, but like other holidays, you don't have to let that commercialism spoil it. Keep it simple and sincere.
Thanks for hosting this contest -- I'd love to read this book.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

I'm a follower!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

KayeDean said...

I actually think it's a Hallmark holiday, like almost all holidays seem to be today. When I was younger I didn't think so, but I may be jaded, because a lack of money will do that that.

Simply Stacie said...

Valentine's day is a day to celebrate love and I think its special (although very commercialized).

Simply Stacie said...

I follow.

drey said...

Gail ~ Well-said.

Mo ~ I agree. Then again, we keep coming up with more "holidays" where gifts are expected. I'd rather come home to the unexpected trifle or trinket every so often... Then again, with MY hubby, I'd probably never get anything. 'less I just go buy it myself. =(

Bridget - Thanks! & let me know (please!) if you're also entering!

Gwendolyn B. ~ We do cards and some fun candy. Who needs an excuse to buy good chocolate, anyway? Certainly not me!

SandyM204 ~ A lack of money will make anyone jaded. Because then you realize how clueless everyone else can be...

Stacie ~ Definitely too commercialized! But how could we not want to celebrate love? =)

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Please enter my name in The Italian Lover giveaway!

I think the day has become a commercial holiday, sad to say. My sweetheart and I usually celebrate Valentine's Day throughout the year in small ways - not purchased gifts but small acts/surprises of thoughtfulness, etc. Means more to me that way.

Jo-Jo said...

I'm back to let you know that I blogged about your contest here.
joannelong74@gmail.com

elizabeth said...

I think Valentine's Day has gotten way to commercialized. My sweetie doesn't usually get me anything for Valentine's - he prefers to surprise me at different times throughout the year. It really means much more when it's spontaneous rather than something that's expected just because its a "holiday".

bison61 said...

I think Valentine's Day has turned into a Hallmark holiday - it's good for the flower shops, candy and card stores

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Michelle Kuo said...

I think Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday--great for businesses. I noticed while on my way to LA Fitness on Saturday that every restaurant I passed by was PACKED with couples! And sadly, being in high school, I noticed a lot of girls just expect their boyfriends to get them lots of gifts, and that if the gift isn't "good enough" they're unhappy.. :/

I'm a follower :)

Blogged:
http://flyingsolooooo.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway.html

michelle.kuool(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ann Diana Dinh, said...

Well, I think it's just a day to show some love to a special person. Even though everyday should be like that, some people are just too busy (etc) to actually do it so this holiday gives them the chance to actually set up and get ready. And I guess at times I'll think it's a Hallmark holiday..

I'm a follower!

behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

well this valentines day i celebrated with one of my bestest friends...our husbands made this amazing seven course dinner...excellent wine...and candles...and a flourless chocolate cake...flowers...
I guess if its a made up holiday with nothing special about it...we would get that more often right?...
:o)

Amy said...

it's a speacial day for non-singles
theodoragroger@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Valentine's day has become just another Hallmark day, as have many other events and special days that are now nothing more than a marketing opportunity.

I follow this blog via googlereader.

ko _ lists [at} gmail (dot] com

Annie1 said...

When my kids were little, we would give them some cinnamon hearts, but we really never made a big deal about it! I think its mainly a holiday for folks to make money off of to be honest. I prefer hand made cards or something along that line; its much more meaningful!

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Annie1 said...

I'm a follower and subscriber!

Thanks



nancyrobster@gmail.com

Nicole said...

I wish men could act like it's Vday every day, but they don't. Therefore, I am glad there is a holiday where they are forced to be more romantic. (When you have little kids, romance isn't always top priority.)

drey said...

Nicole ~ Tell me about it! lol!

Annie ~ You should've seen the "cards" my little man made.

leanne ~ That was a fun time!

4 more days to go! Yay!

judygr64 said...

After 30+ years of marriage, my husband and I still think there's a bit of magic on Valentine's day. And I still remember how much I enjoyed preparing the silly little valentines as a young child.

Thanks, the book looks like it would be very entertaining.

judy(dot)greenberg(at)gmail(dot)com

JaniceH said...

I wish it wasn't a Hallmark holiday but it is. It would be so much better to show the love all year long.

jlhal@verizon.net

JaniceH said...

I am also a follower

jlhal@verizon.net

Elisabet said...

I don't think Valentine's is much of anything. I prefer fewer "days" that are more special.
Would love to win this book.
Elisabet

Anonymous said...

Valentines Day is a good concept, but like most things in contemporary society, the original meaning has been replaced by mass consumerism and celebration if capital. But it is one of the holidays when you get to decide how to spend it.

Note: I am still a follower of the blog.

Unknown said...

Hi Drey,

Already a follower.

Seeing how I just suffered through a horrible Valentine's Day, nothing went right (see blog), I didn't even think this one counted as a Hallmark day! I love to win 'The Italian Lover', hot cover art.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Dottie

Sage Ravenwood said...

I'm of the belief if they can't love you each and every day of the year, then Valentine's Day is a mere mockery that they don't. Why step up to the plate one day of the year? Having said that I don't have an Italian Lover either, but his heart makes me smile when he walks in the door each nice. True love all year around is priceless. Doesn't mean I'm still not tempted to want to be in this giveaway. *winks* Thanks! Indigo

Melanie said...

Valentine is a Hallmark Holiday. I love to make cards, so I always make a special one for my husband. He never gives me cards. And if I waited around for one I would be very disappointed every year. Why bother disappointing myself every year. I'd rather he show his love by opening my car door - which he still does after 15 years. This book looks great. Thanks for the give away.

Tiffany Madan said...

i think valentines day is a special day if you love someone. If you are dating or alone it isn't anything special. It is supposed to be to celebrate your love for each other.

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