Sunday

Giveaway: Shadow Tag and Brava Valentine

Here is the most telling fact: you wish to possess me. Here is another fact: I loved you and let you think you could. When Irene America discovers that her husband, Gil, has been reading her diary, she begins a secret Blue Notebook, as much the truth about her life and her marriage as the Red Diary - hidden where he can find it - is a manipulative farce. Alternating between these two records, complemented by unflinching third-person narration, "Shadow Tag" is an eerily gripping read. When the novel opens, Irene is resuming work on her doctoral thesis about George Catlin, the nineteenth century painter whose Native American subjects often regarded his portraits with suspicious wonder. Gil, who gained notoriety as an artist through his emotionally revealing portraits of his wife - work that is adoring, sensual, and humiliating, even shocking - realises that his fear of losing Irene may force him to create the defining work of his career. Meanwhile, Irene and Gil fight to keep up appearances for their three children: fourteen-year-old genius Florian, who escapes his family's unraveling with joints and a stolen bottle of wine; Riel, their only daughter, an eleven-year-old feverishly planning to preserve her family, no matter what disaster strikes; and, sweet kindergartener Stoney, who was born, his parents come to realise, at the beginning of the end. As her home increasingly becomes a place of violence and secrets, and she drifts into alcoholism, Irene moves to end her marriage. But her attachment to Gil is filled with shadowy need and delicious ironies. In brilliantly controlled prose, "Shadow Tag" fearlessly explores the complex nature of love, the fluid boundaries of identity, and one family's struggle for survival and redemption.

As Brava, Valentine begins, snow falls like glitter over Tuscany at the wedding of her grandmother, Teodora, and longtime love, Dominic. Valentine's dreams are dashed when Gram announces that Alfred, "the prince," Valentine's only brother and nemesis, has been named her partner at Angelini Shoes. Devastated, Valentine falls into the arms of Gianluca, a sexy Tuscan tanner who made his romantic intentions known on the Isle of Capri. Despite their passion for one another and Gianluca's heartfelt letters, a long-distance relationship seems impossible.

As Valentine turns away from romance and devotes herself to her work, mentor and pattern cutter June Lawton guides her through her power struggle with Alfred, while best friend and confidante Gabriel Biondi moves into 166 Perry Street, transforming her home and point of view. Savvy financier Bret Fitzpatrick, Valentine's first love and former fiancÉe who still carries a torch for her, encourages Valentine to exploit her full potential as a designer and a business woman with a plan that will bring her singular creations to the world.

A once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity takes Valentine from the winding streets of Greenwich Village to the sun-kissed cobblestones of Buenos Aires, where she finds a long-buried secret hidden deep within a family scandal. Once unearthed, the truth rocks the Roncallis and Valentine is determined to hold her family together. More so, she longs to create one of her own, but is torn between a past love that nurtured her, and a new one that promises to sustain her.


GIVEAWAY: I have 1 copy OF EACH BOOK up for grabs - thanks to the folks at Harper.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, etc.) ; and for putting my spiffy little button on your blog. Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open to U.S. & Canada residents only. Winners will be drawn Friday, February 26.

101 comments:

rubynreba said...

Both of these books look very good. Thanks for the chance.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

KR said...

I'd love these.


mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

I follow on Twitter and tweeted

http://twitter.com/sumrthyme/status/9121162890

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

scottsgal said...

Wow shadow tag really sounds intriguing
thanks for the chance
msboatgal at aol.com

KR said...

sent FB friend request

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

scottsgal said...

follower
thanks for the chance
msboatgal at aol.com

Hannah said...

Awesome giveaway! I'm so excited! Even if I don't win, I have to say I'm going to be hunting these down at the library! :D

Hannah said...

been following and will follow for a long time to come! :)

mindy said...

they look wonderful thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

jemscout425 said...

love to curl up with either one
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mystica said...

The reviews on both are very good and both books seem complex.

Thanks for offering them


mystica123athotmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

please count me in....thanks

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

DarcyO said...

Please include me. I'd love to read these.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I'm a follower.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Bere said...

Wow thanks so much for the giveaway!
Please count me in =)

Bere
bere4estrella(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES:
- Button on my blog: http://suenosenlaluna.blogspot.com/
- Sidebar: http://suenosenlaluna.blogspot.com/
- I'm a follower
- I follow on twitter & twitted the contest: https://twitter.com/LunitaBere/status/9122860772

Thanks so much and Happy Valentine's Day!
Bere

Booksnyc said...

Two great books - thanks for the offer!

leenbeen2001 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Booksnyc said...

I am a follower

leenbeen2001 (At) yahoo (dot) com

Booksnyc said...

I just connected to you on FB!

leenbeen2001 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Jenny said...

I'd love to enter for Shadow Tag!!

I'm a follower

jennala(at)cfl(dot)rr(dot)com

Ryan said...

They sound like intersting books.

fforgnayr@yahoo.com

Ryan said...

I'm a follower.

fforgnayr@yahoo.com

Esme said...

Brava Valentine-is appropriate for today.

thanks

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

I follow.

chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

LuAnn said...

I've been wanting to read both these books!

reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

LuAnn said...

I'm a follower.

reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

Sandy Jay said...

These sound interesting. Please count me in.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Sandy Jay said...

I'm a follower.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

would love to win shadow tag....;D
I follow
Have the button
willowdust@gmail.com

Mary said...

I would love to read both of these books!

mamie316(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Katy said...

Wonderful giveaway!

I have your button in my sidebar (http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/)

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

Becky said...

Both books sound very good but Shadow Tag sounds extremely good. Please enter me into your giveaway.

Thanks so much!

dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com

Becky said...

I an a follower.

dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com

kittyism said...

Both of these look great! Please enter me.

rekitty96[at]gmail[dot]com

kittyism said...

I am a follower.

rekitty96[at]gmail[dot]com

kittyism said...

Grabbed button. http://kittyism-kittyismis.blogspot.com/



rekitty96[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

Many thanks for this opportunity!

rubs.escalona [at] gmail.com

Margay Leah Justice said...

I would love a chance at either one of these books - they both look great!
Margay

Margay1122(at)aol(dot)COM

Margay Leah Justice said...

I am a follower of this blog.

Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com

Margay Leah Justice said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Margay/status/9140798669

Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

Thanks for the giveaway! Please enter me for Shadow Tag. Thanks.

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I retweeted this twitter post: http://twitter.com/sumrthyme/status/9121162890
(I'm @bookmonstrosity)

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

Alison (Alison's Book Marks) said...

They both look great!

Please enter me!

Alison (Alison's Book Marks) said...

I follow!

APSkap (at) comcast (dot) net

Karen H said...

Both books look good. Please add me to the draw.

kkhaas at bellsouth dot net

Karen H said...

I am a follower

kkhaas at bellsouth dot net

Unknown said...

I would love to win Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich. I have wanted to read one of her books for quite a while but it just hasn't happened yet!

Thank you for the giveaway!

Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I am a follower of your blog via Google Reader and Blogger Dashboard

Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I listed this giveaway on my sidebar at http://homeofaimala.blogspot.com/

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I tweeted giveaway of Shadow Tag:
Shadow Tag Giveaway

Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I tweeted the giveaway of Brava Valentine: Brava Valentine


Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I would love to win Brava Valentine. It sounds like a fun, interesting book!


Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

Both sound very interesting!
Please enter me in the giveaway!

Thanks,

princesalinda22@hotmail.com

Nickolay said...

These both look really good. Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Heather Y said...

Thanks for hosting a great giveaway! Shadow Tag looks amazing, it's now on my To Read list if I don't win it! :)

heather y
click4cash4me@gmail.com

holdenj said...

I've been wanting to read both of these, they look great! Thanks for the chance to win.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I'm a follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Scorpio M. said...

Both novels sound great, will be hunting them down regardless.

Thanks for the chance.

jenma76(at)hotmail(dot)com

Scorpio M. said...

I am a follower.

jenma76(at)hotmail(dot)com

Scorpio M. said...

Tweeted!

http://twitter.com/scorpio1m/status/9161441160

jenma76(at)hotmail(dot)com

April (BooksandWine) said...

Please enter me in this giveaway!

goodbooksandgoodwine@gmail.com

April (BooksandWine) said...

I follow your blog

goodbooksandgoodwine@gmail.com

doreen lamoureux said...

What super books.

dorcontest at gmail dot com

doreen lamoureux said...

I follow on google friend.....dor
Facebook fan...Doreen Riopel

dorcontest at gmail dot com

Alicia said...

Both sound interesting.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

D Q said...

These both look like great books.
djeanq(at)gmail(dot)com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I am interested in both books. Thanks for the wonderful contest.

I'm also a follower.

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

Kaye said...

Would love to be entered for Shadow Tag. Thanks for the great giveaway.

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Kaye said...

I'm a follower

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Please count me in and thanks for all the terrific giveaways =D

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

+1 Am a follower

I ♥ Book Gossip said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Oooh I am very interested in both of them.

Please count me in.

cindyc725 at gmail dot com

I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Follower

cindyc725 at gmail dot com

I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Blogged

http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/

Margie said...

Both of these books look great.
Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Casey said...

these both sound good!

caseyrandom[at]gmail.com

Casey said...

I'm a follower

caseyrandom[at]gmail.com

Reene said...

I Heart you blog :-)

iamnobird@yahoo.com

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read these!!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Beth said...

These look great! Please enter me!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Please enter me in the giveaway.
Brava Valentine is definitely on my wish list.

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

I am a follower.

lag123 said...

I absolutely loved Very Valentine and would love to read this sequel. Thanks for the giveaway!

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I follow via google friend connect and subscribe via google reader.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I follow you on twitter: @lag32583

lag110@mchsi.com

Mrs. DeRaps said...

I'm a follower of your blog!

hderaps@mtbluersd.org

Marianna said...

Thanks for the chance
mannasweeps
(at) gmail DOT com

Marianna said...

I follow your blog on google friend connect
mannasweeps (at) gmail DOT com

FrankSandy said...

Please enter me. walkerd@primus.ca

dsandyboy said...

Count me in.

dsandyboy@gmail.com

Kelly said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I am really interested in Shadow Tag only. I'm a follower via GFC. I follow on Twitter @kghobbs. I follow on Facebook: Kelly Grace Hobbs (pending confirmation).

-Kelly
kghobbs@gmail.com

Sue said...

Thanks for the giveaway.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

I'm a follower and I grabbed your button! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I subscribe via Google Reader.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Nancye said...

These look like great books. Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT com

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT com

Nancye said...

Facebook Fan

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT com

Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter and I Tweeted

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/9703050365

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT com

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