You're a Winner!

These are the words everyone likes to hear, and I have been particularly fortunate in the last couple of weeks.

First of all I won a copy of Clare Langely-Hawthorne's CONSEQUENCES OF SIN from a competition that Bernadette ran on Reactions to Reading. Bernadette's mouth-watering review is here, and she sums up her reaction with "Historically accurate, delightfully complex yarn full of wonderful imagery".

I met Clare, an Australian author living in the US, at Left Coast Crime back in March, and so winning her book gives me double the pleasure (especially as she is a fellow Vegemite lover).

I participated in a number of book giveways during BBAW the week before last. I was initially rather disappointed that so many of the giveaways were confined to US/Canada. That made me very grateful when I found the occasional one that offered not only crime fiction, but also offered "worldwide" entry. In a sort of retaliation I offered 4 books, 2 to Australia/NZ and 2 worldwide.
I am still waiting for one of my winners, AlisonB from New Zealand, to contact me. All the other books are on their way.

I am grateful to Lizzy at Lizzy's Literary Life who allowed me to choose a book to be sent from the Book Depository.

I was lucky indeed because Lizzy had 93 entries!

I had nominated Stieg Larsson's THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST, due for release on October 1.

I have read the two earlier books so am looking forward to reading this.
My reviews:

• THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
• THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE

The second book that I won in BBAW is coming from Wendy at Musings of a Bookish Kitty.
I won a copy of A WORLD I NEVER MADE, by James LePore.

Here I was one of 43 entrants. Wendy seems to have given away a couple of books for each of 5 days during BBAW so that was very generous of her indeed.

I particularly like a quotation that Wendy has on her blog: No two people ever read the same book (Edmund Wilson) - How true!

So thank you everyone.