June Competition is now live

Happy June lovely people. Been catching up on bits but it is the 2nd of June so I am not doing too bad sorting the comps!

Up for grabs is x1 hardback, as shown, of CJ Tudor's new book "The Gathering" a murder/crime investigation that happens to have vampyrs in it. And in keeping with the theme a cross Faith diamond painting bookmark.

The bookmark

As always it will be entries via the Rafflecopter, please only fill in the entries you have completed. This is UK only as the hardback is quite heavy and postage has gone up again!

Good Luck

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November's Competition is now live

Apologies it is a bit late, I have been a bit under the weather, then away to horrorcon and ended up floored with a bad chest/viral. Only starting to feel a bit more human and getting back to the real world tomorrow!

So what is November's comp going to be? Well, we had so much feedback/chat with the Britney Spears book, that I have decided that that will be Novembers prize - please note the ring light IS NOT INCLUDED.

As pictured, x1 hardback of Britney's new book and you can't have a book without a bookmark so you have a choice of two, you can have either x1, leather style, love heart page corner. It is very pale pink, the piccy looks white(ish) but it is absolutely pale pink, as pictured.

Or the multicolour magnetic one, again as pictured. All of our competitions are as pictured. Let us know in the comments which bookmark you would choose if you won.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter below, please only complete the entries you have done as winning entries are checked. This will be open worldwide as it a thin book and the bookmark weighs very little. Postage is going up again and again but we try make giveaways worldwide as we are able. Good luck.

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Happy November

The time of the year it is so cold it is all about hot drinks and even our cups need jackets (December is usually when this one starts to make an appearance).





I have a fab giveaway for this month. As you know I am very lucky to get review copies of books and I buy tons myself, finished copies and it is just nice to support authors as and when able. This book I am sure is the first I read by this author and never looked back. So I bought x1 paperback copy of "Born Evil" by author Kimberley Chambers, as pictured for this giveaway.





And to go with it a yellow silicon bookbandz, if you stop reading mid chapter the wee hand sits at the last sentence you read. I have a few of these, they are great and because they are silicon, if you are a bit of a germophob they are easy to keep clean. To be in with a chance of winning just fill in the Rafflecopter as usual, I will open this one up to worldwide.


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Stephen King themed giveaway

Happy June you beautiful people - sorry that is me just getting the June giveaway up however, I think you might agree that is is worth waiting for. I have also decided to make it International so sharing the joy worldwide!



Little miss paws had to get in on the action as usual lol, don't worry that is my postcard her wee claws are reaching for.







So, up for grabs is, one brand new paperback book of "Joyland" by the master of horror himself, Stephen King. The Pennywise (new Pennywise) clown postcard I bought at horror con, I bought a few knowing I would pop one up as a giveaway. And finally a wee spooky magnetic bookmark to go with it because who doesn't love a wee bookmark and magnetic is one of my fav types.







The giveaway is as listed and seen in the photograph. As I said I will open it up worldwide so everyone has a chance to get it, I know there are a fair few followers of the blog scattered around the globe and it is always nice to allow everyone the opportunity to win. I did a wee collage of the items so you can get a better look.







I have loved Stephen King books since I was a kid, it was his books, IT in fact, that got me hooked on reading and horror! I hope you guys have a great day whatever you are up to, thanks for taking part in the giveaway and supporting the blog. As always, enter using the Rafflecopter below, the more entries you complete the more times your name goes into the draw.



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Blind Date with a Book Box

Oh lovies, it is back







If you remember, last year I think it was, I was looking for a book box. So many are subscriptions and pricey, this one was really cheap in comparison and no sign up. You got a blind date with a book, specified the genre you wanted and you got a few wee extras. I was delighted when I spotted it was back, limited time and Valentines themed. I am glad to see whilst Jojo has increased her price a little it is still by far one of the best bargain boxes you get.

So what do you get? Your blind date with your book, I think you can specify the genre just pop it in the message box. She is now on Ebay whereas before it has been Etsy. With Ebay both buyer and seller get protection if things go astray in the post.







It came in this great wee compact box, sorry the photo is a bit naff - I hadn't been to bed from my nightshift when the door went, I of course had to get tore in.







So, as well as your book, this box came with lovely wee extras - you can see my wee bookmark and charm in the picture, each box can vary depending on stock.







You take a chance with any of these blind dates with books, especially when you read the amount I do there is a good chance you can get a book you already have or have read. I could not be more pleased, I got a 1985 edition of Short stories of Sherlock Holmes. The books can be new or used, considering you only pay £12.90 which is including P&P (international rates will be more) I think it is fantastic value for money.











As you can see, my wee box had a tea bag, hot chocolate, love heart sweeties, a rose pin, a wee crystalised heart, two charms and a message in a bottle.















You can check out the Blind Date with a Book Box over on their Facebook page or head straight to their Ebay seller page whilst stock lasts. Already the ones with the message in a bottle have sold out, now there is a heart mug, I loved my wee box so much I have ordered another for myself and one as a gift for my friend.



I have been buying Book Boxes with my book jar challenge money and so many are really pricey for what little you get. This is by far one of my favs and the least costly. What you get is far more than a lot of the others, so much thought is put into them and the wee charms are lovely, fire a wee bit of ribbon on them and you have a great wee additional bookmark. I love to support small businesses where I can and when you find something that is really good, fantastic value for money it is a win win situation. If you buy one please tag me and let me know how you liked it and of course what book your date was. It is nice to hear how many folk are getting them because they have seen and loved mine!

Supporting our authors giveaway alert

Because bloggers aren't blaggers! Bloggers support authors in many different ways. Some will only post reviews of the books they loved & contact the publisher with feedback on the ones they didn't. I tend to be one of the bloggers who post all of my reviews, low and high star ratings as I think what one dislikes can be another persons love and snag the sale. I myself have bought a fair few books based on those low star reviews because the things they hated are a huge selling point for me and vice versa. Some will buy a copy or two of most review books they are sent, some buy ones they loved only, some buy finished copies for friends and or themselves, we all do our bit.



Being a blogger means we review books we have read and some of us are lucky and privileged to be sent copies to review and advanced reading copies of books before they are available to buy. I was sent an e copy of Run by the fabulous Mandasue Heller.





So, today I am doing a wee impromptu giveaway of a brand new paperback copy of Run, you can read my review HERE!


Mandasue is a great author, gritty crime and her novels are standalones so you can jump right in with her newest release. Her next book is due out December this year or January 2018, keep your eyes peeled for that one.





You can find Mandasue on Twitter @MandasueHeller or on Facebook, give her page a wee like CLICK HERE.


Here is Princess T posing with the prize. To be in with a chance of winning, as always, just use the Rafflecopter below, as always the more entries you complete the more times your name goes into the draw. Good luck, this comp is open to all.


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Author Interview with Taryn Leigh and a wee comp

Thanks so much to Taryn for taking time out to come and chat about her fabulous debut novel, Perfect Imperfections. You can read my review here.






Tell us about Perfect Imperfections.

Perfect Imperfections is the story, I as a book lover, would love to sit and read. It’s a story of a woman, Sarah, who tries to escape the pain in her past by running away to a new place with new possibilities. We go on an adventure with Sarah from London to South Africa, as she rediscovers herself, heals from her pain and meets the most amazing people along the way. We laugh with her, we cry with her and we get to know the mystery that caused her to flee. It’s a story of a lifelong friendship between her and Katy. It’s a story of love lost and new love possibilities found, and it’s a story of how us woman have the strength inside of us to rise above what life throws our way, to become the best in our careers, the best in our friendships, and the best in our relationships. What makes Perfect Imperfections so special to me, is that the story keeps hinting at something, while dropping clues along the way, allowing the reader to piece the puzzle together.


What made you choose the two locations, London and primarily South Africa?

South Africa is my home, and I’m from the city Durban that most of the book is set in. I wanted to share this beautiful land with everyone. We have so many breath-taking places here, and the people and culture are so warm and inviting. It gets into your bones, all who visit bear witness to that. London is my dream location. From a little girl I dreamt of going there, not just the city but the country side. In fact my husband and my dream vacation is to go to London, Switzerland and Scotland. So what better way to feel like I’m already there, than to write about it!


The story focuses on many aspects of normal life, what made you chose them and particularly the self healing side?

When I wrote the book I was going through my own self-healing, and someone encouraged me to write to escape my own life. So I did, and Perfect Imperfections was born. I also wanted the characters to be relatable and feel real to whoever read them. I added in everyday things like the secret hot chocolate recipe between Edward and Sarah or the raw and real emotions, so that the reader could visualise it and identify easily.


Are the characters or situations based on real life?

Yes they are in so many ways. There are elements of different characters that are from the people I know closest to me. The close bond of friendship is based on my own friendships, and Edwards’ character is loosely based on my husband who loved me when I should have been unlovable. The places and locations are all real places I’ve been to in South Africa, and Sarah’s career is based on my four years studying Interior Design.


Who is your favourite character and why, without spoilers if you can?

I love things from so many of them. I love Katy’s friendship, and Sarah’s bravery. I love Kevin’s loyalty and Edwards’ sincerity and ability to surprise, and I love Joseph’s story! Oh how I love his story.


Who are you reading just now?

I am just starting to read The Rome Affair by Karen Swan. I’ve been waiting a long time for its release.


What is your favourite read?

I love books similar to the one I wrote. Where the characters have depth. Where you get to know them and live with them, and where you are transported into another world!


What authors inspire you?

I’m a huge fan of Karen Swan, Sidney Sheldon, Enid Blyton and Emily Bronte


What is next for Taryn Leigh?

I would love to continue to write. Currently I’m working on my second novel. The story is different, and set in new places that you will love.


Where can fans find you?

I am all over social media, and I love to interact with all my readers
Twitter: @tarynleighbook
Instagram: @tarynleighbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taryn.leigh.585
Website: https://olympiapublishers.com/books/perfect-imperfections



Anything else I missed? I write with a hope, that even though the story might be fiction, but the reader must walk away from it being impacted by something they have read in a way they will never forget. My mom named me Taryn Leigh because she read a book while pregnant with me, and loved the character so much that I’m named after her. Thirty Three years later, her daughter is now the Author of her own books. Those are the books I want to write.


To be in with a chance of winning just enter using the Rafflecopter below, open to all, you need have a Twitter account as one mandatory option is to follow the author of the book. Otherwise choose any additional entries for more chances to win. Good luck all and thanks as always for interacting with the blog xxx a Rafflecopter giveaway

April's giveaway is Out Of The Darkness by Katy Hogan

You can read my review of it here.

As always, entries are via the Rafflecopter, see below. Good luck if you are entering!

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Additional Giveaway

Well Twitter has updated me that I have hit 1,500 followers. That, I feel, is pretty awesome. Mostly fellow book lovers I might add and a few of others that like the other random stuff I post about.

I started this blog because I kept buying books I found I had already read, linking to Goodreads I now sidestep that and can save my pennies for books I have yet to read.

So, I am doing a wee additional giveaway (already have this months giveaway listed, one £5 Amazon voucher), as a thank you. It is a brand new copy of A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. This one is the cover from the movie, I actually haven't seen it yet and as per my review, I wasn't overly enamored with this book. http://www.alwaysreading.net/2015/04/a-long-way-down-by-nick-hornby.html

That said, loads loved it and I actually had two copies at one point, the pic shown, photo bombed by the Princess, is the one up for grabs

This competition will run for roughly about one week, open to all. Please follow the instructions from the Rafflecopter, the more entries you do the more entries you will have. Good luck and, as always, thanks for stopping by.

EDITED TO ADD, would help if I actually added the Rafflecopter, lol, apologies! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aprils giveaway is The Lie by C L Taylor

This book isn't released until April the 23rd (2015) so this competition will run until the end of the month as always, which is after the actual release date. You can find my thoughts on it here, as always, no spoilers, http://www.alwaysreading.net/2015/03/arc-lie-by-c-l-taylor.html If you haven't read her first book, The Accident, you don't have to as this is a stand alone however I suggest you seek it out as it is a great wee read.

As always, enter by using the rafflecopter below, the more entries you do the more chances you have on winning. The winning entry is always checked, if postal address isn't left and the winner fails to claim the prize within 48 hours another winner will be selected.

Good luck and as always thanks so much for stopping by and taking part. I will open this up to everyone (UK and outwith). Happy Easter people, hope you have had a nice weekend.

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Novembers giveaway is Watch me by James Carol

The book is in great condition, the spine is completely intact and looks as it did the day I bought it, little scuff around the corners but otherwise grand. I read and enjoyed it, 3/5 stars but haven't had time to review it yet.

Blurb from Goodreads Everybody's got something to hide . . .
Ex-FBI profiler Jefferson Winter has taken a new case in sunny Louisiana, where the only thing more intense than the heat is a killer on the loose in the small town of Eagle Creek.
Sam Galloway, a prominent lawyer from one of Eagle Creek's most respected families, has been murdered. All the sheriff's department have to go on, however, is a film of Galloway that shows him being burned alive.
Enter Jefferson Winter, whose expertise is serial criminals. But in a town where secrets are rife and history has a way of repeating itself, can Winter solve the case before someone else dies?

As always, competition runs until the end of the month. Enter using the rafflecopter below, the more entries you complete, the more chance you have of winning. Apologies it is late and good luck, thanks for stopping by.

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Augusts giveaway is one pre loved copy of The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson

You can read my review for this fabulous wee read here - http://www.alwaysreading.net/2014/08/review-teashop-on-corner-by-milly.html The book is practically perfect in condition and as it was when I bought it, no creases to the spine and the tiniest turn up on the corner cover from being in my bag.



As always, the competition runs until the end of the month. You can enter by using the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post, the more entries you do the more chance you have of winning. Please note, if you say you have done an entry, ie followed the author on twitter and not actually done it, your entry will be disqualified and another picked. Sadly the last two competitions have had this happen which is why I am drawing attention to it.



Due to the rise in postage costs and this is a fairly thick book, this competition is open to the UK only, good luck everyone and thanks for stopping by and taking part.



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April's Pre-loved Giveaway is Body Count by Shaun Hutson

This months giveaway is Body count by Shaun Hutson, this is a horror/crime book, just incase you are unfamiliar with his works. You can read my review here http://www.alwaysreading.net/2012/03/review-body-count-by-shaun-hutson.html

The book is in good condition, the spine in intact however the cover has a few wee scuffs and a crease to the bottom right hand corner. The book can be seen in the picture below, kitty is in it too as she was too cute to move out of the picture.

As always the competition will run to the end of the month. Fill in the rafflecopter below or you can contact me the old way if yo prefer or if there are any problems. As always thank you for stopping by and if your entering the competition, good luck. a Rafflecopter giveaway

March's Pre-loved giveaway is now open

This month's pre-loved giveaway is The World's Greatest Hollywood Scandals. This is a thin book at 159 pages. It is an old book, printed in 1997 I think. If you like scandal, especially from years ago then this is a great wee book that you will enjoy.

As usual, please use the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway, the more options you complete the more chances you have to win, good luck. If there are any problems just email or tweet me. a Rafflecopter giveaway

February's pre-loved giveaway is The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison

You can read my review here http://www.alwaysreading.net/2014/01/rr-silent-wife-by-asa-harrison.html

This book is in perfect condition, the spine is intact and the book is in the same condition as the day I received it. As always, the competition runs to the end of the month. Fill in the form below, the more options you fill in the more chances you have of winning. Please provide your contact details so I can send you the book upon the competition ending. Thanks as always for taking part and good luck.

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August pre-loved giveaway is Streetwise by Chris Freeman

This book is in great condition, the top right hand corner of the cover has a wee crease, the spine is in perfect condition (uncreased with no damage) and the rest of the book is fine.

Blurb from Amazon: This is a Joseph Soyinka mystery.Murder on the city streets - Police detective Joseph Soyinka made many enemies fighting police corruption in Nigeria but he refused to be intimidated - until his wife was killed and his life destroyed by unknown forces. Now he lives with his young son in the anonymous safety of New York City. By day he drives a yellow cab. By night, he tries to forget about the past...But when a vulnerable girl is killed and his colleague framed for her murder, Joseph finds that old instincts die hard indeed, and he's soon on the trail of a vicious killer...

Sorry this is late going up, the competition will run to the end of the month as always. Fill in the Rafflecopter form below, the more you fill in the greatwe your chances are of winning. This comp is open to everyone, feel free to share. a Rafflecopter giveaway Any questions or issues, please drop me a note

Click here to contact me via my email link

February competition - apologies

Sorry I haven't listed a giveaway or competition. Things have been really busy lately and any spare time I have had has been lost in either textbooks, ARCs or just a wee break into a book for the pleasure of reading. I can't believe I missed a Valentines giveaway and don't have a romantic book lined up as a giveaway.

To make it up to my fabulous followers, and any newbies who stumble across the comp, I will do a double giveaway. An amazon voucher for the value of £5 and Kathy Lette's book Dead Sexy. Now if you read my review you will see I didn't rate the book much but my tastes vary and you might love it. The book is immaculate and you could give it away as a gift, there is no damage or creases to the spine and it is exactly how I bought it.

The book is only available for UK entries as postage is creeping up at the moment, however the amazon voucher is world wide so as long as you have an email address you can enter.

As always if you leave a comment on this post you will get an additional entry. If you wish to enter both competitions you can use the form below just once and state you would like to enter for the book and the voucher. If you only want one please specify which it is. If you are entering for the book, please provide your name and address you would like the book sent to and or provide your email address if your entering for the amazon voucher. The reason being if you win and don't provide the details you only have up to 24 hours, sometimes 48 hours, to respond or another winner is picked. Sadly people have lost out on the prize before due to not providing the accurate information.

Feel free to follow on Twitter @smbslt or like our facebook page So Many Books, So Little Time.

Click here to enter the competition
Good luck to all entering, the competition runs to the end of the month. The winner will be picked at random using the usual system, announced on here and contacted by email. If you have a website, feel free to include it in your entry and if you win I will link it on the announcement page.