29 May 2009

Unfinished and Giveaway: Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn


Summary: Holly Frick was once an A-list Hollywood writer. After her divorce, she moved to New York to write a novel. Her friends' lives seem to be in turmoil with broken relationships, love affairs, and trouble at work. Holly, however, is finding that life is good. She has started a relationship with a single younger man and has also freed a sick dog from the animal shelter.

Why I Abandoned the Book: I think the problem for me was that there were no characters that reminded me of myself or my friends. Furthermore, I didn't really connect with any of their situations. If I can't relate to or empathize with any of the characters, I have a hard time enjoying or finishing a book.

A Quick Look at Reviews: I checked several commercial book sites and discovered that Secrets to Happiness averages a 4-star rating. On the book cataloging sites, the novel is rated just under 3.5 stars.

For full and positive reviews of Secrets to Happiness, see S. Krishna's Books ("If you are a fan of chick lit, you should definitely pick this one up! I certainly enjoyed it and I think you will too.") and Bookish Mom Reviews ("As a whole, despite the many characters and story facets, Secrets to Happiness had a seamless flow and kept a great pace through to very the last page.").

Published by Little, Brown, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780316013581


GIVEAWAY

I have two hardback copies of Secrets to Happiness to give away. This contest is open to everyone around the world.

Here are the rules:
Leave a comment with your e-mail address: 1 chance
If you follow me or are a present subscriber: 5 chances
Become a new follower or subscriber: 3 chances
Tweet this giveaway, come back, and leave the URL: 1 chance
Blog about the giveaway or post a link, come back, and leave the URL: 1 chance

This giveaway is open until midnight on June 8. If you do not leave an e-mail address, I cannot include you in the drawing. I'll use a random number generator to determine the two winners and two runners-up and will make an announcement on June 9 or 10.

56 comments:

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) 5/29/09, 7:52 AM  

No need to enter me. I have this one as well. Of course I am really curious to compare note when I finish this one in a couple of wees.

KR 5/29/09, 8:17 AM  

I'd love this.

+5 follower.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Nise' 5/29/09, 8:30 AM  

Don't enter me as I have this one and its up next to read. I am interested to see how I respond to it.

Jess 5/29/09, 8:30 AM  

I am so sorry that you didn't like the book! I would still like to give it a try. Please sign me up for the giveaway.

+5 follower

jess
barney's book blog
jedziedz@hotmail.com

BookHounds 5/29/09, 8:46 AM  

Please enter me!

I love to read your blog entries.

MaryinHB@gmail.com

Nely 5/29/09, 9:02 AM  

Sorry to hear you didn't like it. I just recently received mine for the blog tour so I haven't started it yet... I'll have to start it so that I can see how it goes for me.

You don't have to enter me in the giveaway.

Sandy Nawrot 5/29/09, 9:14 AM  

It just seems wrong to have an unrelatable book with a cute happy dog on the front! I totally trust your judgement, but I want to give it a try. I just love the dog. I am a follower of course, and my e-mail is rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com.

mindy 5/29/09, 11:42 AM  

sounds like an interesting read thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

Literate Housewife 5/29/09, 12:36 PM  

I'm sorry that this didn't work for you, but I would love a chance to try it out for myself. I subscribe to your blog through Google Reader and Twitter.

Thanks!

literatehousewife (@) gmail (.) com

Anonymous,  5/29/09, 1:14 PM  

I'd love to read this. Thanks!

scottsgal 5/29/09, 1:14 PM  

I'd be interested in reading this one - please count me in

+3 new follower

msboatgal at aol.com

Heather S 5/29/09, 1:26 PM  

I'd love a chance to read this! Thanks

hmahan_0529 @ yahoo dot com

Heather S 5/29/09, 1:27 PM  

and I'm a follower +5! Thanks

Llehn 5/29/09, 1:55 PM  

Please include me in this giveaway. Thanks.

+1 lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
+3 I'm a follower

Louise 5/29/09, 2:24 PM  

Would love to participate:

louise_alkjaer@hotmail.com

I am also a follower of your blog, and have blogged about the giveaway: http://louspages.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaway-cutest-book-cover-ever.html
and tweeted ;-)
http://twitter.com/Louise_al

serendipity_viv 5/29/09, 3:11 PM  

Can i be entered too please. I have just joined as a follower too.

My email is

vivienne_dacosta@hotmail.com

Thanks

serendipity_viv 5/29/09, 3:11 PM  

Can i be entered too please. I have just joined as a follower too.

My email is

vivienne_dacosta@hotmail.com

Thanks

Abby 5/29/09, 5:40 PM  

I want to know the secrets please!

ajcmeyer A Tgo DOT com

jemscout425 5/29/09, 5:59 PM  

oh even though you didn't like it, enter me
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

Melissa 5/29/09, 7:14 PM  

THanks for the great giveaway!

I already follow :)

shhhimreading(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous,  5/29/09, 7:23 PM  

enter me please. :)

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo(dot)com

I am a follower. :)

L 5/29/09, 11:37 PM  

Enter me please!

I'm a follower.

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Belle 5/30/09, 12:38 AM  

I'd love to give this a try too.

msbookishreviews (at) gmail(dot)com

Belinda 5/30/09, 3:00 AM  

Sounds interesting - thanks!
1bmore @ gmail . com

CatCrazy7,  5/30/09, 7:42 AM  

I am interested in reading this, Thank for your honest review.

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

CatCrazy7,  5/30/09, 7:47 AM  

email subscriber
entry 1

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

CatCrazy7,  5/30/09, 7:47 AM  

email subscriber
entry 2

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

CatCrazy7,  5/30/09, 7:47 AM  

email subscriber
entry 3

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Kaizen Fashion Project 5/30/09, 11:27 AM  

Enter me pretty please, sounds like a great read!

heatheranne99 at hotmail dot com

Nicole 5/30/09, 10:34 PM  

Sounds like a good book. Thanks!

Michelle 5/30/09, 11:16 PM  

Sounds like a great book! I would love to be entered into the drawing! michellekaemarks@gmail.com

Alicia 5/30/09, 11:59 PM  

The puppy on the cover is cute.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

Linna 5/31/09, 12:51 PM  

I want to read it myself to see if I agree with you. :D Enter me, please. : D

LittleEagle 5/31/09, 2:07 PM  

I'd like to give this a try. If I agree with you I will pass it on to the Library Book Sale. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com

Suzana 5/31/09, 2:49 PM  

I would like to enter
suzana dot c7 at gmail dot com

Jenny Girl 5/31/09, 5:06 PM  

no need to enter me. Just wanted to say thanks for being honest. I know that can be tough, but you tempered well with the other review information.
And hey, that's why there a jazillion books out there :)

MOMFOREVERANDEVER 5/31/09, 8:07 PM  

Please enter me. mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom

Anonymous,  6/1/09, 3:33 AM  

Enter me, please.

13rubberducks [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous,  6/1/09, 5:47 AM  

I've read some good reviews of this book, sorry you didn't like it.

Please do enter me, I already follow you(google reader)

elizascott at yahoo dot co dot in

bermudaonion 6/1/09, 11:00 AM  

Don't enter me. I just wanted to say I'm glad I'm not the only one who wasn't crazy about this one. I did finish it, but didn't enjoy it much.

Kelly 6/1/09, 6:25 PM  

It's very rare that I abandon a book, but I'm curious to read this one--such mixed reviews!

krtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com

S. Krishna 6/1/09, 11:30 PM  

No need to enter me, but thanks for the link to my review! I understand your feelings on this book, though I enjoyed it much more than you did!

Vanessa Dobbs,  6/2/09, 7:34 AM  

Would love to be entered.Wouldlike to read book.
vanesadobbs@tiscali.co.uk

Teresa 6/3/09, 5:19 AM  

Please count me in
teresa.fav at gmail.com

Shanyn 6/3/09, 5:25 PM  

Have been wanting to try this book - your experience with it made me a bit wary but I'd still like to try :)

shanynlee at gmail.com

I also will be following you!

Marie 6/3/09, 8:28 PM  

I'd be interested to see how I felt about it as well!

marielay@gmail.com

Becca 6/3/09, 8:52 PM  

I'm interested!

mycreativeimagination at yahoo dot com

I am already a follower.

Nicole C. 6/4/09, 3:38 PM  

I would love to read this book!!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

MurderMysteryMayhem 6/4/09, 10:31 PM  

I have read some good and mediocre
reviews and would like to give it a go! Thanks for the chance...LooseEnds@snet.net

+3 New Follower

Pamela S 6/4/09, 10:59 PM  

I'd like to try this book and hope I like it better than you. Thanks for the giveaway!!

pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

Brooke 6/5/09, 11:59 PM  

Hmm I'm interested if only to see how I feel about it.. plus the doggie is soo cute.. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com

Carlene 6/6/09, 3:42 PM  

Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net

Kristen 6/7/09, 10:55 AM  

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this one. I'd still love a chance to read it though. :-) And I'm a subscriber as well.

whitreidsmama at yahoo.com

Unknown 6/7/09, 4:11 PM  

Sounds interesting...
My mailing address is kathrin.p[AT]gmail.com :-)

Does subscribing to your blog through my Google Reader account count?

lilbabypug 6/8/09, 11:23 AM  

I'm willing to give it a try. Thanks for the honest review!

Ellie Wright 6/8/09, 7:36 PM  

Thank you for the honest review. It sounds like a book I would like, so I'd love to give it a try. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

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