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Congrats, Kaye!

Congrats, Kaye!

Nancy wrote: "I just finished a giveaway for my new book, Buying Murder. I offered two books and had 884 applicants. I have no idea how ŷ������ decides who wins. I looked at the reading list for the winners: o..."

Lol, we're still trying to figure out that magic potion too!

I won this book [book:Still Missing|7159515). It's amazing, I recommend it to everybody. Basically, it's about this woman (a retail salesman) that gets kidnapped during one of her sales. And the story is told from her speaking to her therapist about the situation and what happened while she was kidnapped. This book was amazing, I can't believe I won it. It's definitely one of my favorite books. And it has a little mystery to it. In the story they (the main character and the cops) are trying to identify the kidnapper and figure out why she was kidnapped.

Just won The Insider last week. Good legal thriller, better than later Grisham. I got it in the mail before I even realized I won, so the author is very quick with getting you your prize.

Wow! I see at least three of our group won The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover. Too cool!

Just got the e mail this morning that I won Yippee!
I'm looking forward to that one!

Sounds good Kaye!

The Irish Country Doctor books are such fun. Like James Herriott with people. Congratulations, I'm jealous!!

Congrats, Kaye! That looked like a good one. Will be watching for your review. ;-)

I just got an email that I won from the goodreads giveaways. I look forward to getting it in the mail soon!

Happy Reading Everyone!

I just learned that there is a place on goodreads to mark any book that you've won as Received or Not Received. Go to explore, books, giveaways and look up in the upper right for a way to sort the giveaways. Go to giveaways I've entered and sort by WON. I was told that the Received/Not Received buttons are disabled for awhile so folks don't mark it not received too soon as you are to give them at least 30 days first.

I just won my third book, You Can't Fire Everyone: And Other Lessons from an Accidental Manager and looking forward to reading it once I get it.

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "I just won my third book, You Can't Fire Everyone: And Other Lessons from an Accidental Manager and looking forward to reading it once I get it."

Congrats Diane and enjoy the book. We'll be looking forward to your thoughts.

Whoopee, this must be about my tenth giveaway win--The Insider--the review warns Grisham about the new author. Hope he's good, I love Grisham!

PS--Don't know if the Lost in Shangri-La ad is appearing on your pages--it is soon to be on sale. I wrote a review on it--another giveaway win. Really good book if you liked Into Thin Air or Into the Wild.

Haven't figured out what it takes to win the giveaways around here. I read a LOT and I always have at least SOME kind of comment or review on what I read, but guess that doesn't fit the bill. Maybe I don't live in the right part of the country.

Have you tried librarything.com? I have won quite a few through their Early Reviewers program.

I am currently reading two that I won there:



I have won 3 or 4 in my 18 months at goodreads. I have won 3 or 4 through librarything.com in the same time period. But I am not requesting every month.

Melodie wrote: "Haven't figured out what it takes to win the giveaways around here. I read a LOT and I always have at least SOME time of comment or review on what I read, but guess that doesn't fit the bill. May..."

Have you ever won a giveaway? People seem to have all kinds of theories about why some people win. A common theory is that you're more likely to win if you add the book to your TBR list on GR. Another theory is that if you write a lot of negative reviews or have a low average rating of books, you are less likely to be chosen. As far as this, I won a book from an author and I gave one of their other books 2 stars. They also say that they look at the kind of book genres you read. I've been a member of GR for about 8 months. I think I've won about 1 giveaway per month, minimum. I don't enter every drawing either, just for books I actually want to read.

Does anyone know any "real" tips to increase your chances of winning?

Just my experience - I've won 4 books in my 14 months on goodreads, but I don't think I found the firstreads program for a few months. I also only enter for books I'm interested in. I don't add the books to my TBR (unless I win). I do review every book I read, but my average is at 3.32, so I don't tend to rate high.

There is a thread or two in the goodreads feedback group about winning. I think the only thing that they've mentioned that definitely helps your chances is writing a review of at least 50 characters on any books you win.

Shay wrote: "Melodie wrote: "Haven't figured out what it takes to win the giveaways around here. I read a LOT and I always have at least SOME time of comment or review on what I read, but guess that doesn't fi..."

I won one about 2 years ago. I was familiar with the author and had actually met her at a Bouchercon. Turned out the book wasn't her usual type though. It was a YA romance. I like YA, but only if it has a supernatural bent to it, which that one didn't. I gave it to my niece.

I do know that if there are unrated and unreviewed books you have won, goodreads (or librarything) tend not to give you more -- until you review the one you won.

ETA: oops sorry for the double post, just saw Diane's post.

I haven't a clue what the secret is--I've won a book almost every month for a spell, then go dry and am on a winning streak once more--three books in four weeks!

I enter for all kinds of books and definitely for only ones I'd like to read--but I read a real variety of genres. I always write a review and add the book to my currently reading ( or read ) lists as well as a first reads shelf. I never add it to my TBR unless I win.

Lately I've been taking to posting my review to my blog as well.
My ratings tend to be 3-4 stars--5 is very rare and I've had only two that I rated lower--one of which I didn't even finish.

About once a month I go on and scatter gun enter all that interest me.

Haven't a clue is any or all of these things matter! LOL

Melodie wrote: "Haven't figured out what it takes to win the giveaways around here. I read a LOT and I always have at least SOME kind of comment or review on what I read, but guess that doesn't fit the bill. May..."

I've won 5 times and it seems that until I receive and review a book I won't win again. Don't know if this is really true but it seems that way.

Just won Hidden in Paris by Corine Gantz and she emailed that my copy will be signed by her. What a nice thing to do!

That is a very nice thing to do! Karen that is what I notice with my entries also.

I won one called The Hidden but never got it and notified them but nothing happened.

Elizabeth wrote: "I won one called The Hidden but never got it and notified them but nothing happened."

How did you notify them? I won Madame Toussaud and I got an empty package. Damaged in the mail and the book fell out of the rip. I called the publisher a few times, no response. Then, what I did was looked up the actual poster of the giveaway and the GR account of the publisher(I think it was Crown Publishing). I went to the giveaway section and reported it as not received then emailed the poster of the giveaway and the publishing company through GR email. I got a response within a few days. But, for some reason, I got the response at my "real" email.

Melodie wrote: "Shay wrote: "Melodie wrote: "Haven't figured out what it takes to win the giveaways around here. I read a LOT and I always have at least SOME time of comment or review on what I read, but guess th..."

People seem to be pretty positive that if you win a book and do not post a review you won't win another book for a long time, if ever. I think, though, that they consider it reviewed if you don't give it stars but write a written review. I did that once- didn't really care for the book, but I felt it was more my personal taste as opposed to a badly written book. So, I didn't assign it stars and I keep winning books so I guess that counts as a review. If you didn't post a review, it wouldn't hurt to try to go back and say that it wasn't to your taste, love her other work, don't like the genre but think she's a wonderful writer, etc.

I just won another book, too: A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley. This is the 8th book I've won since November 2009. I usually seem to win another soon after I read and review one -- and I don't do long reviews.

There doesn't really seem to be any rhyme or reason to the drawings -- though the more copies available for one book, the better your odds. The book I just won went out to 150 people (one in eight odds). I enter only for books I really want to read, which is primarily romance, mystery/thriller and general fiction. I have yet to win a single mystery/thriller. Go figure!

Heather L wrote: "I just won another book, too: A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley. This is the 8th book I've won since November ..."

I don't seem to win books that are a genre that I have not read. I guess the computer program they use must take alot of different things into consideration when picking the winners.

Two days ago I got notice that I'd won a copy of the Insider, which hasn't arrived yet.
Today I received TWO emails--I've won TWO more giveaways. That's three in one week and brings me up to an even dozen won.

You Belong to Me and Thieves Get Rich,Saints Get Shot: A Novel.

All of these seem to be the same genre--murder mysteries with strong women characters. Interesting--my last few have been real life travels or adventures.The InsiderYou Belong to MeThieves Get Rich, Saints Get Shot: A Novel

How do you get the book titles to come up in link form so that others can look at them and see what they are?

In the box where you type the text there is a clickable text that reads "add book/author" -- click on that and follow instructions.

Regina wrote: "In the box where you type the text there is a clickable text that reads "add book/author" -- click on that and follow instructions."

Thank you Regina--I've added covers that way but never paid attention to the book title. I shall edit my post

Katherine wrote: "Two days ago I got notice that I'd won a copy of the Insider, which hasn't arrived yet.
Today I received TWO emails--I've won TWO more giveaways. That's three in one week and brings me up to an e..."

Wow, 3 in one week is great!

I just got notified yesterday that I've won my 4th one. I've never won one until after I've reviewed the previous winner, so it is nice to know it is possible.

I just received notification that I won one on librarything.com Indivisible

I just heard I won a book I really wanted on librarything.com & I am so excited!

Katherine wrote: "Two days ago I got notice that I'd won a copy of the Insider, which hasn't arrived yet.
Today I received TWO emails--I've won TWO more giveaways. That's three in one week and brings me up to an e..."

Me too! I won Hidden in Paris earlier in the week, yesterday Faith: A Novel and today I won Following Polly and Boys and Girls Like You and Me: Stories! Totally shocked!

Wow-I've never won more than 1 in a month. That's fantastic. Can we try chanting your name?

Wow, Karen--Four in a week--what is going on with them?? Amazing.

Ellie what did you win at LT?

Katherine: I also received notification today that I won You Belong to Me by Karen Rose -- my second this week! I'm really excited about this one as I love her books and I have finally won something in the mystery/suspense genre. Looking forward to receiving this one!

Heather L wrote: "Katherine: I also received notification today that I won You Belong to Me by Karen Rose -- my second this week! I'm really excited about this one as I love her books and I have final..."

Heather--I've never heard of her before and am looking forward to the discovery of a new author in this genre. While I love Grisham etal--after awhile their books all start to sound the same. I, too, am happy to have won something in a different vein than usual.

Okay, now it's getting scary! Today I won You're Next. I'm almost afraid to stop entering incase I might jinx myself.

It is scary--that's your fifth this month? There are certainly tons of people entering for the books--maybe the spinning wheel is stuck on K---oh, my goodness!

This is incredible: enjoy it! (And get ready for some heavy-duty review-writing, lol!)

Congratulations-again! :D

I won and received it about a week ago.

Wow, Karen, you are on a roll! Five books in as many days, LOL. I hope you enjoy your first Karen Rose. I've read a few of hers and really liked them. I was glad to see that this one doesn't seem to be related to previous books, as I still have a couple in the TBR pile and hate reading related books out of order.

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to receive A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man in the mail -- less than a week after winnig it. That's the fastest I've ever received a GR win! Looks like May is off to a busy start for both of us. *g*

Ellie wrote: "This is incredible: enjoy it! (And get ready for some heavy-duty review-writing, lol!)

Congratulations-again! :D"

I'm already in panic mode that they'll all arrive at the same time! LOL

WOO HOO!!! I finally won another one.....2 years after winning my first, and it's one I really wanted to win! One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt. I love the Andy Carpenter books!!