First Reads books

[Joseph]

I won Gator A-Go-Go: A Novel by Tim Dorsey last week I believe, or the week before ... either way I'm looking forward to checking it out once it arrives.

[Tanya]

I won a copy of "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. It is my first first reads win and is over 700 pages. I am starting it today.

[Donna]

So far I have won 9!! Wahoo I love free stiff. COngrats to those of you who won and keep on truckin' for those of you who haven't!

[Manday]

I had The Help as a first read book... which was pretty awesome since it turned out to be so good. I don't apply as much anymore. I used to win about once a month, but I think more people apply now.

[Marti]

Bridgit wrote: "Marti wrote: "I won another book A River in the Sky (Amelia Peabody, #19) by Elizabeth Peters

This is a book in the midst of a series that I haven't read but it sounded so good and right up..."

Want me to send it to you when I am done? That way you can have an ARC copy? If so click on my name and send a message or friend me, so I can send it to you

BTW Feel free to share the basic story premise with me

[Julie]

Julie wrote: "After reading this thread, I entered to win about 5 or so....and I already won one!"

Since writing this on March 16, I have won 3 books out of 13 entered! I am going to start reading the first one tonight.

[Lekeshua]

I have finally won a ARC. And it arrived under a week from when I got the notification. I am so excited. I had to fight my two year old son over the book. I won Lisa Gardner's Live to Tell. I can't wait to start it. I noticed there is a note on the cover stating "all reviews should be schedule to run after that date (on-sale date). I am eager to write a review once completed and post it here on GR but didn't know if that applied to all websites. If anyone can clarify this for me it would be appreciated.

[Julie]

Lekeshua wrote: "I have finally won a ARC. And it arrived under a week from when I got the notification. I am so excited. I had to fight my two year old son over the book. I won Lisa Gardner's Live to Tell. I can't..."

I have no idea what that means, but I have also won that book. I am reading the first one I won before that one though, so let me know how you like it.

[Lekeshua]

Julie I will definately let you know and you do the same. Hope you enjoy your first arc win.

[Jen]

How fun! I just found out about first reads yesterday. I signed up for a few that sounded good, and I won one today! I never win anything!

The Legend of the Seahawk by Adele Clagett

[Kaion]

Hehe, Delphyne, I think the formula wants to make you win if you haven't before... (I won the first book I signed up for too! Dogboy)

Today I won Buddha's Orphans: A Novel (which was one of the ones I most wanted to read!); here's hoping the mailing is all fast and stuff.

[Jen]

I was wondering if they let you win right away so you'll want to keep participating. Either way I'm happy.

[Alicia]

I won Kevin My Military Man and would highly recommend it.

[Tara]

Marci wrote: "Freebookfriday.com Saturday the book for the week is announced. You have until Thursday to sign up. Past Authors are Jodi Picolt, Lisa Lutz, Emily Griffen etc. The site will usually have an intervi..."

Thanks, Marci. I just subscribed to their newsletter. I'm not interest in what they have posted this week but maybe the next one..

[Tammie]

I just joined Goodreads recently and about two weeks ago stumbled upon the GiveAways.....I entered a bunch that sounded interesting to me. Super excited that I already won 2 books!! The first one arrived today..just in time to join me on a flight to Florida in the morning. I try to look at the newest giveaways everyday and enter the ones that appeal most to me and not just enter all of them. My "to read list" is growing tremendously as I keep adding the titles of the ones I don't win because now I am interested in reading them!

[Tara]

Say... has anyone ever won a book, waited a month for it, and not got it?? I won El Patron exactly a month ago. Now the little box in my "giveaways you've entered" list says it takes 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. The problem is after a whole month, there still no review on it and I've lost every bloody giveaway I've entered since.. I got wise.. I posted a "review" on it saying I haven't received it yet.. won on the next day. Lack of review screws you for others.. I get it.. but I haven't received the book!!! It's been over 4 weeks but not quite 6 so when do I click on that little "not received" button that is now popping up next to it on my "giveaways you've entered" list? Do I wait till it has been 6 weeks or report it now before I lose 50 other giveaways?

[Tara]

Alicia wrote: "I won Kevin My Military Man and would highly recommend it."

I eyed that one but thought it too contemporary for me. Did you post a review? My husband was AF for 4 years.

[Marti]

Tara wrote: "Say... has anyone ever won a book, waited a month for it, and not got it?? I won El Patron exactly a month ago. Now the little box in my "giveaways you've entered" list says it takes 4 to 6 weeks ..."

On the last day of the time given, I would email the contact and state that you haven't received the book and click on the button then. But I have never thought of writing something about not receiving it in the box!

[Tara]

Well it worked. I swear. I normally have decent luck with giveaways but it all stopped till I posted that. I guess they thought I wasn't reviewing my wins so why send me another one? It been a month.

[Bridgit]

Tara wrote: "Well it worked. I swear. I normally have decent luck with giveaways but it all stopped till I posted that. I guess they thought I wasn't reviewing my wins so why send me another one? It been a ..."

It took me two months to get a book I won on Feb 4. After a month or so, a button comes up that you can click on that says "I did not get this book yet". I never reviewed the book during the interim, but i did win another book while I waited, so I don't think that is a hard and fast rule.

[Tara]

Two months? Whoa!! I wonder why? Media mail doesn't even take that long.

[Allison]

I won a book last year and have still never received it. I went ahead and clicked the 'not received' button.

I also won a book last week, Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner. It looks pretty good, and I'm wanting to read it, but I have a stack of almost-due library books on my nightstand to finish up first.

[Carol]

Bhumi, you´re always winning First Reads... I don´t know how you dot it haha

I don´t have this luck... I´m always entering to win, but till now, nothing :/

[Bhumi]

Haha Thanks, Carol! I guess I do have good luck :)

[Alicia]

Tara wrote: "Alicia wrote: "I won Kevin My Military Man and would highly recommend it."

I eyed that one but thought it too contemporary for me. Did you post a review? My husband was AF for 4..."

Yeah, I wrote a short review. I think a couple other people did as well. I don't usually read books like this but I really enjoyed this one!

[Kimberly]

I won a copy of Last River Child by Lori Ann Bloomfield in the begging of April. It's my first First Reads book and I've been signing up for them for ages.

[Bhumi]

Congrats Kimberly!

[Dan]

I started signing up for the giveaways when I came across this thread in late March. On March 31 I was notified that I'd won Identity by Anthony Toro. I received it a few days later, read it, and posted my review (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) of it yesterday. When I logged in this morning I discovered that I've now won The Marrowbone Marble Company: A Novel by M. Glenn Taylor. I'm thinking First Reads is one of the best deals around.

[Kaion]

I just won the Marrowbone Marble Company too, Dan. Look forward to seeing what you think of it.

[Bridgit]

Marti wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "Marti wrote: "I won another book A River in the Sky (Amelia Peabody, #19) by Elizabeth Peters

This is a book in the midst of a series that I haven't read but it sounded so goo..."

Eek! Just saw this! I actually bought it the day it came out. If you havent read it yet, its a pretty simple premise. Takes place in the late 1800s, early 1900s (this one will probably be around WW1 time) and is about a woman and her husband who are Egyptologists. Amelia ha no formal training, and if you track from the beginning, basically just falls into it through a vacation gone awry and a romance with Emerson, her to be husband. The series is basically the story of their expeditions told through Amelia's diary (and later other texts) and of their children. Mysteries, mummies, thieves and murderers plague them throughout their excavations.

Definitely recommend reading all of them (and in order.) Let me know how you like A River in the Sky!

[Marti]

Bridgit wrote: "Marti wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "Marti wrote: "I won another book A River in the Sky (Amelia Peabody, #19) by Elizabeth Peters

This is a book in the midst of a series that I haven't read but i..."

I am enjoying it so far, but too many interruptions this afternoon - will try again after dinner when things simmer down.

[Becca]

I won Revolutions for Fun and Profit! back in January, but still haven't received it. (Lame!) But I won Girl in Translation a couple weeks ago and received it within a week. Haven't had a chance to start it yet, still working on a pile of library books!

[Charity]

I've had some decent luck recently. Since winning Horns a couple weeks ago, I've won 3 more: A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks; All That Follows by Jim Crace; The Marrowbone Marble Company by M. Glenn Taylor.

[Darcia]

I recently won (and just finished reading) Broken by Karin Slaughter. I thought this was one of her best. Definitely a page-turner!

And I'm envious of those who won a copy of Horns! I loved his book Heart-Shaped Box and have Horn on my wish list!

[Tracy]

I have done two giveaway's on GR's for my books. The first I gave away 2 books (I think) and 781 people entered. The second contest I gave away 20 books and had over 800 entries. I like the giveaway's because it exposes my work to people who probably wouldn't buy it otherwise. Sometimes the reviews are good, and sometimes they are bad, but at least it's out there being read and that is the goal.

[Eden]

A few days ago I won Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner. I'm really excited to get it.

[Madeline]

Ooooh I didn't know about this. I'll have to try my luck. :)

[M.]

I think if you post on this site, you just might win. So I'm testing this theory. :) Everyone who as posted seems to win!

How do they determine the winners anyways? Any ideas? I'm afraid that since I am in Guam, they will bypass me. :(

[Dionisia]

I won a copy of Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel by Gary Shteyngart!

[Darcia]

M., You can only enter giveaways that will ship to your country.

In determining winners, I think they use an algorithm based on how many books you've read, reviewed, and listed on your profile page. The more you have listed, the better your chances are of winning. That sort of ensures they are giving the books to someone who will review and promote the book for them.

[Julie]

I don't have lots of books compared to some people, but I have written some kind of review for almost everything that I read since I joined in february. I have won four first reads books already. I'm reading my third one right now as a matter of fact.

[El]

I won A Week in December back at the end of March I think. I still haven't received the darn book yet! I did go back and click the "Have Not Received" button, but here I am - still waiting! Harumph.

[Jessica]

Tara wrote: "Well it worked. I swear. I normally have decent luck with giveaways but it all stopped till I posted that. I guess they thought I wasn't reviewing my wins so why send me another one? It been a ..."

I won a copy of El Patron, too, and it seemed to take a really long time to get here. I don't remember if it was longer than the 4-6 weeks, but it was probably pretty close.

[Madeline]

I won one! Wooot! @D <--- omg it's a cyclops!! I'm really excited about that. It was an accidental discovery. (It looks better in non-published font O.o)

Ok back to the book. I won Losing My Cool: Growing Up with--and out of--Hip-hop Culture, looks interesting!

[Kat (A Journey In Reading)]

I have entered many times for the give-aways. I have yet to win one. Oh well, that has always been my luck.

[Marti]

Don't give up Kat... Once it happens once and you review it right away.... It starts to happen more often!!

[M.]

I'll just keep my fingers crossed :) I'm able to enter the US giveaways since Guam is a US territory, and we do have the same postal system. I've seen ppl win who have 0 books and 2 friends... so I dunno how they heck they got a win. LOL!

[Darcia]

The person who won my most recent giveaway had no books and no friends. He had just joined. Maybe they do that as an incentive for the person to read and review? Or maybe the whole thing is just crazy chance!

[Madeline]

Ooooh I won again. This time Toads and Diamonds

I think if you put it on your "to read" list as soon as you enter it might help. Also if you do win, go straight to the review section and put "I won this book in a goodreads giveaway" etc. I think it gives them good intentions to read and review vibes. I'm also going to be superstitious and say posting your win in this thread helps. haha

[Marci]

Just signed up for a bunch, including The Lion, Nelson Demille. Wish me luck!!!