Celebrating my 2nd Blogiversary! - Lots of Giveaways

2 year ago today, I took the plunge, and launched Rachel's Random Reads. I figured I would give it a go for a few weeks and the odds are I would give up.

Well that was a whole 24 months ago, and I seem to be more and more addicted to blogging than ever before. My love of books is still very strong and I love sharing them with you.

Looking back over the last year, I can't believe that amount of wonderful advance copies that I have received and read, and I can only thank every author and publisher from the bottom of my heart for the opportunities to read these books ahead of time.

I've been to an increased amount of events thanks to being a blogger and have met so many amazing people. What I can't believe is since the start of 2017 I have met amongst other Belinda Jones and Wendy Holden both of whom I have been reading since the start of the 00s, in addition to Sarah Morgan who I've been reading since just before I was a blogger and love every single one of her books. And those are just some of the absolutely amazing people I have met this year.

I love being part of the encouraging and supportive blogging community, and I am hoping to continue for many years to come.

This should be the point where I tell you what plans I have but frankly with the stress of moving house at some point this year, I just need to keep things steady with the blogging for the moment, and continue with my two challenges for the year...at least until I come up with the idea for my next feature week!

In the meantime, to celebrate I have a bunch of giveaways for you, from books that I just happen to have on my prize shelf. There should be something for everyone! Please feel free to enter as many or as few as you like. 

All giveaways on this page close at 23:59 15th April 2017

Giveaway 1 - Signed copy of The Secret Wife by Gill Paul (Europe Only)

A Russian grand duchess and an English journalist. Linked by one of the world’s greatest mysteries . . .

Love. Guilt. Heartbreak.

1914

Russia is on the brink of collapse, and the Romanov family faces a terrifyingly uncertain future. Grand Duchess Tatiana has fallen in love with cavalry officer Dmitri, but events take a catastrophic turn, placing their romance – and their lives – in danger . . .

2016

Kitty Fisher escapes to her great-grandfather’s remote cabin in America, after a devastating revelation makes her flee London. There, on the shores of Lake Akanabee, she discovers the spectacular jewelled pendant that will lead her to a long-buried family secret . . .


Haunting, moving and beautifully written, The Secret Wife effortlessly crosses centuries, as past merges with present in an unforgettable story of love, loss and resilience.

Win a Signed copy of The Secret Wife by Gill Paul (Europe Only)

Giveaway 2 - All of Us and Everything by Bridget Asher (Europe Only)

What if you learn something as an adult that makes you question your entire childhood?

This is the scenario the Rockwell sisters are faced with.

Esme: eldest child, control-freak, perfect wife and mother. In fact, her husband has run off with his dentist and their teenage daughter is live-tweeting the entire mess to her 3,000 followers.

Liv: middle child, fiance stealer, squatter. Holed up in her ex-husband's apartment with her acupuncturist and a bottle of whiskey.

Ru: youngest child, writer, runaway. Hopes to find inspiration for her second novel by studying the behaviour of elephants - and fleeing her fiance.

One-by-one the siblings return to the family home, where an even bigger drama unfolds. A box of old letters is delivered to the house containing the answer to the mystery they have all lived with, until now: who was their father, and why the hell did he disappear?


In the spirit of Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums film, this novel is a colourful, spirited and darkly humorous celebration of the impossibility of families.

Win All of Us and Everything by Bridget Asher (Europe Only)
Giveaway 3 - Letters to Rachel by R. W. Mitchell (Europe Only)


Meet Rachel Williams, a thirty-something, who in desperate need for a change in her life, decides to move from a small village in Southern England to the bustling centre of Barcelona in Spain. 

In her attempt to start anew, Rachel decides to quit Facebook, Twitter and all other forms of ‘Social Media’ and instead takes up the dying art of letter writing. Spurred on by letters from her Mother, ‘Madam Chairwoman for the Flower Arranging Club’, Miss. Elaine, the ever so flamboyant director of the Village Pantomime and her best friend Suz, a man-eating Ozzie, Rachel writes about her new life, complete with all of the ups and downs of moving to a new country, starting a new job and meeting Mr. Right!


Filled with a year full of adventures, stories and juicy gossip, 'Letters to Rachel' is the perfect read for those of us that love life, love laughter and love receiving letters!
Letters to Rachel by R. W. Mitchell (Europe Only)

Giveaway 4 - My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood (Limited Edition Proof) (Europe Only)

Picture show is real cover,
prize is limited edition proof cover

Kate Rafter is a high-flying war reporter. She's the strong one. The one who escaped Herne Bay and their father. Her sister Sally didn't. Instead, she drinks.

But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her first night she is woken by a terrifying scream.

What secret has Kate stumbled upon?
And is she strong enough to uncover the truth . . . and make it out alive?

My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood (Limited Edition Proof) (Europe Only)
Giveaway 5 - Signed copy of Gilded Cage by Vic James (Europe Only)

A modern Britain
An age-old cruelty

Britain's magically skilled aristocracy compels all commoners to serve them for ten years - and now it's the Hadleys' turn. Abi Hadley is assigned to England's most ruthless noble family. The secrets she uncovers could win her freedom - or break her heart. Her brother Luke is enslaved in a brutal factory town, where new friends' ideals might cost him everything.

Then while the elite vie for power, a young aristocrat plots to remake the world with his dark gifts. As Britain moves from anger to defiance, all three must take sides. And the consequences of their choices will change everything, forever.

Win a Signed copy of Gilded Cage by Vic James (Europe Only)

Giveaway 6 - Happy People Read & Drink Coffee by Agnes Martin-Lugand (Europe Only)

Diane, owner of Happy People Read and Drink Coffee, a cosy coffee shop turned library in Paris, seems to have the perfect life. But when she suddenly loses her husband and daughter in a car accident, her life is overturned and the world as she knows it disappears. Trapped by her memories, Diane closes her shop and retreats from friends and family.

One year later, she moves from Paris to a small town on the Irish coast, determined to heal by rebuilding her life alone, without anyone's help or pity - until she meets Edward, a handsome and moody Irish photographer. Along windy shores and cobbled streets, Diane falls into a surprising and tumultuous romance. As she works to overcome her painful memories, Diane and Edward's once-in-a-lifetime connection inspires her to love herself and the world around her with new-found inner strength and happiness.

But will it last when Diane leaves Ireland, and Edward, for good?

Win Happy People Read & Drink Coffee by Agnes Martin-Lugand (Europe Only)
Giveaway 7 - The Sopranos by Alan Warner (Europe Only)

The choir from Our Lady of Perpetual Succour School for Girls is being bussed to the national finals in the big, big city. And it's an important day for The Sopranos - Orla, Kylah, (Ra)Chell, Amanda Konky and Fionnula (the Cooler) - pub-crawling, shoplifting and body-piercing being the top priorities. Then it's time to lose that competition - lose, because a nuclear sub has just anchored in the bay and, tonight, the Man Trap disco will be full of submariners on shore-leave. There is no time for delays. . . 

But after the fifth bottle of alco-pop up the back of the bus it's clear that all is not going to plan, for anyone. The Sopranos are never going to be the same.

Win The Sopranos by Alan Warner (Europe Only)