Sunday, January 25, 2015


The Winner's Curse was one of my absolute favorite books last year. I've read or listened to it no less than three times already. And I'm currently devouring The Winner's Crime. So, when I was asked to participate in a promotional tour for The Winner's Curse in anticipation of the sequel, which is due out in March, I couldn't say YES fast enough.

As part of this tour, bloggers were provided the following prompt:

The ‘Winner’s Curse’ is an economics term that means you’ve gotten what you wanted – but at too high a price. What would you pay too much for?

I've often found myself a victim of buyer's remorse over the years. Even as a teenager, buying CDs or clothing made me feel guilty because I knew that money should be going toward college expenses or the purchase of a car. As an adult, I suffer from this affliction much less often because I'm more attuned to my financial situation and have better spending habits. But it still happens.

The one thing I tend to overspend on these days is books. I'm sure that's probably a given, since we're all book bloggers. But if I'm being honest, I never feel guilty for those purchases, even if I have bought a certain book in every format available to me. ;0)

No, the one thing that comes to mind recently that I spent a great deal of money on -- most definitely too much -- is a good night's rest. My husband and I had been talking about buying a new bed for some time, but we never discussed it seriously. While we were at the State Fair in September, we walked into the Mattress Firm tent "just to look around". They were running a special where you could pair a new mattress with a massaging chair or a hot tub or some combination of those three things. It sounded great, but we weren't really in the market for any of those things.

We tried out a few beds, just for kicks, but I kept telling the husband we should get a move on before we got cornered by a salesman. Too late. The guy shows us this awesome Tempurpedic bed that massages and adjusts, raising the head, the feet, or both. We were sold. And then it came time to discuss the price. Then we were not so sold.

But we did need a new bed. We'd had ours since before we got married and it was beyond uncomfortable, neither of us getting a decent night's sleep in ages, waking up with more back pain than we went to bed with. So, we financed the bed and it was delivered two days later.

We sleep so soundly now; it's one of those that leaves your partner undisturbed when you move on your side of the bed, and the massaging feature is sooo nice. I love showing off the bed, too, and hearing people oooh and aaah over how comfortable it is and telling their significant other that they need a new bed now. :) Some make fun, saying it's an old people bed or that it's like a hospital bed, what with that function to raise the head up, but it's perfect for watching movies in bed...or reading. =)

What I don't like is when they start asking how much it cost. Because the thing was NOT cheap. I did mention we had to finance it, right? A mattress. But a very nice one. Still, if and when I finally do own up to the total cost, literally everyone has shaken their head, as if that price is astronomical. And I didn't even tell them that we got a discount because they were running a special while at the fair. o_O

A good night's sleep was worth the cost to me in the end because being rested and happy transfers to all other aspects of your life. Sure, we could have used that money for so many other things. Sure, others see this purchase as wasteful. Yes, I paid too much -- it cost more than all of our living room furniture combined -- but in the end, I got what I really, really wanted.

So, now that you know how crazy insane I am for good, restful sleep, what would YOU pay too much for?

You can see the rest of my fellow bloggers' answers to this question here.




About the books:

Title: The Winner's Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Curse, book #1
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux BYR
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.


Title: The Winner's Crime
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Curse, book #2
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux BYR
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads
Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.



For more info about the Winner's Trilogy, visit the website dedicated to the trilogy. You can also play the Bite & Sting game from the book or visit author Marie Rutkoski's website and chat with her on Twitter.



The generous folks at Macmillan are offering up a copy of EITHER The Winner's Curse OR a copy of The Winner's Crime as part of this tour.

Rules:
  • This giveaway is US only. The publisher will be providing the prize for this giveaway.
  • One entry per household. 
  • Entries will be verified. Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant. 
  • Winner will be notified via email. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Please check your SPAM folder!!! 
  • We are not responsible for lost packages. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck & happy reading!


21 comments:

  1. I would pay anything for someone I love. :) Thanks for the giveaway. <3 Can't wait to read The Winner's Crime.

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  2. Christina R. in the rafflecopter

    LOVE what you paid so much for!

    I'd pay more for traveling to see people I love :)

    I have a US address but rafflecopter might show my location outside US because I’m doing a semester abroad

    thank you so very much :)

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  3. omg! I had NO idea about the definition of The Winner's Curse. that is SO cool :D I can't wait to read this book. I've heard like way way too many good things about it to ignore. So, I'm not haha It's been on my tar for awhile and wishlist too. Thanks so much Jen! This is awesome.

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  4. I have a tendency to buy books that I already own. If there is some sort of limited edition, I will buy it. I also spend way too much on movies. Whether it's the DVD, the actual theatre (high priced popcorn and soda included), I tend to go to the movies 3-4 times per month. I can't help it that I love a good movie and books.

    What hurts me is my so called family criticizing me for my habits. They continually berate me and say that is why I won't have kids because I won't have the extra money for buying books and such. I'm an early thirties, childless woman. I have been in a relationship for 13 years. I just don't see myself with kids of my own. Now, I spoil my five nieces and nephews, two stepdaughters, and younger cousins like I would my own child. Yet, they call me selfish. Okay, rant over. ..

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  5. If I could, I would buy three things: a cute little cottage with a rose garden, enough books to fill my cottage, and a gorgeous Grand Piano that would hopefully fit after I bought all those books.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. I really want to spend a lot on a home library (like a huge one), but it hasn't happened yet haha. I can't wait to read The Winner's Crime!

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  7. I'd pay too much for my very own library, but I need the space. lol

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  8. I would pay too much to go to an author signing event... WISHING TO GO TO YA'LL FEST THIS SPRING! Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  9. I recently paid too much for the Harry Potter: Page to Screen (Collector's Edition) box set. And I LOVE IT!! If there was something collector-y to go with the Winner's Curse series - jewelry, special book edition, I would totally jump on that! I just loved the first book and can't wait for the Winner's Crime!

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  10. Books! :D def books!! At the moment I spend too much on fast food :(
    Mary G Loki

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  11. I would pay too much for food. If its delicious, I want to try it. If i love it, I want more :D

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  12. I would pay too much for books and a good education

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  13. I would pay too much for a legit time travel machine!

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  14. I would pay too much for good chocolate, books and coffee.

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  15. I would pay too much for books and traveling expenses!

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  17. I would pay too much for a human life... oho just like Kestrel did. (But not just because the guy could sing, just sayin')

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  18. I would pay too much for books and a nice, beautiful vacation! Thank you for this amazing chance. I'm looking forward to The Winner's Crime! :)

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