http://btt2.wordpress.com

Today’s Question:
A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.
Pepca asks
Have you every written any fan-fiction? If yes, why and for which book(s)? If no, would you like to and for which books(s)?
For that matter, do you ever READ fan-fiction??
My response:
I have to be very honest, this question stumped me.  Fan fiction?…hmmm…that was a new one to me.  I didn’t think I had but to make sure I  went right to wikipedia just to make sure.  And yes I had never read any fan fiction nor do I have the urge to write any.  I will leaving the writing to those that have the talent and read the all so any books already waiting for me on my tbr shelves.  And for those who were like me and didn’t know, here is the definition:

Television shows had long captivated audiences and provided a temporary escape from reality for viewers who could vicariously live another life. Some devoted viewers would often discuss their favourite dramas and begin to play out “what-if” scenarios: What if Agent Mulder never returned to The X-Files and Agent Scully began having an affair with Assistant Director Walter Skinner? What if Captain Kirk of Star Trek had never met Spock? What if the title character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer found true love in a demon

……..of THE CHINA GAMBIT by Allan Topol

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

26

Timestamp: 2012-02-16 14:19:24 UTC

Linda Kish…..I am a GFC follower

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you will read next?

……..of MAY THE ROAD RISE UP  TO MEET YOU  by Peter Troy

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2      22

Timestamp: 2012-02-15 12:22:33 UTC

Jessica…I can’t access the GFC button on your blog but I was previously following on GFC as Mac mom

Kathy Schoenherr….I’ve been to Ireland so I’d love to read about an Irish immigrant here. Also like historical fiction.

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

I finally had to ask, “Lorraine, is he dead?”
“No,” she said. wiping her eyes. “But he’s been shot, Alex. He’s in the hospital with a bullet in his head, and they don’t think he’s going to wake up.”.

page 129

Win a Kindle Fire and Amazon Gift Card

How? Easy peasy. Head on over towinwithebooks.com or the Facebook fanpageand follow the directions on the Rafflecopter. Check back daily for 50 extra chances to win.no purchase necessary

REMINDER:  Due to GFC being taken away within the next month or so and my feed change with the move to WordPress, if you don’t want to miss anything that is going on here at the CMash blog,  you can join via RSS feed, or NetWorkedBlogs (on sight sidebar).  If you were already following via NewWorkedBlog, you will need to rejoin as it is a new feed.  I THANK YOU and truly appreciate it!!!!

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
What is your favorite romantic book –or book that includes a love story? (an adult romance, young adult, kids’ story, anything)
My answer:
Two books came instantly to mind, even though, they aren’t your so callled “happily after after romantic love stories”.  One of them, I’m not even sure if it falls in to the aforementioned categories but both novels are of unconditional love.

They are Spinning by Michael Baron andCome Back To Me by Melissa Foster

February is being hosted by Metro Reader 

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour. According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”

                                The Story Plant         Personal library

He’s baaaaack!!   Yes, my paisan from the old neighborhood is back.   For those who aren’t Italian, paisan means pal and/or buddy.   I don’t think I ever told the story how we virtually met.   So before he starts telling us about his latest book, I will digress and share.

He sent me an email via GR asking me if I lived anywhere near Providence College, which is where he attended college and in which he mentions in his Moonlight novels.  And then he happens to mention…..”Oh and btw I just wrote a book that you might enjoy.”  I explained I would put it on my TBR list but that I review for several publishers and publicists and when I had a lull I would pick it up.  It just so happened, that a week later a tour company that I was reviewing for put a call out for his book so I jumped at the chance, and as they say the rest his history.

As I said, he is returning today to talk about his latest book, which should be quite interesting since this is definitely not in the genre that he hooked me with.  But I will let him explain.  So I am happy to have Vincent Zandri here once again!!!

ABOUT VINCENT ZANDRI

Vincent Zandri is the No. 1 International Bestselling author of THE INNOCENT, GODCHILD, THE REMAINS, MOONLIGHT FALLS, CONCRETE PEARL, MOONLIGHT RISES and SCREAM CATCHER. He is also the author of the bestselling digital shorts, PATHOLOGICAL and MOONLIGHT MAFIA. Harlan Coben has described his novels as “…gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting,” while the New York Post called THE INNOCENT, “Sensational…Masterful…Brilliant!” In March, April and May of 2011, he sold more than 100,000 Kindle E-Book editions of his novels. In September 2011, he signed a major deal with Thomas and Mercer of Amazon for the publication of his new novel, Murder by Moonlight, and the re-publication of many of his back-list titles, including The Innocent and The Remains. Zandri’s list of publishers also include Delacorte, Dell, StoneHouse Ink and StoneGate Ink. An MFA in Writing graduate of Vermont College, Zandri’s work is translated into many languages including the Dutch, Russian and Japanese. An adventurer, foreign correspondent, and freelance photo-journalist for RT, Globalspec, IBTimes and more, he lives in New York. For more go to WWW.VINCENTZANDRI.COM

You can find Vin at the following locations:
Website, Blog, Amazon Author Page, Facebook, Twitter

Or at his next 2 stops:

2/14/2012 Misty Rayburn Review – http://www.the-top-shelf.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

A young U.S. Army officer who’s served in Afghanistan finds himself suffering from intermittent bouts of “hysterical” temporary blindness due to impossible and deadly orders he was forced to obey by high command in the field. When he’s reunited with his fiancée in a military hospital in Germany after being separated for more than year, the couple are encouraged by doctors to travel to Venice, Italy together. There, amongst the canals and the cafes, they try to rekindle their love and fight off their personal demons while trying to comprehend the enormity of the heartbreaking role they now must play in love and war.

Amazon buy link

Barnes and Noble Buy Link

Addendum:  In case you don’t see it, Vin just left a comment that his novel Scream Catcher is a free download all weekend!!!!  What a deal!!!  Don’t miss out!!!

MY REVIEW

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Vincent Zandri

Published by  StoneGate Ink

ASIN: B0060MB5JM

At the request of his Virtual Publicist a digital short edition, was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon):  A young U.S. Army officer who’s served in Afghanistan finds himself suffering from intermittent bouts of “hysterical” temporary blindness due to impossible and deadly orders he was forced to obey by high command in the field. When he’s reunited with his fiancée in a military hospital in Germany after being separated for more than year, the couple are encouraged by doctors to travel to Venice, Italy together. There, amongst the canals and the cafes, they try to rekindle their love and fight off their personal demons while trying to comprehend the enormity of the heartbreaking role they now must play in love and war.

  My Thoughts and Opinion:  The mystery, the suspense, the engrossing roller coaster twists and turns, white knuckle ride to the very last word is what put this author on my radar when I read Moonlight Falls.  And as I kept reading his subsequent novels (all of them) it moved him right on up to the Number 1 spot for mystery/suspenseful reads.  Then I read Scream Catcher and instantly saw a difference in his writing style.  Not in a bad way, but in a way that proved that this author has a lot to give, that he is most definitely a master at storytelling.  And then something happened, that I can honestly say, I was blown away.  I never thought these 2 words would be in the same sentence, Zandri and romance.

OK..another test..could he pull this one off?  Even though it was a digital short, which disappointed me because I wanted to get the whole package, but I will be patient until the sequel is out), he transported me to the sidewalk cafe in Italy sitting next to this American couple that seemed to be quite uncomfortable with each other.  Yes, he made the characters come to life, he allowed the reader to form a vivid imagery of the scene, feel the emotions, see the sights and sounds.  If this digital short is any indication what the novel will be, I have something to look forward to.  He just raised the bar even higher!!!