Author: CMash

An avid reader for many years. Married for 31 years with 2 fantastic adult sons who I am so very proud of with great gfs. Am disabled. Found this wonderful community of book blogging in approximately December 2009 and have loved every minute of it. Am now a reviewer for authors, publishers, publicists, etc. And am also a partner in a Virtual PR tour company, Partners In Crime Tours for authors of novels of mystery, suspense and crime (www.Partnersincrimetours.net)

Fall Into Reading 2010 Challenge (2 of 2)

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  I think I found something to jump start my slump!!!  A Challenge!!  Yesterday it kept coming up in my google reader via many of the blogs I follow, so I headed on over to Callapidder Days, I just love the blog name!  I read the criteria and decided to join in.
  First, I would like to thank Katrina for hosting.  The following is from her blog, if you want to join in too:
Here’s a brief recap of how to be a part of Fall Into Reading 2010:

*Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this fall. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)
*Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky below.
*Get reading! The challenge goes from today, September 22nd, through December 20th.
*Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!
*Write a post about your challenge experience in December, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how Fall Into Reading went for you. But remember: this is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun. As long as you do some reading this fall (and enjoy it!), that’s good enough for me.
*Every week (beginning next Tuesday), I’ll be posting a question relating to reading — there will be questions about your reading habits, reading memories, or current reading experiences.
Books To Complete:
  1.  The Chill Of Night by James Hayman
  2.  Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons
  3.  Mask Of The Betrayer by Sharon Ann Donovan
  4.  Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman
  5.  Love Always, Hobby and Jessie by Sara Robinson
  6.  i know i am, but what are you? by Samantha Bee
  7.  Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
  8.  Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy
  9.  Blindman’s Bluff by Faye Kellerman
10.  And One Last Thing by Molly Harper
I am hoping to add more as time goes on.

Booking Thru Thursday (1 of 2)

THURSDAY

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Today’s Question:

  What are you reading right now? What made you choose it? Are you enjoying it? Would you recommend it? (And, by all means, discuss everything, if you’re reading more than one thing!)
My Answer:

  My current read is The Chill Of Night by James Hayman.  It is a review book from Pump Up Your Book.  I read and reviewed his 1st novel,  The Cutting, earlier this year and gave it a 4.5/5 rating.  Full of mystery and suspense and thoroughly enjoyed.   So when the call went out about his latest book, I jumped at the chance to read it.  I’m finding this book is equally as good so far.
  Thus far with this book and his first, I would definitely recommend if you read in the genre of mystery/suspense.  Both books have the same main character but each book can stand alone.  Since I am a one book read person, the only thing else I am reading is the local newspaper lol.
  I have been in an awful reading slump these past few weeks, it definitely isn’t the book causing it, I think it was real life interfering.  Knowing that I am joining a challenge today, I tried picking it up again, and YIPPEE, I read until I fell asleep.  I think my slump has come to an end.

Fall Into Reading 2010 Challenge (2 of 2)

Photobucket
  I think I found something to jump start my slump!!!  A Challenge!!  Yesterday it kept coming up in my google reader via many of the blogs I follow, so I headed on over to Callapidder Days, I just love the blog name!  I read the criteria and decided to join in.
  First, I would like to thank Katrina for hosting.  The following is from her blog, if you want to join in too:
Here’s a brief recap of how to be a part of Fall Into Reading 2010:

*Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this fall. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)
*Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky below.
*Get reading! The challenge goes from today, September 22nd, through December 20th.
*Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!
*Write a post about your challenge experience in December, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how Fall Into Reading went for you. But remember: this is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun. As long as you do some reading this fall (and enjoy it!), that’s good enough for me.
*Every week (beginning next Tuesday), I’ll be posting a question relating to reading — there will be questions about your reading habits, reading memories, or current reading experiences.
Books To Complete:
  1.  The Chill Of Night by James Hayman
  2.  Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons
  3.  Mask Of The Betrayer by Sharon Ann Donovan
  4.  Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman
  5.  Love Always, Hobby and Jessie by Sara Robinson
  6.  i know i am, but what are you? by Samantha Bee
  7.  Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
  8.  Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy
  9.  Blindman’s Bluff by Faye Kellerman
10.  And One Last Thing by Molly Harper
I am hoping to add more as time goes on.

Giveaway "The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise" 09/22 to 09/29

THE TOWER, THE ZOO and THE TORTOISE
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by Julia Stuart
September 22nd to September 29th
Synopsis (borrowed from Barnes & Noble)
  Brimming with charm and whimsy, this exquisite novel set in the Tower of London has the transportive qualities and delightful magic of the contemporary classics Chocolat and Amélie.
  Balthazar Jones has lived in the Tower of London with his loving wife, Hebe, and his 120-year-old pet tortoise for the past eight years. That’s right, he is a Beefeater (they really do live there). It’s no easy job living and working in the tourist attraction in present-day London.
  Among the eccentric characters who call the Tower’s maze of ancient buildings and spiral staircases home are the Tower’s Rack & Ruin barmaid, Ruby Dore, who just found out she’s pregnant; portly Valerie Jennings, who is falling for ticket inspector Arthur Catnip; the lifelong bachelor Reverend Septimus Drew, who secretly pens a series of principled erot­ica; and the philandering Ravenmaster, aiming to avenge the death of one of his insufferable ravens.
  When Balthazar is tasked with setting up an elaborate menagerie within the Tower walls to house the many exotic animals gifted to the Queen, life at the Tower gets all the more interest­ing. Penguins escape, giraffes are stolen, and the Komodo dragon sends innocent people running for their lives. Balthazar is in charge and things are not exactly running smoothly. Then Hebe decides to leave him and his beloved tortoise “runs” away.
  Filled with the humor and heart that calls to mind the delight­ful novels of Alexander McCall Smith, and the charm and beauty of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise is a magical, wholly origi­nal novel whose irresistible characters will stay with you long after you turn the stunning last page.

THANKS TO LIZ, JUDY AND THE
FANTASTIC PEOPLE AT DOUBLEDAY
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I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES OF THIS
GREAT BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE
DISCLAIMER
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher, agent and/or author.
This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the above. No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

WEDNESDAY
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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?
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What did you recently finish reading?
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What do you think you’ll read next?
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And The Winners Are………..

for Red Hook Road.
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Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
25   2
Timestamp: 2010-09-22 11:35:04 UTC
Congratulations winners!!
Karen said… 25  GFC following~ (:

Kritter said… 2  I am a follower!

An email has been sent and winners have 48 hours to respond with mailing information or another winner will be chosen

Giveaway "The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise" 09/22 to 09/29

THE TOWER, THE ZOO and THE TORTOISE
Photobucket
by Julia Stuart
September 22nd to September 29th
Synopsis (borrowed from Barnes & Noble)
  Brimming with charm and whimsy, this exquisite novel set in the Tower of London has the transportive qualities and delightful magic of the contemporary classics Chocolat and Amélie.
  Balthazar Jones has lived in the Tower of London with his loving wife, Hebe, and his 120-year-old pet tortoise for the past eight years. That’s right, he is a Beefeater (they really do live there). It’s no easy job living and working in the tourist attraction in present-day London.
  Among the eccentric characters who call the Tower’s maze of ancient buildings and spiral staircases home are the Tower’s Rack & Ruin barmaid, Ruby Dore, who just found out she’s pregnant; portly Valerie Jennings, who is falling for ticket inspector Arthur Catnip; the lifelong bachelor Reverend Septimus Drew, who secretly pens a series of principled erot­ica; and the philandering Ravenmaster, aiming to avenge the death of one of his insufferable ravens.
  When Balthazar is tasked with setting up an elaborate menagerie within the Tower walls to house the many exotic animals gifted to the Queen, life at the Tower gets all the more interest­ing. Penguins escape, giraffes are stolen, and the Komodo dragon sends innocent people running for their lives. Balthazar is in charge and things are not exactly running smoothly. Then Hebe decides to leave him and his beloved tortoise “runs” away.
  Filled with the humor and heart that calls to mind the delight­ful novels of Alexander McCall Smith, and the charm and beauty of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise is a magical, wholly origi­nal novel whose irresistible characters will stay with you long after you turn the stunning last page.

THANKS TO LIZ, JUDY AND THE
FANTASTIC PEOPLE AT DOUBLEDAY
Photobucket
I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES OF THIS
GREAT BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE
DISCLAIMER
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher, agent and/or author.
This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the above. No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

WEDNESDAY
Photobucket
Photobucket
Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?
Photobucket

What did you recently finish reading?
Photobucket

What do you think you’ll read next?
Photobucket