I am so excited about this giveaway!!!  Especially if you are like me!!!!  Do you run to the store at the last minute because you remembered you needed to send a greeting card?  A Get Well card, Birthday card, Thinking Of You card?  You get the idea.  Wouldn’t it be great to have these cards at your fingertips?  Then this is the giveaway for you!!!!! 

   

From An Island Life:
   In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
   If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

   In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!
   The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!
   Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
   If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!
Today’s Twist:
Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?
My Answer:
Yes.  I have a rating system, which can be seen on the left side of this blog, from 1-5.  I feel it is a cyberuniverse system with 5 being FANTASTIC.  Some sites require the a rating system so feel that I should post it across the board.  I think that the wording may be a little different from other bloggers, but the majority that use the 1-5 scale are typically the same rating.

1. You do your thing; I do mine and sometimes we will do things together.
2. Wanting to do fall cleaning, but can’t, is what’s been on my mind on and off all day.
3. Remember when life was simple and stress free.
4. Reading, blogging and ice cream sundaes are three of my favorite obsessions 🙂
5. During the last year I have experienced both good and bad.
6. My family puts a smile on my face.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing and reading, tomorrow my plans include my computer to-do lists, sitting by and in the pool reading and Sunday, I want to definitely sit by and in the pool reading since summer is almost over!

Today’s Question:
If you’re not enjoying a book, will you stop mid-way? Or do you push through to the end? What makes you decide to stop?
My Answer:
Unfortunately, yes and more so since accepting requests for reviews.  I find myself, when not enjoying a book, either putting off picking it up to continue reading or going into a reading slump because of it.  That happened on a few occasions so I revised my review policy that I will at least read up to 100 pages in hopes that my opinion of the book changes or the storyline grabs me.  If not, I have to put it aside and on to the next. 

What about you?  Do you push through or stop midway?  Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic?

Today’s Question:
If you’re not enjoying a book, will you stop mid-way? Or do you push through to the end? What makes you decide to stop?
My Answer:
Unfortunately, yes and more so since accepting requests for reviews.  I find myself, when not enjoying a book, either putting off picking it up to continue reading or going into a reading slump because of it.  That happened on a few occasions so I revised my review policy that I will at least read up to 100 pages in hopes that my opinion of the book changes or the storyline grabs me.  If not, I have to put it aside and on to the next. 

What about you?  Do you push through or stop midway?  Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic?

What a treat!! Today we have an author stopping by while on her tour, talking about her latest novel. So please help me welcome Sharon Donovan to our group.

   Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.
   Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. She is a published author with The Wild Rose Press, White Rose Publishing, Whimsical Publications and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Echo of a Raven received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee. To read excerpts and reviews of Sharon’s books and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website at http://www.sharonadonovan.com/.

   When the whispers in the night, the whispers of her lover, are the whispers of a killer, will Margot escape before she becomes the next victim?
   Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on the corpse. But when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved ten years ago–all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.

Read the Excerpt!

Look for my review in the coming weeks.