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)

Read-A-Thon Sunday Update (2 of 2)

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48hr Read-A-Thon hosted by UNPUTDOWNABLES

7:00am EST:
Real life interfered again last night.  Hubby is a non reader, and unfortunately, does not get the concept for a Read-A-Thon lol, and was in a very chatty mood.  I did get some reading done when I went to bed, after he fell sleep, and until I fell asleep.  Plan today: Get some blog to-dos done and to read rest of day.  Will update as the day goes on.
9:00pm
Got a little side tracked today working on computer to-dos.  Read the Sunday Journal Newspaper with my coffee…lol hope that counts.  Got in a few hours of reading this afternoon.  And plan to retreat to my recliner for a few more hours.  Wrap-up tomorrow morning.  Have a good night all!!

Slapdash Sunday (1 of 2)

SUNDAY
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Did you see my posting on Friday regarding the Bestselling Author Vincent Zandri?  Check it out !!!  He has been very busy having been on tour for Moonlight Falls, and his latest novel The Remains and his new Mini Digital, Pathological.  And as busy as he has been, he will be stopping by today and answering your questions or responding to your comments.  So grab a seat, get comfortable and ask away.   Today is the last day we will have him!!!!
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Hosted by Kayla at The Eclectic Element
Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week ‘leftovers.’ Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn’t worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down?
That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
  Yesterday I mentioned hosting a 2011 Challenge.  I signed up for many 2010 Challenges thinking that review requests would be far and few between and at the time of signing up, I was a very new public blogger. 
  I had signed up for a 50+ Book Challenge with Reading With Sea, unfortunately, last month she announced that she was deleting her blog.  I signed up for this challenge after signing up for the 100+.  I knew I would never complete the 100+ but felt that I could finish the 50+. 
  I am having so much fun and enjoying every minute of this new world of book blogging and reviewing, and am amazed and pleasantly surprised as to the level my blog has reached.  I think that the next thing I would like to accomplish is hosting a 2011 Challenge, BUT, not sure the how-tos.  Would appreciate any assistance.
  Today for Slapdash Sunday my questions are:
  • Would you be interested in a 50+ Book Challenge?
  • How to make a button/icon with name of challenge, name of blog, and address.
  • How to set up a sign up page (think I know but not sure if I am right)
  • How to set up a “report” page (ditto for above)
  • When and Where to announce to let people know about the challenge
  • Do you know if someone else is doing this challenge (not sure of the blogging etiquette regarding this)
  • Does my blog have enough experience to host a Challenge?
Would love to hear what you think.  Would you be interested in a 50+ Book Challenge?  Do you have any experience in setting one up?  Do you have any advice to give me, and if you do, thank you!!! 

Read-A-Thon Sunday Update (2 of 2)

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48hr Read-A-Thon hosted by UNPUTDOWNABLES

7:00am EST:
Real life interfered again last night.  Hubby is a non reader, and unfortunately, does not get the concept for a Read-A-Thon lol, and was in a very chatty mood.  I did get some reading done when I went to bed, after he fell sleep, and until I fell asleep.  Plan today: Get some blog to-dos done and to read rest of day.  Will update as the day goes on.
9:00pm
Got a little side tracked today working on computer to-dos.  Read the Sunday Journal Newspaper with my coffee…lol hope that counts.  Got in a few hours of reading this afternoon.  And plan to retreat to my recliner for a few more hours.  Wrap-up tomorrow morning.  Have a good night all!!

Read-A-Thon Updates for Saturday

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4:30pm est:  Got a late start today 🙁   Real life interfered.  What’s the saying about best laid plans?  Am usually up by 5:30am, but for some reason, woke up later than usual. I know with me, when that happens, it throws me off kilter.  Does that happen to you too?  Felt that the day was already 1/2 gone.  Physical therapy session from yesterday was rescheduled for this morning, so I lost 90 min. there.  I just finished Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas and will be starting The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain shortly.  However, we have a scheduled appointment later on with a certified rug installer to inspect the substandard installation from a national rug company back in March, because of damage that was caused due to flooding after days of heavy rain, and a “state of emergency” was issued.  I plan on blogging about this at a later date to spare even one person the aggravation we have gone through. 
How is your Saturday?  Did you sign up to participate in the Read-A-Thon?   Will be posting another update later on today.  Happy Reading!!
9pm est Update:  Results from carpet inspector is what we thought…and we aren’t too happy but that is for another day.  I started The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain and from what I have read so far,  it is a good one.  Pulled me in with the 2 page Prologue.  Remaining night’s plan…getting comfortable and continue reading.  Next update will be tomorrow morning.  Have a good night all !! 

Read-A-Thon Updates for Saturday

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4:30pm est:  Got a late start today 🙁   Real life interfered.  What’s the saying about best laid plans?  Am usually up by 5:30am, but for some reason, woke up later than usual. I know with me, when that happens, it throws me off kilter.  Does that happen to you too?  Felt that the day was already 1/2 gone.  Physical therapy session from yesterday was rescheduled for this morning, so I lost 90 min. there.  I just finished Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas and will be starting The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain shortly.  However, we have a scheduled appointment later on with a certified rug installer to inspect the substandard installation from a national rug company back in March, because of damage that was caused due to flooding after days of heavy rain, and a “state of emergency” was issued.  I plan on blogging about this at a later date to spare even one person the aggravation we have gone through. 
How is your Saturday?  Did you sign up to participate in the Read-A-Thon?   Will be posting another update later on today.  Happy Reading!!
9pm est Update:  Results from carpet inspector is what we thought…and we aren’t too happy but that is for another day.  I started The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain and from what I have read so far,  it is a good one.  Pulled me in with the 2 page Prologue.  Remaining night’s plan…getting comfortable and continue reading.  Next update will be tomorrow morning.  Have a good night all !! 

News about my favorite debut authors (1 of 3)

SATURDAY
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Did you get a chance to see the scoop I got on a Bestselling Author, it was posted yesterday.  Mr. Zandri is my favorite Thriller Debut Author for the year.  But he has been very busy and can’t be considered a “debut author” anymore, since he is on the Kindle Bestsellers List.  Check it out because this weekend Vincent Zandri, author of Moonlight Falls, his newest novel The Remains and his just released Digital Mini, Pathological will be checking in all weekend to answer any questions you have or to reply to your comments.  So come on in and join the fun !!!!!  Click on titles to get great prices for EReader editions.

And there is news, that I want to share about my other favorite debut author of Romantic Suspense, Mr. Bill Walker.  I read and reviewed his novel,  A Note from an Old Acquaintance, back on February 10th and loved it!!!  It was the kind of book where the reader gets lost in the story and befriends the characters who seem life like.  He was a “Guest Author” on March 3rd of this year while on his virtual tour with Pump Up Your Book.  If you have an EReader you are in luck.  The price for an EReader edition is only $4.99 !!!!  Read my review, click on title and then head on over to Amazon to get your copy!!!

DISCLAIMER:  I am not affiliated with Amazon in any way.  I just wanted to share this news with my followers/visitors, to let them know about these very talented and exceptional authors, and get some great books at a low and affordable price !!!!!

A Bit Of Me (2 of 3)

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Hosted by Danielle at There’s A Book

From her blog:
We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
Today’s Topic:
This Weeks Question: Your absolute greatest phobia.
A Bit Of Me:
I have 2….snakes and heights.    I can’t even look at snakes on the tv.  While on vacation many years ago, we went to an exhibit, not knowing what was to come.  And then there was a warning to stay seated.  And out comes an Anaconda that was 18 ft long.  I was surprised I didn’t faint.  But my eyes were shut tight and my heart was pounding.  The other phobia is heights.  I have trouble getting on tall ladders lol.  While on a cruise, I never got close to the rail on the top deck because of my fear.
Now you know a little bit more about me.  What is your absolute phobia?

July Monthly Wrap-Up (3 of 3)

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Another month has flown by.  Can’t believe we are heading into August.  Won’t be long now for the retail stores will be decorating for Christmas (it seems to me that it gets done earlier each year).  I am pleased with my progress this month and my goal for August is to do the same or better.  As for challenges, not so good.  Back in Nov/Dec 2009, I signed up for many challenges being that this would be my first year participating.  I really thought I could get the majority completed, thinking that review requests would be far and few between.  I was mistaken but in a good way.  I have quite a few books in my “TBR Review Schedule” as you can see on my right sidebar and plan on cutting back a bit for the rest of the year until I get caught up.  I am amazed and never thought my blog would reach the level it has in 8 months, but enjoying every minute of it.  So on to the numbers:
READ:
Returning Injury by Becky Due  (Rating: 2)
Through Hazel Eyes by Heather Hummel  (Rating: 3)
Muffins & Mayhem by Suzanne Beecher (Rating: 5)
Living In The Hope Of My Imagination by William D. Simpson  (Rating: 2)
Finding Marco by Kenneth C. Cancellara  (Rating: 1)
Damaged by Pamela Callow  (Rating: 4)
Sidney Sheldon’s Mistress Of The Game by Tilly Bagshawe  (Rating: 4)
Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy  (Rating: 4)
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton  (Rating: 2)
Sweet Dreams, Miss England by Iris Blobel  (Rating:  4)
CHALLENGES:
Lisa Jackson  5/5
Awesome Author  0/3
RYOB  1/10
Romance  3/3
EBook  1/6
Reading from my Shelves 20/20
Thrillers/Suspense  12/12
Books Won  1/6
100+  39/100
FOMA 37/?
Buck A Book  39/100
Reagan Arthur 2/ongoing
50+  27/50
Summer Reading  11/12

Thoughts/Question for 2011: 
The 50+ Challenge was created by Reading By Sea blog.  However, last month she announced that she was leaving the book blogging community.  I was excited when I originally saw this challenge because even though I signed up for the 100+ Challenge, I knew that it would be out of my range.  So I am wondering if I should offer it for 2011 but not sure how to go about it…setting up a challenge, place for postings, place for reviews, challenge button, etc etc. 

What do you think?  Would you be interested?  Anyone want to assist me to become a host and get me started?  Or have you heard that another blog will be hosting?  I will be discussing this again for Slapdash Sunday but thought I would throw it out there today.