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)

Booking Thru Thursday

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Today’s question:
So … you’re halfway through a book and you’re hating it. It’s boring. It’s trite. It’s badly written. But … you’ve invested all this time to reading the first half.

What do you do? Read the second half? Just to finish out the story? Find out what happens?
Or, cut your losses and dump the second half?
  Thankfully this hasn’t happened often with me.  But when it has, I ask myself the same questions especially the one of investing time.  However, with the books I purchase, it really bothers me that I spent the money on something I didn’t enjoy.   And when it comes to a requested review from the publisher, author, or agent it bothers me even more that I will have to try and write a constructive yet with criticism review.  Think I went off on a bit of a tangent so my answer would be to cut my losses and dump the book. 

Photobucket in the fun. You don’t need a blog to comment. But if you do and want to join in, link is above.

Booking Thru Thursday

Photobucket

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Today’s question:
So … you’re halfway through a book and you’re hating it. It’s boring. It’s trite. It’s badly written. But … you’ve invested all this time to reading the first half.

What do you do? Read the second half? Just to finish out the story? Find out what happens?
Or, cut your losses and dump the second half?
  Thankfully this hasn’t happened often with me.  But when it has, I ask myself the same questions especially the one of investing time.  However, with the books I purchase, it really bothers me that I spent the money on something I didn’t enjoy.   And when it comes to a requested review from the publisher, author, or agent it bothers me even more that I will have to try and write a constructive yet with criticism review.  Think I went off on a bit of a tangent so my answer would be to cut my losses and dump the book. 

Photobucket in the fun. You don’t need a blog to comment. But if you do and want to join in, link is above.

W.W.W. Wednesdays (1 of 2)

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This morning hubby and I are headed back to where my surgeries were performed for a follow-up visit with the surgeon.  I apologize in advance if I don’t get around the blogosphere to visit and read your postings depending how I feel when we get back home.  Last week when I was discharged from the hospital, the ride home was very uncomfortable for me, sitting in one position for over and hour and of course hitting every pot hole along the way.  And today having to do it twice….there and back.  But I will try my best to visit at least a couple.  And now my W.W.W…..
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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
 *What are you currently reading?
     Still Midnight by Denise Mina
  *What did you recently finish reading?
     Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow
 *What do you think you’ll read next?
     Death Of A Cure by Steven H. Jackson 

Wonderous Words Wednesday (2 of 2)

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Hosted by Kathy at Bermudanonion’s Weblog http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/

  Today’s word comes from Still Midnight by Denise Mina

  balaclavas
Pronunciation: \ ˌba-lə-ˈklä-və, -ˈkla- \
a knit cap for the head and neck called also balaclava helmet

W.W.W. Wednesdays (1 of 2)

  Photobucket
This morning hubby and I are headed back to where my surgeries were performed for a follow-up visit with the surgeon.  I apologize in advance if I don’t get around the blogosphere to visit and read your postings depending how I feel when we get back home.  Last week when I was discharged from the hospital, the ride home was very uncomfortable for me, sitting in one position for over and hour and of course hitting every pot hole along the way.  And today having to do it twice….there and back.  But I will try my best to visit at least a couple.  And now my W.W.W…..
Photobucket

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
 *What are you currently reading?
     Still Midnight by Denise Mina
  *What did you recently finish reading?
     Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow
 *What do you think you’ll read next?
     Death Of A Cure by Steven H. Jackson 

Wonderous Words Wednesday (2 of 2)

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Hosted by Kathy at Bermudanonion’s Weblog http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/

  Today’s word comes from Still Midnight by Denise Mina

  balaclavas
Pronunciation: \ ˌba-lə-ˈklä-və, -ˈkla- \
a knit cap for the head and neck called also balaclava helmet

Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow

Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow (Rating 4)
Published by Synergy Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-9840760-1-7
ISBN-10: 0-9840760-1-8
At the request of Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, a HC copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (from the book’s jacket) In the bitter conflict over the Holy Land, two generations of families-one Israeli and one Palestinian-fight for their survival and their own piece of the Promised Land. Hardened by life in a Nazi concentration camp, cynical Ellie finds himself in a battle on behalf of the Jewish people, vowing to ensure their suffering will not be in vain. Overseas, Yasif, a Palestinian who left his home country at a young age to study in America, is mysteriously drawn into the struggle by an entity known only as the voice.
  My Thoughts/Opinion: This is not the type of book that I would typically read but once I started reading it, was fully engrossed. The author obviously did a lot of research in regard to the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wove it into a fictional tale. The characters believable whereas this reader could identify with the emotions felt by Ellie and Yasif. Is this conflict about land believed to be owned, religious beliefs, or just simply put, good versus evil? This book is only 162 pages but after reading Mr. Darkow’s bio, I felt that I should share why he came to write this very informative and emotional story. Mr. Darkow states, “Watching the plight of these people almost nightly on the news moved me to consider what could be done to bring peace to this part of the world. In using Ellie and Yasif as an illustration of the turmoil in Israel, it is my hope that readers will be inspired to think about how they can improve Israeli-Palestinian relations in America and of course in the region.” (from Phenix & Phenix press package).
  Rating: 4 star

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DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my HONEST review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family or friends.

Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow

Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow (Rating 4)
Published by Synergy Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-9840760-1-7
ISBN-10: 0-9840760-1-8
At the request of Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, a HC copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (from the book’s jacket) In the bitter conflict over the Holy Land, two generations of families-one Israeli and one Palestinian-fight for their survival and their own piece of the Promised Land. Hardened by life in a Nazi concentration camp, cynical Ellie finds himself in a battle on behalf of the Jewish people, vowing to ensure their suffering will not be in vain. Overseas, Yasif, a Palestinian who left his home country at a young age to study in America, is mysteriously drawn into the struggle by an entity known only as the voice.
  My Thoughts/Opinion: This is not the type of book that I would typically read but once I started reading it, was fully engrossed. The author obviously did a lot of research in regard to the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wove it into a fictional tale. The characters believable whereas this reader could identify with the emotions felt by Ellie and Yasif. Is this conflict about land believed to be owned, religious beliefs, or just simply put, good versus evil? This book is only 162 pages but after reading Mr. Darkow’s bio, I felt that I should share why he came to write this very informative and emotional story. Mr. Darkow states, “Watching the plight of these people almost nightly on the news moved me to consider what could be done to bring peace to this part of the world. In using Ellie and Yasif as an illustration of the turmoil in Israel, it is my hope that readers will be inspired to think about how they can improve Israeli-Palestinian relations in America and of course in the region.” (from Phenix & Phenix press package).
  Rating: 4 star

Photobucket
DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my HONEST review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family or friends.