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)

Talk & Thoughts

Great Giveaway !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Head on over to Sweeps4bloggers especially if you are like me when it comes to my glasses.  It was hard just to pick one pair.  I either can’t find where I put my glasses or my husband takes them by “accident”.  One day I searched for my glasses for an hour and then called hubby at work to see if he had seen them,  his response was an oops that he had put them in his pocket.  I used an old, cheap pair that I found.  Couldn’t wait for him to get home so I could see.  He had another oops for me…he had sat on them and broke them.  That’s why I am excited about this giveaway..I would know that I had a stylish extra pair.

Talk & Thoughts

Delightful Sunday morning…………….
What a nice way to wakeup!!!!  Turned on my computer and poured my 1st cup of coffee, my usual daily routine.  Sat down to read my email, especially all my book blog’s newsletters and there I saw “Winner Gate House”.  Thank you Vicki at “Reading At The Beach”.   I also want to thank her for her kindness and patience with me.  Since I am computer challenged she has been so helpful with me for setting up my blog.  She has a wonderful site and anyone reading this can visit her by clicking on her button which is located here on the left sidebar of my blog.  Again, THANK YOU VICKI.

2009/2010

My goal for 2010 was to enter challenges and/or memes.  Thinking I met my challenge.  Just signed up for another one.  J.Kaye’s Book Blog is hosting this one, Lisa Jackson’s books for 2009-2010!!!!   I have entered as a minimum of 4 or 5, but knowing that her books are page turners, that number will definitely rise.  Recently read “Chosen To Die” and had a hard time putting it down.  Thank you J.Kaye for hosting and all the great reviews.  My TBR list has grown due to my favorite blogs’ reviews

2010

Another Challenge !!!!!!!
Just signed up for my 2nd challenge hosted by Book Chick City. Am definitely looking forward to it. Starts 01/2010 thru 12/2010 and it consists of reading 12 mystery/suspense books (my favorite genre of reads). After the hustle & bustle of the holidays and since I hibernate in the winer (lol) this is going to be fun. Curled up with my afghan, a cup of tea and a good book…..definitely a great challenge!!!

Talk & Thoughts

11/14/09  Bittersweet feelings today…my baby moved out of state today.  I am so very happy for him as he starts a new journey in his life.   But will greatly miss him.  It all hit me last night when we went out to celebrate my older son’s bday and my younger son’s plan to move.  Where did the time go?  It seems like yesterday that they were born.  Emotions flowed when I looked at them and saw the men they have become.  I am so very thankful and proud to see what great kids they were and continue to be.  I love you guys!!  You two are the greatest gifts that God gave me.

11/13/09  Happy Birthday Paul !!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I can’t believe that my first born is 26….just know that I have enjoyed every day.  The best years of my life were when you and your brother were young.  And seeing both of you grow into becoming great, fantastic, caring men makes me proud.  Love you !!!!!

11/12/09 EXCITING NEWS….Visit bibliofreak.com to enter into a GREAT giveaway……a KINDLE 2.  I just entered and entry is easy.   My son’s gf is just like me when it comes to books…always has one at hand.  Since hubby just bought me an ereader, I would give it to her.  Keeping my fingers crossed.  Visit ASAP for this fantastic giveaway http://bibliofreakblog.com/great-kindle-giveaway/?ref=318971bead

11/12/09  It has been an emotional and physically rough week to say the least.  Surgery for a nerve stimulator was booked for next week and then cancelled.  I was hoping that this least invasive surgery was going to decrease my spinal pain and was so excited that it would mean only a few more days to withstand the pain.  But then the doctor was not sure if it could be done due to the inability to position me on the OR table because of the hardware that is presently in my spine.  So back to square one.  However with some research and help from the manufacturer we have found another doctor out of state that may be able to do the surgery.  Now I have to wait while he reviews all my records.  AND then this morning I boot up my computer and there is an email that I have won the Mindhunter Triology by Kylie Brant from Bookin’ With Bingo blog site.  I was so excited.  My mantra is “everything happens for a reason”.  Stumbling upon book blogs a few months ago and reading has helped me in getting through many painful days.  Thank you Karen at Bookin’WithBingo.blogspot.com.

11/08/09  Thinking that I have my new blog done….for now… unless anyone has suggestions.  Thoughts on my new Sony ereader (PRS600).  At first I was disappointed not holding a book, turning pages, the smell of a new book and the overall feelings of a book in hand.  But that soon changed.  I liked the touch screen, the ability to adjust font size,  keeping track of the page I stopped reading at (no dog ears, which I didn’t do often,or having my bookmark fall out and trying to find where it was),  the weight of the reader especially when reading in bed, the features (dictionary, notes, portability, having books d/l in seconds). After reading a book on the ereader, I then started reading a HC that I had won from a favorite blog and I wished it was in ereader format.  The price of books to d/l are approx 1/2 of what paperbacks cost and in researching, public libraries are now offering d/l as if I were to check out a book.  I try to pass my books on or donate and the fact that the clutter of having so many books is another nice feature.  Since I will be having multiple surgical procedures in the coming months, which is why my hubby ordered it for me, my ereader will be getting a lot of use.  The only feature that I  I don’t like is that there is no back light which makes it difficult to read when reading in bed.  However, I have ordered a light that attaches which was not expensive.  Overall,  I am very happy with the reader.

11/05/09  Thank You Karen from Bookin’ With Bingo for taking the time to visit.  Getting there with my new blog look…learning as I go.  My next goal will be to get involved with my favorite blog sites’ challenges and gathering buttons, etc.

11/04/2009  I am enjoying visiting my favorite blogs.   I am trying to learn how to get a new blog setup.  It is definitely harder than I thought.  This is going to be a challenge for me but I am going to keep trying.

10/19/09  Am so excited!! Yesterday my hubby ordered a gift for me, that being a Sony ereader.  I am moving forward in this technological world.  Can’t wait to get my hands on it.  THEN figure out how it works lol.  After reading a review on “Reading At The Beach” of Karen Rose, “I Can See You”, that will definitely be the first ebook.

I am still learning this new world of blogs and blogging.  What I really need is advice in how to find and/or make time to visit my favorite blogs, read my current book faster and find time for the ugly reality of house chores of cleaning, cooking, shopping, laundry, etc, etc.  Thinking that many of the seasoned bloggers know but I haven’t seen or found their secrets yet.  But I am determined to find out lol.  I am sooo addicted.

WooHoo!!!!!!!! I am in business LOL.  I have my first follower.  Thank you Reading At The Beach !!!!!!!!

Giveaway "The Lincoln Lawyer" 01/21 to 02/08 ENDED

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THE LINCOLN LAWYER
by MICHAEL CONNELLY
January 21st to February 8th
SYNOPSIS (borrowed from B&N):
   New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly delivers his first legal thriller–an incendiary tale about a cynical defense attorney whose one remaining spark of integrity may cost him his life.

   Mickey Haller has spent all his professional life afraid that he wouldn’t recognize innocence if it stood right in front of him. But what he should have been on the watch for was evil.<
   Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense pro who operates out of the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car, to defend the clients at the bottom of the legal food chain. It’s no wonder that he is despised by cops, prosecutors, and even some of his own clients.
   From bikers to con artists to drunk drivers and drug dealers, they’re all on Mickey Haller’s client list. But when a Beverly Hills rich boy is arrested for brutally beating a woman, Haller has his first high-paying client in years. It’s a franchise case and he’s sure it will be a slam dunk in the courtroom. For once, he may be defending a client who is actually innocent.
   But an investigator is murdered for getting too close to the truth and Haller quickly discovers that his search for innocence has taken him face-to-face with a kind of evil as pure as a flame. To escape without being burned, Haller must use all of his skills to manipulate a system in which he no longer believes.
Watch the movie trailer here:
http://www.michaelconnelly.com/Book_Collection/Lincoln/Movie/movie.html

THANKS TO THESE AMAZING PEOPLE:
JOSEPHINE FROM THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
MIRIAM FROM MULHOLLAND BOOKS
AND THE FOLKS FROM THE MOVE STUDIO
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I HAVE FIVE (5) MASS MARKET BOOKS OF THIS
LEGAL THRILLER TO GIVE AWAY.  AND WITH
EACH BOOK, YOU WILL WIN ONE MOVIE POSTER.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
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*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN.
*LEAVE COMMENT: DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM?*
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*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
  BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE.
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
*PLEASE LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU GRAB MY BUTTON AND
  PLACE ON YOUR BLOG’S SIDEBAR.
*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS ON ALL ENTRIES.
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*U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
*ONE WINNER PER PERSON*
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
BLOG SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN
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*GIVEAWAY ENDS FEBRUARY 8th AT 6PM EST*
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED BY EMAIL AND WILL  
HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND OR
ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN
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DISCLAIMER / RULES
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the
above.  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 and/or friends.
I am not responsible for lost or damaged products (books/
products are shipped from agents.  I reserve the right to
disqualify/delete any entries if  rules of giveaway are not followed.


Giveaway "Blind Man’s Alley" 12/14/10 to 12/28/10 ENDED

BLIND MAN’S ALLEY
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by JUSTIN PEACOCK
December 14th to December 28th
SYNOPSIS (borrowed from B&N)
   From the author of the Edgar Award–nominated legal thriller A Cure for Night, an ambitious and compulsively readable novel set in the cutthroat world of New York real estate.

   A concrete floor three hundred feet up in the Aurora Tower condo development in SoHo has collapsed, hurling three workers to their deaths. The developer, Roth Properties (owned by the famously abrasive Simon Roth), faces a vast tangle of legal problems, including allegations of mob connections. Roth’s longtime lawyers, the elite midtown law firm of Blake and Wolcott, is assigned the task of cleaning up the mess. Much of the work lands on the plate of smart, cynical, and sea­soned associate Duncan Riley; as a result, he falls into the pow­erful orbit of Leah Roth, the beautiful daughter of Simon Roth and the designated inheritor of his real estate empire.
   Meanwhile, Riley pursues a seemingly small pro bono case in which he attempts to forestall the eviction of Rafael Nazario and his grandmother from public housing in the wake of a pot bust. One night Rafael is picked up and charged with the mur­der of the private security cop who caught him, a murder that took place in another controversial “mixed income” housing development being built by . . . Roth Properties. Duncan Riley is now walking the knife edge of legal ethics and personal morality.
   Blind Man’s Alley is a suspenseful and kaleidoscopic journey through a world where the only rule is self- preservation. The New York Times Book Review said of A Cure for Night that “[Peacock] heads toward Scott Turow country . . . he’s got a good chance to make partner.” This taut, topical, and socially alert thriller delivers on that promise.

THANKS TO JUDY, LIZ AND THE
SUPER PEOPLE AT DOUBLEDAY
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I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES OF THIS LEGAL
THRILLER TO GIVE AWAY.  HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN ONE!!
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*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU, IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT IF YOU THINK YOU
WOULD MAKE A GOOD LAWYER*
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*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE ENTRY IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS BLOG
  (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).
*LEAVE SEPARATE ENTRY IF YOU GRAB MY BUTTON AND PLACE
  ON YOUR BLOG’S SIDEBAR.
*LEAVE SEPARATE ENTRY IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
*LEAVE SEPARATE ENTRY IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.
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* U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
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*GIVEAWAY ENDS DECEMBER 28th AT 6 pm EST*
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND
WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND OR
ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN
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DISCLAIMER / RULES
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the above.
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 and/or friends.

I am not responsible for lost or damaged books,(books are shipped
from agents.
I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries if
rules of giveaway are not followed.




Giveaway "Euphemania" 12/06 to 12/20 ENDED

EUPHEMANIA
OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH EUPHEMISMS
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by RALPH KEYES
December 6th to December 20th
SYNOPSIS (from back of book): An entertaining look at euphemisms-where they come from, why we need them, and what they tell us about who we are.

  How did “die” become kick the bucket, “underwear” become unmentionables, and “having an affair” become hiking the Appalachian Trail? Originally used to avoid blasphemy and taboos and to make nice, euphemisms have become embedded in the fabric of our language. Euphemania traces the evolution of euphemisms from tools of the church to expressions of gentility to today’s instrument of commercial, political, and postmodern doublespeak. As much social commentary as a book for word lovers, Euphemania is a lively and thought-provoking look at the power of words and our power over them.

THANKS TO BRIANNE AND THE TERRIFIC
PEOPLE AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP
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I HAVE THREE (3) COPIES OF THIS
GREAT BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN
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*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT:  DO YOU HAVE
FAVORITE EUPHEMISM?*
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*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
  BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE
 
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK
 
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
 
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU GRAB MY BUTTON AND
  PLACE ON YOUR BLOG’S SIDEBAR
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*U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
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*GIVEAWAY ENDS ON DECEMBER 20th AT 6PM EST*
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED BY EMAIL AND WILL
HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND OR
ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN 
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DISCLAIMER / RULES

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the
above.  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 and/or friends.
Winner will be chosen via Random.Org.  Winners will be
notified via email.  Winners must respond with 48 hours
 (2 days).  I am not responsiblefor lost or damaged
products (books are shipped from agents).
I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries if
rules of giveaway are not followed.