Category: Events

Memorial

Photo
I am heart broken as I’m sure millions across the world are.  And feeling at a loss of what to do, other than pray for those who tragically lost their lives, their families, the survivors and their families, I wanted to pay tribute to them and those that live in CT.
Ever since this horrific tragedy took place on Friday, one of the images that I keep vividly remembering is when my boys were that age, kissing them goodbye as they walked into their school.  How many of those families did the same but never thinking it would be the last time.  I am Blessed because I can still kiss my, now adult, sons.
My oldest son, who lives in CT, called me as soon as he got home from work on Friday, and is devastated.  Asking me questions I could not answer.
I know we are not to ask why, just know it is to be God’s will.  We may never know why and how this could happen to innocents, 20 babies, 6 adults doing their job and a mother of a very troubled young man.  Twenty little angels possibly drawing pictures of Christmas or making Christmas cards, with excitement that Santa would be arriving in a couple of weeks, and instead, an evil “bad man” arrived.
I can’t even begin to imagine what these families and the residents of Newtown CT are going through.  I have a very heavy heart and have shed tears since this unimaginable event took place.   Am at a loss at wanting to do something but not knowing what to do, except praying for all those that have been affected and remembering those that were taken much too soon.
Please pause, read the names above, remember and please pray for them and their families.  Dear God, please take these families in your loving arms, give them strength, protect and heal them and let them know that their loved ones will not be forgotten.  Amen.

Book Lovers Holiday Giveaway Hop–U.S. Residents only ENDED

DECEMBER 4th to DECEMBER 10th, 2012

HOSTED BY:
I AM A READER NOT A WRITER 
and CHAPTER BY CHAPTER

THANKS TO JKS COMMUNICATIONS

ONE VERY LUCKY WINNER WILL
WIN ALL FOUR (4) BOOKS BELOW: 
(click on text for synopsis via IndieBound and Amazon)
(I am an IndieBound Affliate)
     
      
Peter Golden – Comeback Love
Tony Hubbard – A Demon Lies Within
Steve Piacente – Bootlicker
Sandra Brannan – Widow’s Might

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
*USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY
*
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL
ADDRESS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*U.S.  RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

*GIVEAWAY ENDS December 10th AT MIDNIGHT*

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

DISCLAIMER / RULES

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
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 that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries
if rules of giveaway are not followed

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dewey Read-A-Thon

    

Hosting Blog

For the past month, I have been in a huge reading slump.  I even tried reading this week , with the incentive from Seasons Of Reading Read-A-Thon, and it did jump start my reading.  I think I have finally caught up with work and blog to-dos that I will be more focused for Dewey’s 24 hour Read-A-Thon.  I have my munchies ready (fruit, soy chips, rice cakes) and plan on parking myself in my recliner. I plan on taking a break every 2 hours to post my progress:

Start Time:  8am
Book:  Amanda’s Story by Brian O’Grady
Starting page #:  Kindle 38% ( I really wish that Kindle would do page numbers.  Anyone feel the same as I do on this?)
Murphy’s Law: Am getting a late start. Husband was on travel and this morning we were catching up over coffee.

Updates:

2pm:
Pages read:  up to 52%
Book:   Amanda’s Story
Comments: Very lat start.  Didn’t start reading until 10:45am.   Taking break to get lunch ready, move around and back to reading.

WRAP UP:
Pages read:    Kindle  55%
Book:  Amanda’s Story by Brian O’Grady
Comments:  Unfortunately, after getting a late start, and then the fact that I kept dozing off, I didn’t  make my goals of how much reading I had planned to do.  I was hoping to finish my current read but didn’t.  It never fails, whenever I sign up for a Read-A-Thon something always interferes  🙁

FrightFall Read-A-Thon Oct 1st-7th

THIS IS A STICKY POST

DAILY POSTS BELOW

HOSTED BY MICHELLE AT THE TRUE BOOK ADDICT 
AND SEASONS OF READING

I signed up to participate in this Read-A-Thon during the summer and am hoping it will get me back on track, since I have been in a slump, reading only 1 book during September.  

My goal is to set some time aside each day to read and get away from my computer.  However, I am also behind in my blog to-dos being extremely busy with Partners In Crime Tours and Providence Book Promotions.

My daily progress will be posted here:
MONDAY:
    Pages read:  0
    Book:
TUESDAY:
    Pages read: 0
    Book:
Unfortunately I have not been able to open a book because of work.  However, on Tuesday night, I got to meet, face to face  an author, that a friendship developed after being a Guest Author on my blog.  She flew in to attend a conference and we had dinner.  More details to come in Sunday’s Salon.  I will tell you that she is absolutely beautiful, inside and out!!!
WEDNESDAY:
    Pages read:  0
    Book:
THURSDAY:
What better way to end my reading slump, but to read a new novel by a favorite author. And it did the trick!!!
    Pages read:  16%  (Kindle)
    Book:  The Disappearance of Grace by Vincent Zandri
FRIDAY:
    Pages read:  50%  (Kindle)
    Book:  The Disappearance of Grace by Vincent Zandri
SATURDAY:
    Pages read:  24% Kindle
    Book:  The Disappearance of Grace by Vincent Zandri
SUNDAY:
    Pages read:
    Book:
WRAP UP:  This is exactly what I needed.  After being in a reading slump for approximately a month,  I feel that this week was successful.  Thank you Michelle for hosting!!!
TOTAL PAGES READ  100% Kindle +20 pages
BOOK(S):  Finished The Disappearance of Grace by Vincent Zandri and picked up Low Pressure by Sandra Brown

BlogFest 2012 ENDED

Photobucket

HOSTED BY A JOURNEY OF BOOKS

SEPTEMBER 28th to SEPTEMBER 30th, 2012

BLOGFEST 2012

 

$10.00 AMAZON GC GIVE AWAY.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
*USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY
*
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL
ADDRESS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: IF YOU WIN, WHAT BOOK
ON YOUR WISH LIST WILL YOU ORDER?*

*GIVEAWAY ENDS SEPTEMBER 30th AT 11:59PM EST*

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

 

HOP ON OVER TO THE NEXT BLOGS ON THE LIST

Therese Gilardi: Beneath The Sunglasses
Seductive Musings
Snarkymamma
Kiru Taye Writes
From the TBR Pile
Hesperia Loves Books

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcement!! Exciting News!

I have some exciting news to share with you!!!  As most of you know, I own Partners In Crime Tours (www.partnersincrimetours.net).  A virtual tour company for mystery, suspense and crime novels.  Over the past year, I have had requests for tours that do not fall under PICT’s specialty, and had to refuse them.  Until now!!

Providence Book Promotions (PBP), a subsidiary of Partners In Crime Tours has been established and is being unveiled today.  I invite you to visit our new site at http://www.providencebookpromotions.com/ or on Facebook.   PBP will coordinate tours for novels of “general fiction/literature”.  If you would be interested in becoming a tour host/reviewer for Providence Book Promotions, please fill out the form below and send to CMash@providencebookpromotions.com.

Hope to hear from you!

NAME
EMAIL ADDRESS:
BLOG:
BLOG URL:
EREADER (yes/no…type):
MAILING ADDRESS IF PREFER PRINT):
GENRES ENJOYED: (contemporary, historicals, classic, romance, etc etc) List as many as you want.

Happy Labor Day and Monday Memes

  

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s muse:
Have you ever considered writing a book before? What genre would you write?

My response:
No, however my husband has said on many occasions that I should.  It would be a memoir.  And those who know me and know my story, have said that they can’t believe all I have lived through.   Not a normal, typical, average life.

I will share one incident that happened when I was approximately 8-9 years old, that even to this day, I can recall every minute of an eight month period because of it’s impact it left on me.  My father, a business man, was approached by the state police, to tell him that there was credible information that my family was a target by people who had been following my parents, knew our life and who would shoot to kill if necessary.  They then asked if they could set up a sting operation.  My father agreed.  The next 8 months were terrifying as to the things we had to do, knowing we were being watched, seeing the police laying in wait on the floor in our dining room with their guns aimed at the doors and enough ammunition to “take the side of our house off”.   There is much more to this story, that could fill at least 4 chapters, except it wasn’t fiction it was my reality.  I did state, not a typical 8 year old’s life.

September is being hosted by BookNAround 

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
Click on text to read synopsis via IndieBound

       

Wednesday:  I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson–won from Bookin’ With Bingo
Saturday:  Low Pressure by Sandra Brown–The Hachette Book Group

Hosted by Acting Balanced 

1. What was the toughest job you ever had?
One that I didn’t get paid but received the greatest rewards for and that was being a parent and raising my sons. I was lucky to be a SAHM and quite honestly, those were the happiest years of my life. The hard part was being structured and with consistent follow through. It would have been so much easier giving in but I knew it would pay off in the end. Today my sons are men, with successful jobs in their fields, presently working on their Master’s and my oldest bought a house on his own and my youngest  just got engaged.

2. What one characteristic makes a good boss?
Respect

3. How did you celebrate ‘the end of summer’?
Getting ready for the movers tomorrow that will be bringing furniture from my Mom’s house here and to the assisted living facility where my sister lives.

4. Do you follow the fashion rules about Labour Day being the end of wearing white etc?
Not sure if that rule exists anymore. But I usually don’t wear white so it doesn’t apply to me.

5.  Any special plans for today?
Working around the house, hopefully get some posts drafted, and some work done for Partners In Crime Tours.

Thrill Week

Hosted by Marce from Tea Time With Marce

This week, Marce from Tea Time With Marce, is hosting her 2nd annual Thrill Fest.  If you would like to join in, click on the above image.  Last year I had signed up to participate but RL  prohibited me from actually taking part in it.  So I’m really excited to see what she has in store since, as most of you know, mystery and suspense are my favorite genre of books to read.  This is the first task.
Thrill Ride Questionnaire – all responses relating to Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense and or Horror
1)      Introduce yourself
Hi Everyone and Welcome to CMash Reads (formerly aka CMash Loves To Read).  This December will be my 3rd year of book blogging and reviewing.  
I have been married for 31 years (you can approximately guess my age lol) with 2 phenomenal sons that I am so proud of, however, they both live out of state due to jobs  :(, which they both were hired within 2 months of graduating college in their respective fields.  My youngest son just recently got engaged and we are thrilled.  I am a former RN.
In June of 2011, I became a partner in Partners In Crime Tours, a virtual PR tour company for authors of mystery, suspense and crime novels.  On July 13th, my partner turned the reins over to me.  We recently have teamed up with ITW (International Thrill Writers) and recently ran a tour at the request of Harper Collins for Laura Lippman’s newest book, And When She Was Good.  If anyone is interested in becoming a host/reviewer for our group, please leave your email and I will provide more details or you can visit our site at www.partnersincrimetours.net
2)      What has been your top 3 reads this year?  Link your reviews
Hard question because there have been many this year.  Of course I would have to list my favorite author, Vincent Zandri, and 2 debut books that I read for Partners In Crime Tours.
   Permanence by Vincent Zandri
   Love Thy Neighbor by Mark Gilleo
   Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo  (review will be unveiled on Aug. 15th but was a 5 star read)
3)      What are you currently reading during Thrill Week?
  The Prophet by Ethan Cross (another Partners In Crime Tours novel)
4)      Do you have an all time favourite cover in the genres above?
Another hard question because there are a lot but the 3 I mentioned above
 
5)      What debut author(s) or new to you author(s) have you read within the last 12 months that have impressed you?
Many…so here goes…..in order that they were read.
Mark Gilleo, Peter Leonard, Steena Holmes, Helga Zeiner, Giacomo Giammatteo
 
6)      Favourite trilogy or series you recommend to others to read in the genres above?
Moonlight by Vincent Zandri  and the first in the series of Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo
7)      What popular author(s) have you NOT read but is on your Wishlist?
I’m hoping to find new ones this week.
8)      Other than blogs, share with us what other tools you use or subscribe to in order to keep up with the latest news on authors, new releases, book tours, etc? 
Publishers newsletters
9)      What current book is hyped among the blogosphere that you want to read or are not interested in?  Why or why not or link your review if you have read it.
I haven’t seen any in this genre but would like to read the new Lisa Jackson.
 
10)   What is most important in these genres to you?  Plot, characters, location, dialogue, red herrings, narrator or what mix of them?
Definitely plot, characters, dialogue and an ending that I didn’t see coming.
 
11)   Recommend a book made into movie you thought both were good?
I’m not a movie person so can’t answer this question

12)   Recommend a book you would like to discuss with others and possibly the author?  Note – I will do a poll with participant’s choices at the end of Thrill Week and then we can agree on a date for Q&A.  I will try and arrange the chosen author to participate.
Giacomo Giammatteo, author of Murder Takes Time