…….. of Child Of Mine by Judy Walters

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When Marissa, from JKS Communications emailed me and I read the synopsis of our  guest’s book, I wanted to know more.  And I think you will too.  I have the honor and pleasure to introduce you to Ms. Linda Stasi!!  Welcome to the group!!

LINDA STASI

The popular and well-read columnist/critic for The New York Post, Linda Stasi, has also been an on-camera co-host with Mark Simone on NY 1 TV’s “What a Week!” for the past eight years.

Stasi has appeared on TV talk shows and news channels such as “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” “The View” as well as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC,  and many others.

She has served as guest radio talk show host on WOR radio and co-host on “The Radio Factor” with Bill O’Reilly and is a regular guest on Boston’s “Matty In The Morning.”

Brash, funny and opinionated, the acerbic Stasi has authored five non-fiction books – “Looking Good Is the Best Revenge,” “A Field Guide to Impossible Men,” “Simply Beautiful,” “Boomer Babes” and “Scotto Sunday Suppers” – and debuts her first novel on January 22, 2013 from Forge Books titled “The Sixth Station.” Not afraid to say what’s on her mind in her popular column such as one entitled “Shed No Tears for This Twisted Sicko,” on the death of Michael Jackson received over 18,000,000 hits in the first few hours and was reprinted around the world.

She has won numerous awards including “Best Columnist” by the Newswomen’s Club of NY, “Best Humor Columnist,” and “Woman of the Year: 2006” by the Boys Town of Italy for her charitable work such as driving a tractor-trailer in an 18-truck convoy from NYC to the gulf states with relief supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Some say Demiel ben Yusef is the world’s most dangerous terrorist, personally responsible for bombings and riots that have claimed the lives of thousands. Others insist he is a man of peace, a miracle worker, and possibly even the Son of God. His trial in New York City for crimes against humanity attracts scores of protestors, as well as media and religious leaders from around the world.

Cynical reporter Alessandra Russo heads to the UN hoping for a piece of the action, but soon becomes entangled in controversy and suspicion when ben Yusef singles her out for attention among all other reporters. As Alessandra begins digging into ben Yusef’s past, she is already in more danger than she knows—and when she is falsely accused of murder during her investigation, she is forced to flee New York.

On the run from unknown enemies, Alessandra finds herself on the trail of a global conspiracy and a story that could shake the world to its foundations. Is Demiel ben Yusef the Second Coming or the Antichrist? The truth may lie in the secret history of the Holy Family, a group of Templars who defied the church, and a mysterious relic stained with the sacred blood of Christ Himself.

BOOK DETAILS:
Hardcover, $24.99
ISBN: 978-0765334275
Fiction, 368 pages
Forge Books, Jan. 22, 2013

THANKS TO MARISSA AT JKS COMMUNICATIONS, I
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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.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

…..of Three Sisters by Susan Mallery

99 Shirley Greenawalt Zolenski Tweet about the Giveaway

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….. of Activate Your Goodness by Shari Arison

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You are in for a treat!!!  Tanisha, from Forever/Grand Central Publishing, is stopping by today with bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen.  I ask, for your help, in giving them a warm welcome to CMash Reads.

JESSICA SORENSEN

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives with her husband and three kids in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Connect with Jessica at her website, on FB and Twitter.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A rule-breaker with a fiery attitude, Ella always wore her heart on her sleeve. Then she left everything behind to go to college, where she transformed into someone who follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. Now it’s summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. But once there, Ella fears that everything she’s worked so hard to bury might resurface—especially with Micha living right next door.

Smart, sexy, and confident, Micha can get under Ella’s skin like no one else. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. If he tries to tempt the old Ella to return, he will be impossible to resist. But what Ella doesn’t realize is that when she left, she took a piece of Micha’s heart with her. Now he’s determined to win back the girl he lost, no matter what it takes.

Purchase links:  Amazon   B&N

THANKS TO TANISHA AT GCP/FOREVER, I
HAVE THREE (3) COPIES TO GIVE AWAY.
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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 and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

….of The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

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24 Martha Eskuchen Follow @CherylMash on Twitter

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I have the honor and privilege to introduce you to today’s guest, as she kicks off her virtual tour with Providence Book Promotions at the request of Doubleday Publishing.  I ask that you help me in welcoming Ms. Brenda Ashford to CMash Reads.

BRENDA ASHFORD

Brenda Ashford is a graduate of Norland College, a world-famous institute for British nannies. For sixty-two years, she cared for more than one hundred children, making her Britain’s longest-serving nanny. She lives outside London.
Connect with Ms. Ashford via Doubleday at       

Pearls of Wisdom by Brenda Ashford

“I had puzzled many times over the ingredients for a perfect recipe for a happy home. Throw in some stability, a dash of routine and respect. Sprinkle some fun and imaginative games and stir well. But the most vital ingredient is the mother. The mother is truly the heart and soul of a family.”

“As for fussy eaters? I don’t stand for it. I have taken a hard line on this topic. This is a home, not a restaurant and you will jolly well try it before you turn your nose up at it.”

“If a child has sufficient breakfast, lunch and dinner they shouldn’t need a snack. I don’t really like it today when I see children being wheeling along in a pram stuffing things in their mouth. ”

“Children cannot get up to your level, so you have to get down to theirs; try and understand how the world looks through their eyes.”

“If we respect little people then they in turn will grow up to respect others.”

“Put a book in a child’s hands or plant them in an empty field or park, and suddenly the world opens up and becomes a fantastical place of make believe and adventure.”

“Never let a house define you. You can make a home anywhere from an air raid shelter to a shed, if you have to. Riches and wealth don’t matter a jot.”

“I was always honest with my charges. In fact in every area of my life I have been most careful to never tell a lie. Why can’t everyone be more careful to tell the truth? At least we would all know where we stand in life.”

“Little folk deserve a childhood that’s full of fun. It’s the single most valuable lesson in my eyes. I have always encouraged children to have a giggle wherever and whenever they can.”

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM A Spoonful of Sugar: A Nanny’s Story by Brenda Ashford * 9780385536417 *On Sale April 2, 2013Strung Together During 60 Years of Devoted Service as a Nanny

ABOUT THE BOOK

Brenda Ashford is the quintessential British nanny. Prim and proper, gentle and kind, she seems to have stepped straight out of Mary Poppins. For more than six decades Nanny Brenda swaddled, diapered, dressed, played with, sang to, cooked for, and looked after more than one hundred children. From the pampered sons and daughters of lords ensconced in their grand estates to the children of tough war evacuees in London’s East End, Brenda has taught countless little ones to be happy, healthy, and thoroughly well bred. In this delightful memoir, Brenda shares her endearing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre experiences turning generations of children into successful adults.

From the moment Brenda first held her baby brother David she was hooked. She became a second mother to him, changing his nappies, reading him stories, and giving him all the love her warm heart contained. Knowing a career caring for children was her calling in life, Brenda attended London’s prestigious Norland College, famous for producing top-notch nannies. It was a sign of privilege and good taste for the children of the well-to-do to be seen being pushed in their Silver Cross prams by Norland nannies, who were recognizable by their crisp, starched black uniforms with white bib collars, and their flowing black capes lined with red silk. And what skills were these trainees tested on daily? Lullaby singing, storytelling, pram shining, bed making, all forms of sewing, cooking simple meals, and dispensing first aid—including knowing the best way to help the medicine go down.

In A Spoonful of Sugar, Brenda recalls her years at Norland and her experiences during the war (after all, even if bombs are dropping, there’s no reason to let standards slip), and recounts in lovely detail a life devoted to the care of other people’s children.

Sprinkled throughout with pearls of wisdom (you can never give children too much love, and you should learn how to sew a button, for goodness’ sake), this delightful memoir from Britain’s oldest living nanny is practically perfect in every way.

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BOOK DETAILS

Genre: Memoir
Published by: Doubleday Publication
ISBN: 978-0385536417
Number of Pages: 320
Publish Date: April 2, 2013

PURCHASE LINKS:

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HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
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No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

It has been a very busy week here at CMash Reads.  And last, but not least, I have the privilege to introduce you to today’s guest author, Mr. Wix Simon!  Welcome!!

WIX SIMON

Wix Simon worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for many years and is now a consultant. His scientific training provides him the basis for understanding modern police work, which is heavily rooted in science and technology. Wix learned about police work from Mickey Lloyd, the lead investigator for the APD in the Atlanta Child Murders that occurred between 1979 and 1981. He is the author of the novel A Toxic Assault; he also plays the fiddle and enjoys black-and-white photography.
Visit Mr. Simon at his website here.

Q & A with Wix Simon

Writing and Reading:
-Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
I use personal experiences to shape character and motivation.  I think some about current events for plot, but usually I start the plot with an idea I’ve had for several years.

-Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
I never know where the book is going.  How boring would that be!  Instead, I start the plot and then as I get to know the characters, they act out the plot through their motivations and desires.  Every character I create, even Rusty Nails in “A Lost Gun”, has some aspect that engages me.

-Your routine when writing?  Any idiosyncrasies?
When I’m writing a novel, I either think about the book or write for about 45 minutes while I sit in my kitchen drinking coffee.  I use a small computer to write novels and it’s easy to fire it up in the morning.

-Is writing your full time job?  If not, may I ask what you do by day?
I work as a consulting scientist. I have a solo practice as a consulting toxicologist.  As a toxicologist, I’m writing a text book on environmental risk assessment.  It’ll end up about 110,000 words.  I write it when I can.  Much more time consuming than writing a novel–after all, I can’t just make it up for the text book.  I can talk further about my work if you wish.

-Who are some of your favorite authors?
for thriller/suspense: James Lee Burke, Oliver Potzch, Gillian Flynn, Lee Child, James Elroy for literature; Thomas Pynchon, William Gaddis, Joseph Heller, William Faulkner for philosophy: Karl Popper, Friedrich Neitzche, Soren Kirkegaard, David Hume, Robert Pursig

-What are you reading now?
The Beggar King by Oliver Potzch and a biography of the photographer Edward S. Curtis.

-Are you working on your next novel?  Can you tell us a little about it?
I completed about 80 pages before starting on the text book.  In that story, Detective Bud Prior goes after a serial killer. This is the story in which he meets his first wife Sandi. Sandi drove a friend to an abortion clinic and was waiting for her. She was reading Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary.  Bud is a reader and was intrigued by her choice of books.  That was how they met.

Fun questions:
-Your novel will be a movie.  Who would you cast?
In “A Lost Gun,” I’d cast Rooney Mara as Jessie, Jude Law as Bud Prior, and Keith Couture as Ron Niles.”

-Would you rather read or watch TV/movie?
I like both books and movies–the choice is driven by content.  The last movie I saw out was “Django Unchained.” It was great. I’d read another Jack Reacher book by Lee Child, but I think he’s likely burned out.  I read “Dark Places” by Gillian Flynn recently. I’d read another by her in a NY minute.

-Favorite food?
I have food allergies and am gluten free.  I eat to live rather than vice versa.  I like good sushi.

-Favorite beverage?
Coffee, what else?

Other interests:
I do traditional black-and-white film photography and play the violin.

 ABOUT THE BOOK

THANKS TO BRANDON AT BOHLSEN GROUP, I
HAVE THREE (3) COPIES TO GIVE AWAY.
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DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.