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This week’s question:
The flip side of last week’s …
Are there any good books that you read IN SPITE OF the cover and ended up wondering what on earth the artist and publisher were thinking to pair up a cover that so badly represented a perfectly good book?
And … if you didn’t like the cover, what made you pick up the book? The author? Assigned reading from school? A recommendation from a friend?

My answer:
Unfortunately, yes.  And quite a few.  BB (before blogging), I will admit, when purchasing a book, I would first pick up a book because of it’s cover and then read the synopsis.  Unless it was a writer that was on my “authors to read” list.

However, for the past 3 years, since becoming an active participant in the online book blogging community and accepting requests to review,  it’s the synopsis and/or reviews from other bloggers that influence  me.   After receiving said books,  there have been a few times where I have thought, “what were they thinking?”  I also wonder if the cover is any indication of what kind of read it is going to be.  And in those circumstances when the book is a 4-5 star, I then think “the cover is going to hurt the sales of a book” putting myself in a consumer’s “shoes”.  Even though I loved the book, I know I would have missed out on a good read if I saw it on the shelves.

In my opinion, even though you aren’t supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, when I see a poorly designed cover, I automatically think that the caliber of writing will probably be amateurish especially in today’s market where anyone can self publish.

What about you?  Do covers influence you?  Have you read a 5 star novel but hate the cover?   What are your thoughts on poorly designed covers?

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

         
What did you recently finish reading?

          
What do you think you’ll read next?

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
Do you ever get crushes on fictional characters? Name one (or a few), and tell what you liked…

My response:
I’ll admit….I sure do.  And with each book I pick up by one particular author, I know I will “swoon” with his male characters.  What author am I speaking of?  Michael Baron!!  I was introduced to this author 3 years ago, and every book he has written since, I have read.  His characters are kind, loving, compassionate, romantic, sensitive, endearing and the list goes on.  How could a female not be enamored by those qualities?  If you have never read a Michael Baron book, then it’s time.  I guarantee you will be swept off your feet!!!!  Here are just a few of his books that I highly recommend:  Leaves,  Spinning,   A Winter Discovery, When You Went Away,  The Journey Home.   

October is being hosted by Parchment Girl

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 title for synopsis via IndieBound. (I am an IndieBound Affiliate)

Sunday:  Falling In Love by Stephen Bradlee from Author
Monday: Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista from BlueDot Literary
Monday: Blackberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayer from The TBR Pile-Won from BlogFest
Monday: Woodrose Mountain by RaeAnne Thayne from The TBR Pile-Won from BlogFest

Happy Sunday!!!

Wanted to share some exciting news with everyone.

It is official, the “Mash” family will be celebrating a very Blessed and beyond happy, special day on Nov. 16th, 2013.  My youngest son, Mark and my beautiful future daughter-in-law, Jess, have booked their wedding.

Even though, we have known for a while that Jess was the one who held our son’s heart and even though we were excited when Mark proposed on July 13th, now that we know the date, I am feeling so many emotions.  Love, happy, excited, thankful, beaming, being so proud of both of them, lucky that I am getting a daughter that we truly love as our own.  I am also recalling so many memories of the past 26 years.  When did my baby, he is our youngest, grow up and become a man that both Steve and I are so proud of.  We are truly blessed.

It seems like yesterday that Steve and I were on our way to the hospital to welcome our 2nd child into the world and to find out what “it” was.  I can vividly remember, because we hadn’t agreed on a name.   I was a few weeks early, and in between contractions  trying to decide on a boy’s and girl’s name.  Unfortunately, there were complications and I was rushed to the OR .  As I was waking up from the anesthesia, the nurse said to me, “meet Mark James”.  At first I was just so relieved that he was OK, that it was then that I realized “it” had been named by Steve.  We had discussed the name Mark so I was fine with it.  And the years that followed, I can honestly say were the happiest moments of my life.  I was lucky to be a SAHM for both boys and enjoyed every minute of it.  Even though, there were times that they, both Paul and Mark, almost pushed me over the edge lol.

Mark:  You will always hold a special place in my heart of being my baby.  And right now, my heart is overflowing with love and pride.  Even though you had your moments like when you “painted like Daddy” your room with vaseline, when you accidentally gave your brother a concussion after hitting him with a golf club at the range, or like the day when you picked up “your” first car and within 15 min had an accident.  I will always treasure those special days that were “ours” right before Christmas when you helped with our Christmas Eve feast, decorating the house, watching you build your 3D puzzles, always wanting to learn whatever crafts that I was working on, your compassion towards others, your sensitivity and caring, overcoming obstacles and graduating college Magna Cum Laude and so much more.  I want to publicly thank you for Jess.  I love you.

Jess:  Welcome to the family, officially.  We liked you the minute we met you when you were “friends” with Mark while in college.  We were so happy when Mark told us that “it was official, you were a “couple”.  As time went on, I could see that you had Mark’s heart and knew that you were the one.  We always loved you for being you, but you will always hold a special place in my heart also.  You make my son so happy and for that, I love you.  I can hear it and see the special smile when he says your name and can see the love in his eyes.  In my heart, you are much more than my future daughter-in-law, you are our daughter.  I love you.

I am looking forward to this upcoming year.  So exciting!!!  My baby is getting married and I am getting a daughter.   And how could I not include and say thank you for another special member of our family……….Baylee!!

This was a picture of her the first time that she was coming to visit from PA to RI.  They will be here in a few weeks to attend a family wedding and I can’t wait to see the 3 of them.!!   I love you!!

Hosted by An Island Life

Lately I have been inundated, more so than usual, with spam both in my mail spam folder and on my blog. The other day I deleted 19 spam comments on my blog and in a day I get up to 20-40 in my mailbox. Which brings me to my questions for today:

My Questions:
Have you seen an increase in your spam,
both in your mailbox and blog?
Approximately how many a day for each, mailbox and blog?

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s muse:
This week’s musing — courtesy of http://cmashlovestoread.com — asks…
Do you have a system as to which books to read from your “requested review pile? What is it? What about when there are too many to read in a certain time frame? {apologies to those who don’t review}

My thoughts:
Before I answer my own question lol I want to share my reaction this morning when I saw today’s question. I booted up, got all my pages opened, and then went to copy/paste today’s muse. And thought, what a good question! lol  And because I had just grabbed my coffee mug, it took a few minutes to realize it was one of my questions I had submitted, don’t remember when, but there it was lol.  Thank you Miz B for choosing my question.

Over the past 3 years, I have tried different policies when it comes to “requested review books”.  When I first started to review, I would read novels in the order that I received them.  This worked out for a while but I then found myself going into “reading slumps” since  I’m a mood reader and felt that I was reading in a robotic fashion.  I then tried to guarantee 2-4 books per month that I would guarantee a review posting.  That also worked for a while.

Now, because of the tour companies, Partners In Crime Tours and Providence Book Promotions, and medical issues,  my reading time has been affected.  My first priority are books that are being toured, then the 2nd tier are for those publishers and publicists that I have been reviewing for since the beginning and the 3rd tier are the books that sit on my TBR shelves of my bookcase, but those that are chosen depending on my mood.

I receive many requests in a week and I know, and have been trying my hardest, to say that 2 letter word NO, but I don’t have it in me.  I read a synopsis, knowing it is something I would enjoy and I accept it adding it to my “TBR requested review shelves, which are the top 2 shelves of my bookcase, not counting what’s in my EReaders.  However, since I am now starting a 3rd shelf, I have been trying so hard to say NO, but I admit, I have an addiction to books.

What about you?  Do you have a review reading system?

October is being hosted by Parchment Girl

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 for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound Affiliate)

Monday:  Into The Dark by Stacy Green from Author for Partners In Crime Tours
Monday: Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult from Simon & Schuster
Thursday: The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd from Harper Collins
Thursday: Breaking The Code by Karen Fisher-Alaniz from Sourcebooks for WOW!
Friday: Villa Triste by Lucretia Grindle from The Hachette Book Group ARC

Hosted by An Island Life

From An Island Life:
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
I used to love this time of year. I would do a heavy fall cleaning, each room top to bottom, throwing away items that weren’t used, windows, etc. A true nesting feeling. However, since the last 2 back operations, it makes it quite difficult to do but still have that feeling. Recently, due to breaking down my mother’s house and putting it on the market, some items were moved here so I have been emptying boxes, rearranging, etc. Which brings me to today’s question.

Do you do a top to bottom “fall cleaning”?  

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
Do you have a favorite series? Do you have a favorite book out of that series?

My response:
If you follow this blog, then you probably know what I’m going to say.  No thinking needed with this week’s question. at least for me.  The series is The Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, a 13 book series written as a contemporary fictional story based on The Revelations in the Bible.  It was such a page turner that I went through all 13 books within a month or so.

What is your favorite series?  Have you read The Left Behind Series?  If so, what were your thoughts on the series?

October is being hosted by Parchment Girl 

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.”

                        Simon & Schuster                  Author