Mailbox Monday, Meme, Monday Memes, Musing Mondays

Monday Memes

CMash April 23, 2012 10 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
Other than working at a job, what is your biggest interruption to reading? What takes you away from your book(s)?

My answer:
For me, there are a two big reasons that take me away from reading but don’t consider them interruptions. The main one would be real life in general, daily tasks that need to be done around the house., day to day chores. However, I think the biggest cause of interruption, time wise, would be being on the computer, blogging and and taking care of business for Partners In Crime Tours . Other than that and due to the fact that I am now an empty nester, only hubby and I in the house, and not working outside of the home, once I do grab my current book and sit to read, there really aren’t any “interruptions” per se.

April is being hosted by Cindy’s Love of Books

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.”

Author-galley-PICT Author-PICT

The Story Plant (Spread The Word Initiative)

Meme, Sunday Salon

Sunday Salon–Read-A-Thon Almost sidelined!!

CMash April 22, 2012 5 Comments

Facebook link

Welcome to another FB Sunday Salon. If this is your first time visiting, Thank you. Hope you like what you see. Since I’m taking a break from Dewey’s Read-A-Thon to write this, I am going to get it started right away!!

Reading: As I stated, I am participating in Dewey’s Read-A-Thon. This is my first time ever to participate and am enjoying it, even though I thought I was going to be sidelined when I woke up. My left eye was swollen and in pain…great…never fails…I sign up for a read-a-thon and RL has other plans for me!! Did you ever get that eyelash stuck somewhere inside your lid and it’s scratching the cornea? Yup…that was me. So the 8am kick off didn’t happen. I have heard much about “Dewey”, but was not a blogger then but from what I heard, I felt that I wanted to give my time to her memory. I might not be doing what I am if it wasn’t for her!! But by 11am, even though painful and blurry, I started and it got better throughout the day.

Reading this week was a bit slow. I finished The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan and just couldn’t decide what mood I was in for my next book, so I picked up a few, read a few pages and then received one from The Story Plant for it’s Spread The Word Initiative Program, Betty’s (Little Basement) Garden by Laurel Dewey and decided on this one.

I received some great books this week but will post those tomorrow.

Blogging: Another week that I spent more time at the computer than I should have. I have a lot of guest author showcases and giveaways coming up and I like to prepare my drafts way in advance. Since I am not the quickest when it comes to the computer, it does take time to pull these together. And not only that, I feel that if for some reason, RL interferes, I don’t have to scramble at the last minute. Am I the only one that is OCD about showcases or does anyone else prepare their’s ahead of time?

Real Life: Highlight…spin cycle on my favorite appliance let go. At first I was YES!!! no laundry, then looked and saw the hampers and got on the phone for repair service. I just don’t understand…even though it’s just my husband and I living here, the boys out of state, my laundry multiplies like rabbits. But all fixed!! Back to normal, wash, dry, fold.

Not a very exciting week here, the next 2 will be though….stay tuned to what is coming up!!

How was your week?

Aloha Friday, Meme

Aloha Friday

CMash April 20, 2012 11 Comments

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!

MY QUESTION:
Favorite perfume/cologne?

Booking Thru Thursday, Meme, Thursday Memes

Booking Through Thursday

CMash April 19, 2012 7 Comments

http://btt2.wordpress.com

Today’s question:
A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.
Bookish Sarah asks:
What are your literary “pet peeves”?

My answer:
hmmmm.. pet peeves? I have a few but some of them depend on the book.

My biggest 2 irritations are waiting for that “pulled in” feeling and too many characters.

I think that, and an author once told me that if by page 20 or so, and the book hasn’t grabbed you, it probably won’t. That’s why I changed my review policy that I would at least read the 1st 50 pages and then see if it goes into the DNF pile. Because are too many books in my TBR bookcase, 2 Ereaders and new ARCs that are being published, that I want to read, I decided not to struggle anymore to finish a book. That type of book will always put me behind because I just don’t have that “pick me up, need to read” feeling.

The other “pet “peeve” is characters. Especially when too many characters are introduced in the beginning of the book. When that occurs, I find myself making a cheat sheet with the names, their roles, etc and then on some occasions, to find out later down the road, that some of those characters didn’t play a vital role in the story.

And one last thing, I know I said 2, but this is just a quirky issue that I have. Anyone else share it? Number of pages. I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by the cover nor should you with the number of pages. But it is a subconscious personal problem I have. Or maybe it’s just that, even though I will enjoy what I am reading at that moment, I am also thinking what the next book I’m going to pick up is going to be. When I see that a book has more than 300 pages or so, I have this nagging feeling that it is going to be a “chore” to get through and tend to start thinking that it is going to cost me extra time to read to get to that next book. However, I have read books that do have >400 pages and has taken me just a couple of days to read because it is a “grabbed me” book. Like I said, it’s not a “pet peeve”, it’s just a peculiar way in my thinking.

What about you? What are your “pet peeves”?

Meme, W.W.W. Wednesdays, Wednesday Memes

W.W.W. Wednesday

CMash April 18, 2012 3 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

Haven’t yet decided which book to read?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Mailbox Monday, Meme, Monday Memes, Musing Mondays

Monday Memes

CMash April 16, 2012 6 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
What are you currently reading? And, is it better, as good as, or worse than your last read?

My answer:
I currently have 2 books going but finding I am reading one more than another. Guess I am still a one book at a time person.

It’s The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan, which is also a current giveaway if you are interested…check out sidebar. I am enjoying it and being the month of The Titanic Anniversary it seems fitting to be reading it now.

Compared to my last book? Quite different. This is fiction whereas my last read was a memoir. The book is RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up In the Shadow of Marilyn Monroe by Dawn Novotny. Amazing!! Powerful!! Sad!! Inspirational!! I read the book in 2 sittings, it was that good. Could not put it down!! Even though 2 different genre books, I would have to say, the memoir was better. It was a read that touched me to the core and will stay with me for a very long time. FYI..I read this book at the request of WOW and Ms. Novotny will be a Guest Author here on June 7th. Mark it on your calendar as there will also be a 2 book giveaway that you WILL want to enter. I have written my review and will post it then, but will tell you I rated it a 5+.

April is being hosted by Cindy’s Love of Books

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.”

The Hachette Book Group Author Author

WITH A

Author…Fiction Studio (a division of The Story Plant)

Meme, Sunday Memes, Sunday Salon

Sunday Salon…Changes and An Unexpected Trip

CMash April 15, 2012 12 Comments

Facebook link

Hi to everyone this glorious Sunday, hope you had a wonderful week. I didn’t post last week due to Easter so I have a lot of bookish thoughts this week. So let’s get started…….

Reading: I read a phenomenal, captivating memoir that I highly recommend, RagDoll Redeemed by Dawn Novotny. And I have another 2 books that I am reading, something I never thought I would do and that is to read 2 at a time. More on that in a bit. The 2 books are The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan and The Whipping Club by Deborah Henry.

Back to reading in general…..Not sure why, but lately my reading habits and genres have changed. Example… reading 2 books at a time, I never thought I could or even would consider trying to give my attention to 2 books. I often wondered how others could do it and now I am. Maybe it’s that I couldn’t decide what to read next so started perusing my 2 current reads and then found myself reading both. Has this happened to you? Do you read more than one book at a time? And another change I have noticed is genres. I have always been a staunch mystery/suspense reader but lately have been reading memoirs and books with a lot of relationship dynamics. Again, maybe it’s just because I just finished some great books, one book by a favorite author, Diane Chamberlain, and 2 of which were by another author, Barbara Taylor Sissel, who is also now on my favorite authors list. Again, highly recommend all 3.

Blogging: Spent quite a lot of time at the computer this week, which is one of the reasons I only read one book. Due to some unexpected plans that left me being away from home for an overnight stay in the hospital. Plus the fact that I am currently over seeing 5 tours with Partners In Crime Tours (more on that in a bit) and getting ready for a planned vacation, I tried to get a lot of posts drafted up in advance. I also updated my LT account, which I haven’t done in many months, but have a question. I have reached my 200 book and I can’t add any more without an upgrade. I know there must be many of you that have more books than that. Do you pay the yearly fee? Or do you keep your account maxed at 200 and use GR instead?

If you are stopping by for the first time, welcome. I would like to extend an invitation to you and to those who might be interested. I am a partner in a virtual PR company, Partners In Crime Tours, for authors of mystery, suspense and crime novels. There are so many new book blogs out in cyberspace now, I am afraid I might miss some. If you enjoy reading the genre of mystery/suspense and would like to become a host/reviewer for our group, please email me at CMash@Partnersincrimetours.net and I will email you with the details or answer any questions you may have. Hope you sign on. Our site is www.Partnersincrimetours.net where you can see our past, current and upcoming tours and read our testimonials.

Real Life: I mentioned that I had an unexpected trip to the hospital, that was definitely not part of my plans this past week. And to make matters worse, it was THE FIRST time I ever left my house without a book!!!! Last Saturday while in the process of taking my prescribed morning meds, I started to cough and accidentally aspirated a pill into my trachea. From there I started having signs of fever, wheezing and shortness of breath. Knowing that we have a vacation coming up, I called my doc thinking that an x-ray would be taken and antibiotics prescribed. Easy but NO!! They said to come right in (that’s when I forgot my book). From the doctor’s office, a rescue was called and I was rushed to the hospital ER (6 hours….NO BOOK). Chest x-ray done and was fine. Gave me a breathing treatment (great!!!…I can go home…..but NO!!!) After the treatment, I became worse with wheezing to the point where the doc could audibly hear me from the desk and came running into my cubicle. Rushed to CTscan (Admitted!!…NO BOOK). Hubby finally rescued me and brought me a book. Stayed overnight for IV antibiotics, steroids and more breathing treatments. Discharged next day. Had severe lung broncho spasms due to the aspiration. Good news, I had my book and we can go on our planned vacation. Will have more tests after our get away. I learned 2 valuable lessons…NEVER leave house without book and not to cough when taking medication. Feeling better now!!!

So how was your week? Any great reads, finds, recommendations? And if this was your first time stopping by, thank you. Check out the sidebars for current giveaways!!

Aloha Friday, Meme

Aloha Friday

CMash April 13, 2012 11 Comments

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!