Our friend, Jodi, from WOW has a very special treat for us today.  As she always does, she will be introducing us to a very special author who is an expert in her field.  So even though it may be a little early, I am asking that you get comfortable and instead of grabbing a coffee, that you raise your wine glass and welcome today’s guest, Ms. Sara Fasolino!

SARA FASOLINO

Sara Fasolino is the Beverage Systems Manager at Morton’s The Steakhouse and is recognized in the industry as a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, as a Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators and as an Advanced Mixologist. Fasolino’s role with Morton’s includes overseeing the restaurant’s beverage inventory for all its locations, serving as the restaurant’s liaison with the Court of Master Sommeliers and managing all educational and training materials related to the restaurant’s wines, liquors and beers. Fasolino’s experience in the restaurant industry dates back to her college years in Ohio, where she was a server in a restaurant. Upon graduation from Marietta College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she worked with a beverage marketer and distributor in Ohio before relocating to Chicago in 2005. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Fasolino has been with Morton’s The Steakhouse since 2007, working in its global headquarters.
Visit Sara on GoodReads.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Looking for the perfect complement to a juicy ribeye steak, grilled kabobs or even some desserts? Look no further than Cabernet Sauvignon, the “red of all reds” worldwide. Sommelier Sara Fasolino guides you with practical tips for buying and enjoying Cabernet Sauvignon, whether you’re spending $7 or $75.Cabernet Sauvignon for Beginners will shed light on the characteristics of this versatile wine, what contributes to its wide range of flavors, and the best foods to match with it.

Want to learn more about wines.  Visit here, register  and receive a free EBook from the Wine Series during the tour from August 13 to Sept. 7.   Twenty-one (21) books to choose from!How much fun is this?

Synopsis:
Looking for the perfect complement to a juicy ribeye steak, grilled kabobs or even some desserts? Look no further than Cabernet Sauvignon, the “red of all reds” worldwide. Sommelier Sara Fasolino guides you with practical tips for buying and enjoying Cabernet Sauvignon, whether you’re spending $7 or $75.Cabernet Sauvignon for Beginners will shed light on the characteristics of this versatile wine, what contributes to its wide range of flavors, and the best foods to match with it.

My Thoughts and Opinion: (one spoiler alert)
I admit I am far from being a wine connoisseur but do enjoy a glass of wine on occasion. My preference is usually a Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, so when I received the request to review this book, I was intrigued to learn about the fine art of wine tasting.

Even though it is a very short read, being only 22 pages, it was fully packed with information and answered a lot of the questions I have always wondered about. For example, when at a restaurant and the server hands one a cork of a newly opened bottle of wine, what is it that you are looking for? I was quite surprised by the answer. And because now I knew the reason, I asked others to see what they thought the reason was, and most answered incorrectly and was surprised when I informed them as to the why. This will be the only “spoiler” that I divulge, since there are many interesting facts in this guide. When handed the cork of a bottle of Cabernet, one is inspecting to see if the cork is moist. If it isn’t, it means that the bottled was not placed in the proper position and/or the seal had been broken.

Within these 22 pages is the history, the different type of grapes used, how to read the label which holds much information, the different types of barrels used to make the wine and the different ones that add to the flavor, what foods are best with this type of wine, how to store wine bottles and even choosing a certain type of glass to serve it in because this can also alter the taste. Quite interesting !!

There are more books by this author for other types of wine, such as, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Malbec. With the holidays just around the corner, this would make for a nice gift for those who enjoy a glass of wine!

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Today’s question:
Have you ever reread a book and found that your opinion changed?

My answer:
This is a very easy question for me.  I have never reread a a book.  Never.  There are just too many books, on my 5 shelf, Kindle  and Sony, and even more on my “hopefully in my lifetime” tbr list that I want to read.  My thoughts are that instead of taking the time to reread a book, I would much rather put that time towards what I haven’t read.  However, and if you are a rereader, would like to hear/read why someone would read a book a second time, when you know how the book turns out?  Before joining this community, I can say honestly, that I had never heard of rereading.  But since that time, have seen that many book bloggers do, and have wondered why.

Are you a rereader?

August is being hosted by5 Minutes for 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.”

Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound:
Tuesday:  Angels Landing by Rochelle Alers from The Hachette Book Group
Friday:  Leaves by Michael Baron from The Story Plant–Spread The Word Initiative
Friday:  A Wanted Man by Lee Child (ARC) from Shelf Awareness

The Serpent’s Bite by Warren Adler
Published by Stonehouse Press
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
ISBN-10: 159006044X
ISBN-13: 978-1590060445
Pages: 320
Review Copy from: Media Connect
A Division of Finn Partners
Edition: ARC HC
My Rating: 3

Synopsis (from IndieBound):
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child”
-“King Lear,” William Shakespeare
This famed quote by William Shakespeare finds its modern meaning in this taut, fast-paced, remarkable novel by renowned author Warren Adler. “The Serpent’s Bite” will take you on a frightening horse trek through the far reaches of the Yellowstone wilderness that turns a father’s quest to deal with parental guilt and reunite with his two adult children into a nightmare of lust, betrayal, entrapment, and death. Beyond the revelations of dark family secrets, readers will discover how an obsession for celebrity and blind ambition can distort familial love and turn a beloved child into a grotesque monster. Courtney Temple is sure to be judged as one of those most evil women in fiction, alongside the likes of Lady Macbeth, Medea, and the Wicked Witch of the West. Adler’s latest novel takes its place next to the iconic “The War of the Roses,” in which the author exposed the true nature of marital dysfunction.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
My favorite genre, for as long as I can remember, has always been suspense and mystery. But lately it has expanded and I enjoy reading a novel full of relationship dynamics. So when the call went out to read and review this book, I responded since it had all the elements.

The book is gripping with suspense that kept me turning the pages as the Temple family embark on an adventure through the trails of Yellowstone National Park, in hopes of mending a family that has been estranged for the past 4 years. Will this reenactment of the same trip 20 years prior trigger good memories and heal this broken family?

The cast members are believable and life like but definitely not likable, in my opinion. As the story progresses, the reader is introduced little by little of the personal traits of each of the 5 main characters, which included the father, son, daughter, the tour guide and his assistant. The flaws in the characters are profound and complex. And immoral.

Even though there was a topic that I personally, and again this is only my opinion, found quite distasteful and hard to read at times due to the graphic details, I still found myself wanting to read more about this group of players. The depiction of each character made it easy to visualize them. The manner in which the scenery was described made it possible to create the imagery portrayed.

I had a difficult time trying to rate this book because of my personal feelings in regard to, in what I found to be a very disturbing matter in the story line. But on the other hand, the suspense, the overall plot, the way it was written, and yes, even the make up of the protagonists, held my attention to the very last word. An ending that was quite surprising.

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.

Happy Sunday!!  Hoping that everyone is having a wonderful weekend. 

I have a special guest today!!   You may already know her, and if you don’t, I am pleased to introduce her to you.  She is one of our blogging buddies that is the owner and author of the blog, The Top Shelf.  I invited Misty to visit with us to talk about a group that I am a member of and she has teamed up with and as an exciting announcement to tell you about.

I met Misty through Partners In Crime Tours.  She is one of our amazing hosts/reviewers.    She has  teamed up with one of favorite publishers, Mr. Lou Aronica of The Story Plant.  I started reviewing for him when I first came on the scene and still do to this day.  His authors and titles are amazing.  

Since this is her first time here at CMash Reads, I ask you to please help me give a warm welcome to one of our “fellow” bloggers, Misty!!

Hey guys!  It’s Misty from The Top Shelf and I’m guest blogging today on Cheryl’s blog to tell you about something really cool we have going on till about Monday.  I might extend it since I’m posting here.

But first, I have a confession to make…

I LOVE The Story Plant!   What’s The Story Plant?  They’re a publisher that has given us readers some amazing reads like All He Saw Was The Girl by Peter Leonard, Gods and Fathers by James LePore and Love thy Neighborby Mark Gilleo!  All of which I’m sure you’ve seen right here.

So what are we doing?

The Top Shelf has teamed up with The Story Plant to give five lucky readers the chance to read the great books brought to you by The Story Plant when we reviewers get to!  It’s called their Spread The Word Initiative and it’s just starting up.  To check out and enter the contest, visithttp://www.the-top-shelf.com/?p=4255 and leave a comment with a valid email in the email field.  Also be sure to join The Story Plant on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/TheStoryPlant and on Twitterhttp://twitter.com/TheStoryPlant!

My bio:
Misty Rayburn is a graduate from Capital University with a BA in English Literature. She was a live event photographer, covering a lot of Columbus’ local scene but a back injury kept her out of the scene for two years. While recovering, she created The Top Shelf. Misty doesn’t have a TBR list, she has a mountain! Come visit us! Website: http://www.the-top-shelf.com Twitter: @topshelfebooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tops

The publication booksellers turn to for news on the book industry is now publishing a version for book lovers! Shelf Awareness: Enlightenment for Readers is a FREE emailed newsletter with reviews on the 25 best books publishing each week along with author interviews, book excerpts, giveaways and more. Right now they’re running a contest to win a free book. Check out the button on the left sidebar to sign up for the new publication and to be entered for a chance to win!

What will you win?  An advance copy of Lee Child’s upcoming book, A Wanted Man(Delacorte Press, September 11th).  The bestselling author has written another masterpiece of suspense in his Reacher series.

Enter the contest via the button. Giveaway ends August 31st!