GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “SHAPING DESTINY” by Destiny Allison ENDED

CMash August 13, 2012 25 Comments

AUGUST 13th to AUGUST 27th, 2012

SHAPING DESTINY
by DESTINY ALLISON

SYNOPSIS:

Shaping Destiny is the inspiring story of Allison’s life from the creation of her first sculpture to her acceptance into a prominentSanta Feart gallery. The book, which recounts her journey from traditional female roles to self-actualization and independence, is told with three voices: the emotional, the intellectual and the instructional. Though she had no formal training, Allison moved quickly from small, Plasticine clay sculptures to an apprenticeship at a foundry to teaching in a small museum. Along the way, the author wrestled with shedding and then reclaiming family. To add to the extended metaphor binding her story to the theory and language of sculpture, Allison infuses an ample dose of popular philosophy in lessons culled from childhood days spent with her father. The 22 lessons at the beginning of each chapter intend to guide readers’ passage through the complexities of clay and life; each lesson works with the idea that art is a process, as is life.

THANKS TO AUTHOR, DESTINY ALLISON,

AND THE LADIES AT WOW

I HAVE ONE ( 1 ) SIGNED COPY OF

THIS MEMOIR TO 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: HAVE YOU EVER VISITED

AN ART GALLERY AND/OR ART MUSEUM?*

*U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

*GIVEAWAY ENDS AUGUST 27th AT 6PM EST*

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
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Events, Read-A-Thon

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon 08/13-08/19

CMash August 13, 2012 4 Comments

This is a sticky post.
Scroll down for daily postings!!!

Hosted by Bout of Books

Goals:
To read a minimum of 2 hours a day
To start and complete current read and next book on deck.

Daily Progress Report:

08/13 Monday:
Challenge/Giveaway Sites:
Literary BFFs: Auggie Talk
Passing Books: Reading in Texas and The Space Between
****tell us what happens to your books after you have read them
I host personal giveaways.
Pages Read: 105
Book: Started and Finished Cabernet Sauvignon by Sara J. Fasolino, CS, CSW, AM (wrote review)
Started The Serpent’s Bite by William Adler
08/14 Tuesday
Pages Read: 81
Book: The Serpent’s Bite by William Adler
Pages read to date: 186

08/15 Wednesday:
Challenge/Giveaway Sites:
Book Word Search: The Musings of ALMYBNENR:
Match the Zombie Book Cover: The Busy Bibliophile:
Pages Read: 30 (not a good reading day…work interfered)
Book: The Serpent’s Bite by William Adler
Pages read to date: 216

08/16 Thursday
Challenge/Giveaway Sites:
A Book for Every Season: Reading in Winter:
Candy Challenge: BookSmartie:
Contemporary: Books with Cass:
Pages Read: -0- (so busy didn’t even have time to open a book 🙁
Book:
Pages read to date: 216

08/17 Friday
Challenge/Giveaway Sites:
Book Spine Poetry: bookgoonie
Most Looking Forward To: Pages of Forbidden Love
Pages Read: 76
Book: The Serpent’s Bite by William Adler
Pages read to date: 292

08/18 Saturday
Challenge/Giveaway Sites:
Music: My Not So Real Life
Page 99 Test: My Seryniti
Virtual Travels: Ex Libris
Pages Read: 40
Book: The Serpent’s Bite by William Adler (finished). Wrote and posted review.
Pages read to date: 330

08/18 Sunday
Challenge/Giveaway Sites:
Giveaway: Kelsey’s Cluttered Bookshelf
Movie Cast: Pretty Deadly Reviews
Pages Read: ? Kindle 18%
Book: Leaves By Michael Baron
Pages read to date: 330 pages and 18% Kindle

08/20 Monday WRAP UP
Total Pages Read: 330 print pages 18% Kindle
Book(s):
Finished Cabernet Sauvignon by Sara J. Fasolino, CS, CSW, AM
Finished The Serpent’s Bite by William Adler
Started Leaves by Michael Baron
WRAP UP: Goals/Thoughts
I did meet my initial goals, however, since it never fails when I sign up for a Read-A-Thon, RL interferes, I set my goals at a minimum. I was hoping that this would be an incentive for me to read more and spend less time in front of the computer. It did, except I was also hoping that I would spend much more time reading than I did. But due to work associated with Partners In Crime Tours, I had to put work before pleasure.

I want to thank everyone who organized and hosted the Read-A-Thon, the daily challenges and giveaways. Kudos!! It was well done and I am looking forward to the next one!!!!!

Mailbox Monday, Meme, Monday Memes, Monday Quiz About Me, Musing Mondays

Monday Memes

CMash August 13, 2012 17 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s muse:
This week’s musing –courtesy of http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com — asks…
Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favorite reading snack?

My response:
Unfortunately yes. I say unfortunately because I am so wanting to lose weight. I have been trying to snack on fruits, yogurts, something healthy. However, I also will snack on pretzels and soy chips. I find that lately I have been snacking more, because due to medical issues, I tend to doze off while reading. But if I’m snacking, I don’t. This week will be a test, since I signed up for a Read-A-Thon, to gauge if wearing a CPAP mask for sleep apnea is helping. I have a severe case of apnea and it is the cause of me falling asleep during the day. I feel as if the positives are starting to kick in so this week will definitely let me know if I am right.

What about you? Do you snack while reading? And if so, what do you snack on?

August is being hosted by 5 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 text for synopsis from Amazon

Monday: Identity by Mark Hosack from Simon & Schuster

Wednesday: Time and Again by Deborah Heal from Gina @ Hott Books

Saturday: The Prophet by Ethan Cross from The Story Plant-ARC for PICT

Hosted by Acting Balanced

1. How was your weekend?
I was quite busy with doing work for Partners In Crime Tours. Even though it was all work related, it’s work that I enjoy and pride that the company, in one year, has become so successful. I also watched and listened to the weekend’s Olympic events while working.
2. What is your favorite kind of candy?
Chocolate.
3. If I say the word ‘high’ what do you think?
High fives!
4. What are you most looking forward to about Autumn?
No humidity, however, I’m not really looking forward to the cooler weather because along with that comes the change of clocks whereas the days seem too short and also knowing that winter is right around the corner, which I definitely don’t like.
5. Did you watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics?
Most of it.

Doubleday Giveaway, Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “THE MALICE OF FORTUNE” by Michael Ennis ENDED

CMash August 12, 2012 29 Comments

AUGUST 12th to AUGUST 26th, 2012

THE MALICE OF FORTUNE
by MICHAEL ENNIS

SYNOPSIS:

Against a teeming canvas of Borgia politics, Niccolò Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci come together to unmask an enigmatic serial killer, as we learn the secret history behind one of the most controversial works in the western canon, The Prince…

When Pope Alexander dispatches a Vatican courtesan, Damiata, to the remote fortress city of Imola to learn the truth behind the murder of Juan, his most beloved illegitimate son, she cannot fail, for the scheming Borgia pope holds her own young son hostage. Once there, Damiata becomes a pawn in the political intrigues of the pope’s surviving son, the charismatic Duke Valentino, whose own life is threatened by the condottieri, a powerful cabal of mercenary warlords. Damiata suspects that the killer she seeks is one of the brutalcondottierri, and as the murders multiply, her quest grows more urgent. She enlists the help of an obscure Florentine diplomat, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Valentino’s eccentric military engineer, Leonardo da Vinci, who together must struggle to decipher the killer’s taunting riddles: Leonardo with his groundbreaking “science of observation” and Machiavelli with his new “science of men.” Traveling across an Italy torn apart by war, they will enter a labyrinth of ancient superstition and erotic obsession to discover at its center a new face of evil—and a truth that will shake the foundations of western civilization.

THANKS TO JOE, AND THE

SPECTACULAR PEOPLE AT DOUBLEDAY

I HAVE TWO ( 2 ) COPIES OF THIS
BOOK TO 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: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK?*

*U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

*GIVEAWAY ENDS AUGUST 26th AT 6PM EST*

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

Giveaway, The Hachette Book Group

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple ENDED

CMash August 11, 2012 31 Comments

AUGUST 11th to AUGUST 25th, 2012

WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE
by MARIA SEMPLE

SYNOPSIS:

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace; to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.
Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette’s intensifying allergy to Seattle–and people in general–has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence–creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter’s role in an absurd world.
EXCERPT LINK
AUTHOR FB LINK
BOOK FB LINK

THANKS TO ANNA, AND THE INCREDIBLE

FOLKS AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP

I HAVE THREE ( 3 ) COPIES OF THIS
BOOK TO 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: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHERE DO YOU THINK BERNADETTE IS?*

*U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

**PER PUBLISHER**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

*GIVEAWAY ENDS AUGUST 25th AT 6PM EST*

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

Aloha Friday, Friday Memes, Meme

Aloha Friday

CMash August 10, 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!

Yesterday I drove to my son’s house who
lives out of state. And started thinking……
My Question:
What is the speed limit for highway driving where you live?
How fast do you drive on a highway, honestly lol?
My answer:
65/80.

Giveaway, Hachette Giveaway, Uncategorized

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “WHAT IN GOD’S NAME” by Simon Rich ENDED

CMash August 9, 2012 32 Comments

AUGUST 9th to AUGUST 23rd, 2012

WHAT IN GOD’S NAME
by SIMON RICH

SYNOPSIS:

Welcome to Heaven, Inc., the grossly mismanaged corporation in the sky. For as long as anyone can remember, the founder and CEO (known in some circles as “God”) has been phoning it in. Lately, he’s been spending most of his time on the golf course. And when he does show up at work, it’s not to resolve wars or end famines, but to Google himself and read what humans have been blogging about him.When God decides to retire (to pursue his lifelong dream of opening an Asian Fusion restaurant), he also decides to destroy Earth. His employees take the news in stride, except for Craig and Eliza, two underpaid angels in the lowly Department of Miracles. Unlike their boss, Craig and Eliza love their jobs – uncapping city fire hydrants on hot days, revealing lost keys in snow banks – and they refuse to accept that earth is going under.

The angels manage to strike a deal with their boss. He’ll call off his Armageddon, if they can solve their toughest miracle yet: getting the two most socially awkward humans on the planet to fall in love. With doomsday fast approaching, and the humans ignoring every chance for happiness thrown their way, Craig and Eliza must move heaven and earth to rescue them – and the rest of us, too.

THANKS TO ANNA, AND THE SPECTACULAR

PEOPLE AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP

I HAVE THREE ( 3 ) COPIES OF THIS
BOOK TO 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: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
DO YOU THINK DOOMSDAY IS FAST APPROACHING?*

*U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

**PER PUBLISHER**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

*GIVEAWAY AUGUST 23rd DATE AT 6PM EST*

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

Booking Thru Thursday, Meme

Booking Through Thursday

CMash August 9, 2012 8 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.
Amy and Sarah both asked about genres:
Amy asks:
Name a book you love in a genre you normally don’t care for. What made you decide to read it? Did it make you want to try more in that genre?
Bookish Sarah asks an interesting assortment of questions:
What genre do you avoid reading and why?

My response:
In response to Amy’s question one book came to mind instantly, Ragdoll Redeemed: Growing Up In The Shadow of Marilyn Monroe by Dawn Novotny. This book fell under the category of memoirs, definitely on the other side of the spectrum of what I usually read, which is suspense. When contacted through WOW to read this book, there was something that was in the synopsis that intrigued me, Marilyn Monroe. I was young when she died but remember exactly where I was and how I tried processing “death” of a celebrity. Once I started reading the book, it was much bigger than Marilyn Monroe. It was about a small girl growing up with everything stacked against her, then reading her journey into her adult years with more obstacles presented and battled to become a forgiving, intelligent, and happy adult. A caveat. The author and I started exchanging emails and a friendship developed. In October, she has a conference that she is attending here in RI. I will be picking her up at the airport then out to dinner, which if our emails are any indication, we will need to find an all night restaurant, because I am sure our conversation will last for a very long time. If you want to read a female “Rocky” success story, this is the one to read. I highly recommend this memoir. And since this was such a compelling read, I have read other memoirs since.

And now on to Sarah’s question. I know the new rage is PNR, UF, etc., matter of fact, it is so big, that the majority of book blogs there are now are geared to the YA books in this genre. I know, since I search and visit book blogs to invite them to become a host for Partners In Crime Tours. I am just not interested in vampires, fantasy, etc. I remember, and I am definitely dating myself, when I was young there was a show on TV called Dark Shadows, which would have fallen in this category. One of my friends HAD to watch it every day at 4pm, no matter what we were doing or playing. I would tag along just to wait to continue what we had been doing at 3:55p, and after sitting through the show a couple of times, and not enjoying it, I would go home instead, grab a book, read and wait for when we could continue playing outside. So since I didn’t enjoy it back then, as an adult, I am sure I wouldn’t enjoy it now.

What about you? Any book outside your genre that you are happy your read? Any genre that you know you would never be interested in?