Book Review, Partners In Crime Tours, The Story Plant

Review “Sweat” by Mark Gilleo

CMash August 28, 2012 2 Comments

Sweat by Mark Gilleo
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
ISBN-10: 1611880513
ISBN-13: 978-1611880519
Pages: 366
Review Copy from: The Story Plant
Edition: ARC Kindle
My Rating: 5

Synopsis:
When Jake Patrick took a summer internship at his estranged father’s corporation, he anticipated some much-needed extra cash and a couple of free meals from his guilty dad. He would have never guessed that he’d find himself in the center of an international scandal involving a U.S. senator that was rife with conspiracy, back-room politics, and murder. Or that his own life would hang in the balance. Or that he’d find help – and much more than that – from a collection of memorable characters operating on all sides of law. Jake’s summer has turned into the most eventful one of his life. Now he just needs to survive it.

From the sweatshops of Saipan to the most powerful offices in Washington, SWEAT rockets through a story of crime and consequences with lightning pacing, a twisting plot, an unforgettable cast of characters, and wry humor. It is another nonstop thriller from one of the most exciting new voices in suspense fiction.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
I was first introduced to Mark Gilleo when I read his debut novel, Love Thy Neighbor, back in March. You can read my review here. I was blown away with that novel on so many levels because it was not high on my list for plots, being in the espionage genre, having 400+ pages, which I read in a matter of a few days because I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and a debut novel that read as if it was written by a seasoned author.

Now comes his 2nd novel, which I couldn’t wait to read but honestly was a bit skeptical because the bar was set so high. Could it be as good or better? Would it compare? The answer is a resounding Yes!! There are so many facets of his writing style that appeal to me. The dialogue between characters are so realistic and fluid that I have the feeling that I am eavesdropping on a conversation. The action is non stop from the first page to the last word. The characters three dimensional and animated. The “espionage” is not so detailed and deep, that I have to figure out the inner workings of a department where it would get boorish. The settings vivid. The story lines are fiction imitating reality or reality could be possible with imitating fiction.The plot was a page turner and heart pounding.

Sweat takes place over a 5 week time span traveling from Seattle, WA to Saipan and ending in Washington, D.C.. with a premise ripped from the headlines. A multi cat and mouse chase at the speed of a run away train. Sweat has it all and more, unethical politicians, kidnapping, murder, greed, bribery, assassination attempts, deceit, greed, truth, police procedural investigations, betrayals, forced labor, stake outs, organized crime, friendships, love relationships and an ending that will leave the reader wanting a sequel. Another amazing, white knuckle read!! Mark Gilleo is both talented and gifted when it comes to page turning story telling. A master!! Bravo!! A book not to be passed by!! Extraordinary!!!

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.

(2012 Challenges: JFF, FreeReads, Where Are You, Merely Mystery, I Want More, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Giveaway, Winners

And the winner is……….

CMash August 27, 2012 1 Comment

…….of Shaping Destiny by Destiny Allison

8 Kerrie Mayans Leave a Blog Post Comment

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond with her mailing address or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered. More giveaways in the near future.

Giveaway, Media Connect/Finn Partners

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “THE SERPENT’S BITE” by Warren Adler ENDED

CMash August 27, 2012 4 Comments

AUGUST 27th to SEPTEMBER, 10th, 2012

THE SERPENT’S BITE
by WARREN ADLER

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.

See my review here.

THANKS TO BRIANNE, AND THE GENEROUS

PEOPLE AT MEDIA CONNECT/FINN PARTNERS

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,
DID YOU SEE THE MOVIE “WAR OF THE ROSES”?*

*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 SEPTEMBER 10th 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

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Mailbox Monday, Meme, Monday Memes, Musing Mondays

Monday Memes

CMash August 27, 2012 10 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
What is the weirdest/strangest/craziest book you’ve read?

My Answer:
This is a hard one. It took me quite a while to come up with an answer since the majority of books I choose to read, are books that after reading the synopsis, I know I will enjoy.

The book that finally came to mind was a children’s book I reviewed last year. I’m not sure if it falls under the category of weirdest/strangest/craziest but, in my opinion it was a bit strange. It has been many years since I have read to a child so am not sure what is really out there in this genre. It was The Snowman’s Revenge. I thought the illustrations were scary and couldn’t imagine reading this to a child for the possibility of nightmares. But as I stated, it has been many years of reading to a little one, nor am I surrounded by children, to know what a child likes/dislikes these days.

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 via IndieBound. I am an IndieBound Affilate.

Monday: Life Drawing for Beginners by Roisin Meaney from Forever/The Hachette Book Group.
Friday: Heaven Should Fall by Rebecca Coleman from Meryl L. Moss Media/The Book Trib

Giveaway, Winners

And the winners are……

CMash August 26, 2012 1 Comment

……..of The Malice Of Fortune by Michael Ennis

79 Melissa Painter Follow @CherylMash on Twitter

17 Donna Haley Follow @CherylMash on

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered.

Giveaway, Winners

And the winners are….

CMash August 25, 2012 1 Comment

…..of Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

20 Erica Haspiel Szlosek Tweet About the Giveaway

47 Bonnie Yee Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

61 Tony L Smoaks Leave a Blog Post Comment

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered. More giveaways to come.

Giveaway, The Hachette Book Group

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “GROWING UP BRAVE” by Donna B. Pincus, PhD ENDED

CMash August 25, 2012 18 Comments

AUGUST 25th to SEPTEMBER 8th, 2012

GROWING UP BRAVE
by DONNA B. PINCUS, PhD

SYNOPSIS:

—Kids can have the strangest fears, and yet we all seem to treat such fears in the worst possible ways. We shrug them off and think that our kids will outgrow them, or we advise our kids to suck it up, or we refer to the abstract by saying, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself,” which probably means nothing to a 3-year-old or even a teenager.

—The dangers of mistreating a child’s fear can be, at its simplest, a lifelong mild phobia to, at its most complicated, self-harm, self-sabotage, and even substance abuse. So how do we know when to talk our children out of fear over milk and cookies and when to seek professional help? Donna Pincus’s GROWING UP BRAVE tells us how, and it’s nothing to be afraid of.

—With social and academic pressures at an all-time high, one in five children today suffers from a diagnosed anxiety disorder and many others go undiagnosed. More children than ever are being prescribed psychotropic drugs. In GROWING UP BRAVE, nationally recognized childhood anxiety expert Dr. Donna Pincus demonstrates that excessive anxiety is manageable and even preventable when parents learn how to identify and understand it and respond by using convenient and simple parenting techniques. The book’s effective tools teach parents:
– how to promote a warm, secure attachment with their child in only five minutes a day
-develop routines that help ward off anxiety
-implement Dr. Pincus’s “bravery ladder”
-and much more.
GROWING UP BRAVE is an empowering and valuable guide that will leave parents equipped to help their child regain confidence and happiness.
For more information on this topic, visit the following sites:

When should you be concerned about your child’s fear? Donna shares a quick guide to find out on the Growing Up Brave Facebook page.

Follow @DonnaPincus on Twitter to get quick tips like “Intervening early in establishing healthy sleep routines for children can actually prevent future psychological problems!”

You can also learn more at about Donna and child anxiety on GrowingupBrave.com and ChildAnxiety.net.

THANKS TO ANNA, AND THE FANTASTIC

PEOPLE AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP

I HAVE THREE ( 3 ) COPIES OF THIS
VALUABLE 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 WAS ONE OF YOUR CHILDHOOD FEARS?*

*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 SEPTEMBER 8th 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

Aloha Friday, Friday Memes, Meme

Aloha Friday

CMash August 24, 2012 12 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.