Today, Melissa from Simon & Schuster, has given me the distinct honor to host as my guests today New York Times Best Selling Authors, W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear.   Please help me give them a warm welcome to the CMash blog.

ABOUT W. MICHAEL GEAR and KATHLEEN O’NEAL GEAR

W. MICHAEL GEAR and KATHLEEN O’NEAL GEAR are the New York Times bestselling authors of Coming of the Stormand Fire the Sky, the previous books in the Contact series, and more than thirty international bestsellers that have been translated into twenty-eight languages. Their novel People of the Raven won the Golden Spur Award. In addition to writing both fiction and nonfiction together and separately, the Gears operate an anthropological research company, Wind River Archeological Consultants, and raise buffalo on their ranch in Wyoming.

W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear welcomevisitors to their website. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear richly portray a clash of cultures and a native peoples’ struggle to protect their world in the eagerly awaited third installment of the Contact: Battle for America series, A SEARING WIND (Gallery Books; March 6, 2012; $26.00).  Set against the tragic war sparked by Hernando de Soto’s brutal invasion of the American South, A SEARING WIND heightens the historical action in this series hailed as “magnificent” (Douglas Preston) and “exciting, skillfully crafted, and fast-paced” (Publishers Weekly).

Black Shell is an exile, banished by his people for his cowardice in battle. To his fearsome patron spirit, Horned Serpent, however, he is imbued with the courage and keenness to stop the Kristiano onslaught. He and his beautiful wife, Pearl Hand, have fought them from the Florida Peninsula through the very heart of native America. A trader by profession, Black Shell now dedicates his soul to destroying the invaders, with their impenetrable armor, their swift cabayos, and their flashing, razorsharp swords.

Black Shell and Pearl Hand have seen the shackled, naked, starving slaves, heard the broken promises—and learned de Soto’s plans. While the battle of Mabila cost many Kristianos life and limb, the marauder does not retreat. Now he heads for Chicaza and the people from which Black Shell was once exiled.

Wounded and pursued by memories and visions, Black Shell is obsessed with setting the perfect trap. To do so, he must use the Chicaza and their stockpiles of food and supplies. And he must gamble everything on his people’s pride, traditions, and failings. As winter sets in, new dangers abound—that of a family’s shame, a woman’s anger, and a betrayal that may force Black Shell to forfeit his last chance to save their world from utter destruction. But, worst of all, he and Pearl Hand must walk boldly into de Soto’s camp and engage the cunning monster in a desperate game of wits that will decide the fate of a continent.  Powerful and pulsing with authenticity, A SEARING WIND is an unforgettable tale of humanity and cruelty, passion and ignorance—and of historical events burned into America’s history and soul.

THANKS TO MELISSA FROM SIMON & SCHUSTER,
I HAVE 2 SETS OF THIS TRILOGY TO GIVE AWAY.

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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading 

Today’s question:
When you walk into a bookstore — any bookstore — what’s the first section you head toward (what draws you)?
My response:
To be honest, I haven’t been to a bookstore in quite a while.  There really has been no need to.  But when I did frequently visit one, I would head straight to the New HC Releases.  Not to purchase, I never bought a HC, I just could not justify paying that price for something that I would read in a couple of days.  But what I would do is write down the names of all the new releases that I wanted to read and when I left, went straight to the local library to put my name on the waiting list.

However, since I started blogging and reviewing for different publishers, authors, tour companies, I have a bookcase of books just screaming to be read.  And now with EReaders, I have the bookstores at my finger tips.  As I sit here thinking about and answering this question, and this is quite sad to say, I don’t know if I will ever have the need to visit a bookstore in the future.  Even if I were to purchase a book as a gift for someone, I would probably do it online.  

What about you?  Where is your first stop when entering a bookstore?

March is being hosted by Diary of an Eccentric

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 Story Plant                       Author

………..of THE LEGACY OF EDEN by Nelle Davy

38 Shirley Greenawalt Zolenski Leave a Blog Post Comment  I wouldn’t return.

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 for all that entered.  Stay tuned, lots more giveaways to come.

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**PER PUBLISHER**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
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THE SECOND TIME WE MET by Leila Cobo
Published by Grand Central Publishing
Division of The Hachette Book Group
ISBN-13: 9780446519380
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (from publisher): Asher Stone grew up in an idyllic California family. His mother Linda made sure of that. She never wanted her son to feel different from other kids, just because he was adopted. She was a loving, devoted mother, and Asher a happy, healthy boy. So when a life-changin accident causes Asher to question his identity, he suddenly announces that he needs to learn about his roots, Linda is caught off guard. Asher doesn’t want to hurt his mother, but something inside him is driving him to find out exactly where he came from. And so he takes off on a journey to Colombia in search of his birth mother.

Interspersed throughout Asher’s story is that of his mother’s, Rita. Moving back in time we watch as a young Rita begins a clandestine affair with a revolutionary soldier–a guerilla warrior who loved her deeply but couldn’t leave the cause to care for her, not if he wanted to keep her safe. Rita is left alone and pregnant, with no support from her family. And though it breaks her heart, she makes the agonizing decision to give up her baby.

How can Asher, a young man who has never known hardship understand her decision? Can they have any kind of relationship–and where does that leave Linda if they do?

My Thoughts and Opinion: Musing, a word that this debut author penned many times in this story. Ironically, when the last word was read and the book placed in my finished pile, I was left with several thought provoking musings of my own.

As I mentioned, this was Ms. Cobo’s debut novel, which surprised me in the manner of her writing style.   Especially since it alternated between the times of 1989 to present and then in between but it all flowed smoothly.   She had a flair to bring the characters to life, to feel their emotions, to root for some, to not like others.   To feel their frustrations, expectations, fears, anxiety, guilt and so much more.   Even though the story line was predictable, the lives of the characters, their actions, and decisions they made,  kept me turning the pages.   An impressive and poignant read.

Hosted by An Island Life

We all enjoy eating, right?   But there is something I just don’t understand and today that is my question.

Do you enjoy eating very hot, spicy food?   If yes, isn’t your mouth in pain?   How is that enjoyable?

http://btt2.wordpress.com

This week’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.
Ted asks:
Have you ever fallen in love with a fictional character? Who and what about them did you love?
My answer:
When I first read the question my first reaction was no, but that there are many fictional people, both male and female,  that I could see myself becoming and/or wanting to be friends with.  But the more I thought about the question, there might have been a couple.  Since I mainly read mystery and suspense, there might be some of the “good guys” that I have overlooked because I was too in tuned into the story line.

But the more I sat and thought about the question and went through the catalogue in my mind, there have been characters that I have “fallen in love” with.   They are the male characters in Michael Baron’s books.  I think the fact that the main male characters are created by a male author makes them even more appealing.  These “men” are sensitive, loving, emotional,  loyal, wearing their heart on their sleeves, romantic and tender not only with the woman in their life but with their children and family, which makes them even more attractive.  So yes, after giving today’s question more thought, I have “fallen in love” with a few male fictional characters.

What about you?  Has a character stolen your heart?