W.W.W. Wednesday

CMash January 25, 2012 2 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

Total Progress To Date: 5 hours
Tuesday’s hours: 3 hours
Monday’s hours: 2 hours

Murphy’s Law…it never fails. I sign up and it is a time frame when I have my worse reading schedule albeit, real life obligations, not feeling well, appointments, etc etc. Next time I will not announce nor sign up for a read-a-thon and I can guarantee, it will hours of reading lol. Yesterday, I think I have bronchitis, I sat in my recliner, switched on Kimmy Kindle and the next thing I remember was that Steve was calling to let me know that he was leaving work ( he still has not been released to drive from the surgery so a coworker drops him off at a drop off/pick up spot where I meet him everyday to bring him to and from home). So again yesterday I didn’t get much reading time in.

Winners

And the winners are……….

CMash January 24, 2012 2 Comments

………of COME BACK TO ME by Melissa Foste

Gigi Ann I think they each fall in love with others.

An email has been sent and Ann has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Teaser Tuesday

CMash January 24, 2012 6 Comments

My good friend Gina, from Hott Books, recently interviewed me and today she posted it on her site. It was an honor to be asked . Let me tell you a little about Gina, she has a huge, caring heart. A great Mom!! Even though we have not met face to face, we have become close friends via the internet. If you haven’t visited her blog, (btw she designed it), take a look around, read her interview, say hi, and once you see what you have been missing, become a follower. I’m headed there now. Hope to see you there too.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Arianna gasped slowly for air. She didn’t cry. The pain she felt in her side wasn’t bad enough to give her husband the satisfaction.
“When I say it is time to leave, it is time to leave. There is no room for negotiation in this marriage.”

Kindle 5%

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

Progress:

Pitiful…just pitiful. Whenever I sign up for a Read-A-Thon, I just can’t seem to accomplish my goal and that is to read. Yesterday I worked at the computer, thinking I would get a lot of items taken care of, then get snuggly in the recliner in my recliner and read. Good plan, right? WRONG. For some reason, yesterday I was in slow-mo, got hardly anything done, kept getting interrupted by phone calls, real life chores, etc and only got a whopping 2 hours of reading time in.

Today my goal is the same except that I will be off the computer by noon, even if my work is not completed and will start reading. And oh yes…I just may be screening my calls lol.

2012 Challenges, Challenge, Mailbox Monday, Monday Memes, Musing Mondays

Monday Memes

CMash January 23, 2012 10 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
Why do you think that the Young Adult genre is so popular with even the adult readers? Do you read YA books, yourself?
My answer:
Ironically, I have been thinking the same thing myself over the past few weeks. As some of you know, I am a partner in Partners In Crime Tours, a virtual tour PR company for authors of mystery, suspense and crime novels. We have become very busy, which is a good thing, however, because of that and not wanting to over work our awesome hosts, I have been visiting a lot of blogs to read their policies to see if they might be interested in the genre we represent to send an invitation,

And I am AMAZED at how many YA blogs there are. It’s like a whole different ~~neighborhood~~, ~~community~~,~~state,~~ planet of blogs. I, for one, do not read YA only because I have this preconceived notion that Iwould not be able to relate to the characters or premise of the books. I have, however, like the question states, wondered why so many adults do read this genre. Am I missing out on some good reading because it is out of my comfort zone? But then I look at my TBR bookcase and think, I have enough books that are in my comfort zone just waiting patiently to be chosen to be my “current read”.

January is being hosted by At Home with 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 Story Plant Author (WOW)

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

I am participating in the Winter Respite Read-A-Thon of 2012. Wish me luck because it never seems to fail that whenever I sign up for one, real life tends to interfere, matter of fact it already has. Of course, life’s obligations are always a priority over hobby, but I will try to do my best. I will keep a daily approximation of how many hours I put into my reading. Want to join? Click on above and it will bring you to Michelle’s sign up post. Read-A-Thon starts today and ends Jan 29th so that gives us a lot of time to read and make dents in those TBR piles. Good Luck if you have already signed up.

Giveaway, Hachette Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “GIRL LAND” by CAITLIN FLANAGAN ENDED

CMash January 20, 2012 14 Comments

JANUARY 20th to FEBRUARY 3rd, 2012

GIRL LAND

by CAITLIN FLANAGAN

SYNOPSIS:

Caitlin Flanagan’s essays about marriage, sex, and families have sparked national debates. Now she turns her attention to girls: the biological and cultural milestones for girls today, and how they shape a girl’s sense of herself.
The transition from girl to woman is an experience that has changed radically over the generations: everything from how a girl learns about her period to how she expects to be treated by boys and men. Girls today observe these passages very differently, and yet the landmarks themselves have remained remarkably constant-proof, Flanagan believes, of their significance. In a world where protections of girls’ privacy and personal freedom seem to disappear every day, the ultimate challenge modern parents face is finding a way to defend both.

Caitlin Flanagan’s GIRL LANDis perfect for moms revisiting their childhoods and moms whose daughters have or will experience the same life stages, recounted in Flanagan’s frank, provocative, and undeniably womanist voice.

THANKS TO ANNA, AND THE AWESOME 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.

*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: NAME ONE THING THAT YOU

THINK GIRLS OF TODAY ARE FACED WITH

THAT YOU WEREN’T WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG GIRL?*

*EXTRA ENTRIES*

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS

BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.

*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 FEBRUARY 3rd AT 6PM EST*

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG 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

Aloha Friday

CMash January 20, 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!

MY QUESTION:
Do you have a “comfort food”? And what is it?
MY ANSWER:
Ice cream.

2012 Challenges, Book Review, Guest Author

Guest Author Peter Leonard Review

CMash January 19, 2012 8 Comments

Today I am thrilled for a few reasons. Thanks to Mr. Lou Aronica of The Story Plant, who publishes many authors that I have grown fond of and enjoy reading, has given me the privilege and honor to host today’s guest as he begins his virtual tour with Partners In Crime Tours, and who now has been added to that list of esteemed writers that I look forward to escaping into the pages of their latest novels. After reading the book that he will be discussing today, I am looking forward to his future novels. So please help me welcome Mr. Peter Leonard.

ABOUT PETER LEONARD

Peter Leonard’s debut novel, QUIVER, was published to international acclaim in 2008 (“A spectacular debut…you will be holding your breath until the final page.”– The New York Sun). It was followed by TRUST ME in 2009 (“TRUST ME is fast, sly and full of twists.” – Carl Hiaasen, New York Times bestselling author). The Story Plant will publish Leonard’s newest novel, ALL HE SAW WAS THE GIRL, in the spring of 2012.

You can visit Peter Leonard at his website here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The year is 1971. The place is Detroit. Harry Levin, a scrap metal dealer and Holocaust survivor, has just learned that his daughter was killed in a car accident. Traveling to Washington, DC to claim the body, he learns that the accident was caused by a German diplomat who was driving drunk. This is only the beginning of the horror for Harry, though, as he discovers that the diplomat will never face charges – he has already been released and granted immunity. Enraged and aggrieved, Harry discovers the identity of his daughter’s killer, follows him to Munich, and hunts him down. What Harry finds out about the diplomat and his plans will explode his life and the lives of everyone around him.

Brimming with action and dark humor, Voices of the Dead, firmly positions Peter Leonard as a writer ever suspense fan needs to read.

Read an excerpt:

Hess found out the woman lived on P Street in Georgetown, not far from the consulate. He told the ambassador he was having dinner with potential clients, and wanted to drive himself. It was unorthodox, but plausible. He had been issued one of the embassy’s Mercedes sedans. He stopped at a bookstore and bought a map of the area, and located P Street. He drove there and saw the Goldman residence, a federal-style brick townhouse.

Hess went to a restaurant and had dinner and a couple drinks. At ten o’clock he drove back, parked around the corner on 32nd Street between two other vehicles so the license plate was not visible to anyone driving by. He walked to the Goldmans’, stood next to a tree in front of the three-storey townhouse. There were lights on the first floor. He walked to the front door and rang the buzzer. He could hear footsteps and voices inside. A light over the door went on. Hess stood in the open so whoever it was would see he was well dressed. The door opened, a man standing there, assumed he was Dr. Mitchell Goldman, dark hair, big nose, mid-forties, top of the shirt unbuttoned, exposing a gold chain and a five-pointed star. Hess smiled. “My car is on the fritz. May I use your phone to call a tow truck?”

Dr. Goldman stared at him with concern.

“I am staying just down the street at the consulate,” Hess said, smiling. Now the door opened and he stepped into the elegant foyer, chandelier overhead, marble floor.

“Mitch, who is it?” a woman said from a big open room to his right.

Dr. Goldman looked in her direction. “Guy’s having car trouble, wants to use the phone.”

“It’s ten o’clock at night.”

“He’ll just be a minute,” the dentist said.

Hess could see the woman sitting on a couch, watching television.

“The phone’s in here.” The dentist started to move.

Hess drew the Luger from the pocket of his suit jacket,and aimed it at Goldman.

The dentist put his hands up. “Whoa. Easy.”

“Who is in the house?”

“Just the two of us.”

“Are you expecting anyone?”

He shook his head.

“Tell her to come in here,” Hess said.

“What do you want? You want money?” He took his wallet out and handed it to him. “There’s eight hundred dollars in there.”

“Call her,” Hess said.

“Hon, come here, will you?”

“I’m watching ‘All in the Family.’ Can you wait till the commercial?”

Hess could hear people laughing on the television.

“Just for a minute,” the dentist said.

Hess saw her stand up and step around a low table in front of the couch, moving across the room, still looking back at the television. She turned her head as she entered the foyer and saw him holding the gun. Her hair looked darker in the dim light but he had only seen her briefly that day.

“Oh-my-god,” she said, hands going up to her face.

“We’re reasonable people,” the dentist said. “Tell us what you want.”

“The pleasure of your company,” Hess said. “Where is the cellar?”

MY REVIEW

VOICES OF THE DEAD by Peter Leonard

Published by The Story Plant

ISBN-10: 1611880327

ISBN-13: 978-1611880328

At the request of The Story Plant, an EBook Edition was sent at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Synopsis (from publisher): The year is 1971. The place is Detroit. Harry Levin, a scrap metal dealer and Holocaust survivor, has just learned that his daughter was killed in a car accident. Traveling to Washington, DC to claim the body, he learns that the accident was caused by a German diplomat who was driving drunk. This is only the beginning of the horror for Harry, though, as he discovers that the diplomat will never face charges – he has already been released and granted immunity. Enraged and aggrieved, Harry discovers the identity of his daughter’s killer, follows him to Munich, and hunts him down. What Harry finds out about the diplomat and his plans will explode his life and the lives of everyone around him.Brimming with action and dark humor, Voices of the Dead, firmly positions Peter Leonard as a writer ever suspense fan needs to read.

My Thoughts and Opinion: I feel I need to start this review with a caveat because even I was surprised by my thoughts and opinion of this book. If I was to solely choose this book based on the synopsis for my personal library, without the request for review, I would most likely have not picked this one up as I tend not to enjoy espionage thrillers. However, with this book, I would have missed out on a great read.

The book pulled me in quickly with the car accident and death of Harry Levin’s daughter. From that moment on, the action begins, the suspense ramps up, and the books holds you to the very last page. It takes you from Detroit to Germany to Miami during the years of 1971 and shares the memories of Harry when he was a 14 year old boy, who watches his parents executed by the Nazi regime but was one that was able to escape the atrocities of that time. The characters come to life. The settings are conveyed so that detailed imagery can be formed in one’s mind, especially of the years of 1940s. Mr. Leonard’s writing style is flawless, and the type of read that I call, a “one more chapter” and before you know it, you have read 5 more chapters. What I found amazing, was that a book with a premise of a horrific time in our history, Mr. Leonard could interweave some humor without being disrespectful.

As the synopsis states, who is this diplomat Hess, that has been given immunity, for an accident that was his fault and that resulted in the death of a young and vibrant daughter of Harry Levin? Why does this man Hess look familiar to Harry? Harry is so distraught over his daughter’s passing, he travels to Germany, where Hess resides, and what he finds, is bigger than he imagined. More deaths? But why? The hunt begins.

Highly recommend!!!!!

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: Romantic/Suspense, EBooks, ARC, Mystery/Suspense, Off The Shelf, Serial Killers, Free Reads, Where Are You, A-Z, Merely Mystery, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Booking Thru Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

CMash January 19, 2012 6 Comments

http://btt2.wordpress.com

This week’s question:
I saw this article the other day that asked, “Are you ashamed of skipping parts of books?” Which, naturally, made me want to ask all of YOU.
Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?
My Answer:
I can honestly say that I don’t. What would the purpose be? If it is to see the ending, then I would think that it would just take away from the pleasure of the whole story line. Or, if it is is because, you just don’t like the book, then for me, it would end at my 50 page limit and go in my DNF pile. Why would I care how it turns out if it didn’t grab me from the start?

What about you…are you a skipper of pages? Why or why not?