Booking Through Thursday

CMash December 15, 2011 5 Comments

Hi everyone!! Before getting to today’s memes, I thought I would let you know about a few things that have been going on, besides me signing up for challenges lol, oh but don’t fret, that will be posted in a couple of days lol.

GiGi Ann from Ann’s Reading Corner, had sent me an email and asked how Steve was doing and that there hadn’t been an update in a while. I realized I hadn’t posted about his recovery, being so excited about the 2012 challenges and I apologize for that. We went to the doctor’s this past Friday and he got the ok to start working from home. His facility shuts down before Christmas until the first of the year and at that time he can start working on site as tolerated. He was thrilled. He is still experiencing focal seizures but still no answers as to if and/or when this will be a permanent residual effect of the surgery. The not so good news is that he is still not allowed to drive until he is seen again in February. Thank you everyone for the support, concern, caring and prayers you showed us throughout this time.

As some of you know, I had some blogger issues for the past few weeks, my blog went missing, then back online, my gmail account was supposedly deleted, by who, I don’t know, but yesterday I received an email that that too has reappeared along with all the documents that I thought I lost for Partners In Crime Tours. And for the past 2 weeks all the time I put into trying to retrieve as much as I could, was now time wasted. Because of this experience and talking to other bloggers who have had similar problems on and off, after the New Year I will be moving to WordPress. Gina from Hott Books, has put everything in place, she is phenomenal when it comes to computers. Thank you Gina. Nothing has changed, it looks identical to this one, only different platform. I will let you know more as the time gets closer. I am just trying to learn to navigate and feel comfortable with it before I move. Also I hope to bring back Sunday’s Shining Star once I get settled.

Partners In Crime Tours has 2 books that I booked for the beginning of the new year and still have some slots opened for reviewers. The books are Gods and Fathers by James LePore and Voices of the Dead by Peter Leonard (my current read). You can read the details and synopsis at our site (ww.Partnersincrimetours.net). If you are interested in either book or both, fill out the host submission form or email me @ CMash@Partnersincrimetours.net. Even those who post their reviews on GoodReads and LibraryThing are welcome to host also.

And one final thing….Christmas is right around the corner. Is your shopping completed? Looking for that last minute gift? An old friend contacted me, Bill Walker, author of A Note from an Old Acquaintance, (check out my review) is having a Holiday Special on the Nook Version of his book. A great read for $0.99….can’t beat that.

BY BILL WALKER

LINK TO PURCHASE @ B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-note-from-an-old-acquaintance-bill-walker/1017034033?ean=2940012526328&itm=1&usri=a+note+from+an+old+acquaintance

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com,

Barnes & Noble and/or any other retail/wholesale

outlets either online and/or elsewhere.

I am providing this link solely for visitors

that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties

http://btt2.wordpress.com

Today’s question:

What’s more important to you? Real, three-dimensional, fleshed-out fascinating characters? Or an amazing, page-turning plot?
(Yes, I know, they are both important. But if you had to pick one as being more important than the other?

My answer:

Oh this is a toughie today and I haven’t had my coffee yet lol. I am going with the amazing plot. Yes, as the questions states, they are both important, but if there isn’t a plot that keeps me engrossed or wanting to go back and pick up the book to see what happens, the characters, no matter how well they are defined is going to keep my interest. I feel that the plot, the premise, the story line is the bottom line for how we choose a book. Its’ the first thing, I usually look at, the synopsis, the back of the book or jacket to see what the story is about. So I would definitely say the plot.

Winners

And the winner is……

CMash December 14, 2011 1 Comment

…..of THE SNOWMAN’S REVENGE by Mark Smythe

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-12-15 01:32:28 UTC

Xmas Dolly said…Two years ago with my granddaughter and I put the face on. hehehehe 2

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.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

W.W.W. Wednesday

CMash December 14, 2011 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?

Guest Author

Guest Author Iris Blobel

CMash December 13, 2011 4 Comments

I recently received an email from an author asking if I would read and review her latest novel. Even though I am quite behind, I said yes because I remember reading her previous novel Sweet Dreams, Miss England and thoroughly enjoying it. I invited her to stop by today, to visit and tell us about her newest book. So I ask that you help me welcome back, Iris Blobel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she actually had met her future husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only recently emerged, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters as well as her two dogs. She works at private school in town, but also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.You can visit Iris at her website or Facebook.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hollie Anderson is in her mid-twenties and living with her father, Murray, on a farm just outside Launceston in Tasmania. Her mother died at childbirth and Murray raised his daughter on his own. According to his own wordshe’s done a bloody good job with it, too. Hollie has got the looks, she likes her job at a local newspaper and loves the company of her friends, who go way back to school days. Two of those are Alex and Davo … she should be happy, right?

But lately Hollie’s dreams are literally keeping her from more than just having a decent sleep.

She enjoys life and her best friend Alex is a big part of it. They are a close team and usually hang out together most weekends. During one of their nights out, Hollie meets Jeremy who has just moved into town. Jeremy seems to have everything a woman would like in a man, the looks, the money, the good job – and he knows it, too. Their relationship blossoms over the summer, but Jeremy knows that Hollie won’t fully commit to their new relationship until she makes sense of her dreams and what they stand for. So with the help from Alex and Davo, Jeremy organises a surprise birthday present which takes Hollie to Dublin … but what she discovers is so much more.

Sam Shaughnessy lives in Dublin, Ireland husband Padraic. Like Hollie, she works in advertising, though she is the Head of Advertising. She seems to have it all – a successful career, gorgeous looking husband, good looks and money. But her life appears to crumble from underneath her and it’s when she meets Hollie and Davo that life all of a sudden takes a different turn. Sam as well will find more than she initially had looked for.
Watch for my review in the coming weeks.
Links to purchase:
“Sweet Dreams, Miss England”
“Journey to her Dreams”

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF IRIS BLOBEL,

I HAVE TWO (2) EBOOK EDITIONS TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

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.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com,

Barnes & Noble and/or any other retail/wholesale

outlets either online and/or elsewhere.

I am providing this link solely for visitors

that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties

Giveaway

INTERNATIONAL–EBOOK—GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "JOURNEY TO HER DREAMS" by IRIS BLOBEL ENDED

CMash December 13, 2011 18 Comments

DECEMBER 13th to JANUARY 5th 2011JOURNEY TO HER DREAMS

by IRIS BLOBEL

SYNOPSIS:

Hollie Anderson is in her mid-twenties and living with her father, Murray, on a farm just outside Launceston in Tasmania. Her mother died at childbirth and Murray raised his daughter on his own. According to his own wordshe’s done a bloody good job with it, too. Hollie has got the looks, she likes her job at a local newspaper and loves the company of her friends, who go way back to school days. Two of those are Alex and Davo … she should be happy, right?

But lately Hollie’s dreams are literally keeping her from more than just having a decent sleep.

She enjoys life and her best friend Alex is a big part of it. They are a close team and usually hang out together most weekends. During one of their nights out, Hollie meets Jeremy who has just moved into town. Jeremy seems to have everything a woman would like in a man, the looks, the money, the good job – and he knows it, too. Their relationship blossoms over the summer, but Jeremy knows that Hollie won’t fully commit to their new relationship until she makes sense of her dreams and what they stand for. So with the help from Alex and Davo, Jeremy organises a surprise birthday present which takes Hollie to Dublin … but what she discovers is so much more.

Sam Shaughnessy lives in Dublin, Ireland husband Padraic. Like Hollie, she works in advertising, though she is the Head of Advertising. She seems to have it all – a successful career, gorgeous looking husband, good looks and money. But her life appears to crumble from underneath her and it’s when she meets Hollie and Davo that life all of a sudden takes a different turn. Sam as well will find more than she initially had looked for

THANKS TO AUTHOR, IRIS BLOBEL

I HAVE TWO ( 2 ) EBOOK EDITIONS
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: (FROM B&N) WOULD YOU TRAVEL
AROUND THE WORLD TO UNCOVER THE REASON FOR YOUR DREAMS ?*

*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.

*INTERNATIONAL—EBOOK EDITION*
**
**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 JANUARY 5th 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

Teaser Tuesday

CMash December 13, 2011 5 Comments

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!

“By 1940 we couldn’t buy shoes or clothes. Then we couldn’t have cameras. Then we couldn’t buy coffee, chicken, fish or vegetables. We couldn’t buy coal to heat the house.

Winners

And the winners are……….

CMash December 12, 2011 4 Comments

……of ONE HUNDRED AND ONE NIGHTS by Benjamin Buchholz

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

29 8 3

Timestamp: 2011-12-12 23:57:53 UTC

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said…like to read anything and this grabbed me because of the culture 29

bermudaonion said…I follow on Twitter. 8

Kaye said…I don’t tweet but I am a friend on FB 3

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.

12/13 ADDENDUM:

Due to Kathy winning at another site…WTG Kathy, another winner has been chosen and notified. She has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-12-13 12:21:01 UTC

degood said…I knew very little about their culture and I would like to learn more so I want to read this book.30

Monday Memes

CMash December 12, 2011 7 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:

This week’s musing [borrowed from an old BTT post] asks…

I once knew a man who read about WWII. He read everything he could get his hands on on the subject. He had a whole wall of books that were all about WWII. It amazed me. How could he continue to find one subject that engrossing? My mother, on the other hand, loves to read best sellers. I’ve known other people who read science fiction to the exclusion of everything else; for others it was philosophy, self-help, or history.

So, to the questions…

What kind of books do you like to read?
Why? Provide specific examples.

My answer:

I gravitate toward the suspenseful, mystery type novels first and foremost. And to be honest, I’m not sure why. It could be that I like the fast paced, action like, trying to figure out whodunit that has me keep turning the pages. Authors like Zandri, Patterson, Lisa Jackson, Wendy Corsi Staub, Chevy Stevens. But then on the other hand I also enjoy reading books that fall in the “chick lit” category for the dynamics of relationships between the characters from authors Diane Chamberlain, Kristin Hannah,.

December is being hosted by Lady Q from Let Them Read 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.”