Steve Update and Monday Memes

CMash October 17, 2011 14 Comments

Hi Everyone!!!!!

First and foremost I want to thank everyone for the prayers, kind and comforting words, concern, kindness and genuine caring that you have shown to me and for my husband Steve over this past week. The support you gave me was overwhelming and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now for the good news. Steve was discharged to home yesterday!!!! He finally got a good night’s sleep in his own bed without all the noise and commotion of the hospital settings. He still has surgical incisional pain but that is normal. And what we are really excited about is that the symptoms that he was exhibiting from the pressure on his brain has resolved.

I thank you all for the prayers as I truly believe they were heard for the remarkable outcome of this situation. I have to be honest in saying, I have never been this frightened in my life.

The last time I said I was back, disaster struck. So instead, I am saying, I am around lol. And to everyone:

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:

Do you judge a book by its cover?

My response:

I admit, I do tend to judge a book by it’s cover. For example, I am not a fan of PNR, historicals, UF and a few other genres so if the cover looks like it may fall into any of those categories, I will pass them by. But then there are the books, by favorite authors, even if I’m not crazy about the cover but will read no matter what is on the cover.

What about you? Do you have a judge a book by it’s cover?

October is being hosted by Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit

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.”

Doubleday Author

Won from Booking With Bingo Free Download

Guest Author

Guest Author Irene Woodbury

CMash October 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

Once again, another author has given me the greatest compliment by visiting my blog. To this day, it still amazes me to think that an author would take the time to stop by and read my reviews. Today’s guest did just that and then sent me a lovely email asking if I would review her book. I read the synopsis and thought it would be something I would definitely enjoy and thought you would too. So I invited her to visit again, but this time as my guest. Please help me welcome Ms. Irene Woodbury !!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis, Irene Woodbury’s first novel, was inspired by her love of travel writing. Between 2000 and 2006, her stories appeared in many newspapers, including the Washington Post, London Daily Telegraph, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Toronto Star, and Nevada and The Affluent Traveler magazines.

One of the author’s favorite destinations was Las Vegas; she always believed Sin City would be the perfect setting for a novel. In 2006, she came up with the idea for Slot, and, four-and-a-half years, and many visits later, it was finished.

Irene is convinced her book wouldn’t work nearly as well in any other city. “Las Vegas has a frenetic energy to it,” she says, “and there’s plenty of chaos and confusion to go around. Is there a better place for a midlife crisis? I don’t think so.”

The author has lived in two of the locations featured in her novel: Los Angeles, where she worked at the Los Angeles Times, IBM, and Time Magazine, and Houston, where she graduated from the University of Houston in 1993. She also got married in Houston. (Yes, like Wendy, her lead character, but Irene insists the similarities end there!) Her husband, Richard, a retired Time Magazine correspondent, edited her novel.

Since 1994, the couple have called Denver home. As for midlife crises — his, hers, yours, mine — Irene believes it’s a time for asking questions. “Where am I? Where have I been? Where am I going? That’s it in a nutshell,” she says. “Writing this novel has been my midlife crisis. And it’s not over yet!”

You can visit her website here.

A few thoughts on A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis from author Irene Woodbury

My novel is an irreverent account of a 45-year old woman having a midlife crisis in Las Vegas. It’s Wendy’s story, told in first person, but it also explores and illuminates the concept of midlife crises. Women of previous generations didn’t have many options or resources when they went through theirs. As a result, they often retreated into traditional roles that put them in the background.

Wendy, however, has too many options and resources. Money, an impressive resume, a recent marriage to a successful man, good looks, health, talent. She goes through the requisite period of confusion, then finds herself through new career opportunities and relationships. She is neither a victim nor a vixen, but, ultimately, the heroine of her own life.

Midlife women in today’s world are no longer as limited as our mothers or grandmothers were, but they also don’t have the abundance of options Wendy has. Most of us fall somewhere in between. So this novel is a comical exaggeration, but, still, it makes some points in the evolution of over-40 female characters in fiction. And it does it with humor, warmth and a certain amount of outrageousness–in the city of Las Vegas, between 2005 and 2007. That’s pre-recession Vegas. A giddy, gaudy setting that distracts my lead character, but also soothes her.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This darkly funny novel describes Wendy Sinclair’s spin-crazy life in Las Vegas after she impulsively decides to not return to Houston following a bizarre girls’ weekend in 2005.

The confused, unhappy 45-year-old newlywed soon rents a ramshackle apartment in a building filled with misfits; wallows in a blur of spas, malls and buffets, and, ultimately, becomes a designer of cocktail waitress uniforms and an Ann-Margret impersonator in a casino show with Elvis.

She also hangs with some pretty colorful characters. Paula’s her bold, brassy glamazon BFF who’s looser than a Casino Royale slot. Maxine’s her saucy former-Tropicana-showgirl boss. Paige and Serena are two twenty-something blackjack dealers she shops, gambles, and clubs up a storm with. Major crushes on a hunky pilot and sexy former rock star are also part of the mix.

And then there are the phone fights with Roger, Wendy’s workaholic husband waiting impatiently in Houston.

Their clashes are louder and more raucous than a hot craps table at Caesar’s! Does she go back to him, or does her midlife crisis become a midlife makeover?

Now available on: Amazon Kindle, WHSmithbooks.com, BooksonBoard.com,Mobipocket.com,

eBooks.com, Barnes & Noble, and Fictionwise

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF

AUTHOR, IRENE WOODBURY, I HAVE

THREE (3) KINDLE EDITIONS TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

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.

or any of the above mentioned sites.

I am providing these links solely for visitors

that may be interested in purchasing this EBook.

I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties

Giveaway

KINDLE EDITIONS—-GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "A SLOT MACHINE ATE MY MIDLIFE CRISIS" ENDED

CMash October 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

OCTOBER 14th to OCTOBER 28th, 2011

A SLOT MACHINE ATE
MY MIDLIFE CRISIS

by IRENE WOODBURY

SYNOPSIS:

This darkly funny novel describes Wendy Sinclair’s spin-crazy life in Las Vegas after she impulsively decides to not return to Houston following a bizarre girls’ weekend in 2005.

The confused, unhappy 45-year-old newlywed soon rents a ramshackle apartment in a building filled with misfits; wallows in a blur of spas, malls and buffets, and, ultimately, becomes a designer of cocktail waitress uniforms and an Ann-Margret impersonator in a casino show with Elvis.

She also hangs with some pretty colorful characters. Paula’s her bold, brassy glamazon BFF who’s looser than a Casino Royale slot. Maxine’s her saucy former-Tropicana-showgirl boss. Paige and Serena are two twenty-something blackjack dealers she shops, gambles, and clubs up a storm with. Major crushes on a hunky pilot and sexy former rock star are also part of the mix.

And then there are the phone fights with Roger, Wendy’s workaholic husband waiting impatiently in Houston. Their clashes are louder and more raucous than a hot craps table at Caesar’s! Does she go back to him, or does her midlife crisis become a midlife makeover?

THANKS TO AUTHOR, IRENE WOODBURY,

I HAVE THREE ( 3 ) KINDLE EDITIONS OF THIS
FUNNY NOVEL 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: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DOES WENDY GO BACK TO HOUSTON?*

*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.

*KINDLE EDITIONS*
*INTERNATIONAL*
**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 OCTOBER 28th 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

Winners

And the winner is……

CMash October 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

……of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-10-14 12:12:59 UTC

18

Terrie said…Once CERTAIN and not just on a disgruntled child’s accusation, absolutely prosecution is the right course of action. Reputations and careers can be ruined if an accusation like this is made, so every effort should be made to confirm it before moving ahead.

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.

10/18/11 ADDENDUM: DUE TO A NON RESPONSE, ANOTHER NAME HAS BEEN CHOSEN.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-10-18 22:03:48 UTC

susansmoaks said…yes i think they should be prosecuted 30
An email has been sent and the winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Guest Author

Guest Author Irene Woodbury

CMash October 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

Once again, another author has given me the greatest compliment by visiting my blog. To this day, it still amazes me to think that an author would take the time to stop by and read my reviews. Today’s guest did just that and then sent me a lovely email asking if I would review her book. I read the synopsis and thought it would be something I would definitely enjoy and thought you would too. So I invited her to visit again, but this time as my guest. Please help me welcome Ms. Irene Woodbury !!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis, Irene Woodbury’s first novel, was inspired by her love of travel writing. Between 2000 and 2006, her stories appeared in many newspapers, including the Washington Post, London Daily Telegraph, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Toronto Star, and Nevada and The Affluent Traveler magazines.

One of the author’s favorite destinations was Las Vegas; she always believed Sin City would be the perfect setting for a novel. In 2006, she came up with the idea for Slot, and, four-and-a-half years, and many visits later, it was finished.

Irene is convinced her book wouldn’t work nearly as well in any other city. “Las Vegas has a frenetic energy to it,” she says, “and there’s plenty of chaos and confusion to go around. Is there a better place for a midlife crisis? I don’t think so.”

The author has lived in two of the locations featured in her novel: Los Angeles, where she worked at the Los Angeles Times, IBM, and Time Magazine, and Houston, where she graduated from the University of Houston in 1993. She also got married in Houston. (Yes, like Wendy, her lead character, but Irene insists the similarities end there!) Her husband, Richard, a retired Time Magazine correspondent, edited her novel.

Since 1994, the couple have called Denver home. As for midlife crises — his, hers, yours, mine — Irene believes it’s a time for asking questions. “Where am I? Where have I been? Where am I going? That’s it in a nutshell,” she says. “Writing this novel has been my midlife crisis. And it’s not over yet!”

You can visit her website here.

A few thoughts on A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis from author Irene Woodbury

My novel is an irreverent account of a 45-year old woman having a midlife crisis in Las Vegas. It’s Wendy’s story, told in first person, but it also explores and illuminates the concept of midlife crises. Women of previous generations didn’t have many options or resources when they went through theirs. As a result, they often retreated into traditional roles that put them in the background.

Wendy, however, has too many options and resources. Money, an impressive resume, a recent marriage to a successful man, good looks, health, talent. She goes through the requisite period of confusion, then finds herself through new career opportunities and relationships. She is neither a victim nor a vixen, but, ultimately, the heroine of her own life.

Midlife women in today’s world are no longer as limited as our mothers or grandmothers were, but they also don’t have the abundance of options Wendy has. Most of us fall somewhere in between. So this novel is a comical exaggeration, but, still, it makes some points in the evolution of over-40 female characters in fiction. And it does it with humor, warmth and a certain amount of outrageousness–in the city of Las Vegas, between 2005 and 2007. That’s pre-recession Vegas. A giddy, gaudy setting that distracts my lead character, but also soothes her.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This darkly funny novel describes Wendy Sinclair’s spin-crazy life in Las Vegas after she impulsively decides to not return to Houston following a bizarre girls’ weekend in 2005.

The confused, unhappy 45-year-old newlywed soon rents a ramshackle apartment in a building filled with misfits; wallows in a blur of spas, malls and buffets, and, ultimately, becomes a designer of cocktail waitress uniforms and an Ann-Margret impersonator in a casino show with Elvis.

She also hangs with some pretty colorful characters. Paula’s her bold, brassy glamazon BFF who’s looser than a Casino Royale slot. Maxine’s her saucy former-Tropicana-showgirl boss. Paige and Serena are two twenty-something blackjack dealers she shops, gambles, and clubs up a storm with. Major crushes on a hunky pilot and sexy former rock star are also part of the mix.

And then there are the phone fights with Roger, Wendy’s workaholic husband waiting impatiently in Houston.

Their clashes are louder and more raucous than a hot craps table at Caesar’s! Does she go back to him, or does her midlife crisis become a midlife makeover?

Now available on: Amazon Kindle, WHSmithbooks.com, BooksonBoard.com,Mobipocket.com,

eBooks.com, Barnes & Noble, and Fictionwise

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF

AUTHOR, IRENE WOODBURY, I HAVE

THREE (3) KINDLE EDITIONS TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

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.

or any of the above mentioned sites.

I am providing these links solely for visitors

that may be interested in purchasing this EBook.

I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties

Giveaway

KINDLE EDITIONS—-GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "A SLOT MACHINE ATE MY MIDLIFE CRISIS" ENDED

CMash October 14, 2011 30 Comments

OCTOBER 14th to OCTOBER 28th, 2011

A SLOT MACHINE ATE
MY MIDLIFE CRISIS

by IRENE WOODBURY

SYNOPSIS:

This darkly funny novel describes Wendy Sinclair’s spin-crazy life in Las Vegas after she impulsively decides to not return to Houston following a bizarre girls’ weekend in 2005.

The confused, unhappy 45-year-old newlywed soon rents a ramshackle apartment in a building filled with misfits; wallows in a blur of spas, malls and buffets, and, ultimately, becomes a designer of cocktail waitress uniforms and an Ann-Margret impersonator in a casino show with Elvis.

She also hangs with some pretty colorful characters. Paula’s her bold, brassy glamazon BFF who’s looser than a Casino Royale slot. Maxine’s her saucy former-Tropicana-showgirl boss. Paige and Serena are two twenty-something blackjack dealers she shops, gambles, and clubs up a storm with. Major crushes on a hunky pilot and sexy former rock star are also part of the mix.

And then there are the phone fights with Roger, Wendy’s workaholic husband waiting impatiently in Houston. Their clashes are louder and more raucous than a hot craps table at Caesar’s! Does she go back to him, or does her midlife crisis become a midlife makeover?

THANKS TO AUTHOR, IRENE WOODBURY,

I HAVE THREE ( 3 ) KINDLE EDITIONS OF THIS
FUNNY NOVEL 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: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DOES WENDY GO BACK TO HOUSTON?*

*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.

*KINDLE EDITIONS*
*INTERNATIONAL*
**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 OCTOBER 28th 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

Winners

And the winner is……

CMash October 14, 2011 1 Comment

……of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-10-14 12:12:59 UTC

18

Terrie said…Once CERTAIN and not just on a disgruntled child’s accusation, absolutely prosecution is the right course of action. Reputations and careers can be ruined if an accusation like this is made, so every effort should be made to confirm it before moving ahead.

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.

10/18/11 ADDENDUM: DUE TO A NON RESPONSE, ANOTHER NAME HAS BEEN CHOSEN.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-10-18 22:03:48 UTC

susansmoaks said…yes i think they should be prosecuted 30
An email has been sent and the winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "FIVE CHIEFS" ENDED

CMash October 13, 2011 Leave a Comment

OCTOBER 13th to OCTOBER 27th, 2011

FIVE CHIEFS
A SUPREME COURT MEMOIR

by JOHN PAUL STEVENS

SYNOPSIS:

When he resigned last June, Justice Stevens was the third longest serving Justice in American history (1975-2010)–only Justice William O. Douglas, whom Stevens succeeded, and Stephen Field have served on the Court for a longer time.

In Five Chiefs, Justice Stevens captures the inner workings of the Supreme Court via his personal experiences with the five Chief Justices–Fred Vinson, Earl Warren, Warren Burger, William Rehnquist, and John Roberts–that he interacted with. He reminisces of being a law clerk during Vinson’s tenure; a practicing lawyer for Warren; a circuit judge and junior justice for Burger; a contemporary colleague of Rehnquist; and a colleague of current Chief Justice John Roberts. Along the way, he will discuss his views of some the most significant cases that have been decided by the Court from Vinson, who became Chief Justice in 1946 when Truman was President, to Roberts, who became Chief Justice in 2005.

Packed with interesting anecdotes and stories about the Court, Five Chiefs is an unprecedented and historically significant look at the highest court in the United States.

THANKS TO ANNA AND THE WONDERFUL
PEOPLE AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP

I HAVE THREE ( 3 ) COPIES OF THIS
MEMOIR 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 READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK?*

*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 OCTOBER 27th 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