Guest Author Laura Caldwell

CMash September 27, 2011 Leave a Comment

If you have followed my blog then you know I am like a magnet to novels of mystery and suspense. I just can’t say that 2 letter word that starts with N and ends with O. So when Erin from Media Muscle/The Book Trib contacted me about today’s guest, it was an automatic Yes!! So I ask that you help me welcome the very busy, multi talented and author of many books, Ms Laura Caldwell, to the CMash blog as she visits and tells us about her latest novel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Caldwell is a former civil trial attorney, now Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Director of Life After Innocence, published author of several novels and 1 nonfiction book.

Before beginning her writing career, Laura was a partner in a Chicago law firm, specializing in medical malpractice defense and entertainment law. In 2001 she joined Loyola University Chicago School of Law and has taught Advanced Litigation Writing and International Criminal Law among others.

Laura’s began her writing career in women’s fiction and soon turned to mystery/thriller. Her first book, Burning the Map was voted as one of the best books the year by Barnes and Noble.com. Booklist declared “Caldwell is one of the most talented and inventive…writers around,” after the release of The Year of Living Famously and The Night I got Lucky. The release of her trilogy in 2009 received critical acclaim and nominations for prestigious industry awards.

While researching her sixth novel, The Rome Affair, Caldwell was led to the criminal case of Jovan Mosley, a young man charged with murder, sitting in a Cook County holding cell for nearly six years with no trial date. After hearing about his case, Caldwell joined a renowned criminal defense attorney to defend him, ultimately proving his innocence and inspiring her first nonfiction book, Long Way Home: A Young Man Lost in the System and the Two Women Who Found Him (Free Press, Simon & Schuster).

She is published in over 22 countries and translated into more than 13 languages. Laura is also a freelance magazine writer and has been publi shed in Chicago Magazine, Woman’s Own, The Young Lawyer, Lake Magazine, Australia Woman’s Weekly, Shore Magazine and others.

Inspired by Mosley’s case and his challenges of rejoining society, Caldwell founded Loyola’s Life After Innocence that assists wrongfully convicted individuals or other innocent persons affected by the criminal justice system in order to help them re-enter society and reclaim their lives.

You can visit Laura here.

ABOUT THE BOOKSYNOPSIS:

Forbidden relationships are the most tempting. And the most dangerous.

It was a crime of passion-or so the police say. Valerie Solara has been charged with poisoning her best friend. The prosecution claims she’s always been secretly attracted to Amanda’s husband…and with Amanda gone, she planned to make her move.

Attorney Izzy McNeil left the legal world a year ago, but a friend’s request pulls her into the murder trial. Izzy knows how passion can turn your life upside down. She thought she had it once with her ex-fiance, Sam. Now she wonders if that’s all she has in common with her criminally gorgeous younger boyfriend, Theo.

It’s Izzy’s job to present the facts that will exonerate her client-whether or not she’s innocent. But when she suspects Valerie is hiding something, she begins investigating-and uncovers a web of secret passions and dark motives, where seemingly innocent relationships can prove poisonous…

THANKS TO ERIN FROM MEDIA MUSCLE,

I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES OF THIS BOOK 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

or given to family and/or friends.

Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "CLAIM OF INNOCENCE" ENDED

CMash September 27, 2011 Leave a Comment

SEPTEMBER 27th to OCTOBER 11th, 2011

CLAIM OF INNOCENCE

by LAURA CALDWELL

SYNOPSIS:

Forbidden relationships are the most tempting. And the most dangerous.

It was a crime of passion-or so the police say. Valerie Solara has been charged with poisoning her best friend. The prosecution claims she’s always been secretly attracted to Amanda’s husband…and with Amanda gone, she planned to make her move.
Attorney Izzy McNeil left the legal world a year ago, but a friend’s request pulls her into the murder trial. Izzy knows how passion can turn your life upside down. She thought she had it once with her ex-fiance, Sam. Now she wonders if that’s all she has in common with her criminally gorgeous younger boyfriend, Theo.
It’s Izzy’s job to present the facts that will exonerate her client-whether or not she’s innocent. But when she suspects Valerie is hiding something, she begins investigating-and uncovers a web of secret passions and dark motives, where seemingly innocent relationships can prove poisonous…

THANKS TO ERIN AND THE AWESOME

PEOPLE FROM MEDIA MUSCLE

I HAVE TWO (2 ) COPIES OF THIS

SUSPENSEFUL 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: COULD YOU DEFEND SOMEONE

IF YOU THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE GUILTY?*

*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*

**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 11th 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,

agent and/or author. This blog hosts 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 winners are…………

CMash September 27, 2011 Leave a Comment

………..of THE BOOK OF LIFE by Stuart Nadler

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2	36	15

Timestamp: 2011-09-27 23:26:45 UTC

Margaret said…I’m a GFC follower Margaret 2

susansmoaks said…the part about the buried secret 36

Kaye said…GFC follower.15

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.

ADDENDUM: Due to a winner having won this book on another site, a new winner has been chosen and has 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-09-28 00:55:13 UTC

Maureen said…It looks like the book explores a lot of different situations and emotions.10

Winners

And the winner is…….

CMash September 27, 2011 Leave a Comment

………..of WHO ARE YOU? by Mari McCarthy

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-09-27 23:00:55 UTC

purango said…I have kept journals. I love journals. They are very helpful. 7

An email has been sent and the winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered.

10/01/11 ADDENDUM
Due to giveaway rules and regulations, another winner was chosen because of no response within 48 hours. The next winner chosen is and has 48 hours to respond:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-10-01 12:46:13 UTC

Victoria Zumbrum said…No I have never kept a journal. I should though. It helps to write down your thoughts. Please enter me in contest.

2

Guest Author

Guest Authors Amy Lewis Faircloth and Joanne Lewis

CMash September 26, 2011 Leave a Comment

The ladies at WOW are back again but this time they haven’t brought one remarkable author, NO, they have brought two amazing women writers. So without further ado, allow me to indroduce you to sisters Amy and Joanne Lewis. Welcome to the CMash blog!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

It was a chilly day in Maine when Amy received the call from her sister, Joanne, “Wanna write a book together?” Amy said yes and the journey began.

Amy is the older sister who loves her 2 sons and nephew, dogs, volunteering at the Bangor Humane Society, running, hiking, snowshoeing, surfing the web, her brown poodle Teddy, Lola, writing, reading, cycling, going to bed early, spending time with her friends and family, being outdoors when it’s nice outside and indoors when it’s not, and editing Joanne’s writing. She is a pescatarian and a lawyer in Maine.

Joanne is the younger sister who loves her 3 nephews, her grey poodle Frisco, writing, hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, cooking, traveling, Florence, Italy, anything to do with the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo, spending time with her friends and family, and being edited by Amy. She a vegetarian and a lawyer in Florida.

Two sisters, both attorneys; as sisters, Amy and Joanne have learned to play to each others strengths—an important lesson for any co-authors.
You can find Amy and Joanne at their website or blog.

GUEST POST

How Much Trouble Can One Kid Get Into?
by Amy Lewis Faircloth

Writing Wicked Good has been a communal project beyond the two of us. We have enlisted the help of my children, various book groups, relatives and friends. We have a lot of smart friends with a lot to say. For example, my smart scientist friend suggested we nix the mad scientist seeking to kill Rory for his special DNA in our original draft of Wicked Good.

One of my smartest friends is a professor of Philosophy at an elite college in the Northeast. I was so pleased, and rather anxious, when she agreed to read a draft of Wicked Good. She invited me to lunch once she had finished reading it, telling me she had some notes about the novel which she wanted to share with me. After reminding my 18 year old son several times to pick up his 16 year old brother at 1:00, I went to lunch, my stomach churning with anxiety. I was mainly worried she hated it but would be too kind to tell me.

We ate Chinese food and exchanged pleasantries. I couldn’t wait any longer.

“Okay, what did you think?” She reached into her bag and pulled out a quarter sheet of paper covered with penciled words. I tried to read the words from the other side of the table.

“I like it, Amy.” She said. I scooted my chair to get closer to read the penciled words to learn what she really thought. There were too many words to be summarized with a mere, “I like it, Amy.”

“But there was sort of one thing . . . .” She looked down at her paper. I started to squirm.

“Rory gets in a lot of trouble.” I knew that. He drinks alcohol in school, steals a car, writes graffiti on a wall. So what was the “sort of one thing”? I leaned my head over the table to glimpse the paper.

“It doesn’t seem realistic. How much trouble can one kid get into?”

I began to attempt to explain, recognizing that many of Rory’s antics would be unbelievable had they not been based somewhat in truth. As I began to stumble over my words, my phone rang. I looked at my watch and saw it was 1:10. Thinking it was my younger son calling to complain that his brother had not come to pick him up, I searched for my phone in my purse and apologized to my friend.

“Hello” I said, seeing the word Restricted across the screen.

“Is this Amy Faircloth?”

“Yes, who is this?

“Sergeant Bell at the Bangor Police Department.” I knew Sergeant Bell.

“Is everything okay?” I looked across the table at my friend. The concern on her face scared me even more than the officer’s phone call.

“Someone called in a report about trash being tossed out of your son’s vehicle. They gave us the license plate and we thought we would check with you.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. We just want to talk to him. Do you know where he is?”

“I know where he is supposed to be ten minutes ago.” I gave the officer the location and looked at my friend. All color had drained from her face, hearing only my side of the conversation. I laughed and explained.

“Did you want to ask me that question again?” I said. “You know, about how much trouble one kid can get into?”

She took a pencil out of her purse and vigorously crossed out the penciled words on her quarter sheet of paper.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis:

Available as e-book for Kindle and Nook and in print.

No one is perfect, not even Archer—but she would like to be. As an attorney with a possible judicial seat Archer struggles to maintain balance between her professional responsibilities and her responsibilities as mother to her adopted special needs child.

Rory has Asperger’s Syndrome; he is sensitive, difficult, and stubborn. When Rory decides to go searching for his birth parents Archer has no choice but to join him. What follows is a wild journey of self discovery for both of them!

Wicked Good is full of rich characters with whom you will cry, hope, laugh, and cheer.

Just Thought You Should Know:

Jane Austin, Virginia Woolf, Hans Christian Anderson, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and George Orwell are just a few of the famous authors thought to have had Asperger’s Syndrome or a related condition.

Press Release 09/12/11:
WICKED GOOD, One blustery day two sisters decided to write a book together. What began as a blog became a hit novel! WICKED GOOD is currently #1 on Amazon in the Women’s Fiction – Mothers & Children category for print books, and has won a Reader’s Favorite Book Award 2011 in Fiction Drama!

THANKS TO THE AUTHORS, AMY and JOANNE LEWIS

I HAVE ONE COPY OF THIS BOOK 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.

Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "WICKED GOOD" ENDED

CMash September 26, 2011 Leave a Comment

SEPTEMBER 26th to OCTOBER 10th, 2011

WICKED GOOD

by AMY LEWIS FAIRCLOTH & JOANNE LEWIS

SYNOPSIS:

No one is perfect, not even Archer—but she would like to be. As an attorney with a possible judicial seat Archer struggles to maintain balance between her professional responsibilities and her responsibilities as mother to her adopted special needs child.

Rory has Asperger’s Syndrome; he is sensitive, difficult, and stubborn. When Rory decides to go searching for his birth parents Archer has no choice but to join him. What follows is a wild journey of self discovery for both of them!

Wicked Good is full of rich characters with whom you will cry, hope, laugh, and cheer.

THANKS TO GENEROUS AUTHORS,

AMY LEWIS FAIRCLOTH AND JOANNE LEWIS

AND THE LADIES FROM WOW

I HAVE ONE (1) COPY 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: HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ASPERGER’S

SYNDROME? WHAT DISEASE IS IT ASSOCIATED WITH?

*EXTRA ENTRIES*

*VISIT THE MAYO CLINIC ASPERGER’S SITE AND COME BACK

AND LEAVE COMMENT OF SOMETHING YOU LEARNED ABOUT

ASPERGER’S SYNDROME.

*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*

**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 10th 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,

agent and/or author. This blog hosts 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

Misc

CMash September 25, 2011 Leave a Comment

My Mom

BRUNO, CLAIRE M. (RANALLO), 90, of Providence, passed away on Thursday September 22, 2011. She was the dear wife of the late Samuel Bruno and daughter of the late Albert and Rose M. (Costanzo) Ranallo. For many years, Claire, along with her late husband Sam, owned and operated Bruno’s Shell in North Providence. She was a graduate of Bryant University. Claire is survived by her beloved daughters, Sandra J. Bruno and Cheryl Masciarelli; her devoted son-in-law, Steven Masciarelli; and her cherished grandsons, Paul and Mark Masciarelli. Calling hours Monday 5-8 PM in the A.A. MARIANI AND SON Funeral Home, 200 Hawkins St., Providence. Funeral Tuesday at 10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM in St. Ann Church, 280 Hawkins St., Providence. Burial in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket. Kindly omit flowers.

Published in The Providence Journal on September 25, 2011

Mom:

You will be truly missed, always loved, never forgotten and memories will comfort us.

Rest In Peace

Guest Author

Guest Author Neil Hanson

CMash September 23, 2011 Leave a Comment

When Nicole from Tribute Books contacted me regarding today’s guest and his novel, I didn’t even have to think twice. It was a definite yes. The premise of his book is one that is so important but is a topic that should be discussed among loved ones but isn’t. His book that he will be discussing today hits very close to home with me. Please, take a seat, and help me welcome Mr. Neil Hanson.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neil Hanson lives and works in Colorado. Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty is his first book. He blogs actively and writes articles for periodicals. He is an avid outdoorsman, passionate about hunting and fishing. He spends a great deal of time bicycling the roads and trails of Colorado, and backcountry skiing in winter. His passion for gardening spills over into a joint venture with his oldest son, where they operate a landscaping and construction company in Colorado.

You can find Neil at his Website, Blog Tour Page, Facebook, Twitter, Blog

GUEST POST

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this story told in the first-person form of a letter from a middle-aged man to his deceased father, Hanson invites us to journey with him through the final days of the father’s life, finding a magical transition waiting at the end of that journey. The story weaves end-of-life reality and spiritual questioning into a sensitive and revealing tapestry of Truth and Wisdom. The tapestry is colored with true stories of mystical experiences that inform the spiritual path of the son.

Most of us will face difficult and painful end-of-life decisions with the most important people in our lives. The threads of this aspect of the story are sensitive, and Hanson reveals the struggles and destinations of the son as he wrestles deeply with the journey that he must walk in making these decisions for his dying father.

THANKS TO AUTHOR, NEIL HANSON, HE HAS GENEROUSLY

OFFERED ONE (1) PRINT COPY TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO

COMMENTS ON MY REVIEW—– U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

(PLEASE LEAVE EMAIL ADDRESS) AND EBOOK EDITIONS

INTERNATIONAL WHO LEAVE COMMENTS DURING THE

MONTH OF SEPTEMBER (LEAVE EMAIL ADDRESS)

All entrants will automatically be subscribed to Neil Hanson’s email newsletter. Contact information is NEVER shared, and subscribers can unsubscribe at any time.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.