Hosted by Kayla at The Eclectic Element http://www.theeclecticelement.blogspot.com
Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week ‘leftovers.’ Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn’t worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down?
That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!

One item on my Saturday Blog-To-Do list is to update my Challenge progress meters, which got me to thinking and is going to be the topic of today’s Slapdash Sunday.

     Many of my Challenge meters are not progressing.  First let me say that this is my 1st year of Challenges.  I signed up for most of the challenges when I was a newbie and first went “public” with my blog.  They looked like fun and at the time, I wanted to join in and participate in this great world of book blogging.  However, all this was before I was encouraged to start accepting requests for reviews that some of my blogging mentors thought I was ready for.
     So today’s thoughts are regarding this situation.  I know I am way behind, a whole month behind, due to my surgeries and hospitalizations.  Hoping that I can play catch up but thinking, believing, know for sure that I will probably, definitely not complete the 100+ challenge.  When it comes to requests, I feel that I should read and review them first.  As of today there are 10 books with more coming that I know of.  I have noticed on the experienced blogger sites that they have more challenges than I do and are making great progress.
     My questions for discussion are these:  Do you alternate between books that are “requested reviews” and books for your challenges?  Do you feel that the “requests” take priority?  How long do you think is adequate from the time of receiving a “request” to finish reading and reviewing it?  What was the longest time span that you had from the book being delivered and actually writing your review?  Have you ever not completed the challenges you signed up for? 

What are your thoughts on this topic? Let’s have a Slapdash !!!!!

Yesterday was a very busy day!!!!  All the memes, blog hopping, awards and visiting those blogs that I passed the awards onto.  And because of that, and not having enough coffee, I missed seeing another award until later in the day.  Busy Moms Who Love To Read (busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com) not only awarded me with the “Great Blog Neighbor Award” but also the Prolific Blogger Award.  Thank you so very much. I will say again, when I am presented with an award, it makes me feel that I am a full fledged member in the book blogging club, and what are great feeling it is.  Again, thank you!!!

The Rules:
Every winner must pass this on to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread the love people!
Each Prolific Blogger Award recipient must link back to the blog they received the award from.
And now, am passing this award to:

Hosted by Lori at Lori’s Reading Corner (http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/)
This week’s spotlight from Lori’s site:
Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, where each week we will have a chance to showcase something new. It will be the place to gather, talk and shine the “spotlight” on all things book related. Not to mention a place to discover new to us authors, characters, series and places.
Each week I will pick a new theme for us to share our favorite of, and every once in a while I’ll make it a “readers choice” week where you can spotlight whatever you want.
Some of the different things we’ll be spotlighting are our favorite book, author, female/male character, location, murder weapon, series, other book blogs, giveaway sites, places to get our books and just about anything else book related.
This week my spotlight is shining on my ……

    Taken from the Official Web Site of James Patterson  http://www.jamespatterson.com/about_biography.php
    I read my 1st James Patterson novel years ago and was hooked.  Every one of his books, that I have read since, I know will be a page turning, can’t put down read.  I have some catching up to do in the Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club and Michael Bennett books.  It seems that he can write exceptional books faster than I can read.

Yesterday was a very busy day!!!!  All the memes, blog hopping, awards and visiting those blogs that I passed the awards onto.  And because of that, and not having enough coffee, I missed seeing another award until later in the day.  Busy Moms Who Love To Read (busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com) not only awarded me with the “Great Blog Neighbor Award” but also the Prolific Blogger Award.  Thank you so very much. I will say again, when I am presented with an award, it makes me feel that I am a full fledged member in the book blogging club, and what are great feeling it is.  Again, thank you!!!

The Rules:
Every winner must pass this on to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread the love people!
Each Prolific Blogger Award recipient must link back to the blog they received the award from.
And now, am passing this award to:

Hosted by Lori at Lori’s Reading Corner (http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/)
This week’s spotlight from Lori’s site:
Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, where each week we will have a chance to showcase something new. It will be the place to gather, talk and shine the “spotlight” on all things book related. Not to mention a place to discover new to us authors, characters, series and places.
Each week I will pick a new theme for us to share our favorite of, and every once in a while I’ll make it a “readers choice” week where you can spotlight whatever you want.
Some of the different things we’ll be spotlighting are our favorite book, author, female/male character, location, murder weapon, series, other book blogs, giveaway sites, places to get our books and just about anything else book related.
This week my spotlight is shining on my ……

    Taken from the Official Web Site of James Patterson  http://www.jamespatterson.com/about_biography.php
    I read my 1st James Patterson novel years ago and was hooked.  Every one of his books, that I have read since, I know will be a page turning, can’t put down read.  I have some catching up to do in the Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club and Michael Bennett books.  It seems that he can write exceptional books faster than I can read.

Still Midnight by Denise Mina
Published by Reagan Arthur Books Little Brown and Company
ISBN: 978-0-316-01563-9
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a HC copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (a partial description taken from the book’s jacket) Life ought to be simple for Detective Inspector Alex Morrow. She’s an up-and-coming cop, just about to be assigned to the case that could make her career. Her half brother, Danny, is also on the rise. Unfortunately for Alex, he’s making his name on the other side of the tracks, in the murky shadows of Glasgow’s criminal underworld. Alex is determined not to let her colleagues know anything about Danny, or the other parts of her private life that might not be as rosy as her professional one-but the events of a quiet suburban night could change that.
  My Thoughts/Opinion: After reading the full synopsis of the book’s jacket and reading reviews stating “page turning” suspense, I felt that this would be a good match for me and looked forward to reading it. However, after reading ten chapters and 100+ pages, I found that the gripping suspense had not yet been revealed. I also found difficulty with the Scottish dialect. This reader also found each chapter to be repetitive in content. Unfortunately, I was not able to continue reading this book. Please note that this is the opinion, and solely the opinion, of this reader.
  Rating: 0

Still Midnight by Denise Mina
Published by Reagan Arthur Books Little Brown and Company
ISBN: 978-0-316-01563-9
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a HC copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (a partial description taken from the book’s jacket) Life ought to be simple for Detective Inspector Alex Morrow. She’s an up-and-coming cop, just about to be assigned to the case that could make her career. Her half brother, Danny, is also on the rise. Unfortunately for Alex, he’s making his name on the other side of the tracks, in the murky shadows of Glasgow’s criminal underworld. Alex is determined not to let her colleagues know anything about Danny, or the other parts of her private life that might not be as rosy as her professional one-but the events of a quiet suburban night could change that.
  My Thoughts/Opinion: After reading the full synopsis of the book’s jacket and reading reviews stating “page turning” suspense, I felt that this would be a good match for me and looked forward to reading it. However, after reading ten chapters and 100+ pages, I found that the gripping suspense had not yet been revealed. I also found difficulty with the Scottish dialect. This reader also found each chapter to be repetitive in content. Unfortunately, I was not able to continue reading this book. Please note that this is the opinion, and solely the opinion, of this reader.
  Rating: 0

Before I start with all my Friday memes, I need to thank 3 very kind people.  Yesterday I was presented 2 awards and am honored to receive them.  I take these awards very seriously because it says to me that someone really likes my blog and that they enjoy the content.  Just a few months ago, I didn’t even know that this book blogging world existed and when I am presented with an award, it truly makes me feel that I have been accepted into the neighborhood.  I have said this before but need to reiterate.  One of my book blogging mentors (Vicki from Reading At The Beach) told me that I would be meeting the nicest people in the blogging world and she was so right.  Book bloggers are the kindest, friendliest, helpful people I have come to know.  Now to the awards:

I received this award from Lori at Dollycas’s Thoughts (http://dollycas.blogspot.com/) 

This startling award was created by Eleni at La Femme Reader.

It signifies all the bloggers out there who constantly work hard to keep an updated and insightful website. They aren’t afraid to take a bite with their honest reviews and enjoyable content. You amaze me, you inspire me so I call you a blog monster.

  I am now going to pass this award to the following:

Julie P from Reading Without Restraint http://.readingwithoutrestraint.blogspot.com

Lynn from Midday Escapades http://middayescapades.com

MarceJ from Tea Time With Marce http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com

Nise from Under The Boardwalk http://nisefunpages.blogspot.com

Xmas Dolly http://thenewxmasdolly.blogspot.com

  I received this award from 2 bloggers and they are:

Busy Moms Who Love To Read http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com

Julie P from Reading Without Restraint http://readingwithoutrestraint.blogspot.com/

  I will be passing this award to those who put in their time to host memes and/or challenges and allow us the opportunity to meet other book bloggers. I feel they are most deserving and they are:

Jennifer from Crazy For Books http://www.crazy-for-books.com

Kathy from Bermudaonion Weblog http://www.crazy-for-books.com

Lori from Lori’s Reading Corner http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com

Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through A World of Books http://bookjourney.wordpress.com

Vicki from Reading At The Beach http://www.readingatthebeach.com

   Thank you again !!!!! It is so appreciated !!!!    Cheryl  aka CMash

Now on to the memes!