Reminder

Monthly Wrap Up

Another month comes to an end !!!!  Which means another month closer to nicer weather, I hope.  As far as reading, this month I am not at all happy with myself.  I went into a mini reading slump, which thankfully, doesn't happen often but it did so I will need to play catch up in the coming months.  And I am on planning on doing it in a very enjoyable way.  I have already informed hubby and my sons that they need to open our pool early this year. so that the best way I can recuperate after surgery is to be sitting by the pool, with my stack of books and my Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee...sounds like a plan to me !!!

Ohhhhh myyyy...I just looked at my spread sheet/records and it is worse than I thought....

OK..telling myself..."Self..you promise to and will do better in April....lol  don't think it could get any worse.  So here goes.....

  BOOKS READ:

   *Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo
   *Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub
   *The Cutting by James Hayman
  CHALLENGES PROGRESS TO DATE:
  *Lisa Jackson 5/10
  *Awesome Author 0/3
  *RYOB 1/10
  *Romance 2/3
  *EBook 2/6
  *Reading from my Shelves 12/20
  *Thriller/Suspense 11/12
  *Books Won 1/6
  *100+ 15/100
  *FOMA 12x12 13/?
  *Buck A Book 15/100
  *Reagan Arthur 1/?
  *50+ 3/50
 

Wednesday

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

 *What are you currently reading?

     Silent Scream by Karen Rose (from The Hachette Book Group)

 *What did you recently finish reading?
     The Cutting by James Hayman (awesome...rated it 4.5 out of 5...great read)
 *What do you think you’ll read next?
     The Memory Thief by Rachel Keener (The Hachette Book Group)
     Our Promised Land by Michael T. Darkow (Phenix & Phenix Publishers)
in the fun. You don't need a blog to comment, but if you do and want to join in, links provided for each and all memes.

Wednesday #2

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

  I read Crossing The Bridge by Michael Baron in December 2009 at the request from the publisher, The Story Plant, and have been anxiously awaiting his next novel:

Release date 05/11/10

Joseph, a man in his late thirties, awakens disoriented and uneasy in a place he doesn't recognize. Several people are near him when he opens his eyes, all strangers. All of them seem perfectly friendly, but none of them can explain to him how he got there. They offer him a delicious meal and pleasant conversation in a beautifully decorated room. This would be a very nice experience if not for one thing: Joseph doesn't know where he is and he has no way to contact his wife, who he is sure is worried sick over him. Thanking the people for their hospitality, he leaves to make his way back home. The only problem is that whatever happened to him has stripped him of most of his memories. He knows he needs to get back to his wife, but he doesn't know how to find her. He sets out on a journey to find his home with no sense of where he's going and only the precious, indelible vision of the woman he loves to guide him.

Antoinette is an elderly woman in an assisted living facility. She’s spent the last six years there since her husband died, and most of those years have been happy. She enjoys the company of others in her situation and her son comes to visit often. But in recent months, she’s had a tougher and tougher time leaving her room. Her friends seem different to her and the world seems increasingly confusing. She spends an escalating amount of time on a journey inside her head. There, her body and mind haven’t betrayed her. There, she’s a young newlywed with a husband who dotes on her and an entire life of dreams to live. There, she is truly home.

Warren, Antoinette’s son, is a man in his early forties going through the toughest year of his life. His marriage ended, he lost his job, and in the past few months, his mother has gone from hale to increasingly hazy. Having trouble finding work, he spends more and more time by his mother’s bedside. But her lack of lucidity both frustrates and frightens him. With far too much time on his hands, he decides to try to recreate his memories of home by attempting to cook his mother’s greatest dishes using the rudimentary appliances available in her room. He finds the challenge surprisingly rewarding, especially because the only time he feels his mother is truly with him anymore is when she is eating the meals he prepares for her.

Joseph, Antoinette, and Warren are three people on different searches for home. How they find it, and how they connect with one another at this critical stage in each of their lives, is the foundation for a profound and deeply moving story.

About the Author
Michael Baron is the pseudonym for a successful nonfiction writer. He is the author of two previous novels, When You Went Away (Story Plant, October 2009) and Crossing the Bridge (Story Plant, January 2010). His next novel, Leaves will come in the fall of 2010. A more extensive bio from the author is available at his site, www.MichaelBaronBooks.com.

Misc

First, I want to thank all that stopped by yesterday and left comments.  I enjoy reading each and every one and appreciate that you took the time to visit.  Things here are getting a little hectic so I apologize for not responding to each of your comments.  My youngest son arrived home yesterday to spend time with me before my upcoming surgery.  And here in New England we are in the middle of a monsoon which is causing major damage to properties, even those who never had water damage before, are getting it now.  Us included.  Not that I can physically do anything except give orders, such as move this, put that there.  And yes, it can be an exhausting job lol.

To those that know me, you can skip the items you are already aware of but to my new bloggy friends I will fill you in.  I have stated in the past that my morning routine is to boot up Lily Laptop, grab my coffee mug, check emails, and read all my book blog newsletter subscriptions, which there are a few, some, many, ok lots and lots.  I just don't want to miss anything even though I also go through my google reader too.  Because I subscribe to almost all on my blog roll, and not being able to have access to my laptop and emails , I know that my mailbox will reach it's maximum probably within 2-3 days.  So tomorrow, I will be starting to temporarily unsubscribe to your newsletters.  When I have been discharged and home again, I will resubscribe.  However, I have a favor to ask (hope you are taking notes because as the week goes by, there will be a couple more favors that I am planning on asking).  If by the middle to end of April (hoping I will be home by the 12th) and I missed your newsletter, please let me know.  Between a combination of postop pain medications and senior moments, its bound to happen.  I didn't just want to unsubscribe without an explanation.  I sure am going to miss everyone next week !!!!!!

The Cutting by James Hayman

The Cutting by James Hayman (Rating 4.5)

Published by St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-53129-4
ISBN-10: 0-312-53129-X
At the request from Pump Up Your Book, a HC copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (from the book's jacket) Early on a September evening, the mutilated body of a pretty teenaged girl, a high school soccer star, is found dumped in a scrap-metal yard. She has been viciously assaulted, her heart cut from her chest with surgical precision. The very same day a young business woman. also a blonde and an athlete, was abducted as she jogged through the streets of the city's west end.
  Thoughts: First I have some caveats to this review..due to personal issues it took me a lot longer than usual to finish this book. I wish I had been able to read this during a non-chaotic time. This review will be written as if I had read it as I have read books in the past. The length of time that it took me to finish it, by no means reflects on the author and/or his book. With that said, and having finished reading this novel, it is hard to believe that this was the debut novel by Mr. James Hayman. His writing style is amazing for a new author. He pulls you into the story and never lets go. Not only with the nail biting story line but even the relationships among the characters. The author's ability to convey his written words to allow this reader to form my own visuals were amazing for a first novel. The suspense in this book took so many different twist and turns right to the very last page made it one roller coaster read!!
  My Opinion and Rating: I gave this a 4.5 rating only due to the fact that I thought that Lucinda's character and the situation she was in should have been given more attention since she was a main character in the plot. But this is my opinion and my opinion only. But overall, if you like suspense, mystery, who done it, books then read this!! Put this author on your radar, a first novel this good, can only get better with future novels. I anxiously await knowing what and when his next novel will be published. The only thing left to say is......Mr. Hayman, KUDOS!!!!!!! WELL DONE!!!!!!

And if you would like to know more about Mr. James Hayman, check out his Guest Author Spotlight on this blog dated 03/23/10.

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 or friends.

Monday

Hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page http://rebeccavoy.blogspot.com/
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about multitasking.

Do you – or are you even able – to do other things while you read? Do you knit, hold a conversation, keep an eye on the TV? Anything?
  This is a bit difficult to answer.  I'm not sure if it would be considered multitasking.  I usually have the tv on a cable news station, volume low and if there is "breaking news" or I hear something of interest, I stop reading.  Reading while having a conversation?  Only if someone interrupts me and asks a question.

in the fun. You don't need a blog to comment, but if you do and want to join in, links provided for each and all memes.

Monday

Hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com

This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

  I am disappointed that I did NOT finish any books last week.  I have been in a reader's slump.  Since I will be unable to post next Monday, I will combine these 2 weeks.

This morning I finished The Cutting by James Hayman.  (Review to follow sometime this week)

  And later today, I will be starting Silent Scream by Karen Rose (from The Hachette Group).  I have been anxiously awaiting for this book to be "the next in line"

  And following will be The Memory Thief by Rachel Keener

Monday

Hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page http://printedpage.us/

Received for review from Doubleday/Random House

Received for review from The Book Trib

Sunday

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!
  So far, this morning is perfect, the family are still sleeping, I have coffee mug in hand, reading my subscribed newsletters and google reader and then I saw it !!!! (which will tie in to Slapdash Sunday).  "Book'n With Bingo (http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com) is hosting a giveaway for Ted Dekker's The Bride Collector so I had to enter since I have seen many postive reviews of this book.  Also I learned he has written 20 books so I have a lot of catch up to do.
  Then Bermudaonion (http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com)had/ a picture of the books she received this week.  And again, more books went on my TBR list because I haven't read 2 of the authors, from what she received, in quite a while.  I have a TBR spread sheet on my computer where I enter books/authors from the reviews I read or books from sites like Goodreads, Library thing, etc.

So...here is my question(s)....the saying is "too many books, too little time.  So true...So true...especially if your are a true avid reader.  Are your TBR lists fof the scale, , do you really think that you will read all the books on your TBR lists (lol maybe its due to my age), how do you keep track of your TBR lists.  I may list approximately 10-15 books a week from bloggers' reviews and if I am not in a reading slump, I can get through a couple of books ( however, right now I am in a slump which is frustrating me because I am so behind in reading my "requested review books")  And the list is growing....What are your thoughts on this topic?  Let's have a Slapdash !!!!!

 

Sunday

MY JOURNEY

The count down has begun, one more week....one more test tonight, finally the last one!!!!  I will be making a few changes this week on my blog for during the time I will be away from my laptop (just the thought of not being connected to or have access to my computer, is causing me to have withdrawal symptoms lol).  I will be notifying followers as to what these changes will be, some requests, etc. etc. ...but more on that later this week)  As they say....To Be Continued.....

Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop for the Children's Miracle Network

  I just received an early Easter Basket !!  My friend Vicki, from Reading At The Beach (readingatthebeach.com) sent me the sweetest basket, as sweet as a Hershey's Kiss !!!! 

 

  And the best part is that Hershey has partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network (http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org)%20for/ over 20 years. CMN is a non-profit alliance of children’s hospitals dedicated to providing state-of-the-art care, life-saving research and preventative education across North America. This Easter season, Hershey is celebrating it’s new Easter products sold exclusively at Walmart and their legacy of making a difference and Hershey’s will donate up to a total of $5,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network together with bloggers.
  Please join in and help make this a child's sweetest Easter ever !!!  Its easy to participate...
Participate to Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop of giving away virtual Easter Baskets by creating a blog post with specific rules described here.

*Hershey Company will donate $10 per each blog post to CMN, up to total of $5,000.
*One blog post per URL counts towards the donation, but you can give as many virtual Easter baskets as you want.
*The Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop will officially begin at 12 AM EST on March 18th and end at 12 PM EST on April 4th, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted for.
*The blog post link has to be submitted to us for the donation to be counted.
*In addition copy and paste the following text in your blog post:

 HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES
*Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
*Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
*Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
*Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
*Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
*Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).
*Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.
 
I am passing this basket on to:
   Xmas Dolly
   Bermudaonion
   A Cup of Tea and a Cozy For Me
   Caiafa Craziness
   Dollycas's Thoughts
   Libby's Library News
   My 5 Monkeys
I am willing to share all the goodies in my basket, so if you would like to participate, please help yourself to my basket !!!
  

A NOTE FROM AN OLD AQUAINTANCE by Bill Walker

Please help me welcome Mr. Bill Walker, author of A Note from an Old Aquaintance

Author's Thoughts:
One of the most difficult aspects of writing, in my humble opinion, is dialogue. It is also one of the most important. In fact, I would wager that most people wouldn't care to read a book without it. So, how does one develop an ear for dialogue? After all, we hear people around us speak all day long, every day. Dialogue should be a snap, right? Wrong. In real life people speak in fragments that would look awful on the printed page and sound even worse in the reader's mind, and I'm not even counting if it makes sense or not. Your dialogue must serve the story and can't afford to waste time going off on tangents like all of us do in real life.

When I first endeavored to write professionally, while I could turn a decent descriptive phrase, or two, dialogue was my weak point, my Achilles heel, as it were. It sounded phony, stilted and wooden. No matter what I wrote, I hated the dialogue. And then I started using a technique that seems to work for me. I started casting my characters in my mind, using either real people, such as people I knew or famous actors and actresses, or simply vivid constructs, and assigned them voices and accents. I then deliberately imagined each scene as a little movie of the mind, to be played over and over again as I tried different lines of dialogue. Now, this may seem like a no-brainer, but this may not work for everyone. Because of my desire to be a filmmaker I tend to think cinematically.

Once you start doing this, and it will still take practice, the dialogue will flow more naturally, because you as the writer will inhabit the role of each character as you write them. In effect, you become the ultimate actor. One thing you should avoid, however, is too much dialect. While Mark Twain got away with it, modern readers don't want to wade through pages of words with strange and unique spellings. Instead of making your characters more vivid, you distract the reader, pulling them out of the story. And you NEVER want to do that, if you can help it.

Through my little cinematic technique you can use normal language, slanting a word or two, or using certain phrases unique to that character to make him or her sound Irish, for instance. They don't have to speak like the Lucky Charms leprechaun and in fact they shouldn't, unless you want to stray into the land of cliché. In any event, give my technique a try and see if it works for you.

About A Note From an Old Acquaintance:
Brian Weller is a haunted man. It’s been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian’s life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife’s prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love.

You can find my review dated 02/27/10....
Thank you Mr. Walker for stoppng by, sharing your thoughts and allowing me the opportunity of reading a very enjoyable book.  This reader will be awaiting your next novel.

Aloha Friday #1

Friday is my favorite day here on my blog, busiest, but definitely my favorite.  So many fun memes and the the chance to meet many new bloggy friends.  So lets get started ..........

Hosted by An Island Life http://islandlife808.com/

  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 is:   What time do you usually get up in the morning?

     I get up between 5:30am to 6:30am.  If it is any later than that, I feel that I have wasted precious time.

in the fun. You don't need a blog to comment, but if you do and want to join in, links provided for each and all memes.

Friday Blog Hop #2

Hosted by Jennifer from CRAZY FOR BOOKS http://www.crazy-for-books.com/
Here are the instuctions from her site:
  Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!
  So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this on your blog, sign MckLinky below, and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!! So, if you consider yourself a book blogger, come join the fun!
  Pretty please - Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

Friday Fill-Ins #3

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com

And...here we go!

1. The right word escaping me at this time.

2. Wipe your feet and shut the door quietly, please.

3. Up, up and away.

4. In summer, by the pool with a book is where you'll find me.

5. Ooh! What is that you are cooking.smells good?

6. That is a good idea.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with hubby, tomorrow my plans include laundry, paperwork, computer tasks, reading and Sunday, I want to RELAX & READ but am also scheduled for one more test!

Time

Yesterday I was having one of those "down" days that we all get every now and then.  I went through my usual routine, coffee mug in hand, checking my email, reading all my booking newsletters that I subscribe to.  Every morning I look forward to this routine and it is always enjoyable reading the reviews, adding more titles to my TBR list (even though it will probably take a few lifetimes to read them all), what is going on each person's blogs, etc, etc.  Having so much on my mind, what I find so much fun every morning, was not happening, I was just going through the motions. I then logged onto my blog and  saw that I needed to moderate comments.  To my surprise, and pleasantly so, I was presented with another award!!  Marce from Tea Time with Marce (http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/) was so kind to think of me and passing it on.

Because of her thoughtfulness, on a day that started off gloomy, became radiant.  Thank you so much Marce.  If you haven't visited her, you really should, she has a delightful blog.  Link is above.

Now the criteria..........

This award is to honor and thank bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. I appreciate the regular comments, networking with you and becoming blogging friends.

Rule: Nominate 10 bloggers you feel deserve the Humane Award.

(in no particular order

Kathy from Bermudaonion

Darlene from Peeking Between The Pages

Karen from Bookin' With Bingo

Vicki from Reading At The Beach

Dolly from Xmas Dolly

Lori from Escape Between The Pages

Beth from The Crazy Life of a Bookaholic Mom

Caite from A Lovely Shore Breeze

Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World of Books

Rachel from Home Girl's Book Blog

Thursday

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Do you take breaks while reading a book? Or read it straight through? (And, by breaks, I don’t mean sleeping, eating and going to work; I mean putting it aside for a time while you read something else.)

Never !!  I have to read one book at a time.  It has always astounded me, and still does, how people CAN read more than one book at a time.  I know that I would have to reread chapters to recall characters, story lines, etc.  I am a front to back page girl.  Once I start a book it is always read to the finish.  On rare occasions, when I get in a reading slump or I am just not in the mood for a current book I have chosen to read and put it down for a later date, I start from the beginning again. 

Wednesday #1

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

 *What are you currently reading?

     The Cutting by James Hayman 

  *What did you recently finish reading?
     Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub
 *What do you think you’ll read next?
     Silent Scream by Karen Rose

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME GUEST AUTHOR JAMES HAYMAN of THE CUTTING

         PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MR. JAMES HAYMAN..............
AUTHOR OF THE CUTTING

Like McCabe, I’m a native New Yorker. He was born in the Bronx. I was born in Brooklyn. We both grew up in the city. He dropped out of NYU Film School and joined the NYPD, rising through the ranks to become the top homicide cop at the Midtown North Precinct. I graduated from Brown and joined a major New York ad agency, rising through the ranks to become creative director on accounts like the US Army, Procter & Gamble, and Lincoln/Mercury.

We both married beautiful brunettes. McCabe’s wife, Sandy dumped him to marry a rich investment banker who had “no interest in raising other people’s children.” My wife, Jeanne, though often given good reason to leave me in the lurch, has stuck it out through thick and thin and is still my wife. She is also my best friend, my most attentive reader and a perceptive critic.

Both McCabe and I eventually left New York for Portland, Maine. I arrived in August 2001, shortly before the 9/11 attacks, in search of the right place to begin a new career as a fiction writer. He came to town a year later, to escape a dark secret in his past and to find a safe place to raise his teenage daughter, Casey.

There are other similarities between us. We both love good Scotch whiskey, old movie trivia and the New York Giants. And we both live with and love women who are talented artists.

There are also quite a few differences. McCabe’s a lot braver than me. He’s a better shot. He likes boxing. He doesn’t throw up at autopsies. And he’s far more likely to take risks. McCabe’s favorite Portland bar, Tallulah’s, is, sadly, a figment of my imagination. My favorite Portland bars are all very real.

You can visit James’ website at www.jameshaymanthrillers.com or his personal tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2010/01/22/1640/.

What’s the Difference Between a Mystery (Or Whodunit), and a Thriller or a Novel of Suspense?

A dear old friend of mine recently read The Cutting and commented that he loved the book, loved the characters, and loved the suspense. Said it kept him on the edge of the seat and couldn’t wait for McCabe#2 (The Chill of Night-which comes out June 22nd). However, he said, he had one problem. He knew who the bad guy was pretty early on in the game. Why did I give it way?

I responded that my reason was that The Cutting was more of a suspense thriller than a mystery or whodunit. “What’s the difference?” he asked, “I thought they were pretty much the same thing.”

Looking at emails I’ve received since The Cutting came out last summer, I discovered there’s a fair amount of confusion on this issue. While there’s no official answer, here’s an unofficial answer or at least my own personal opinion.

A mystery, according to Hayman, depends on the hero solving an intellectual puzzle that leads him to discover “Whodunit.” Action is often minimal. The sleuth is seldom, if ever, in physical danger and the reader is kept guessing until the end. Reader satisfaction is derived from guessing the answer before the sleuth does or, failing that, enjoying the unraveling of the mystery and going back to look over the subtle clues the author sprinkled in along the way. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is of course the progenitor of many of the best sleuths out there. Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot are also among the earliest and most famous.

A thriller or novel of suspense keeps the readers interest by ratcheting up the action and putting someone’s life in imminent danger. Sometimes it’s the hero. Sometimes it’s an innocent by stander or potential victim. What’s kept so many readers glued to The Cutting is the awful suspense of the ticking clock, not knowing whether McCabe can save poor Lucinda Cassidy from a horrible death before time runs out. That kind of tension definitely makes The Cutting much more of a thriller than a mystery.

Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books and John Sandford’s Prey novels are examples of other books that are thrillers much more than mysteries.

Needless to say there’s a lot of overlap and many books blend a little of both. Mine do. But, going forward, readers can expect most of the books in the Mike McCabe series, like The Cutting and the upcoming The Chill of Night will fall firmly into the thriller camp.

Hope that helps to clear up the issue.

Tuesday #2 Teaser Tuesday

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

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!
My Teaser:
  The shooter studied his image in the restroom mirror as he unwrapped the bandages from around his head.
         From The Cutting by James Hayman     page 221     (SEE ABOVE)

Monday #3 Tuesday Where Are You

Hosted by An Adventure In Reading http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/

    I am in Portland, Maine with Mike McCabe hunting down a serial killer.

         From The Cutting by James Hayman         (SEE ABOVE)

Monday #1

Yesterday was another beautiful spring day here in New England.  I noticed that there wasn't much traffic around the blogosphere and thinking many might have been enjoying the weather.  If you have time today, it would be appreciated if you could read yesterday's Slapdash Sunday meme's posting and maybe even leaving a comment.  After reading a comment from Sheila from One Persons Journey Through A World of Books, I thought I would post a little note about it again.  Thank you.

Hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page http://rebeccavoy.blogspot.com/
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about tbr books. (for those that are new to book blogging, and I was one just a few short months ago and had no idea what tbr meant...I wanted to pay it forward.....it is short for To Be Read)
Where do you keep the books on the top of the tbr pile? Not the bunk of the mountain, but just the tip of the peak – the ‘almost up to’ books?
  I have 3 piles.  On one side of a double floor to ceiling book case, I keep my new books (6 months),  along with those I have won with post it notes on covers with dates purchased/won in one pile.  The other side is for my old (books I purchased over the years and haven't read yet!!).  Those are just shoved in and are in no particular order.  I have a different pile in another room of "review books" with post-it notes as to the order they were received and need to be read.  Since I started reviewing in December, I haven't read any of my personal TBR books, only my Review TBR books.

in the fun. You don't need a blog to comment, but if you do and want to join in, links provided for each and all memes.

Monday #2

Hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

  Another slow week for me regarding reading, which is frustrating me.  This is so unlike me but am telling self...."Self, only two more appointsments this week and then get back to priorities....READING"  lol

Finished:

  Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub (

To Complete:

  The Cutting by James Hayman ( WOOHOO.. he will be guest author here tomorrow !!!!!!!)