Author: Cindy

Local Blogger Meet Up & Books Bought

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Today (Saturday) I met up with Tina who blogs over at Bookshipper. We went out for breakfast at a little spot that is super close to Tina’s apartment.

We talked about BEA, books, blogs and so much more that was and wasn’t related to books and our blogs.

After we had breakfast we did a quick exchange of books (a book and magazines in Tina’s case) in my car. I managed to come home with:

From Tina:
-Viral by Alex Van Tol
-The 9th Judgement by James Patterson
-Leap by Jodi Lundgren
-The Break Up Diaries #1 by Ni-Ni Simone & Kelli London
-Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Tina returned my copy of RSVP by Helen Warner. I had lent this to Tina in April hoping she would enjoy the book.

After we exchange books we headed to the church (the one I was married in which is pictured in this post) to check out the church sale and sadly after looking around I didn’t find anything to buy. This is where Tina and I parted and I headed home.

Then after having supper with my mother we stopped in at chapters on the way home and I managed to get a few books for Mother’s Day. Thankfully I had the 25% off coupon with me and money from my mother so here is what I bought. Well actually what I was given:

-Royally Crushed by Niki Burnham (This is a bind up with three stories in it)
-Shift by Jerri Smith Ready
-From This Moment On by Shania Twain

It was a great day. I enjoyed meeting up with Tina this morning and hoping to do this again perhaps next month.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Random Acts of Kindness Post (May)

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Book Soulmates

I posted that I was going to do this one in April but sadly RL (real life) got in the way and I couldn’t take part.

I am looking forward to taking part this month though.

In case you didn’t know R.A.K (Random Acts of Kindness) is hosted by two awesome bloggers, Vanessa and Isalys who blog over at Book Soulmates. If you haven’t checked out their blog yet you really should.

RULES:
• Sign up each month that you’d like to participate.
• Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button 🙂
• Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!
Make a post saying ‘Thank You’ to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us 🙂

OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let’s keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there’s always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

I have posted my wishlist on Amazon.ca and I really should get one up on Book depository too.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am okay with receiving an ARC, new or used copies of the books from my wishlist.

If you encounter a problem in viewing my wishlist please let me know.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review & Tour) The Guilty Plea

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Title: The Guilty Plea
Author: Robert Rotenberg
Pub Date: May 2011
Pages: 336
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada

Source: I received an advance readers copy so that I could give my honest review for the book tour.

About the book:
Bestselling author Robert Rotenberg is back with his next razor-sharp legal thriller. Rotenberg’s insider knowledge of the behind-the-scenes courtroom machinations and his mesmerizing trial scenes make this another scorching page-turner.

On the morning that his headline-grabbing divorce trial is set to begin, Terrance Wyler, youngest son of the Wyler Food dynasty, is found stabbed to death in the kitchen of his million-dollar home. Detective Ari Greene arrives minutes before the press and finds Wyler’s four-year-old son asleep upstairs. When Wyler’s ex-wife, a strange beauty named Samantha, shows up at her lawyer’s office with a bloody knife, it looks as if the case is over.

But Greene soon discovers the Wyler family has secrets they’d like to keep hidden, and they’re not the only ones. If there’s one thing Greene knows, it’s that the truth is never simple.

I want to thank Simon and Schuster Canada for allowing me to be one of the tour host for The Guilty Plea book tour. I believe I am the last stop in the tour so be sure to check out what everyone else has thought about the book. (I provided the links below.)

Personally one of the best things about book blogging is the chance to discover new and exciting authors especially if they happen to be from your own country. Up until getting contacted about this book I have to admit that I haven’t heard of Robert Rotenberg but I have to say since reading The Guilty Plea (which I loved) I am curious to read his first book.

The Guilty Plea was just the kind of book I use to love reading but I think over the years I haven’t found one that I could really get into until picking up this and reading it. I had a hard time to put it down at times just because there was so much suspense happening.

Terrance Wyler is the youngest son of the Wyler family who is famous for Wyler Foods. He is going though a really messy divorce and the morning of the trial he is found dead on the kitchen floor stabbed to death.

The detective to arrive on the scene is Ari Greene. As he arrives on scene he quickly discovers that Terrance’s four year old son, Simon is upstairs and unaware of what happened that morning.

Its not until a few hours later when the soon to be ex-wife, Samantha Wyler shows up at her lawyers office with the bloody knife wrapped up in a kitchen towel. You would think this would be a wrap up the case and the murder but as the book progress you quickly realize that thats not the case even though the evidence points to Samantha. Its not as easy as it looks although I am sure sometimes they wish it would be.

Looking at the evidence you begin to think its Samantha and at the end you are shaking your head thinking wow where did that come from. For me that makes a great legal thriller thinking its one person when out of the blue its someone else and then when you look back you realize that yea your right.

As the investigation goes on you discover that every family no matter rich or poor have their secrets and this family is no exception. Although if this secret gets out many peoples lives will be effected.

If you are looking for a fantastic legal thriller (think John Grisham in the early days) I have to say you must pick this up to read. You won’t be disappointed. I am going to pick up Old City Hall the next time I am at Chapters and save it for my summer read by the pool when Michael does his swimming lessons.

Thanks again Simon and Schuster for sending this to me.

Check out other reviews and tour stops of this book:
Mysteries and More Review,Questions and Answers,Thoughts on Q&A
Books Bound Review with Q&A
Serendipiter’s Q&A, Review
Teena in Toronto Review with Q&A
Luanne-A Book Worms World Review with Q&A
Books and Brands Review
Canadian Authors Review

If you happen to be in the Toronto area on May 6th (Friday), Robert will be at the Indigo at the Eaton Centre at 1pm to talk about his book and to do a signing.

If any one goes I hope you will have fun.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Author Interview) Robert Rotenberg

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Today I am very honored to have Robert Rotenberg the author of Old City Hall and The Guilty Plea stop by for a little Question and Answer with me.

As I was sitting down to do my questions I quickly went over to Robert Rotenberg site to see what kind of questions I could ask him and loved his answers in his FAQ section.

So without further hestiation please welcome Robert to Cindy’s Love of Books.

Cindy: Being a struggling writer in the beginning how did it feel to finally get published?

Robert: Really impossible to put into words. The other day I walked into the Simon & Schuster office and the new book, The Guilty Plea had just arrived. It’s an overwhelming emotional moment. All the work, all the setbacks, all the people you miss who won’t be able to share it with you.

Cindy: I was reading on your site about this being a long series and that they can be read as standalones, do you have any ideas how long this series will be? Are you working on something now?



Robert: Book Three is due July 1, 2011. Book Four July 1, 2012. My goal is twenty books in twenty years. I mean it.

Cindy: I am so happy to hear that you are planning on having book three out this summer. Just in time for my summer vacation reading. How much of your everyday life as a criminal lawyer is in this book? I loved reading this book because it actually felt like I was a part of the book.

Robert: The number of calls and emails and demands on your time and emotions. The sleepless nights and court nightmares. My great friend Douglas Preston says: “only a criminal lawyer could have written that.”

I am thrilled you felt a part of the book. Boy that is really what I’m hoping for. In the second book, The Guilty Plea, the defense lawyer has to make the most difficult decision of all. Should he call his client to testify. It drove me nuts as I was writing, what should he do?????

Cindy: I think you did a fantastic job with the book and I am sure its soemthing that you struggle with all the time as a lawyer. If you could offer one piece of advice to a struggling writer what would it be and why?

Robert: Set your alarm for 5:00 a.m. Seven days a week. Twelve months a year. For twenty years. Why? This is work.

Cindy: I have to say I agree with you on this. When I was a student and just starting out I worked in a coffee shop and I had to get up at 5am and I agree that was work in itself. As you were writing The Guilty Plea what one thing stood out for you the most in the book and why?

Robert: The quandary of Samantha – the defendant. How to defend a client who is so…complex, challenging, difficult.

Then of course there’s Ari’s various struggles, Kennicott and Jo Summers on and off relationship, DiPaulo dealing with his children growing up, Raglan trying to stay in her marriage. And I’m wondering how Fernandez and his wife did on vacation in Chile, what Nancy Parish has been up to lately, and…well you’ll have to wait for Book Three.

Cindy: Robert I want to thank you for this chance to interview you. I truly appreciate you taking the time out of your very busy schedule to do this. As I know you are a very busy man especially now with all the book tours happening.

Robert: My pleasure. Now back to work.

If you haven’t already picked up Robert’s books you really need to.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Doesn’t this sound good?

Posted on by Cindy

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer hits stores everywhere 9.27.11. Pre-order your copy here. Download the widget here. Enter to win an Advanced Reader’s Copy here.

This one is going on my wishlist. Sounds really good and I love the cover. What do you think?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

It’s Monday What are you reading? #17

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

The wonderful host of this weekly meme is Shelia from Book Journey. You can check out her blog to find out all the details on how to take part in this fun weekly meme. I should warn you though that this can add to an ever increasing TBR pile or wishlist.

I am looking at the day and I have to admit I am amazed at how fast the time is flying by. We are already May and in a mere (roughly) three weeks bloggers (not me) will be descending upon New York City for BEA (book Expo America).

Sadly I won’t be able to attend this year and I have to say its a little heart breaking especially if you have been the year before like I was able to attend and I can honestly say it was an absolute blast. If any of my readers are going for the first time let me know.

I have to admit not alot of reading got done last week because I was making the final preparations for a kids party for Michael’s birthday. He had a blast mini golfing with his classmates.

Since I didn’t get alot of reading done I did get to the library the week before and grabbed some audio books. I started listening to:

I haven’t read this series yet (yea I know, where have I been and why haven’t I read it before now?) but I am determined to read it/listen to it this year preferably before the summer hits.

Not sure how the week will go this week with reading because I might have Michael home some of the week but today is Election day in Canada and we use the schools as polliing stations so that means all the kids have a ped day today.

Over the weekend Michael developed a skin infection called Fifth’s disease. Which just happened on Saturday (the day of the kid party)but it was late in the afternoon we discovered it and he didn’t show any signs of it. So Sunday I quickly called all the parents of the kids who attended the party and thankfully everyone was okay with it because I have to say I felt really bad.

Anyways on my reading pile for this week is:

I actually started this one and so far so good. I have to get this one done before the weekend because I will be meeting up with Tina and she wanted to read this.

I am hoping to get this one started this week as well and I am pretty sure I will get into this one this week.

This is what I have planned for the week, what about you?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(April) Middle Grade Book Challenge

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Are you reading middle grade books this month? If so, which titles and from which authors? Please share your reviews with us.

The rules again are really simply all you have to do is commit to reading 12+ Middle Grade books and posting your review and then come back and sharing your link in this post. You have from now until December 2011 to complete this challenge.

Just add your blog link/name to the Linky below. Your blog name and book titles will be fine.

Just to let everyone know I have given it some thought and I think I am going to go ahead and do a monthly giveaway. Please note it won’t be a big prize just because I will be mailing it and I live in Canada so shipping can get kinda of expensive so some ideas will be a gift card for coffee, a bookmark etc.

So the only rules are in order to qualify all you have to do is come back and link your reviews and for every one you add for the month of April will count for one entry into the bowl.

Have fun and happy reading.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.