Book Review Party Wednesday - LIVE!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog).
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller

4. Become a follower of my blog, pretty please (not mandatory).
5. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
6. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list (& now check out book covers).

-CYM

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Winners of the Wednesday Blog Book Review Parties and Blog Spotlights!

Did you notice the {s} on the end of some of those words in the title?  I forgot to pick last weeks review link-up winner. Sorry!! Thanks to all of you who noticed. I felt loved.

So without further adieu here are last week's winner and this week's winner.

*all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *

And the winners of the Amazon Gift Cards ($15 value) from Wednesday's Review Parties is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to Howard Sherman, Implementor



& The Bibliophile's Journal!



Be sure to check out them both and leave a comment!


Send me your email address for the Amazon eGC.

Warms-
CYM

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Happy Anniversary to my Sweetheart!

We are at Paradis in Rosemary Beach. A lifetime of love all fit into 2 years of marriage and 5 years since we met at Starbucks (another story). Now on to the sand, water & stars.

Warms, CYM

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Book Porn -- Home Library Edition

I have been collecting some fantastic home library pictures. I could not wait to share them with you! To view the source, just click on the photo. Enjoy!

~XOXO~

Beachbrights

(guest blogger)

Would you like to guest post or exchange posts? Anything book related is always welcome at Beachbrights or CymLowell. Contact me.

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Book Review Party Wednesday - LIVE!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog).
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller

4. Become a follower of my blog, pretty please (not mandatory).
5. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
6. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list (& now check out book covers).

-CYM

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Strong at the Break by Jon Land **Review**

Strong at the Break
by Jon Land
Forge Books/Tom Doherty Associates Book 2011

The recipe for this intriguing mystery – thriller – cops and robbers joyride are simple enough. Assume that you had a fascination with the future potential politics of the extreme right wing, including the Tea Party. Assume further that you were a student of the Texas Rangers. In your mind, you imagined what a fourth generation, female Ranger would be like, with the name of Caitlin Strong. You were also perverse enough to imagine that Caitlin was in love with an infamous gunslinger (Cort Wesley) with a history of secretive commando activity when in the U.S. military, more recently being the hired gun of Texas drug runners combating their Mexican rivals.

As if this were not enough combustible elements, assume also that Caitlin’s father brought to justice a Bible-thumping preacher who had his own sect in which he abused young girls (and lusted after boys). She saw him bring down the pervert, whose own son was splattered with his father’s blood.

Roll the clock forward 30 or so years. Billions of dollars are diverted from Iraq reconstruction to the coffers of the dead preacher’s son, who builds an army to save America from the clutches of the liberal left. The monies are invested in drug smuggling through an Indian reservation on the Canada-U.S. border, as young girls are stolen in Mexico to breed a generation of children from the son of the preacher.

Finally, Cort Wesley’s young son runs off after his own girl-friend, who had been saved from white-slavery in the previous story in the Caitlin Strong series. Of course, he is captured by the current generation of bad guys who have built a fortress in West Texas with the neo-can money stolen from Iraq, including indulgence from the U.S. military and political establishment.

Can Caitlin Strong save the day, as had her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather?

In Strong at the Break, Jon Land treats us to a phenomenal read. I read it at the beach (Rosemary Beach in the Florida Panhandle) and was barely able to put it down to sleep, eat, and love. Mr. Land sent me an advance copy. I loved the first two books in the series, and carried this review copy for a week or so until I could read it, hoping that it would be like its two prequels, Strong Enough to Die (2009) and Strong Justice (2010), which I loved and reviewed with adoration. I was not disappointed.

Mr. Land has a phenomenal skill in blending a view of current political movements, with the border history of the Texas Rangers and the dynamics between two professional killers, one with a badge and one without. He also throws into the mix a Mexican army commander and a Mohawk warrior who is a centurian in his own life, living long enough to engage his favored traps to undermine a modern cavalry attack on the ice.

I am an adopted Texan (living here for 20+ years, in the cities of Dallas and Houston, and the country of East Texas). There is a distinct personality that reflects Texas culture. It is not easy to capture. Quintessential Texas reflects confidence, pride, readiness to fight and defend, with love of family and country. Jon Land captures it perfectly. He may be a Yankee in terms of where he lives, but this old boy has the real cow stuff, marinated in crude, on his heels.

You will be fascinated with these characters, as I am. In each of the prior two reviews, I closed with the declaration that I am ready for more. Damn! Bring it on, Jon. I am Strong at Heart and ready for the next adventure. I can imagine Cort Wesley emerging from a brutish Mexican jail, only to be sucked into the vortex of Caitlin’s war against Chinese determination to corner the market on Texas sunshine and wind to be exported across the world, all financed by export credits from a Leftist Washington Administration in the name of Green Freedom.

A movie producer will find these characters and make a fascinating series of big screen smash hits. We have in Jon Land’s books a real heroine who makes James Bond look flimsy and imaginary, Jason Bourne a sniveling coward, and Indiana Jones a whimsical counter-point.

You will love them as I do (with movies and video games to come).

I double-dog dare you (to quote an ancient Texas philosopher) to read Strong at the Break without searching for the prequels.

Strong at the Break will not be released until June 2011, but you can prepare by reading Strong Enough to Die (Forge Books, Tom Doherty Associates 2009) and Strong Justice (Forge Books, Tom Doherty Associates 2010).

Warms, Cym

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Happy Father's Day

An early walk in the surf, Dawn Donuts, reading NY Times on the beach, talking to the kids. . .this has been my Happy Father's Day.

What did you do to celebrate?

Warms, CYM

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Happy Blogoversy Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf!!

Let's Party! MBS Blogoversary Extravaganza 
June 16 - July 15!!

Head on over to Martha’s Bookshelf Two Year Blogoversary Celebration!

She is hosting a blogoversary event to say THANK YOU to her 1116 followers and to showcase some of the authors and publishers who have provided books for her to read and review.

She will have approximately 25 posts planned to spotlight authors and publishers who agreed to offer a giveaway for the party! There are eBooks for worldwide entries, print books and a few other special items as well.

I am honored to be GIVEAWAY #1!!

Head on over to Martha's for a chance to win a $30 Amazon eGC and a signed hardback copy of my debut novel, Riddle of Berlin. International Included.

Congratulations Martha and Here's to Many More-

CYM

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Book Review Party Wednesday - LIVE!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog).
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller

4. Become a follower of my blog, pretty please (not mandatory).
5. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
6. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list (& now check out book covers).

-CYM

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Blood of My Brother by James LePore **Review**

Blood of My Brother
by James LePore
(The Story Plant 2010)

Imagine that you are a lawyer, named Jay. The parents of clients have been brutally murdered, the mother beheaded. You have been sleeping with one of the clients. Your best friend Danny is murdered. You suspect that he has gotten involved with money launderers and that all the murders are related. The FBI is on the case, replacing the local constabulary. There are detectives that want to help. The only clue is a shadowy woman who Danny said was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen or been with.

What would you do if you were Jay? Let the FBI do its work? Support whomever asked for your help but stay out of the way? Or get into it to avenge the honor of your friend?

Jay took the latter path. It led him into a maelstrom. The shadowy woman is Isabel. Raised in a Mexican convent by sisters with money provided by bad guys. At 14, she was introduced to her future work of entertaining the clients and network of Mexican cartels moving money and drugs. She wants a new life, but knows that she is about to be killed because she knows too much.

James LePore frames and executes a lovely story with skill. The central mystery evolves through Jay’s efforts to find the truth of what happened to Danny and exact appropriate retribution. Fearlessly, he discovers the truth, chased by relentless killers. Isabel appears. She is as beautiful as Danny had explained.

Blood of My Brother will keep you turning the pages. Can Jay slay his own inner dragons through avenging the blood of Danny? Can he find solace in the arms of a whore? Can she find a new life?

Put Blood of My Brother of your list and find the answers. As with all well thought through and written stories, you will find learning for your own life in the stories of Jay and Isabel.

Warms, Cym

Resource Links:
Thank you Tracee from Pump Up Your Book
James LePore Fiction

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Double WINNERS from Wednesday's Book Review Party!

*all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *

And the winner of the 6 book BEA prize package from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to The Book Frog!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And the winner of the Amazon Gift Card ($15 value) from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to Book Diary!

The Book Frog, please send me your mailing address for the the books.

Book Diary, please send me your email address for the GC.

Warms-

CYM

Be sure to check out all the amazing reviews!

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Book Review Party Wednesday with 2 GIVEAWAYS! - LIVE

2 Giveaways this week!!!  The first giveaway will be this 6 book prize package from Beachbrights' trip to BEA.  The second giveaway will be an Amazon eGC worth $15.  Two chances to win!! International included.



or

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog).
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller

4. Become a follower of my blog, pretty please (not mandatory).
5. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
6. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list (& now check out book covers).

-CYM

Read More

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman ~REVIEW~

I’d Know You Anywhere 
by Laura Lippman
Wm Morrow 2011

How do you feel about your teenage years? The things that you did? Or that were done to you? Are you ashamed of some? Do you try to hide them away? If so, have they haunted you through the balance of your life? If you face that demon, will you finally be able to forgive yourself to be free of it?

Laura Lippman is an excellent writer. We are immersed in the characters, feeling like they are people we know and care about. The stories build block by block. The patience of the craft allows the emotional quandaries to evolve in us as well. What will Elisa do, I kept thinking as I turned the pages. Will she be victimized again? Will she take charge of her life. If so, will she change?

In i’d know you anywhere, Ms. Lippman draws into the story of Elizabeth who is abducted and held captive by a killer for 6 weeks or so, raped at the end before she is rescued. She is present when he abducts and murders another girl. The killer is on death row, awaiting execution for 20 years.

It is now many years later. Elizabeth has married and long ago adopted the name Eliza. She has a daughter about the same age as when she was abducted, who knows nothing of her mother’s trauma. Eliza is contacted by an apparent do-gooder trying to help the murderer and the mother of the murdered girl. The killer has a plan to get Eliza to recant her testimony to save him from execution. He threatens to publish a story branding her as his equal in crime.

Eliza must deal with her own emotions, facing the emotions she has buried her whole life. Her sister, and now dead parents, also suffered from the abduction and rape. She and Eliza need to come to terms. Will Eliza be the passive person who did not intervene in the murder? Is there some secret about the crimes yet to be revealed? Will Eliza’s husband turn on her as this life-long drama is brought out all over again.

i’d know you anywhere is a wonderful read. I feel like I know these characters, as if I lived this with them. Having finished the story, I would like to have a glass of wine with Eliza . I like and admire her. You will as well.

I look forward to the next Laura Lippman story.

Warms, Cym

If you have reviewed this book, please link your review in the comments!

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Double WINNERS from Wednesday's Book Review Party!

*all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *






And the winner of the 7 book BEA prize package from Wednesday's Review Party is...
(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)


Congratulations to Darlene's Book Nook!





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And the winner of the Amazon Gift Card ($15 value) from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to Paranormal & Romantic Suspense Reviews!

Darlene's Book Nook, please send me your mailing address for the the books.
Paranormal & Romantic Suspense, please send me your email address for the GC.

Warms-
CYM

Be sure to check out all the amazing reviews!

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You Say it's Your Birthday...

~Happy Birthday~

65 Today! It is my 65th birthday. 

Seems quite amazing actually. I have always felt that each of us has three phases of life to be lived: 

(i) to do what we are supposed to do in life, have a career, enjoy family and friends, save for the 2nd and 3rd phases, and, hopefully, maintain mental and physical health to move on; 

(ii) after having accomplished what we are supposed to do, we should then do what we always wanted to do; and 

(iii) when we have done what we are supposed to do and always wanted to do, we should live out life in hedonism as we each define it. 

 In my mind, at 65 I have navigated Phase I and am about ready for Phase II. What have I always wanted to do? Just relax and enjoy! I am so fortunate and thankful to be just here.

Thank you for all my birthday wishes!

CYM

PS. The review party is still LIVE for a couple more hours!

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