Time with one of my daughters!

Michael W. Smith and the Symphony: This wonderful singer appeared in a beautiful, professionally, and moving Christmas performance with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in the world class Morton Meyerson Hall. My daughter and I have enjoyed his music since her days at Kabakuk Camp where he would perform at a less famous stage of his career. He even sang my favorite: "Friends"!

Day job time now.

Warms,
CYM

WINNERS of "The Swan Thieves" by Elizabeth Kostova

Winners of "The Swan Thieves" by Elizabeth Kostova

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1. Monica Brand

2. The Bookshelf Monstrosity

3. Madeleine

4.GFDesignz-Jen's Book Talk

5. Ashley

Please email me your shipping address (no P.O. Boxes, US & Canada only).

My original post review and contest details here.

-CYM

I Blog for Comments-Etiquette

Today's guest post is from one of my favorite bloggers, BeachBrights. I must disclose that BeachBrights is family and also helps out on this blog.

When you get a moment, head on over to her blog and check it out!

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I Blog for Comments

I love receiving comments. I also like to leave comments for other bloggers. Comments are a great way to engage a blogger, ask questions and send praise. However, there is an unspoken etiquette when leaving a comment :)

1. Don't self promote. Do not spam.

Nothing is worse than a commenter who tries to sell me something. Don't use my comment section to drive my traffic someplace else.

2. Be real and relevant.

Take the time to read the blog post and leave a response that takes effort. If your comment is genuine, than I will go to the trouble to look you up and respond.

3. Respect the Rules.

You are a guest in my house so respect the house rules. If a blogger has a comment policy, read and follow.

4. Stay on Topic.

Keep comments short and to the point.

5. Leave a Return Address.

If you go to the trouble to leave a comment. Then please go to the trouble to leave an email address associated with your comment. Follow this very easy step-by-step tutorial to have your comments automatically associated with your email. ELLEBOWS

6. Verifications and Comments that are Saved for Approval.

I have been blogging for over a year and have only had 3 spam comments. Unless spam is really a problem on your blog, remove the word verification. It is a pain and on several occasions I have written my comment and closed the window only to discover the word verification poped up before my comment posted.

"Saved for Owner's Approval", What's this? Comments are just as much a part of a blog as the post. I hate when bloggers don't allow their comments to be real time. If someone leaves a comment you feel the need to censor, then you can remove it later. Check out this tutorial on associating your comments with an email address and removing word verification. LILBLUEBOO

I blog for comments. You are the reason I blog and spend my free time researching and writing.

XOXO-

BeachBrights

www.beachbrights.blogspot.com

Book Review Party Wednesday - Starts NOW & a KINDLE giveaway!

Yes, I am giving away a KINDLE!!


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. List the name of your blog and then in parenthesis include a little information about your book review (title and/or author, genre etc.) Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 75.
For example, Cym Lowell (The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, Thriller).

3. Become a follower of my blog

4. Every week that you link up a blog review, you will be eligible for the monthly prize drawing (each week = 1 entry, for up to 3 entries this month). Friday, December 18th I will announce the winner of the Kindle.

So enter every week for more chances to win (only 3 weeks in December)!

5. Link to this blog party post from your post so everyone can get in on the fun. Add the Book Review Blog Party Badge at the end of your post for easier linking or a link back. THIS IS A MUST in order to be eligible for the monthly giveaway.

Grab the Badge...

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-party-wednesday-starts.html" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

6. Visit the other Links and leave comments :) We all love comments!

**If you have trouble linking your review to the McKLinky site, please e-mail me your link and I will post it for you!**

Warms-CYM

PS. This giveaway is open to anywhere Amazon.com ships, including international locations.

A special "Thank You" to the following:

ELLZ READZ

BOBBI'S BOOK NOOK

GIVE READING A CHANCE

A HAUNT OF ANCIENT PEACE

BIG, BIG, BIG Announcement Coming Later TODAY!!

It's going to be HUGE people! Stay tuned for an updated post later today AND get those book reviews ready for the Link-up party (starts tonight @9pm EST).

Trust me, you are going to want to party after my announcement!

Warms-

CYM

Book Review: Evolution of a Sad Woman by Gale Laure

Evolution of a Sad Woman: The Story of Kizzy

by Gale Laure (Trafford Publishing 2007)

Imagine a woman who arranges for her own gruesome murder. She draws a bath, has a glass of wine, and awaits. The butcher commits the deed, as requested, with a serated knife and a meat clever to dismember the beautiful heroine.

What would compel a wealthy woman to plan such a death?

During her life, Kizzy had met five men whom she loved and trusted with the joy of her life. Her lawyer invited them to attend the reading of the will advising that they would inherit millions. Each came and relived their lives with the woman who was the love of the life of each, in turn. She asked them, in her handwritten will, to undertake a task to achieve something precious to her. First, they would have to discover the hidden joy of Kizzy's life. Kizzy left few clues.

The men from vastly different walks of life banded together to solve the mysteries, and seek revenge. In the course of their thrilling adventure, the men bond together in a shared love of Kizzy and the joy that she asked them to cherish.

Evolution of a Sad Woman is a thought-provoking story that is told masterfully. A reader cannot help but to want to meet Kizzy and experience what she gave to these men in the short time she was in their lives. Each had known a different woman. As usual with such well conceived and executed books, a reader’s mind wanders to associate the story with life experience. In my case, I kept picturing a Marilyn Monroe character confused in life, not knowing where to turn, and finding peace finally, via her own hand, in another realm.

Thank you Gale for a wonderful read!

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You can read my interview with Gale Laure HERE. Be sure to check out the comment section with a lively "question & answer" with the author!

Evolution of a Sad Woman can be purchased at Amazon and other fine retailers. Learn more about Author Gale Laure on her website.

Warms-CYM

**Thank you Dorothy for the opportunity to review this wonderful book**

Winner of the $50 Amazon eGC

The monthly winner of the $50 Amazon eGC from

Wednesday's Blog Book Review Link-up Parties is....

(Drum rolls, please...)

Lucky #80

Congratulations to Brizmus Blogs Books!

Email me your "email" address that you want the egift card sent to:

cymlowell@gmail.com

Warms-

CYM

**Get ready for this week's Wednesday link-up party and the monthly prize announcement. I will only be hosting the party for the first 3 weeks of December. So, an even better chance to win!!**