Month: May 2010

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)106 Comments


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.

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.


Last weeks winner (using Random.Org) was:

Super from Super Librarian!!!

Congratulations!  Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX (new items added!) and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

**All books that are due to people were mailed this morning.  Sorry about the delay on my end.  😀


Due to a crazy fun and busy traveling day with a group of friends on Saturday I did not get a chance to post my Mailbox goodies on Sunday like I normally do (thank you to Kristi at Story Siren for hosting this!)  So I am going to pop it up here in this short and cheesy video:


I can not even believe we are less than a week out from when I go to New York.  I am nervous, anxious, and so excited.  I have never done anything like this before so this is a major leap for me.  I am beyond excited to meet so many of my fellow bloggers, the wonderful publishers I have emailed with, and of course the authors!

Here is what happened here the past week:


Love In Mid Air by Kim Wright review


The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano – my review as well as my book clubs review


House Rules by Jodi Piccoult audio review


Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann – review and giveaway!


A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve giveaway!


Announcement of the Threadbare Heart winner!


I still have reviews to catch up on as well as giveaway winners to announce and I am hopeful to get all of this done so I can leave for New York with no worries of things to come.  🙂

I will be taking my laptop with me and will be doing daily updates of the BEA experience and this blog will continue as usual including this meme so know that I will still be here chatting up books with you – even though I will be posting from New York.  (Did I just say that?  Squee!)


What is Brewing this week

Clean up of several ongoing reads….

Columbine by Dave Cullen- finished need to write review

Kite Runner audio – last two cd’s!

Forbidden Fruit by Pearce Carefoote – done and need to write review

Guest House by Barbara Richardson – 3/4 of the way through

At Witt’s End by Beth Solheim – done and need to write review

Boneman’s Daughter by Ted Dekker – 1/2 completed

Nyphron Rising by Michael Sullivan – not as far as I had hoped but this one is my focus this week

So that is my week…. cant wait to see what you are reading so be sure to use the linky below and stop back with a comment here of how many Monday What Are You Reading posts you commented on to be entered in next weeks drawing!  😀

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Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

The Threadbare Heart Winner

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

I have a few contests that I need to wrap up in the next 48 hours here and this is one of them.  The Threadbare Heart Contest was one that really interested me as I lost my own mother to a car accident in 1996.  She was an incredible strong woman and I will forever have a piece of me missing with that loss.  Mother daughter relationships are a wonderful thing and those who have them – cherish them.

I had a hard time choosing a winner as the entries that were sent to me were all so wonderful.  However, I had committed to the contest and to the requirement of choosing a winning entry, and this one really warmed my heart:

I really loved the book “When I Married My Mother” by Jo Maeder!
I could really relate to this book, as my mother is elderly and dealing with many health issues.
I myself am confined to a wheelchair and have been for many years. My mother helped me through a great deal of tough times and now it is my turn to help her.
She needs a heart transplant, but due to her age, she does not qualify for the transplant list. She is also dealing with numerous other health issues including congestive heart failure, lung problems, arthritis and many more.
Some people say that it looks odd for a person in a wheelchair to be helping another person in a wheelchair, but I guess they will have to say whatever they want. We will continue to help each other, as long as we both have the breathe and strength to do so.

Thank you to J.L. Lacey for sharing this with me and my readers. You are the winner of the signed copy of The Threadbare Heart by Jennie Nash.  I am emailing you for your shipping information.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments


Happy Sunday everyone.  True – I do not normally post a Morning Meandering on Sunday morning due to my participation in “In My Mailbox”, but I spent all day yesterday traveling and hanging out with friends and honestly…

last night…

I came home…

and was so tired I fell asleep on the couch.

I had good intentions of putting together my mailbox post, but think I will just add it to tomorrows It’s Monday, What Are You Reading.

Today will be a catch up day.  I need to hang out with our Kinship Partner Chance at some point, work out, prep packages to be mailed, start packing for New York, finish laundry….  and tonight is the Season Finale of Survivor.

Has anyone seen any preview for the new movie with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruiz.  I ran across this clip this morning and it cracked me up.  As  i book out the door I am going to share it with you.

A Change In Altitude by Anita Shreve Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)65 Comments

Thank you to Hachette Book Group who has allowed me give away 3 copies of this book to my readers!

Margaret and Patrick have been married just a few months when they set off on what they hope will be a great adventure-a year living in Kenya. Margaret quickly realizes there is a great deal she doesn’t know about the complex mores of her new home, and about her own husband.

A British couple invites the newlyweds to join on a climbing expedition to Mount Kenya, and they eagerly agree. But during their harrowing ascent, a horrific accident occurs. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Margaret struggles to understand what happened on the mountain and how these events have transformed her and her marriage, perhaps forever.

A Change in Altitude illuminates the inner landscape of a couple, the irrevocable impact of tragedy, and the elusive nature of forgiveness. With stunning language and striking emotional intensity, Anita Shreve transports us to the exotic panoramas of Africa and into the core of our most intimate relationships.

Reading Group Guide

How To Enter this Giveaway

Anita Shreve is the author of many wonderful books.  To enter this giveaway, please leave me a comment here of a book you have read by Anita that you really enjoyed – or one that you would really like to read some day (besides this one).   Here is a list of her books.

Want more chances to win?

For two extra chances to win, become a subscriber  (or be a current subscriber) of this blog (do this in the upper right side bar) and let me know in a separate comment here

Blog about this giveaway and let me know in a separate comment and receive two more entries

Twitter about this giveaway or link tot his giveaway on Facebook and let me know here for another entry

This giveaway will end on June 4.  USA and Canada entrants only please.

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann w/Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)59 Comments


Book Journey traveled to Redford, Colorado (see updated map here)

In Colorado be sure to check in at Tenn Street Coffee and Books

336 pages

Cover Story:  I suppose fitting, but not a cover that would stop me in a book store….

Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.


Always game for a good suspenseful read, Indivisible really appealed to me.   I mean the synopsis alone had me thinking, “Ok, what is with the raccoons?”

It did take a while for me to get into the flow of the book.  With a lot of extra words put into the beginning as well as back ground character information I felt a little overloaded with information. What kept me going was the drive to know what this was all about and sticking with this book does pay off.  Jonathon and Tia were characters I came to enjoy and even enjoyed the romance of the book which surprised me.

Read The First Two Chapters Here

Would you like to win this book for yourself?

Leave a comment here with what you would think would be a catchy one word book title (not for this book, just for a book)

Want more chances to win?

For two extra chances to win, become a subscriber  (or be a current subscriber) of this blog (do this in the upper right side bar) and let me know in a separate comment here

Blog about this giveaway and let me know in a separate comment and receive two more entries

Twitter about this giveaway or link to this giveaway on Facebook and let me know here for another entry

This giveaway will end on June 1.  USA and Canada entrants only please.


I received my review copy as well as the giveaway copy from Waterbrook Multnomah

Morning Meanderings

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments


Mornin’…..

Yup – off and running again today so couldn’t even finish the word morning!  😀  I have a group of friends that I used to work with “back in the day” when I worked for Wal-Mart.  I left that job in the fall of 2005 when our business was really taking off, but still hung on to this group of close friends I had made during my 14 (yes that’s right) 14 years there.

We try to get together once a month and we are each responsible for different months.  It can be what ever the person chosing wants to do and we have done small things like:

  • getting together for lunch
  • dinner and a movie
  • out dancing
  • campfires
  • board game night
  • spa events
  • shopping

To larger events:

  • murder mystery parties
  • exploring Minnesota
  • weekend cabin retreats
  • festivals
  • cooking and self-defense classes
  • Wisconsin Dells weekend

Etc…

Today we are meeting at my house at 7 am and road tripping.  I think we are going to Cambridge for the day for hanging out, some shopping, for sure some eating, and who knows.   As tired as I am of running – it is always a good time to get together with the girls.

The Girls weekend Fall of 2009: (left to right) Sara, Heidi, Me, and Cindy

On a bookish note – if any of you are going to BEA and want to connect that would be sooooo cool!  Email me at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com and let me know!  😀

House Rules by Jodi Piccoult

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)37 Comments

Book Journey traveled to Vermont! (See updated map here)

Coffee and a book store combo in Vermont?  Yes!  At Seasoned Books and Bakery

532 pages  audio:  19 hours and 55 minutes (chunkster!!!)

Cover Story:  It works.  While Jacob is actually quite a bit older than the boy pictured here – this could represent Jacob as a younger boy and his sense of isolation

HOUSE RULES is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect – can look a heck of a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel — and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. HOUSE RULES looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.

∞        ∞       ∞        ∞

First let me get this out of the way.  I adore Jodi Piccoult’s writing style.  From the first time I read her with My Sister’s Keeper I knew I was on to a “must read” author.  When I followed up with Nineteen Minutes and discovered lightning can strike twice and Jodi has once again glued my eyes to a book , I pursued her books like an addiction.

Piccoult writes a court case that makes you feel as thought you are sitting on the jury.  In House Rules, I am introduced to wonderfully detailed characters such as Emma, single mother and sole bread winner for herself and her two sons, Jacob and Theo.  Life did not turn out as planned for Emma when Jacob is diagnosed as having Asperger’s and with that announcement, Emma’s husband Henry departed soon after.

Theo is the younger brother but he doesn’t feel that way.  He is always having to help out with Jacob and his plans are always put on the back burner when Jacob has a need.  Which… in Theo’s opinion… is pretty much all the time.

We meet Oliver, a young and upcoming lawyer who is just starting out in an office/apartment.  When Jacob is accused of murdering his tutor, Oliver is who Emma finds and who becomes very close to the family.

And then of course there is Jacob.  I loved his character.  Jacob has Asperger’s, in his own words he thinks it sounds funny, “Asperger’s. I mean, doesn’t it sound like a Grade Z cut of meat? Donkey on the barbecue?” Jacob is smart, and witty, but does not process relationships well.  He takes everything at face value.  If you say you are going to hit the hay, he will wonder where you are going to find hay and why you would hit it.  He likes his routines:

  • Monday:  All food must be green
  • Tuesday:  All food must be red
  • Wednesday:  All food must be yellow
  • His clothing is arranged by color
  • The Crime Show he likes to watch is on at 4:30 and he will not miss it.

As odd as all this sounds.  You have to love Jacob.  On the audio – I loved the chapters that were his.  He was always so matter of fact.  He would dryly tell you why things were the way they were and he loved to make lists…  and count…

All together, this incredibly character driven book knocked the ball out of the part.  The characters were real, the crime left me up in the air throughout the entire book, I thought he couldn’t have done it, then later thought of course he did it, then I thought he was covering for someone else, then I went back tot here is no way he did it… and then back to – of course he did, but he didn’t know what he was doing.

An a+ read all the way until the end.

ahem.

Until the end.

Suddenly the whole story lined was wrapped up in the matter of minutes.  When what happened finally came to light, the book made me think that author Jodi Piccoult suddenly looked at her watch and saw she was late for an appointment and signed off with a “The End.”

Listening to the last part of this audio while working in my office this week, when they announced that was the end of the audio I looked bewildered at my IPOD and said loudly, “No way!”

I don’t mean to discourage anyone from this read because as all Piccoult books it is incredibly powerful and the subject of Asperger’s was so informative that I was glad I had spent the time once again with the powerful mind of Jodi Piccoult.


I purchased this audio from audible.com

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


Morning!  😀  Holy smokes was yesterday a long and tiring day.  I had such a  blast at the conference and we had an opportunity to hear John Ortberg talk AND I picked up his new book – the me the way I want to be.  That was exciting.  I have all of his previous books and really enjoy his writing.  Oh – and I did I mention I got it signed?  😀  The conference had an awesome band and when they played this song to show how they do visual effects I actually teared up.  I am sure my little flip video version could not possibly do it justice but I had to try to capture this:


While the conference was fun – I was so tired by the time we rolled back into town.  It wasnt even that late as I whipped into my yard around 7:35 pm, tossed my bags on the counter and flew downstairs to watch the last part of Survivor with Al.  Normally I wouldn’t walk in on a show almost done.  We have TiVo so I would just watch it in its entirety after Al goes to bed – BUT… this is Survivor and I so want to be present when Russell is voted off.  The man drives me nuts.  What is funny (or maybe not…) is that Al thinks his strategy is brilliant.  This has caused many a marital spat at our house in our difference of opinion on Russell.  GAH!  Did I mention the man drives me nuts?  (Russell – not Al…LOL)

Anyway – I fell asleep before the show was over so will have to watch it  tonight…  I was exhausted and went to bed the same time as my hubby for a change, at 8:30 pm.

Today I am optimistic that for the first day in over a week it will not rain and my son and I are going to attempt to rollerblade to Nisswa and back today – 32 miles.  We are going to do lunch there and then browse the local book store.  I have not been on my bike or rollerblades all week due to the weather.

I have a review for House Rules by Jodi Piccoult coming up later today so please stop in for that one…. I think I am going to have to include the spoiler button in that one because I feel a rant coming on…  🙂

The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments


Book Journey traveled to:  Delmarva Peninsula, Cape Charles

When in Cape Charles, the place to be is the Cape Charles Coffee House

241 Pages

Cover Story:  It fits, although one of the girls in my book club pointed out that our main character Melody never used a suitcase…

♦     ♦     ♦

After 20 years in the Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC) and eight aliases, Melody Grace McCartney hardly knows who she is. On the run since she and her parents stumbled on a gruesome murder by mobster Tony Bovaro when she was six years old, Grace saw WITSEC’s promised protection fail her mother and father when they were killed 12 years later. Now she feigns personal danger to be relocated just because she’s bored and wants a change. But before her new case officer can move her from suburban Maryland to rural Wisconsin, Tony’s son, Jonathan, tracks her down to present an alternative: protection from his family and a life of more safety and freedom than she has ever known. While federal officials pressure her to stay in WITSEC and show her Jonathan’s violent side, her attraction to him grows, and she must decide a course for the rest of her life.


As this book opens, Melody is bored with her current life as Sandra Clarke.  Having spent 20 years being tossed through the Witness protection program from place to place and name to name.  Melody has made no connections in her current surroundings and calls the agent in charge of her case with a claim that someone has identified her and she needs to be moved again.

Turns out – Melody really does have someone from the mafia following her and this is where this fast paced book gets interesting.  Between Sean the good-looking Witness Protection Agent and the mysteriously handsome Johnathan who is the son of the mafia family who wants her dead, Melody learns how to grow up fast.

The book is a fun light read.  I personally never really warmed up to Melody.  Time and again she causes others to be put in dangerous situations including the role she even plays in the death of her parents.  (My book club was easier on her character than I was).

Overall I enjoyed this book.

BOOKIES REVIEW

This was our book club read for May.  The Bookies for the most part enjoyed the book.  We had a potluck at my house around the foods that were in the book which made for a delicious variety of Italian treats.   We discussed the witness protection program and how far it has come.

The group had more sympathy for Melody than I did.  I found her actions to be annoying and childish.  While many in the group found her to be  a victim of circumstance.  By the end of the book we all agreed that Melody was on her way to being a better and more secure adult.

In a suitcase I had everyone drop in their new witness protection name and where they would be located.  Then we drew them out and guessed who was who.  There were some great ideas in there.  Amy in our group had found a website that generated mafia names and that was interesting too.

I received my copy of this book from Hachette Book Group

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments


Early post here.  This may very well even be a pre- coffee post.

NAH!  Just kidding – of course there was coffee!  😀

IT is early though.  It is before the sun (or white cloud cover most likely) is even a thought.  My regular subscribers will probably be in for a shock when they log on to their computers this morning and see that I had already meandered.  Current time:  4:30 am.

Now before you spit coffee all over your computer screen in  horror of why (WHY?) would I be up this early…. I will tell you.  I have an out-of-town meeting and we are car pooling and meeting up at 5:30 am to get to destination by 7:30/8:00 am.  That’s the plan.

At this hour I am unsure if it is a good plan…. but it is a plan non the less.


There were a few inquiries yesterday about my business cards that I posted on my Morning Meandering.  I said I would answer them today so here it is:  😀

I used Overnight Prints for the business cards ( no other reason then I googled business cards and they popped up)

I liked that you can select from their templates or upload your own pictures.

*I have no idea how great these will be (or not).  My order is due byt he 20th and I will be sure to post what I think of the finished product.

Have a good day everyone – I am taking a book or two with me today and hoping that does not come across as rude while we car pool…. there are 8 of us in the vehicle….