Good morning and happy Tuesday!  Today is going to be a fun day.  We are reviewing Garlic and Sapphires tonight here at my house for book club.  If you are unfamiliar with the book it is Ruth Reichl’s recap of being a world-renowned food critic for the New York Times.  Ruth knows that the restaurants are all on the look for her having her picture posted in kitchens all over New York so they can be sure she receives the best possible service so they can receive a great review…. but that is not how Ruth rolls… she wants the true experience so she comes to these restaurants several times in different disguises to see how people are really treated and how the food really is.  Honestly it is a lot of fun to read and we are going to have a blast reviewing it as the Bookies are encourages to arrive tonight in disguise. 

Anyhoo…

my pitch….

This year will be my 4th year attending BEA (Book Expo America)  Yes, yes, insert SSSSQQQQQQUUUUEEEEEE here. 😀  I am soooo excited and anxious to get everything booked and be done with it – however at this moment I have no roommate.  The rooms can be rather pricey in New York and it is nice to have someone to share that cost with, and someone to hang out with, walk to the Javits with, etc…

My first year was wonderful – I had roommates galore:  Reagan from Top Knot Blog (formerly Miss Remmers Reviews), Esme from Chocolates and Croissants, Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness, and Care from Care’s Online Bookclub.  That first year was the year I met Adriana Trigiani, Sarah Pekkanen and Sandra Brannan – just to name a few…..  it was beyond wonderful!

Then my second year I was rooming with Reagan again and we had a blast!  Reagan is also from Minnesota and so it was easy to meet her in the cities and fly out together and run to all of our events together as we read fairly similar.  Last year, I roomed with Gail from Ticket To Anywhere. We had a blast as well!  So every year I have a great time, but really want a roommate and look – I just posted 5 awesome people and long-term book bloggers who can give you references. 😛

So that is where I am at on BEA….. just waiting on that final piece so if you know of anyone who is also planning n going but would like to share room cost, please direct them my way.  My email is:  journey throughbooks @gmail.com

In other randomness… I think I refreshed the Amazon page for Sarah Pekkanen’s The Best Of Us around 50 times yesterday waiting for the review part to go live.  I stayed up as long as I could waiting.. waiting… I really wanted to be the first review on the book on Amazon.  When I went to bed at 11:25 last night it still was not active but when I woke up at 6 am, it was and I was not the first review… I was second.  😀  Anyway – woo hoo to Sarah Pekkkanen and HAPPY HAPPY book release day!  It is a great read and you can find my review here and my Amazon review here. 

Ok…. going to vacuum my house before work today – the critics…. er….. Bookies arrive tonight.  😛