Category: Audio Giveaway

Morning Meanderings… Fun things in my mail box and a couple winners too

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning!  😀

Yes I am still a bag full of sniffly sneazy coughy “GAH” over here…. BUT – not on antibiotics so hopefully this too will pass.  😛

We leave for the cabin today which is a big “woo hoo” for me… I don’t know why I feel I need a weekend away from it all… but for some reason I just want to get out of dodge and not deal with people, or phones, or commitments… 

That said, my recent mailbox arrivals are timely and beyond appreciated:

 

Thank you so much for the necklace for pre-ordering Ashes by Ilsa Bick and for the two audio books that recently came in the mail from me from fellwo book lovers – SSQQQUUUEEEE!!!!  Thank you Nise (Under The Boardwalk) for Blink and Kathy(Bermuda Onion) for The Knitting Circle.  😀

 

I also need to mention winners for the two audio books I recently offered up to a reader that would like to give them a go… and here are the two winners:

MarthaE! 

Beth S

**Please email me your addresses at journey throughbookks@gmail.com and I will mail these audio books next week.  😀

On a completely random note… in September of 2010 I wrote my review for ROOM by Emma Donoghue.  Along with that review I also wrote a Spoiler Page (I LOVE using the spoiler page button!).  The Spoiler Page is something I use when I find I want to discuss the book more deeply with those who have read it, so I create a safe area where we can chat freely about the book with no fear of saying anything that would be considered spoilers to those who have not read the book.  I bring this up becuase recently that page has drawn a little attention again and I can not figure out why.  I am getting Spoiler Page comments – which I love…. just curious why suddenly it is being dug out of the Book Journey basement.  😛

Have a super awesome (and safe!) weekend.  I am hoping to be able to get a little internet access here and there as I do have reviews ready to roll out…. plus, honestly…. I really like to start my morning chatting it up with all of you.  😀

After by Amy Efaw (audio review and giveaway)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments

How could this happen?  Who would do such a thing?  These are the questions that surround the new-born baby that was found tied in a trash bag in the dumpster. 

This certainly could not be Devon Davenport, a straight A student, exceptional athlete, and girl with a plan.  Yet, when the police find Devon she is bleeding heavily, and when rushed to the emergency room it is confirmed that she has just given birth.  Soon Devon finds her self thrown into a Juvenal criminal facility and being charged with attempted murder.  As police and lawyers talk to her, tell her she must tell the truth… Devon has to admit that she doesn’t remember what happened.

Is Devon in fact dealing with such trauma that she truly can not recall what happened… or is this just a brilliant ploy to get off the hook…

I listened to this audio because I had heard raves about the book.  The subject matter interested me…. a baby left in a dumpster…. a teen so distraught, she does not even realize for most of the book that the baby is hers.

I know many people loved this book, but I have to say I was not one of them.  As well written as this book was, it didn’t hold true for me.  I could not believe that a girl like Devin, described as a straight “A” student, obviously intelligent, and strong-minded – had no idea she was pregnant.  I know that the power of the mind can be strong, but the physical changes to her body…

And if that is worth arguing about by those who loved the book, and feel that it is possible to put yourself into such a state of denial…. then I will add this…

The fact that Devin refers to the baby throughout the whole book as “it”….. drove me nuts! 

Maybe it was the audio version but Devin just was not engaged in what she had done, even as she began to remember she still did not seem to connect that the baby was a human life…. I don’t know… I am still a little frustrated about it.

I enjoyed the part with Devin in the correctional institute.  I liked the correspondence between the girls, this is where the book excels.  Amy Efaw really captures the things that the girls are dealing with and how they defend themselves from society.  Its sad, really.

I think that in the end, no matter what Devin’s circumstances (I wont even go into my thoughts about the mother) were a major concern and the audio made me angry more than anything.  The ending is all a little too neat…. and as the final words were said… I was left with a feeling of “huh?”

If you would like to give this audio a try – leave a comment here letting me know… I will have a drawing later this week … and offer it up to someone.

 

The 2011 Where Are You Reading Map has been updated to include After

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Born Round by Frank Bruni

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Frank Bruni was ALWAYS hungry.  He was born that way.  His mother cooked amazing meals and loved having people  over to enjoy them.  If food was eaten in full of one of something left, Franks mom felt as though she had not made enough.

Bottom line was Frank enjoyed eating.  he had an epic appetite that later would serve him well as a restaurant critic for the New York Times.  Totally in love with his job, Frank had to learn how to deal with his long time love hate relationship with food.  What followed was yo yo dieting, and dealing with a painful lifelong addiction to food.

Frank Bruni

I had heard this audio was pretty good…. and as a self-confessed foody (oh yes… I do love food!) I though it would be an interesting listen.  The draw to this audio for me was that I found it interesting that someone like Frank who battled his weight all of his life – would take on a job as a food critic for The New York Times. 

Frank, who reads this audio himself, tells an honest portrayal of diet pill abuse, over eating and then working out like a mad man…. going from one extreme ( a hiking adventure that is pretty extreme causing him to lose extreme weight) to another ( refusing dessert at a restaurant but them stopping on the way home for not only a piece of his favorite dessert – but the whole dessert!).

At times I felt the audio was getting long with tale after tale of food event, job, weight battles…. and just about then – frank would come in with a little “comic relief” and share about how many times when critiquing food he would mix up his alias names he used for reservations… or his denial about his pants being tight (certainly it was the cut of the pant… obviously the company has changed that…. or the old shrinkage in the dryer story…)

In the end – the book was satisfying – neither leaving me hungry, or full.  I enjoyed learning a little about Frank Bruni.

This review is part of the Weekend Cooking meme at Beth Fish Reads

Interested in this audio?  Leave a comment here telling me what your favorite food to go out for is, and I will have a drawing next week and choose one of the comments using random.org as the winner and I will mail you this audio. 

 

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Born Round

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Blogiversary – year 2 and I want to party with you!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)222 Comments

Oh I am just giddy with excitement!!!  Today officially marks my two-year anniversary of my step into the book blogging world.  Whoever thought that this day would come?  I sure didn’t!  When I first discovered book blogging I would never have dreamed what a life changing experience it would be… I did not know that by chatting books I would:

  • start having conversations with authors

  • be part of a Minnesota book event panel

  • Go to New York – not once, but twice for BEA

  • meet many awesome book bloggers throughout this wonderful and crazy hobby

  • and of course, get to chat with all of you

Life is really not as it was before I book blogged.  😀

This party is to really celebrate you, because honestly…. if I was talking to myself every day…. I know I would not do this blog, at least not to the extent and to the love that I do now.  SO please, come on in!

You may drop your coat at the coat check (be sure to get a claim number), and help yourself to the beverages and snacks.  Excuse me a minute while I get the music going…

*runs into other room*

*runs back*

There.  Nothing like a little cheesy 80’s background music.  😛

At this party – the gifts are for you!  It’s easy to participate – simply leave a comment on this post about how you arrived at the party (have fun with this) and what virtual gift or food item you brought with you, such as you rode your scooter and brought flaming shish kabobs.  (I did this last year and the sheer imaginative comments had me laughing for days after…. :D)

This giveaway is open for today only – tomorrow morning I will announce the winners using random.org on my Morning Meandering post.  If you have a preference (package 1,2,3, or 4) you can say that in your comment and if your name is drawn that will be yours if not already won by someone else – otherwise no need to say which as you will be eligible for all. 

Ok… let’s get to the good stuff:

An advanced reader copy of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, Between by Monica Warman, Camerons Coffee (Caramel Brownie), Ghiradelli Chocolate, and a Mysterious Benedict Society puzzle

Nazareth Child by Darrell James, Ghiradelli Chocolate, Cameron’s French Vanilla coffee, The Soldiers Wife by Margaret Leroy, and Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.

The Art Of Choosing (AUDIO!), Dark Legacy and Secret Legacy by Anna DeStefano, Lethal by Sandra Brown, Lindt Truffles, Cameron’s Cinnamon Sugar Cookie coffee

The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly, The Taker by Alma Katsu, The Sandalwood tree by Elle Newmark, Ghiradelli Chocolate, and Java delight Hazelnut Creme Coffee

*Personal thank you to publishers who gave me copies of these books to give away for this event.

Thank you readers of Book Journey –  You make me smile with your comments, nod in understanding, and occasionally I laugh out loud.  I am so appreciative of all of you!!!

Let’s get this party started!!!!  I am opening the door….

My Journey With Audio Books – and a GIVEAWAY for you!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)60 Comments

Today is the kick off to audio book week (thank you Jen at Devourer of Books!)and I could not be more THRILLED!  I listen to as much audio as I read books…. some weeks, audio beats out the books.  Now – before you non audio book listeners click off this page, bear with me because really – this post is for you.  😀

Those of us who listen to audio know how awesome it is… yet I know from many of my readers, they think it is all good and well for me… but they really couldn’t possibly.  SO let’s take a little journey together shall we?

It’s fall 2009 and I have several trips I need to make to Grand Marias Minnesota.  this is a 4 hour drive, one way from my home.  Now normally, I am an 80’s rockin’ to the music kind of gal… but 4 hours of hard pounding tunes in my head (even if some are pop music – yup… I said it :razz:), gets to be too much.  At that point… I would rather listen to silence.

But this particular fall is different… as I am  fairly new to the book blogging world and recently had discovered Hachette Audio.  They gave audio books away to listen to and review.  Seriously new concept for me.  SO sure enough, in my jeep I have an audio book… it is James Patterson’s Worst Case (the Michael Bennett series – and yes…totally the third book in the series but how would I have known that?)  Anyway… I popped the audio into my vehicle and I was hooked.  The story grabbed me and while making the long haul to Grand Marais, I was able to get deep into the story – loving the sound effects, the narrator, EVERYTHING.

I ask myself, “Where can I get more of this?”

So that is where it began – but it only lead to more… I had to have more.  I loved it and I could listen to audio when I was unable to read a book.

*Hand waving rapidly back and forth*

“But Sheila, I can’t listen to audio – I can’t stay focused on it and it puts me to sleep!”

I hear that a lot.  So here’s the thing.  I can not just get cozy in a chair and listen to audio.  I would be passed out in no time or my mind drifting to something else…. like if there is ice cream in the house, or is the DVR is set up right to record Survivor…. HOWEVER as many of us readers are multi taskers, here is how audio works, and when it works for me:

  • In the car – I have audio all the time.  I listen to it to work, to the grocery store, everywhere…. and road trips where I am riding alone – it is awesome and passes the time!

  • While mowing the lawn.  We have a big lawn.  On the rider I still invest 3+ hours on the lawn once, sometimes twice a week.  I pop in my ear buds on the IPOD and mow to a story… now instead of singing while I mow and scaring the neighbors, I can laugh out loud or cry and let them think I am crazy.  😛

  • While cooking.  I don’t have the patience to stay in the kitchen.  I have to start dinner, then move on to something else which usually means I forget about dinner.  Dinner dies.  BUT now I listen to audio Cd’s in the kitchen and I hang out…. its like it calms me and suddenly I enjoy chopping vegetables, and cleaning up while an audio is on.  I am happy – my hubby is really happy.

  • While Cleaning… if I am working on one room I place the audio where I can listen to it and go to work.  I enjoy the work more, and get a book in on the side.  “Look ma – no hands!”

  • Getting ready in the mornings.  I spend about 30 minutes average a day in the bathroom in the morning.  I keep my IPOD speakers in there and can listen to audio while I get ready for my day.

Audio doubles my “reading” in a year.  There are books I would probably never get to if it were not for audio.  I am more daring with audio… I listen to classics on audio, and non fiction as well as fiction.  You may be amazed at what a great narrator can do. 

*hand shoots up*

“But Sheila…. audio can be pricey…”

True.  However check your local library.  Ours has a wide variety of audio and is connected to many more libraries in the state so I can reserve from another library on-line and have it delivered to my library within days of the request.

Also – audible.com is your friend.  I signed up last year and right away you receive two free audio, after that you receive a credit a month to pick one out for 7.99.  No contract – you cancel anytime.  AND they have wonderful sales – a couple of months back I picked up quite a few for 4.95 each.

That all being said – audio and non audio listeners alike, here is my challenge to you.  This week… start an audio.  Any audio… once you have listened to it come back here and link your review to this post.  I will make a side bar contest link so you can find it.  If you are not a blogger, you can still participate by coming back after you have listened to an audio and share in the comments what you listened to – where you listened to it and what you thought of it. 

In two weeks from today I will draw a name using random.org out of those who link (or comment) about an audio they listened to and the results.  (If you have a blog – I would prefer you also link your review of the audio).  The winner will receive an audio sent to them from Amazon of a value of $20 or less before shipping.

That’s it – happy audio week everyone – let the festivities begin!  😀

** When you have your audio reviewed – link it below to be entered!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson (Audio Giveaway)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)44 Comments

Thank you to Hachette Audio for offering me three copies of this audio to give away to lucky readers of Book Journey!


Paris is stunning in the summer

NYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe’s most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren’t what draw him–he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter’s killer.

The killing is simply marvelous

Kanon’s daughter, Kimmy, and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have been found dead. Little connects the murders, other than a postcard to the local newspaper that precedes each new victim.

Wish you were here

Now Kanon teams up with the Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm–and they think they know where the next victims will be.

I know many of you are not big audio fans but I have to tell you – if you were to try audio (and I a going to continue bugging you of course on this!  😉  )  Patterson is a sure win.

If you have read any of my past reviews on Patterson’s  I have raved about the quality.  In fact I have probably not read James Patterson in 5 years, but I have listened to just about everything he has put out on audio.

SO why not give audio a try and look here – I am offering a giveaway where you may be able to do just that!  If you love a good thriller mystery – come along and try Patterson!

How to enter

If you are a book person even if you have not read Patterson you must have seen that the man has a new book coming out at least once a month recently.  I read that he has a large conference table in his study that is covered with unfinished manuscripts.  Amazing!

So to enter this giveaway, I would like you to come up with a character for a Patterson book (and remember his genres are not only mystery so go with whatever) and a scenario:  such as,

Johnathon Winters:  Once second-hand store owner/ hitman now Priest and undercover FBI

😆  Or something like that

Bonus Entries

Tweet, blog, or add this giveaway to your Facebook page and receive an extra chance by letting me know here in a separate comment

Subscribe to Book Journey (upper right sidebar – third down) and let me know in a separate comment and receive two bonus chances

This giveaway will end on September 17.  USA and Canada only please.


The Island by Elin Hilderbrand audio giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)65 Comments

Thank you again to Hachette for allowing me to have 3 copies of this audio set to give to my readers.

Four women-a mother, her sister, two grown daughters-head to Tuckernuck for a retreat, hoping to escape their troubles. Instead, they find only drama, secrets, and life-changing revelations.

How To Enter this Giveaway

I am not giving up on summer yet and I love books about beaches, vacations, friendships, and sun!  To enter this giveaway please leave a comment here letting me know what book you recommend as a “must read” for me yet this summer.  *If I can get the book in audio that is worth a bonus entry. (You much complete this task to be entered)


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

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 September 1.  USA and Canada entrants only please.

Oh, and prefer to have a book to an audio?  Elizabeth over at Thoughts From An Evil Overlord has three copies of this available for giveaway in hard cover!

Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci – AUDIO Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments

Thank you Hachette for giving me three copies of this audio book to give away!

DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Evan Waller is a monster. He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe.
On Waller’s trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from “The Whole Truth,” who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal. Shaw’s one chance to bring him down will come in the most unlikely of places: a serene, bucolic village in Provence.
But Waller’s depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows. And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence-Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate-and she has an agenda of her own.
Hunting the same man and unaware of each other’s mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerve and wits.

How To Enter this Giveaway

David Baldacci is the author of 19 best selling books.  Looking at that list have you read any of these books – and if not, which book really catches your eye as one you would like to read (besides this one of course!)  (*This must be answered to be entered)


Want more chances to win?

(*not a requirement, just for those who wish)

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

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 July 30.  USA and Canada entrants only please.

Please see the separate giveaway being held for this in Hard Cover copies

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker audio giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the opportunity to give three copies of this audio to my readers

He loves them because they are beautiful. He kills them because he loves them.


A virtuoso killer is carving a path of death across the west, intent on killing only the most beautiful women, all in the name of love. He has claimed six victims and slipped through the FBI’s fingers, each time leaving behind a handwritten note and a bridal veil.

Now, with the help from an unlikely group of four, special agent Brad Raines must enter the killer’s deadly game. But the Bride Collector is supremely gifted and he has a distinct advantage over them all: this is his game.


I reviewed The Bride Collector book here

How To Enter this Giveaway

To enter this giveaway leave a comment here with something you collect.  (You much complete this task to be entered)


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

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 is open to USA and Canada only.  No po boxes.  Ends June 30