Category: Book Stuff

Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Ok – I bit the bullet…. or perhaps the book binding in this case, and registered for BBAW.  I love the book blogging ♥ community ♥and I am so thrilled that this event takes place each year.

This year, as the team that makes BBAW possible is working to always improve, they have set it up  that if you want to be considered for a category – you must nominate yourself.

*Gulp*  (this is where the biting of the book binding comes in…)

BBAW is a wonderful way to appreciate all the wonderful bloggers out there.  I had so much fun last year just joining in on all the happenings.  So now as we near the deadline to enter, I am officially in.  The categories I entered are:

Niche Category:  Best Eclectic Book Blog—This blog doesn’t specialize in any one book genre. It is known for consistently excellent reviews, recommendations, analysis, and other content in a variety of genres

Here are the 5 posts I entered for consideration of this category:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The Mercy Seller by Brenda Ruchman Vantrease

Morning Meanderings… Bookaholic


Best Written Book Blog—This blog is consistently well-written, clear, and engaging, no matter what the subject. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 3 reviews, recommendations, or analyses of a specific title; 2 are up to the nominated blogger.


The Carpet Boys Gift byPegi Deitz Shea

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

It’s My Blogiversary!

Vampires, Werewolves, Seamonsters…. and me


Best Author Interviews—This blogger does his or her research and asks the questions no one else does. These interviews are top-notch. Note that this award reflects the quality of the interviews, not the popularity of the person being interviewed. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 4 interviews; 1 post is left to their discretion.]


Donna Woolfork Cross – Author Of Pope Joan

Jay Asher – Author of Thirteen Reasons Why

Sarah Pekkanen – Author of Opposite Of Me

Kay Cassidy – Author of The Cinderella Society

Lauren Oliver – Author of Before I Fall

Tomorrow, July 7th is the deadline to register your blog.  Even if you are not interested in putting your blog in the ring for an award, you can still register to have your blog added to the Directory of Book Blogs.  You can link to the information here.

Morning Meanderings… (tweek tweek tweeking)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments


Bear (bare?) with me….. I am tweaking again.  Tweak, tweak, tweak…. I should have never taken yesterday off from work because that gave me time to chill…. and blog, and visit… and think.  Thinking…can be dangerous.  So I came up with a couple of ideas (tweak, tweak)… ways to perk up the reviews (tweak), ways to do vamp up my author chats (tweak), and ways to announce the books I would love to read (TWEAK TWEAK TWEAK) It’s like a geiger counter.  😀

So one those notes (or tweaks) please hang in there with me the next few days.  I have a lot of posts I am working on implementing and  I am trying to pace them so my lovely (and appreciated –did I mention you are all appreciated?) readers do not go on blog overdose – leaving me here holding the smoking keyboard…..

Monday was awesome – I took the day off of work – unplugged my business mind but fully engaged (see tweak conversation above) my creative bloggy side.  E gads!  I got my hair cut, roller bladed, relaxed on my deck with lap top, then book, then lap top, then book, and a diet root beer.

I hope to post over the next few days: reviews (always), author chat (at least one this week but hoping to increase the amount of these I do – tweak tweak), BBAW post (must have up today – tomorrow at the latest!), WordShakers Book Club Reactivated (goal for this week peeps – bare (bear?) with me. )

Ok – I must go to work….   Thanks everyone for taking time to chat with this occasionally crazy (tweak tweak) Minnesota girl!  😀

Oh and P.S…. just kidding about the bears 😉

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)101 Comments

It’s Monday! 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:

Sherrie – Just Books

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

We had a wonderfully full weekend hanging out with friends, riding motorcycle, picnic, parade and hanging with friends again.  The weather was sunny and clear and I had a blast.  In “bookish” type news – here is what went down here this past week:

The Secrets Of Newberry Giveaway – 3 books!!!

Guest House by Barbara Richardson (A read of life changes and possibilities)

Remember Your First Time? (The books you wish you could read again like the first time…)

The Missing Element by John Betcher (A Minnesota mystery!)

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (review coming soon)

DUFF by Kody Keplinger (review coming soon)

Evolution Of Shadow by Jason Quinn Malot (review coming soon)

Step On A Crack by James Patterson (review coming soon)

I had a pretty good reading week and spent most evenings readings instead of blogging, twittering, or tv time.  It was actually really nice to just – read.  This week I am working on a few reads I need to finish up but I am also starting:

This was the “Choose The Next Book I Read” Giveaway, so once I am done with this one I will pass it on.

Born Under a Million Shadows is a library read that I am eager to get into!

I am taking today off from work this week – a little breather from the heavier load we have been carrying in the office lately and I plan on spending my morning seeing what you are all reading on Monday!  Please add your link to your Monday Reading post below where it says “click here”.

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Oh and one more thing – the deadline is approaching fast to register for BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week).  You wont want to miss out on this fun event that will take place in September – however registration closes July 7th! Link to it here:

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!  I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.  We had a gorgeous Saturday here and we went biking (motor – biking) with friends.  It was a great stress reliever and nice time for Al and I just to get away for an afternoon.

I came home Saturday happy and extremely warm.  I finished up two books I have been reading and wrapped up an audio as well.  Reviews will be coming up over the next few days.  Not a lot to say this morning as I have an early commitment today – but have a safe and happy 4th everyone!  😀

Al and I, July 3, 2010

Remember Your First Time?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments


I was recently reading a review on a book that I have ♥ LOVED  ♥ and I was actually envious of the reader.  I wanted to be them, opening that treasured book, innocently going in to the pages having no idea….

you are about to change forever.

Do you remember your first time?  What was “that book” for you?  The one that gripped you and hung on tight, and kept you up at night, trying to sleep but not being able to because you couldn’t wait to have that book in your hands again… almost not wanting to share the characters with anyone as you become this jealous reader type version of who you used to be…

Ok… maybe it’s not that bad.  😉

The question is – what book do you wish you could go back and read again like it was the first time?

Guest House by Barbara Richardson

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

One night, Melba Burns is driving home and witnesses a horrible accident.  The accident so completely affects her, that Melba changes her life style in that second of life and death.  The quits her job, removes herself from the rat race, and even gives up driving.  She retreats to her Farmhouse, which to her means comfort and security, Melba over her doors to a roommate who is a trouble magnet. And as Melba adjusts to her new life, of guests who are real and flawed, she becomes someone different, stronger, and richer.


I have to admit, this book is total cover love…  I mean look at.  Go ahead.  I will wait.

…………………………………..

As this book opened with Melba peering into the windows of the for sale by owner farmhouse, a line in the book catches my breath:

Is it lunatic to believe a property actually needs you?

That one line hit home for me… but that… is a different story.

Melba’s story moves along in a steady pace with a rapid introduction of characters that left me backtracking to keep track of who is who.  Yet, with a witty sense of humor and colorful well-developed characters, the book started to take on a life of its own and I soon felt like a guest in Melba’s farmhouse.

Thanks to the writing talent of Barbara Richardson, a book that could have been considered heavy is not.  Instead I found myself taken for a pleasant reading experience that as I turned the pages of the book, I became deeper and deeper into the read.

My Amazon Rating

Book Journeys map has been updated to include Guest House

When in Portland Oregon (besides checking out the old stomping grounds of my friends Brett and Kate Richmond)…  rumor has it Elephants Delicatessen has a cup of coffee to die for and deli foods as well!

218 pages

Cover Story:  Seriously fabulous.  I want to print it out on photo paper and frame it.

I received this book for review from The Book Report Network

My Next Read Is Chosen by – YOU! (Winner)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Thank you to everyone who participated in last weeks post on Choosing my next read.  I was so excited to toss all entries into Random.org tonight and see what book I was going to pull out of the pile, read and then pass on to the lucky winner.

The person who won the drawing is:

Bookjunkiemom09

Her comment was:

“This was a hard choice but… “Between Sisters” by Kristin Hannah”


So, the book that I will be reading throughout the weekend is:

Thank you to all who entered – I appreciate you all so much and once this book is read and on its way to its new owner, we will do this again 🙂

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)51 Comments


Ok…. two cups of COFFEE in to my morning… I have a confession.

*deep breath*

*just rip the band-aid off…*

I almost went to the triple movie showing last night of all three of the Twilight movies.

I know – I know!  If you know me you know I love adventures and love to be a part of unique things – I mean seriously, I waited 6 hours with my 18-year-old son a couple of years back for a Wii that was going to be released at midnight in Wal-Mart.  I stood in line among Quiddich clad youth to go to a midnight showing of the last Harry Potter movie with Chance….. I mean,

this is what I do.

And, for a moment, ok – more like for an hour and a half, I seriously thought my friend Wendy and I were going to do the triple movie experience.  It started at 7:00 pm with Twilight, followed at 9:25 pm by New Moon, and at 12:05 am Eclipse.

Then I thought about it and knew I could not do 7+ hours in the movie theater…. plus, I have a 9:30 am meeting this morning that not looking like I have been up half the night wearing a Team Edward shirt and ju ju bees stuck to the side of face (and probably in my hair) would be a plus.

However.  Today.  This afternoon….   Wendy and I will be going to the afternoon showing of Eclipse.   I have seen the other two movies and thought they were good, I read all the books back when they were first released, and yes, I am continuing my Twilight adventure with my head held high (hopefully ju ju bee free) to the completion of the movies.

Last night, I read the short second life of bree tanner, in part, because Bree shows up in the book Eclipse.  I hope to have that review up this afternoon.  My only hint…. it wasn’t like the other books.


For giggles – here are my original reviews of the books – note:  I wrote these pre blog.  This means, I didn’t really format them for other readers, they are mainly my on-line journal – and probably a bit raw and totally unplugged:


Twilight (I have my Sally Field moment here… I like it, I really like it)

New Moon (I fight the critics here that say this book is awful…)

Eclipse (in this one I gush a little too much about Edward and threaten to bite someone…)

breaking dawn (I rave about…. the title.  And something about locking the characters in a box with Harry Potter….)


How about you – I know there is a lot of talk about the Twilight series – for and against.  Would you see the movie?

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments


I woke up and stretched about an hour and a half ago.  I looked outside and said, “I shall call you… Tuesday”.

I worked close to 12 hours yesterday so I am probably a little punchy.  🙂  The meeting I have been prepping for was last night and it went off fairly well.  Today – may be a short day at work…

It’s gorgeous out and I already want to play hooky.

Ok… I have Coffee Cup with me so I should be able to focus on this post and not the day developing outside.  I am a bit later posting this morning than I wanted to be but I really wanted to visit all the Monday What Are You Reading posts before I completed this and I just finished now.  WONDERFUL reading going on in the world!

Here are a couple of books I have put on reserve at my library that I discovered yesterday:


Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth, I seen this one over at Second Childhood Reviews


I picked up on The Great Deluge (about Hurricane Katrina) over at Nancy’s  2010:  The Year In Books.  I have friends that go at least once a year to Mississippi to help with the repairs (still!) even after now 5 years since this Hurricane hit.

And then…

Over at Alyce’s At Home With Books, author L. Diane Wolfe shares her stories on book signings that blew me away…. but also made me very interested in her YA series…

So that’s what I have been doing the last 24 hours – working and catching up on the reading world.  I am hoping to rollerblade like the wind later today.  Ok, maybe not like the wind…. I am not even sure that the wind rollerblades…. but you know what I mean.  I think.  😉

Off to work I go!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)101 Comments

It’s Monday! 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:

Lydia Presley

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

I think this past week went fairly well.  There were a few nights that I didnt get on the computer at all but instead used that time to read.  Looking over the past week I am pretty excited about all I accomplished:

Review:  Dovey Coe by Francis O’Roark Dowell (a quick read that captured me from beginning to end)


Review:  Dreaming of Dior by Charlotte Smith (I LOVED this book!)


Choose The Next Book I read and Win it for yourself (yup – this is still on until Wednesday!)


Review:  Chosen:  House Of Night audio by PC Cast (a case where the narrator made the story so wonderful…. but the story line short for me)


Author Chat with Sarah Pekkanen (author of Opposite of Me) – SQUEEEEEE!!!!


Opposite of me signed giveaway of two books (SQUEEEEEEE again!!!)  😀


Review:  Suite Scarlet by Maureen Johnson audio (Cute audio – 1st Maureen Johnson experience)


Audio Books:  Can You Hear Me Now? In celebration of Audio Book Week I lay out what I think is what audios so awesome and why you should too 🙂



So yeah…. looking over this past week…. I did kick a little literary booty.  😀


So let me see if I can pull off a Venti (that’s really big in coffee talk) week again this week.  Here is what I am planning to complete:

I am sailing through this audio of Step On A Crack the first book in the Michael Bennett series (although I have already read the other two that follow….)

Long overdue from its stay on the TBR shelf, I am flying through this read.

A treat for me out of the BEA stash – can’t wait!  Cant wait!!!

The “mystery” book that you my readers have asked me to read out of the choose my next book post.  This book will be the one taking me into the weekend!

And finally, I have it on good faith that I am going to have an author chat here with an author I am  so excited to spend a little time with as I recently finished the book and have so much to talk about!

Enough about me!  I am prepared to stop in and see what you are reading this week and plan on adding to my TBR list through my travels through your posts!  Please link here by clicking below where it says Click here.  That way we can all stop in and see what everyone is reading this Monday!  😀

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