Category: Book Stuff

The Cradle by Patrick Somerville – GIVEAWAY!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)73 Comments

Thank you to Hachette Books for the opportunity to review this book and to give three away to my readers!

This giveaway is now closed

Early one summer morning, Matthew Bishop kisses his still-sleeping wife Marissa, gets dressed and eases his truck through Milwaukee, bound for the highway. His wife, pregnant with their first child, has asked him to find the antique cradle taken years before by her mother Caroline when she abandoned Marissa, never to contact her daughter again. Soon to be a mother herself, Marissa now dreams of nothing else but bringing her baby home to the cradle she herself slept in. His wife does not know-does not want to know-where her mother lives, but Matt has an address for Caroline’s sister near by and with any luck, he will be home in time for dinner.

Only as Matt tries to track down his wife’s mother, he discovers that Caroline, upon leaving Marissa, has led a life increasingly plagued by impulse and irrationality, a mysterious life that grows more inexplicable with each new lead Matt gains, and door he enters. As hours turn into days and Caroline’s trail takes Matt from Wisconsin to Minnesota, Illinois, and beyond in search of the cradle, Matt makes a discovery that will forever change Marissa’s life, and faces a decision that will challenge everything he has ever known.

How To Enter this Giveaway

Leave a comment here sharing one item you have received from a family member or friend that you cherish


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 May 15.  USA and Canada only please

Author Chat: Kay Cassidy (Author of The Cinderella Society)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Lets see… before we get started today let me take you back to late last fall.  I am not sure if you remember all the squeals of excitement over here that was related to my reading of The Cinderella Society, but there were squeals… trust me…. it was very girly here.  And a little pink.

So now, here we are about 6 months after I have read the book and I am about to introduce you to the amazing author of this book, Kay Cassidy.  Why now?  Because Kay’s book just went on the retail shelves this past week!  Now that her book is available to the public, I wanted to bring her over to Book Journey and see what all that excitement tastes like.


So please with no further ramblings by me, please welcome Kay Cassidy.

This morning I am sipping  on a steaming hot cup of mocha latte with no whip. and Kay what will you be having?

Kay:  I’m a big tea drinker, actually, so I’m having my usual mandarin orange decaf green tea with honey.  I do love the smell of your coffee though.  (Kay inhales deeply and sighs.)  If only coffee tasted as good as it smelled.

Things have been pretty crazy lately as you have prepared for the release of the book.  How would you describe the last month?

Kay:  Oh wow, it really has.  The last month has been a roller coaster.  Huge ups, crazy downs… I’m so grateful for my family who reminds me what is truly important in life.  And for my friends who make me laugh when I need it most.  🙂  Now that the book has officially been out in the world for the week, what I’m feeling is pure and simple gratitude.  The chaotic part is mostly over and I can finally take a moment to go, “Hey, I wrote a book!” 🙂


What was the idea behind Cinderella Society?

Kay:  The idea was to create a secret society of good populars dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world.  I’m always puzzled by how often the popular kids are depicted as being horrible in fiction.  This wasn’t true in my high school.  Sure, there are always kids who will use their popularity for personal gain, but most of the popular kids I knew (and know now) are popular because people genuinely like them.

I always wanted to take that fight global by introducing them to the world’s most powerful women.  Which I think would’ve been seriously cool when I was in high school.  And now too.  😉

I love that, and loved that concept when I read the book as well.  What do you hope that readers will get out of this book?

Kay:  I hope readers realize that the most important things you can learn early on in life are to be comfortable in your own skin and to be true to who you are.  It’s when we harbor bad feelings about how we look or veer off the path we believe we should take (because someone else thinks another path would be better for us) that life can get needlessly complicated.  Easy is good – follow your heart!  🙂


Love the message!  Can you give a few hints on the second book… I seriously won’t tell anyone. 😉

Kay:  Right now I’m working on the sequel to The Cinderella Society, titled Cindy on a Mission.  It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters as the Wickeds launch an offensive that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in Spring 2011.


OOH!  That is exciting!  I am marking my calendar now!  What I really want to know…. what was release day like?

Kay:  I followed the advice of my friends and did something fun on release day.  I had lunch with a friend (with cupcakes to celebrate!) and just enjoyed the gorgeous sunny day we had.  She convinced me we should go to a local Books-a-Million to see if the book was on the shelf yet.  It was and it was completely amazing seeing it there on the shelf amidst my favorite books.  We took pictures of each other with it and the gal working was so lovely about having me sign them.  And then Team Cindy planned a Twitter launch party, so I tweeted it up with friends old and new for seven solid hours!  I was completely exhausted by the end of the day, but in the best possible way.


I like to ask each author I interview to share one little known thing about themselves (it could be a little known talent, a trip you went on, a funny happening…)

Kay:  I am a ridiculously bad cook.  You know how some people joke that they could burn water?  I’m pretty sure I could burn air.  Even though I’m very organized and detailed-oriented in other areas of my life, I dissolve into a puddle of incompetence in the kitchen.  I’m terrible at timing dishes to come out at the same time, so me putting together a special dinner is cause for celebration.  Me putting together a special dinner that a) is not burned, b) does not have any food that is cold or congealed by serving time, and c) does not irreversibly damage anyone’s tastebuds is a miracle of biblical proportions.  And cause for me to reward myself with something nice like more awesome YA books.  Or a pony.

Kay, this has been a blast having you here today!  Thank you for stopping in and chatting!   Readers, feel free to leave Kay questions here – and be sure to check out The Cinderella Society as well as Kay’s super cool home on the web!


Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)39 Comments

Book Journey traveled to:  England

Coffee intro to England…

336 Pages

Cover:  I like it, but after I read the book I think the UK cover is a better reflection of the book

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father–an elusive European warlock–only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

The United Kingdom Hex Hall Cover

This is the book that started popping up – almost magically on book blogs everywhere. I saw it – I liked what I seen – I wanted to read it!

Hex Hall was the fix I was hoping it would be.  The first in the Hex Hall series and the first book from author Rachel Hawkins, I was more than satisfied.

Rachel Hawkins doesn’t only stick with the all too familiar other world creatures we have come to expect (werewolves and vampires, witches and warlocks)…. we get more and I loved thinking of faeries with their onion skinned translucent wings , and shapeshifters who change with their moods.

With all the usual things you deal with in a school setting you have the popular girls, the coveted boy (enter the all too cute Archer), the rebellious outsider, and of course the teachers that cause a total class synchronized eye roll.

Main character and newest addition to Hex Hall, Sophie is a delight to read.  She is funny and snarky and I for one am anxious for the next book in this series to grace my reading room.  This is a good and mostly clean read (there is one mention of teenage sex in the book) that I really enjoyed.

My Amazon Rating

I purchased my copy of this book from Amazon


Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


Day two in Florida…. day two in shorts!  😀  I am having breakfast in the hotel while the boys are still asleep.

Yesterday, Justin and I went to Pensacola Beach and read.   I could seriously do that for the next two days here…. loved it!  However my boys are complete opposites and while Justin will hang out with me at the beach and read (he is a reader!), Brad would be bouncing off the walls.  He needs to do.  The only way I will get to the beach these next two days is if I can find something to do in that area.

We picked Brad up yesterday at 4:30 at the Navy Base.  That was a pretty interesting event.  When I went in to sign him out they yell “Female on deck!”

Well…. now isn’t that awkward…

And after I leave “Female has left the deck!”

Brad toured us around the base pointing out the galley where they eat, the Nex where he picks up his food and toiletries, where he picks up his uniforms….

We then went out to eat at a place he picked, Red Robin which has delicious and totally unhealthy large hamburgers.  Then back to the hotel as all that sun had me shot!  I think I was asleep by 10:00.

Today there is no plan…. I would love to get back towards the beach but we will see what happens.  🙂  In the mean time I am happily enjoying my oatmeal and Coffee prepping a book review for today and doing a little people watching….

Hex Hall and me on Pensacola Beach

Justin On The Beach with Nineteen Minutes

What are you doing this weekend and what books are you taking with you?

Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments


As Brava, Valentine begins, snow falls like glitter over Tuscany at the wedding of her grandmother, Teodora, and longtime love, Dominic. Valentine’s dreams are dashed when Gram announces that Alfred, “the prince,” Valentine’s only brother and nemesis, has been named her partner at Angelini Shoes. Devastated, Valentine falls into the arms of Gianluca, a sexy Tuscan tanner who made his romantic intentions known on the Isle of Capri. Despite their passion for one another and Gianluca’s heartfelt letters, a long-distance relationship seems impossible.

As Valentine turns away from romance and devotes herself to her work, mentor and pattern cutter June Lawton guides her through her power struggle with Alfred, while best friend and confidante Gabriel Biondi moves into 166 Perry Street, transforming her home and point of view. Savvy financier Bret Fitzpatrick, Valentine’s first love and former fiancée who still carries a torch for her, encourages Valentine to exploit her full potential as a designer and a business woman with a plan that will bring her singular creations to the world.

A once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity takes Valentine from the winding streets of Greenwich Village to the sun-kissed cobblestones of Buenos Aires, where she finds a long-buried secret hidden deep within a family scandal. Once unearthed, the truth rocks the Roncallis and Valentine is determined to hold her family together. More so, she longs to create one of her own, but is torn between a past love that nurtured her, and a new one that promises to sustain her.

I was first introduced to Adriana Trigiani when I read for a book discussion Viola In Reel Life – which I loved!  When offered the chance to read and review Brava Valentine, all I had to do was see the name Trigiani and I knew I was in.  Isn’t that what every author hopes for in a reader?

♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥

Nothing like good characters to set the mood of a book and Adriana Trigiani brings the characters I came to love from Very Valentine (my review is here), back in this trilogy.

You open up this lovely book and here is the first line that is treat for your eyes:

”The most magical thing happened on the morning of my grandmother’s wedding in Tuscany. It snowed.”

Do you not just love that? I am a nut for great first lines to books and this one was like going to a great restaurant and having your dessert first. I stopped and savored this line.

I adore the writing style of this book and the many (many) laugh out loud moments as Valentine Roncalli becomes part owner of the family shoe business, and looks through her old boyfriend file for dates to family functions.

On the more serious side of the book, there is also a family scandal, and real relationship struggles that make this a well-rounded book.

I enjoy characters that make me wish I could just hang out with them in their world for a while,  and that is what Adriana brings to the table.  Bigger than life characters and a story line that will leave you hoping for a third helping.  I enjoyed this second book in the Valentine series even more than the first.

My Amazon Rating

I received my review copy from TLC Book Tours


Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments


I’ve got the grog.

I am groggy.  That first cup of coffee was just a trial run…. I am going to have to have a do over this morning.

*Going to kitchen for second cup… shuffling feet back to laptop*

Ok.  Good Morning!  That’s better.  🙂

Last nights book was super fabulo-sious *A new spell for Harry Potter that makes everything wonderful 😉.  I love those girls!  Our discussion of Little Bee by Chris Cleave was so good.  With mixed reviews and thoughts, it was still a rocking good time that I can not wait to share with you tomorrow!

Our book pick for May is The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano.  I am super excited about this recommendation.  I had nominated this one last month and one of the girls in our group read it and thought it was fantastic!  This one will go in the suitcase.


And speaking of the suitcase which is still unpacked… I leave at 7 am tomorrow morning for Florida (insert SQUUUUEEEEE here).  I am excited, but have been so busy I feel completely disorganized.  I work a full day today, need to drop some books at the post office, run on treadmill with Heidi at 4 pm, get home around 5 and pull it all together.

Yikes!  There were books from the readathon pile that I did not get to.  A few of them are going in the suitcase.  Any thoughts as to which books they may be, or any suggestions of what books should be going along?  My nineteen year old son who is joining me on this trip is also a reader so I am hoping to take books he will enjoy too.

Now that  my mind is in high gear from the second cup of coffee  I am thinking I really need to get the Word Shakers on line book club going again after the winter hiatus!

Now I am feeling a little like Corky Romano (following clip) and if you have not seen this movie – HIGHLY recommend it.  I laughed and laughed….. (wish I had his car here too)

Have an awesome day peeps!  I am off to work – review up later 🙂

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)116 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:

Outnumbered Mama

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


With this past Saturdays Readathon I missed doing In My Mailbox so want to share that here.  This is what came in my mailbox this past week:

Some super reads came my way!

That is a book bag hanging over the back of my chair.  How super cools is this set?

Here is what happened here this last week:


Sand In My Bra  *read for Readathon review not written yet

Avempartha by Michael Sullivan *read for Readathon review not written yet

At Witt’s End by Beth Solheim *Read for Readathon review not written yet

Eat The Cookies… Buy the Shoes by Joyce Meyer *read for Readathon review not written yet

Hasta La Vista Lola! by Misa Ramirez – GIVEAWAY!

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli – Review

Author Chat with A.S. Peterson – Author of Fiddler’s Gun

Songbird Under A German Moon by Tricia Goyer – Review

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz – GIVEAWAY!


What’s on brew this week?

This week I leave Thursday morning for Florida to see Navy son for the weekend.  That means a hectic next few days – but I should be able to make up reading time on the plane.  🙂

From the author of the international bestseller “Incendiary” comes a haunting novel about the tenuous friendship that blooms between two disparate strangers—one an illegal Nigerian refugee, the other a recent widow from suburban London.

Anke’s father is abusive to her brother and sister. But not to her. Because, to him, she is like furniture— not even worthy of the worst kind of attention. Then Anke makes the school volleyball team. She loves feeling her muscles after workouts, an ache that reminds her she is real. Even more, Anke loves the confidence that she gets from the sport. And as she learns to call for the ball on the court, she finds a voice she never knew she had. For the first time, Anke is making herself seen and heard, working toward the day she will be able to speak up loud enough to rescue everyone at home— including herself.

As children, they formed a special bond, growing up in the small town of Ames, Iowa. As young women, they moved to eighth different states, yet they managed to maintain an extraordinary friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, the death of a child, and the mysterious death of the eleventh member of their group. Capturing their remarkable story, The Girls from Ames is a testament to the enduring, deep bonds of women as they experience life’s challenges, and the power of friendship to overcome even the most daunting odds.

The girls, now in their forties, have a lifetime of memories in common, some evocative of their generation and some that will resonate with any woman who has ever had a friend. The Girls from Ames demonstrates how close female relationships can shape every aspect of women’s lives-their sense of themselves, their choice of men, their need for validation, their relationships with their mothers, their dreams for their daughters-and reveals how such friendships thrive, rewarding those who have committed to them. With both universal events and deeply personal moments, it’s a book that every woman will relate to and be inspired by.

That’s the plan…. lot’s of coffee… lots of reading (hopefully) and time with both my sons (Justin – College Son is going to!)

Sign up your Monday post to the McKLinky here so we can pop in and check your post out AND stop back and share with me your comment count to be included in next weeks drawing. 🙂

Powered by Linky ToolsClick here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

(McKLinky (now known as Linky Tools)  is going through some changes so I am hoping this link will be working properly)

Reading Sanctuary

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)52 Comments

This Challenge Is Closed – winner was debnance from Readerbuzz

So here we are in the wee end hours of the readathon many of you have been reading for a long time out of the past 24 hours so I want to make this one easy.

Leave a comment here telling me how the readathon worked out for you:

Were you able to escape the hustle and bustle of life?

Where did you do the majority of your reading?

Did you leave the house (or wherever you were) at any time during the challenge?


That’s it.  Leave a comment here answering the above questions and I will enter you into the random drawing  for a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Have fun… oh and by the way….  YOU ALL ROCK!

Once Upon A Reading Mini Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

This challenge is closed.  The winner is callista83!!!

please send me your email and I will send you your prize Sunday morning.  🙂

As book lovers we do enjoy a good story!  Here is what this challenge will consist of:


Write a short story using Book Titles to make your story.  Your story should be three or four paragraphs long and have at least 10 book titles within it.  (*Bold the book titles to make them more obvious)

Feel free to post this to your blog (for two entries) and then leave me the link here in the comment area -or if you would rather, place your story in the comment area here for one entry.

An example would be like:

Rebecca, The Pastor’s Wife, quietly moved into the Guest House.  She felt Caught up in the Deception and needed time to be Alone…. I think you get it 🙂


This challenge will go on for three hours.  After that time a winner will be chosen using Random.org  and the winner will be emailed a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Good luck and have fun!

Readathon Mid Event Mini Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

  

    

   

   

  

1. What are you reading right now?  Guest House by Brabara Richardson
 
 
2. How many books have you read so far?   3 1/2
 
 
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?  Fablehaven and/or Hex Hall
 
 
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?   I cleared out the house – hubby worked in office and College son took off with friends for the day to let me do this. 
 
 
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  More than I would have liked.  Phone and 19 year old popping in and out…
 
 
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  Mostly how long it takes me to get through the books.  My own fault of course…. I am cheering and visiting and twittering and nosing around the mini challenges.  🙂
 
 
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  No
 
 
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?  Hmmmm…. probably just planning my time better as a reader. 
 
 
9. Are you getting tired yet?   Surprisingly not , and I started 2 hours early here at 5 am to get a jump on the challenge. 
 
 
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?  Not at this time
 
 

   

     

     

     

The Readathon has begun and I have been reading for an hour at this point and sipping coffee and doing a little cheerleading too.    


   

The first challenge up today is sharing a little bit about the Readathon prep and me….  so here goes:   


   

Where are you reading from today?

I am home in Minnesota in my Reading Room (picture me buried in a large recliner covered in a blanket that I love because it used to be my mom’s…. surrounded by books, coffee and a little bit of chocolate (Hey!  How did that get there???)


   

3 Facts About Me

1. I am a huge gamer.  I love challenges and board games and online games and computer games.  One winter I played and beat all of the Zelda Nintendo games for Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and whatever the game box was after that….  (Crazy stuff.  I know right?)   


   

2.  I have been to Honduras 8 times and work with street kids and kids who live in the dump when I am there.  I think that is the most fulfilling thing I have done this far with my life.   


   

3.  I am a biking fool and sign up for every bike tour within a 3 hour radius of my home.  The first one this year is April 25 and the goal is 65 miles.    


   

How Many Books Do I Have In My TBR Pile For The Next 24 Hours?

That is hard to say…. I went through and picked out an assortment of about 15 – but that was for variety….  no way I will get through all of them.  I would be happy if I could complete 5.   


   

Do I have any Goals for this readathon?

Hmmm….. not really other than to just have fun with this.  There are a couple of books I really am hoping to get to today- Fablehaven and Hex Hall.   


   

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Have fun!  This is a great event but it is not an assignment!  Take a break when you need to.  (I have my IPOD ready to go with an audio book in the event I need a break later and want to hop on the bike for a spin around the neighborhood.   

Also – watch the Dewey site for fun challenges (for the gamer in you!) to participate in.  AND take a break and check out some of the other participants blogs or chat a bit on Twitter.  You never know what blog you may find that will be come a “must read”.