Category: Book Stuff

Morning Meanderings

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments


No time for hopping around this morning – I have a builders meeting at 8:30 am on the other side of town.  Coffee Cup are not so leisurely this morning!  🙂

I do want to take a moment to welcome Rachel who has now taken on J Kayes Blog, which is now called Home Girls Book Blog. Pop on over and welcome her, I think she will do a wonderful job!

I am off to the meeting and then to the office, kind of a weird office day, I will be there only for a short time today and then I am taking my Administrative Assistant out for a catching up and planning lunch.  Should be a good day!


Oh…. and did you see my post on BEA (Book Expo America)?

Hip Hip Hooray For B E A !!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments


If you would have told me a year ago (heck, 8 months ago!) that I would be blogging and carrying on book related discussions with fellow book lovers on a daily basis, I would have thought you were a few fries short of a Happy Meal.  If you would have added I would also sign up to attend an event in New York (where I have never been before) and room with 4 other girls (whom I have never met) I would have had some concern over your mental well-being.

Yet here I am – blogging daily…. and yes, with a huge deep breath, I am going to New York to attend BEA (Book Expo of America).

Pause for a cart wheel break…..

I wanted to write this post for a few reasons.  One, it’s not often I get to do on-line cart wheels.  Two, I really wanted to thank all the wonderful bloggers who took the time to write posts on what to expend at BEA (they have been most beneficial to me!)  Here are some of the things I have taken away from those posts (check out the BEA Blog Tour here) that I would not have thought about going in to this:

Bring your own water and snacks for the expo.  The food is pricey and this will cover me while I am exploring all the amazing things around me.

Comfy comfy shoes are VERY important!  Also to dress neatly, I am representing my blog.

I appreciated learning about “must see” places, bringing business cards, ask before taking, don’t over book myself, and more!  I read all the posts and I took notes.  Thank you.

So what questions am I left with?

Mainly the BEA site itself.  What should I be pre-signing up for now?  Is there any thing that I am going to do a  head smack when I get there because I didn’t pre register for something?  What badge do I register under?


That’s about it – and oh, have you met my roommates?

Reagan at Miss Remmers Reviews

Esme from Chocolates and Croissants

Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness

Care from Care’s Online Book Club

Stop by and check out these awesome bloggers.  Oh – and I really hope to see you there!


Oh and don’t even get me started on BBC (Book Blogger Convention) … but that’s a post for another day…  😉

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)45 Comments


Morning!  Coffee Cup and I are enjoying a little quiet time before my day goes from zero (now) to 120 (an hour from now).

I have always appreciated good commercials.  At one time I even considered going into advertising because a good witty commercial really appeals to me.  (Oh come on….. am I the only one that watches the Super Bowl for the commercials?)

Over the last week I have seen a commercial that cracks me up every time I see it.  Whoever created this one – it is brilliant.  I laugh every time.  Nicely done!

Today I have a day in the office, some work to do at home, and a review coming up in a little while.

Do you have any favorite commercials?

Merlin’s Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

When I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away. Ever since then I have lived heartless, or almost heartless, the way Humans think all Fey live.

Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and greed of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even the peace of Avalon. And while Merlin the mage has been training Niviene as his apprentice, he now needs her help to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. Niviene’s special talents must help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love…

¬     ¬     ¬     ¬     ¬     ¬     ¬

A Counsel Oak Leaf Song

Water rising under rock,

Break Earth’s lock,

Floods thirsty roots,

Nurtures sap and trunk and shoots,

Greens and plumps each greedy leaf,

Till dappled sunlight like a thief,

Sucks leaf-water as I breathe,

Makes of mist and airy wreath

To drift and float and wander high

To the sky,

And fall again,

Sweet rich rain,

Run under rock, ans

Rise again.

~ Merlin’s Harp

I like a good fantasy read and the story that was proposed here about Merlin and Arthur really called to me.  I have to admit – there is a bit of cover love here too….. I mean look at it!  Wouldn’t you want to enter these pages too?  I felt it could be magical…. and really hoped it would be.

Nivienne (I imagine rhymes with Vivienne) is a Fey.  A Fey lives off in the forests separated from man as much as they can be.  The story is told from Nivienne strong perspective and I liked that a story that in the past has had a masculine feel to it, was now being told by a woman…. err… a Fey.  Feminine.

I enjoyed the poetry of the book but I seemed to get lost in the activity of what was happening.  I like descriptive reads and I did not fully get the look and feel of their surroundings.  This left me with a sense of constantly trying to stay caught up in the story.

I wanted to enjoy this book and honestly have to admit I struggled and bumbled my way through it never catching the flow.

You can read the first chapter here

Please take time to read other thoughts on this book:

http://litbites.blogspot.com/ 20-Feb
https://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ 22-Feb
http://fayeflamereviews.blogspot.com/ 23-Feb
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/ 23-Feb
http://yainsider.blogspot.com 24-Feb
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/ 1-Mar
http://booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com/ 2-Mar
http://ultimatebookhound.blogspot.com/ 2-Mar
http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/ 3-Mar
http://bookworm0440.blogspot.com 3-Mar
www.thebookjournal.com 3-Mar
http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/ 4-Mar
http://www.howlinggooddbooks.com 5-Mar
http://thebookowl.blogspot.com/ 7-Mar
www.jenrothschild.com 8-Mar
http://alwaysriddikulus.blogspot.com/ 9-Mar
http://stephsureads.blogspot.com 10-Mar
http://bookalicio.us/ 11-Mar
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com 12-Mar
http://www.galleysmith.com/ 13-Mar
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/ 15-Mar
http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/ 15-Mar
http://www.jennsbookshelves.com 15-Mar
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com 16-Mar
http://reveriemedia.blogspot.com/ 17-Mar
http://www.thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/ 18-Mar
http://darkfaerietales.com 19-Mar
http://edward-cullen.net 20-Mar
http://redheadedbookchild.blogspot.com 22-Mar
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com 23-Mar
http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/ 23-Mar
http://www.capriciousreader.com/ 24-Mar
http://examiner.com (Portland) 25-Mar
http://www.theveronicaproject.blogspot.com/ 26-Mar

I received my copy of this book from Sourcebooks


It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)150 Comments


Happy Monday everyone!  Wow another week that zipped right on by!    I am really enjoying sharing this meme with all of you and seeing what everyone has been doing and reading over the past week as well as the plan for the week ahead.

First things first – thanks you to those who came back and let me know that you commented on 10 or more Monday, What Are You Reading posts.  I love the community part of this meme!  🙂  Remember – for every 10 you comment on and then tell me in the comment area below, I put you in for our weekly drawing out of the prize box!  (10 comments = 1 entry, 20 = 2 entries, etc…)

So I am so excited to announce that last weeks winner was (using random.org):

MICHELLE (Literarily Speaking)

Congratulations!  You get to choose an item out of the Prize Box !  Let me know your pick here as well as email me at journeythroughbooks (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address!

Here is what I read and reviewed last week:

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (I can’t recommend this book enough – it was an excellent read!)

The Pastor’s Wife by Jennifer AlLee (this book was such a good read!  I loved these characters and would love to see them come back in a second book.  **Hint! Hint!

Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner (an interesting read about how music played an interesting – and humorous – role in Matthew’s life)

Swoon AT YOur Own Risk by Sydney Salter (I enjoyed this YA read and found it refreshingly light and summery!)

Buying Time By Pamela Samuels Young (ooh a fast paced thriller – I have been reading this one over the past few weeks and really enjoyed it!)

I had a wonderful week of reading and with the house empty now for the next week my reading pace should hopefully continue.  I still have reviews to post this week on books I finished a few weeks back.

This weeks plan of attack:

I am reading this book for a guest review over at Book Chick City in March

And these books are all part of what I hope to be a Michael Sullivan Reading week.  I was thrilled to receive all three of these books signed and personalized!  My hope is to spend the week reading these books and hopefully have them up for review by the weekend or the first part of next week.   I have heard wonderful things about these books!

Be sure to link your It’s Monday!  What Are You reading post here so we can all go and see what you have going on!  Also remember to stop back with how many of these posts you commented on and tell me in the comment section so I may enter you in next weeks giveaway!  🙂


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In My Mailbox

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)72 Comments

Wow!  It seems like this week just flew by.  It’s nice to finally be done running around the country and being back in my own home!  Kristi from Story Siren hosts this wonderful meme and I love posting about my mailbox.  It not only is fun to talk about the books – but it creates an online record for me to know when books came into my home.

So – no more chit chat…. let’s get to the mailbox!


Do you not just love love (yes – it deserves two loves because that’s how much I love them) these wonderful covers?  I read Adriana last year when I read Viola In Reel Life and I enjoyed that book.  I was so excited to be offered these two for review – and I have 3 copies of  Very Valentine to give away so lucky commentators get to read this one with me!



I really enjoy historical fiction so when this book offer came my way the answer was an “Uhhhhhhh…. YEAH!”   Here’s a little taste:  The third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, Juana is born amid her parents’ ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing witness to the fall of Granada and Columbus’s discoveries. At the age of sixteen, she is sent to wed Philip, the archduke of Flanders, as part of her parents’ strategy to strengthen Spain, just as her youngest sister, Catherine of Aragon, is sent to England to become the first wife of Henry VIII.

**Elizabeth at Evil Overlord has a copy of this book for giveaway – enter soon, giveaway ends Feb 24


I am a sucker for leadership books and enjoy learning new tips for organizing my office, staff and group events.  This one looks good and with my upcoming teams I am building – this is timely too!


Another book that had me at the cover.

From the day Cobb and Mary meet kayaking on Maine’s Allagash River and fall deeply in love, the two approach life with the same sense of adventure they use to conquer the river’s treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easily…and neither does their love. So when Mary’s life takes the cruelest turn, she

vows to face those rough waters on her own terms and asks Cobb to promise, when the time comes, to help her return to their beloved river for one final journey.



Ok I will let you in on a little known fact about me…. I used to write a little (ok a lot) of poetry in High School.  I actually have photo albums filled with my quirky little attempts at “witticism”  This book looks good and has a CD in the back as well.  I think it will be a fun read!



Books such as this one always surprise me.  I look at them and think they are not for me.  They are old school (really old school – as in Little House in the Prairie you may have a school but you have to walk 6 miles to it bare foot) and then…. I get into the story line and I am amazed how I can let myself fall back into simpler times and find something I just can’t put down.



The Overnight Socialite looks fun right?

Lucy Ellis moved to the Big Apple to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a fashion designer, but the native Midwesterner has just about had it with the city. A mousy, self-conscious girl trapped in a job at a designer sweatshop, Lucy has been mistreated, road-blocked, and otherwise insulted since her arrival. Overwhelmed by city life, Lucy is about to pack it all in and return home to Minnesota. Then she meets Wyatt.

And uhhhh…. hello – it’s about Minnesota!


Books I won

Its been like months since I have won a book and then suddenly I won several – so woo hoo!  Two came in the mailbox this week!

I love Ted Decker’s books.  They are hard to explain.  Ted Decker writes Christian Fiction but his books are not what you think of when you think Christian Fiction.  His books are mysterious and at times spooky.  And when he hooks up with another author it only adds to the intrigue!  This was a win over at Julie j’s blog My Own Little Corner Of The World.  This one looks sooooo good!


And then another exciting win came from Vera’s blog, Luxury Reading.  Vera runs a giveaway each month on comments…. it’s a pretty unique idea you would have to stop over there to see the details.  I won the giveaway for this past month and I was able to pick a book of choice and I went with this one.  I have seen this on blogs and heard wonderful things!  Thanks Vera!


Books From The Library

I seen this book on a blog and wanted to give it a try.  So here it is in my own home…. apparently a well liked copy as this baby is worn out!

Books I Bought



I weakened.  I have looked at this book and passed it up time and again.  And then – I blame Borders.  It was my first Borders.  In Illinois last weekend at Brad’s Navy Graduation.  I had to have books that reminded me of the occasion.  SO I went in and I browsed…. and this one came home with me.  I want to read it and review it along with the movie.


Ok this one?  I blame you.  Well – maybe not you….. but all you bloggers that had this book on their Mailbox posts and in your reviews you raved about it and well…. ok, I should probably thank you.  I am so excited to have this baby in my home!


And this one I would like to blame on some of you…. because I did first follow it on the blogs…. but the final blow goes to Amy in my Book Club who has RAVED about this book for two months now.  Not only has she read it (and the two that follow) but so has her husband and her daughter.  Apparently this is a book that everyone is enjoying and now I hope to as well!


This is our Book Club read for March and I actually read this book a couple years ago and it was fun and light and good.  I am excited to do this one again and Angie (By Book Or By Crook) found some fun things we can do with our review for this book on-line that I am excited to do.   This should be a great book club read and a great discussion on March 9th.

Oh if you are wondering why I have 5 copies – I get free shipping through Amazon Prime and will order for anyone in the book club that asks me to order their copies as well.


And Finally I have one more thing to share from my mailbox!  Look what Reagan sent me from Miss Remmer’s Reviews.  How super sweet is she?

So that’s my mailbox.  I would love to hear what came in yours!



Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments



Every Life Has a Soundtrack.


If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straight-forward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.

Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “Music City” Nashville, and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music.

Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

◊◊◊◊◊

Both entertaining and enlightening Matthew shares his thoughts throughout this book about growing up in a church that had its finger on the pulse of what they felt should and should not be listened to and considered appropriate Christian music.

Lighthearted and laying it all on the table I laughed through sections on this book on his love of Amy Grant and a particular song that spoke to him, Lead Me On, which Matthew describes as a song that made him want to change.

Good music changes me, shocks me, makes me feel uncomfortable, and drives me to think and hope differently.  And once in  a while, it makes me cynical and sarcastic.


Matthew Paul Turner uses this book to share stories of his past and experiences with Christian music that wasn’t always considered acceptable in the/his church. There are full chapters of this book that I would love to just copy and paste here to give you samples of what a true treat this book is.  Instead, I am going to ask you to take my word for it.  This book spoke to me from growing up in  what I would call a traditional church to where I am now where we play all the modern Christian songs you are hearing on the radio.   Pretty much the music that is played in my church today would cause my old church I grew up in much stress.  Unnecessary of course.

This is a book that I plan to go through again as I read it quickly and have decided that I would like to go back and spend a little more time in this witty read that I feel would appeal to most readers and certainly those who have a love for music!

Listen to the 10 minute interview by clicking here!

My Amazon Rating

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah

I read this at home in the comfy chair of the reading room!

Bonus Mailbox Post (a visit to bookcloseout.com)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)57 Comments

My name is Sheila.

And I am a bookaholic.

sigh.

It is so true.  While in Florida a couple weeks ago I discovered Bookcloseout.com.  Not only did I discover it.  They were having a sale.

A big one.

Seriously fellow book lovers, could you resist this?

So I browsed…. and I found the most amazing books – .99 – 1.99 each.  And today that book order came!

Want to know what I got?



hollow ground by Stephen Marion

White Ghost Girls by Alice Greenway

Without Mercy by Renate Dorrestein

Family Resemblance by Tania Marie Barrientos

The End Of Harry Potter by David Langford

The Heiress of Water by Sandra Rodriquez Barrron

The Hitched Chicks Guide To Modern Marriage by Mandi Norwood

Girls Only by Alex Witchel

Thirty Days by Paul Mariani

I Grew Up Little by Patsy Clairmont

Ya Ya’s In Bloom by Rebecca Wells

I Love Him But… by Merry Bloch Jones

Miss Chopsticks by Xinron

The Wonder House by Justine Hardy

GOD AT Your Wits End by Marilyn Meberg

Olivia by Rosie Rushton (I dont recall ordering this one….)

South Of Reason by Cindy Eppes

Unbroken by Tracy Elliott

Places Last Seen by Charlotte McGuin Freeman

The Air Between Us by Deborah Johnson

The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian

The Gospel Of Judas by Simon Mawer

The Sacred Place by Daniel Black

The House On Sprucewood Lane by Caroline Slate

Surrender Dorothy by Meg Wolitzer

Secret Girl by Molly Bruce Jacobs

NARNIA Beyond The Wadrobe by EJ Kirk and CS Lewis

Bride Island by Alexander Enders

Hell At The Breech by Tom Franklin

They said on their site at these prices the books could come with a clearance sticker on them or a mark but not a one of them did.  They are all beautiful unblemished books.  I will read them occasionally, some may wind up gifts but if you are looking for wonderful reads at incredible prices, I would recommend checking out Bookcloseout.com.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)153 Comments

Last week J Kaye over at J Kaye’s Blog had passed the torch of this meme to me.  I am thrilled to carry this meme on and for me it is a great way to lay out my reading plan each week.

Last week I encouraged each of you to go out and comment on participants posts of this meme.  Most of us love to receive comments on our blogs and I kicked off the transfer of this post with a weekly challenge for each of you who participate to go out and comment on other It’s Monday What Are You reading Posts.  You were then asked to stop back  and received an entry into a drawing for every 10 blogs you commented on.  Our winner from last week is:

Alaine – Queen of Happy Endings

Congratulations!  You get to choose an item out of the Prize Box !  Let me know your pick here as well as email me at journeythroughbooks (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address (*if you are out of USA or Canada you will be offered a $10 Amazon gift card instead)

Remember this contest is weekly!  To enter just go and comment on other It’s Monday What Are You Reading posts by linking to them here.  Comment on at least 10 and you have all week to do it.  Want to comment on more than 10? Say 20? Ok, I like your style! 20 will get you 2 entries, 30 will get you 3, etc…  *Be sure to let me know in a comment here how many you commented on so I may include you in the drawing!

My week was crazy since last Monday.  Last Monday I was in Florida, flew home on Tuesday, left for Illinois by car on Thursday and returned home Sunday.  Reading I accomplished during that time was:

The Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Walking On Broken Glass by Crista Allan

Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge

The Choice By Susan Woods Fisher

Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney (not reviewed yet)

Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter (not reviewed yet)

Penguin Luck by Kay Mupetson (not reviewed yet)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (still reading)

This week Al leaves on Thursday for Honduras and I will have the house to myself for 10 days!  No meal planning means more reading time!  Here is my plan for this week:

That’s my week and I am excited to read about your yours!  Connect your post of Its Monday!  What Are You Reading? to the Linky here.


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Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)82 Comments

TLC Book tours has offered me three copies of the new and exciting book by Adriana Trigiani to give away here at One Persons Journey Through A World of Books.  I am thrilled to be able to offer this and wanted to kick this giveaway off on Valentines Day as that just seems appropriate!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Meet the Roncalli and Angelini families, a vibrant cast of colorful characters who navigate tricky family dynamics with hilarity and brio, from magical Manhattan to the picturesque hills of bella Italia. Very Valentine is the first novel in a trilogy and is sure to be the new favorite of Trigiani’s millions of fans around the world.

In this luscious, contemporary family saga, the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. The company is on the verge of financial collapse. It falls to thirty-three-year-old Valentine Roncalli, the talented and determined apprentice to her grandmother, the master artisan Teodora Angelini, to bring the family’s old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century and save the company from ruin.

While juggling a budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother to learn new techniques and seek one-of-a-kind materials for building a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. There, in Tuscany, Naples, and on the Isle of Capri, a family secret is revealed as Valentine discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life and the family business upside down in ways she never expected. Very Valentine is a sumptuous treat, a journey of dreams fulfilled, a celebration of love and loss filled with Trigiani’s trademark heart and humor.  Browse more here.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

and don’t forget to check out Adriana’s other book as well:


Award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker Adriana Trigiani returns with Brava, Valentine, continuing the heartwarming and hilarious story of Valentine Roncalli, her family, her love life, and the Angelini Shoe Company. Following on the heels of the New York Times bestseller Very Valentine (hailed by People magazine as “Sex and the City meets Moonstruck”), Brava, ValentineLucia, Lucia,  The Queen of the Big Time, and the Big Stone Gap is another tour-de-force from the beloved author of bestselling novels series.

I am very excited to be reviewing both books soon!

Adriana’s Tour Schedule

So how to enter?

Leave a comment here sharing what you would consider to be a wonderful way to spend Valentines Day.  *You must answer the question to be entered in the giveaway.

Extra Entries:

Be a subscriber of this blog (new or old) – link is on upper right sidebar, and let me know in a separate comment here and I will add two more entries.

Blog or tweet about this giveaway and let me know here in a separate comment and you can receive another entry.

Giveaway will end on March 10th –

USA and Canada entries only