Book Journey

Yikes – I like to come in a little later each year.., but hopefully -most of you know the drill and know it is coming!

What Is First Book?
First Book is the first book you pick up going into the New Year. For as long as I can remember, I have made a big deal out of the first book I read each year….sometimes, it is one I have been coveting but not had time for, other times it is an old favorite I decided to revisit. Really – it’s up to you!

What is a favorite part of all of this – is that when you share what your first book will be – I create a collage of the book pics (preferably with you in the pic too – its more personable) and on January 1st = I post the collage of all the books being read first as well as a list of the titles and of course – a mention of the book(s) that were most often selected.

It’s fun to be a part of this movement and the book responses from you come from all over the world!

So – how to participate? It’s easy:

1) Choose your book

2) Send me the pic of you with the book
You have many choices of how to send.

A – here is a form

B – email me – sdechantal@sdechantal

C – Text me if you have my number

D – Private Message me on Facebook

For inspiration – here are a few of the books that came in for 2024:

If you want to see the history of First Book – put “First Book” in the search bar in the upper right of this page… years and years of books!

Have fun and Happy Christmas!
~Sheila

A little different from the books I have read by Chamberlain, but in good good ways. ~Sheila

1964. Elle has a strong passion for civil rights and against her parent’s wishes, and leaving her boyfriend behind, she joins in the fight in North Carolina. There, she meets a group of young activists such as herself, including a young African American boy who steals Elle’s heart as they enter into a taboo relationship.

2020. Kayla, recently widowed, and her young daughter, move into what was supposed to be her husband and her dream home. When strange things begin to happen in the home, Kayla learns of the property’s shocking past including night meetings of the KKK right in the very woods behind her home.

As Elle becomes more invested in her new life, and Kayla tries to find her balance in this new world… both stories intertwine in ways one would not imagine.


I started reading Chamberlain in 2014… I was in Florida, and I was working with bees… its a crazy time in my life, but I recall this easily as I spent A LOT of time with those bees, and while doing so from dawn to dusk I listened to audiobooks… Chamberlain in particular fell in love with her storytelling skills.
Fast forward – she has not lost her touch and reaching for one of her books again left me at first in awe of how different this one was – it was the first I read by her that she brought up a political theme but once again – she pulled it off.
Engrossing, and educational – another recommendation from me.

Perfect summer read. ~Sheila

Daphne and Peter and Petra and Miles were all such good friends. Daphe and Petra loved that they could all hang out together.. such a great way to do life with both her best friend and her boyfriend.

Until the day came that Peter confessed that he was in love with Petra.
As Daphne’s world crashes down, she finds solace with the one person who can fully understand this level of betrayal – Miles, Petra’s ex. Petra suddenly with no place to live becomes roommates with Miles where they mainly avoid one another, as Daphne is more of the closed off by the book type of person and Miles is anything but.

Until one day, over a few too many drinks while ex-bashing… they come up with a plan. What if they pretend to be a couple? Posting photos on social media of the two of them together sharing great moments is enough to get the rumor mill rolling…

after all – it’s just a big joke, right?


I liked this one! I have lived this one (a bit…) Emily Henry’s writing was light, easy to read, and honestly believable. I enjoyed the characters of Daphne and Miles who you get to know a lot more that Petra and Peter.

This is a great light read for vacation, beachin’, or a lazy weekend on the patio.

“A little tricky to keep track – but satisfying if you stick with it.” ~Sheila

Meet Lark. Shes brilliant and she has designed a game that she feels is going to make positive things happen if she can just connect to the right investor…

Meet Jessica. She’s passionate about the medical field and believes she has hitched herself to a star when she is invited to be part of the team following an inspiring man’s lead – both in and out of the office.

Meet Holly. She has been married to her husband for twenty years and together they have raised three children, and built a home and a charity together.

And meet Mr Wright. He is a very busy busy man…. and these three women who have yet to meet… will soon be in for the jolt of their lives.

This book was actually fun. With the essence of the movie First Wives Club or 9 to 5 (IMO). Jack, Trip, Jonathon, has an appetite for beautiful smart women. Attractive himself, he has no problem luring them in with his charm and nothing stops my attitude. And at first… it works. Each woman understands he is busy flying here and there for work, or having to deal with his children from hi previous marriage… all hoping that someday things will level out and he will be more present – more theirs…

And level out – things do. But not in the way he would have predicted.

While the book itself was a little predictable, I was still enjoyed the ride… anxiously turning the pages to see how it would all come crashing down.

A fun read – perfect for a summery read.

~Sheila

There was potential – Sheila DeChantal

Luke Driskell was not looking to fall in love after losing his first wife – but fall in love he did. Finding kind-hearted, modest Ashley and her daughter Joy felt like a gift. When Ashley finally agreed to marry Luke, he felt like he had won the jackpot. While Luke could afford the big home and luxuries, all Ashley wanted was a quiet low low-key life and he was more than happy to provide.

When a fire happens at a local daycare and Ashley rushes in to help bring out the children, she becomes an overnight hero. And just as quickly as she appears on everyone’s radar through TV, Radio, and Social Media –

she is gone.

Luke wakes up to discover both Ashley and Joy are gone without a trace. And when he discovers a hidden stash of fake IDs that belong to Ashley with different hairstyles and names, Luke has to wonder – who did he really marry? And who or what is she running from?

As it is every year, I get to a point where I get behind in reviews. Here I am again 🙂

While this book seemed to have everything you would want in a good psychological thriller/mystery… it sadly falls short.

Reviewing this one with my book club The Bookies, we overall felt while a quick and easy read that held our attention, it came off as unbelievable… too stretched and with no real WHOA moment (IMO). My rating overall out on a 5 was a 2.75…. the Book Clubs average was about the same – a little higher in some cases and a little lower.

With any good Book Club read it’s nice to be able to find questions online that can fuel the conversation, sadly, there were none and our group conversation lagged in finding things to really discuss about the book.

As seen above, we did make the best of it by some of us dressing in disguise with false identities inspired by the book.

Liam has always seemed a little different than other kids his age. Erica loved her son – and loves her family – daughter Hannah, and her wonderful husband – but she does keep her guard up when it comes to Liam. He’s quiet. He’s sensitive… and there was the incident with the girl in grade school…. but all kids play right?

Now years later – a knock on the door throws Erica for another loop. A high school girl has disappeared and according to the detectives, Liam was the last person to see her. While Liam denies knowing anything about what has happened, and Erica wants to believe… evidence is showing otherwise.

I have come to learn in McFadden’s writing that you don’t know what you think you know. For the second time this year, while listening to one of her books I felt she was making it too obvious… too many clues….
But I knew NOTHING.
Fooled again – McFadden is creative in using subtle techniques that make you feel so smart (you’re not… ) only to find out later the breadcrumbs were false.
While I enjoyed this creepy book – it is not a favorite of hers. It left me a little unsettled – wrapped up a little too neatly and in the end… whoa. It would make a good movie.

McFadden readers/listeners I would love to know your thoughts.

It’s almost always enjoyable to revisit the characters you feel you have come to know ~Sheila

Following the Beneath The Surface introduction to the Kingsley Family and all their baggage…. Under The Palms brings us back to the family and their new President, Paige for a luxury weekend retreat.

The brothers, still hoping their father, Richard Kingsley will come to his senses and name them President of the company and thus pulling the rug out from under Paige – still battle with their own insecurities and hard habits to break.
Of course – this is the Kingsley’s and all is never what it seems. As the social media outlets buzz about what may be happening at this resort – they are in for a real newsworthy update very very soon.

I enjoyed my first introduction to the Kingsleys in Beneath The Surface. Having a chance to meet up with this family again to check in on what is happening since the crazy untimely death of ____________________________, the wild entrance and exit of ______________________, and of course who can forget when the _______________________________ went ahead and did _________________________ (read the book…. fill in the blanks 😉 ) It was fun to see what was next.

Not as good as the first one, it was still a worthy enjoyable read.