Book Journey

Platform 21 by T. R. Patrick

Published on December 18, 2013December 18, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

It is 2052. Luke Gibson, his sister Laura, and his parents are excited to be at the first ever World Evergy Initiative Conference. This conference is a celebration of energy and thousands of people fill the stadium to be a part of this monumental event.

Suddenly the earth rumbles and a massive earthquake takes place. As Luke struggles to understand what is happening as he sees people dieing all around him and his own life is ebbing away, he sees a gurl reaching for him.

And then all is black.

Death… as it turns out is not the end. Luke awakens to a world that is not the one he knew… as life (is that what this is?) plays out Luke is left to try to figure out what sort of conspiracy is going on and what can he do to stop it before it is too late.

Ok. Seriously. If that synopsis did not give you chills you need to go back and read it again. I will wait. ……

🙂

Platform 21 sold me on the description of a teenage boy in a futuristic world that takes on a twist that is new to me – and if you know me… that is always a draw.

It is shocking, fast paced, adrenaline creating and once into it…. I had to know how this was all going to go. I enjoyed Luke, love that he is a writer and a protagonist that I could cheer on. In this style of book… you need someone to cling to…. Luke was that guy.

I really enjoyed this and look forward to see where this new series will go.

Would you like to win a copy of this book? Click the link below.

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Morning Meanderings….Every Library Needs Friends

Published on December 18, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Good morning everyone! Midway through the week already! I don’t know if I should be thrilled or panicked! 😀 Next week we as a staff have made the decision to put all of our hours and efforts into Monday and Tuesday and then we are going to close the office the rest of the week, probably working close to 12 hours each of those two days. That means, I need to be ready for Christmas by Sunday night. EEP!

Recently I had written a post about helping out with the Christmas decorating at our Local Library. As a Friend of The Brainerd Public Library, we have our own decorations and we set up trees and lights, and wreaths and jazzed the place up the first part of December. Someone at that time had commented that they did not know the friends did that – and while I am sure all Libraries are not the same, and all friends groups do not function the same… I wanted to put a plug in for joining. 😀

As books, (probably obviously…)are a big part of my life – I naturally wanted to be involved in my local Library. When I signed up as a friend I really did not know what they did. Two years later – I am still learning. 😀

The Friends Groups are a group that supports the library through fundraising efforts and we assist the library with purchases an needs that are not necessarily covered by the libraries budget. As Dawn in our Friends group put it, we are the icing on the cake. Our money raised goes for the little extras – our group personally helps with movie licensing so movies can be checked out at the library, we purchase additional copies of best-selling books (if you are from the area – when you walk in the library and see that white stand to the right that is our contribution of best sellers and these books and audio do not go on the wait list – if you are lucky and pop in at the right time you may find that coveted book!). We assist in bringing authors in to the library (during June we bring in a Minnesota author each Monday), we assist in reading programs for children, the holiday open house and so much more. We have two used book sales a year, and this past year added the Wine and Words event that was soooo fun we plan to do it yearly (mark your calendars – August 22, 2014). This year we also have been working with a group of Teenagers to try to get books in their lives and create venues from their perspectives to make the teen area of our library something incredible.

My point in sharing this today is that I encourage you – Lover Of Books ( I say this in my best Narnia “Daughters Of Eve” voice) to inquire at your library about a friends group. There is a yearly fee – ours is $5. This goes directly into supporting our library and gives you the keys to the adventures of the Friends. I can’t speak for all friends groups but I have seen some pretty amazing ones out there and have to say ours I believe is pretty awesome as well.

There it is. My friends plug. 😀 Have a super day – I have a full one! If you have any questions about Friends groups please ask – if I dont know the answer I will try hard to find out! If you are a Friend of your library, I would love to hear about the things that you do!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Published on December 17, 2013December 17, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

That day that Eleanor got on the bus and Park had the only available seat, or more truthful, the only one that would make room for this overweight girl with frizzy red hair and clothing that looked like they belonged to a man, was a day that Park would not soon forget.

As their bus routine continues, Park finds himself becoming more and more interested in Eleanor, and Eleanor felt the same about Park. An odd couple to say the least, Park with his half Korean heritage and Eleanor who is bullied at school, friendless, and lives in fear of her moms boyfriend create a friendship based on a love for music and comic books.

*sigh* Why didn’t someone tell me about author Rainbow Rowell sooner than this? After having recently listening to Fangirl by this same author and finding it a pretty sweet listen, I followed up on the buzz on Eleanor and Park.

I think one of the things I appreciated most about this book was the fact that Eleanor and Park were not your typical protagonists. They were not the popular students. They were not the shy misunderstood student that takes their glasses off, gets a hair cut, and comes out beautiful and everyone wants to be their friend…. Instead, Eleanor comes from a very povertish home. Her mother is in an abusive relationship and Eleanor lives in fear for her family’s safety. Her clothes are not new and stylish but whatever her mom can scrape together and find. Park is quiet. His home life is good but he feels he can’t be himself. His mother is over protective, his father… well his dad for the most part is pretty cool… everything that Eleanor’s family life is not.

Set in the mid 80’s, you have to just fall in love along with this misfit pair, believing first love can last forever… and in a way…. doesn’t it?

Swoon worthy. Thank you Rainbow Rowell for braving the road less traveled and creating characters that can make your heart ache. *I bow to you*

Morning Meanderings… Merry Christmas to me the KOBO has arrived!

Published on December 17, 2013December 17, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

Happy Tuesday ya’ all! The fact that you are reading this means that we all survived Monday! WOO HOO!

I had to share this morning that my KOBO win from Alison’s contest she had has arrived. I am super excited to give it a try and am downloading the information now as I type to activate this baby! 😀

**Not sure what is up with the “fuzzy” picture my camera is taking… lighting maybe?**

I love the size of it. It looks to be about 7 inches tall and 5 inches wide. A great size to slip in my purse! I already ordered a little case for it to protect it.

In other news I have been a baking fool…. I have made so many batches of caramels that they are everywhere…. and tonight I plan to make 3 double batches more. Tomorrow is our office staff party and along with a suet holder and homemade suet for the birds (thanks Leslie for that recipe!) that is my gift of the year. I have another gathering Friday morning, and a few gifts to drop off Friday afternoon as well as a Christmas Party Friday night. *whew* Tis the season…

Anyhoo… next question is.. what to download first on that KOBO?

Ok… must get ready for work! Have an awesome day everyone!

The Anti Prom by Andy McDonald

Published on December 16, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Bliss Marino has waited a long time for her prom, she is the popular girl and with the hot guy she had as her boyfriend, she would rock the event.

Jolene has no desire to have anything to do with the ridiculous outdated tradition of a prom. Seriously it made her want to hurl. There was like a zillion things she would rather due than ever be a part of that lameness.

Meg, quiet and reserved, wants badly to change her reputation of blending into any wall. If she asks to the prom… she will say yes. She will.

There is no reason that these three girls would ever find themselves in conversation or even remotely pleasant to one another. Yet when circumstances around the prom bring these three together… things can really get interesting.

The Anti Prom is a sweet twist on todays YA reads. There is no dystopian dooms day looming, no one has any special powers, and no one is thrown into an arena to fight to the death (although…. that could have been funny in this case). Nope. author Andy McDonald writes about an event that most of us have either experienced (possibly close to the way one of these girls experienced it) or at least were aware of it.

Taking three girls whose personalities could not be more different, The Anti Prom can make you cheer for a crazy life that can turn everything upside down and remind us that friendships are sometimes found in the least likely places.

Enjoy this one!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on December 15, 2013December 15, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)78 Comments

Hey there! Welcome to It’s Monday, What Are You Reading!

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. Fair warning… this meme tends to add to your reading list!

I hope everyone had a good week. I did! We had book club this week, and I am finally getting into the Christmas mood… which is typical for me… it takes me a while to get there 😉

Here is what I posted this week:

Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The Bookies Christmas Party

Pain Parties Work by Elizabeth Winder (The Sylvia Plath Story)

An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatfield

When I Practice To Deceive by Ann Rule (“Meh” of the week)

Homemade Caramels – a recipe for you (oh… and for me too!)

also these challenges coming up:

WHAT Are You Reading Challenge 2014

Bucket List Challenge 2014

First Book Of The Year 2014

It feels good to be an active blogger again! 😀 So for this week I am cruising right along into these:

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone means fighting for tomorrow is an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

I smoked through this one in the last couple of days… review this week!

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

Just started this one this afternoon 😀

In Parkland (originally titled Four Days in November), author Vincent Bugliosi “has definitively explained the murder that recalibrated modern America” (Jim Newton, Los Angeles Times Book Review). Releasing this fall, the movie—starring Paul Giamatti, Zac Efron, Jacki Weaver, and Billy Bob Thornton—follows a group of individuals making split-second decisions after this incomprehensible event: the doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, the chief of the Dallas Secret Service, the cameraman who captured what has become the most examined film in history, the FBI agents who had gunman Lee Harvey Oswald within their grasp, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson who had to take control of the country at a moment’s notice. Based on Vincent Bugliosi’s Reclaiming History—Parkland is the story of that day.

I started this last week and ooh… it is good!

Luke’s life is about to take a dangerous turn.
But first he has to die.

In the year 2052, high school sophomore Luke Gibson considers himself an average teenager in a world on the brink of monumental change. Joining his parents and sister, Laura, at the first World Energy Initiative Conference, he is among thousands gathered in a Denver arena to celebrate free renewable energy when a massive earthquake strikes killing everyone in the stadium. The last thing Luke sees before his death is a girl reaching out to him–a stranger whose face he remembers from his dreams.

The end, however, is not the end. Suddenly, inexplicably, Luke is back home in Ohio and everything is different. His sister is gone, the victim in an unsolved homicide years before. Angela, his mysterious dream girl, is here also, and the only person besides Luke who recalls the previous reality. And now their determination to uncover the truth about Laura’s murder and their transformed world is making them targets–forced to flee for their lives from a nameless shadow organization and a government seeking vengeance for an unthinkable act of terror–as they stand on the threshold of a dark conspiracy that threatens all humankind.

I am reading this one for a blog tour this week.

Beyond that I have a few books I have started but have yet to finish that I would like to work on cleaning up before year end. How about you? What are you reading this end of December? I would love to know! Please add your What Are You Reading link to the link below where it says click here:

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For those of you that read mainly middle grade and children’s books, be sure to also link to the younger version of It’s Monday by using the link below!

Weekend Holiday Cooking: Homemade Caramels

Published on December 15, 2013December 15, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Recently my husband and I were at an annual Christmas Party at a friends home. She is an amazing cook and baker and as usual was handing our her delicious (dangerously so!) home made caramels. Now this is something I would have never tried at home assuming that the gift of caramel making would never be something my fingers could do… but then, our host said something in conversation “They are so easy to make, its just having the patience to do all that stirring!”

Within a few short days, in preparation for our book club Christmas gathering where our theme this year was “home made”, I thought I would try my hand at caramels. (Don’t worry -I also had home made ornaments so I had not put all my hope in the caramels) To my amazement – they turned out delicious and were one of the coveted items at our gathering.

This weekend, today actually, I made more. We have our office party this week, and I thought they would be a wonderful treat for our mailman, and others as well. This time I recorded the process so you an see how it is done and maybe make your own if you like.

Ingredients

1 c. unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1½ c. packed brown sugar
¾ c. light corn syrup
1 tsp. salt
¼ c. heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
½ c. chopped walnuts (optional)

– See more at: http://simplykierste.com/2013/10/best-homemade-caramels.html#sthash.qtKJOoDN.dpuf

Ingredients

1 c. unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1½ c. packed brown sugar
¾ c. light corn syrup
1 tsp. salt
¼ c. heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
½ c. chopped walnuts (optional)

– See more at: http://simplykierste.com/2013/10/best-homemade-caramels.html#sthash.qtKJOoDN.dpuf

You will need:

two sticks of unsalted butter
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla (or a different flavor of extract to jazz it up)
1 teaspoon salt
wax paper

* some people add nuts, since mine are for gift giving and some people have allergies, I opt out from using nuts

Put all ingredients except for the vanilla into a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat stirring fairly constantly until the mixture reaches a temp of 245 degrees on a candy thermometer or passes the hard ball test using a cup of cold water for testing.

The beginning…. ingredients in saucepan over medium heat

1ee — Heating and stirring to 245 degrees.

Remove from heat and add the extract (as I mentioned above, while vanilla is standard I have tried it with both cinnamon and orange extract as well and it is delicious, giving it more of a special occasion flavor). Beat in the extract well and then pour the entire saucepan into a 9 x 13 BUTTERED pan immedietly before it starts to harden.

1eee — Remove from heat and stirring in the extract

Place pan somewhere to cool. This time of year is ideal in Minnesota as I set my pans outside in the garage to cool. It does not take long, and once mixture is cutable (mmm hmmmm…. my word) cut into 1 inch by two inch squares, roll in fingers to make an oblong shape and roll up in wax paper.

*Note – if you do live in a cold area like me and you happen to cool the caramels too long and they become hard in the pan, place in a warm over for a few minutes until they reach the desired hardness.

Place in a bag or fancy container for gift giving or a cute bowl for your own holiday gatherings. As you can see here, I tried mine in jars. This would make a great thank you gift, teacher gift, or just “Merry Christmas” to a friend!

Thanks to Beth Fish Reads for Weekend Cooking, which inspired this post.

Have a SWEET week!

Morning Meandering… Sunday Update with Book Suggestions

Published on December 15, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Happy Sunday! I have about 45 minutes before I get ready for church but enjoy doing this Sunday post so here we go. 😀

Time: 8:15 am

Place: That recliner I love so much in the living room

Eating/Drinking: a mocha coffee in the Tossimo coffee pot. No food yet…

Reading: Starting Platform 21 by T R Patrick

Listening to: Array of awesomeness…. Red Hill by Jamie McGuire (you will see why below) and Parkland by Vincent Bugliosi (listening to this one in the car and it is powerful!)

Blogging: Like a mad woman. I suddenly realized that due to my “hiatus” earlier this year I may not finish my reading goal of 100 books this year. I have many books I have read but nor reviewed yet… I know it is not a big deal… just the competitor in me. 😛

Anticipating: Coming home this afternoon, I am making homemade caramels and want to document it for my :Weekend Cooking” post yes, with recipe 😀

Hating: That the weekend is almost over. I could use another day or two… it has been awesome.

Loving: That both boys will be home for Christmas this year and unlike Thanksgiving, we will not have to run around but instead just hang out here surrounded by good food, movies and board games. 😀

In other news, I found a few interesting reads while I was blog reading this week. Normally I post these earlier in the week but every day I had something to chat about and did not do it… so here it is now:

Carrie over at Books and Movies posted this review of Red Hill and I was instantly engaged… so much so, it is what I am listening to now.

Girl XOXO had a new title to me, Snow White Must Die. It sounds interesting.

Book’d Out posted about The Recipe Box which sounds like my kind of read.

Lakeside Musings post on Tell The Wolves I Am Home and I am for sure going to read this one!

That’s it. Hope your day is wonderful. 😀 Are you doing anything fun today? Decorating? Shopping? Baking? Curled up with a book or audio?

When I Practive To Deceive by Ann Rule

Published on December 14, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Whidbey Island. Known for its beauty and artistic communities, those who live there know each other well. Yet when Russel Douglas was found the day after Christmas in a well covered driveway, sitting in his SUV with a single bullet between his eyes, the community is shocked.

Immediately labeled as suicide, it was quickly changed to homicide when no gun was found anywhere in or near the SUV. The police then had their work cut out for them as many fell under they eye of suspicion.

Brenna, Russel’s soon-to-be ex-wife. Brenna had many reasons to be angry with Russel from his physical and emotional abuse she had finally felt that enough was enough. Peggy Sue Thomas was a good friend of Brenna’s and knew from Brenna’s complaining all about Russel’s short falling. Would either of these women turn to murder?

There was a time, I would start each year of reading with an Ann Rule book. Yes, a true crime book. In the past, I have found her research and writing to be captivating… some of her books, like The Stranger Beside Me (the true story of her friendship with Ted Bundy before anyone knew the type of guy he was) is worth the read.

While I do not read Ann Rule as often as I once did, I still find her to be a respectable author and when I was offered this audio, When I Practice To Deceive, for review, I was curious what her writing would be like on audio.

I can’t quite put my finger on what it was, but the book never quite connected for me. It filled a bit too full of facts and not enough of Ann Rule’s usual engaging back story. It felt scattered. At first I thought that this may be due to the audio,perhaps a book so full of facts needs to be read so you can go back and check it… but as the story went on… while that may be part of it, I don’t think that was all of it.

Unfortunately, I never connected with this book. Even at the end I still felt as though I knew very little about what truly happened. This is just my take, I may have missed something. In my opinion, Ann Rule has much better books. If you ever decide to read her, I would be happy to share with you a few titles, but this will not be among them.

Morning Meanderings… Holiday “Bookin It!”

Published on December 14, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)78 Comments

Good morning! Happy Saturday! It is for me as the commitments today are low (WOO HOO!!!)

Yesterday I spent a little time on projects that I have put off for a while. One was cleaning out the freezer (always a delightful task) and the other was putting a little love into the book room. Let’s just say that the books that I bought mid August from the library sale were still in the room in the box I brought them home in.

With a little help from my audio friends, Eleanor and Park I went to work. Here are the pictures that I am putting up for Saturday Snapshot this week of the results of that project:

**This is as you walk into the room. Note – the table is a new addition. This is the table from the demolition Al did last month. It is a gorgeous piece that I plan on refinishing in the spring.**

**Here is a close up of the table. Oh and my rug… I love my rug too 🙂**

**And this is the room from the other end facing back towards the door (which you can see open on the right).**

The room, that used to be two bedrooms when I grew up here, and then was Al’s office until we built on to the shop, became a book room about 7 years ago. It used to be an assortment of book shelves but last fall we had a friend of ours put wall to wall shelves in the room and wala! Here we are.

Next Friday I am having friends over for a Christmas brunch and I think we will sit in there! 😀

For today, this morning I am off to the gym with my friend Kate who makes me go when “I don’t want to!” but it is a good thing. 😀 This afternoon my project is to get started on making caramels for our office staff. Our Christmas party is Wednesday and I think this will be a fun gift… I will post pictures! 😀

Have a great Saturday! Oh and check out Saturday Snapshot!