Book Journey

In The Belly Of Jonah by Sandra Brannan (Bookies Review)

Published on January 11, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Liv Bergen lives a small quiet life of managing a limestone mine in Colorado. It may not be the life that many women would seek out, but Liv enjoys what she does and would have it no other way.

Then a young female employee of the mine is found murdered and suddenly Liv’s life is anything but quiet. The mine soon becomes a part of the crime scene and police and FBI are coming around with questions. Then Liv’s former classmate, now FBI Profiler, Lisa comes into town and takes residence at Liv’s home when all the hotels are full. Soon Liv discovers that the crimes are too close to home and she can either sit back and wait to see what will happen next or she can work on being part of the solution.

As Liv starts looking at clues, she discovers she has a sort of knack for putting things together and the murdered may soon find that Liv Bergen is his worst nightmare.

I first met author Sandra Brannon in New York in 2010 at the Book Expo. It was a short time before this, her first book was about to be released and Sandra was a little nervous and I instantly took a liking to her. As Jill at Rhapsody In Books recently said in a review, “You can not meet this author and not like her immediately”.

In The Belly Of Jonah was a good solid mystery. I love it when fiction teaches me something and I learned a little bit about mining, and even a little about forensics. This book is a great fast paced read that is never over the top out there (and that can be scary!) but feels like a good level mystery with awesome good guys, and of course the notorious bad guy.

I enjoyed the book so much and like it when a book takes me from the pages to my laptop to look at words and scenes more closely. While In The Belly Of Jonah is written as a series, it is just as easily a stand alone read. I for one enjoyed it so much I want to jump into the second book now – and it may please you to know that three books in the series are currently available: Lots Return To Sodom, and Widow’s Might.

The Bookies Review…

I was thrilled when my book club chose In The Belly Of Jonah for our January 2013 read . I was also thrilled when Sandra offered to SKYPE with us! It was out first SKYPE with an author and it was a lot of fun! The girls really enjoyed talking with Sandra. It was fun to hear about her back ground in mining and her characters and who they may be designed after.

Sandra had sent us a goodie box:

and in it was chocolate rocks for each of us (ahhhhhhh!!!!) and she sent us ingredients to make a drink:

This is the makings of a “hairy buffalo” which Sandra says is like a Colorado Bulldog but with chocolate milk. 😛 When Sandra was in the cities in September I went out to dinner with her and a girl from my book club and introduced her to the Colorado Bulldog. This was a fun gift that we will try next month. 😀 Thanks Sandra – you are funny and amazing!

Another fun moment of the evening was when one of the girls n out book club decided to reveal a little secret by making her own book cover:

Very creative! Laura is pregnant and she announced it to out book club with this cover… Sandra loved this!

and finally, we had a great group picture that we took for Sandra but really – I like it too 😀

ps… if you are wondering about the doll… we reenacted a crime. Enough said. 😉

Morning Meanderings…. First 5k Of The Year Eve

Published on January 11, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good morning! The house is feeling nice this morning, warm and cozy. I went to bed last night at 7 pm and got up at 7 am this morning. I finally feel caught up on my sleep. I feel rested and ready to move into these next 5 days off.

Soon here I need to get ready to go have lunch with some awesome friends. We couldn’t find a way to get us all together before Christmas so we are meeting today for lunch and our Christmas celebration. I am looking forward to it.

As this post is titled, tomorrow is the first 5k of the year. It is called the Iceman and is in Dayton Minnesota. As far as we know, my friend Amy and I have never been to Dayton Minnesota, but we are on out way there tomorrow morning for our 11 am run. I am both excited and a bit anxious. 😀

The weather has gone weird here… warmer this week, like in the 20’s ans then yesterday it rained an froze over night. I hear that the roads are ice rinks and that school has been cancelled. Tomorrow it is supposed to drop to the teens and rain/snow mix…. not the best 5k weather…. but I guess we will see.

Later today I am going to share with you my review and our awesome book club experience with author Sandra Brannan…. I will also revile what she sent us in the box…

Really… this is worth stopping in later for 🙂 Hope your ay and weekend are fabulous, I just finished listening to Gods In Alabama and wow. I need to find more by this author!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Published on January 8, 2013January 8, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)46 Comments

In a post apocalyptic world of little light, no animals, and the only people you occasionally see may be as likely to kill you for food as to shake your hand…

the future… is not looking so bright.

The man (only referred to as The Man) and his middle grade age son, take to the road in look out for food, shelter, but all is temporary in this new world as staying in one spot too long is certain death and the times of warmth and food to eat are scarce.

As the story moves on down the road the man, who is hardened by the weariness of the world tries to give his son hope when hope is nowhere to be found as they walk the boy grows in knowledge way beyond his years in ways many of as adults could not even comprehend.

Why did I want to read this book?

The Road is one of those books that seems to be on my invisible “must read in my lifetime” list. Actually… as I write this, I should really make that list.

The Road was a book I listened to on audio. Tom Stechschulte (who also narrated Dennis LeHane’s Shutter Island) did a wonderful job of portraying a weary father trying to give his son a future when no future is to be found.

The Road… I am not going to lie, is über depressing. As the audio went on, even the good moments are short-lived and time and again the pair return to the road going onward…. towards… what? They and you as the reader, have no idea.

So what makes The Road so popular? Is it our thirst for the unknown even if it scares the poo out of us? Initially released in 2006 was it a bit ahead of the great Apocalypse/Dystopian genre era we are currently in? I don’t have the answers to these questions. For me, The Road was good… but not outstanding. I wonder why? AM I desensitized by the current dystopian reads that are way more action packed? Again, I don’t know.

The Road for me was interesting and sad and heartbreaking and frightening. It made me look out the window and try to picture such a world where daily instead of blogging or going to work or hanging with friends at a coffee shop – the only thing to do is try to survive. When we think about the growing earth population and the demand demand demand for more…. more media, more food, more rights, more control…. I have to wonder….

How far off is McCarthy’s world? Is it a possibility? Think of the last 50 to 100 years and how the world has changed. Now go forward 50 to 100 years. What do you see?

Overall – obviously The Road is a thinker and I am glad to be able to say I have read it. I look forward to seeing the movie… perhaps tonight.

Morning Meanderings… Anticipating Book Club.

Published on January 8, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning! My second day off of the New Year and I am chilling this morning with a great cup of coffee and the laptop.

Yesterday was full but in good ways. I helped the Library take down their Christmas decorations and put the new window up about the Winter Book Club program where we are featuring different book clubs in the area and their favorite reads in the window. Ir was fun to do the first three. I forgot to take a picture but I will get one when I stop in today. After the Library I had coffee with my friend Connie where we brainstormed our winter retreat coming up in February, a 5K I will be working on setting up in June, and the Wine and Words Literacy event being planned for August.

Last night I watched the city council meeting on tv and was voted in as a Library Board Member.

I think, it’s going to be a fun year. 😛

Today I am anticipating tonight’s Bookies Book Club meeting and review of In The Belly Of Jonah by Sandra Brannan. Sandra will be skyping with us tonight. Usually I am working on Tuesdays and I run from work to prepping dinner for my hubby to book club, but today being a bonus day off – I am excited to take my time planning what I will be bringing for food and who really knows what else could be up my sleeve… 😀

My question(s) to you this morning (as I seem to be in full Book Club mode) is… are you in a book club or have you ever been? What do you read as a group? How do you choose your books? Do you do anything besides reviews – ie… travel together, go to movies or other events….

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on January 6, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)73 Comments

Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

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 telling me how many you visited. **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Ok…. a few housekeeping things. First, I was missing last Sunday and that was just crazy…. I forgot to write the post. 😯 Yes my first week of January was incredibly busy and I have been so tired… an I just forgot. Three years of doing this meme (this is actually the 170th time I have done this meme), and never once forgot, not even while I was in Honduras. I still can’t believe I forgot. 😛

Secondly, for those of you who have won the giveaway on this meme recently you have probably noticed I am extremely slow at getting the books to you. Life again…. so going into this new year I want to tweak how I do this giveaway – I am no longer going to do the books giveaway as it is just too much work to keep up on and not fair to you to have to wait on me. Instead, each week will be a chance to win a $5 gift card to Amazon that I will email to you.

Same opportunities apply as last time – comment on 10 or more of the links below and let me know in the comments to be entered into the drawing. Occasionally I may offer a book I have read as well.

I haven’t posted much this past week… errr… two weeks, but this is what has happened here:

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans

Cascade by Maryanne O’Hara

Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie

Sadly, this is the first year since I can remember that I did not have a first book of the year show up on January 1st. In fact, I have not read a page in the last week. I hope to correct that in the next two days as I have them off. 😀

Ok.. so here is what I am reading (starting to read) and listening to on audio:

All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara did not have an ideal home life. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and to find closure.

But some questions are better left unanswered.

After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother—only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: Her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out about her father is him finding out about her.

What if murder is in your blood?

This may very well be the first book of the year. Apparently… my year starts on January 7th. 😀

For 10 years Arlene has kept her promises, and God has kept His end of the bargain. Until now. When an old schoolmate from Possett turns up at Arlene’s door in Chicago asking questions about Jim Beverly, former quarterback and god of Possett High, Arlene’s break with her former hometown is forced to an end. At the same time, Burr, her long-time boyfriend, has raised an ultimatum: introduce him to her family or consider him gone. Arlene loves him dearly but knows her lily white (not to mention deeply racist)Southern Baptist family will not understand her relationship with an African American boyfriend. Reluctantly, Arlene bows to the pressure, and she and Burr embark on the long-avoided road trip back home. As Arlene digs through guilt and deception, her patched-together alibi begins to unravel, and she discovers how far she will go for love and a chance at redemption.

I started this one yesterday and I am enjoying it.

Both of these authors I read for the first time in 2012 and enjoyed their books.

Now… what are you reading this beginning of the new year? Please add your What Are You Reading link below where it says click here and then others can come and see what you are reading as well. You never know where that next great read may come from….

(On Twitter our hashtag is #IMWAYR)

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Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

For those of you who review mainly Middle Grade (MG) and/or Young Adult (YA) reads, please also add your link to this meme as well:

Morning Meanderings… I Need A “Do-Over”

Published on January 5, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Happy Saturday ya’ all!

I hope the start of the New Year has been wonderful to you! Over here, I think I am officially going to start the new year n the seventh.

This week has been a blur pretty much from the 29th of December last Saturday when I worked seven hours on my day off and moving forward. Every day I have had big commitments that I had to work towards and the new year here was merely a blur – a connection of one ay to another just like all the rest.

I admit…. I am a little saddened by that.

For years my tradition has been to post a book on January 1st that was one that I had been waiting to read and excited to review. I think that traditions goes back to just after high school, long before I was blogging and back when I was writing book thoughts in journals (oh yeah… I still have them). Sadly, I have not read one page yet this new year. I pick a book up, and never get it opened. The closest I have come to reading so far this year is when I fell asleep with a book on my lap, ready to read…. but not quite connecting eyes to page.

Ok, ha… not really like her…. more like in the recliner, all the way back with a blanket…. but you get the idea. 😛

So this morning I am off to set up for a 10 year anniversary party for tomorrow. Then I need to do some shopping for it, then I have to train someone in for IHN for tonight (still in our serving of the homeless week through tomorrow morning), and then I have my hubbies Christmas party for our company tonight. (*insert smile here*)

Tomorrow I will be tearing down IHN at 5 am and then prepping the final touches on the 10 year party that will start at noon. When all is said and done with that – after clean up, I am off the radar (work wise) until Wednesday. 😀

Seriously, I am not going to be such a downer…. good things are coming…. I just need to get there. 😀

Happy Saturday everyone! 😀 Read something for me 🙂

Rolling Into 2013… Heres To A SMOOTH Year!

Published on January 1, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)53 Comments

Good morning and happy New Year! Of my gosh what a week it has been already as those of you who participate in the Monday What Are You Reading Meme already have noticed… I forgot to put up the post.

😯

I know right? My weekend was a big one where I worked and I set up for our homeless week and by the time I got done running it was Sunday evening ay 8 pm and seriously, it must have fallen right out on my head. Unbelievable. Ugh….. we will be back with that meme next week 😀

But hey, its 2013 right and anything is possible! I love New Years. I always look at them like a white board all clean and ready to see what I am going to put on it. I feel like I needed a white board this year – desperately and now here we are! 😀

Of course I am starting out behind with already missing my end of the year post that I have been working on but still is not finished. For this morning I can give you these pics I created of my year:

Things I wish for this new year is: Better time management, a cleaner more efficient blog schedule and blog.

One thing I miss is I really have not had time to get behind the challenges this year and I have signed up for none. I would like to add at least one maybe two, so what challenges are you signed up for this year? I need ideas. 😀

Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie

Published on December 31, 2012December 31, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

When up and coming Lawyer on her way to partner, Emma Tupper’s mother passes away, Emma decided to take the trip to Africa that her mother had always dreamed of. Taking a month long vacation at this point in her career didn’t make for the best timing, but Emma wanted to do this and knew she could bounce right back to where she left off in no time.

In Africa Emma becomes ill and unable to return as planned. Then the earthquake hits and no planes are coming or going and phone lines are down.

Six months later, Emma finally makes it home only to find out home is not how she had left it. When her rent wasn’t paid, the apartment was rented out to someone else. Her bank account was froze once the news spread that she was missing and presumed dead. Emma’s boyfriend had moved on to someone else, and it appears while she was making her way up the corporate ladder, someone had kicked the ladder out from under her.

What do you do when everything you had and knew about yourself is gone?

I have enjoyed every book that Catherine McKenzie has written. She comes up with real feeling quirky characters and scenes that are interesting and definably out of the norm. Take Emma for instance, at one time had it all going her, now borrowing clothes from a male stranger.

Forgotten is a bit of a far fetched story. This is where for me the story falters a bit. I had trouble wrapping my mind around everything that had gone wrong and there were several lose ends throughout the book that my mind kept (and still is) picking at.

I really liked the love interest in the book (although he too is somewhat of a loose end) and I especially likes the case that Emma is given to work on in her firm. As you can see I had some ups and downs with this one, I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

Cascade by Maryanne O’Hara

Published on December 29, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

What would you be willing to sacrifice to be who you want to be?

When Desdemona was at the peak of her breakthrough as an artist in 1935, she made a hasty decision to marry Asa Spaulding, a solid and stable man, and make a home in the town of Cascade to be there for her bankrupt father whose health is quickly failing. While Desdemona felt in her head this was the right decision for the circumstances, her heart strongly disagreed.

And who’s head has not been overrun by their hearts wants?

With Cascade being considered to be flooded to provide water for Boston, Desdemona is even more restless with her decisions. When she becomes attracted to a fellow artist Jacob who provides her with everything her husband can not, she knows it is time to make the hard choices that hopefully can correct the wrong ones she made in her past.

But at what cost? Is it possible to turn away from a choice without causing further damage? And even as she contemplates a brighter future, would she be able to live with herself for doing so?

First. Let’s take a pause for this beautiful cover. Cover love at its finest, cover alone would cause me to pick up this book wanting to know more, and honestly… it did factor in on my choice to read this book.

While set against the backdrop of the Depression and WWII, Cascade (thankfully) focuses more around Desdemona and her relationships with the men in her life and the decisions she must make. While beautifully written, Cascade is not for the person looking for a quick read. It takes times to absorb this slower paced detail oriented book. You really get the feeling you are brought fully into the world that is Cascade.

For me, the book was good but the slower pace was a deterrent. Perhaps it was the time of year that I chose to read this that made it more of a struggle for me. Desdemona is not the most likable character, her choices… well, if you read it you will see. Cascade, in my opinion, is a book to take your time with, to read over several sittings and contemplate what would you do put in a similar situation?

Well written, filled with historical facts that will make you think and learn, and those are always pluses for me.

Thank you TLC Book Tours for giving me a little history

along with a good read that made me think.

Right at the point of WHELMED

Published on December 29, 2012December 29, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)37 Comments

Good morning or afternoon or evening depending on where you are and when you read this. 😀 I have just entered the week I have been referring to as “Hell Week” for the past month and yeah, I know that isn’t the best way to put it since it is all good stuff… but unfortunately the name stuck.

This afternoon around 2 I will meet up with a friend and teammate to do some shopping for events coming up this week. Right from there I will go to work and prep some things for tonight and the weekend and be home probably around 7:30 pm.

Tomorrow, Sunday I will need to be at the church around 7 am and leave around noon. Then I will shop for our IHN serving week (Homeless week) which starts tomorrow. I will pick up the guests at 4:30 pm, and a group of friends will come and we will all do dinner together and then I will stay overnight there.

Monday morning after I take the guests to the day center I work a half day. Will hopefully go out to dinner and maybe a movie with my hubby.

Tuesday I work a full day and have lots of prep work to do for Wednesday which is our annual members meeting.

Wednesday – work all day, train new people in with IHN and do the members meeting… I will probably not come home between 8 am and 9 pm.

Thursday – start working on all members info I gathered last night and cleaning up from the big meeting and prepping for the 10 Year party which is Sunday.

Friday – possibly my day off… depends on what needs to be done for the 10 Year, probably some shopping. Maybe some set up.

Saturday – train in new people at IHN, then our company Christmas Party.

Sunday – up at 5 am and tear down IHN, clean up and move the van to the next hosting church. Hopefully get to the 10 year party set up by 8:30 am to help as that starts at noon. Clean up and home by 3 pm… I hope. 😀

On the bright side… horizon…. goal, whatever you want to call it… I am taking Monday the 7th and possibly Tuesday the 8th off.

Listing my week out was actually therapeutic… I see tiny pockets of free time in there that I need to take full advantage of. Hopefully Monday, Tuesday and Friday will give me a little time to re-energize. I am an introvert that needs to charge up my batteries by being alone, preferably with a book. 😀

For todays Saturday Snapshot I thought it would be fun to actually show pictures of my Saturday morning. A snapshot of what my life looks like now as I simmer at the feeling of whelmed…. but not quite overwhelmed:

20121229_085203 — The recliner I am hanging out in this morning… snuggled up with my favorite blanket.

20121229_085215 — COFFEE CUP and the book I plan to finish today.

20121229_090519 — Breakfast of scrambled egg whites, spinach, and shrimp left over from Christmas.

Now I am going to check out a few of the other Saturday Snapshot posts (Thank you Alyce), write a review, make a meme button for our Library, send out a book club email and year end voting form and hopefully spend a little time int hat book pictured above before it is GO TIME.

May your week be a lot less crazy then mine…. bear with me while I get through this marathon of events.