Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

____________________ is a pretty young wife.  She stays at home taking care of things for her husband Kevin, making sure she looks nice for him and that dinner is always on the table when he arrives home.  ______________ has no friends, mainly because Kevin doesn’t want her to.  And when things do not go Kevin’s way… that’s when the hitting begins.

Yet ______________ has an escape plan and after many months of taking small amounts of money from her husbands wallet, she cuts off her hair, dies it dark, and with a new name, she walks away from the home she knew – and never looks back.

Now, known as Katie, she lives in Southport North Carolina and works as a waitress.  As she dives into her new life she makes a friend in a new neighbor named Jo, and meets a wonderful store owner named Alex who is kind-hearted and warm and everything Katie has ever dreamed of finding in someone to love.

Far away, in another state, Kevin is still brooding over the disappearance of his wife.  As his drinking becomes worse, he is positive that she is somewhere laughing at him,having made a fool of him he believes his co workers are also talking and laughing behind his back and as Kevin begins to obsess over where his wife may be and who she is with… his dark moods become scarier and then – he finds a clue… a clue that will lead him right to her.

Listened to on my IPOD in the house

Realistically, Nicholas Sparks is not an author I pursue.  Mainly I have found his reads in past years to be light and fluffy and a bit too sugary sweet for my liking…. I used to tell my bookish friends that Sparks books always started out with a guy and  girl and the book was mostly about how they wind up together.

Oofta…. somebody call me a dentist.

Yet… I may have to quit saying that.  As of the past year I have tried Sparks (Dear John, for one) and found that he has changed his style to a more meatier story that I like.  I have enjoyed that the book was not as predictable as I would have thought, and neither was this one.

Safe Haven first attracted me by the cover.  Seriously, I tried to avoid it.   When I did decide to read it, I was expecting the Sparks I knew and I was pleasantly surprised to find an upgraded version.  Safe Haven is smart and witty.  The characters are likable and Kevin is downright creepy and I actually liked that too.

If you have seen the movie ‘Sleeping With The Enemy’ and enjoyed it, you will enjoy this book.  While the story lines are close to the same – Sparks brought in a different twist that sat me bolt upright in my chair with a “WHA???”  (and that was in a good way).

AMAZON RATING

Book 2 on my WHERE are you reading map


Listening Length: 11 hour(s) and 1 min.

I received my copy of this audio from audible.com

Finally.. The Challenge Recap

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

In 2010 I was like a kid in a candy store when it came to Challenges.  I was so excited to be a joiner and I just knew I could complete them all!

Well…. such are the dreams of a rookie book blogger….

Life happens, shoot…. books happen, and before I knew it my reading went in other directions, books recommended by other bloggers (oh yes… you awesome book reviewers – I BLAME YOU, and of course new releases, and old titles I have always wanted to read, and impulse buys, and book sales – and of course back in January of 2010 I had not even dreamed I would go to BEA and of course I had no idea that if I did the books that would follow me home…to read…

to read…

to read…

So now I humbly come before you with the results of the Challenges and I said “OH YEAH!” too, and how I did. All the Challenge pictures are linked to the actual challenge page and lists the books that qualified.

This one was fun and I knew I could do this one as this counted for anything I read… anything I listened to on audio.  I came out of this one with a total of 116 books/audio in 2010.

 

I am thankful for this challenge even if I did make my goal of 25 Library reads.  This challenge actually caused me to sign up for a library card, which I have not done for almost 20 years.  Its true… I did not use my library – but I did in 2010 and I plan to use it even more in 2011.

 

This one was exciting for me and my goal was 25 and that is what I read!  YA has been an exciting genre for me and I really do enjoy reading these books.

 

 

Ok this would be one of those embarrassing Challenge fails… GAH.  To me this was a no brainer challenge, even a little self-indulgent as I LOVE all things Potter.  Yet… as I mentioned above, other books, other commitments… and I managed to hit 3 of the 7 I thought I could do.

 

I love Historical Fiction and I aced this challenge with a goal of 6 and read 7.  I hope to read even more of this genre in 2011.

 

 

The Gilmore Girl Challenge is another one I failed miserably at and that surprises me.  I really thought I would do well on this one and obviously… did not.  GAH!  Rory would shun me in public and I would not blame her one bit.

 

 

 

The Social Justice Challenge is one I wish I really would have done more with.  I really thought this was a brilliant challenge and I had a few months I was strong in and then I tapered off.

 

 

The Christy Award Challenge I completes one read out of the 6 I meant to.  Some of these books I even had checked out from the library… sadly I did not find the time to read them.

 

I do plan to join a few hopefully well-chosen Challenges this year, knowing now how a reading plan changes drastically throughout the year I will try to stick to ones that are more user-friendly for me, or stretch me to read into genres I wish I read more in any way.

Morning Meanderings… Bookish News and A Non Bookish Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good Morning people of 2011!

LOL…

I don’t know where that came from but I pictures myself on a podium yelling into a crowd through a megaphone.

Uh huh.  Probably too much coffee….

Any hoo…

I was doing a little blog hopping and online bookish things last night and came across a couple of things I would like to mention.   The Cybils Awards  Shortlist was posted yesterday.

What’s a Cybil?

The Cybils awards are given each year by bloggers for the year’s best children’s and young adult titles. Nominations open to the public on October 1st.

I love to check out what books are on that list and see if 1) there are any I have read and 2) are there any I have been meaning to read.  I am sad to say that I have read none of the books in the YA Category, however there are a few that I have been wanting to and have now reserved at my library.  They are:

 

I have been looking at this book since early 2010 and I am a little irritated with myself that I have yet to read it.  It would have been much cooler now if I could have said, yes I read this and wow…. I am so glad it made the finals….  (I do hope to still say this soon!)

 

I read a review on this one quite a while ago and made a note to keep an eye out for it.  This is another one I have apparently dropped the ball on as it also made the cut.  Currently on the reserve list at my library and hoping it will make its way to me soon.

 

This one is new to me and I found it on the Cybils YA Non Fiction list.  Probably a little known fact about me, but I used to read a lot of true crime.  I can’t really explain it but I want to know what makes people tick and the evils that are out there in this world when it comes to prejudices, race crimes, illness, gangs…

 

So there is what I pulled from the Cybils list.  You should stop by and see if any of the books are a fit for your reading style – and of course keep a look out for the final winners on Valentines Day.

 

Finally – I did find a Challenge Yesterday that I felt was a sure fit for me for 2011.  At Books, Fitness, and Other Stuff I found this:

You can click on the picture to find out all the details but the basics are that we keep track of our miles this year of either walking, jogging, tread mill, biking, etc…   If you have followed my blog for any amount of time you know I am a big biker in the spring-fall and this year I am planning to do a 3.2 mile run – which is new to me and a little bit scary but…. why not? This will be on my side bar soon so you can follow along with how I am doing… or better yet, go on over and join up yourself!  😎

 

My goal today is to get the Challenges of 2010 cleaned up, calculated, posted… and move on.  Seriously…. who left all this 2010 stuff for me to clean up?  Oh yeah… I did.  😀


 

 

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Why is this book the first book I chose to read in 2011?  believe me – it wasn’t an easy choice.  What if I chose a book I disliked?  Who wants to start the year out that way?  I struggled choosing the read that would hold this coveted posting spot but settled on this one for reasons I feel are perfect:

This book was one I wanted so badly last year right around Christmas time.  I could not find it at any of my local book stores but hinted about it enough to actually find it under the tree for Christmas from my husband.  SSQQUUEEE!!!  He does not but me books often, as obviously if you looked around my home it would appear that a book is truly the last thing I need.  However, he does understand the book lover in me and I was thrilled to receive this treasure.  This was Christmas 2009.  That’s right, I have had this book for over a year and lovingly put it on a shelf and there it sat.

For a year.

That is why this book seemed very appropriate to start off the 2011 year with.  I hope this will remind me to not only pursue books I really want to read, but to also take the time to read them.

Happy New year fellow book lovers!

Sheila

 

FALLEN

Seventeen year old Lucinda (Luce) Price has just arrived at the Sword and Cross Boarding School in Savannah.  It’s not that she is a bad girl really… yes she was present during a recent fire that left one of her friends dead, and yes… she see’s shadows that seem to make her skin crawl and bad things seem to happen when they are present…

and of course her parents are worried for her own safety..

but boarding school seems a little extreme doesn’t it?

And then there is Daniel.  She sees this dark, mysterious, weight of the world boy on her first day at school and he promptly…

flips her off.

This action would probably make most girls decide a gut like that was not worth any attention at all, but Luce finds herself fascinated with this boy who makes her heart race and scowls whenever he sees her.  Something in those eyes seems hauntingly familiar.

Then there is Cam, gorgeous popular and totally swoon worthy and the big difference between Cam and Daniel is that Cam is charming, friendly and likes Luce a lot.  Often surprising her with gifts and attention that warms her insides in this new environment.

Yet why can she not shake this need to be with Daniel?

Why do we girls so often go for the bad guys?

 

Read in my Reading Room

Fallen is…. a love story, definitely YA, with a sprinkle of paranormal.  Seriously – whats not to love?

I found Luce’s storyline bringing me right into the setting.  Fallen was very visually described and I had no problem at all envisioning the school, the colorful characters (Arriane – both a little spooky and fun at the same time), Penn ( the girl with a heart of gold who usually does not get the credit she deserves) and doesn’t every school have a Molly (ie.  mean girl usually just for the sake of being mean?.  Of course I feel that I too would probably feel a little ga ga for Daniel as well, in fact he reminded me of a boy I knew in High School…

enough said.

There are parts I wish had been a bit more detailed – for instance the fire before Luce comes to the school seems to be vague on what exactly happened and why Luce is blamed.  I wish that would have been a bit more detailed as it does play out to be an important part of this read.

The ending came to a powerful conclusion that actually did take me by surprise how it all played out.

As far as the love (well… read the book, not sure if it is all love) triangle… I enjoyed it being the big sap that I am (I also enjoyed the Bella, Edward, and Jacob triangle).  I mean,even though I can not stand romance reads, a YA powerful love triangle where the guy will do anything to get the girl admittedly tugs at my heart.

I have read over the past year mixed thoughts on this book, anywhere from it being slow, or underdeveloped but I find I do not agree.  I enjoyed the pace of the book and getting to know the characters and the mysteries behind who they all are.  I am looking forward to reading the second book TORMENT which is on my kitchen table currently, and if FALLEN became a movie I for one would check it out.

Reviewer note:  When you are done reading this book, go back and read the first chapter again called, “In The Beginning” it will have a much richer meaning.

Amazon Rating

 

Book 1 on my WHERE Are You Reading Challenge map


This book was a gift from my husband – Christmas 2009

Thank you Al!

Morning Meanderings… What Is It About New Beginnings?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Happy New Year!!! COFFEE CUP and I have been deep into reading since about 8 am this morning.  I have this thing about the first read of the year being very important (crazy small town girl thing I think… probably shouldn’t stand too close…) and therefore I am still working my way through the final pages of said book… that I will be announcing yet today.

Normally, I spend New Years Eve with a nice dinner with Al or playing board games at a friend’s home.  If we just do dinner, like we did last night, we are usually home by 9 pm and I ring in the New Year by reading through midnight.  It’s true…. and I was home by 9 pm but this time I did not read.

*pause for fellow readers to shudder at that thought*

Ahem.  Instead… Chance and I loaded up on junk food and watched the rest of season three of LOST.  It’s true…. and it was fun.

Now though… I have to make up for my lack of reading because I am really excited to get the first review up of the year.  There is something about starting my WHERE Are You Reading Challenge on a fresh 2011 Google map and placing that first bookish peg…. it’s like being the first to walk on freshly fallen snow.

I have some bookish plans for 2011… Book Resolutions I guess I could call them…. they are:

More Author Interviews

Consistent Book Giveaways including the monthly comment Love that will continue this year

Book Reviews are always linked to my WHERE Are You Reading Map and whenever possible have a picture included of where I read the book.

Word Shakers On Line Book Club runs more consistently this year with a Goal of 6 reads – better set up of how this will play out in the next couple weeks here.

That’s it for now… I am sure there are more but I really have this book calling me and I am so excited to review and start the map.  If you wish to join this 2011 Challenge there is still time!  😀


In the next few days I will be posting personal goals as well as my 2010 challenge wrap up post

The Best of 2010

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)63 Comments

I can not even believe we are here on the cusp of 2011, and I hanging on by a toe hold trying to get this post done.  For me 2010 brought with it my first full year of book blogging.  I learned a lot this year about blogging, reviewing, commenting, giveaways, authors, and more…

I can not write this post without giving a virtual high-five to Natasha at Maw Books and the event she hosts called Bloggiesta.  I will be writing a more detailed post about this event in January, but have to say that Bloggiesta, starting back in June of 2009, really established the ground work of the blog and the blogger you see today.  I recommend Bloggiesta to all bloggers.  It does not matter if you are new or been around the blogosphere for a while, this has something for everyone and I learn from it every time I do it. I have participated every time, twice during 2010.  Click on the logo below to check out what it is all about and join in on the next one that takes place in January.

 

And of course I have to mention BEA (Book Expo America).  Not only did I not even know what this was in 2009, even if I had I would never have imagined myself attending.  Yet, in 2010, I flew by myself for the first time ever to New York where I met up with my new roommates Reagan from Miss Remmer’s Reviews, Esme from Chocolates and Croissants, Care from Care’s Online Book Club, and Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness.  It was a huge leap for me and I LOVED every minute of it.  I met so many wonderful bloggers, and authors…. I toured Simon and Schuster, went to dinner with authors, a blogger party, the Book Blogger Conference… and the books… oh the books!  Let’s just say it is a book lovers dream! Click the logo below to find out about BEA 2011

 

 

BEA - New York, May 2010

 

 

Of course there are the books and it is hard to look at everything I read in 2010 and pick the books that effected me the most, but I did it and here they are (If you click on the book covers you will be linked to my reviews).

 

To Kill a Mockingbird was one of those classics I always wanted to read but… just had not.  When I was offered a chance to read and review this book for its 50th anniversary this year I knew it was time to jump in… and I am really glad I did.  To Kill A Mockingbird instantly jumped to the all time favorites for me.  This book is amazing and if you have not had the pleasure, please add this to your “MUST READS” for 2011.

 

I have found myself drawn to books like this for some time now and born under a million shadows was one that really touched my heart.  With the feeling of Kite Runner, this one pulled me into a mesmerizing tale of a country I only know through the books I read.

 

 

It is a big deal that I add this book to my top of 2010 list as when I started reading it, I honestly wasn’t sure I would even like it.  As I became more involved in the book I really began to appreciate the brilliant story that Lauren Oliver had created.  In the end, I loved it and I have to give credit where credit is due.  People who enjoy a good YA read should really appreciate this book.

 

 

Most people read this years ago… I only got to it this year, after the book has sat on my shelf for years… unread.  And then, I didn’t read the book, I picked it up on audio from my library as I had travel time to listen to a book.  I am so glad I did.  This audio book is read by author Khaled Hosseini and I am so glad I was able to hear this in his own words… literally.

 

 

 

The Fiddler’s Gun is such a beautiful read as I write this now I do not even know how to describe to you how much I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the sequel.

 

 

I really just got into YA reading in the past few years.  It is no secret that I appreciate a good message within my books, especially in a YA read and I found that in this book.  I found Thirteen reasons Why to be amazing and I chatted with author Jay Asher about this unique read.

 

 

This book is receiving my vote for best book club book of the year for 2010 and ranked high on my overall 2010 reads as well.  I did not read as much historical fiction as I would have liked this year and thinking about this book now makes me really want to move to correct that this next year.  Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter and Sweet is a love story but also a historical, factual book that I found left me want ing to know more about the actual events that are mentioned in this book.

 

 

 

I am not even sure why I am adding this one to the list but I feel as thought I should.  I read this one in early 2010 and it was light and fun and for some reason really sticks with me as a “that was a good read!”.

 

 

Finally… I do not think a 2010 recap would be complete without me adding in some of my favorite Morning Meanderings of the past year.  I love the conversations that have been had over my early morning rants and happenings over a cup of coffee…

 

The Secret is out… it is I who has the Invisibility Cloak!


Random Things In My Head…


What Is It With Me and Jayne Eyre?

 

What Would You r Name Have Been?


My Letter from the state and a fine (Life Is Never Dull)

 

“Banned Aid!”  (In honor of Banned Books Week)

 

The Pinky Swear

 

Sleeping At The Library


Why I participate in a bike ride for AIDS

 

I am on the lam!


Crowing a new Book Club Queen


First word of the day, “meh”


Moments for BEA

 

Ok I could do more but I have to run so there is my 2010…. I cant wait to visit all of you in 2011!!!

Morning Meanderings… It’s so funny how things work out…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Good Morning!
*waving crazily with a scary big smile on my face*

Yesterday morning when I wrote my meandering I was whelmed. Ok…. let’s be honest… I was OVER whelmed. I looked at everything I had going on for the day and found myself wondering how I was going to do everything I planned to do that – and do it well.  Then as the day rolled on, a snow storm rolled in – that canceled my work out at the gym, and my 6 PM meeting, allowing me to bump up my dinner with my son adding more time for us to spend together and taking a little off of me for the evening.

This morning as I sit here with COFFEE CUP after a wonderful good night of plenty of sleep and I look back on this past week I cant help but feel blessed to be a part of it all.

 

  • Both boys (BOTH BOYS) were home for Christmas!

  • On Christmas day Chance, Justin, and I stayed up until 2 a.m. playing Sequence…. addicting game!
  • My 14-year-old puppy who has doggy dementia (yup – it’s an actual disease for dogs) since this summer, is still with us and doing well.
  • Chance and I have been spending our evenings watching episodes of LOST like they are popcorn and loving our time hanging out together.
  • I had a wonderful lunch with Dawn yesterday – which was not on the original crazy agenda – but I am so glad we were able to do that – good food and good company!
  • A couple of days ago I went and seen friends of ours adopt a little guy at the court-house.  It was AMAZING and I am so glad I went.

  • Last night having dinner with Brad before he headed for the airport at 3 am this morning was PRICELESS.  We had fajitas, talked, and laughed.  He may not be back from the navy now until August of 2011.
  • I love my job.  I really do….I love the people I work with and what I do.
  • Al and I will probably go out to a nice dinner tonight to close out 2010 and welcome 2011 with all the mystique and wonder that it will bring with it.

And that is just a week… I can’t even contemplate the entire year of good things that have come our way.

 

This afternoon I will be posting what I believe were the best books I read in 2010.  I look forward to expanding that list in 2011 and really stretching myself in my reading.  I have not had time to plan out resolutions yet but I will.

If you are off and making plans for this historical moment of the ending of 2010 and the ringing in of 2011, I hope you have a wonderful time, stay safe and if I do not see you in the blogosphere yet today, I hope to see you often in 2011.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning!  COFFEE CUP and I are moving full steam (get it?  steam?) ahead.  I was up early and with a plan.

Today is super nutso in everything as I am juggling work, Zumba Class at 3:30, home, groceries,  Brads last day in town before he goes back to the Navy so he is having dinner with us, a 6:00 pm meeting tonight, and …

GAH!

AND I am so bummed that I have yet to post my top picks for 2010 AND I need to update my challenges.

When did life get so busy???

I hate to say it but I may have to pass on the Zumba tonight just to get everything else done.  I hate it when that happens but things are bound to settle down soon.

I am excited for the New Year that is quickly approaching… at that time I plan to share a few goals with you and hope that you too will find renewed motivation and/or direction in 2011.

Any big plans or reading planned for the New Year weekend?

Morning Meanderings… Does Anyone Else Wake Up With Random Songs In Their Head?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments

Good Morning.

So here is my awkward moment for the a.m.

I wake up this morning humming this song about lipstick…. your lipstick… the only two words I can recall of this entire song, but oh no, that doesn’t stop me…. I am going through my house singing, “Your lipstick…. da da dada…”

Yeah.

How cool am I?

So as it continues to drive me nuts I Google the words “your lipstick song” and come up with this:

That is actually the song stuck in my head and then I spend the next 20 minutes or so trying to figure out where I would have heard it to stick it in my head anyway…. (I don’t listen to a lot of music… I am more an audio book chick when in my car or cleaning around the house).  Then it hits me, this is a Group Power song.  It is one of the songs we listen to as we lift weights….

and I have not gone to Group Power for almost three weeks now between my traveling to Honduras and the business of Christmas planning…

Is it possible the class is calling me home?  Telling me I have had enough Biscotti and chocolates and it is time to get moving towards a healthier more positive direction?

*gulp*

😯