Step On A Crack by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge (audio)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Step on a crack is the first in the series surrounding the Michael Bennett family.  Michael is not your usual run of the mill detective.  What might set Michael apart is first and foremost he is the father of ten adopted kids from ages 3 to 12.    Secondly while trying to keep New York safe, he is also trying to manage his home life and his breaking heart as his wife, the love of his life, is dying of cancer in the hospital.

Patterson does know how to weave an interesting tale doesn’t he?

But wait – there’s more…

In the midst of Mike Bennett’s already chaos of a life, the former first lady is poisoned and while St. Patrick’s Cathedral is filled to capacity with Government leaders and celebrity mourning this loss… the entire congregation is kidnapped at the hands of a group of unknown gunmen.  All this is happening right in Bennett’s back yard.

St Patrick's Cathedral in New York

Life….  it’s never dull.

This is the first book in the Michael Bennett series and if you have followed my reviews for any amount of time you may be aware that yes, I read (or listened) to them in the wrong order.  I have already listened to and reviewed Run For Your Life and Worst Case. I loved them both, and this one, the one I should have listened to first, is no exception.

It’s hard to explain what I really find in good audio – but this is it.  The narrators, John Slattery and Reg Rogers lead you into a full body sense of suspense when they alternate the voices between good guy Bennett, and the eerie flat tone  of the man known only as Jack.

A good story line – I enjoy the tameness a family man like Bennett brings to a genre that on occasion can be harsh – even offensive.  yet at the same time – this story is not weak by no means.  I bounced between the intensiveness of the kidnapping a church filled with well-known people… and the story line between Mike and his wife Maeve from the hospital bed.  The latter causing me to sit in my car while parked in the garage to listen a little longer to their conversations with tears hitting my steering wheel.

I have raved about Patterson’s audio before and I am doing it again.  Don’t write off audio until you have experienced one of Patterson’s recent audio – and even if you are not a Patterson fan, do not write off Patterson until you have read/listened to,  this series.

In a word:  Intense.

Amazon Rating

Book Journey has updated the 2010 reading map to include Step On A Crack

For those in the New York area, like Mike Bennett, and hanging out by St Patrick’s Cathedral,be sure to take the short walk over to Candle Cafe for a great cup of coffee and a delicious bite to eat.

Cover Story:  It holds mystery and fits well with the other two covers of the books so far in the series.  I am not really sure what the theme is though.  Is it a carving off a building?  Is it part of the cathedral itself as that is in all three books?  I do not know.

I purchased this audio book from Amazon.com


Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments


Morning!  Coffee Cup and I are attempting an early start to our day because it is a full one.  I feel the need to self-torture by attending Group Power at 8:25 this morning even through I am hurting all over from the class I took two days ago.  Must – get – back – on – routine…..

Then…. I am off to clean out my Durango, pack it for the weekend, go to Wal- Mart and get supplies, post office, library,  – have lunch with my son, and then Al and I are off to our cabin for the weekend.

YAY!!!  *cartwheels!*

We do not get there very often, in fact the last time was in early October of last year.  How sad is that?  So we are packing it up for the weekend and I am grabbing a few books (although I don’t know why – I have a whole other book shelf there loaded with books I have not read yet) to take along.  Lap Top is coming and I do have some posts planned so I should be active through the weekend.  I am excited to just chill and read and perhaps, chill some more.  🙂    I am bringing our bikes as well as there is a wonderful state trail just a few miles from us that is just gorgeous this time of year so I am camera ready!

When the boys were growing up and we had “cabin time”, we had a movie that was pretty much a cabin-weekend-must, and it was The Great Outdoors with John Candy.  I never got tired of this movie and we still pack it with us for the memories.  I should really just get a second copy and leave it there.

Any North Shore bloggers out there?  I am heading your way!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)39 Comments

Anna is turning 15 and has an amazing life.  She lives next door to her two best friends, Frankie, who is the same age as Anna, and  Frankie’s older brother Matt.  Matt is 17 and Anna’s best-friend-who-is-a-boy.  As she blows out her birthday candles she makes her wish…  the same wish she has made since Frankie and her were ten and Matt was twelve.  Anna wishes Matt loved her the way she loves him.

This year, Anna’s wish comes true and Matt finally kisses her, and shares that he too has feelings for her.  BLISS!   Matt asks Anna to let him tell Frankie as they are all so close.   And Anna, filled with warm butterflies and a swelling heart agrees to keep it a secret until Matt tells Frankie.

When tragedy strikes, Anna is left holding on to the secret that never had a chance to be told as well as a fragile version of her best friend Frankie.

A year passes…. and Anna is invited to go to California, with Frankie and her family, to spend a few weeks where Frankie’s family vacationed every year.   The exception being, that this year will be the first without Matt.  As summer starts to move its way across the sky, Anna finds herself torn between old ghosts, and new possibilities, the best friend she once knew, and the stranger Frankie seems to have become…

♥         ♥         ♥         ♥         ♥         ♥         ♥         ♥

I seem to be on a YA kick.  I know partially it is the time of the year…. it’s summer and summer calls me to  light, summery feeling reads, and this book was a perfect fit.  It was beyond what I thought it would be and when I finished it I knew it was totally “gush worthy.”


There are so many things I liked about this book.  Anna, Frankie, Matt – all likable well-developed characters that I had no trouble at all picturing as real flesh and blood teens.  I liked Anna a lot.  She was a wonderful girl who did her best to hold on to Frankie as Frankie tried to move on from her brother’s death, having no idea the pain and the secret that Anna was clinging to.

And for Anna – how do you move on from the ghost of a …… she wasn’t even sure what Matt was to her.  Boyfriend?

Author Sarah Ockler writes a compelling read that made me feel all the highly intense emotions of the characters.  When love is so fresh and new you actually can feel it in the air like electricity…. and when pain hits like a flash of white light – it is so powerful it takes your breath away and leaves you grasping at whispers of memories….

“Anna, what’s the number one coolest thing you’ve ever seen in your life?”

‘What’s yours?”

“It’s always been the ocean but I’m thinking about changing my answer.”

Twenty Boy Summer made my heart ache.  I would have never guessed that this was a debut authors book.  Beautifully written, sweet and touching – it will remind you of teenage years, warm beaches, best friends, and first love…  at least it did for me.  ♥

*Note:  Twenty Boy Summer does have some sexual content

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey’s reading map has been updated to include Twenty Boy Summer

If you are in the area to visit Anna and Frankie at Zanzibar Bay you should stop for coffee (or smoothies) at Zanzibar Cafe

290 pages

Cover Story:  Love it – instantly curious about the red piece!  (And later, loved how the red piece played into the story!

Sarah Ockler and I in New York, May 2010

I purchased this book in New York at the Author Carnival Event

Morning Meanderings….

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments


*Ouch*  I have been so busy lately I have really let me work out schedule slide.   I knew I hadn’t been to the gym for a while to take my Group Power Class, but did not know until I went in yesterday afternoon (determined to get on track!) that it had been a month to a day since I had been there.

*sheepishly wiggles foot on ground and hangs head*

After an hour of lifting weights I met my friend Wendy out on the bike trail and we biked 18 miles chat chat chatting.  (and no, 18 miles of talking is not a record for me…. ask my poor cousin who I talked to for 150 miles last year during the two-day bike ride…. I don’t think he will ever be the same as we covered pretty much every topic I could think of.) 🙂

On the bookish front –

My super cool friend Heather (who I met at BEA) over at Age 30+ A Lifetime of Books, is hosting along with Nicole from Linus’s Blanket (Nicole is also super cool and I met her at BEA as well!) a read along for The Color Purple.   Would you believe I have never read this book?  I think I seen the movie a long time ago – but I am so excited to join in on this!  The read along is for July so grab yourself a copy and come join in on the fun!  🙂

On July 16 – 18, I am taking part in Kristen’s (Bookworming in the 21st Century) Book Extravaganza!  I am pretty excited.  This event will be a weekend of fun giveaways and I am still working out what exactly I am doing here – but lets just say I have an idea and it has to do with certain “gush worthy” reads…

and…. last but not least, the amazing Trish (also met at BEA) over at Hey Lady!  Watcha Reading? is putting together a discussion on Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, that will take place in later August.  This is another book I have not read but sadly has been on my shelf like FOREVER so I am excited to get the motivation I need to read this!  🙂


That’s more than enough morning chatter for now!  Coffee Cup needs to hit the shelf and I need to hit the road…. hoping later today I can take a bike ride and continue enjoying this wonderful weather!

At Witt’s End by Beth Solheim

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Welcome to Witt’s End, a resort in Northern Minnesota.  This isn’t your average resort, at least it’s not like the resorts I have stayed in Minnesota.   Nope.  This particular resort is a last stop for those who have passed from this world, but have yet to enter the next.  Sixty four year old Sadie and her twin sister Jane are the owners and conduit (Sadie) to the hereafter at the resort.

With a cast of wildly flamboyant characters, including Sadie herself, Beth Solheim writes a humorous and outrageous book.  The first draw for me of course was the fact that this is a Minnesota read.  Beth’s book is so unusual and funny I just sat down and enjoyed myself from start to finish.

In the midst of this cozy mystery there is a lawsuit and a murder to solve.  Never a dull moment when you check in to Witt’s End.  Is “gufah” is a word – I can use it to describe this book – I think that is the laugh that came out of me several times unexpectedly as I turned through the pa.

You can check out the very funny Beth Soleheim at her website here.

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey had updated the 2010 reading map to include At Witt’s End

Cover Story:  I like it – quirky and mysterious….. would you check into this resort?  😉

I received this book for review from author, Beth Solheim

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)44 Comments


College son Justin is home for the summer from College.  This is my first year experiencing this but it’s not like he is “home” like he used to be home when he lived here under our care and parent guidanceship (yes, my word – a ship… sometimes like a cruise ship, other times like the titanic).   He has a job and his friends and a lot of times we see each other in passing – one or the other of us coming or going, but that’s about it.

So that is why – I share with you my witty journalist sons text conversation we had earlier yesterday:

J:  Miss chatting with you.  May I take you out to lunch Friday?

Me:  Wow!  Yes!

J:  I’ll have my people call your people with the details.

Me:  Excellent.  My people will be thrilled.


Yup, that’s the way we role.  texting, Facebook, email….. when it comes to my kids I communicate any way I can 😀

Yesterday I rollerbladed with my friend Wendy 24 miles.  Not a typo.  24 miles.  I have never gone that far on blades before and as we “rolled” back into town I decided it was about 4 miles to many!  😀  A little sore, but ehhh…. it was fun to hang out on a beautiful evening.

Have a great day everyone – I have more to chat about, but it will have to wait until tomorrows meanderings…  (hint – I came across a few book related read a longs that sound fun, and have a couple of book recommendations as well).

Mine are a little cooler than this 🙂

Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Ok – I bit the bullet…. or perhaps the book binding in this case, and registered for BBAW.  I love the book blogging ♥ community ♥and I am so thrilled that this event takes place each year.

This year, as the team that makes BBAW possible is working to always improve, they have set it up  that if you want to be considered for a category – you must nominate yourself.

*Gulp*  (this is where the biting of the book binding comes in…)

BBAW is a wonderful way to appreciate all the wonderful bloggers out there.  I had so much fun last year just joining in on all the happenings.  So now as we near the deadline to enter, I am officially in.  The categories I entered are:

Niche Category:  Best Eclectic Book Blog—This blog doesn’t specialize in any one book genre. It is known for consistently excellent reviews, recommendations, analysis, and other content in a variety of genres

Here are the 5 posts I entered for consideration of this category:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The Mercy Seller by Brenda Ruchman Vantrease

Morning Meanderings… Bookaholic


Best Written Book Blog—This blog is consistently well-written, clear, and engaging, no matter what the subject. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 3 reviews, recommendations, or analyses of a specific title; 2 are up to the nominated blogger.


The Carpet Boys Gift byPegi Deitz Shea

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

It’s My Blogiversary!

Vampires, Werewolves, Seamonsters…. and me


Best Author Interviews—This blogger does his or her research and asks the questions no one else does. These interviews are top-notch. Note that this award reflects the quality of the interviews, not the popularity of the person being interviewed. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 4 interviews; 1 post is left to their discretion.]


Donna Woolfork Cross – Author Of Pope Joan

Jay Asher – Author of Thirteen Reasons Why

Sarah Pekkanen – Author of Opposite Of Me

Kay Cassidy – Author of The Cinderella Society

Lauren Oliver – Author of Before I Fall

Tomorrow, July 7th is the deadline to register your blog.  Even if you are not interested in putting your blog in the ring for an award, you can still register to have your blog added to the Directory of Book Blogs.  You can link to the information here.

Author Chat: Lauren Oliver (author of Before I Fall)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Today I am straightening up over here at Book Journey – fluffing pillows, watering the plants, and making sure the coffee is on!  Why all the primping?  Today – I am chatting with the author of Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver.

AND – here she is!  Please give a warm welcome to Lauren Oliver.

Lauren Oliver

Lauren – first off I need to know how you take your coffee?

Lauren:  Large, please, with lots of milk! No sugar.


Let’s talk about the YA years for yourself.  What was your favorite read and why?

Lauren: Oh, man. I’m not sure I know the answer to that question. I’ve always been such a voracious reader. I discovered Jane Austen when I was thirteen and must have read Pride and Prejudice about 87 times in one year; but, you know, I think To Kill A Mockingbird, which I read in high school, remains one of my all-time favorite books.


Before I Fall is such a unique YA read.  How did the idea for this book come to be?

Lauren:  It came from a bunch of different places, really. I really wanted to write a book about change; I wanted to explore themes of redemption and evolution in the context of a character who, at the start, is kind of mean and petty and self-involved. I tried to brainstorm a set of conditions that would enable a girl like that to begin to grow and expand and see herself in a broader context—ultimately, that became the mechanism of having Sam relive her last day. But that part of the book was almost incidental to the character, in a weird way.


Ooh…. I like that.  The characters that Sam hangs out with, are not the nicest chicks on the block.  Do these girls represent girls you knew?

Lauren:  I didn’t base the characters on anybody in particular, but I did base them on my understanding of how people can behave. Although Sam’s friends aren’t necessarily sympathetic, I do think they’re recognizable; we’ve all met people like that. We might have even been people like that. And over the course of the book I did try and reveal more of the characteristics, fears, and anxieties that motivated their behaviors. Even mean girls aren’t just mean; there are always layers and layers, and I think it’s important to recognize that.


Lauren, I like how you said that – even the mean girls are layers and layers.  There is usually something stemming the mean – and I think you bring that out in Before I Fall.  What is the overall message you are going for in the book?

Lauren:  I wasn’t going for any particular message, necessarily, but I think some of the themes that are important to the book are themes of connection—we are all fundamentally interrelated—and, again, the celebration of the fullness of other people. Empathy is probably the most important message of the book.


I see you have a book coming out in 2011 called Delirium.  Can you tell us a bit about that?

Lauren:  Sure! Delirium is very different from Before I Fall, but I’m very proud of it. It’s kind of a dystopian Romeo-and-Juliet story. It takes place in an alternate society: in this world, love has been declared a contagious and deadly disease—and scientists have figured out how to cure it. Delirium is the first book in a trilogy, which I’m very excited about.

That sounds good!  Lauren I am dieing (no pun intended) to know, what’s happening now for you?

Lauren:  Well, I’m currently working on the sequel to Delirium, which, as I mentioned, will be the first book of a trilogy. I’ve also started dabbling in some middle-grade, and my first middle-grade book, LIESL AND PO, will be released in Fall 2011, so I’m working on edits for that. I also recently started a development company with my friend and former colleague Lexa Hillyer (check us out at www.paperlanternlit.com), which enables me to really foster new writing talent and grow new book ideas. So I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire!

But what is next for me right at this very second is a burger and a dip in the ocean—it’s the 4th of July and I’m in Cape Cod!


Cape Cod?  I am jealous!  That has to be awesome!  It is tradition for me to ask you to share one little known fact about yourself.

Lauren:  Hidden talent? I can sing “Part of That World,” from the Little Mermaid, absolutely perfectly. And I also make the world’s best hamburgers; I learned the secret from my dad.


Thank you Lauren for hanging out and talking  with me – I will let you get back to your wonderful time in Cape Cod! Readers, you can find more about Lauren and what’s happening at her website.

Lauren Oliver and I - Author Carnival, New York May 2010

Oh – and for those of you who have read the book…. I asked Lauren a certain question I just wanted to know….  and the question AND the answer are both to be found on the Before I Fall Spoiler Page.

Morning Meanderings… (tweek tweek tweeking)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments


Bear (bare?) with me….. I am tweaking again.  Tweak, tweak, tweak…. I should have never taken yesterday off from work because that gave me time to chill…. and blog, and visit… and think.  Thinking…can be dangerous.  So I came up with a couple of ideas (tweak, tweak)… ways to perk up the reviews (tweak), ways to do vamp up my author chats (tweak), and ways to announce the books I would love to read (TWEAK TWEAK TWEAK) It’s like a geiger counter.  😀

So one those notes (or tweaks) please hang in there with me the next few days.  I have a lot of posts I am working on implementing and  I am trying to pace them so my lovely (and appreciated –did I mention you are all appreciated?) readers do not go on blog overdose – leaving me here holding the smoking keyboard…..

Monday was awesome – I took the day off of work – unplugged my business mind but fully engaged (see tweak conversation above) my creative bloggy side.  E gads!  I got my hair cut, roller bladed, relaxed on my deck with lap top, then book, then lap top, then book, and a diet root beer.

I hope to post over the next few days: reviews (always), author chat (at least one this week but hoping to increase the amount of these I do – tweak tweak), BBAW post (must have up today – tomorrow at the latest!), WordShakers Book Club Reactivated (goal for this week peeps – bare (bear?) with me. )

Ok – I must go to work….   Thanks everyone for taking time to chat with this occasionally crazy (tweak tweak) Minnesota girl!  😀

Oh and P.S…. just kidding about the bears 😉

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)101 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

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.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner (using Random.Org) was:

Sherrie – Just Books

Congratulations!  Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

We had a wonderfully full weekend hanging out with friends, riding motorcycle, picnic, parade and hanging with friends again.  The weather was sunny and clear and I had a blast.  In “bookish” type news – here is what went down here this past week:

The Secrets Of Newberry Giveaway – 3 books!!!

Guest House by Barbara Richardson (A read of life changes and possibilities)

Remember Your First Time? (The books you wish you could read again like the first time…)

The Missing Element by John Betcher (A Minnesota mystery!)

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (review coming soon)

DUFF by Kody Keplinger (review coming soon)

Evolution Of Shadow by Jason Quinn Malot (review coming soon)

Step On A Crack by James Patterson (review coming soon)

I had a pretty good reading week and spent most evenings readings instead of blogging, twittering, or tv time.  It was actually really nice to just – read.  This week I am working on a few reads I need to finish up but I am also starting:

This was the “Choose The Next Book I Read” Giveaway, so once I am done with this one I will pass it on.

Born Under a Million Shadows is a library read that I am eager to get into!

I am taking today off from work this week – a little breather from the heavier load we have been carrying in the office lately and I plan on spending my morning seeing what you are all reading on Monday!  Please add your link to your Monday Reading post below where it says “click here”.

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Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Oh and one more thing – the deadline is approaching fast to register for BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week).  You wont want to miss out on this fun event that will take place in September – however registration closes July 7th! Link to it here: