It’s my Blogiversary!!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)264 Comments

I made it!  The balloons are hung, the cake has arrived, grab a party hat on your way in and join in on the fun!!!

If you follow this blog you probably know the story of how I began so I will try to just give the bullet point details:


  • I did blog before June 9th but did not know I was blogging.  Thought I was journaling.  June 9th 2009 is when I discovered book blogging and never looked back.
  • There are wonderful bloggers out there and if it were not for them I probably would have stumbled and fell, but I read a lot of blogs, found what I liked and didn’t like, and tweaked my own.  If I didn’t know how to do it, I asked.  And tweaked… and tweaked.
  • After a few months I had picked up my own style, tried different themes and meme’s – worked the kinks out, dropped what I didn’t like and kept what I did.

That is the short version of my year in blogging memory lane.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, last year about a week after I came out of my blog cave (I have this vision of me stepping out like a caveman and discovering other book bloggers was like discovering fire)…


…  Natasha at Maw Books held the first Bloggiesta.  I read up on everything I could and participated to the fullest.  The Bloggiesta was (and is) all about improving your blog, learning how to do new things, organizing your reviews, etc….  Timing could not have been more perfect for this newbie.  I mention it now not only because it was a huge help to me in the early days, but because as timing would have it, the next Bloggiesta is this weekend and if you have any time to participate – I highly recommend it.  My blog looked completely different last year after the Bloggiesta.

Anyway – let’s get to the party.  I really would have nothing to party about if it were not for you, the readers who pop in and read my reviews and leave your comments.  I really do look forward to chatting with you when I can and am so happy to see how that has really developed over here.  I like the feel that you can stop in anytime and hang out for as long as you want.  My goal is to have created a warm inviting atmosphere where hopefully you are finding good content and honest book reviews that make it worth your while.

And when I throw a party, the gifts are for you!  Readers I have 4 giveaway packages that you can comment here to sign up for.  This giveaway will run starting now until Thursday evening – a little over 24 hours.  Be sure to read at the bottom of this post on how to sign up for this one.  🙂

Gift Package 1:  A beautiful hard cover copy of The Air Between Us, See’s Chocolates, A book-plate for Little Bee signed by author Chris Cleave and an EBook of Chosen by Chandra Hoffman.

Giveaway #2: A copy of Stand The Storm, A bag of Amaretta Coffee from my winter trip to Honduras, a book-plate signed by Chris Cleave, author of Little Bee, and an EBook of Adam and Eve by Sena Jeter Naslund.

Giveaway #3:  The cozy package.  Three cozy mysteries, a journal, Footnotes (sticky notes), chocolate rocks from Minnesota, a book plate from Chris Cleave, author of Little Bee, and an EBook:  Djibouti by Elmore Leonard.

Giveaway #4:  Enjoy a couple Darcy books, a box of Lindt chocolates, and an EBook of What Happened On Fox Street by Tricia Springstuff.


To sign up to be entered for a chance to win one of these packages, simply leave me a comment here.  If you want to get creative I would love to know how you arrived at the party and what you brought (IE.  You flew your personal jet and brought an avocado dip to die for).

Winners will be chosen using Random.Org and announced either Thursday evening or Friday morning

Thank you to all of you who take time to read my crazy meanderings and discuss books with me.  I truly enjoy our discussions and look forward to many more!

Sheila

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments


OOH!  Still stretching wiping sleep from my eyes.  I am happy and exhausted all rolled into one.  Yesterday was a marathon day and while I finished…. I feel I dragged myself across that line.

I had left my home at 7:30 am for a conference in Elk River, MN.  My friend Wendy and I made the drive so it wasn’t too painful as we chat chat chat all the way.  A little after 9 am we are at the conference and I am there until 5, where I bow out early as I have book club back in Brainerd at 6:30 and know I am going to be late late late.   I arrive at book club and we discuss Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral (more on that tomorrow when I review).

After book club wraps up around 8:30 pm I rush with my friend Laura to another location where it is our friend Chad’s birthday.  My hubby had already been there and left (missed him!) but I still wanted to make an appearance.

10:30 pm I roll back into my yard and instead of going to bed I listen to That’s How I Blog with Nicole (Linus’s’ Blanket) and Amy (My Friend Amy) discussing BBAW – Book Blogger Appreciation Week.  Click on the link and learn more about it! Then I read the comments from yesterdays BEA Giveaway bag which are awesome and if you haven’t signed up yet -there is still time to get in on this win!

So…. anyway – I am tired.  And today is my Blogoversary so I am going to drink my coffee and remember what a fabulous year this has been.  Please stop back in for the all day party!  😀

BEA Swag Bag Giveaway!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)128 Comments

This one is for all of the book lovers out there who did not make it to New York the end of May for the BEA (Book Expo America) or BBC (Book Blogger Convention).  (This bag was handed out at the Book Blogger Convention and is filled with goodies from authors and publishers).  Each attendee received this bag, and they had extras and the wonderful bloggers who put BBC together offered an extra bag for those who wanted one.  I picked up an extra one for you!


Here is what is inside:

OOH!!!  AHHHH!!!

This giveaway is open until Saturday June 11th.  USA or Canada entrants only please (sorry, it just gets really expense to sent items beyond that).  Please only sign up to win if you did not attend either BEA or BBC.  To enter – leave me a comment here telling me if you were to attend this event, what would be something that would be one of the biggest draws for you (IE.  authors, books, meeting other bloggers, site seeing…)

Have a great day!!!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments


Good morning!  I think I will have Coffee Cup do the talking this morning because my head is pressed into the keyboard.  Ok, not really…. but I am tired.

Yesterday morning I participated in my Group Power Class for the first time in two weeks.  Today, I feel like I was ran over by a truck.  (Since I have a business conference today I can only be hopeful that I do not look like I was hit by a truck as well…)  After class, Justin (my 20 year old) and I road tripped to MPLS. for the day to go to IKEA to look for ideas for his apartment he will have when he goes back to college this fall.

We had a great day of hanging out together and … of course I did stop at The Mother Ship (B & N) and picked up…. The Short Second Life of bree tanner.

Ok I admit it.  I am a closet Twilighter.   For the most part I liked the books and do plan on seeing all the movies.  There.  It’s out there.  What a weight off my shoulders.  (*as I cross my arms across my chest to cover up the Team Edward T-Shirt).

Funniest thing… on the book cover there is a sticker that says one dollar from each book sold will be donated to The American Red Cross.  That – is just plain brilliant.  Hey, it had to be said.  Think about it.  That’s just great marketing.

Ok…. but enough about my super fun but lllloooonnnngggg day.  I do not have a bunch of time today as I leave here in an hour and a half, hopefully showered and fresh-faced (hoping I have dri-cleaned my spare fresh face because the one I have on I think looks tired).  Tomorrow…. is my Blogoversary.   YES!  I am planning a party here like its 1999.  Mmmmm hmmmm…. and you are going to want to attend because there will be a 48 hour giveaway and if you seen last years Blogoversary, it was a lot of fun.  It’s going to look a lot like that.  😀

As for today – The BEA Swag Bag Giveaway will start a bit later so watch for that.  You are going to want to be a part of this.

Leaving you with a little Kool and The Gang, Celebration.  (ahhhhh…the 80’s…… we really had good dance moves didn’t we?  ;D  )

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)129 Comments

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:


Joy Renee

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

It doesn’t feel like I have been a week already from BEA.  I am still sleeping more and napping (see what happens when you take the small town girl to the big city of new York?)  I did finish a couple reads and have kept up on the posting this week so here is a recap:


Time Square Video (The start of the BEA/New York posts….)

BEA Recap On A Stick


BEA Slide Show of the New York Pictures

Tea with Adriana Trigiani (Oh wow – I mean… oh wow…..  seriously – wow)


The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkenen (review of the book and my story of meeting her in New York!)

The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow (review)


The  Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini audio (if you only have time to look at one post from the last week this is the one.  This audio knocked me for a loop and I RAVE about it!)

The Last Christian by David Gregory

Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch audio giveaway

Bride Collector by Ted Dekker audio giveaway (I reviewed this book and found it very good!)

Ok…. honestly, there are a lot of good posts from last week so I cant pick a fav…..  you are on your own.  😀


What’s Coming Up This Week?

This I am actually excited about!  Last week was so busy that I did not get much reading in and my week in New York was pretty much – forget about picking up a book.  So as I look through the books… what to read… what to read…

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Dreaming of Dior by Charlotte Smith

Clementine, Friend Of The Week

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

That’s the plan.  I have several books I am finishing up and still writing reviews for books I have finished. Oh and please make a note that Wednesday is my one Year Blogoversary and you are all invited to come back and join in on the giveaways and the fun!

I am actually excited to see what you are all reading this week so be sure to use Linky to share your It’s Monday What Are You Reading?

Powered by Linky Tools

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

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker audio giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the opportunity to give three copies of this audio to my readers

He loves them because they are beautiful. He kills them because he loves them.


A virtuoso killer is carving a path of death across the west, intent on killing only the most beautiful women, all in the name of love. He has claimed six victims and slipped through the FBI’s fingers, each time leaving behind a handwritten note and a bridal veil.

Now, with the help from an unlikely group of four, special agent Brad Raines must enter the killer’s deadly game. But the Bride Collector is supremely gifted and he has a distinct advantage over them all: this is his game.


I reviewed The Bride Collector book here

How To Enter this Giveaway

To enter this giveaway leave a comment here with something you collect.  (You much complete this task to be entered)


Want more chances to win?

For two extra chances to win, become a subscriber  (or be a current subscriber) of this blog (do this in the upper right side bar) and let me know in a separate comment

Blog about this giveaway and let me know in a separate comment and receive two more entries

Twitter about this giveaway or link tot his giveaway on Facebook and let me know here for another entry

This giveaway is open to USA and Canada only.  No po boxes.  Ends June 30

Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch – Audio Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)51 Comments

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the opportunity to give three copies of this audio away

In April of 1985, Buzz Legare went fishing. The next day all that was found was his boat and his waiting, faithful dog.

Twenty years later, his daughter Hannah still finds hope in believing, alone among her family, that he’s still alive somewhere. She has a smart husband, a thriving business, a beautiful home in San Francisco-and a huge hole in her troubled heart. True to her trademark talent for self-sabotage, she finds herself one starry night climbing up the fire escape in a desperate (and drunken) attempt to win back her own husband–and failing disastrously.

Slightly worse for the wear, Hannah returns to Charleston to salve her wounds. There, old loves, unrepented crimes, and family legends are stirred up from the dust. Hannah’s brother Palmer, the stoic with a secret of his own, cannot dissuade her from a manic search to uncover clues to the past, and they will both face shocking discoveries that lead them to reconcile their very different notions of loyalty and blind faith.


How To Enter this Giveaway

Katie Crouch’s books have fun titles.  She wrote Girls in Trucks and now, Men and Dogs.  To enter this giveaway share a made up title for a book that is short and to the point like these two titles are.  (You much complete this task to be entered)


Want more chances to win?

For two extra chances to win, become a subscriber  (or be a current subscriber) of this blog (do this in the upper right side bar) and let me know in a separate comment

Blog about this giveaway and let me know in a separate comment and receive two more entries

Twitter about this giveaway or link tot his giveaway on Facebook and let me know here for another entry

This giveaway will end on June 20.  USA and Canada entrants only please.

In My Mailbox

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)75 Comments


Holy book load Batman – this is a mailbox to beat any others I have posted.  The BEA bloggers mailboxes are going to be awesome to see and you know there are mail men and women all over the country groaning under the loads of books they have delivered this week.

I had 3 boxes total that I shipped to myself from New York’s BEA event and a bonus package from Simon and Schuster.  The final box arrived on my doorstep this morning.  The dogs were barking and I ran to the door to see my mailman lugging the 38 pound box of books.  I went to take it from him and he said, “I can get it, it’s heavy.”

I responded, “Oh I know, I packed it.”

Anyway – trying to figure out how to do a mailbox post this week was tricky.  I put together a Vlog and when I ended discovered it was 28 minutes.  Wha???  So delete delete … and instead I video taped the books adding some words to make it fun and came in at 9 minutes.  Better, and hopefully you will enjoy the video.

Thanks to Kristi (who was awesome to meet!) at Story Siren for this weekly meme and a chance for me to inventory my books.



Ok… hopefully you survived that.  I want to post one more thing that came in my mailbox (Don’t groan…. this one will be brief):


Mmmmmm hmmmmm…. that is an official swag bag from the BBC (Book Blogger Convention) last Friday.  I am going to post a giveaway for this bag of goodies available to one reader who did not have the opportunity to attend BEA this year.  More details on that on Tuesday.

Also – Wednesday June 9th is my one year Blogoversary and you are all invited.  This is a time when I celebrate with all of you and there will be giveaways – awesome ones.  And I may just give away stuff all week because I am that excited and that’s the way I roll!  Isn’t it all just so trippy (I told Heidi Kling on Twitter that I was going to use this word in my post!)

Hope to get a chance to see what came in your mailbox as well!  😀

The Last Christian by David Gregory

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

So here is the setting. It is 2088.  Missionary Abigail Caldwell leaves from New Guinea to  help fellow villagers, who have come down with a mysterious disease.  While the villagers can not be saved, Abigail, the sole survivor travels to America where she discovers that Christianity has died out.  As she investigates the death of her grandfather who was the co-inventor of a silicon brain replacement, she discovers a message he left for her tasking her to bring the Christian Faith back to America.

I know, right?

A little bit more sci-fi to this book then I would normally read, and trying to keep up with the thought of the invention of brain transplants to keep the human race living forever – was a bit mind-boggling.  And that is with my original brain I was born with.  The point of course was to eliminate death all together, but at what cost?

While parts of the books were a bit too sci-fi for me, I was able to complete the book.   David Gregory writes a fast paced novel that even the parts that made me go “huh?” were soon surpassed by a feeling of “oh yeah!”.   The book filled that craving  I have of a good mystery, suspense book that keeps me guessing.  While sci-fi is certainly not on my genres to read list, I was still able to move beyond all the technical futuristic (admitting I had to skim some of these pages) and coming out the other side finding this an interesting read.

Book Journey’s travel map updated to include The last Christian

Amazon Rating

416 pages

Cover Story:  I think the cover is a good fit, it represents the feeling of isolation and has a sci-fi feel.

I received this book from review from Waterbrook Multnoman Publishing

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)40 Comments

Is it just me…. or are my morning posts later than usual this week?  LOL.  I feel like I am sleeping more.  I woke up at 5 am when hubby got up (I believe he is insane) to meet up with his friend Kevin and go to an auction today.  I thought I’d sleep another hour, hour and a half… but no.  Opened my eyes again at 7:45 am.  And I napped yesterday.

This is all just so embarrassing.

Anyway – I didn’t wake up to share with you my sleeping habits (although reading the above paragraph I see I did just that).  What I really want to share is that this coming Wednesday is my official one year Blogoversary.  (insert SQUEEEEE here).  Now – if you look back you will see I had posts prior to June 9th 2009, and before that I have posts going into 2008 on another blog –

BUT…

to me my Blogoversary is the day that I officially discovered the book blogging world (prior to that date I thought I was journaling what I read for me).  I remember the day, June 9th because someone commented on my blog.

I know right?  Super scary.  A comment!  I shudder to think of it…

Here’s what you need to know about that.  I didn’t get comments unless you were a friend of mine or a family member.  A comment outside my tiny world was unheard of.  But there was one.  And it kind of freaked me out.  How did this person find me?   If I click on their name will it take me to some site that will cause me to instantly want to delete the comment?

So I clicked on it.  And…. they were a book blogger.  What I saw was reviews and giveaways (wow, giveaways?) and I thought – amazing, there are two of us in the world who do this!  (Yes, you can laugh….  I really had no idea)

And then on their blog they had a sidebar badge that said I am a member on Ning Book Blogs.  Well… what is that?  Click.  Ahhhhhhhh….. and my world grew 10,000 sizes that day.

So anyway, you get the point why that day, June 9th, is the day I wish to celebrate.  And it is sneaking up on me fast.  Last year I did have a Blogoversary Party using the date I started my original blog.  Check out that post as that is how I plan on doing this years as well.  I will go forward using this June 9th date only so please make a note to stop in on Wednesday for the one day giveaways and invite your friends to come too, it is going to be a blast!

Today I am off to help a friend shop for a new bike and then hopefully meeting my friend Heidi to do some rollerblading and book talking.  Two things we love.  I have a review coming up later and I am still trying to figure out how to most efficiently do my mailbox post with the BEA books (all have arrived but one box).  Catching up…. catching up… 😀

GAH!  Got to run – the mailman just arrived with my final BEA box!!!!!