Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments


So what is happening at the DeChantal household this morning?

Packing.  Working out.  Laundry.  Cooking.  Cleaning.  Call to Grandpa.  And maybe a bit of mowing too if the weather holds out for me.  🙂

I leave tonight at 5 pm for Minneapolis where I will meet up with Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews.  We are staying overnight there to catch our 6 am flight to New York.  I may need to pause a moment to read that last sentence….

………………………………………………………….

Wow.  Three books are making the journey with me.  Yes, that is conservative of me.  😉

Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish.  This is our book club read for June and it sounds like the perfect plane/hotel read.  (click on picture if you want to read more about the book)

The Threadbare Heart by Jennie Nash arrived in the mail yesterday.  I have heard good things about this one!  (If you want to know more about the book click on the picture)

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen.  I won this authors NYC package giveaway and while I have seen the book around I have not read it yet.  As I am meeting Sarah in New York, I want to have read this.  I think it looks like a story line I really will enjoy! (Click on pic for more details on this book)

So that’s what is in my carry on.  I still am prepping reviews and a tour for next week that will continue to go on as planned.  I will also have Lap Top with me so I hope to give you morning updates of what is happening at BEA.

What are your weekend plans and what book is going with you?

Winners…. so many Winners

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

I am embarrassingly behind on drawing winners for the giveaways I have going.  There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day.  All week long my goal was to post winners to the giveaways so I could be current going into BEA, and night after night I drop exhausted into a chair around 9 pm and think, well…too late to do it tonight.

Well… tonight, I am home from running early, just spoke to hubby and he will not be home until around 8 pm…. and it is time…. to post the giveaways and winners 🙂

Note:  As the names are announced I have emailed these winners.  They in turn, must email me their shipping information so I may pass it on to the publishers who in most cases, mail you the books.  I have to wait until all winners have responded before I can email the info to the publishers so please respond in a timely manner.  If I have not heard from a winner within72 hours I will choose another winner.

All winners are drawn by using Random.org


“Ready?  Ok!!!  We’ve got winners yes we do – we’ve got winners so woo hoo hoo!”


I have three winners for Scott Turow’s book:  Presumed Innocent:

Gram

Elisha

JHS

I have three audio books of Vampire Hunter (Audio) to give to:

Cathie (oh and for the record, you were really mean to win Cathie because the random selection chose tou three times in a row!)

Library Pat

Terri Dell

Three of The Art of Choosing (Audio):

Jodi

Mad Woman Doing Cartwheels

Felicia

Three of Green Like God:

Kadybug

Maid Marawyn

Library Pat

Three of Eat The Cookies, Buy The Shoes by Joyce Meyer:

Julie H

Beth C

Jill

Three copies of The Cradle:

Marilu

Mad Woman Doing Cartwheels

Terri Dell

Three of The Slip Of The Knife:

Sheila

Ellie

Margaret

Three of This One Is Mine:

Reagan

Penny

Colleen Turner

Three of God Never Blinks:

Karen K

Ruth

Julie H

Three of Admission:

Patty

Cindi

Karin

One copy of Here Burns My Candle:

Wendy

Thats all the giveaways and woo hoo I am now current!!!  Please watch the Giveaway link for current giveways always happening here 🙂

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)52 Comments



Oh wow – I can’t wait to share some news with you!  Go refill your coffee cups this may take a couple of minutes to get out of my between the “Squeee’s” and the cartwheels…. and possible another squeee….

Ok.  Ready?  Let me set the scene for you….

I am in my office yesterday afternoon.  We are doing a total office inventory so by mid afternoon my eyes are bugging out of my head.  I click on my personal G Mail link to see if anything new and exciting is going on in the world and I see this email titled:  You Are Going TO NYC For Free!!!

I figured it was some sort of scam advertising but clicked to open the email anyway.  (Oh come on, you would have opened it too!)  Turns out it is from author Sarah Pekkanen (Opposite Of Me) and I won her blogger giveaway for NYC!  I still can’t believe it so I find her website, and start reading the details.  I remember signing up for this much like if you are at a grocery store and they are doing a giveaway for a freezer full of food… you don’t think you will win, but you fill out the form anyway.

So by now (and remember I am still in my office), I am trying not to scream, I read through her email again and she asks me to either email her back or to call her for details.  I start the email – telling her I am so excited, then decide I want to call her too, think I send the email but forget to hit send and dial….

She answers.

I tell her who I am and we have this wonderful conversation where I am excited and bouncing and I think she may be too.  She tells me how they used random.org (I LOVE Random.Org!!!) and explains the package to me.  Since I have paid for most of what she is offering already, all I had to do was email her my flight info and hotel and she is going to give me a check to reimburse me.


I can’t even tell you how high I am flying off the ground right now!  The last couple of days I have been trying to plan how to do BEA and not spend a lot of money.  I was making little deals with myself like “well, if I take from savings I can put it back in with next months check….” and then knowing full well that wont happen as youngest son is getting an apartment when he goes back to college in the fall and he and I are going to look next month to start to furnish that apartment and I want to help where I can..

This is such a gift!

Be sure to look at Sarah’s website – it gives a lot of details of what the package consists of.

So bouncy girl, I mean I, am working out this morning, using a spa gift card this afternoon that my hubby gave me for Christmas for a manicure and pedicure – (I usually do not bother with a manicure because I am always doing stuff that would ruin it, but decided to use the Gift Card for BEA).

I have books to mail today.  Contests to end that I have been trying to get to all week.  Start to pack.  Date night with hubby.  And – in a few hours I have a post where I want to introduce you to a blogger that if you have not already met, you should.

Have a super fantastic day!  If you are going to BEA I would love to meet you so connect with me on Twitter (bookjourney) or email me at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com.

Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)76 Comments


In the year since his wife, Hannah, passed away, Dr. Michael Everett has been inconsolable.  Unable to carry on living any semblance of a normal life without her, Michael has avoided contact with friends and family and filled his empty days with work.  So he’s shocked when his brother-in-law, Ritchie, hands him a letter Hannah had written before she died; apparently she’d instructed Ritchie to deliver it to Michael on the first anniversary of her death.

In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request: she asks Michael to marry again and become the father he was meant to be.  Knowing his reaction, Hannah gives him a gentle push by suggesting three women—each of whom, she says, would make an excellent wife and companion.

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

Book Journey Traveled to:  Seattle Washington

Need coffee?  Voted the best coffee is Seatle:  94 Stewart Restaurant

412 pages

Cover Story: The cover is ideal for the story – the white picket fence and an open gate really speak of what the book has in store.

I am a jumble of genres am I not?  Recently having read a true crime, a dark mystery, a non fiction, a children’s book, and now I sit this book down on my coffee table with content.

Debbie Macomber came on my radar many years ago with her Cedar Cove Series that was a wonderful series of books centered around a town called Cedar Cove.  Each book title was an address and the story line came from the opinion of who lived at that address.  The first one was called 16 Lighthouse Road.  I thought it was a brilliant series!

Flash forward to 2010 and here I cross paths with Debbie Macomber again.  As this book opens we are immediately brought into the story.  Debbie Macomber does not mess around – it is the anniversary date of Hannah’s death and Michael, her devoted husband, is still grieving and buried among the “what ifs”.

When Hannah’s brother delivers the letter to Michael from Hannah, as you can expect there is not only shock but anger.  Hannah has not only boldly told Michael to move up, but also make suggestions of who may make a good wife for him.  (I kind of liked that part, sounded like something I would do!)

What follows is Michael’s journey as he meets with each of these women and learns a little more about his wife and learns it is ok to let go in the process.  The characters are delightful and colorful, Macomber always did impress me with the way she could put the scenes of the book clearly in my mind.

This book is a cozy (envision hot cocoa by a camp fire kind of night) and comforting read.  The book is wonderful for sipping on an ice tea in the sunshine, as from my experience with this author, the book was a feel good to the last page kind of read and I closed the final page with a sense of well-being.


I received my copy for review from Big Honcho Media


Did I mention there was a giveaway?

Hannah’s List

BOOK RELEASE + GIVEAWAY

Prizing for your website:

**One (1) Grand Prize winner from your site receives:

  • Enjoy additional titles by Debbie Macomber with a $25 VISA gift card

  • Copy of Hannah’s List

Two (2) additional winners will receive a copy of the book!

So what to do to get in on this deal

As this book opens, Michael is at a Seattle Mariners baseball game.  Leave a comment here if you could go and see any sport – any where – where would it be? (This must be answered to be entered in this giveaway)


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 here

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 3  and publisher says:

This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments


Oh I can just tell it is going to be a BE-A- UTIFUL day today.  The sun is already shining this early and I cant wait to be in it!

I have touched base with all BEA roommates and I am getting seriously excited. (Here is a little background music while you read this post).


Ok… LOL.  I had to do that.

I biked yesterday 18 miles instead of rollerblading.  Wendy has strep throat so had to cancel on me.  Thats ok, I havent had the bike out for a while now and it felt good to do the ride on a sunny day.  The big 150 mile is in June and I am seriously praying on nice weather for that two day ride!

I have so many reviews to write and such a busy schedule.  My plan was to be all caught up before I left for BEA and I hope I can still do that.  Books are read, I just got behind on the reviews.

On another bookish note I am ready for a new audio book on my IPOD.  I received my monthly credit from Audible yesterday and I have chosen The Eyes Of Darkness by Dean Koontz.  I loved Koontz in my early 20’s and read everything he had written.  I havent read him now for a while and I am excited about this new one!

I also think I am going to pick up Kiss by Ted Dekker.  Audible is having a 48 hour sale and this one is one of the sale audio that I would like to have.

We will talk more about audio one of these days!  I know many of you do not listen to them but I love them and I want to do a pro con post….  when I have time.  (Insert smile here).

Have an awesome day – as I type I am already late for the gym and I will have to catch up with Jennifer.

Forbidden Fruit by Pearce J Carefoote

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

128 pages

Cover Story:  Love it!  So appropriate and love how the authors name goes over Anne Frank’s mouth.  That is censorship!


From the New Testament to The Diary of Anne Frank to current objections to the Harry Potter series–dubbed the most frequently challenged books of the 21st century by the American Library Association–the tradition of banning, censoring, and challenging books has been remarkably enduring.


Seriously… what is it about the word “forbidden” that makes you want to put a toe over the line? I almost have a sort of sick fascination with the books that are labeled as such. I have visions of women covered from head to toe in long shapeless black dresses and a bonnet and suit clad “bow tie too tight” men standing around a bonfire clucking away as as they toss the book in….

ok…

maybe that’s not fair.

The point being I get a little riled up when I see books in here that are near and dear to my heart.  I see Harry Potter once again being tossed to the wolves and I stand on the sidelines looking amazed as these are the very books that made my sons readers.  The series that kept my kids up past curfew… not because they were playing war video games, not because they were in awe of late night crappy TV shows….  no.  I had to ask them to shut their books and go to sleep.  (The equivalent of a Norman Rockwell moment.

And why?  Because the books are set in the supernatural world and therefore must be satanic.   Because kids who fly brooms and wave wands at teachers are surely going to cause our own kids to become broom riding thugs.

Seriously.  If that is the reasoning then for the life of me I don’t know why I am not running  for my car in the dead of night  at top speed and screaming like a banshee in fear of the flying monkeys that are present in the ever popular Wizard Of Oz.

And sure I have a certain soft spot for the Potter series so of course I will defend – but there are others.

Authors the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Margaret Atwood,  James Joyce, John Steinbeck, Anne Frank, Mark Twain…. oh and did I mention the New Testament?  Pearce Carefoote sticks to books that we are familiar with and leaves a good amount of information as to why the books have been challenged.

While the book is small and doesn’t even tap anywhere near into all the books that have been challenged, censored, and banned, what it does share is quite informative.

Pearce Carefoote even starts the book with a Primer On Censorship.


“Oh Harry, don’t you see”, Hermione breathed.  “If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person  in the school will read your interview, it was banning it.”

J K Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

And while book censorship continues to rear its ugly head… it also continues to be defeated… time and time again.  Page after page.

I borrowed this book from our local library




Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments


Good morning everyone 😀  I am back from my group power class this morning.  It was what I hope to be a strategic plan – get the class that I normally take on Wednesdays at 4:15 (after work)  in the afternoon and instead do the 5:45 am (pre-work) class.  The plan being that now the afternoon is freed up and I can rollerblade with my friend Wendy this afternoon.  These gorgeous days in Minnesota you just don’t want to be stuck in a building on.

Now back from class I have a few moments to type out this post over my morning oatmeal and of course COFFEE.  Feel free to grab a cup and join me.  I will wait.  🙂

………………………………………………….

Ok!  Now that we are properly caffeinated lets see whats got me going today.  BEA – yes…. heading to Minneapolis Saturday evening to catch my early Sunday plane.  A little anxious, but a lot excited.  😀

Biggest Loser.  Do you watch this?  I am so addicted to this show and I am so Team Daris.  (he is the one left from the orange team.  Watching what this group goes through…. wow.  And daris had me from the first time he stepped on that scale in episode one.

Makeover week was a couple weeks back and it is one of my favorites!

Ok obviously I am rambling this morning and pushing my luck on getting to work on time.  GAH!  Have a super fab day and check in later for the review of Forbidden Fruit – Banned Books.

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)46 Comments


Warning:  This review is about the Columbine School Massacre.  This is not a fiction story.  It is a sensitive subject matter and this book has touched me deeply.


Columbine.  It is one word that brings forth 1,000 memories.  Do you remember it?  Do you remember where you were when you first heard?  The Columbine shooting is one of those things you remember – much like when there was an assassination attempt on a president, or Princess Diana’s death.   This is an event that will stay with us forever.

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dlyan Klebold, students of Columbine High school, came to school like any other day.  Except, this wasn’t any other day.  Dressed in black trench coats, carrying sawed of shotguns and carrying bombs, they had a plan.  The plan was to take out as many students as possible, the bombs were suppose to take out entire floors of the school and by doing so eliminate most of the student body.  When this horrible event concluded, 12 students were left dead, one teacher, and 24 other students were injured.


Dave Cullen’s book takes us as the reader behind the scenes.   We learn about the two boys, Dylan and Eric.  Their lives, their friendships, their families, and the planning of the event long before it took place, the signs – on-line, in journals, in their rooms, on their computers… all missed.

And…

my heart ached as I read this book.  I wept several times during this read.  At times I was angry, and I hurt for the families, the students, and the parents of Dylan and Eric.   There are parts of this book where tears streamed down my face.  I can only imagine…

It’s hard to describe this book.  There are no spoilers to reveal… we all know what happened.  The right words…. escape me.  I think I can say that I appreciated this read.  Knowing more about what happened that day was and is, of interest to me .  I am thankful that I read this.  My heart breaks again for each and every victim and their families.  Dave Cullen writes with a compassionate pen and this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.


I borrowed this book from our local library

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments

Good morning!  😀

My blog cards came in the mail yesterday and I have to say woo hoo – I like them!  I was a bit nervous as I had picked a random company off line and designed my own, but Overnight Prints did a wonderful job on them.  I ordered them on May 12th, used standard shipping and they came in today’s mail.  I will use this company again.  If you did not get a look at them last week when I posted the pics – here they are:

↑ front ↑

↑ back ↑

I am off to an early gym time this morning before work and hopefully after work I am going rollerblading with my friend Wendy.  Last week was extremely rainy and cold so I want to take advantage of these sunny days!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)106 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:

Super from Super Librarian!!!

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

**All books that are due to people were mailed this morning.  Sorry about the delay on my end.  😀


Due to a crazy fun and busy traveling day with a group of friends on Saturday I did not get a chance to post my Mailbox goodies on Sunday like I normally do (thank you to Kristi at Story Siren for hosting this!)  So I am going to pop it up here in this short and cheesy video:


I can not even believe we are less than a week out from when I go to New York.  I am nervous, anxious, and so excited.  I have never done anything like this before so this is a major leap for me.  I am beyond excited to meet so many of my fellow bloggers, the wonderful publishers I have emailed with, and of course the authors!

Here is what happened here the past week:


Love In Mid Air by Kim Wright review


The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano – my review as well as my book clubs review


House Rules by Jodi Piccoult audio review


Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann – review and giveaway!


A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve giveaway!


Announcement of the Threadbare Heart winner!


I still have reviews to catch up on as well as giveaway winners to announce and I am hopeful to get all of this done so I can leave for New York with no worries of things to come.  🙂

I will be taking my laptop with me and will be doing daily updates of the BEA experience and this blog will continue as usual including this meme so know that I will still be here chatting up books with you – even though I will be posting from New York.  (Did I just say that?  Squee!)


What is Brewing this week

Clean up of several ongoing reads….

Columbine by Dave Cullen- finished need to write review

Kite Runner audio – last two cd’s!

Forbidden Fruit by Pearce Carefoote – done and need to write review

Guest House by Barbara Richardson – 3/4 of the way through

At Witt’s End by Beth Solheim – done and need to write review

Boneman’s Daughter by Ted Dekker – 1/2 completed

Nyphron Rising by Michael Sullivan – not as far as I had hoped but this one is my focus this week

So that is my week…. cant wait to see what you are reading so be sure to use the linky below and stop back with a comment here of how many Monday What Are You Reading posts you commented on to be entered in next weeks drawing!  😀

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