Titanic 2012 by Bill Walker

Published on May 1, 2010May 1, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Bookjourney traveled to: Southhampton

While not in Southhampton, there is a coffee shop in LA that is referred to as Titanic Coffee

232 pages (Not 2012 like it says on Good Reads – yipes!) 🙂

Cover Story: I like it… it is what drew me to the book in the first place and is a perfect fit for the story.

After being pressured by his girlfriend Julia Magnusson to attend his Harvard 20th Class reunion, Trevor Hughes has no idea how RSVPing to that event will forever change his life. Trevor is a best-selling mystery writer and feels that perhaps his career choice was not as far-reaching as those of his classmates. Catching up with long time friends Solly Rubens (now a wall street millionnaire and the attitude to go with it), Ken Faust (software entrepreneur); and Harlan Astor ( real estate tycoon), proves otherwise.

As the reunion winds down and the four friends share time together over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops incredible news. He has been working for the last 2 1/2 years on rebuilding an exact replica of the Titanic, doing so in Poland to keep it out of the public eye, and paying the 1500 workers a bonus to keep it top-secret until it is finished. Harlan lost a relative at the sinking of the original Titanic and wants to sail the ship in honor of those who lost their lives on the 100 year anniversary. While Solly has no problem telling Harlan that he is nuts for rebuilding one of the worst catastrophes in history, and Ken uncomfortably excuses himself…. Trevor, who has always been a Titanic fan since James Cameron’s movie, is intrigued, and because of this, Harlan invites Trevor on board for the maiden voyage on April 10th 2012. Trevor, much to Julia’s dismay, eagerly agrees.

Trevor shows up and with Harlan’s more than thrilled approval, has decided that he will interview the guests on board the ship as well as the crew about why they wanted to be a part of the new Titanic. He is going to write a new book that his editor is sure will be a huge success and a publishing company has already paid out advancements on the book for the rights. What Trevor finds through his interviews is more than he bargained for. As Trevor tries to piece together the real reason behind the remaking of this grand ship he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful widow who captures his heart and makes him believe in new possibilities.

I am a big fan, much like our main character Trevor, in all things Titanic. My interest in the ship also came at the time of the James Cameron movie, which I first I refused to see. (*See bonus notes on that below). Reading this book rekindled a smoldering fire within me. I really enjoyed the story of Trevor, and as a fiction mystery writer of course he was going to be a character I would love.

The references to Cameron’s movie as well as shared lines throughout the book made me smile and long to sit down and watch the movie. The actual idea of rebuilding the ship to be sailed on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden voyage I found to be so interesting, although I know not everyone would agree with me on that.

I don’t want to give away too much about this book as I thoroughly enjoyed it, picking it up one afternoon and reading it as late as I could, and then finishing it the next morning. This was a book that I could place myself in and was a joy to read.

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Bonus notes: When the James Cameron’s Titanic movie came out in theaters I had no desire to sit through a 3 hour and 14 minute movie. My friends bugged me to no end until finally, I caved, and Al and I and our two sons went to the movie.

I remember form the point they lowered Kate Winslet’s character (Rose) down the side of the ship in the lifeboat I started crying and pretty much did from that point until the end of the movie. I also remember I had to go to the bathroom so badly but did not want to miss a thing so refused to get up and go – resulting in a mad rush at the end of the movie as well as a headache from crying.

I then proceeded to see the movie with anyone I could get to go with me, no less than 5 more times – in the theater. My most proud of triumph being my assistant manager at the time Colleen, who was not about to watch a movie about a ship sinking. When I finally was able to get her to attend with a group of us she fell in love with the movie just like I had. I made a t-shirt for her that I wrapped up and she had to open in front of a store meeting (about 50 of us) that on the front said “I finally saw Titanic”… and on the backside I had ironed on “… and I cried like a baby.”

This book has been added to my Book Journey 2010 map:

I received my copy of this book from our local Spring Library Sale

it will now be sent to Ryan at Wordsmithonia

(who won this through my “What should I read next?” giveaway – which I will be posting a new giveaway from these books soon.)

Morning Meanderings…

Published on May 1, 2010May 1, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments

Good morning everyone! I am up and ready to leave the house soon for leadership training this morning. Starting out my day today with Coffee Cup and a bowl of pomegranate oatmeal which is hitting the spot this gloomy Minnesota morning.

Yesterday afternoon I came home to grab a few things for the post office as well as a book I forgot to return to the library. I was only going to be home a few minutes but as I started prepping everything, one thing lead to another – I swept the kitchen, then mopped…. then dried and folded laundry… caught up on emails…. twittered…. and alas figured I could return the library book today and picked up Titanic 2012 and started reading.

I read until I fell asleep.

When my husband came home from the office and I was prepping for our dinner and movie plans, he asked me where I was going. “I am not going anywhere until we go out, why?”

He them informed me that the Jeep was running.

I forgot that when I came home – HOURS before…. that I was only going to run in the house and grab the book and the mailing and go again. I never shut the Jeep off. It had been running for 4 1/2 hours.

Seriously – I have never done that before. Getting into it for dinner it was like sitting in a sauna as I had the heat cranked up due to the rainy cooler weather.

Anyway – moving on. Today is May 1! That means that I have comment winners for April, as each month, I keep track of all comments on non giveaway posts. As a thank you to my readers, and a little encouragement to not just read but also to share your thoughts (I do love reading them!) I use Random.Org at the end of each month to:

1. Give a $20 Gift Certificate to the reader who comments the most throughout the month

2. I choose two readers/commenters using Random.Org to choose a book out of the prize box (these books are some of my gently used reads that I have either reviewed or picked up at sales when I found them in really good condition.

Here are this months winners:

The two random.org winners are out of 1057 non giveaway comments:

#459 Lisa (Lit and Life)

# 357 Esme (Chocolates and Croissants)

Congratulations – please choose out of the prize box and then email me at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com to let me know what you picked and your address!

My Top Commenter for the month of April is:

and this was close between three commenters…

Library Pat

Pat I will email you your gift card for Amazon later today!

I have to run or I will be late for the meeting! Have a great day everyone! The new comment contest starts today and I will be back later with a review!

Deadly Deals by Fern Michaels (audio)

Published on April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Bookjourney traveled to: Washington DC

Rated in the top 10 best coffee houses in Washington DC, I want to mention Ebenezers Coffeehouse because it has a great story and is part of Mark ‘ Church. Mark Batterson is also an author and I have enjoyed his books.

3 CDS

Cover story: I like it a lot. It however gave me a more layed back feeling to the book and that was no the case at all. Overall I don’t think the cover is a good fit for the story.

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As this audio, opens we are introduced to Rachel Dawson. Rachel is a woman at the end of her rope and she enters a law office and sadly spills her case of adopting twins and having the birth mother change her mind after several months and take them back. Rachel along with her husband Tom are heart-broken and have no money left to do battle in a court system as all their saving went to the adoption. None of which had been returned.

As attorney Lizzie Fox hears Rachel’s story as well as the name of the lawyer involved in the adoption, Baron Bell…. a fire is lit with her soul. As the story progresses, it is soon uncovered that this is not an isolated incident but several couples who had worked out adoptions through Bell had the children taken back and no money returned. Lizzie Fox knows exactly who to assist her in the case and as she connects with the Sisterhood we are off and running through a quick and fun mystery.

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I picked up this audio in Florida at Wal-mart. I was loving the cover and loving the story line. What I did not find anywhere on this audio was anything saying that this was part of a series, and having never read Fern Michael before I had no idea that this was part of a large Sisterhood series and this was book #16.

In some books, I can say that you do not need to read the previous books to fall into what is happening but in this case that is not true. I struggled listening to the audio, and while the story line was very good, I could not fully grasp who the Sisterhood was, why one of the ladies speaks to her daughter who has died…. or how this group of seven women known as the Vigilantes came to be…

As I worked my through these cds I again have to say the story line is very good and I felt if I only know the background of what was happening I would probably enjoy what was happening more. At times parts of this book seemed far-fetched (there is a little tar and feathers scene that is a bit out there) and there is quite a bit of language towards the end of the audio that I didn’t like.

Overall it would be unfair of me to judge Fern Michael by this particular read. I would read her again and be sure when I do that the book I choose is one that is not a series and stands on its own.

I purchased this audio at Wal-Mart in Pensacola Florida

This book was added to my book travels for 2010:

Morning Meanderings…

Published on April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

Here is my text conversation with my son last night: (True Story)

Son: There is a message on the bathroom wall(where he goes to college)that says The Chamber Of Secrets is open.

Me: Sweet. I am watching the first movie right now.

Son: I think I am going to re-read all the books. I am such a nerd.

Me: I am going to watch all the movies again. I am such a nerd.

Son: We are so cool.

Me: So cool….. we need a secret Potter handshake.

Son: We’ll work on that soon.

Yes, I know… I really need to get a life. *sigh*

Minnesota (central Minnesota anyway) is gloomy and rainy today. Looking out the window this morning I can really say the weather has its “gloom on”. I have plenty to do without that affecting me. I am off to the gym this morning for Group Power and then taking a massive amount of Library books back to the library. Many of them, sadly – unread. I will have to try again at a later date.

I have books to mail today for recent winners. Laundry. Basic house stuff.

As this is the last day of April (wow right???) I want to remind you that this is the last day to be entered in the April comment contest (every comment left on this blog on non giveaway osts is counted as an entry). I also have several giveaways ending over the next few days so check them out as well.

Tonight I am doing dinner and a movie with my husband and hoping date Night is still here because I really want to see that with him. With the rain supposedly lasting through Sunday looks like I will have some indoor reading time 🙂

How about you – any plans tonight or for the weekend?

Pondering Moment…. Create Your Own Book and Title

Published on April 29, 2010April 29, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Recently for my giveaway of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Killer (I know, I know…. don’t even get me started…) I had asked participants to create a new book title for an existing book but change it up like the books we are seeing all over now: Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters, Slime and Punishment, Mr Darcy Vampyre….

** For the record, I have not read any of these and if there is an original book IE. like Sense and Sensibility, I will not read any of these books if I have not read the original first. In many cases, not even then…. (sorry – side rant)

Anyway – the responses on this giveaway are so fun – so original and brilliant that I wanted to open that discussion up here. I would like to see a new title to an existing well-known book, that includes werewolves, vampires, zombies, seamonsters…. and a little synopsis of what the book would be about.

Here is my example:

Alice in Zombieland. Alice one day is out walking through the cemetery, a short cut to her friend Kate’s home, when she falls into an open grave.

For anyone who has participated in this through the Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Killer giveaway, feel free to use your same answer if you would like.

I just love to see what everybody comes up with.

That’s all you need to do to participate – I will choose one participant using random.org on May 6th to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card that I will email to the winner. Have fun!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on April 29, 2010April 29, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments

Good morning! I am sipping away at my first cup of coffee this morning. I mentioned yesterday during the morning meandering about a book review format that I was excited to try out. I did that yesterday starting with my review of Worst Case.

The idea was to make the reviews have a bit more of my personality, a bit of “Book Journey, One persons journey through books and coffee.” So that is what I did. I actually had fun doing it. I added:

Book Journey traveled to: ______________________
some type of coffee related tip about the area the book is about
page number or CD count
Cover thoughts

On my left sidebar you will see a new “Where Have I Been?” map and that I am still working on but it is so far a lot of fun. On this map that I am making through Google Maps I am charting out where the books I have read this year are from. What I am finding most interesting about that is how many books I have read this year that are set out of the US. I have read books centered around London, England, Italy, South Africa… (I have a lot more to enter yet too)

If you click on the link to see the map zoom it out by using the little bar on the left side of the map and clicking the minus sign. I have no idea why when you enter it is fully zoomed in so you see nothing. If you click on the blue pegs, it pops up with the book cover, title, and links back to my review.

So I am off to prepare for my day. I have a meeting at 8:30 am across town, a recap of the home show we had a month ago. I am excited to hear how it went overall. Then I am in my office for the afternoon and probably gym with my friend Heidi after that and tonight, I am making BLT’s and we are watching SURVIVOR!

** A fun pondering moment coming up in a few hours….

Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (Audio)

Published on April 28, 2010April 28, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Book Journey traveled to: New York

Best Coffee in New York: gimme! coffee

Audio CDs: 6

Cover: Eye catching…. makes you fully aware you are stepping into a suspenseful mystery

Described by Patterson himself, as a “speeding freight train” I would have to toot my horn in agreement. Worst Case is the third book involving Detective Michael Bennett and his family. The first book being Step On A Crack where Michael Bennett, father of 10 kids (yes 10) sadly loses his wife and falls head first into a crime that will start your heart pumping. The second book Run For Your Life ,(and this is where I came in) Michael juggles home life, sick kids, and a killer who calls himself the teacher. The audio was incredible and the killer – just the right level of creepy.

Which brings us to Worst Case. Michael Bennett finds himself partnered up with the FBI and Emily Parker is who works with him on this case. Not only is she smoking hot, she is incredibly smart, and they pair up nicely for this new crime wave.

What’s the crime? Seems New York’s wealthiest families are having their kids snatched and held hostage. The kidnapper isn’t after ransom, which would be the first thought…. no, he instead quizzes the kids on their pampered lifestyles and their knowledge of those less fortunate than themselves. The thing that drive this “one french fry short of a happy meal” kidnapper over the edge is that these rich kids and their families go about their lives living high and noses raised above the reality of the worlds poverty issues.

What Patterson and Ledwidge have done here is create another can’t put down, or in my case, can’t stop listening to, suspense story that left me at times sitting in my car in the garage long after I had returned home just to hear what was going to happen next.

I have really enjoyed the story line of the Bennett family. Having a main character Detective not be your typical bachelor type is refreshing. The fact that he juggles a full family life, as well as a hard full time career is something that I find to be a great combination.

Comparing this book to a freight train? Yes James. Absolutely.

I received my review copy from Hachette audio

Morning Meanderings

Published on April 28, 2010April 28, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

Good Morning! Coffee Cup and I are sitting here this morning on the verge of what looks to be a beautiful day. I was just thinking about a discussion going on at a blog I was reading earlier this week about review layouts. The discussion (and I am so sorry but I do not recall where I seen this at) revolved around if we had a set layout for our reviews. Such as: some of us, write our own synopsis of the books we review, or we link to other reviews of the book, or include the page number and/or genre, links to purchase, ratings… the list goes on and on.

So…. as I look at my new (and hopefully improved) blog name, I tried to think of a more designed review style and actually came up with a few ideas that have me not only excited for this blog, but I think I can apply one of the steps to my book club group as well.

I don’t want to give it all away…. and as in all things, there may be tweaking as I go…. but the new review layout will show up on the review that I am posting later today. And that is all I am going to say about that. 😉

According to my local weather on Google, today is the last of the nice sunny days for a while. Looks like rain tomorrow through Friday which hits the bummer scale for me as that means no biking or rollerblading. It does however mean reading time and that is good as I am so loving the Michael Sullivan series and can not wait to review the first three books of his series.

I leave you with this…. I have been in such a Potter mood lately. I recently listed to the second book on audio (which I HIGHLY recommend) and since then I have been jonesing for book three. Must…. stay….. strong….

However – my dear friend Heidi who knows about my Potter addiction, sent me a link to the following video. I had seen this before but it is still so fun!

Have a great day everyone!

Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachelle Roger’s Knight

Published on April 27, 2010April 27, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)37 Comments

I love to keep notes of what I read and what I felt about the book. Before I blogged these thoughts, I put them in binders, the result being several large journals filled with books I read and my thoughts about them. I treasure these books in my own writing.

Now with the blogging taking over my hand written version, I still like to take notes and of course jot down titles of books that others recommend to me. These notes go on backs of grocery receipts or whatever piece of paper I can find at the time and inevitably get lost resulting in the sheepish phone call of,

“What was the name of that book you were telling me about?”

When I received this book,, Read, Remember, Recommend for review I was thrilled with what it had to offer. Not only is there spaces to record what I have read and what I recommend, but also the books I have loaned out to others. The front of the book is pages of award-winning books with spaces for you to check if you have read them, recommend them, or want them.

This is the type of book that any book lover should have. I am thinking with Mother’s day coming up it would make a great gift for all the mom’s out there who enjoy reading.

I thoroughly am enjoying my copy!

See the Teen Version here

I received my copy of this book for review from the Author.

Read, Remember, Recommend For Teens by Rachel Roger’s Knight

Published on April 27, 2010April 27, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

I love to see teens read. It’s like reading… the next generation. When I had the opportunity to review Read, Remember, Recommend For Teens I jumped at the chance. As an adult I love the version of this book made for me, but was thrilled to see the genius that went into this one.

What do I mean? The lists of books in the early pages are award-winning books – YA Literature. In the introduction, teens are encouraged to try other genres that maybe they hadn’t thought they would like or never had the opportunity to read. The books recommended and listed have an age next to them so teens can know at what age the book was written for. I enjoyed looking through the titles of the books and wanting to read some of them myself.

The record keeping part of the books where you keep track of the books you want to read is just in a fun layout that will appeal to teens. Journal pages and pages to write your own recommendation… this is a teen readers way to organization and possibly new books and authors.

I was in love with this book from the first time I flipped through its pages. There are thousands of reading suggestions in this book!