Once Upon A Reading Mini Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

This challenge is closed.  The winner is callista83!!!

please send me your email and I will send you your prize Sunday morning.  🙂

As book lovers we do enjoy a good story!  Here is what this challenge will consist of:


Write a short story using Book Titles to make your story.  Your story should be three or four paragraphs long and have at least 10 book titles within it.  (*Bold the book titles to make them more obvious)

Feel free to post this to your blog (for two entries) and then leave me the link here in the comment area -or if you would rather, place your story in the comment area here for one entry.

An example would be like:

Rebecca, The Pastor’s Wife, quietly moved into the Guest House.  She felt Caught up in the Deception and needed time to be Alone…. I think you get it 🙂


This challenge will go on for three hours.  After that time a winner will be chosen using Random.org  and the winner will be emailed a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Good luck and have fun!

Readathon Mid Event Mini Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

  

    

   

   

  

1. What are you reading right now?  Guest House by Brabara Richardson
 
 
2. How many books have you read so far?   3 1/2
 
 
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?  Fablehaven and/or Hex Hall
 
 
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?   I cleared out the house – hubby worked in office and College son took off with friends for the day to let me do this. 
 
 
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  More than I would have liked.  Phone and 19 year old popping in and out…
 
 
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  Mostly how long it takes me to get through the books.  My own fault of course…. I am cheering and visiting and twittering and nosing around the mini challenges.  🙂
 
 
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  No
 
 
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?  Hmmmm…. probably just planning my time better as a reader. 
 
 
9. Are you getting tired yet?   Surprisingly not , and I started 2 hours early here at 5 am to get a jump on the challenge. 
 
 
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?  Not at this time
 
 

   

     

     

     

The Readathon has begun and I have been reading for an hour at this point and sipping coffee and doing a little cheerleading too.    


   

The first challenge up today is sharing a little bit about the Readathon prep and me….  so here goes:   


   

Where are you reading from today?

I am home in Minnesota in my Reading Room (picture me buried in a large recliner covered in a blanket that I love because it used to be my mom’s…. surrounded by books, coffee and a little bit of chocolate (Hey!  How did that get there???)


   

3 Facts About Me

1. I am a huge gamer.  I love challenges and board games and online games and computer games.  One winter I played and beat all of the Zelda Nintendo games for Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and whatever the game box was after that….  (Crazy stuff.  I know right?)   


   

2.  I have been to Honduras 8 times and work with street kids and kids who live in the dump when I am there.  I think that is the most fulfilling thing I have done this far with my life.   


   

3.  I am a biking fool and sign up for every bike tour within a 3 hour radius of my home.  The first one this year is April 25 and the goal is 65 miles.    


   

How Many Books Do I Have In My TBR Pile For The Next 24 Hours?

That is hard to say…. I went through and picked out an assortment of about 15 – but that was for variety….  no way I will get through all of them.  I would be happy if I could complete 5.   


   

Do I have any Goals for this readathon?

Hmmm….. not really other than to just have fun with this.  There are a couple of books I really am hoping to get to today- Fablehaven and Hex Hall.   


   

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Have fun!  This is a great event but it is not an assignment!  Take a break when you need to.  (I have my IPOD ready to go with an audio book in the event I need a break later and want to hop on the bike for a spin around the neighborhood.   

Also – watch the Dewey site for fun challenges (for the gamer in you!) to participate in.  AND take a break and check out some of the other participants blogs or chat a bit on Twitter.  You never know what blog you may find that will be come a “must read”.    

   

Mini Challenge: Drabble Time (post 5)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments


Here is my attempt at a Drabble for the mini challenge by Midnight Book Girl.

Katniss, armed with her bow and a single arrow, crawled cautiously through the woods.  She worked at staying alert to sounds and possible traps that would cause her to fail in her mission.

A flash of color; what was that?  A unicorn.  She had never seen one before.

And the chanting.  What was with the chanting, were the voices saying “crucio?”

As she made her way to the clearing and seen the large building that loomed over her that said Hogwarts.  She knew the bow was probably not going to be enough to save her.


Hopefully I didn’t break the rule here by mixing two series of books but thought it would be fun to see what would happen when Hunger Games meets Harry Potter…. LOL

Update:  I have finished Sand In My Bra and Poetry Speaks  Who I am.  Both very good in very different ways.  I am moving on to Avempartha and Guest House…. need some water and something to munch on.

Readathon Mini Challenge (post 4)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

I can’t help it…. the creative person in me can not resist this mini challenge….

seriously how fun is this?

Bart wanted us to put three or four books together to form a sentence.  As my eyes scanned my book shelves (even though I tried to keep them on my book!) I made one that cracked me up.  When I pulled the books together I saw I had five so here is the picture as 4 books:

While I was gone, Cleopatra’s Daughter sold nine dragons.

and here it is as 5:

Inside the kingdom while I was gone, Cleopatra’s Daughter sold nine dragons.

Readathon Mini Challenge :Kick Off (post 3)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments


I have to do this mini challenge as it is my friend (and BEA  roomy) Reagan who is hosting.  If you have not checked out her super cool blog I recommend it.  🙂

The Mini Challenge is to discuss the prep work that went into our Readathon start.  Mine was setting up my favorite chair in the reading room… I pulled in an extra little table so I could have near me:

My Books ( the possibilities anyway…)

Reading Glasses (in case eyes get tired)

Notebook and pen (to prep thoughts for reviews)

Cell phone (I dont want to have to get up)

Coffee Cup (how I love thee….)

Camera (possible mini challenge moments!)

Barnes and Noble gift card in case I have a weak moment

my favorite blanket (Kiki, this is the blanket I talked about in the last post!)  🙂

And I took a picture to hopefully give you the full visual.  🙂

Readathon Progress:  Reading Sand In My Bra (on page 65)….. still 1st book but have spent a bit of time Cheerleading!  🙂

Morning Meandering: Readathon Day

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments


5:00 am at The DeChantal Household and Coffee Cup and I am ready to go with todays Readathon.  I have books picked out that vary from size, to genres, to the ones I have been drooling over for months but have not had time to get to.


Throughout the day I will be posting updates of what I am currently reading…. what I am fueling my brain with (besides words) and I will be participating in mini challenges throughout the day.  (*Note to subscribers of this blog : if today’s event creates extra posts in  your email I apologize now and want you to know this is for the next 24 hours only. )

So what am I starting with?  I actually have a couple near by for mood changes but here is the early (EARLY) morning start up:


The second book of this Sullivan series.  I have book three and book for is due out in a few weeks.  I am half way through this one and want to finish it today.



I picked this book up when my friends and I were in Grand Marais, MN last fall.  It was at a cute little book store and thought it looked like a fun read.

Ok that’s my starting line up and I am reading!  Check out more of what is going on today at the Dewey Readathon website.  At last count there were 371 participants!

Book Blogger Hop

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

I am kind of giddy with excitement that I finally remember to do this Friday meme.  I love networking and seeing bloggers styles of writing and layouts of their blogs so I am glad that today I can participate! 😀


ABOUT THE HOP:

This is a weekly event, hosted at Crazy For Books, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read.  It’s a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends!  In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start Hopping!!

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know!  Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added!  And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

**This is my first time joining in so I am off to find hopefully a new blogger friend or two!  Next week I will let you know of any new blogs I found!


Want to join?  Pop – I mean HOP on over to Crazy For Books and let the fun begin!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments

Riddle me this… why is that when I go to buy my dogs these little dog foods I find myself studying the flavors as though I was going to eat it myself?

Seriously, I am in that dog food aisle for about ten minutes trying to choose if I want to get the smoked bacon and egg, grilled steak and ham, salmon, or the chicken and liver.   When the trance lifts, I almost always have more of the salmon in my cart because that just sounds good.

Sounds good?

My dogs have never showed a preference.   They happily accept whatever I serve and yet even picking it out of the cupboard I am doing it again…. “Let’s see… last night they had chicken….“

OK then…. 😉


Today I have a workout schedule in mind and hopefully get all my planning set for next weekend when I go to Pensacola Florida to see Navy son.  I have my flight taken care of but have been so busy I have not booked the hotel yet.  Yipes!  I will bet here Thursday – Sun… hoping to get in some great weather and wonderful times with both of my sons!  (Yes!  College son will be flying with me to hang out with his brother!)

Now I did promise to have the video up for my “Payback” that I gave to Brett for “foiling” my office last week for April Fools Day.  Here is that payback:

**For some reason I can not get the video to work… will try another day 🙂

I hope many of you are going to bed early tonight and joining me and many other bloggers tomorrow for the Readathon.  🙂

Songbird Under A German Moon by Tricia Goyer

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments


The year is 1945. The war is over and 21-year-old Betty Lake has been invited to Europe to sing in a USO tour for American soldiers who now occupy Hitler’s Germany. The first nights performance is a hit. Betty becomes enthralled with the applause, the former Nazi-held mansion they’re housed in and the attention of Frank Witt, the US Army Signal Corp Photographer. Yet the next night this songbird is ready to fly the coop when Betty’s dear friend, Kat, turns up missing.

Betty soon realizes Franks photographs could be the key to finding Kat. Betty and Frank team up against post-war Nazi influences and the two lovebirds’ hearts may find the answers…in each other.

But will they have a chance for their romance to sing? The truth will be revealed under a German moon.


I have read Tricia Goyer before and have enjoyed her writing style.   Under A German Moon is the first Historical Fiction read I have read by this author.

I found myself sitting back and enjoying this mystery suspense read.  Tricia has a knack of bring characters to life, and while her suspense is not “on the edge of your seat” style.… it is enough of an impact where you want to keep reading, you want to know what is going to happen.

As the novel continues on and Betty searches for her friend…. and somewhere in the midst of her searching – finds that she is also searching for herself.   Tricia Goyer puts historical details in place of building and scenery into this after WWII story.

This mystery part of the story I enjoyed more than the romance story between Betty and Frank.  As one who will choose a mystery over a romance read any day, that is just me.

Tricia blends the story together nicely and I came out the other side satisfied with the book.

About Tricia:

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-four books including From Dust and Ashes, My Life UnScripted, and the children’s book, 10 Minutes to Showtime. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions.  She and her family make their home in the mountains of Montana. Visit www.triciagoyer.com for more info!


What Era? Contest: Leave a comment on Tricia’s blog or send an email through her website CONNECT page and answer this question: What era in history do you wish you’d lived in and why? Earn extra entries by signing up for Tricia’s newsletter here, becoming a Fan on Facebook or Tweeting about the contest on Twitter (use hashtag #songbird)!

You’ll be entered to win one of three signed copies of Songbird Under a German Moon.

Winner’s announced here!

I received my copy for review of this book from Litfuse


Morning Meanderings….

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Don’t hate me for this post.  I just have to share this with you.  Bookcloseouts.com is having another sale.  I raved about this website when I found it is February and enjoyed incredible prices and gorgeous books.  If you haven’t checked out this site, I recommend you do…. and if you find lots of wonderful books….  let me know what you find.  🙂

Looks like another beautiful day here in Minnesota!  After work I have a work out date with my friend Heidi and then maybe a bike ride if I can fit it in before Survivor tonight.

Oh – and if any of you seen my post last week about what was done to me on April 1st…. stay tune tomorrow as I post the pictures of what I did back.  🙂

Have a wonderful day everyone – I have a review up later and perhaps a few winners tonight!