Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Breathtaking action!  I was transported into a world that may have once been mine… and I found myself anticipating what would happen next!  ~  Sheila

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games.” The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.



In My Opinion:

I just finished Hunger games minutes ago and I feel like I have just been let in to a secret club.  Seriously.  I have read reviews on Hunger Games for months now and wondering what all the hype was.  I entered a few contests to win it, and did not.  I did however win a copy of Catching Fire and I knew I had to read Hunger Games first so I bought it last weekend and started it yesterday.

This is a book that by cover alone I would never have picked up.  The title?  Nope.  Reading what it was about?  Still a no, I couldn’t imagine myself reading on a topic of young kids fighting to the death.  Even after I picked the book up and opened up to the first page I still am having doubt.  What if I am that one person that just cant get into this book? And then I started reading….  and in no time, I love Katniss and her strength and her love for her family.  I love Prim in all her youthfulness and sweetness… still mostly untouched by all the harshness of all this world that I have just entered.  I could hardly put it down.  You know the type.  The book that you can hardly stop to eat dinner for.  It traveled with me everywhere the past 48 hours.  In any spare moments I had, I read.

I don’t know what I can say other than I loved this book!  It is so well written that I have a list of people who I feel must read it.  I have to tell my book club about it.  I am not sure who to pass this book on to next because the selfish book lover in me is thinking, what if they damage it?  What if I don’t get it back?  I seriously am treating this book like a piece of gold I just discovered…. a book of much worth.

What am I reading next?  As I type, I have Catching Fire sitting next to me.  It has to be next.  I have to know what happens next.


I purchased my copy of this book from Barnes & Noble, St. Cloud, MN


Morning Meanderings

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

I am so excited!  Yesterday I finished reading Hunger Games and I feel like I have just been given the keys to the club that is all things Suzanne Collins!  I seriously can not even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book!  My review will be up later today along with my first use of the Spoiler Alert Button so those of you who have alread read the book can enter there and we can discuss the book in more detail!  I would really enjoy that!  🙂

Yesterday my friend Jennifer and I went on an 18 mile bike ride!  Yes!  18 miles on November 21 in MINNESOTA!  The temperature was about 48  degrees.  I was totally not dressed right and after I got home spent the next couple hours in bed with a sweatshirt on and three quilts on my with the heat turned up.  SO COLD.

My vehicle loaded with my bike for the November ride!
My vehicle loaded with my bike for the November ride!

In a couple hours here Chance and I are going to go and see New Moon!  I bought the tickets yesterday and I am really excited for this movie!

My In My Mailbox post went up late last night so if you are curious what entered the home of the DeChantal’s this week, please check it out here….

In My Mailbox

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

This weeks mailbox was a  fairly light one.  Here is what arrived:



Rene’ has Two Names – how fun is this great looking book?


40 Loaves is an upcoming Blog Tour that I am really excited about!


The Silent Gift, Though Waters Roar, and The Rose Legacy are all from Bethany House.  These books look like sweet reads I am going to review soon!


Samson’s Wall’s ARC is a pretty exciting sounding read.  I am glad to get in on the ground floor of this one.


Healthy Bread In Five Minutes A Day (what is with the bread theme this week?)  This looks delicious!  I think this review may be on Thanksgiving as I try out a recipe or two out of this wonderful looking book!


Run For Your Life Audio is a win from J Kayes Blog!  I am so excited to listen to this one… I am on a whole Patterson kick…  Thanks J Kaye!


Thanksgiving At The Inn is a win from Miss Remmer’s Blog.  What perfect timing!  I want tor ead this one this weel for obvious reasons!  🙂  Thanks Reagan!


So that’s what the mailbox had in store for me this week.  How about you?  Be sure to link to this wonderful weekly meme hosted by Kristi of Story Siren.

Happy reading everyone!  I am off to enjoy Catching Fire, having finish Hunger Games about an hour ago…. I am now a total addict!  😉

The Winners!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

I had several giveaways end on the 20th and I am now ready to announce the lucky winners! All winners are chosen by using Random.org

First up, I have 3 copies of 9 Dragons by Michael Connelly to give away…

the winners are….

Jonnie H

(already won this book so new name was drawn)

Framed

Debbie

Sandi

Winner from Alisons Guest Post on Jantsen’s Gift for a copy of the incredible book Jantsens Gift:

Margie

Winner from Esme’s Guest Post of a Book of their choice from the prize box:

Piroska

And last but not least…. the New Moon book giveaway with candy….

Birdie S.

Interesting fact… on the New Moon giveaway the question to qualify for this giveaway was who is your favorite Twilight series character….  the winner out of the 70 responses was:

Edward

Thanks everyone for entering the giveaways!  Please check the giveaway link often, I have more giveaways going up soon and and a big one planned to start in December!



2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Having started my serious blogging journey this past June, this was a challenge that I was curious about but was unsure if was a reachable goal at at that time.  I still have not sat down and organized my reviews of this year to see where I have landed, but I hope to do that soon.  I also need to really organize my Challenges for 2010.  🙂

This one is really an ideal Challenge for me, and really for anyone who reads a lot.  You can use this with any other challenge, so for instance, I also signed up for the challenge to read 25 YA reads in 2010.  I can include those 25 in this challenge.  Interested on knowing more?  Stop over at J Kayes Blog and find the official sign up post.


1.Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling

2. The Mayo Clinic Diet and Journal

3. Mass Casualties by Michael Anthony

4. hush hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

5. Monique And The Mango Rains by Kris Holloway

6. What To Do When The Roof Caves In by Marilyn Meberg

7. The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent

8. Denise’s Daily Dozen by Denise Austin

9. The Fruit Of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina

10.  The Mercy Seller by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

11.  War Child by Emmanuel Jal

12.  Rene Has Two Last Names by Rene Calato Lainez

13.  The Mother Daughter Book Club by Shireen Dodson

14.  I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

15.  Home Is Where The Wine Is by Laurie Perry

16.  The Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter and Sweet By Jamie Ford

17.  Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

18.  Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner

19.  The Pastors Wife By Jennifer AILee

20.  Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

21.  Always My Brother by Jean Reagan

22.  Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney

23.  STILL A Winters Journey by Greg Budig

24.  The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

25.  The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski

26.  I Hadn’t meant To Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson

27.  My Shoes and I by Rene Colato Lainez

28.  The Thirteenth Hour by Richard Doetsch

29.  The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

30.  Girlfriends From Campfires to Crows Feet by Monica Sheehan

31.  Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman

32.  Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

33.  The Fiddler’s Gun by A.S. Peterson

34. Songbirds Under A German Moon by Tricia Goyer

35.  Little Bee by Chris Cleave

36.  Sand In My Bra From Funny Women From The Road

37.  Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

38.  Hold Still by Nina LaCour

39.  100 Cupboards by N D Wilson

40.  Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachel Rogers Knight

41.  Worst Case by James Patterson

42.  Deadly Deals by Fern Michaels

43.  Titanic 2012 by Bill Walker

44.  Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden

45.  The Arrival by Shaun Tan

46.  The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano

47.  Forbidden Fruit by Pearce Carefoote

48.  Life In Spite Of Me by Tricia Goyer

49.The Opposite Of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

50.  The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow

51.  The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

52.  Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish

53.  Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling

54.  Eyes Of Darkness by Dean Koontz

55.  Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

56.  Dreaming Of Dior by Charlotte Smith

57.  Dovey Coe by Frances O Roark Dowell

58.  The Short Second Life On Bree tanner by Stephanie Meyer

59. Guest House by Barbara Richardson

60.  The Missing Element by John Betcher

61.  At Witt’s End by Beth Solheim

62.  Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

63.  born under a million shadows by Andrea Busfield

64.  Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook

65.  The Accidental Adult by Colin Sokolowski

66.  The Icing On The Cupcake by Jennifer Ross

67.  Not Without Hope by Nick Schuyler

68.  The Game On Diet by Krista Vernoff and A Z Ferguson

69.  The Color Purple by Alice Walker

70.  The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook

71.  Thumbing Through Thoreau by Kenny Luck

72.  auf weidersehen by Christa Holder Ocker

73.  The Evolution of Shadows by Jason Quinn Malot

74.  Summer At Tiffany’s by Marjorie Hart

75.  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

76.  Masquerade by Nancy Moser

77.  To Kill A  Mockingbird by Harper Lee

78.  I Am Nujood Age 10 and Divorced by Nojood Ali

79.  What The YUCK by the Editors of Health

80.  The I Hate To Cook Book by Peg Bracken

81.  The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

82.  ROOM by Emma Donoghue

83.  The Face On The Milk Carton by Caroline B Cooney

84.  SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

85.  The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel and Pie Society by Mary Ann Schafer

86.  The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansens

87.  The Absolute True Diary Of A Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

88.  Noah’s Castle by John Rowe Townsend

89.  The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

90.  Alice’s tea Cup by Haley Fox and Lauren Fox

91.  The LORAX by Dr. Suess

92.  The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

93.  Left To Tell by Immaculee IIibagiza

94.  The Boticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato

95.  Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro

96.  The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts

97.  Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

98.  Dont Sing At The Table… Life Lessons From My Grandmothers by Adraina Trigiani

99.  The Games Bible by Leigh Anderson

100.  Coffee and Fate by R J Erbacher

101.  The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

102.  The Secret Society Of The Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

103.  Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

104.  Chosen – House Of Night by P.C. Cast

105.  Step On A Crack by James Patterson

106.  Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling

107.  Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch

108.  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

109.  The Postcard Killers by James Patterson

110.  The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

111.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

112.  Life Sentences by Laura Lippman

113.  Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

114.  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

115.  House Rules by Jodi Piccoult

116.  The Passage by Justin Cronin

 


Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

I have a 3 hour Leadership Training meeting this morning so not a lot of time here but wanted to grab Coffee Cup and say hi really quick.  I have winner s to announce later for the giveaways that ended yesterday.

This afternoon I plan to go to New Moon with Chance and I am pretty excited about that.  I also started reading Hunger Games yesterday afternoon and it is totally blowing me away.  I would have never thought I would have enjoyed a book with this sort of theme but I am so loving it.  Obviously more soon…. this will be quite the review!

You may have noticed my post on the Pemberley Ball.  Yes, I have been invited to a weekend ball of all things Austen!  Stop by and check out this clever event!

I am off for now.  Enjoy your Saturday wherever you are!

Pemberley Ball

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Pemberley Ball

November 20-22, 2009

3-day party

Welcome!  For the next couple of days I will be partaking in this wonderful ball being held by Mr. Darcey himself!  Why it makes me blush just to think about it!  This is an open invitation if you would care to join me.  The invite did say I could bring along a few acquaintances and of course I thought of you.

I am so pleased with the gown I was able to just finish the lace on this afternoon.  I certainly hope their will be lots of dancing as I have my dance card ready to go!

Marianne Dashwood

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

Does anyone elses day go like this?

I wake up and I am excited…. I don’t work today!  Imagine the possibilities.  I already have the laundry and dishes done so I really don’t have any household commitments… whatever will I do with my time?

I could spend some time reading – oh that would be nice!

Or maybe even take a nap – I haven’t done that in like forever!

Then reality sets in…

I am planning to work out at noon, but I really should get there at 11:30 so I can use the elliptical before class starts.

Oh – but I also need to stop by the office to get a count for tomorrow mornings Leadership Training meeting as we are having continental breakfast and I am in charge of purchasing and setting that up….

Oh – thats right I said I would stop by the book store and see what they have for Harry Potter in audio…. I would like to price out the first book…  should I do that before or after the work out?

I must stop by the movie theater and pick up our New Moon tickets for tomorrow afternoon

I really do need to drop those three books at the post office today.

And don’t forget supper…. it is Friday night, I should make something nice….

maybe we could watch a movie…. I should pick up a movie!

I need to get to Wal-Mart too and pick up my picture CD’s so I can mail out the certificates for everyone who went to Honduras….

I keep procrastinating on updating the Book Challenges I am currently in….  thats right, I did plan on doing that today.

I haven’t seen my Grandpa in quite a while – I really should stop by and talk with him…

and just like that…

the day is full.  😉

Today starts the Pemberley Ball.  Whatever will I wear?  😉

Last Chance Rescue by Tracey Cramer-Kelly

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

When Brad Sievers runs into his old friend Jessie Van Dyke at his high school reunion, little does he know how much it will change his life. When his high-powered advertising career fizzles, he falls into a most unlikely career opportunity — becoming a member of Jessie’s search-and-rescue team. Nothing in his life has prepared Brad for this, but he finds it more fulfilling than a dozen advertising campaigns.

Through dangerous rescues and personal trials, Brad and Jessie become close friends. They share in the birth of her first colt from her rescued horse; Jessie helps Brad when one of his first rescues doesn’t make it. When one of their rescue victims turns out to be a fellow soldier from Jessie’s Iraq War days, Brad almost loses her to old demons. But when Brad is severely injured in a training accident, Jessie nurses him back to health as only she can. And when she goes missing one night, Brad realizes just how important she has become to him.

Both Brad and Jessie must fight their own defenses to finally let down the walls that will allow them to rescue each other. This is a story about breath-taking action and adventurous lives, and the heart that is behind it all.


An Author Chat with Author Tracey Cramer-Kelly

Tracey, What books have been an influence in your life?

There are so many that I can’t list specific ones. I like books with complex, more adult characters (Nicolas Sparks comes to mind); I am particularly fascinated by how a male character may change/be changed by events/situations (a major theme in Last Chance Rescue as well). I like unusual settings, but not to the point of unbelievability (which is why I did ride-alongs with a medevac team before I finished writing Last Chance Rescue). My ‘pet peeve’ is a book with too much ‘headhopping’ (constantly changing points of view).


What do you do when you are not writing?

I am wife and mother to two young children (2 and 6) and I enjoy spending time with them, especially outdoors. I ride my motorcycle as often as possible! I just started taking lessons for my fixed-wing pilot license (an ‘add-on’ to my helicopter license). I play the taiko drums every Saturday morning and sing with my friend’s band when I can. When I can get away, I enjoy skiing (all kinds) and white-water rafting/kayaking.


How did you come up with this topic for your book?

My writing is heavily influenced by the time I spent in the military and by the medical training I received there. And when I became a helicopter pilot, it opened new relationships with some amazing people—and Last Chance Rescue really came together after I did some ride-alongs with medevac and search-and-rescue.

Last Chance Rescue (a finalist in the 2009 Indie Awards) is about two people who must fight their own defenses to finally let down the walls that will allow them to rescue each other. It is a story about breath-taking search-and-rescue action and adventurous lives—and the heart that is behind it all.


If you could wish for anything, what would it be?

I’m pretty satisfied with where I am in life. But in terms of my writing … what the heck, if you’re going to dream, why not dream big? I would like my next novel to be picked up by an agent and publisher and become ridiculously popular—to the point there’s a bidding war for the movie rights (to BOTH novels) and I finally get to produce a musical (in which I would do the singing). 🙂


LOL Tracey.  That is an awesome response!  Thanks for visiting with us today!

 

Tracey will be giving away an autographed copy of her book “Last Chance Rescue” to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour and an autographed copy of her book to the tour host with the most comments, excluding duplicates or Tracey’s responses.

 



Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

I have been a fan of Randall Arthur for years!  A chance to read and review this book was a pleasure!  ~ Sheila


Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.  And it is about to cost him everything.

What does it take to soften a heart so entrenched in law that it never truly loves?

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

In My Opinion:

I read Randall Arthur several years ago.  In fact, I had read all three of Randall Arthurs books which include:  Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal.  I enjoyed his books so much, I have checked for new books from his occasionally on line and had come up empty.  When I was requested to do a review to the re-issue of this book, Wisdom Hunter, I jumped at the chance.

Wayne Jacobson, publisher of The Shack says it well when he says, “Finally someone who understands that most religeous trappings do not enhance faith but actually undermine it!”

This is what I love about this book, Randall Arthur takes tough topics – real topics.  When Jason Faircloth’s heavy handed teachings of right and wrong for his daughter causes him to lose her.  As his world crumbles… Jason learns hard lessons on forgiveness.

This book is so well written, so fast paced, I read it in a matter of hours, not putting it down.  As the story opens we find Pastor Jason Faircloth to be a man who has the respect of his congregational and he leads with the belief that he is right and it can only be his way – the way he believes.  As God begans to put painful trials in Jason’s life, we start to see the truth.

It is so refreshing to read a Christian fiction book that is not sugar coated.  Randall Arthur puts his characters through the wringer.  I lie reading about real issues that happen in the lives of Christians, yes, even Pastors have their struggles as we can see all the time on the tv or read about in the paper.  We all fall short and Randall Arthur gives us an honest look into one families struggles, driven apart to never be as they once were.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed and was thrilled to have the opportunity to not only read it again, but have the chance to share this read with all of you.

About the Author:

Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe. Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.

I received my review copy of this book from WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House