It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on October 19, 2009October 19, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

This is a weekly Meme from J Kayes Blog. Today I am actually into two books. I am reading Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck and just getting into the rhythm of the book. I am also casually reading What To Do When The Roof Caves In by Marilyn Meberg. While Catch Me Falling is a historical fiction read… What To Do When The Roof Caves In is a humorous look into the issues that rain down on us in our life times and how to handle these “opportunities” with grace. I just seen Marilyn Meberg speak over this past weekend and she continuously cracks me up with her candid way of telling her story.

If you have not had the pleasure of ever hearing Marilyn speak – here is a clip to get a little sample:

For this week I am finishing up the two books I just mentioned above and Family Plot is a book tour today and I have that one almost ready to go. My main reading this week is going to be focussed on The Help by Kathryn Stockett as this is going to be our first book review for and discussion for the Word Shakers online book club. I am nervously excited as we have quite a group reading this book and then we are going to have a group post here next Monday as well as links to the other reviews. I have never done anything like this before so I am hoping I can do it well and hold the interest of the group and of course the readers.

What are you reading?

Be sure to stop by J Kaye’s Blog and link in so others may check out what you are reading as well! 🙂

Morning Meanderings….

Published on October 19, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

Yesterday was a relaxing day. I am dealing with an abscessed tooth until I can get into the dentist (hopefully today!) I was back from the Women of Faith Conference in ST Paul and wiped out from the weekend of tooth pain and the conference itself. I am a person who recharges my batteries by being alone – events with lots of people and action exhausts me and alone time was just what I needed.

Other than a bit of laundry and some cooking, I pretty much just read a little bit and caught up on my blog hopping a lot. So today I want to show you the links to the books I seen while traveling the blogesphere that I now want to add to my wish list….

Over at My Fluttering Heart, I was looking to see what Aimee received in her mailbox last week. AT first I seen a Philippa Gregory book that she had posted about but then… below that was the book that stopped me. Lady of The Butterflies by Fiona Mountain looks wonderful! What a great cover! I have linked the post here so click your way over to Aimee’s blog and see this book for yourself. It is going under the Wishes Tab for me!

Then I was visiting over at Rebecca’s Blog, Everything To Do With Books and seen Libyrinth by Pearl North a fascinating sounding book and another gorgeous cover!. But – that’s not all…. in this same In My Mailbox post Rebecca also had a book called The Crossing by Mandy Hager that I dont know if I would call cover love, but the cover certainly caused me pause and then reading about the book… well we can add two more books to my Wishes Tab. Pop over and see Everything To Do With Books… you may just find something for your wish list as well! 🙂

Then as I hopped around the blogesphere I landed at Maw Books where Natasha shared a book that is drop dead gorgeous – inside and outside! Climbing The Stairs by Padma Venkatraman caught my eye with the wonderful cover, but it was the story inside that Natasha touches on that sold me. This is another one I encourage you to check out. And yes, this too is heading on to my Wishes Tab.

So as Coffee Cup and I start our day today I am adding these books to the Wishes Tab and feeling pretty good (besides the tooth – but I am on codeine so even that is mild). I swear I think it is the weather that makes me so book hungry. Looking out my window it is another cold dreary morning here in Minnesota. Overcast skies in that depressing grayish color that kind of hangs on throughout the next 5 months… yeah, I think that is why I crave to read and go the places the books take me – to hopefully sunny skies and warmer areas of the world with characters that warm my heart.

Seasonal Reading….

Published on October 18, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

So here is something I have been pondering lately… do we read different styles/genres of books at different times of the year? I was reading a post earlier today at Ryan’s Wordsmithonia and he mentions how as the weather gets colder he starts looking forward to spooky movies. I think this applies to books as well.

I know this is true of myself. In the summer I love light chick lit fun friendship books. I love books about beaches and beach houses, fictional travels – I think just overall what you could probably call beach reads (although I rarely ever make it to the beach). Its not set in stone and of course there are other reads in there as well.

As fall comes in – I do notice a change in my reading. Shorter days that bring darkness to our area by 7:30 pm, cool nights that require the heat on and usually a warm blanket to throw over myself as I watch a movie or dig into a book. And those books I tend to crave? I seem to feel like reading a good mystery. Visions of Agatha Christy and Johnathon Kellerman… maybe the latest Grisham or my new found author Michael Connelly. It almost seems like as those of us in Minnesota are taking out our crock pots and planning heartier meals of soups and chili’s… I am also looking for a heartier read.

So my question today to you is – are you a seasonal reader? Do you seem to crave different reads at different times of year? Share a little here about that. I would love to read your thoughts on this. 🙂

9 Dragons by Michael Connelly with Giveaway

Published on October 18, 2009October 18, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)53 Comments

Michale Connelly’s thriller is set mostly in Hong Kong. I was so glad I had my passport ready for this one! ~ Sheila

From the streets of L.A. to the shimmering skyline of Hong Kong, Harry Bosch must find his missing daughter.

Harry Bosch is assigned a homicide call in South L.A. that takes him to Fortune Liquors, where the Chinese owner has been shot to death behind the counter in a robbery. Joined by members of the department’s Asian Crime Unit, Bosch relentlessly investigates the killing and soon identifies a suspect, a Los Angeles member of a Hong Kong triad.

But before Harry can close in, he gets the word that his young daughter Maddie, who lives in Hong Kong with her mother, is missing.

Bosch drops everything to journey across the Pacific to find his daughter. Could her disappearance and the case be connected? With the stakes of the investigation so high and so personal, Bosch is up against the clock in a new city, where nothing is at it seems.

Book Tour

My Thoughts:

Michael Connelly is an author I just became a reader of this year. This is actually his 14th book where he uses Detective Harry Bosch as the main character and I was a bit concerned that this would put me on the outside looking in to a series of books that had started long ago. This was not a concern in this book, Michael Connelly writes his character so well that I did not feel that I was missing information needed to fully understand Harry Bosch, who he was, and where he was coming from.

I don’t know what it is about this time of year but my reading style actually changes up from the lighter reads of summer (beach reads, vacation themes, chick lit…) to almost a need for a more hearty style book as the cooler weather creeps into Minnesota. Michael Connelly delivers such a read. A gripping and colorful background layout of Hong Kong lead me deeper into this story. Twists and turns galore I was not lacking for adventure as I hit the road with Detective Harry Bosch.

Fast paced – starting the book out in LA and our Detective has his hands full right from the start with a homicide with connections (leaving that for the reader to discover), a partner who is causing concern, and leading up to the kidnapping of Harry’s own daughter, Maddie.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and found it hit the literary spot that I was craving!

Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler,
had written.
Michael lives with his family in Florida.

You can check out Michaels Website here

Thank you to Hachelle Book Group who has offered me four copies of this wonderful book to give away. Here is how to enter:

1) Leave a comment here with the name of a Michael Connelly book you have read OR if you have not read Michael Connelly before please look at his books here and leave me the title of one you think you would enjoy. (*This must be done to receive your entry into the drawing for this book)

For Additional Entries:

2) Receive a second entry if you Twitter, Facebook, or blog about this. Be sure to leave me a separate comment here with where you did this.

3) A third entry is available if you comment on any other non giveaway post here and be sure to let me know on a separate comment which post you commented on

Thats it! Have fun! This giveaway is open to USA and Canada. Giveaway will end on November 20.

My review copy came from Valerie from Hachette Book Group

My rating on this book is PG13

In My Mailbox

Published on October 18, 2009October 18, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

I am excited that this post is going to be up somewhat earlier for me than usual. I had a good week – a busy week and just now I am able to unpack these treasures with you here!

Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman
When Alisa Stewart’s son checks himself into rehab, he seems to find a healing faith that’s real. Yet the hope she feels at this news is cracked when a policeman shows up asking dark questions about a murder of someone Kurt knew. Alisa is terrified. Her boy is different now. He’s changed and deserves a second chance. But as his old life refuses to stay buried, Alisa finds herself facing an impossible choice: keep silent and keep her son or risk everything in a quest for the truth.

This is a book from Bethany House Reviews. I usually do not like covers with people on them but this one I do!

Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish

Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant girl–hours old, abandoned in a field. When the mother can’t be located, Ben and his wife, Abbi, seem like the perfect couple to serve as foster parents. But the baby’s arrival opens old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastating tour in Iraq. As their marriage teeters on the brink, they now must choose to either reclaim what they once had or lose each other forever.

This book is also from Bethany House Reviews. This books topic really spoke to me ad I knew I wanted to review it. I have a real heart for children in need.

Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark

Kendy Laswell and her daughter, Maisey, used to do everything together–until one fateful summer when Maisey witnessed something she shouldn’t have, and their relationship fractured. Now, Maisey is back home to get married and Kendy realizes this is her last chance to reconnect with her daughter. Will Kendy and Maisey be able to reclaim the bond they once shared?

Totally cover love on this one – also from Bathany House Reviews. The cover caused me to read on and the topic sounds good.

Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor by Willow

One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers that everyone in her village is under a spell. Everyone but her! Then she sees a mysterious stranger change into a huge bird, a bird with a beak like a sword. Did he cast the spell? Desperate to find someone who can break it, she flees, leaving her village behind. Soon she meets some wood nymphs and learns, to her surprise, that she is part wood nymph.

An old herbwoman tells her to seek help from a wizard who lives far away, a journey that will take her across the Three Kingdoms. Along the way she’s joined by a kindly troll and a reluctant palace guard. They are pursued by the twin princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the huge, dangerous bird.

Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa and her friends in his magic mirror and plans a second spell that will kill everyone
in the Three Kingdoms.

Seriously did you read this description? Does that sound wonderfully fantasy? This is a book tour for Nov 24 sponsored by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. The author stuck me a little post it note message on the book – way cool!

let go by Sheila Walsh

Burdened. The word alone makes shoulders sink. It slows down our lives. It clouds our vision. It is the result of so many memories, grudges, fears, uncertainty, and stress. It is heavy.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

Overworked? Overcommitted? Overtired? Underappreciated?

Let go and live free.

Sound impossible? Sheila Walsh thought so – until God proved himself again and again through his Word, his people, and her life.

In Let Go, the bestselling author and speaker walks readers through the journey to freedom in Christ. Along the way, she tackles some of the toughest struggles that weigh women down, answering them with overwhelming truth, promise, and hope.

I picked this up at the Women of Faith Conference this weekend. Sheila Walsh spoke there and I am always impressed on how real she is. Sheila really opened up about her own life happenings and I knew I had to read this book.

A Perfect Mess by Lisa Harper

In this liberating look at how God adores and transforms imperfect people, Bible teacher Lisa Harper weaves poignant stories of her own personal foibles with a fresh take on selected Psalms to reveal a loving Father who remains your greatest champion even when you don’t feel anywhere close to holy.
Join Lisa in discovering what happens when we stop trying to hide our inadequacies and doubts and instead trust God with our anger, frustrations, flaws, and regrets. As you accept God’s loving invitation to exchange your junk for His joy, you’ll find the imperfect pieces of your life shaped into a glorious pattern of divine grace.

I seen Lisa Harper for the first time this weekend and thought that anyone that can talk about carrying a dead goat up a hill of her property and lose her pants at the same time has to be an alright author! Lisa was incredibly funny and I am excited to dive into her book.

What To Do When The Roof Caves In by Marilyn Meberg

Every family and every person has been there in one way or another. It’s the moment when everything falls apart unexpectedly. The roof has caved in. And the question immediately following comes from the rubble: Now what?

Marilyn Meberg’s What To Do When the Roof Caves In offers readers a certified counselor’s answer to that question in their own lives. Moving from topic to topic,she helps readers understand where their emotional responses are coming from when hard times hit. And she offers practical, sisterly advice to tackle those trials that seem like they can’t be mended.

Marilyn is one of those people that you look at and think – what could this woman possibly have to share with me in a book? I have heard Marilyn speak 5 different times now and each times she leaves me laughing so hard there are tears in my eyes and at the same time she sneaks her own witty wisdom inside her stories. Marilyn is a joy to listen to and I have already dropped my head intot his book on our way home from Minneapolis.

Blurt package and Timeless Toys book!

This is just a funny story. It is no secret on this blog that I a lover of all things words and games are right there in that mix! I posted a few weeks ago a Morning Meandering on my love of board games. If you know my meanderings – they are just that…. me rambling on about whatever is on my mind, and on this particular morning it was my love of all things board games. Later that week I received this email:

Sheila,

I caught your Morning Meandering Post the other day and I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to hear that Blurt is in your game closet! I am the designer of Blurt and I am also an author. We may be cut form the same cloth May I send you a book/game play extravaganza package?

My Best,

Tim

I had no idea what would be sent… maybe some BLURT stationary or pens… something fun like that, so I sent off my address and then forgot about it. Then this week my husband brings up this box that was delivered to our business office that is behind out house. I asked, “What is it?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Its addressed to you.”

Don’t get me wrong – I love a good mystery box so I opened it right away and was overly delighted to see a new Blurt! game, this gorgeous book called Timeless Toys (which I have also already been reading and drooling!) and this book called SUPER BOOK about WHAM-O toys! I hauled the BLURT! game with me to this past weekends conference but with as much as we had going on and the fact that I was in a lot of pain (see my morning meandering today about that) I did not get into the game yet. Never fear though – I will! First chance I get to have some friends together and we will play and review this wonderful game.

So that is my mailbox this week. I am excited to hear what is in all of yours? Be sure to write your post and then link it over at Kristi’s In My Mailbox post at Story Siren. She is so fun and I love to watch her vlog each week!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on October 18, 2009October 18, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

I returned late last night from the Women of Faith Conference. We had a great time despite the fact that I was on 800 milligrams on Ibuprofen the entire weekend. Seems that I have an abscessed tooth and it started hurting Thursday after we left from the conference and continued to get worse throughout the weekend. Thank goodness my wonderful dentist was able to line up a prescription for me from where we are at until I can get into him on Monday.

Once I was all medicated (ha ha) I could jam with the rest of them! We had a blast listening to Marilyn Meberg, Patsy Clairmont, Anita Renfroe, Lisa Welcehell, (yes – Blair from the Facts of Life), Sheila Walsh, Lisa harper and yeah Steven Curtis Chapman and Nicole C Mullen rocked the house!

And oh yes, I did come home with three new books! These I will share with you In My Mailbox post today. I even was able to get a bit of reading done so my review of 9 Dragons will also go up today as well as a few others I need to catch up throughout this week.

The Sound Of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Published on October 16, 2009October 16, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Cindy Woodsmall writes an Amish love story… a story of heartbreak and restoration… written in a way that touched my heart as well. ~ Sheila

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

My Thoughts:

I read Cindy Woodsmall earlier this year when I had the opportunity to review Hope For Refuge. Once again I find myself in an Amish setting as I relaxed into a book of a world so different than my own. Beth is a single woman in the Amish country who does not know where she fits. She feels she is too old to sit with the young single girls, but does not fit with the married groups either. She lives her days in a state of mourning a loss that has gone on too long, and her family is worried about her future.

In this book I was surprised at the reaction to Beth’s time of mourning being a concern t o those around her. It seemed that the Amish had a strong feel for the importance of being married. At first I was thinking that was the Amish way, but as I read more, I know it was more the family not wanting Beth to drown in her grief, and certainly to not live her life alone. That I would think would be the case for any of us.

A book on grieving and loss hits home for me. I felt Beth’s need to mourn in her own way in her own time. I know first had that you can not put a time limit on grief and I think that is where I became sort of stuck in this book. This book reminds me of forgiveness in yourself… and caused me to take pause, take a deep breath and read on. When Jonah steps into the book, you are given a romantic interest for Beth and a connection of hearts. A quick light Christian read with a pleasant flow.

Cindy Woodsmall is a veteran homeschool mom. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

Her first novel released in 2006 to much acclaim and became a Christian Book Association best seller. Cindy was a 2007 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist, along with Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, and Charles Martin.

I received this book for review from Liz Johnson Publicist
Multnomah Books, a division of Random House

Morning Meandering

Published on October 16, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Here I am in Minneapolis… enjoying my coffee with my good friend Suzette. We leave for the conference in 15 minutes. We had a great night last night…. ate a wonderful dinner at Jake’s Restaurant with 4 of the other girls in our group.

Off to the Excel Center for a morning of music, books, inspirational messages, and fun! I will be back this afternoon with updates pictures – and I am sure a book or two.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on October 15, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Today I am up and packed! After I finish at the office at 2 pm, I am coming back home and my friend Suzette is picking me up to head to St Paul for The Women of Faith Conference. This will be my fourth year in a row attending and it is so much fun! Great speakers, music and many of the speakers have books so I get to do a little book shopping as well!

This year I will be attending with 22 girls from our area. I usually pick up a set of group tickets the previous year and then sell them to friends and acquaintances. In 2007 and 2008 we had 36 girls each time, with the economy the tickets were a harder sell this year and so we have a smaller group.

Tonight we are in a hotel – hanging out, hot tubbing and hopefully I will sneak in some reading as well. Tomorrow starts the conference and then it ends on Saturday at 4 pm and we head back this way. Laptop and Coffee Cup will be attending as well so I will be active all weekend.

If you have ever wondered about Women of Faith conferences, I highly recommend them. They travel all over (see map here) and it is just a light hearted, funny at times, and positively high energy weekend! Last year we were jumping up and down to Jodi C Mullen.This year we have Steven Curtis Chapman, “American Idol” finalist Mandisa, Nicole C. Mullen, Sandi Patty, Lisa Whelchel (from TV’s “The Facts of Life”), Sheila Walsh, Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg, Luci Swindoll, and more!

I will be around today and throughout the weekend. I have reviews that must (must!) be posted! Have a wonderful day!

Fall Recipe Exchange: Pumpkin Roll

Published on October 14, 2009October 14, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

As promised… here is my recipe for My Friend Amy’s recipe Exchange. Pop on over to her blog and add yours to her linky as well as check out all the other wonderful recipes that have been linked. YUM!

Pumpkin Roll

This is one I usually make around Christmas time and then deliver to neighbors and friends. I wrap the finished product in wax paper, then cover it with colored saran wrap and use crafting twine to add a home made gift tag and tie it with a bow.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of flour

1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup of canned pumpkin

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet with sides and line ir with waxed paper. Put a light cooking spray on the wax paper and sprinkle a little powdered sugar on the paper as well. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon,nutmeg, and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in a separate large bowl. When well mixed, add in the pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread into pan.

Bake about 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Take pumpkin roll out of pan right away by turning it on to a flour sack towel that is covered with a light layer of powdered sugar. Carefully peel off wax paper. Roll up pumpkin roll and towel together, then let cool.

FILLING:

8 ounces of cream cheese

1/4 cup of powdered sugar

6 Tablespoons of butter (softened)

1 teaspoon of vanilla

BEAT cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll the pumpkin roll and remove the towel. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the pumpkin roll. Roll it up again . Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.

* Once refrigerated, you can freeze these as well. They keep for 60 days and thaw quickly for company, dinners, etc… This recipe makes one but I have tripled this recipe to make three at a time and that has worked out well.