Swimsuit by James Patterson (Audio Book)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Shockingly addicting…. from the very beginning I was captured with a story line that made my heart beat a little faster and I wanted to know… had to know, how it was all going to end.  ~  Sheila

a swim

THE BEACH…
A breathtakingly beautiful supermodel disappears from a swimsuit photo shoot at the most glamorous hotel in Hawaii. Only hours after she goes missing, Kim McDaniels’s parents receive a terrifying phone call. Fearing the worst, they board the first flight to Maui and begin the hunt for their daughter.

…WILL NEVER BE…
Ex-cop Ben Hawkins, now a reporter for the L.A. Times, gets the McDaniels assignment. The ineptitude of the local police force defies belief—Ben has to start his own investigation for Kim McDaniels to have a prayer. And for Ben to have the story of his life.

…THE SAME FOR YOU AGAIN.
All the while, the killer sets the stage for his next production. His audience expects the best—and they won’t be disappointed. Swimsuit is a heart-pounding story of fear and desire, transporting you to a place where beauty and murder collide and unspeakable horrors are hidden within paradise.

Buy this book

My Thoughts

I am fairly new to audio books.  Over this past year as I have had much time in the car as I went here and there across out great state of Minnesota, I discovered that I really enjoyed listening to the books.

With Swimsuit by James Patterson I was really surprised how quickly the story line swept me in.  As I was listening to the early parts of the book, at the point that I was still deciding if this was a fit for me…. I was pleasantly shocked at the fast pace of this thriller…. moving with speed through the scenes that reflected in my mind.  There were a cople moments where I caught my breath, had I heard that right?

The opening story line of this audio with the Super Model Kim and her parents is good, very good.  Yet Jame’s Patterson’s Swimsuit is so much more.  It is a close up look into a killers mind.  What makes him tick and even as the book goes on all the pieces do not fall into place until the very end – as well written novels are capable of doing.

I ended up being very glad that I had this opportunity to listen to this book.  A good murder mystery for me are few and far between.  this one left me waiting for the next opportunity it take a drive so I could continue on with this captivating story.

james

A storyteller like no other, James Patterson…jamesPatterson

  • Holds the New York Times bestsellers list record* with 47 New York Times bestselling titles.
  • In 2007, one out of every fifteen hardcover novels sold was a Patterson title. In 2007, an estimated 16 million James Patterson books were sold in the United States alone—more than John Grisham and Stephen King sold, combined, and more books than there are people subscribing to satellite radio.
  • Is the founder of the James Patterson PageTurner Awards which, for three years running, has given away cash prizes totaling more than $600,000 to groups and individuals who do outstanding work to spread the fun and excitement of books and reading. Patterson is also on the board of the charitable organization First Book whose mission is to get the first book in the hands of underserved youth and has donated thousands of books to troops overseas.

I received this audio book from Hachette Audio Books

I rate this audio R for graphic details and some sexual content

The Book Cover….How Important Is It?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

scratchy ideaI had a little time to blog hop yesterday afternoon and I found myself over at a new blog (to me) lucy was robbed.  LOVE the name of this blog and I love the explanation of the name which you will find on the blog header.

What really caught my eye was that in one of the recent reviews there was a bit about covers having nothing to do with  the book.  I know this has been touched on a bit on blogs that I have seen and probably even ones I have not seen, so forgive me if this is just a repeat of what has already been hashed through.  I think what made me really start thinking about this was a quote that said, in this particular case, that “potential audience was lost”.

I don’t want to reopen a particular discussion on a particular book so lets not go there.  🙂   What I am thinking about is the bigger picture (no pun intended).  I have said it before and it is no secret that I love a great book cover.  In most cases when browsing through a book store it will be the cover that causes that initial pause in my travels to pull the book off the shelf.  Even if I have went into a book store with a title in mind for purchase, it is usually because I have SEEN the cover on someones blog or online and the COVER made me read more about the book.
The cover is not the reason I buy the book, but it is the initial “getting to know you” phase where I pick up the book to see what it is about and that can be what makes or breaks the connection.

It’s true and I hope that’s not shallow of me.

What I find concerning is reading how authors in many cases really do not have a lot on say on the books cover once it goes to the publisher.  Authors really can be putting their baby so to speak, in the hands of another… and really that can make or break a book.

What I am asking today is do you think covers affect sales?  Can a non appealing cover truly cause sales loss on a book?

I am interested in hearing your take on all of this… I may dive into this subject in more depth in future posts but do to time restraints today I just wanted to put this out there and see where it goes.  I would like to interview a couple authors and book cover designers as well to hear how this all works from their more experienced views.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

a big improvementI woke up this morning to something I am just not ready for…. something I am not sure I am ever really ready for….. but it is what it is…



Snow

Front Deck: Oct 10,09
Front Deck: Oct 10,09

I cant remember having snow this early before.  I am kind of just fighting the urge to turn around and go back to bed and see if it is all just some sort of wild dream.  Yet … with Coffee Cup in hand… I stare out the window and know it is all too real.

This morning I am off to Breezy Point (about 20 miles) to set up for our Missions Banquet that takes place tonight.  We have a great Silent Auction this year with a Spa Package, A golf package, and we also have tickets “on the glass” to different Wild games.  Should be fun!  If I have time I have a post coming up yet today about books and covers….  I will be interested in hearing from readers about that.

Have a great day – stay warm wherever you are!

Driveway this morning
Driveway this morning
Back Deck this morning
Back Deck this morning

Morning Meanderings…. a Minnesota Rant

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

a big improvementHow pathetic is this blog this week?  🙂  I mean seriously… the last few days all I have had time to post is my meanderings…..  today I have a low key afternoon – I should be able to catch up on the review that should have went up yesterday, giveaways that need to end…

ANYWAY…. This morning I am driving Chance to school and it is 28 degrees.  28!  I am wearing a long sweater jacket that I am hoping makes me look super cool like Neo in The Matrix (but of course more feminine).

I think it is funny that 28 degrees today is nothing like 28 degrees in March.  Now I am wining that I should have started the Durango earlier so it would have been warm when we got in.  I have the heat on and the windowns up tight.  I complain all the way out of the driveway about the cold and how Minnesota and I are not friends at this time of year.

On the flip of that…. after a long Minnesota winter of temperatures dipping way below zero, icy roads, shoveling sidewalks and the decks…. 28 degrees in March is like a heat wave.  I am outside that time of year in capris and a t shirt…. loving the crisp after winter sun and praising all things that are green or soon to be green.

I took a picture of this gorgeous tree on my way through town this morning…. perhaps looking at it occasionally will help me get through the long cool (who am I kidding?)  COLD days ahead….

Whats the weather like in your corner of the world?

002

EXTRAORDINARY by John Bevere w/ Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

John Bevere paints a picture for us of what living Extraordinary lives can look like… ~ Sheila

About This Book

abaIsn’t it true that we long to see the extraordinary, experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp.

Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God inspired longing…for the extraordinary.

Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were “meant for more,” extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.

Isn’t it time to pursue your extraordinary life?

My Thoughts…

This is my first read written by John Bevere and I found it enjoyable.  I like it when an author of a book like this shares insights into their own lives, almost breaking down the point of the book into layman terms….  what could be an overly heavy book is not – due to the style in which John writes.

In one point early on in the book, John shares about a moment he had with his sons at the dinner table.  He told them that there was nothing they could do to make their parents love them anymore than they already do or anything they could do to make their parents love them any less.  However – they were in charge of how pleased their parents were with them.

I had to smile here as I have had a similar conversation with our sons stating that no matter what they did we would always love them…. however, we didn’t always have to like the choices they may make in life.  (I believe John Bevere worded it better.  Out of this area of the book came a reminder that God feels the same way about each of us.  No matter what… no matter what we do – God is going to love us.  Unconditionally.  He may not always like what we do, we may cause Him great pain and tears…. yet He calls us to Him again and again.  Humbling isn’t it?

At the end of each chapter John has left questions, or reflections, as he calls them, on the chapter.  The questions are through provoking and would make for good discussion with a group.

You can purchase the book here

About the Author

bevere

John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Find John’s website here.

I have graciously been offered a copy of this book for giveaway.  To enter:

1.  Leave a comment here and tell me about someone who has been EXTRAORDINARY in your life

EXTRA Entires: **Extra entries must each be on separate comments to be counted

2.  Twitter or blog about this giveaway AND leave that link on a separate comment for 2 bonus entries

3.  Follow this blog for an extra entry (let me know here)

4.  Follow me on twitter for an extra entry (let me know here with  your twitter name)

5.  Earn 5 extra entries by grabbing my blog button and putting it i=on yur sidebar (button is on upper right side)

Have fun!  Giveaway will end Nov 9.  US and Canada entrants only please.


Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Never really completed what I had hoped to yesterday.  Busy day… went to a poorly done movie last night, All About Steve.  Yikes.  A little funny…. but really not so much.

I was mentioning on Twitter last night that I am in a reading slump….the books I had prepped to read this week all feel heavy… does that make sense?  I am sure they are great reads… I think its me.  I think I have Readers Block….;)  With the business of the banquet this weekend and Chance with us and everything… I just think my mind isn’t wrapping around some of these books.

Last night I picked up a different book from my shelf…. Receive Me Falling by Erica Robuck.  I cautiously opened it and read the first few pages.  When I put it down for the night, I knew I wanted to know the what next…  “Whew!”  That’s a good thing!  Hopefully that will break up the readers block…..

Today I work, then spend the rest of the day prepping the auction baskets for our Missions Banquet that takes place this Saturday.  Hopefully the baskets wont take all night!   I have now been up for two hours… still unprepared for my day – just getting the last of the payroll in and hoping to sneak in a few minutes here to prep this post and make sure my review is ready to roll yet this morning.

“Readers Block” ever happen to you?  What did you do about it?

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Is it just me… or is morning coming faster?  Or should I say is it morning or still Twilight?  It is still dark out but I am still due up to get ready for the daily school drop off and then the office.  Today awaits me about 4 hours of mandatory videos on a new program we are rolling our the end of this month so with joy…. I am enjoying my pre-office time with you and Coffee Cup.

This morning I opened an email that kind of made me smile.  Ok… really made me smile.  I just love how movies come up with all the little extras you can purchase.  The great ones have t shirts, notebook covers, board games, pens, pencils… and yes.  Even dolls.

EdwardOk… seriously… this cracked me up a bit.  I don’t know why, obviously it is a good likeness so kudos to Mattel.  yes, there is a Bella too but not as close a resemblance I didn’t think.  Without the Edward doll next to her I am not sure I would know she was Bella.

I just wanted to share this today as I like to share the ones that remember folks – they were books before they were movies!  🙂  HIgh five to Stephanie Meyer.  I am off for now but will be back later for a book review.

I would love to hear if anyone has purchased any other movie related paraphernalia.  We have Harry Potter Scene It

New Moon Board Game
New Moon Board Game

here and Star Wars Monopoly.  Oh yes…. I am so proud.  LOL  🙂

Have a great day everyone!