The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton GIVEAWAY!!!

Valerie at Hachette Book Group has graciously offered this book for me to review and do a giveaway for!

This giveaway is closed as of Oct 28

bible salesmanPreston Clearwater has been a criminal since stealing two chain saws and 1,600 pairs of aviator sunglasses from the army during the Second World War. Back on the road in postwar North Carolina, now a member of a car-theft ring, he picks up hitchhiking Henry Dampier, an innocent twenty-year-old Bible salesman. Clearwater immediately recognizes Henry as smart but gullible, just the associate he needs–one who will believe Clearwater is working undercover for the F.B.I.; one who will drive the cars Clearwater steals as Clearwater follows along in his own car at a safe distance. Henry joyfully sees a chance to lead a dual life as a Bible salesman and a G-man.

During his hilarious and scary adventures, Henry grapples with doubts about the Bible’s accuracy, and we learn of his fundamentalist upbringing, an upbringing that doesn’t prepared him for his new life. As he falls in love with the captivating Marleen Green and questions his religious training, Henry begins to see he’s being used–that he is on his own in a way he never imagined.

So… how to enter?

1 entry:  leave a comment here and let me know if you have ever sold anything door to door or over the phone… (If you have not, respond here with something you think you would be good at selling door to door or ove the phone)

2) earn a second entry by following my blog and letting me know that you do is a separate comment

3) leave a comment on any non goveaway post for a third entry

Thats it – I will give away one book per every 10 comments (not counting any of my own comments) up to 5 books.  Giveaway open to USA and Canada entrants.  Giveaway will end on October 22.

Reading Group Guide

Faith N Fiction Saturday

Faith_Fiction2

My Friend Amy has this wonderful weekly meme that just recently came back into play after a little time off due to life business.  I can so relate to that!  🙂  So today I anxiously head over to Amy’s Blog to see what question she will post for us to ponder over today and she asks this:

Today’s Question

We mostly talk about Christian fiction during Faith’n’Fiction Saturday but I’m curious if you have ever read fiction of other faiths. I am not aware of a lot of fiction of other faiths like I am about Christian fiction, so this is a good time to chime in with anything you’ve read! If you are of another faith, maybe you can chime in and tell us about some options.

Honestly… I had to think on this one… have I read a fiction read on other faiths?  I checked my book shelves and found that I had:

Kabul Beauty School (ISLAM) but it is non fiction

Reading Lolita in Tehran (ISLAM) also non fiction

I looked on line and was surprised that I did not really find any fiction reads in other faiths other than a few that were written for children.  Perhaps I was looking in the wrong areas?

GAH! I think I am coming up empty.  If any of you have read any faith and fiction reads that are not based on the Christina Faith, please stop over to My Friend Amy’s and add your link and/or your comments.

Morning Meandering…

Listen.a big improvement

Hear that?

Mmmm hmmm.  Silence.  Glorious silence.

Chance stayed at a buddies home last night, Al got up early to go to an auction.  I am in the house alone except for Coffee Cup who never has to much to say anyway.  😉

These moments lately are far too few and far between in our household.  I am usually up and running around by this time, taking Chance to school, or going into the office… but not today.  Today I am looking at the books I had wanted to read this week and I am thrilled to say that I am on the last few pages of the last one out of this group, VIOLA In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani.  I am enjoying this read and earlier this week over at Book Club Girl’s we had a live chat with this author.

Listen to this first paragraph:

I’m marooned.  Abandoned.  Left to rot in boarding school in the dust bowl of Indiana like the potato we found in the cupboard in our Kitchen in Brooklyn after months of searching for it.  It was only when the entire kitchen began to smell like a root cellar from Pilgrim days that we figured out why – and when we finally found the poatato it was soft, rotten. and breeding itself with white barnacles with totally disgusting green tips.

Don’t you just love that?  By the time I finished those words I could clearly smell the potato that had seen better days and the description of the white barnacles… very visual.  I cant wait to review this book.

My plan today is to complete the book, clean the house a bit, maybe depending on when Chance gets home – maybe take in a movie this afternoon and tonight Al and I have a retirement party to go to for a guy he used to work with at UPS.

Current status for me?  I am up but stil in the p.j.’s…  and may stay that way for at least another hour… 🙂  Coffee Cup and I are on our 2nd cup, the weather is cool and the sky is overcast.  Perfect reading weather.

Read on my friends!  Enjoy your Saturday wherever you may be!

Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch * Bill Thrall * Bruce McNichol w/ giveaway

A fantastic Christian read with the combination of incredible food, faith, and friends… what more could you want out of Bo’s cafe?

~ Sheila


Bo's CafeHigh-powered executive Steven Kerner is living the dream in southern California. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man named Andy Monroe befriends Steven and begins unraveling his tightly wound world. Andy leads Steven through a series of frustrating and revealing encounters to repair his life through genuine friendship and the grace and love of a God who has been waiting for him to accept it. A story to challenge and encourage, BO’S CAFE is a model for all who struggle with unresolved problems and a performance-based life. Those who desire a fuller, more authentic way of living will find this journey of healing a restorative exploration of God’s unbridled grace.


My Thoughts: Bo’s Cafe was a wonderful read.  I really enjoyed the story line between Steve and Lindsey.  In today’s world I am believing that this is all to often the circumstances and I found this book believable.  Bo’s Cafe is a captivating read… from the great cover picture of a warm inviting cafe filled to the brim with friends, even within the pages you find people like Andy – a little mysterious, but there is something more to that guy that you cant quite put your finger on… and he  drive’s an old car and live life with a sense of joy.

On page 228 I found a quote that I think may need to go on the sidebar of this blog somewhere… “Integrity is proven when you admit what you cannot do and honor what you say you can.”

I found the book refreshing.  As a Christian read, the book covers well that no one needs another list of do’s and don’ts.  I loved that in this book we are reminded that God loves us for who we are.  He created us out of His love.  Personally, I know how long it took me just to learn that it was ok to be real – it is ok to be flawed and fail and get back up again.  God is first in line to hold out a helping hand.  Andy’s character is a fine example and I enjoyed getting to know him and the rest of the gang at Bo’s Cafe.

And how fun is it that this book is written by three authors who are friends?

Meet the Authors

john_close-BCJohn Lynch
As a great communicator and writer, John Lynch is a vital staff member of the Truefaced team.  In addition to speaking nationally with the Truefaced team since 1997, John has co-authored a number of books and resources with Truefaced, including the bestseller TrueFaced and the popular TrueFaced audio-video message.

John also serves as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona, a position that he has held since 1985. The authenticity, longevity, and playfulness of these two flawed communities, Open Door and the Truefaced group, brings real-world reality and potency to this Truefaced message of Bo’s Cafe.

John used his love for writing and performing as the co-founder and playwright for Sharkey Productions, a theater troupe focused on Gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus. John and his wife Stacey are passionate parents to their three children Caleb, Amy and Carly.

abBill Thrall
As a leader of leaders, and a co-author for the TrueFaced team since 1995, Bill’s genuine desire is to see relational health in those he works with, has been vital in setting the tone of the organization. His eloquence and integrity have given him opportunities to teach TrueFaced’s principles internationally. His wisdom has been penned throughout the entire series of The Ascent of a Leader, Beyond Your Best, and TrueFaced Experience books.

Prior to joining the TrueFaced group, Bill founded and pastored the influential church, Open Door Fellowship, for over 20 years.  While there, he developed an effective character development training program, which has influenced thousands.

In his spare time, Bill can be found fishing, golfing, crafting furniture for his family in his wood shop or cultivating fruits, vegetables and herbs in his beautiful backyard garden. Bill and his wife, Grace have three grown children Wende, Bill, and Joy and nine grandchildren.

abrBruce McNicol
Bruce is a master at helping people experience the freedom of grace through metaphors and stories, which fill the best-selling Truefaced resources he and his friends have co-authored. These include TrueFaced, The Ascent of a Leader, Behind The Mask, Beyond Your Best, The High Trust Cultures, and others.

Bruce’s degrees in finance law, theology, leadership, and organizational development help hone his gift to speak into the lives of others, which continues to draw international audiences.

As co-founder and president of Truefaced team, Bruce’s passion is to see tens of thousands of safe places like Bo’s Café growing around the world, whether they be families, businesses, schools, hospitals, churches, organizations, sports teams, military or governments.

Bruce enjoys the beach, sports, and observing cultures through history-makers, emerging leaders, mass media, and comedians. His constant interest is his wife Janet, who is a homemaker, nurse and mentor. Together, they absolutely enjoy their three children, Nicole, Chad and Ryan.

Mirian from Hchette Book Group has graciously offered me copies of this book to give away here.  I can have up to 5 copies – I will give away one book per every 10 entries….

How to enter?

Leave a comment here for one entry

For 2 extra entries: Go this fun Bo’s Cafe site and let me know which link you enjoyed looking at and why:  Bo’s cafe

Be a follower of this blog for another additional entry.

Open to USA and Canada addresses only.  No PO box numbers.  Contest will end Oct 20.

This giveaway is not closed as of Oct 28, 2009

Morning Meanderings….

a big improvement7 a.m. here in Minnesota and it is DARK.  Spooky dark.  The change in the seasons happened quickly and we went from a couple weeks of really beautiful 80 degree weather to the now wake up to 40 degrees and top out your day at 53 degrees.  Yup… to me, that’s the downside of where I live.

However – the cold weather does keep me inside a lot more and my reading time does increase.  Get a good major snow storm and I can have my own personal snow day and cuddle in a thick soft blanket surrounded by a couple great reads and a never ending pot of coffee, tea, or cocoa.

And fall also brings out the game board addict in me.  I love board games.  In fact we have a whole double wide closet dedicated to board games.  Balderdash and Beyond Balderdash, Scruples, Cribbage, Pictionary, puzzles, Blurt, I think currently we have about 5 different versions of monopoly (Vikings monopoly, Disney monopoly, millennium monopoly, Star Wars monopoly…) and more.

Yesterday I was reading on a bookish website (I know… how different for me!) and discovered this little gem:

bookopolyI know, right?  How super cool is that?  Bookopoly is available at Amazon.  They also had banned book bracelets and Literati Challenge for the wordies out there!

How about you… any fall favorite things?  How about a favorite board game?

2009 YA Challenge

2009 YA Challenge

Being fairly new to the whole book blogging thing I have been pretty careful on which Challenges I have signed up for.  Now that I am a bit more comfortable and have a good feel for the reading that I am currently doing and the genres that are interesting me at this time, I am a bit more open to try some of these out.

Over at J Kaye’s Blog I was looking into the challenges that she is leading and this YA caught my eye.  In the last few months I have had the opportunity to read some wonderful YA books and have discovered I really enjoy this genre!

The challenge is to read 12 YA books in 2009.


Guidelines for 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge

1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate.

2. Read 12 Young Adult novels. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

So here we go!

1.  Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2.  New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

3.  Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

4.  breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

5.  The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

6.  Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

7.  North!  Or be Eaten! by Andrew Peterson

8.  Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

9.  Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation

10.  ALVOR by Laura Bingham

11.

12.

Any great ones I have missed this year?  Please leave a comment to let me know!  🙂


Word Verification Balderdash (The Thursday Thing)

GAH!  Something must be wrong with me… I keep forgetting to do this and in my head I thought I needed to post it balderdashtomorrow.  I think I am going to get more organized and actually prep this ahead of time so Thursday mornings it will be like “TA DA!” Already there.

Baderdash fans… this fun meme is for you! I love word games (not as much as commenting).  To entertain myself and maybe some of you… I decided to share with you a little thing I do while I type in the word verification.  I play Balderdash in my head.  Yup.  As I am typing in the word, I think if it was a real word… what would it mean.  Some come easy.  Others…. I really have to stretch the imagination.

The definition of Balderdash: An oft used strategy  to elect your own fake definition in an attempt to give it credibility in the minds of your fellow players.

So here is this weeks contribution:

Perminia: A perm that is all the rage in Europe!  It is hair designed to look like a flower.  Very popular is the rose and carnation.  For a bit more moola you can go all out with the begonia which is pricey – but gorgeous!

Hednesti: Italian for morning hair.  😉

Poneater: The newest game for the PS2… your kids will love it!  This great chess style game actually has an upgraded peice called the poneater that will of course, eat your pawn.  The pawn is normally considered the weakest peice in the game but the poneater adds a whole new lever of excitement.

Equatic: A person who really just flips out if they things are not fair or equal in all circumstances.  “Traci just went totally equatic on me when I said that Carol would get first choice on the theater seats.”

There you go!  What are yours?  Leave me a link here and I will gladly add you to this post!  Have fun!  🙂

The Betty and Boo Chronicles

Wordsmithonia



Sir Dalton and The Shadow Heart (book 3) by Chuck Black

This book dropped me into a battle field… one that I am reminded as I read this that we continue to fight daily…  ~Sheila

sir daltonSir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn.

But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion to inspire them to true service to the King and the Prince. Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished.

When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes-life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he’ll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?

Author bio.: chuck

Chuck Black traveled with the Air Force as a communications engineer and F-16 fighter pilot and began a career as a product design engineer. Chuck and his wife, Andrea, homeschool their six children and have a family music ministry that travels throughout the region. He is the author of nine novels, has been published in The Old Schoolhouse e-zine, and has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. Chuck and his family live in Williston, North Dakota.

armorMy Thoughts:

I am coming into this read not having read the first or second book.  Truly written in a good VS. evil style right from the early pages I felt as though I was playing catch up on a story that had begun two books ago.  While this book does stand on its own, if I were to have had time, I would have started with book 1 and went from there working my way to this book in order to just pick up on the flow of Chuck Black’s writing style.  I have to say that the introduction in the book to the Knights of Arrethtrae was very helpful!)

In this book Sir Dalton is in training to be a knight and when he is sent on a mission he finds when he is alone he is being attacked.  (I really love this metaphor in the book and actually paused a bit to think how true this can be…  we are more easily attacked when we are separated from others.)

A likable YA read, I think Sir Dalton makes a wonderful character that kids (I am thinking boys ages 7-13) will relate to.  The book covers great Christian subject matter in a way that reads like the story of knighthood and at the same time great questions are wove into the words…  Sir Dalton

Why should we believe?

What do we do with doubt?

Who can save him?

Sir Dalton continues his training through the book and again I am thinking if my boys were younger they would have enjoyed these books.   A quick read for me….  I was excited to get a bit of a CS Lewis feel to this read.  I think this book would be a great discussion book to review with your child about the power of good and evil and the wonders of a strong spirit.

I received this book to review from Publicist KellyBlewett

UPDATE:  thank you Karoline from Okbo Lover who asked what the first two books in this series are.  I meant to add these and had forgotten!  Appreciate this reminder.

Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione (The Knights of Arrethtrae) (Paperback)

Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court (The Knights of Arrethtrae) (Paperback)

Book 2
Book 2
Book 1
Book 1

Morning Meandering….

a big improvementRainy cold morning in Minnesota.  I drove Chance to school hurried to the office and realized that I must have left my keys on the filing cabinet yesterday as I am keyless….

Locked out.  No entry.  Nada.

No one else comes in until 9 and since I work in a building that has many other businesses I am sitting in the foyer at a little round table, Coffee Cup in one hand and writing this post with the other until someone else comes in. And of course I have the book with me that I was going to write my review for this morning, Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart by Chuck Black.

Lap top.  Coffee Cup.  Book.  … things could be much worse.  🙂

Today I am kind of nostalgic…. maybe it is the music being piped in through these halls.  Mariah Carey is singing a Hero comes Along and I am actually tearing up.  What’s with that?

And now I’m Too Sexy For My Shirt is playing by Right Said Fred… the nostalgic spell is broken.  Now my eyes are rolling…  LOL

Have a great morning everyone.  Any favorite rainy day reads out there?

Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran

I leaped feet first into a story of a time that I had not known until now… a time of beautiful treasures and ugly grudges… a time where I met a boy and a girl that I had probably not even known existed if not for Michelle Moran… ~ Sheila

eyecleopatra

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion cleoredtogacover2with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt.  Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place  —the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the time. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.

Octavian's Mausoleum today
Octavian's Mausoleum today

My Thoughts:

Michelle Moran has written a book that has left me with that feeling I have when I know I have read something wonderful.  Well written… I entered at the point that Cleopatra and Marc Anthony are taking their own lives in order to resist captivity and learn of their three children who are left in the enemies hands.  Three children, I am ashamed to say, that I did not know existed until this book.

And from that point on I am feasting on pages filled with the adventures of Alexander and Selene…  historical fiction at a very fine level.  I am in awe of the twins voices… as they speak I had to remind myself again and again of their age.  The voices to me seamed older but I forget how much faster children grew up then.  While they were 11, they spoke as though they were 15 or 16…

Vivid characters – I appreciated the list of who they were in the front of the book and I used that a lot as I becasme used to so any new names coming in at once, Octavian (Emporer and keeper of the children once he conquered their home), Octavia, his sister – a gentle soul who I grew to like.  And so many more from the handsome Marcellus, to the puzzling Julia who drove me nuts, then I felt bad for her, then I was mad again… and oh – you have to love the characters that make you FEEL.

I adored this book.  This is the first of Michelle’s work that I have read and I am ready for more.  A fantastic read that I highly recommend to history lovers and historical fiction loves alike.

michelle moranMichelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer’s Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University.

I received this review copy from Book Browse…

I would rate this book PG13 for some violence