Book Journey

Morning Meanderings…. 60 Days

Published on June 3, 2015June 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

60 days. How does that even register? It doesn’t. Yesterday I spent most of the day in bed. After company for 4 days and lots of activity around a wedding I was wiped out. It is amazing how quickly my energy drains. I read between napping and found myself all over the board there too…. I am listening to…

The real-life Alex Vause from the critically acclaimed, top-rated Netflix show Orange Is the New Black tells her story in her own words for the first time – a powerful, surprising memoir about crime and punishment, friendship and marriage, and a life caught in the ruinous drug trade and beyond. I have been fascinated with Pipers story and now hearing the side of Alex Vause has been very interesting.

This one I found at the last Library Sale. Wally Lamb has run a writing workshop at the York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only maximum-security prison for women. Writing, Lamb discovered, was a way for these women to face their fears and failures and begin to imagine better lives. Couldn’t Keep It to Myself, a collection of their essays, was published in 2003 to great critical acclaim. With I’ll Fly Away, Lamb offers readers a new volume of intimate pieces from the York workshop. Startling, heartbreaking, and inspiring, these stories are as varied as the individuals who wrote them, but each illuminates an important core truth: that a life can be altered through self-awareness and the power of the written word.

My speed of reading right now draws me to books like this. It’s the opportunity Elena Alvarez has been waiting for–the challenge of running her own kitchen in a world-class restaurant. Haunted by an accident of which she was the lone survivor, Elena knows better than anyone how to survive the odds. With her faithful dog, Alvin, and her grandmother’s recipes, Elena arrives in Colorado to find a restaurant in as desperate need of a fresh start as she is–and a man whose passionate approach to food and life rivals her own. Owner Julian Liswood is a name many people know but a man few do. He’s come to Aspen with a troubled teenage daughter and a dream of the kind of stability and love only a family can provide. But for Elena, old ghosts don’t die quietly, yet a chance to find happiness at last is worth the risk.

So that’s what I am doing. Day to day doing what I can. Working a bit on projects I have to get done but making the steps slowly. So slowly.

The Cake Therapist by Judith Fertig

Published on June 2, 2015May 18, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Claire “Neely” O’Neil finds her way back to her home town of Millcreek Valley Iowa to open a bakery. Claire feels she needs the break from her own life to sort out the flavors of what decisions she needs to make as well as the desire she has to bring flavors and tastes to others. Claire has an unusual talent of adding the right flavor combination together to bring out a customers secrets, fears, desires… a talent Claire does not always want, but one that has brought great success when helping potential clients choose a wedding cake that suits them both, or a flavor to mend a broken heart.

Claire certainly doesn’t have to worry about much down time as messages and packages keep arriving from her husband she is separated from, her goth girl employee tries to cover her secrets and pain with dark-colored make up, an older woman of the neighborhood brings about stress, and a handsome man from Claire’s past makes her wonder what would have happened if she had chosen the path not taken.

There is plenty going on around Rainbow Bakery to keep even the pickiest customer coming back for more.

The Cake Therapist was a light and sweet read. Early on in the book the story jumps into Claire’s talent of knowing what flavors work with what customers however I found that part confusing and if I had not first read the synopsis I would not have understood what was happening when Claire opens the bakery door and describes the flavors separating into light. There is also a lot going on in this book. A LOT. Between Claire’s own storyline unfolding, her employee Jett’s troubles, and a story set 100 years earlier following along in alternating chapters, the book felt a little choppy too me. I had trouble figuring out what the historical story had to do with the current story and things did not flow well until half way through the read.

The Cake Therapist was a good read and I enjoyed the characters although there was no great aha moment. When things do piece together in the end it is quick and eve though answers were revealed I don’t think enough of it was said earlier on for the reader to have that true “Oh! Of course!” moment. When the story ends it feels as though more could be said – but not enough for a second book.

My recommendation is to try The Cake Therapist for yourself as with my current life happenings I do not necessarily trust my feelings on this one. As a lighter read this book would make for a good summer read. Don’t expect a lot of “wow”, but you can expect to feel good.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (June 2, 2015)

Tamarack County by William Kent Krueger

Published on June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Cork O’ Conner loves the quiet beauty of Northern Shores of Minnesota.

Most of the time.

During a blizzard one cold December night, the wife of a prominent Judge disappears. All that is found is her abandoned car on a road she shouldn’t have been on and of course with the blizzard, no signs of a struggle… no signs of anything at all.

Cork O’ Conner is the ex- Sheriff of Tamarack County and he notices details of the disappearance that others miss. When a dog that is owned by a friend is brutally killed, Cork starts to see a disturbing pattern that brings up an old case where quite possibly the wrong man went to prison. A pattern so disturbing that its trail leads right to Cork’s own family.

With the cold winter continuing and no sign of letting up, Cork knows he only has so much time before someone else is going to pay for the sins of others.

This would be my first of William Kent Krueger’s books that involve his continuing protagonist, Cork O’ Conner. In fact, I have only read one other book by this author and that would be Ordinary Grace. (Excellent read).

Cork is an interesting character. His wife was killed (probably details of this in an earlier book), and he has three almost grown children. Even though this is the 13th mystery with Cork O’Conner, I did not feel like I needed the previous books to understand what was going on or who people are. Krueger does an excellent job of making you want to know these characters better but at the same time you can read his books as standalone and be just fine with that as well.

I enjoyed the story line and the mystery itself. As Cork travels through the pages I liked the comfort of the familiar areas he explored. I do plan to read more of this mystery series. Windigo Island is on my shelves right now just waiting to be read.

Cop bases mystery lovers will enjoy this book with its masculine flavor. Women to will enjoy this read due to the family aspect and a little light romance.

Series: Cork O’Connor Mystery Series
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Atria Books; Reprint edition (July 1, 2014)

Morning Meanderings… Back from The Cabin/ Bitter Sweetness

Published on June 2, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Morning. It’s been a long weekend of activity. On Friday my husband Al’s brother’s Joe and Chris came to Minnesota for Al’s sisters wedding. On Friday afternoon I drove the 3 1/2 hours to the North Shore to our cabin to stay there with Al, Chris, and Joe, and on Saturday we drove to Wisconsin to the wedding. On Sunday We drove back to Brainerd where the boys stayed with us the last two days and this morning they will leave.

It’s been nice to hang out with family yet it still amazes me how much energy it takes for me to be with people constantly. It is of course also hard to be at events that I know Justin would have loved to have been a part of which kept me n a pretty subdued state all through the weekend and wedding. I am still struggling through day-to-day.

Today I plan to lay low and read a bit and definitely nap. My sleeping is off and the end of this week is the Children’s Book Sale that I am a part of and that will be both time-consuming and exhausting all rolled into one. I also hope – it is fun.

Review should be up today of Tamarack County by William Kent Krueger. He is a Minnesota author and one that will be at Wine and Words this year. Have several books I would like to start we will see which on e actually takes.

Inside The O’Briens by Lisa Genova

Published on June 1, 2015May 29, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

44 year old Joe O’Brien is proud of his police career. He is happily married and has 4 adult children. Life has treated him well and Joe can not say he has any complaints.

Until now.

When the bouts of anger start he chalks it up to stress. The inability to hold a thought or remember what he was doing is all a part of just having a busy full life. Yet when the involuntary movement of Joe’s arms, legs, and even eye brows start happening, even Joe has to agree that something may not be right. When Joe is diagnosed with Huntington disease and finds out it is hereditary life changes in a heartbeat.

Each of Joe’s children have a 50% chance of having inherited the gene. As Joe learns the real hard facts of what this disease will eventually do to him, scrambling his words, leaving him with an inability to work as well as most likely putting him in an assisted living home at an early age – each of Joe’s children must make the decision for themselves if they want to be tested to know if they carry the gene.

Lisa Genova does it again. This authors ability to take an extreme life change much like she does in Still Alice (now a movie), and in Left Neglected; Lisa Genova takes us on an intimate up close look at what happens to a person when the life as they knew it is no more.

Incredibly heart-felt, Inside The O’Brien’s was an engaging listen that captured my heart and attention right from the beginning. Skip Suddeth does a wonderful job of narrating this audiobook. The story itself left me feeling for this family on the verge of adulthood finding there was through devastating news. I learned a lot about Huntington’s Disease. In typical Lisa Genova style, she is able to take an illness and make it three-dimensional to the reader. Suddenly, I found myself caring and feeling for the O’Briens and I think that is the magical touch of an excellent writer.

In audio, or book format, this is one not to be missed.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 11 hours and 13 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audible.com Release Date: April 7, 2015

Moonlight At Butternut Lake by Mary McNear

Published on May 30, 2015May 28, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

The final book in the Butternut trilogy. The past two days I have reviewed Up At Butternut Lake and Butternut Summer. This final installment of the series is an excellent completion that left me wanting more time at Butternut Lake. ~Sheila

Mila Jones is running from her past. When an opportunity comes up for her to take a Home Care Nurse position over 200 miles from her current situation she takes the offer. After all, staying in a cabin on a lake in a quiet town like Butternut Minnesota sounds like the perfect escape. Taking care of a wheelchair bound man named Reid Ford sounds like a pretty easy task compared to the life she is trying to escape.

Reid Ford however turns out to be anything but easy.

After Reid’s car accident that left him wheelchair bound, Reid has become a bitter shell of the confident always on the go man he once was. Hating to rely on anyone for help, Reid has already chased off many in home health care aids with his biting sarcasm and unwillingness to help himself in any way. When Reid takes one look at the young small woman named Mila he sees someone else who will be easy to run off. Yet Reid notices something in Mila’s eyes he did not see in the other home care aids, a stubborn look of determination.

This…

could get interesting.

I really enjoyed Moonlight on Butternut Lake, perhaps even to the point of saying it was my favorite of the three books. I liked Mila’s background story. Reid is the brother of Walker Ford who we meet in the first book which helps the reader have a peek into the man that Reid was before the accident. The change in him is startling and believable. I found this book to have strong topics that felt realistic and I enjoyed how the characters from the past books play a role as this final story plays out.

Mila and Reid make for great protagonists. Their differences played well off one another.

I have to admit, the Butternut Lake books brought me a nice comfort while I spent time with them. I enjoyed how they all were separate books but together lay out quite a nice story about the powers of a small town in Minnesota.

Series: The Butternut Lake Trilogy (Book 3)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (May 12, 2015)

Butternut Summer by Mary McNear

Published on May 29, 2015May 28, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Yesterday I reviewed Up At Butternut Lake, the first in this trilogy. While Butternut Summer can be read as a stand alone, I think you will find that you may enjoy the residents of Butternut Minnesota enough to want to meet them all. I would recommend the whole series. ~Sheila

Caroline has had no trouble running a diner and raising her now adult daughter Daisy on her own. That said, you can imagine her shock when her ex-husband Jack who she has not seen in 18 years strides in one day looking tan, strong, and healthy. Double the shock when Caroline discovers that this is her daughter Daisy’s doing. When Caroline learns Jack is trying to make amends for his leaving them all those years ago she is furious with his confidence, and admittedly a little flattered that he would try….

Daisy is also finding herself in unusual circumstances. Always the girl who put her schooling before pleasure she finds herself to be distracted by a guy she used to know in High School. Did Will always look this good? Has he changed his bad boy ways?

One thing Caroline and Daisy can be sure of…. summer can bring about a lot of things and change is certainly in the air.

Butternut Summer is the second book in the Butternut trilogy. While characters from the first book pop in and out of the story line it is not a necessity to read the first book to know what is happening. Butternut Summer is mainly centered around Caroline and Daisy, Jack and Will. I found this book to not be as good as the first one. Many situations in Butternut Summer seem to resolve themselves too easy. On one page a character may be upset but it never escalates and all is forgiven in another page or two. While an ok read and I was very happy to spend more time in Butternut Minnesota, this one is my least favorite of the trilogy due its easy resolutions and non happenings.

Still… enjoyed the pace of the read.

Series: The Butternut Lake Trilogy (Book 2)
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (August 12, 2014)

Morning Meanderings….A VERY EARLY Morning

Published on May 29, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Good morning. 3:26 am when I am writing this. I popped out of bed at 2:30 am this morning. My sleep schedule is all over the board and for now I just go with it. Yesterday morning I woke up TIRED. I think the full schedule of the day before – company most of the day and then a City Library Board Meeting in the evening over exhausted me. Too much of me being “on” or “present” wipes me out. I completed a couple of tasks yesterday morning and went back to bed by 11:30 and up around 3 pm.

See? Crazy sleep patterns.

So today….

Since my early rise this morning I have….

Stood out on the deck staring into the night

sent two emails out to the Friends Of The Brainerd Public Library

Created an agenda for the Monday Friends Meeting

Put clothes in dryer

Folded other clothes and prepped to put away

had a glass of ice tea

wrote a review

I am hopeful that by the time I write this post I will be able to go back to bed. I have a 9 am coffee date here at the house and a wedding tomorrow in Duluth I need to prep for. Being up this early does not appeal to me.

As for weekend reading the above is what will be traveling with me over the weekend. I am looking forward to Jon Cryer on audio during my drive time. A Hundred Summers sounds like it will be good cabin reading and I am not sure if I can handle The Rules – but we will find out.

This morning, in an alternative world, I would be flying back in from New York and the Book Expo today.

I think I am ready to go back to bed.

Up At Butternut Lake by Mary McNear

Published on May 28, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

It is amazing what the right timing can do when reading a book… Up At Butternut Lake has been on my shelf since last fall, now in this season of my life I not only read it but devoured the two follow-up books in this trilogy as well. Yes – bonus – all three books are available AND I will be reviewing them over the next three days. ~ Sheila

When Allie Beckett’s husband left for Afghanistan, Allie had no idea that would be the last time that she and her three your old son Wyatt would see him. Now after two painful years Allie moves with Wyatt back to a family cabin located on Butternut Lake in Minnesota. What Allie is hoping for is a quiet slower pace than the city life she is used to and hopefully a fresh start for her and Wyatt.

The Beckett’s are warmly welcomed by Jax, Allies high school friend, and by Caroline the owner of the local diner, Pearl’s. There are also new faces, like Walker Ford who lives in a large cabin across the lake from Allie’s. Walker pretty much keeps to himself until he takes an interest in the young pretty woman with a sadness in her eyes and her little boy. Allie however is not likely to get to know Walker in the ways he would like to know her. Still carrying the loss of her husband and his memory on her finger, she is not looking for anything more than peace and healing.

Yet there is something about Butternut Lake and all of its tranquility that seems to soften ones heart and open you up to possibilities never thought possible.

Up At Butternut Lake was a perfect read for my mood. It was a gentle story set in my home state which helped me to picture the sweet solitude of a cabin on a lake. Going through my own loss at this time, I could relate to Allie’s story of trying to find a new normal and all the while not wanting to let go of what was. For a time, in these pages, she and I were kindred spirits.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing style felt a little like the comfortable writing of Nicholas Sparks. Smoothly written, no big surprises, and an engaging read that left me picking up the second book in this trilogy as soon as I closed the last page. This is exactly what the type of book I look for when I am looking for good summer reading. I know that not everyone can find their way to Minnesota to a cabin on the lake, however opening up this book can be the next best thing.

Series: The Butternut Lake Trilogy (Book 1)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; First Edition edition (April 8, 2014)

Second Chance Friends by Jennifer Scott

Published on May 27, 2015May 27, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

I was drawn to this book because I do enjoy books about friendships as well as the fact that this author Jennifer Scott wrote The Accidental Book Club which was a fun read. This one does not disappoint. ~ Sheila

Three women in a local diner one morning are witnesses to a horrible accident right outside the diner window. While each of these women are alone and do not know the others, they are drawn back to the diner weeks later in a state of shock and acceptance and eventually… a friendship.

Karen has an adult son who can not get it together. Constantly in and out of jail Karen is bailing him out and dealing with his most recent girlfriend and mother of his child who is always looking for a handout and using the child as a bargaining tool. This time he is in jail for a fight that has left a man in a coma. Karen’s patience and wallet are growing thin.

Melinda the paramedic loves what she does. She has a husband who is so excited to start a family and the whole time Melinda is hiding the fact that she is taking birth control with a fear of bringing a child into such an unstable unknowing world.

Joanna has a loving and loyal boyfriend while she hides a deep secret that even she wonders if she can accept. Really can the life and lie she is leading really be so bad if it keeps everyone else happy?

And then there is Maddie, a now widowed soon to be mother. The accident outside the diner took the life of her husband who she loved with all of her heart. Maddie has lost all desire to go on and she is pretty sure she does not want the child growing inside of her, a symbol of the love she has lost.

As Karen, Melinda, and Joanna start meeting at the diner and sharing life stories while developing a friendship, they decide it is up to them to try to help Maddie out of her depression and help her see that there really is a reason to go on, as painful and as new as this world may seem… and maybe, just maybe, helping Maddie, helps each of these women see what is truly important.

Second Chance Friends was a little hard for me in parts due to the subject matter. Thankfully the accident in the book is in the beginning and while it is the glue of the book – it is not the soul. The soul of the book is what I appreciated and that was the friendships that came out of nowhere. A wise person once said (my son), that people come into our lives for a reason. Those who do not get you will drift away and that is ok because better people will come into your life who will genuinely love you. This is what makes Second Chance Friends a good read. The friendships that come out of tragedy. Seeing what is real and what is important and as you will see in this book (as I see in my own life), sometimes we grab onto the wrong thing and put all of our time and energies into trying to make that work when what we are doing is wasting our time on something that will never work.

A good read on friendship and life choices. I found this book to be another good read from Jennifer Scott, an author I will be watching.