Book Journey

The Vineyard by Michael Hurley

Published on November 7, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Holy cover LOVE!!!!!

Dorey Delano, Charlotte Harris, and Turner Graham used to be roommates in College at Smith ten years ago. Dorey is struggling with the possible undertaking of the family inheritance and legacy. She invites her two college friends to join her at the seaside resort on Martha’s Vineyard for catching up with each other and rekindling their once strong friendship. Dorey has no idea what baggage and agendas come with this invite; Dorey as well has her own things going on. Each girl is carrying a weight from their current worlds. When a strange man comes into the scene, known only as “the fisherman”, he has an agenda… and it is going to change the girls in ways they would never imagine.

The Vineyard is filled with so much I enjoy in a good book! Great character development, strong females, a little agenda, a little mystery… even crime. The Vineyard’s synopsis was fully loaded with a great storyline for each of the three women even without the addition of the fisherman, but tossing him in the mix added another layer of “ooh…. what is going to happen now?”

I really enjoyed The Vineyard. This is a book that has something for everyone. Way to go author Michael Hurley in writing such an engaging read! Take the time to pick up a copy of this gem! I hope we will be hearing more from this author.

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Ragbagger Press (November 25, 2014)
Language: English

I read this book for a TLC Book Tour. Thank you TLC for the trip to the Vineyard!

The Dark Road To Mercy by Wiley Cash

Published on November 6, 2014November 6, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

Twelve year old Easter and her sister 6-year-old Ruby have lived a lifetime in their short years. After their mom received full custody, having the once ball player Wade sign away his parental rights. Wade, admittedly has made poor choices in his life, drifting from one quick money maker to the next. When their mother dies suddenly, Easter and Ruby are put in foster care. Wade decided his wants his girls back and will do anything to make that happen – including taking them against their will – and against the laws.

Brady Weller,ex-cop with his own history of mistakes is the girls court appointed guardian, and he has decided that these girls will not fall through the cracks in the system. Using his past skills, Brady goes after Wade; but more importantly – he after the safe return of the girls.

Wiley Cash is one smooth writer. He has a way of telling a story that brings you right there. I enjoyed this read of a man desperate to be with his children, but still making the same mistakes he always has. You have to give Wade credit, I believe his heart was trying to be in the right place.

The book is fairly short, but satisfying. I enjoyed the multiple narrators of the story and how they all fit into the bigger picture.

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (September 23, 2014)

Morning Meanderings… Tales From The IHOP

Published on November 6, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good morning! Currently living out of a hotel room in Wildwood Florida helping my friend with the bees! It is early – EARLY. I got up at 4:30 am after hitting the snooze 3 times from my 4 am setting. We are meeting up at 5:30 to get started as the sun comes up but I need a little “wake up” time so I am at the IHOP attached to our hotel.

IHOP at 4:30 am is very pleasant. The music is 50’s style. The coffee is hot. My English muffin with a little strawberry jelly makes me happy. It is me and one trucker in here. I own the IHOP at 4:30 am. Throughout my time here we will probably become very close.

Today we will be splitting bee hives. We have been here since Monday running around getting everything lined up. Tim (Amanda’s husband) arrived yesterday with the semi of our boxes and pallets and everything we need to get going. By the time we prepped everything it was 5 pm so we called it a day to get back before the sun went down. We will work sun up to sun down today – breaking for lunch. I am taking audio with me in case I feel like popping in the ear buds and getting into a book while I plug away.

I should have some pictures up tomorrow.

Have a super awesome day. In Harry Potter updates I made a prize page yesterday morning. Lots of fun things being given away for this readalong. Check it out. I finished book 1 last night as I drifted to sleep. Never gets old…

Movie Review: Nightcrawler

Published on November 5, 2014November 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

My synopsis: Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhall) is desperate for a job. In a “rainman” style he becomes a bit overly obsessed with whatever he is pursuing. ON his way home one evening he witnesses a car accident. When he pulls over he is fascinated by the van that pulls up and takes footage of the accident. When Lou inquires about what they do with the footage, the driver says that they sell it to the highest bidder.

Lou starts researching how to take great pictures, and as he has no conscience, he has no problem going a step further that the average crime photographers, stepping in a little closer and getting the shots that bring in the money. He starts a working relationship with a news station manager, Nina Romina (Rene Russo). When she tells Lou that they pay for the shots described as “girl running down street screaming with throat cut”, Lou does his best to bring in the darkest video.

My thoughts: Smoking good creepy movie! Most frightening and fascinating is the fact that most of what these paparazzi type camera persons do is legal as long as they do not get in the way of the police and rescue crews. Of course in the movie, Lou does go too far… WAY too far. His obsession that leads to the perfect shots, as well as his obsessive interest in Rene Russo’s character, drives him to do the unthinkable…

or is it?

High action, major car crash scenes, a few gory close-ups…. adventure movie enthusiasts should find this movie both disturbing and good – and like a car crash…. hard to look away. I personally would probably not pursue seeing it again, however I would rent it for my husband as he has not seen it yet and I think he would enjoy it as I did.

Morning Meanderings… Thousands Of Miles for this Traveler

Published on November 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Good morning from Wildwood Florida! Yesterday was a record travel day… I was up at 2 am, met my friend at 3 am and we drove 2 1/2 hours to the Minneapolis airport. We landed in Florida by 11:30 am, were on the road (after a long car rental situation), and drove 2 hours to pick up the equipment we will need for the job while we are here. Then we drove 2 1/2 hours to where we will be staying (here). We unpacked our car, then went to Walmart for supplies for the time we are here – food for our lunch and dinner mainly as we will be working sun up to sun down for quite a few days here.

So what am I doing?

I am working with my friend with the bees she has brought to Florida for the winter. They need to be split (that sounds harsh but it it not) to make more hives for their future trip in February to California. Really the whole thing is fascinating! I have not split hives before but I will learn today. We are starting a little later today as we are waiting for my friends husband to arrive, he is driving semi here and he has items we need on the truck including all my bee-gear.

I am currently in an IHOP having coffee and planning out my blog posts for the day as well as hopefully (internet willing), updating the Harry Potter Re-Read individual participants page. I am almost finished with my re-read of book one which has been my plane read. I have much to say about our first book! It is not too late to join in… there will be lots of fun things happening the next 5 months as we go through this game changing series. 🙂

I am reading – listening to audio and prepping my book club reading so I can participate in next Tuesdays conversation even though I will not be there 😦 (HATE missing book club!

I will be popping in as I can and keeping up and there is a review coming up yet today on the movie Nightcrawler! (Have you seen it? OOH it is another twisted tale!)

Accidents Of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers

Published on November 3, 2014November 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Maddy and Ben live a typical young family type life. Maddy, a Social Worker, and Ben, an Attorney, juggle between hurrying out the door in the morning to their perspective clients, caring for their three children, their marriage, and their home. This kind of lifestyle is hard on any family, but toss in Ben’s quick temper, his way of cutting down with words, throwing things, and pounding on counters; to his wife and children…

it can make things unbearable.

When a horrible accident happens due to Ben’s flared up temper and not paying attention; Maddy is the one seriously hurt. Trying to blame others is Ben’s go to defense and while Maddy is battling for her life, Ben is trying to cover his tracks…

Wow. Knowing that author Randy Susan Meyers worked with domestic violence crimes before she became an author; I felt as though I had an idea that I knew where this book would take me. I was right… and I was wrong.

Accidents Of Marriage dived deep inside the family dynamics of Maddy and Ben and their children Gracie, Caleb, and the oldest 14-year-old Emma. The story in engaging. What they deal with is what any young family can be seen doing, its hard to make ends meet and grow a family, and when you add a short fused adult to the mix… things can happen. While Maddy tries to make sure things are just right so as not to set Ben off, the whole family is on edge. Emma, struggles the hardest with her father and after the accident, she becomes defiant.

As this family tries to become whole again, hard truths need to surface. And hard truths do not always mean happy endings.

I listened to this book on audio. Narrator Susan Bennett should win an award for her narrating skills in this one. I do not want to give anything away but there are some hard parts to this book and Susan pulled them off flawlessly. A well-rounded narrator, if you are an audio person I would say definitely go audio on this one so you may experience this incredible narration.

I am impressed with the book and highly encourage anyone looking for a powerful read to not hesitate by choosing this one.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 12 hours and 48 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Audible.com Release Date: October 1, 2014

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (September 2, 2014)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on November 2, 2014November 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Hey there! Welcome to It’s Monday, What Are You Reading!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. Fair warning… this meme tends to add to your reading list! 😉

Hope you are having a SUPER week! I am, enjoying sunny Florida with my son. We are here until tomorrow afternoon then back to Minnesota we go! Only a day for me because I return to Florida on Tuesday in a different capacity – but that is another story.

Here is what was posted this past week:

TEN by Gretchen McNeil

NIGHTMARES by Jason Segel

The Vanishing by Wendy Webb

Quarantined by Joe McKinney (audio review)

Harry Potter World (Universal) Thoughts on the new Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley

Gringott’s Bank Ride in Universal Studios Review

ARRESTED IN Orlando (what we Dechantal’s do in our spare time 😉 )

Harry Potter Re-Read/ Readalong – its not to late to join in!!!

Clearly I had all of the reviews written before the trip. I have hardly read at all while I have been in Florida this past 4 days. I read a little on the plane but have been running and exploring ever since then. I am not listing any new books this week as I have to really focus on my two book club reads – Aviator’s Wife and The Dark Road To Mercy… that will be hard enough to get done before next Bookies meeting, which I will not be at but want to be able to send in my thoughts 😉

SO…. the linky is all yours. What have you been reading this week? What are you planning on reading next week? Please add your link to your own It’s Monday What Are You Reading below where it says click here:

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Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

For those of you who read mainly children and middle grade books, please also feel free to add your link here:

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Published on November 2, 2014December 16, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

When a tragic accident happened in an elephant sanctuary, a whirlwind of activity all happened at once. One woman was dead. Another was seriously injured. A man loses his grip on reality… and a little girl is separated from her mother.

Jenna Metcalf was 3 years old when that night cost her both of her parents. Her father is taken to a mental facility, and her mother quietly slips out of a hospital ward never to be seen since. Now Jenna is 10 and living with her grandmother; but not a day goes by that she does not wonder what ever happened to her mother and why she never came back for her.

Jenna takes all the babysitting she money and tracks down a once famous-now washed up psychic names Serenity Jones to search for her mother through her talents, and Virgil Stanhope, the now retired police officer who was on the scene the night of the accident. For reasons beyond them, both Serenity and Virgil feel that they are meant to help this small girl who is just looking for answers.

Told in alternating voices of Jenna, Serenity, Virgil, and Alice (Jenna’s mom), the whole story comes together of what happened that night and why.

I feel like a kid when I try to describe how I felt about this book. Mainly because I want to say “Oh wowza!!!!” I have read and enjoyed Jodi Piccoult before, but kind of had her framed in a box of a female John Grisham who tells harder cases (like school shootings, autistic murderers, and suing your parents for rights to your own body…) but this THIS is not the Jodi Piccoult that I think any of us know. This is a brand new author… and she has created something amazing.

Leaving Time comes at you at such a wonderful pace. While you may think four different narrators is a bit much, it blends well and flows easily from one voice to another. While each persons perspective is entirely different, they all fit together so well. When Alice is the narrator you learn so many amazing facts about her time working with the elephants. I learned so much about these amazing creatures and how they care for their young, never forgetting a person no matter how much time has passed. The facts about the elephants added another layer to the book.

I loved this story. I listened to it on audio and it went with me from the car to the house. I could not get enough and I wanted to know how this would all come together… and when it does….

whoa.

Kudos tot he incredible narrating team of: Rebecca Lowman (Narrator), Abigail Revasch (Narrator), Kathe Mazur (Narrator), Mark Deakins (Narrator)

For those of you who enjoy Jodi Piccoult’s writing as well as for those who found her past story lines to be a bit of the same, you are in for a treat and I must tell you do not miss this book!!!

Listening Length: 15 hours and 11 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Random House Audio
Audible.com Release Date: October 14, 2014

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 14, 2014)

Morning Meanderings… ARRESTED in Orlando

Published on November 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good morning! Sunday already! I am sitting in the breakfast area of the hotel, drinking my coffee and enjoying a little people watching. This is the morning tradition. I get up, get ready for the day and wait downstairs until my son joins me. We then plan out our day.

Yesterday evening we went to the Capone’s Dinner and Show. It was a lot of fun! We arrived early, gave our secret password at the door, “two cherry cokes” and then proceeded to wait for our table. We sat with a fun group. Two couples from Wisconsin on one side of us, and an older group on the other side celebrating a 75th birthday. They were really fun to talk to!

The show was a lot of fun.

and then of course…

LOL! For $20 you could pick up this sweet newspaper of your arrest as a crime lord…. fantastic really and of course we had to have it.

Fun time, good food – recommended for those looking for a fun thing to do on an Orlando evening. Show started at 7:30, but you are welcome to show up anytime from 6 pm on for drinks and to get into character. It ended about 10:30 pm. Full buffet dinner was included: salad, pastas, pizza, lasagna, turkey, chicken, vegies, potatoes, pork, dessert and all of your drinks are included. The bummer was I was still full from lunch so ate two small squares of pizza, some salad, and sweet potato. 🙂

I have no books to show of what came in this week as I am not home until tomorrow afternoon from Florida. It has been a wonderful time to hang out with my son.

Universal Studios: The Gringott’s Bank Ride Review

Published on November 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Early today I posted about Universal Studios Harry Potter World all all the amazing new items to see and do. The real big harry audacious idea behind Diagon Alley would be the addition of the new ride, Gringott’s Bank Ride.

Seriously… this is the MUST RIDE of the park. Harry Potter fans – do not miss this impressive addition!

When Justin (my son) and I went on the ride it was over an hour wait to get on. Long yes? Worth it? YES.

The bank line area is impressive. If I was that old dude from Jurassic Park I would say, “No expense was spared!” Beautifully lines walls, realistic looks bank desks, offices, and more. The line up of animated goblins was really cool!

Beautiful decorations…

The ride is a car with four seats across, three rows per car. Its one small drop in the beginning but the rest is mainly simulated with excellent graphics and effects. Of course riders, we are trying to avoid that pesky dragon.

Don’t miss out on this ride!!!