Tag: book-reviews

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Pleasantly surprising! Sheila

Ella Durran had a set plan for her life ever since she was a young girl. Study at Oxford. When she receives her ticket to her dream through a Rhodes Scholarship, she is on her way to England! At the same time, incredibly so, she is offered a chance to work alongside a rising politician with the plan to work remotely until her year is complete at Oxford and then move full-time into her position in DC.
Of course… You know what happens when one makes plans….

A confrontation with a cocky young man upon Ella’s arrival doesn’t start her off in the right direction – nor does it when it is discovered that this same man. Jamie Davenport turns out to be her English Literature Teacher. Yet, as time goes on, Jamie’s cockyness turns to charm, and a romance starts between the two.

But – Jamie has a secret one too big to hide forever, and one that will cause Ella to make hard decisions not only regarding her future plans, but also on what to do about her heart and how much she is willing to give.


If you know me, romance novels are not my thing. What drew me to the book was the fun literary references and an interesting synopsis. Digging in – I found more (pleasantly so) than I had planned, which was enjoyable about this book. Someone had said the essence of Jo Jo Moyes, and I agree – you are getting more than a fluffy romance, you are getting into a book that delivers hard realities with engaging characters.

I listened to this on audio and LOVED the narration. I have been listening to Julia Whelan narrate books for many years – in fact, she is one of my favorite narrators. This being her first book authored, AND she narrated it was double amazing!

I didn’t know going into this that is was also a Netflix movie – I watched the movie last night and it was good, but of course – the book is better – more details, more diving in)

Rated: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: nope- but have listened to her narrate audiobooks way more than I can count!
Read Author Again: Oh yeah!

Where listened to: around the house and while driving
Book Club Worthy: Yes, topics of plans made when we are young and how they change woudl make for a good discussion as well as reviewing the choices that Ella makes, and for that matter, the hard choices that Jaimie makes.



Death Row by Freida McFadden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

“She is a short read… but a deadly one….” Sheila

Talia Kemper has sent in appeal after appeal – only to be denied time and again to be pardoned from her Death Row sentence for killing her husband. Coming to terms with the inevitable is hard enough, but catching sight of her supposedly dead husband in a visiting area takes her over the top…
With the clock ticking down, Talia knows without a doubt her husband is alive – but who will listen?


Ok. I know, I know, I know. And I know that you know that I know that I said I was on a break from McFadden and not only broke that statement once… but now twice.
I can’t be trusted.
In my defense… I listen to a lot of audio when driving and working outside – often struggling to find my next listen as I am on my way out the door to the next thing. Seeing a new McFadden and knowing it’s going to be engaging – I went for it.

I did not catch when I selected this listen that it was a short story. I am not drawn to short stories – I like to really get to know the players in a book and most likely would have passed on this if I had caught that… but I didn’t and I listened.. and here we are.

Color me impressed. For a much shorter read/listen than your usual McFadden, she was able to put together a fully played out storyline that did not feel rushed, and still left me with that twisty surprise in the end that you expect from this author. As you may know from my review here that she does not always hit the mark – I feel she did this time.
Death Row is the perfect little mini read – enticing, and although a quick listen, it did not feel rushed.

Rated: 3.75 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes
Read Author Again: Even if I said no, you know I would be lying 😉
Where Read: Gardening
Book Club Worthy: Too short for that, but if you are looking for just a little tie over listen for a drive – here it is 🙂

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

Looking forward to a week at the lake, long-time friends Julia, David, and Erika are eager to catch up and spend time together just like old times. Their Vermont lake homes are right next to each other.
This summer is a little different.

Julia and Erika knew that David was planning a remodel of his home, but they were not expecting this. The monstrosity he has built not only looks out of place next to his friends’ homes – it is so big that to see their once cherished lake views, they have to look through their windows – and through his.

But that’s not all that’s new with David this summer. He also brings along his new young nanny, Izzy, to watch his kids, as well as his new girlfriend, Fiona. Looks like it is not going to be like old times…

After a heated argument between David and Fiona, Fiona disappears. JUlia and Erika are beginning to wonder how well they really know their friend David, and Izzy – well, Izzy feels that things are right on track for her own agenda…

So…. full disclosure – I don’t know what I was thinking I was about to read – but this wasn’t it. It felt like the book started out one way – and then shifted into something else. As the book went on, it felt like it was trying too hard. Too many things to keep track of, too many directions – and drawn out.
A book I feel had great potential to be something, but in the end, I am not sure what that something was. It felt like it was trying too hard to follow in the footsteps of some of the great psychological thrillers, and in the end, I just wanted to know what happened, which also became distorted.
It’s a busy time of year for me, and I listened to this on audio. My brain may be too full of other things to fully appreciate this book – AND I have enjoyed this author before (although I just checked… no reviews) – so it could be a little bit me as well –
Would love to hear your thoughts. Have you read it?

The Idaho Four – An American Tragedy by James Patterson and Vicky Ward

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

A captivating and bizarre murder case. ~Sheila

Saturday, November 13th, 2022, Moscow Idaho. Four College students, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen, return to their off-campus house around 2:00 am after an evening out. All lived in that house with two other roommates, except for Ethan, who was dating Xana and had come to stay the night. After a DoorDash order at 4 am, all were in their rooms.

Around this same time, a masked man entered the home through a sliding glass door. While both Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were also in the home at the time in their respective rooms, and both heard some noises, they also had been out drinking and didn’t think much of it. It wasn;t until the next morning, when their friends were not up yet that the 4 bodies were discovered.

The ability to trst the world around me had been taken away. What he did shattered me in places I didn;t know could break. I was barely 19 when he did this.
~ Dylan Mortenson survivig roommate – July 2025 at the hearing and sentencing of Bryan Kohberger

Recently looking for my next read (listen), I came across this title. With the trial scheduled for this month, and admittedly, not remembering much about the case, I chose this book.

Diving into the bigger picture, learning more about the student victims and who they were is an important part of this story. While some may say the back story is not needed as this is such a public case – I respectfully disagree. There are as we all know – many terrible things happening in our world, while many/most of us tuned into this tragedy in 2022, not all including myself, have kept up with all the goings on surrounding the case, including the upcoming trial – which happened to take place while I was listening to this book on audio.

The telling of the back story, the students, and information on who Bryan Kohberger is and was at the time of the crime, is well done and gives you a foundation of the back story as the book moves into the investigation that leads to Kohberger’s arrest.

Now, of course, knowing what happened just a few days ago – I have great empathy for the families that have lived with this the past few years and will live with this the rest of their lives. Knowing first hand the loss of a child, I can imagine the relief of the trial – and perhaps at least a sense of some sort of closure – although not knowing the why… would certainly be something that would personally haunt me.

Overall, a well-written account of the murders, and worthy of your time for those who would like to know more about the beginning. I also just learned that there is a documentary, One Night in Idaho: The College Murders” exclusively available on Prime Video.
Fox News Families Confront Bryan

Rated: 3.5 out of 5
Read Author Before: Patterson? Of course!
Read Author Again: Yes
Where Read: Audio – mostly in car and home

Tom Lake by Anne Patchett

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

The stories of our past… that stay alive in our hearts. ~Sheila

In the Summer of 2020, Lara and Joe Nelson brought their three adult daughters to the family Orchard to be together during Quarantine. For Lara and Joe, it’s an incredibly rare opportunity to bring the girls home for an extended period of time. For the girls, Emily, Massie, and Nell, it’s a chance to get to know their parents beyond the roles of “mom and dad”.

While harvesting cherries, the girls prod their mom to open up about her college days and her acting career – more specifically, her time and her romance with the famous Peter Duke, who, years after that time on Tom Lake with Lara, went on to be an Oscar Winner.

While Lara lets her story unfold, she knows what she will tell her eager daughters – and what is hers to keep… but oh…. the memories.

To be honest, I was looking for my next good listen. I have spent too much time lately poring over previews of audio and, for one reason or another, finding it hard to find the snippets engaging… be it the start of the book moving too slowly, the narrator not grabbing me, whatever… I was browsing online lists of great listens and found Tom Lake among the highly recommended.- Narrated by Meryl Streep, I had to listen.

Tom Lake was a nice listen that really fits any season. Lara is our storyteller and the book narrator. When her girls are eager for the story of her connection to Peter Duke, Lara gives them so much more, knowing from the start what she will share and what she will not.

The narration flows between the present time of the family together and Lara sharing her college days, dreams of acting, and of course, leading into her meeting and getting to know Duke. It was a smooth read, a nice listen, obviously different (welcomingly so) from the twisty psychological thrillers I find myself often drawn to, as grab-and-go” reads this time of year.

Streep is the perfect narrator for this book, and makes it easy to picture this family on their orchard together during COVID, sharing stories…I have always said – not everything about COVID was bad… in some ways it brought us back to what is important.

I’m no stranger to Anne Patchett’s books, yet sadly, when I did a search through Book Journey, I found no reviews other than a Read-A -Long of Bel Canto in 2012 (and looks like I was the one who put it together!); however, I see no review of the book. That may call for a do-over.

Rated: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: yes
Read Author Again: I hope to dig into more of her titles
Where Read: Audio – home and traveling locally
Discussion worthy: Yes – I think this book would make for a nice group discussion. Topics centering around COVID and how we spent our time and what you woudl consider good things that came out of it (IE – a renewed closeness to family, a time to slow down, learning a new hobby or engaging in one you had not had time for, sharing your past with your children- Yay or Nay

The Perfect Getaway by Kiersten Modglin

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments
“Keep your enemies closer….A creepy, delicious vacation thriller” ~ Sheila

When the invite for an all-expense-paid 7-day vacation to a pre-opening of an upscale resort on a tropical island arrives in the mail, they are sceptical… endless time share talks? 4 point fine print of 10,000 easy monthly payments of only $99?

For Brad and Laura, between the full-time jobs and their two young daughters, a getaway is tempting but feels impossible.

For Nick and Megan, engaged to be married, this would be like an early start to a honeymoon. While Megan is hesitant and feels something isn’t right, Nick is all in for the idea.

For Natasha and Jaren, they are at the beginning of the end. With a son about to turn 18, they have decided that once he graduates, they are going to call it. Once madly in love, the years have taken a toll on the couple, but a week on a tropical island? Maybe…

For Andy and Emily, this is a no-brainer. Andy, after a long line of relationships, feels Emily may be the one. Emily, a travel blogger, is the one who filled out the application for a chance to win this trip to the island and won it not only for Andy and herself, but their friends as well.

Once the other couples understand Emily’s role in their invite, they start to feel excited about the possibilities of a fun getaway with their friends, and one by one, they each find a way to make it happen.

Yet, that first day on the island, of drinks and sun…. they discover their cell phones will not work… and by morning…

One of them will be dead.

So here we are, the second week of July, and summer is here, and this is a big audio season for me as I do yard work. I am also admittedly struggling with finding audio that I want to listen to and spend too much time prusing through titles and preview listens trying to find not only a good storyline but good narration – audio book listeners, you know what I mean… if the narrator does not fit you will struggle getting into the book.

Sadly, I have been interested in several titles lately that the narration immediately turned me off, and don’t even get me started on some recent titles with multiple narrators that made the preview sound more like a play or production than a book…. might be just be… but come on 🙂

Ok – that was a long lead-in.

For The Perfect Getaway, I enjoyed the narration as well as the storyline…told from different perspectives, you get to know each couple and the baggage (or lack thereof in one case) they bring to the island. I enjoyed hearing their back stories and found this to be a nice way to introduce us to the many characters.
While I enjoyed the story and the creepy undertone, it felt a little rushed. Once they get to the island, everything seems to happen so quickly, and it could have been a little more paced – a chance to really get to see the changes in the characters as things come to be.
Twisty ending that surprised me – but again, we could have had more story.

Rated: 2.9 out of 5
Read Author Before: I don’t think so
Read Author Again: probably
Where Read: Audio – this one was quick – one hour car trip and an afternoon of yard work



Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Things I really liked… and a few things I didn’t. ~Sheila

Alicia Cross has dreamed about becoming a writer. When she believes she finds a contact for none other than the unreachable Margaret Ives, tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century, she can not believe her luck. Alicia definitely thinks the stars have aligned when she is not only correct about finding Margaret, but Margaret has invited her to Crescent Island to talk about Alicia writing her biography.

Yet, as Alicia knows all too well, nothing is that easy. While it is true that Alicia has been given access to Margaret, she is not the only one.

Enter Pulitzer-Prize winner Hayden Anderson, who has also been invited to the island – ALSO to be interviewed by Margaret to potentially write her story – and in the words of Margaret, may the best person win the right to do so.

With an iron-clad NDA, Margaret meets with both writers separately to tell her story, but the real story genre – mystery, historical, tragedy, or romance… may depend on the writer…. and if Alicia and Hayden steer clear of the obvious attraction to each other.

Ok – first *sigh*. I am not a fan of romance… well, let’s say fluffy romance. While this at times borders on a little too much eye fluttering and stammering for my taste, I am pleased to say there is more likable parts to this book.

I did like the back story and the camaraderie between Hayden and Alicia as they find themselves in situations that pull them together, even when they are trying to stay in their own lane. This, and Margaret’s telling of her story, was fun ( a reminder of something else I have read in the past few years – cover has a woman in a green dress… that I can not recall the title of) – but not in a bad way.

My biggest peeve, and sorry if this is a spoiler- the sex. Not a prude – but I also do not need to have the full play by play in my fiction (or perhaps it seemed more detailed in audio). Every time.. yeah, there is more than one occurrence… it pulled me out of the story. Obviously, my opinion, but I feel there are ways to get the picture without the full PICTURE.
Overall, mostly enjoyed. Would love others’ thoughts on this one.

Rated: 2.75 out of 5
Read Author Before: yes – Funny Story
Read Author Again: Probably she has some fun titles and Im a little surprized I have not read more of her books
Where Read: Audio – gardening/mowing/commuting

Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Bookies Book Club Pick)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Based on a true story, this retelling of another remarkable woman pulled from history is well worth your time and attention. We have come a long, long way. ~Sheila

It is Maine, 1789, and Martha Ballard, a Midwife, is requested to examine a body found in the icy waters of the Kennebec River. As a Midwife, she knows much about her community and what goes on behind closed doors, recording in her diary every birth, every stillborn, as well as deaths and debacles, and every detail surrounding the circumstances.
Now, as Martha examines the dead man, she recognises him to be one of two respected gentlemen that had been allegedly involved in a rape a few months back. She also sees this death as not an accidental drowning, but murder.
As Martha lives in a time when women should know their place, and their voice is not always respected, when you could instead get an opinion from a man, her battle for justice is an uphill one When her son, Cyrus, is identified as having been in a fight with this man the same night as his death, Cyrus is accused of the murder. Martha knows she has to find a way to justice, no matter what the cost.

My Book Club, The Bookies, chose this as our read for June. I had this book already downloaded and for the life of me, was under the impression I had never finished it and wasn’t sure why… turns out – I just have a poor memory- not only did I read it, I also reviewed it here, as well as on Goodreads in March of 2024 – both I discovered this morning when I went to write this review. Good grief… I think that is a new one for me.

That all said – without reading what I previously wrote – here are my 2025 thoughts (and yes while listening to this one over the past week, I did recognize that I had some knowledge of this book, so there is hope for me yet… ;P
Martha’s story is compelling – not only is the book well written, it is based on an actual person and facts (historical fiction – the author admittedly fills in blanks and takes liberty to make the story flow). The book and the struggles of women having a voice are timely. I recently finished the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, while certainly not apples to apples – this book gave me some of that same vibe of women struggling for respect and rights.
Often I find some of the more recent books are going for the big shocking “WOW” with nothing to stand behind it but poor writing, loose ends, and a confused reader – this is not one of those books… everything flows well, every storyline comes full circle.
It’s definitely worth the hype surrounding it, and I would absolutely recommend you give this a read.

Bookies Book Club:
The Bookies enjoyed this book very much – there was much to discuss, and women’s rights were definitely part of the discussion. Overall, the rating was a solid 4.5 out of 5. One of our members even stated that when she read this last year, it was her favorite book of the year.
If you are reading this as a book discussion, here are some fun things to include:

Food suggestions – there is not a lot of food talked about in the book, but if you look at the times, here are some thoughts:
Hearty Crusty Bread
A Chowder or Stew (think things you can get from a garden or from animals you raise, like cows, chickens, pigs)
Whole chicken (I went with the rotisserie style I could get from Walmart – already cooked)
Small potatoes, Carrots, Rosemary
Salad
Fruits
And an add-on for us with the Frozen River title – I made frozen Margaritas

Topics to pull for discussion –
Women’s rights ( we had a list of when laws were passed – see below), actually frightening to see how much of this has happened in our lifetime.
Midwifery
Relationships

Rated: 4.25 out of 5
Read Author Before: well, the same book so yes 🙂
Read Author Again: I would- she has a certain style I enjoy
Where Read: Listened on audio between house, car and yard work 🙂

My Friends by Fredrik Bachman

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

I have always known I have been blessed with great friendships. This book is a telling of just how important those connections are. ~Sheila

When Louisa meets him, he is older, sick, and of all places, in an alleyway. But – she would know him anywhere – after all, he is The Artist.
If timing could be called perfect, perhaps this would be just that… or not… depending on how you look at.
But suddenly, 18-year-old Luisa is thrust into an adventure of a lifetime, as she goes from having nothing to having everything – is she wants it or not… and from going friendless to possibly having a friend… or two… and learning about what its like to have people that know you inside and out and support you – the real you – even the dark stuff – even the smelly stuff, and absolutely the stuff that you lock in your heart for all the years to come and beyond.

It’s funny because this is an author that I have really enjoyed (Beartown) – which sadly I see I never reviewed, but do discuss in an oddly titled post many years ago. And there were books that other people loved and I did for whatever reason did not – A Man Called Ove, and My Grandmother Todl Me To Tell You She’s Sorry (read but also sadly, no reviewed so I can not even tell you what it was that I did not enjoy).

But – that was then and this is now and I just finished listening to My Friends. I enjoyed Bear Town… I liked this one even better.
My Friends covers what not all of us had growing up – that amazing friend group… the getting together pretty much daily to ride bikes, and laugh, to get into trouble, to become a part of each other’s stories. My Friends tells of such a group – all with their own demons – but they had each other.
When we enter this story, the friends are adults now – time and situations have for the most part separated them… but a chance encounter with a young girl in an alleyway who has a fiery spirit that feels somewhat familiar, and a painting worth millions… well, this may be a story worth sharing.
I loved the narration, I loved the subtle and funny moments, the memories as well as the present time and honestly this book felt like a reminder to me how lucky I was to have close friends all my life – that I had the cousins down the road that I biked with and got in trouble with almost every weekend… and how lucky I am now to have another group of friends, not the same I gre up with, but just as wild…. and a plethera of solid memories because of all the crazy awesome we have done together…. (traveling, dressing up, costumes, inflatables, 5ks and mud runs, rooftops, concerts, haunted spaces, stories that are shared often and stories that we have pinky sworn stay between us, weddings… and yeah, funerals too.

Amazing amazing writing – this would be a great discussion book as there is so much to talk about, including your own stories of growing up and who were the people that create your stories…

If you have time for one book this season, let this be the book.

Rated: 4.75 out of 5
Read Author Before: yes
Read Author Again: I would
Where Read: Listened on audio – mowing the lawn

The Ex by Freida McFadden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment
Version 1.0.0

Can a book be too twisty? I think so. ~Sheila

Cassie is so excited about her new relationship with Joel. How can she be so lucky? Cassie’s life as a bookstore owner is simple, and Joel – well, Joel is a handsome, kind guy, and a doctor. What could he possibly want with a bookish girl like Cassie?

But Joel appears smitten. He takes Cassie to meet his friends, who are not very welcoming. One in particular continues to throw how wonderful and beautiful Joel’s ex was in Cassie’s face.

As the relationship continues… Cassie begins to get calls calling her names – and then the bookstore appears to be broken into…. strange things are happening, and Cassie has to wonder… who is after her? Is it Joel’s ex?

While this book had the elements of what I love about Freida McFadden’s books…. good character development and a catchy storyline… I think I have finally come to terms with the fact that maybe I need to take a break from McFadden’s books.. I am feeling a bit caught in the spider web of McFadden books and looking for that next thriller fix.

I want to say this was better than the last book I read by McFadden, but.. no. Confusing and a whole lot of extra stuff that went… nowhere. Like being led down the wrong rabbit hole but this one for some reason didn’t flow a=or have the delicious shock value of discovering you were wrong and it sufdetly makes sense…. yes, I was wrong on what I was thinking … but it wasn’t the delicious WOW I was hoping for… if anything… I was annoyed and a little lost.
The ending…. hmmm.
I did like the book…. but think perhaps I am getting too critical of this very good author and raising my bar too high.
That said, Freida and I are on a break.