Tag: fiction

The Extrordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

It is said that God has a plan…even if we can not see it until it’s in the rearview window. ~Sheila

Sam Hill was born with red eyes, a condition called ocular albinism, but his mother called it God’s will. As Sam grows and takes his hard-earned spot at Lady Of Mercy School, he wonders if it is also God’s will that he is bullied and beaten and called “Devil Eyes.” And was it also God’s Will that one of his teachers is unusually cruel to him, and his friends are few and hard to find.

But Sam’s two misfit friends are perfect for him. Ernie Cantwell is the only African American student in the school and has battles of a different kind. Mickie Kennedy is a strong-willed girl with a horrific past of abuse and has no trust for anyone beyond her friendship with both Sam and Ernie.

And – as Sam grows into a man, his extraordinary life leads him in extraordinary ways and learning that running through life with your eyes closed – serves little purpose… in fact, opening them might just allow him to see more clearly.

This is one of those books that has been on my radar (and on my shelf) for a long time. I can’t even tell you why, other than the only stand by of, So many books, so little time…. and – sometimes, it seems like certain books wait for the time to be right to be picked up and read.


I want to tell you that this book was an easy read, but that is not right. It’s definitely a good read, but a hard one. The topics of physical abuse at the hands of another student are hard to read, but do not let that discourage you from picking this book up. TELOSH feels real. I could see it all clearly and not once felt that it was far-fetched. I loved everything about this book, including his two misfit friends, because in all honesty, when you get right down to it, having one really good ride or die friend is more than most have… having two… well, that’s amazing in itself. And sometimes, we just need to open our eyes to see what is right before us.

This book was published in 2018. If you have not read it, I highly recommend that you do. TELOSH reminds us that why things happen is not always crystal clear – yet when you look back, you can most times see how you changed in ways that are significant because of it, albeit it can be the most painful thing you will ever do.

Read this book.

Rated: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: I would
Book Club Worthy: Yes. Ther is so much to unpack here
Where Listened: Home/Traveling for work

The One by John Marrs

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

Imagine all the people, Livin’ for today ~Sheila (borrowed from John Lennon)

Its a simple test. You swab your mouth and send it in. Then an email arrives… they have your match. Your Match. The One that is your one. For less than $10 you can request more information… a name of your One. Some details… and..

well the rest is up to you. That is Match Your DNA.

Now, a decade later, millions of people have been matched. Marriages have been destroyed, but really – wouldn’t it be better to be with the one that has been predestined to be your match? The one that will be with you all the days of your life? Even if it puts an end to dating and the joys of finding the person you are meant to be with?

Now – 5 different people are about to find their match to be very different from themselves, but who are they to argue when the Match Your DNA has never had a false Match.
Yet.


I really enjoyed The One event, even though it admittedly scared me a bit. Honestly, reading this, it doesn’t seem that far-fetched from something that could really happen. There are apps for almost everything – why not this? You can also see the appeal to something like this… take the work out of making a mistake and choosing poorly… If you can get the right one right off the bat, why not do that?
Well… as in many “AI” type situations… it is not a perfect system, and reading this book will give you the insight.
An interesting read – it kept me engaged and I think would make for great discussion.

Rated: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yup! (I read Keep It In The Family – creepy good, but I see I never reviewed it.
Read Author Again: Most likely – I like the wicked twisty turns
Book Club Worthy: I think so, its an interesting topic
Where Listened: Home


Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Definitely listen to on audio – I laughed out loud more times than I can count. ~Sheila

Lucy knew that going back to her hometown was going to be a challenge after all these years and all the rumors that had surrounded her ever since her best friend Savvy had been murdered and Lucy had been named a suspect. But Grandma has asked for her to come home for her birthday, and Lucy can not bring herself to turn down Grandma.

Ben Owens, host of the popular Podcast Listen For The Lie, has set his sights on the mystery behind the unsolved case on Savvy…placing him in the area where the murder took place, at the same time that Lucy, the only real suspect, will be home. What luck! Putting fuel on the fire of this unsolved mystery only serves to reignite everyone’s opinion on what they think happened and a thirst to know the truth, especially in Lucy’s own hometown.

The unfriendly reactions, the hateful words that accompany Lucy’s homecoming are definitely harsh, and the Podcast just keeps piling on as friends and family members all fall under the spell of being interviewed for the popular listen.

Truth is, not even Lucy knows if the rumors are true. Lucy has no memory of what happened, only that she was found covered in her best friend’s blood with no recollection of how or what happened.
…And there is this voice in her head… that makes Lucy think that maybe-just maybe, everyone is right about her.

I am always pushing my friends to try audio (just ask them). And – when doing so there are always certain books I recommend to them that really pop in audio format, and in turn I hope they will listen and become an audiobook listener as I am.
This is one of those books.

I typically avoid reading reviews on a book I plan to read/listen to as I want to form my own opinion and not go into a book with any bias one way or another. I also try to not read reviews before I write my own for the same reason… However, I did see a little mention of this book before diving into it that called it witty and funny – two things I very much like, but do not necessarily associate these two words with a thriller.
Truth is – Listen For The Lie can be funny… admittedly, the dark humor had me laugh out loud many times while listening. Fans of YOU by Caroline Kepnes (also a Netflix Series) I believe, will enjoy this one.

Listen For The Lie can definitely be dark, but in a way that I actually enjoyed. This is not the first time I have listened to a book that has a podcast built into it, but like the others I have read/listened to that have done this – I like it. It’s a great addition to this listen.

Overall – just a really good listen with great narration, and I was all in to find out who did it.

Well done and recommended.

Rated: 4 out of 5 – Solid listen
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: I would!
Possible Triggers: Semi-graphic descriptions of killing someone
Where Read: Listened to at home and in the car


Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Beautifully and painfully written – I loved this book. Sheila

It starts when Beth’s brother-in-law kills a dog and goes after their sheep.
But – did it?
The dog belongs to Gabriel Wolfe, Beth’s one love when she was a teenager, until circumstances broke her heart and separated them for what she felt would be forever. Gabriel has recently returned to the area where he grew up, a now well-known author, recently divorced, and with custody of his young son Leo.
Beth is happily married to Frank and lives on the family farm, but Leo reminds Beth of the son she lost to a terrible accident around the same age as Leo is now. As Beth finds time to spend with Leo, she also finds it soothes her heartache to be near this boy, despite Frank’s warnings that this may not be the best idea for more reasons than one.
As the past colides with the present, Beth has to choose between he woman she was and the woman she has become.



So – first up. I am not a romance reader. So believe me when I tell you that this book does have elements of romance, of course, but it is written in a way that is also a thriller. The combination works, and I flew through this read wanting to know what would happen, wanting to know how it all would end, but also not wanting it to end.

Beautifully and painfully written, a hard subject for me yet written in a way that also held me captive to the accuracies of losing a child, the feelings of isolation that can come with this, and the pain and struggle of trying to live when not wanting to move forward. Absolutely, I cried.
There is so much to this book that I do not want to share because this is one of those reads that as best left to the reader to go in with no guidance and come out the other side with their own full and personal impact.

This is a wonderful read and would make a great discussion with a reading group – there is much to unpack.

Rated: 5 out of 5
Triggers: Child Loss, Immense Grief, Some Sexual Content
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: Absolutely
Where Read: at home, over a weekend

More Or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

I recommend everyone read at least one Genova, Brilliant and Insightful – Every Time. ~Sheila

At 19 years old, Maddy Banks is much like any other stressed out NYU Freshman. With school assignments, navigating relationships, home life, and her job, it’s no wonder she feels off.
But when Maddy is given an antidepressant to help her with the lows, she begins to feel good. Really, really good… so good—she feels she can do anything and is pretty sure she is on the path to writing Taylor Swift’s Memoir (with the assistance of Taylor, of course) and working with Netflix on a Comedy series.

Maddy is then diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder.

As Maddy struggles with medications with big side effects, an overprotective mother, a caring sister, and basically learning to navigate life through the setbacks (two steps forward one mega messy launch backward, repeat…) and, of course, trying to navigate this new life with friendships/ relationships and not real comfortable sharing her diagnosis with everyone… Maddy is in for a learning curve… they all are.

When I ask people if they have ever read Lisa Genova, many times I will get a, “I’m not sure” or a “No” – then when I ask them if they ever heard of the movie Still Alice starring Julianne Moore, who plays a professor at Columbia University who begins to have memory loss of where she is on her daily jogs, and must come to terms with a devastating diagnosis: early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – I almost always get a yes, as they recall this wonderful and sad movie.
What they may not have known is that Still Alice was first a book written by Lisa Genova.

I have enjoyed several of Genova’s books throughout the years, each about a different ailment/diagnosis, woven into a wonderful storyline that is both engaging and a learning experience. I have read:
Still Alice ( Alzheimer’s)
Left Neglected (for a Reading Group) Left Negelected (for myself) – Brain Injury

Inside The O’Brien’s (Huntington Disease)

I really enjoyed this book and Maddy. She is a trainwreck for sure, but she gets there 🙂 Learning about having Bipolar disorder (not being Bipolar, as Maddy would say – you have it, it’s not you. If you eat a pizza, you are not a pizza) was eye-opening.
There were a couple of lines – well, more than that, but here are a couple that really caught my attention:

“She is in bed every night by ten, tired from having lived the day rather than tired of living the day.” – page 36

Her disposition is a cottage in the forest inhabited by pharmaceutical dwarfs. She’s sleepy, shaky, thirsty, cranky, unworthy, full-of-shitty, and meh. – page 291

Told in the usual Genova style, the book is engaging and insightful, at times funny, and while you sink into one family’s story, you become a little more knowledgeable along the way.
I love that.

I have not read everything by Lisa Genova, but on her website, I see a few titles that I have not read – Every Note Played (ALS)
– Love Anthony (Autism)
I encourage you to pick up any one of her books that speaks to you – I am quite sure you will be glad you did.

Rated: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes!
Read Author Again: Most likely!
Where Read: Started in Florida – read while we traveled back to MN by RV – finished in Georgia

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

Theo feels she has finally found the person to share her life with. Connor is kind, good looking, and comes from a financially stable family. And (so far) he hasn’t asked too many questions about her past. But now, he has brought her to Idlewood, the Familys Retreat property, and his family – who expects a certain quality to those who plan to marry in, will have questions. Shoot, Theo isn’t even her real name.

Theo has only a small memory of her early years – at the age of 4, after a horrific incident left Theo without her mom and no relatives to step in, her following years placed with a family in a strict household are nothing she cares to share with Conner’s family. After all, they would not be too keen about some things during that time.

It turns out that Idlewood has secrets of its own that it is also reluctant to share. Set deep in the woods where cell reception is nonexistent, the cabins are luxurious except for one. One cabin sits away from the others, abandoned and neglected, and behind its door… secrets that belong to Theo can be found. Secrets – that some will go to great lengths to keep in the dark.

I picked up this book from Book Of The Month. A new author to me and an interesting title and synopsis. I love a good setting in the woods, and Theo’s story was intriguing (if not adding sparks of deja vu as I just recently read a book (First Lie Wins) with the female protagonist using a false name)

There is much I liked about this book. The characters are well developed; I felt as though I could picture them, who they were, and enough back story… the setting as mentioned, perfectly spook worthy, and Theo’s story backs up and made sense as it is revealed…
My only small peeve was that as we had a couple of family generations in this setting, occasionally when switching into a new chapter and not revealing who was talking and mentioning “my father” I was left wondering which father? And I would have to read on to finally put it together. Maybe it was just me, but each time that happened, I was pulled out of the story.

Second peeve is the title. It just doesn’t fit the book… yes we are in the winter, but there is no big storm as part of the setting… and believe me… it wasn’t the cold that was causing the killing.

Minor griping aside, I would suggest trying this one for yourself. There are a lot of reviews and opinions on this book that differ from mine 🙂

Nosing around Kate Marshall’s website I see a few titles that catch my eye.

Rated: 3 out of 5
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: probably
Where Read: Can you believe I am still in Fort Myers Florida? 🙂

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

Delightfully smart and twisty. ~Sheila

Evie Porter has her next assignment – Ryan Somner. The name and location have been delivered by her boss Mr. Smith -who she has never met… only communicated by phone and delivered packages and then a deposit into her bank account.

This new job, however, is a little trickier… Ryan is kind and fun to be with and easy on the eyes. Despite herself, Evie likes him and she knows, he likes her too. For the first time… Evie allows herself to envision a different life that does not include lying, deceit, theft, and betrayal. Something that some may call – normal.

But so many things need to happen for that to ever be a reality – first, there is no way out from Mr Smith’s watchful eye… Second, there is a reason that she was assigned to Ryan and there is something shady there… and third –
well. Evie Porter is not even her name. Nor were the many names she has called herself that came before that.

I have had a nice streak lately of books that grab me immediately. First Lie Wins was no exception. Not only was this a good thriller – it was different than anything I have read before (also a plus). Often when an author creates as many paths as Ashley Elston does here, there is usually a path that is left unfinished – which can weigh on me like a loose thread… but not here – while there are many moving pieces – in the end, they all fit and you can find how each part, leads to the satisfying hard-earned finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the one exception that has nothing to do with the storyline or author… just as it was digging in and things were starting to fall into place – there were 17 pages in my copy (pictured above). While I could not wait to get a new copy to move on I trudged forward with the gap and pieced together what I could of what must have happened in the “in-between” of page 278 and page 295.

While a new author to me, I nosed around her website and there are a couple of back titles that caught my eye… if you check it out I am sure you can know which would be right up my alley 🙂

Rated: 4.5 out of 5
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: I think I would
Where Read: Fort Myers Florida

The Housemaid’s Secret by Frieda McFadden

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It’s fun to revisit the characters you enjoy – and Millie is definitely one to have on your side. ~Sheila

Millie has a reputation as being “a fixer”. As word got out that Millie had a way to take care of the bad husbands, she had a little stint with the help of a friend cleaning up some messy marriages.

Those days, however – are in the past. Millie still with a record of her jail time, just wants a nice easy job to pay the bills and keep her moving forward. When Douglas Garrick calls about her working for him and his wife – a little housekeeping, a little errand running, a little cooking – Millie says yes. The Garricks seem easy to work for, their house is never dirty and Mr Garrick is pleasant in their encounters. The only thing that makes Millie wonder is Mrs. Garrick, who keeps to herself in her room with some assorted health issues. And the longer she works for the Garrick’s the more mysterious it seems that Mr Garrick does not want Millie to talk to his wife…

What could possibly be going on?

I’m a little proud of myself with this one. I feel like I finally have a bit of a grasp on McFadden’s style and even predicted a couple of things in this one. (Go Me!!!) But – don’t get me wrong… when this story begins to fully unfold – there is the usual McFadden Origami style here that once again – in the end… had me fooled.

I enjoyed this one as a sequel but probably not as much as the first one – still a strong read and I am glad I did 🙂

Rated: 3.5 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes
Read Author Again: Of Course 🙂
Where Read: Listened to audio – finished right before leaving on our RV trip

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments
Every bit as good as I was hoping it would be! ~Sheila

In August of 1975, a Camp counselor awakens to find one of her campers missing. Barbara Van Laar is not just any camper, she is the daughter of the Summer Camp Owners and also the sister of the boy who went missing from his very camp over a decade ago.

As the police are called in, and Counselors, Campers, Camp Staff, as well as Family Members are questioned… a tale begins to unfold like no other of betrayal and deceit, long-time grudges, and long-hidden secrets.

I don’t often get to sit and really READ READ. Like – a qty of time. This was a treat for me with days of RV travel and nothing but time while on the road I read this in two days. I loved this book and had no trouble picking it up and reading it for hours. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the tale told by so many different narrators – usually I do not like a lot of different characters to keep track of but in this case, they were well-developed and easy to follow the narration changes as pieces of the story unfolded from what happened then – to what was happening now.

Kudos also for the timeline that was being focussed on between 1950 – Fall 1975 was at the start of each chart with the timing of that chapter highlighted. I thought that was brilliant and I have never seen this done in such a way before.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend digging into a great campfire tale.

Rated: 5 out of 5
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: I would!
Where Read: In the RV traveling between Minnesota and Tennessee (finished in Tennessee)

Happy New Year! What Are You Reading? 12th Annual First Book Results Are Here!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Hey all! Happy New Year! If you are wondering where the First Book post is… here it is 😀 I have had a quiet morning of reflection and COFFEE… gone are the days of my staying up past midnight to have this post in your in boxes by 6 am…
I’m as devoted as ever… just not as insane about it lol.

I usually make you search for my book choice within the pics… oh I am in there, but I thought this year starting this post off with not only my book choice – but also my word of the year choice : JOY

Again – I hope to review more… get back into a rhythm here which also means writing more…. and learning how to find that balance.

With no further ado… below you will find the First Books of 2025. What a fun selection! Among these book selections, you will also find some authors – keep your eyes out for:
Cary Griffith
Kaira Rouda
Joshilyn Jackson
Heather Gudenkauf
Lorna Landvik

Fun Facts – very few duplications this year! That actually excites me! While in the past years there may have a been a hot tile that several selected – I love the diversity of what you will see below. I love that first book, as well as all books you choose, are a personal preference. Books/genres speak differently to us at different times in our lives. We have everything here from some heavy hitters, comfort reads, education, historical, non fiction, memoirs, fun, heart-wrenching, a little spooky, a little romantic and MORE! We played participants!

AND – below the pics the book titles (if I was able to read them :D) and links to the books so you too can learn about them and maybe select them for future reads this year.
If I missed anyone please let me know and I will post an update tomorrow. There is usually an add-on after I post and with all the ways the pics are sent between texts, emails, and Facebook messages… it is quite possible I missed something.

You Will Be Peter by Jerry Lathan

Keeping Watch: 30 Sheep, 24 Rabbits, 2 Llamas, 1 Alpaca, and a Shepherdess With A Day Job by Kathryn Sletto

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam

The Torah Codes by Ezra Barany

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

The Day The World Came To Town: 911 in Gander, Newfoundland

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

The Brothers Karanazav by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Olive, Mabel, and Me: Life Adventures With Two Very Good Dogs by Andrew Cotter

The Secret History of Audrey James

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Who Will Carry The Fire? Darrell J Pedersen

The Clinic by Cate Quinn

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Breath: The New Science Of A Lost Art by James Nestor

Lighthouse by Eugenia Price

James by Percival Everett

A Place In The Woods by Helen Hoover

Trust Issues by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands

Titans by Leila Meacham

Family Doctor by J M Dalgliesh

Rough Pages by Lev AC Rosen

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Wintering – The Power of Rest and Retreat by Katherine May

When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner

CHER The Memoir Part 1 by Cher

Horseman: A Tale Of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry

The French Winemaker’s Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens

How To Be Online and Also Be Happy by Issy Beach

Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver

The Love Of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Lula Dean’s Little Libray of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore ( second time selected AND the first repeat title!)

The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik

The Brothers of Karamazov by Fyoder Dostoevsky (second time selected!)

Somewhere Beyond The Sea by TJ Klune

All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker

James by Percival Everett (send time selected!)

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (second time selected!)

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca ThorneL

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin

The Second Mrs Astor by Shana Abe

Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson

Every year there are a few people that are head slapping right now going “DOH! I totally forgot to send mine in!” No worries – other years there have been a few that come in later and I add them and repost tomorrow so feel free to send 🙂
Thanks all – this is a project that helps me through the New Year and brings a smile to my face as I see the selections and learn about books that were not on my list to read but now are. (I added quite a few to my TBR this year by putting together this post.
Happiest of New Year and Happy Reading!
Sheila