My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek

What My Extraordinary Ordinary Life is about:
In her delightful and moving memoir, Sissy Spacek writes about her idyllic, barefoot childhood in a small East Texas town, with the clarity and wisdom that comes from never losing sight of her roots. Descended from industrious Czech immigrants and threadbare southern gentility, she grew up a tomboy, tagging along with two older brothers and absorbing grace and grit from her remarkable parents, who taught her that she could do anything. She also learned fearlessness in the wake of a family tragedy, the grief propelling her "like rocket fuel" to follow her dreams of becoming a performer.

Listening to Sissy Spacek tell her story was like taking a walk with a good friend and hearing about her life. I loved the tales of her early childhood, the complete love and support she always received from her parents, and the journey her life became as she chased her dream of being a country artist and her surprise in becoming a movie actress. I always find it fascinating to hear about the people upcoming stars meet in their life and who end up becoming just as or even more famous than the person telling the story. Sissy certainly met a lot of wonderful people in the business and many of them became treasured and real friends.  Sissy's voice was easy to listen to and I still think she could be Loretta Lynn's twin!!

Recommend? If you have enjoyed Sissy's work in the past and are curious about her life growing up and the simple way she lives today, then this is one to add to your audio list for sure!!

Source:  Purchased from Audible.com
Narrator: Sissy Spacek
Length: 9 hrs an 49 mins

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #123
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

One Day in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand

cover image www.goodreads.com

What One Day in Apple Grove (Small Town USA #2) is about:
Caitlin Mulchahy doesn't have much time for socializing now that her sisters' handyman business is thriving. For Dr. Jack Gannon--former Marine medic--keeping the residents of Apple Grove healthy is a welcome distraction from the haunting memories of his time served in Iraq. Although the two have lived in the same small town their whole lives, Cait and Jack barely know each other. That is until a stray puppy leads them to the same place at the same time. But it will take more than one adorable canine to get these two together--it'll take a whole town

I requested One Day in Apple Grove because I thought the cover was cute!! Lucky for me it turned out to be a really enjoyable summer read! I thought the Mulchahy family was pretty special in regards to how they looked out for each other, worked together, and how fiercely their dad loved them. The romance in this story was really fun and as an animal lover I found it wonderful that their chance meeting occurred because of a lost puppy!! For me, having Jack as a veteran of the Iraq War who suffered from PTSD was a bonus. I thought the author wrote his character with so much honesty, pain, and humility, my heart hurt for him and all that he experienced.

Recommend? For those that enjoy books that revolve around small home towns, sweet romance, and real characters then yes, I think you just might enjoy spending a day in Apple Grove.

Source: Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Published June 4th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Small Town USA #2

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #122
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The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via goodreads.com

What The Glass Wives is about:
When a tragic car accident ends the life of Richard Glass, it also upends the lives of Evie and Nicole, and their children. There’s no love lost between the widow and the ex. In fact, Evie sees a silver lining in all this heartache—the chance to rid herself of Nicole once and for all. But Evie wasn’t counting on her children’s bond with their baby half-brother, and she wasn’t counting on Nicole’s desperate need to hang on to the threads of family, no matter how frayed

I am riding the fence about The Glass Wives and how I felt about it when I finished the last page. It certainly gave me a lot to think about and I wondered what I would've done if I was in the position of Evie. I liked that towards the end of the story she actually gets a backbone and starts living her life. But the rest of the story had me bored at parts and wishing that Nicole's character was given just a little bit more depth. What I did appreciate was how the author portrayed divorce and death when it happens to young children. Seeing and understanding it from their  perspective was refreshing. And of course, I did question myself at the end in regards to what makes a family??

Recommend? Overall, it was a good read. Nothing stellar or earth-shattering, just a good book that would make a great beach read or when you're in need of something easy to read. This is the author's debut work and I would certainly read more by her in the future.

Source: St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley

ebook, 288 pages

Published May 14th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #121
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His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia Macneal- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via NetGalley

What His Majesty's Hope is about:
Maggie Hope returns to embark on a clandestine mission behind enemy lines where no one can be trusted, and even the smallest indiscretion can be deadly.World War II has finally come home to Britain, but it takes more than nightly air raids to rattle intrepid spy and expert code breaker Maggie Hope. After serving as a secret agent to protect Princess Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, Maggie is now an elite member of the Special Operations Executive—a black ops organization designed to aid the British effort abroad—and her first assignment sends her straight into Nazi-controlled Berlin, the very heart of the German war machine. Relying on her quick wit and keen instincts, Maggie infiltrates the highest level of Berlin society, gathering information to pass on to London headquarters. But the secrets she unveils will expose a darker, more dangerous side of the war—and of her own past.

Maggie Hope is back and even better than before! Book three takes the reader deep into Germany and finds Maggie's life on the line more than once. I was impressed by Maggie's bravery in accepting the job of being dropped into enemy territory and becoming a spy. She's such a smart cookie but there were a few instances where I wanted her to stop thinking she was so invincible, but that just added to the tension in the story. Many twists and turns, encounters with her "dead" mother, and always questioning who to trust, made this a great addition to the series!!

Recommend? YES! I honestly think it's the best of the books yet! Maggie's grown-up a bit in this one, experiences serious life-altering events, and realizes that life is precarious at best.

Source: Bantam via NetGalley

ebook, 352 pages

Published May 14th 2013 by Bantam

Maggie Hope Mystery #3

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #120
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Somewhere Between Luck and Trust- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via NetGalley

What Somewhere Between Luck and Trust is about:
Cristy Haviland served eight months in prison, giving birth behind bars to the child of the man who put her there and might yet destroy her. Now she's free again, but what does that mean? As smart as she is, a learning disability has kept her from learning to read. And that's the least of her hurdles. Georgia Ferguson, talented educator, receives a mysterious charm bracelet that may help her find the mother who abandoned her at birth. Does she want to follow the clues, and if she does, can reticent Georgia reach out for help along the way? Both women are standing at a crossroads, a place where unlikely unions can be formed. A place where two very different women might bridge the gap between generations and education, and together make tough choices.Somewhere between the townships called Luck and Trust, at a mountain cabin known as the Goddess House, two very different women may even, if they dare, find common ground and friendship.


I love stories where women are empowered to take control of their lives and to believe in themselves. This story was everything that I really love in women's fiction when it revolves around friendships, adversity, hope, and faith. Each woman involved in this book had their own issues and backstory, which they used to help Christy start to realize that she could actually achieve her deepest dreams and desires for a better life. Georgia's mysterious birth captured my imagination and I was emotionally  involved in her search for her biological mom. The direction that the author took with Georgia's story was really authentic and I appreciated the honest way it all ended for her.

Recommend? Yes, but I've been told that you really should read One Mountain Away before this one because it builds the framework of the women involved in running The Goddess House. I will certainly be picking up more books by this author!

Source: Mira via NetGalley

ebook, 400 pages

Published July 1st 2013 by Mira Books

Goddesses Anonymous #2

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #119
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Against the Wall by Rebecca Zanetti- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via NetGalley

What Against the Wall is about:
Never challenge a cowboy in the courtroom…Surveying the proposed site for a high-end golf course should have been a breeze for spunky Landscape Architect Sophie Smith. But when this born-and-bred city girl is suddenly—and quite literally—swept off her feet by a sexy cowboy on horseback, she realizes that the country life has some serious (and seriously steamy!) possibilities. That is, until she finds out exactly who her smokin’-hot wrangler really is.Cowboy and Tribal lawyer Jake Lodge is desperately trying to block the development. And if that means playing hardball—and being every inch the shark lawyer—so be it. But Sophie is a distraction he didn’t expect. A distraction that makes his blood burn.

No one that has been reading my blog will be surprised that I enjoy a racy novel or two three from time to time. I decided to take my chances and request Against the Wall because I love cowboys and most especially cowboys that are also Indians with long black hair, chiseled bodies, eyes you can get lost in,  and ICE, I need ICE in here!! Sorry, I get a bit carried away, now where was I? The story was good, the characters were actually pretty well developed, and I loved the family dynamics. The connection between Jake and Sophie was intense, but it was also filled with tenderness and a sense of fun!

Recommend? I most certainly would, especially to my friends that are looking for new authors to explore who deliver a contemporary romance with quality writing!

Source: Entangled via NetGalley

ebook, 181 pages

Published March 25th 2013 by Entangled: Brazen

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #118
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall - Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via goodreads.com

What Whistling Past the Graveyard is about:
In the summer of 1963, nine-year-old spitfire Starla Claudelle runs away from her strict grandmother’s Mississippi home. Starla hasn’t seen her momma since she was three—that’s when Lulu left for Nashville to become a famous singer. Starla’s daddy works on an oil rig in the Gulf, so Mamie, with her tsk-tsk sounds and her bitter refrain of “Lord, give me strength,” is the nearest thing to family Starla has. She fears Mamie will make good on her threat to send Starla to reform school, so Starla walks to the outskirts of town, and just keeps walking. . . . If she can get to Nashville and find her momma, then all that she promised will come true: Lulu will be a star. Daddy will come to live in Nashville, too. And her family will be whole and perfect. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby. The trio embarks on a road trip that will change Starla’s life forever. She sees for the first time life as it really is—as she reaches for a dream of how it could one day be.


Whistling Past the Graveyard actually took me by surprise. I didn't expect to love Starla and Eula quite so much, but darn it, I did. Their story captured my heart and my imagination and I couldn't help but tear through this book in a day. I love Southern fiction and this story rates up there with Beth Hoffman, Joshilyn Jackson, and Jenny Wingfield's works.

Recommend? Absolutely. It's such a heartfelt story of friendship, love, acceptance, and paints a pretty true picture of the race relations during the early 1960's.

Source: NetGalley via Gallery Books

ebook, 320 pages

Published July 2nd 2013 by Gallery Books

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #117
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via goodreads.com

What The Newcomer is about:
Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep his town safe and his daughter happy. Now he's found his own happines with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves-suddenly they can't get enough of one another. And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. Mac and Gina know they're meant to be together, but can their newfound love withstand the pressure?


I really and truly enjoyed, The Newcomer, and was excited to see that the story didn't just revolve around Mac and Gina, but also incorporated Cooper and Sarah. The stories blended seamlessly and it felt like coming home.

Recommend? Absolutely. I believe this is a series that many will enjoy, especially when the hustle and bustle of everyday life just needs to be forgotten for a while. Thunder Point is a place you will want to visit time and time again! And did I mention the men are pretty hot??

Source: NetGalley via Mira Books

ebook, 368 pages

Published July 1st 2013 by Mira Books

http://www.robyncarr.com/

Thunder Point #2

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #116
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Always Watching by Chevy Stevens- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via Goodreads.com

What Always Watching is about:
In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people, and she has the desire—healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn’t want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes. It takes all her willpower to tamp down her recurrent claustrophobia, and her daughter, Lisa, is a runaway who has been on the streets for seven years. When a distraught woman, Heather Simeon, is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her—and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island.  What happened to Nadine?  Why was their family destroyed? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group’s leader, bring complex feelings of terror to Nadine even today? 

Chevy Stevens quickly became a favorite author of mine with her gripping debut, and equally impressive follow up book. So with that in mind, I was eagerly anticipating her newest release.  Well folks, I'm sad to say that this one was just okay for me. There wasn't really a lot of suspense, and honestly, I hated the first person narrative. On top of that, there was wayyyy too much tragedy for one person and coincidences gushing from every sentence. I just didn't buy it, which made me very sad.

Recommend? Well, if you've read her other two works, then of course, you will want to read this one. IMHO, I just felt that it didn't come close to her other stories. Maybe my expectations were too high? If you haven't read Chevy, I can highly recommend Still Missing and Never Knowing. Those two books made me want to read in the bright sun of the day because of the scare factor!

Source: St. Martin's Press via NetGalley

ebook, 352 pages

Published June 18th 2013 by St. Martin's Press

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #115
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Wanderer (Thunder Point #1) by Robyn Carr- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via goodreads.com

What The Wanderer is about:
Nestled on the Oregon Coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land's unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he's been left an old friend's entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community's destiny in his hands. Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful. With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home

You all read it here first.....I'm moving to Thunder Point! I simply loved everything about this book. The characters were so real with problems that every day people encounter. And the men....holy moly ladies, I'm telling you I was swooning by the end of this book, especially knowing that more great male characters are coming up in book two and three. I could spank myself (or maybe Cooper could do that?) for not reading Carr's books earlier. I'm hooked!

Recommend? Yes. This is a great series that honestly has it all...great characters, location, believable plot, and lots of heart!

Source: Harlequin via NetGalley

ebook, 255 pages

Published March 26th 2013 by Harlequin

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #114
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgans- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via Goodreads.com

What Just One of the Guys is about:
Being one of the guys isn't all it's cracked up to be...So when journalist Chastity O'Neill returns to her hometown, she decides it's time to start working on some of those feminine wiles. Two tiny problems: #1--she's five feet eleven inches of rock-solid girl power, and #2--she's cursed with four alpha male older brothers. While doing a story on local heroes, she meets a hunky doctor and things start to look up. Now there's only one problem: Trevor Meade, her first love and the one man she's never quite gotten over--although he seems to have gotten over her just fine. Yet the more time she spends with Dr. Perfect, the better Trevor looks. But even with the in-your-face competition, the irresistible Trevor just can't seem to see Chastity as anything more than just one of the guys

I do believe that almost every time I review one of Kristan's books I swear it's my favorite. Well, guess what? This one really is! I adored Chastity because she wasn't a typical sexy female. She had heart, guts, smarts, and she loved with unabashed loyalty. This one is at the top of my fave list, well that is until I review her next book!

Recommend? Do I really have to answer that question? Of course, because Kristan writes smart, sexy, and totally fun contemporary romance stories. How could you go wrong?

Source: Public Library

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #113
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image courtesy of NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing

What It Had to Be You is about:
Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern. After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

I found this latest installment of Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series absolutely irresistible!! Ali and Luke are my favorite couple to date because believed each of their stories and was totally swept away in their love affair. Ali was written with sheer perfection. She was a character that I could understand, empathize with, and root for to succeed in life and love! I was afraid that this story would leave me feeling 'meh' like the holiday novella did, so I approached it with a bit of apprehension and fear. Instead, I was rewarded with a fun couple and another HEA that restored love for all things Jill Shalvis!

Recommend? Yes. This was her best book yet...I think she's really getting into a groove right now and I can't wait for her next book!

Source: Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #111
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Great Gatsby (audio version)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

What The Great Gatsby is about:

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. After meeting and losing Daisy during the war, Gatsby has made himself fabulously wealthy. Now, he believes that his only way to true happiness is to find his way back into Daisy’s life, and he uses Nick to try to reach her. What happens when the characters’ fantasies are confronted with reality makes for a startling conclusion to this iconic masterpiece.

I started The Great Gatsby several years ago but was distracted by life and sit the book aside. After reading Mary's review of the audio version which was narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, I knew that I needed to give it another shot. While I loved Jake's voice and thought he did a wonderful job with this book, I found myself wondering what all the fuss about this author and his style of writing??? I was glad that the audio was only four hours because it was easy to listen to while walking and it was quickly done and finished! Maybe I need to take a class entitled, Appreciation of Classic Literature, because I thought the story was stuffy and a bit lackluster. I clearly read too much fluff!

Recommend? This may surprise everyone because it sounds like I hated it, but I didn't. This author just doesn't work for me, but that's okay. However,  I think this audio version would work for those that love classic literature and Fitzgerald.

Source: Purchased from audible.com
Narrator: Jake Gyllenhaal
Length: 4 hrs 49 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #110
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

What The Last Camellia is about:
On the eve of World War II, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

Over the course of less than two years, Sarah Jio has quickly become one of my favorite authors. With her newest release, The Last Camellia, she proves once again why so many readers love her books. Jio's signature plot device of blending the past with the present is something that works for her and never fails to capture my attention. I do have to say though that I was much more invested in Flora's story than Addison's,  as her character really spoke to me. The only quibble I have with Jio's writing is that all of her endings are too neat and tidy for me. I hope that a future book leaves me with an ending that garners an extreme display of emotion from me!!!

Recommend? Fans of Sarah Jio's will enjoy this book and will find themselves rapidly turning the pages, while new readers will question why they waited until now to read one of her novels!!

Souce: Plume via NetGalley

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Published May 28th 2013 by Plume

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #109
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Halfway to the Grave (Audio Review)

cover image courtesy www.jeanienefrost.com

What Halfway To the Grave is about:
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership. In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker

I'm so glad that I finally started this series, because I was glued to my headphones and seriously did not want the story to end!  I loved Cat and Bones, most especially their chemistry and instant attraction to each other.  The miles flew by while I listened to this audio production on my workouts. In fact, I often walked an extra mile just because I wasn't ready to quit listening. The narrator knocked this one out of the park..loved her voices, male and female.  Halfway to the Grave has it all.......awesome action, steamy sex, and vampires that are NOT campy or sparkly!!

Big shout out to my girl, Sheree, who raved about this series and BONES way back in 2009. Sorry that it took me so long to finally join the club!! Do yourself a favor and click on the link to read Sheree's fantastic review of this book!!!

Recommend? If you like vampires and the paranormal romance then yes, give this one a shot!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 10 hours 30 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #108
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Ceremony in Death (Audio Review)

cover image via audible.com

What Ceremony in Death is about:
Conducting a top secret investigation into the death of a fellow police officer has Lieutenant Eve Dallas treading on dangerous ground. She must put professional ethics before personal loyalties. But when a dead body is placed outside her home, Eve takes the warning personally. With her husband, Roarke, watching her every move, Eve is drawn into the most dangerous case of her career. Every step she takes makes her question her own sense of right and wrong - and brings her closer to a confrontation with humanity's most seductive form of evil.

Another riveting audio production that continues to keep me engaged and wanting more of Eve and Roarke!! Loved the dark side that J.D. Robb delved into with this story and most especially how Eve found herself needing Roarke more than she ever dreamed possible. Fast paced and never dull, this series continues to leave me totally satisfied. The narrator absolutely kicks ass!

Recommend? If you're looking for a great series to add to your audio mix, then you can't go wrong with these!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Susan Ericksen
Length: 10 hours 32 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #107
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

From Notting Hill with Love...Actually- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #106

book image via http://www.alimcnamara.co.uk/books

What From Notting Hill with Love...Actually is about:
She was a girl, standing in front of a boy...
Movie fanatic Scarlett O'Brien dreams of a life as glamorous and romantic as all the big screen flicks she worships. When a chance house-sitting job in iconic Notting Hill comes along, she knows living in one of her favorite movie settings is an opportunity too good to pass up. Leaving behind her skeptical friends, family, and fiance, Scarlett heads to London and finds herself thrust into the lead role of her very own romantic comedy. But can real life ever be just like the movies? Larger-than-life new friends, a handsome but irksome new neighbor, and a mystery from her past may prove to Scarlett that living her life like a RomCom is more complicated than she thought!

If you dream about living in England, think Colin Firth is indeed Mr. Darcy, and devour all romantic British movies and books, then I most certainly think you would enjoy this completely adorable romp!
This book had me reliving some of my favorite movies all through the eyes of Scarlet. I loved how the author weaved Scarlet's favorite movies into her real life situations. It caught my imagination and kept me totally engaged!! I seriously didn't want this one to end.

Recommend? If you said yes to any of the above this book is for you!!! Fun, fun, fun, and a sweet romance mixed in!

Source: My public library

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #106
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Looking for Me- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #105

www.bethhoffman.net

What Looking For Me is about:
Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop.  Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky.  It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and to find herself at last.  But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.


Beth Hoffman did it again! She made me love Teddi before I was done with chapter one. She made me cry, smile, sigh, laugh, and wish so hard that I could step into the pages of her story. She made me feel an affinity with Josh through our mutual love for Red-Tailed Hawks and nature. She made my heart break when Teddi's heart was breaking. She made me fall in love, want to move to Charleston, become a restorer of lost things, and she made me care, deeply about Teddi's friends and those she loved.

Recommend? YES. This review doesn't even begin to touch the surface of my reaction to this moving and beautifully written story. I really can't express myself adequately. All I know is that I fell into the South when I opened the pages and found myself in a wonderland where I knew these people, loved these people, and never wanted to be parted from them.

Source: Beth Hoffman

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #105
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends (Audio Review)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #104

cover image via amazon.com

What Stories I Only Tell My Friends is about:
A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye. A teen idol at 15, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at 20, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio who was uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-70s Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.

Who knew that Rob Lowe was so much deeper than a pretty face??? I really enjoyed this entertaining and enlightening autobiography that Lowe penned. His self-deprecating manner, his spot-on imitations of Robert Wagner, Cary Grant, Emilio Esteves, Mike Myers (the list could go on forever), and his vulnerability made this a top audio read for me.

Recommend? If you enjoy autobiographies, were a teen when Rob Lowe hit Tiger Beat magazine, and just enjoy getting the inside scoop of an interesting person's life, then I do believe you will enjoy this. I loved listening to Rob tell his story and I'm glad that he made it through the maze of Hollywood success and all of its trappings. He came out on the other side with a loving wife by his side, two sons that he clearly adores, and realizing that family, sobriety, and keeping your integrity are more important that anything stardom can offer!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Rob Lowe
Length: 9 hours 11 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #104
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.