Merry Christmas...from my house to yours!!

caught Daisy sleeping under the tree

Merry Christmas

 to all my family and friends. May the day be filled with love, happiness, family and wonderful memories!!

First Chapter- First Paragraph Tuesday Intros

Every Tuesday, Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

 posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book

 she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s).

 Feel free to grab the banner and play along!

My selection this week is from a TLC Book that I will be reviewing on December 29th. I love books that take place in China and All the Flowers in Shanghai takes us back to the 1930s introducing the reader to Feng, who becomes the bride of a wealthy businessman in a marriage arranged by her parents.

I still know your face. I see it clearly as it was at the very beginning, not how it was left after I had hurt you.
  I did not see the brightness of new life in your eyes when you were born or cradle your warm fleshy body to my breast, and wish now that I had. I wish I had just looked....but I did not let myself because to me you were stillborn. You were not a living person to me then, but an object of hatred, created merely to be beaten and scarred.

Would you continue reading this one

 based on the opening paragraph?

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday...What Are You Reading?

Mailbox Monday 

is a gathering place for readers to share the books that

came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. 

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

December Host: Let Them Read Books

It's a Waverly Life- sent to me by the lovely Laurel-Rain Snow

Wild Thing- a surprise in my mailbox from Nise @ Under the Boardwalk!

----------------------------------------------------

Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

We discuss the books that we've read 

and what we're planning to read for the week.

Read and reviewed last week:
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt- loved it! Unique and original

Dreaming of Mr. Darcy- modern P&P variation that was charming.

Reviews this week: 

Carrie Goes off the Map

On the stacks?

Anything goes as this is Christmas break for me. I'll probably read some books that I checked out from the library and I do have a TLC tour book for the end of the month.

Saturday Snapshot- Christmas Past 3: My Grandmother's Tree

Saturday Snapshot

is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.

It’s easy to participate – just post a picture

that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

My Grandma Vyola's tree 1978

'Dreaming of Mr. Darcy' by Victoria Connelly

Fledgling illustrator and Darcy fanatic Kay Ashton settles in the seaside town of Lyme to finish her book, The Illustrated Mr. Darcy, when a film company arrives to make a new adaptation of Persuasion. Kay is soon falling for the handsome bad boy actor playing Captain Wentworth, but it's the quiet screenwriter Adam Craig who has more in common with her beloved Mr. Darcy. Though still healing from a broken heart, Adam finds himself unexpectedly in love with Kay, but it will take more than good intentions to convince her that her real happy ending is with him.

First Thoughts after I finished: "That was completely adorable...bring me more!"

I thought this book was just what the doctor ordered. I was completely captivated by Lyme Regis and the idea of walking in the steps of my beloved author, Jane Austen. The idea of owning a B&B on the coast in England sounds like heaven to me so I immediately connected with the main character, Kay. She comes into some inheritance which allows her to realize some of her dreams. She's besotted with Austen's writing and obsessed with all things Darcy and Captain Wentworth (Persuasion). What could top off owning your own little piece of heaven? Having an adaptation of 'Persuasion' being filmed in Lyme and housing the stars from the film in your own little B&B....did I mention that she had a gorgeous leading man sleeping just a few doors down from her own room? I loved how the author took a little bit of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Emma made it current and such a fun read! Reading this book has now inspired me to find out more about Lyme Regis, (did you know you can take a tour of Jane's Lyme?????? Sign me up now!) Austen's letters, and of course, to make Persuasion a must read for 2012. I must meet this dashing Captain Wentworth.

Is it possible that he could replace my Mr. Darcy????

Author: Victoria Connelly
Source: review copy from Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: P&P Modern day variation
Pages: 352
Published:  January 1, 2012
*Uncorrected ARC


Disclaimer:Thank you toSourcebooks Landmark for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MYexperience while reading this novel.

© 2011, 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 Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: a novel in pictures

Through a kaleidoscopic array of vintage postcards, letters, magazine ads, ticket stubs, catalogue pages, fabric swatches, candy wrappers, fashion spreads, menus and more, we meet and follow Frankie on her journey in search of success and love.

The Three Reasons Review is a simple way to get your thoughts out there about a book.  The reasons are as follows complete with fancy button:

1.) Reasons you chose this book

I lost count as to how many great reviews I read of this title so I knew that I had to read it and soon! 

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book

I loved this book! It was so fun to look at the ephemera from days gone by. I would love to actually hold a scrapbook from this time period in my hands today. What a treasure it would be. The pictures from the 1920's are awesome. I love the fashion and the hair.  I loved how the author set it up in chapters and allowed the scrapbook to really tell the story. I'm a scrapbooker too and this has helped get me back into the mood of recording the stories of my children and my story too!

3.) Reasons you are recommending this book

I read this one in a couple of hours and found it to be a wonderful way to spend the time. I enjoyed looking at the styles of the day and the quirky slang. My favorite part was when Frankie spent a year in France! For those that love the roaring 20's this book is wonderful. For anyone who likes to journal or scrapbook, this is a sweet reminder of how it all started!!

Author: Caroline Preston
Published: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Ecco
Genre: Historical  Fiction
Source: My public library


Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MYexperience while reading this novel.

© 2011, 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.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros

Every Tuesday, Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

 posts the opening paragraph (maybe two) of a book

 she decided to read based on the opening paragraph (s).

 Feel free to grab the banner and play along!

My selection this week is from a cozy that I picked up at the library last week aptly titled, Books Can Be Deceiving. I haven't been to my library in months, so I was browsing their awesome cozy selection and came up with this one. I plan on reading it over the holiday break.

  "Oh, I just love that Maxim de Winter," Violet La Ru said, her knitting needles clicking together as if to emphasize her words. "He gives me the shivers."
  "Him?" Nancy Peyton asked. "He's not nearly as scary as Mrs. Danvers."
  Lindsey Norris glanced up from her knitting at the two ladies sitting across the circle from her. It was crafternoon Thursday, where member of the crafternoon club gathered at the Briar Creek Library to do a craft- currently, they were knitting- and discuss the assigned book of the week.

Would you continue reading this one based on the opening paragraph?