'A Darcy Christmas'- A Holiday Collection Devoted to Jane Austen's Beloved Classic

Genre: Christmas Fiction
Author: Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, and Carolyn Eberhart
About (from Sourcebooks)
From three gifted authors of jane Austen sequels come three heart-warming tales of Elizabeth and Darcy at Christmas sure to delight both Jane Austen and Regency romance fans....
Published: October, 2010 Sourcebooks

1.) Reasons you chose this book

I have often dreamed of being married to Mr. Darcy, so whenever there is an Austen rendition I feel compelled to read it!

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book

• "Christmas Present" by Amanda Grange- I enjoyed this holiday version where the Darcy's are celebrating the season with a ball at the Bingley's. It was nice to see all of the characters in a different sort of setting. There were no surprises, but the love between Elizabeth and Darcy shined brightly.
• "A Darcy Christmas" by Sharon Lathan was my favorite story out of the three. I enjoyed going back in time with the Darcy's while they reminisced about their years together. It was also fun to read about their children.

• "Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol" was boring and unoriginal. I was hoping to see something different rather than the basic Christmas Carol story retold for the 100th time. It just didn't work for me.

Reasons for recommending:

• If you're a die-hard Austen fan then I know that you will really enjoy this book. However, if you're just looking for fun Christmas stories this probably wouldn't be the one I would pick up first. I love all things Austen, but I guess I was expecting something different and wasn't overly impressed with the collection. 

Rating: 3/5



Thank you to Danielle @ Sourcebooks 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 MY experience while reading this novel.


© 2010, 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.

'Salting Roses' TLC Tour Stop

Genre: Southern Fiction
About the book (from TLC) :
Gracie Lynne Calloway—once left in a coal bucket on a front porch in a small Alabama town—discovers on her twenty-fifth birthday that she is the kidnapped daughter of a late New England financier and heiress to a fortune. When the tabloid press and her unwanted greedy relatives descend on her, she has to admit the quiet secure life she’s known and loved is gone for good. As Gracie struggles to stabilize her world and come to terms with her new identity, she learns that belonging is not about where you came from but who you are.


Why I wanted to read this book: I love southern fiction and seem to be attracted to books that take place down south.
 
What worked for me:

• Gracie is this person that you just want to know. I loved how devoted she was to her two uncles and aunt. She struggles with feeling like a nobody and the being labeled "the unwanted child of Rita." She's never really felt worthy of anything and is afraid of what changes will occur in her life if she accepts the reality of who she is "biologically."
• I found myself drawn to the  special connection that Gracie has with Artie. I loved it when he would try to help her see all the good that she could do with the money. He had a special way of getting his point across without being forceful. Artie reminded me of my Grandpa and that's probably why I loved his character so much.
• Watching Gracie fall in love for the first time....made me almost want to experience that feeling once again myself!!!
• The writing made me feel comfortable and as if I was among family. I often think that I should've been born in the South. I love the cadence of the speech, the southern hospitality, the laid-back atmosphere of their day to day happenings. Heck, I love all things southern...bring on the sweet tea and mint juleps!! 

Recommend?  Yes! I loved every minute that I was immersed in this story. I found it charming to the nth degree and am looking forward to future books from Marinello!

My Rating: 4/5


Thank you to TLC Book Tours. 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 MY experience while reading this novel.

About Lorelle Marinello

After receiving my B.A. in Fine Arts, I developed an interest in children’s book illustration. It wasn’t long before I became hooked on the idea of words to go along with the pictures in my head. Little did I know, that the tales I’d heard of my grandfather’s boyhood in rural Alabama would feed my need to tell similar stories of small towns and family relationships. When I picked up my pen to write, my voice leaned toward the familiar ones from my childhood.
The bond between my stories and my family history has grown stronger over the years. I’ve found a wealth of inspiration from my ancestors, whom I now dub my story angels as bits and pieces of the places they lived weave their way into my fiction.
I try to incorporate humor, warmth, and I hope, a bit of my grandparents’ wisdom into my stories. I can’t guarantee I won’t make you cry, but I hope I will give you an entertaining story that will live long in your memory.

Please visit the other tour stops HERE.
© 2010, 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.

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday...What are you reading?

Mailbox Monday

is hosted by Jenny Q. @ Let Them Read Books (December Host)
We share what books that we found 
in our mailboxes last week.

The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham

Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer by Karen Wasylowski

Mr. Darcy's Secret by Jane Odiwe

All three books for review from Sourcebooks.
Reviews to come in 2011 !

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

Hosted by Sheila
One Persons Journey Through a World of Books
Weekly meme where we discuss the books you've read
and those you plan to read in the coming week.

Read and reviewed last week:

The Heir- skip it and read an Amanda Quick book instead 2.5/5

The Reindeer Keeper- emotional and heartfelt Christmas story- 4.5/5

The Bite of the Mango- important read about Sierra Leone- 4/5

We Have Always Lived In the Castle- splendidly sinister read 4/5

Tentative reviews for this week:

Salting Roses- TLC Tour Stop Tuesday

A Darcy Christmas- Wednesday

Dating Mr. December-Thursday

Pemberley Ranch- Friday

Six Sentence Saturday

The Perfect Christmas

On my nightstand:

Six Sentence Saturday

Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.

Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Happy that I read it...a good read.
2 of Hearts- Just O.K but nothing to write home about.
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)

The Bite of the Mango- This is the true account of Mariatu Kamara's harrowing ordeal of being attacked, tortured, and maimed for life by rebel soldiers outside a small village in Sierra Leone. I was absolutely horrified about what Mariatu witnessed and then later experienced at the hands of boys and girls who were not much older than herself. She is brutally honest and at times it made me flinch, but those of us who have never experienced war or the realities need to read this book as a wake-up call to what is happening in other parts of the world. I was so thankful that Mariatu finds a sponsor who wants to bring her to Canada and help her get on with her life. Mariatu takes this new lease on life and runs with it. Even though this book is harrowing, it is a must-read for those that are concerned about the suffering of others, especially children. Do yourself a favor and read this one and to round out your reading experience also pick up 'A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier' by Ishmael Bael. He met Mariatu while in Canada and gave her the courage to tell her story.
My Rating:

We Have Always Lived in The Castle
by Shirley Jackson
This book is seriously: creepy, gothic, chilling, dark, and very sinister.
Can't tell you any more than that because you must read this one for yourself!!!! Shirley Jackson is the Queen of Subtle Horror!!!
My Rating:

'The Reindeer Keeper' by Barbara Briggs Ward

Genre: Christmas Fiction
About:(From Amazon.com)
Abbey senses something special about the little man tending to the reindeer who, along with a century-old farmhouse, a barn full of animals, and fields abounding in woods and pasture, was a gift to Abbey from a stranger. Abbey and her husband, Steve, move in just before the holidays. They have been together since the '60s, eloping when Steve returned from Vietnam. Now with Abbey's cancer in remission, they're looking forward to their boys coming home for Christmas. Turns out this Christmas proves to be more magical than anticipated as Abbey realizes an understanding never thought possible through the rekindling of a belief rooted in childhood. Of course it's who delivers this gift on Christmas Eve that gives Abbey and Steve the strength to face their greatest challenge.

Why I wanted to read this book:

• I received an email from the author, Barbara, and it was so friendly and inviting that I felt I had to take a second look at her book. After visiting her site,The Reindeer Keeper, I just knew that this was a book I wanted to read.

What worked for me:

• This was a heartfelt book but it wasn't sappy, which made me love it even more!! It left me with much to reflect upon and made me pause more than once during my reading to just think about my own life. It is more than just a Christmas story as I had many "aha" moments that still are resonating with me.

• This story brought back the innocence  of childhood and that pure belief in the magic of Christmas that we all had as children.
• I loved how strong Abbey and Steve's marriage was portrayed. They reminded me a bit of my parents who had me at a young age, married, and have went through so many things together. Their connection becomes even stronger because of weathering the storm of Abbey's cancer that is now in remission. I was impressed how each partner truly believed in the other and supported their individual dreams.
• I absolutely loved how the author used  funeral homes and obituaries as the touching stone in the plot. Normally a funeral home and/or obituaries conjure up images of loss, grief, despair, but in Barbara's hands it turns into something powerful and uplifting. She made me really reflect on the "in-between moments" and how you lived them.
• Beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter....loved them, so simple and elegant.

What you should do before reading this book:

• Make sure the Christmas tree is up, snow is blowing outside, you have nowhere to be for a few hours, a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, blanket, comfortable chair, and a beloved pet sitting on your lap. Open book and get lost in the magical world that you will find within the pages of "The Reindeer Keeper."

Recommend? A resounding YES!!! Perfect for this time of year. This would make a great Christmas present for those family members or friends that you have who enjoy a sincere, emotional, sad, uplifting, and magical Christmas story.

My Rating: 4.5/5


Thank you to Barbara Briggs Ward 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 MY experience while reading this novel.

Click icon for more
book review blogs
@Barrie Summy

© 2010, 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 Heir' by Grace Burrowes

Genre: Regency Romance
Author: Grace Burrowes
About (from Goodreads): A debut novel by a rising star with remarkable characters, intriguing plots, and settings of fascinating historical accuracy. In this Regency era battle of wits, wills, and the sexes, a wily old duke is determined to see the succession of his line secured, and his three headstrong sons are equally determined to resist the bonds of matrimony. In The Heir, the first in the series, the Earl of Wyndham, weighed down by responsibilities and determined to avoid the rounds of country houses of and matchmaking mamas, decides to summer in London. There he discovers a potentially perfect duchess in his lovely, mysterious housekeeper...
Published: December 7, 2010 Sourcebooks Casablanca

1.) Reasons you chose this book

I love a great regency romance every once in a while and I've never read a book by Grace Burrowes so I thought I would give it a shot.

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book

• I honestly felt that the story wasn't exciting at all. There was no build up to the relationship between Anna and the Earl. The book is 450 pages in length and by page 70 we're suppose to believe that the prim and proper housemaid Anna would actually touch the Earl's family jewels??????

• I don't mind sex but I would like some depth to the characters and to their relationship. Some of the sex scenes were fairly explicit and at times just not in good taste.

• I just loved (dripping with sarcasm here...) how when a woman was pregnant she was referred to be breeding.

• I felt that the plot was really thin and at times felt really forced. I knew exactly what was going to happen before I hit page 150.

3.) Reasons you are recommending this book

• Reasons for- If you love this genre then honestly you would probably enjoy this one immensely. In fact I am listing a review from Yankee Romance Reviewers who absolutely loved this one and a post from Babbling About Books which informs me that this was a Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2010.

          Yankee Romance Reviewer's 
          Babbling about Books, and more
          Book Girl of Mur-y Castell - She loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Reasons against- I have read Amanda Quick's books in the past and totally loved them. The writing was creative, the story fast-paced, and the relationships believable. I'm probably being unfair again and comparing 'The Heir' to Quick's books so with that being said I would give this author another try.

Rating:  2.5/5 


Thank you to Danielle @ Sourcebooks 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 MY experience while reading this novel.


© 2010, 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.

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

Mailbox Monday

is hosted by Julie @ Knitting and sundries (November Host)
We share what books that we found 

in our mailboxes last week.

 

Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden- won from Kaye @ Pudgy Penguin Perusals. I had no idea that the author is from Michigan...very cool!!!

Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig - from Dutton for review

Talking to Girls about Duran Duran- review book from Dutton. ( I love Duran Duran!! When I was 16 I was positive that I was going to marry John Taylor. Well, I did end up with the right last name just not John!!)

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

Hosted by Sheila
One Persons Journey Through a World of Books
Weekly meme where we discuss the books you've read
and those you plan to read in the coming week.

Read and reviewed last week:

Child of the Northern Spring- just an okay historical fiction take on Guinevere. 3/5

Daily Guideposts 2011- loved this book and look forward to starting my days out right next year 5/5

Six Sentence Saturday Movie Review Version:

Mamma Mia! loved it!!! 4/5

Julie and Julia- Meryl Streep is just amazing!! 4/5

Tentative reviews for this week:

The Heir-Tuesday

The Reindeer Keeper- Wednesday

Pemberley Ranch-Thursday

Six Sentence Saturday:

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

The Bite of the Mango

On my nightstand: