'The Financial Lives of the Poets' by Jess Walter (TLC Tour Stop)

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

About:(From TLC) The Financial Lives of the Poets is a comic and heartfelt novel from National Book Award nominee Jess Walter, author of Citizen Vince and The Zero, about how we get to the edge of ruin—and how we begin to make our way back. Walter tells the story of Matt Prior, who’s losing his job, his wife, his house, and his mind—until, all of a sudden, he discovers a way that he might just possibly be able to save it all . . . and have a pretty damn great time doing it.

Why I wanted to read this book:

• I thought the premise sounded interesting and that this would be a read outside of my comfort zone.

What worked for me:

• I immediately...and I mean immediately liked Matthew Prior. For me that was the clincher. I felt a connection to Matt. I could  understand him because we're about the same age, we are both trying to survive during these hard financial times, have experienced emotional distance in our marriages , our parents are getting older, the stress level is getting higher, and are just trying to cling to that last vestige of sanity!!
• In a very crazy way, I say this because I'm hard-pressed to explain it, I thought the author's voice came across as authentic and real. I could imagine someone acting in a similar manner as Matt when faced with some of the curve balls that life pitched to him.
• I laughed, commiserated, and totally "got" Matt. So many people are in dire financial straits right now and the author wrote the story in such a manner that I think many people can identify with. There were a few "aha" moments within the pages too.
• I really enjoyed Matt's relationship with his dad who suffered from Alzheimer's. He resigned himself to the fact that his dad was stuck in the past. He just tried to enjoy him on a daily basis, even though he needed him for advice. He needed his dad for support. Matt had no one to really turn to and therefore, he made some bad judgment calls. Thankfully, he learned from them!

What didn't work for me:

• I had to buy into the concept of a guy, who was making good money, who decides to give up financial security in order to start a website that gives financial advice in poetry form. That was a bit far-fetched, but in order to really immerse myself into this book I pushed that away and moved on.

Recommend? Now this is the hardest part of my review because this wasn't a read that I could gush on and on about, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. Because I did...I read this in one setting and when I was done I was completely satisfied with the story. So I'm going to go out on a limb and tell you to give it a try! What do you have to lose but a few hours??? And you may end up like me...loving this one just because!

My Rating: 4.5/5


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 Jess Walter

Jess Walter is the author of five novels, including The Zero, a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award, and Citizen Vince, winner of the 2005 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best novel. He has been a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize and the PEN USA Literary Prize in both fiction and nonfiction. His books have been New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR best books of the year and have been translated into twenty languages. He lives in Spokane, Washington. Vist Jess Walter at his website, www.jesswalter.com.

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. 

Review Style patterned after Show Me 5 

'Fallout' by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins is the author of this YA book published in September 2010 .  It's about the conclusion of Kristina Snow's story which began in Crank. Kristina is addicted to crystal meth and during her long love affair with this drug she gives birth to five children. Fallout is the story of Hunter, Autumn, and Summer. It's gritty and real. Hopkins doesn't glamorize anything and depicts realistically what happens to the children of drug addicts. Overall I thought this was a very well-written book.  I liked getting to know these three young people and I feel that even though they didn't have a normal childhood and had to deal with problems that no child should have to endure, I still felt hopeful for them.  I didn't like Kristina. I was hoping that she would have grown up and put aside her selfish ways, but she disappointed me terribly. I also wish that the three sibling would have gotten together earlier in the story. I would have liked to read more of the family dynamics in regards to how they interacted with each other. I got this book from the publisher unexpectedly and was over the moon to read it early!  I would recommend this book to teens, fans of free verse, and anyone looking for a solid read. But do yourself a favor and start with Crank. This is one that should NOT be read out of order!!  I rated it 4/5
**Reviews Cruise Format by Lynne's Book Reviews

In honor of Banned Books Week, I would like to recognize Ellen Hopkins contribution to the YA genre. She's an amazing author who writes what kids want to read. They know that she will give them the real deal. They connect to her characters, because they've lived the story themselves. Hopkins continually faces censorship and the removal of her books from library shelves across the country. Stand up and let your voice be heard that CENSORSHIP is not acceptable and no one has the power to tell the reader what he/she can or can not read!

© 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 Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog (September Host)
We share what books that we found 

in our mailboxes last week.

Radiance- requested from Shelf Awareness
Pemberley Ranch- review book from Sourcebooks
The Passionate Brood- review book from Sourcebooks

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

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:

For the King's Favor- great historical fiction read 4/5

Shoulder Bags and Shootings- disappointing read for me 2.5/5

A Hope Undaunted- wonderful Inspirational historical fiction 4.5/5

Tentative reviews and posts for this week:

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins- Tuesday

The Financial Lives of Poets (TLC Tour Stop)- Wednesday

Fitness Friday Update #9- Friday

Six Sentence Saturday books

*I heart you, You haunt me

*Dracula, My Love

Books on My Nightstand:

'A Hope Undaunted' by Julie Lessman

Genre:  Inspirational Historical Fiction

About:(From Goodreads) The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

Why I wanted to read this book:

• I am a big fan of gentle reads. Sometimes I just need a book that allows me to feel comfortable and draws me a bit closer to God, this one did just that, but not in a preachy manner.

What worked for me:

• 1929! I haven't read a lot of books that took place during this time frame and I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into the flapper attitude, women coming into their own, and seeing how the Stock Market crash impacted a family.
• Katie O'Connor- what a great gal!! She knows (or believes that she does) what she wants and isn't afraid of going after her goals. I laughed at her checklist for qualities in a husband. And I cheered her on with her passion for studying law and being her own woman!
• Luke McGee- the author did such a wonderful job of creating him. He's lived a hard life on the streets and wants a family to call his own. I loved how vulnerable he allowed himself to be with Katie and others that he let into his life. His fierce loyalty to his friends made me absolutely love him.
• Katie's family- I almost felt like I was watching an episode of The Waltons...I wanted to be a part of this family.
• The faith that certain characters had. I felt myself very drawn to their patience and belief that God is in control. I often like to think that I'm in control, but when I read books like this, I am once again presented with the knowledge that God is driving this car...not me.
• Characters were not portrayed as do-gooders with no faults. Lessman painted realistic people with problems that are prevalent in contemporary times.
• The romance was tastefully done and at time I caught myself sighing wistfully!!!  I admit to crushes on Luke and Parker!!!

What didn't work for me:

• Not a thing...it all worked! But if you're not comfortable with scripture or characters who frequently call on their faith in God, then this book may not be for you.

Recommend? I would absolutely recommend this to my friends who enjoy Christian fiction or gentle reads. I'm a new fan of Lessman's writing. I'm planning on reading her series, "The Daughters of Boston" very soon.

My Rating: 4.5/5


Thank you to Amy of Winsome Media Communications. 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. 

Review Style patterned after Show Me 5 

'Shoulder Bags and Shootings' by Dorothy Howell

Author: Dorothy Howell

Genre:  Mystery

About: Hailey is a young woman who is obsessed with owning the newest designer hand bags. Along the way of acquiring these handbags she finds herself implicated in a murder. While tracking down the must-have bag, she inadvertently solves the crime.

Descriptive Words: fashion obsessed, ditzy,

Thoughts: I had no expectations when I accepted a review copy of this book. I thought the story sounded cute and I do like a good mystery. Well, I have to say that this one just did not make the grade. I thought Haily was a bit of a spoiled brat. She basically showed up for work when she wanted and just wasn't someone I warmed up to. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I myself can not understand the need to have a designer bag that costs thousands of dollars. I felt she was absolutely clueless as to what matters in the world and just couldn't buy into the whole, I work retail yet I can still buy these big dollar bags and oh yeah, along the way I solve crimes storyline


Source: FSB Associates

Recommend? I truly hesitate to recommend this one to my friends. If this remotely sounds like a book you would to read I would tell you to start at the beginning of the series with Handbags and Homicide. I honestly feel that I needed to begin there to get the background on Hailey and maybe I would have been able to like her.

Rating: 2.5/5



Thank you to Caitlin for sending me this copy for review. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author. They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.





Review style courtesy of Lynne's Book Reviews

© 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.

'For the King's Favor'- Elizabeth Chadwick

Genre: Historical Fiction

About: (From Sourcebooks)
Based on a true story never before told and impeccably researched, this is a testament to the power of sacrifice and the strength of love. When Roger Bigod, heir to the powerful earldom of Norfolk, arrives at court to settle an inheritance, he meets Ida de Tosney, young mistress to King Henry II. In Roger, Ida sees a chance for lasting love, but their decision to marry carries an agonizing price. It's a breathtaking novel of making choices, not giving up, and coping with the terrible shifting whims of the king. 

Why I wanted to read this book:

• I really enjoy historical fiction and the chance to glean new information about a time long ago. I'm also fascinated by  English royalty..heck, any royalty actually. I like being on the sideline and trying to imagine their lives as I read a book.

Some interesting things that I learned:

• King Henry II was a child molester! What else do you call an old man who feels the need to bed a 15 year-old girl??? I just loved how he justified the whole thing and tried to convince Ida that she wasn't a whore, that she was one of the lucky ones because HE chose her. Poor girl!!!
• Being a part of the royal court is much like playing chess. Every move is strategically thought out. Nothing is ever done unless the other person can gain something from it.
• A widow could pay a widow fee to the King and if she did this then he couldn't force her to remarry. I so would've been hiding my money to save up for when my husband died. Could you imagine not having a choice in who you marry??? And being forced by the king to marry whoever he may pick? Not to mention being extorted by the King so that you didn't have to marry again...what a racket!
• I loved reading about this era in history, but I'm ever so thankful that I didn't live during that time! There is no way I would want men to have complete and utter control of my life.
• Ida de Tosney was a fascinating woman and I'm so glad that I was introduced to her by way of this book. It's amazing to me that a girl so young was put in a situation where she was forced to become the mistress of the king. From the moment the king steals her virginity, she slowly begins to lose her innocence and naivity. She finds that she  needs to be clever and cunning for it would serve her well as she aged. She was a wonderful mother who suffered a loss that many of us couldn't imagine, yet she came through it with her dignity and ultimately in the end, the winner.
• I totally enjoyed the love story between Roger and Ida..very believable and beautiful.

What didn't work for me:

• It was a bit heavy on the men instead of focusing on Ida. I think I would've preferred this story written from Ida's POV.  

Recommend? Absolutely to lovers of royal Historical Fiction. I really enjoyed Chadwick's writing and can easily say that I would read another book by her. She has done an amazing job with her research. I think it would be fun to be her assistant!!

My Rating: 4/5


Source:  Danielle @ Sourcebooks, Inc Publicity
Author: Elizabeth Chadwick- click on her name to visit her website

Published: September, 2010

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark

Pages: 522 (Uncorrected ARC)

Genre:  Historical Fiction

ISBN: 99781402244490

 

© 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 Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog (September Host)
We share what books that we found 

in our mailboxes last week.

The Forever Queen- Sourcebooks Fall Reading pick. Discussion for this book is set for Monday, November 22, 7pm-9pm...join us!
Winter Sea- Review book from Sourcebooks

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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 Marshall Plan for Writing- reviewed by Janel (Janel's Jumble) who is a writer. If you haven't read this one yet please do!! Full of great information from Janel's POV.

Vanishing and other stories- great collection of short stories 4/5

Hot House Flower- I absolutely loved this book. Running a giveaway on it right now...check it out. 5/5

Tentative reviews for this week:

For the King's Favor- Tuesday

Shoulder Bags and Shootings- Wednesday

A Hope Undaunted- Thursday

Books on the nightstand:

'Hot House Flower' by Margot Berwin + giveaway

Genre:  Fiction that made plants sound sexy!

About:(From TLC) Lila Nova is a 32-year-old adverting copywriter who lives alone in a plain white box of an apartment. Recovering from a heartbreaking divorce, Lila has a simple mantra: no pets, no plants, no people, no problems. But when she meets David Exley, a ruggedly handsome plant dealer, a country-sexual, as she calls him, her lonely life turns into something far more colorful. From the harsh streets of Manhattan to the verdant jungles of the Yucatan, Hothouse Flower is the story of a woman who travels beyond sense and comfort to find out what she really wants.

Descriptive Words: steamy, informative, magical, quirky, sexual, thought-provoking,


Why I wanted to read this book:

• I wanted to be on this tour because Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea read this book earlier this year and loved it to pieces. After finishing I was absolutely in her camp!! 

What worked for me:

• I loved all of the mythical folklore surrounding plants. I have never looked at any flower and thought any deeper about it than the color of the petals and the sweet smell it evokes. This book has made me think about flowers and plants on a much deeper and cellular level.
• I adored Lila Nova, the main character. I loved her willingness to just go with the flow and to open her mind and horizons to new adventures. When she takes off for the Yucatan Peninsula I wanted to go with her!!
• The cast of characters were wonderfully fleshed out and I felt myself gravitating towards them. I liked most of them and thought they really added to the story.
• This book is filled with adventure...non-stop adventure towards the middle and end. I caught myself with one of those cheese-eating grins on my face several times as I was reading this. I suspended all sense of belief ,threw all cares to the wind and allowed this book to take over all of my senses. What an exhilarating ride!
• I had no idea how sexual plants and flowers are!! Wow...all of that information was so much fun to read and at times I found myself blushing, but all in a good way!! 

What didn't work for me:

• It all worked for me...every single word, every single sentence, every single character, the plot, the whole freaking story!!!  

Recommend? Oh yeah!! And lucky for you I get the opportunity to offer one copy of 'Hot House Flower' to one of my friends who leave me a comment on this review!!! Please make sure you include your email address!!! This is limited to US/Canada only. Your chance to win a copy ends September 23, 11:59 p.m.

My Rating: 5/5



Thank you to TLC for asking me to be a part of this book tour.
Check out the other tour stops HERE

MARGOT BERWIN won a merit scholarship for creative writing from the New School and earned her MFA in 2005. Her stories have appeared on Nerve.com, essaysandfictions.com, The New York Press, and in the Anthology The Future of Misbehavior. She lives in New York City.
You can contact Margot:

• on Twitter – @MargotBerwin
• on her Facebook fan-page
• on her regular Facebook page

© 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.

'Vanishings and other stories' by Deborah Willis

Genre:  Fiction/Short Stories

About:(From TLC) In Vanishing and Other Stories, secrets are both kept and unearthed, and lives are shaped by missing lovers, parents, and children. With wisdom and dexterity, moments of dark humor, and a remarkable economy of words, Deborah Willis captures an incredible array of characters that linger in the imagination and prove that nothing is ever truly forgotten.

Descriptive Words: page-turning, gripping, funny, emotional, aggravating, cliff hangers

What worked for me:

• Each story stood well on its own, and it also felt like a cohesive book with loss, disappearing, vanishing as the elements that pulled it together.
• I was amazed at how eloquently Willis could tell a story in such a short amount of words and pages. I was immediately drawn into each story and didn't want them to end.
• There are several stories that I wanted to continue because I seriously needed to know what was going to happen next!
• I really liked Willis's voice. She's a strong writer with a lot to say. I want to read more from her!
• I adored, absolutely adored Caught. I loved the endless possibilities that her writing gave to the plot. Her first sentence, "There's more than one way it could go" and then her next paragraph started with "Or maybe not" was fantastic and it just took off from there and captivated me to the very end!

What didn't work for me:

• I've realized that I don't like stories that are written in the following style, "You do this and you do that. You feel this and you feel that." - This is called Second Person Point of View and according to my son they do not use this POV in their writing, they only use first and third. I now know why!!  Out of all her stories, Remember, Relive was my least favorite. I just could not connect with this one.
• I love the short story format, but I found out that I'm not a fan of ambiguous endings!! But in a twisted way I enjoyed it...do you know what I mean?

 
Recommend? I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to those that love short stories. I know there are plenty of readers who really enjoy those 'what if endings' and  can move on to the next story without mourning the loss of the characters from the previous one. I'm warming up to short stories and I would read another collection by this author in a heartbeat!


My Rating: 4/5



Thank you to TLC for asking me to be a part of this book tour.
Check out the other tour stops HERE.

Deborah Willis’s work has appeared in the Bridport Prize Anthology, Event, and Grain, and she was a winner of PRISM International‘s annual fiction prize. Short-listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction and long-listed for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, Vanishing and Other Stories is her first book of fiction.
Visit Deborah at her website.



© 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 Marshall Plan for Writing- reviewed by Janel of Janel's Jumble- a writer

Author: Evan Marshall and Martha Jewett
Published: 2010, ebook
Genre: How-to
Source: FSB Associates/Anna Suknov
Synopsis from FSB:
  The Marshall Plan® -- a structured approach to writing fiction and narrative nonfiction.

Combining more than 60 years of experience as authors, editors and literary agents, Evan and Martha created innovative resources for writers that break down each writing project into its core components, making the writing process manageable. They also provide refinements which include tightly focused topics, highly differentiated formats, and the skillful use of narrative fiction techniques and narrative nonfiction writing modes.

Janel's Thoughts:

So, you have decided to write a novel, maybe even participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). What do you do now? If you are new to the novel writing process you most likely have a lot of questions on where to start and what to do. The Marshall Plan ® for Novel Writing is a 16-step process that can take you from the idea to a completed manuscript in 30 days or less.
The plan addresses the technical and creative aspects of writing a novel. First, you need to figure out what kind of genre you will most likely succeed in. Then you need to decide how long the novel will be. Armed with this information and a list of characters, the process then breaks the novel into the appropriate number of sections, basically action units.
Depending on the length of the intended novel, the plan recommends anywhere from 40 to 120 sections. When using The Marshall Plan ® Software producing these sections is literally a fill in the blank process. The software contains all of the sheets detailed in the book, from character backgrounds to section sheets. The software also has instructions and advice on things to consider as you work on the programs tabs, basically a condensed version of the topic covered in the e-book. After you have gone through the plan and filled out the appropriate number of section sheets you will have a detailed plot outline to write your novel.
As a short story writer I have to admit I am intimidated by the process of writing a novel. Keeping track of plot twists, subplots and a cast of characters for over 50,000 words is a task I am honestly afraid to tackle. Do I think this plan will work? Yes. Do I think it is for everyone? No.
The author has had many years of experience in the publishing industry. He knows what “works” in novels and used that knowledge to formulate this book and software. If you want to write a novel, that has a good chance of being published, I think following the guidelines in the plan will give you a nice advantage. After all of the sections are completed a very detailed outline is produced. Plotting out all of the twists and subplots will definitely speed up the writing process for beginning and experienced writers. The outline should also navigate around the dreaded writer’s block since you will know exactly what your characters need to do and where your plot and subplots are going.
If you are the type of writer that likes to sit down, start writing and see where you go, the detailed outlining prescribed by this plan may not appeal to you. Of course, you can use your wandering mind in the planning process and the advantage is that you will know when a subplot or scene isn’t working before you waste hours and words writing it. Also, I think the worksheets are useful for any writer. If plotting by the seat of your pants isn’t working well, I don’t think it can hurt to try planning and pre-plotting. If you are serious about writing a novel, but don’t know where to start, The Marshall Plan® may be the push you need by taking some of the mystery out of the process.



** Thank you so much for reviewing this Janel. You're input has been invaluable.

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

Mailbox Monday

is hosted by Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog (September Host)
We share what books that we found 

in our mailboxes last week.

Dating Mr. December- for review from Sourcebook
How to Read the Air- one of my last requests from Shelf Awareness (I have put a ban on requesting ARCs on myself!!)
The Girl Who Played With Fire- from a fellow Michigander Kathy..Thanks Kathy!!

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

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 over the last two weeks:

The Lumby Lines- absolutely loved this quaint book and relish the idea of the continuing on in the series! 4/5

An Echo in the Bone- I am hopelessly addicted to this Outlander series. This one was great until it ended! 5/5

Dracula in Love- Excellent story told from the POV of Mina  4.5/5

Waking the Witch- Wow!! This one knocked my socks off and I'm certainly reading the series!! 4/5

Six Sentence Saturday book:

The Amish Cook- authentically Amish..great book with delicious recipes. 4/5

Tentative reviews for this week:
Tuesday- The Marshall Project (Yes, I really will post this one!!)
Wednesday- Vanishing TLC Tour stop
Thursday- Hothouse Flower TLC Tour stop

Books on the 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 Amish Cook: Recollections and recipes from an Old Order Amish Family- Elizabeth Coblentz with Kevin Williams

My friend had this book on her coffee table and I picked it up while visiting and could not put it down. I really am intrigued by the Amish way of life and reading Elizabeth Coblentz's letters was an amazing insight into her world. She wrote a weekly column for the Amish newspaper, The Budget. Her writing has inspired me to buy a really nice journal and just record the weekly happenings in my life. Even the small mundane things like the weather....this is something that I think my children and grandchildren may actually enjoy reading some day. The recipes sounded amazingly delicious and surprisingly easy. If you like the slower way of life, good home cooking, and getting a personal glimpse into an Indiana Amish woman's world, than I absolutely recommend this book to you!
My Rating:

Fitness Friday Update #8

My last update was the end of June- time to get serious again about my health!

What I've been doing:
I have to admit that while I did watch what I ate during my summer vacation, I also threw all cares to the wind when it came to food and vacation time. While I was up north with my family I ate whatever I wanted. That would include: chocolate candy bars, marshmallows, a whole bag (eaten over 3 days) of Cheetos, a greasy but oh so good Patty Melt, alcohol, and whatever else sounded good. I also need to fess up and tell you that I did not work out once...I didn't even walk one lousy mile!


Weight Watchers and Me:
I'm still doing WW, but I was very lax with myself over the summer. The hardest thing about having my summers off is that my days are not structured the way they are while I'm at work, so I found myself often at the fridge looking for something to eat. This was my first week back to school and I'm very thankful for it because staying within my points has not been hard to do.


Starting weight: 171
3/19/10: 168
4/1/10: 166
4/16/10: 164
4/23/10: 162
5/14/10: 161
5/28/10: 159
6/11/10: 155
6/25/10: 153
9/10/10: weigh in is first thing in the morning, as soon as I get my number I will update this post! I'm pretty sure that I'm either still at 153 or a bit less. I don't feel like I've gained any weight but I guess we'll just have to wait and see...........the suspense is killing me! 
edited 3:10 pm
I stayed the same!!! 153...whew!
Goal weight: 140-145

'Waking the Witch' by Kelley Armstrong

Genre:  Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

About: Savannah is a young witch/sorcerer private investigator who gets the chance to prove herself to her fellow co-workers and realizes that sometimes you do indeed need help, even if you can cast spells!

Descriptive Words: fun, kick-ass, page-turner, magical, mystery, a splash of romance

Location or characters you met:

• Savannah: If you follow this series then you know that Savannah was a character in the book Stolen. She has since grown up and come into her full powers of witch and sorcerer. I liked this feisty character and actually had a few dreams of wanting to be just like her....young, skinny, possessing magical powers, and hot to boot!(Unfortunately, I woke up and had to be satisfied with just old me!)
• Adam : Savannah's best friend. But one that she really wants to be more than 'just friends' with. He is one of those guys that you long to find for yourself and just hide him away from the world. Where can I order an Adam??
• Kayla: Her mom has been murdered and she won't rest until she finds the killer. This little nine-year old steals your heart. Recognizing parts of herself in Kayla, Savannah is determined to give Kayla some closure.

What worked for me:

• It's been a long time since I've read a paranormal book and all I can say is---where have I been??? I loved all of the paranormal elements.
• I was apprehensive about reading this one because it's book 11 in the Otherworld Series. And we all know how anal I am about reading a book out-of-order. Well, fear not fellow readers because you honestly don't need to read from the beginning to enjoy this book.
• I liked this genre quite a bit. In fact, it's sparked my interest in the paranormal fiction and I'm definitely going to be reading the Otherworld series!
• Never a dull moment...this was a page-turner and I couldn't put it down!

What didn't work for me:

• My reading experience was very enjoyable and I couldn't find a thing not to like.

Recommend? Absolutely YES! Many book lovers have told me how much they enjoyed this series and I can see why...this book rocked!


My Rating: 4.5/5

Source:  Wunderkind PR
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Published: August 3, 2010

Publisher:  Dutton

Pages: 309 (Uncorrected ARC)

Genre:  Paranormal Fiction

ISBN: 9780525951780

 

© 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.

'Dracula in Love: A Novel' by Karen Essex

Genre:  Historical Romance Fiction

About: A new take on Bramstoker's Dracula but told from the POV of Mina.

Descriptive Words: compelling, romantic, sexy, seductive....

Location or characters you met:

• Mina: I liked Mina when I watched the movie "Bramstoker's Dracula" and honestly it was Winona Ryder's face that I envisioned as I read this story. She is a character that I could relate to. She's someone who wants to please others, doesn't want anyone to think ill of her, yet she has this dark side that she's reluctant to admit to or even to talk about with her closest friends.
• The Dark Prince :  Call me twisted, but I fell in love with Dracula a bit in this book. He has waited hundreds of years to be with Mina and yet, he doesn't force her to be with him. He wants everything to be her choice and is willing to accept her wishes, even though some of them will break his heart...again.
• Jonathan:  I thought he was a namby-pamby...(is that a word?) What a weak man! Some of the things that he allowed to happen to Mina made me want to slap him. And the fact that he had carnal knowledge of more than one woman just meant that they (the temptress) were sent from the devil. Now, if a woman wanted to liberate her sexuality...watch out because they locked them up in the asylum for being nymphomaniacs! 
• Dr. Von Helsinger and his gang of men- egomaniacs, control freaks, and men who were afraid of strong women.

What worked for me:

• Reading the story from Mina's point-of-view. This was brilliant and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her and also I was cheering her on to be with Dracula.
• The sex scenes. I will admit to re-reading them more than once! Holy smokes were they scorching!
• I felt immense empathy for Dracula and never really thought of him as a monster. I guess that would probably mean I would let him suck my blood!!!!
• Dark, gothic, and Victorian- what more could you ask for?
• Never a dull moment...this was a page-turner and I couldn't put it down!

What didn't work for me:

• I honestly enjoyed everything about this book. I have nothing bad to say about my reading experience. 

Recommend? Yes! For those who don't care for explicit sex scenes then you may want me to black out those passages for you, but if you're a fan of Dracula and find yourself intrigued by a GROWN-UP version of vampire love....then look no further because this is a great read!


My Rating: 4.5/5

Source:  Shelf Awareness
Author: Karen Essex

Published: August 10, 2010

Publisher:  Doubleday

Pages: 370 (Uncorrected ARC)

Genre:  Historical Romance Fiction

ISBN: 9780385528917

 

© 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.

Have a safe and Happy Labor Day Weekend- I'm unplugging for the weekend!

'An Echo in the Bone' TLC Book Stop

Genre:  Some of the best Historical Fiction I've ever read!

About: Jamie and Claire are back in the seventh installment of the Outlander series. They are desperately trying to leave the colonies during the American Revolution, to get back to Scotland so that Jamie can bring his printing press back to America. Of course, nothing goes as planned and the reader gets to meet many historical figures along the journey. Plus we meet up again with Lord Grey.

Descriptive Words: entertaining, war information galore, fast-paced, brutal, heart-thumping.....

Location or characters you met:

• Jamie and Claire: Hands down this is the BEST couple I've ever been introduced to within the pages of a book. I think they're even better than Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth! I love Jamie's masculinity and how he will stop at nothing to keep Claire safe. I am very fond of the way he loves her and lets her know on a daily basis that she makes his life complete. Claire is such a strong woman. She's more than capable of holding her own. I think Gabaldon did a great job of making her resourceful, intelligent, but vulnerable at the same time. She's a character that I've come to love.
• Ian :  I'm drawn to him for some reason. It could be that he is raw, wild, and dangerous. But tucked deep inside of his heart there is a part of him that yearns to love, be loved, and to have a family to call his own.
• America: Even though war is not pretty there is something electric about this time period. Imagine all of the people banding together for freedom. Even though they know there will be losses of life, hardships to endure, and unimaginable terror nothing will stop them from attaining LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!

What worked for me:

• I actually enjoy Gabaldon's chunksters and even though there are a lot of facts and descriptions, I honestly feel that it only adds to the richness of her stories.
• I really liked the chapters that brought us to the current day and featured Brianna and Roger. Those were actually some of my favorite parts. 
• Learning more about William, Jamie's son. He is very interesting to me and I felt that Lord Grey really loved him and thought of him as his own child. I hope to read a more about this young man in her next book.
• The last 200 pages flew and then when I was done I wanted to cry! So much happens and then we're left hanging..until book 8 which probably won't come out for at least two long agonizing years. This will however give me time to read my newly acquired, The Outlandish Companion. I will also use this time to get caught up with Lord Grey.

What didn't work for me:

• At times I will admit that I felt lost. I had to reread a few pages again. This was mostly during the battle scenes or anywhere the troops were introduced. I think a map would've been helpful for this book.
• Too much time spent on the British side of the war.
• Characters that I wasn't sure if I should pay attention to or not. Will they show up in the next book? Why are they here and what do they have to add to the story????

 
Recommend? This would be a resounding YES! But I absolutely insist that you must read from the very beginning. Trust me..you need each book because Gabaldon is a master storyteller and weaver. Stories from a few books ago find their way into this one and having that background information is crucial to your overall enjoyment!


My Rating: 5/5



Thank you to TLC for asking me to be a part of this book tour.
Check out the other tour stops HERE.

About Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon is the New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Outlander novels–Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes (for which she won a Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize)–and one work of nonfiction, The Outlandish Companion, as well as the bestselling series featuring Lord John Grey, a character she introduced in Voyager. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Connect with Diana:
On her Website
On Facebook

'The Lumby Lines' - Gail Fraser

Synopsis from back cover: Nestled in the Northwest is a quaint little town that its quirky residents are proud to call home. With charming shops lining its one main thoroughfare, Lumby has the oldest apple tree in the county and the smallest bank in the state. And though it's hours from the nearest big city, you'll always find Lumby close to your heart.....

1. Words to describe the book: comfortable, funny, touching, quirky

2. Location or characters you met:

• The town of Lumby: I want to live there!! The description of Lumby and the front cover just makes me want to be there. This town is alive and a vibrant character in this story.
• Mark and Pam Walker : They're a couple who has it all and risk it for their dream life. I liked them both immensely and could see myself being friends with them.
• The monks: I liked their simplistic way of life and how they worked together to save their monastery.
• Supporting characters: You have your strange, eccentric, busybodies, good-hearted, and a few mean-spirited residents. They each added their own little bit of flavor!

3. Things you liked/disliked:

• Excerpts from The Lumby Lines newspaper- these cracked me up!!
• Hank- the plastic flamingo. I'm a fan of Hank's...I swear he's real!!
• Cast of characters truly makes this book. 
• The author's husband artwork graces this book. I really love it.
• The writing resonated with me and for a few hours I was able to escape to another place.
• That I have four more books to read in this series!!! #2- Stealing Lumby, #3- Lumby's Bounty, #4- The Promise of Lumby, and the most current release #5- Lumby On the Air.

4. Rating:  4/5 



To keep up with what's new in the world of Lumby you can read the Simply Lumby Newsletter.  Gail often does giveaways and includes yummy recipes.  Currently she is featuring a delicious recipe called Lazy Goose Panini #3 which is great to cook on the grill this summer.






Thank you to Caitlin of FSB Associates 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.

Published: Paperback May, 2007

Publisher:  New American Library

Pages: 319

Genre:  Fiction

ISBN: 9780451221391

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