Mailbox Monday (I'm the August Host)

photo courtesy

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.

I'm so so excited to be hosting Mailbox Monday for the month of August! Thanks to Marcia for creating one of my favorite memes ever and for trusting fellow bloggers like myself to host it every month. I look forward to visiting each and every blogger that stops by on Mondays. I love peeking into your world and seeing what lovely books showed up for you to read. I will be running a giveaway for each week where I will enter the numbers from Mr. Linky into random.org and whatever number comes up I will notifiy that reader and they can then choose from my grab bag of books that I currently have accumulated!! I will be adding to the choices as August winds down. Let's have some fun!!!!!

SpyCatcher-unsolicited from William Morrow

Sister- Amazon Vine review copy (I'm so very excited about this one!!!)

Pretty- unsolicited from Plume

Don't forget to leave me a comment too...I love reading them!

click on the Mr. Linky below to enter your link!

'A Wife for Mr. Darcy' by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Teaser Synopsis:  When he meets Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy is already courting another young lady and now, in addition to his original qualms, Darcy has a real matter of honor to overcome...


First thoughts after finishing: "Oh my Mr. Darcy...I love you so!!!"


I know that I read a lot of P&P variations and some people (RYAN) often wonder how I can keep reading one right after the other and not get bored. Well, let me tell you something, if the author makes Mr. Darcy come alive,keeps Lizzy vibrant and young,  and stays true to Austen's voice then I will keep on reading these little gems. They're a way to continue to re-experience Austen's marvelous characters but with fascinating and often times humorous twists!! I have to say that Mary is a wonderful writer and she just has that magic touch that makes me fall in love with each re-telling she offers to her readers. This book absolutely won me over with the fresh ,creative plot and the flirtatious teasing that Darcy and Lizzy tossed back and forth to each other. Let me read you a small part that of course made me swoon a bit and wish oh so much that Darcy was writing this letter to me.

Recommend? Absolutely! This is one of my favorite P&P variations to date and for anyone that remotely loves Austen and her regency stories would have a great time immersing themselves into Darcy and Lizzy's life for an afternoon!!


Rating: 9.5/10


Author: Mary Lydon Simonsen
Published: July 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Darcy and Elizabeth at their finest! P&P variation
Source: Sourcebooks
ISNB: 9781402261756


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 MY experience 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.

'Secret Daughter' by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Synopsis from Goodreads:
On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favors sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away.Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband, Krishnan, see a photo of the baby with the gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion. Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and the child that binds both of their destinies, Secret Daughter poignantly explores the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love, as witnessed through the lives of two families one Indian, one American and the child that indelibly connects them.

First thoughts after finishing this book: " Wow, I loved that ending!!!"

I'm a huge fan of fiction that takes place in India and so when offered the chance to read this story I didn't hesitate to say yes. I'm not sure what happened that made me feel so disconnected to all of the characters in this book but I found myself becoming easily distracted and just not really caring how the story turned out. In fact, I pretty much thought I knew exactly how it would turn out. The writing is wonderful and the author certainly made me feel as if I was in India. I felt such pain for the Indian mothers that had to abort, kill, or give their daughters up for adoption. I'm always amazed at the cruelty towards women that basically seems to permeate throughout the world. But, there was still that problem for me of connecting with a character. It may have been the going back and forth between five different characters...and just feeling like I'm getting into that person's story and then I turn the page and I'm reading about a different person! But I continued on with the story because I was curious as to how it all turned out. And boy am I glad that I did. I thought the last couple of chapters were fantastic and the ending totally changed my reading enjoyment and lifted my rating a full point!

Recommend? Even though I found myself having a hard time finding a connection, I would recommend this to friends because I think the story itself is an important read. I also think the author writes beautifully...and I loved experiencing India through her characters eyes. I would not hesitate to read another book by Shilpi. I honestly feel that the failure to connect to a character is all my fault...sometimes you pick up the right book but just at the wrong time.

Rating: 8/10

Interested in reading "Secret Daughter"? Click here to enter my giveaway. US residents only!

Author: Shilpi Somay Gowda
Published: Paperback version February, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins 
Genre: Family Drama
ISBN: 9780061928352
Source: Review copy from Megan @ Morrow Paperbacks/HarperCollins Publishers

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 MY experience 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.

'Whispers in the Sand' by Barbara Erskine

Synopsis from author's website:
Recently divorced, Anna Coburn decides to cheer herself up by retracing a journey her great-grandmother, Louisa, a renowned artist, made in the mid-nineteenth century – a Nile cruise from Luxor to the Valley of the Kings. Anna carries with her two of Louisa's possessions – an ancient Egyptian scent bottle, and an illustrated diary of the original cruise that has lain unread for a hundred years.

As she follows in Louisa's footsteps, Anna discovers in the diary a wonderful love story from the Victorian past, and the chilling, more distant secret of the little glass bottle. Meanwhile, two men from the tour party are showing a disturbing interest in these mementos, and developing an unfriendly rivalry for Anna's attention. And, most frightening of all, Anna finds herself the victim of a haunting, a spectral presence that grows in strength and threat as the dramatic stories from three different eras intertwine in a terrifying climax...


First thought after finishing this book: "I so need to visit Egypt!!!"

My Thoughts: This was my first experience reading Barbara Erskine and it won't be my last. I really liked the way she wrote the story using a diary of Anna's great-grandmother as the focal point and in which she was able to link the past with the present. I know that some people do get tired of "the diary" being used in books but for me it never seems to grow old. I honestly felt like I would recognize these people and places if I were to visit them today because Erskine writes with a very descriptive flair. While at times I wanted to throttle Anna and tell her to get a backbone when it came to one of the overbearing and pushy male passengers, for the most part I enjoyed her character and couldn't wait to see what she would discover next. This was a great book to get lost in for an afternoon and made me want to Google the places that Anna and Louisa encountered on their Nile voyages.

Recommend? Yes, I would recommend this book to my friends. Especially those that love the use of a found diary as a means to bring the past and present together into a satisfying story!!

Rating: 8/10

Author: Barbara Erskine
Published: July 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Historical Fiction with a twist!
Source: Sourcebooks
ISNB: 9781402261756


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 MY experience 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 Book of Lies' by Mary Horlock (TLC Tour Book)

Teaser Synopsis:

Life on the tiny island of Guernsey has just become a whole lot harder for fifteen-year-old Cat Rozier. She’s gone from model pupil to murderer, but she swears it’s not her fault. Apparently it’s all the fault of history.

Longer version click here.

First Thoughts after finishing this book:  "Was Cat crazy or is it me?????"

The sentences that helped create the atmosphere of unease:

Killing myself wouldn't be too clever, but then neither was killing Nicolette. It's been a fortnight since they found her body and for the most part I am glad she's gone.  But I also can't believe she's dead, and I should because I did it. Yes. That's right. I killed Nicolette on these very cliffs and I'm frankly amazed that no one has guessed. [p.1]

What worked for me:

• Guernsey- after reading and loving 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' I knew that this was a place I would like to revisit. One of the things that I would absolutely recommend to someone who is thinking of reading The Book of Lies is to visit this website all about the island. I loved the short video and it really helped me to see the island and get a  feel of this place. I wished I'd done this prior to reading the book. I love envisioning places, people, and  scenery while reading and I think this would help others.
• The historical aspect of the story. Again, I like historical fiction and felt that the author made Guernsey its own character in the story. Much of what happened in this story, people blamed on the island.
• At first I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the two parallel stories (Cat's story in 1984 and her Uncle Charles from 1943-1965) but I eventually found myself at ease with the story changing from Cat to her Uncle Charlie's.
• The author has a very distinct voice and way of storytelling.

What didn't work for me:

•  I thought the first half of the book was a bit slow and I never really felt a connection with Cat. The author tells us that she's a bit of an unreliable narrator, so I was never really sure if her version was the truth. But in the end I think it really did work for the author.

Would I recommend? Yes, but with a few hesitations. I would tell you to read the P.S. part of the book first. I find that the insights and interviews with the author actually enrich the reading experience. I should go with my gut instinct and do it every time before diving into the story. After I read the P.S. section light bulbs starting going off in my head!! I felt that the story moved a bit slow for me, but overall I'm glad that I stuck with it because I ended up learning quite a bit about Guernsey and the role it and those that lived there played in WWII.

Rating: 7.5/10 

Author: Mary Horlock

Mary Horlock is an authority on contemporary art who has worked at the Tate Britain and Tate Liverpool, and curated the Turner Prize for contemporary art. She spent her childhood in Guernsey, and lives in London.

Published: July 19, 2011

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Pages: 347

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN:  9780062065094

 

Disclaimer: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 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.

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.

Hosted this month at

A Sea of Books

Venetia by Georgette Heyer- courtesy of Sourcebooks for review

Kingdom of Summer by Gillian Bradshaw- Sourcebooks

The Greatest Love on Earth by Mary Ellen Dennis- Sourcebooks

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer- Sourcebooks

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

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:

Radio Shangri-La- interesting memoir

French Lessons- awesome book...made me want to go to Paris immediately!

In the Sea There are Crocodiles- inspiring memoir of a young Pakistani boy

Reviews this week:

The Book of Lies- Tuesday

Whispers in the Sand-Thursday

A Wife for Mr. Darcy-Friday

On my nightstand:

I've been playing this by how I'm feeling that particular day and what strikes my fancy!

Six Sentence Saturday- Excellent survival memoir!

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?)

In The Sea There Are Crocodiles 
by Fabio Geda (click on title for longer synopsis)
Source: unsolicited review copy from Doubleday Publishing
Genre: Riveting Memoir
Pages: 211
Published: August 9, 2011
ISBN: 9780385534734
*Uncorrected ARC


Teaser Synopsis:
Ten-year-old Enaiatollah is left alone in Pakistan to fend for himself. In a book that takes a true story and shapes it into a beautiful piece of fiction, Italian novelist Fabio Geda describes Enaiatollah's remarkable five-year journey from Afghanistan to Italy where he finally managed to claim political asylum aged fifteen. His ordeal took him through Iran, Turkey and Greece, working on 


My Thoughts:
This was a gem of a book! The translation was perfect and captured Enaiatollah's voice. I was mesmerized by all that this young boy encountered and survived as he made his way from Pakistan to Italy. These are the types of stories that really move me and make me realize how pampered our lives here in the U.S. really are. This book would make a great read-a-loud for high school English class or even Current Events. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true stories of how the human spirit can and will keep you alive for just one more day!
Rating:






Disclaimer:Thank you to Doubleday Publishing 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.

'French Lessons' by Ellen Sussman + Giveaway (TLC Tour Book Stop)

Synopsis:
A single day in Paris, changes the lives of three Americans as they each set off to explore the city with a French tutor, learning not just about language but also about love and loss as their lives intersect in surprising ways.







First thoughts after finishing this book:  "I believe that I have to read this one again!"

The sentence that sums up the story perfectly for me:

The late-afternoon light filtered through the small, high windows of the shop, and Jeremy thought:  I'm happy here. This is where I belong.

(from French Lesson page 164 in the ARC; finished version may be different)

My Thoughts:  I have never been to Paris, but after finishing this story the need and desire to walk down the same streets, eat the foods, and visit the galleries that the characters experienced, has been sparked and it burning brightly in my soul. It's really hard to explain how this book affected me....all I know is that I was able to connect with each American in a way that made this story ring true to me. I've known some of the same fears, loneliness, and disconnectedness that each one of these people were going through and being able to relate to them made their  stories come alive. I started this in the early morning and finished it by mid-afternoon. I didn't want to leave Paris......but I do know that when I go, I would love to meet a language tutor like Nico and Chantal.

Recommend? Yes.
Why? Because it felt real! The selling point after finishing this story was learning the meticulous work that the author put into the book to ensure that her portrayal of Paris was accurate!

Rating: 9/10
Author: Ellen Sussman

Published: May 28, 2011

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Pages: 242

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN:  9780345522771

* uncorrected ARC was provided for review

 

CLICK HERE FOR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF FRENCH LESSONS

Open to US/Canada residents only

Disclaimer: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 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.

'Radio Shangri-La: What I learned in Bhutan, The Happiest Kingdom on Earth' by Lisa Napoli

Opening lines of the book:
" The approach to the most sacred monastery in the Kingdom of Bhutan is steep and winding and, especially as you near the top, treacherous."







Why I read it:
I really enjoy reading about people's experiences living countries that I know next to nothing about. I remember watching The Today's Show feature about Bhutan, which sparked my curiosity about the country and their way of life. When the chance to read this one came along I thought it sounded like a great read.

What's it about:

Lisa Napoli was in the grip of a crisis, dissatisfied with her life and her work as a radio journalist. When a chance encounter with a handsome stranger presented her with an opportunity to move halfway around the world, Lisa left behind cosmopolitan Los Angeles for a new adventure in the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan—said to be one of the happiest places on earth.

What worked:

• I enjoyed reading about the people that Napoli met while living and working in Bhutan. She made the culture come to life and left me intrigued to explore more about this little country on my own.
• I really liked seeing "gadgets and conveniences" that I take for granted through the innocent eyes of the citizens of Bhutan. I have a new respect for the "stuff" that I take for granted and have questioned myself as to what really makes me happy......

Monks

What didn't work:

• I wanted to learn more about the author and I guess I was looking or hoping for a more in-depth reflections from her. I walked away from the book feeling that she only scratched the surface in regards to her feelings and emotions and that I really didn't make a connection with her.  Maybe I was expecting too much and that honestly is my fault. 

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to my friends that are interested in learning more about Bhutan and the author's experience working in this country that was (it has now moved more into the western world...which I think is a bit sad) virtually cut-off from outside influences. She writes very well and does a great job of capturing the way of life of those who live there. She made me want to investigate more about Bhutan on my own time and what more could I ask of a book???

Temple

Rating: 7.5/10

Author: Lisa Napoli
Published: February, 2011
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Genre: Travel/Memoir
Source: Amazon Vine Program
ISBN: 9780307453020


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 MY experience 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.

*review style courtesy of Avis @ She Reads and Reads

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.

Hosted this month at

A Sea of Books

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins- courtesy of Atria Galley's Promotion

The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes- review copy from Penguin Group

The Twelfth Enchantment by David Liss- TLC Review book

Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank- unsolicited review copy from William Morrow

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

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 Twisted Thread- tired story about murder among the elite rich kids boarding school

In the Heat of the Bite- fun, saucy, and satisfying paranormal romance

Reviews for this week:

Radio Shangri-La- Tuesday

French Lessons (TLC Tour Stop)- Thursday

Whispers in the Sand- Friday

In the Sea There Are Crocodiles- Six Sentence Saturday Review

On my nightstand:

I've been playing this by how I'm feeling that particular day and what strikes my fancy!

Saturday Snapshot

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.

Marc and fellow cast members for their Act 5 in the play Tapestry. 

Marc's character was a vegetarian werewolf!! 

'In the Heat of the Bite' by Lydia Dare (Vlog Review!)

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Chivalry is far from undead...

Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that's precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid...But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There's never been a more tempestuous scandal..

Recommend? This book and series would make a great summer beach read. It's nothing but pure fun! The authors really know how to add just the right amount of spice and humor to make this an engaging read! 


Read my review of It Happened One Bite here......
Rating: 8/10


Author: Lydia Dare
Published: July 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Sourcebooks
ISNB: 9780805093834


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 MY experience 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.