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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Firefly Lane- Bookish Thoughts #14


What Firefly Lane is about:
Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.


Why I wanted to read it: My sister-in-law loved this book and she said I would too, so she mailed it to me!


Source: My lovely and generous SIL- Heather

  • I am a sucker for books that are about women and their friendships. This one was so fantastic! I loved every single page...I mean it...every single page.
  • I adored the way the author broke up the book into decades! Even though I was pretty young in the 70s' I do remember some of the things that Tully and Katie talked about. Most especially the huge crush on David Cassidy!!! And who could forget all of the iconic hair-dos of Farrah Fawcett, Dorothy Hamill, and of course, Jennifer Aniston.
  • I always wanted a real friendship like the one that Tully and Katie experienced. Unfortunately, I can't say that I hada friend like that from high school. But, as I've gotten older I have made friendships that I believe will sustain me into my sunset years!!
  • I thought the ending was wonderful. Granted it was sad, but it was just done so well. I think it's a rare friendship were two people know each other so well, warts and all!
  • The author included a playlist! If you have been reading my blog for very long, you know that I love to read the Behind The Novel/Author's words first. Well, I could kick myself for not doing it this time because I would have enjoyed listening to the music while reading this book!! So make sure you do that!! 
I loved this book! I am proud to admit that I enjoy "Chick Lit" and am now eager to read more of Kristin's books. Lucky for me, Julie (scrappy genius and friend) sent me True Colors, which I will be reading in the upcoming months!! Yay for great friends and Yippee for books that really touch my heart!

Bookish Thoughts #14
© 2012, 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. 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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 much coveted book, The World of Downton Abbey.
My library had a copy and I snatched it up immediately so that I could make sure that I wanted to buy my very own copy! I will be delving into this one throughout the week, taking my time, savoring the story, and lingering over the wonderful pictures.

Welcome to the world of Downton Abbey, a place that has captivated an audience of millions, all following the lives of one family and their servants. Against the backdrop of a fading Edwardian society, we watch their personal dramas unfold and see them through the horrors and change that the First World War brought to Britain. This perhaps is what fascinates us: not just the beautiful scenery, the sumptuous costumes, nor even the skill of the actors, but the fact that we are experiencing something of how life was a hundred years ago. We notice the differences between our lives and theirs; the rigid social hierarchy, the nuances of etiquette, the stifling clothes and the battle for women to be heard. But alongside this, we see something that is the same: family life.

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


Sunday, February 26, 2012

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.

February Host is: Metroreader


Cinder- I won the audio version of this book from Sheree@The Eclectic Reader
The Lost Daughter- review copy from Penguin.
-------------------------------------------------------
We discuss the books that we've read 
and what we're planning to read for the week.

Reviews last week:
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves- a lovely book that touched me deeply! 

Bookish Thoughts:
Still Life- excellent mystery series and one I will keep reading
Reservation Road- this author moves me...love his writing!

Books I will be talking about this week:
Firefly Lane
And Then There Were None

In My Book Box:
Book of Fragrances (Book Tour)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (52 Weeks/52 Books-Fave books from Bloggers Challenge)
A Stolen Life: a memoir (public library)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Saturday Snapshot- Magical winterland


Saturday Snapshot
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.


The other day I woke up to this view from my front window. The fog was starting to roll in and the snow crystallized on the trees. I think this has an ethereal quality to it!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Reservation Road- Bookish Thoughts #13



What Reservation Road is about:
At the close of a beautiful summer day near the quiet Connecticut town where they live, the Learner family--Ethan and Grace, their children, Josh and Emma--stop at a gas station on their way home from a concert. Josh Learner, lost in a ten-year-old's private world, is standing at the edge of the road when a car comes racing around the bend. He is hit and instantly killed. The car speeds away. 


Why I wanted to read this one: Last year I read Northwest Corner by Schwartz, which is the sequel to Reservation Road, for a TLC Book Tour. I fell in love with this author's writing and the story hit me hard on many levels. I knew that at some point I had to read about the devastating event that caused these two families lives to spin out-of-control.


Source: My public library

  • I can only speak of my experience and tell you that I absolutely love this author's voice. There's something so simple, yet strangely complex about his writing. I am at a loss for words to describe how his writing touched me. It just did.
  • My heart broke for every single person in this story. I couldn't begin to fathom the heartbreak and grief that Ethan and Grace dealt with after the loss of their son. His death haunted me and I had to keep telling myself...this is make-believe, Staci!!
  • Dwight, the hit and run driver, makes a decision that will change the lives of so many people. I still don't understand why he just didn't stop, but there are many people that have been in his same predicament and chose the same course-of-action. I don't want to condemn him, but his actions were unconscionable.
  • As a parent, on that  very deep, emotional level, I connected with Ethan. I understood what drove him to find his son's killer. At times he scared himself, but he never relented. I understood his need for solitude and his desire to distance himself from love. I got him and that knowledge shook me up. 
Schwartz crafted a novel that captures your attention and even though many of the characters are seriously flawed, I think that is what kept me glued to the pages. They were REAL. The story is gut-wrenching and the ending surprised the hell out of me....but I believed it. And that to me is masterful storytelling! 

Bookish Thoughts #13
© 2012, 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. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Still Life- Bookish Thoughts #12


What Still Life is about:
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter. 


Why I wanted to read this one: I have been reading Margot's blog, Joyfully Retired,  for a few years now and have loved so many of her reviews. So when Still Life made it on her 2010 Best Books list, I just knew that this was one that I had to read. 
*sidenote- I created a challenge for myself to read at least one book this year from some of my favorite blogger's list of best reads. This was my pick from Margot's books.


Source: Purchased for my Kindle 
  • I was instantly smitten with Armand Gamache. I now understand why Margot gushed over this character (hush though...her husband can't find out about her mad crush!).  He was such the epitome of a master detective, that I couldn't resist his charms. I loved the way that he payed attention to everyone and every little detail. He takes his time and really studies the people involved in the case. 
  • I love the setting! I thought this quaint little town that the author described was a piece of heaven tucked away in the back woods of Montreal. I could easily envision the picturesque village  and the people who lived there.
  • The murder! It was so very clever and I honestly was looking at someone else to be the guilty party. So when I finally found out who did the crime I was kicking myself for not seeing it earlier. 
I loved every minute that I spent in Three Pines and of course, it goes without saying that I loved spending time with Inspector Gamache. He's a smart investigator and I instantly trusted him. I will continue reading this series.....the writing is exceptional, the story intriguing, and the characters were vibrant!


Thanks, Margot for a wonderful read!!!!



Bookish Thoughts #12
© 2012, 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. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves- Review




What this book is about: Usually I cut and paste the synopsis trying to shorten it up to give you just a glimpse into the story. Today I would like you to watch the trailer for this book. I enjoyed the author telling how she came to write this compelling and moving book.



First thoughts after finishing: The author broke my heart.....

I am always grateful to authors when something they crafted with love touches me on such a deeply emotional level. This book pulled me in from the first chapter and I couldn't bear parting with the characters when the story ended. I have to say that I found this story thought provoking, often stopping to tell my husband what was occurring because I would get so upset over some of the actions of Americans toward Japanese Americans. I couldn't imagine operating under the sheer terror and panic of Pearl Harbor and have that event color my perception of my Japanese neighbors, friends, and ones that I would call family. Kristina wrote a story that needs to be talked about and remembered. I wasn't aware of some of the laws preventing those of Asian descent home ownership. I love it when I learn and acquire new information about a time period where most of the attention is drawn to Germany and the Holocaust.

Her story came alive and these people were real to me. I cherished the love story between Maddie and Lane. They had my heart from the very beginning. Could you imagine having people stop and stare at you just because you were holding hands with someone of a different race? This story shows that love knows no race, skin color, or facial features.

Recommend? Without hesitation! I think this would make for a wonderful book club selection too. I read the discussion questions in the back and really feel that there is so much to talk about and share with this beautiful book. Lane and Maddie's love story had me reminiscing about the time I spent in Japan as an exchange student. I felt blessed to have grown up when I did because I found love there during my stay. We didn't have to worry about holding hands in Niigata, where I was an exchange student. No one really paid us much attention and honestly, I never once thought of him as being any different from me. I just fell in love with him and his gentle ways. We were the lucky ones who benefited from those who braved the prejudice, shame, war relocation camps, and showed the rest of the world that we are all human and we all love.

Make sure that you listen to Bach's Second Partitia, The Chaconne. It added so much to the last twenty pages of my reading experience. Trust me on this!


Source: The generous and beautiful, Kristina McMorris
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 437
Published:  March
, 2012
*Uncorrected ARC
Please visit Kristina's website for more information on this book, to schedule a bookclub visit, and to view her photo album from her research trips.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Kristina McMorris 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.

Review Book #6
© 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.
 

Sunday, February 19, 2012

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.

February Host is: Metroreader

Bleak House- purchased for myself so that I could join the RAL hosted by Wallace @ Unputdownables.
Left Neglected- found this for 6.00 on the sale table...had to buy it!
-------------------------------------------------------
We discuss the books that we've read 
and what we're planning to read for the week.

Reviews last week: 
The Baker's Daughter- absolutely wonderful book..will be on my top reads list.

Bookish Thoughts:
Explosive Eighteeen (audio) - a fun way to enjoy this series.

Books that I will talking about this week:
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves- Monday
Still Life- Wednesday
Reservation Road- Thursday

In My Book Box:
Firefly Lane
On Chesil Beach

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Saturday Snapshot- Snow Dog

Saturday Snapshot
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.


Lily just loves the snow! She is part Polar bear and could stay outside for an extended amount of time. This was taken last week when snow finally showed up here in the Thumb. This was her look to me when I told her that it was time to come in!!! 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Explosive Eighteen (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #11



What Explosive Eighteen is about: Stephanie runs into a bit of trouble when someone slips a picture into her bag on the airplane home from Hawaii. All hell breaks loose and she can't figure out what's so important about the picture and why does someone want to kill her for it!

Why I wanted to listen to this one: I really like the narrator and she does a bang up job with all the different voices. She has the ability to make me overlook how stupid Stephanie can be sometimes!

Source: Public Library

  • The plot line in this book was actually pretty interesting. I have to be honest and say that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. I've often thought that past stories were so implausible and at times a bit mundane. I loved the twist to the photograph that Evanovich came up with...makes me wonder if that's something that is being done right now. Yes, I'm being cryptic..if not I'd give away too much! 
  • Things are starting to heat up between Stephanie, Ranger, and Joe. I think before long the author is going to have her make a decision. My gut tells me that she's going to end up with Joe.
  • I keep coming back to this series because I laugh at Grandma's antics and how Lula has these things that just pop out of her mouth and they never fail to make me smile.
  • I can drive along and not really have to pay close attention to the story and still be able to follow along. I enjoy that aspect immensely as I sometimes have the tendency to let my mind wander once I'm in the car.
Bring on Naughty (that's what I would call it if the author asked my opinion) Nineteen....I'm loving this series on audio! 

Bookish Thoughts #11
© 2012, 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. 



Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday- Another charming Amish book!



"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event,
hosted at Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases
that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis


Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania--the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis's celebrated Amish novels began--with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together.
A wrong turn in a rainstorm leads Englisher Amelia Devries to Michael Hostetler--and the young Amishman's charming Old Order community of Hickory Hollow. Despite their very different backgrounds, Amelia and Michael both feel hemmed in by the expectations of others and struggle with how to find room for their own hopes. And what first seems to be a chance encounter might just change their lives forever.

I love Beverly Lewis....can not wait to read this one. I've been following her progress on this book via her Facebook feeds and I just think it will be a such a great book!!! I'm looking forward to reading about the Amish life with the POV coming from a young Amish man.....and one who falls in love with an Englisher to boot!!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

The Baker's Daughter- TLC Tour Book Review




What 'The Baker's Daughter' is about:


In 1945, Elsie Schmidt was a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she was for her first kiss. She and her family have been protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep in the dead of night on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door would put all she loves in danger.
Sixty years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine. Reba is perpetually on the run from memories of a turbulent childhood, but she’s been in El Paso long enough to get a full-time job and a fiancé, Riki Chavez. Riki, an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, finds comfort in strict rules and regulations, whereas Reba feels that lines can often be blurred.
Reba’s latest assignment has brought her to the shop of an elderly baker across town. The interview should take a few hours at most, but the owner of Elsie’s German Bakery is no easy subject. Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and again, anxious to find the heart of the story. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging reminder of darker times: her life in Germany during that last bleak year of WWII. And as Elsie, Reba, and Riki’s lives become more intertwined, all are forced to confront the
uncomfortable truths of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.


First thoughts after finishing: "What an emotional powerhouse!"

I love books that make me weep with sadness and feel such empathy to the characters...this book does that and so much more. I cracked the spine of The Baker's Daughter late in the morning on Saturday and finished it as the sun peeked over the horizon announcing the arrival of Sunday. I was so thankful that I was the only one awake during those first early hours because I was able to be alone with my thoughts after I finished the book. The last quarter of the book had left me with tears streaming down my face and once again realizing that we can NOT judge others....it's not our place. What struck me with such force was something that the main protagonist said when asked if she was a Nazi. She replied, "I am a German." I think that over the years, the general public has lumped being German into automatically assuming they were all Nazi's too. Instead, this book brings to light how many of them became compliant to Hitler's propaganda and laws because of FEAR. Fear of death to self, fear of the death of loved ones, and fear of the death of their way of life. I learned about the Lebensborn Program and couldn't believe the atrocities that were committed against the German mothers and the children the women gave birth to. The author made me feel some sadness about Josef, a SS Officer. This character was someone who had supervised the murder of thousands of Jews and fellow Germans, but Sarah McCoy humanized him and showed the inner demons that he carried within his black soul. She showed the other side of the war...the German side. She didn't make excuses for any of their behaviors, but rather gave the reader an insider's view of what happens when a human is trapped and feels as if they have no options. Elsie is a character that I loved from the moment I met her and she's one that I think may have embodied many unspoken heroic acts of Germans. She hides an emaciated Jewish boy, gives him shelter, food, attention, and love. She is what it means to be human in the face of war. She is what humans try to aspire to when given no options but death or doing something against their moral fiber. Even knowing that death may be her ending, it doesn't stop her from loving and protecting this child. Her story will stay with me...I have her tucked under my heart.

I loved everything about the bakery in Germany and the bakery in Texas. The aroma of baking bread, cakes, and cookies says comfort and home to me. I'm sure that is how Elsie felt when she was busy with the daily chores of making the baked goods. This was a beautiful thread throughout the book and really helped to connect the past with the present. The recipes at the end of the book are calling my name!

I have to admit that Reba's story really didn't do much for me at all. I liked how the past influenced the future and the way the author tried to tie the two stories together. But overall I'm not really sure if Reba/Riki's storyline added to my overall enjoyment of the book. I was more than happy to stay in the past and learn more about Elsie's life and what eventually happened to the people she loved.


Recommend? I would give this book to anyone who is looking for a story that will touch them on a very human level. This is a tale of love, choices, hardship, heartache, and hope. It puts another face on the ravages of war and makes a person stop and contemplate  a very big and heavy question.....What Would You Do?

Source: TLC Book Tours and The Crown Publishing Group
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 292
Published:  January, 2012

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 MY experience while reading this novel.




Review Book #5
© 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.
 


SARAH McCOY is author of the novel, The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico. She has taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. The daughter of an Army officer, her family was stationed in Germany during her childhood. She calls Virginia home but presently lives with her husband and dog, Gilbert, in El Paso, Texas. The Baker’s Daughter is her second novel. She is currently working on her next.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

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.

February Host is: Metroreader


I Thought You Were Dead- I bought this on Audible.com after getting the suggestion from Diane@Bibliophile by the Sea. She's a great lover of audio books and I trust her opinions. I think this one sounds great!
The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice- I love this author's P&P variations and Sourcebooks ran a great sale on some of their titles. I had to buy this one for my Kindle!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

We discuss the books that we've read 
and what we're planning to read for the week.



Reviews last week:
What Happened to Hannah- I thought this was a captivating story...good read.

Bookish Thoughts:
Bossypants- loved this audio book narrated by Tina Fey..absolute fun!
The Diary of Mattie Spenser- great book about women and the frontier life
Emma- I listened to this from Audible.com...loved the British accent but it was hard to follow. Note to self: read Austen first, then listen to it!!

Books to be featured this week:
The Baker's Daughter- TLC Tour stop on Tuesday
Explosive Eighteen- audio version
Still Life- a favorite read of Margot's

In My Book Box:
A Moveable Feast- still reading for a group read-a-long
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves- author review request
Reservation Road- library book

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Saturday Snapshot---has winter arrived?


Saturday Snapshot
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.
Taken this morning approx. 8:10 am in my front yard


Winter has been odd here in Michigan with temperatures in the 40s throughout the month of January and the first weeks of February. I can't tell you how happy I was this morning to wake up to about 4-5 inches that had fallen over the night. The wind was howling during the early morning hours and so we actually have drifts of snow!! I think I am in a small minority of people who wish for a cold and snowy winter. If we don't have significant snowfall, our rivers and lakes won't be replenished and the mosquitos could be big enough to put saddles on this spring...not fun! So I'm hoping that this is the signal that winter has arrived and that I will wake up to many more snowdrifts!!!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Emma (Audio Version)-Bookish Thoughts #10


What Emma is about:
Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. 


Why I wanted to listen to it:  I decided to give audio a try this year and so I signed up for Audible.com. I was trying to decide which book to listen to first when I realized that I could probably listen to Emma faster than reading it and that is why I chose to listen to this one. 


Source: Audible.com

  •  Listening to Austen's book was very challenging! I found myself occasionally getting lost with all of the different characters and with the wording. A couple of times I had to get out my hard copy and go over certain parts in the book so that I could make sure that I understood what was going on.
  • I did love the narrator's different voices and the British accent...that was very fun.
  • I listened to this while I was shelving books in the library. It was an excellent way to to get through this story and do my job.
  • Many of my students wanted to know what music I was listening to and that allowed me to open up a discussion about books on audio and how much fun I was having "listening" to a book instead of reading it. What I really got excited about was that several of my most reluctant readers were eager to listen to an audio book too. So, I checked out a couple of high-interest books (Walter Dean Myers' Monster and Terry Trueman's Stuck in Neutral) burned them on CDs and sent them home with those students. I'm happy to report that they are loving them and I may have made a connection for them...keep your fingers crossed!!
Even though I enjoyed my time spent with Emma, her family, and friends, I'm not sure that I would listen to Austen on audio again. I think her writing is something that I have to visually see and read for it to really make sense and for me to feel involved in the story. I do plan on reading the book sometime this year and I'm sure that it will go faster for me because of listening to it earlier in the year. 

Bookish Thoughts #10
© 2012, 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. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Diary of Mattie Spenser- Bookish Thoughts #9



What The Diary of Mattie Spenser is about:
Mattie marries Luke and they embark on a new life in the untamed frontier known as Colorado. She endures Indian attacks, brutal winters, devastating life events, and uncertainty about the future. She records her deepest secrets in her personal journal...which is brought to light eighty years later.

Why I wanted to read it: I am a huge fan of Sandra Dallas and this book was on my library sale cart for a whopping quarter! I had to buy it!

Source: Library Sale

  • I love books that are told in diary form and this one stole my heart with Mattie putting down her deepest fears, her hopes, and the everyday chores of her prairie life.
  • I know for a fact that our ancestors were much tougher than any of us today. What a hard and demanding life. One that I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to endure.
  • There are pages of her journal that quite literally broke my heart. All of them rang true...living on the frontier took guts and determination. Many women experienced so much sadness and traumatic catastrophes that I wonder how they were able to get out of bed the next day. 
  • Mattie's story will steal your heart and you will be rooting for this young woman from the beginning to the very end. 
This book was everything that I hoped it would be and more. I cried at certain points in the story and found myself wondering what I would do if I had to walk in Mattie's shoes. It has truly given me a new respect for those that ventured into the untamed wild west of America!

Bookish Thoughts #9
© 2012, 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. 



Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Bossypants (Audio)- Bookish Thoughts #8



What Bossy Pants is about:
Tina Fey tells the reader about her childhood, how she fell in love with improv, worked her way through crappy jobs to finally land a prime writing spot on the Saturday Night Live team and create her own television show, 30 Rock.

Why I wanted to listen to this one on audio: I first became interested in this one because of Kathy's (Bermuda Onion) review of the book. Then I read Stacy's (Stacy's Books) review of the audio version and I just knew that I needed to listen to this one!

Source: My public library


  • I laughed while listening to this one on my way to work and laughed going home at the end of the day. That is a wonderful way to start and end each work day....right?
  • I liked Tina's self-deprecating humor. She is pretty darn humble and easy to like.
  • Most of her stories were pretty funny. Even though she's a "STAR" I think many of us could easily identify with her as she went through those stages of awkwardness and self-doubt in our teen years. 
  • I really enjoyed the fact that we're very close in age so when she was talking of her childhood I felt like I had come home!
  • Her stories about SNL and 30 Rock were interesting to listen to and I've since watched some of the 30 Rock episodes that she talked about and found myself going..."Oh, so that is what she meant!"
  • She's a strong woman in a man's world and she's making her mark! 
I love my blogging friends and they were spot on with their reviews. This was a fun book and the audio was just what I needed. I really enjoyed listening to Tina tell her story! And I loved the PDF that she included on the last disc...the pictures cracked me up! 

Bookish Thoughts #8

© 2012, 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. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

What Happened to Hannah- TLC Tour Book


Short Synopsis:
As a teenager, Hannah Benson ran away from home in order to save herself. Now, twenty years later, the past comes calling and delivers life-changing news: her mother and sister have passed away, leaving Hannah the guardian of her fifteen-year-old niece. Returning home to bitter memories and devastating secrets, Hannah must overcome her painful past to pave a future with her niece, the last best chance at a family for both of them. 

First Thoughts after finishing: "What an emotional roller coaster ride and a satisfying read."

I am always looking for a book that keeps my attention all the way through to the end and this author delivers! I loved Hannah and her toughness, her need to keep everyone at arm's length, and the harder-than-nails exterior that she worked so diligently to keep in place. The author let Hannah tell the story of the reason why she left her home town in the middle of the night over twenty years ago and I thought it made the story work. Slowly, as you turn the pages, Hannah lets her guard down a little bit at a time. She begins to trust Grady and is taken aback at how much she loves her niece, Anna.  This was a tough look at child abuse and you know that even as you read this review, a child or woman is being abused. That's hard to deal with, but we need to read their stories and we need to see that some eventually overcome their days of terror, learn to love and hopefully realize that they are worthy.

Recommend? Absolutely! I thought this was a really good solid story that captivated my imagination and had me wondering what was going to happen next. I read it in less than two days and every time I had to sit it down, I found myself anxious to get back to it. A great story of love, forgiveness, and second chances!

Mary Kay McComas started her writing career twenty-five years ago. To date she's written twenty-one short contemporary romances and five novellas; What Happened to Hannah is her second novel. She was born in Spokane, Washington, and now lives in a small town in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, three dogs, a cat, and her four children nearby.



Source: TLC Book Tours and William Morrow
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Published:  February 7, 2012

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 MY experience while reading this novel.


Review Book #4
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