Ocean Beach by Wendy Wax

What Ocean Beach is about:
Unlikely friends Madeline, Avery and Nicole have hit some speed bumps in their lives, but when they arrive in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood, they are all hoping for a do-over. Literally. They’ve been hired to bring a once-grand historic house back to its former glory on a new television show called Do-Over. If they can just get this show off the ground, Nikki would get back on her feet financially, Avery could restart her ruined career, and Maddie would have a shot at keeping her family together.


I read and loved Ten Beach Road so I couldn't wait to get back to the ladies and see what was going on in their lives. This book had a different twist than the previous one because the television show that the friends embark on was done in "reality show style" and wasn't quite what they signed up for! I loved that twist as I felt it really changed up the story and gave it a very current feeling. Each woman's story still captivated me and I found myself loving them all. 


Recommend? I highly recommend that you read Ten Beach Road first as it allows the reader to get to know the main characters and their back story. Without it, this book may fall flat for you. But if you've read and enjoyed Ten Beach Road I honestly feel that you will LOVE Ocean Beach! It has a little bit of everything for the reader; friendship, love, secrets, mystery, and a few adorable characters that you might want to take home with you!! 

Source: Joan Schulhafer Publishing and Media Consulting

Disclaimer: Thank you to Debby@ Joan Schulhafer 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 MY experience while reading this novel.

Review Book #24
© 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. 

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.

Our July Host is Mrs. Q: Book Addict

Blackberry Winter- review copy courtesy of Sarah Jio (I'm so excited to read this one...love her books!!)

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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: 

One Breath Away- Good story that kept me interested.

Bond Girl- loved this story and the main character!

Books I will be talking about this week:

Ocean Beach- summer review book

Cinder- audio thoughts

The Next Always- Bookish Thoughts (edited 8/1/12- will post next week)

In my book box:

Lucky Harbor Series books 4-6!!

Saturday Snapshot- Home away from Home

 

 

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. (no pictures from the internet!)

This is a shot from the front of our campsite looking down to the back. I think we were really lucky to get such

a deep lot and most especially because we are backed right up against the national forest. I can see birds from the back window and hopefully this fall I will spot deer too!!!

 

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Bond Girl by Erin Duffy (TLC Book Tour Review)

What Bond Girl is about:
While other little girls were fantasizing about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett dreamed of conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. Now she’s grown and determined to make it big in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street’s most esteemed brokerage firms. Though she’s prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys’ club, she starts out small, relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker, “Girlie,” inscribed in Wite-Out across the back.

I would never have thought I would enjoy a book about finance and Wall Street, but I'm here to tell you that I did like this and very much so!! I loved Alex and thought her character was very fleshed out. Duffy created a woman that reader's would want to be successful in a man's world! Knowing that Duffy took a lot of this from her own experience in the shark-infested waters of Wall Street made me have a new found respect for the women who have to tread those murkey seas on a daily basis. There's no way I would have survived that type of job, but reading how Alex was able to play the game and still keep her integrity made me proud to be a woman!!

Recommend? Yes, I would recommend this book to my friends without hesitation because the writing is sharp and witty, and the story is great fun!

Source: TLC and publisher
Genre: Witty writing!
Published: July 17, 2012
Pages: 320

Please take a moment and visit Erin Duffy on Facebook!

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 #23
© 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.

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One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf + Giveaway

What One Breath Away is about:

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Told in five alternating POV's this story grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let up until the very last page. I loved the short chapters and seeing the story unfold from each of the different characters that the author allows to narrate. I liked the cantankerous old codger, Will. He doesn't mean to be hard but he's realistic and doesn't have time for dreaming. He's a real "man's" man and his character seemed real to me. I had a few issues with the portrayal of Augie though. I didn't really buy into her actions (won't state what they are..no spoilers) and so that worked against my overall enjoyment of the book. That, and the ending.

Recommend? Overall this was a good way to spend a few hours. The pages flew by and for the most part I was captured by the story and the people enduring a day from hell. The ending was one that I hoped would be better. I wanted to be shocked but I wasn't. Darn.

Final Thoughts: Even though I guessed early on who the gunman was, I did enjoy the author's fast-paced writing and I will be reading her other two books that are sitting on my shelves!!!

GIVEAWAY INFO

Media Muscle is allowing me to giveaway one paperback copy! You must be in the US/Canada to participate. Please leave me your email address in the comments. Winner will be drawn July 31st!

Check out the other blogs that are hosting Heather Gudenkauf by clicking here.

Source: Moss Media Relations/Media Muscle

Disclaimer: Thank you to Kate and Moss Media/MediaMuscle.com 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 #22

© 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.

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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.

Our July Host is Mrs. Q: Book Addict

Broken Harbor by Tana French- courtesy of publisher

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

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 Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harry Fry- One of my top reads for 2012!!

Simply Irresistible- I have found a series that I can't get enough of!!

Books I will be talking about this week:

One Breath Away- Book review and giveaway

Cinder- audio thoughts

Bond Girl- TLC Book Review

In my book box:

Gone

Below Stairs

All the Truth (review copy)

Saturday Snapshot- garage sale finds!

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. (no pictures from the internet!)

 

 

On our garage sale hunt a few weeks ago I lucked out and ran across a box of books. Imagine my delight when I found all of these Agatha Christie books!! Better yet, they were each 10 cents!! I took them all except for two because I already copies of those!! As soon as we got back to the camper I promptly put these little gems in my summer reading bookshelf!! I love looking at them in anticipation of the wonderful reading in store!

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Friday Fitness Update

Hello Friends!

I realized that it's been over a month since I've updated my Fitness goals and to fill you in on how I am doing!  It's slow going but I have lost 6 pounds since I last posted. For those of you that are following my journey you might remember that I wrote about my husband's diabetes diagnosis and that this is a joint undertaking back to healthy living for both of us.  I'm really happy to be able to say that my husband has lost quite a bit of weight and his sugar numbers are getting better every day.  There is no magic pill for weight loss and it honestly just takes time, dedication, and educating yourself about food!!

Here's what we've been doing the past month:

• Less dining out!! And when we do we have been splitting one meal!! Yay for us!!
• No junk in the house! That wasn't too hard to do as I never really bought a lot of junk. My husband's biggest problem was not eating all day and then coming home, eating dinner and then really never stopping eating until he was ready for bed.
• Small meals every 3-4 hours.
• Snacks!! Fruit, nuts, cheese sticks, lean turkey or ham slices, and yogurt!
• Water 
• No more dinner plates, using smaller plates for our meals.

And what I consider the biggest factor

• EXERCISE- we've been riding our bikes, swimming, and walking! 

**** If you're on a personal journey back to a healthy way of living, please leave me a comment and tell me how it's going for you and what the biggest factor has been for success!!

Starting weight on June 1, 2012: 172

weight update: 166

Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor Series #1)- Bookish Thoughts #34

What Simply Irresistible is about?

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she’s sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie’s struggles to overcome the past, though she’s about to discover that there’s no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

Sexy, smart, steamy, sassy, and romantic...that's how I describe Simply Irresistible. After reading Karen's guest post on Sheree's The Eclectic Reader, I couldn't help but request book one immediately! I gobbled it up in two days and as soon as I was done I needed to get my hands on book two!! This is a series that I plan on spending some time reading this summer. As soon as my review books are out of the way, my reading list will consist of Lucky Harbor books 2-6! I was lucky enough to get 5 and 6 from NetGalley so I will be buying the others for my Kindle because I'm all about instant gratification at the moment!


Recommend? Oh yes, Ladies!! The men are hot, complex, and the romance (sex!) if off-the-hook great! If you're looking for some great summer reading that is pure fun and escapism, then pick up a Jill Shalvis book...you won't regret it!!


Source: Public Library


Bookish Thoughts #34

© 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.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry- TLC Book Tour Review + Giveaway

What The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is about:

When Harold Fry leaves home one morning, with his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or maps, let alone a compass, waterproof or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking. To save someone else's life.

Harold Fry has left an indelible mark on my heart and I'm pretty sure I will carry his story with me for some time. This book caught me totally by surprise by the emotions Harold's journey created in me. I laughed with Harold, felt his pain from the blisters and muscle cramps, understood some of his loneliness, and eventually rejoiced with him as he embraced the solitude and simplicity of his pilgrimage. This story was much like a onion with so many layers and as I peeled away the chapters, the depth of the story increased. In the end I think I was as exhausted as Harold and when I read the last sentence, I had to find silence so that I could cry a bit and also reflect upon what Harold's travels meant to me.


Recommend? YES! This is a book that I will be keeping on my shelves because at some point I would like to take another trip with Harold. This book made me think about what it means to be human, the desire to be loved and accepted as a child, to be a wife or husband, mother, father, to learn how to forgive myself and others, and to be able to keep walking through the pain and grief that goes hand in hand with living.

GIVEAWAY:

TLC is offering one copy of the wonderful book to a lucky person here in the U.S. only (Sorry to everyone else!!) If you would like to read about Harold's pilgrimage, please leave your email address with your comment. Open until 11:59 pm, July 24th.



Source: TLC and publisher
Genre: Literary Fiction
Published: July 24, 2012
Pages: 336 beautifully written

Please take a moment and visit Rachel Joyce's lovely website.....

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 #21

© 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.

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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.

Our July Host is Mrs. Q: Book Addict

Tributary- review copy received from Barbara K Richardson

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

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 Flight of Gemma Hardy- great twist on Jane Eyre, absolutely enjoyable!

The Queen's vow- must read for any Historical Fiction junkie!!

Books I will be talking about this week:

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harry Fry

Cinder- audio thoughts

Simply Irresistible- bookish thoughts

In my book box:

Naked in Death- currently reading
Bond Girl
One Breath Away

Saturday Snapshot- a few of my favorite things

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. (no pictures from the internet!)

 

 

This is a photo of a few of my favorite things:

sitting outside, reading a great book, and enjoying an ice cold Diet coke!

 

 

 

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The Queen's Vow by C.W. Gortner- Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour Stop

What The Queen's Vow is about:
From the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and intrigue-laden gardens of Seville, The Queen’s Vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become Isabella of Castile.
 
I know that I've been swept away into a wonderful story when my dreams are filled with the characters from the book that I'm currently reading and this was the case while I read The Queen's Vow. As soon as I would wake up in the morning I grabbed my book and raced through the pages anxious to find out if Isabella would succeed as Queen of Castile. Her story intrigued me and Gortner made her so real to me that it was hard to put the book down until I was finished. While not everything is historically accurate, I felt that the author created a tale that brought to light the tenacity and perserverance of a woman who many underestimated and thought would fail as ruler of Spain. I took away a better understanding of the pressures that she was under and how she did allow her unwavering allegiance to her religion to influence how she dealt with the Jewish population of Castile at the time. I loved how the author encapsulated her life and really took the time to flesh out her story; how she grew up, the hardships she endured, the love she felt for her husband, children, and close friends.
 
Recommend? To all historical fiction fans...YES! I enjoyed this book so much and will be reading Gortner's other two novels for sure. His writing flows easily and he has a gift for creating a story that captures your interest and imagination!

Click on the button above for lists of tour stops

Source: HFV Book Tour and the publisher

About C.W. Gortner
C.W. Gortner is the author of The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici and The Tudor Secret. He holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies from the New College of California.
In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall and experienced life in a Spanish castle. His novels have garnered international praise and been translated into thirteen languages to date. He is also a dedicated advocate for animal rights and environmental issues.
He's currently at work on his fourth novel for Ballantine Books, about the early years of Lucrezia Borgia, as well as the third novel in his Tudor series,The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles (US) or Elizabeth's Spymaster (UK).
Half-Spanish by birth, C.W. lives in Northern California.
 
Disclaimer:Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual 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 #20
© 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.
 
 

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The Flight of Gemma Hardy- TLC Book Tour Review

What The Flight of Gemma Hardy is about:

A captivating tale, set in Scotland in the early 1960s, that is both an homage and a modern variation on the enduring classic, Jane Eyre. To tell you any more would be a crime!!



I am a romantic at heart and that is why I love Jane Eyre and identify with Jane so much, because in the end she just wants to be loved and treasured. Now I can add another character with whom I share similarities with and that is Gemma. I was expecting a storyline that pretty much stayed true to Jane Eyre but to my profound relief and delight it did not. While some of the anchored parts were there, the author has weaved her own tale of an orphan who suffers much at the hands of those she should be able to trust, but who through it all ends up finding herself and so much more.



Recommend? Unequivocally...YES! The pages flew by as I found myself immersed in Gemma's life. I couldn't get enough of the story and have to admit that I was quite sad when I turned the last page. Even though I have not finished Bronte's Jane Eyre having only watched numerous movie adaptations of the novel, I can honestly say that this book was a fresh retelling of a classic story!

P.S. One of the most exciting things that I've taken away with me from this novel is the renewed interest it has stirred in me to read other novelists who have also written back to classics. In the back of the book, Livesey lists some of her favorites and many I have read like, March by Geraldine Brooks, The Hours by Michael Cunningham, and The Tale of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I have now added a few more to my must-read list such as, A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, and Foreign Bodies byCynthia Ozick.

Source: TLC Book Tours and Publisher

Review Book #19
© 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. 

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Saturday Snapshot- Evening on the Lake

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.

Matt and I took the dogs out on the boat Saturday night to see how they would do and to also watch the fireworks from the perfect advantage point on the lake!! The dogs did great and Lily even thought about jumping overboard more than once. Daisy, however, would not leave my lap! Can I just say that the sunsets are glorious??!!!

Sea Change by Karen White

What Sea Change is about:

For as long as she can remember, Ava Whalen has struggled with a sense of not belonging, and now, at thirty-five, she still feels stymied by her family. Then she meets child psychologist Matthew Frazier and thinks her days of loneliness are behind her. After a whirlwind romance, they impulsively elope, and Ava moves to Matthew's ancestral home on St. Simons Island, off the coast of Georgia.

But after the initial excitement, Ava is surprised to discover that true happiness continues to elude her. There is much she doesn't know about Matthew, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding his first wife's death. And her new home seems to hold as many mysteries and secrets as her new husband. Feeling adrift, Ava throws herself into uncovering Matthew's family history and that of the island, not realizing that she has a connection of her own to this place--or that her obsession with the past could very well destroy her future.

When I see the name Karen White, I immediately get all excited to get my hands on her newest creation. Karen has a way of writing about the south that rings true to me and also makes me want to pack my bags and experience it for myself. This story was put together meticulously and with special attention to the little details. I thought the three POV's were written seamlessly and I liked each woman and their story equally. What I really enjoyed was this little hum of malice that was written behind the story. I couldn't wait to turn the page and get to the end of the story so that I could not only find out all of the secrets, but to also relax from the tension!!

Recommend? Absolutely! White delivers another great story with characters that you can easily imagine and care about. This is the perfect summer read and the ending....Wow!! Loved it!!!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Jennifer@ NAL/Penguin 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 #18
© 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. 

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!

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.

Our July Host is Mrs. Q: Book Addict

Bond Girl- TLC Tour Book courtesy of publisher and TLC

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

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: 

Casting Off- gem of a book

The Beginner's Goodbye- excellent book and audio version

Books I will be talking about this week:

Probably none!

In my book box:

I'm still working on the same books that I had last week! I've been doing too much running around with my husband and playing out on the lake! I need to crack down this week!!

• Sea Change
• Ocean Beach
• All the Truth
• The Flight of Gemma Hardy