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Friday, June 28, 2013

It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image courtesy of NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing

What It Had to Be You is about:
Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern. After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

I found this latest installment of Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series absolutely irresistible!! Ali and Luke are my favorite couple to date because believed each of their stories and was totally swept away in their love affair. Ali was written with sheer perfection. She was a character that I could understand, empathize with, and root for to succeed in life and love! I was afraid that this story would leave me feeling 'meh' like the holiday novella did, so I approached it with a bit of apprehension and fear. Instead, I was rewarded with a fun couple and another HEA that restored love for all things Jill Shalvis!

Recommend? Yes. This was her best book yet...I think she's really getting into a groove right now and I can't wait for her next book!

Source: Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #111
© 2013, 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, June 27, 2013

The Great Gatsby (audio version)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts



What The Great Gatsby is about:
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. After meeting and losing Daisy during the war, Gatsby has made himself fabulously wealthy. Now, he believes that his only way to true happiness is to find his way back into Daisy’s life, and he uses Nick to try to reach her. What happens when the characters’ fantasies are confronted with reality makes for a startling conclusion to this iconic masterpiece.

I started The Great Gatsby several years ago but was distracted by life and sit the book aside. After reading Mary's review of the audio version which was narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, I knew that I needed to give it another shot. While I loved Jake's voice and thought he did a wonderful job with this book, I found myself wondering what all the fuss about this author and his style of writing??? I was glad that the audio was only four hours because it was easy to listen to while walking and it was quickly done and finished! Maybe I need to take a class entitled, Appreciation of Classic Literature, because I thought the story was stuffy and a bit lackluster. I clearly read too much fluff!

Recommend? This may surprise everyone because it sounds like I hated it, but I didn't. This author just doesn't work for me, but that's okay. However,  I think this audio version would work for those that love classic literature and Fitzgerald.

Source: Purchased from audible.com
Narrator: Jake Gyllenhaal
Length: 4 hrs 49 minutes


Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #110
© 2013, 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, June 26, 2013

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts



What The Last Camellia is about:
On the eve of World War II, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

Over the course of less than two years, Sarah Jio has quickly become one of my favorite authors. With her newest release, The Last Camellia, she proves once again why so many readers love her books. Jio's signature plot device of blending the past with the present is something that works for her and never fails to capture my attention. I do have to say though that I was much more invested in Flora's story than Addison's,  as her character really spoke to me. The only quibble I have with Jio's writing is that all of her endings are too neat and tidy for me. I hope that a future book leaves me with an ending that garners an extreme display of emotion from me!!!

Recommend? Fans of Sarah Jio's will enjoy this book and will find themselves rapidly turning the pages, while new readers will question why they waited until now to read one of her novels!!

Souce: Plume via NetGalley
Kindle Edition320 pages
Published May 28th 2013 by Plume


Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #109
© 2013, 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, June 25, 2013

Mailbox Monday, What Are You Reading, and Tuesday Intros..better late than never!



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.


cover image courtesy www.goodreads.com


I am featuring Orphan Train on an upcoming TLC Book Tour. I couldn't resist reading this one because I have read so many amazing reviews and thoughts about it. Looking forward to this read!
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Tuesday Intro Pick is from: The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay
  Mama sold me the summer I turned twelve.
Would you keep reading based on this opening line?

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

Read and talked about last week:
Halfway to the Grave (audio version) - great start to a series I look forward to investing time in!

Bookish Thoughts to share this week:
The Last Camellia
The Great Gatsby (audio)

June Bookbox:
Finished It Had to Be You, Entwined and will be reading the other two next week.



Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Halfway to the Grave (Audio Review)


cover image courtesy www.jeanienefrost.com

What Halfway To the Grave is about:
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership. In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker

I'm so glad that I finally started this series, because I was glued to my headphones and seriously did not want the story to end!  I loved Cat and Bones, most especially their chemistry and instant attraction to each other.  The miles flew by while I listened to this audio production on my workouts. In fact, I often walked an extra mile just because I wasn't ready to quit listening. The narrator knocked this one out of the park..loved her voices, male and female.  Halfway to the Grave has it all.......awesome action, steamy sex, and vampires that are NOT campy or sparkly!!

Big shout out to my girl, Sheree, who raved about this series and BONES way back in 2009. Sorry that it took me so long to finally join the club!! Do yourself a favor and click on the link to read Sheree's fantastic review of this book!!!

Recommend? If you like vampires and the paranormal romance then yes, give this one a shot!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 10 hours 30 minutes



Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #108
© 2013, 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, June 16, 2013

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.

cover images via netgalley.com
I picked each one of these books, Home to Whiskey Creek, Sea Glass Island, and The Newcomer, because they're written by authors that I want to try and plus, I loved the covers! These scream summer to me and I look forward to reading while at the beach! Netgalley Naughtiness!!
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Hosted by
We discuss the books that we've read 
and what we're planning to read for the week.


Read and talked about last week:
From Notting Hill with Love..... Actually- adorable!! I ordered two more books by this author!
Ceremony in Death (audio)- this series still delivers and the narrator is fantastic!

Bookish Thoughts to share this week:
The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio
Halfway to the Grave (audio) by Jeanine Frost

June Bookbox:

I finished Entwined with You in less than two days. Story still kept me interested and the sex was HOT, HOT, HOT! Currently reading It Had to Be You and liking it so far!




Thursday, June 13, 2013

Ceremony in Death (Audio Review)


cover image via audible.com


What Ceremony in Death is about:
Conducting a top secret investigation into the death of a fellow police officer has Lieutenant Eve Dallas treading on dangerous ground. She must put professional ethics before personal loyalties. But when a dead body is placed outside her home, Eve takes the warning personally. With her husband, Roarke, watching her every move, Eve is drawn into the most dangerous case of her career. Every step she takes makes her question her own sense of right and wrong - and brings her closer to a confrontation with humanity's most seductive form of evil.

Another riveting audio production that continues to keep me engaged and wanting more of Eve and Roarke!! Loved the dark side that J.D. Robb delved into with this story and most especially how Eve found herself needing Roarke more than she ever dreamed possible. Fast paced and never dull, this series continues to leave me totally satisfied. The narrator absolutely kicks ass!

Recommend? If you're looking for a great series to add to your audio mix, then you can't go wrong with these!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Susan Ericksen
Length: 10 hours 32 minutes


Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #107
© 2013, 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, June 12, 2013

From Notting Hill with Love...Actually- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #106

book image via http://www.alimcnamara.co.uk/books

What From Notting Hill with Love...Actually is about:
She was a girl, standing in front of a boy...
Movie fanatic Scarlett O'Brien dreams of a life as glamorous and romantic as all the big screen flicks she worships. When a chance house-sitting job in iconic Notting Hill comes along, she knows living in one of her favorite movie settings is an opportunity too good to pass up. Leaving behind her skeptical friends, family, and fiance, Scarlett heads to London and finds herself thrust into the lead role of her very own romantic comedy. But can real life ever be just like the movies? Larger-than-life new friends, a handsome but irksome new neighbor, and a mystery from her past may prove to Scarlett that living her life like a RomCom is more complicated than she thought!

If you dream about living in England, think Colin Firth is indeed Mr. Darcy, and devour all romantic British movies and books, then I most certainly think you would enjoy this completely adorable romp!
This book had me reliving some of my favorite movies all through the eyes of Scarlet. I loved how the author weaved Scarlet's favorite movies into her real life situations. It caught my imagination and kept me totally engaged!! I seriously didn't want this one to end.

Recommend? If you said yes to any of the above this book is for you!!! Fun, fun, fun, and a sweet romance mixed in!

Source: My public library


Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #106
© 2013, 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, June 11, 2013

Tuesday Intro- It Had to Be You


My Tuesday Intro pick is Jill Shalvis' latest, It had to Be You. Many of you know that I'm crazy about this author. I am truly looking forward to going back to Lucky Harbor!

cover image via goodreads.com
Some things were set in stone. The sun would rise every morning, the tide would come in and out without fail, and a girl needed to check herself out in the mirror before a date no matter the obstacle. To that end, Ali Winters climbed up on the toilet seat to get a full view of herself in the tiny bathroom mirror of the flower shop where she worked. Ducking so that she didn't hit her head on the low ceiling, she took in her reflection. Not bad from the front, she decided, and carefully spun around to catch the hind view of herself in her vintage--aka thrift store--little black dress.
Would you continue reading this one
 based on the opening paragraph?

Sunday, June 9, 2013

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.

cover image via Goodreads.com
After reading so many blogger's reviews of Amy McKay's books, I knew that I wanted to accept 
The Virgin Cure for an upcoming TLC tour. I am really looking forward to reading this one!
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Hosted by
We discuss the books that we've read 
and what we're planning to read for the week.


Read and talked about last week:
Stories I Only Tell My Friends- outstanding audio book by Rob Lowe
Looking For Me- amazing book that touched my soul!! Favorite of the year.

Bookish Thoughts to share this week:
From Notting Hill with Love...... Actually
Ceremony in Death (audio book)

June Bookbox:
I'm reading these four books for certain this month and whatever else might tickle my fancy!!!



Saturday, June 8, 2013

Saturday Snapshot- Graduation Day!

Saturday Snapshot
is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads
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!)

Graduation Day- June 2, 2013

This picture is the cherry on the top of a sundae that I've helped create for the last 18 years. My youngest graduated from high school and my heart is a mixture of sadness, happiness, relief, and excitement! The whole day went by in a flash! I had little time to be sad during the ceremony and afterwards was nothing but pure fun as pictures were taken, hugs given, hands being clasped, and cheeks being kissed!! Very soon Marcus will be leaving the house to start his new life as a college freshman away from home. He's growing up every day and his dad and I couldn't be prouder!!!