Tuesday Intros: Level 2

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 Tuesday Intro pick is Lenore Appelhans (fellow book blogger and friend) debut novel, LEVEL 2 ( MEMORY CHRONICLES). I'm beyond excited for Lenore so I am doing my little bit to add to the buzz about her book and hoping that my book friends may even go so far as to get a copy! Lenore is such a positive force out there in the book blogging sphere. She writes an amazing YA blog, keeps us entertained with pictures of her kitties, and still finds time to visit other bloggers.

So without further ado here is the opening paragraph of her new book...........................

Chapter 1
I'll sleep when I'm dead. I used to say it a lot. When my dad suggested I turn off the flashlight I thought I so expertly hid under my covers. That time youth pastor Joe told us to pipe down at the church lock-in. The balmy summer night I convinced Autumn to sneak out after midnight so we could dance in Nidda Part, arms outstretched to the stars. But then I died.

 Would you continue reading this one

 based on the opening paragraph?

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.

January Host is : Lori's Reading Corner

IT'S HERE!!!!

I'm so excited to see my pre-ordered copy show up on my Kindle the other day!! I couldn't be happier for Lenore and I can't wait to read this one!!!!!!!!!! Lenore ROCKS!!

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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 talked about last week:

After the Rain by Karen White- loved this one and really enjoy this author!

Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins- oh my!! I am adoring this author right now!

Bookish Thoughts this week:

My One and Only

Magic Hour- audio book

In My BookBox:

Finished: Somebody to Love, After the Rain, and currently reading Mockingjay

Saturday Snapshot--Breathtaking morning moment

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!)

Last week I was driving to work around 7:20 a.m. when I look over to my right and see the sun starting to rise. I was immediately struck by the gorgeous colors and had to stop my car and take these pictures through the front window. 

• No editing was done to this photo.
• I added the frame and the copyright tag via picmonkey. 
• Camera Phone Samsung Galaxy Proclaim

Somebody to Love- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #73

What Somebody to Love is about:
Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist's assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn't the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn't the only thing that needs a little TLC….

2012 belonged to Jill Shalvis, but 2013 will be the year of Kristan Higgins my friends!!!! Holy moly, have I been living under a rock?? I'm so glad that I checked out two of Kristan's books over the holidays and that I decided to sit down early Sunday morning with this one. I read ALL morning long and if you were able to see my face I'm sure everyone would have been laughing at my expressions!! One minute I'm smiling like a dork, the next I'm crying, and before you know it I'm laughing, sighing, and basically just loving every single minute of this sweet, smart, romantic book!! I so loved Parker and all of her baggage, and James....be still my heart!!

Recommend? YES. YES. YES. If you like funny, sassy, smart characters with a lot of heart and flaws too, then this is an author that you must read. Seriously.

Reason for reading it? Because I've been following Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins Man Wars on Facebook and I've been meaning to read one of Kristan's books at some point.

Book Buddies who read this one too:

• Karen guest reviewed @ The Eclectic Reader (she happens to be the one who got me hooked on Shalvis too!!!)

Source: Public Library

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #73
© 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.

After the Rain - Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts # 72

What After the Rain is about:
A novel set in the picaresque town of Walton, Georgia, where one woman is about to discover that the best journey is the one that brings you home.…

I know it sounds a bit cliche', but I was hooked by page 2 of this story and basically read until I finished the book! I loved this sequel and thought White did a fabulous job of putting the reader right back in lives of the characters from Falling Home. Oh my did I fall in love with the southern town of Walton, Georgia and yes, I fell in love with many of the people who walked those quaint streets. White has a way with creating a story line that doesn't seem far-fetched. My heart broke a few times as Joe learned how to be a parent without his beloved wife, how to trust another person with his children, and to allow himself the freedom to love again. Each character added something to this story and left an impression on my heart.

Recommend? Oh my, yes!!! But please read Falling Home first. It adds extra depth to this story and the characters might not really get to you without doing so!!

Source: Karen White and Fiona Brown @ Penguin Group
Disclaimer: Thank you to Penguin Group and Karen White 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.

Bookish Thoughts #72
© 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 Intros: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

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 pick this week is, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I accepted this book last year as a "possible" review book for 2013 and after seeing a lot of positive thoughts about it, I think I will read it for sure!!

Prologue
2007
When he emerges from the bathroom she is awake, propped up against the pillows and flicking through the travel brochures that were beside his bed. She is wearing one of his T-shirts, and her long hair is tousled in a way that prompts reflexive thoughts of the previous night. He stands there, enjoying the brief flashback, rubbing the water from his hair with a towel.

Would you continue reading this one

 based on the opening paragraph?

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.

January Host is : Lori's Reading Corner

These two ebooks came to my Kindle via St. Martins, Sourcebooks and NetGalley. I couldn't pass up the latest Darcy book and Katie Fforde was praised as a great Brit Chick Lit writer by a fave author Trisha Ashley so I wanted to check her out. Both of these look great to me!!!

• A Perfect Proposal
• The Passions of Dr. Darcy

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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 talked about last week:

Discussion about re-defining my reading and having fun this year!

The Shadowy Horses- another stellar book by Kearsley

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen- loved every single page!

Bookish Thoughts to share this week:

After the Rain by Karen White

Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins

In My Book Box:

Finished After the Rain, Somebody to Love