Saturday Snapshot- Rainbow

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 into town when I noticed this rainbow over a field. I had to stop and get a photo because the sky all around me was dark except for this little pocket of light which gave me the gift of the rainbow. The picture was taken with my phone camera. The only editing that I did was to use a focal color brush to highlight the rainbow and leave the rest black and white.

Instant Temptation- Bookish Thoughts #48

What Instant Temptation (Wilder #3) is about:
To Harley, the landscape around Wishful, California, is exhilarating, untamed, and more than a little dangerous. The same could be said for T.J. Wilder, who's invited himself along on her trek to study a rare coyote. Harley's career is riding on this trip, and she doesn't need a stubborn, incredibly sexy distraction. But T.J. is a professional guide who knows when to stay back and when to provide invaluable expertise-just like he's done since they were in high school. And Harley, as usual, is torn between throttling him and giving in to the raw attraction that's been smoldering all these years.


The Three Reasons Review is a simple way to get your thoughts out there about a book. The reasons are as follows complete with fancy button:

1.) Reasons you chose this book

Because as many of you know I have a thing for Jill's books. I don't care that I know who is going to fall in love right from the beginning or that I'm guaranteed a HEA. In fact, that's a huge part of the reason I read them!!

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book
I loved the location because the Sierra Mountains is a place I would love to visit. I thought that Harley's dream job of working with coyote packs in the wildnerness sounded like a very cool career. I also find myself drawn to the whole idea of owning a Wildnerness Tour company and having a job that put you in touch with Mother Nature every day. T.J. and Harley were characters who I liked and respected. They didn't rush right into the physical side of their relationship and I think that is one of the main reasons I enjoyed this one so much. The only thing that I didn't like is how Shalvis connects a man staring at a womam and then her "nipples" start to do their own song and dance. GAG! I am going to send her a personal email to please ask her to stop doing this. It annoys the hell out of me!

3.) Reasons you are recommending this book
If you love a great romance, awesome location, fun situations, hot men, and smart women, then give Shalvis a try!!

Source: Public Library

Bookish Thoughts #48
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 Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby- Review Book

What The Salt God's Daughter is about:

Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God's Daughter follows Ruthie and her sister, Dolly as they carve out a life in a place filled with natural beauty, meteorological myths, and exotic folklore. Raised by a mother drawn to the ocean and guided by the moons, their heritage is a mystery and their mother often absent, forcing the two girls to confront the social and sexual mores of the time on their own, caught in the riptide of a culture that alternately glorifies and demonizes female sexuality.

Well, I've been thinking about this review for over a week now and honestly, I still don't really know what to say about this book. There were parts that I enjoyed and other parts not so much. Ruthie and Dolly are two characters that pulled on my heart strings and I did feel for their plight and the crazy mother figure they had to endure!! But what I didn't really care for was the mystical aspect. At times it confused me and quite honestly, I wasn't entirely sure that it added that "unique" twist to the story. I never felt drawn to the story and I was able to easily walk away from it and not care whether I actually finished it or not. I think the best term for my thoughts on this one would be- ambivalent. I didn't really care one way or another. Now in all fairness I do want to put in writing that I am going through an emotional upheaval and was certainly feeling in the dumps when I read this one. I know that if I had been in a better frame of mind I might have a totally different opinion on this novel.

Recommend? I wouldn't run out and tell my friends that they had to read this one. But I also wouldn't discourage anyone from wanting to try it. Many book bloggers have loved the author's debut work (which I will try for sure) and they would probably enjoy this one too!

Source: SparkPoint Studio


Disclaimer: Thank you to Erin@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 #29
© 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.

October Host is Marcia from Mailbox Monday

I'm participating in the TLC Tour for Princess Elizabeth's Spy which is Book 2 in the Maggie Hope Mystery Series. TLC and the publishing company were kind enough to send book one, Mr. Churchill's Secretary, for those of us that wanted to start at the beginning! Don't you just love those covers???

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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: 

Nothing....but I did post about my reading slump!! LOL!

Bookish Thoughts I will be sharing this week: Yes, I really will post a few bookish thoughts!!

Instant Temptation- Bookish Thoughts and yes, it's another Shalvis book.

The Salt God's Daughter

In my Book Box:

Virgins

Buttercream Bump Off

Or whatever my tickle my fancy!

Saturday Snapshot- Royalty in the house!

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 night was Homecoming at Cros-Lex! The students, staff, and community had fun all week participating in Spirit events which eventually culminated in our Homecoming parade, the football game, and the crowning of the new 2012 King and Queen. Our football team easily took care of the competition, so we brought home another win for the Pioneers. During halftime the King and Queen were announced. On Thursday the high school student body voted and the winners were.......Marcus and his beautiful girlfriend Shelby!!!! It was a wonderful way to end the evening!!! 

Cros-Lex Homecoming King and Queen

Reading Slump of the Century!

I have never experienced a reading slump quite like the one that I'm currently in. It doesn't help that the last two review books I've read have been disappointing. I was really looking forward to one of the review book because I read the author's work a few years ago and loved it. I tried to get into this book but it just wasn't working for me. I spent days with it and couldn't get past page one hundred. Finally after a bit of soul searching I just emailed the publicist and stated that the book was not for me and that I would NOT be reviewing it, nor would I be spotlighting it on my blog. I apologized profusely and then clicked send. I never received a response. Oh well. The other book was one that many have loved on Goodreads and many of my blogging friends loved the author's debut work. As for me, I ended up feeling ambivalent about it. Not looking forward to that review!! I have read two books over the course of twenty-four days. Obviously something is off with me and with the books that I spent time reading.

It doesn't help that I'm starting to experience 'empty nest syndrome' and I don't like it one damn bit. This is my youngest son's Senior year and I'm honestly having a hard time with all of it. It's hard for me to accept that come this time next year Marc will be away at college and I will be home alone most of the time. No more football games, no more school plays, no more Prom or school dances, no more morning hugs goodbye and words of 'love you, Mom. Have a good day.' I recognize that I may be a "bit" depressed and I'm sure that is contributing to my overall slump in the reading area. I'm working hard on focusing on all the great things that do come with Senior Year and staying positive. I'm proud of the young man that Marc has become so I need to buck up and look forward to the next phase in both of our lives.

But there has been one positive out of all of this, and that is I've finally realized that I am tired of doing review books. I'm seriously burnt out with having to read on a schedule and have decided to throw the schedule out the window.....for real this time!! I have a few reviews left for the year and I'm okay with those. I even enjoy the TLC tours and the occasional author requests. So I'm going to continue to participate when opportunity arises, but with limitations. I have a TON of books on my Kindle to read, not to mention the crazy amount upstairs in my book room. I'm embracing the new freedom that comes with no expectations of my time,nor the fear of upsetting someone when I find that their book was just a 'meh' read. I'm in the beginning stages of planning 2013 and what I want that to look like in regards to my reading. I'm pretty sure that alone will get me excited about reading again and will draw me out of my slump.


If you've made it this far, I want to THANK YOU!
This will be the end of my pity party!!

Happy Reading,
Staci

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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 September host is: Kristen @ BookNAround 

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton- courtesy of Atria Galley Grab

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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: 

Another week where it took me forever to get through one  book. 

Bookish Thoughts I will be sharing this week:

Instant Temptation- Bookish Thoughts and yes, it's another Shalvis book.

The Salt God's Daughter

In my Book Box:

Glory in Death