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

The Lost Art of Mixing- egalley courtesy of TLC Book Tours, publisher and NetGalley. I just started reading this one...hope I like it because I LOVED The School of Essential Ingredients.

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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:

Virgins- time could've been spent reading something much better!

Princess Elizabeth's Spy- have found a new series to love, can't get enough of Maggie Hope!

A Light in the Window- another great gentle read by a favorite author

Reviews and Bookish Thoughts this week:

Wednesday- Mr. Churchill's Secretary (Book 1 in the Maggie Hope series)

Friday- The Lost Art of Mixing (TLC Tour book)

In my Book Box:

Saturday Snapshot- Book Delights

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!)

During the summer Matt and I would run up to Traverse City just to explore and see what cool shops were in the Historic Downtown District. Imagine my delight when I noticed this used bookstore, Bookie Joint!! It was a readers paradise and I need to visit again...can never have enough books!!

Posted with Blogsy

Virgins- TLC Book Tour Review

What Virgins is about:
For the seniors at Immaculate Heart High, hormones jousted with the quest for the State of Grace, and the hormones usually won.  The Map of Forbidden Sexual Delights extended its boundaries nightly in the back seats of tail-finned cars. But the girls of Virgins also wanted more. Who could they grow up to be in a word where women were supposed to be seen, but not heard?  They were rebels with a cause, before their time.

When I read the premise of this book I have to admit that I thought it would be a great read because I generally like coming of age stories, note that I stated "generally." This story just did not grab me and even though I did like the main character, Peg, I realized that I'm just not the target market for this book. Now if my eighteen-year-old self had read this one then I think you would be reading an entirely different review! My younger self would have gobbled this book right up and loved every sex-thought filled moment.

Recommend? Um, not really. I had a hard time staying with this story and really caring about anything that was going on with the characters. I'm sure a younger reader, say ages 16-28, would appreciate this much more than I did.

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 #33
© 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.

Princess Elizabeth's Spy- TLC Book Tour + Giveaway

What Princess Elizabeth's Spy is about:
Maggie Hope, former secretary to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, completes her training to become a spy for MI-5. Spirited, strong-willed, and possessing one of the sharpest minds in government for mathematics and code-breaking, she fully expects to be sent abroad to gather intelligence for the British front. Instead, to her great disappointment, she is dispatched to go undercover at Windsor Castle, where she will tutor the young Princess Elizabeth in math. Yet castle life quickly proves more dangerous—and deadly—than Maggie ever expected. The upstairs-downstairs world at Windsor is thrown into disarray by a shocking murder, which draws Maggie into a vast conspiracy that places the entire royal family in peril. And as she races to save England from a most disturbing fate, Maggie realizes that a quick wit is her best defense, and that the smallest clues can unravel the biggest secrets, even within her own family.

I am once again hooked on historical fiction and it's all Susan Elia Macneal's fault! I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters, the setting, and the entire story was so much fun and it felt so realistic that I have conjured up actual images for each person in this book. Susan does a fantastic job of transporting the reader back in time to World War II. I enjoyed roaming around Windsor Castle and meeting the young Princess Elizabeth. So many of the books that I've read regarding WWII have taken place in Germany and centered upon the atrocities committed against the Jewish people. This book (series) gives the reader a peek into what life may have been like for the English, and an interesting view of Winston Churchill's office and the man himself. I am very intrigued by the spies from this era and the work that they did without the use of computers!! Susan's books have piqued my interest into Churchill, MI5, spies, Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth and life in England during the war.

Recommend? YES! I can't get enough of Maggie Hope and can't wait for book three to be released in 2013. For those that love a good mystery, smart and feisty heroines, and historical fiction, this is a winning series to pick up!

Giveaway

If you're from the US or Canada and would like the chance to win a copy of Princess Elizabeth's Spy, please leave a comment with your email address. Winner will be chosen Wednesday, October 31st. All entries due by 10/30/12 11:59 EST.

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 #32
© 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.

A Light in the Window- review and contest giveaway

What A Light in the Window is about:
Marceline Murphy is a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues. But when two of Boston's most notorious purse her, attraction, dreams and faith only muddle her mind. Can the light in the window illuminate the path of true love?

I have read the first two books in Julie Lessman's, Winds of Change series, and loved each one. So when Julie emailed me to see if I would consider reading her recent creation and spotlight it on my blog, I never once hesitated!! Julie's books are what I like to call 'gentle reads' and what she describes as inspirational romance. Yes, she writes about faith, God, and the Bible, but never in that preachy or over-the-top manner. She writes realistic characters who face dilemmas that normal people encounter every day. I loved Marcy and Patrick's story. I truly enjoy stories about second chances and the power of forgiveness!  It made me smile and laugh, and when I finished the last page I immediately wanted to read The Daughters of Boston series!

Recommend? Absolutely! And if you've never read any of Julie's books this one would be a perfect place to start!! She writes from the heart and you can't help but fall in love with her characters!

Bonus to my readers- Julie is hosting a fantastic giveaway so click on the link below!!

Contest Link

Disclaimer: Thank you to Julie  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 #31
© 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.

October Host is Marcia from Mailbox Monday

The Girl on the Cliff- review copy courtesy of Atria

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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:

Broken Harbor- OMG! Loved it and must read all of her books!

Reviews for this week:

A Light in the Window- author review request

Mr. Churchill's Secretary- Bookish Thoughts

Princess Elizabeth's Spy- TLC Tour Book (Wednesday)

Virgins- TLC Tour Book (Thursday)

In my Book Box:

Saturday Snapshot- Book Box!

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!)

I was getting groceries last Sunday and was leaving the parking lot when I noticed this amazing box in the corner of the lot!! How cool is this?? I will be dropping off quite a few books here in the weeks to come. I love this idea of sharing books with others and also the ease of getting them into United Way's hands!!!