“But the not-very-highbrow truth of the matter was that the reading was how I got my ya-yas out.For the sake of my bookish reputation I upgraded to Tolstoy and Steinbeck before I understood them, but my dark secret was that really, I preferred the junk. The Dragonriders of Pern, Flowers in the Attic, The Clan of the Cave Bear. This stuff was like my stash of Playboys under the mattress.”

“The truth is that I hate to think about other people reading my books," Miranda said. "It's like watching someone go through the box of private stuff that I keep under my bed.”

“I keep odd hours. I keep them stuffed under my mattress.”

“I gave the Rayna back the phone and shook my head. "Ben and I are like brother and sister. That's gross.""Hey, I read Flowers in the Attic. It was kind of hot.”

“They were gone and I missed them but even so I was very happy. For the rest of my life no matter where on this planet earth I went and no matter how scared or confused I got, I could wait until dark and look up into the night sky and see my three friends again and my heart would swell with love of them and make me strong and clearheaded.”

“Ayla should have been the son of my mate." Brun to Broud, Clan of the Cave Bear.”