Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #30

It's Friday . . . time to share excerpts from one of my current reads with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

This week's selection:

   

Beginning:  Winter 1263

Near the shadow of the castle, deep in the green woods, Sorcha led her children through the gloom toward home.  The two youngest rode the sturdy pony, with Teagan, barely three, nodding with every plod.  Weary, Sorcha thought, after the excitement of Imbolg, the bonfires, and the feasting.

 

My thoughts:  Who is this family?  Where are the going?   Bloggers have had mixed reactions to Dark Witch, but I've waited so long to get a copy from the library that I still want to read it.

--------------------

Page 56*:   "Now, go pack your things, your clothes, blankets.  You'll take the sword, the dagger, all the coin, the jewels my granny left me.  All that she left me.  All, Brannaugh.  Leave nothing of value."

 

*Large print edition

 

From barnesandnoble.com:   First in the all-new Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy . . .

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.

Ireland.

County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.

When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive.…

Enjoy life with books . . .

 

Catherine

 

Enter the Picking Lemons Ebook Giveaway.  Contest ends on February 7, 2014.

 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #30 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.   

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Picking Lemons by JT Toman

I'm excited to participate in the Picking Lemons Blog Tour.  In this post you will find book and author information, my review, and a GIVEAWAY.

About the Book . . .

Picking Lemons by JT Toman

Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (October 2, 2013)
Paperback: 194 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1939816221
E-Book File Size: 1384 KB
ASIN: B00GF4ZZA0

 

Synopsis
Economic theories can predict many things – just not the death of a renowned Economics professor. When Professor Edmund DeBeyer is found dead in his office, strangled to death by his own Ph.D. hood, the police don’t have to look further than his colleagues in the Economics Department for suspects. After all, Edmund was the most despised member of the department. C.J. Whitmore, the department’s only tenured female, (who also has a penchant for wearing pink cowboy boots to class) resolves to get to the bottom of the mystery using economic principles. Comparing tracking down murder suspects to selecting a used car, she attempts to discern the real deals from the “lemons.” That is, which suspects are really telling the truth and which are lying to protect their guilt. Will C.J. be able to pick the lemon before her clever adversary strikes again?

My Review . . .

Eaton University is a typical Ivy League school, a community of aspiring students and self-absorbed faculty where competition, pettiness, and one-upmanship are common practice. Murder, however, is way beyond the norm.  Thus, when distinguished professor Edmund DeBeyer is found strangled to death in his office on the first day of the fall semester, the entire Economics Department is thrown into a tizzy.  It’s no secret that DeBeyer was detested by his co-workers for his despicable, backstabbing ways.  And in a department full of suspects with strong motives and shaky alibis, several professors become persons of interest.  One is quickly arrested, and yet another confesses to the crime.  But when a second professor is found murdered on campus, it is apparent that the real killer is still at large.

As the police investigation drags on, one faculty member begins to connect the dots.  C.J. Whitmore, the department’s only female tenured professor, applies her research skills and knowledge of economic theory to analyze the “data” and solve the crimes.  In her own inimitable style, this sassy, outspoken transplanted Texan who favors pink cowboy boots and flashy clothing unravels the secrets behind the suspicious behavior of her colleagues and discovers the truth.  In true academic fashion, C.J. delivers her findings in a departmental seminar.  

Picking Lemons is a highly entertaining, rapidly-paced whodunnit peppered with snappy dialogue, witty sarcasm, and over-the-top characters.  Besides poking fun at the foibles of academia, author JT Toman introduces a colorful, spunky protagonist who is a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre.  This series is off to a spectacular start, and I eagerly await Professor C.J. Whitmore’s further adventures.

Note:  I received an ebook copy of Picking Lemons from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author . . .

J.T. Toman lives in Boulder, Colorado. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Yale University and has taught econometrics at the University of Sydney and the University of Colorado at Boulder. She also has a degree in zookeeping from Pikes Peak Community College and has cared for everything from butterflies to elephants. She now teaches math at Front Range Community College, and truly believes fractions are useful in everyday life.

In her spare time, J.T. Toman joins the rest of Colorado hiking, biking and skiing. However, much like her cats, she finds food more inspiring than scenery. J.T. particularly loves home-grown tomatoes, udon noodles and tall glasses of chocolate milk, but not at the same time.

Picking Lemons is her first novel.

Visit the author's website at http://jttomanauthor.com/

Purchase Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble 

The Giveaway . . .

I am giving away 1 ebook copy of Picking Lemons courtesy of Escape With Dollycas.  To enter for a chance to win an ebook copy of Picking Lemons, here's all you need to do:
1.  Leave a comment with your contact information
2.  You can earn an additional entry if you:

• are already a follower or start following this blog
• tweet about this giveaway
• post about this giveaway

Giveaway Terms and Conditions: No purchase required to enter this giveaway. It is open INTERNATIONALLY to anyone over the age of 18. No cash alternative will be offered. Giveaway entry begins on January 30, 2014 and closes at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 7, 2014. There is no cost to enter this giveaway.

 Picking Lemons Tour Participants

January 26 - Kelly P's Blog - Interview

January 27 - Queen of All She Reads - Review

January 28 - Books-n-Kisses - Review

January 29 - readalot blog – Review

January 29 - StoreyBook Reviews - Review

January 30 - Book Club Librarian - Review

January 31 - Books Are Life - Vita Libri - Review

February 1 - rantin' ravin' and reading – Review - Interview

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway:  Picking Lemons by JT Toman was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.
  


FTC Disclaimer:  Unless otherwise noted, the statements and opinions expressed in reviews and posts on this blog are those of Book Club Librarian. Authors, publishers, and tour guides are welcome to contact me and/or send an ARC or finished copy of a book in exchange for an honest review. All reviews will mention the material source. Opinions shared by others in comments may not reflect my own views, and I reserve the right to moderate comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: New Mary Higgins Clark

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature of the Breaking the Spine blog.  It's a great way to share information about forthcoming books with other readers.
 

 This week's anticipated book:

   

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: April 1, 2014

  Preorder from online and books and mortar bookstores

 

From barnesandnoble.com: In this suspenseful novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark, a Manhattan ER doctor is brazenly murdered in front of his young son in a city playground. Five years later, his killer is still at large.

Meanwhile his widow, Laurie Moran, is now an award-winning TV producer. Still haunted by her husband’s murder, she has been raising their son alone. Laurie and her TV crew have just received the green light to produce a new “cold case” series. Revisiting unsolved crimes one at a time, she and her TV crew will gather a victim’s friends and family, who have lived under suspicion of guilt for many years. By getting paid to reenact the crime on TV, each will have the chance to clear their name—unless, of course, someone is guilty… The first case centers on the murder of a wealthy Westchester matron, who was killed overnight while her college-aged daughter and her three best friends were having a sleepover following their celebratory graduation party… Now grown, the four women reunite to re-create the scene of the crime…

From the reigning “Queen of Suspense” comes a fascinating mystery that once again demonstrates a true mastery of the craft that has made her books international bestsellers. Fast-paced, exciting, and expertly plotted, I’ve Got You Under My Skin is Mary Higgins Clark at her best.

Which book are you waiting for?
 

Enjoy life with books . . .
 

Catherine
 

Waiting on Wednesday: New Mary Higgins Clark was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.  

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #47

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea. It's an opportunity to share the first paragraph(s) of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

Today I'm featuring the opening paragraph from My Beloved World by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, which I borrowed from the library.

   

My Beloved World 

Prologue

I was barely awake, and my mother was already screaming.  I knew Papi would start yelling in a second.  That much was routine, but the substance of their argument was new, and it etched that morning in my memory.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

I don't read many nonfiction titles, but I am looking forward to starting this one for a book club meeting next month.  Justice Sotomayor is a role model and inspiration, who I am interested in knowing more about.

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #47 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Sunday's Weekly Book Recap #51

This has been a cold, snowy week, with two storms that amounted to over a foot of white stuff on the ground and temperatures well below freezing.  Although I like the extra reading time that staying indoors provides, it feels like winter is dragging on to an uncomfortable extreme and I am ready for spring!

Here's my weekly recap, which I am sharing on the following blogs:
  

 Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  

Showcase Sunday hosted by Vicky at  Books, Biscuits, and Tea
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted  by Sheila at Book Journey

  

Finished reading . . .

  The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

An engrossing read with a cast of unforgettable characters. This story, which illustrates that it is never too late to discover unknown talents and find one's true self, has snappy dialogue, many humorous and sad moments, and enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. Flagg includes a history lesson about the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in WWII as a bonus to this delightful novel.

  This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

This is a poignant young adult novel that touches upon bullying, self identity and self esteem, friendship, and family relationships.  I highly recommend it to teens and those who have a teen in their life.

Currently reading . . .

  Picking Lemons by J.T. Toman

*****Check back for my review on Thursday, January 30th***** 
 

Borrowed from the library . . .

                    

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts; Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass 

 

Which books did you get this week?
   

Catherine

Sunday's Weekly Book Recap #51 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.

 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #29

It's Friday . . . time to share excerpts from one of my current reads with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

This week's selection:

   

Beginning:  YOU THINK IT'S SO EASY TO CHANGE YOURSELF.

You think it's easy, but it's not.

 

My thoughts:  Who is the narrator?  Why does she feel the need to change? 

--------------------

Page 56:   "At midnight, I laced up my sneakers and headed out, retracing my steps from the night before.  Following my path back to Start."

 

From barnesandnoble.com:   Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, Leila Sales'  THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

Enjoy life with books . . .

 

Catherine

 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #29 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.   

Thursday Thoughts: Reading Challenges 2014

After a considerable amount of thought, I've decided to give reading challenges another try this year.  I wasn't satisfied with my challenge results last year because I didn't meet all of the goals I set for myself in 2013. However, since I started 2014 off at a good reading pace, I am going to take the plunge again.

Reading challenges are fun.  They're also a good way to stay motivated and interact with other bloggers.  Whether committing to reading certain types of books or authors, challenges help set the pace and keep things interesting.  It's rewarding even when you only complete a few.

Here are the three challenges I am participating in:

Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2014 hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews . . . 

    

 My Challenge:  Level 2 - Investigator - 7-12 cozy mystery books

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge hosted by Book Dragon's Lair 

   

My Challenge:  Chapter Book Level - 12 books from the library

 2014 Women Book Challenge hosted by Peek A Book!

 

My Challenge: Level 4 - Wonder Woman - 20+ books by women authors

The four books I've already read this year have me off to a good start for two of these reading challenges.

  

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge -- 2/12:

                                     

Women Challenge -- 3/20+ :

                              

How about you?  Have you signed by for any 2014 reading challenges? 

Catherine

Reading Challenges 2014 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Waiting on Wednesday: Veil of Time

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature of the Breaking the Spine blog.  It's a great way to share information about forthcoming books with other readers.

 

 This week's anticipated book:

 

 Publisher: Gallery Books 

Publication date: March 11, 2014

  Preorder from online and books and mortar bookstores

 

From barnesandnoble.com:   A compelling tale of two Scotlands—one modern, one ancient—and the woman who parts the veil between them. 

 

The medication that treats Maggie’s seizures leaves her in a haze, but it can’t dull her grief at losing her daughter to the same condition. With her marriage dissolved and her son away at school, Maggie retreats to a cottage below the ruins of Dunadd, once the royal seat of Scotland. But is it fantasy or reality when she awakens in a bustling village within the massive walls of eighth-century Dunadd? In a time and place so strange yet somehow familiar, Maggie is drawn to the striking, somber Fergus, brother of the king and father of Illa, who bears a keen resemblance to Maggie’s late daughter. With each dreamlike journey to the past, Maggie grows closer to Fergus and embraces the possibility of staying in this Dunadd. But with present-day demands calling her back, can Maggie leave behind the Scottish prince who dubs her mo chridhe, my heart?

Which book are you waiting for?

 

Enjoy life with books . . .

 

Catherine

 

Waiting on Wednesday: Veil of Time was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.  

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #46

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea. It's an opportunity to share the first paragraph(s) of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

Today I'm featuring the opening paragraph from The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg, which I borrowed from the library.

     

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion  

PULASKI, WISCONSIN

June 28, 2010

A few years ago, if someone had told me that

I would be at this reunion today,

I wouldn't have believed them in

a million years. . . . And yet, here I am!

-Mrs. Earle Poole, Jr.

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

Fannie Flagg is a fabulous storyteller.  Her genuine characters and humorous plots draw readers in immediately and make you feel like you're part of the family.  I'm three-quarters of the way through this novel and enjoying every minute of it.

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #46 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Sunday's Weekly Book Recap #50

This has been a busy book discussion week, with meetings on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  I belong to 5 different book clubs that meet monthly, but this is the first time I've had a week with meetings on 3 consecutive days.  Hope this is just a fluke rather than a trend!

Here's my weekly recap, which I am sharing on the following blogs:

  

 Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  

Showcase Sunday hosted by Vicky at  Books, Biscuits, and Tea

  

Finished reading . . .

     

The Master by Colm Toibin; The Orphan Master by Jean Zimmerman

Both are historical fiction.  The Master is about the life of novelist Henry James, with a focus on his adult years spent in England.  The Orphan Master is a glimpse at life in 1660s New Amsterdam, rich in multicultural detail.

 

Currently reading . . .

  The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

 

Borrowed from the library . . .

  This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

 

Which books did you get this week?
   

Catherine

Sunday's Weekly Book Recap #50 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.

 

  

 

 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #28

It's Friday . . . time to share excerpts from one of my current reads with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

This week's selection:

 

 

Beginning:  Prologue  October 8, 1663

On the same day, two murders.

 

My thoughts:  An attention-grabbing opening for sure.  Who has been killed?  Why?  Who is the murderer?  

--------------------

Page 56:  "In his workshed now, Drummond moved on to his prize, the perspective tube he had recently purchased in London.  Safe in its nest of wood shavings and hay, the two-yard-long instrument made Drummond shiver with anticipation."

--------------------

From barnesandnoble.com:  From a debut novelist, a gripping historical thriller and rousing love story set in seventeenth-century Manhattan.

It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond.

Suspects abound, including the governor’s wealthy nephew, a green-eyed aristocrat with decadent tastes; an Algonquin trapper who may be possessed by a demon that turns people into cannibals; and the colony’s own corrupt and conflicted orphanmaster. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, however, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony.

Jean Zimmerman brings New Amsterdam and its surrounding wilderness alive for modern-day readers with exacting period detail. Lively, fast paced, and full of colorful characters, The Orphanmaster is a dramatic page-turner that will appeal to fans of Hilary Mantel and Geraldine Brooks.

 

Enjoy life with books . . .

 

Catherine

 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #28 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.   

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #45

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea. It's an opportunity to share the first paragraph(s) of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

This week I'm featuring the opening paragraph from Picking Lemons: A C.J. Whitmore Mystery by J.T. Toman, which was gifted to me by the author for an upcoming blog tour organized by Escape With Dollycas.  My review will be posted on January 30th.

 

 Picking Lemons  

Monday

When people looked at Edmund DeBeyer, they saw the remnants of a handsome, affable man.  At just over six feet with unruly, black hair and intense, blue eyes, Edmund DeBeyer had been considered the most eligible bachelor in the Ivy league when a student.  The young Edmund had started a promising career in pre-med, with the idea of curing cancer or vaccinating the poor in Africa.  But with a quick analysis of the hours worked to dollars earned ratio, he became an economics major instead.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

I love novels about faculty and colleges, so when I had the opportunity to sign on for a blog tour of this book, I jumped at the chance.  Based on the first paragraph, there are interesting characters in store.

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #45 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Sunday's Weekly Book Recap #49

We're enjoying a much-needed respite from winter at the moment.  After temperatures in the single digits with wind chills below zero earlier this week, the weekend is downright balmy.  Despite the fact that it's been raining cats and dogs, the current temperature of 58 degrees is delightful.  Finally, some days without layer upon layer of clothing.

Lots of books have been coming my way since the start of the new year.  Here are the latest, which I am sharing on the following blogs:

  

 Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  

Showcase Sunday hosted by Vicky at  Books, Biscuits, and Tea

  

Finished reading . . .

  The Book of Eve by Constance Beresford-Howe

Set in Montreal, this novel is an interesting reflection on an older woman's life and marriage after she abruptly leaves her husband and home. 

  

I was rooting for Eva Carroll, the novel's protagonist, hoping she would finally create the life she wanted. As I read on, however, I found myself baffled by some of her choices. The story is a poignant reminder that life and relationships are complex and messy, and that even when one gets what she wants--or what she thinks she wants--it is no guarantee of happiness. 
  
Currently reading . . .

    The Master, Colm Toibin's fictional account of writer Henry James's life in Europe, which I borrowed from the library.

  
From Picador Books and The New Yorker Book Talk . . .

   The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal

  
Ebooks downloaded . . .

               

Nook:  Leave No Stone Unturned by Jeanne Glidewell; Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. Kindle:  War Brides by Helen Bryan

Which books did you get this week?
   

Catherine

Sunday's Weekly Book Recap #49 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.