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.

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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.