Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #71

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.

Today I'm featuring:

  

All the President's Menus by Julie Hyzy

This is the eighth book in the delightful White House Chef Mystery series, which treats readers to an insider's view of what it's like to work in the White House kitchen.  Protocols, meal preparation, and event planning are dished up with a side of mayhem and recipes, leaving me waiting with bated breath for each new installment chronicling the latest adventures of executive chef Ollie Paras. 

Beginning: 

As executive chef at the White House, I was responsible for feeding the First Family and--whether they be friend or foe--all the home's guests.  I took my duties to heart, and was exceedingly proud of my team and the small part we played in shaping our country's history.

 

********************* 
Page 56 (of e-book): " 'I have to tell you, this situation makes me wonder.'  She fiddled with her fork without looking up.  'About where I'm going.' "

*********************   

Which book are you reading now or about to start?
 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #71 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.    

Waiting on Wednesday: The Bookseller

 

 

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.  Today I'm featuring The Bookseller, a debut novel from Cynthia Swanson.

  

Publisher:  HarperCollins Publishers

Publication Date:  March 3, 2015

From barnesandnoble.com:  A mesmerizingly powerful debut novel about the ways in which past choices can irrevocably define the present—and the bittersweet confrontation of what might have been

1962: It may be the Swinging Sixties in New York, but in Denver it's different: being a single gal over thirty in this city is almost bohemian. Still, thirty-eight-year-old Kitty Miller has come to terms with her unconventional single life. She was involved, once—with a doctor named Kevin—but when things didn't work out the way she had hoped, she decided to chart her own path. Now she dedicates herself to the bookstore she runs with her best friend, Frieda, returning home each evening to her cozy apartment. Without a husband expecting dinner, she can enjoy last-minute drinks after work with her friends; without children who need to get ready for school, she can stay up all night reading with her beloved cat, Aslan, by her side.

Then the dreams begin.

1963: Katharyn Andersson is married to Lars, the love of her life. They live in a picture-perfect home in a suburban area of Denver, close to their circle of friends. It's the ideal place in which to raise their children. Katharyn's world is exactly what Kitty once believed she wanted . . . but it exists only when she sleeps.

At first, Kitty enjoys her nighttime forays into this alternate world. Even though there is no Frieda, no bookstore, no other familiar face, Kitty becomes increasingly reluctant to open her eyes and abandon Katharyn's alluring life.

But with each visit to her dreamworld, it grows more real. As the lines between the two worlds begin to blur, Kitty faces an uncertain future. What price must she pay to stay? What is the cost of letting go?

 

Which book are you waiting for?

...Will you add this one to your list of must-reads?

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

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #95

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . .

                                                      

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

Today I'm featuring the opening from a book I borrowed from the library . . .

 

The Body in the Transept by Jeanne M. Dams 

 1

I was struggling against more than wind and rain that night as I battled through the Cathedral Close, but I blamed my mood on the weather.  This was not my idea of a proper English Christmas.  The air ought to shiver in a frosty stillness broken only by church bells chiming with the peculiar clarity of sound carried on intensely cold air.  The sweet piping of young carolers should catch at the throat.  My mind's eye costumed the carolers in crinolines and fur muffs, greatcoats and stovepipe hats, and set them beside a gas streetlamp, gently falling snow sparkling in the soft amber light . . .

As I wandered happily in my nineteenth-century fantasy, I slipped on a wet, irregular paving stone and was rudely returned to reality.  There were bells, to be sure, pealing away in cheerful discord.  But the path was lit (more or less) by electricity, faint diesel fumes perfumed the air, and neat black-and-white plastic signs pointed my way.  Not even the great medieval cathedral, looming out of the stinging rain, could transcend the twentieth century entirely; she wore an ugly modern veil of scaffolding over part of her ancient, crumbling face. 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?  

 

What are you reading now or planning to read soon?

 

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #95 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

 

Weekly Book Recap #99

One more day closer to Spring . . . every day moves me closer to Spring.  Keeping this thought in mind helps me cope with closing out another week of winter, one that broke a record for cold temperatures and brought another small snowstorm.

On the bright side, it was a good time for reading.  I'll be closing out the week by watching the Academy Awards.  Once again I'll be recording Downton Abbey for later viewing.

This past week's posts:
Tuesday:  First Chapter Intro
Wednesday:   Waiting on . . .
Thursday:  Recent Reads
Friday:  Friday 56 & Book Beginning

Now, the latest book recap, which is being shared on these blogs:
           
                              
                          Week of February 15 -21, 2015

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 Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh
Part coming of age story and part murder mystery, Lucy's investigation into the disappearance of a classmate uncovers one family's shameful past and the town's dark secrets.  Who will survive these revelations as a tornado bears down on the small Ozark town of Henbane?

As the plot unfolds, readers piece together the mysteries of the past and their impact on current events in this well-paced page turner.  The Weight of Blood explores the dark side of human nature, the price of silence, how far people go to protect loved ones or personal interests, the definition of family, and the resilience of the human spirit.  

 

The Three-Day Affair  by Michael Kardos
A weekend getaway goes horribly awry for four college buddies who have been reuniting annually for a weekend of golf since their graduation from Princeton University. As their weekend in suburban New Jersey begins, the unexpected and drastic actions of one brings life-altering consequences for all. 

As the story unfolds, readers come to realize that nothing is quite as it seems, as the men's past grudges, secrets, rivalries, and betrayals are revealed in a series of plot twists.  Once thick as thieves, they must come to terms with their past behavior as each hurtles toward an uncertain future.  The Three-Day Affair explores the nature of friendship, the consequences of youthful missteps, and the lengths to which some are willing to go for personal gain and to settle past grievances.  

 

Listening to . . .

   Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford 

Enjoying this family saga, but I only listen when I'm in the car, which is not so often these days.  I've been limiting driving because of the weather.

Reading now . . .

                                       

All The President's Menus by Julie Hyzy; The Body in the Transept by Jeanne M. Dams

Downloaded . . .

         

Auld Acquaintance by Ruth Hay, Whiplash River by Lou Berney, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

 

Borrowed from the library . . . a bunch of holds came in . . . 

                  

                 

                                

First row: The Body in the Transept by Jeanne M. Dams, Grantchester: Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie, Wife-in-Law by Haywood Smith 

Second row: Fiercombe Manor by Kate Riordan, Of Irish Blood by Mary Pat Kelly, Searching for Grace Kelly by Michael Callahan 

Third row: Wildalone by Krassi Zourkova, Amherst by William Nicholson

What did you read this week?  

. . . What did you add to your shelves or wish list?  

. . . . . . What are you reading next?

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Weekly Book Recap #99 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #70

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.

Today I'm featuring:

 

   

The Grantchester Mysteries #1 

Have you watched the Grantchester series on PBS Masterpiece?  The television program was adapted from the books written by James Runcie.  Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death is the first book in the series.

Beginning:  The Shadow of Death

Canon Sidney Chambers had never intended to become a detective.  Indeed, it came about quite by chance, after a funeral, when a handsome woman of indeterminate age voiced her suspicion that the recent death of a Cambridge solicitor was not suicide, as had been widely reported, but murder.

 

********************* 
Page 56: "He returned home, poured himself the smallest of Johnnie Walker's against the chill of the night, and looked at Stephen Staunton's suicide note once more.  Then, as the whisky took care of his anxieties, the beginnings of an idea started to emerge."

*********************   

Which book are you reading now or about to start?
 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #70 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.    

Thursday Thoughts: Recent Reads

 

     *********************************************************
Today I'm sharing my thoughts on two books I recently read, both suspense novels from very talented authors who seamlessly blend past and present story lines to deliver first-rate reads.  In my opinion, they offer a perfect antidote for the winter blues, and I highly recommend them.
     *********************************************************

Waiting on Wednesday: New Lisa Genova Novel

 

 

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.  Today I'm featuring Inside the O'Briens, the soon to be released novel from Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice.

 

Publisher:  Gallery Books

Publication Date:   April 7, 2015

From barnesandnoble.com: From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova comes a powerful new novel that does for Huntington’s Disease what her debut Still Alice did for Alzheimer’s.

Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease.

Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing?

As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate.

Praised for writing that “explores the resilience of the human spirit” (The San Francisco Chronicle), Lisa Genova has once again delivered a novel as powerful and unforgettable as the human insights at its core.

Which book are you waiting for?

...Will you add this one to your list of must-reads?

Waiting on Wednesday: New Lisa Genova Novel was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #94

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . .

                                                      

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

Today I'm featuring the opening from a book I borrowed from the library . . .

The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh

Reader's Advisory: The opening paragraph of the novel is graphic and gory.

Chapter 1

Lucy

That Cheri Stoddard was found at all was the thing that set people on edge, even more so than the condition of her body.  One Saturday in March, fog crept through the river valley and froze overnight.  The morning sun crackled over a ghostly landscape across the road from my uncle's general store, the burr oaks that leaned out over the banks of the North Fork River crystallized with a thick crust of hoarfrost.  The tree nearest the road was dead, half-hollow, and it leaned farther than the rest, balanced at a precarious angle above the water.  A trio of vultures roosted in the branches, according to Buddy Snell, a photographer for the Ozark County Record.  Buddy snapped pictures of the tree, the stark contrast of black birds on white branches, for lack of anything better to print on the front page of the paper.  It was eerie, he said.  Haunting, almost.  He moved closer, kneeling at the water's edge to get a more interesting angle, and that was when he spied the long brown braid drifting in the shallows, barely visible among the stones.  Then he saw Cheri's head, snagged on a piece of driftwood; her freckled face, abbreviated nose, eyes spaced too wide to be pretty.  Stuffed into the hollow of the tree were the rest of Cheri's pieces, her skin etched with burns and amateur tattoos.  Her flesh was unmarked when she disappeared, and I wondered if those new scars could explain what had happened to her, if they formed a cryptic map of the time she'd spent missing.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?  

 

What are you reading now or planning to read soon?

 

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #94 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

 

Weekly Book Recap #98

Waiting for more snow . . . that seems to be the theme for winter 2015.  Even though we've only gotten a few inches with each weekly storm, the ice and fallen snow linger on because of the bone-chilling temperatures.  I do feel a bit guilty about complaining whenever I think about how much more snowier it is in Boston.  Never mind . . .that quickly puts things in perspective. 

Hope you all are having an enjoyable Valentine's Day weekend . . .  I'm looking forward to wrapping it up with the SNL anniversary special.  Once again I'll be recording Downton Abbey for later viewing.

This past week's posts:
Tuesday:  First Chapter Intro
Wednesday:   Waiting on . . .
Thursday:  Blog Tour
Friday:  Friday 56 & Book Beginning

The latest book recap, which is being shared on these blogs:
 
    Week of February 8 -14, 2015

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 . . .

      A Killer Retreat by Tracy Weber: my review 

 

Listening to . . .

   Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford 

 

Reading now . . .

                                     

All The President's Menus by Julie Hyzy; The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh

 

Downloaded . . .

   A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Although I read this book many years ago (as well as others in the Emma Harte saga), I couldn't resist downloading it as a Kindle freebie.  This book made BTB one of my all-time favorite authors.  I still remember the characters Emma and Blackie, and their fierce loyalty to one another.

  A Bouquet from M.J. Rose

I'm a fan of this author's Reincarnationist series, and have always wanted to read the series in this bundle.  I couldn't resist the Kindle special deal of 6 novels and a short story collection for $2.99.

Borrowed from the library . . .

                                    

Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher; The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston

What did you read this week?  

. . . What did you add to your shelves or wish list?  

. . . . . . What are you reading next?

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Weekly Book Recap #98 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #69

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.

Today I'm featuring:

 

 

A Killer Retreat 

I finished this delightful cozy mystery this week for a blog tour.  You can read my review here.

Beginning:  One

"This is bad, Michael.  She's not responding.  I think she might be dead."

 

********************* 
Page 56: "I paused, searching for something--anything--truthful to say that wouldn't hurt my friend's feelings.  I considered fibbing, but lying would go against satya--yoga's principle of truthfulness."

*********************   

Which book are you reading now or about to start?
 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #69 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.    

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts: PICT Blog Tour Book Review: A Killer Retreat

 

Today I'm participating in the Partners in Crime blog tour of A Killer Retreat by Tracy Weber . . .

Series:  A Downward Dog Mystery (Book 2)
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Midnight Ink
Publication Date: Jan 8, 2015  

Number of Pages:  319

ISBN:  978-0738742090

Purchase Links:  
Amazon
Barnes & Noble 
Goodreads 

Synopsis . . . When Kate Davidson gets an offer to teach yoga classes to wedding guests at the Elysian Springs resort, she jumps at the opportunity, even though it means being forced to endure the wedding ceremony of the center's two caretakers. Avoiding the M-word turns out to be the least of Kate's problems when a wedding guest is found floating face-down in the resort's hot tub, shortly after a loud, public (and somewhat embarrassing) fight with Kate.

The police pick Kate as their number-one suspect, so she's forced to team up with boyfriend Michael, best friend Rene, and German shepherd sidekick Bella to find the real killer.  They'll have to solve the murder before the police arrest Kate, or her next gig may last a lifetime--behind bars.

My Review . . . This second installment of the Downward Dog series takes Kate away from her Seattle yoga studio for a 10-day working vacation at Elysian Springs, an eco-friendly resort on beautiful Orcas Island.  Accompanying Kate on this adventure are Bella the German shepherd, who is now a permanent resident of her household,  Kate's boyfriend Michael, best friend Rene, and Rene's husband Sam.

Kate's experience is anything but Zen-like as she interacts with spa staff and the group of wedding guests, and it isn't long before Kate publicly loses her patience with Monica, the bride-to-be's obnoxious stepmother.  Although almost everyone on the island has reason to despise Monica and do her harm, Kate becomes the prime murder suspect when Monica's lifeless body is found floating in a hot tub. 

Adding to Kate's stress level is Rene's odd behavior, which is causing rifts in their friendship and in Rene's marriage, along with the accelerated pace of Kate's romance with Michael.  As she works to clear her name and unmask the real killer, Kate struggles to resolve other issues that threaten her inner serenity.  Can she uncover what is causing Rene's distress and negatively affecting her marriage?  And, will "serial dumper" Kate find a way to keep her relationship with Michael on an even keel?

Secrets and hidden agendas unravel in this well-crafted tale filled with memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a satisfying conclusion.  Weber has delivered an appealing series with a bright future.

Disclaimer . . . I was given a copy of A Killer Retreat in exchange for an honest review.

Click here to read my review of Murder Strikes a Pose, the first book in the Downward Dog series.


About the Author . . . Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series featuring yoga teacher Kate and her feisty German shepherd, Bella.  She is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and Sisters in Crime.  

Tracy and her husband live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha.  She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible.  When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house.

Visit Tracy at: Website, Twitter, Facebook

 

Thursday Thoughts: PICT Blog Tour Book Review: A Killer Retreat was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.