It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts 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.
Beginning: Chapter 1
North Harbor, Michigan
"Victor Carlston, don't you think it's wicked to sit here enjoying yourself while your dearest relative lies at death's door?"
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Page 56: "Monday ended before I realized it had begun. From the time I got up, I was on the run."
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My thoughts: This first book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series combines several of my favorite cozy series elements: authors, bookstores, and new beginnings. In this story, the author and bookstore owner are one in the same: Samantha Washington, a recent widow who is beginning a new phase in life by fulfilling her dream of opening a book store. The opening sentence of the first chapter is actually dialogue from the novel she is writing, creating a book within a book effect.
And . . . who could resist that cover?
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From Goodreads: The small town of
North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan is about to have a new
mystery bookstore. But before the first customer can browse its shelves,
the store’s owner is suspected of her own murder plot . . .
Samantha Washington has dreamed of owning her own mystery bookstore for as long as she can remember. And as she prepares for the store’s grand opening, she’s also realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and fills the shelves with the latest mysteries, quick-witted Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling's charms. When one of Daphne's suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor.
But as Samantha indulges her imagination, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in her backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of colorful retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?
Samantha Washington has dreamed of owning her own mystery bookstore for as long as she can remember. And as she prepares for the store’s grand opening, she’s also realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and fills the shelves with the latest mysteries, quick-witted Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling's charms. When one of Daphne's suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor.
But as Samantha indulges her imagination, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in her backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of colorful retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?
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This
Friday Focus post was originally written and published by Catherine for
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution.
Retweeting and sharing of this original post on Google+ are appreciated.
Cutest cover ever. Thanks for sharing. Today I'm featuring The Square and the Tower by Niall Ferguson.
ReplyDeleteLove the book within a book idea...and mysteries set in bookstores are a favorite, too. I also like the idea of the feisty grandmother and the enthusiastic retirees. Sounds like a good one. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is fun. "Monday ended before I realized it had begun" I can relate to that sentiment. Even better: "April ended before I realized it had begun."
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really good read! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I got to meet V.M. (Valerie) Burns at Malice Domestic recently. So sweet and I'm sharing my adventures there the week of May 14-18. And I was given a copy of the second book in the series which she signed for me. Can't wait to read them both. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been checking your blog waiting for your post from Malice Domestic. How great that you met Valerie and have her books! I tweeted this post and she tweeted back. I'll be part of the blog tour for her second book, so I have an eGalley waiting for me.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear all about your other adventures, Kay!
Cute cover. Having a mischievous dog, one of my first thoughts was of dogs trying to take whatever you are snacking on.
ReplyDeleteI've been to book stores that have cats...but never one with dogs...that would be nice.
I am finding I like cozy books...you just want to sit and read the WHOLE thing and it is easy to do so. :-)
The Plot is Murder sounds like a lot of fun, Catherine. :-) That cover really is irresistible. I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteOh I love a good cozy and this sounds fun! I've had days like that 56!
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