Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings

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.

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read,  The Confession by Jo Spain.  The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.

 

Beginning: Prologue
Present day, 2012

It's the first spray of my husband's blood hitting the television screen that will haunt me in the weeks to come - a perfect diagonal splash, each droplet descending like a vivid red tear.

 

Part One

Julie

When I first met Harry, he told me he worked in finance.

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Page 56:  Even then, I think I'd already accepted that Harry could be manipulative.

I was so crazy about him, I just didn't care.

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My thoughts:  Psychological thrillers are one of my favorite genres, and this one sounds like a really outstanding one.

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From Goodreads:  Late one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear.

Just an hour later the attacker, JP Carney, has handed himself in to the police. He confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn't know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, the detectives cannot help wondering, was this really a random act of violence or is it linked to one of Harry's many sins: corruption, greed, betrayal?

This gripping psychological thriller will have you questioning, who - of Harry, Julie and JP - is really the guilty one? And is Carney's surrender driven by a guilty conscience or is his confession a calculated move in a deadly game?

Thursday Thoughts ~ Books from the Backlog

Happy Thursday . . .  aka, Happy Almost Friday!!

It's time for Books from the Backlog, hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books.  It's a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks . . . or on your eReader.

 

This week's neglected book is . . . 

 

Release Date:  September 25, 2014

Publisher:  Atria/Emily Bestler Books

From Goodreads:   When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

Why I selected it:  The plot seems as though it was ripped from the headlines—stalking and using information from social media for dark purposes.

This Thursday Thoughts ~ Books from the Backlog post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter, Google+ and/or other blogs with appropriate recognition is appreciated. 

Can't Wait Wednesday

  

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tessa at Wishful Endings which spotlights and discusses forthcoming books that bloggers are looking forward to reading. Generally it's about books that haven't been released yet. This meme is based on Waiting on Wednesday, formerly hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

There are so many exciting new books on the horizon, so without further ado, this week's Can't Wait For book is . . . 

 

Release Date:  December 4, 2018

Publisher:  HarperCollilns Publishers

From Goodreads:   An evocative and wildly absorbing novel about the Winters, a family living in New York City’s famed Dakota apartment building in the year leading up to John Lennon’s assassination.

It’s the fall of 1979 in New York City when twenty-three-year-old Anton Winter, back from the Peace Corps and on the mend from a nasty bout of malaria, returns to his childhood home in the Dakota. Anton’s father, the famous late-night host Buddy Winter, is there to greet him, himself recovering from a breakdown. Before long, Anton is swept up in an effort to reignite Buddy’s stalled career, a mission that takes him from the gritty streets of New York, to the slopes of the Lake Placid Olympics, to the Hollywood Hills, to the blue waters of the Bermuda Triangle, and brings him into close quarters with the likes of Johnny Carson, Ted and Joan Kennedy, and a seagoing John Lennon.

But the more Anton finds himself enmeshed in his father’s professional and spiritual reinvention, the more he questions his own path, and fissures in the Winter family begin to threaten their close bond. By turns hilarious and poignant, The Dakota Winters is a family saga, a page-turning social novel, and a tale of a critical moment in the history of New York City and the country at large.

My thoughts:  As a native New Yorker, I am naturally drawn to stories set in Manhattan, where I was born.  The added elements of an iconic city landmark building and cameos by famous people make this required reading for me.  And the wait isn't that long, yay!

This Can't Wait Wednesday post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter, Google+ and/or other blogs with appropriate recognition is appreciated.

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

                                                      

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.  

Today I'm featuring a current read, Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan.  The excerpt shared is from the eBook copy I borrowed from the library.  

 

Part One

The Shore

Chapter One

They'd driven all the way to Mr. Styles's house before Anna realized that her father was nervous. First the ride had distracted her, sailing along Ocean Parkway as if they were  headed for Coney Island, although it was four days past Christmas and impossibly cold for the beach.  Then the house itself: a palace of golden brick three stories high, windows all the way around, a rowdy flapping of green-and-yellow-striped awnings.  It was the last house on the street, which dead-ended at the sea.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

I am reading this novel for an upcoming book club meeting.  The opening scene piqued my curiosity:  a father and daughter out for a drive.  Who is Mr. Styles, and why is the father nervous?  I'm about half-way through the book now, and I'm thoroughly engaged, enjoying the story and its look at people from different backgrounds.  The historical setting and interesting characters are sure to spark a lively book club discussion.

This First Chapter ~ First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter, Google+ and/or other blogs with appropriate recognition is appreciated.

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings

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.

Today I'm featuring The Gold Pawn by L.A. Chandlar, which I read for a recent blog tour.  The excerpts shared are from an eBook I received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Beginning:  Chapter 1
The images twirled and flashed like they always did.  Red mittens, a blue scarf, my laughing parents.  This time the dream skipped over the detailed parts that were the most fear-filled, as if my subconscious had much work to do and needed to get down to business.

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56% of eBook: "Secret . . . what?" he asked in disbelief.  So satisfying.

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My thoughts:  This is the second book in the Art Deco Mystery Series, featuring Lane Sanders, personal aide to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1930's New York City. Lane is an intelligent, inquisitive individual and woman ahead of her time.  Along with the first book in the series, The Silver Gun, the Art Deco Mystery Series is an outstanding entry in the historical fiction cozy mystery genre.

You can read my review of The Gold Pawn and enter a giveaway here.

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From Goodreads:  November 1936. Mayor LaGuardia's political future buckles under a missing persons case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

Finally summoning courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains--and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . .

Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane's virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello "Fio" LaGuardia. Fio's fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term--and his life . . .

Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City's most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?

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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter, Google+ and/or other blogs with appropriate recognition is appreciated.

Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: The Gold Pawn by L.A. Chandlar

 

Today I'm participating in the The Gold Pawn Blog Tour.  In this post you will find book and author information along with my review.

About the book . . .

 

 

The Gold Pawn (An Art Deco Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (September 25, 2018)
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496713435
ISBN-13: 978-1496713438
Digital ASIN: B078QSRGRY

Synopsis . . . November 1936. Mayor LaGuardia’s political future buckles under a missing persons case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

Finally summoning the courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains—and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . .

Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane’s virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” LaGuardia. Fio’s fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term—and his life . . .

Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City’s most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?

My Review . . . In The Gold Pawn, Lane Sanders, personal aide to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, is drawn into investigating the mysterious disappearance of prominent New York City banker Ted Hambro as well as her own curious past, which is dominated by the death of her parents when she was a young child.  Following up on the discovery that her parents were likely murdered because of their secret work as intelligence agents, Lane is drawn back to her childhood home in Rochester, Michigan in search of clues that will lead her to the truth about her parents' occupation and fate.  

Meanwhile in New York, the Red Scroll Network, a feared syndicate—long believed disbanded and the subject of Lane's parents undercover work—appears to be making a comeback, despite the death of its leader Rex Ruby.  Indeed, Ruby's lethal calling card—a gold pawn—is found at several crime scenes, and two ruthless criminals emerge who will stop at nothing to claim control of the network and the fortune Ruby left behind.  

Once again, in her search for truth and connections between current and past misdeeds, Lane finds herself in the crosshairs of nefarious characters.  When circumstances seem most dire, she is ably assisted by the team of supporters who made their appearance in Book 1, along with some unexpected guardian angels.  Lane's partnerships take some interesting turns in the story, while her relationship with Finn Brodie deepens considerably, as these soul mates with ghosts in their pasts develop a strong, romantic bond.

This action-packed sequel to The Silver Gun delivers another imaginative plot, well-developed characters, and fascinating historical detail about 1930s New York City.  In addition to being a first-rate mystery novel, The Gold Pawn is a love song to New York. Chandlar captures the City's excitement, grandeur, and magic as she describes places and events, and treats readers to cameos by famous personalities.  The appearances of Bob Hope and Albert Einstein among others were an added delight, and another reason this series is endearing and engaging.  

I look forward to the next installment in the Art Deco Mystery Series with great anticipation.

Giveaway . . . Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Gold Pawn by L.A Chandlar by clicking on this link.


About the author . . .  

  L .A. Chandlar is the author of the Art Deco Mystery Series with Kensington Publishing featuring Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and a fresh take on the innovation and liveliness of 1930s New York City. Her debut novel, The Silver Gun released August 29, 2017, and the sequel, The Gold Pawn, will release September 25, 2018. Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit, is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.

Connect with the author . . .  

Website: lachandlar.com 

Facebook: @LAChandlar 

Twitter: @LAChandlar 

Instagram: @LAChandlar  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOc8aw0RmT-MTKuCGKJ7dOw 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7656965.L_A_Chandlar

Pintrest:   https://www.pinterest.com/lachandlar/ 

Purchase links . . .  
Amazon  

Apple  

Barnes & Noble  

Books-a-Million  

Google Hudson Booksellers 

IndieBound 

Kobo 

Walmart 

BookBub 

Tour Participants . . .

September 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST 

September 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, RECIPE

September 12 – Jane Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 13 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

September 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – Christa Reads and Writes - REVIEW

September 15 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 16 – Island Confidential – GUEST POST

September 17 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

September 17 – Handcrafted Reviews - CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 18 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 18 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Ruff Drafts- RECIPE

September 20 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

September 21 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – GUEST POST

September 22 – A Blue Million Books - CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 23 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 24 – My Reading Journeys - CHARACTER GUEST POST

Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of The Gold Pawn from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.  Sharing this original post on Twitter, Google+ and/or other blogs with appropriate recognition is appreciated.