tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31323025976939968912024-03-17T23:03:36.719-04:00Book Club LibrarianBuilding bridges one book at a time and sharing Information about forthcoming titles, interesting reads, and other news from the world of books. Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.comBlogger1308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-60061362389801243072024-01-18T19:54:00.000-05:002024-01-18T19:54:06.768-05:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p> <img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Rose City Reader</a>, 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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> which was hosted for many years by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Freda's Voice</a>, 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. Since Freda's blog is currently on hiatus, the meme is being maintained by Anne at <a href="https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Head is Full of Books</a>. Visit Anne's blog to post and read the weekly entries. </li></ul><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Today I'm featuring</span><i style="font-size: 15.4px;"> A Most Agreeable Murder </i><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">by Julia Seales. The excerpts shared are from an eBook borrowed from the library.</span></div><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNboRLzHbgVvF0yoLBCfkYNNyGtzWpHrKiFVg2QAzMqlc-Fo-CLSAlmXR6-Z2L44QjhlJ64m1MI7g68SEBs4qiiOvLVxHth0hDMG7ZwmMVWdQAV-nFp1djVpye6XypKrqR2IC_sdjibytX5nNrqRuAU_Snj3EoEzuFUW606VTdANPWzaSbMkndo3Fruhz/s500/Most%20Agreeable.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNboRLzHbgVvF0yoLBCfkYNNyGtzWpHrKiFVg2QAzMqlc-Fo-CLSAlmXR6-Z2L44QjhlJ64m1MI7g68SEBs4qiiOvLVxHth0hDMG7ZwmMVWdQAV-nFp1djVpye6XypKrqR2IC_sdjibytX5nNrqRuAU_Snj3EoEzuFUW606VTdANPWzaSbMkndo3Fruhz/w266-h400/Most%20Agreeable.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">Book Beginning/First Line: </b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>Chapter 1 -- Introductions</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>In the English countryside there was a small township called Swampshire, comprised of several lovely mansions and one disgusting swamp.</i></span></div><p></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>56% of eBook: </b><i>"There is one thing which might be of interest," Miss Bolton said in a soft voice. Drake stoppe pacing and waited for her to continue.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">My thoughts: </b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Protagonist Beatrice Steele is the most unconventional of young women for her time. She flouts the rules of etiquette and acceptable female behavior to pursue her interest in crime solving. When a murder lands on her figurative doorstep, Beatrice demonstrates her talent for finding clues and drawing sound conclusions based on the evidence she observes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>A Most Agreeable Murder</i> is a most enjoyable read. Its balance of quirky characters, mysterious goings on, humor, and plot twists are first-rate. I hope the author plans a return to this setting and time period for further exploits with the spirited Beatrice.</span></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b></b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b style="font-size: 15.4px; font-weight: bold;">From GoodReads:</b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><i>When a wealthy bachelor drops dead at a ball, a young lady takes on the decidedly improper role of detective in this action-packed debut comedy of manners and murder.</i></span></p><i><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">Feisty, passionate Beatrice Steele has never fit the definition of a true lady, according to the strict code of conduct that reigns in Swampshire, her small English township--she is terrible at needlework, has absolutely no musical ability, and her artwork is so bad it frightens people. Nevertheless, she lives a perfectly agreeable life with her marriage-scheming mother, prankster father, and two younger sisters-- beautiful Louisa and forgettable Mary. But she harbors a dark secret: She is obsessed with the true crime cases she reads about in the newspaper. If anyone in her etiquette-obsessed community found out, she'd be deemed a morbid creep and banished from respectable society forever.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">For her family's sake, she's vowed to put her obsession behind her. Because eligible bachelor Edmund Croaksworth is set to attend the approaching autumnal ball, and the Steele family hopes that Louisa will steal his heart. If not, Martin Grub, their disgusting cousin, will inherit the family's estate, and they will be ruined or, even worse, forced to move to France. So Beatrice must be on her best behavior, which is made difficult when a disgraced yet alluring detective inexplicably shows up to the ball.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">Beatrice is just holding things together when Croaksworth drops dead in the middle of a minuet. As a storm rages outside, the evening descends into a frenzy of panic, fear, and betrayal as it becomes clear they are trapped with a killer. Contending with competitive card games, tricky tonics, and Swampshire's infamous squelch holes, Beatrice must rise above decorum and decency to pursue justice and her own desires--before anyone else is murdered.</span></i><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, <a href="http://bookclublibrarian.com">bookclublibrarian.com</a>. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span></span></span></span>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-77884897702436792912024-01-12T00:00:00.009-05:002024-01-12T08:57:27.703-05:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTMilPzV_VXY9ayCyr2zjbqrxKqq2KlTQOJ_TuTsG5eoyOKEE4vgjPy8S9UBlsFxdXdCyOdImEl4ZolklPk1Kd4ZmvGRLPr0EXje4-WVKp_xE1fl9nsJiatTAGa9hjZToaAJMXmbMoHZm-4r1kSiBbGwF8HMdQDSkvGr9gB5k4P8grbTCKQTb68PveQcN/s640/vanilla-chai-banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="640" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTMilPzV_VXY9ayCyr2zjbqrxKqq2KlTQOJ_TuTsG5eoyOKEE4vgjPy8S9UBlsFxdXdCyOdImEl4ZolklPk1Kd4ZmvGRLPr0EXje4-WVKp_xE1fl9nsJiatTAGa9hjZToaAJMXmbMoHZm-4r1kSiBbGwF8HMdQDSkvGr9gB5k4P8grbTCKQTb68PveQcN/w517-h305/vanilla-chai-banner.jpg" width="517" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Today I'm participating in the </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review. Be sure to enter the giveaway contest below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">About the book . . . </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f8UK6NPgK48yTd1GFEfVWWh4OOsWb_7HgJl6AAsNde_Gac0s_IW-C1J3haINA_pNeODbTEshPO46hGA4s8eVXTHf0akM02O0bvmEjelDtXjy7FmG43Iz1-5DyURfUUnFeyXHkv9_yeBIn2jBXBGtFJqW-sa6fCcBadKT7nTHeaYDLZUmLJ1K_eMqiHYc/s500/vanilla-chai-covers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="500" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f8UK6NPgK48yTd1GFEfVWWh4OOsWb_7HgJl6AAsNde_Gac0s_IW-C1J3haINA_pNeODbTEshPO46hGA4s8eVXTHf0akM02O0bvmEjelDtXjy7FmG43Iz1-5DyURfUUnFeyXHkv9_yeBIn2jBXBGtFJqW-sa6fCcBadKT7nTHeaYDLZUmLJ1K_eMqiHYc/w400-h306/vanilla-chai-covers.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Waterwheel Cafe Mystery</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bolder;">Cozy Mystery</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span face="Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bolder;">3rd in Series</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span face="Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bolder;">Setting – Cotswold, England</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span face="Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bolder;">Kanga Press (January 5, 2024)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span face="Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bolder;">Number of Pages c. 240</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span face="Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bolder;">Digital ASIN : B0C4V4CCGT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152135016-vanilla-chai-and-a-vanishing-victim" rel="noopener noreferrer external" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-2197 size-full" decoding="async" height="41" loading="lazy" src="http://christyscozycorners.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/goodreads.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%;" width="130" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Synopsis</b> . . . <span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; text-align: justify;">A missing child. A half-baked ransom demand. Can a community cop sift through clues and rescue the tot before teatime?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sergeant Keya Varma’s culinary dreams come true as she joyfully opens her own café. And attending her sister’s wedding is the cherry on the cake. But her excitement sinks like a souffle when a customer’s little boy disappears.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shaken as well as stirred into action, the part-time police officer joins the search, but she’s shattered when even a ransom payment doesn’t bring the rug rat back home.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For Keya, justice is served with a side of scones, but can she save the child before the clotted cream turns sour?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Indulge in the Waterwheel Café cozy mystery series, where Keya Varma mixes crime with coffee and crêpes. If you crave appetizing characters, a dash of humor, and a dollop of English charm, you’ll devour Victoria Tait’s delicious tale.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bake your way into intrigue with Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim today!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>My review . . . </b>The smashing success of Keya's recently opened Waterwheel Cafe challenges her to find the right balance between the demands of running a busy restaurant and performing her part-time police work. Fortunately, she has a supportive team of family and friends that help her keep the cafe humming along. But her latest police case has Keya stretching herself to the limit. . .</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">After young Zaad Bartlett disappears from a local playground he was visiting with his nanny, Keya feels a deep personal connection because of her interactions with Zaad and his parents at her cafe in the days before the incident. As part of the team tasked with investigating Zaad's disappearance, Keya must quickly find the missing boy by figuring out exactly what happened and who is responsible. Will she be able to locate the child and reunite him with his distraught parents in a timely manner? Can she identify and prosecute the kidnapper?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim </i>takes readers back to the charming Cotswolds region of England, with its picturesque landscape and cozy atmosphere. The plot of the story is solidly constructed with a satisfying number of red herrings and unexpected twists that keep readers guessing whodunit until the book's final chapters. Beyond the mystery, author Victoria Tait has created an inviting setting and cast of characters that readers will enjoy visiting again and again whilst enjoying a variety of teas and other delicacies. Each installment in the series introduces a new tea to savor and crime to solve. I can hardly wait to discover both a new brew and Keya's next case in book four.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>About the author . . . </b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-align: left;">Victoria Tait</span><span style="color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-align: left;"> was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. After following her military husband around the world, she drew on her life’s experiences and a love of Agatha Christie, Father Brown, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagEGTrg3mwde8xrRFPLSlxRYjz5bWCOluq5rOfwVfqTex1QTvB3lyacspNEY9VF6RuvqfVP-cs9l1ZEjZyFcM7Tqn-UTIzRv2MDnqwMZOq9mEK-ZGp1wVwSC9MLWecWRq0ITUmJTdqNWgDPZ3eFvFJKE_USTCInJbJp0EgbAo9MXC6OwgTzlF6FAp4yDK/s300/victoria-tait.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagEGTrg3mwde8xrRFPLSlxRYjz5bWCOluq5rOfwVfqTex1QTvB3lyacspNEY9VF6RuvqfVP-cs9l1ZEjZyFcM7Tqn-UTIzRv2MDnqwMZOq9mEK-ZGp1wVwSC9MLWecWRq0ITUmJTdqNWgDPZ3eFvFJKE_USTCInJbJp0EgbAo9MXC6OwgTzlF6FAp4yDK/w200-h200/victoria-tait.webp" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Her determined female sleuths are joined by colorful and quirky teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and realistic. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world where you’ll experience surprises, humor and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you like tea, mysteries, and books? Then why not join Victoria’s TeaCozy Club for regular news and updates, and download the free prequel to the Dotty Sayers Antique Mysteries series as a gift by visiting <a data-wpel-link="external" href="http://victoriatait.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">VictoriaTait.com</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Who doesn’t like tea, cake, and a slice of murder?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter the giveaway contest by <a href="https://kingsumo.com/g/3ykkub/new-years-chai-and-a-cozy-mystery-giveaway" target="_blank">clicking here.</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Purchase links . . . </b></span><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://books2read.com/VanillaChai" rel="noopener external noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Books2Read</a><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;"> </span><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://amzn.to/46uavAN" rel="noopener external noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Author Links . . .</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Website:</span> <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://victoriatait.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">https://victoriatait.com/</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Bookbub:</span> <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Instagram: </span><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Pinterest: </span><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/_saved/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/_saved/</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Goodreads:</span> <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N5_hy8sz2SPONdZgBumWFgS5fWh16e5eMyY04MTKzQ2FAJtLhyBMJMScpFLnRxNdJJssvKcIEsvHCaUqr4-qvBxrX3_zs-Uj2mfZrwHd2S7qIlqVCpy_3NZX9O11jO4y-TZuS2Ca-68toIgSrJZ7CXcp3XsJUMV6IPE1qCv1IDPo8KgJpgjcu2k4YFGP/s193/great%20escape%20button%20tour%20host%20button.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="175" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N5_hy8sz2SPONdZgBumWFgS5fWh16e5eMyY04MTKzQ2FAJtLhyBMJMScpFLnRxNdJJssvKcIEsvHCaUqr4-qvBxrX3_zs-Uj2mfZrwHd2S7qIlqVCpy_3NZX9O11jO4y-TZuS2Ca-68toIgSrJZ7CXcp3XsJUMV6IPE1qCv1IDPo8KgJpgjcu2k4YFGP/w181-h200/great%20escape%20button%20tour%20host%20button.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Tour participants . . .</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 8 – <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://christyscozycorners.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 8 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 9 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://jodyjoy.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense</a> – AUTHOR GUEST POST</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 9 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Guatemala Paula Loves to Read</a> -REVIEW</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 10 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.literaryau.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Literary Gold</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 10 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 11 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Ascroft, eh?</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 11 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 12 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://bookclublibrarian.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW*</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 13 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://eskimoprincess.blogspot.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Eskimo Princess Book Reviews</a> – RECIPE POST</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 13 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="http://fuonlyknew.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">FUONLYKNEW</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 14 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.storeybookreviews.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">StoreyBook Reviews</a> – CHARACTER GUEST POST</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 14 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.dianesbookjournal.wordpress.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Diane’s Book Journal</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 15 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://angelsbooknook.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Angel’s Book Nook</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 15 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">CelticLady Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 16 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">January 17 – <a data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #37b8bf; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – REVIEW</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Note . . . </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I received a complimentary copy of <i>Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim </i>from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"></div><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" style="color: #001999; text-decoration-line: none;">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-36199172153298870132024-01-11T21:00:00.001-05:002024-01-11T21:00:00.132-05:00Friday Focus: Book Beginnings<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4144438367689660660" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="background: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></p><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts via<b> </b><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Rose City Reader</a>, 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. <b></b></p><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Today I'm featuring<i> Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim </i>by Victoria Tait. The excerpts shared are from an advanced eBook version provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX79AJz_-pPlgRYP_WSuMMzpB9UBVF74k7bAv7xEbrm3UFKznPuMEXDy0jChz4fZp6U5niPHTNOW2H0F_yRGVIbsoLfZiUGO3eSEl_rHB90Z-kmO9M-7o1llSmfIZiY6g9fQSPeF9DCzr-HCtml6qtbyhTEbaDmymYioK9CEgpSyR4nwIc-dRqpwYbaB_7/s783/VANILA%20CHAI%20COVER%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="783" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX79AJz_-pPlgRYP_WSuMMzpB9UBVF74k7bAv7xEbrm3UFKznPuMEXDy0jChz4fZp6U5niPHTNOW2H0F_yRGVIbsoLfZiUGO3eSEl_rHB90Z-kmO9M-7o1llSmfIZiY6g9fQSPeF9DCzr-HCtml6qtbyhTEbaDmymYioK9CEgpSyR4nwIc-dRqpwYbaB_7/w400-h306/VANILA%20CHAI%20COVER%203.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Beginning . . . </b></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Thirty-three year old Sergeant Keya Varma slumped into her </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">office chair in her team's room on the ground floor of Cirencester Police Station, t </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">he English Cotswolds.</i></div><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i>**********************</i></p><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts . . . </b>Thus begins the third installment of The Waterwheel Cafe cozy mystery series by Victoria Tait. <i>Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim </i>is a delightful return to the charming Cotswolds region of England, with its picturesque landscape and cozy atmosphere. Each book in the series is a new chapter in the life of unflappable and extremely competent Keya Varma, a part-time police officer, that introduces a new tea to savor and crime to solve</p><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">**********************</p><p style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Synopsis: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">A missing child. A half-baked ransom demand. Can a community cop sift through clues and rescue the tot before teatime?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sergeant Keya Varma’s culinary dreams come true as she joyfully opens her own café. And attending her sister’s wedding is the cherry on the cake. But her excitement sinks like a souffle when a customer’s little boy disappears.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shaken as well as stirred into action, the part-time police officer joins the search, but she’s shattered when even a ransom payment doesn’t bring the rug rat back home.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For Keya, justice is served with a side of scones, but can she save the child before the clotted cream turns sour?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Indulge in the Waterwheel Café cozy mystery series, where Keya Varma mixes crime with coffee and crêpes. If you crave appetizing characters, a dash of humor, and a dollop of English charm, you’ll devour Victoria Tait’s delicious tale.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bake your way into intrigue with Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim today!</span></p><div style="font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i><b>*********************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This Friday Focus: Booki Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-41444383676896606602023-10-26T21:00:00.001-04:002023-10-26T21:00:00.141-04:00Friday Focus: Book Beginnings<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts via<b> </b></span><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></p><p>Today I'm featuring<i> Bright Young Women </i>by Jessica Knoll. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Bright Young Women" class="gr-mediaBox__media gr-book__image" data-reactid=".r9pzwppxjc.0.1.$=1$101124639.0.0" data-tracking-dfp="true" data-tracking-pmet="{"click_type":"book_image"}" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676221840i/101124639._SX120_.jpg" width="213" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><b>Book Beginning: </b><i>Pamela</i></p><p><i>Montclair, New Jersey, Day 15,825</i></p><p>You may not remember me, but I have never forgotten you,<i> begins the letter written in the kind of cursive they don't teach in schools anymore. I read the sentence twice in stinging astonishment. It's been forty-three years since my brush with the man even the most reputable papers called the All-American Sex Killer, and my name had long since fallen to a footnote in the story. </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>The compelling opening foreshadows the story of innocence shattered and lives irrevocably changed by the actions of a depraved man. Beyond the at times disturbing content, I'm finding it challenging to follow the timeline and relationships between characters which are years apart because of the way the chapters are structured.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted"><i>An extraordinary novel inspired by the
real-life sorority targeted by America's first celebrity serial killer
in his final murderous spree.<br /><br />January 1978. A serial killer
has terrorized women across the Pacific Northwest, but his existence
couldn’t be further from the minds of the vibrant young women at the top
sorority on Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee. Tonight
is a night of promise, excitement, and desire, but Pamela Schumacher,
president of the sorority, makes the unpopular decision to stay home—a
decision that unwittingly saves her life. Startled awake at 3 a.m. by a
strange sound, she makes the fateful decision to investigate. What she
finds behind the door is a scene of implausible violence—two of her
sisters dead; two others, maimed. Over the next few days, Pamela is
thrust into a terrifying mystery inspired by the crime that’s captivated
public interest for more than four decades.<br /><br />On the other side of
the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of
hardship. A chance encounter brings twenty-five-year-old Ruth Wachowsky
into her life, a young woman with painful secrets of her own, and the
two form an instant connection. When Ruth goes missing from Lake
Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of
beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding
out what happened to her. When she hears about the tragedy in
Tallahassee, she knows it’s the man the papers refer to as the
All-American Sex Killer. Determined to make him answer for what he did
to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela—and
one last impending tragedy.<br /><br /></i>Bright Young Women <i>is the
story about two women from opposite sides of the country who become
sisters in their fervent pursuit of the truth. It proposes a new
narrative inspired by evidence that’s been glossed over for decades in
favor of more salable headlines—that the so-called brilliant and
charismatic serial killer from Seattle was far more average than the
countless books, movies, and primetime specials have led us to believe,
and that it was the women whose lives he cut short who were the
exceptional ones.</i></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-76629109506937393272023-10-24T00:00:00.001-04:002023-10-24T00:00:00.150-04:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew<div><div><p style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-189665" data-attachment-id="189665" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MURDER BY THE SEASHORE BANNER 448" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-BANNER-448.gif" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-BANNER-448-300x142.gif" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-BANNER-448.gif" data-orig-size="448,212" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-by-the-seashore-a-california-bookshop-mystery-by-samara-yew/murder-by-the-seashore-banner-448/" height="212" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-BANNER-448.gif" width="448" /></p><p></p><p>Today I'm participating in the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Murder by the Seashore </i>Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below.</p><p><b>About the book . . . </b></p></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-189662" data-attachment-id="189662" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MURDER BY THE SEASHORE COVER 3" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-COVER-3.png" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-COVER-3-300x232.png" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-COVER-3.png" data-orig-size="777,600" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-by-the-seashore-a-california-bookshop-mystery-by-samara-yew/murder-by-the-seashore-cover-3/" height="309" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MURDER-BY-THE-SEASHORE-COVER-3.png" width="400" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Murder by the Seashore </b></i>(A California Bookshop Mystery)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Cozy Mystery</b><br />
<b>1st in Series</b><br />
<b>Setting – California</b><br />
<b>Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023)</b><br />
<b>Hardcover : 256 pages</b><br />
<b>ISBN-10 : 1639104933</b><br />
<b>ISBN-13 : 978-1639104932</b><br />
<b>Digital ASIN : B0BSKSHZF5</b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85776760-murder-by-the-seashore"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-10339 size-full" data-attachment-id="10339" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="goodreads-badge-add-plus" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-orig-size="130,41" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2013/06/05/cozy-wednesday-with-author-janet-bolin-giveaway-too/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47/" height="41" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" /></a>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b></div><br /><div><p><b>Synopsis . . . </b>Perfect for fans of Jenn
McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a
bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when
she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.</p><p>Southern California is where dreams come
true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened
the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and
business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a
better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business
afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers
something underneath the pier by her bookshop that she didn’t outline
for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After Scarlett gives a statement to the
police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a
lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells Scarlett that
she now stands to inherit a small fortune, she’s left with more
questions than answers. Before she can make sense of any of it, the
police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai
Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good.
Business is booming as Scarlett returns to Palm Trees and Page Turners,
but for all the wrong reasons – curious tourists don’t want books, they
want a glimpse of the Bookshop Killer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Who could really be behind all of this?
And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have to get
creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>My review . . .</b> Scarlett Gardner never imagined the dream life she worked so hard to build would fall apart just as it was getting off the ground. Newly relocated to Southern California to join her boyfriend and business partner in a new bookshop venture along the beach, Scarlett is blindsided by Connor, who abruptly leaves her and the business for a more lucrative startup opportunity. As if picking up the pieces isn't heartache enough, Scarlett discovers a dead body along the pier near her store. The police quickly name Scarlett as their prime suspect when the murder victim is identified. Lorelai Knight had not only visited the bookshop recently, she had named Scarlett the sole heir of her vast estate.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Who is this mystery benefactor that Scarlett seems to have no connection to and has never met before and who is responsible for her untimely death? Scarlett must find out quickly, not only to clear her name, but because it's been clearly demonstrated that she's also in the killer's crosshairs. Which of the many possible murder suspects killed Lorelai and why? </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Murder by the Seashore</i> is a challenging puzzle filled with red herrings galore and strong suspects to be eliminated. As I turned the pages, I was sure I knew whodunit, only to have my theory disproven more than once. The ultimate reveal took me by surprise. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The new California Bookshop cozy mystery series is off to a great start with its ideal locale that surrounds readers with books and the beach, an intrepid protagonist, and a feisty support network. The first installment establishes plenty of room for character development, personal growth, and relationship possibilities as the series continues. I see myself gladly returning to the SoCal setting for future "chapters" in the story and to find out if Scarlett will get the happily every after she deserves.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a hardcover copy of <i>Murder by the Seashore </i>and bookmarks by <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921558/?widget_template=56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" target="_blank">clicking this link.</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>About the author . . . </b>Samara Yew is a cozy mystery author who writes about
adorable bookshops and dead bodies. A full-time mom, full-time dog
servant, and part-time writer, Samara lives in British Columbia, Canada,
where she can often be found watching Psych reruns.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-189663" data-attachment-id="189663" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Author photo Samara Yew" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Author-photo-Samara-Yew-768x1024.jpg" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Author-photo-Samara-Yew-225x300.jpg" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Author-photo-Samara-Yew.jpg" data-orig-size="1368,1824" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-by-the-seashore-a-california-bookshop-mystery-by-samara-yew/author-photo-samara-yew/" height="320" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Author-photo-Samara-Yew-225x300.jpg" width="240" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Samara loves to travel, especially visiting her husband’s home country
of Singapore or donning Mickey ears in Disneyland. She’s a member of
Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Author links . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Website: <a href="https://samarayew.com">https://samarayew.com</a>
</p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/samara.yew.books">https://www.facebook.com/samara.yew.books</a></p>
<p>Twitter (X): <a href="https://twitter.com/samarayewauthor">https://twitter.com/samarayewauthor</a></p>
<p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samara.yew.author">https://www.instagram.com/samara.yew.author</a></p>
<p>GoodReads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24259604.Samara_Yew">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24259604.Samara_Yew</a></p><p> </p>
<p><b>Purchase Links . . . </b></p><p><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3ssTU1S" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729839/murder-by-the-seashore-by-samara-yew/9781639104932" rel="noopener" target="_blank">PenguinRandomHouse</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-by-the-seashore-samara-yew/1142954177?ean=9781639104932" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/murder-by-the-seashore/9781639104932-item.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chapters Indigo</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="160" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm74MpG0BCO4K169IKNc7YWbcRz_ScRh6PsIQV_Nc2eZr6FM4xsCGkfthVDL63opjcHHN9e1QT_ZYVso4qFtO3x5BlXUfvuHLsy7KRkej25bon4-1jAHgcrIyb2YeURahEhcsfMRr4RQ19e1sYCshoxK_aHn8jcNzF6I6JU3bZ9k33VhgKvEAJCTIZAgVt/s1600/great-escape-button160-1.jpg" width="160" /></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>Tour Participants . . .</b></p><p><b>October 11 – <a href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 11 – <a href="https://jodyjoy.com">Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 12 – <a href="https://angelsbooknook.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Angel’s Book Nook</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT</b></p>
<p><b>October 12 – <a href="http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 13 – <a href="https://www.ladyhawkeye.com/">Lady Hawkeye</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 13 – <a href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 14 – <a href="https://readyourwrites.blogspot.com/">Read Your Writes Book Reviews</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 14 – <a href="https://www.storeybookreviews.com/">StoreyBook Reviews</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 15 – <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 16 – <a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 16 – <a href="https://debbiedelouise.com/">Ruff Drafts</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 17 – <a href="https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/">Cozy Up With Kathy</a> – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 17 – <a href="https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/">Ascroft, eh?</a> – AUTHOR GUEST POST</b></p>
<p><b>October 18 – <a href="https://christyscozycorners.com/">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST</b></p>
<p><b>October 18 – <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/">Carstairs Considers</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 19 – <a href="http://novelsalive.com">Novels Alive</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 19 – <a href="https://cassidysalem.wordpress.com/">Cassidy’s Bookshelves</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 20 – <a href="http://www.birdhouse-books.com">View from the Birdhouse</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 20 – <a href="https://www.literaryau.com">Literary Gold</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT</b></p>
<p><b>October 21 – <a href="http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/">Socrates Book Reviews</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 21 – <a href="https://baronessbooktrove.com">Baroness Book Trove</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 22 – <a href="http://fuonlyknew.com/">FUONLYKNEW</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 23 – <a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/">Celticlady’s Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT</b></p>
<p><b>October 24 – <a href="http://www.melinathereadercom.com">Melina’s Book Blog</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 24 – <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Note . . . </b>I received a complimentary copy of <i>Murder by the Seashore </i>from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Book Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" style="color: #001999; text-decoration-line: none;">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span></p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b> <br /></p></div>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-82135109945392856562023-10-22T00:00:00.001-04:002023-10-22T00:00:00.145-04:00Weekly Book Recap<p>As one week ends and another begins, it's time to share my latest reading updates with these weekly memes. . .</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_v4SnkbCS80/T-a4_AiZbDI/AAAAAAAACTE/uzklcsFtgns/w204-h320/vectorstock_43821-1-1.jpg" width="204" /><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KsJEkmKHqk/XIjlsygx9aI/AAAAAAAAbu4/lsHLPX4Jh1IbSuLkrAiNDy6sgHYlroAEACLcBGAs/w273-h320/Untitled%2Bdesign-17.png" width="273" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-44696" height="226" src="https://www.readingreality.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Marlene-StackingShelves-1-1024x699.png" width="256" /> <img alt="Banner" class="image wp-image-7230 attachment-362x328 size-362x328" data-attachment-id="7230" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="It27sMonday21WhatAreYouReading" data-large-file="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg?w=362" data-medium-file="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg" data-orig-size="362,328" data-permalink="https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/2019/07/29/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-goodbye-july/it27smonday21whatareyoureading-2/" height="222" src="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg?w=362" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="222" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">. . . <b><i>Sunday Post</i> </b>hosted by Kimberly at <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">Caffeinated Reviewer</a>, <i><b>The Sunday Salon</b> </i>hosted by Deb at <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Readerbuzz</a>, <i><b>Stacking the Shelves</b> </i>hosted by Marlene at <a href="https://www.readingreality.net/" target="_blank">Reading Reality</a> and <b><i>It's Monday! What Are You Reading?</i></b> hosted by Kathryn at <a href="https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Book Date</a> . . .</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">It's been a somewhat slow reading week for me. Although the weather is very conducive to curling up with a book (we've had seven straight weekends of rain), I suspect it's because I've devoted more of my time to knitting. I was never more than a beginner when I learned the basics as a pre-teen, so it's a huge learning curve getting back into it. But I've got the support of a crafty group and some very experienced coworkers to help me along.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGwjxP9SfFO-eYZQaJ614u1RxX9IUPcedHlrF7K9fL5Urq3lMS6m_9xhkbmdZHOJv2S-2_jhGRVZn6Wn8HqnZoA71v-N-FFXr8iBRIYxHtXZo5PT3qUjVEwNVBNP-5SELvNy2WtK782UTwxcUJ9hKhGE1Ti9tufndl4N_6j_g3_2S7tRC_31rdtpNtj1Z/s4032/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGwjxP9SfFO-eYZQaJ614u1RxX9IUPcedHlrF7K9fL5Urq3lMS6m_9xhkbmdZHOJv2S-2_jhGRVZn6Wn8HqnZoA71v-N-FFXr8iBRIYxHtXZo5PT3qUjVEwNVBNP-5SELvNy2WtK782UTwxcUJ9hKhGE1Ti9tufndl4N_6j_g3_2S7tRC_31rdtpNtj1Z/s320/IMG_1194.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Above is a scarf in progress, one of the easier projects I've undertaken to get me back into the swing of things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Finished reading . . .</b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680830249i/85776760.jpg" width="213" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">First book in the new California Bookshop mystery series. My review will be posted on October 24th as part of a blog tour.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Still reading . . .</b> <b> </b></p><p></p><p></p><p> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676221840i/101124639.jpg" width="213" /> </p><p>The dual time lines related to similar crimes are slowing me down . . . I'm having a bit of difficulty keeping the details and characters straight in my head.</p><p> </p><p><b>Planning to read next . . .</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglzo7DMccgn9IqyVS-oaRQyLmyIkarQ8H0nJW5zVztpuoxSSRFT8fJ4BL6oelGVwp0h44vwztCK8L3u09f36AS1uFftjk7K_8PJWFbvs0Th9p-1EpA8g0iXVLUpGxB_Gs41uTW1tFElA80573IecXvHyBXDICuHiYu1A4lf1S3U2DQ7eX24X2ltbLLIOOo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="129" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglzo7DMccgn9IqyVS-oaRQyLmyIkarQ8H0nJW5zVztpuoxSSRFT8fJ4BL6oelGVwp0h44vwztCK8L3u09f36AS1uFftjk7K_8PJWFbvs0Th9p-1EpA8g0iXVLUpGxB_Gs41uTW1tFElA80573IecXvHyBXDICuHiYu1A4lf1S3U2DQ7eX24X2ltbLLIOOo=w188-h262" width="188" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Arrived in my mailbox . . . </b><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivwPgVdhz7mTV-pbkFWdza_zTaAW4-7jhcY9IIFgccJk3AN7jgoF6vUFugpAz9KcXyPALysCnbeiFqLLVR66bbTRgi-M1aU1XSf_vQ4dW_INiFIPQ3qKNhkNPWrSa2noGIHEzYTZgD_niV61RSLN0pKDmeICZUWokhOfOpVkuMUH6Sl2r2Qe1VK9dfdEXe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivwPgVdhz7mTV-pbkFWdza_zTaAW4-7jhcY9IIFgccJk3AN7jgoF6vUFugpAz9KcXyPALysCnbeiFqLLVR66bbTRgi-M1aU1XSf_vQ4dW_INiFIPQ3qKNhkNPWrSa2noGIHEzYTZgD_niV61RSLN0pKDmeICZUWokhOfOpVkuMUH6Sl2r2Qe1VK9dfdEXe=w132-h240" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFp0fEelrHr8KUhB6kyivWMV04DixQ7zZM1b9G00nlWBasmeyfz_dDsK5bjaLBUDra5Kx_385DpnJJTHz7eHceoCf1y_qYETV9ZU3RdCUo3F46Pwz_xTep84usNpLJ2UtMiaDkfz0fsxp2i_8ikFGOoRk1WFix2Vyf2lpOCt6NtqcbzqQpLcFtEk5sldN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="144" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFp0fEelrHr8KUhB6kyivWMV04DixQ7zZM1b9G00nlWBasmeyfz_dDsK5bjaLBUDra5Kx_385DpnJJTHz7eHceoCf1y_qYETV9ZU3RdCUo3F46Pwz_xTep84usNpLJ2UtMiaDkfz0fsxp2i_8ikFGOoRk1WFix2Vyf2lpOCt6NtqcbzqQpLcFtEk5sldN=w143-h240" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_TibfNCrxKASuUO1frzUIAGhJRoPButb7h5NBAjrBV5zuT9OozrD5r2_EjI1ObZ-4pJRUB0cJXD_XV9TZ-zWABCtUSEWEL-Bgohr0L7iK-QJ1fkXbKOkBcquKc765CgjvHXSvT0WZjbRonJRwb5-QtMqMk9cB3Uj4SH2hG6WHBLYelIsVRrQzvm82morp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="275" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_TibfNCrxKASuUO1frzUIAGhJRoPButb7h5NBAjrBV5zuT9OozrD5r2_EjI1ObZ-4pJRUB0cJXD_XV9TZ-zWABCtUSEWEL-Bgohr0L7iK-QJ1fkXbKOkBcquKc765CgjvHXSvT0WZjbRonJRwb5-QtMqMk9cB3Uj4SH2hG6WHBLYelIsVRrQzvm82morp=w147-h240" width="147" /></a><br /><br />All new nonfiction ARCs from publishers this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading my updates. Now I'm off to discover what all of you are currently reading and what books are in your queues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This Weekly Book Recap post<span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;"> was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://bookclublibrarian.com" target="_blank">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span></p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-60032600168369016672023-10-15T00:00:00.007-04:002023-10-18T20:22:33.204-04:00Weekly Book Recap<p> It's time to share updates from the past week and the upcoming week with . . .<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_v4SnkbCS80/T-a4_AiZbDI/AAAAAAAACTE/uzklcsFtgns/w240-h320/vectorstock_43821-1-1.jpg" width="240" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Banner" class="image wp-image-7230 attachment-362x328 size-362x328" data-attachment-id="7230" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="It27sMonday21WhatAreYouReading" data-large-file="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg?w=362" data-medium-file="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg" data-orig-size="362,328" data-permalink="https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/2019/07/29/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-goodbye-july/it27smonday21whatareyoureading-2/" height="232" src="https://thebookdate.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/0c602-it2527s2bmonday25212bwhat2bare2byou2breading.jpg?w=362" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="248" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">. . . <i>Sunday Post</i> hosted by Kimberly at <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">Caffeinated Reviewer</a> and <i>It's Monday! What are you reading?</i> hosted by Kathryn at <a href="https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Book Date</a></p><p style="text-align: left;">I used to participate regularly in both of these memes in the early years of my blog. But as life in general got busier, I found myself cutting way back on my weekly blog posts. This past week, I celebrated Book Club Librarian's eleven year blogaversary and thought it would be fitting to return to Sunday memes. I missed all of you and am happy to be back!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Finished reading . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642348706i/56686560.jpg" width="211" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Historical--I read it for my next book club meeting. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684786061i/78098054.jpg" width="214" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Cozy mystery--blog tour reading. <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2023/10/great-escapes-blog-tour-book-review-and.html" target="_blank">My review and giftcard giveaway.</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Started reading . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676221840i/101124639.jpg" width="213" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Contemporary fiction--got curious after seeing this book everywhere.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Planning to read next . . . </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680830249i/85776760.jpg" width="213" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Cozy mystery--I'll be reading it for an upcoming blog tour. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This Weekly Book Recap post <span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://bookclublibrarian.com" target="_blank">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span></p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-43134497627233723082023-10-12T21:00:00.001-04:002023-10-12T21:00:00.147-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> </li></ul><p>Today I'm featuring<i> Hester</i> by Laurie Lico Albanese. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642348706i/56686560.jpg" width="264" /></p><p> <br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>Salem was meant to be a new beginning, a place where the sharp scent of cinnamon and tea perfumed the air with hope; a place where the colors could be safe and alive in me.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>"I'm grateful." I try again to show that I mean to be a friend. "I'm glad to have you as my neighbors."</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>This very imaginative and harrowing fictional account of a relationship between a young Scottish woman who emigrates to Massachusetts and Nathaniel Hawthorne, future author of <i>The Scarlet Letter, </i>is a realistic depiction of the power structure and plight of women and immigrants in America in the nineteenth century. <br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted"><i>A vivid reimagining of the woman who inspired
Hester Prynne, the tragic heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne's </i>The Scarlet
Letter<i>, and a journey into the enduring legacy of New England's
witchcraft trials.</i><br /><br /><i>Who is the real Hester Prynne?<br /><br />Isobel
Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she
sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An
apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts
have forced them to flee Edinburgh for a fresh start in the New World.
But only days after they've arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a
departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a
strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible.<br /><br />When
she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to
each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent
women to the gallows––while she is an unusually gifted needleworker,
troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward's safe
return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer
and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the
enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which?<br /><br />In this sensuous
and hypnotizing tale, a young immigrant woman grapples with our
country's complicated past, and learns that America's ideas of freedom
and liberty often fall short of their promise. Interwoven with Isobel
and Nathaniel's story is a vivid interrogation of who gets to be a
"real" American in the first half of the 19th century, a depiction of
the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, and
atmospheric interstitials that capture the long history of "unusual"
women being accused of witchcraft. Meticulously researched yet
evocatively imagined, </i></span><i><span>Laurie Lico Albanese's </span></i><span class="a-text-italic">Hester</span><span>
<i>is a timeless tale of art, ambition, and desire that examines the roots
of female creative power and the men who try to shut it down.</i></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-33296002495520108862023-10-10T00:00:00.008-04:002023-10-10T00:00:00.146-04:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Book Review, and Giveaway: The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating by S.K. Golden<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" data-attachment-id="189504" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="SOCIALITES GUIDE TO DEATH AND DATING BANNER 540" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITES-GUIDE-TO-DEATH-AND-DATING-BANNER-540.jpg" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITES-GUIDE-TO-DEATH-AND-DATING-BANNER-540-300x144.jpg" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITES-GUIDE-TO-DEATH-AND-DATING-BANNER-540.jpg" data-orig-size="541,259" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/upcoming-great-escapes-book-tours/the-socialites-guide-to-death-and-dating-a-pinnacle-hotel-mystery-by-s-k-golden/socialites-guide-to-death-and-dating-banner-540/" height="259" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITES-GUIDE-TO-DEATH-AND-DATING-BANNER-540.jpg" width="541" /></p><p>Today I'm participating in the <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating </i>Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below.</p><p><b>About the book . . . <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-189503" data-attachment-id="189503" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="SOCIALITIES DEATH AND DATING COVER 3" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITIES-DEATH-AND-DATING-COVER-3.png" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITIES-DEATH-AND-DATING-COVER-3-300x229.png" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITIES-DEATH-AND-DATING-COVER-3.png" data-orig-size="785,600" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/upcoming-great-escapes-book-tours/the-socialites-guide-to-death-and-dating-a-pinnacle-hotel-mystery-by-s-k-golden/socialities-death-and-dating-cover-3/" height="244" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIALITIES-DEATH-AND-DATING-COVER-3.png" width="320" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Socialite's Guide to Death & Dating </i>(A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"> Historical Cozy Mystery<br />
2nd in Series<br />
Setting – 1958 New York City<br />
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)<br />
Hardcover : 336 pages<br />
ISBN-10 : 1639104852<br />
ISBN-13 : 978-1639104857<br />
Digital ASIN : B0BS2SG88V<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78098054-the-socialite-s-guide-to-death-and-dating"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-10339 size-full" data-attachment-id="10339" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="goodreads-badge-add-plus" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-orig-size="130,41" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2013/06/05/cozy-wednesday-with-author-janet-bolin-giveaway-too/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47/" height="41" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Synopsis . . . </b><span class="a-text-bold">Perfect for
fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, the second Pinnacle Hotel mystery
finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress
Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the hotel before
it’s lights out.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="a-text-bold">New York, 1958. </span>Even
though Evelyn Murphy has made progress conquering her agoraphobia by
leaving the Pinnacle, she still feels most comfortable in her father’s
hotel. With Malcolm (Mac) Cooper, her new boyfriend and fellow employee at the
hotel, Evelyn feels prepared for whatever happens next. In this case,
it’s throwing a big fundraiser with the who’s who of New York City.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The night is a success, and Evelyn
finally takes up Malcolm’s offer to visit his apartment in
Yonkers. As the party ends, they sneak away to the garage to get
Evelyn’s car. But Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, and she
discovers the dead body of a guest, Judge Baker, in a car—with a needle
in his arm.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Detective Hodgson and his new partner,
Detective McJimsey, arrive on the scene, but before they can begin to
question Evelyn, they are startled by another mysterious discovery:
there’s a woman in the trunk of the car, and she screams as soon as she
sees Evelyn’s face. Tangled up in the police investigation, Evelyn’s got
another problem, too—her father insists she break off her relationship
with Mac. The next day, her father is found attacked just like the
judge, only this time the detectives find a dead woman nearby.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With Mac accused of the attacks and in
police custody, Evelyn will have to find the killer on her own before
she’s checked out of the hotel—this time, for good. </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>My review . . . </b>Evelyn Murphy, amateur detective and heiress to the Pinnacle Hotel, is back for more sleuthing in <i>The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating</i>, the second book in author S.K. Golden's historical cozy mystery series. Evelyn has a new beau, Malcolm (Mac) Cooper, and with the help of a therapist, has made strides in dealing with her agoraphobia and anxiety, allowing her to travel farther afield from the Pinnacle.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Evelyn has channeled her talent for event planning into organizing a posh political fundraiser at the hotel for New York City's prominent leaders and their supporters. At the end of the wildly successful party, however, Evelyn finds one of the attendees--a judge--slumped behind the steering wheel of his car, the victim of an apparent drug overdose. When a woman who was in the car with the judge also dies under mysterious circumstances, the police investigation intensifies.</p><p style="text-align: left;">To make matters worse, Evelyn's father detests her new beau, Mac and is threatening to cut off her inheritance if she doesn't immediately end the relationship. Soon after Mr. Murphy issues his ultimatum, he is found in his hotel suite barely conscious--the victim of an attack--along with a maid who has been strangled. When Mac becomes the prime suspect and is arrested, Evelyn undertakes her own investigation to clear her lover's name.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Are all these crimes at the hotel related? Evelyn is convinced that they are and won't rest until she determines whether there is a connection between the victims. And when she puts a dangerous plan in motion to catch the killer, Evelyn risks becoming the next victim.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating </i>is a delightful return to the elegant Pinnacle Hotel, with its cast of colorful staff and guests. This second installment has the components that keep readers engaged--an endearing protagonist; balanced amounts of romance and drama; strong character development; a well-constructed plot; an unexpected motive; and hints of what future books in the series may bring. For all of these reasons, I eagerly anticipate the continuation of this series.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">For my review of the first book in the series, click this link:<i> <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2022/" target="_blank">The Socialite's Guide to Murder</a>.</i><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon eGift Card by clicking on <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921555/?widget_template=56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" target="_blank">this link.</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>About the author . . . </b>S. K. Golden<b> </b>is the author of the Pinnacle Hotel cozy
mystery series. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a
commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with
their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two
cats, and a corgi named Goku. </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-182565" data-attachment-id="182565" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1637085886","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="SarahGolden AuthorHeadshot1" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SarahGolden-AuthorHeadshot1.jpg" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SarahGolden-AuthorHeadshot1-221x300.jpg" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SarahGolden-AuthorHeadshot1.jpg" data-orig-size="549,746" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/completed-tours-2022/the-socialites-guide-to-murder-a-pinnacle-hotel-mystery-by-s-k-golden/sarahgolden-authorheadshot1/" height="300" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SarahGolden-AuthorHeadshot1-221x300.jpg" width="221" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">She graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in
Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use
approximately zero times. Sarah worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy
technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. She is
delighted to be doing none of those things now. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Author links . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Website: <a href="https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/">https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites/">https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites/</a><br />
Twitter (X): <a href="https://twitter.com/skgoldenwrites">https://twitter.com/skgoldenwrites</a><br />
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/">https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/</a><br />
GoodReads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Purchase links . . . </b><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3KGBhOh" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-socialites-guide-to-death-and-dating-s-k-golden/1142929014?ean=9781639104857" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-socialite-s-guide-to-death-and-dating" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781639104857" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="160" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm74MpG0BCO4K169IKNc7YWbcRz_ScRh6PsIQV_Nc2eZr6FM4xsCGkfthVDL63opjcHHN9e1QT_ZYVso4qFtO3x5BlXUfvuHLsy7KRkej25bon4-1jAHgcrIyb2YeURahEhcsfMRr4RQ19e1sYCshoxK_aHn8jcNzF6I6JU3bZ9k33VhgKvEAJCTIZAgVt/s1600/great-escape-button160-1.jpg" width="160" /> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Tour participants . . .</b></p><p><b>October 5 – <a href="https://jodyjoy.com">Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 5 – <a href="http://www.brookeblogs.com">Brooke Blogs</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 5 – <a href="http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 6 – <a href="http://www.birdhouse-books.com">View from the Birdhouse</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 6 – <a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 6 – <a href="https://janereads2.blogspot.com/">Jane Reads</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 7 – <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 7 – <a href="https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com">Guatemala Paula Loves to Read</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 7 – <a href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 8 – <a href="https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/">Cozy Up With Kathy</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 8 – <a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/">Celticlady’s Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 8 – <a href="https://www.storeybookreviews.com/">StoreyBook Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 9 – <a href="https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/">Ascroft, eh?</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 9 – <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 9 – <a href="https://www.ladyhawkeye.com/">Lady Hawkeye</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 10 – <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 10 – <a href="https://christyscozycorners.com/">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 10 – <a href="https://baronessbooktrove.com">Baroness Book Trove</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 11 – <a href="http://fuonlyknew.com/">FUONLYKNEW</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>October 11 – <a href="https://www.literaryau.com">Literary Gold</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>October 11 – <a href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Note . . . </b>I received a complimentary copy of <i>The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating </i>from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Book Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" style="color: #001999; text-decoration-line: none;">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span></p><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><p><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78098054-the-socialite-s-guide-to-death-and-dating"> </a>
<span class="a-text-bold"></span></p><p></p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-71920544417461033382023-09-21T21:00:00.001-04:002023-09-21T21:00:00.145-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> <br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Today I'm featuring a current read, <i>Hello Beautiful </i>by Ann Napolitano. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1687803098i/61771675.jpg" width="211" /></p><p> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>William, February 1960--December 1978</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>For the first six days of William Waters's life, he was not an only child. </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>Julia found herself strangely unprepared for their honeymoon, which took place at a resort on the shore of Lake Michigan. She'd spent so much time and energy planning the wedding that she hadn't given much thought to her and William's trip.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>I am thoroughly enjoying this immersive novel with its fascinating characters, complex family relationships, and rich story lines.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><i><span class="Formatted">An emotionally layered and engrossing story of a family that asks: Can love make a broken person whole?<br /><br />William
Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could
hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. So it’s a relief when
his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college,
far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a
spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her
appreciation of his quiet steadiness. With Julia comes her family; she
is inseparable from her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer, is
happiest with her nose in a book and imagines a future different from
the expected path of wife and mother; Cecelia, the family’s artist; and
Emeline, who patiently takes care of all of them. Happily, the Padavanos
fold Julia’s new boyfriend into their loving, chaotic household.<br /><br />But
then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only
Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’
unshakeable loyalty to one another. The result is a catastrophic family
rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that
once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it
matters most?<br /><br />Vibrating with tenderness, </span></i><span class="Formatted">Hello Beautiful </span><i><span class="Formatted">is a
gorgeous, profoundly moving portrait of what’s possible when we choose
to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.</span></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-32803667262421329792023-09-14T21:00:00.001-04:002023-09-14T21:00:00.143-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p> <img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Rose City Reader</a>, 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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Freda's Voice</a>, 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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a><br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Today I'm featuring a recent read, <i>Zero Days </i>by Ruth Ware. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686092690i/62919765.jpg" width="212" /></p><p> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>Saturday, February 4 -- Minus Eight Days</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>The wall around the perimeter was child's play.</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>I felt my rage deflate inside me like a pricked balloon, leaving only an intense weariness, close to despair. I felt my shoulders droop.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>I've read most of Ruth Ware's novels and she continues to surprise me with her originality. Her ability to create each new story with settings and characters that are so vastly different from her previous novels is amazing and what keeps me coming back for more.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>Zero Days </i>takes readers into the world of computer hacking and security monitoring, where the stakes can be incredibly breathtaking. Secrets and information are highly prized and dangerous in the wrong hands, as Jack learns when her husband is murdered. Who killed Gabe and why? </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">When Jack becomes the main murder suspect, she must rely on her wits and steely grit as she descends into a high stakes game of cat and mouse with the police and the real murderer. With the odds stacked against her, will Jack bring Gabe's murderer to justice, or die trying? </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">This fast-paced, thrilling novel has unexpected twists and turns, demonstrating that Ruth Ware is one of the best writers of contemporary suspense.</p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b></b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted"><i>Ruth Ware returns with this adrenaline-fueled
thriller about a woman in a race against time to clear her name and
find her husband’s murderer.<br /><br />Hired by companies to break into
buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are
the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine
assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband
dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their
suspect—her.</i></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span></span></span></span><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div><span><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></b></b></span></div>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-26172769005000606622023-09-07T21:00:00.001-04:002023-09-07T21:00:00.154-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> <br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Today I'm featuring a current read, <i>The Engineer's Wife </i>by Tracey Enerson Wood. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version I borrowed from the library.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569790725l/50204812.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>Washington, DC February 1864</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>The light, sweet honey scent of burning candles did not quite mask the odor of blood and sweat in the makeshift ballroom. </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>When I had regained my strength, I accompanied Wash on research trips, sometimes leaving Johnny with the Roebling clan. Words like "caisson" and "quoin" became as familiar to me as "cat" and "dog." </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I am enjoying this story about a strong female protagonist and her role in the construction of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge that connects the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. I've driven over it many times (as recently as last month)--and you can also walk across it. The views are quite spectacular.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted"><i>She
built a monument for all time. Then she was lost in its shadow.
Discover the fascinating woman who helped design and construct the
Brooklyn Bridge.</i></span></p><div class="TruncatedContent__text TruncatedContent__text--large TruncatedContent__text--expanded" data-testid="contentContainer" tabindex="-1"><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph"><div class="DetailsLayoutRightParagraph__widthConstrained"><span class="Formatted"><i><br />Emily Roebling refuses to live
conventionally—she knows who she is and what she wants, and she's
determined to make change. But then her husband asks the unthinkable:
give up her dreams to make his possible.<br /><br />Emily's fight for
women's suffrage is put on hold, and her life transformed when her
husband Washington Roebling, the Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge,
is injured on the job. Untrained for the task, but under his guidance,
she assumes his role, despite stern resistance and overwhelming
obstacles. But as the project takes shape under Emily's direction, she
wonders whose legacy she is building—hers, or her husband's. As the
monument rises, Emily's marriage, principles, and identity threaten to
collapse. When the bridge finally stands finished, will she recognize
the woman who built it?<br /><br />Based on the true story of an American icon, </i>The Engineer's Wife<i>
delivers an emotional portrait of a woman transformed by a project of
unfathomable scale, which takes her into the bowels of the East River,
suffragette riots, the halls of Manhattan's elite, and the heady,
freewheeling temptations of P.T. Barnum. The biography of a husband and
wife determined to build something that lasts—even at the risk of losing
each other.</i></span></div></div></div><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span></span></span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-45002496939028778202023-07-06T21:00:00.001-04:002023-07-06T21:00:00.156-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes To Start the Weekend<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> <br /></li></ul><p>Today I'm featuring a recent read, <i>An American in Scotland </i>by Lucy Connelly, the first book in the Scottish Isle mystery series. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version I borrowed from the library.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1665040103i/62892778.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b> <i>Scotland was gorgeous--even more than I'd imagined. Any
last-minute doubts I'd had about moving across the pond, leaving
everything and everyone behind at home in Seattle, were gone.</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b> <i>"It's terrible, but I don't think there's a soul that lives here who will miss him."</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b><span class="Formatted">Sea Isle, Scotland is half a world away from
Seattle--and this is how much distance former ER doctor Emilia (Em)
McRoy feels she must put between herself and her former life. Reeling
from a traumatic personal experience, Em believes the picturesque
coastal town will afford her a new start. Yet life as the only doctor in
town is off to a bumpy beginning when Em finds the lifeless body of a local man just
hours after she had words with him in one of the town's pubs. <br /><br />Constable
Ewan Campbell is eager to write the death off as accidental--the result
of a drunken fall. Based on the injuries, however, Em suspects foul
play. The victim is the most ornery soul in town, with more enemies than
friends--begging the question, who killed Smithy and why? Moreover,
will Em find the killer or become the next victim before she gets her
chance at a new life?<br /><br />An American in Scotland is a charming cozy
mystery centered around a competent and likable protagonist in search of
a fresh start and the eclectic mix of residents who welcome the
much-needed doctor to their rugged locale. While the murder mystery
propels the story forward, more engaging are the personal relationships
that develop along the way.</span></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted"><i>The small idyllic town of Sea Isle, Scotland,
harbors some dark secrets, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is determined to uncover
all of them—no matter what the diagnosis in this charming cozy, sure to
enchant fans of Sheila Connolly and Charlene O’Connor.<br /><br />Sea Isle
was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of. Far from
the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to
settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the
quirky residents who immediately welcomed her. When she stumbles across a
dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the
drama and intrigue as she initially thought.<br /><br />Emilia soon learns
she has bigger issues at hand. It starts with realizing she’ll work
closely with the less than helpful local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell.
Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new
responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found.
Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the
autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact,
occur. The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more
suspicious she becomes. And then there are her sleep issues. It may be
due to the ever-growing list of suspects, a number of threatening
letters, or the surprise visitor who breaks into her house at night. But
she’s never backed down before, and she doesn’t intend to start now.<br /><br />Someone
doesn’t want this doctor to treat the ailments of Sea Isle, but Emilia
McRoy is determined to find the murderer before they kilt again.</i></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-74135289828872782282023-06-23T00:00:00.025-04:002023-06-23T00:00:00.151-04:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Collecting Can Be Murder by Jennifer S. Alderson<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xbEjBIvhAhBiKXfnMecPs8r4HYcDRB5NKeV0ANJIOX6ZUi_0VwBNS9j9GakZNRTvbOMK6fESMO6R7uAicxu2_n6PRaBiD6nppRr46YsKdxl_PZGBJOvUS5xWqnKLYcIOVXic0Fv3O_pb5V3KqbJr-PxGidD9W3rPnRSH_RUdUxu293oKyX-QhS2v3gV1/s640/COLLECTING-CAN-BE-MURDER-640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="640" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xbEjBIvhAhBiKXfnMecPs8r4HYcDRB5NKeV0ANJIOX6ZUi_0VwBNS9j9GakZNRTvbOMK6fESMO6R7uAicxu2_n6PRaBiD6nppRr46YsKdxl_PZGBJOvUS5xWqnKLYcIOVXic0Fv3O_pb5V3KqbJr-PxGidD9W3rPnRSH_RUdUxu293oKyX-QhS2v3gV1/w572-h302/COLLECTING-CAN-BE-MURDER-640.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Today I'm participating in the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Collecting Can Be Murder </i>Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below.</p><p><b>About the book . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG7Agr3BoSc1FBfYNAXkxCQKp1cv92cTvT4PlDk-eFCASivnKLQMWLwdsBLerRmFIsY3XW8yWOeqqyc3XTBi7pXiXiErLGxMm-JUhXFIDT0y6xG_koTmg2tzyfn0tPi4T481IZO0wJwKGOMz_eo-wYN6t9xYxQli5JFgONTb9YCPaKSYkJZFSInz65ymE/s500/124276525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG7Agr3BoSc1FBfYNAXkxCQKp1cv92cTvT4PlDk-eFCASivnKLQMWLwdsBLerRmFIsY3XW8yWOeqqyc3XTBi7pXiXiErLGxMm-JUhXFIDT0y6xG_koTmg2tzyfn0tPi4T481IZO0wJwKGOMz_eo-wYN6t9xYxQli5JFgONTb9YCPaKSYkJZFSInz65ymE/w266-h400/124276525.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Collecting Can Be Murder </i>(Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries)</b></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Cozy Mystery</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">1st in Series</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Setting – France</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Traveling Life Press (May 31, 2023)</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Approximately 250 Pages</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Digital ASIN : B0BZPHKHGQ</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124276525-collecting-can-be-murder" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-10339 size-full" data-attachment-id="10339" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="goodreads-badge-add-plus" data-large-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-medium-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-orig-file="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" data-orig-size="130,41" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2013/06/05/cozy-wednesday-with-author-janet-bolin-giveaway-too/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47/" decoding="async" height="41" loading="lazy" src="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; isolation: isolate; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="130" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 1.5em;"></blockquote></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Synopsis . . . </b>Coming out of retirement can be deadly . . .</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After tragedy struck three years earlier, art sleuth Carmen De Luca vowed to never work in the field again. But fifty is too young to fill her days with water aerobics and bingo, so when her former partner calls and begs for her help, Carmen gladly agrees.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yet after their first assignment--the recovery of a rare medieval prayer book from an eccentric collector living in rural France--goes horribly wrong, Carmen ends up in the crosshairs of both the local police and a murderer!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With her target dead the the stolen book missing, she and her partner will have to pull out all of the stops to sleuth out the true killer's identity before their stay in France becomes permanent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Introducing Carmen De Luca, an art sleuth with a nose for mystery and the job of locating valuable artwork stolen from museums around the world. If you love strong and resourceful heroines, puzzling mysteries, and a dash of art history, pick up <i>Collecting Can Be Murder</i> now!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My review . . . </b>A group of wealthy business associates gather at Villa Saint Marie, the French country estate of rare book collector Harold Moreau for an auction of his prized medieval prayer books. Also present are his wife, adult children, and Carmen De Luca and Lady Sophie Rutherford--undercover employees from the Rosewood Agency specializing in the recovery of stolen art objects. Amidst a raging major storm on the Breton coast, Harold is killed in his library by a toppling bookcase and his copy of the Avron Book of Hours goes missing. Carmen and Sophie believe this valuable manuscript was originally stolen from an Ohio museum and are on assignment to retrieve it. Where is the book now? But more importantly, who killed Harold and why?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The murder suspects are dramatic and plentiful, as are the possible motives of greed, jealousy, desperation, and betrayal. It is up to Carmen to investigate until the police can physically reach the remote location days later--and she's a bit rusty after three years away from this type of surveillance and reconnaissance work following the tragic death of her husband while on a similar assignment. Can she identify the killer among them without suffering a similar fate and recover the rare tome without blowing her cover?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Collecting Can Be Murder </i>is Agatha Christie-esque in its locked-room setting and cast of characters. The protagonist, Carmen De Luca, is a vibrant, intelligent art professional ready to re-embrace life after personal loss and return to the field she loves. She is steadfast and likable, and her work relationship with Lady Sophie--her polar opposite--creates an entertaining vibe and scenario. Having successfully navigated her re-entry into art sleuthing, Carmen is ready for further assignments, the next of which will be in Belgium. I'm ready to join Carmen in her future exploits, because reading a Jennifer S. Alderson novel guarantees an intriguing mystery and armchair travel to appealing locales.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter the giveaway contest for a $20 Amazon gift by clicking on <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921514/?widget_template=56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" target="_blank"><b>this link.</b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>About the author . . . </b>Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, grew up in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she lived in Darwin, Australia before finally settling in the Netherlands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf8jR-anT6JubAGNUESiMBO7KGK4gjgRU7GqROy1PfRb_vLBeMtjNOkS2JfgiLq8643DP_yRFYfA18xrlq-fs3Z3fW6KCHFnxCTSNUecYWqDtyOdRRF7co_euIko5LMH5FPyU2krW_BaMRyiYix1iY53au2342GkaQVMieR7elo8vE6YoZ0vwKmDK_zKs/s400/JenniferSAldersonAuthorPhoto_Twitter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf8jR-anT6JubAGNUESiMBO7KGK4gjgRU7GqROy1PfRb_vLBeMtjNOkS2JfgiLq8643DP_yRFYfA18xrlq-fs3Z3fW6KCHFnxCTSNUecYWqDtyOdRRF7co_euIko5LMH5FPyU2krW_BaMRyiYix1iY53au2342GkaQVMieR7elo8vE6YoZ0vwKmDK_zKs/s320/JenniferSAldersonAuthorPhoto_Twitter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Jennifer's love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mysteries, her Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and her Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">When not writing, she can be found perusing a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author links . . . </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Website: <a href="http://www.jennifersalderson.com">http://www.jennifersalderson.com</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JenniferSAldersonauthor">http://www.facebook.com/JenniferSAldersonauthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/JSAauthor">https://twitter.com/JSAauthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/JSAauthor">https://instagram.com/JSAauthor</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bookbub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-s-alderson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-s-alderson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/JennifeSAlderson">https://www.goodreads.com/JennifeSAlderson</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Purchase Link . . . </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collecting-Murder-Carmen-Sleuth-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0BZPHKHGQ?&linkCode=sl1&tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=978943a65510758b19304e947df67419&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm74MpG0BCO4K169IKNc7YWbcRz_ScRh6PsIQV_Nc2eZr6FM4xsCGkfthVDL63opjcHHN9e1QT_ZYVso4qFtO3x5BlXUfvuHLsy7KRkej25bon4-1jAHgcrIyb2YeURahEhcsfMRr4RQ19e1sYCshoxK_aHn8jcNzF6I6JU3bZ9k33VhgKvEAJCTIZAgVt/s160/great-escape-button160-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="160" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm74MpG0BCO4K169IKNc7YWbcRz_ScRh6PsIQV_Nc2eZr6FM4xsCGkfthVDL63opjcHHN9e1QT_ZYVso4qFtO3x5BlXUfvuHLsy7KRkej25bon4-1jAHgcrIyb2YeURahEhcsfMRr4RQ19e1sYCshoxK_aHn8jcNzF6I6JU3bZ9k33VhgKvEAJCTIZAgVt/s1600/great-escape-button160-1.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Tour Participants </b></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 12 – <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/2023/06/12/collecting-can-be-murder-by-jennifer-s-alderson-book-tour-and-giveaway/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 12 – <a href="http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/06/spotlight-collecting-can-be-murder.html" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Socrates Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 12 – <a href="https://debbiedelouise.com/2023/06/12/guest-post-and-blog-tour-for-collecting-can-be-murder-a-carmen-de-luca-art-sleuth-mystery-by-jennifer-s-alderson/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Ruff Drafts</a> – AUTHOR GUEST POST</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 13 – <a href="https://baronessbooktrove.com/collecting-can-be-murder-by-jennifer-s-alderson/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Baroness Book Trove</a> – REVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 13 – <a href="https://bookreviewvirginialee.com/2023/06/13/collecting-can-be-murder-great-escapes-tour/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 14 – <a href="https://christyscozycorners.com/2023/06/collecting-can-be-murder-interview/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 14 – <a href="http://www.brookeblogs.com/collecting-can-be-murder-by-jennifer-s-alderson-spotlight-giveaway/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Brooke Blogs</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 15 – <a href="https://www.jenniferfaye.com/guest-post-collecting-can-be-murder-a-carmen-de-luca-art-sleuth-mystery-by-jennifer-s-alderson-cozymystery-books-readers/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Hearts & Scribbles</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 15 – <a href="https://indieauthorbookreviews.com/2023/06/15/collecting-can-be-murder/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Indie Author Book Reviews</a> – AUTHOR GUEST POST</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 16 – <a href="https://teresatrent.blog/2023/06/16/collecting-can-be-murder/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Books to the Ceiling</a> – SPOTLIGHT – PODCAST</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 16 – <a href="https://t.co/XzdoZDGwqu" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Novels Alive</a> – REVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 17 – <a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/2023/06/collecting-can-be-murder-carmen-de-luca.html" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Celticlady’s Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 17 – <a href="https://mjbreviewers.wordpress.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">MJB Reviewers</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 18 – <a href="https://fuonlyknew.com/2023/06/18/collecting-can-be-murder-a-carmen-de-luca-art-sleuth-mystery-by-jennifer-s-alderson/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">FUONLYKNEW</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 18 – <a href="https://storeybookreviews.com/2023/06/guest-post-giveaway-collecting-can-be-murder/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">StoreyBook Reviews</a> – CHARACTER GUEST POST</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 19 – <a href="https://thebookdecoder.com/2023/06/19/interview-with-jennifer-s-alderson/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">The Book Decoder</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 19 – <a href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2023/06/collecting-can-be-murder-carmen-de-luca.html" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 20 – <a href="https://www.literaryau.com/2023/06/collecting-can-be-murder.html" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Literary Gold</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 20 – <a href="https://themysterysection01.blogspot.com/2023/06/collecting-can-be-murder-carmen-de-luca.html" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">The Mystery Section</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 21 – <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/2023/06/21/book-review-and-a-giveaway-collecting-can-be-murder-by-jennifer-s-alderson/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> – REVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 22 – <a href="https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Ascroft, eh?</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 22 – <a href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – REVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 23 – <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 23 – <a href="http://www.birdhouse-books.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">View from the Birdhouse</a> – REVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 24 – <a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 24 – <a href="https://janereads2.blogspot.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Jane Reads</a> – CHARACTER GUEST POST</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: times;">June 25 – <a href="https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Cozy Up With Kathy</a> – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Note . . . </b>I received a complimentary copy of <i>Collecting Can Be Murder </i>from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" style="color: #001999; text-decoration-line: none;">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.</span></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-44836273211479095022023-05-19T00:00:00.001-04:002023-05-19T00:00:00.140-04:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Earl Grey and Shallow Graves by Victoria Tait<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-186198" data-attachment-id="186198" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="EARL GREY BANNER 640" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/EARL-GREY-BANNER-640.jpg?fit=640%2C306&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/EARL-GREY-BANNER-640.jpg?fit=300%2C143&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/EARL-GREY-BANNER-640.jpg?fit=640%2C306&ssl=1" data-orig-size="640,306" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/earl-grey-and-shallow-graves-a-british-cozy-murder-mystery-with-a-female-sleuth-a-waterwheel-cafe-mystery-by-victoria-tait/earl-grey-banner-640/" height="287" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/EARL-GREY-BANNER-640.jpg?resize=640%2C306&ssl=1" width="600" /> <br /></p><p>Today I'm participating in the <i><b>Earl Grey and Shallow Graves </b></i>Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and
author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below. </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>About the book . . .</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Earl Grey and Shallow Graves: A British…" class="gr-mediaBox__media gr-book__image" data-reactid=".irffdd8c9u.0.1.$=1$128299453.0.0" data-tracking-dfp="true" data-tracking-pmet="{"click_type":"book_image"}" height="400" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681212642i/128299453._SY180_.jpg" width="267" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Earl Grey and Shallow Graves </b></i><b>(A Waterwheel Cafe Mystery)</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Cozy Mystery</b><br />
<b>1st in Series</b><br />
<b>Setting – England</b><br />
<b>Kanga Press (May 19, 2023)</b><br />
<b>Number of Pages: 240</b><br />
<b>Digital ASIN : B0BXQL5YS5 </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128299453-earl-grey-and-shallow-graves" target="_blank">GoodReads Page</a> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Synopsis . . .</b> A 30-year-old skeleton. A missing girl. Can a community police officer read the tea leaves or will a deadly secret remain buried for ever?<br /><br />Sergeant Keya Varma is delighted with her new part-time role as the Cotswolds’ Rural Engagement Officer. She’s also fulfilling her dream of opening a small neighbourhood café. But she gets herself into a stew with renovation works when builders unearth a young girl’s remains.<br /><br />While Keya and her police colleagues gain ground reviewing the unsolved disappearance of a local girl, her brief taste of success turns to dust when a friend is found dead at her tea shop. Confusion over identities threatens to bury the investigation and our junior police officer is worried that justice won’t be served.<br /><br />Can Keya dig into the mystery and uncover the real culprit?<br /><br /><i>Earl Grey and Shallow Graves</i> is the first book in The Waterwheel Café series. If you’ve enjoyed the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series, then you’ll love meeting some of your favourite characters and making new friends in Victoria Tait’s intriguing British cozy mystery.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>My review . . .</b>Sergeant Keya Varma of the Gloucester Police is used to dealing with minor incidents while maintaining a reassuring police presence in her placid Cotswold village. All that changes, however, with the discovery of a skeleton on the site of the old flour mill that Keya is renovating into the long-awaited cafe of her dreams . . . </p><p style="text-align: left;">It seems fairly obvious to residents that the remains are those of a young girl who disappeared without a trace some thirty-odd years ago. But how did she die? Not long after an investigation is opened, the body of a woman who recently returned to the village after years away is found--also at the cafe construction site. Both victims--once childhood friends--were murdered. Are their deaths related? Why were they killed and who is responsible for these shocking acts?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Earl Grey and Shallow Graves </i>is an appealing start to the Waterwheel Cafe cozy mystery series. The story features a complexly interesting plot that weaves together two murders set three decades apart and a dynamic, methodical protagonist who is up to the task of handling the investigation's many twists and turns in stride--all whilst gracefully managing the complicated demands of a major restoration project and an upcoming family wedding.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Spending time in Victoria Tait's quaint English setting with its likeable heroine, eccentric supporting characters, local social landmarks, and endless cups of tea is a delightful reading experience. And, best of all, Keya's life situation creates a keen interest in her future exploits and many directions for series growth. I look forward to what lies ahead in the next installment and beyond.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter the "Fabulous at 50" giveaway by clicking on <a href="https://kingsumo.com/g/d3c7l8/fabulous-at-50-giveaway" target="_blank">this link.</a><b> </b> It's your chance to win <i>Earl Grey and Shallow Graves</i> and <i>The Ghost of Glengullion Castle</i> plus a $20 Amazon Gift Card.</p><section id="giveaway-description"><div class="pt-4 pb-5"><p>Bonus: Download free books and earn extra entries!</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>About the author . . . </b> Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and never expected to travel the
world. She's drawn on her experiences following her military husband to
write cozy murder mystery books with vivid and evocative settings. Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of
helpers, and you’ll experience surprises, humour, and sometimes, a tug
on your heartstrings. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-186200" data-attachment-id="186200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="victoria tait" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/victoria-tait.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/victoria-tait.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/victoria-tait.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/earl-grey-and-shallow-graves-a-british-cozy-murder-mystery-with-a-female-sleuth-a-waterwheel-cafe-mystery-by-victoria-tait/victoria-tait-2/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/victoria-tait.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1" width="200" /></p>
</div>
</section><p style="text-align: justify;">After reading Keya’s first
book, why not join her and her friends as they solve more mysteries in Tait's Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series, also based in the
Cotswolds? Visit <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TMJFL7L">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TMJFL7L</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">And if you like tea, cakes, and books, you are invited to join the author's TeaCozy Club for regular news and updates. You'll also receive a free book gift by visiting <a href="http://victoriatait.com/">VictoriaTait.com</a></p>
<p>Who doesn’t like tea, cake, and a slice of murder?</p><p> </p><p><b>Author links . . .</b></p><p>Website: <a href="https://victoriatait.com/">https://victoriatait.com/</a></p>
<p>Book Bub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait</a></p>
<p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/</a></p>
<p>Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/_saved/">https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/_saved/</a></p>
<p>GoodReads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait</a></p><p> </p>
<p><b>Purchase link . . . <a href="https://amzn.to/3Kd4PDy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Blog Tours" height="193" id="Image6_img" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSM_IU-WqGo/Uusejy1oORI/AAAAAAAAAho/5n0347QkCZE/s1600/great%2Bescape%2Bbutton%2Btour%2Bhost%2Bbutton.jpg" style="visibility: visible;" width="175" /><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Tour participants . . .</b></p><p><b>May 19 – <a href="http://angelsguiltypleasures.com">Angel’s Guilty Pleasures</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 19 – <a href="https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/">Ascroft, eh?</a> – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>May 19 – <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>May 19 – <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 20 – <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> – AUTHOR GUEST POST</b></p>
<p><b>May 20 – <a href="https://constructiveindieauthorservices.wordpress.com/">Indie Author Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 21 – <a href="http://fuonlyknew.com/">FUONLYKNEW</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 21 – <a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 22 – <a href="https://baronessbooktrove.com">Baroness Book Trove</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 22 – <a href="https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/">Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic</a> – CHARACTER GUEST POST</b></p>
<p><b>May 22 – <a href="http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/">Nadaness In Motion</a> – REVIEW*</b></p>
<p><b>May 23 – <a href="http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/">Socrates Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 23 – <a href="https://christyscozycorners.com/">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – REVIEW </b></p>
<p><b>May 23 – <a href="https://debbiedelouise.com/">Ruff Drafts</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 24 – <a href="https://www.literaryau.com">Literary Gold</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 24 – <a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/">CelticLady’s Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 24 – <a href="https://mahinastate.org/blog/">Island Confidential</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 25 – <a href="http://novelsalive.com">Novels Alive</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>May 25 – <a href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>May 25 – <a href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 26 – <a href="https://www.jenniferfaye.com/hearts-scribbles/">Hearts & Scribbles</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 26 – <a href="https://janereads2.blogspot.com">Jane Reads</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>May 27 – <a href="http://www.fundinmental.com">fundinmental</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 27 – <a href="http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p>
<p><b>May 28 – <a href="https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com">Guatemala Paula Loves to Read</a> – REVIEW</b></p>
<p><b>May 28 – <a href="http://www.brookeblogs.com">Brooke Blogs</a> – SPOTLIGHT</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or
compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span><p><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-67715575627518218142023-05-04T21:00:00.001-04:002023-05-04T21:00:00.146-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> <br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Today I'm featuring a current read, <i>Where Are The Children Now? </i>by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.<br /></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666801947i/58438656.jpg" width="264" /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>Prologue</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>She could feel the damp evening winds coming in through the cracks around the windowpanes. </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>"Or 'Helen'"--she made air quotes with her fingers--"made up the whole story and is a lying scoundrel hiding out with his mistress for a few weeks."</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>If you've ever read a Mary Higgins Clark novel, you know that even the simplest opening sentence can send chills up one's spine. This book is the sequel to <i>Where Are The Children?</i>--a wildly popular read when it was first published decades ago--a book that established MHC as the queen of suspense. After all these years, it is nice to revisit with the characters from the original story, who once again find themselves in a perilous situation. <br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><i><span class="Formatted">The legacy of the “Queen of Suspense” continues with the highly anticipated follow-up to Mary Higgins Clark’s iconic novel Where Are The Children?, featuring the children of Nancy Harmon, facing peril once again as adults.<br /><br />Of the fifty-six bestsellers the “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark published in her lifetime, </span></i><span class="Formatted">Where Are the Children?
</span><i><span class="Formatted">was her biggest, selling millions of copies and forever transforming
the genre of suspense fiction. In that story, a young California mother
named Nancy Harmon was convicted of murdering her two children. Though
released on a technicality, she was abandoned by her husband and became
such a pariah in the media that she was forced to move across the
country to Cape Cod, change her identity and appearance, and start a new
life. Years later her two children from a second marriage, Mike and
Melissa, would go missing, and Nancy yet again became the prime
suspect—but this time, Nancy was able to confront the secrets buried in
her past and rescue her kids from a dangerous predator.<br /><br />Now, more
than four decades since readers first met Nancy and her children, comes
the thrilling sequel to the groundbreaking book that set the stage for
future generations of psychological suspense novels. A lawyer turned
successful podcaster, Melissa has recently married a man whose first
wife died tragically, leaving him and their young daughter, Riley,
behind. While Melissa and her brother, Mike, help their mom, Nancy,
relocate from Cape Cod to the equally idyllic Hamptons, Melissa’s new
stepdaughter goes missing. Drawing on the experience of their own
abduction, Melissa and Mike race to find Riley to save her from the
trauma they still struggle with—or worse.<br /><br />Just like the original, </span></i><span class="Formatted">Where Are The Children Now?</span><i><span class="Formatted"> keeps readers guessing and holding their breath until the very last page.</span></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-90813732863046462502023-04-20T21:00:00.001-04:002023-04-20T21:00:00.222-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> <br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Today I'm featuring my current read, <i>The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey </i>by Serena Burdick. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover edition borrowed from the library.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661865007i/58939851.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>Prologue</i></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>This will go on forever, life and death, stretching out over the expansive body of water, chill and slick and seductive against my skin. </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>Normally she dated damaged men--capricious and erratic, men who wore their internal scars like fashion, a sexy handicap.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>Questions abound in this dual timeline novel about two women trying to make their way in the world each inhabits. Evelyn mysteriously disappears and is presumed dead<span class="Formatted">—</span>was it her husband's doing? Abigail doesn't know who her father is<span class="Formatted">—</span>do she and Evelyn share ancestry? This engrossing read has me turning pages quickly, wanting to unravel the family secrets. <br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted"><em>What if you could write a new ending for yourself?</em><br /><br />England,
1898. When Evelyn first married the famous novelist William Aubrey, she
was dazzled by his brilliance. But their newlywed bliss is brief when
William is gripped by writer’s block, and he becomes jealous of Evelyn’s
writing talent. When he commits the ultimate betrayal—stealing a draft
of her novel and passing it off as his own—Evelyn decides to write her
way out of their unhappy marriage.<br /><br />California, 2006. Abigail
always wondered about her father, his identity forever lost when her
mother unexpectedly died. Or so Abigail thought, until she stumbled upon
his photo and a message that her great-great-grandmother was the author
Evelyn Aubrey, leading Abigail on a journey to England in search for
answers. There, she learns of Evelyn’s shocking disappearance and how
London society believed she was murdered. But from what she uncovers
about Evelyn, Abigail believes her brilliant great-great-grandmother had
another plot up her sleeve.<br /><br />Rich in atmosphere and emotion, <em>The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey</em> tells the story of literary secrets, a family curse and the lengths women will go to take charge of their future. <br /></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-87190544789979880022023-04-13T21:00:00.023-04:002023-04-13T21:00:00.201-04:00Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="200" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="147" /><img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33835 lazyloaded" data-pin-title="First Line Friday (week 336): Vinegar Boy" data-src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" data-srcset="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png 560w, https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new-300x169.png 300w" height="181" src="https://readingismysuperpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-line-friday-new.png" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /></p><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>First Line Friday </b>hosted by <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> <br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Today I'm featuring my current read, <i>The Villa </i>by Rachel Hawkins. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651426717i/60784641.jpg" width="260" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Book Beginning/First Line: </b><i>Somewhere around the time she started calling herself "Chess," I realized I might actually hate my best friend.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>It feels a little like one of those nights now, the two of us alone in this quiet house. But instead of the sad little duplex with its peeling linoleum and secondhand furniture, we're in a </i>villa, <i>an Italian villa Chess was able to rent, because despite her kind of dysfunctional and sad childhood, she's done . . . this. All of this.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b><i>The Villa </i>is told in dual timelines, both of which revolve around a house in Italy. In the 1970's, it was the site of a sensational crime. This past history captures the imagination of one of its current summer residents, an author with a case of writer's block, who is sharing the villa with her childhood friend who is a more successful author. I'm one hundred pages in and the suspense is building, with relationship parallels between the two sisters from that fateful summer and the two best friends in the present. The sisters experienced some dark things--will the friends share a similar outcome? Having read other novels by Rachel Hawkins, I'm wondering what is in store for these two friends<span class="Formatted">––</span>and for readers.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted">From <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author
Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an
Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.<br /><br />As
kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond
has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess
suggests a girls' trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect
with her best friend.<br /><br />Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end
holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented
for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to
reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce
Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her
stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that
leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time,
Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.<br /><br />As
Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think
there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That
perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock &
roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have
occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works
that Mari and Lara left behind.<br /><br />Yet the closer that Emily gets to
the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess.
As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals
from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will
claim another victim before the summer ends.</span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </b></b></span></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">This
Friday Focus: Bookish Memes to Start the Weekend post was originally
composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog,
bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span></span></span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-52240676933200497692023-04-12T00:00:00.008-04:002023-04-12T00:00:00.240-04:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn<p style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-184930" data-attachment-id="184930" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="DIGGING UP DAISY BANNER 448 1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DIGGING-UP-DAISY-BANNER-448-1.jpg?fit=448%2C214&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DIGGING-UP-DAISY-BANNER-448-1.jpg?fit=300%2C143&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DIGGING-UP-DAISY-BANNER-448-1.jpg?fit=448%2C214&ssl=1" data-orig-size="448,214" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/digging-up-daisy-a-mainely-murder-mystery-by-sherry-lynn/digging-up-daisy-banner-448-1/" height="214" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DIGGING-UP-DAISY-BANNER-448-1.jpg?resize=448%2C214&ssl=1" width="448" /></p><p>Today I'm participating in the <i><b>Digging Up Daisy</b> </i>Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and
author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below. </p><p> </p><p><b>About the book . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-184892" data-attachment-id="184892" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="final-cover-digging" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/final-cover-digging.jpg?fit=262%2C404&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/final-cover-digging.jpg?fit=195%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/final-cover-digging.jpg?fit=262%2C404&ssl=1" data-orig-size="262,404" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/digging-up-daisy-a-mainely-murder-mystery-by-sherry-lynn/final-cover-digging/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="473" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/final-cover-digging.jpg?resize=307%2C473&ssl=1" width="307" /> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Digging Up Daisy </i>(A Mainely Murder Mystery)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><strong>Cozy Mystery</strong><br />
<strong>1st in Series</strong><br />
<strong>Setting – Maine</strong><br />
<strong>Berkley (April 4, 2023)</strong><br />
<strong>Paperback : 304 pages</strong><br />
<strong>ISBN-10 : 0593546652</strong><br />
<strong>ISBN-13 : 978-0593546659</strong><br />
<strong>Digital ASIN : B0B8GQNCBY</strong><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70411261-digging-up-daisy"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-10339 size-full" data-attachment-id="10339" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="goodreads-badge-add-plus" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?fit=130%2C41&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?fit=130%2C41&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?fit=130%2C41&ssl=1" data-orig-size="130,41" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2013/06/05/cozy-wednesday-with-author-janet-bolin-giveaway-too/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47/" height="41" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?resize=130%2C41&ssl=1" width="130" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Synopsis . . . </b>In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living
the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She’s the proud owner
of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set
on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley’s veins are filled with
salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But
one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly’s bed-and-breakfast, the
Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for—a
high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a
case the police had appropriately dubbed the “Cinderella Murder.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her
aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare
away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press?
With Aunt Tilly’s reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line,
Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing
on her aunt’s property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is
Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and
eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>My review . . . </b>Landscaper Kinsley Clark lives in the caretaker's cottage on her Aunt Tilly's ocean view property, a bed-and-breakfast known as the Salty Breeze Inn. Her life is relatively tranquil, revolving around her landscape designs and time spent with friends and neighbors. In the lead up to the town's annual Walk Inns, its open house tour of local bed-and-breakfasts, Kinsley finds herself in unusual circumstances. She's been sprucing up plantings all over town in advance of the event only to find that her efforts are being sabotaged, leaving all of her beautiful flora and fauna wilting and dying. Further complicating issues, Kinsley discovers a lady's high heel buried beneath the shrubbery in Aunt Tilly's garden. Once it's established that the shoe belonged to Daisy Davis, the victim of a recent unsolved murder, Kinsley is concerned that this finding will bring negative publicity to the inn and suspicion to Aunt Tilly's doorstep. Kinsley feels obligated to protect her aunt's reputation and find the killer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Kinsley enlists her best friend Becca and local detective Rachel Hayes to solve the mystery of Daisy's death. Who killed Daisy and why? Will Kinsley expose the truth before she herself becomes the next victim?</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Digging Up Daisy</i>, the first book in the Mainely Murder cozy mystery series, introduces readers to a lively cast of characters. The author hints at several motives and possible suspects, playing up mysterious connections between characters that keep readers engaged in unraveling the clues until the book's final pages. Protagonist Kinsley and her close circle of friends and family are relatable, and the ruggedly beautiful setting is the kind of inviting community that cozy readers will enjoy returning to time and time again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter for a chance to win a print copy of <i>Digging Up Daisy</i> by clicking<b> <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921492/?widget_template=56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" target="_blank">this link.</a><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>About the author . . . </b>Sherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of
Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location
from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for
her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several
pseudonyms. Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but
she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her
hand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author links . . .</b></p><p>PenguinRandomHouse: <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708881/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708881/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/</a></p>
<p>Website: <a href="https://www.sherrylynnbooks.com/">https://www.sherrylynnbooks.com/</a></p>
<p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sherrylynnbooks">https://www.facebook.com/sherrylynnbooks</a></p>
<p>GoodReads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23043674.Sherry_Lynn">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23043674.Sherry_Lynn</a></p>
<p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sherrylynnmysteries/">https://www.instagram.com/sherrylynnmysteries/</a></p><p> </p><p><b>Purchase links . . . </b><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3Xxm4D5" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/digging-up-daisy-sherry-lynn/1141941668?ean=9780593546659" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/digging-up-daisy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Blog Tours" height="193" id="Image6_img" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSM_IU-WqGo/Uusejy1oORI/AAAAAAAAAho/5n0347QkCZE/s1600/great%2Bescape%2Bbutton%2Btour%2Bhost%2Bbutton.jpg" style="visibility: visible;" width="175" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Tour participants . . . </strong></p><p><strong>April 3 – <a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2023/04/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 3 – <a href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/digging-up-daisy-mainely-murder-mystery.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 4 – <a href="https://imintobooks.com/2023/04/04/book-tour-featuring-digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn-dollycas-giveaway/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">I’m Into Books</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 4 – <a href="https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2023/04/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Avid Reader</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 5 – <a href="https://christyscozycorners.com/2023/04/digging-up-daisy-lynn-guest-post/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – AUTHOR GUEST POST</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 5 – <a href="https://ebookaddicts.net">ebook addicts</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 5 – <a href="https://novelsalive.com/2023/04/05/4-star-review-digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Novels Alive</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 6 – <a href="https://mjbreviewers.wordpress.com/2023/04/06/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours-digging-up-daisy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">MJB Reviewers</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 6 – <a href="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2023/04/06/digging-up-daisy-a-mainely-murder-mystery-by-sherry-lynn-review-giveaway-berkleymystery/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 6 – <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/2023/04/06/book-review-and-a-giveaway-digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 7 – <a href="https://www.jenniferfaye.com/giveaway-digging-up-daisy-a-mainely-murder-mystery-by-sherry-lynn-books-cozymystery-readers/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hearts & Scribbles</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 7 – <a href="https://baronessbooktrove.com/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Baroness Book Trove</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 7 – <a href="https://www.storeybookreviews.com/">StoreyBook Reviews</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 8 – <a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/">Celticlady’s Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 8 – <a href="http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 9 – <a href="https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogspot.com/">Books a Plenty Book Reviews</a> – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 9 – <a href="http://www.brookeblogs.com">Brooke Blogs</a> – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE </strong></p>
<p><strong>April 10 – <a href="https://www.literaryau.com">Literary Gold</a> – AUTHOR INTERVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 10 – <a href="http://www.melinathereadercom.com">Melina’s Book Blog</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 11 – <a href="https://www.dianneascroft.com/blog/">Ascroft, eh?</a> – CHARACTER GUEST POST</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 11 – <a href="https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com/">Guatemala Paula Loves to Read</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 12 – <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 12 – <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong> </strong> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Note . . . </b></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I received an advance readers copy of <i>Digging Up Daisy </i>from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or
compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><blockquote>
</blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-41785303928135966512023-04-06T21:00:00.001-04:002023-04-06T21:00:00.192-04:00Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"></h3>
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<p><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="212" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="156" /> <img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></p><div style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li></ul><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">Today I'm featuring a recent read, <i>The Winter Guest </i>by W.C. Ryan. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover edition borrowed from the library.</p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649385041i/60321287.jpg" width="267" /> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"> </p><p style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"> <br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Beginning: </b><i>Kilcolgan House stands at the end of the long drive, caught by a moment of moonlight. Its granite walls, slick with the earlier rain, shine silver; its roof glows; its many large windows are like mirrors to the sky.</i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b><i>In his absence, it seems to Harkin that the shadows in the room grow closer. </i><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b><i>The Winter Guest </i>is an atmospheric murder mystery set in Ireland during the country's civil war. When Maud Prendeville, rebel and IRA hero of the 1916 Easter Rising against British forces, is murdered in an IRA ambush on the grounds of her family's home, Tom Harkin, undercover IRA intelligence officer and Maud's former<span class="Formatted"> fiancé</span>, is sent from Dublin to investigate.<br /><br />Who killed Maud? The IRA claim she survived the ambush and wasn't their target. Is the murderer a member of the British army, or was a friend, neighbor, relative, or spurned lover responsible? Can Tom extract justice for Maud despite being haunted by his memories of her and being impaired by flashbacks from his time in the trenches during World War I?<br /><br />Kilcolgan House, the once-opulent manor where much of the story takes place, is a prominent presence, with ghosts and shadows lurking around every corner. Behind the scenes machinations and the revelation of well-kept secrets move the plot along at a good pace, leading to an unexpected conclusion.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted">January 1921. Though the Great War is over, in
Ireland a new civil war is raging. The once-grand Kilcolgan House, a
crumbling bastion shrouded in sea mist, lies half empty and filled with
ghosts, both real and imagined, while it shelters the surviving members
of the Prendeville family. Then, when an IRA ambush goes terribly wrong,
Maud Prendeville, Lord Kilcolgan’s eldest daughter, is killed, leaving
the family reeling. Yet the IRA column behind the attack insists they
left her alive, that someone else must be responsible for her terrible
fate. Captain Tom Harkin, an IRA intelligence officer and Maud's former
fiancé, is sent to investigate. He becomes an unwelcome guest in this
strange, gloomy household.<br /><br />Working undercover, Harkin must delve
into the house's secrets—and discover where, in this fractured,
embattled town, allegiances truly lie. But Harkin too is haunted by the
ghosts of the past and by his terrible experiences on the battlefields.
Can he find the truth about Maud's death before the past—and his
strange, unnerving surroundings—overwhelm him?<br /><br /><i>The Winter Guest</i>
is a gripping and immersive read for fans of classic mysteries by the
likes of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers along with Charles Todd’s
Ian Rutledge series, Ann Cleeves, and Jacqueline Winspear.</span><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-78835143908835853612023-04-04T00:00:00.001-04:002023-04-04T00:00:00.210-04:00Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-184602" data-attachment-id="184602" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT BANNER 448" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MURDER-IN-POSTSCRIPT-BANNER-448.jpg?fit=448%2C214&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MURDER-IN-POSTSCRIPT-BANNER-448.jpg?fit=300%2C143&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MURDER-IN-POSTSCRIPT-BANNER-448.jpg?fit=448%2C214&ssl=1" data-orig-size="448,214" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-in-postscript-a-lady-of-letters-mystery-by-mary-winters/murder-in-postscript-banner-448/" height="214" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MURDER-IN-POSTSCRIPT-BANNER-448.jpg?resize=448%2C214&ssl=1" width="448" /> <br /></p><p>Today I'm participating in the <i><b>Murder in Postscript</b> </i>Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and
author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below. <br /></p><p></p><p> </p><p><b>About the book . . .</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-184597" data-attachment-id="184597" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MurderinPostscript" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?fit=650%2C1002&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?fit=195%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?fit=1556%2C2400&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1556,2400" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-in-postscript-a-lady-of-letters-mystery-by-mary-winters/murderinpostscript/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="501" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?resize=325%2C501&ssl=1" width="325" /><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Murder in Postscript </i>(A Lady of Letters Mystery)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><strong>Historical Cozy Mystery</strong><br />
<strong>1st in Series</strong><br />
<strong>Setting – Victorian London, 1860</strong><br />
<strong>Berkley (March 28, 2023) </strong><br />
<strong>Paperback : 320 pages</strong><br />
<strong>ISBN-10 : 0593548760</strong><br />
<strong>ISBN-13 : 978-0593548769</strong><br />
<strong>Digital ASIN : B0B5D5HW3K</strong><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61391814-murder-in-postscript"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-10339 size-full" data-attachment-id="10339" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="goodreads-badge-add-plus" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?fit=130%2C41&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?fit=130%2C41&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?fit=130%2C41&ssl=1" data-orig-size="130,41" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2013/06/05/cozy-wednesday-with-author-janet-bolin-giveaway-too/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47/" height="41" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png?resize=130%2C41&ssl=1" width="130" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Synopsis . . . </b>When one of her readers asks for advice
following a suspected murder, Victorian countess Amelia Amesbury, who
secretly pens the popular Lady Agony column, has no choice but to
investigate in this first book in a charming new historical mystery
series.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Amelia Amesbury—widow, mother, and
countess—has a secret. Amelia writes for a London penny paper, doling
out advice on fashion, relationships, and manners under the pen name
Lady Agony. But when a lady’s maid writes Amelia to ask for advice when
she believes her mistress has been murdered—and then ends up a victim
herself—Amelia is determined to solve the case</p><p style="text-align: justify;">With the help of her best friend and a
handsome marquis, Amelia begins to piece together the puzzle, but as
each new thread of inquiry ends with a different suspect, the
investigation grows ever more daunting. From London’s docks and
ballrooms to grand country houses, Amelia tracks a killer, putting her
reputation—and her life—on the line. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>My review . . . </b>Lady Amelia Amesbury became a widow at the tender age of 25, after a two-month marriage. Convention has required a two-year mourning period that has Amelia dressing in black and refraining from social activities. Until recently, the only bright spot in Amelia's life has been her ten-year-old niece Winnifred, the budding piano prodigy Amelia promised her late husband she would raise as a daughter. That is, until Amelia is offered the chance to anonymously write the Lady Agony column in her childhood friend's penny newspaper. Most of the letters she responds to relate to social conduct and relationships, and Amelia cheerfully doles out common sense answers laced with wit and solid advice. Things take a more serious turn, however, when she receives a letter from a maid who thinks her employer was murdered. Amelia agrees to meet the maid, but before she is able to interview her, the maid meets the same fate as the lady she served.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not one to shy away from an intriguing mystery, Amelia recruits her closest female friend Kitty and her late husband's friend Simon Bainbridge to assist in the investigation. As their inquiry proceeds, the elusive killer strikes again and Amelia begins to receive threatening letters warning her to stop her investigation or risk personal harm. Will Amelia expose the killer before she becomes the next victim? Can she do so without her identity as Lady Agony being revealed?</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Murder in Postscript </i>is a delightful beginning to a new historical cozy mystery series set in Victorian London. Its engaging plot is filled with a healthy dose of red herrings and upstairs/downstairs characters. The banter between protagonist Lady Amesbury and Marquis Bainbridge is scintillating and hints at the possibility of a future romance between two characters who have each suffered a devastating personal loss. And, best of all, after the murders are solved, the author uses a very clever hook to leave readers craving more. The series is off to a solid start, with great potential for a long run.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Giveaway . . . </b>Enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card by clicking <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921491/?widget_template=56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" target="_blank">this link.</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>About the author . . .</b> <b></b>Mary Winters is the author of <em>Murder in Postscript</em>,
the debut novel in A Lady of Letters Mystery series. A longtime reader
of historical fiction and an author of two other mystery series, Mary
set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip
to London.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-184600" data-attachment-id="184600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="<p>© Julie Prairie Photography 2016</p>
" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"Julie Prairie Photography","camera":"NIKON D850","caption":"\u00a9 Julie Prairie Photography 2016","created_timestamp":"1652309680","copyright":"Julie Prairie Photography 2020","focal_length":"55","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"\u00a9 Julie Prairie Photography 2016","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="© Julie Prairie Photography 2016" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mary-Winters-smaller.jpg?fit=427%2C640&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mary-Winters-smaller.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mary-Winters-smaller.jpg?fit=427%2C640&ssl=1" data-orig-size="427,640" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-in-postscript-a-lady-of-letters-mystery-by-mary-winters/julie-prairie-photography-2016-3/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mary-Winters-smaller.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Julie Prairie Photography 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery—and
another trip! Find out more about Mary and her writing at <a href="http://www.marywintersauthor.com/">marywintersauthor.com</a>. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Author links . . . <br /></b></p><p>Website: <a href="http://www.Marywintersauthor.com">http://www.Marywintersauthor.com</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://www.Marywintersauthor.com/blog">http://www.Marywintersauthor.com/blog</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/marywintersauthor">http://www.Facebook.com/marywintersauthor</a><br />
Instagram: <a href="http://www.Instagram.com/marywintersauthor">http://www.Instagram.com/marywintersauthor</a><br />
GoodReads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61391814-murder-in-postscript">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61391814-murder-in-postscript</a></p><p> </p><p><b>Purchase links . . .</b></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3Y6Z5zk" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon</strong></a><strong><br />
</strong><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8373827-11819508?sid=PRHEFFDF5A7F1&url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=9780593548769"><strong>Barnes & Noble</strong></a><strong><br />
</strong><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/2186/9780593548769?prhc=PRHEFFDF5A7F1"><strong>Bookshop</strong></a><strong><br />
</strong><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780593548769?aff=penguinrandom"><strong>IndieBound</strong></a><strong><br />
</strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Murder-in-Postscript/dp/B0B6236LHV/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="><strong>Audible</strong></a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong><img alt="Blog Tours" height="193" id="Image6_img" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSM_IU-WqGo/Uusejy1oORI/AAAAAAAAAho/5n0347QkCZE/s1600/great%2Bescape%2Bbutton%2Btour%2Bhost%2Bbutton.jpg" style="visibility: visible;" width="175" /></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Tour Participants . . .</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p><strong>March 28 – <a href="https://christyscozycorners.com/2023/03/murder-postscript-book-review/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Christy’s Cozy Corners</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 28 – <a href="https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2023/03/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours_0881553983.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Maureen’s Musings</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 29 – <a href="https://imintobooks.com/2023/03/29/book-tour-featuring-murder-in-postscript-by-mary-winters-dollycas-giveaway/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">I’m Into Books</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 29 – <a href="http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/03/spotlight-murder-in-postscript-lady-of.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Socrates Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 30 – <a href="https://elzareads.com/blog-tour-review-murder-in-post-script-by-mary-winters/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Elza Reads</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 30 – <a href="https://novelsalive.com/2023/03/30/spotlight-murder-in-postscript-by-mary-winters-plus-giveaway/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Novels Alive</a> – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 31 – <a href="http://www.birdhouse-books.com/2023/03/book-review-and-giveaway-murder-in.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">View from the Birdhouse</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 31 – <a href="http://www.dianesbookjournal.wordpress.com/">Diane’s Book Journal</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 1 – <a href="http://justanotherteenreading.blogspot.com/2023/04/blog-tour-murder-in-postscript-review.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Just Another Teen Reading Books</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 1 – <a href="https://fuonlyknew.com/2023/04/01/murder-in-postscript-a-lady-of-letters-mystery-by-mary-winters/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">FUONLYKNEW</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 2 – <a href="https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/">Cozy Up With Kathy</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 2 – <a href="https://themysterysection01.blogspot.com/">The Mystery Section</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 3 – <a href="http://ow.ly/w3SA50vlKHY">#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 3 – <a href="http://lisaksbookthoughts.blogspot.com/">Lisa Ks Book Review</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 4 – <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/">Book Club Librarian</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 4 – <a href="https://thebookdecoder.com">The Book Decoder</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 5 – <a href="https://baronessbooktrove.com">Baroness Book Trove</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 5 – <a href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/">Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 6 – <a href="https://www.jenniferfaye.com/hearts-scribbles/">Hearts & Scribbles</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 6 – <a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/">Elizabeth McKenna – Author</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 7 – <a href="https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/">Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 7 – <a href="https://www.literaryau.com">Literary Gold</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 8 – <a href="https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com">Guatemala Paula Loves to Read</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 8 – <a href="https://readingismysuperpower.org/">Reading Is My SuperPower</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 9 – <a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/">Celticlady’s Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 9 – <a href="https://cassidysalem.wordpress.com/">Cassidy’s Bookshelves</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 10 –<a href="https://www.themysteryofwriting.com/">The Mystery of Writing</a> – REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 10 – <a href="https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/">Sapphyria’s Book Reviews</a> – SPOTLIGHT</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or
compiled and published by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/">Book Club Librarian</a> blog. It cannot be republished without attribution. </span><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p></p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-67057982106299584242023-04-03T21:00:00.001-04:002023-04-03T21:00:00.221-04:00First Chapter ~ First Paragraph<div class="separator"><div style="clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </div></div><p> <b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.94px;">It's Tuesday . . . time for . . .</b><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></span></p><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31371711-final-cut?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=vSx3tRTweK&rank=1" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ue-PL0OuCw/XoNILie2_OI/AAAAAAAAGgg/MmzX8yCtHWoWszM52mmGsF06A80UO_5AgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/tuesday1.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . </b>hosted by Yvonne at <a href="https://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Socrates' Book Reviews</a>, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Today I'm featuring a recent blog tour read, <i>Murder in Postscript </i>by Mary Winters, the debut book in the A Lady of Letters cozy mystery
series. The excerpt shared is from an advance eBook copy provided by the
publisher in exchange for an honest review.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-184597" data-attachment-id="184597" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MurderinPostscript" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?fit=650%2C1002&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?fit=195%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?fit=1556%2C2400&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1556,2400" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/current-great-escapes-tours/murder-in-postscript-a-lady-of-letters-mystery-by-mary-winters/murderinpostscript/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="501" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MurderinPostscript.jpg?resize=325%2C501&ssl=1" width="325" /> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>First Chapter: </b><i>London, England, 1860</i></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><i>Amelia Amesbury hated to admit it, but she was bored. Mind-numbingly bored. She supposed this was what contentment felt like: a beautiful young charge, bless her heart, playing the pianoforte; a governess, prim and proper, turning pages; and three tiers of cakes to choose from in a tastefully papered drawing room. But if she were so content, why was she itching for the afternoon's post?</i></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>What do you think? Would you continue reading<i>?</i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">The opening<b><i> </i></b>paragraph sets the coziest of scenes, as does the gorgeous book cover. I really enjoyed this engaging cozy mystery, which is set in Victorian London. It has the right balance of mystery, romance, and upstairs/downstairs characters. <br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" target="_blank">Book Club Librarian </a>blog.</span></span><i> </i></div>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-14525950323569033452023-03-13T21:00:00.001-04:002023-03-13T21:00:00.206-04:00First Chapter ~ First Paragraph<p> <b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.94px;">It's Tuesday . . . time for . . .</b><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></span></p><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31371711-final-cut?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=vSx3tRTweK&rank=1" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ue-PL0OuCw/XoNILie2_OI/AAAAAAAAGgg/MmzX8yCtHWoWszM52mmGsF06A80UO_5AgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/tuesday1.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: 16.94px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . </b>hosted by Yvonne at <a href="https://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Socrates' Book Reviews</a>, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div><p>Today I'm featuring <i>Wrong Place, Wrong Time </i>by Gillian McAllister. The excerpt shared is from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659457434i/59947696.jpg" width="265" /></p><br /><p><b>First Chapter: </b><i>Day Zero, just after midnight</i></p><p><i>Jen is glad of the clocks going back tonight. A gained hour, extra time, to be spent pretending she isn't waiting up for her son.<br /></i></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>What do you think? Would you continue reading? <br /></b></p><p>This is an author I've been wanting to try--and I've heard so many people describe this book as a twisty psychological thriller, so count me in!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; font-size: 15.4px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.6px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" target="_blank">Book Club Librarian </a>blog. </span></span>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-7116974401286248192023-03-09T21:00:00.001-05:002023-03-09T21:00:00.206-05:00Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings<p><img alt="16" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-677" height="212" src="https://ilikebigbooksblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/16.jpg?w=870" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="156" /> <img border="0" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riVjXrzUvuU/T25FkCi0nPI/AAAAAAAABRI/GPV04l8I418/s320/BB.Button.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px;" width="320" /></p><div style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:</span><br /><ul style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Book Beginnings on Fridays</b> hosted by <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Rose City Reader</a>,
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. <b> </b></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Friday 56</b> hosted by <a href="http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Freda's Voice</a>,
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.</li></ul><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">Today I'm featuring my current read, <i>The Paris Bookseller </i>by Kerri Maher. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover edition borrowed from the library.</p><p style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624583265i/58395956.jpg" width="265" /></p><br /><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Beginning: </b>It was hard not to feel that Paris was <i>the </i>place.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Page 56: </b>Her dark eyes fixed on Sylvia like an eagle's.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;">******************** <b> </b></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>My thoughts: </b>This historical novel revolves around the creation of Shakespeare and Company, a famed Paris bookshop with an illustrious history. I had the opportunity to visit this wonderful store on a trip to Paris several years ago, and I am loving the revisit as an armchair traveler. I am totally and happily immersed in the story.<br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>******************** <b> </b></i></p><div id="descriptionContainer"><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">From GoodReads: </b></b></span><span class="Formatted">Discover the dramatic story of how a humble
bookseller fought against incredible odds to bring one of the most
important books of the 20th century to the world in this new novel from
the author of <i>The Girl in the White Gloves</i>.<br /><br />When
bookish young American Sylvia Beach opens Shakespeare and Company on a
quiet street in Paris in 1919, she has no idea that she and her new
bookstore will change the course of literature itself.<br /><br />Shakespeare
and Company is more than a bookstore and lending library: Many of the
most prominent writers of the Lost Generation, like Ernest Hemingway,
consider it a second home. It's where some of the most important
literary friendships of the twentieth century are forged--none more so
than the one between Irish writer James Joyce and Sylvia herself. When
Joyce's controversial novel <i>Ulysses</i> is banned, Beach takes a massive risk and publishes it under the auspices of Shakespeare and Company.<br /><br />But
the success and notoriety of publishing the most infamous and
influential book of the century comes with steep costs. The future of
her beloved store itself is threatened when <i>Ulysses</i>' success
brings other publishers to woo Joyce away. Her most cherished
relationships are put to the test as Paris is plunged deeper into the
Depression and many expatriate friends return to America. As she faces
painful personal and financial crises, Sylvia--a woman who has made it
her mission to honor the life-changing impact of books--must decide what
Shakespeare and Company truly means to her.</span><span id="freeText17140163557745085589"><b><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"></b></b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> <br /></span></span></div><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></p><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><i><b>*******************</b></i></div><span id="freeText16541306503618699759"><span id="freeText5508006136327889685"><span face=""><span style="font-size: 15px;">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. </span></span></span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132302597693996891.post-60755671466898340602023-02-28T21:00:00.001-05:002023-02-28T21:00:00.234-05:00Can't-Wait Wednesday<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-2733 size-full" height="200" src="https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Cant-Wait-Wednesday.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Today I'm participating in <b>Can't-Wait Wednesday</b>, an ongoing mid-week event hosted by Tressa at <a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" target="_blank">Wishful Endings</a>. It's a chance to share a book that hasn't been published yet but is already on my TBR list.</p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * *</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>This week's selection is . . . </b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676499286i/61273862.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="261" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span tabindex="-1"><span class="Text Text__body3"><b>Expected publication March 14, 2023</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span tabindex="-1"><span class="Text Text__body3"><b>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61273862-a-likely-story?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zfZPuZaJfi&rank=1#CommunityReviews" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>: </b></span></span><span class="Formatted">The only child of an iconic American novelist
discovers a shocking tangle of family secrets that upends everything
she thought she knew about her parents, her gilded childhood, and her
own stalled writing career. <br /><br />Growing up in the nineties in
New York City as the only child of famous parents was both a blessing
and a curse for Isabelle Manning. Her beautiful society hostess mother,
Claire, and <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author father, Ward, were
the city’s intellectual It couple. Ward’s glamorous obligations often
took him away from Isabelle, but Claire made sure her childhood was
always filled with magic and love.<br /><br />Now an adult, all Isabelle
wants is to be a successful writer like her father but after many false
starts and the unexpected death of her mother, she faces her upcoming
thirty-fifth birthday alone and on the verge of a breakdown. Her anxiety
only skyrockets when she uncovers some shocking truths about her
parents and begins wondering if everything she knew about her family was
all based on an elaborate lie.<br /><br />Wry, wise, and propulsive, <i>A Likely Story</i>
is punctuated with fragments of a compulsively readable
book-within-a-book about a woman determined to steal back the spotlight
from a man who has cheated his way to the top. The characters seem
eerily familiar but is the plot based on fact? And more importantly, who
is the author?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * *</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">I'm always intrigued by family secrets and how they can change the course of someone's life<b>. <br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"><b>What book are you waiting for?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><span class="Formatted"> T</span><span style="background-color: #f7f6ff; font-size: 15.4px;"><span>his Can't-Wait Wednesday post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the <a href="https://www.bookclublibrarian.com/" target="_blank">Book Club Librarian </a>blog.</span></span><p> </p>Catherine @ Book Club Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511461722921794733noreply@blogger.com2