Friday, March 11, 2016

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings

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It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:
  • Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
  • The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.
Today I'm featuring Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly, borrowed from the library.
 
Keep Your Friends Close 
 
Beginning:  Seven Months Earlier
'So, what's been on your mind this week?' she asks him.
'Besides the usual?'
She tilts her head.  Looks on with mild disapproval and waits for him to answer more appropriately.
'Death,' he says, 'I've been thinking about death.'
 
Chapter 1
Are you living in the moment?
Me neither.
I'm trying to.  Really, I am.  Periodically, throughout the day, I stop what I'm doing and say to myself, This is it.  This moment is all you have.  Enjoy it.  Feel it.  Embrace The Now.
 
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Page 56:  'I'm not altogether happy at Eve being in the house without you.  It feels a little weird.'
 
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My thoughts:  I recently read and loved Daly's previous thriller, Just What Kind of Mother Are You?, and couldn't wait to indulge in another of her novels.   While the tidbits shared above are a limited glimpse into the story, Keep Your Friends Close is another gripping, compelling read.  Daly's contemporary scenarios and fully-developed characters are interesting, believable, and completely satisfying.  
 
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From Goodreads Shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year

From breakout thriller writer Paula Daly, the story of a husband and wife and the devious best friend who comes between them.

Natty and Sean have a rock-solid marriage—with two daughters, a successful business, and a beautiful house, they are a model family. When their younger daughter falls ill on a school trip, Natty rushes to her side. Luckily, Natty’s best friend from college, Eve, is visiting and offers to stay with Sean to lend a hand in the household. But Natty returns home to find that Eve has taken to family life a little too well: Sean has fallen in love with her. With no choice but to put on a brave face, Natty attempts to start anew—yet no matter how hard she tries to set herself upright, Eve is there to knock her down again. Then Natty receives a mysterious note that says Eve has done this before—more than once—and the consequences were fatal. On a mission to reveal Eve as a vindictive serial mistress, Natty must navigate through a treacherous maze of secrets and lies that threatens her life and the safety of her loved ones.
 
 
Which book are you reading now or about to start?


Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.  Retweeting and sharing on Google+ are encouraged and appreciated.
 
 

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