Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings

It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring my next read, Glory in Death by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).  Last year I decided to give this long-running series a try, even though it may take the rest of my reading life to catch up.  (Book #46 was released last month.) 

 

Beginning:  chapter one

The dead were her business.  She lived with them, worked with them, studied them.  She dreamed of them.  And because that didn't seem to be enough, in some deep, secret chamber of her heart, she mourned for them.

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Page 56: "She could see his jaw tense and noticed the control it took for him to relax it again, but his eyes never flickered.  She imagined he could stare a hole through steel."

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My thoughts:   When I read Naked in Death, the first in this series, I was struck by how well the story (which was published in 1995) has stood the test of time.  After all, this is a series set in the still-distant future.  Yet the In Death series doesn't feel dated, which I attribute to the talented Ms. Roberts and her incredible imagination.

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From Goodreads:   The dead were her business. She lived with them, worked with them, studied them. She dreamed of them. Murder no longer shocked, but it continued to repel.

The first victim is found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second murdered in her own apartment building. Both have had their throats slashed.

New York City homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas has no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both women were beautiful and successful; their glamorous lives and loves the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with powerful men provide Eve with a long list of suspects - including her own lover, Roarke.

As a woman, Eve is compelled to trust the man who shares her bed. But as a cop, it's her job to follow every lead, to explore every secret passion, no matter how dark. Or how dangerous.

 
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This Friday Focus post was originally written and published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.  Retweeting and sharing on Google+ are appreciated. 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings

It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring Naked in Death by J.D. Robb.  The excerpts shared are from a paperback edition I borrowed from the library.

 

 

 

Beginning:  Chapter One

She woke in the dark.  Through the slats on the window shades, the first murky hint of dawn slipped, slanting shadowy bars over the bed.  It was like waking in a cell.

For a moment she simply lay there, shuddering, imprisoned, while the dream faded.  After ten years on the force, Eve still had dreams.

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Page 56:  "I've heard of them.  Still hear about them.  You think Rockman's involved with a fanatic splinter group like that?'"

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My thoughts:  This is the first book in prolific bestselling author Nora Roberts's (writing as J.D. Robb) futuristic suspense In Death series featuring lady cop Eve Dallas.  It's been on my to-read list forever, but a recent conversation with a good reading buddy who has read all of them made me decide to finally dig in.  Some--including me--may question my sanity at starting a series of 44 books (and a 45th is scheduled to be published in September 2017), but it feels right, and the opening drew me in immediately.

 

 

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From Goodreads:    In a world of danger and deception, she walks the line--between seductive passion and scandalous murder... Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she's seen it all--and knows her survival depends on her instincts. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire--and a suspect in Eve's murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about--except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

 

 

 

This Friday Focus post was originally written and published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.  Retweeting and sharing on Google+ are appreciated.

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday: New J.D. Robb and Nora Roberts Books

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature of the Breaking the Spine blog.  It's a great way to share information about forthcoming books with other readers.
 

This week's anticipated books:

From J.D. Robb and others:

    

Publication date: September 24, 2013

Publisher:  Jove

 

From barnesandnoble.com:  In a world far removed from the days when fairy tales were new, five bestselling authors spin versions that take the classic stories into a new dimension. You’ll recognize Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and other enduring characters, but they’ll exist in realms beyond your imagination, where the familiar is transformed into the extraordinary and otherworldly. 

 

From Nora Roberts:

 

Publication date: October 29, 2013

 Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

 

From barnesandnoble.com:  First in the all-new Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a trilogy about the land we’re drawn to, the family we learn to cherish, and the people we long to love….

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.

Ireland.

County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.

When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

Enjoy life with books . . .

 

Catherine
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Waiting on Wednesday: New J.D. Robb and Nora Roberts Books was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.