Thursday Thoughts ~ Books from the Backlog

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

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

 

This week's neglected book is . . .

  

Release Date:  May 30, 2017

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

From Goodreads:  Love.  Lies.  Murder.  A lot can happen...COME SUNDOWN 

Bodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...

But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance? 

As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.


Why I selected it: I've read and enjoyed many Nora Roberts novels, and I've been told that this one is a bit different, in a good way.


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

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.

********************

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."

********************

 

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.

********************

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.

 
********************

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. 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 
                                                      

 

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

Today I'm featuring a book I picked up from the library, Promise Not To Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz.

Chapter 1

Hannah Brewster splashed the accelerant around the inside of the small cabin, working feverishly because time was running out.  She was certain now that the demon would come for her that night.  He had been stalking her for weeks.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?
Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my go-to authors.  She writes in several genres, and her romantic suspense novels are among my favorites.  Every time I learn of a new title being released, I request it from the library.  This one is the second in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series.

This First Chapter ~ First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled 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 Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz.  The excerpts shared are from the hardcover version I purchased this summer from the Surf City Library book sale while vacationing on Long Beach Island, down the Jersey shore.

 

Beginning:  A funeral always made for a bad day.  Knowing that it was probably his screwup that had put Katherine Ralston into the ground made things a whole lot worse for Ellis Cutler that afternoon.

 

 

********************

Page 56:  "The instant the words were out of his mouth, he cringed, mentally kicking himself.  That had been a stupid thing to say under the circumstances."

********************

 

My thoughts:  This is an older JAK novel (published in 2004), but I couldn't resist it when I saw it on one of the library sale carts.  I've read a fair share of this author's novels and have really enjoyed them, so I'm happy to add this one to my reading queue.

 

*********************

 From Goodreads:  The phenomenally popular bestselling author of Light in Shadow returns with a riveting tale of intrigue and intimacy that questions whether dreams can be trusted . . .

A red scarf. A roller coaster. A tidal wave of blood . . .Isabel Wright spends her days at the Belvedere Center for Sleep Research analyzing the dreams of others. Dr. Martin Belvedere, a pioneer in the field, recognized her unique talent for what he calls Level Five lucid dreaming. It's satisfying, lucrative work, but it can be emotionally draining. Especially when one of her anonymous subjects, known only as Client Number Two, captures her imagination through his compelling dream narratives. Secretly, she thinks of him as "Dream Man."

His real name is Ellis Cutler. A loner who's learned not to let anyone get too close, he works for a highly classified government agency with an interest in the potential value of lucid dreaming. And he's just been ordered by his boss to make contact with Isabel, who's been fired after the sudden death of Dr. Belvedere. Heading to California, he pushes his fantasies out of his mind, determined to maintain a professional relationship with the woman who reads his dreams, the mysterious figure he has come to think of as "Tango Dancer."

But when they meet in the flesh, the dream becomes real enough to touch. And a waking nightmare begins-when a suspicious hit-and-run leads them into a perilous web of passion, betrayal, and murder, and forces them to walk the razor-thin line between dreams and reality.

 

 

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 appreciated.

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #101--Blog Tour Edition

  It's Tuesday . . . time for . . .

                                                      

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

Today I'm featuring the opening from the first book in a brand new series, which I'm reading for a Novel Publicity blog tour . . .

 

On a Night Like This 

The Callaways #1

 

Chapter One

 

As a teenager, seeing her father's car in the driveway when she came home from school had always made Sara Davidson uneasy.  She would steel herself for the evening to come, never quite sure why she felt afraid.  Stephen Davidson had never physically abused her, but he had been demanding, and his words cut like a knife.  It wasn't always what he said that was the worst part; it was the rejection in his gaze, and the cold quiet that usually followed his disappointment in her.

 

It would be different now, Sara told herself as she got out of her rental car.  She was twenty-nine years old, a successful lawyer, and she hadn't lived at home in ten years.  So why did she feel trepidation?

 

  

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

Find out more about this romantic suspense series and enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card from Novel Publicity by clicking here.

About The Callaways: The Callaways were born to serve and protect! In Barbara’s new connected family series, each of the eight siblings in this blended Irish-American family find love, mystery and adventure, often where they least expect it! Each book stands alone, but for the full enjoyment of the series, you might want to start at the beginning with On A Night Like This.  

 

Visit the Callaway Series Goodreads Page

Get the eBooks via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or Kobo.

About the Author: Barbara Freethy has been making up stories most of her life. Growing up in a neighborhood with only boys and a big brother who was usually trying to ditch her, she spent a lot of time reading. When she wasn’t reading, she was imagining her own books. After college and several years in the P.R. field, she decided to try her hand at a novel. Now Barbara is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author loved by readers all over the world. Her novels range from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Learn more on her website, Facebook page, or in her Street Team.

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of On a Night Like This in exchange for posting information about the book on my blog.

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #101--Blog Tour Edition was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution. Retweeting and sharing on Google+ encouraged.