First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

  It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . now hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.

 

Today I'm featuring a recent read, Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing. It's the first book in the Colorado Wine mystery series. The excerpt shared is from an eBook version borrowed from the library.

First Chapter:  I arrange open bottles of wine behind the hard maple countertop from lightest to heaviest. A crisp white blend on the left, a jammy cabernet sauvignon on the right, and me a cluster of nerves, right smack in the middle.

Today is the grand opening of my winery--I still can't believe I'm saying that--my winery, Vino Valentine. The world will finally get to taste the fruits of my labor, which is equal parts exciting and panic-inducing.

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

Launching Vino Valentine is Parker Valentine's hard-earned dream come true. But when influential Boulder food critic Gaskel Brown dies at the opening after tasting Parker's prized Chardonnay, her dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Someone poisoned the wine, which immediately sours Parker's business plans and chance at success. Afraid that the winery won't survive the #KillerChardonnay hashtag trending on social media, Parker has to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Gaskel's death if she is to restore her winery's reputation and salvage her dream.

Who killed Gaskel? As a brutally honest food critic, his reviews have ruined many restaurants over the years. Is it possible a disgruntled chef has exacted the ultimate revenge? Or is someone else responsible? Parker's investigation uncovers more details than the local police do, which puts her in the killer's crosshairs. Will Parker live to reclaim her reputation and winery, or die trying?

Filled with a cast of quirky characters, relationships old and new, and effective red herrings, Killer Chardonnay is a welcome entry to the cozy mystery genre and a solid start to the Colorado Wine Mystery Series.  

 

This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog. © 2021, Book Club Librarian All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Book Club Librarian without attribution, know that this post has been stolen and was used without permission. 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and 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 a recent read, What You Wish For by Katherine Center. The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.

Beginning:  I was the one dancing with Max when it happened.

No one ever remembers who it was now, but it was me.

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Page 56:  It felt like a great idea at the time.

It felt like a great idea the next morning, even, when I woke up by accident two hours before my alarm.

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My thoughts: School librarian Samantha (Sam) Casey moves to Galveston Island, Texas to start a new life, where she find a supportive community at a new school with a progressive environment that nurtures faculty and students alike. When beloved school founder and principal Max Kempner dies suddenly, the community is grief-stricken. While it seems impossible that anyone can fill Max's shoes, outsider Duncan Carpenter is selected as Max's successor, and the teachers are skeptical but hopeful that the school will continue to follow Max's philosophy under new leadership. As it turns out, Sam worked with Duncan at her previous school, and she reassures her colleagues that he is a good fit based on his past performance.

However, the teachers are soon concerned about the future of the school and their own careers, as the once carefree and gifted Duncan is now the complete opposite of his former self. Where Duncan was once a fun-loving and engaged teacher, he is now a serious rules- and security-focused administrator with radical plans to change the school in ways that will make it unrecognizable. What could possibly explain Duncan's radical shift, and can the school community survive intact?

What You Wish For is an engaging story about the effects of fear and trauma on ordinary people and the resilience of the human spirit. It is filled with characters who have experienced life's ups and downs, yet find the courage to change. Both Sam and Duncan are privately dealing with the circumstances that have shaped their lives and made them wary of relationships and life in general. Over time, and with the support of their Galveston Island community, will they overcome the obstacles preventing them from finding joy and living life to its fullest?

Katherine Center's heartfelt story is a very relatable tale about what it means to be human, and how one's vulnerabilities, fears, and strengths define and determine one's destiny.

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From GoodReads: Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living. But she wasn’t always that way.

Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. But he wasn’t always that way.

And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school—and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it.

As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love—which is the riskiest move of all.

With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.

 

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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

 It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . now hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read, Shiver by Allie Reynolds.  I picked this book up at the library last week.

Prologue:  It's that time of year again. The time the glacier gives up bodies.

First Chapter:  "Hello?" My shout echoes around the concrete cavern.

The familiar red-and-white cable car sits in the bay, but there's nobody in the operator booth. The sun has disappeared behind the Alps, the sky is pink, yet there isn't a single light on in the building. Where is everyone?

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

As if we haven't gotten enough snow over the past week, and despite more in the forecast for this week, I'm still looking forward to starting this book that centers on a reunion weekend in the French Alps in which five friends are stranded at a remote mountain resort during a snowstorm. I think I'll start it this coming weekend.

 

This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution.   

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and 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 a recent read, Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent.  The excerpts shared are from an eBook borrowed from the library.

 

Beginning: All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral, although one of us was in a coffin.

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Page 56: It's just more PC bulls**t. I know women.

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My thoughts: This is a devastating story about the effects of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and ongoing betrayals. The miserable circumstances that created the Drumm family of Dublin and pervades the lives of the three brothers from childhood through adulthood is astounding, and is fueled by the many cruelties they visit on each other beginning in their formative years.

Nugent has captured the appalling tragedy of family dysfunction in the pages of Little Cruelties. Her insight into the complexities that motivate the behavior of the characters and their interactions with each other is powerful and palpable. This is a story that lays bare the influence family members wield on each other for better or worse and the destructive consequences that ensue.
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From GoodReads: This story begins with a funeral. One of three brothers is dead, mourned by his siblings. But which one? And how? And, most importantly: why?

William, Brian, and Luke are each born a year apart in a lower middle class Catholic family in 1960s Dublin. William, the eldest, rises to the top of the heap in the film industry as a successful movie producer. Luke, the baby of the family, surprises everyone by morphing into a worldwide pop star. Brian, the compliant middle son, is the eternal adult in the room: the helpful, steady one, the manager of finances and careers.

But none of them is actually quite what he seems. Wounded by childhood, they have betrayed one another in myriad ways, hiding behind little lies that have developed into full blown treachery. With an unnerving eye for the complexities of families, Nugent delves into the secret life of a deeply troubled household and provides stunning insights into the many forces that shape us from childhood.

Liz Nugent’s new work of fiction follows three working class Irish brothers, and delves into the many ways families can wreak emotional havoc across generations.

 

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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

 It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . now hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.

 

Happy book publication day to Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano.  It's the first book in a new humorous mystery series.  The excerpt shared is from an advance reader copy received from the publisher.

First Chapter:  It's a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on any given morning. On the particular morning of Tuesday, October eighth, I was ready by seven forty-five. If you've never had to wrestle a two-year-old slathered in maple syrup into a diaper while your four-year-old decides to give herself a haircut in time for preschool, all while trying to track down the where about of your missing nanny as you sop up coffee grounds from an overflowing pot because in your sleep-deprived fog you forgot to put in the filter, let me spell it out for you.

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

True, that. I remember similar days years ago, but I didn't have a nanny to help out. Good times.

 

This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution.   

Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: A Tourist's Guide to Murder by V.M. Burns

 

Today I’m participating in the A Tourist's Guide to Murder Great Escapes Blog Tour. In this post you’ll find information about the book and author along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, details below.  

About the book . . .

A Tourist's Guide to Murder (A Mystery Bookshop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Michigan, USA – London, England
Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2021)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1496728955
ISBN-13: 978-1496728951]
Digital ASIN: B087YRY1S4

Synopsis . . . While visiting the land of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington finds herself on a tragical mystery tour . . . 

 

Sam joins Nana Jo and her Shady Acres Retirement Village friends Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae on a weeklong trip to London, England, to experience the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour. The chance to see the sights and walk the streets that inspired Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle is a dream come true for Sam—and a perfect way to celebrate her new publishing contract as a mystery author.

 

But between visits to Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel district and 221B Baker Street, Major Horace Peabody is found dead, supposedly of natural causes. Despite his employer’s unfortunate demise, the tour guide insists on keeping calm and carrying on—until another tourist on their trip also dies under mysterious circumstances. Now it’s up to Sam and the Shady Acres ladies to mix and mingle among their fellow mystery lovers, find a motive, and turn up a murderer . . .

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

My review . . . Author and bookshop owner Samantha (Sam) Washington is excited to embark on a week-long tour of mysterious and murderous British settings featured in the works of Dame Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Accompanying Sam on the trip are her grandmother Nana Jo and three of her sassy senior friends. Sam expects the enthusiasm of the high-spirited group to pose a bit of a challenge—but really, it's only for a week—what could possibly go wrong? Apparently, quite a lot.

 

From forgetting her passport, to a highly-invasive TSA search, to a sprint to catch the flight before it departs without her, Sam is worn out by the time she gets on the plane. She imagines her only issue once she arrives in the UK will be jet lag, but it isn't long before the tour goes totally awry.  

 

Far from their Michigan home, Sam, Nana Jo, and the Shady Acres Retirement Villagers find themselves in the midst of two murder investigations when their tour operator and a fellow tourist each meet a mysterious demise. No strangers to solving murder mysteries at home, the group gets involved in investigating the crimes, much to the consternation and amusement of New Scotland Yard authorities. Will they continue their perfect crime-solving record across the pond without causing an international incident?

 

A Tourist's Guide to Murder is V.M. Burns's most entertaining installment to date in the fantastic Mystery Bookshop mystery series. In addition to the series' lovable characters and their laugh-out-loud antics, readers of this latest cozy are treated to amusing, dramatic murder suspects and enjoyable armchair travel. This series continues to delight, and I eagerly await the further escapades of Sam, Nana Jo, and their vibrant, fun-loving friends.

 

 

Giveaway . . . Enter the A Tourist's Guide to Murder Giveaway for a chance to win one of five $25 Amazon gift cards by clicking here.

About the author . . . V.M. (Valerie) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently resides in the warmer region of the country in East Tennessee with her two poodles.

Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is the author of the RJ Franklin Mysteries, the Dog Club Mysteries, and the Agatha Award-nominated Mystery Bookshop Mystery series.

Author links . . . Website  Facebook   Twitter:  @vmburns    Goodreads     BookBub       Instagram

Purchase links . . . Apple –  Amazon – Google – Kobo – Nook –  BAM –  Bookshop.org –  Hudson Booksellers –  IndieBound –  Target

Tour participants . . .

January 21 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
January 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
January 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
January 22 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, GUEST POST
January 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
January 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
January 23 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 23 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 24 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW
January 24 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
January 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, GUEST POST
January 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
January 25 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
January 26 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT
January 26 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW
January 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 27 – Island Confidential – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 28 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW
January 28 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
January 29 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW  
January 29 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT 
January 29 – Books to the Ceiling – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 30 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 30 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 31 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of A Tourist's Guide to Murder from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution.

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and 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 a recent blog tour read, A Tourist's Guide to Murder by V.M. Burns. It's the latest book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series. The excerpts shared are from an eBook provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Beginning:  Chapter 1

"Attention." I clinked my knife against my glass. "Attention." Unfortunately, no one listened, and the chatter got louder rather than softer.

My sister, Jenna Rutherford, leaned close and whispered into my ear, "Does the phrase 'herding cats' mean anything to you?"

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56% of eBook:  The Scotland Yard detectives faced us. Detective Sergeant Templeton's eyes sparkled as though she wanted to laugh, but she refrained.

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My thoughts:  The latest installment in V.M. Burns's delightful series revolves around a trip to England, where the characters participate in a murder mystery lovers tour. While visiting such famous sites as Agatha Christie's home in Torquay and Sherlock Holmes's Baker Street establishment, the tourists find themselves in the midst of a real-life murder mystery.

A Tourist's Guide to Murder combines an entertaining armchair travelogue through London and the British countryside with an intriguing whodunit.

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From GoodReads:  While visiting the land of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington finds herself on a tragical mystery tour . . .

Sam joins Nana Jo and her Shady Acres Retirement Village friends Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae on a weeklong trip to London, England, to experience the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour. The chance to see the sights and walk the streets that inspired Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle is a dream come true for Sam—and a perfect way to celebrate her new publishing contract as a mystery author.

But between visits to Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel district and 221B Baker Street, Major Horace Peabody is found dead, supposedly of natural causes. Despite his employer’s unfortunate demise, the tour guide insists on keeping calm and carrying on—until another tourist on their trip also dies under mysterious circumstances. Now it’s up to Sam and the Shady Acres ladies to mix and mingle among their fellow mystery lovers, find a motive, and turn up a murderer . . .

 

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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.