Welcome to some bookish fun today as we share Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and as we showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.
To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.
Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!
If you have been wanting to participate, but haven’t yet tried, now is the time!
What better way to spend a Friday?
Today’s featured book is an ARC in which I am deeply engrossed. I have developed a crick in my neck from curling up and reading this one on and off throughout the day. I only ever took breaks to watch a couple of TV shows.
The book is very suspenseful with lots of secrets revealing themselves slowly. Lie Still, by Julia Heaberlin, starts out with a scene of violence that informs a lot of the story ahead.
Beginning: For me, the rape is a permanent fixture on the clock, like midnight.
A point of reference.
I was nineteen years and four days old.
***
56: “There is blood in my house.” Lucinda’s lisp was a little hard to understand, but the word blood was unmistakable. She popped the slip of paper in her mouth and began to chew like a bubble gum addict on cocaine.
***
Amazon Blurb: In the tradition of Lisa Unger’s Beautiful Lies and Nancy Pickard’s The Scent of Rain and Lightning comes a twisting, riveting novel of shifting trust and shattered lives. Lie Still delves deep into the heart of an opulent Southern town, where gossip is currency and secrets kill.
When Emily Page and her husband move from Manhattan to the wealthy enclave of Clairmont, Texas, she hopes she can finally escape her haunted past—and outrun the nameless stalker who has been taunting her for years. Pregnant with her first child, Emily just wants to start over. But as she is drawn into a nest of secretive Texas women—and into the unnerving company of their queen, Caroline Warwick—Emily finds that acceptance is a very dangerous game.
It isn’t long before Caroline mysteriously disappears and Emily is facing a rash of anonymous threats. Are they linked to the missing Caroline? Or to Emily’s terrifying encounter in college, years earlier? As the dark truth about Caroline emerges, Emily realizes that some secrets are impossible to hide—and that whoever came for Caroline is now coming for her.
***
As evening approaches, I want to keep reading, because I don’t want to put this book down. But I’m afraid to read this in the dark…lol. And I’m afraid of women like these….
What are you sharing?
Wow! That Friday 56 is powerful. Would really like to read the book.
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Thanks, Hattie…glad you could stop by. Enjoy your weekend.
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I can see why you’re hooked, but also don’t want to read it in the dark – strong writing, very powerful.
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It is very compelling and suspenseful, and more secrets keep coming out…gradually, and just when I think they’re all out, here comes another one. Each is more stunning than the others. Thanks for stopping by, Jo.
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That is a very strong opening. I don’t know if I’d be able to read this novel in the dark! (though I do love those moments when you’re reading well into the wee hours of morning because you’re just so engrossed with the novel in front of you :))
My Friday Book Memes
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Yes, it is quite the dilemma. Thanks for stopping by, Lianne, and enjoy your weekend.
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Wow, that beginning and 56 are strong. I’ll have to check this out.
My hop
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Thanks for stopping by, Vonnie…glad you enjoyed the excerpts.
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Sounds very intense…and un-put-down-able. Here’s my Friday post:
http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/09/friday-focus-friday-56-book-beginnings_13.html
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Definitely un-put-down-able! And now I must grab it again….thanks for stopping by, Catherine.
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That sounds fascinating and powerful.
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I agree, Bea…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend.
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Hi Laurel-Rain, just trying again with my comment. I like the sound of this novel, thank nyou for introducing me to it. I love it when a book is that gripping. Hope you have a happy weekend.
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Thanks for trying again, Lindsay…and I hope you love this one as much as I do. Happy weekend to you, too.
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Goes right on my wishlist 🙂 Sounds suspenseful and exciting to me! I’m glad you pointed it out to us.
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I loved it, Rita…finished it a little while ago. Review is at Rainy Days and Mondays (http://laurel-rain-snow.blogspot.com/).
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By the way, forgot to mention I picked up your Web of Tyranny, but this month is crazy busy with commitments so might not get to it for another couple of weeks. I can’t wait to read it! All of your books sound really good for someone of “my certain age” but I prefer to read kindle so I chose this one. Have a good weekend!
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Oh, thanks for letting me know, Rita…hope you enjoy it! And have a great weekend.
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That’s a very interesting simile in the 56! Starting out with memories of a rape sounds a bit intense for me though….
Here’s my Friday Post.
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Yes, the whole book is pretty intense, but I was in the mood for it. Thanks for stopping by, Bev.
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What a beginning! I am not sure if I could read that in the dark either, but it does sound suspenseful.
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Yes, it is best by day. I was able to finish it in the daylight. Thanks for stopping by, Tammi.
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I love the subtle cover!
The beginning choked me up.
Very intriguing 56!!! Sounds like a cool read! I can see why you’re engrossed.
Happy weekend!
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Thanks, Freda…the book was a powerful read.
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Blood in the house? Pretty intense.
THANKS for sharing.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Beginnings
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Oh, it was a creepy excerpt, wasn’t it? The women in that scene were very much like vipers….lol. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend, Elizabeth.
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Sounds like this is one book that has a hold of you and won’t be letting go anytime soon! What a beginning – bold, startling, full of voice. Haunting. Just wow. I’m not reading anything as such right now, but I’m listening to City of Bones. I should be done soon. 🙂 Have a great reading week!
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