Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by A Daily Rhythm.
Today’s featured book is an e-ARC from NetGalley: Pretending to Dance, by Diane Chamberlain.
Intro: (2014 – San Diego)
I’m a good liar.
I take comfort in that fact as Aidan and I sit next to each other on our leather sectional, so close together that our thighs touch. I wonder if that’s too close. Patty, the social worker sitting on the other wing of our sectional, writes something in her notes, and with every scribble of her pen, I worry her words will cost us our baby. I imagine she’s writing The couple appears to be codependent to an unhealthy degree. As if picking up on my nervousness, Aidan takes my hand, squeezing it against his warm palm. How can he be so calm?
“You’re both thirty-eight, is that right?” Patti asks.
We nod in unison.
Patti isn’t at all what I expected. In my mind I’ve dubbed her “Perky Patti.” I’d expected someone dour, older, judgmental. She’s a licensed social worker, but she can’t be any older than twenty-five. Her blond hair is in a ponytail, her blue eyes are huge, and her eyelashes look like something out of an advertisement in Vogue. She has a quick smile and bubbly enthusiasm. Yet, still, Perky Patti holds our future in her hands, and despite her youth and bubbly charm, she intimidates me.
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Teaser: I have no old family photographs. I’d taken a handful with me when I left home at eighteen, but I threw them away one day when my anger got the better of me.
I wish old memories could be as easily discarded. (Loc. 450).
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Blurb: Molly Arnette is very good at keeping secrets. She lives in San Diego with a husband she adores, and they are trying to adopt a baby because they can’t have a child on their own. But the process of adoption brings to light many questions about Molly’s past and her family-the family she left behind in North Carolina twenty years before. The mother she says is dead but who is very much alive. The father she adored and whose death sent her running from the small community of Morrison’s Ridge. Her own birth mother whose mysterious presence in her family raised so many issues that came to a head. The summer of twenty years ago changed everything for Molly and as the past weaves together with the present story, Molly discovers that she learned to lie in the very family that taught her about pretending. If she learns the truth about her beloved father’s death, can she find peace in the present to claim the life she really wants?
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What do you think? Would you keep reading? I know I’m excited about this book, as this author is one of my favorites.
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I am reading this book now.
A very interesting book.
Thanks for the teaser.
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I love this author, and just from the opening lines, I’m already engaged. Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth.
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Hooray! Another Diane Chamberlain novel!
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I am always excited to get one of her books, Catherine…thanks for stopping by.
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Very nice start. I haven’t read this author even though so many of my bookish friends love her. I’m just not a fantasy person. I think I’d keep reading at least the first chapter.
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Oh, her books aren’t really fantasy, Margot….I guess I’d classify them as contemporary fiction. Thanks for stopping by.
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Diane Chamberlain writes some fantastic books and this one sound just as good judging by your excerpts. I do like it when you open a book and it is instantly apparent what the author has in store for you.
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Thanks, Cleopatra, and I love a book that jumps right into the heart of things, and DC does that so well.
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I do love a character who is tormented by secrets.
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Yes, tormented characters make the best stories, IMO, Suzie. Thanks for stopping by.
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Oooh, I love that opening!! Adding to my wish list now.
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Thanks, JoAnn, hope to dive into this one fully today.
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I like that intro a lot, I’m curious to know more about the protagonist already.
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Thanks, Diane…for hosting and for stopping by. I think this book will be a treat.
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As a long time fan of her books, I hope to get to this one soon.
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I hope you do, too, Nise…enjoy! Thanks for stopping by.
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I really like Diane Chamberlain so yes, definitely!
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Thanks, Emma, glad you enjoy her….I can’t wait to find out more from this story.
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The teaser is great, but I think from the blurb I probably wouldn’t pick this one up.
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Thanks for stopping by, Alice Audrey, and enjoy your read.
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I’d keep reading…I like the intro and have heard good things about Diane Chamberlain!
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This author has been a “must read” favorite ever since I read The Midwife’s Confession. Thanks for stopping by, Sarah.
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I was really pulled into the intro you shared and didn’t want to stop reading. I liked the teaser to. The intro actually reminded me of my first couple years as a social worker–I imagine people saw me that way as I was so young, fresh out of college. I haven’t read this author before, but this sounds like a good one. I hope you like it!
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I’ve noticed several social worker characters in this author’s books, and they definitely resonate with me, too.
When I was a very young social worker, I worked with the elderly population, but as I got older, I had the child welfare cases. Funny how that happened.
I am loving this book. Thanks for stopping by, Wendy.
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Such an intriguing opening! I’d keep reading! And I love the cover, too!
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Thanks, Monica, I loved the opening lines, how they jumped right into the story.
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I know I would be very disappointed in myself if I were to toss family pictures away in a spew of anger gah! Great teaser Laurel!
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Yes, I wouldn’t want to do that either, Claudia…no matter how I felt in the moment. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like an emotional read.
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Yes, I am caught up in the emotion already. Thanks for visiting, Chippy.
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This one sounds good. I haven’t read anything by Diane Chamberlain yet, not familiar with her.
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Oh, I hope you give her a try…I am a big fan! Thanks for stopping by, Dagny.
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I would keep reading! Even if I didn’t love the author, the story sounds great!
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I think so, ,too, Debbie…thanks for visiting.
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Great tease, I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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Thanks, Stormi, and I am loving it.
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I love the sounds of this one!
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Thanks, Yvonne, and it is a story that is hard to put down.
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I don’t usually read contemporary fiction, but this looks interesting. There’s a lot going on for Molly, that’s for sure! Thanks for stopping by my Teaser this week!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kym…I am loving this book!
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YES! I love Diane Chamberlain and this intro is fantastic; I hope you’re enjoying it, Laurel-Rain!! Thank you for sharing this with us!
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I loved it, Tara! Thanks for stopping by….
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