Welcome to another Bookish Friday, in which I share excerpts from books…and connect with other bloggers, who do the same.
Let’s begin the celebration by sharing Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and let’s 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!
What a great way to spend a Friday!
Today’s feature is an ARC from Amazon Vine: Woman No. 17, by Edan Lepucki, a sinister, sexy noir about art, motherhood, and the intensity of female friendships, set in the posh hills above Los Angeles, from the New York Times bestselling author of California…
Beginning: (Lady)
It was the end of summer. The heat had arrived harsh and bright, bleaching the sidewalks and choking the flowers before they had a chance to wilt. The freeways shimmered, any hotter and they might crack, might explode, and the poor cars would confetti into the air.
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56: (Esther)
Karl’s sunglasses were tortoiseshell and he actually took them off when he waved to me. I wondered if he was the kind of dude who said, “Eyes are the windows to the soul.”
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Synopsis: High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. Left alone with her children, she’s going to need a hand taking care of her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In response to a Craigslist ad, S arrives, a magnetic young artist who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s toddler, Devin, and keep a watchful eye on her older, teenage son, Seth. S performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit, and becoming a confidante for Lady.
But in the heat of the summer, S’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. And as Lady and S move closer to one another, the glossy veneer of Lady’s privileged life begins to crack, threatening to expose old secrets that she has been keeping from her family. Meanwhile, S is protecting secrets of her own, about her real motivation for taking the job. S and Lady are both playing a careful game, and every move they make endangers the things they hold most dear.
Darkly comic, twisty and tense, this mesmerizing new novel defies expectation and proves Edan Lepucki to be one of the most talented and exciting voices of her generation.
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Do the excerpts grab you? I am enjoying the alternating narrators, and learning more and more about each character as I read.
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Sounds wonderful. I’ll be looking out for this one. My Friday book is The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty.
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Thanks, Bev, I’m enjoying it…and I loved The Last Anniversary!
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Wow that opening sure lets us know just how HOT it is. I;m wondering if all the writing is so over-the -top. Enjoy!
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Thanks, Anne, it is not so much over the top as we go along, but visual. Enjoy your pick!
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This sounds like it might be a good one! I’ll keep an eye out for it!
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Thanks, Karen, I’m enjoying it. Glad you could stop by.
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Hi Laurel,
I do like the sound of this. Vivid description! Thanks for sharing.
Here’s my book choice for this week : http://bit.ly/2owKV9o
Have a great weekend!
Sassy 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Sassy, I do enjoy a book that shows me the characters and the world they live in.
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Some great descriptive writing and the blurb makes me wonder about the secrets.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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I’m curious, too, Sherry, as I haven’t discovered them yet….I’m halfway through the book. Thanks for visiting.
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I like that “glossy veneer” parable. Clever wordplay! This does sound quite good. Hope you have a good weekend and enjoy your reading!
Here’s my Friday Meets: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2017/04/friday-meets-21-april-2017.html
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I like that, too, Mareli, and I’m captivated by the characters and the story. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds interesting but not the sort of book I read. Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and enjoy your pick!
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The buzz is building for this book and I’ve already got a library hold on it. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thanks for visiting, Catherine, and I hope you enjoy it.
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Interesting mix of characters. However, I don’t think it is one I would enjoy.
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Thanks for stopping by, Jo…enjoy your pick!
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Sounds good, Laurel.
Love secrets. 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
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Thanks, Elizabeth, I love secrets, too!
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I agree with Kathy Martin. It’s not quite what I usually read, but it does sound like it coulsd be interesting.
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I’m enjoying it, Kathryn….and I wasn’t sure about it until I started turning the pages….Thanks for visiting.
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Although I love twists, this might be a bit too twisty for me. The blurb seemed confusing for some reason. Maybe it’s the initial S? Why not a name?
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So do I, Roberta….happy you could stop by. I think “S” is wanting to be “out there,” since she is boldly trying some experimentation…I am not crazy about this character. LOL.
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I do enljoy psychological thrillers. This one sounds interesting.
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I’m enjoying it, Harvee….thanks for stopping by.
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Added to my never-ending TBR!
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Thanks, Allison, our lists definitely go on and on….
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She sure makes it easy to understand how hot it is even when it’s actually a pretty cool day here.
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Yes, I feel that heat, Book-Filled Day. Thanks for stopping by.
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This definitely has my attention. I’m adding it to my wishlist right now.
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Thanks, Yvonne, I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend.
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The beginning is descriptive. I can easily imagine the extent of the heat being described. Hope you are enjoying it.
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Thanks, Nadene, I am. Glad you could stop by.
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Such a wonderful visual opening. I like a good character driven story and this one sounds like a slow burn of emotions.
My Friday 56 from Ararat
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I think so, too, Laura. Thanks for stopping by.
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The beautiful writing pulled me in! Happy weekend!
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Thanks, Freda, glad you could stop by! Enjoy your weekend, too.
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And who are numbers 1-16, I wonder 🙂
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I wondered about that, too, Aloi. Thanks for stopping by!
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I love the opening!! Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for stopping by, Glenna…I loved the book!
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