Friday Fun - August 31st, 2018

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

We are still waiting for books 4, 5, and 6 of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger to become available through interlibrary loan. It may be a couple more weeks. In the meantime, I finished The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer, and today I started the second book titled The Enchantress Returns. So, today I will be featuring just the one book.

Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer.

"The East was in a period of great celebration. Daily parades marched through the village streets, every home and shop was decorated in colorful banners and wreaths, and handfuls of flower petals were thrown and floated through the air."

Such a wonderful glimpse at what the Eastern Kingdom, formally known as the Sleeping Kingdom, has become since Alex and Connor left the Fairy Tale realm at the end of the first book. Sadly, the reader knows that this is the calm before the storm, seeing as the Enchantress is known from the first book to be the one who cast the Sleeping curse on Sleeping Beauty. Can't wait to see where the story is going to go from here.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections. 

The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer

"Conner realized he wanted to get Alex's input on all of this. But as he reached their house, he came to a halt. There was something there he didn't expect to see.

The front door flew open before Conner could open it himself. Alex was standing on the other side, wide-eyed and white-faced."

Friday Fun - August 24th, 2018

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

I finished the first three books in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger again. Now we are waiting for books 4, 5, and 6 to become available through interlibrary loan. It may be a couple of weeks. So, I read a book I had been wanting to read for a while, but we had to wait until we finished the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan as the events in the book take place after the events in that series, and the events in the first two Percy Jackson series. That book is Demigods & Magicians: Percy and Annabeth Meet the Kanes. This book is a compilation of three crossover stories, which is really cool. I'll be posting my review on my Fun Fiction Friday over on Tots and Me...Growing Up Together. I also decided to reread The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer. I actually reviewed this book last summer, but I never got to any of the sequels. My daughter is now ahead of me in this series, and I figured I'd catch up while waiting for the next Keeper of the Lost Cities books. 

I'm going to be sharing my Book Beginnings and Friday 56 for the following three books:

Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for Keeper of the Lost Cities: Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

The last time I shared my Book Beginnings for this book, I took it from the Preface. This time it is from chapter 1.

"'What are you waiting for?' Keefe shouted over the howling wind and the roaring sea. 'Don't tell be the great Sophie Foster is afraid.'"

I admit, I had to wonder why Sophie was afraid and what these two were up to.

And here is my Book Beginnings for The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

Again, I did already share a Book Beginnings for this book. Last year. However, it was also from the prologue, so I figured I would share one from chapter 1 this time around.

'"'Once upon a time. . .' Mrs. Peters said to her sixth-grade class. 'These are the most magical words our world has ever known and the gateway into the greatest stories ever told.'" 

A great beginning to this magical series, especially in light of the prologue. 

Finally, here is my Book Beginnings for Demigods & Magicians: Percy and Annabeth Meet the Kanes by Rick Riordan.

"Getting eaten by a giant crocodile was bad enough. The kid with the glowing sword only made my day worse."

Well, that sure was a way to grab the reader's attention. As someone who had read the Kane Chronicles and the Percy Jackson books, it was obvious that Carter Kane and Percy were meeting, but such interesting circumstances to be meeting over. I couldn't wait to keep reading this one.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

"Thunder crashed as the sky split, and Sophie and Keefe tumbled across a patch of sunlit grass, coming to a stop on the path leading up to Everglen"

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

"'She told them all about her recent trips, the difficulties she and her friends experienced getting into and out of places, and all the interesting people she had met along the way."

Demigods & Magicians: Percy and Annabeth Meet the Kanes by Rick Riordan

"The platform was strangely empty, but a flash of light by the exit stairwell caught Annabeth's eye. A young blond girl in white clothes was swinging a wooden staff, trying to hit a strange animal that weaved around her legs, barking angrily."

Friday Fun (on Saturday) - August 11th, 2018

Welcome to my Friday Fun post, a day late. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56.

I still have a bunch of books out from the library. Last week I had every intention of reading at least one new book. And I did start one, I chose House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo. However, I was still in "obsessed-mode" with the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger, so I borrowed the first book from my daughter and we took turns reading it. I am now on book two for the second time, Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile. I am also not sad anymore about having to wait so long for the seventh book. My husband let me pre-order the limited collectors edition of Keeper of the Lost Cities: Flashback. Still have to wait for November, but that is a lot better than having no clue when I would have been able to get it from the library.

So, seeing as I didn't start back up with these Friday Fun posts until I was past the first two books of the series, I will share those this week.

Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

From the Preface:

"Blurry, fractured memories swam through Sophie's mind, but she couldn't piece them together. She tried opening her eyes and found only darkness."

The little peek from the Preface caught my attention a lot more than the first paragraph of chapter 1.

"'Miss Foster!' Mr. Sweeney's nasal voice cut through Sophie's blaring music as he yanked her earbuds out by the cords. 'Have you decided that you're too smart to pay attention to this information?'"

I wasn't sure what to think of Sophie at first, but I am so glad I gave this series a chance. It is one of my favorites now. It helped that the reader learns quite quickly why Sophie was listening to her music instead of paying attention.

And here is my book beginnings for Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile by Shannon Messenger

First from the Preface

"Sophie's hands shook as she lifted the tiny green bottle. One swallow held life and death -- and not just for her." 

Now that little peek was quite intriguing. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but it sounded like there was going to be quite a hard decision for her to make. But why? 

And from Chapter 1

'"I still can't believe we're tracking Bigfoot,' Sophie whispered as she stared at the giant footprint in the muddy soil. Each massive toe was as wide as her arm, and the print formed a deep, mucky puddle." 

Sounded like fun.  

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

"She peeled her eyes away from the strange scene as Alden led her out of the garden to a meadow with a house in the center, one so large, so elegant, she couldn't believe anyone could call it 'home.' Part castle, part manor, it was made almost entirely of intricately cut crystal, and among the numerous turrets and gables rose a tower that resembled a lighthouse."

Keeper of the Lost Cities:Exile by Shannon Messenger

"'You don't have to come today, ' he told Sophie after a second. 'It's not an easy thing to do--'
'I know,' She wrapped her arms around him, wishing she could squeeze away the sadness in his voice. 'But I want to come.'"

Friday Fun - August 3rd, 2018

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56.

I am currently participating in the summer reading program for adults at my library, so I have quite a few books out of the library. I just finished the sixth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger. I was so sad when I learned I have to wait months before the seventh book is out. According to Amazon, the book should be out in November. Unfortunately, my library doesn't have the series, and I have to take it out through interlibrary loan. What makes it "unfortunate" is that new books can't be transferred between libraries, so I don't know when I will be able to read it. 

For now, I will be sharing from the sixth book, Keeper of the Lost Cities Nightfall, and I will also be sharing from the two books I started today, trying to figure out which one to read. I'm curious which one you would choose.

Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for Keeper of the Lost Cities: Nightfall by Shannon Messenger

"Sophie stared at the gleaming trail that wound down. And down. And down. Disappearing into the misty shadows far below. The path of ancient silver and gold stones shouldn't exist - and yet it had been there all along."

Definitely intrigued. What new secrets are going to be uncovered in this sixth book of the series. The thing with the prefaces in this series is, the author takes them from scenes further in the book. But for some reason, I forget all about the preface while I'm reading and don't even realize when I've come to the scene.

As that is really the preface, which is sharing a scene from later in the book, I decided to share the beginning of chapter one as well, like I did the last two weeks.

"''You remember me?' The question slipped from Sophie's lips before she could stop it, and the weighted words seemed to hit the floor of the messy bedroom with a thud. The wide-eyed, trembling girl standing in front of her slowly nodded, and Sophie's heart swelled even as it plummeted into the sour pit of her stomach."

Well, I'm not going to give away who it is that is remembering Sophie, but if you read the previous five books, you will know at the very end of book five, and it was quite the twist. This character plays an interesting, and unexpected role in the sixth book.

Here is my book beginnings for House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

"Thirty Years Ago
The walls of the house absorbed the woman's screams, until they felt to her as muffled and pointless as yelling underwater. Still, her lungs kept pushing out cries for help. Her attacker carried her over his shoulder."

Well, that is quite the beginning. Definitely going to be some suspense in this book, and some creepiness from what I can tell looking at the cover and the back of the book.

Here is my book beginnings for The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

"August 29, 1977
If you're anything like me, you want to plan ahead. Not too far, but enough to feel prepared. Or at least somewhat settled." 

Honestly not sure what to think here. Knowing that sometime there is going to be a death that leaves this person separated from her old life and family it seems that these first few sentences show that though we may want to plan ahead, things happen in life that make that tricky or difficult at times. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Nightfall by Shannon Messenger

"'I can't let anything happen to you,' she said quietly. 'I could never live with that guilt. I promise I'll check in - and you can hail me anytime you want. Just please say you'll stay here in Atlantis, where it's safe.'"

House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

'But. . . doesn't it bother you?' Obviously not, since they were heading to a real estate agent to buy the place.

Dad smiled at Xander. 'Not yet.'"

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

"In the end, Tessa had been more anxious to leave home than either he or Mimi had expected, leaving Mimi high and dry with work when Tessa accepted Manny's proposal after a whirlwind courtship."