Friday Fun - May 27th, 2022

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'm reading The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright. I needed a book with a title of 5+ words for one of my challenges. And I love Jaime's stories. Though, I have found it's best when I read them during the day.

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 Haunting of Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright.

"Bluff River, Wisconsin
August 1928

Life was not unlike the wisp of fog that curled around the base of a grave marker, softly caressing the marble before dissolving into the violet shadows of the night. There was a sweetness in its bitter that left an aftertaste, a vision, a moment of wonderment."

I was intrigued by the way life was being described, and curious why Pippa was in a some sort of grave yard. Seemed like a creepy beginning.

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 Haunting of Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

"Margie read her mind. 'He went upstairs to play Nitro Steel.' A sparkle in Margie's eyes proved she'd been introduced to Peter's imaginary persona and was more than up to the challenge of chasing around a seven-year-old superhero." 

Friday Fun - May 20th, 2022

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 read my first book by the author Lynn H. Blackburn. It is the first book in the Defend and Protect series which is romantic suspense. It's titled, Unknown Threat. I found out after I already read this book, that it might be better to read her Dive Team Investigations series first because characters from that series do pop up in this series. So, yeah, they are on hold at the library. 

I'm currently reading the second book in the Defend and Protect series by Lynn H. Blackburn titled, Malicious Intent.

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 Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn

"Luke Powell's head throbbed as he parked his sedan in the empty lot and glared into the nearby trees. The darkness had just begun the slow fade toward dawn, and the US Secret Service special agent could barely make out the trailhead. He used to love Mondays. There was nothing quite like tackling the week and showing it who was boss before the sun had a chance to reach the horizon.
He didn't love Mondays anymore, and he hated running alone."

Okay, why was he going to be running alone? What has happened? And was there a reason his head was throbbing? 

Here is my book beginnings for Malicious Intent also by Lynn Blackburn. 

 

"The stack of cash on his desk was as close to genuine currency as squeeze cheese was to Brie.
US Secret Service Special Agent Gil Dixon turned one of the fraudulent twenties over and studied the back. There were a few similarities to the real thing, but not enough to confuse anyone paying attention."

I was struck by the unique comparison of counterfeit money to squeeze cheese. 

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.

Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn

"Luke realized she didn't mention how frustrated she was with their lack of progress, which was not because they weren't working around the clock but because whoever had done this had done a good job of covering his tracks." 

Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn

"I'm good. So tired I don't think I'll have trouble sleeping. House is tight. System armed. I'll be sure Em has a weapon before she goes to bed. I'm sleeping on the sofa. We'll figure out the rest of it tomorrow, or later today."

Friday Fun - May 13th, 2022

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.

In addition to the book I am currently reading for my one challenge this month, I have a few books I agreed to review in exchange for digital copies of the books. The first is the first book in the Storm & Spire series by Stefanie Lozinski. It's titled, Magnify. 

I'm also going to be reviewing a Christian dystopian story by Christina Cattane. Not only did I receive the second book which is coming out soon, but she also sent me a digital copy of the first book so I could be caught up with the story. It is called Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

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 Magnify by Stefanie Lozinski

"The spire stood at the center of the world, watching everything, presiding over the birth of babies and the death of old men.

Wes Cervos looked toward it, across the city of Whitespire, as he crested the craggy gray ridge. He should have been waiting for his two companions-a Witness by the name of Odrigh, this time from Galeharbor, and his own Deermaster-but he had gone on ahead."

I was intrigued. I love discovering new fantastical worlds, and this story caught my attention right away.

Here is my book beginnings for Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun by Christina Cattane. This is from the prologue, which takes place 400 years before the story takes place.

"September 28, 2225

The wind raged against the waters of Redoubt Bay. The waves clashed with the wind, churning and foaming and throwing slush into the air. In the midst of the storm, a salmon trawler fought its way towards the mouth of the Drift River, tossed by the wind, deluged by the waves, and frozen from the elements.'"

I wasn't sure what exactly was going on with this beginning. I wasn't sure if this was what caused the world to be thrown into chaos or if this was how the world now was after some catastrophe. And then when I noticed the first chapter is 400 more years in the future, I was really confused. But I was intrigued and couldn't wait to see what was happening in this dystopian world. 

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.

Magnify by Stefanie Lozinski

"Some of the dwarves seem to be allying themselves with elves. The dragons no longer patrol the skies over Kaveryth. I could go on. Our world is in peril. On top of that, my own House hangs by a thread."

Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun by Christina Cattane

"Angelica wished she could sink into the chair she was in and disappear. Was it possible she'd brought evil to these people? She had just assumed it was already here. In her visions they were coming from the south. What if the visions were just fancies of her imagination?'"

Friday Fun - May 6th, 2022

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 read the first book by Sibella Giorello, The Stones Cry Out. This is the first book in her Raleigh Harmon series.

I just started A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White. This is the second book in her Shadows Over England series. I read the first book, A Name Unknown, back in February for one of my challenges. 

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 Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello.

"The dead man's mother lives on Castlewood Street, in a battered gray house guarded by a mean echo of 'No Trespassing' signs.

'Looks inviting,' John Breit says cheerfully, 'Good luck in there.'"

Sarcasm much? LOL

Here is my book beginnings for A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

"'The music seeped into her soul like fog over the Thames. Willa Forsythe leaned back against the grimy bricks and tilted her face up to the early-evening mist. It kissed her cheeks, cooled her, dampened her clothes. She let it. It was a reasonable price to pay for this."

Remembering Willa from the first book, I could see her love for music 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 Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello

"Heat from the rough brick radiates through my blouse, burning the skin on my back. I watch Madame cruise the courtyard like a crazy windup toy. When finally I pull myself from the wall, the brick snags my blouse, pulling the threads."

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

"De Wilde only glanced at Willa once, for the briefest of moments, before turning his smile on Gwen. But it was enough to scald her. 'I have heard that you played, mademoiselle. And have heard, too, that you are modest-that you were quite good. Would that I could hear you.'"

Reading Challenges 2022 April

Here is what I read for my reading challenges in April: 

                             

For April, I read The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck. 

I decided to read the next book in the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren which was a novella. Bourne is set in Italy, a place I have always wanted to visit because my father's family is from Italy. Though, I don't think I want to live in 1300 Italy.

I am reading Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells. The flashbacks in the story take place in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries.

I read Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck.

Plus someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group came up with this challenge:

Pick which level you want to do and choose from these prompts! Happy reading!

Level 1: 12 books- success!

Level 2: 25 books- success!

Level 3: 50 books

Level 4: All 75!

I read 7 books in January for this challenge.

I read 7 books in February for this challenge. 

I read 9 books in March for this challenge (I can't count Keturah or Veiled in Smoke yet as I haven't finished them.)

I read 10 book in April for this challenge.

Red: No clue

Blue: Have a book in mind 

Green: Read

Orange: Can be for more than one, need to choose

Read a book...

1. With a verb in the title

2. With an infant or child on the cover: Then Sings My Soul by Amy K Sorrells

3. With a tree on the cover: Forsaken Island by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

4. With a pink cover: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

5. Set in the mountains: Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

6. Set during your favorite season

7. That includes your favorite holiday: Holly Jolly Christmas by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

8. With a building on the cover: Captives by Jill Williamson (my thoughts)

9. Published the month you were born: Bookshop by the Sea

10. That has a dual timeline: The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jamie Jo Wright (my thoughts)

11. Recommended by an author you enjoy

12. With little to no romance: Crossed Off by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

13. Published in 2022

14. That is a debut novel

15. Written in first person POV: Luminary by Krista McGee (my thoughts)

16. By a male author

17. Written by multiple authors

18. By an author who writes with a pen name

19. By an author who has multiple award winning books Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

20. That is also a movie or tv series: Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

21. That you choose because of the cover: Dust by Kara Swanson (my thoughts)

22. Reread a favorite

23. That makes you laugh

24. A genre outside your comfort zone

25. That has been on your tbr list for a long time

26. A book with multiple POV: The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis (my thoughts)

27. Less than 250 pages long

28. Written before the year 2000.

29. That has a number in the title

30. Set in Asia or Africa: Ghost Heart by Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry (my thoughts)

31. Based on a true story or event: Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green (my thoughts)

32. That is part of a series: Revolutionary by Krista McGee (my thoughts)

33. With a title that doesn't include the word "the": Injustice for All by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

34. Set during WWII

35. That is considered fantasy

36. A novella of a series you enjoyed: Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

37. With a main character that is a POC: Imperfect Justice by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

38. Set somewhere you've been: A Mosaic of Wings (first part set in Ithaca NY) (my thoughts)

39. Over 400 pages long

40. Featuring a teacher or principle

41. With a main character over the age of 50

42. A book that could be considered scary or intimidating

43. That features a game (chess, tag, board game, etc) or sport

44. By an indie author

45. With a title or story element that relates to the ocean

46. Featuring a coffee shop or cafe

47. With a musician, singer, or songwriter

48. With a dystopian or utopian theme or element: Anomaly by Krista McGee (my thoughts)

49. That is historical fiction: A Name Unknown by Roseanna M White (my thoughts)

50. With a main character that has red hair: Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

51. With a character that has a mental or physical disability: Cross Fire by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

52. A feel good book

53. A beach read

54. By an author who shares your last initial: Outcasts (my thoughts)

55. Featuring an artist, writer, or photographer: Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

56. That includes dance: Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

57. That has your favorite color on the cover

58. With a rainbow or multicolored cover

59. Set at a tavern, inn, or hotel: A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

60. By an author you’ve never read before: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

61.That is a graphic novel or has illustrations

62. A book that involves a fortune or treasure

63. With a fruit or vegetable on the cover

64. That involves a family feud

65. With the enemies to lovers trope

66. A book that is a best seller

67. With royal or noble characters: Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

68. By an author who is no longer writing

69. That is considered women’s fiction

70. That is a tearjerker

71. Featuring a character that is in politics: Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

72. With a women in a STEM career field: Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

73. With a sun or moon on the cover: Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

74. A book with a one word title: Rebels by Jill Williamson (my thoughts)

75. Written by a European author

Friday Fun - April 29th, 2022

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 continued with the Royal Wedding series by Rachel Hauch and read Princess Ever After.

I also read the novella Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren, part of the River of Time series. 

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 Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck.

"She'd found bliss. Perhaps even true love. Behind the wheel of a '71 Dodge Challenger restored to Slant-6 perfection."

Well that wasn't quite how I expected the third sentence to go. LOL

Here is my book beginnings for Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

"'M'lady! They approach!' the guard yelled down to us from the walls.
'Thank God,' I muttered, taking my first full breath in what seemed like hours. Ever since the battle had ended the night before, Sienese patrols had circulated in and out of Castello Forelli, to drop off wounded, reprovision, rest, and head out again."

I was glad to see we seemed to be starting off right where Torrent left off. Approximately.

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.

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

"'As a matter of fact, I got around to it. A few months later.' Daddy's voice drew in Reggie's heart and attention. 'One night after supper, I was sitting by her bed and, well, you know'- Daddy chuckled as if it all seemed so silly now- I said, 'Gram, before Bettin died, she said something about being a princess.'"

Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

"He bowed and then kissed my hand, purposefully not answering. Then he straightened, still holding my hand in his. ''Tis Firenze's own question, now.' His eyes were gentle, on mine. 'And best you not know the details. For your own safety.'"