Friday Fun - August 7, 2026

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with four different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, First Line Friday, and Book Blogger Hop.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White:

"White gloves tugged into place, Kennedy Marshall reached for the treasure before her-old leather, careful gilding, delicate paper."

I really wanted to know what kind of treasure this was and why she had it, where she found it, etc.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is hosted by Anne from My Head is Full of Books. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White:

"He searched his emails and texts from her - and wow, there were a lot. He hadn't really paused to realize that he communicated more with Kenni than anyone else. His search turned up nothing. But he swore he'd seen photos. And Britta had gone too, hadn't she? A couple months before that last trip - she and Lara had driven up together."

Book Blogger Hop.

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy over at Ranblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer. The hop occurs weekly, starting on Friday and ending the following Thursday, featuring a specific book-related prompt each week. The main goal is to connect bloggers, encouraging them to follow each other, discover new titles, and grow their audience.

This week's question is: Do you see yourself more as an editor, a writer, or just a reader?

My answer:  Definitely more of a reader. I have tried writing books (notice how I added "and write" to my blog name?) I have always dreamed of writing a book, but I tend to be able to get them started but not make much progress in them. I feel so bad for my characters who are stuck in different predicaments.

And now it is time to share my current Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun. I'm almost done reading it, but not quite. I will share my review next week.

I finished the last book I had shared about a few weeks ago, so here is my review of that book:

When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard

Friday Fun - July 31, 2026

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with four different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, First Line Friday, and Book Blogger Hop.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer:

"The subway car hissed to a stop, and Callum found himself jostled to and fro by those hurrying to exit while others hurried to board."

Just a normal day on a subway in NYC, though decades earlier than when I lived there. Though I wondered if it was leading to more frantic times.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is hosted by Anne from My Head is Full of Books. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer:

"In spite of the unexpectedly stressful challenges of bringing three children into her household, walking Guy and Evelyn to school on a crisp, clear spring morning was a dream-come-true moment Hester would cherish for the rest of her life. She'd left Winnie in Scotty's keeping, uncertain how long it would take to complete enrollment. It seemed odd not to have all three children in tow, and the feeling told her that her heart was already binding itself to them."

Book Blogger Hop

I'm joining in with a fun blog hop I recently discovered.

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy over at Ranblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer. The hop occurs weekly, starting on Friday and ending the following Thursday, featuring a specific book-related prompt each week. The main goal is to connect bloggers, encouraging them to follow each other, discover new titles, and grow their audience.

This week's question is: If you had to stick to one genre forever, which would you choose and why?

My answer: That is such a tricky, unfair question. I have come to love so many genres through reading challenges and being on launch teams. Being willing to try new things. But, I guess I would have to go back to what my favorite used to be, Christian Suspense. It could be romantic or not, historical or modern day, but I do love the way suspense keeps me on the edge of my seat and zinging through the pages. 

And now it is time to share my current Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun. Here's my review:

Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer

I still have one book to finish that I shared about a couple of weeks ago. I had set it aside to read Into a Golden Era, so I'm only about halfway through. I'll be sharing my review in next week's Friday Fun post.

Friday Fun - July 24, 2026

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with four different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, First Line Friday, and Book Blogger Hop.

This week I have three books to share with you.

I'm reading Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer. I should be reading ARCs, but I've waited too long for this newest book in the Timeless series, and when I saw that it was available through my library system, I decided I wanted to read it real quick. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer:

"I needed help, and I didn't have much time."

What kind of help did she need? What was wrong?

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is hosted by Anne from My Head is Full of Books. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer:

"A corner of his mouth came up as he regarded me, as it seeing me for the first time. 'You're not intimidated by me, are you?'

I frowned. 'Why would I be?'

'Because I'm famous and handsome and dangerous.' He said the last word in a lower tone and lifted his eyebrow playfully, though I could see pain behind his gaze."

Book Blogger Hop

I'm joining in with a fun blog hop I discovered a couple of weeks ago.

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy over at Ranblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer. The hop occurs weekly, starting on Friday and ending the following Thursday, featuring a specific book-related prompt each week. The main goal is to connect bloggers, encouraging them to follow each other, discover new titles, and grow their audience.

This week's question is: What's the fastest or slowest you've ever finished a book?

My answer: I know I have finished books in less than a day, but I couldn't tell you how many hours. I also read books of varying lengths, so it's tricky to know for sure. 

And now it is time to share my current Reviews:

Last week I shared three book in my Friday Fun. Here are my reviews of two of the books. I still have to finish the third book:

Trapped by Jerusha Agen

The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White

Friday Fun - July 17, 2026

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with four different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, First Line Friday, and Book Blogger Hop.

This week I have three books to share with you.

I read Trapped by Jerusha Agen. This is the second book in her Security League series and it releases on July 23rd.

I'm reading When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard. This is the first book in her new Mercy Ridge series which releases August 4th.

I also started The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White. I was going to wait to start this one, but I was having issues with my Kindle file for the above book.

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

 Trapped by Jerusha Agen:

"Could she fight to the death?"

Why was she worried about needing to fight to the death?? I needed to know. This line really drew me into this book.

When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard:

"Secrets can't stay buried forever."

I guess that is true. The truth will be revealed. I wondered what kind of secrets this was talking about.

The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White:

"Zelie Bellarose shuffled another step forward, careful not to look at the two Nazi soldiers at the head of the queue."

I would want to avoid eye contact as well, but I wondered where exactly she was going and what she was trying to hide.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is hosted by Anne from My Head is Full of Books. 

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:

Trapped by Jerusha Agen:

"An uneasy feeling replaced the brief moment of comfort as Kristen walked to Best You Boutique. Despite the warm, humid air, a shiver skimmed across her arms beneath the short sleeves of her blouse. She scanned ahead, then right and left. 

Maybe it was just the sensation of the cop in the squad car watching her. He could probably see her from behind right now. And that was a good thing.

Her knotted insides disagreed."

When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard:

"Lord, what do we do next? Where do we go from here? He'd sent his brother, Holt, a message, so at least someone would know, but he hadn't told Mom the details. He hadn't wanted her caught up in this, hadn't wanted her worried, or worse, in danger. Now, though, regret gnawed at him. Now he wished he hadn't involved the sheriff or the town in this either. A cold weight settled in his chest. He could die on this mountain. They could both die."

The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White:

"Her spine went even straighter. 'I beg your pardon. I never once said I was a man. If your superiors cannot fathom a woman being capable of the work I've done, then perhaps the fault is with their imagination and not with my gender..'

Henri grinned."

Book Blogger Hop

I'm joining in with a fun blog hop I discovered last week.

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy over at Ranblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer. The hop occurs weekly, starting on Friday and ending the following Thursday, featuring a specific book-related prompt each week. The main goal is to connect bloggers, encouraging them to follow each other, discover new titles, and grow their audience.

This week's question is: Do you read one book at a time, or juggle a few at once?

My answer: Funnily enough I was just commenting about this in a Facebook group. I will try starting two or maybe three books. However, one will tend to capture my attention more than the other(s) and I end up finishing that book before going back to the other(s). So, I guess I technically only read one book at a time these days.

And now it is time to share my current Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun. Here's my review:

Survival in the Mountains by Carrie Stuart Parks

And here is my review for the first book I shared above:

Trapped by Jerusha Agen

Friday Fun - July 10, 2026

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

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting Survival in the Mountains by Carrie Stuart Parks.

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 Survival in the Mountains by Carrie Stuart Parks:

"Pain radiated through her skull, sharp and relentless."

Ouch. Having read the blurb, I figured this was the accident the main character was supposed to get in. Didn't realize the book was going to start right here.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

Survival in the Mountains by Carrie Stuart Parks:

"'Did you get a name?' Bethany asked him when he got in the truck.

'Yup. And an address.' Well, sort of, he added silently. He started the truck and drove up the street.

'Do you think this diary contains information on what we talked about before? Something about land or money?'

He shrugged. 'Could be. Maybe a map, or something illegal that no one wants to come to light.'

'Or a confession about a love in her life?'

He flashed her a grin. 'So, the romantic side of you is coming out.' He snapped his mouth shut, instantly regretting his words."

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun. Here's my review:

Conspiracy by Colleen Coble

Two weeks ago, I also shared one book. I finally had a chance to write my review. Here it is:

A Heart's Hope by Penny Zeller

And six weeks ago I shared a book that I had to set aside in order to read several other books. But, I just finished it this morning. To be fair, it's also quite a long book, but once I got past the 50% mark, I couldn't put it down. Here is my review:

Superstar by Cali Black

Friday Fun - July 3, 2026

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

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting Conspiracy by Colleen Coble. This is the third book in the Sanctuary series.

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 Conspiracy by Colleen Coble:

"Wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden smiled at the two tiny lemurs as they nudged closer to their mother, Fiona."

Awww. Now I want to go to the zoo and see the lemurs.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

Conspiracy by Colleen Coble:

"Unease rippled down her back. Had her mother feared the killer had left it? It wouldn't be unheard of for her to mention to Ben that her daughter loved The Phantom of the Opera. Maybe someone close to Ben had left it. Paradise rubber her head. Maybe she was seeing connections that didn't exist."

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun. I did finish the book, I just haven't had a chance to sit down to write the review.

And two weeks ago I shared one book. I had finished it last week, I just hadn't had a chance to write my review. So, here is that review:

The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles

Friday Fun - June 19, 2026

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

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting an eARC of The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles. This book releases next week on June 23rd.

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles:

"A body can't run from what they've seen."

I wondered what had been seen and why someone may want to run from it.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles:

"'Joe made some fish and taters for supper. Let's get a good meal in you. Give your hair time to dry, and then we'll bring out the mirror. That work alright, honey?'

I wanted to hate her for the pain she'd put me through, but when she batted them big puppy eyes at me, I knew her intentions was out of love."

Reviews:

Two weeks ago I shared one book in my Friday Fun. Here's the link to my review:

Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti

Friday Fun - June 5, 2026

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

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm starting Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti.

        Book Beginnings on Friday    

 

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

 Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti:

"Ears attuned to any noise, Kellan O'Roark wiggled his fingers before applying his skills to the lock on Cousin Tiernan's desk."

Sounds like Kellan is doing something on the naughty side. Possibly.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection:

Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti:

"Tiernan sat at his desk. The boy would turn up. Tiernan had no desire to chase him down. He needed to focus his attention on discovering who turned him in. He'd start with who owed him the most. They would want to get him out of the way first. Not that he planned to go anywhere."

Reviews:

I don't have any new reviews to share this week. I'm still trying to finish all these books.