Category Archives: Friday 56

Friday 56 #146 – Vostok by Steve Alten @meg82159

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

OMG. Such a fabulous cover of Vostok by Steve Alten, a Meg(a) Hit. There is no way I will ever pass on the chance to read one of his novels.

You can see my 5 star review here.

Vostok

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY 56

At one point she interrupted the conversation to remind me that Willy’s nanny was due to leave soon and that we really needed to get back to our room

And then she winked!

That was all the prompting I needed.

(Pages 56 in hardcover published in 2015)

GOODREADS BLURB

East Antarctica: The coldest, most desolate location on Earth. Two-and-a-half miles below the ice cap is Vostok, a six thousand square mile liquid lake, over a thousand feet deep, left untouched for more than 15 million years. Now, marine biologist Zachary Wallace and two other scientists aboard a submersible tethered to a laser will journey 13,000 feet beneath the ice into this unexplored realm to steve

In this sequel to The Loch and prequel to the upcoming MEG 5: Nightstalkers, New York Times best-selling author Steve Alten offers readers a crossover novel that combines characters from two of his most popular series.

Steve Alten is the New York Times and International bestselling author of fourteen novels, including the MEG series about Carcharodon Megalodon, the 70-foot, 100,000 pound prehistoric cousin of the Great White shark and Domain trilogy, a series about the Mayan Calendar s 2012 doomsday prophecy. His work has been published in over 30 countries and is being used in thousands of middle and high school curriculum as part of Adopt-An-Author, a free teen reading program, which he founded with teachers back in 1999.”

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Friday 56 # 145 – Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich @seevanovich

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

Big Girl Panties is my first novel by Stephanie Evanovich and I had many chuckles while reading it. I gave it a 3 star rating on Goodreads and would recommend it, especially if you need a change of pace and some light reading.

Big Girl Panties

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY 56

(Pages 56 in paperback published in 2013)

GOODREADS BLURB

They say that big girls don’t cry. But when the chips are down and the dip is gone, what can you do? Pull up your BIG GIRL PANTIES and change your life.

Holly Brennan didn’t expect to be a widow at thirty-two. She also didn’t expect to be so big. Through her husband Bruce’s diagnosis and death, food was the one thing she could always count on. Now, those extra pounds make flying coach more than a little mortifying-especially since she’s sitting next to Adonis himself, aka Logan Montgomery, a personal trainer to the country’s most famous pro athletes.

Though Holly doesn’t make the grade on his first-impression meter, Logan finds himself intrigued by her sharp wit and keen insight-a welcome change from the beautiful bubble-headed dolls he usually dates-and impulsively offers to get her back in shape. Ready to make at least one positive change in her life, Holly agrees.

To Logan’s (and her own) surprise, Holly turns out to be a natural in the gym. Throwing herself into exercise, the red head with the blazing wit and welcoming smile slims down into a bonafide looker with killer curves-and a new kind of hunger. Soon, the easy intimacy and playful banter of their training sessions lead Logan and Holly into the bedroom where they share their most intense and steamy workouts yet.

But can a man whose whole life depends on looks commit himself to a woman who doesn’t fit his image? Now that Holly’s turning other men’s heads, does she even need Logan anymore? Are they a couple built to last . . . or is this sizzling affair going to burn out fast?

Big Girl Panties Big Girl Panties Big Girl Panties

Which cover do you like best?

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Friday 56 #144 – Kill and Run by Lauren Carr @TheMysteryLadie

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

I have been a huge fan of Lauren Carr for a long time. I love her fun writing style.

You can see my 4 star review Here.

Kill and Run (Thorny Rose Mysteries, #1)Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY 56

Murphy was skeptical. “That’s what they always say when an attractive man gets onn the fast track anywhere.”

“I don’t think General Graham is all the attractive, do you?”

“Buttercup, I don’t think any man is attractive.”

Pressing her long, elegant index finger against his chest, she narrowed her eyes until there were violet slits framed in lush long eyelashes. “You were the one who called him attractive, Honey Buns.”

(Pages 56 in paperback published in 2015)

GOODREADS BLURB

Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.

Before long, the case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.

In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?

 

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Friday 56 #143 – Castles On The Sand by E M Tippetts @EMTippetts

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

Castles on the Sand (Shattered Castles, #1)Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY 56

I skim the words. “Carson threatened Jean-Pierre? Greeeeat, and then what? Tatiana and Belinda got into a fight? And then…what?” The page details all kinds of vigilante action against the people who hurt me. Jean-Pierre got his car keyed and Tatiana had her locker vandalized.

GOODREADS BLURB

“A fast-paced blend of high-stakes drama and average teenage concerns (sex, appearance, friends), capped with a welcome message of hope.” ~Kirkus Reviews

If there’s one thing Madison Lukas understands, it’s pain. The pain she feels when her mother ignores her completely. The pain her best friend endures as her parents starve her as punishment. The pain of a dangerous boy whose mother has to be carried away by law enforcement on a regular basis.

She gets it. She feels the pain of others as if it were her own.

But when a mysterious man claiming to be her long lost brother appears with promises of relieving her suffering, trusting him could reveal more truths than Madison is ready for. Because the truth can hurt, too.

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Friday 56 #142 – Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton @sarahdalton

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

I won an ebook of Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton some time ago, but I loved this story so much, I wanted to share it with you.

My thanks go out to Sarah Dalton and Laura @ fuonlyknew.

Mary Hades (Mary Hades #1)

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY 56

“I don’t blame her,” Seth says. “What I saw that night…I’ll take it with me to my grave. It’s with me every day. Every day. She is with me every day. We’re connected – like rope on an anchor – and we will be forever.” He shrugs.

MY ONE SENTENCE REVIEW

Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton is a creepy and fantastic tale of a girl who is able to see and communicate with the spirits, her vacation adventure that turns into a young girl’s ghostly revenge and I loved every minute I spent with her and her friends, leaving me wanting more.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

 

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Friday 56#141 – Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin @aileen_erin

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

I won a signed copy of Becoming Alpha (Alpha Girl #1) by Aileen Erin and a beautiful bookmark some time ago and just got around to reading it.

Check out this beautiful cover. Do you think it’s safe to take a walk in the woods?

Becoming Alpha (Alpha Girl, #1)

Amazon US  /  Amazon UK  /  Amazon CA  /  Goodreads

MY 56

We walked across the lawn to the large brick house. A lilting beat flowed across the yard. I took a look down at my outfit – black skater dress, thin silver belt, flip-flops, thin silver scarf, and black over the elbow gloves – as my nerves started to reach an all time high. I smoothed my skirt down and centered the knot on my scarf as my nerves rose.

MY ONE SENTENCE REVIEW

Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin has all the elements for  a great young adult story, danger, betrayal, supernatural creatures of all kinds, romance, confusion, a fight to the death, and I’d follow her flip flopping footsteps all day long.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  4 Stars

 

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Friday 56 #140 – The Rolling Stones 50

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

I was so fortunate to be vacationing in Cape Cod, Mass, when Mr Wonderful and I found out that The Rolling Stones would play at the Grand Opening of Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots play.

It was September 5, 2002, and the house was rockin’.

Their concerts have come a long way since this one.

Today I am sharing The Rolling Stones 59 by the Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood.

This is a very large illustrated book filled with tons of goodies.

The Rolling Stones 50

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY 56

When I met Keith on Darford Station in 1961, having lost touch after beng at school together when we were very young, I immediately knew we shared a taste for great music. And soon we discovered that we both wanted to do more than just listen to it – we wanted to play music too. Going to the Ealing club and starting a band together, before joining up with Brian as the Rollin’ Stones and playing the Marquee Club in July 1962, we were pursuing a kind of dream, but it was a dream that was not yet fully clear i our minds. It was only after Bill and, soon after Charlie joined that we began to take seriously the possibility of being a band that got paid for playing the kid of music that very few others in Britain liked to play.

Because the books is filled with photos, I am sharing the first paragraph.

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Friday 56 #138 – The Kraken Project by Douglas Preston #DouglasPreston

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

Can’t go wrong with a Douglas Preston story.

The Kraken Project (Wyman Ford, #4)Amazon  /  Goodreads

My 56

Afterward, they left her lying in a muddy ditch, as a chilly rain began to fall. She lay there and she had thoughts. Terrible thoughts. So this was what the real world was actually like.

( page 56, in hardback,1st edition, published in May 2014)

Book Beginnings

In the beginning there was the number zero. Existence began in zero and out of zero came darkness, and from the darkness came light. Number combined with number, set with set, even as the white light added and divided, separating into colors. And now sound came, a sound like singing rising and falling in a lost cadence, combining into rich harmonies. from there arose a symphony of number, color, and sound, merging and dividing, swelling and fading, an eternal golden braid.

MY REVIEW

“I am.”

Imagine an Artificial Intelligence hell bent on wreaking revenge on its creator. Like a child, hurt, lost, feeling abandoned and betrayed, struggling to survive…

This mix of science fiction and reality made me wonder where one began and the other ended.

The characters, good and bad, will stick with me as I contemplate what our real future holds.

Frightening, questioning, hopeful, eye opening and thought provoking.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB:  NASA is building a probe to be splashed down in the Kraken Mare, the largest sea on ******’s great moon, Titan. It is one of the most promising habitats for extraterrestrial life in the solar system, but the surface is unpredictable and dangerous, requiring the probe to contain artificial intelligence software. To this end, Melissa Shepherd, a brilliant programmer, has developed “Dorothy,” a powerful, self-modifying AI whose true potential is both revolutionary and terrifying. When miscalculations lead to a catastrophe during testing, Dorothy flees into the Internet.

Former CIA agent Wyman Ford is tapped to help Melissa Shepherd track down the rogue AI. As Ford and Shepherd search for Dorothy, they realize that her horrific experiences in the wasteland of the Internet have changed her in ways they can barely imagine. And they’re not the only ones looking for the wayward software: the AI is also being pursued by a pair of Wall Street traders, who want to capture her code and turn her into a high-speed trading bot. Traumatized, angry, and relentlessly hunted, Dorothy has an extraordinary revelation—and devises a plan. As the pursuit of Dorothy converges on a deserted house on the coast of Northern California, Ford must face the ultimate question: is rescuing Dorothy the right thing? Is the AI bent on saving the world… or on wiping out the cancer that is humankind?

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I have the cover above.

Which do you like the best?

The Kraken Project (Wyman Ford, #4) The Kraken Project: A Novel Proyecto Kraken (Wyman Ford, #4)

Friday 56 #137 – We All Fall Down by Michael Harvey @michaelharvey88

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

We All Fall Down by Michael Harvey

We All Fall Down (Michael Kelly, #4)

Amazon  /  Goodreads

My 56

Patient Zero, as Donnie Quin would later be dubbed, was dead before the EMT’s wheeeled him out of his apartment. Because he was a cop, however, they took him to Cook County Hospital, en route to joining his two homeless pals at the morgue. A Sharp intern took one look at Donnie and ordered additional blood work. An hour later, the lab results came back. The intern didn’t know what he was looking at, but knew he didn’t like it. He sent the results to his boss, who ignored them when he got caught up in a conference call with Blue Cross bout a new regimen of mammoggram testing they were kicking back as unnecessary.

( page 56, in harcover,1st edition, published in 2011)

Book Beginnings

Ring around the rosy…

A pocket full of posies…

Ashes, ashes…

We all fall down.

A folk memory of the black death, sung by children in the streets of seventeenth century London.

GOODREADS BLURB:  Chicago cop turned private investigator Michael Kelly is racing to save his city from a deadly new foe: a biological weapon unleashed underground.

When a lightbulb falls in a subway tunnel, it releases a pathogen that could kill millions. While the mayor postures, people begin to die, especially on the city’s grim West Side. Hospitals become morgues. L trains are converted into rolling hearses. Finally, the government acts, sealing off entire sections of the city—but are they keeping people out or in? Meanwhile, Michael Kelly’s hunt for the people who poisoned his city takes him into the tangled underworld of Chicago’s West Side gangs and the even more frightening world of black biology—an elite discipline emerging from the nation’s premier labs, where scientists play God and will stop at nothing to preserve their secrecy.

It’s a brave new world . . . and the most audacious page-turner yet from an emerging modern master.

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Friday 56 #136 – A Game of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell @rebeccacantrell

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

 

A Game of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell

A Game of Lies (Hannah Vogel, #3)

Amazon  /  Goodreads

My 56

I had made a mistake.

I pivoted back toward the door, but he slammed it shut and stood in front, arms crossed.

( page 56, in hardcover,1st edition, published in 2011)

Book Beginnings

The crowd pushed the three of us between the Marathon Towers toward the Berlin Olympics Stadium. The left tower displayed a simple clock On the right, both politically and geographically, hung a twisted iron cross – the swastika. I understood the message: It was 1936, and the time of the Nazis had come.

GOODREADS BLURB:  Journalist Hannah Vogel returns in A Game of Lies by award-winning author Rebecca Cantrell.

In preparation for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Nazis have rid the streets of anti-Semitic material and other propaganda, and present a peace-seeking face to the world. Journalist and part-time spy for the British, Hannah Vogel, shudders to think of what lies under the temporary coat of gloss.

Posing as travel reporter Adelheid Zinsli and lover of SS officer Lars Lang, Hannah has been collecting Nazi secrets from Lang and smuggling them back to Switzerland. Wanted by the SS, her travel in and out of Germany has always been fraught with danger, but this trip is especially treacherous.

Surrounded by former colleagues who could identify her, Hannah tries to keep a low profile while reporting on the Games as Adelheid. Her relationship with Lang gets more complicated as he sinks into alcoholism; the whispers she hears about his work in the SS give her chills. Whose side is he on?

Hannah agrees to meet her mentor, Peter Weill, at the Stadium, but before he can reveal information that will expose the Nazis, he dies in front of her. Hannah suspects poison.

Hannah must discover who killed Weill and get his secret package out of the country before the Olympics end and the Nazis tighten their noose and before her true identity is revealed. And her partner may be the very one about to expose her.

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