Thursday, August 22, 2019

Book Beginnings: Curtains for Romeo


Curtains for Romeo, by Jessa Archer (Archer Mysteries, July 2019). This is the book's first paragraph:
I'm not the type of person who is habitually late. In fact, I truly loathe being late. I'll get up an hour before I really need to in order to be sure I'm on time. Maybe even early. 
About the Book:
"Acting jobs are scarce now for former TV teen detective Antigone Alden. So when a teaching position opens up at Southern Coastal University, Tig packs up her teenage daughter and heads home to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The house she inherited from her mother isn't entirely empty, however. Her mom seems stuck between this life and the next, and now Tig is a local reporter's prime suspect in the murder of the former theater professor. Given his reputation as a ladies' man, there are plenty of people with a motive. Tig isn't a detective. She just played one on TV. Will that be enough to help her find the killer?"

Initial Thoughts:

When I read that opening passage, my first thought was that it sounds just like me! I always think I'm going to need much more time to get ready to go somewhere than I really do. So things tend to get really frantic around here when I have any sort of early errands or appointments.

Anyhoo... I received this one as the result of a GoodReads giveaway, and I'm a little late starting it. Sounds like a fun read, so I'm eager to get going. It's the first book in a new cozy series — the Coastal Playhouse Mysteries, by Jessa Archer who is also the author of the Hand Lettering Mystery series which sound very intriguing.

Happy Friday, everyone! And happy reading! And have a lovely weekend.



Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

Monday, August 19, 2019

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?



Since my last update, I've finished exactly NO books. Summer stagnation has got me. Also, a few minor medical surprises have been taking up a lot more time than I'd expected.

So this post will be nice and short: no books finished, no reviews posted. Several books started, though — this week I'm hoping to finish at least these two:



The Patience of a Dead Man, by Michael Clark


After that, I have a few more ARCs I should get to as soon as possible:

What Rose Forgot, by Nevada Barr


Pursuit, by Joyce Carol Oates


The Shape of Night, by Tess Gerritsen

That's definitely enough to keep me busy for the rest of August — and at the rate I read, probably into September as well. That's if I can stay AWAY from the doctor's office for a while. (Fingers crossed.) So, now it's back to the books....

Happy reading, everyone! And have a lovely week.



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs.


Friday, August 02, 2019

Book Beginnings: The Potted Gardener


The Potted Gardener: An Agatha Raisin Mystery, by M.C. Beaton (first published 1994). This is the book's first sentence:
A mild, damp winter was edging towards spring when Agatha Raisin motored slowly homeward to the village of Carsely after a long holiday.

About the Book:
Agatha Raisin has a crush on her neighbor, handsome ex-military officer James Lacey. In order to endear herself to him, she takes up one of his interests — gardening, hoping to participate with him in the prestigious Carsely Horticultural Contest. But as the contest approaches, villagers' gardens are being mysteriously uprooted, plants poisoned and burned. When the prime suspect in these malicious acts turns up dead, Agatha must turn amateur sleuth once more to solve the murder mystery. 

Initial Thoughts:

Not a really scintillating beginning, is it? That's OK, though, because these Agatha Raisin cozies (this is number three in the long-running series) tend to move really fast. So I know something interesting — and probably hilarious — is coming very soon. Just what I need right now.

Happy Friday, everyone! And happy reading! And have a lovely weekend.



Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.