First Book of the Year ~ 2022

Sheila, over at Book Journey, is once again hosting the "First Book of the Year" fun!

My "First Book of the Year" will be:

An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bare their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.  

What is your "First  Book of the Year"?

Colletta

First Book 2021

Sheila, over at Book Journey, is once again hosting "First Book of the Year" fun!

My "First Book of the Year" will be:

She needs to move on. He wants to let her go. Will they finally be able to go their separate ways even though their hearts seem to have other plans?

Elizabeth Ashburn is madly, deeply, irrefutably in love with her best friend. They know each other better than their own minds. There is only one problem: To him, she is Little Lizzie, and nothing she does seems to replace the idea in his mind. No matter. It is her first Season and she is determined to make a match with a gentleman—any gentleman—who will help her steal her heart back from Oliver Turner and his sea-blue eyes.

Oliver Turner can remember the exact day that Lizzie grew up. And now, he cannot see her as anything besides the beautiful woman stealing his breath—no matter how much he needs to. He won’t marry her. He can’t. He loves her too much for that. Now, he simply needs to help marry her off so that she will officially be out of his reach.

What is your "First  Book of the Year"?

Colletta

P.S. I'd love for you to stop by and give MY SHOP some love!

First Book of the Year ~ 2020

Sheila, over at Book Journey, is once again hosting "First Book of the Year" fun!

My "First Book of the Year" will be:

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

What is your "First  Book of the Year"?

Colletta

First Book of the Year ~ 2019

Sheila, over at Book Journey, is once again hosting "First Book of the Year" fun!

My "First Book of the Year" will be:

From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa.

Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer. Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest.

Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health.

What is your "First  Book of the Year"?

Colletta

Book Review ~ The Negotiator by Dee Henderson ~ 1/4/18

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Blurb:

 

FBI agent Dave Richman from Danger in the Shadows is back. He's about to meet Kate O'Malley, and his life will never be the same. She's a hostage negotiator. He protects people. He's about to find out that falling in love with a hostage negotiator is one thing, but keeping her safe is another!

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit. 

My Thoughts:

 

I hate that the first review I'm writing in 2018 isn't a glowing one :(

 

I just COULD NOT get into this book.  I tried for weeks! And that is how long it took me to work my way through The Negotiator.

 

I had such high hopes for this author and this series that I made sure to have the complete series on my bookshelf before starting to read this book.

 

I know some readers absolutely adore this author but I'm not so sure.

 

I don't know yet if I'm going to give the rest of the series a go or gift them to a reader friend.

 

Have you read this series or anything by this author?  If so, what did you think?

 

CLICK HERE FOR A TEASER!

For the Biblical "Way of Salvation" please see my header or click HERE.

 

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook, Hearts for Home, The Monday Review, Homemaking Party,  Favorite Things

Teaser Tuesday ~ The Negotiator Part 2 ~ 1/2/18

My teaser for this week is from:

First Paragraph:

 Kate O'Malley had been in the dungeon since dawn.

The members of the emergency response group comprising the SWAT and hostage-rescue teams had been relegated to the basement of the county building during the last department reorganization.  The metal desks were crammed together, the concrete walls needed repainting; the old case files made the room smell musty; and the hot and cold water pipes coming from the boiler room rumbled overhead.

The team was proud of its little hovel even if the plants did die within days.  The location allowed for relaxed rules.  The only evidence of bureaucracy was a time clock by the steel door so those not on salary could get paid for all their overtime.

 

Teaser:

 

 

"Tempting."

 

"But you are passing."  The disappointment was intense.

 

"Taking a rain check.  It's late.  You need to go home."

 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

First Book of the Year 2014

I have been impatiently waiting for today.  Not only because it is New Year's Day but because it is the First Book of the Year Party hosted by Sheila at Book Journey!

I've had my first book picked out for days and could hardly keep myself from starting it early.  I knew if I started it, I would finish it right away because this author is one of my all-time favorites.  I picked "The Sum of All Kisses" by Julia Quinn as my First Book.

I was supposed to take a picture of myself with the book but I just don't do good pictures.  I didn't want to horrify everyone, so here is a picture of my book with my cup of tea.  All ready to read!

If you are joining in for the First Book of the Year 2014, please leave your link in the comments so I can stop by.

If you aren't joining the party (why not?), what will be your first book of 2014?