Thursday, August 22, 2019

Bookish Mewsings (featuring Book Beginnings & The Friday 56): False Step & Smitten by the Brit/And How I Choose My Next Book to Read



Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.


False Step by Victoria Helen Stone
Lake Union Publishing, 2019
Crime Fiction/Thriller; 278 pgs

Book Beginning: 
The man jogged through the parking area of the mountain trailhead, his blond hair wild and disheveled, a dead leaf caught in the golden waves. The small body in his arms bounced with each step. A young child, two or three ears old, limbs disturbingly limp. It was difficult to tell much more past the jittery movement of the camera and the shadows of pine trees cutting lines of darkness across the scene. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 
All right? No, it wasn't all right. Not even close. How could he just offer an apology like someone delivering a casserole because of an illness in the family? I hope everything is alright . . .

My bookish mewsings:

When Veronica’s husband Johnny finds a missing child while out on a hike, their lives are irrevocably changed. The media exposure attracts more business Johnny’s way, something the financially strapped couple needs. Although, Veronica wants nothing to do with the limelight, wishing to keep her secrets and marital unhappiness under the radar. She isn’t too keen on the continued police interest either, nor is Johnny. To say more . . . well, that might be too much of a spoiler.

Author Victoria Helen Stone’s domestic thriller is emotionally tense to say the least. Veronica and Johnny have a ten year old daughter who they love dearly, and would do anything for. I was not particularly fond of most of the characters in the novel, and that includes Veronica. It was through that link as a parent myself that I could better understand some of Veronica’s choices, even if I did not always agree with her. Veronica grew on me as a result. False Step was a compelling read which I found hard to put down. Veronica’s anxiety and fears play a big part in that. I wish I could say the ending came as a big surprise, but while it didn’t, I still really wanted to know how exactly everything would play out. False Step may not be the most memorable thriller I have read, but it was entertaining and makes for a fun quick read.



Smitten by the Brit (Sometimes in Love, #2) by Melonie Johnson
St. Martin's Press, 2019
Romance; 376 pgs

Book Beginning: 
Bonnie Blythe hovered near the tall windows, nursing her cocktail and watching the lights from the Navy Pier Ferris wheel twinkle in the fading spring twilight. It was a romantic moment, one she should have been enjoying with Gabe, except her fiancé wasn't here. As was so often the case lately, her significant other was significantly absent. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 
Cassie's eyes widened, and Bonnie mumbled, "I may have done some research."
"Uh-huh." Cassie gave her some side-eye. "How long have you known?"
"About a month. How long have you known?" Bonnie countered, unable to keep the twinge of accusation from her voice. 

My bookish mewsings:

Readers are first introduced to both Bonnie and Theo in the first book of the Sometimes in Love series, Getting Hot With the Scot, only this time it is their story. The initial attraction between the two protagonists in Smitten by the Brit is obvious, only Bonnie is engaged to her childhood sweetheart and Theo’s mother is bent on marrying her son to a wealthy heiress. When Bonnie discovers her fiancé in bed with another woman, she calls off her engagement, leaving the door wide open for Theo. A summer teaching position at Cambridge brings her even closer to Theo.

I really like how author Melonie Johnson delves into the hearts and minds of her characters, including as they tackle their inner demons, so to speak. Both characters have a lot of growing to do over the course of the novel. Bonnie is figuring out who she is and what she wants independent of anyone else; and Theo, who has long carried the weight of his family’s title and financial troubles on his shoulders, must choose between his own happiness or playing hero to his family. Like in real life, everything is not so cut and dry for either character, and I liked that the author incorporates this in her novels, finding a way to give her protagonists—and everyone else--their happy ending. I love Bonnie’s character—of course, any Jane Austen fan is sure to draw me to her. And Theo is quite the catch with his kind heart and always wanting to do the right thing. Plus, he really knows how to charm a woman! It was good to visit a little with Cassie and Logan again, characters from the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed Smitten by the Brit, and am eager to dive into the third book in the series.


Have you read one or both of these books? If you haven't, do either of them interest you? 


Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

How do you choose the next book to read?

 I enjoy reading a wide variety of genres and cross-genres, being drawn to books based on their subject matter, the setting, the type of book it is, the author, or the recommendation of a trusted friend. I can be a finicky reader, which is often controlled by my mood. I gravitate towards certain types of books depending on my state of mind. Add to that my preference to mix things up genre-wise, a habit I picked up years ago to avoid burning out on any one type of book. Though I do occasionally go on an author or series binge. And sometimes review deadlines play a part too.

I would like to tell you I have choosing the next book to read down to a science. It should be as simple as randomly pulling a book of my shelf or being more methodical and picking the first book on the pile. Sometimes it is as easy as just knowing exactly what I want to read before I finish my current book(s), and other times it turns into quite the ordeal with me agonizing over which will be the perfect next book to read. The struggle is real (and probably the byproduct of having too many books to choose from). What is a reader with a TBR mountain in front of her to do when ALL the books sound good at the same time? Draw numbers or titles, do a blind grab, ask my spouse or daughter to choose, even have the cat help . . . I have done it all and then some.

The first Saturday of every month I take part in the My TBR List meme hosted by the wonderful Michelle (of Because Reading) in which I list three books I am considering reading that month and put it to my blog readers for a vote. It is fun getting other people's input--whether they have read the books or just like the sound of them (or the covers)--and it makes selecting the next book to read at the beginning of each month a bit easier.

My current read is a more serious and emotionally-charged novel, and so I am sure my next selection will be something lighter--probably along the lines of a romance or maybe a cozy mystery.


What about you? Do you have a process for choosing your next book to read? 


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46 comments:

  1. False Steps sounds like an real interesting premise. I hope it is a good read. My Friday Quotes are at the bottom of my review

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    1. Anne - I enjoyed it in the moment. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. False Step sounds like something I'd read for sure. I'm always looking for quick thrillers to pick up - they are great palette cleaners for me I find.

    www.tbrandbeyond.com

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    1. Melanie - I do enjoy a good thriller. Thank you for visiting!

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  3. I think I'd like False Step.

    I have no system for picking my next book - a lot of times it's because I've read a great review of the book.

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    1. Kathy - If you read False Step, I hope you enjoy it!

      Good reviews by fellow bloggers will certainly get my attention. The problem comes in when so many tempt me at one time.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  4. I would like the Stone thriller; even if it's not perfect, it sounds like fun to me.

    And, you hit the nail on the head for me about selecting your next book-- "The struggle is real (and probably the byproduct of having too many books to choose from). What is a reader with a TBR mountain in front of her to do when ALL the books sound good at the same time?"

    Yes, that's me and my issue! I'm a moody reader so I need a few good choices in every genre and subgenre I read. Sometimes I spend a whole night finding the book I want to read, and putting some others aside for later.

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    1. Rita - False Step was fun. I really want to try her other work.

      That is me too! My husband chuckles whenever he sees me agonizing over which book to read next if it's taking forever. I fare better when I've picked the next book to read before finishing what I am reading.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  5. How to choose the next book to read? This is an interesting topic and so varies to each reader. These days I'll read according to my library books' due dates, ha. But yes, I do have those moments as to what genre/title to read. Sometimes, having a TBR pile didn't really help, huh? ;p

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    1. Melody - I can see how due dates are a good way to choose what to read next! :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. False Step sounds like one I might enjoy. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “THE LAST WIDOW”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I hope you enjoy it if you read it. Thanks for visiting!

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  7. I'm going for False Step too - compelling reading and emotionally tense sounds good to me.

    I'm a moody reader too and sometimes I just can't find the right book to read next. And I like to mix things up genre-wise as well.

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    1. Margaret - The kind of book that holds on and doesn't let go until the very end.

      Choosing the next book to read shouldn't be so hard, you'd think. And yet it is for many of us.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Both your choices sound like good ones. I love the titles for the romances and the first lines of the thriller really grab me. How ever you are choosing, it is working.

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    1. Roberta - I love those romance titles too. Such fun. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  9. The snippets from False Step really pulled me in. I'd be interested in reading it. Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great weekend! :)

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    1. Ashley - I hope you like False Step if you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. The baby in that first book, OMG!!!!!! I'd read that one for sure! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - It was quite the tense opening. Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. Smitten by the Brit sounds cute! I'm intrigued.

    Also, I love how you pick your next read out. I've been eying joining in on some TBR challenge/tags in the future. That particular TBR tag/challenge/meme thing (I know, I'm great with words. Not.) sounds like a great one! Definitely looking into it.

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    1. Jessica - I am smitten with Melonie Johnson's books. ❤️

      The TBR List meme is one of my favorites. I hope you will join in!

      Thank you for visiting!

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  12. Both of these books sound good. :) Have a great weekend!

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  13. I have False Step on my Kindle and now I'm more eager to read it.

    Choosing my next book to read is a mix of my mood, what I have out from the library and what'd due for review. Sometimes I chuck all that to read something from my shelves.

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    1. Bea - I hope you enjoy False Step!

      Sometimes we have to just give in tov whatever calls us.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. Like you, I like to mix things up with my reading/TBR, swapping between genres for variety.

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    1. Nicki - I really do like the variety. It helps that we enjoy so many different types of books too. Thank you for visiting!

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  15. It can be surprisingly hard to pick a next read! I agree. There is no easy answer sometimes. :)

    Hope you have a great weekend!

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    1. Greg - I agree. There really isn't an easy answer sometimes. Even choosing my picks for the poll each month can be a challenge. I put a lot of thought into it. Maybe too much. Haha Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. I haven't read either of the book but False Step sounds interesting! It has to be really compelling that you enjoyed the book even though you didn't really like most of the characters - that's normally a big turnoff (for me anyway)

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    1. Eustacia - I tend to be more tolerant of characters I don't care for when it comes to thrillers. Maybe because so many have hard to relate to characters these days. Haha. Thank you for visiting!

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  17. That's an intense book beginning for False Step. Makes me wonder what led up to the scene. Hope you enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Alicia - You'll have OT read it to find out! 😉 Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. False Step sounds riveting.
    My reading is taking a step back due to domestic pressures. I try to read when I can but it is slow going.

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    1. Mystica - I am so sorry you are dealing with domestic pressures. I the situation lightens for you soon, my friend. Sending positive thoughts your way.

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  19. I have no method for choosing the next book, because I usually have five or six going at a time. So, it is a never-ending carousel of books around here, and I just grab whatever catches my eye - or is due back the earliest when it come to library books.

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    1. Sarah - I think the most I've had going at once was four. I tend to do better with one or two at a time. Thank you for visiting!

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  20. The My TBR List meme seems like a good thing. I don't generally have a problem choosing books because I always have backlist ARCs haunting me if I don't have any current ones. 😁

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    1. La La - Oh, I have list too, but I still struggle with which one to read. They all sound good! Haha Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. I'm definitely a moody reader. I pick up books depending on what I'm in the mood for which sometimes it's not good when I have a book I have to finish for book group because I'm not feeling it, I keep putting it off!

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    1. Iliana - I can relate. It can be hard stick with a book you aren't in the mood to read or if another one is calling to you.

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