Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Waiting to Read Wednesday: Love At First / Sparks Like Stars / Plum Island


The New
Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Love At First
by Kate Clayborn
Release Date: February 23, 2021 by Kensington
From Kate Clayborn, the acclaimed author of Love Lettering, comes a sparkling, tender novel about bickering neighbors, surprise reunions, and the mysterious power of love . . .

Sixteen years ago, a teenaged Will Sterling saw--or rather, heard--the girl of his dreams. Standing beneath an apartment building balcony, he shared a perfect moment with a lovely, warm-voiced stranger. It's a memory that's never faded, though he's put so much of his past behind him. Now an unexpected inheritance has brought Will back to that same address, where he plans to offload his new property and get back to his regular life as an overworked doctor. Instead, he encounters a woman, two balconies above, who's uncannily familiar . . .

No matter how surprised Nora Clarke is by her reaction to handsome, curious Will, or the whispered pre-dawn conversations they share, she won't let his plans ruin her quirky, close-knit building. Bound by her loyalty to her adored grandmother, she sets out to foil his efforts with a little light sabotage. But beneath the surface of their feud is an undeniable connection. A balcony, a star-crossed couple, a fateful meeting--maybe it's the kind of story that can't work out in the end. Or maybe, it's the perfect second chance . . .
[Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: I heard such great things about Love Lettering, which I have still yet to read (shame on me!). This new book sounds like a delightful romance novel.


Sparks Like Stars
by Nadia Hashimi

Release Date: March 2, 2021 by William Morrow
An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.

Kabul, 1978: The daughter of a prominent family, Sitara Zalmani lives a privileged life in Afghanistan’s thriving cosmopolitan capital. The 1970s are a time of remarkable promise under the leadership of people like Sardar Daoud, Afghanistan’s progressive president, and Sitara’s beloved father, his right-hand man. But the ten-year-old Sitara’s world is shattered when communists stage a coup, assassinating the president and Sitara’s entire family. Only she survives.

Smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair, Sitara finds her way to the home of a female American diplomat, who adopts her and raises her in America. In her new country, Sitara takes on a new name—Aryana Shepherd—and throws herself into her studies, eventually becoming a renowned surgeon. A survivor, Aryana has refused to look back, choosing instead to bury the trauma and devastating loss she endured.

New York, 2018: Forty years after that fatal night in Kabul, Aryana’s world is rocked again when an elderly patient appears in her examination room—a man she never expected to see again. It is Shair, the soldier who saved her, yet may have murdered her entire family. Seeing him awakens Aryana’s fury and desire for answers—and, perhaps, revenge. Realizing that she cannot go on without finding the truth, Aryana embarks on a quest that takes her back to Kabul—a battleground between the corrupt government and the fundamentalist Taliban—and through shadowy memories of the world she loved and lost.

Bold, illuminating, heartbreaking, yet hopeful, Sparks Like Stars is a story of home—of America and Afghanistan, tragedy and survival, reinvention and remembrance, told in Nadia Hashimi’s singular voice.  [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: I have read a couple of Hashimi's novels, both of which I loved, and I look forward to reading this one as well. She has a way of creating characters I really come to care for. I like that this novel is a dual narrative and look forward to reading it.

Do Love At First and Sparks Like Stars interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?
 

The Old(er) 
I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!


Plum Island
(John Corey #1) by Nelson DeMille
(Grand Central Publishing, 1998)
Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide detective John Corey convalesces in the Long Island township of Southold, home to farmers, fishermen -- and at least one killer. Tom and Judy Gordon, a young, attractive couple Corey knows, have been found on their patio, each with a bullet in the head. The local police chief, Sylvester Maxwell, wants Corey's big-city expertise, but Maxwell gets more than he bargained for.

John Corey doesn't like mysteries, which is why he likes to solve them. His investigations lead him into the lore, legends, and ancient secrets of northern Long Island -- more deadly and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. During his journey of discovery, he meets two remarkable women, Detective Beth Penrose and Mayflower descendant Emma Whitestone, both of whom change his life irrevocably. Ultimately, through his understanding of the murders, John Corey comes to understand himself.

Fast-paced and atmospheric, marked by entrancing characters, incandescent storytelling, and brilliant comic touches, Plum Island is Nelson DeMille at his thrill-inducing best. 
[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this  This was a Secret Santa type gift I received in 2008. I read a lot more mysteries like this back then. I am still curious about this popular author and hopefully will someday give this mystery a try.  


Have you read Plum Island? Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 



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62 comments:

  1. I have Love at Last to read and hope we both love it! Sparks Like Stars looks and sounds good too.

    Tressa @ Wishful Endings

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    1. Tressa - I hope we both love Love at First too! Thank you for visiting and hosting. :-)

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  2. Sparks like Stars sounds like it's going to be a powerful story!

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    1. Eustacia - I think so too. I love her books. They always pack an emotional punch and are thought provoking. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. Love at First, in particular, and Plum Island are very tempting. Sparks Like Stars sounds a wonderful, emotional read - but right now, I'm not in a place to cope with something so hefty...

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    1. Sarah - I've started easing back into more emotional reads, but I still need to surround myself with lighter fair as well. Love at First sounds like it will be a lot of fun. I can't wait to read it. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. Its the Hashimi book I'd love to get hold of. Read one of her books and it impressed me pretty much. Always full of life, emotional reading but the spirit of everyone in those stories are very real and very strong.

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    1. Mystica - I hope you are able to read Hashimi's book. I love her writing. Her books are always so full of emotion and spirit, as you said. I am really looking forward to reading it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. Wow! These all sound really interesting! Sparks Like Stars especially caught my attention. I hope you enjoy them!

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  6. I need to read something by Kate Clayborn. The others sound good too. Hope you get your hands on them soon.
    Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. Lisa - I haven't read any of Clayborn's work yet, but I've been wanting to. Thank you for visiting!

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  7. Oooh! I like the stars theme with the first two books! Great picks!

    Here’s my WoW!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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    1. Ronyell - I hadn't even noticed the stars on both covers. Good catch! Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Sparks Like Stars sounds like something I need to read!

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    1. Lisa - It sounds so good, doesn't it? Thank you for visiting!

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  9. Love At First sounds like just the type of romance I love to read about. Hope you enjoy! :)

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    1. Ashley - Me too. :-) I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Love at First does sound good and I've been curious about Love Lettering as well. Great picks this week.

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    1. Barb - I really want to read Lover Lettering. I think I have that on my TBR shelf. Thank you for visiting!

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  11. Love at First sounds like a great warm hug of a read. Enjoy all these books!

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    1. Louise - That's a great way to describe it. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. Sparks Like Stars sounds like it would make a good movie! Thanks for sharing, these all sounds great:-)

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  13. I haven’t heard of Sparks Like Stars. It sounds like my kind of book. I love books with dual timelines.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. AJ - Me too. I am looking forward to reading Sparks Like Stars. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I have had a copy of Plum Island forever but I haven't read it yet. I should really dust that one off soon.

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    1. Carole - I hope you enjoy it if you read it! Thank you for visiting!

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  15. I haven't heard of any of these. I'll have to check them out!

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    1. Jess - I hope you like whichever ones you read! Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. All these books sound intriguing but I'm leaning more towards Sparks Like Stars. It sounds like a fascinating read.

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    1. Melody - Sparks Like Stars is high on my list. I really want to read that one too. Thank you for visiting!

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  17. I read Plum Island a long long time ago and loved it! I don't know if I'd think about it the same way today - I think I will, the book itself was very good but who knows. I think I read one other book in the series too and stopped.

    I didn't know Nadia Hashimi has a new book coming. I didn't much enjoy her one book that I read but her characters were engaging and the plot was good so I'll be curious about her new one.

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    1. Athira - I am glad to hear you enjoyed Plum Island! Hopefully I will too if I read it. I'm sorry you didn't care for the book by Hashimi that you read. If you do try this new one, I hope you will like it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. That Kate Clayborn book looks and sounds awesome. I'll have to check that one out ;)

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  19. I was lucky enough to get a chance to review the ARC for Love at First, which I am currently reading! I am not the far in but it's amazing so far! 😍

    Sparks Like Stars and Plum Island both sound really awesome! 😍😍

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    1. Kitten - I am glad you are enjoying Love at First so far! Thank you for stopping by!

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  20. I read Plum Island years ago. I think it is DeMille's best book.

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    1. Laura - I am glad to hear you liked Plum Island. Thank you for visiting!

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  21. Ah, nice choices! My SIL read and enjoyed Plum Island quite a while ago, then passed it on to me. I read it but truthfully don't remember too much about it. I finished it I know, because I discussed it with her, and I don't finish books that don't keep me interested.
    I'm going to check further for Sparks Like Stars-- sounds so good! Thanks.

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    1. Rita - I hope you like Sparks Like Stars if you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  22. I feel like I've owned Plum Island before but don't think I ever read it. So many books like that! Both of the new titles look great so I hope you can get to them so I can see what you think!

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    1. Katherine - Yes! So many books I was interested in reading at one time and ended up giving away because I lost interest. I hope these new ones will be good. I look forward to reading them. Thank you for visiting!

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  23. Nadia Hashimi's novel sounds great! I have not read any of her books. And, I know DeMille must have a long list of published books but I've never read one! Hope you get to discover these and can let us know your thoughts!

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  24. I loved Nelson Demille's John Corey series. I read all the earlier ones but, know I missed several that were published in more recent years. Plum Island was a good one.

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    1. Diane - I am glad to hear you like his series! Hopefully I will like Plum Island. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  25. Ahhh I am a sucker for romance lol! I would definitely like Love at First!

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    1. Penelope - Love at First sounds so good! :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  26. Who doesn't love a little light sabotage? Love at First sounds like a delight. Hope you enjoy these!

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  27. Love at first is such a sweet premise, and Something like Stars sounds emotional and devastating at the same time. Great choices!!

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    1. Verushka - I am really looking forward to both. Thank you for visiting!

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  28. I've seen Nelson DeMille quite a few times and I've been curious to try to his books.
    I hope you enjoy these books when you get to read them! :)

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  29. It has been a while since I've read anything by Nelson DeMille and I've not read this one yet, but I've enjoyed all of the ones I've read so far.

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    1. Suzanne - I am glad you've enjoyed his other books! Thank you for stopping by!

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  30. Love at First intrigues me. Adding it to my TBR. I haven't read anything by Nelson DeMille get either. Hope you enjoy your picks!

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    1. Laura - I hope it will be as good as it sounds! Thank you for visiting!

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