Thursday, July 08, 2021

Where Is Your Bookmark? (The Stranger in the Mirror & Paris in July TBR Connect 5)



A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.


I'd like to think I'm a good person, but I have no way of knowing for sure. [opening line of The Stranger in the Mirror]



A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.


Frantically I begin to search the room, opening every drawer, running my hands along their insides. I even check the bathroom, flinging open the vanity doors and drawers. Nothing. I sit on the bed and try to think. Did I put it somewhere else? No. I'm sure the last place I put it was in that drawer. [excerpt from 56% of The Stranger in the Mirror]

After finishing my last book, I was in the mood for something dark and thrilling and settled on Liv Constantine's The Stranger in the Mirror. I am not too far in yet, but I was hooked from the first first line!
A diabolically twisty, psychologically unsettling novel about a woman with no recollection of her past from the authors of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Wife Stalker.

Addison’s about to get married, but she’s not looking forward to the big day. It’s not her fiancé; he’s a wonderful man. It’s because Addison doesn't know who she really is. A few years ago, a kind driver found her bleeding next to a New Jersey highway and rescued her. While her physical wounds healed, Addison’s memory never returned. She doesn’t know her real name. Or how she ended up injured on the side of a road. Or why she can’t shake the notion that she may have done something very, very bad . . .

In a posh home in the Boston suburbs, Julian tries to figure out what happened to his loving, caring wife, Cassandra, who disappeared without a trace two years ago. She would never have left him and their seven-year-old daughter Valentina of her own free will—or would she?

As these two lives intersect, The Stranger in the Mirror hooks readers with riveting drama, told with Liv Constantine’s hallmark blend of glamour, tense psychological thrills, and jaw-dropping twists.

Have you read The Stranger in the Mirror? If so, what did you think? What book are you reading right now? 


Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, 
read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. 
Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.

Although I am not participating in this month's Paris in July event hosted by Thyme for Tea, I do seem to have Paris on the brain. As I was selecting three books for July's TBR List Poll (there's still time to vote if you haven't already! Help me break the tie!), I came across quite a few titles with the word "Paris" in the title. Here are a few more that did not make my poll this month but are still books on my TBR shelves that I am looking forward to reading someday.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles ~ Books set in and around the World Wars are among my favorites and I especially like dual timeline novels, this one set in Paris 1939 and Montana 1983. The Paris Library features a teenager longing for something different in small town Montana when she discovers more about her elderly neighbor's past. This is the story of a young woman who couldn't have been happier, engaged and with her dream job as a librarian at the American Library in Paris at one time. The Nazis appearance in the city put all of that at risk. Librarians joining in the Resistance and a terrible betrayal . . . I want to know more!

The Bones of Paris (Harris Stuyvesant #2) by Laurie R. King ~ I have long wanted to read Laurie R. King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, but still haven't managed to read even one. This series caught my eye as well. I still need to read the first book, Touchstone. This mystery takes us to Jazz Age Paris, 1929. P.I. Harris Stuyvesant is searching for an American model and actress whose family is concerned after they have lost contact with her. As his investigation takes him into the expatriate community, among the writers and artists, cafes and cabarets, he finds himself on a much darker path. No one may like what they find. Once I start reading this one, I have a feeling it will be hard to put down. 

The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash ~ Who could pass up an all expense paid trip to Paris? Even if it is for the wedding of a former high school sweetheart she never quite got over. No one knows what the week will bring--secrets revealed, friendships turned inside out, and the biggest question of all: can she move on or will an old flame be reignited? I cannot help but think of the movie My Best Friend's Wedding. Will it follow a similar path or go in a completely different one?
All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio ~ I do love these dual timeline historical novels. And Sarah Jio is an author I have read before and loved. So adding this one to my TBR shelf was a no brainer. It is another World War II novel and two women connected through time by a journal hidden in a closet. Waking up in a Paris hospital Caroline cannot remember her past. She is drawn into the story of Celine and her family as she reads the journal entries about Celine's life during World War II. A young widow, her father, and daughter attempt to escape from the Nazi officer who has been blackmailing them, Celine forced to be his mistress in exchange for his keeping her family's Jewish ancestry a secret. Caroline and Celine's stories are full of dark secrets and hidden strengths. This sounds heart-wrenching!


The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, translated by Simon Pare ~ This is one of those books I was so excited about when it came out and yet it still sits unread on my shelves. Not for lack of interest, I can assure you. A floating bookstore in which Monsieur Perdu sells books from his barge on the Seine. He is intuitive and knows just which book to prescribe to his readers. He calls himself a literary apothecary. He has long been haunted by his own heartbreak, however. He never opened the letter she gave him before she left. Until now. Will he be able to heal himself? How have I not read this yet?! 



Have you read any of these books set in Paris? What books with Paris in the title would you recommend?


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.
Where do you post your reviews? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)


I start with sharing my thoughts about the books I read on my blog and then will follow up with posting them on Goodreads. If I received the book from NetGalley or Edelwiess, I usually post them there too. Occasionally, when I remember, I may post my thoughts on LibraryThing too. 

What about you? If you write reviews, where do you post them?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!


© 2021 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

58 comments:

  1. The Stranger in the Mirror seems like a good one. Enjoy your current read!

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    1. Breana - I'm still not too far in but it is good so far. Thank you for visiting!

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  2. The Paris in July has thrown up such a lot of lovely books on the fabulous city. If only one could get to them all.

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    1. Mystica - Yes, so many tempting choices! If only we could read them all. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. The Stranger In The Mirror looks like a great read.

    I post snippets of my reviews on Goodreads.

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    1. Billy - The Stranger in the Mirror is good so far.

      I sometimes only post snippets on Goodreads. It depends on how I'm feeling.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  4. The Stranger in the Mirror sounds like an interesting read! I hope you enjoy!

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    1. Lauren - It's good so far. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. That's a brilliant opening line! 'The Stranger in the Mirror' is definitely being added to my list! Your Connect Five makes me miss being able to travel so much! I hope you have a lovely weekend :)
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

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    1. Juli - I hope you The Stranger in the Mirror if you decide to read it!

      I have never been to Paris. Perhaps someday . . .

      I hope you have a great weekend too. Thank you for visiting!

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  6. I'm always intrigued by characters with memory loss, and this seems very twisty😁

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    1. Tammy - Me too! There are so many different directions to take a story featuring a character with amnesia. I'm curious to see where the authors go with this one. Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. So mysterious!! I like it!! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - Me too! I am dying to know what her past hides. I hope you have a great weekend too. Thank you for visiting!

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  8. Ooh, I love the excerpts, and can feel the intensity of the second excerpt! I just downloaded The Stranger in the Mirror. Can't wait to dive in. Here's mine: “KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I hope you enjoy The Stranger in the Mirror! I look forward to reading your thoughts on it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. I love books that are set in Paris. And there are so many good ones! Have a great weekend. :)

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    1. Lark - Me too! Someday perhaps I will get a chance to visit in -person. I hope you have a great weekend too. Thank you for visiting!

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  10. I post reviews on Goodreads, Bookbub, my Blog and Amazon. If it's an arc and the book is released wide then I also post it on B&N, Kobo and GooglePlay.

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    1. Louise - That's great that you are able to do all that! I'm sure the authors appreciate it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. I keep seeing The Paris Library around! Makes me want to read it. :)

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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

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  12. I can't devote a whole month to one theme, but I do like seeing what people are reading for Paris in July.

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    1. Helen - I am not sure I could devote an entire month to one theme either. Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. I do like Paris, and books set in Paris, but, I haven't read any of the ones you put here. They all look lovely!

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    1. Wendy - Me too! Hopefully I will get to read all of these someday soon. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  14. I recommend THE PARIS LIBRARY based on the recommendation from a friend. It is on my TBR. THE BEST LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP starts off so good and goes down hill from there. I'd skip it. My Friday Quotes are here

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    1. Anne - Thank you for the recommendation of The Paris Library. Now that you mention it about The Little Paris Bookshop, I think that may be why I didn't jump on it right away--it's gotten mixed reviews. Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. I've read a couple of your Paris books--happy reading!

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    1. Kwizgiver - I hope you enjoyed them! Thank you for visiting.

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  16. The Stranger in the Mirror sounds really good. I love amnesia stories.

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  17. Hmm I've seen a few people saying Library Thing I wonder if it's something I should think about starting as well!

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    1. Penelope - I use LibraryThing to catalog all the books I own. I really like the site. Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. The Stranger in the Mirror looks so good! I love the Paris books. I have A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable on my TBR and I'm looking forward to it.

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    1. Katherine - Oo! I don't think I have that one. I should look that one up. Thank you for visiting!

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  19. The Little Paris Bookshop has been recommended to me so many times. I think I'm going to have to get to it one of these days.

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    1. Lauren - Hopefully you will enjoy it. It seems to have gotten a lot of mixed reviews. I do like the sound of it though! Thank you for stopping by!

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  20. The Stranger in the Mirror sounds use like my type of read — it’s such a intriguing premise! And so much Paris goodness! Love it!

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    1. Verushka - I enjoyed it and hope you will too! Thank you for visiting!

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  21. Stranger in the Mirror is exactly my favorite genre these days. Great excerpts and the perfect cover too. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Yvonne - It's worth reading! I hope you get a chance to read it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  22. I post my reviews on Goodreads first then my blog then social media. Have a great week!

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  23. Those excerpts really pulled me in. I want to know more! Hope you enjoy The Stranger in the Mirror. Have a great weekend! :)

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  24. Great list of Paris books. I really liked The Paris Library, I haven't read this one by Sarah Jio but like her as an author. I have read The Little Paris Bookshop and did like it though a little elongated in parts. I liked the barge and the book barge owner.

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    1. Kathryn - Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed The Paris Library and The Little Paris Bookshop.

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  25. I have read The Paris Library and The Little Paris Bookshop and enjoyed them both. I like the sound of The Stranger in the Mirror. So glad you are enjoying it.

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    1. Carla - I am glad you enjoyed both of those books. I look forward to reading them! Thank you for stopping by!

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  26. I've not read Stranger in the Mirror but I've read other Liv Constantine books and really enjoyed them so this sounds very good!

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    1. Eustacia - I hope you like Stranger in the Mirror if you read it. Thank you for visiting!

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  27. I love books that are set in Paris and so many from your list are on my TBR. I did recently read The Paris Library and loved it.

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    1. Suzanne - I look forward to reading The Paris Library. Thank you for stopping by!

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  28. If you get a chance to read All the Flowers in Paris I think you'll really enjoy it. I read it last year for my Paris in July challenge and would like to read more from the author. Lots of great choices!

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    1. Iliana - I am glad to hear you enjoyed All the Flowers in Paris. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for visiting!

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  29. I have read The Paris Betrayal by James Hannibal and The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron...you should totally look them up :)

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    1. Cindy - Both of those sound good. Thank you for the recommendations!

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