Welcome to another Bookish Friday, in which I share excerpts from books…and connect with other bloggers, who do the same.
Let’s begin the celebration by sharing Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and let’s showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.
To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.
Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!
What a great way to spend a Friday!
Today’s feature is a recent download from a favorite author: You’ll Never Know, Dear, by Hallie Ephron, an addictive novel of psychological suspense from the award-winning author of Night Night, Sleep Tight, about three generations of women haunted by a little girl’s disappearance, and the porcelain doll that may hold the key to the truth . . .
Beginning: Elisabeth Strenger peeled three boiled eggs under running water, dropped them into a chipped Blue Willow china bowl, and began to mash them with a fork. She took a quick puff on her cigarette, blew smoke out through the back window, and tapped ashes into the drain.
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Friday 56%: Evelyn smiled and sighed, closed her eyes and began. “Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts…” Vanessa didn’t close her eyes. She noticed that Jenny didn’t either.
In the middle of the blessing, a cricket chirped. And chirped again. A cell phone on the table in front of Lis lit up. Lis swiped it to ignore the call.
I couldn’t resist adding the additional sentences!
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Synopsis: Seven-year-old Lissie Woodham and her four-year-old sister Janey were playing with their porcelain dolls in the front yard when an adorable puppy scampered by. Eager to pet the pretty dog, Lissie chased after the pup as it ran down the street. When she returned to the yard, Janey’s precious doll was gone . . . and so was Janey.
Forty years after Janey went missing, Lis—now a mother with a college-age daughter of her own—still blames herself for what happened. Every year on the anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, their mother, Miss Sorrel, places a classified ad in the local paper with a picture of the toy Janey had with her that day—a one-of-a-kind porcelain doll—offering a generous cash reward for its return. For years, there’s been no response. But this year, the doll came home.
It is the first clue in a decades-old mystery that is about to turn into something far more sinister—endangering Lis and the lives of her mother and daughter as well. Someone knows the truth about what happened all those years ago, and is desperate to keep it hidden.
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What do you think? Are you eager to start turning those pages?
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Ok, you’ve got me! Sounds just up my alley. Today I’m featuring The Lost Life of Eva Braun by Angela Lambert. Happy weekend.
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Thanks, Bev, glad you could stop by, and yours looks good, too!
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This one sounds pretty interesting. Enjoy it once you get to it.
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Thanks, Breana, I plan to sink into it…and savor it! Glad you could stop by.
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Sounds like my kind of read! Glad you shared it. Thanks!
Here is mine: http://bit.ly/2svLUMQ
Enjoy your weekend, it’s nearly here!
Sassy x
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Thanks for visiting, Sassy, and I am planning to love it!
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Yes…I think I am!
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Thanks, Patty, hope to love it….enjoy!
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Sounds excellent. I’ll have to add it to my wishlist. I have a historical mystery with ghosts from my TBR mountain this week – Delia’s Shadow by Jaime Lynn Moyer. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and enjoy your pick!
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Ohhhhh…I was a little creeped out by the picture on the book, but I love your excerpts and it looks REALLY GOOD! Thanks for sharing! Another one to add to the TBR!!
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Yes, dolls creep out a lot of people…not me, because I am a big collector of dolls. But my kids and grandkids share that feeling. LOL.
Looking forward to this one. Thanks for visiting, Jo-Ann.
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My mom still collects dolls. I was the only girl in the family and she hoped I would enjoy dolls too but I was a bit too much of a tomboy lol.
Have a great weekend, Laurel-Rain 🙂
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I need to read this! It sounds deliciously creepy and that title just adds to it! Thanks for sharing!
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I have been a big fan of this author ever since I read There Was an Old Woman….and, of course, the Ephron name.
Thanks for visiting, Katherine.
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Sounds creeptastic to me!! LOVE that! Happy weekend!
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Yes, definitely, Freda. Thanks for hosting…and visiting.
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So that looks creepy. Ever since Chuckie, I’ve been scared of the dolls with those eyes, so the cover freaks me out. Happy reading, yo!
-eli @ the (book) supplier
My Friday 56
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Chuckie was definitely a freaky doll…I like most dolls, but not him.
Thanks for stopping by, Eli. Enjoy your pick.
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Ooh, this book sounds very interesting! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Ashley, I am a fan of this author, so I’m eager to read this book.
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The cover is enough to spook me! This sounds like a good one. I hope you have a great weekend, Laurel-Rain. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for stopping by, Wendy, and that is definitely a captivating and creepy cover. I hope to love the book.
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Oh yes, I’d read this one. Great title and cover and the cold case sure is intriguing. Never read this author before. Thanks for the introduction.
My Friday 56 from The Nutting Girl
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I love a good mystery, and this author is a favorite of mine. Thanks for visiting, Laura.
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Oh this is definitely my type of book. I have to add it to my list!
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Thanks, Yvonne, I am very eager to start reading this book. Glad you could stop by!
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Oh my, this one is going on the TBR list. I have Hallie Ephron’s mystery writing book, which is really good.
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I am a big fan of Hallie Ephron, so this book is going to be at the top of my list soon! Thanks for stopping by, Roberta.
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Oh my goodness! I need to know how this one ends! What a terrifying, yet intriguing concept for a thriller. I hope that you enjoy this one. 🙂
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It will definitely be terrifying and the kind of thriller I love, Candid Cover. Thanks for stopping by.
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That cover is totally creeping me out! 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog earlier!
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Oh, yes, that eye-catching creepy cover drew me in…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Lauren.
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Hi Lorraine,
This isn’t a new to me author, as I have already marked ‘Night Night, Sleep Tight’ for my ‘Want To Read’ list.
Hallie’s books have recieved such excellent ratings and reviews and I do so enjoy a good psychological thriller, that I couldn’t not follow up on that previous recommendation, now confirmed by your own recommendation for ‘You’ll Never Know, Dear’.
Sorry those vintage china dolls really creep me out, the eyes of that cover just seem to follow me around the room!
Thanks for sharing and I hope that you enjoy the book right until the end 🙂
Yvonne
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Thanks, Yvonne, I do have a collection of dolls which used to sit on shelves in the various bedrooms…until my grandkids let me know how much they freaked them out. LOL.
I hope to love this one…I enjoy the author’s books.
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