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 one of my current reads: The Sunshine Sisters, by Jane Green, “A warm, satisfying tale about the love that binds even the most dysfunctional of families.”—People
Beginning: (Prologue)
All those years when Ronni thought she was sick, all those years convinced that every mole was melanoma, every cough was lung cancer, every case of heartburn was an oncoming heart attack, after all those years, when the gods finally stopped taking care of her she wasn’t scared.
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56: This is what it feels like to be an adult, thinks Lizzy, proud of herself for being such a good host. She made everyone have some pesto with their burgers, and they all declared it awesome.
They sit around on the outdoor lounge furniture, drinking the beers Craig brought, watching the sun set over the water, reflecting a golden glow over everyone there.
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Synopsis: Ronni Sunshine left London for Hollywood to become a beautiful, charismatic star of the silver screen. But at home, she was a narcissistic, disinterested mother who alienated her three daughters.
As soon as possible, tomboy Nell fled her mother’s overbearing presence to work on a farm and find her own way in the world as a single mother. The target of her mother’s criticism, Meredith never felt good enough, thin enough, pretty enough. Her life took her to London—and into the arms of a man whom she may not even love. And Lizzy, the youngest, more like Ronni than any of them, seemed to have it easy, using her drive and ambition to build a culinary career to rival her mother’s fame, while her marriage crumbled around her.
But now the Sunshine sisters are together again, called home by Ronni, who has learned that she has a serious disease and needs her daughters to fulfill her final wishes. And though Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy have never been close, their mother’s illness draws them together to confront the old jealousies and secret fears that have threatened to tear these sisters apart. As they face the loss of their mother, they will discover if blood might be thicker than water after all…
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I must have a new Jane Green novel for each summer, even though I still have to immerse myself in dark thrillers, too.
What do you think? Do the excerpts and the blurb pull you in?
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Jane Green is a favorite of mine, and I’m looking forward to reading this book, which I got at Book Expo.
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Thanks for stopping by, Catherine, and enjoy your copy! I also love Jane Green’s books.
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I’ve never read a Jane Green book before but it sounds like I definitely need to!
Here’s mine; http://dualreads.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/friday-reads-23rd-june-2017.html
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I always enjoy the family drama in her books, Clare. Thanks for visiting.
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I’ve never read Jane Green, but I’m always hearing great things about her stuff. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Lauren, and maybe you’ll try one of her books someday. Enjoy!
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Sounds like a good Summer read. Enjoy!
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Thanks, Heather, I think it’s perfect for summer. Enjoy your pick.
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This sounds like a good story. I haven’t heard of this one before. So thanks for mentioning it.
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Thanks, Breana, glad you could visit….and hopefully you’ll enjoy your reading.
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Not sure if it’s one for me but it sounds interesting so I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Stormi
Friday Memes
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Thanks, Stormi, glad you could stop by! Enjoy your reading.
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Sure liking that cover.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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Thanks, Sherry, isn’t it cheery? Enjoy your pick, and thanks for visiting.
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I’ve read a book that is quite similar to this one a couple of years back. Really enjoyed it. Have a look at “There is a season” by Marita van der Vyver. Good read. This sounds good as well. Hope you enjoy it!
Have a lovely weekend and here’s my Friday Meets: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2017/06/friday-meets-23-june-2017.html
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Thanks for the tip, Mareli….it sounds like my cup of tea, too. Enjoy your weekend!
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Looks like a lovely beach read to me! Sounds fun and it has a charming cover!
Please, check out mine and why I’m so excited about it, here: http://bit.ly/2tVwfDJ
Luv, Sassy x
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Thanks, Sassy, glad you could stop by, and enjoy your read!
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Thank you! And you’re very welcome! I love this meme, and discovering new books. 😀
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I really loved that book.
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Thanks, Patty, I am loving it so far….reading it, along with Good Me, Bad Me. The two books are different enough that it works for me. LOL.
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Sounds like it could be entertaining. This week I’m reading Sky Dragons by Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey. I want to finally finish this series. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and enjoy finishing that series!
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This actually was my first book by Jane Green, and I enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my blog.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Beginnings
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Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth; glad you enjoyed your first Jane Green book. Maybe you’ll read more of them now.
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The plot sounds similar to The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (three sisters coming home because of mom’s cancer), although the voice sounds more contemporary. Hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, Roberta, I loved Brown’s book The Weird Sisters. Enjoy your weekend!
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I got a late start on the Friday Quotes today. This book sounds like s fun, summerish read. Mine is a story written in poetry. My Friday Quotes
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I am loving it, Anne, and now that our weather is completely summery, I am ready for this kind of book. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like a great family drama, Laurel-Rain! Are you enjoying it so far?
Here’s my Friday post, Inspiration Pie Have a great weekend 🙂
Jo-Ann
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Thanks for visiting, Jo-Ann, and I am definitely loving it so far. Have a great weekend of reading!
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Sounds like an interesting read! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Ashley, and enjoy your reading.
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This sounds so good, Laurel-Rain! I haven’t read anything by Green before, but I’d like to. Have a great weekend. We’re off to the library now to join the summer reading program!
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A library reading program sounds fun! Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by, Wendy. I hope you try a Jane Green book someday.
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This definitely sounds like a contemporary that I will enjoy. It sounds like there is heartbreak, but the family theme is on that I really love. Thanks for sharing. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
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I’m loving it, Candid Cover…thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend.
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That 56 has such a nice calming feeling to it. Enjoy your weekend!
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I think so, too, Alicia…glad you could stop by, and enjoy your weekend.
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I read this one and really liked it. Have a great weekend!
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Thanks, Yvonne, glad you enjoyed it. I’m loving it! Have a great weekend.
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Hi Lorraine,
I also have to admit that I have never read any Jane Green books for myself, athough they are always good, quick sellers, when they are donated into the charity shop where I volunteer, so perhaps I should!
These four women all appear to be singularly unhappy with the lives they have carved for themselves and whilst for many families, death can often drive a wedge between members, it sounds as though the opposite may be true for Ronni and her daughters.
I especially found the opening lines you shared to be the most moving and I hope that you enjoy the book 🙂
Yvonne
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Thanks, Yvonne, and I’m loving it. Green has brought very true-to-life characters into this story.
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I have the book on my list to read but am kinda scared about that mom’s final wishes!
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Thanks, Harvee, and yeah, I’m curious about that, too.
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Jane Green is an author I keep meaning to try. I was put off her last one by some bad reviews. This looks great – maybe I should read it before I see any reviews? 😜
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I don’t know what book put you off, but I do recommend this one if you like family stories and characters with depth. Thanks for visiting, Bev.
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I bet this is a great read!
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Thanks for visiting, Freda, and I was thoroughly immersed in the story and the characters from the start.
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