Fun on Friday 40

Happy Friday, friends!

Happy 40th Friday post to me! And thanks to all of my readers and commenters for your support! I'm still trying to think of a creative name for my Friday posts, but for now, this will do.

I'm once again participating in five blog hops today. You can click on the host links below to read the blogs of others who are participating in each blog hop. If you're a blogger, feel free to join through their links!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP, hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Question: What questions would you ask any author if you had the chance?

My response: It often depends on the individual author and their books. I might want to ask questions that are specifically relevant to the books they write. In general, though, I am always curious about these questions:

1. What was the last book you read that you loved?

2. What was your gateway book into reading and writing or into a specific genre? 

3. How long did it take, from start to finish, for you to get your first book published?

Feel free to answer any of these questions in the comments below, whether you're a published author or not!

BOOK BEGINNINGS, hosted by Rose City Reader 

FRIDAY 56, hosted by Freda's Voice

FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower

Today's excerpts are from the paperback format of Tagged for Death, (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery 1), by Sherry Harris. With this book, she won the Agatha award in 2015 for best first novel.

Here is the first part of Chapter 1:

A gunshot sounded. I jerked the phone away from my ear. This time I hung up first. That had been the pattern - one gunshot and then the caller disconnected. I couldn't decide if I was mad or freaked out, probably both. What did it say about my life that I knew more people who might be willing to do this than any normal person should?

And here's an excerpt from page 56:

Carol murmured sympathetically while I talked. "CJ was nowhere." Not during the interview. Not after."

"Did you want him to be?"

I sat at my small kitchen table, tracing my finger around the bright flowers printed on the vintage tablecloth. "He should have been. No. Maybe I did want him there. Not for why you think. I don't want him back."

"Of course you don't."

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. You called me. What did you want?"

"It can wait. This sounds more important."

"No. I've been preoccupied with myself. With my problems for months. Tell me what you called about."

Right off the bat, from the first lines, it's clear that this mystery is not quite as cozy as others I've read. It certainly had my attention from the beginning.

Then, on page 56 we read a conversation between Sarah, the protagonist, and her friend, Carol. I love this conversation because it shows how close their friendship is. Sarah is going through a tough time. Carol calls her because she needs something. They are there for each other. 

From this excerpt, we also get a good sense of what Sarah's home is like. She has a small kitchen table with a vintage tablecloth printed with bright flowers. Her home is small and stylish.

Although this book is not as light and fluffy as some others I've read, it most definitely qualifies as a cozy. While it's a touch more edgy, Sarah is easy to like. I love how the author shows throughout the book that Sarah is struggling after her divorce. It's very realistic. The mystery is also intriguing. 

I am planning to finish reading this book in a few days and review it next week.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

Bell may be a sleepyhead, but she has her eye on you.