Bookish Mewsings (featuring Book Beginnings & The Friday 56): False Step & Smitten by the Brit/And How I Choose My Next Book to Read

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

False Step by Victoria Helen Stone

Lake Union Publishing, 2019

Crime Fiction/Thriller; 278 pgs

Book Beginning: 

The man jogged through the parking area of the mountain trailhead, his blond hair wild and disheveled, a dead leaf caught in the golden waves. The small body in his arms bounced with each step. A young child, two or three ears old, limbs disturbingly limp. It was difficult to tell much more past the jittery movement of the camera and the shadows of pine trees cutting lines of darkness across the scene. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 

All right? No, it wasn't all right. Not even close. How could he just offer an apology like someone delivering a casserole because of an illness in the family? I hope everything is alright . . .

My bookish mewsings:

When Veronica’s husband Johnny finds a missing child while out on a hike, their lives are irrevocably changed. The media exposure attracts more business Johnny’s way, something the financially strapped couple needs. Although, Veronica wants nothing to do with the limelight, wishing to keep her secrets and marital unhappiness under the radar. She isn’t too keen on the continued police interest either, nor is Johnny. To say more . . . well, that might be too much of a spoiler.

Author Victoria Helen Stone’s domestic thriller is emotionally tense to say the least. Veronica and Johnny have a ten year old daughter who they love dearly, and would do anything for. I was not particularly fond of most of the characters in the novel, and that includes Veronica. It was through that link as a parent myself that I could better understand some of Veronica’s choices, even if I did not always agree with her. Veronica grew on me as a result. False Step was a compelling read which I found hard to put down. Veronica’s anxiety and fears play a big part in that. I wish I could say the ending came as a big surprise, but while it didn’t, I still really wanted to know how exactly everything would play out. False Step may not be the most memorable thriller I have read, but it was entertaining and makes for a fun quick read.

Smitten by the Brit (Sometimes in Love, #2) by Melonie Johnson

St. Martin's Press, 2019

Romance; 376 pgs

Book Beginning: 

Bonnie Blythe hovered near the tall windows, nursing her cocktail and watching the lights from the Navy Pier Ferris wheel twinkle in the fading spring twilight. It was a romantic moment, one she should have been enjoying with Gabe, except her fiancé wasn't here. As was so often the case lately, her significant other was significantly absent. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 

Cassie's eyes widened, and Bonnie mumbled, "I may have done some research."

"Uh-huh." Cassie gave her some side-eye. "How long have you known?"

"About a month. How long have you known?" Bonnie countered, unable to keep the twinge of accusation from her voice. 

My bookish mewsings:

Readers are first introduced to both Bonnie and Theo in the first book of the Sometimes in Love series, Getting Hot With the Scot, only this time it is their story. The initial attraction between the two protagonists in Smitten by the Brit is obvious, only Bonnie is engaged to her childhood sweetheart and Theo’s mother is bent on marrying her son to a wealthy heiress. When Bonnie discovers her fiancé in bed with another woman, she calls off her engagement, leaving the door wide open for Theo. A summer teaching position at Cambridge brings her even closer to Theo.

I really like how author Melonie Johnson delves into the hearts and minds of her characters, including as they tackle their inner demons, so to speak. Both characters have a lot of growing to do over the course of the novel. Bonnie is figuring out who she is and what she wants independent of anyone else; and Theo, who has long carried the weight of his family’s title and financial troubles on his shoulders, must choose between his own happiness or playing hero to his family. Like in real life, everything is not so cut and dry for either character, and I liked that the author incorporates this in her novels, finding a way to give her protagonists—and everyone else--their happy ending. I love Bonnie’s character—of course, any Jane Austen fan is sure to draw me to her. And Theo is quite the catch with his kind heart and always wanting to do the right thing. Plus, he really knows how to charm a woman! It was good to visit a little with Cassie and Logan again, characters from the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed Smitten by the Brit, and am eager to dive into the third book in the series.

Have you read one or both of these books? If you haven't, do either of them interest you? 

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.

How do you choose the next book to read?

 I enjoy reading a wide variety of genres and cross-genres, being drawn to books based on their subject matter, the setting, the type of book it is, the author, or the recommendation of a trusted friend. I can be a finicky reader, which is often controlled by my mood. I gravitate towards certain types of books depending on my state of mind. Add to that my preference to mix things up genre-wise, a habit I picked up years ago to avoid burning out on any one type of book. Though I do occasionally go on an author or series binge. And sometimes review deadlines play a part too.

I would like to tell you I have choosing the next book to read down to a science. It should be as simple as randomly pulling a book of my shelf or being more methodical and picking the first book on the pile. Sometimes it is as easy as just knowing exactly what I want to read before I finish my current book(s), and other times it turns into quite the ordeal with me agonizing over which will be the perfect next book to read. The struggle is real (and probably the byproduct of having too many books to choose from). What is a reader with a TBR mountain in front of her to do when ALL the books sound good at the same time? Draw numbers or titles, do a blind grab, ask my spouse or daughter to choose, even have the cat help . . . I have done it all and then some.

The first Saturday of every month I take part in the My TBR List meme hosted by the wonderful Michelle (of Because Reading) in which I list three books I am considering reading that month and put it to my blog readers for a vote. It is fun getting other people's input--whether they have read the books or just like the sound of them (or the covers)--and it makes selecting the next book to read at the beginning of each month a bit easier.

My current read is a more serious and emotionally-charged novel, and so I am sure my next selection will be something lighter--probably along the lines of a romance or maybe a cozy mystery.

What about you? Do you have a process for choosing your next book to read? 

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