G'day! Yes, as you read this, I'm Down Under! I'll have been having a faboo time with fellow Banditas, Anna and Christina, and a number of our favourite Lair authors and BB's. I promise to share all the details and pics when I return!
I'm writing this before I go, as I don't know what my internet access will be like where I am, plus I'll be travelling a lot.
So, knowing how much you enjoy Quick Five posts, I thought I'd do a Book Fun post today.
Share with us:
1. The last book you read that wasn't a romance and did you enjoy it?
2. The book you're currently reading.
3. What are the opening line and final line of the book you're reading?
4. Turn to page 51 and tell us what the sentence in the middle of the page is.
5. Turn to page 105 and tell us what the fifth sentence from the top is.
Here are my answers:
1. Thomas Perry's The Butcher Boy. I love Thomas Perry's books - especially his Jane Whitefield series - he writes great thrillers. This was his debut novel about a mafia hit man and the female agent from the Justice Department who is hunting him. It was really clever, especially the way he made the reader empathise with a cold-blooded killer. Can't wait to read the sequels Sleeping Dogs and Informant.
2. My dear friend and Lair Favourite, Julie Cohen's latest book, Getting Away With It.Funny coincidence about this book - Julie did her ice cream research with a company in Dorset called Purbeck Ice Cream. My husband's nephew has a charcuterie business called The Dorset Charcuterie Company at the Purbeck Larder. What's even more fun is that in this photograph of the ice cream developed in honour of Julie's book, you'll see that the ice cream is wrapped in meat from ... you've guessed it, The Dorset Charcuterie Company at the Purbeck Larder! Check out Julie's blog for the background to horseradish and beetroot ice cream!
3. The opening line is ... I sat on the cliff edge with my legs dangling over the drop, in a gold lame dress barely long enough to cover my arse.The final lines are ... okay, I cheated a little *g* ... And this kiss, definitely, was the best one of my life. Except for the next one. And the next.
4. "You'd have fun if you let yourself."
5. The carpet here was some sort of natural fibre, jute or whatever, woven into a tight herringbone.
Over to you. Share your Quick Five!
39 comments:
Did I get him??
Yes, Landra. He's ALL YOURS!
Ooh, a great Top 5.
Okay here I go...
1. Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum by Stephen Prosapio. I did enjoy this book. The entire story was paranormal based and since I host a paranormal show it was right up my alley. Definitely peaked my interest and I am looking forward to the sequel.
2. I am currently reading The Unquiet Anthology due out in October. It features a new story from J.D. Robb and 4 other stories by some great authors.
3. Opening Line: He found life in death.
Final Line: And it was...dreamy.
4. "Nothing that would allow the person wearing it to see clearly, speak, or laugh the way the wit described."
5. Holding tight to her umbrella, she made ready to use it as a weapon.
Thanks Aunty Cindy, I going to try and entice him to help me clean with some of my leftover B-day cupcakes.
As my next book will be a Scotland based book, my current reading is heavily awash in kilts (grin)
1. Last book finished was THE UNBELIEVERS by Alastair Sim. Not a romance, but a mystery set in 1260s in Scotland. It was interesting, but I knew who did it fairly early on. The conclusion had a twist though.
2. I'm currently reading HOW THE SCOTS INVENTED THE MODERN WORLD and about to start TEMPTATION OF A HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL by Sue-Ellen Weldonder, a recent guest blogger.
3.Opener - "Many tales are told of a wild and unteamed vale deep in the heart of the Scottish Highlands." Closing - "And somewhere in a distant world beyond man's hearing, the dreagans rumbled approval."
4. pg. 51 - "Somewhere near -- or distant, it was hard to tell--a great rumbling of stone shook the earth, the low, thundery sound echoing along the stark and jagged cliffs hemming the rock-strewn vale."
5. pg 105 - "He wasn't abed at all."
Hello Anna,
1. Agatha Christie's "The Mirror Crack'd"
2. Heather Graham's "Heart of Evil"
3. Opening line: "Blood."
Final line: "He'd just have to wait."
4. "Anyone can boil water, Beth assured her."
5. "It was sad-and probably not at all fair-that legend had her as the one to slip out into the skirmish and kill her husband."
Landra, the chook is YOURS!!!
Anna, thank you so much for coming to see me. It was an absolute blast. Wished you lived next door - although I'd never get any work done!
OK, here's my quick five.
1. The Archangel Project by C.S. Graham. This was great - the first in a series about remote viewers and international skulduggery by the husband and wife team of C.S. Harris of Viscount Devlin fame and Steve Graham. I've ordered the next two - there was a hint of a possible romance and I hope I was right about that.
2. One Good Reason by Sarah Mayberry. Great stuf!
3. Jon Adamson woke with a start./ Some girls really did have all the luck.
4. Gabby reached for her water glass as Ally launched into her story.
5. Gabby was a grown woman, more than capable of looking after herself in ordinary circumstances - but tonight was an exception.
1. SPARKLING CYANIDE by Agatha Christie - loved it.
2. GOING POSTAL by Terry Pratchett
3. Opening line: "They say that the prospect of being hanged in the morning concentrates a man's mind wonderfully.."
Final line: "Sadly, he did not believe in angels."
4. Page 51: "The bustle, sir, the bustle and fuss!"
5. Page 105, fifth sentence: "One of Mr Groat's natural remedies was bubbling over onto the floor, where the boards were staining purple."
My quick five:
1. Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by JK Rowling - i re-read that for about the zillionth time. My copy is about to fall apart at the seams..LOL.
2. I am currently reading 'The Devils Heart' by Lynn Raye Harris
3. Opening Line - 'Centuries old missing treasure resurfaces'. Final Line -' And every night for the rest of their lives'.
4. Page 51 - 'Think of it as an adventure'
5. Page 105 - 'Francesca tried the door handle'.
Oh oh, fun :-) Anna, I'm missing you like crazy but so glad you're loving your trip!
Lessee, I'm not going to be very good at this. Mostly because I'm not currently reading anything LOL.
I did finish 3 books on Friday, though (read all three in a row).
The Magic Thief, The Magic Thief: Lost, The Magic Thief: Found. They are by Sarah Prineas and my daughter is loving the first (I had to read ahead to write her reading comp questions *g*)
But I can't answer the rest of your questions :-( Sorry. I'm barreling toward the end of my deadline and am in the frantic, can't do anything else, no more info in my brain please, state of insanity.
Its so fun to read the responses though. And Landra, congrats on the Rooster :-)
Well done Landra have fun with him
Anna
I do hope you are enjoying your stay I am still heart broken over not getting to the conference to meet you :(
OK Here I go
1. The only books I read are romance so I don't remember that long ago LOL
2. Feels Like Home Beth Andrews and loving it
3. Oh Dear Lord what had she gotten herself into?
And as her husband kissed her, Yvonne finally found where she belonged.
4. Thats why I'm here she said with her most professional smile
5. But don't you have employees who work the fields for you?
Always good fun quick 5's. I am reading this book on my e reader so the pages may be differently numbered to the book.
Have fun
Helen
Hope Gr hasn't eat too many cakes LOL and Happy Birthday
Glad you are enjoying Aus Anna and with good compant too
1 Can't remember last book I read that wasn't romance LOL
2 Can remember this one LOL Heiress in love by Christina Brooke
3"You found her." Sorry can't tell you the last line as I don't go to the back of the book til I finish.....
4He would have to decide
5 She still wasn't sure about it
Good morning, VA! So glad you're enjoying Australia--wish I were there but so glad my summer travel's over at the same time.
The book I'm currently reading wouldn't really lend itself to the game so I'll just tell you I'm reading a history of Minnesota, framed by the life of famed dog-sledder & postal carrier John Beargrease. There's a big dogsled race held on the north shore every winter in his honor.
Funny thing, I've just recently discovered that I like history. I never used to. Dates & wars? Meh. But give me a hero to love & I'll remember any number of odd facts. So I've just sort of discovered historical fiction. Who knew?
Enjoy down under! And give our Aussie banditas a smooch for me!
Just wanted to thank all of you for helping me through a bad time this spring. Coming here and commenting on your blog kept me from being too depressed after one of my cats passed away.
I love lists like this so here's my answers.
1. ROOM by Emma Donaghue ~ awesome story ~ should have been a downer of a read but offered lots of hope.
2. The Unexpected Bride by Debra Ullrick ~ A debut Love Inspired Historical
3.If Rainelle Devonwood's mother knew what she was about to do, she would roll over in her grave.
"Kitty has no objections and neither do I" ( Just for your information Kitty is a pig)
4. She didn't budge but hung limp as Abby's rag doll.
5. I pert-near had to beg her to let me check him.
I'll have to think on this and come back. I can answer #1 Reverb 2. Just finished The Watcher, wow! I just started reading...Um...Had to look, Highland Hero, Amanda Scott. For a review.
BTW, any Bandits want to fill my only open spot in August? This Friday, the 26th? If so, contact me: sia_danzo@hotmail.com
Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE
Hey! Landra! You got the chookie! Grins. Make him work today!
Okay, here we go -
1. last book I read that wasn't a romance - Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs and it was great
2. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton (Fabulous so far)
3. "Sir James Almont, appointed by His Majesty CHarles II Governor of Jamaica, was habitually an early riser." "The stone is nearly woarn smooth, yet it can still be read: Here lyes Cas.Hunter, Capt. 1627-1670 Honest adventurer and seaman Beloved of his countrymen in the new world Vincit"
4. "I need an invention," Hunter said. "You must fabricate something which does not exist."
5. Cazalla had watched the death throes with utter absoption.
Thanks Anna C., Tawny, and Helen.
Barb he can't have anything until he helps me tidy up.
Duchesse- Oh, I'll have him slaving away. He can relax with tomorrow's winner. Lol!
Big Thanks!
P.S. Anna next time I stowing away in your luggage so I can head to OZ and visit Anna and Christina
I always find the answers to questions like these fascinating.
The last book I read that wasn't a romance was Composing Selves: Southern Women and Autobiography by Peggy Whitman Prenshaw. Prenshaw looks at autobiographical writings by eighteen Southern women born between 1861 and the 1930s. Some of them are well known (Helen Keller, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Zora Neale Hurston), some are known primarily to scholars (Belle Kearney, Bernice Kelly Harris), and all of them are interesting.
The book I'm currently reading:The Comforts of Home by Jodi Thomas.
The opening line and final line of the book I'm reading (and loving): "Tyler Wright maneuvered his new black Range Rover through the silent streets of Harmony, Texas." . . . "I promise."
Page 51, the sentence in the middle of the page: "He knew she didn't care much about her success even though that was mainly what she talked about when she was around people."
Page 105, fifth sentence from the top: "Is it time for the babies to come, Gabe?"
1.Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants is extremely funny, offers some good advice and throws in some social critique.
2. Georgette Heyer’s The Reluctant Widow
3.It was dusk when the London to Little Hampton stage-coach lurched into the village of Billingshurst, and a cold mist was beginning to creep knee high over the dimly seen country side.
4.Not my department, thank God!
5. ‘I think”, said Carlyon, “that you had better tell me this story from the start, if I am to understand it.”
1. King Tut by James Patterson - I enjoyed it very much. He made it all come alive.
2.The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - extremely good!
3.The secret is how to die.
Hope. (I almost didn't do this because I hate spoilers lol)
4. He's never late, she thought, and he always answers his phone.
5.There are symbols all over this
room (U.S. Capital) that reflect a belief in the Ancient Mysteries.
Landra, congrats on the bird! I hope you make him be useful.
Anna, the last non-romance I read was Running Blind by Lee Child. It's #4 or something like that in the Jack Reacher series (I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around Tom Cruise as Reacher), and yes, I enjoyed it a lot.
I'm currently reading Touched by an Alien, by Ginni Koch, and it's humorous romantic SF.
Opening line: My first superbeing was an accident.
I can't share the closing line without looking ahead, and I'd rather not.
Page 51, middle: "Do we need to flee?"
Page 105, 5th sentence from top: "Who's the octopus," Dad asked, confirming my intuitive guess about his reaction, based on my entire life's history.
Caveat: I'm reading on the iPad, and pagination changes if I turn the tablet.
Anna, glad you're having fun! Can't wait to hear about it.
Great idea, Anna! I'm still gagging over horseradish and beetroot ice cream, though!
Okay, just finished GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin.
I'm currently reading my own book THE WATCHER on Kindle, which doesn't have pages, but fortunately I have a print copy (tee hee).
Opening line: "The girl was pretty in a fresh, outdoorsy way."
Can you believe I had to actually look it up because I'm deep in revisions for the second book.
Last line: Oops, can't give that. It might give away something. Instead, "Kate snuggled closer to Slater." Come on, you KNEW they'd end up with each other! It's a romance!
Page 51: "Slater was inured to the sight of dead bodies . . . but he'd never gotten used to the smell."
Page 105: "Kate Myers would present her profile of the killer."
Fun game!
Vrai Anna, I LOVED "The Butcher's Boy" and the sequel. Great protagonist even though he's a killer. Interesting idea.
Yay, Landra, he's yours for the day. Lucky girl!
A Scotish mystery sounds interesting, Donna. Do you usually figure out the whodunit early on?
Jane said, "Opening line: 'Blood.'"
What a GREAT opening line. Love it!
Anna C. said, "The Archangel Project by C.S. Graham."
Interesting. I'll have to try this husband-wife team out. Didn't know C.S. Harris' husband was a writer too!
I love historical fiction too, Susan. I sort of cut my teeth on it in my early high school years, was practically all I read.
Oh, Kaelee, I'm so sorry about your cat. It's so hard to lose one of our furried family members, isn't it.
Glad you could come here and feel better.
Anna C., I recently read The Archangel Project and its sequel, The Babylian Codex. I enjoyed them a lot.
I just discovered David Baldacci's King and Shaw series, featuring two ex-Secret Service agents. Those have definite romantic developments, though nothing like we'd get in a romance, of course. I loved them. I've read the first four and am debating whether to spring for the latest now or wait until the price goes down.
And if you like thrillers with some romance stirred in, don't forget the Caitlin Strong series from our recent guest Jon Land.
Oops--Had a brain blip!
The Baldacci series is King and MAXWELL, not Shaw. That's a different series of his, which I have not read but have been thinking about.
Hi, Anna! Sounds like a fun activity,
here goes:
1. Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook. I loved it, although folks think I'm strange for reading cook books. I've found some most special stories & recipes in them!
2. I'm reading Linda Lael Miller's " A
Creed in Stone Creek," from my TBR
stack.
3. Some instinct - or maybe just a stir of a breeze - awakened Steven Creed; he sat up in bed, and took a fraction of a moment to orient himself to unfamiliar surroundings. Last line:
"Showtime," he said.
4. Pg. 51: Upon discovering her there the next morning, the clerk had called
Tom Parker, a natural thing to do.
5. Pg. 105: "I don't suppose you allow
dogs to come to school," he ventured.
Pat Cochran
Hi all!
I have limited internet access, but wanted to pop in and say hi! Thanks so much for playing with the Quick 5 today.
Having a fabulous time Down Under - so wonderful to see Anna and Christina! Also great to meet/see Annie West, Sarah Mayberry, Anne Gracie and Denise Rosetti, among others at the conference.
Done lots of travelling, which I will fill you in on next month, including a great weekend with Anna. Will be back next week - so have fun in the Lair until then!
Kaelee - so glad we were able to help you through such a difficult time. We've all lost furry babies, so we know how hard that is. Big hugs.
Helen - I'm so sad too, but understand completely. Australia is so huge, it's not like you can just pop in the car! Sending you hugs.
Janga, that book on Southern women writers sounds great.
Oh, Kaelee, so sorry to hear about your cat. They really are part of the family, aren't they? Hugs. So glad the nonsense in the lair gave you a smile.
Nancy, I've ordered the next two C.S. Graham books from the Book Depository. I thought the whole premise of the first one was so intriguing and the characters are great.
Congrats, Landra! He'll help you clean up cupcakes, but not the way you think!
Oh VraiAnna, I am SO jealous! A trip to Oz and seeing all of those Banditas and Buddies. Have a wonderful time and take lots of photos please!
Great Quick Five !!
1. The Age of Scandal by T.H. White. Research, of course, but a great read about scandal in eighteenth century England.
2. Currently reading The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley.
3. Opening Line - I saw Mrs. Chase slide that letter into Lord Cameron's pocket. She did it almost under my nose. Bloody woman.
4. p. 51 That gentleness gave Ainsley the conviction that, even in his world of mistresses and secret lovers, Cameron MacKenzie deserved better than Phyllida Chase.
5. p. 105 "Certainly, Daniel. We'll get a wagon and travel about waving a banner that says 'Champion Exhibition Billiards by a Lady and a Lad. Be Amazed! Test Their Skill and Try Your Luck."
1.
Richard Kadrey's Kill the Dead (Sandman Slim #2)
2.
Kate Griffin's A Madness of Angels (Matthew Swift #1)
3.
opening: Not how it should have been.
ending: Whatever happened next, good or bad, it would be wonderful finding out.
4.
We hoped we would cry; it was the most human response.
5.
He grunted as we approached and said, "You took your time."
GAH!! I can't believe I skipped ahead in the book to check out middle bits and the end! That was soooo wrong! :D
Kaelee, I'm sorry about your cat. It's never easy to lose a pet.
Glad we were able to offer a distraction.
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