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 better way to spend a Friday!
Today’s feature is from an Amazon Vine ARC called Untethered, by Julie Lawson Timmer.
Beginning: Char slumped low in the pew, fretting about the casket. It took her brother, Will, a moment to realize what she was doing. Like everyone else, he had risen with the priest’s invitation and was waiting, a hand extended, to help her up and walk her to the social hall.
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56: Char gasped and covered her mouth with one hand while she reached out with the other, holding the towel to Morgan. Morgan snatched it, wrapped herself in it, and ran to the bathroom. As the bathroom door closed, the sound of the teenagers’ voices and footsteps rose from the staircase.
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Synopsis: When Char Hawthorn’s husband dies unexpectedly, she is left questioning everything she once knew to be true: from the cozy small town life they built together to her relationship with her stepdaughter, who is suddenly not bound to Char in any real way. Untethered explores what bonds truly form a family and how, sometimes, love knows no bounds.
Char Hawthorn, college professor, wife and stepmother to a spirited fifteen-year-old daughter, loves her family and the joyful rhythms of work and parenting. But when her husband dies in a car accident, the “step” in Char’s title suddenly matters a great deal. In the eyes of the law, all rights to daughter Allie belong to Lindy, Allie’s self-absorbed biological mother, who wants to girl to move to her home in California.
While Allie begins to struggle in school and tensions mount between her and Char, Allie’s connection to young Morgan, a ten-year-old-girl she tutors, seems to keep her grounded. But then Morgan, who was adopted out of foster care, suddenly disappears, and Char is left to wonder about a possible future without Allie and what to do about Morgan, a child caught up in a terrible crack in the system.
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What do you think? Does this family novel with its complex issues resonate with you? Do you want to keep reading?
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What a difficult situation. I would keep reading. Enjoy!
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Yes, definitely difficult, Heather. Thanks for stopping by.
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That definitely sounds like an interesting read! I already want to know how everything is resolved!
Here’s my Friday Reads
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Me, too, Clare, and I hope to start it today. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’d definitely keep reading. It sounds fascinating, and I love the writing in the excerpts. Thanks for sharing. Here’s my Friday find.
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I agree, Bev, and I’m eager to begin reading. Thanks for stopping by.
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Untethered sounds like a good one. Thanks for mentioning it. 🙂
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Thanks, Breana, looking forward to reading it. Glad you could visit today.
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It sounds so sad. I am not sure I could handle the opening to make it farther in the book. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Friday!
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Yes, a book beginning with death can be hard to handle. Thanks for stopping by, Nicole, and enjoy your reading.
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It’s not my norm, but I think I would still enjoy reading it. Well, maybe not “enjoy,” per se … but I don’t think I would hate it 😉
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Yes, “enjoy” is probably not what we would experience…but I am looking forward to how the relationships are resolved. Thanks for visiting, Karen.
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Not something I would normally read, but once I start a book, it’s rare that I don’t finish it.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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Yes, definitely true for me, too, Sherry. I don’t like to leave books unfinished. But I think I will immerse myself in this one. Thanks for visiting.
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This sounds excellent. I’ll have to add it to my wishlist. My pick this week is Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima – newly released mystery. Happy reading!
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Sounds like you have a good one, Kathy, and thanks for stopping by to check mine out. Enjoy your weekend.
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I’d keep reading. This is an interesting situation.
My Friday 56 from Bloodmark
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Yes, I think so, too, Laura; thanks for visiting!
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Sounds good to me. Enjoy!
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Thanks, Catherine, I plan to do just that! Thanks for visiting.
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You’ve left me wondering what happened. Who died and why is she running into the bathroom rather mysteriously?! Sounds like a good read!
Happy weekend!
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Yes, that running into the bathroom sounds very mysterious…but then the girl is a teenager. lol
Char’s husband died in the beginning, leaving her with a stepdaughter.
Thanks for hosting and for stopping by, Freda.
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Ohh Now I want to know more! 😀
My F56! 😀
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Thanks, Giovanna, I am looking forward to this one. Have a great weekend.
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Sounds like a tough situation, both with the stepdaughter and the foster situation. Life can change in an instant and it should be interesting to see how things turn out for Char.
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Definitely! I have personally watched families struggle through various issues with their children and step-children, so I’m looking forward to the book. Thanks for visiting, Greg.
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I’m interested; I read Timmer’s first book and really liked it
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I enjoyed it, too, Ruth; thanks for stopping by.
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Oh no, poor Char. Hope everything works out for this woman. Happy weekend!
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Yes, it does seem very sad. Thanks for stopping by, Alicia.
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This sounds like a sad and difficult novel. However, it is an interesting premise and would be curious to know more.
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Yes, I think so, too, Whitney, as not only does Char lose her husband, but may lose her stepdaughter.
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Sounds like a good read. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend.
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I am sure I’d be UNTETHERED too if my husband died. What a good title.
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Oh, yes, and I am loving this family story, a nice change (for a bit) from the thrillers. Thanks for stopping by, Anne.
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I read this a while ago and I think I remember liking it!
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Good to know, Patty…I am loving it so far.
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Very intriguing beginning. Thanks for sharing!
Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).
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Thanks, Lauren, I enjoyed the book. Have a great week!
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