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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Tuesday - First Chapter - First Paragraph - The Good Goodbye



Each Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea shares the first part of a book that she is reading or thinking about reading.  This week I'm sharing the first few paragraphs of The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckley.  I read an earlier book by this author a few years ago and really enjoyed it.  See what you think:




The first thing you should know is that everyone lies.
The second thing is that it matters.


Natalie

     I keep a list of Arden's first words.  Banky, mimi, 'ghetti, Dada.  I treasure this list, keep it folded in my wallet.  Banky, mimi, 'ghetti, Dada, Mama, 'nana, rainbow, juice.  All the important things in Arden's life--her threadbare pink blanket, her favorite foods, Theo and me.  I miss her.  I miss hearing her voice.  That first night after she left for college, I lay on top of her tousled sheets, breathing in the blended scents of her coconut shampoo and pear soap.
     "So how do you want to celebrate?" my husband asks.
     I thought Theo had forgotten.  Maybe, if I'm to be completely honest with myself, I'd hoped he had.  He squares off in front of the bathroom mirror to give himself his usual morning pep-talk look, his eyes half closed and his chin raised.  Maybe, shocker, he'd remembered on his own.
     "I don't know."  I turn off the water and drop my toothbrush in the cup.  There's nothing I feel less like doing than dressing up and spending money on our anniversary.
     Just thinking about it makes me want to crawl under the covers and yank them over my head.
     "Anything you want," he promises.  "Sky's the limit."
     Ha.  We both know the sky is very much not the limit.



Blurb:

How well do we know our children?  Natalie Falcone would say she knows her daughter, Arden, very well.  Despite the challenges of running a restaurant and raising six-year-old twin boys, she’s not too worried as she sends her daughter off to college—until she gets the call that Arden’s been in a terrible fire, along with her best friend and cousin, Rory.  Both girls are critically injured and another student has died.  The police suspect arson.

Arden and Rory have always been close, but they have secrets they’ve never shared, secrets that reel all the way back to their childhoods, and which led them to that tragic night.  Who set the fire, and why?  As the police dig deep into both the present and the past, Natalie realizes that in order to protect her daughter, she’ll first have to find out who Arden really is, even if it means risking everything—and everyone—she loves most.

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As I said above, I read another book by this author several years ago, The Things That Keep Us Here.  I enjoyed the way she told the story and so I'm also interested in this book.  I'm hoping to get to meet Carla Buckley in February at Left Coast Crime.  She's scheduled to attend and, happily, so am I.

36 comments:

  1. I like the premise, but the intro didn't really grab me. I'd probably give it a bit longer...

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    1. No, I can see that this probably wouldn't be one for you, Sarah.

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  2. I want to read this one but, that intro doesn't really do it for me. I read more though.

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    1. But if you want to read it, guess you'd continue on. Honestly, the blurb hooked me more.

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  3. The intro didn't grab me either, but the premise sounds good.

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  4. As others had said, the intro didn't instantly grab me, but I would continue reading further than that point just to see where this is all going and get a better feel for the characters.

    Reading With Jade

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    1. The blurb has a different feel than the intro I think.

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  5. I have to say that, yep, the intro spoke to me. I'm already fretting about empty nest syndrome and missing my kids terribly when they go to college (even though it's still 8-10 years away). The premise sounds intriguing!

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    1. Yes, it's tough to send them off to college. It was for me anyway.

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  6. I find the intro enticing and the blurb interesting. Thanks for sharing this new-to-me author.

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  7. I love this author so would definitely give this book a try.

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    1. Good to know, Susan. Have you read The Things That Keep Us Here? I really liked that one.

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  8. This author is one I discovered after I began blogging...and I loved this one, as well as others I have read, including the one you mentioned:(The Things That Keep Us Here). Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Good to know that this one worked well for you, Laurel-Rain. I'm looking forward to it.

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  9. This one is already on my Want to Read list. The intro told me something awful had happened and the blurb confirmed it. I would definitely read on. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. I read an earlier book by this author and really enjoyed it. That alone would make me want to read this one, although the intro and synopsis have caught my attention as well. This sounds really intriguing, Kay. I hope you enjoy it! And how cool that you will be meeting the author!

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    1. Well, I hope to meet the author. And maybe get a copy of this one signed.

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  11. I like the premise and sound of this novel. I'd keep reading - maybe the first chapter and then decide.

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    1. That works for me, Margot. I liked the blurb on this and thought it sounded good.

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  12. I liked The Things That Keep Us Here too. I would continue reading.

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  13. I'm in a similar place to the narrator having just sent a daughter off the college this past year so I can definitely relate to that kind of bereft feeling. Not sure the blurb really grabs me though. I think I'll wait to see what you think of this one!

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    1. Yes, it's a little tough to send them off, isn't it? I remember it well.

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  14. For a long time, I couldn't read about arson. Scared to death. Now, I'm about ready to stick a toe out and read a novel about fire or arson.

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    1. I'm definitely curious about what the girls are hiding. Looking forward to beginning it soon.

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  15. I want to know what happens but as a Mom this scares me!

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  16. Oh, you get to meet her! How cool!

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  17. That's awesome that you get to go to Left Coast Crime! I'd love to go to some of the big conventions. This book sounds like a good one!

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    1. It will be my first time. I'm excited about it.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!