Friday, July 21, 2017

First Line Friday | Over Maya Dead Body


Today's read... if you're a mystery fan, you will want this book!! But, heads'-up, you'll want to get the first two books first. ;) At any rate, here's the first line (keep reading for my review too).


"I snatched my bag off the luggage carousel at Boston's Logan International Airport and plunked it next to my parents as a sticky-fingered urchin tried to liberate the brightly colored ribbons I'd tied to the handles."
(Over Maya Dead Body by Sandra Orchard)

~*~*~

Also, be sure to hop along to all of these other blogs and see what First Lines they have to share!
Please note that I may not fully endorse all of the books that these bloggers read or the content in these blogs.

Rachel - Bookworm Mama
Andi - Radiant Light
Robin - Robin's Nest
Kathleen - Kathleen Denly
Trisha – Joy of Reading
Jeanette – CJane Read



MY REVIEW
If you're wondering if this book can be jumped into without the other two books having been read...read the others first. I'm not going to give anything away, but a lot of things in this book would have a more powerful punch if you've gotten to know some of the characters in previous books.


That being said, yes, I read this book without having read the other two Serena Jones books. I picked up on the threads that I likely missed (so it CAN be read as a stand-alone, but references to past books make me want to read them) and enjoyed the book overall.

As a mystery... five stars hands down! My brain was swirling with the "whodunit" and I didn't piece together things as quickly as Serena did (which I liked; I like a good mystery that has me puzzling all of the way through).

As a Christian book... eh... it is very, very clean. There were no parts that made me cringe, no unacceptable language. God was mentioned, prayer was said. But overall as a Christian book, it wasn't a very strong one. What stood out to me far more was the romance.

As a romance... there was a love triangle (hides face). I don't like love triangles! But, this one ended happily for me, cause she ended up with the guy I shipped. That being said, there was a kiss, and almost-kiss. There were a LOT of feelings. I mean, Serena has two guys she likes and they both definitely like her, and she's confused as to which to choose. So yeah. If you don't like love triangles, you may not want to read this.

Overall though, I'd give this book 4.5 stars. I enjoyed the style (first-person contemporary is something I'm finding I enjoy), the mystery, and the cleanness of this book (I've read some more strictly "Christian" books that made me cringe more than this book).

*I received this book from Revell books and happily provided my honest review*

ABOUT THE BOOK

FBI Special Agent Serena Jones arrives on Martha's Vineyard with her family, ready for a little bit of R&R and a whole lot of reminiscing as they celebrate the engagement of an old family friend. But crime doesn't take a vacation, and she's soon entangled in an investigation of a suspicious death tied to an antiquities smuggling ring.

When her investigation propels her into danger, Serena must stay the course and solve this case before anyone else dies. But just how is she supposed to do that when the two men in her life arrive on the scene, bringing with them plenty of romantic complications--and even a secret or two?

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard keeps readers guessing with this fast-paced mystery laced with romance.


You may buy the book here.

Find out more about Sandra Orchard here.

10 comments:

Becky said...

I've looked at that book! My first line is from Sweet Delights by Cecelia Dowdy: "PATTY-LYNN?" THE FAMILIAR VOICE made her pause.

Unknown said...

I'm sharing a first line from The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson. "The change in Marie Carrington's pocket wouldn't pay for a ferry ride across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island, let alone a bus ticket to anywhere else in the world."

Dinh said...

Happy Friday!

My first line:
Prologue
January 25, 1980, midnight
The first execution I attended wasn’t by lethal injection but by Old Sparky. ~A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman

Happy Reading!
Dinh @ Arlene's Book Club

englishmysteriesblog said...

Ok, so I love mysteries! I will have to check this series out. :) Happy Friday!

Trisha said...

This book sounds interesting. My #TBR stack always grows on Fridays!

Beth Erin said...

Her covers are so cool!

Paula Shreckhise said...

Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green : You shouldn't be here.

Fiction Aficionado said...

I've made no secret of how much I have enjoyed the Serena Jones series!

I’m featuring a new release by Bethany Kaczmarek on my blog this week, but I’m going to post the first line from a book I’ve been meaning to read for aaaaaages: To Whisper Her Name, by Tamera Alexander.

“First Lieutenant Ridley Adam Cooper peered through the stand of bristled pines, his presence cloaked by dusk, his Winchester cocked and ready.”

JaneReads said...

I haven't started this series yet, but I've heard so many good things that it is on my list. Hopefully soon (especially after your review).

Amanda Tero said...

@ Becky - you should so get it! Now I have to find the first two. ;)

@ C.J. - thanks for sharing!

@ Dinh - wow, creepy first line! :)

@ English Mysteries - yes! You need to read it! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

@ Trisha - mine does too! :D

@ Beth - they are cool!

@ Paula - ooh! Gripping one!

@ Fiction Aficionado - I'm sold with just this one book! :)

@ Jane - I'd like to hear if you do read it! :)

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