Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by A Daily Rhythm.
Today’s spotlight is shining on a book that has been waiting patiently on Pippa, my Kindle, since September 2014! It is long overdue for a peek. After I Do, by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is from a new-to-me author that I’ve already enjoyed.
Intro: We are in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium, and once again, Ryan has forgotten where we left the car. I keep telling him that it’s in Lot C, but he doesn’t believe me.
“No,” he says, for the tenth time. “I specifically remember turning right when we got here, not left.”
It’s incredibly dark, the path in front of us lit only by lampposts featuring oversized baseballs. I looked at the sign when we parked.
“You remember wrong,” I say, my tone clipped and pissed-off. We’ve already been here too long, and I hate the chaos of Dodger Stadium. It’s a warm summer night, so I have that to be thankful for, but it’s ten P.M., and the rest of the fans are pouring out of the stands, the two of us fighting through a sea of blue and white jerseys. We’ve been at this for about twenty minutes.
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Teaser: Ryan has made it clear that he no longer thinks of me the way he thinks about other women. It hurts. And yet when I try to break down why it hurts, I don’t have an answer. (p. 67).
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Blurb: When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.
Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?
This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.
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What do you think? Do the excerpts draw you in? Do you want to keep reading? I know that I am eager to do so.
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Finding any parking spot at Dodger Stadium can be difficult even when you know where you parked. 😉 I like the teaser as well. It does sound sad. No wonder she feels the way she does at the thought.
This sounds like an interesting novel, Laurel-Rain. Are you enjoying it?
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I haven’t started it yet, Wendy…later today, probably. I was also drawn in by the intro…I am often guilty of “losing” my parking place, but now I try to make a special note of the aisle I’m in. Thanks for stopping by!
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I had to laugh at the opening paragraph. I went through the same scenario with my husband many years ago only it was the Kansas City Chiefs parking lot. From then on I made him look at the lot marker with me and we made a pack to remember it together. This made me curious enough to read more.
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Great idea about making note of the lot marker….I am often alone in parking lots, so I can’t blame anyone but myself. But I do better at keeping track when I make such a note.
Thanks for stopping by, Margot.
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I do like the opening (and the change of colourway here on your blog) The tone of this intro is spot on, not too flippant and something I think is easy to relate to, I’ve certainly had those moments!
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Yes, that’s what I liked about it, too, Cleopatra…I could definitely relate to the moments.
Glad you enjoyed the color changes here; I have fun with themes, headers, and backgrounds. Enjoy your reading!
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What an intriguing idea. This sounds like it’s worth reading.
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I am looking forward to it, Suzie…I like when a book draws me in because I relate to something going on. Thanks for stopping by!
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I liked the intro, but this couple is definitely having a bad night:) Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with the parking garage and forgetting where they parked LOL
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Oh, yes, Seinfeld episodes are guaranteed to resonate while providing a-ha moments. And laughter. Thanks for hosting today, Diane, and for stopping by. Enjoy!
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I liked the opener (it rings true!). Hope the rest of the book lives up that promise.
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I hope so, too, Candace, and I was definitely pulled right in by those opening moments. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like an interesting read.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2015/11/teaser-tuesday.html
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I think it will be, Mary Ann….thanks for stopping by.
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I liked the intro and the teaser! Sounds like an interesting read even though it’s not my kind of thing.
Thanks for stopping by my Teaser Tuesday post earlier 🙂
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Thanks, Amy, and we can’t all love the same books! LOL
Enjoy!
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Very true! 🙂
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I hope you enjoy(ed) your long-overdue reading of this book. Thanks for visiting me and Jane Eyre today. 🙂
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Me, too, Heather…thanks for stopping by!
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Sounds like a good read. I’m also glad to see others have books from a while ago hiding in their to read piles. Girl Who Reads
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Yes, they can hide so well on our devices, can’t they? Thanks for stopping by, Donna.
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I like the sound of this one…and, boy, I can really relate to that interchange about the car, lol. Hope this turns out to be an enjoyable read! BTW, love the new blog look!
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Me, too, Catherine…I really hate parking lots…LOL. And thanks, glad you are enjoying the new blog look. Thanks for stopping by.
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this sounds like a good read. the title, the cover and the tease all have my interest.
Trish – my teaser
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I agree, Trish…thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!
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I like the concept of this but not sure it’s one for me. I am way too cynical and hard hearted for love stories.
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Ha…thanks, Emma, glad you could stop by anyway.
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Sounds like there would be a lot of think about. The blurb asks some very good questions. This week my teaser comes from Dark Turns by Cate Holahan. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kathy, and I’m glad you could visit today. Enjoy your pick!
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He should have used his phone and taken a picture of where he parked. It works! LOL
I hope this has a happy ending.
My TT – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/11/10/teaser-tuesdays-135-tropical-depression/
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That would have been an excellent idea, Laura…and I’ll remember that the next time I’m in a parking lot. LOL
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This one sounds like one I would read. Not sure if the year apart is a good idea though. Need to read and find out how it ends.
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I think they will discover things they might not want to know during that year apart. Thanks for visiting, Judy.
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It sounds like a thought-provoking book. Your teaser leaves me wondering what he learns during the year. I’m not sure I’d recommend the premise of a year apart as a solution to the problem. Here’s my link: http://wp.me/p4DMf0-115
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Yes, I suspect someone or both will move on during that year. Thanks for stopping by, Ms. M.
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I like the sound of this one.
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I’m looking forward to it, Yvonne…thanks for stopping by.
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Great opening. When my daughter and I went to the St. Louis Zoo, we purposely parked by a row marker and then took a picture of it!
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That’s such a good idea, taking a picture…I must remember to do that, Nise. Thanks for stopping by.
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Doesn’t hook me so much, though I am curious about what awful thing is surely about to befall these too…
My First Chapter post is here if you’re interested: http://www.bookpunks.com/so-it-begins-timebomb-by-scott-k-andrews/
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Yes, I do want to know that, too, Nikki….thanks for stopping by!
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Aww the teaser sounds a bit sad. Hopefully there’s a happy ending. Thanks for sharing!
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I hope so, too, Cyn, and I’m almost there…so far, it could go either way.
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