Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by Books & a Beat.
The book I’m eager to share today is from one of my favorite authors. From Hallie Ephron’s back list, I’m eager to read Come and Find Me, a novel of suspense.
Intro: If it were up to Diana, there’s be weather. Rain, snow, even the occasional hurricane. But climate was one of those things that were out of her control in this always blue-sky world. The terrain, on the other hand, was her choice: a replica of a spot in the Swiss Alps at the base of Waterfall Pitch with the towering North Face of the Eiger looming overhead.
Nadia, Diana’s alter ego in the virtual reality of OtherWorld, was barely visible standing at the base of a cascade of frozen water sculpted against the nearly vertical slope. Diana zoomed in on her avatar, who wore wraparound sunglasses, a fitted black leather jacket with a zipper and upturned collar, slim jeans, red boots, and a red newsboy cap. In the real Swiss Alps, she’d have lasted about thirty seconds in that outfit; the bitter cold turned any exposed bit of skin pink, then red, then white. Diana recalled the stillness into which tinkling cowbells and voices from the valley below had risen like whiffs of smoke.
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Teaser: Raw panic surged through her and she spun around. Officer Gruder had followed her into her office. Diana clapped her hand over her mouth and the scream she hadn’t realized she was making stopped. (p. 96).
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Synopsis: Computer security expert and reformed hacker Diana Highsmith has not ventured beyond her home for more than a year—not since that fateful climbing vacation in Switzerland took Daniel’s life. Haunted by the sound of Daniel’s cries echoing across the gorge as he fell, Diana cannot stop thinking about the life they’ll never have—grief that has transformed her into a recluse.
Diana doesn’t have to shut herself off completely from the world, though; she and Daniel’s best friend run a thriving Internet security company. From her home, in her pajamas, Diana assesses security breaches, both potential and real, and offers clients a way to protect themselves from hackers—the kind of disruptions Diana herself used to create. Once Diana has a game plan she is able to meet with clients in OtherWorld, an Internet-based platform, using Nadia, an avatar she created for herself. Diana knows she’ll have to rejoin the “real world” eventually, but right now a few steps from her door each morning is all she can handle.
When Diana’s sister goes missing, however, she is forced to do the impossible: brave both the outside world and her own personal demons to find her sister. As one step outside leads to another, Diana soon discovers that she is following a trail fraught with danger—and uncovering a web of deceit and betrayal, both online and real-life, that threatens not only her sister’s life, but her own.
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What do you think? Do the excerpts & blurb grab you? Make you want to keep reading? I know I’m all in.
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The title alone is provocative, but i also like how it begins. Hope it enjoyable for you.
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Thanks, Margot, I am eager to get into it. I have loved some other books by the author. Glad you could stop by, and enjoy your pick.
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Based off of the cover and blurb, I wouldn’t have immediately gravitated towards this title, but the extracts you’ve shared definitely have me intrigued! Enjoy!
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Neither would I have, but I love this author, so I went for it. Thanks for visiting, Jade, and enjoy your pick.
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At first I was iffy but then I read the synopsis and it sounds great! I hope you enjoy 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Colletta
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Yes, sometimes the synopsis holds the most info. I have loved several books by this author, and can’t wait to start reading it. Thanks for visiting, Colletta, and enjoy your pick.
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Oh yes! This sounds like a good one, Laurel-Rain. It sounds like a tense and emotion-filled read. I hope you enjoy it!
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Thanks, Wendy, I have loved several books by the author, so I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for visiting!
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I REALLY like the sound of this one, Laurel – and look forward to hear how you feel once you’ve finished it. The ending really matters in thrillers like this one, don’t they?
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Thanks, Sarah, this author has brought me some of my favorite books (There Was An Old Woman, Night Night, Sleep Tight, Never Tell a Lie).
Enjoy your pick, and thanks for visiting.
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Thank you for the titles, Laurel:)
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This sounds really interesting.
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Thanks, Suzie, glad you could stop by. Enjoy your pick!
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Sounds like an interesting premise! The first paragraph is definitely one that is easy to get hooked on. I love the cover of this one, too. Great pick!
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Thanks, Jordan, I am excited about this one. Glad you could stop by.
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This sounds like one I’d really enjoy. I’ll be adding it to my wishlist. Thanks for visiting my blogs. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Kathy, glad you like the sound of it. This author is one I keep an eye out for any new books.
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Sounds good, thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Mary Ann, looking forward to it.
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An interesting premise. I know nothing about the virtual world and do find it fascinating people can get lost in it. I would definitely keep reading.
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I think I could lose myself in the book….and I’m also fascinated by those who suffer from agoraphobia. Thanks for visiting, Emma.
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This honestly sounds like an amazing and really fascinating book. I’m going to have to add this on Goodreads and maybe buy it next time I do some book shopping. 🙂 Great teaser!
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Thanks, Kourtni, hope you enjoy it if you buy the book. Glad you could stop by.
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I like the author but, not sure based on intro or description. Hope you enjoy it.
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Thanks, Diane, hoping to love it. Thanks for hosting and for visiting.
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I’ve read this one and its pretty good. This author is kind of hit or miss for me. Enjoy!
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Yes, my favorite was There Was an Old Woman. Thanks for visiting, Heather.
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Shades of the movie, The Net. Sounds really intriguing — I love computer hacking stuff.
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Ah, yes, and with a little bit of The Copycat, too (the agoraphobic forensic psychologist). Thanks for visiting, Lorraine.
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I like the sound of this one and the intro and teaser drew me in further.
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Thanks, Nise, I have loved several books by the author. Glad you liked the sound of it.
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That description of the cold is particularly meaningful to me right now. I better go turn the heater on. I’m shivering.
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Yes, I felt it, too, Alice Audrey. I’m eager to read this one. Thanks for stopping by!
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They certainly do. This sounds like my kind of read.
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Thanks, Colline, I’m hoping to start this one soon…but first, a couple of review books. Enjoy your week!
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