BOOKISH FRIDAY: “BRING ME BACK”

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 a great way to spend a Friday!

Today’s feature is one of my June ARCs from NetGalley, coming out on June 19:  Bring Me Back, by B. A. Paris, is a tour de force of psychological suspense that will have you questioning everything and everyone until its stunning climax.

 

 

Beginning:  (Twelve Years Before)

Interview:  Finn McQuaid; Date:  15/03/2006; Time:  03:45; Location:  Fonches

We were on our way back from skiing in Megeve.  I decided to stop in Paris on the way up as a surprise for Layla, because she had never been there before.  We had dinner in a restaurant by the Notre-Dame cathedral and then went for a walk along the Seine.  We could have stayed the night there—now, I wish we had—but we were both eager to get home to our cottage in St. Mary’s, in Devon.

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Friday 56 (56%): (Finn)

I can’t believe that I’m thinking like this but it’s the truth.  When Ellen and I had first begun spending time together, the thing I’d been most afraid of was that she would talk about Layla nonstop, or ask about my relationship with her.  I didn’t want to discuss Layla with anyone and, sensing my reticence, Ellen hadn’t asked any questions at all.

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Synopsis:  Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone—never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.

Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him…even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.

Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla—hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive—and on Finn’s trail—what does she want? And how much does she know?

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What do you think?  Do the excerpts and the blurb tempt you to keep reading?  I loved two previous books by the author, so I’m definitely eager to follow the twists and turns.

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