Yvonne
This is a meme for all you ‘First Page Browsers‘
AMBER (Working Girls #4) by HEATHER BURNSIDE
BOOK BEGINNINGS / FIRST LINES
“Amber stared at the grossly obese man in front of her called Bill as he held out the garments for her to wear. She shuddered when she realised what they were. This had been bound to happen sooner or later but the fact that Amber had been expecting it didn’t less its dire impact.
‘Well, aren’t you gonna take them then?’ he asked.
She stepped forward, cautiously, noticing the whiff of BO that emanated from him. Then she held out her hand while he passed her the clothing.
‘I guessed your size from when we met last time,’ he said, leering at her.
Amber knew that the client had probably chosen her because of her petite frame as she was only five foot two and a size eight.
They were in a hotel room, but it wasn’t a plush hotel like the ones in Manchester city centre that a lot of her punters used. It was a bit neglected and situated in the inner-city suburbs; probably a three star, if that, she guessed.
During the time she’d been on the game, she had learnt that the choice of hotel said a lot about the punter. This particular hotel suggested that Bill either didn’t have money to splash around, he was stingy, or he just wanted a quickie with a street girl who he thought didn’t deserve any better.
Punters who opted for swanky city centre hotels generally had money to spare and they enjoyed the luxury and privacy that the more upmarket hotels afforded them. But when a punter chose this type of hotel it always made her more wary than usual. Why opt for a cheap hotel rather than visiting a whorehouse? Was it because there would be no one there to offer protection if things turned nasty?
If it hadn’t been for the fact that she’d done business with Bill previously she would have declined but he’d treated her OK last time even though he was repulsive to look at. And, if she’d have known beforehand what type of job it was, she would also have turned him down, aware of the implications. But it was too late now. She was here and she had the outfit in her hand ready to put on”
So, you have taken a sneak peek, would you read the book?
Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
Just to give you an extra helping hand, here is the book’s premise …
NOBODY TO CALL
With a mother unfit for purpose and a brother who despises her, working girl Amber can rely on no one but herself – until the meanest pimp in Manchester, Kevin Pike, offers her his protection. Unfortunately, this attracts the fury of Cora, a prostitute no one wants to get on the wrong side of…
NOWHERE TO HIDE
When Cora is found strangled to death, the late-night city streets feel increasingly exposed with a killer on the loose. And as Amber grows closer to Kevin, she realises his security comes at a price she might not be willing to pay…
NOTHING TO LOSE
Amber is frozen in fear, knowing one wrong move will risk her life. But then she discovers a horrifying secret that forces her to choose: stay or run?
You might also like to visit the meme host, Gilion, over at ‘Rose City Reader‘, where you can share links to the book beginnings from her own reading schedule and that of many of our fellow bloggers.
There are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered and you never know where that next ‘must read’ is going to come from!
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Thank you very much for sharing, Yvonne.
Hi Heather,
You are very welcome and I look forward to my Blog Tour Review in April!
Stay Safe 🙂
I am curious about it, now that I read the beginning, but I am also sure I would get annoyed by the topic. It’s hard to decide with this one.
Hi Anca,
I didn’t get annoyed by the ‘working girls’ themselves, or how they earned a living. However there were other more terrible things happening in this storyline, which had me alternately wanting to either cry my eyes out, or throw my Kindle at the wall! I can’t say any more because of ‘spoilers’, but it really is intense from beginning to end!
Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend 🙂
I meant that I would get annoyed that these women do not have other options but “working” like that. It’s sad that is still happening today and this kind of work is also fuelled by modern slavery, another thing that I get very passionate about. I can imagine that there are many more things happening besides their work, to infuriate a reader.
You are probably closer than you think to the storyline, although I would still say you might have underestimated just how bad things are for Amber, and author Heather Burnside very cleverly gave nothing away in the premise! – So now you can see why I got so angry and upset at one and the same time!
An intense read…and now I am curious about what will happen to Amber. Thanks for sharing, and here’s mine: “THE SHADOW BOX”
Hi Lorraine,
Given everything Amber has had to endure all through her life to date, then the future…? Ah! Now that would be telling!
This really was an intense and emotional read!
Thanks for visiting and I hope that all is well with you 🙂
Sounds like crazy person Bill is a real creep. Oh dear. My quotes this week
Hi Anne,
Bill does sound a bit sleazy, doesn’t he?
I think the smell of the BO would have put me off!! 🙂
Don’t judge Amber out of hand though, as her story is heart-breaking!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a good weekend 🙂
From the opening, I was thinking this one wouldn’t be for me, but after reading the synopsis I am more intrigued. I hope you are enjoying Amber, Yvonne! Have a great weekend!
Hi Wendy,
Even that premise doesn’t really get to the heart of this turbulent and highly emotionally charged storyline. I just couldn’t believe some of the things I was reading and my heart went out to poor Amber!
Thanks for visiting and Happy Reading 🙂
am intrigued!! what were these clothes??
My post is here https://francebooktours.com/2021/02/05/loving-modigliani-book-beginnings/
Hi Emma,
Ah! Now that would be telling. Let’s just say that this is the first and last time Amber does something like this!
This book works great as a stand alone story.
Heather has written this series of four ‘working girls’ books, specifically to highlight events which have brought each of the four girls to where they are today. I guess the real message of the books is
‘Don’t judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes!’
Thanks for visiting today, it has been great to chat to you and I hope that you have a good weekend 🙂