Yvonne
‘To Tough Guys With Soft Hearts’
‘He didn’t like cops.
His attitude had deep roots, and stemmed from spending his formative years dodging them, out-running them – usually – or being hassled by them when his feet weren’t fast enough.
He’d picked his share of pockets by the time he’d turned twelve and knew the best, and most lucrative channels for turning a hot watch into cold cash.
He’d learned back then that knowing what time it was couldn’t buy happiness, but the twenty bucks the watch brought in paid for a nice slice of the happiness pie …’
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What had happened to make him hate the police by the time he was 12?
Had he been abandoned on the streets to fend for himself?
Interesting first few lines, really makes me want to know more, I have been sucked in already like it or not!
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As always, clicking on the book image will take you through to Amazon.co.uk, where you will be able to view the full synopsis for the book (that way spoilers will only be revealed if you want them to be!).
This is probably not a book that I would choose to purchase, but came as part of a job-lot that I acquired when I owned my small, on-line book selling business.
To be fair, I have never read any of Nora Roberts work, although I know many people who follow her avidly, so I really need to get to know the author for myself before I make sweeping generalities about her writing style.
I also needed to find a quick and easy read, for a stressful day, spent in a place where I really did not want to be!!!
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Want to take part in ‘Book Beginnings?
Would those first few lines of your book make you want to read more, without revealing too many spoilers?
If you want to share the first lines of a book you are reading, click on the link and visit Katy, at ‘A Few More Pages’
You can then leave a link to your own book beginnings post, or just browse for some great reads, there are always plenty of new authors and titles to be found.
Don’t forget that Katy and all the other contributors to this meme love to hear from you, so why not leave a comment or two, at the same time.
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I’ll be very interested to hear your opinion of Nora Roberts writing. My daughter adores her books but I can’t seem to get on with her.
Hi Cath,
My stressful day, passed by stressfully and I didn’t manage to get any reading done, so I haven’t actually started the book properly yet.
It does look like it will be quite an easy read though, which is good right now, so it will be interesting to see if my opinion is the same as that of your own, or your daughters!!
This is a Nora Roberts book that is completely new to me, although I haven’t been keeping up with her titles lately. She does manage to capture the reader, though, and I like this beginning. It tells me there’s quite a story behind that boy’s attitudes and behaviors.
Thanks for sharing…
Here’s MY FRIDAY MEMES POST
Hi Laurel-Rain,
She is quite a prolific writer, isn’t she? so it would be quite easy to miss out some of the many titles I should think!
The opening is quite descriptive and sets the character in place quite well, I thought.
I am only a little way into the story, but already my imagination has been captured and I am eager to know more.
I don’t mind a book being relatively easy to follow, so long as the writing has some substance and descriptive value to it and this one looks quite promising.
An author I should probably have read a long time ago, although I have read a couple of J.D. Robb books, which you would probably know, is one of the other names under which Nora Roberts writes.
He sure sounds like an interesting character to be reading about!
http://thebookgatherer.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-beginningson-friday.html
Hi Ann,
He is certainly proving to be a very strong character so far, although he already has an eye for the lady.
I can imagine he is going to be a very violent and unstoppable adversary, a bit further down the line.
It looks as if the action is going to be quite fast-paced, which is how I like it.
That’s a very heavy beginning statement. “He didn’t like cops.” It makes me think lots of trouble will become a part of his life for whatever reason. Good beginning, thanks.
Hi Hattie,
The opening statement is strictly true, as he does have a grudging respect for one police officer, who treated him with that same level of respect, all those years ago.
Trouble definitely follows him like a shadow, by the sounds of things, but now it is more of a controlled trouble, with a sharp business mind and he is certainly the one in charge.
He is a pretty complex character.
I’m new to this author but your opening has certainly got me interested!
Hi,
A new author to me also, but so far, so good.
I think that I was thrown because the book’s publisher is Silhouette and I always associate them, along with Harlequin and Mills&Boon, with mushy romantic fiction.
This seems to have a bit more suspense and power about it, although the main character, Jonah, is definitely a ladies man, so I guess there will be only one way to go eventually!!
I haven’t read any Nora Roberts books, but this does kind of sound interesting. I’ll wait to hear what you think of it though. I hope your day wasn’t too stressful!
Hi Nikki,
I have only ever been in hospital once, way back when I was 4 for my tonsils and adenoids. For several reasons, I am completely hospital and needle phobic, just walking through the door makes me feel sick, so a day in having a small procedure and tests, was VERY stressful.
I didn’t actually open my book at all, I was just too petrified and couldn’t concentrate, so I have only just now started the book.
I thought that I must be one of the few people who had not read Nora Roberts, but this doesn’t seem to be the case, although I have read a couple of her books, written as J.D. Robb and they were quite good.
‘Night Shield’ is shaping up quite nicely so far.
Hi Yvonne,
My brother is very much the same as you. He spent a week or so in hospital as a kid with asthma, flu & pneumonia and has hated hospitals ever since. His blood pressure rocketed when he went in a few months ago for an outpatient appointment.
I’m quite the opposite with hospitals and can deal with needles much better than with pills & tablets (go figure!). I’ve only once stressed myself out over a hospital appointment and that was when I had to have the camera down my throat… I gag at the thought of it and even gagged when they put the mouth guard in, despite the numbing spray!
I often take a book to the hospital with me (either for my own appointments or when taking somebody else), but rarely read as I’m too busy people watching!
I hope all is OK with you and I’m glad Night Shield is good so far 🙂
Hi Nikki,
I am also the same with any medication and a GP appointment can send my blood pressure sky high. Be assured that I have to feel VERY ill before I even consider making a doctor’s appointment, or taking medication of any description!
I haven’t made much progress with ‘Night Shield’ this weekend, have had a couple of our niece’s pre-wedding things to sort out, so I must make some quality time next week to make progress with it.
I don’t think I’ve read Nora Roberts before, either. This beginning definitely gives a good introduction to the character! Thanks for participating in Book Beginnings!
Hi Katy,
Thanks for hosting ‘Book Beginnings’, I always look forward to taking part as all the participants are so friendly and enter right into the spirit of the meme.
We have a busy Sunday ahead of us this week and I had hoped to get up quite early and get a bit further on into ‘Night Shield’, but all good plans etc….. I have overslept, so now a mad dash is the start to my day!!!
The book is shaping up well so far and those first few lines definitely seem to have set the tone and pace of the story brilliantly..
I love Nora Roberts! Haven’t read this one, though. Some of her books are better than others, but she’s pretty consistent–I don’t think she’s ever written a bad one!
Hi Jenny,
I think it was only because of the publisher and their association with mushy romantic novels, that I was a little wary of this one, not any particular aversion to the author.
As it is, I am thoroughly enjoying ‘Night Shield’ so far. There is plenty of action, tempered with a little romance and a lot of suspense about the final outcome of both.