Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted each week by Rose City Reader. It’s a chance to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading this week. You can check out others’ book beginnings here (this week’s link to come). I’m also going to link up with Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower for First Line Friday. And I’ll be sharing for Friday 56 with Anne at Head Full of Books! She’s keeping the meme alive – y’all hop over to her blog and join in the fun!
This week’s book beginning:
Synopsis:
‘Every story needs a happy ending. And you can’t have yours until you find the bookstore.’
1692. On the outskirts of Salem, a bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…
Present day. Stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’
Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible secret: the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.
Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.
As she pushes open the beautiful blue door hidden amongst the sharp brambles, and stands in front of rows of crumbling leatherbound books with faded pages, she has no idea of the secrets she is about to uncover. Or that her life is in more danger than ever before…
Prologue
Salem, 1692
A dense cloak of darkness fell on this night faster than any I’d ever known, bringing with it a heavy feeling of unsettled dread.
Upstairs Lucine murmured in her sleep, too weak to get up and stand with her sisters, but she could sense what they were doing, and she joined them in spirit.
What do you think? Would you want to read The Vanishing Bookstore?
Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. It starts each Friday and runs through the following Thursday. Each week, there’s a new prompt featuring a book-related question. It’s designed to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, make new blogging friends, and gain followers. See what others have to say on this topic and link up your own post here.
I have not. In fact, I’ve never even heard of it. Off to check it out!
What about you? Have you participated in this meme? I think I’m too late for it this year, but maybe in 2026!
Got any thoughts to share on the Hop topic? Leave a comment, and link up at the Hop page!
This sounds like a good book.
I hadn’t heard of First Books either. It looks fun though!
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/01/17/book-blogger-hop-first-book-of-the-year/
Thanks, Emily! Happy week to you, too!
Oooo! I want to read this now! The Vanishing Bookstore sounds like something I would enjoy.
Although I didn’t take part this year, I have joined Sheila and other readers in her First Book of the Year event before. It’s a great way to kick off the new year. Even if I struggle with picking which book I want to read first. Haha.
I hope you have a great weekend, Lisa!
I never know which book I’m going to read first unless I have an ARC scheduled for right at the start of the year! LOL
The bookstore sounds so creative. Where do authors get their great ideas?
Anne, I know! I don’t know how they do it, but I’m so glad they do.
This sounds really good. I love books that feature bookstores. I’m going to add this to my wish list.
This sounds fascinating! I’m adding it to my wishlist. Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂
I have participated in Sheila’s first book of the year since she started it. 🙂
I hope you join in Sheila’s first book of the year next year…it is fun, but I am sure she will accept a photo at this time too.
Elizabeth, if she might take a photo at this time, I may just go ahead and send one! I’ve got it written on my calendar for next year. I do love a good book meme!