Friday Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and the Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.
So Friday Book Beginnings you choose the book you are currently reading or the one that is closest to you and share the first few sentences. For the Friday 56 you simply turn to page 56 or 56% on your e-reader and share a sentence or two that you enjoy. Then just add maybe a synopsis about the book in case others are interested. That’s it!
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The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Published on: June 6th, 2017
Summary (from Goodreads): In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.
1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She’s also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie’s parents banish her to Europe to have her “little problem” taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.
1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she’s recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she’s trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the “Queen of Spies”, who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy’s nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn’t heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth …no matter where it leads.
Book Beginning: May 1947 – Southhampton
The first person I met in England was a hallucination. I brought her on board with me, onboard the serene ocean liner that had carried my numb, grief-haunted self from New York to Southhampton.
Page 56: July 1915
Rene’s gift, offered with a flourish shortly after Ever returned from her journey, was a silk robe. Rose red, fine enough to slip through a ring — but not new. It smelled vaguely of woman’s perfume, some woman who undoubtedly saw it seized in a requisition raid, and not it had ended up on Eve’s back.
Thoughts: It’s in the dual perspective of different times with one same character which is interesting. There are times that I find myself yearning to read one perspective more than the other but I don’t dislike either one. If you’ve been around a while you know that I love historical fiction so this one was a must read for me. Almost halfway through and loving it so far. Feels a little long but I don’t mind.
What do you think?
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Shelves of Spines 
Such a classy cover! Sounds like a great read to me. Thanks for sharing this one!
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The cover and the content was wonderful! Thanks for stopping by!
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I have been eyeing this book, and it’s on my wish list. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
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I hope you enjoy the book once you pick it up, Laurel!
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This one sounds good. This week I have an urban fantasy novel – Blood Gamble by Melissa F. Olson. Happy reading!
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It was quite good. Can’t wait to see what book you’ve featured. Thanks for stopping by!
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Seems like I’ve come across this one a few times recently. Such an excellent cover for the story. Might be a worth a try too.
My Friday 56 from Refuge For Masterminds
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Yes the cover is beautiful. The story was just as good. I hope you give it a try 🙂
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Thanks for sharing this! This book sounds like something that I would love. I just shared a Friday 56 that has a similar dynamic with a dual-narrative but from different characters, and it’s a post-war story. This may have just been bumped up on my TBR pile! 🙂
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Ou I’ll have to check that out. I love was and post-war stories!
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war***
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Dual timelines always add an interesting twist. Happy reading!
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Definitely interesting twists occurred!
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I love the sound of this one and the cover makes me feel like I’m immediately going back in time. Hope you enjoy the rest of the novel. Happy weekend!
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The book definitely takes you back in time to two time periods that were really well intertwined. I loved it. Hope you had a great weekend 🙂
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Sounds like a wonderful read! Happy weekend!
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It was quite good. I hope your weekend was good!
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Looking forward to getting this one to read as it sounds good.
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I loved it! How the two different timelines were all connected was well done!
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I just recently purchased this book, I have heard great things about it. Happy Reading.
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