Romeo’s Town-James Bell is what I’m reading this week…and here’s the first line: Two minutes before the knife attack I was sitting outside the Odysseus Bookstore in downtown L. A.
But first the photo and scripture. When we left church Sunday night, I looked to my east and saw our church steeple set against the backdrop of the dark clouds. I immediately took the photo with my phone and loved the way it turned out. Then I read the scripture this morning and this is the result.
Now onto Romeo’s Town– James Scott Bell. Here’s the cover and back blurb:
L.A. is Romeo’s town. Keep off the lawn.
When 16-year-old Clint Cunningham is arrested for selling drugs at an elite private school, his mother hires lawyer Ira Rosen and Mike Romeo. It should be a simple case. But nothing is simple in lockdown Los Angeles—especially when people want you dead.
As Romeo digs deeper, the mystery grows darker. Who is pulling Clint Cunningham’s strings? Why won’t he talk? How high up does the drug dealing go?
Layer by layer and corner by corner, Romeo fights his way toward the answers—and a shattering revelation that turns his world upside down.
International Thriller Writers Award winner James Scott Bell delivers another knockout in the hit series that is “sharp as a switchblade!” (Meg Gardiner)
My Take on Romeo’s Town-James Bell:
The irreverent Mike Romeo is back! It’s been over a year since I’ve had the opportunity to visit with Romeo, and I missed him! This time he’s trying to balance the scales for a scared teenager caught selling drugs, but the teen won’t work with him or Romeo’s boss, Ira Rosen, a former Mossad intelligence agent.
Romeo keeps digging into the crime, only to have his beloved Mustang convertible (Spinoza) sabotaged. That makes him mad and he goes after the drug dealers with a vengeance even after a sniper tries to take him out and almost kills a police officer.
This book has enough twists, turns, and red herrings to satisfy the most die-hard mystery reader. I hope James Scott Bell doesn’t make us wait another year for the next Mike Romeo mystery! This is the sixth book in the Mike Romeo series. It’s a stand-alone, and if you haven’t read the other books in the series, you can find them here.
So, what are you reading this week? Grab it or the book nearest you and put the first line in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
Oh! And Johnnie Alexandar has graciously said she’d give away a copy of The Cryptographer’s Dilemma on my blog to one of last week’s commenters. And Random dot org chose Tim Johnson!
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Comments 42
Gracelynn Ferguson gripped the Model T’s window frame and leaned forward, breath caught in a suppressed gasp.
Not sure why that posted without this – taken from The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham.
Author
Hi Betti! Incorporating both comments…Pepper’s books sounds interesting!
Congratulations to Tim Johnson for winning a book!
I like that picture and verse. I enjoy taking pictures of lighthouses but have often thought of adding old country churches and church steeples to my favorites. After all, if the church is doing what it should be doing, it’s a lighthouse for the lost.
I finished reading a book around 12:45 AM and haven’t had time to choose my next book to read. It will probably be a first read of a Jody Hedlund book, but that’s downstairs on my laptop. I don’t have a first line to offer right now.
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Edward, I think there’s only one lighthouse in Mississippi…that’s why we had a lighthouse on our license plate once. lol I love lighthouses, and in fact snapped photos of one on my last cruise. I’ll have to find it and the perfect scripture just popped into my head! Thanks!
We have stopped in Biloxi coming back from College Station, TX. We spent the night at the Hampton Inn just out the street from the lighthouse and took pictures of it the next morning before we resumed our trip. I’m not sure I knew it was the only one in Mississippi.
Author
It’s been a minute since I’ve been to Biloxi, Edward! Such a pretty town before Katrina. I don’t think I’ve been back since right after the hurricane hit. But it is a pretty lighthouse!
We were there in January 2011. One of the employees at the Hampton Inn told me about the water flooding the first floor of the hotel. I agree it is a pretty lighthouse. Have you visited their website? They have a live feed from inside the lighthouse on the home page: https://biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info/museums/lighthouse/
Wonderful photo, Pat. Good pick for the accompanying Scripture. Thank you Johnnie for the copy of “The Cryptographer’s Dilemma” through Pat’s random drawing. As you know, I’ve already read it, but I will be happy to pass it along to an avid reader I know. It is a great read!
“Seated in the cockpit of his F-35 Shadow, Roger Green grew irritated at the premonition forcing its way into his thoughts. Not on the fighter’s control panel, but inside his mind, a red warning light kept flashing.” from Methuselah Project S.O.S. by Rick Barry. I’ve got to tell you, I can’t read this fast enough, but I don’t want it to end! At least I’ve still got a third of it to go.
congrats on winning Johnnie’s book! Her books are always wonderful!
My first line comes from Crossed Lines by Jennifer Delamere:
London, England. June 1881
Mitchell B. Harris, better known to readers of the Era as Our London Correspondent, leaned casually on the desk of John Munson, toying with his cane while Munson chuckled over what he was reading.
Been awhile since I read any of James Scott Bell’s books. I need to remedy that.
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That first line sounds intriguing, Paula! Yes! You need to remedy that now. lol I love JSB’s stories.
Great photo and scripture. We saw some really cool clouds after Fred passed earlier this week. My first line is from Since You’ve Been Gone by Tari Faris
“You can fail only so many times.”
Author
Gloria, I love looking at clouds! I guess that’s why I have so many photos of them. lol Love Tari’s first line. 🙂
From Cold Case Takedown by Jessica R. Patch–“Agent Colt McCoy had half a mind to turn his old Ford truck around right now, but he’d already come this far on Highway 8.
I just bought and have started reading The Cryptographer’s Dilemma. Thank you for your many book recommendations. I have read the Romeo series and look forward to reading the new one!
Author
If you’re a Romeo fan, Jody, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!
“Wake up, partner,” the voice rumbled in his ear as Connor Wolfe’s sleep-drugged mind struggled to keep up.
From Too Close To Home by Lynette Eason.
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That sounds so intriguing, Janeen! Thanks for stopping by.
Jeb’s Wife, by Patricia Johns
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Love Patricia’s books, MS Barb! Thanks for stopping by.
Cate stared at the scene around her, wishing her head would stop pounding. This is from “The Secrets We Left Behind” by Soraya M. Lane Thank you for sharing about the book you are reading, it sounds very intriguing and I love twists and turns in books.
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Alicia, that first line makes me want to read more! Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful photo, Patricia. I love every verse of Isaiah 40.
I’ve read the first five books in James Scott Bell’s Romeo series, and I’m excited that I’ll be reading number six soon. Mike Romeo is a great character.
Author
Me, too, Kay. One of my favorite Psalms…along with about 149 others lol. And I agree that Mike Romeo is a great character. Thanks for stopping by.
Madison James burned through the final sixty seconds of her workout on the stationary bike then released a slow breath. From The Chase by Lisa Harris. Beautiful picture! Romeo’s Town sounds really good.
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Love Lisa’s books, Erika! And this one sounds awesome. I’ve read The Escape and hope to get The Chase soon!
Grabbing the nearest book, which one of my daughters borrowed from the neighbor girl.
“We need enough fish for our supper, and for Uncle Olav’s family, too,” Mama told Kirsten and her hungry little brother Peter. “That’s fish for nine hungry people. Can you catch that many?” (Kirsten Saves the Day by Janet Shaw from the American Girls Collection)
Author
I’m so glad there are so many good children’s books now, Elizabeth. I think the only thing I had to read was the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew. lol I started reading adult books by the time I was ten. 🙂
I’ve been in a reading slump lately, picked up three books so far just to put them down within the first chapter. I finally started one last night that kept my interest (so far); it’s entitled “Emmeline” by Jennifer Moore (clean Regency romance). Here’s the first lines:
January 1819
Arthur Bremerton, Lord Mather, rapped his walking stick on the roof of the carriage. Punctuality was extremely important to him–almost more so than patience. Almost.
This might be a book & author my husband would enjoy! I’ll have to see if my library has his books.
Author
Here’s hoping you get out of your reading slump, Trixi! But there’s enough going on everywhere to make it hard to concentrate. Emmeline sounds like a good story!
The palace still shook occasionally as the earth rumbled In memory, groaned as if it would deny what had happened. Roby. Jordan, The Eye of the World.
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Sounds good. So glad you stopped by!
book sounds wonderful! I am reading Heidi McCahan’s An unexpected Arrangement! First line is : : It was offical; he was getting a puppy.
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I love that first line, Shelia!
Bell’s book sounds action-packed. My book at hand: Meredith_Brennan@stillwaters.com Talk about an oxymoron. Nothing about Meredith Brennan put a person in mind of still waters in any way, shape or form. Ruth Logan Herne A Family to Cherish
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I love that first line, Sally Jo!
Beautiful scripture and photo! Thank you for the book recommendation.
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Glad you enjoyed them, Caryl! Thanks for stopping by.
The sun seared my face, but I couldn’t steer my eyes away. The Egyptian Princess A Story of Hagar by K D Holmberg
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That first line sounds so intriguing, Lucy! I’ve always been captivated by Hagar’s story, especially since she was the first person in the Bible the Angel of the Lord appeared to.
Sounds like a great mystery series, thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Megan! Good to ‘see’ you.