First Line Friday

First Line Friday #326 | The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m reading an advance copy of the next book in Nicole Deese’s Fog Harbor series, The Roads We Follow. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

I breathe in the fresh dopamine hit of a dark roast brewing somewhere behind the coffee shop's counter and remind myself that turning off my GSP location from the family tracking app is not one of the seven deadly sins.

If that appeals to you, then you might also be interested in the first book in the series. The Words We Lost is currently on sale on Amazon for $1.99 for the Kindle version.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About The Roads We Follow

Cover image: The Roads We Follow by Nicole DeeseAs the youngest daughter of a country music legend, Raegan Farrow longs to establish an identity away from the spotlight and publish her small-town romances under a pen name. But after her dream is dashed when she won’t exploit her mother’s fame to further her own career, she hears a rumor from a reliable source regarding a tell-all being written about the Farrow family. Making matters worse, the unknown author has gone to great lengths to remain anonymous until publication.

Raegan chooses to keep the tell-all a secret from her scandal-leery sisters as they embark on a two-week, cross-country road trip at their mother’s request and makes it her mission to expose the identity of the author behind the unsanctioned biography. But all is complicated when she discovers their hired bus driver, Micah Davenport, has a hidden agenda of his own–one involving both of their mothers and an old box of journals. As they rely on each other to find the answers they seek, the surprising revelations they unearth will steer them toward their undeniable connection and may even lead them down the most unexpected of paths.

Find The Roads We Follow online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Have you read any novels where a character plays a sport?

Bookish Question #318 | Have you read any novels where the character plays a sport?

by Iola Goulton

I’ve read lots of novels where one or more of the characters play sport, often informally. For example, many of the characters in the Trinity Lakes Romance series play in the town’s annual Aussie Rules football game.

I’ve also read and enjoyed a fair few novels where one or both of the main characters are professional sportspeople.

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce is an excellent novella featuring a professional Aussie Rules player and a female referee. I’ve read this one multiple times, and it’s a lot of fun.

Several novels in Susan May Warren’s Christiansen Family series features pro sportsmen, including It Had to Be You, When I Fall In Love, and You’re The One That I Want.

But the Christian author who first comes to mind when I think about sports romance is Carolyn Miller. Her Original Six series each follows a professional ice hockey player in one of the “original six” professional teams, and she is now following this up with the Northwest Ice series. I’ve read all the Original Six (my favourite was Big Apple Atonement), and now I’m working my way through the Northwest Ice series.

What about you? Have you read any novels where a character plays a sport?

When you go undercover, the line between what is real and what is acting can blur. Neither of you can allow that to happen.

Book Review | Rocky Road (Sons of Scandal #2) by Becky Wade

by Iola Goulton

Rocky Road has one of the best boy-meets-girl scenes I’ve read. It’s the perfect rom-com introduction—unique, not cringey, and the perfect introduction to both characters: the staid and responsible Jude Camden, and the outgoing and impulsive (but secretly equally responsible) Gemma Clare.

Jude studied law before deciding he wanted to track down the bad guys, not defend them.

He’s now an FBI agent, and his new assignment has him working undercover with Gemma to collect evidence against her cousin, Cedric.

Gemma blames Cedric for her father ending up in jail, not least because Cedric is still walking free despite being the brains behind her father’s crimes. So she’s more than happy to post as Jude’s girlfriend to get him close to Cedric if that means Cedric will face the consequences of his actions.

Of course, the one rule of undercover work is that the couple aren’t to form any kind of attachment. Jude doesn’t think this will be a problem—he’s never met a rule he can’t follow. Gemma is not so sure … and that’s going to ruffle Jude’s calm demeanor.

One of the things Becky Wade is famous for is the banter between her characters, and Rocky Road is full of banter. Gemma and Jude were perfect opposites and that meant they were each the perfect foil for the other … which leads to lots of wonderful banter. But there’s also some serious points, especially when it comes to matters of faith.

I appreciated the way Becky Wade crossed the boundary from fun to faith without it seeming forced.

I was about a third of the way through the story before I realised the connection between this story and Memory Lane, the first in Becky Wade’s Sons of Scandal series. For those who read and enjoyed Memory Lane, we get enough of Jeremiah and Remy to keep us interested, as well as more of an introduction to Max, the third Camden son… who is clearly being positioned to be the hero of the next book. I can’t wait.

Recommended for contemporary Christian romance fans, especially those who like an element of rom com and suspense.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Becky Wade

Author Photo Becky WadeBecky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of heartwarming, humorous, and swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

These days, you’ll find Becky in Dallas, Texas failing to keep up with her housework, trying her best in yoga class, carting her three kids around town, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniel on her lap, hunched over her computer writing, or eating chocolate.

You can find Becky Wade online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About Rocky Road

Cover image - Rocky Road by Becky WadeFBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Find Rocky Road online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #325 | Over the Rainbow (Trinity Lakes #8) by Meredith Resce

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from the next book in the Trinity Lakes contemporary Christian romance series, Over the Rainbow by Meredith Resce.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Arianne Rayne inhaled a deep breath of determination. This was going to be hard.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Over the Rainbow

Cover image - Over the Rainbow by Meredith ResceWhat a difference a year makes.

Last year, Arianne Rayne was playing college basketball and looking forward to a permanent future with her boyfriend.

This year, she is learning to live with disability.

After walking away from an accident he’d caused by reckless driving, her boyfriend walked away from her. The uncertainty of how life would look now that she had lost mobility was enough for him to break the relationship, and her heart.

Coming to Trinity Lakes to live with her stable, unflappable grandparents is hope for a new beginning and a chance to heal her heart. Away from her parents’ cloistered, cotton-wool approach, she hopes to learn how to live independently with the help of physiotherapist and trainers at the local gym.

Until she meets Matthew Kennedy. He might be buff and good looking, but he has no idea about how to relate to someone living with disability. He’s eligible, and he is certainly accessible, given he is one of her personal trainers, but will he ever see beyond her wheelchair? Arianne’s heart tells her it’s unlikely.

Until she is stranded, and Matthew is her only hope of getting home.

Find Over the Rainbow online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

What's the most unusual occupation you've read in a novel?

Bookish Question #317 | What’s the most unusual occupation you’ve read in a novel?

by Iola Goulton

Christian fiction genres seem to focus on similar occupations depending on the genre. Just like in real life, lots of characters (especially heroines) work in diners or restaurants, or own their own small business selling ice cream or cup cakes or books (I’m sure there are more fictional bookshops than there are real-life counterparts). There are also plenty of teachers, B&B owners, farmers, and ranchers.

Romantic suspense novels inevitably feature characters employed in law enforcement, either local police or one of the USA’s many three-letter agencies (CIA, FBI, NSA etc.) The heroes will often be ex-military. Other characters are lawyers, a necessary part of the legal process.

Sub-genres will have their own familiar occupations. Rock star romances feature rock stars (or country music stars or similar). Billionaire romances usually feature IT geeks (or some other occupation where it feels reasonable that a young person—usually male—has achieved billionaire status before they reach marriageable age, and didn’t inherit that stack of cash). Sports romances feature pro sportspeople (again, there are more pro footballers and hockey players in fiction than in real life). Cowboy romances feature (wait for it!) cowboys, with the occasional cowgirl (although the heroines are more often the ranch cook or nanny).

What we don’t see as often are more mundane occupations such as accountant (and when I do read novels with accountants, they tend not to be the hero or heroine). But that’s not really an unusual occupation in real life. It’s just not one we see in fiction.

So what is unusual?

One that springs to mind is the Bug Man series of novels by Tim Downs.

These feature a forensic entomologist—someone who helps solve crimes by looking at the insect and bug life (for example, using the size of the maggots to determine how long since the victim was murdered). It’s fascinating, if somewhat creepy. The character makes The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper look like a well-rounded person, which makes for interesting reading and some embarrassing moments. In hindsight, he is probably neuro-divergent.

The other author I think of who often features less common occupations is Elizabeth Camden, who writes Christian historical romance.

The Gilded Lady featured Caroline Delacroix as the secretary to the First Lady. A Daring Venture features Dr Rosalind Werner as a biochemist (in 1908). Kate Livingston is a government statistician (In Every Breath). Natalia Blackstone is a financial analyst (Written on the Wind). Some of these occupations aren’t so unusual today, but they were very unusual occupations for women a century ago.

What about you? What’s the most unusual occupation you’ve read in a novel?

 

No one knew better than Giovanni Rinaldi that it was possible to switch courses in life. It wasn’t easy, but it was possible.

Book Review | While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden

by Iola Goulton

For the last two years, New York Police Department Lieutenant Jonathan Birch has been escorting dentist Dr. Katherine Schnieder to the nearest subway station when her shift ends at midnight, even though that isn’t part of his official duties. Katherine would like to take the relationship further but has no idea how Lt. Birch feels.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is something undeniably attractive about a man who can cook.

Give him the ability to bake flawless focaccia or chocolate biscotti and … well, I’m sold on Jonathan and can see why Katherine is so taken with him. Meanwhile, she enjoys her work as a dentist, treating those who would not be able to afford care from New York’s more mainstream dentists. Their personal and professional lives coincide when Katherine realises one of her recent late-night patients might have been involved in a bomb attack, so she contacts Jonathan … an action which has consequences.

One of the things I like most about Elizabeth Camden’s novels is her ability to create intelligent female characters and place them in a story in a way that feels both progressive and entirely natural. Dentist Dr. Katherine Schneider is no exception. But the novel isn’t all about dentistry (great news for the squeamish). It’s more a historical romantic suspense that takes two not-quite-ordinary people and gives them a gripping story.

If I had to find fault with While the City Sleeps, it would be that Nonna’s secret recipe for chocolate biscoti remains a secret …

One of the things I like best about historical fiction is the opportunity to learn something new—like the fact Dr. Edgar Parker really did legally change his given name to “Painless” in order to win a lawsuit. Dr. Parker was decades ahead of his time in hiring dentist who reflected the diversity of his customer base—including female and Black dentists. I also appreciated the way he kept his prices affordable (because everyone deserves decent dental care), and kept his clinics open beyond  the normal nine-to-five to give working people the chance to receive treatment.

I didn’t especially enjoy Elizabeth Camden’s last series (I didn’t even read the final book), but While the City Sleeps takes us back to what I most like about her work: her ability to weave a fascinating novel around real-life history, and to inject that with a strong yet understated Christian element.

Recommended for fans of Christian historical fiction, especially those featuring women in non-traditional occupations.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.

Find Elizabeth Camden online at:

Website | Facebook

About While the City Sleeps

Cover image - While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth CamdenAmid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.

Katherine Schneider’s life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar.

Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps his deepest secrets hidden at all costs.

Find While the City Sleeps online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

 

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #324 | While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Camden’s novels—I love the way she can weave real-life history and a solid Christian arc into her stories and make them unputdownable. While the City Sleeps is the first in her new Women of Midtown series, set in 1913 New York. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

People were rarely in a good mood while in a dentist’s chair, but Dr. Katherine Schneider’s patient was singing.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About While the City Sleeps

Cover image - While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth CamdenAmid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.

Katherine Schneider’s life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar.

Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps his deepest secrets hidden at all costs.

Find While the City Sleeps online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

What's the most heartwarming book you've read recently?

Bookish Question #316 | What’s the most heartwarming book you’ve read recently?

by Iola Goulton

Heartwarming? While I read a lot of romance, which is often considered a heartwarming genre, I don’t think all romances are actually heartwarming in that while I can cheer for the characters, they generally don’t incite my sympathy.

Heartwarming: inciting a sympathetic feeling, cheerful

However, I can think of a few.

Over the Rainbow (Trinity Lakes 8) by Meredith Resce

Over the Rainbow is the next release in the Trinity Lakes multi-author series I’m part of. In this story, Arianne Rayne has relocated to Trinity Lakes to rebuild her life after being paralysed in a car accident. It’s a heartwarming romance that deals with some tough questions around life, love, and God’s healing power in our lives.

Over the Rainbow releases on 21 February 2024.

The Roads We Follow (Fog Harbor 2) by Nicole Deese

I’ve just finished an advance copy of The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese, which should probably be classified as Christian women’s fiction with romantic elements.

It’s in first person from two points of view (Raegan and Micah), which give the impression it’s a romance. But it’s a story of search for identity: Micah is searching for the identity of his biological father, and Raegan is searching for her identity as an individual, not as the daughter of country music megastar Luella Farrow. It’s a heartwarming (ha!) romance that shares some deep truths about life.

The Roads We Follow releases on 30 April 2024.

Leaving Oxford (Southern Hearts #1) by Janet W Ferguson

I reread this series towards the end of 2023. While all four books qualify as heartwarming for different reasons, Leaving Oxford was the standout title for me. it’s the story of a woman facing panic attacks whenever she tries to leave her small hometown, and her growing relationship with the local football coach. They’re an unlikely couple, but Janet Ferguson makes it work.

Find Leaving Oxford (and the rest of the Southern Heart series) at Amazon.

What about you? What’s the most heartwarming book you’ve read recently?

What's teh last book you readd that made you cry? The first book I can remember reading that made me cry was Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, which I read in around 1981 (so only a few years after it was published). Anyone who has read the book (or seen one of the movie adaptations) will know why I cried. The last book that made me cry was Carry Me Home by Dorothy Adamek, where I cried for a similar reason ... but won'tsay any more because of #spoilers. But that's a few years ago now. I do have to admit that I don't consciously seek out books that will make me cry. I prefer books that make me laugh or feel good ... which is why I favour romance (with the occasional segue into romantic suspense, rom com, or women's fiction). What about you? What's the last book you read that made you cry?

Bookish Question #315 | What’s the last book you read that made you cry?

by Iola Goulton

The first book I can remember reading that made me cry was Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, which I read in around 1981 (so only a few years after it was published). Anyone who has read the book (or seen one of the movie adaptations) will know why I cried.

The last book that made me cry was Carry Me Home by Dorothy Adamek, where I cried for a similar reason … but won’t say any more because of #spoilers.

But that’s a few years ago now.

I have to admit that I don’t consciously seek out books that will make me cry. If I wanted to cry, I can watch the news.

I read for entertainment, so prefer books that make me laugh or feel good … which is why I favour romance with the occasional segue into romantic suspense, rom com, or women’s fiction.

What about you? What’s the last book you read that made you cry?

Have you ever completed a "read the Bible in a year" challenge?

Bookish Question #313 | Have you ever completed a “read the Bible in a year” challenge?

by Iola Goulton

Yes!

I have completed several challenges in different formats:

One year, I joined with a few friends online to read the Bible using A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a year by Diane M Stortz. This has six weekly readings, a short reading explaining the events of the week’s readings, and three questions to answer. Our small group then had a virtual meeting using Facebook where we answered the questions. It was a great way to get to know people better, and I’m sure it would be even better in person.

Another year, I used The Bible plan from The Bible Project on the YouVersion app (which allows users to choose which version of the Bible they read). Each day had a devotional, a reading, and a space for users to add a personal note. There were also videos to introduce different books of the Bible. I did this challenge as part of a group as well, and found it encouraging to read the comments from the other participants.

Those plans both worked through the whole Bible from start to finish, with occasional “interruptions” to cover Psalms and Proverbs.

I’ve also used a chronological plan, which goes through the Biblical story in chronological order e.g. so Job comes in the middle of Genesis.

I’ve also completed The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Coble, which is available as both a daily podcast and as a book.

I’ve also tried plans that have an Old Testament and New Testament reading each day, as well as a chapter from Psalms or Proverbs, and I find those feel a little disjointed in comparison. I don’t mind a Psalm as part of the daily readings, but I prefer to read one book at a time, rather than jumping from Genesis to Matthew to Psalms and back again.

In 2023, I took a new approach.

I decided I wanted to listen to the Bible readings using a daily podcast. I sampled several different podcasts before settling on The Bible in a Year (with Father Mike Schmitz) from Ascension Ministries. This was a chronological plan based on the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. It used the Catholic Bible, which introduced me to some new books and stories. What I particularly liked about this plan was that it interrupted the chronological timeline three times to bring in one of the gospels, which had the added advantage of not then reading (or listening to) all four gospels back to back.

This year, I’m taking a new challenge: Mary De Muth’s 90-Day Bible Challenge.

I have to say that while there is a time commitment to reading Genesis in four days (instead of the more common two-plus weeks), it does give a different perspective, one that I’m enjoying. Reading longer portions enables me to keep the whole story in mind, to make connections and ask questions.

I have tried to use a different version of the Bible for each challenge.

Reading a new version can bring a new awareness to what might otherwise be a familiar verse or chapter.

I’ve read the new International Version and New King James Version in full, listened to the Revised Standard Version (Second Catholic Edition), and am currently reading the English Standard version.

What about you? Have you ever completed a “Bible in a year” challenge? What did you think?