Category: First Line Friday

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #356 | The Color of Home by Kit Tosello

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m quoting from The Color of Home by debut author Kit Tosello. I have no idea what to expect, but after reading the first line of the book description, I knew this was a book I wanted to read.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

I should have dialed back the melatonin in favor of chamomile tea years ago.

And that just confirms my first impression. I

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

 

About The Color of Home

Audrey Needham, Bay Area interior designer to the rich and pretentious, is down to her last nerve. Her boss is impossible to please, her future is in jeopardy, and her great-aunt Daisy needs support as her husband descends into Alzheimer’s.

When Daisy enlists Audrey’s help preparing for a move to assisted living, Audrey risks her career to return to the idyllic small town of Charity Falls, Oregon, the summer stomping grounds of her childhood. But Charity Falls was also the place that broke her heart when her father was killed in a tragic fire at the Sugar Pine Inn thirteen years ago.

Despite Audrey’s intent to avoid emotional entanglement, the pull of home is hard to resist. Something should be done about the deteriorating inn. A local girl with an incarcerated father needs a friend. And handsome local do-gooder Cade Carter is coloring Audrey all shades of uncertain.

Join award-winning writer and debut novelist Kit Tosello in this lyrical and often humorous exploration of how God redeems brokenness and draws us to the life we’re meant to find.

Find The Color of Home 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #355 | Lumen (Nightingale #2) by JJ Fischer

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Lumen, the second book in JJ Fischer’s Nightingale trilogy.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

It was early morning, and I stood on a beach of broken glass.

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

 

About Lumen

What if erasing the past cost more than you were willing to pay?

Having narrowly escaped their enemies, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass continue their search for the elusive Silvertongue, the only one with knowledge of the Reliquary’s whereabouts. But time is running out for Sephone, and with Dorian accused of high treason, the quest takes on a new urgency.

As secrets from each of their pasts drive a wedge between them, Sephone invests all her hopes in finding her homeland, Lethe—where her family may yet be alive. But nothing about Lethe is as she expects, and disappointment, betrayal, and danger await her at every turn.

When the truth about the Reliquary’s curse comes to light, the fragile bonds between the unlikely companions are tested like never before. Meanwhile, Dorian faces a terrible choice: to save the life of one who is beginning to mean more to him than the past he’s so desperate to forget, or to save his beloved Caldera from dangers outside and within.

Find Lumen 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #353 | Valerie Rose by Liz Chapman

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m quoting from Valerie Rose, from new-to-me author Liz Chapman.

(I found this book as part of the Aussie August promotion, and it’s currently on sale for 99 cents.)

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

In the summer twilight of a Sunday in February, Valerie Rose eased the sedan up the dirt road toward the crest of the hill.

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

 

About Valerie Rose

Sometimes searching for love is like waiting for the rain.

When single mum Valerie Rose arrives in Everlynn Valley in the middle of a drought, she doesn’t expect to be dousing a perfect stranger with her iced latte. Perfect, and off limits. As chaplain at her son’s new school, Owen is definitely… maybe?… surely not an appropriate dating choice… at all…

Owen Campbell has been stuck in a rut of people-pleasing and conflict suppression all his life. He’s too nice. But when the new kid, Kai, is picked on at school, it tugs at Owen’s inner child. Years of bullies getting away with bad behaviour stops now. What Owen doesn’t expect is for Kai’s mum, Valerie, to pull at his heart in a different way entirely.

Meanwhile, Nettie Jones, a prayer warrior and spiritual godmother to many, feels led by the Lord to cover Valerie and Owen in prayer. But will it be enough when disaster and devastation hit Everlynn Valley? Or will Valerie and Owen’s hope for the future be extinguished for good?

Find Valerie Rose online at:

Amazon | 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #352 | The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay. It’s not advertised as Christian fiction, but her first few novels were Christian romance so I’m hopeful.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

While seemingly complex, codes, ciphers, cryptograms, or whatever you choose to call them, are deceptively simple. Once you crack them.

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

About The Berlin Letters

From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II.

Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.

As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived, for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.

Find The Berlin Letters 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #351 | The Larkspur House by Carla Laureano

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Larkspur House, the third (and hopefully not final) book in Carla Laureano’s Haven Ridge series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

When Rose Cameron was young, she'd thought novels that began with the heroine metaphorically limping into town with all her posessions lacked in the back of her beat-up car were dramatic and romantic.

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

 

About The Larkspur House

Rose Cameron holds the record for bad decisions. Not only did she drop out of grad school to get married, but her husband wasn’t who he pretended to be—and his shady business dealings threatened both her reputation and her freedom.
With no job, no friends, and her bank account nearing zero, an online job posting offers a place to escape from her shattered life: house assistant in a historic manor in the tiny town of Haven Ridge, Colorado.
But the Larkspur House isn’t the refuge she expected. For one thing, it’s not just a house, but a derelict, honest-to-goodness American castle. For another, the co-inheritor of the house—the brusque, uptight Will Parker—makes no secret of his desire to see her gone.
He’s more interested in selling the place before it crumbles into the Colorado landscape or bankrupts the trust that maintains it.Just when Rose is convinced she’s made yet another terrible decision, she stumbles upon hidden secrets within Larkspur House’s storied history—ones that could bridge the gap between her and Will, making Haven Ridge her forever home.
But try as she might, Rose can’t escape her past…and her own secrets just might destroy the new life she’s begun building.

Find The Larkspur House 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #350 | Home Town Melody by Milla Holt

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Home Town Melody, the new release from Milla Holt, which has some of my favourite tropes: rock star romance, reunion romance, and secret baby.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

 

About Home Town Melody

Everything is at stake when a Christian recording artist learns he fathered a child during a one-night stand.

It was just one lapse in self-control, one poor decision, one night when he was in a dark place.

Since then, Levi Falconer has done his best to move past that almost-forgotten illicit encounter. No one knows what he did, and he and his brothers are bringing their contemporary Christian music band back together for a long-awaited reunion album. But he’s about to learn that his night of forbidden passion resulted in a little boy.

Highschool dropout Adria Baines got her real education from the school of hard knocks. After aging out of foster care, she’s no stranger to struggles. She planned on making her own way, even after a surprise pregnancy. But when she runs out of options, she realizes she’ll have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: get help from the father of her child.

Levi and Adria never should have met. But their lives are on a collision course once again as they learn how God can transpose the broken chords of their mistakes into a beautiful melody.

Find Home Town Melody 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #349 | Dead Ahead (Ruthless #1) by Susan J Bruce

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Dead Ahead by Australian author Susan J Bruce, which is the first book in her new mystery-meets-rom com series, Ruthless the Killer.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

It’s never easy to make a fresh start with a reputation like mine, especially when you believe your own bad press.

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

 

About Dead Ahead

A deliciously twisty Aussie cozy mystery with a side of rom-com!

Ruth is desperate for a fresh start, but a body in her shed, an inconvenient romantic attraction, and a secret childhood reputation as a ‘harbinger of death’ get in the way.

As they do…

Murder and mayhem mingle with matters of the heart as Ruth soon discovers the town holds buried secrets and scandals—some of which may even involve her own late father.

But when a close friend goes missing, and the police fear the worst, all Ruth can think about is unravelling the mystery and finding her friend.

Can Ruth solve the crime in time to save her friend? Will she succeed or will bad luck be the death of her?

Dead Ahead has slow-burn romance, heaps of heart, murder and mayhem, small town vibes, friends who care, a grumpy cat and a mysterious meta plot. The final HEA of the romantic subplot will be at the end of the series—but there will be lots of fun in-between.

Find Dead Ahead 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #348 | Imminent Danger by Tara Grace Ericson

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m reading Imminent Danger, a romantic suspense novel by Tara Grace Ericson. I used to read a lot of romantic suspense, but this is the first I’ve read in a while.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

 

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

Kaylie was always afraid, but she'd never quit running.

About Imminent Danger

He’s desperate to protect this single mom and her daughter, but what if he’s putting them at an even bigger risk?

Kaylie Richards will do anything to protect and provide for her daughter. Which is why she works herself to the bone cleaning houses during the day and writing late into the evening. She doesn’t know anything about the mysterious single man she cleans for. But it wouldn’t matter, anyway. He’s just another client and she can’t afford anyone getting too close.

Anthony (Tank) Olson knows he’s not a warm and cuddly guy. Most people steer clear when they see him. So when Kaylie and her adorable toddler crash into his orbit, Tank keeps expecting them to run. Instead, he finds himself wrapped around the little girl’s finger and longing to win the approval of her mother.

When Kaylie’s past finds her, she runs to the only place she can think of–the safety of a giant of a man she knows instinctively can protect her family.

Tank steps in without a second thought, but will the dangers of his own work bring more risk to the ladies who have quickly taken up residence in his heart?

Find Imminent Danger 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #347 | Sure About You by Jaycee Weaver

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Sure About You by Jaycee Weaver, a Christian rom-com I recently downloaded free on Kindle.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Eyes closed with my head resting against my hands, I inhale the crisp fragrance of spring on the unseasonably cool night air, fresh after a late spring rain.

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

 

About Sure About You

She’d had her future perfectly planned. Now? She’s not so sure.

Isley:

Three things I love—quality food, eighties rom coms, and my custom-made planner.

Three things I loathe—internet trolls, traveling, and Walter Paxton.

Anita runs our online news site DFW Daily, and she’s dangling my dream job like the proverbial carrot. Now my weekend getaway to finally meet my online almost-maybe-sort of-boyfriend in LA has become a work trip with the man who irritates me most. So why do I find myself relying on him with every bump in the road (literally and metaphorically)? And why does he smell like a moonlit forest waterfall? Before this trip, my life was all planned out, but now I’m not so sure.

Pax:

Three things I love—stargazing, coffee, and pushing Isley’s buttons.

There’s no point in talking about dislikes. It’s more fun to take things in stride and enjoy all that life has to offer. Do I want Isley for a babysitter on this trip? Of course not. Though needling her is almost as fun as rescuing her. There’s plenty of both when nothing on this road trip goes according to her perfect plans. I’m in the driver’s seat, but she’s the one driving me crazy. Only I’m not so sure it’s in a bad way.

A shorter version of this book previously appeared in The 80s Rom-Com Club collection with books from Betsy St. Amant, Teresa Tysinger, Mikal Dawn, Bell Renshaw, and Jennifer Rodewald featuring contemporary twists on classic 80s movies. This newly expanded edition has been fully rewritten with significant changes and is about 30% longer than its predecessor.

As with all of Jaycee’s books, you can expect plenty of faith-friendly chemistry, banter, and kisses with no spice.

Find Sure About You 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!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #346 | The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m currently reading The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni, the second book in her Moonberry Lake series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

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

About The Blooming of Delphinium

As far as hidden talents go, Delphinium Hayes is blessed with one of the more unique ones. With the slightest passing whiff, she knows someone’s most admirable or weediest characteristic. This peculiar perception never fails to give her an advantage in life–until she meets two men who turn her world upside down.

Mason McCormack has agreed to help her with a group of seniors who have taken over her flower shop as their hangout. But his assistance is not without its price, and Delphinium agrees to compensate him with beautiful bouquets that seem to possess a bit of dating magic.

Elliot Sturgis, director of The Gardens Assisted Living Facility, is determined to discover why a group of his residents keeps sneaking over to Delphinium’s shop to play poker in the walk-in refrigerator. He soon finds himself as enchanted by Delphinium as everyone else. But his devotion to following the rules and maintaining order does not endear him to the shop’s owner.

Sparks fly as opposites attract and love finds a match in Delphinium’s Flora Emporium–even for those who resist it the most.

Find The Blooming of Delphinium 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!