Tag: 2024 Release

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!

Inhale: Irrational things are happening. Exhale: But that does not mean I’m irrational

Book Review | Between You and Us by Kendra Broekhuis

Loren meets her husband for a fancy dinner to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, but something weird happens when she walks into the restaurant. Instead of meeting her husband, she meets his doppelganger—an alternative David who wears fancy suits and drives a fancy car. When he drivers her home, she finds they live in a fancy house, he works for his parents … and their daughter is still alive.

This isn’t a completely original concept in Christian fiction.

I remember reading a  Christian novel sometime in the 1990s where the main character was living two different lives concurrently. Not long after, the movie Sliding Doors was released, which had a similar concept.

Between You and Us is similar but different. Loren is only living one life at a time—the story she remembers David #1, and the story she’s been inserted into with David #2.

Science fiction fans might recognise this as the multiverse, popularised by franchises such as Marvel and Star Trek.

(I’m not even sure how the concept of the multiverse fits with Christianity. Do all universes converge at the crucifixion so Jesus dies once for everyone? Or are there infinite versions of Jesus dying in infinite worlds? I think it’s easier to believe in one world, one Jesus, and one crucifixion.)

Between You and Us is classified as magical realism, in that it is set in contemporary Milwaukee but with magical elements added—the switched bodies.

The story is published as Christian fiction, but doesn’t have any noticeable Christian element—there is nothing to suggest the main characters have any kind of faith, and the only time they go to church is for a funeral. But there is also no bad language, or on-the-page sex, or violence.

The plot was woven well, with a nice twist at the very end. The writing was solid and placed the focus of the novel squarely on Loren as the narrator.

Loren had a difficult upbringing. Her mother was a piece of work, and her father found his refuge in alcohol. Life changed when she met David, and we see the story of their meeting, courtship, and marriage. She is a relatable character, with a tendency to show the worst of herself.

David is a more likeable character, as far as we can see him, which is only ever through Loren’s eyes. That has positives and negatives, as Loren doesn’t always think rationally when it comes to David, and David never sees the truth of her relationship with his mother.

I don’t actually know what I think about Between You and Us.

Loren annoyed me at times, but I have to admire her strength in staying true to herself and not allowing herself to be dragged down to Delancy’s level. I found David’s inability to stand up to his parents frustrating but relatable. Even so, I admired his love for his wife and his daughter, and for the fact he hadn’t allowed himself to become a mini-me of his mother.

If you’re looking for a quick, formulaic read, then Between  You and Us isn’t going to suit. But if you’re looking for an original debut novel that will keep you on your toes, check it out.

Thanks to WaterBrook and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Kendra Broekhuis

Kendra BroekhuisKendra Broekhuis is an author who lives in the city of Milwaukee. For her day job, she stays home with four of her children and drives them from one place to another in her minivan. She’s written, spoken, and created non-fiction content for over a decade, and now is excited to be publishing two novels with WaterBrook, the first of which debuted in March 2024. You can find most of her sarcastic ramblings and serious encouragement—including the grief of losing a baby at 33 weeks pregnant—in her newsletter and on social media.

Find Kendra Broekhuis online at:

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About Between You and Us

Two possible lives to live. One impossible choice to make.

Between You and UsWhen Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived.

Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love?

Find Between You and Us online at:

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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!

You have to find the things that fulfil you. Energize you. No matter what life you make for yourself, find some margin for those kinds of things.

Book Review | The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

The Summer of Yes is the first book I’ve read in a long time that I finished then immediately re-read (okay, so I started from around a third of the way through the second time, but still.)

The story starts in New York City, where assistant editor Kelsey has woken up in hospital two days after being hit by a car. She’s immediately worried that she’s missing an important meeting at work …

Her hospital roommate is Georgina Tate, a famous businesswoman and founder of a cosmetics empire.

The entire story is told in first person point of view–Kelsey’s story and  Georgina’s story.

I found that a little confusing at first, because I missed the first time the story switched from Kelsey to Georgian (despite the big chapter heading). But once I got used to the two points of view, it wasn’t an issue.

The first part of the story had a women’s fiction feel, given Kelsey’s career revelation, the two female points of view, and the use of first person. The second half had more of a romance feel, thanks to the introduction of a single man who was simultaneously every Hallmark cliche and a unique and well-rounded character.

While the story isn’t overtly Christian (there are a handful of mentions of God), it’s an inspiring call to reconsider our priorities, and to not say “no” (or “yes”) to everything.

Recommended for contemporary Christian romance readers, especially those who can’t say no.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About the Author

Courtney WalshCourtney Walsh is a novelist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes small town romance and women’s fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns with her husband. She is the author of thirteen novels. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist. Her novel Just Let Go won the Carol in 2019, and three of her novels have also been Christy-award finalists. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written three craft books and several musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.

Find Courtney Walsh online at …

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads

About The Summer of Yes

Sometimes you’re so busy writing other people’s stories that you can lose the plot of your own.

This wasn’t how Kelsey Worthington’s day was supposed to go. She wasn’t supposed to be picking up Starbucks for her smarmy boss. She wasn’t supposed to get hit by a car that jumped the curb. And she certainly wasn’t supposed to wake up in a hospital room next to Georgina Tate—the legendary matriarch of New York City businesswomen.

Kelsey and Georgina couldn’t be more opposite. Kelsey’s a dreamer, a writer who questions her own skill. And Georgina is a confident businesswoman whose years of shouldering her way into boardrooms and making her voice heard have made her far too outspoken for the faint of heart.

But now, when Georgina’s failing kidneys force her to face some big regrets about the way she’s lived her life, the two women recognize they share a common thread. Maybe it’s time to confront a few things. They must ask themselves: What if I said yes to everything I’ve always said no to?

With Georgina as her companion, Kelsey soon finds herself doing things she’s never done before. Eating street food. Swimming in the ocean. Matchmaking for Georgina with the help of Georgina’s handsome son. And writing her own romance—both in book form and in real life.

So begins the Summer of Yes.

Find The Summer of Yes online at:

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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 #344 | Second Chance Sunset by Ellie Hall

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 Second Chance Sunset by new-to-me author Ellie Hall, which is currently free on Kindle. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

It's a tale as old as time - girl does well in school, gets into college on a scholarship, and now waits tables to help - never mind.

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

 

About Second Chance Sunset

They say true love only happens once in a lifetime. But what about a second chance with your first love?

Navy

College. Wait tables. Hospital. Repeat…until a customer with a smoldering smirk makes an offer I have to refuse…well, until I face cold, hard reality.

If I marry him so he can get his green card, I’ll be able to pay the bills. The only problem is, I was in love with him once before.

Cooper

I’ve heard all it takes is one look. Try two. When I see the sassy sweetheart of a waitress, I do a double take. Newsflash, she’s off-limits.

They say money can’t buy happiness…or a green card. However, it can buy a quick marriage of convenience. But that will cost me, especially since we have a past that I have to keep secret.

Find Second Chance Sunset 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!

He’d gone to the other side of the world and ended up in a place that forever reminded him of all the things he’d lost.

Book Review | Darkness Calls the Tiger by Janyre Tromp

Darkness Calls the Tiger is set in Burma (now Myanmar) during World War Two. It’s set in a small Christian mission in the Kachin mountains, which is close to the borders of both China and India.

Kailyn Moran has grown up in Burma’s Kachin mountains, surviving the loss of her mother and the alienation of her missionary father. The arrival of a new missionary, teacher Ryan McDonough, changes her life as war approaches.

The first part of the book takes place before the war reaches the village. Parts of this are a hard read, but it’s a fascinating insight into a foreign culture and into a character who’s unlike any I’ve read in Christian fiction before.

There were two things that bugged me about the story. The first was Kailyn’s nickname: “kai” is food in Maori (and it’s water or sea in Hawaiian). It’s a word I see often, and that was a distraction.

The other thing that bugged me was Kai’s father. While I didn’t doubt his dedication to God or to his mission, I do think his critical attitude and behaviour weren’t likely to be effective in bringing the villagers to Jesus, which made Ryan’s role doubly difficult.

But they are minor complaints in comparison to the overall story which had so many plusses: great characters, unpredictable plot, fascinating and unique location, and a deep Christian message.

Author Janyre Tromp must have undertaken a huge amount of research in order to even conceive this novel, let alone write it. Her words take the reader to the far-off mountains of Burma, yet the focus of the novels is always on the story—on Kai and Ryan, on the village and the war. That’s a true achievement.

This is not the book to pick up if you want a quick and entertaining binge-read. It’s got a lot of depth, will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book, and will certainly benefit from a re-read.

Recommended for historical fiction fans, or for those looking for something a little deeper than the norm.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Janyre Tromp

Janyre TrompJanyre Tromp is a developmental book editor who has worked in the publishing industry for more than twenty years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and contributor to It’s a Wonderful Christmas, a Christmas novella collection with other award-winning authors, including Julie Cantrell and Lynne Gentry. When she isn’t writing, she’s a Bible study leader, writers conference speaker, ACFW member, wife, and mom of two kids and their menagerie of slightly eccentric pets.

Find Janyre Tromp online at:

Website

About Darkness Calls the Tiger

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan devours the southern portion of Burma, intent on taking over mainland Asia. Unaware of the coming darkness, Kailyn Moran drifts in her role as the only daughter of a widowed missionary. As whispers of war snake through the Kachin mountains, Kai’s father is convinced God will protect the mission. He entrusts the village to her and the kind yet inexperienced new missionary, Ryan McDonough, while he makes routine visits to neighboring villages.

War descends like a tempest upon the mountain peaks, and an unbreakable bond forms between Kailyn and Ryan as they unite to provide solace to both villagers and the flood of refugees. Despite their tireless efforts, a brutal enemy shatters almost everything they love, pushing Kailyn to embark on a path of unrestrained vengeance.

Afraid he’s losing the woman he loves, Ryan fights to protect Kai from the deadly consequences of her choices. But in the face of destruction, can he convince her of the power and freedom of forgiveness?

Find Darkess Calls the Tiger online at:

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

Bookish Question #336 | What is the most recent book you read in a single day?

Because of You by Australian author Hannah Currie, which I recently reviewed (click here to read my review).

It’s an enjoyable story of a teenage girl who goes to Thailand on a short-term missions trip, and what she learns about herself and God during the trip. Some of the scenes are based on Hannah’s own mission trip to Thailand, and I particularly enjoyed those scenes.

I hadn’t planned to read the whole book in a single day (do we ever?), but I found it hard to put down.

What about you? What’s the most recent book you’ve read in a single day?

 

Book Review | Her Part to Play by Jenny Erlingsson

Adanne (pronounced Ah-dah-neh) is working as a makeup artist in Hope Springs, Alabama in between running the cash-strapped local community center and visiting her nephew, who is in hospital with cancer. She’s a little too good to be true on the outside, but insecure on the inside … which makes her relatable.

Giovanni Pomponio, better known as John Pope, is a Hollywood leading man who has recently returned to his childhood Christian faith … which raises some obvious challenges.

Her Part to Play is Jenny Erlingsson’s debut novel. While some elements of the plot are somewhat predictable (particularly given the overly wordy subtitle), I did enjoy the way she brought it all together into a faith-filled romance.

After all, I do love a Christian romance where the faith aspect is central.

Hope Springs is a fabulous small-town Southern setting, the kind of town many of us would like to live in—a town where people care about each other. I enjoyed “meeting” Adanne and the other residents of Hope Springs.

Jenny Erlingsson is an Alabama-born Christian writer of Nigerian descent who now lives in Iceland. Her heritage comes through in her writing, which is great to see. Her writing is strong, and I’d love to read a Christian romance set in Iceland!

Recommended for fans of small-town contemporary Christian romance featuring BIPOC and film star characters.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Jenny Erlingsson

Jenny ErlingssonJenny Erlingsson is an author and speaker of Nigerian descent. After 12 years working in junior high and women’s ministry, she moved with her family from Alabama to Iceland. When she’s not running after her four kids or ministering alongside her husband, she can be found writing romantic fiction and creative nonfiction to inspire deep faith in diverse settings, as well as encouraging other writers. Her other writings have been featured on (in)courage, Live Original, Velvet Ashes, and more. And in the margins, you might find her reading five books at a time with a side of Icelandic chocolate.

Find Jenny Erlingsson online at:

Website | BookBub | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

About A Part to Play

Her Part to Play by Jenny ErlingssonDesperate for extra income after her mother’s passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She’s working to save her parents’ legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.

John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he’s ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set–and definitely not a fan.

Sparks of tension–and could that be attraction?–fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John’s scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what’s right in front of them?

Debut author Jenny Erlingsson’s diverse cast comes alive with faith, romance, and a touch of humor to create a story worthy of the big screen.

Find A Part to Play online at:

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In everything I do, I hear God. It turns out He's been here all along. But I was too busy trying to control my life to notice.

Book Review | The Grump who Doesn’t Belong Next Door by Emily Dana Botrous

Single mother Lottie (Charlotte) Alden is at home in the tiny town of Red Rock Place, Iowa. She’s happy being a farm girl, and happy to be raising her daughter alone in their rural paradise. But she’s a single woman surrounded by matchmaking mamas in a romance novel, so it’s pretty obvious she’s not going to be alone for long.

Lawyer Anthony Lucio is the cliché city man, in that he arrives in Red Rock Place without any farm-appropriate clothing or footwear. He’s also not a fan of rural smells (oops). I’m generally not a fan of the fish-out-of-water trope, especially when the fish-out-of-water is clearly unprepared for (usually) rural life. However, that’s normally the (often silly) heroine, so it’s a refreshing change for the man to be the simpering city dweller.

To Anthony’s credit, he can cook, thanks to a father who was a chef, and he’s not arrogant. He just prefers to live in the city (despite never having lived in a small town). And (almost predictably) he wants to get back to the city and get his impending promotion.

As suggested by the title, The Grump Who Doesn’t Belong Next Door is a grumpy-sunshine rom-com (and no prizes for guessing who is the grump and who is the sunshine). Grumpy sunshine isn’t my favourite trope, and this is not my favourite Emily Dana Botrous novel. (I think that is a toss-up between With Love, Melody and With All My Heart, Joy).

First person gives the novel a different tone. It does bring the reader closer to the point of view of the character telling the story, and I like that (well, as long as I like that character. There have been exceptions …) But one downside of first person is that it often means we only get that single point of view. Fortunately, we get both viewpoints in this novel. First person present tense isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the writing is solid and I liked the fact we got both points of view.

If you like grumpy-sunshine Hallmark-type rom-com with the obligatory cringey scenes, you’ll love The Grump Who Doesn’t Belong Next Door.

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

About Emily Dana Botrous

Emily Dana BotrousEmily Dana Botrous lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their four children. She lived in 10 states before she settled on the West Coast where she plans to stay for awhile. She started writing short stories at age 10 and studied English in college. The only thing she enjoys more than writing is motherhood.

While there are a lot of things that matter to Emily, nothing is more important to her than Jesus Christ. It is her goal to point anyone who reads her writing toward Him. When Emily isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, long walks, music, and playing with her kids.

Find Emily Dana Botrous online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

About The Grump Who Doesn’t Belong Next Door

Grump Who Doesn't Belong Next DoorSmall-town Iowa? Not for this big-city attorney. Too bad his plans for a quick exit are mired by the girl next door.

Lottie: I have no time to waste on glass-half-empty people. My daughter and I have had enough of that in our lives, thank you very much. So when my neighbor’s grumpy son arrives in my hometown, turning his nose up at every Iowa corner, it’s no skin off of my back. But I can’t help teasing him. It’s sooo easy to ruffle his feathers. Plus, he’s easy on the eyes. Win win.

Anthony: My plan? Three weeks in Podunkville, Iowa until my mom recovers from her stroke. Then back to Atlanta. Civilization. My upcoming promotion to senior lawyer. I have no interest in forming any attachments in Red Rock Place. Even if my new next-door neighbor and her spunky daughter are a daily dose of sunshine I never knew my life was missing.

But then there’s the matchmaking. The fake date that isn’t really fake. The cake explosion. Oh, and the cow. (Really, God? We could have skipped that one…) Let’s just say, things are not going according to my plan.

The Grump Who Doesn’t Belong Next Door is a clean, Christian romantic comedy that will put a smile on your face and touch your heart.

Find The Grump Who Doesn’t Belong Next Door online at:

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First Line Friday

First Line Friday #341 | It’s All Relative by Rachel Mcgee

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 It’s All Relative by Rachel Mcgee, a new-to-me author. I love illustrated covers, and this looks fun.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Helena Crosby had an unusual amount of optimism for seven o’clock on a Monday morning.

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

 

About It’s All Relative

Helena’s a “fly by the seat of her pants” kind of girl. Amelia’s got her perfect life planned down to the minute. How will they ever get through their parents’ wedding–let alone a life as stepsisters–without ripping each other apart?

Twenty-seven-year-old Helena Crosby is over her mom Nora’s wedding–and it hasn’t even happened yet. For months, Helena’s been dreading the day she and Nora would become part of The Perfects, aka the Maddox family, led by oldest perfect daughter Amelia. Her complete opposite in every way, Amelia owns a house, runs her father’s architecture firm, and is engaged to her also perfect (and dreamy) fiancé Gage, all before the age of thirty. Helena has no idea how she’s going to fit into this family with their fancy traditions and strict timetables. Thankfully, her best friend Landon is joining the festivities as her emotional support plus one–and the perfect buffer between her and her new family.

Amelia Maddox has spent months planning the perfect wedding week for her dad Steve and his bride-to-be Nora. She’d planned for every consistency . . . except for her new free spirited stepsister’s deadly shellfish allergy, her brother’s insistence on blowing up his life, and an unexpected guest on Helena’s arm. A guest she hasn’t seen in years. A guest who held her heart years before her fiancé Gage ever did . . . her ex Landon Blake. But no matter–Amelia’s kept the Maddox family together since her mother died a few years ago. She’s not going to be thrown by Landon’s deep blue eyes and sun-bronzed forearms and the way he makes her feel all warm and cozy, like she’s come home to herself. Nope. She has duties to attend to: being the best daughter, sister, fiancée, boss, and wedding coordinator. And she’s going to bring her Eldest Daughter Energy to it all and push down those inconvenient feelings, no matter what.

Through a whirlwind week of wedding activities and a few near disasters, both Amelia and Helena realize that sometimes the blueprints for the perfect family and relationship look better on paper than in real life–and that family isn’t only made of the people you’re born with. Family is also made of the people we choose over and over again.

Find It’s All Relative 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!