Tag: Angela Ruth Strong

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #358 | Starry Nights Anthology

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 Out of Play by Angela Ruth Strong, which is the first story in the Starry Nights anthology collection, part of the A Summer to Remember collection.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

When I gave up my professional soccer career due to an unplanned pregnancy and the responsibilities of single parenthood, I thought my life was over.

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

 

About Starry Nights

Out of Play – Angela Ruth Strong

When single mom Bex Lemaire is asked to step down as her eight-year-old daughter’s soccer coach for getting too competitive, she’s hoping the new coach will let her assist. Former child star Skylar Hayes agrees to take over the team as research for his comeback role. At first, he mistakes Bex for a raving fan but eventually realizes she’s only crazy about soccer, which gives her the skills needed to train him. She’s all work, while he likes to play, but together, they just might win.

Lauren’s Second Chance – Carrie Padgett

Lauren’s Second Chance is a contemporary romance for readers who love sun, sand, and satisfying endings. Lauren and Mason were each other’s first loves, until life broke them apart. A decade later, when the opportunity arises to appear with Mason on a reality show, Lauren is conflicted. She needs this show for what it means to a project near to her heart. But can she keep that heart safe from the man who broke it once?

Grab your shades and SPF 30 sunscreen to dive into a reality television dating show story where first love is also forever love.

Her Cowboy Champion – Tabitha Bouldin

It’s true that money can’t buy happiness. No one knows that better than Sage Rhett after her boyfriend steals her photography business and leaves her penniless. Heartbroken, faith shattered, she returns to Apple Creek–the last place she called home.

Maverick Pierce is used to people seeing him for the money attached to his family name. As a Pierce, he’s afforded anything that money can buy, but the one thing he wants can never be bought.

When Sage accepts a job working at the Pierce ranch, Maverick discovers he never stopped loving the fiery cowgirl who broke his heart when she left twelve years ago. If he wants to win her over, he’ll have to do more than flash a little money. This second chance, rags to riches, cowboy romance pits love against responsibility as Sage and Maverick struggle to overcome their history and trust God for a happily ever after.

Love in the Lyrics – Bell Renshaw

Liberty “Libby” Taylor has maxed out on space for her equine therapy business. The best way to gain the capital she needs in order to expand requires a bit of subterfuge, but that will also mean pulling one over on her new boss.

Singer and songwriter Harland Grey left LA for Winter, Montana in the hopes of finding peace from the demons of his not-so-distant past, but purchasing Melody Ranch may not hold the answers he’s looking for.

Thrown together, sparks fly between the two, but will the secrets kept between them finally be what tears them apart?

Find Starry Nights 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!

Do you have a Top 10 List of Christian reads for 2021?

Bookish Question #208 | Do you have a Top Ten List of Christian reads for 2021?

Do you have a Top Five (or Top Ten) List of Christian reads for 2021?

I didn’t, but I’ve put one together 🙂

I track my reading on Goodreads. As I was scanning the books I read during 2021, I noticed a disturbing number where I couldn’t remember anything about them. Most of them were books I hadn’t reviewed, so maybe the act of writing a review helps me remember.

Given the number of books I can barely remember (or remember for the wrong reasons), this list was both difficult and easy to compile. Difficult, because I couldn’t remember so many books (too many).

But easy, because any book I can’t remember surely didn’t impact me enough to make a Top Ten list.

Here, in no particular order, are the best Christian novels I read in 2021:

(Click the titles to see my review.)

1. When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

A fascinating look at Germany in the period before World War II, when international opinion was still divided on whether Hitler’s regime was good or evil.

2. Is it Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh

A strong story of love and forgiveness.

3. Healing Skye by Janet L Ferguson

A fabulous novel of faith and healing.

4. Every Word Unsaid by Kimberly Duffy

Recommended both for the excellent Christian message, and for the fascinating setting—Victorian India.

5. Organized Backup by Meredith Resce

The only one on this list I haven’t reviewed, this is a strong rom-com with some serious elements from one of my favourite Australian authors.

6. Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

This contemporary romance had a unique premise, and the writing was brilliant. I often find rom-coms a bit cringe-inducing, but had no such problems with Meri and Kai.

7. Provenance by Carla Laureano

A one-word title that links the main character’s internal and external character journeys.

8. Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin never disappoints, and Chasing Shadows was a winner because of the unique setting and premise – the German invasion of the neutral Netherlands in World War II.

9. The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden

The antics of the Poison Squad, and the importance of proper research trials and food safety regulations.

10. Let it Be Me by Becky Wade

The ooops moment when you find out your parents aren’t actually your parents … and it’s not that they lied to you. It’s that they were given the wrong baby in hospital.

So those are my Top Ten Christian fiction reads for 2021.

What books do you recommend?

First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week 201 | Finding Love in Seaside, Oregon by Angela Ruth Strong

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 Finding Love in Seaside, Oregon by Angela Ruth Strong, which looks like a fun contemporary Christian romance. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Christina never imagined she'd be going on her honeymoon alone.

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

 

About Finding Love in Seaside, Oregon

Runaway bride Christina doesn’t think life can get any worse than spending her honeymoon alone…

Until she arrives at the Oregon Coast to find the old Victorian bed and breakfast flooded. Dave, the owner, had been asking God for a wife right before Christina sailed through the door in her wedding dress, and when his cook quits due to the broken pipe, he offers the position to Christina. Could she be an answer to his prayer?

Christina, though thankful for the job, has been praying over her fiancé for years and is not ready to give up on him. Can God bring both Dave and Christina a happy ending when they are asking God for two different things?

You can find Finding Love in Seaside, Oregon online at:

Amazon | BookBub| Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

 


You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

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

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

 

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