Happy Friday! For today’s edition of First Line Friday, I’m featuring an upcoming release by Nancy Mehl. Night Fall, the first book in The Quanitco Files series, is coming out next week!

“His mother sat in the chair next to his bed, reading from The Book.”

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

The Basics

Title: Night Fall

Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: The Quantico Files #1

Publication Date: March 30, 2021

Genre: Christian Suspense

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

“For any little boy or girl who hears the Train Man speak,
Who feels his rancid breath caress their pretty cheek,
Must close their eyes, pretend to sleep, and very softly pray,
Or else the evil Train Man may carry them away.”

Finally free of her troubled upbringing, Alex Donovan is able to live out her childhood dream of working for the FBI. But soon after she becomes a member of the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, authorities in Missouri contact them about bodies found on freight trains–all killed in the same way.

Alex never expected to be forced to confront her past in this new job, but she immediately recognizes the graffiti messages the killer is leaving on the train cars. When the BAU sends her to gather information about the messages from her aunt in Wichita, Kansas, Alex is haunted by the struggles she thought she’d left behind forever.

In a race against time to solve the case and recover a deadly virus sample the killer intends to spread, Alex must face how far she’ll go–and what she’s willing to risk–to put a stop to the Train Man.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed Nancy Mehl’s Kaely Quinn series, but this Night Fall fell a little flat for me. The identity of the killer was revealed at the beginning, and that contributed to my feeling that the story could have been wrapped up sooner. The cult he was part of seemed a little unrealistic to me; it felt disjointed and contrived at times.

The story’s redeeming factor was the juxtaposition between Alex and the killer. They had some similarities in their upbringings, but they chose completely different paths. The spiritual elements emphasizing the choices we make that lead to either good or evil, light or darkness, were compelling – that is something Nancy Mehl does well. Although this wasn’t my favorite of her books, it was a good introduction to Alex and Logan. I will still read the next book in the series to see where their story goes!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday, and happy first day of spring tomorrow! It’s time to link up with Hoarding Books for another First Line Friday. Today I’m featuring a new release by one of my favorite suspense authors, Lynn H. Blackburn! Unknown Threat is the first book in her new series featuring US Secret Service agents. If you’re a suspense fan, you won’t want to miss this one!

“Luke Powell’s head throbbed as he parked his sedan in the empty lot and glared into the nearby trees.”

Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn

The Basics

Title: Unknown Threat

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Series: Defend and Protect (Book 1)

Release Date: March 2, 2021

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He and his team are experts at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she’s assigned. She’s been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke’s life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it’s hard to know how to fight back when you don’t know who the enemy is.

Luke has teamed up with Faith before, but he’s not convinced she’s up for the job and she’s not convinced he’s telling her everything he knows. As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to learn to trust each other and work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

My Thoughts

Lynn H. Blackburn’s new series is off to a great start with Unknown Threat! I loved the variety of law enforcement characters, from the Secret Service to the FBI. Readers of Lynn’s last series will also enjoy the cameo appearances by members of the Carrington dive team! The camaraderie of the team of Secret Service agents and the way they welcomed Faith into their group added richness to the story. I enjoyed how they worked the case together and the witty banter throughout. Some of my favorite moments were the fun interactions between Luke and Faith’s sister, Hope!

Of course, the story is also full of plenty of action! With the attacks on Secret Service agents escalating, Luke and Faith encounter danger around every corner as the perpetrator always seems to be one step ahead of them. I have to admit I was totally surprised when the attackers and their motivations were revealed; they definitely weren’t the villains I was expecting! I really enjoyed this book and will be eagerly awaiting the rest of the series.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! The weather here has felt like spring the last couple of days – almost nice enough to make up for the hour we’re about to lose this weekend! For today’s edition of the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books, I’m featuring The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson.

“The most beautiful things are those that survive a storm and find their glory in the restoration.”

The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson

The Basics

Title: The Way It Should Be

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Publication Date: February 2, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover: After years of estrangement, the lives of Zara Mahoney and her twin sister, Eve, are suddenly and completely intertwined again. Eve’s troubled lifestyle causes the state to take custody of her two children and contact Zara and her husband, asking them to consider foster care. Newlywed Zara thought she’d finally been given a fresh start and feels wholly unprepared to care for a niece and nephew whose existence she wasn’t even aware of.

Meanwhile, Eve may have a real chance to start over this time with the help of Tiff Bradley, who’s dedicated to helping women everyone else has given up on after facing a heartbreaking tragedy in her own family.

Over the course of one summer, all three women’s hearts and lives hang in the balance as Eve desperately works toward a new life. Can they redefine their expectations of how life should be to find the hope they–and those they love–so desperately need?

My Thoughts

Christina Suzann Nelson has written a powerful, emotionally engaging story full of compelling characters. She did a great job of telling the story from the perspectives of three different women. The variety of viewpoints and the range of emotions all of the characters felt gave the story authenticity. The book doesn’t shy away from the gritty parts of life, but tackles topics like addiction, domestic violence, and foster care with honesty and grace.

While the book does deal with serious issues, there are still light-hearted moments throughout. Ultimately it is a story of hope, healing, and forgiveness, as each woman experiences transformation in her own unique way. While you might see yourself more in one than the others, Eve, Zara, and Tiff are all characters we can relate to in some way. All of the loose ends were not tied up with a bow at the end, and I thought that made the ending realistic and true to the story. This story tugged at my heartstrings and made me think – it will stick with me for a long time! I definitely recommended this book, especially for fans of Beth Vogt, Amanda Cox, and Rachel Linden.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! Can you believe it’s March already? The days are starting to get longer, and I’m looking forward to when it’s warm enough to read outside!

Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books, where participants share the first line from a nearby book. This week I’m featuring The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli – keep reading for the first line and my review!

Concord, Massachusetts

July 1995

“Thirteen isn’t quite grown-up, but it’s old enough for a girl to realize that hope can be a dangerous thing.”

The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli

The Basics

Title: The Orchard House

Author: Heidi Chiavaroli

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Genre: Women’s Fiction

From the Back Cover: Two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and another in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and search for a place to belong.

2001
Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott’s historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability . . . until Victoria’s betrayal changes everything.

1865
While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa’s aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa’s words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan’s proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband’s dark side, and she can’t hide the bruises that appear.

2019
After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! I’m not all that familiar with Louisa May Alcott; I watched the movie Little Women a long time ago, but I’ve never read any of her books. I loved The Tea Chest, Heidi’s last book, so thought I would give this one a try. I’m so glad I did!

Although the connection to Louisa May Alcott isn’t what drew me in, the beautiful writing and storytelling had me quickly invested in both Taylor and Johanna’s timelines. Taylor’s powerful story of betrayal, forgiveness, and learning the meaning of family was beautifully tied in with Johanna’s story, and I loved how the historical and present-day timelines came together in the end. Heidi Chiavaroli’s beautiful writing style and excellent storytelling ability make this a captivating novel! I would recommend The Orchard House for fans of historical and women’s fiction, especially fans of Rachel Hauck and Erin Bartels.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.