We’ve made it through another week, and that means it’s time for another First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring a book set in my home state of Maine: At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

“It was a long way home.”

At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Basics

Title: At Lighthouse Point

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Three Sisters Island (Book 3 of 3)

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan–to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor’s kitchen has been badly remodeled by her sister, Cam, who doesn’t know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands.

As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined. 

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the coast of Maine for a story that reminds you to release what doesn’t matter and cling to what does: faith, family, and friendships.

My Thoughts

At Lighthouse Point, the conclusion to the Three Sisters Island series, follows the Grayson family through another summer at Camp Kicking Moose on Three Sisters Island off the coast of Maine. This story focuses on the youngest sister, Blaine, and picks up two years after the last book left off. She is arriving back on the island after two years in Paris, and things have changed in her absence – including the kitchen she was hoping to remodel and turn into her own restaurant at the camp.

While I enjoyed the story overall, something I found a little lacking was the character development. Some of the reactions characters had to problems seemed a little unrealistic to me – almost a little shallow or childish. One of the characters I did enjoy, though, was Blaine’s friend from Paris, Jean Paul. His klutzy moments provided some comic relief, and he had some wise advice for every member of the family. I did also enjoy seeing Artie and Blaine reconnect and come to terms with some unresolved issues in their friendship. Overall, this book is a light summer read and a good conclusion to 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 the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday – we made it through another week! For First Line Friday, I’m featuring Never Miss, a newly released book by debut author Melissa Koslin.

“‘Sarah Jeane Rogers,’ she muttered. ‘Elizabeth Jeane Jones.’ Which ID to use this time? ‘Eenie meenie minie moe….’ She held up the license in her right hand. ‘Sarah Jeane Rogers it is.'”

Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

The Basics

Title: Never Miss

Author: Melissa Koslin

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Christian Suspense/Thriller

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him–and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there’s no one they can trust–except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

My Thoughts

Melissa Koslin is a fresh, unique voice in Christian fiction! This story features two main characters who are anything but typical. Kadence, a former CIA sniper, and Lyndon, a medical researcher, are two no-nonsense people who are thrown together under some terrifying circumstances and who are certainly not looking for love. As they work together in a race to stop a bioweapon, their mutual trust develops into a deep friendship unlike any either of them has had before.

The action is definitely high-stakes, and the threat of both the impending Ebola attack and the threats on their lives keep the tensions high. But in the midst of the craziness, there are still some quieter moments that help the characters develop and give the reader some moments to breathe. One of the most unique characters isn’t even human – Mac, Kadence’s cat, is an incredible addition to the story as he provides both companionship and some tactical assistance! I really enjoyed this book, and I think fans of James R. Hannibal and Carrie Stuart Parks will as well. I can’t wait to read what Melissa Koslin writes next!

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. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! If you enjoy spy thrillers, you won’t want to miss this book! Today, for First Line Friday, I’m featuring James R. Hannibal’s newest release, The Paris Betrayal.

“From a rooftop perch, Ben Calix watched the courier leave the Tiber and cross the piazza.”

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

The Basics

Title: The Paris Betrayal

Author: James R. Hannibal

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Christian Suspense/Thriller

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover: After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance–reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company’s plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him–and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal ratchets up the tension on every page of this suspenseful new thriller.

My Thoughts

The Paris Betrayal is an intense spy thriller with heart-stopping action from the first page – my favorite of James R. Hannibal’s books yet! I stayed up way too late to finish it, because I was so engrossed in the story I lost track of time. That doesn’t happen often! Lots of action, great dialogue, and fascinating characters all come together to make this book impossible to put down. I loved the spy notes sprinkled throughout – tips and tricks Ben had learned during his training and career. A complicated web of deception and betrayal that leaves Ben’s life hanging in the balance illustrates powerful spiritual themes of faith and God’s sovereignty. I highly recommend this book for fans of high-stakes, high-octane suspense and thrillers with just a hint of romance. I already know it will be one of my favorites this year!

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 and author as part of the launch team. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.