Welcome to another First Line Friday, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! Today I’m featuring Count the Nights by Stars, a beautiful new book by Michelle Shocklee.

May 29, 1987

“My darling,
No one could accuse Luca Moretti of being a coward.”

Count the Nights by Stars by Michelle Shocklee

The Basics

Title: Count the Nights by Stars

Author: Michelle Shocklee

Publication Date: March 22, 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

1961. After a longtime resident at Nashville’s historic Maxwell House Hotel suffers a debilitating stroke, Audrey Whitfield is tasked with cleaning out the reclusive woman’s room. There, she discovers an elaborate scrapbook filled with memorabilia from the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Love notes on the backs of unmailed postcards inside capture Audrey’s imagination with hints of a forbidden romance . . . and troubling revelations about the disappearance of young women at the exposition. Audrey enlists the help of a handsome hotel guest as she tracks down clues and information about the mysterious “Peaches” and her regrets over one fateful day, nearly sixty-five years earlier.

1897. Outspoken and forward-thinking Priscilla Nichols isn’t willing to settle for just any man. She’s still holding out hope for love when she meets Luca Moretti on the eve of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Charmed by the Italian immigrant’s boldness, Priscilla spends time exploring the wondrous sights of the expo with Luca―until a darkness overshadows the months-long event. Haunted by a terrible truth, Priscilla and Luca are sent down separate paths as the night’s stars fade into dawn.

My Review

“That is our mission, dear. To see people for who they are beneath the pain. Beneath the sin. To see them as God sees them: a beautiful creation, with plans and purposes only he knows.”

Count the Nights by Stars is a gripping split-time novel, bringing Nashville history to life in both the 1890s and 1960s. The iconic Maxwell House hotel plays a role in both timelines, as does the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Both Priscilla and Audrey are strong, compelling heroines – both coming to terms with their places in their families and their purpose in life. The story also shines a light on the dark subject of human trafficking in a powerful, eye-opening way. If you are looking for a poignant story that is rich with history, heartbreak, and hope, you have found it in Count the Nights by Stars.

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 Reading is My Superpower 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.

Welcome to First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring Bethany Turner’s new release, The Do-Over. It’s the perfect fun weekend read!

“My name is McKenna Keaton, and I am the daughter of Scott and Diane. Yes, my mother’s name is Diane Keaton.”

The Do-Over by Bethany Turner

The Basics

Title: The Do-Over

Author: Bethany Turner

Publication Date: March 15, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Sometimes dreams come true. Other times, the best outcome begins with an epic fail.

Career-driven McKenna Keaton has devoted her life to attaining the senior partnership at her law firm. So asking a man on a date should be nothing. But the past four days have been the worst of her life and have called everything she thought she knew about herself into question. Besides, she can’t remember her last real date—one that didn’t involve using a blind date as an opportunity to get a stranger’s perspective on effective cross-examination techniques. (It’s like sharing fondue with a jury!)

But a real date? And with shy, nerdy Henry Blumenthal—McKenna’s high school rival for valedictorian who once took three hours to beat her at chess? Scratch that. He’s Hank Blume now, the famed documentarian, Durham’s darling son, who has attained all his dreams and more. He also happens to look like he stepped out of an Eddie Bauer catalog.

Whereas McKenna is a disgraced workaholic from New York on unpaid leave, accused of a white-collar crime she would never commit, succumbing to panic attacks, watching her dreams unravel. At age thirty-eight—and destined by the family curse to die before she turns forty, it appears—it’s absolutely the wrong time to have a major crush on a man. Especially one who treasures his memories of McKenna as the girl Most Likely to Succeed.

My Review

I love a good Bethany Turner rom-com, and The Do-Over was just the fun read I needed! Her writing is the perfect blend of witty humor, clever dialogue, and charming characters. I found myself rooting for McKenna from the first page, and I love that her family is such an integral part of the story. Her relationships with her sisters add plenty of depth and heart! Henry is the perfect hero for her: a high school rival all grown up, with the ability to make her question everything she thought she knew about how her life would go. Their sweet romance, sprinkled with plenty of twists and funny moments, makes for a delightful story from beginning to end. I highly recommend The Do-Over to readers who enjoy authors like Melissa Ferguson and Jenny B. Jones!

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 Reading is My Superpower 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.

Welcome to First Line Friday, the linkup hosted by Reading is My Superpower! Today I’m featuring Caroline George’s new release, The Summer We Forgot.

June 13
Watercolor, Florida

“Mom keeps bins in the foyer.”

The Summer We Forgot by Caroline George

The Basics

Title: The Summer We Forgot

Author: Caroline George

Publication Date: March 8, 2022

Genre: YA Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Some memories are better left forgotten.

Darby and Morgan haven’t spoken for two years, and their friend group has splintered. But when the body of their former science teacher is found in the marsh where they attended camp that summer, they realize they have more questions than answers . . . and even fewer memories.

No one remembers—or no one is talking.

The group of reunited friends begins to suspect that a murderer is stalking the coastal highway 30A, and they must try to recover their memories as quickly as possible . . . before the history they can’t remember repeats itself.

Everyone has a secret.

As tensions rise and time runs out, Darby and Morgan begin to wonder if they can believe one another . . . or if they can even trust themselves.

My Review

“Nowadays the world tells people to live their truths, but what if we’re not what we believe? What if we’re the lies we tell ourselves?”

Caroline George has written another gripping, evocative story in The Summer We Forgot. I don’t usually read YA fiction, but her voice, style, and ability to write such layered characters has made her a must-read author for me. This murder mystery follows a group of high school seniors whose lives were all turned upside down two summers ago, but they can’t remember why. The story drew me in from the beginning, from the coastal setting on 30A to the friendships between the characters to the twisty, layered plot.

“We’re part the lies we believe about ourselves and part the truths we forget.”

This is a coming of age story that readers of any age can relate to, as we question along with the characters whether or not we will let our past mistakes define us. If you are looking for a clean, deeply moving story that blends mystery with romance and friendship, look no further than The Summer We Forgot.

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 Reading is My Superpower 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.

Welcome to First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring the newest book in Lynn H. Blackburn’s Defend and Protect series: Malicious Intent.

“The stack of cash on his desk was as close to genuine currency as squeeze cheese was to Brie.”

Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn

The Basics

Title: Malicious Intent
Author: Lynn H. Blackburn
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Series: Defend and Protect (Book 2)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
From the Back Cover:

Her years of research and sleepless nights are about to pay off . . . if she can stay alive.

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company’s cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been praised by government, medical, and advocacy groups, and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose–and how far will they go to get what they want? 

Meanwhile, US Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can’t believe he’s finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he’s found her again, Gil intends to mend their broken relationship. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy’s life, her life’s work, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

My Review

Another fantastic book by Lynn H. Blackburn! This is a fast-paced story that drew me in from the first page. It’s everything I’ve come to expect and love from the author – lots of action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, ensemble characters with great chemistry and camaraderie, and a sweet romance. Gil and Ivy get a second chance after fifteen years apart when she and her company are under attack. Their friendship lets the romance develop at a realistic pace, even in the middle of all the action. If you enjoy high-octane suspense with a fresh, unique plot and compelling characters, look no further – get yourself a copy of Malicious Intent!

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 Reading is My Superpower 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. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.