Happy First Line Friday! Today I am featuring a new release by one of my go-to authors – All That It Takes by Nicole Deese.

“As the door to our new life swung open and my ten-year-old son rushed across the threshold to explore the second-story apartment, the you-break-it, you-buy-it policy flashed across my mind like a hazard warning.”

All That It Takes by Nicole Deese

The Basics

Title: All That It Takes

Author: Nicole Deese

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

When the ever-cautious Val Locklier finally agrees to a cross-country move with her nine-year-old son to take a job with her best friend, Molly, everything she had planned for the future unravels within the first week. After pushing aside her anxieties about renting an apartment from Molly’s twin brother, whom she barely knows, she accepts an invitation for an elite filmmaker’s mentorship. Caught between her insecurities and new possibilities, she feels completely unprepared for the challenges ahead.

Pastor Miles McKenzie returns home from abroad to discover that not only does he have an intriguing new tenant living upstairs, he’s been banished to a ministry on life support. Disillusioned and restless, he pursues a relationship with Val without stopping to consider the timing or asking God to direct his steps.

As Val struggles to stop hiding behind the camera and Miles wrestles with shattered expectations, they’ll find that authentic love and sacrifice must go hand in hand.

My Review

All That It Takes is a charming story – the perfect blend of lighthearted moments, sweet romance, spiritual truths, and characters who tug at your heartstrings. This book picks up where All That Really Matters left off, although it can be read as a standalone. Val and Miles, who we met in the last book, are both facing major changes in the trajectory of their lives.

Val’s story is one of facing her fears and stepping outside her comfort zone. Her realization that God can use her story to change lives in dramatic ways is a powerful example of vulnerability and authentic faith. Miles faces his own crisis of faith in a way, as his plans for his life are knocked off course for reasons outside of his control. His eyes are opened to new ways of doing ministry, in a way that is moving and thought-provoking. And of course, Val’s son Tucker brings plenty of fun and laughter to the story!

While I would put this book in the contemporary romance genre, it is so much more – it is full of real, relatable characters who experience both the grit and grace of life. I highly recommend this series, especially to fans of authors like Becky Wade and Courtney Walsh!

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.

Happy Friday! It’s time for another First Line Friday linkup hosted by Reading is My Superpower, and today I”m featuring The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart.

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1917

“He walked quickly down the narrow staircase, hand pressed against the cold wall to steady himself.”

The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart

The Basics

Title: The Master Craftsman

Author: Kelli Stuart

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Split-time historical/contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history–an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar’s family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family. 

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance–and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

My Review

Kelli Stuart is a new-to-me author; the beautiful cover and premise of this book drew me in. I wanted to like it, but I never felt connected with the characters in either timeline. The treasure hunt in the present day seemed a little unrealistic to me, especially towards the end. Even so, I did enjoy learning some history about the Russian Revolution and Fabergé eggs. I know that many readers loved this story, so if you enjoy treasure hunts and early 20th century history, this book might be for you!

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. Thank you, Revell!

Welcome to another First Line Friday, a weekly linkup hosted by Carrie at Reading is My Superpower! Today I am featuring a perfect book for spring – the latest book in Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series, Sea Glass Cottage.

“Asking for help from a man who hated you was hard.”

Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

The Basics

Title: Sea Glass Cottage

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor (Book 8)

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl’s life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she’s certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He’s built a new life on the Oregon coast–and there’s no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls open their hearts to a new beginning?

My Review

Returning to Hope Harbor feels like going home! This charming seaside town is the perfect place to escape to for a few hours in one of Irene Hannon’s beautifully written stories. Sea Glass Cottage is a fairly light read, but that doesn’t mean the characters don’t deal with some tough issues and tricky situations. Christi and Jack are both dealing with pain from their pasts – including pain they caused each other. In the secondary storyline, Beth and Steve are dealing with grief and regrets after the death of their son. Both second-chance romances will touch your heart and bring a smile to your face.

Long time readers of the series will love the appearances from fan favorite characters, especially Charley the taco artist and his seagull friends, Floyd and Gladys. Hope Harbor is the perfect place to find peace and hope, for characters and readers alike. Fans of Denise Hunter and Christina Suzann Nelson will enjoy this 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 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. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! For today’s First Line Friday linkup, I’m featuring a brand new book by Jaime Jo Wright. The Souls of Lost Lake just came out this week – if you’re looking for a new book to read this weekend, this would be a great choice!

“Campfires were meant to be places of shadows.”

The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright

The Basics

Title: The Souls of Lost Lake

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Split-Time Suspense

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

To save the innocent, they must face an insidious evil.

Wren Blythe has long enjoyed living in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, helping her father with ministry at a youth camp. But when a little girl in the area goes missing, an all-out search ensues, reviving the decades-old campfire story of Ava Coons, the murderess who is believed to still roam the forest. Joining the search, Wren stumbles upon the Coonses’ cabin ruins and a sinister mystery she is determined to unearth.

In 1930, Ava Coons has spent the last several years carrying the mantle of mystery since the day she emerged from the woods as a thirteen-year-old girl, spattered with blood, dragging a logger’s ax. She has accepted she will never remember what happened to her family, whose bodies were never found, and that the people of Tempter’s Creek will always blame her for their violent deaths. And after a member of the town is murdered, and another goes missing, rumors spread that Ava’s secret is perhaps more malicious than previously imagined.

Two women, separated by time, must confront a wickedness that not only challenges who they are but also threatens their lives, and the lives of those they love.

My Review

I think The Souls of Lost Lake is my favorite of Jaime Jo Wright’s books (so far)! From the gorgeous cover to the captivating story inside, this book was almost impossible to put down. Spanning almost a hundred years, Ava and Wren’s stories are woven together in an unexpected but satisfying way. Ms. Wright does an amazing job of developing the characters in both timelines into relatable, engaging characters who will immediately find their way into readers’ hearts.

The suspense in both storylines kept me reading late into the night, complemented by just the right amount of creepiness as well as romance. I love a story that can keep me guessing, and all the twists and turns in this book caught me off guard! The spiritual truths about good and evil, life and death, forgiveness and redemption, give the book a richness and depth that will stick with you long after the final page.

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.

Happy Friday, and welcome to First Line Friday! Today I am sharing the first line of Dark Angel by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson.

“Nicholas Woland, known simply as “l’américain” to prisoners and guards alike, sat on the edge of his hard, narrow cot, hands resting idly on his knees.”

Dark Angel by Andrews & Wilson

The Basics

Title: Dark Angel

Authors: Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson

Series: The Shepherds (Book 2 of 3)

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Military Thriller

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Former Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson returns to Nashville ready to begin his training with the elite warriors known as the Shepherds. He thinks he knows what to expect when he arrives on the sprawling, state-of-the-art facility but quickly realizes he’ll have to find his place as the rookie leader of a new team. Then he starts having visions of an imminent attack overseas, and with the clock ticking, Jed and his team are dispatched to neutralize the threat. All the while, Jed hears whispers of another threat . . . a name that raises unexplained fear and anger throughout the Shepherds organization.

Once a military man, Nicholas Woland betrayed the Shepherds and all they stood for when he joined their enemies. After years in prison, Woland is eager to get back in action spreading chaos and death. And he has been freed for a purpose: a sinister plot that will result in hundreds of casualties and incite worldwide religious warfare for years to come.

As Woland and the Shepherds race toward a collision, Jed must rely on his gifts, his training, and his untested team to make critical decisions on a global stage—never realizing that a secret servant of the enemy is growing closer and closer to him.

My Review

“…I can tell you that God is here, right now. He’s with us. And so are the evil forces, because Satan is just as real. There’s a war raging all around us – a war that most people can’t see. But some of us can.”

Dark Angel picks up right where Dark Intercept left off, with Jed Johnson officially part of the Shepherds organization. The action is ramped up even higher than the first book in the series when Jed and his team are thrust into an urgent mission before their training is complete. This intense thriller showcases the war between good and evil in both the natural and supernatural realms. The military action and tactics are so realistic, while the spiritual elements add depth and top-notch character development to the story. Sarah Beth, who we met in the first book, is one of my favorite characters – I love how her friendship with “Uncle Jed” plays such an important role. This book is not only an enjoyable thriller, but also a thought-provoking look at the spiritual battles raging around us. Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg and Ronie Kendig will love this 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 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.