Happy Friday! We made it through another week, and it’s time for another First Line Friday, the weekly linkup hosted by Reading is My Superpower. Today I’m sharing the first line from Written on the Wind, the second book in Elizabeth Camden’s Blackstone Legacy series.

September 1900

“Natalia Blackstone always considered the third floor of her family’s bank the most fascinating five thousand square feet in the entire United States.”

Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden

The Basics

Title: Written on the Wind

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Series: The Blackstone Legacy (Book 2)

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: Historical Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Count Dimitri Sokolov has been charged with overseeing construction of the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway, but during this work, he witnesses an appalling crime, the truth of which threatens the Russian monarchy. In an effort to silence him, the czar has stripped Dimitri of his title, his lands, and his freedom . . . but Dimitri has one asset the czar knows nothing about: his deep and abiding friendship with Natalia Blackstone. 

Natalia is the lead analyst for her father’s New York banking empire and manages their investment in the Trans-Siberian Railway. Her bond with Dimitri has flourished despite the miles between them, but when Dimitri goes unexpectedly missing, she sets the wheels in motion to find him. Once they join forces, they embark on a dangerous quest in which one wrong move could destroy them both.  

From the steppes of Russia to the corridors of power in Washington, Dimitri and Natalia will fight against all odds to save the railroad while exposing the truth. Can their newfound love survive the ordeal? 

My Review

Elizabeth Camden has written another fascinating story that’s impossible to put down! Written on the Wind reunites us with characters we first met in Carved in Stone, but it can be read as a stand alone. This novel brings the story of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Boxer Rebellion to life with rich historical details, compelling characters, romance, and political intrigue. Natalia and Dimitri are opposites in so many ways, but they share a determination, strong moral character, and courage that sees them through hard times they face. While I loved the historical aspects, their witty dialogue and dry humor were some of my favorite parts of the book!

If you are looking for well-researched historical fiction with characters you won’t soon forget, you can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Camden! Written on the Wind, and the entire Blackstone Legacy series, are destined for the keeper shelf.

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 First Line Friday! Today I’m linking up with Reading is My Superpower and sharing the first line from The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Needham, Massachusetts
Thursday, February 6

“Dawn parked in front of her childhood home in Needham but couldn’t make herself get out of the car.”

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Basics

Title: The Sweet Life

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Cape Cod Creamery (Book 1)

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Dawn Dixon can’t believe she’s on a groomless honeymoon on beautiful Cape Cod . . . with her mother. She was supposed to be here with Kevin, the man she loves. Still, Mom was the right choice. Dawn’s heart may have been broken, but Marnie Dixon is in need of mending as well.

But Mom–being Mom–creates a mess when, on a whim, she buys a run-down ice cream shop in the town’s tightly regulated historic district with big plans to fix it up. She’s never remodeled anything. And she’s never even made ice cream!

Dawn knows she has to stay and fix this fiasco. But her mother’s money pit ice cream shop may have created a chance for a happy ending . . . one Dawn could never have expected.

My Review

The Sweet Life is a fun, lighthearted story, perfect for a spring or summer day at the beach! I love the New England setting – Suzanne Woods Fisher is great at writing about small towns full of quirky characters. I also worked at an ice cream shop as a teenager, so I enjoyed going back to that fun time in my life through this story!

Dawn and her mom, Marnie, are an unlikely mother-daughter duo – they don’t see eye to eye on much, but they both find themselves needing a fresh start in life. Opening an ice cream shop together tests their faith and their patience, as they work together to overcome opposition and heartbreak. This sweet story of starting over and second chances, sprinkled with heartwarming moments and spiritual truths, will delight readers and ice cream fans alike!

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 First Line Friday! It’s time to share the first line of the book closest to you! Today I’m featuring When the Meadow Blooms, a new release by Ann H. Gabhart.

February 27, 1925

“‘You will never be completely well. Tuberculosis leaves its mark on your lungs.'”

When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart

The Basics

Title: When the Meadow Blooms

Author: Ann H. Gabhart

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: Historical Romance

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

If any place on God’s earth was designed to help one heal, it is Meadowland. Surely here, at her brother-in-law’s Kentucky farm, Rose and her daughters can recover from the events of the recent past–the loss of her husband during the 1918 influenza epidemic, her struggle with tuberculosis that required a stay at a sanatorium, and her girls’ experience in an orphanage during her illness. At Meadowland, past troubles become rich soil in which faith can grow.

Dirk Meadows may have opened his home to his late brother’s widow and her girls, but he keeps his heart tightly closed. The roots of his pain run deep, and the evidence of it is written across his face. Badly scarred by a fire and abandoned by the woman he loved, Dirk fiercely guards his heart from being hurt again.

But it may be that his visitors will bring light back into his world and unlock the secret to true healing.

My Review

Ann H. Gabhart is a new-to-me author, and this book was a wonderful introduction to her work! When the Meadow Blooms is a beautiful story of finding love and healing after tragedy and heartbreak. All of the characters, especially Calla and Sienna, will find their way into your heart from the first page. I loved how their individual stories and experiences were woven together as they became a true family and found peace in the quiet beauty of Meadowland. If you are looking for a story full of hope, restoration, and faith, look no further than this book! Fans of Susie Finkbeiner and Sarah Loudin Thomas will enjoy this one.

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! Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, and featuring one of my favorite books so far this year!

Williamsburg, Virginia
May 5, 1774

“For as long as I could remember, my mama had told me that my life was a gift. But at the age of nineteen, I had yet to see how this life I was living – or rather, the lives I was living – could be anything other than a burden.”

When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

The Basics

Title: When the Day Comes

Author: Gabrielle Meyer

Series: Timeless (Book 1)

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: Historical/Time Travel

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she’s the same person at her core in both times, she’s leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives–and any hope of love–are put in jeopardy.

Libby’s life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about–women’s suffrage–is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she’s not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

My Review

When the Day Comes is an absolutely captivating story by Gabrielle Meyer! It is a unique twist on the dual timeline & historical genres, with the heroine, Libby, living in both 1774 and 1914. As she approaches her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path to live for the rest of her life. This fascinating premise is handled brilliantly, with rich historical detail and engaging characters.

Libby is such a relatable heroine, and I found myself rooting for her from the first page. She is faced with tragedy and difficult decisions in both timelines, and Ms. Meyer did a wonderful job of weaving powerful spiritual themes throughout. I enjoyed seeing history come to life through Libby’s eyes, as she lived through the beginnings of both the American Revolution and World War I. The twists and turns kept coming, leaving me holding my breath and wondering how Libby could possibly have a happy ending. I was surprised and delighted by the satisfying conclusion, and I am very much looking forward to the next book!

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.