Happy First Line Friday! Today I am featuring a new release by another new-to-me author: The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron.

18 May 1944
Tiber Island
Rome, Italy

“Never open a locked door unless you’re certain death doesn’t lurk behind it.”

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron

The Basics

Title: The Italian Ballerina

Author: Kristy Cambron

Publication Date: July 12, 2022

Genre: Split-Time WWII Historical Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save innocent lives in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events.

Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Jewish Italians from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. Soon a little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, and Julia is determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.

Present Day. Delaney Coleman recently lost her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and World War II veteran, so she returns home to help her aging parents. When a mysterious Italian woman reaches out claiming to own one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to travel to Italy and uncover the truth of her grandfather’s hidden past. With the help of the woman’s skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question.

Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of World War II Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving a single life can impact countless others.

My Review

This was the first of Kristy Cambron’s novels I have read, and I was immediately drawn into this intricately woven World War II story. The historical details are fascinating, brought to life by vibrant characters who leap (and dance) off the page. I did find the historical timeline a little hard to follow at first, as it jumped around between several different years, but it all came together and thoroughly captured my attention. Through Delaney’s story in the present, we discover the past alongside her, and are reminded how one courageous action can change the course of generations. This beautiful story has put Kristy Cambron on my list of must-read WWII authors! I highly recommend it to fans of Sarah Sundin and Melanie Dobson.

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! I’m so excited to share this book with you today for First Line Friday – The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is Sara Brunsvold’s amazing debut novel.

“Clara Kip had prayed repeatedly to die in São Paulo. It truly seemed the smallest of requests.”

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

The Basics

Title: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

Author: Sara Brunsvold

Publication Date: July 5, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Christian Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her–but she’s going to have to work for it.

My Review

“I simply tried to love people as best I could for as long as I was privileged to be with them.”

What an incredible book! I wasn’t sure what to expect from a debut novel, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a captivating story in these pages! It might seem strange to call this book delightful, since it deals so honestly with death, but it truly was a delight to read. While it is somewhat bittersweet, the way Mrs. Kip’s faith was evident in how she lived and faced death was both convicting and inspiring. Her wisdom and spunk can charm the toughest of audiences, and Aidyn’s growth and transformation was so moving. This heartfelt story will make you laugh, cry, and want to be like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

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 Saturday! I’m a little late to the party for First Line Friday, but I’m still linking up with Reading is My Superpower 🙂 Today I’m featuring Critical Alliance, the newest book by Elizabeth Goddard.

“Her world was spinning out of control.”

Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard

The Basics

Title: Critical Alliance

Author: Elizabeth Goddard

Series: Rocky Mountain Courage (Book 3 of 3)

Publication Date: July 5, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

She’s seeking answers. He’s seeking respite.
The past is seeking both of them.

Mackenzie Hanson’s special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father’s tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and protect her father’s company.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he’s trying to relax, he’s drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common–a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

When the situation turns deadly, Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need–before someone silences Mackenzie for good.

My Review

Critical Alliance was my favorite of the Rocky Mountain Courage series! The focus is on Alex and Mackenzie, but we also get to catch up with characters from the first two books. I would recommend reading the series in order, but you won’t be lost if you start with this one!

The action and suspense in this story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat! The ruggedly beautiful Montana setting is the perfect backdrop for the twists and turns Alex and Mackenzie face as they race to find out who is behind the threats to her life. The cybersecurity angle was a unique element, and not hard at all to understand or follow. The blend of character development and action kept the story moving at just the right pace. If you enjoy inspirational romantic suspense, I highly recommend Critical Alliance and the whole Rocky Mountain Courage 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.

Welcome to another First Line Friday, the weekly linkup hosted by Reading is My Superpower. Happy Independence Day weekend to everyone celebrating in the United States! The book I’m featuring this week fits perfectly with the theme of celebrating freedom and the people who dedicate their lives to securing it for others.

Coastal Georgia

“The plane touched down on an off-the-grid military runway in southeast Georgia.”

The Record Keeper by Charles Martin

The Basics

Title: The Record Keeper

Author: Charles Martin

Series: Murphy Shepherd (Book 3 of 3)

Publication Date: July 5, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Christian

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

“Because you’re worth rescue.”

Murphy Shepherd’s last rescue mission very nearly cost him his life. He’d like nothing more than to stay close to his wife and daughters for a while. But Bones’s brother must be stopped, and there are so many who still need to know they are worth rescuing.

As the cat-and-mouse game moves into the open, Murphy is tested at every turn—both physically and mentally. Then the unthinkable happens: his beloved mentor and friend is taken. Gone without a trace.

Murphy lives by the mantra that love always shows up. But how can he rescue Bones when he has no leads?

With heart-stopping clarity, The Record Keeper explores the true cost of leaving the ninety-nine to find the one.

My Review

“From the beginning of time, light has shone into the darkness, and since that first spark, darkness – no matter how hard it tries, no matter what sword it wields or scheme it perpetrates – has not been able to overcome it. Ever.”

The Record Keeper is the riveting conclusion to an incredible series! Murphy Shepherd is back, and this time he and Bones are on a mission to finally put a stop to the criminal mastermind they have been fighting for so many years. The raw, gritty truth of human trafficking is contrasted with the unconditional love and sacrifice that marks Bones’ life. The ending is heart-wrenching and bittersweet – everything wasn’t tied up in a neat bow, but it was the perfect, fitting ending. You will remember this powerful story 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.