Happy Friday, friends! 🙂 The book I’m featuring for today’s edition of First Line Friday is the perfect summer read. The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse is set in Florida, and her descriptions of the people and places will put you in a summer state of mind. Here’s the first line – keep reading for my review!

April 1947

“Though he couldn’t have known, nor ever guessed, Peyton Cabot had just witnessed a bittersweet kiss goodbye.”

The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse

The Basics

Title: The Key to Everything

Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Peyton Cabot’s fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savannah family, has come home from WWII a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents’ devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams, Lisa Wallace.

Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: He will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle all the way to Key West, Florida. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton’s journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined–namely, the key to his unknowable father, a reunion with Lisa, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.

Through poignant prose and characters so real you’ll be sure you know them, Valerie Fraser Luesse transports you to the storied Atlantic coast for a unique coming-of-age story you won’t soon forget.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed Valerie Fraser Luesse’s last book, Almost Home, but I didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did! The Key to Everything is a captivating story, full of rich and compelling characters, especially Peyton. I felt myself rooting for him from the first page, and his story of growth and transformation is one I think we can all relate to.

The setting of this story is unique, from the time period – just after WWII – to the location – the coast of Florida, all the way to Key West. The war’s effects are experienced secondhand, as Peyton’s life is forever changed by the way the war haunts his father. His bike ride down the coast of Florida forces him to come to terms with the tragedy he’s faced and start to determine the kind of man he will be, outside his family’s shadow. It is a coming of age story, but also a story of transformation, healing, and purpose. I think fans of Charles Martin’s The Water Keeper would 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 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. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday, friends! I can’t believe that tomorrow is already the first day of summer! That makes the book I’m featuring today for First Line Friday the perfect book to enjoy this weekend – The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton.

“The morning Worth left, something pulled Lily from her sleep, though at first glance nothing seemed out of place.”

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton

That line definitely makes me want to keep reading! Preferably from a beautiful porch swing like the one on this cover 🙂

The Basics

Title: The Summer House

Author: Lauren K. Denton

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Southern Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Sometimes it takes losing everything to find yourself again.

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated, but a flyer at the grocery store for a hair stylist position in a local retirement community provides a refuge while she contemplates her next steps.

Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago—just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm’s length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose’s cold exterior begins to thaw.

Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where residents share town gossip, as well as a few secrets. Lily soon finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew, Rawlins—a single dad and shrimper who’s had some practice at starting over—and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.

Neither Lily nor Rose is where she expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there’s more to life and love than what they’ve experienced so far. The Summer House weaves Lauren K. Denton’s inviting Southern charm around a woman’s journey to find herself.

My Thoughts

“This life is a beautiful thing – it’s precious and fleeting, and we’d all be crazy not to reach out and grab it with both hands and hang on tight.”

From the first page of this story, I felt like I was transported to the small village called Safe Harbor on the Alabama coast. With her signature Southern charm and grace, Lauren K. Denton has written a beautiful story about starting over, taking chances, and becoming who you were meant to be. Rose and Lily couldn’t have done that without the community around them, and there are definitely some some fun, slightly eccentric characters who add both lightheartedness and depth to the story! Besides the beautiful setting, which could be a character itself, my favorite part of the story was seeing Lily’s transformation from a betrayed, hurting woman to one who has found her purpose and is ready to open her heart again. When I finished the book, I wished I could stay in Safe Harbor a little longer – that’s a sign of a great story!

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! It’s time for another First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Hoarding Books. Today I’m featuring Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan.

“From the very beginning it was the Great Lion who brought us together.”

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

I have to admit, that first line did draw me in with the Narnia reference 🙂

The Basics

Title: Becoming Mrs. Lewis

Author: Patti Callahan

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/Biography

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis—known as Jack—she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn’t holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and the beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn’t destroy.  

In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren’t meant to have a voice—and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn’t know they had. 

At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer’s life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story—a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.

My Thoughts

One of my goals for 2020 is to read more of C.S. Lewis’ books. Before this year, I had only ever read The Chronicles of Narnia! So while I’ve been reading Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce, I thought it would be interesting to learn a little more about Lewis’ life.

I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book, and I really wanted to like it, but I have mixed feelings about it. For one thing, with a fictionalized biography like this, it’s hard to know how much is true and how much is the author’s imagination. That makes it hard to know if the parts I didn’t enjoy as much, like Joy’s feelings for Jack while she was still married, were historically accurate or not. There were other parts of the story I did enjoy, such as the vivid descriptions of Oxford, the snippets of Joy’s writings throughout, and learning about her influence on Lewis’ writing of some of his well-known books.

The story also felt a little long; it does cover a long period of time, but dragged on for me in places. It got better towards the end, and seeing how Jack and Joy’s marriage eventually came to be was one of my favorite parts, even if it was a little bittersweet. Overall, this was an interesting, enjoyable story that I think fans of C.S. Lewis will appreciate.

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, my fellow readers! I’m so excited about the book I’m featuring for today’s edition of First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books! The Heart of a Hero, the second book in Susan May Warren’s Global Search and Rescue series, is coming out this Tuesday, June 2. This book is a great summer read – the perfect blend of high-stakes action and suspense with engaging characters. In other words, it’s quintessential Susan May Warren!

“In the daylight, Jake Silver wasn’t the devil.”

The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren

The Basics

Title: The Heart of a Hero

Author: Susan May Warren

Series: Global Search and Rescue (Book 2)

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance/Adventure

Publication Date: June 2, 2020

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. But now he can’t get her out of his head.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn’t been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he’s also dangerous, and she’s already lost one person she loves. She can’t bear it again.

It’s not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a Category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?

My Thoughts

I know I say this every time I read a new Susan May Warren book, but I can’t believe how her stories keep getting better and better! This book continues Jake and Aria’s story that began in The Way of the Brave, so we were able to jump right into the story. And of course, the action starts right from the beginning and doesn’t let up!

Jake and Aria are thrust into yet another life-threatening situation, only weeks after they escaped an avalanche on Denali. Jake truly has the heart of a hero, as he rushes to find Aria the moment he thinks she’s in danger. The twists and turns keep coming, with danger lurking around every corner. Jake and Aria are both forced to come to terms with some hard truths about themselves and their pasts, as they work together to ride out the storm.

The internal challenges Jake and Aria face are just as intense as their external circumstances, as Warren blends her signature character development with heart-stopping action. I feel just as much like I’m inside Jake and Aria’s minds, feeling their pain and their joy, as I am in the middle of that hurricane in Key West. I also loved reading more about Jake’s family, especially Ellie – no one writes about family dynamics better! And after learning more of Ham’s story, and after that cliffhanger at the end…let’s just say October (and the release of The Price of Valor) can’t get here soon enough! This book (and series) is not to be missed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the weekend. The weather is finally starting to feel like summer here in Maine, too! I just got a package from Baker Book House with some great new books that just released this month, and I can’t wait to dive in to those this weekend.

But first – it’s First Line Friday, a weekly linkup hosted by Hoarding Books! Today I’m featuring On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher, which also released in May and is set in my home state of Maine. May’s First Line Friday theme is book covers that make you happy, and the coastal scene on this cover looks pretty inviting right now!

“Just before Maddie unlocked the door to her office, she straightened the name plaque on the wall: Madison Grayson, Marriage and Family Therapist.”

On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Basics

Title: On a Coastal Breeze

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Three Sisters Island (Book 2)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

From the Back Cover: For Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can’t wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of eligible bachelors on the island–they’re all too young, too old, or too weird–Maddie feels like she’s finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.

And then Ricky O’Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again–the one who’d been her archnemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance–parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O’Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.

Time to panic.

With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.

My Thoughts

So far, this book is my favorite in the series! It can be read as a standalone, but you’ll probably get more from the story if you read On a Summer Tide first. It was fun to return to the beautiful fictional setting of Three Sisters Island in Maine! I really enjoyed Maddie and Rick’s story, as they grew from “frenemies” to friends and finally more. It was sweet to see how they balanced each other out – Maddie helping Rick focus on his health, and Rick helping Maddie face her fears – after they finally got past the heartbreaking misunderstanding that had torn them apart years earlier.

The three sisters’ relationships were also fun to see develop, as they grew closer throughout the book. The parts of Blaine’s story that were woven into the story gave us a taste of what’s in store for the next book. This is not a novel with an incredibly layered or complex plot or characters, but it is a sweet, fun, heartfelt story.

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, everyone! I’m so excited about the book I’m sharing for this week’s First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books. Today I’m featuring the first line and my review of Bethany Turner’s new release, Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish. It’s the perfect book to get lost in for a weekend! Here’s the first line:

“‘Okay, everyone! We’re back in twenty. Places, please.'”

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner

The Basics

Title: Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish

Author: Bethany Turner

Genre: Christian Romantic Comedy

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show, To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel’s other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum and is sent packing, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public’s good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love.

In the meantime, hide the knives.

My Thoughts

This is definitely my favorite of Bethany Turner’s books (so far)! With her signature witty dialogue and pop culture references, readers are transported into the world of culinary television. Max and Hadley certainly seem like an unlikely pairing as they get off to a rocky start, but their relationship is transformed in a way that feels true to their characters. I love Hadley’s southern charm, and you have to admire anyone who uses that much butter in their cooking! 😉 Max’s struggles with alcohol and anger are portrayed with grace and authenticity. The perfect mixture of sweet and savory, this book will be a winner for foodies and romantic comedy fans alike!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below, and 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. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Good morning, and happy Friday! It’s time for another First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Hoarding Books. Today I’m featuring Patricia Bradley’s new book that just released this week: Standoff.

“What had he gotten himself into?”

Standoff by Patricia Bradley

The Basics

Title: Standoff

Author: Patricia Bradley

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers (Book 1)

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It’s the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for Luke Fereday, it’s also perfect for moving drugs.

Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers. John’s daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father’s murder but soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her.

Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who’s going to keep him safe when he realizes he’s falling–hard–for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

My Thoughts

Although I haven’t been a big Patricia Bradley fan in the past, her new book sounded really interesting. I decided to give her another try, and I’m so glad I did! The setting of Natchez Trace Parkway is unique, and the author did a great job providing details and making it feel realistic. The story also features a law enforcement agency I haven’t read about in the suspense genre – law enforcement park rangers.

The first few chapters introduce quite a few characters who were a little difficult for me to keep track of at first, but the story really came together as it moved along. Brooke and Luke are great main characters, and a great pairing! Brooke is a strong female lead, as her first case as an LE ranger pulls her into a vast conspiracy that puts her family in danger. There were so many potential bad guys involved, I was guessing right up until the end!

The story has a good balance of character development and action/suspense, as Brooke and Luke reconnect after years of not seeing each other and work together to bring down a major cartel player – and find out who killed her father. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in 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, friends! Can you believe it’s May 1st already? The days and weeks all seem to blend together lately… but today is a great day, because it’s time for another First Line Friday! Once again I’m linking up with Hoarding Books, and today I’m featuring Charles Martin’s upcoming release, The Water Keeper.

“Three miles distant, the trail of smoke spiraled upward.”

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

The Basics

Title: The Water Keeper

Author: Charles Martin

Publication Date: May 5, 2020

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: A riveting new story of heroism, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds.

Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds for a church with no parishioners, and he’s dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.

When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, Murph’s mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.

With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past—and the ghosts who tried to bury them.

With Martin’s trademark lyricism and poignant prose, The Water Keeper is at once a tender love story a heartrending search for freedom, and a reminder that the needs of the one outweigh those of the ninety-nine.

My Thoughts

This is the first of Charles Martin’s books I’ve read, although I’ve heard a lot of great things about him. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when I opened this book, I encountered a beautiful, emotional, intense, engaging story!

The story was a little hard to follow at the beginning, as it seemed almost like we were starting at the end of something. It all began to make sense though, as the book went on and more details about Murph’s life were revealed. Both the action-packed plot and the multifaceted, compelling characters made the book hard to put down. With Charles Martin’s unique writing style, I almost felt like I was reading Murph’s journal and riding down the IC with him. The incredible details, intricate plot, and rich characters make this a book not to be missed!

Note: This book does deal with heavy topics, like suicide, drug use, and human trafficking. I would recommend it for older teenagers and up, depending on maturity level.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below, and 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, friends! It’s time for another First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Hoarding Books. Today I’m featuring Lisa Harris’ new release, The Traitor’s Pawn.

“Watch your back… this isn’t over.”

The Traitor’s Pawn by Lisa Harris

The Basics

Title: The Traitor’s Pawn

Author: Lisa Harris

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: When FBI agent Jack Shannon arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, he is focused on one thing: find the man who has been selling encrypted government secrets to the Chinese through online birding chat rooms. But when a senator is shot during a hunting trip and the woman he was with is abducted, Jack agrees to join the search–especially when he discovers that the kidnapping victim is Aubrey Grayson, a woman he was once in love with.

As the search continues, it becomes clear the senator may not have been the intended victim–and Aubrey may be connected to the other case Jack is supposed to be working on. Can Jack untangle the knots before it’s too late? And when he learns the truth, will it be too painful to get past?

Join the hunt for the truth–and a traitor–in this tension-laden story of secrets, betrayal, and second chances.

My Thoughts

This book started off with high intensity and lots of action, with a plot twist right at the beginning that drew me into the story! It’s part suspense and part spy thriller, with the added intrigue of Aubrey’s personal connection to a member of the spy ring she and Jack are hunting. The high-stakes action moments are nicely woven in with quieter, more reflective moments where Aubrey and Jack reconnect. The way their relationship develops feels authentic, as they work through the issues that drove them apart years earlier and she struggles to forgive her father. The story is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end! I really enjoyed this book, and I’m eagerly awaiting Lisa Harris’ next release!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below, and don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

If you’re shopping for books this weekend, check out Baker Book House! They’re offering some great sales, and free shipping!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.