Happy Friday! It’s hard to believe it’s August already! Today I’m linking up with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday and sharing the first line from Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray.

“I’m supposed to be on an airplane, flying to Central America to teach children to speak English. Instead, I’m sitting on the couch and nursing my third pint of Rocky Road ice cream, watching a Telemundo soap opera in Spanish.”

Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray

The Basics

Title: Love and the Silver Lining

Author: Tammy L. Gray

Series: State of Grace (Book 2)

Publication Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

This disaster may be just what she needed.

Darcy Malone’s dreams of mission work are dashed on the eve of fulfilling them: The Guatemalan school she was going to teach at has closed, and she’s already quit her job and given up her apartment. Stuck in her worst-case scenario, Darcy accepts an unexpected offer to move in with Bryson Katsaros’s little sister, despite the years of distrust between her and Bryson, the lead singer in her best friend Cameron’s band. But as she meets those close to Bryson, Darcy quickly discovers there is more to him than just his bad-boy persona.

Needing to find a purpose for all her sudden free time, Darcy jumps at the chance to care for and train a group of unruly dogs, with the aim of finding each a home before their bereaved owner returns them to animal control. But it’s Darcy herself who will encounter a surprising rescue in the form of love, forgiveness, and learning to let go.

My Review

In Love and the Silver Lining, we catch up with characters we first met in Love and a Little White Lie, but this one can be read as a stand-alone. Ms. Gray does a great job portraying difficult situations with redemption and grace, and this book is no exception.

When Darcy’s long-held plans fall apart, she is thrust into a season of questioning God and having to reframe her dreams and expectations – I think we can all relate to that struggle! The friendship between Bryce, Darcy, and Cam got tense and a little frustrating at times, but it was handled well. One of my favorite parts of the story was how Bryce’s friendship pushed Darcy to make some much needed changes in her life and in her relationships. His steady, faithful love for her provided a contrast to her tumultuous relationship with Cam and made him an easy hero to root for. This story full of heart, depth, and a little humor will be a hit with fans of contemporary romance!

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 First Line Friday! Today I’m sharing the newest book by one of my favorite suspense authors, Lisa Harris. The Chase is the second book in her US Marshals series – if you are a suspense fan, you will want to read this series!

“Madison James burned through the final sixty seconds of her workout on the stationary bike, then released a slow breath.”

The Chase by Lisa Harris

The Basics

Title: The Chase

Author: Lisa Harris

Series: US Marshals (Book 2 of 3)

Publication Date: July 6, 2021

Genre: Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover: US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing–it’s time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery gone wrong–and things are about to get complicated.

For these bank robbers, it’s never been about the money. It’s about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else–someone close to them–gets hurt . . . or worse.

My Thoughts

The Chase is the latest top-notch suspense novel by Lisa Harris! This series’ focus on the US Marshals opens up so many unique story opportunities. Madison’s first day back at work turns intense quickly, as she and her partner Jonas are thrust into a statewide search for four fugitives. The detailed descriptions, intriguing investigative tactics, and nail-biting action make it easy to get lost in the story!

This book builds on the first one in the series, so I would definitely recommend reading them in order. I love that the whole series is focused on the same characters, allowing their story to unfold at an authentic pace and preventing the romance from crowding out the suspense. There is also an underlying secondary storyline that is woven throughout the series, as Madison is searching for the person who killed her husband and shot her. It seems that finding even the smallest leads only brings more questions. I can’t wait to see how the series is wrapped up in the third 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 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.

Happy Friday! For this week’s First Line Friday, I’m sharing the first line from The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner.

“No matter how the world has changed over the course of my life, somehow crayons still smell the way they did when I was a kid.

The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner

The Basics

Title: The Nature of Small Birds

Author: Susie Finkbeiner

Publication Date: July 6, 2021

Genre: Split-time historical/contemporary

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When Mindy, one of those children, announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.

Though her father supports Mindy’s desire to meet her family of origin, he struggles privately with an unsettling fear that he’ll lose the daughter he’s poured his heart into. Mindy’s mother undergoes the emotional rollercoaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy’s sister helps her sort through relics that whisper of the effect the trauma of war has had on their family–but also speak of the beauty of overcoming.

Told through three strong voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.

My Thoughts

The Nature of Small Birds is a beautiful split-time novel that tells the story of how the Matthews family came to be. I love the way Mindy’s story is told from three different perspectives – her mom Linda in 1975, her sister Sonny in 1988, and her dad Bruce in 2013. All three years were pivotal times in Mindy’s life, and each part of the story provides layers of richness and depth. We see how Mindy’s life had such an impact on each member of her family, and how her arrival was the catalyst to them becoming a family marked by sacrificial love and forgiveness. The story is character-driven and reflective, moving at a slow pace that allows time for its wisdom to be absorbed. I really enjoyed this book, and I think fans of Lauren K. Denton and Valerie Fraser Luesse will as well!

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. Thank you, Revell!

Happy First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring This Time Around, a fun novella collection that just released this week.

“Allie Adams shoved the last red rose into the gaping vase and eyed the massive arrangement of blood and thorns with a scowl.”

A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter – part of the This Time Around collection

The Basics

Title: This Time Around

Authors: Denise Hunter (A Summer Detour), Melissa Ferguson (Pining for You), and Kathleen Fuller (He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not)

Publication Date: July 13, 2021

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

From the Back Cover: For lovers of happily ever afters—this collection of three light and sweet romance stories will sweep you off your feet.

In A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter, you’ll meet free-spirited Allie Adams, who undertakes a road trip to deliver her grandparents’ newly restored ’57 Chevy in time for their fiftieth anniversary party . . . along with Luke Fletcher, the former boy-next-door who callously crushed her heart.

Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson invites you to a cozy Virginia mountain town where Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. Only problem? He’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. 

Last but not least, He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Kathleen Fuller will transport you to a small town in Arkansas where thirty-five-year-old Sophie Morgan has spent years making her flower shop a success. But when this workaholic decides she’s ready to make time for dating again, she finds herself with two handsome men vying for her attention.

Whether your perfect romance involves rows and rows of Fraser firs and white pines glinting in the moonlight, childhood love that never ends, or a second chance at a happily ever after, you’re sure to find a story within this collection to warm your heart any day of the year.

My Thoughts

This Time Around is a collection of sweet second-chance romances by three fabulous authors! I already knew and loved Denise Hunter and Melissa Ferguson, so I knew I would enjoy this book. This was my first introduction to Kathleen Fuller’s writing, and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future! All three novellas feature a hero and heroine who knew each other years before and now have a chance to reconnect through some unusual circumstances. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson – I love her wit and sense of humor! All three stories are lighthearted, hope-filled, and satisfying – a delightful way to spend a couple of hours.

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 First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring Lauren K. Denton’s newest release, The One You’re With.

Summer 2000

“‘Hey, you.’ Mac heard the deep voice but was sure it wasn’t directed at him.”

The One You’re With by Lauren K. Denton

The Basics

Title: The One You’re With

Author: Lauren K. Denton

Publication Date: July 6, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Written in Lauren K. Denton’s signature Southern style, The One You’re With tells a story of marriage, choices, and what a good life really looks like.

High-school sweethearts Mac and Edie Swan lead a seemingly picture-perfect life in the sleepy-sweet community of Oak Hill, near Mobile, Alabama. Edie is a respected interior designer, Mac is a beloved pediatrician, and they have two great kids and a historic home on tree-lined Linden Avenue. From the outside, the Swan family is the definition of “the good life.” And life is good—mostly. Until a young woman walks into Mac’s office one day. A young woman whose very existence threatens all Mac and Edie have built and all they think they know about each other.

Nineteen years after a summer apart, with a family and established lives and careers, the past that Mac and Edie thought they left behind has come back to greet them. For the first time, constants in their lives are called into question: their roles as parents, their reputation as upstanding members of the community, and the very foundations of their marriage. As they wade through the upheaval in both their family and professional lives, they must each examine choices they made long ago and chart a new course for their future.

My Thoughts

Lauren K. Denton is a go-to author for richly layered stories with emotionally engaging characters. The One You’re With is a powerful story about regrets, choosing love and forgiveness, and the effects our choices have far into the future. The book alternates between Mac and Edie’s story in the present day and the summer that changed both of their lives in ways they never fully realized. Their family is confronted with the consequences of both the choices Mac made and his decision to keep those choices from Edie, and those consequences bring major upheaval to their lives.

Commitment is not something our society places a high value on, but it is the focus of this book, which I found refreshing and compelling. The story moves at a slower pace, taking the time to develop the characters fully and bringing the reader on the journey with them as they ask, “What if?” I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, especially to fans of Katie Ganshert and Rachel Hauck.

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, and happy Independence Day weekend! It’s kind of ironic that the book I’m featuring for First Line Friday takes place in Europe 😉 But The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski is still a great story that I enjoyed, and I think you will too!

October 1917

Petrograd, Russia

“The night burned red with the flames of revolution.”

The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

The Basics

Title: The Ice Swan

Author: J’nell Ciesielski

Publication Date: July 6, 2021

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into hiding in Paris’s underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.

Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family’s debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn’s life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana’s—and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.

My Thoughts

The Ice Swan is the first of J’nell Ciesielski’s books I’ve read, but it won’t be the last! This story is full of rich historical detail and dives into the fascinating time period of World War I and the Bolshevik revolution. Svetlana is a fierce heroine, doing whatever it takes to protect her family even at the expense of her own dreams. Wynn was the perfect balance for her, a caring, compassionate protector (and funny too)! Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and it was done so well in this book. Svetlana and Wynn both have to learn to be honest and trust each other, how see the best in each other, and fight for each other’s dreams. The mystery and suspense along the way add a layer of intrigue to the deftly woven plot. Fans of historical fiction 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 Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

Happy Friday! If you’re in the mood for a fun romcom this weekend, I have just the book for you! For this week’s First Line Friday, I’m featuring Plot Twist by Bethany Turner.

February 4, 2003

“Mind if I sit here?”

Plot Twist by Bethany Turner

The Basics

Title: Plot Twist

Author: Bethany Turner

Publication Date: June 15, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover: An aspiring screenwriter has a chance encounter with an actor who could be the man of her dreams. Over the next ten years, she’ll write the story . . . but will he end up being the star?

February 4, 2003, promises to be a typical day for Olivia Ross—a greeting card writer whose passion project is a screenplay of her own. But after she and a handsome actor have a magical meet-cute in a coffee shop, they make a spontaneous pact: in ten years, after they’ve found the success they’re just sure they’re going to achieve, they’ll return to the coffeehouse to partner up and make a film together. The only problem? Olivia neglected to get the stranger’s name. But she doesn’t forget his face—or the date.

For the next ten years, every February 4 is marked with coincidences and ironies for Olivia. As men come and go and return to her life, she continues to write, but still wonders about the guy from the coffee shop—the nameless actor she’s almost certain has turned out to be Hamish MacDougal, now a famous A-lister and Hollywood leading man.

But a lot can happen in ten years, and while waiting for the curtain to rise on her fate, the true story of Olivia’s life is being written—and if she’s not careful, she’ll completely miss the real-life romantic comedy playing out right before her eyes.

My Thoughts

Plot Twist is a charming, romantic story that earns its name! Each February 4 over the span of a decade brings a new plot twist to Olivia’s life, sometimes funny and sometimes tragic, culminating in an ending I never saw coming. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, but I also didn’t want the story to end!

While this book is a romantic comedy, there are plenty of serious moments that deal with betrayal, friendship, lost love, and second chances. I couldn’t help but root for the memorable characters, even when I found myself shaking my head at the missed communication and connections! The creative plot was brought to life with Bethany Turner’s signature witty dialogue and pop culture references. Highly recommended for rom-com fans!

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.

We’ve made it through another week, and you know what that means… it’s First Line Friday! Today I’m featuring Charles Martin’s newest release, The Letter Keeper.

Florence, Italy

“She didn’t move when I opened the door.”

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin

The Basics

Title: The Letter Keeper

Author: Charles Martin

Publication Date: June 8, 2021

Series: Murphy Shepherd (Book 2 of 3)

Genre: Contemporary Christian

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Combining heart-wrenching emotion with edge-of-your-seat tension, Charles Martin explores the true power of sacrificial love.

He shows up when all hope is lost.

Murphy Shepherd has made a career of finding those no one else could—survivors of human trafficking. His life’s mission is helping others find freedom.

But then the nightmare strikes too close to home .

When his new wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls are stolen, Murphy is left questioning all he has thought to be true. With more dead ends than leads, he has no idea how to find those he loves.

After everything is stripped away, love is what remains.

Hope feels lost, but Murphy is willing to expend his last breath trying to bring them home.

My Thoughts

Charles Martin’s unique, powerful writing style is on full display in The Letter Keeper – it gets to the point, keeps the story moving, and packs an emotional punch. In this book, we pick up where The Water Keeper left off, with Summer, Angel, and Ellie starting a new life in Freetown. Meanwhile, Murphy continues making enemies as he rescues more children from traffickers. This book also dives into more of his backstory, from his childhood to how he met Bones and found his calling. Now he faces his most dangerous mission yet, with the highest stakes – rescuing the women he loves. The fierce, sacrificial love Murphy shows in his fight against evil is a beautiful picture of the lengths Christ has gone to rescue us. Suspense, drama, action, and a powerfully emotional story are all wrapped up in this one book – I highly recommend it and can’t wait for the next book to round out the trilogy!

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! If you need a nail-biting suspense novel to read this weekend, look no further! Today for First Line Friday, I’m featuring Terri Blackstock’s newest release, Aftermath.

“Taylor Reid’s phone flashed as she snapped the selfie with her two friends, their heads touching and their backs to the stage.”

Aftermath by Terri Blackstock

The Basics

Title: Aftermath

Author: Terri Blackstock

Publication Date: May 11, 2021

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

A devastating explosion.

Three best friends attend a concert. Only one makes it out alive.

A trunk full of evidence.

When police stop Dustin Webb with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows there’s been a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when the officers find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.

An attorney who will risk it all for an old friend.

Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first person he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

My Thoughts

This is an intense story from beginning to end! It gets off to an explosive start when a bomb goes off at a concert – but who was the target and why? When Dustin becomes the number one suspect, he knows he is being framed and turns to his childhood friend Jamie for help. Terri Blackstock once again proves why she is one of the biggest names in Christian romantic suspense with this masterful novel!

Aftermath is part suspense and part legal thriller, as Dylan and Jamie race to find the truth before more people get hurt. It also shows the far-reaching effects tragedy can have on everyone involved – in Dustin’s life, after his turbulent childhood; in the lives of the survivors of the bombing; and in the lives of the perpetrators. In the aftermath of tragedy, we have the choice to grow and become better, or to become bitter and compound the impact by making bad decisions with ripple effects. We can choose either healing or destruction, and the contrast is stark in this book.

This is a story of friendship, second chances, and redemption as Jamie and Dustin rekindle their childhood friendship and reestablish their trust in each other. It is definitely heavier on the suspense than romance, though, with a gripping plot that keeps you guessing. The added perspective of one of the survivors of the bombing, whose story we follow throughout, also provides plenty of twists, turns, and tense moments! If you are a suspense fan looking for a book that will keep you turning pages long into the night, don’t miss Aftermath!

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! The book I’m featuring for this week’s First Line Friday is one you won’t want to miss. Sticks and Stone just released this week and is the next installment in the incredible True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series!

“The pieces of two lives sit in my brain like they should fit together, but no matter how hard I press, I can’t get them to line up.”

Sticks and Stone by David James Warren

The Basics

Title: Sticks and Stone

Author: David James Warren

Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone (Book 3 of 6)

Publication Date: June 1, 2021

Genre: Time Travel Suspense/Thriller

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Third Time’s The Charm … Or Not

Rembrandt Stone has only made things worse. This time, upon his return, he discovers his closest friendship is up in flames. Andrew Burke’s new scars reflect the havoc Rembrandt has left on his own timeline and he must go back—one last trip into the past. This time he’ll save Burke, fix his life and track down a serial killer who possess an uncanny ability to evade him through time.

When Rembrandt lands in the past and two children disappear into an epic Minneapolis blizzard, he’s in a race with time to save the children, his partner, and create a future he can live with.

Sticks and Stone—the third book in the gripping True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series—starts sprinting on page one and doesn’t slow down till the final words.

Hold onto your head…and your heart.

The continuing adventures of Rembrandt Stone from the creative minds of James L. Rubart, Susan May Warren and newcomer David Curtis Warren, writing as DAVID JAMES WARREN.

My Thoughts

Oh my goodness, what a wild ride Rem is on in his latest time travel adventure! Things have majorly shifted, both in his present timeline and in his past. Of course, it’s his own fault, as he has broken the first rule of time travel (don’t mess with the past!), but how could he not? Not only is he trying to get his old life back, but he also has the opportunity to stop a serial killer in his tracks.

As Rem bounces back and forth between the past and the present, his relationships with Eve and Burke grow ever more complicated. The effects of those relationships reverberate across time, keeping Rem on his toes. It’s becoming challenging for Rem to keep up with all of his timelines, but the authors do a great job of keeping everything straight for the reader. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Rembrandt Stone book without a major cliffhanger! I never saw this ending coming, and I have absolutely no idea how Rem is going to get himself out of this one. Good thing the next book will be out in August! If you enjoy mind-bending suspense and characters who jump off the page and into your heart, you 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 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 author as part of the launch team. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own; I was not required to write a positive review.