Happy Friday! Today I am linking up with Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday and featuring Lynn H. Blackburn’s newest release, Under Fire.

Amazon | Goodreads | Baker Book House

The Basics

Title: Under Fire

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Series: Defend and Protect (Book 3 of 3)

Publication Date: March 7, 2023

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend–and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president’s protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

Sparks fly as award-winning romantic suspense writer Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her Defend and Protect series with this explosive tale of secrets kept, lies exposed, and relationships restored.

My Review

Under Fire, the conclusion to Lynn Blackburn’s series centered around a team of Secret Service agents, is the long-awaited story featuring Zane and Tessa. It is more character-driven than the rest of the series has been, although there is plenty of action and suspense – especially at the end! Zane and Tessa have been through a lot as friends, and they are both realizing the depth of their feelings for each other. The story deals with some heavy topics, including alcoholism, addiction, and abduction.

Because this book is so focused on the characters and the team, I would recommend reading the series in order rather. It is heavier on the romance and lighter on suspense than some of the other books in the series, but it was a good way to wrap up the series and finally get resolution for Zane and Tessa. Lynn H. Blackburn’s fans will love Under Fire!

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 through Revell Reads. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! I’m linking up with Reading is My Superpower for another First Line Friday and featuring a new book by a new-to-me author.

“A girl like you oughta be in pictures.”

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem

The Basics

Title: Code Name Edelweiss

Author: Stephanie Landsem

Publication Date: March 7, 2023

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

“What I am looking for―what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss―is a spy.”

Adolf Hitler is still a distant rumble on the horizon, but a Jewish spymaster and his courageous spies uncover a storm of Nazi terror in their own backyard.

In the summer of 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler is the new and powerful anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany. But in Los Angeles, no-nonsense secretary Liesl Weiss has concerns much closer to home. The Great Depression is tightening its grip and Liesl is the sole supporter of two children, an opinionated mother, and a troubled brother.

Leon Lewis is a Jewish lawyer who has watched Adolf Hitler’s rise to power―and the increase in anti-Semitism in America―with growing alarm. He believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood, the greatest propaganda machine the world has ever known. The trouble is, authorities scoff at his dire warnings.

When Liesl loses her job at MGM, her only choice is to work with Leon Lewis and the mysterious Agent Thirteen to spy on her friends and neighbors in her German American community. What Leon Lewis and his spies find is more chilling―and more dangerous―than any of them suspected.

Code Name Edelweiss is based on a true story, unknown until recent years: How a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood.

My Review

Code Name Edelweiss is a fascinating historical spy novel that takes place in the years before WWII. I didn’t realize before reading the book that it is based on a true story, and that makes it all the more captivating! This band of unlikely spies are thrown together in the midst of a Nazi plot to take over the movie industry. The charming, quirky, and engaging characters will capture your heart, and the fast-paced plot will keep you turning pages late into the night! The growth in the characters, especially Liesel, was evident as they were confronted with the evil in the world and forced to decide what they were willing to do to defeat it. Fans of historical fiction with intrigue and mystery will love this 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.

Happy First Line Friday! Today I am linking up with Reading is My Superpower and featuring Susannah B. Lewis’ latest, Della and Darby.

“Mrs. Rosie Permenter, a sixty-eight-year-old hypochondriac with self-diagnosed bursitis, bronchitis, and the bubonic plague, was a regular at the clinic.”

Della and Darby by Susannah B. Lewis

The Basics

Title: Della and Darby

Author: Susannah B. Lewis

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

Genre: Southern Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 3 Stars

From the Back Cover:

In this small Mississippi town, everyone has long memories and loud opinions.

Twins Della and Darby Redd may be identical in appearance, but they couldn’t be more different. Della is outspoken, obsessed with purple, and desperate to be accepted by her peers. Darby is introverted, creative, and sees no need to speak to anyone besides her sister and grandmother, Birdie. Due to a tragedy from their past, all three women’s lives have been blanketed in judgment, scandal, and rumor, preventing them from experiencing true peace and contentment in their small town of Clay Station, Mississippi.

When the sisters enter the final year of their twenties, Birdie and Della begin planning an elaborate thirtieth birthday bash. Della believes the party will finally win her acceptance with the in-crowd and dreams of bringing her boss, Dr. Brian Faulkner, as her date. But when Darby begins to form an unexpected friendship with her goofy coworker, Cliff, she learns through him about a scandalous secret involving Dr. Faulkner that is sure to end in disaster. Telling her sister the truth will force them both to face the reality of who they have become—and whether they still have a place in each other’s future.

In her latest novel, beloved Southern author Susannah B. Lewis explores the burden and blessing of family legacies and the moments along the way for which to give thanks and celebrate.

My Review

I have enjoyed Susannah B. Lewis’ writing in the past, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of Della and Darby. However, it didn’t live up to the charm of Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton for me. I liked the concept of a story about identical twin sisters, but I couldn’t relate at all to Della. She was stuck in the past, still trying to impress the girls who bullied her in school so many years ago, and treated her sister very poorly. Things did start to turn around towards the end of the book as the character growth was evident in both girls. Overall, this was still a good story that highlighted the power of friendship and forgiveness.

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! For today’s edition of First Line Friday, I’m linking up with Reading is My Superpower and sharing a fun new rom-com by debut author Becca Kinzer.

“Henry grimaced, not sure which irritated him more – the persistent ache in his knee or the relentless voice in his ear.”

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer

The Basics

Title: Dear Henry, Love Edith

Author: Becca Kinzer

Publication Date: January 31, 2023

Genre: Christian Romantic Comedy

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

He thinks she’s an elderly widow. She’s convinced he’s a grumpy old man. Neither could be further from the truth.

After a short and difficult marriage, recently widowed Edith Sherman has learned her lesson. Forget love. Forget marriage. She plans to fill her thirties with adventure. As she awaits the final paperwork for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she accepts a short-term nursing position in a small Midwestern town. The last thing she needs is a handsome local catching her eye. How inconvenient is that?

Henry Hobbes isn’t exactly thrilled to have Edith, who he assumes is an elderly widow, dumped on him as a houseguest for the summer. But he’d do almost anything for his niece, who is practically like a sister to him given how close they are in age. Especially since Edith will be working nights and Henry works most days. When he and Edith keep missing each other in person, they begin exchanging notes—short messages at first, then longer letters, sharing increasingly personal parts of their lives.

By the time Henry realizes his mistake—that Edith is actually the brown-eyed beauty he keeps bumping into around town—their hearts are so intertwined he hopes they never unravel. But with her departure date rapidly approaching, and Henry’s roots firmly planted at home, Edith must ultimately decide if the adventure of her dreams is the one right in front of her.

My Review

This charming story stole my heart right from the beginning! In this rom-com with an epistolary flair, Henry and Edith’s relationship starts off as a comedy of errors, with neither of them realizing the other was the one they were sharing a house with. The spark between them jumped off the page, and their witty banter made me laugh out loud! While this is a fun story, it’s not without its serious moments as they are both forced to face where their choices in life have gotten them and how they want to move forward. If you are looking for a light-hearted yet heartfelt story, in the style of Bethany Turner and Melissa Ferguson, you will love this book. I can’t wait to read whatever Becca Kinzer writes next!

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 am linking up with Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower for this week’s edition of First Line Friday and featuring Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard. If this book is any indication, this is going to be a great series!

Southeast Alaska
May

“I never should have come.”

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

The Basics

Title: Cold Light of Day

Author: Elizabeth Goddard

Series: Missing in Alaska (Book 1)

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

Genre: Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason many others are–to disappear–when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.

My Review

Elizabeth Goddard’s new series is off to an explosive start! Autumn Long’s job is already on shaky footing due to political pressure when a crime wave hits her small community. Alaska is an unforgiving place – the tough terrain makes it easy to go missing, and the wilderness is the perfect place to hide.

Grier knows that all too well, as he is there to hide from people in his past who want him dead. As he slowly trusts Autumn with more of his story, it turns out his past is intertwined with hers in a way neither of them could have imagined. Both their lives are on the line as danger closes in. Secrets, betrayal, and corruption all play a role in this fast-paced, wild ride of a story. I can’t wait to return to Alaska in 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. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! Today I am linking up with Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower for First Line Friday. The book I’m featuring this week is Roseanna M. White’s latest captivating novel, Yesterday’s Tides.

May 11, 1942
Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

“The first light of sunrise turned the water of the Pamlico Sound to gold, the clouds to rose, and the dark to morning, promising Evie Farrow that today would be just like yesterday.”

Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White

The Basics

Title: Yesterday’s Tides

Author: Roseanna M. White

Publication Date: January 24, 2023

Genre: Historical Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

In two world wars, intelligence and counterintelligence, prejudice, and self-sacrifice collide across two generations

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. But when war breaks out in Europe, their relationship is put in jeopardy and may not survive what lies ahead for them.

As the ripples from the Great War rock Evie and Sterling’s lives in World War II, it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

My Review

Yesterday’s Tides is a captivating dual-timeline story of love, sacrifice, and reconciliation. Longtime readers of Roseanna M. White will be delighted to see glimpses of characters and scenes from her previous books! Both timelines were fascinating, with the truth and connections between them unfurling at the steady pace of the tide going out, revealing a little more with each chapter.

While both heroines were compelling characters, Evie was my favorite character with her smarts, loyalty, and dedication to serving and loving the people around her. The plot was layered with espionage, adventure, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I was totally surprised by the way the two storylines came together in the end! Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction by authors like Sarah Sundin and Elizabeth Camden.

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.

Hapy Friday! Today I’m linking up with Reading Is My Superpower for First Line Friday and featuring Erin Bartels’ newest book, Everything Is Just Beginning.

“I never wanted to live at my Uncle Mike’s.”

Everything Is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels

The Basics

Title: Everything Is Just Beginning

Author: Erin Bartels

Publication Date: January 17, 2023

Genre: Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

It was just one of those nights. One of those crazy, impossible nights that change your life. Forever.

When guitarist Michael Sullivan gets kicked out of his band (and his apartment), landing a record deal seems an impossible dream. And nothing about Michael’s prospects points toward a better future. Until the invitation for a swanky New Year’s Eve party shows up in the mailbox. It’s addressed to his uncle, with whom he shares both name and living space, but his uncle is going out of town . . .

On the effervescent night of December 31, 1989–as the Berlin Wall is coming down, the Soviet Union is falling apart, and anything seems possible–Michael will cross paths with the accomplished and enigmatic young heir to a fading musical dynasty, forever altering both of their futures.

My Review

Every time I read an Erin Bartels novel, the only thing I know to expect is her expertly crafted storytelling. Each book has a unique plot that doesn’t fit neatly in a box, and Everything Is Just Beginning is no exception. I know next to nothing about the music scene of the 1980s and ’90s, but I was immediately invested in Michael and Natalie’s story! Bartels has a way of finding the beauty and significance in life’s everyday moments, and she shares them through her characters’ lives in a profound way. This moving story will make you laugh, cry, shake your head at the scrapes the characters get into, and root for their success. If you love a well-crafted story that is gripping from the first page, don’t miss this 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. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! Today I am linking up with Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday and featuring Hearts of Steel, the amazing conclusion to Elizabeth Camden’s Blackstone Legacy series.

New York City, 1890
Lower East Side of Manhattan

“Maggie Molinaro was five blocks from the safety of her uncle’s garage when she noticed the gang of boys following her.”

Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden

The Basics

Title: Hearts of Steel

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Series: The Blackstone Legacy (Book 3 of 3)

Publication Date: January 17, 2023

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

His steel empire has catapulted him to the top of the world, but loving her could cost him everything.

Maggie Molinaro survived a hardscrabble childhood in the downtrodden streets of Manhattan to become a successful businesswoman. After a decade of sacrifice, she now owns a celebrated ice cream company. But when she offends a corrupt banker, she unwittingly sets off a series of calamities that threaten to destroy her life’s work.

Liam Blackstone is a charismatic steel magnate committed to overhauling factory conditions for the steelworkers of America. Standing in his way is the same villain determined to ruin Maggie. What begins as a practical alliance to defeat a common enemy soon evolves into a romance between two wounded people determined to beat the odds.

A spiraling circle of treachery grows increasingly dangerous as Liam and Maggie risk their lives and fortunes for the good of the city. It will require all their wit and ingenuity to protect everything–and everyone–they hold dear.

My Review

Hearts of Steel is the fantastic conclusion to the Blackstone Legacy series! I would definitely recommend reading the series in order to get to know the other members of the Blackstone family and learn more of Liam’s backstory. Maggie and Liam are characters you can’t help but root for, quirks and flaws and all. They work through their challenges in life, business, and relationships with grit and faith.

Major cultural and industrial shifts took place at the turn of the century, and that Gilded Age history comes to life in this story. I love Liam’s heart for justice and his desire to be a good man and honor his father’s legacy. Maggie is just the right blend of sweetness and spunk, caring for those around her even when it means putting herself in jeopardy. This story of courage and of becoming who you are meant to be in Christ is gripping for both the heart and mind. Highly recommended for fans of Roseanna M. White and Amanda Dykes.

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! For today’s First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, I’m featuring What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson.

“Faith Byrne’s carefully laid plans took advantage of unplanned distractions and skipped town, never to be seen again.”

What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson

The Basics

Title: What Happens Next

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Publication Date: January 17, 2022

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

“Everyone has a story, and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing.”

Popular podcaster and ex-reporter Faith Byrne made a name for herself telling stories of greatness after tragedy–but her real life does not mirror the stories she tells. While her daughters spend the summer in Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife, she must manage life on her own. All of that changes when she’s asked to spotlight her childhood best friend’s missing person case on her podcast.

Dora Crane has never accepted that her younger daughter could be dead, keeping her home looking the same as when her daughter disappeared. But when her husband leaves her and her older daughter intervenes, she agrees to counseling and to pack up her missing daughter’s belongings under one condition: Faith Byrne comes to Deep Valley and sheds light on the cold case.

As the long-abandoned investigation moves forward, old wounds and long-buried secrets are exposed. Will these two women, whose lives have never been the same, finally get the answers they need to reconcile the past and the future?

My Review

This is a heartfelt, emotional story, with storylines alternating between Heather’s childhood in the past and the present search for answers about her disappearance. It is a story of grief, loss, and betrayal, but also forgiveness and healing. I certainly wouldn’t call it suspense, but the element of mystery kept me turning pages for more. This is not a light-hearted story, but if you are looking for beautiful writing that deals with the depths of human emotions and faith in the face of tragedy, don’t miss What Happens Next.

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! For today’s First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, I’m featuring the latest nail-biter from Lynette Eason.

Monday, November
Outside Washington, DC

‘”A third victim has been found and a serial killer is once again thought to be terrorizing the Northeast – just east of the territory Peter Romanos paralyzed with his string of murders,’ Rachel Goodwin reported from her position outside the prison.”

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

The Basics

Title: Critical Threat

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Extreme Measures (Book 3 of 4)

Publication Date: January 3, 2023

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Working with the son of a serial killer? That’s a first.

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn’t mean they’re not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer–in prison but certainly not out of Sam’s life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with startling similarities to Peter’s MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They’ve met before, and though Grace thought they’d made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They’ll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case–especially because it’s about to get personal.

My Review

Lynette Eason never ceases to amaze me as each of her books is more unique and heart-pounding than the last! In Critical Threat, the stakes are high as a serial killer claims more victims. The action is fast-paced, the plot is engaging, and the characters are authentic and relatable. Both Grace and Sam have fascinating backgrounds and careers as psychiatrists, making this book almost impossible to put down! I appreciated the faith thread and the friendship that forms the basis of this series. Fans of romantic suspense won’t want to miss this series, and I can’t wait to see how it wraps up in the next and final 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. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!