Happy Friday! This First Line Friday, I have a fun rom-com to share with you! If you’re looking for a book to make you laugh and take your mind off the heaviness of the world for a few hours, check out Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong.

“I hated My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

The Basics

Title: Husband Auditions

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?

Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

My Review

With the perfect blend of lighthearted humor and heartfelt authenticity, Husband Auditions is a fresh take on dating, purpose, and “adulting.” Meri and Kai seem like an unlikely match at first, but they grow on each other as they grow throughout the story. Meri’s crazy antics and Kai’s sometimes cringe-worthy job-hunting tactics (or lack thereof) make them relatable, engaging characters. Through clever wit and poignant moments, Meri and Kai’s story reminds us not to let our expectations keep us from seeing what God has for us. If you enjoy rom-coms by Bethany Turner or Melissa Ferguson, you 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 Friday! The book I’m featuring for First Line Friday this week is a great book to enjoy on a summer weekend. Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson has beautiful summery cover, and a beautiful story inside to match!

“Morning had a terrible habit of arriving too early, at least as far as Meg Whitaker was concerned.”

Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

The Basics

Title: Beyond the Tides

Author: Liz Johnson

Series: Prince Edward Island Shores (Book 1)

Publication Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

When Meg Whitaker’s father decides to sell the family’s lobster fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should take it over instead. Though she’s never had any interest in running the small fleet–or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness–she can’t stand to see Oliver Ross in charge. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.

Oliver isn’t proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg–an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, as well as a way to provide for his mother, and he’s not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.

Meg’s father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg will work the business together, and at the end of the season, he’ll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren’t what they expected.

My Review

Beyond the Tides is a charming start to Liz Johnson’s new series! I have never been to Prince Edward Island, but being from Maine, I could relate to the cool summer mornings, Tim Horton’s coffee, and descriptions of the lobstering industry. Meg is a strong heroine, a hard worker who is willing to give up her dreams to preserve her family’s legacy. Although she and Oliver were enemies in high school, he has transformed into a strong, gentle hero, keeping the lobster business afloat while supporting Meg and her family through some difficult days.

This powerful story of forgiveness and sacrificial love will have you rooting for Meg, Oliver, and the Whitaker family all the way through. I can’t wait to travel back to Prince Edward Island with the next book in the series! Fans of Courtney Walsh, Melissa Tagg, and Becky Wade will especially enjoy 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 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! This was a great week, because the next book in the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series is finally here 🙂 Set in Stone by David James Warren is the perfect book to get lost in this weekend (start with Cast the First Stone if you haven’t read the rest of the series yet!).

“What is happiness? Is it a place? A time? A choice?

I am afraid of the answer. Because if it is either of the former two, it’s lost to me.”

Set in Stone by David James Warren

The Basics

Title: Set in Stone

Author: David James Warren (Susan May Warren, James L. Rubart, and David C. Warren)

Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone (Book 4 of 6)

Publication Date: August 10, 2021

Genre: Time Travel Thriller

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Trapped in time, he’ll have to use the past to fix the present.

Thirty-eight women. Dead. All the in the past. All because Detective Rembrandt Stone played with fate, and somewhere in time unleashed a serial killer. He can’t undo their deaths, not anymore, but the serial killer is still at large, twenty-four years later, and now it’s personal. Especially when the evidence points to the last person on anyone’s radar: Rembrandt himself.
Now he’ll have to use the clues from his pasts to track down the killer in the present.

But the killer is onto him and puts the one person Rembrandt loves in his crosshairs. Now, Rembrandt must outwit time to save the people he loves.

Because time is playing for keeps.

The fourth installment of the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone will have you holding your breath and leave you gasping for more.

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 Review

For every question each new installment of this series answers, it seems like five more pop up! In Set in Stone, Rem has made it back to a timeline he thinks he can live with. He has Eve back, and he is at the top of his game in his career, on the cusp of finally finding the serial killer who has been haunting him through time. The action doesn’t let up as his search takes him from the streets of Minneapolis to the beaches of Miami, delving into his wife’s unknown (to him) past. Of course, nothing is that easy when you’re dealing with time travel, and things quickly unravel in ways he could never have imagined.

Rem’s story is a powerful reminder to stop and enjoy the happy ending you have, instead of wishing away your what-ifs and regrets. You never know how good you have it until you change the past and find out your happy life is gone! The plotting and pacing of this book (and series) are incredible, with so many interconnected timelines to bring together. Each installment provides plenty of suspense and action but leaves more to be discovered in the next book. The last two books in the series are going to be a wild ride, and I can’t wait to see how these brilliant authors tie it all together!

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! 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!