Happy Friday, friends! Today for First Line Friday, I’m featuring the newest release from a new-to-me author, Susie Finkbeiner. Her new book, Stories That Bind Us, came out last week, and it’s a story that’s sure to touch your heart.

“My Norman had never understood why I liked to hang laundry on the line when I had a perfectly good dryer inside.”

Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

The Basics

Title: Stories That Bind Us

Author: Susie Finkbeiner

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Betty Sweet never expected to be a widow at 40. With so much life still in front of her, she tries to figure out what’s next. She couldn’t have imagined what God had in mind. When her estranged sister is committed to a sanitarium, Betty finds herself taking on the care of a 5-year-old nephew she never knew she had.

In 1960s LaFontaine, Michigan, they make an odd pair. Betty with her pink button nose and bouffant hair. Hugo with his light brown skin and large brown eyes. But more powerful than what makes them different is what they share: the heartache of an empty space in their lives. Slowly, they will learn to trust one another as they discover common ground and healing through the magic of storytelling.

Award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner offers fans a novel that invites us to rediscover the power of story to open the doors of our hearts.

My Thoughts

This was the first of Susie Finkbeiner’s books I’ve read, although I’ve heard a lot of great things about her. The premise of this novel sounded intriguing and timely, and it turned out to be a beautiful story.

I really enjoyed the authenticity of the relationship between Betty and her nephew Hugo, and seeing how their love for each other helped them both in ways they didn’t know they needed. I also loved Betty’s sister-in-law Marvel and twin nephews, Nick and Dick – they provided plenty of moments that were both lighthearted and poignant! The stories Betty told Hugo were a beautiful way of tying in her memories of her childhood and the early years of her marriage with the main storyline. This isn’t a fast-moving, attention-grabbing story, but it does draw you in in a quiet, gentle way.

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!