Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

I hope that you all had an amazing 4th of July holiday yesterday that was filled with hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans and of course a side of books!

I’m so excited to be able to show you one of my favorite summer books and to feature it as my First Line this Friday.

If forced to endure Roger Gordon for five more minutes, Marguerite Westing would die.

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad

This book is down right HILARIOUS and a definite must read, especially in the Summer. I just love Marguerite’s personality and the love triangle that she finds herself in… Don’t want to say too much!

From the back cover

Sun, summer, and a scrumptious sailing instructor. What more could a girl want? 

About the Author

Well Readers, Hope you have a wonderful weekend and if you’re currently in the middle of reading your latest must read, feel free to leave the first line of your book in the comments below.

Wanted to include a quick Happy 4th of July from my family, my dog and I! (my dog is adorable, but also a bit strange 😉)

Happy Reading! 😊

What are you reading this week?

I would love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Hi Readers, Happy Independence Day!

I would LOVE to have enough time to organize my books by color, but for now, I will just admire this Readers artwork because it reminds me of my home, the United States of America.

In celebration of America’s birthday, I wanted to share a couple of Bible verses that I read in my morning Bible reading.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 2:17 NIV

Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord .

Psalm 144:15 NIV

Hope you had a blessed Holiday, Happy Reading! 🙂

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

Is it me or is there not enough time in the day to do everything I want to do, finish or read? Well if you find a few minutes to check out a new book, you might want to check out the one I’m currently reading by Dani Pettrey!

“Never wager unless you control the stakes.” – Submerged by Dani Pettrey

This first line is from one of my favorite series and it is a DEFINITE must read. I’m telling you, this book is so hard to put down once you start it!

From the back cover

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.

One single clue.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a town that doesn’t forget. She’s returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart…but doesn’t seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he’s not the same guy she left behind.

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

About the Author

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nailbiting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her website at http://www.danipettrey.com.

On a personal note, I also had the pleasure of meeting Dani at this year’s CFRR (Christian Fiction Readers Retreat) and she was so friendly and nice – It was absolutely amazing to meet one my favorite authors!

What are you reading this week?

I would love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading! 😊

Hi Readers, Happy first day of Summer! I’m busy helping with the last day of VBS, so even though I’m a bit late, I wanted to take a second to share the first line from the book I’m currently reading, Fairchild’s Lady by Roseanna M White

“A mask provided no anonymity.”

Fairchild’s Lady by Roseanna M White

I love how mysterious this first line is!!!

From the back cover

This bonus romantic novella is set in the intervening years between Ring of Secrets and Whispers from the Shadows by Roseanna M. White. In 1789 General Isaac Fairchild travels across the Channel on a very special assignment. After surviving the American Revolution, he is now gathering information on life at King Louis XVI’s court. But he must also locate a countess and her grown daughter and escort them back to England before revolution explodes in France. He knows danger is in the task set before him, but when he meets the beautiful Julienne, a new peril beckons him deeper into the intrigue of Versailles.

About the Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at http://www.RoseannaMWhite.com

>>HEY READERS! If you want to check this book out, it’s a free novella and is available on Kindle, Nook and Google Books (maybe more!)

If you get it and read it, tell me what you think in the comments!

What are you reading this week?

I would love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading!😊

Hi Readers, Happy Monday! I’m excited to share with you a book that’s a different type of genre then I’ve featured on my blog so far… Romantic Comedy. Yes, I’ve read (and featured) Romantic Suspense and Historical Romance, but typically I don’t read contemporary romantic comedy because the few I’ve read before were a bit boring; however, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and was pleasantly surprised. So, without further ado… Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner!

Synopsis

Well, here is where I would typically give you my abbreviated version of the story; however, I feel that if I give you some of the plot, I would inadvertently give you several spoilers. That being the case, I will just give you what’s on the back cover. 🙂

From the back cover

After four years with her boyfriend, Cadie McCaffrey is thinking of ending things. Convinced Will doesn’t love her in the “forever” way she loves him, Cadie believes it’s time for her to let him go before life passes her by. When a misunderstanding leads to a mistake, leaving her hurt, disappointed, and full of regret, she finally sends him packing.

But for Will, the end of their relationship is only the beginning of his quest to figure out how to be the man Cadie wanted him to be. With the dubious guidance of his former pro-athlete work friends and tactics drawn from Cadie’s favorite romantic comedies, Will attempts to win her back. It’s a foolproof plan. What could possibly go wrong?

So what did I think?

I have to be honest, when I started reading this book and got to a mistake that Cadie and Will made, I was tempted to stop reading. Like I mentioned before, I really don’t care for this genre and this part was awkward for me to read. (I want to point out that there’s nothing graphic or inappropriate in the book, it just touches on a sensitive subject) I talked it over with a friend of mine who had already read the book and she encouraged me to finish the book before giving an opinion. So, I decided to give the book another try because I really liked the characters and the authors writing style. Amazingly enough, once I was past the first few chapters, I found myself having a hard time putting the book down because I really wanted to see what happened.

Now having finished the book, I can see why the characters went through what they did because it’s a very real possibility in our culture. The focus of the story should not be on the mistake that was made, but in how the characters responded to it. It is a true love story in which the man is desperately in love with the girl, but doesn’t know how to show it (and when he does, he’s not very successful) And as it turns out, I did enjoy the book and am very thankful that my friend told me to stick with it. (**slight spoiler alert**) I LOVED that the characters learned that they need to fix their eyes on Jesus (can I get an Amen!) and I really liked that Cadie didn’t want to hide what happened from her parents – Seriously, it’s not often that I find a contemporary story that has a child who not only loves his/her parents, but respects them enough to tell them the truth. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book to a teenager because of the sensitive subjects within the story and I’m not sure it’s one I will reread, but, I think that the book/story line is good, as long as you don’t give up within the first few chapters. So after reading the book, I give it 4 out of 5 stars. ****

Hey Readers, if you want to check more info on this book or Bethany’s other book (The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck) I’ve included the link below. http://seebethanywrite.com/

I received a copy of this book through Revell and Bethany Turner. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Happy Reading! 😊

Hi Readers, Hope you had a great weekend! I wanted to take a few minutes today to share what I thought about a book that just came out by one of my favorite authors, Karen Witemeyer.

Synopsis

Abigail (Abby) Kemp needs to have a man’s name on the deed of her bakery or the city will take it away. At the end of the hearing where she learned the fate of her bakery, the City officials give her until the end of the month to find someone to help her or she will be forced to sell it. Abby feels like the situation has gotten out of her control, but she has one more idea. All she needs to do is convince one of the men on her list to agree to a marriage of convenience… that shouldn’t be that hard, right? Setting her sights on three of the eligible bachelors that frequent her shop, she finally settles with three of them, One has a controlling mother, one has horrible breath and the other is a bit mysterious and for some reason when she is around him, she can feel her pulse quicken. Deciding to start with Zach Hamilton (the mysterious one) She prays that God will help her and courageously approaches Zach with her idea, but will he accept this unconventional solution to her situation?

After taking care of his siblings for the last several years, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free to live his life the way he wants to – with no chance of hurting or disappointing those he cares about. He was doing just fine on his own; however, God had a different plan in mind for him. One afternoon while at work, he’s approached by Abby Kemp, the baker of his favorite breakfast. At first he’s confused when he hears her hair-brained scheme; however, when she offers to marry him he immediately refuses. Abby is the sweetest lady that Zach’s ever seen and he is not worthy of someone like her; however, he does wonder if this is something that God set up… but why would God care about him, when he has strayed so far away?

Abby and Zach are the most unlikely couple, but can God use them to not only save Abby’s bakery, but also to lead each other back to the Lord? Will they ever humble themselves enough to tell each other the sin/event in the past that has a hold on each of them?

From the back cover

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn’t the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. As trust grows between Zach and Abby, she find she wants more then his rescue, she wants his heart.

What did I think?

First of course, the bookish details – This is the second book in the Patchwork Family series and although it’s part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I’ve read the first book in the series (More Than Meets the Eye) and would strongly recommend reading it as well because it gives more insight into Zach’s past and it helps you understand the weight of his burden and his guilt. (its also a fantastic book!!) I loved the characters and the chemistry between Zach and Abby is great! I like that the Abby wasn’t a skinny model, but that she had some insecurities about her weight and appearance (which most of us can relate to) and when she finally discovers that she is perfect just the way God made her and that Zach __________ (Whoops, almost gave a story spoiler!) is one of the best parts in the book. The other amazing part was when the characters discover the amazing power of forgiveness and the joy that comes from knowing the Lord has forgiven you. There were a lot of romantic moments and scenes, but there was nothing graphic or inappropriate. Overall, it was not my favorite book by her (which would be incredibly hard to choose because all her books are AMAZING) but, it was a great book and has definitely made it on my “Must Read” list. Overall I rate the story 4 out of 5 stars!****

Readers, if you want to check out more info on this book or any of her other amazing books, here is the link to her website! http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/books.html

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publisher and Karen Witemeyer. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Happy Reading😊

Hi Readers, Happy Saturday! I have a Suspense filled novel for you to check out that I promise will be hard to put down once you pick it up. Living Lies by Natalie Walters is a real nail biter and the story grabs you from the very first sentence.

Synopsis

Lane Kent has a secret, a secret that she cannot let out. Not just because it would ruin her father’s political career, but because no one would understand and they would treat her differently. Ever since her husband died, she has been dangerously depressed and the only thing keeping her from falling apart is her 5 year old son. Looking for hope, Lane goes jogging through the woods, hoping to clear her mind and unfortunately, instead of finding hope, she finds a dead body instead.

Deputy Charlie Lynch is shocked when he sees Lane near the edge of a bridge with utter despair shining in her eyes. Having previously been a soldier, he recognizes that Lane needs help and reaches out to help her; however, she brushes him off, apparently embarrassed about the scene on the bridge. Tasked with working with Lane, the two of them must work together to solve this murder before the murderer strikes again.

So what did I think?

So first the bookish details. This is the first book by Author Natalie Walters and it’s the first book in the Harbored Secrets series. I do want to point out that although there is mention of a dead body, there are no graphic details. This story touches on the sensitive subject of depression and how it not only affects the one who’s suffering, but also those around them. In the book, Lane suffers from severe depression and throughout the book you can see her struggle and then regain her footing and then start to slip again, but her friends would not let her fall because they cared too much about her. I also really liked the authors writing style which alternated between telling the story from Lane’s point of view to Charlie’s point of view . One more thing to point out that I loved was the chemistry between Lane and Charlie. Especially how the events in Charlie’s past helped him to understand a bit better what Lane was going through. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story and I can’t wait until the next book comes out. (It’s scheduled to come out later this year, so make sure you keep you’re eyes out) I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars *****

I received a copy of this book through Revell and Natalie Walters. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Happy Reading😊

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

I’m sorry that I missed talking with you last Friday, but I’m ready today and I’m excited to share the first line of the book I’m currently reading, so drum roll please…

“Rapunzel, I wish to marry you.”

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

This first line from The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson, gives us a glimpse into this amazing Rapunzel retelling and I’m telling you, it’s a story you don’t want to miss!

From the back cover

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower. Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is a New York Times bestselling author and a Christy Award winner. Her first book, The Healer’s Apprentice, won the National Readers’ Choice Award for Best First Book in 2010, and The Merchant’s Daughter won the 2012 Carol Award. Melanie spends her time daydreaming, researching the most fascinating historical time periods, and writing stories at her home near Huntsville, Alabama, where she gathers dandelion greens for her two adorable guinea pigs between writing and editing her happily ever afters. 

What are you reading this week?

I would love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading 😊

Hi Readers, Happy Monday! I cannot believe I almost forgot to show you my must read for this week. So without further ado, this week’s must read is… Brentwood’s Ward by Michelle Griep!

From the back cover

It takes a criminal to catch one, and Nicholas Brentwood is just the man for the job. Reformed in more ways than one, the rough-around-the-edges Brentwood is a member of the Bow Street Runners, London’s early nineteenth-century fledgling police force. There’s none better than Brentwood at catching the felons who ravage the city’s streets, and there’s nothing he loves more than seeing justice served.  Beautiful and beguiling, Miss Emily Payne is not the sort of miscreant Brentwood usually hunts down. When he is assigned as her bodyguard, he vows to protect her from her father’s enemies, who will stop at nothing to carry out their mission fueled by greed and revenge. 

About the Author

Hope you guys have an awesome day and thanks for stopping by! If you’re still reading this, comment below with your favorite Summer treat – after all, Summer will be here before you know it!

Happy Reading! 😊

Hi Readers, Happy Friday! Just wanted to take a quick second to share with you the first line from one of the most fantastic romantic suspense I’ve read in a while, Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl!

The seemingly deserted street was lined with empty houses, their windows as blank and vacant as the eyes of those who had become casualties in St. Louis’s war on heroin.

I know what you are thinking. You’re like “Wow, this first line is a bit intense” and it is. This first line really pulls you into the story and shows you just how bad the crime was in Mercy’s hometown. You can already feel the tension and it just builds from there!

From the Back Cover

About the Author

What are you reading this week?

I would love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading! 😊