Welcome to a very special First Line Friday! Each Friday I pick a book and share the first line with you. In return, I hope you’ll share with me a first line from whatever book you have at hand!
What makes this week so special? Well, I had mentioned in a post last month that one of my manuscripts was a finalist in the the Historical Romance category in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s First Impressions Contest, along with manuscripts by Dawne Beckel & Savanna Kaiser. (If anyone knows of a better link to Dawne, please let me know! You can bet I’ll be following along with their careers and looking forward to their first published novels.)
So . . . I just found out that my manuscript has WON ! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh! (Be grateful you weren’t here after I concluded my conversation with the person who called to inform me. My children have lost a bit of hearing, poor dears.)
I wish I knew how to convey in writing how stunned and honored I am. A bit ironic that I have no words, I suppose, but it’s true. I’m a bit speechless. Mostly, though, I am grateful. So incredibly grateful for the encouragement and the honor. I’m also deeply grateful for those who have sacrificed their time and efforts helping me to improve my craft. (I would list them here, but that could take all day to read and well, you know who you are. I couldn’t do what I do without you!)
As my way of paying forward the kindnesses shown to me, I’ll be celebrating this win with a very special giveaway open only to my Kathleen’s Readers’ Club members, so if you haven’t already joined, now is the time to do so! For those who are already members, keep an eye on your inbox this week for an extra special email.
The list of previous winners of the First Impressions Contest in this genre includes:
Deb Garland (who apparently won 2 years in a row!)
I’ll be keeping my eye out for books published by these ladies.
Now, on to the business of the day.
In keeping with the theme of new authors, I thought I’d share the first line from the prologue of Beneath the Heavens, Lindsey Barlow‘s debut novel which just released in October of this year.
New Hampshire 1891
Esther looked down at the letter for what must have been the hundredth time.
This book was randomly stumbled upon while I was googling one day and is now on my TBR. I started reading the prologue and found myself all the way in and starting the first chapter before I knew what had happened.
A heart guarded, a secret revealed, a love discovered – When the beautiful and coddled Abigail Silvers is sent from her parents’ lush Texas ranch to the untamed wilds of Tall Pine, Colorado, her mother is hoping that Abigail will learn independence and self-reliance. What Abigail finds among the Colorado mountain people is a community built on hard work, faith, and family––she also finds the handsome Pastor Will who, much to her dismay, seems only to have eyes for Esther, the community’s midwife hiding from a dark past. Fiercely protective of her young son Michael, Esther’s determined not to let anyone close enough to hurt them––even if that means sacrificing true love. But when the Texas Ranger Joseph Silver, Abigail’s brother, shows up, Esther’s past is unearthed and her heart is exposed. Abigail and Joseph’s brash Texas manners rattle the people of Tall Pine, but ultimately the brother and sister may be an answer to prayer the townspeople didn’t know they needed.
Now it’s your turn to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first (or your favorite) line!
Then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating:
Happy Friday, Kathleen, and CONGRATS on your win! 🙂 I’m so happy this contest brought us together and I look forward to reading your stories some day. Have a blessed Christmas!
Thank you! I feel the same. 🙂
How exciting. Congrats on the win and I look forward to reading your stories!
Thank you, Lindsey! 🙂
Congratulations on your win! How awesome is that!!!??? Very awesome!!!
Awww. Thank you so much! 🙂
Congrats on your win! I know there are a lot of entries into the contest.
The first line from the next book I’m reading is:
It was no surprise to me that I’d lost track of time.
from A Song of Home by Susie Finkbeiner
Thank you, Suzie! Losing track of time is certainly something I can relate to. Thank you for sharing. Happy Friday!
Today on my blog, I am sharing the first line from My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele’s Journey. I am currently on chapter 14, so I will share the first three lines from that chapter here.
“‘Are you busy?’ Adele looked up from the book lying in her lap. Uncle Osbourne stood at the threshold of the library.”
Umm she has a book in her lap… of course she’s busy! 😉 Thanks for sharing!
LOL!
Congratulations on your win! I hope to read your book someday!
Thank you! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Congratulations Kathleen! Happy Saturday! 🙂
Thank you so much! I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend!
Congratulations on winning First Impressions! Great news 🙂
I’ve seen Beneath the Heavens online, but haven’t read it. You make it sound compelling, which is always a good thing.
I’m currently reading Engaging The Competition by Melissa Jagears. Here’s the first line:
Harrison Gray had never heard of anyone holding a competition over mounting or dismounting a horse, but then, Charlotte Andrews could turn anything into a contest.
Thank you! 🙂
Oooh Melissa Jagears is one of my favorite authors and I haven’t had a chance to read that one yet. Thanks for sharing!
We were traveling on the 15th, so I never got to post a first line, and I don’t see a newer post. Here’s my first line from Would-be Mistletoe Wife by Christine Johnson.
“Louise Smythe spotted her quarry and motioned her students to follow her across the sand dune.”
This is a fun & interesting read about lighthouses and the Chicago Fire! Happy New Year!!
Hi Becky! Thanks for sharing! I was sick the Friday before Christmas and I am actually traveling as I type this so no FLF this week either. I will be posting my usual Monday post in a couple days and will have a new FLF post next Friday though. Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂