Welcome to 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!
Today I’m sharing the first line from A Sweetwater River Romance by Misty M. Beller. I’ll be sharing my full review of this book on February 19th, so be sure to check back then!
Choosing the first line for this novel was a bit tricky as it truly began with a copy of the advertisement written by Tori Boyd “Seeking a literate person in the western territories willing and eager to correspond with an easterner on a variety of topics.”, then Ezra’s initial letter in response, and then jumped to present day. In the end, I decided to share the first line from Ezra’s initial response to the advertisement:
Dear T.B.,
In response to your advertisement seeking a partner in correspondence, I find the idea more than a little intriguing.
Taking flight from their quiet Pennsylvania town seems like the only way for Tori Boyd to protect her dearest cousin’s virtue. And the success of their escape may now depend on the man she’s been writing letters to for over a year now in the vast wilds of the Wyoming Territory.
Ezra Reid has finally stepped out from under the shadow of his older brother and sister, now having full responsibility to man the Rocky Ridge Stage Stop through the winter. The success or failure of the stage and telegraph contracts falls squarely on his shoulders, and he’s entirely focused on the work – at least until his mysterious correspondence partner shows up on his doorstep.
As Ezra takes on the search for a proper situation for Tori and her cousin, there seem to be no good options for the ladies. Especially since Tori won’t even discuss the one option that might succeed – marriage. When the danger chasing the women takes on a form none of them anticipated, how far will Ezra have to go to keep the Tori and her cousin safe? It’ll take a lot more than luck to ensure his heart is the sole casualty.
Be sure to sign up to follow my blog so you don’t miss out on my full review of this novel!
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:
Well, I’m always a fan of books with literate characters!
I’ve got the first line from The Saturday Night Supper club up on my blog, and I’m currently reading another great contemporary romance – Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh. She’s one of my new favourite authors. Here’s the first line:
“I can’t believe she did this to me again.” Abigail Pressman stared at the computer screen in disbelief.
That sounds like a sweet story. Thanks for sharing! Happy Weekend!
Happy Friday!
My first line comes from a book I will be reading soon, August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski…..
I started wearing my grandmother’s old cat-eye glasses in June, right after my latest crush nearly crushed me.
Have a great weekend and stay warm!
Well, that is an interesting connection. I’m intrigued. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I am featuring A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith on my blog. But here I’ll share the first (few) lines from the book on top of my TBR pile, Steal Away Home by Billy Coffey. “We cross the river when I see in the rearview that the cabbie has something to say to me. His voice carries over the traffic and jackhammering and the bustle of the city: ‘You ain’t got a chance, you know that. Right? My guys, they’ll murder ya.'”
Happy Friday!
Hmm. Hopefully that’s a hyperbolic statement. 😉
Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your weekend!
I’ve seen this one around the blogosphere quite a bit this week. Sounds like a good read.
Four years to the day after the alien planet arrived above Earth, Sofi’s papa had collapsed on the rickety front porch of their buttermilk-yellow farmhouse. –Reclaiming Shilo Snow by Mary Weber
Wow. I’m not sure I’ve heard of a “planet” arriving. That is certainly a different twist.
I’ve been considering reading the first book in that series, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow. Have you read that one? Would you recommend it?
This looks like something I need to add to my TBR! Thanks for sharing!
I’m featuring “The Saturday Night Supper Club” by Carla Laureano on the blog today, but my first line here will be the book I’m currently reading, “Across the Blue” by Carrie Turansky.
February 1909
Isabella Grayson’s shoes sank into the plush red carpet of Broadlands’ south hall, and she released a soft sigh. What luxury!
Happy reading and have a wonderful weekend!
It always makes me happy to connect another reader with a good book! 🙂
One of Carrie’s books is on my TBR for this month. https://kathleendenly.com/kathleens-tbr/
Thanks for sharing!
An intriguing beginning. It makes you wonder about the secrets the book will reveal. My first lines as come from my favorite cat stories, Joe Grey and his friends. It is now beginning the second generation of the sentient cats.
One of my favorite things about the book is how what started out as a simple relationship takes a very unexpected turn.
Hmm. I don’t think I have ever read a book about sentient cats.
Thanks for sharing!
A unusual turn is always great. The are cats are often called talking cats. I like animal stories especially the ones where the animal is a main character. The first is funny as Joe and Dulice realized can talk and a Villiam knows this fact and wants to kill them.
I love Misty’s books! I need to read this one!
Yes, I have so many of hers on my TBR. Just not enough time to read all the books I would wish, as quickly as I would like. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Happy Friday!
Over on my blog, I am featuring Heather B. Moore’s novel, Worth the Risk. I am very excited to read that book. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
Here, I will post from the novel I am currently reading, A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green. It is an AMAZING story that I am enjoying wholeheartedly. I am just starting chapter 29, so I will share the first two lines from this chapter.
Asylum, Pennsylvania
July 1795
Still damp with morning’s dew, the cool earth soiled Vivienne’s apron as she knelt in her garden, tugging weeds from between iris and yarrow. Geese soared overhead, soft brown chevrons against a sky of robin’s-egg blue.
Oh, I love vivid description like that! Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
This one definitely interests me. Thanks for sharing. On my blog, I’m featuring Wilted Dandelions by Catherine Ulrich Brakefield. Here I will share the first line of the book I’m currently reading, Rumors and Promises by Kathleen Rouser. Stone Creek, Michigan, 1900. “Sophia Bidershem jerked awake as the train whistle blew.” I wish you a wonderful weekend.
If you’re on the fence, make sure you stop back on the 19th to read my full review. That should give you a clear picture of whether it’s your cup of tea or not. 🙂
Is it wrong to be jealous of a book character? I read that first line and thought: “Oh that sounds like a fantastic start to a day. On a train headed somewhere.” Nope, doesn’t really matter where. I just love traveling. LOL On the other hand, being that it is the start of a story, I’m guessing her day won’t be going as smoothly as my dream day would. 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Intriguing first line! Happy Friday!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend.
Josie Gallagher gripped the letter from the county manager’s office with tight hands. – Her Secret Daughter by Ruth Logan Herne
Happy Friday and Happy Reading! 🙂
Oooh. With that title, I have a guess what’s in the letter. 😉 Thanks for sharing!
I really want to read Misty’s books. Happy Friday! My first line is from Forward to What Lies Ahead by Chloe S. Flanagan:
“Regina’s cellphone buzzed sharply, shattering the silence of her apartment and making her coffee table vibrate.”
I can totally hear that. I’m also picturing it sort of jiggling across the surface of the table. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like an interesting read!
I’m featuring Jennifer Rodewald’s Valentine’s Day novella on my blog, but at the moment I’m refreshing my memory on Mary Weber’s The Evaporation of Sofi Snow:
“The ice-planet arrived in the dusky heat of summer twilight during Earth’s Fourth World War.”
Have a great weekend.
Hmm. That is the second time in the last few days that that series has come up. I wish it were available on Audible. I don’t have time to add a standard read to my schedule right now. Adding it to my TBR, though. 🙂 Hope you enjoyed your weekend!