Hi Everyone! It’s First Line Friday, so grab a book near you and share your first line in the comments below!
Today I’m sharing the first line from a novella I recently read and loved: Facade by Pepper Basham. But before I share that line, can we just pause a moment to drool over this cover? I mean . . . it’s just gorgeous!
*discretely wipes mouth with napkin* Okay, now that that’s done, here is the first line:
Yet another grand display of extravagance and the idiosyncrasies of the social dance.ย
A reclusive academic who would do anything to save her brother.
A reluctant spy whoโd risk is life to save the woman who broke his heart.
Olivia Rakes has almost mythic observations skills when it comes to facts, figures, and details, but she stumbles through matters of the heart. When her brother goes missing over German-occupied France, Livy enlists her services with a group of search-and-rescue spies, who not only thrust her toward espionage, danger, and deceit, but the most frightening of allโฆromance.
Agent Christopher Dawson has avoided Livy Rakes since she broke his heart three years ago. Which is probably for the best, since, as a British spy, he could very well die any day and pursuing a romantic relationship is not on the agenda for him. But when the search for a downed-pilot brings them together on a secret mission, the heart takes on a mind of its own.
In a world where war changes the rules of life and love, can Christopher and Livy work together to complete their rescue mission before the enemy catches them first.
Okay, so I don’t normally share a review in my First Line Friday posts, and this isn’t going to be my usual type review, but I can’t help sharing my thoughts with you!
Perhaps it is because I’d just finished watching Churchill’s Secret Agents: The New Recruits, or perhaps it’s because I’m such a fan of PBS’sย Sherlockย and Basham’s heroine reminded me of a female version of the infamous detective, but this book simply fascinated me from the first scene to the last page.
The heroine is unlike any other I’ve ever read. For that reason, her relationship with the hero is also unlike any I’ve read before. Despite its uniqueness, or rather, I think, because of it, the love which the two of them share is deep and special. You just want to wrap yourself in their romance like a soft, warm blanket on a wintery day. (CLICK to TWEET)
When you combine this with a plot that throws twist after twist at you and keeps you turning pages to see what will happen next . . . this isn’t a book to start if you want to get any sleep.ย But it is not a book you want to miss out on! I highly recommend adding this novella to your TBR!
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Now it’s your turn to grab the book nearest 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!
Today I shared the first line of one of my next reads In Another Time by Caroline Leech. It’s a YA historical romance set during WWII in the Scottish Highlands. Here, though, I’ll share something from the book I am currently reading, See All the Stars by Kit Frick. I’m on chapter 31 now so I’m going to share the first line of that chapter.
MARCH, JUNIOR YEAR
(THEN)
I grabbed Jenni before fourth, on our way into the sky dome.
Enjoy your weekend. May it be filled with great books ๐๐
Thanks for sharing!
I need to read that book! My first line is from Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll — “Surely that wasn’t . . . it couldn’t be . . .” Happy Friday!
Oh, but I bet it is! LOL Thanks for sharing!
Oh, I loved reading this one from Pepper Basham! Such a fantastic story!! On a side note, I need to find out how you set up the tweet link for people to click on to tweet! ๐
It was such a great read! I was really happy with the whole collection it originally released in, but this one was extra special for the reasons I mentioned.
I will message you about making tweetables. ๐
Oh MY WORD!!!! This just made my entire week, Kathleen!!!!!!!! I loved loved loved writing Livy and Christopher’s story. Christopher took longer to create because I had to find the right match for Livy and her unique personality, but I never imagined loving this ‘storyworld’ as much as I did!! Spies!!! I love spies!!! Thank you! Thank you! for loving this story too ๐
I think how much you loved and worked on this came through in the story and that’s why it is so great to read. Thank you for all your heart and hard work. I love getting to share great reads and that is what you gave us readers – a great read. ๐
My First line is from Death At Thorburn Hall by Julianna Deering
Madeline Farthering gripped her husbandโs arm a little more tightly as they made their way through the mass of people crowding Waverley Station, certain that if they were separated in the chaos sheโd never be able to find him again.
Read Facade and has cemented my love of all things Pepper!
Historical stories are always so interesting–happy Friday!
I know *I* think so. ๐ Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Friday! ๐
My first lines come from a book I will be reading soon, Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin…….
At what point did a person realize that the special moments in life streak by in a flash, distilled into memories before they could be truly lived? Mary Katherine Ropp stood motionless in the middle of her kitchen, a platter holding a two-layer German chocolate cake covered in whipped cream cheese frosting nestled in her hands.
Have an awesome weekend and happy reading!๐๐๐
Hmm that is a rather pessimistic opening. Happy Friday!
I agree I love the cover art!! Adding this one to my TBR ๐
The book I am sharing on my blog today is A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal but the book I’m currently reading is The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright. Since it was my FLF last week I’ll share the first line from chapter 20 where I am now: “‘You know you live in a creepy old house, don’t you?’ Christen stood from her chair at the kitchen table and retrieved the bag of mint Oreos from the counter.” Hope you have a great weekend with plenty of reading time! ๐
Mmm mint oreos! Thanks for sharing!
LOVE Pepper’s books! Happy Friday! My first line (actually first 2 and the little poem before) is from “A Little Ray of Sunshine” by Kimberly Rae Jordan.
“(Shadows around me, shadows above me
Never conceal my Savior and Guide:
He is the light, in Him is no darkness,
Ever I’m walking close to His side.)
Ryan McFadden looked at each of the men gathered around the large boardroom table. He searched the familiar faces for any sign of the unease that sat so heavy in his gut.”
Cute poem. Thanks for sharing!
Happy Friday, Kathleen! I LOVE Pepper’s books!!!!!!
My first line comes from Long Way Gone by Charles Martin.
I’d seen him before.
Thanks for sharing! Happy Friday!
Happy Friday! Iโm featuring lines from Julia Wolfโs Cut Free on my blog today.
Here, Iโm sharing lines from Susan Stokerโs Defending Allye.
โSo Iโll see you back at the rendezvous point, right?โ Black asked.
โAbsolutely,โ Gray told his friend and partner as he readied himself to slip over the side of the fiberglass boat into the Pacific Ocean.
I do love the cover and the story was just as beautiful. Pepper Basham has become a must-read author for me.
I’m about to start Hiding in Plain Sight by Mary Ellis, so I’ll share that first line here:
It wouldn’t have taken much to turn a lousy day into something left of atrocious.
Happy Friday!
That is a gorgeous cover! I’m sharing from True Grit by Charles Portis today, here is a line from the ebook at 7%:
“If Papa had a failing it was his kindly disposition. People would use him. I did not get my mean streak from him.”
Happy Friday!
On my blog, I’ve shared the first line from Kim Vogel Sawyer’s upcoming novel Ours For a Season. Right now, I’m just finishing up As the Tide Comes In by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall. I’m going to share the first line from chapter 36 here:
“Luella drove toward church as Tara fidgeted with notes to her speech.”
Hope you have a great weekend filled with relaxing reading time! ๐๐