First Line Friday — My Dearest Dietrich

21 Jun

Happy Friday! I am so excited to share the first line from Amanda Barratts historical novel, My Dearest Dietrich, which explores the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the woman who loved him. When I first heard about this novel, I thought it would make a great book club pick. The members of my group thought so too! We are discussing it next month. If you have read it, I would love to share your thoughts with them. Leave a comment with your thoughts and/or your first line! Thanks!

Be sure to head over to Hoarding Books for more fabulous first lines!

 

 

A staggering love illuminating the dark corners of a Nazi prison

Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.

Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same final fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn’t always logical.

Dietrich himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments. There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he’s unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.

With their deep love comes risk – and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.

Based on detailed historical research, this true love story is at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian . . . and the woman who changed his life.

 

ECPA best-selling author Amanda Barratt fell in love with writing in grade school when she wrote her first story – -a spinoff of Jane Eyre. Now, Amanda writes romantic, historical novels and novellas, penning stories of beauty and brokenness set against the backdrop of bygone eras not so very different from our own. Her novel My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Lost Love, releases from Kregel Publications in June 2019.

She’s also the author of My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele’s Journey, as well as seven novellas with Barbour Publishing. Two of her novellas have been finalists in the FHL Reader’s Choice Awards.

Amanda lives in the woods of Michigan with her fabulous family, where she can be found reading way too many books, plotting her next novel, and jotting down imaginary travel itineraries for her dream vacation to Europe.

Connect with her on Facebook and visit her online at amandabarrat.net.

17 Responses to “First Line Friday — My Dearest Dietrich”

  1. MrsDMVH June 21, 2019 at 10:38 am #

    Wow, I’m hooked in! Happy Friday!

  2. thebeccafiles June 21, 2019 at 11:56 am #

    I really want to read this one!

    Today on my blog I shared the first line from The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse but I’m just getting into Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham so I’ll share the first line from that book here: “After letting an involuntary squeal escape, Penny pulled the yellow papers closer and pressed her lips to them.” Hope you have a wonderful weekend with plenty of reading time!

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:59 am #

      I’ve heard wonderful things about both of those books. Enjoy!

  3. bellesmoma16 June 21, 2019 at 6:25 pm #

    Happy Friday!

    I’m currently reading The Golden Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse. I’m just beginning chapter 3, so I will share the first line from there.

    “Buttercup and Julius plodded along ever so slowly as if the past days’ circumstances were thick mud around their hooves, weighing them down.”

    Hope you have an excellent weekend! 😀❤📚

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:59 am #

      Thanks for sharing. That book is in my TBR pile!

  4. BeautyInTheBinding (@BeautyInTheBind) June 21, 2019 at 6:50 pm #

    Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing the first lines from The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep: “Was it wicked to say goodbye with a smile?”

    https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2019/06/first-line-fridays-noble-guardian-by.html

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:58 am #

      Great first line!

  5. Paula Shreckhise June 21, 2019 at 8:24 pm #

    My first line is from The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse:

    No matter how much he thought he deserved to be one, Olivia Brighton’s husband of six weeks was not a king.

    Am looking forward to reading My Dearest Dietrich.

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:58 am #

      I love that series. Have a great weekend!

  6. lelandandbecky June 21, 2019 at 8:53 pm #

    Happy Friday and Happy Weekend! My first line is from “Until Then (Women of the Heartland Book 5)” by Gail Kittleson:

    “Sent Jerry packin’, didn’t we?”

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:57 am #

      Love it! 🙂

  7. Narelle Atkins June 21, 2019 at 10:58 pm #

    I’ve heard great things about this book, too!

    Today I’m sharing on my blog the first line from Caverns of the Deep by Jeanette O’Hagan:

    Zara walked towards the tall ebony gate, the first of seven leading outside.

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:57 am #

      Thanks so much for sharing!

  8. Yvette - Bookworlder June 22, 2019 at 12:14 am #

    Happy Friday! I’m sharing from All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner today. Here is the first line of the prologue:

    “Summer 1955
    We sat at the end of the dock, my father and me.”

    • rbclibrary June 22, 2019 at 5:56 am #

      That book was so, so good! Have a wonderful weekend!

  9. Iola June 23, 2019 at 6:12 pm #

    Today I’m sharing from Entanglements by Rachel McMillan on my blog, one of the novellas in Finding Ever After. Here’s the first line from the next story in the collection, Twice Upon a Time by Ashley Clark:

    “Under no circumstances would she fall for him again.”

    • rbclibrary June 23, 2019 at 7:30 pm #

      That collection looks great!

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