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First Line Friday — City of The Dead

11 Jun

This summer I will be featuring books that have been on my TBR shelf for a long, long, looong time! I really need to find time to read these books. Today I’m featuring City of The Dead by T. L. Higley. Part of the Seven Wonders series, it is set amidst the building of the Great Pyramid. Have you read it it? Tell me why I need to move it to the top of the pile.

Here’s the first line:

In my dreams, it is often I who kills Amunet.

Up from the sands of Egypt rises the Great Pyramid, where Hemiunu, Pharaoh’s Grand Vizier, commands the historic building project as he orders his life — with justice, truth, and precision. But when a series of murders at the site threatens chaos, Hemi must abandon his legacy to hunt down the killer who may be closer than he would like to think. Can he restore justice to the city before his careful life and work are destroyed, or will a mysterious people and their strange God uncover the secret past that Hemi has tried to forget?

Tracy Higley in her own words:

I’ve been writing adventure stories since the time I first picked up a pencil. I still have my first “real” novel–the story I began at the age of eight during a family trip to New York City.

Through my childhood I wrote short stories, plays for my friends to perform (sometimes I had to bribe them), and even started a school newspaper (OK, I was the editor, journalist and photographer since no one took that bribe to join me). Then there were the “drama years” of junior high, when I filled a blank journal with romance and poetry. Sigh.

In my adult years I finally got serious about publishing suspense fiction, and have since authored twelve novels in twelve years. 

When I’m not writing, life is full of other adventures–running a business, raising kids, and my favorite pastime: traveling the world.

I started traveling to research my novels and fell in love with experiencing other cultures. It’s my greatest hope that you’ll feel like you’ve gotten to travel to the settings of my books, through the sights, sounds, smells, colors, and textures I try to bring back from my travels and weave into my stories. 

To experience my travel journals and see the romantic settings of my books, I hope you’ll visit my website at TracyHigley.com or meet up with me on Facebook at facebook.com/tracyhigley.

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First Line Friday — On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor

4 Jun

Happy Friday! I am ready for another great weekend read. How about you? I’m headed to our mountain cabin and taking along On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright. I’ve already started this novel and know I’m in for a shivery good time!

Here’s the first line:

He had ruined death for her, and the hope of it.

1885. 

Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor–a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior–Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life. 

Present day. 

Kailey Gibson is a new nurse’s aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secrets and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She’ll have to risk it all to banish the past’s demons, including her own.

Jaime Jo Wright loves to read — and write — fiction with elements of mystery, faith, and romance from her home in Wisconsin. She’s a coffee drinker by day and night, lives in dreamland, and exists in reality.

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First Line Friday — Power Play

28 May

Happy Friday! With a long weekend in front of me, I’m looking forward to a lot of good reading. First up on my list is Power Play by Rachel Dylan. I have been eagerly awaiting the final book of her Capital Intrigue series and snagged an early copy. But you don’t have to wait too long to get your hands on your own copy. Release day is June 1. Haven’t read the first two books? What are you waiting for? Get all 3 to jumpstart your summer reading. 🙂

Here’s the first line:

It’s going to be a long night.

When State Department attorney Vivian Steele witnesses two ambassadors collapse as if poisoned at a diplomatic dinner in Washington, DC, she is recruited to be a member of a joint FBI task force assigned to investigate. But she soon finds her by-the-book ways clashing with a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, Jacob Cruz. A former Navy SEAL and in charge of the event’s security, Jacob takes the attack personally and is driven to act quickly, even ahead of the rules and regulations. 

As Viv starts to work her diplomatic sources, her past as a State Department lawyer comes back to haunt her, and secrets held tightly by the government thrust her into a web of danger. Afraid, Viv turns to the one man bent on protecting others. But can she accept Jacob’s reckless ways as exactly what she needs to stay alive and to discover the truth behind the attacks?

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade including being a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids — two dogs and three cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers. You can find Rachel at http://www.racheldylan.com.

For more First Line Friday fun, head over to Hoarding Books.

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First Line Friday — At Lighthouse Point

7 May

Happy Friday all! I think I am actually getting back into the reading swing of things! It’s been a slow couple of months, but I have just finished a fabulous book (Aftermath by Terri Blackstock) and am ready to begin reading At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I loved the first two books in the Three Sisters Island series and cannot wait to return to the quaint and quirky Maine island.

Here’s the first line:

It was a long way home.

Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan — to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor’s kitchen has been badly remodeled by her sister, Cam, who doesn’t know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands.

As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined. 

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the coast of Maine for a story that reminds you to release what doesn’t matter and cling to what does: faith, family, and friendships.

Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

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For more First Line Friday fun, head over to Hoarding Books.

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First Line Friday — Never Miss

30 Apr

Happy Friday! After all the months of wedding prep, I am finally getting back my reading rhythm! It’s a struggle, but I have so many great books to finally dig into. One of those is by new-to-me author Melissa Koslin. I received Never Miss a few days ago — it looks so, so good! Here’s the first line(s):

“Sarah Jeane Rogers,” she muttered. “Elizabeth Jeane Jones.” Which ID to use this time?

Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him — and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there’s no one they can trust — except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.

For more First Line Friday fun, head over to Hoarding Books!

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First Line Friday — Night Fall

23 Apr

Happy Friday! One week since my daughter’s wedding and I am still recovering. LOL! I’m at her house readying it for the newlyweds’ return. So what am I doing in between sorting and cleaning and straightening? I am trying to squeeze some reading in. I am so behind!

Waiting on me when I got back home last Sunday, was a fun book surprise. Night Fall by Nancy Mehl is my book club’s May selection, and I was thrilled to find it in the mail stack. I can’t wait to read it.

Here’s the first line —

His mother sat in the chair next to his bed, reading from The Book.

Now that Alexandra “Alex” Donovan is finally free of her troubled upbringing, she’s able to live out her childhood dream of working for the FBI. But soon after she becomes a member of the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, authorities in Kansas and Missouri contact them about bodies found on freight trains traveling across the country — all killed in the same way.

Alex never expected to be forced to confront her past in this new job, but she immediately recognizes the graffiti messages the killer is leaving on the train cars. When the BAU sends her to gather information about the messages from her aunt in Wichita, Kansas, Alex is haunted by the struggles she thought she’d left behind forever.

In a race against time to solve the case while battling her own weaknesses, Alex must face how far she’ll go–and what she’s willing to risk — to put a stop to the Train Killer.

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored thirty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: http://www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!

For more First Line fun, check out Hoarding Books!

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First Line Friday — Hope Between The Pages

9 Apr

Happy Friday! Today I am heading up to our cabin for a week — a wedding week! My daughter is getting married in 8 days!!! I may not be around the old blog for a while, but I wanted to share a great book for this week’s First Line Friday. Hope Between The Pages by Pepper Basham is part of the Doors to The Past series. This dual timeline novel set in Asheville, North Carolina begins with a first line to intrigue any book lover.

And here it is:

Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale.

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can get to know Pepper on her website, http://www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley.

For more First Line fun, check out Hoarding Books.

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First Line Friday — Blackberry Beach

2 Apr

I am so excited to return to Hope Harbor, Oregon with Irene Hannon. I will be reading Blackberry Beach soon. This contemporary romance series has everything I like — relatable characters, charming setting, wise taco truck owner, and a couple of incorrigible seagulls 😉 . Here’s the first line:

The mystery woman was back.

Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted — fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn’t she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she’ll be able to calm the storm inside.

Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss — and he has no plans to change the life he’s created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He’s had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you to come home to Hope Harbor — where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA. Irene invites you to visit her at her website, http://www.irenehannon.com

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First Line Friday — A Tapestry of Light

26 Mar

I have been reading A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy this week — what a great experience! The first half of the book is set in Calcutta in the late 1800s. Duffy wonderfully brought historic India to life for me. Now that main character Ottilie is in England, the stark contrast of that country with the vivid aliveness of India is not lost on her or the reader. This book will definitely be on the best of the best list for 2021. My review will be posted next week, but for now here is the first line:

Hardly anyone was buried at South Park Street Cemetery anymore, and yet Ottilie Russell had spent more time there during her twenty years than any other soul living in Calcutta.

Calcutta, 1886.

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie’s English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home. 

But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn’t forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.

Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio. When she’s not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes readers back in time and across oceans. Her books feature ahead-of-their-time heroines, evocative settings, and real-life faith. Kimberly loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of 20 years. He doesn’t mind.

You can find Kimberly at:

http://www.kimberlyduffy.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyDuffy/
https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyduffyauthor/

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First Line Friday — Present Danger

12 Mar

Happy Friday! It is definitely looking like Spring around here. I have azaleas and pear trees blooming in the yard. Of course, southern snow –aka pollen — is everywhere too! This week I am sharing a book that is on my Spring TBR list. I cannot wait to dig in. Present Danger, book 1 in Elizabeth Goddard‘s Rocky Mountain Courage series releases April 6th, but you can pre-order now.

Here’s the first line:

 

Chance Carter should have known this last delivery wouldn’t go down without a hitch.

 

Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.

When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

Join bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard as she plunges you into a web of deceit made of hidden crimes, open threats, and long-buried family secrets in this gripping first book of an explosive new series.

 

 

With over one million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies — a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire, and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

To get book news sign up for her newsletter at her website: http://elizabethgoddard.com
Follow her on Bookbub! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-goddard
You can connect with Elizabeth on Facebook: http://facebook.com/elizabethgoddardauthor
or Twitter: http://twitter.com/bethgoddard

 

For more first line fun, head to Hoarding Books.

 

 

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