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First Line Friday — Taken Without A Trace

7 Aug

I am so excited for the upcoming release of Taken Without A Trace, the newest romantic suspense by Hope Welborn. Hope is a fantastic author, and I can’t wait to dig into this book! It releases on August 25, 2026.

For now, here’s the first line:

He was going to die.

A missing person case . . . or a deadly cover-up?

Georgia Special Agent Cash Brenner gets an anonymous tip on a cold case that’s haunted him for years—but following the lead has him walking into a deadly ambush. He’s saved by his ex, private investigator Maya Reid, who is on a mission to find her missing sister. As eerie similarities between their investigations emerge and Cash grapples with memory loss from the attack, they must put their rocky past aside to find answers. With danger lurking at every turn, Cash and Maya need to act quickly to solve the case and locate Maya’s sister—or risk losing everything they hold dear.

Hope Welborn writes spine-tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. Her manuscripts have won the ACFW Genesis Contest and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Foundations Awards in romantic suspense.

As a #writerwithadayjob, she spends her lunch hours creating small town characters who face big suspense with faith in a big God. By day, she masquerades as a digital content marketing technology specialist, and by night, she stays up too late putting words on the page.

Hope also serves as editor and web manager for Spark Flash Fiction and is a member of the Suspense Squad.

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First Line Friday — The Spring in Trulee Holler

31 Jul

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring a novel by a new-to-me author — The Spring in Trulee Holler by Jana Hutcheson. This book has everything that thrills my reader heart — a small, Southern town, tough issues, and an intriguing plot. Give it a look. I’ll be reviewing this book in September.

Here’s the first line:

If you’d asked a few months ago, I would’ve told you Trulee was the most ordinary place on earth.

Jess Lockhart thought she’d fought her hardest battle when she beat a rare form of lymphoma. But months into remission, it’s fear of the unknown-especially of cancer’s return-that’s stealing her future. Once an aspiring fashion designer, she’s lost her drive to create and now spends her days working at her father’s hardware store in rural Trulee, Alabama.

When a young botanist rents the barn-loft apartment on her family’s property, Jess thinks she’s finally found something to take her mind off her mortality. Not only is Silas Haney strikingly handsome, but he’s irresistibly mysterious. His cryptic remarks and odd behavior suggest he’s hiding something. Then an accident exposes his secret: Silas once drank from a spring that made him immortal. Now he’s searching for the spring once more, hoping the tree that legend says grows from it can reverse the eternal youth he now sees as a curse. And that spring lies hidden in the woods behind her house.

Convinced the spring is the answer to her problems, Jess blackmails Silas into taking her along on his quest. But as forced companionship turns into affection, Jess begins to question whether escaping the fear of death is the same as truly living. When a crisis arises, Jess must decide: Will she trust God with her future or scoop destiny into her own hands?

Jana Hutcheson lives and teaches in the same small Alabama town where she grew up. A public-school teacher for over thirty years, she holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in elementary education from the University of North Alabama. The Spring in Trulee Holler is her debut novel. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found taking long afternoon walks, reading on her patio bed swing, and spending time with her family.

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First Line Friday — All The Suspects on Campus

24 Jul

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to feature Heather Day Gilbert’s upcoming release, All The Suspects on Campus. Heather has been a must-read mystery author for a long, long time! A secret library, an amateur sleuth who loves Agatha Christie — this cozy mystery checks all the boxes. I cannot wait to read it! It releases in January 2027 and is ready for pre-order!

Here’s the first line:

“I find it hard to believe he could love anyone at all.”

A secret library. A murdered colleague. Can professor Jo Blue Oliver use her love of Agatha Christie to solve a case?

Jo Blue Oliver, an outspoken English professor at a small West Virginia college, has made a fascinating literary discovery in her new home: a hidden library tucked behind a secret door. The cozy room is stocked with an entire leather-bound collection of Agatha Christie books—the perfect setting for a private book club with her college-grad daughter, Millie.

Unfortunately, before the first meeting even takes place, fellow English professor Lucas Clements is found strangled in the campus pool. Then a skittish young student named Avery is reported missing. Noticing parallels to one of Dame Agatha’s classics—their first book club pick—Jo Blue can’t resist doing a little sleuthing of her own.

But if there’s one thing any Agatha fan should know to expect, it’s a plot twist—and a rising body count. Jo Blue’s library is just one of many secrets in this college town…and some of them are downright deadly…

Heather Day Gilbert, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award winner and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. She also writes Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.

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First Line Friday, Christmas in July Edition — Christmas in The Castle Library

17 Jul

Happy Tuesday! Is Christmas in July still a thing? Well today on By The Book it is! Today’s featured first line is Christmas in The Castle Library by Ann Swindell. My copy came courtesy of a book swap by my book club. I haven’t read it yet, because I generally start my Christmas reading mid-November. But that should probably change. What do you think? When do you start reading Christmas books?

Here are the first lines:

Ellie Sawyer looked at the time in the corner of her computer screen. One minute left.

Ellie Sawyer has always felt more comfortable with books than people, which explains why she’s a PhD history student neck deep in research and trying to complete her doctoral dissertation in time to graduate. But the final books she needs are half a world away in the tiny European kingdom of Lethersby, and the only time she can access the secretive Royal Castle Library is during the Christmas holiday.
 
Ellie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery that has eluded Lethersby scholars for more than 100 hundred years by figuring out what happened to their long-lost queen, a young royal who disappeared shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. With the help of Mark, a handsome castle staff member who shares her love of history, she might be able to unravel the queen’s story. But Mark is keeping his own secret from her, and what they discover together could change everything for Ellie—and the entire kingdom.

Ann Swindell and her writing have been featured widely by The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, (in)courage, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and many other publications. She is the owner of Writing with Grace (where she teaches Christ-centered writing courses), and holds an MA in Writing from DePaul University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Seattle Pacific University. Ann lives in West Michigan with her pastor-husband and their children. Learn more at annswindell.com.

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First Line Friday — Things We Cannot Keep

10 Jul

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Amanda Cox‘s upcoming release, The Things We Cannot Keep. Amanda is one of my favorite authors. She has a style that is easy to read, yet her books are anything but easy. They tackle real life struggles through her true-to-life characters. I cannot wait to read this one! Check out the details below.

Here’s the first line:

People always used the phrase “can’t see the forest for the trees” like it was a bad thing, but Tess Holcomb had learned to survive by letting the big picture fade into meaningless blur.

A mysterious package. A name she thought she’d erased. And the one person she never expected to see again.

Tess Holcomb has built a new life in Alabama, repairing timepieces and avoiding her troubled past as she restores her customers’ family heirlooms–treasures she never had. When a mysterious package arrives addressed to Teresa Baker, the name she abandoned, Tess finds herself drawn into a puzzle that threatens her delicate peace.

Then Elliot Sullivan appears at her door after eighteen years, and Tess knows he’s after more than just forgiveness. She doesn’t trust his motives, but he could be the key to uncovering the origin of the mystery package and its cryptic contents.

Tess has found safety in her simple life, but to reunite this lost heirloom with its rightful recipient she will have to come out of hiding. Each clue leads her further from the security of home, and each story reveals hidden truths. The question is whether she’s brave enough to face what she might find–and whether the man beside her can be trusted with what matters most.

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes.

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First Line Friday — When Silence Breaks

3 Jul

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Elizabeth Goddard‘s upcoming release When Silence Breaks, the first book in the Mercy Ridge romantic suspense series. Goddard will take readers on a thrilling ride in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Releasing on August 4, 2026, this novel will be the perfect book to round out your summer reading!

Here’s the first line:

Secrets can’t stay buried forever.

A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers–and danger closing in. 

When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather’s deathbed confession connected to her brother’s murder, she’s determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand. 

After his father’s death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can’t stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.

Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find. 

This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.

Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.

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First Line Friday — Forever April

26 Jun

Today I am featuring Janet W. Ferguson‘s newest contemporary romance, Forever April. This second-chance-at-love novel is part of her Coastal Hearts series though it can be read as a standalone. Grab a copy for your weekend getaway or staycation!

Here’s the first line:

“This is freedom.”

Michael Galloway has always believed freedom means living life on his own terms. His career is dedicated to saving the environment and teaching others the importance of taking care of the earth, rivers, and oceans. He’s building a life with no room for complications. Especially in his love life.

Then tragedy turns April Yancy’s world upside down.

After her husband’s death, April discovers he’d been hiding devastating secrets, leaving her buried in debt and struggling to protect her children’s future. The last person she expects to come to her rescue is Michael—the man who shattered her heart years ago.

Michael has few regrets, but hurting April back in grad school still haunts him. When her situation grows desperate, he devises a risky plan to help her rebuild her life…even if it means jeopardizing his carefully guarded independence.

Accepting Michael’s shocking offer could cost April more than her pride. His resistance to her faith clashes with the convictions she holds dear, and trusting him again feels impossible. Yet as doors keep opening and her prayers keep nudging her toward him, April begins to wonder if God is offering her a second chance at more than survival.

An emotional second-chance love story of forgiveness, redemption, and unexpected faith.


Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist, Maggie Award Winner, and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after.

​ Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children and a cat that allows them to share the space.

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First Line Friday — Shattered

19 Jun

Happy Friday! Today I am sharing Dr. David Jeremiah‘s end times novel, Shattered, book two in his Vanished series. Beginning two years following the Rapture, this novel is a thriller! Check out the book and the opening lines below.

Here are the first lines:

Prologue

New Era, Day 2

Tel Aviv, Israel

“Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”

Saul Katz whispered the holy words to himself, seeking comfort. Or peace. Or even a moment of solace within the chaos detonating the regular rhythms of his life since the previous evening.

In the gripping sequel to Vanished, a global power rises, and the ancient prophecies of the Antichrist are set in motion.

Two years have passed since millions across the globe disappeared in a heartbeat including John “Haggs” Haggerty’s own family. Haggs, a military expert in pandemics, warned his agency of growing patterns in deadly epidemics and other threats to security. Then the “Great Disappearance” and the nuclear destruction of the US changed everything. Now he is invited to join the powerful Trident Group, led by the wealthy Matthias Vilks.

Inside Trident, Haggs sees patterns that suggest a coordinated plan to control economies and governments. He is not alone. Israeli tech expert, Saul Katz, saw his colleague disappear before his eyes. Now the Israeli government confiscates his life’s work, a defense system for Israel. Li Fan, monitoring seismic anomalies, sees terrifying signals in the earth’s activity, but no one will listen to her warnings.

As the disturbing pieces fall in place, governments fall, and John and his best friend’s daughter, Abigail, begin to see those prophecies from scripture come to life–Israel is in danger, natural disasters rake the planet, and world leaders bow to one powerful man. The signs are clear: the end times are no longer approaching–they have begun.

New York Times bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah returns with more apocalyptic action and emotion that’s infused with his signature perspective and compassion.

Dr. David Jeremiah serves as senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He is the founder and host of Turning Point, a ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching relevant to today’s changing times through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. A bestselling author, Dr. Jeremiah has written more than forty books. Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the complete Word of God continues to make him a sought-after speaker and writer. His passion for reaching the lost and encouraging believers in their faith is demonstrated through his faithful communication of biblical truths. A dedicated family man, Dr. Jeremiah and his wife, Donna, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren. Connect with Dr. Jeremiah on Facebook (@drdavidjeremiah), Twitter (@davidjeremiah), and on his website (davidjeremiah.org).

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First Line Friday — South of Somewhere

12 Jun

Happy Friday! This week I am featuring South of Somewhere by T. I. Lowe, a book that’s on my Summer TBR list since my book club is reading it in July. I was thrilled to meet the author earlier in the year when she was a featured author at the book festival in my home town. Have you read it yet?

Here’s the first line:

I died once, and I didn’t find it all that unpleasant.

When Juniper Wilder’s grief spiraled into addiction, leading first to an arrest for drunk driving, then jail and court-ordered rehab, she lost the most important thing in her life: her baby girl. Now, sober and on probation, Junie is determined to prove she can be the mother Fern deserves. But she’s burned a lot of bridges, ones that can’t be easily rebuilt.

Not every road is closed to her, however. Exiled to her late grandmother’s South Carolina beach house, Junie starts over, ready to pay off her debts and prove to her brother that he can safely return custody of Fern. She works hard and finds surprising grace in an eclectic recovery community. There’s an unexpected friendship, too―and maybe more―with her neighbor, Henry, a quirky college professor who helps her believe in second chances.

Still, it’s hard for Junie to imagine ever forgiving herself, let alone receiving forgiveness from those she’s hurt . . . particularly when her past rears its ugly head and threatens to undo every bit of progress she’s made.


T. I. Lowe is an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories. She is the author of 21 novels, including the #1 international bestseller and critically acclaimed Under the Magnolias and her debut breakout Lulu’s Café. Her novel Indigo Isle won the prestigious Christy Award in the contemporary romance category and was subsequently named Christy Award Book of the Year. She lives in coastal South Carolina with her husband and family.

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First Line Friday — The Bookshop of 99 Doors

5 Jun

Happy Friday! A few days ago I mentioned that my book club is reading the gothic suspense novel, The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright. I cannot wait to dig in, and the first lines are fabulous, so it is definitely calling me.

Here are the first lines:

A person hopes they can lead a quiet and simple life, one that isn’t shrouded in secrets and suffocated by lies. This is what I had hoped for. It was not to be. — Minnie Tipton, aged 91

The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls. 

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com.

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