First Line Friday - Week 5

Happy Friday! Rachel Hauck is just one of my many favourite authors and I can't wait to read her newest book 'The Writing Desk' releasing July 11th. Until then we revisit one of her previous books.

Today's book is: The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck

Cora

April 1930

Heart's Bend, Tennessee

 

"The morning began like every other weekday, with Cora making her way up the back walk to the shop, unlocking the door, and clicking on the lights."

This book gives us two stories interweaved in one, one set in the 1930's and the second in the present. It's loved how Ms. Hauck made the stories flow together so well. To read my full review click here.

Now it's your turn! Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Then join in more First Line fun by visiting these blogs:

A Baker's Perspective // All the Book Blog Names Are Taken // Bibliophile Reviews // Bookworm Mama // Cafinated Reads // Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen // Faithfully Bookish // Fiction Aficionado // Joy of Reading // Kathleen Denly // Lauraine's Notes // Moments Dipped in Ink // Radiant Light // Reading is my SuperPower // Robin's Nest // Singing Librarian // With a Joyful Noise

Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

Series: Ladies of Harper's Station #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: June 6, 2017
336 pages

About the Book:
 

Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for her father's death release his wrath in Harper's Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she's ever known.

 

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship--dare he believe, courtship?--has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

 

 My Rating & Thoughts:    🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟  (5 stars)  

 

“Odds didn’t matter when God fought at one’s side.”  

 

I may have just found another favourite historical romance author! This is the first book I have read by Ms. Witemeyer but she had me hooked from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the end. I went through so many emotions – sad, laughter, cringing, huge smiles, and scared.

 

First off I have to say I loved that Amos wasn’t your typical tall, strong, lawman type hero but rather the average guy who was full of heart. He and Grace have become friends over the telegraph wire, without ever meeting, and yet as soon as he hears she is in trouble he comes running to town to help her. How sweet is that! Amos grew on me more and more throughout the story.

 

The town of Harper’s Station was formed by women and they trust very few men (only 1 actually lives there). This definitely added an interesting perspective to the story. Grace has found refuge here after her life is threatened and it should be easy to spot a stranger when one comes to town. The women are strong and independent, determined to do things themselves. However this doesn’t bode well for Amos when he first arrives. Can he get past the first impression he makes, earn Grace’s trust and maybe her heart?

 

Helen is not happy that the number of men coming to town seems to be multiplying rapidly, but then her opinion changes. I really enjoyed her part of the story and as I got further into it I was pretty sure I knew the impact her part would have. But was I on the right track? I had to keep reading to find out.

 

Along with the romance there is quite a bit of drama and action weaved throughout. I fully enjoyed this story and this town.  

 

“Grace stilled, her entire focus on the man who had crept into her heart. The one who could not be any more a hero than he was at that moment.”

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley; opinions expressed

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

More than a Soldier by Irene Onorato

Series: A Veteran's Heart Romance #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Kensington Books
Released: June 6, 2017
260 pages

About the Book:

There’s more than one way to be a hero . . .

 

Former Special Forces soldier Hank Fleming is living a safe, quiet life in upstate New York, but there are days he isn’t sure he’s going to make it. The sole survivor of a devastating grenade attack in Afghanistan, he is still scarred, physically and emotionally. He hangs on to his faith and tries to keep moving forward, waiting for the day that something—or someone—can make him feel whole again.

 

Cindy Giordano is searching too—for her biological family and a fresh start. When her journey to find her brother, Edward, leads to Hank’s front door, she is instantly drawn to Hank . . . and instantly wary. With her ex-fiancé’s betrayal still fresh in her mind, friendship is about all she can muster. When shadows from Cindy’s past threaten, Hank’s protective instincts shift into high gear, and he realizes everyone has their own battles to fight. But the road to healing would be much sweeter with the right person by his side . . .

My Rating & Thoughts:    🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟  (4 stars)
 

“If perfection on our part was required for admission

to heaven, no one would get in.”

 

These characters grew on me very quickly and I found myself not wanting to put it down until I got the happy ending I wanted, but getting there wasn’t going to be simple. Cindy has been betrayed by those closest to her (her ex-fiancé and foster sister) and now with time on her hands because she has no job, she decides to search for her biological brother. Her search leads her to not only finally meeting her brother, but she meets his foster brother, Hank, and their foster parents. Cindy and Hank hit it off right away and Edward asks Hank to watch out for Cindy while his job takes him away. Due to events in Cindy’s past her she is leery of beginning a new relationship and tries to keep Hank in the friend zone, but the chemistry between these two is obvious. Can Hank show Cindy that he is not like her ex and win her heart?

 

Cindy’s ex begins to threaten both Cindy and Hank when he sees the two of them together. How far will the ex go to get what he wants and can they catch him before someone gets hurt? There were definitely some tense moments where I wondered how they would get out the situation. Hank has his own demons that he is trying to put behind him, but amazingly after everything he has been through he is still able to keep a positive outlook on life and is able to help Cindy deal with her anger. I really enjoyed the interactions between Hank and Cindy, however I felt for Hank with the way that Cindy treated him at one point. Thankfully this was resolved. The secondary characters were very likeable, entertaining and supportive. I loved Mrs. B she was such a sweet lady. I did think that Cindy’s search for her brother and their acceptance that she was who she said she was seemed to be too easy. I also did not like the way the story ended with the ex, I would have liked more closure. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would read more by Ms. Onorato in the future.

 

“Understanding the workings of a woman’s mind might be more

than a mortal man could ever hope to achieve.”

 

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley; opinions expressed

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

 

First Line Friday - Week 4

Happy Friday! Once again this week I am giving you a sneak peek into a book that releases next week (June 6th).  Isn't the cover gorgeous?

Today's book is: Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson

"Nicole Anderson had no idea why her mother had slipped into the back of her art classroom this afternoon, but because this seventh period class was half over, Nicole pretended not to notice."

What brings Nicole's mom to the classroom, does she have something up her sleeve?

Now it's your turn! Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Then join in more First Line fun by visiting these blogs:

  

A Baker's Perspective // All the Book Blog Names Are Taken // Bibliophile Reviews // Bookworm Mama // Cafinated Reads // Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen // Faithfully Bookish // Fiction Aficionado // Joy of Reading // Kathleen Denly // Lauraine's Notes // Moments Dipped in Ink // Radiant Light // Reading is my SuperPower // Robin's Nest // Singing Librarian // With a Joyful Noise

Finders Keepers by Sarah Monzon

Series: Carrington Family # 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Radiant Publications
Released: May 23, 2016
336 pages

About the Book:

Three lives. Three hundred years. One ship that ties them together.

 

Florida, Present Day
Summer Arnet will go anywhere to capture the perfect shot that will get her marine photography noticed by the prestigious nature magazine, Our World—even diving in waters haunted by great white sharks. When a treasure hunter with a ladies’-man reputation approaches her about a sunken ship at one of her dive locations, it may be the chance she’s been looking for to launch her career…if his charming smile doesn’t derail her first. A past tragedy has left a hole in Trent Carrington’s life—a hole he’s tried to fill with women, money, and adventure. Could the feisty marine photographer be the missing piece, or will Trent finally accept that the treasure he seeks can’t be found where rust and moths destroy?

 

Spain, 1689
The same evil that stole her mother’s life stalks Isabella Castellano. Afraid for her safety, Isabella disguises herself as a cabin boy and hires on to one of His Majesty’s treasure fleet vessels. But has her flight from a known threat only led her to be ensnared in a sea of dangers?

 

 My Rating & Thoughts:    🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟  (4 stars)

“If you hide or shy away from something just because you might be afraid,

then you’re going to miss out on the best things in life.”

This story is told in two timelines, the late 1600’s and the present day. The historical story focuses on Isabella while she travels on a Spanish ship from Spain to the new world. There was a lot of action happening within this story and I was on pins and needles wanting to know that she would be okay. The present day story revolves around Trent and Summer. Trent is searching for a sunken ship and Summer is trying to get a unique picture that will hopefully get her the photography job she has been dreaming about. You know the two stories are going to connect through the ship, but if Trent is searching for the sunken ship that Isabella was on what happened to her?

Trent grew up in a Christian home, but has become angry with God and is living a self-serving life. However after meeting Summer he starts having feelings he has never had for a women before and wants to pursue them, but Summer is not interested in a relationship with a guy like him no matter how her heart reacts to him. The banter between these two was entertaining. Trent really annoyed me at first with his constant flirting and womanizing but through his determination to prove to Summer that he was worthy of her he grew on me. Summer was the perfect girl for him as she wasn’t swayed by his charm and could put him in his place. By the end I felt like he was worthy of Summer.

One of my favourite moments was Trent’s conversation with an ex that got him really thinking about his life and lead to his reconciliation with God. Summer does not know her biological father and doesn’t know what a loving father is like but the way Trent’s mom explains the love of God to her helps her understand. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Monzon has in store for readers in the future.

“Every pain we feel? God feels it too. Every tear we cry?

God sheds it too. He hurts with us, because He loves us.”

 

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed in this review

are my honest opinion and completely my own.)