First Line Fridays — The Orphan’s Wish

Today’s First Line comes from

The Orphan’s Wish

by Melanie Dickerson.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

My First Line:

Summer 1401
The Holy Land

Alad’din’s mother’s eyes were closed as she lay on her funeral bier.

What are you reading?  What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below…

Then join the fun in the Linky below, as well as to visit more FLF participants.

(Sorry for the technical difficulties, our friendly blue frog is hoppin’ now!)
We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!

Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

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First Line Fridays – The Lacemaker

Hello dear readers!

We hope those of you in the USA had a fun and safe 4th of July and, in celebration of this week’s holiday, today’s First Line Friday is a special Patriotic edition!

The book I’m featuring today is set in the throes of the American Revolution in Virginia…

The Lacemaker

by Laura Frantz

GOODREADS | AMAZON

And the first line is…

May 1775

Elisabeth took a breath, breaking an intense hour of concentration.

Your turn, reader friends! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!
Then, click on the cute little blue frog and hop around the other blogs too.

Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

 

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog, website, or social media!

 

First Line Fridays — Color of Danger (mini-interview + giveaway)

Hello, reader friends! We have a special guest author and giveaway today so let’s hop right in!

Color of Danger

by Alexa Verde

 Goodreads | Amazon 

 

“Dr. Luke Goodman slammed on the brakes and jerked the car to the right. Knuckles white, he gripped the steering wheel.“

 

I love it! What a great hook! Join me in welcoming today’s featured author, Alexa Verde!

Hi Alexa! What books (and/or authors) do YOU hoard?

Alexa: First and foremost, the Bible (I have Bibles in different editions and in different languages)! Though I wouldn’t use the word “hoard” here but the word “treasure.”

And as you can see from one of my bookshelves, I grew up on classics and I love languages (the reason for dictionaries). Not only I read War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, but I wrote a thesis about it and other books by him, as well as about books by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

I use my Kindle way more than my bookshelves these days. I probably have hundreds of ebooks there, nearly all Christian fiction. I strive to write God-honoring books, and that’s what I read, too.

Beth: That is a pretty shelf and I love my Kindle, too!

Do you have a favorite reading spot?

Alexa: I like reading in bed. It’s super comfortable, and my back thanks me for it (though my eyes probably don’t).

Beth: I also do a lot of reading in bed. It’s usually quiet there!

What can you tell us about your experience with the Tuscan Legacy series and authors?

Alexa: I absolutely loved it! When I heard about the idea of Christian contemporary romance series with mysterious paintings thread and an international flavor, I couldn’t sign up fast enough. There’s so much talent in this group, and it was fun to see A Tuscan Legacy books come together.

And I couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful response from our readers! My contribution to the series, Rapsodia, is one of the favorite books I’ve written so far. I just don’t want to say goodbye to Marco and Samantha!

Beth: It looks like a fascinating series! (Readers you can find out more in this series of spotlights on Faithfully Bookish!)

Tell us a little bit about your featured book.

Alexa: Today I’m featuring Color of Danger, Book 1 in the Secrets of Rios Azules series. Even after publishing, I believe, 13 books after it, Color of Danger is still close to my heart. Did I mention I get attached to my characters? 🙂

Beth: Job hazard, right?!

What are you working on now?

Alexa: Thank you so much for asking! I hope to have my Christian romantic mystery, Gabriel’s Secret, available for pre-order soon. It’s part of the 12 Mysteries of Christmas multi-author series but can be read as a stand-alone.

It’s a Christmas story that features a hunky security officer, a spunky rookie cop he never stopped loving, an extravagant hotel guest (first alive and then murdered), and a pet iguana. I hope Gabriel’s Secret will make readers turn pages and leave them smiling!

Beth: Oh boy! Christmas in July! Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Alexa!

 

About the Author

Alexa Verde writes sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and love. She penned her first literary masterpiece, a rhymed poem, at the ripe age of eight, and since has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish, a master’s in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She’s worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer’s hat suits her the best. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her popular series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules.

Alexa would love for you to connect with her! And if you follow her on BookBub or her Amazon page, you’ll make her day.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

Giveaway

Alexa is offering a giveaway prize of a Color of Danger ebook AND the winner’s choice of one of her other ebooks (will be gifted via BookFunnel).

for the purposes of this giveaway,
Faithfully Bookish giveaway policies apply

Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Your turn, reader friends! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog, website, or social media!
Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

Reminder

Next week is our Patriotic special edition of First Line Fridays, see sidebar for details!

First Line Fridays – Together Forever

Happy Friday!

I may have been purposefully putting off this book…Only because, I LOVE Jody’s books SO.MUCH. That I need to savor them…make them last…I even went back and listened to the first book on audio…I can’t get over how Jody’s books capture my heart, how the characters feel REAL, and how their circumstances speak to me. The way that God is portrayed is so REAL and so TANGIBLE, that often times, I am brought to tears. Jody is without a doubt one of my top 5 favorite authors of all time.

Today’s first line is from…

Together Forever
Jody Hedlund

New York City
June 1858

Marianne Neumann’s fingers were shaking so hard she could barely pry open the first record book.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Who is one of your favorite authors?

Your turn, reader friends! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!

Click the blue blog hopping frog button to visit more FLF folks!

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!
Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

First Line Fridays — Father’s Day Edition + Prarie Sky Series (Mini-Interview & Giveaway)

Happy Friday!!

This week on Hoarding Books we are celebrating Fathers!

Today’s First Line comes from

Guess How Much I Love You

by Sam McBratney & illustrated by Anita Jeram.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

First Line:

“Little Nut Brown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nut Brown Hare’s very long ears.”

FLF Bonus

Today’s first bonus lines are from

The Prarie Sky Series

by Cynthia Roemer.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

First Line:

“Nothing could have prepared her for this. Nothing.”

GOODREADS | AMAZON

First Line:

“The sound of a spry whistle froze Charlotte Stanton in her tracks. She tightened her hold on her bucket of creek water, eyes narrowing.”

Mini-Interview

We’re also honored to have Cynthia Roemer stopping by for a chat today. Please join us in welcoming her to Hoarding Books!

What books/authors do YOU hoard?

I have a fetish for inspirational historical romance novels. I especially enjoy Laura Frantz, Kristi Ann Hunter, and Connilyn Cossette.

What is something interesting readers would like to know about you?

I wrote the rough draft for my first novel, Under This Same Sky, while in college–thirty years prior to its publication. As part of my degree requirements, I had to complete 300 hours of work related to my major (English/Creative Writing), so I petitioned to be allowed to fulfill my 300 hours researching and writing a novel. My petition was granted and during that time, Under This Same Sky was born, though a much different version from the one that was published. =)

What inspired the idea for your Prairie Sky Series?

Each of my novels begins with a take-away I feel the Lord would like readers to gain from the story. In Under This Same Sky, it’s that God loves and cares for us no matter what hardships we go through in life. Under Prairie Skies is more relational in nature, demonstrating how the Lord uses people to sharpen each other as “iron sharpens iron.” This second novel is a spin-off featuring one of the minor characters from Book 1 in the series and is best read after the first book. With my love of the 1800s’ and growing up in the Midwest, the Illinois prairie was the perfect backdrop for this series.

What is your current WIP?

Currently I’m working on Book 3 in the series, Under Moonlit Skies. Three years have passed since Under Prairie Skies ended. This is the story of Esther Stanton (another minor character from previous novels in the series). Set, in part, in historic Cincinnati, OH in1858, there’s a rising tide of prejudice and division brewing as the Civil War nears. It’s a tale of love and acceptance, of seeing past outer appearance and glimpsing another person’s heart. There’s a bit more intrigue in this third installment in the series, and I’m looking forward to delving more deeply into the story and its characters.

When you are not writing, what hobbies do you enjoy?

In the warmer months, I enjoy gardening, hiking, biking, an occasional motorcycle ride with my hubby, and riding side-saddle in the combine during harvest. In the cooler months, I enjoy baking, reading, and cozying up with my family for a movie.

Giveaway

For a chance to win a print copy of Under Prarie Skies,

(US addresses only for the giveaway).

Enter the giveaway HERE.

Giveaway is open until 11:59PM on June 22, 2018

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GIVEAWAY, SINGING LIBRARIAN BOOKS POLICIES APPLY.

What are you reading?  What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below…

Then join the fun in the Linky below, as well as to visit more FLF participants.

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!

Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

 

First Line Fridays – Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations

Happy Friday!

If you have not had the pleasure of reading this cute and fun romance, I definitely encourage you to check it out!

Today’s first line is from…

Love, Lace and Minor Alterations
V. Joy Palmer

When a bride finds The Dress, there is joy, laughter, and on some occasions, even spontaneous dancing.
There is none of that right now.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Your turn, reader friends! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!

Click the blue blog hopping frog button to visit more FLF folks!

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!
Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

First Line Fridays — The Underground Railroad Brides Collection

Hello, reader friends and welcome to June!! Today’s featured book is from my tbr and I’m really looking forward to diving in! It’s been too long since I’ve read a story set within the Underground Railroad movement and this book contains NINE!!!

The Underground Railroad Brides Collection

by Barbara Tifft Blakey, Ramona K. Cecil, Lynn A. Coleman, Cecelia Dowdy, Patty Smith Hall, Terri J. Haynes, Debby Lee, Darlene Panzera, Penny Zeller

 Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | ChristianBook

Emma Underground by Barbara Tifft Blakey

“Emma Trebor stood with her husband, Paul, on the church steps as their youngest daughter, Catherine, sat beside her groom in the flower-bedecked carriage.“

Follow the Christmas Star by Ramona K. Cecil

““Ah, don’t cry, Dahlia.” Edith reached out and brushed away the tear meandering down the little girl’s dusky cheek, her heart crumpling.“

Under the Sails of Love by Lynn A. Coleman

““Come quick,” Charlotte whispered, signaling for the runaway slaves to hide in the old childhood fort.“

The Bakery Bride by Cecelia Dowdy

““Son, when are you going to get married?” Oh no, she had to go and mention that.“

Place of Refuge by Patty Smith Hall

“She was running out of time. Jorgine Emmerson stared out at the lush green fields, the white boles of cotton swaying in time with the horses’ hooves.“

Free to Love by Terri J. Haynes

“Pounding jarred Winnifred from the hold of a deep sleep. She bolted upright, sending a quick glance to the still-dark windows.“

The Winter Quilt by Debby Lee

“Carol Martin clutched the handkerchief in her hands and gritted her teeth. She swore she wouldn’t look through her hope chest ever again.“

The Song of Hearts Set Free by Darlene Panzera

“Annie Morrison and her dearest friend had not taken more than five steps past Morrison’s cabinet shop when Louisa clutched her arm and let out a startled gasp.“

Freedom’s Flight by Penny Zeller

“Annalise Van Houten followed her aunt and uncle toward the First Church of Ridge Gap, Tennessee.“

 

Your turn, reader friends! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!

Click the blue blog hopping frog button to visit more FLF folks!

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog, website, or social media!
Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

First Line Fridays – Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Happy Friday!

This week on Hoarding Books we are celebrating Academia! I am featuring one of the most popular, and appropriate, books for graduation.

Did you receive this one for a graduation?

Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!”

 Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book

Your turn, reader friends! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!

Click the blue blog hopping frog button to visit more FLF folks!

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!
Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

First Line Fridays — True To You

Today’s first line is from

Falling for You

by Becky Wade.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

My First Line:

“I discovered a secret.”

What are you reading?  What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below…

Then join the fun in the Linky below, as well as to visit more FLF participants.

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!

Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.

First Line Fridays: Better Together

Hooray for Fridays! And welcome to a special Mother’s Day edition of First Line Fridays here at Hoarding Books!

I’m just a cool-aunt (and we totally need our own day too!), but all the other members of the HB4 (the four bloggers who make up Hoarding Books) are moms – and they are great moms! So here’s a shoutout to the moms of littles and not-so-littles-anymore, to grandmas and mimis and nanas, and yes even to the cool aunts! Thank you for loving the next generation & helping them grow up into young men and women of character!

And now on to the business at hand… First Lines!

Better Together by Kimberly Stuart

Goodreads | Amazon

“I wasn’t sure who was more stunned, the twenty-two five-year-olds gripping their new Land’s End and Pottery Barn lunchboxes or the parents who had started this fiasco in the first place.”

You can read my review here.

Your turn, dear readers! Share YOUR first line in the comments below!
Then, click the cute little blue blog hopping frog button to visit more FLF folks!

Join us!

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!
Please remember to designate applicable posts as mature, see full guidelines for details.