First Line Friday #38

Just one more week of September, can you believe that? I can't believe that we are on our way to October.

I received a copy of this book as a Amazon Prime member. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it is definitely on my Fall list.

About the book:

Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene questions if the flu is really to blame. All appear to have been poisoned—and every death was accompanied by a mysterious note.
Desperate for answers and dreading her own engagement to a wealthy gentleman, Allene returns to her passion for scientific discovery and recruits her long-lost friends, Jasper and Birdie, for help. The investigation brings her closer to Jasper, an apprentice medical examiner at Bellevue Hospital who still holds her heart, and offers the delicate Birdie a last-ditch chance to find a safe haven before her fragile health fails.
As more of their friends and family die, alliances shift, lives become entangled, and the three begin to suspect everyone—even each other.

First Line:

August 17, 1918

At the bottom of the oak staircase at the stately Cutter house on Fifth Avenue, Florence Waxworth -- tedious busybody and recent debutante---lay askew, shapely legs draped over the last step. One silk slipper perched on the top landing, where it had been violently kicked off at the start of her fall.

Leave your first line in the comments and then go visit my blogging friends and see their first line.

With A Joyful Noise ||  Faithfully Bookish ||  Bibliophile Reviews 

Reading is my SuperPower ||  Encouraging Words From the Tea Queen || 

A Baker's Perspective || Kathleen Denly  || Fiction Aficionado  

Bookworm Mama ||  Robin's Nest  || All the Book Blog Names are Taken || Singing 

Librarian   || Moments Dipped in Ink || Cafinated Reads  || Joy of Reading ||  

CJ Reads || Romances of the Cross Iola Goulton || Christian Fiction Girl ||

It's Storytime with Van Daniker || A Brighter Destiny || SprinklesandPink ||

Can't Wait Wednesday

Life got in the way and I have missed a few weeks of Can't Wait Wednesday. Sorry about that. What book(s) can't you wait to release or get to on you growing TBR? Let me know in the comments.


Today the book I can't wait for is Pepper Basham's upcoming release Charming the Troublemaker that is set to release in November.

I love this cover!

Back cover copy:

Rainey Mitchell is doing just fine. She has a great job helping children in need, her family is around her, she is mother to a fabulous little girl, and is getting over the betrayal of her ex-husband. Dr. Alex Murdock is not doing so well, as he is forced to work at a rural university, his life is full of secrets surrounding his family, and he has to start over in a new town. Luckily, Rainey, the daughter of his landlord, is there to get him settled. Rainey just wants to stay away from the new professor, who has the same charm as her ex. Unfortunately, they seem to need each other. Rainey needs his grant-writing ability to save her program, and Alex is terrible at the lecturing at which Rainey excels. The two must work together to fulfill their goals, but will they be able to do it? Rainey's insecurities and Alex's obsession with protecting his family could be their undoing.

AMAZON PRE-ORDER

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly Meme sponsored by Wishful Endings.

Top Ten Tuesday

Today on Broke and the Bookish the topic is ten books on your fall TBR. I probably have more than ten. We'll see.

The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

Lydia by Diana Wallis Taylor

Christy by Catherine Marshall

Christmas Embers by Chautona Havig

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker

Charming the Troublemaker by Pepper Basham

Not as many as I thought.

What's on your Fall TBR???

First Line Friday # 37

This week I am going to feature another favorite author and her new release. Ronie Kendig's new book, her second in the Tox Files released on September 5, 2017. I hope you've had a great week and like me are looking forward to the weekend, reading, and catching up on some sleep.

About the book:

Six months after stopping a deadly plague, Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are enjoying a little rest. That peace is short-lived when a sniper shot hits Tox. The enemy is discovered to be one of their own, a rogue Special Forces team operator.
Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.
Afraid his old friend is right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team engage in another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is cheating--he's using a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming one.

AMAZON

First Line:

Day 1

Virginia Beach, Virginia

It took one ten thousandth of a second -- exactly 0.000169 seconds ---for the bullet to rip through his shoulder. The sniper shot shoved him backward onto the sun warmed beach. 

Quite a start, huh?!? And sorry, but that's all you get.  😃😃  

What are you reading this week? Leave your first line in the comments and then go visit my blogging buddies to read their first lines.

With A Joyful Noise ||  Faithfully Bookish ||  Bibliophile Reviews 

Reading is my SuperPower ||  Encouraging Words From the Tea Queen || 

A Baker's Perspective || Kathleen Denly  || Fiction Aficionado  

Bookworm Mama ||  Robin's Nest  || All the Book Blog Names are Taken || Singing 

Librarian   || Moments Dipped in Ink || Cafinated Reads  || Joy of Reading ||  CJ Reads ||  

Romances of the Cross Iola Goulton || Christian Fiction Girl ||

 It's Storytime with Van Daniker || A Brighter Destiny || SprinklesandPink ||

Top Ten Tuesday . . . A Travel Back in Time

I like this topic from Broke and the Bookish today for Top Ten Tuesday. Top ten reads favorite reads from when I started blogging at the beginning. I can guarantee that there will be more than ten! I can't believe that I have been blogging for ten years and most of the Inspirational authors that I have been reviewing for in the last ten years I reviewed their debut novel. Color me shocked and surprised!

1. A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman - My Favorite Book of 2007 - I love everything about this book. Setting, characters, story, theme.

2. Nightshade by Ronie Kendig - Review - As a Navy brat I totally connected with this book and with Ms. Kendig. I have read everything since and hate to have her book come to an end.

3. Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner - Review - Along with other authors, Susan Meissner introduced me to historical fiction and I have been a huge fan ever since!

4. Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner - Review - What's not to love? Gone With the Wind, and Hollywood during the thirties.

5. Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker - Review - Ms. Bricker's rom-com's are the best medicine for a bad day. Sadly Ms. Bricker passed away almost a year ago, November 18, 2016, I was privileged to be on one of her street teams and blessed to know her.

6. A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin - Review  - Another great author who introduced me to historical fiction. Ms. Sundin's books are well researched and engaging.

7. Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad - Review - An incredible fun rom-com author who has the ability to keep you in stitches!

8. Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh - Review -

9. Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin - Review -

10. A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh - Review -

I said I'd have more than Ten . . .  😜😜

11. Soul's Gate by Jim Rubart - Review -

12. Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz - Review -

13. Shattered by Dani Pettrey - Review -

14. Iscariot by Tosca Lee - Review -

15. Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano - Review -

16. A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano - Review -

17. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay - Review -

18. Rachel by Jill Eileen Smith - Review -

19. The Pharaoh's Daughter by Mesu Andrews - Review -

20. The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson - Review -

I'm not surprised that I have more than 20 . . . I am getting closer to the end of looking at my blog so I may be coming to the end.

21. The Memoir of Johnny Devine by Camille Eide - Review -

21. The Progeny by Tosca Lee - Review -

22. The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof - Review -

23. The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy Cambron - Review -

24. Just the Way You Are by Pepper Basham - Review -

25. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - Review -

26. The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron - Review -

27. The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck - Review -

I could probably double this list even triple it, because in ten plus years of blogging and reviewing I have read some amazing books. I am having so many sweet memories of reading these books and getting to know the authors of the books, makes me want to read them all over again. Hopefully some day I will be able to.

Please scroll through my blog posts and you will find other books by these authors that I have loved as well. What a fun travel back in time.

Wheresoever They May Be by Terri Wangard Reviewed and Giveaway

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

Book title: Wheresoever They May Be
Author: Terri Wangard
Release date: August 30, 2017
Genre: Historical – World War II
Lily Swanson longs to be a mother. Soon Frank should be home for good and they can furnish a nursery. Maybe even find a bigger house.
Joe Gallagher grew up in a small house with plenty of siblings. He loves the solitude of flying, but the war has dragged on for so long. He’s ready to go home.
Susan Talbot has a bad attitude. She’s estranged from her family and she doesn’t attract friends. But war can bring out the best in people and Susan’s surprised to realize she’s happy.
They all do their part in striving for victory in World War II. Sometimes, though, the danger can be hard to identify.

About the Author

 Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

Guest Post from Terri Wangard

After eight years of thinking, breathing, researching B-17s, I was ready to disembark and concentrate on something else. But what? I had a vague idea of three friends who joined the WAC, the WAVES, and the WASPs, but nothing crystalized. Except for the WAC.
I didn’t want to completely turn away from flying, and I prefer topics that aren’t commonly known. How about a grasshopper pilot? My second character was on board.
I had toyed with the idea of a family generational series. A World War II story paired with a World War I story. But no, too unwieldy.
The WAC could have a sister, though, who stayed on the home front and did factory work. Oh, dear. I couldn’t completely stay away from B-17s. She’s building them.
She also needs a husband. He’ll be in the navy, and not on an aircraft carrier. A destroyer! (This was in the works before Sarah Sundin signed a contract for her just-concluded series about destroyer men. I checked with her: She was writing about the Atlantic war; my guy’s in the Pacific. No problem.) I studied the list of Pacific destroyers and, oooh, the Spence. All kinds of possibilities there.
So there I had it: a sailor, his Rosie-the-Riveter wife, her WAC sister, and a grasshopper pilot. They’re all doing their part to help win the war, but sometimes the enemy isn’t obvious.





My Thoughts:

Terri Wangard is a new author to me and this is the first book of hers that I have read. Being a Navy brat/former wife I enjoyed the military aspect of the book. The characters were real and believable. Her historical aspect was spot on. One of the reasons I am such a fan of historical fiction is that I learn things I didn't know as I read, and once again I was reminded of the shortness of our life here on earth and the courage that not only our men and women in uniform have to protect our nation, but families at home as well.

This book has all the feels. You'll laugh, cry, maybe even do the ugly cry once or twice so keep Kleenex close. The theme of this book is that "no all things are not wonderful and happy all the time, but like it says in Romans 8:28, God works everything out to the good of those who love Him." For me seeing a perfect thread that points back to God the giver of everything.

I'm giving this book 5 stars, using this quote meme. You can read more about this here. Rating system

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not paid for it nor was I required to give a positive review.

Blog Stops

August 31: A Baker’s Perspective

August 31: Connie’s History Classroom

September 1: Bibliophile Reviews

September 1: Red Headed Book Lady

September 2: Just the Write Escape

September 2: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

September 3: Zerina Blossom’s Books

September 3: Janices book reviews

September 4: Live. Love. Read.

September 4: Jeanette’s Thoughts

September 5: Reading Is My SuperPower

September 5: Carpe Diem

September 6: Lock, Hooks and Books

September 6: Neverending Stories

September 7: Christian Bookaholic

September 7: Splashes of Joy

September 8: Bigreadersite

September 8: My Crazy Life as a Scholar

September 9: Have A Wonderful Day

September 9: Novels Corner

September 10: Radiant Light

September 10: History, Mystery & Faith

September 11: Daysong Reflections

September 11: Pursuing Stacie

September 12: God’s Little Bookworm

September 12: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

September 13: Blossoms and Blessings

September 13: Marry Hake

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away:

Grand Prize of $25 Amazon Gift Card
1st Place prize of the Wheresoever They May Be – eBook

and
2nd Place prize of the Wheresoever They May Be – eBook!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/bd12

Grace Like Rain by Julie Lessman 3 Electronic Copy Giveaway

My sweet friend, Julie Lessman is going to giveaway  three, YES, THREE electronic copies of Grace Like Rain to three of my followers. All you have to do is follow the directions and you're in. I will pull the winners via Rafflecopter on Tuesday, September 12th!

  

 About the book:

He’s everybody’s lovable rogue.

She’s nobody’s fool who hopes to steer clear.
Until a thunderstorm sinks them both into a sea of love.

Blake “The Rake” McClare has a notorious reputation as a womanizer, which is why soft-spoken Patience Peabody carefully avoids the lovable rogue attorney at the law firm in which they both work. Until a rare thunderstorm brings them together in a love soaked with the grace of God ... and sparked with a little lightning of its own.

  

                                                     
GIVEAWAY!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway