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Howdy, reader friends!
It has been a dreary, rainy, and cold week here in southern Illinois. Our house has been filled with a symphony of sniffles and coughing, even the dog seems worn down and tuckered out!
Fortunately, the worst of it seems to be hitting us one by one… although it feels like we’re living with an invisible germy firing squad lurking around. When the cabin fever threatens to set in (I don’t suffer from the “want to get out of the house” variety but I am extremely susceptible to the “everyone else needs to get out of the house so I can hear myself think” variety), the 10 days of encouragement reading plan on my Bible app
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12
Ah, perspective! It’s only a cold and this reminds me to pray not only for my puny loved ones but for those outside our four walls including YOU, reader friends and especially those who are suffering, grieving, or weary. May God’s grace and peace sustain us all!
Love Held Captive by Shelley Shepard Gray
goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
“She never should have had her back to the door.“
Y’all, I am so excited to read this book! The Lone Star Hero’s Love Story series is one of my favorites. I adore the band of brothers and their Texas-strong ladies!
Lone Star Hero’s Love Story series
goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
book 1 review | book 2 review
Giveaway
Thanks to a generous Faithfully Bookish reader friend, we have a paperback copy of Love Held Captive by Shelley Shepard Gray to send to one fortunate Faithfully Bookish reader!
US only
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Faithfully Bookish 
Oh dear, I hope you’re all feeling better soon!
I’m featuring Melissa Tagg’s new Christmas novella on my blog this week, but I’m going to share the first line from ‘Grace in Strange Disguise’ by Christine Dillon here:
“You have cancer.”
Despite its opening line, it’s quite an uplifting read!
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One one the mend and one in the thick of things, not bad odds as long as this doesn’t decide to stick around 🙂 Have a great weekend, Katie!
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“How in the world had rain earned such a romantic rep?”
This is from From the Start by Melissa Tagg. I can’t wait to dive in and read it!
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Oh! Book envy! I adore Melissa Tagg!
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I’m sharing the first line from The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips on my blog today, but I’ll share the first line from the book I’m currently reading here. “If you’re willing to admit it, you probably know me as Raine de Bourgh.” The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner. Happy Friday!
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Hehehe! I love that line!
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Great first line!
My first line comes from a novella by Joyce DiPastena, The Girl by the River. I have an interview with Joyce on my blog this week as well.
“Robert almost tripped over the scythe.”
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Eeek! This line makes me squirm! Be careful!
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Happy Friday!
Today, my first line Friday is from Christmas at Grey Goose Lodge by Phyllis Clark Nichols…..
When Maude opened the door to the Christmas closet in early December that year, she had no reason to think there would only be nine more Christmases celebrated at Grey Sage.
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It’s that time of year, the Christmas stories are coming out in droves! ????
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Beth, I’m so sorry to hear that your family is ill. Praying you are well soon! ((((HUGS))))
MONTANA, LATE AUGUST 1895
“Mama?” Emily Carver whispered the word as she opened the door to her parents’ bedroom. – A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson
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Thank you, Caryl! HUGS ????
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That’s a good first line!
I’m sorry to hear that you all have been under the weather ~ and the poor doggie, too! 😦 I laughed when you mentioned grabbing the Clorox wipes for another day of battle ~ That’s one of our primary “strategies”, too, when we get hit with something like that.
Over on my blog, I’m sharing the first line from Joyce Rogers’ Lean Hard on Jesus, but I’ll share the first line from Where We Belong by Lynn Austin (really enjoying it!) here:
“Rebecca Hawes lay awake in her tent, convinced that the howling wind was about to lift her entire camp into the air and hurl it to the far side of the desert.”
Have a blessed weekend!
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I’m happy to report that our furbaby is doing much better after a day of cuddling and napping on the couch ????
Thank you, Alicia! Happy reading!
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“Jonathan Riley Shelton, you’re taking longer than a month of Sundays.”
His Kind Of Cowgirl by Karen Rock
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Aw, I love that line! I need to check out Karen’s books 🙂
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And another one on my list! My first line (a little longer) is from Anne Greene’s Avoiding the Mistletoe:
Olivia Rose Baker glanced up from the headlines in the Massachusetts Matrimonial Gazette. With an explosive smack, she slapped the newspaper on the top of the breakfast table. “No! I refuse.”
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This is why we get along so well, Becky! Great taste in books ????
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Just went through a 2 week version of respiratory virus going around in our area. I certainly sympathize! From Mary Connealy, Too Far Down: An explosion brought Cole Boden to his feet.
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Ugh, that sounds rough! I’m looking forward reading Too Far Down! 😀
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Louis drew his hand back from his mama’s cheek. – Twilight Christmas by Normandie Fischer
Sure hope your household feels better soon.
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Thank you, Perrianne! Have a nice weekend!
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I am getting ready to start the perfect book for an indoor kind of day, . . . . if only I was having one. Of course, I don’t wish a November cold on anyone. Here’s my first line;
“With no warning, the rain-soaked ground underfoot gave way, and Lady Helena Stanhope slid backward into the mucky trench”.
” A Mother for His Family” by Susanne Dietze
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Ew, muck! ???? Poor Helena!
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If he didn’t find that flash drive now, he would have to disappear, Immediately. from Beyond Justice by Cara Putman
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Great book!
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A bone-chilling wind lashed at the trees, scattering bits of debris across the yard. From The Farmers’ Market Mishap by Wanda Brunstetter
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Oooo, I was already cold but that line gave me chills!
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I loved this series very much!
Happy Friday!
Today, I am showcasing Vanishing Point by Lisa Harris on my blog for FLF, so here I will post from the book I am currently reading, A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal. Currently, I am on chapter 9, so I’ll post the first line from that:
“Fumbling with a keychain that grew lighter every day, I closed my apartment door for the very last time on the day before our Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt. A cold, ordinary Thursday to everyone else — extraordinary to me.”
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Yay! Me too!
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8:25 a.m., Thursday
Nashville suburb
Nikki Boyd slid out of her white Mini Cooper as two bagged bodies were being wheeled from the one-story house nestled in one of Nashville’s nicer suburbs.
-“Missing” by Lisa Harris
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I’m seeing lots of Lisa Harris today! 😀
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Beth, I’m sorry to hear that you and your family have been under the weather. Hope you are all feeling better soon…and your doggie too!
I have Love Held Captive on my very looong TBR list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
My first line is from chapter 10 in the last novella, Small Town Bachelor, taken from Maple Notch Romances: Eight Couples Find Love Over the Years by Darlene Franklin.
…“Preparing for the Christmas Eve service twenty-four hours later, Verity’s lips still tingled with the memory of Garrett’s kiss.”…
Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessings, Tina
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Oooooo! That is a very nice line!
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Thanks so much for this opportunity to win Shelley’s book. I love her books and this is one I haven’t read yet!
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You’re welcome, Denise!
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This looks like a great series! Happy Friday Beth! Hope your household gets well soon!
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Can’t go wrong with Texans defending damsels 😉
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I felt like I got a bonus story line with Love Held Captive :).
I’m getting in the Christmas Spirit with my FLF blog post, but here are the first lines from the book I’m currently reading:
“Being a teacher was turning out to be a little like having the flu. Simon O’Keefe. Her heart broke for him at the same time her stomach twisted with dread for herself.” From The Calico and Cowboy Romance Collection by Mary Connealy.
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The more story, the better! 😉 I’m looking forward to it!
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That’s a great first line. I loved the cover, too. Went over to Amazon to see what it’s about. Thanks for sharing it. I’m featuring Mail Order Mommy on my blog. It’s a Christmas story. I’m in the mood for the holidays and have already finished decorating my house. 🙂
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You go, Anneliese! I’m SO not ready yet 😀
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“Abigail Mayfield gripped the covers, fear icing the breath in her throat as she strained to hear the noise again.” From Betrayed Birthright by Liz Shoaf.
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Ooooo, something scary is going on! ????
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Hope you all get well soon! It’s no fun being ill – but it’s even less fun when others are sick.
I’m sharing from Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman over on my blog today. But I’m currently reading Piercehaven by Robin Merrill, which is kind of a girls basketball version of Friday Night Lights, except set on an island off the coast of Maine. Here’s the first line:
She had expected it to be a poetic voyage. She had expected sunshine and whitecaps, a sea song to serenade her as she sailed toward her new home.
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Yes, this series is soooo good. I’m anxious to read this one! 🙂 Thanks for a great first line and giveaway, Beth!
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Hi Savanna! I am glad to hear that you are enjoying it too! ❤
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With no warning, the rain soaked ground underfoot gave way, and Lady Helena Stanhope slid backward into the mucky trench.
From A Mother For His Family by Susanne Dietze.
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Uh oh!
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I’m currently reading The Gift of Twins by Gabrielle Meyer and here’s the first line:
“Reverend Benjamin Lahaye was usually a man of patience, but tonight he felt like a caged bear, pacing up and down the room.”
I just started this and I’ve been waiting a long time for Ben’s story!! 🙂
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Sounds like a great start!
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Sorry your family has been sick, Beth! Hope you’re all back to full power soon!
My first line is from the Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen
London, England
May 1817
I sat across the table from the man I most admired, feeling self-conscious.
Thanks for the opportunity of this giveaway!!!
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Thank you! Great line!
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Ready to read this book 🙂
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Me too!
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“Okay, smile pretty – hot guys at three o’clock.”
From Love Everlasting by Juile Lessman
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Yay! I love Julie!
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Would love to win one of your books. You’re one of my fave authors!????
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I love Shelley’s westerns!
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I am looking forward to reading Love Held Captive by Shelley Shepard Gray. Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading your books.
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I hope you get to read and enjoy this story soon! The first line really draws you into the action!
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Enjoy Shelley’s books. This one … Inviting.
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Jeremiah Ring had witnessed death as often as the next man on the Allegheny frontier, but in all his thirty years he had encountered no deaths more dismaying than those confronting him now.
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A whisper of snowflakes brushed against Mist’s face as she stood in the doorway of the Timberton Hotel. This is the first line from Mistletoe at Moonglow by Deborah Garner.
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You can’t call that a settlement offer. ‘Deadly Proof’ by Rachel Dylan
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