First Line Friday–I thought I’d try something different until I get this book turned in. Right now (it’s Thursday) I have 73,000 words going to 90,000. Once I turn the book in, I’ll go back to my Friday book reviews, and probably add First Line Friday to it. 🙂
But first the verse and photo. I didn’t take the photo–one of my readers, Delores Topliff, did. It’s amazing that the photo was taken at 9:30 at night and it was still daylight! I thought the verse went well with it.
Now onto First Line Friday.
Pick a book, either one you’re currently reading or one that’s handy, and give us the first line. Mine is from When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal:
“My sister had been dead for nearly fifteen years when I see her on the TV news.”
After I read that on a blog, I had to read more.
Her sister has been dead for fifteen years when she sees her on the TV news…
Josie Bianci was killed years ago on a train during a terrorist attack. Gone forever. It’s what her sister, Kit, an ER doctor in Santa Cruz, has always believed. Yet all it takes is a few heart-wrenching seconds to upend Kit’s world. Live coverage of a club fire in Auckland has captured the image of a woman stumbling through the smoke and debris. Her resemblance to Josie is unbelievable. And
unmistakable. With it comes a flood of emotions—grief, loss, and anger—that Kit finally has a chance to put to rest: by finding the sister who’s been living a lie.
After arriving in New Zealand, Kit begins her journey with the memories of the past: of days spent on the beach with Josie. Of a lost teenage boy who’d become part of their family. And of a trauma that has haunted Kit and Josie their entire lives.
Now, if two sisters are to reunite, it can only be by unearthing long-buried secrets and facing a devastating truth that has kept them apart far too long. To regain their relationship, they may have to lose everything.
Leave your first line in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library.
Trying something new until I get Deception turned in. Leave the first line of the book you're reading in the comments on my blog and I'll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library! Share on X
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Comments 45
“Cold steel bit into his wrists. Sam shifted where he sat—which is where, exactly?—and felt the cuffs make another” (from Zulu Operation Redemption: Hazardous Duty by Ronie Kendig).
Author
Oh, wow, Linda! I’ll have to find that one! Thanks for stopping by.
This is fun! “Huge raindrops hit Adrienne’s exposed arms and face as her mother carried her out of the porch’s shelter and down the groaning wooden steps.” The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates.
Author
I love your first line, Priscilla! I’m afraid this exercise is going to lead to a bigger TBR table! Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
Nice photo and verse. I remember those long summer days from when I grew up in Michigan. We’d play badminton until we couldn’t see the birdie anymore.
“There is a razor-thin edge between justice and revenge, where the two easily blur if left unchecked.” This from “The Escape” book 1 of the U.S. Marshals series by Lisa Harris.
Author
I just downloaded that book, Tim! Now I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for stopping by. So glad you liked the photo and verse. I can’t believe it stays daylight that long up there!
Well, shucks. I’m currently reading a non-fiction book, Kingdom Men Rising by Tony Evans, so that doesn’t quite fit this fiction fun so well. But I’ll enjoy reading everyone else’s first lines!
Author
Aw, Rick, go ahead and put in the first line of your non-fiction book. 😉 Thanks for stopping by and commenting anyway.
Madison James burned through the final sixty seconds of her workout on the stationary bike, then released a slow breath.
The Chase by Lisa Harris
Author
Love it, Gloria! I have most of Lisa’s books downloaded if not in paperback…must get to reading! Thanks for stopping by.
Author
Love this, Gloria. I think I have it downloaded. If not, I will!
The tingling in my ear was the first omen. “Cold Waters” by Debbie Herbert
Author
Alicia, I’m seeing how important a first line is! This sounds good.
The pieces of two lives sit in my brain like they should fit together, but no matter how hard I press, I can’t get them to line up. From “Sticks and Stone” by David James Warren.
Author
Oh, wow, Linda. I’ve been meaning to read David’s book, now I have to!
“January. Five and a half hours a day when the sun rose above the horizon.” From Christina Dodd’s The Wrong Alibi.
Author
Sounds good, Delores. And thanks for letting me use your photo!
Fun idea!
“Loud explosions, like a fusillade of gunfire, echoed through the quiet streets of Bayport.” (Mystery of the Flying Express, Hardy Boys #20, by Franklin W. Dixon)
I just grabbed the nearest fiction by my…one of my kids is reading it. 😀
Author
Love that, Elizabeth! I remember reading the Hardy Boys when I was a kid…might need to check them out again. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
What a memory jog! Thanks, Elizabeth. I remember reading all of the Hardy Boys books when I was in grade school. Then it was Ken Holt. Those were the books that got me started on fiction. I could not get enough.
Author
The Black Stallion is what got me really into reading fiction, Tim!
I will have to look into Ken Holt, that’s not one I grew up with. Started out with Nancy Drew in the mysteries department, then Hardy Boys. Ah, Walter Farley. My horse-crazy young self absolutely loved the Black Stallion series! I read through it several times. Also Marguerite Henry’s books, although some of hers I re-read more than others.
Author
I wish I could remember all the books I read when I was a kid! When I was 10-12 I lived next door to my cousins and every summer we’d have a reading contest. I miss those days!
I need your services. – Hidden Impact by Piper Drake. Thanks for the chance.
Author
Wow, that’s a good opener, Lynn! Thanks for joining in.
Ha! That reminds me of a phone call I received at work years ago. I was working late. Someone in another department had answered the phone and dialed my extension. He said he had a phone call for me and thought it was my wife. I almost said “Hi, Honey” when I answered but held back. A woman came on the line, and without saying who she was, she said: “I need you.” It was not my wife. Turned out to be a work-related need, but it threw me off kilter until I found out who it was and what the need was.
LOL! This reminded me of the time my husband called me while he was on patrol (former deputy), and then right after was on the phone with his sergeant and almost signed off with “I love you.” 😀
Author
Love it Elizabeth! I often end a call to friends and loved ones with “love ya.” The other day I was talking to a business associate and as we hung up, I heard myself say, “love ya.” lol
“He had ruined death for her, and the hope of it.” On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright. I highly recommend this dual timeline!
Author
That sounds very good, Perrianne! Thanks for adding it to our list!
Great picture and love the verse.
“Your father is in a coma.” Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund. This is a book I’m planning to read soon. One book I’m reading is actually a proofread job, so I can’t share from it. The other is upstairs and I don’t want to take time to go check the first line.
Author
That sounds like a great story, Edward. There have been several books that I’ve endorsed that as soon as I read them I wanted to tell everyone about them. lol
I’ve almost made it, I think, pedaling my bicycle faster when I see the castle’s crenelated tower at the summit.
The Women of Chateau Lafayette – Stephanie Dray
Happy Friday!
Author
That sounds interesting, Caryl! Thanks for stopping by with your first line!
“Five months ago, planting a large garden on of the property of Plain Patterns seemed like a good idea to Jane Berger.” This is from A Patchwork Past (Plain Patterns book 2) by Leslie Gould. I read the first book “Piecing it All Together” recently and am looking forward to starting this one today! These are the first books I’ve read by this author & I’m excited to have discovered her 🙂 I do love Amish fiction.
Author
I like that opening, Trixi! I enjoy Amish fiction, too. Good to ‘see’ you here!
Ooh, this was so cool reading through all the comments, and even recognizing some of the books!
“The fire alarm blaring at four A.M. jerked Nick Foster from a sound sleep.” ~ Trial by Fire, by Terri Blackstock.
Great book, great series. Thanks for the reminder, Monique.
Pat, this was a great idea. So nice to get clues for my TBR list as well as refreshing old memories.
Author
The Newport 911 Series, Monique! I loved that series–it was one of the first Christian fiction series I read! Thanks for the reminder.
This is a fun idea!
Captain John Malik stood on the edge of the Phan Rang, Air Base flight line staring across acres of fighter aircraft, row after row, bled colorless in shimmering waves of heat.
from On a Darkling Plain by L. D. Bruce
Author
Oh, Sally Jo! This is an awesome opening. I’ll have to find that one. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s a plate, Tucker Paulson said. “Return to Titanic” by Steve Brezenoff
Author
Love, it, Lisa! Thanks for adding to my TBR table. lol
Catriona held tight to her younger sister’s arm, knowing better than to losses her grip when surrounded by such tempting delights. It’s from Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander. So good!
Author
It sounds good, Megan! I’m so glad I did this. So many interesting books!