Welcome back for another week of FLF!
The book I’m featuring this week is:
The Hidden Side
By: Heidi Chiavaroli
“New York City
September 20, 1776The sound jolted me from sleep, and I straightened in bed, still upon the feather mattress, my senses heightened.”
(First line from Mercy’s POV)
The Hidden Side is a split-time novel that takes place both in current time and during the Revolutionary war. With this week being 4th of July, it’s a special week for FLF to showcase books that feature American Independence. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read all year, so I had to share it for this week. Instead of sharing the actual first line, I decided to share Mercy’s first line since her story is the one that took place during the historical period.
About the Book:
New York, 2016
Natalie Abbott offers answers for hurting listeners on her popular radio program. But she struggles to connect with her teenagers, with her daughter in an unhealthy relationship and her son uncommunicative and isolated. When one member of the family commits an unspeakable act, Natalie is forced to uncover who she truly is under the façade of her radio persona.
New York, 1776
Mercy Howard is shocked when her fiancé, Nathan Hale, is arrested and hanged as a spy. When she’s asked to join the revolutionary spy ring in Manhattan, she sees an opportunity to avenge Nathan’s death. But keeping her true loyalties hidden grows increasingly harder as the charming Major John Andre of the King’s Army becomes more to her than a target for intelligence.
Mercy’s journals comfort Natalie from across the centuries as both women struggle with their own secrets and shame, wondering how deep God’s mercy extends.
About the Author:
Heidi Chiavaroli is a writer, runner, and grace-clinger who could spend hours exploring Boston’s Freedom Trail. She writes Women’s Fiction and won the 2014 ACFW Genesis contest in the historical category. Both her debut novel, “Freedom’s Ring” and her sophomore novel, “The Hidden Side” are Romantic Times Top Picks. “Freedom’s Ring” was also a BOOKLIST Top Ten Romance Debut, 2017. She makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Howie, her standard poodle. Visit her online at heidichiavaroli.com.
Now it’s your turn!
Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. To see what First Lines others are sharing this week head over to Hoarding Books.
I’ve been wanting to read this one!
My first line comes from The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard
Proluge
November 1942
The news that June’s grandfather was being evicted had come from her older sister Mary, who worked in town at Langham’s Drug Store.
Oo I want to read that one too!!! Thanks for sharing! 😁
Happy Friday!😎
My first lines come from Loving Grace by April Smith.
I’M LATE. THE PHONE IS already ringing off the wall by the time I make it to my desk. I toss my keys and bag to the side, not really bothering with where they land. I’ll get them later. I grab the phone and snag the corner of the desk with my hip. That’s going to leave a mark.
Have an awesome weekend and happy reading!😊
Haha just another day at the office? 🙃
That certainly sounds like a great novel! The book I’m sharing on my blog is “Lord Livesey’s Bluestocking” by Audrey Harrison. I will share the first line from chapter 22. “Livesey stood next to his aunt in the side chapel, taking in the scene whilst gritting his teeth.” Have a wonderful weekend!
This book is on my kindle app just waiting for me to read it!
I’ll share a first line from a book I hope to start reading very soon.
“Two construction workers carried in the orange ladder splatted with dried paint blotches and old drywall mud.”
From The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble
Happy Friday! 🙂
Oo I have a copy of that one myself! Still on my TBR though lol
My first line is from Blind Betrayal by Nancy Mehl:
As Martin Avery waited to be murdered, he was surprised to find that, more than anything else, he felt offended.
I won Heidi’s book but have to find time to fit it in. Looking forward to reading it.
Haha interesting first line!
We were on the same wavelength this week 🙂
My current read is The Truth Between Us by Tammy L. Gray:
Nine months, twenty-seven days, and four hours.
Happy Friday!
Great minds think alike! Lol i just shares Mercy’s first lines instead of the first line of the book 🙂
I shared the first few lines of Rosie Walsh’s debut “Ghosted” on my blog, but I’m going to share an old favorite here.
“The fans scream for her, but they don’t really know the girl on the magazine covers – the girl with the guitar and the easy smile. Her given name is Delilah, and they think she goes by Lilah. But anyone who really knows my best friend calls her Dee.”
That line comes from Emery Lord’s “Open Road Summer”. It’s a light, fun and romantic read, perfect for, well, summer. Haha!
Hope you enjoyed it. Happy Friday! 😀
This sounds like an interesting book–I read a story last year that had this same makeup, except that the women, who lived in different decades, got to meet each other. 🙂 Happy Friday Becca!
Happy Friday!
I’m reading Newlywed Games by Mary Davis right now, so here’s the first line: “Bruce Halloway had looked up with a start when he heard the ruckus outside his office window.”
Hallie @ Book by Book
Happy Friday! My first line is from This Freedom Journey by Misty M. Beller:
“This journey I take seems foolish to others, yet I can’t help the yearning that fuels me. ~ Adrien’s Journal”
Sounds exciting! I hope you can stop by:
http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2018/07/first-lines-friday-7618.html
Colletta
I’m sharing from Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton on my blog today (didn’t see the theme until after I posted), so here is the first line from chapter 2:
“The babysitter was late, Addie and Walsh were flying around the house in superhero capes yelling the Batman theme song–“Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-Batman!”–and Jenna had just poured a mug of coffee when Walsh bumped into her from behind, spilling hot liquid down the front of her black Full Cup Coffee T-shirt.”
Happy Friday!
yay! I love Heidi’s books!!
I still need to read her first one! It’s super high on my TBR
This week for FLF, I am showcasing Roseanna M. White’s novel Whispers From the Shadows. Here, I will post the first line from chapter 2 in the book I’m just starting today, The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham.
“Em, you look so improved.”
Kind of sounds insulting…I’ll have to read on and find out the context. 😉
Hope you’re having a blessed weekend with lots of fun reading time. 😊
I LOVED The Hope of Azure Springs! Can’t wait to hear what you think when you’re done!
So far…I’m hooked!!!
Happy Reading!
I’m featuring lines from Danielle Norman’s upcoming release “Stetson” on my blog.
Here I’m sharing lines from Susan Stoker’s “Shelter for Blythe.”
“That her?” Sawyer “Squirrel” McClay turned to look at his friend and fellow firefighter, Penelope. She was sitting on one of the couches in the fire station with her pet miniature donkey, Smokey, beside her.
Happy Reading Becca, hope your weekend is going well!
Thanks you too!
Friday was quite the eventful day, so I’m making my rounds a bit later than usual this time. That is quite the attention getting first line. I’ve heard really good things about this book! I hope you enjoyed a nice weekend!