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First Line Friday

Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday hosted at Reading is my Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m delighted to feature A Corpse Among the Carolers by Debra Sennefelder a book published in November of this year. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to read it soon.

276 pages November 12, 2024 Beyond the Page Publishing

First Line

Food Blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive.

Would you want to continue on with reading this? I probably would just based on the adorable cover alone. You’ve got to love Beagles.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words “Ho-ho-homicide” . . .

Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive. But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who’d volunteered to play Santa, a knife plunged into his back.

With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless. It doesn’t take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim’s bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money. Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters. But as she closes in on the killer, they’re determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year . . .

Includes tasty and toasty holiday recipes!

About the Author:

Debra Sennefelder lives and writes in Connecticut, where she shares her home with her family and slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. An avid reader across a range of genres, mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. She’s the author of the Food Blogger Mysteries, the Resale Boutique Mysteries, and the Cookie Shop Mysteries. When she’s not writing, she’s either baking or reading. To learn more, visit her on the web at debrasennefelder.com.

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Do you have a favorite spot you’ve traveled to?

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?

Yes I do, but it’s actually a tie. I think North Carolina and Maine are equally unique and beautiful. 🥰🌄🏞️

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Letters to Whitman: A Short Story 

October 5, 2023 publication date Calleia Press publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK

“A moving, brilliantly conceived short piece… funny, grim, insightful” – Readers’ Favorite

“Highly recommended to Civil War aficionados, fans of Walt Whitman, and all those who appreciate beautiful writing.” – Renaissance Writer blog

During the American Civil War, the poet Walt Whitman volunteered in army hospitals tending to sick and wounded soldiers. This poignant short story imagines one of these patients, Private Nathaniel Gwynnett of the 97th New York Volunteer Infantry, writing to Whitman after returning to his regiment.

MY THOUGHTS

Though this is fictional I didn’t find it any less informative
Letters to Whitman follows the life of Private Nathaniel Gwynnett of the 97th New York Volunteer Infantry. He met poet Walt Whitman who volunteered in army hospitals in Washington when Nathaniel was a patient there. Walt boosted the moral of the men there and also brought small presents.


After returning to his regiment Nathaniel writes letters of daily life during the civil war and of their travels. Though there are good times there are also sorrows, losing friends, leaking tents, not enough to eat, etc.

Nathaniel uses these letters as a way to lift his spirit during battle as he tries to turn this into a friendship.
I do wish the book wasn’t all epistolary format though.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Margo Laurie studied history at university and is a member of the RNA. She is the author of the Christmas ghost story New York Miracle and the historical fiction novella The Anarchist’s Wife about the 1920s Sacco-Vanzetti case. She lives in the North West.

Thank you for stopping in.

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Robins in My Kitchen-Nonfiction

96 pages nonfiction adult book November 28, 2024 The Book Guild publisher

Version 1.0.0

ABOUT THE BOOK

MY THOUGHTS

Robins in My Kitchen is a lovely diary style nonfiction book about the author’s daily life with robins that have set up a nest in her kitchen. The mother bird fearlessly brings moss, twigs and other building materials into the woman’s house through an open kitchen window and builds a nest for her babies on a dish shelf. Mr. Robin also comes in to help.


Eventually the eggs hatch and we see Mr. and Mrs. Robin sharing the parental duties of feeding the babies. I loved reading the daily progress of the fledglings and how descriptive it was.


Black and white illustrations add to the nostalgic feel of the book.
Reading this book was a true treat and made me feel closer to nature. What a joy to be chosen by the robin family to have a nest in their house.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Cover Reveal

Introducing Jonathon Island
Meet Me at The GrandLindsay HarrelShe’s fighting to save her island’s legacy. He’s here to secure his family’s future. When their worlds collide, will they build something lasting—or tear each other apart?Tourism director Dani Sullivan is on a mission to bring Jonathon Island back to life. Her plan? Reopen the Grand Sullivan Hotel. But there’s one problem—the big-city hotel developer she’s forced to work with has a sleek, modern vision, and it’s everything she’s trying to avoid.Liam Stone has never been one for small towns or rundown hotels, but this project isn’t just any job. 
His father’s health is declining, and if Liam can prove himself by turning the hotel around, he’ll finally earn the chance to take over the business so his dad can retire.But Dani’s dedication to preserving its history clashes with everything Liam stands for. A lot rides on the success of this project, but when emotions run high, will Dani and Liam find a way to work together—or will their differences tear them apart?Sunrise Shop Release Date: March 25, 2025Non-Amazon Retailers Release Date: April 8, 2025Amazon & Print Release Date: April 22, 2025
Meet Me on Lilac LaneAndrea ChristensonHe was her late husband’s best friend, but for him she’d always been the one.Mia Jonathon Franklin has been living a nightmare since her husband, Troy, died in a tragic accident, leaving her alone with two young children and a dwindling bank account. So when Mia is offered a chance to save her house, it seems like the answer to her prayers—until she learns the ridiculous quota required to complete the deal. She’s in over her head…but then her deceased husband’s best friend steps up to help.
Enter Cody Hart—Troy’s best friend, haunted by his own grief and survivor’s guilt.As they work side by side to breathe new life into the island’s Main Street, old feelings resurface, and the chemistry between them ignites. But will their shared past and the weight of their losses keep them apart?Sunrise Shop Release Date: April 29, 2025Non-Amazon Retailers Release Date: May 13, 2025Amazon & Print Release Date: May 27, 2025
Meet Me at the Fudge ShopLindsay Harrel & Rachel D. RussellTwo rival families. One historic fudge shop. And a second chance at love neither saw coming.All Lily Hart wants is to prove she’s not the failure everyone thinks she is. After a series of setbacks, Lily returns to Jonathon Island with one goal in mind: save her family’s fudge shop and show the world she’s a capable businesswoman. But when she arrives, she finds a major problem: her former high school sweetheart is back too—and he’s claiming the shop for his family.
The Harts and Kelleys have been bitter rivals for nearly fifty years. Declan Kelley’s return isn’t just about family pride, though. He’s here to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure, and reopening the fudge shop is the only way to do it.With the lease in dispute, Lily and Declan strike a deal: whoever sells the most fudge in one month gets the shop. But they didn’t count on old attraction rearing its head. Forced to share the space, sparks—and old feelings—begin to fly.Sunrise Shop Release Date: May 20, 2025Non-Amazon Retailers Release Date: June 3, 2025Amazon & Print Release Date: June 17, 2025
Meet Me on Blueberry HillLisa JordanOn an island where everyone knows everyone, Asher Quinn is a mystery Sadie Hudson never meant to solve.Once a hopeful songwriter, Sadie’s dreams faded after her sister’s tragic death five years ago. Now jobless and adrift, she returns to Jonathon Island to care for her beloved grandma, Henrietta.Just as she begins to find solace in the island’s charm, a fallen tree damages her grandmother’s home,
forcing Sadie to accept help from the gruff yet intriguing neighbor, Asher Quinn. Though he seems kind, Sadie can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something. After her last relationship ended in betrayal, she’s determined to guard her heart.Asher has his own demons, seeking solitude on the island to escape a past that haunts him—especially when he discovers he’s responsible for Sadie’s sister’s death.As they navigate their shared pain, can these two wounded souls find the courage to be honest and embrace love, or will their pasts keep them apart? In this sweet romance, Sadie and Asher must confront their fears to unlock the happiness they both deserve.Sunrise Shop Release Date: June 10, 2025Non-Amazon Retailers Release Date: June 24, 2025Amazon & Print Release Date: July 8, 2025
Meet Me at Sunset CoveSarah May WarrenShe needs a house to rebuild her career. He needs a fiancée to keep his home. Neither planned on rebuilding their hearts in the process.Daisy Decker didn’t plan to ruin her career by making her hit home renovation show choose between her and her cheating co-host, but she’s got a plan to fix it. Step one, find a house on the world’s most adorable island. 
Step two, film herself giving it a total “Decker” remodel to restart her YouTube channel.Step three, crush her ex in ratings until the network comes crawling back. The only problem? The only house she can afford belongs to the guy who got away.Local contractor Hunter Barrett won’t sell his family’s legacy—especially not to the woman who broke his heart. But when the family trust threatens to force the sale on his thirty-first birthday, he’s out of options… unless he can find a fiancée overnight. Maybe there is a way for them both to get what they want by helping each other?With time running out and walls coming down, Daisy and Hunter discover that sometimes the strongest foundations are built on second chances.Sunrise Shop Release Date: July 8, 2025Non-Amazon Retailers Release Date: July 22, 2025Amazon & Print Release Date: August 5, 2025
Meet Me at Sunset CoveSarah May WarrenWhen a cynical novelist and a charming Army surgeon become accidental roommates over Christmas, sparks fly!Bronte Parker, a successful yet disillusioned author, retreats to a cozy cottage on Jonathon Island, seeking peace and inspiration to conquer her looming deadline. But her plans are upended when Jonah White, the cottage owner’s brother, unexpectedly shows up just as a blizzard traps them inside.
Home for the holidays after two years away, Army surgeon Jonah White discovers his family is on a tropical cruise without him…and just when he needs them most. But he’s determined to make the most of it. As they share eggnog and holiday movies, Jonah is determined to help Bronte rediscover the magic of Christmas she’s never known.Amidst festive chaos and unexpected chemistry, Bronte and Jonah start to envision a future filled with love and family—something both thought was out of reach. But with Bronte’s looming deadline and their time running out, can they find the courage to embrace a happily-ever-after, or will their pasts keep them apart?Sunrise Shop Release Date: August 12, 2025Non-Amazon Retailers Release Date: August 26, 2025Amazon & Print Release Date: September 9, 2025

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*Blog Tour* DESIGNS ON YOU by Jaci Burton (Berkley; 12/3/24) publication date

352 pages Berkley publisher December 3, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

About DESIGNS ON YOU

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

 Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge. 

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is…her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.

MY THOUGHTS

Interior designer Natalie Parker has had enough of men and feeling like she’s not heard or appreciated. This divorcee has two adorable children and a resurrected career. Though with children around which makes life hectic she’s able to get some me time in without her husband’s demands anymore.


Yeah, she’s an interior designer and can’t resist the chance to pop over to her sisters and look at her backyard of her new house and give a few tips on decorating and styling it. Not counting on seeing the most gorgeous man alive there, Eugene the brother of her sister’s boyfriend.


Telling herself she’s not getting involved in another relationship is like telling the grass not to grow. Shortly after meeting the book takes on an instalove theme between the characters Eugene and Natalie.

Things get spicy pretty quickly, but the book does have some substance to it. It’s a feel-good fun book, not one to be taken seriously but a great relaxation book when you don’t want a heavy read.

The relationship goes through its ups and downs, some growing pains and some things that need ironed out. I loved the addition of the two children and how much page time they had in book and how they were made to feel like important characters.
A book I enjoyed a lot.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

About the Author

Jaci Burton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Boots and Bouquets series, the Brotherhood by Fire series, the Hope series, and the Play-by-Play novels.

Photo by Zaksheuskaya on Pexels.com

Your blessings are many though you may not always see them.

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Man of Shadow and Mist (Of Monsters and Men Book 2)

322 pages Barbour Fiction publisher June 1, 2023 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”
–Bram Stoker, Dracula
 
England, 1890
 
Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.
 
James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.
 
When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.
 
Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

MY THOUGHTS

This cover, I love it as it goes perfectly with the story.
A Man of Shadows and Mist is the second book in the Of Monsters and Men series.


A historical romance but also gothic I was immersed in the ambience, a dark chilling manor, screams in the night. The author’s writing style is one you will get lost in as you are in her world while reading this.


James has returned from Transylvania to North Yorkshire living in his manor he just wants to care for and find a cure for his dying mother. This is the late 1800’s, he is misunderstood and ostracized, those around him fear him and think he’s evil.


Rosa helps her father out in his subscription library of which James goes to often. She winds up seeing him around town and brings him books. I enjoyed seeing her kind and helpful attitude when no one else wanted anything to do with him.


History, mystery full of encouragement and faith filled. This is my favorite book by the author so far and I look forward to more intriguing books by the author.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I’ve been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

You are wonderful. You can do it. Thank you for stopping in.

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What’s your preference, morning or night?

Are you more of a night or morning person?

While I do enjoy the evening when the house becomes quieter and relaxation can set in I also love the morning in all its new found fresh glory. The rising of the sun, the dew on the grass, the chirping of the birds and the stillness of an early morning in the country.

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What are your thoughts on eating meat?

What are your feelings about eating meat?

Answering the daily prompt ❓❓❓❓❓

So my mother has been a vegetarian for as long as I’ve known her. I was not and she didn’t try to influence me to become one either.

I became one , it’ll be six years in April of next year. I am a lover of animals and have watched many documentaries on animal suffering and what they go through so we can eat them and this includes birds and fish as well. I decided I could not contribute to this cruelty anymore. It’s better for the environment not to eat meat as well. My health has improved and I have more energy not eating meat. Luckily I enjoy many fruits and vegetables and plant based foods. I think they are delicious.

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Waiting for Christmas 

280 pages Tyndale Fiction publisher September 3, 2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this hope-filled Gilded Age Christmas novella from bestselling author Lynn Austin, the year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely means: a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.

Includes discussion questions for book clubs

The novella length of this delightful work of Christmas fiction about the true meaning of Christmas makes this a great stocking stuffer or host/hostess gift

Beautiful hardcover, giftable size

Great companion to All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

MY THOUGHTS

While I do enjoy Christmas romance books, I do actually prefer feel good Christmas books of which this one is.


Taking place during the gilded age in 1901, newly married Adelaide Forsythe who grew up in the lap of luxury has had enough of it and just wants to be ordinary and live within her husband’s means. It hasn’t been easy though, growing up with cooks, nannies and maids has left her unable to do the simplest domestic chores but she’s willing to learn.


Coming home one evening hearing a rustling in her bushes she investigates and discovers a ragged street urchin about nine years old. Bringing him in out of the cold he’s cared for.

Now I fell in love with this little boy, though he did have some problems adapting to a new way of life and insecurities plagued him. Though this is novella length it is a beautifully, pull on your heartstring filled story.

A child looking for the rest of his family and can’t rest easily until he does. It’s almost Christmas, will his Christmas hopes be fulfilled or will disappointment once again fill his life?


Poignant read, one that will be remembered for a long time.
Recommended highly!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoy your day. Thank you for stopping in.