Welcome to the Patriotic Edition of First Line Friday. Today I am sharing the first line from a book that is whispering to me from my TBR pile, Freedom’s Ring, the debut novel by Heidi Chiavaroli. I have got to read this book! If you’ve read it, tell me what you thought.
Meanwhile head over to Hoarding Books for more patriotic first lines!
Boston, 2015
Two years after nearly losing her life in the Boston Marathon bombing, Annie David is still far from “Boston strong.” Instead she remains isolated and defeated ― plagued by guilt over her niece, crippled in the blast, and by an antique ring alongside a hazy hero’s face. But when she learns the identity of her rescuer, will he be the hero she’s imagined? And can the long-past history of the woman behind the ring set her free from the guilt and fears of the present?
Boston, 1770
As a woman alone in a rebellious town, Liberty Caldwell finds herself in a dangerous predicament. When a British lieutenant, Alexander Smythe, comes to her rescue and offers her employment, Liberty accepts. As months go by, Alexander not only begins to share his love of poetry with her, but protects Liberty from the advances of a lecherous captain living in the officers’ house where she works.
Mounting tensions explode in the Boston Massacre, and Liberty’s world is shattered as her brother, with whom she has just reunited, is killed in the fray. Desperate and alone, she returns home, only to be assaulted by the captain. Afraid and furious toward redcoats, Liberty leaves the officers’ home, taking with her a ring that belonged to Alexander.
Two women, separated by centuries, must learn to face their fears. And when they feel they must be strong, they learn that sometimes true strength is found in surrender.
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.
Connect with Heidi online at her website (heidichiavaroli.com) or on either of these social media platforms:
Facebook.com/HeidiChiavaroliAuthor
Twitter.com/HeidiChiavaroli
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!😊
Bad start to a day! Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much for featuring Freedom’s Ring! I’m so honored, and I do hope you enjoy the story. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
I’m hoping it will be a book club selection soon.
I adored this book!! Can’t wait to read her next one….I just have to turn to page one!
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! 🙂
I’m reading Coble’s book later this summer. Love her books.
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.
Great line. Her books are always suspenseful.
This was a great book. I shared the first line to Heidi’s second book on my blog!
My current read is The Truth Between Us by Tammy L. Gray:
Nine months, twenty-seven days, and four hours.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Count down!
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! 😀
Just saw your comment! Sorry, it was sent to spam. 🙁 Hope you had a great reading weekend!
It’s cool. At least you still saw it. Have a great week ahead, and thanks for dropping by 😀
Happy Friday! 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!
Thanks! Have a wonderful weekend!
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
Thanks for sharing!
This book looks intriguing! I’ll have to add it to my wishlist 🙂 I hope you can stop by:
http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2018/07/first-lines-friday-7618.html
Colletta
Thanks for sharing your FLF link. Happy weekend!
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”
Great line! Thanks so much for sharing!
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!
Loved that book! I’m reading The Hideaway now.
This is an excellent Independence Day choice 🙂
I’m sharing from The Forgiving Hour by Robin Lee Hatcher on the blog today. Not that I managed to stop with the first line—I’ve now finished it!
Here’s another great line, from Chapter Thirty. This is one I’ve been learning the truth of in the last year, attending my church prayer meeting with ladies three or four decades older than me:
Being a Christian isn’t a destination; it’s a lifelong journey. There’s always something new to learn along the way, always something fresh to be revealed.
Great lines! Thanks, Iola, for sharing. Hope you have a great weekend!
i love this book so much! <3
And I can’t wait to read it.
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. 😊
It does! Happy weekend!
I am shocked I haven’t had the chance to read this one since I loved her second book so much which happens to be the one I shared this week on my blog. I’m currently reading Things I Never Told You by Beth K Vogt so I’ll share that first line here: “The what-ifs taunted me every time I visited my parents, but any hope of beginning again had vanished years ago–if there’d ever been one. Hope you have a great weekend!
What a sad line. Enjoy your reading!
The book looks really interesting. I hope to get the chance to read it sometime.
I’m hoping to get my book club to read it.