Welcome to another First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books. It seems fitting given the milestone birthday I’ve just reached that I feature a contemporary romance novel featuring a man in his fifties…ahem…not that I’m looking for romance given I’ve been married for 26 years, but it’s refreshing that the prolific and talented Melody Carlson has penned a love story between a mature-aged couple, hardly the norm these days. If you don’t know the name Melody Carlson, you must be new to the Christian Fiction scene. Melody has been writing great stories for decades, including her pivotal teen series, and has over 200 books in print! What an amazing achievement.
Thanks to the generosity of Revell Books, we are giving away a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson, and you can enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Now for the first line…
I think George might be about to discover that’s not true!
It’s never too late to fall in love
When fun-loving artist Willow West meets buttoned-up George Emerson, it’s not exactly love at first sight. More like intriguing project at first sight. Willow makes it her mission to get the obsessive-compulsive, newly retired English teacher to loosen up and embrace life, but even she has to admit it seems like a lost cause.A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around–which to him seems like all too often. He’s not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.
But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?
Please share the first line from a book you are reading, enter the giveaway below, and have a wonderful weekend…
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than seven million. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.
Relz Reviewz Extras
All Things Carlson @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Melody’s website
Buy at Amazon: Courting Mr. Emerson or Koorong
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March 30, 2019 at 1:02 pm
“Dismal, Nevada–never had a town been named so right.” From The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy.
April 3, 2019 at 9:17 am
Pam K. » Haha!
March 30, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Happy Friday! My first line is from “Remember Me” by Marion Ueckermann:
“Seated cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom with her two best friends, Clarise Aylward leaned forward and lit the candles on the birthday cake her mom had made for them.
April 3, 2019 at 9:17 am
Becky Smith » Thanks Becky!
March 30, 2019 at 1:48 pm
“The first box of chocolates arrived Monday.” The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss by Krista Davis
A plus to having a Monday!
April 3, 2019 at 8:57 am
Definitely, Becky!!
March 30, 2019 at 4:05 pm
His being 50 makes it sound even more interesting, being (ahem) somewhere around that age myself. I’m featuring Beauty in Battle by Robin Patchen today. Here is the first line from Chapter Nine:
“This is it?” Jack peered at the rusty sign that hung from the front of a rundown brick building.
Happy Friday!
April 3, 2019 at 8:57 am
Yvette » You and me both, Yvette!!
March 30, 2019 at 10:48 pm
“It was now or never, Macy Evers realized as she faced the dust-covered store-front of Hattie’s Shirt Shop, Fine Goods Available by Order.“ – Ruth Logan Herne from the Sewing Sisters Anthology.
April 3, 2019 at 8:56 am
MJSH » 🙂
March 31, 2019 at 12:39 am
“Once there was, and one day there will be.” The Reader by Traci Chee
April 3, 2019 at 8:56 am
Danielle Hammelef » Intriguing!
March 31, 2019 at 1:31 am
Love Melody Carlson! I shared from Glory Road by Lauren Denton on my blog. Here is the first line of another book in my TBR stack, The Governess of Penwythe Hall. “A biting gust of Cornish wind screamed downward from the churning sky, billowing Cordelia Greythorne’s jet-black traveling cape.
Have a great weekend!
April 3, 2019 at 8:56 am
Beckie B. » Oh, that’s a very evocative first line!
March 31, 2019 at 2:27 am
I love Melody’s books. I got a big kick out of this one. I loved the characters and that George needed to learn he had life ahead at 55 and being forced to retire. This is the comical fist line of “The White City” by Grace Hitchcock. “Winnifred Wylde concentrated on his forehead, nodding, trying to respond appropriately, but it was so difficult with his nose hair escaping his left nostril with every breath.” LOL!
April 3, 2019 at 8:55 am
Susan Faloon » Haha! I’ve been seeing Grace’s book around – are you enjoying it?
April 3, 2019 at 2:10 pm
It was good. It was interesting that it has tidbits from true history including a serial killer. It wasn’t what I expected. To me it will work for those who enjoy Christian romance with a criminal bite. Nothing intensely graphic.
March 31, 2019 at 2:35 am
From Robin Jones Gunn’s “Sisterchicks do the Hula!”
Laurie came up with the idea to go to Hawaii.
April 3, 2019 at 8:54 am
Stephanie » An oldie but a goodie!
March 31, 2019 at 10:28 am
“It wasn’t the first time anyone had been stood up at the altar, but it would be the only time Natalie Harper was”. From Shattered Trust by Sara K. Parker
April 3, 2019 at 8:54 am
Merry » Poor Natalie!
March 31, 2019 at 11:16 am
“The sense of dread that began with Becky’s email pressed Gillian Short deep into her seat as passengers filed past her down the aisle, a line of eye-rubbing yawns and bouncing impatience.”
The Baggage Handler, David Rawlings
April 3, 2019 at 8:54 am
Dianna » I’m featuring David on the blog this week, Dianna!
March 31, 2019 at 1:59 pm
Mr Emerson sounds like an introvert …
I’m sharing the first line from A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Australian author Carolyn Miller on my blog today. I’m currently up to Chapter Seven, and here’s the first line:
The next time at services Caroline did her best to recall why she attended, to fix her thoughts on the service and not on the gentleman seated two rows behind her on her left.
Happy reading!
April 3, 2019 at 8:53 am
Iola » Nice!!
April 2, 2019 at 2:52 am
I enjoy Melody Carlson novels. Here is my first line: Aven peered down at the letter again, noted the address written in Aunt Dorothe’s hand, then looked back to the wooden sign that was staked into the ground. Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof
April 3, 2019 at 8:52 am
Penny » Oh, I enjoyed both of Joanne’s Blackbird Mountain stories 🙂