First Line Fridays is a feature hosted by Hoarding Books.
TGIF, everyone! I am excited to share first lines from a book I recently finished reading (and LOVED), which is publishing next week, The Exes’ Revenge by Jo Jakeman.
My first lines are:
The day of Phillip’s funeral
I expected to feel free, unburdened, but when the curtains close around Phillip Rochester’s satin-lined coffin all I feel is indigestion.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Originally titled Sticks and Stones
A wickedly dark debut thriller about three women who’ve all been involved with the same man and realize the one thing they have in common is that they all want revenge against him…
Divorces are often messy, and Imogen’s is no exception. Phillip Rochester is controlling, abusive, and determined to make things as difficult as possible. When he shows up without warning demanding that Imogen move out of their house by the end of the month or he’ll sue for sole custody of their young son, Imogen is ready to snap.
In a moment of madness, Imogen does something unthinkable–something that puts her in control for the first time in years. She’s desperate to protect her son and to claim authority over her own life.
But she wasn’t expecting both Phillip’s ex-wife and new girlfriend to get tangled up in her plans. These three very different women–and unlikely allies–reluctantly team up to take revenge against a man who has wronged them all.
Please share with me the first line(s) of the book you are currently reading! I would love to read it! Have you read The Exes’ Revenge/Sticks and Stones, or do you plan to? Happy Friday reading! ~ Jennifer THR
I wasn’t expecting that sentence to end with indigestion 😀 This sounds like a great read and I love your photo. Glad you loved the book.
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Thanks, Diana! I know- wasn’t that something? I think you’d enjoy this too! You would love these characters and the tension. I’ll have my review up on Monday or Tuesday for pub day.
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Happy Friday my friend!😎
My first lines come from a book I’m reading next, In Her Bones by Kate Moretti.
Your life is more open than you think. You think you’re safe. You have neighborhood watches and room -darkening drapes, password-protected computers, alarm systems, and garage codes that are absolutely not your firstborn’s birthday.
Have a great weekend and happy reading!😊💕
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I can’t wait to read your thoughts on that one, Sus! I didn’t request it this time, but I read her last one. 💗 Happy Friday to you! Xoxo
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Loved that first line, Jennifer. This book sounds good! Poor Imogen.
Here’s my first line from a Harlequin Heartwarming book I’m reading, A Home Come True by Cheryl Harper (I know you’re not a romance reader, but this is cute):
“Daydreaming about shoving a buttered dinner roll into Sarah Hillman’s mouth to keep her from laughing again was a sign that it was time to leave the party.”
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😂 That is cute! Thank you for sharing that with me, Laurie! This book was so good! The writing is witty at times and kept my interest, and it’s just so original. I loved it! Happy Friday! 💗
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That’s a great first line, Jennifer. Indigestion? Really? I cracked up. Of course, now I want more.
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Thanks, Jonetta! I was just saying in another comment that this book is so witty- the first line is just the tip of the iceberg. I cracked up so many times. Great tension too!
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Yay it’s Friday! From Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton (which I am loving) “How long will we be gone?” my sister Maria asks.
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Oh, that’s a great line, Marialyce! I hope to read that soon! Happy Friday to you!
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I am reading The Phantom Tree. The first line is Alison, Marlborough, Wiltshire, the present day
She saw the portrait quite by chance, or so she thought.
I plan to read this thriller. Happy Friday! 💗📚🌺🎄🌸
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I hope you enjoy the Phantom Tree, Virginia! 💗 Happy Friday to you! Xoxo
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I have this eARC so now I’m especially excited to start it!
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I’ll be watching for your thoughts, Kim! Enjoy! ♥️
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🤗
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I just finished The Exes’ Revenge this week, too. It was a good one.
Currently reading The Proposal by S. E. Lynes. First line: The first thing you should know, dear reader, is that I am dead.
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Yay, I’m happy you enjoyed it, too, Darinda! What an opener for your book! I’ll look forward to your review!
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This is on my list of weekend reads! Looks so good!
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I hope to pop in and see what you and Mack think! Enjoy! 💗 xo
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This does seem like a great read.
I’m currently reading Can You Forgive Her? the first volume of the Palliser Novels by Anthony Trollope.
First line:
Whether or no, she, whom you are to forgive, if you can, did or did not belong to the Upper Ten Thousand of this our English world, I am not prepared to say with any strength of affirmation.
Hope you have a good weekend. 🙂
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Your first line has me really intrigued! I’ll be on the lookout for your review! I Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
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Haha I love that line! 😀 And ooh, a story about revenge. Can’t wait for your thoughts on this one!
I’m currently reading Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton, which is a dark fairy tale:
“Branches scrape at his cheek, hungry for his blood. Eyes wide, the boy pushes harder, shoving at the sharp, dry leaves, stomping through undergrowth and deadfall. The trees are an old-growth tangle of trip wire, a web of limbs and fingers and claws to snare him.
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Gah! I accidentally pressed “enter”! 😂 That paragraph ends with “Behind the boy, the devil clicks his teeth.” I’m blown away by the book so far!
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Wow, what a way to end that paragraph! I can’t wait to read your full review on that!
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You always have the best opening lines, Kathy! ♥️ I love that imagery! My book is so juicy good! I can’t wait to share about it in my review. This author definitely knows how to write about revenge! Happy weekend! Xoxo
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Sounds like it could be a fun read – hope you enjoy it!
I’ve just started Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller…
“They must think I don’t have long left, because today they allow the vicar in. Perhaps they are right, although this day feels no different from yesterday, and I imagine tomorrow will go on much the same.”
Kinda intriguing…
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Oh, that is definitely intriguing, FF! I’ll be waiting for your thoughts! And that name is familiar. I’m wondering if I have a book by her here.
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Ah, i actually have this one! The different title confused me for a sec 😀
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Totally different titles, right?! I can’t wait for your thoughts on it!
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I think I need to check this book out now! Great first line! Happy Friday!!
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Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it if you do!
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