Thursday, January 25, 2018

First Line Friday: The Day Sonny Died



Lord, have mercy. Thank goodness Friday is just about here! It's time for another round of #FirstLineFriday, hosted by Hoarding Books.

My line this week comes from such a heart-breaking, but ultimately hopeful, story which sounds strange to say when considering the title. But I promise, it will be worth a read to understand what I mean. 

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"There was still blood on Sonny's shoes when the detective came to interview him."

I discovered this book two weeks ago via Remembrancy when Suzie posted about it. Something about the story just called to me, and I was so lucky that one of the authors, M. Simone Boyd (who co-wrote the book with her father, Onnie I. Kirk, Jr) offered me a copy. Not even asking for a review, just straight up offered me a copy (no worries, there will be a review!) Despite having my own plate full with research, writing, reading, and raising a human, I plowed through the book in just three days. The ultimate story is of God's love for us and the options He presents us so we can live out our purpose - which because of our free will, we can choose to accept or reject.

Leave a comment or a line of your own, then head over to Hoarding Books to find the other lines waiting for you this week.

Happy Reading,
Sarah

33 comments:

  1. So glad you liked it! A powerful read, isn't it?

    Here's the first line from a book I hope to get to this weekend:

    FBI Special Agent Kord Davidson had survived missions in the Middle East, been detained in Iran, escaped an ISIS death trap, and still walked and talked.

    High Treason
    by DiAnn Mills

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    1. Hey Suzie! Thanks for the kind words and for introducing me to Sarah via your blog. Hope to see you at our next meeting!

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    2. Yes!! I am so glad I found the book and Simone. Hope you get to this book this weekend, happy reading!

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  2. Sounds like a powerful story! And that's a great first line to intrigue a reader... :)

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    1. Thanks, Kara, for the kind words! It was a *struggle* to develop that first line. I was reading a book on craft and Sarah Domet said that "a good first line is an invitation go readers to join you." And I really wanted to extend that invitation/intrigue:-).

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    2. It was a very easy book to get pulled-in by. Sonny spoke to my heart because just in reading the summary, I saw so many of my students in him. I knew obviously given the title, he would not survive his own life and circumstances, but I read nonetheless. Very powerful read.

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  3. Happy Friday!

    My FLF comes from the book I’m reading now, Liza’s Second Chance by Molly Jebber!

    Lisa Schrock, clenched her teeth and dug her fingers in the fresh dough in her Amish bakery. The forced smiles, nods to her friends’ compliments, and suppressing the truth about her husband had been difficult, but she’d managed to keep her miserable marriage a secret.

    Have an awesome weekend and happy reading!

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    1. hey Susan, thanks for coming by and sharing your line this week! what is going on with Lisa and her husband??!! Happy Saturday!

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  4. Salazar Sanso raised his binoculars and looked out over the edge of the steep drop into the rosy New Mexican desert. - Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy

    Happy Friday and Happy Reading!

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    1. I have been given so many recommendations to read Dekker but have not yet gotten around to it. I should probably do so at some point. Happy Reading!

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  5. Sounds like a powerful read!

    Happy Friday!

    Over on my blog I am showcasing Naomi Rawlings's novel Love's Bright Tomorrow. Here I will share the first line from the novel I am currently reading, Mary and Bright by Shannon Graupman.

    "Mary Bradford's heart raced as she sat on the edge of her king sized bed -- her gaze affixed on the single white sheet of paper resting on the nightstand."

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    1. It was, it was such a good book, even if it was a hard book and a tragic book. Also as a side note - somehow your comment was marked as spam and I did not see that until tonight! So weird, because you comment on my blog all the time and have never been marked that way before. Oh, Blogger!

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  6. I'll look forward to reading your review!

    I'm sharing the first line from Aint Misbehaving by Marji Laine on my blog. I'm currently reading My Sister's Prayer by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. It's the middle book in a trilogy and I really shouldn't have read the third book first, because it did ruin some of the big-picture suspense. Here's the first line:

    The cry for help came as I was coasting toward the bicycle rack at the far end of the story.

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    1. Hey Iola! Thanks for the kind words.

      I can absolutely picture that first line in my head and what an interesting turn of phrase "...the far end of the story."

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    2. Thank you Iola, I hope to have it up this weekend, I definitely needed some time to decompress after finishing the book, as my emotions were very much on the surface. I saw so much of my own students in Sonny, though they are much younger than he was when he died. Thanks for sharing your line, Happy Reading!

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  7. A book with a good message. I features my favorite American native story Margaret Coel stories about tbe Arapahoe indians.

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    1. Thank you, Betty Louise! I'm curious what's the name of the book you mentioned? I'd never heard of that Native American tribe before...

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    2. Thanks for coming by this week, it is a beautiful message, even among all the despair. If you read it, I'd love to know what you think. Happy Saturday!

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  8. Oh my goodness...what a sad line. Happy Friday. :)

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    1. Oh! I know. I *know* and I sometimes feel bad about writing such a sad story. I mean isn't there enough sadness in the world? But the hope is that the story helps illuminate some of the struggle so many of us face and remind us that there is *always* hope. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! And Happy Friday!!!

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    2. Right?? heather, you HAVE to read this one. Then of course we ca talk about it and be sad and hopeful together. It makes it all the more sad that Sonny was only three at the beginning of the story. Simone and her father have written a very good book that, while there is so much tragedy, shows that God is always there for us, but we constantly make the choices to accept or reject Him. Really good read, Happy Saturday!

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  9. Sounds like a thought-provoking book, just from the first line. Have a blessed weekend! :-)

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    1. Hi Alicia! Thanks a bunch, I'm excited to see what God does with this message. Have a great weekend!

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    2. Thanks for coming by Alicia, and yes! Very thought-provoking. Simone and her father have written a great book and I hope to help spread the word about it. Ultimately the message is hope, and even those Sonny missed it, that does not mean anyone else has to. Blessings to you as well, have a wonderful weekend.

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  10. Sounds powerful! The first line pulls you right in, curious to know what will happen next.

    The first line on my blog is from a novel by Michelle Griep, The Captive Heart. Here, I will share the first line of Chapter 5 from the book I'm currently reading, The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller "It was entirely possible that the excitement of last month's come-out ball was about to be surpassed."

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Hey Anneliese! Thank you for the kind words.

      I stopped by your blog and really love what you said about the unnecessary pressure for young girls to have a boyfriends. Such good advice you gave to soak up that time with girlfriends!

      I had another thought too. Not to get all preachy, but I think the heart of the matter goes to identity. And when we know who we are in Christ our relationship status simple does not matter. It's kind of a tangent, but I have so many women that I love and adore that topic of 'what no boyfriend?' just irks me sometimes...

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    2. Hey Anneliese, thank you for coming by to share your line. As you might imagine given the line and the title of the book alone, life will not be easy for Sonny. If you get a chance to read this one I'd love to chat about it with you. Happy Saturday!

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  11. Happy Friday! (What's left!) My first lines (sorry, but I included the 2nd) is from These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart:

    "Francine Howard stepped off the bus into another world. She should have been prepared."

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    1. Ha, no worries, sometimes I post whole first PARAGRAPHS :) Happy Saturday, thanks for coming by!

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  12. Sounds intriguing, even if it is sad!

    I have the first line from Tamara Leigh's latest release, The Awakening, on my blog, but here I'm going to share the first line from my current read, 'Weaver's Needle' by Robin Caroll:

    "Unless you get one of those miracles they're always talking about in church, I don't see how you'll be able to keep the business open into spring."

    Have a great weekend. :-)

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    1. It is a very good read and I think you would like it. Even within all that sadness and tragedy, the message is still of hope and even though Sonny missed out, his children would not have to. Hope is powerful. Happy Saturday!

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  13. That looks like a powerful read! My current first line is from Cathy Gohlke's Until We Find Home: "Lightning crackled, splitting the night sky over Paris, illuminating letters painted on the bookstore window across the street: La Maison des Amis des Livres."

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Thanks for visiting my little book nook. I love talking books so leave a comment and let's chat!