First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? Here’s how to join in:
Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
Finally… reveal the book!
This week’s lines are from a favorite fantasy novel:
Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a King with two sons. Delain was a very old kingdom and it had had hundreds of Kings, perhaps even thousands; when time goes on long enough, not even historians can remember everything. Roland the Good was neither the best nor the worst King ever to rule the land. He tried very hard not to do anyone great evil and mostly succeeded. He also tried very hard to do great works, but, unfortunately, he didn’t succeed so well at that. The result was a very mediocre King; he doubted if he would be remembered long after he was dead.
So what’s the book?
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Published: 1984 384 pages
Synopsis:
A tale of archetypal heroes and sweeping adventures, of dragons and princes and evil wizards!
Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a king with two sons…
Thus begins one of the most unique tales that master storyteller Stephen King has ever written—a sprawling fantasy of dark magic and the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty. Through this enthralling masterpiece of mythical adventure, intrigue, and terror, you will thrill to this unforgettable narrative filled with relentless, wicked enchantment, and the most terrible of secrets…
This book has been on my mind since earlier in the week, when I included it on a Top Ten Tuesday list of favorite books by favorite authors. I first read The Eyes of the Dragon many, many years ago, and have revisited it at least twice since then… and I hope to reread it again soon!
My phone lockscreen is set to randomly shuffle photos from my camera roll, changing every hour on the hour. I never know what will turn up… and I like it that way.
And when I woke up to start my day yesterday, I found that I had a lovely bit of syncing up going on:
On the left, my phone lockscreen. On the right, my current audiobook.
Both images: Joshua trees / Joshua Tree National Park
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. Have fun!
May’s birthstone is emerald. I love a vibrant green!
Emerald, the birthstone for May, has been beloved for millennia, evoking rebirth and renewal. Widely regarded as the definition of green, emerald is the perfect color for spring. From the poetic description of Ireland as “the Emerald isle” to the vibrant green of the famed gemstone itself—the May birthstone emerald has captured hearts and minds through the ages.
Variations of this rich green color suggest soothing, lush gardens. Legend has it that emerald has the power to make its wearer more intelligent and quick-witted, and it was once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. Today, it’s the gemstone given for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? Here’s how to join in:
Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
Finally… reveal the book!
This week’s lines are from an upcoming summer release:
There is a strange man on my sofa. A cowboy. A shirtless cowboy, no less — thick, sun-burnished muscles on full display, marked with bruises and what look to be smudges of charcoal.
So what’s the book?
Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood To be released: June 16, 2026 368 pages
Synopsis:
A heartbroken romance novelist is forced to address her writer’s block when the villainous cowboy character from her books shows up in the real world, desperately in need of his own Happily Ever After. . . from the bestselling author of GMA book club pick The Love of My Afterlife.
Gertie Bickerstaff writes happily-ever-afters for a living. . . . Or she did, until her own love life fell apart. Now her ex is thriving, her deadline is looming, and she can’t write a single word.
The last thing Gertie needs is more drama—like waking up to find a confused and rugged cowboy on her sofa. And not just any cowboy, but River Oakley, the villain from her unfinished novel. Somehow very real . . . and very shirtless.
River wants to go home. Gertie wants her life back. So they strike a deal: he’ll use his cunning ways to help her win back her ex, she’ll finish the novel, and, surely, he’ll return to whatever world he rode in from.
But as River Oakley proves to be so much more than just the bad guy, Gertie has to choose: the ending she thought she wanted . . . or the plot twist she never saw coming.
I loved this author’s previous novel, The Love of My Afterlife — and I’m always up for stories where fictional characters show up in real life. I’ll be listening to the audiobook version of Romantic Hero just as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Earlier in the week, I shared a post with my list of books for the newest Classics Club Spin challenge (see it here), and today, this spin’s number was announced. (For those keeping track, it’s CCSpin #44, and for me personally, #16!)
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up.
For CCSpin #44, the lucky number is:
And that means I’ll be reading:
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier Published 1941
Synopsis:
Bored and restless in London’s Restoration Court, Lady Dona escapes into the British countryside with her restlessness and thirst for adventure as her only guides. Eventually Dona lands in remote Navron, looking for peace of mind in its solitary woods and hidden creeks. She finds the passion her spirit craves in the love of a daring French pirate who is being hunted by all of Cornwall. Together, they embark upon a quest rife with danger and glory, one which bestows upon Dona the ultimate choice: sacrifice her lover to certain death or risk her own life to save him.
And here’s a synopsis from another edition:
A lady bound by duty. A pirate who lives by desire. Together, they risk everything in a historical romance of freedom, danger, and forbidden love.
Restless in London’s rigid society, Lady Dona St. Columb escapes to the Cornish coast. There, shadowed creeks conceal a daring French privateer who offers the adventure she craves. Their secret encounters unfold in a world of stolen passion, dangerous choices, and the intoxicating pull of a gothic love story that defies every convention.
I’m excited! I’ve had a whole slew of Daphne du Maurier books on my TBR for what feels like ages, and I’m happy to have a push to actually get started. To be honest, I hadn’t looked into the plot of Frenchman’s Creek at all before today… and learning that it’s a pirate story makes me even more eager to read it.
What do you think of my spin result this time around?
I’ll be back to share my thoughts before July 5th!
Are you participating in this Classics Club Spin? If so, what book will you be reading?
Here’s my list of 20 titles for Classics Club Spin #44:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? Here’s how to join in:
Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
Finally… reveal the book!
This week’s lines are from a 2025 book with a split timeline:
At our school in Waikiki, there were two camps. Those whose families were invited to the grand opening of the Moana Hotel, and those who weren’t. Ours wasn’t, but I don’t care because I think it was a foolish idea to build a hotel right on the beach.
So what’s the book?
The Guest in Room 120 by Sara Ackerman Published: September 23, 2025 336 pages
Synopsis:
A gripping novel inspired by one of America’s most mysterious deaths, that of Stanford University’s founder Jane Stanford.
1905. As the mother of a university and a woman with an iron will, Jane Stanford has made her share of enemies. After a scare at her mansion in San Francisco and on the advice of her doctor, she flees to Honolulu and the fashionable new Moana hotel. But as fate would have it, the island is not as safe as it seems.
2005. Zoe Finch is a bestselling author who desperately needs a jump start on her next novel when she makes a split decision to attend a writers conference at the Moana under an assumed name. As a storm brews offshore, she begins having nightmares that feel hauntingly real. Terrified, Zoe enlists the help of mystery writer Dylan Winters, and over the course of the week, races to uncover the shocking truth of what happened in the hotel one hundred years ago almost to the day.
1905. Iliahi Baldwin’s life changes the moment she lands a job at the Moana. Newly hired and reeling from a tragic loss, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the formidable Jane Stanford upon her arrival, leaving young Ili devastated when the unthinkable happens. Ili knows things, but there are powerful people who need the truth to remain hidden, and to cross them could prove disastrous.
An unforgettable tale of betrayal, secrets, and death that still echoes through the years.
I picked up a copy of this book a few months ago, but haven’t read it yet. I’ve heard great things!
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be the Classics Club’s spin #44, and my 16th time participating!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 17th May we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 5th July, 2026.
We’ll check in on the 5th July to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 17th May 2026.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 5th July.
I’ve become hooked on exploring 20th century fiction, so that’s how I’ve focused my list. Where will the spin take me this time? We’ll find out in a few days!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on May 17th to reveal my spin result!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a shopping post! I try to keep my spending within reasonable limits… and yet, I just can’t resist when it comes to gorgeous books and puzzles!
Jigsaw puzzles may not be for everyone… but if you have someone in your life who loves puzzles, here are a few that I’ve loved recently and highly recommend.
I’m a picky puzzler: I look for engaging, lively designs. I prefer lots of color and details. Monochromes, too much background, an overabundance of sky/trees/mountains — none of these really appeal to me. Of course, it’s all down to individual taste, but I gravitate toward colorful illustration, and pretty much never pick up something photo-based or with abstract designs.
Beyond that, I look for reliable, high quality puzzle makers. I want that satisfying snap when the pieces fit perfectly together. Pieces that seem like they could fit in more than one place are deal-breakers for me. I also want good materials, nothing flimsy or that peels apart.
My go-to reliable puzzle companies are Ravensburger and Eeboo. Ravensburger probably needs no explanation; for those unfamiliar, Eeboo is a woman-owned company that supports and highlights artists, and offers gorgeous, one-of-a-kind designs.
I’ve also done quite a few of the Laurence King literary-themed puzzles, such as The World of Jane Austen, The World of Frankenstein, and many more. Great designs, perfect for book lovers, nice level of detail, and very good quality pieces! I also tend to enjoy Cobble Hill puzzles, and have done White Mountain puzzles as well (although their piece shapes and images don’t always appeal to me from an aesthetic point of view).
I do branch out… with caution. As I said, I’m picky — so before I try a new-to-me puzzle company, I scour the reviews and look for deal-breaking comments.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Here are some favorites — puzzles I’ve enjoyed recently, that check all my boxes for what makes a puzzle great! (I mainly do 1000-piece puzzles… but all of these companies have a variety of piece counts to choose from).
Midnight in Barcelona, from the Cities at Midnight series by KI Puzzles. I was so drawn to the colors and artwork that I took a chance on an unknown-to-me puzzle company — and loved the result! This puzzle was intricate, really fun to assemble, and just beautiful to look at.
Paris in a Day from Eeboo — No surprise that I loved an Eeboo puzzle! This one was especially appealing, with such vibrant colors and interesting patterns.
Here are a few more Eeboo puzzles I have my eye on:
I’ve also done Cobble Hill’s seasonal gardening puzzles, which are lovely:
I’ve done a few Pomegranate puzzles from their Charlie Harper national park series, and they’ve proven to be excellent, both in terms of design and piece quality.
Rounding out this batch of great puzzles… here are a few from Ravensburger that I’ve loved recently:
I know people seem to really enjoy Gallison puzzles too. I haven’t tried any yet… but did just acquire two through a puzzle swap, and I’m eager to start them! I’m also highly tempted by a few New York Puzzle Company designs… which I may break down and buy next time I’m ready to treat myself. Like this one…
Of course, there are plenty more companies selling beautiful, high quality puzzles… and some come with quite a high price tag as well! I ended up on the mailing list for Puzzledly, which sells puzzles I haven’t found anywhere else. Some are gorgeous! Alas, the ones that have really caught my eye are above my (self-imposed) price limit, but they do have special offers and discounts from time to time, so I may indulge at some point! Here’s one that’s really calling my name:
Home of Romance – Penny Puzzles
One more thing to note…
Buying puzzles isn’t the only way to add to your collection and get nice new puzzles to enjoy! I recently found a local puzzle swap group, and have traded five of my gently-loved puzzles for five new-to-me puzzles. What a treat! You may have a puzzle swap group near you. I found mine on Facebook (thanks to a friend’s suggestion), but I’ve also seen a bunch of options via Reddit and elsewhere. Take a look! You never know what you might find.
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
Finally… reveal the book!
This week’s lines are from an upcoming new horror novella:
I have thought long and hard about how I would dispose of a dead body. I have carefully weighed options such as digging, sinking, burning, hiding. It’s something I do when I can’t sleep. I used to think that everyone did this, that each person I met had a plan of their own. But the day I casually mentioned mine during lunch at work, a weird and uncomfortable silence settled over the table. So it turns out that most people listen to audio books when they can’t sleep. It’s only me who hides bodies. I find it relaxing.
So what’s the book?
Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir Release date: May 26, 2026 160 pages
Synopsis:
An Icelandic night may hide secrets and affairs – or even bodies – in this gruesomely cathartic horror thriller from the author of The Night Guest.
Unnur was living a normal, if lonely, life until a black cat showed up at her door.
When she tracks down the cat’s wayward owner, she finds a young woman just as lost and in need of help. Like a gust of cold air in a Reykjavík night, Ásta and her pet slip into Unnur’s life.
It’s unexpected, but welcome. Unnur likes the company, and she begins to rely on Ásta in turn. But like a black cat, trouble has been tailing her new friend, and Unnur is the only one there for Ásta when things take a violent turn.
The two women quickly learn: nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands.
Too creepy? Or does it sound like something you’d enjoy?
Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!
I didn’t see a theme posted for May, so I decided to go with one of my own. My book list for May is focused on May Flowers… books covers with at least a flower or two! With only three letters to work with, it’s a quick list to put together… although as usual, “Y” books are the hardest to find.
Here are my MAY books:
M:
Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy
A:
The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
Y:
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
Happy May! Wishing everyone a month filled with flowers!
If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!
Bookshelf Fantasies 