First Lines Friday: June 18, 2021

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted 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!

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First Lines:

I’d grown to hate the ocean.

As I stood on the hazy shore, the waves lapped at my feet and beckoned me to join them. Pullin in, then releasing . . . As if I had any choice in the matter.

While seagulls cried dolefully overhead, I scanned the water’s horizon. The sea appeared endless, but I knew better.

It was a cage.

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Do you recognize the lines?

Hint: It’s the third book in a YA fantasy/fairy tale/romance series.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint: 

It’s written by Cece Louise

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The First Lines Friday book is:

Mazarine by Cece Louise

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About the Book:

Series: The Forest Tales #3

Publication Date: June 22, 2021

Synopsis: She’s cursed. He’s dead. How far will they go to change their fates?

Princess Marilee is cursed. A mermaid by day and a human by night, she made a fateful decision that has left her trapped between two worlds.

Disgraced Prince Darius is dead. At least, that’s what he wants everyone to think when he’s thrown overboard from a prison ship.

When Marilee and Darius meet, they reluctantly make a deal—Darius will help Marilee return to her family in exchange for enough money so he can disappear forever.

A doomed girl and a condemned man. Can they find redemption, or will they be lost to an unforgiving sea?

LINKS:     Goodreads    |      Amazon   

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Join Fantasy author Cece Louise on Facebook Live June 24th, Thursday, at 6pm CST for a Mazarine Book Launch Party!

Bring your favorite summertime drink and kick back for the following:

• Signed paperback giveaways
• Live Q&A session with me
• Behind-the-scenes content from Mazarine
• Teasers & talk about my next book
• And more!

RSVP “YES” and you’ll automatically be entered to win a signed copy of one of her paperbacks (US ONLY).

RSVP Today! https://www.facebook.com/events/110787221118280

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GIVEAWAY:

As part of this fun event, Cece will be giving away 3 signed paperbacks (1 of each title)! By RSVPing “YES” to the Virtual Launch Party you will automatically entered in the drawing.

You can also receive ADDITIONAL ENTRIES by doing any of the following:       

• Inviting friends to attend (each invite is 1 entry!)
•  Sharing this post or any other event post via Facebook
• Sharing event posts on Instagram (via your feed or story). Follow Cece on Instagram for easy sharing: cecelouise_author
• Tagging friends in event posts via Instagram (each tag is 1 entry!)
• Commenting live during the event

GIVEAWAY RULES: US ONLY. Ends at 11:59 pm on June 24th, 2021, Thursday. Winners drawn at random and announced the next day via DM. Giveaway takes place via Instagram and Facebook. Giveaway not affiliated with
Instagram or Facebook. 3 paperbacks will be given away (1 of each): Mazarine, The Jabberwocky Princess, and Desperate Forest.

RSVP Today! https://www.facebook.com/events/110787221118280