First Lines Friday 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!
First Lines:
“Death slipped in at the end of a perfectly ordinary day, creeping over the threshold of evening as if it might go unnoticed- as if the consequences of it would not shape all that was to come.”
Do you recognize the lines?
Here’s a hint:
It’s a new historical fantasy romance.
Still not sure? Here’s another hint:
It’s written by Caitlyn Paxson
The first lines Friday book is:
A Widow’s Charm
Title: A Widow’s Charm
Author: Caitlyn Paxson
Pages: 432
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
Publisher: Del Rey
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Fantasy
Synopsis: Lady Hildegarde Croft is accustomed to changes in position. After all, she rose from maidservant to lady of the manor when she married Lord Thorgoode Croft. But when he dies unexpectedly, the plans that would have protected her and the people of Croftholde die along with him. What’s a widow to do?
Potential salvation arrives in the form of Lord Elmwood, who is fleeing the consequences of using his forbidden Charm to raise the dead. Now he’s injured, destitute, and hiding out at the neighboring estate.
For Hilde, blackmailing Lord Elmwood to resurrect Thorgoode seems like the perfect solution. For Elmwood, beautiful Lady Croft seems like the ideal distraction from his troubles. The problem is, all she wants from him is the horrifying power he knows he can never use again.
LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Review
Have you read A Widow’s Charm? What do you think of the first line? Comment below!
I haven’t read it, but I just read a wonderful review, and hope to read or listen to it very soon. That first line is very forboding.
I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Carla!
That’s a great opening! I’ve been seeing such good reviews — just waiting for my library hold to come in!
I hope it comes in soon and you enjoy it!