Welcome to First Line Friday!
Today I’m featuring
Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund.
In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.
When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug–including sending her back into the past to find it for them.
Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.
From Goodreads
Author Information
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats.
From Author Website
First Line
[Graphic Text]: “I’m dying, and we can’t change that.” Even though Ellen Creighton spoke as softly and gently as possible, she could do nothing to soften the harshness of the truth.
My Review
Never Leave Me is the second book in Jody Hedlund’s time-crossing series Waters of Time and the sequel to Come Back to Me. This is such a sweet story! Not in a Hallmark-y way since it has difficult themes threaded through it. But the way Harrison loves Ellen is so precious.
I also loved how courage is woven through the entire story. One would think it takes courage to be willing to die for another, but what if it also takes courage to live life to the fullest, to grab hold of the blessings God has showered on you? And the ethical questions the characters wrestled with caused the reader to wrestle with the same implications.
This series is not for everyone, with the time-crossing element and higher heat levels, but the way the author causes a reader to think both while reading the book and for days after the last page makes this series a favorite of mine. Which is why I’m very much hoping there’s a book three!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
Retail Links
Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
Goodreads | BookBub
Now it’s your turn.
Pull out the book beside you and leave a comment with the first line.
First Line Friday is hosted by Reading is my Super Power.
This one is on my January tbr. The time travel genre sure was popular in Christian fiction last year! I’m currently reading Stone by Ronie Kendig. The first line is “Some days were meant to test a man; others meant to undo him.”
Time travel isn’t usually my genre, but this series has been really good. I’m very much looking forward to reading Stone! Hope you enjoy it!
I haven’t read any of Jody Hedlund’s books, but this sounds intriguing! I’m featuring A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble on my blog, but I just started reading Stone by Ronie Kendig so I’ll share the first line here: “Some days were meant to test a man; others meant to undo him.” Have a great weekend and happy reading!
Oh I can’t wait to read Stone! I have it coming up on my tbr list. Happy reading!
I haven’t read this one yet but I hope to soon!
The book I featured this week is Pomegranate Lane by Donna Anuszczyk but I’m currently reading With Love, Wherever You Are by Dandi Daley Mackall. I’m just starting it so I’ll share the first line from chapter 2 where I am currently: “Frank Daley checked the chart at the foot of the old man’s hospital bed.” I hope you have a wonderful reading weekend!
I haven’t heard of either of those. I hope you enjoy them! Happy reading!
Happy Friday!
I’m currently reading A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz. It is AWESOME!
I’m just beginning chapter 23, so I will share a line from there.
“Henri was on the verge of saying nay to the proposed mission, and he sensed that the governor’s council, a body of astute, shrewd men, knew it.”
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I’m in the middle of A Heart Adrift, now, too! I’m loving it. Have a great weekend!
I do not normally like this genre but when Come Back to Me came out it was hyped so much I checked it out of the library and read it. I LOVED it and have been impatiently waiting to read this one. I don’t have a copy of it yet, but look forward to reading it. I imagine it is as good as the first 🙂 https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2022/01/first-line-friday-33-fresh-scars.html
Same for me! I hope you’ll like this one just as much!
I am on Chapter 30 of Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters, so I will take the first line from Chapter 30. “Pecca’s head felt as heavy as a bowling ball, the weight of it tugging at her neck muscles.”
Such a good story! Thanks for sharing!
We are twins again!
My first line is from Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund:
I’m dying, and we can’t change that.” Even though Ellen Creighton spoke as softly and gently as possible, she could do nothing to soften the harshness of the truth.
I love it!!