This week I’m trying something new and joining the First Line Friday link-up, hosted by Carrie at Reading is My Superpower. The book I’ve chosen is Brink of Danger, romantic suspense from Christy Barritt.
The faceless villain opens this one up. Here’s the first line:
I’m there. In the crowd. People talk to me. Laugh with me. Give me high fives.
And here’s my review:
Brink of Danger, by Christy Barritt (River Heights, 2019)
Ansley Wilder loves adventure. That’s why she works for a zipline company. But after a near-miss that was no accident, she takes a personal interest in helping her police chief brother Luke and her former crush, fire chief Ryan Philips, investigate.
Ryan came back to Fog Lake for a less-stressful post after a tragedy rocked his previous fire crew. Except his first day back is the day Ansley nearly dies. When more suspicious activity follows, it all seems centred on Ansley.
Ansley is a woman trying to do life different after a recent wake-up call. She’s doing her best and making good progress but still sometimes messes up. She’s trying to find her way back into faith and to shake her wild image.
Readers see the unseen watcher manipulating the circumstances “for Ansley.” Every time I thought I knew who the villain was, there’d be a reason it couldn’t be. I enjoyed the puzzle.
My favourite quote comes from the watcher, the self-styled “Woodsman,” remembering the influence of now-deceased parents:
Both of them are dead now, but their memories live on in me. I’m like a sapling that grows over a grave, continuing the circle of life.
Brink of Danger is book 3 in the Fog Lake romantic suspense series. I had no trouble starting here, although now I know how the first two books’ romances turned out. 😊 To start at the beginning of what looks like a 7-book series, look for Edge of Peril.
I found the romance thread a little more overt than I like best, but the suspense was compelling. I appreciated the family dynamics between Ansley and two of her brothers and her honesty about the struggle to forgive her mother for walking out on the family.
Christy Barritt writes “quirky mysteries and spine-tingling suspense.” Brink of Danger is in the latter category, a fast-paced suspense read that starts with danger and never lets up. The villain definitely adds a touch of creepy. For more about the author and her many books, visit christybarritt.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
Want to play?
Leave a comment with the first line of the book closest to you, and then click here to visit more First Line Friday participants!
Welcome to the Friday memes! I enjoy this way of discovering new books and hope you’ll find it fun too. I’m definitely up for a story of suspense and a creepy villain. I’ll check this one out.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/friday-memes-13
Thanks for the welcome, Terrie! I’ve found some great reading recommendations through the Friday memes.
Welcome to First Line Friday!!! This is a great opening scene…..and I love Christy’s books. Don’t know how I missed this one!
Thanks for the welcome, Jessica! This isn’t a new book and it’s been on my Kindle app for awhile. Definitely a strong opening and the pace keeps up all the way through.
Welcome to the Friday fun! Christy Barritt is an author I need to read more of!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2023/03/first-line-friday-81-della-and-darby.html
Thanks for the welcome, Cindy. One of the good things about wanting to read more Christy Barritt is that she has an amazing number of books out! Enjoy your weekend, too! I hope there’s some good reading time in it.
This sounds like a good one! I’m currently reading Depending on the Cowboy by Jill Kemerer. The first line is: “Women made him nervous.” Have a great week!
Intriguing first line! Enjoy reading!
Welcome to FLF!
I’m so late! It’s been a crazy, busy weekend. Anyway, I’m currently reading To Win Her Hand by Jen Geigle Johnson. It’s cute!
“Lord Featherstone craned his neck until he could no longer see Lady Loveluck exiting outside to wait for her carriage.”
I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Glad your busy weekend allows a few minutes to read!