I first saw this hosted by Reading is My Superpower. You just grab a book, either one you are currently reading or on your TBR and write out the first lines. Just a fun way to get people interested in what you are reading.

I have a two-fer this week, since I missed out last week!

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•First Lines•

Chapter One
Early December 1926
Rockford, Illinois

“Lila Young held he mother’s lavender rayon dress to her face and wept. She regretted not burying her mother in it.”

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•Book•

•Synopsis•

Some people inherit a family. Lila Young has to build one from scratch.

When twenty-year-old Lila arrives in a small Midwestern town, hoping for a fresh start with her older brother, she discovers she’s more alone than ever. Determined to make a life of her own, she opens Cutie Pies by the Slice, where neighbors gather over coffee and strangers slowly become the family she’s always longed for.

As the pie shop flourishes, so does Lila’s confidence. Agnes and Maggie become the sisters she never had, and Vern—a quiet, dependable man who faithfully carries her daily bank deposits—becomes someone she learns to trust.

Then Lila uncovers a devastating secret: without her knowledge, her thriving business has become entangled in organized crime. As hidden loyalties surface and those she loves are drawn into dangerous choices, she must decide whether broken trust can be rebuilt—and whether forgiveness is worth the risk.

Set during Prohibition and the Great Depression, Cutie Pies by the Slice is a heartfelt novel of resilience, redemption, and chosen family. Filled with unforgettable characters, small-town charm, and the comforting aroma of fresh-baked pie, it celebrates the quiet courage of ordinary people who discover that the sweetest things in life aren’t inherited—they’re earned.

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•First Lines•

Chapter One

“Applause thunders through the auditorium. It always catches me by surprise, this nervous feeling, like little bubbles of champagne have infiltrated my bloodstream. I figured I’d be used to it by now. The crowds and questions and smiling faces.”

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•Book•

•Synopsis•

My life is perfect. Bad things don’t happen to me. So why has someone taken my daughter?  

I thought I was the luckiest woman alive. I have a loving husband, who supports me in everything I do. A beautiful home, with comfy couches and art taped to the fridge. And Stella—my kind, gentle daughter. I’ve fought so hard for this life, and every day I’m grateful for it.

So it hits me like lightning, the moment I see my nanny stumbling towards me, blood drying on her forehead. She was attacked. Stella is gone.

The world spins. I fight to breathe. This can’t happen to me. Not now.

I thought it couldn’t get any worse, but as I sit in a daze on Stella’s bed, my eye falls on a stuffed cat, threadbare from cuddling, that I thought I’d never see again. My blood freezes. Because now I know who did this, and they won’t rest till my perfect life comes tumbling down.

But they don’t know how hard I’ll fight to protect myself, my daughter—and my secrets…

A gasp-out-loud psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Not My Mother, with a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley and Gillian Flynn.

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What book(s) grabbed you from the beginning?