First Line Fridays

This week I wanted to feature a book that I was so excited to find at the library.  Months ago, I was browsing all the dozens of shelves at a used bookstore when I came across this series by Stephanie Barron.  I didn't know anything about her except that she wrote mystery novels featuring the world of Jane Austen.  Typically, I do not care for modern books that feature characters from classic works; however, these stories looked really excellent and interesting.  I decided to purchase the first book--even though there were several volumes to pick from--in order to give it a try.  Of course, I decided that I loved the book, and when I went back to purchase the other volumes, they were all gone!  Note to self, when you are at a used bookshop, buy every book you can...especially when the book you buy is part of a series.  So, I have not seen these books since then--until at the library this week.  Thankfully, I will be able to read the first four books, and I will probably highlight each one here on First Line Fridays.  :)

As always, please be sure to check out the book lines from these other amazing bloggers too:

Carrie from Reading is My SuperPower

Sydney from Singing Librarian

Rachel from Bookworm Mama

Beth from Faithfully Bookish

Andie from Radiant Light

Sarah from All the Book Blog Names are Taken  
Robin from Robin's Nest   

Katie from Fiction Aficionado

Bree from Bibliophile Reviews

Kathleen from Kathleen Denly

Lauraine from Lauraine's Notes 

Amanda from With a Joyful Noise  

Jessica from A Baker's Perspective  

Trisha from Joy of Reading

  Jane from C Jane Read  

Christina from Moments Dipped in Ink 

Molly from Cafinated Reads

Anna from Romances of the Cross 

Rebecca from It's Storytime with Van Daniker 

Iola from Iola Goulton  

And I want to welcome Nicole to the First Line Fridays fun!   

Nicole from The Christian Fiction Girl  

Click the links above to be taken to their posts and...
If you would like to join us, send Carrie a message and let her know!
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​Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from: 

Jane and the Unpleasantness of Scargrave Manor

by Stephanie Barron

And the first line is...

Journal entry, 11 December 1802,

written in the small hours

"'What do you make of it, Jane?'  The countess of Scargrave asked.  Her fingers gripped my elbow painfully.  I gazed at the recumbent form of her husband with dismay.  Frederick, Lord Scargrave, was decidedly unwell--so unwell that I had been called to his bedside an hour before dawn, an indiscretion the Earl would never have allowed while possessed of his senses.  I pulled the collar of my dressing gown about my neck and placed my free hand over the Countess's."   

Happy reading and happy Friday!