Books: First Lines Fridays 11th September 2026

Welcome back for another First Lines Friday. It's that time of the week when we judge a book not by it's cover or even by it's blurb. Instead we will be judging it's ability to hook us from the opening lines. Let's see if this week's pick will have you adding it to your TBR list or not.

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I'm participating in First Lines Fridays as I think it's a great way to highlight more of the books that are on my bookshelves.

What is First Lines Fridays?

First Lines Fridays 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!

My Pick For This Week

The first lines of the book:

‘Do you need a handkerchief, Mr Haddonberg?’ The testimony hadn’t even begun yet, and already Walter Haddonberg was sweating. The prospect of facing the plaintiff’s attorney, Arthur Kirkland, had apparently gotten the glands in Haddonberg’s forehead and under his arms working overtime. Kirkland, a handsome, dynamic man, had a reputation in the Portland legal community that had earned him the nickname ‘The Barracuda.’

Do you know which book this is from? Scroll down to find out!

And the book is...

Inherit the Shoes by EJ Copperman book cover

Book synopsis for Inherit the Shoes by EJ Copperman

Lawyer Sandy Moss gets mixed up in a celebrity murder case in LA, in the first in a brand-new cosy legal mystery series.

New Jersey prosecutor Sandy Moss is tired of petty criminals, and a new job at a glitzy Los Angeles law firm seems the perfect career move. Putting 3,000 miles between her and her ex-boyfriend is just an added bonus.

But on Sandy’s first morning as a family attorney, she inadvertently kills her new career stone dead when she offends her boss during a meeting with the firm’s top celebrity client, charismatic TV star Patrick McNabb. But that’s not as dead as Patrick’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Patsy, is that evening, when she’s discovered shot by an arrow, her husband standing over her.

Where to find Inherit the Shoes by EJ Copperman online:

Get the book: Inherit the Shoes Amazon affiliate link

Add to your shelf: Inherit the Shoes on Goodreads

Have you read this book? On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do these opening lines make you want to read the book?

You might also like: Books That Take Place in Bookstores or Libraries

What would you like to explore next?

Are you looking for your next favourite read, blogging tips, or a new challenge? Click a button below to dive in!

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August 2026 Blogger Posts Round Up

Featured Blog Posts from the Blogging Community

A collection of blog posts from bloggers across books, lifestyle, travel, and more

Welcome to the August 2026 Blogger Posts Round Up! Each month, I bring together a variety of blog posts from bloggers across a wide range of topics, making it easy to discover new voices and fresh content.

This month, you’ll find posts covering books, health and fitness, home and garden, lifestyle, hair and beauty, and travel, so there’s something for every reader.

About This Feature

This monthly round up is a way to highlight bloggers creating excellent content across multiple niches. It’s also designed to help readers find new blogs to follow while bringing together a diverse mix of posts in one place.

In this round up, you can expect to see:

Book reviews, reading challenges, and literary discussions
Health and fitness posts focused on well-being and self-care
Home and garden inspiration and seasonal ideas
Lifestyle and personal growth content
Hair and beauty reviews and tips
Travel guides, tips, and experiences

Why I Do This Round Up

Social media can be overwhelming when you’re trying to discover quality content, so this round up collects the best blog posts published this month.

It’s designed to:

Highlight bloggers across multiple niches
Help readers find new blogs to enjoy
Share inspiring and useful content
Celebrate creativity and expertise across the blogging community

How It Works

Every month, I post a submission thread on Twitter/X, inviting bloggers to share posts published during that month.

Posts submitted should cover topics such as:

Books
Health and fitness
Lifestyle
Hair and beauty
Travel
Home and garden

All featured posts are published during the relevant month.

Want to be included in future round ups?

Follow me on Twitter/X and keep an eye out for the monthly submission post.

Discover This Month’s Featured Blog Posts

Book Blogging

This section highlights blog posts from book bloggers sharing reviews, reading challenges, book tags, and literary discussions.

@DanSamEnd shared her review of The Last Rift Dragon by Shami Stovall as part of the book tour.

"It’s always a treat to dive into a Shami Stovall book, and this is no exception, a fantastic read and great start to the series!"

👉 Read the full post here.

@WordsofMystery shared a post with book reviews for Casually Yours by Vivian Jia Lac & Second First Dates by Gabriella Gamez.

"I have my favourite tropes, among them friends-to-lovers, and Casually Yours does a fun twist on this trope by making it estranged friends to casual lovers, though they’re never truly casual, which is something I ate up."

"Not only have Julian and Leti been with both men and women, but both characters are ace-spec, which is still quite rare to see. As a result, the cover of Second First Dates may seem misleading, as Leti and Julian’s romantic relationship is more of a quieter, slow burn focusing more on the emotional side rather than the physical side of their relationship, though the two of them do have good chemistry throughout the book."

👉 Read the full post here.

@TStrawberryPost shared her review of Duel of Beasts by Boyd & Beth Morrison.

"Oh my goodness, what an amazing and absolutely thrilling historical adventure and another wonderful book in the Tales of the Lawless Land series!"

👉 Read the full post here.

@BooksCozy shared a post highlighting science fiction books. There are sections for books she's read linking to their reviews and spotlight features on additional books in the genre.

👉 Read the full post here.

@ReadingLadiesBC shared her Book Club Kit for The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff.

👉 Read the full post here.

Woman rolling up yoga mat with weights and water bottle nearby

Health & Fitness

Here you’ll find health and fitness blog posts focused on well-being, sustainable habits, and realistic self-care.

In the future you'll find more posts here. If you blog about health and fitness make sure you check out the thread for next month so you can add one of your posts.

Home & Garden

This section features home and garden blog posts covering interior inspiration, organisation, and seasonal ideas.

In the future you'll find more posts here. If you blog about home and garden make sure you check out the thread for next month so you can add one of your posts.

Lifestyle

These lifestyle blog posts explore everyday living, personal growth, routines, and blogging life.

In the future you'll find more posts here. If you blog about lifestyle make sure you check out the thread for next month so you can add one of your posts.

Hair & Beauty

This section includes hair and beauty blog posts featuring product reviews, skincare routines, and beauty tips.

In the future you'll find more posts here. If you blog about hair and beauty make sure you check out the thread for next month so you can add one of your posts.

Globe with toy aeroplane and passport with tickets

Travel

Here you’ll find travel blog posts sharing destination guides, travel experiences, and practical tips.

In the future you'll find more posts here. If you blog about travel make sure you check out the thread for next month so you can add one of your posts.

From My Own Blog This Month

While I love highlighting the incredible work from across the blogging community, I’ve also been busy on my own site! Out of all the posts I published during August, here are two of my personal highlights you might have missed:

Best Quotes for Book Lovers (Books): "Finding the perfect words to capture the exact feeling of getting lost in a brilliant story is an absolute art form." I gathered a collection of timeless quotes celebrating everything from the magic of reading to the relatable obsession with buying books.
👉 Read the full post here.
Exploring the New Colosseo Metro C Station in Rome (Travel): "Stepping out of that old interchange and right into the slick, airy space of the new Metro C felt like walking straight through a portal into a totally different decade." Take a tour of Rome's newest underground museum station, where ancient Roman artefacts are displayed right alongside modern transit platforms.
👉 Read the full post here

In Case You Missed It

If you’re looking for even more blog content, don’t forget to check out previous round ups, including the July 2026 Blogger Posts Round Up, for a wide variety of posts from talented bloggers.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this month’s collection of posts and discover some new blogs and voices along the way. The Blogger Posts Round Up will continue each month, featuring content from a variety of niches and celebrating the creativity and knowledge of bloggers everywhere.

What would you like to explore next?

Are you looking for your next favourite read, blogging tips, places to visit, hair inspiration or a fitness challenge? Click a button below to dive in!

My Book Reviews Hub Blogging Tips & SEO Travel Posts Hair & Beauty Health & Fitness Book Blogger Directory

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Donate now

Books: First Lines Fridays 4th September 2026

Ready for another First Lines Friday? It's that time of the week when we judge a book not by it's cover or even by it's blurb. Instead we will be judging it's ability to hook us from the opening lines. Let's see if this week's pick will have you adding it to your TBR list or not.

I'm participating in First Lines Fridays as I think it's a great way to highlight more of the books that are on my bookshelves.

What is First Lines Fridays?

First Lines Fridays 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!

My Pick For This Week

The first lines of the book:

Ryan stands in front of the house where his mother raised her other children, while he grew up in a home among strangers. Kind people. Mostly. But strangers all the same, who didn’t know how to love a child that wasn’t theirs. The red gloss door should have been his front door. Number eighteen. The same age as him.

Do you know which book this is from? Scroll down to find out!

And the book is...

Not My Child by Jane E. James book cover

Book synopsis for Not My Child by Jane E. James

Looking out at my dead wife’s family in the pews, I know I’m meant to read the eulogy that’s tucked into my pocket. The one that tells a story of the life I built with my wonderful wife before she was tragically killed in a hit-and-run.

But I decide to tell the truth. ‘I was married to two women. One I knew. And one I didn’t.’ Shocked murmurs echo around the church.

‘My wife left me a letter. She told me to destroy it once I’d read it and not reveal its contents to anyone.’

I grip the pulpit, my knuckles white. I see our two beautiful children sitting with their grandparents. ‘You might think me disloyal for going against Tara’s wishes, but I’ve decided to share this letter anyway.’

‘Starting with lie number one.’

Where to find Not My Child by Jane E. James online:

Get the book: Not My Child Amazon affiliate link

Add to your shelf: Not My Child on Goodreads

Have you read this book? On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do these opening lines make you want to read the book?

You might also like: Books That Take Place in Bookstores or Libraries

What would you like to explore next?

Are you looking for your next favourite read, blogging tips, or a new challenge? Click a button below to dive in!

My Book Reviews Hub Blogging Tips & SEO Fun Book Tags Clock Reading Challenge Free Book Club Kits Book Blogger Directory

If you'd like to support me, donating goes a long way to helping with the running of this blog. Thanks for your support 💗

Donate now

Book Spotlight: Dead Teenager Movie by Cethan Leahy

Today I'm part of a virtual book tour organised by The Write Reads for Dead Teenager Movie by Cethan Leahy. The tour for ‘Dead Teenager Movie' will run from 31st August - 6th September 2026.

Interested in featuring your book? You can book a Book Spotlight post to showcase your work to my readers.

If you’re looking for more tips on growing your blog, check out my The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers, packed with practical strategies and advice.

Dead Teenager Movie by Cethan Leahy tour banner

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Age Category: Young Adult

Publisher: Little Island

Number of Pages: 288 Pages

Publication Date: 3 September 2026

New to virtual book tours? Check out my book Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.

Book synopsis for Dead Teenager Movie by Cethan Leahy

Dead Teenager Movie by Cethan Leahy book cover

In this YA slasher, a horror-obsessed girl joins a group of wealthy teens for a wild weekend in a remote house, only to discover that the local murder rumours may be far more real – and far closer – than she imagined.

She loved scary movies… until she had the starring role.

A spree of murders is haunting Cork city, leaving behind stories of ghost parties and dismembered janitors, of dead diner owners and folkloric entities.

Die-hard horror buff April ignores it all for one perfect weekend of debauchery with Carl and his group of rich, hot and dangerously irresistible friends.

Together, they head to the West Cork countryside for an unforgettable trip before college begins. But in a remote mountainside house with views to die for, the dream party turns into a nightmare. Because some stories don't stay stories. And someone, or something, inside the house wants more than fear. They want blood.

Where to find Dead Teenager Movie by Cethan Leahy online:

Get the book: Dead Teenager Movie Amazon affiliate link

Add to your shelves: Dead Teenager Movie on Goodreads

Keep your place in style with a set of magnetic bookmarks

About the author Cethan Leahy

Cethan Leahy author of Dead Teenager Movie

Cethan Leahy is an author and filmmaker from Cork. His debut novel, Tuesdays Are Just as Bad, was published to widespread acclaim, earning a shortlist nomination for the CBI Book of the Year Award and winning the Senior Category of the Great Reads Awards. Alongside his writing, Cethan works across film and animation. When he’s not writing stories, he’s usually thinking about them.

For more inspiration, take a look at 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers to keep your content fresh and engaging.

What would you like to explore next?
Are you looking for your next favourite read, blogging tips, or a new challenge? Click a button below to dive in!
My Book Reviews Hub Blogging Tips & SEO Fun Book Tags Clock Reading Challenge Free Book Club Kits Book Blogger Directory

If you'd like to support me, donating goes a long way to helping with the running of this blog. Thanks for your support 💗
Donate now