Books: First Lines Fridays 20th March 2026

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:

And the book is...

Book synopsis for The Doctor’s Wife by Daniel Hurst

He thinks his secret is safe. But she knows the truth…

My husband is a doctor. He’s smart and charming and everybody trusts him. Except me.

On the surface, it looks like I have it all – the perfect marriage, the perfect husband, the perfect life. But it’s far from the truth.

Doctor Drew Devlin is not the respectable figure he makes out to be. The reason we moved to this beautiful, old property with a gorgeous view of the sea was because we needed to put our past behind us. It should’ve been a fresh start for us both.

Except I’ve discovered my husband has been lying to me again. He’s using the power he has in his job to mess with people’s lives, and to get exactly what he wants – no matter who it hurts.

But he’s underestimated me. I’ve had plenty of time, in this big, isolated house, to think about all of his mistakes.

And my husband has no idea what’s about to happen next…

Where to find The Doctor’s Wife by Daniel Hurst online: 

 

The Doctor’s Wife Amazon affiliate link

The Doctor’s Wife on Goodreads

Book Spotlight: Christmas in Castleby by J.M. Simpson

Today I'm part of a virtual book tour organised by The Write Reads for Christmas in Castleby by J.M. Simpson. The tour for ‘Christmas in Castleby' will run from 18th - 22nd March 2026. 

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

Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.

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. 

Christmas in Castleby was the 11th place BBNYA 2025 finalist!

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.

Page Count: 288 Pages

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: November 1, 2024

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 Christmas in Castleby by J.M. Simpson

When Tess Dutton arrives in Castleby to help in her sister’s restaurant for the Christmas period her worst nightmare awaits. Tess finds her sister unconscious at the bottom of her stairs, and a restaurant fully booked until Christmas.

Ex-Navy chef Griffin Jones returns to his late mother’s house trying to put his past behind him. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, and someone from his past won’t let him forget either.

Griffin steps in to help Tess in the restaurant, but he is haunted by his past. As he grows closer to Tess and their attraction blossoms, Tess receives a visit from an ex-lover, who wants to rekindle their romance.

Tess struggles when she finds out about Griffin’s past.

But he’s being persecuted.

And then Tess’s life is threatened.

Someone is so full of hate and so intent on revenge, that the only solution is to kill.

Revenge, betrayal, suspense and romance continue in this Christmas special of the Castleby series.

Where to find Christmas in Castleby by J.M. Simpson online: 

 

Christmas in Castleby Amazon affiliate link

Christmas in Castleby on Goodreads

Keep your place in style with a set of magnetic bookmarks

About the author, 

J.M. Simpson was born in Essex, but was raised primarily in the West Country, never far from a rugged coastline, a sandy beach, or harbour. With a degree and PhD, much of Jo’s working career has been spent undertaking research in a variety of subjects; most notably in construction and development where her expertise lies.

Staying in the Welsh town of Tenby some years ago and watching the local lifeboat launch one stormy winter night, gave Jo the beginnings of an idea for a book. She was fascinated with the idea of the crew risking everything they know and love to plunge into a stormy sea to rescue a stranger. She wondered who these people were and what their lives were like. And so, the Castleby series was born.

Jo’s Castleby series; Sea State, Sea Change Sea Shaken, Sea Haven and Sea Rift are suspense thrillers set against the backdrop of the lifeboat crew in a coastal town.  There is a Christmas Special due in November and there are further books in the series to come.

Jo lives in Kent, with her two (occasionally stroppy) teenage daughters, her extremely long-suffering husband and her rescue Border Collie Merlin. She also runs a successful research consultancy, but dreams of becoming a full-time writer. In early 2025, Jo will release the first in a new series based in the Scottish Highlands called The Ophelia Murders – First in The Whistlers Peak Series.

In what little spare time Jo has, she spends writing, walking the dogs, seeking out live music (except difficult jazz), being an armchair movie critic, dreaming of Scotland or the Pembrokeshire coast; drinking endless coffee’s in various local café’s (on the pretence of writing) or drinking copious amounts of wine in her most favourite pub with friends, (where no writing occurs whatsoever).

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

If you enjoyed this spotlight, you might also like my Book Spotlight: Choices Meant for Gods by Sandy Lender

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Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here. 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. The information provided on www.JoLinsdell.com does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.

Do you feel as though you’re stuck in a rut? The routines and habits you’ve developed over the years can be a source of reassurance – and they can be the engine that helps propel you toward your goals. But, every once in a while, it can be a good thing to break out of your comfort zone, and experience a little bit of novelty.

Understand Why Comfort Zones Hold You Back

Routine can help us to feel safe. If we’ve developed the habit of going for a jog every morning, then we might feel reassured when we do so – and slightly anxious when we don’t.

But routine can also limit personal growth. What if the form of exercise that really works for you isn’t jogging, but swimming? If you don’t give yourself the opportunity to experience swimming, and to reconsider your choice of routine, then you might remain trapped in it forever.

Increasingly, we’re choosing to be more mindful of the way that we spend our time, and of the power of habits. Making the right shifts in our lifestyles often means learning where the gains are to be found – and that, in turn, means experiencing something new.

Take on Physical Challenges to Build Resilience

The benefits of exercise are well-documented. But some of them aren’t quite as well appreciated as others. Learning a new physical skill or activity can help you develop qualities and attributes that can be applied to other areas of your life. Pushing through a barrier, for example, might require that you develop discipline – and success might breed confidence and mental fortitude.

The rise of ‘slow fitness’ around the world demonstrates that movement doesn’t have to be extreme to be empowering and transformative. A little bit of exercise, performed intentionally, can often make a big difference. Of course, sometimes a big challenge can be what’s required. Vietnam biking tours might give you a chance to explore a new country – but they’ll also give you a reason to stay active, and in the saddle.

Create New Daily Habits That Push You Forward

So, what kinds of daily habits might we devise? The daily routine naturally kicks off with the morning. Often, it’s at the start of the day that the best opportunities are to be found. You might reconsider your choice of breakfast, or take ten minutes to hand-grind coffee beans and brew the perfect cup of pour-over for you and your partner.

A little bit of challenge can help you to think about things, and avoid the feeling that you’re on autopilot. This is where journaling can be so powerful. The act of writing, and, more importantly, thinking about how the day has gone, can help you to identify sources of dissatisfaction, and potential areas for change.

Step into Emotional Discomfort for Genuine Growth

If you want to grow as a person, then you’ll often need to push through your own fears and anxieties. A budding artist who struggles to render a convincing human hand, for example, might decide to hide the hands in every picture – or, they might embrace the difficulty, and make a point of drawing hundreds of hands from every conceivable angle.

Other sources of anxiety and fear are more commonplace. We all might struggle with withdrawal symptoms when we stash our phones away for a morning – but this is a chance to be strong, and to work towards a future during which we aren’t constantly checking social media.

Explore New Environments to Inspire Change

If you want to build a lasting change, then making your environment a little bit unfamiliar and new can be all that’s required. In the US, there's been a marked rise in fitness travel and wellness-focused retreats. When we change our environment, we disrupt all of those little mental cues that help drive our habits – and, in the process, we make those habits that little bit more easily broken.

Forte Sangallo & The Museo dello Sbarco, Nettuno: The Perfect Day Trip from Rome

If you’re living in Rome like I am, you know that as much as we love the Eternal City, sometimes you just need to escape the chaos of the Vespas and the endless crowds. I’m always on the hunt for a solid day trip—something that doesn't require a three-hour drive or a massive dent in my bank account.

Recently, we found the perfect solution. Since we have relatives living in Anzio, we decided to meet up with them and head one stop further down the line to explore Nettuno. It turned out to be one of the best low-cost, high-reward days out we've had in ages.

Here is why Forte Sangallo and the Museo dello Sbarco should be at the top of your "Rome Escape" list.

Getting There: The Stress-Free Route

One of the best things about this trip is how easy it is to get to from Rome. We actually decided to head down by car this time, which is a great option if you want a bit more flexibility—the drive is straightforward and takes just over an hour.

However, if you don't fancy driving, the train is just as easy. You can hop on the regional service from Roma Termini (the FL8 line); it’s only about an hour’s journey and costs less than a fancy cocktail in the city centre! Plus, Nettuno is the very last stop, so you don't even have to worry about missing your station. Whether you drive or step off the train, that fresh sea air hits you immediately—which, let’s be honest, is exactly what every Roman resident needs once in a while.

Stepping into History at Forte Sangallo

From the station, it’s a short, breezy walk to the coast where the massive brick walls of Forte Sangallo loom over the water. Built in the early 1500s for the Borgias, this place is a fortress in every sense of the word.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that entry was completely free when we visited.

• The Architecture: Walking through the drawbridge and into the courtyard feels like stepping back into the Renaissance. The brickwork is incredibly well-preserved.

• The Views: Make sure you head up to the ramparts. Looking out over the Tyrrhenian Sea with the wind in your hair is the perfect antidote to a busy week in the city. You can see all the way back towards Anzio and the sweeping coastline.

A Moving Tribute: Museo dello Sbarco

Tucked inside the fortress is the Museo dello Sbarco (The Allied Landings Museum). Since my relatives live in Anzio, they’re very familiar with the history of "Operation Shingle," but seeing the artefacts housed right inside the fort's thick walls added a whole new layer to the story.

Like the fort itself, the museum was free to enter during our trip, which is amazing considering the quality of the collection.

• The Collection: It’s a very intimate and moving museum. You’ll see original uniforms, helmets, telegrams, and photographs from the 1944 landings.

• The Personal Touch: It’s not just a dry history lesson; it focuses on the human side of the soldiers and the local Italians caught in the middle. It’s a quiet, reflective space that really makes you appreciate the ground you’re standing on.

A Surprise Find: Sezione di Paleontologia e Preistoria

While we were exploring the fortress, we stumbled upon the Sezione di Paleontologia e Preistoria (part of the town's Antiquarium). Honestly, I didn't expect to find mammoth teeth and prehistoric tools just a few steps away from a Renaissance courtyard, but it was a brilliant addition to the day.

• What’s inside: This section is packed with local fossils and prehistoric artefacts found right here in the Lazio region. It covers everything from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age. It’s fascinating to see what this coastline looked like thousands of years before the Romans or the Borgias arrived.

• Great for Kids: If you’re travelling with family, this part is a winner. It’s small enough that it won't bore them, but cool enough (who doesn't love prehistoric animals?) to keep them engaged.

• The Best Bit: Just like the rest of our visit to the fort, this section was free to enter when we went. It really makes you appreciate how much culture you can soak up in Nettuno without spending a single Euro.

The Verdict: Why You Should Go

If you’re a Rome local looking for a day trip that is cheap, culturally rich, and incredibly easy to manage, Nettuno is a winner. You get the medieval charm, the WWII history, and the sea views all in one afternoon. Plus, having Anzio just next door means you can easily combine the two for a full day of coastal exploring.

Useful Information

Forte Sangallo opening hours:

9:30-12:30

17:00-21:00 (summer time)

15:00-19:00 (winter time)

Mondays closed.

For more information email ufficio.turismo@comune.nettuno.roma.it 

You might also like: How To Visit Rome on a Budget

Looking for more ideas for day trips from Rome? Check out Ostia Lido - Easy Beach Day Trip From Rome