Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Facade by Pepper Basham

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Facade by Pepper Basham - a great romance novella set during WWII.

About the Book

A reclusive academic who would do anything to save her brother.

A reluctant spy who’d risk is life to save the woman who broke his heart.

Olivia Rakes has almost mythic observations skills when it comes to facts, figures, and details, but she stumbles through matters of the heart. When her brother goes missing over German-occupied France, Livy enlists her services with a group of search-and-rescue spies, who not only thrust her toward espionage, danger, and deceit, but the most frightening of all…romance.

Agent Christopher Dawson has avoided Livy Rakes since she broke his heart three years ago. Which is probably for the best, since, as a British spy, he could very well die any day and pursuing a romantic relationship is not on the agenda for him. But when the search for a downed-pilot brings them together on a secret mission, the heart takes on a mind of its own.
In a world where war changes the rules of life and love, can Christopher and Livy work together to complete their rescue mission before the enemy catches them first.

Book Beginning

Yet another grand display of extravagance and the idiosyncrasies of the social dance.

Olivia Rakes sat in the corner of the lavish ballroom of her parents' London townhouse, watching the couples on the dance floor move in perfect synchrony as if part of one of the new moving picture shows. She preferred her hidden spot, shadowed by the recess in the ornate wall, just enough so her father could note her presence but not so apparent that unmarried men presented themselves to ask ridiculous questions like, "May I have this dance?"

Friday 56 (56% on my Kindle)

Danger lurked in the shadows and daylight in France, but fear clung to Christopher's thoughts for a very different reason.

What have you been reading lately?