Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden

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. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 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. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden. Elizabeth Camden never disappoints. I'm loving this story so much! I thought I'd go ahead and share a snippet from the prologue and chapter one.

About the Book

Inga Klein's carefree life in New York takes a dramatic turn when she sails for Berlin, Germany, to serve as the secretary for America's ambassador. Amid the glamour of life at the embassy, she continually finds herself at odds with the straitlaced and imposing Benedict Kincaid, the diplomatic chief of staff who harbors deep misgivings toward the German-born Inga.

As Europe hurtles toward World War I, Benedict's determination to keep America out of the conflict adds to the already tense atmosphere. Despite their relentless sparring, Inga and Benedict succeed in keeping the embassy afloat through one crisis after another. But when they run out of diplomatic options, a marriage of convenience between them may be Inga's only hope of escape from the impending war.

In this entrancing Gilded Age romance, Inga and Benedict will be swept into a dangerous world on the brink of war, where two hearts must navigate shadows of uncertainty when stars light the sky.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Prologue

New York City 1898

America was supposed to be the land of opportunity, but it seemed more like a land of hunger and confusion to Inga.

 

Chapter One

Sixteen Years Later

June 1914

The Harbor of New York City

"Have you got any extra work for me?" Inga asked her supervisor at the end of her shift at the wireless office. There was usually extra work in the largest port in America. She earned a respectable salary as a wireless operator, communicating with ships coming and leaving the port, although she was always happy to earn a little more.

Friday 56

Benedict strode over to examine what had Larry so bewildered. It took only a fleeting look into the box to understand. Honestly, sometimes this woman was beyond belief.

What have you been reading lately?