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?

The Rules:

• 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!

First Lines:

“LONDON, SPRING 1815

Most young ladies were expected to feel nervous upon attending their first ball, but this was probably not because they feared they would accidentally make the paintings on the walls come to life.

Lady Theophania Worthington, however, feared this exact thing, and so when she was announced at Lady Russell’s grand ball, she froze at the top of the stairs for what felt like an hour and a half before her panicked, darting gaze landed on her sister-in-law’s expression of tight fury. Elinor had been drilling her on this for weeks. Everything had to be perfect. She must not do anything wrong at all. Her entire future depended upon this very moment.”

I’ve done some really heavy books in the last few weeks, so I figured it was time for a light and fun read. Judging from the first few lines of this book, it is going to be just right.

Do you recognize the lines?

Here’s a hint:

This is a recently released spicy Regency fantasy rom-com.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint:

It’s written by Kate Johnson.

The First Lines Friday book is:

Hex and Hexability.

About the Book:

• Title: Hex and Hexability
• Author: Kate Johnson
• Page Length: 384 pages
• Publication Date: September 12, 2024
• Publisher: One More Chapter

Synopsis:

Bridgerton meets The Ex Hex this witchy season with this oh so spicy romantasy Regency romcom!‘Do you want to see what witches can do?’

Lady Tiffany Worthington has always had a special talent for making the world around her come to life – whether she wants it to or not – but it’s only with the arrival of her mysterious great aunt Esme on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo that she learns she’s a witch … and that the magic she’s long feared is actually a gift to be embraced.

Now, as she’s exposed to a side of London she never knew existed, one with sea creatures, magical portals, time travel, and a handsome duke from a faraway land with a dashing scar that makes him look like a pirate, Lady Tiffany discovers that despite what the ton might decree, there is no limit to what she can do … or who she can be.

Links: Goodreads     

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