Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where you can share the first paragraph, or a few, of a book you are reading or thinking about reading soon.
A memorable coming-of-age story and love story, laced with suspense, which explores a hidden side of the home front during World War II, when German POWs were put to work in a Wisconsin farm community . . . with dark and unexpected consequences.
The war has taken a toll on the Christiansen family. With food rationed and money scarce, Charlotte struggles to keep her family well fed. Her teenage daughter, Kate, raises rabbits to earn money for college and dreams of becoming a writer. Her husband, Thomas, struggles to keep the farm going while their son, and most of the other local men, are fighting in Europe.
When their upcoming cherry harvest is threatened, strong-willed Charlotte helps persuade local authorities to allow German war prisoners from a nearby camp to pick the fruit.
But when Thomas befriends one of the prisoners, a teacher named Karl, and invites him to tutor Kate, the implications of Charlotte's decision become apparent--especially when she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Karl. So busy are they with the prisoners that Charlotte and Thomas fail to see that Kate is becoming a young woman, with dreams and temptations of her own--including a secret romance with the son of a wealthy, war-profiteering senator. And when their beloved Ben returns home, bitter and injured, bearing an intense hatred of Germans, Charlotte's secrets threaten to explode their world.
Opening
The rain came again, harder this time. Charlotte pulled her knit hat tight, pushed up the collar of her gray wool coat, and stared through the chicken wire at the rabbits. Kate’s prize rabbits.
She entered the pen and chose a plump one, furry and warm in her cold hands. Its heart thumped like a tiny sewing machine. Charlotte brought it into the dim barn and stroked its fur until it calmed, trusting. She hesitated a moment—stealing from my own daughter—then picked up the butcher knife.
My Teaser
Kate stiffened at the thought of personal messages between this man and her daughter. But before she could respond, Kate said, “In the barn. I’ll tack my homework to the rabbit hutch.”
page 78
So...what do you think? Is this one you would pick up? Leave a comment below!
(These quotes are from uncorrected advance proofs. Please refer to the final printed book for corrected quotes!)
The opening is really good -- I like the surprise of the last sentence.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like quite an intense read and a lot of tension between mother and daughter! Great teaser and opening!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Teaser!
Wendy Lohr
I like the opening! Will keep an eye out for this one.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have been drawn to WWII stories lately, and this one sounds unique. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteI love the title of this one and the opening as well. I'd keep reading!
ReplyDeleteI likwe the opener. It really pulled me in.
ReplyDeleteSeems well written but I'm not sure this is for me. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect that intro from the cover (LOL) I'd read more. enjoy Kim
ReplyDeleteI like the premise of the story and the intro. I would keep reading.
ReplyDeleteOoh yes I'd like to know more it sounds good! Thanks for sharing
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