Today, we’re looking at the first line of One Little Lie by Colleen Coble.
The First Line of One Little Lie
Button eyed the compound’s exit and forced herself to trudge behind her parents as the pain intensified in her belly. She stifled a groan and filed into the Mount Sinai meeting hall.
The questions that popped into my mind were:
- Who is Button?
- Why is she called Button? What’s her real name?
- Where is she and why does she want to leave?
- Would it even be possible to leave? At what cost?
- Is she old enough to be pregnant? Is she pregnant or does she just have a tummy ache?
- Who is the father of her child and where is he?
- Is she in a cult?
- Where is Mount Sinai and why are they gathered there?
- Who are the “they” with Button and her parents?
- Is Button going into labor?
These first lines of One Little Line hint not only at characterization but also at a potential location. Where is Mount Sinai?
I’ll be honest and tell you that when Button mentioned the pain in her belly, the first thing I thought of was pregnancy–teen pregnancy.
The use of the word compound brought to mind some form of cult where people are locked away from the world and are unable to leave on their own free will. But there’s also the impression that Button wants to leave.
Maybe she has become disillusioned with the beliefs of the Holy or maybe there is something sinister at play that Button has picked up on or has been exposed to. Either way, I’m excited to learn more about the story and wonder what happens to the characters including Button’s baby.
How this played out in the book
The story shifted to Jane Hardy but the reader is left to wonder if she is Button. But we’re not left to wonder for too long as we begin to see hints of Button come out in Jane’s life.
Button’s character weaves in and out of the story influencing the actions ad choices of Jane. Because we know her history, we are more sympathetic to her and keep hoping for a miracle.
Have you read One Little Lie? What did you think of the first line of One Little Lie? Get your copy of One Little Lie.
About One Little Lie(Pelican Harbor #1)
It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense.
Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.
After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?
Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.
Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.
About Colleen Coble
Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or placed in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best.
She has over 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.
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