Today I’m participating in First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, in which bloggers share a bit about a book they’re reading or planning to read soon.
Tomorrow I will review 27 Days to Midnight. I loved the cover and the synopsis. Look for my review tomorrow!
Chapter 1 – An Encounter
The sky was bright and clear on the day of Dahlia Walker’s death.
Morning sun shone as she strode down the road, smiling and humming to herself. It was her eighteenth birthday. The paper back tucked under her arm held a new dress for the occasion. Her steps clicked along the sidewalk in time to a quick, jaunty tune in her head. Her watch hung in its locked case around her neck.
People streamed in and out of shops arrayed in neat lines on either side of the cobblestone street. Clockwork horses drew carriages transporting chauffeurs, ladies in ruffled skirts, and straight-backed gentlemen. The occasional blue military airship patrolled overhead on a pleasant breeze. IT was a busting, wonderful day. A cake waited back at Dahlia’s house, and she knew the mechanical servants would already be setting out the silver and chilling the birthday champagne for her party.
Synopsis:
Everyone in Dahlia’s world knows when they’re going to die. Except her.
Her father has never shown her the pocket watch counting down the days she has left to live. When he sacrifices himself to save her from her scheduled death, Dahlia abandons her comfortable home and sets off after his murderer to uncover the secrets her father died to protect…and the time research that could bring him back to life.
Then she meets Farren Reed. She should hate him. He’s an enemy soldier, a cowardly deserter, and the most insufferable man Dahlia’s ever met. Still, she needs all the help she can get, and Farren is the only chance she has to find the man who murdered her father. But Farren has only twenty-seven days left on his watch.
In that time, Dahlia must recover her father’s time research, foil a psychotic general’s plot, and learn to survive in a world that will never be the same. But the research holds secrets more dangerous than she had ever imagined. She will have to choose what is most important: revenge, Farren’s life, or her own. And time is running out.
Girl of 1000 Wonders 
I love that cover, too, but need to read a little more before deciding whether to continue.
Those opening lines are beautiful, with the promise of great things…and then come the horrible events that will change everything. Yes, a book to keep reading. Thanks for sharing, and here’s mine: “CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE”
Indeed! What a story that was!
Oh, this one looks FASCINATING!! I LOVE Steampunk, and it’s been a while since I read some good SF, too. I love the opening, with its vivid descriptions! The whole scene has that commonplace weirdness of Steampunk that I so love! This one is going on my Goodreads shelves. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
The descriptions were wonderful! That’s a great way to describe it – commonplace weirdness. I agree!
Sounds great! I usually like steampunk, and I like the writing here.
This isn’t my usual fare but I’m quite taken by it so I think I would give it a go.
Not a book I would normally select but, the intro is interesting.
[…] First Chapter First Paragraph ~ 27 Days to Midnight […]
I really want to read this book! Thanks for sharing with us at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
Tina