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Friday, May 22, 2015

First Lines Friday

The first lines of a story can be a powerful hook to capture the imagination.

In comments, tempt us with
the first three lines of any chapter. Don't forget your buy link and website/blog link. Have fun!


Share your participation with our ready-to-go tweet or make your own:


Discover great reads. Exquisite Quills' First Lines! http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/   

27 comments:

Iris B said...

FRESH BEGINNINGS by Iris Blobel

When Jared woke the next morning, he had his arms wrapped around Ivy with her snuggled tightly to him. He tilted his head back a bit and watched her sleep. At that moment, he thought it was the first time he'd well and truly seen her relaxed since he'd met her.

http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Beginnings-3-Iris-Blobel-ebook/dp/B00MF5C25O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Thank you :-)

Riley McKissack said...

Syrupy fog flowed off the Mississippi River as it curled around New Orleans. The mist licked hungrily, greedily along the cobblestones of the French Quarter.
The deep fog cloaked the buildings, misting the area with a softening gray that swallowed sound.
Bayou Curse http://amzn.to/1IQargi

Lynn Crain said...

Night of the Blue Moon by Lynn Crain

He had always been in this cage in one way or another. Only recently, they’d decided to make it his permanent room. He remembered a time when the cage hadn’t been necessary, when he’d been a younger man, but that all changed with the appearance of the blonde bitch. Or had it?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VN4EPLM

Erin OQuinn said...

THE KILT COMPLEX. Alex the former Nevada cop has cornered a very bad dude on the beach near Arbroath, Scotland.

Alex stood over the prone body in the sand, surrounded by rotting and peeling boat keels, the ghosts of Auchmithie. Swearing, he prodded the man with his boot. “I have every reason to beat you senseless, let the dog chew lawyer guts for breakfast. Talk, you bastard.”

Buy links:
http://amzn.to/1toZgAS
Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1EQn6Qq
omnilit http://bit.ly/1tvfx7E

J Hali Steele said...

From QUENCH by J. Hali Steele -

Warriors, leather-clad fighting machines with arsenals of weapons deftly hidden beneath their coats. They were gladiators who fought to the death and belonged in an arena.

Not striding through a hotel lobby in Amish Country.

http://www.amazon.com/Quench-J-Hali-Steele-ebook/dp/B00K0J0LPK/

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Alice Orr said...

A Wrong Way Home - Romantic Suspense by Alice Orr
First 3 Lines

Anthony Benton wasn't in the habit of walking across the lawn, especially not on a miserable night like this one. He valued his Bruno Magli's too much for that. What it somebody saw him slipping and scrambling through wet leaves like a snake in the grass?

A Wrong Way Home is available at http://www.amazon.com/author/aliceorr

Visit Alice's blog www.aliceorrbooks.com/blog/

Anonymous said...

Into The Unknown by Lorna Peel

Kate was too frightened to scream as she and Charlie lay under the bunk bed. He was so still she began to panic.
“Charlie?” she demanded, shaking him. “Charlie?”
“Are you all right?” he shouted back at her as debris landed on the roof of the shelter with varying thuds.

Buy Links:

Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B00UAY719Y
Amazon UK - http://amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UAY719Y
Others - http://lornapeel.com/into-the-unknown

Mellie said...

First chapter of Jareth First Lord--

“No, Julian, I’m not coming home. How many times do I have to explain it?” Viviane asked the tall, slim man standing in her shop. Obviously exasperated, her brother was running his hands through his sandy brown hair, standing it on end.

Amazon… http://amzn.com/0989678644
Barnes & Noble… http://bit.ly/1vw5zCX
Books-A-Million… http://bit.ly/1yytM27

http://melliemiller.com

Unknown said...

First three of Sexual Chemistry
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/1PAE4b4

Chelsea Davidson sighed in relief as the doors to the elevator slid shut. She had just spent her first full day of unemployment cleaning her apartment. Now that the last of the trash had been taken to the dumpster, she can take a shower and start the tedious task of job hunting while listening to her favorite band Sexual Chemistry.
Sexual Chemistry was the hottest thing in music right now and fodder for the tabloids. The lead singers Jacki and Sam Knight were a husband and wife that rose to fame as contestants on Chelsea’s favorite reality show, The Next Great Rock Band.
Even though they didn’t win the show, they sold more cd’s than the winners of the past three years combined. They sold out concert venues within minutes of going on sale. During that season, Chelsea’s friends knew not to call, text or send homing pigeons while the show was on. She used up all the votes every week.


P.J. MacLayne said...

The Prologue of Wolves' Pawn

The spring rain had left puddles in the dirt road but she no longer tried to avoid them. Under other circumstances this would have been a pretty ride. The young pale green leaves not yet entirely covering the branches she brushed by glittered in the sun that had finally chased away the storm clouds. Even the fresh scent of the earth moistened by water was unable to mask the smell of the hot motor between her legs. She didn’t know how much longer the bike would last the way she was pushing the engine.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVDD1G4

Janice Seagraves said...

Windswept Shores Contemporary romance M/f

If she had to spend one more day on this godforsaken island she'd go stark raving mad. The thought spurred Megan into rolling a large log with one foot then the other, until it was near the bonfire.

http://www.amazon.com/Windswept-Shores-Survivors-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B00AS9NDNO

Andrea Cooper said...

Viking Flame - Historical Romance

Bram, son of Ragnar, gripped the ship’s stern as the Irish waves crashed against the side. His paid passage on this ride, the silver Thor’s amulet his mother gave him before her death, moved him closer to his destiny to a new home. Hopefully, the Norns would show him kindness… for once.

Amazon only – Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00U1OLDQU

Sharleen said...

Caught in Cross Seas by Sharleen Scott
romantic suspense/mystery

Harlie grabbed her sweatshirt and a bag of saltwater taffy she’d bought at the Candy Shack. If she found Clay, it was a peace offering. If she didn’t, it was a snack she’d attach to her hips one bite at a time.

Kindle and paperback on Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00KP11IQO

Gilli Allan said...

In FLY OR FALL Nell has been manoeuvred into moving house, away from everything familiar. In these first lines from chapter one she is getting to know women from the town.FLY OR FALL has just been published by Accent Press.

‘I’ve got to the point, Fliss, where I honestly think I’d be glad to catch Alex out. At least it would give me the excuse I want.’
‘But what do you suspect, Kate? Is he or isn’t he?’ Felicity asked.
‘I honestly can’t tell. He isn’t like Brian.’
‘Oh, Brian.’ Felicity interjected, in the gloomy tones of one whose husband’s failings were well known to all. But whether he failed by being faithful or faithless was not clear to me.
I felt the same kind of guilty fascination as if I were eavesdropping on the gossip in a Chelsea wine bar. Except this wasn’t London – London was my old life – and I was not an eavesdropper.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fly-Fall-Gilli-Allan-ebook/dp/B00XXZJ43S/

Charmaine Gordon said...

Spreading Her Wings by Charmaine Gordon

"Sally, Sally I need help. My daughter's gone missing."
“Teresa.” She cleared her mind. Teresa who had some health issues last year. Yeah. A quick glance at the clock showed 7:30. Sally crawled out of bed. “What do you mean your daughter’s gone? I didn’t even know you have a daughter. I’ll be right over.” Always speedy in an emergency, Sally pulled on jeans, a shirt and tied on sneakers.
Sally Atwood, reporter extraordinaire in River’s Edge, ran three blocks from her home to knock on Teresa Maxwell’s door. A wan red eyed thin woman opened the door to fall into Sally’s arms.
“Jack’s out of town. Misty was visiting for a few days when suddenly she got a bunch of calls, dressed, packed and when I went shopping for dinner, she left. Without a word.”

Available as Singles for all Ebook reading devices!

Anna Durand said...

INTUITION by Anna Durand
* the award-winning sequel to WILLPOWER *

David thwacked into the ground on his side. Pain snapped out through his shoulder and hip, radiating out into the rest of his body. White lights punctured his vision.

http://amzn.com/dp/B00XK88MB8?tag=adbks-20

Stephanie Queen said...

from USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Queen's soon to be released romantic mystery thriller series:
BEACHCOMBER BABY - Beachcomber Investigations book 3

"Shana hated that Dane could make her squirm with just a look. Not the kind of squirm from trepidation or embarrassment. The kind of squirm that was all about need."

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XLFTM2S
www.StephanieQueen.com

Jane Leopold Quinn said...

Goose bumps pebbled her arms when Janney Forrester felt a nudge against her shoulder by someone in the crowds swimming around her. Swearing silently, she stood her ground to take a photo. The golden rock—tombstone of a Roman soldier the sign at its base said—rose tall and solid before her.

From Ancient Ties, a time travel to Roman Britain due out May 28, available for pre-sale at http://amzn.com/B00WFTJYPG

Jane Leopold Quinn - http://janeleopoldquinn.blogspot.com

Veronica Scott said...

The next morning, Shalira stood with as much dignity as she could muster when the door to the hut creaked open. A night of shivering in the unheated cell had left her weak and headachy, with stiff knees, but she was determined not to let the tribe break her will.
“You look more like a slave than a princess now,” said the rough voice of the chief wife.

From MISSION TO MAHJUNDAR, science fiction romance by Veronica Scott
http://www.amazon.com/Mission-Mahjundar-Veronica-Scott-ebook/dp/B00MRLXPQ6/?tag=verscoblo-20

https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/

Sophia Ryan said...

6 DAYS OF YOU by Sophia Ryan

“You can come visit, but we won’t be having sex.”

Not exactly the thing a girl wants to hear from her boyfriend after suggesting that the two of them spend their week-long fall break together in his dorm room and make love for the first time.

Yet, that’s exactly what mine said—and that was after fifteen minutes of me trying to talk him into letting me come up to his college at all.

Amazon
Wild Rose Press
Other Sophia Ryan Books


Sophia Ryan said...

Lorna, I just wanted to tell you that the blurb you put up the other day about this book so intrigued me I went straight to Amazon, devoured the free read, and bought the book. I'm looking forward to digging into it! Sophia

Juli D. Revezzo said...

CHANGELING'S CROWN by Juli D. Revezzo
(fantasy romance)

A whiff of hellish disaster hung in the ballroom. A sweet-scented pledge that would tip the worlds into an abyss from which they might not recover.
“Princess Snow White and Prince Charming,” the royal steward called out.
Briak turned his attention to the front of the room. This should be good.
“Where’s Rebecca?” Briak heard Prince Charming say.
Briak tightened his grip on his walking stick. He hoped the young princess was off causing mischief. Come on, tell me you got the brains of the family. The balance couldn’t afford her family’s plans.
The paperback is on sale or in ebook:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.
http://julidrevezzo.com/

SueBee said...

MORE THAN WORDS, BOOK #3, MADISON FALLS SERIES by Susan Behon
contemporary romance

“Ow! Damn it!”
Tracy King thought she was having a dream about standing under a cascading waterfall until a piece of wet plaster hit her on the head.

www.susanbehon.com
iTunes: http://apple.co/1dD5uf7
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1QaaQwA
Nook Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1QYuixA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1GP4wpL
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1DKFOSY
Website Order Page: http://bit.ly/1FcO2IV

Nancy said...

Water dripped from the tangle of short curls down his face. His expression held as much surprise as hers, she was certain. He took a step toward her. The towel flapped.

From Prince Charming Wore Spurs
http://amzn.to/1FdKru5

Nan O'Berry
http://oberrynan.wix.com/nanoberryauthor

TessaBerkley said...

Trace glanced at the woman sitting on the ground, all her fight and bluster from yesterday gone, her despair all too easy to read. The focus of her gaze locked on the mound that held the body of her loved one beneath the Texas soil. A part of him ached for the hurt she’d suffered; the other half wished her man were still alive—so he might throttle him for putting her through this ordeal.

Castillo's Fiery Texas Rose
http://amzn.to/Xyktr8

To see what else Tessa has released. Check out her web page at
http://tessaberkley.wix.com/tessaberkleyromance

Carole Avila said...

DEATH HOUSE, A YA Horror Story/Teen Romance

"I can't believe you didn't even ask what I wanted to do!"

Fifteen-year-old Adley Lange crossed her arms hard against her chest. The New Mexico desert blurred past her window in a palette of camouflage colors, but Adley only saw red.

Check out DEATH HOUSE on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/m9bnt26
http://caroleavila.blogspot.com/
http://caroleavilablog.wordpress.com/

Jude Knight said...

First two sentences of A Baron for Becky, now on prerelease.

Aldridge never did find out how he came to be naked, alone, and sleeping in the small summerhouse in the garden of a country cottage. His last memory of the night before had him twenty miles away, and — although not dressed — in a comfortable bed, and in company.

Blurb and buy links on my blog: http://judeknightauthor.com/books/a-baron-for-becky/