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Friday, April 24, 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/   

22 comments:

E. Ayers said...

A CHILD'S HEART
E. Ayers
A River City Novel

Chapter 1

Trent Callahan intended to fill the day with a few pleasant memories of his four-year-old son and he was not about to have this day ruined over false advertising. He brought his son to see dinosaurs, and the child was going to see them.

He strode into the room to have a word with the museum curator, but what he saw made him want to gag.

Amazon International Buy Links.
http://authl.it/B00DCCY3SS
Available as a Kindle Unlimited

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Chapter 3 of The Highland Lass

The sun streaming through the window wakened Eilidh from her strange dream of standing stones and Celtic crosses, and that same feeling she’d often had of someone calling to her through the mists of time. She’d been accused of romanticism before, and suspected it might become worse before her trip was over.

http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Lass-Rosemary-Gemmell-ebook/dp/B00TOTER6Q

Website: www.rosemarygemmell.com

Savanna Kougar said...

RED LIONESS TAMED

Chapter One: Sun Rocket and Draxen

Year 3051, according to the relic Earth calendar preserved on Terra-Mars

"Frax! My brain feels like it’s been spun out of cobwebs." Sun Rocket squeezed her eyelids open and shut several times. Anything to clear her head.

~~~

Excerpts/Buy Link: http://savannakougar.blogspot.com/p/red-lioness-tamed.html

HAPPY READING!

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~savannakougar.com~

Susan Macatee said...

From chapter 2 of Civil War romance, Erin's Rebel.

A scream pierced the air. Men’s shouts woke Will Montgomery from a deep slumber and dreams of his home and Anne.

What in damnation?

http://www.amazon.com/Erins-Rebel-Susan-Macatee/dp/1601545207/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318084452&sr=1-1

anne stenhouse said...

This extract is from the beginning of chapter Nine of Mariah's Marriage by Anne Stenhouse
Mariah heard her aunt’s strident tones before she saw her. She groaned and turned over in her bed to bury her face in the pillows. Was it only three days since her world had been destroyed? Was it as long as three days since she had faced the entire company from the Blue Salon entering the gardens of Mellon House behind John Brent?

Amazon UK http://goo.gl/4LWt1H and US http://goo.gl/JjY907
anne blogs at Novels Now http://goo.gl/JjY907

Shauna Aura said...

This is from Chapter Ten of A Fading Amaranth:

“It’s really not a great idea to be stalking my lover,” Nathan grumbled. “Former lover,” he corrected himself. However, he and Jocelyn had caught the Fae creature’s scent not far from Alexandra’s house again, so he’d resigned himself to a certain amount of guard duty.

Excerpt/Buy Links: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/excerpt-a-fading-amaranth/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WIRD6ZY

Brina Brady said...

This extract is from the beginning of chapter 8 from Own Me, Rent Me Series, book 2.
Booming Russian opera music roared through Brennen’s ears, breaking him from his much needed sleep. At random, Dmitri listened to opera without any explanation. When Brennen had been a boy, he believed Dmitri played this kind of music when he planned to kill.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VDQLDZ6

http://brinabrady.wordpress.com/

Andrea Cooper said...

Viking Flame - prequel to Viking Fire

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.

http://amzn.com/B00U1OLDQU
http://www.andreaRcooper.com

Erin OQuinn said...

From MERRY CHRISTMAS, UTAH, a fantasy holiday story:

His name was Utah, even though he’d been in that fair state only a few times in his life.

Most folks called him simply “Ute,” a name that also fit, being one of the Paiute people’s words for their own unique nation.

Utah was gay, and yet he was married to a woman he hadn’t seen in ten years. Long story.

Before JesseWave went under, this little story was regoznized as a top pick. Read it here, half price thru Saturday: http://bit.ly/1IMbGLu

Laura Strickland said...

Just released today! My latest Highlander Romance, "His Wicked Highland Ways". Here are the first lines from Chapter Three:

The man arose from the pool stark naked and dripping wet, like a god newly formed. Jeannie took another half step backward and blinked, not entirely believing the sight that met her eyes: some six foot of male, all rippling muscles, scars, and tattoos with a curtain of sopping red-brown hair that slapped his shoulder blades and a handsome, dangerous face. His eyes were tawny brown, almost the same color as his hair and spiked by wet black lashes. But after one glance, Jeannie could not make herself look there.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Highland-Ways-Laura-Strickland-ebook/dp/B00V7CT52O/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1429889258&sr=1-2

Author web site: www.laurastricklandbooks.com

Babette James said...

From Chapter 1 of my new contemporary romance release, LOVE BURNS:

Olivia Benedetti-Harper stepped unsteadily from the casino hotel elevator onto her floor and let the I’m-just- fine-and-dandy-and-happy-for-you smile plastered on her face fade away. Cool quiet wrapped around her dizzy head and tired body. What a long day.

Love Burns on Kindle
http://babettejames.com

Veronica Scott said...

From Chapter 2 of MAGIC OF THE NILE:
Sahure had been in a dark mood during the entire journey back to Thebes. As the dusty miles passed under the wheels of his chariot, he kept reliving the last night with Tyema and trying to understand what had gone wrong after such a wonderful start. Angry at her rejection, hoping never to think of her again, his heart hurt and his pride was severely wounded.

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Nile-Egypt-Veronica-Scott-ebook/dp/B00IWC3UH8/?tag=verscoblo-20

Rosemary Morris said...

False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
1815

“I have good news for you, Annabelle,” said Miss Chalfont, the well-educated head mistress and owner of The Beeches, an exclusive school for young ladies.
Seated on a straight-backed chair opposite Miss Chalfont’s walnut desk, Annabelle clasped her hands tightly on her lap. “Has my guardian told you who my parents are?” she asked in a voice quivering with excitement.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

E book available from:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com B009YK1MFO

And elsewhere.















False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
1815

“I have good news for you, Annabelle,” said Miss Chalfont, the well-educated head mistress and owner of The Beeches, an exclusive school for young ladies.
Seated on a straight-backed chair opposite Miss Chalfont’s walnut desk, Annabelle clasped her hands tightly on her lap. “Has my guardian told you who my parents are?” she asked in a voice quivering with excitement.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

E book available from:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com B009YK1MFO

Barnes and Novel, AppleiBookstore, Kobo, Blio, Google Play, Overdrive, Omnilit, All Romance E Books, Bookstrand, Coffee Time Romance, Scribd, Smashwords, Flipcart – India, Tolina

False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
1815

“I have good news for you, Annabelle,” said Miss Chalfont, the well-educated head mistress and owner of The Beeches, an exclusive school for young ladies.
Seated on a straight-backed chair opposite Miss Chalfont’s walnut desk, Annabelle clasped her hands tightly on her lap. “Has my guardian told you who my parents are?” she asked in a voice quivering with excitement.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

E book available from:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com B009YK1MFO

Barnes and Novel, AppleiBookstore, Kobo, Blio, Google Play, Overdrive, Omnilit, All Romance E Books, Bookstrand, Coffee Time Romance, Scribd, Smashwords, Flipcart – India, Tolina














False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
1815

“I have good news for you, Annabelle,” said Miss Chalfont, the well-educated head mistress and owner of The Beeches, an exclusive school for young ladies.
Seated on a straight-backed chair opposite Miss Chalfont’s walnut desk, Annabelle clasped her hands tightly on her lap. “Has my guardian told you who my parents are?” she asked in a voice quivering with excitement.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

E book available from:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com B009YK1MFO

Barnes and Novel, AppleiBookstore, Kobo, Blio, Google Play, Overdrive, Omnilit, All Romance E Books, Bookstrand, Coffee Time Romance, Scribd, Smashwords, Flipcart – India, Tolina

False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
1815

“I have good news for you, Annabelle,” said Miss Chalfont, the well-educated head mistress and owner of The Beeches, an exclusive school for young ladies.
Seated on a straight-backed chair opposite Miss Chalfont’s walnut desk, Annabelle clasped her hands tightly on her lap. “Has my guardian told you who my parents are?” she asked in a voice quivering with excitement.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com

E book available from:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/63-our-authors/authors-m/378-rosemary-morris

www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com B009YK1MFO

Barnes and Novel, AppleiBookstore, Kobo, Blio, Google Play, Overdrive, Omnilit, All Romance E Books, Bookstrand, Coffee Time Romance, Scribd, Smashwords, Flipcart – India, Tolina










































Unknown said...

The first time Kali met her father, he was screaming.

La Déesse Noire: The Black Goddess
www.MarianaGabrielle.com

Pre-order at a special 99c price:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/19cKUjY
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Fc31m3
iTunes: http://apple.co/1E4ajHF
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1K1vMGq
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Bx1OCV
All Romance Ebooks: http://bit.ly/1DeYx8O

Martha O’Sullivan said...

Chance Encounter (Chances Trilogy #2) by Martha O'Sullivan

It had been eons since Delaney Richards had given a man a second thought, let alone a second look. But the pilot with the hints of gray at the temples of his chestnut-colored hair and smiling eyes had caught her unbidden attention. She watched him greet oncoming passengers before his gaze found hers and lingered. Then, fever rushing to her cheeks, she pretended to contemplate the baggage handlers loading an adjacent plane. She felt his appraising stare for a moment more before he turned away.

Chance Encounter and the Chances trilogy by Martha O'Sullivan are available at:

marthaosullivan.com

http://eRedSage.com/store/Chance_Encounter.html

http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Encounter-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00FJRE5YQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380642486&sr=8-1&keywords=chance+encounter+red+sage+publishing


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chance-encounter-martha-o-x2019-sullivan/1117005765?ean=2940148373513

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chanceencounter-1361851-340.html

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/chance-encounter-14
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18621648-chance-encounter

LindaRae said...

“She looks well, don’t you think?” Gabriel whispered as he pulled the counterpane off the bed and began folding it.

Sarah regarded him from her vanity looking glass as she drew a hair brush through her blonde locks. She was quite sure she had never before seen the earl do anything so domestic as folding a counterpane. “Did we scare away the maid this evening?”

THE DESIRE OF A LADY, available for pre-order:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U575VAC
Website: http://www.lindaraesande.com

Sherry Ewing said...


Only For You by Sherry Ewing

Riorden paced with an impatient stride, back and forth across the forest floor. The fallen, dying leaves crunched beneath his boots as he trod upon them, disintegrating into unidentifiable specks of dust. That they no longer resembled their original forms was a testament of how long he had been kept waiting.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MLVECd
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1Fai25B
iBooks: http://apple.co/18PV1Lt
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1B2mjZb

AU: http://bit.ly/1EQxFBo
CA: http://amzn.to/1BUjhZj
UK: http://amzn.to/1CBMCHX

Website & Blog: http://www.sherryewing.com
The Bluestocking Belles: http://bluestockingbelles.com/

Jana Richards said...

Here's something I'm working on at the moment. I call it CHILL OUT.

His breath was hot on her face. Renata moaned as he licked the shell of her ear, his wet tongue rasping over her sensitive skin. Blindly, she reached up to touch his smooth hair, his soft beard, his wet nose…

Wait. His what?

I hope you enjoyed my snippet!
Jana Richards
www.janarichards.com
Click here for my Amazon Author Page

JM Maurer said...

Seeking Love (Emerging From Darkness Book 1)
by J.M. Maurer

“The drive home after work was short, too short to contemplate the mess I’d gotten myself into. And because my commute could often feel like sitting in an annoying parking lot of testosterone-fueled chaos with suicidal bikers pedaling by, today I was fortunate.”

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/SeekingLove

Website & Blog: www.jmmaurer.com

Anonymous said...

Love Me Forever is a book I have with Kindle Scout -- you choose the books published. 3 days left in my campaign! If you like Civil War romance and time travel, check it out. If you nominate my book and it's published, you receive a free advance copy.

An explosion rocked the great house at the end of the chapter before this:

"Liberty sucked air when Flynt slammed against her, covering her with his broad chest, protecting her and keeping her safe with those magnificent shoulders. She hit the wooden floor. Hard."

Thank you and if you feel like sharing a vote, that would be wonderful!

Kindle Scout link:

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1EBUHZH3PWQRK

Blog: http://jinabacarr.wordpress.com
http://www.jinabacarr.com

Iris B said...

NEW BEGINNINGS
~~Set in Australia~~

Chapter 1:
Sophie stared at the attorney, waiting for some answers. She
and her sister, Mia, had been quietly sitting in Mr. O’Connor’s
office for more than half an hour, and had learnt about the details
of their inheritance.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Beginnings-1-Iris-Blobel-ebook/dp/B00ENU02BU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Unknown said...

This is from my debut novel, Taming the Stallion, opening chapter. The hero is a champion horse breeder, the heroine a peace officer.

Ashton’s hands shook as he flipped open his cell phone. The numbers wavered through his unshed tears, but he managed to press 9-1-1.
“9-1-1. What’s your emergency?”
His mouth bounced wordlessly as he tried to form words around his tight throat. “I…I need to report two murders.”

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1bkScT0

B&N.com: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/taming-the-stallion

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/taming-the-stallion

DorothyCallahan.com