Wednesday, May 14, 2014

One-Liners

There’s nothing like a great one-liner. No, I don’t mean jokes. I mean the first line of a book. It has to grab you or you won’t read on. Here are some from the Classic and Cozy Authors current, upcoming, and works-in-progress books.

"No one should have to face a morning with decaf."
by Gina Ardito, Reunion in October, contemporary romance

Rachel tried not to flinch when Tony’s fingertips caressed the side of her neck.”
by Sandy Cody, The Cruelest Lie, cozy mystery work-in-progress

"She didn't intend to sound as if she was begging but was there any other way?"
by Shirley Kiger Connolly, Not Quite an Angel, historical inspirational romance, Desert Breeze Publishing, November 1, 2014

“Look out, Paradox Lake. The Donnelly brothers are back in town.”
by Jean C. Gordon, Winning the Teacher's Heart (working title), Love Inspired Romance, June 2015

"It is a universally accepted fact that newly married couples want to share their joy and misery with all their single relations, thus Jane Bingley plans her first ball with great anticipation."
by Carol Hutchens, Jane's Ball (working title), historial romantic mystery work-in-progress

“RUN!”
The command was redundant, as the sound of a gunshot had been a sufficient catalyst to get me gallumping down the dark paneled hallway faster than a speeding bullet.  That was my plan, anyway."
by Jayne Ormerod, Blond Faith (sequel to The Blond Leading the Blond), cozy mystery, coming soon

"Rikka McAllister hung up the phone and closed her eyes; she never read the fine print."
by Kathryn Quick, Ineligible Bachelor, sweet contemporary romance

"Not the standing room only lurches of the outbound bus on California Street, nor the fact she was late from the office, nor Dr. Gordon’s dismissal of her symptoms, kept Emily from dancing along the sidewalk and making a grand jeté up the steps of Kelleher Memorial Hall to her Thursday night dance class."
by Leigh Verrill-Rhys, Salsa Dancing with Pterodactyls, Eres Books, March 2014

Do you have a favorite first-line from a book--any book--you’ve read? Share it with us in the comments.

-- Jean C. Gordon
@JeanCGordon

6 comments:

  1. Love this, Jean. Will you forgive me if I share two?

    First: from our own Kay Finch's FINAL CUT: "I hid behind the trunk of a live oak, senses on high alert." Who could resist reading on after that?

    Second: Dickens' great opening to A TALE OF TWO CITIES: "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times ..." This has to be the favorite of lots of people.

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  2. Love these. They really got me thinking about what would come next in each book. Thanks for sharing these great one-liners.

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  3. Fun - to see what Classic and Coziers are working on!

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  4. Here's the first line of my cosy mystery work in progress:
    The couple sharing the hotel mini bus shuttle with Florence held hands but something about the way the man placed the woman’s hand on his thigh and kept it there with a firm grasp made Florence think of a shackle.

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  5. Great first lines, everyone! Here's one of the best: "Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were."

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  6. Oh, that was fun! I am intrigued by all of them!

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