Five-Line Friday-The Captivating Moment
Where authors and readers meet to share and read romance novel snippets!
Five-Line Friday RULES
- Five lines of your current work in progress, new release, soon-to-be-released … whatever. (Do keep it as close to five sentences as you can.)
- You are welcome to post buy links too.
- PG (I don’t have a warning on my blog about content, so it has to be appropriate for all I will delete comments that aren’t appropriate or offensive to some audiences. (Sorry.)
Today’s snippet is from Heartbreak and Honor
Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series
Coming December 2, 2015.
Lucan stared into the amber liquid remaining in his glass. “She captivated me from the moment I sneaked into her chamber at Dounnich House to rescue her, and she brandished a dagger to protect her sister and brother.”
In an instant, she’d stormed his defenses, circumvented his objections, and burrowed her way into his mind—no—anchored herself and those unfathomable purple eyes to his soul. He gave a sideways smile and pointed to his eye. “She punched me soundly. I sported a bruise for weeks.”
I’m sure we’ll have another busy blog today!
Remember, you can always post more than one book snippet.
Oooo love it! And thank you! From my Regency – “The Wicked Bargain” : Ethan & Arabella –
“Arabella, I believe?” His voice was smooth and thick, like honey, all sweet and enticing. She was transfixed by it.
Licking her dry lips, she finally answered, “Arabella Covington, my lord.”
If it was possible for his smile to become more inviting, it did. Arms crossed, he leaned in the doorway.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1j6eAn3
Nook: http://bit.ly/1L1O4CW
iBook: http://apple.co/1KVgaBU
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Q0XDFt
Fabulous, Gina! Very enticing.
From Phantom Traces, romance w/a ghostly twist – perfect for the season!
“A tiny sound right beside her drew her gaze to the desk. The pen reappeared from its hiding place behind the monitor, rolling as though the surface was tilted. It whirled to the edge and fell, landing on the wooden floor with a clink.
She bent, instinctively reaching to retrieve the delicate, antique treasure.
Before her fingers reached it, the pen came to life, spinning and twirling on the floor.”
Trailer: http://bit.ly/1T9KwUN
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/19OUERc
Audiobook: http://adbl.co/1NLXdAx
Happy Halloween!
Claire Gem
Ooh, a bit spooky!
A pen comes to life? You got me curious!
How is this captivating moment from A Dangerous Nativity, one of the novellas in Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem. This scene is mostly mayhem.
In the center of the chaos a woman stood, one hand raised above her head and the other holding her skirts above the confusion.
Will’s vision narrowed to the woman. Tall and serene, she put him in mind of Athena, striding above the fray to command calm. Intense longing for her serenity, for her strength, and for order filled him. For a moment he could think of nothing else.
Frantic bleating brought him back to earth. The goat pelted up the hill toward him.
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014OI7M54/
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014OI7M54
I want to know what happens with the goat!
Very appealing characters!
I’m really looking forward to reading this story. Thanks, Caroline.
LOL! What a feisty heroine, Collette. 🙂 This is from To Kiss a Rake:
Melinda bowed her head, staring at her clasped hands, and then met his eyes. “It is most noble of you to offer for me, Lord Garrison, but you do not love me any more than I love you. I could not reconcile it with my conscience to force you into marriage.” She squeezed her hands so hard she shook. “Please, please do not press me anymore.”
Miles bowed and turned away.
A woman with character and a conscience—just the sort he’d advised his friend to seek.
http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Rake-Scandalous-Kisses-ebook/dp/B00ZAY07OK/
Yes, I seem to have a list of heroine’s that clobber the hero.
Love it! A heroine with spunk!
I may have replied in the wrong place… anyway, love a heroine with spunk!
From The Changeling — my newest under my new pen name as Madeline Archer
…………………………………………….
Frances March hurried cautiously along the stable wall. So distracted by their conspiracy of mercy, she nearly jumped out of her shoes at the nicker of a horse. The sooner this deed was done, the better.
Pressing flat to the wall, she listened for the stableman, but heard only the muffled sound of stabled horses and the hoot of a distant owl. It was imperative that no one — upstairs or down — see her.
…………………………………………….
Buy on Amazon
I’m dying to know what she’s up to!
An intriguing snippet!
Ditto. Must be something going on! Thanks, Rose.
Love that line, Collette, “She punched me soundly. I sported a bruise for weeks.” 🙂
Mine is from my new release, The Sheriff Meets His Match:
Jack’s brow rose at her reaction. A slow smile lit his gorgeous brown eyes. “What’s so funny?” he murmured, his voice a velvet rumble that reverberated in her blood, heating her from the inside out.
His head had a fine dusting of melting snowflakes, turning his hair a dark chestnut. Without thinking Laurel lifted a hand to brush her fingers through the damp curls.
http://authl.it/3qq
Wonderful, Jacquie. Just enough for me to want to know more.
Great, thanks Collette. I was hoping you were ok with contemporary 🙂
Nice description. Only a few lines, yet vivid. Thanks, Jacquie.
The first bite of the warm treat damn near melted in his mouth.
Liam heard her gasp. He looked up. The angel stood only a few feet away from him now. She stared into the brush waving the note.
“Show yerself!”
http://amzn.com/B010PCJIEG
Hmmm… it has me wondering…
Fascinating, Paisley. That snippet was just enough to make me want to know what happens next!
Thanks, Colette! This is from my latest release, A Widow’s Salvation:
Pepper knelt at the grave and ran her fingers over the stone. Her voice broke as she whispered to her husband, “You’d be so proud of your boys, Michael. They’re becoming more like you every day. I wish you could see what fine young men they’re turning out to be. We all miss you so much, but we will do justice to your memory and forge a new path for ourselves. Rest easy. We’ll be fine.”
http://amzn.to/1DZipEE
Heart-wrending, Becky!
Must be a very touching scene. Thanks, Becky.
Thanks so much, Colette, for the opportunity. This is from my new release ~ Planting the Seeds of Love: A Novella
She looked down to where his hand was caressing hers. Just like Jack. She pushed down the thought. Her body reacted to his touch, pulsating, needing more. She craved his caress.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01581XM50
From my newest contemporary romance, Her Greatest Risk:
“Mmmm,” Jennifer murmured, closing her eyes. She opened them again to find Michael’s face only inches from hers. That scar, so close to his eye. She reached out and ran a finger across it. “So stupid,” she whispered.
http://www.amazon.com/Her-Greatest-Risk-Darlene-Deluca-ebook/dp/B01557RZF0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445027096&sr=1-1&keywords=darlene+deluca
Love a scarred hero!
Thanks again, Collette. Sorry I missed the last few Five-Line Fridays. Real life, y’know.
I like your excerpt. A snapshot of the mind of a man in love. An uneasy love.
Here’s another snippet from my WIP, “The Weeping Dragon” (medieval fantasy romance). Most is internal monologue and is italicized in the manuscript.
William sat on the bank of the Humber, musing. I should return to Fairfield. My own manor needs tending. But how can I, with matters here so unsettled?
Dorrit is miserable. She won’t even speak to me. I can do nothing to help.
I fell in love with her because of her tender heart. But a tender heart bruises too easily!
It’s not supposed to be this way. Of all the problems I might have in courting a lady, I never expected this.
As always, feedback is welcome. Have a nice weekend, everyone!
Don’t I know it, Mary Anne. Poor guy! He has it bad.
I do love a heroine who knows how to throw a punch when the situation calls for it, Collette !
Here is another snippet from A PERFECTLY UNREGIMENTED CHRISTMAS from CHRISTMAS REVELS II, which is up for preorder now !! It goes live on October 24th !
“You knew where they were sending me. You knew I was for the navy, a boy of ten.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You gave me mince pies and ginger biscuits. You told me to keep my head down, my mouth shut, and to pay attention.”
“Is that all you remember, my lord?”
“I don’t know. My memory of that time… before the navy is not clear.”
Marley gathered the tangle of cloths from the washstand by the door. He did not turn around.
“My mother said there is a secret in this house. Something she took great pleasure in keeping from me. Do you know anything about that, Marley?”
“Your mother kept a great many things from you, my lord,” he said, still facing the door. “This house keeps many secrets, but none of them are mine to tell. Good night, Lord Pennyworth.”
“Marley?”
“Yes, my lord?”
“I did what you said. In the navy. It helped.”
“I’m glad, my lord.” The door snicked quietly behind him.
Here are the buy links for CHRISTMAS REVELS II
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Revels-II-Regency-Novellas-ebook/dp/B016CV9G6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444879593&sr=8-1&keywords=christmas+revels+II
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-revels-ii-hannah-meredith/1122771468?ean=2940152400946
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/christmas-revels-ii-four-regency/id1047951334?mt=11
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/christmas-revels-ii-four-regency-novellas
I have this on my Christmas read list, Louisa!
Thanks, Collette! Great theme…
This is from Blue Belle, the 2nd of my Wildflowers of Scotland novels. http://amzn.com/1938101537
“She must be connected to the blokes who want to dredge the bay.” Logan fumed. “There’s nae other explanation for it.”
“All the more reason not to be spilling your guts to the woman,” Michael cautioned him. That was the problem with Southern belles – they lured you into complete and utter surrender with their sweet-as-honey voices. Then, when it was too late, you realized you’d been had by a mind as sharp and acute as a shard of fine Irish crystal.
He would not let some reporter ruin the idyllic life he’d forged for himself over the last nine months. For years, he’d earned his living maintaining a psychological interest in people and still remaining professionally detached. How hard could it be to do the same where Isabelle McAllister was involved? He let his eyes linger on her for a second longer, just to prove to himself that he could do it. Her high-necked, long sleeved sweater covered her from the soft curl of fabric under her chin on down. He could almost feel his finger slipping under the soft bit of wool, tipping her chin up a notch and lifting her face to meet his.
Fine. So there was something about her that threatened his objectivity. That didn’t negate the fact that she was a reporter, and as long as he was obliged to keep the confidences that had brought him to Scotland in the first place, there could never be anything between them.
Simply wonderful, Sherrie!
Intriguing snippet. Must be a lot going on in this man’s head about this woman. Thanks, Sherrie.
This is from The Widow’s Walk, a paranormal romance. http://amzn.to/1RNz7ce
Edward had insinuated Jared was weak, and hadn’t fought hard enough for her attention. And he was correct; gentlemen only finish first in the movies.
Mike took Liz into his arms and pressed his lips to hers, a little too rough. As his ragged, untrimmed beard scratched her cheek, he imagined it irritated her soft skin, might even hurt. He felt nothing when he looked at her, not relief, not desire, not even anger.
Did he want to take the chance Edward had given, or should he just walk away?
Very intriguing!
From Better Than Chocolate, a contemporary romance: http://amzn.to/1OLaEEz
“Email me when you get back to Georgia, okay? I’ll come down to Savannah some weekend, and you can give me an insider’s tour of Fort Pulaski.” He’s asked before, and I’ve offered before, but Sadie always squelched the idea.
“That would be kind of nice.”
He sets me on my feet, but I hold on a little longer.
What am I doing?
That title is fabulous!!
From Gingerbread Bride, in the Bluestocking Belles box set Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem
No matter how sharply she spoke to herself, she could not stop thinking about Rick Redepenning. She couldn’t possibly miss a man she had spent less than a day with in the past five years. She was merely worried about his injury, that was all, that he might not be taking care, might not be healing. No matter what excuses she made, she was well aware she was in danger of once again falling in love with Rick the Rogue—if, in fact, she’d ever fallen out of love.
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Marriage-Mayhem-Bluestocking-Collection-ebook/dp/B014OI7M54/
Yes, there must be a reason! Looking forward to this story. Thanks, Jude.
Rick the Rogue! Priceless.
that was wonderful