Five-Line Friday Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Five-Line Friday
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 viewers. I will delete comments that aren’t appropriate or offensive to some audiences. Sorry.)
My excerpt this week is from Wagers Gone Awry (Conundrums of the Misses Culpepper, book 1)
Here’s where Blythe and Leventhorpe meet for the first time. There book is next in the series.
“I insist upon seeing your master or mistress,” a cultured male voice—clearly irritated and condescending—demanded. “And you would do well to show your betters more respect.”
Brooke cocked her head. Assuredly not Lord Ravensdale, but two visitors in the same number of days? Unheard of.
“My betters?” A dangerous inflection entered Blythe’s voice. “And who might you be?”
A theatrical, masculine sigh carried into the study. “Lord Leventhorpe, if you insist on knowing. You really are the most impudent servant.”
“And I believe you’re the most pompous ars—donkey’s rear I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting,” Blythe retorted.
I’m looking forward to reading what you have this week!
Diana unclasped her pearls and handed them to DeVere with a satisfied smile. “Then mine was not such a ridiculous proposition after all.”
“Mayhap not, but mine was far better,” he added sotto voce, with a dark look that made her insides quiver.
The smile froze on Diana’s face. “There is something you clearly do not yet understand, my lord. My virtue is neither for sale, nor for barter—under any circumstances.”
DeVere answered with a cynical laugh. “My dear, there is something you have yet to learn. In this world, everything and everyone has a price.” -THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by VICTORIA VANE -Library Journal Best E-book Romance 2012
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXD7U4E
Oh, that’s a teaser, Victoria.
It’s a fun series Collette! The “Devil” DeVere is aptly named!
how fun!
Thanks as always, Collette! Here’s a snippet from my upcoming release, TO KISS A RAKE.
“How did you manage to bring the wrong girl?” Fellowes said. “I told you Lavinia was a blonde. Look at the girl’s hair. It’s orange as a carrot!”
A flame, Miles would have said, or a lethally beautiful flower, but this was not the time to argue about similes. “It was dark, and the hood covered her hair. She crept into the mews dressed as Artemis, goddess of the hunt, so what else was I to assume?”
“She’s not Artemis—she’s Athena,” Fellowes said. “Look at the thunderbolt stitched to her gown. Artemis carried a quiver and arrows.”
“I thought Eros wielded the bow and arrows,” Miles said.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZAY07OK/
So excited for this to release!
A descriptive passage, with vivid imagery. I enjoy it when a narrative makes good use of the visual aspects of the setting and characters. Thanks, Barbara.
some character needs to learn the goddesses 😉
Thanks, Collette. Nice dramatic snippet. I take it Blythe isn’t really a servant. And this haughty lord is in for a comeuppance!
Here’s a snippet from my medieval fantasy romance WIP “The Weeping Dragon”, my writing project for this summer. As always, feedback is welcome.
Presently her father approached. “Good morning, my dear. How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“I’ve been asked if you might be ill. The way you left the banquet raised concern.”
Dorrit didn’t know what to say. Therefore she said nothing.
Sir Reginald went on: “Don’t worry, I didn’t give away your secret. It’s become increasingly clear to me what your illness is. The same one I caught when I saw your mother for the first time. She affected me the way Sir William affects you.”
Dorrit sighed. Were there no secrets she could keep?
Have a nice weekend, everyone!
Mary Anne, I want more!!
So it’s back to the writing cave! Thanks, Collette!
Thank you for the opportunity to share, Collette. My lines are from my latest release, SHY VIOLET, my new Wildflowers of Scotland novel.
A wave splashed over the gunnels and doused her. She clutched her glasses to make sure they hadn’t been knocked loose, and tried not to cower – it was just water. Water couldn’t hurt her. But it was bad enough, being scared silly and at the mercy of a bunch of marauding pirates who were complete strangers. She did not want to be cold and soaked besides.
http://www.amazon.com/Shy-Violet-Sherrie-Hansen/dp/1938101545
Sherrie, this is fabulous!
Thank you, Collette! I appreciate the feedback.
Thank you, Collette.( Just catching up on my correspondence after returning from the UK and Romania.)
Such great excerpts!! Thanks, Collette!
Here is mine from Lady Beresford’s Lover which releases on the 21st!!
Vivian hesitated. “The dance floor is the other way.”
“I know.” The last few days of being in her presence, and always with others, had decided him. She was his, and this evening he would not share her. It was past time she was made to realize how he felt, how much he wanted her.
Rupert placed his lips close to her ear. “I wish to be alone with you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You do?”
Buy links: Kensington http://bit.ly/1Ea6UJU
Amazon http://amzn.to/1HcQ1NV
B&N http://bit.ly/1aRNi0f
Kobo http://bit.ly/1BT2OFE
Go Rupert!!
I love all these snippets!
Here’s mine, from my as yet untitled WIP:
Fox had simply picked her up and carried her. She was lodged now against his chest, feeling the wild pounding of his heart, hearing his labored breath.
“I can walk.” She said it, over, and over, and over, a mad litany, shivering.
They’d almost been murdered. Tears sprang and she sniffed mightily and said, “I can walk.”
Happy Friday, everyone!
The man knows her better than she does.
What fun! I love these. Do you think Richard will escape this one? or change her? From Dangerous Weakness
“Your mother does not receive them.” His companion hissed beside him.
“I, however, do,” Richard retorted, turning to face her. “I’m fond of my sister and her husband.”
Lady Sarah pursed her lips and forced a smile. “But he is a schoolmaster’s son, you must see that,” she explained. Having made her point, she nodded with satisfaction. “We really must get back to their graces. Lord Castlereagh will wonder what has become of us.”
She speaks as if she thinks I am a particularly dim schoolboy. I won’t tolerate it when we marry. He offered his arm without attempting to argue. If we marry, he added silently.
Love Richard, Caroline.
A dramatic passage that implies a lot. Thanks, Caroline.
Sample from Francesca, The Board, Book Nine
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010TJ28II
Harley blew above the jug then Sherry strummed. Jennifer came in behind ringing her bell. Francesca was last. She artfully weaved her music with the other noise. Harley dropped the jug and ran to the washtub. She scrubbed up and down a washboard. Sherry rushed to the spittoon and dribbled water into the container. Andrew couldn’t believe that music actually came from the chaos.
What a vivid mental image!
That’s funny!
What great excerpts! Here is another from my WIP – the novella I need to finish ASAP – A Perfectly Unregimented Christmas, which will be included in Christmas Revels II to be released in October.
“Yes. Well, your grandfather was an arse to pack you off so young.” She nodded regally at the chair opposite her own.”He was an arse about a great many things.”
Refusing to sit smacked of churlishness. Besides, a comfortable chair near the hearth promised at least the possibility his snow-soaked drawers might eventually thaw.
“He should never have sent you away, Ebenezer.”
“My father had a hand in it.” He took the cup of tea she offered. “And you may call me Miserington or Pennyworth or Ben. Not. Ebenezer.”
“My son was an idiot.”
“For naming me Ebenezer?”
“For nearly every breath he took after the age of twenty.”
Ben smiled in spite of himself. “An arse for a grandfather and an idiot for father. What does that make me?”
She moved a plate piled high with ginger biscuits across the tea table. Her hand trembled. The Viscountess Pennyworth had remained fixed at a certain age in his mind. When had she grown old?
“It leaves you too stubborn and too clever to die.” She folded her hands in her lap and leveled him with the gaze of his childhood memories.”Fortunately you take after my side of the family.”
Both very intriguing characters!