It was a Dark and Stormy Night...

When you’re writing a novel, you want that first line to grab the reader by the balls, er, the throat, and not let go. I thought it would be fun to collect a few of folks’ favorite first lines, either of their own or by authors they admire. Below is a collection of some pretty terrific opening lines. If you have a few of your own, feel free to post them in the comments.

I’ll open with two of mine:

“I’m bored. Whose life can we destroy today?”

Wicked Hearts by Claire Thompson

Buy Link: 1RomanceEBooks.com

Brendan stood like the perfect wet dream beneath the spray, his erect cock clutched in his hand.

Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson

Buy Link: 1RomanceEBooks.com

From Readers:

Contributed by Lloyd Meeker

"For numberless years a myna had astounded travelers to the caravansary
with its ability to spew indecencies in ten languages, and before the
fight broke out everyone assumed the old blue-tongued devil on its perch
by the fireplace was the one who maligned the giant African with such
foulness and verve."
Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon 

Contributed by Laura Flocker:

It began, as a lot of things do, in bed.

Dark Tides by Josh Lanyon

Contributed by Jean Paquin

(Note: The speaker is a parrot) 

"Oooh, baby.  Luscious Lips.  Wanna gimme some head, sweetcheeks?"

Outback Meltdown by Alexis Fleming

Contributed by Alan H Chin:

Ennis Del Mar wakes before five, wind rocking the trailer, hissing in around the aluminum door and window frames. The shirts hanging on a nail shudder slightly in the draft.
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

From Authors – Their Own Personal Favorites

In the deserted men’s restroom at the back of Middleton Community College, Sam Keller knelt on the tile, braced his hands against Keith Jameson’s thighs, and broke his mother’s heart.

Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan
Buy Link: http://www.heidicullinan.com/fiction

Dominic Mackenzie turned into the rest area parking lot, his dick hardening in sight of the squat brick building located directly off the interstate outside of his hometown. Other than the closet, there was no gay scene in Smithville.

Tempestuous Relations by Amanda Young
Buy Link: http://bit.ly/cs6voj

No one can hear the screams, the cries for mercy, and the shrieks of agony.
In the Blood by Rick Reed

Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/y27e77p

A vampire walked into a bar.

Stefan's Salvation by NJ Walters

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-4928-172-stefans-salvation.aspx

The night had turned cold while they were in the Brig, one of Chicago’s oldest and most infamous leather establishments.
Bashed by Rick Reed

Buy Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=BASHED01

Men suck.

Christina's Tapestry by NJ Walters

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-6174-172-christinas-tapestry.aspx

It was the screams that woke him.

Craving Candy by NJ Walters

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-4718-172-craving-candy.aspx

His brother had thought Hell a fiery abyss, but Nicolas Montfaucon knew better. It was wet, smelled like a sewer, and sounded like the rush of collective hopes draining toward the sea.

Seduced by Darkness by Delilah Devlin

Buy Link: http://www.delilahdevlin.com/books/seduced-by-darkness/

My cat started acting deranged, could it be cuz her diet I changed?

Men at Work by Robin Glasser
Buy Link: http://www.myspace.com/robinglasser

There is blood on my hands.

Face Without a Heart by Rick Reed
Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/y4sxs8q

There’s no place like home. The police substation didn’t sit at the end of the rainbow or anywhere near Kansas, but for some reason that stupid phrase ran like a mantra through Sinead O’Rourke’s head as she drew a deep breath and pushed through the double-doors leading into the station house. 

Sin’s Gift by Delilah Devlin

Buy Link: http://www.delilahdevlin.com/books/sins-gift/

Without money for a cab or the gonads to hitchhike, what should have been a fifteen-minute drive to the countryside took Declan Mayo almost two hours by foot.

Chicken Ranch: Hunger by Amanda Young
Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Chicken-Ranch-Hunger.aspx 

I just wanted a hot meal and hotter bathwater.

Tengo una Pistola (Cocked & Fully Loaded Anthology) by Bryl R. Tyne
Buy Link: https://www.nobleromance.com/BrowseListing.aspx?author=59

New York City and it's pouring, which means no taxis in New Yorkese.

My Life as a Concubine by Robin Glasser

Buy Link: http://www.myspace.com/robinglasser

I awoke one morning from uneasy dreams to find my penis had transformed itself into a vagina.
Man-Amorphosis by Rick Reed

Buy Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Manamorphosis.html

Death didn't have to be easy, but couldn't it be a little cheaper?

Hacking Immortality by Maura Anderson

Buy Link: http://www.realmsoftheraven.com/free-stories/flash-fiction/#HackingImmortality


What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Heart of Submission - FIVE STAR REVIEW!

Click here to read Dark Divas Review!

Hot Off the Press! Heart of Submission Now Available

Yahoo mountain dew!

It's out! My newest release, Heart of Submission, hit the 1RE bookstore this morning! I do hope you will stop over and check it out. It's my first M/F BDSM in a while, and, as promised, it'll fog up your glasses and make you squirm in your seat!

If you read it, please post here what you thought. We need to encourage our sisters who have left M/F erotic romance by the roadside to take a look at what they're missing. I will tell you this is my most personal novel to date, with a whole lot of Claire right in there in the pages. If you want to know what makes me tick and floats my boat, read this, my darlings!

BUY LINK

Remember Way Back When...

...YOU used to read M/F erotic romance? It wasn't that long ago!

Remember how you shivered as the sexy alpha hero proved his merit at last, and left our heroine melting with longing? Could you almost feel his hands moving over your skin, taste his lips pressing against yours, as you let him claim you at last...?

Here are two little excerpts to give you a sense...

Excerpt 1

He had eyes the color of clear dark tea, sunny blond hair spilling carelessly over a high forehead, a half smile hovering on full, sensuous lips. His red tag read Master John, though she didn't need color coding or titles to ascertain his orientation. He exuded power. Kate could feel it like fingers moving over her skin. She realized she was staring at him. Swallowing, she turned away, hoping the heat in her face hadn't translated to a blush.

She felt his hand on her shoulder, gently but forcibly turning her back toward him. His smile was warm enough to melt butter. "I bet you're a wild one, in serious need of taming."

Kate realized her nipples had shot to attention without permission. Silently she cursed the flimsy fabric of her cream-colored silk tank top. As if reading her mind, Master John's eyes moved slowly downward from her face, sweeping over her breasts.

She tossed her hair. "I might be wild, but I've yet to meet the man who can tame me," she said with as much bravado as she could muster.

Shit! Where had that come from?

Master John laughed. "Is that a challenge, little girl?"

Returning to her senses, Kate stammered, "Uh, no. No, I'm just here to learn. To take it all in."

"Are you now," he replied, eyebrows arched.

Excerpt 2

They kissed again, and he felt the slow burn of desire curling through his body. Pulling back, he reached for her arms and lifted them, guiding her hands to the O ring hanging from the ceiling. Taking his cue, she gripped it, swaying slightly.

"Will it support my weight?" she asked, her voice tremulous.

"Oh, yes, absolutely," he assured her. His cock was aching, fully erect and pointing toward his left hip. He stepped behind her, reaching up to grasp her wrists. She didn't release her hold of the ring, but stood still, as if already bound. He leaned forward, pressing his body against hers, feeling the curve of her ass against his cock. She didn't pull away.

His mouth next to her ear, he murmured, "Would you like for me to give you a taste of sensual bondage?" He ran his fingers lightly down her arms, moving along the silky fabric that covered her torso, feeling the slight tremor in her body as he touched her.

"Yes, please," she said throatily.

When he moved to retrieve the proper rope, he realized his owns hands were trembling slightly, with both excitement and perhaps a bit of fear.

It had been so long.

He wasn't worried about his skill with the various intricate knots that he used or his ability with a flogger or cane, but was his touch still sure? Did he still have what it took to dominate a woman, to make her shudder and moan with desire, to make her surrender her body and her will?

He used a basic two column tie on her wrists, securing her with the soft rope. The room was relatively cool, compared with the summer heat outside, but Kate's skin was hot to the touch. His lips itched to kiss her again, but he forced himself to focus on his task.

"How's that?" he asked, stepping back to appraise his handiwork. He'd chosen the royal blue rope, which looked pretty against her pale, smooth skin and contrasted nicely with her coppery red hair. "Are you comfortable?" Kate's cheeks were flushed, making her eyes look even greener, a deep, clear emerald green with tiny flecks of gold around the pupils.

She pulled against the rope. "Yes." She swallowed and took a deep, shuddery breath. She was fidgeting, moving her feet in a nervous little dance on the floor.

He stroked her cheek and spoke gently, caressing her the way one might gentle a wild horse. "Relax. You're safe. We're just experimenting right now. I'm going to take off your sandals. And then I'm going to raise the pulley, just a little, just enough to put you on tiptoe, but not high enough for full suspension, okay?"

Kate nodded, visibly swallowing again. He knelt and slipped the sandals from her pretty, slender feet. He noticed her toenails were painted a pale pink, like the inner part of a nautilus shell. Standing, he moved toward the wall, taking the long blue rope with him and threading it through the winch. He turned the handle slowly, watching as she was forced higher, rising on tiptoe, her arms stretched taut.

Returning to the bound girl, he lightly kissed her cheek. "Is this what you want, Kate? Is it what you need?" He ran his hands down her sides again, barely touching the swell of her breasts as his hands moved past them.

She nodded. 

"Say it, Kate. Tell me what you need."

RELEASE DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 24. I do hope you will check it out and fall in love again with M/F  D/s Romance!