My Love For Opening Scenes in the First Place

Last month, I featured some of my favorite openings from a few memorable books I've read throughout the years. Given the response to the RB4U post, I thought it would be nice to feature a few more of my favorites.

I'd also love to know some of your favorites too. So, at the end of this post in the comments section, please feel free to let me know what opening paragraphs have caught your attention. Here we go...

The beginning paragraph of the first Jodi Picoult book I'd ever read led me to become a huge fan of her writing. It's called (and I highly recommend) SALEM FALLS:

Several miles into his journey, Jack St. Bride decided to give up his former life. He made this choice as he walked aimlessly along Route 10, huddling against the cold. He had dressed this morning in a pair of khaki pants, a white shirt with a nick in the collar, stiff dress shoes, a smooth-skinned belt--clothing he'd last worn 5,769 hours ago, clothing that had fit him last August. This morning, his blue blazer was oversized and the waistband of his trousers hung loose. It had taken Jack a moment to realize it wasn't weight he'd lost during these eight months but pride.

Another book I loved, which introduced me to Lori Foster and her incredible talent to write compelling and believable romances, was called TOO MUCH TEMPTATION:

Noah Harper stood frozen in the carpeted hallway of his fiancee's house while his skin prickled with some vague, unsettling emotion. It wasn't really anger or grief. It sure as hell wasn't jealousy.

When I first started reading romance, I mostly read historicals. But one of the first contemporary romances I enjoyed was by author Ann Maxwell called THE DIAMOND TIGER. The first line of this book hooked my interest on the spot:

Abe Windsor better be dead or I'll bloody well kill him myself.

To close, I want to thank you all for visiting me on my blog day. It means so much to me to see your smiling faces show up in the comments section. Thank you for taking the time on your busy Sunday to see me. I now leave you with the opening paragraph of my own romance novel (book 2 of the Emerald Isle Trilogy) entitled MAC LIAM:

The door of the longhouse burst open and seven men, outfitted in conical helmets, snow-dusted wolfskin cloaks, and swords, rushed in. They hastened to surround the boxbed where two entangled bodies sat up in complete surprise, the covers drawn to their chins to hid their nakedness.

Renee Vincent
http://www.reneevincent.com/

Oh, and by the way, I am also blogging at Sweet N Sexy Divas  where I feature hot snippets from authors whose heroes weren't afraid to be a little soulful, sappy, or even suggestive when it came to the heroine. I'd love for you to hop on over and visit me.

Have a great week!