Top Five First Lines

I only worked a half hour past 5:00 PM today, and I'm celebrating with another of my top-five lists. When I pick up a book and start to read, the best first lines draw me in and set the stage for the story to come. Here are my five favorites, in no particular order:

Brighter Than the Sun by Julia Quinn

Eleanor Lyndon was minding her own business when Charles Wycombe, Earl of Billington, fell--quite literally--into her life.

Brighter Than the Sun is a wonderfully funny book, and this line sets up the story perfectly. It conveys Eleanor's practicality while at the same time hints at the big changes Charles will make in her life.

Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry.

This sentence tells me two things: this is a first-person story with plenty of humor. And that's absolutely true about this book.

His Every Kiss by LauraLee Guhrke

He was going mad.

Talk about a first line that says it all. Dylan Moore is a strong, memorable hero, and this sentence establishes his big problem--a ringing in his ears that plagues him all the time. It's a great sentence and an even better book.

"Fuzzy Logic" (from Bad Boys Over Easy) by Erin McCarthy

Lucas Manning was absolutely certain he hadn't ordered a box of neon pink dildos.

I was grateful that I wasn't eating or drinking anything when I read this line because I couldn't help but laugh. Saying that this sentence draws me into the story is an understatement.

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Getting married was murder.

So much meaning is expressed in four words. This sentence is classic Eve Dallas. Eve has always been a loner, so she finds the idea of marriage disconcerting. When you add the fact that she will have to find a wedding dress, get a makeover, and other strange prewedding rituals, you end up with this assessment.

Do you have a favorite first line from a book? Please share.

Alyssa