Today is #sixsunday where writers share six sentences from their work. I’ll share a snippet from my time-travel romance WIP tentatively titled MUST LOVE BREECHES, which is now out in query land!
Here’s my new pitch/logline: When a thoroughly modern girl finds herself stranded in 1834 London, she must find a way home while navigating the pitfalls of London society, resisting her attraction to a hunky lord, and ultimately having to decide when her true home lies. (You can see the other entries here.)
Since everyone’s been enjoying her ride in the curricle with Lord Montagu, I thought I’d pick up exactly where we left off last week. It seems appropriate too, since what he asks her in a bit is the Act One break/turning point. This is from Isabelle’s POV, and she and Lord Montagu are in a curricle (a type of carriage) in Hyde Park. She’s only been back in time for two days and he’s just called on her to ask her to go on this ride with him:
On the ride to the park, she had no idea what he expected, so she had kept quiet. But she also had a hard time keeping her seat, and more than once the jolting of the carriage bumped her against him. So this was why the young blades of the ton preferred driving a curricle. So that their ladies would accidentally brush against them. Or maybe to give the ladies an excuse to seek their beau’s protection, with a Pretend Squeal thrown in?
Without even looking at him, every movement he made registered in her consciousness, every tilt of the head to a passing male acquaintance, and a few darting glances at her.
As always I welcome constructive feedback. Thank you!
To see snippets from others who are participating or to sign up yourself, visit here.
Thank you to everyone who comes by and comments each week! Have a great Sunday!
Angela Quarles | Geek girl romance writer 
Lisa Fox
/ March 18, 2012Sounds like a fun ride!
Stephanie
/ March 18, 2012See, it’s scenes like this that I want to throw in people’s faces when they say Regency/Victorian/whatever time period stuff is too stuffy and restrained. It’s the restraint that makes it even more sexy, and you’ve proven that with your six!
Wendy S. Russo
/ March 18, 2012Great six, Angela!
Jennifer Lowery
/ March 18, 2012Love your voice! The tone of this story is awesome! Gonna be a fun read 🙂 Great six!
Kate Meader (@KittyMeader)
/ March 18, 2012I’m really enjoying Isabelle’s observations here. It’s so great to have her modern sensibility butt up (heh) against all she thinks she knew about this time period. Another great six!
Gemma Parkes
/ March 18, 2012Beautiful description as always!
Kate Warren
/ March 18, 2012Very nice. I love how aware she is of him.
sassyspeaks
/ March 18, 2012Yep every generation does not matter the time period has its own wiles. And I agree, it’s even more sexy – the subtle subtext that is –
Zee Monodee
/ March 18, 2012Love the pretend squeal idea! Lovely how you paint the picture of the time – very well done! 🙂
Corinne Davies
/ March 18, 2012Great six!! I loved seeing it from her POV
Cara Bristol
/ March 18, 2012I think she’s going to fit in quite well. Quick learner.
Janey Falls
/ March 18, 2012Love that Isabelle is going to analyze all of the old traditions and find the real motivations! Can’t wait to read more – great 6!
Guilie
/ March 18, 2012Great six, Angela–thanks for sharing 🙂
sueannbowlingauthor
/ March 18, 2012“Curricles were notorious for the accidents their drivers suffered.” I was looking for a picture, but the Wikipedia article reinforces her difficulty. A single-axle vehicle with two horses certainly doesn’t sound terribly stable!
By the way I’m at my usual spot for SSS. Must have counted wrong.
Ursula Grey
/ March 18, 2012Nicely done. Great descriptive six!
veronicascott
/ March 18, 2012I’m loving this book so I hope it finds a happy home in queryland SOON! Great snippet as always.
Silver
/ March 18, 2012Without even looking at him, every movement he made registered in her consciousness, …
This line says so much! This is a great six and I agree with others on your voice. It’s every well suited to historicals.
Skye Warren
/ March 18, 2012Love the Pretend Squeal line. Looks like she’s got a nice clear view of things 🙂
K.E. Saxon
/ March 18, 2012I love how she’s an “expert” on this era anyway, but now she gets to live and breathe it. I also like how she’s looking at it in a scientific, fact-finding way, but at the same time totally getting hot and bothered over her escort. This is such a unique twist on a time travel storyline. Great six!!
Chantel Rhondeau
/ March 18, 2012I love this book so much! This scene does an excellent job of showing how Isabelle is slowly becoming aware of Lord Montague, and is really quite sensual. It also does a god job of illustrating how different things are back in this time. Terrific job!
Ileandra Young
/ March 18, 2012Hehee, lovely and subtle; I love it. Sense of gradual awareness and I want to know where it goes!
Lorraine Paton
/ March 18, 2012Love her awareness of Lord Montague and her impression of the ride. Great six! 🙂
siobhanmuir
/ March 18, 2012Fun six, Angela. Like her awareness of why the young men like their curricles. 🙂
Paula Martin
/ March 18, 2012I love her ‘awareness’ of him.
Sabrina Garie
/ March 18, 2012Well done. Love the last line, when she notices him looking at her, hinting at his growing awareness of her.
Candice Bundy
/ March 18, 2012I love how she refuses to show her emotions to Montague, and instead holds it all inside. This builds wonderful tension. 🙂
Carrie-Anne
/ March 18, 2012I love Isabelle’s observations and how she’s realizing how some parts of the past aren’t so different after all.
Sarah W
/ March 18, 2012I love the mix of old and new — “Pretend Squeal” tells us this is a modern and independent woman, even without the historical musings.
Jean Marie Ward
/ March 18, 2012Great sensory input here. We tend to forget how very physical driving used to be.
Karla
/ March 18, 2012Awesome six, Angela! Her ride in the carriage sure makes a car ride seem boring.
Jessica Knauss
/ March 18, 2012Only two days and she has society figured out! Great humor.
Elaine Cantrell
/ March 18, 2012Oh, very nice ride! My grandma once told me when my boyfriend and I were driving up to the mountains to be sure and take the curves. the way she cackled I figure I know what she meant.
Joanne
/ March 18, 2012I love this. Great description. I felt like I was there with her. The thrill of the ride, the naughty little thrill of bumping into him. Great six.
Heather Boyd
/ March 18, 2012Great six. I was totally wrapped up in the short scene.
Ranae Rose
/ March 18, 2012LOL Crafty guys!
Joya Fields
/ March 18, 2012Awesome six sentences. I love the way she’s confused, but trying to figure out what would be expected. Very nice! 🙂
Vivien Dean
/ March 18, 2012Ha, I’d totally never thought of the jostling throwing them together. How fun!
Sandra Sookoo
/ March 18, 2012lol pretend squeel. Love it!
Lynne Murray
/ March 18, 2012Great fun at close quarters, a witty six!
Babette James
/ March 18, 2012I like her observations. 🙂 Nice six!
Jennifer Comeaux
/ March 18, 2012Great teasers you keep feeding us! Loved the “Pretend Squeal.”
Claire Gillian
/ March 18, 2012I loved how you capitalized Pretend Squeal. That tells me so much about your heroine that I really like.
angela quarles
/ March 18, 2012Nice to hear this, because I’ve kept it in (and some others like it) despite numerous critiquers who’ve told me it shouldn’t be capped… 🙂
Jessica Subject
/ March 18, 2012I’m curious to know what he expects as well. Nice six! 🙂
Ryan
/ March 18, 2012I agree with Claire. The “Pretend Squeal” is a nice touch! Great six, Angela!
Donna Cummings
/ March 18, 2012This is a lot of fun. I like her observations and commentary of the era. 🙂
Sara Walter Ellwood
/ March 18, 2012Fantastic six, Angela… I loved her take on the times…
Debra Moore
/ March 19, 2012Time travel?! I’m IN! Awesome! And loved this: “Without even looking at him, every movement he made registered in her consciousness.” Been there! 🙂
J.M. Blackman
/ March 19, 2012I love her awareness of him—very true to life. I’ve got to be honest here, Angela–I’ve never liked time travel novels, but I have loved every six you’ve posted from this novel, so I’m in. Sign me up. Where do I buy? 🙂
angela quarles
/ March 19, 2012Thanks, that’s quite a compliment! What aspects of time travels normally turn you off? Wish me look in query land (that’s the stage I’m in) 🙂
pippajay
/ March 20, 2012I wonder if he’s disappointed that she’s not doing the squeal?
halleebridgeman
/ March 20, 2012“Pretend Squeal” made me laugh. Love that it’s capitalized!
Great six.
Hallee Bridgeman
Eleri Stone
/ March 20, 2012Like how you’ve set the scene and how hyperaware she is of him:)