First lines are a big deal. Novel writers spend inordinate amounts of time painstakingly crafting the perfect opening sentence.
While I do like a good first line, the first chapter is way more important to me. I always read a novel’s opening chapter via the online bookstore’s “preview” feature. I’ll buy the book only if that first chapter grabs me.
Today, on the last day of our InspyRomance birthday bash, I want to give a shout out to some of my favourite opening chapters in contemporary Christian romance.
I hope you don’t consider my little rundowns to be spoilers since they are how the stories begin and not how they end.
But to be on the safe side, here’s a warning. Watch out: the beginnings of these novels will be revealed!
Always and Forever
Cathe Swanson has a unique opening in her book Always and Forever, from the Glory Quilts series. Penny Anderson, who dreams of being an exclusive bridal gown designer, is having her home remodelled. Holding a bolt of expensive white satin fabric, she opens a door and slams into a workman who’s poised on a ladder.
He gets a nosebleed, which drips all over Penny’s white satin, which cost her $50 a metre. She’s torn between concern for the injured guy and saving that precious bridal fabric from the spreading stain.
Of course, the man whose nose she might have broken is none other than her childhood friend, now all grown up. He’s waited years for her to see him as more than the little boy she once knew.
I loved how this chapter set the stage for the rest of the book. Intrigued? Check out Always and Forever here.
Accepting Elijah’s Heart
Another contemporary Christian romance whose first chapter has stuck with me is Accepting Elijah’s Heart by Naima Joseph. Reina Blackwell is barely holding it together after the sudden death of her husband. Left on her own with a small baby, she’s struggling to cope with crippling grief, first-time motherhood, and a crisis of faith.
She takes a cab home from the grocery store after a hellish time shopping for household supplies with her screaming baby. When she unloads her shopping and the taxi drives off, she realizes to her horror that she’s left her baby in the cab.
Her handsome neighbour notices the commotion and steps in to do what he can to help.
Talk about a gripping opening! My jaw was on the floor when I read this first chapter of Accepting Elijah’s Heart. I could feel Reina’s panic.
Riverbend Gap
Denise Hunter’s Riverbend Gap has a literal cliffhanger in the opening chapter. Sherriff’s Deputy Cooper Robinson is on his way to a family get-together to meet his brother’s new girlfriend when he comes across a woman trapped in a car that’s balancing over a cliff edge.
Katelyn Loveland swung off the road to avoid hitting a deer, but now she’s teetering over a big drop, in danger of plunging to her death. A handsome stranger shows up and does everything he can to call for help. As they wait for rescuers, he keeps her company, doing his best to talk with her and keep her distracted so she doesn’t freak out.
They form a powerful bond, and both are horrified to discover that Katelyn is Cooper’s brother’s new girlfriend.
This captivating start leads into a story that’s full of heartwrenching dilemmas.
Through the Blaze
Through the Blaze has my favourite opening chapter from the books I’ve written. Lisa Meland is attending her best friend’s bridal shower, but she is not having fun. Still hurting after the breakdown of her own marriage, Lisa does her best to bite her tongue as the guests spew out the sorts of shallow platitudes and advice Lisa found useless when her marriage hit the skids. She speaks her mind, to the shock and embarrassment of everyone there, shortly before learning that her own daughter is also leaping into a whirlwind marriage.
Which opening chapter in contemporary Christian romance would you consider outstanding? Let us all know by commenting below.
I’ll pick two winners from the comments posted by Monday, March 20, and they’ll get an ebook copy of Through the Blaze or if they already have it, one of my other books.
Commenting also counts as entry into the prize draw for the InspyRomance Birthday Bash. Until the end of today, you still have a chance to win one of our fabulous book bundles. You can leave a comment on any of the posts that have been published on this blog between February 14th and today.
International entries are welcome, too!
I write fiction that reflects my Christian faith. I love happy endings, heroes and heroines who discover sometimes hard but always vital truths, and stories that uplift and encourage. My family and I live in the east of England where we enjoy rambling in the countryside, reading good books and making up silly lyrics to our favorite songs.
I liked the first chapter in Pieces of Forever by Valerie Bodden. I enjoyed the opening chapter and the book.
Hi Milla, those books sound great – you’re right, a good opening definitely makes you want to read more!
I like the start of Alexa Verde’s ‘Season of Mercy’ – the heroine has to take her son out of church because he’s screaming and making a disturbance (I can really relate to this!) followed by an unexpected proposal of a marriage of convenience – I love a marriage of convenience story so I was hooked right away!
I have to say, Riverbend Gap has the opening that makes me want the book now! I know the book that has some of the hardest ten chapters to get through, but is so worth it, and that’s This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. Opening chapters are much harder for me to remember, but one is Dee Henderson’s Danger in the Shadows. That one definitely drew me in!!
Valerie definitely knows how to nail a first chapter!
Thanks for your comment, Trudy. This Present Darkness is one of my favourite books, and I keep going back to re-read it!
I have to say that Riverbend Gap involves a very angsty love triangle, so just a heads-up if you don’t enjoy reading those.
I’ve read a few of Alexa’s but not that one. That sounds very relatable indeed! Thanks for your comment, Ruthie.
Now I want to read Always and Forever by Cathe Swanson!! :D
Ha ha, yay!
I like the beginning of Jessie gussman and Alexa Verdes books I can’t remember any that stood out cause I have read a lots of books this year. I like the beginning of love inspired and harlequin heartwarming books
I’ll be checking out a couple of the ones you shared since they sounded intriguing. :) A memorable first chapter for me would be Mistaking the Cowboy by Mandi Blake since the heroine decides to surprise the guy she has been online dating with not only a visit but also a kiss… and it turns out she mistook him for his brother. Fun times, lol. :)
Your spoiler announcement made me laugh! 😂
Hey ,I am new here, I totally agree with you . I love that first chapter of this story.
They all sound good. But the Riverbend Gap really caught my attention. It got my heart beating. I thought I had your book. I looked and I do. I will be adding the other books to my TBR list.
Thank you! ❤
These opening lines definitely caught my eyes! Accepting Elijah’s Heart looked the most interesting to me!
Welcome, Jessica! I’ve got to check out that story now. I’ve read some of Valerie’s other books, but not this one!
Love Inspired books always have hooky beginnings! And I do enjoy Jessie’s and Alexa’s, too.
Ha ha, that sounds hilarious! I love it when mistaken identity turns out to be providential. Reminds me of one of my all-time favourite books where a man kisses his fiance’s sister by mistake (it was dark), and of course you can guess how that went.
Ha ha, thanks, Meghann! People are very sensitive about spoilers, so I wanted to make sure I covered my bases. :-)
Thank you, Bonnie. Yes, Riverbend Gap begins so well!
My jaw was on the floor when I read the opening chapter of Accepting Elijah’s Heart. It was such an amazing beginning.
I really liked all of the first chapters of the books in this post!!
The first chapter in a book does it for me , they are hookers for me. Have a great day.
All of your synopsis make the books sound like must reads! I’m not great at remembering a first chapter off the top of my head, but I have been known to accidentally start re-reading a book without realizing it. I’ve found that the books I’ve enjoyed the most are easy to remember when I begin the first chapter and recognize characters, dialogue, and storylines.
Yay, I’m glad you did, Kathleen! I thought they were exceptional.
Glad you agree, Alicia. Have a lovely day, too!
I’ve re-read books by mistake, too, Melynda! That’s one advantage with having a really unique opening chapter–makes a book hard to forget.
thanks for sharing today. I read a contemporary book recently that blew me away.
this is the opening of the first chapter
Preacher Man by Laurie Larsen
“The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, oh yes he was”
– Dusty Springfield
Oooh, that sounds intriguing! Which book is it? (TIA)
Priscila, that book is Marcia Schuyler by Grace Livingston Hill. It’s an old one, but I love it so much. Such a tender and sweet romance. With a marriage of convenience, too!
I am very intrigued, Lori. Thanks for the recommendation!
That cliffhanger first chapter…WOW! All of those chapters were great. Love your idea!!!
Thanks, Jennifer. Yes, Riverbend Gap has an exceptional beginning!
They all sounded good!
That is challenging. I would have to say Riverbend Gap. I also was torn by Always and Forever. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love Denise Hunter’s books.
can’t think of any
All of the books sound great!
There are quite a few but the only one that really sticks in my mind and has for so many years is a LIS Zero visibility by Sharon Dunn. I was going to read a chapter or two and the first paragraph had me and I finished it at about 2 in the morning. It sticks in my head to this day. It was in the cold and ironically it was cold here and I couldn’t stop.
I have had others that kept me going but I don’t always remember the first sentence or paragraph like that book
I love the first chapters too but I read so much its hard to remember just one chapter. Husband Auditions has a great start ( great everything really). Elizabeth Maddrey & Valerie Comer are also great.
Thanks, Kathy! I could have mentioned many more, but those ones were top of mind.
Ooh, have I read Always and Forever? I’ll have to check. Thanks for the recommendation, Debra!
Riverbend Gap was the first I’ve read and I enjoy her style, although the love triangle was hard to read about.
Thanks anyway for your comment, bn!
Now, that’s the sign of a good book, Jenny. One you can’t put down! I’ve not read many Love Inspired Suspense, but I’ll look that one up.
You’ve named some real winners there, Carolyn. Thanks for your comment!
Thanks, Cindy. They’re all good, and all so different.
I was laughing so hard while listening to Just a Cowboy’s Convenient Marriage by Jessie Gussman. Very entertaining!
They all sound really good, I’d probably want to read them all!
I would have to say A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. She is fabulous at drawing you in from the very beginning.
Jaime Jo Wright books gets you from the first sentence. If I had the time I would have grabbed some quotes.
Ooh, I haven’t read that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Natalya!
They’re all great, Megan, and so different from each other, too. Thanks for your comment!
A Voice of the Wind is one of my all-time favourite books, too, but I found that opening chapter so heartbreaking! I’m so glad I continued reading. Thanks for your comment, Cherie.
Thanks for the recommendation, Sonetta. I don’t believe I’ve read any of Jamie Jo Wright’s books, although I’ve been meaning to.