The Great Pick Up Line
Rational Creatures. Take it away!
From “The Art of Pleasing” by Lona Manning in RATIONAL CREATURES anthology:
Mr. Elliot brought me a cup of punch, and he leaned in and whispered, “I have not been able to think of anything but having you in my arms. I must see you alone, and soon.”
A lady would have said, “Sir! What do you take me for?”
I whispered, “Yes.”
[/quote]Rational Creatures by Collected Authors
“But I hate to hear you talking so, like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days.” —PERSUASION
Jane Austen: True romantic or rational creature? Her novels transport us back to the Regency, a time when well-mannered gentlemen and finely-bred ladies fell in love as they danced at balls and rode in carriages. Yet her heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Elliot, and Elinor Dashwood, were no swooning, fainthearted damsels in distress. Austen’s novels have become timeless classics because of their biting wit, honest social commentary, and because she wrote of strong women who were ahead of their day. True to their principles and beliefs, they fought through hypocrisy and broke social boundaries to find their happily-ever-after.
In the third romance anthology of The Quill Collective series, sixteen celebrated Austenesque authors write the untold histories of Austen’s brave adventuresses, shy maidens, talkative spinsters, and naughty matrons. Peek around the curtain and discover what made Lady Susan wicked, Mary Crawford capricious, and Hettie Bates in need of Emma Woodhouse’s compassion.
RATIONAL CREATURES is a collection of humorous, poignant, and engaging stories set in Georgian England that complement and pay homage to Austen’s great works and great ladies who were, perhaps, the first feminists in an era that was not quite ready for feminism.
“Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will become good wives; —that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.” —Mary Wollstonecraft
Stories by: Elizabeth Adams * Nicole Clarkston * Karen M Cox * J. Marie Croft * Amy D’Orazio * Jenetta James * Jessie Lewis * KaraLynne Mackrory * Lona Manning * Christina Morland * Beau North * Sophia Rose * Anngela Schroeder * Joana Starnes * Caitlin Williams * Edited by Christina Boyd * Foreword by Devoney Looser
MATURE CONTENT RATING as per EDITOR
ALL STORIES CONTAINED HEREIN HAVE A HEAT INDEX RATING OF 1-3.
(1) None: affection and possible kissing
(2) Mild: kissing
(3) Moderate: some sexual references but not explicit
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About Collected Authors
Christina Boyd wears many hats as she is an editor under her own banner, The Quill Ink, a contributor to Austenprose, and a professional ceramicist. A life member of Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen’s England was made possible by actor Henry Cavill when she won the Omaze experience to meet him atop the London Eye in the spring of 2017. True story. You can Google it.
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Giveaway
In the comments, tell us your favorite Austen ‘pickup line/romantic line’ and be eligible to win a $5 Amazon gift card and “Rational Creatures” ebook. Winner to be announced: February 13.
Shari
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In the comments, tell us your favorite Austen ‘pickup line/romantic line’ and be eligible to win a $5 Amazon gift card and “Rational Creatures” ebook.
Thank you, Delighted Reader, for hosting us this week for #TGPUL. It’s a fun yearly event!
It’s a pleasure to host. Thanks so much for being a part of the #TGPUL event, Christina. 🙂
“You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
I was pretty shocked by this outright statement by Mr Darcy. It does seem he has given himself away here. 🙂
Yes, the saucy fellow! Good one, Talia. 🙂
Loving the cover. However not a fan of anthologies let alone the romance anthology I can’t see my reading this. My sister in law however would love it.
Ah, hope she gets the chance to pick it up, then. Tracy! 🙂
“Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.“
Lovely pick for a quote, Dung!
if i loved you any less i might be able to talk about it more
Ah yes, Mr. Knightley! 🙂 Good one.
“I can listen no longer in silence…” – Is it really a pick up line if the confession of love happens right after? I love all of Persuasion so much it is hard to pick a favorite romantic line.
Oh, the letter… such a good choice.
LOL, its hard to do a true pick up line in a second chance situation. Their first meetup was utter silence in this one- probably wise after the shot he took at her looks. 😉
My favorite is from “Pride and Prejudice” after Caroline invites Darcy to join her and Lizzy on a turn about the room: ““You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.” <<< Mr. Darcy gettin' all saucy about checking 'em out as they walk by!
Yes! Wasn’t that just the most provocative thing for him to say? 🙂
Congratulations, Jen! You are the winner of the Amazon gift card and ebook of Rational Creatures. I will contact you via Shari and Sophia. Enjoy! Btw I too love those lines!
“I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours.” – Mr. Darcy
Mr. D had some cheek. Good one, Karen! 🙂
“And your family …they are well?”. (Ok, that is from the 1995 P&P, and the line in the book is “[she] knew not what answer she returned to his civil inquiries after her family”. But it is romantic because Darcy is so flustered seeing Elizabeth at Pemberley.
I agree, DeDe. His earnest wish to show her how much he still loves her is all there.
Personally, I found “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever” rather thrilling!
Yes, the big pay off question. Good one, Ginna!
My favourite romantic line comes from Persuasion.
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago. Dare not say that a man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.”
The letter is my all-time pick, too, Sylvia. 🙂
In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
Lizzy dissed it at the time, but I bet later she treasured that part. 🙂
“You have qualities which I had not before supposed to exist in such a degree in any human creature. You have some touches of the angel in you.”
Oooh, you stumped me, Susan. 🙂 It’s niggling in my memory. Love it, though. Swoon!
Mansfield Park
Henry Crawford said that, right?
We have a winner! Jen with the #GPUL: “You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
Thank you all for your interest and wish you happy reading!