MOST ROMANTIC LINE EVERMona Karel
            I'm going to limit this to books.  Whenever I discuss most romantic lines in amovie, my friend Michelle brings up "Last of the Mohicans," and "I will comefor you."  Yeah, that one's prettyromantic but my mind always goes to "Yours, Mine, and Ours."  The original one with Henry Fonda and LucilleBall.  Yeah, long time ago, in a timewhen movies were about people more than position.  Henry Fonda was a mid level (noncommissioned) officer, and Lucille Ball was the widow of the same.  No officers, no fancy houses, just amazingacting.  There is a marvelous piece ofdialogue between Fonda and a teenage boy about the reality of romance being farmore than a quickie in the back seat of a car.            But this is about books.            My early favorite authors were Mary Stewart, HelenMacInnes, and Elswyth Thane.  Thane wrotehistorical fiction with romantic elements, following a Williamsbug Va familyfrom before the Revolution to the beginning of World War II.  Amazing books, wonderful complex charactersand romance infused on every page.  Butmy most romantic line came from Mary Stewart's "My Brother Michael."              In this, Englishwoman Camilla has recently broken off herengagement to an overbearing male and is in Greece in an attempt to learn tolive her own life. She meets American Simon, in England to learn more about hisbrother's death while working undercover during WWII. As an aside, "My BrotherMichael" has the classic first line for a Romantic Suspense book: "Nothing everhappens to me..."  What a perfect set upfor an adventure!            As the book progresses, Camilla and Simon spend more timetogether, eventually both staying at an archaeological base.  In separate rooms which would probably not betolerated today, but is a large part of the book.  There is the obligatory "other woman," alicentious French woman who tries very hard to make a play for Simon.  During a late night encounter in the hallway,the French woman asks Simon to come fix the tap in her shower since thedripping is driving her nuts and she just can't sleep.  Camilla asks Simon later if he plans to helpout the French woman, and he answers: "Taps bore me."            Oh, my.  What aperfect line, and how I wish I written something like that.  "Taps bore me."  Without any extra verbiage, no descriptionsof the expression on his face, or the relief in her mind, Mary Stewart made itoverwhelmingly obvious that the sexy French woman has no appeal to Simon.  At the end of the book, they have solved themystery of Simon's brother, Michael, and are at an ancient statue, offeringhomage.  Simon places an ancient coin atthe base of the statue, and Camilla mentions she has nothing to offer.  So Simon says: "We can share."  There is no sex in this book, not even akiss, yet you have no doubt they will be sharing more than that coin.              I remain in awe of Mary Stewart's subtlety, and wish Icould come up with such a wonderfully romantic phrase.  Lacking that, I can offer a brief bit from "TeachMe To Forget," coming out from Black Opal Books on May 12.                                                ***
            "Did you mother teach you how to bake?" As aconversational gambit, it covered many areas. It brought in the opportunity ofdiscussing his early life, which would be a good starting point for theinterview. It also reminded him he had a mother who had instilled respect forfloundering females along with the ability to cut shortening into flour.            He nodded.            She felt her temper-that distant, barely known part ofher she kept segregated from her daily life-pull at its chains, demanding sometime out in the world. She repressed it automatically.            "You must be excessively hungry, Mr. Merritt,"she said graciously. Mademoiselle would have been so proud of her."Perhaps you are not a morning person?"            He smiled, finally bringing his devastating sky bluemorning gaze fully upon her face.            "I thought perhaps if I filled my mouth withbiscuits, I might keep my foot out of it for a while."                                                                                                                          ***Bravo Mona! I love this post and have never considered one liners, beyond a bad pick up. But alas I have educated in most delightful way. What do ya'll think? Got any of your own favorite lines?