Five in Five

 All over social media I've been seeing people post 5 in 5 lists. Such as 5 books they recommend in 5 minutes. I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring. Instead of 5 favorite books I'd like to share 5 favorite quotes in no particular order  I hope my 5 in 5 quotes will put a smile on your face and make you want to pick up a book. Fair warning: some of my quotes may be a trifle long. Rather think of my 5 in 5 as being favorite parts of books and in their own right as book recommendations. I guess I've created my own version of 5 in 5.  Enjoy! 

"Love you! Girl, you're in the very core of my heart. I hold you there like a jewel. Didn't I promise you I'd never tell you a lie? Love you! I love you with all there is of me to love. Heart, soul, brain. Every fiber of body and spirit thrilling to the sweetness of you. There's nobody for me but you, Valancy." 

"You're a good actor, Barney," said Valancy with a wan little smile.

Barney looked at her.

"So you don't believe me-yet?"

"I- can't!"

"Oh- damn!." said Barney violently.

Valancy looked up startled. She'd never seen this Barney. Scowling! Eyes black with anger. Sneering lips. Dead-white face.

"You don't want to believe it,' said Barney in the silk-smooth voice of ultimate rage. "You're tired of me. You want to get out of it- free of me. You're ashamed of the Pills and the Liniment, just as she was. Your Stirling pride can't stomach them. It was all right as long as you thought you hadn't long to live. A good lark- you could put with me. But a lifetime with old Doc. Redfern's son is a different thing.  Oh, I understand- perfectly. I've been very dense- but I understand at last."

Valancy stood up. She stared into his furious face. Then- she suddenly laughed.

"You darling!" she said. "You do mean it! You do really love me! You wouldn't be so enraged if you didn't." 

Barney stared at her for a moment. Then he caught her in his arms with the little low laugh of the truimphant lover." (Montgomery, 214-215). The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. 

"My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved Emma- tell me at once. Say 'No" if it is to be said." She could really say nothing.  "You are silent," he cried, with great animation; "absolutely silent At present I ask no more."

Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The dread of being awakened from the happiest dream was perhaps the most prominent feeling. "I cannot make speeches, Emma," he soon resumed, and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.  "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but the truth from me. I have blamed you and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England  would have borne it. Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne them. The manner perhaps, may have a little to recommend them. God knows, I have been a very indifferent lover. But you understand me. Yes, you see, you understand my feelings- and will return them if you can. At present, I ask only to hear- once to hear your voice. (Austen, 786) Emma by Jane Austen (Note: I own a compellation of Jane Austen's complete novels.)

"The Land Beneath Us" by Sarah Sundin
(Note: I realize this is only part of the cover, but I loved that the picture focused in on the heroine.)

His gorgeous gaze strengthened. "I don't want you only to keep my name. I want you to keep me."

"Keep you?"

"As your husband."  

Leah inhaled sharply and pushed back from the shelf. "Clay no. That's a bad idea."

"It's a great idea."

"No." Her head swung back and forth. "You have plans. College. Medical school." 

"I'd like to include you in those plans, if you're willing."
Her willingness has nothing to do with it. "We'd hold you back."

"I don't see how." His massive shoulders shrugged. "If anything you'd make it easier."

Leah rubbed at her temple. If only she could rub away his sense of obligation. "I know what you're doing. I know you feel sorry for me and you enjoy providing for me, but I'll be fine on my own. I will. The Lord is my provider. You don't have to do this anymore."

"But I want to. I-"

"No Clay. You once dreamed of becoming a physician and marrying a woman you loved, and you lost that dream. But you deserve to become a doctor. You deserve to marry a woman you love. I won't let you lose it again. Not out of- out of charity." She spat out the detested word.

"Charity? Is that what you think?"

Leah shoved the books back into the gap. "I'll see you at eleven."

"Leah!"

She shoved the cart up the aisle, then down the farthest aisle from Clay, her throat tight and her chin quivering. Why was he making this so difficult? Why couldn't he see this was for the best? Why did he have to be so honorable, so generous, so...charitable?

 "Thalia Karahalios Paxton!" Clay's voice boomed from the reading area.

What on earth? Leah dashed to the end of the aisle.

Clay stood on a table-on top of a table- legs astride and fists on hips.

She gripped the shelf for support. He looked so grand and noble, and yet adorably silly. What on earth was he doing?

He stretched his hands and a grin at her. "Thalia, my muse. Leah my wife,my-"

"Sir!" Mrs. Sheridan marched over. "Excuse me, but I'll have to ask you to quiet down and get off the table. This is a library."

"I do apologize ma'am." Clay turned his electrifying grin on the librarian. "But I'm not coming down until I'm finished proposing to my wife." (Sundin 344-346) The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin. 

"I have a dream," he said slowly. "I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me it could never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth-fire in it, a cat and a dog, the footsteps of friends- and you!"
Anne wanted to speak but she could find no words. Happiness was breaking over her like a wave. It almost frightened her.
"I asked you a question over two years ago, Anne. If I ask you again today will you give me a different answer?" Still Anne could not speak. But she lifted her eyes, shining with all the love-rapture of countless generations and looked into his for a moment. He wanted no other answer. 

"There was nobody else- there could never be anybody else for me but you. I've loved you since the day you broke your slate over my head in school."
"I don't see how you could keep loving me when I was such a little fool," said Anne.
"Well I tried to stop," said Gilbert frankly, "not because I thought what you call yourself, but because I felt sure that there was no chance for me after Gardner came on the scene. But I couldn't - and I can't tell you either, what it's meant to me these two years to believe you were going to marry him. and be told every week by some busybody that your engagement was on the point of being announced. I believed it until one blessed day I was sitting up after the fever. I got a letter from Phil Gordon- Phil Blake rather- in which she told me there was really nothing between you and Roy and advised me to 'try again.' Well the doctor was amazed by my rapid recovery after that."
Anne laughed- then shivered.
"I can never forget that night. I thought you were dying, Gilbert. Oh I knew- I knew then- and I thought it was too late."
"But it wasn't, sweetheart. Oh, Anne, this makes up for everything doesn't it? Let's resolve to keep this day sacred to perfect beauty all our lives for the gift it's given us."
"It's the birthday of our happiness," said Anne softly. "I've always loved this garden of Hester Gray's and now it will be dearer then ever."
"But I'll have to ask you to wait a long time, Anne" said Gilbert sadly. "It will be three years before I'll finished medical course. And even then there won't be diamond sunbursts and marble halls."
Anne laughed.
"I don't want sunbursts and marble halls. I just want you. You see I'm quite as shameless as Phil about it. Sunbursts and marble halls may be very well, but there is more 'scope for the imagination' without them. And as for the waiting, that doesn't matter. We'll just be happy waiting and working for each other- and dreaming. Oh. dreams will be sweet now."
Gilbert drew her close to him and kissed her. Then they walked home together in the dusk, crowned king and queen in the bridal realm of love, along winding paths fringed with the sweetest flowers that ever bloomed, and over haunted meadows where winds of hope and memory blew. (Montgomery, 242-244) Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery. 

"Choosing a husband was much like choosing a good baguette. One looked for a strong outer shell, a tender interior, and most importantly, a tractability of dough to hold whatever shape the baker deemed appropriate.

Abigail needed a good baguette by the end of the week." (Witemeyer, 14). More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer. 

There you have it! I hoped you enjoyed this 5 in 5. These quotes capture the heart of every book, making them the perfect sneak peak into 5 books I've read over and over in my life. You won't be disappointed if you pick one up to read. And if you do, let me know! I'd love to know if you agree with my favorite quotes or if you find a favorite one of your own!