Guest - Marie Higgins

Everyone please settle in, we have a guest blogger in the garden today. I'm sure you remember Marie Higgins from past interviews. Today though, she is doing a post and not an interview. As usual all the goodies are set up on the table. Grab a plate and a beverage, find a seat and enjoy.

Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. ~Albert Enistein

Never close your lips to those whom you have already opened your heart.” ~Charles Dickens

Is not a kiss the very autograph of love? ~Henry Finck

How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shape of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said… ~Victor Hugo

If you can’t tell by now, the topic of my blog today is about kissing. I think this is a great time to discuss kissing since February is the month of love…Valentine’s Day!

Being a romance writer, this topic has to be in my mind while I’m writing a story. After all, what good is a romance novel if the hero and heroine aren’t going to kiss? When I write my stories, I’m caught up in the romance along with the hero and heroine. Along with the heroine, I’m anticipating that first kiss.

One thing that makes me upset more than anything while I’m reading is if the writer makes me wait until the last chapter before the hero and heroine kiss. I mainly write historical romance, and we are taught that back in those days the man didn’t make a move to kiss a woman until they were betrothed or even wed. Think of the movie Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth, since it’s my favorite). Mr. Darcy didn’t kiss Elizabeth until after they were married and the end of the movie. Although I loved that movie, I was upset because he didn’t try to kiss her sooner. Another favorite movie of mine is North and South – Elizabeth Gaskell’s love story about a middle-class southerner who is forced to move to the northern town of Milton, England. I adored this story with the actor Richard Armitage as John Thornton. He was sooo sexy! Eh-hum, okay, back to the subject… In that story, he didn’t kiss her until the very end, which was the most perfect kiss!! (dreamy sigh)

However, in my stories I believe those perfect kisses can come sooner. Granted, the hero and heroine still have to get to know each other, which of course happens slowly throughout the book, but come on…we can have kisses before the wedding day – or end of the book, can’t we? I love to read as the characters are struggling with their feelings for each other, especially after they have received that first kiss that pretty much made them weak in the knees.

Here is a part from my latest release, my time-travel romance, “Love Lost in Time”. But before I let you read the snippet, here is the blurb:

Andrew Merrick was whisked from his home in England, 1848 to another time, the very day a mob had attacked his family. Wondering why he remains in this strange place, all he wants is to find the treasure his father had hidden, hoping this might take Andrew back home. But he’s running out of time. When he meets a lovely woman in this new century, he feels she is the one who will help him.

Halle Chapman has come to England to find her missing father. What she finds instead is a nice man who claims he’s from the past. Although she doesn’t believe in time-travel, deep in her heart, she knows she must help Andrew. What she finds instead is that discovering the key to her future lies in the past. Now, to return to her own time, she needs to solve the mystery surrounding Andrew Merrick and his family’s murder.

Snippet
“It’s certainly a lovely night,” Andrew said only because he didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t want to ask her about the outburst she had inside until he was sure nobody else was around to listen.

“Hmm…yes, it is.” She peeked at him before dropping her gaze back to the path they walked.

“I must say, Miss Chapman, I’m surprised at your loss for words.”

Laughing, she met his gaze again. “You’re surprised? I’m completely floored!”

He shook his head. “Your choice of words certainly makes you more interesting.”

She grinned. “Which I suppose can only be a good thing, correct?”

He didn’t answer, just continued walking. They headed for a cluster of trees. He scanned the area around them, and when nobody was nearby, he grasped her hand and pulled her back into an alcove. Shadows surrounded them, making them much more secluded. She stood in front of him with downcast eyes, still wringing her hands. Even though she confused him greatly, she was still a very beautiful woman. Breathtaking, in fact.

“Will you now tell me who the man is that you saw? And why, pray tell, did you cause such an embarrassing scene in there?” He lifted her chin with his finger until her eyes met his. “It surprised me to see Nigel…” She paused and then shrugged. “Actually, I’m not sure if Nigel is his first name or last.”

“How do you know him?” Andrew asked.

“He was the front desk clerk at the bed and breakfast…the inn where I was staying before I came here.”

“Why were you so surprised to see him here?”

“Well…” She took another noisy swallow. “Because I didn’t expect to see him here. I mean, I thought he was from my time—not yours.”

A slight pound knocked against Andrew’s skull. What in the blazes was Miss Chapman talking about? “Why do you say that? I’ve heard you say it that way a few occasions. Pray tell, what does time have to do with it?”

“Believe it or not, time has everything to do with it. I wouldn’t be here if not for time. I would have never met you if not for time.”

Andrew rubbed his forehead, baffled.

She reached up and took hold of his hand, moving it away from his head. She kept it in her grasp as she ran her thumb across his knuckles. She was a bold woman to touch him in such a personal way. Yet it amazed him to think this small gesture softened his heart, and eased his headache slightly.

“My words are going to become very confusing here shortly. I just want to make sure you are prepared for what I have to tell you. I desperately want you to understand what I’m about to say. It would kill me if you don’t understand or believe me.”

The pleading in her eyes let him know how important this was. Whatever she had to say, she struggled with it, yet she acted as if she wanted to deliver the news to him in a calm, gentle manner.

“Tell me.”

Softly, her fingers stroked his hand. Her touch was so very tender. So soothing. Affectionate. And so very personal. A different emotion leapt inside of him, and once again, he received the impression they had known each other before, but he knew not where. Now as she touched him, peace settled inside him. He was not as confused as he’d been moments earlier, and it really didn’t matter what explanation she gave about her confusing actions. As long as she continued to gaze into his eyes and stroke his hand…he was fine.

Little by little, he became mesmerized by the passion in her green eyes—the way her gaze slid over his face slowly from the top of his head, to his eyes, his nose, and to rest of his mouth. The lovely color of her eyes darkened, which made the desire he had for this incredible, interesting woman kick up a notch. For a fleeting moment, nothing else mattered but holding her. This woman made his thoughts jumbled, yet all he wanted to do was close his eyes and enjoy her touch. The moonlight peeked through the leaves and highlighted her hair, making the golden strands in her locks stand out more. It took all of his willpower not to pull the pins from her hair and admire the way her length tumbled over her shoulders in a seductive manner.

With his free hand, he cupped her face. She gasped, but then a dreamy sigh quickly followed as she stared deeply into his eyes. She even snuggled closer to his touch.

Never before had a woman’s reaction to his caress been so rattling, but he knew without a doubt Miss Chapman was attracted to him…nearly as much as he was attracted to her. He wouldn’t stop to question why things were happening so quickly. There was time for that later. Now, all he wanted to do was…

He moved his hands in a different direction as he circled them around her and pulled her up against is body. Her palms rested comfortably on his chest, and he was certain she could feel the quick beat of his heart. When her attention dropped to his mouth once again, his breathing became ragged.

“What are you doing to me?” he whispered, lowering his head. “And more importantly, why do I not want to stop this from happening?”

“Then let it happen,” she muttered before his lips silenced hers.

She slid her arms up to link behind his neck. They kissed with gentleness at first, hesitantly, before growing bolder. Excitement rushed through him, knowing she was enjoying this as well. He yanked her against him and tightened her in his embrace, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. She didn’t kiss like a mere maid, yet he knew in his heart she wasn’t an experienced harlot, either. Her passionate kiss shocked his system as warmth spread through every nerve in his body. Desire strummed inside him, and he realized kissing her felt…right. Perfect. And he never wanted this to end.

Now I’d like to know about your first kiss. What first kiss stands out in your mind that made you weak in the knees? Or if you have a favorite movie you enjoyed watching and loved their first kiss, please share! Please leave a comment with your name and email address, for a chance to win a free PDF copy of my story, “Love Lost in Time”.
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Marie Higgins is a best-selling, multi-published author of sweet romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Visit her website / blog to discover more about her – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com Find her on Facebook – facebook.com/marie.higgins.7543 And Twitter - @MarieHigginsXOX