Showing posts with label Valentine's Blog Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine's Blog Party. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Feeling Love Every Day...

I'm a simple girl. Really, I am. LOL I don't need expensive jewelry or bouquets of flowers. And, I know it'll make some people gasp and call me unnatural, but I don't like chocolate enough to have an entire box. I end up giving it to the kids.

To be honest, the gifts that made me feel the most loved didn't cost a thing. And often don't happen on Valentine's Day. Here are are my top five.

1) Anything made by my kids. That's a no-brainer--I'm a mom. :-D I've had handmade cards, drawings, clay pots, tissue paper flowers, and yummy treats. And we can't forget the value of a good ol' hug.

2) "I love you" written on the bathroom mirror in eyeliner. I mean, come on... And I didn't wash that mirror for a while. LOL

3) My husband's response when I considered giving up my day job to write full time: "Do it." Just that simple, unhesitating support... *dreamy sigh* Yeah, he's a keeper.

4) The hubs or kids cleaning or cooking dinner when I'm writing like a fiend. Now, I realize this is very likely self-preservation on their part, but they could just as easily pester me until I break.

5) An out-of-the-blue "I love you" text. I will admit this one often has me wondering what the sender has done that they're trying to soften me up. LOL But sometimes it is just a simple I love you... at least as far as I know.

Now, I'm not saying gifts don't have their place, or that I'd refuse them. I would appreciate and love them, of course. But the little things that happen or are given throughout the year, not just on a Valentine's Day, those are the things I know I'll remember and treasure.

Here's to finding love in simple, everyday things and recognizing them for what they are. Happy Valentine's Day.

Hugs,
Jess
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.jessicajarman.com
Real Women, Irresistible Men, Endless Possibilities!

Kisses in the Shadows

First kisses... Who doesn't remember their first kiss? And all the feelings that come along with it? I know I do. While most of my characters had their first kisses long before the story begins, that first kiss between hero and heroine is just as important...and nerve-wracking to write! LOL That first smooch "on stage" - whether a passionate, wrapped-around-each-other kiss or a closed-mouth, quick meeting of the mouth - is a hint of the relationship to come and sets the mood for the story.

I thought I'd share the first kisses in my Into the Shadows series. Three very different kisses - the uncertain kiss between the human and the vampire she fears, the first kiss in years between former lovers, and the forbidden kiss between hunter and hunted - and three very emotionally charged moments for the characters.


Sarah’s lips trembled. She stared into his eyes, as if searching. Unable to resist, Fen closed the space between them. Flicking his tongue over her lips, he relished her quick intake of breath before capturing her mouth.

He drank it all in. He could easily become addicted to the taste of this human. He cupped her face and traced the bottom edge of her lip before adding pressure to open her further to his exploring tongue. She gripped his forearms and slowly slid her tongue around his in an intoxicating dance.

Everything about her assaulted his senses—the softness of her skin, the sweet taste of her mouth, the tangy citrus scent of her hair, the little noises she made in the back of her throat… She was inside him now, winding her way into his very being.

As much as he wanted to, he didn’t stop her when she pulled away. She pushed lightly on his chest and he accommodated her by taking a step back and releasing her. She lifted her hand and touched her mouth.

“I want to believe you,” she whispered, “but I can’t.”

~~~~*~~~~

“You just can’t wait to get away from me, can you?” she whispered, then cringed. Why did she just say that?

Jae spun around and took a step forward. Without thinking, she backed up. Again, he moved forward. Again and again. Until she was against the wall and he was pressed to her front.

“Kind of a role reversal, isn’t it, Rina? Last time around, you couldn’t wait to get away from me.”

Before she had a chance to respond, his mouth was on hers. It was nothing like the kisses she remembered. There was no coaxing, no tenderness, no teasing. He simply demanded. He took.


He thrust his tongue into her mouth, and she groaned as his taste invaded her senses. Gripping her hips, he lifted her slightly and wedged his leg between hers. Rina pushed her hands beneath his leather coat and flattened her palms against his hard back. The yearning to touch him, to feel his skin against hers overwhelmed her. Gods, she wanted him more than she realised, more than she remembered.

~~~~*~~~~

“Brielle?” His sleepy voice danced along her spine.

“I’m right here.” She leant forward and, again giving into some deep urge, brushed the hair back from his forehead. “It’s okay now, go back to sleep.”

He caught her by the wrist and opened his sleepy blue eyes. He lifted his hand and cupped the back of her head, then he rose up and pressed his mouth to hers. Brielle froze in shock. Seth parted his lips, and his tongue darted out and traced her bottom lip. Her eyes slid shut as heat pooled between her legs. Oh gods. She opened to him before she realised what she was doing. Then she just didn’t care whether she should or shouldn’t as his tongue twined around hers. His flavour teased her senses—bold, almost peppery and definitely appealing, beneath the faint beer taste.

And as quickly as it began, it ended. His head dropped onto the pillow, his hands released her, and his eyes drifted closed.

“Tasted as good as I thought you would. Damn you,” he murmured.


Thanks to the fab LASR/WC and Goddess Fish for having this Valentine's shindig. I know I'm having a blast reading all the posts! Happy Valentine's Day to all. Here's to all those first smooches, may we always remember! ;-)

Hugs,
Jess
~~~~~~~~~
www.jessicajarman.com 
Real Women, Irresistible Men, Endless Possibilities!

Can One Kiss Change Someone's Mind & Opinion?

Good Morning!

How often do you think about kissing someone you can hardly tolerate? I sure don't LOL! But Ace Harris and Lexie Morgan have begun to sorta/kinda like each other despite the fact they've clashed from their very first meeting and continually thereafter.

Here is their first kiss.....

Ace rolled to his feet and reached down to give Lexie a hand up. The fact that they were leaving was cause for more teasing by his bolder comrades.

Lexie tossed her head and grinned over her shoulder. "Ha! You’ll never know if he even gets to first base," she taunted her new friends.
 
Whistling and jeering, they egged Ace on. He pulled her against him, his earlier thoughts of privacy forgotten. "Ah, little Lexie," he taunted, his voice thick with male pride and arrogance. "You’ve been challenging me to shut that pretty mouth since the first time we met."
 
Before she could pull away, he turned her in his arms. His mouth covered hers and hushed her protests. She resisted but a moment before something wonderful began to happen.

His lips were soft, persuasive, his arms firm, but gentle. His tongue traced her mouth, urging not forcing entrance. Once allowed, instead of the rough thrusting she was used to, and expected, he dipped gently inside as though savoring all the sweetness she had to offer.

The woman in her responded with a little cry of delight that sounded more like a purr, the little girl within responded with a whimper of fear as the thought occurred to her once again that she was losing some part of herself.

Blood warmed by degrees.

Ace held her until the moment of tension passed and their senses hummed like high voltage wires. His hands ran over her in a gentle, subtle caress until he cupped her cheeks in his work-roughened palms. Slowly, gently, he released her lips, thrilling in the soft moan of protest that escaped her.

A low wolf whistle reached their ears. "Looks more like second base to me," came the taunt. Ace released her. His mind and body reeled from the potency of that one kiss. "Don’t give them the satisfaction of being embarrassed," he whispered his voice husky.

Tempered Joy
© 2008
Publisher: ComStar Media
ISBN: 1-933866-14-4

Purchase Tempered Joy in paperback from Amazon or directly for the author at a reduced price (email pthib-7@centurytel.net for details) Get the Kindle edition for only $1.99!



Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm)
http://pamelathibodeaux.com/
http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com/

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Glad All Over ~ Wendi Zwaduk


One of my favorite holidays isn't Christmas, or even my birthday. Nope. It's Valentine's Day. Why? for those of you know know me well, you'll know I have a sweet spot for chocolate. I mean, my first date with DH was to a CHOCOLATE STORE. Am I a little obsessed? Maybe. **Shrugs**

So I thought for this post, even though we're in a culture of health and fitness, I'd post my favorite things about Valentine's Day--in virtual format. I mean, the best treats have no calories.




My indulgence of choice is the caramel chocolates. That ooey gooey in the middle is sooooo yummy. But sadly, I only have these in very tiny amounts because, like the chocolate covered caramel popcorn I'd eat when I was pregnant, I'd eat the whole bag in one sitting. Oh man, they are that good.





As I was looking for candy pictures,
I came across the old reliable, conversation hearts. Personally, I think they taste like chalk. I didn't like them when we got them as gifts in school and I detest them now. But, I've often wondered, and maybe it's been done, what would an author do with those little pastel candies? Yanno? I mean, string a handful together and see what phrase comes up. Maybe it's the main line for a new character. Maybe it's the crucial line in love scene. Ya never know.
Maybe I should call Megan and issue a challenge. Hmmmm....





What's your poison? Chocolates? Flowers? Nookie?Jewelry? Or don't you care?
Dh is under the impression Valentine's Day is just there for people to make money. Yeah, you won't see him rushing to the store to buy anything. He's not much on chocolate and "flowers die". Spoil sport. I'll take chocolate any day, so really it doesn't affect me. Actually that's what I tell him. I mean, I'm a romantic. Yeah, I love a good love story.


So what do I do to celebrate Valentine's Day? I let my characters have at it. Oh yeah, I get with my BFF and we have little challenges to see who can write the most romantic scene.
And like the conversation heart challenge, we use a sweet, a body part, and a hunk from tv. Megan loves it. Her stories tend to be darker than mine, but hey, it's still a blast.


Let me know what's on your Valentine's wish list. I'd love to know and chatter with you about it.


About Wendi: I always dreamed of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in line. I tend to write books with titles taken from songs because music is one of my many muses.
I earned a BA in education at Kent State university and as well as a Masters in Education from Nova Southeastern University. I've tried my hand at teaching, waitressing, and retail sales, but writing holds my heart.

I love NASCAR, romance, books in general, Ohio farmland, dirt racing, and my menagerie of animals. I have six books under contract and more than my brain can handle percolating. I can't wait to share them with you! Visit me on my site and my blog!