Thursday 30 August 2012

Romancing The Hop

Click on the date button to open full post.
 
 

See! the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven,
If it disdained it's brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;--
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?
From Love's Philosophy
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
(1803-1822)

Well, after such beautiful words one is tempted to say – ‘Enough Said,’ but then it would be a very short blog indeed. Was this sentiment meant for Mary Shelley, I don’t know. But these words have always made me sigh. I can only imagine the original recipient’s reaction.

So this poem and the title of Romancing the Hop got me thinking about romance, love and kissing. Sometimes in this day and age we can lose sight of just how important a kiss is. It can represent so many things, love, friendship, affection and promise. A promise that things will work out, a promise that things have just begun or maybe, it’s a promise of a future together.
When I was seven years old I kissed Roland in our classroom. He was the son of a diplomat and was returning to France. I was shy so this kind of impulse was totally unexpected. I remember that he didn’t pull away even when the other kids started laughing, which was kind of sweet. I never saw Roland again but I hope he is well. *blows a kiss*
Can you remember your first kiss?







There’s a tightening of the stomach muscles as the anticipation rises. He nears and you can feel the heat from his body even though he’s not touching you. A thousand butterflies begin to spiral and dance in your tummy and your heart seems to quicken and beats as loud as a drum. As his lips come closer... and closer....
Kisses can surprise us and take us along paths we never thought we would travel.
They can be fleeting or sometimes lead to a lifetime...
But then occasionally they just don’t quite work...
                                                                    ... And your prince turns out to be just a toad.
But sometimes... just sometimes, the right kiss will linger forever.
 
 
I’m giving away a pdf copy of my medieval novella, ‘Capturing Bliss’. So leave a comment and your email address and go into the draw. I will choose a winner at the end of the hop. In addition to that, there are three grand prizes up for grabs -:
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Large Swag Pack
Now to be eligible to win you have to leave comments and email addresses on the hop stops. Each comment equals another chance to win! Carrie Ann who is Romancing the Hop’s supreme leader will choose the winners at the end of the hop. For non U.S residents the 1st & 2nd are available in the form of Amazon or B&N Gift cards but the 3rd prize of swag is not (as you can see from the picture...too much international postage, guys!) The 'comment' button for this blog is right at the very bottom of the post.
 
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop by and I hope you enjoy Romancing the Hop!
Click on the link below to take you back .
Nicole xx

Capturing Bliss

 
In 12th-century England, love isn't part of the marriage equation. But Lady Blissot de Woodville adores her younger sister too much to see her suffer such a fate. Instead, Bliss recklessly switches places with her sister—and marries a total stranger under false pretenses! Fortunately, she soon discovers she shares a rare passion and genuine love with her new husband, the ardent Lord William Reynard. Yet the happier Bliss becomes, the more her secret weighs heavily on her heart...because one desperate lie could destroy everything she's come to cherish.


Sho

So in the spirit of kissing, I thought I would share Lady Blissot de Woodville’s first kiss from ‘Capturing Bliss’.
In a blink of an eye Lord William Reynard had caught her hand and gently pushed the large amethyst ring on her finger. Then with no urging from the monk, William caught her in his arms and slowly brought his lips down on hers. Bliss had no illusions, the kiss was merely a sealing of the marriage contract - it would be a cool and chaste token gesture. No doubt that William would be congratulating himself on the acquisition of her lands and coin that she brought to the union. No doubt he would be thinking of the heirs she would give him and the dynasty he would create.  Only a very few were lucky enough to marry for love and at least her sister, Ivetta could count herself among the privileged, Bliss thought as she felt William tilt her head back. She was expecting detachment and was surprised when it did not come. She felt William’s hand lightly cradling the back of her head as his lips gently touched hers; they were warm and soft and insistent. Bliss felt her mouth soften against his, he smelt of spice and wood smoke and the cold breeze that blows through the dark green wood. Her heart raced and her stomach fluttered as William deepened their kiss and before she could stop herself she instinctively wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him back.

 


My new time travel romance, Until The Stars Burn Cold will be released on the 20th September!

Forbidden love.

 In ancient Persia, in the town of Adwan, Jinn is ripped from his beloved Shuri’s side. He is cursed into a ring as punishment for daring to love the wrong woman. Empires crumble, centuries pass and Jinn is still captive. That is until present day antiques dealer, Mia Templeton accidentally releases him.

 

The Trinket Seller's Daughter

Lost in the forest, Emelin runs for her life after her traveling party is massacred by outlaws. Sir Allard de Gerril is in pursuit of the ruthless band when he finds Emelin. Bound by vengeance the pair seek out the outlaws, but as they journey through the dark woods revenge gives way to passion. With each passing day, Emelin dares to dream that there is a place for a lowly trinket seller’s daughter by the knight’s side. But soon Emelin & Allard become the hunted. Emelin fears that she and Allard will not have a future together as they may never escape the tangled wood alive.
 
Images
Bigstock
Stockxchange
Covers - Pink Petal Books - Tibbs Designs & Winterheart Design
 
 


 
 

 
 
 

 


40 comments:

  1. what a lovely post.. thank you
    and yes - a kiss is important.. very much so

    thanks for participating

    glhince@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Really enjoyed your post and the blurbs from your books.
    Oh definitely kisses are very important.
    skpetal at hotmail dot com

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  3. I think my first kiss was with a neighbor boy named Mickey. Bad memory here... my husband says our first kiss was when we were walking home from school and I challenged him. LOL... I believe it and I vaguely remember it.
    Jesse
    jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, Jesse - that's funny! Thanks for stopping by.

      Nicole.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the awesome & amazing giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cassandra, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

      Nicole.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the great post and thanks for the chance to win!
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great Post. I still remember my first kiss. It was amazing. He was a great friend of mine. Thank you for the giveaway.
    kaylyndavis1986@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I adore romances. My favorite part is the growing chemistry and intimacy {being able to know what the other wants/needs without words} between man and woman. :)
    Thanks for participating in the hop and giving us all a chance to win, and share our stories.
    bidelia78@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for the post...I remember my first kiss with my husband....

    ronnkelly3@aol.com

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  9. Romance Hop...loving it! But so many sites in so little time!

    No doubt, I believe in romance! Pretty Woman....my fav movie, proves that there's an HEA for any and everyone.

    Thank you for the opportunity to visit your site to check out your work.

    Belinda, belgre@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Belinda for dropping by. Enjoy the hop!

      Nicole

      Delete
  10. Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaways! This is so much fun! Thank you! My favorite thing about romance is the romance. lol I love the characters, the plots, the HEA's, the love. I love it all!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Hi Shadow, I can't resist a HEA either. Thanks for dropping by.

      Nicole

      Delete
  11. What a great hop! Grand prizes, old friends to visit and new ones to meet… and chances to win at each stop too. I’m in Blog heaven! :-}

    I’m a sucker for the HEA. All my favorite authors give me a great story line, characters I can identify with, HOT love scenes and a perfect HEA! <^_^>

    Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
    reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Renee, so glad you're enjoying the hop. Thanks for taking the time to say 'hi'

    Nicole.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I enjoyed the post and the pictures. I love the chase and the HEA.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracey & thanks. I'm really happy you liked the post.

      Nicole

      Delete
  14. Thanks for being in the hop!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. For me, romance is all about the trust and respect built between the characters. Since I write BDSM, these elements are very important.
    Thank you for participating in the blog hop!
    qwilliarain(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Qwillia, that's a great point. Thanks for dropping by.

    Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a beautiful poem. Thanks for being on the hop. I love romance because I get to fall in love over and over. Just such a wonderful feeling.
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mel,I'm glad you liked the poem - it's always been one of my favourites.

      Nicole.

      Delete
  18. Thank you for being part of the blog hop. :)

    yazmin.z.rangel(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for being a part of the hop. I have been having a time trying to enter all. Some I have ran across problems with, but it's worth it. I have found new authors and blogs that I will enjoy reading.

    sam1slim1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Shan, glad you enjoyed the hop.

    Nicole.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I enjoyed your post and your books sound lovely. Just the kind of books I like to read. I've been missing something but I am about to remedy that and put your books on my wish list.
    mcv111 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Why I like Romance Novels….The reason I like Romance Novels so much is because it is one place where I can be anywhere like England, Scotland, Rome, Ireland, or anywhere in the US. I can also be in any time like 1200’s Scotland, 1500’s England, 1900’s Chicago. I can be anyone like a princess, a servant, a werewolf, a duchess, a vampire, or a lost soul. But no matter what I get the privilege and the experience to overcome many different obstacles and find love. I am a mother of three teenagers as well and there are many days when I need an escape and my heart needs a rest from the trials of being a parent and trying to do what is best for everyone but yourself. I have overcome cancer, loss, and financial problems and Romance Books let my heart soar and feel free. Let me tell you in this world, and during this time where life can have so many struggles it is great that you can be, have, and do so many things to find love and romance and still be yourself!

    angelheart618@gmail.com

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  23. Even when you are challenged in life, you can always find hope, love and a happy ever after in a book.

    Nicole.

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  24. My first real kiss was just a few years ago. it was sweet. Thanks for being a part of the hop. I hope that you had a great Labor day weekend!
    jessangil at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete