October 10, 2012
Guest Post & Giveaway: His Mistletoe Bride by Vanessa Kelly 56
The First Kiss
In romance novels, there are few scenes more important than the first kiss. A really memorable first kiss captures the reader’s attention—hopefully making her sigh with pleasure—and takes the book to the next level of emotion.
We all have favorite first kiss scenes that stay with us long after we’ve read the book. One of the most memorable, in my opinion, is the dramatic scene in Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels. Dain and Jessica get into a blazing argument in the middle of a Paris street, as rain teems down around them. Dain is so furious that he wants to throttle Jessica, but instead he pulls her into his arms and practically devours her. It’s a stunning and deeply emotional moment that changes them forever, and it really sticks in the reader’s mind. I just adore it and I think it’s the gold standard.
In my new book, His Mistletoe Bride, the first kiss is very significant for my heroine. Phoebe Linville was raised as a Quaker, in a very sheltered situation. Although she’s twenty-three and an intelligent, thoughtful young woman, she’s never had a suitor and she’s never been kissed by any man except her father and brother. So, the first real kiss is a life-altering moment for her. How will she respond when Lucas, my hero and a very experienced man, gives her that first, all-important lesson in passion?
Let’s find out, shall we?
Phoebe’s eyes grew wide as Lucas swooped down to kiss her. But when his lips met hers she squeezed her eyelids closed, overcome by the shock of his touch and the temptation that trembled through her. Her heart pounded with something akin to fright, yet she could not resist his lure—hot and sweet, hinting of champagne and something forbidden.
And it was not just any man who kissed her. It was Lucas, and she knew now that she had been waiting for the touch of his lips for a very long time.
His mouth was gentle, exploring her as if she were a newly discovered landscape. Mentally, she stumbled in that landscape, searching for a way forward and knowing it could only come through him. From the feel of his calloused hands wrapped around her bare arms, his fingers caressing her skin, and from the breathtaking heat of his mouth. Every unique sensation drew her forward, unmooring her from every experience that had come before.
Who knew a kiss could be so . . . transporting?
As you can see, Phoebe liked it—a lot. In fact, the entire situation is so transporting that she and Lucas forget themselves, which leads to quite an embarrassing and rather public situation. But one thing is for sure—Phoebe will never forget her first kiss!
What about you, readers? Do you still remember your first kiss? Was it something special or something you’d rather forget? Tell all! One person who comments will win a copy of His Mistletoe Bride.
BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE…
When Major Lucas Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is a sparkling American beauty, yes, but with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that forced them into wedlock. Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate, it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out of bed…
Phoebe has no intention of bowing to Lucas’s stubbornness even though he offers all that she wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing, but Phoebe is determined to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring fire, she’s more than willing to reveal her gifts very slowly…
Buy links: Amazon B&N Books-A-Million
Vanessa Kelly was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.” Her Regency-set historical romances have been nominated for awards in a number of contests, and her second book, Sex and The Single Earl, won the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Vanessa also writes contemporary romance with her husband under the name of V.K. Sykes. You can find her on the web at www.vanessakellyauthor.com or at www.vksykes.com.
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Oct 10, 2012 @ 08:33:28
I just finished reading this story and loved every word. When I started the book, I didn’t realize it was the last book in your Stanton Family series. I have the other books and I can honestly say, this is the first time I’ve read books out of order! Shame on my head! Now I have to rush to read the other 3 to meet it detail the rest of the family. I imagine their stories are just as enticing as Lucas and Phoebe’s was. But, I just got my copy of the new Stephanie Laurens book and I must read that now. Sign…SMBSLT!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 09:30:52
I have yet to read a story by Vanessa Kelly so would welcome this one. I love the cover. Yes I remember my first kiss-well as much as a young elementary schoolboy can give you. ha ha
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:10:30
Thanks for sharing your book.
My first kiss was quite unremarkable. 6th grade walking home from ice skating with a boy I had a crush on. I remember freezing and my nose was running. YUCK!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:10:31
Hi Karen! I’m so glad you enjoyed HMB – music to my ears! And there are some good first kisses in the other Stanton Family stories, too.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:11:10
Joye, thanks for stopping by! The cover is beautiful, isn’t it?
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:12:00
LOL! Laurie, sounds like your first kiss was definitely unremarkable but also memorable for being so yucky!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:13:50
Hi Vanessa. Welcome back!!! Thanks so much for bringing your fabulous self back to the blog. And I’ll third that, your cover is absolutely GORGEOUS.
As for first kiss. I was so young, I barely remember it. I remember finding it a bit wet for my young tastes though. LOL.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:15:00
Lovely excerpt. This is going on my TBR list.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:23:36
Thanks, Ella!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:17:42
first kiss, huh? that would of been in 1st grade. he was very cute, dark hair, and my best friend liked him too. so we were both chasing him. poor boy. such an innocent time.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:24:49
Thanks for the giveaway.
I can’t really remember my first kiss so I guess it wasn’t anything remarkable. LOL. I was around 17 and it was with my first boyfriend who wasn’t exactly very experience either so guess it was just normal.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:28:32
Honestly I do not remember my first kiss. But knowing me it blew the top of my head off. lol!
OMG! I love Christmas theme books. I can’t wait to read MB, Vanessa.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:39:43
I will never forgot my first kiss. In a boutique. I still blush whenever I enter in this store
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:24:17
Thanks, Mel!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:42:44
I was in 7th grade and he was my first boyfriend. It was quick and a bit sexy and it
happened at a friend’s party.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:51:12
My first kiss was in 7th grade and the boy I kissed is now my husband of 34 years. I remember I was so scared that I wouldn’t do it right. lol. It was a wonderful first kiss. I remember the day and where we were at.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:53:21
My first kiss was staged. And honestly utterly forgettable. But the first kiss in my last long term relationship was full of heat and was toe-curling and boy! The butterflies were fluttering all over the place.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:57:12
Thanks so much for hosting me, Bev! First kisses – what an interesting topic, eh? I was a young teenager who hung out with the totally geeky crowd. Since none of us ever dated, we were afraid that no one would EVER kiss us. So, we decided to all give it a try by pairing off with each other. There were actually a few surprisingly good kissers in the group, although the whole thing was a bit clinical and embarrassing.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 19:48:08
Vanessa, I swear, I thought stuff like that only happened in books or movies. LMAO!!!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 10:58:03
Mary, that is an awesome story! And Candice and Betty, sounds like you did okay, too!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 11:04:16
My most important first kiss was the night I met my husband (we’d been speaking on the phone for a couple of weeks). We went to supper, then took a walk along the Iowa River. We sat on a bench by Hancher and I was getting chilly so he put his arm around me, then kissed me. 20 years later, we’re still together.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:24:47
That belongs in a romance novel, Carrie!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 11:09:17
I am not sure how old I was, freshman in HS I think. I must have been a late bloomer? Hind sight is 20/20 right. I guess it was a pretty great kiss, it was a guy 2 years older than I and he was obviously experienced…who knew…but as I recall it now it was a good kiss. Too bad I didn’t know what I was doing…
Oct 10, 2012 @ 11:39:46
I have never read a Historical Romance before but I really want to read this one…
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:25:12
Thanks so much, Jeannette!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 11:46:12
My first kiss wasn’t something I was really wanting. I was only in elementary school. A neighborhood boy gave me a quick peck. LOL Nothing to dream about. It got better later.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 11:49:23
It was forgettable.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 13:13:15
My first kiss was very quick, which was nice. I think I was more surprised than anything else.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 13:42:01
I know my first kiss came when I was 14, but I don’t remember the experience at all. However, I remember kissing my husband for the first time (I was 16 when we started dating). We went on our first date, he brought me home that evening, and in front of my house he kissed me unexpectedly. I remember our teeth clicked! It wasn’t the best kiss, but it was certainly memorable. He had my heart then, and he still holds it today (16 years later). The kissing has only gotten better…we haven’t clicked teeth since
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:26:08
Practice makes perfect, Emily!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 14:01:09
All the best on your release, lovely cover, I adore Xmas stories! My first kiss , meh. I was barely into my teens. I remember thinking, ‘This is it??”
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:26:40
I hope it got better, Karyn! My early experiences were much like yours.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 14:24:33
I am collecting Christmas stories right now so I am excited to learn about a new one. My first kiss was not memorable! I have only a vague memory — of the kiss and the boy!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 14:37:11
Lovely cover. Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 14:43:34
My first kiss happened between a barn when several of us were playing hide-n-seek together. I think I was 12 at the time. The boy kissed me, I got scared, and ran. Lol!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 15:17:55
i was 14 and we were on the street behind my house. a goodbye kiss it was very nice!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 15:18:23
I barely remember my first kiss—it was over 55 years ago. I think it grossed me out.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 15:19:10
Hi Vanessa!! *waving*
I have no kiss stories I can blame on mistletoe. Though I sure liked yours a lot! Makes me in the mood to bake Christmas cookies and play in the snow!
My first kiss was under the table during school, I think I was in kindergarten. So sweet, so quick, so young.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:27:22
LOL! Lexi, sounds like you were a fast learner!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 16:02:04
Hi, Vanessa! Frankly, my first kiss was memorable in that I didn’t wanted to be kissed but some boy kissed me anyway. I was furious and nearly cried. I should have hit him, but I was trying to be a good 8-year-old which meant no hitting the other children.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:27:59
Oh, dear! I bet if you’d smacked him, he’d have cried!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 16:06:34
Looking forward to reading this story. I love Christmas stories.
My first kiss ever wasn’t anything great, but my first kiss with my husband was “transporting”.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 16:18:24
My first kiss was a long time ago and I think it was quick.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 16:22:25
My first kiss is only memorable because it was my first kiss. It was in junior high during a game of spin-the-bottle. Quick and boring, totally unlike a romance novel.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 16:27:53
I still remember it =) it was in the sixth grade on a friday night disco in the gym *happy sigh* I was soo smitten.. . And he was cute.
Thanks for the giveaway!
//Linda
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:06:54
My first kiss was in the 10th grade underneath the lifeguard chair at a local swimming pool. I remember the boys name, which is surprising considering it’s been over 30 years ago!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:28:32
Must have been pretty memorable, LilMissMolly!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 17:51:39
I have never read Vanessa before so I would love to win!!! Thanks so much for the chance!!!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 18:09:42
Oh, I most definitely remember my first “real” kiss. He was my first real boyfriend and I was just 16 and he was 18. It was some kiss – I married him lol. It’s been 42+ years
Oct 10, 2012 @ 18:23:54
I guess my first real kiss would have been when I was 13 and at a teen age party playing kissing games. It was from a guy I thought myself to be in love it and it was just awesome. Not even sure where the guy is now often wonder though.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 19:15:30
Mine was so long ago..let’s focus on Phoebe’s instead. I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for a fun post and great excerpt.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 20:07:00
It was in high school. Definitely NOT memorable but to be fair, it wasn’t horrible either.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 20:29:27
Yes, I do remember my first kiss – only memorable because it was my first! My (future) husband gave me my first memorable kiss.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 22:19:55
I don’t remember my first kiss at all so must not have been much (think it was forgotten sortly afterwards)
Oct 10, 2012 @ 23:29:24
Yes, I remember my first kiss and it was definitely a nice one. I was so nervous but it was everything I could ask for – I was in the seventh grade, so it was pretty innocent but memorable.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 23:32:29
Congrats on the book! Nice excerpt. It was fine.