If you’re a romance fan, whether you’re just a reader, a lover of romantic movies or a writer, you know that there comes a point in every story, that single defining moment – that AHA!, lightbulb moment – that changes everything. It could be the hero finally realizes what he’s been missing all this time and declares his love for his girl. Could be the girl wakes up one day and realizes what a mistake she’s made sending that guy away, because she loves him. Can’t live without him. It’s the kiss in The Notebook. The “You Complete Me,” scene in Jerry Maguire. That scene in a book that makes you put it down, sigh and reach for the tissues.
You know what I mean, right?
Well, I thought it might be kind of cool to share a few scenes with each other today. Have you written anything lately that you think is swoon worthy? Seen a movie that touched your heart and make you tear up? Read a book with exactly that kind of scene in it? Nice authors will give you more than one. 🙂 Maybe you have an amazing romantic moment of your own between you and the love of your life to share. Don’t be shy! There are plenty of tissues to go round.
I’ll give you a couple of my favorite scenes to get us started – Here’s one between Kristin and Luke, from my novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow –
‘She heard his heavy steps on the concrete behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her to face him. In his eyes stirred questions she wasn’t sure she had answers to.
“Do you really want to stay?”
She searched his face, desperate for anything that might reveal his heart. “I don’t know,” she whispered, unwanted tears stinging. “This place—there’s something about it. I can’t explain…”
“You don’t have to.”
She didn’t have to. She knew he loved the very same things. The natural beauty of Vietnamrounded emerald hills older than Confucius himself, rich with ancient history that kept account of the beliefs and religions its people followedthe quiet way the villagers spoke as they allowed her into their huts and offered up Vietnamese hospitalityand
the children. She loved the children in a way she would never have imagined. And had someone told her a few months ago that she would have anything in common with Luke Maddox, she would have laughed until she cried.
Yet here they were.
Luke’s smile was sad as he brushed away her tears with the base of his thumb. “What do you want to do, Kris?”
“I don’t think I want to go home.”
“Good. I don’t want you to.”
The declaration settled into her soul, nudging it ever so slightly toward hope.
His hands moved her hair out of her eyes and came to rest around her face. He pulled her closer and placed his forehead against hers. He sighed, soft and low, as though he’d given up the fight. And then his lips claimed hers.
His kiss, sweet and lazy, left her breathless and longing for more.
“Oops.” Luke drew back, rubbing his nose against hers.
“What was that?” She slipped her arms about his waist and smiled as he tightened his embrace. She loved the way his eyes caressed her now,
filled with a new light that thrilled her.
That she could feel such pleasure in the middle of hell seemed ludicrous.
“I don’t know. Let me refresh my memory.” His lips found hers again, and she allowed it. One moment in time would not change anything…or it would.
She didn’t care anymore.’
Copyright © Catherine West Yesterday’s Tomorrow 2011
And here’s one of my favorite scenes between Gray and Victoria, in my new book (not yet published) Reprisal –
“It was good to talk. I’m glad you called.”
“Actually, you called me.”
She laughed. “I’m hanging up now. Tell everyone I said hi.” She paused, sniffed again. “Gray?”
“Yeah?”
“Remember when we met and you said I’d live to regret the day I walked in and took over your life?”
Guilt punched his gut and Gray made a fist against the pain. “Yeah, I remember.” Like it was yesterday.
“You were wrong. I have no regrets.”
He sucked in air and sat in a downpour of feeling.
Disbelief, amazement, gratitude and love flooded every inch of him. This was unlike anything he’d ever felt in all the time they’d been together. This was real, here, now.
His.
He’d spent years chasing down all the wrong things when the most wonderful thing in the world had been right there beside him the whole time.
And he’d let her go.
He wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.
“I love you, Victoria Montgomery. Just so you know.”
She breathed into the phone a moment and then sighed. “I kind of figured you did.”
“And?”
Sweet laughter infiltrated the darkest parts of his soul and he fell in love all over again.
“I love you too, Gray. Although most days I don’t have the slightest idea why.”
“Give me a second chance and I’ll help you figure it out.”
Copyright © Catherine West Reprisal 2012
Your Turn! Share your favorite romantic scenes with us!
Catherine West 
This is from Chasing the Texas Wind, my Southwestern Historical about the fight for Texas independence. Ham Jessup and Maeve Collinswood agreed to a marriage of convenience, but in the middle of rescuing a Texas freedom fighter they discovered it wasn’t so convenient to only pretend anymore. Thanks for the opportunity to share, Cathy.
Ham took a deep breath, still not looking at Maeve, but feeling her trembling near him. “Every man wants a beautiful woman every time he sees her,” Ham said. “She might not always be the same woman. And she might only be beautiful in his eyes. God made us to want one woman but we’re sinners. And sometimes a woman sees the power she has over men and figures it’s the only power she has. It’s all sin, Maeve, and it all has to go under the blood – What you feel about Chaco, what I feel about Jesse Costain – What we all feel is no way to judge how God looks at us. Our feelings are sinful just like the rest of us. We say, ‘Look at this! Look what I did!’ And He says, ‘Look at what? I only see my Son’s blood. He poured it out, once for all. He’s not going to do it again, so you get your head on straight and start feeling forgiven, because you are.'”
“Ham, you are – ” Maeve broke off, breathed deeply, looked straight at Ham, tried again, “There’s no star in heaven as bright and clear and pure and beautiful as you and I’m – I’m the one who’s not worthy. I heard everything you just said, but I have to tell you my tainted feelings.”
“Maeve, can I just say that I said almost the exact thing to little Zach about you a few minutes ago?” Ham took her hands and kissed them. “I don’t know much about astronomy, but I hear there are supposed to be twin stars that always keep together in the same orbit. Maybe we can be content to be like that, always remembering how we’re not worthy of that other bright star sailing over there through Heaven, but knowing God made us to go on together. Think we can do that?”
Maeve sprang out of her chair and threw herself into Ham’s arms. He embraced her also, breathed her in, kissed her, and then set her carefully back down in the chair.
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🙂 Nice!
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Oh, Cathy, I remember that scene from Yesterday’s Tomorrow.
Other favorites?
Rachel Hauck had several excellent ones in The Wedding Dress. A favorite movie — I love the scene at the end of While You Were Sleeping when Jack shows up with the ring — and the entire crazy-wonderful family is there. Romance and humor. Love it.
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Oh yes! Those are great! And I can’t wait to read The Wedding Dress. It’s on my summer list.
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He hummed a few bars, stressing the first beat, then he tightened his grip, his unspoken signal to begin. His feet moved forward; hers moved back. And their bodies held, shifted, turned, then twirled.
He had been teaching her to dance without eye contact, mostly for his own preservation and state of mind. But tonight, with the moonlight reflecting off the black sheen of her hair and the starlight kissing her fair skin to cream, Athan broke his own rule and caught her chin as he drew her back into their dance hold. Her locked elbows released, and she slid against his chest with a small puff.
His thumb rubbed across the smoothness of her cheek and his feet stilled. She stared up in quiet expectation. But Athan tantalized himself a moment longer, refusing to hold her gaze, instead rubbing the pad of his thumb over the soft redness of her lower lip.
She inhaled through her nose and held the breath. He’d have told her to breathe, but he’d long since forgotten how himself.
He stared into the stars that had taken up residence in her eyes. Slowly, he tilted her chin and lowered his own mouth toward hers … and at the last second, remembered that he had only one more night to wait. He crushed her into his chest. “Lady.”
“I love you, Athan.”
He heard the muffled declaration as clearly as any church bell on a still summer night. “I love you, too, Tayte.”
Her arms tightened around him. “I can’t do this.”
“I won’t do anything.” Except inhale the fragrance of her skin. “Let me hold you a moment longer.”
from Washed Under the Waves
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-194/Gloria-Clover-Washed-Under/Detail.bok
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Thank you for sharing these! I really enjoyed them.
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