The First Kiss...
I don't know about you, but one of my favorite parts of any romance novel is the first kiss between the hero and heroine.
While I savor the opening chapters - getting to know the characters and the story line - nothing beats the thrill of watching the hero and heroine's romantic journey grow. The looks, the realisation of desire, the wondering, the physical attraction, until they succumb to temptation and share that first kiss. It’s even better if the attraction is unwanted!
If the author has balanced attraction with conflict then the tension will keep me flipping the pages as I seek the answers to questions like - When will it happen? What will trigger it? Who's going to make the first move? What's it going to be like? Will they both enjoy it? What will happen afterward?
And then the cycle begins again as the relationship develops. I love it!
In ALLEGIANCE SWORN, Arek and Imhara’s have a very Romeo & Juliette–like relationship. Both the hero and heroine are from warring houses, a romance between them doesn’t seem possible, especially since one of them has sworn to kill the other.
Arek’s human, and a Light Blade warrior who’s made it his life’s work to avenge the death of his parents by killing any demon his blade comes into contact with. Imhara is Na’Reish, a full-blood demon, and from the moment they meet Arek vows to kill her.
One could believe that this is a tragedy waiting to happen. But what if one of them presented the other with the chance to kill the demon responsible for the murder of their family – just as Imhara does with Arek?
And what if Imhara wasn’t the evil enemy Arek believed her to be? What if she, and her people defied usual Na’Reish practices, living double lives, preferring to honor the Old Ways, meaning they don’t enslave humans and accept the half-blood Na’Chi?
Does all that make a relationship remotely possible? You bet it does!
And their first kiss is a doozy!
Cautious hope filled Imhara even though Arek’s expression vacillated between confusion and anger, uncertainty and frustration. She’d goaded him with what had to be his greatest fear sleeping with the enemy— and he faced it head-on when she’d half expected him to lash out using his Gift.Do they have a happy ending? Well...that's something you might have to discover for yourself *grin*.
Emotions darkened his gaze, and the scents radiating from him lasted no longer than the fraction of a heartbeat before changing, each fighting for dominance as he struggled with her demand.
A few days ago he’d have tried to kill her; now the restraint he showed was progress, and she sent a prayer of thanks heavenward for it. Yet just how far she could push him remained to be seen.
Instinct told her he disliked backing down, but she had to know just how committed he truly was, for both their sakes. Once in Gannec territory, and exposed to the scrutiny of Savyr and scores of other Na’Reishi, acting out of character or refusing to commit to this role one hundred percent would endanger everyone who came with them to the Enclave.
Arek’s throat worked as he swallowed, the pulse there beating a rapid tattoo beneath his skin. “You’re bluffing.” Tension roughened his voice.
The challenge skated across her nerves, like a flame licking fuel.
His nostrils flared and his chest rose and fell on a sharp breath. That, combined with the heat of his hard body, reminded her that although he seemed furious and besieged by doubt, there was a familiar, spicy heat mixed in the scents surrounding him.
Sexual heat. Lust or desire, it didn’t matter; a reaction to something she’d said or done. It was there.
Earlier that week, during their confrontation with Yur, she’d dismissed his response as accidental, unwanted. This time instinct told her there was more to it. Exhilaration stroked heated fingers from her scalp to her breasts, then settled low in her abdomen.
“Am I?” A small smile tugged at her lips. That he wasn’t as repulsed by her presence as she believed him to be sparked wicked thoughts. Her heart began to race. “Then call me on it.”
Her husky tone caught her by surprise as much as it did Arek. Provoking him probably wasn’t fair, but just how he would respond filled her with anticipation, the sort she hadn’t felt in a very, very long time.
He blinked, a muscle in his jaw twitching even as his eyes locked with hers. Deep blue heat simmered in their depths— like the hottest flames of a blacksmith’s forge— a heartbeat before his lips slanted across hers.
His mouth smothered her gasp. She gripped his upper arms, muscular biceps taut and steel hard, intending to push him away. A gut reaction. His hands sank into her hair, his fingers mimicking the hold she had on him— tangling, tightening, taking control; something she detested in other males but accepted from Arek. This time.
His fingers applied steady pressure, angling her head so that her lips parted. His tongue speared into her mouth.
Once.
Twice.
The thrusting motion heated her faster than she thought possible, combusting her from the inside out. She caught his tongue with her lips, sucked at it, stroked it with her own, needing ... no, craving it more than her next breath. He tasted of the same earthy spice that filled her nostrils.
Exotic. Exquisite.
Arek’s deep-throated groan turned up the temperature until her blood boiled in her veins. She arched against him, hissing her pleasure into his mouth, her breasts and nipples so sensitive from the friction the sensation shot straight to her core.
Yet beneath all that, her heart soared. His actions restored hope in her plan and confirmed what instinct had been telling her about this warrior. With his help, her parents’ legacy stood a chance of surviving.
Shoving all that aside, Imhara pushed her fingers deeper into his hair. She wanted to enjoy their kiss.
In the meantime, I'm curious – what's your favorite part in a romance novel? Is it the first meeting of the hero and heroine? The first kiss? Something else?
Care to share your thoughts on this? I have a signed copy of ALLEGIANCE SWORN I’d love to give away. And the draw is open internationally!
About The Light Blade
Allegiance Sworn
The Light Blade 3
Berkley Trade, April 2, 2013.
Trade Paperback and eBook, 416 pages
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…
With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.
Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.
But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…
Alliance Forged
The Light Blade 2
Berkley Trade, July 3, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 368 pages
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…
Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.
Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.
When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA
Vengeance Born
Light Blade 1Berkley, February 7, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 336 pages
Berkley, April 2, 2013
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born…
Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish leader, longs for more than her tormented life among her father’s people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she’s gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy…
Kalan is a Light Blade warrior who knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na’Reish horde have increased. As Chosen, leader of his people, he faces the task of stopping the demons.
When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father’s dungeon, she agrees to free him in exchange for his protection. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they journey to the border and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into a civil war…
Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA
Fishpond : Penguin Australia : Penguin USA
Links are to the Mass Market Paperback
About Kylie
Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.
Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com
Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Shelfari
The Giveaway
What: One commenter will win a copy of Allegiance Sworn (The Light Blade 3) from Kylie.
How: Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 12:00AM US Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 16, 2013. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change at any time.*
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First time when they see each other. Thats my fave part
ReplyDeleteIt's a powerful moment, isn't it Julia? I know I look forward to it, wondering what that first meeting/sight is going to be like.
DeleteI love it when they first look into each others eyes - that whole saying about eyes being the window to the soul...? I love it when they can look at each other and 'know' each other - especially if it's not insta-love but instant connection. Not sure if I can describing it too well! :-)
ReplyDeleteI get what you mean, Mel. The instant connection, an acknowledgement of there's something there. I'm not really a fan of insta-love but I'm all for the recognition of an awareness between the hero and heroine. :-)
DeleteIt's not so much a moment, but the whole build up to the moment they realize it's a mutual attraction.
ReplyDeleteI love that anticipation/tension too, Sullivan.
DeleteFolks, it's late here in Oz now, almost midnight, and I have a full day of teaching tomorrow. I'll catch up with your comments tomorrow arvo when I get home! Looking forward to reading them.
DeleteQ: What's your favorite part in a romance novel? Is it the first meeting of the hero and heroine? The first kiss? Something else?
ReplyDeleteA: I don't really have a favourite part. It's how the story was told :)
Hey Cherry, it's great when all of the parts of a book come together and make one satisfying package. :-)
DeleteI love the covers for all the books in this series. My favorite part is usually the first meet :)
ReplyDeleteChalk another preference up for the first meeting scene!
DeleteThanks Fiery Na. FYI, the covers have all been done by Gene Mollica (http://genemollica.com/) - he's a cover wizard as he took the brief Berkley gave him, the pictures of clothing, scenery and examples of the characters I put together and portrayed them and the setting perfectly.
My favorite part is when the two finally realize that they care/love one another. Sometimes I want to smack them over the head while reading ;).
ReplyDeleteVictoria, it's a great feeling to get to that part and see how the character have grown in their relationship enough to trust each other at such a deep level that they're willing to be so vulnerable as to reveal their inner most thoughts.
DeleteBut it's also great with the build up and tension and wondering if they'll ever reach that point! LOL Smacking them upside the head, Gibbs-style, is something I've wanted to do on many occasions to a variety of characters!
thanks for the fun post and congrats to Kylie on the new release! I just got book 1 in this series and I can't wait to get started :) I like that first zinger of physical attraction, right before the first kiss...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erin! It's great to see ALLEGIANCE SWORN finally out in the wild!
DeleteAnd thank you for trying out the Light Blade series - I hope you really enjoy Annika and Kalan's story, enough to keep going until you get to Allegiance Sworn and Imhara and Arek! :-)
Ohh, the tension of the moment just before the first kiss is electrifying, isn't it?
I like the 1st time they realize they have feelings for each other.
ReplyDeleteCongrats again on the release Kylie!
Thanks, Linda. Ahh yes, acknowledging their feelings...Arek is very aware from the first time he sees Imhara he's attracted to her but boy, does he resist, especially given he hates demons and wants to see every one of them dead at the end of his sword!
DeleteIt was a lot of fun brainstorming the tag line on the front cover - "She's the enemy he can't resist..." It's so, so true! LOL
My favorite part of romance is watching the sexual tension build and build till it explodes and the passion is out of control!
ReplyDeleteBarrie
Barrie, hey, I remember you from Love An Apocalypse! Great to see you here! Thanks for following along on the tour. :-)
DeleteAnother one for the building tension until it explodes camp - one of the fun things about writing Allegiance Sworn was bringing Arek and Imhara together. Considering they're polar opposites in so many ways it was fun making the sparks fly between them.
I love that 1st kiss. sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteDuly noted, SdyLion, thanks for popping in and commenting. Good luck in the raffle!
DeleteMy favorite part is the conflict and how they get around it. Makes the reading fun.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Tension filled scenes move the action right along, and you're right, Debby, it does make the reading fun. Nothing like anticipating what's going to happen next. :-)
DeleteMy favorite part is that moment when they've realized they have feelings for each other, and they finally admit it.
ReplyDeleteAhh, another familiar face - hi, Barbara, thanks for following along on the tour. :-)
DeleteYou and Linda have similar preferences - I love the admission of feelings for each other for the first time but it's even better if they do it under duress, so the tension is kept high, and the conflict moves the plot along. :-)
the moment when the hero/heroine confess their feelings to each other
ReplyDeleteThe fun thing about writing this romance was that Imhara was the first to admit her attraction to Arek, not so much out loud to him, that came later, but her thoughts about being attracted to him.
DeleteI loved creating the scenes prior to the verbalising of their feelings for one another - they let each other know how they felt about each other all right, just not the romancy-stuff. LOL
I always love that first meeting as they size each other up.
ReplyDeleteG'day Mary, thanks for dropping in and commenting. You're in good company liking the first meeting of the hero and heroine.
DeleteMy hero and heroine's first meeting has Arek threatening to kill Imhara! LOL
Definitely one of my favorite first kiss scenes to read.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part is after the characters take that first intimate step, usually their first kiss. The way they have to figure out how they are going to interact after such an emotionally charged moment is really interesting.
Hi MrsClare! :-) There are so many delicious ways characters can react after that first kiss!
DeleteI love that whole build up to the couple finally making a connection--it's especially fun when they're resisting it mightily and yet their emotions have them tangled up in knots and ultimately they just can't hold out any longer :) I guess I'm a meanie--I don't want it to be tooo easy!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you flchen1! LOL The relationship is so much more emotionally satisfying if the characters work for it or earn it.
DeleteOh Kylie, you romance softie at heart. The first kiss is poignant, I love seeing what they bring to the table. For me, I always look forward to the first meeting, the first time they lay eyes on one another. You never know what to expect!
ReplyDeleteLOL, romance softie! Yeah, OK, I'll cop to that label, but I'm not above making my characters earn their romance!
DeleteSo, Lexi, you're going for the first time they meet? It's a special moment as it is so unpredictable, especially if it's an enemies to lovers story like ALLEGIANCE SWORN! :-)
I love interaction hero and heroin, especially when they're quarelling. LOL!
ReplyDeleteHi Filia, it's interesting to see how characters react in certain situations and a good quarrel will often create reactions that show their true feelings.
ReplyDeleteThe first kiss...
ReplyDeleteHi Nurmawati, I'll chalk another one up for the first kiss!
DeleteIt really depends on the novel and pace. It can be when they first met or when they start to get to know each other too.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have a favorite part, I have to like the whole thing and understand each story and book individually.
Hi Ana, enjoying the book as a whole is as good as having a favourite part, isn't it? Thanks for sharing.
DeleteThe discovery and building followed by the HEA
ReplyDeleteI love the anticipation too, Donnas. :-)
DeleteI always love romans so the most I'm looking into book is interaction between the hero n heroine :)
ReplyDeleteNothing like watching the sparks fly between the hero and heroine, is there, Eli?
ReplyDeleteI try to comment, but so hard to do it from my phone :(
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part is when the hero first that said love to the heroine, even if the heroine first, it's okay too for me. A hero who not playing hard to said his love is better that a stubborn hero that resist his feeling this the end
Hi Ren, don't you hate technology sometimes?!?!
DeleteSounds like you go for the beta heroes. Awesome!