Guest Post from author
Julie Lessman
Julie Lessman
“The Perfect Kiss”
The perfect kiss? Mmm … that’s a little bit like asking about somebody’s favorite food, isn’t it? I mean, come on—some people like their chili flamin’ hot and others like it mild and sweet.
Which means that the “perfect kiss” to some might be a nose nuzzle while to somebody else—like moi—it’s a liplock that not only curls your toes, but your tummy as well.
You know, like Rhett laying one on Scarlett before he swoops her up the stairs in Gone With the Wind? Or George Peppard in a liplock with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in the rain no less, with a cat between them? Or how ’bout that kiss in The Notebook when Ryan Gosling kisses Rachel McAdams in the rainstorm, then carries her inside and pushes her to the wall?
Whew! Trust me, as a “wall-pusher” from way back, the perfect kiss to me is when a hero makes no bones about staking his claim, disarming the heroine with a powerful and possessive attraction that pushes her back to the wall—literally!
But for me, the real secret to a great kiss are the emotions surging around it like a romantic riptide that rolls in and out. Sure, you have to get the actions right, taking the reader through the step-by-steps of a kiss as if they’re watching a movie. But it’s those waves of emotions before and after the “kiss” that sweep the reader through a tsunami of feelings that will hopefully leave them breathless and gasping for more.
Which means that the “perfect kiss” to some might be a nose nuzzle while to somebody else—like moi—it’s a liplock that not only curls your toes, but your tummy as well.
You know, like Rhett laying one on Scarlett before he swoops her up the stairs in Gone With the Wind? Or George Peppard in a liplock with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in the rain no less, with a cat between them? Or how ’bout that kiss in The Notebook when Ryan Gosling kisses Rachel McAdams in the rainstorm, then carries her inside and pushes her to the wall?
Whew! Trust me, as a “wall-pusher” from way back, the perfect kiss to me is when a hero makes no bones about staking his claim, disarming the heroine with a powerful and possessive attraction that pushes her back to the wall—literally!
But for me, the real secret to a great kiss are the emotions surging around it like a romantic riptide that rolls in and out. Sure, you have to get the actions right, taking the reader through the step-by-steps of a kiss as if they’re watching a movie. But it’s those waves of emotions before and after the “kiss” that sweep the reader through a tsunami of feelings that will hopefully leave them breathless and gasping for more.
 | One of my favorite things to do with a kiss—which, in fact, is why the two examples below are what I consider my “perfect kisses”—is to use powerful emotions to frame a powerful kiss. For instance, my favorite love scene that I’ve ever written is from A Hope Undaunted and takes the reader through the ebb and flow of several strong emotions before and after “the kiss” (or “kisses” as in the first example below). In this example, the actual kiss portion of the scene begins with caring and concern on the hero’s part, then swells to shock, attraction, passion, more shock, anger, revenge and finally retribution and regret for both hero and heroine. |
Deep breath . . . |  |
Okay, I’m sorry, but for me as a CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), the more emotion the better, and I think for the reader, the more emotion, the better the kiss! Which is why the second example below, also from A Hope Undaunted, is my second favorite kiss because it has all the elements I like in a love scene—tenderness, passion, humor—unleashing a groundswell of emotions from the hero’s malaise to his jealousy, attraction, longing, shock, gratitude, desire, embarrassment and humor.
In my writer’s workbook, Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets, I quote the lyrics from Herman Hupfeld’s fabulous song, As Time Goes By, which claims that
In my writer’s workbook, Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets, I quote the lyrics from Herman Hupfeld’s fabulous song, As Time Goes By, which claims that
For the purpose of today’s blog, I am respectfully disagreeing with Mr. Hupfeld because one of the little tricks I’ve learned is that “a kiss is NOT just a kiss”—it’s a series of roller-coaster emotions that carry the reader to the Shores of Sigh on a tidal wave of feelings.
Ready to see what I’m talking about? Here are my first and second favorite kissing scenes that I’ve ever written. Why? Because when it comes to emotions, both are SO multi-dimensional! But, don’t take my word for it—YOU be the judge.
Ready to see what I’m talking about? Here are my first and second favorite kissing scenes that I’ve ever written. Why? Because when it comes to emotions, both are SO multi-dimensional! But, don’t take my word for it—YOU be the judge.
!!! GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED !!!
Tell me in the comment section below
"which of the two kissing scenes YOU prefer and why",
and I’ll enter you for a chance to win a copy of any of
my e-books, including the e-version of Romance-ology 101.
Giveaway runs February 14th - February 21st, 2018
And remember … a few drops of Tabasco doesn’t make the chili bad … only a little spicier!
And remember … a few drops of Tabasco doesn’t make the chili bad … only a little spicier!
As an extra bonus, I’d like to give you a brief kissing excerpt from my latest novel, For Love of Liberty, which is a light and humorous Western story that kicks off my new Silver Lining Ranch series. Think Bonanza meets McClintock.
I like this clip because it reminds me of a Mary Connealy love scene, where the no-nonsense hero grabs the heroine to shut her up with a kiss. But first, here’s the jacket blurb:
I like this clip because it reminds me of a Mary Connealy love scene, where the no-nonsense hero grabs the heroine to shut her up with a kiss. But first, here’s the jacket blurb:
| A Match Made in Heaven? Or Someplace a Whole Lot Warmer? She’s stubborn, educated, and looking to give women the vote. He’s bullheaded, successful, and looking to give her a piece of his mind. But when things heat up, they just may give each other a piece of their hearts.  |  |
“Okay, Liberty Bell, I’m going to ask you one more time, real nice and civil-like …” He peered up beneath hooded eyes, a near smile on his face. “Will you please move out of my way?”
“Nope.” She smiled and shook her head, as if quite confident he was on the thaw. She clutched her hands behind her back like a little girl about to misbehave, green eyes issuing a dare. “And you can’t make me.”
He sighed. Poor, misguided little rich girl. “Yeah?” He pushed the brim of his hat up. “Watch me.” Hurling his satchel to the floor, he heard the catch of her breath when he struck like lightning with an arm to her waist, jerking her close to kiss the daylights out of her while her boots dangled in the air.
Unfortunately, the moment he tasted those soft lips parted in surprise, he was struck by a little lightning of her own, electrifying every nerve in his body while his blood simmered to a dangerous boil. When a soft telltale mew escaped her throat, he was helpless to contain the low moan that rose from deep in his belly. Butting her to the door, he cradled her face in his hands, longing surging through his bloodstream as he claimed the sweetest lips he’d ever known—and he’d known plenty—completely disarmed by the scent of her skin, the soft flesh of her ear. Sure, he’d dreamed of kissing Liberty O’Shea for as long as could remember, but he never expected this—a kiss that could surely tame his taste for all other woman.
The very thought bucked like a thorn-saddled bull, and with a rush of ice water through his veins, he dropped her to the floor like he’d been bit by a rattler. She teetered precariously—along with his heart—eyes glazed and mouth still open in shock. Mustering all the calm he owned—which was a mite low at the moment—he yanked his hat down low and reached for the knob. She bolted away so fast, Finn had to stifle a chuckle, tossing her a wink as he opened the door. “Told you.”
“Nope.” She smiled and shook her head, as if quite confident he was on the thaw. She clutched her hands behind her back like a little girl about to misbehave, green eyes issuing a dare. “And you can’t make me.”
He sighed. Poor, misguided little rich girl. “Yeah?” He pushed the brim of his hat up. “Watch me.” Hurling his satchel to the floor, he heard the catch of her breath when he struck like lightning with an arm to her waist, jerking her close to kiss the daylights out of her while her boots dangled in the air.
Unfortunately, the moment he tasted those soft lips parted in surprise, he was struck by a little lightning of her own, electrifying every nerve in his body while his blood simmered to a dangerous boil. When a soft telltale mew escaped her throat, he was helpless to contain the low moan that rose from deep in his belly. Butting her to the door, he cradled her face in his hands, longing surging through his bloodstream as he claimed the sweetest lips he’d ever known—and he’d known plenty—completely disarmed by the scent of her skin, the soft flesh of her ear. Sure, he’d dreamed of kissing Liberty O’Shea for as long as could remember, but he never expected this—a kiss that could surely tame his taste for all other woman.
The very thought bucked like a thorn-saddled bull, and with a rush of ice water through his veins, he dropped her to the floor like he’d been bit by a rattler. She teetered precariously—along with his heart—eyes glazed and mouth still open in shock. Mustering all the calm he owned—which was a mite low at the moment—he yanked his hat down low and reached for the knob. She bolted away so fast, Finn had to stifle a chuckle, tossing her a wink as he opened the door. “Told you.”
Jasmine—thank you SO much for hosting me on your blog—it’s been fun! I love to hear from readers, so they can find and contact me at www.julielessman.com, or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or Pinterest or by signing up for my newsletter or my Journal Jots blog. Oh, and readers can also check out my favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of my books on the “Excerpts” tab of my website.
Finally, I have the following FREEBIE currently going on:
FREE DOWNLOAD ON THE NOVELLA PREQUEL TO ISLE OF HOPE!
YES, there IS a prequel to my award-winning novel, Isle of Hope,
and it’s called A Glimmer of Hope, so take advantage of this free e-book
YES, there IS a prequel to my award-winning novel, Isle of Hope,
and it’s called A Glimmer of Hope, so take advantage of this free e-book
HUGS!
 Julie Lessman | Nicknamed “The Kissing Queen” of the CBA, Julie began her love affair with romance at the age of twelve after reading Gone With the Wind. Today she writes Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, and Isle of Hope series, Julie was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. She was voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards and named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction as well as Borders Best Fiction list. Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. |
