Friday 14 October 2011

RFW Challenge - "First Love" - Blogfest: Book Trailer!

Purple Emperor Butterfly

This beautiful butterfly brings love to the fore in my latest historical novella. Believe it, although a moment of bliss occurs things are about to go awry...  Please note this novella is not yet available on Kindle. When it is I will post details on my profile blog

404 words: slaps hand for being over 400 max - MPA

She leaned further forward, better to see its wings fanned out, and in doing so a loose stone came adrift and tumbled forward. He lunged backwards, his arm about her waist and she then hauled back from the edge. “My fault in tempting you forth.” He glanced back at the parapet, his arm still about her waist in protective manner. “Damn place is a death trap.”
  “A loose stone, that’s all it was, and my fault for leaning over the edge.”
  He turned to face her, their eyes meeting as they had five years previous. All that time ago in church, and this time there was no denying something had passed between them that day, as it was passing between then now. His lips coming to hers not to be evaded, but to be enjoyed, to be savoured, to be kissed back in like manner. She sensed his hunger, her own leading her into temptation.
  She coiled her arms about his neck, and the strength in his crushed her to him. What joy, what bliss, this coming together in wild passionate embrace: and in this special place. She had so dreaded heated exchange in the arms of Hathaway and now it was perfection in the arms of Robert Lord Devonish.
  Sparring with tongues became a new delight, for she’d resisted engagement with Hathaway even though forced to succumb. His lordship was so different, so gentle, teasing and tendering her to respond fully to invasion and possession. If asked of any thing she might easily say yes at this precise moment in time, but it was over, and her lips once again free. The kiss potent, intoxicated by him, it was as though the best wine had been consumed too fast and heady paradise gained. 
  “Well Miss Napier, we seem to have a new understanding between us.” His smile warmed her heart, his eyes laughing but not mocking her. “Are you happy with this situation?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Shall I now walk you home?”
  “Home? Oh goodness  . . . No. We cannot be seen together.”
  “Ah, your mother.”
  “Yes. Mother. She has her heart set on Hathaway, but I am hopeful he will be otherwise engaged sufficient long to change her opinion of him.”
  “How so?”
  “I’m not sure I should tell you, but if you promise, swear you will not say a word to your sister, then  . . .”        


The video will be much crisper in visuals when I post it to Youtube. 





To see entries by other members of Romantic Friday Writers go here

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Francine,I like the 'sparring with tongues' and the fact that their love is secret and stolen.

BTW can a kiss be intoxicated or intoxicating?

Margo Benson said...

Those 404 words passed way too quickly! A great sign, I think, of the reader becoming completley immersed. The atmosphere is so charged with forbidden love - great piece!

N. R. Williams said...

Francine, you capture the dialogue and description of another time beautifully. I love that she was saved from a fall to her death only to fall in love with Mr. Right. Forbidden love does stir our curiosity.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

Unknown said...

Oh, I am so curious what plan she is hatching!

Kiru Taye said...

What is she up to? I really enjoyed this piece. You've hooked me with that ending. I want to know how things fare for the amorous pair.

Beverly Diehl said...

Loved the "Sparring with tongues became a new delight," and the kiss on the tip of her nose. And the butterfly pic - I am a sucker for butterflies.

Gotta love a man who knows how to kiss.

Unknown said...

Oh my! Lovely text. What is she getting herself into here? Sounds both exciting and dangerous!
Good to use the butterfly so that the reader remembers that they are outside and on the edge of that cliff. (Yikes, I am afraid of heights.)

Thanks for visiting my post and writing so sweetly about your childhood.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm still here, as you see.
Best wishes,
Anna
For the benefit of other readers:
Anna's RFWers' Challenge No. 23-'First Love'

Denise Covey said...

Francine, enchantment as always. It brought to mind the scene in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' where the Kiera Knightly characters hovers on the parapet then falls into the sea below. Of course she is rescued in a different kind of way.

Denise

The Poet said...

Hello.
This is hot!
Love the scene setting & dialogue.
That kissing scene nearly knocked me over! (lol)
Nice intrigue at the end.

The video for Scandalous Whispers is awesome! The scenery reminds me of some of the Jane Austen movies I like to watch.

Very enjoyable read.

The Beauty Of Love

THE SARCASM GODDESS said...

I agree with Margo. The atmosphere is definitely charged. I love the way you write. More please!

Scheherazade said...

Interestiong how different time periods have such different effects on a story line and the characters.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Madeleine, Margo and Nancy,

Thanks for dropping in.

Madeleine: Thanks for heads-up on intoxicated! Too much wine this end...

Margo: I kind of hope people get so involved they want to read on! Hee hee.


Nancy: Forbidden love has the edge methinks in love stories.

best
F

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Ruth, Kiru and Beverly,

Thanks for the kind comments.

Ruth: a wicked hatch, and naughty eggs aplenty!

Kiru: it's going to get all tearful as things go wrong!

Beverly: the kiss! Absolutely...

best
F

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Anna, Denise and Andy,

Anna: dangerous liaisons do make for intrigue! ;)

Denise: I have yet to watch Pirate's of the Caribbean in full. I've only seen snippets.

Andy: a little sexual heat is good for the body and the soul! It gets hotter ... ;)

best
F

Francine Howarth said...

Hi S.G, and Scheherazade,

Good to see you back, S.G. ;)

Scheherazade: I just love writing period novels...

best
F

Adura Ojo said...

I love the way you write, Francine! You 'capture' naughtiness of course and at the same time remain slightly coy..."they had five years previous" - in church too! (Lol).

Love too..."She sensed his hunger, her own leading her into temptation". And of course the much liked "sparring of tongues."

Hope it's on kindle soon. Would love to read the full story.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Adura,

Thanks for the compliment re writing.

I do my best to tease in every way! ;)

best
F

Denise Covey said...

Francine, yes, on second reading, definitely a tease. Ciao, D.