A Kiss to Build a SCENE On with MaryLu Tyndall

by | Mar 2, 2010 | Fiction Book Reviews | 7 comments

The bases are loaded. Tie game. Up comes a batter with a history of making history J The smell of sweat and leather mingles with popcorn and fresh hotdogs.

First pitch…he swings, he strikes. There is a gasp of wonder, maybe fear. Second pitch… the ball comes down the center of the plate. His bat grazes the swirling torpedo sending it riveting upwards, spiraling through the air and up…up….into a FOUL.

A hush falls over the spectators. The pitcher tosses the ball into his mit with a smack, sends a nod to the catcher, looks to his left, and throws.

The ball zooms forward, barely a flash of white for the naked eye, and in one swift, effortless motion, the batter makes contact. The crash of wood and a hard white rubber knot echoes throughout the stadium. It’s up, it’s going….going…going…

Experiencing the moment and waiting for the home run is what a great kiss is all about. The thrill, the excitement, the utter illusion of stepping through the pages of a story and being kissed, really kissed like that. Swept away into the characters’ worlds of danger and romance.

MaryLu Tyndall is great at building up a bit of danger and romance, mixed with swashbuckling thrills, bountiful adventure, and a treasure far beyond gold. To learn more about her books visit www.mltyndall.com

So MaryLu what makes a good kissing scene? Danger? The unexpected? Chocolate? 😉 

1.       What makes a good kissing scene? Anticipation. The hero and heroine are alone. Something dramatic has just happened between them. Perhaps the hero has saved the heroine from some villain or protected her from something or helped her in some way. Internal dialogue in one or both of their heads clues the reader that they are thinking about kissing. Wondering what it would feel like. Longing for a kiss. Hero and heroine’s eyes keep wandering to each other’s lips. Someone may interrupt them for a moment You see? It’s all about anticipation. But the best kissing scenes happen when an author has really built up the love developing between the couple to the point that you can feel the strength of their feelings.  The kiss itself doesn’t have to be long, but it should be gentle and an expression of the couple’s love. Also, it’s important to describe the effect the kiss has on one or both of them.

Kent took a step toward her, and her breath quickened. The smell of spice and leather wafted around her, setting her senses aflame. “If you please, Captain. ’Tis been a trying day, and I fear I’m not feeling well.”

Reaching up, he brushed a tendril of her hair away from her face. His lips curved in a gentle smile. “Then I will leave you to your rest.”

The room swirled around Isabel, and she felt her legs give way beneath her.

Catching her by the waist, Kent led her to the bed and eased her down onto the quilt. “May I get you something? Water, perhaps?”

Raising a hand to her neck, Isabel shook her head. What was wrong with her? Nausea and elation clamored together in her stomach, creating havoc with her senses. The heat from Kent’s body steamed over her. “Nay, I am quite all right. Thank you, Captain.” She gazed into his eyes, just inches from hers, and her breath caught in her throat. His sultry gaze lowered to her mouth. 

He leaned toward her and hesitated. His warm, rum-laced breath wafted over her. Isabel’s heart flopped in her chest. He leaned nearer. Isabel closed her eyes, unable to move. His lips touched hers. The room exploded in burst of heat as his kiss, gentle at first, grew hungrier, searching, exploring—like a parched lion drinking from a newfound spring. Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed her against him, and for a moment, Isabel melted into him, unable to resist.

Withdrawing his lips, he hovered near her face and tilted his forehead against hers. Their heavy breaths intermingled in the air between them.

 Woohoo, talk about being swept away! Move over Captain Jack! Thanks for sharing, MaryLu, and for inviting us into your world of dashing pirates, daring women, and dangerous worlds.

 Kissing Quote for the Day:

You may conquer with the sword, but you are conquered by a kiss….Daniel Heinsius.

Inspirational Quote for the Day:

What type of love do we long for the most? Only the perfect kind – and the only perfect kind is from God. The anticipation for His beautiful love is overwhelming.

Isaiah 63:7

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of God, his great goodness to the family of Israel— Compassion lavished, love extravagant. He said, “Without question these are my people, children who would never betray me.” So he became their Savior. In all their troubles, he was troubled, too. He didn’t send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them.”

7 Comments

  1. Carolynn

    This is one of my favorite kisses! Such a great book!

    Reply
  2. sherrinda

    *Heaving HUGE sigh* Oh mercy…I’m so in love. What it is about the danger-bad boy-pirate that inflames the senses? (I know…he is only addressed as Captain, BUT he LOOKS like a pirate on the cover….sigh. 🙂 That was a kiss!

    And Pepper…I love the baseball-out of the park analogy!!! (I need to send you another chapter. Hopefully tomorrow!)

    Reply
  3. Renee

    Oh yeah! MaryLu’s pirate heroes put Captain Jack to shame! What a great scene!!!

    Reply
  4. Julie

    I am SO grateful for MaryLu Tyndall because I flat-out LOVE a stomach-fluttering kiss, and this woman writes some of the best in the CBA! There’s nothing like reading one of her books, especially in the dead of winter because even touching the binding of a MaryLu Tyndall book will warm your hand 🙂 … while her spiritual insight warms your soul — an unbeatable combination! Go, MaryLu!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    Reply
  5. Casey

    Ohhhh. I LOVE MaryLu’s work! I wasn’t sure which kiss she would choose, so it was a fun discovery for me.:) I am re-reading The Reliance right now. LOVE that story, I think it’s one of my favorites. 🙂

    Reply
  6. laura frantz

    I’ve been wanting to read a MaryLu book for some time. I just love her covers! Thanks for another wonderful post, Pepper. And thanks to you, MaryLu! Blessed writing and reading to you all!

    Reply
  7. MaryLu Tyndall

    Hi everyone! I just dropped by to say Hi and decided to reread the kiss between Captain Kent and Isabel. Good grief, I had to go get a glass of cold water afterward! Did I write that? Anyway, thanks for all your very kind comments! You have made my evening! And I appreciate you all so much! God Bless!

    Reply

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