Shannon here: Today, I’ve invited my book sharing buddy, Tina Radcliffe to be my guest here at Inspy. So take it away Tina:
There is nothing more satisfying than falling in love with love as you read an inspirational romance.
These novels provide a romance arc that is a fluid journey from hello to I love you. It’s what you the reader expects and if done well, is what you turn pages for. Emotion and a real love story.
Dr. James Dobson explains the romantic arc nicely in his book Love for a Lifetime and calls it bonding.
“Bonding refers to the emotional covenant that links a man and woman together for life and makes them intensely
valuable to one another. It is the specialness that sets those two lovers apart from every other couple on the face of the earth.”
In a true romantic arc, the hero and heroine go through the stages of intimacy on the path of falling in love.
How exactly do writers write falling in love? We write a story that parallels real-life romance in every way.
The Stages of Intimacy were identified by Dr. Desmond Morris and are also found in Love for a Lifetime by Dr. James Dobson.
- Eye to Body.
- Eye to Eye.
- Voice to Voice.
- Hand to Hand
- Hand to Shoulder
- Hand to Waist
- Face to Face.
- Hand to Head
It’s a process and it shouldn’t be rushed. The slower the journey, the more emotion the writer can wring from the pages for readers to enjoy. In fact, in inspirational romance, authors slow it down, even more, to bring you the most satisfying emotional response possible, because we understand the importance of anticipation and the value of emotional romance versus the physical.
Here’s an interesting note. Ever wonder why in those Hallmark movies, the kiss is only at the end? Note they usually include stages 7, 8 and 9 at the culmination of the story. I recently attended a Hallmark workshop, and the reason was explained. According to marketing, when there was a kiss in the middle of the movie viewers turned off the movie having assumed that HEA was a given. Kisses are now reserved for the end.
Now for a few examples of the journey to I love you.
In the first three stages the hero and heroine have a growing awareness.
“I like rain. Don’t you?” Drops of moisture clung to her long black lashes. She pushed a wayward lock of dark hair into the hood of the slicker, waiting for his response. Joe stared, entranced, as the rain moved leisurely down her face, landing on her lips. “Joe?”- Rocky Mountain Cowboy
Stages 4 and 5 demonstrate growing intimacy as they involve physical contact. This is very important as it implies consent and goes from perhaps simply helping a woman from a car to touching in gesture. It can also include the wonderful almost kiss.
When Joe gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist to examine the wound, she stilled at his touch. “It’s healing.” He met her gaze, his eyes tender with emotion. “Like you and me. We’ve reconciled the past. Maybe it’s time to talk about where we go from here.” His words were a soft murmur.-Rocky Mountain Cowboy
And of course, the last stages bring us closer and closer to the finale of our journey. Note that hand to head is a huge step of emotional closeness. In our society we rarely let someone touch our heads unless they are family or we have a romantic relationship.
I can’t possibly show you the ending of Rocky Mountain Cowboy… we don’t want any spoilers.
Instead, I’ll give you the opportunity to win your won copy today.
So readers, what do you think?
What’s your favorite part of the romance journey in inspirational romances? The first meet? The almost kiss? The final admission of love?
Do you have any authors you recommend who really know how to provide that SWOON factor? Do share.
Thank you to Inspy Romance for inviting me to your home.
Enter the Rafflecopter for the opportunity to win a copy of this two-in-one reissue featuring myself and Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Reuniting with the Cowboy & Rocky Mountain Cowboy are a fun and romantic read that I know you’ll enjoy. Drawing ends on Friday, June 14th at Midnight EST. Three winners will be emailed. You can pick up your own copy here.
Tina Radcliffe is an RWA and ACFW Honor Roll member, a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, and a three-time ACFW Carol Award nominee. She is a 2018 ACFW Mentor of the Year recipient and a 2014 Carol Award winner. Additionally, she is a 2019 ACFW Mentor of the year finalist. Her 11th book for Harlequin Love Inspired, Her Last Chance Cowboy, released in February 2019, and she has a new four-book series with Harlequin debuting in 2020. Beside novel-length fiction, Tina has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A former library cataloger, Tina is a frequent presenter on writing topics and an online instructor. She currently resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Visit her on the web:
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Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Hi Shannon and Hi Tina! Interesting blog about the stages of intimacy and about the famous scene ending Hallmark Kiss. While I never really thought about the stages, I have sensed that sometimes romance authors were writing to a formula. It is a craft and talented author that writes the stages of intimacy seamlessly. Best wishes. Enjoy the warmer days and sunny weather.
Good morning! Great question…hard to answer though, as I enjoy all of those moments!❤️
Welcome. Ohh what a wonderful post. I love how things progress slowly making the body unconsciously or consciously want more. I love it when they first “see” that there may be more than meets the eye, so to speak. And when that first kiss is shared, woohoo. I love reading about how just a touch can make his/her heart race.
I love reading about the chemistry and falling in love from the male perspective. I guess because I’m a female and I’ve been there, done that. LOL. I love following what simple things about a woman captures a man’s affections and makes him vulnerable enough to fall in love.
Hey! The book sounds great!!! I like any and all!! In some, I like that they feel sparks in the beginning, in others I like that they didn’t really like each other but had to work together. I guess it depends on my mood!! Autumn, Marion, and Alexa know about the swoon factor!!
Hi Renate! Thanks for stopping by. 108 here in Phoenix today. Warm is right.
HA! Do you? I enjoy the almost kiss the most, myself. Thanks for stopping by Paula Marie.
Laurie! I agree. I love the male pov in a romantic moment. Thank you for stopping by.
Gosh, you are an easy to please group!! Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment, Trudy!
Laurie! A true romantic. I concur on all points. :)
Hi Renate. Thanks for solving the Hallmark kiss mystery, Tina.
I’m with you Paula, I love all of those moments. A great swoon author for me is Denise Hunter. I want to write like her when I grow up. Except, I think she’s younger than me, so I may be out of luck.
Agreed Laurie. And Tina. I love when they have that first heart to heart conversation about their deepest darkest fears or baggage too.
Make that Lori. I’m getting them mixed up.
Me too, Laurie. Back when I first started reading romance in my teens, there was very little male pov written. I loved the books that had it.
I love friends to love, Trudy. That’s my favorite. And fake engagements that turn into real relationships.
I hope y’all are remembering to click on the Rafflecopter to enter.
What a great post! I’m not a writer, but I enjoy reading about the writing process, and the stages of intimacy. I get to read all those swoony, romantic scenes and stories you amazing authors write. Thanks, Tina, for sharing this!
WINNIE!!!!!! Great to see you here.!
Very interesting! Next time I read a rom book or watch a movie I’m going to pay closer attention and see if I can spot these different stages!
My favorite is when they finally both realize the mutual trust and companionship they have with each other. There’s nothing like seeing love unfold on a deeper emotional level!
Exactly Amelia. That’s what I call the emotional commitment stage. You nailed it.
I love the final admission of love and the sweet kiss!
Looks like a great book.
Awww, Shelia, that’s a good one. Since I know it’s always going to be HEA, I admit I like the middle point. Or the hero’s first shock as he self-realizes he might be in love.
Michelle,
Can’t go wrong with a two-fer.
:)
I like what you said about it’s an emotional journey, not a physical one.
I think I would say the final admission.
Hi Linda!
HEA is a very good thing. “) Thank you for stopping by.
I get turned off by early kisses too. I like the first meet. So many things are communicated in that moments that we do not realize their meaning until later.
Toni Shiloh(Darryl and Luke), Susan May Warren(Knox and Tate), Melissa Tagg(Logan, Bear and Marshall) and Dani Pettrey(Logan)
Sonnetta! Thanks for the referral books, I actually have a few of those. Now adding to my TBR!!!
I actually love reading about what the background and circumstances are that have brought the two together. Then I look forward to reading the epilogue.
I’m a sucker for the epilogue myself, Joy!!!
I love it all. ??
Lucy!!!! How are you? I do too. Just love some parts more than others..but it’s all love, love, love.
There’s a lot to writing a book that I never dreamed of, Winnie. Until I started writing. My brain stays tired. Does yours Tina?
I used to do that, Amelia, back when I was first learning to write. I did it when reading too. It got to where it started ruining books for me, so I had to stop and remember to just enjoy.
I do too, Shelia. But then that means the book is over. I hate when the book is over. But that just means I get to start another. I have two books waiting for me to read once I meet my deadline on the one I’m writing. My reward.
So true Tina. I’m so glad Love Inspired is doing the two-fers. Such a great way for readers to try new authors.
I love that Christian authors get to show that love is supposed to be emotional and not physical.
Hey Sonnetta. Melissa Tagg is one of my favorites. I have all her books except her newest one. I plan on getting it soon.
Yes, Joy. I love discovering the characters’ backstory and what makes them tick.
Good answer, Lucy. Me too.
I have noticed that the couple usually doesn’t kiss until the end of a Hallmark movie but it’s interesting to know the reason why.
Hey, Jessica! Funny, right?????
Me too Jessica. My husband teases me about all the interrupted kisses in Hallmark movies. He always seems to walk through the room when the phone rings. And always says, “Kiss her anyway. What is it with these guys?”
Great article!! Looks like a great book!
Thanks, Carolyn! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Carolyn. Good luck in the drawing.