Hello, Inspy Romance family! I’m Erin, and I’ve been a fellow subscriber for the past few years. I enjoy the interaction and have been introduced to a lot of terrific authors and books. I’m humbled and excited to have been invited to join the blogging team. I love contemporary Christian romance and invite you to check out my website at https://www.esqwrites.com/
I’ve been writing fiction for almost ten years. I’m dedicated to celebrating God’s perfect design for the institutions of marriage and family. My stories feature characters who face real struggles and seek to grow in their faith walk. Sometimes the road is filled with twists and turns, but happy endings are always guaranteed.
Is there anything more romantic than a first kiss? In each of the books I’ve written, this is the element I’ve looked forward to the most and probably spent the most time and effort focusing on. Write, read, tweak, repeat…repeat…repeat. In each case, I wanted to get it just right.
In Home to You (book two of the St. Clair Family series), the hero and heroine had a rocky start—in fact, multiple rocky starts. Brandon and Morgan initially met when his brother, Landon, married her sister, Kelsea. After a major misunderstanding, Brandon arrives at Morgan’s office late one afternoon with her favorite flowers (that he consulted Kelsea about; points for you, Brandon!). My plan was for him to apologize, ask Morgan to dinner, and share a romantic first kiss on the porch steps at the end of the evening.
B-o-r-i-n-g, right?
As I was merrily typing along, Brandon suddenly pushed me aside and took over the keyboard (note: we’re in Morgan’s POV):
He stood and helped Morgan to her feet. “I think I owe you a dinner.”
Morgan laughed. “I’m the one who ran out. I owe you a dinner.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Are you free tonight?”
“I could be persuaded.”
“In that case…” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Morgan thought she might faint. “Do you need some more persuading?” he whispered. His eyes sparkled.
Morgan held her breath. I’ll never get another chance like this. Then she nodded, and everything went into slow motion. As he came closer, his amber eyes darkened a shade, and once Morgan closed her own eyes, her other senses took over. The feel of his soft, firm lips on hers, and the solidness of his shoulders as she ran her hands up and over them. His unique, masculine scent. The sound of her sigh as his arms pulled her close, and of his soft answering moan. The taste of his mouth intermingled with hers.
When they finally came apart, he just held her, for which she was grateful. She was definitely experiencing sensory overload.
If Brandon St. Clair kissed her a million more times—and Morgan sincerely hoped that would be the case—she would still remember this kiss for the rest of her life.
What?! A kiss before the first date? Brandon, you’re nuts. I read it, re-read it, made some tweaks, and sighed. OK, Brandon, you were right. Then I retained control of the keyboard, switching to his POV so we could discover what spurred him to make such a bold, unusual move:
Go big or go home. That was his and Landon’s mantra in everything they attempted. The St. Clair brothers had always set big goals in their professional and personal lives, and it was the reason Brandon had been able to so boldly state his intentions to Morgan tonight. And, for heaven’s sake, to kiss her before the date even began. He’d never done anything like that before. But he couldn’t keep his eyes off her rosy lips, and almost before he realized what he was doing, he was kissing her.
That second kiss was really something. Brandon was overwhelmed by her feminine softness, and the way she fit in his arms. Before he could wonder if he was moving too quickly, he realized that she was as eager a participant as he. They were both breathless when they came apart.
Any writer will tell you, sometimes the characters really do take things in a different (and better) direction.
What do you think about this out-of-the-box approach to a first kiss? Have you seen anything similar in another book? What’s your favorite first kiss from an inspirational romance, the one that’s always remained with you?
I’m working this afternoon, so will look forward to replying to your comments when I get home!
Erin has been writing faith-based romance novels for almost a decade. She is published in multiple formats and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), where she has served as a judge, category coordinator, and was a 2021 Carol Award finalist. Grounding her novels in reality, Erin crafts characters who encounter events and hardships familiar to everyone. Her inspirational writing will take the reader down paths of both joy and pain, but always highlighting God’s faithfulness.
Wow, that was a pretty bold first kiss.
The one I remember most was in a Grace Livingston Hill book where the man kissed his fiancee’s sister by mistake. They ended up in a marriage of convenience and the romance that then unfolded was wonderfully sweet and tender. I probably remember that kiss because I loved the rest of the story so much.
Welcome to InspyRomance!
Welcome! I like this! I’ll have to see if this one is in my TBR stack! I honestly don’t remember a favorite first kiss in a book, probably because I read so many books!
Thank you, Milla. The kiss you described has me intrigued. I love seeing what other authors come up with.
Thank you, Trudy. LOL I understand. I read a lot as well and have trouble keeping things straight. I’m glad you enjoyed my post!
Butterflies and sighs. You were smart to listen to Brandon. Nicely done, Erin.
Hello Erin and welcome to Inspy Romance! Love sometimes has a mind of its own. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes.
Thank you, Carol! I’m so glad you popped in.
Thank you, Renate! You’re right about love having a mind of its own.
An interesting blog and romantic kiss.
Congratulations on being a blogger here, Erin. I am looking forward to your insightful posts.
Weclome, Erin. Loved your blog and always welcome a new Christian author, at least new to me. I read a lot of books, also, like another commenter. It’s hard to remember all those first kisses. I have read several blogs where the character takes over. Very interesting. I look forward to getting to know you and your books.
Hi Erin, welcome! I really enjoyed the scene from your book, it’s a great first kiss! I agree with others, I do find it hard to remember which scene is from where because I read quite a lot of different books.
Welcome, Erin. It is wonderful to having you here. I would have to say it was the kiss from Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Ament. God bless you.
Thanks, Gail!
You’re very kind, Barb. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you, Bonnie. I appreciate your kind words!
I’m glad you enjoyed this excerpt, Ruthie. Thank you!
Thank you, Debra. That is an intriguing title! I may have to check it out :)
nice scene
Thank you!
Welcome, Erin. Glad you’re here.
Welcome Erin look forward to getting to know you.
Thank you, Merrillee.
You as well, Jenny.
I liked this kiss before the first date.
In the case of my most recent characters, a pair of teens, they had confessed their love for each other for a couple of months before the conditions were ripe for a first kiss. And if the really first attempt went well, in the second one the angle was wrong calculated and their noses kissed each other instead. He was afraid she would consider him clumsy… but she laughed and said that was the way eskimos kissed, she had read somewhere… So everything was fun and OK.
That sounds like a sweet first kiss for a pair of teens, Marina. Thanks for stopping in!
Hi Erin, Welcome to Inspy Romance! 😊
Thank you, Narelle! I am so happy to be here.