This morningΒ I’m thrilled toΒ welcome Constance Phillips as she shares with us her favorite moments in romances.Β Plus she’s giving us a sneak peek at her newest book,Β All That’s Unspoken.Β Enjoy!
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My Five Favorite Moments of in a Romance Novel
Those of us who read (and write) romance have expectations. There are certain elements of a story that we assume will happen, that we want to see happen. Here is a list of five of my favorite moments.
1)Β Β Β Β The Knowing Glance β I love that moment when two people meet each otherβs gaze. It always causes my breath to hitch and my heart to melt. It may not take up more than a few words in the book, but you know that in that single second two lives will be forever changed.
2)Β Β Β The Moment of Change β This is the moment when one or both people realize they feel something more β something deeper β than friendship for the other person. Thereβs a bit of innocence here. The hero or heroine will likely keep their feelings to themselves for a few pages more, but we, the reader, know whatβs coming soon.
3)Β Β Β The First Kiss β One character takes a chance, acts on the emotions theyβve been keeping to themselves since the moment of change. Time stands still. The heavens smile down on two star crossed lovers. Or maybe itβs just a highly relatable moment, especially for a romantic at heart.
4)Β Β Β The First Moment of Intimacy β This is not only the moment of ultimate connection for our romantic pair, but itβs a moment of vulnerability. Itβs when they cast aside fears and drop walls. It a commitment to move forward togetherβ¦until the black moment, that is
5)Β Β Β The Surrender β The point in time after the black moment when the person who pushed the other away realizes they are an ultimate block head and gives in to their desires despite their fears. It is the promise of the happily ever after.
Iβd love to know what your favorite moment in romantic book or movie is. Please share in the comments.
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All Thatβs Unspoken
By Constance Phillips
A NEXT DOOR category romance,
43k words, sweet contemporary romance,
from Turquoise Morning Press
Blurb:
After eight years, Hailey is back in Caseville Michigan. Just months after her motherβs death, her siblings want to put their father in a nursing home and rent out the family farm. If that wasnβt enough, the prospective tenant is Nate, the high school crush she left behind the day after they acted on their mutual attraction.
After high school, Nate Jenkins planned to leave small town behind, but life dealt him a different hand of cards to play. Heβs now back in Caseville, raising his daughter, and running his familyβs diner. His daughterβs speech disorder has been improved by therapeutic horse riding and if he can lease the old Lambert farm, he can get her a horse of her own. The only standing in the way is Hailey, the same woman who left him eight years ago without even saying goodbye.
Can they get over all thatβs unspoken between them?
Buy Links:Β Β Β Β Β Β
Turquoise Morning PressΒ –Β Β http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/all-that-s-unspoken-by-constance-phillips
B&N –Β http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-thats-unspoken-constance-phillips/1117740801?ean=2940148866978
Donβt forget to sign up for the Constance Phillips Newsletter here !Β Β Β
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Excerpt:
Only when she heard the bell above the door ring out, was she able to unclench her fists and let out the breath that had tightened her chest. Sheβd seen Nate lingering around the edge of the counter with her plate of pancakes in hand but didnβt want him to approach her now.
She really didnβt have it in her to deal with him.
He came forward anyway, and set the plate in front of her. After a hesitation, he asked, βCan I sit for a minute?β
Her eyes fluttered closed, but she gestured to the chair. She heard it scrape against the old worn tile and could feel him just inches away from her.
βIβm sorry your dadβs health is on the decline. Iβve always really liked him. It stinks, you know.β
She took a deep breath; maybe they could talk as old friends and ignore the complications of the night theyβd spent together. βI donβt think heβs that bad. Jake and Kelly are overreacting.β
He twisted his hands on his lap. βI can see how you would think that. Some days when I see him, heβs sharp as nails. Othersβ¦.β
Her phone vibrated against the table. The habit to check the ID won out against the desire meet Nateβs stare. An eight-hundred number flashed, twisting Haileyβs stomach into knots. Another bill collector wanting to take the money she was trying to stretch just a little further, hoping to get through a few more weeks. She hit the button to ignore the call.
βI overheard what you said about your dad wanting the property to stay the same,β Nate said. βIβll take real good care of the place and wonβt change a thing. I love that farm the way it is.β
That brought her attention back. βWhat are you talking about?β
βIβve been talking to Jake about renting the house.β
She took in his deep brown eyes and almost black hair. It was cropped short like he was trying to beat-the-heat, even if the average temperature this week was somewhere around ten degrees. Much shorter than he wore it in high school. The neatly trimmed beard and mustache were new too.
He looked older. More settled.
How ironic.
Theyβd both thought this small town would smother them back then.
For a fleeting moment it comforted her to picture Nate cooking in her familyβs kitchen, and then she realized it wouldnβt be her house anymore. Sheβd be on the outside looking in. βIt feels like everything is being taken away from me.β
His body stiffened as he pulled back. βItβs not like Iβm stealing it. Iβm going to pay you for it.β
βThis isnβt about money!β
βThen what is it about?β
She reached for her purse and fumbled for her wallet with trembling hands. βEveryone seems to think that just because I donβt live here, I donβt have a voice, but youβre all wrong.β She threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table. βI didnβt leave the planet, I moved to New York. I didnβt abandon my family, but it feels like they think so. Iβm sick of being treated like an outside in my hometown, in my family home, in my own life.β
She stood and tried to turn, but he grabbed her wrist. Looking back would weaken her resolveβNate had always had that effect on herβbut she did it anyway.
βPlease, it would mean a lot to Loriβ¦and me.β
His daughter. The child heβd had with someone else. She couldnβt stand the thought of the two of them in her living room without her.
Why did it hurt so much?
It wasnβt as if he left her. Sheβd pursued and claimed the future sheβd always wanted.
Hadnβt she?
If everything sheβd attained had been all she ever wanted, why was it tearing her in two to know Nate had gone on with his life without her? It wasnβt as if sheβd expected he wouldnβt. She should be happy he was settled. Instead, it made her long for that place next to him even more.
A lump formed in her throat, making speech impossible. Instead, she headed for the door.
βThatβs right, Hailey. Run away. Itβs what you do best!β
His words stopped her, and she twisted back. βI what?β
βRun. Away. When the pieces of your life donβt come together like a neat little puzzle, you scatter them all around you and stomp out of the room.β
She bristled at the venom in his voice. βThatβs not what happened.β
βOh, no. You handled it so well, just breezed out of town with no concern for those you left behind.β
They werenβt talking about her father or her house anymore. This was about how sheβd reacted eight years ago, when the feelings got too real.
Just as they were now.
βI care, dammit!β She let out a long exhale. βI always have.β
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Author Info:
Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, daughter, and four canine kids. Her son, now on his own, is planning a wedding, reconfirming that romance still lives and breathes.
When not writing stories of finding and rediscovering love, Constance and her husband spend the hours planning a cross-country motorcycle trip for the not-so-distant futureβ¦if they can find a sidecar big enough for the pups.
Links:
website: Http://constancephillips.com
twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CPhillips
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConstancePhillipsRomanceAuthor?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470282.Constance_Phillips
pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phillipsconnie/boards/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/ConstancePhillips
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Giveaway:
Constance Phillips is giving away a $25 Amazon GC and an ebook copy of a title from her backlist (Fairyproof, Council Courtship, or Resurrecting Harry).
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c7458f11/
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Romantic Reads and Such 