What's
in a Romance?
Since February is the month for romance, with Valentine’s
Day and such ? What is the most romantic book you’ve ever
read – and what scene in the book pushed it to the top of
the romance scale for you. Send me the title of the book, and
the text from the scene that just “did” if for you…
I’ll draw one winner on Valentine’s Day for a very
special prize – and post the titles and scenes submitted.
Come on put on your thinking caps – which book – which
hero or heroine – which scene melted your heart and made
you sigh and say “Now that’s’ true love.”
Here is my pick:
KINGDOM OF DREAMS by Judith McNaught:
In this scene we have the heroine, Jennifer Merrick Claymore,
having fled to her room to avoid watching her husband destroy
her kinsmen in a tournament. The hero’s brother, Stefan
Westmoreland is determined she return the tournament and watch
her husband Royce, The Duke of Claymore.
(excerpt from Kingdom of Dreams, Judith McNaught, Pocket Books,
Copyright March 1989
“Her heart and mind ravaged by divided
loyalty, she stood where she was, unable to see the field but
able to hear what was happening. Based on the prolonged ugly jeering
coming from the crowd – a sound that was becoming more pronounced
at the end of each match –they weren’t getting much
of a show from the loser of each match. Evidently her Scots weren’t
even worth a bit of polite applause …”
She jumped as the door to her bedchamber was
flung open and crashed into the wall. “Get your cloak,”
Stefan Westmoreland snapped ominously, “you’re coming
back to that field with me if I have to drag you there!”
“I’m not going back,” Jennifer
countered, turning to the window again. “I have no stomach
for cheering while my husband batters my family to pieces, or
---“
Stefan grabbed her shoulders and spun her around,
his voice like a savage whiplash: “I’ll tell you what’s
happening! My brother is out there on that field dying! He swore
he’d not raise his hand against your kinsmen and, the moment
they realized that during the tournament, your precious kinsmen
massacred him!” he said between his teeth, shaking her.
“They tore him to pieces in the tournament! And now he’s
jousting – Do you hear that crowd jeering? They’re
jeering him! He’s so badly injured; I don’t think
he knows any more when he’s been unhorsed. He thought he’d
be able to outmaneuver them in the jousts, but he can’t,
and fourteen more Scots have challenged him.”
Jenny stared at him, her pulse beginning to race
like a maddened thing, but her body was rooted to the floor, as
if she was trying to run in a nightmare.
“Jennifer” he said hoarsely, “Royce is letting
them kill him.” His hands bit painfully into her arms, but
his voice broke with anguish. “He is out there on that field,
dying for you. He killed your brother and he’s paying ---“He
broke off as Jennifer tore free from his grip and started running
….
Okay, you’re wondering where the romantic scene
is? Is there anything more romantic than man willing to sacrifice
his pride – his very life to prove his love? “sigh”.
The scene outlined above left me in tears the first time I read
it – and the story is one of my all time favorite historical
romances. And I can honestly say in the dozen times I’ve
re-read the book – I never walk away dry-eyed. Without a
doubt one of the best romances ever written.
So that’s my favorite romance – and what
I consider a very powerful scene in the book. What’s yours?
Send your entry to : terrie_figueroa@romrevtoday.com
Happy Reading
Terrie
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