Timing is everything, right? It certainly was at the beginning of my relationship with my husband of 21 years. After spending months internalizing a painful break-up, I began attending a local dance. My family said I needed a social life, but I didn’t believe them. They were right. I found fun again. And I met my husband there. Except that, for the longest time, I was a flirty snob. I would actually dance with him and be checking out the rest of the room. Ouch!Â
A long time later (I’m ashamed to admit it was two years) he saw me at a local restaurant and asked me to save him a dance the next week. I’m not sure what set off the spark that lit inside me that night, but it hit with a vengeance and has never let up since. We’ve been together 26 years now and I’m so grateful he waited for me.
Which is my way of proving that, in life as well as in romance stories, you need more than just a spark. You need it timed for maximum effect. In my newly released book, Pirate’s Promise, which is the sequel to Stolen Treasures, Hawk and Julia both have a lot of reasons to fight their attraction to each other. And finally, on a sultry night in a tropical village, the flame ignites and there is no turning back for either of them. They try, but the fire is unquenchable.
 Here’s a little bit about Hawk and Julia’s story:
 Three promises.    Two Lives on the edge.    One undeniable love.
Everything attorney Julia Branholt has worked for is about to tank thanks to one stubborn, bull-headed pirate named Hakon “Hawk†Thoralssen. It’s n
ot enough that she’s forced to take him on as yet another pro bono case, but someone bails the man out in her name. This ethical nightmare could mean disbarment…and the end to a promise she made her father. So Julia goes rogue and follows Hawk.
When sabotage threatens to destroy the home of his late wife, Hawk rushes to save the village. He didn’t bargain on a hot-tempered attorney following him. Especially not one who fills him with a heat he’s chosen to deny.Â
 The only way to save Tierra Bonita means working together. Can this village of kind-hearted, affectionate people draw Hawk and Julia out of their self-imposed isolation and open their hearts to new promises?
 And a quick excerpt from the point in their relationship where they give in to the spark.
  He reached for her, then stopped. God help him. He didn’t want Julia to go. He wanted… Damn it. He wanted more than he had a right to ask. This woman had fought with him, and for him, ever since they’d met. Now she fought for his village. Maria’s village.
He wasn’t ready to let go of the past. Hell, he probably never would be. He couldn’t give Julia what she wanted, what she needed.
He moved closer. Neither could he resist her.
Hawk touched her hair and shivers threaded his veins with heat. He felt the warmth flood his face and spread through his body until it lodged like a red-hot stake in his groin.
It seemed natural to caress her cheek.
Julia’s arms were a barrier between them. Her head came up and his heart cracked at the unshed tears. Instinct took over as Hawk shut the door on yesterday and vowed, for now, to live in the moment. He leaned down and kissed lips that had invaded his dreams for days.
She pushed against him and held his gaze for one long, hard minute. Then, the barrier gave way. Her arms snaked their way around his head and pulled him down to renew the kiss.
She parted her lips and it was his undoing. Hawk responded with all the lust and emotion pent up within him since first setting eyes on her. He devoured her and she welcomed him with her response.
 What about you? Do you have a story to tell about that first spark? Or a book recommendation that really times that spark well? I’d love to hear about it. Â
Many thanks to Coffee Thoughts for having me here today. And please, feel free to stop by and visit my website or join me on Facebook or Twitter. Here’s the particulars:
Website: http://www.laurieryanauthor.com/
Facebook:Â http://bit.ly/9HIfroÂ
Twitter:Â http://twitter.com/lryanauthor
- About the Author
- Posts in the Past
Laurie Ryan writes sensual stories about dreamy heroes and heroines that rise to the challenge. Her first story, Stolen Treasures, was released in 2009. The sequel, Pirate’s Promise, is available summer, 2010.
Laurie calls the Pacific Northwest home, along with her sexy, he-can-fix-anything husband and their gray tabby, Dude. She enjoys each season of the year and, especially, curling up with a cup of cocoa and a good story on a cold winter’s day.
Sometimes you have to hit the flint a handful of times before the sparks really burst into flame! Adds to the sexual tension, right? 😛
Yes, sometimes all it takes is a spark to light a fire. My hubby and I met when I was 14 and he was 16. I watched him make an over-the-shoulder catch of a high fly ball in a baseball game and that was it! 26 years of wedded bliss!
Love your excerpt!
Laurie, you’re right it’s a spark that lights a fire. I loved both of your pirate series and I’m anxiously waiting the the next one. The way the stories move, and the characters come alive is testament to an inspired author.
Lavada
Hi Laurie, the sparks between my husband and I began slowly and got hotter as time went on. I first saw him singing kareoke (sp?)a slow romantic Garth Brooks song. We went out for hot cocoa after that, had dinner at a friends house and somehow managed to take it slow, for awhile. Then came the night were were walking alone in the park, moonlit walks in the park can be “so” romantic. Then he leaned down and gave me our first kiss. My heart’s been his every since.
Man, I hope this isn’t too much info for this blog, forgive me if it’s too racy. Thanks for inviting me over and good luck to you Laurie.
Monica,
You’re not kidding. Hitting the flint, eh? That’s a GREAT way to describe it. 🙂
Julia,
Hi! It’s good to see you here. And how cool that you married your teenage sweetheart. And thanks for the compliment on my excerpt. I’m so in love with my pirate and the angst he goes through over his red-headed, hot-tempered attorney.
Lavada,
Thank you for the high praise! I’m writing #3 as we speak. Well, I did take a bit of a break to answer your comment. Now back to the work in progress. Thanks for stopping by.
Laurie
Hi Laurie!
I’m leaving you a comment just to let you know that I stopped by and enjoyed your blog! I give that as my reason because I have had no lasting sparks in my life, to speak of. The spark has happened, but it didn’t last. Probably why I write romance. The spark’s there!
Had a busy day and couldn’t read your post until now. It was worth the visit and and I enjoyed the excerpt. I look forward to reading both books, and the third when it comes out.
Debby,
Is there such a thing as too racy? 🙂 And no, your story of the courtship with your husband was inspiring, not racy. Thanks for sharing!
Janette,
You’ll find your lasting spark, I’m sure. In the meantime, checking out hot bods on romance covers is a fun past time, eh? Thanks for stopping by.
Marion,
It’s so good to see you here. And thank you for the wonderful compliment.
Lovely story of how you met the main man of your life, Laurie! Yes, I see why you are writing romances… they are so hopeful, too! All the best in your story telling!
Theresa,
It’s great to see you here. Yes, I love romances. They not only make a person feel good at the happily ever after, but they also remind us of our own happy memories. Thanks for stopping by!
When I was sixteen, I first spotted my husband when he volunteered to run a charity event. I wondered what his ulterior motive was, since he dressed like a juvenile biker wannabe(as in motorcycles). I know, books-and-covers and all that. Learned my lesson when, having already volunteered to help with publicity for the event, I got to know him for the hero-in-badboy-clothing he really was. Also learned I had no idea what my ‘type’ of boy was when unexpected sparks began to fly! LOL
Great post!! And the story sounds great too!!! I met my husband when I was 17. I was hanging out with some friends and he was just there. I knew his younger sisters. I kinda thought he was an arrogant jerk..so I didn’t pay much mind. But then a few weeks later, we got to talking and found we had a lot in common. The rest is history! Been together 15 years, married almost 12. 🙂
Sarah,
Oooh! A biker hero. There’s nothing better! Thanks for commenting and telling us your story. I love happy endings. 🙂
Stephanie,
Hi! Thanks for stopping by. It’s rare for young love to survive these days, it seems, so I love hearing the success stories!