Lovers Month Poem and Giveaway: Remembrance of Love by PJ Bayliss
Remembrance of Love
Could you recall a better time?
when laughter spilt like red wine,
the flowers bloomed on our table,
holding each other whenever able.
Could you imagine better days?
rolling amidst summer hay,
gentle kisses upon the beach,
>never being too far from reach.
Would you relive those late nights?
your eyes lighting up upon sight,
midnight air thick with romance,
heels softly clicked as we danced.
Can you remember all the gifts?
if they were received with a kiss,
were they ever your most wanted,
or even make your heart grow fonder.
Will you remember times of love?
when neither could give enough,
frantic pleasure amidst the zest,
when every time became the best.
Will you remember days of past?
when our love will forever last,
cherished moments when we’re old,
our souls warmed up from bitter cold. Read More…
Lovers Month Poem: My Daughters Hand by D.E. Brooks
My Daughters Hand
seen the first time
in black and white
grainy image
behind your hand you hide
thumb in mouth
already so soon
seeking comfort
from in the womb
next time seen
in living color
flailing wildly
tiny fist opening
reaching out
holding tight
so much strength
so much fight
even today
your hand so small
five years young
prints on the wall
leaving your mark
with paint and words
learning to write
stories and poems
reaching out for comfort
sharing your joy
pulling me along
to show me your toy
hand in hand
walking the beach
into the water
for the shell you reach
you hold my heart
in your tiny hand
from the time you were no bigger
than that grain of sand
for my sweet L.
I love you.
c.2013 D.E.Brooks
You may find more works from D.E. Brooks on her blog, The Red Velvet Chair.
Lovers Month Poem: this. by Mirabella
This.
Cradled against his chest
Crook of his arm, head rest
His hand clutching breast
Long since undressed
Silence, save my sigh
His hand caressing upper thigh
Wouldn’t dare move or try
Enjoying afterglow high
Nestled in tight
Holding me with might
His arms feel just right
Not moving rest of night
His fingers tracing line
Learning every incline
Suits me just fine
Knowing he’s mine
Think I’ll just stay
Love being held this way
Heart continues to sway
Couldn’t drag me away
Love known to few
Indebted to you
Everything that you do
Feel your love true
So baby let’s just BE
Just you and me
Together a ‘we’
Loving completely
Stealing one more kiss
Contented submiss
Undeniable bliss
This is love. This.
Want to read more from Mirabella? Visit her site at belong2sir.wordpress.com/
Lovers Month Guest Post: Andrew Shaffer
I was a newlywed before I realized I didn’t know much about “love.” I only knew about it in the abstract, but I had no idea how to make it last.
I started my first book with the idea that if anyone could teach us about a concept as abstract as love, philosophers—the original “lovers of wisdom”—should be at the top of the list. Slowly, however, a pattern began to emerge: No matter how brilliant their minds, philosophers were just fumbling around in the dark when it came to their own romantic relationships. In other words, they were human. This idea eventually evolved into Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love, a tongue-in-cheek look at the disastrous love lives of history’s greatest minds.
Researching and writing about doomed love affairs took its toll on me. By the time I turned in the final draft, I was ready to write a book about positivelove stories.
Unfortunately, on a long enough timeline, and under close enough inspection, we’ve all “failed” at love to some degree. Breakups, unrequited crushes, cheating—all are normal parts of our lives, at one time or another. Maybe even healthy parts of our lives, depending on how we react to them. Do we grow? Do we learn? Or do we repeat our mistakes?
Romance novels are the one place where love stories are always guaranteed to end on an upbeat note. After finishing Great Philosophers, I started reading them as a sort of palate-cleanser. While I approached romance novels as a curiosity at first, I found they weren’t as poorly written or as stereotypical as the clench covers had led me to believe. To my astonishment, many were good—and a few were great. Just like any literary genre, in my experience. Read More…
Lovers Month Guest Post: Sylvain Reynard
“Courtly Love” by Professor Gabriel O. Emerson, Associate Professor of Italian Studies, University of Toronto.
Sex and love are not the same.
I’ve lectured on this subject in the past and usually, my claim is accepted without argument. What’s more difficult to defend is the claim that one can enjoy romantic love without engaging in sex.
Most people would point out that when you fall in love with someone, you want to have sex with them. Many times. Or constantly.
It isn’t easy to understand why a pair of romantic lovers would forego sex and remain in love. But I study the life and works of Dante Alighieri, who was enmeshed in a non-sexual romantic relationship with a woman, Beatrice Portinari, that lasted for years. So as much as I find it difficult to believe that one can have romantic love without sex, I’m forced to confront that reality on a daily basis.
“In that part of the book of my memory before which little can be read, there is a heading, which says: ‘Incipit vita nova: Here begins the new life’. Under that heading I find written the words that it is my intention to copy into this little book: and if not all, at least their essence.” (La Vita Nuova, Dante Alighieri, Book I, Trans. A. S. Kline.)
So begins Dante’s account of how his new life began when he met Beatrice at the tender age of nine. He declares that since that moment Love governed his soul.
The courtliness of Dante’s love is understandable when he’s young but when he meets Beatrice again when they are both adults, it’s much more difficult to understand. In fact, Dante describes their meeting like this, “She greeted me so virtuously, so much so that I saw then to the very end of grace.”
We could, perhaps, dismiss Dante’s fascination with Beatrice as a kind of religious experience, given his language. But he goes on to describe a vision that he has in which she is naked and wrapped in a crimson cloth, and held in the arms of man who declares himself to be Dante’s lord.
Lovers Month Poem: Love by Darwin Blake
When lovers meet, become entwined.
What do you think goes through their minds?
What wonders spark that simple thing?
They lie there, stand there…oh such things.
Such delights and pleasure held.
Something special yet withheld.
Someone standing in the dark?
Watching, waiting, taking part?
Eyes grow wide when its unleashed.
Head rolls back when she does that.
Bitten tightly is that lip.
When he curls around her hip.
When she says to him…how’s that?
Does he answer?
Not a chance.
Deep in thought of how to return.
That act of love she gave to him.
What to do?
What to say?
Nothing is the only way.
Let your mouth, hips, fingers too.
Do the talking you need to do.
Dance across her skin so light.
Gentle touches, her delight.
Plunge yourself between the sheets.
Between her folds, her warmth beholds.
Make her feel just like a Queen.
If you do, she will return.
Every day and every night.
Bring each other true delight.
Bring that crashing crescendo.
That flourish as she begs you so.
Give it all and in return.
You’ll get the greatest prize of all.
Love.
My Book Boyfriend, a very hard decision. by Karen Everett
I am supposed to write about my dream date with my dream book boyfriend, only problem I’m stuck. So for awhile now I’ve been mentally reviewing the cast of potential book boyfriends.
The first book boyfriend that came to mind was Professor Gabriel Emerson from Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture. He is intellectual and handsome. Oh how I would love to pick his brain. We could talk art, poetry, and books; plus we could debate single malt vs. blended scotch and then drink it. But, alas Gabriel likes women he can slay dragons for. I unfortunately slay my own dragons, cut off their heads, and chop them into little bits. So sorry Prof, you are marked off my list. Oh how my heart just sunk.
The second book boyfriend that I thought of was Cash, the reason being the bathroom scene in Down To You by M. Leighton. Yes, Cash is sexy and dangerous, but same problem I had with Emerson, Cash is an alpha-male, who rescues gals. I have never needed rescuing in my life. So despite the bathroom scene and the VIP room, bye bye Cash. Wait, before I depart…….*looks toward bathroom* No, better not.
Who to pick? Who to choose? First love? Maybe? My first book boyfriend was Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty. I was four years old, and he was a much older man. He was dashing in his red cape, and he really did slay a dragon, Maleficent. He even liked the menagerie of woodland creatures Briar Rose had, definitely a possibility. Too bad even at four I was the kick-ass type of girl. Get in a jam, had my handy dandy intellect and cowgirl- up attitude to get me out of it. Bye Phillip. Loved your hat too!
Maybe I should move over to paranormal men; they all seem to like kick-ass women. Oh yes, Curran Lennart from the Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews. He loves kick-ass girls who can hack things up. This might work. He is sexy and alpha. He does get fuzzy, as in cat form, but I really am more of a dog person. Damn, he was perfect too. He would have loved my rip-off heads and take names; pushy is my first, middle, and last name personality. But, alas bye Curran, I really am a dog person. Plus cats make me sneeze. Achooo.
Thinking. Thinking. Oh bother. Eureka! I know who my book boyfriend is. The guy who made me smile with his first line, who thumped my heart as he reminded me of the guy who is truly mine. Trick from The Wild Ones by M. Leighton. He’s cute, witty, sexy, sweet, and can ride a horse; he even has a smart-ass streak. Plus, he is a nice guy. Yes, an honest to goodness sweetheart of a guy; they do exist. Move over Cami, *elbow her out of my way* I’ve never been thrown from a horse. But due to an itty bitty snake, I stay on my mounts. I can even show Trick how to properly tack a horse. *Pet Peeve* just ignore it. We can go riding, and I can put him through his paces; hey get your minds out of the gutter, horseback riding, see how good his seat really is. Since he wants to breed Quarter Horses, I’ll see if he can cut or rein, see want he’s like under saddle. I need to see if he is qualified and is willing to take him for a spin or two. The poor guy did start out with Thoroughbred horses. That is a minus in my book (hangs head); I’ll overlook it for you Trick. So Trick, you are my guy; I think you could use me in your life. So BYE Cami, you were a sweet girl; but anyone who comes off a horse because of a little ole rattler loses her boyfriend. Trick is MINE! Cowgirl Up.
My Valentine’s Day Date with Kellan Kyle from the Thoughtless Series by S.C. Stephens
Devin Paisley is my Kellan Kyle
Is it any coincidence that the two oldest and longest married members of LLL are posting on the same day? Talk about a lot of pressure! Ugh, I am not a writer, and I will never become a writer. 
Sweet Lover Amanda came up with this great concept, which I think is fantastic, but I prefer to keep some things more private and in my head. Plus, when I told my husband what I had to write, he looked at me as if I had three heads! He has no idea what a book boyfriend even is, and he really doesn’t have a reason to know either. He is just happy that he is the beneficiary of my “smut” reading.
Anyhow, I remember the date as if it were yesterday: June 19, 2012. That was the day Kellan Kyle entered my life and became my “book boyfriend.” Kellan has such a way with words that my heart melts, and I just want to hold him tight and never let him go.
“I know that I have to be with you. Everything else is just…details.”
“I want to be someone’s everything. I want fire and passion, and love that’s returned, equally. I want to be someone’s heart.”
“I’ve never wanted anyone, like I want you. Every girl is you to me. You’re all I see…you’re all I want.”
So my ideal date with Kellan would actually be pretty simple because I’m a simple kind of girl. I don’t like diamonds (I know, gasp!) because “everyone has one.” I don’t like expensive gifts, and I don’t like flowers because they die so quickly. I’m more practical. So in my mind here’s how my date with Kellan on Valentine’s Day played out:
Kellan picked me up at 4:00 PM sharp in his Chevelle. I slid over to sit right next to him on our drive so I could enjoy his sweet aroma. I had no idea where we are going, but with Kellan planning our day, I have no doubt that it will be perfect. Anything with Kellan is perfect. He told me to dress casually and take along a hoodie in case I got chilled. Of course, I always have him to snuggle up against to keep me warm. The radio is playing one of my favorite classic tunes, Faithfully, by Journey! Of course, Kellan is singing along. I love to hear him sing.
After a short drive, we pulled into a beautiful park where the flowers had just started blooming. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, complete with a blue sky, no clouds, and a blazing sun.
Kellan parked the car, and he and I both slid out of the driver’s side door. He immediately opened the trunk and pulled out a plaid blanket and a picnic basket as well as his guitar. Again, this is why I love this man. Simple and sweet.
We walked hand in hand to a spot near a beautiful tree. Kellan laid out the blanket, and we immediately sat down. Of course, curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn’t wait to see what he had packed in the picnic basket. Inside I found mini sandwiches, fruit, brownies, and some champagne. But I wasn’t hungry right now. I just wanted to spend time with Kellan.
Kellen slipped off my shoes, grabbed some lotion that was in the side pouch of the picnic basket, and immediately began massaging my feet. He knows me so well and the fact that my feet are one of my erogenous zones. The movement of his thumbs on my arch is so sensual that he could make me purr like a kitten. During my foot massage, we talked about all kinds of things, the weather, books that I had read, the upcoming tour, and songs that he was writing. I wondered if Kellan was going to pull out his guitar, and I wanted to beat him to the punch with my Valentine’s Day surprise.
So I immediately stood up and told Kellan to remain seated. I told him that I wanted him to know how I felt about him and began singing this song all the while locking eyes with him:
If there were no words, no way to speak, I would still hear you
If there were no tears, no way to feel inside, I’d still feel you
And even if the sun refused to shine,
Even if romance ran out of rhyme,
You would still have my heart until the end of time
You’re all I need, my love, my valentine
All of my life I have been waiting for all you give to me
You’ve opened my eyes and shown me how to love unselfishly
I’ve dreamed of this a thousand times before
In my dreams I couldn’t love you more
I will give you my heart until the end of time
You’re all I need, my love, my valentine
And even if the sun refused to shine,
Even if romance ran out of rhyme,
You would still have my heart until the end of time
‘Cause all I need is you, my valentine
You’re all I need, my love, my valentine
Kellan immediately began packing up the contents of the picnic basket and threw my shoes in there as well. Then he picked me up like some caveman, threw me over his shoulder, grabbed the basket, blanket, and guitar and jogged over to the Chevelle. He gently placed me back on my feet and ran to the back of the car to put the items in the trunk.
I opened the driver’s side door, slid in, and then Kellan joined me. He placed one hand on each side of my face and made me look into his piercing eyes. He said, “Michelle, that was the most beautiful song I have ever heard, and you have no idea how turned on I am right this minute from watching and listening to you sing the words from your heart. Now let me take you back to my place and show you how much I love you.”
My Date with Sin
A Book Boyfriend….is there such a thing? Is it possible to be so emotionally invested in a fictional book that the characters become more than just words on a page?
These are questions I’ve asked myself over the years. Pondering such existence usually happened when I’d stumble upon those awe gushing reviews of the newest chart busting novel and its leading man, or when I happened upon whispered conversations- that could be compared to teenage ramblings- down the aisles of my favorite book store. It was chatter such as this that caused me, on several occasions, to choke my laughter down for fear of a lynch mob forming who will undoubtedly come after me for not being the newest member of the Crazy Club. I swore they were everywhere and I just didn’t get it.
I am a reader- this is not news- and have enjoyed many novels over the years. I’ve experienced stories that made me laugh and do the ugly cry (yes, there is such a thing and we’ve all done it) over a simple moment in fictional time BUT, I’ve never found one that made me feel like we could be anything more than just Reader and Fiction. Well, that is until now.
I am here to tell you that yes book boyfriends do exist and yes, I have become one of those crazy women who silently consider what it would be like to meet these all-too-real characters who’ve now taken up residence in my head.
Wait.
Did I just admit that on the internet?! *sigh*
So, now that that’s out there and before the urge to go hide in the corner completely suffocates me, I guess I should introduce you all to MY book boyfriend…Mr. Griffin Fiske. Isn’t he a dreamboat? Say “Hi” Griffin. 
For those of you who have not made his acquaintance don’t worry, it’s not too late. He -and the best cast of Sinners a girl could ask for- will certainly make it worth your while thanks to their creator and genius writer Ms. Tiffany Reisz. The first thing you need to do is grab a copy of The Siren here, (by Tiffany Reisz of course) and then proceed to hold onto your britches because she’s going to blow them away. And trust me when I say this… you’ll love it and will be begging her for more.
*cough* You’re welcome.
Just leave the pants off next time, they won’t be needed.
Of course once she has you by the short ones, you will have no choice but to consume The Angel and then The Prince. The good news is, you will survive and I can guarantee that you too will want at least one (if not all) of her Sinners to come along with your shiny new membership card to the Crazy Club. Now, you want to know why the handsomely stunning Griffin is THE best book boyfriend? He never comes alone. Enjoy! (I know I certainly did)
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