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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Firsts...

Do you remember your first love? Your first kiss? How about the first romance you ever read?
I remember all three very fondly. Each of them hooked me, made me want to keep coming back for more.


First love... his name was Alfred and he was the preacher’s grandson. I was sure with every fiber of my seven year old self that we were going to be together forever and ever... or at least until after the Robin Hood cartoon was over. I had other loves, more serious heartbreaks and lessons until I met the man that showed me that yes, love really can be all those things I’d read about in my favorite romance novels. But I always remember that first one with a happy sigh.

And my first kiss? Hmm, well, same boy and it went like this. Eyes scrunched close, lips pursed tight, press, count to three and release. I think I might have clapped at the end, but that was more in hopes of calling those singing stars I thought I was supposed to see. My style- --and expectations-- improved over the years. Later first kisses were a lot more fun *g* Fireworks, igniting passion, intense sparks. Oh, yeah baby. That’s how I love them –in real life and in books. Those ‘give in to passion’ moments that are such major turning points for the characters. Aren’t they in real life as well? But that first scrunch faced one? It makes me smile when I think about it.

And my first romance? To be honest, I can’t remember the actual title but the heroine’s name was Gemma. The plot is hazy, but certain scenes are still clear. I can vaguely recall the cover, it’s a foggy green blur (Actually, Anna Campbell’s Untouched reminds me of it –only because of the colors LOL) But this book hooked me. Reeled me in and started me down the path of a lifelong love of romances novels.

The heroine in my recent Blaze had quite a few firsts... first makeover. First hot, sexy affair. First public sex. AS it turns out, she loved all of hers too *g* It was fun recalling my own firsts as I wrote Risqué Business.



How about you? Do you remember your first kiss? First love? First Romance Novel? (I’ll stop there *g* I think this is a PG blog)

33 comments:

Donna Alward said...

First love: my first real love was completely unrequited, and no matter how many boys I crushed on, or dated, they never measured up to this man. Until I met my husband. I think maybe that's how I knew!

First kiss: was unbearably romantic for a girl of fourteen. It was in the winter, in the snow, and we saw a falling star.

And my first Romance: Vows by LaVyrle Spencer. Breathtaking and heart wrenching.

Anonymous said...

Well, my first kiss was in second grade in the hallway. . . and just about my last kiss, actually. LOL

My first romance novel was Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown. A couple books later I picked up my first historical, Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas. :)

Lois

Kara said...

My First Love: Richard in Kindergarten - I thought (in my young mind) he was the one for me. LOL

My First Kiss: Mark in 6th grade - we were walking over a glass bridge in a cave at the Nature Museum.

My First Romance: it was one written by Kathleen Woodiwiss - I don't remember if it was Shanna or The Flame and the Flower.

Beth Andrews said...

What a fun post! My first loves were in kindergarten - I had three boyfriends *g*

First kiss, also in kindergarten. What can I say? I started young. I didn't get kissed again until I was 14 and I have to say that kiss was a huge disappointment.

I don't remember my first romance but I did read teenage romance stories as a kid. They were like category books with new ones each month. I devoured those stories.

One of the ones I remember was called PS I Love You about a girl who falls for a boy with a terminal illness. Very sad.

But then they had a follow up book where she finds another love so I felt much better :-)

Tawny said...

I love that everyone remembers their first romance novel *g*

Thanks for sharing your firsts. Isn't it great how these stick with us, years after the fact. I always think of firsts and the impact when I'm writing - wanting to give this same sort of impact to the first meet, the first kiss, the first love scene - and especially to the first 'I love you'.

Do those stick with you as readers as well?

Dina said...

Hi Tawny,

Sad to say, that I don't remember who I had my first kiss, my first or love I guess it wasn't really love then huh. :) I know if was probably when I was very young and that is why it excapes me now.

I dod know that my first romance book was Harlequin.

Tawny said...

*g* Yay that your first book was a Harlequin, Dina. Nice way to start!

Jane said...

My first romance was Julie Garwood's "The Bride." She remains one of my all time favorite authors.

Tawny said...

Jane, I agree that Julie Garwood rocks. I have a large collection of her books on my keeper shelf, many in hardback (always my testiment to loving an author *g*)

Jessica Y. said...

I love remembering all the "first" things that occur in life and I sure remember the first romance novel I read! ;)

Anonymous said...

First love: I was in grade 3 and basically crushed on this classmate for 5 years.

First boyfriend: Said grade 3 boy who reciprocated the feelings. haha. =)

Love this blog. So cute and endearing really. =)

- Carmen T
carmenalexistsang[at]gmail[dot]com

Nancy said...

Hi, Tawny--a fun post! My first love was a boy in kindergarten and was completely unrequited.

First kiss was in high school, with a boy in the orchestra (I was in the band). He was also a fellow Latin student.

First romance--probably a YA by Janet Lambert or Lenora Mattingly Weber. I don't really remember at this point. I do remember looking for those series (the Parrishes and the Jordans by Lambert and Beany Malone by Weber). I think there are still used copies floating around.

Jennifer Y. said...

My first kiss was in kindergarten...he broke my little heart though.

My first romance novel was For the Roses by Julie Garwood. I was 13 or 14 and didn't realize it was a romance novel when I started reading it so I was very surprised. But I haven't stopped reading them since.

cindysloveofbooks said...

This is such a great topic.

First love was a guy I met the summer of starting High school is name is Dave. (I had many crushes before that)

First kiss was by Dave and it was really sweet we were walking on the beach when he kissed me.

First romance book I read was those teen romance books back in the day. I can't remember the name of it.

darbyscloset said...

I believe the first romance novel I read was "Love Story" .... I guess my first "adult romance story".
Thanks for the trip down the lane!
Darby
darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I hate having to relive the experience of my first kiss as it was absolutely horrendous. He went in with his tongue immediately and it was the slimiest most disgusting thing I had ever encountered in my life up to that point and even still. How dare him initiate me into the magical world of first kisses like that? It was poison-pure poison.

Unknown said...

The boy who filled my pockets full of love notes in kindergarten turned out to be a hottie in high school. First love and kiss was in second grade. A quick, fly-by on the monkey bars. He's a gynecologist now.

Tracy(bookroomreviews) said...

My first kiss was from a boy who chased me on the playground to get one. I remember it vividly
My first romance book was probably Danielle Steele

Beatrice said...

My first kiss was the son of a family friend. Our parents used to have us kiss when we were growing up because they thought it was cute. My first "real" kiss was a guy who I had written to while he was in basic training. He'd gotten back and we met up to hang out and smooch a bit.

My first romance novel: My family was on vacation driving from Kentucky to New Mexico. I ran out of books to read, and a roadside store had romances for a quarter apiece. One of the ones I bought was about harness racing, and I was hooked because I was the typical horse-crazy teen.

Madeleine said...

My first kiss was awsome, I was 14 and I swear I saw train collide, falling stars etc...totally surprised. Of course we eventually moved on to other people but for 35 years we remained friends through writing letters and later e-mails, Belgian chocolates every X-mas. He in Belgium me in the USA.

Happy, happy memories :))

Tawny said...

Awww, I'm loving all these firsts!

Jennifer, grrrrr on that little boy for breaking your heart, though!

Darby, Love Story still makes me cry.

Tawny said...

BlueViolet, um, ick *g* I read a study once that said that first kisses can determine if a relationship has a shot or not. I'm this one didn't.

Carmen, thanks! It was fun to trip down memory lane myself.

Hey Nancy!! Thanks for coming by :-D

Cindy -first love Dave the same as first kiss Dave? And on the beach? *sigh* so romantic!!

Amanda said...

I definitely still remember my first love and my first kiss.

My first love was in first grade. It was a boy named Shane. We hung out with the same kids, sat at the same table, etc. I remember that puppy dog love I had for him and then one day he told us he was moving so he wouldn't be at our school anymore. Needless to say I still remember his full name, what he looked like, everything. Kind of sad I guess haha.

First kiss was also first grade. i had just moved to the area so I was the new girl at school and of course everyone was interested in me. One day one of the boys was chasing me around the playground and then he kissed me. Unfortunately for him my first reaction was to bring my knee up into his crotch. He learned not to kiss me again the hard way. Luckily I grew up and no longer react that way!

I unfortunately can't remember my first romance novel. I just remember being at my grandmother's house and she had a big box of Harlequin Romance novels in one of the closets and I found them. At the time I was reading everything I could get my hands on so I grabbed one and started reading it and then ended up smuggling it home and finishing it later.

Tawny said...

Janel LOL on the fly by on the monkey bars! So cute :-)

Tracy, I remember the playground chases vividly.

My Kingdom... I love how you fell into reading romances!

Madeleine - I'm sighing over how romantic your first kiss was! WOW. And belgian chocolates thereafter? Now that's a great guy!

Tawny said...

Oh wow, Amanda. Bet that little boy took awhile to work up the nerve to kiss another girl. Go you on drawing the line!

Unknown said...

Donna, loved your post. I think that's why you write such wonderful love stories.

My first kiss was the third grade a neighbor boy. We're still friends to this day.

My first romance: A Kate Walker Harlequin Presents

My first love, the same neighbor boy, all throughout our growing up years.

Nise' said...

My first kiss was in Kindergarten. I was sitting on the swing talking with the boy and I did not see it coming. I fell backwards trying to get away from him.

My first romance novel was also Kathleen Woodiwiss but I think it was The Wolf and The Dove.

Anonymous said...

Oh I remember my first kiss. I was 13 and it was a disaster. I had this idea that a kiss was meant to be one of those glorious moments with arms around neck. I think it took me longer to get my arms up there than it did to kiss him lol. Like I said, disaster!

Jena said...

I apparently don't remember my first kiss, but my mother and his mother do--it was a kid in my kindergarten class, and we kissed by the bookshelves (surprise, surprise). First love I'm not even getting into. And first romance book? Mmmmm... nope. Can't remember that, either. But I think I was in 8th grade.

Tawny said...

Jena, ya gotta love a first kiss by the bookshelves :-) Its almsot like a sign... Romance & books, they go together!

LOL Kristina. Teenage boys are notoriously, um, fast.

Nise' OUCH! That is a very painful first kiss.

Marilyn, that is so sweet. Not only the first kiss, but that you've maintained such a lovely friendship over the years.

Tawny said...

Thanks everyone for hanging out today and sharing all your firsts with me :-D This was fun!!!

Sunny said...

Ah...it's so fun revisiting firsts! Not all of mine are fond memories, though. LOL

Kathleen said...

First Kiss: Grade 3 by a school friend

First Real Kiss: Age 11 by my first boyrfriend.

First Person I Thought I loved: boyfriend in high school. We dated 7 months. I thought it was love. I cared deeply for him but I now know it wasn't love.

First Love: my husband. He's my first in most things ;)