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Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Kristen Callihan: Love at First Sight


Do you believe in love at first sight? How about lust at first sight?

In the romance world lust/love at first sight  -or instalove- happens often. And yet there are those who don’t believe this happens in real life.

Try telling this to my husband. Our story goes something like this: We met when I was seventeen and he was twenty-one. I was good friends with his sister, but for some reason, my future husband and I hadn’t yet met. However, his sister had a picture of me. When he saw it, he declared that I was the girl for him and that we were going to be together. Unsurprisingly, this annoyed his sister who retorted that he didn’t even know me; he could very well hate me when we met. My husband was undeterred; he knew what he knew.

A week later, we finally met. For my part, I had no idea why this guy was grinning at me like he knew something I did not. Apparently he did. :)

In FIRELIGHT, my first book of the Darkest London series, the hero instantly recognizes that the heroine is the woman for him. He just has to convince her of it –well that and convince her that he isn’t the murderer everyone believes him to be.

If only everything was so simple… (g)

In MOONGLOW, book two of the Darkest London series, my characters, Ian and Daisy, do not have an instant accord. Ian views Daisy as a pain in the arse –though he does admit that her arse is quite tempting. And Daisy views Ian as a pest, albeit an attractive pest.

“He was so sure she would melt. And for some reason, that spark of confidence in his eyes made her want to take him down a peg. She ought to flirt. Flirting was a well-loved cloak that fit her perfectly. Only now, the very idea of flirting made her ill. Still, she would do it, if it laid a trap for him.
“Hmm. A penny compliment. I’m all astir.”
Sharp canines flashed in the firelight. “Immune, are you?”
“Only when flattery is given by rote.”
“Then I shall have to try harder.”
“Or give up.”
Northrup dimpled, his teeth clicking as his smile grew wolfish. “I never give up.”
He said it lightly, yet a flash of something dangerous, almost feral, lit his eyes, and Daisy wondered at the notion of truly being the object of this man’s obsession. A chill chased over her skin. Rather like being hunted, she thought.
She shrugged, lest he see her disquiet. “There is a fine line between persistence and being a pest, my lord.”
He chuckled, the wild light in his eyes shifting to genuine amusement. “Now why do I suspect you’ve crossed that line more than a few times, my dear?”

Watching these take each other’s measure while slowly falling in love was great fun for me as a writer. I hope their journey will be equally fun for readers as well.

So what about you? Do you believe in lust/love at first sight? Has it happened to you? Or do you prefer to read stories in which love is hard earned? Leave a comment, and be entered to win a signed copy of both FIRELIGHT and MOONGLOW.

Kristen

***Kristen's winner is DonnaS!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing information! Thanks!!***

19 comments:

Dina said...

I do believe in lust/love at 1st site, but like to stories where it is earned

*yadkny* said...

Unfortunately, it hasn't happened to me yet, but I do believe in lust/love at first sight. I also like to read stories that contain this as well as reading stories where love is hard earned... guess it just depends on my mood:)

yadkny@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I certainly believe in lust at first site *g* but not a huge fan of the love at first site as an idea. And it's just because I think that what's on the outside is just one piece of a complicated puzzle. Some authors can make this work wonderfully within a story though, so if it's done well, then I'm a fan.. otherwise... the book can become a hot mess so to speak.

I can't wait for Moonglow! :D (Wait, can I get it signed at RWA by any chance? )

Chrisbails said...

I believe in both and I think people get confused on which is which. Especially when you are young or totally in lust. I know it has happened to me. I love being in love, but being in lust is lots, and lots of fun. This is a new author for me. Both books lookgreat and love the covers. Thanks for the giveaway.
Christinebails@yahoo.com

Barbara E. said...

I believe in lust at first sight, but I'm not so sure about love. :D I like stories where love is hard earned, there might be chemistry, but they have to go through some sort of experiences to figure out that they love each other.

Michele L. said...

Gosh, to believe your in love with someone at first sight, is pretty far fetched because love comes from deep within ones soul. Ok, now lust at first sight can happen as your hormones do the happy dance when that spark hits. That's what happened to my husband and I then we fell in love with one another. So I think lust wins out over love at first sight in my opinion.

Shelley B said...

I like when the h/h have to really work for it. Lots of angst. It starts off with explosive chemistry then slowly moves to love. I like it long and drawn out. Thanks!

LynnPenn said...

I love it when the characters feel an immediate attraction that slowly throughout the book turns to a deep love. The sparks that fly back and forth on the journey keep me reading.

Sassy said...

I believe in an instant 'click', but not love at first sight. My husband I instantly clicked and were engaged 4 months after we met.

molly.frenzel said...

I believe in lust at first sight. I've definitely experienced that a few times(at least). I love reading a story when one character just knows they're in love and they have to convince the other. There's something about male character that knows what he wants without a doubt that draws me like a moth to a flame.

molly(dot)frenzel(at)gmail(dot)com

Kaetrin said...

I like hearing real life stories about love at first sight but its a harder sell for me in fiction. It tends to work better for me when the author shows me why, not just works from a place where it "is". Also, I like to see the couple "being" in love and I do like courtship stories. So instalove can work but it doesn't always, for me.

hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net

Di said...

I believe in attraction/lust at first sight, but real love needs a bit more time to develop as people get to know each other, not just what they look like.
sallans d at yahoo dot com

erin said...

Thanks for a fun post!!! I loved, loved, loved Firelight and I can't wait for Moonglow ;)

I believe in lust at first sight, but the love thing is just lust IMHO. I think that love takes time to get to know each other but the lust definitely contributes!

erin f
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

Mary Preston said...

I believe in attraction & lust at first sight. Love takes time. Love takes commitment.

donnas said...

I do believe in it. Although it hasnt happened to me. And I like both types of stories depending on which fits the characters and story better.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Eli Yanti said...

i believe love in the first sight although it's not happen in my life yet and ni, i dont to like to read stories in which love is hard earned

jo said...

I believe in lust at first sight. Love comes later if your lucky.

CrystalGB said...

I think lust at first sight is possible but I believe love has to develop after you get to know a person. I like a story where the characters have to work for their love.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

Maureen said...

I do believe in love/lust at first sight although it hasn't happened to me.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com