Did Someone Say Romance?

Welcome to the hop, everybody! Lots of romance for discussion on this one, huh? I love romance novels and I've always been a sucker for a love story. Be sure and check out the other blogs and enter for chances to win great prizes. See the photo of the swag pack! In fact, I even have a prize for you myself: an advanced reader e-copy of The Sky Pirate's Wife which won't be available to the public until September 17. The other prizes available are:

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: The Swag Pack!

Today, in keeping with the usual bid-ness around here, I'm presenting you with The Friday Five - Five Quotes About Love. Here we go:

♥ "Love is everything it's cracked up to be…It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for." - Erica Jong, O Magazine, February 2004

♥ "One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." - Sophocles (496 BC - 406 BC)

♥ "Doubt thou the stars are fire; 

Doubt that the sun doth move; 

Doubt truth to be a liar; 

But never doubt I love." - William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), Hamlet, Act II, sc. 2 (Bonus points* if you tell me which character said this. *Bonus point have no real value toward anything.)

♥ "Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination." - Voltaire (1694 - 1778)

♥ "Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river." - Malagasy Proverb

Okay, if you've stuck through my mushy loves quotes, I have a quick scene from The Sky Pirate's Wife to share with you and then you can leave a comment and enter for your chance to win an AReC of the book before it hits Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Ready?

Coming September 17, 2012

        “Come, Sophie. Stand here.”

“Where you are?” She shook her head. “No, I think I'll stay here and watch.”

“I insist. Consider it your first lesson in flying.”

“We'll crash. I'll mess up the instruments,” she warned. “I don't want to be responsible for bringing down an entire airship.”

“I won't let that happen.” Van Buren let go of the wheel and captured her hand, pulling her closer. She had no hope of resisting and didn't try very hard. He put his hands on her shoulders, positioning her in front of him. “Left hand at ten o'clock, right hand at two o'clock.”

She did as he asked, feeling awkward and jittery. “Like this?”

“Grip it harder. Firm, but comfortable. It will pull a little when they set us free from the lash lines.” Van Buren placed his hands over hers. His chest brushed against her back.

Sophie's breath caught in her throat. He wouldn't try to kiss her where everyone could see, would he? A spicy bay rum fragrance surrounded him; the scent of a man who spent his life carrying exotic cargo. His hands almost engulfed hers, gentle but firm enough to ensure she wasn't about to flee. As if she could force herself. She tried to toss the thoughts out. Surely he was focused on flight, not on her.

“I don't think this is a good idea,” she whispered.

“You'll be surprised.” He sounded so confident. A rumble started behind them and the ship shook under her feet.

Her heart was in her throat. “What is it?”

“The propellers. You'll get used to it. Now, hold tight.”

She didn't have a choice, because his hands still covered hers. The wheel tipped to one side and he straightened it. The ship groaned and Sophie's heart leaped when she saw the dock slip past them.

“We're moving!”

“That is the idea.” His mouth was next to her ear. From the corner of her eye she saw his smile. Wonder filled her as the ship drifted into midair. It bobbed a bit, dropping a few inches before popping back up. “The balloon isn't as full as it is when we're in open air. It will take a couple of hours to fully inflate then we'll gain altitude.”

They floated above a level field where long grass grew. In the distance, two ships were coming in, but no one else was leaving. Alone in the sky, they climbed higher steadily.

“What do the gauges do?” she asked.

Van Buren removed his right hand from hers and pointed at the leftmost dial. “This one is air temperature. Right now, it's seventy-eight degrees. The one on the right of it is the wind speed; it's about fifteen miles an hour. That's good because we're going against it. We don't have to use much force to push through. This one is our speed. Three knots until we're safely away from the city. And the compass to make sure we're headed the correct direction.”

“Like on a sea ship.” She beamed up at him, proud she had some knowledge to bring to the helm.

“Aye. This little box is just like the 'gram machine in the office. We program it to the nearest dock and they report the weather to us so we know what to expect.”

“What are we expecting?” The idea of storms made her nervous. She'd never traveled in bad weather before.

He pulled open a drawer beneath the helm and flipped through a logbook. “We chart the weather in this. It helps us figure average temperatures throughout the years. Whoever received the last weather report wrote down sunny for today, overcast tonight. Maybe some rain tomorrow, but nothing more than light showers.”

Sophie looked at the book in his hands. No one held the wheel but her. “Alwin! You let go.”

He grinned. “You're doing fine, zoete. Keep her steady, she's climbing on her own.”

It wasn't the idea of being the only thing that stood between them and another flaming airship wreck that made her tremble. It was his smile. The kind that all women yearned to receive from a handsome man. “You should really take the wheel.”

“My hands are full.” He waved the logbook at her, but replaced it and remained standing beside her. “You're doing very well.”

“Are you certain?” The wind blew her hair and snagged her skirt. The horizon filled her line of sight and she suddenly understood the thrill of piloting a ship. It was like having the same freedom as a bird. She could point the ship in any direction and go wherever she pleased. Nothing had ever made her feel so alive. Except kissing Van Buren. Her head turned his direction like it was on a spring. She covered the sudden movement with a laugh. “I think I'm in love with your ship.”

His eyes darkened from icy gray to the shade of wet concrete. He lowered his mouth to her ear again and put his hand on her back. “Flying is a great deal like making love, Sophie.”

She nearly melted at her name on his lips. “W-why do you say that?”

“It's instinctual. The mind and body work together, creating a moment of beauty. The first time is a little frightening, but once you find the rhythm, the proper technique, you have something very enjoyable on your hands. Something that you feel deep within your soul. Something that you never want to give up. With the right person, the kind of relationship you'd die to protect.”

Sophie couldn't find her voice. She stood stock still, staring straight ahead, too embarrassed to look at her husband. His hand moved up her back, over her shoulder until he cupped her jaw and turned her head so that she was looking at him. Their lips were so close together, she thought he'd kiss her again. So much for the idea that he wouldn't attempt to seduce her in front of the crew.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Nothing to say, Sophie? Your heart is racing.” 

Okay, to enter, leave me a comment and your e-mail address. I'll give you a holler when the hop is over and we'll have ourselves a winner! Good luck and happy weekend to all!