Romance: Sweet vs Sensual
I have a confession to make… Hi, my name is Marie Higgins, and I love to read and write romance.
Whew, now that’s off my chest, let me tell you something else. I didn’t always write clean and Christian romances. Yeah, that was a little harder to confess, but it’s true. I walked the wild side from 2005-2009. I had several stories published under a different pen name, and I had a few best sellers with my publishers. I was labeled “Queen of Sexual Tension” and I wore the crown proudly. After a while of writing this way, my stories became boring. The plots were all sexual-tension motivated, and the joy of creating a story just wasn’t there any longer. That’s when I decided to change.
I’ve been a religious person all my life, and in my religion, we are taught to stay morally clean and keep our standards high. The sad thing is, my stories were not like this because I wrote sex scenes and swear words. I didn’t like that I was a hypocrite. That’s when I decided to change. I took a few of my stories and ‘cleaned’ them up. I removed the swear words, sex scenes, and tamed the sexual tension. But after doing this, I realized the plots were not exciting any longer. So, that’s when I was inspired (thank you, Lord!) to add more mystery, action, and adventure to my plots. Not much later, Marie Higgins, author of sweet and Christian romances was born!! (cheers)
Now the question is… do I regret writing sensual stories? My answer – NO! Writing sensual stories taught me how to write emotion. It’s important to bring out the characters’ feelings and allow readers to experience it as well. I also know just how far to push the limit, and to ‘tease’, but I also know when to shut the privacy door so that readers now have to imagine what’s going on themselves.
I’ve been publishing my sweet and Christian stories since 2010…three years now, and I’ve been very pleased with the success. I’ve especially been pleased with my plots—and the great reviews I’m getting! Oh, and my readers now label me “Queen of Cliff Hangers”, because of my suspenseful chapter ends where I leave the readers hanging. My stories have been called amazing, and brilliant, and the word I love--addicting.
My newest release, Waiting For You, is a ghost story. Don’t worry, this is not a scary ghost, but a very funny ghost. This story is also a time-travel, and the hero travels back to 1912.
Whew, now that’s off my chest, let me tell you something else. I didn’t always write clean and Christian romances. Yeah, that was a little harder to confess, but it’s true. I walked the wild side from 2005-2009. I had several stories published under a different pen name, and I had a few best sellers with my publishers. I was labeled “Queen of Sexual Tension” and I wore the crown proudly. After a while of writing this way, my stories became boring. The plots were all sexual-tension motivated, and the joy of creating a story just wasn’t there any longer. That’s when I decided to change.
I’ve been a religious person all my life, and in my religion, we are taught to stay morally clean and keep our standards high. The sad thing is, my stories were not like this because I wrote sex scenes and swear words. I didn’t like that I was a hypocrite. That’s when I decided to change. I took a few of my stories and ‘cleaned’ them up. I removed the swear words, sex scenes, and tamed the sexual tension. But after doing this, I realized the plots were not exciting any longer. So, that’s when I was inspired (thank you, Lord!) to add more mystery, action, and adventure to my plots. Not much later, Marie Higgins, author of sweet and Christian romances was born!! (cheers)
Now the question is… do I regret writing sensual stories? My answer – NO! Writing sensual stories taught me how to write emotion. It’s important to bring out the characters’ feelings and allow readers to experience it as well. I also know just how far to push the limit, and to ‘tease’, but I also know when to shut the privacy door so that readers now have to imagine what’s going on themselves.
I’ve been publishing my sweet and Christian stories since 2010…three years now, and I’ve been very pleased with the success. I’ve especially been pleased with my plots—and the great reviews I’m getting! Oh, and my readers now label me “Queen of Cliff Hangers”, because of my suspenseful chapter ends where I leave the readers hanging. My stories have been called amazing, and brilliant, and the word I love--addicting.
My newest release, Waiting For You, is a ghost story. Don’t worry, this is not a scary ghost, but a very funny ghost. This story is also a time-travel, and the hero travels back to 1912.
When a beautiful woman claiming to be a ghost from 1912 appears in Nick Marshal’s new office and begs for help in solving her murder, he’s intrigued enough to consider her plea. A scandal that rocked Hollywood almost destroyed his law practice, so taking on a client who insists she’s dead seems a good way to refresh his career. The more history he uncovers, the deeper he falls for the ghost. Abigail Carlisle believes Nick is her heart’s true desire, but how can happily ever after happen when she’s already dead?
Watch book trailer - http://youtu.be/wePZT2ywRVc
Excerpt:
He returned his gaze to her mouth. “I think it’s cute the way you suck on your bottom lip. It makes me want to nibble on it, too.”
Abigail’s heart leapt to her throat. What a bold—and improper—thing to say! So why did she like it so much? And why did her head fill with images of his lips on hers… “You are talking nonsense, Mr. Marshal.” Her voice quivered. She tapped her fingernail on the desk. The longer he stared at her lips, the faster her finger tapped. She nibbled on her lips again.
“I think I know a way for you to prove you’re not a figment of my imagination,” he said.
She stilled her hand and inhaled slowly. “Indeed? How?”
“By…um…well, you can suck on your lip to make it a raspberry color, so perhaps you could do the same to me?”
Blood rushed to her cheeks and she thought her face would ignite into flames—a feeling she hadn’t experienced since she’d died. Her heartbeat danced an unsteady rhythm, hammering like a runaway train. Yet, the idea wasn’t that far-fetched.
His eyes twinkled as if improper thoughts swam in his head, also. Indeed, he was a rogue of the first order.
“You…you want me to…suck on your lip?”
Nick pushed away from his desk and stood. She rose with him until they were face to face. He pulled the shirt collar away from his neck again, exposing more skin. Oh heavens!
“As much as the thought of kissing you sounds enjoyable,” he said, “I was thinking about something entirely different.” He pointed to his neck and chuckled. “Go for it, honey. Give me a hickey. This ought to be interesting.”
“A hickey?”
“Yes. Suck on my neck until you bruise my skin.”
“Oh, that is utterly ridiculous.” She released an uneasy laugh even as his deep voice sent heated tingles up her spine. As improper as the suggestion seemed, she still wanted to do it with every fiber of her being…or in her case, semi-being. “Why, I cannot even touch you. How am I supposed to draw forth a bruise?”
“I just want to see if it works.” He shrugged. “What could it hurt?”
Fear and anticipation made her hands moist. She shouldn’t do it, but she wanted to prove to him she was not a figment of his imagination. Would it work? What if it didn’t? He’d think she was just a hallucination.
No matter how insane the idea sounded, she had to try. She had to prove to him she was real…well, as real as possible, anyway.
Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on her goal. While she’d been dead, she’d moved papers and objects just a little heavier, but could she do this? Would her newly-acquired ghostly skills allow her to make a mark on his neck?
She stepped closer. Once again, butterflies jumped wildly in her stomach. Swallowing hard, she leaned toward his neck. His masculine spice encircled her.
Closing her eyes, she smiled. Never in her life—or death—had she imagined doing this to a man, but if it would prove to him she needed his help, she’d try anything.
She opened her mouth slightly, putting all her concentration on bruising his neck. She sucked, just as if she was trying to draw juice from a stubborn melon. Although she couldn’t feel a thing, she prayed something good would come out of their little experiment.
A low growl shook his chest. “Hmm…I feel tingles.”
Her heart sped with excitement, and she concentrated harder, putting all of her effort into it. Her cheeks ached with the strain, but she continued.
A deep groan rattled in his chest. “It kind of tickles, too.”
Buy ebook – http://amzn.com/B00EQQMACU
Buy paperback - http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492330302/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_Bu8jsb1K1QJ3ZAVD
Watch book trailer - http://youtu.be/wePZT2ywRVc
Excerpt:
He returned his gaze to her mouth. “I think it’s cute the way you suck on your bottom lip. It makes me want to nibble on it, too.”
Abigail’s heart leapt to her throat. What a bold—and improper—thing to say! So why did she like it so much? And why did her head fill with images of his lips on hers… “You are talking nonsense, Mr. Marshal.” Her voice quivered. She tapped her fingernail on the desk. The longer he stared at her lips, the faster her finger tapped. She nibbled on her lips again.
“I think I know a way for you to prove you’re not a figment of my imagination,” he said.
She stilled her hand and inhaled slowly. “Indeed? How?”
“By…um…well, you can suck on your lip to make it a raspberry color, so perhaps you could do the same to me?”
Blood rushed to her cheeks and she thought her face would ignite into flames—a feeling she hadn’t experienced since she’d died. Her heartbeat danced an unsteady rhythm, hammering like a runaway train. Yet, the idea wasn’t that far-fetched.
His eyes twinkled as if improper thoughts swam in his head, also. Indeed, he was a rogue of the first order.
“You…you want me to…suck on your lip?”
Nick pushed away from his desk and stood. She rose with him until they were face to face. He pulled the shirt collar away from his neck again, exposing more skin. Oh heavens!
“As much as the thought of kissing you sounds enjoyable,” he said, “I was thinking about something entirely different.” He pointed to his neck and chuckled. “Go for it, honey. Give me a hickey. This ought to be interesting.”
“A hickey?”
“Yes. Suck on my neck until you bruise my skin.”
“Oh, that is utterly ridiculous.” She released an uneasy laugh even as his deep voice sent heated tingles up her spine. As improper as the suggestion seemed, she still wanted to do it with every fiber of her being…or in her case, semi-being. “Why, I cannot even touch you. How am I supposed to draw forth a bruise?”
“I just want to see if it works.” He shrugged. “What could it hurt?”
Fear and anticipation made her hands moist. She shouldn’t do it, but she wanted to prove to him she was not a figment of his imagination. Would it work? What if it didn’t? He’d think she was just a hallucination.
No matter how insane the idea sounded, she had to try. She had to prove to him she was real…well, as real as possible, anyway.
Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on her goal. While she’d been dead, she’d moved papers and objects just a little heavier, but could she do this? Would her newly-acquired ghostly skills allow her to make a mark on his neck?
She stepped closer. Once again, butterflies jumped wildly in her stomach. Swallowing hard, she leaned toward his neck. His masculine spice encircled her.
Closing her eyes, she smiled. Never in her life—or death—had she imagined doing this to a man, but if it would prove to him she needed his help, she’d try anything.
She opened her mouth slightly, putting all her concentration on bruising his neck. She sucked, just as if she was trying to draw juice from a stubborn melon. Although she couldn’t feel a thing, she prayed something good would come out of their little experiment.
A low growl shook his chest. “Hmm…I feel tingles.”
Her heart sped with excitement, and she concentrated harder, putting all of her effort into it. Her cheeks ached with the strain, but she continued.
A deep groan rattled in his chest. “It kind of tickles, too.”
Buy ebook – http://amzn.com/B00EQQMACU
Buy paperback - http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492330302/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_Bu8jsb1K1QJ3ZAVD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marie Higgins is a best-selling, multi-published author of sweet romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Visit her website / blog to discover more about her – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com
Find her on Facebook – facebook.com/marie.higgins.7543
And Twitter - @MarieHigginsXOX
Marie Higgins is a best-selling, multi-published author of sweet romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Visit her website / blog to discover more about her – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com
Find her on Facebook – facebook.com/marie.higgins.7543
And Twitter - @MarieHigginsXOX
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