posted on January 12, 2021 by Traci Hall

First Kiss—Bliss, or Miss?

Did you know if your partner was The One after the first smooch?

First Kiss=Forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or was it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worst Kiss=Last Kiss, and you moved on?

Share in the comments for a chance to win some Kiss swag.

Now, let’s get personal!

I’ve been with my boyfriend for eight years, and I knew the instant he touched my ankle in a Barnes and Noble that we had chemistry! Like, the kind of chemistry I wrote about as a romance author. As it turned out, I wasn’t wrong. We still do.

In my opinion, kissing is underrated, and it should be celebrated as more than just the means to an end. Sure, the end is nice too, but kisses can really heat things up.

In a sweet romance, the readers want emotion and sensuality without the “this part goes here” details, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to feel the love and intense attraction between the characters. That means that we, the authors, need to insert layers of tactile images to fuel the reader’s mind and bring a smile of satisfaction to their face when the book is over.

When I’m writing, I try to remember that free-fall feeling in the pit of my stomach, the tingling on my skin, the exhilaration and anticipation of that first kiss, and convey it on the page.

Not a hardship to recall, and it’s always followed by a chuckle for being reprimanded by the staff at B and N for sitting on the floor.

I was not a teenager, not a young adult, but a grown-ass woman on a sort-of date after the very recent demise of a twenty-five-year marriage. (Ex ended up with my supposed best friend…it’s a familiar story, unfortunately.) I had been a mom and homemaker, and aspiring author.

I was furious at being the supposed victim in a bad plot twist, so decided to jump both feet into a new life by the sea.  Lauderdale by the Sea, to be exact. No victim here! I had an amazing circle of friends who encouraged me. I started the By the Sea romances while living in a tiny apartment two blocks from the beach. It was terrifying and thrilling and dating never crossed my mind.

Months later, I received a call from a writing friend, male, who was in town, and we went to Zona Fresca for lunch. We’d had coffee before and discussed the writing biz. There had been no attraction to the other on either of our sides but now we were in different circumstances. Attraction literally crackled in the air, so when lunch was over, we went to Barnes and Noble. (Is there a better place than a bookstore to get to know someone?) I hadn’t romantically kissed another man since I’d gotten married and I was scared, I don’t mind saying.

I had no idea when going to lunch that this would turn into a date. I had male friends, and this was something I would have done in my old life.

This was not my old life. This was side-glances, and belly twirls. Goose bumps.

We did not get busted for making out in the aisles of Barnes and Noble, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’d been smoke billowing upward from the looks and touches we were giving each other. He came back to my apartment for a beer, and left after the beer, thank you very much…when he leaned down to kiss me goodbye, it was light but lingering, with a promise of more to come.

I knew that this was special.

In Just One Kiss, Grace is a freelance photographer with a very relaxed attitude about life after being raised in a commune. She’s inherited Grandma Dahlia’s little bungalow on the beach—a sweet older property, but there’s no money to pay the back taxes the bank is calling due. She’s taken a temp job to help see her through and her new boss is Sawyer Rivera, world-famous dog trainer. Thing is, she’s never heard of him. She’s more of a chicken person. They are oil and water from the first meeting where his new dog breaks her camera. They were a blast to write because in the end, their differences make them the perfect pair.

Tell me about your first kiss and I’ll choose a winner for a print copy of Just One Kiss from the comments, along with additional prizes.

Thank you for helping me celebrate the release of Just One Kiss!

Traci

___________________________________

Free-spirited Grace Sheldon is used to living on a tight budget as a freelance photographer. But nothing short of a miracle could produce the thirty thousand dollars she owes on the house she’s inherited. Without steady employment, the bank refuses to give her a loan. Working a temp job won’t give her nearly enough, but she’ll take any little bit she can get until she figures out a solution. Her first day, though, she realizes this is no ordinary office—and her handsome new boss is no ordinary man.

After Sawyer Rivera’s well-planned career in Seattle officially imploded all he’s looking for is a small beach town where he can open a dog training facility and start a simple life. Except, his new office assistant is anything but. Grace is carefree, artsy, and doesn’t know a thing about dogs. The woman has pet chickens! She’s also funny, kind, and the best part of his day.

Grace is his complete opposite—and completely refreshing. But when her month of temp work is over, she could disappear from his life for good. Sawyer realizes he has just one chance to try to change their fate.

Traci Hall

Traci Hall

With an impressive bibliography in an array of genres, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall has garnered a notable fan base. She pens stories guaranteed to touch the heart while transporting the reader to another time and place. Her belief in happily ever after shines through, whether it's a romantic glimpse into history or a love affair for today.

http://www.tracihall.com

11 thoughts on “First Kiss—Bliss, or Miss?”

  1. bn100 says:

    at school

  2. Tina Alicea says:

    Congrats on your new release and I loved your personal first kiss story!! How about I give you an embarrassing first kiss story!?!? Me and a school crush riding in the backseat to a high school football game with a “much” older couple driving. Said older couple starts egging on/instigating the crush to kiss me as watching in rearview mirror…anyway impromptu kiss was basically embarrassing and any sparks pretty much distinguished. Lol Again your story was much more swoony and awesome!! Thanks for sharing it!!

    1. Traci Hall says:

      I love your story too! Ack, high school, lol. Thanks for sharing, Tina Alicea!

  3. GB says:

    I really enjoyed reading your post, your first kiss story sounds so wonderful. My first kiss with my now Hubby was a fumbled affair instigated by me. I am short and it was our first date. He was leaning down for the European cheek peck goodbye. I misread it, lifted up onto my toes and kissed him a little more properly though chastely. However, I apparently got his attention and the rest is history.

    1. Traci Hall says:

      That is amazing!!! I love it, GB!

  4. Sunnymay says:

    My first kiss was in High School by the lockers and it was on the neck. I still got tingly. Then the next time, I thought I would be kissed, the boy pulled my oversized zipper with a big loop down. It was a bright orange dress that I wore to make a statement on St Patrick’s Day. There was no kiss then, just flushed cheeks.

    1. Traci Hall says:

      The tingly bits!! Ha–and orange for Saint Patrick’s–that is funny 🙂

  5. Valerie Blankenship says:

    I had my first kiss when my sister in law was still dating my brother and i was dating her cousin. It was weird the first time, because we had no idea what we were doing. We were so young, though. I guess looking back it was sweet. He still is a very good friend of mine. His wife is just lovely. My husband has become friends with him, and we all get together to play poker.

    1. Traci Hall says:

      Ah! That is really sweet–and I love that you all are friends!!

  6. AuntySuzany says:

    First kiss! Was a sweet boy at a movie I can’t remember! lol

Leave a Reply to Traci Hall Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest from our Blog

Mahoney & Squire – Military Women’s Fiction – Meet The Characters

Have you met the men and women of Mahoney & Squire, my high-stakes, high-octane military action adventure series? Let me introduce you! Captain Kathryn “Kate” Mahoney, USN Call Sign “Scarlett” Ambitious, strong-willed, patriotic, and assertive, Kate Mahoney is often derided as a “bitch” by the old school naval aviation community. She struggled through dysfunctional relationships,… Read More

Read More