LENA GOLDFINCH
Love in Any Language
by Lena Goldfinch
Romance has a universal appeal. It's all about finding love & happiness, finding a soul mate & life's companion. My author bio says I love a good romance, and it's true! Critics of the romance genre say it's formulaic (and therefore "less than worthy," I guess??) To some extent romance is formulaic: it's "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl," right? But there's so much room within that "formula" for great diversity. In fact, for me, a good romance is not less worthy, it's more worthy. But maybe that's just me.
The HEA (or "a safe place for all those romantics who read Romeo & Juliet and secretly rewrote the ending") For me, one of the greatest appeals of the romance genre is the promise of a Happily Ever After (HEA). No matter what troubles the hero and heroine face on their journey---and there should be many---there's the promise of an emotionally satisfying ending. It's the appeal of a "feel good" summer movie. And there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot of trouble going on in the world---a lot going on in my world and the world at large. I care a lot, and, because I care a lot, those troubles can weigh me down. Sometimes I need and appreciate a little emotional lift. A really good romance can provide that.
What are the key elements of a good romance for me? The worthy heroine... This is hard to nail down to one quality; I just know it when I'm reading. I'm with this person and I'm rooting for her. There's something vulnerable about her, but she also has a core inner strength. She's someone I can admire.I gravitate toward the honorable hero, a man with a protective nature and an air of responsibility, but with just enough of something else, an edge maybe, that keeps him from being totally boring, you know? LOL
I think of Bruce Willis in Die Hard. The guy had his imperfections, but in the face of danger, he rose to the occasion, not only because it was the right thing to do, and not only because he was a trained, off-duty police officer, but he was driven to protect those he loved. I'm also drawn to kind of old-fashioned (although I prefer to call them timeless) values like: love, family, duty, honor, and an inner call toward The Greater Good, that inner something that makes these characters rise above their weaknesses. Not unlike Bruce Willis in Die Hard.
In the end, I want to have this feeling that these two people really belong together. I can't be sitting there imagining their relationship is going to implode in a few weeks or years. When I reach the last page, I kinda want to hug the book to my chest and sigh happily. (Yeah, I'm a total sap)
Favorite kiss scene in a movie: The Bourne Identity
Remember that scene where Jason Bourne cuts Marie's hair? Despite all that's driving him to maintain a distance from everyone, he locks onto this girl and his defenses crumble. He's tough, almost indestructible, but he still needs human contact; he needs love. A+ for intensity! We won't talk about what happened in the sequel!
What's your favorite kiss scene or favorite romantic couple in a book or movie? Or, for you, what makes for a great romantic hero?
**Lena Goldfinch loves a good romance. She's been a past finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests, and has been previously published in short fiction. She lives in scenic New England with her husband/mad inventor, two kids, and a very spoiled black Lab. Her fascination with stories began at a very young age at the town library, a place where she still loves to hang out. In her not-so-murky past, she's worked as a software engineer and a web designer, and has now found her true passion in writing fiction. You can visit Lena online at www.LenaGoldfinch.com.
Thank you Lena for stopping by today, that was fun reading!! Id have to say my favorite kiss in a movie was Noah and Ally from The Notebook, after the seven years apart on the dock in the rain.....AHHHH that kiss gets me every time.
GIVEAWAY
So thanks to Lena, I have one ebook copy of The Language of Souls to giveaway to a reader of this blog. Everyone is welcome to enter, please just leave a comment. Winner will be chosen on June 4, 2011.
The Langauge of Souls
Actions speak louder than words…
Solena, a young healer with a generous heart, is desperate to heal her dying grandfather. When she ventures into hostile territory to find a rare herb, she finds out just how much she’s risked when she’s captured by the enemy and accused of being a spy.
Rundan, a soldier, has struggled all his life to please his father, a ruthless army commander. When he’s ordered to take the beautiful trespasser to the royal courts, where she’ll be summarily tried and executed, he’s plagued by the most inconvenient desire to protect her at all costs.
Terrified and anxious to escape, Solena is confused by the handsome young soldier who cruelly captures her and then displays uncommon kindness. When he risks his own life to save her, she discovers she may have risked more than her life...she may have lost her heart.
O I LOVE(D) this book! If you're reading this, definitely enter!
ReplyDelete(not an entry)
OO sounds great
ReplyDeletePlease enter me
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Sounds like a great story! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMargaret
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Sounds like an amazing book! Thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteKris
elfdrop AT gmail DOT com
My favourite kissing scene is in King Arthur between Arthur and Guinevere. I love a good romance too and this sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
irresistiblereads(at)hotmail(dot)com
I agree, a great love story takes me away!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite love story -- Fonda and Hepburn in "On Golden Pond" -- no greater love than a love through the ages that survives all the way to the end.
Tina, thanks so much for having me on your blog this weekend! I'm enjoying the comments. Thanks to all for stopping by & good luck in the contest. (Glad to see I'm not the only sucker for a food romance. ;))
ReplyDeleteJuju, thanks for your kind words!
Lena
Oops! Make that a *good* romance. LOL
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really good book - everyone seems to really like it. Thank you so much for this giveaway!
ReplyDeletePelicanJL[at]hotmail[dot]com