Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope everyone is having a great day with special treats. Mel and I are wearing red – she has a new bear and I have a new scarf.
In honor of the holiday, post your favorite Malcolm & Suzanne/Charles & Mélanie moment or your favorite moment with another literary couple. I’ll give away an ARC of The Paris Affair to a poster. Contest closes at noon Pacific Time on Tuesday, February 19.
Tracy Grant - Novelist 
February 14, 2013 at 11:18 pm
Sorry Miss Grant, I can’t stand St Valentine’s Day celebration – at least for the past year or so.et
However the most romantic couple in literature I can think of would be Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane at the end of “Gaudy Night”; she finally agrees to marry him (after five years).
February 14, 2013 at 11:31 pm
The end of Gaudy Night is one of my favorite romantic scenes in all literature, Paul. I also love the last scene between Peter and Harriet in Busman’s Honeymoon.
February 14, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Glad you appreciate “Gaudy”.
OK, I’ll have to re-read Busman’s (it’s been a long time) and get back to you.
And by the way though not at all intense, I thought that Kate and Tony at the dance in Rosamond Lehmann’s “Invitation to the Waltz” were very romantic.
February 14, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Peter and Harriet are one of my all-time favorite literary couples, and I love Busman’s Honeymoon as an example of the complexities of a “after happily ever after.” Haven’t read “Invitation to the Watlz” – thanks for the recommendation!
February 14, 2013 at 11:48 pm
If you read Invitation to the Waltz, then you have to read the “ten years after” follow-up, though I fear that you would not find it romantic. Lehmann’s first novel Dusty Answer (1928) is very romantic though it would be hard to pick a couple so to speak; it was an enormous hit in America I believe.
February 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for the info!
February 14, 2013 at 11:44 pm
OH dear! No my mind is turning over on this one: it would be hard to beat Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s The First Circle for some truly tragic romantic scenes in the course of prison visits in the Stalin era…
February 14, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Sorry the follow up is called “The Weather in the Streets” – it was pretty shocking for the time I believe.
February 14, 2013 at 11:50 pm
Another great suggestion – thanks!
February 15, 2013 at 12:10 am
Allie and Noah reuniting in The Notebook. I wish the ending had been happier but at least they ended up together.
February 15, 2013 at 1:11 am
i confess I haven’t read The Noebook, Christine. Love all the suggestions this contest is bringing out!
February 15, 2013 at 3:33 am
You and Melanie both look fabulous in red! I’m out of the contest, since I already have my ARC, but I’ll offer some of my favorite scenes. The scene in “His Spanish Bride” where Suzanne accepts Malcolm’s wedding proposal I think is one of the most romantic between them. And I also love the wedding proposal acceptance at the end of “Devil’s Cub” by Georgette Heyer, and the conclusion of “Precious Bane” where the hero, Kester, rescues the heroine, Prue. It’s quite a tear jerker of a book!
February 15, 2013 at 12:27 pm
I have a few favourite moments.
One would have to be from “Pride and Prejudice” when Elizabeth and Darcy meet at Pemberley after the awful debacle at Rosings. It’s a lovely scene and showcases their tenuous hopes and the awkwardness of their meeting beautifully.
The duel Vidal fights for Mary’s honor (even though she’s quite capable of protecting herself!) at the end of “Devil’s Cub” is a favourite because it simply crackles with energy and attraction.
I’ve also enjoyed the quiet moments where Charles and Melanie play with Colin. There’s something heartwarming about tender family scenes especially when the book is fraught with tension!
I’m afraid that I’m not a traditional romantic but I to each her own! I’m really looking forward to “The Paris Affair.”
February 15, 2013 at 3:19 pm
I love all historical fiction set in various periods, and 3 years ago I discovered the “Pride and Prejudice” of the American Civil War: Shades of Gray (also published as Noble Cause) – NOT to be confused with 50 Shades of Gray 🙂
This book has some of the best dialogue between the hero and heroine that I have ever read, and the love story is also one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking as well.
Note to readers – “Noble Cause” is the same as “Shades of Gray,” but with a happier ending – the author rewrote it because so many readers wanted it. So if you don’t want to go through 3 boxes of kleenex, read ‘Noble Cause.’
I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s day filled with chocolate, good books, and friends!!
February 15, 2013 at 7:56 pm
In Susanna Kearsley’s “The Winter Sea,” John and Sophie have a lot of great moments, but this is one of my favorites:
“Ye told me once,” he said, “I had your heart.”
“You do.”
“And ye have mine.” He folded one hand over hers and held it close against his chest so she could feel its beating strength. “It does not travel with me, lass, across the water. Where you are, it will remain. Ye’ll not be on your own.” His fingers held the together to her smaller ones. “And I’ll no more be whole again,” he said, “till I return.”
“Then come back quickly.”
February 15, 2013 at 9:50 pm
I’m so glad you think the scene where Suzanne accepts Malcolm’s proposal is romantic, Karin. The emotion is under the surface as they are still getting to know each other and both still holding back a lot in terms of both information and emotion. So it’s great to know the romance comes through!
I totally agree about the ends of Devil’s Cub and Precious Bane!
February 15, 2013 at 9:54 pm
I love the moments you’ve mentioned, WG! I was talking with a friend about what’s romantic, and we agreed that more than hearts and flowers and moonlight and roses we find it romantic when one person knows the other enough to really understand what’s meaningful to him/her. I think the moment you’ve mentioned are great because they are moments in which the characters connect emotionally and allow their emotions to slip through their guard, whether it’s Darcy and Elizabeth cautiously reaching out to each other, Vidal blurting out his feelings for Mary when she’s injured, or Charles and Mélanie relaxing their guard and letting themselves be a couple and a family while playing with Colin.
February 15, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Noble Cause/Shades of Gray sounds great, Tiffany, Who’s the author? We had a very fun Valentine’s Day, thanks. Hope you did as well!
February 15, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Jessica James. I can’t say enough good things about the books. They are on my ‘if I could only have 3 books while stranded on a desert island’ list.
I had a huge exam today, so my valentine’s day was spent studying, but I did celebrate with chocolate 🙂
February 16, 2013 at 12:27 am
They sound great, Tiffany! Glad you got chocolate to liven your studying. I also had some chocolate thanks to a generous friend :-).
February 15, 2013 at 9:56 pm
What a lovely moment, Ashley! Farewells can be such wonderful heart-tug moments. Perhaps a subject for another post….
February 16, 2013 at 12:52 am
the scene when Elizabeth and Darcy confess how they really feel to each other
February 16, 2013 at 12:57 am
I love that scene, bn100 – and how Austen tantalizes us by not showing all the dialogue.
February 16, 2013 at 2:39 am
I love your Charles and Melanie stories, some of the most poignent parts are where Melanie is realizing how little she knows Charles and how alone she feels, despite her love for him. My favorite book was Secrets of a Lady, but I read that one from the library, so I can’t pull it up on my Kindle to reference a favorite scene. I remember Melanie musing about how Charles’ shirt fit him, though, or how his fair fell against his neck. It would tug on my heartstrings
February 16, 2013 at 2:42 am
Thanks so much, Michelle! I love playing with the tension of how well Mel/Suzette and Charles/Malcolm know each other in some ways and how much they are still strangers in others. There’s a lot of that in PARIS AFFAIR and in THE LONDON GAMBIT (the book I’m writing now) as well.
February 16, 2013 at 5:39 am
Percy and Marguerite of The Scarlet Pimpernel – I wish the movie hadn’t been put (permanently?) on hold…
February 16, 2013 at 8:31 pm
One of my favorite couples as well, Jan Marie. Do you have a favorite moment between them? I too wish the movie wasn’t on hold.
February 16, 2013 at 10:18 pm
[…] Correspondence letter from Charles/Malcolm to Mel/Suzette earlier this week. And there’s a “favorite literary romantic moments” contest for an ARC of The Paris Affair open through noon PST on Tuesday the 19th. Have a great […]
February 17, 2013 at 7:24 am
I love the scene between Heyer’s Venetia and Damerel, when she finally understands why he’s been holding her at arm’s length and returns to confront him and make him believe that he is right for her. “Oh, Damerel, must you be foxed just as this moment? How odious you are, my dear friend!” (In fact, it’s just as well he *is* a bit drunk, as otherwise he may not have revealed how much he loved and missed her, giving her the courage to proceed.)
And Wentworth’s letter to Anne in Persuasion is hard to beat.
February 17, 2013 at 8:58 pm
I love the scene where Venetia comes back and surprises Damerel into admitting (or rather showing!) his feelings, HJ! One of my favorite romantic moments in literature, along with the Elizabeth/Darcy resolution and key Harriet/Peter scenes in Gaudy Night and Busman’s Honeyroom. And as you say Wentworth’s letter to Annie is hard to beat. I think it and Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth have a lot to do with my fondness for writing letters between my characters.
February 18, 2013 at 11:10 pm
Well I re-read Busman’s Honeymoon as promised. Sayers wrote incredibly deeply and feelingly about emotions didn’t she? These days I am much less impressed with her crime plots which are grossly over-complex (except perhaps The Nine Tailors). So in conclusion I rather wish she had written more on the emotional side of life.
February 18, 2013 at 11:53 pm
Glad you reread Busman’s Honeymoon, Paul. Totally agree about Sayers’ skill at writing about emotions. I like some of her crime plots quite a bit, but Gaudy Night, one of my absolute favorite novels, doesn’t quite work for me as a mystery.
February 19, 2013 at 12:05 am
Re Busman’s:
Thanks for the response. Yes: “Well” he said, with a transitory gleam of himself, “you’re my corner and I’ve come to hide.”
Really very moving
February 18, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Is it noon yet? I have to go with some movies: the cab scene in Kate & Leopold, or how about the hotel in Where the Heart Is and then she goes and sits in her car and sobs… And let’s not forget the parting speech before leaving her groom at the alter in The Engagement.
Oh NO! The best and most heartbreaking scene ever is in A Tale of Two Cities – “Tis a far far better thing I do then I have ever done and it is to a far far better rest I go then I have ever know”
February 18, 2013 at 9:27 pm
The contest actually doesn’t close until noon Pacific Time on the 19th, so you’re in plenty of time, Sue! Love your movie examples – and the Tale of Two Cities scene is definitely up there for heartbreaking and romantic. And interesting in that it isn’t a scene between a couple.
February 19, 2013 at 3:39 am
When they meet on the beach; her feet are bruised and his back is beaten.
February 20, 2013 at 11:59 pm
Great scene…
February 21, 2013 at 12:01 am
Congrats to WG, who won the ARC of THE PARIS AFFAIR. WG, if you email me through the About Tracy page with your snail mail address, I will send the ARC out to you.
Thanks so much to everyone for mentioning so many wonderful scenes! I’ll have at least one more ARC contest before the book’s release.
February 23, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Hi Tracy! Thank you! This is wonderful. I am so pleased since the Paris Affair was on my to-buy list. 🙂 I’ve e-mailed my details to you.
Thanks, again!