Description:
Adam Monroe has seen his share of
setbacks. Now he’s back in Peregrine Bay, looking for a new life and second
chance.
setbacks. Now he’s back in Peregrine Bay, looking for a new life and second
chance.
Julia Kerrigan’s life rebounded after the sudden betrayal of the one man she ever loved. As
president of a successful real estate company, she’s built a new life and
future, pushing the painful past behind her.
president of a successful real estate company, she’s built a new life and
future, pushing the painful past behind her.
Adam’s reason for accepting the job as the town’s new Police
Chief can be explained in one word—Julia. He wants her back and will do
whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even knowing his biggest hurdle is
the woman he still loves.
Chief can be explained in one word—Julia. He wants her back and will do
whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even knowing his biggest hurdle is
the woman he still loves.
As they begin to reconnect, a terrible scandal breaks loose
with Julia and Adam at the center.
with Julia and Adam at the center.
Will the threat to their lives and reputations destroy their
fledgling romance? Can Adam identify and eliminate the danger to Julia before
he’s had a chance to reclaim her love?
fledgling romance? Can Adam identify and eliminate the danger to Julia before
he’s had a chance to reclaim her love?
Guest Post:
When Lovers Reunite
Reclaiming Love, as the title suggests, chases the question of what happens when lovers get a second chance. Judging by the dozens of articles, books, films, and stories about this same subject, we as humans continue to show an interest in this subject.
Even Psychology Today online publishes articles about it with relative frequency. One such run-down (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sticky-bonds/200908/seniors-who-reunite-old-flames?collection=67093), suggests significant success rates among older people who reunite with lost lovers, and mentions a separation of 75 years that led to a marriage at the age of 95! It’s not all quite so rosy, of course, as the same article reports that quite a few second chance romances began with affairs, and that these reunions often caused strife between parents and their adult children. But the true indicator of our collective interest in the subject is its ability to entertain and attract a large number of readers.
Aside from stories of second chances, literature has always favored lovers who weather any storm and resist temptation in order to be true to one another. In The Odyssey, Penelope remains faithful to her absent husband Odysseus for twenty years. Though she has no way of knowing if her husband is even alive, she is unfaltering in her dedication to her marriage. She is presented as shrewd in her manner of rejecting, deflecting, and delaying advances, and is equally sharp in her reception of her husband when he finally returns. Penelope is presented as a beacon of female virtue, the perfect wife and queen. Her character would not be so compelling if not for the fact the story does end with a reunion. A willingness to overcome obstacles like time and distance is at the core of our fascination with second chance romance.
We absolutely love when lovers get back together. We can’t get enough of it. Second chances? Yes please. Time to think of everything we wanted to say, time to say words that stuck with us too long? Yes, yes, yes. Another go round with the wisdom of age and experience? Oh, yes. We want all of that. And it makes for very successful media.
The film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel, The Notebook, was a sleeper hit during its theatrical release. To date it is one of the highest grossing romantic films of all time. While initial reviews were mixed, ten years later, it continues to top entertainment lists of the most romantic characters, films, and scenes of all time.
Part of the appeal of the romance of reunion is no doubt the emotional complexity of the situation. The separation of time between affairs forces us to question some deeply held beliefs about the nature of love.
One of the grandest, most gorgeous narratives of reunited lovers (and more to the point, the actual period of separation) is Love In the Time of Cholera, by Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Most of the story concerns itself with the lives of his separated lovers Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza when they have no contact with one another. The fullness and richness of their lives in the intervening years, how each party handles the separation, provides for intense drama.
We want to know how much love can conquer. We want to know the agonizing details of what love will overcome, and how. We even want the uncomfortable questions that come with the separation. Do you ever fall out of love? Can you love more than one person? What constitutes true love? And what does that period of separation mean, what does it signify, when it eventually ends?
I’d love to read your thoughts on the obstacles and rewards of second chances.
Excerpt:
Adam set down his dessert fork, pushed back the plate and turned toward Julia, his
Adam set down his dessert fork, pushed back the plate and turned toward Julia, his
jaw working as he leaned forward, his thumb rubbing across her lower lip.
“You
missed a bite,” he said as he held out his thumb, then brought it to his lips,
tasting the sweet tang of lemon.
missed a bite,” he said as he held out his thumb, then brought it to his lips,
tasting the sweet tang of lemon.
She watched his movements, unaware her lips had parted, her tongue peeking out to
moisten them.
moisten them.
He cupped her face in his hands, letting his gaze wander over her face to the
fullness of her mouth, then to her deep green eyes. “I want you in my future.
No other woman…just you.” He leaned forward, touching his lips with hers before
delivering a searing kiss that sent tremors through both of them. The beginning
of a devastating grin tipped the corners of his mouth up as he pulled back. “We
don’t need to talk more of it tonight. I just didn’t want you leaving here
without knowing how I feel.”
fullness of her mouth, then to her deep green eyes. “I want you in my future.
No other woman…just you.” He leaned forward, touching his lips with hers before
delivering a searing kiss that sent tremors through both of them. The beginning
of a devastating grin tipped the corners of his mouth up as he pulled back. “We
don’t need to talk more of it tonight. I just didn’t want you leaving here
without knowing how I feel.”
He’d driven her home, kissing her lightly, asking if he could see her again soon.
All she could do was nod, causing a crooked smile to brighten his face.
All she could do was nod, causing a crooked smile to brighten his face.
She’d lain awake for hours rehashing Adam’s words the night before, words that curled
around her heart, squeezing out the small amount of resistance still left.
There now remained no doubt in her mind he wanted her. In all the years she’d
known him, he’d never lied to her. She might not have liked what he said, but lying
held no place in his life.
around her heart, squeezing out the small amount of resistance still left.
There now remained no doubt in her mind he wanted her. In all the years she’d
known him, he’d never lied to her. She might not have liked what he said, but lying
held no place in his life.
Julia touched her lips with a finger, closing her eyes, remembering the sensations of
his touch. No man had ever affected her the way he did and she doubted anyone
ever would.
his touch. No man had ever affected her the way he did and she doubted anyone
ever would.
Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew
up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
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