With: Naima Simone
Congratulations to "Bn100", the winner in Naima's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
Some people remember where they were when the Challenger
exploded. Or when President Obama was inaugurated. Or when Prince died. I do,
too. Mrs. Freeman’s second grade class, at work in a bank’s loan department,
and home working on a book. But I also remember where I was when I first saw
Lloyd Dobler stand beneath Diane Court’s window, his boom box held high,
serenading her with Peter Gabriel’s In
Your Eyes. In Watchung, NJ at Blue Star movie theater. Sigh. It was a moment of cinematic grand gesture history that still
stands the test of time today. Of course, Lloyd Dobler and his amazing arm
strength—I mean, holding up that radio for the entire length of the song had to
be tough!—isn’t the first grand
gesture on the silver screen. But, c’mon, it is one of the most memorable. It set a romantic bar for a
generation!
I’m a devout lover of the grand gesture. I know the bigger
they are, the higher the percentage of eye rolls and “Whaevs!” but I just don’t
find them corny. As a reader of romance books, I’ve come to expect this act in
the final pages. It isn’t always the ostentatious public displays or
declarations of love that get me. It’s the smaller, quieter, equally as
heartfelt confessions and pleas for forgiveness that have me clutching my
pearls as well. Whether the gesture is in front of an entire Catskills resort
packed with snobby rich people or in the long driveway of a girl under a moon
with only her and her father as witnesses, it’s the baring of a soul that makes
the act so powerful. The heart and emotion behind it. The vulnerability of a
person who is willing to take a risk of being rejected and having their heart
broken if love is the prize. It’s the sacrifice that makes a grand gesture
worthy as much as the how.
In A Millionaire at
Midnight, Book 4 in the Bachelor Auction series and my new release from
Entangled Publishing, reserved, broody Alexander Bishop does a grand gesture at
the end to win Morgan Lett back. I won’t spoil the ending, but a very
public—and humorous, if I must say so myself—declaration was involved, which
for him, was a sacrifice because he is a private person. It was one of my faves
to write, but I’ve seen some awesome grand gestures in my time. Care to find
out what they are? I knew you did, so I went ahead and made a list! I’m
accommodating like that. Hee-hee!
1. Say Anything.
‘Nuff said. Boom box. Peter Gabriel. One of the most romantic songs evah. I
mean, “In your eyes, I see the resolution
of a thousand searches.” I just threw my panties at my own computer screen!
2. Dirty Dancing.
As you might have guessed from the Catskills resort clue from above. “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” and
then the closing night dance of a lifetime that, literally, had the whole place
on its feet. What made this so great was Johnny came back for her and brought
her up on that stage to not just show everyone that she was his woman, but to
show Baby that she was his woman. And that he was willing to
claim her right back in front of her father, God and country. Now that’s a grand gesture!
3. Pretty Woman.
Noooooo! Don’t roll your eyes! “Viviaaaaaan!”
Edward rolling up to that crappy apartment building in a stretch limo with a
bouquet of flowers, standing up in that sun roof and yelling her name in the
middle of a sketchy part of town? Yahs! Catnip for my soul! But, to be honest,
the true grand gesture was him—who was terrified of heights—climbing that fire
escape to the top floor to get his woman. Sigh.
Classic.
4. Never Been Kissed.
Not only was this a wonderful, hilarious movie, but it has one of the best
grand gestures ever! When Josie Geller put it all on the line—and in the
newspaper—that she was going to wait for five minutes on the pitcher’s mound
during the baseball team’s championship game for Sam to come give her that
first kiss, we all held our breath, right? She put herself out there like a…well,
champ. Okay, you saw that coming! A shy, introvert who confessed to all ‘n’
sundry about not just her subterfuge as a high school student, and how she hurt
this teacher and the man she loved, but also that she’d never been kissed? Oh
yeah, she risked her pride and heart for this man. And when he ran down those
steps seconds after the clock ran out? I’m up here cheering right now…
5. 16 Candles.
This is an example of that smaller, quieter grand gesture I mentioned. Who
didn’t swoon when Jake showed up at the church to pick up Sam? No one from
school was there to witness it. Except for her father, even her crazy family
didn’t notice! But he came to pick her up and share a special birthday cake
with her—as well as return her undies. It was private and so incredibly sweet.
Your turn! Tell me your favorite grand gesture! Or if you
don’t like them, tell me why. I’m choosing someone to win a $5 Amazon gift card
and a copy of The Millionaire Makeover,
Book 2 in the Bachelor Auction series. Just comment below and enter the
rafflecopter for a chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Boston
socialite Morgan Lett is having a run of bad luck. Her fiancé just dumped her
for her stepsister, the charity foundation she’s given her life to is in danger
of folding, and now, the gorgeous man she bid on and won at a masquerade
bachelor auction turns out to be a cold-hearted jerk…and her new employer.
Millionaire
Alexander Bishop needs the best wife money can buy. In order to inherit his
family business, he must get engaged—fast. And Morgan, with her beauty and
pedigree, is the perfect candidate. Her sharp tongue may drive him crazy, but
she needs money to save the foundation she loves, and he needs a fiancée. It’s
a flawless arrangement—no strings, no love. But soon she has him craving more,
and cursing the platonic terms of their agreement.
Still, he
won’t allow need—no matter how hot it burns—to threaten everything he’s built.
Buy links:
About the author:
Naima
Simone’s love of romance was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey, Sandra Brown and
Linda Howard many years ago. Well not that many. She is only eighteen…ish.
Though her first attempt at a romance novel starring Ralph Tresvant from New
Edition never saw the light of day, her love of romance, reading and writing
has endured. Published since 2009, she spends her days—and nights— creating
stories of unique men and women who experience the first bites of desire, the
dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love.
She is
wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and
mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes
domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.
Connect:
Author Website: www.naimasimone.com
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/Naima_Simone
Author Facebook: profile: https://www.facebook.com/naima.simone.3
/
Author page: https://www.facebook.com/naimasimoneauthor/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3232449.Naima_Simone
Newsletter: http://naimasimone.com/contacts.html
Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/376601019163211/
Thank you for the chance :D can't wait to read the book
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome! And I hope you enjoy it! :-D
DeleteIn While You Were Sleeping, the scene where a coin dropped on Lucy's loket and she looked up to see Jack (and his family) and Jack proposing, I went D'AWW... :))
ReplyDeleteYES!! I LOVE While You were Sleeping! Why didn't I think of that? *palm to forehead* You're so right. Sigh.
DeleteI'd have my favorite would be from Pitch Perfect when Becca adds (Don't You) Forget About Me into the mash-up they sing because it's Jesse's favorite song. I'm a sucker for serenading grand gestures!
ReplyDeleteFirst, Pitch Perfect. Looooove that movie! And yes! *high five* Wasn't that perfect--pun totally intended! LOL! And when he put his fist in the air like John Bender! No, like I was up on my feet! LOL!! Not to mention (Don't You) Forget About Me is one of my fave songs of all time... I felt like I was being serenaded. LOL!!
DeleteI always remember Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You, serenading Julia Stiles' Kat. It always made me melt a bit!
ReplyDeleteI mean, 'cause it was Heath Ledger. LOLOL!! That was a good one! And the fact he couldn't sing made it that much better!!
DeleteMine is also from 10 Things I Hate About You, Heath Ledger serenading Julia Stiles
ReplyDeleteThat was a classic scene! Does anyone see a burgeoning theme here? Serenading? I think there's a bunch of us who dream of being sang to...just sayin'... No shame! LOL!! Especially since I'm one of 'em! :-D
DeleteThank you for the giveaway
ReplyDeletealysap at yahoo dot com
You're so welcome! Happy Monday!! :-D
DeleteCongrats on the new release! I'm not a fan of grand gestures. Small things are more valuable for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Natalija! I love your name, by the way. :-) I love the smaller gestures as well. Depending on the couple, the grander things wouldn't work for them. Good point!
Delete#3
ReplyDeleteCan't go wrong with Pretty Woman! :-D
DeleteI love the speeches of love. I'm drawing a blank on which Tyler Perry movie it is, but Shemar Moore says all you have to do is wake up, I'll take care of the rest. My heart melted.
ReplyDeleteI loved Noting Hill at the end with the press conference.
Jerry Maguire....you complete me speech in a room full of women who are gathered to bad mouth men. 😍
ReplyDelete