#Thursday13 Heart Fluttering Romances

Elizabeth Morgan presents her Favourite 13 Heart Fluttering Romances

Truth be told this post should probably be called “Elizabeth’s 13 favourite moments/quotes from Jane Eyre.” I absolutely love the story. I saw one of the older film adaptations of Jane Eyre before I actually read the book, but in both cases I fell for Mr Rochester. He remains to be my all time favourite Hero. He is grumpy, and damaged, so far from perfect, but he is just wonderful.

But do not fear - that is not the title of this post and although the story is mentioned a couple of times throughout I do actually have other stories etc that I love for their romantic elements. So, on that note, I shall begin. In no particular order I give to you the 13 romantic quotes, stories/movies, and songs that make my heart flutter.

1. Bram Stokers Dracula
Dracula is what me and my mother class as “our film” and that has been the case since I was ten. I love all the actors in the movie, and I have to say I did fall in love with Gary Oldman in this film. I thought – and still do think – that he is lovely.

Is there a particular moment that jumps out for me in this movie? Pretty much every moment Mina and Dracula are together. I am someone who enjoys watching all those little glances, and gestures that you often miss in real life. I’m a sucker for those stolen moments – bad joke, I know – and the way he looks at her . . . *sigh* it gets me every time.

“I have crossed oceans of time to find you.” - Dracula
What isn’t romantic about a man damning his very soul so that he can live just to find the woman he loves?

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
As I said above, I love this story. The book is so full of wonderful dialogue that you never really hear in any of the movies, which is a shame. One example being:

“I have little left in myself — I must have you. The world may laugh — may call me absurd, selfish — but it does not signify. My very soul demands you: it will be satisfied, or it will take deadly vengeance on its frame.” – Jane

As with Dracula, I enjoy watching Rochester playing with Jane. He spends every minute with her just trying to figure out what she is thinking, and if she feels the same way about him. He is dropping hints and . . . grrr, I just love it. The glances, and the touches. I have to say, though, my absolute favourite moment/quote is when they finally admit their feelings for one another and what Rochester says is just, well, so romantic:

“Sometimes I have the strangest feeling about you. Especially when you are near me as you are now. It feels as though I had a string tied here under my left rib where my heart is, tightly knotted to you in a similar fashion. And when you go to Ireland, with all that distance between us, I am afraid that this cord will be snapped, and I shall bleed inwardly.” - Mr Rochester
There are a few good programmes/movie versions, but my all time favourite is the four part series that the BBC did in 2006. Toby Stephens plays Rochester – I’ve had a crush on him for a while which just made my love of the character all the more better – and Ruth Wilson plays Jane. These two are very good together; so well matched. If you like Jane Eyre I would suggest watching this version there is a sensual edge to it that the films don’t have.

3. Edward Scissorhands
A dark fairytale by – in my honest opinion - the best storyteller and director going; the amazing Tim Burton. Everyone has seen this film. I was six when I first watched it and I found it so sad, which it is. Edward’s story is very sad, but as I got older I realized how beautiful the story is because it is sad.

Love doesn’t always have a happy ending. It isn’t easy, but – and now we are going to an old school quote - it is better to have loved and lost then never loved at all. I think you know which moment I am going to mention now and you would be right.

“Hold me.”
“I can’t.” 
So simple. So sad. So beautiful and heartfelt that you want to cry just like the second to last scene.

“Goodbye.”
“I love you.” 
*Gush* It is a fabulous love story, and if it is one you enjoy you need to go and see the ballet, because it is amazing.

4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 
Yes, another story by one of the wonderful Bronte sisters. A hauntingly beautiful story, which is so sad and frustrating, but you have to love it for the simple fact that yet again it is a realistic tale. Not everyone has a happy ending. Some people have regret.

The entire story is tense, and passionate, both Cathy and Heathcliff are so strong willed, but my favourite moment is when Cathy is sitting in the kitchen talking to Nelly and she is completely unaware that Heath is listening in, but yet, he misses the best part of the conversation.

“My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff is the eternal rock beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff.” - Cathy
Beautiful.

5. The Slipper and The Rose 
I was brought up in a musical family, and I actually studied musical theatre in college. So, needless to say I love musicals, and The Slipper and The Rose is – along with The Phantom of The Opera – my favourite musical. My grandmother was actually the one who introduced me to this movie, and to the handsome Richard Chamberlin. When she would babysit me she would often put a film on and a lot of the time it was either this particular film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or Calamity Jane.

The Slipper and The Rose is basically the story of Cinderella, but instead of it being all about Cinders it is also very much about the Prince and the fact that his parents are forcing him to get married and form an alliance. All the Prince wants to do is marry for love.

It’s a wonderful film and yet not very many people have heard of it. The costumes and set are amazing. The songs and the music are wonderful, and oh, the ball scene . . . It is the ball scene that has made its way on to this list for this is the scene where the Prince first sees Cinders and oh my god, his face . . . If a man ever looked at me like that, well, I would die happy. This is yet another movie where I find myself watching the leading male very closely; watching how he watches the heroine, and how he find opportunities to touch her hand etc. *melts*

We’re jumping across to lyrics now, because as I mentioned above I come from a musical family and I absolutely love listening to all sorts of music. So, I thought I would pick out a couple of songs I find romantic. 

6. Falling into you by Celine Dion
I like a lot of Celine’s earlier songs, but this is a particular favourite of mine. The words are beautiful, and I always get shivers when I listen to the song. To me it just speaks of two people who are so deep within each other; so very much in love. It’s the type of song that makes you want to hope that love can be that way, if that makes sense?

“And in your eyes I see ribbons of color
I see us inside of each other
I feel my unconscious merge with yours
And I hear a voice say, "What's his is hers"

Chorus:
I'm falling into you
This dream could come true
And it feels so good falling into you

I was afraid to let you in here
Now I have learned love can't be made in fear
The walls begin to tumble down
And I can't even see the ground

(Chorus)

Falling like a leaf, falling like a star
Finding a belief, falling where you are
Catch me, don't let me drop!
Love me, don't ever stop!

So close your eyes and let me kiss you
And while you sleep I will miss you

(Chorus)

Falling like a leaf, falling like a star
Finding a belief, falling where you are
Falling into you, Falling into you, Falling into you”

7.       The Very Thought of You by Nat King Cole
Such simple lyrics and so beautifully worded, “The Very Thought of you,” is a classic love song, which manages to be both light and sweet, and yet extremely meaningful and direct.

“The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I’m living in a kind of daydream, I’m happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem to me that’s everything

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You’ll never know how slow the moments go till I’m near to you
I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above
It’s just the thought of you, the very thought of you, my love.”

8. When He/She Danced with me (From the movie The Slipper and the Rose)
We’re heading back to The Slipper and the Rose now mainly because I had to slip a song from a musical on this list, and I have always loved this song. After the clock strikes midnight and her beautiful dresses melts back in to her servant outfit, she has lost her glass slipper and she has finally managed to lose the Prince who has just chased her down a ton of stairs . . . She is blissfully happy and begins to sing in the middle of the forest, as you do when you have just fallen in love with a prince and vice versa.

Sweet lyrics, beautiful music, and I just adore this song. CLICK this link to listen to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLlGokfLskY

“Rainbows raced around the room when he danced with me
Shooting stars began to zoom when he danced with me
In his arms I was ascending, my world became a magic blending
Of dreams, and hopes, and love, when he danced with me.

Though this lovely night was only a fantasy
And I know tonight is all there will ever be
Dancing in his arms forever, my heart will never be free
Dreaming of the night he danced with me.”

9. Arms by Christina Perri
I think this is a wonderful song and I love Christina Perri’s voice, but what I think draws me to this song the most is the last line of the chorus, which actually hits on one of my many fave quotes from Jane Eyre.

“Where ever you are is my true home.” - Jane (said to Rochester.)

Chorus to Arms:

“I never thought that you would be the one to hold my heart
But you came around and you knocked me off the ground from the start

You put your arms around me
And I believe that it’s easier for you to let me go
You put your arms around me and I’m home.”

A lovely modern song about not being sure in love, and how you don’t ever truly see love coming, or know who that person is until they are right there changing your entire world and basically making you realize that they are your anchor.

10. The Way He Makes Me Feel (From the movie Yentl)
I had to put another musical number on the list, but more importantly I had to put a song sung by Barbra Streisand on here. I adore Barbra as an artist. She has an amazing voice and is a wonderful actress, and I think she is just beautiful.

“The Way He Makes Me Feel” is from the musical Yentl. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, basically, Jewish girls can’t go to school so Barbra’s character - who was taught by her father - cuts her hair and basically dresses like a boy and applies and goes to an all male university. She makes friends with this guy and basically falls for him, but naturally can’t say anything because she’s a “guy.”

It’s a wonderful film, and the music is moving. There are three songs that stand out in it for me; “Where is it Written?” “Papa, can you hear me?” and then lastly “The Way He Makes Me Feel,” which is Barbra singing about what she feels about her friend. The lyrics are beautiful and in a way so accurate to falling in love, and hard.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbbx_kW6tP0

“There’s no chill and yet I shiver, there’s no flame and yet I burn
I’m not sure what I’m afraid of and yet I’m trembling
There's no storm yet I hear thunder. And I'm breathless, why I wonder?
Weak one moment, then the next I'm fine.

I feel as if I'm falling every time I close my eyes
And flowing through my body Is a river of surprise.
Feelings are awakening I hardly' recognize as mine!
What are all these new sensations? What's the secret they reveal?
I'm not sure I understand, but I like the way I feel.

Oh, why is it that every time I close my eyes he's there?
The water shining on his skin, the sunlight in his hair?
And all the while I'm thinking things that I can never share with him.

I'm a bundle of confusion, yet it has a strange appeal.
Did it all begin with him, and the way he makes me feel
I like the way he makes me feel...”

And now we are jumping over to moments from three of my own books. I have to say that despite my interest and love for romance and the above stories/quotes and songs, some of my characters are quite rough around the edges and don’t necessarily follow the above flavour of romance.

11. The Collector (Book 1 in The Overseers Series)
The following moment is between my leading male, Kale, who is a fallen Collector Angel, and the heroine Samantha. Both are in hospital after an accident. Kale is naive, and yet so soft and gentle, and poetic. He’s just lovely.

“Hi.”
His smile widened as her lips pressed to his. “Hello.”
“Are you okay?”
“I have felt better,” he replied, running his fingertips over her red, blotched cheeks. “Have you been crying?”
She turned her face, kissing his palm tenderly. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“I am not going anywhere. Not unless you are there.” He sighed, gently brushing his fingers over the bandage. “I have loved you from the moment I saw you, Samantha. You were always meant to be my destiny. I know that now.”
He watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek, as her lips pulled up at the corners. “I’ve been falling for you since our first hospital visit.” She laughed lightly, stopping when her bottom lip began to tremble. “I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you. Everything has been so crazy.”
He wiped the tears from her cheeks and cupped her head, pulling her focus to his. “You will never lose me.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.” He took her mouth with his, sliding his tongue gently against hers as she relaxed against him.

12. She-Wolf (The Blood Series Prequel)
Yet again we have my hero, Owen, and heroine, Clare, talking after an accident. Ha. This scene takes place in Clare’s bedroom after she has woken up from being in a light type of coma for a week. Owen is an alpha Werewolf and he isn’t the type of man to sweep you off your feet. He will throw you over his shoulder and carry you away kicking and screaming, but you just gotta love him for it.

My shoulders sank into the large soft pillow; the simple movement from lying to sitting had seemed like such an effort for my body. I was vaguely aware of small shots of pain popping in my left side and right thigh, but I didn't really care. I willed my eyes to open, desperate to see his face, although by the feel of his energy, he wasn't too pleased with me right now. "Owen?""Don't ever do that to me again!"Oh yeah, he is pissed.I raised my hands to my face and began gently rubbing around my eyes. "It's not like I planned to get poisoned. I hadn't even realized that they had stuck me with their damn syringes."His footfalls sounded on the floor, his energy pulsing as he paced at the foot of the bed. "If I ever lost you, Clare, it would be like having all my vital organs ripped out. They're vital, which means I fucking need them, just as much as I need you.""Owen—""I've never felt so fucking helpless. I don't like feeling helpless, Clare. I hate it. I couldn't do anything for you. Except clean your wounds and watch you breathe. I had the ridiculous notion that if I looked away, you would stop. I've never been so—so fucking scared in all my life."I had never seen Owen get scared. I had never felt it, never heard about it, and that was because Owen simply didn't get scared. He was the strongest, and the bravest, person I knew.I blinked, watching his blurry form walk back and forward. "Come here, MacLaren.""You should have come back to the house." He growled and his energy sparked as a million things spun around him."I wasn't going to leave you.""You could have been killed! Do you understand that?""Of course I—""If one of them had actually owned a damn brain cell, they could have figured out how to break your neck, instead of pumping you full of that shit! Then that would have been it, you would have been dead!""Aye, you're right, but that didn't happen.""I swear to god"—he stopped at the end of the bed and gripped the footboard—"I love you, Clare Marie Walker, but I swear to god if you ever make me go through this again, I will kill you myself."My chest tightened. My stomach filled with butterflies—hopefully butterflies and not nausea—and my heartbeat quickened.Did he just say he loved me?Only Owen could get away with telling me he loved me and threatening to murder me, both in the same sentence. And I didn't know if it was dehydration or emotion, but I had to swallow the lump that had suddenly lodged in my throat. I gave him a small smile. "Kind of defeats the purpose of you wanting me to live, don't you think?"

13. Stepping Stones
My final quote – and final on the list – comes from my sweet contemporary romance, Stepping Stones. This is my first – and currently only – sweet romance. I tend to write erotic romances, but this story idea came to me in a dream and it was just too good for me to ignore.

This scene is between Maggie and Adrian – her foster brother – they are outside the establishment of their baby sister’s wedding reception. My heart really went out to a lot of the characters in this book, and all for completely different reasons. I won’t go in to details, but there is a lot of broken hearts that need mending in this story.

In one fluid movement, he cupped my face between his hands and pressed his lips to mine.Somewhere in the back of my mind, I registered that my bag dropped to the ground as my arms flew up, hands landing on top of his. My eyes remained wide open.Despite the pressure of his fingers on my skin, the kiss was soft, yet strangely demanding. He tasted of wine and urgency. Before I could make up my mind on whether I wanted to hit him or kiss him back . . . . He stopped.I stumbled away. I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth and just looked at him. "What was that?"His chest rose and fell heavily. "A kiss.""Why?""Why?" He laughed. His blue eyes suddenly looked so sad. "Because I've wanted to do that for twenty years."Oh, God."Adrian, you're my brother.""No. I'm not." He shook his head, closing the small space between us. "I'm a boy your parents fostered when my mother died; a boy who grew up with you and has been mad about you since the age of ten."I stepped away. "Aidy—""I love you, Margaret."

Well, there you have it; my fave 13 heart fluttering romances in one form or another. I just want to say a big thank you to Paloma for having me over today, and to all of you who have taken the time to sit and read all my gushing over these amazing stories and songs.

Contest
To make all that eye strain worthwhile I am going to hold a little competition for you all. Winners choice of any book off my backlist. Head on over to my website – www.e-morgan.com – check out my titles and then leave me a comment in reply to this post telling me which book you would like to win. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I contact you if you are the lucky person. Competition ends on Monday 25th March at midnight – 6pm est time – I will use Random.org to help me pick one winner and then contact them.

Good luck!

Author Bio

Elizabeth lives in a small country village in Cheshire, England, with two cats. You will always find her on the computer, blasting music and writing away. She started life wanting to be an actress because she loved performing. She enjoyed nothing more than being able to make people laugh, to distract them from reality for a few hours. She studied Musical Theatre in college, but during her second year, her mind started to overflow with ideas for scripts and she began writing plays. Slowly over the following three years, she was writing more and more, channeling her imagination into more detailed manuscripts...

Here she is, years later, hiding away like a hermit, writing like crazy and loving every minute of it.

Where to find Elizabeth Online

Website  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Facebook  |  Blog with Dianna Hardy 

The first four images were found through google image search and all videos are from Youtube.