Love is lovelier the second time around….
Or so the song goes. This concept is the driving theme behind my new, open ended series from Avon Books featuring a small, lakeside community in Texas.
Twilight, Texas (pop. 6,000) is a quaint tourist town on the banks of the Brazos River that feeds in Lake Twilight. With its stately courthouse, surrounded by lovingly refurbished buildings of old west style architecture, Texas Monthly voted Twilight the Prettiest Town Square in Texas. The combination of the pristine blue lake and the intriguing history—Jesse James reportedly used hidden river caves near Twilight as a hideout—lends a magical air to this quirky, but close-knit community filled with warmth and small town camaraderie. In the summer months, tourists flock to Twilight drawn by the water, the odd little curio shops, acclaimed community theatre and lively town events.
Twilight was founded in 1875. How the town got its name is a subject of heated debate, but the prevailing legend among romantics involves two teenage sweethearts separated during the War Between the States. Circumstances tore them asunder, but they never stopped loving each other. Fifteen years later, they met again at twilight on the banks of the river in the spot where the town now stands. A statue in their honor has been erected in the park next to the town square. There’s a rumor that if you throw pennies into the park’s fountain you will be reunited with your high school sweetheart.
This set-up has lead me to ponder the question, is love really lovelier the second time around? My contention is yes. Doesn’t everyone occasionally think about their high school sweetheart and wonder “what it”? (Unless of course you ended up with your high school sweetheart, but then that’s a whole other story.)
The trick to writing about reunited lovers is coming up with a convincing reason why they separated if their love was so strong. And if the conflict was big enough to tear them apart in the past, how can that Grand Canyon riff the mended?
While writing about reunited lovers is a challenge, it also has its rewards. The second time around is laden with a much richer emotional landscape than the intense, blinding passion of first love. The slower pace, the depth of understand that an older couple brings, can be even more provocative than the immature passion of teens. But the cool thing is, the reunited couple represents both ends of the love spectrum. The hormonal rush of those tender blooming first feelings and the oxytocin kick of true emotional pair bonding.
The reunited lovers appreciate what they now have precisely because they’ve lost it. They’ve suffered and lost, but to recover that magic…to get a second…well, it’s priceless and they know it.
There’s no more poignant love than that.
So, do you believe love is sweeter the second time around? Leave your comments below and be entered to win an autographed book from Lori!
About the author
Lori Wilde has written forty-seven novels for four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelors degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensics. She volunteers as a sexual assault first responder for Freedom House, a shelter for battered women. She has also served as the RWA National conference workshop chair and PAN retreat chair.
She is an instructor for a company who provides online community education to over 1500 colleges and universities. Lori is a past RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Lories, The More Than Maggie, the Golden Quill and The BestBooks of 2006 Book Award.
Her books have been translated into 22 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman and Quick and Simple magazines. She’s appeared numerous times on the Waldenbook’s bestseller list and Ingram’s Top 50. She lives in Texas with her husband, Bill.
Visit Lori online
http://www.facebook.com/lori.wilde
http://www.myspace.com/loriwilde
About the book – click cover to purchase
“Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square
And you’ll be married to your first love…”
Pretty Flynn McGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man’s marriage proposal for ten years, even as all of her friends at the Sweetheart’s Knitting Club thinks they are a match made in heaven. But when she’s honest with herself she knows there’s only dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when he was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion…but he’s never left her heart.
Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner it seems he’s there—gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting him with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to obey them now, not when it comes to getting Flynn back into his arms…forever.
Hi Lori:
Great post!!
Although I’ve never experience love the second time around (I got it right the first time), I totally agree with your premise of “hormonal rush of those tender blooming first feelings and the oxytocin kick of true emotional pair bonding.”
Much success with your tour.
HEY LORI!
I GOT IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME TOO AND WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED NEXT MONTH FOR 37 YEARS!
Hey LaConnie,
I’m so happy to hear you got it right the first time. Some of us are slow learners.
Lori
I got it right the first time also. Been married 20 years this past July.
yes if u had a bad one the first time. u learn from your mistakes and put i the second relation ship
congrats on teh books
love www vip
Hi, Lori. I am excited about your new series. I loved The Wedding Veil series, and this next one sounds like another winner! I enjoy stories that take place in small towns where everybody knows everybody, and second chances are a favorite theme of mine.
I LOVE what you said about second chances at love: “The reunited lovers appreciate what they now have precisely because they’ve lost it. They’ve suffered and lost, but to recover that magic…to get a second…well, it’s priceless and they know it.”
Hi Lori,
I enjoy reading about stories about reunited lovers. I guess the couple will try harder the second time around to make things work, but I do wonder if they’ll ever get over the differences or problems that divided them previously.
Hi Lori ,
Love the seocnd time around is one of the sweetest storyline ever !
I’m so impatient to read the TSKC and see what nice HEA you have for us
Yes, it definitely is one sweetest story lines ever!
Hi Lori!
Just popped over to check it out and I can’t wait to get my hands on this new series! It sounds great.
I think people who find true love early in life are blessed in so many ways… what could be more fulfilling then to literally grow up and old with your sole mate… even if it takes some effort to see what might have been right in front of you all along. I guess the magic is realizing it’s always been there then having the strength to grab it and the fortitute to keep the love alive!
Congratulations again on all the exciting changes happening! Enjoy it all.
Jean
I think for some people it can be sweeter. For those people like you pointed out they are older and have lived life more so the second time around they appreciate it more and see it as the wonderful thing that it is. I think it is all about growing up and appreciating what you have and getting a chance to get it right the second time around.
Great post, Lori! Twilight sounds positively enchanting, and so does your new book. I’ll have to check it out, and maybe plan a trip to that magical small town that inspired you.
Your new series sounds great!
For me the third time is a charm.
Hi Lori, it is a pleasure for this native Texan to virtually connect with an author who has a WONDERFUL appreciation for the lone star state – LOL! Your new book sounds like a perfect read and one that I will o include on my reading list too!
I could not agree with you more when you said, “But the cool thing is, the reunited couple represents both ends of the love spectrum. The hormonal rush of those tender blooming first feelings and the oxytocin kick of true emotional pair bonding.” I think you’ve described perfectly what “mature” love really is all about. Thanks so much for this excellent post!
I agree Marlive! Young love is definitely sweet, but that mature love, there’s just something about it.
Hey Lori!
My first love moved to Germany, but if he were to come back here, I would definitely try to find out if love was sweeter the second time around. I still haven’t found anyone who makes me feel the way I did with him. But I am keeping my options open!
Erin I hope you are able to find that love!
I’ve done the second time around love but it didn’t work out for me. I do believe that love can be stronger the second time around though.
I believe it can also Shelia.
I enjoy reading about second chances at love. Your book sounds interesting too.
I believe in second chances at love. I think I enjoy romance novels more that deal with second chances. Love can definitely be better the 2nd time around.
I think love is greater the second time around, because you appreciate the person better. I can say this, because I had this happen to me. The first one, I did not marry, but I did stay with him for 3 years and now I am married, going on my 9th year. What do you think?
I am so looking forward to reading this Lori it sounds so good,
Great blog today thanks
Penney
I, too, hit it lucky the first time, but I think one could learn a lot about what to look for in a mate by having been wed before. I feel that too often people go for good looks or popularity when they are younger, but there are many things more valuable in a marriage than looks and popularity.
love is definately much more intense second time round , i met my partner when we were 17 years and married at 22 divorced by 23 as we were too young….met back up again 15 years later and fell back in love all over again and this time felt much stronger…….
your book sounds great