Got My Book

"I can't forget the past, Alain."

"I would never ask you to do so. But will you let the past destroy the present?"

She exhaled slowly, dimly aware of annoyed pedestrians going around her and Alain where the two of them stood still on the sidewalk. An image of Marandur came to Mari, and it took her a moment to realize why. "Is that what I'm doing. Building a wall around the ruins of my childhood and maintaining those ruins as some kind of horrible monument to my suffering? Alain, please stick with me. I know something has to change. I don't know how yet. Please…don't go."

His voice finally relented. "I will never go."

My Comments: I find this swoony not just because of the way he expresses his own commitment to her but also because, despite her very negative reaction every time he brought it up, he didn't give up on helping her confront & overcome these fears.

He looked away from the window and toward the mirror spell—at the violets worked in alongside the wicked claws. "Given a second chance, would you not come looking for me?"

 
"No matter how many chances I was given, I'd chose every time to be here with you."

He looked down at her. “Then maybe we should stop calling this a curse. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She wanted to cry and laugh. She settled for resting her head against his fur. How could she feel so happy and desperate and sick all at the same time?

She felt him dip his head until it was close to the top of hers. “It were all one that I should love a bright particular star and think to wed it. You are so above me,” he whispered into her hair.

Becca tilted her head up and smiled at him. “You’re changing Shakespeare now?” Not only was her stomach revolting, she felt a throbbing pain in her middle.

“It’s true. You’re so far above me. I might as well love a star.”

Becca blinked back tears. “You’re my bright star,” she told him, fighting against a wave of dizziness. “You make the night brighter.”

“You shouldn’t have to settle for night. You should have nothing but the brightest day.”

My Comments: This is a typically swoony scene between two people who started out disliking each other.

The Setup: Epics are people with superpowers, and they are almost all evil. Using their powers makes them so. David kills Epics; Megan, the woman he loves, is an Epic. Naturally he wants her to avoid using her powers.

"You resisted it before."

 

"No, I didn't. In the Reckoners, I was forced to avoid using my powers. I didn't resist the changes. I never felt them."

 

"So do it that way again."

 

She shook her head. "I barely managed it before. By the time I was killed, I was practically going crazy from the need to use my abilities. I'd started to find excuses, adn that was changing me."

 

"You seem okay now."

 

She toyed with her gun, flicking the weapon's safety on and off, her eyes still upward. "It's easier around you. I don't know why."

My Comments: Although none of us have to deal with superpowers that make you evil, a healthy relationship makes being the best version of yourself easier.

His face went blank, staring at something I couldn’t see, although I knew what it was. He was experiencing the moment I’d come to the Firstwood, and the things I’d felt when I’d touched the tuart. I started talking — even though I knew he probably couldn’t hear me — wanting to explain what it all meant. I liked to believe that I understood the Firstwood’s message better, now that I’d had years to think about it. “People, animals, trees — everything grieves, and regrets, and mourns what’s passed. But nothing is ever truly gone forever. This is the place where life began again, where I began again. Whatever we were before, whoever we were before — it doesn’t matter. Because we’re all made new here. We live. We survive. We belong.”

He came back to himself slowly, his eyes focusing on mine. He looked vulnerable. Wounded. Hopeful. And he whispered, “Ashala.”

He didn’t say anything more. But I knew what he was asking.

I shifted closer, brushing my lips against his cheek. “You’re Tribe now, Connor. Welcome home.”

My Comments: Connor is someone who has lost everything, including himself and any purpose he had for living. In this short scene, Ashala gives it all back only better.

A voice in the hallway whispered hoarsely, “It’s Dennis Nuel, Princess! I’ve come to offer you a chance to get away from here, if you’re interested. But we’ve got to hurry!”

Linnora ran to the door and opened it.

The aroma of unbathed male was almost overwhelming. Filthy, bruised, and unkempt, Dennis Nuel smiled, holding the bunched waist of an oversized guard’s uniform.

It was more than enough to surprise a girl. But Linnora gasped when she saw the thing in the hallway behind him. The hairbrush fell clattering to the floor as she fainted.

Well, Dennis thought as he rushed forward to keep her from falling, a guy could get a less flattering reception. I wish I could be sure it was gratitude that’s overcome her, and not BO.

[It's a robot, which are unknown on this world]

My Comments: I included this one just for fun, since she swooned.

“Oh, G**, Lucy, I cannot bear to say good-bye. You are like a part of me, the best part of me.”

“I know. You are the song that sings in my heart.”

He gave a watery chuckle. “Off-key.” Then he reached out, trying to touch her.

 

She stretched her hand out toward him.

“Perhaps we’ll meet again,” she whispered.

“Do you think so?”

“I’ll pray that it be. Farewell, my dearest. I will always love you.” Their fingers almost met. Almost.

My Comments: A typical swoony scene regardless of the fact that Kerry was initially extremely resistant to Lucy's efforts to help him change his life.

"I don't deny I married you because I was sorry for you. And then - I found you the best and jolliest and dearest little pal and chum a fellow ever had. Witty - loyal - sweet. You made me believe again in the reality of friendship and love. The world seemed good again just because you were in it, honey. I'd have been willing to go on forever just as we were. I knew that, the night I came home and saw my homelight shining out from the island for the first time. And knew you were there waiting for me. After being homeless all my life it was beautiful to have a home."

My Comments: Friendship is a very important part of romance to me, and this whole relationship epitomized it.

Lucas, from his vantage point in the doorway of the store down the street, watched as Jocelyn left the drugstore and entered the restaurant. Following her, he cautiously peered through the restaurant window, trying to see what she was doing. As he watched, she headed towards the only occupied table in the back.
His guts clenched as he recognized the man sitting there. It was his half brother. Jocelyn was meeting Bill! A red haze of fury momentarily dimmed his vision. The woman he loved had something going on with his half brother. The woman he loved was…

Was what? His intellect fought a battle with the rage pounding through him. Think, Forester, he ordered himself. Don't jump to conclusions.

My Comments: While there is nothing typically swoony in this one, I love his refusal to give in to his first impressions and his choice to have faith.

…she held up her hand and turned it, watching in delight as the six tiny diamonds flashed fire and the sapphire winked at her. "It's pretty, isn't it?"

Charles made a soft sound of agreement and she felt a delicious flutter of happiness in her chest. "You're not even looking at it," she accused.
"You go ahead and admire your little treasure," he said complacently, "I've got mine in my arms."

She sat perfectly still, thrilled by the sound of his breath against her ear. It tickled her that he was a dedicated neck-nuzzler. She never would have guessed that testy Dr. Hartman, of all people, would turn out to be so affectionate. She told him that and he laughed.

"I never was before," he asserted. "You did it to me."

My Comments: Lots of little things throughout the book make it clear that he was never heartless. I love that Hope was able to help him free that part of himself.

“And this year, the homecoming king and queen are Chip Warner and Brooke Camden.”

I turned to stare at Jack, but his face was absolutely blank.

“Each year the sophomore attendant with the most votes is named the homecoming princess,” the announcer continued, and I prepared myself—gladly—for the indignity. At least next year, I wouldn’t be eligible for princess and would only have the queen thing to worry about. The junior girls didn’t know how lucky they had it.

“This year’s homecoming princess is April Manning.”

As April and her escort walked forward to get her tiara, I jerked Jack downward. “Explain,” I said.

“I can neither confirm nor deny that any such explanation is necessary,” he whispered, “but let’s just say that I’m not a stranger to rigging elections and leave it at that.”

I should have been disturbed at the reference to the fact that he’d been brought up to be corruption incarnate, but I wasn’t. I was too busy thinking that my not-a-boyfriend was the sweetest, most wonderful, ingenious boy in the world.

My Comments: I love that Jack really knows her and works to make her happy.