Can't Let Go & Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon Blog Tour (Top 5 lists)

Hi Readers!

Thanks for swinging by “My Reading Room” to visit! I’ve been asked to count down my Top 5 favorite movie moments and the Top 5 songs that inspired my new release Hard to Handle and the prequel novella Can’t Let Go! So…let’s start with the songs since that’s going to be the easy part.

#5)  Run by Snow Patrol –I can imagine Aiden saying these lyrics to Sadie. He’s got a lot  of ground to make up for what he did in Can’t Let Go.

“Have heart, my dear/We're bound to be afraid/Even if it's just for a few days/Making up for all this mess.”

#4) Vacuum Bag by Stroke 9 - More lyrics that capture Aiden’s feelings from Hard to Handle. Because no matter how badly things went, he never wants Sadie to forget he loved her—that he still loves her.

“Don’t hate me/don’t regret me/don’t ever forget me. Wherever you go/whatever you do/don’t say I never loved you.”

#3) There, There  by Radiohead – Aiden and Sadie’s meet-cute in the club? Fate, I say…

“Heaven sent you to me/To me, to me. We are accidents waiting/Waiting to happen.”

#2) It Ends Tonight by All-American Rejects – Perfect for the Black Moment where Aiden has finally given up—breaks my heart, I tell you!

“Your subtleties/They strangle me/I can't explain myself at all. And all the wants/And all the needs/All I don't want to need at all.”

#1) Show Me What I’m Looking For by Carolina Liar – Such a fantastic song—and I think this sums up what Sadie’s feeling but can’t articulate...

“Save me, I'm lost/Oh, Lord, I've been waiting for you. I'll pay any cost/Save me from being confused. Show me what I'm looking for/Show me what I'm looking for/Oh, Lord.”

And now…the movies. *angst* Do you have any idea how hard this was for me? There are movies I watch every year (Beautiful Girls in January, Home for the Holidays in November, Love Actually in December…) So to choose only FIVE of my favorite movie scenes???  Brutal! BUT, I decided to focus on my favorite romantic movie scenes and finally, was able to whittle it down.

Jessica Lemmon’s Top 5 Favorite ROMANTIC Movie Moments:

#5) Johnny Depp in Chocolat (2000) A Depp fan from wayyy back, I had to put one of Johnny’s films on my list! His character, Roux is just about the sexiest thing on two legs, imho, and I love how he challenges Vianne to find his favorite chocolate. He also makes her this promise:

“I'll come 'round sometime and get that squeak outta your door.” *swoon*

#4) Michelle Pfeiffer in The Story of Us (1999) This little sleeper movie is one I recommend to everyone who is married or will ever be married. It’s so honest. Katie and Ben (Bruce Willis) are in the midst of a separation. There are moments of sheer joy, stark pain, comedy, and tears. If Pfeiffer’s last monologue in the film doesn’t make you cry, you might be a cyborg without a heart. Just sayin’ ;) Here’s a very small part of it:

“There's a history here, and histories don't happen overnight. In Mesopotamia or Ancient Troy there are cities built on top of other cities, but I don't want another city, I like this city. I know what kind of mood you’re in when you wake up by which eyebrow is higher, and you know I'm a little quiet in the morning and compensate accordingly. That's a dance you perfect over time. And it's hard; it's much harder than I thought it would be, but there's more good than bad and you don't just give up! And it's not for the sake of the children but, God, they're great kids aren't they? And we made them! I mean think about that! It's like there were no people there, and then there were people!”   (I’m tearing up already!)

#3) Antonio Banderas in Original Sin (2001) The way Luis loves Julia (Angelina Jolie) just blows my mind. He drinks rat poison for her for Pete’s sake! Their love is so intense I’m not sure even Luis and Julia can make sense of it. The best scene—the best line is when Antonio is shouting in her face, angry because he simply can’t be without her any longer. Imagine these lines in his lilting accent:

“Don't you see that I cannot breathe without you? I cannot live without you! Don't you see that? Don't you see how much I love you?”

#2) Jake Gyllenhaal in Love & Other Drugs (2010) I love this movie. LOVE, LOVE. It’s like a romance novel set to motion. And no matter how bad you think it’s getting – it ends happily, I promise. The best scene? Jake’s speech at the end:

“Let's just say in some alternate universe, there's a couple just like us, okay? Only she's healthy and he's perfect…I don't want to be those people. I want us. You. This.” (sob!)

#1) John Cusack in Say Anything  I would be remiss if I didn’t list a classic—and Say Anything is a movie I watched until my VHS tape wore thin. I have two favorite scenes – the one after they made love in the car and he’s shaking so hard because he loves her so much. Gets me every time. BUT, how can I not mention the worst, most angsty, saddest scene? I must! The phone booth, the rain, and the line that tears you in half:

“I gave her my heart. She gave me a pen.” *cries*

So there they are! What are your favorite romantic songs or movie scenes? I’m sure there are PLENTY I didn’t list, but I’d still love to talk about them! :)

About Hard To Handle:

ONCE BURNED

Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love . . .

TWICE AS TEMPTING

Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?

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About Jessica Lemmon:

Jessica Lemmon has always been a dreamer. At some point, she decided head-in-the-clouds thinking was childish, went out, and got herself a job . . . and then she got another one because that one was lousy. And when that one stopped being fulfilling, she went out and got another . . . and another. Soon it became apparent she'd only be truly happy doing what she loved. And since "eating potato chips" isn't a viable career, she opted to become a writer. With fire in her heart, she dusted off a book she'd started years prior, finished it, and submitted it. It may have been the worst book ever, but it didn't stop her from writing another one. Now she has several books finished, several more started, and even more marinating in her brain (which currently resides in the clouds, thankyouverymuch), and she couldn't be happier. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want. (While eating potato chips.)

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