The theme this week is a music playlist. As a rule, I don’t do playlists for my books. Music is wasted on me when I write because I zone out and don’t hear it after a while. At present, I’m working on a historical set in 1940 England during the World War II. I’ve been playing a CD called We’ll Meet Again – 20 Wartime Memories to get myself in a period mood. Here are several songs featured on the CD.
Playlist:
We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn
Coming in On a Wing & a Prayer – The Song Spinners
Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree – The Glenn Miller Orchestra with Marion Hutton
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – The Andrew Sisters
Don’t Fence Me In – Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters
The White Cliffs of Dover – Vera Lynn
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland
Today I’m also including a short excerpt from Unforgettable, my World War Two romance, which is available from Ellora’s Cave.
Unforgettable by Shelley Munro
“Thank you. I’d love to dance.”
The man beamed and offered her his arm. They strolled over to join the couples doing a quick step on the highly polished floor. Margo stepped into his arms and made small chat to put the man at ease, just as she’d done with Johnnie. They moved in time to the female singer crooning about love and laughter.
Feeling the weight of a stare, Margo glanced over to her right. Her feet faltered.
“Johnnie,” she whispered, positive she was seeing things.
“I beg your pardon?” her partner asked.
Margo blinked several times before risking another glance over to the corner of the room. Disappointment seared her when she spied the face of a handsome stranger.
“I thought I saw someone I knew,” she said, forcing a bright smile. “A friend from the village where I live.”
“Would you like to go over to see them?” her partner asked.
Margo caught the hint of disappointment in his face. “I was imagining things,” she said. “Besides, I’d rather dance.”
The soldier’s shy smile made her glad and they danced together mostly in silence, although Margo found out he was on leave and his armored brigade was heading off the following week.
The song ended and Margo felt a tap on her shoulder.
“May I have this dance?”
That voice. Margo’s breathing stalled. Her heart hammered, thumping so loudly she wondered if she might faint. Slowly, she forced herself to inhale. Hardly daring to hope, Margo spun around to face the male behind her.
Johnnie.
Goodness, it really was Johnnie. Margo swallowed, a hundred thoughts flitting through her mind. There was so much between them, so much hurt and bitterness she was surprised he was even asking her to dance. But so relieved. Remembering her manners, Margo thanked the soldier she’d danced with and turned to Johnnie, eagerly searching his face. He looked thinner, his face etched with lines that hadn’t been there when they’d parted. His eyes were the same deep brown that made her melt inside but his smile was absent. And his beautiful dark hair was ruthlessly short. There was no curl left. Margo found herself wanting to say something gay and witty, something to make him smile.
Instead, she remained silent, slipping into his arms and moving close. The heat from his body warmed her through, melting the icy coldness that had encased her since their last harsh words. Margo breathed in his scent, the clean aroma with the faint hint of soap and musk bringing back a rush of memories. Good times. Happier times when they were in love and enjoying spending each snatched moment together.
“How are you, Johnnie?”
Johnnie’s hand tightened on her shoulder momentarily before guiding Margo into a turn. “I’m fine,” he said finally, his husky voice sending shards of longing skipping through her body. In that instant, she wished things were different.
Purchase from Ellora’s Cave or Amazon Kindle
To read more Snippet Saturday excerpts follow the links below:
Mari Carr
Shelley Munro
Vivian Arend
Taige Crenshaw
McKenna Jeffries
Ashley Ladd
Emma Petersen
Lauren Dane
Eliza Gayle
Related posts:
July 17th, 2010 at 5:46 am · Link
Nice list of titles- and that makes total sense to me. The mood setting of the music…but I’m with you on the don’t listen while you work part. ;)
July 17th, 2010 at 9:20 am · Link
I can’t read and listen to music and have never tried to write to music. Do love the music clips that you included though in the post…love the music of that time period
July 17th, 2010 at 10:11 am · Link
welli can say t hat you are great writer and hope you will hve more to come and i love to rad and blag on alot of sites
July 17th, 2010 at 11:06 am · Link
I need music to concentrate on work. I always have the radio on and headphones on. It kills the outside noise which is the real distraction in my case.
July 17th, 2010 at 2:20 pm · Link
I have to have music when I write, even if it’s something like M83 on low as background noise. Without it, I can’t function.
Nice list of tunes you have there!
July 17th, 2010 at 3:01 pm · Link
Vivian – Definitely. Music or outside noise doesn’t disturb my concentration – I just don’t hear it.
July 17th, 2010 at 3:03 pm · Link
Maria – I enjoy the music from that time period too. I didn’t realize that Wizard of Oz came out in 1939. It’s certainly an enduring movie.
Desi – thanks!
Rasha – it’s funny how we’re all different. I bet the music sounds a lot better than the outside noise. I love listening to music.
July 20th, 2010 at 2:29 am · Link
Great playlist. We’ve got The White Cliffs of Dover (Vera Lynn) on one of our car CD’s. It works great alongside Susan Boyle, Lady GaGa and others. :)