by Libby
Waterford
It’s been a long, winding road to the end
of the Weston University novella trio and I’m so excited that Endless Devotion is out in the world,
completing the saga of three very different couples and their paths to love
over the course of the reunion and commencement weekend at fictional Weston
University. The hero of Endless Devotion,
Devak Batra, is the university’s commencement speaker. We get to hear him give
the final address to graduates. Rereading his heartfelt words made me think
about other great commencement speeches through the ages. They are an
opportunity for someone older and wiser to share a final bit of advice with a
bunch of hung-over twenty-two-year-olds who probably aren’t even listening.
That’s what life is ultimately about, no matter how well intentioned the
speaker; some things you just have to learn for yourself.
Nevertheless, the best commencement speakers
offer wisdom that we all can learn from. Here are a few recent memorable speeches
that come to mind. Do you have a favorite? Do you even remember who gave the
address at your graduation? (I don’t, either.)
In what is known as the Make Good Art speech, Gaiman gives a
blueprint for creative people trying to do the work they are passionate about.
It’s a wonderful, witty speech with Gaiman’s typical imaginative dark optimism.
A sample line: “If you have an idea of what you want
to make, what you were put here to do, then just go and do that.”
Rowling’s speech is funny and
self-deprecating, but she doesn’t shy away from talking about failure as an
inevitable—and helpful—part of life. “So
why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a
stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was
anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into
finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything
else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I
believed I truly belonged.”
Another author! Kingsolver covers many
weighty topics, but ends on an uplifting note: “You can be as
earnest and ridiculous as you need to be, if you don’t attempt it in isolation.
The ridiculously earnest are known to travel in groups. And they are known to
change the world. Look at you. That could be you.”
About Endless Devotion
What better way to keep her ex at a
distance than by becoming engaged? Of course, Katya Noskov’s betrothal to a
fellow Weston University professor is just a sham, but she’ll do anything to
avoid becoming ensnared in the seductive trap set by Devak Batra, her
charismatic ex, who just happens to be the US Secretary of Education.
Dev arrives on Weston’s campus to give
the commencement address at the graduation ceremony and to propose to Katya
while he’s at it. The last thing he expects is for her to announce her
engagement to someone else. Undaunted, he’s determined to talk her out of her
betrothal and back into his bed.
When Katya and Dev come together, sparks
fly, clothes come off, and nothing, not even an engagement ring, can stop them
from acting on their physical desires. From passionate stolen kisses to trysts
in the rain, these two can’t keep their hands off each other, but steamy sex
can’t resolve Katya’s reasons for leaving Dev in the first place. He must show
he can make room for her in his life, not just his bed, if she can consider a
future with the sexiest member of the Cabinet.
Will Katya’s fake engagement lead to a
real proposal? Can Dev’s devotion survive distance, lies, and acts of congress?
The third of three erotic novellas set at
the reunion and commencement weekend at Weston University, where lust leads to
true love.
Excerpt from Endless Devotion
Katya wrapped her bathrobe around her body,
intending to make use of the sumptuous bubble bath her mother had given her for
her last birthday, and to lose herself in the latest Elizabeth George novel.
The antiquated doorbell shrilled at the front of the house.
It wasn’t terribly late, but she couldn’t
imagine who would be stopping by. She peered through the window beside the
door. Dev stood there, something bunched in his left hand. He seemed calm,
assured. He wasn’t easily rattled, and his equanimity suddenly made Katya want
to wipe the impassive look off his face.
She yanked open the door. “Yes?”
“You left your trench coat in my car.”
She grabbed it out of his hands. “Thanks.”
“So, back to the idea of breakfast. Perhaps you
and Edward could both join me—”
Katya lunged forward and plastered her lips to
his, stopping his flow of words, commanding the entirety of his attention for
at least this one moment. She didn’t want to listen to any more of Dev’s plans
or hear her fake fiancé’s name come out of his mouth one more time. She didn’t
want to think about the lie she’d told or Dev’s reasons for being here. She
wanted some peace from the war raging between her brain and her body’s primal
need to feel this man’s skin against her own.
She’d make this moment last as long as she could
in the hopes of gaining some relief from her interior battle.
He kissed her back, adjusting his posture so,
despite his greater height, she didn’t have to stand on tiptoe to meet his
lips.
“Yes,” she murmured into his mouth, owning her
need for the first time that night and loving the rush of power her sudden
freedom from indecision brought her. She filled her fist with his thick black
hair, tossed aside the trench coat, and grabbed his tight, delectable ass with
her other hand. She ground herself into his body, making her intentions
unmistakably clear. She detected his arousal as he groaned and wrapped long
arms around her waist, locking her to him.
They had always been like an erupting volcano
when they’d come together, hot, heedless of anything in their path. Now they
grappled and moaned and tried to out-kiss each other, stealing each other’s
breath away. Katya barely registered the fact they were
still on her doorstep and their coupling was visible to the world until Dev’s
voice, scratchy with need, broke into her consciousness.
“We’re going to”—he kissed her—“get arrested for
disturbing the peace.”
Buy Links
About the Author
Libby
Waterford writes steamy contemporary romances. She lives in Los Angeles with
her husband and two sons, where she works off her weekly pilgrimage
to In-N-Out by swimming and climbing the city's secret staircases.
Author
Links
Website: http://libbywaterford.com
Email: libby@libbywaterford.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/libbywaterford
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyWaterford
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/libbywaterford
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/libbywaterford
The Weston
University Novella Series
Book One: Passionate History
Book Two: Sweet Imperfection
Book Three: Endless
Devotion
3 comments:
Enjoyed the post- Congrats on the release!
I DO remember my commencement speaker-- Senator Thomas Eagleton. I remember that his political career came to a sad ending, but I have no memory of what he said. Great post! Can't wait to read the story.
Thanks for stopping by, Alanna and Alina! Wow, I'm impressed you remember that, Alina. I had to look up mine...Professor Njabulo Ndebele, a South African teacher and writer.
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