Love and Romance.
Writing lots of romance has caused me to spend a lot of time
thinking about love and romance. What it means to each of my characters. How it
changes from book to book, and all the different reactions that can be had?
So it’s brought me to this point. I want to talk to you about
what I feel love and romance is. What it means to me. I know it means something
different to everyone. Some see love and romance as romantic dinners, gifts,
sex. And yeah, they can be the icing on the cake.
But for me, love and romance is something a little
different. It’s the acceptance by my partner of who I am. That he loves me,
still wants to hold me even after I’ve ranted and raved about something
pointless, for an hour.
Love and romance for me is knowing that he sees me as his
equal in everything. That in everything he does, chooses, decides, that my
feelings and personality are taken into consideration.
The knowing that he would rather hurt, than for something to
hurt me. The knowing that if he could take my burdens in life and carry them
himself that he would.
It’s the little things. He listens to the music that I like,
even if sometimes it includes a sappy Taylor Swift song on repeat. He listens
to me. Through the wacky, and the weird, to the down right bonkers ideas and
schemes, he listens… And more importantly he hears me…
When I’m feeling insecure, unattractive, or stupid, he
doesn’t dismiss my thoughts. He doesn’t tell me I’m being silly, or over the
top. He shows me all the ways he loves me, shows me that I’m not stupid or any
other negative I can think to throw at myself in that moment. He lets me see
how special I am through his eyes.
For me love and romance is the moment he takes my hand. The
moment his fingers close around mine and his eyes can’t seem to leave my face.
It’s that split second before his lips meet mine, when his breath tickles
across my cheeks and my eyes drift closed.
It’s when I wake up in the morning and he smiles at me,
looks at me like I’m the most beautiful creature he has ever seen.
All these things spell love and romance for me and they tell
me something very important too… They tell me I’m so lucky to have found a man
that can give me all of these things and so much more. He is everything I ever
wanted, and everything I never knew I wanted until I met him.
I think Sam from Sacrifice said it best with, “There is no
life without love. No life without her.” And to that I say, “There is no life
without love. No life without him.”
To the man of my dreams, thank you for being real.
So to help spread the love, I’m giving away two signed
copies of my newest book Sacrifice. To enter, all you need to do is comment
with an answer to my question and your email so I can contact you if you win. And it's international!
What does love and romance mean to you?
To whet your appetite, here is the blurb and cover for Sacrifice.
To whet your appetite, here is the blurb and cover for Sacrifice.
************ 99c for a limited time only! **************
"The moment Sam looked at me, I knew he saw me. The real me, not the one I pretended to be. He saw beyond my pretense to the girl beneath. The girl who cried herself to sleep at night. The girl who pushed people away, when all she really wanted was for someone to look her in the eye and tell her everything would be alright. That life wasn't always pain. That living wasn't always this difficult. That the ones you loved didn't always leave you behind. In that moment, Sam saw me, and I saw him. And I knew without a doubt that I would love him and he would betray me."
Natasha Masterton, a young college student on the verge of graduation, has the world at her feet. But all is not at it seems. Her mother is dead and she hasn't seen her father in over three years. The only dealing she has with him is when he deposits her allowance into a bank account every month. Her father's lack of interest has hardened Natasha to the rest of the world, leaving her cold and more than a little broken.
When Sam Harker crashes into Natasha's life, asking questions about her father and dragging up the past, Natasha's interest in piqued. The more time she spends with him, the more she falls for his easy charm and quick smile.
But Sam has secrets of his own - secrets that threaten their blossoming relationship. And when the real reason for Natasha's fathers disinterest becomes apparent, a sacrifice must be made.
Love, honor and duty collide... risking more than just a broken heart. Sometimes love is worth the ultimate price.
Recommended for 17+ due to mature themes and scenes of an adult nature.
When the hop ends I will randomly pick two winners from the
commenters here. Not only that, but as this is the insatiable reads hop, you
have the chance to win other fabulous prizes, by following the link to the
other blogs participating.
For the blog hop the first place grand prize is a Kindle Fire. And second place is a $50 gift card! So get entering!
The blog hop is now closed and the winners have been chosen. Thanks to everyone who took part!
For my own giveaway of two signed paperbacks, the winners are: Cassandra dixiedukegurl2 AT yahoo DOT com
And: Cara Lumanesce lumanesce AT gmail DOT com
Congratulations! The emails have been sent.
The blog hop is now closed and the winners have been chosen. Thanks to everyone who took part!
For my own giveaway of two signed paperbacks, the winners are: Cassandra dixiedukegurl2 AT yahoo DOT com
And: Cara Lumanesce lumanesce AT gmail DOT com
Congratulations! The emails have been sent.
Love and romance is the quiet times when you just are....together.
ReplyDeleteYvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Gotta love a great Romance.. ;)) Thank you!
ReplyDeletevals_hemi at yahoo dot com
Love romance! Sacrifice looks good :)
ReplyDeleteJanhvi
justjanhvi at gmail dot com
Love and romance is the time when you are one with your soulmate. thanks for the contest.
ReplyDeletewandad1961@yahoo.com
Thanks for a great post. itlnbrt @ att dot net
ReplyDeleteLove is what you feel - romance - that's tougher for me. I want to say it's like going out of your way to - pardon my old fashioned term here, but it's the first that came to mind - court someone. Even if you're married, candles, music, dinner, it's all done for the courting. I can't think of a better word. :) Color me weird. heather1974 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing giveaway! You guys rock! kamclauc AT gmail DOT com
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the post.
ReplyDeleteparisfan_ca@yahoo.com
Love and romance, how sweet it is.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
The best part of romance is growing with your partner. We've been together 32 years and have are good days and bad, but we still make one another laugh. No matter what, we know we can rely on each other.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the hop
ReplyDeletefencingromein at hotmail dot com
Love for me at least is being there for that special person and caring for them even if there are bad times.
ReplyDeleteRomance is little things, picking a flower from the garden, breakfast in bed or in my case my DH(when we were just dating) bought himself and I bus tickets to visit my Grandma. That was so special to me.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
Romance can be anything that says the other person is thinking of you. Love is the reason you do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hop.
jess820[at]gmail[dot]com
Love & Romance means everything to me, Its the spark to a relationship that for me can never go out.
ReplyDeleteLove is the feeling of completeness when you meet your soul mate. Romance is the special things you do for the person you love without expecting anything in return.
ReplyDeleteJmesparza821 at gmail dot com
For me love is the overwhelming yet comforting feeling you have for someone. It can be intense, especially in the beginning, but it can also be warming and secure. Love is a need to have that person with you and in your life and knowing you can't be without them. Romance is finding things in everyday life to bring a smile to the one you love's face. It's anything you do that you know will bring joy to the person intended :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome giveaway!
dixiedukegurl2 AT yahoo DOT com
With love comes romance, I don't need big romantic gestures I just need to know that you are there for me at the worse even when I'm not my best and I will be there for you. This book sounds awesome by the way I can't wait to read it and thanks for participating in the hop! :)
ReplyDeletehuntress023(at)hotmail(dot)com
Romance for me is cuddling! I am all about the snuggle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being in the hop!
grapeapril75(AT)gmail.com
Love is unconditional, love is just seeing the person & knowing that he would do anything and everything to make you happy. Love is intimacy and touching, not just sex (which is great), but emotional and physical touching! Love can be great!
ReplyDeletepSharonShareBear@aol.com
Romance is the things you do for someone to show how much you love them
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway
virgilio324@gmail.com
I believe romance is an all day thing...and doesn't just start when your getting ready for bed!!
ReplyDeleteviajeradelmar@aol.com
Being in love means having a best friend, a lover, a protector, a companion, someone that makes you smile when you think about them, someone that understands you and completes you. Thanks for sharing your wonderful post and the giveaways. evamillien at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteWonderful blurb, and you nailed everything I would have said on love. He's my best friend and he always has my back. He could never be my alibi, because if I'm ass deep in alligators, I know he's right there with me. ;)
ReplyDelete~Xakara
My Bromance to Romance Hop Contribution
Xakara at Xakara dot com
Romance is cuddling and a nice back rub.
ReplyDeletesharoncummin@gmail.com
I have not been lucky to be on the recieving end of romance yet. Love I have experinced but didn't get the happy ending yet. I have not given up and will not but ever hopeful.
ReplyDeletestrawberryrose@earthlink.net
romance to me is when someone goes out of there way to show you how much you mean to them
ReplyDeletemeandi09@yahoo.com
Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to read Sacrifice!
ReplyDeletestaceyprice(AT)gmail.com
Thanks for being part of the hop! theresafischer@bellsouth.net
ReplyDeleteAwesome :) Thanks so much :)
ReplyDeletebobbyehopebooth@yahoo.com kindle :)
Sounds good.
ReplyDeletesusanmplatt AT Hotmail DOT com
Love and romance are two separate things. Love is knowing in your heart you want to be with the person you're with, fully accept them for who they are...flaws and all, want them to be happy and will do anything to ensure they are and keep them safe and secure in the knowledge they will always come first. Romance on the other hand is that feeling you get low in your gut sometimes when you catch a glimpse of your man...crazy butterfly wings, your mind blanks out and words fail when you need them the most. It's the brush of a rough hand across your cheek, long slow deep wet kisses and the look in his eyes that promises there's gonna be more...
ReplyDeletebarbbattaglia @ yahoo.com
Sounds like a great read!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Terrific excerpt.. can't wait!
ReplyDeletevals_hemi at yahoo dot com
It's not easy after marriage, but I try to put a little romance on our everyday lives - taking time for each other, dinner together every night (with a little charm), and long kisses every single day!
ReplyDeleteRenata
alifeamongbooks[at]gmail[dot]com
I don't know if real love 'til the end exists..romance it is much easier to maintain, I think
ReplyDeleteswordlily_girl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Love and romance to me is devotion, understanding and praise. Now I know this may sound odd to some, but it's my feelings lol. My hubby gone at 300 days out of every year for work. So when he is home, I love that he will give me praise after praise about how wonderful I'm doing while he is away. I think some people take for granted all the little things our spouses say and do for us when we see them on a daily basis. But since I don't have that, when he is home I soak it up like a sponge. :) Understanding because I am not perfect and I make mistakes. Devotion because I when feel 100 percent loved I have no desire to go find anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being a part of this hop!!
usmcwifey1@live.com
thanks!!!
ReplyDeletejrryba(at)gmail(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLove and romance are important in any relationship. Showing that you love someone and being thoughtful is important.
ReplyDeletebarbistull@yahoo.com
In my experience, love and romance aren't always the same. My husband doesn't have a romantic bone in his body but he does love me and tries, fails most of the time, but its the thought that counts.
ReplyDeletedragon5174 (at) gmail .com
Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletemarlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the international giveaway!!
ReplyDeletesweety225(at)rocketmail(dot)com
My husband tries (and normally fails) to be romantic, but in his attempts, he's being adorably romantic to me. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hop! deathangyl@gmail.com
I'm not into the romantic mushy stuff. I just want my husband to be there for me and he always is. I am very lucky.
ReplyDeletepjmillion(at)comcast(dot)net
My husband likes to do fun little surprises for me. Because our schedules differ so much right now, he's often wide awake while I'm asleep. And having him wake me up a half hour earlier because he made breakfast, or to find that he's rearranged the apartment in preparation for the baby we're expecting makes me fall in love with him all over again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
Lumanesce (at) gmail (dot) com
Love is important and romance is nice, but not always necessary. I love the small things. Thank you for the fun hop and giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteshadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Love and romance is being with one that overlooks my fault. Thanks for being on the hop. My summer reading is going to be full of some great reads.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I love the way you described the difference between love and romance and what they mean to you. It was incredibly sweet to read and I enjoyed it a lot. I think, for myself, (and much of it is repeated from the above) love is when things are just "right". When you can be yourself and not have to worry that you won't be impressing the other because you are who you are and they are who they are, and that's enough!
ReplyDeleteRomance, on the other hand, is the little things. The flower with a sweet note, the chocolates "just because" (perhaps leading to a beautiful date night) etc. I love thinking about what it all means!
Sacrifice sounds amazing. I had to add it to my Must Read list as it just sounds so good (and I love the cover!). After reading the excerpt, I am so curious to find out how things will work out between Sam and Natasha. Thank you for the excerpt and saying what love and romance mean to you. It was great reading both.
Thank you so much for the chance to enter the giveaway and happy summer one and all!
Shelly H
booski24@hotmail.com
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
ReplyDeleteelizabeth @ bookattict . com