The Beatles sang “Can’t buy me love.” But they also sang about how all we need is love.
In today’s society, you can buy just about anything on the internet … and have it delivered. We’ve gone from having to order things through catalogs and wait for weeks and sometimes even months before they arrive to clicking a few times on the internet and getting our purchase the same day. What an amazing time we live in!
But can you order love?
How about romance?
Some people try to find romance through the internet, through dating apps and other ways. Or you could say you can order romance simply by purchasing a book by your favorite author. I know that’s one of my favorite ways to get romance.
So why all this talk about ordering and buying and delivering?
Because earlier this week, three friends and I launched a new novella collection. And it’s all about deliveries. And romance, of course.
It’s called Love Delivered, and each story revolves around a delivery service, and the romance that ensues with the people working for it.
My story, “Romance at Register Five,” has Kaitlyn making deliveries for a new app called Grocerease. But Mack, the manager of the grocery store, doesn’t like how the app is affecting his numbers. They have a lot to overcome if they want to be anything other than enemies.
Sarah Anne Crouch’s story, “Where Love is Planted,” has Ivy working at her family’s flower shop in west Texas. She’s intrigued by Grant, the man who orders flowers for his mom almost every month. But why can’t he make time to actually come visit his family instead of just sending flowers?
Heather Greer is serving up chocolate in “Sweet Delivery.” Will Forrester is back from her book Cake That! and running his own bakery. But it’s losing orders to the chain bakery who offers deliveries. Is Erica exactly what he needs when he hires her to deliver, or is she hiding too many secrets of her own?
And Rachel Herod brings the fun in “The Mermaids, the Ex and USSS.” Braig doesn’t love his job working as a delivery man for USSS deliveries, but he’s loyal and would never go over to NatEx instead. A wedding-load of deliveries to Ella introduces the two of them, but there are several misunderstandings still left to get past.
Four different delivery services, four different romances. What do you think? Can romance be delivered? Can you buy love?
Want a chance to win a copy of our new collection? For one (US only) reader who comments, I’m sending an autographed copy. Tell us, what’s the best thing you’ve had delivered?
Flowers, I love fresh (pollen free) flowers and love receiving deliveries of them at home during Spring. All the enjoyment in the filtered comfort of my home. And if they are delivered by a friend or loved one then that’s the icing on the cake! What a wonderful idea for a series, where did the idea originate pls?
interesting question. from when I was little we use to have milk and the paper delivered. Oh and we use to get groceries delivered (often I would buy them at the store and they were then delivered later and at one time mum would ring up and they would be delivered. Mum didn’t drive and it was after dad died). the best well its hard A load of wood when we were basically out and I was scrounging for enough to have a fire for another day. (It often came when most needed.)
As a kid it would have been a swing set for from relatives that was well and truly loved and used.
I think a gift from a friend of a therapy cat. It has batteries and there are about 5 different places you can pat and it does different things. meows, purrs etc. I had been saying I needed a cat to pat after mum died. and she sent this one who I called Gilbert or Gilly for short.
My favorite was flowers being delivered after I had my son who spent his first 10 days in the hospital. It was nice holding something on my lap as I left the hospital .
I don’t think you can buy love but I think people try to do that.
I think I need to look up pollen free flowers!
The idea came because I had an idea about a girl who did grocery deliveries and how she saw the store clerk so often that something started to develop. So I gathered some friends and asked if they’d be interested in doing a collection. We settled on delivery services as our theme.
Those all sound like amazing deliveries! My kids definitely got excited last summer when our new-to-us swing set came. :)
People definitely try to do that. And those flowers sound like the perfect delivery to receive after “delivering” your son.
I think the best deliveries were my children, but that’s not the kind you’re talking about. :)
When I was a teenager I received flowers and a balloon bouquet from my Aunt on two different birthdays and thought that was such a special surprise.
It’s not, but you’re absolutely right, Beth! ;)
I love surprises like that! My dad brought me flowers for my birthday one time, too, and it’s always stuck with me.
I have been buying online since 1990 and I love deliveries. It’s the new normal. The best delivery I have ever had was when my husband delivered to me a kitten. I had Jeffrey for 20 years until he just got old. I miss him still.
Aww. A kitten delivery definitely sounds like the best.
My husband has been laid up after having a complete knee replacement, but he made sure to have roses delivered for Valentines Day=)
Another time he secretly checked out my Amazon wishlist and ordered me a book!
The first thought that came to me was my children being delivered although that’s off topic. Lol. We have so many things delivered now it’s hard to have a favorite. I love to get fabric from the fabric store and feel the different textures and see the colors. ( I have to but a lot of my material online. )
I love being able to buy online and get things delivered, I’m not a fan of shopping, particularly now I have to bring toddlers if I shop in person!
I’ve been unwell recently and my aunt sent me a beautiful card that had a tiny bouquet of flowers in it, it fitted through the letter box but was such a pretty thing and a lovely surprise.
(I’m not US based so don’t enter me in the draw thanks)
Some of the best things I’ve delivered are, of course, books! I also like surprise deliveries, the best of which happened after Mom passed. A friend sent me a book, Tear Soup, as she said it was the best thing that she’d received and read after a family member passed. It was the best book I’d read on grief (I read three others!!), and now I’ve told quite a few people about it, too.
I think the best deliveries are surprises from others, like when someone sends a bouquet of flowers at a random time. It’s so thoughtful and kind.
Hm…surprise gifts from authors! When you don’t expect it!
When my 5 or 6 year old cousin out of state was battling cancer I sent her a stuffed unicorn and she says it was her favorite now she is in remission and now she is 9. When she had cancer she wanted to see big foot so for her last birthday I sent her a package and one of the things was a big foot toy she has been in remission for 2 years now. I also like getting flowers or balloons when u don’t expect it or just on a birthday or if it’s something that needs celebrated .
Oh my goodness! Surprise books are the best. You definitely have a keeper.
Agreed. I much prefer to buy fabric from a store than online.
Toddlers definitely make shopping harder. It was freeing the first time I went shopping after my two kids started school.
And thatched sounds lovely.
*that card
Autocorrect thinks it’s smarter than I am.
Surprise deliveries are so much fun!
Random flowers are always more fun than at expected times. I agree!
Ooh. Yes! Gifts from authors are super fun. :)
That’s so sweet. I had a cousin go through cancer around that age too. So glad she’s in remission!
Oh, this sounds interesting. My family has received some fun deliveries anything from edible arrangements to a box of frozen pastries.
Those definitely sound like yummy deliveries!
My daughter sent me and her dad chocolate covered strawberries for our anniversary!! We loved it!!
Ooh! Nice! You obviously raised her right.;)
when our two kiddos were in high school, my husband was out of work. So I went to work as a server. I really loved making customers happy and smile and enjoy their food. I had a lot of long days, From opening to closing. I had a break between 1 and 2. When there were few customers. When some came in they were all mine to take care of. Yessss. Many days my husband would order a flower or a few and have them delivered to the restaurant. It would brighten my day seeing these flowers. I kept a small vase in the back where I could see them all the time.
That’s so romantic!!!
Book related prizes. I love getting new books and bookish items!
Those are definitely fun!!
My husband orders me stuff sometimes and I’m never sure what it will be, so that’s always fun!
That sounds like so much fun!
I do most of my shopping online now. It is way to easy. Besides the books I have been getting lately, my favorite delivery is my fountain pens, especially my pink Lamy.
Wow! I’m always amazed at the ideas authors come up with. This collection sounds wonderful! I would love reading every single one.
I think the best delivery I’ve had in recent years was a floral arrangement for Mother’s Day in 2020, when I was isolated at home because of the pandemic, from my oldest son and his family. Emotions were heightened then, and it felt like a virtual hug. I still have the ceramic container it came in and every time I look at it, those warm feelings come back.
I had a birthday cake delivered one time. Best cake ever.
Fountain pens sound fancy! :)
Aww. What a sweet delivery during those hard times!
Yum. That sounds like a very fun delivery.
They are not as popular as they used to be, but they are still out there. They can range in price from not-so-bad to ridiculously-expensive. My husband got me started on using a fountain pen.
I love having books for review delivered from authors I love. The book cover is adorable.
I Love getting books in the mail Thank You for this wonderful post!
That’s really cool. I haven’t settled on a favorite pen for book signings.
Books of any kind are always a fun delivery! Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it. And I love getting books in the mail too. :)
I don’t think I can lick a favorite delivery, but I love getting things in the mail, so most deliveries are fun for me. One time my friend send me flowers in the mail because she knew I was having a rough week. Husband was traveling for work, we’d just loved out of the home we’d brought all 3 of our young kids home from the hospital to and into a tiny apartment because we couldn’t find a house, and then everyone got sick. It was such a wonderful reminder of being cared for in the midst of that.
Oh my goodness! Yes. You definitely needed a bright spot in that crazy time. So glad your friend sent flowers!
chocolate
I’m always happy with chocolate. :)
That is a wonderful question. I am always thrilled when I have boxes or packages delivered. It is always fun to open them. I never know what is inside. I have won a lot of prizes throughout the years. I also love to receive letters and cards from family and friends. I know it is something that does not happen much in today’s world with texts and instant messages. It always makes me feel loved and thought about. I also get that feeling every time I open the Bible. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I must be one of the only people left living rural-ly (I guess that’s not a word) that can’t get items delivered to their house.
A neighbour dropped off baked goods today so I’d say that’s one of the best deliveries I’ve gotten, at least this year!
Baked goods are definitely a great delivery.
Those are great deliveries, especially the delivery of God’s word through His book. Thanks for the reminder!
A signed paperback. :)
Congratulations on your new release!!
I like the idea of having romance delivered by purchasing a sweet romance book by my favorite author. Gotta love ebooks and audiobooks. ;)
Signed paperbacks are always fun!
Having a meal delivered from family, church family, or friends after giving birth has always been so helpful & delicious! 😋
I do remember one time when I was in college, my close high school girlfriend randomly stopped by and gave me flowers. It was so sweet of her!
Those sound like amazing deliveries.
I think the best delivery I ever got was a high-end stroller I won for my youngest when she was a baby. She was baby number 7 and we were SO broke but I won a ton of giveaways and we ended up having everything we needed.
That’s a wonderful story. I love how God works everything out even when we don’t know how it’s going to happen.