Deemed the “month of love” by many, February often makes people think of romance, grand gestures, and happy endings. As readers and writers of romance, I think it’s safe to say most of us enjoy escaping into the picture-perfect pages of love found in CCR books. Sigh-inducing endings. Foot-popping kisses perfectly staged as snow begins to fall. Swoon-worthy dialogue that leaves us weak in the knees.
But what does romance look like off the page?
I recently asked some of my fellow romance authors what romance means to them, in real life. What have been some of their favorite dates with their sweetie? How do they feel most loved in their relationship? Before I share a few responses from Inspy Romance authors, I’ll share an example from my own life.
I’ve been married to my husband, Eric, for almost 20 years. No matter how busy he is or how late it gets, he makes sure to prep the coffee maker for me so it’s ready when I wake up in the morning. He fills the reservoir with water, sets out two coffee pods, and places a fresh mug under the dispenser. Every morning when I stumble into the kitchen (I’m not a morning person), I smile at the daily reminder that he’s thought of me. That’s romantic!
Let’s see what some other of your favorite authors had to say about their real-life romances.
“I’ve always found romance in the little things: an offer to swing by the store on the way home, being the first to jump and help or clean when the dog (or a kid) is throwing up, holding my hand in a car full of bickering kids on the way to church. All the little things that show me he chooses love in the middle of the mess.” – Elizabeth Maddrey
“Since my release from the hospital after COVID when I couldn’t do much of anything for myself, my husband has helped with everything from doing dishes and laundry to washing my hair when I didn’t have the strength to do so. He also started praying with our girls every night before bed while I was in the hospital—a habit we’d let slide in recent years as life got busier—and now it’s a family priority again. I guess for me, acts of service and him initiating spiritual things both make me feel a little swoony!” – Jaycee Weaver
“My husband has taken me on some wonderful dates, but I’d have to say our trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee for our first wedding anniversary might top the list. We spent the weekend doing ALL THE TOURISTY THINGS. The Tennessee Aquarium, IMAX movies, a kids museum (yes, we went without kids), and Ruby Falls. We had the best time.” – Mandi Blake
“Romance, to me, is making sure the other person knows you SEE him or her. Like when my husband hears I am having a bad day so brings home a cherry limeade. Or makes sure to get my favorite chocolate instead of just whatever is in the Valentine’s section. It’s the details that no one else would know, but he reminds me he does.” – Amy Anguish
Aren’t those the sweetest? If you want to read more real-life romance from other CCR authors, I’ll be featuring more on my Facebook and Instagram pages throughout the month of February.
What are some examples of what love looks like in your life? It could be romantic, sure, but we show love to family, friends, and neighbors in big and small ways all the time. It all counts! While we all agree the memorable romances we find in books are thrilling and exciting, isn’t it wonderful to see the extraordinary in our everyday lives, too?
TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!
Everyone who comments below will be entered to win an e-book copy of one of the books in my Laurel Cove Romance Series, winner’s choice! (If you choose Say It’s For Good, it will be delivered after its release on 2/22.) Giveaway is open to US as well as international readers and closes February 10. The winner will be contacted by email soon after.
Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern contemporary romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications professional. Teresa is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She’s an introverted Enneagram 4 (if you know, you know) and loves coffee, traveling, and almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.
Everyone deserves a chance of redemption. When a bad boy turns his life around, it adds enrichment to the story.
I am single but have 2 cats. Henry is a cuddle bunny on his terms If I pick him up and he wants to cuddle he will lean his head into my neck for a real cuddle. It may not be much but it shows he loves me and I love when he does it. Libby shows it in other ways, she doesn’t like to be held but will sit on my lap and wants to be near me. (when I think of Feb I think of my birthday and my 2 cats are rescue cats and were a birthday gift 3 years ago)
Hi Teresa! Sending love for this Month of Love. Today SW Michigan is having SNOW Day #2, because yesterday the area received a foot of snow. The grandkids ages 16, 14, & 8 are happy. Hubby and I have been married for 48 years. Love is a choice. What makes my heart patter is the unexpected act of love / kindness – flowers just because or an Amazon gift or my favorite chocolate Ferrero Rocher hazelnut or that unexpected card, message, text. On Monday my daughter-in-love gave me the cutest Valentine gnome. Of course for Oma the unexpected hug of a grandchild or grand dog. Last year for February / Valentine’s Day while the grandkids attended Oma’s Virtual Academy, daily each child received a “Love Note” and something sweet. For Valentine’s Day they received a personalized homemade heart with an attribute for each letter of the word VALENTINE. My husband still has his. Best wishes. Stay warm, safe, and healthy.
Happy Birthday month Ausjenny. My son’s Sheltie Ivy is a cuddle bunny like your Henry. I have to pick her up and she leans into my neck for a big hug. Always tell the grandkids that at their house, they never receive any LOVE, unless Oma comes. LOL. Enjoy your summer.
Not awake yet. Just started my second cup of coffee. Want to add thank you for adding what other authors say on a topic. This avid Inspy Romance reader loves blogs that include quotes from other authors or when authors reply to a post. Makes the blog more interactive. Thanks.
Romance to me is when he stops to get my a slice of cheesecake because he knows how much I love it. :) (no entry needed)
Very true!
First of all, happy birthday to you! Secondly, animals show such a pure form of love! Thanks for sharing about Henry and Libby.
I love ALL of this, Renate! So sweet. And it’s icy/snowy here in Texas, too. Stay warm!
A great example of SWEET love. Ha! I love it.
I have to say, at this time in my life, romance for me would be a man taking out my garbage! That’s one job I don’t like doing! Plus, yard work, because I pay to have that done. So, if he just came and mowed the yard would be great! When my parents were alive, I’d take them out to dinner for Valentine’s. After Daddy passed, I’d get Mom flowers or chocolate, because she didn’t like going out that much, though sometimes she would let me take her out.
Doing those undesirable chores are definitely appreciated! I’m grateful for my husband’s willingness to “love” through helping out, for sure!
I was not charged for a major repair $600 by a mechanic when he found it would not be covered by insurance
That’s such a kind example of neighborly love!
I’m single but I have 10 younger siblings and 2 older siblings 2 nieces(violet age 1.5,Lottie 2 months) and 2 nephews (lon age 8 months,Vince 3 months) to keep me company. My grandparents were married for 70 years before my grandma passed away suddenly on March 24 2020 from a fall she was 90 years old so now I’m a caregiver for my 94 year old grandpa.
My husband has been wonderful to run errands and do other things for me. I have some health problems and often don’t feel like going out, so he’s gotten proficient at grocery shopping and picking up things for me. It helps that he likes to be busy. He keeps our yard looking nice and the cars maintained well. He’s often called upon by neighbors for assistance, too.
I really appreciate when people do things to help me out without my having to ask, like when they see the dishwasher needing to be unloaded or something put away and they just do it which makes my life easier. I find that so sweet. I think showing love to people is more in the small things than the big things.
What beautiful loving kind acts you authors shared with us. My husband and I will be married for 45 years this year. We are both retired and ever since he retired he has my coffee ready in the mornings, he usually gets up before I do and he also fixes breakfast. He loves to cook and bake. Ever since he retired he fixes our breakfast and dinner just about every day, unless he asks me if I will fix something he says I make better then him. When he retired he told me that he was going to cook for me now since I always (except when we he BBQed on weekends on his day offs when he worked, I don’t BBQ at all) had his coffee ready , breakfast and made his lunches and dinner when he worked. I will also bake me my favorite cookies (oatmeal raisin pecan cookies) every so often. When we walk our pup every morning my husband will hold my hand when we go up a little hill , so if I were to slip, I think all these things are so very sweet of him. I am a big believer that actions speak louder than words for sure. (not entering this giveaway as I don’t read ebooks, but thank you) Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Love isn’t always shown in big ways, but I think it’s more shown in little everyday ways. Someone (spouse for example) can say they love you, but how do they demonstrate it? Do they do things for you when you ask even though they don’t want to? Do they call you in the middle of the day when they are at work, just because they want to hear your voice or tell you they love you? Do they leave you little notes by your coffee mug or in your Bible to find in the morning? My husband does this and more for me & it speaks louder than anything that he could say verbally!
I think the same is true for how we show our love to friends and family as well. Spending time with them, or just making a phone call or text message saying your thinking about them. Or if you live close enough to go out for coffee or doing something with them that you both enjoy doing. There are so many little ways you can demonstrate your love & care to those who mean the world to you!
I’m single, but over the years I’ve learned curious ways to express love…
– My grandmother will always buy something for me or sew something for me. Many of my bags, shirts, blouses are gifts from her. Even when I had little money, she would give me something for my birthday and Christmas.
– My brother hugs me on his good days and is really affectionate, on his bad days he pulls my hair hahaha.
– My mom will always remember me, since I was a teenager she would take the trouble to choose my clothes or suggest hairstyles when I was going out and I really appreciate it (my mom has good taste so it’s one of those cases where I let mom choose your clothes and hairstyle for school or university is perfectly fine lol).
– My dad is one of those men who I really can’t remember ever saying “I love you” to me…sometimes he didn’t even say “me too” but I’ve never lacked for anything, he always remembers the books he wanted for Christmas or new year and I know you are listening when I speak because every time I got my school supplies as a child every notebook, pencil, etc was exactly something I would like.
My parents are the perfect example of a serious boy with a cheerful girl.
For me, it has been the fact that my husband has become my full time caregiver since I became disabled. He does not complain when I ask him to do anything. He does the dishes, cleans the house, does the laundry as well as taking care of my physical needs. I thank the Lord everyday for having such a fabulous husband. God bless you all. Thank you for sharing.
I think even second chances with bad boys at first deserve a chance to do it right.
Romance in all ways is perfect.
I’m single, but I think that romance is in the little things. You can’t show your love to someone without caring for them in some way.
So much love in that large, blessed family!
Being helpful is such an expression of love! He sounds wonderful.
Absolutely! Those small things are the best.
All of that is so, so sweet. Love it!
Yes, I love these thoughtful, little ways!
I love these examples of simple but true love! Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like a true partnership and expression of selfless love!
For sure!
Agree!
Right! Love has to take on action in some way, even small!
Foot massage in the evening <3 (even when he got up at 5 am to go to work)
That sounds like true love, for sure!
Real love is when grandparents travel from St. Louis, Missouri to Columbus, Ohio to become guardians of their two grandchildren on Valentine’s Day!!
Very sweet, Cheryl!