Valentine’s Day is coming up this month! Is this a holiday that you celebrate with anyone special? My husband and I don’t make a huge deal out of it, but enjoy any reason to be thankful for our own love story. For obvious reasons, the day seems perfect for those of us who read and […]
Better For It
I was thinking this week about memories – specifically relationship memories. When my son turned one, and I realized I was expected to buy him birthday gifts a mere two weeks after his grandparents and great-grandparents (and, yeah, maybe his parents, too) had spoiled him at Christmas, I realized I needed a plan. So we […]
A Matter of Heart
I once heard someone say Mother’s Day should come with a trigger warning. This same person had a hard time going to church on Mother’s Day Sunday, explaining that for her the day was fraught with conflicting, complicated emotions she’d rather not have shoved in her face. If you can relate, this post is for […]
Let’s Talk … Ensemble Casts
One of my favorite movies is Dan in Real Life. Have you seen it? Because I’ve watched it so many times, I think I’ve pinpointed at least one of my favorite things about this movie: its quirky, ensemble-like cast. Like any great romance, there is one main hero (or heroine) of the story, in this […]
Relationship Resolutions
I’ve talked to a few people recently about what their 2022 was like and what they would like to be different in 2023. I’ve gotten some interesting answers. A lot of people faced financial challenges in 2022. Inflation and the cost of living have weighed heavy on many people. Some people have been discouraged by […]
In Love vs. I Love (is there a difference?)
Do you have certain phrases that a character says that immediately get your hackles up? For me, it often happens when a romance has been building up so beautifully and the characters have overcome so much and then finally comes the declaration I’ve been waiting for. Only one of them says, “I’m in love with […]
So I Married a Romance Author
by George Rosche Greetings. Did I make it awkward already? Confound it… see, Janine asked me to write a blog post on “what it’s like to be married to a writer.” I ain’t got what you’d call a gifting for the written word. I crushed college entrance exams on math and science, but the language […]
The Ins and Outs of Unrequited Love
I’ve been watching a lot of C-dramas this past year and one recurring theme I’ve noticed in these shows is how there’s usually a character who’s in love with another character, but the latter character doesn’t love them back. Eeks and sigh, right? As an observer, it’s so painful to watch this type of relationship […]
New Year Goals #Giveaway
Happy New Year’s Eve. It’s an especially special day at our house since it’s our son’s birthday. He’s twenty. How did that happen? Wasn’t it just yesterday that after 2 1/2 months of bed rest, the doctor sent me to the hospital to be induced. Three hours of pain later, a nurse said, “Maybe you’ll […]
The Heartbeat of Love (& a #giveaway)
It’s crazy to think about it, but next week, my husband and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary. I’ve been married for more than half my life, and I’ve known that man for thirty-one years. Sometimes I think I know him better than I know myself. (Shh, don’t tell him I said that, though. […]