Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

No La huv Lost



The one thing I love about the Web is that because of it, we’ve learned so much about what it means to really want to say something that, ultimately, could hurt someone else’s feelings, so we refrain. We show a little self-control. We’ve learned that those little jibes we make at people that seem hilarious at the time can have long-lasting and serious consequences.
Take the Playboy bunny who is currently under police investigation for taking a picture of a naked 70-year-old woman in a gym and posting it—she says unintentionally—to her public Snapchat account with a caption that led one to believe she was less than impressed by the person’s physique. She didn’t realize that photographing naked people is actually a crime, and now she could face jail time for her moment of “I’m young and sexy and can make fun of whomever I want” snarkiness. It’s a lesson well heeded, and whenever I have those moments, I think about what I say or post twice.
And I’ve thought about what I’m going to say next more than that, and I still just have to post it.
There is a singer that, even though I like this person’s music, I can’t stand their singing. As I’m driving along in my car, a song will come on the radio by this particular singer, and even though I like everything about the song, it makes me cringe because this person just, well, warbles. I mean WARBLES. Oh my God, it sounds like this person is seriously just making fun of those singers of yesteryear whose “Best of” and “Song Styings of” albums are all the rage on late night commercials, except the singers of yesteryear can actually sing.
In the most recent song I heard from this person, one of the words is “love” (changed to protect the identity of the singer), and this person sings it as “la huv.” I swear that it’s an intentional affront to the singer’s fans who apparently don’t know a hack when they hear one. It’s almost like the singer is saying, “Ha! I can sing like a 10-year-old child with laryngitis doing the worst imitation of Barbara Streisand ever and they’re so dumb they’ll keep buying my music.”
It’s maddening to love the songs and groan at the singer. How is that possible? How did this person ever make it this far in the music industry? Why can’t someone else be singing these songs? I didn’t name the singer in this post because I know my opinion is just one of millions, and apparently those millions like their music with a little bit of kitschy, breathy, melodramatic whisper-shrieking. Also, I’d feel bad if the singer read this because I know how I’d feel if someone said the same thing about my verbal abilities, which a zillion fans do not “la huv.” Even famous music people have feelings, and even though some choose to sing about them even though they can’t hold a note, it’s not my place to call them out. But it does feel good to get this off my chest.
So what about you? Do you have one song (or more) that you love but you can’t stand the way the singer sings it? Am I the only one? I can’t be. Please do share in the comments. Until then, happy reading!

Relationship Stuff

Few things surprise me; however, recently a colleague confided in me about her divorce and it threw me for a loop. I'm not really good friends with this co-worker, and I don't see her often. Suddenly, in the midst of us discussing a big project, she mentions that she's going through a divorce. Since I wasn't even sure she was married, that was a surprise. I think she needed to talk to someone, and I had time and was willing to listen, even though, really, it's very unprofessional to dish on your personal life with people you only really know in your professional life.

What stood out to me the most is that her first comment when talking about the woman who "stole" her husband was that she wasn't pretty. "She looks bad," was the comment my colleague used. And I couldn't get it out of my head. The reason for this is that, as a romance/erotica writer, my job is to build a relationship between to people based on true love--a love that is something that everyone can aspire to--not some superficial attraction that wanes after several years. I spend much of my time trying to comprehend what makes a relationship last or what helps maintain a relationship, and at the end of the day, being pretty doesn't rate very high.

I remember an instance where a good friend of mine found himself in a situation where his parents where divorcing. It was hard for everyone to grasp the extent of his father's affair with the other woman, but it was especially difficult because the "other woman" was not necessarily prettier or younger or skinnier than his mother. It was incredibly difficult for anyone in his family to comprehend how his father could leave his mother for someone "less," and that made the dissolution of his family dynamic all the more difficult.

And that's what I want to rail about. The first thing anyone thinks of when we hear that someone is moving on to someone new is the differential in the score each person achieves on the "beauty" scale. Immediately, we default to the reason the relationship ended was because the person cheating went on to someone "better" in the looks department. Seriously? We're still hung up on looks like a sixth grader? Sure, some people are shallow muddle puddles of human beings and move from partner to partner without any emotional connection. However, people who get 20 years into marriage and suddenly want someone younger are typically not looking for someone younger; they're looking for something that their current life or relationship lacks.

This is wanted to tell my colleague, but it seemed to make her feel good that her husband had been lured by an ugly siren because nothing else made sense. I was supportive and didn't point out that love takes many forms, and we don't understand all of them, I just listened. I may not agree with what my colleague's spouse did, but I still believe that my co-worker will find someone who truly values her for herself and not some superficial characteristic such as looks. There's so much more to us than our physical appearance, and I hope that readers of this blog post know how beautiful they are.

Happy Reading!



 

A Hard Transition

This last couple of weeks brings with it a bit of a transition, one that many of you will identify with. Our last puppy--and by puppy I mean 17-year-old dog--passed away. He was a dear friend, a member of the family...and the last of our familial brood.

After twenty years of living with cats and dogs, I am petless. And it feels somewhat lousy. I was prepared for the empty nest syndrome when my sons left home. I expected it somehow, because, well, I knew it was an end that led to a beginning. I guess I figured that when they left, they'd go off and somehow bring someone back with them, which they did. My sons ran off and found brides and they had children and so now I'm a grandma. So they left and came back exponentially enhanced. Brenuf, however, did not go out and reproduce (we had him neutered, as we did all our animals), so there's no hope of his offspring, gifted with the same soft fur and big grey eyes, showing up at our door demanding hugs and kibble. That kind of sucks.

Brenuf was ready to go, as his good days were far outnumbered by his bad days, and beyond that, he had cancer. I'm happy that he's in a better place, pain-free and romping, no doubt, with his brothers and sisters. However, I miss him. I keep seeing him coming around the corner for his dinner, but there's no one there. I wait for him to settle himself at my feet when I write, only to find empty space beneath my desk. I come home from work and prepare to feed him only to realize we donated all his food to the local animal shelter after he passed.

I'm not ready for another pet, and I don't know if I ever will be. Brenuf was an amazing dog. He was patient and loving and kind, and I can only ever hope to be as humane as he was. How is it that having a loving pet makes us better people? Makes us want to live up to the standards that our beloved fur babies have for us? Is it the unconditional love? The trust? The friendship?

I hate to be a bummer this week, but this is really what's on my mind. I hope that all of your pets are safe and healthy, and I'm sending a prayer for all of them to the heavens. Happy Reading.


Little Things…

They do mean a lot sometimes. I thought of this the other day while petting my cat as he lay all cozy and comfy on my brand new bra. I’d just gotten it out of the box and laid it on the my computer desk until I could toss the box in the trash and gather it back up, and in an instant he crawled his furry butt right onto it. He sniffed, rubbed his face on it a bit, and then settled in for a nap. And I let him. I had to wash it anyway, and I know from past experience that this is how he feels loved. Some folks might have shooed him away, but I took the opportunity to bond with him. Since he can be a little skittish sometimes, that’s important. It’s such a little thing, but it meant so much to him (according to his contented purr).

That’s what I’m posting about today. Those little things that make a difference to others that we ourselves might not even think about as being any kind of consequential. As a writer, it’s funny to hear what people say about my books; some of the random or remote details that stand out to readers that I’d never have realized had any resonance turn out to be very important to them. As a reader, I’m sometimes shocked when I discuss a book with others who read it and discover some small part that made a huge impact on me that no one else even noticed. Reading is such a personal experience that I shouldn’t be surprised by this, but I am. The written word is powerful indeed!

But so is the spoken word, and even more so when those words are unexpected.

A few weeks ago, I made a point to mention to a colleague that he’d be perfect for a job that opened up where we work, one a couple of levels beyond his current classification. I told him I thought he was perfectly qualified and would do a wonderful job--just because I really believe it--even though I figured he’d be applying anyway. He told me it made his day to hear that, because he wanted to apply but was feeling a little unsure. My comment gave him a boost I didn’t think he needed, and it reminded me that sometimes people we think are confident still need encouragement.

The saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” However, I think they both have more power than we realize. A kind gesture like holding a door or giving a simple smile can make a big difference. A few positive comments even when we don’t think they’re needed can go a long way in changing a so-so day into a great one. As writers, we never know where our influence will begin or end, and as neighbors, siblings, friends, lovers, etc., we don’t know either.

Can you think of a small act or a few words that had an impact on you or on someone else? Please do share and have a fantastic day!

Happy Thoughts!

A Most Romantic Gift

In the past, I've blogged a bit about dancing, and I can't think of a more fitting subject for this week's theme because it's the most romantic gift my husband's ever given me. Because of him, my dream to be able to move to music and enjoy it is a reality and a lifelong passion fulfilled.

We'd been dating for a month when the subject came up offhandedly. I was so excited to hear he'd been dancing for years and wanted to share it with me, and he was so excited to find I couldn't wait to learn some steps. He'd been fully prepared to give up his dancing life to be with me if he discovered I wasn't into it.

Is there anything more romantic than THAT?

Who couldn't love dancing, whether watching it or doing it? Dancing is romantic and passionate, and they say that the way a couple dances says quite a bit about their relationship.


Partner dancing is about knowing yourself and your partner. It's about knowing when to lead and when to follow. It's about knowing when to give and when to take. It's about enjoying the pulse and rhythm of life and sharing that with your partner or the world if you're free-styling. In other words, it about...


Love. Love of life. Love of music. Love of that special someone. Love of humanity.


Those who dance suspend for a moment the inherent vulnerabilities of the human spirit and join in accepting themselves and those around them to come together in a celebration of possibilities. They rejoice in the primal beats that tie modern humankind to their ancestors, a connection transcending thousands of years and passing through thousands of generations.


What's more loving than sharing a dance with someone you care about? Perhaps you waltzed with your papa at your wedding, or perhaps you're first kiss happened at the prom during a slow dance. Dancing can be traditional, and it can unite. It's a way to get to know someone but also a way to share quality time with someone you've known for years.


In my novella,
Ride 'Em, Girlfriend, hunky cowboy Randy Stide uses the rumba and tango to further seduce the woman his heart's ached for for months. In some of my other books, dancing or music somehow play a role in the couple's love affair. It's so much a part of who I am that it just sneaks in when I'm least expecting it.

Speaking of least
expecting something, why don't you, as a Valentine's Day challenge, ask someone you know to dance with you? It doesn't really matter where you are or even if there's music; if you dance, you'll hear it. I wouldn't just go up to any ole person on the street and ask them--well, I probably would, but I definitely don't recommend that you do it--but maybe hustle your sullen teen off the couch and do the Watusi. Grab Granny and try a little slooooowww foxtrot, or maybe just wrap yourself around your significant other and snuggle in for a close slow dance, the kind where you just hold on and rock back and forth.

Wanting to express oneself through the joy of dance is a natural, wonderful desire, and I'm grateful every day that I'm able to do it, as some folks are not. I dance for those who can't and sometimes for those who won't, but mainly I dance because I have to, just like I have to write.


Right now I think I have to go express myself by encouraging my wonderful hubby to join me for a spin around the living room. Happy Valentine's Day!

Addicted to Romance

I confess, I’ve been addicted to romance most of my life. Not just romance novels, but romance in every form.

Romance and love are things I was drawn to from my earliest years. I was always the little kid staring with wide-eyed curiosity and fascination at the teenagers holding hands. Why were they doing that? Why does that guy have his arm around that girl? My Barbie and Ken were always kissing and going on romantic dates. One of my favorite TV shows back then was The Bionic Woman and, boy, did she have some hot relationships. Or at least, I thought so at the time. LOL My favorite was her romance with The Six Million Dollar Man. I should’ve known then I’d be writing paranormal romance one day about characters with extraordinary abilities. And then, of course, romantic fairy tales like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty always captivated me.

As a teenager, I quickly became addicted to romance in fiction. Gone With the Wind (the book) was one of the first, along with Arthurian legends, then I migrated over to actual romance where the happy endings thrilled me far more than the depressing endings in most literature. Back then, it didn’t matter if they were “sweet” romances. The feeling of falling in love came through loud and clear in the story. Sigh. Each of those stories sent me to dreamy la-la land for a day or two. Who needed those annoying, immature high-school boys when I could fantasize about a hero who looked like a Greek god? He was actually nice to the heroine and entranced by her. He treated her like a princess and he knew how to kiss.

I knew someday I had to find my own prince charming, a man who would accept me for who I am. A man who would love me unconditionally, recognize my talents and be generous to fault. I feel like the luckiest woman on earth to have found him while in college.

We got engaged on Valentine’s Day. It’s always been a special day we celebrate by going out to eat and exchanging gifts. Sometimes we go on mini vacations. My husband knows that I don’t necessarily want the classic romantic gifts. I only want roses if they have roots attached. I’d rather have a trip to Scotland than diamonds. And please leave that box of candy at the store!
He knows all my deep dark secrets, weird quirks, and he still loves me. That’s the essence of romance that I try to bring to my stories. Sometimes we don’t know what draws us to another person. Maybe on first glance, it’s the color of his eyes, but later you can’t pinpoint one thing. It’s a combination of many things.

There are so many facets to romance, but one of the most important in my opinion is… not only do you love the other person, but you also show them respect. Sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it. It can be the difference between coming across critical or coming across as understanding. We all want understanding and acceptance, don’t we? This is something I like to explore my stories. I love a hero who is supportive of the heroine, underscoring her confidence instead of undermining it.

In my upcoming March 21 Carina Press release, Laird of Darkness, the hero and heroine discover in the darkness of night that they have something in common (aside from a sizzling attraction)--they’ve both been traumatized in the dark and bitten by creatures, either normal rats or Otherworld demons. This gives them an unconditional acceptance and understanding of each other. And as a result they can comfort each other in the darkness of night. The form that comfort takes is both romantic and extremely sensual.

Am I still addicted to romance? Absolutely! What about you?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Blurb for Laird of Darkness: Half-Fae Laird Duncan MacDougall is cursed. His nights are haunted by Otherworld creatures sent to kill him. The only way to stop them is to possess the magic bow currently in the hands of his enemy half-brother, Kinnon MacClaren. In desperation, Duncan plans to take MacClaren's bride-to-be hostage and exchange her for the bow.

Lady Alana Forbes has never met her intended, but she hopes he is handsome-and a good lover, for Alana is no innocent virgin. On her way to Castle Claren, Alana and her escorts are intercepted, and she is kidnapped by a man with extraordinary abilities-and every attribute she longs for in a mate.

Duncan didn't expect the woman he thought of as a mere pawn would be so beautiful, and so arousing. Alana is drawn to him as well-but Duncan still needs the bow, and Alana is betrothed to another. How far will Alana go to save the life of the man she's come to love?

Nicole
http://www.nicolenorth.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm happy today because it's Thanksgiving, at least here in the USA. I enjoy this holiday because it gives me a chance to express how grateful I am for this adventure called life. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful every day, but since we have a national holiday geared toward sharing our gratitude, why not enjoy it? :) So, here we go...



Cameo's List of Things to Be Thankful For (in no particular order)

  1. Hubby, friends, and family
  2. Good Health
  3. Men
  4. Critters of all kinds
  5. Men
  6. Wine
  7. Joy
  8. Dancing
  9. Sex
  10. Men
  11. Writing
  12. Social Networking
  13. Travel
  14. The Sun, moon, and stars
  15. Imagination
  16. Love
  17. Life
  18. Unbridled passion
  19. Museums
  20. Reading
That last one is especially important. I love to read and can't imagine not being able to; however, I work with kids who can't, or can't read well. I am so grateful I grew up in a family of readers, and I am grateful that I share this passion with the folks who visit our blog. Speaking of which, here are some thoughts from a couple of my comrades here at Fierce Romance:



From Nicole:
A huge thanks to all of our readers! We're grateful that you check out our blog several times a week and post your comments!



From Carly:

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends! I like quotes that make me think and this one definitely did:

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer
A laugh is always good, so here's one from a very funny American writer:
What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? ~Erma Bombeck, "No One Diets on Thanksgiving," 26 November 1981
From all of us here at Fierce Romance to all of our readers:
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your love of books with us. We appreciate and love you, and we hope you have a terrific holiday. May yours be a peaceful and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!
PS Please forgive the formatting issues. Blogger fought me and won. :)

Reunited

During the summer months, there are few things I look forward to as much as reunions. Whether those reunions are with friends or family, the happy moments surrounding these events result in some of my fondest memories. Last night I attended my high-school class reunion. Reconnecting with old friends is something I consider priceless and precious. My anticipation built each day closer to the reunion. I wondered if the common bonds, backgrounds and topics that once found me friends with others would still remain or have disappeared. But those concerns were for naught once the evening got into full swing. Though years had passed since we tossed those graduation caps into the air, time hadn’t touched the friendships we easily rekindled. And before the last goodbyes were said, we promised to remain in closer contact and forbid distance from interfering with our friendships.

As a reader and writer of romance fiction, I really enjoy stories where a man and woman who were friends when younger reunite and either rekindle a romance or take their friendship from platonic to passionate. How they don’t let distance become an issue. When they dare exploring their desires, despite the possibility that the first stirrings of a romance could crash and burn and jeopardize the friendship they hold near and dear. The conflict inherent in reunion stories keeps me turning pages and pulling for the hero and heroine to overcome those obstacles and become best friends and emotionally-committed lovers.

One of my reunion stories has been published by Ellora’s Cave—ROUGHRIDER.




Blurb:

Rabid curiosity clashes with criminal minds and escalates the drama in a small Texas town where love and loyalties are harder won than any rodeo trophy.

Click here for more information about ROUGHRIDER

Much as Peaches and Herb once sang, these characters are reunited, and for them it feels so good.


Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED -- Coming soon to Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Love at First Sight? Second? Third?



FALLING IN LOVE – At first sight? Second? Third?


The more years I survive, the more I mull certain questions and topics. As an author of romance fiction who’s also married, one of these topics is whether or not love at first sight is actually experienced or simply imagined? When I look back over my dating days, I definitely experienced a physical response and attraction to those guys a good amount of time before realizing each held potential as someone with whom I could fall in love. Of course, my mind and body were also responding to them on various levels including how they conducted themselves with others, addressed me, etc. However, love didn’t enter into the picture at first date or second. I’ve never been one to make snap judgments or rush into anything, but all of the guys I dated engaged me on a mental and physical level. A short time after meeting my husband for the first time, I knew there was a strong chance he was a man I could marry. But I couldn’t say after that first glance, in all honesty, I knew without a doubt he was the man with whom I’d eventually walk down the aisle. We knew each other a couple months before an event occurred that convinced me he was a man who not only cared about my welfare but who would also stick with me through good times and bad. The hardest bit for me to reconcile is that someone can truly, in a nanosecond, meet someone and know that person is the one to whom they’ll entrust their heart—ergo fall in love. Could happen, but color me a bit skeptical as I believe true love takes time to mature into a foundation on which a woman can build the rest of her life.

What about you? Do you believe in love at first sight, or is this merely a fantasy women want fulfilled but is, in actuality, a rarity?


Shawna Moore
ROUGHRIDER – Ellora’s Cave
HELLE IN HEELS – Ellora’s Cave
Shawna’s Myspace
Helle’s Myspace

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! This past Saturday, I attended my husband's nephew's wedding (a Valentine's wedding, how romantic!) and I was the official wedding photographer, despite being only an amateur, really. Snapping all those photos was fun but tiring. The colors were burgundy-red, white with a little pink. Here is a photo of one of the two-tone (bicolor?) roses.


This is a good time to reflect on why I write about love on a daily basis. It's the most powerful emotion on earth. The one most songs are written about. The right kind of love can heal the most devistating of emotional injuries. This quote says what I often strive for in my stories: "To fall in love is easy, even to remain in it is not difficult; our human loneliness is cause enough. But it is a hard quest worth making to find a comrade through whose steady presence one becomes steadily the person one desires to be. ~Anna Louise Strong

Favorite romantic movies:
Wedding Date, Dirty Dancing, The Lake House, 7 Days 7 Nights, 10 Things I Hate About You, Step Up

Favorite movies I was surprised to find romance as an important plot element: Wedding Crashers, Miami Vice

Romantic quotes from movies
"I'll wait for you...However long it takes...I'll wait for you forever." Susannah to Tristan -Legends of the Fall

"Love is like the wind. You can't see, but you can feel it." A Walk to Remember

"You complete me." Jerry Maguire

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner" --Dirty Dancing

"Death cannot stop true love. It can only delay it for a while." ~ The Princess Bride

"I've made the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found." ~ John Nash, in A Beautiful Mind

"It is not whether the person is perfect, nobody is; it is if the person is perfect for you that you must figure out." ~ Good Will Hunting

"The only wrong thing would be to deny what your heart truly feels." --THE MASK OF ZORRO"

If you love someone you say it...you say it right then, out loud,...or the moment just...passes you by." --My Best Friend's Wedding

"Love won't obey our expectations. Its mystery is pure and absolute." --Bridges of Madison County

"When you realize You want to spend The rest of your life with somebody, You want the rest of your life To start as soon as possible." --When Harry Met Sally

Love quotes
Once a tear fell off my cheek and into the ocean, the day I find it will be the day I stop loving you. - Anonymous

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much perfoms much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.~Vincent Van Gogh

In all that we do let us do it for love. ~Chris Cotton

Love is friendship set on fire. ~Jeremy Irons

The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing, it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of Divine accident. ~Sir Hugh Walpoe

What is your favorite romantic movie or quote?