COUNTING DOWN TO VALENTINE'S DAY By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless #romancegems

My honey might roll his eyes when I pull out the Valentine’s decorations in early February, but I know he secretly enjoys my passion for the day when one hundred and fifty million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged worldwide.  Not to mention it is a great excuse (as if I need one) to drink champagne and eat chocolate.

And yet Valentine’s Day is not just another day brought to us by Hallmark.  From early days to modern times, poems and songs have been written, stories have been penned, and rings and vows have been exchanged.  Which sent me on a quest for romantic poetry.  Here are a few classics to get you in the mood.

“Love is a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”  Aristotle

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever.”  Alfred Tennyson

“How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.”  Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Age does not protect you from love.  But love, to some extent, protects you from age.”  Anais Nin

“Love is like quicksilver in the hand.  Leave the fingers open and it stays.  Clutch it and it darts away.”  Dorothy Parker

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt with the heart.”  Helen Keller

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep: the more I give the more I have for both are infinite.”  William Shakespeare. 

I don’t know a single romance writer who doesn’t embrace Valentine’s Day because in our world every day rivals Valentine’s Day as we write about love and romance and happy endings.   

I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of BARRON'S BRIDE, Book 6 of my sweet western historical series, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, as soon as I get it back from the editor.  Readers have waited long enough to see Barron meet his match, and in this classic "enemies to lovers" tale he has not cooperated with me or with poor Lily, although she gives as good as she gets.  Here is a sample.

          Barron should be no stranger to weddings, what with five of his brothers having recently taken the plunge.  So why did he feel so uneasy standing here listening to his twin pledge himself to Rose till death?  Sounded like one heck of a long time. 

          He glanced reluctantly at Rose’s sister, Lily.  There was something about the woman he didn’t trust.  Far better for everyone if she high-tailed it some place far, far away.  He knew, sure as he drew his next breath, that if Lily stuck around she was bound to raise havoc on all their lives.

          He didn’t buy any part of her story other than she had been kidnapped, and only because Rose claimed to have seen the whole thing.  When they found her, Lily pretended like she’d lost her memory, along with her ability to speak.  Pretended to not even know her own sister.  Convenient how fast her memory returned when it suited her.

          He started when his arm was pinched, bringing him back to the present.  Lily stood next to him, practically on top of him.  “The ceremony is over, in case you hadn’t noticed.  This is where you take my arm and we follow the bride and groom down into the yard.”

          “Right,” he said with a near growl.  Just his luck to be best man to Lily’s maid of honor.  As if the woman before him had any sense of honor. 

          Not that he was exactly anyone’s idea of a “best man”, given the things he’d seen and done.   

          He gritted his teeth as Lily tucked her arm through his.   

          “The receiving line will be over here.  In case you weren’t paying attention the other day.”

          Barron’s breath hissed between his teeth.  Why did the woman irritate him so much every time she opened her mouth?  “I paid attention.  It’s not exactly my first time at the rodeo, you know.”

          Once they had taken their places in line, she said. “I hope you have your speech all prepared.  I’d hate to see you make more of a fool of yourself than usual.”

          He ground his teeth together and clamped his lips tightly shut.  Lots of things he’d like to say to her, none of which was appropriate on his twin’s wedding day.  

If you've been following this series, you'll want to preorder here        https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZCBP1VR

And in honor of Valentine’s Day, Check out this collection of Valentine’s Novellas from an amazing line-up of Harlequin authors.

8 brand-new Christmas Town novellas from some of your favorite Harlequin Heartwarming authors. Valentine’s Day—and Christmas Town—will never be the same!

Calling all bachelors!

The Knotty Elves decide a Valentine’s Day Bachelor Auction kills two birds with one stone – raising money to save the library while working their matchmaking magic. From a personal chef to the town’s snow plow operator, there’s one thing all these handsome, homespun heroes have in common: they’re about to find love, Christmas Town style.  

https://www.amazon.com/Be-My-Heartwarming-Valentine-Christmas-ebook/dp/B07Z8CXBWP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-my-heartwarming-valentine-anna-adams/1134146353?ean=2940163127962

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  And remember to enter our Rafflecopter Draw here.  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a234/