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WHY I LOVE ROMANCE GUEST POST
By Kaylee Baldwin
I love romance. I love writing romance, I love reading romance, and I absolutely love hearing how people met and fell in love. It’s one of the first questions I ask new acquaintances if they are married or in a relationship with someone: How did you meet?
I oooh and ahhh (and secretly think about putting their story into a book sometime) and remember how special romance is. But in the nine years since I met my husband, I’ve learned more about what real romance is than I ever thought I would.
I met my husband the day before Valentine’s Day 2004. We were both coming off of relationships and were dragged by well-meaning friends to a Valentines dance held by a college that neither of us actually went to. About half-way through the dance, I noticed him, our eyes caught, and he smiled, so I went over and introduced myself. He asked me to dance (“When you say nothing at all” by Allison Kraus) and we instantly connected. I had never talked to anyone as easily as I did with him. We were married eight months later.
I was pregnant with our first son within two months of being married. It was a crazy time. We were both going to Arizona State, working full-time, and I was sick night and day with my pregnancy. Then it felt like the floor dropped out from under us. When I was five months pregnant, we found out that our baby had major birth defects that would require surgery within hours of being born for him to survive. He had a myriad of other health problems that could be seen through ultra sound and all signs pointed to our son having Down syndrome.
My husband and I mourned for who we’d thought our son would be and all that he’d have to go through. I learned then that Jeremy had a sturdy shoulder to cry on and a very practical mind. It was time to adjust to a new way of thinking. We were going to have a very special child
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| Pregnant with my husband, Jeremy |
Our beautiful baby was born that next summer, and my husband and I held hands when they wheeled our six pound miracle away—just minutes after birth—to prep him for surgery. Time seemed to crawl over the next several hours while we waited to hear from the doctor how everything went. The surgeon had assured us that the surgery should go fine, but I knew they were cutting into major organs (his stomach and intestines) and this was my baby. My sweet little baby that I’d only held for seconds before he had to leave.
Our grip on each other tightened when the surgeon came into the room late that afternoon. He said our son had come through the surgery great. And—even better—we could go see him. We sat on either side of his incubator and took turns sticking our hands in to touch his hands or feet or the top of his fuzzy head. We looked at each other in wonderment at our beautiful miracle baby—and what the two of us had made together.
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| Our son in the NICU following surgery |
My husband and I passed our eighth anniversary last month. In this time our son has had countless hospital stays, nineteen surgeries, and he is scheduled for three more surgeries in the next few months. We’ve also had three other healthy and energetic children. I got progressively sicker and sicker with each pregnancy—until this last baby where I lost eighteen pounds and was on an IV for six weeks because I couldn’t keep anything down. My husband says we’re done having kids (he doesn’t want to see me like that again), but I kind of want one more. We’ll see. We’ve got plenty on our plate right now.
When I was younger, I thought that romance meant that my husband would buy me flowers (turns out I’m allergic, so he buys me chocolates), download songs that make him think of me, hold my hands at the movies, pull my chair out for me at restaurants. And he does do all of these things now and then.
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| We've still got it! |
But I’ve decided that romance is more than that. True romance is loyalty. It’s commitment. It’s sharing grief and joy. It’s holding hands when it feels like the world is crashing down around you. It’s knowing that there’s at least one other person in the world that understands what you’re going through.
Almost every day, my husband and I say to each other: I’m so glad I met you. Because that’s where it all began—at a Valentines dance neither of us wanted to go to. And that’s why I love hearing the “How we met” stories and why I love reading them as well. They are just the beginning—a promise—of the amazing romance to follow.
When Kaylee Baldwin isn’t writing, she’s usually chasing after her four children, checking her email, trying to get motivated to train for that race she shouldn’t have signed up for, hanging out with her pretty awesome husband, and reading whatever good book she can find. She graduated from Arizona State with a degree in English Lit. Her published books are MEG'S MELODY and ALL I WANT.
THREE STORIES. THREE
COUPLES. ONE HOLIDAY, ONE GIVEAWAY
Pretty Near Perfect
by Jolene Perry
The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé's parents' home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.
Six Days of Christmas
by Kaylee Baldwin
When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.
Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.
Author Jolene Perry
Jolene Perry is an enigmatic figure. She is most often seen behind her laptop, staring at the words flying onto the screen with reckless abandon.
She survived growing up in rural Alaska, driving like a lunatic, and her husband’s careers in the military, as a perpetual student, and an Alaska State Prosecutor. She also survived as a middle school math teacher using her degree of Political Science and French.
One day Jolene was playing her guitar (probably some-thing juvenile for her kids) when she wondered what it would be like to write a song for a rockstar, and her first book was born. (that book is shelved)
She now lives a very glamorous life as a stay at home mom, elbow deep in dirty dishes and peanut butter sandwiches. She doesn’t even attempt to keep up with the laundry because non-writing time is precious, and her family is sorta awesome.
Author Rachael Anderson
Rachael Anderson is the author of four contemporary romances: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She's the mother of four, can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
Author Kaylee Baldwin
I grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and graduated from Arizona State University
with a degree in English literature. I currently live in southern Arizona with my husband, Jeremy, and our three children. When I am not writing, I enjoy reading, starting new craft projects, and spending time with my family.
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Ends 12/24/12
Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
HERE'S WHERE TO FOLLOW THE REST OF THE TOUR
When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.
Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.
Jolene Perry is an enigmatic figure. She is most often seen behind her laptop, staring at the words flying onto the screen with reckless abandon.
She survived growing up in rural Alaska, driving like a lunatic, and her husband’s careers in the military, as a perpetual student, and an Alaska State Prosecutor. She also survived as a middle school math teacher using her degree of Political Science and French.
One day Jolene was playing her guitar (probably some-thing juvenile for her kids) when she wondered what it would be like to write a song for a rockstar, and her first book was born. (that book is shelved)
She now lives a very glamorous life as a stay at home mom, elbow deep in dirty dishes and peanut butter sandwiches. She doesn’t even attempt to keep up with the laundry because non-writing time is precious, and her family is sorta awesome.
Links:
Rachael Anderson is the author of four contemporary romances: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She's the mother of four, can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
Links:
I grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and graduated from Arizona State University
with a degree in English literature. I currently live in southern Arizona with my husband, Jeremy, and our three children. When I am not writing, I enjoy reading, starting new craft projects, and spending time with my family.
Links:
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Ends 12/24/12
Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Monday, December 10th
Laurie's Thoughts & Reviews - Review and; Interview or Tens List
Why Not? Because I Said So! - Review and; Excerpt
Reader Girls - Review and; Excerpt
A Writer's Life... Caroline Clemmons - YOU'RE HERE, THANK YOU!
Tuesday, December 11th
Froze8's Blog - Promo Post
Books Beside My Bedside - Excerpt
Wednesday, December 12th
The Lucky Ladybug - Review and; Guest Post
Literary Time Out - Review
Thursday, December 13th
My Guilty Obsession - Review and; Guest Post
Bending the Spine - Review
Friday, December 14th
Day by Day in Our World - Review and; Interview
Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf - Review and; Guest Post
The Book Bug - Review
Saturday, December 15th
Bookworm Lisa - Review and; Guest Post
Karey White - Review
Sunday, December 16th
My Devotional Thoughts - Review and; Guest Post
Tumbling in Books - Review
Monday, December 17th
Kaisy Daisy's Corner - Review
Books, Books the Magical Fruit - Review and; Interview
Tuesday, December 18th
Books Complete Me - Review
Wednesday, December 19th
Min Reads & Reviews - Review
Musings by Maureen - Review
Rachelle's Writing Spot - Review and; Guest Post
Thursday, December 20th
LovLivLife Reviews - Guest Post & Excerpt
Every Free Chance - Review and; Guest Post
Friday, December 21st
Some Like It Paranormal - Review
A Book A Day - Tens List and; Excerpt
Thanks for stopping by!
3 comments:
Thanks for sharing with me today, ladies. Good luck with your collection.
Enjoyed your story. So heartwarming. Poor little guy. Hope the rest of his surgeries go smoothly. Each story in the book sounds wonderful. I love the cover.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for letting me guest post on your blog!
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