I write paranormal romance, so I tend to be a passionate, idealistic person when it comes to love. I can understand both sides of the Valentines Day argument. In fact, this year I fall into the single women's club for the first time in a while. Perhaps I have a right to feel a bit jaded, but, I still get all shmoopy over Jane Austen novels and You've Got Mail and songs like Say Yes by Snow Patrol.
Can modern women survive with a romantic soul? Can we sigh over the passionate strains of love without losing ourselves? I think so, but it's a hard balance. I was raised in a very traditional female setting where women obsessed over how they looked and planned their lives according to what kind of man they'd attract. It wasn't even so much about falling in love as it was about the supposed validation of being wanted. It's an easy trap to fall into, believing that romance equals the end of your individuality.
As I get older, I notice the evolution of female friends and the way we seem to come into our own after thirty. Hopefully, if you didn't have one already, you develop a backbone when it comes to love, when it comes to your expectations from a partner and your sense of inner strength. It's so important, you know, understanding your own dreams and holding onto them so that when love comes along and sweeps you off your feet, you can fly instead of falling down.
My novels tell the story of strong women from different experiences and backgrounds. One is bold and impetuous and the other is timid and struggling, but they both have to find their way solo before embracing love fully. There may be people there to help, but in the end, happiness and purpose is up to them... it's an individual journey.
So, romantics out there, I hope you have your strength and your soul mate. You deserve both. And for those who observe it, I'm sending you virtual Valentine chocolate!
Love,
Jen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks Jennifer for coming to the blog today!
I just reviewed these books (my reviews) and what I love about the romance part of the books (besides the yummy men) is that the women are very strong in their own way. And although I'm not a big V Day person, I'm still gonna sneak some of that virtual chocolate anyway. ;)
Giveaway!
Fabulous! I've been looking all over for these books :)
ReplyDeleteVivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
I would love to win these! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletetheresacole(at)live(dot)com
The books sound good to me! Thanks for the giveaway!! I hope to win.
ReplyDeletedancealert at aol dot com
I think I spent 10 minutes staring that these covers. I love them!
ReplyDeletemagalyguerrero AT live DOC Com
i love romance and i certainly know that back bone of love we all need lol-i would love to check out these books!
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to win and good luck everyone!!!
xo
sarabeth
sarabeth.burke@yahoo.com
www.chroniclesofsarita.blogspot.com
OH love this post! I don't have strong feelings either way on Valentine's day. Before I was married I didn't really pay much attention to it, but I wasn't surrounded by friends that made it a huge deal so that probably made a big difference. Now that I'm married, my husband and I just look at one another and say "do you want to do anything for valentine's day" and we both say "no" at the same time and then snuggle in to be our boring selves as I read and he plays Play Station. We. Are. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteLove what she said about her female characters figuring things out solo before they settle in to love, I love that approach and that is the type of character I like to read about!
Thanks so much for the giveaway!
supernaturalsnark(at)gmail(dot)com
I have heard loads about this author and how great the books are! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletebwithbite (at) gmail (dot) com
A great post, it was interesting to meet Jennifer - lets hear it for women over 30 coming into their own.
ReplyDeleteI think when I was younger I dreamt of prince charming or felt I needed to have prince charming to exist but since my divorce I don't, I have family thinking I need to go out and date again, I don't want too not yet. that doesn't mean I'm not romantic anymore just feel I don't need something in my life right now, I think because I am waiting for my son to get old and graduate then I might concentrate until then I'm content and enjoy my romance in my books .
ReplyDeletevampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
Umm... Just when I didn't think I could love Jennifer DeLucy more, she gets me with this: "It's so important, you know, understanding your own dreams and holding onto them so that when love comes along and sweeps you off your feet, you can fly instead of falling down."
ReplyDeleteOMG! Yes! Love this post. Thank you.
I keep seeing these books on the blogs and would love to read them.
ReplyDeleteke7yca(AT)gmail(Dot)com
Not entering, just stopping by :)
ReplyDeleteNice post, and I do think I have my soulmate
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this post with us :) And thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletebookurring(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would LOVE to read and review these two books on my blog! I have heard great things about them! Thanks so much for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry, here's my email:
ReplyDeletegsarnak410 (at) gmail (dot) com
"both have to find their way solo before embracing love fully" - I believe in this personally and love to see heroines on this type of journey. Great interview!
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway!!!
ReplyDeleteGFC follower
vidishamun@gmail.com
I love the look of these covers.
ReplyDeletehopelovehappyendings(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I've been wanting to start this series for quite some time now.
ReplyDeletefindjessyhere at gmail dot com
I am not going to lie, I really don't have an opinion about Valentine's Day (I can really focus on anything besides school and reading), so for me? Meh...
ReplyDeleteAnyways, these books sound fantabulous! Thanks so much for the giveaway Jennifer and Melissa!
Avery
averys.book.nook@hotmail.ca
I half wonder if the REASON we finally "get a backbone" when we're thirty, is because we were so desperate to have a successful romantic relationship during our twenties that we gave our partners our ALL. By thirty, we're tired of being tread upon and taken advantage of, and treated poorly, so we shout: "Enough!"
ReplyDeleteI'm now 49 1/2. (Cannot believe I wrote that number.) I think by 50 we probably grow a ginormous set of gonads and nobody better DARE get in our way.
What do you think?
Wonderful post! I happen to fall in the category that we don't really do the big V day thing. I'm also one of those people where flowers are not a big deal because even though they are nice, they end up dieing in a few days. We always thought if you need Vday to show the love, then what do you do the remaining days? But, it is nice to see the romance in the air. And sometimes I want more of that, but I'm very happy with what we do. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, these sound like great books, but I don't have an ereader, so Melissa, don't need to enter me. :)
These books look great, and I love the cover on both of them.
ReplyDeleteJUDY
magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com
This is just awesome!
ReplyDeletehnwhitlock2000 at gmail . com
I have to admit I always seem to be single when V day rolls round - but it's never bothered me. After all if a guy needs to be reminded to be romantic rather than just suprising me throughout the year then I'd rather be single. Is that too cynical? :)
ReplyDeleteThese books seem yummy - count me in!
notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
Fab Giveaway... *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteAlicewhitewrites@hotmail.com
Thanks for hosting! These sound great! Please enter me - I am an old follower.
ReplyDeletebevsharp@desch.org
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteemo.hijabi@gmail.com
Shahira
I've tried a few times to win these, so maybe this will be my lucky shot! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletejmanni32@yahoo.com
Thank you!
ReplyDeletebrandileigh2003@yahoo.com
Hoepfully, I'll win because I can't wait to read your books. Kyami Clarke
ReplyDeleteKyamisky@yahoo.com
These books sound great! I hope I win!
ReplyDeleteAllana Woods
tgreenwood6of7@gmail.com
WOW an ebook giveaway! That is so cool! And great books too!
ReplyDeleteOmg!These books sound awesome!
ReplyDeleteShadowGirl
life_is_unpredictable29@yahoo.com
Thanks for the great giveaway! I'd love to win these books! :)
ReplyDeletemusmekipi at gmail dot com
mmmmm....all of this virtual chocolate talk has me craving some of the real stuff!
ReplyDeletemeredithfl at gmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway!! I have been wanting to read these books.
ReplyDeletechickenherder@hotmail.com