The Bookpushers would like to welcome back Jessica Scott. She has a great guest post and a giveaway for you.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Glad to be back on the Bookpushers, talking about unique Valentine’s Day traditions. There are many traditions around the world that celebrate the lovers’ day with flowers and candy.
In Japan, it’s traditional to actually make your own chocolate for your valentine. Scotland used to have a tradition of drawing names from a hat and spending the day with the person you drew.
There are several countries where engagements are traditionally announced on Valentine’s Day.
By far the strangest Valentine’s Day tradition came from France where men and women would link up with a stranger in various drawing rooms. If the men was not particularly enthralled with the woman, then there was a bonfire later, where women would burn the names of the ungrateful suitor. Needless to say there was a lot of hostility over this particular tradition.
In researching this, I learned that Valentine’s Day isn’t merely a made up holiday by American marketing companies, it’s actually a tradition that goes back into ancient times. Which makes it more fun than it used to be to me.
In Anything For You, Shane and Jen end up spending their Valentine’s Day in a rather unusual manner but in the end, it’s really their love that counts above all. And his gift, while not traditional, speaks volumes about the love between them.
I’m giving away a digital copy of Anything for You as well as Shane & Jen’s first story Because of You to one lucky commenter!
From the author of Because of You comes an all new Coming Home short story.
Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison has spent a year recovering from his combat injuries. A year spent in the arms of the woman of his dreams. But loving Jen comes with a price: every time he touches her, he faces the uncertain fear that loving her might mean losing her forever.
Jen is a breast cancer survivor and with Shane, she’s found a man who loves her despite her scars. But her scars may be too much for their love to survive.
As their love grows, so does the risk to Jen’s life. And Shane must make the toughest decision any man can make to save the woman he loves.
You can buy >Anything for You at the following ebookstores:
Below is the official excerpt!
About Jess
Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.
Oprah has called her. True story.
Her debut novel Because of You launched Loveswept, the first Random House digital imprint.
She’s written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and is currently a company commander stationed at Fort Hood.
Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012.
Connect with Jessica at her Website on Twitter or Facebook or Goodreads.
BP Note: This contest is open worldwide. In order to enter leave a comment talking about your favorite Safe For Work (SFW) way to show a loved one that you care or your favorite way to know someone cares about you, also SFW. The winner will be announce on the 18th of Feb. Good luck!
Have been married for 28 years and we really show each other daily with the little things we do for each other….he leaves my tea mug out for me each morning and I leave his lunch ready for him. Our kids are away at school and I love sending Valentines care packages of things they consider treats! My brother was career Marine and spent many years overseas. I would send him care package of all his favorite foods….he has a thing for a specific italien salad dressing that can only be found in our neck of the woods!
I sometimes put little notes into my husband’s briefcase or suitcase when he goes on trips. Also, he gets a LOT of back rubs. He’s pretty spoiled, lol!
I send my hubby emails that tell him I’m thinking about him, and include pictures of animals snuggling or a heart
Jut a little pick me up for him, for no reason at all
My husband of 27 years works 2nd shift. So we call each other at 7pm every night. Just to say hi. He works a really hard job so getting that call at 7 makes us both feel better..
@kp:
That’s awesome! Care packages at Valentine’s Day are the best. Topped only by Girl Scout cookies, I think.
@Tina M: Tina, that’s the kind of stuff that matters, I think! The little things are so important.
@Rebe: I love little notes like that! My mom used to do that for us in our lunch boxes
@MK: There never has to be a reason MK!
My husband and I have a script we say to each other when kissing goodbye for the day and good-night for the evening. The words aren’t particularly romantic–the goodbye lines are “Love you, have a nice day, see you soon!”–but we say it to each other every day and have for years.
Whenever my siblings and I get into an terrible argument, one of us would always come up saying “I love you, too.” We would remember all the good things we have done for each other when things get rough.
My husband works second shift and I work at the library in our town. On the days I go to work at 10, he brings me lunch! Then on those same days on his way to work he brings me coffee. (All without being asked). We also call each other every day at work and we never go to bed with out saying I love you. We tell each other we love each other alot. BTW, we have been married almost 32 yrs!!
bake cookies
Kind words upon leaving & meeting back up.
I love learning the origins & traditions behind occasions.
One way is making a favorite dinner.