Shannon here: Ginger Solomon shares insight into her real life romance plus a romantic excerpt from her debut contemporary romance, One Choice. All comments will into the drawings for Myra Johnson’s and Katy Lee’s books. Deadline: April 26th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Ginger:
A Single, Red Rose
I love roses. Pink, red, white, yellow, or some combination, miniature, climbing, hedge, or long-stem – I don’t care. I have loved roses for as long as I can remember. In every house I’ve lived in since my marriage, I have planted at least one rose bush. Most times it has been many more. I have at least a dozen rose bushes of various sizes and colors at my current home.
My husband of twenty-three years knows of my fascination with this flower. He has for a long time, and often fills my desire by buying me a dozen. But one time he only brought one, and it’s that single, red rose that I’m going to share about today.
In the first year of our marriage, I worked full-time while my husband finished his last year of college, in addition to having a part-time job. We didn’t have much and most of what we did have had been given to us. We lived in a small two-bedroom apartment, which would probably fit in my current kitchen and family room with space to spare.
I was a secretary/receptionist, and my job could be stressful because I had a number of managers who expected me to do things for them. One day had been particularly bad, though this many years later I don’t remember what happened.
I made it home before my husband and probably started dinner, which in those days consisted of a lot of convenience foods. Not long after, someone knocked on the apartment door. That was strange because the building had a locked, security door, which required a guest to be buzzed in. I figured it must have been a neighbor inquiring about something in the laundry, which was shared by the six or eight apartments in the building.
When I opened the door, my husband was standing there with a single, red rose in his hand and a smile on his face. I remember I burst out crying and flung myself into his arms. Being the man that he is, he was confused. I guess at some point afterward I explained about my day. I honestly don’t remember what happened.
But even after all these years, I remember that single rose arriving at my front door on a day that I needed it.
And while he has gifted me many times with roses — sometimes a dozen from the florist, sometimes a plant from the local nursery — it’s that ONE rose that I remember the most.
In my debut novel, One Choice, there’s a rose garden that my heroine, Cahri, often visits. It becomes her quiet place. My hero, Josiah, planted the garden, with the help of his mother, because he has a fascination with various scents. At one point, when he has to be away for a few days, Cahri picks a number of blooms and places them in vases around their room (they’re married) as a welcome home gift. He returns, but doesn’t notice them right away because he misunderstood Cahri’s words to a man she was hugging, who turns out to be her brother. When he does notice them, he understands more about his new wife.
Here’s a very short excerpt as he sees her efforts for the first time:
He inhaled.
He was right.
He knew it.
Then why did it feel so wrong?
Looking around the room, he noticed the candles and the fresh flowers, not even a day old. The water was still clear. Roses and gladioli from the garden.
Was he wrong? His eyes stung, and his chest ached.
Oh, God. Am I wrong? Did I just accuse my wife of something she didn’t do?
Has your spouse done something unexpected for you that you remember no matter how long it’s been?
About Ginger: Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer — in that order (mostly). When nothomeschooling her youngest five, doing laundry or fixing dinner, she writes or reads romance of any genre, some sci-fi/fantasy, and some suspense. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, president of her local writing group, and writes regularly for three blogs. In addition to all that, she loves animals, horses especially, likes to do needlework (knitting, crocheting, and sometimes cross-stitch), and loves to sing in the choir at church. Learn more and connect:A Bed of Roses…Thorns Included, Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas…Oh My!, Inspy Romance Blog, Facebook Author Page, Twitter @GingerS219, Pinterest
About the book – One Choice: Cahri Michaels is American by birth, but Belikarian by choice. Being selected to participate in the Bridal March forces her to give up the independent life she’s created for herself. She’s not ready to be anyone’s wife, much less to a man she doesn’t know.
Prince Josiah Vallis despises the centuries old tradition—the Bridal March—that is forcing him to choose a wife from fifty women. Why does it matter that he’s twenty-five and still single?
When Cahri and Josiah meet, sparks fly. Will it ignite a godly love that can see them through or will they be burned, never to be the same?
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Come back April 21st for June Foster!
Thanks for hosting me.
I’ve read One Choice and loved Ginger’s debut novel. Sounds like you’re married to a romantic guy, Ginger. Happy Easter one day late. June
Actually, *blush* I had to think HARD about something romantic he had done. He read the post and doesn’t even remember doing it. He’s a practical guy, and I knew it when I married him. There are only a few times when I wish he were a bit more romantic–more so as I’ve aged. That’s okay, I love him anyway.
I love your post and love the title of your book. It sounds like a winner!