Shannon here: Sarah Anne Crouch shares her first Valentine’s Day with her then-boyfriend/now-husband. Look for her novella, Where Love is Planted included in the Love Delivered Collection. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a signed print copy of Love in Any Season, a novella collection, which includes her title, A Sweet Dream Come True. Deadline: Feb 11th, 11:59 pm central. Here’s Sarah:
I’m so excited to announce the upcoming release of Love Delivered, a Christian romance novella collection. The story I wrote, “Where Love is Planted” features a flower shop in Texas. My characters, Ivy and Grant, meet and get to know one another when Grant calls to order flowers one March. The novella follows them from that first floral delivery through February of the next year.
Writing about a young couple falling in love, and releasing a book on Valentine’s Day, reminds me of all the times I’ve celebrated the holiday with my husband, Michael.
Our very first Valentine’s together, Michael and I were in college. We’d only been dating a few months but had already decided we were pretty serious about each other. Because he couldn’t decide what to get—or maybe because he thought it would make a bigger impact—Michael bought me chocolates, flowers, and chocolate flowers. I showed up to our date wearing heels and a white blazer, my hair and makeup fixed to perfection, only to discover that he’d set up several clues all over campus in order to get my presents. It was freezing outside, but I hiked around in my heels in the cold (because who wears a big coat or practical shoes on a romantic date?).
Despite my discomfort, the gifts I found, and the poetry he copied on each clue card, warmed my heart. And the books I bought him (and simply handed over without any clues or hunting required) were the exact right gift.
We don’t do Valentine’s Day quite like that first one anymore. Michael knows now to warn me before
surprise activities so I can dress accordingly. We have three small children and busy lives. For the last several years, we’ve cooked a nice meal at home on February 14. It’s fun to share a fancy dinner with the kids, and we usually make time to go out on a date some other day.
I love this season of life with Michael even more than those early days. Our love is deeper and we have even more people to share it with. Someday we’ll have a quiet home again and Valentine’s Days with just the two of us. But for now, we’re happy just the way we are. And I’m happy to be celebrating this year with the release of Love Delivered!
Question for Readers: What’s your perfect Valentine’s Day? Dinner with the family, romantic date, a night with friends, an evening alone with a book, or something else?
Bio: Sarah Anne Crouch lives in Arkansas with her husband, three children, and thousands of books. She always wanted to be an author, but spent some time as a teacher, earned a degree in library science, and makes feeble attempts to corral her small children as a stay-at-home mom. Sarah loves reading books, recipes, piano music, and emails from readers. Learn more & connect:
Sarah’s Website Sarah’s Facebook Sarah’s Instagram
About the Collection – Love Delivered by Amy Anguish, Heather Greer, Rachel Herod and Sarah Anne Crouch:
Romance at Register Five (Amy R Anguish)—Mack McDonald isn’t happy about the Grocerease app coming to his grocery store. But he’s committed to the sixty-day trial period, and braces himself to lose money. Kaitlyn Daniels loves how the Grocerease app helps her make ends meet so she can assist her mom, the reason she moved to small Sassafras, AR. Mack and Kaitlyn struggle to overcome differing opinions on the perks of the app. But if they don’t, it could keep them from something even better.
Where Love is Planted (Sarah Anne Crouch)—Ivy Aaronson is surrounded by family at their flower shop in West Texas−just the way she likes it. But she’s given up hope on ever finding a man who understands her choices. When attorney Grant Keller orders flowers for his mother, Ivy wonders if maybe there are indeed some considerate men left in the world until she learns Grant’s relationship with his parents is less than ideal. How can Ivy ever find love when every man she meets puts career over family?
Giveaway
Sweet Delivery (Heather Greer)—After winning Cake That!, Will Forrester thinks his Pastry Perfect Baking Dreams have come true. The sweetness fades when a chain bakery moves to town, and Will must adjust his plans to keep his customers. Hiring Erica Gerard is one of those changes. As they work together, Erica challenges Will and offers new ideas to improve the bakery. Soon, Erica and Will start bringing out the best in each other. But Erica harbors a secret, and if it’s discovered, Will might never be the same.
The Mermaids, the Ex and USSS (Rachel Herod)—Braig Sanborn is the most loyal employee the United States Shipping Service has ever seen, which is why he agreed to transfer across the country with only a few weeks’ notice. Ella Morrison is so busy planning a friend’s wedding, she didn’t expect to fall for the carrier who delivers packages to her house. When they both find themselves in too deep, will they agree the relationship was doomed from the start?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Sarah’s newest title? Get your copy/copies now!
Love Delivered Love in Any Season
Come back Feb 7th for Dawn Ford!
Hey Sarah, glad to have you here. And I love the idea of your fancy dinners with your kids for Valentine’s Day. Our son just got married. At this point, I’d love to have a nice steak dinner with my husband, our son, and his wife. They’d probably be up for it too. She fits in our family perfectly.
That’s wonderful! I was blessed with great in-laws, too.
Dinner with family
It’s pretty hard to beat quality family time!
I like having a Valentine’s party with my family and then we exchange gifts.
That sounds like lots of fun!
I like waking up to flowers and a card on the table on Valentine’s Day. And if I don’t have to cook dinner, that’s a win.
I agree. Not having to cook- and especially not having to clean up- is always a special occasion.
I have a winner! Marisa L. won the drawing. I appreciate Sarah for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.