Real-life Romance: Sabotaging Romance

Do you make it hard for your significant other to make grand gestures? What do I mean by that? Well, my friend Barbara Britton is here to chat today about how she has made romance hard on her husband. See if you agree.

​When I thought about what to write for Amy’s blog, I realized that I have sabotaged my husband’s romantic notions in recent years. I didn’t do this intentionally, but I had to laugh when deciding on a romantic event.
We adopted a stray cat a few years ago. My son had rescued the kitten, and he needed to find a home for the lost waif. My husband and I took the cat, and she is now a spoiled feline that runs the household. Ginger finds flowers a challenge. She will jump on counters to get to them and usually topples the vase. She enjoys eating flowers and leaves, which means the carpet needs a cleaning when Ginger gets sick to her stomach. Flowers usually end up in the bathroom where we can close the door and keep them safe. The flowers make for a festive toilet experience, but the ambience doesn’t scream romance.

​Then there’s the chocolate conundrum. I admit to being a chocolate snob. I have my favorite chocolatiers. None of the samplers from the drug store will do. We had See’s and Godiva stores in a nearby mall until Covid closed them down. What’s a husband to do who shops at the last minute? Another favorite item was crossed off of the romance list.
Since I wear the same jewelry over and over, and rarely change my rotation, I’m not a fan of jewelry either. My husband is limited in his romantic endeavors.
But I realized that one of the most romantic overtures that my husband planned was an Alaskan cruise for our twentieth anniversary. I loved seeing glaciers and glimpsing eagles flying overhead. I didn’t have to cook for hungry boys. I could venture off on excursions and a waiter had an iced tea waiting for me at every dinner. This was relaxation and romance at its best. We did bring our boys along, but they stayed in their own suite with my mom who kept them entertained.
On this cruise, we visited the Taku Glacier Lodge. A WWI veteran and his caregiver lived in the lodge after the war, and they raised Huskies. The couple was stranded for six months out of the year when the Taku River froze. I sat there thinking a man and a woman alone in a lodge. The story thread became my novel ‘Until June” which highlights the struggles of wounded veterans in a time when medical practices caused addiction and depression. PTSD wasn’t a diagnosis back in the day. The veterans were referred to as shell shocked.
I would never have written “Until June” if my husband hadn’t booked a cruise for our milestone anniversary. The trip is a highlight when I look back on my life.
I may not receive flowers, jewelry, or candy very often anymore, but it’s the memories experienced by my husband and I that stand out in my mind. A good friend once told me to never be too busy to make memories. She was right. Spending time together can be romantic whether it’s in Alaska or walking through a quiet neighborhood.
Do you have any memory-makers planned for this summer?

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​When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge, there's enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran.

Geoff Chambers makes it clear that he isn't too fond of the runt sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted veteran, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively...Although, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.
Amazon Link for “Until June” but the book is sold at other bookstores.

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Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.


​If you use BookBub, please follow Barbara and stay informed when she has a book releasing or going on sale. Book Bub.
 

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