3 Romantic Couples of the Ages #ValentinesDay #Romancefortheages

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today let's talk about love. Boy meets girl. Love at first sight. Enemies to lovers. Broken-heartedness and devastation at love lost.  Celebrate with me the giddy highs and pulse pumping excitement of love found, the joy and gladness of enduring love,  and the ravaged, depressing lows of love lost of three couples of the ages.

Cleopatra and Marc Antony 
(photo: 20th-century fox /rex features)

The true love story of Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra and Roman general Marc Antony is one of the most intriguing and memorable of all times.

Cleopatra began her reign of Egypt when Julius Caesar put her in power over her husband (and brother) Ptolemy. She charmed him and their affair continued until his death three years later. Caesar's death caused a civil war in Rome between Octavian, his grandnephew, and Antony, his cousin.

Antony suspected Cleopatra was involved in his Caesar's murder and demanded she appear before him to explain herself. They fell in love at first sight. He spent the winter with her instead of fighting and ruling his empire.  Their affair outraged the Romans who were wary of the growing power of Egypt.

The couple was defeated in battle by Octavian (named later changed to Augustus) and they each committed suicide, Antony, by falling on his sword and Cleopatra, by putting an asp to her chest. Theirs was a tragedy immortalized by William Shakespeare.


Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal  (photo: museyon.com)

Shah Jahan, 15-year-old ruler of the Mughal Empire married Arjumand Banu, a teenage girl in 1612.  She was renamed Mumtaz Mahal and became Shah Jahan's favorite wife.

She died in 1629 while giving birth to their 14th child. He was devastated. His grief affected him both emotionally and physically but inspired him to create a fitting final resting place for the love of his life - Taj Mahal (photo: Wikipedia).

Shah Jahan became ill and was overthrown by his eldest son. He lived the rest of his life under house arrest in the Red Fort of Agra.

Legend has it he planned to build a replica of the Taj Mahal in black marble for himself on the opposite bank of the river Yamuna but construction never commence. He was laid to rest beside his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.








King Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari (Photo: martingracephotography.com)

King Ramesses II, also known as "Ramesses the Great," was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th dynasty. He reigned from 1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C. At age 14, he was appointed prince regent by his father Seti I. Ramesses ruled Egypt for 66 years and 2 months. He was reported to have lived to 99 years old.

He led military expeditions into the Levant, reasserting control over Canaan and also led expeditions into Nubia. Inscriptions commemorate these deeds at the temples at Beit el-Wali and Gerf Hussein.

One of many great Nubian queens, Nefertari reigned from 1292 B.C. to 1225 B.C.  She is heralded as the queen who married for peace. Her marriage to Ramesses II began as a political move, a sharing of power between two powerful leaders. No only did it grow into one of the greatest royal love affairs in history but it brought the hundred year war between Nubia and Egypt to an end.

Their story was an armistice that lasted over a hundred years. Even today, a monument stands in Queen Nefertari’s honor. If fact, the temple which Ramesses built for her at Abu Simbel (photo: Delange.org) is one of the largest and most beautiful structures ever built to honor a wife.

Please check out my other Valentine's Day posts. Great gift ideas (here) and romantic destinations (here).

4 Gifts Ideas for Valentine's Day

                                                            (Image from travel.jumia.com)

It's always stressful to pick the perfect gift you think your man or your lady might accept with joy and excitement for those special days like birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. So much thought goes into your choice. Will they love it? Will they tolerate it? Will they hate it?

Here are four gift suggestions to consider for the one you love on Valentine's Day:

Couple Love Hug Mugs (Amazon.com). For those days or nights, you share a cup of coffee, tea, milk or apple cider for breakfast, lunch, picnic or cuddled before a crackling fire.

 I Love You and Love You More Pillowcase Pair  (Amazon.com).  For making a day of it in bed or wrapped around each other snuggled under the covers.                        

His & Her Matching Set. Titanium Stainless Steel Pendants (Amazon.com)  Engraved around the rim of each pendant is the phrase, "The World Looks Wonderful When I Am With You."

                                                          Kisses 4 Us- A Box of Fun, Flirty, Romantic Kisses for Making Kissing Fun (Amazon.com).  Perfect for Date Night, Anniversaries, Romantic Game Playing, Enhancing your Relationship.









Whether you privately express your love and affection to your significant other or proudly show the world, I hope these four suggestions will help prompt a few more romantic ideas for you.

Cover Reveal: Tempting Jo by Nancee Cain #Romance #Paranormal #NewRelease

Good morning friends. I'm delighted to share a cover reveal with you. My Southern Magic sister, Nancee Cain, has an upcoming release, TEMPTING JO.

The cover? It. Is. Awesome. If you have a passion for stories of romance and specifically adore paranormal romance, this is the book for you! Please add to your Goodreads to-be-read shelf.

Book:  Tempting Jo
Author: Nancee Cain
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blurb: 

Forbidden love is hell...

Confident and quirky, Jo Sanford thinks her boss is God's gift to women--and she couldn't be further from the truth. Devilishly handsome, Luc DeVille will stop at nothing to lure his administrative assistant right into his arms--and bed.

Over Rafe Goodman's dead body...

Rafe, Jo's best friend, refuses to sit by and watch as Luc tries to win the heart of the woman he's always protected. After all, Rafe is her guardian angel. Suddenly, Jo's caught in the middle of a battle between good and evil. But the closer she gets to the fire, the hotter it burns. Now, Jo's going to learn that when love battles lust, Heaven and Hell collide.

Author Bio: 

During the day, Nancee works as a nurse in the field of addiction to support her coffee and reading habit. Nights are spent writing paranormal and contemporary romances with a serrated edge. Authors are her rock stars, and she’s been known to stalk a few for an autograph, but not in a scary, Stephen King way. Her husband swears her To-Be-Read list on her e-reader qualifies her as a certifiable book hoarder. Always looking to try something new, she dreams of being an extra in a Bollywood film, or a tattoo artist. (Her lack of rhythm and artistic ability may put a damper on both of these dreams.)

Website    Blog    Goodreads    Newsletter    Facebook    Pinterest

Mine to Crave (MIne Series) #books

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

Book: Mine to Crave (Mine - Romantic Suspense)

by Cynthia Eden

Release Date: March 10, 2014

Publisher: Cynthia Eden



From Amazon:






New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Eden continues her dark and sexy “Mine” romantic suspense series with…MINE TO CRAVE.

HE TAKES WHAT HE WANTS.

From the moment that billionaire casino owner Drake Archer sees Jasmine Bennett, he’s obsessed. Consumed by desire for the mysterious redhead, Drake will do anything necessary to claim her. Yet as desire rages between them, danger is stalking ever closer. Drake’s past isn’t dead, and the ex-Special Forces agent will soon have to face the ghosts he left behind.

SHE’S HIDING SECRETS.

Jasmine isn’t who she pretends to be. She’s a woman on a mission—and she’s supposed to be stealing secrets from the mysterious Drake. Falling for him isn’t on her agenda, but when lust and love tangle together, all the rules get broken.

AN ENEMY IS CLOSING IN…

When Drake learns of Jasmine’s betrayal…all hell breaks loose. He knows that he should turn his back on her, but it’s too late for him. He can’t let her go, but he can teach her a lesson. No one betrays him…not without paying a heavy price. Drake will destroy all of the enemies on his trail, he’ll bury his past, and he’ll teach Jasmine to want only him…just as much as he craves her.

Author's Note: MINE TO CRAVE is a sexy adult romance novel--as such, it contains explicit language, dangerous scenes, and steamy encounters. Please consider yourself warned.

Check out the rest of the Mine Series.

What books are you waiting on?

Happy Valentines Day!!

“If a hug represented how much I loved you, I would hold you in my arms forever.” -- Mandy Hampton

The Hob (The Gray Court) #Books

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

Book: The Hob (The Gray Court)


By: Dana Marie Bell

Release Date: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd


From Amazon:

Robin Goodfellow has met his match.

The Gray Court, Book 4

When the Black Queen kidnaps one of the White Queen’s nephews, Robin Goodfellow is sent to ensure that the young prince safely returns to the bosom of his family. True to his role as Oberon’s Hobgoblin, he is ready for anything…except meeting his truebond, the very delicious, very human Michaela Exton.

Michaela has dreamed about a flame-haired rogue named Robin Goodfellow since she was a little girl, but everyone knows Puck doesn’t really exist. In real life, it’s a dark-eyed man named Ringo who makes her heart beat faster.

She is closer to her dream man than she thinks, and nobody knows it better than Robin, who wears the guise of Ringo. But there’s competition for her love in the form of Lord Raven, who holds a secret that will rock the foundation of Robin’s world. As a Black Court delegate does the unthinkable, leaving an enraged, grief-stricken Robin hanging onto his humanity by a thread, only Michaela has the power to bring him back from the killing edge—if she survives.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, Robin Goodfellow and… Really. Do I need to say any more?

What books are you waiting on?

Monday Musing

Good Morning!
I've been giving a lot of thought to the evolution of vampires. The earliest vampire movie I'm aware of is Nosferatu. It was released in 1922. He was a walking corpse. No chance of getting hot and bothered looking at that guy. Certainly no voluntarily exposing your neck for a little nip either. I guess in those days, the main jest of the movie was horror, not sex or romance. Along came the movie, Dracula played by Bela Lugosi in 1931 and later by Christopher Lee in 1958. These men were fairly nice looking, but again the movies were horror, not romance. They were easy on the eyes, so exposing the neck didn't appear to be a problem ( of course, they did use mind control to get what they wanted, too). In 1979 Frank Langella took the role of Dracula. A pretty hot guy as far as I was concerned. This version was still a horror, but with romantic elements. He falls in love with Lucy (we'll call her the heroine) and "marries" her. At the end, in their attempt to escape England and go to Transylvania, Dracula is destroyed. Lucy is "saved" by her former fiance' who does not forgive her transgression of infidelity. The last scene shows her smiling enigmatically as Dracula's cape fly away in the wind. Which makes you think, sequel! He'll be back!

Instead of vampires being creatures that cause mortals to fear, dread and panic they now incite feelings of lust, charisma or sex appeal. Writers and movie directors now show vampires as leading men or heroes. Today's vampires are not just ordinary looking Joes. They have muscles, amazing abs, firm jaws, intense eyes and dazzling smiles.

There are some pretty smokin' series about vampires out there by such authors as Lara Adrian (Breeds), F.D. Davis (In The Beginning: A Vampire Series), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark Hunters), Katie MacAlister (Dark Ones) and Kerrelyn Sparks (Love At Stakes).

Who are some of your favorite vamp writers? Which vamps do you think are smokin' hot?

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"Stop," I said quietly. "Find someone else to toy with. We both know I lack experience, so I don't know how to play the game without getting hurt. Besides, I hate games. I prefer knowing straight up what's real and what's bullcrap."
He sat back, something lurking in his gaze that tempted me despite knowing better. I gulped my wine for a distraction.
"It's your directness and refusal to lie to yourself that I find most appealing. And I'm not toying with you. I'm very serious about making you mine."

Page 107, Once Burned by Jeanine Frost


Here's the Blurb:

She's a mortal cursed with dark power...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: a terrifying ability to channel electricity and to see a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all--but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him--a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites, threatening to consume them. It will take everything they have to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down n flames.

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"She forced her gaze from the empty fairgrounds they were passing to the austere beauty of his face. Her heart skipped a familiar beat. "Why don't we just go back to one of the hotels? There're two of them that not only have our scent all over them, but come complete with a bed and hot shower."

Page 137, Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy

Here's the Blurb:



A scarred recluse, Jagr makes no secret of his disdain for others' company. But now, as a member of Chicago's powerful vampire clan, he has certain obligations to fulfill. The latest: track down a missing were pureblood and return her to her sister. The problem: Regan Garrett has no intention of complying. An though Jagr agreed not to harm an inch of this stubborn female's distractingly tempting body, he'll gladly kiss her into submission, awakening an urge he hasn't felt in years. Hell, in centuries...
Regan vowed never to be at the mercy of another man. That goes double for arrogant, steel-muscled vampires with eyes of ice. All Regan wants is revenge against those who imprisoned her. She doesn't need an ally. She certainly doesn't need a mate. But soon Regan will have to choose--between a lust for vengeance, and a passion as dark and dangerous as the night...

Teaser Tuesday Snippets

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a snippet of a book from my personal bookshelf. Some books may be fiction. Some may be on the craft of writing. Here's today's selection.

"She was a strong, independent woman. A business woman. The sole supporter of herself and her child. Caretaker of her mother. A good friend, an excellent neighbor. She didn't need a man to make herself complete, but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy having one around."

Page 205, Lover's Leap by Emily March



Here's the Blurb:

Twenty years ago the town bad boy, Cam Murphy, left Eternity Springs in handcuffs, riding in the back of a sheriff's van...and breaking young Sarah Reese's heart. The defiant teenager vowed never to return.
In Australia, Cam makes a new beginning. He builds a successful business and suffers few regrets until Sarah--and their daughter--walk into his life, and then immediately run away. Realizing it's time to right yesterday's wrongs, Cam follows Sarah home to Colorado--and turns her world upside down.
Cam wants to know his daughter. He needs to prove to Sarah, the town, and himself that he's changed. Will the residents of Eternity Springs offer forgiveness--and will Sarah have the courage to trust this man asking for a second chance?

Great Book! Check it out.