For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a hopeless romantic. Yes, it’s cliché, but I am a dreamy idealist to the core. Fresh picked flowers and slow walks holding hands with my man light up my day. Gentle kisses and endearments whispered while sharing ice cream warm my heart.
Everlasting love…
As a young girl, I lived on a ranch at the outskirts of Elk Grove, California. Nestled along the base of the sierra foothills, our ranch was about five miles out of town. Every once in a while, I’d ride my horse to my girlfriend’s house through acres of wheat fields, past a quince orchard and cat-fish farm, and across two country roads to arrive in town. After securing my horse, we’d walk to Hilltop Cemetery, established in 1878, to explore.
In the 1980’s the cemetery’s cracked earth and summer-dried grass surrounded numerous embedded markers. Some of the upright headstones had fallen over, but many still graced the departed. While exploring, I’d conjure up stories in my mind about the deceased, their struggles and triumphs, marriages and births and love, religious beliefs, and such. I’d pretend their whispers rode the breeze.
One plot in particular drew my attention: the double plot of a husband that had preceded his wife’s death by decades. Now at peace, I would imagine them returned to their youth-filled selves, reuniting, embracing, and skipping off toward the Cosumnes River in the distance bliss-filled.
Everlasting love…
In 2005, the cemetery received a makeover. The headstones are upright again and surrounded by manicured lawns, new trees, and concrete pathways. A wrought iron fence wraps around the site and an archway welcomes guests. Many visitors place balloons and flowers, and stop to pay their respects to people they never knew in life.
Everlasting love…
In my debut short story A Promise Worth Keeping, which hit No.1 in free kindle Short Romance and the Top 100 paid lists, my childhood imagination sprang to life as I explored the irrevocability of lasting love through a newly hired groundskeeper’s predicament.
Clayton has a real mess on his hands. Not only have garden vandals threatened the Remy Estate’s Valentine’s Day celebration, but Clayton’s girlfriend, Sarah, has proposed to him despite knowing he doesn’t believe in lasting love.
By hunkering down in the garden all night, Clayton hopes to at least solve one of his problems and catch the vandals in the act. Instead, will Clayton finally face his fears and become a man worth loving?
Do you believe in everlasting love?
Leave a comment for a chance at a $5 Amazon gift card.
Happy reading and writing,
Cyndi Faria
Leading the way to happily ever after…
Cyndi Faria is an engineer turned romance writer whose craving for structure is satisfied by plotting emotional and cozy paranormal romance stories about cursed spirits, lost souls, harbingers, and even a haunted coastal town. “Cyndi Faria writes with passion and her stories touch the heart,” says Virna DePaul, Bestselling Author of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. On and off Cyndi’s sexy romance pages, this California country girl isn’t afraid to dirty her hands fighting for the underdog and caretaking rescued pets. Find her helping fellow writers and leading readers to happily ever after at www.cyndifaria.com.
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This seems to be a very interesting book and I can’t wait to read it .bibbiesparks@yahoo.com
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Congratulations on your debut story! It seems like a great read. I definitely believe in everlasting love. Thanks for the giveaway.
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Cindy, I love the glimpse of your childhood. Congrats on your debut book doing so well! I definitely believe in everlasting love.
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Yes I believe in everlasting love, it’s just not easy to find it.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
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I loved your short story, Cyndi! And this blog post was great! Thank you!
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Everlasting love totally exists. My grandpa died 15 years before my grandmother. One of the things she said on here death bed was that she knew my grandpa was waiting on her. A love like that is just amazing!
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HELLO CYNDI
I’M A HOPELESS ROMANTIC AS WELL. I WATCH ALL THE GOOD LOVE MOVIES ON HALLMARK, LMN AND LIFETIME. I ALSO LOVE TO READ A GOOD LOVE STORY IN CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELS. 😛
😆
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Hi Cyndi. You always write such eloquent posts. I absolutely believe in everlasting love which is why I’m still in the dating game:-) It’s never too late to discover your soul mate!
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Congratulations on your first effort. Thanks for the opportunity
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Waving Cyndi. I love the old pioneer cemetaries. I used to be on a committee where we explored them to see where thry needed repair. Up here above Placerville, there are a lot that were going to ruin. And, yes, I do believe in everlasting love. I fell for my hubby the moment I saw him and after 44 years am still thinking I made the right choice.
Good luck on your sales!!! 😀
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yes I believe in everlasting love because love like anything else needs to be tended to to stay alive and if 2 people love each other enough to remember what made them fall in love and then work at keeping those emotions alive like you would tend a garden,then the love will continue to flourish,just like if you tend your garden it will flourish.I think in todays world to many people think of lust as love,but lust while great can dry up because we change as we get older,whereas love continues to change with the changes in your life,therefore it last thru good and bad times,that is true and everlasting love,staying for both the good and bad times
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sorry forgot to put my email address zanarigrandma@gmail.com
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Cyndi, I’m a totally sappy romantic. I live for the happily ever afters in stories. I loved your short story.
jill(at)jilljameswrites(dot)com
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Hi Cyndi! Great blog. I’m a hopeless romantic, too. And the cover of your book is so appealing…
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Cyndi, I loved reading of your experience and the inspiration for your story…sent tingles up my arms as I realized how deep love truly goes. 🙂
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I am a hopeless romantic!!! And believe in everlasting love always! 😉
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What an exciting morning to see so many great responses! I absolutely loved reading each message. And for those who shared an experience, thank you! I’ll be checking in later tonight to announce the winner. Cyndi 😀
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Girl, I think you have a hit here! Lovely cover. This story sounds wonderful. When in doubt, find a Hallmark movie or a sappy love story!
MMARVELLAB@aol.com
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I am a hopeless romantic also. 🙂
Your story sounds interesting… I am going to have to check it out.
Thanks for sharing.
porter32vasquez(AT)Hotmail(DOT)com
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I loved your post and your book sounds amazing. I am also a hopeless romantic. My family calls me the hopeless dreamer, but I love it that way.
Thanks for sharing.
Lynda
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How exciting to see your story published, congratulations on your debut! Of course I believe in everlasting love…I’m a romance reader. Thank you for the giveaway and good luck with your release.
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I love to explore Historic cemeteries – during the day time.
A PROMISE WORTH KEEPING looks fabulous!!
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And the winner is Booklady! Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences about the existence of everlasting love. If you’ve found love, congratulations. If you’re still looking, never give up! Best wishes, Cyndi ;D
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Thanks for sharing a little bit about yourself, Cyndi. We all have a story and it’s fun getting to know people a little more personally.