UPDATE: The winner is…flchen1!
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Hi! Before I get started, I want to thank Delilah for being so generous with her blog space. I always have a good time when I come to visit here, and I appreciate that Delilah lets me.
So it’s my birthday month, and more specifically, my birthday week. I remember as a kid how much I looked forward to my birthday–it was about halfway through the year from the other big kid present holiday, Christmas. Each one seemed so far away from the other when I was a kid. Do you remember, too? I always thought it would be worse, though, to have my birthday too close to Christmas and then have to wait even longer for gifts. Funnier, though, when I think about it as an adult, is that gifts when I was a kid were a lot of useful things and a few fun things, plus the dinner of our choice and whatever kind of cake we wanted (my mom was a really great baker). I had a lot of siblings, so huge wish lists weren’t the norm in our house. And we were okay with that.
Even when I got older, birthdays were more about the cake than the gifts. I’m still a huge fan of the birthday cake, actually. Something decadent and delicious, with icing. There has to be icing, or there’s no point in the cake, unless it’s cheesecake, and then it still needs something–fruit sauce, or chocolate, or something.
I haven’t written a character yet whose birthday happens during the course of their book, until now. I’m working on a shifter story, and the heroine has a birthday and Christmas during their story, and neither of those has ever been a big deal in her life up until this point. Seeing things through her eyes that I’ve taken for granted is kind of eye-opening, and a little sad for her. The hero does some very romantic things for her, too, which makes the whole thing even better.
But there is still something to be said for a good birthday gift from someone special, whether it sparkles, or maybe it’s just a good dinner at your favorite restaurant. So I wondered what some of your favorite romantic birthday gifts have been. From your spouse, or maybe a previous significant other, I want to know. Everybody who shares in the comments below by noon EST on Sunday, July 31, 2016 will be entered into a giveaway drawing (via RandomResult.com)–I have a box full of books, including a signed copy of Hunting Medusa. I can’t wait to hear these!
Hunting Medusa
Hunting Medusa
The Medusa Trilogy, Book 1
Ever since the original Medusa ticked off Athena, her cursed daughters have been paying for that mistake. To this day, successive Medusas play cat and mouse with the Harvesters.
When Kallan Tassos tracks down the current Medusa, he expects to find a monster. Instead he finds a wary, beautiful woman, shielded by a complicated web of spells that foils his plans for a quick kill and retrieval of her protective amulet.
Andrea Rosakis expects the handsome Harvester to go for the kill. Instead, his attempt to take the amulet imprinted on her skin without harming her takes her completely by surprise. And ends with the two of them in a magical bind—together.
Though their attraction is combustible, her impending PMS (Pre Magical-Curse Syndrome) puts a real damper on any chance of a relationship. But Kallan isn’t the only Harvester tracking Andi, and they must cooperate to stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer before they can have any future, together or apart.
About the Author
Elizabeth Andrews has been a book lover since she was old enough to read. She read her copies of Little Women and the Little House series so many times, the books fell apart. As an adult, her book habit continues. She has a room overflowing with her collection, and still more spreading into other rooms. Almost as long as she’s been reading great stories, she’s been attempting to write her own. Thanks to a fifth grade teacher who started the class on creative writing, Elizabeth went from writing creative sentences to short stories and eventually full-length novels. Her father saved her poor, callused fingers from permanent damage when he brought home a used typewriter for her.
Elizabeth found her mother’s stash of romance novels as a teenager, and–though she loves horror–romance became her very favorite genre, making writing romances a natural progression. There are more than just a few manuscripts, however, tucked away in a filing cabinet that will never see the light of day.
Along with her enormous book stash, Elizabeth lives with her husband of more than twenty years and two young adult sons, though no one else in the house reads nearly as much as she does. When she’s not at work or buried in books or writing, there is a garden outside full of herbs, flowers and vegetables that requires occasional attention.
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One of my favorite was him making supper for me and sending the kids to his sister’s for the night.
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First let me start by saying my husband of 40 years is not a big surprise gift giver, so when he does give me one it is really a BIG deal. For my birthday one year, he surprised me with a Day of Beauty at a local spa for a day of pampering…Full body massage and facial, mani/pedi and hair styled. A delicious lunch, shrimp salad and a glass of chardonnay, completed this very special day. đŸ˜€
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Not a significant other, but when I turned 50 my boss sent me 50 roses in a beautiful (and huge) vase. I was on vacation and my fill-in ordered them as a surprise. They were a very happy surprise.
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My hubby has surprised me twice. I’m not a flower person so he ordered me a purse and had it shipped to my work. The totally surprised me. The second one was a day at the spa w/lunch. Got massage, facial, mani/pedi and eyebrow’s waxed. đŸ™‚
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Having a wonderful meal made for me… a fun treat was this small coupon book with things to redeem… like a massage from him or to go to a place of my choice for dinner, or an outing!
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Hi Elizabeth!
I guess the most romantic would be emerald studs I received on my birthday from my ex.
But the most non romantic and closest to my heart is when I give my grandson Jensen his Radio Flyer red wagon for his first birthday next weekend. He is going to be so excited! And, his parents have no idea.
Thank you for being here on Delilah’s blog.
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My hubby is not a huge gift giver for birthdays but on my 30th
he sent me roses. I had to ask the man who delivered them twice who they were from. But he normally cooks every night
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My husband took me to Bodega Bay to the same beachhouse we went to on our honeymoon 10 1/2 years before.
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One year I received a dozen rose bushes.
The thinking was that he’s done his bit & I should never expect any flowers ever again now that I can grow my own. Too funny!!
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My hubby isn’t much on gifts, I try to keep it easy (amazon gift cards for books make me really happy)! So I was super surprised the year he got me a little clay statuette of sorts he had made on line of me (pregnant at the time), to mark my birthday. The time and planning for this made it so sweet.
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My favorite romantic gift wasn’t actually for my birthday–DH kept a journal of the time we were dating, and gave it to me the afternoon we got engaged đŸ™‚ To have his thoughts so beautifully articulated was and is still a special gift!
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Oh, nice, Debbie! My husband can grill burgers and chicken, but that’s the extent of his cooking skills. lol
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That sounds wonderful, Sandy!
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That is a great gift, Lisa! And a lot of roses!
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Brave man, Daun, choosing a purse for you!
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Wow, Colleen. I’m a little jealous you aren’t the only one with a guy who can cook for you. đŸ˜‰
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Oh, Ginger, I think emeralds count as a romantic gift for sure!
I think all little boys should have a wagon, though. Mine did when they were little. đŸ™‚
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I’m laughing, Pam, over you asking the delivery guy who sent them. That is too funny.
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That is very romantic, Galina!
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Ha! Maybe, Mary, the real surprise will be when he gets you flowers in spite of having given you the plants to grow your own. đŸ˜‰
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Awww, that is very sweet, Michelle! He put a lot of thought into that.
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Wow, that is romantic, flchen! Even better than the ring, right?
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The most romantic thing hubby gave me is a hand keeping my Ex away after the divorce.
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That is a good gift, Charlene! đŸ™‚
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My fave birthday day present was a surprise road-trip to St. Augustine for a long, romantic weekend at a really nice B&B.
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Fun! Unexpected trips are wonderful!
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Aaaaaaaand, we have a winner!
Thanks to RandomResult.com, poster #11 is flchen1! Congratulations! Please drop me an email at elizabethandrewswrites @ gmail.com (without the spaces!), with your mailing info, so I can get this box of goodies in the mail to you.
And thank you all for sharing your stories. đŸ˜€
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And thank you again to Delilah for letting me come play on her blog again!
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Congratulations