Marriage is Tough But Can Be So Worth It #RB4U @melissa_keir #second_chance

Marriage Matters

Hello and welcome to another blog on matters of the heart. I'm back for another scintillating post on love and romance. Be sure to chime in your two cents. The more the merrier.

This time of year, marriage is on my mind. My daughter celebrated her first wedding anniversary on Monday (Aug. 7th) and I celebrated my eleventh yesterday. Both were pretty low key but were wonderful reminders of the commitment made. My daughter's wedding was held at a local church with the reception at the Howell Opera House. It was a beautiful but small event. She and her husband celebrated their anniversary in their new apartment. They recently moved from Michigan to Oklahoma for his job and are off on a new adventure far from family and friends. I'm so excited for them because I know it will bring them closer together and strengthen their marriage.

My husband and I are on our second marriage. We each had been married for 20 and 15 years respectively but things didn't work out, no matter how hard we tried. When we decided to marry, we went for something fun--a Vegas chapel. No Elvis but just the two of us. And we couldn't be happier today. 

I'm not going to say it is always easy but this time around, things are better (easier?). We are more understanding and accepting of differences as well as better in tune with our own needs. In the last 11 years, there's not been one fight. But still it takes work. There's a great deal of give and take... but also a little of "is this really a big deal?" or "is this worth an argument?" Most often, the answer is no. I have to say it helps that he does understand me (maybe because he has so many of the same quirks). 

Even though, I'm divorced, I still feel bad when another person's marriage doesn't work. I believe in the dream of one person for all time. This morning, I was sad to read about Chris Pratt and Anna Farris' separation on Facebook. What a blow to their family. Hollywood marriages don't have a great track record but I thought they'd had a strong partnership.  They had appeared to be such a loving couple, sharing images and teasing each other on social media. Both were super supportive of the other's career. But since I wasn't involved in the marriage, I don't know what really happened. Often one presents a different image in public than what's really going on in private. 

Divorce and finding love again is one of my themes I like to write about in my books. Maybe because I know it's possible but either way, I believe everyone deserves a happily ever after. In my book, Crash and Burn, my characters are faced with a life and death situation which gives them a chance to rethink their marriage. Sometimes, life and death is what it takes.

Crash and Burn:

Can Rob and Keira's second honeymoon lead to romance, or will it crash and burn?

On the verge of a divorce, Rob and Keira Matthews book a second honeymoon at the urging of their counselor. Unable to conceive, they've pushed each other away in an effort to protect their hearts. Will a romantic holiday be the ticket to love or a plane crash in disaster?

EXCERPT:

Her husband stomped away in a huff. His damp clothes accentuated his fit body. The many nights he’d spent lately at the gym had firmed and toned his already-sexy body into a dream machine. Yeah, and all those other women ogling him. Too bad the gym didn’t do more for his attitude. I heard his comment. Why does he always have to push my buttons? He really shouldn’t have expected me to go walking, looking for…. She shivered. What if there were bodies? I wonder if anyone else survived the crash. I’ve got better things to do. Maybe I’ll find out this island is really a resort like in that romance novel I read. Then I can save the day.

She picked up Gris and gave him a kiss on the nose. “Little man, you’d never get mad at me. Let’s go find ourselves the perfect place to rest. Maybe we can prove to that man I’m capable.” With the dog settled in her arms, Keira headed inland, away from the beach and toward the jungle.

Trees filled her vision. Their dense foliage provided shelter and had allowed moss to cover the ground. She welcomed the softness under her feet. She noticed the drop in temperature as well. The blistering sun from the beach dappled through the leaves and created a cool, welcoming environment. The sound of birds and other animals teased her hearing. She paused and inhaled. A flowery fragrance filled the air.

The trees are so thick, I can’t see more than five feet in front of me. I hope there aren’t any snakes. Her stomach knotted. Snakes or lack of food? She pulled Gris closer to her, absently running her fingers through his fur. I’m sure there’s no coffee joint or five-star hotel around here. I would’ve seen something before now. Rats. I was really hoping for the happy ending of a romance novel.

Available in print and ebook at Amazon

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Thank you for stopping by today and sharing a few moments of your day with me. What do you do exciting for your anniversary? How long have you been married? Or share your favorite memory of your spouse. I'd love to hear from you.

Until next month...

Melissa Keir

www.melissakeir.com

Weddings...It's About the Happily Ever After #RB4U @melissa_keir

Weddings...It's About the Happily Ever After

Hello and welcome to another installment of my zany posts. Sit back and enjoy the entertainment. 

This past weekend has been a busy one for me. My oldest child (my daughter) got married on Sunday. Since by the time you get to read this, she's already married, I can sneak you a peek at her gown. This was from when she decided this was the one. David's Bridal did a wonderful job showing her many gorgeous dresses, and letting her try them all on. But she decided on this mermaid strapless dress with a LONG veil. If only it was that easy for me to find a dress I loved... But that's another story!

A beautiful bride and of course, I cried. 

My daughter wanted a small wedding, which was fine with me. Intimate is nice as we have so few family and friends close by. The wedding took place at her husband's family church and the reception was at the Howell Opera House. The Opera House has character and a unique beauty. Anyone can rent the space out and I'm glad we pushed for someplace with A/C since the weather was hit and miss.

A fun time was had by all!

Interestingly enough, yesterday was also my ten year wedding anniversary. I married my husband in Vegas. Since it was a second marriage for both of us, we did something fun and combined the wedding and honeymoon, visiting the strip, sightseeing and people watching. We even caught a show and spent some time poolside. Destination weddings seem to run in my family since one of my sisters was married on a hill in Hawaii and another on a ship in the ocean.

I love to share those magic moments with readers in my books as well. Writing about weddings gives me a chance to imagine another perfect event, such as a beach wedding from One Night in Laguna....

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Handing Rose a white basket filled with flower petals, Mel caressed the child’s errant curl, pushing it behind the little girl’s ear. Rose wore a child’s pink replication of Mel’s wedding dress. They were “twinsies” as Rose said earlier when they’d gotten ready.

“Is it time?” she asked for the billionth time.

Melanie giggled before replying, yet again, “Soon.” Standing off to the side of the pool deck, Mel had a hard time tamping down her own excitement. She smoothed the lace skirt covering her off-white sleeveless wedding sheath. Her foot tapping, she wanted things to hurry up, ready to begin living her own happily ever after.

Cole stood barefoot, chatting with the wedding planner near the water’s edge. His khaki slacks and black golf shirt displayed his muscular arms and tanned skin. Butterflies danced in her stomach at the thought of their wedding night in the penthouse suite of the Mondrian, alone. Using her palm, Melanie fanned her face. Luckily, Rose planned to stay in the hotel room tonight with Lauren, Mac, and the kids. Melanie didn’t want a repeat of her disappearing act.

Dressed in his Scottish dress kilt, complete with sporran and jacket, Jim strolled over and shook hands with Cole then they both laughed at something one of them said. Their merriment spilled, contagious, over the group assembled, sitting in chairs on the beach. She couldn’t believe her childhood dream of a wedding on the beach was finally coming true. Meeting Jim that day had been simply one piece of her magical adventure.

The music changed. Everyone stood and turned.

“It’s time,” Mel’s dad announced, holding out his elbow to his stay with daughter. “Let’s get this shindig started, so we can make an honest woman out of you. Cole’s a good man. I know he’ll treat you right.” Nodding at Rose, he pointed at the steps. “Be careful, sweetie. Take the steps slow.”

As the little angel wandered off, her tongue peeking out to the left as she concentrated on dropping the flower petals behind her, Mr. Whitman turned to his daughter and adjusted her veil over her face. “Just you wait until her first broken bone. You’ll want her wrapped in bubble wrap, just as I wanted to keep you safe.”

Melanie leaned in, placing a kiss on his cheek and straightened his bowtie. “I love you, Dad. You’re going to make a fabulous grandfather. Let’s go make it official.” She took her first step forward toward the future which had begun with one night in Laguna.

Or sometimes the wedding is the place two characters meet...as in The Heartbroken Cowboy from the Cowboy Up 2 Box set.

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    “Weddings are a buzzkill.” A tall man wearing a tuxedo flopped down into the chair next to her, startling Debra Donahue who’d been silently tapping her foot to the music. Glad for the distraction from being single at a wedding, she smiled at the man.

     “Most people use weddings as a reason to get their buzz on.” She studied him. The silver streaks in his hair flattered his chiseled jawline. His tugging at the neck of his shirt and the worn boots on his feet told her this man wasn’t used to big fancy shindigs. She smiled at his discomfort. Clothes make the man, and this one would be happier in jeans and a work shirt.

     “I don’t drink, but could use a strong one, right now. Not this sissy stuff.” He lifted the glass to his lips, downed the contents, and shoved his now-empty champagne flute away before he leaned in toward her. The smell of alcohol on his breath hinted that he’d already had too much to drink. “Know anyone around here with some whiskey?” The dark sapphire of his eyes chilled her. This was a man used to getting what he wanted. “I’d even share.” His voice deepened and became husky with his offer and she shivered.

     “I don’t drink with men I don’t know.” Debra stuck out her hand. “I’m Debra, and you are?”

     The man grabbed another glass of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and guzzled the drink in one swallow. “The name’s Johnson O’Neill. Now about that whiskey.” He reached out and drew her up to standing then tugged her in close to him. Wrapping his arm around her back, he moved her body in a slow two-step motion.

     Debra gazed into his eyes. “You don’t have to seduce me for the whiskey.” She stepped out of his embrace and put her hands on her hips. She frowned.

     “That’s not why I drew you into my arms. You were tapping your foot when I arrived—and I thought you might like a dance. A pretty woman like you shouldn’t be sitting alone.” He stretched his palm out again in a plea.

     Not so sure, Debra shook her head before she reached out to him. A zing of hunger flew from his fingers to her hand then her shoulder. As she settled in close to his body, she felt him sigh. “I’m a friend of the bride and groom’s. I think they invited me to be nice, but you’re right. Being alone at the wedding was…what was the word you used?

     “Buzzkill?”

     “Yes, that’s it. I feel like a wheel on a pair of skis.”

Weddings are supposed to be the happily ever after of the characters. They have over come horrible odds to find love and the white dress and party is the reward. But life doesn't work that way, right?

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While I did have a previous wedding that was beautiful, it didn't end with my own happily ever after. It was a happily for twenty years and gave me two amazing kids. However, we had changed since those eighteen and twenty-one year olds. My wedding in Vegas was a perfect treat for us as we started our lives over. I wish for my daughter and new son-in-law their own happily ever after. If only I could write it for them as I do for my characters. :) 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and will be back next month on the same date with more reflective posts!

What do you think about weddings in books? Has there been one that you absolutely loved? Or hated? Do you think they are really the true happily ever after?

Happy Anniversary to Me

Tomorrow is my son's fourteenth birthday. That means I've officially been writing for fourteen years now. Yes, the two are linked.

I'd always wanted to be a writer. I grew up writing plays in elementary school, YA in junior high, and romance novels in high school. See a pattern here? Yes, I wrote what I knew and what interested me. Life, however, got in the way for many years. I never fully gave up the writing dream, but it became a "someday" wish. We all have "someday" wishes. "Someday, I'll go to Paris..." "Someday, I'll buy a new car..." "Someday, I'll be a size six..."

The thing is, "Someday" really never comes. There's only today. So when I found myself bed-confined in the final weeks of pregnancy fourteen years ago, the hubster brought home a computer and told me this was my Someday. Suddenly after years of working full-time, I had an opportunity to do what I always dreamed of: write a novel.

As of this year, I'll have nine books published (so far!). I have three full manuscripts I'm currently shopping around. And the ideas are still coming. Stories are lined up in a giant queue in my head (next to the reminder to do my taxes and my recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip--it's a completely chaotic storage facility in my skull) waiting patiently for their turn to shine.

What's the moral of the story? Don't wait for Someday. No matter what your goal. Start making it a reality now. (And happy birthday, Nicholas B!)