While I have been waxing on about Courage, there has been a lot of love in the air. A variety of Valentine’s events are winding up today. I have summarized them at the bottom of this post. They all end today and there are some amazing prizes–be sure you check them out.
Today, I’ll be brief. On a day when we celebrate love, remember that the choice to love also takes courage. Why? Because choosing to love means accepting the possibility of pain. In Highland Solution, Father James, tells the heroine, Katherine:
“My sweet girl, this world is full of people whose first concern is usually their own needs or desires. You are one of the few who always considers the needs of others before your own. You have learned the surest way to open yourself to hurt is to love and yet you love anyway.”
I’ve always loved the song Anyway by Martina McBride and the lyrics were part of my inspiration for Katherine. In spite of the difficulties she faces, she chooses to love anyway. As many times as I have listened to that song, I have only just watched the video and I think it really captures the message beautifully. Enjoy.
My giveaways:
I will be choosing winners for free e-copies of Highland Solution, from everyone who has commented anywhere on my blog during February until 10:00 pm EST on Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t yet, leave a comment to be entered.
Scottish Affair Scavenger Hunt and Valentine’s Bash
Please join me with the other great authors who have participated in the Scottish Affair Scavenger Hunt at Coffee Time Romance for a Scottish Affair Bash http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/. And don’t forget to enter the scavenger hunt. You can find details on how to enter here https://www.facebook.com/events/248247838676537/. By the way, my word is “Heroes.”
Love Struck Valentine’s blog hop
I have also participated in the Love Struck Valentine’s blog hop. The grand prize is a Kindle Paperwhite filled with 43 electronic books! For a chance at the grand-prize, be sure to enter here Love Struck Entry.
Heroic Valentine’s Giveaway on Facebook
This is another massive giveaway with over 40 prizes. You can find details here: Heroic Valentine’s Giveaway All you have to do to enter is tell us your favorite romance novel of all time (or a list of your favorites).
Ceci Giltenan, Author 
“You have learned the surest way to open yourself to hurt is to love and yet you love anyway.”
Ceci, that’s one of my life’s mottos. It’s what has brought the man I love into my life….a life smack full of pain to find him and happiness, it’s why I have animals that I love dearly and that I know I will only have for a short time in this life….the love I give them and they me is worth the pain I will face with their passing. To me, life is pain and happiness and without that risk or chance life really wouldn’t be lived.
I have a video of a trip I took with my dad a few years back (we take it yearly) to Michigan and it’s of the drive through the gorge going out of NC into Tenn. on I40 and this song is playing. The mist is moving through the mountains off the river and it’s simply beautiful.
Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
Leah, thank you for sharing such a lovely story. I am glad to hear I am not the only one. This really was the focal message for me in Highland Solution and it is one reason I made Niall so frustrating. As obvious as it sounds, it is really easy to love people who are easy to love. I wanted someone who would challenge Katherine’s loving nature. I wanted for loving persistence to overcome his damaged personality. 🙂
I am sure your video is gorgeous! What a lovely soundtrack.
Ceci
Beautiful, Ceci….Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too! 🙂
Thanks Mary! Same to you.
Ceci