Monday, January 13, 2014

A Chocolate Pause by Aileen Fish

I was very startled when I went shopping two days after Christmas to see Valentine’s candy displays filling the shelves at the markets. Already? It’s as though we see the calendar in terms of chocolate. Even if we disguise it at Christmas with white chocolate Christmas bark, we manage to slip in into as many occasions as we can.

On Facebook we are often asked which we’d prefer on a first date – chocolates or flowers. Those with allergies often chime in against the perfume of roses, and those on diets root for the pretty stems.

But how wonderful would it be if your charming beau-to-be arrived with book in hand? Not for him to read if the night is dull, but some tome he’s read that he thinks would appeal to you.

I think that would be a great idea. You can tell so much about a man by his books. Just the fact he enjoys them is sexy, in my book. Don’t you think? I realize it’s possible to have a perfectly fulfilling relationship with a man who would rather hold a gaming remote than an ebook reader, but deep inside me is a gal who longs to hear someone ramble passionately about the story that made him stay up so late he almost slept through him alarm.
What do you think? Chocolates, flowers or a book? Which would you rather be surprised with?

Aileen Fish, author of The Bridgethorpe Brides series, is an avid quilter and auto racing fan who finds there aren't enough hours in a day/week/lifetime to stay up with her "to do" list. There is always another quilt or story begging to steal away attention from the others. When she has a spare moment she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and their families, and her fairy princess granddaughter. Her Regency novella The Viscount's Sweet Temptation is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other outlets. You can find Aileen at her website or Facebook.

10 comments:

  1. I agree! Whenever my husband and I have got into the same book, it's definitely a bonding moment. We have different tastes in reading but we've loved some of the same books--fought over them because we both want to read them at the same time :)

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  2. Tough one...My man knows little of the romance books I like. It might be safer to go with flowers.

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  3. I love flowers and books. I can do without the chocolate. But it would be nice to share a book with another. Both read it and discuss the story.

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  4. Honestly? I'll take ANYTHING. My husband is a scientist (think Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory...only much more handsome lol). He has not clue when it come to romance, so anything he does touches my heart.

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  5. I've received all three at one time or another from various men I dated and the one I married. Chocolate is nice, but you eat it and it's gone. Flowers are lovely, then they die. A book you can keep forever!

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  6. I feel so shallow, but ... I'll take the chocolate! Or maybe some chocolate with a Barnes & Noble gift card on the side. I love talking about books and comparing notes, but there is that danger that we wouldn't "overlap" on the book he chose.

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  7. Such a great variety of responses! My parents spent their evenings reading mysteries, so that might be where I get my bias.

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  8. Book, book, book. I'd rather buy my chocolate myself, because being from Belgium, I'm very particular. Whereas I'm always open to discovering a new book, a new author, a new genre. When getting to know someone new, I love finding out which one of his favorite books he like to share with friends - you can learn so much about a person from what he likes to read and share! (A man who doesn't share books with friends? Sorry ... just not interested!)

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  9. Part of me wants to say book, but another part is whining for chocolate. I also love being given cut flowers, so its a hard one to call. Am I really greedy to ask for all three?

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  10. Oh my gosh, what a wonderful post! And the library card is too funny. I'm with Helen on this. I'd wish for all three!

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