Sometimes It’s Not How Fools Fall in Love – It’s Where!
June 27, 2016
Does anyone else remember this childhood rhyme: “Beth and Rob sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g . . .” Those aren’t exactly show-stopping musical lyrics, but odds are, we all sung
them at one time, probably teasing a friend or a “frenemy.” And while I’m all for “k-i-s-s-i-n-g-ing,” I’ve never understood the idea of
sitting in a tree while kissing someone. Wouldn’t balancing on branches while
embracing get awkward – if not downright dangerous? Which just goes to show you the importance of setting in a romance novel, right? In my newest destination-wedding novel, ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE,
my heroine, Caron Hollister, must choose between two men who live in two very
different locations. Alex Madison, Caron’s soon-to-be fiancé, lives in Florida,
while Kade Webster, her ex-boyfriend from two years ago, lives in Colorado. A lot of different things factor into two people falling in love – and no, I’m
not going to present you with graphs and statistics. But when we fall in love,
we’re influenced by another person’s:
- Personality
- Appearance
- Intelligence – or lack thereof
- Career
- Home – think city or country boy/gal or their state/country of birth
So let’s get back to Caron’s dilemma in ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE.
In the course of the story, she spends time in both Florida’s Gulf Coast and
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. My question for you is: Do you consider the
beach or the mountains the more romantic locale? There’s something to be said about strolling along the beach, holding hands with
a certain someone as the water washes up against your feet, and watching the
colors of the sunset streak the sky with purple and orange and pink. Other
people might think a summer day frolicking in the waves – maybe sharing a kiss
or two – is both fun and romantic. Remember the movie Hitch? For his
first date with Sara, Hitch took her jet skiing – granted, it was to Ellis
Island, but we’re still talking water sports! From Elvis in Blue Hawaii
to Message in a Bottle and the more recent Aloha, movies often
set love stories at the beach. It also can’t be denied that the mountains have their own allure. What’s more
romantic than spending time with your love interest in a rustic mountain cabin,
with the snow falling outside while you’re sitting in front of the warm glow of
a fire in a stone fireplace, the conversation ceasing … because now you’re
kissing? Or what about a beautiful mountain hike complete with a thundering
waterfall, one like Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, California? And yes, movies
with a central love story have been set against the backdrop of the mountains
too. Think of the classic movie The Sound of Music, which opens with
such a grand view of the mountains. Or what about Dirty Dancing, which
took place in The Catskills? And then there’s The Magic of Ordinary
Days – and if you haven’t seen this gem of a romance set in Colorado during
World War II and produced by Hallmark, you need to! For me, it’s a toss-up whether the beach or the mountains are more romantic, and
in ALMOST LIKE BEING IN
LOVE, I didn’t have to choose. An even more fun question is: Where have some
of your most romantic moments taken place? At the beach? In the mountains? Or
some place else? Giveaway
Where do you think the most romantic moments happen? One commenter will win a
copy of ALMOST LIKE BEING IN
LOVE
Novelist Beth K. Vogt is a nonfiction author and editor who said she'd
never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force physician (now in solo
practice) who said she'd never marry a doctor -- or anyone in the military.
She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. She's discovered that God's
best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." Beth writes inspirational
contemporary romance because she believes there's more to the happily ever after
than the fairy tales tell us. She lives in Colorado with her husband and their
10-year-old "caboose kiddo." She and her husband enjoy any time their adult
children come by for game nights, BBQs or just to hang out.
Destination
Wedding

From the author of Somebody Like You, a RITA finalist, and one of
Publishers Weekly’s top ten books of 2014, comes the story of a woman who
has everything for a perfect wedding—except the groom!
Winning an
all-expenses paid Colorado destination wedding might seem like a dream come true
for some people—but Caron Hollister and her boyfriend Alex Madison aren’t even
engaged. How is she supposed to tell him she’s won their wedding and honeymoon
when he hasn’t asked her to marry him? Being “perfect for one another” seems
like the absolute best reason to get married. But what if their supposedly
faultless relationship is merely a safe place to protect his secrets and a way
to keep their families happy? After quitting her job, Caron accepts her best
friend’s offer to visit Colorado. She needs to catch her breath. Who knows,
maybe visiting the destination wedding site will make a future with Alex seem
like a reality. Kade Webster just landed the biggest deal of his life
with his company, Webster Select Realty, participating in the Colorado Springs
Tour of Homes. He never imagined he would run into the woman who broke his
heart—Caron Hollister—right when his career is taking off. Seeing her again,
Kade can’t help but wonder why Caron walked away from him years ago, leaving him
with no explanation. When Kade learns his home stager won’t be able to help with
the Tour of Homes, he vaults past all the reasons he should stay away from
Caron, and offers her a temporary job helping him on the project. This time,
their relationship is purely business. Spending time with Kade has Caron
questioning everything. The man intrigues her—at times infuriates her—and
reminds her of what she lost. Has she been settling for what everyone expects of
her? Just because others believe she and Alex are an ideal couple, does that
mean they should get married? And how can Caron say “I do” to one man when she’s
wondering “what if?” about another?
Inspirational Romance
| Romance
Contemporary [Howard Books, On Sale: June 28,
2016, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781476789804 / eISBN: 9781476789811]
Comments
29 comments posted.
Re: Sometimes It’s Not How Fools Fall in Love – It’s Where!
I think the most romantic moments can happen anywhere---they are usually totally unexpected. (Sue Farrell 3:39pm June 28, 2016)
For me, the mountains! My now-husband proposed to me in Rocky Mountain National Park, and we had our honeymoon in the Canadian Rockies in Banff. We now live in the Denver area. I'm definitely more of a mountain girl! (Lindsay Norton 4:08pm June 28, 2016)
If you open your heart then the most romantic moments can be totally spontaneous. Since we live near the beach, I will have to say the beach. There is just something about those beautiful breath taking sunsets, salty air and soaring seagulls. (Maryann Skaritka 4:20pm June 28, 2016)
My late husband and I loved to stream fish in remote locations. They were always beautiful, secluded and so romantic! (Kathleen Bylsma 5:47pm June 28, 2016)
There's something magical about vacationing in the Cayman Islands, or maybe it's simply leaving the daily stressors behind and focusing on making the moment special. (Susan Sigler 6:01pm June 28, 2016)
For me, anytime is the right time. Romance is in the air so they say!!! (Bonnie Capuano 6:17pm June 28, 2016)
The most romantic moments can happen anywhere. The beach holds special memories for me, so that is my favorite romantic place. (Karen Phelan 10:43pm June 28, 2016)
For me, the most romantic moments are anywhere we are that my husband of 36 years reaches out and takes my hand. It can be Sequoia NP, the beach or the supermarket parking lot. The reaching out after so many years touches me each time. (Sharon Mitchell 3:36am June 29, 2016)
In movies and romance novels....haha! (Lily Shah 7:42am June 29, 2016)
The beach is the place that captures romance. (Sharon Berger 2:21pm June 29, 2016)
it can happen in life (Dawna Preston 2:31pm June 29, 2016)
The most romantic moments can happen anywhere -- been married 50 yrs. this month - lots of romantic moments. (Shirley Younger 6:58pm June 29, 2016)
true love can be right under your nose and then if you lucly to find soem one to have for good it good the book look great i would love to read (Desiree Reilly 8:54pm June 29, 2016)
Where & when you least expect it! (Nancy Ludvik 10:41pm June 29, 2016)
We used to enjoy the mountains til the altitude started to bother me - but I would still say mountains. (Connie Sahn 10:59pm June 29, 2016)
I'm enjoying reading everyone's comments. And I agree that romance can happen anywhere -- and I also agree that romance has no expiration date, too! But I also think we can have our favorite romantic places ... sometimes based on a memory, like a first date or where a proposal happened. And yes, sometimes romance happens where and when you least expect it! (Beth Vogt 11:35pm June 29, 2016)
I think the most romantic moments happen at the Eiffel Tower in France. (Jamie Stein 12:26pm June 30, 2016)
The best romantic moments can happen anywhere and that is what makes it a joy to read the different settings of books. (Leni Kaye 6:58pm June 30, 2016)
Since I love to be in the fresh outdoors, the mountains are the perfect place for me. Some of my best dates have been hiking the Cascades. The nice thing about where I live is the views from where we hike - the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. You get the warmth of the sun, yet shade is always near. (Terrill Rosado 9:18pm June 30, 2016)
I think the most romantic moments happen outside, in nature. (Connie Williamson 9:44pm June 30, 2016)
For me it would be the mountains. Both my husband and I love the mountains. We grew up in New York's Adirondack Mountains with a view of Vermont's Green Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains. When we first got married we lived in northern Maine near their mountains. We lived in Colorado Springs with Pike's Peak the view from our deck. We now live in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is in our blood and we love mountains. That being said, we have had some wonderful times on the coast. We are not sandy beach sun lovers. We love the rocky coasts of the Northeast and Northwest. There is a rugged beauty to it. It has that in common with the mountains which is probably why we like it. (Patricia Barraclough 10:37pm July 1, 2016)
The most romantic locations can be anywhere and unexpected , like some one you've known all your life but never thought about in the romantic way . Unexpected is the most romantic . (Joan Thrasher 9:44am July 2, 2016)
It can happen anywhere. (Anita Seymour 3:09pm July 2, 2016)
The most romantic moments can happen when you least expect them. Doesn't matter where you are, it matters with who you are with. (Jessica Slater 3:14pm July 3, 2016)
Spontaneously! One never knows when the occasion will arise. (Kathleen Bylsma 4:06pm July 3, 2016)
My dream has always been to own a cabin on a mountaintop overlooking the ocean, it's hard for me to pick a fave as I love them both so much. I've lived alone for 25+ years now, so my romantic moments were long ago. However, I did honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains!!
Thanks for the fun post, Beth - and the giveaway opportunity!! (Bonnie Roof 7:54pm July 3, 2016)
Romantic moments can take place anywhere if the right two people are together. (Anna Speed 1:07pm July 4, 2016)
Romance can happen anywhere. You just have to be open and in the right frame of mind with the right person. (Cynthia Powers 4:37pm July 4, 2016)
Romantic happenings can be anywhere or any place. Marilyn (Marilyn Collins 6:54pm July 4, 2016)
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