Valentine’s Day is Over…But Sweetest Day Isn’t!

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By Jennifer James

I know there’s got to be a bunch of people scratching their heads right now. “What the heck is Sweetest Day?” If you live in the Northeast Ohio region, you know that Sweetest Day is Valentine’s Day…in October.

If you Google the term, you’ll see that the holiday was originally started to give candy to the poor. (Or to sell candy, cards, and stuffed animals between large holidays. Take your pick.)

Until about five years ago, I didn’t know that Sweetest Day was a regional holiday. A friend of mine who moved here from Colorado was completely mystified by the radio spots and the decorations all over the stores. Her husband was confused, then annoyed, and then resigned to the fact that he had to get another really romantic gift for her when he wasn’t prepared. Because, let’s face it. Valentine’s Day puts a lot of pressure on people, guys especially. If you live in Cleveland, you get the pleasure of doing it TWICE. (Yeah, I know, one more reason Cleveland is hell on Earth to a lot of people. I like it here though.)

And then the other day I stumbled across a website with this article: The Fifty Most Romantic Things That Ever Happened.  Go check it out. Get tissues first though. When I got to number five I sniffled, then cried like an idiot. Number five helped me realize something. (Besides the fact that no man, ever, can now match that gesture. I mean, holy crap on toast!)

I love to write romance novels because I want to give people that kind of Happily Ever After. Even if it’s for fictional people. I want to share those kinds of stories with other people, give them warm fuzzy tinglies and leave them sniffling over a romantic gesture, even if it’s only in a book. Hearing about moments like that one between two people lightens the load and brings sunshine to your day.

Because you know what? They say that every plot has been written, that every story is just a re-tread of an earlier one. Well, if that’s true, then maybe, just maybe, the romantic gestures, dialogue, and experiences in romance novels have happened. Or will in the future.

And that’s something to cheer for. 

If you checked out the article, let me know your favorite number. The photos in general I keep scrolling over again and again, the lip dub video(!) 

I’ve got a Rafflecopter going with some gift cards and swag packs up for grabs. Please enter. J

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Geek-olution!

By Jennifer James

Miriam-Webser.com defines geek as: (noun)

a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake

a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked

an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity <computer geek>

Miriam-Webster.com defines nerd as: (noun)

an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits<computer nerds>

In Love Kinection, the hero Tom Walker and heroine Abby Fine are self-professed geeks. In their cases, (thank goodness) neither bites the heads of chickens at the circus. (Because, ewww. How disgusting!)

Modern day geeks and nerds are labeled so because they are obsessed with cult movies, collect action figures, comic books, recite movie lines in conversation—heck I’ve seen people have entire conversations comprised completely of movie quotes. The list of characteristics goes on and can be molded to fit an individual. The real question here is, when did it become cool to be a geek?

I like to go all the way back to 1963 when a little television show called Dr. Who bust onto the scene courtesy of the BBC. The original program ran from 1963 to 1989. It came back in 2005 after a failed re-launch in the 90s.

Some of you may be shaking your heads. You don’t believe that The Doctor is a geek? You must be joking. And, if you know enough about the show to make that argument, then you’re a geek my friend.

Think about it.

He’s smarter than pretty much anyone, ever. He’s totally devoted to exploring time and space in pursuit of knowledge. He gets completely psyched about new civilizations, life forms, and technology.

The Doctor is a geek. (And when he was played by David Tennant, a damn sexy geek if you ask me. Gah, did you see him in the Fright Night remake? O.O )

Abby loves Dr. Who. She even has a cardboard cutout of David Tennant in her spare bedroom. Her coffee mug? A TARDIS replica.

Tom likes Christopher Eccleston’s version of The Doctor better. J

 I think that Dr. Who sparked a revolution of sorts in the television world that has bled into modern life. Geeks and nerds are no longer regarded as nothing but lab rat weirdos with no lives.

Geeks are sexy.

Mac Guyver played by Richard Dean Anderson. Sexy. Yeah, he had a mullet. But, the dude could save you from anything. He knew enough about, well, everything to get out of what looked like impossible jams time and again.

Mythbusters. Two guys in a lab setting up experiments, blowing things up, and nerding out over the results. Complete and total geeks. And we love them. Their enthusiasm is infectious.

Chuck. Computer savvy techhie guy turned secret agent. Gets the girl, has adventures, and yet can be totally sweetly, stutteringly, inept in social situations. Zachary Levi = total hottie.

So, who are your favorite geeks on television or in the movies? I’m giving away a copy of LOVE KINECTION to the person with the most creative answer. Give me a good argument. The more unexpected the better.

LOVE KINECTION Blurb:

Love, romance, hearts, flowers, cupid…. Rubbish.

Abby Fine still hasn’t gotten over the pain of a year-old betrayal and plans to spend this Valentine’s Day drowning her sorrows with a ménage of men named Ben, Jerry, and Riesling. 

Her plans are diverted when she drops and breaks her new iPhone and gives in to a momentary hormone surge, agreeing to let office hottie and tech god Tom Walker squirm his way into her condo to fix it.  

Tom shows up with his Xbox, spicy Chinese food, and a habit of stealing kisses every time she lets her guard down.

Can a weekend of laughter, video games, and movies change Abby’s opinion of stupid Cupid?

Tell me who your favorite "geek" is. One commenter will win a copy of Love Kinection. Don't forget to leave your email address in your comment!