Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’ve never been one to get super into about Valentine’s Day, but it does provide a fun opportunity to do a love/Valentine’s themed book tag! This one was created by Pampered Pages and I discovered it on Between the Shelves. I love the bookish spin on some of the classic romance book questions!
Let’s dive in!
The Questions
1. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day-themed candy?
I actually had to Google “Valentine’s Day candy” because I wasn’t sure what counted, haha. I’m always happy to snack on some dairy-free dark chocolate, but I’d say my top pick would be jellybeans. My husband and I had a special dish for jellybeans on our counter for a while after we got married (before we got cats!) and between the two of us, they never lasted as long as they should have…
2. Do you enjoy reading romance?
I’m usually pretty indifferent. I don’t seek out books with romance, and full-on romantic novels as a genre aren’t my cup of tea, but if sweet, clean romance is a subplot in an otherwise stellar book, I enjoy it! I think it’s hard to write well. That said, I’ve enjoyed finding some well-written fairy tale romance books lately (ex. The Cornerstone Series), and experimenting with slow romance threads in my own books.
3. Do you tend to read romance books throughout the Valentine’s Day season?
For the above reasons, not really. Time to read has been limited, so when I do get a chance, it’s usually just whatever I have around on my TBR – not typically romance books. I think it’s very fun when readers tailor their book intake around certain holidays and seasons though! I’m sure it helps get into that holiday’s spirit. Maybe in the future I’ll be more themed in my reading choices.
4. Your fictional sweetheart shows up at your door with a Valentine’s Day gift. What is it?
I’m glad it’s not asking who is it because I’m not sure what I’d answer, haha! As for the gift, probably a book I’ve been wanting to read, a movie I want to watch with that person, or a board game to play together. I’d be thrilled at anything creative or that allows a fun shared experience.
5. How many romance books do you have that are written by the same author?
Hmm, it looks like the most romance books I have by one author is eight by Mary Mecham. She writes (clean) romantic fairy tale retellings, and while I have yet to read all of them, I’ve greatly enjoyed the ones I have read!
In particular, her novella Of Gold and Beauty (a Rumplestiltskin retelling) really touched me. If you’re interested, you can receive it for free by clicking HERE.
6. What is a romance book that made you cry?
This feels very basic, but The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. That book was a wild ride, and while I can’t whole-heartedly recommend it due to a strong amount of content I didn’t care for, I can’t deny that the story gripped me. I distinctly remember staying up way too late reading, and finishing the book in tears.
7. If you could choose any place (fictional or real) to escape to for a Valentine’s Day date with your sweetheart, where would you like to go?
I love this question, but I don’t know how to answer it. I have so many ideas!
For a fictional place, I’d say the Shire. I would love to walk around the Shire with my husband on a lovely sunny day, with music, flowers, and laughter floating along the fresh air.
For a real place that’s not exactly realistic, I’d be thrilled to spend a day exploring a medieval Scottish castle, or hiking around Dursey Island in Ireland.
More realistically and something I also love is simply taking a long walk outside. Around town, on trails, through parks… my husband and I did this all the time when we were dating and I never grow tired of it!
8. DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER: What anticipated book release do you know in your heart you will absolutely love?
Ophelia Brown and the Mythical Menagerie (book #2 in the Ophelia Brown series) by Julia Witmer releases July 1st, and I’m really looking forward to it! I absolutely loved the first book in this charming middle-grade series last year, then loaned it to my younger siblings (ages eight and six) and they’re enjoying it as well. We’re all hyped for this release!
Find more information at Julia’s site HERE.
9. Do you have any favorite love-themed quotes from any of the books you have read?
Oh, that’s really hard… here are a couple good ones that come to mind:
“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” – Arwen, The Lord of the Rings
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but your name, my love, is a melody to my soul.” – Cyrano de Bergerac
“Because that was love. Beyond infatuation. It was action. It was an action of the heart, of the mind. Of forgiveness and grace and seeing one another.” – Nadine Brandes, Wishtress
“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will no longer be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
10. ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR: Do you have more books with red or pink spines?
Very few of either one, but it looks like I have more with red spines. I couldn’t actually find a single book on my shelves with a pink spine, and I assume it’s because I don’t read many contemporary romance novels – what looks like the predominate genre for pink spines. I’d love pink spine recommendations!
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this fun little Valentine’s-themed tag! How would you answer these questions? I’d love to find out, so please leave your answers in the comments below (or on your own blog, if you’re a blogger)!
Until next time!
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ooh, those are such good quotes, I love all those ones too <333 Thank you fro sharing!
I’m so glad you share my love for these quotes! There are so many great ones in literature <3