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For many, Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance. For others, it's a time to panic. What to give that special someone that perfectly captures the way you feel about him or her? There are the staples: flowers, candy, cards--but what about thinking outside the box?
Actions often speak louder than words. Or roses, or chocolate. (Okay, maybe not chocolate.) Which is where the romantic gesture comes in--those little things, done thoughtfully and earnestly, to show you care. And what better place is there for romantic gestures than in romance novels themselves.
Being the sentimental sap I am, I like to use BIG romantic gestures in my books. Even better, for me, is if the gesture happens at a point when it's unexpected, when the heroine and hero aren't fully established as a couple yet. Because that's when the gesture speaks volumes.
In my first book, Just the Sexiest Man Alive, the heroine is being pursued by the biggest movie star in Hollywood. She's kept him at bay because of his womanizing reputation, but when she's in a car accident, and he leaves a movie set to rush to her side, even she--a tough, non-sentimental lawyer--is touched.
She put her hand on Jason's arm. "I'm being serious Jason. You left in the middle of filming to come here?"
Jason looked down at her. Suddenly, he, too, turned serious.
"They said you were in the hospital, Taylor. Of course I left."
It was the matter-of-fact way he said it. And the way he looked right then. Taylor suddenly felt as though she was back in the PT Cruiser, spinning and spinning and spinning.
Jason Andrews.
Her knight in shining armor.
In my second book, Practice Makes Perfect, the hero and heroine, both lawyers, have worked together (and fought behind closed doors) for eight years and are competing for a single partnership spot in their firm. It's the evening before the partnership decision, the last day they will work together. A box unexpectedly arrives at the heroine's office with a pair of high-heeled shoes, a replacement for a pair the heroine had ruined in court a couple weeks prior. (True, the hero was actually responsible for ruining the first pair of shoes, but that's a different story.)
Payton pulled the door shut behind her. "I got the shoes. I can't accept them, J.D."
He grabbed his briefcase. "Of course you can." He peered down on her on his way out the door. "Besides, they were my favorites."
"J.D.-"
"There's nothing you need to say. Really." He reached around, and at first Payton thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he opened the door. He stepped out into the hallway.
"Good luck tomorrow, Payton." His eyes met hers, then he turned and left.
My upcoming release, Something About You, includes what has to be the most romantic of all the romantic gestures I've written: the hero dives through a glass door to save the heroine's life. (Right, if I had a dime every time my husband did that for me. . .) In the book, the hero, an FBI agent, is watching through a window--waiting to make his move--while the heroine is being held at gunpoint by a masked intruder.
Hearing the fear in Cameron's voice, a fury took hold of Jack. He raised his gun to take a shot through the window. But the man must have seen the flash of movement. He looked over, saw Jack through the glass, and yanked Cameron in front of him, blowing the shot. Refusing to leave Cameron alone with the gunman one second longer, Jack reared back and fired his gun twice at the glass French doors.
He dove through.
Jack burst into the bedroom, barely aware of the glass shattering all around him. He hit the ground on one knee, slid across the floor, and hurtled himself up with his gun aimed at the masked man.
"Let her go," Jack growled.
I think one thing that makes romantic gestures work so well in contemporary romances is that the heroes are regular guys. (Or at least sort of regular.) They are flesh and blood, everyday 21st century men, the guy next door, the guys we date, the guys we marry. And to see them risking their hearts-and sometimes even their lives-for a woman, well, that's enough to make anyone weak in the knees.
On that note, I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. And, as always, happy reading!
More information about Julie James and her books can be found at her website at www.juliejames.com.
