Red Is the Word…For Chocolates? & a Chocolate Giveaway!
(Note: Chocolates giveaway, so read on and enter for a chance to win!)
Red. The color of blood. Of roses, carnations, rubies, and the heart. The big V–Valentine’s Day. Celebrated with candy hearts and chocolates, and always associated with red.
Red is passion, an explosion of color. You can’t be blah with red. Angry, sure. Sexy, bring it on. But nothing so bland as pastel blah.Red is a primary color, primal, carnal, visceral.
I love the concept of love, in all its forms. I think the most romantic scene that stays with me is watching an elderly couple walk hand in hand, and hearing that they’ve celebrated sixty Valentine’s Days together. Or watching two women or two men sit in a public restaurant and gaze lovingly at one another without being thrown out or mocked simply because they happen to be same sex couples in love.Or that teenage couple who moons at one another. The boy’s voice is embarrassingly high and he laughs too loud at her jokes. The girl uses too much cover-up to conceal the fact her face is breaking out, and her braced gleam in the candlelight. Yet to each other, no one else exists, and their young love burns with a bright energy.
Romance aside, let’s not forget the carnal aspect to romantic love. (I know, I’m keeping this PG.) But physical intimacy can be a true expression of a deepening emotional bond, a showcase of love amidst rose petals, silk sheets, and happy sounds. I love you means so much more when accompanied by a soft kiss.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’m giving away a box of Godivas to a US resident (or an equivalent Amazon gift certificate should an international winner get lucky). 
To enter to win, simply write about your best Valentine’s Day in the comments. It can be funny, sad, happy, annoying, or embarrassing, but it has to be RED–full of color, full of passion, even the angry kind. Nothing blah on V-Day.
Marie
And don’t miss my upcoming RED romance from Loose Id on Feb 19th, entitled KILLER THOUGHTS ~ A PowerUp! story
Owen Stallbridge is a powerful psychic who’s done his share of jobs for the government. He’s a millionaire and secret agent trying to segue out of his wet work assignments. The silent partner in the PowerUp! Gym, he normally lets his buddy Jack command the psychics working there. Owen has his hands full running his multi-million dollar empire and trying to keep an eye on Ian Ryder, a forger, a con man, a criminal too sexy for his own good. But now Owen’s life is on the line. An old enemy has returned, and it’s up to Owen to handle him before innocents are harmed. He’ll need Ian’s help to run the enemy down, that’s if he can trust the thief. Ian is smart, sexy, and vulnerable–all Owen wants in a partner and all that he desires in a man. But Ian refuses to trust. He won’t make it easy for Owen to claim him. With time running out, they have to take a chance on each other if they want to survive the looming danger. And Owen will have to believe in the man who’s stolen his heart.
Marie Harte website / blog / facebook/ twitter
February 14th, 2013 at 10:56 am
Best Valentine’s ever… the very first time I received a long stemmed rose…my heart melted…
Yummy chocolates!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
greenshamrock AT cox DOT net
February 14th, 2013 at 11:10 am
Chocolate? Did I hear chocolate?
No, really, my best valentines day was not with my hubby. LOL Yes, we’ve had amazing ones and sweet ones since we started dating 5 years ago and since we’ve been married 3 years go.
But my fav was in the 6th grade. Mark Whitely. *dreamy sigh* He gave me a tube of hershey’s kisses with a Bear on the top that said Be Mine. I still have that bear. He also gave it in front of everyone at recess/lunch and kissed my cheek.
Then we went to go play dodgeball and we each in turn save each other by sacrificial ourselves.
Yes, that’s my favorite memory.
February 14th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I love roses, Colleen. I’m with you on that. Deep red ones, and that sweet smell. They just lend themselves to romance.
Carrie Ann, that has to be the best story ever. And what a brave kid that he actually gifted AND kissed you at school! He didn’t even worry about cooties. What a cutie. haha Although the sacrificial dodgeball part of your story nearly had me in tears. True love…
February 14th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
The first Valentine’s Day I spent with my husband, then new boyfriend was a VERY RED night for a lot of reasons. It was our first “fancy” date having only been dating for a few weeks. We both dressed up. Exchanged small gifts. Dinned at an expensive restaurant in a secluded booth. Talked about past loves and our dreams. He intimidated me. He was so handsome, smart and put together. I felt a mess and hoped he cared for me as strongly as I was beginning to care for him. We ate a sinful chocolate desert and planned to end our date walking on the beach. As we got into his truck, his phone rang. It was a girl – one he had been extremely interested in dating but wanted to be “just friends”. She sobbed that her boyfriend had yelled at her and she “needed her friend”. So we drove 25 minutes to her apartment while he “calmed” her down on the phone. I was NOT happy but I appreciated his loyalty. We then spent 30 minutes with her constantly touching him, trying to snuggle with him and so on. The topper was her “oh honey you know you can’t resist my puppy dog eyes” followed by a very devious smile and eye batting. I saw RED. LOTS of RED. We left. He drove me home. We sat in his truck in silence staring forward for a while. He sighed and said, “I messed up, didn’t I?” “Yes” I said. He turned sideways and said – I’ll never forget it – “You have nothing to worry about. I’m going to marry you someday. She means nothing to me anymore.” Then he kissed me. REALLY kissed me for the first time. My heart was his from that night on. We’ve been truly happily married for 11 years. He is my best friend and soul mate.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all especially you Marie Harte!
Chendry123@yahoo.com
February 14th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Happy Valentine’s Day, Marie and congrats on the upcoming release. We’ve never had any weird or spectacular V Day. We usually just go out for dinner and then head to a movie.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
February 14th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
don’t really celebrate it; baked a cake for family
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
February 14th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
My best Valentine’s Day present was when my husband gave me a new diamond ring. The one I previously had was tiny and hardly showed up so he got me one with a lot more shine and clarity. it is beautiful and I really appreciated the gift.
February 14th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
My best Valentine’s Day present was when all my little nieces and nephews gave me hand made cards. They all drew me a picture and wrote “I love you Auntie Ashley” (it was hard to understand since some of them were very little but I knew what they meant
)
Thanks for the great chocolate giveaway!!
Ashley A
ash_app(at)hotmail(dot)com
February 14th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
I think my very first Valentine from my son when he went to kindergarten. He was so proud of that card and it melted my heart. My first card from my first child. I went on to have 6 more children and needless to say I have all their firsts from school and they now have families of their own.
Happy Valentine’s Day . I loved your post Marie.
Carol L.
February 14th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Charity–that is just the BEST story. Ha. Yeah, I can see where you were very RED there. Man, talk about a bad, bad move. Comforting an ex while on a date with someone else—um, not good. LOL
Jane–that’s normally what I used to do as well. Movie and dinner, a date night. Back when I was married. Now I’m swingin’ single, so I plan to spend tonight with a 9 and 7 year old watching TV and warning them not to eat all their candy at once.
Bn100–hey, the cake says it all. It’s very…sweet. haha
February 14th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Oh, and I have to fix my sign in, but Guest author is me, Marie.
February 14th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Joye–diamonds ARE forever. Good on your man!
Ashley and Carol–handmade cards are just the best. I love when my kids make me something, and I stash it away to save so when they’re big (like you said, Carol.) Just looking at stuff they made in kindergarten gives me that warm and fuzzy, because they will never be that little again. So cute!
And they like when I make them cards. This year it was monsters with lots of eyeballs and goofy poems. Because, well, my kids are monsters. But they think I’m an alien, so we all get along.
Marie
February 14th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
We had only been married a few years and my husband came home and presented me with a beautiful, multicolored stone bracelet. To fully appreciate the gesture, you need to know that my husband is NOT DEMONSTRATIVE (to say the least.!!) He rarely says I love you – doesn’t hold hands unless it is icy, etc., etc. So, when he presents me with a gift or says he loves me it is a red letter day.!! He is very quiet and when he does say he loves me I know it comes from the heart.
We will be married 47 years on July 29th – we have had many ups and far too many downs, including the death of our youngest child last year; but we are coping and I still think he is the most handsome man I know.
February 14th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
By the way, I STILL HAVE THE BRACELET.!!
February 14th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Oh man, Ruth. YOU’RE the reason I write romance. 47 years together can’t be easy. That is so incredibly wonderful. Weathering such hard times like you have… And you still have the bracelet. That’s so awesome!! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Marie
February 14th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
I guess the best Valentine’s Day was the year my husband had a white rose with ear rings attached to it put in a balloon. My husband never does any thing for Valentine’s Day so it was such a surprise that he had done something.
February 14th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Sorry forgot my email its. quiltladly110 AT gmail DOT com
February 14th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
My best Valentine’s Day is went to see Ricky Nelson. He was playing in a Nightclub and my brother had an extra ticket. It was a great show. And as it turned out it would be the last Valentine’s day he preformed as he died on New Years Eve the same year.. I remember they gave all the ladies a free drink and a rose that night. Had a great time.
February 14th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Hmmm…My best/favorite Valentines have been when my kids were small and I’d make heart shaped pancakes for breakfast and cut their sandwiches into heart shapes adding heart shaped cookies to their lunches. And while they were in school bake a heart shaped cake we all enjoyed for dessert. The sexiest was the first year after all the kids had left home and my hubby and I sat on the bed eating chocolate dipped strawberries and enjoying the peace and quiet. ;0)
February 14th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Hmm, maybe that’s why I love red – and chocolate – so much! I’m a very passionate person.
February 14th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
My best valentine’s was when my husband surprised me with my first kindle. BEST gift ever!!!!
February 14th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
My husband went out and bought me a matching necklace and earrings. He never does things like that.
February 14th, 2013 at 8:40 pm
The year my oldest son who was working bought me an actual flower. He doesn’t do things like that.
February 15th, 2013 at 12:09 am
The Valentines day that comes to my mind is the year I was on bed rest with blood clots in my leg. After about a week of this, I was going crazy. My sister came over and brought my nieces & nephew and we spent the day curled up on the pull out sofa (where I spent my time, lol) watching movies, eating popcorn, goofing off, etc. These times of my having to deal with clots really showed me how much my family loved me. They would go to the library to check out new books for me, spend time with me, and even give me injections to keep me from having to stay in the hospital. Not romantic or passionate love, but definitely true love <3
June
manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com
February 15th, 2013 at 3:45 am
My best Valentine Day was when my husband and I planned our wedding and bought our rings.
February 15th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
My best Valentine’s Day was when my sweetheart sent me red roses to work and I got to tease my coworkers with my beautiful flowers. They didn’t turn green with envy, they turned red because they were so jealous.
February 16th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
You all have such wonderful stories and thoughts about Vday. Red with jealousy, ha!
The contest is open until Monday, so keep ‘em coming!!!
Marie
February 17th, 2013 at 10:46 am
I was presented with Valentine’s Day dinner. . . in bed! With lots of chocolate. Heh.
February 17th, 2013 at 10:53 am
My man asked me to marry him on Valentines day 34 years ago. I said yes and we are still married. We had our 33rd anniversary in November. He is SUPER shy about things, but he was so sweet that day. He got down on one knee and told me I was the love of his life and I made him a better person. Trust me, it goes both ways.
February 17th, 2013 at 11:40 am
Our first Valentine’s Day together was in 1997. I was living in Minneapolis and she rode the train from upstate NY to met me. We had been corresponding via email and phone for a year and wanted to meet face to face. Keep in mind this was in the early Internet days…no eharmony match.com etc. Although she arrived a few days before Valentine’s Day, that one will always be special because this wonderful woman took a chance to meet me and we fell in love as soon as she stepped off the train. We went to a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day then an NBA game (okay maybe THAT isn’t so romantic!) and then back to my apartment for a quiet drink and conversation. We discovered we were soulmates that night…and now after almost 15 years of marriage we still love each other as much as that night in 1997.
February 17th, 2013 at 11:52 am
Oh almost forgot this for the contest
Northstars4ever@gmail dot com
February 18th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Congrats go to Lance! Woo hoo! I have your email, so I’ll follow up with you there. Thanks to everyone who commented, and for sharing your special Valentines.
Marie