Reminiscing On My First
Valentine’s Day-Themed Story
A guest post by New York Times bestselling author Kasey Michaels
In 1998, I was
asked to write a “sweet” Valentine’s novella for Harlequin, to be part of a
collection titled Key To My Heart (“sweet”
meaning the bedroom door stays closed, by the way). Each novella somehow had to have a key
involved. I remember the title of my
novella, Love, Emmaline – but I’d
forgotten everything else. Hey, 1998 was
a long time ago!
The book is out
of print, so I searched my bookshelves and found a copy, sat down to read
it. Ah, I remembered now, just reading
the first page…and by the end of the story I was sort of teary-eyed and feeling
pretty good about the power of love.
Emmaline
Whipple, married fifty years, widowed for two, was about to lose her bed and
breakfast in Ocean City, New Jersey. She
had only two last guests before the inn was put on the market and Emmaline
moved to a retirement home. In truth,
the inn had already closed, but she couldn’t turn down a young couple soon to
be married, who had booked a room for the Valentine’s Day weekend. The problem was, Molly and Tim had called off
the wedding three weeks earlier…they loved each other, but they both had a lot
to learn about living with each other.
Because I’m a
sucker for happy endings, without each other’s knowledge, both showed up at
Emmaline’s just in time to be stranded there by an ice storm. That’s the fun of being an author, by the way—I
can conjure up an ice storm if I darn well want to!
The “key” was
the key to the Bridal Suite—with a heart shape on it that actually became the
front cover art of the collection. Or at
least that was the idea. But the real “keys”
were Emmaline; sweet, wonderful, only slightly conniving Emmaline, and the
utterly charming inn that bore her name.
Her late
husband, the beloved Albert, had proposed to Emmaline on Valentine’s Day in the
parlor of this very inn, and to Emmaline, Valentine’s Day was the most romantic
event of any year. She decorated the inn
with cherubs and cut-out hearts. She
even made heart-shaped meatloaves for her only two guests for their first
night’s dinner. Poor Molly and Tim—they
knew they were stuck playing the loving couple for the weekend or else break
this darling woman’s heart. They had to
put aside their differences, even if it killed them.
And, thanks to
the ice storm perhaps, or perhaps because love always wants to find a way, they
actually talked to each other.
I loved the
story then, and after reading it again, I realized I still love the story. Sweet love.
New love, old love. Love that
outlasts even life itself. Maybe that’s what Valentine’s Day is all about—remembering
the love, reminding ourselves of what we have, who we’ve been fortunate enough
to love, and counting our blessings.
What are some of
your favorite stories that incorporate Valentine’s Day? Share them with me in
the comments section below!
Experience the
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bestselling author Kasey Michaels, in which three dashing war heroes have
finally met their matches…
Gabriel Sinclair
has returned from battle as reluctant heir to a dukedom. As if his new
responsibilities weren't enough, Gabriel's aunt enlists him to sponsor a young
heiress through London's Little Season. Yet Miss Thea Neville is hardly the
tedious obligation he expected. She's exotic and enchanting—and utterly unaware
of the secret poised to destroy her family's reputation.
After ten years
in America, Thea is ready to do her duty and marry well. Deportment lessons,
modistes, balls—the ton is a minefield she could scarcely navigate without
Gabriel's help. By rights, she should accept the first bachelor who offers for
her. Instead, she's succumbing to a dangerous attraction to her wickedly handsome
chaperone—one that could unhinge her plans in the most delicious way.
About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author KASEY
MICHAELS has written more than 100 books to date and has 10 million copies in
print around the world. During her impressive writing career, Kasey has coped
with time travel, ghosts, the dark side, the very light side and just about
everything in between. Hers is also the creative mind behind the
innovative Maggie Kelly mystery series.
Lastly, Kasey is the author of the highly praised nonfiction book,
written as Kathryn Seidick, …Or You Can
Let Him Go, which details the story of Kasey and her family during the time
of her eldest son’s first kidney transplant.
You can find out more information about Kasey and her books at www.KaseyMichaels.com.
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