Happy Valentine’s Day!

In honor of the most romantic day of the year, I’ve got two presents for you–presents that are *almost* as good as chocolate and roses and diamonds.

First, a sweet little excerpt from one of my writing projects, All Mixed Up. It happens just before Valentine’s day, so it’s sort of perfect for the occasion… 

“Hey,” he says. “Saturday’s Valentine’s Day. Let’s hang out.”

“What should we do?”

He ponders, toying with the ends of my hair. “Seattle,” he says decidedly. “Something fun. Something to cheer you up.”

“It’s not your job to cheer me up, Max.”

“Sure it is. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but my happiness is directly related to yours. I never, ever want to see you cry again.”

I nestle closer. “That might be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said, Holden.”

“I have my moments.” I hear the smile in his voice. “Remember when you had that horrible summer job walking the Nelsons’ dog?”

The Nelsons, who live a couple houses down from the Holdens, hired me a few years back to walk their grouchy terrier once every weekday while school was out. It was a thankless job full of ankle nips and poop-scooping, worsened by the fact that it was one of the hottest summers on record. “Ugh. Yes. Why?”

“Remember how I used to walk with you?”

“I do.” Max’s company had kept me from strangling that dog.

“Do you know why I walked with you?”

“Because you weren’t old enough to get your driver’s license? You were bored?”

“Hardly.”

Curious, I fold my hands across his chest, drop my chin onto them, and work to make out his features in the darkness. “Why, then?”

“Because I thought I was in love with you.”

I laugh out loud, only lowering my voice when I remember I’m in Max Holden’s bed in the middle of the night, just down the hall from his sisters.

“Seriously,” he says. “I was convinced you were, like, my soul mate or something.” He pauses, grinning at the memory. “Even back then, watching you drag that shitty little dog down the block, I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the whole neighborhood.”

Aww… I love Max and Jill, and I hope you get to read more of their story one day.

And, your second present… Book recommendations! Here are some of my very favorite YA love stories. (Covers link to Goodreads pages.) 

    

  

    

    

    

     

There you have it, friends. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Tell me: What’s your favorite love story?