The Meaning of Romance

Romance means many different things to so many different people. A glance, a word, just a little unexpected gesture, all have the power to charm. In Regency and Georgian times when young girls were chaperoned in almost every situation, the language of the fan was used to convey messages to would-be suitors and lovers. Hearts could be broken across the space of a ballroom if a lady’s gestures were not favourable.

There were fans for every occasion and the owners lost no chance to wield them to their advantage. A fan placed close to the heart means I love you. A half-opened fan pressed to the lips – you may kiss me. The fan resting on the left cheek, means no, the right cheek, yes. However, there are many gestures and all are not favourable, for example a fan held over the left ear means I wish to be rid of you.

Gentlemen, not to be outdone, often resorted to the language of flowers to express their feelings and whether it be a single flower or a huge bouquet, the message would be clear. There appears to be a flower for every emotion, Acacia - Secret love, Ambrosia - Love returned, Anemone - Unfading love, Arbutus - Only love. Not only did they show love, but withered flowers show rejected love.

These are just a few examples of the messages that could be conveyed by these methods but give you some idea of how love could be lost or won without a word being spoken.

This article first appeared at the blog of Charlene Leatherman.

Spotlight on His Shadowed Heart

About the book:

Can a shadowed heart be healed? Can love grow where least expected? The Earl of Waverly believes not. How wrong can he be!

After the death of his wife, the Earl of Waverly, believing his heart irreparably damaged, enters into a marriage of convenience. However, he is not prepared for the healing influence his new young bride has on his life.

Despite the couple’s new-found happiness, nefarious deeds abound and strange happenings are attributed to the ghost of his former wife. Will their love stand the test or will the perpetrator emerge the victor?

Read an excerpt:

Traversing the long corridor to his bedchamber, he paused momentarily outside his wife’s door, but as no light shone from beneath, he continued on to his own apartment. Closing the door quietly behind him he paused in the centre of the room. All was in darkness except for the pool of light cast by the candles he held and for a moment, their flickering caught the handle to the connecting door. Yielding to an irresistible temptation, he pressed the handle, and finding no resistance there, entered the chamber.

As in his own room, all was in darkness, but turning to where he knew the bed to be he raised the candles higher so that their glow spread across the room, illuminating the sleeping figure there. Crossing to the bed, he knelt at her side and extinguishing all but one of the flames, placed the candelabra on a small table at the side of the bed.

The shadows of the remaining light played across Caroline’s sleeping countenance and he smoothed a lock of hair that had strayed across her forehead. He knew the desire that his lips should follow his finger’s course, but even in his state of inebriation, he knew this would be foolish. For several minutes, he watched his wife sleep, eventually placing his head upon the pillow beside her. His lips curved into a loving smile as his eyes drank in her sleep-softened countenance and he felt her breath caress his cheek. The longing to hold her became an almost physical thing and his arms ached with the suppressed desire. Eventually she stirred, muttering incoherently in her sleep, and he raised himself up. What foolishness is this, he thought. I am acting like a callow youth, and immediately he was on his feet. Snatching up the light, he went quickly out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
~ * ~

I will be on a virtual book tour in July to promote "His Shadowed Heart". You will find my schedule here.

Please feel free to leave comments at each of the tour stops.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards

Hazel

His Shadowed Heart Virtual Book Tour

I would like to invite everyone to join me on the internet for the ‘His Shadowed Heart’ virtual book tour which is taking place over the month of July.

Jul 7 Romance Junkies

Jul 8 Divine Caroline

Jul 9 Charlene Leatherman

Jul 10 Families.com

Jul 11 The Book Connection

Jul 14 The Plot and Historical Romance UK

Jul 15 The Plot

Jul 16 Night Owl Romance

Jul 17 Charlene Leatherman and Virtual Book Tour de Net

Jul 18 Book Excerpts and Share Your Heroine

Jul 21 The Long and the Short of It and Acme Authors Link and Review Your Book

Jul 22 The Long and the Short of It and Charlene Leatherman

Jul 23 The Long and the Short of It and Viral Storytelling

Jul 24 The Long and the Short of It and Ramblings on Romance

Jul 25 The Long and the Short of It and Share Your Hero

Jul 28 Pop Syndicate

Jul 29 Pop Syndicate

Jul 30 Pop Syndicate

Please feel free to leave comments at each of the tour stops.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards

Hazel

Press Release for 'His Shadowed Heart' Virtual Book Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Can a Shadowed Heart be Healed?

Join author Hazel Statham on her third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Public Relations as she travels the blogosphere in July to talk about her latest Regency romance novel, “His Shadowed Heart”.

After the death of his wife, the Earl of Waverly, believing his heart irreparably damaged, enters into a marriage of convenience. However, he is not prepared for the healing influence his new young bride has on his life.

Despite the couple’s new-found happiness, nefarious deeds abound and strange happenings are attributed to the ghost of his former wife. Will their love stand the test or will the perpetrator emerge the victor?

Katrina Farabaugh, author of “Prelude to Morning” says, “Hazel Statham’s new novel, ‘His Shadowed Heart’, has all the fine makings of the perfect Regency romance…” and a Romance Junkies reviewer gave the book a 4-Blue Ribbon rating, calling it a, “a richly detailed and well-written historical romance.”

Hazel lives in Staffordshire, England. She started writing at fifteen and has written on and off ever since. She has always been fascinated by history, especially the Regency and Georgian eras and it is the romance and elegance of these times that she tries to recreate in her work. She has been married to her husband Terry since 1969 and they have a grown daughter and beautiful grandson. Hazel shares her home with two lovely yellow Labradors named Lucy and Mollie, who are her constant companions.

“I begged to work with Hazel when I found out she was touring with us again,” says Cheryl Malandrinos, Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion Public Relations. “Hazel possesses a rare talent that shines through in every story she creates.”

If you would like to follow Hazel on her virtual book tour, visit the official Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tour page at http://virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/. You can also visit her website at http://www.hazel-statham.co.uk/index.htm.

Hazel’s virtual book tour is brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours, a virtual book tour agency for authors who want quality service for an affordable price. More information can be found on their website at http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com.