Critiques the predominant romantic ideal.

In a world filled with distractions and the hustle and bustle of daily life, maintaining a robust and enduring friendship with a romantic partner is not just the key to happiness but also the cornerstone of a lost and fulfilling relationship. In “Beyond Romance" 7 Ways to Being a Better Friend to Your Partner, we delve into the essential strategies and insights that can transform your partnership into a long-life friendship. Drawing upon the wisdom of psychological research, real-life stories, and my personal experience, this book provides a practical road map to help couples nurture their connection.Whether you are in the honeymoon phase or navigating the complexities of a long-term relationship, the seven strategies will help you foster a profound and meaningful friendship with your partner. "Beyond Romance" is more than just a guide. It is an invitation to embark on a journey of mutual growth and understanding in love. By applying the seven principles, you will not only deepen your friendship with your partner but also create a love that stands the test of time. Whether you have just found your new love or into a relationship since sometime, married or living-in with your partner, it doesn't matter. If you are looking at deepening your romantic connection, this book is definitely for you.

"Love Beyond Romance: Building a Strong and Lasting Marriage" delves into the multifaceted nature of marital relationships, offering a comprehensive guide for couples seeking to deepen their bond beyond mere romantic love. Through its 18 thoughtfully crafted chapters, the book explores the foundational aspects of love and marriage, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, effective communication, and mutual support. It addresses common misconceptions, practical needs, and the significance of continual personal growth and partnership. Readers will find valuable insights into handling conflicts, appreciating each other, and maintaining romance, while also navigating the complexities of parenting, cultural influences, and long-term commitment. With a balanced focus on emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to build a resilient and fulfilling marriage.

The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name... We do it in the dark. Under the sheets. With a penlight. We wear sunglasses and a baseball hat at the bookstore. We have a "special place" where we store them. Let's face it: Not many folks are willing to publicly admit they love romance novels. Meanwhile, romance continues to be the bestselling fiction genre. Ever. So what's with all the shame? Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan -- the creators of the wildly popular blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books -- have no shame! They look at the good, the bad, and the ugly in the world of romance novels and tackle the hard issues and questions: -- The heroine's irresistible Magic Hoo Hoo and the hero's untamable Wang of Mighty Lovin' -- Sexual trends. Simultaneous orgasms. Hymens. And is anal really the new oral? -- Romance novel cover requirements: man titty, camel toe, flowers, long hair, animals, and the O-face -- Are romance novels really candy-coated porn or vehicles by which we understand our sexual and gender politics? With insider advice for writing romances, fun games to discover your inner Viking warrior, and interviews with famous romance authors, Beyond Heaving Bosoms shows that while some romance novels are silly -- maybe even tawdry -- they can also be intelligent, savvy, feminist, and fabulous, just like their readers!

Joy thinks she's falling in love with FBI Agent Richard Fields-but is the man who makes her mind soar and her heart swoon really who he says he is? Those who challenge the Lords of the Universe-a sinister, secret society of new-age fanatics-have a habit of winding up dead from unnaturally 'natural causes.' While witnesses in the case against the LOTU drop like wilted rose petals, FBI expert Richard Fields has been investigating a one-time suspect for the killings, Dr. Joy Clayton. The newly exonerated widow of one of the cult's fanatical leaders, Joy is beautiful, brilliant, and kind-hearted-and Richard is powerless to resist his feelings for her. Soon, their love-affair is just one more secret that could instantly end his career. For Joy, her attraction to Richard is instant and undeniable-but she knows the LOTU aren't the only ones keeping secrets. Burned by seven years of marriage to a psychologically unstable husband, Joy's constantly on edge-and forced to wonder if she can trust the feelings she's developing for the man who burst into her life using a fake identity and fictional cover story. What other shadows lurk in Richard's self-indulgent past? And what will happen when those secrets finally catch up to him? In Beyond Light and Darkness, author D. Pichardo-Johansson steps beyond the dichotomy of right and wrong - painting a vivid and engaging romance between two wounded people, set against the backdrop of a thrilling murder mystery drawn from her years of medical experience. Fans of Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell, and Eliza Ellis will fall in love with the first book in the bold, bright, and unexpected Beyond Romance series. About the Beyond Romance Series (Romantic Suspense/Mystery): The books can be read out of order without major spoilers. They follow the theme of the "crime with a negative autopsy" and deliver a dose of true medical facts and thought-provoking messages. Beyond Romance Series: Prequel/Book 0.5: Beyond Physical: A Mystery Romance Book 1: Beyond Light and Darkness: A Romantic Suspense with a Medical Twist Book 2: Just for Joy: Beyond Achievement (Connects with the Sunshine Series) Book 3: Beyond Doubt (Coming Soon) A Note from the Author: My stories are about deep connection and enduring love, rather than infatuation. They reveal a love that challenges us to become the best version of ourselves. My characters are above-average yet believable adults with imperfections and virtues, trying to figure out this big puzzle of life. These are people who've learned from their mistakes and can enlighten the reader with their experience.

Ariyanna "Ari" Ramirez has had enough of no love. After a two year relationship filled with more heartbreak than happiness, she is starting over. When she meets handsome, suave, single father, Simeon "Sime" Cartwright, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. Their romance is one for the ages, but nothing worth having comes easy. Together they face trials and tribulations with an ex who seeks to harm her, after their break up and turmoil from the recent reappearance of the mother of his child, who abandoned her six years ago. Will they be able to make it and live happily ever after, or will they fold under the weight or the world on their shoulders?

*Shortlisted for the Eharmony/Orion Write Your Own Love Story Prize What if love could last more than just one lifetime? A haunting and beautiful story of the Great War, time travel - and choosing the impossible In 1916 1st Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall convalescent hospital in England. A gifted artist, he's been wounded in WW1. Shellshocked and suffering from hysterical blindness he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems hopeless. A century later in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother. She drowns her sorrows in alcohol - only to fall accidentally part-way down nearby cliffs. Doctors fear a suicide attempt, and Louisa is involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly, chaotic place. Then while secretly exploring the hospital's ruined, abandoned wing, Louisa stumbles across a dark, old-fashioned room. Inside, lying in an old iron-framed bed in the dark, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was hurt at the Battle of the Somme - a WW1 battle a century ago. And that his name is Lt Robert Lovett... As the days go by Louisa is increasingly drawn back to the curious room and its enigmatic occupant - and things become stranger and stranger, to the extent that she begins to wonder if she really does belong in a psychiatric hospital. But she and Robert feel a deep and growing connection. Louisa's feelings for Robert pull her deeper into his 1916 world. And meanwhile Robert is also falling for the fascinating girl he can't see, but who's become the light in his darkness. But clouds are gathering. Difficult questions are stacking up, and meanwhile, Louisa is keeping something important hidden. Then the truth comes out. And to save her future with Robert, Louisa must somehow find a way back the past. A past where the dangers of WW1 threaten to engulf them both. Perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley, Paullina Simons, Ken Follett and Amy Harmon.