Explores the worldwide popularity of the love-lock as a ritual token of love and commitment by considering its history, symbolism, and heritage. “[T]his is an eminently enjoyable and thorough investigation of a popular phenomenon through the lens of heritage and folk tradition.”—Sara De Nardi, Western Sydney University A padlock is a mundane object, designed to fulfil a specific – and secular – purpose. A contemporary custom has given padlocks new significance. This custom is ‘love-locking’, where padlocks are engraved with names and attached to bridges in declaration of romantic commitment. This custom became popular in the 2000s, and its dissemination was rapid, geographically unbound, and highly divisive, with love-locks emerging in locations as diverse as Paris and Taiwan; New York and Seoul; Melbourne and Moscow. From the introduction: I was distractedly perusing the photo frame aisle, my eyes skimming the generically sentimental stock pictures of happy families smiling at the camera, pretty landscapes, cute pets and couples walking hand-in-hand, when I came across one that jumped out at me.... I recognised the image instantly as a photograph of love-locks: the padlocks that had been appearing en masse on bridges and other public structures on a global scale since the early 2000s. And, having been researching the custom known as lovelocking for about five years at that point, it was with a peculiar sense of pride that I realised love-locks had accomplished the status of a stock image.

A padlock is a mundane object, designed to fulfil a specific – and secular – purpose. A contemporary custom has given padlocks new significance. This custom is ‘love-locking’, where padlocks are engraved with names and attached to bridges in declaration of romantic commitment. This custom became popular in the 2000s, and its dissemination was rapid, geographically unbound, and highly divisive, with love-locks emerging in locations as diverse as Paris and Taiwan; New York and Seoul; Melbourne and Moscow. This book explores the worldwide popularity of the love-lock as a ritual token of love and commitment by considering its history, symbolism, and heritage.

The hen (or bachelorette) party, with its groups of visible, raucous women on trains, planes, and in public spaces is ubiquitous throughout the English-speaking world. The practice of the blackening, a unique form of kidnapping and “punishment” ritual, is limited to North Eastern parts of Scotland and to specific sectors of the population. Both are prenuptial rituals enacted by women. In Prenuptial Rituals in Scotland, Sheila Young produces a thorough description of how these two rituals were and are enacted and analyzes the ways these practices have changed through time as a social commentary. Young’s study provides valuable insights into identity, gender, social class, contemporary attitudes to ritual, and what it means to approach marriage in the twenty first century.

Okyeame Kwame and Annica share anecdotes from their compelling love story and offer their unique points of view on finding and maintaining lasting love relationships.

Author Key Barrett started out writing a journal for chastity. He decided that he wanted to be locked up in chastity for seven days in order to better understand the motivation behind chastity and the emotional aspects so he could write about it with greater understanding in both his fiction and nonfiction. So he spoke with his wife and she agreed to let him go seven days in chastity with her holding the key, only unlocking him if he needed it for safety reasons, to make sure everything is working properly, or if she had sexual interest in freeing him. What started as a simple one week journal quickly blossomed into something else entirely. By the third day he was feeling butterflies just when his wife touched his hand. By day four, she noticed he was much more engaged in their household and being an active and proactive partner. What started as a week for him quickly became two weeks for them both to journal. Through chastity and communication, they identified a sexual trade-off that existed in their marriage, a 'barter system' wherein every action he engaged in had an undercurrent of sexual pressure, a literal tat-for-tit. Freed from it through a chastity device, they were able to enjoy each other on a more meaningful and trusting level. And in lowering the quantity of sex, they raised the quality. This book takes what they learned, plus surveys and research derived from male chastity users, and shows couples how they too can end the barter system, increase communication and bring back the courtship phase, butterflies and all. Learn what you can do to improve your marriage, increase intimacy, feel more connected emotionally, and make her daily life easier with a simple, sexy, fun exercise in chastity.

The bestselling author of Dear Universe, podcast host, and “Manifestation Guru” (Cosmopolitan), shares seven simple and powerful lessons full of practical guidance, soulful exercises, and nuggets of wisdom in Be The Love—your invitation to use the power of your emotions to achieve happiness. Emotional empowerment expert Sarah Prout shares how to Be the Love you believe you deserve, and how to do it by embracing lessons such as: -Overcoming comparison traps -Finding freedom in forgiveness -Accepting that making choices is how life happens, but living with your choices is how growth happens. These lessons are illustrated by Prout’s own raw, personal stories that range from humorous to harrowing. By following the seven lessons, you will create radical and magical inner transformation, which will lead to outer results—whether that’s within your career, relationships, or something as simple as your own self-confidence. If you live your life with self-love and self-compassion as your North Star, then you will thrive. “Filled with inspirational messages, Sarah reminds women to always follow their heart and intuition no matter what. This book is a must-read on your self-love and manifestation journey. It will guide you to remember your innate inner power and how to navigate gracefully through the beautiful ups and downs of life.”—Melissa Ambrosini, bestselling author of Comparisonitis: How to Stop Comparing Yourself To Others and Be Genuinely Happy

Get swept away to Paris with a second chance romance... Once upon a time in Paris, Lindsey, an idealistic young painter, and Jack, the son of a hotel owner, fell in love. Before Lindsey returned to New York, she and Jack wanted to attach a lock to the Pont de Arts bridge—a traditional way to symbolize their eternal devotion. But they accidentally dropped their lock into the river. And although they made plans for Jack to join her in New York, he never did. Twenty years have passed. Lindsey, now a divorced businesswoman, has returned to Paris with her daughter, who will be studying art at the Sorbonne. Lindsey’s own dreams of being an artist are long gone. When Lindsey and Jack meet again, all their memories come rushing back...along with their regrets. Could they recapture the magic they shared when they were young? Or will it be too late for a love they once believed would last forever? This book includes a free recipe for French Potato Salad with Haricot Verts.