Romantic Ruminations

  • After the Meet-Cute: Where Love Really Lives

    by Helena

    We talk a lot about beginnings in romance. The sparks. The stolen glances. The moment two people realise something has shifted and nothing will ever be the same again. Meet-cutes are magical; they’re the doorway into love, and that’s why we love writing them. I take them as an opportunity to meet my wife and co-author again for the first time as we each write about 500 words and then pass it along.

    But meet-cutes aren’t where love lives.

    Love settles in later, when the shine has worn off and life gets loud. When there are children to raise, bills to pay, exhaustion to navigate, and dreams that don’t always fit neatly together. Real relationships are forged not in grand gestures, but in the everyday choices to stay, to listen, and to keep showing up when it would be easier to turn away.

    That’s why I’m so excited to finally share the cover of Unspoken with you today.

    Hannah “Solo” Rogers finally had the family she always craved—until her wife, Janie, disappeared into a darkness she couldn’t escape. Believing her presence only endangers the ones she loves, Janie walks away from their life and triplets. But Solo, forged by the Army and a refusal to quit, isn’t giving up. To bring Janie home, she’ll have to confront the secrets left unspoken in the shadows of their marriage.

    The third book in the Windy City Romance series is Solo and Janie’s story, and it’s rooted in what comes after the happily-ever-after collides with reality. It’s a story about the quiet battles fought behind closed doors, the strain of balancing work and family, and the way love can feel both fiercely present and heartbreakingly distant at the same time. It explores how easy it is to lose sight of the woman you fell in love with when she becomes your partner in logistics, survival, and keeping everything afloat.

    One woman kissing the pregnant belly of her wife or girlfiend.

    Parenthood changes everything. It magnifies joy, but it piles on the pressure. It tests communication, patience, and identity. And when mental health struggles enter the picture, love alone doesn’t magically fix things. It takes work, honesty, and courage. And sometimes, space filled with aching silence.

    Unspoken isn’t about perfect people or easy answers. It’s about choosing each other again when the road is messy and uncertain. It’s about recognising that broken hearts don’t come with a manual, and you need to find the right mix of compassion, understanding, and hope to make that second chance a reality.

    The deepest romances aren’t defined by how they begin.

    They’re defined by what remains unspoken and what we’re brave enough to fight for anyway.

    And if you haven’t met the gang yet, you might like to start with Sanctuary. While the books are all stand-alone romances, they’re better read in order!

  • Ah, the things we’ll learn about you…

    If, of course, you jump in and have a laugh with us.

    We’re really excited to be part of Festive Fiction, the advent calendar giveaway. The Queer the Shelves authors all got together to put a little treasure behind each December door, and all you’ve got to do to enter each day is answer that day’s question.

    And some of the answers we’ve already had? Priceless. (Sorry, it’s day 3 and we’re running behind!) What’s the weirdest give you’ve ever had has had some fabulous responses, and if you want a laugh, you should check them out.

    Wifey books are there to be won, as is a collection of our short stories. Which days? Who knows! You’ll have to play each day to find out… Let’s use this to connect, to raise our spirts, and to simply have a bit of fun each day. And to win some great stories, too. :)

    You can join in on Tiktok and on Instagram.

  • Off we go…

    First, we’re off to the Golden Crown Literary Festival in Albany. It’s a whole week of writing, books, panels, and catching up with old friends. We’re excited about it, for sure, especially as Ally’s book Heart of the Storm is up for an award, as is E.V. Bancroft’s Encrypted Hearts.

    Then it’s off to Chicago for a couple weeks of pure touristy fun. We’ll explore different neighbourhoods, check out the Starbucks Reserve, (Ally may beg to move in there), and maybe Helena will get to do some kitesurfing…

    We’ll be checking in as we go, so make sure to follow us on socials to hang out in these fab places.