Valentine’s Day: Why Celebrate?

I look forward to VALENTINE’S DAY each year--and not just because it gives me an excuse to indulge my love of chocolate.  I admit to being a romantic at heart. That’s probably why many of my mystery novels have a romantic element in them.

The day had its origin with the Romans. The fertility celebration known as the Lupercalia eventually became the Christian Valentine's holiday. The Lupercalia festival was partly in honor of Lupa, the she-wolf who in legend nursed the infant orphans, Romulus and Remus, supposed founders of the city of Rome in 753 B.C. The pagan festival was also in honor of the Roman god Lupercus who was the god of shepherds.

There are several different stories connected to three early Christian martyrs who came to be called “Saint Valentine”. Besides becoming associated with love and romance, the holiday continued as a feast day.

Valentine’s Day is also the anniversary of my older son, Andrew Seewald, who is an attorney in New Brunswick, NJ. He and his wife met as grad students at Rutgers University. They were married before a judge on Valentine’s Day. My husband and I were their witnesses. After a lovely brunch at a local hotel, bride and groom drove a hundred miles so Andrew could defend a client in a courtroom in another town. They finally got a honeymoon several months later. It made no difference; they are still very happy together and in love. In fact, their wedding was the most romantic one I’ve ever attended.

No matter how dreary February might be, I always feel cheerful on Valentine’s Day.  I enjoy reading and writing romance novels. But Valentine’s Day is special. I don’t need candy, flowers or fancy cards to enjoy the day—just the company of my husband.

My latest novel, published by Luminosity, is an historical romance entitled           SINFUL SEDUCTION. It’s a book I wrote with love.

Some Book Links: 

https://luminositypublishing.com/book/sinful-seduction/

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47544229-sinful-seduction  

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999306635 

  

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-seduction-jacqueline-seewald/1132774631?ean=9781999306632

Nook

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-seduction-jacqueline-seewald/1132774631?ean=9781999306625 

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/sinful-seduction-13 

Review

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/sinful-seduction/

Also: If you would like to read a Valentine’s story for free that combines mystery and romance, check out this one at:

http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=2130

Happy Valentine’s Day!