I just finished reading Janna Cawrse Esarey's book Motion of the Ocean, and let me tell you, you need to get out there and read this book immediately.

You can read my official review here at Enduring Romance.

Here's my unofficial review: read this book immediately. It is unusual, in this day of cynicism, realism, post-hope, liberated life to find a real love story that is a real love story. (Not necessarily that it has a happily ever after, because you only really know that after.) But that it truly is happily-ever-after for the time being. I hate that we have to qualify things like that... that people don't really believe in true love, and lasting love anymore. That is truly one of the downsides of today's society, for me. Because I do believe in true love, and I believe in waiting for true love and then believing in it when it happens. And when I read nonfiction like Motion of the Ocean, it reminds me why I believe in true love: because it really does exist out there, and it's not just a fairy tale. It reminds me that there are things out there worth believing in, even when people tell you you're crazy or stupid or naive.

I have several friends who are in what I would call "happily-ever-after" relationships. They fight, they have flaws, they have their moments, and they have a lot of hard work. But they are happy. And in love. And they plan to stay together for their whole lives. That is inspiring to me, in the same way that Janna and Graeme's story is inspiring to me. It makes me look at all those people trying to kill my hope in the future, and say, "just wait, we'll prove to you that it's possible."

And I realized, in my branding workshop, that this is why I want to write romance novels. I want to write books that make people believe in love. Not as a fantasy (although that's a good start), but as a real thing that could really happen.

But for now, I'll settle for pointing you towards a book that is, I think, one of the most inspiring love stories I've ever read. So give it a gander. I don't think you'll be disappointed.