Easier Said Than Done
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As I lie down in bed, I realize that I’m in a different place today than I was at the beginning of the summer. I barely remember the notes scribed in my journal or the promises I made to myself in desperation back then. I do recall that I had hoped to find a decent guy. And it looks as if I have. Tonight, Blake treated me like no other boyfriend ever has. He proudly introduced me to his friends and showed respect for me as we all talked. While parking in his car, his actions were loving instead of lustful. He shared the silliness of his life while taking the time to probe me for my own experiences. And he insisted on following me home again to make sure I got there safely. It’s those little things that distinguish him. They make me feel special. If that weren’t enough, he is having a positive effect on me. His respect gives me confidence. Around him, I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. I can just be me and have fun doing so. And sometimes that means sharing things with him that I’d usually reserve for Jill or Jenn. I like having a boyfriend I can do that with. Mom is right. Blake is changing my mood and outlook. I look forward to waking up each morning and finding out what the Lord has in store for me. I guess you can say that I’m eager to live again.
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About the Book
It’s the summer of 1981. Soon, we will celebrate Princess Diana’s royal wedding, and MTV will launch us into a new music era. However, those events will be mere footnotes in a story that is brewing in a small town in southern Illinois. Laura Hall and Blake Roberts will experience a connection that will turn their worlds upside down. Laura is a recent high school graduate who desires more. Internally, she is juggling peer acceptance, Christian values, her mother’s incessant guidance, and stifling loneliness. Blake’s interest provides an opportunity to change her life’s direction. In order to open her heart to love, Laura will need to unleash her dreams, confront her insecurities, and accept an imperfect attraction. Blake is a college student with a promising future. He is earning a degree at a fine university, plans to get engaged to his high school sweetheart, and is returning to competitive athletics. He is unprepared for the turmoil that an unforeseen relationship will bring during his summer break. Blake’s path to new love will challenge his maturity, past choices, and the authenticity of his feelings. With both Laura and Blake narrating this roller coaster romance, you have the front row seat on a ride that pits peace, courage, and allegiance against chaos, cowardice, and infidelity. It’s a race against the clock as Laura’s Motown innocence collides with Blake’s rock ’n’ roll recklessness. Their journey will challenge your definition of love and expose the gap between wants and needs. In the end, you will agree that falling in love is easier said than done.
About the Author
TJ Anthony was raised in a small town when families were large, a bicycle and rabbit’s foot were childhood necessities, and everyone attended church in their Sunday best. Back then, TV programs were wholesome (on all 5 channels), FM radio was the rave, and the internet and smart phones did not exist. Without all the distractions, it was easier to cultivate personal relationships. He was fortunate to fall in love and have his heart broken a few times as he grew into an adult. With each failure, TJ Anthony learned more about love and relationships. He discovered that no two people define love the same way and that one’s sweetheart’s ability to fit one’s definition ultimately determines whether the romance will survive. "Easier Said Than Done" was written for his children in hopes that they would realize that love is more than just a means of fending off loneliness. True love is personal, complex, and one of life’s greatest experiences. He prays that when his children stumble upon that special someone, they have the good fortune and fortitude to capture their love.