{Guest Post & Giveaway!} AN UNCERTAIN CHOICE by Jody Hedlund

4 Ways the Guy in Your Life Should Treasure You
by Jody Hedlund

Have you ever watched The Bachelorette? I'll admit, there's something dreamy behind the idea of ONE woman being presented with 25 of the world's handsomest, sweetest, most charming men as potential mates. And it's also heart-stopping to think about spending an entire month with those men as they do everything they possibly can to woo and win the bachelorette's heart.

Talk about romance to the extreme!

All girls DESERVE to be cherished. Not as weak, breakable, or delicate like porcelain dolls. But rather cherished for all of the strengths and unique qualities each of us have.

Whether our bent is toward athletics or studies, whether we have red hair or brown, whether we're good at baking cakes or changing tires, we all deserve to be loved and accepted for who we are.

Unfortunately, all too often in today's culture, we settle for a lot less in our relationships. We feel pressure to transform ourselves into the "perfect" woman so that the men in our lives will like us. Often we find ourselves in relationships where we're taken for granted, ignored, and even used.

Maybe we can't be on the Bachelorette and be wooed by 25 of the best guys available, but we can take some steps to make sure that the men in our lives cherish us as they should.

Here are 4 ways the guys in your life should treasure you:

1. Make sure he listens to you.

Listening involves more than a guy nodding his head at you and mumbling, "Uh-huh." It involves making eye contact, asking questions in response, and offering engaging comments.

If he always changes the subject back to himself, snap-chats or texts with others when you're together, or seems in a hurry to change the topic or end the conversation, then those are signs that he's not cherishing you the way he should be.

2. Make sure he respects your physical boundaries.

It's absolutely okay to tell a boyfriend what your physical limitations are in the relationship. In fact, it's a really good idea to set those parameters early so that your entire relationship isn't based on physical feelings instead of a more solid foundation of friendship.

If he scoffs at your limits or tries to force you to go beyond your comfort zone, then those are more red flags that he's not cherishing you the way you deserve.

3. Make sure he shares your interests.

While you may not share every single interest in common with your boyfriend, you should at least share some hobbies that you enjoy doing together, whether that's bicycling, playing board games, or serving at the local soup kitchen.

If you're giving up all of your interests so that you can do everything he likes, then you need to question whether he truly cherishes you.

4. Make sure he treats you with intentional kindness.

Maybe he offers to help with Algebra or surprises you with a cup of Starbucks after a really hard week. In other words, he's intentional. He sees your needs and responds.

It's easy for guys to pile on compliments or hold hands. While those things are sometimes nice, usually that kind of stuff comes easy and spur-of-the moment. But if that's all he does and if he never plans anything or never makes an effort at intentional acts of kindness, then you should question whether he truly cares.

Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice. If Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.

Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights the one who appears the most guilty had not already captured her heart.

 Giveaway!

If you'd like a chance to win a medieval Bachelorette style book, then put your name into the drawing for a copy of my latest YA release, An Uncertain Choice. One lovely lady. Three handsome knights. And one month to make a choice that could change her life. US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances for both adults and teens.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she’s not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.

She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee.

Also check out the prequel novella, THE VOW.

In this ebook historical romance novella by Jody Hedlund, young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?

Then Rosemarie is summoned back to her castle in haste. The disease has spread, and her family is threatened. And the secret she discovers when she returns could change her future forever.