The Bathroom Book of Romance: Book One

By Barry Eva

This is the first book consisting of some of the romance stories I have written over the years. Thousands have enjoyed reading them on the internet. I hope you, too, will enjoy reading them now that they are in print.

Originally produced in 2003, the book received some very positive reviews. However as with all things, it was a learning curve, and many mistakes, both in the production and editing of the book as well as the promotion, were made.

Now, years later, with the success of my YA novel “Across the Pond” as well as several years of radio shows, book promotion and learning I have updated the book and added many more stories.

I ran into an issue when some of these stories were first written where I received complaints from ladies who read the book on their way into work, only to arrive with it all smudged from the tears that were shed while reading. So to warn people that a certain story might be a “weepy” I placed small boxes of tissues next to the title of the story as a warning. I have done the same in this book ... now you have been warned.

Enjoy!

Barry Eva
(Storyheart)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barry Eva
• Release date: Apr 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781936476046

Barry Eva

Born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England, Barry left his beloved England in 2000, moving to the USA. Under the name "Storyheart," Barry is better known for his short romance stories on the net and in his book Stories from the Heart. This is his first attempt at a children's novel. Popular for narrating his stories on local TV or as a guest on other media stations, Barry's whit, oratory, and old-fashioned English charm make him a popular interviewee. He is also host of the popular radio show "A Book and a Chat" with over 400 shows under his belt.

Book preview

The Bathroom Book of Romance ~ Book One

by

Barry Eva

(Storyheart)

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

Published by:

Barry Eva on Smashwords

Cover Design:

Ryan Twomey

The Bathroom Book of Romance ~ Book One

Copyright © 2012 by Barry Eva

Discover other titles by Storyheart

Across The Pond

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

*****

This book is dedicated to those I love.

Those I have loved.

And to all those hundreds of friends without faces on the internet that have read my stories and encouraged me to put them into print for others to read as well.

~ Barry Eva ~

(Storyheart)

*****

INDEX

Chapter — Story

1 — The Radio Show

2 — Love of an Angel

3 — Emerald Eyes

4 — Why?

5 — Love Revisited

6 — One Among Many

7 — It’s Never Too Late

8 — Summer Dreams

9 — When 3 Become 2

10 — Ghost of a Dream

11 — Saltwater Love Part 1

12 — Saltwater Love Part 2

13 — The Window

14 — A Rose by Any Other Name

15 — The Sign

16 — Battle Scars

17 — The Airport

18 — Angel Cake

19 — So Sad to Watch Love Go Bad

20 — Graduation Day

21 — Second Chance

22 — The Dream

23 — Hand in Hand

24 — Forever

25 — The Goodbye

26 — Three Thousand Miles

27 — Two Letters

28 — This Summer

— About the Author

INTRODUCTION

This is the first book consisting of some of the romance stories I have written over the years. Thousands have enjoyed reading them on the internet. I hope you, too, will enjoy reading them now that they are in print.

These stories are short enough to read over a cup of tea or coffee, or whenever you have some time to yourself, yet long enough to bring a tear to your eye or a smile to your face. In fact some people call them bathroom stories as that might be the only place you get five minutes peace and quiet to yourself.

Originally produced in 2003, the book received some very positive reviews. However as with all things, it was a learning curve, and many mistakes, both in the production and editing of the book as well as the promotion, were made.

Now, years later, with the success of my YA novel Across the Pond as well as several years of radio shows, book promotion and learning I have updated the book and added many more stories.

I ran into an issue when some of these stories were first written where I received complaints from ladies who read the book on their way into work, only to arrive with it all smudged from the tears that were shed while reading. So to warn people that a certain story might be a weepy I placed small boxes of tissues next to the title of the story as a warning. I have done the same in this book … now you have been warned.

Enjoy the stories,

~ Barry Eva ~

(Storyheart)

*****

The Radio Show

She sat at her desk sorting through the pile of letters for the radio program, the Lonely Heart Spot.

It was her job to sort through all the sad stories, some on paper spotted with tears, in order to try and find one for the radio station. She picked up a letter written on pale pink paper. Dear Angie, it began, as did all of them, for this was Angie’s Radio Show. She read on.

"Could you please play me a record on your Lonely Heart Spot program?

"Last year, after twelve years of marriage, my husband suddenly left me for another woman. Devastation is the understatement as to how I felt at that time. I had not seen it coming, though thinking back, there had been signs, but like people say love is blind. So when he left me my world seemed to end.

"I was lost and had nothing in my life to live or care for. That was until a friend introduced me to Geoff.

"I was not really ready to go out, but Geoff was so kind and patient that I finally took the plunge. During the date Geoff allowed me to literally cry on his shoulder as I let go of all my anger and grief. He was so gentle, kind and understanding. After several months we started to go out then, just before Christmas, we moved in together.

"He understood, and gradually with his help and love, the pain eased and I found a new love with this wonderful man.

"Then, two months ago, Geoff, who was a trucker, was in a terrible accident. His truck was wrecked and he died."

The letters on the page were smudged at this point, but she read on.

"I wonder, could you please play me ‘Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely’ for the love I found and lost?"

She read the end of the letter and wiped a tear from her eye. The writer’s choice would be just right for the Lonely Heart Spot and was one of the most popular songs that Angie played.

She placed the letter on one side for the production. Then she slowly picked it up and screwed it into a ball before dropping it in the rubbish bin.

How could she let the letter be used? She knew the hand writing so well, after all it was hers…And no matter what song was played the ache would not go away.

She hummed a few bars of the song; the letters would wait.

She wiped her face; right now she needed tears, needed to ease the pain, needed… something.

*****

Love of an Angel

It had been a long couple of days, and sleep leaden eyelids felt like they were being propped open by matchsticks, as once more I started to try and scan the skies. I did not know what I was looking for; all I had was a memory, a beautiful memory, and the soft feel of a kiss that still tingled on my lips. Sleep was not far away and with it would come the memory, the happiness and once again, the pain. Then the whole cycle would start again, the constant scanning of the skies, searching for an angel.

When had it started? Was it days, weeks, even months ago? I tried to think--it had been one fine spring day. Letting out a little laugh, I realized it had only been last month.

While on spring vacation I had been walking through some small hills, enjoying the views and fresh air. The day was fine, the sun shone, and I was at peace with the world.

Suddenly, as can only happen in England during the spring, the weather changed. Before I could gather myself and start heading back to the safety of the inn where I was staying, the hills were covered in mist.

I made my way slowly along the path. As I went further on, I found myself lost; totally, utterly lost.

I came upon a small cave in the hillside where I decided to rest until the weather cleared. I was not bothered; if the weather didn’t break for a while I had food and water. I settled down, looking out into the mist while I broke off a piece of chocolate.

As I gazed into the ghostly fog and munched on another square of chocolate, the swirling clouds made the shapes of the rocks outside look like all kinds of monsters and demons. I laughed at the tricks the mist was playing on my imagination, for one of the shapes almost looked like a person walking towards me. I looked again, straining to make out the shape, and suddenly realized it was not a trick of the mist at all. It was a person and they were heading straight for the cave where I now sat huddled against the cold and damp.

I stood and waved. The figure, seeing me, waved back