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Romantics seeking some precious moments with their beloved this Valentine’s Day could do worse than follow the lead of Bryn – the hero of The Catch.
The Catch is a romantic novel set in Leigh, which took seven years to write and came out in 2014.
It was written by “Penelope Snell.”
Mahurangi Matters tracked down Penelope who agreed to share her thoughts on romance, but preferred her identity remain a secret.
In “The Catch” Bryn has fallen desperately in love with newly arrived schoolteacher, Sophia.
The course of true love never runs smooth for the pair but their first date worked like a charm.
Bryn takes Sophia sailing and they end up having a picnic on Kawau Island.
Penelope says with no one else around, it was perfect for Bryn and Sophia to get to know one another and for romance to bloom.
Penelope says given Mahurangi’s river and proximity to the coast, dates connected to water are an obvious choice.
They might include a cruise down the Mahurangi River, a scenic flight to Great Barrier Island or a picnic on Omaha Beach.
But she says if the couple already know each other well, then keeping it simple might be more effective than an elaborate outing.
A quiet evening on their deck with some favourite food, wine and music could be just the right ingredients for the perfect date.
On the other hand, if the couple are still new to each other and one party is desperately trying to attract the other’s attention, then it wouldn’t hurt to try something more dramatic.
But Penelope warns that while the investment of time and energy to pull off something spectacular can bring high rewards, it could also easily blow up in the instigator’s face if things go haywire.
She says the trick is to have a clear idea what the person you love would enjoy and do that, not necessarily what would be your own first choice.
“Don’t organise a jazz band if the one you love is really into hip-hop,” she says.
