Traditions, like language, evolve over time, and the origins of Valentine’s Day are awash with stories and legends. In the early Christian calendar, there were several saints named Valentinus, not all of whom had their saint’s day on February 14. The one most celebrated in the English-speaking world is St. Valentine of Rome, the patron saint of engaged couples, happy marriages and stranger things like epilepsy and beekeeping.

Originally associated with courtly love, St. Valentine’s Day was mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14^th century poem The Parliament of Fowls as being the day on which birds choose their mates. By the 18^th century, lovers were expressing their love with flowers, cards and confectionery. The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was produced in 1868 by Richard Cadbury, and the Victorians sent elaborate paper and lace greetings cards covered in Cupids and hearts.

Today, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide express their love on February 14 with traditional gifts like red roses, champagne, chocolates or a romantic dinner. But why not go for something spicier like Marion Leigh’s adventure thriller The Politician’s Daughter?  Sparks fly and ignite the flames of desire when the incorrigible Petra Minx takes on a charismatic tough guy anti-hero amid the glamour and intrigue of Spain’s Costa del Sol.