Diamond sunbursts and marble halls . . . My 1st beta read

I've been an avid reader since I was young.  I'll read just about anything, written for any reader, during any time period, from any point of view.  Generally even if I don't particularly like the characters or the way the story is told I'll still finish so I can see how it ends.  Most of all, I'm a sucker for a good love story.  Not necessarily a kissy kissy romance, but a good old fashion boy meets girl love story.  In my favorites the characters are real.  They have flaws.  They don't always get along.  But in the end love conquers all. 

Some girls grow up wanting Prince Charming to come and sweep them off their feet.  To rescue them from the cinders or eternal slumber with true love's kiss and whisk them off to the castle on the hill.  I was not one of these girls.  Somewhere along the way I found Anne Shirley and she became my secret hero. I wanted my "prince" to NOT offer me diamond sunbursts and marble halls but all of himself.  Someone who I'd be willing to live in the dark dugout apartment full of ants with.  Someone who could brighten my day just by walking in the door.  Someone who I could fight with and would be willing to forgive me quickly.  Someone who would love all my quirks not just love me in spite of them.  I was super lucky and extremely blessed to find exactly what I wanted needed in my spouse.  I love him dearly.  Sometimes when we are sitting on the couch watching TV or just being goofy together I look into his eyes and I feel all tingly inside.  Any story that can put these emotions into words, or make you feel all aflutter as you read it, will quickly become one of my favorites. 

You might say that is all well and good, but what does it all mean?  A little over a year ago I joined a critique group.  It's a safe place to get feedback on your rough draft.  But, we only critique 10 pages at a time so you never get someone else's complete story.  Sometimes you'll get a summary of what happens but it isn't the same as reading the words and feeling the story.  This weekend a friend from the group asked me to be a beta reader for her book.  If you don't already know, a beta reader is somebody you ask to read your book after it's finished (you've written and edited it) but before you start to send out query letters (hey I wrote a book will you publish it?).  So it is like a super secret sneak peak.  I jumped at the chance to read her complete story. 

I was trying to read the story critically so that I could make suggestions and help find any errors she missed.  I started reading after church on Sunday.  At 1:30am after 319 pages I shut my computer feeling all tingly with my heart aflutter.  She'd done it.  Captured the moment of diamond sunbursts and marble halls and all that comes when you don't get them.  There was an airport chase, and love found, and one of the best metaphors of butterflies that I've ever read.  Reading it reminded me of why I read, and what I hope to accomplish when I write.  I want to capture those true emotions that make life worth living, joy and heartache.  I hope to write a story that makes you laugh and maybe even cry a little.  I'm so thankful for friends that both challenge me to do better, and encourage me to keep going.  I'm all thankful for all the joy and frustration in my life that gives me ideas to write about.  And even though I'm not writing a love story now, maybe someday I'll be able to write a scene that makes my reader's hearts flutter.