How do people fall in love? It’s an endlessly fascinating question, isn’t it? Each couple has their own unique love story.
One that always intrigues me – maybe because it’s happened to me! – is when a really good friendship suddenly changes into something more.
Does anyone remember the song “Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You” by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson? I loved that song. They sing about discovering how friends turn into lovers.
Because I love that story line, I chose to write about it in my April Brava, Love, Unexpectedly. There’s a twist, in that one of the best friends, Nav Bharani, has been in love with Kat Fallon pretty much ever since he met her. When they meet, she’s with another guy and doesn’t see – or at least tries not to see – Nav in a romantic light. As neighbors, they turn into best friends and she’s never had such a close friend, male or female. Her track record with lovers is disastrous and, though she’s feeling attracted to Nav, she refuses to act on it. No way will she jeopardize their special friendship.
Nav feels differently. He hates being stuck in the buddy trap. When Kat tells him she’s traveling home from Montreal by train for her baby sister’s wedding, the desperate Nav sees this as his last chance. He’s going all out in pursuit of the woman of his dreams. He decides to revamp his image and play “stranger on the train.” He’s determined to seduce Kat into seeing him in a whole new light, and realizing he’s the man of her dreams.
Their journey across Canada by train—as best friends playing the “stranger game”—is truly one wild ride to love.
This is the second book in my Wild Ride to Love “planes, trains, automobiles, and a cruise ship” series starring the Fallon sisters. The first book, Sex Drive, came out in December 2009 under the pen name Susan Lyons.
What do you think of the “friends to lovers” type of romance? Can comfort and knowledge of each other thrive side by side with passion and romance? Do you know people who’ve fallen in love this way? What about in books or movies?
Sounds fantastic, Susan! What a fresh storyline…I love it.
Thanks, Lucy. I’ve always loved the romance of the “strangers on a train” theme. Like in North by Northwest with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, and Silver Streak with Gene Wilder and Jill Clayburgh. So I figured, if the “stranger” was actually her best friend, the two of them could have a lot of fun. And they did! And so did I.
Susan, This sounds really great, I’ll keep my eyes open for it next month
I actually travelled across Canada on the train with my best friend (her dad worked for CN)We didn’t end up as lovers, lol, but we had a heck of a good time!
How great that you got to make that trip, Cheryl. I guess if you can’t have a sexy lover, a best friend is the next best thing! Sounds like a wonderful trip.