If you’re visiting the Brava blog, then I know you love romance, just as I do. There are so many varieties, aren’t they? We’ll certainly never get bored!
There’s beauty and the beast, opposites attract, marriage of convenience, secret baby, second chance at love . . . I could go on and on. There’s a romance for everyone’s taste.
As a reader, I enjoy all of them. As a writer, I naturally gravitate more often to certain kinds of romance. Whatever the type of romance, I see the romantic journey as a vehicle for two characters to have their lives shaken up and experience some epiphanies. The heroine and hero come out at the end of the book not only in love, but as better, stronger individuals. They face personal demons and learn things about themselves, and that’s part of their struggle to win and be worthy of love.
Often, I write about romances between strangers, where two apparent opposites are powerfully attracted and, in a relatively short period of time, go through all the stages of falling in love: lust and liking, respect, trust, and love. It’s a challenge to make all of that believable in a short time frame, so that the reader truly believes the couple has forged a bond that’s deep and true, and strong enough to survive the challenges that lie ahead of them.
Two of my Wild Ride to Love books, Sex Drive and His, Unexpectedly, are those kinds of romances. They are the “planes” and “automobiles” instalments of the “planes, trains, automobiles, and a cruise ship” series in which three older sisters travel home for their baby sister’s wedding.
The “trains” book, Love, Unexpectedly, is a type of romance that’s more unusual for me, a “friends to lovers” story. How does a guy who’s in love with a woman get her to stop viewing him as just a friend? Well, playing a sexy stranger on a romantic train trip, sure did the trick!
The fourth and final book is coming out on November 29. Yours, Unexpectedly is baby sister Merilee’s romance. It’s a type of romance I’ve never written before.
Merilee and Matt have loved each other from the age of seven. They turned from friends to lovers before the book began, and got engaged, believing their love would last forever. But when Merilee sees her older sisters coming home with passionate new romances, she realizes that things between her and Matt aren’t anywhere near as exciting. In fact, they’re in a comfortable rut—and that’s not how Merilee wants to live the rest of her life. Two days before the wedding, she calls it off. Needing time by herself to think, she decides not to let their non-refundable Mexican Riviera cruise go to waste—not realizing Matt has the same idea. Will a change of scene bring a fresh perspective for both of them, and a new lease on love?
Well, it’s a romance, so you can guess the answer. And I think it’s a good example of what often happens with a long-term relationship, and of why it’s so important to keep growing, both as individuals and a couple.
Now, how about you? What’s your favorite type of romance plot? Why does it resonate with you?
Hi Susan! Hmmm…great question. I have to say, when it comes to romance, I like all the plots. Having said that, there’s something about taking two complete strangers and having them fall in love that’s just intriguing to me.
Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Thanks, Rebecca. I wonder if the strangers theme resonates with us because it’s such a strong romance fantasy? I guess some people do fantasize about having a second chance with a childhood sweetheart (I wonder how many people go to high school reunions for exactly that reason), or falling in love with our best friend (as in “When Harry Met Sally”) but I bet a lot more of us fantasize about that “some enchanted evening” idea, like in South Pacific. Seeing a stranger across a crowded room, gazes meeting and locking on each other’s faces, feeling drawn to each other on some deep, inexplicable level… Ah, what a lovely idea!
Thought-provoking post, Susan! I’m afraid I couldn’t settle on one particular type of romance. I just want the author to whisk me out of reality and plop me dead center into the hero and heroine’s world.
You’re so right, Maeve. When I read a good book, I’m not the least bit analytical because I’m so involved with the characters and story. For example, sometimes I’ll reach the end and find myself wondering if it was written in first person or third person because it drew me in so deeply I didn’t even notice the technical stuff.
Hey, Susan! My favorite romance themes are friends-to-lovers, the scarred hero that learns to love again, and abused heroine that finds someone to love and cherish her (Don’t judge me! LOL.).
I really love that you explored the idea of a couple being in a rut. It’s so true to life, and when you show how two willing people can work to make it better…wow. I love happy endings. *sniffle*
Hi Kaylea. Thanks for visiting. Oh yes, I love the “tortured” or “wounded” heroes and heroines who learn to trust and love again, and believe that they’re lovable and deserving of love. Wonderful stories!
Yes, there’s nothing like one of those happy, sniffly endings, is there?
Hi, Susan! I love that cover–gorgeous!!!! And you’ve asked such a hard question…I think I like romances that are tangled with suspense. Life or death drama. I just love that adrenaline burst!
Thanks, Cynthia. And it doesn’t surprise me one bit that you like the adrenaline burst, given the kind of books you write.
Life and death drama sure does have a way of focusing people on what counts!
Hi Susan
Firstly I love your covers, they’re beautiful. Secondly the premise of Yours, Unexpectedly is fabulous. I can’t wait to read it.
I love loads of romance plots, it’s hard to pick my favorite. As I write, and read, a lot of Regency romance, I do love the plots where the couple are married and forced to stay married, or forced to marry in the first place and then they both fight to find the love.
Aw, Bronwen, that’s so sweet of you! Yes, the themes you mention are intriguing, aren’t they? I think of Fiddler on the Roof, where Golde keeps asking Tevye, “But do you love me?” It was an arranged marriage and they’ve had however many kids and been together forever, and he’s never told her he loves her. And then he responds by listing all the things they share together, and ends up with “If that’s not love, what is?” It makes me sniffly to think about it.
hey susan,
although i love the premise of your new book, i was certainly more drawn to the ones about strangers meeting and falling in love. of course now that i’ve met merrilee and matt, i want to read their story, too. good planning on your part to lure me into m&m’s lives via her sisters. you’re so sneaky.
great post.
LOL. Yes, totally sneaky. Actually, here’s a confession. Initially, I didn’t intend to write M&M’s story. I was only going to write the 3 older sisters’ romances. But M&M kind of snuck up on me too, and I’m so glad they did.
Oh Susan, your wonderful books are a must-buy for everyone. I’m so sorry to see the fourth and final book to this great series. Hope you’re working on something new for us to look forward to.
Mimi, you’re so kind. Well, next from Brava (working title Body Heat; tentative date October 2012) is a “strangers” romance. It pairs two of my favorite character types: the bad boy and the librarian (the same pairing as in The Big Easy, one of my favorite movies of all time). She’s the accountant who’s more comfortable with numbers than people, and he’s the hot guy on the Harley.
The premise for Yours, Unexpectedly sounds great, Susan. It’s funny timing. I was just having a conversation with someone about the fact that, as romance authors, we don’t generally get to write about a long-term relationship. We only write to the “and they lived happily ever after” part. I love that you’ve found a way to show a long term relationship in a fresh, new light.
Thanks, Laurie. I think one of the biggest challenges for a couple is finding ways of sustaining love over a long period of time, and keeping some freshness and excitement in it. But then, as M&M find, you have to keep growing – and being fresh and exciting yourself – if your relationship’s going to keep growing too.
Thanks for such a thoughtful blog, Susan. As always, you make me look at characters (and love!) in a new way.
Rachel, that’s so kind of you – and thanks for visiting.
Hi Susan. Love your books. For me I love all types of romance plots. I also find that as my own life changes, I gravitate more toward a specific plot. For example, my first marriage was to a friend so I loved books with that device. When I got divorced from that person, I loved the find a stranger and fall in love plots. Of course, opposite attracts plots are always exciting and filled with tension. Now that I’m older and in a long term marriage, I definitely look for the plots around keeping love fresh and deepening love. It’s interesting that your story is a long term relationship BEFORE marriage. I think an interesting twist on a story would also be a long term relationship WITHIN marriage and how to sustain that. Hmmm…maybe I’ll write that one.
Hi Maggie, and thanks so much! Yes, you should definitely write that book. I think one of the reasons we don’t often see that kind of story is because romance heroines and heroes tend to be in their twenties and thirties, which means that they can’t have been married for all that long. I’d love to see more romances with older couples. Most romance novels end with “Oh, how sweet, they’re going to live happily ever after” – but what does that HEA look like? Any of us who’ve been in long-term relationships know it isn’t all sunshine, champagne, and chocolate.
It takes hard work!