Bitchin' Blog Posts
GS vs STA: She’s Hit Over the Head with the Anvil of Love
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | November 23, 2010 | Tuesday at 11:11 am | 62 CommentsGood Shit vs. Shit to Avoid time! I had an interesting email (many of them are, thank you, thank you) about books featuring the heroine who is surprised by a relationship - and by someone’s interest in her:
I’m looking for a book where the heroine is genuinely not interested
(romantically) in the hero. I know, I know, it’s supposed to be a romance
novel, but lately I’ve lately been reading books and watching dramas
(asian tv) where the heroine with zero pride will throw herself at the guy.
She usually goes through great humbling lengths and all of her friends,
family, the hero, and sometimes the whole town watch her “antics” to get
her man. I just think it’s sad that the heroine:1. Has nothing else going on for herself like family, friends, hobbies or
work (if contemporary)2. Dismisses other guys around her who might like her and may be worthy of
her because everyone else not HIM. Not even kisses or dates!3. Usually watches her hero date or pursue other girls while she is eaten up
with jealousy.4. She doesn’t get her man until the END of the story and I just have to
be with her through all her suffering and IMHO wasting a healthy libido!I want to see a hero who knows early on that he lurves her and does
everything in his power to make her love him back. My favorite books with
this type of H/H is Uncommon Vows, Midsummer Moon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting
Married, and Ravished. I love that Merlin is too preoccupied with her
experiments to fuss with a man.
One that comes to my mind is The Kiss Test by
Shannon McKelden. The heroine in that book is trying to get over a breakup, and takes a road trip with her best friend, Chris, who has a lot of *ahem* experience in the hookup department, and not phone hookups, either.
So what books do you know that feature a determined hero, and a heroine who is oblivious, confused, utterly clueless or unexpectedly hit over the head with the anvil of love? If the pining is on the heroic end, do you enjoy the story?
Filed: General Bitching, Good Shit vs. Shit to Avoid
Tagged: romance, heroine, gs vs sta, contemporary, carina, books
JessicaL said on 11.23.10 at 01:04 PM • [link]
I think I just watched that drama the emailer is talking about. It’s Korean and called “Playful Kiss” and so painful to watch, so much so, that the heroine just comes across as completely pathetic and leaves the audience wondering why the hero would ever want to date her, unless he’s an egomaniac and just wants to be worshiped.
On topic, one book that comes to mind is Lisa Kleypas’, “Suddenly You.” The heroine is smart, mature, and incredibly likable, and the hero likes her for all those reasons. There is no libido wasting in this book!
Note to emailer: You should watch the Korean drama “Dr. Champ.” I haven’t seen the last two episodes, but so far the hero is doing all the pursuing, and he spends most of the show naked from the waist up, and WOW!! Holy Hot Judo Athlete! He might be my new TV boyfriend!
Also a request: Does anyone know of any books that have an Asian hero?
Jenyfer Matthews said on 11.23.10 at 01:14 PM • [link]
My own Cerridwen book ALL THE WAY HOME. Heroine is not oblivious but she’s definitely resistant to relationships and the hero is very determined, in a beta-hero kind of way.
Seems to me many of Jennifer Crusie’s books fit this bill as well - the main couple has reasons not to be together but do it anyway (har - do it)
Megs said on 11.23.10 at 01:19 PM • [link]
Ooh, this is my favorite type of romance, so I’ll be watching the comments closely. The first one that comes to mind is Scandal by Carolyn Jewel—the heroine is attracted to the hero, but she firmly resolves not to get involved with someone like him again, so he has to spend the entire book winning her over. It’s very satisfying.
And if you don’t mind mystery novels with a strong romantic plotline that takes several books to pay off, the romance in Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey novels fits perfectly. The romance between Lord Peter and Harriet Vane is my all-time favorite fictional romance. He decides he wants to marry her right away, and she puts him through hell for three books before finally saying yes. The books featuring Harriet are Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman’s Honeymoon.
Sycorax said on 11.23.10 at 01:54 PM • [link]
Most of the Nora Roberts books I’ve read have been structured that way. A NR heroine may be attracted to the hero, but for one reason or another is against doing anything about it and needs a lot of wooing and persuasion. It’s why I got bored after a while. I’m afraid I can’t remember names very well, though, so that’s a bit useless.
I enjoyed Julia Quinn’s When he was Wicked, though I’m not usually a fan of heroes (or heroines, for that matter) falling in love at first sight.
Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas fit this pattern too and are pretty good.
ninjapenguin said on 11.23.10 at 02:50 PM • [link]
Georgette Heyer’s Frederica. She’s not planning to get married at all, and thinks the hero is only helping her out because he’s bored. Meanwhile, he keeps trying to find the right moment to blurt out that he loves her.
TheKitten said on 11.23.10 at 03:14 PM • [link]
Going with what Sycorax said, “Vision in White” by Nora Roberts is the one that comes to mind.. Also one of the Cynsters Saga by Stepnahie laurens “Where the heart leads”, I found very good. Hmm.. Also “Say NO to Joe” and some others by Lori Foster have this kind of story too..
Hope it helps :)
Mireya said on 11.23.10 at 04:12 PM • [link]
“A Little Bit Wild” by Victoria Dahl. The heroine in this book may be found reprehensible by many romance fans, but I found it an incredibly refreshing and fun read. Additionally, the hero is not even depicted as “handsome”.
I don’t like “desperate” anywhere in my romance reads, be it the heroine or the hero, though.
Darlene Marshall said on 11.23.10 at 04:27 PM • [link]
If I may ring my own chimes here, I’d recommend Captain Sinister’s Lady. It’s about a pirate who wants to get married. When a lush widow is practically tossed into his lap, he sets out to get her using wooing methods that are distinctly piratical.
It’s in ebook (incl. Kindle) and print and won the Eppie for Best Historical Romance.
Faellie said on 11.23.10 at 04:41 PM • [link]
as ninjapenguin points out, Georgette Heyer does this trope excellently well. Frederica is a fine example, and others include Black Sheep, The Corinthian, Faro’s Daughter and April Lady (in which the hero and heroine are already married).
And in line with a previous request, many Heyer heroes and heroines have not the least interest in marriage for the purposes of reproduction
Karin said on 11.23.10 at 04:47 PM • [link]
This is my favorite plotline. I was going to mention Dorothy Sayer’s Lord Peter, but someone beat me to it. How about “Never Less Than A Lady” by Putney, The Perfect Rake and His Captive Lady by Anne Gracie, Blue-Eyed Devil and Mine Till Midnight by Kleypas, Silver Linings by Jayne Ann Krentz-if I didn’t have to head off to work I could think of a lot more.
Carin said on 11.23.10 at 04:51 PM • [link]
“A Little Bit Wild” by Victoria Dahl is the one that came to mind for me. I loved that book!
Karin said on 11.23.10 at 05:01 PM • [link]
Oh, and The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh, The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne, Virgin River by Robyn Carr.
Karin said on 11.23.10 at 05:09 PM • [link]
I can’ stop. Reforming a Rake by Suzanne Enoch.
liz talley said on 11.23.10 at 05:36 PM • [link]
LOL, Karin.
If a romance is well-written and a heroine not too pathetic, I don’t mind reading one where the heroine gives chase. But as a writer, I find that in most all my books, the heroine is resistent and the hero has his crap together and knows what he wants. I’ve often wondered why I write them that way…what does that say about me? I guess I like guys who know what they want and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty getting it. And really it’s better if neither of them is looking for love and the whole relationship is a bad idea….but they can’t resist.
A lot of the SEPs are that way which is one reason I love her. And I think Julia Quinn does a good job of this, especially the Anthony and Kate book….I forget the title. The one were they have to get married because he tries to suck the bee poison out of her “bubbies”
Koko Brown said on 11.23.10 at 05:37 PM • [link]
I would suggest Kresley Cole’s Immortal After Dark Series. The genre is paranormal and there are currently ten books in the series. And many of the elements you’re looking for are in each of them. So much so you want to just strangle the heroine for making the hero squirm so much. But the series is great and you should check it out.
Jessica Andersen said on 11.23.10 at 05:44 PM • [link]
I’d like to give a shout out to GAMES OF COMMAND by the fabulous Linnea Sinclair. Kel-Paten is in love with Sass from the get-go (la dozen or so years before the get-go, actually), and she’s all like “hup, being transferred to my sort-of nemesis’s ship, delicate intergalactic treaty at stake, gotta behave. Sort of. Oh, crap, conspiracy.”
One of the many things I love about the book is that Kel-Paten pines very quietly and very deeply inside, while the outside is all about Let’s Get Shit Done.
think65. Yep, I could easily think of 65 reasons why I love this book.
Amy P said on 11.23.10 at 06:05 PM • [link]
I just finished Jennifer Crusie’s Trust Me on This. The heroine is funny, kooky and determined to NOT fall for a man - especially the handsome, funny, sexy guy she runs into at the conference.
The both try to resist each other with hilarious dialogue and wacky adventure ensues. And guess what, he finally gets the girl (it wouldn’t be romance if he didn’t - but he had to work it)!
J said on 11.23.10 at 06:18 PM • [link]
In a lot of Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken PNR books, the very strong, snarky, sassy heroine has no interest in being in a relationship - so it is up to the very sexy/slightly goofy/really fun hero to make her want him!!
Jessica said on 11.23.10 at 06:19 PM • [link]
A new one I read on Netgalley is Rakes and Radishes - he’s been wanting her for years, but she’s all obsessed with her poet cousin and wants to hook him up with someone else.
Megan B said on 11.23.10 at 06:20 PM • [link]
Dear Author reminded me about BODY CHECK by Deirdre Martin yesterday…great book where hero is pursuing reluctant heroine the whole time. So endearing.
Also try the Lori Foster novella “The Christmas Present.” Heroine sleeps with best guy friend, he knows they’re meant to be, spends entire time trying to convince her…in front of her family. Yummy.
Darlene Marshall said on 11.23.10 at 06:26 PM • [link]
I’d like to second @Jessica Andersen’s shout out to Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair. Wonderful hero, great interaction between the H&H.
Rose Fox said on 11.23.10 at 06:41 PM • [link]
Courtney Milan’s forthcoming Unveiled is a magnificent example of this storyline. Grace Burrowes’s The Heir has something of it as well.
Las said on 11.23.10 at 06:58 PM • [link]
I have to look through my books, because I know I’ve read several books like that this year and I can’t remember most of the titles.
One I recommend is Julie Anne Long’s Like No Other Lover. It’s love at first sight for the hero, and then he overhears her describing him as a dour second son. The rest of the book doesn’t really match up with what you want…he actually doesn’t want to pursue her but he just can’t help himself.
Madeline Hunter’s Ravishing in Red would work, I think. IIRC, it’s a marriage of convenience plot and the hero falls for the heroine much sooner than she falls for him. One scene that stood out to me was when she spontaneously kisses him in thanks for something. He comments that he’d do whatever she wanted if she would kiss him again. She laughs and says that she’s his wife, he can kiss her whenever he wants. What she doesn’t realize and what’s so incredible to him as that that was the first time she initiated any affection between them, and he wants more of that.
Victoria Dahl’s A Little Bit Wild needs another mention. The book is fantastic. There’s a scene where the heroine’s family is totally shocked when the hero, in response to their question about why he wants to marry her, says simply, “I like her.” It’s wonderful, because throughout the book it so obvious that he really does LIKE her, warts and all, and he wants her to like him, too, without changing who he is.
Ashley said on 11.23.10 at 07:43 PM • [link]
Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling books are heavy on guy doing the chasing, esp. Branded By Fire and the first, Slave to Sensation. Also, for the person asking for an Asian hero, Max in Bonds of Justice is haut hot (though I think it’s not the best of the series).
Karen H said on 11.23.10 at 08:19 PM • [link]
I just finished “Hot Finish” by Erin McCarthy (the entire series is great) and he’s chasing and she’s resisting. Oh, and “Flat-out Sexy” that started the series, too, in which case you might as well read “Hard and Fast” just because they’re good. I think a good Jennifer Crusie book in that regard is “Anyone But You” (though I hope I got the title right as I really think of it as Fred’s book—he’s the dog).
Word is voice55 and I’m sure I could come up with 55 books if I had the time as I also love that sort of plot. For one thing, it gives hope to those of us who are smart and wear glasses (like the heroine in “Hard and Fast”). Have fun!
Amelia said on 11.23.10 at 08:48 PM • [link]
Mistress of the Art of Death, by Ariana Franklin. Mostly a mystery, but with huge elements of this hit-by-the-anvil trope. It’s easily one of my favorite novels of the past 10 years.
I’m also a big fan of Heyer’s Frederica & Faro’s Daughter (hilarious!) and most-if-not-all of the Crusie ouvre for their heroines who have other shit going on, and their whole world does not revolve around the man.
maybeimamazed02 said on 11.23.10 at 09:23 PM • [link]
Kinsale’s latest, Lessons in French, was adorable, and Trev seemed more moony while Callie just wanted her pet bull back.
I know I always fall back on Bet Me, but…despite her low self-esteem, Min has it pretty together: she’s smart and capable, and has a great support system in her friends and sister. It’s a good back-and-forth between her and Cal in terms of pursuer/pursued.
Agreed re: the Erin McCarthy race car books—am waiting for Hot Finish at the library. The guys are definitely the pursuers and the heroines are far from pathetic. I never thought I’d find NASCAR boys so sexy.
find53: Find me 53 more books with smart H/H’s and good sex scenes, please!
Kristina said on 11.23.10 at 10:42 PM • [link]
Almost anything Jennifer Crusie comes to mind. I also like Lynsay Sands either her vampires or historicals. Good luck. I’m gonna read all the comments later after work so I can grow my TBR list by horrible lengths. :0)
Brandi D. said on 11.23.10 at 10:44 PM • [link]
I’m in agreement with those who mentioned the Lord Peter series (Gaudy Night has a permanent place on my bookshelf, sigh….) and Mistress of the Art of Death. Both feature very capable heroines who are Busy Getting Stuff Done, thankyouverymuch.
I’ve been reading Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters Series (Navy SEALS, etc), and some of the books fit this profile—Hot Target, which also has a gay romance subplot, and Breaking Point and Into the Storm. In each case, the women recognize an attraction to the hero but spend a lot of time ignoring it because hello crisis, people to save, bad guys to chase! Some of the subplots are delightful as well—Breaking Point has a really satisfying side romance with an over-40 heroine.
orangehands said on 11.23.10 at 11:22 PM • [link]
Mmm, I know Lani Diane Rich has done this…the one that’s coming to mind is Maybe Baby, but I think there’s been others.
I was going to say you should also avoid anime as they seem to delight in making the heroines (though they’re usually sidekicks more than main characters) humiliate themselves while chasing the heroes, but then I thought about Naruto. That kid is painful to watch as he goes after Sakura. (Mind, I just watch the show, not read the manga, but I’m assuming it’s a similar level.)
I would also love to have this as a separate request, but the books that come to mind: Marjorie M. Liu has had several, I believe. No Souvenirs by K. A. Mitchell (m/m). Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann (the heroine, in this case). And this link has a number of recs.
Khenta said on 11.23.10 at 11:51 PM • [link]
I totally agree on the Sayers and the McCarthy.
These also fit the criteria, IMO:
Loretta Chase: _Your Scandalous Ways_ and _Not Quite A Lady_,
Deirdre Martin’s _Fair Play_ (with the background story in the abovementioned _Body Check_).
Lauren Dane’s Chase Brothers tetralogy.
Not to be missed: Lynn Kurland’s first Nine Kingdoms trilogy (Star of the Morning, The Mage’s Daughter, Princess of the Sword). Miach totally fits the bill.
Last but not least, and to throw in some SF:
Miles’ meeting and wooing of Ekaterin (Bujold’s _Komarr_ and _A Civil Campaign_)!
And most of the Liaden novels by Lee & Miller also fit the bill (Scout’s Progress, Conflict of Honors, and the entire Miri/Val Con story arc).
morwen said on 11.24.10 at 12:07 AM • [link]
Well if you can stomach sci-fi/fantasy with all the, at times, annoying tropes like magical bonding rings (not kidding) then I’d recommend Shannon K. Butcher’s The Sentinel Wars series. There are 4 of them so far. Essentially the basic plot of each is about the same there’s a group of men of a sort of interdimensional race (all but two or three of their women have died and all the ones left are bound) whose job it is to protect Earth from demons. (still with me?) So their race bonds with their significant other (and yes of course they can’t just bond with anyone they have to be compatible) to get a massive power boost and live (cough die if they don’t bond cough). Anyway, the books follow a few men who in the process of killing the demons find true love, except these women were raised human and so respond with a very realistic, “You want to what?!?” So the guys have to very quickly convince them that bonding for eternity is a great idea and yada yada. Really for all the generic plot pushers there’s a lot of action and killing and fun times and it’s fairly well written. Although, my favorite line so far reverses your request in that the girl is pursuing the guy hard core and he keeps almost literally running away from her. It’s great fun to watch her try to convince him that no really I don’t care if your ring doesn’t respond to me I still want to be with you and feel safe around you even though you’re more than a bit unhinged.
And that was a much longer post than I thought I was going to leave.
kkw said on 11.24.10 at 12:20 AM • [link]
The bases seem pretty well covered, all my first thoughts are already in here. But both JR Ward and Laurel Hamilton go in strong for heroines that are thoroughly worshipped by their heros, and really, just about any male that comes across them. There are varying levels of interest on the part of the heroines, but series blur even more than most books, so maybe someone else could come up with specifics. Jane Ann Krenz in her various incarnations tends to have heroines who claim to be disinterested in romance, and even if they don’t exactly behave that way, I can’t recall any of them humiliating themselves for the hero.
beggar1015 said on 11.24.10 at 12:32 AM • [link]
Mmm, yes. I also suspect the emailer saw Playful Kiss. Myself, I couldn’t get past the ten minute acid trip at the beginning. But that shouldn’t stop any Bitchy readers from getting addicted to k-dramas which are usually chocked full of love angst. Unless you’re really into ten minute acid trips.
Otherwise, I have absolutely nothing to contribute to the original topic. I just like talking about my k-drama addiction. Kim Nam Gil is soooooooooooooooooooo hot.
Jody W. said on 11.24.10 at 12:40 AM • [link]
GAMES OF COMMAND is a great example! And a favorite book of mine. I have a novel with this plot called One Thousand Kisses coming out in a couple months from Samhain. Dude knows he wants the heroine but he’s kind of a moron at romance and hasn’t made any headway. I know, sexy, right? Can I make my book seem MORE appealing? But seriously, I love this trope.
Lyssa said on 11.24.10 at 12:50 AM • [link]
The J Cruise novel, Anyone but You is the one that I think of. In it the female protagonist is 1. older than the male, 2. fresh off a marriage that made her feel like less, 3. Loving her new job and her life as a single woman. The male protagonist falls hard but has to combat her desire not to fall back into the old traps, (or to love a man younger than her).
willaful said on 11.24.10 at 01:42 AM • [link]
Cannot resist any opportunity to recommend The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter.
Francesca said on 11.24.10 at 01:47 AM • [link]
Joan Smith’s Escapade comes to mind. The heroine is interested in him only as fodder for her gossip column, but then there are any number of Regency romances featuring indifferent heroines such as Clare Darcy’s Allegra
I definitely second Lucy Sullivan is Getting married; funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
Colonel Angus said on 11.24.10 at 01:49 AM • [link]
I was talking about playful kiss! I just didn’t want to mention it by name so people would avoid it. Even though I complained about it i will admit I ate up every episode like crack, so watch it! I also recently read Dreaming the sequel to Bewitching (which i looooved) who had a heroine who has loved her man forever. I just found it a waste of her youth and a bit embarrassing. This list is great! I can’t wait to pick them up.
JessicaL - Books with Asian heroes:
Iron Duke, In the Flesh, Ice Blue and the recently reviewed Impulsive.
and Yea for topless hot Judo guys!
Tae/Booklust said on 11.24.10 at 03:03 AM • [link]
man now I feel like I need to go back and re-read Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair. That book made me to find her backlist and glomm everything she’s written
mb said on 11.24.10 at 03:17 AM • [link]
If you can get your hands on a (sadly, out-of-print) copy of Sheila Simonson’s “Lady Elizabeth’s Comet”, I think it would definitely work for ‘hit on the head by an anvil of love’ theme.
I have a feeling that some of the books in Dorothy Dunnett’s ‘Dolly and the…” series might work. They are not romances per se, but I’d consider them Suspense with Romantic Elements. The one I’m thinking might work best is ‘Murder in the Kasbah’.
I just realized that this is one of my very favorite romantic tropes! (Who knew? Not me!)
bookstorecat said on 11.24.10 at 04:54 AM • [link]
I just downloaded about 7 or 8 free samples based on everybody’s recommendations. Thanks for that. I’ve been meaning to check out Linnea Sinclair for a while, but had pretty much forgotten about her until several people recommended Games of Command.
Totally loving reading the blog on my new Nookcolor right now.
Kirsten said on 11.24.10 at 05:35 AM • [link]
Petals on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney.
Maritza said on 11.24.10 at 06:18 AM • [link]
Wow! I need a note pad to write all these wonderful suggestions. The most recent book I’ve read that fits the criteria of : strong lady chased by strong Guy is, Nalini Singh’s Play for Passion. I love the way the heroines are not waiting around for the male to fill their .......day. lol!
Literary Slut said on 11.24.10 at 06:39 AM • [link]
Coming late to the party, but want to add my “ditto” to Sayers and Heyer. Several of their books have permanent places on my shelves and show the wear of reading and rereading. Can’t wait until they are available for Kindle.
instead88: find myself rereading old favorites instead of the 88 news books on my TBR pile
Barb said on 11.24.10 at 07:48 AM • [link]
Lisa Kleypas is pretty good at independent heroines. One that comes to mind is Tempt Me at Twilight. The whole Hathaway series have some fiesty women.
Megs said on 11.24.10 at 10:23 AM • [link]
I didn’t mention it earlier because it doesn’t quite fit the request, but I’m reading Compromised by Kate Noble right now and the heroine is definitely hit over the head with the anvil of love. But the hero is, as well; he’s drawn to the heroine pretty early on, but it takes him a while to figure out why, and he’s definitely not pursuing her. It’s more “two people who are not the slightest bit interested in each other come to realize they’re perfect for each other” than “strong heroine gets chased by twitterpated hero.” It is still worth a read, though!
Wendy said on 11.24.10 at 11:52 AM • [link]
I do the same thing, and also wonder what it says about me…I think I just would find it too humilitating to keep chasing a man who had turned me down, so can’t write it.
But as per the HABO, the woman chasing the uninterested man does tend to play out differently to the man chasing the uninterested woman…somehow the chasing man gets to keep his pride (if the author does their job right), but the chasing woman often doesn’t, almost as a plot point. Can anyone give examples of a good woman-chasing-uninterested-man plot?
leanan sidhe said on 11.24.10 at 12:37 PM • [link]
“Halfway To The Grave” was kind of cool like that. She wasn’t disinterested, but he pursued her more, and I felt that the roles were reversed some of the time.
Jayne said on 11.24.10 at 02:41 PM • [link]
“Lady Elizabeth’s Comet” is available as an ebook, along with several other Sheila Simonson books, at Uncial Press.
http://www.uncialpress.com/Sheila-Simonson/
redfullmoon said on 11.24.10 at 03:57 PM • [link]
You should really read Julie Cohen’s One Night Stand. I can’t recommend it enough! It’s contemporary and set in an English town (Reading? Not sure). You’ll be hooked! I promise you: quirky small-town characters hanging round the pub, the kind you see in Four Weddings and a Funeral, funny heroine, unique backstory, what more can you ask for? :D
It’s about this erotica author who gets pregnant by some guy passing through town and she doesn’t remember his name or his face all that much, just that he looks like George Michael (heehee!). She enlists the help of her guy best friend to look for this guy. She really isn’t romantically interested in him, her reliable, nice best friend. But along the way, she starts seeing him in a different light and starts getting confused about her feelings for him, not being sure if he feels the same way since he’s not short of female companionship and all that. Ok so it’s not really hero doing the chasing, but thing is hero used to be in love with her back in their university days but she didn’t really see him that way - or rather she somehow chose not to and she couldn’t give credit either to the fact that he has feelings for her - so they just went on being best friends.
I love the way the author handled the progression of their relationship/how she realized her attraction, it was gradual and didn’t feel forced at all unlike in other romance novels (*cough*harlequinpresents*cough*) wherein hero steps in and insists he & heroine get married because she can’t make it alone as single mom/kid needs a dad blabla (although how many presents heroes actually willingly marry single pregnant women whose kids they didn’t father/are not related to them in some way? Not alot.) You could really feel the heroine’s confusion about her feelings because they do become pretty intense, and while I usually hate heroines who dither and avoid emotional confrontation with the hero because they can’t risk losing him, it was totally justified in this book because their relationship was rather delicate, so I didn’t feel like hitting her over the head with a frying pan. Oh and she doesn’t throw herself at him every chance she gets to the point of indignity :D The atmosphere between the two of them was always fraught with tension (it was flying off the pages, really).
Oh and hero isn’t typically alpha male hero YAY! He’s actually not the dominant type who loves a ‘challenge’ (by challenge, I mean pursuing stubborn laydeez), but he is somewhat of a ladies man. He’s not typical muscular greek god type, but the heroine suddenly sees him in a different light and he becomes more attractive as her feelings grow for him. It’s all written from her point of view, and written rather well so I feel like I’m also falling in love along with her and I also get that nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach *sighs*
I bought this as something to pass the time on a long flight back home, and I wasn’t expecting to cry so much as I read it. The guy across the aisle was literally staring at me for some minutes while I nonchalantly wiped tears as if it was just everyday that I have tears running down my cheeks hehe.
My word’s written92 - it’s so well written you’ll wanna read it 92 times! (or more ;))
Karin said on 11.24.10 at 04:44 PM • [link]
What Liz Talley said….I’m a pushover for a hero who knows what he wants and will not give up no matter what. Actually, I’ve sort of had that experience in real life, because the current Mr. K very persistently pursued me even after being turned down several times. Not that he did anything bad, like in Tempt Me At Twilight, where the hero does some nasty, underhanded things in his single-minded pursuit of the heroine.
Thanks everybody after all the suggestions for my TBR list.
(and the Quinn book with Anthony and Kate is The Viscount Who Loved Me)
Kimberly R. said on 11.24.10 at 07:51 PM • [link]
I agree with Dahl’s A Little Bit Wild. I think thats my favorite of her Tumble Creek series (is that the right name of the series? I hope so.) Also, I’m currently reading Alan/Grant’s book in the MacGregor series by Nora Roberts. Despite the fact that the whole family is made up of awesome people (which is annoying to those of us who have deadbeats in our families), the series is pretty good. There are several stories in the series that follows this pattern, but Alan’s is especially adorable. He knows they are perfect for each other and he sets out to convince her of that fact.
If you are open to a paranormal series, Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series is another good one. I won’t spoil it for anyone who isn’t caught up but Mercy ends up with one of the main male characters who has wanted her throughout the entire series.
SonomaLass said on 11.24.10 at 10:17 PM • [link]
A Little Bit Wild is historical, not part of Dahl’s excellent Tumble Creek contemporary series. But it is a great example of the hero wooing the heroine. I also have to second the mention of Courtney Milan’s forthcoming book Unveiled. Not just for this plot point, but also for general awesomeness.
brooksse said on 11.25.10 at 01:32 AM • [link]
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis. Jax is totally smitten from the get-go but Maddie is reluctant, having just come off a bad relationship and having some personal issues to overcome.
MadameMadness said on 11.25.10 at 01:50 AM • [link]
Coz I only just finished re-reading this, I am recommending this book all over the place at the moment. My first suggestion is…
A Duke of Her Own. (MINOR SPOILER ALERT) Eleanor is in love with Gideon, Duke of Astley (or so she thinks), and has been for years except he just f****d off and married some other frail little twit sooooo Eleanor is a spinster. Until she meets the Duke of Villiers, who is on the hunt for a wife/mother for his SIX illegitimate children. SO when Eleanor and Villiers go out to visit Lisette, a friend of Eleanor’s and a kind of rival for Villiers’ hand, things really start to happen. Both Eleanor and Lisette are very suitable to Villiers but he’s torn between the two of them. He’s really, really attracted to Eleanor, and to boot, actually LIKES her (it was a shock to me too, folks), but he thinks Lisette will be the better mother to his children. So while he is off wooing Lisette, Eleanor is off having fun with Ridiculous Roland (he’s a poet; enough said). It’s a really good story of two people who really don’t want to be together, because they don’t think they should be together, but really really should be together. A very satisfying read. *Warning!! This is the last book in the Desperate Duchesses series, so I recommend reading them all first*
Also, another good book to try is It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn. This book is just SO much fun to read. Its the seventh book in her brilliant Bridgerton series and tells the story of Hyacinth, who is, by far, my favorite character. To be frank, she’s a bit mad. She’s one of those heroines who just don’t notice the big things like LOVE until it comes along and kicks her in the ass, slaps her in the face and hollers in her ear. Hyacinth is too busy being Hyacinth to notice Gareth St.Clair, and Garreth just thinks, like everyone else, that Hyacinth is just a bit on the mad side. They get thrown together in an odd sort of plot involving an old diary, some very bad Italian, and a crotcehty old dowager (Lady Danbury, who else?). Poor Garreth spends most of the book NOT following Hyacinth around in a lovestruck stupor, but simply trying to keep her out of trouble. Trust me, its a gem. And Quinn’s books are HIH-larious!
KimberlyR said on 11.25.10 at 05:28 AM • [link]
SonomaLass, I was coming back to correct myself ;) I meant to suggest Dahl’s Lead Me On. I’ve never read any of her historicals.
redfullmoon said on 11.25.10 at 08:18 AM • [link]
ooh I just wanna add another one, Susan Napier’s True Enchanter. This one really fits your request (actually a lot of Susan Napier books do). Hero’s certain he wants heroine, only heroine doesn’t believe he’s really interested, suspects he’s only really looking to amuse himself by chasing after her. It’s about a high school drama teacher (heroine) who has to chaperone teenage niece, who’ll star in actor-turned-director’s (hero) film. There’s attraction from hero’s part from the get-go, but heroine’s unaware. When he does pursue her, she starts getting suspicious, thinking he’s just looking for some momentary fun while they’re filming in remote location. He tries to win her over in the most incredible ways, it’s quite funny :D He can have a bit of a temper, but heroine doesn’t back down from him, not giving him any slack despite his disability (he walks with a cane). It’s from the 1980s, but it never gets old for me.
Actually there’s a whole series of books based on their family (the Marlows), they’re all tempestuous artsy types, their mom being an actress and the dad being a director (except the first book with the eldest, he’s a corporate lawyer. heh).
SylviaSybil said on 11.25.10 at 08:56 AM • [link]
JessicaL, re: Asian heroes
Chance in Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre is Chinese.
Jeremy in No Humans Involved is Japanese and Simon in The Awakening is Korean, both by Kelley Armstrong.
Cerise in Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews has mixed Japanese heritage.
Mina is Mongolian, in The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook.
JamiSings said on 11.28.10 at 09:55 PM • [link]
@ liz talley
Maybe it’s because subconsciously you’re thinking about that old saying, “Men know who they want to marry the moment they see her.” Mom’s always saying that to me. And seeing how she and dad married 5 weeks after the met - and he had to propose to her SEVEN TIMES before she said yes - plus the story of when Grandpa Pavlick met my future Grandma Pavlick - which I’ve told somewhere here before (if you haven’t read it/need a reminder e-mail me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and use the subject “Pavlick” so I know what you want) - I tend to believe it.
I guess that’s why I don’t care for romances where she pursues him. I want to be the chased and therefore I want to read about the guy doing the chasing. Not her chasing him. Not him getting his friends to ask her out on his behalf. (Had a guy do that to me once. I just couldn’t get up the gumption to say “yes” because it seemed too wishy-washy. I’m sure he was a nice guy, but if you want to go out with me, ask me yourself!)
Of course now adays men who decide in one look are considered psycho stalkers - but done right and you can see the romance in it.
The whole “she chases him” is why I could never watch Felicity.
Rocza said on 11.29.10 at 10:04 AM • [link]
I see the Anthony and Hyacinth Bridgerton novels have been mentioned - frankly, I’d just say all of them. Julia Quinn wrote a great series there, full of strong characters where the male does often have to actually convince the female. And her The Two Dukes of Wyndham series is equally compelling. And actually, her Agents for the Crown series also have the guys doing the pursuing (rather literally at one point). Hey you know? Just read Julia Quinn! ;-)
I also will second the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole, as well as toss a general “more please now” to the universe (I get kind of impatient there because I love those books SO MUCH).
I saw someone mention Nalini Singh, but I’d suggest the first book of the Guild Hunter series, Angel’s Kiss. The heroine has her job, and she gets downright testy with the hero when he tries to convince her that no, really, sex’d be awesome.
Finally, I’d say the first book of Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate might fall under this category, too. Alexia’s rather completely oblivious to the interest the male lead takes to her - or even that she could be interesting to the opposite sex.
Dessy said on 12.10.10 at 06:21 PM • [link]
Ooooh I like it when a man knows what he want’s. I really like Jane Sullivan, but where I live I can’t find many of her books. What I’ve found though I’ve read and really enjoyed. “Risky Business” fits this plot perfectly. After a hot one-night stand, the heroine runs hoping to forget about the encounter because it’s so out of caracter for her. They accidentally meet again and it get interesting :) Then there’s “When He Was Bad” when they’re both kind of famouse for believing in two opposite things so they can’t be seen together, but they can’t resist each other and he’s definitely the pusuer in this book. And then we have “Tall, Dark and Texan” which doesn’t have anything to do with this plot but is such a grat book :D:D:D
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