My Bittersweet Love of Romance
Bittersweet is one of my favorite words because it aptly applies to so many things in life. One of the best examples of the term is a novel about reunited lovers. Despite bitter feelings from a relationship gone wrong, two lovers can’t forget the sweetness that brought them together. Is this an oversimplified explanation of a tired plot device? Maybe, but I have a shameless love for this genre within a genre and I’ll read them and write them as long as I’m able. Two of my romance novels have reunited lovers as either the main plot or a subplot. I love to write these types of stories and judging by the number of books with this theme, so do other writers. Readers, like me, love the reunited lovers storyline as well. What makes this plot so compelling, so readable, so thoroughly enjoyable? I believe a well-written reunited lovers plot appeals to everyone’s basic belief that love conquers all.
What is more absorbing than two people who loved and lost and against all odds end up back together? Absolutely nothing! My eleven-year-old daughter and her friends are obsessed with the idea of love. They spend countless hours discussing who likes whom and who is going out with whom (in this context, they mean who is texting whom) and watching shows featuring young love as its basic premise. We instinctively believe, from a very young age, that love is all we need. Just the other day, one of my daughter’s friends commented in the car that all songs are about relationships—and she’s right. Relationships we form during the years when we are most susceptible to believe love is all we need have a huge impact on our lives. Successful relationships or ones that end amicably continue to feed this belief and can lead to healthy adult relationships. When love goes wrong, however, we are left with the bitter aftertaste that never completely disappears and colors our view of love. Love stories featuring two characters who have loved deeply, parted ways unpleasantly, and come together later in life are ripe with conflict—the kind of conflict that appeals to everyone.
In Heart of Glass, main character Kat sacrifices her relationship with Danny so his business can succeed. Years later, when she’s assigned to profile his company for the magazine she works for, sparks fly. Instant conflict. In Shoe Strings, small town golden girl Kerry Ann, fearful of her feelings for her boyfriend’s best friend Bryce, reacts in a way that keeps them apart for years. When they finally face their feelings, BAM, instant conflict. What about you? What are some of your favorite romance plotlines?
Christy Hayes writes romantic women’s fiction from her little basement office in the South. She’s cooked up all kinds of trouble for her flawed characters when she’s not driving her kids to one sporting event or another or walking her pesky rescue mutts through her neighborhood. Please note that a portion of the proceeds from each book sold will be donated to charity.
September 29th, 2011 at 5:33 am
The covers are awesome, very eye catching! Do you have buy links for readers and a website we can check out?
September 29th, 2011 at 5:37 am
Yes! Laura Morrigan did my covers–she’s very talented and so easy to work with. My website is http://www.christyhayes.com and there are buy links under the “My Books” subheading.
Thanks to Romance Junkies for having me today!
September 29th, 2011 at 8:43 am
I love reunion stories and have written several, including The Marriage Contract. Your book Heart of Glass sounds like a great story. I’m putting it on my TBR list!
Lisa Mondello
September 29th, 2011 at 8:57 am
I love reunion stories too. I think its the possiblity it never being too late to go back and fix something that appeals to me. Great covers and the books sound wonderful.
September 29th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Nice post, Christy. And isn’t it so true that Love is all we need.
L. j.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Thanks, Lisa! I’ll check out your Marriage Contract.
Linda, I like your explanation for why the storyline appeals.
L.J., So true…
Thanks for stopping by, Ladies!
September 29th, 2011 at 11:05 am
One of my books has a reunion theme, too, and the one I’m currently about to finish is a reunion story. I love the possibilities inherent in these kinds of books.
September 29th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Me too, Tori. Thanks for letting me know about your stories. I’ll be sure to check them out!
September 30th, 2011 at 7:54 am
Christy, I love the “instant conflict” explanation. I never thought of it that way. Thanks!
I love the covers, too. I want an umbrella with hearts on it. For sure, it would be one my husband would never use. lol
September 30th, 2011 at 10:22 am
Christy, nice post. I love reunion stories. It’s fun to watch couples resolve the roadblocks and character traits that caused them to split up in the first place. I hadn’t thought about it before, but my book Fur Ball Fever is a reunion story.
September 30th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
These books both will go on my tbr list… the stories both are great…
September 30th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I like friends to lovers themes and I also like to read about the not-so-young heroine with the dark hero.
Your books look good. I’ll have to take a closer look at them since you are a new-to-me author.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
I love reunion stories but I also really like unlikely love stories too-were people fall in love that you would never expect to be a couple in a million years lol…
Ashley A
rvds_angel21@yahoo.com
September 30th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Edie,
Unfortunately, my husband would use an umbrella with underwear on it if it was all he had!
Maureen, I’ll have to check out Fur Ball Fever–what a great title!
Kathleen, thanks for your support! I hope you enjoy the books. Please let me know what you think.
Karen H.,
Not-so-young heroine and dark hero…very interesting. I’d love to hear your recommendation on books like that.
Thanks to everyone for commenting!
October 1st, 2011 at 5:07 am
Ashley,
Very true–those stories are some of my favorites also. My work in progress is just that type of story.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:15 am
I enjoy the Cinderalla plots and what a wonderful thing to be doing giving a portion of the proceeds to charity.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:20 am
These both sound like books I would enjoy reading! I like reunion stories.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:46 am
I love reunion stories, nothing like a second chance at a love, life can work in mysterious ways to give you another chance at happiness. LOL More books to add to by TBR pile!
October 1st, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Thanks, Catslady. Giving back is a blessing!
I hope you enjoy them, Carol M!
Christy, life does work in mysterious ways! Thanks for stopping by!
October 1st, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I love reunion stories too
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:42 am
I always loved events where two people meet for the first time as I always imagine one day to meet my own mother..sad to say I am 65 almost and still was not able to meet her but it was a nice dream. I know where she is but sad to say she wants no part of me nor wants to be able to see me. I learnt to accept it but the hurt is there no matter what. These books sounds so good and I hope to read them some day. Maybe this wish will be easier than the one about my mother. ha ha susan Leech garysue@dejazzd.com
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:10 pm
I enjoy the friends to lovers plotline. It just seems like such a natural progression for some couples I have known.
October 3rd, 2011 at 3:35 am
Sherry H,
I’m right there with you!
Susan,
Sorry to hear about your mother. Another of my books, Angle of Incidence, deals with a child given up for adoption who tracks down his birth father. It may hit too close to home for you… Thanks for commenting!
Little Lamb Lost,
Friends to lovers plots are ripe with conflict also and very real life!
October 3rd, 2011 at 5:50 am
Hi Christy. Your book sounds good. I love reunion stories.
May 28th, 2012 at 1:37 am
Hi! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!