Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Rollin' Along

Hi, hi! All is well here. Busy, busy with the day job, but I'm finding a way to deal with it. I finished critiquing the first two parts of my CP's historical. She is AWESOME! Jenna Stuart. She'll be on the shelves one day. No doubt about it! Remember the name. I've been exercising and I'm becoming quite the little health nut! But I feel so good! As for the book, weeeeeeeellllll, let's just say that's not going as fast as I'd like. I'm still making slow progress, but I want it all and I want it now!

Ahem.

Sorry.

I do have one question for you. I'm not a big fan of books where the hero and heroine knew each other before the start of the book. (Although, one of my all-time favorite books, Perfectly Saucy by Emily McKay is one of those. Plus, I'm excited to read Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas. So I do like some books where the hero and heroine already know each other.) Anyway, as I was driving today from one campus to the other, my hero insisted that he and the heroine knew each other before, when she was in high school. Then my heroine piped in and let me know she really had a thing for him back then. I personally didn't ever want to write a story like that, but it appears the story is writing itself! I have no choice but to follow. So my question is how do you feel about books with heroes and heroines who were first loves or at least used to know each other? How popular is this "hook" and am I the only one not jumping on the bandwagon? (Well, I guess I am jumping on board now that my hero and heroine have demanded I do so!) Come on, people. Share with me!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

These kinds of stories can be quite popular. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn is the fourth book in the Bridgerton series and the heroine has had a "thing" for the hero for years. And it was excellent! Also Still In My Heart by Kathryn Smith is another fabulous book with a hero and heroine who share a tortured romantic past! It's the last book in her Ryland brothers series. Come to think of it, In Your Arms Again--another book in that series--is wonderful and has a hero and heroine who were childhood sweethearts.

If your characters want to take you down that road, I say go for it :)

Lexi said...

Bonnie, I'm following them down that road, I'm just really hesitant about it. If they can convince me it works, then we'll all be happy!

Unknown said...

I think it all depends on how you develop it. If they are truly meant to be together, why didn't they get together before? The reason must be convincing and fairly compelling or I won't believe that they are now as desperate for one another as you want me to believe.

I don't mind the "previously aquainted" story, but I don't like it if it was one-sided and the one character was too wimpy to say anything. Now he/she comes back and is a new person, direct and sexy and determined to get the love that got away. Seems too superficial.

If he/she comes back all sexy and is thrown into a position of having to deal with the former secret love, then that's okay, especially if he/she is determined not to give the secret love the time of day even though that person is now attracted to them. (Serves them right for not noticing me for who I was before I got all sexy.) Of course, there had better be a darn good reason why that secret love didn't notice me before.

Anyway, I think it is totally up to you to make us believe that these two people should end up together even though they already missed one chance. No pressure, though....

Crystal said...

I had all this stuff i'd planned on saying but then read Monika Schulze comment and that about sums it up;0)

Don't you feel so good when you start exercising and eating better?! I think that's the only reason I stick with it now. I feel a lot better mentally too!

Lexi said...

Um, yeah, Monika. No pressure at all. Gee, thanks.

Lexi said...

Yes, Crystal! I can't seem to get enough exercise now. I'm walking close to an hour every day and then on several days I'm also taking a class at the gym. I'm already feeling much better and I've only lost 1/3 of the weight I want to lose!

Crystal said...

Good for you!! It's a very positive feeling, Glad your enjoying it! Have a good evening sweet;0)