Hi everyone–
I’m getting ready to celebrate the launch of my new contemporary LGBT romance, Hearts and Flour, which is a quirky story about a passionate vegan, raw-food lover who falls in love with a cupcake baker! Now if you know anything about health food nuts, you know these two are natural enemies! LOL Which got me thinking about enemies-to-lovers stories.
Of course, the first enemies story to come to mind from classical literature is Romeo and Juliet and the famous contemporary play which grew out of it, West Side Story. The best enemies to lovers novels or plays have a deep division between the lovers that in innate. There is something about them that makes them natural adversaries. In Romeo and Juliet it is the warring houses of Montague and Capulet who have been at odds for generations. In a book like Last of the Mohicans, the barely hinted at attraction between Cora and Uncas would have been so proscribed because of their races and cultures that Cooper was being wildly brave to even suggest it.
Enemies-to-lovers stories are notable because of their unhappy endings. Dare to cross the forbidden lines and everybody dies. That makes for a tough romance! But it is fun trying to bring the enemies together. That was my challenge in Hearts and Flour. These two are very opposite. As in most enemies-to-lovers stories, when my two guys meet they have no idea that they’re natural opponents. This allows them a little space to fall in love unencumbered by their opposition.But the reader knows who they are and is waiting for that terrible moment when they realize their true differences! Oh no, what will happen?
Unlike Romeo and Juliet who are torn apart by the hatred of their parents, my heroes have to find a way around their own innate animosity — or not. Of course, this is a romance novel so you have a pretty good idea it will end happily! But watching them battle it out is the fun of it. Do you have a favorite enemies-to-lovers story?
And don’t forget, the Hearts and Flour Blog Tour starts FRIDAY! It’s headquarters is at Beautiful Boys Books. We have some fun prizes. Get on the mail list too so you know what’s happening! : )