Romances that start with initial disinterest

CD · Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 654 Location: London, UK

I was just reading Janine's review of Miranda Neville's CONFESSIONS FROM AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE over at Dear Author and she mentioned that the romance started with the couple initially completely disinterested in each other.

That immediately peaked my interest as it occurred to me that that's something you rarely see in romances. I love instant lust/attraction as much as the next girl, but a little goes a long way and I would love to read more books where the attraction only starts once the couple get to know each other. And then have the all night sex marathons Wink

...

Any ideas or recommendations? The only ones that I can think of off the top of my head are old-style regency romances written by Mary Balogh, Joan Smith, Patricia Veryan etc. And also Neville's previous AMOROUS EDUCATION OF CELIA SEATON - so this is obviously a trope that she also likes.

On Joan Smith, one of my favourite books by her is IMPRUDENT LADY where the hero and heroine are initially just friends, and the hero starts off being fine with one of his friends taking her as a mistress. Towards the end of the book however, he breaks down doors and challenges that same friend to a duel. Great fun!
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Islandgirl2 · Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 275

I also like this theme as well. Sometimes I love the work that goes into two people forming an opinion and slowly uncovering actual likes about each other that leads to love. So many times you hear from people I never thought I'd fall in love with him or her this was defintiely not planned. lol

I know there are many but I sometimes find that theme in Georgette Heyer books alot of times.

LaVyrle Spencer has a few with that theme as well.
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LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 629

IIRC, Anne Stuart's Cold as Ice starts out that way.