Earlier this week on my own blog, I asked readers what sorts of storylines were their favorites. My upcoming release, DEEP BREATH, features characters facing a ticking clock. I love this storyline because of the built-in conflict and suspense. Characters have to face what they’re up against. There’s no place for them to run or to hide.
But another one of my favorites - and judging by the comments to my entry - a reader favorite as well, is the idea of characters with a past. The hero and heroine might have been lovers, or simply friends, but the story brings them together for the first time as a true couple. And oh does all that baggage make for great conflict!
The first “reunion” romance I wrote was FOUR MEN & A LADY. My editor had called and asked if I’d like to be part of Harlequin Temptation’s 15th Anniversay celebration, so I came up with the idea of a high school reunion loosely based on the movie Four Friends. One of my favorite parts of writing this book was writing the flashbacks from the four years the friends spent together in high school - and I got a lot of reader mail that told me I’d stumbled onto something that worked. At least for me. I know a lot of authors and readers don’t like flashbacks (and I’m sure there is some academic or literary rationale for not using them *g*), but I’m of the opinion that if done well, such scenes can add a lot of depth to a story. Especially when the characters’ history wasn’t all nice and sweet! (It wasn’t really attempted murder!)
The next “old lovers” story I wrote was LOVE IN BLOOM. I’d actually written this one before writing Four Men, but I didn’t sell it until later. This one doesn’t have any flashbacks, only memories, but I felt it worked best that way. The story of Carson and Eva getting together again - and the big secret that has kept them apart - was enough of a hook. (And I’d like to think my twist on the secret baby plot wasn’t one you see every day!)
BOUND TO HAPPEN was the third book in my gIRL-gEAR series and featured Sydney Ford and Ray Coffey who had been high school sweethearts. Again, I found using a couple of flashbacks to be very effective - especially because of the contrast between their early relationship and the one they have in the book. Sweet vs Steamy, if you will! It took them longer to fall in love the second time around, but this time both were ready - and it was for good!
So, the book I’m writing now, INFATUATED, a November 2006 release from Harlequin Blaze, is also a “reunion romance”. My heroine, Milla Page, knew my hero, Rennie Bergen, from university where he was her boyfriend’s roommate at the time. Milla and Rennie broke a whole lot of roommate/relationship rules, but were young and wild - and caught up in a crazy attraction neither could resist. I’m having great fun, too, with the secondary couple I’m developing. The book is very character-driven, and I can’t wait to see if it’s as fun as I think it’s going to be!
Now, here’s your chance to tell me a favorite reunion or old lovers romance you’ve read. Share the wealth, and all that. Any author, any genre. Old books or new. On Friday, at noon CST, I’ll randomly picked a winner from everyone who’s commented to win a copy of BOUND TO HAPPEN. (Unfortunately, I don’t have copies of the others!) I’ll also include copies of KISS & MAKEUP, RED LETTER NIGHTS, and GOES DOWN EASY - the three stories for the other guys who starred as extras in FOUR MEN & A LADY!
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Hi Alison, reunion romance is one of my favourite storylines. Once Burned by Karen Keast was my very first (I borrowed it from the library and I hope to find it again). Paradise by Judith McNaught is another memorable one.
by Jenny
on February 16th, 2006 at 6:28 am
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Hi Alison.
There are so many; it is hard to pick just one. But…I love the bad boy who comes back to town story. Doesnt matter if he made it big or not. Love to watch the sparks fly with the heroine and the town’s reaction to hsi return.
by Pat
on February 16th, 2006 at 7:33 am
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Hi Allison! I love reading reunion romance. It is great when a couple reunites and rekindle their romance. Remembering One Wild Night by Kathie DeNosky is one that I really enjoyed.
by Crystal B.
on February 16th, 2006 at 8:56 am
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One that comes to mind is Catherine Anderson’s , Seventh Heaven. It’s a wonderful book, very emotional but great.
by Elizabeth
on February 16th, 2006 at 9:48 am
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Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson is one of my favorites. It really is hard to pick one when there are so many to choose from. Lucky for us readers!:mrgreen:
by Susan
on February 16th, 2006 at 10:04 am
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I just read Donna Kauffman “Sleeping With Beauty”, and I really loved it! In this case, the hero and heroine had been lifelong friends. It was a truly beautiful story. It also had quite a few memory scenes, which I thought really added to the story. I love, love, love reunion novels! Can you tell? Lol.
by Zara
on February 16th, 2006 at 10:33 am
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[...] Oh, I also have a post up at Access Romance’s All-A-Blog today where I’m giving away a fun prize! (The entry doesn’t go up until 6:00 a.m., so check back if you get an error message!) [...]
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Once Burned by Karen Keast was my very first
Oh, Jenny. Karen Keast has to be at the top of my all time favorite series authors. (She also wrote under her real name, Sandra Canfield.) My fave of hers was A TENDER SILENCE. I have all of them stored and am definitely going to have to dig them up for a re-read. It’s been too long!
Pat - I’m a sucker for bad boys, too! I love reading them, but I’ve yet to figure out how to write a really good one. When I try, they end up making fun of themselves, LOL, and turn into frat boys!
Hi, Crystal! I haven’t read that one, but thanks for the recommendation.
Elizabeth - I think I’ve read an Anderson or two, but it’s been awhile. She does write great emotional stuff!
Susan - I know so many people who just love Rachel Gibson. I think I have Simply Irresistible around here somewhere, so will check it out.
Zara - Donna’s a good friend of mine and I’ve had sneak peeks at her stuff while working on her website. I’ll tell her how much you enjoyed it!
These are all great! I’ll have to think of some reunion romances I’ve read and post back!
by Alison Kent
on February 16th, 2006 at 11:11 am
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Hi Alison,
I enjoy the reunion novels as well. I love a suspense novel that takes the hero and heroine and places them in an isolated location, where they solve the mystery, save their lives, and fall back in love.
Recently, I ‘ve enjoyed B.J. Daniel’s “Mists of Fernhaven” novel.
by Sandra
on February 16th, 2006 at 11:12 am
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I really enjoy reunion romances. One that I enjoyed was The Unknown Daughter by Anna DeStefano. It is a very good book. There are many other reunion books as well that make for great reads. I really like books where the couple starts off as friends and it develops into something more.
by Jennifer Yates
on February 16th, 2006 at 11:17 am
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i love a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks and meets with a good, rich girl, they have so much chemistry together. the book truly, madly, deeply by rachel gibson has that. love that book, just so hot.
by kim h
on February 16th, 2006 at 11:46 am
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I love reunion romances and I have to go with Anna DeStefano’s ‘The Unknown Daughter’. Sadness, laughter, love all rolled into one and a happy ending.
by Robyn L
on February 16th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
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Hi Alison,
I think flashbacks are important in some stories. They help us to understand how the characters feel in certain situations.
There are many very good reunion stories. I really enjoyed Alcea getting back together with her high school crush in Follow Me Home by Jerri Corgiat.
by Carol
on February 16th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
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B.J. Daniel’s “Mists of Fernhaven”
The Unknown Daughter by Anna DeStefano x 2!
truly, madly, deeply by rachel gibson
Follow Me Home by Jerri Corgiat
Thanks for all the recommendations! I hope everyone is making a list!!
by Alison Kent
on February 16th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
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Birthright by Nora Roberts was a good reunion story. The couple were married quickly and then allowed other people to pull apart their marriage. I liked the book because the couple admit their mistakes and work at the relationship.
by Maureen
on February 16th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
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The Seduction of Sydney by Jamie Denton
They weren’t previous lovers, but they had been friends almost their whole lives.
by Jodi Shadden
on February 16th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
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Hi, Alison,
Two of my favorite authors that use a lot of the reunion theme would be Diana Palmer “The Australian” , “Fit For a King”, “Diamond Girl”, older guy sends his love away only to have sparks fly when she reenters his life. Sharon Sala’s “King’s Ransom”, “Always a Lady”. Other authors Heather Graham “Slow Burn” husband dies teams up with exlover to solve the murder. “King of the Castle”,Woman meets the guy who impregnated her but she doesn’t remember. Fern Michaels.
by Laurie
on February 16th, 2006 at 9:30 pm
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I have read so many good ones but one I just read was Somebody’s Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn.
by Carolyn Swinhart
on February 16th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
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I love Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall’s books. “Tallchief” and “Second Chances” are very emotional love stories with memories and flashbacks that make the evolving characters even more interesting.
by Susan E.
on February 16th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
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OOPs… I forgot Sandra Brown’s “Bittersweet Rain” Rink breaks Caroline’s young heart then they get together again later on.
I also Like Catherine Coulter’s historicals especially ” Jade Star” and”Evening Star” where the heroes rescue the girls , let them go ,but eventually end up with them again.
by Laurie
on February 17th, 2006 at 6:39 am
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Alison, so glad to meet another Keast fan. I’ve read some of her Sandra Canfield books but I find I prefer her Keast ones. I would dearly wish to read Once Burned again. It’s just so hard to find out of print books here.
by Jenny
on February 17th, 2006 at 9:20 am
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Alison,
Yes, please do pass on to Donna how much I enjoyed Sleeping with Beauty. I agree with some of the others about The Unknown Daughter by Anna DeStefano as well. Also, A Family for Daniel by Anna DeStefano is another beautifully written reunion novel. My book wish list is ever increasing with all these great recommendations lol!
by Zara
on February 17th, 2006 at 9:40 am
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What’s so interesting about this is that I’ve read several of these latest suggestions (Diana Palmer, Sandra Brown) because they were the authors on whom I cut my romance reading teeth, but I can’t remember the books at all! :( I have a huge keeper box in the garage with all my old Brown’s, Lowell’s, Delinksy’s, Weger’s, Stuart’s and Howard’s (though I think I gave my Palmer’s to a bookstore as collectibles) and feel the urge just to sit out there and dig through!
by Alison Kent
on February 17th, 2006 at 10:54 am
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I agree with Carolyn. Somebody’s Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn was very good. Also, if anyone decides to read Follow Me Home by Jerri Corgiat you should know that it is the second book in a series. Sing Me Home is the first and Home At Last is the third one. They are also very good!
by Carol
on February 17th, 2006 at 11:21 am
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Okay, I’ve randomly picked Carolyn Swinhart to win Bound to Happen, Kiss & Makeup, Red Letter Nights, and Goes Down Easy.
Also, if you’d like to hop back to my blog today, I’ve got another Q&A just posted!
by Alison Kent
on February 17th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
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congrats carolyn, lucky you
by kim h
on February 17th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
