Trope
Southern Gentlemen, Book #1
Heat Factor: Steamy enough
Character Chemistry: “Let me put you on this pedestal.”
Plot: “I’m not the same girl I was ten years ago.”
Overall: There were bits that were really great, but the hero put me into a paroxysm of rage
The Matchmaker Trilogy, Book 2
Heat Factor: Detachment → sexytimes → detachment
Character Chemistry: I don’t understand how they simultaneously work so well together and communicate so badly, but the give and take is wonderful to read
Plot: Eccentric Duke comes to London to find a wealthy bride. Naughty Countess gives him courtship lessons.
Overall: Just the book I needed
Ace Security, Book #1
Heat Factor: It gets a little explicit
Character Chemistry: I hate them both
Plot: Rescue man saves demoralized, abused woman
Overall: I struggled so hard. But my eyeballs probably got their best ever workout with this book.
Filthy Rich, Book 2
Review of Filthy Rich, Book 1
Heat Factor: Fire. Fuego. אש. 🔥.
Character Chemistry: Emotionally complicated hate sex.
Plot: “My first love destroyed me and I hate him now. But I must have a fake relationship with him for the paparazzi in order to save my kingdom. What could go wrong?”
Overall: I couldn’t put it down.
We haven’t done any buddy reads in a while, so for this installment of Dueling Reviews, Holly and Erin share their thoughts on Second Chance Romances. Holly thinks they’re great. Erin thinks they’re nothing but nonsense. Moderated by Ingrid.
Ingrid: Let’s start this Trope Duel with a definition of the “Second Chance at Love”:
This romance trope can play out in a number of ways. Perhaps a couple breaks up only to reunite decades later. Maybe they have been deeply hurt in the past, and have spent years avoiding any kind of romantic relationship. Now they will meet and learn to give love another chance. This is a hopeful trope that readers enjoy because it enforces the theme that “it’s never too late.”
Annnnnd…GO!
Erin: Okay, so now we all have the definition … of malarky. The problem with Second Chance Romance (henceforth SCR) is that the characters have fantastically wasted huge amounts of time and then they’re coming back to a relationship that didn’t work in the first place and somehow magically whatever’s wrong is not a problem anymore, which is ridiculous because things and people don’t really change.
Continue reading “Trope Duel: Two Views on Second Chance Romance”
