Top Ten Tuesday – Favourite ‘Hate-to-Love’ Romances

Whew! I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to a Top Ten Tuesday post this week. After a week of intensive editing, I’ve got a whole lot of reviews to catch up on (not to mention housework…) But it’s Valentine’s Day, and the topic today from the girls at The Broke and The Bookish is a ‘pick-your-own-romance-trope-and-run-with-it’ kind of day. How could I resist?

More like, how could I narrow it down? 😳

I’m not sure I have a ‘favourite’ trope, as such. For me, a romance is more about the journey and the writing, and I have favourites across all the tropes, but I do love a good ‘enemies-to-lovers’, or ‘hate-to-love’, or even just ‘dislike-to-reallylikeyoualot’ story.

Now, I’m defining this fairly broadly. The couple may be classed as enemies because of political or familial differences, or there may be genuine dislike/mistrust between the parties, but for whatever reason, these couples start out facing one another across a divide, and somehow find their way to common ground.

To kick off this list, I’m going right back to the very first ‘hate-to-love’ story I ever read, and one that is still very dear to my heart:

Anne of Green Gables Series – L.M. Montgomery

Who doesn’t love Anne of Green Gables? On second thoughts—don’t tell me. I’m not sure I could take it! Gilbert Blythe was my very first hero (excepting that lapse of judgement involving a certain orange vegetable), and I think he still measures up pretty well.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

I could start with the same question here, except that I am still reeling from the confession from a certain book blogger friend of mine (not mentioning any names… *cough, cough* Carrie *cough, cough*) who confessed to not liking Mr. Darcy! 😳 For all his faults, I do have a soft spot for Mr. Darcy…

 

 

Faro’s Daughter – Georgette Heyer

This was my introduction to the inimitable Georgette Heyer, and it got me totally hooked! Max Ravenscar assumes the lovely Deborah Grantham—object of his nephew’s puppy love—is a scheming fortune hunter, and offers to buy her off.  Hell hath no fury like a woman insulted…

 

 

 

Devil’s Cub  – Georgette Heyer

Another Georgette Heyer favourite. Fiery, impetuous, and irresponsible, the Marquis of Vidal determines to kidnap the silly young woman who’s been trying to seduce him into marriage, but he manages to kidnap her eminently sensible sister instead…

 

 

 

The Unveiling – Tamara Leigh

If you love Medival romance, you MUST read this series. The young Lady Annyn Bretanne believes Garr Wulfrith, renowned trainer of knights, was responsible for the death of her brother, and she is determined to avenge him. Garr has no idea what he’s up against!

The Magnolia Duchess – Beth White

This is one of my favourite novels featuring a clash of political loyalties. British naval officer Lieutenant Charlie Kincaid washes up on the beach in the tiny Gulf Coast settlement of Navy Cove during the war of 1812, suffering partial memory loss. Fiona Lanier oversees his recovery in her family’s home, but as his memory returns it becomes clear they are going to have to decide whether their first loyalty is to each other or their countries.

Read my review here.

 

Maybe It’s You – Candace Calvert

ER nurse Sloane Ferrell escaped her risky past―new name, zip code, job, and a fresh start. She’s finally safe, if she avoids a paper trail and doesn’t let people get too close. Like the hospital’s too-smooth marketing man with his relentless campaign to plaster one “lucky” employee’s face on freeway billboards. But you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover…

Read my review here.

The Thorn Healer – Pepper Basham

If you haven’t introduced yourself to Pepper Basham’s writing, you need to do something about that right now! Jessica Ross has returned to her Appalachian hometown to try and outrun her memories of the war in Europe, only to discover that the local hotel has been converted into a prison for displaced Germans. To make matters worse, one German in particular—Mr August Reinhold—has managed to worm his way into her family’s lives.

Read my review here.

The Promise of Rayne – Nicole Deese

Rayne Shelby and Levi Harding might be neighbours, but Rayne’s family and Levi’s employer have been enemies for years. When Rayne needs to fix a mistake at the last minute, she has no choice but to turn to Levi for help, but are either of them prepared for the consequences?

Read my review here.

Close to You – Kara Isaac

A Tolkien professor and a Tolkien ignoramus on a tour of Lord of the Rings country? Yes, please! Leading tours through the New Zealand locations made famous in the Lord of the Rings movies might not be the most prestigious use of Allison Shire’s English degree, but it’s a job. Unfortunately, it means she meets people like Jackson Gregory—a guy who has no scruples about conning his wealthy uncle into believing he’s a Tolkien fan just so he’ll have an investor for his next scheme.

Read my review here.

One Enchanted Eve – Melissa Tagg

I’m throwing this one in for free 🙂  Culinary school instructor Rylan Jefferson is ready to kick Colin Renwycke out of her class. He might have talent in spades, but he’s also a disaster in the classroom. She can’t wait to see the back of him. So why on earth would she agree to let him help her come up with the perfect recipe to impress an eccentric investor? And agree to spend Christmas with him at his family’s home in Iowa into the bargain?

Read my review here.

 

Your turn! Do you have a favourite ‘enemies-to-friends’ romance? Or do you have a different favourite romance trope?