Thursday Give Away
For today’s Thursday give away, I have a copy of Sherry Thomas’s Ravishing the Heiress
Here’s the official blurb:
Millicent understands the terms of her arranged marriage all too well. She gets to be a Countess by marrying an impoverished Earl. And in return, the Earl Fitzhugh receives the benefit of her vast wealth, saving his family from bankruptcy. Because of her youth, they have agreed to wait eight years before consummating the marriage–and then, only to beget an heir. After which, they will lead separate lives.
It is a most sensible arrangement. Except for one little thing. Somehow Millie has fallen head over heels in love with her husband. Her husband, who has become her very best friend, but nothing more…Her husband, who plans to reunite with his childhood sweetheart, the beautiful and newly widowed Isabella, as soon as he has honored the pact with his wife…
As the hour they truly become husband-and-wife draws near, both Millie and Fitzhugh must face the truth in their hearts. Has their pact bred only a great friendship–or has it, without either of them quite noticing, given rise to a great love?
I have a weakness for arranged marriage plots and Thomas does a particularly deft job with this one, really showing the growing friendship and attraction between Millie and Fitzhugh. Ravishing the Heiress
So, for a copy of Ravishing the Heiress
Is there a particular type of plot you find yourself drawn to?
The winner will be announced on Sunday.
My favorite type of plot is when two people who have known each other their entire lives eventually realize that they have been in love with each other all along. Like in Anne of Green Gables (which is my absolute favorite book series!) where Anne realizes she’s been in love with Gilbert the entire time and didn’t realize it. I just love it!
There are so many plots to love, its hard to narrow it down. I adore the Friends-turned-Lovers plot, the Enemies-turned-Lovers and of course the Forbidden-Love/Overcoming-All-Odds plot too. Can I just say that my favourite plot involves Love stories? All kinds!
I enjoy stories where a woman who is either socially unimportant or financially poor but very worthy is noticed by a rich, handsome Duke or other loftily titled man. He falls madly in love with her and rescues her from whatever challenges she faces and they live in luxury and are happy ever after :)The best thing about romance novels is that they always have a happy ending- the bad people either get what is coming to them or fade from importance and the good people are able to have happy, fulfilling lives.
I love a story of an impoverished but deserving woman who is loved and eventually married to a willing provider and rescued from poverty or certain death. Consider the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth is homeless, destitute, an outsider. Boaz is the “kinsman redeemer” a distant relation to Ruth’s deceased husband and obligated by custom to marry her. Before he can take her to be his wife he has to get permission from a closer relative who can also marry her. Boaz is a good and godly man who rescues Ruth, marries her and obviously loves her. Gets me every time!
I tend to be drawn towards plots in where the heroine comes from humble surroundings, she works hard to support herself (usually as a governess or school teacher) and then a dashing man comes along (usually her employer) and finds himself besotted with her! Must have been all those years reading Victoria Holt novels 🙂 I also love it when these romance plots include mystery or contains wand waving magic with witches and wizards!
I do not need materialism as a trope. My favorite trope is when two people are able to prove that they really know and love each other. I also really like when the characters have known each other a long time. But I try to give every book a chance even if there are tropes I don’t like.
I love either opposites attract, or best friends fall in love. But I generally read most kinds and in most time periods.
My favorite is when the two main characters dislike each other at first (either because of Pride or Prejudice, or other reasons) but through events are able to come together in the end.
tortured hero
As one of my favourite books ever is “The Grand Sophy” I like plots where the heroine is way ahead of the man when it comes to realising that he’s the one for her (see also “Devil’s Cub”), although I’ve also got a soft spot for arranged marriages turning into true love (April Lady) and ladies who hate the man in their lives and end up realising that he loved her all along and so does she (Regency Buck). And yes, I know all my examples are Georgette Heyers, but I’ve just done a massive re-read of her works…
I like stories where the hero and heroine are thrown together by natural forces outside of their control–trapped inside while a snowstorm rages outside, lost in the woods, etc. I also enjoy a good travel adventure, like Elizabeth Peters’ Night Train to Memphis.
The “undeserving” heroine. Katherine Swynford, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Anne Boleyn, Julia Grey, Diana Spencer, et al. When the woman doesn’t “deserve” the man, or vice versa, but love conquers all, or doesn’t. Regardless of the ending, I love stories where the main characters meet in the middle, when a lord (or lady) loves a commoner.
I like the ‘bickering people become lovers’ trope a la Much Ado About Nothing – especially as done by Georgette Heyer (Lady of Quality and Bath Tangle in particular).
I’m another fan of the mutual dislike turns to love plot.
I also enjoy books where the two characters who seem unconnected and are brought together by different circumstances and end up learning to love each other (like a few of your Pink books and Tracy Grant’s Melanie and Charles series).
I love a plot with the heronine and hero constantly arguing/”having it out” with words. There is something about spirited conversation that draws me in every time.
Thanks for having the giveaway!!
Tiffany
I’ve noticed that I tend to be drawn towards stories about finding one’s soulmate whether it be during one lifetime or over the course of many.