Fresh-food enthusiast vs. vegetable-hater.
Insecure, ordinary, too-curvy heroine vs. wealthy, handsome, famous hero.
Hot Mexican food inside. Cold, blustery snow outside.
Are you getting the picture? Opposites and contrasts make the world go round in romance. The more contrasts I dream up for my books, the more fun they are to write… and ideally, to read!
The novella I’ve written for Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley is full of contrasts, including all those at the top of this post. And yummy food. And of course, there’s a dog! Here’s how the book starts:
Sheltered Hearts by Lee Tobin McClain, from Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley.
Alex Quintana finished mopping the red tile floor of his family’s restaurant. The late-evening silence eased the knots in his shoulders and calmed his worries.
A freak March snowstorm had made his sister and the cooks nervous, so he’d happily agreed to stay and close.
It wasn’t like he had someone waiting for him at home.
A thumping sound broke the silence. Probably a truck with chains driving by, though surely the snow wasn’t that bad.
He put away the mop and emptied the dirty water, then looked with satisfaction around the neat kitchen. That hadn’t taken too long. Next, he walked out to the arched doorway between the two small dining rooms, making sure everything was clean there, as well. It had to be, for his abuela’s 80th birthday party tomorrow.
Thump. Thump. Thump. It sounded like someone was knocking on the front door, pounding on it, really. But who?
He opened the door, and a gust of cold wind swept in. He peered at the woman who stood outside, arms wrapped around herself, barely visible in the blowing snow. Man, that had gotten deep fast. The whole world was white.
Below, he heard a whine and looked down. A dog? Tall, white and curly-haired, maybe a poodle, trying to push its way inside.
“Can we come in?”
Alex shifted to usher them inside. But, wait. The last three out-of-town women who’d showed up at the restaurant had been gold diggers. Was this woman another one? He stopped, blocking the door with his body, and studied her.
“Please, Mister! My dog is hurt.”
She’d brought a dog and arrived in a snowstorm. Creative, at least. “Sure,” he said with a sigh and stood back, making room for the woman and dog to enter.
He pushed the door closed against the wind and then turned to her. Red, wavy hair down past her shoulders, strong cheekbones, and big bluish-green eyes. Okay, a knockout, but still. “This wasn’t the night to come out. How’d you know I was here?”
She didn’t answer and he saw that her hands were red and bare as she knelt and ran them over her dog, brushing the snow off of him. Her teeth chattered when she looked up. “Do you happen to have a towel?”
“Bring him back here. It’s warmer.” Even if she was out to take advantage, he couldn’t turn away a freezing woman and animal. He put a hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the kitchen. She pulled away.
But not too soon that he didn’t get a whiff of the vanilla scent of her hair.
“We can dry off your dog. Get you both something to drink.” He filled a bowl for the dog and put water in a kettle for tea. “Here, take off your coat. It looks soaked.”
She glanced up at him, her eyes guarded, and then unzipped her jacket and handed it to him. He couldn’t help but notice her amazing figure, just before he quickly turned away to hang up her coat. “Do you want my jacket to wrap around you until you warm up?”
“No, it’s okay,” she said. “That’s your coat. You’re closed. I wouldn’t have come here at all, but I was trying to get off the interstate and the back roads weren’t plowed. My car slid into a ditch.”
She was a good liar, he’d give her that. “How far back?”
“About a mile. And the car is way stuck.”
“You walked a mile in this.”
“Yes, and Bear’s paw is hurt. I saw blood in the snow.” She knelt beside the dog again, biting her lip.
“That dog’s name is Bear?” It looked more like a giant, groomed mop. He’d have guessed a name like Fifi.
She grimaced. “His real name is Barrington. It seemed too pretentious for a dog, so I nicknamed him Bear.”
Intrigued? Click here to preorder… it releases TOMORROW!
What are your favorite opposites in a romance novel? Boss-Secretary? Rich dude and Cinderella? Bad boy/good girl? Enemies to lovers? Beauty and the Beast? Something else? Comment by midnight January 10th for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card. I know, it’s not much, but… it’ll buy you the Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley collection, which is only 99 cents, and another book of your choice as welll!
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
This looks great- can’t wait to read what sounds like another fun series, and a great collaboration from you all:) I enjoy the enemies to friends/lovers opposite and all the challenges that brings.
Oh, I also love hot Mexican food- the book must be good!!
Congratulations, Lee! I really enjoyed the excerpt and I look forward to reading the collection.
It seems you’re all writing about this book and I can’t wait for it to come out. I’ve preordered it and I’m looking forward to read it (more like looking forward to having the time to read it). I enjoy reading about the rich-poor opposites and also enemies to lovers.
Thanks for the excerpt, Lee! My copy of Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley has been on order since December. Looking forward to an introduction to six new series by six talented inspiring authors. With last week’s snowy and frigid conditions in Michigan, I was shivering with the woman and felt empathy for her dog Bear. Our 14 year old Sheltie Penny, who loves the outdoors and snow, did not want to stay outside for more than a few minutes. Yes, opposites attract and contrasts makes interesting reading. Best wishes on this newest endeavor. Valerie’s photos on the Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley website are breath taking.
I like beauty and the beast stories. I loved your story in Arcadia.
Thank you! It’s sure been fun to do the research on Mexican food!
Thank you, Jill!
I hope it’s not overkill… we’re just really excited about the novella collection and all the stories that will come afterward. Thank you for preordering it… please let us know how you like it!
Thank you for your enthusiasm, Renate… we’re super excited. It’s hard to make an old dog go out in the snow, isn’t it? My little maltese mix just looks up at me as if to say, “Really, Mom? Can’t I have some indoor facilities on these cold days?”
Thank you–that means a lot!
Fun post, Lee! I enjoyed the excerpt, too. Contrasts are wonderful to read (and write) in contemporary romance, aren’t they? I’m with Priscila, I like stories featuring enemies to lovers. Congratulations on the new release.
I’m looking forward to reading this book and enjoyed this excerpt. I like variety, so I enjoy reading any contrast: Boss-Secretary, Rich dude-Cinderella, Bad boy-good girl, Enemies-lovers, Beauty & the Beast, or any other opposites.
Looks like fun, Lee!
Thanks, Heidi! I’m trying to do a reunion romance that’s kind of “enemies to lovers” right now, and it’s a fun challenge.
Thanks for commenting, Becky!
I love the sound of this story. Can not wait to read it. thank you for all the wonderful books you have share with your many readers. I have enjoyed everyone. keep up the great creative writing.
I also enjoy romances between Ivy League education / master’s degree or higher vs. vocational school or community college (hands on work). Probably because I am a retired teacher – reader vs. non-reader. We have both in our family.
Wow, the book sounds great. You gave us enough that we want more. ?
Contrasting characters are required for a romance to work – at least in fiction, LOL! Reading Sheltered Hearts officially made me permanently hungry for Mexican food. You’ll need to share some of your fave recipes!
This sounds like a good story and the combination of other stories gives me much to look forward to.
Mo overkill just getting us more excited every time but having to wait the release date.
No* (typo, sorry)
This sounds like a wonderful story of contrasts and a great collection.
Contrasts always make for conflict, which is a good thing in your writing. :)
This novella collection sounds really good. I like that the characters and their situations are ones familiar to all of us.
My pre order has been in since I first heard about these books. I can hardly wait. I’m not sure if I will finish the book I’m reading now before I begin this book. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing.?
Thanks so much for your kind words… we love our readers!
I think I prefer the uptight/organized vs laid back/relaxed types :-)
Thanks for the excerpt. I love mismatched couples. My new favorite combo is the one I call “beauty and the geek,” with one being a good-looking, gregarious type and the other is a somewhat socially awkward brainiac.
Exactly… in fiction. Don’t try this in real life! And yes, recipes forthcoming.
Ooh, Julie, thanks for sharing that… I know that’s going to percolate in my brain and maybe turn into a story. Hmmm… Alex’s chiropractor brother is a bit of a geek…. hmmmm…
Love that idea! But as Valerie said above, in books only. It hasn’t worked so well for this laid-back type in real life!
I’m looking forward to the series. I enjoyed the excerpt. I have always enjoyed rich guy/Cinderella. I can identify with Cinderella. God rescued me and eventually gave me my sweet Husband. I also enjoy one character rescuing the other.
Thanks for sharing the excerpt. I like rich guy/Cinderella.
Oh WOW this sounds.wonderful and now I am hungry for the book and Mexican food. Hmm maybe that’s dinner tomorrow while I read. I like most opposite attractes stories bad boy good girl or the other way around is good. Although I read them all. Thanks for sharing.
I missed the kick-off party so I’ve been learning about the Arcadia Valley Romance collection and subsequent books in bits and pieces. I’ve pre-ordered the collection, because, well, duh?, but I’m anxious to hear more about the upcoming author’s books. I’m thrilled that some of my favorite inspy authors are involved! :) Best wishes, Lee, for this series and your next Love Inspired. I’ve already got my eyes on that one, as well. I always love a good soldier/veteran story since I have one of my own at home. :)
Along with military hero romances, one of my most favorite romance “opposites” are enemies-to-lovers. AND since rom-coms are a favorite romance sub-genre of mine, there is just so much potential for humor in an enemies-to-lover story.
Lee, i married a laid back guy and I’m the uptight one, so there’s hope. :) Ironically, I can’t stand uptight heroines in book, but I’m OK if the hero is a bit uptight. Go figure. Maybe it hits too close to home. haha
Aren’t opposites fun!? My husband and I are in many ways and we’ve been married 35 yrs. I grew up reading Grace Livingston Hill where one was poor, one rich, one Christian, one worldly. Very old fashioned books but very good reads!
There are so many opposites attract storylines out there!! Flighty & unorganized to Steady & Level-headed, Bad boy to Girl-next-door, Nature lover/outdoors-man to Stay-at-home movie/ TV binger, etc! I love reading any type of opposite characters and seeing their relationship develop in spite of those differences and how they learn to work together & value each others quirks (if you will). It makes for some interesting conflict & sparks :-)
What a fun excerpt. I like mismatched couples. Beauty and the “geek” is fun, also enemies to lovers and socially awkward with gregarious.
I like all of the above! Excerpt has me hooked- can’t wait to read it!
I love the quiet girl to the outgoing guy or vice versa