How long does it take before a couple can use the “L” word? Have you ever been reading along and the hero declares he loves the heroine, and you stop and think, “Already?”
When I first got the idea to write a “Roadtrip Romance,” AKA a romance set on a vacation, one of the biggest hurdles I faced was time. After all, most vacations are only a few days, maybe a week. And that’s an awful short timeframe in which to build a relationship.
And if the couple meet for the first time on vacation, they don’t even come into it with background knowledge. They’re starting from square one.
I’m not one of these people who believe in love at first sight. Attraction? Yes. But not love.
Love isn’t just something you feel about ice cream, although I do have a well-developed relationship with that treat. Love is deeper. It needs meaning and depth and trust and so much more. And you can’t get that deep in only a couple of days, especially while playing the tourist.
So, what was I to do?
Well, I obviously can’t tell you everything I did, or you wouldn’t need to read my newest book when it releases next month. Ha! But, that being said, I will tell you this. I focused on building a FOUNDATION for love.
When Camden and Katie meet, it’s not pretty. He basically knocks her over the head with a volleyball. But, over the few days they see each other on vacation, they’re able to chat, see how they interact with other friends, observe them in hard situations as well as good, and even discover a few mutual passions. That doesn’t mean it will be easy when the vacation is over, but it does mean the attraction is strong enough and the knowledge is deep enough, that a relationship could make sense “back in the real world.”
What do you think? How long does it take for love to grow?
My book releases in ONE MONTH! Want to know more?
It’s not every day you bring a boyfriend back as a souvenir.
Katie Wilhite is ready to settle into her new job as a librarian now that college is through, but friends Bree and Skye want one more girls’ trip, and when Bree insists this is her bachelorette fling, Katie agrees. What she didn’t agree to was allowing fun and flighty Skye to dictate the itinerary or for her anxiety to kick in harder than ever … right in front of a cute guy.
Camden Malone had no idea when he agreed to be the voice of reason on his cousin Ryan’s vacation that the trip wouldn’t stay in New Orleans as planned. But when Ryan plots with Skye so that the guys can tag along with the girls all week, he isn’t nearly as upset as he should be. Not with Katie’s fiery temper and flashing eyes intriguing him more by the minute.
Can Katie relax enough to trust Camden and a possible future, or will she continue to push him away as only a vacation fling? And can Camden move past a rocky history of his own to be able to jump into a better future? For a trip that was supposed to be all about fun, there’s a lot of romance going around.
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
You can feel an instant connection with someone but true love grows gradually over days, weeks, months, years. I told my husband last week I didn’t think I could love him more but I realized that day I did. Blessings
welcome today. I agree with you about love not really happening in just a few days or at first sight. lot of other words for that. to me love takes time over the years. deep trusting respectful love.
Oh, this sounds good!! I agree that love, real love, can’t happen in just a few days. I do think attraction can, and given time, love may come from that, depending on the two people involved. I think you can definitely tell as soon as you meet someone whether or not you want to get to know that person, though.
Agreed! Thanks so much for commenting.
Yes. Love after 20 years of being together looks a lot different than when we started. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m so glad you think it sounds good. :)
Funny story. One of the first times I met my husband, I told him I could never marry a guy like him. ;) Good thing we didn’t rely on instant attraction.
There’s definitely attraction or friendship in the beginning, love definitely takes time. I think most women feel they need to be able to trust a man before they give him their heart.
Like can happen quickly, and like can develop into love quickly with seeing the other person in various situations and talking to them. Strong like can happen quick but love might take a month.
I am fairly sure it was love at first sight for mum and dad but it took him several months to get the courage to ask her to go on a date and she basically did it. The church use to go to a lake near the town on NYE for a picnic and celebrate. A friend of dad’s asked mum who was taking her home and she turned and said Jack is. Isn’t that right He said yes. He had wanted to ask her out but was scared she would say no and She wanted him to ask and by Easter they were engaged.
On vacations I keep forgetting you have so short a time off for vacations. In Australia most people get at least 4 weeks a year vacation. But I do know you can maybe not fall in love but certainly start a romance which will need time to make sure it will last. But Hallmark movies do this don’t they.
I love the whole idea of a Roadtrip Romance. Trapped together in a small space.
Great point! Thanks for commenting.
True. Like happens a lot quicker than love, usually.
Love that story about your parents! And, yes. We Americans tend to take shorter vacations maybe multiple times a year instead of all at once. Always interesting to find our differences. Thanks for sharing.
It definitely makes for different situations than normal, right? 😊
I don’t believe in love at first sight either I HATE insta love unless it’s fantasy like that bond of werewolves in twilight that I saw as a teenager hahaha “I look into your eyes I see your whole life and our future and I know we’ll be a couple” ok …I think so but not in real life. Those few stories where “Peter saw Sally, fell in love and got married two months later and are still married 30 years later” I think it’s… almost luck and the right circumstances for example if Peter and Sally were both Christians missioning in a country …at least we know they have faith in common.
I guess sometimes you can meet someone for a short time, and a basis for love is formed… or fall in love if you managed to see several things about him in a short time for example if the heroine of a romantic thriller is kidnapped along with others people, the hero in little more than 48 hours proves to be a strong leading man, of unshakable faith that he even receives a bullet for her by covering her with his body. I can believe that she falls in love with him.
Well, I can honestly say my hero doesn’t take a bullet for my heroine. But he does several other really nice things. :)
I do not think there is a clear cut answer. It depends on the two people involved as well as if there is a spark. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I completely agree. My parents were engaged within three months. It took my husband and me over two years. Every relationship has a different timeline. Thanks for commenting.
it depends
I think they will end up in a great future together
I think she’ll end up with him & they will have a loving life together
Everything depends on something, right? 😂
I like your optimism!
Sounds fun to me. I love happy endings!