Friday, June 10, 2011

Artful Themes: Marriage of Convenience




One of my favorite romance themes is the marriage of convenience. A marriage of convenience is one which is forced for one or both parties due to compromising circumstances, pregnancy, or financial considerations. Mail order brides are included in this theme. Some compelling situation causes the hero and heroine to join together in holy wedlock to address a mutual need. The marriage may be instigated by either party or by some outside person or event. Love is not the motivating factor in the union of the couple. Emotions run the gamit from sorrow, fear and loathing to distrust and vulnerability. The reason is sometimes unclear because one of the couple is not honest about his/her feelings. John may already love Mary and he accepts her on whatever terms the situation requires. He may be unaware of his love for her, or he may enter the relationship having no inclination toward giving or receiving true love.

These relationships often begin with a mutual understanding of whether the couple will or will not share the joys of the marriage bed. Eventually, however, the situation changes. True to the romance genre, passions run high, trust and reliance step in, and before the hero and heroine realize it, love blooms. Some characters will fight the attraction vigorously, while others quickly accept their fate. Each character will react differently, giving rise to a marvelous, romantic story.


Why does the marriage of convenience appeal to me? I guess I like the idea of two people finding love in the midst of problematic situations. I enjoy the inner struggle for control of the heart when pitted against strong physical and emotional attraction.


The reader shares the quickening of hearts and feels the immediate attraction. You begin to care about the characters and root for love to conquer all. Finally,the reward-enjoying the expected happy ending. The author uses plot twists, villians or human fraility to keep the road to romance bumpy and unpredictable. Somewhere along the way, two searching hearts eventually come together. Here are a few of my favorites. Our "Artful Themes" feature reviews each novel. If you've read any of these, let us know what you liked or didn't like about them, which are your favorites and why, and anything else you want to share. I'd love to hear from you.

■SILKEN WEB, Sandra Brown
■TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, Sandra Brown
■TIGER PRINCE, Sandra Brown
■SUDDENLY, Candance Camp
■ENCHANTED LAND, Jude Deveraux
■ETERNITY, Jude Deveraux
■TEXAS DESTINY, Lorraine Heath
■TEXAS GLORY, Lorraine Heath
■WILDEST HEARTS, Jayne Anne Krentz
■SOMETHING BORROWED, Rebecca Hagen Lee
■LIONS and LACE, Megan McKinney
■MORNING COMES SOFTLY, Debbie Macomber
■THE MARRIAGE BED, Stephanie Mittman
■NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
■THE VOW, Dallas Schulze
■THE BAWDY BRIDE, Amanda Scott
■SEPARATE BEDS, LaVryle Spencer

No comments:

Post a Comment