Books in which the hero and heroine are already together

anon1001 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:49 pm **Posts:** 621

The Progial Wife by Susan Fox
The SEcret of Us by Roxanne Henke contemporary inspirational
Through Every Storm contemporary inspirational
The Cowboy's Baby by Patricia Thayer
The Trouble with Joe by E. Richards
Separate Beds by L. Spencer (couple gets married early)
Morning Comes Softly by D. Macomber
Duncan's Bride by L. Howard
All of Carolyn Davidson's boooks the couples get married in the first chapter
In Name Only by Janet Bieber

nikkiphilton · **Posted:** Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:54 pm

I am reading another of Mary Balogh's older regencies, The Ideal Wife, and they get married very early in the book.

Quote:

When Abigail Gardiner knocks at the door of Miles Ripley, Earl of Severn, the last thing she expects is a marriage proposal. Desperate, she'd come to this charismatic stranger's home to plead for her future. Instead she shocks them both by saying yes. Her impulsive decision will have consequences neither she nor her new husband can foresee. For Miles has his own reasons for marrying her. And Abigail is harboring a secret of her own. As distrust gives way to desire... as, together, they give in to the pleasures of the marriage bed, a devastating scandal threatens their future. Now these two wary hearts will risk ruin and disgrace for a love that has changed them both forever--the kind all seek, but few ever find.

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

hopeless romantic wrote:

Mona1 wrote:

I'm not sure about the in Death series, dreading reading that many books in one couple.

Mona--I felt exactly the same way before I read 'Naked In Death', the first Eve Dallas/Roarke book by J.D. Robb. BOY, WAS I WRONG! I have been madly scouring every ubs/thrift store/garage sale to find all 30 of them.

Eve and Roarke meet in the first book (she is a police lieutenant and he is a suspect in her case) and they are together from then on, although it is not always a smooth road for these two. They marry in the third or fourth book (I cannot recall the title right now) and he gradually becomes a great help to her in solving the horrific crimes she is assigned to investigate and solve.

This is a beautiful relationship; both come with heart-breaking baggage from their pasts but manage to mesh their polar-opposite lives with love and respect (however grudgingly on Eve's part!).

Do reconsider trying this series, and, if you do, I hope that you will enjoy and cherish it as much as I do.

HR

Thank you everyone for the Suggestions.

Hopless in romantic your post persuaded me to try out the in death series.

Just finished the second book and I really liked it. One of the reasons I was reluctant to read them is that I like pure romance in my books, but this one worked. Thanks

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

anastacyann wrote:

DawnCWN wrote:

I have also considered staring the JD Robb series, but then I heard there is a huge mistake that Roarke makes with a women (does he cheat on Eve?) Someone wrote something about this - and apparently Eve forgives him for (something) really easily. I don't think I can start a series knowing that the hero will cheat on his heroine (especially if I'm with them for 2 dozen+ books).

He doesn't cheat on Eve. I heard that too and asked on the spoiler board before I read more. It was actually one of my favorite books. Highlight below for the real story:

They are at dinner and run into his ex-flame (or more accurately she runs into them on purpose). Eve sees him look at her and for a moment there was a 'spark' in his eye. He never thinks about cheating on her or anything. But the woman, being like some women are, tried to drive a wedge between them. She conveniently is with Roarke when Eve is around. He never realizes what the ex-flame is doing to Eve. Roarke's jack-of-all-trades Summerset even sides with Eve in the situation. Finally toward the end Eve walks into their house and just as she walks into the room the ex-flame throws herself at Roarke and kisses him. He is stunned. Eve punches her in the face and has Summerset throw her out of the house. Roarke and Eve finally talk and he tells her that he doesn't believe she is jealous, that the woman is just a friend. Luckily Eve saw the woman throw herself onto Roarke and his shocked expression, so she believes him. After a while in the conversation when Eve is explaining how she sees things Roarke realizes how the woman made him her mark and he goes about his revenge.

In what book does this happen.

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

Ali wrote:

Try Suzanne Enoch Samantha Jellico series. There are five books total and the first has them meeting and starting a relationship. Sam is a thief and Rick is of course a billionaire. The books follows their relationship as Sam tries to give up her old life and start a security business.

The books are:
Flirting with Danger
Don't Look Down
Billionaires Prefer Blondes
Twice the Temptation
A Touch of Minx

I bought all the books in the series, what a waste of money. I absolutely hated the heroine, she was ungreatful brat to the hero and because of her could not carry on with the series. I hope Eve does not turn out like that.

anastacyann · **Joined:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:04 pm **Posts:** 696

Mona1 wrote:

He doesn't cheat on Eve. I heard that too and asked on the spoiler board before I read more. It was actually one of my favorite books.

In what book does this happen.[/quote]

Innocent in Death (book 28). Like I said he doesn't cheat and it was one of the better books IMO.

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

anastacyann wrote:

Mona1 wrote:

He doesn't cheat on Eve. I heard that too and asked on the spoiler board before I read more. It was actually one of my favorite books.

In what book does this happen.

Innocent in Death (book 28). Like I said he doesn't cheat and it was one of the better books IMO.[/quote]

Thanks. Can I ask your view in which books of the series is the romance between Eve and Roake more the focus rather than the suspense.

anastacyann · **Joined:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:04 pm **Posts:** 696

Mona1 wrote:

Thanks. Can I ask your view in which books of the series is the romance between Eve and Roake more the focus rather than the suspense.

It seems like the first few really focus on the romance, then she switches to every other book does. I don't know if that makes sense. But even with the suspense books there are important relationship moments and key things that you really don't want to miss out on. Even my least favorite - Loyalty in Death, because of the 'bad guy' - has very important moments in the series and is a crucial book. And even in the more suspenseful books, there are very romantic moments and you can see the strength in their relationship.

Are you not wanting to read the entire series because it is so long? Or are you not interested in suspenseful books?

The reason I ask is that once you start the books, the series does seem to fly. I don't know if this is due to the fact that all of the action only takes place over the course of a few years, or that you love the characters so much, but they are worth the time. As for the books being suspenseful, they are, but there is a romantic note woven throughout all of them.

I promise they are worth the time. I couldn't make myself read them until last year - even though I had the entire series - I kept holding back for some reason. Finally, last year I decided I had to read them because some had been in my TBR over a decade. I read Naked in Death and immediately read the rest of the series. A few books I read individually 3 or 4 times since then, and I am in the middle of rereading the entire series again.

hopeless romantic · **Joined:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:02 pm **Posts:** 553

Mona1 wrote:

Ali wrote:

I absolutely hated the heroine, she was ungreatful brat to the hero and because of her could not carry on with the series. I hope Eve does not turn out like that.

Mona--Like you, I have a real problem with heroines who are difficult. You sometimes wonder why the hero puts up with them...love is blind, I guess.

Eve Dallas, due to circumstances in her past, has built a protective wall around herself. She lives alone, works when she is not sleeping and few people are close to her. She is dedicated to her job as a police lieutenant, providing a voice for the dead by solving their murders. To her horror, she is attracted to and flummoxed by a suspect in one of her cases--the devastatingly handsome Irish billionaire Roarke. He scares the life out of her! Each book beautifully describes how he works past the wall around her and into her heart, but she does fight it. It is truly a joy to watch as these two work their way toward harmony, respect and love. Eve is most definitely a wonderful heroine once you understand her background.

HR

anastacyann · **Joined:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:04 pm **Posts:** 696

hopeless romantic wrote:

Mona1 wrote:

Ali wrote:

I absolutely hated the heroine, she was ungreatful brat to the hero and because of her could not carry on with the series. I hope Eve does not turn out like that.

Mona--Like you, I have a real problem with heroines who are difficult. You sometimes wonder why the hero puts up with them...love is blind, I guess.

Eve Dallas, due to circumstances in her past, has built a protective wall around herself. She lives alone, works when she is not sleeping and few people are close to her. She is dedicated to her job as a police lieutenant, providing a voice for the dead by solving their murders. To her horror, she is attracted to and flummoxed by a suspect in one of her cases--the devastatingly handsome Irish billionaire Roarke. He scares the life out of her! Each book beautifully describes how he works past the wall around her and into her heart, but she does fight it. It is truly a joy to watch as these two work their way toward harmony, respect and love. Eve is most definitely a wonderful heroine once you understand her background.

HR

Well said, HR. Eve does have a wall, but I think that she does a good job of trying to let Roarke in. I don't think she acts ungrateful and definitely doesn't get anywhere near brat territory. She does sometimes hold onto her opinions a little longer than most people, but Roarke generally steamrolls her and takes care of her anyway.

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

anastacyann wrote:

Mona1 wrote:

Thanks. Can I ask your view in which books of the series is the romance between Eve and Roake more the focus rather than the suspense.

It seems like the first few really focus on the romance, then she switches to every other book does. I don't know if that makes sense. But even with the suspense books there are important relationship moments and key things that you really don't want to miss out on. Even my least favorite - Loyalty in Death, because of the 'bad guy' - has very important moments in the series and is a crucial book. And even in the more suspenseful books, there are very romantic moments and you can see the strength in their relationship.

Are you not wanting to read the entire series because it is so long? Or are you not interested in suspenseful books?

The reason I ask is that once you start the books, the series does seem to fly. I don't know if this is due to the fact that all of the action only takes place over the course of a few years, or that you love the characters so much, but they are worth the time. As for the books being suspenseful, they are, but there is a romantic note woven throughout all of them.

I promise they are worth the time. I couldn't make myself read them until last year - even though I had the entire series - I kept holding back for some reason. Finally, last year I decided I had to read them because some had been in my TBR over a decade. I read Naked in Death and immediately read the rest of the series. A few books I read individually 3 or 4 times since then, and I am in the middle of rereading the entire series again.

I want to read whole series, but I don't want to get bored with them if I read consecutive books in which it's mainly suspense. To reserve my interest in the series, I would like to first read the books in which the focus is on Eve and Roake relationship. I found Glory in Death really interesting and loved the conflict and how the relationship started to develop between them. I would love it if the other books were like this one. I like suspense as long as it does not over shadow the romance. I thought Linda Howard's dream man had the perfect perfect combination of both.

lynn4 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:13 pm **Posts:** 1566

Mona1 wrote:

I want to read whole series, but I don't want to get bored with them if I read consecutive books in which it's mainly suspense. To reserve my interest in the series, I would like to first read the books in which the focus is on Eve and Roake relationship. I found Glory in Death really interesting and loved the conflict and how the relationship started to develop between them. I would love it if the other books were like this one. I like suspense as long as it does not over shadow the romance. I thought Linda Howard's dream man had the perfect perfect combination of both.

In my humble opinion, I think that you would lose out on the development of the relationship - plus the development of the secondary characters - by skipping around. Think of the relationship as that of a real couple - the relationship builds slowly and steadily and each step to becoming who they are as individuals and as a couple depends on what came before. In addition, romantic elements scatter throughout each book - and to be honest, some of my favorite moments quite possibly come in books that someone else might consider heavier on the suspense.

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

hopeless romantic wrote:

Mona1 wrote:

Ali wrote:

I absolutely hated the heroine, she was ungreatful brat to the hero and because of her could not carry on with the series. I hope Eve does not turn out like that.

Mona--Like you, I have a real problem with heroines who are difficult. You sometimes wonder why the hero puts up with them...love is blind, I guess.

Eve Dallas, due to circumstances in her past, has built a protective wall around herself. She lives alone, works when she is not sleeping and few people are close to her. She is dedicated to her job as a police lieutenant, providing a voice for the dead by solving their murders. To her horror, she is attracted to and flummoxed by a suspect in one of her cases--the devastatingly handsome Irish billionaire Roarke. He scares the life out of her! Each book beautifully describes how he works past the wall around her and into her heart, but she does fight it. It is truly a joy to watch as these two work their way toward harmony, respect and love. Eve is most definitely a wonderful heroine once you understand her background.

HR

In romance usaully what you see is the doormat heroine against the alpha hero whom she never stands up against. But when the hero is actually being the nice guy, the heroine is ungrateful and plays hard to get.

Eve is actually a different kind of heroine, she is tough but at the same time she appreciates Roake and is starting to show her emotions. I loved the scene in Glory in death when she broke down. It's rare to see this type of heroine.

Mona1 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:47 pm **Posts:** 92

lynn4 wrote:

Mona1 wrote:

I want to read whole series, but I don't want to get bored with them if I read consecutive books in which it's mainly suspense. To reserve my interest in the series, I would like to first read the books in which the focus is on Eve and Roake relationship. I found Glory in Death really interesting and loved the conflict and how the relationship started to develop between them. I would love it if the other books were like this one. I like suspense as long as it does not over shadow the romance. I thought Linda Howard's dream man had the perfect perfect combination of both.

In my humble opinion, I think that you would lose out on the development of the relationship - plus the development of the secondary characters - by skipping around. Think of the relationship as that of a real couple - the relationship builds slowly and steadily and each step to becoming who they are as individuals and as a couple depends on what came before. In addition, romantic elements scatter throughout each book - and to be honest, some of my favorite moments quite possibly come in books that someone else might consider heavier on the suspense.

You make good point about the development of the characters. At the moment I have no plans to jump books, I'm planning on continuing to read the series in order, I would only skip a book if it can't contain my interest, but hopefully that will not happen.

Can I ask those who have read all the books, the order you would rate them. it was not my plan but think I have turned the thread into a review on the in death series. :lol:

hopeless romantic · **Joined:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:02 pm **Posts:** 553

anastacyann wrote:

Eve does have a wall, but I think that she does a good job of trying to let Roarke in. I don't think she acts ungrateful and definitely doesn't get anywhere near brat territory. She does sometimes hold onto her opinions a little longer than most people, but Roarke generally steamrolls her and takes care of her anyway.

anastacyann--I agree with you wholeheartedly. Eve is neither ungrateful nor 'bratty'; she is just clueless when it comes to being in an equal and loving adult relationship. She is opinionated but her reasoning is generally well thought out (and in many cases she is right). I, too, enjoy how Roarke works things around to his advantage without making Eve feel disrespected and not hurting or dismissing her feelings. Mmm...love that man!

HR

hopeless romantic · **Joined:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:02 pm **Posts:** 553

Mona1 wrote:

Can I ask those who have read all the books, the order you would rate them. it was not my plan but think I have turned the thread into a review on the in death series. :lol:

Mona--I have read the first 7 books and will soon be starting number 8 'Conspiracy in Death'. I would rate all so far as 4.5 stars with 'Rapture in Death' (number 4) holding a slight edge as my favorite so far.

HR

Laura Stamps · **Posted:** Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:11 am

Wow, I never rec my own books, so this feels kinda weird. :shock:

But if you like romantic paranormal erotica you might enjoy my "The Rune Witch Series" trilogy. The h/h are already a couple, and the series is about how their relationship progresses over a major bump in the road. I'm not a romantic suspense author. I'm a relationship author, so that is my fav plot.

Anyway, the three novellas in this trilogy are $1.99 each in the Kindle store and in pdf on my books site at:

http://www.avampskiss.blogspot.com

There is an excerpt there too from the first chapter of the first novella ("Sex Magick"). Just click on the "The Rune Witch Series" button at the top of the page.

Gypsy · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:48 pm

Thanks for the info Laura - I will have to check these out.

Laura Stamps · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:42 am

You're welcome, Gypsy. Gotta say I love your userpic, gf! I'm a MAJOR Pooh fan. Or I should say a Piglet fan.

Gypsy · **Posted:** Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:57 am

LOL - yeah - Eyeore is my favorite followed closely by Tigger. Totally opposites of the spectrum but I love them both. :mrgreen:

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