posted on June 30, 2020 by Ophelia London

Sweet Romance

Hi, my name is Ophelia, and I write about romance. I read about romance. I eat, drink, talk and breathe romance. Romance makes me happy. Have I mentioned I love romance? But let’s talk about the writing part.

My newest novel, Never an Amish Bride, hits all the elements of your standard romance: chemistry galore, private settings, a sassy, likeable heroine with emotional baggage, and most importantly, a smexy reformed “bad boy” hero with deep secrets and a killer smile. You’re welcome. Because my stories are always heavy on the make out sessions and lovely sexual tension, but light on the serious naked time, a lot of people have asked why I haven’t tried writing a full-on squeaky-clean novel.

“Surely,” they say, “there’s less pressure to write the bedroom scenes in a story like that, yeah?”

True. And good point. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good “inspie.” And, generally speaking, yes, the apex of an inspirational romance isn’t necessarily when the hero and heroine tumble into bed. More often, it’s a first boyfriend, a first kiss or the first time they say “I love you” to someone. So sweet, those firsts.

When it comes to my own writing, I’m less interested in telling stories about first loves, and more interesting in telling stories about last loves. The loves that stick. The forever soul mate kinds. The true happily ever afters. Ooh! I get chills just thinking about all that love!

Admit it, one of the reasons we adore Jane Austen is because her stories end in a wedding. Darcy and Elizabeth against the world. Case closed. In romance, there’s nothing quite as satisfying ask knowing there really doesn’t have to be a next book…we know everything is going to be all right. Love had conquered all and we can go to sleep. (Although I do love a juicy epilogue that ties everything together. And PS: I give you one in Never an Amish Bride.)

When it comes to contemporary, Katie Fforde is one of my favorite authors, and has been for over a decade. Seriously, her voice never gets old! I think what attracts me to her little love stories is, well first of all, they take place in the English countryside (the most charming setting ever!), but mostly because many of them end in a proposal—sometimes these proposals are shouted. Her heroes are bossy in the sexiest way. Look her up; she’s fabulous.

As both a reader and a writer, I’ve been chasing those happily ever afters for as long as I can remember. So, here’s to first loves, last loves, and those of us who are somewhere in between. Until we all find our own bossy Mr. Darcy (and he better have a swoony accent!), let’s keep reading and daydreaming until it comes true!

What is your favorite heat level in a book? To you like the hot and spicy? Or do you prefer the sloooow burn?

Ophelia London

Ophelia London

USA Today bestselling author Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas and she's lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her time watching arthouse movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously through the characters she writes. Ophelia is the author of NEVER AN AMISH BRIDE; WIFE FOR THE WEEKEND; AIMEE & THE HEARTTHROB; CHALK LINES & LIPSTICK; DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE; the Sugar City series; the Abby Road series; and the Perfect Kisses series. Visit her books HERE. But don't call when Dawson's Creek is on.

https://ophelialondon.com/

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