It seems that every romance reader has their own personal favorite tropes that
theyโre drawn to when they select a romance to read. You know, those little
hooks like secret baby, enemies to lovers, brotherโs best friend stories that
they just canโt get enough of? One of my longest standing favorite tropes is the
Ugly Duckling to Swan/Makeover trope. You know, when the girl, for whatever
reason, is never really โseenโ by the man of her dreams until some miraculous
makeover?
Fortunately, my idea of a swoony-worthy ugly duckling retelling has changed from
when I was thirteen to now. Back then, it seemed the idea was that WE had to be
the ones to change, like poor Sandy did for Danny in Grease. Today Iโm glad that
we can recognize that if our heroine ended up with a guy who only saw her AFTER
the big makeover, sheโd be stuck with a superficial twit who never really loved
her for her inner beauty and character.
When I set out to write this ugly duckling story, I wanted the woman to be funny
and spirited and already attractive in her own personal wayโbut lacking the
confidence to see herself in the role of beauty to anyone. Benny Sorensen, I
knew, would fit that bill, and the only man for her would be playboy and ad man
Henry Ellison, her own personal Henry Higgins if you will.
Can I just say how much I loved and adored writing about Benny and had so much
fun experiencing her coming into her own, despite her own misgivings and
insecurities? She was so witty and charming and funny that Henry Ellison was
bound to fall in love with her, andโI donโt think Iโm giving any spoilers when I
sayโhe does fall for her. Hard.
Hereโs a quick peek at one such tutelage session:
โGet him talking about something he likes. Check. Nod and smile, look as if
Iโm hanging on his every word. Check. Giggle and laugh at everything he says
because my brain is too soft and empty to have anything more to do than engage
him. Check.โ
He smiled at the annoyance in Bennyโs voice. The disgruntled look on her
face. โOh, and donโt forget to lean forward as much as you can, preferably in a
low-neckline top with a lacy bra underneath.โ
โShould I baby talk, too? Maybe ask him if I can massage his feet?โ
โIf you think it might help.โ Her brows drew together in vexation again, and
he chuckled. โOkay, Iโm not saying you have to do all this. ButโIโm not proud to
admit thisโall men, even the best of us, are still little boys underneath. We
want to be assured that a woman likes us. Finds us irresistible. But itโs a fine
line. You want to be interested but not an easy conquest.โ
โIโve lost half my brain cells just listening to all of this.โ She set her
plate down.
โJust give it a try. Also, lick your lips a lot. You have great lips. You
want to draw his attention to them. Make him want to kiss you.โ
โAll those years in medical school, and now Iโm resigned to licking my lips
to elicit his interest. Great.โ
โYouโre forgetting the bigger picture. These are just little tricks, small
steps you can take to initially capture his interest. His attention. Once Lukeโs
looking at you with more than clinical interest and more actual bona fide sexual
interest, then itโs up to you to keep his attention. Engage him in any debate or
whatever burning medical question you two might want. Just be sure that when
itโs all over he still wants to slip his tongue down your throat.โ
She wadded up her napkin and threw it at him. โYouโre disgusting.โ
He grinned. โBut I know what Iโm talking about.โ
For fun, I came up with a list of some of the most memorable makeover movies
that I grew up with and loved.
Sorensen Family
(Book 3)
Doctor Benny Sorensen has had it up to here with her party-throwing
playboy neighbor. Sheโs declaring war. She doesn't care how gorgeous or charming
he is, he's going down. That is until he proposes something she's not sure she
can say no to...
Wealthy ad man Henry Ellison lives an uncomplicated life that revolves around
work, women, and partying. In that order. Until Benny storms into his life. To
placate his attractive but hotheaded neighbor, Henry offers to help her land a
date with the man of her dreams. Only as Henry makes her over and coaches her on
the fine art of flirting, he realizes that the idea of this woman in any other
manโs arms but his own is unacceptable. But Benny's a forever kind of girl and
forever might just be the one commitment he can't make.
Romance Contemporary
[Entangled Bliss, On Sale: July 25, 2016, e-Book,
ISBN: 9781633757202 / eISBN: 9781633757202]
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