Kristen Callihan: Enemies to Lovers

There’s something quite delicious about seeing a couple move from enemies to lovers. After all, they are supposed to hate each other. How can they be suddenly finding this person attractive? How can they be thinking about them at all hours? It just won't do! Oh, but when they finally kiss, it’s a bit like forbidden fruit, isn’t it? One taste, and they crave more. As readers, we crave more.

I think my first notice of the enemies to lovers trope was in Star Wars with Han Solo and Princess Leia. As a kid, I didn’t get it. Why was Leia kissing Han when CLEARLY Luke Skywalker was the better prize? When Han had been such a jerk to her? Heh. I think back on that now and can only shake my head. How did I prefer Luke over Han? How did I not see the sparks flying between Leia and Han from the first time they met?

Because that’s the thing, for a good enemies to lovers story to work, there has to be sparks. The characters might rub together like oil and water, but it’s clear to all that they want each other. And maybe that’s part of the reason they fight it so hard. Neither of them wants to be the first one to bend.

In SHADOWDANCE, Jack and Mary have been at odds for four years. Now they are forced to work together on a murder investigation. Being in such close proximity, all day, every day, makes it much harder to hide their attraction to one another. And because they’re both stubborn, they fight this growing desire, until it can’t help but combust. I had such fun with that. And such fun with their banter, which moves from cutting to grudging respect to loving.

So tell me, do you have a favorite enemies to lovers book? Movie? Leave a comment for a chance to win one of Four copies of Shadowdance!

Kristen Callihan

***Kristen's winners are Eli, Laurie, Mary and Alina! Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com. Thanks!***