I found this in the drafts...guess I lost track of it.

Karey White has written some novels and a couple of novellas. I have followed her work faithfully. She writes romances. I escape in romances. Her latest accomplishment is the completion of a three book series. Because I like neat, tidy packages, I was somewhat distraught when I completed the first one, The Husbandmaker- the girl didn't get the boy!! I have known Karey for over thirty years, so I lamented to her (do I say it that way?) over my irritation. She assured me that there were two more books on the way. I read each book on my Kindle the very day it came out. So you can imagine my joy when the third book, The WifeMaker came out on Valentine's Day. Like others, I read it in one sitting. It's a romance, so I won't be spoiling anything when I tell you I was quite satisfied when the boy got the girl. Sigh.
As I considered the romances I like, in novels and movies, I have come to some conclusions. These are my observations and opinions on the subject of romantic stories.

1) Romantic novels would be nothing without pride. Unrelenting, "I'm right", "I won't back down" stubbornness, "cut my nose off to spite my face" pride. And fear. Afraid to feel. Afraid to hurt "again". These are the basis of the conflict that the couple has to overcome to discover their feelings find their true love.
These are truly human emotions. We deal with fear and pride at different levels and in a variety of individual expressions. In my experience, these deeply ingrained attitudes take more than one decision to get over; rather, it takes day in-day out effort to overcome the habits. And then we find another level and expression of pride/fear to face and deal with. That is reality. Funny, I would chose romance to escape, right back to pride and fear. I guess it just seems so much easier in fiction.

2) My particular favorites storylines are boy desparately loves girl, conflict, frustration, girl gets over herself and realizes who has always been there for her-Sweet Home Alabama, The WifeMaker, 28 Dresses, Gone With the Wind, and the like.

I smirk as I type this. In real life, I don't know that it always works out so well. Sometimes the other just moves on. I did. I never pined for anyone that let me go. And once I decided a relationship was over, I never looked back.