Title: Bad For Me
Series: Rock Canyon #5
Author: Codi Gary
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Avon Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Callie Jacobsen isn't about to open her heart to just anyone. Not so very long ago, trusting someone changed her life forever—and not in a fun way. Now she's better off focusing on her career, her friends, and her dog. So when former Marine Everett Silverton takes an interest in her, Callie's more than a little wary. No matter how charming he is, men are a bad idea. In fact, she's got the scars to prove it. But Everett isn't convinced Callie should shut everyone out—especially not him. He may be a hero to the people of Rock Canyon, but he's got his own demons, and he bets they're not that different from Callie's. Still, he knows it's going to take more than chemistry to get her to let her guard down. Everett will do whatever it takes to show her she's safe with him. All she has to do is take a chance, take a step … and take his hand.
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The Romantic Conflict Verification
For those of us who love romantic movies, comedies, or shows, there is a formula. The meeting, the courtship, the conflict, and the HEA. You might notice that the title sounds a lot like an episode title from The Big Bang Theory, which is one of my favorite shows. Although the quirky sitcom isn’t set up like a traditional romcom, the front running couple, Leonard and Penny, have had a series of relationship conflicts that had us hanging on for the last eight seasons. And even though it doesn’t HAVE to stick to the standard romance rules, it just wouldn’t make since if they didn’t end up together, right?
However, even though I expect and am waiting for the conflict shoe to drop, it doesn’t mean I’m not roaring with outrage and frustration. Once I fall in love with a couple, I can’t wait for the first kiss, the progression of the relationship and the HEA, but there HAS to be conflict (otherwise, all books and movies would be pretty short and kinda boring.) But one of the most used conflicts is the “miscommunication/misunderstanding”. And even though I have used this same formula, it doesn’t mean I get any less frustrated.
Take the show, Reign. I love this show, but I have never been #teamfrancis. Therefore, I wasn’t so sad when Francis’s decision to leave Mary in the dark cost him her love. Except I am majorly pro-Conde and he is making the same mistake by not a) trusting Mary and b) being honest with her about his brother’s blackmail and the marriage to Elizabeth. During the episode, I was booing and hissing him for pretty much putting another nail in the coffin of an already impossible relationship, but one that I have fallen hopelessly in love with! And all he had to do was come clean about what was going one with him.
As frustrating as this conflict is, most people can sympathize or related to it, despite how much we as the outsiders can look at the whole situation and yell, “JUST TELL HIM THE TRUTH, DAMNIT!” But how many times have we kept back a secret or fudged a bit about our past to a significant other, only to have it come back to haunt us? This conflict is part of a moral theme that “honesty is always the best policy”, even when it’s scary as hell. So, although it may leave us grimacing or screaming, depending on your personality, there is a reason why this is one of the most successful and beloved conflict formulas.
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