Books › At Odds With Love
At Odds With Love
First published 2003 · 288 pages
A gentle, tea-steeped romance where a practical arrangement slowly blossoms into quiet, enduring love.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like wrapping yourself in a warm, familiar blanket on a rainy afternoon. It is a masterclass in the low-angst, deeply comforting romance, moving at a leisurely pace that allows the reader to savor every cup of tea, buttered biscuit, and quiet glance. The atmosphere is steeped in a soothing, nostalgic domesticity, where grand dramatic gestures are traded for the quiet competence of a steadfast partner and the safety of a shared home. The prose is polite and unfussy, grounding the marriage-of-convenience trope in sensible conversations and unspoken, simmering affection. It will absolutely delight readers who crave a clean, old-fashioned love story that prioritizes emotional security, gentle courtship, and the profound romance of everyday companionship.
- Mood
- cozy
- soothing
- domestic
- nostalgic
- quiet
- Tone
- gentle
- polite
- earnest
- traditional
- comforting
- Pace
- leisurely
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · unspoken affection · domestic comfort · safe harbor · quiet devotion
- The writing
- Unfussy and polite, lingering affectionately on comforting domestic details, hearty meals, and sensible conversations.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from practical uncertainty and quiet longing to the warm, secure realization of mutual devotion.
- Who it's for
- Readers looking for a completely clean, low-angst romance wrapped in old-fashioned sensibilities and cozy domesticity.
Content notes
- traditional gender roles
- mild medical situations
About the book
When Jane needed help, she was amazed that it was the charismatic surgeon Nikolaas van der Vollenhove who tore himself away from his busy schedule to come to her rescue. A renowned workaholic, it was obvious that he had no time for anything - or anyone - in his life. Which was why his marriage proposal came as such a shock. Just why did he want Jane for his wife - if not for love?
Description from Open Library.
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