Books › Duel of passion
Duel of passion
First published 1989 · 189 pages
A delicious, angst-ridden game of cat-and-mouse where revenge is best served with a side of undeniable chemistry.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage romance feels like stepping into a sun-drenched, high-stakes emotional arena. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, driven by the delicious tension of a hidden identity and a long-simmering desire for payback. It is steeped in the dramatic, slightly melodramatic atmosphere typical of 1980s category romance, where every glance is loaded and every conversation crackles with unspoken history. The prose focuses heavily on sensory details and the intense internal monologues of a heroine caught between her pride and her heart. It perfectly captures the intoxicating, often messy collision of vulnerability and vindication. This is a deeply satisfying read for anyone who loves the angst of a makeover trope and the thrill of watching an arrogant hero finally meet his match.
- Mood
- tense
- sun-drenched
- emotionally charged
- Tone
- dramatic
- angsty
- vindictive
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- deceptive appearances · sweet revenge · vulnerability and pride · forgiveness
- The writing
- The prose is melodramatic and sensory, leaning heavily into the internal emotional turmoil and physical magnetism of its characters.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from a place of lingering humiliation and a desire for vindication to the complicated, vulnerable surrender of unexpected love.
- Who it's for
- Fans of vintage category romance who relish a good makeover trope and the delicious tension of a heroine turning the tables on an arrogant hero.
Content notes
- fatphobia
- body shaming
- emotional manipulation
About the book
She remembered his exact words
"An overweight owl" was how attractive financier Kyle Hart had described Sophie when she'd put on forty pounds for her big-break film.
He'd never bothered to look beneath the exterior; she'd only been Maisie, a physically unattractive woman whose so obvious infatuation with him had been laughable.
Only now, Sophie was back to her normal, slim self -- and Kyle Hart hadn't recognized the attractive woman on the beach. It was Sophie's chance to turn the tables on him -- but could she escape with her own heart intact?
Description from Open Library.
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