Books › The positive approach
The positive approach
First published 1987 · 192 pages
A classic 1980s marriage-of-convenience romance where pragmatic business deals inevitably melt into passionate, undeniable love.
What it feels like
This vintage 1980s romance delivers the quintessential marriage-of-convenience fantasy with a distinctly Australian flavor. The pacing is brisk and emotionally charged, sweeping the reader into a world where pragmatic business arrangements inevitably collide with messy, undeniable passion. The mood is steeped in romantic tension and yearning, as a heroine seeking independence finds herself entangled with a fiercely independent maverick hero. The prose is direct and melodramatic, perfectly capturing the heightened emotional stakes characteristic of classic category romance. It is a deeply satisfying read for fans of old-school Harlequin Presents who delight in watching a purely transactional relationship slowly unravel into genuine vulnerability and hard-won affection. Expect dated but deliciously dramatic relationship dynamics that keep the pages turning.
- Mood
- tense
- yearning
- romantic
- nostalgic
- Tone
- earnest
- melodramatic
- passionate
- pragmatic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · business vs pleasure · emotional vulnerability · quest for independence · hidden desires
- The writing
- Direct and emotionally heightened, leaning into the dramatic internal monologues typical of 1980s category romance.
- The arc
- Moves from hesitant, pragmatic detachment to overwhelming, passionate romantic commitment.
- Who it's for
- Readers who devour vintage Harlequin romances and love watching a purely transactional marriage melt into genuine love.
Content notes
- dated gender dynamics
- mild emotional manipulation
About the book
"It's a perfect arrangement," Ben said
But Sarah, 28, had her doubts. She'd only just freed herself from a long engagement and Ben's proposal came much too soon. And for all the wrong reasons.
He insisted theirs would be strictly a business deal--one that would get him off the hook with the tax department. In return he promised to finance her dream of having her own fashion boutique in Sydney.
The offer was tempting, yet Sarah knew a self-styled maverick like Ben, 34, wouldn't take kindly to the demands of a real wife and family. And, though they hardly knew each other, she knew that what she really wanted was a proper marriage.
Description from Open Library.
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