Books › Touch Me in the Morning
Touch Me in the Morning
First published 1987 · 384 pages
A classic vintage romance that explores the delicious tension between a woman's repressed daytime reality and her passionate, secret fantasies.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage 1980s romance feels like indulging in a cozy, nostalgic daydream. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, pulling you into the delicious tension of a classic office dynamic where still waters run deep. It is steeped in a mood of wistful yearning, capturing the stark contrast between a repressed, buttoned-up daily existence and a rich, passionate inner life. The prose is emotionally direct and unapologetically romantic, perfectly suited to the era's dramatic flair. It delights in the slow unraveling of the heroine's inhibitions as her fictional fantasies begin to bleed into her waking reality. This is a perfect, escapist read for anyone who loves the trope of the overlooked wallflower finally stepping into the spotlight to claim her own real-life leading man.
- Mood
- yearning
- escapist
- cozy
- Tone
- earnest
- playful
- romantic
- wistful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- hidden identities · fantasy versus reality · workplace tension · shedding inhibitions · unrequited longing
- The writing
- The writing is accessible and emotionally direct, leaning into the dramatic, swoony hallmarks of 1980s category romance.
- The arc
- The protagonist journeys from safely hiding behind a repressed, fictionalized version of herself to bravely embracing real-world vulnerability and passion.
- Who it's for
- Readers who adore vintage office romances where a seemingly mousy heroine harbors a rich, passionate inner life.
Content notes
- workplace power dynamics
- dated gender roles
About the book
She wrote of romance but longed for love...Theo lived a double life. From nine to five, the horn-rim-bespectacled, prudish "Miss Grace," ever-efficient secretary to lady-killer James Hackett, earned enough money to support the after-hours real Theodora.
And since romance was not something she associated with James Hackett, it was surprising that the passionate tales she wrote starred a leading man with a remarkable resemblance to him.
She couldn't help wondering though if she would ever live--and love--in her own life, so happily ever after!
Description from Open Library.
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