Friday, April 13, 2012

Partners in Love

I cut my teeth on the grand old partner romance TV shows of the 80s. You know the ones I'm talking about—Remington Steele, Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Moonlighting. Those shows that first elicited the question, "When are they ever going to get together?"

Then came the 90s, The X-Files and the quintessential partner lovers, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Dozens of knockoffs later, we have a fresh batch of new partner romances, including as Bones and Booth. Castle and Beckett. DiNozzo and Ziva. Michael and Fiona. And probably a dozen more on shows I don't watch.

Sexual tension between partners is an old, time-honored tradition, and why not? Partners in love rock!

When I was plotting my new series, Cooper Security, I knew I wanted to do at least one story about work partners who struggle past their fears and the conflicts keeping them apart to find love with each other. I enjoy starting a story where the characters already have a strong basis as friends. It's like having shorthand to the romance, in some ways. But the friendship also complicates the choice of taking the step into intimacy in a way that two strangers meeting and becoming involved doesn't. What if taking the relationship into the romantic/sexual realm destroys the camaraderie and connection that make the partners so good together? What if it changes the whole dynamic of the relationship, not only with each other but also with the people around them?

I also like undercover stories. The stakes go exponentially higher when a character must pretend to be something he's not, especially if having his cover blown put his life at grave risk. Toss in a faked death, an insular clan of redneck drug runners and a couple of ruthless mercenaries and you have my April book, Secret Hideout, featuring former FBI agent Isabel Cooper and the man she thought she'd lost but could never forget. How about a blurb?

They came after former FBI agent Isabel Cooper in her hotel room. Drugged and fighting for her life, she ran right into the arms of a dead man. But Ben Scanlon was very much alive, and now her life was in his hands, too.

His face was rougher and his hair longer than when they'd last met, but he still carried himself like a born Texan. Undercover with the same redneck mafia that was after her, Scanlon thought he could save Isabel without revisiting their past together. But when every step led to a trap, and every touch they shared had a consequence, he wasn't going to waste a second chance—or another bullet.

So, how about you? Do you love partner romances? Do you have a favorite fictional partner couple? Is there a couple on TV or in a book series you've read that you'd love to see finally release some of that sexual tension building like a wildfire between them? Tell us all about it!

12 comments:

  1. I do enjoy shows like that. At least with Michael and Fiona they have already been together and are now on-off so it leads to even more tension between them.
    I'm getting tired of Castle and Beckett - I'm to the point of 'get on with it already'.
    I do remember on Moonlighting after they did come together - the show didn't work anymore.
    DiNozzo and Ziva - they are cute together. It's like they know something is there, but don't at the same time. If that makes sense.

    Great post.

    MarcieR

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  2. Sometimes I like shows like that but I grew tired of Castle and Beckett and Booth and Bones and quit watching them. I grew up reading instead of watching TV and pretty much have migrated back to that.

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  3. I love work tension loves! Castle and Beckett are favs right now but all of them listed are fun!

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  4. Oh,the impatience, Marcie R! My big sexual tension couple was Mulder and Scully. I persisted even when the showrunner and everyone else was telling me they were strictly platonic. So a couple like Castle and Beckett seem to be racing toward the finish line in comparison! LOL

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  5. I've given up a lot of TV, Ellen, but mostly because I need the time to write. But I love reading, too, and I've found I read more now that I have my Nook Color and can read at night in the dark. I can just read myself to sleep that way.

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  6. Yay, Connie! A TV viewer after my own heart! :) I hope you'll give SECRET HIDEOUT a read and tell me what you think of it.

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  7. I can't wait to read this book. I love partner/reunion stories, just for the delicate balance the characters have to strike between love and friendship. I'm aggravated with Castle and Beckett and want to smack them both! Right now, I'm just crazy for Raylan Givens and wish Justified would come back on. Love that man!

    LindaC

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  8. Laura AKA Loves 2 Read RomanceApril 13, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    I don't watch a ton of TV. I use to watch Castle but I have lost track and my Dad is a big fan of NCIS so I totally understand the Ziva & DiNozzo connection MarciR was talking about. It reminds me what would happen in high school with my friend. She would like a guy but he would be with someone else. Then she would find someone. While she was dating that person the first guy would end up broken up and express interest in her. It's like they end up interested in each other at different times typically when the other is unavalible. I think that is what MarciR was saying. Now I'm not so sure lol! Anyways I like the sound of your new book Paula I will have to check it out.

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  9. I'm going to be dating myself here, but I never missed an episode of The Avengers--the one from the 1960's. The chemistry between Steed and Mrs. Peel was AMAZING!! Paula, I have Secret Hideout on my Kindle. It is next in line! Always enjoy your books. Thanks!!

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  10. Ooo, the Avengers. I'm not sure I was actually watching them when they were on live, but I definitely remember the reruns!

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  11. I'm sure I was around when the show was on, but I might have been still watching Scooby Doo at the time... ;)

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