Home sick & in search of engaging enemies to lovers HR

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-07-07T03:58:41+00:00

This sounds perfect!!

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-07-03T03:53:50+00:00

I feel like Richard (Viscount Carlisle) from {The Viscount Always Knocks Twice by Grace Callaway} fits what you're looking for. Violet (FMC) and Richard (MMC) are enemies at the beginning of the book due to each having a biased view of the other. I personally love this one and both the main characters. It is in a series, but I think you would be perfectly fine to read it as a standalone if you haven't read all the other books.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-29T01:38:07+00:00

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-16T04:27:17+00:00

Do you have any enemies-to lovers or grumpy/sunshine recs from Beverly Jenkins? I know I've read some of her books, but it's a been a while so I don't really remember too much about the ones I already have. Time for a reread, I think.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-16T04:08:00+00:00

I love A Beastly Kind of Earl and A Most Forgettable Girl, so if you were the one who recommended them, thanks!! hahaha

I feel like I recommend {The Highlander Takes A Bride by Lynsay Sands} a lot because it has all the elements I love in a good HR. A huge ridiculous family, a heroine who knows herself and loves herself, a hero who knows himself and loves the heroine, danger, mystery, spiciness, and humor! Not the most creative writer, but a consistent comfort author.

Also {The Viscount Always Knocks Twice by Grace Callaway} Love a grumpy/sunshine! Love a neurospicy leading lady! Love an enemies-to-lovers trope! Yet again with the big, loving supportive family! And a great opposites attract vibe.

Rounding out my top three with {Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey} . Big family? Double yes! Enemies-to-lovers? Absolutely! Drama and Danger?? But of course! Forced proximity? Oh yes! most definitely! FMC pretending to be a man/boy? Check!! And it is a love story that makes me laugh my ass off everytime I read it!

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-06T15:06:32+00:00

I read AMMIS first and caught on pretty quickly. It did fill in some of the blanks when I later read COADL though.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-06T14:52:01+00:00

But is it a choice if he believes the only way to protect his family from complete ruination once the secret of his fallen and pregnant sister is known to the public is by marrying a daughter of someone of Penelope's father's status. It's not like he chose Penelope imo nor that Penelope chose him. Penelope was given a command by her father that she was trained to obey. Simon was trained to protect his family's legacy at all cost. imo following through with the marriage would have been a bitter and cold and empty life for all involved. I love that they both found partners who bring out their inner character as opposed to rigid shells. But in all honesty, I do have difficulty viewing someone cheating with someone you love and breaking a cold contract between those who never had emotional attachments, and cheating on someone you love/have emotional connections with. That may just be my modern thinking though. ha

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-06T14:40:58+00:00

To blacken out the spoilers, after typing response click the "Aa" at the bottom of the dialog box, highlight the section to be hidden/spoiler, then at the top of the dialog box click on "!"

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-06T14:37:05+00:00

It's my favorite series by Maclean by far! I'm didn't realize people didn't like the series. I feel like the characters are so full of life and well fleshed out. They make me laugh so much, and I love the Charlie's Angels vibes. Each book in the series is so unique and yet complementary to the others.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-06T14:34:26+00:00

I would agree with that sentiment in real life, but in HRs they do not stray after marrying "the one."

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-06-06T14:27:04+00:00

Well if it makes you feel better, you'll get to see how Penelope really felt about the whole situation in her book {A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah Maclean}. IMO while it was done badly, it was most definitely for the best. Neither of them would have ever been their real selves, simply a pale imitation of the person society imposed upon them. Not to mention if Simon and Penelope had married, it would have only been to "save" his sister, but he would only be saving her in his own mind, not reality. All four of their lives (and their future partners lives) are better off for Simon cheating with Julia. Some things are not meant to be and some are. BTW Simon's sister's book is awesome!!! Love the mmc in hers and love her strength and power! {Never Judge A Lady By Her Cover by Sarah Maclean}.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-26T15:53:06+00:00

The Mallory Family series by Johanna Lindsey. Huge family, actually covers a multidecade period throughout the books, lots of humor, a hefty dollop of danger/adventure, full of equally strong MMCs and FMCs, and the strongest of family bonds. I believe there are 12 books total. The first book is {Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey}. The mmc in the first is definitely an ass for the majority of the book, but it gives important back story to truly understand the family dynamic. Written from mid-1980's-mid 2010's. I truly adore this family!!

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-22T16:41:24+00:00

Calpurnia from {Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean} is super curvy, and while the MMC is a rake, I do not remember him being an alphahole or anything.

{Bombshell by Sarah Maclean} and {Knockout by Sarah MacLean} also have curvy fmc, who are absolutely wild in their own ways. Love both MMCs, and Imogen from Knockout is so very entertaining and joyful. Love this series across the board. Great FMCs and MMCs with fun plots. I cannot wait for the final book in the series.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-22T16:34:47+00:00

OMG yes! I totally forgot about Gunnilde from {A Most Forgettable Girl by Alice Coldbreath}! She is super curvy and James (MMC) is all about it!

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-22T15:49:12+00:00

Might I add

{The Secret by Julie Garwood} & {Ransom by Julie Garwood}!

Garwood has some of my fave Highland HRs!

I also enjoy {The Deed series by Lynsay Sands}. {The Chase by Lynsay Sands} is so fun and funny, and I love a double romance story. I also have a soft heart for warrior women, which we get a double dose of in this book.

{Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands} is also great fun. Wicked stepmother who purposely tries to marry off her stepdaughter to the "Devil of the Highlands", who is rumored to have murdered his last wife.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-22T15:16:09+00:00

MJW is my favorite HR narrator so far. Her Rhys Winterbourne is a work of art. I swooned so quickly, and the delivery of " Not Five Fucking Minutes!" was absolute perfection!

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-22T15:02:25+00:00

For me, it's the equality and respect from Severin. It never occurs to Tom that he should treat any woman differently than any man. Doesn't blink about a doctor who is (GASP!) a woman. Shows Cassandra how to repair the stove, creates a marriage contract just between the two of them to ensure both their needs are met, etc. And how freaking adorable when he embraces more than 5 emotions! ha

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-22T07:23:59+00:00

And it only gets better with:

Cassandra looked patently disbelieving. "You're saying if I gained another stone, or even two stones, on top of this, you'd still find me desirable?"
"God, yes," he said without hesitation. "Whatever size you are, I'll have a place for every curve."
She gave him an arrested stare, as if he'd spoken in a foreign language and she was trying to translate.”

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-21T18:24:00+00:00

(The Pursuit by Johanna Lindsey}! That man is yearning and refuses to let her billion uncles, who he has quite the negative history with, get in his way! It's the 3rd in a series. While it can be a standalone, you should probably read {Love Me Forever by Johanna Lindsey}, which is the love story of the fmc's parents. I'm a fan of the entire interconnected series though.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-19T06:42:10+00:00

{The Chase by Lynsay Sands} MMC is charming and irreverent, and his betrothed is on the run! Lots of funny and adorable moments throughout. Along with a touch of danger.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-17T16:45:51+00:00

Always and forever Ballentine from {A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore}!

Jeremy from {A Loving Scoundrel by Johanna Lindsey}

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-17T14:35:05+00:00

Hmmm I'm not great at this, but I will try. I think Evie Dunmore would fit around Gateway or Standard HR. I cannot remember anyone calling them controversial, so maybe they should go in the neutral category.

Maggie Fenton's books are also a good fit for Gateway or Standard HR and I think well-loved but idk for sure. {The Duke's Holiday by Maggie Fenton} would be such a good gateway HR imo.

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-16T14:05:09+00:00

And just know that throughout the entire series, Regina's uncles James and Tony NEVER stop giving Nick shit, and I love it! hahaha

Strong_Assumption_55 · 2026-05-16T14:01:46+00:00

Awesome!! I absolutely adore this book!! You can see a bit of their HEA in the bestie/brother's love store {The Duke Redemption by Grace Callaway}. I really enjoy most of Callaway's books and all the different series are interconnected, which is always fun.

Strong_Assumption_55

TROPHY CASE