Romance Book Annotation

First Impressions
By Nora Roberts


Synopsis:

Escaping the rat race and the lure of gold-digging women, wealthy businessman Vance Banning moves to a small, rural retreat, telling the townsfolk that he's an out-of-work carpenter. All he wants is peace, quiet, and to keep away from women. So the last thing he needs is a charitable neighbor, especially a beautiful, gracious, and persistent neighbor of the female persuasion, but there's something about Shane Abbott he just can't ignore. Vance is certain his cover story will stop his lovely neighbor from getting too friendly, but Shane is determined to break down his resistance. He has no idea how relentless Shane Abbott can be when it comes to giving a helping hand...or a loving heart.

Elements of Romance:

A love story dominates the plot:

The story revolves around Vance and Shane's relationship, with the other characters often commenting on said relationship and the action in the novel pretty much only shown to further their relationship.

A happy ending is assured:
Vance and Shane end up together in the end, and no one is surprised-- it is a romance novel, after all!

Writing allows the reader to experience the emotions vicariously:
Throughout the novel, the author allows the readers to hear the thoughts and feelings of the characters.  This allows the audience to connect with Vance's somewhat reluctant growing affections for Shane and Shane's shock and sense of betrayal near the end of the novel before everything is resolved and happy again.

Characters grow and develop into their romance:
When they first see each other in the town's general store, Shane and Vance both feel a connection between them.  However, while Shane attempts to be friendly, Vance wants none of it in the beginning.  The story follows a stereotypical storyline of the couple getting to know each other better because they are working on a project together-- Shane's Antique store and museum-- and they begin a to form an ever-stronger relationship.  There are the expected challenges, such as Vance resisting taking their relationship too fast due to his resistant heart and Shane's manipulative "mother" Anne who is only after Shane's grandmother's inheritance money, but the beautiful couple triumphs over all adversities and struggles to live happily ever after together in the end.

Characters are often archetypes:

Shane is a "Romance-genre" stereotypical beautiful, independent woman who lives alone, can eat however much she wants seemingly without gaining any weight, and is starting her own business.  She's loved before and been burned, but now she knows what she wants-- Vance to marry her-- and will stop at nothing to make him fall in as deep of love with her as she is with him. 

Vance is a complete stereotype as he is a millionaire, president of a successful company, and somewhat cold and broody in the beginning because he has been burned by "love" before and resists falling in love again.  Because he does not share his complete story with Shane in the beginning of their relationship, instead somewhat hiding his wealthy and successful status, Vance seems "mysterious" and "has secrets" Shane wants him to feel comfortable revealing to her, in his own time.

Often get the view of both protagonists:

The author allows the readers to see all character's thoughts and emotions throughout the novel, even the side characters.  This way, the readers can more greatly share in feeling the emotions our protagonists are feeling as well as observe how the side characters view their relationship, such as Shane's wonderful and supportive friend Donna and Anne, Shane's manipulative "mother" who practically abandoned her into the care of Shane's grandmother after she was born.

Read-a-likes:
Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber

The Carpenter's Lady by Barbara Delinsky

Always and Forever by Betty Neels

Temptation by Nora Roberts