LS Phoenix's Blog, page 11

Two Very Different Men (and Why They Both Matter)

The best love triangles aren’t about picking between a “good guy” and a “bad boy.” They’re about emotional tension. Identity. The hard truth that sometimes, two very different people can each hold a piece of your heart—and neither one is easy to walk away from.

In A Taste of Gratitude, the triangle forms around Addison, and the two men who pull her in opposite directions.

Landon is the past that still lingers. A love she never fully got over. He’s passion and chaos, the boy who broke her heart and the man who still makes it race. He knows the old version of her—the one who was younger, softer, and maybe a little more afraid.

Caleb is steady. Unexpected. He was never supposed to be more than a distraction, but ended up being exactly what she needed. He listens. He sees her. He’s a gentleman… until he’s not. And when he takes up space in her life, it’s in a way that’s impossible to ignore.

What makes them both matter isn’t just their chemistry with Tessa—it’s what they reflect back at her. One reminds her who she was. The other challenges her to see who she could be. And if you’ve read the story, you know: it’s not as simple as choosing one. Because sometimes, loving one doesn’t mean you’ve stopped loving the other.

The Anatomy of a Real-Stakes Triangle

Not all love triangles are created equal. Some are built on nothing but jealousy and conveniently bad timing—but the ones that stick with us? They’re layered. Messy. Real.

A compelling triangle doesn’t rely on petty rivalry. It’s about emotional truths colliding. One love might feel safe—familiar, nostalgic. The other might challenge everything they thought they knew about themselves. Maybe one sees the version they used to be, while the other sees who they could become.

The stakes feel real when the love is real on both sides. When there’s shared history. When there are wounds that never quite healed. When it’s not just “who do I want to kiss?” but “who do I want to be when this is over?”

In the story I’m writing, she didn’t mean to fall for either of them—especially not both. One is the man she was supposed to marry. The other is the one who’s always seen through her mask. And maybe the biggest twist? These two men are starting to see something in each other, too.

What happens when she loves them both—and they’re not so sure they hate each other either?

That’s when a triangle becomes a firestorm. And honestly? I live for it.

Why We Love Love Triangles (When They’re Done Right)

Love triangles might just be one of the most hotly debated tropes in romance. For every reader who’s all in on the tension, the angst, and the impossible choice, there’s another who avoids them like a secondhand heartbreak.

I get it—some love triangles feel like filler drama. A distraction. A guarantee that someone ends up broken. But when they’re done right? They’re not just compelling—they’re unforgettable.

Because the best love triangles aren’t about indecision. They’re about desire vs. duty. Comfort vs. chemistry. Who we were vs. who we’re becoming. They let us explore the complexity of human connection, the kind that doesn’t always fit in neat little boxes.

Personally, I love writing triangles that hurt—but not for the sake of pain. I love watching characters wrestle with real emotional stakes: “What if I love them both?” “What if choosing one means losing part of myself?” “What if they don’t want me to choose at all?”

And just maybe… not all triangles end in heartbreak. Some end in possibility.

If you’ve ever rooted for both love interests and secretly wished the story would take a very different turn—I think you’re going to love what’s coming next.

Book Quote...Not a Serial Killer

The fact that she had to clarify he’s not a serial killer tells you everything you need to know about the vibe of this romance.Also… yes. That’s his contact name. And yes, it stays.

Confession Time - Unpopular opinion:

I like when characters make messy, terrible choices.I don’t want perfect people falling perfectly in love.I want disaster humans who hurt each other, say the wrong thing, push love away—and then claw their way back to it.Give me the heartbreak. The consequences. The regret.Give me the slow, painful, beautiful redemption.Because sometimes the mistake is what makes the story.So tell me— What’s a character decision that made you yell “NOOOO”……but also made the book unforgettable?

Confession Tim - Unpopular opinion:

I like when characters make messy, terrible choices.I don’t want perfect people falling perfectly in love.I want disaster humans who hurt each other, say the wrong thing, push love away—and then claw their way back to it.Give me the heartbreak. The consequences. The regret.Give me the slow, painful, beautiful redemption.Because sometimes the mistake is what makes the story.So tell me— What’s a character decision that made you yell “NOOOO”……but also made the book unforgettable?

Reader Favorites: Late-in-Life Romances That Stole Our Hearts

Y ou asked, I listened. Here are the love stories that prove it’s never too late for a beautiful beginning.

All week we’ve talked about the power of late-in-life romance—how it’s tender, earned, emotionally rich, and deeply satisfying. Today, I wanted to shine a light on the books that deliver. Some are quiet. Some are steamy. All of them center characters 40 and up who remind us that love still matters—and maybe matters. more—the second (or third) time around.

Here are a few of my go-to reads:

1. “Before I Let Go” by Kennedy Ryan

A divorced couple navigating grief, co-parenting, and rediscovery? Gutting, real, and redemptive.

2. “The Forever Girl” by Jill Shalvis

Found family, mature friendship, and second chances wrapped in warmth.

3. “One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston

While the main romance is younger, the supporting characters’ love stories (including Jane’s past) offer beautiful glimpses of late-in-life desire and devotion.

4. “It’s Never Too Late” by Kathryn Nolan

Romance between two former high school enemies who reconnect in their 40s. Smoldering slow burn with emotional weight.

And some reader favorites submitted on social media and through the newsletter:

“The Shell Seekers” by Rosamunde Pilcher – “It’s not a traditional romance, but the love and longing in it wrecked me in the best way.”

“Begin Again” by Emily Henry – “The MC’s mother’s subplot hit so hard. Her second-chance romance made me cry.”

“Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes – “She’s a widow in her late 30s, on the cusp of 40, and her rediscovery of self and love? So good.”

These stories remind us that love isn’t just for the young—it’s for the ready. The open. The ones who’ve lived and are still willing to feel.

If you’ve got a favorite late-in-life romance I haven’t mentioned, drop it in the comments. I’d love to build an even bigger rec list from your voices.

Why We Need More Romance After 40

Love doesn’t stop being beautiful just because the characters have laugh lines and a mortgage.

Romance has always celebrated firsts—first crush, first kiss, first love. But what about second love? Or love that arrives at 47 with a crooked smile and two teenagers in tow? What about desire that’s quieter, but deeper? What about the woman who thought that part of her story was over, only to find herself falling—slowly, and then all at once?

Late-in-life romance isn’t just a niche. It’s a necessity.

We need it because:

People over 40 fall in love every day.

Desire doesn’t disappear with age.

Healing, growth, and discovery don’t stop at midlife.

And yet, most mainstream romance still centers youth. Smooth skin. Clean slates. No baggage. But love that comes later? It’s not lesser—it’s layered. These are characters who know heartbreak. Who’ve raised families, buried parents, survived divorces, and reinvented themselves more than once. And when they find love? It means something different. Something more.

Readers want to see themselves on the page. That includes women with silver hair and men with aching knees. It includes queer love at 50, widows rediscovering passion, and single parents who haven’t prioritized themselves in years. These stories remind us it’s never too late to feel chosen. Desired. Loved in a way that’s steady, not flashy.

Representation matters. Not just for diversity in race, gender, and sexuality—but in age, too.

Because love doesn’t expire. It evolves.

10 Reasons Late-in-Life Love Feels So Damn Earned

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching someone who thought they missed their shot… get exactly what they deserve.

Late-in-life romance doesn’t hand out happy endings like candy. It builds them. Slowly. Carefully. With characters who’ve lived through enough to know that love isn’t always grand gestures or big speeches. Sometimes, it’s a quiet door left open. A chance taken when the risk feels terrifying. A yes that comes decades after the first no.

Here’s why these stories hit so hard—and why the love in them feels earned:

They’ve had to heal first. Love that comes after loss, divorce, or disappointment feels richer because it’s layered with growth.

They’re done performing. These characters don’t fake it for anyone. They know who they are—and what they want.

They’ve loved before. And that history shapes how deeply they feel when love comes around again.

They’re not chasing fairy tales. They want connection, not perfection. Something that lasts, not just something that sparkles.

Their priorities are different. Love has to fit into real life—family, health, career changes, grief—not around it.

They understand compromise. But they also know when to draw a line. That balance is hard-earned.

They choose each other daily. There’s no “forever” promised—just a hundred tiny choices that say, I still want this.

Their baggage isn’t hidden. It’s right there on the table. And love grows around it, not in spite of it.

There’s a quiet bravery to it. To try again. To trust again. To open yourself up when it would be easier to stay closed.

It surprises them. They thought it was too late. And then—love shows up anyway. That moment? That’s everything.

Late-in-life romance doesn’t feel earned because it’s hard. It feels earned because it’s true. Built from experience. Lit by hope. Rooted in choice.

Next up: Why these stories matter more than ever—and what we’re missing when we ignore romance after 40.

The Chemistry of Comfort: Why Intimacy Hits Different After 40

When you’re older, love isn’t about the chase. It’s about choosing each other—every day, with open eyes and open hearts.

We’re so used to romance being loud—explosive chemistry, quick wit, fast lust. But in late-in-life love stories, the most intimate moments often come in the quiet. A touch on the back while doing dishes. A look across the room that says, “I see you. I still see you.”

This is the chemistry of comfort—and it’s deeply underrated.

When you’re over 40, you’re not trying to impress. You’re trying to connect. You don’t need fireworks to feel something real. You need safety, understanding, and someone who knows how to hold your heart without dropping it.

You’re no longer performing love. You’re living it.

In these stories, intimacy grows from conversation, from shared history or common reinvention. There’s heat, absolutely—but it’s built on trust. It simmers instead of scorches. It unfolds over time instead of burning out fast. And because of that, it lingers.

The best part? These characters are often more comfortable in their skin. They’ve loved and lost. They’ve made mistakes. And now they know what they want—and what they won’t settle for. That clarity makes emotional intimacy feel bolder, more confident, and more honest.

A kiss at 50 can feel more electric than one at 25, not because it’s new—but because it’s true.

These are the love stories where physical closeness is rooted in emotional safety. Where the bedroom scenes aren’t just about bodies—they’re about lives lived, boundaries honored, and trust built.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about why late-in-life love feels so earned. Because when it comes after heartbreak, rediscovery, and decades of becoming—love doesn’t just happen. It’s chosen.