The Bachelor Finale: It’s All About the Romance (and an early read of The Prince’s Bride!)

I’m so excited to have Julianne MacLean guest blogging today with her overview of The Bachelor!  Read on!  (And leave a comment for a chance to win an advance reading copy of The Prince’s Bride, coming in May!)

If you’re a hard core Bachelor fan like I am, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You tune in week after week to enjoy this guilty pleasure, and you wait eagerly for the fairy tale ending with a gorgeous Prince Charming, who gets down on one knee and proposes to the lucky woman who wins his heart over all the others.

Just like any good romance novel, there’s plenty of conflict and sexual tension along the way–and if we’re lucky, at least one cartoonishly evil villain will step out of the limo each season to keep the drama cooking.

This year it was Tierra—the most emotional and self-absorbed bachelorette we’ve seen in a while, or maybe ever. Thank you, producers, for selecting her to be on the show (although I think Little Miss Nevada was confused and thought she was on “Toddlers in Tiaras”). I can’t say I was disappointed when Sean kept her around week after week.  She was the jaw-dropping train wreck that kept me riveted and awestruck. I just couldn’t look away.

Thank you also, for bringing us Courtney, who snagged the final rose during Ben’s season (are they still together?  I’m guessing no…).  Courtney provided me with unexpected inspiration for a female villain subplot in one of my novels. She unblocked my muse. Does that mean I can deduct part of my cable bill? Sure, why not.

But what about Sean and Catherine? The 2013 season finale just ended, with a seemingly equal fan base for both the bachelorettes who made it to the final rose ceremony.  I hate to admit this—because I’m a romance novelist and I should have had this pegged—but I thought Sean was going to pick Lindsay.  There was just something that felt right between the two of them and I loved her family. I was heartbroken when he rejected her, but she handled it with class and dignity. Surely she deserves some consideration for a future season of The Bachelorette?

Before then, however, we will see the return of Desiree, who will slip into some more slinky gowns, repel down a mountain or two, and maybe bungee jump off a bridge.  Good choice, producers. Like the rest of Bachelor Nation, I adored Desiree.  She was gorgeous, outdoorsy, and charming.  I just hope her brother can learn how to play nice this time.

But back to Sean and Catherine. As I mentioned, I thought it was going to be Lindsey (was it a clue that she wore silver and Catherine wore gold?), but when I watched him propose to Catherine, I was sucked in like every other hopelessly romantic Bachelor fan, and was weeping into the sleeves of my fuzzy bathrobe when he slid the ring on her finger and she looked like she needed an oxygen mask. Now that’s good television.

Yes, I respected Sean’s mom, who worried about his tough decision and said cautiously, “You don’t have to propose to anybody.” I would probably say the same thing in her shoes, but as an incurably hopeless romantic, I shouted at the TV: “But America WANTS you to!”

Thank heavens he did get down on one knee.  What would it be without the giant sparkly ring and the triumphant orchestral crescendo? We are all grateful for the happy ending, which is why I for one will continue to tune in to ABC on Monday nights whenever roses are being handed out.

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If you love happy endings with a handsome Prince Charming, please leave a comment and tell me what you thought about this season’s Bachelor Finale

Or if you don’t watch the show, tell me your favorite series on television right now.  The Walking Dead? Mad Men? Family Guy? 

One lucky random commenter will win an autographed advance reading copy of my upcoming release THE PRINCE’S BRIDE, which hits bookstores on May 1.

 Marriage is more than she ever bargained for.

Bestselling author Julianne MacLean’s Regency-era trilogy of royal romance comes to a breathless conclusion…

Handsome Prince Nicholas of Petersbourg is an infamous ladies’ man, but even he doesn’t expect a flirtation at a masquerade ball to turn into abduction. Especially with a jailor as temptingly beautiful as the young woman on the other side of the locked door …

Veronique Montagne was desperate when she agreed to kidnap a prince to settle her profligate father’s gambling debts, and certainly didn’t imagine that her prisoner might sweet-talk her into helping him escape. Saving her home is now the least of her troubles, especially when the attraction simmering between her and the angry prince blazes into true passion. To save them both from scandal, Nicholas proposes a convenient marriage—but when a vengeful plot threatens to tear them apart, he discovers that Veronique’s love is what he desires most of all…

 

Julianne is a USA Today bestselling author of over 20 romance novels. Visit her website at www.juliannemaclean.com for more information about her books and writing life.

Thanks so much to Julianne for visiting! Don’t forget to leave a comment to win and ADVANCE copy of THE PRINCE’S BRIDE!