For those of you who have been spellbound every Sunday night watching the sumptuous feast that is Downton Abbey I’m curious, are you as anxious as I am wondering if they will or they won’t?
It seems every Sunday night I worry, wonder, and wait to see if John Bates, Lord Grantham’s stalwart and endearing valet, will finally rid himself of his evil wife Vera and live happily ever after with the head housemaid Anna Smith. Theirs is the kind of romantic love that fuels the soul even if it has yet to be fully realized. You know in your heart that when they finally do get together it will be both explosive and sublime. Yet watching them work their way to each other is pure torture. Each week the ordeal of their circumstances drives my anxiety level up a notch or ten.
The same holds true for Lady Mary Crawley and Matthew. Will they or won’t they? Will she finally tell him she loves him? Will he be open to her love after being rejected the first time? And will he forgive her if he ever finds out her secret?
As an avid romance reader I know I should be able to deal with the angst that is so much a part of the journey the hero and heroine need to take to their Happily Ever After. But no matter how many romances I read, or watch, I still find it difficult to undertake that journey with them. Many times I find myself yelling at the television or book –“enough already – get on with it! You know you love each other, now get out of the way and just embrace it!” But alas, the journey to love can often be fueled by torment and tribulation making the hero and heroine fight for each other.
Let’s face it, some of my absolute all time favorite romance books and couples are all about the angst. They’ve become my favorites because of their willingness to bear the strife of the sometimes arduous road to love.
The following couples get my vote for the BEST ANGST RIDDEN ROAD TO LOVE:
• Sara Fielding and Derek Craven in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas.
• Zadist and Bella in Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #3) by J.R. Ward
• Beth Ackerly and Ian Mackenzie inThe Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashely
• Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser in Outlander (20th Anniversary Edition) by Diana Gabaldon
• Gwen Cassidy and Drustan MacKeltar Kiss of the Highlanderby Karen Marie Moning
• Sienna and Hawke in Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling Series #10) by Nalini Singh
• Jade and Dr. Elliot Drake in Beyond the Night by Joss Ware
• Freyja Bedwyn and Joshua Moore in Slightly Scandalous (Bedwyn Family Series) by Mary Balogh
I guess, in reality, I really do love the anguish, and the question will they or won’t they is just part of what makes them so special.
Who are your favorite angst ridden couples?
dhaupt
on
Marisa, Great group of angst filled romantic duos,
I think my top pick would reflect my top picked novel of 2011
Harper and Nick from My One and Only by Kristan Higgins
but these choices from your list are a close second, third, forth, well you get the picture
Zadist and Bella, Claire and Jamie, also Beth and Ian.
And I'm looking forward to Thorment's novel coming up in just short while by JR in her BDB series. I have been begging offering my soul or whatever I can to get a pre-pubbed, but no one is sharing 
Thanks for as always a great article, and if I watched tv, I know I'd watch this, I caught a few mins of it Sunday, but I was sick and was delirious most of the time. 
Melissa_W
on
@Deb - if you get Netflix, season 1 of Downton Abbey is streaming right now
Regarding Jennifer Ashley, I'd have to say ALL of the Mackenzie brothers are on the angst-ridden road to true love. Ian with his Illness, Mac and Isabella, Cameron with his trust issues. Can't wait to see how Hart turns out in the fourth book (comes out in April, I think).
And then I have to add Jane and Rochester from Jane Eyre. They're my favorites.
