How do you feel about grand gestures in romance? Personally, I love them.
They’re not in every romance novel, but when they are, they capture my attention. In my opinion, they reflect the fearlessness of love and confirm that taking a leap of faith can result in a heart-melting happily ever after.
What is a grand gesture?
A grand gesture is a dramatic act by one of the characters—usually the hero—that demonstrates his deep love for the heroine. The bold, heartfelt action leaves no doubt that the hero is madly in love with her and can’t live without her.
Why I love grand gestures
A lot of times they’re extravagant, but what matters is that the heroine was chosen by this man to receive his love and affection. He’s showing her that she’s worth the effort and cost, no matter what those may be.
Their emotional appeal isn’t just about the act itself, but what it represents:
- vulnerability on the part of the hero
- the hero’s willingness to go above and beyond the normal expression of love
- a reminder that love is worth fighting for
- relief for the reader—that despite the troubles the characters endured, they will be together in the end
When do grand gestures occur in romance?
Grand gestures are the payoff after the emotional buildup in the story, which means we as readers have to care deeply about the characters. Only then will such a sweeping act of love be truly impactful.
Because of that, although they can take place at different points in the story, they’re most often seen in the last quarter of the novel, after the black moment (or the breakup) but before the very end. The dramatic display of love then serves as the catalyst for proving the hero’s devotion so he can win back the heroine.
Grand gestures can also occur in the middle of the novel, such as after the couple has faced a big challenge or overcome some type of obstacle. In that case, we’re more likely to see a stronger relationship afterward, or deeper intimacy between the hero and heroine.
Examples of grand gestures
I’ve occasionally written grand gestures into my novels, and I’m going to share examples from three of them: The Rules, Deeper Than Love, and Princess of Estoria.
Be forewarned, spoilers are incoming if you haven’t read these titles yet.
The Rules (The Johnson Family, book 4): This is an example of a grand gesture taking place in the middle of the story. After Terri’s building burned down, Gavin moved her into a private residence at the Four Seasons. When she hesitated to accept his gift, he said, “What kind of man do you think I am? How could I not take care of you when I have the means to do it?” Swoon.
Deeper Than Love (The Brooks Family, book 6): A grand gesture doesn’t require spending a lot of money. What makes it special is the sincere display of love for the heroine. When Nina is about to marry another man, Reese disrupts the wedding ceremony, fighting off security to yell, “Nina, marry me instead!” A man willing to lay it all on the line? Yes, please.
Princess of Estoria (Royal Brides, book 2): Prince Andres and Angela were madly in love, but his people wouldn’t accept her as his bride. So, he refused to ascend the throne and was willing to walk away from royal life to be with her. Call me clairvoyant, but the year after I published this story, which was inspired by Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry, Prince Harry walked away from the royal family. True love is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
Are grand gestures realistic?
Who cares? I enjoy the fantasy, love reading them, and will continue to write them.
Your turn
Have you read an amazing grand gesture in a book or seen one in a romantic movie that stuck with you? Share your favorites in the comments.
6 Responses
I’m a grand gesture kind of gal. There has to be a “you really like me” moment in a book when you know it’s real.
That’s a good way to describe it. There’s no ambiguity, and you know for sure the character is all in on the relationship.
For me, it was when Trent took Allanah to have dinner with her favorite foreign actor. When Cyrus made sure that whatever Daniella needed for her business was accessible to her. When Xavier, took Diana’s
ex-husband to task for how he was treating her! When Derrick who knew Eva did not want to marry him, made sure she had everything she wanted for their wedding. There are so many more grand gestures that captured me, these are just a few that come to mind.
Those are all good ones, and they happened in the middle of the stories!
I currently reside in Georgia and grew up in NYC, but I should have been from Missouri, because he would definitely have to “Show me”. Words are cheap, but action speaks volumes. The grand gestures, especially when thought out, meaningful, and unexpected seals the deal for me.
I see what you did there… 😊
We all believe actions speak louder than words, and a grand gesture ensures the heroine knows that she’s loved.