Agoraphobia comes in many gradations. It is a panic disorder that can be triggered by

ide open spaces, crowds (social anxiety), or traveling (even short distances).

The sufferer becomes anxious in environments that are unfamiliar or where he or she perceives that they have little control. (Thank you Wiki)

 

My mother in law is agoraphobic. She has what we call a "five mile radius."  We live outside of her comfortable traveling distance. We are about a 100 miles to the south in a city where in her younger years she visited often and easily. 

 

And short of tranquilizing her with like Mr. T on the A Team with a sedative in her milk, she will never see our home. The kinds of treatments for this condition haven't worked for her. There is a great deal of sorrow for all of us in this fact but especially for her. 

 

So, when I read about Agoraphobia in Romance, I feel a tenderness. Love.

 

Here are some wonderful Romances which deal with what it means to struggle with Agoraphobia and build an intimate relationship at the same time.

 

My lists are never in any particular order. 

 

1. Beyond Repair by Charlotte Stein 5 Stars 

 

When Alice Evans finds a bona fide movie star on the floor of her living room, she has no idea what to do. Ordinary men are frightening enough, never mind someone as famous and frankly gorgeous as Holden Stark.

However, once she realizes that Holden is suffering behind that famous facade, she knows she has to help. He needs someone like her to give him a taste of sweetness and desire and love. He needs normality. The only problem—Alice is hiding a secret that is far from normal. In fact, her name isn’t even Alice at all.

And once Holden finds out, the intense connection they are just beginning to build may well be torn apart.

 

2.  Cool Shade by Theresa Weir

 

Maddie Smith has never been one to hang around any place too long. After losing her job as a late-night disc jockey, she has little reason to stay in Tucson. When she receives a message that her estranged sister has disappeared, she figures she might as well go to Nebraska and see what's up with her unreliable sibling. There she learns that her sister is linked to the mysterious Eddie Berlin, a recluse and a very sexy guy. Maddie takes a personal interest in Eddie as she searches for clues about the disappearance of her sister.

 

Meanwhile, Eddie is shouldering problems of his own. The former manager of a pop star killed by a crazed fan, Eddie feels responsible for the singer's death, and as a result, he hasn't wandered off his own property in more than four years. Still, he is attracted to Maddie, experiencing feelings he thought he would never know again. A stolen tape of a recording made by the late rock star and other clues bind the couple together. It soon becomes clear that these two deserve each other, and when they finally feel comfortable with the fit, they find they are greater as a pair than they could ever have been as individuals.

 

3. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

 

Miss Minerva Lane is a quiet, bespectacled wallflower, and she wants to keep it that way. After all, the last time she was the center of attention, it ended badly--so badly that she changed her name to escape her scandalous past. Wallflowers may not be the prettiest of blooms, but at least they don't get trampled. So when a handsome duke comes to town, the last thing she wants is his attention.

But that is precisely what she gets.

Because Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, is not fooled. When Minnie figures out what he's up to, he realizes there is more to her than her spectacles and her quiet ways. And he's determined to lay her every secret bare before she can discover his. But this time, one shy miss may prove to be more than his match...

 

4. The Shy Bride by Lucy Monroe

 

Thrust into the limelight, child star Cassandra timidly enchanted audiences night after night…. But when her parents died, Cass retreated into her own world—too shy to leave her home. Once a year she shares her musical passion by offering lessons in a charity auction…. This year, money talks. The winning bid: $100,000!

Enter Neo Stamos, arrogant Greek tycoon. He wants Cass with a burning desire, though he knows that, shy and sweet, she will need a gentle awakening…. But Neo's the master of seduction!

 

5. Summer Breeze by Catherine Anderson

 

The year is 1889, and Rachel Hollister hasn't set foot outside her house in five years. Ever since a savage attack left her family dead, she's cordoned herself off from the outside world, afraid to let anyone into her home-or into her heart. But now trouble has appeared on her doorstep-and suddenly she has no choice but to let a handsome rancher enter her well-guarded existence.

 

6. Soul Weaver by Hailey Edwards

 

Since the accident that nearly took her life, Chloe suffers from acute agoraphobia. Living alone above her family's bookstore, she spends restless nights terrified by strange visions . . . until a mysterious stranger appears and offers her salvation. Chloe is drawn to the ethereal, gorgeous Nathaniel-but her haunted soul warns her there is more to him than meets the eye.

An archangel who roams Earth collecting souls of the newly departed, Nathanial is the sole witness to the accident that should have taken Chloe's life. Seduced by the purity of her soul, he defies Providence by saving her life. But his attempt at kindness marks Chloe for damnation, and makes her an unwitting pawn in a game of unholy ambition. Now together they must fight the demons of Hell itself-for a love that defies the boundaries of Heaven and Earth.

 

7. Dog Crazy by Meg Donohue

 

As a pet bereavement counselor, Maggie Brennan uses a combination of empathy, insight, and humor to help patients cope with the anguish of losing their beloved four-legged friends. Though she has a gift for guiding others through difficult situations, Maggie has major troubles of her own that threaten the success of her counseling practice and her volunteer work with a dog rescue organization.

Everything changes when a distraught woman shows up at Maggie’s office and claims that her dog has been stolen. Searching the streets of San Francisco for the missing pooch, Maggie finds herself entangled in a mystery that forces her to finally face her biggest fear-and to open her heart to new love.

 

8. Honeysuckle Summer by Sherryl Woods

 

Her devastating marriage behind her, Raylene Hammond is truly thankful for her best friends, the Sweet Magnolias. They've taken her in, shielding her from the world. Then she meets sheriff's deputy Carter Rollins, and suddenly Raylene's haven no longer feels quite so safe.

Carter understands why Raylene is trapped inside. He's even taken to bringing the outside world to her. But with two kid sisters to raise, just how much time can he devote to this woman who's stolen his heart?

Raylene knows Carter is a man worth loving, but she may never be strong enough to accept what he's offering. How long can she ask him to wait? Maybe they'll never have more than this one sweet summer.

 

9. Once Upon a Dream by Jennifer Archer

 

When Professor Alex Simon moves to Canyon, Texas from England, he welcomes the opportunity to change his locale. Not only would he be aiding his recently widowed sister, but he would have a chance to forget a failed relationship.

 

Robin Wise is less than impressed by her new neighbor-- and his little devil-cat. The feline taunts her dog, and its stuffy owner has the gall to blame her pup for the squabbles. But at a second glance, Alex isn't quite as nerdy as he seems. As a matter of fact, when he isn't insulting her dog, he can be quite charming.

 

But Robin has her own problems. An inherited curse looms over her impending thirtieth birthday, and until Robin can overcome the hex, she can't indulge in any fantasy she might have regarding the more-perfect-by-the-minute professor. No matter how she wishes she had the courage to act on the awakened desire in her heart.

 

10. When the Rancher Came to Town by Emma Cane

 

Bed-and-breakfast owner Amanda Cramer wants nothing more than a quiet, private life. Well, she wants guests too, but after suffering her share of unwanted notoriety, she's gotten comfortable hiding out in her inn … perhaps a little too comfortable. When her newest customer arrives—tall, dark, and breathtaking—Amanda begins to question her self-imposed exile.

Ex-rodeo star Mason Lopez knows all about the limelight. He'd avoid it if he could, but since one last ride could mean saving his family's ranch, he'll go all in. When he gets to Valentine Valley for the Silver Creek Rodeo, Mason checks into the Connections B&B and finds himself immediately drawn to the beautiful, reserved woman who owns it.

Mason has only three days in town … can he convince Amanda to open her heart to him and welcome the world back in?

 

 

Did I miss your favorite? Let me know! Vote on my Goodreads list: Inside: Agoraphobic Romance Leads

Even Professors have to go back to school! 

 

Enjoy these Professor Heroes of Romance Heroes and none of these heroines are their current students. 

 

1.  The Key by Victoria Darkins 

 

Jack and Carrie are lost souls. Jack is an eminent university lecturer in English Literature who suffers from quadriplegia after a spinal cord injury in his late teens. Having convinced himself that he was better off on his own he has closed the door on any romantic entanglements and instead directed all his energy into his work. 

Carrie is trying to unchain herself from a cruel, neglectful and guilt ridden childhood. She has earned a place on a degree course of her dreams but it comes at a costly price. 

Both are thrown together by Mary, a mutual friend and past social worker, who has hatched a plan to help Jack and Carrie with their predicaments. Carrie becomes Jack's live-in carer securing her with an income and unexpected benefits. 

Will it be too late from them to find out that they both hold the key to unleash each other from the chains that hold them to their past? A key that will unlock their hearts.

 

2. Try A Little Tenderness by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb

 

A struggling college student by day and stripper by night, Lola Bordenaux is definitely not looking for love, until one day it literally sweeps her off her feet...and into the nearest Emergency Room. It's impossible to resist the unconditional love and unbelievably hot sex offered by her former professor, Peter Koss. Intrigued by the possibilities presented by a virginal mate, Lola can't wait to mold him into the perfect lover.

Lucky for her, this boy genius learns quickly and is very good with his hands, his mouth, and assorted other body parts. Giddy with their new found love, they quickly move in together, but Lola can't resist the appeal of the strip club, and their relationship is trashed in her wake.

Five years later, older, wiser, and determined to achieve all her ambitions, Lola returns to the school and the man she has always wanted. But it will take more than apologies to win him back. First, they'll have to fight together for their lives.

 

3. The Temptation of Rory Monahan by Elizabeth Bevarly 

 

He was a man of books, all right, but Rory Monahan had no explanation for his new reaction to lovely librarian Miriam Thornbury. Something was suddenly different about her. He’ d never noticed that her legs were so long… or her lips quite so full.

Why, it was almost as if the sultry but sensible Miss Thornbury was trying to seduce him!

Well, two could play at this game. After all, he was a scholar— it was time he figured out what was up with her. Even if it took all day— and all night.

The things a man will do in the name of research…

 

4. Don't Tell by Karen Rose 

 

Since escaping her abusive cop husband and moving to Chicago seven years earlier, Mary Grace Winters has reinvented herself. With the help of a safe house for battered women, she changed her name to Caroline Stewart and her son's to Tom and secured a secretarial position at Carrington College. But unbeknownst to Caroline, her husband is on her trail, determined to reclaim his son and kill anyone who stands in his way. Meanwhile, Caroline struggles to live a normal life and open her heart to the love of a good man, Max Hunter

 

5. Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros 

 

Can two strangers who meet (and tweet) by chance find a love strong enough to last a lifetime? That’s the question former literary sensation Abby Donovan is forced to explore when she meets Mark Baynard on Twitter. Mark, an English professor traveling the world, shatters Abby’s writer’s block one witty tweet at a time. Just as she begins to write and live again, she discovers Mark is hiding a secret that could change both of their lives forever. In the tradition of Sleepless in Seattleand You’ve Got Mail, two lonely people discover it doesn’t take 140 characters to find your soul mate, just three little words.

 

6. Off the Edge by Carolyn Crane

 

SHE MAY BE HIS WORST ENEMY… 
For deadly secret agent Peter Macmillan, language is a weapon—one he uses to hunt criminals, destroy plots, and charm enemies. Seducing information out of a beautiful singer in a Bangkok hotel should be easy…except this particular singer has the power to destroy his cool façade, and with it, his last defense against a dark past. 

HE MAY BE HER ONLY HOPE… 
He tricked her. He helped himself to her body and her secrets. He has enemies everywhere. Laney Lancaster should hate Peter, but when she discovers him shirtless, sweaty, and chained up in the hotel’s dungeon, all she can think about is freeing him. Because she knows what it’s like to be trapped and alone. And she could use a dangerous friend. 

They might be wrong for each other, but the instant they join forces, Laney and Peter are plunged into an odyssey of hot sex and dark danger. To survive, they must trust each other with their lives—and their hearts. 

 

7. A Lesson in Temptation by Audra North

 

Adam Harkness pulled himself out of poverty to become one of the world's most respected Finance professors, but at the cost of his personal life. When a well-meaning friend gifts him with a dance course, Adam decides to attend one class out of courtesy, but no more than that. He has work to do, after all - or at least, that's what he tells himself.

 

After being bullied in high school, Julie Stanton took refuge in her studies. But now that her hard work has paid off and Julie has found success in her job, it's time to focus on finding the same happiness in the rest of her life.

 

When Adam walks into the same tango class that Julie signed up for, she recognizes him immediately as the professor whom she had a crush on in college. Both Adam and Julie have proven themselves to be excellent scholars. But when the attraction between them turns into something more, will they be able to open their hearts and learn a new lesson - how to love.

 

8. Unscripted by Jayne Denker 

 

One of Hollywood’s hardest working women is about to discover there's a lot more drama behind the camera than in front of it...

 

Faith “Freakin’” Sinclair probably shouldn’t have called her boss a perv…or grabbed his “privates.” But as creator of the hit dramedy Modern Women, she’d had enough of his sexist insults. Now she’s untouchable in the industry—not in a good way. The only way to redeem herself is to convince Alex, the wildly popular, wildly demanding former star of her show, to come back. But there’s one obstacle in her way—one very handsome, broad-shouldered obstacle…

 

Professor Mason Mitchell is head of the theater department where Alex is studying “real” acting. The only way he’ll let Faith anywhere near Alex is if she agrees to co-teach a class. It’s an offer she can’t refuse—and as it turns out, the professor just might end up teaching Faith that there’s more to life than work—and that real-life love scenes are way more fun than fake ones….

 

9. Geoducks Are for Lovers by Daisy Prescott

 

Maggie Marrion is just getting back on her feet after a horrible year, or two, or three. With their twentieth reunion approaching, she invites four of her closest friends from college for a mini-reunion at her beach cabin on Whidbey Island. What she doesn't expect is her best friends Selah and Quinn to play matchmaker. Will Maggie risk her heart and her quiet life for another chance at romance?

Gil Morrow, former grunge musician turned history professor, joins them as Selah's date for the weekend. With the support of old friends, a few wishing rocks, the world's largest burrowing clam, and a hot lumberjack thrown into the mix, Gil reminds Maggie she isn't too old to fall in love.

 

10. Once Upon a Dream by Jennifer Archer 

 

When Professor Alex Simon moves to Canyon, Texas from England, he welcomes the opportunity to change his locale. Not only would he be aiding his recently widowed sister, but he would have a chance to forget a failed relationship.

 

Robin Wise is less than impressed by her new neighbor-- and his little devil-cat. The feline taunts her dog, and its stuffy owner has the gall to blame her pup for the squabbles. But at a second glance, Alex isn't quite as nerdy as he seems. As a matter of fact, when he isn't insulting her dog, he can be quite charming.

 

But Robin has her own problems. An inherited curse looms over her impending thirtieth birthday, and until Robin can overcome the hex, she can't indulge in any fantasy she might have regarding the more-perfect-by-the-minute professor. No matter how she wishes she had the courage to act on the awakened desire in her heart.

 

Let me know who your favorite Ethical Professor Heroes is! 

 

To vote for the best of the best, go to my Goodreads list: Tweed: Professors Heroes in Romance. 

 

I hope you are enjoying these Back to School Week Lists!

 

Be sure to check out my blog for College Student Heroines and Heroes.

More of a 2.5. This was...an interesting idea on the surface - three authors write collaborating stories about a given event or whatever. The plot was a bit questionable - 200 strangers plopped in a resort and told to go forth and date. It was like the dating survivor. And then the authors got little details off. How off? Oh, the fact that in two of the stories - when there were lots of people around, everyone had their own personal private cabana. Well, actually the second doesn't really say, but it sounds like that was the case. The third one, when there were 50 whole people, they were having to share cabanas. And only two authors had anyone other than maybe the producers be a constant. You'd think that if a certain contestant was so notorious by the last week, she'd have gotten attention from the v. beginning.

Enough of that; on to the individual tales.

First up is Katie MacAlister's contribution. Ok, so the H is a dingbat, his best friend is a creep, and the h's bestie is pushy and overbearing. The smuggled cat takes up entirely too much page time and what humor was present was more of the eyerolling sort (really? The cat is suicidal over being neutered?)

Second up is Jennifer Archer's contribution. Lousy set-up; h and her fiancé got onto the show to win prize money. Fiance has proceeded to boink everything that moves apparently while ignoring h. Heroine wanders off, goes skinnydipping in the ocean with storm approaching, and has run-in with crew member. Fiance gets all suspicious over her (who at the time hasn't actually done anything). "H" essentially blackmails her into going into a closet with him where he mauls her (she's afraid of discovery so doesn't, oh I dunno, knee him in the balls). Fiance and others find them. Eventually, he gets fired, she breaks up with fiancé, and they become an item. Still, couldn't get past the fact that he was putting the moves on a woman who considered herself to be involved and was pretty much telling him no.

Sheridon Smythe had the last entry. This one was probably the best of the bunch, although the h's mother manipulating her into going onto the show irritated me a lot. And the H's cold-blooded search for what amounted to a temporary wife to regain possession of a teddy bear was off-putting. At least, she reacted well to it - avoided any interaction with him at all after he confessed. Thought the whole "fly to Vegas" ending was a bit much under the circumstances - and unbelievable. I wouldn't trust him.

So, I won the ARC of this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaways and I was looking forward to reading it, it seemed interesting enough. And it was interesting! Until… about halfway through….It was frustrating, that was the only word I have for this book. Really frustrating. I guessed the plot twist a quarter of the way through: I looked to my roommate and said, “If she ends up being -----, I’m throwing my book out the window.” *reads 20 pages* “I’m throwing my book out the window.” So, there was no real twist at the end for me. What was the most frustrating thing, though, was the love triangle and just how bad it was. One half is the good friend Lilly grew up with, the other is the hot mysterious strange type. It’s predictable, it didn’t really resolve itself in a way that made any sense at all, and Lilly’s flip flopping drove me insane. Love triangles frustrate me already, this one just drove the plot to the background and took the foreground which was probably not good for the sake of the story. I found that I didn’t care about which boy Lilly chose because I didn’t care about either boy. I really only cared about the actual plot of the book with Iris, but even that ended up being predictable in the end. It’s unfortunate because the premise of this book seemed so good! But, once again, first person narrative made for a flat character and a love triangle bored me to tears. At least it didn’t take me very long to read.

Sometimes, synopsis can be so deceiving and misleading. What I expected to get turned out to be something else entirely. Made me feel cheated, somehow. Not to say that this wasn't a good book, it was to some extent. Promising even.

Through Her Eyes centers around the life of Tansy Piper, who recently moves to Cedar Canyon, Texas with her mom and grandad, Papa Dan. Tansy's mom is a writer who needs to live in the places she is going to write about in the books, to write better as to quote. So, Tansy Piper hasn't exactly a place she can call as home as they keep on moving around. To cut the story short, Tansy finds a rosewood box containing a journal, a tear-shaped crystal pendant without its chain and a gold stopwatch on the same day she arrives at her new house. She soon discovers that via her camera viewfinder and the crystal, she can trespass into a world that separates her with her reality. There, Tansy meets Henry, that one boy who cannot escape her mind. As the story goes on, she's beginning to feel the pull of the the other world, and starting to abandon hers.

Until I had reached the last few chapters of the book, I was so captivated with the book. The writing style was effective but mostly, my attention was locked on the intriguing direction of the story, or the one I thought I was heading to. By the end of the story, I was so disappointed because I thought the author had it good, but decided to abandon it in the end because she was to lazy to dwell deeper into it, so she decided to resort to the easy ending. Pff! I was so, so disappointed, angry even! I was misled into believing that I was gonna experience some good plot lines, if not earth-shattering. It ended up being just another typical ghost story.

This is my first book of Jennifer Archer. I'm not sure if I want to read another of hers.