Writing Magic into a Romance and World-Building

Magic.  We've been charmed by magic in our romantic stories since the fairy tales of childhood.  Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White...these stories are the classics at the core of our love affair with romance. 

The line of whether it is a traditional or paranormal romance is constantly shifting.  Whether we realize it or not, it's often the promise of a classic theme, such as forbidden love, with its roots traced back to fairy tales that draws us to both. We don't have to have talking mice or a fairy godmother with literal magical powers to recognize a Cinderella theme of class barriers and of wishing for a rags-to-rich miracle to change the future. Magic, in a fairy tale, is necessary to break down such a barrier and accomplish the rags-to-riches miracle.

Once we've all grown up, however, we might feel that Cinderella deserved more than magic. 

Reunion Romances: Remember Me?

I just finished reading one of my favorite types of romances -- the reunion romance.  It was wonderful!  There's just "something" uniquely appealing about characters who have known each other intimately in their past being thrown back together.  Or maybe a lot of "somethings."     

My short list of the reunion romance "somethings."

1. "Remember me?"answered by "How could I forget?"  It's knowing you're getting a story that has one of the best questions and answers in romance.  (Or is that two questions?)
2. It's the appeal of second chances.  Yep, that seems most likely, but it's more than just retracing steps. 
3. It's the back story.  Yes, sometimes I like back story.  Actually, that's one of the rather unique things I think is so great about a reunion story.  I know I can expect some "shared baggage" and I kind of like that. This kind of baggage is shared memories.  They formed a bond that's still intact, and I want to hear about it. 
4.  It's the lure of unfinished business.  I'm curious as to why these two split up in the first place.  Or, for that matter, why do they have a chance now?  What has changed? 

 And that's several things I can think of on the appeal of a reunion romance.  Or maybe it comes down to one other "something."  I really can't stand not knowing how something is going to be fixed.  From the start, I know something has broken and I just love knowing it's going to be put back together again.