Cats vs. Dogs. How do you go from a garden party, meeting your little sister's boyfriend's family, to being embroiled in a war of hate? Neither side can give a reason other than 'they started it'. Neither side wants to admit the level the animosity has reached. And Maia doesn't really admit her feeling for the warrior that claimed her as his. He, however, isn't exactly taking no for an answer, about the war, and about her.
So yeah, not very good at writing these. Basically trying to say the plot isn't just romance.