My favorite romance trope is the "marriage of
convenience" story. Seven of my first nine published historical romances
followed this trope, including my first published book, A Duke Deceived, which was a finalist for Best First Book (Holt
Medallion) and won the Notable New Author distinction back in 1999. My 2005 One Golden Ring (the enhanced version now titled His Golden Ring) won the Holt Medallion
as Best Historical, and it too was a marriage-of-convenience story. So I think
readers must like marriage-of-convenience stories as much as I.
In my House of Haverstock series the first three of these
lighthearted romances are marriage of
convenience stories.
Another of my favorite tropes in a romance novel is the
"ugly duckling" story. I used this in my To Take This Lord, His Lordship'sVow, and in my novella "Home for Christmas" which appears in my
Christmas anthology Christmas Brides: 3 Regency Novellas. I also used it in my novel My Lord Wicked, which won Best Historical in the International
Digital Awards in 2011. I think we all love to pull for the underdog,
especially the Plain Jane who gets the prince. Those resonate with all us Plain
Janes who seem to populate the earth.
Still-another favored trope is the
"fish-out-of-water" story. I like, sometimes, to take a nerd who's uninterested
in romance and make the sparks fly. I did this in my 2014 Love in the Library (Brides of Bath Book 5) and its sequel, A Christmas in Bath. To me—who's married
to a nerd—nerds can be very hot.
What are your favorite tropes in romance fiction?--Cheryl Bolen's last release, Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure, used a marriage-of-convenience trope.
I love MOC, too, and city boy/country girl, and friends-to-lovers... I don't think picking a favorite is an option.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Liz, friends to lovers is a good one. It describes my husband and I!
ReplyDeleteI love marriage of convenience too--also ugly duckling and Cinderella. One I've done a few times is "friends to lovers." Enjoyed your post, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteI remember one of your marriage-of-convenience stories (was it Still the One? I'm awful about remembering titles, even my own). I loved that book. Wasn't your first book, Summer's Fortune, a Cinderella story?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy fish out of water, and love marriage of convenience!
ReplyDelete