Romance Tropes

A Very Valentine’s Post

Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly and it seems that, as a writer of romance, I should…celebrate this holiday? I might have some sort of special *insight* into a day promoting love, relationships, promiscuity (or at least some fun new sex acts) and attractively-packaged, violently-pink sugar products? I can at least pretend to be enthusiastic about this marketing opportunity? Is that right? *Checks notes* Ah-ha. Yes. Indeed this is all so. Well, okay then. I can’t claim any insight into the…

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Book Tropes: A Mail-Order Happily Ever After

Another trope rec post! This time the specific mood I’m in is that carefully arranged, sometimes mail-ordered happily ever after. I’ve always loved mail-order bride books (despite knowing arranged marriage is much more complicated in real life). This isn’t reality, this is fiction, and in fiction picking a partner like you’re ordering an entrée from a menu ends perfectly every time. For this list I’m focusing on the mail-order trope but including some of the more standard arranged-marriage books because…

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The Great Reading Wrap-Up of 2020

In the grand tradition of December, let’s do some wrapping up. Wrap some presents. Wrap-up your holiday shopping. Write lots of wrap-up lists. Wrap-up small, misbehaving children Krampus style to mail to . . . haha . . . ooops. Don’t do that. Got carried away there. Number Of Books I Read: 265 Left unsupervised again. Plus, worldwide pandemic, quarantine, and stress-reading to the maximum amount possible. I’m talking reading a probably unhealthy amount from March to May. Number of…

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Book Tropes: Beauty and the Beast

Yep, it’s time for another trope recommendation post. This one is my very, very favorite, ride or die, auto-buy trope, so this will be a very long rec post. Be warned! Do I know there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of retellings of this fairy tale? Yep. Does that stop me from buying them and hoping more come out? NOPE. Something about seeing through outward appearances to the genuine, worthy, real person within has always caught my attention. You know that…

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Fall In Love With These Bookblogs: 2020 Edition

It’s autumn and I’m so happy. We live in a pretty temperate zone of North America, all things considered. The seasons rest gently on us here. Spring is soft & wonderful, winter isn’t usually so full of snow we can’t get around, and I enjoy the hot days and long evenings in summer. It’s just…they’re not my favorite. Sorry, other seasons. Fall is totally my favorite child. When autumn shows up I am ready to grab it and hug it…

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The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Wants to Know My Purpose

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group meets monthly, online, to support you: a writer. You can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Sign up by clicking here. This month we owe our co-hosting thanks to Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria! Don’t hesitate to stop by and tell them what a great job they’re…

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Book Tropes: The Grovel in The Novel

Sometimes I’m in the mood for a super specific, really niche trope. It’s like a food craving, where only that certain brand from that one store will do. In this case it’s a good old grovel. Not the little token apology with immediate making-out, ohhh no. I want the real down-and-dirty, sincere, I-fucked-up, oh-my-god-I-was-so-dumb, dawning realization. It doesn’t particularly matter to me which character (hero or heroine or all three heroes in a reverse harem) is doing the groveling. There…

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Book Tropes: I’m A Damsel, I’m In Distress, I Can Handle This. Have a Nice Day.

Every once in a while I’m in the mood for a SUPER specific, niche type of trope. In this post, it’s the typical Damsel in Distress situation, but with an atypical damsel. I want the kind of book where: things are going down, it’s getting grim, the odds are against them the hero has literally *just* said something like, “We’ll never make it!” or “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” then the heroine strolls in all unconcerned and takes…

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The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is Traditional

Happy Insecure Writer’s Group day! It’s a very good day to rest gently in the support of your fellow writers cause, believe me, it’s a hard landing everywhere else. It’s March and I’m querying, so there’s two strikes against a good mood right there. Liberal application of walks in the sunshine (when the sun deigns to favor us with an appearance), rampant cussing (mostly under my breath), and the support of a good group are getting me through. My very…

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Reading Wrap-Up of 2019

2019 was the Year of the Book for me and all is merry and bright. New fabulous authors, great finds, perfect recommendations, fun series, five star reads, crazybananas alien romance FOR DAYS. This year made me so happy. This post also combines my last two Friday Favorites of the year. December 20: favorite releases of 2019 and December 27: Favorite Reads of 2019. Number Of Books I Read: 250 Um. In my defense, I was left unsupervised. With lots and…

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