What Authors Find Fun About These Classic Tropes

“The tropes for my story are enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience. I wanted to write a jilted at the altar story where the groom doesn’t turn up and she has to marry the hero instead. It was tricky fitting all of that into the first chapter but I loved the over-the-top drama of the idea. Building the tension and angst between two people who are overwhelmingly attracted to each other, but also hate each other is fabulous as is their gradual coming to understand that they are falling in love.” – Jackie Ashenden

“The fun aspect of the “waking up married” trope is the way it legally binds the characters together. They can’t just walk away and never speak to each other again. And it’s especially fun when, as in MARRIED BY MISTAKE, they really don’t like each other. Because they’re trapped by their situation, there’s time to explore the attraction they can’t deny thanks to the wedding bands they woke up wearing.” – Shannon Stacey

“This book features one of my favorite romance tropes: fake relationships. Shortly after hotshot firefighter Trent Miles gets a card threatening that he’ll lose someone close to him, his house burns down with a body inside. So Detective Heather Bolton proposes a fake relationship to flush out the killer using herself as bait. But Heather winds up with a real gift out of the ruse, a HOTSHOT HERO FOR THE HOLIDAYS!” – Lisa Childs 

“BREAKING THE BAD BOY’S RULES employs several popular tropes: age gap, rock star, bad boy. But the trope that stands out is best friend’s little sister. Not everyone is a fan of this trope, but I love it. The younger sibling never cares, but there is deep conflict for the friend who risks blowing up a long-standing friendship with someone who is important to them.” – Reese Ryan

“Second chance romance resonates so deeply with me. Add in all the complications of past and present. For Ellis and Luella in my new release, these are everything from secrets surrounding Luella’s disappearance, a killer on the loose, some elements of forced proximity, and solving a mystery together. There’s enough conflict to keep these two soulmates busy and draw them as close or closer than they were before.” – Amber Leigh Williams

“As a longtime romance reader, the trope of in bed with the enemy combined with close quarters is a personal fave. The anticipation is everything to me. Tremaine and Alisha are temporarily living under the same roof, with their chemistry bouncing off the walls, as they resist undeniable passion because they’re on opposite sides of a feud. Love it! The extra conflict of him investigating her involvement in a crime was fun to write. I had a ball writing it!” – Niobia Bryant

“When writing a romance, my absolute favorite part is that electric sizzle of building tension. The delicious push/pull of ‘got to have you’ and ‘you’re totally off limits.’ And who’s more off limits than the daughter of your father’s sworn enemy? From a temporary truce to KEEPING A LITTLE SECRET, Tiffany and Preston’s chapter of the Texas Cattleman’s Club series proves that there’s a thin line between locking horns and locking lips.” – Cynthia St. Aubin

“Alana and Caleb are forced together when someone attempts to abduct her and Caleb, working undercover, has to keep close to protect her. Forced proximity gives two people who otherwise wouldn’t spend time together a chance to get to know their special person and fall in love. They might be perfect for each other, but, without this setting, they’d never have the chance to find out!” – Anne Galbraith

“I love marriage of convenience stories because marriage is hard and we think that when you choose a partner based on romantic love, it will be fun and satisfying, and hopefully romantic. Marriage of convenience forces two people into close proximity, which is uncomfortable, frustrating, and maddening. But that tension creates something new…something fierce and honest, revealing one’s true self much more quickly. Unexpected love, hard earned love, is both healing and redemptive–which is why I love writing romance.” – Jane Porter