Tried-And-True Tropes

If I listed my favorite books you might say I’m an eclectic reader. I thought so too until I scrutinized the storylines. I discovered that I gravitate toward tropes. What’s a trope? A tried-and-true storyline that pleases readers. The romance genre is full of tropes. I enjoy sweet romance novels, so it makes sense that I would encounter tropes. Let’s take a look at my go-to storylines.

I’ve been a fan of mail-order bride stories. This historic activity falls under the marriage-of-convenience trope. The slow build to love in a relationship keeps me turning pages. Many of these stories have the bride or groom being awkward in the new relationship which endears me to the character. The MOC trope can be placed in history or in present day. I enjoyed “An Unlikely Proposal” by Toni Shiloh which is set in present times and “A Groom By Surprise” by Laura Ashwood which is set earlier than the 21^st century.

I’m fond of the enemies-to-love trope. This may include a sideline where one character has sworn not to get married and of course, their heart has other ideas. During the pandemic, I was drawn to this storyline in Amish fiction. Perhaps it was because the Amish community tends to help one another and who doesn’t need neighbors who can raise a barn in a few days while organizing a dinner. I enjoyed Leigh Bale’s “The Midwife’s Christmas Wish” and Jennifer Beckstrand’s “The Amish Quiltmakers Unexpected Baby.” Throw in a bopli (baby) and quilting bee and I’m all in.

Today Barbara M. Britton tells us all about her reading life. Share on X

Books where friends fall in love, or there is a friends-to-more trope, are fun to read, too. In my genre of Biblical Fiction, I recently read Tessa Afshar’s “The Hidden Prince” This has both the friend angle and then something happens to make one of the love interests an almost-enemy. No spoilers here.

Since I live in Wisconsin, I’m no stranger to bad weather. My grandmother loved lightning storms and would sit under the porch and watch the light show. I enjoy reading storm tropes where the hero and heroine get stuck together because of a snowstorm or hurricane (Name your storm system). These stories are fun when one of the characters has some survival skills. Who doesn’t want to be stranded with MacGyver or Daniel Boone if they can help you live another day? Of course, in this trope, the stranded are very attractive and use their gym memberships.

My mother-in-law recently recommended “Where Heaven Begins” by Rosanne Bittner. Elizabeth never would have survived the snowy Yukon without the seasoned bounty hunter and tough guy Clint. I almost had PTSD with all the trials they endured in the Klondike Gold Rush.

In my latest novel, I used the storm trope. My heroine was stranded with an electrician. Not necessarily a MacGyver-type hero, but electricians and plumbers are handy to have around in an emergency.

Are you an eclectic reader because you gravitate toward certain tropes? You’re not alone. I’ll take my tropes in any era or time period.

What are your favorite storylines?

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day USA. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. Her novel “Christmas at Whispering Creek,” is a compelling, yet fun story, shining a light on breast cancer. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website (www.barbarambritton.com) or on the BRRC author page.