To explain a little about what this post will be about, I’m taking the intro I did for the last one: In every romance book you read there are tropes or archetypes. You can also see them in shows, movies, plays, etc. Romantic tropes are everywhere, and they are fabulous. I adore them. I adore some of them and I always tend to find my favorite ones in romance books so I can enjoy them more. I decided to do a sort of Trope Tuesday piece where I will be talking about many tropes and recommend you all some of my favorites that fit.
What is a trope? Urban Dictionary explains it best I think: “Despite the erroneous definitions already published here, trope on the interwebs really refers to an often overused plot device. It can also be described as another variation on the same theme. TV shows, movies, comics, games, anime’, & books are full of tropes & many rabid fan-sites now name & track said tropes with a self-explanatory title for each one.” We can name a few: accidental pregnancy, best friends to lovers, sibling’s best friend, marriage of convenience, and so many more for sure. Your favorite couples? They probably got a trope too! It’s always so nice to realize or find out your favorite romance trope and keep searching for books with the same theme.
Today I give the microphone to marriage of convenience. Let me just tell you this is one of my most favorite tropes in the world. “We’re only doing it because it’s convenient for both of us but oops we just got feelings for each other” is a perfect way to describe this trope. It can happen in many scenarios but I see it and you can see it a lot in historical romances. But there are for SURE contemporary romances with marriages of convenience. You can find them side by side with maybe the character has an inheritance but they have to get married first so they can get that money! It’s seriously the best thing ever.
What I love most about it is that the characters usually at the beginning of the story create this sort of contract or mutual agreement that they won’t interact much, they will have their separate lives and they don’t have to even see each other. But this obviously changes completely as the story goes. They start to spend time together, here and there, they even act as spouses and it’s glorious to see them be domestic and HELLO! They are already married so it makes it ten times better because we know that they’re together already even if they haven’t gotten to that point yet.
Let’s share some titles, alright?
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
Talk about an amazing book since the start! It caught me immediately I swear. Tessa Dare is a wonderful author who always write romances that make me swoon 10/10. The Duchess Deal is a marriage of convenience romance between Emma, a seamstress, and a duke. He needs an heir quickly so of course when Emma appears wearing a wedding gown in his library, he decides right there that she will be perfect as his duchess. From there, really everything starts and it’s so so lovely. The whole journey to falling in love made me so happy and this book will for sure be considered one of my all-time favorite romances.
Falling for His Convenient Queen by Therese Beharrie
If you enjoy a little bit of royalty in your romances, Falling for His Convenient Queen has everything you want. From a marriage to secure an alliance between two kingdoms to a slow burn romance between these two leaders. Watching (or rather reading about it) them get from point A to point B and get through all these obstacles and things keeping them apart is so wonderful to see. Nalini, our heroine, the princess, doesn’t want to settle for a marriage without love so she decides their match is going to be because of love and will slowly but surely make him fall for her so HARD. I tell you all, it’s wonderful to see.
Roomies by Christina Lauren
Me being a big Christina Lauren fan I couldn’t not mention them in this post. Especially because they have written a book with this trope! Roomies is a modern marriage of convenience and it has everything in it: Broadway, being roommates, and more. The story starts with Calvin, our hero, saving Holland. And thankful for this act, she gets him an audition with a big-time musical director. With a great audition, it seems Calvin is all and ready to start with his stardom in Broadway. But when he tells Holland his student visa expired, the only thing left to do… I guess… is marry him?
In For a Penny by Rose Lerner
Another great historical romance, this time by Rose Lerner, one of my favorite authors! Lord Nevinstoke enjoys his life as it is: gambling, hard-drinking and a womanizing life. But when his father is killed, he inherits a lot of debt and responsibilities. His solution is to marry a wealthy heiress and get his act together. Penelope accepts his proposal, she wants a marriage based on respect and companionship, not love, so this proposal fits perfectly for her. It’s a romantic story filled with hostile neighbors, family, and both of them leaning on each other.
The Tycoon’s Socialite Bride by Tracey Livesay
Marcus and Pamela are only doing the marriage of convenience to achieve their own personal goals. Marcus wants to avenge his mother and Pamela wants to save her favorite cause. Pamela isn’t worried about this turning real though, she has gotten used to men only wanting her because of her family’s connection. If she has to, she will deny her pulse racing when he’s near and he will deny how her kisses feel. He can’t fall for the blue-blooded beauty!
I’m a big fan of Tracey Livesay and highly recommend any of her books. The Tycoon’s Socialite Bride is a romance you can start with first and then go from there. Truly Tracey writes the most beautiful love stories filled with passion, care and undeniable talent.
