13 Comments
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Lisa Allen Kennard's avatar

I found this very helpful. Thanks.

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Cassandra Clark's avatar

I must have used these without thinking, they seem so natural. I’ve used ‘forbidden love’ throughout my medieval mystery series between my ‘kickass nun sleuth’ and the arrogant abbot de Courcy - the ‘will they break the rule and burn’ a useful subplot, and fun to write as it seems to reach deep into a streak of inner naughtiness which I didn’t know I had.

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Emma Hemingford's avatar

That's so fun! I love the idea of renegade writing bringing out real life naughtiness...

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Agnese's avatar

I really enjoyed this post! So true! Who on earth would want a fake date? You forgot the "just one bed" trope we found in some contemporary romance books (I would rank it number 6).

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Emma Hemingford's avatar

You're right, there a bunch more specific ones aren't there... pregnancy/raising a baby etc..

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Jam Canezal's avatar

I actually like #3 and #5 plotline the most! And I’ve only started liking second chance romance stories after reading, yes, that’s right, Persuasion.

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Emma Hemingford's avatar

3 and 5 are often extremely tender and sweet!! & Persuasion so good.

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The Literary Assistant's avatar

You are such a talented writer, Emma!

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Amanda Schuster's avatar

So fun! I'm currently in a second chance romance. We joke that we're like the plot of a Lifetime movie.

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Emma Hemingford's avatar

Delightful. Write the movie version of your own life?? ❤️

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Amanda Schuster's avatar

Oh it’s definitely movie worthy. It involves a literal change of heart!

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Emma Hemingford's avatar

Wait... is this like a Last Christmas Emilia Clarke situation?? I'm dying to know more if it's not too personal....

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Amanda Schuster's avatar

Not at all like that! It's very rock and roll, and involves extraordinary feats of modern medicine.

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