Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Signs in You're in a Contemporary Romance

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic from the Broke and the Bookish is a Valentine's Day freebie and what's more Valentine's Day-ish then figuring out if you're the main character in a contemporary romance?  This is one of my absolute favorite genres so I mean this in the absolute kindest of ways.  I've also done Top Ten Signs You're in a Cozy Mystery and Top Ten Signs You're the Main Character in a Historical Romance

1.  You have just inherited a large house in a somewhat dilapidated condition.  This can play out 2 ways:
A.  You have just lost you boyfriend and job simultaneously and are looking for a place to start over.  Bonus points if you were also evicted.
B.  You are incredibly career driven and are just going down to check out the house, hire what needs to be done, sell it for as quickly as possible, and return home to your workaholic but somewhat lonely life.

2. You have always wanted to own a small shop of some kind.  Bakeries also count.  Bonus points if it's a bookstore

3.  You have a large, very expressive family who never shuts up and is always trying to fix you up with someone or meddle in your love life or lack there of.  Bonus points if you have 2 or 3 sisters or cousins who are also unmarried.

4.  You have 2 (or sometimes 3 but usually just 2) very close friends who have suddenly fallen deeply in love with 2 guys who are also very close friends and there happens to be a 3rd guy friend who is still single and vowing not to get caught up in the insanity that has captured his besties.

5.  You live in a small town - you can be either a life long resident of the small town and know absolutely everyone or you can be brand new looking for a fresh start though usually in this case you're a single parent.

6.  You're on a mystical quest where you're looking for keys, statues, diamonds, or something else that will keep evil from taking over the world and happen to be in a group that insists of an even number of males and females.  The chances are pretty good that you're in a Nora Roberts book - especially if there's an Irish guy wandering around or you're actually in Ireland.

7.  You have vowed that you are never ever going to get married because you believe that either love doesn't exist period or that it just doesn't work for you.

8.  You live next door to a quiet guy of mysterious origins who also happens to be very very hot but in a way that means you know he has secrets

9.  You are snowed in, flooded in, or in some other way trapped in a location with a guy that has always gotten on your nerves.

10.  Your sister/best friend/cousin who has always had no problem in relationships is getting married and you somehow, either through said sister/best friend/cousin's manipulation or you own desperation end up going to the wedding with a date who isn't really your date but agrees to act as your boyfriend for whatever reason.  Most likely you have some secret history with him that no one other than the two of you know about.

So what did I miss?  What tropes have you noticed?

24 comments:

  1. These are great! :) I especially laughed at #s 8 and 9- secrets and weather! Those are always so convenient (and I don't even read comtemp romance). And #1 of course- I think I've seen those in a few movies as well. :)

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  2. Ha these are the best and so true. #1 is one I see ALL the time!

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  3. This is great, Katherine! I totally concur with #6!

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  4. These are so perfect! And #6 had me laughing out loud. I love Nora Roberts, but boy, does she have some themes she returns to over and over,

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    1. I forgot to add that I could name at least one title for every single trope you mentioned. Great topic choice!

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  5. Those Top Ten Signs made me laugh...I love them all, especially 8 and 9. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  6. Ha!!! I bet it was a lot of fun thinking these up!

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  7. I love this, Katherine! And all so true! I'm reading your list, nodding, and now craving a romance.

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  8. These are so great! It makes me laugh because when you read them all together like that it's a wonder we actually like these books, they sound so silly :)

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  9. You have nailed this one, made me smile and made me think from now on I should note this post and the small town romance and see where if fits!

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  10. hahahahahahaha I love your "signs" lists!!! :) My TTT

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  11. LOL, these are great! And so true! I especially love #1s & #2s. :-)

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  12. All reasons why I love contemporary romance! (love #2,3 and 5)

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  13. ::snort:: That about sums it up. lol Other than #6 for me but all the others. Ha!

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  14. I love it when you do these lists! I don't think I've read all of these, but I've definitely seen all these Hallmark movies. Haha.

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  15. LOL! This is a great list and soooo true.

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  16. This is the best top 10 list ever! It made me laugh because it is completely true. You get bonus points for creativity!

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  17. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is awesome. So so so awesome. You should do this with all the genres.

    I particularly love the part about having a family always medddling. And having sisters/friends/cousins who are marries and they have a single friend.

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  18. This list is perfect..and so true. I wouldn't mind inheriting an old inn..we can skip the murder mystery bit though!

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  19. Sounds pretty accurate! :) Great topic!

    Check out my TTT.

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  20. Ha, #2 and #8, spot-on! I love your Top Ten Signs You're In Lists on TTT. What fun, Katherine, you made me smile today :)

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  21. HAHAHA! All the truth. Oh romances and your predictable tropes. Don't ever change though. It's why I love you the mostest.

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