MAPping the Tropes

Have you recently received a mysterious inheritance with a strange stipulation in the will? Perhaps you've run into an obstacle with the law and need a specific person there to help move things along? If the answer to these questions is "yes," then: congratulations, you've most likely fallen into the Marriage of Convenience trope! The hosts delve into the subtleties of this trope and the fertile ground a marriage of convenience provides. Plus: A NEW VARIETY GAME CORNER!

Books discussed: Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon, Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee, The Tycoon's Socialite Bride by Tracey Livesay.

Other media mentioned: Life as We Know It, The Proposal, all of Talia Hibbert's catalogue, Courtney Milan's and Rebekah Weatherspoon's books.

We're talking liar, liar pants on fire, because this week we tackled the Hidden Identity/Scammer trope! From secret bodyguards to actual serial killers, from Forrest Whittaker cameos to Miami art scenes, we run the gamut of secret identities. 

Books discussed: Cheeky Royal by Nana Malone, The Mindfuck series by S.T. Abby, and What Happens in Miami... by Nadine Gonzalez

Other media mentioned: Hold Me by Courtney Milan, the movie First Daughter, My Date with the President's Daughter, Cheeky King by Nana Malone, Forrest Whittaker (???), Scandal in the VIP Suite by Nadine Gonzalez

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

Hey, Siri! Play She-Wolf by Shakira! We're back with an episode fully dedicated to shifter romances. Adriana was held hostage and told to talk about shifters, but Marianne and Paola were ecstatic about it. There are wolf/wolf stories, recluse bear shifters, and the return of a legend. Also: new game to test Marianne and Paola's knowledge of mythological hybrids. Warning: we have a right to bear puns.

Books discussed: Lobizona by Romina Garber, Bear With Me by Lucy Eden, and The Firebear Brides series by Anya Nowlan.

Media mentioned: Teen Wolf (a lot), Twilight, A/B/O in fanfics, Beauty and the Beast, the hurt/comfort tag of it all, Smokey the Bear, The Cheetah Girls.

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

WELCOME BACK! We've returned to our regular programming with a new year, new season, new theme song, new segments, and new theme. This episode, we discuss Sex Work in romance novels. From brothels to sex lessons, from secret babies to secret agents, there's a broad spectrum that encompasses the label of sex work. Also: bring back real hot models on romance book covers!!!

Books discussed: Destiny's Surrender by Beverly Jenkins, Private Eye by Katrina Jackson, and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang.

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Tropical House by John_Sib. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! We're talking holiday romances, why people enjoy Hallmark holiday movies (or not), what makes a holiday even in a fictional setting, and a segment only talking about Puerto Rican Christmas foods. Join us and our guest, Cam, for this special episode.

Books discussed: Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert, Ice Planet Holiday by Ruby Dixon, A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday, and Gifting Me to His Best Friend by Katee Robert

Other media mentioned: Animal Crossing, Hallmark movies, A Very Krampus Holiday by Katee Robert, There Arose Such a Clatter by C.M. Nascosta, Breaking Dawn, Duke Actually, Katee Robert's Touch of Taboo series, Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert, Harbor by Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Sizzle TV series by Whitley Green.

FOLLOW CAM ON TWITTER @camsensual_!

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected]. We'll be taking a break from the show due to the holidays but we'll be back with season 2 in January 2022!

Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

We're... going to the chapel and we're... gonna get married! We're saying I Do to the wedding tropes in romance, talking our favorite wedding movies, why the celebration makes people horny (for love) aka The Wedding Effect, and all the intricacies and drama that this party brings to both fictional and real people.

Books discussed: Better at Weddings Than You by Mina V. Esguerra, Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau, and Make a Scene by Mimi Grace.

Other media mentioned: all the wedding movies and musicals, SHINEE's Marry You, The Dixie Cups' Chapel of Love, The Professor Next Door by Jackie Lau, Accidentally in Love Book Club live show with Adriana and Paola

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

Come into our dungeon as we explore BDSM in romance novels and we try not to expose ourselves too much in the process.

Books discussed: Neon Gods by Katee Robert, Syncopation by Anna Zabo, Sanctuary by Rebekah Weatherspoon.

Other media/people mentioned: 50 Shades of Grey, The BDSM Test, Corey Alexander/Xan West, Harbor by Rebekah Weatherspoon.

We're bringing out the guillotine as we talk about m/billionaire romance books. Join us as we talk about the ethics of the billionaire protagonist vs obnoxious luxuries, private planes, Patek Philippes, and tigers, oh my!

Books discussed: Taking on the Billionaire by Robin Covington, The Queen of Dauphine Street by Thea de Salle, and American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera.

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

We're going away to find love in this episode dedicated to Vacation Romances! We talk about semi-public sex, wanting rich people to send us on vacation, and the treasure trove that a cruise ship can be in terms of endless potential for romance.

Books discussed: Scandal in the VIP Suite by Nadine Gonzalez, Love Scammed by Rilzy Adams, and For Vacation Only by Mila Nicks.

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.

Friends, let's play I Don't Want to Wait by Paula Cole, because we're talking exclusively about YA Contemporary Romance with our special guest NINA MORENO (Don't Date Rosa Santos, Our Way Back to Always)! We discuss the Riverdale by proxy curse, personal growth, eccentric families, blackmail to fall in love, and it's not something Nina-related if Dawson's Creek isn't mentioned.

Books discussed: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado; Like a Love Song by Gabriela Martins; Now That I've Found You by Kristina Forest; and, Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe.

Other media/people mentioned: Riverdale, Glee, Love, Simon, To All The Boys I've Loved Before book series and movie trilogy, The Resolutions by Mia Garcia, Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR album, Make a Scene by Mimi Grace, I Wanna Be Where You Are and Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest, Amparo Ortiz, Mean Girls, Dawnson's Creek

NINA'S NEWEST BOOK, OUR WAY BACK TO ALWAYS WILL BE OUT ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2021, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!!!

Follow us on Twitter @mappingtropes and Instagram @mappingthetropes! Email episode suggestions to [email protected].

Theme music: Positiv Trumpet by John Yasut. Cover art by Luis Esteban @drawnesteban.