Victoria Lavine's debut, the smart, sexy rom-com Any Trope but You, is a witty send-up of common romance motifs and a sweet tribute to the power of second chances.
After being publicly exposed--and humiliated--for no longer believing in love, romance novelist Margot Bradley accepts her sister Savannah's offer of a trip to a remote Alaskan lodge. Determined to rebound by writing her first murder mystery, Margot is shocked and irritated to find that Forrest, the lodge caretaker and the owner's son, is a walking romance archetype: a gruff, handsome, muscular doctor with a heart of gold. As the snowy days pass, Margot can't help but count the multiplying tropes, including attraction of opposites, forced proximity, only one bed (or tent), and--quite possibly--enemies to lovers. Meanwhile, Forrest is struggling with his decision to jettison his medical career to care for his ailing father.
While Lavine's narrative has plenty of heat (including a very sweaty sauna scene), she also plumbs Margot's backstory with sensitivity and depth. Savannah throws a wrench into the mix with a series of letters designed to force Margot to confront her past wounds and face her uncertain future: whether and how she can salvage the career she's passionate about, and maybe even take a chance on love again. With appealing characters, witty banter, and plenty of Alaskan touches (including a moose named Bullwinkle), Any Trope but You is a spicy confection for avid romance fans. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams