I know we’ve talked about tropes together before. There are many tropes romance writers use-and the fun part is if you give twenty romance writers one trope you’ll end up with twenty very different stories.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading (and writing) lately and have come upon a portion of a trope that I really like.
Secrets.
Secrets from the past. And there are so many secrets that people can have. Secret babies, secret marriages, secret relationships, secret confessions, secret adoptions, secret letters, and the list could go on and on. But I think I’m obsessed! (In a good and healthy way. Promise.)
The stories can be written where the readers knows but the characters don’t. Or the readers don’t know until the end. Either way a really great secret story can and will keep you on the edge of your seat. It will keep you guessing and reading.
When writing a story with a secret there are several ways to keep the plot moving forward.
- If the secret is not revealed, how dire are the consequences if/when it is revealed?
- If the secret is out in the open, how do others react when they find out?
- If the secret is not revealed, how do the involved parties keep it under wraps?
- If the secret is not revealed, are there plans to reveal it, and if so when and how?
- If the secret is out in the open has it changed lives? For the better, for worse?
Think about it. If you were going along in life and found out, oh, you have a brother or sister. Or maybe you find out the baby you gave up for adoption lives down the street. Or maybe you find out you are a father and you never knew it. All these scenarios are life changing, dramatic, and really, oh, so fun to write about.
And read about. As far as reading secret whatever books, they are filled with tension, surprises, and in romance of course the happy ending. But it’s a treat getting there and reading the different ways the author has dreamed up to get our secret out and resolved in the best way possible.
So, what about you? I’d love to hear some of your favorite secret tropes that you love to read. Also, if you’ve read any that you’d like to share with us that would be awesome. If you do leave a comment you’ll be entered in the drawing for a print copy of a book I just finished and loved! (US only)
I love Belle’s Alaskan books. And this one has a secret–so it’s a must read, right? An Alaskan Christmas Promise has everything you could want in a Christmas story. Post your comment by Friday, January 20th, 2023.
I can’t wait to hear your about your favorite ‘secret’ trope stories.
USA Today featured author Lindi Peterson lives in north Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and a lively array of cats, dogs and birds. She loves sharing life with her family and friends. Her passion for reading led her to writing, and then God spoke words of love into her heart and changed her life forever.
I am not sure what my favourite secret story is. I know I am not a fan of secret babies especially in CF unless there is some reason like in a LIS I read where it was to protect the baby. (They were married and then the hero left to save her without knowing she was pregnant) This worked but many I don’t really like.
But other secrets it is interesting to find out what the secret is or for the others to work it out.
I am also not a fan of secret baby stories. I think secret marriages/secret relationship stories can be good – there has to be a good, believable reason for keeping something like that a secret though!
Interesting topic! Secrets are a powerful tool to use in stories, and there are so many ways the revelations can be deployed. Who finds out first, who’s the last to know, feeling all the tension when you know someone’s about to get hit with the bombshell.
Secret baby isn’t my favourite trope in romance, but I’ve read some very good ones where the character has a solid reason for keeping the child hidden from its father. Dalyn Weller’s The Rancher’s Surprise Second Chance is a great example of this, and I highly recommend it.
My newest book, Within the Storm, has some big secrets as part of the story.
I enjoy reading the secret tropes stories. There has to be a good reason to keep the secret/have kept the secret, but if done right, it makes for a great story. One example is when the hero does something for the heroine without her knowing in order to help her, but then she finds out.
I love secret stories, except for secret baby. I have read a couple of secret babies that were good, and they did NOT involve the “parents” having a secret child. I haven’t yet read Elizabeth Maddrey’s So You Have My Secret Baby, and I’m thinking that one is going to help me change my mind some. Still, it won’t be my favorite trope, but I can tolerate it. After all, it does happen in real life, for whatever reason, and God can use that!!
I find myself liking secret baby stories more and more. If well motivated, like you stated above, it works out and it is a great conflict.
Ruthie—Secret marriage—I am working on one now–I pray the reason is great. It is fun writing, but there are a lot of things to think about while writing. Like how people don’t know, and how to tell them. And explain the reason for not sharing. Fun stuff!
Milla—Thanks for sharing that title–and your book–I’ll check them out. I agree they make for a lot of tension in a story. :)
Sally–Yes–genuine motivation makes for a great story. It has to be believable and well done. All the feels.
Trudy–Yes–Elizabeth I have confidence Elizabeth will help change your mind. The more secret baby stories I read, the more I realize how many situations there are for people to keep that secret. And you are so right-God can use all these situations for sure.
welcome today. I so agree with your five points. I would add a sixth. what kind of stress does keeping a secret have? And how do these stress’s reveal themselves?
I have read many books about one person or two keeping secrets and what happens when reveled. some I agree with and understand and others I just dont get. secrets can be a strong tool in writing a romance. it can bring people together or pull them apaprt
Lori—So true! For me I love when the hero/heroine share a secret–and like you said, the tension of that, well, will it pull them apart or push them together?
Love this post, Lindi. I love a good secret! I hadn’t even thought of it as a trope until recently (most of my books have them), but that makes sense :-)
Thanks, Julie-Secrets make for tension-filled stories-especially when there is love involved. :)
Hi, I love reading secret trope books, I love the Secret Baby or Secret Sibling, Have a great weekend. I enjoyed reading your post.
Alicia–thank you! I do love all the secrets as well. :)
Hi, Lindi! I’m with Julie (Carobini) above in that I had not really thought of Secrets as a trope unto itself, but it makes perfect sense. Jessie Gussman’s “A Secret Baby in the Show Me State” is an awesome example of the Secret Baby Trope with a twist. Well worth the read.
As a reader, I can have trouble with the secrets because the tension arises from hiding the truth in a way that hurts someone else. I keep seeing the coming train wreck in my mind and, being an empath, it makes for an unpleasant situation. But, hey, some folks like scary movies. It’s just not me.
Great post. Thanks!
Lincoln–First, thank you for the book suggestion. And I know exactly that feeling you are talking about. That is the other side to it. When writing I have to keep remembering the “consequences?” of the secret, and deal with all that emotion as well. Quite the balancing of emotions and words. Thank you for bringing that part up. :)
all kinds
They all sound fabulous. I love a good mystery which a secret troupe would fall under. It really makes a story. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Thank you!
Debra–God bless you! Thank you for visiting Inspy!
I like secret baby or child and relationship or marriage I have read where a sibbling was dating there best friend and they found out and the sibbling was not happy that they were hiding it.
Kendra–Thanks for stopping by. And yes, these secrets do make people upset sometimes, but as long as it all ends well, right?
I enjoy love triangles and friends to lovers!