Dear reader,
It’s cute to meet you! Welcome to Love, Underlined, your new online community for romance readers. Each month we invite one of our romance authors to answer a romance-themed Q&A. This month, Jenny L. Howe, author of Love at Full Tilt, shares her favorite romance tropes, her book crushes, and more! Read on for the full Jenny L. Howe Q&A.
Love,
Underlined
What was the first romance novel you read?
I don’t know if they’re “technically” romances, but I was pretty obsessed with the Sweet Valley High books when I was in junior high. Elizabeth and Todd were OTP for me forever.
What romance are you currently reading?
Right now, I’m reading We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer, which is an ADORABLE graphic novel that also happens to be set in an amusement park. I can’t recommend it enough!
What are your favorite tropes?
I LOVE (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE) grumpy/sunshine. Especially that moment when the sunshine character gets the grump to smile or laugh for the first time. Those scenes always have me swooning and kicking my feet!
Who’s your book crush?
Levi from Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl will always have a special place in my heart. He is probably the first cinnamon-roll character I ever encountered, and the way he cared for Cath warmed my heart.
What inspires your writing?
Wanting to write the books that I wish I had when I was a teen. For me, that means telling love stories where people with plus-size bodies get to go on adventures and chase their dreams and fall in love (and be loved in return), as those stories didn’t exist when I was young, and in my opinion, there still aren’t enough of them out there.
What’s your favorite part of writing romance?
Creating small moments between the characters that show they care for each other. Grand gestures are great, but it’s the tiny moments that make me swoon the most. To me, that’s when we really see how well they know each other.
Share with us an out-of-context quote from Love at Full Tilt!
Adrenaline pumps through my veins, and my shaky knee knocks against Mason’s. My heart beats wildly in my chest.
He grins over at me. “Are you ready for this?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Absolutely not.”
[…]
[He] holds out his hand out.
My eyes cut to the entrance ahead, waiting to swallow us whole. Then I weave my fingers through his.
A second later, the car jerks, and we’re tossed downward into the dark.
I don’t let go the entire time.
