I have always loved to laugh.

When I say that, I can’t help but get a picture of the scene in Mary Poppins where they have tea on the ceiling.

And I enjoy lots of different kinds of humor (sarcasm may be my favorite, but…not my only).

So getting the chance to write humor within romance stories has been such a delight! Whether it’s in a more romcom style like Some Like It Scot or in more subtle ways like The Heart of the Mountains, incorporating humor makes me enjoy the story better.

Why is that, do you think?

For one:

Humor deepens our connection to the story and characters. When we laugh with characters—at their witty banter, their awkward mishaps, their perfectly-timed quips in tense moments—we’re not just observers anymore. We’re friends. We’re in on the joke. We know them.

Think about your own relationships. Some of the people you are closest to are also the ones who make you laugh. The ones who share your sense of humor, who can make you giggle even when you’re frustrated with them. That’s real intimacy. And it’s exactly what I want readers to feel with my characters.

When Grace says something utterly outrageous and we see Freddie’s exasperated but adoring reaction, we’re not just reading about a married couple—we’re experiencing the genuine affection between them. The humor makes their love feel lived-in and real. When we chuckle at the banter between the Edgewood cousins/siblings, we feel like we’re a part of the teasing…and then we want to hear more of what they have to say.

What funny romances have you read lately that you’ve really enjoyed?

FYI: Authentically, Izzy just won over a new reader to my style. My humor in that book fit hers! And it makes me smile EVERY time!! (And THANKS for the shoutout Rebecca Smiff!!)