Is it just me, or are there more and more romance novels that involve either the hero or heroine (or both) having children from a previous relationship? There must be a degree of romance in that, right, if it’s so popular?
I’ll be the first to admit that I find a man who’s also a gentle and loving father quite sexy. And a child can definitely add to the tension between lovers…a young head popping through the door at the wrong time frustrates us all! But does that add to the romance of a story or take away from it?
I’m curious, because as a mom, I’m drawn more to romance novels that don’t include children. Perhaps I’m looking for escape from my life when I read, and kids hit too close to home, or maybe it’s that kids really don’t add to the fantasy of romance for me. Not to say that romance can’t be part of a relationship involving kids – I really, REALLY hope that’s not true 🙂 – and I love movies like Sleepless in Seattle that involve a character with both a void in their love life and children. But don’t there seem to be more and more kids around?
Do you find stories that include children more or less romantic? Is a hero that’s also a father more romantic or less? What about the heroine?
I’d really like to know, and your answers will enter you to win Whirlwind.
Next hour – another excerpt!
0 COMMENTS
Cindy L
13 years agoI don’t mind children in a romance. I think it tends to lend an air of reality to the story. I will admit that there are certain books that I’ve passed up because a child was the center of the storyline.
Lisa Langdale
13 years agoInteresting question.
I guess I’d lean towards a romance book without kids. But, really, I choose books based on what my friends recommend, so if they think I’ll like a book, I’ll try it.
But escaping the realities of children while reading is always nice (Disclaimer: I LOVE MY KIDS, but I love my time away from them too!)
Sally Hopkinson
13 years agoRobin: I think that kids & a romance story can work (ie “Sleepless In Seattle”). It just really depends on how the kids are perceived in the plot. But, then, I’m not a mom, so I don’t need to escape that reality :).
And, seeing a loving father can be very sweet/sexy. The fact that there are more & more kids is just a signs of the times- so many second marriages/blended families.
Sally
Rachel
13 years agoI’m the same when it comes to reading a book without the kids, but I’ve found myself adding kids in every story I write. I can’t get away from them. Aghhh! Next novel. No-Kids. Bad, Rachel. *smacks fingers*
Lisa Sanchez
13 years agoI’ve got three girls myself, so when I read I tend to choose books that take me as far away from reality as possible, lol! While I’m in no way turned off by books with kids (I’ve read some wonderful love stories that include single parents etc.) right now, I prefer gritty, fast paced paranormal with rough, tatted up Alpha males. Booyah!
CJ
13 years agoI read a book to escape the every day humdrum (?). Children are not romantic and do not add anything to a story, except tension and not in a nice way. I love children don’t get me wrong, they have their place in books but not in a romance.
Kathy
13 years agoI’ve noticed the same trend–I was in the library the other day, and the romance rack has a whole bunch of single-mom or pregnant mom stores, mostly from trades like Harlequin and Silhouette. I don’t have a problem with romances with kids in them, because I like a story with lots of angst and complications– lots of deep emotions– and kids certainly provoke those.
And, yeah, nothing is sexier than a strong, gentle man who is good with kids. Fortunately, I’m married to one of them, so I don’t have to read about them if I’d rather not.
Carol Oates
13 years agoLike you said, a single man who is loving and caring to his kids is attractive. Although I find a man who is caring an attentive to the kids of the woman he loves even more attractive. A man who is willing to take on the responsibility of raising children that are not his own because he loves their mother so much is incredibly romantic and says a lot about his character.
I don’t mind kids in books but I wouldn’t go out of my way to find a book where one or the other of the romantic couple has a child.