Here’s today’s topic for discussion:
I prefer my romance novels with/without kids in them. (Pick one.)
Discuss.
I’ll start. My gut reaction, when standing in the bookstore and reading back cover copy trying to decide whether or not to buy book X, is something like this, “I have kids in real life. Kids are stressful. I read romance novels to relax. Ergo, why would I want to read a romance novel with kids in it?”
And yet … some of the best novels I’ve ever read have had kids in them, including Lisa Kleypas’ beautiful and brilliant SUGAR DADDY (which is technically women’s fiction, but has strong romance and a HEA), Linda Howard’s COVER OF NIGHT (twins!), and Karen Robards’ HEARTBREAKER. The book I’m reading now, Pamela Clare’s RIDE THE FIRE, features a woman pregnant and alone on the American frontier. Talk about a situation ripe for conflict and trouble… And doesn’t Harlequin have a line that deals with pregnant heroines?
Something about throwing a child into the mix always launches the book’s emotional stakes up into the stratosphere, don’t you think? Being a mother myself, I can immediately understand and sympathize when a heroine is more cautious, brave, or daring because of a child. And if the fictional child is in jeopardy, well, all bets are off.
The key seems to be the ability to get rid of the fictional child at key moments, so that the romantic leads can, uh, get to know each other a little better. In RISK, I gave the hero a flat-screen TV with remote down the hall in his bedroom, so that the three-and-a-half year old niece, Maya, could disappear at strategic times. I think it also helps to have multiple available babysitters on standby, which, God knows, is easier in the fictional world than in real life.
It doesn’t hurt if the child is cute and charming. In RISK, Maya has her devilish moments, including cutting off a hank of her own hair, but she’s also adorable and vulnerable. Her presence in the book, I think, makes the emotional highs and lows so much greater.
So what do you think? Are kids in books automatic deal breakers? If not, which books with which kids are your favorites? I’m giving away a copy of RISK to a commenter at the end of the day assuming, of course, that the commenter likes kids in books. :)
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It doesnt matter either way to me. I do like the kids in books if they are funny or really tug at your heart.
by Pat L
on April 24th, 2007 at 7:35 am
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Don’t include me in the contest because I already have “Risk.”
I agree with Pat on this one. If the kids are interesting, it just makes the story better. Maya was great and very realistic. She reminded me so much of my youngest daughter who cut off both braids at age three!
Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer’s “Don’t Look Down” had a child character with a major part. Pepper was precocious and added to the drama of the storyline.
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Yes, I like kids in the story and if you don’t have them. Then at least have an animal, a pet of some kind. I like both in my stories.
by Tammy G
on April 24th, 2007 at 8:22 am
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I like the sentimenatlity of a child in a book. If you have a child in a book you instantly can expect some humor because “kids say the damnedest things”. I also love books with no children. Actually, I guess I just love books and would read any story if they had kids or not if they peeked my interest.
by patty L.
on April 24th, 2007 at 8:33 am
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Kids are definitely good for comic relief. In RISK, Maya gave Angela, the heroine, the finger. This of course drove Angela berserk. This incident was “snatched from the headlines” here at my house, where my son went thru a rude gesture phase. Years later, it’s funny. Sort of.
Ann :grin:
P.S. The child in DON’T LOOK DOWN was adorable. Didn’t she have a thing for Wonder Woman? Also, the child in Kleypas’ WHERE DREAMS BEGIN liked tea parties and button strings. Really cute.
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It really depends on what mood I’m in. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a family themed romance where the woman is juggling family, career, and romance. Other times, I’d prefer a kidless read where the heroine is more adventurous and less inhibited by family responsibilities.
Anna DeStefano and Lori Handeland have great SuperRomances that deal with family issues.
by Sandra M
on April 24th, 2007 at 9:05 am
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Hi Ann,
I don’t mind having children in the books. I read a book by Inglath Cooper titled A Gift of Grace and it was a wonderful book. It’s about a little girl who is adopted and then the mother and daughter come across the father by accident. It’s a Harlequin Superromance. I find that I read more romance type books in the summer and if any have kids in them, then that will be fine.
by Janet
on April 24th, 2007 at 9:31 am
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Kids in books do add another dimension and are interesting. Depending upon the plot and the type of story it can be important to the entire story.
by pearl
on April 24th, 2007 at 9:41 am
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Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson had a wonderful child in it, Lexie. Jennifer Crusie has a way of making the most of the children in her books like Em in Tell Me Lies, Dillie in Welcome to Temptation and Nadine in Faking It. Tess from The Vineyard by Barbara Delinsky is another favorite of mine.
by Susan
on April 24th, 2007 at 10:06 am
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vicki thompson nerd book with dexter was good. I do not prefer kids but if i t has one or less then it is ok. if the story ask for it then it is ok.
by kim h
on April 24th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
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Back again to comment on some irresistible kids - the 2 in Pink Moon by Stef Ann Holm were so wonderful and Dex in V. L. Thompson’s The Nerd Who Loved me was so funny.
by Pat L.
on April 24th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
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As a general rule, I don’t like books with kids in them. Very often, the kids tend to be these sugar-coated unrealistically well-behaved automatons that are only there to serve as background setting. The entire attitude of such books is so far off from real life it’s ridiculous.
Now, that being said, I don’t mind a good book with kids. I’ve been burnt a few too many times, though, so I tend to avoid unless I’ve got a good recommendation.
by Nonny
on April 24th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
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What about pregnant heroines? How do we feel about them? And does it matter whether it’s the hero’s baby or not?
Ann
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It completely depends upon the children. Having two teenagers we have already dealt with many issues so when I come across children in books I want them to be realistic, not some cutesy, perfect stereotype.
by Maureen
on April 24th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
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My first reaction was “No!”. But, I’ve read some good books with kids in them. I suppose if they are going to be there, I’d rather them be more involved in the story and not just scenery.
by Jennifer K.
on April 24th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
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I like kids in the story. If you have a child in a book you instantly can expect some humor because “kids say anythings”.
by Emma
on April 24th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
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Usually not, but yes sometimes - depends on my mood at the moment… :roll:
by Karen B
on April 24th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
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I like both with and without kids. If there should be kids in the story, I want the kids to be more than a plot device. What I mean is that the kids should be as well written as the leads and they shouldn’t just be brought out for cuteness factor, but they should have a real role in the story.
by Sue A.
on April 24th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
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It’s hard to choose one over the other. I’d say both depending on the story. lol I often see children in the category romances or historicals where the heroine is a teacher or governess. It wouldn’t work if the children weren’t a part of it.
Pregnant heroines are okay, too. The father doesn’t always have to be the hero. That happens in real life.
by Kim
on April 24th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
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Like so many of my posts the answer is “it depends” :grin: How the children are written makes a huge difference in how I feel about it. I come from a large family and I worked in child care for many years so I like to read about kids who act like kids. For example, the twins in LH’s Cover of Night were great. Into to everything and always up to mischief. The scene where they are jumping on the bed watching their “parts” bounce is wonderful! 
by JackieToo
on April 24th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
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Thanks, everyone, for another great discussion!
I’ve randomly chosen Sue A. to win a copy of RISK. Sue, please send your address to me–ann@annchristopher.com.
Have a great night! See you next time!
Ann :grin:
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Thank you Ann! I just sent off the e-mail to you.
by Sue A.
on April 25th, 2007 at 2:33 am
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I don’t like babies or pregnant heroines in books as a rule (although there are always exceptions!). Teenagers or older kids are fine and can complicate the plot nicely, add an extra dimension. I guess I have a hard time buying into a hero thinking the heroine is sexy if she is pregnant (and it’s not his baby). I was in good shape both times I was pregnant, but I sure didn’t feel sexy. :cry: And most guys I know aren’t great with small babies and toddlers, but are great with kids once they get a bit older. If it’s their own child, it’s different, of course. I do know some great dads.
by Gail Barrett
on April 25th, 2007 at 4:29 am
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wtg sue
by kim h
on April 25th, 2007 at 11:44 am
