Many “romance” novels go well beyond the relationship between a man and a woman. Particularly with series, the romance is built around a family.
Sherryl Woods has many series that involve family. Her latest series, a reissue of a previous series, involves the Devaney brothers, short novellas about several brothers who find love. A new series I’m working on involves a family of ranchers in Montana–four brothers and a sister. Family dynamics make for an interesting conflict.
One of the members of the Montana Romance Writers mentioned once that someone told her that almost every book she wrote had a “secret baby,” a baby that the mother knew about, but the father didn’t.
In an age when divorce is more prevalent than most of us, including divorcees, would like. The result? Many women–and men– who have children. Brad Paisley did a great song about what the ideal would look like if a man respected a single mom and took her out on a date–He Didn’t Have to Be.
It takes special people to make a blended family. Not only do they have to deal with their spouses, but with children from a previous relationship. And, the thing that’s sometimes mentioned, but not often enough, dealing with ex’s. How do you do create a relationship based on anger, and sometimes hate, that doesn’t damage the children everyone loves? It takes strong people to make that work. If you’re in a step- relationship, it takes more courage–and patience–than most people will ever know.
What women know…and love…the fullness of life. We are in love with men, our children, and the elders who go before us.
That is what a romance novel is all about.
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