Saturday, March 07, 2009

I wonder if this happens often???

I was checking out the Harlequin website to see if any books appealed to me and I noticed this months Super Romance line.

Each and every one of March's releases are about being preggers! I don't read this line but is this normal??

And I can't help but wonder what kind of message this is sending out that all these women are pregnant and single. I know it happens and call me old fashioned but some of them just sound skivvy to me.


With a sizzling career in commercial real estate and an even hotter love life, Delia Carlisle can't believe she's pregnant at forty-three. Dealing in potty training instead of properties…this is not how Delia envisioned her future. Her whole world is about to change, for better or for worse.

Alexander DiRossi can feel Delia's insecurities—about the health of the baby, about the changes to her career—but most of all, about him being a younger man. But he couldn't be more thrilled with impending parenthood, or more in love with Delia. The only difficulty will be getting her to accept his marriage proposal, for better or for worse!





Discovering she is pregnant is one of the happiest moments of Diana Shelton's life. Sure, that discovery leads to a divorce, but that's a small price to have a child of her own. With a thriving business as a playground architect, she thinks life couldn't be better for her.

Or could it?

Because Jason Benton—the principal in charge of her latest commission—is making her think something might be missing. Such as a good-looking man to come home to. But is this single dad who takes life so seriously ready for a romance with a fun-loving woman like Diana? Or can she teach him that love can be as simple as child's play?



Sophie Curtis lives a big secret. She's been having an affair with Duane Koch. Their days—and nights— together are their own oasis away from the world. It's unconventional but, given the difference in their ages and her troubled past, it works for them.

Then Duane is asked to step into the political ring—an opportunity he's been waiting for. Too bad about the timing, though. Because Sophie's just found out she's pregnant, and an instant family—with her—could ruin his chances. The right thing would be for her to bow out of his life. But when he surprises her with a proposal, will she have the strength to walk away from the man she loves?




They had one night. That's all Shelby Brookes would allow herself to indulge in with Luke Tulane. Yes, he's gorgeous. And yes, he's the greatest guy she knows, but he's her best friend's brother, for crying out loud! She's pretty sure there are rules against sleeping with friends' brothers.

Then Shelby discovers she's pregnant. And Luke's determined to do the right thing—down to the bended-knee proposal and the meeting at the altar. As tempting as his offer is, Shelby's convinced she's not the marrying kind. She's bound to hurt him, and that's definitely against the rules of friendship. Still, she doesn't count on how persuasive Luke can be when he really wants something…her.




What is she thinking? Being pregnant, single and expanding her business? No doubt about it, Lucy Basso's hands are full. As if that's not enough, hottie Dominic Bianco is showing more than a little interest in her. Even her impending motherhood doesn't seem to faze him. In fact, he's acting as tender and protective as if she were carrying his baby.

But something seems to be keeping Dom from fully committing to her. If Lucy could only know what it is, she might understand. Or maybe she'd tell him it doesn't matter. Because she knows he's a good man and he'd make an ideal father.





He was—still is—the love of her life. Now, more than a year after Andrew's death, Emily Martin discovers eleven letters he'd left for her. Letters that relive the joy they found together. Letters that recall the early days of their marriage, the births of their babies, their happiness as parents.

Andrew's final wish is that Emily cherish their past but move beyond it. She's not sure she can. But the birth of her daughter's baby brings Emily a new sense of purpose and hope. And her neighbor Sam—also widowed, also ready to move on with his life—shows her that new love is possible.






And a video 'cause this song just came on the radio and I like it and it's after 2:00 am and I'm still playing with the new blog template



16 comments:

Tracy said...

That is pretty freaky! I don't have a clue if it's normal but dang! lol

In the cover for Child's Play the woman looks like a mannequin. Weird.

Kristie (J) said...

LOL - she does doesn't she? I didn't notice until you pointed it out.
And another question - how come I didn't look that good while gestating?

Renee said...

Hmm...maybe some kind of fertility rite for spring?

A couple of them sound interesting, but taken all together like that, it's a little bizarre.

I Love that song! Tho' a little funny right next to all the pregnant mommas. lol

LVLM(Leah) said...

Hmmm... that's kind of interesting. I like the pregnant/baby stories but I haven't read any books with a single girl being preggers unless the guy she was with was a total turd and he dumped her and the new honorable hero is entering the pic.

None of these stories appeal to me. And is it true that it's a major social faux pas to date your best friend's brother? I thought it's the best friend's boyfriend or ex.

Lea said...

Um,

To each their own, but these books are so not my cuppa.

Great video Kristie. Once again the new layout and color scheme is wonderful.

Regards
L

Amie Stuart said...

I'd guess it was done on purpose (Marketing) but WOW!!! I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Other than the widow story, I'm just shaking my head. I love my kids but being a single mom BLOWS!

There's nothing romantic about being pregnant IMO and I know it's a romance but ... unrealistic expectations much?

Carrie Lofty said...

Am I reading that last blurb right? She's supposed to be becoming a grandma? Hot granny!

It is pretty amazing, though, that of all the ones you listed, none of them have repeat scenarios. Single mom, career mom, younger man, widow, one night stands, friends to lovers...it's a rather rich assortment of whoopsies!

Wendy said...

I do read (and love beyond all reason) the HSR line and can say with A LOT of authority that they're not all baby books all the time. They go on a baby bonanza once a year - usually sometime in the spring. I've always chalked this up to a marketing ploy. Needless to say, I didn't buy a single HSR title this month. Not a one. If memory serves I did pick up a couple of the April releases to review for Sybil.

Excellent HSR writers that don't do babies? Ellen Hartman, who published the fabulous His Secret Past last year. Some of Janice Kay Johnson's backlist (I loved last year's The Man Behind The Cop) and Kathryn Shay's earlier books....especially her America's Bravest series which was fab.

Anonymous said...

It's not for Mother's Day? (I know that's on a different day in the US, but I can never remember it is...)
Must be soon here, because Waterstone's have a whole bay of 'books for your mother'.

Actually, the blurbs made me want to read these: I haven't read category for ages.

Renee said...

Hey, Kristie! I just wanted to tell you that I gave you a Premio Dardos award over at my place. You rock! :-)

orannia said...

HI Kristie! Thought it was about time I de-lurked :)

Hmmm...interesting March release line-up. Maybe it's just me, but I see all these books and the first thing that pops into my head is 'did none of the couples ('cause it's on the guys too) use contraception? Because it's not just pregnancy but STDs! *carefully gets down off soapbox*

And I have to ask...what is Super Romance please? For some reason I keep thinking of MacDonald's super sizing...

Kristie (J) said...

Hey Orannia: Welcome!! And good point - it's not just unplanned pregnancies that people need to worry about anymore. I don't think I would have been so startled if they hadn't all seemed to be similar. And as for the line - I don't know anything about it. I've never read anything in the Superromance line before. I don't know if they are longer or what it is about them.

Renee: *blushing* Thank you!! I'll have to drop by. I was going to spend lots more time on the computer tonight - but then I got caught up watching Dancing With The Stars - darn those reality type shows anyway!!

Marianne: Mother's Day here is sometime in May - which would have been better for a whole bunch of baby books wouldn't it? *g* I don't read a lot of Harlequins anymore - they shrunk them up considerably - but I still do on occasion - if I'm looking for a nice fast read. But I don't think I'll be reading any of these ones. I'm so far away from either having babies myself or my kids having babies - I just can't really relate to them at this stage :-)

Wendy: Like I said - I've never tried this line before - but I might with some of the authors you mentioned there. I think I might have a Kay David or two in the TBR pile.

Carrie: LOL - yep - looks like the one is a grama tale - though you're right - she doesn't look like much like a granny does she. And that many were just so startling *g*

Amie: I don't know how single moms do it! I had a tough enough time when my kids were small and there were two of us!! And babies just don't say "romance" to me either.

Lea: Nope - they aren't my cuppa either. While now I'm curious to try a HSR - it won't be with any of these

Leah: I never realized that it was a faux pas either??? I don't have one - but isn't that one of the pluses of having an older brother? So you can have crushes on his friends

Renee: *laughing* there is no real connection to the video and the books is there? But whenever I hear that song I think 'I gotta see who does that!' and since I was on the computer and YouTube was so close.......
Now I'll remember it forever *g*

Wendy said...

The SuperRomance line is Harlequin's longest category line. I don't know the official word count - the books tend to run between 260-300 pages. So you get a bit more meat to the story, and authors have the chance to toss in some added conflict and secondary characters. When you're writing in a shorter line like HP or SD, there's not enough "time" for the author to explore much of anything outside of the romance.

Anonymous said...

My god! I can actually read and comment in firefox now! Love the new look!

Why are these baby books so appealing to readers? I do not recall pregnancy and my children's infancies to be especially sexy or romantic times. Maybe I'll have to try one and see for myself.

Sayuri said...

I bought the Sarah Mayberry one, but that becuase she rocks the casbah. And it was a great story.

Venus Vaughn said...

All I can think of is at least it means 'women of size' get some cover time.

But seriously babies aren't the be all and end of all romance... they can't be!