Last month I wrote about mothers in romance, so this month I have to show the fathers some love.
The first Father’s Day in the United States was celebrated on June 19, 1910, but it wasn’t until 1972 that the day became a nationwide holiday. With Father’s Day arriving on Sunday, I considered the roles that fathers play in romance novels.
Nowadays, it’s common and expected for men to have a more active role in their children’s lives. They’re an important part of their children’s development and are no longer allowed to stay on the sidelines when it comes to caregiving. In romance we often see them in similar roles as mothers—as nurturers and protectors. But I’ve also seen them overwhelmed but well-intentioned, which we don’t see as often with mother characters.
Let’s look at examples of all three.
The Nurturer
Nurturing fathers show tenderness and offer emotional support for their children. Compassionate and understanding, they’re a safe space for kids who need guidance and comfort. By interacting with their kids in a positive way, they’re able to teach important life lessons and instill values—enhancing the storyline and showing they could be good mates for the heroine.
You see an example of this in my novel, Without You, a second chance romance. Terrence Burrell was a rapper who’d lost his wife because he cheated on her multiple times during their marriage. As heroes go, he wasn’t a very good one, so how to redeem him? By showing what a great father he is.
There was no mistaking his love for their kids. He’d accepted his wife’s son from a previous relationship as his own, and during the story you saw examples of him caring for all three kids. In the opening scene he’s returning from a short trip to Florida with them, you find out he spoils his daughter—the “princess”—and he had a heart-to-heart talk with his eldest son, giving him a safe space to talk about his concerns about college. Terrence gave him advice to put his mind at ease. Through these interactions, you see how he nurtures his kids and how, potentially, his damaged relationship with his ex-wife could be fixed.
Another example of a nurturing father is in Sharon C. Cooper’s novel, Vindicated, where Hamilton Crosby proves he’s one of the most nurturing fathers in the literary fiction world. His ten-year-old son, Dominic, is not only wicked smart, but also inquisitive, and Hamilton’s patience with him is endearing. Throughout the story, the teachable moments with his son will have readers smiling and then laughing out loud. You can pick up copies of this novel on Amazon and Apple.
The Protector
Male leads who are fathers in romance will sometimes demonstrate a protective streak. They have a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to ensuring the emotional and physical well-being of their children and might even put themselves in danger to shield them from harm. This portrayal of protectiveness can really resonate with readers, because it taps into our desire to feel safe and loved, both in romantic relationships and within the family unit.
In Princess of Zamibia, part of my Royal Brides series, Prince Kofi is such a father. No surprise, since he’s descended from a warrior tribe. I don’t want to give spoilers, but there’s a point in the story where he’s not only determined that no harm will come to his son, he risks bodily harm to ensure it.
Overwhelmed But Well-Intentioned
The overwhelmed father is the one we see most often in those sigh-worthy single dad stories. These dads demonstrate the challenges of balancing their roles as fathers with other responsibilities and personal struggles. But despite moments of uncertainty or self-doubt which make them feel ill-equipped to handle fatherhood, the love for their children remains steadfast, driving their actions and decisions. For that reason, we empathize and understand what is essentially universally known—that being a parent means accepting the highs and lows of parenting and finding a way to successfully manage them both.
In my novel That Time in Venice, a second chance romance, Reed Stewart is a great father, but you see him struggle with how to care for his daughter, Brielle, as a single dad. Her tantrums leave him perplexed and drained, and he worries that uprooting her from her extended family after her mother died had been the wrong decision. His struggle is summed up in these words: “I’m still figuring out this father thing. I’m never really sure if what I’m doing is right, but I try to put her first and hope everything else falls into place.”
Reed’s love for Brielle is indisputable, and his intentions are clear—he wants the best for his daughter and despite his struggles, he’ll continue to strive for that goal. The heroine, Anika, provides much-needed help along the way.
Another book with an overwhelmed but well-intentioned father is Down Too Deep by J. Daniels, available on Amazon. Nathan was struggling as a single father with a baby girl, but lucky for him, Jenna came along to help out. She has two kids of her own and took on the job of being a nanny to his little one.
I truly adore the characters in this novel. In my Goodreads review, I mentioned that the story “was so freaking sweet and sooo heart-tuggingly adorable. I fell in love with this blended family.” Watching Nathan learn to be a better father to his little one and be a father-figure to Jenna’s kids—since their trifling daddy was a deadbeat—was very enjoyable. I gobbled up every scene. I highly recommend it for the sweet factor.
Conclusion
Just like being a mother, being a father is no easy task. Based on the number of single dad romance novels published each year, we definitely like seeing our heroes in the role of nurturer and protector, and fall hard for the ones who are overwhelmed but have good intentions. They add depth to the stories and enhance the characterization of the heroes.
To all the fathers and father figures, I hope you feel appreciated and celebrated on your day.
Have a wonderful Fathers Day!
__________
Can you think of other romance novels that show heroes in similar fatherly roles?
