Torn Between Two Lovers with Guest Jennifer Haymore
Her debut Historical Romance, A HINT OF WICKED, hits stores shelves this week and that means craziness all around. But Grand Central Publishing author, Jennifer Haymore, was sweet enough to make time for us. Let's give her a warm Pirate welcome!
Love triangles…ahh. The ditty “Torn between two lovers…feeling like a fool…” has been floating around in my head for a few weeks now.
I actually think love triangles are pretty common in real life…it’s just that they’re often cut and dry, because the choices are obvious. When I was a freshman in college, a senior pursued me rabidly for a while. He was cute and worldly, and he had this fantastic French accent. But then I met my future husband—who was everything I wanted in a guy—and Cute Mr. French Dude didn’t have a chance. See what I mean? I made my decision in less than a split second. (And Cute Mr. French Dude sent me black roses for a while afterward, but we won’t talk about that…)
In A HINT OF WICKED, the heroine, Sophie, truly is torn between two men. The tricky part is that she sincerely loves both of them. So…how can she choose? When I think about my real-life love triangles, they were a cinch compared to Sophie’s dilemma. But you can’t really blame Sophie for not instantly choosing one over the other—Garrett and Tristan are both heroes in the truest sense of the world.
Here are descriptions of the heroes of A HINT OF WICKED:
Tristan: Tall, dark and handsome, loyal, charismatic & charming, refined & aristocratic, a leader, treats Sophie as an equal, wants to protect her & has always loved her
Tough decision, don’t you think?
I told my husband I was doing a blog about the difficulty of choosing between two fantastic heroes and in his logical, numerical (and ever so masculine) way, he sat down and made me a list of things to consider when one is torn between two lovers:
CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING YOUR TRUE HERO
(according to Jennifer Haymore’s Husband):
(1) Emotional attraction
(2) Physical attraction
(3) Intellectual compatibility
(4) Compatibility in enjoyments / hobbies
(5) Level of friendship/trust
(6) Which one will more easily find a new mate after a rejection from me
(7) Children involved
(8) Legal issues
(9) The amount of time you’ve spent with each, factoring in quality vs. quantity
After creating his list, my husband was a little stumped. “How should I weigh the answers to the above questions to determine my final answer?” he asked. “For example, do I value emotional attraction twice as much as intellectual compatibility?”
Hahahahahaha! And hahahaa some more! Man, I love my husband. He’s such a man. He can compartmentalize everything, somehow turn thousands of shades of gray into something black and white.
But then, he shocked me. After mulling over his practical list for a while, he said, “You know, I'd probably do what I’d do in real life when presented with a quandary such as this. I'd follow my heart.”
Which, I have to say, is what Sophie does. And it’s what I did in high school (eventually) and in college. I ended up marrying the guy my heart told me was the right one for me. So I’m thinking maybe I should give my husband credit for being a little more enlightened than I originally thought!
But what about you? What do you think of romance novels that have two heroes rather than one? Do any specific books come to mind? And if it happened to you, how easy would it really be for you to choose?
Books by the Crew
46 comments:
I was actually a little reluctant to read this (fabulous) book, because I knew someone would not get his happy ending. Thank goodness I got over that and thank goodness for book #2! You handled the entire triangle situation very deftly, and I applaud you.
Oh, I've seen the two men, one woman thing wa-a-ay too many times in romance. The Stephanie Plum series with Joe vs. Ranger. Anita Blake, with the vampire vs. the werewolf... Sigh. I think it's hardest on the fans. As Maggie said above, you know someone is going to lose.
I know I'd like ta see one where the heroine decides on the first man one a' these days. It seems like too many are doin' it jus' ta discard the original man and add variety ta the series.
Or I'd love ta see one where she don't chose, she gets 'em both and it isn't called erotica.
Yeah, they calls me a dreamer!
Yer books look really interestin'... So, there be a book number two...hmmmm! That be one way ta handle the idea a' someone losin'...
And yer husband? He be an engineer? Looks like somethin' me husband would do. A spread sheet is always the answer! LOL!
Welcome ta the ship, Jennifer!
I'm starting this book today! Made a wee trip to the bookstore yesterday! And I'm with Maggie. Two excellent men, it's sad one has to lose out, though he's not technically losing out, he's getting his own HEA :)
Welcome aboard!
Love triangles generally make me feel a little nervous. Like you, I got caught up in a not-so-well-handled one in high school, and I still cringe a bit to think about it. But if Maggie says that everyone in this one gets a happy ending, it's good enough for me, and I'll be headed directly to B&N!
Your husband's oh-so-practical list for choosing true love cracked me up! Men *g*
Hi, Jennifer!
I picked this up, and it's up next, I can't wait.
One of my all time favorite triangle stories is Judith McNaught's Something Wonderful.
Di
Jennifer - how your husband handled this totally cracked me up! That's so funny. :)
Two heroes, huh? I would say that the Twilight series comes to mind. I'm still not sure I like how she resolved it. But, oh well, I think I'm in the minority now.
:)
Looking forward to reading this story!
Hiya Jennifer! :)
Too funny on your husband's list. How cute!
I don't think I realized I was a fan of love triangles until I read this book - I can't think of many others I've read. But I love conflicts that are really dramatic and angsty, and this definitely fits the bill. Being a somewhat indecisive people-pleaser myself, I could appreciate how difficult it was for Sophie to be in a situation where she couldn't make everyone she cared about happy. And heck, what romance reader doesn't want double the sexy hero to fantasize about? It is fiction, after all. ;)
Congrats again on your release and on such an amazing book. I'm already dying for book two!
Good morning, Everyone! And welcome to the ship, Jennifer. Thanks again for joining us today.
I admit I was thinking along the lines of everyone else where I wasn't sure I'd like this one since someone had to lose. And from the snippets, it's clear she loves both men. These things are easier when one of the guys is a jerk - think Count of Monte Cristo - so the real hero is obvious.
But the concept of both men being hero worthy meant this had to make for a great discussion. And I love your husband's take on the situation. LOL! Especially the "which would find a new mate easier" one. Just seems like you'd be settling for the one that you think no one else would want. LOL! Though I'm sure that's not how he saw it. :)
I agree that love triangles are pretty common (which is why they feature a lot in our books *LOL*) and I too also get a little tired of them in stories--MAINLY--because of how they are handled. Like the high school event where it all just ends ugly. I don't like ugliness. I want things to end for the best, without regrets. (Which is probably impossible. We'll always have a little regret and we'll probably always sometimes wonder "what if" once we've chosen our path, no matter how happy we are.)
In the case of Ranger vs Morelli, and Jean-Claude vs Richard (in series books)--I don't like the love triangle in those books because they are used too long. It's really a classic "piss or get off the pot" after a while and when the characters continue to hem and haw and drag it out, you end up turning the channel like we all did when we finally got tired of Ross and Rachel and the whole "Will they or won't they?" bull crap.
However, with Jennifer's book, the triangle was just long enough. The heroine wasn't jerking both heroes along for several books, first one, then the other.
It's a very fine line to be able to create a compelling heroine, to show her as someone who is truely torn and not someone who is wishy-washy and can't make up her own mind. Kudos to Jennifer!
Terr: I took the comment about "who would find a new mate easier" not that I would keep the mate who was "harder to place"/ugly/et al--but that, "Who is most likely to get over me sooner and move on?" Clearly I want the guy who would never be over me. *LOL*
That does make more sense. But then we'd all like to think neither of them could get over us. LOL! (Vanity, thy name is Terrio!)
Really, that does make sense. And I've never been in a love triangle. I'm trying to think if that's a bad thing or a good thing. Hmmmm....I think it's good. I'm not the best judge of character, my past choices being glaring proof of that, I'd hate to think I screwed up even when something better was right under my nose.
Hi Jennifer
I love geometry and triangles in particular.
It explores the conflicts of emotion, passions and the big issues in life.
Having the heroine in love with two heroes sounds delicious. It augurs well for a horrendous murder and a nice juicy mystery! I also like arranged marriages where he/she falls in love with someone totally unsuitable.
Actually I believe that Tiff writes about harems where I'm sure the sheik loves all of his brood.
Like others have said, in a monogamous society your triangle sounds like a recipe for a tragedy. I'm gonna have to buy it now to find out how the dilemma is resolved!
Looking at your husbands list, as a (male) scientist I have to comment that often opposite attracts and like repels so I would want to query No 4 *grin*
Lovely to meet you....is the book down-loadable?
Oh, it's easy--just figure out which one is the Leo and/or Scorpio. They will always move on. *LOL* Find an earth sign. They will pine for you. *LOL*
It is, Q, if you have a Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/A-Hint-of-Wicked-ebook/dp/B00290SZ60/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244125091&sr=8-2
(and an absolute BARGAIN too!)
Hi Jennifer,
Welcome aboard! I am currently reading "A Hint of Wicked" I want to commend you for an awesome hook, and original storyline. I admit I'm a little nervous about who Sophie is going to choose. I love the passion she and Tristan share, but I am a fan of a tortured hero, and Garrett fits the bill. You are a talented writer of emotions. You have my gut twisted with the angst. I finally stopped reading yesterday evening when I could no longer hold my eyes open. I'm looking forward to picking up where I left off as soon as my day allows.
Congrads on the release, and I know you will have much success:)
I checked the publisher website and it looks like you can get it in e-format even if you don't have a Kindle. Check out Grand Central Publishing.
I completely forgot to add the links when I put this in. Click on Jennifer's name in the intro to go to her website (which is VERY lovely) and click on the cover of the book to head over to B&N to make your purchase. :)
And I also forgot to say, Jennifer is in California, so she and Chance should get here about the same time. LOL!
Hi Jennifer,
Congratulations on your success, both professional and personal. Your husband sounds extremely hero worthy as well. :)
Two heroes! On first impression, when purusing the back of book blurbs, I normally wouldn't want the heroine to have choose because I wouldn't want her to have doubts about her true hero. Isn't it funny, in a not so haha funny sense, how women are hardest on women? Only one is right for her and I applaud you for taking up the challenge to handle this tricky situation - - for the reader to not, as you say "blame Sophie for not instantly choosing." Now I HAVE to read this book to find out how you do it! :)
I love that you didn't give away which hero she chose. Without having read the book (which I will!) I'm analyzing the hero descriptions and my guess is that "first love" and (sorry Tristan) "dangerous" will win out. I have questions about "book 2" but I suppose that would give away this one! I'm dying of curiosity here...off to the book store as soon as I can. :)
A West Coaster! Ah, so she might understand me fixation on keepin' both of 'em.
Or not, it be a big state.
I'm up early crew. Doggie stuff saw me up and movin' 'bout earlier than is me norm. I need a Jane's Common Sense...
I myself would keep both of them as well. I'm with Lisa though, I love a tortured hero, so I couldn't get rid of Garrett. I just couldn't. It would tear my heart out to leave him. It's all that brooding and rough and danger-ness about him.
I love your husband's list. It's a very manly list. LOL. And the way he tried to rationalize how you would make such a decision was priceless.
I'm going to pick this up. I'm so far behind on my reading that I could take off of work for 6 months and still not be caught up. It's just awful. This books sounds VERY promising from all the rave reviews it's getting this morning. Must make a point to stop somewhere and pick it up after work.
Ahoy mateys! I'm just getting the kids ready to cast off, so I might be yanked away for a bit. I'll be back later, though!
Thank you so much, Maggie! I'm working on edits for book two right now, and I just love how the "loser" hero gets his happy ending in such a big, big way. It doesn't release until next April, but I'm already so excited about it!
Chance, LOL! I am a big fan of Stephanie Plum, and I followed Anita for the first 11 books or so. Funny how I definitely have my favorites from those two series and I really wish those characters would buckle down and decide (well, I don't know what's going on with Anita, but I wish Stephanie would choose...). Although, see, I think the authors are in a tricky situation. No matter who those heroines choose, half the population is going to scream "WRONG!" I was actually bracing myself for that with AHOW, but so far it seems most people agree Sophie picked the right guy. Oh, and my husband was an EECS major (electrical engineering, computer science) in undergrad! :)
Tiffany, it is definitely a little bittersweet at the end. I hope you like it!
haleigh, Fair warning: Not everyone gets a HEA in this book, but hero #2 does get a HEA in A TOUCH OF SCANDAL due out in April. I think it's the right ending, though, and if you do decide to give it a try, I hope you enjoy it!
Hi Di, I haven't read Something Wonderful yet, though I actually have a copy of it sitting on Mt. TBR. I didn't know it was a love triangle! Hmmm...that's definitely going to move it a few books closer to the top. I really like Judith McNaught's books.
Marnee Jo, Twilight is a great example! Of course. Actually, someone emailed me in the middle of reading A HINT OF WICKED and she announced "I'm on team Tristan" and I about keeled over laughing.
Okay, off to deliver the bairns to the ship! More later, maties!
Wouldn't it be fun to see TEAM TRISTAN and TEAM GARRETT shirts at Nationals. LOL! At least print up some pins to pass out. LOL!
I still think she should keep 'em both... I be so wicked!
Sin and I see things the same... though I bet she gots different reasons than I fer that stand!
And Stephanie ought to find someone else entirely, let Joe and Ranger find someone sane to settle down with...
*ducking now
Ranger should find me and then all would be right in the world of walking the fine line of danger. *g*
I'm also a huge fan of Stephanie Plum, though my enthusiasm for such series has soured over the last few books because I'm ready for closer, regardless of how it happens. I just want it to happen and get on with it. I rather like the inbetween character Diesel as well.
Everyone knows who I prefer in the Twilight saga. That's no mystery. I've wanted to be a vampire since I was old enough to blink.
And with Anita... I've just given up that series entirely.
With Kim Harrison, I know who I want Rachel to be with, but her triangle is more like an octagon. There are so many people tangled up that it's just fun to see what happens each book.
'Kay, I could go there. Ranger always on the ship? Sounds fine ta me!
Did someone say Ranger is going to be on the ship all the time? Really? I'm going to have to wear make up more often.
I keep seeing this pics all over of Rob P./Edward from shooting New Moon. I still don't see the attraction.
I was reading this and was like "You know, I don't think I've ever been in a love triangle, or written one."
Um, wrong on both counts. I never really had to choose between two guys, but I did end up being the girl not chosen. Um, more than once. (Suddenly I see why I got married at 21—found the guy who chose me, or even just the chance of having me over another girl, and we never needed to go back!)
And then my sequel MS has the heroine dating this guy while she's still in love with her ex-boyfriend—and the day her current boyfriend brings up marriage (something her ex never did, and a big reason why she broke up with him), she runs into her ex again. And that's the day the story starts :D .
Wow, Jordan, I hadn't thought of it that way. I've definitely been the girl not chosen. More than once. And my most recent foray was this twisted, "everyone is just friends" trip into insanity. Never want to do that again.
Jordan, that sounds like one helluva story.
Hm, I've been on both sides of the triangle. I can't say it's a good feeling either way in the end.
Thanks, Sin. That summary leaves out the whole foiling the terrorists main plot, of course.
Hmmm. Foiling the terrorist main plot...yeah, hard to fit in the love stuff with that in the way! Two plots in the woods, I chose the one less traveled...
Or something like that...
So, Jennifer, the DH is an engineer! I knew it! I swear, mine is a software guru, but give him a problem and he can dice it up into a spreadsheet in a blink. The spreadsheet wizard!
Hmm, Is Jennifer lost.
Perhaps she's using a satnav not realising that the pirates map ref is fluid!
'The geometry of relationships' is a book that someone should write. Its time we had a rigorous craft book.
Under triangles alone we have:
isosceles.....heroine loves two guys equally
equilateral....everyone loves everyone else equally
Right angled....the two guys are orthogonal in their attractions but one's love may exceed the other's. The girl, being the hypotenuse, squares up to the guy's pleasures
Could go on but I think you get the point.
Now this could be extended to a series or a trilogy.
Book 2 would be 'Introduction to the trigonometry of Love'
Oh Lord, I can see Sin scowling at me!
I need a geometry primer... "The girl, being the hypotenuse, squares up to the guy's pleasures..."
I just knows this hasta be nasty somewhere...accent or not!
I don't know. In my (latest) books, the heroine gets both men. Is this the age of decadence, or what??
I think it's very interesting that your husband listed Emotional attraction ahead of Physical. Did he do that for you? And I thought it was very kind of him to worry about who might get back into the dating scene and eventually end up happy. What a sweetheart!
I can't believe it, I understand everything Q said up there. Well, except the map is fluid thing. Does that mean we're on water? LOL!
Q, I love that! Finally, romances my hubby might like to read.
I've written one triangle, Jordan, but alas have never been part of one.
Whaaa! I want someone to send ME black roses!
Hi Lindsey! Thanks so much! I really love angsty, emotional books too, so it’s probably not a shocker I tend to write them that way. And I hope you enjoy A TOUCH OF SCANDAL. I am really excited about that book! I can hardly wait until it releases in April!
Terrio, you’re right, it’s a lot easier when one of the guys is a jerk. Or even when the heroine just can’t find it in her heart to love hero #2 as much as she loves hero #1. But…I didn’t want to give Sophie an “easy” out! (insert evil author cackle here…)
Thanks so much, Hellion! I think in Sophie’s situation I definitely would have sat around for months wringing my hands and being wishy-washy! Fortunately, Sophie is not me! LOL
And I’m chuckling about the Leos and Scorpios always moving on. My son is a Scorpio, and I completely see that ability in him! And my husband is a Virgo—totally different personality.
Quantum, Nice meeting you, too! I brought your query to my husband, who still stands by his original question. I believe he needs quantitative proof that opposites attract more than similarities--would you happen to have any? :) And yes, the book is available in ebook format too. Not only that, but the publisher is offering it for $1.99 through the month of June at the major e-tailers.
Thanks so much, Lisa! I hope you enjoy it through to the end!
Melissa, oh, that’s soooo true! Women are definitely hard on women—sad but true. If I’m honest with myself, I admit that I’m often harder on the heroines I read in books than the heroes…bad Jennifer…
Chance, I completely understand your fixation! I am not going to deny there were several moment during the writing of this book I wished Sophie could end up with both…
Sin, I agree—I’m a big fan of tortured heroes myself! I know what you mean about having a mountain of books to read—I’m in the same boat. I do hope you’ll find the time for AHOW, though. :)
Chance, Hahahahaha about Stephanie Plum. I’m for Joe, though. If anyone has a chance of turning Steph sane, it’s definitely Joe!
Jordan, that was my first thought, too. Hmm…a love triangle? Besides the obvious ones (see Ranger discussion above, and oh, by the way, I might just be devising a plan to stow away if Ranger's coming aboard…), I have a hard time pinpointing them. But really, they’re everywhere! In real life and in fiction.
Quantum, You’re right. I was lost. I had a radio interview this morning, and I was so nervous I couldn’t do anything until after it was over. Then I had Mom stuff to do. Then I had no internet! I’m back now, though—the compass and sextant are working again.
I love your geometry of relationships idea. Perfect! AHOW is definitely an isosceles. I also just finished a love “square”—here’s how it goes: Hero #1 engaged to Heroine #2
Hero #1 falling for Heroine #1
Hero #2 dating Heroine #1
Hero #2 falling for Heroine #2
Hehe!
Dee, Yay, she gets them both! Woo hoo! And yes, my husband really is a sweetheart hidden under all those caveman attributes…
Jennifer said: I brought your query to my husband, who still stands by his original question. I believe he needs quantitative proof that opposites attract more than similarities–would you happen to have any?
Jennifer, I conclude from this that your husband is not into Quantum Physics. Both you and your husband are composed of electrons, protons and neutrons plus a few other bits and pieces. electrons repel electrons (both negative), protons repel protons (both positive), electrons attract protons (opposite charges). As there is nothing else worth mentioning, a simple extrapolation to the mental and emotional spheres would indicate that opposite trends are likely to attract.
QED *wg*
Thanks for spending time aboard ship!
*fires the starboard cannon for silence*
Pirates, A toast to a fabulous new Author:
May the winds of fame and fortune blow kindly on her sails.
Bottoms up and down the hatch.
Oh and may I say I loved your square!
I must include that in my geometry book. 8)
Its now 11.30 here in the UK
Time for some shut eye! :D
Dee...she gets both guys! Hey! I wanna read yer book!
*I* do not scowl. I hear it gives wrinkles.
Jennifer, just had to comment - how like a man! Your husband sounds logical, typically male and utterly charming. You definitely made the right decision there. Good luck with this book. It sounds absolutely intriguing.
Annie
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