Today I am so pleased to welcome Keira Andrews to Joyfully Jay. Keira has come to talk to us about her latest release, Road to the Sun (which I reviewed here and really enjoyed!). She has also brought along a backlist book to give away. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Hello! Thanks so much to Jay for having me here today. I’d love to talk about one of my very favorite tropes: May-December. Jay recently posted a list of favorite age-gap romances, and not only was I delighted that my book Valor on the Move made the list, my endless TBR pile grew exponentially.
I was recently discussing the term “May-December” with my fellow author and friend Leta Blake. Leta had seen readers describe it as romances where one MC is in his sixties and the other in his twenties. However, I can’t think of any books with a gap quite that big. Can you? (If so, I’d love the titles so my TBR can grow even more!)
To me, “May-December” is simply shorthand for a significant age difference. Now then, what’s “significant”? I’d say more than 10 years. What do you think? I’ve also seen the term “May-September,” which is probably more accurate in representing the actual age gaps, but I tend to use May-December as a catch-all. As a reader, do you have a preferred term for romances with an age difference?
In my new adventure romance, Road to the Sun (now titled Ends of the Earth), Ben and Jason are 16 years apart in age. Jason is a single father, but I wanted to reverse the norm, so I made him the younger hero. He’s mature beyond his years in many ways as a father, but still very much an innocent when it comes to sex and romance. (He’d only had sex with his best friend once in high school to satisfy mutual curiosity.) Since becoming a dad at such a young age, his identity was consumed by it, and he didn’t date or think about romance.
Then he meets Ben, an older, sexy park ranger. Jason has been stubbornly independent for years, dedicating his life to his daughter. He doesn’t need anyone to take care of him. Yet as capable as he is, something about Jason sparks the caregiving instinct in Ben, who has longed for a family.
A primary appeal for me in age-gap romances is when the older MC is protective of the younger. Protectiveness is one of my very favorite things in romance, and May-December books usually have it in spades. Of course another key appeal is how two people at different stages of their lives can learn from each other and fall in love despite what society or their families and friends might think.
What about you? What’s your favorite thing about this trope? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Blurb
A desperate father. A lonely ranger. Unexpected love that can’t be denied.
Jason Kellerman’s life revolves around his eight-year-old daughter. Teenage curiosity with his best friend led to Maggie’s birth, her mother tragically dying soon after. Insistent on raising his daughter himself, he was disowned by his wealthy family and has worked tirelessly to support Maggie—even bringing her west on a dream vacation. Only twenty-five, Jason hasn’t had time to even think about romance. So the last thing he expects is to question his sexuality after meeting an undeniably attractive park ranger.
Ben Hettler’s stuck. He loves working in the wild under Montana’s big sky, but at forty-one, his love life is non-existent, his ex-boyfriend just married and adopted, and Ben’s own dream of fatherhood feels impossibly out of reach. He’s attracted to Jason, but what’s the point? Besides the age difference and skittish Jason’s lack of experience, they live thousands of miles apart. Ben wants more than a meaningless fling.
Then a hunted criminal takes Maggie hostage, throwing Jason and Ben together in a desperate and dangerous search through endless miles of mountain forest. If they rescue Maggie against all odds, can they build a new family together and find a place to call home?
Road to the Sun is a May-December gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring adventure, angst, coming out, sexual discovery, and of course a happy ending.
Buy now at Amazon or borrow in Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2rMIt1j
Global Amazon link: http://mybook.to/RoadSun_KA
Bio
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”
Where you can find Keira:
- Website: http://www.keiraandrews.com
- Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2aQwHwi
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/keiraandrews
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/keira.andrews.author
- Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2gpTQpc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keiraandrewsauthor/
- Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2k7kMj0
- Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2jWUfCL
Giveaway
Keira has brought a copy of a backlist book to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Tuesday, June 6th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Road to the Sun sounds like a wonderful read, Keira; best wishes on its success. I don’t think there is ONE particular aspect of the May/December trope that appeals to me; I’m just happy to read a good story.
Thanks for the post! I loved Road to the Sun. Highly recommend it. I think my favorite aspect of the trope is the juxtaposition of the generational differences in an age gape versus the things the two MCs have in common despite their aged differences.
I always like seeing a careworn guy realize his attractiveness through the love of his sexy younger guy (and, conversely, the younger guy learning he has much more to offer his suitor than looks and bedroom stamina)!
It sounds wonderful. Never give up on love. It comes at odd times.
Sounds like an intriguing read. I’ve already placed it onto my wishlist. Thank you for the giveaway chance!
I love the May/December, May/September…aspect because just like gender should be immaterial so should age, monetary status and race. Just another area that too many people are still hung up on!
Congratulations on the release, Keira! I enjoy reading about May-December romances… In fact, for five years I had a relationship with a wonderful guy twelve years older than me. I was 31 and he was 43 when we met. I think we both found in the other one the things we needed at the time. It was a very happy relationship that ended when I moved to another town. We still are friends, though. That’s why I love reading about age gaps and how they work in romance. Because I know for a fact that they do!
I prefer the term “age gap/difference” just for simplicity’s sake, but either way, I enjoy the trope. I think I enjoy it just because of the innate obstacle that that throws into a relationship, and I love seeing them climb that hurdle and come out on the other side stronger.
May-December romances have always been a favorite of mine. I really enjoy reading about two characters that fall in love despite their age difference. Look forward to reading Road to the Sun. 🙂
Congrats and thanks for your thots about age gap. I like that term better. Maybe b/c I’m in what we like to call a gay, interracial, inter-generational marriage. And I may be deceiving myself, but I think of ours as more Jun-Nov 🙂 I like reading about it, too, and would like to find more with a true Nov/Dec guy, whereas many are, as you say, Sept.