Contest: Younger heroes?
I have a little book of “questions for women” filled with a wide variety of thought provoking questions and occasionally I like to look through it for topic starters. Last week I came across one that I thought would be perfect for all my romance reading friends.
So to start off a string of Fun in the Sun Contests… answer the question below (via our comments box). Contest ends Friday June 12 at 5pm EST.
Would you date a man who is 10 years your junior? Do you think the age difference would bother you/cause problems, this day and age?
Prize: A basket of romance including a signed set of Cara Summers‘ “Twin” series (June and July releases) and some surprises to pamper the reader.
Get all Anniversary/Fun in the Sun contest books.
posted Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 | filed under Blog
Laurie G said:
I’m an energetic, active 55, so I would not have a problem dating a man who is 45. I really don’t see a problem. We should be mature enough to handle any comments or difficulties. I personally would’t care what people thought if I was HAPPY!. I would like the person to get along with my children. I don’t feel that age is as big an issue as it was in the past.
Lisa Anderson said:
I believe that age is a state of mind. I am 41 and I would date someone in their 30s if I liked him and he liked me, we had things in common, etc. Would it cause problems, maybe. Alot would depend on our life experiences. I would have a harder time if I was 30 and dating a 20 year old. The 20 year old is just starting out in adult life and has limited experience in the adult world (most of them anyway – there are always exceptions). Where a 40 year old dating a 30 year old would most likely have more things in common such as marriage/relationships, children, careers, etc. Society as a whole seems to judge the relationships of older woman and younger men more negatively than that of the older man younger woman. I’m not really sure why that is. To me both older men/women are looking for similar things when dating younger men/women such as trying to prolong or bring back that old spark. For older women I think that the sex would have to be better as the younger guys generally have more stamina and it would be advantageous to the younger man because older women are more confident/comfortable with their sexuality in their 30s, 40s and 50s then they were in their 20s and the older women could teach these younger men a thing or two about romance and what pleases us women
I guess it ultimately comes down to the couple in question, what works for them and the people in their lives. Love really should conquer all!
Ellen said:
I think I would have a problem dating a man ten years younger than me but more because he would probably be more energetic and and healthier and I wouldn’t be able to keep up with him.
ellie said:
Dating a younger man would be an adventure for me since most men I date were always within a few years of my age but dating has changed a great deal and so has everything in the 21st century. I think that women are stronger, more energetic and men do die younger and women are left alone. For companionship and fun it is definitely a thought to seriously consider.
Dee Carney said:
In a heartbeat. The only problem is that I’m probably not gonna be dating him for the conversation. *waggles eyebrows*
Breiab said:
I think I would date a younger man but it would have to depend on his maturity level. He would also have to be a decent person to be around my kids.
P.L. Parker said:
I dated a lot of younger guys after my divorce. They were lots of fun but not keepers. Too much difference in thinking. Two of them wanted to get married, but I wasn’t ready for that. My current and final husband is 13 months younger than me, but we think totally alike and I love it.
Patsy
Cheryl S. said:
At this stage of my life, in my mid-40s, I could see myself dating a man in his mid-30s. I would think the age gap would not seem as vast as if I was in my 30s and he was in his 20s and just beginning his life’s journey. I would, of course, expect to share some common interests and hope for a grounded, mature person.
Penney said:
I wouldn’t date a man younger than me, I’m a bit old fashion! my older sister was 7 years older than her ex and it did cause a lot of trouble so I wouldn’t.
penney
Caffey said:
I love reading these romance of the younger hero and older woman (I think some call it a Cougar romance?). I think with the age of 10 years and the hero being mature, then age doesn’t matter! Most likely its often addressed in some way in the book by somewhere so the characters explore their feelings about it otherwise its not an issue, its the love that counts!
Since I have my own hero now 26 years last week, we do have an age difference tho. I’m 5 months older than my hubby and he teases me about it for 5 months and we laugh so much about it til his birthday,
Kammie said:
I would date a man 10 years younger. Well, that’s if I wasn’t married. lol I think age difference would be a bonus and help keep me young.
Kim S said:
Since my husband is younger than myself, and we’ve been married 28 years in August, I would have to say that I would date a younger man!!
It’s been great for us!!
MarthaE said:
Yes, I would date a guy 10 years younger – I have plenty to offer!!
But since I’ve been married to DH going on 24 years its not likely to happen. And he is not quite 10 years older than me!
Mari said:
At this stage in my life, I probably would date someone younger, if I wasn’t looking for anything serious. I socialize and work with people that are younger than me, and have a sibling in this age bracket. Maybe if I was in my 40’s or above I might, depend on the person.
Chris said:
I would probably date a younger man. I did try it in my late 20’s but the man that I dated was just starting out on his own, where as I had been out on my own for several years. It didn’t work out because of differences in maturity and life experiences. I feel like I would have a better chance in my 40’s with someone in their 30’s though.
Susan L said:
I’ve suffered alot of grief as a result all my friends seem OLD and I feel closer to younger people. My 34 year old daughter claims I am an embarassment because I act to young both actions and dress. It would be nice to have a companion that acts like I feel.
Kimmy L said:
I’m 36 and went out with a guy that was 28. I didn’t know at the time he was that young. The age difference didn’t really bother me b/c he didn’t act immature and we were friends.
Dave said:
Dating someone younger for a short time would be ok. Common ground wouldn’t be there and would create a boundry. It would also depend on the maturity and goals of both parties. For me, it would be a matter of choice and not desire. There are many good things to be said about older women, more so than younger ones. WEG
Martha Lawson said:
I don’t think I’d have a problem with it if i was single! i like the books I’ve read where the heroine was older than the hero. One that particularly stuck in my mind was “One Summer” (i think!) by Karen Robards. It was a terrific book.
Gail Delaney said:
I have a unique perspective on this. I am the only child of a second marriage for my mother. She was 37 when she was widowed, and left with 4 sons ranging in age from 7 to 18. Two years after her husband died, one of her older sons asked if she would mind if a friend of his came over for dinner.
This friend was turning 21 years old – he’d been out of Vietnam for about 6 months – and he had no family in the area to celebrate his birthday with. So, would she bake him a cake and give him a place to hang out? She answered of course… her door was always open to her sons’ friends.
He came over for cake. And 19 days later they got married.
He was 21 years old, and she was 39.
Two years later, I was born.
So, I have no problem with age gaps in books. I’ve written a couple books myself with some decent gaps – 14 to 17 years in difference. But, in my books the men have always been older. Course, I’m writing one now where the heroine is the older one… not by THAT much… but older.
My parents ’story’ definitely influences my opinion. That much is sure.
Oh, and they were married for nearly 25 years when my mother passed away about 14 years ago. My father is now ecstatically in love with a was 14 years HIS junior. What goes around comes around, I guess.
Eva S said:
Yes, I would date a younger man! It’s not about the years…
Anne said:
I have no problem with a ten year age difference. I’m 10 years older than my sister and I’ve treated as a contemporary since she was 16. At 46 and 36, the difference that age provides is almost non-existent.
In terms of couples, as long as the younger is about 26 or older I don’t mind more of an age difference. For a successful relationship the younger party needs to be a real adult (yes, I know it can be a state of mind, but…)
Eva M said:
Yes, why not, since the opposite has always been acceptable!
Rachel M said:
I would. He would be in his mid thirties and hopefully have his life together.
My sister and her husband have a 9 year age gap and she was 19 years old, he was 28 years old. They have been married going on 27 years. They both suffered thru bad parenting which at times can effect how they deal with each other but it hasn’t, so it can work.
Gail that is a great story about your parents.
CataAdmin said:
Congrats to our winner, Kammie. Stay tuned for more Fun in the Sun Contests!