Single parent trope

Lilac Mills
Feb 12
6 min read

Readers often want to know what my favourite trope is, and I must admit to having a soft spot for single parent romance. Which is probably why I've written a couple of books featuring single mums - and dads!

A man and child in a field, holding hands, face two hot air balloons in the sky. Bright sun, colorful flowers, and blue sky create a cheerful mood.

Single parenthood reflects real life, whether it be a mum who is bringing up the kids on her own, a dad who is struggling because he doesn't see his children every day, or even a dad who is the primary (or sole) care giver.

So here are the stories I've written where single parents take centre stage - and the children steal the show!

Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Woman in yellow gazes at a castle and bridge on a lush Scottish isle. Bright blue sky, pink flowers, and a red boat. Text: Lilac Mills.

Will they get a second chance at first love?

When newly divorced Tara McTaigh spots an advert for a studio to let in Coorie Castle's craft centre, she packs up her Edinburgh life and moves to the Isle of Skye, eager for a fresh start.

Little does she know that the castle's estate manager, single dad Calan Fraser, is the man who broke her heart back at university.

Thoroughly done with romance, Tara decides to ignore Cal and focus on building her business creating dollhouses to commission. But Duncoorie is a small community, and the two keep bumping into each other

Just as she is starting to open her heart once more to Cal, a change in his life puts everything on the line. When a surprise storm threatens Tara's safety, will Cal realise in time that love is worth the risk?

Available here.

The Corner Shop on Foxmore Green

Can a new shop change the village's future and Rowena's?

Single mum Rowena is always looking for ways for her and Nia, her four-year-old daughter, to live more sustainably. So when she visits a zero-waste shop in Cardiff, she's inspired to start one up in her home village of Foxmore, where local businesses and artisan shops are a core part of the community.

For Huw, it's love at first sight when he bumps into Rowena the day he moves to Foxmore. But a series of misunderstandings keeps the two from getting closer, and now a conflict of interest over Rowena's shop might put a stop to any fledgling romance

When a figure from Rowena's past makes a surprise appearance, both her shop and her relationship with Huw are suddenly under threat. Can Rowena still realise her corner shop dreams and find love?

Available here.

The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field

Person in red coat carrying shopping bags toward festive market stalls, snow-covered scene with decorated trees. Text: "The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field."

Foxmore's inaugural Christmas fayre will be the toast of the town or the downfall of their relationship...

Harriet is facing her second Christmas on her own since her husband walked out. With little child support, she's struggling to manage financially.

When Owen, a passionate environmentalist and popular blogger, overhears Harriet bemoaning her situation, he challenges her to only buy second-hand until Christmas. What she doesn't know is that Owen is reporting her journey anonymously to all his followers

Though the challenge is proving successful, it's not without its troubles. Can Harriet really keep her children and bank balance happy this way? How will she react when she finds her life documented online?

Available here.

The Tanglewood Wedding Shop

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something untrue

Edie has enough on her plate keeping her tyrannical boss happy at Moira's Wedding Shop. So when society bride Tia begs Edie to design her wedding dress and keep it a secret from the domineering mother-in-law to be Edie reluctantly says 'I will' to making Tia's dream come true. If her deception is found out, though, it would mean losing her job

Meanwhile best man James has his eye on Edie and he's proving ever harder for her to resist. James is upper-crust and Edie's one unexpected bill away from the breadline they're from completely different worlds and there's no way it can ever work between them right?

Available here.

A Typical Family Summer

How can you run away from love?

After being forced to move back in with her parents, Annabelle Litton is persuaded to take her children on a much-needed family break to beautiful Rest Bay.

However, instead of having a relaxing holiday by the sea and using the time to work out what she’s going to do with her life, Annabelle is faced with two feuding old ladies, a naughty dog, her ex’s pleas to go back to him, and her growing feelings for a man called Ron. Out of all of them, it is Ron who causes her the most concern because what she doesn’t want or need right now is a new relationship.

But as her heart starts to rule her head and she finds herself falling for him, she feels like running away.

It isn’t Annabelle who ends up running away, though… it’s Ron.

Available from Amazon

Summer at the Stables on Muddypuddle Lane

A man and girl hold hands in a field, watching a horse rider at sunrise. Flowers border the scene. Text: "Etti Summers, Summer at the Stables on MuddyPuddle Lane."

Rose Walker isn’t averse to falling in love again. What she is averse to are stand-offish single dads who don’t appreciate her offer of help.

Jason Halligan has no intention of falling in love any time soon. He has enough on his plate caring for his six-year-old daughter, May, without any added complications in his life.

And Rosie most definitely proves to be a complication when Jason reluctantly accepts her offer to take May to her riding lesson. Not only does he find himself far too attracted to her for his own good, but they also have very different views about their respective daughters’ love of horses. Especially when Rose puts May’s name down for a forthcoming horsey event that he doesn’t approve of May entering.

As the summer sun warms Muddypuddle Lane, will Rose and Jason get off their high horses or will they put any chance of love out to pasture?

Available from Amazon

Escape to the Farm on Muddypuddle Lane

When single mum Nikki is invited to spend her holiday at the farm on Muddypuddle Lane, she jumps at the chance to escape for the summer. Desperate to bring her unhappy son out of his shell, she hopes that getting away from it all will put some sparkle back into his life.

However, the last thing she expects is for a hunky police officer to put some sparkle into her own!

Romance hasn't really crossed Gio's mind, but when he meets Nikki, the unmistakable attraction between them is impossible to deny and he falls for her despite his best intentions.

Summer lovin' can't last forever though, and when her holiday draws to an end and Nikki returns home, she is heartbroken but resigned, determined to pick up the pieces of her life.

Until, that is, her son runs away and she is forced to ask Gio for help, laying herself open to heartache all over again.

Will Nikki find her son and rekindle her romance with Gio? Or will her summer dreams be ripped apart for good?

Available from Amazon

Winter Wishes at the Farm on Muddypuddle Lane

Winter scene: A woman in red stands next to gifts and a sleigh. Snowy trees and a snowman are in the background. Text: Etti Summers, Winter Wishes.

Can a winter wish really come true?

Children’s author Mark Stafford has a deadline looming and no ideas. Praying for inspiration, he returns to the village where he grew up. When he’s roped into helping with the Christmas Wonderland at the farm on Muddypuddle Lane, he hopes it will help recharge his creative battery.

Single mum Beatrice Webb loves her new job in the farm shop, and with two children to buy presents for, the money will come in very handy. However, something is troubling her… The guy in the Grinch outfit seems achingly familiar. And when she hears a rumour that her first love is back in Picklewick, she knows exactly who is hiding under the mask.

Mark is even more attractive and charismatic than she remembers, and as her old feelings are rekindled, Beatrice finds herself falling for him once more.

But he isn’t here to stay, so she has to harden her heart – or risk having it broken again. And can Mark walk away from the woman he is falling in love with for the second time?

Available from Amazon

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