Definition of “Love Triangle”

Ah, the love triangle.  Most of you hate them, and I’m right there with you.  Mostly.  They seem to be everywhere and there’s no escaping them.  Personally I want to fall hard for one love interest when I’m reading.  Does that mean I’ve never enjoyed a love triangle?

No, I definitely have, darn those authors.  I can name several books where I fell for both boys and it’s heart-wrenching.  A well done love triangle is enough to make me cray-cray!  A poorly done triangle makes me throw books, which is not nice.  
I’ve had a ton of people beg me not to put a love triangle in the Sweet Trilogy, and that makes me wonder . . . what do you constitute as a love triangle?  Because I think my definition is different from some of yours.
I think of a true love triangle as the main character being torn between two love interests, as in, he/she has feelings for both people and can see himself/herself with either one.  When a love triangle is present the character must choose, which means that the reader ends up picking sides and becoming Team 1 or Team 2, and heated arguing in the forums ensues.
Based on this definition, I don’t consider there to be a love triangle in Sweet Evil, though I know many of you would disagree.  Now, I’m going to be honest and tell you that my editor ASKED me to write in a love triangle (resulting in me adding the scene where Anna sees Kope at the mall).  My editor wanted the extra tension of Anna having a second boy option, but I couldn’t quite do it justice.  I agreed that Anna would have a second option in Kopano, that he would make his interest clear, but in my heart of hearts I could not bring myself to make Anna truly torn.  She loves Kaidan.  Is she attracted to Kopano?  Yes.  He’s hot.  And intriguing, and intense, and loyal, and most importantly he’s open about his feelings.  Could she picture herself with him?  Yes.  But only if Kai wasn’t in the picture.
Why did I decide to make another hot boy interested in Anna?  Easy.  To force Kaidan’s feelings to the surface.  He’s a hard nut to crack, that Kai.  He hides.  He evades.  I needed a crafty way to make him to show something.  Plus, Kopano’s character was too deliciously complex in my mind.  I wanted him to have his story, too.  And I love that he’s willing to put it all out there and challenge Kaidan to do the same.

So what’s in store for book two?  Well, you’ll just have to trust me because these lips are sealed, teeheehee.  Okay, maybe some hints.  We’ll see plenty of both K’s.  And there will be tension.  Yummy, tantalizing romantic tension.  And kissing.  LOTS of kissing.  Let’s just hope you won’t be throwing your book before the best of the kissing takes place . . .

​What’s your definition of a love triangle?

Big, squishy hugs