Guest Post: Author Destiny Blaine

Please welcome Author Destiny Blaine. She's an erotic romance author and is here today to talk about what makes us choose a romance novel. Please give her a warm welcome.

Have you ever stopped to think about why you choose the books you read in romance? Is it the sexy-hot cover that inspires you to buy the book, flip it over, and read the blurb? Do you purchase on name recognition or simply word of mouth, perhaps a friend’s recommendation?

How about western romances? With more and more authors crossing into the western genre, how do readers choose which books they want to read?

When shopping for western romances, there are several things I look for and I can generally tell whether or not the book has that it-factor. I want to know, truly believe, that the author knows a little bit about the western elements they’ve written into the pages of their books.

No, I don’t expect every author to have been ‘born and raised on a farm’ but I want to read something realistic. Writers of western romance should not only know their stuff after conducting enough research to realize there’s a huge difference between a livestock trader/dealer and crop farmer, but they also need to convey their knowledge into the pages of an entertaining romance. It’s not always as easy as it sounds.

One of the reasons I write western romances is because I love cowboys. I should. I grew up with enough of them. In my opinion, a woman is hard-pressed to find a sexier man. Cowboys top the list.

As a reader, I want to feel that excitement and energy. And for those of you who don’t know—a lot of cowboys are die-hard alphas. Give me those fellas that can sling hay with one arm and toss a woman over his back with the other.

If the author doesn’t believe her cowboys are sexy, readers won’t. When the writer doesn’t capture the essence of a true cowboy when developing the cowboy’s character, the book loses its appeal. And it’s easy to figure out in an instant whether or not the author loves the sexy cowboy she’s writing about.

Now, it’s your turn. What sells you on western romances?

Two recent western romances:

Domination Plantation is available now at Aspen Mountain Press:

Jules and Brogan Evans aren’t in any position to help out with their brother’s daughter, but they aren’t the kind of men to turn away family when one of their own is in need. Besides, surely they can manage a teenager for one month. They stand by that belief until their eighteen year-old niece shows up with match-making ideas on her mind and the perfect candidate at her side.

Serena Evans doesn’t understand why her uncles are so upset. They were willing to open up their home to her, why not her best friend, Jenna? Most men love Jenna, after all.

And there lies the problem.

Jules and Brogan run a large cattle ranch, a successful livestock operation by day and the city’s favorite hang out spot at night. They’re known around town for the parties they throw but when their niece and her friend show up, all good things come to an abrupt end, until Serena returns home to sit by her mother’s bedside and the Evans brothers discover Jenna has no place to go and little interest in leaving.

Buy Straight from Aspen Mountain Press.
Or Buy from 3rd Party Retailers: Bookstrand, All Romance, Amazon

Inevitable Surrender is available now at Shadowfire Press and ARE:

Excerpt:
A soldier knows when to wave a white flag and yell surrender. He may hide behind the wind-ripping thin cloth and pray he doesn't have to face further conflict, but he understands his purpose, his sole reason for marching forward with a tight grip latched around a thin pole and a pale sheet waving high above his head. He's there to call a truce but he doesn't approach the enemy without significant knowledge. He realizes he's the weaker party on the battlefield, but that understanding hardly empowers him.
Luke McGregor wasn't a soldier. And he damn sure wasn't ready to turn tail and run, at least not yet. Temptation existed and he had a right mind to take out the distraction in his path, or at least contain her.
He eyed the petite blue-eyed hellion he didn't expect to see in Bo's Bar and Grill. Sure enough she still looked good enough to tie to his bed and drip berry juice down her middle. Marcy Killian was as pretty as you please and every bit as sexy as he remembered her. God help him. His dick found new life the second he saw her.
Down boy, he thought, watching her approach.
"Hey Luke," Marcy drawled, trying to push by him in order to make her way through the layers of people.
"Marcy," he grated out. Every damn time he bumped into the vixen, he felt the same. His chest tightened, his heart stopped beating and what the hell? Yeah, he mused, swiping at his forehead. He was sweating bullets.
(Shadowfire Press)

© All Rights Reserved 2010 Destiny Blaine

About Destiny:
Born and raised in Tennessee, Destiny Blaine is an author who loves to bring her southern roots into her books. Many of Destiny’s books capture her true southern voice and you can almost hear it as you turn the pages.

Destiny and her husband stay on the move with their two teenagers. For enjoyment, the family looks for sandy beaches or a crowded stadium where they can cheer on their favorite teams.

Destiny Blaine writes erotica romance, suspense, and mainstream fiction. Writing sensual romance under several pen names now, she continues to explore other genres under her real name and has several books in print.

Her books are available in e-format as well as trade paperback. Many of her titles have spent considerable time on various best seller lists.

When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard, Destiny enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She’s active in spreading the word about The ONE Campaign and encourages everyone to visit www.one.org for more information.

Destiny invites you to join her Yahoo loop or visit her on Myspace where she’s most active. For more information, click through the banners placed on this website.

Ways to get in touch with Destiny: website, yahoo group, myspace