No Sex, Please, I’m Canadian

Guest Post by Anne Holly

I grew up reading romances. Adult romances, mind you – there didn’t seem to be such a thing as YA romance when I was a teen. There might have been, but since I swiped most of my books off my mom, that’s what I read. And I adored them. I still do. But, as I look back, I notice that nearly all of them took place in the US, or possibly Australia or the UK. Very few romances were set in Canada in the nineties. Aside from some Mounties, who were far more heroic than they were sexy, Canadians don’t seem to be very thick on the romance landscape.

I’m not sure this has changed, but perhaps that is my niche – Canadian romance. Is there such a thing? As a people, are we at all romantic or, gasp, sexy? Well, we’re polite. I’m not sure that is conducive to dramatic novels, though.

Nevertheless, Pierre Burton, the famous Canadian writer and TV personality, defined a Canadian as someone who can make love in a canoe without it tipping over. I’ve also heard the quip that we are so sexy we reproduce despite layers of wool. Perhaps Canadians are sexy, despite the Dudley Do Rights of the world – after all, we have a lot of cold months here to fill up.

Maybe it’s just a case of writing what I know. I have travelled a bit, but Canada is what I know inside and out. But I think it’s more than that. The wilds of Canada, the snow, the northern lights, the history, and the people all inspire me, and I think romance comes just as naturally to Canadian stories as any place else. Body heat and trusting partnerships seem rather important when facing a cold world, right?

My contemporary romance Strings Attached takes place in the Canadian north, on a bison ranch. So it’s sort of like a western romance, only a bit more northern. But, in case you don’t buy the sexiness of Canucks, I’ve also added a little southern exposure, as well, in the person of a nice Australian hunk to keep my Canadian heroine warm.

Josie Sergeant has learned one thing by carving out her living from the wilds of the Canadian north: perseverance, optimism and the willingness to do what has to be done can overcome even the harshest of obstacles. Life has taught Theo Sabich, a fellow rancher from Australia, that optimism is a fool’s hope.

When their beloved siblings’ impetuous marriage plans pit Josie and Theo against one another to defend their families, they find more than they bargain for. And when they start seeing each other as more than enemies, they face their greatest challenge – finding the courage to reach out for happiness.

Under the northern lights, their attraction ignites beyond their control… The trouble is a one-time “no strings attached” release of passion is easier said than done when love is hanging by a thread.

*GIVEAWAY*

I’d like to give away a copy of Strings Attached today, so here’s what we’ll do. Visit the book’s website, or the TRR featured interview, and leave a comment here telling me something you’ve learned about the book that interests you, and I will draw one name at random to win a copy of Strings Attached in PDF. (Contest closes Monday, Jan 9, 2012, at 8am EST, after which I will contact the winner if they’ve left their email address or post the winner here with my contact info.)

All the best for the new year, and be sure to keep warm with a good book this winter!

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Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic-romance, as well as a mother and teacher. She is the author of the novel Strings Attached, which was described by The Romance Reviews as “a classic contemporary romance.” She has been published by Wild Horse Press, Decadent Publishing and Rebel Ink Press, and in 2012 by Pink Petal Books. Anne’s work is characterized by its unusual heroes, sweet/spicy balance, witty dialogue, responsible citizenship, and its positive, optimistic nature. She has found a particular niche in holiday romance. You may visit Anne at her blog or website, or find her on GoodReads, Facebook and Twitter  (@anneholly2010). Sign up for her newsletter here. Email: anneholly2010@gmail.com.