Guest Post with Author Rachel Harris and Giveaway

 Please welcome Rachel Harris. Rachel is the author of Taste the Heat and has stopped by to chat on what makes a sexy hero. Please give her a warm welcome.

Rachel Harris grew up in New Orleans, watching soap operas with her grandmother, and staying up late sneak-reading her mama's romance novels. Today, she still stays up late reading romances, only now she does so openly.

A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life's problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations.

She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches countless hours of Food Network and reality television with her amazing husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult Fun, Flirty Escapes, and LOVES talking with readers!

Places to find Rachel:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

What makes a sexy hero?

I think every reader and every author would have a different answer, pulling on their own unique set of turn-ons and interests. What is sexy to one person can be the exact opposite for someone else. Sex appeal is a lot like beauty in that way…it’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

But I think for me, a sexy hero is a man who is strong and can protect the woman he loves. He has a unique quirk that sets him off from the pack. He has a good heart (whether anyone but the heroine sees it or not), a wicked sense of humor, a great smile, and expressive eyes. He provides a soft place for the heroine to land. She can trust him, to defend her when needed and, in the end, to guard her heart. Bad boys, good guys, and all shades in between can apply if they fit this description. And hey, if they have a yummy six-pack or the mythical deep grooves above their hipbones, even better.

I keep this list in mind when creating my own hot heroes. Jason Landry, the hero in Taste the Heat, is a fire captain and ninjitsu instructor. He can definitely protect the woman he loves. Though his heart is off the table—at least so he thinks *wink*—he is definitely on the good guy end of the spectrum. Cane Robicheaux, the hero in my October release Seven Day Fiancé, gravitates more toward the bad boy end. He’s a playboy bartender with the expected bad boy traits—tats, leather jacket, and motorcycle, check—, but he’s also fiercely protective of his sisters and godchild, and has a wicked sense of humor. He’s also an inner math-nerd, so you can check unique quirk off the list, and though he never planned to fall in love, when he does, he falls hard. And naturally, both men have the mythical deep grooves. It is requirement, don’t you think?

Of course, I’m a reader first, and I’ve met many a romantic hero who fits the description of sexy. Compiling a list of the top five is practically impossible—there are just so many delicious options out there, and I meet new boyfriends every day! But while perusing my bookshelves, virtual and actual, I came across several that made my reader heart jump in response. Now, I’m a fickle girl when it comes to my book boyfriends, so it’s possible that if you ask me again in a week, I could have a few shakeups. But I’m confident that most if not all of these hot heroes would still be on the list.

1. Kellan Kyle (Thoughtless series by S.C. Stephens) – Number one Book Boyfriend here, y’all. Oh, my, where to begin. Kiera and Kellan’s relationship may have begun by a mistake in judgment, but the devotion and intense love that man gives from that moment on…Holy Hotcakes! He’s a sexy as heck, rocker god/bad boy-turned-good thanks to the love of a good woman. This man…there are no words to describe how sexy he is, but yes, he definitely tops the list.
2. Gavin Blake (Collide series by Gail McHugh) – Here’s an example of a good guy playboy, a rare combination. He actually hits every single point on my list of sexiness, and he definitely makes my reader heart go wonky.
3. Nate West (Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas) – This book fed my soul. It’s an important story about a girl who was once a size two model returning after an accident as a size twelve. The protagonist’s journey was real and broke my heart as it stitched it together…and Nate’s role in her transformation was so devastatingly beautiful. A hot guy with a killer body who sees true inner beauty? Now that is sexy.
4. Trace Corbin (Kylie Ryans series by Caisey Quinn) – Oh, there’s just something about a country boy. And when said country boy is a bit of a bad boy with an edge with a sensitive, vulnerable core? Not to mention a talented country rocker whose lyrics make me swoon? Yeah, he makes my list. Every time.
5. Shawn Griffin (Insatiable by Cari Quinn) – Have you read a Cari Quinn novel? If so, you know how talented she is when it comes to creating a hot hero. Choosing one of them would be difficult…but this book is my favorite of hers. Maybe it’s because it has a favorite trope—friends to lovers. Maybe it’s because the hero is just so darn sexy. And maybe it’s because the heroine is named Rachel, thus allowing me to pretend said sexy hero is really hot for me. But this strong, protective, delicious specimen of man candy definitely earns his spot on my top five list.

There you have it, my list of top five sexy heroes. Did yours make my cut? Any not on the list that you would add? Tell me in the comments! I’m sure I’ll agree and smack my head for not including them, but I’m also hoping to add a few new delicious heroes to my TBR list ;)

One sexy fire captain. One Cajun chef. One combustible kitchen…

When chef Colby Robicheaux returned home to New Orleans to save her family restaurant, the last person she expected to reconnect with was her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. As tempting as a sugar-coated beignet, Jason is one dish she can’t afford to taste. Colby can’t wait to leave the place where her distrust of love and commitment originated and go back to Vegas.

Fire captain Jason Landry isn’t looking for love, either. Disillusioned by his past, he knows he should be focusing on finding the perfect mother for his daughter. But when he first sees Colby, all grown up and gorgeous, he can’t help but be drawn to her. And when she suggests a no-strings-attached fling, Jason can’t say no.

As their relationship grows more intense, Colby finds that Jason isn’t as easy to leave behind as she thought. Could turning up the heat on something real be worth the possibility of getting burned?

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Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 eBook copy of Taste the Heat + magnet

To Enter: 

• Please answer Rachel's question: Did yours make my cut? Any not on the list that you would add? 
• US ONLY.
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Rachel Harris for sponsoring this giveaway!

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