Does Age Matter? By Kim Boykin

DOES AGE MATTER?

When I was writing my Tule title, FLIRTING WITH FOREVER, my heroine was of course  beautiful and smart. At the time, I'd read a bunch of romances with mostly twenty-something-year-old heroines, and I wanted different, so I made Tara Jordan 45. 

The setup for the story was fun--Tara's first book, The Perfect Marriage in 30 Days, is at the top of the bestseller lists and her publisher wants her on book tour ASAP. While Tara's about to live her dream, her husband of 15 years has just walked out leaving Tara on the brink of financial ruin with no choice but to promote a marriage self-help book while hers in secretly in ruins. 

I finished the story, sent it to my editor, loving my older protagonist and the fact that she ends up falling for her 30 year old publicist. And then I got back her notes, mostly all good, hardly any changes, except one. 

My editor felt 45 was too old, 40 was pushing it, but I liked idea of a May/December romance where the woman was the December part of the duo. So Tara ended up being 40,  and got her HEA despite her age. 

Granted I write sweet, and Kristen Ashley writes hot, but she is a favorite of mine. I particularly loved her second book in the Magdalene series, SOARING. But mostly I love her because that wasn't the first time she made me fall in love with a 40+ year-old-heroine or hero for that matter.

 Does the hero and heroine's age matter to you? What's your limit, so to speak? If you're over 50, like I am, do you still prefer to read about twenty -something-year-old protagonists?

 Be sure and check out FLIRTING WITH FOREVER. It is a fun story and is going to be set free on Kindle JULY 6-10 ONLY! 

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

Even though I live just across the border in Charlotte, all of my books are set in my home state of South Carolina. In my bones, I know I belong there, preferably somewhere around the gorgeous Charleston Lowcountry. Just get a load of Middleton Place pictured below!

I’m not alone in my adoration for all things Charleston. It’s also the number one wedding destination in the world and second in the US to Vegas. In 2014, Conde Nast Magazine proclaimed it the number one city in the US four years running, and number two in the world, behind Florence, Italy. And no wonder. 

The food is otherworldly. From the nearby beaches to the Battery and Rainbow Row and everything in between it’s gorgeous and romantic. It’s no wonder Cosmopolitan Magazine named it the perfect place to kiss a guy.

My favorite Lowcountry spot is just north of the city on the Isle of Palms, which is the setting for my novella, She's the One, from TulePublishing Group. Melissa Bliss loves the island every bit as much as I do and she has just set a personal record. She's matched up 49 couples, and she’s just itching to make it 50. While most days find her working at her Isle of Palms vacation property, Island Bliss, her true passion lies with matchmaking, a gift handed down through generations. Melissa cherishes using her gift to find the perfect match for friends, lonely hearts visiting the island and anyone but herself.

Shane Carver has wanted to make a match with Melissa since he met her six months ago. Trouble is, Melissa’s believes Shane’s perfect match is the tall, stacked brunette who’s new in town. While Melissa admits she has strong feelings for Shane, going against her matchmaking gift when all signs point to a different soul mate for Shane, isn’t an option.

To prove that Melissa’s the one for him, Shane will have to convince her to go against everything she thinks knows about true love and perfect matches and for once to listen to her own heart.  

I'm so proud She's the One is part of this Valentine's Day bundle by bestselling authors! 

Thirteen stories from fabulous authors for just .99 for a limited time!  

Amazon, B&N, Kobo,  & Google Play

So, what’s your favorite locale? Where is the place you feel like you most belong?