My kind of hero...

I suppose, when it really comes down to it, I’m a pretty independent girl. Life has thrown me more than my fair share of curve balls, which has taught me to make my own decisions, stand on my own two (often very weary) feet, change my own light bulbs, fix my own loo and anything else in my bubble than needs TLC… except the car, I still need to master that one. Not that I regret learning all these “useful skills” (mostly by necessity and with any number of ooops moments along the way) but it would be nice, now and then, to have some super-able hunk step up to the plate and do the dratted chore in half the time it usually takes me (mainly because I lack the physical strength, that’s definitely a guy-thing).

Which probably pushes “willing and able to do stuff” rapidly upwards on my list of hero-criteria. A hero so romantically minded that he’s no earthly good definitely doesn’t qualify. Then again, having one who is so earthly minded that’s he’s no romantic good doesn’t quite cut it either. At the end of the day it would depend on the how and why of it… does he do stuff as the “macho” man, or because it keeps him in control? Or as the sensitive type and simply because he’s there, he can, and would like to lend a helping hand?

I’ve seen both types, sadly more of the former than the latter, and have to say (IMHO) that there’s nothing quite as, well, interesting as a gorgeous man helping out because he wants to. And while I’m all for the swashbuckling, riding out of the sunset, larger than life heroes, I tend to write “real” men. Heroes who have both feet on the ground, their hearts in the right place and their heads held high. My heroes tend to “own” the space they’re in, have the courage to let their sensitivity through and a strong code of ethics that makes their foundation.

Not perfect, not by any means. True courage in a hero is being able to say “I’m sorry” because they truly are and not because it’s expedient, or it’s expected of them. And they all have that streak of the romantic, that eternal, all-consuming something that keeps them hanging in no matter what, that has them fighting for what they believe in, that enables them to see beyond the here and now to the deeper things of the heart.

It may take time for them to “find” that. Heroes have to have a “growth journey” too. But they have a core of resilience that has them going the distance, and when they love… oh yes, they do it with heart, mind and soul. And a gorgeous hunky physical presence that’s willing and able to do what needs doing because they can, and because they want to.

Thanks for having me along! If you’d like to get to know my heroes a little better, you’ll find them here:

Still Running – a hero who has the courage and determination to fight for love…
The Look – a hero sensitive enough to be able to speak into her soul with a single look…
A Thick Black Line – willing, able, and there because he wants to be…

Have fun!
Jude
http://www.judahraine.com
Real Romance for Incurable Romantics

Still Running - "insider tips from the horse's mouth"...

Hi everyone! I'm here to tell you about Judah Raine, sweet-sensual romance writer from Durban, South Africa. It's grand, grand, grand to have another place to blog! (Yes, I lurrrve blogging, how did you guess?) Now where was I... oh, right, Judah Raine. First thing you need to know is all her bookies... um, I mean books, are set in South Africa. Surprise, surprise...

Anyway, to get us off to a great start, I thought I'd share a little inside information on the first book, Still Running, which left the starting gate in December 2008. (Before I get carried away and forget this really important piece of information, here's where you can find it: http://www.bookstrand.com/product-stillrunning-13915-330.html) Need to tell you that, otherwise I'm gonna get the hoof, if you know what I mean.

So, Still Running is set in "racing country" - an area just inland from Durban called Shongweni. The name is derived from the Zulu name “Ntshongweni”, which means "column of smoke", referring to the spray of the waterfall on the Ugede River. The magnificent Shongweni dam lies in a deep depression formed by the Mlazi, Sterkfontein and Ugede rivers.

The scenery of the area is dominated by spectacular sandstone cliffs, steep gorges and valleys, and rolling green hills that lead on into the picturesque Valley of a Thousand Hills. It is a "picture-perfect" setting for a romance novel.

And, of course, there are horses. Gazillions of them. Many of the top racers on Durban's popular horse-racing circuit are born, bred and trained in the Shongweni area. The hero from Still Running, Cade Harper, is a "horse man" - and a lot more besides, as Josie, the heroine, soon discovers!



Now this is where things get interesting... You see, Josie Tate has been running for a long time – from her past, from a tragic secret, and mostly from herself. Then her life is suddenly upended, and she finds herself back in the one place on earth she doesn't want to be. Worse, she is suddenly caught between an unforgiving past and Cade Harper's unrelenting pursuit.

As determined as she is desperate, he seems hell-bent on making sure that her running days are over. It doesn't help that Cade is the most gorgeous man ever. Or that the uncanny attraction between them seems to have a life of its own.

But Josie is determined to keep her distance from Cade. He is equally determined to shatter the walls she is raising up between them. And when her ghosts reappear in the flesh Josie's life finally implodes. The only way out seems to be to keep on running...

More than anything, Still Running is about real people and real "stuff", and how life itself sometimes comes to our rescue and conspires to make us face things. I like Josie – she's tough and gutsy and has integrity. This is her story, and it's about pain and joy, but mostly it's about love, and the power it has to heal and set free...

What the "punters" are saying...

"Romance is in the air from the moment Josie met Cade. The sparks of anger and love fly between these two. The plot is endearing and the characters likable. Still Running by Judah Raine is sure to please the most astute fan of romance." (Five Stars from http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=1571

"I truly enjoyed reading Josie and Cade’s story. Josie’s angst and Cade’s stubbornness seemed to flow from the book. Even now, I can picture these two having a face-off–and I’m not sure who’d win! “Still Running” is Judah Raine’s tale of a tortured woman and the man who just won’t give up on her. And I think we’d all like to have a man like that." (JJMachshev Book Reviews)

“I love Cade. (Are all South African men that nice and sexy?)… I can understand why poor Josie was so tempted and wanted him so badly… We forget how secrets can mess up lives… I’m definitely going to buy your next book… The children were cute too…" (From Kathy_C, Salt Lake City).

So there you have it...

This is an invitation to step into Judah Raine's romance world, where things are as Write as Raine. Visit her website at http://www.judahraine.com, find out more about her and view her Images of Africa slideshows. Or catch up with her on her blog at http://www.judahraine.com/romancewriteup. For a free read, visit her RomanticSynonymous Blog at http://judahraine.blogspot.com and check out the "neverending story".

Thanks for this time and the opportunity to share a little of my world. I hope to see you all again soon.
Henry the Horse