State of Romance: Where the love comes sweeping 'cross the plains

We are two months away from the 32nd Annual RT Booklovers' Convention. I am coordinating the Military Tribute during the convention on May 14. Our guest speaker is Merline Lovelace — a military brat, Vietnam veteran and Harlequin author. This tribute is open to readers attending the convention and military families in the Dallas area. Please contact me at sos.aloha@yahoo.com for more information and free tickets. Merline hails from Oklahoma, the Sooner State — and our destination for today's State of Romance.

Historical romance stakes a claim on readers' hearts with Jean Haught's Oklahoma Kiss, Carolyn Davidson's Oklahoma Sweetheart, Vickie McDonough's Oklahoma Brides, Carol Finch's Oklahoma Wedding Bells and Callie Hutton's A Run for Love.

The Great Plains inspires paranormal romance from Michele Bardsley, including I'm the Vampire, That's Why from her Broken Heart series. Rachel Caine created Ill Wind in her Weather Warden series. Carolyn Hart brought cozy mysteries to the Sooner State with Ghost at Work from her Bailey Ruth series.

Contemporary romances roam the range with Carolyn Brown's Lucky in Love, Carol Finch's Canyon Moon, Marilyn Pappano's Cattleman's Promise, Carla Cassidy's Cowboy With a Cause, Lacy Williams' Kissed by a Cowboy and Cat Johnson's One Night With a Cowboy.

For the city slickers, Robin Wells knows How to Score while Debra Cowan finds The Private Bodyguard.

YA fans twist the night away with the House of Night, a 12-book paranormal series from PC Cast and Kristin Cast. Gena Showalter explores teen popularity (and an alternate universe) in Oh My Goth.

Add to the list of romances set in Oklahoma using #StateOfRomance on Twitter. Next week we visit Alabama, the Heart of Dixie.

Kim Lowe is an Air Force veteran, Air Force spouse and romance book blogger at SOS Aloha. You can reach her at sos.aloha@yahoo.com.