State of Romance: In Idaho, we're romancing the stones

Idaho is called the Gem State — almost every type of gemstone can be found in its rugged terrain. I also found a wide variety of romance genres set in a state known for its potatoes.

Contemporary romance takes root in Lynn Cahoon's Marriage Not Included, Anna Jeffrey's The Love of a Cowboy, Brenda Novak's A Husband of Her Own and Kristine Rolofson's Plain Jane's Man. Jill Shalvis brings her small-town charm to Sunshine, Idaho, in her Animal Magnetism series, including Animal Magnetism, Animal Attraction, Rescue My Heart, Rumor Has It, Then Came You, Still the One and the upcoming (in October) All I Want.

Idaho is home of the Shoshone Falls, plunging raging waters over 1,000 feet, creating an eerie effect for romantic suspense. Readers plunge into thrills with Leona Karr's Shadows on the Lake, Lisa Marie Rice's Woman on the Run and Heather Sharfeddin's Sweetwater Burning. Linda Howard draws upon Idaho's unspoiled landscape for Cover of Night and Up Close and Dangerous.

Hells Canyon is the deepest gorge in the United States — a breeding ground for paranormal romance. Molly Harper stops in Idaho with Driving Mr. Dead from her Half Moon Hollow series. Keary Taylor is Vindicated in her Fall of Angels series. Christy G. Thomas hears Sidhe's Call from her Keening Trilogy.

Idaho's rivers — Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, and Boise — fueled the westward expansion. Idaho native Robin Lee Hatcher incorporates the hope sought by settlers in her Where the Heart Lives series, including Belonging, Betrayal and Beloved.

Add to the list of romances set in Idaho by using #StateOfRomance on Twitter. Next week we visit the Dakotas — there's romance in the hills!

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.