I’ve thought a lot about that as I’ve written my Cowboys of Chance Creek novels. First and foremost, I think it’s his pride in his work. We all know a lazy cowboy won’t remain a cowboy for long. Ranch work requires long hours and backbreaking labor in all kinds of weather. A cowboy can’t be a wimp and he can’t be a slacker, either. And a hardworking, honest man never goes out of style.

A cowboy’s rugged individualism adds to his draw. He can work with a crew to bring in the cattle or build a barn, but he’ll never be dictated to and he’ll never back down from his principles. A man with a mind of his own will always be sexy.

All that hard work develops muscles, and let’s face it—we love muscles. Cowboys don’t get those puffed up steroid-induced he-man muscles, either. They get the real deal: long, lean, rock-hard biceps that can help lift a hay bale or fix a fence, or pick you up and carry you to bed.

Last but not least, let’s not forget his sense of humor. It’s quiet, it’s dry, and it’s lurking when and where you least expect it. Getting a smile out of a cowboy is enough to set your heart a-flutter. But getting a full-on laugh out of one brings joy you can hold onto for a rainy day.

I love cowboys and I love writing about them. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about them just as much. Check out my Cowboys of Chance Creek series which starts with The Cowboy’s E-Mail Order Bride (Free!) and ends with my latest release—The Cowboy Rescues a Bride. Check out my follow-on series, The Heroes of Chance Creek, which begins with The Navy SEAL’s E-Mail Order Bride (available now in the SEALs of Summer Box set and available on May 20 as a stand-alone novel).