Falling for the Smooth-Talking Hero: Why Author Janine Amesta Had to Write Boone

I think ever since I started writing romances, I wanted to write a hero like Boone. It only took me five books to get there. With my newest small-town romance, The Wedding Con, Boone is a confident, smooth-talking ex-con artist, who knows how to play the game when it comes to getting what he wants. It’s sort of the morally gray, complicated character that doesn’t have the best history when it comes to making decisions, but you know that deep down inside there’s still good there even if he doesn’t like to show it. Our heroine, Naomi, sees him as a street-smart alley cat who uses his handsomeness to take advantage of people. Because of this, it takes them a while to get to a spot where real trust (and other feelings) are allowed to develop.

While he does try to sweet-talk her, she’s not necessarily the person who’s going to trust him, especially since her own father had been taken in by scammers in the past. This is the reason the family’s hot air balloon business struggles after his death. She doesn’t want to fall prey herself and understands the vulnerability the Moreno women find themselves in now that they’re left alone to run the High Desert Tours. I can certainly understand her position, as I had similar feelings after the passing of my own father and heard about businesses that suddenly were appearing on my mom’s doorstep and trying to get her to sign up for things.

It’s not surprising when Naomi is dismayed not only with her family hiring Boone to be part of the chase crew but also with her mom taking him in, like he’s part of the family. I have to say that I also relate to the mother in this aspect as well, but only because I am a writer of damaged, looking-for-second-chances heroes, and there’s nothing I enjoy better than redeeming them. It’s extremely satisfying to follow a cynical, doesn’t believe-in-love type of character and see how love is the same thing that changes their whole perspective. Going on that journey with them and seeing a rejection of their old life for a new one is a lot of fun, but also you see the old parts that continue to stick with them.

I would say that it’s not only Boone who evolves but also Naomi. She realizes that it’s not just her who can be taken in by a con, but really anyone, including Boone, because we all have our vulnerabilities, where, given the right incentive or lie, it’s very easy to become a victim. Closing off the whole world is not only not ideal but also usually impossible as well. To live in society is about taking risks about who you open up to and let into your life. But they all learn that the best way to fight against this is by sticking by the ones you love and looking out for each other.

And that’s really what makes a great romance: it’s the creation of a new team built on love and respect. This is the story of Boone and Naomi, and they learn that true love isn’t a con after all.

Janine Amesta has loved reading kissing stories most of her life. She currently resides in Oregon with her husband and their pets, Hitchcock and Pippin. She studied screenwriting in college and her banter is influenced by the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930’s. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect line. You can also follow me on Bluesky.