Roz Lee's Blog, page 28

I'm honored to have two titles on The One Hundred Romances Project - Top 100 Romances for 2011!!

The One Hundred Romances Project: 100 Top Romances for 2011: The list has been updated on the right hand side bar.  We will begin 2012 in a few weeks. Congrats to everyone who made it.

Blurb-
After a mission in a South American jungle goes wrong, DEA Agent Elgin ‘Hud’ Huddleston returns to his boyhood home to lick his wounds. Despite his better judgment, Hud is drawn to the woman across the street, a petite Dominatrix with a freeze your balls off name.Mary Beth Winters packed away her toys and put the BDSM lifestyle behind her years ago when she realized the men she dominated didn’t need her as much as she needed them. But when a troubled bad-boy, Elgin ‘Hud’ Huddleston, moves in across the street, she dusts off her toy box and risks her heart to help him heal.

******************************************************Here's a snippet where Elgin finds out just what Mary Beth is capable of - 
Hud looked at the door, unsure what to do now. He’d gone for a walk and found himself outside her studio door, frozen to the spot. His heart pounded in his chest. He recognized the symptoms of the fight or flight response. Elevated heart rate, shallow breathing and heightened sensory perception. He couldn’t have mustered an erection if his life depended on it. His body was primed to do battle. He’d never run from a challenge in his life, and he wasn’t going to start with a pint-sized woman who thought she was a fem-dom. He remembered how she’d run practically screaming from his house when she’d seen his handcuffs. What real fem-dom would do that?No, he had nothing to fear from Ms. Frost Your Balls Winters. He’d go in there, tell her what was what, and have her naked under him in minutes. Maybe he’d let her spank him a little first so she’d feel like a real fem-dom. He smiled. Yeah, she’d like that, and he would too. He knocked on the door. When she called out as if she’d been expecting him, he opened the door and stepped inside.She sat with her back to the door and didn’t bother to turn and greet him. He took in her skimpy summer outfit, her bare feet with pink-tipped toes, her fire red hair pulled into a high ponytail and almost sighed with relief. No, this was no fem-dom, just a woman who was a little too brave for her own good. He mentally stripped her before he even got the door closed.“Go relieve yourself,” she pointed to a door in the corner, “the bathroom is over there.”What? He couldn’t believe his ears. She still hadn’t moved or so much as looked at him. He glanced over her shoulder to see what she was working on. Her attention was focused on a clay sculpture in front of her. He moved so he could see it better. The sculpture was about a foot high, and even to his untrained eye, he could tell it was exquisite. She was putting what looked like the finishing touches on a miniature cowboy carrying his saddle. Lines on his face conveyed his weariness, the lines of his body shouted his fatigue. Hud had never seen anything like it. At the sound of her voice, Hud snapped his gaze from the statue, to the artist.“What part of that did you not understand?” she asked without moving her eyes from her work.“I’m supposed to relieve myself? Is that what you said, Mistress?”“Yes. Now. When you’re finished, stand over there.” Why not? It wasn’t such a big price to pay for having a go at her delectable body. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time he allowed a woman to play out her fantasy. Hud followed her orders and took up his position in the spot she’d indicated. She continued to ignore him until he’d just about had enough, and then she looked up from her work. Her eyes raked over him, and he had the impression she was mentally undressing him as thoroughly as he’d undressed her in his mind. Something about her perusal made him want to squirm, but he held still. “Do you always wear black?”“Yes, Mistress.” Yeah, he could play this game. She jumped off the high stool she’d been sitting on and walked around the worktable. He followed her with his eyes, admiring the curve of her legs and the fine bones in her feet and ankles. She stopped and dug around in a large pink canvas bag that sat on the end of the flower-print covered sofa along the long wall opposite the door. His heart almost stopped beating when she pulled out a serious looking set of leather handcuffs and a length of chain. Whoa there! Where the hell did she get those? All the fight went out of him and all he could think about was getting the hell out of there, but she was such a little thing. How much harm could she do anyway? He willed his body to relax and his feet to stay put.“Hold out your hands.”Hud allowed her to fasten the cuffs around his wrists. She hooked them together with a short length of chain that looked like it came from a hardware store. If he twisted his hands around, he’d be able to unfasten the cuffs, he reasoned, as panic threatened to set in. He was momentarily distracted by the sweet curves of her ass as she walked away from him. She picked up a step stool and dropped it next to his feet. “Take your shoes off.”He toed his shoes off and kicked them to the side. When he looked up from his task, Mary Beth was on the step stool, a head above him. In one hand, she held an S hook attached to a chain and pulley, the other she reached down to him. “Give me your hands.”Hud swallowed hard and lifted his shackled hands. For the first time, he thought he might have underestimated Mary Beth Winters. She looped the chain at his wrists through the hook, and with a hand on the pulley chain, she jumped off the stool. Hud watched in dawning horror as she pulled the chain tight enough to make his shoulders burn and secured the pulley chain to a hook on the wall, well out of his reach, even if he had his hands free. He cursed under his breath. How had he missed the chain pulley overhead? If he’d been on a mission, a mistake like that would mean he’d be dead.“Spread your feet apart.” She kicked his instep, and he slid his foot out. His shoulders screamed at the added stretch. “I’m going to ask you a question, Elgin, and I want an answer. You’ll stay here, just like this, until I get one. Is that clear?”“Yes, Mistress.”“I should have asked this one first. Do you have a safe word?”“Uncle, Mistress.”“Okay. If you say Uncle, I’ll release you, and this will be over. We, will be over. Do you understand, Elgin?”“Yes, Mistress.”“Good. Now, I asked you this morning and you refused to answer, so I’m going to ask again. Where did the name Elgin come from?”He’d be damned if he was going to tell her. As far as he knew, everyone who knew was dead, except him, and it was a story he fully planned to take to the grave with him. He held his tongue.“Do you think I’m playing games here, Elgin? I assure you, I’m not. You will tell me.” Her fingers slipped beneath the waistband of his jeans. He sucked in a breath as she flicked the top button open and pulled the zipper down. “Tighty-whities, Elgin? From now on you will come to me commando, no underwear. Do you understand?”“Yes, Mistress. I understand.”A moment later, she shoved the underwear down just enough to free his limp penis and balls. She tucked the cotton briefs beneath his package and refastened the top button of his jeans. He looked past her bent head to see his penis hanging from his open zipper. The teeth of the zipper dug into his skin. He gritted his teeth and mentally called himself a stupid fucker in several languages. She didn’t look like a Lorena Bobbitt, but then again, Lorena Bobbitt didn’t look like the kind of woman who’d lop off a guy’s pecker either. He mentally went over the tools he’d seen on her workbench. Did sculptors use knives? He’d seen plenty of other tools there that could inflict serious damage, and that was enough to scare the bejesus out of him.He closed his eyes and fought down the panic threatening to take him under. He’d never underestimated an opponent the way he’d underestimated Mary Beth Winters. He just hoped she wasn’t some kind of crazy serial killer. She took his penis in her soft little hand and toyed with it. He idly wondered if he’d ever have an erection again.As if she’d read his mind, she said, “Don’t worry, Elgin. I’m not going to hurt you.” He felt the air stir around him as she moved away. He counted to one hundred before he opened his eyes. She’d removed the cowboy sculpture from her workbench and replaced it with a lump of clay covered with what looked like a wet towel. He watched as she removed the towel and began to work the clay with her hands. She acted as if he wasn’t in the room. His shoulders burned, and his fingers grew numb from lack of blood flow. His legs and back hurt from trying to maintain his posture to relieve the pressure on his shoulders. If he relaxed even the slightest bit, his shoulders and arms protested. The one time he’d moved his feet a fraction of an inch, Mary Beth had looked up from her work and reminded him all he had to do was answer her question, and she’d let him go. Then she’d hopped off her throne, that’s what he was beginning to call her stool in his head, and kicked his feet further apart. “Don’t move them again,” was all she said before she returned to her work.It seemed like hours he hung there. He wondered how long his arms and fingers could go without blood flow. Mary Beth ignored him. Time passed slowly. He focused on her hands, hoping to distract himself from his discomfort. Her hands were skilled at what she did. It didn’t take him long to come to that conclusion. The lump of clay was taking shape. He couldn’t make out exactly what she was doing, but somehow, he knew it would be exquisite when she was done.“Why do you want to know about my name?”She didn’t look up when she answered. “Names define people, don’t you think?”“No. Who are you, Mary Beth Winters? You’re not like any fem-dom I’ve ever met.”“I’m an open book, Elgin. If you want to know something about me, just ask.”He did. He asked, and she answered. He learned she was from Houston. She owned the art gallery he’d seen in town, and mostly sold her art over the internet. “I have to have someplace to store it, so it might as well be on display while I’m waiting on a buyer. Sometimes people come to the gallery because they want to see a piece in person before they buy it. I also display and sell work from other local artists. It helps pay the bills.”He learned she’d trained as a fem-dom in one of the best known clubs in Houston, and after she’d fallen for a sub and he’d confessed he only liked to play at the lifestyle, that he couldn’t live it for the rest of his life, she’d picked up stakes and moved to Prairieview. That bit of information about her training convinced him she knew what she was doing. By now, he’d pretty much decided he wasn’t in danger of losing his cock, which relieved him beyond measure.She didn’t ask again about his name, and he’d run out of questions to ask, so he did his best to ignore his screaming muscles and concentrated on her hands. It wasn’t that she sculpted the clay as much as she seduced it into doing what she wanted. Hud imagined her hands on him, stroking, molding and coaxing. To his chagrin, his cock began to swell. He hoped to God she didn’t notice, but he wasn’t to be that lucky.“You want me to touch you? Tell me what I want to know, Elgin and I’ll give you some relief. You want to come, don’t you?”Mary Beth returned her attention to the clay. Every finger stroke drove him closer to the brink. He wanted her hands on him, on his cock. He tried to will his erection to go down, but once he had it in his head that he had to have her, it wouldn’t obey.“If you don’t trust me enough to tell me something so personal, then tell me something else. Tell me why you came back to Prairieview.”“That’s personal too,” he said through gritted teeth.She slid off her throne and wiped her hands on a wet cloth she kept on the table. She went to the bathroom and a minute later he heard the water running. She came out with clean hands and rummaged in the canvas bag again. He cringed at the wicked piece of plastic in her hands. God, he was in deep trouble. No one had ever used one on him, but he’d seen plenty of other men milked before. It looked painful, and humiliating.She stopped in front of him. Her fingers were cool as she stroked along his stubbled jaw, then brushed a lock of hair from his temple. “Tell me something, Elgin. Tell me something, so I’ll know you trust me. If you don’t, I’m going to use this on you.”He clamped his mouth shut and let his head fall back. He closed his eyes against the panic making his heart beat like a runaway steam engine. He wouldn’t tell her. He wouldn’t.She freed the button on his jeans and shoved them and his underwear down over his hips. His cock sprang free of its restraints, and he breathed a sigh of relief. She took his cock in her cold hand and slid the plastic tube over it. The bottom edge pressed tight against his pubic bone. Oh God! She was going to do it. She was going to pump the come out of him. Air swished and whirred as she worked the bulb at the end of the tube, creating a vacuum, sucking his cock with every squeeze of her fist on the little ball. Ah, shit! It hurt like a son-of-a-gun!“Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll let you have relief in a much more pleasant way.”Hud thought about the way her tight little pussy would feel. She’d be tight and wet and hot, and there wouldn’t be a damned thing painful about it. He wanted her. God, he wanted her, not some godforsaken plastic torture device.“My mother. My mother gave me the name.”“Why?”“Stop the fuck torturing me, and I’ll tell you.”“Tell me, and I’ll stop.”
Still Taking Chances is available from - AmazonBarnes & NobleRed Sage Publishing
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Happy Mother's Day!

A visit with Laura Sheehan, plus a fabulous giveaway!
BOOK BLURBLaura Sheehan is visiting today with a unique take on the action movies the menfolk insist on dragging us to. Hmm...maybe we should look at them from a different perspective...


The Best Action Movies are really Romance Novels on FilmWhen I told my father-in-law that my book, DANCING WITH DANGER, was being published, he asked me what kind of book it was. I told him it was a romantic suspense.  “Suspense, huh? What is that, like an action movie?”And I thought: yes, actually, it is.Go ahead and raise a skeptical eyebrow.  “How can action movies be anything like romance novels?” you scoff. But it’s true.  Think about it.  Romantic suspense novels have a central love story in which the lovers have to traverse a perilous plot of nail-biting adventures before they can live happily ever after. Right?Now think about your favorite action movies.  Most of them fit this description, don’t they?And I don’t just mean those romantic comedies that happen to have action in them, like Knight and Day, I mean honest-to-goodness Action Movies, with a capital A, lots of testosterone, hardcore one-liners, and theatres full of teenaged boy fans screaming “BOOYAH!” at the film’s more exciting moments. Most of them are simply romantic suspense novels on film, I swear.Some men (and women) might be horrified to realize it, but as a huge fan of both romance novels and action movies, it makes total sense to me. Now there are a lot of great action movies that don’t fit this description, it’s true. Some are buddy films, rather than romances (like Pointe Break), others don’t have an ending that would count as happily-ever-after (like Casino Royale), and others have a bit of a romance, but not enough to be a motivating factor in the plot (like Aliens).But still, ya gotta admit that most of the best action movies do fit the same definition as romantic suspense novels.So, without further ado, here’s my Top 10 Best Action Movies that are really Romantic Suspense Novels on Film:10. Spider-Man – A shy, awkward young man develops supernatural abilities after being bitten by a genetically modified spider. In disguise, he uses his super powers to fight evil, but will he risk exposing his identity to save the girl-next-door that he secretly loves? Some might argue that this movie is more action than romance, but to them I say: Hottest Upside-Down Kiss Ever.9. Romancing the Stone – You can’t have a romantic action movie list without this movie on it.  Its heroine is a romance novelist, for heaven’s sake! It’s got jungle adventures, treasure maps, gun fights, man-eating crocodiles, giant emeralds, and Michael Douglas. Enough said.8. Speed ­– “You know, relationships that start under intense circumstances, they never last.”  Maybe not, Sandra, but this action-packed thriller stars Keanu at his finest, so we’re going to pretend Speed 2never happened and tell ourselves that you two lived happily ever after.7. True Lies - Harry Tasker is a secret agent, but his wife Helen has no idea. When Helen grows bored with her humdrum life, Harry sets out to give her the excitement she craves, but instead unwittingly draws her into a battle with real-life Arab terrorists in possession of an atomic bomb. This movie might be a bit silly, but it’s jam packed with both action and romance. And surprisingly, most of the romance is actually quite sweet, rather than the hot-and-heavy type of romance typically found in most action movies.6. Mr. & Mrs. Smith – Whatever you may think of their personal lives, you can’t deny Pitt and Jolie’s chemistry on screen.  This movie simply works. It’s engaging, funny, exciting, and hot. And I mean hot.5. The Matrix – Like Spider-Man, some might argue that there isn’t enough of a love story here, but seeing as the most climatic moment in the film hinges on a kiss, I’d disagree.  Neo and Trinity’s relationship is followed consistently throughout the film, and though some might not think the romance between them is overt enough, I think it works.4. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Indiana Jones and his ex-flame Marion Ravenwood battle Hitler and his Nazis to recover the Ark of the Covenant. “Well, Jones, at least you haven't forgotten how to show a lady a good time.”3. Terminator – I almost didn’t include this one on here because it skirts the line on the whole “happily-ever-after” ending requirement. But, whatever. A man flings himself back in time to protect a woman he loves, but has never met, from a practically unstoppable killing machine.  If that’s not romantic, what is? 2. Die Hard – New York cop John McClane comes to Los Angeles to keep his marriage alive, but instead ends up in a desperate battle to keep her alive as terrorists as hold her hostage. “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.”1. Bourne Identity – This one was a novel before it was a film, but it wasn’t considered a romance novel. However, I’d argue that Marie and Bourne’s relationship is just as central to the story as Bourne’s search for his identity. Besides instigating a rather steamy sex scene in the middle of the film, Marie also plays an essential role in the development of both the plot and Bourne’s character. She shows Bourne what his life could be, as he searches for what his life was. This is a first-rate thriller with excellent writing, superb acting, and top-notch directing.
So, ladies and gents, there you have it.  Laura’s Top 10 Best Action Movies that are really Romantic Suspense Novels on Film.  What do you think? Am I calling a spade a spade, or am I way off base? What are your favorite romantic action films? Let me know in the comments below.And check out my new romantic suspense novel, DANCING WITH DANGER (Red Sage Publishing), available May 1st!I may never look at an action flick the same way! Thanks for the thought provoking post, Laura. Now, here's an excerpt from Dancing With Danger.


EXCERPTMarc set down his empty glass and glanced around. He hadn't been to a strip club in years. The present company was great, and the dancers were beautiful, but it wasn't really his scene. Sure, the ladies were hot, he couldn't deny that, but it all seemed so... methodical. They had some sexy moves, but that's all they were: a series of movements that showed off their very flexible limbs. There didn't seem to be anything sensual about it. He liked a woman to be just as turned on as he was, not simply going through the motions for his benefit."Marc! Your turn, buddy."Marc caught the now-empty pitcher as Ben tossed it to him. With an exaggerated groan, he stood up and went to the bar to fetch another. As he watched the bartender refill it at the tap, he heard the DJ croon, "Get your cash ready, guys, Miss M is on the stage! You won't see this masked Vixen on the floor, so if you want to get up close and personal, get your ass to the rail and bring out the green. No one knows the true identity of this mysterious, little sex kitten but trust me, after her performance, you won't care!"The crowd was a little louder than before, and even the bartender glanced at the stage. Curiosity piqued, Marc turned around and watched the "mysterious Miss M" stride out and take command of the room.She was a tiny little thing, but not super-skinny like some of the other dancers, nor were her boobs ridiculously huge. The music pulsed quietly, building slowly in tempo and volume, but she simply stood there, legs spread wide, her head tilted a fraction to the left, as if contemplating her first move. The mask concealed most of her features, but he could see her eyes sparkling as she scanned the crowd, as if assessing them. Marc's groin gave a slight jerk as he realized her mouth was shaped just like Lily's, with a bit of an overbite that pouted her upper lip slightly forward. He watched those lips shift into a very slow, very wicked grin. The men crowding the stage went wild, banging their mugs on the rail and shouting at her to dance.With a suddenness that took Marc off guard, she whipped into a crazy, spinning kick. Her booted leg whirled over her head, giving him a tantalizing peek of black lace panties. Her long, brown hair whisked out behind her as she bolted forward and launched into some sort of gymnastic move that flipped her sideways in mid-air. She landed gracefully with those incredibly sexy legs spread wide, barely pausing before bursting into another series of martial arts-like maneuvers. With a laugh, he took in her costume. She was playing out every man's fantasy of the sexy super-hero: she was Silk Spectre in the flesh, employing real karate moves to convey a mood of complete sexual abandon.He noticed that she wasn't stopping to gather the cash that the men waved at her. Despite the fact that she hadn't removed a single piece of clothing, she had the crowd whooping and shouting for more. He was just beginning to wonder how long she could pull this off before the crowd got too impatient, when suddenly the music changed. She was crouched low, her left leg stretched out to the side. One daring member of the audience strained to stuff a bill into the top of her boot, but he couldn't quite reach since they were so damned tall. As the music transitioned into a more sultry rhythm, Miss M slowly folded in her leg and stood up. She was breathing hard, the rise and fall of her breasts mesmerizing. She retreated to recline against the nearest pole, as if spent yet aroused by her acrobatics.Marc realized that this, too, was totally in character. He'd seen Watchmen over the summer and remembered how Silk Spectre had gotten turned on sexually by action and heroics. Judging from the hollers in the audience, he wasn't the only one who remembered what came next.Miss M let her head fall back as she ran her gloved fingers through her hair, down the sides of her neck, around her breasts, and then diagonally across her belly to converge between her legs. Her lips parted with pleasure, and he felt himself harden in reaction.With her hands still between her legs, she slid her spine down the pole. Suddenly he wanted to rush on stage to catch her. He almost felt her round, little butt in his hands as he imagined lifting her and pressing her up against the pole with a thrust of his hips.He shook his head out of that fantasy and adjusted his stance to make more room in his pants.Miss M slid back up the pole and twisted into one of the fancy pole maneuvers he had seen earlier that night. But for some reason her moves seemed more natural than the others had been, as if she were teasing herself as much as those who watched her. Hanging upside down with her legs wrapped around the pole and her hair flowing down to the floor, Miss M jerked her tight, yellow and black corset and ripped it wide open.Underneath, she wore a black lace demi-cup bra. The contrast of that lace beneath the leather and spandex superhero outfit was tantalizing. Placing both hands on the ground below her head, she kicked out one leg, then the other. She planted her feet on the stage and kept her legs straight as she climbed her upper body up along the pole, her ass pushed outward and her back arched. Her breasts almost spilled out of the bra as she slowly stood upright. She pulled the straps of the opened corset off her shoulders and slid the entire outfit down her body, rocking her hips from side to side as the fabric slipped down. She stepped out of the outfit, now clad in a lacy bra and panties, plus those boots, gloves, and mask. The contrast of all that black up against her milky skin was mouth-watering.She laughed, a sweetly innocent and shameless gesture that reminded him suddenly of Lily. Smoothly, she gyrated her body to the music, twirling around the pole and along edges of the stage, allowing the men to tuck cash in her boots and into her panties. As she turned around and bent over, Marc saw that she wasn't wearing a G-string like most of the other girls, but that the bottom curve of her cheeks peeked out from below the lace. The panties were transparent enough, however, that when she turned to the front he thought he glimpsed an enticing shadow leading down between her legs.Miss M was dancing again. The way she moved was an enchanting mix of natural grace and teasing sensuality. She moved only in ways that seemed to give her pleasure, and watching her made him almost feel guilty, as if he were intruding on a private moment of intimacy. But then she would smile and make eye contact with the crowd, making it clear that she was intentionally inviting them into this shared moment of sensuality. A sudden wave of anger and jealousy toward the men closest to the stage rushed through him.He laughed at himself. Damn, she’s good.His laughter faded away, however, when she finally removed that tiny excuse of a bra. Her breasts were perfectly round and just bigger than a handful. Her nipples were hard, little peaks of rosy pink, exactly the same color as Lily's lips had been this afternoon. Damn, he thought again.Before he knew it, the song was over, and Miss M was gathering the remaining cash before striding off stage with one last sultry wave.It was another few moments before he realized he had company at the bar. The entire bachelor party crew stared at him, laughing."What?" he retorted defiantly, hoping they couldn't see the bulge in his pants."Boys, I think one of the Vixens finally caught Officer Sloan's attention," Pete roared.Scowling fiercely, and relieved that it was too dark for them to notice if his face was flushed, Marc snatched the now full pitcher from the bar and headed back to the table. The guys followed, thumping him on the back and punching him in the arm, teasing him mercilessly the entire way. When a blonde dancer came around to their table offering lap dances, Steve asked her about buying Marc a lap dance from Miss M.The blonde raised an eyebrow and said a little too sweetly, "She doesn't give lap dances, honey." She slid closer to Steve and whispered, "But if it's mystery you're lookin' for, I've got more than enough for you, big boy.""You sure do... And I'll take it!" Steve shrugged unapologetically at Marc before stuffing a ten dollar bill into her G-string and sitting back to enjoy the ride.Pete flagged down a busboy and asked him something that Marc couldn't hear because the music had started again and another girl was dancing on stage. The kid shook his head, but gestured to a curtain next to the bar. Pete gave him a wad of cash and the boy ran off.Taking a look at his beer mug, Marc decided to cut himself off so he could drive home. He eyed Pete suspiciously and narrowed his gaze even more when he realized Pete was purposefully not looking his way.When the busboy came back and nodded to Pete, Marc groaned inwardly. When Pete smiled at him and announced to the table that Marc had a surprise waiting for him behind the curtain, Marc groaned out loud.
My, my, my! *fans self* Goodness, Laura, that's some excerpt! I can't wait to get my hands on this one!


Buy Dancing with Danger from -
Red Sage
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

About the Author -


Laura Sheehan grew up in Las Vegas, but currently resides in Encino with her husband, a thoroughly-spoiled cat, and a handful of fish who keep her thoroughly-spoiled cat entertained. When not working at her office day job, she can usually be found in a dance studio, on a softball field, writing at her computer, rehearsing for a play, snuggling with her amazing husband, eating milk chocolate, or curled up on the couch with a good book. Sometimes she can be found doing more than one of these at a time, although when doing so, she has to be careful not to get chocolate on the computer keyboard (or on the amazing husband… although now that she thinks about it, that might not be such a bad thing).Laura writes suspense, paranormal, and fantasy romances. She can be found online at: LauraSheehan.wordpress.com; facebook.com/LauraSheehan; twitter.com/#!/TimesNewLaura; and So, readers, what are your favorite romantic action flicks?
Laura will award a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter! 

Okay, so it's a lousy photo, but I don't have a cover for this book yet, so this will have to do!
In this snippet from my latest work in progress, Sweet Carolina, NASCAR driver Dell Wayne has just won a race,  but he's losing the battle when it comes to staying away from team owner, Carolina Hawkins.
"You know what's killing me, Caro?" he asked as he closed the distance between them. Caro held her ground. He smelled of stale champagne, sweat with a hint of burnt rubber thrown in. It should have been nauseating, but to Caro it was the smell of victory, however won. She lifted her eyes to his as he slid one foot between her splayed ones and pressed his body into her personal space."Lord knows dying on the track would be easier than keeping my hands off you every day." 

Thanks for stopping by! Visit my website for available titles.Back to Six Sentence Sunday.

Their love was ancient history...until their paths crossed again.
Samantha Bennett put Dean Malloy out of her mind five years ago, when he broke her heart after a summer fling. But now he's back in her life, and ready to steal a heritage protection contract that could make or break her career--if he doesn't steal her heart first. Samantha's vowed to hate him, but it's more than anger heating the competition between them.
With sparks flying across the conference table and sizzling in every touch, Dean proposes a weekend liaison. Anything to have Sam again; anything to get her out of his system. But the unresolved feelings between them complicate both their personal and professional lives, and one wild weekend could turn into a disaster that would destroy the one job that means more to Samantha than anything. For a shot at love...is it worth the risk


I'm so excited to have Robin Bielman here today to talk about her debut novel, Worth the Risk.
Thanks so much for having me, Roz! I’m delighted to be here! And a little nervous, too. You and your guests write the best posts!
Sweet Wanderlust
My hero and heroine in my debut novella, WORTH THE RISK, love to travel. They long to see the world and help preserve its history. I’ve got a good dose of wanderlust myself. There are so many places I want to see. But since I have no immediate travel plans (darn it!), I got to thinking about feeding my local cravings. Feeding being the operative word. Because whenever one thinks about going somewhere, food is always involved, right? When you make plans with someone, it’s usually “let’s meet for coffee.” Or lunch. Or dinner. When traveling, it’s “where are we going for breakfast?” Lunch? Dinner? “Which tropical drink should I have this time?” You get the idea. J
We revolve around food no matter where we are. (What? You don’t? It’s just me. Crap. I have no willpower.) Well, anyway, when I heard about something so cool and yummy and only about an hour away from where I live, I had to go. I had to see it and have it for myself.
This is what I’m talking about:

It’s a Cupcake ATM! That’s right. A machine that dispenses sugary goodness. That means no matter what time—day or night—a craving hits, there are cupcakes available for consumption. Coolest thing evah!
The Cupcake ATM is courtesy of Sprinkles in Beverly Hills. It opened in March and if the line I had to wait in to get my cupcake at four o’clock on a Sunday afternoon is any indication, it’s a hit! Oh, okay. Cupcakessss.
It was easy peasy to get a cupcake: 1. Make a selection by touching the screen. 2. Slide your credit card. 3. Receive a cupcake. 4. Repeat. That square opening underneath the screen is where the cupcake came out. The little pink door slid open and a very cute brown box with a cupcake inside appeared.

I chose vanilla and cinnamon sugar and both were delish!
Dean and Samantha, my hero and heroine in WORTH THE RISK, enjoy food, too. Here’s a quick excerpt that takes place in a bar and involves a little hot sauce…

He cupped her cheek and looked deep into her eyes. “One kiss, Sam. I dare you.”
Damn him. If she didn’t agree, he’d think he won something here, and she couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t let him beat her over a silly kiss. Especially if he thought his kiss would distract her from the reason she was in town.“Fine. I’m game.”Whistles and sighs echoed around their corner of the bar while Joe grabbed two bottles of hot sauce off the table. “The rules are”—he looked at Sam as he spoke—“time starts when I say go. Your lips must stay in contact. Tongue is optional. As soon as you part, time stops. Ready?” With eyes stuck on each other, they nodded. Joe stood over them with a bottle of sauce in each hand and they simultaneously tilted their heads back to receive several drops on their tongues. “Go!”
There might also be mention of cupcakes and truffles in WORTH THE RISK. What can I say? I like to write characters with “sweet” wanderlust, too. J
Roz, thanks again for having me! It’s been a pleasure to be here and to say thanks I’d love to give away a bag of Godiva milk chocolate truffles to one lucky commenter.
And we'd love for you too, as well!! How about some of those truffles for you blog host too??? Hint, hint. Just kidding - sort of. Thanks so much for stopping by, Robin. It's been a pleasure to have you here, even if you didn't bring me a cupcake!
About the Author    Robin Bielman lives in Southern California, a bike ride away from the ocean if she’s feeling really adventurous. She loves books and baking and running on the treadmill while watching her favorite TV shows. When she’s not reading or writing her next story, she’s spending time with her high school sweetheart husband and two sons, most likely watching, playing, or discussing baseball. She drives too fast, drinks too much caffeine, and if every day were Cupcake Day, she’d be a happy camper! She loves to connect with readers. You can find her online at…
http://www.robinbielman.comhttp://www.facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriterhttp://twitter.com/#!/RobinBielman
Get Worth the Risk here -AmazonBarnes & Noble
Now, here's your chance to get your hands on those Godiva Truffles! What's your favorite cupcake flavor? Leave a comment, and you could win those wonderful truffles!

I rarely put something on my blog that I've had nothing to do with, besides some promo for other authors, but this is just too funny. 
Without further ado... Here's Elen DeGeneres Reading from 50 Shades of Grey by E. L. James.

Here's a snippet from Inside Heat, which just garnered a 4 Star Review from Romantic Times Book Reviews and is on the Amazon, Sports Fiction, Bestseller list.
Jeff and Jason are trying to convince Megan to give their unusual proposal some thought.
“Let us show you the house. If you decide you’d like to stay a while longer, that’s okay; but if you need to go, you can. We won’t stop you.”It sounded so reasonable, spoken in that low, masculine voice that it sent shivers down her spine and made her hips move against his. What would it hurt to see the house? her inner vixen argued while her rational side kept silent – probably struck dumb by the feel of Jason’s erection pinned between them. God, he felt good – another reminder that sex with these two would likely shake the earth.
Inside Heat is available from -
Amazon - eBook and PrintBarnes & Noble - eBook and Printand other major eBook retailers.
Visit my Website.
Back to Six Sunday

My thanks to Roz Lee for inviting me to post on her blog.  I’m thrilled to be here and share the inside scoop on The Secret Life of Authors.
Spoiler alert:  If you don’t want to know what an author’s life is really like don’t read any further.  Just skip to the blurb for my current release, Off Limits .
I used to believe that authors led glamorous, exciting, even thrilling lives filled with fascinating people, exotic settings and heart-thumping adventures.  Every author earned millions in advance royalties, lived in mansions surrounded by servants, assistants, and adoring fans eager to satisfy  the author’s least whim.  Despite these luxuries (or perhaps because of them) all authors secretly suffered great tragedy, putting on a brave face for all those eager adoring people.  From the well of this suffering sprang an author’s creative force, the mystical power that allowed him or her to paint vivid unique word pictures that enthralled editors, agents, publishers and readers and compelled followers to beg and plead for more of the author’s work.  Despite these beliefs, I could only imagine an author’s life, and so that life remained shrouded in secrecy. 
Now I am a published author, and I know better.  If you don’t already know better, keep reading.  The big secret about the life of authors is that there isn’t one.  We are single, married, men, women, (sometimes even children), husband, wives, mothers, fathers, employed (i.e. we have day jobs), unemployed (i.e. we don’t have a day job and don’t earn enough from writing to claim it on our taxes), military veterans and active duty service members, Ph. D.s, high school drop outs, rich, poor, et cetera ad nauseum.  You name a human condition, I’m willing to bet that some author somewhere has that condition.  Because that statement about the human condition is true, then probably some author somewhere (or when) fits the fantastic description in my opening paragraph.  Most of us don’t. 
Earning a living as an author is hard work and the financial rewards may be small—very small.  No one can do the writing for you (not strictly true if you consider ghost writers, but suggest that you aren’t doing the writing, even if your name is on the work).  Writing is pretty much a DIY profession up to the point where someone else publishes the writer’s work.  And you may have noticed that self-publishing is on the rise, making the entire process from idea to point of sale DIY.  If there is a secret life lived by an author, that’s it.  
We are do it yourself professionals of all stripes with one goal in common to bring the best story possible to as many readers as we can reach. 
I’m including a short description and some links for my newest erotic romance, Off Limits , but be for you get distracted, please share your thoughts and questions about the ‘secret’ life of authors.  
Off Limits :  For Senior Chief Hank O’Mara no woman could compare with the sea until he met Lieutenant Bethany Morton. Only the sea could draw two passionate people of such opposite backgrounds together, and only US Navy regulations could keep them apart. Because fraternization between Officer and enlisted is forbidden, both Beth and Hank do their utmost to resist the passion and love growing between them. However, love proves stronger than either the sea or the USN. If they are to be together, Hank must sacrifice his career and Beth will risk the destruction of her professional dreams.

A Bit about Rue Allyn:  I wrote my first story around the age of five and read my first romance at the age of eight. I’ve been in love with being in love ever since. I’m happily married to my sweetheart of many, many years. We share the home of two cats, who condescend to allow me to feed them and clean their litter box. They occasionally permit me to pet them but demand my love and attention as their right. I am in awe of their feline ability to dominate with half a glance or a mere twitch of tail. I am insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler. I love to hear from readers about your favorite books and real life adventures. I also love my work. Seriously, what could be more fun than sharing love and adventure with all your friends?
Thanks, Rue for stopping by today! I'm still searching for the glamorous life, determined to find it somewhere! Perhaps I should choose a different profession? LOL
Off Limits is available from - Red Sage PublishingAmazonBarnes & Noble

I couldn't resist. Given the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey, I thought it was time to present the other side of the power exchange - a female domme.Here's a snippet from my novella, Still Taking Chances.
Mary Beth has restrained Elgin, and is trying to convince him to trust her.
 "I’ll always see that you have what you need. You need to come now, don’t you?” She kept up a litany in her soft voice. “I’m going to let you come now, Elgin. When I tell you to, I want you to come.”“Oh, God, Mistress…”
Still Taking Chances is available from Amazon & B&N.Back to Six Sentence SundayVisit my Website