Laura Sheehan

An amazing debut. Lily is a fiercely independent young woman determined to make a go of a dancing career, which at the moment, after suffering an injury, means a group of hobbled together jobs. Children's dance teacher. Barista. And yes, pole dancer, none of which jobs her conservative politician father would approve.

Her path crosses that of an LAPD rookie officer, and as their romance heats up, so does the angst of her secret admirer turned stalker. His attacks inspire Marc to take Lily (and cat) into his condo - and bed.

I loved that Marc is super-protective of Lily, yet she herself is strong and self-sufficient. Given the circumstances, the speed of their romance was believable, and the sex scenes are very steamy. There's excellent use of humor throughout, as well.

The only detraction was that in the end, I felt there were a few too many loose ends wrapped up neatly for everyone. For example, Marc's parents who have been estranged for years now have a HEA tied up in a bow. It felt a little too pat; simply having them move in that direction would've been enough for me, likewise the reconciliation between Lily and her father. All in all though, a very satisfying book, and the view inside the mind of a dancer and a dancer's life was awesome.… (mer)

Disclaimer first: one of my stories is included in this anthology. It may be tacky to review, but I can't let the amazing work of my fellow contributors go unsung.

There are almost two dozen sweet, steamy, poignant, and funny stories in here, everything from a soldier's dramatic homecoming to a brother who can't abandon his tag-along little sister. Hot Eqyptian warriors. Time-travelers. Giraffes. Proposal Cakes. Matchmaking dogs.

It's like a book full of mini-cupcakes, stories just the perfect size to nibble on a coffee break.

… (mer)

Lily Brookstone moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer, something her Senator father staunchly disapproved off. After becoming injured on the job, she was dropped by her agent, disowned by her father, and the medical bills kept piling up. Shelving her dreams for the time being and taking on three jobs to make ends meet became her new routine. By day she's a children's dance teacher and a barista, but by night, she's known as the mysterious Miss M at Vixens, a local strip club. Then she meets Officer Marc Sloane and sparks fly, but before they have a chance to get better acquainted, Marc shows up at the strip club for his partner's bachelor party and recognizes Lily. Their budding relationship is further put to the test when Lily's stalker makes his presence and his displeasure known. Does Marc really care about her or is he just doing his job? Can Marc afford to fall in love with Lily and hope they don't up like his parents?

I loved this story! I love anything that involves dancers or dancing in general. The plot wasn't anything new, but my focus was drawn to the main characters, and once I got started, I couldn't stop. Lily had everything I like in a heroine. She was independent, self-sufficient, driven, caring, honest, and brave when it counted. She never backed down when things got rough, but she accepted help when it was offered. In a way, Lily reminded me of Alex from Flashdance. Lily gets extra brownie points for listening to Marc when he pointed out things she should or shouldn't do for her own safety. So often I get annoyed when the stubborn heroine would do the exact opposite and get into trouble. Not a problem here.

What I liked about the H/h as a couple was that they communicated throughout the story at a realistic and believable pace. The villain's POV is introduced early in the story so we see the potential danger Lily is in but she's oblivious to it. Reading through the villain's mental instability was often chilling and scary; to know there are people out there with such a warped sense of reality that you hope you never find yourself the object of interest.

The ending was what I expected it to be. A reviewer mentioned that all the conflicts were tied up in a neat bow, and I both agree and disagree. Where Marc's parents are concerned, I liked the conclusion because their main problem was one the Marc carried over from his childhood into adulthood, and he drew comparisons between their relationship and his own with Lily. I did feel however that Lily let her father off the hook a little too easily. But in the end, this was a HEA story, and if we are never to hear from this great set of characters again then I think it ended as it should have. Some of my favorite lines from the story involve Marc grumbling about her cat, Sneak :)

If you're looking for a smooth, easy read with some suspense and romance thrown in, then this is the story for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I would read this again when I need to unwind. I'll definitely read more by Ms Sheehan.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.… (mer)

The hero and heroine of this gipping romantic suspense novel have a very unusual first encounter. Marcus “Marc” Sloan is a Hollywood police officer, working the late shift with his fellow officer and best friend Pete. They are called to investigate a possible sighting of a robbery suspect in her getaway car. Lillian Brookstone “Lilly” is just trying to get home from her night job. The officers quickly realize their error, and are called away to another sighting. Lilly is left to go home.

Lilly is a professional dancer, recovering from a serious injury . She lost her agent, and several thousand dollars for her medical bills and now works three jobs to try and pay her debts. Lilly is a dance teacher to children, and works shifts in a coffee shop with her best friend Judy by day. At night she transforms to the mysterious Ms. M in a club called Vixens, where she dances topless, but always with a mask.

Marc and Lilly have a chance encounter in the coffee shop, and the spark between them comes to life. She desperately wants to keep her night life a secret, but fate intervenes. Marc is at a bachelor party for Pete at Vixens, and suddenly senses a strong pull of attraction while watching the hypnotic dancing of Ms. M. Their attraction quickly turns to passion, but fate again rears its ugly head. Lilly’s car is vandalized, and they both realize a sickening truth….she has a stalker with deadly intentions.

Marc is a hot sexy lover and protector. Lilly, so used to having to be alone, reluctantly lets Marc in. The suspense continues to build. I held my breath in spots, laughed, and thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced adventure. The love scenes are just that, love scenes, with some great heat!
Highly recommend this exciting story!… (mer)