High-Stakes Passion
by Juliet Burns

Reporter Audrey Tyson had come looking for Mark "Lone Cowboy" Malone—the squarejawed, melt-your-heart hero that had haunted her dreams for a decade. Only, the heartthrob with the sexy smile that had once made her go weak in the knees was gone. In his place was a broken-down bull rider with a weary heart that hid dark secrets....

Audrey had secrets, too...and feelings so raw and tender she wouldn't share them with anyone, even Mark, the man who now ignited her long-suppressed passion into a sensual inferno.

Was their explosive lovemaking enough to make a former plain Jane believe in herself, or a world-weary cowboy realize he might be worth loving?

Juliet Burns' Bio

Most of the authors I've spoken with all have one thing in common. They ALWAYS wanted to be a writer. Most started writing from the time they could hold a crayon.

But not me. I've always loved to read. But write? Please! That was for people with a lot more intelligence, talent, and education than me!

I grew up in a suburb of Dallas/Fort Worth, got married, moved to another suburb of DFW, and had 3 kids. I have always loved music.

I sang professionally at weddings and funerals, and directed my church choir.

I'm also a big murder mystery fan: Sue Grafton, Elizabeth George, and Anne Perry are my favorite authors. But I found an Amanda Quick book in the library about 7 years ago, and from that moment, I was hooked on romance. I read voraciously. Krentz, Lowell, Madelyn Baker, Susan Krinard, Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Kleypas, you name 'em, I read 'em. My favorite authors are Deborah Simmons, Elizabeth Fairchild, and the great, awesome Laura Kinsale.

While I was pregnant with my third child, health issues required me to be on partial bed rest for the last six months. This resulted in my spending a great deal of time reading.

The more I read, the more a story of my own kept filling my head. The hero and his past, the heroine and her flaws, scenes emerged, then snatches of dialogue.

I *had* to write this story!

10 months later I'd finished the manuscript and a bookseller cyber-friend recommended RWA. I joined the local chapter, North Texas RWA, and started learning the craft.

I was lucky enough to meet a fantastic critique partner, entered my story, called BET ON LOVE (later renamed HIGH-STAKES PASSION), in several contests, and revised the heck out of it. It received 2 richly deserved rejections before finally winning first place in the 2002 Golden Rose Contest!!

I love the romance genre and believe with all my heart in the healing power of love.