A Maverick for the Holidays
by Leanne Banks

Thunder Canyon Nugget
A Season of Thanks and Giving

Next time you pass Major Forrest Traub on the street, make sure you give him a real Thunder Canyon-style welcome! The handsome soldier hasn't smiled much since moving here from Rust Creek Falls, but this hasn't deterred our favorite do-gooder, Angie Anderson. Angie's convinced she's met the man she's going to marry.

Forrest sees Angie as a rosy-eyed optimist, too young and innocent for a man who's lived through Iraq. Yet her irresistible warmth may actually be thawing his hardened heart. Suddenly she's got him volunteering with teens, arranging holiday events, even---gasp---smiling. Can Angie's unwavering faith rescue Forrest from himself? Give thanks, loyal readers, for your many blessings---and hope that Angie and Forrest can find theirs!

Leanne Banks' Bio

Leanne Banks is a national #1 best-selling author of romance novels and on a good day looks like the woman in the picture. She is the winner of the Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards in Series Sensuality and Love and Laughter. She is also the winner of the Florida Writers Beacon Award, the Golden Quill Award, and the Georgia Romance Writers' MAGGIE Award. Her books have been recognized by the Award of Excellence Contest, the Romance Writers of America Rita Contest, and the National Readers' Choice Awards.

Leanne believes her readers work hard on the job and for their families, so she tries to lighten the load with stories featuring a strong sense of fun and sensuality. Reader response is heartwarming. One of her favorite letters was from a woman who had been suffering from severe health problems: "[Your books] did more for my health that all the medicine in the world -- as corny as this sounds, [your heroes] made me feel like life is `worth it'."

Leanne lives in Virginia with her husband, and two children. She loves music, chocolate, quotes, and new adventures. Her recent adventures include snorkeling in the Caribbean and riding an elephant, and one of her ongoing adventures is raising teenage children.