NATIONAL READERS CHOICE AWARDS!

I'm taking a minute out of the day to congratulate all of my fellow Desire authors who have finaled in the prestigious NATIONAL READER'S CHOICE AWARD! This is a nationwide contest judged by readers in all romance categories. I'm honored to announce that BUNKING DOWN WITH THE BOSS is one of the nominees this year.

Congrats to the Desire authors and to my friends, Diane Gaston and Terri Brisbin for finaling in the Regency and Historical categories!

Short Contemporary

House Calls, Michelle Celmer
The Expectant Executive, Kathie Denosky
Under Deepest Cover, Kara Lennox
The Texan's Convenient Marriage, Peggy Moreland
Bunking Down with the Boss, Charlene Sands

Contest at Romance Junkies and more

I'm happy to announce that Pam Pellini was the winner of my Valentine Contest at Romance Junkies. Pam received an autographed copy of Fortune's Vengeful Groom and a beautiful red heart beaded necklace.

Check back soon when I announce my next contest at Romance Junkies and don't forget to enter my Fortune's Vengeful Groom Contest II. You still have time. Contest ends on May 1st!

BTW-- my page at Myspace is growing in leaps and bounds. If you're on Myspace, stop on over to say hello. www.myspace.com/charlenesands .

ARE YOU A SUCKER FOR SAWYER?

I'm a huge LOST fan and it's due in part to the character of Sawyer. He's the show's bad boy and he's often misunderstood. But more often than not, Sawyer isn't a nice person. I've heard that his popularity on the show have made the writers make him more appealing by softening his con man image a bit. There's nothing better than seeing a "bad" boy do something good, and then hate himself for it.

I saw Josh Holloway (Sawyer) interviewed on an awards show, and he's nothing like who we see on the screen. He's NICE and seems so down to earth. He's got amazing eyes, adorable dimples and likes fishing. If you watch the show, you know there was one episode where Sawyer made a complete mess of gutting a fish. That was a great story where we actually saw the "human" side of Sawyer. Though, he fought it, he realized he really can't exist on his own -- he needs the other survivors. But he'd be the last person to admit it.

So, yes I'm a sucker for Sawyer. Aside from his incredible good looks and on-screen charisma, he has what I think is essential for a "bad" boy image. ATTITUDE! If we're talking fantasy here, he's the one you'd want to be stranded with on a remote island. But then again, there's Jack...

Are you a sucker for Sawyer too?

Catalina Island - Inspiration for my June Desire

Believe it or not, but the title of my June book isn't what it seems. Well, okay, it's partly what it seems. BETWEEN THE CEO'S SHEETS is actually the name of my dear friends' 52 foot Jeanneau sloop sailboat. The sheets, being those ropes that hold the sails up.

And one of my favorite places to visit during the summer months, is Santa Catalina Island. I can't even tell you how many times I've traveled there in my youth for fun day trips with my friends, my daughter's girl scout troop and later with my husband. Twenty-two miles out from San Pedro Harbor lies the crescent shaped island harbor of what was at one time both a place for trade and a real pirate hideaway. It seemed only natural that I'd set a book there, and have my one-time Texas rancher hero develop a love of the ocean and sailing.

Fond memories and maybe a chance to go back there one day soon helped decide where to set my story. This is definitely a place that's 50 paces slower than any big city. There are no cars on the island, replaced by golf-like carts and those two parts of our anatomy designed specially for getting around, feet. Walking is a national pastime in Catalina Island, along with swimming at the small stretch of beach, golfing, fishing, scuba diving and horseback riding. This pic to my left is Descanso Beach and beyond that is the famous Casino landmark.

Here's a picture of Avalon Bay harbor. Cruise ships stop by almost daily and the passengers disembark for a day of touring the island or sunning on the beach. Then there's always ... shopping!

More soon on Catalina Island and Wade and Gina's story in BETWEEN THE CEO'S SHEETS.

Fortune's Vengeful Groom Hits #1and A SNEAK PEEK

Hi All,

Just a quick little blog this morning to thank all of you who've helped make Fortune's Vengeful Groom a #1 Bestseller for two weeks running at the Borders/Waldenbooks stores! I'm thrilled that the book is so well-received! And if you haven't gotten a copy yet, it's still available at bookstores and online and Eharlequin and Amazon among other online sites.

I've been busy working on my next Silhouette Desire and I'm thrilled to say it's all wrapped up and ready to send to my editor! We have a tentative title BLACKMAILED BRIDE, but that's bound to change. It's due out in January 2008!

And for a sneak peek at my upcoming JUNE Desire, BETWEEN THE CEO'S SHEETS, here's the cover. I'm thrilled with it. I think my hero looks like the new James Bond.

I'll be posting an excerpt soon!