I want to welcome
a new friend to my blog today,

 Rue Allyn.

Not long ago, I reached out to some
of the different loops I’m on and asked if anyone would have space on their blogs
for me to guest with them – to help with a new promotion. Rue stepped forward
and graciously offered to have me visit with her. I so appreciated her kind
gesture and support, and so I wanted you to meet her and hear about her work.

.

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. That’s what I do when I write and publish a story. I’m delighted you are here to join Mimi and me in the love of reading and writing.

I want to thank Mimi for having me as her guest here at ‘Believe.’ Just a few days of interaction with Mimi’s special brand of hope born in romantic disaster has me changing how I see heaven.Too bad I can’t say the same for the characters in my April 1, 2012 erotic romance Off Limits.Senior Chief Gunner’s Mate Hank ‘The Wall’O’Mara is as stubborn and single-minded as his nickname implies until he meets Lt. Bethany Morton and love’s irresistible force.From the start Hank and Beth are all wrong for each other, and they both know it. He’s from the working class; she’s from the elite. He loves the sea more than any woman; she loves her job more than any man—or so they think.When these opposites collide over home plate during a command baseball game the attraction is magnetic and will change their lives in ways that neither can imagine at the time

I loved writing this story, not only
because I got to base some scenes on my own naval experiences but also because
Hank and Beth won my heart the minute I met them.  They are both characters used to giving
orders and definitely attempted to railroad my story.  In the end we all compromised, and I believe
the story is better for the sacrifices made, just as our country is better off
for the sacrifices our service men, women and families make on a daily basis.  While I really want you to purchase a copy of
Off
Limits (here’s the link to my publisher’s information
about the story if you’re interested), it’s more important that you help a
service member or a veteran.  Many
organizations exist that channel help for our military and their families.  My personal favorite has always been the USO. 
Wherever and however you choose to help. 
Do it now.  Don’t wait to hear
that a friend, neighbor or relative has sacrificed everything.  Last, please
leave a comment and share your thoughts on this post or anything that’s on
your mind.  One lucky commenter will
receive a free download of my current release, The Widow’s Revenge.

A short excerpt from Chapter One of Off
Limits

That’s not a batter; that’s a walking wet-dream.  Through the grid of his catcher’s mask, Senior Chief
Gunner’s Mate Hank—The Wall—O’Mara watched the opposing team’s last minute
addition to the roster approach the plate.  Usually, he liked his women on
the long, lean side.  Small women made him feel awkward in his solid 6’ 4”
frame.

For this woman,
he’d put up with feeling awkward.  She had all the right pieces in all the
right places—curves, bumps, satin-skin, ocean deep green eyes and dewy, pink,
kiss-me-naked lips.  He licked his own lips at the thought and gave a low,
soundless whistle.  

Down boy.  He
crouched, holding his mitt at half-mast.  The last inning of the command
fast-pitch softball championship is no time to get distracted.  From the
look of the batter, we’ve got no worries.  So calm down and
concentrate.  You can put your moves on her after she strikes out.  

As she settled in
at the plate, Hank couldn’t help but appreciate the compact lines of the
woman.  He ran his eyes boldly up her trim ankles and sleek calves, past
slender thighs, and round hips to a tiny waist.  All encased in
skin-hugging denim.  Above that waist, the gentle swell of her breasts
arrested his inventory.  Bigger than a mouthful, smaller than a handful,
they gave a pleasant distortion to the hot pink letters, L-T.-S-L-U-G-G-E-R,
scrawled across her black T-shirt.  Resisting the urge to discover the
exact color, shape, texture and taste of those twin mounds caused Hank no small
amount of pain. 

Uh oh.  The
meaning of that lushly stretched phrase finally registered.  Lt.
Slugger.  Why did the wet dream have to be an officer wet dream?  

Off duty, off
base, he didn’t mind an occasional outing with a female sailor, even one with
bars on her collar, but he drew the line at climbing into bed with one. 
Sleeping with officers was just plain stupid, and Hank wasn’t stupid. 
What a shame that God created Lt. Slugger with beds in mind.  

She shifted, and
her breasts swayed.  Mesmerized, Hank licked his lips again. 
Somebody coughed.  Still Hank stared.  I bet she’s soft.  Real
soft.
Another cough, louder this time, followed by, “Hey Wall.  Play ball, will
ya.”
Hank shook his head and raised his mitt.  “Uh, yeah, sure thing
Ump.”  As he lifted his gaze, he caught speculation in the Lieutenant’s
misty green eyes.  He looked away and focused on flashing signals to the
pitcher.   

Hank motioned for
a straight pitch.  With a batter this small, the worst they’d have to
sweat about was a line drive.  Even the rookie right fielder could handle
that, especially with the rocket he had for an arm.  

But Hank figured
he didn’t have to fret on the rookie.  The Lieutenant couldn’t possibly
have much power in her slim shoulders.  Even if she hit the ball, those
shapely legs weren’t long enough to carry her very far, very fast.  She’d
be out before she got to first base.
He balanced on the balls of his feet and nodded to the pitcher.  The guy
wound up and let go with a straight slow ball that crossed the middle of the
zone.  The Lt. swung and fanned air.  The ball smacked into Hank’s
mitt.  

He grinned and
raised his gaze to hers.  Her eyes filled with a sea of cool
assessment.  He lofted the ball toward the pitcher and cocked an
eyebrow.  “Too fast, Ma’am?”  

She blinked,
quirked one corner of her mouth and settled into position again, giving a sexy
little wiggle to her hips.  Hank felt his jaw go slack.  She turned
her head back to him.  The action rubbed pale, silky curls across her
nape, just where Hank imagined placing a tiny bite.

Not me,
Chief?  How about you?”  

“Uh, no
Ma’am.”  His grin broadened, and he aimed a quick glance at her
hips.  “You’ve got a nice swing, real smooth and easy.”  

She smiled and
once more blinked spiky black lashes at him.  Her voice came at him low
and inside.  “Why thank you, Chief.”

His heart skipped.
 

The ump shouted,
“Play ball!”  

The Lieutenant
turned away and resettled her stance.  

Hank signaled for
another strike.  

She tipped it
back.  

The ball plopped
gently into his mitt once more.  Damn, this is too easy.  “With all
due respect, Ma’am, that’s our best pitcher out there.  He can’t throw ‘em
much slower.”  

She
gave Hank an easy grin.  “I like mine hard and fast, sailor.”  Her
smoke and whiskey voice licked at his ears then bit down hard. … (read the rest
of this excerpt at http://eredsage.com/store/Off_Limits.html).