FROM THE ESSENTIAL RAYMOND BENSON COLLECTIONWINNER OF THE 2006 "BEST THRILLER" AWARD (THE LOVEY) AT THE LOVE IS MURDER CONFERENCE FOR AUTHORS AND READERS!From the internationally-acclaimed former author of continuation James Bond novels and other works of suspense comes a new and exciting thriller.Diane Boston lives with her Marfan syndrome-afflicted 13-year-old son in a suburb of Chicago and teaches social studies at the high school, with the students even voting her Teacher of the Year. But she has some dark secrets. Her ex-husband Greg always suspected that Diane kept things from him, but he has no idea just how right he is. When Diane's son, David, finds a box of unmarked videotapes and watches one of them out of curiosity, he discovers that it's a hardcore adult movie from the late 1970s. The star, Lucy Luv, was an actress that mysteriously disappeared in 1980. Some suspected she'd been murdered. David recognizes the actress as his mother. Then, somehow, the news of Diane's involvement in the adult film business hits the streets and causes chaos at her school and at home. It also attracts the attention of the West Coast porn czar who has ties with organized crime. Apparently when Lucy Luv disappeared, she took a cache of stolen diamonds with her. This is the catalyst for a non-stop roller-coaster ride of suspense and mystery that involves the dark side of the adult film industry, the mob, kidnapping, and murder.PRAISE FOR SWEETIE'S DIAMONDS:"A pulse-pounding edge-of-your-seat thriller with more twists and turns than a roller coaster." - Parnell Hall, author of Stalking the Puzzle LadyWINNER OF THE 2006 "BEST THRILLER" AWARD (THE LOVEY) AT THE LOVE IS MURDER CONFERENCE FOR AUTHORS AND READERS!"Plays out like a Hitchcock film. These Diamonds are priceless!"--J. A. Konrath, author of BLOODY MARY"Benson… proves here that he is equally adept at more realistic thrillers. This ever-more-intricate story (which involves a two-decade-old murder and several buried secrets) may remind some readers of the novels of James Grippando… The relationship between David and his mother, Diane (aka Lucy Luv), is key to the drama, and Benson layers enough twists and turns to keep mother and son, not to mention the reader, searching desperately for the truth." – Booklist"Sweetie's Diamonds is a gem!"--Chicago Sun-Times"A gem of a thriller one would have expected to come from the pen of someone like James Patterson."--The Strand MagazineBIO: Raymond Benson is the highly acclaimed author of twenty-five books, including six original James Bond 007 novels, three film novelizations, three short stories, and two anthologies on Bond. He is a sought-after lecturer on film genres and history. Writing as David Michaels, Benson is a New York Times best-selling author, an Edgar Alan Poe Award nominee, and a Readers' Choice Award winner.From BooklistWhen a teenage boy discovers that his mother once starred in pornographic films, he is, predictably, shocked. This is a side of his mom he'd never suspected, but the truth is far more complicated than even young David can possibly imagine. Benson, best known for his popular James Bond novels, proves here that he is equally adept at more realistic thrillers. This ever-more-intricate story (which involves a two-decade-old murder and several buried secrets) may remind some readers of the novels of James Grippando, who tends to structure his high-octane thrillers on families with closets full of secrets. The relationship between David and his mother, Diane (aka Lucy Luv), is key to the drama, and Benson layers on enough twists and turns to keep mother and son, not to mention the reader, searching desperately for the truth. David PittCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReview"A pulse-pounding edge-of-your-seat thriller with more twists and turns than a roller coaster."- Parnell Hall, author of Stalking the Puzzle Lady

Women enter business careers to climb the ladder as men have done. And this is where they're challenged - in business and in love. Men succeed because they're likeable and aggressive. But when a woman is beautiful and assertive, her sex works against her: They're called bitchy, and if they're likeable, they're dismissed as sex symbols.Three tales penetrate the lives of women working trying to reconcile their careers with the requests, demands and offers of attractive and dominant men. Should they - will they? - offer their most intimate possessions of heart and body to satisfy their inner desires while lubricating their long term goals?Sex and intimacy are poker chips in the towers of commerce. Often, this is the only currency that offers fulfillment of all desires.

Fat Boy McMaster is a hopeless heavyweight boxer, but he has managed to become champion of Ireland, and his devious manager has succeeded in setting up a gigantic payday (largely for himself, admittedly) with a St Patrick's Day fight in New York against Mike Tyson. Journalist Dan Starkey is hired to write the book of the whole affair. Starkey tries to persuade his wife Patricia to give their marriage another try, but he has not succeeded before boarding the plane for the Big Apple with McMaster and his deeply suspect entourage. Once there McMaster's wife is kidnapped, almost every interest group is outraged, the Champ is chased all over town by gunmen of varying allegiance, Starkey's marriage is saved - and, yes, there is the Big Fight to consider too!

Makenna Stewart flees Scotland for the Big Island of Hawaii intent on making real a cherished dream—a bakery of her own. Hard work and long hours leave Makenna craving some fun in her life. Her best customer, Greek-god sexy surfer Tom may be just what she needs, but she suspects there's more to him than board shorts and a devastating smile. Retired professional surfer and real-estate multi-millionaire Tom Bensford, is there when she opens every morning, but he's not craving her Morning Glory muffins. Fascinated by the dark-haired, blue-eyed wahine with the creamy Celtic skin and devastating Scottish accent, he's never met a woman like her. Too bad he's about to destroy her dreams. To him, it's just business. To her, it's the kind of betrayal she fled Scotland to escape. Can the island magic in Makenna's heritage save her dream and their romance, or will his secret tear them apart?

Cherry Mercer has a degree in biology, but due to the crappy economy, she finds herself working at Pete’s Ice Cream Parlor. As far as jobs go, it isn’t that bad. It enables her to pay back her student loans while indulging her love of soft serve. In her wildest dreams, she never imagines the decadent chocolate and vanilla swirl can get her into so much trouble with the law. When she runs into Officer Zane Barrett, her whole world is turned upside down. He’s as hot as the day is long. And even though a gal can’t be arrested for what she’s thinking, Cherry still finds herself being hauled downtown. Zane Barrett—a seventeen-year veteran of the police force—spends his days serving and protecting his community. He lives in a nice house, loves his job and spends his spare time with his partner, Knox, and his wife Sadie. Despite Knox’s badgering, Zane insists he isn’t lonely and doesn’t feel the need to actively look for “Miss Right.” In fact, his philosophy is: Not everyone’s meant for love and marriage. But once he crosses paths with Cherry Mercer, he quickly realizes his philosophy has more holes than a firing range target. Unfortunately, Cherry has erected some emotional walls that could prove to be impenetrable. Zane offers her an irresistible proposition intended to tear down those carefully constructed barriers. The question is, will Cherry take the bait and give both of them a chance for a happily ever after? Soft Serve Sweetie is part of the Plus Size Romance Series. Each book is a standalone with no overlapping characters, storylines or cliffhangers. This series is a perfect combination of romance, steamy love scenes and humor. The stories are sensual and romantic, uplifting and lighthearted. Feel-good reads that leave you feeling great!