About Taylor Lee

USA Today Best Selling author Taylor Lee writes Suspenseful Mystery Thrillers – with a heavy dose of Sexy to Sizzling HOT Romance. In the five years that she has been writing, Taylor has written more than forty books. Her eight, series track her Special Operatives, Covert Agents, Cops, Firefighters and other iconic heroes and heroines, through the harrowing situations that make up their lives. From human trafficking rings to corrupt politicians, Taylor investigates the underbelly of society and the criminals who flourish there. Taylor says: “From the residue in my personal blender of mixed races, cultures and world views, my characters emerge. It comforts me to know that while evil slinks in the shadows, the “good guys and gals” of the world sniff it out – and snuff it out. My characters are arrogant alpha males and the feisty women who bring them to their knees – and vice versa… They fight hard, love hard and don’t mince words. They are dangerous men and women in dangerous times. Love, passion and ridding the world of evil? What’s not to like?

Who says you can’t go to heaven unless you die? By Taylor Lee

I’m here to tell you that old wives’ tale is simply not true. And I have the deets to prove it. Every August for the last ten years my guy and I take off for somewhere wonderful for the month of August. Given that we live in Phoenix, Arizona, you can understand why we choose that month to beat it out of Arizona. But this year Phoenix outdid itself. The Arizona Republic declared, “It’s official: July in Phoenix was the hottest month ever recorded in a U.S. City.” Yep. Seventeen days in July, Phoenix hit maximum temperatures at or above 115 degrees. And on three days in July we reached 119 degrees.

August Vacations

Okay so you know why we fled Phoenix on August 1.

For the last four years we have gone to extraordinary places in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. I’m in love with the four corners region. My two latest series, ten books in all, take place in one of those gorgeous states. But this year we opted for something different and headed to Sonoma, California in the heart of wine country. To be truthful, I was a tad worried that Sonoma couldn’t possibly compete with thee extraordinary mountains, red rocks and stunning vistas I’m infatuated with. BUT…  drum roll please.

Enter Glen Ellan, California. To begin with, Sonoma, particularly Glen Ellan couldn’t be more different form the Four Corners region if it tried. To begin with if I had to choose a single word to describe where we are staying it would be verdant. Seriously after the red rocks and mountainous climbs, I marvel at how green everything is. But it’s more than that. It’s as if everywhere you look something is growing. Lush flourishing vegetation as far as the eye can see. Having grown up in northern Minnesota, I’m accustomed to trees and farmland. But Sonoma is different. Miles after miles of “growing” things. Vineyards of course, but small farms growing every kind of vegetable you can imagine. I’ve obviously seen vineyards before but I’d never driven for mile after mile in wine country.  I’m infatuated with the rows of vines that look like they have been painted on the ground they are so perfectly manicured. And trees! I know, I know. How can a Minnesota chick marvel at trees? But after living in the desert for the last twenty years, I’m overcome by the trees. Everywhere you look that isn’t rows and rows of vines there are trees.

About Sonoma.

In Phoenix, after being forced to drive at least seventy miles an hour or be run off the road by irate drivers who think the seventy-five mile limit is the least acceptable lowest speed one can drive, the roads around Sonoma produce culture shock. Seriously, the two lane roads with no shoulders dare you to drive faster than the 20-30 mile maximum speed. In that my guy was doing all the driving, after the first week of white knuckles and closing my eyes for the most part, I’ve now become accustomed to being terrified but at least now appreciate the gorgeous countryside as we peel down the ads at a rousing 35 mile per hour.

Back to verdant.

The charming village of Glen Ellen (pop. 784) has one grocery store.  But given the annual household income of Sonoma County residents of $100,000 K plus plus, it isn’t surprising that the one grocery store competes well with the swankiest upscale markets I love. But then who needs grocery stores when you have Farmers Markets. Honestly I’m a Farmers Markets aficionado but I have never seen anything like the ones in Sonoma County. As a one time vegetarian, I’m in awe of the variety of the fruits and vegetables that fill the rows and rows of vegetables and fruit at the markets. Good grief, I was even introduced to a fruit I had not eaten…. I learned that a “pluot” is  a first-generation hybrid between  a plum and an apricot parent. Delicious.

And Glen Ellen makes it clear what they think about visitors. The frequent signs stating “homes not hotels” indicates that the long-time residents aren’t enthralled with the hordes of visitors that come their way. An indication that Glen Ellan has warded off the hordes is that our charming VRBO required a minimum of a thirty-one day stay.

We are coming to the last week of our extraordinary vacation. But maybe there is hope for us. According to the weather gurus, when we get back on Sep. 1, it will be a balmy 102°F to 95°F, unlikely to exceed 108 °F.  Ahhh, yes! Balmy indeed.

Now, onto books.

After all writing is my life. Be sure to check out the cool collection my author friends and I created! Snippets of great books that you will absolutely pique your interest! And right now, it’s FREE.

 

Inside this collection you’ll find chapter samples of eleven incredibly exciting books. Our hope is that you’ll be so thrilled, you’ll have to continue reading.
Many of the authors are NYT & USAT bestselling authors who understand that a reader loves to get snippets of a story before clicking that buy link. We’ve gathered these together to make the journey easier for you.

Since this is the perfect way for you to find your next book, we also hope it becomes a trail of discovery to a fresh author and her backlist.

Mimi Barbour – Special Agent Walker
Patricia Rosemoor – Fake ID Wife
Rachelle Ayala – Preying Heart
Dani Haviland – The Midwife’s Son
Rebecca York – At Risk
Denise Devine – Small Town Girl
Susanne Matthews – Sworn to Protect
Calinda B. – Gravestones
Taylor Lee – Forbidden
Cynthis Cooke – Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies
Susan Jean Ricci – Evasion

Time to Tart It Up! By Taylor Lee

Disclosure: I write sexy murder mysteries and “tart” describes a goodly number of my heroines. Although I prefer to call them feisty.  But I’m on a tart rampage. One that appeals to my other obsessions–cooking and eating.  (I’m convinced that sex and food are, or should be, integrally related.)

On to tarts. My trusty NYT’s April food columns declared in so many words that sheet pan dishes were the “must make” recipes of the month. (All elements of the meal are baked on a single sheet pan). My guy and I made a series of concoctions that you’d never guess would work in one humble pan.

Carrot Tart

Pepperidge Farm

Come May, I was thrilled to see that “tarts” were the recipes of the month. Remember Pepperidge Farm puff pastry from years ago?  Guess what? It’s baaack. And it is now the foundation for every kind of tart you can imagine.

After making dessert tarts and meat and fish oriented tarts, I ended up with my favorite—vegetable tarts.  If you want to impress everyone from the most discriminating gourmand to grandsons who could care less about fine dining, win them over with this recipe I conceived.  Try it.  I promise everyone will be fighting for whatever leftovers exist.

Taylor’s Sumptuous Vegetable Tart

Ingredients:

Crust:  Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry (in frozen food section of your supermarket)

Cheese filling: 8oz ricotta cheese, 6 oz crumbled Feta cheese, salt pepper, fresh herbs (your choice).  Combine in a food processor to a “spreadable consistency”.

Vegetables:  My favorites – (you choose yours)

Multi colored carrots, bright red pepper, asparagus (thin), broccolini, sliced cremini mushrooms, red onion.

Directions:

Slice vegetables in thin strips. Generously drizzle with olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer and roast in a 425 degree oven.  Different vegetables will require different roasting times.  Cool and set aside.

Thaw one sheet of puff pastry.  Line a 12 x 16 baking sheet with parchment paper (essential for scooting the finished tart onto a snazzy serving tray.) Generously sprinkle the parchment paper-covered cooking sheet with parmesan cheese.  Roll out the puff pastry and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Using the point of a sharp knife, score a ½ inch line around the edge of the pastry. Spread the cheese mixture over the pastry leaving the ½ inch border uncovered.

Decorate the puff pastry with your roasted vegetables. I used multi-colored carrots as placeholders.  Then I arranged the other vegetables to fill out the canvas. (See photos.  Note in one recipe I used multi colored heirloom tomatoes drizzled with pesto. Yum.)   Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until pastry is crisp and puffy.

Tomato Tart

Present to your wowed guests.  You and they will never think about “tarts’ the same way again. Promise!

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If you’re ready for a seriously tarty young woman, grab Tanya: Book 1; The Trouble Sisters Saga.

Tanya by Taylor Lee

She’s a brash deputy. He’s an undercover agent. When sparks start to fly, a murderer might be the death of them.

If you like smart characters, tough-talking cops, and scorching passion, you’ll love this sizzling thrill-ride.

 

As I welcome my 79th birthday: And Then There Is Cellulite by @Taylor Lee

Leslie Morgan Steiner the author of four books, including “The Naked Truth,” which explores femininity, aging, and sexuality after 50 writes:.

“Summer is coming, friends. You know what this means. Bikinis. I’m 56. Like most American women, I’ve grappled with body positivity my whole life. My mother, a college athlete who never dieted, preached that natural thinness was a God-given A+ and muffin-tops a failing grade. My first published article was about surviving anorexia as a college freshman. Working in the New York fashion magazine industry, I got negative reinforcement about the size of my boobs and butt from every Vogue cover and Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

The Naked Truth

Our culture seems to insist that women abhor our own skin. Research shows that a whopping 45 percent of teens have pondered cosmetic surgery; 40 to 60 percent of elementary school girls worry they are becoming “too fat”; and more than 80 percent of women are “sometimes” or “very often” on a diet to skinny up.”

On that note…

I remember a great article about women’s focus on jiggly thighs. It posited a marketing genius’s conclusion that if you wanted to be a financial wizard assured of rolling in the dough—find an ‘ailment’, a ’condition’ (such as cellulite) that after a certain age 100% of women have. Develop a “surefire” product that supposedly addresses that dreaded issue (but doesn’t), then sit back and roll in the dough.

Okay, point taken. I’m a reasonably intelligent woman and I do know better. I’ll be 79 in one week! I work out, ride twelve miles on my bike at the gym, weigh tops 110 lbs.  But…last week, I ordered cellulite crème from Amazon. Sigh. What is it about jiggly thighs and a non-existent bootie (guess my exercise regime does something…) that has been drilled into our heads that our bodies no matter what shape we are in are unsightly and something to be ashamed of.

Note that cellulite crème isn’t marketed to men. Let’s go there for a moment.  I’m surrounded by males of all ages. And while they are certainly conscious of their appearances–my grandsons are exercise fanatics, my 84 year old guy primps with the best of them.  But at least as far as the beach goes, I don’t see them or a lot of guys in coverups.

A moment of truth.

I write sexy (make that very sexy) romantic suspense thrillers. I admit my leading women are gorgeous and I have never called attention to a quiver or a jiggle on any of them.  However in defense of my author-me, all of my leading men are also Shemar Moore or Jake Gyllenhaal lookalikes. Ahh…fantasy.

Back  to Leslie Morgan Steiner. She writes: “When Deborah Copaken, a friend and author of the memoir “Ladyparts,” was in her 20s, she wore a bikini, albeit reluctantly. She always felt self-conscious running into the water, she told me, her thighs jiggling behind her, her butt cheeks exposed. Why couldn’t she dress for the beach like a man? They never worried about such things. Then she changed her mind.

“I decided f— it,” Copaken says now. “If my soft arms, jiggly ass and stomach scars bother you, that’s your problem, not mine.” She switched back to bikinis. “I don’t want to spend a single minute of the life I have left worrying about my body.” Our culture seems to insist that women abhor our own skin. Research shows that a whopping 45 percent of teens have pondered cosmetic surgery; 40 to 60 percent of elementary school girls worry they are becoming “too fat”; and more than 80 percent of women are “sometimes” or “very often” on a diet to skinny up.

Regarding swimsuits and the like, after considering various ways we women can claim our gorgeous selves, Steiner writes: My most beautiful friend, a grandmother in her late 70s, hates bathing suits so passionately that she only swims naked. Mostly late at night in private pools. Occasionally in a deserted lake. She says she’s too old to endure the torture devices designed to deprive older women of the simple joys of swimming, frolicking and enjoying our birthrights — the bodies that nature gave us.”

Now that’s a thought …and an opportunity I highly recommend. Having done a significant amount of skinny dipping over the years, with sisters, daughters, and yes, lucky men–who insisted I was beautiful etc. etc. I definitely agree. Not only for my jiggle-free fictional gals, but for the rest of us gorgeous women, cellulite and all.  Hooray!

Enough about cellulite.  Check my decidedly cellulite-free chick who is more than willing to be exposed…

Exposed 

EXPOSED

Prequel: The Criminal Affairs Collection

By Taylor Lee

 EXPOSED: The Prequel Novella in USA Today best-selling author Taylor Lee’s Sizzling Hot Detective Series, The Criminal Affairs Collection.

  • A renegade police officer infiltrates a dangerous cartel intending to take down its leader.
  • Little does she know that the handsome Drug Lord is a special operative hotshot heading up a mission two years in the making.
  • Learning who the outrageous woman is, the undercover commander does the only thing he can to protect the mission, and her. He claims her for his own. 

WARNING: Romance so HOT it singes the pages.  HOT, tough, explicit. Not for the faint at heart.  Definitely bring a fan!

And be sure and check out the latestBox Set from my ABB author buddies:

IRRESISTIBLE ACCIDENTAL HEROES

Find true love with these accidental heroes, in the pages of EIGHT BRAND NEW, full-length steamy stories, from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling, Award-Winning Authors.

My book in the set is:

Compromised

The Unstoppable Detective Brooks

BOOK 1: COMPROMISED 

By Taylor Lee

*She’s as gorgeous as she is outrageous.

*He’s a political superstar.

*What quickly becomes a face—off is complicated by their passionate love affair.

The Book-Ban Craze by Taylor Lee

Florida’s book-ban frenzy targeted Nora Roberts, and she’s not happy.” (And none of us should be either!!!) When a Florida school district banned eight of her books, Nora Roberts wasn’t happy. Neither was Judy Blume when her book “Are You There, God, It’s me Margaret” was banned for featuring middle schoolers talking about the menstrual cycle. Roberts called the ban of her novels “shocking,” telling the Washington Post, “If you don’t want your teenager reading this book, that’s your right as a mom—and good luck with that. But you don’t have the right to say nobody’s kid can read this book.”

Book-ban

Nora Roberts, image from Wikipedia

A Washington Post analysis found that a small number of people were responsible for most of the book challenges. Indeed, they found that individuals who filed 10 or more complaints were responsible for two-thirds of all challenges. When asked on “CBS Sunday Morning” what sort of book she wants to see remain in schools, the co-founder of the book-purging organization Moms for Liberty, offered a righteous-sounding answer. “Books that don’t have pornography in them”.

This signals a new trend.

Book-banners are increasingly going after a wide variety of titles, including romance novels, under the guise of targeting “pornography.” I think we can agree that the term pornography is a very flexible one — deliberately so, it appears. The word is sweeping ever more broadly to include books that can’t be described as such in any reasonable sense.” says Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression at PEN. He added, “A new PEN study found nearly 1,500 instances of schools banning books during the first half of the 2022-2023 year, increasingly based on them supposedly containing ‘pornography.’” Friedman said, “Activists and politicians are inflating the notion of what constitutes ‘pornography’ beyond all recognition. They are going after romance books, books about puberty or sex education, and books that just have LGBTQ characters.”

As for her books, Roberts agreed that the books contain “sex” but noted that it is “monogamous” and “consensual.” Speaking of the censors, Roberts said, “I’m surprised that they wouldn’t want teenagers to read about healthy relationships that are monogamous, consensual, healthy and end up in marriage.”

Judy Blume mused, “When I began to write, thirty years ago, I didn’t know if anyone would publish my books, but I wasn’t afraid to write them. I was lucky. I found an editor and publisher who were willing to take a chance. They encouraged me. I was never told what I couldn’t write. I felt only that I had to write the most honest books I could. It never occurred to me, at the time, that what I was writing was controversial. Much of it grew out of my own feelings and concerns when I was young.” She added, “Censors don’t want children exposed to ideas different from their own. If every individual with an agenda had his/her way, the shelves in the school library would be close to empty. I wish the censors could read the letters kids write.”

Dear Judy,
I don’t know where I stand in the world. I don’t know who I am.
That’s why I read, to find myself.
Elizabeth, age 13

****

Some wise words from some special authors:

“It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” – Judy Blume

“Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.” – Voltaire

“All these people talk so eloquently about getting back to good old-fashioned values. Well, as an old poop I can remember back to when we had those old-fashioned values, and I say let’s get back to the good old-fashioned First Amendment of the good old-fashioned Constitution of the United States – and to hell with the censors! Give me knowledge or give me death!” ― Kurt Vonnegut

For her part, speaking about the activist who got her books pulled, Nora Roberts joked, “I’m writing another book that this woman can ban.”

AMEN

****

AGAINST THE ODDS

Against The Odds Taylor Lee

Given the issues we are facing, check out Book 1 in my “Candidate” series.  Full disclosure: This book contains consensual sex by an adult man and woman who are madly in love with each other. And they aren’t married. Gasp. Oh and one of the major characters is a gay man. Finally the leading man and woman have a baby and then get married…..Yikes! Read if you dare. (And no. I do not think this book is appropriate for young readers. Nor should it be in middle school libraries. But that is my opinion.)

IRRISISTABLE  ACCIDENTAL HEROES

Irresistible Accidental Heroes

This is the latest of the terrific box sets my ABB authors and I produce. My book in the set is:

Compromised

Compromised: Book 1

The Unstoppable Detective Brooks:

She’s as gorgeous as she is outrageous.

He’s a political superstar.

What quickly becomes a face—off is complicated by their passionate love affair.

Known as the Blonde Bombshell, Piper Brooks,  the sexy lead detective, more than earned her title as Unstoppable.

Ethan Mathews, the former Army Ranger took the political world by storm when he tossed aside a multi-million dollar legal career to run  for District Attorney.

His surprise victory not only puts him in the path of his political enemies, it puts him in charge of the daunting Detective Brooks.

Fortunately, the dueling two-some come together to takedown a literal Cersei Lannister, the most evil woman either of them will face.

Warning:  This book features an adult man and woman who are madly in love, and yep…have consensual sex!