Banks, Leanne

PERSONAL:

Married; children: two. Hobbies and other interests: Music, chocolate, quotes, and new adventures.

ADDRESSES:

Home—VA. E-mail—leannebbb@aol.com.

CAREER:

Writer.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards in Series Sensuality and Love and Laughter; Florida Writers Beacon Award; Golden Quill Award; Georgia Romance Writers' MAGGIE Award; and Bookseller's Best Award.

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE NOVELS

Where There's a Will, Meteor, 1991.

Guardian Angel, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1992.

His Royal Pleasure, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1993.

The Fairest of Them All, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Dance with the Devil, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1993.

More Than a Mistress, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Playing with Dynamite, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1994.

For the Love of Sin, Bantam Books (New York, NY), 1994.

A Date with Dr. Frankenstein, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Expectant Father, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Ridge: The Avenger, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

The Troublemaker Bride, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

The Five-Minute Bride, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

The You-Can't-Make-Me Bride, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Thirty-Day Fiancé, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Lone-Ride Takes a Bride, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Millionaire Dad, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

The Secretary and the Millionaire, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Bride of Fortune, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Her Forever Man, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

The Doctor Wore Spurs, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Expecting His Child, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Expecting the Boss's Baby, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Never a Bride, Meteor, 2001.

Millionaire's Husband, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

The Millionaire's Secret Wish, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Royal Dad, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

His Majesty, M.D., Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Tall, Dark and Royal, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Princess in His Bed, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Some Girls Do, Warner Books (New York, NY), 2003.

When She's Bad, Warner Books (New York, NY), 2003.

The Playboy & Plain Jane, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Between Duty and Desire, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Shocking the Senator, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Feet First, HQN (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

Footloose, Harlequin Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2006.

Underfoot, Harlequin Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2006.

Billionaire's Proposition, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Also author of the blog, What Is She Thinking. Contributor to anthologies, including Labor of Love, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2001; So This Is Christmas, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002; Home for the Holidays, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2003; and Red Hot Santa, Ballantine (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Leanne Banks is a best-selling romance novelist. According to a contributor to the Best Reviews Web site, the author writes "stories featuring a strong sense of fun and sensuality." For example, in her 2003 romance novel titled Some Girls Do, the author presents Katie Collins, who is attractive but makes herself look like a dowdy matron. At the request of her boss and the promise of one hundred thousand dollars, Katie begins helping his unattractive daughter find a husband, but she only has six weeks to do it. Katie also has a partner in the mission, handsome security expert Michael Wingate. The two soon face problems, however, when the boss's daughter is made pregnant by a hog farmer. Kristin Ramsdell, writing in the Library Journal, noted that the novel contains "lively writing, appealing, well-drawn characters, and a wealth of insightful, often hilarious, pithy quotes."

In 2005, the author presented the first installment of her series featuring footwear via the Bellagio Shoes company. Feet First finds Jenny covering for her top designer boss's drinking problem by creating designs herself and passing them off as her boss's designs. However, her boss gives her little respect and fires her, leading to a job at Bellagio's, where she falls for the vice president, Marc Waterson, who happens to be looking for a wife. "This is a fun, light and romantic read," wrote Romantic Times Online contributor Susan Mobley, adding that the novel contains "some very satisfying, interesting characters."

In her next novel, Footloose, Banks tells the story of Amelia Parker, whose fiancé leaves her. Deciding to spice up her life, Amelia sets out to have a fling with Jack "The Shark" O'Connell, a venture capitalist investigating Bellagio Shoes. Harriet Klausner, writing on the Harriet Klausner's Book Reviews Web site, commented: "Footwear has never been considered romantic until Leanne Banks designed her miniseries."

Underfoot finds Trina Roberts, a public relations representative in Atlanta, following up on her attraction to Walker Gordon, an ad executive who is left standing at the altar. After an alcohol-fueled fling, Trina ends up pregnant, unbeknownst to Walker, who is overseas on a trip for an extended period. "Banks has created appealing characters in this fun, lighthearted story," wrote Romantic Times Online contributor Marilyn Weigel.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 2005, Diana Tixier Herald, review of Feet First, p. 41; March 15, 2006, Diana Tixier Herald, review of Underfoot, p. 33.

Library Journal, May 15, 2003, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Some Girls Do, p. 73.

Publishers Weekly, March 31, 2003, review of Some Girls Do, p. 48; October 27, 2003, review of When She's Bad, p. 49.

ONLINE

Best Reviews,http://thebestreviews.com/ (July 25, 2007), profile of author.

Harriet Klausner's Book Reviews,http://harrietklausner.wwwi.com/ Harriet Klausner, reviews of Expecting the Boss's Baby, Some Girls Do, When She's Bad, Feet First, Underfoot, Footloose, and Millionaire Husband.

Leanne Banks Home Page,http://www.leannebanks.com (July 25, 2007).

Marcia James Web site,http://www.marciajames.net/ (July 25, 2007), Marcia Anderson, "Author Brings Romance Home for the Holidays."

Road to Romance,http://www.roadtoromance.ca/ (December 22, 2003), Robin Taylor, review of Some Girls Do and When She's Bad; (October 31,2006), Tracey West, review of When She's Bad.

Romantic Times,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (July 25, 2007), Marilyn Weigel, review of Footloose and Underfoot; Susan Mobley, review of Feet First.