I was recently just listening to my music playlist and it cycled to one of my favorite songs, “Gold” by Britt Nicole. This was one of the songs that inspired me as I was writing Gone Missing . Joslyn, my heroine, was from a poor background, so she was working at an electronics store in Los Angeles and putting herself through school in computer programming. When she got involved with her ex-boyfriend, who murdered her father, she ran away to Oregon. She lost her baby and the woman she was working for helped her through that ordeal. The woman also talked a lot about Christ to her, and so Joslyn has been seeking Christ more and more. She’s lost a lot and has gone through a grieving process after her father was murdered and she miscarried her baby. She had to leave school and her job to run away from her ex, so she has to start the school year all over again. At least she’s able to work for Liam and Elisabeth in Sonoma, California, at their new skip-tracing agency rather than try...

My Sonoma series started with 3 books starring the 3 Grant sisters in Sonoma. Book 4 starred Nathan, who was a minor character in book 3, and then I wrote Necessary Proof , which stars Jane, who was a minor character in book 2 and a cousin to the Grant sisters. In the next book, Unshakeable Pursuit , I brought in the Whelan family, Jane’s cousins who are also second cousins to the Grant sisters. It was rather confusing to come up with the family tree! The way I have it set up, the Whelan siblings’ mom, Emma Whelan, is sister to Jane Lawton’s mom, Eleanor Lawton. The Grant sisters’ mom and her sister, Aunt Becca, were first cousins to Emma Whelan and Eleanor Lawton. I thought it might be fun for you guys to see my created family tree, so here it is! It’s rather large, so click on the image to see the larger version.

I just joined Sweet Romance Reads, a group of authors who all write sweet romances in a variety of sub-genres. I’m friends with several of the authors from my days writing for Harlequin/Love Inspired, so it’s nice to be able to join their group. If you’re on Facebook, this is their Facebook page , and this is their Facebook group . I posted my introductory post yesterday on the Sweet Romance Reads blog (Blogger), where I listed three strange things about me. Click here to read the post, and tell me three strange things about you!

I admit that my husband, Captain Caffeine, and I really liked the TV show Supernatural . We started watching the episodes from season 1 on syndication on cable TV and just got completely hooked. I’m not a huge horror fan, but my husband likes to watch it occasionally, and I ended up liking the show because it had so much humor and tongue-in-cheek moments. I liked that it simply didn’t take itself all that seriously, which made for entertaining TV (despite the monsters). So while I was writing my romantic suspense, Gone Missing , I admit I might have been a little bit influenced by Supernatural . Those of you who have read my blog already know that I completely suck at coming up with character names. I was staring at my computer, trying to find a name for a minor character, when I had the brain fart breakthrough to use the names of the characters from Supernatural . Bwahahahahahahaha! At last count, there are about 33 references to Supernatural in Gone Missing , although a co...

This post about my first romantic suspense novel, Deadly Intent , was originally posted on another website. However, the post is now lost in an internet black hole because the website was taken down. So I decided to repost it here on my blog. DEADLY INTENT back cover blurb: SCENE OF THE CRIME The Grant family’s exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! Then Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, and everything falls apart. The salon’s reputation is at stake...and so is Naomi’s freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim’s ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn...and whom can she trust? Ten Things That Inspired Me to Write Deadly Intent: 10) It's set in a spa. Can we say, research??? 9) The heroine is a massage therapist. Again, research??? I ...

Beth's new book just hit the shelves! To celebrate the release of Backfire (Mountain Cove) Suspense Sisters had a full week last week hearing from Beth about her book and running a giveaway. Here's the back cover blurb: NOWHERE LEFT TO HIDE Tracy Murray had thought she'd be safe disappearing in the wilds of Alaska after her testimony put away a gang leader. But the gang symbol tattooed on an attacker's arm means the clock has run out. She's been found—and she knows the killers won't let her escape alive again. She can't fight an entire gang alone—she needs help. But when she finds herself relying on widowed firefighter David Warren, a new struggle emerges. Fleeing Alaska and cutting all ties could be the only way to survive…but it would mean leaving her heart behind. Mountain Cove: In the Alaskan wilderness, love and danger collide Be sure to visit Suspense Sisters for all the posts last week: Giveaway of BACKFIRE Excerpt of BACKFIRE A message ...

I’m over at Team Love on the Run talking a bit more about my hero, Clay, from Gone Missing . He’s a bit close to my heart for several reasons. :)

I’m over at the Suspense Sisters blog talking a bit more about my heroine, Joslyn, from her introduction as a minor character in Treacherous Intent to her love story in Gone Missing .

To celebrate the release of my latest romantic suspense, Gone Missing , I’m giving an interview over at the Suspense Sisters blog . You might learn something weird about me. :)

My next romantic suspense, Gone Missing releases in May, but I just got my author copies in the mail! That means book club members will be getting it soon! In this book, part of it is set in Arizona (hence the cactus) and part in Sonoma, California. The hero, Clay, is in Phoenix searching for his missing sister, Fiona. He runs into Joslyn, who’s also looking for Fiona, her good friend. Their meeting is a bit “explosive.” Heehee. Readers met Joslyn in the previous book in my Sonoma series, Treacherous Intent . However, you do not need to read the books in the series to enjoy this one, each story is stand-alone. Here are links to pre-order Gone Missing : Order print books: Amazon Amazon (Large Print) Alibris.com (links coming soon) Barnes and Noble Barnes and Noble (Large Print) Buy ebooks: Kindle iBooks Kobo Nookbook You can get all the books in my Sonoma series on ebook—if you’re subscribed to Scribd, the first 3 books plus my two novellas are available—and some...

My newest Love Inspired Suspense, Treacherous Intent , is the latest book in my Sonoma series (although each book can be read on its own). This story stars Liam O'Neill, whom readers met in my books Narrow Escape and Unshakeable Pursuit . DANGER AT HER DOORSTEP Private investigator Elisabeth Aday thinks her California women's shelter is a safe haven—until skip tracer Liam O'Neill shows up. While searching for a missing woman, Liam unwittingly puts Elisabeth in the crosshairs of the deadly drug gang that is trailing his target. To stay alive, they must find the woman before the gang finds them. And when a second rival gang joins the search, the threats multiply. Deep in the lair of notorious drug dealers, Elisabeth can't tell which is more dangerous—the criminals after her…or her growing feelings for the man at her side. Buy Treacherous Intent on Kindle , iBooks , Kobo , Nook . The Sonoma series books are: #1: Deadly Intent #2: Formula for Danger #3: Stalker...

I'm working on my romantic suspense manuscript, GONE MISSING, which will be out with Love Inspired Suspense in May next year. Thought I'd post this sneak peek! The heroine in this story is Joslyn, and this is from the point of view of Clay, the hero. He looked over at her. She was finally asleep, her head leaning against the window. She looked soft and vulnerable, not like the woman who’d pulled a gun, ready to fire at the two thugs after them and all the Mexican gang members in that parking lot. She’d been scared, but she’d been ready to do what she had to in order to protect them. If he’d had a normal life and a normal past, he wouldn’t mind getting to know her, all facets of her personality, from her vulnerable side, to the woman with a conceal and carry license, to the woman who had been hurt in her past. But he didn’t have a normal life—he’d worked for a mob family. He’d done terrible things that he couldn’t undo. He’d gone to prison. He’d even chased away the only...

I’m going to write a romantic suspense novella and I’m still in the planning stages. For those of you who’ve read my Sonoma series, what would you like to see? Any characters you want me to write about? If I use your idea, I’ll include you in the book dedication!

The Reluctant Witness by Kathleen Tailer LEFT FOR DEAD  When his partner turns on him and tries to kill him, FBI agent Jack Mitchell is framed for murder and abandoned…until a blue-eyed beauty saves his life. Even in his wounded haze Jack sees Casey Johnson is hiding a secret. As the only witness to his innocence, Jack needs her. But Casey doesn't know who's more dangerous—the man who wants Jack dead or the handsome agent himself. For if Jack knew the reason she escaped to the wilderness with her niece, he'd have to arrest her. But on the run with Jack, Casey realizes that more than her secret is at stake now. So is her heart…. Excerpt of chapter one: The first bullet whizzed by his head and ricocheted off the rock behind him. The second caught him square in the shoulder and burned like fire immediately upon impact. Pain shot down his arm, and he could feel the blood dampening his shirt as it pooled around the wound. FBI agent Jack Mitchell took a fortifying breath, t...

Warning Signs by Katy Lee GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT  When a drug-smuggling ring rocks a small coastal town, the DEA sends Agent Owen Matthews to shut it down. A single father with a deaf son, Owen senses that the town's number one suspect—the high school's new principal—doesn't fit the profile. Miriam Hunter hoped to shrug off the stigma of her hearing impairment when she returned to Stepping Stones, Maine. But her recurring nightmares dredge up old memories that could prove her innocence—and uncover the truth behind a decades-old murder. Yet Owen's help may not be enough when someone decides to keep Miriam silenced—permanently. Excerpt of chapter one: Drug Enforcement agent Owen Matthews gripped the wheel of his rented sports boat as he coasted through the North Atlantic at barely half throttle. The Maine island town of Stepping Stones urged Owen to rush forward to the safety of its shores, but his newly acquired phobia of boats wouldn't let him speed up e...