Wolf, Interrupted: A Gentleman is Simply a Patient Wolf.

Click on image to read excerpt.

Detective Inspector Abelseth Durant is investigating the lethal mauling of an unknown victim in

the Covent Garden tube station, and Elle Hathaway is a person of interest. Sensing her wolf nature, he is mystified by the lovely young woman, and when Elle is abducted by a rival pack, Abelseth realizes he is being pulled back into London’s wolfen underworld.

Belgravia Police Station Crime Scene Incident Report:

Location of Incident: Covent Garden Station
Crime reported by Ms. Luella Hathaway, a third party with no relationship to victim, who resides at 3 Groom Place, Belgravia, London SW1X UK

Click on image to read excerpt.

Description of Incident:

Ms. Hathaway reports to have seen what she describes as a very large canine with black fur, glowing eyes and pointed teeth, bounding along the track as she stood awaiting a train on the Piccadilly Line late Tuesday evening. The animal was running very fast, and as it passed her, it looked in her direction with it’s eyes blazing before vanishing into the darkness of the tunnel.

Soon after, she heard screams. At that point Ms. Hathaway ran from the station. She dialed 999 to report the emergency, and took the night bus home.

The following is an excerpt from chapter three—the interview Detective Inspector Durant conducts with Ms. Hathaway in the cafe at her place of employment, the Chelsea Physic Garden. 

    Elle kicked off her wellies and carefully removed goggles, gloves, and overalls. Protective clothing got tossed into the laundry chute, everything else would be hosed down and left on a drying rack.
   “You run along, I’ve got this.” Julian pressed the trigger on the nozzle and sprayed down her gear.     “Elle, you’ll be late for your date with Detective Inspector Dreamy.”
   “It’s not a date. It’s an interrogation.”
    Julian flashed a smirking, one-sided smile. “Don’t let him cuff you, unless you want him to.”
    She dashed for the lockers and took a quick shower—scrubbing, rinsing, and repinning her hair. She opened her locker and checked her watch. “Shit. Crap.” In a flash,  she pulled on a sweater, tugged on leggings, and stepped into booties on her way out the door.
    Elle took a shortcut through the culinary garden and entered Tangerine Dream by way of the dining patio. Outside the front entrance, she spied a tall figure wearing a long coat. She paused for moment, just to look at him.
    She’d forgotten how attractive he was, in an unkempt masculine way. With his collar up and his faraway gaze, he reminded her of the statue of Sir Hans Sloane, the celebrated physician proudly brooding in the center of the garden.
    Lucy sidled up next to her. “Who’s the dishy devil with the sex symbol hair?”
   “Detective Inspector Durant.”
   “He’s waiting for you?
    Elle turned and stared. “Would you mind not looking so surprised?”

Click on image to read excerpt.

   “It’s about time you dropped your knickers.” Lucy waltzed away. “And for a sexy copper—nice one, Elle.”
    She opened her mouth to correct her cheeky coworker, then bit her tongue. The thought of something wet and wild with the detective gave her the tingles. She sucked in a breath and opened the front door of the cafe.
    He pivoted. “Ms. Hathaway.”
   “Much cozier inside, Inspector.”
    She led the way past a bakery display filled with tarts and cakes to a window table overlooking a small pond. “Private enough?”
    The detective did a cursory inspection of the near empty tearoom. “This will be fine.”
    They’d barely settled in when Lucy showed up, wearing a flirty smile. “Hello, Elle.” She turned to the inspector and gave him a thorough once-over. “What can I get for the two of you?”
    He pulled off his scarf. “Do you prefer tea or coffee?”
    For a man with such lovely blue eyes, his gaze was difficult to return. A girl could drown in those liquid crystalline orbs. Perhaps they were the reason she always felt slightly out of breath around him.
   “Definitely tea in the afternoon.” She managed a weak smile.
   “Shall I order a pot of Earl Grey?”
   “Perfect!” Lucy blurted out before she could answer. “Back in a flash.”
   He shrugged out of his coat. She thought he dressed rather well, if somewhat conservatively.     Charcoal gray shirt with a darker gray tie, loosened enough to move her evaluation of his dress to conservative, with touches of casual confidence.
   “Hard day, or just a long day, Inspector?”
    His unsettling gaze never wavered. “More of a puzzling day.”
    She brightened. “An average day then, for a Yard man.”
    The ends of his mouth curled upward. “I wouldn’t call it average, either.”
    Lucy brought a steaming pot of tea to the table, along with a clatter of cups and saucers. “Sorry, don’t know what’s got into me today. I’m all thumbs and dropsies. Can I get you anything else? A lavender scone with clotted cream? The lemon tarts are lovely.”
    It seemed Lucy could barely take her eyes off the handsome detective; so much so, she’d gone all thumbs and dropsies.
    Elle flattened a grin. “I’d love a slice of brownie cake.”
   “Brownie cake?” The detective arched a brow.
   “A dense chocolate cake with chocolate drops and nuts,” she explained.
    Lucy put in a nod. “Scrummy.”
   “Make that two.”
   “Two it is—would you like me to warm them up?” Lucy asked.
    He shifted his gaze to their frisky waitress. “By all means.”
    She stared at him slightly open-mouthed. He was flirting—with her and Lucy. Detective Inspector Durant was a hottie and he knew it. What remained in his favor, she supposed, was that he didn’t seem to pay much attention to his looks, hence the unkemptness, nor did he appear overly impressed with himself.
    He sat quietly in front of her, consulting his smartphone.
   “Looks like New Scotland Yard has gone paperless. Rather high tech of them, wouldn’t you say?”
 

Click on image to read excerpt.

 “I thought we might start with your police report. You can confirm, make corrections, elaborate—whatever comes to mind.” He glanced up at her. “If you need clarification, feel free to ask me anything.”
    Elle immediately thought of two good questions: Have a girlfriend? Looking for one? Instead, she lifted a small pitcher. “Milk?”
   “Just a spot.” He stirred slowly as he read aloud. “Name: Ms. Luella Hathaway. Gender: Female. Address: 3 Groom Place, Belgravia.” He arched a brow at the upscale address.
   “I’ve an arrangement with the owner of 17 Chester Street, a Mr. Mokhtaar.”
   “Foreign?”
   “Algerian, originally. He lives in Dubai now, spends less than four months a year in London. Last winter the house was completely restored, kitchen and loos updated. He also had a brilliant roof garden designed with a glass house full of rare orchids.” She sipped her tea. “I get the apartment above the garage—”
    He surmised the rest. “In exchange for the care and feeding of his exotic flora.” Beneath the surface of those arresting blue eyes, wheels turned. And his double take was lovely, as if he must have another look at her.
    Tingles again—tits to nethers.

Needless to say, this is where the adventure begins for Inspector Durant and Elle Hathaway. After a rival wolf pack attempts to abduct Elle, she is finally shaken out of blissful denial and teams up with the handsome inspector to evade the renegade pack. But as her situation grows dire, Abelseth knows the only way he can truly protect the strong-willed beauty is to convince her to shift and claim her as his mate. There’s just one little problem with his plan—the reluctant Ms. Hathaway.

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Wolf, Interrupted releases October 1, 2017. That's tomorrow! 

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Thirty Days Hath September

Disclaimer: I have no new release at present. The one on the way is under wraps at present until the big reveal coming up soon. Sorry. Sworn to secrecy. So, let me share a bit with you about what I've been doing beyond Monday through Friday watching my new grandson and having such fun with him. 

Then I looked at my day planner and its September 29th already! 

Maybe its simply the pace I've been keeping lately that makes it feel like time is flying past me at an alarming rate! After thirty years in the same house, raising four kids, two cats, three dogs and a bevy of Chinese hamsters...our lives are about to turn the page to the next chapter...downsizing and moving closer to our kids and our new grandson.

Now, for those of you who are sitting there thinking, "Yeah, one of these days I should clean out that attic. Or maybe that room tucked away in your basement. Maybe its simply those closets you can't stuff anything into anymore. I heartily recommend you tackle it while you have your health and energy.

Do not wait. Don't leave it for your children to have to do, when you're so old and obstinate about going into assisted living. My daughter said to me today as we're going through yet another box of Christmas ornaments, " I'm glad we're doing this now, because you know all the stories behind everything and I get to hear them." 

It is the story of the life my dh and I built in a small rural town in the Midwest--along with the village of family, friends, church family, co-workers, teachers, employers, and neighbors.

Here is the recipe for downsizing, while preparing to move to the townhouse that isn't going to be ready until end of December.

*Take one storage unit--no, better make that two in case  you have to move the furniture if the house sells faster than expected.
*Add a brilliant husband who secures a roll off unit.
*Sprinkle in time and help from amazing adult children and friends who rally on the weekends to take on one floor at a time-sorting, purging, packing, and staging.
*Mix in warm memories, a few tears, some back-breaking determination, and laughter gathered around a dining room table that has seated so many over the years.
*And top with a simple prayer that it's all good and secure in the Good Lord's hands.

It's hugely nostalgic--a major transition of life. (yes, and btw--where did THAT go?) And yet it is the wisdom of one of my sons (who is my most clinical of  the four) in response to his sister who was concerned that he wasn't showing a bit more emotion about this transition. " It's a place. A great place, but its not the house. The memories, the love, the support--that wasn't ever the house. That's always been mom and dad--our family. We'll always have that wherever we are."

Wow. So, true.

I'm ready and excited to see what the next chapter brings!

COMING SOON: A super book project that I am so excited to be a part of. More to come. Stay tuned!

Have you ever had to move from one place to another? How'd you deal with the transition?

For fun. One person leaving a comment will get a $10 Amazon Gift card. Winner will be announced on A Reader's Spot on facebook Sunday October 1.

Until next time, #kindnessmatters

Amanda

On Cowboys, Mickey Mouse, and Ryan Gosling...

Hello! I’m thrilled to finally be part of the Get Lost In A Story blog. It took me a while to officially get started. When Angi invited me we were about two weeks away from our daughter’s wedding, and I was wrapping up a book. I asked Angi if I could come on board after things settled down.

I live in Orlando. Less than a week after I turned in the new manuscript, Hurricane Irma left us without power for eight days. I’m not complaining after watching what the people in the islands and Puerto Rico are suffering. My heart goes out to them. In comparison, my week of “camping out” was a minor inconvenience. Still, it was beginning to feel like I’d never get here. But here I am, just in time to introduce myself and tell you about my brand new release, THE COWBOY WHO GOT AWAY. It’s book twelve in my Celebration, TX series for Harlequin Special Edition.

Before I share the story blurb with you, I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself so we can get to know each other better.

I’ve lived in Florida most of my life. Before we settled here, we lived several different places in the midwest, the south and Europe because my father was in the Air Force. It was my mother’s dream to live in Florida. So, once my father left the Air Force, he made a point of making her dream come true. See, I’ve been surrounded by heroes my entire life.

I sold my first book in 2003. Since then, I’ve sold 39 books.  Before I started writing full-time, I worked as a newspaper reporter and in public relations. While I was in college, I had the opportunity to work on the set of a couple of movie productions, and I was a stand-in on the set of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club -- the show that spawned Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell. They filmed the show at Disney MGM Studios (as it was called at the time). I started out there working as a temporary free-lance public relations rep for the show's production company during the grand opening of the Disney Studios (Okay, I'm dating myself here). I was the handler for two of the Mouseketeers and I escorted them to their media appointments. I had so much fun that I wasn’t ready to leave when the assignment was over. They asked me to stay on as a stand-in. So, while the Mouseketeers were in rehearsals and working with tutors to keep up with their school work, I would wear a Mouseketeer name tag and stand-in so the production crew could do the camera blocking. It was a blast, but I wouldn’t trade being a romance writer for all the Mouseketeers in the world – not even Ryan Gosling all grown up. Well…on second thought, let me get back to you on that one.

Just kidding! I’ve been happily married for nearly twenty-five years.  Anyway, before I get myself into trouble, here’s the blurb for THE COWBOY WHO GOT AWAY:

From homecoming crowns to wedding rings...

Hunky bull rider Jude Campbell seems to have the world by the proverbial horns. But when the world champion returns to Celebration for his high school reunion, he's confronted by the ghosts he'd worked so hard to forget. Not to mention the high school love who got away…

Bridezilla wrangler Juliette Lowell is as gorgeous and genuine as she was as Jude's homecoming queen. And the spark between them burns as bright as ever. But Jules still smarts from Jude's betrayal years before. And as successful as he seems, Jude's struggling with the prospect of hanging up his spurs. But with his queen, Juliette, by his side, maybe this homecoming will take once and for all… 

If you’d like to get a feel for the book through music, here's a link to the playlist for THE COWBOY WHO GOT AWAY:  http://bit.ly/2k1TITS  The right music always helps me set the tone for my stories.

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me about your favorite job (past or present) and I’ll give one person who comments a tote bag full of books.

20 Years of Writing Romance

It's hard for me to believe but this October will be twenty years since my first romance novel was published.  Happily it was published by Harlequin (then Silhouette) Desire.  My first book was called THE BACHELOR NEXT DOOR and I still love it.  It's about a single mom, a sexy neighbor and a kid who's a little too smart for himself.  It was the culmination of three years of writing and submitting and the third manuscript I'd completed.  Here is the cover.

At the time Desire was celebrating their 15th anniversary and had this cover design that was different from their normal ones.  I loved it but then again any cover with my name on it would have beautiful to me!

I was part of a special promotion at the time called Woman To Watch.  I got to do a bunch of interview questions that were included in the book.

Here is the interview:

What was your inspiration for THE BACHELOR NEXT DOOR?

KG: My family.  In developing my hero and heroine, that importance of family came across.  I especially needed a key to who Rafe Santini was.  Rafe had a strong sense of family…so I took his away from him and left him with the guilt of their deaths.  The want of family is still strong within Rafe, but he beleives he will destroy anyone he cares for.

What about the Desire line appeals to you as a reader and as a writer?

KG: It’s fast paced, sometimes serious and sometimes funny, but always sensual.

Why is this book special to you?

KG: Because of Rafe Santini. I fell in love with the lonely playboy who lives across the street from the heroine and her son.  While I was writing this book, for the first time I was able to deal honestly with the emotions my characters were feeling.  I learned a lot about myself as a writer from it.  I set the story in Florida where I was born and raised, because I love this state.

Any additional information about yourself or your book?

KG: After I won the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie award for this book, I was serenaded by an entire Marine Corps unit in the bar.  It was very exciting and fun.

All of that made my first release very special.  I was so excited about the book coming out I took the day off from work (I was a secretary at Walt Disney World in Florida) and my mom, my five-year-old daughter and infant son drove to all the WaldenBooks in our county (I think there were 5) and took a picture of the book on the shelf at each one.

On October 1st I will release my 69th book from Harlequin and I'm just as excited as I was when my first book came out.

I started writing because I wanted to be able to stay at home when my kids were growing up and I loved to read.  I feel so lucky that it has become my career. I can't imagine life without writing.

Tell me something you are passionate about and I'll enter you to win an autographed copy of my latest release BILLIONAIRE'S BABY BIND.