Beth Cornelison To The Rescue!

Help me welcome Beth Cornelison to the blog and get her take on babies, writing and love!

First...the babies in Rock-A-Bye Rescue
Two babies in jeopardy…two powerful stories in one!

When an unhinged cult leader escapes custody, he'll stop at nothing to get to two innocent babies…and the foster mothers who stand in his way.

GUARDING EVE by Beth Cornelison

Lila Green goes from foster mom to bodyguard when a storm traps her and six-month-old Eve in a remote mountain cabin with a killer on their heels. Can her neighbor, wounded veteran Dean Hamilton, help them survive?

CLAIMING CALEB by Karen Whiddon

Michelle Morgan must protect her newborn nephew, Caleb—and even work with her ex-fiancé. FBI agent Garrett Ware never wanted children, but now he'll sacrifice everything for this baby…and this woman.

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK

     Lila contemplated her painting. She ought to squeeze in a little more work on the landscape before Eve woke up. Or perhaps she should fix her own lunch, she thought when her stomach growled. She needed to get back in the routine of attending to her own needs while her foster baby was asleep or safely occupied with toys.

     She opened her refrigerator and took out a cup of yogurt and a container of leftover Chinese takeout. Giving the sweet- and- sour chicken a sniff, she decided it had become more sour than sweet, and she carried it to the kitchen sink. After dumping the spoiled Chinese food down the garbage disposal, she peeled the top off the yogurt and started eating it as she crept back to the nursery door to peek at Eve again.

      The little girl had stolen her heart at first glimpse. With round rosy cheeks, large dark eyes and a dusting of brown curls, Eve was a living doll. Her heart- shaped lips were parted as she slept, and she snuffled slightly with a stuffy nose. Angelic. Eve slept with her rump in the air and her blankie squeezed tight in her hand.

     Lila’s chest ached again, thinking of the tragedy that had befallen Eve’s young mother. Such a precious baby, born from such a terrible crime. After finishing her yogurt, Lila didn’t linger any longer, though she could have spent hours staring at the girl’s sweet face.

     As she returned to the kitchen to throw away her trash, a movement outside her window caught Lila’s attention. Stepping closer the sink to peer outside, Lila scanned her yard. Ice had quickly built up in the trees and ice-burdened branches hung low. In the last several minutes, the sleet and freezing rain had become mixed with snow, and a thin accumulation dusting every surface.

     The swirling snow amid the zinging ice pellets created a peaceful scene. She saw nothing unusual outside except for the fluttering flakes and thickening layers of ice. Maybe what she’d seen had been a falling branch. A woodland animal?

     Maybe she’d imagined—

     Lila’s breath snagged in, mid-thought, as a large man, clad in a dark coat, jeans and a knit hat, emerged from behind her shed…carrying an axe.

Buy: http://amzn.to/1L0okXJ

Harlequin author Beth Cornelison earned her degree in Public Relations from the UGA, but she only worked in PR for about a year before she moved with her husband to Louisiana, where she decided to pursue her love of writing fiction.

Since that time, she has won numerous honors for her work including a final in the 2010 Rita contest sponsored by the Romance Writers of America. She made her first sale to Silhouette Intimate Moments in June 2004 and has gone on to sell many more books to Harlequin/Silhouette. She has also published with Five Star Expressions, Samhain Publishing, and Sourcebooks.

Snoopy is her muse, and she loves cats, chocolate, and being lazy. Her only son will graduate from college in May, so she has an empty nest (room for more cats?)  Beth has presented workshops across the country to numerous chapter meetings, conferences, online classes and book clubs. She lives in north Louisiana with her husband and a fluctuating number of kitties who think they are people.

Jan Schliesman: How often to you Get Lost In A Story?

Beth Cornelison: Not as often as I’d like! I find it ironic that as a writer, I’m often too busy to do all the reading I’d like to! I save my favorite authors’ books to gobble up as a reward for finishing a book or turning in edits. I finally got around to reading Outlander in 2014 and I’m eager to finish my current work in progress so I can get lost in that series of stories again! (I’m in the fourth book now.)

Jan: Since your new release has a baby on the cover, tell us how long has it been since you rocked a baby?

Beth: My baby is 22 y/o now and about to graduate from college. I drop not-so-subtle hints about wanting grandchildren quite often, and he just rolls his eyes at me. I volunteer to rock babies in the church nursery during services, but the most recent baby I cuddled would be my friend’s newborn at our book club dinner. Babies are so sweet!

Jan: Tell us about sharing Rock-a-bye Rescue with Karen Whiddon. Have you collaborated before?

Beth: I’ve worked with Karen on continuity series before for Harlequin Romantic Suspense so I knew she was the sort of writer I’d like to work with again. When I had the idea of doing a two-in-one about babies in jeopardy, I thought of her right off. I’m so glad she agreed!

Jan: How long have you been writing?

Beth: I’ve been dreaming up stories and getting lost with the characters in my head since I was a little girl. I put pen to paper in junior high school to write my first novel and have been hooked on story telling ever since. I began seriously pursuing publication in the early 1990s with a short break when my son was young. I sold my first book to Harlequin in 2004.

Jan: What’s your favorite Valentine’s candy?

Beth: Chocolate!  The chocolate can be combined with caramel, toffee, peanut butter or rice crisps…so long as the chocolate is the star.

Jan: Does your heroine have any of your character traits?

Beth: Sure. I think a little bit of me goes into every heroine I write, in different ways. Lila’s soft heart for babies and cats is something I share with her. Her love of the mountain setting and having peace and quiet to work is something we share. I’d like to think I’d have her courage under fire.

Jan: Most writers have to find their zone before the words start flowing. Describe your ideal writing day.

Beth: I work best in the morning. With a good breakfast and plenty of coffee as fuel, I get down to business. My optimal zone is when I have no distractions (no phone or music, and no cats bugging me!) and a clear vision of the scene I want to write. Then I get lost in my characters’ heads and emotions and just…go!

Jan: How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Beth: My husband and I have, sadly, become sort of fuddy duddies. We might go out to eat somewhere near Valentine’s but would rather not fight the crowds on Valentine’s Day itself. We exchange small things like cards, chocolate covered strawberries or flowers, then enjoy the evening at home. We’ve been married for 29 years, and romance for us is in the little stuff of every day. Watching TV together, Skyping with our son, going to church, a backrub, a trip to the gym together…savoring the simple pleasures of life.

Jan: 

Beth: Oh my gosh! That would be my dream job (after writing)!  Can I say all of them? J I love ice cream to an unhealthy degree! Anything with chocolate, caramel, toffee, coffee, marshmallows…now I’m getting hungry!  Okay, best would probably be coffee ice cream with chocolate chips and toffee bits. Does Haagen-Dazs have that? Can you send me some?

FIND BETH CORNELISON:

Contact: beth@bethcornelison.com

Website: bethcornelison.com

Facebook: facebook.com/beth.cornelison

Twitter: @BethCornelison

Thanks so much for joining us today, Beth!!  As a special treat, Beth is giving away a copy of her November release, Cowboy Christmas Rescue (2-n-1 with Colleen Thompson) to a US reader! Follow the Rafflecopter instructions below for your chance to WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The incomparable and very Southern Cynthia D'Alba

Get Lost in a Story readers, I love the woman I'm about to interview, and let's just say...I do not snort, and I do not use profanity...much ;)  Please welcome Cynthia D'Alba.

 

 

Ring…ring…..

 

Cynthia D’Alba answers….Yello  (Southern for Hello. Southern translations will be provided as needed)

 

Donnell: Sorry, I was calling Progresso soups.  Who’s this?

 

Cyndi… Who do you think it is? Your ghost writer?

 

Donnell:  I’m calling because your soup says it only has 100 calories per can.

 

Cyndi: And I’m telling there isn’t a damn thing in the world that tastes decent with only 100 calories.   Donnell, is this you?  How many times have I told you to erase my phone number from your contacts?

 

Donnell:  Well, guess what, girlfriend. I’m not erasing your phone number. What are you going to do about it? Oh, and by the way, I don’t have, or need, a ghost writer.

 

Cyndi: Well, I guess that means I’ll keep calling you every time I write my characters into a totally unsolvable corner.

 

Donnell: Oh, like when your editor told you to rewrite the ending to Texas Tango and you called me all whiny and bitchy?

 

Cyndi: I did not whine. I might have bitched a little, but just a little.

 

Donnell: **Snorts into the phone**

 

Cyndi:  Did you just snort in my ear?

 

Donnell: Of course not. Now, let’s go back to how I talked you off the ledge by helping you come up with a totally new ending for your book. What was the title again?

 

Cyndi:  Texas Tango.

 

Donnell:  Right. Did ever sell that book?

 

Cyndi:  *Sighs* Yes, Donnell. Remember? My editor loved the new ending. Texas Tango came out two days ago.

 

Donnell: Really? That’s great. Um, remind me what Texas Tango is about.

 

Cyndi: In a nutshell,  Their wedding might be fake, but there’s no faking the mutual attraction.

 

Donnell: Sounds great. What’s the book blurb?

 

Dr. Caroline Graham is happy with her nomadic lifestyle fulfilling short-term medical contracts. No emotional commitments, no disappointments. She’s always the one to walk away, never the one left behind. But now her great-uncle is gone and her grandmother is on her deathbed, more concerned about Caroline’s lack of a husband than her own demise. What’s the harm in a little white lie? If a wedding will give her grandmother peace, then a wedding she shall have.

Travis Montgomery has one dream left—to build the ranch he and his wife planned before he lost her to cancer. There’s just one thing standing between him and the last bit of acreage he needs—a last living heir who has one traveling foot out the door…and an unusual request that challenges his determination to never again place his heart at risk. The land he wants in exchange for a faux marriage. Everyone wins. Until things start to snowball…and the hearts they stand to lose are their own.

Warning: This book contains a tortured widower who doesn’t want a wife and an independent doctor who doesn’t want a husband. Hot stuff between the sheets and failed efforts to avoid emotional involvements.

Donnell: Do I get a free copy?

Cyndi: No.

Donnell: Can our blog visitors at least win something today?

Cyndi: You know it.  In the spirit of Christmas sneaking up on us, I’ll pick among the comments for someone to take home a western-themed ornament. Here’s just a sample…

 

 

 

Should have asked Cyndi if I got one of her homemade trinkets she's been killing herself making for her readers, but I know, I know....they're for all of you.  Aren't they adorable? 

 

So in order to be entered in the drawing to win Texas Tango, answer this:  Have you ever told a white lie?  Did it work out or did it backfire?

 

Cyndi, always a pleasure -- and with results like these, I'll brainstorm with you any day.

Texas Tango Buy Links

Amazon | Samhain  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  

 

 

Note: COMMENTERS are encouraged to leave a contact email address to speed the prize notification process. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes.

An Interview with LACE

BOOTS AND LACE

Ugly Stick Saloon

Samhain Publishing

ISBN: B00AYOSV6M

WELCOME BACK TO THE UGLY STICK SALOON!

She wants no strings…

but he wants it all.

After her philandering husband left her, Lacey Lambert found sanctuary, and a better class of friends, at the Ugly Stick Saloon. Where she learned that the best revenge—against her ex, and the “friends” who kicked her out of the Temptation Garden Club—is to live life to the fullest.

Now that her best friend is moving out of her apartment building, she’s feeling a little lonely. And more than ready for a little commitment-free sex with the hot new downstairs tenant.

Freshly divorced, Nick McBride isn't looking for another failed relationship. But when the luscious brunette offers no-strings sex—he can’t come up with a good reason to refuse.

After he gets over the shock that she likes it loud, long, and in front of an open window, he finds himself wanting more time with her. Maybe even on a permanent basis. But it’ll take every ounce of his cowboy charms to convince her to let him sweep her off her feet.

MEET LACEY LAMBERT from BOOTS AND LACE

REPORTER: Why do you work at the Ugly Stick Saloon?

LACEY: I was one of those stay-at-home wives, devoted to my husband, gardening and making a happy home for my man. Until he screwed around with a younger woman. I found myself out of a home, out of a marriage and in need of a job. Audrey Anderson offered me work and helped me find a place to live. She brought me out of my funk and into the fold. At the Ugly Stick, I feel like I’m with family.

REPORTER: Audrey Anderson is a former stripper. How is it to work for someone like that?

LACEY: (bristling) Exactly what do you mean by ‘someone like that?’ Audrey is one of the nicest, most genuine and loving people I know. She takes in strays like me and give us a sense of hope. There is no better boss or friend.

REPORTER: We understand you've been known to give love lessons. How does that work?

LACEY: (winks) only for very close friends and my sex education lessons are pretty exclusive these days.

REPORTER: Do you believe in love?

LACEY: I like to think it exists, even though I wasn't lucky in love with my first husband. It will take a knight on white horse to convince me this time.

WHO's MYLA?

Myla Jackson spent twenty years in South Central Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, retired Army and Air Force Reservist, she’s proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats or laughing out loud. Now, living in northwest Arkansas, she’s given up wrangling cattle and exotic birds to wrangle her muses, a malti-poo and a yorkie. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, out snow skiing, boating, or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories.

FIND MYLA

Website  Blog  Facebook

 Twitter @MylaJacksonAuth

Previous GLIAS Interviews

FIND MYLA'S BOOKS

Samhain Publishing     Barnes & Noble Nook        Amazon Kindle

On Lacey's behalf, one blog commenter will win an electronic copy of Myla's book Sex Ed.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join us next week as we celebrate the newest release of Heather Snow. And come back tomorrow when Donnell hosts Deb Coonts. I'll be back on April 10th with one of my favorite people, Michelle Styles. ~Angi    

LACEY WANTS TO KNOW: Could you work at the Ugly Stick Saloon?

First Meet Carey Baldwin

FIRST DO NO EVIL

Blood Secrets, Book 1
Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60928-881-5

One killer is in her blood.

The other is in her house. 

There’s a killer lurking in Dr. Skylar Novak’s family tree: the gene for breast cancer. That's why her brilliant brother invented the Bella vaccine. But even if the miracle drug protects her from the cancer that took her mother's life, it can't save Sky from the flesh and bone evil stalking her in secret.  

When the killer strikes, detective Daniel Benson finds himself in the wrong place at the right time. The bold detective manages to save Sky's life…just in time for her to return the favor. Survival leads to seduction, and Danny risks everything—his career, even his life, to keep Sky safe. But will the buried sins they uncover cost him her heart? 

Danny’s strong arms may hold her close, but only Sky can stop the terror that's coming next… 

WARNING: Contents include: One heart-melting hero—good luck getting this delicious detective out of your head. One reluctant heroine—wielding a Glock was never on her to-do list. One crazed villain—an entire flock of baa baa black sheep won't be enough to put you to sleep. And a lifesaving vaccine with one deadly side effect—murder.

FIRST READ 

CAREY BALDWIN

A mild-mannered doctor (still practicing full time) who happens to write edgy romantic thrillers.

When you are a former clinical psychologist, writing about psychopaths comes easily, and when you are a hopeless romantic, well, you do the math! Carey has been a finalist in numerous writing contests including Avon FanLit and the prestigious Maggies. Her first manuscript won the Golden Gateway award for best single title romance. FIRST DO NO EVIL is her debut romantic thriller. 

FIRST QUESTIONS

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?

CAREY: The first memories I have of reading involve my mother. I have a vivid recollection of her sitting with one arm around me and the other arm around my sister and allowing us to turn the pages while she read aloud from a book of Grimm's fairy tales. The first memory I have of independent reading involves HANS BRINKER AND THE SILVER SKATES, the light from my electric blanket control, and a stern talking to when I got caught reading after bedtime. But I was hooked, and I couldn't put that story down.  

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?

CAREY: Well, this is a tough choice, but I'm going to go with "Truth". Not just telling the truth to your loved one, but owning the truth about who you are and who they are. If you can't be truthful about who you are, no one can love you and vice versa. I think truth is essential for love.  

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

CAREY: Hands down that would be Tramp from LADY AND THE TRAMP. I'd slurp spaghetti with that scoundrel any time! 

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

CAREY: Well, let's start with the hawt part! Danny's a smooth operator who doesn't pull any punches, as you can see from this bit of dialogue below: 

“Look, I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure we’re having a moment here. And…” He paused and turned his palms up. “Please, correct me if I’m wrong, but when you’re having a moment, those rules you mentioned are suspended…momentarily. When you’re having a moment you gotta grab it by the balls, or else something wonderful might pass you by.”  

And Danny is so much more than a pretty face. He's got it all. He can outwit and outshoot the bad guy, stop your heart with his charm, and whip up a batch of waffles for his teenage daughter, all without losing his cool. As an example, here's what Danny is thinking in a moment when he finds himself unarmed in the middle of a robbery/hostage situation: 

He had plenty of training in hostage negation, but most of what he knew didn’t apply in this scenario. He had no backup surrounding the building for leverage and nothing to offer in exchange for Nevaeh. He was going to have to wing it.

Danny relaxed.  

He was good at winging it.  

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

CAREY: I love the sound of a mountain stream. A rushing stream means I'm doing one of my favorite things- hiking! And it also means there are wildflowers nearby. I'm a sucker for wildflowers, and I drag my family to all kinds of remote places on "wildflower chases" every season. 

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

CAREY: Both of course! That's why I write romantic thrillers. I gotta have the fairy tale, but I crave adventure and a plot that makes me think.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

CAREY: I'd have to say Dexter Morgan. Such a complex guy, and he fights his demons hard. It's easy to confuse him with a hero.  

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

CAREY: Not very exciting, but I'd have to honestly answer sleeping in. I love to laze in bed in the morning. That is literally the reason I became a primary care doc instead of a surgeon. I loved the OR, but I couldn't hack the 4am duty that goes with a surgical residency.  

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

CAREY: LOL. I work with munchkins all day- not hot guys and sexy women. But I sure do love coming home to my fantasy characters at night!  

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Okay, one look at your website and the first thing that pops up is that you developed the THE SEX REP. *I* know what the test is, but tell us a little about it and if you’ve used it in your stories.

CAREY’S GOTTA ANSWER:  Long-winded warning! Feel free to skip ahead to the end. Before I went to med school, I went to grad school and earned a PhD in clinical psychology. As part of my dissertation research I wanted to shed light on the relationship between femininity and self-esteem.  

I was bothered by the fact that at the time (okay, let's not go into which decade for the sake of my vanity), research consistently showed an inverse relationship between femininity and self-esteem. In other words feminine women were reported to have astonishingly low self-esteem. The thing that got under my skin about this situation was that it didn't jive with my experience. And when I started looking into the tests that measured femininity, I was floored to observe that femininity tests defined that quality by using words like passive, fragile, shy, and so on.  

Well, heck! No wonder! Women who described themselves as passive and fragile and fearful had low self-esteem? Shocker. 

But to me, that wasn't what femininity was about at all. I pictured a lioness defending her cubs, a woman who could charm your socks off, and so on. But I knew if I made up my own list of "feminine" traits, I would simply be introducing my own bias and we wouldn't be any further along in uncovering the truth. So I turned to the work of a psychologist named George Kelly. Kelly developed a means of eliciting "personal constructs" or unique ways of viewing the world. His test was called the Rep test (short for role construct repertory test).  

I used Kelly's rep test as my starting point and modified it to elicit an individual's personal constructs of masculinity and femininity. I then ask those individuals to rate themselves, using their own personal constructs, and determined a masculine and feminine score. Next, my subjects took a self-esteem inventory. And guess what?

Both masculinity AND femininity turned out to have a positive relationship with self-esteem. I named the test, the Sex Rep, and my findings were published in the Journal of Personality.  

Have I used it in my stories? Yes, in the sense that I write about all different kinds of women who are self-confident. 

CAREY FIRST

Email    Website   Facebook   Twitter @CareyBaldwin   Goodreads 

Kiss AndThrill     Amazon AuthorPage 

UP NEXT for CAREY 

I'm currently working on the second book in my Blood Secrets series. It's tentatively titled DUTY TO WARN and features "Aunt Faith" from FIRST DO NO EVIL. Learn more and read an excerpt.  

PREVIOUSLY for CAREY

I'm so excited about my May release

THREE WEDDINGS AND A MURDER

This is an anthology that features Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle, Courtney Milan and moi! And guess who wrote the murder? We're going to make this anthology available for a limited time only- about three months- and we're donating all the profits to the Avon Breast Cancer Walk.  You can learn more and read an excerpt.   

My novella within TWAM is called SOLOMON'S WISDOM

"What would Castle do?" 

Bad-boy-turned-pediatrician Charlie "Drex" Drexler returns home to convince sweet Anna Kincaid he's changed - but things aren't exactly as he remembers in Tangleheart, Texas. Anna's got more kick than a line dance, Drex's dark past resurfaces, and his best friend's baby boy disappears. Drex and Anna find themselves on the run, dodging bullets and a villain in hornback alligator boots. Can this makeshift crime-fighting duo solve the mystery and bring baby home safe before "Boots" strikes again? And how will Drex win Anna back when nothing in his medical training taught him how to mend a broken heart?

CAREY will be DRAWING from blog commenters today (make it easy and leave your email).  She's giving away an electronic copy of FIRST DO NO EVIL as well as a $25 gift card.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. GIFT CARD will be mailed to North America addresses only. International drawing for E-Book. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.  

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook  to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me next Wednesday when Vannetta Chapman returns for more of the Amish life. And come back tomorrow when Donnell hosts Geri Krotow. And Friday when Teresa Roberson will be Alexa’s guest. ~Angi  

CAREY WANTS TO KNOW

Angi, Thanks so much for having me on Get Lost in a Story! I had a blast! I especially loved the question you asked about remembering the first book I read. It took me back to a very special time with my mother. So here's what I'd like to ask everyone: 

Do you have a special memory of reading, either with someone you love or independently? 

THE IRON HEART

His greatest creation could be the death of them both.

One woman swears to avenge the savagery of a ruthless killer loose on the streets of Lundun; if only she can stay one step ahead of an inventor who fears that his greatest work, a labor of love, has turned on humanity.

Grieving the loss of her beloved cousin, Ella Wilder is determined to catch the murderer. Infuriated by the fumblings of the constable, she seeks the assistance of a handsome noble who seems to be looking for his own answers, and whose reluctance tells her he has something to hide. Over time, hesitant intimacy grows into fiery passion but brings them no closer to finding the madman.

As the killer reveals darker inventions that blur the boundary between man and machine, Ella fights the fear he may be after her next. Can Ella trust her heart to the man who refuses to share his secrets yet swears to protect her? Will Bennett be able to choose between keeping terrifying family secrets…or losing Ella to the iron-hearted killer who stalks the night? 

THE IRON HEART

Publisher: Samhain

ISBN: 978-1-60928-634-7

He was like a nervous schoolboy. It was endearing. And annoying.

She would have to take matters into her own hands. “What else are you working on?”

His dark eyes blinked at her. “Pardon?”

“In your workroom? There must be other inventions you have hidden in there.”

Like a simpleton, he stood there staring down at her. Ellie licked her lips, flashed her eyes at time or two. Then she slid her gaze down the length of him. From his mysterious eyes to his full lips to the hard planes of his chest. She followed the lines of his clothes down his stomach to his waist, then along the very male part of his body. When, at last, she ended her assessment at the bottom of his long legs, she heard his breath catch.

“There…” he cleared his throat, “there is something I could show you.”

Anticipation billowed through her bloodstream with each step. Already she could feel the heat between them. The air crackled with electricity. It was so charged, a mere spark could set off a blaze.

By the time they’d reached the small workroom, Ellie could not fathom a coherent thought. Her skin hungered for his stroke.

Bennett shut the door with an irrational calm then turned to face her. The stark need in his gaze made her gasp. His lips curled into a near feral grin.

“You asked this of me.” Each gravelly word was punctuated with accused longing. “You remember that if I fail to stop.”

Ellie swallowed, but still her mouth parched, ached for the taste of him. “I shall not want you to stop.”

THE OBSESSIVE, ENJOYABLE LESLIE DICKEN

Leslie tends to obsess about the things she enjoys: writing, Gerry Butler, gardening, beading, Gerry Butler. She’s been writing since high school, when Wuthering Heights inspired her to create worlds of dark heroes, brave heroines, and stormy nights. Since then she’s written tales of history and stories of the future.

When she’s not writing, gardening, or beading, Leslie can be found either at her day job or being a slave to her three children and five pets.

I have been fortunate that Leslie’s been in my writing world for several years. LOVE HER ! So supportive and bundles of fun. I can’t wait for a moment to read this book.

A LITTLE FAN OBSESSION OF OUR OWN

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
LESLIE: Sigh, not often enough. I started writing because of my deep love of reading, but now I find I don't have as much time. With the little time I have, I'm either writing or taking care of the family. I need vacations just to read!!!

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading? 

LESLIE: Not sure of the VERY first book, but "Wacky Wednesday" was my favorite as a kid. Still have it too. As a pre-teen, I loved "Clan of the Cave Bear." It really got me interested in science and anthropology.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

LESLIE: I have to go with Beauty and the Beast (especially since I wrote a book based on it: BEAUTY TEMTPS THE BEAST). I love when people can see beyond the surface to the true person beneath.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

LESLIE: Soft windchimes, like a quiet tinkling, or gentle ocean waves. Ahhhh...peace!

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

LESLIE: Mostly Fairy Tale. I'm majorly in love with the new TV show "Once Upon a Time." It's SO clever and unique, even though it is a take on many known fairy tales.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

LESLIE: I wrote poems for several years in high school and then at sixteen, I started my first novel (a romance, of course). I hand-wrote it every day after school. I had NO idea what I was doing, but I couldn't stop. I'm proud to say I finished the book too, although it will NEVER see the light of day. LOL!

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

LESLIE:  I have three: (1) "Phantom of the Opera" because of that sexy Gerry Butler singing...mmmmm! (2) Original "Pirates of the Caribbean" because I can watch it over and over and still get a kick out of it and (3) "Finding Nemo" cracks me up and warms my heart all at the same time.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

LESLIE: Hmm, you might have to define villain. Some may consider the "Phantom" to be a villain and if that's the case...well, you know he's my favorite!

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK:  What is one of your favorite scenes from THE IRON HEART? And yes, you can only choose one >>grin<<.

LESLIE’S GOTTA ANSWER:  Wow, that is a hard question! LOL! I think it's the scene later in the book when the hero, Bennett, comes to Ella's shop. For most of the story he's been resisting her and pushing her away every time she wants to be close. But here he's finally reached the point where he needs her and can't stay away. The scene has a lot of sexual tension and yearning. J

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LESLIE WILL BE DRAWING FOR a copy of THE IRON HEART from those leaving blog comments.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me tomorrow when I host debut author and Unsinkable sister, Kylie Griffin. And then on Friday when I host Medical Romance author Connie Cox. ~Angi

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