Her father’s disappearance is a mystery.
So is her true identity.
Hilly Adams needs help, but Cam Delaney must
determine if she is in trouble or if she is the one causing problems. When he
follows the beautiful stranger, he saves her from a deadly fire and gunmen out
for blood. But who exactly is Hilly? Is she connected to the Delaney family’s
biggest rivals? And how is the former marine going to keep her from breaking
down his carefully constructed barriers?
Nicole Helm is the bestselling author of down-to-earth
contemporary romance and fast-paced romantic suspense. She writes stories about
people finding themselves and stumbling into love in the process.
She lives with her husband and two young sons in Missouri
enjoying Cardinals baseball and dreams about someday owning a barn.
ANGI: What’s
your favorite thing about your book’s hero?
NICOLE:Dylan Delaney is the hero
if WYOMING COWBOY SNIPER and one of my favorite things about him is that on the
outside he seems like a stiff, buttoned-up guy with a silver spoon in his
mouth, but he has a lot of secrets—and he’s not at all what he seems!
ANGI: What’s
your favorite movie of all time?
NICOLE:That’s hard, but way up
there is It’s A Wonderful Life. Even
though I only watch it at Christmas it has everything I love in a story—movie
or otherwise—love story, complicated family dynamics, and a happy ending!
ANGI: Would
you put yourself in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
NICOLE:Fairy tale. I really don’t
like running. :)
ANGI: Favorite
TV rerun you watch every time you channel surf?
NICOLE:The Office or Gilmore
Girls (except the married to Chris season. Boo, Chris).
ANGI: THAT IS SO TRUE !! I NEVER WATCH THAT SEASON EITHER !!
ANGI: Favorite
date night…fancy or at home?
NICOLE:At home. Fancy makes me
uncomfortable!
ANGI:
Champagne or Soda?
NICOLE:Soda
ANGI: Geek or
Jock?
NICOLE:Well, I married the jock
who’s got a bit of geek in him, so I’m going to cheat and say a mix. ;)
NICOLE’SGOTTA ANSWER: My friend got me these because of the llama in
my Big Sky Cowboys/Cowboy SEAL series—not only are they comfortable but they
always make me smile!
IT’S A BUSY SPRING FOR NICOLE:
May 1, 2019
WYOMING
COWBOY SNIPER
Carsons & Delaneys: Battle Tested #2
He reminds her of a past she’s spent a long time trying to
forget…
In Colorado’s glorious big-sky country, everything is done
with cowboy flair—even boot-stomping, hat-tipping cowboy weddings . . . Read a little, Buy the book
Known for its rugged beauty
and eccentric residents, tiny Blue Moon Harbor is big on love...
For busy lawyer Eden Blaine, a
trip to a Pacific Northwest island she’s never even heard of is far from a
vacation. Eden’s ailing mother has tasked her with finding her long-lost aunt,
who once had ties to a commune on the island. Still reeling from a
breakup with her longtime boyfriend, romance is the last thing Eden is looking
for. But her gorgeous seaplane pilot has her wondering if a carefree rebound
fling is exactly what she needs…
Aaron Gabriel has no
illusions about happily ever after. His troubled childhood made sure of that.
But he does appreciate a pretty woman’s company, and Eden is the exact
combination of smart and sexy that turns him on. Still, as he helps her search
for her missing aunt, the casual relationship he imagined quickly becomes
something much more passionate—and much harder to give up. Can two people determined
to ignore romance recognize that their heated connection is the kind of love
destined to last?
SUSAN FOX is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.
Susan’s "Love Somebody Like You" was a 2016 finalist for Romance Writers of America®’s prestigious RITA® award. Her books have won the National Readers’ Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Booksellers Best Award, the Book Buyers Best Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold Readers Choice, the Golden Quill, the More Than Magic, the Lories, the Beacon, and the Laurel Wreath. "Sex Drive" was a Cosmopolitan Red-Hot Read.
SUSAN:
As a reader, every day, more than once. I’ve been
addicted to fiction since I was a tiny kid. I’m an only child and books were my
wonderful companions as well as my ticket to adventure, emotion, and insights.
Some writers read analytically, dissecting how a great author does what she
does, or why a mediocre book doesn’t really work. Not me. I read for pure
pleasure. I love it when the author carries me away into the world of her
characters and story. I hate it when things jar me out of the story – like
inconsistencies or typos. As an author, I also get lost in my own story
sometimes when I’m writing. That’s when it’s the most fun: when I’m not
consciously thinking about it, just feeling it flow through my fingers on the
keyboard.
ANGI:
Favorite date night…fancy or at home?
SUSAN:
I choose
fancy, and at home. Is that allowed? I don’t want to have to drive or walk to
or from the venue. But nor do I want to do any work! I also don’t want anyone
else around, just the two of us with complete privacy. Am I picky, or what?
LOL. So, here’s the plan. Someone will come in and clean the house and prepare
a fantastic meal, they’ll disappear while we enjoy excellent food and wine, and
then they’ll quietly sneak back into the kitchen and clean up the mess while we
put on some music and dance in the front room, or perhaps wander down to the
beach for a moonlight stroll.
ANGI:
What’s your favorite cartoon character?
SUSAN:
Snoopy from
Peanuts. He invented the happy dance,
didn’t he? And he does it better than anyone else. Besides, I love the image of
him on the roof of his doghouse, with his typewriter, starting another “It was
a dark and stormy night” story. He’s my cartoon soulmate!
ANGI:
What’s your favorite thing about your book’s hero?
SUSAN:
In the
beginning, it’s how totally devoted Aaron is to his younger sister Miranda (a
single mom) and her little girl. They had a horrendous upbringing, first with a
mom who was a drug addict and prostitute, then (after she died) with her
parents, who made it entirely clear the grandchildren weren’t welcome or loved.
All through everything, Aaron has protected Miranda – even though she’s a proud
young woman who hates accepting assistance and frequently butts heads with him.
But he loves her, and he persists, and he’s always there for her and little
Ariana. So, even though Aaron’s cynical enough to believe that love is not in
the cards for him, and he acts like a carefree confirmed bachelor, he’s a guy
who is capable of long-term commitment and is deserving of love. I also like the
way that, as his and Eden’s feelings for each other develop way past the
short-term holiday fling they both intended, he pushes past his deeply
ingrained fears and goes after the girl!
ANGI:
High Heels or Hiking Boots?
SUSAN:
Neither!
Comfort, all the way, and as little confinement as possible for my feet. High
heels kill my feet (not to mention my fragile back and hips). Hiking boots are
way too heavy and make me feel lead-footed. If I’m going to walk, I like my
airy little Skechers or a pair of Merrill or Teva walking sandals. For dressy
wear, I’ve been known to don a pair of heels and I admit I like how they look,
and the fact that they add a couple of inches to my 5'2", but you can bet
I’ll be kicking them off at the first opportunity.
ANGI:
What’s your favorite movie of all time?
SUSAN:
I love “To
Kill a Mockingbird.” I’d been crazy about the book before I saw the movie, and
I think they did a really good job with the movie, of doing justice to the
book. I love the characters and story, and I’m crazy about both Atticus Finch
and Gregory Peck. I think Atticus is an excellent model for a hero, and in fact
he’s the basic inspiration for my heroes. And I suppose, in a way, both he and
Scout inspire my heroines as well. I don’t like bold, alpha-type heroes or
heroines. I like flawed human beings who have strong values, who stand up for
what they believe in, who struggle to be better people – and who do it in a
quiet, understated, but highly effective way.
ANGI:
What’s your perfect day?
SUSAN:
Great
weather – warm and sunny – and beautiful scenery. Probably by the ocean. A
villa in Greece would be nice. LOL. Getting up early to greet the fresh
morning, having a long, lazy, delicious breakfast outside as I enjoy the
scenery, smell the flowers, and read a good book. Then a long walk, a little
photography, a relaxed lunch with a good friend, also outside, with wine and
interesting conversation. In the afternoon, some time at my computer working on
my latest story – and being in that zone where I’m lost in the story. Where the
characters are talking to me, directing the action, and I’m happily typing
along. Later on, a relaxed dinner (outside – with wine – are you sensing a
theme?) with my guy. Afterward, maybe sitting outside and reading and/or going
for a stroll on the beach. Going to bed fairly early, with the windows open to
let in a gentle breeze scented with flowers and the ocean.
ANGI:
Salad or soup?
SUSAN:
Salad in
summer; soup in winter. I actually mostly eat salad for lunch all year round,
because it’s so easy to make. I’m lazy about making soup, and I don’t care for
most of the tinned or packaged ones. But there’s nothing better on a chilly day
than a lovely bowl of home-made soup paired with fresh bread!
ANGI:
Champagne or Soda?
SUSAN:
Champagne,
totally. I love bubbles. Actually, it doesn’t even have to be champagne.
Non-French bubbly, Prosecco, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, anything like that
will make me very happy. In fact, my way of celebrating small successes (like
completing a manuscript, or getting a fabulous review) is by drinking a mini
bottle of Henkell Trocken. At lunch!
ANGI:
Geek or Jock?
SUSAN:
Dreamer.
The one with her head in a good novel, not paying the slightest bit of
attention to either the geeks or the jocks.
ANGI:
Favorite inspiration
SUSAN:
For my writing, my best inspiration is my characters. In the beginning, I’m
inspired to get to know them, and then once I know them pretty well I let them
inspire what happens next in the book. As for inspiration in life, I guess it’s
people like Atticus Finch, doing their best to be decent human beings and to do
their small bit to make the world a better place. I hope I do that myself, by writing
stories that feature diverse characters and complex issues. Stories that,
hopefully, not only entertain but inspire emotion and sometimes even insights
and revelations. I love it when a reader tells me that one of my books has
helped her figure out a problem in her life or find the courage to take a bold
step forward. Or when someone says how much she loves reading about a heroine
who is like her (e.g., has an illness like bipolar disorder or multiple
sclerosis, and still finds the love of her life).
ANGI:
The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?
SUSAN:
I’d say
it’s the first time I volunteered to make a public presentation. I’m an
introvert and when I was younger, I was terrified about speaking in front of a
group of people. But I had a job that kind of expected it of me, so I forced
myself to do it. Fortunately, I had a good buddy who was going through the same
thing, so we offered each other support – and then we went out afterwards and
had several drinks! I can’t say we were fabulous at those first presentations,
but we faced the fear and we survived. Now, I’ve presented numerous workshops
and done other public speaking, and it certainly gets easier with practice.
ANGI’s GOTTA ASK: What’s your favorite pair of shoes & why?
SUSAN’S GOTTA ANSWER: I’m a
summer girl and I’d live barefoot if I possibly could. Failing that, my
favorite shoes are the lightest and most comfortable ones. So I’ll choose these
Teva sandals. I love the multicolored straps!
UP NEXT for SUSAN
CHRISTMAS KISSES
An anthology with Fern Michaels, Jules Bennett & Leah Marie Brown
SUSAN WANTS TO KNOW: I’ve talked a bit
about what makes someone heroic in my eyes. Now I’d like to know what all of
you find heroic – both in fiction and in real life.
Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, is in a sticky wicket.
He married young and for love—how naïve. He discovered his mistake the very day
of his wedding, but he is saddled now with a wife he's reluctant to trust. And
however much evidence he gathers against faithless Jess, he can't seem to prove
her guilt to the final judge—his foolish heart.
Jessica knows she's bobbled her marriage, however
innocently. A fairytale wedding makes no difference if she hasn't got the
marquis charmed to show for it. Well, she's had enough of accidental encounters
with naked gentlemen and near misses explaining things to her husband. It's
time to buck up and go win her man back—even if she has to fight very dirty
indeed.
USA Today bestselling author Sally MacKenzie writes funny, sexy romances set in her favorite time period (other
than the present): Regency England. Her novella, "The Duchess of
Love," was a 2013 RITA® finalist, and two of her books--The Naked King and
Bedding Lord Ned--made ALA Booklist's top ten romances for their respective
years. Many of her books are available in audio format, and her stories have
been translated into Czech, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Norwegian,
Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.
Sally graduated with a B.A. in English from the
University of Notre Dame in the first class of women. She's a Cornell Law
School dropout, former federal regulation writer, recovering parent volunteer,
mother of four grown sons, and middle-of-the-lane Masters swimmer. She loves to
travel, especially to England to research historic sites and hike through--and
frequently get lost in--the English countryside.
A native of Washington, D. C., she lives with her
husband in suburban Maryland, not far from her childhood home.
THINGS YOU WERE AFRAID TO ASK SALLY
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
SALLY:Not often enough! One of the things that surprised
me about becoming a writer—and made me a little sad, too—is I seem to have lost
the ability to get really lost in a story. When I do, when an author can make
me turn off my internal editor and proofreader, then I am in awe and I know
I’ve found a keeper.
I’m actually in the
process now of sorting through my boxes of old books. We need to simplify our
lives and reclaim some storage space, so I need to divest myself of some of my
favorites. Oh, it is painful. But as I go through making the wrenching decision
to keep or donate, I’ve taken some time to dip back into a couple of my
favorites—and I found myself lost in the story again! What a great feeling.
Except the books are...yikes! Some of them are more than thirty years old!!!
They are a little musty. My dust allergies didn’t thank me.
ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
SALLY:Actually reading? Probably the Dick, Jane, and
Sally—and Puff and Spot—books from first grade. I was quite taken with Sally,
of course. It’s not that common a name. And I remember being read to. My dad
read me fairy tales and even a few mildly scary stories. (I don’t usually do
scary.) And I loved the Dr. Seuss books, especially Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book.
I was an avid reader
as a kid, especially of fantasy and science fiction. Some of my favorite
authors were Lloyd Alexander, Edward Eager, E. Nesbit, Andre Norton (her
science fiction mostly), and P.L. Travers—and
Georgette Heyer, the mother of Regency romance, of course.
ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?
SALLY:What’s coming to mind is “snuggle,” just because I
like the way the word sounds. One of these days I want to work “snuggery” into
one of my books. Not that the word has anything specifically to do with love—according
to Merriam-Webster.com, it’s chiefly British, from 1812, and means “a snug cozy
place; especially: a small room.” But I could definitely have my characters
snuggle in a snuggery. Wouldn’t that be fun?
ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve
met?
SALLY:Can I be silly? I was in the kitchen getting a pot
out—not sure why, since I don’t cook—when I saw there was a mouse scampering about in the bottom of
the pot. Now, I don’t consider myself a total ‘fraidy cat—at one writers’
conference, I was my room’s designated spider killer (okay, long story
there)—but I don’t do well with small, quickly moving creatures. So of course I
started to make odd noises and do my icky mouse dance. Fortunately, my oldest son
was also in the kitchen, and he bravely took the pot—it was a very deep pot,
actually, so the mouse didn’t have a prayer of climbing out—and carried it
outside to free the animal in our backyard. My son was my hero that day! (Though
I do hope the mouse didn’t come right
back inside.)
ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
SALLY:I’m not sure it’s a fairy tale, but I’ve got warm
feelings for The Story of Jumping Mouse
by John Steptoe. It’s a Native American legend, a beautiful picture book about
a little mouse who sets off to reach the “far-off land.” I remember reading it
over and over to our second son when he was quite young—probably too young to
really understand it. But something about it appealed to him—and the story
certainly appealed to me.
ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
SALLY:Ricochet Rabbit, mostly because I like to say
“Ping, ping, ping, Ricochet Rabbit!” Are you scratching your head? You might be
if you aren’t a “certain age.” Here’s a clip. (How did we live before the
Internet?)
ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?
SALLY:Ash—Kit to his wife—is so honorable and
responsible and he loves his wife SO much, but he can’t bring himself to trust
her. But he’s trying. He’s really trying. He’s so desperate, he even forces
himself to read his mother’s marital tips for men in “How to Woo Your Wife.” Now
there’s true love!
ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading
your latest release?
SALLY:Hmm. No, I don’t think so. I don’t write to
music—I write in silence—so I wasn’t listening to anything but my characters’
voices when the story was born.
ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
SALLY:I’ve taken to reading in bed before I go to sleep.
Not every night. Tuesdays and Thursdays I swim in my Masters program—it’s swim
team for “old” people. Those nights I don’t get home until 10:30pm or so, and
Mr. M, who gets up at some incredible time like 4:45AM to go to the gym, is sound asleep. Part of my goal is to
disengage from the computer and encourage the old body to realize it’s sleepy time.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize what a gift sleep is, and I try to
give it to myself nightly ;)
ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
SALLY:A baby’s laugh.
ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
SALLY:Fairy tale! I’m not opposed to a bit of action and
adventure, but I don’t like things blowing up and I don’t like being scared.
And I most certainly want my happy ending!
ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
SALLY:I don’t remember the title or even what the story
was about, but I do remember being so wrapped up in writing it that I didn’t
want to go out with my parents somewhere fun. It was a homework assignment, I
think when I was in fifth grade, and I wrote far more than required. And when I
read it to the class, everyone laughed at the right places. I was hooked—and that’s
when I decided I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.
ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
SALLY:Probably Chariots of Fire—and when we were in
England in September, touring Eton, we learned that the great courtyard scene
was shot there, so we had to watch it again. But Advise and Consent has a
special place in my heart because my mother is in it. She’s only an extra, but
she gets some screen time.
ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
SALLY:I have to say Sir Percy Headley—he’s the villain
of the Duchess of Love books.
ANGI: What is your biggest vice?
SALLY:Grapefruit! Okay, I guess that’s not much of a
vice, but I do eat a lot of grapefruit. I’ll happily eat an entire one as
“dessert.”
ANGI: Is there a “Blooper” in your story (it may have
been changed before printing)?
SALLY:Oh, dear, I hope not!! I do remember a couple
times where copyeditors failed me. Once I’d changed the hero’s horse’s name
suddenly, and another time the hero’s beverage changed from brandy to port on
the next page. But I think I must have been a copyeditor in another life,
because I caught both of those before the book went to press. I’m very
nit-picky. I also never read my books after they’re published. I really don’t
want to know if something slipped through!
Oh, and my first
book, The Naked Duke, included the
word “okay” about four times. I quickly learned “okay” isn’t okay in the
Regency—apparently it didn’t enter the language until the mid 1800s. This is
one reason I write with the Oxford
English Dictionary at my elbow. (Well, actually with the CD loaded onto my
computer.)
ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women
all day?
SALLY:LOL, well, maybe it’s because I’m the mother of
four men, but I don’t quite see writing romance that way. I’m usually doing a
lot of interior work—inside the hero’s and heroine’s head—and chances are they
aren’t thinking they are hot or sexy. Sometimes they do think their partner is
one or both of the above, of course, but mostly they are thinking about more
personal qualities. Honor, courage, compassion, insecurity, worries, hopes.
Love.
Writing, for me, is
digging deep into my own feelings and thoughts and dreams, trying to find
something true—or learn something or understand something true—through the
process of creating a story. It’s hard work, but it’s magical when things come
together and the words on the page suddenly feel like a real person with real
emotions.
ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Living in the DC area, do you
visit the monuments? And if so, which is your favorite?
SALLY's GOTTA ANSWER: LOL! Well,
I grew up here, so you know what that means! I might have been up in the
Washington Moment when I was too young to remember. I do remember my parents
dragging me to art galleries against my will. My dad worked for the U.S.
Senate, so I would go down with him to the Capitol on some of the Saturdays he
had to work or when he went in to pick up his paycheck. I loved riding the
little subway between the buildings. And I worked for a senator the summer
after my senior year of high school. And then I worked for the Food and
Nutrition Service of the Department of Agriculture for a few years before I had
kids. Anyone remember ketchup as a vegetable? Long story, but that was my
regulation. My office—or more properly, cubicle—looked out on the Tidal Basin.
But then we got busy
with kids, and our weekends and summers were taken up with sports and scouting
and other kid stuff. Just this spring, though, we decided to play tourist. We
were having our ancient carpets torn up and hardwood floors put in, so we had
to flee the homestead while that messy job was being done. One day we went down
to the Mall and finally saw a few of the “new” sights: the Arthur M. Sackler
Gallery (Asian art), the National Museum of African Art, and the National
Museum of the American Indian. Here’s a picture of Mr. M studying something
outside the African Art museum.
My favorite of all
the Smithsonian offerings, though, is the zoo—or, more properly, the National
Zoological Park. No, I don’t hang out with the pandas. Actually, on our trip
during the Great Wood Floors Installation, the most interesting animals were
the birds. I got quite up close and personal with this peacock.
I’m excited to say I’ve agreed to write a new
Regency series for Kensington! I’ve just started the project, so I don’t have
much to say about it yet, but the inspiration came from our trip to England in
September. At the moment, I’m calling the series the Spinster House books, and
they are set in a small village, Loves Bridge. But all is subject to change!
PREVIOUS RELEASES by SALLY:
THE NAKED PRINCE
Josephine Atworthy is shocked by the goings-on at
her rich neighbor's house party. Quite
shocked. But her demure charm beguiles a mysterious nobleman, who begs a
kiss--then another. And in a twinkling they fall head over heels in love...
SALLY is giving away the print version of Bedding Lord
Ned, the first book in the Duchess of Love series, which includes the novella,
“The Duchess of Love.”
North America Readers
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.
Nicole Helm is the bestselling author of down-to-earth
contemporary romance and fast-paced romantic suspense. She writes stories about
people finding themselves and stumbling into love in the process.
NICOLE: Well, I married the jock
who’s got a bit of geek in him, so I’m going to cheat and say a mix. ;) 
May 1, 2019
