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Hearing Loss and Military Heroes

The road to happy ever after is never easy, especially in romance novels. The harder the struggle, the more significant the conflict, the wider the gap between the hero and heroine, the sweeter the moment they come together.

When I was plotting the story for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET, I knew the heroine would be a professional musician but what–aside from her life being in danger–would create barriers between her and the hero?

How about a man who can’t appreciate music because he can no longer hear it? To torment my hero even more, I created a story in which the hearing loss has cost Special-Ops Marine Nick Jenkins his military career.

Hearing loss may not be as dramatic as losing a limb, but experts estimate that more than 50 percent of combat soldiers suffer moderately severe (or worse) hearing loss. It’s an injury that impacts more military personnel than any other type of injury. Sometimes the hearing loss is just an inconvenience; sometimes it robs soldiers of their hearing completely.

Our military personnel sacrifice time, health, and so much more. Writing about these real-life heroes is my way of honoring them.

Here’s a short excerpt from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET, coming February 2020.

“Let me take you out for a drink. We both need it after this funeral.” Ben leaned closer, his thigh pressing against hers and squeezed her hand. Ben Massine, the successful and charismatic tenor with the voice that had the world at his feet, was seated next to Emily.

Her eyes darted to his. The compassion in his dark eyes and expressive voice would be her undoing. All she could do was nod since the grief was lodged somewhere between her chest and her throat.

Emily pulled her hand into her lap, now unsure if Ben was making his usual moves or was as upset as she was. Emily never trusted Ben’s motives in pursuing her. Was she just another notch on his bedpost? He could have any woman. He did have any and every woman if People magazine was correct.

His Sicilian roots with olive skin, black hair, and Grecian profile made him irresistible. Unlike his hordes of fans, it wasn’t his dramatic looks and powerful presence that made Emily susceptible. It was the bright warm timbre of his voice, his soulful passion for the music, his ability to transcend the music. He was a gifted artist, and Ben should be the perfect match for her.

But the heart was a contrary organ that didn’t listen to reason. It was time to wipe the memory of the dark-haired, over-loaded-testosterone male, the hardened Spec Forces Marine Nick Jenkins, who didn’t have the voice like a choir of angels but a rough bass steel drum.

Coming February 2020

Available for preorder on Apple Books | Kobo | Nook | Google Play

Professional cellist Emily Hewitt loves nothing more than creating music. Sharing her gift with the world is all she lives for. Until her life is threatened. Caught up in a treacherous conspiracy, Emily becomes the pawn in an international play for power and must be assigned a bodyguard.

Former Special-Ops Marine Nick Jenkins is out of a job and out of patience. Discharged from the Corp because of hearing loss, the last thing he wants to do is babysit someone who’s surrounded by the haunting sounds of music he can no longer appreciate. When danger turns deadly, will Nick be able to save Emily?

November Reader Appreciation Giveaway

Since I began publishing in 2014, one of my goals has been to make a bestseller list. Well, thanks to every reader who purchased the Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge box set, I am now a USA Today Bestselling Author! Cue the champagne and caviar!

I could not have achieved this goal without your support and encouragement, not to mention your purchases, reviews, and the time you spend reading the stories I write.

This is the best holiday gift I could have received. It comes with a heartfelt “thank you” to each and every one of you! To celebrate, I’m giving away a $25 Amazon gift card. Enter my November Reader Appreciation Giveaway for a chance to win!

Mission: Impossible to Wed is part of the 10-author holiday anthology Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. Enjoy these holiday stories today!

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Quite an Adventure ~ Excerpt from 'A Code of Wonder'

“You’ve had quite an adventure for a country miss.”

She squeezed Derrick’s immense arm and looked into his familiar comforting eyes. “Will there be a scandal? I just couldn’t bear to bring any more pain to my mother. She’s suffered badly after our banishment in the country… all because of the cruelty of my father.”

“No. Wessex is a gentleman. He can be trusted to reveal nothing.”

“And I won’t be forced to marry him? Won’t I be ruined if anyone finds out about Lord Wessex undressing me?”

Derrick paused on the landing.

“Did more happen between you and Wessex…? Did he…?”

To hear the brave man, viewed as invincible, stammer, made her smile for the first time in a while. The blush spreading across his cheeks was so out of character.

“Only that he kissed me.” She tried to sound nonchalant as if being kissed by a virile and handsome naked man was a routine occurrence in her life. “I can’t fault his desire since I believe any man near a naked woman might attempt liberties. And he did explain that he was only trying to wake me.” She would never forget how tenderly he’d treated her. The way he’d cupped her face between his big rough hands. His lips had been soft and warm, causing heady and unfamiliar sensations.

A Code of Wonder is part of the Regency holiday anthology, Snowed in with a Rogue.

You can read A Code of Wonder and six other romantic stories for just $0.99.

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Remembering Henny the Fire Dog

Being a writer has introduced me to many amazing people, but one of the most memorable individuals I met was Henny the Fire Dog. An active, intelligent Lab, Henny initially flunked out of training as a seeing eye dog. The ATF recruited her to become an Accelerant Detection K9.

I met Henny and her human handler while researching arson investigation for my first contemporary romantic suspense, An Inner Fire, Book 1 in the Grayce Walters series. All of the firefighters and crew at the Seattle Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit were helpful, but Henny really made an impression. She embodied all of the qualities that make working canines true heroes: energy, dedication, drive, courage and affection.

I recently learned that Henny passed way after a quiet retirement with her handler and his family. She enjoyed trips and vacations and continued to interact with people until the end.

I wanted to share Henny’s story as a reminder than many of the elements in my stories are inspired by real people, real animals and real heroes. I hope my portrayal of working canines reflects the time, talent and commitment of the men and women who train them, handle them, and ultimately, love them.

See how Henny inspired my story, An Inner Fire. The book is currently free on Amazon.

Combustible Together ~ Excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Wed'

“We’ve got off-the-charts chemistry. But it’s the wrong place and wrong time.” He stared at her lips, stirring a hunger in her to taste him.

How could she feel like this and it not be the right time? It felt like the perfect time to her.

She pressed her lips to his soft full ones. She ran her tongue along his lower lip. She felt the catch in his breath before he pulled her into his arms, wrapping her against his hardness.

Expecting he would be demanding by the tension in his body and his labored breathing, she was surprised by his slow and tender exploration, nibbling on her lower lip and then licking where he bit. Mesmerized by his gentleness, she melted against him. She drifted in the sensation, her hands clenched in his T-shirt, her knees wobbly. Lost in kissing Gabe, she didn’t know how much time passed. By the time Gabe finally pulled back, her legs were buckling, and she wanted to get naked with him.

“I guess that answers all our questions. It’s exactly what I thought. We are damn combustible together.”

Mission: Impossible to Wed is part of the 10-author holiday anthology Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. You can order a copy for just 99¢.

Download for just 99¢

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You can download the Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge Cookbook for FREE!