Vicki Batman asks "How does your garden grow?"

Mary, Mary, quite contrary...

An old rhyme, but one really which resonates with me--Vicki Batman. Mary’s garden is full of “silver bells and cockerel shells and pretty maids all in a row.” Mine suffers so in the heat. I tend to plant more native flowers and pray they survive. My particular favorite is lantana. I received this one from my old neighbor after we’d moved. Butterflies and hummingbirds like to come visit:

And this particular plant seemed ideal for moi with the characteristic “you can run over it with a car, and it will grow.”

Here’s a small blurb from TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED, a romantic comedy mystery: New Job. New Love. And Murder. 

Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. 

When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, Detective Allan Charles Wellborn steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

Find Temporarily Employed at: Amazon

Liz Selvig’s favorite garden flower is a Johnny Jump-Up. Officially it's called a viola and is like a tiny pansy. I adore them because they were my

grandmother's favorites. She always had pots of Johnny Jump-Ups in her back yard and on her porches. I try to get some every year because they simply make me happy--so small and bright and always cheerful! And a reminder of a very special person.

THE BRIDE WORE DENIM: When Harper Lee Crockett returns home to Paradise Ranch, Wyoming, the last thing she expects is to fall head-over-heels for Cole Wainwright, her childhood neighbor and her older sister's long-time boyfriend. The spirited and artistic Crockett sister has finally learned to resist her craziest impulses, especially falling for her sister's ex. But this latest trip home and Cole's appeal might prove too much for her fading self-control.

Cole has long been fascinated by the sister who's always stood out from the crowd. His relationship with Amelia, is over, and with Harper back in town, he sees everything he's been missing. But they have no future together—he's tied to the land and she's created a successful life in the big city.

Still—neither of them can escape their growing attraction or inconvenient feelings. Will they decide to listen to their heads or to give their hearts what they want?

Find THE BRIDE WORE DENIM at: Amazon

Angi Morgan shares about her garden: I definitely have a brown thumb. But I seem to be lucky with roses. My favorite flower (that I seem to be able to grow) is a Queen Ann apricot rose. The bush was the first one I planted here at our house, I thought I’d lost it last fall, but it came back this spring. (Snoopy Dancing). 

Coming next Valentine Day’s from Angi is BULLETPROOF BADGE, Texas Rangers: Elite Troop #1: Two murders, one witness, one on-the-run Texas Ranger.

Pre-Order on Amazon

HE'D TAKE A BULLET FOR HER 

His key witnesses dead, Texas Ranger Garrison Travis had to protect innocent bystander Kenderly Tyler. Her crucial evidence had two very dangerous Texas crime families willing to do anything to keep her quiet. But Garrison's undercover status had branded him a killer, and now the bad and the good guys were after them both. 

Hiding out with a handsome protector, on the run for her life, was so beyond anything Kenderly had imagined. While there was more than just adrenaline pulsing between them, the Ranger vowed his job was his life. Dare she wonder what would become of them should they actually make it out alive?

E E Burke loves lilies! My favorite flowers this time of year are the lilies. We have several different varieties and they are all in bloom in our yard. Here's one of them: 

My new book, FUGITIVE HEARTS, released on July 28. Here's the blurb:

“Sheriff…I just shot my husband.”

Hotel owner Claire Daines is a respected member of the community. Until she shocks the entire town by rushing into a saloon wearing only her nightclothes and confessing to very inebriated lawman.

Is she a killer? Is she crazy? Or is she covering up something worse?

For years, Claire hushed up her husband’s dangerous condition to guard his reputation. When tragedy strikes, she puts her own life at risk when she vows to keep another terrible secret.

Sheriff Frank Garrity must get to the truth, although the tough, hard-drinking lawman hides his own secrets and would rather walk a lonely path than face his demons. But as Frank unravels Claire’s subterfuge and unlocks her heart, he’s torn between his desire to save her and his duty to bring her to justice. 

   

Find FUGITIVE HEARTS at:  Amazon

Are you wondering who has a brown thumb? Alexa Bourne says “I have the brownest thumb EVER. People know not to ask me to take care of their

plants and flowers when they go away. However, I do love them! One of my favorite flowers is the hydrangea. It reminds me of my carefree summers as a child in New England. I also love the bright blues and whites in there, too.”

A blurb from LIAR, LIAR: Unable to protect her mother from her father as a child, Devin McQueen has made it her mission as an adult to protect as many abused women and children as she can. The rare moments she’s not consumed with work as a victims’ advocate, she limits her involvements to safe, predictable men….until she meets bounty hunter Grady Cooper. He is big, bold, brash, and has no problem speaking his mind.

Growing up in a broken home, Grady realized early on that good deeds had a price.  To survive, he learned to weigh every decision by what he could gain. Unfortunately, the successful, solitary life he’s worked so hard to create spins out of control when demons from his past shake his confidence. His boss has given him one last chance—bring in Devin’s latest client quickly, and quietly and maybe he’ll still have a job. It didn’t sound unreasonable until he met Devin.

Suddenly, Grady must make a decision: save his career or follow his heart?

Find LIAR, LIAR at:Amazon

Kat Baldwin is quite fond of Irises! The colors are so vivid and they arrive early in the spring and by then I'm starving to see rich colors - I go a little flower crazy in spring. 

A blurb from A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS: It's 1814. Napoleon is exiled on Elba. Europe is in shambles. Britain is at war on four fronts. And Stranje House, a School for Unusual Girls, has become one of Regency England's dark little secrets. The daughters of the beau monde who don't fit high society's constrictive mold are banished to Stranje House to be reformed into marriageable young ladies. Or so their parents think. In truth, Headmistress Emma Stranje, the original unusual girl, has plans for the young ladies--plans that entangle the girls in the dangerous world of spies, diplomacy, and war.

A School for Unusual Girls is the first captivating installment in the Stranje House series for young adults by award-winning author Kathleen Baldwin. #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot calls this romantic Regency adventure "completely original and totally engrossing."

Find A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS at:Amazon

So...how does your garden grow? Are you a gardener? Do you have a brown thumb? What is your favorite flower?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crew First Fridays: Can You Guess?

Which of our crew did what? Can you guess?

Kat   Angi    Maureen    Clover      Alexa       EE Burke     Lara     Heather      Donnell     Jan     Lizbeth    Jillian    Vicki 

(answers at bottom)

A. Passionate about shoes.                                      

Attends the Toronto International
Film Festival every year.


B. Favorite show is Hell On Wheels                                    
Disc Jockey in former life.


C. Has a Pinterest page devoted to
Inappropriate Things that Still
Make her Laugh.


D.  11th Generation Texan.
Posts 1 picture every day.


E.   Interned with the New England
Patriots.  Teacher by day.


F.  Moved to Texas over her love
of Louis L'Amour westerns.


G.  Takes off to travel once a book
is completed.

H.  Started her writing over love of
Paul McCarthy, Davy Jones,
and Bobby Sherman.
Journalist Reporter in former life.

I.  Science Geek as a biomedical researcher.


J.   Has dangled off a 500 ft precipice. Found
it better than being in a cave.


K.  Has written for parenting magazine.
Court Reporter in former life.


L.  Ruined brand new lawn mower trying to
get her husband-to-be to notice her.


M.  Wipes the floor with her mad mahjohng skills.


Kat-J   Angi-D    Maureen-A    Clover-F      Alexa-E       EE Burke-B     Lara-I     Heather-C      Donnell-K     Jan-L     Lizbeth-H    Jillian-G    Vicki-M

First Friday News from the Crew

It's June! How is that even possible?

To celebrate the dawn of a new month (and summer at that!) I asked some of the GLIAS crew to share their good news!

Here's what's going on with:

Angi Morgan

I’ve had an exciting two months and you’ve all been there for the releases of my TEXAS FAMILY RECKONING series with Harlequin which helped get THE RENEGADE RANCHER to #25 on Publishers Weekly Mass Market list. I’m writing the third book in my next series called WEST TEXAS WATCHMEN: The Sheriff, The Cattleman & The Ranger. Those three release in Jan, Feb & March 2015.

I have a completely different project that I’m very excited about. 12 SHADES OF MIDNIGHT is Twelve paranormal authors... one extraordinary boxed set. Featuring ALL NEW novellas by bestselling authors. That’s right, I’m adding some paranormal twists to my suspense with a new series: BODYGUARDS IN HEELS. The first is called: HIT & RUN HALLIE.

One of the most exciting things that happened at the Romantic Times convention is when three friends (and my new friends) asked for my autograph…in their printed book that had my book covers. It was the most AWESOME feeling to be included.

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Kat Baldwin

Kathleen Baldwin's delightful teen fantasy romance, Diary of a Teenage Fairy Godmother, is a Golden Quill finalist! 

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Maureen McGowan

COMPLIANCE, Book 2 in The Dust Chronicles is a finalist in the YA category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction! 

Last October, COMPLIANCE won the 2013 Golden Leaf award, and I finally got my paws on the actual award! I couldn't go to the awards ceremony, so I asked a good friend to accept for me, if I won. I'm sure she did an awesome job of that... but she lives an hour away and has such a busy schedule, I didn't get the award until now.) Here's a picture.

Also, to celebrate the June release of GLORY, Book 3 in The Dust Chronicles, the first two books, DEVIANTS and COMPLIANCE are on sale at Amazon! (Canada and US)  You can pick them up for only $2! (And right now, GLORY is up for pre-order at only $4!)

Coming next week.... 

For the release of GLORY, I'll be having a fabulous giveaway, with books and.... A Kindle Paperwhite!!! 

Come back next week to enter.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

You!!!

How about YOU??? Do you have any happy news to share? We <3 hearing good news.

What's the haps?

The FABULOUS KATHLEEN BALDWIN

LADY FIASCO

My Notorious Aunt 

Book One

A Traditional Regency Romance

Ink Lion Books

Can a lady with a reputation for disaster, stumble into love?

An unusual heroine, Fiona Hawthorn grew up running free. Without a mother to restrain her, she spends her days riding her horse neck or nothing across her father’s fields and swimming like a sea nymph. But inside a prim and proper Regency sitting room Fiona is bound to overturn the teapot or accidentally trip the footman. Her illustrious Aunt Honore decides to take the hoyden in hand, but amidst the strictures of the Beau Monde, Fiona is a fish out of water.

When she was younger, Lord Wesmont was her hero. Sadly, he came home from fighting Napoleon a hardened man. Nothing can breathe life back into his cold heart, nothing except, perhaps, the love of an unusual young woman who regularly turns his life upside-down.

Lady Fiasco is a Sweet Traditional Regency Romance.

Read a little, Buy the book

KATHLEEN BALDWIN loves adventure. She roamed the Rockies, wandered the desert, enjoyed way too many classes in college, was stalked by a cougar, lost an argument with a rattlesnake, fell in love at least a dozen times, and married her very own hero. Together they’ve raised four free-spirited adventurous children. 

THE Q&A

ANGI: When you roamed the desert, what was the favorite thing you found?

KATHLEEN: Most people think the desert is barren and dry, but I loved hunting for hidden springs, and finding secret watering places hidden in the rocks. I still dream about squeezing through some rock wall and discovering a hidden oasis.

Here’s a photo my son took that shows what I mean.

ANGI: What's your most favorite time of day?

KATHLEEN: Afternoon. I adore afternoons. I feel so contented and languid in the afternoon. Some of my best writing occurs in the afternoon.   

ANGI: What's your favorite song and is there a YouTube video?

KATHLEEN: I’m kinda stuck on Andrew Bird, Fiest, and Band of Horses right now. I like almost all of Band of Horses songs, but I got hooked on No One’s Ever Gonna Love You. Their official video sounds good, but the visuals are weird. Here’s a better one.

ANGI: What do you see most often where you write?

KATHLEEN: Well, this is embarrassing…

I don’t see my shamefully messy desk, or the big ugly printer, or even the computer screen. I’m mind-walking in another world. Sometimes I even close my eyes so I can see it better.

I’m there.

It’s like a virtual reality for me. Have you seen that new show, Intelligence? I’m not saying I’m smart like that guy, but if you’ve seen him walk around a virtual crime scene, that’s how it feels for me. It’s as if I can walk around my characters and look at them and observe their environment.

For instance: my heroine in Lady Fiasco is upset because the Prince Regent just tripped while dancing with her. That’s not enough information for me. I have to get close and observe her face as she runs out of the ballroom. I want to know what she’s doing and seeing as she flees. I need to watch what’s happening around her?

Most of that never gets on the page; hopefully the significant bits do. I see the whole scene, complete with details, the characters’ emotions, and actions. I have to experience it or I can’t write it.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

KATHLEEN: Have you seen Three Musketeers with Milla Jovovich playing the part of Milady. She’s a fabulous villain. I adore that movie. Don’t miss it it you have4n’t seen it. Great fun. It’s a steampunk/alternate history/humourous/rendition of the musketeers. And it doesn’t hurt that it also stars Orlando Bloom and Matthew Macfadyen – two of my favorite actors. 

ANGI: If you lived in Regency England, would you want to be a debutante?

KATHLEEN: Heavens no. I’m afraid I’d be as klutzy as my heroine in LADY FIASCO. One thing I would like, though, is to be invisible and see what it was really like. We glamorize all of that ballroom stuff but day to day life was pretty harsh.  

ANGI: Where is your absolute favorite place to visit?

KATHLEEN: The wilderness. ANY wilderness. And the more mountainous the better. Yellowstone and the Tetons are big favorites. But last fall I had a wonderful time whitewater rafting on the Colorado in Moab. Here’s a photo of hubby and me on some easy stuff.

ANGI: If you had a fairy godmother, what would you wish for?

KATHLEEN: The ability to slow down time, except I’d be able to work at normal speed while everyone else was in slow motion. Wouldn’t that be awesome? I might actually catch up with everything I’m behind in.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Tell us a little about your favorite thing in LADY FIASCO.

KATHLEEN's GOTTA ANSWER:  Well, I get a kick out of Fiona’s horribly sociopathic aunt. But my favorite thing is that my heroine, Fiona, is athletic and capable (she’s one of the rare women in the Regency era able to swim), but in a social setting she feels awkward and uncoordinated. That’s so me. My favorite scene is early on in the book when the hero thinks she’s in danger being at the lake by herself. She claims that she’d just jump in the water and swim away from any intruder. It ends with a challenge – a race.

FIND KATHLEEN:

Website   Facebook   Twitter  @KatBaldwin    Goodreads  

Pintrest    Blog     Previous GLIAS interviews:

UP NEXT for KATHLEEN:

MISTAKEN KISS will be out in eBook later this month. It is book two of the My Notorious Aunt series. This one is a nod to one of my favorite authors, Oscar Wilde. If you like Ideal Husband or the Importance of Being Ernest, you’ll enjoy Mistaken Kiss. It was a Holt Finalist and received 4.5 stars from RT.

Book three in the series: CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH will be released as an eBook in August.

STRANJE HOUSE, A School for Unusual Girls, will be out from TOR Teen in March 2015.

PREVIOUS RELEASED by KATHLEEN: 

I’m pleased that favorable reviews keep coming in my YA fantasy romance DIARY OF A TEENAGE FAIRY GODMOTHER. It now has 30 reviews and a 4.6 rating on Amazon.   

KATHLEEN'S giving away a free eBook copy of LADY FIASCO (international readers, too)

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.

NEXT UP ON GLIAS: Join us tomorrow for Bill & Sharo Hopkins. I'll be back next week with Susan Meier.  ~Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook    or   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

KATHLEEN WANTS TO KNOW: Who is your favorite villain?

Fairy Godmothers Were Teenagers Too

DIARY OF A TEENAGE FAIRY GODMOTHER

Ink Lion Books

ASIN: B00C62G8K6

Fairy Godmother is not some pixie in a pink tutu. She’s a guardian and a warrior. Lilliana Skye is sent undercover to a Texas high school to save one of Cinderella’s troubled descendants, but everything goes wrong.

Jess Harrison hates Lilliana. She doesn’t believe in magic or happily-ever-afters. Jess is tough, angry, and so intelligent it’s scary. If she ever did see a mythical fairy she would probably stomp it into oblivion with her army boots. Matters go from bad to worse when Jess’s older brother meets Lilliana and falls hard for the new girl. And Lilliana can’t keep her wayward heart in check. Jake is, well, he’s just plain dangerous.

Falling in love with a human is forbidden, not to mention… deadly.

EXCERPT

KATHLEEN BALDWIN

Kathleen loves life – treasures every adventurous minute. She roamed the Rockies, wandered in the desert, enjoyed way too many classes in college, fell in love at least a dozen times, raised four free-spirited children and is still married to her own personal hero.

Kathleen loves adventure. She roamed the Rockies, wandered in the desert, enjoyed way too many classes in college, was stalked by a cougar, lost an argument with a rattlesnake, fell in love at least a dozen times, married to her own personal hero and together the raised four free-spirited adventurous children.  

FROM THE MIND OF THE AUTHOR

ANGI: How often do you get lost in a story?

KATHLEEN:  Daily, I’m addicted to story. My handle on Amazon is “Storiologist.” I always have a book handy. 

 

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

KATHLEEN:Pippi Longstockings, and I became permanently addicted after reading Heidi.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

KATHLEEN: I’m a huge anime fan, but as far as traditional cartoons… I like Tweety Bird. It’s fun to see Tweety’s innocence triumphing over Sylvester’s schemes.

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

KATHLEEN: Love word(s). “I’m listening” or ‘I understand.” Because it means mountains to me if a man cares enough to listen and even more if he strives to understand.

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

KATHLEEN: Not a playlist, but there is a cool music video that inspired me often when I was writing. It has the characters from final fantasy set to Far Away by Nickleback. 

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

KATHLEEN: I met this guy Tom Pippit who had almost no legs and only little stubs for arms. When he was a kid he had to scoot around school on a wagon. But he didn’t let that keep him from going to college, getting a job. He even fell in love and got married. Tom worked with my husband, and buoyed up the spirits of everyone he met. It was an honor to call him a friend.

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

KATHLEEN: Jake tries to protect Lilliana, the Fairy Godmother, from his sister’s schemes and from the dangers they all face. I love his courage and willingness to face death for her. But what I like even more is the deep bond that forms between him and Lilliana despite the fact that it may cost them everything.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

KATHLEEN: WARNING: having a lighted Kindle can be hazardous to sleep. If I haven’t found a chance to read during the day I sneak and read in bed late at night.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

KATHLEEN: Train whistle far off in the distance. Something about that sound twangs my heart strings.

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

KATHLEEN: I like both! So, how about an Action Adventure Fairytale? That’s the kind of story Diary Of A Teenage Fairy Godmother is.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

KATHLEEN: I still have copies of most of my early work. Many short stories, but I started my first novel in the fifth grade. It was a historical about an orphaned French girl coming to America called, (ahem… no laughing) In A Field of Daisies. (Okay, you can go ahead and laugh. It was pretty cheesy.) Clearly, I liked romance even back then.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Tell us all about this picture. Purty Pleaz?  

KATHLEEN'S GOTTA ANSWER:  Well, (chuckling) attractive hat, eh? I used to be rock climber. Loved it! Every free afternoon you’d find me on a rock face. I even taught climbing and volunteered on a mountain rescue team. But this photo was taken about two miles underground, deep inside an extinct geyser near Lake Bonneville. A couple of guys talked me into coming with them to help map this ‘cave.’

Trouble is; while I loved being out on a ledge dangling over a 500 foot drop didn’t bother me in the least, it turns out I have claustrophobia. Who knew? I didn’t like being in tight dark squishy places at all. So, when one of the guys took this photo I was ready to climb the walls. Literally. If I remember right, they let me lead the climb out. 

FIND KATHLEEN

Website     Facebook   Twitter  @KatBaldwin    

Goodreads   Pintrest    Blog    

UP NEXT for KATHLEEN

LADY FIASCO

...a fun Regency romp...

May 2013

KATHLEEN is giving away 2 books - an eBook copy or a hardcover of Diary Of A Teenage Fairy Godmother.

North America Readers (winner's choice) or International electronic giveaway.

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. Join me next Wednesday when I host Barbara Kyle. And come back tomorrow when Clover hosts Angie Fox. ~Angi 

KATHLEEN WANTS TO KNOW: 

What book addicted you to reading? Do you have a list of your top 5 all time favorite books?